Little River Band is finally returning to Southwest Florida when Hertz Arena in Estero hosts them on Sunday, March 28.
Southwest Florida’s largest indoor venue announced the concert in early February. Tickets went on sale Feb. 19 through Ticketmaster and the Hertz Arena Box Office. Ticket prices range from $40 up to $115 for front row. Parking for the show will be $20, cash only. For tickets, visit www.hertzarena.com.
The band was scheduled to play a rescheduled concert March 12, 2021, at Barbara B. Mann Performing Arts Hall in Fort Myers, but that show has been postponed until 2022.
Through the ‘70s and ‘80s, LRB enjoyed huge chart success with multi-platinum albums and chart topping hits like “Reminiscing,” “Cool Change,” “Lonesome Loser,” “The Night Owls,” “Take It Easy On Me,” “Help Is on Its Way,” “Happy Anniversary,” “We Two,” “Man On Your Mind,” “The Other Guy” and “It’s A Long Way There.”
Worldwide album and CD sales now top 30 million. And in 1982, LRB set a record for having had Top 10 hits for six consecutive years – In fact, they were the very first band to achieve that remarkable plateau. According to BMI, “Reminiscing” has garnered rare status with over 5 million air plays on American radio, and “Lady” is close behind with over 4 million air plays.
Today, Little River Band is Wayne Nelson on lead vocals and bass (since 1980), Chris Marion on keyboards and vocals (since 2004), Rich Herring on lead guitar and vocals (since 2006), Ryan Ricks on drums, percussion and vocals (since 2012) and Colin Whinnery on guitar and lead vocals (since 2018).
In 2020, Wayne Nelson (a former Southwest Florida resident) observed a 40-year affiliation with the band. In 1981, Nelson was recognized by world renowned Beatles producer Sir George Martin whom, while producing Time Exposure, chose Nelson to record lead vocals on two of the band’s biggest hits, “The Night Owls” and “Take It Easy On Me.” To date, Nelson’s vocal and bass guitar talents are included on 23 Little River Band albums/CDs.
Looking back on the past 40 years, Nelson said most likely his predominant memory is a concert on his 30th birthday (June 1, 1980). It was a stadium show in Munich, Germany, in front of 125,000 people. The concert also included Fleetwood Mac, Bob Marley and Don McLean. A cold, windy and rainy day, the skies parted for about an hour while LRB took the stage, recalls Nelson.
Live photos by Jamie Kuser
Nelson says he and his band mates enjoy meeting fans after each show (something they do nearly every time) and hearing about the memories and meeting the multi-generational audiences for which they perform.
Besides Nelson’s 40th year, 2020 marked his 20th wedding anniversary to his wife (Rhonda) and the 45th anniversary of Little River Band.
LRB last played in SW Florida on Feb. 15, 2019, at Mann Hall.
In December of 2017, Happenings Magazine brought three members of the band along with Nelson’s wife, Rhonda, (an author), to downtown Fort Myers for an intimate evening entitled Stories and Songs: From the Road. That event was held at the Barrel Room and sold out.
Little River Band had at least 70 dates on their 2020 concert schedule before the pandemic hit. Off the road for many months, the 2021 schedule for LRB looks to be rather aggressive.
To ensure the safety of patrons, Hertz Arena has implemented a mandatory mask policy throughout the facility. Masks must be worn at all times while inside the facility. Patrons may remove their masks at their seats while actively eating or drinking.
For more about the Sunday, March 28 show, visit www.hertzarena.com.
