A popular Johnny Cash and June Carter tribute act, led by a real-life married couple, will be coming to Bendigo.

Mark and Joanne Caligiuri star in Get Rhythm - A Tribute to Johnny Cash & June Carter as the famous country duo. They are joined by Adam Prozzo (lead guitar) and Lucas Caligiuri (drums). Their set will include crowd favourites like “I Walk the Line,” “Folsom Prison Blues,” “Jackson” and many more.

The Caligiuris have toured Cash shows across Australia for over a decade. “I was actually a fan of the Carter family when I was in high school!,” Joanne explained. “I used to like old country music and I was also very familiar with Johnny Cash and I even remember the exact moment of learning of his death on TV when I was in high school.

“When the movie [Walk the Line] came out in Australia 2006 I was so excited and told Mark we had to go as I was a fan of Cash.

“After we saw the movie Mark became a fan of the music so we decided to create our own Johnny Cash Show.

“I actually already had some of Cash CDs that I shared with Mark and he was hooked that’s when we started to form show and a year later we started it 2007.”

Years of touring helped shape what they wanted to express through their shows. “We want people to get excited,” said Mark. “[W]e [perform] an energetic show and to . . . feel the connection with each other too as that was an important part to John and June.

“Getting everybody together and having a good time to some of the greatest country songs ever written and to take them on a Journey throughout the night.”

Outside of live performances, they are also building a sizeable online presence. Their cover of Johnny Cash and June Carter’s “‘Cause I Love You” has racked up over 39,000 views on Youtube.

Their show will be taking place on 27 May at 9 pm at the Golden Vine Hotel, a venue with an excellent reputation and fierce commitment to live music—even amidst a trying time for live entertainment due to restrictions. “We are still very focused on promoting the bands,” the hotel’s owner, Theresa Dahan, told the Bendigo Advertiser. “A lot of locals have been asking if we are getting rid of bands – that’s the last thing we would get rid of.”