By Kim Parnell

The night before the Odyssey Festival lights up the Maryborough Showgrounds on Saturday, July 25, there’s only one place you’ll want to be — right in front of the big stage for Stereo City Nights: 70s Dance Party.

Stereo City Nights is the official Odyssey 70s dance party, and it promises a glittering, groove-filled night under the open sky. Expect a high-energy DJ spinning the biggest hits of the decade — the kind of songs that instantly transport you back to roller skates, shag carpet and Saturday night countdowns. And adding even more sparkle to the evening is Melbourne-based eight-piece sensation Yacht Rock Revival, delivering a special set celebrating the smooth, sun-soaked sounds that defined 70s light rock.

Yes, there will be glam. Yes, there will be platform shoes. And yes, you absolutely should come dressed in your best 70s finery.

One of the things I love most about what I do is chatting with passionate people about what makes their world tick — and learning something new along the way. During my conversation with Susan Marsden from Yacht Rock Revival, I discovered that “yacht rock” is not, in fact, rock music played on a boat (which, if I’m honest, is what I had vaguely imagined).

It’s actually a genre. A very specific one.

“In the beginning, I chose the genre because I was sick of playing Jessie’s Girl and Run to Paradise,” Susan laughs. “I wanted to do something smoother — the music I grew up with.”

She didn’t even realise it had a name at first.

“I was putting together all my favourite songs — Toto, The Doobie Brothers, Boz Scaggs, Christopher Cross — and I walked into a record store and asked the guy if he had any of them. He said, ‘Oh, you want the yacht rock section.’ I thought, the what? But there they all were, grouped together. That’s when I realised it was actually a genre.”

For Susan, yacht rock is pure nostalgia.

“It takes you back to where you were when you first heard that song. I remember hearing Rosanna while I was roller skating on a Monday night. It’s that feeling. The harmonies are slick; the production is beautiful — it’s fantastic music.”

Long before Yacht Rock Revival was born, Susan had been singing since she was eight years old. After moving to Melbourne, she worked the pub and club circuit, eventually forming her own cover band, Flirt, which became a duo. But something was missing.

“We were playing classic pub rock, and I really wanted to dig into something more meaty — more intricate. That’s when I decided to step away from the duo and create a larger band that could really do this music justice.”

And when Susan commits, she commits completely.

“I own the band, I manage it, I run it. I do all the costumes — every suit you see on stage, I made. I shop vintage all over the world for shirts, shoes, jeans and jewellery. We immerse ourselves in the genre. It’s cheesy, but it’s classy.”

For those discovering Yacht Rock Revival for the first time, Susan is quick to point out this isn’t your standard tribute show.

“One of the biggest differences is the world-class musicianship on stage. It’s not just a show — it’s a full-scale immersive experience that transports the audience back to the golden age of smooth.”

Think tight vocal harmonies, soaring sax solos, authentic vintage styling and a playful stage presence that captures the spirit of the era.

Behind the fun, though, is serious dedication.

“This isn’t music you can rehearse once and take on stage. We had 20 rehearsals before our first gig to make sure we got it right. The harmonies are huge. The arrangements are complex. But when you look out and see nothing but smiling faces, it’s worth every minute.”

And smile they do.

“In our audiences, all you see is joy. People singing, dancing, reminiscing. I can’t stop smiling on stage either. It’s brilliant.”

What surprises Susan most is the number of younger fans in the crowd.

“I’ll see 20-year-olds singing every word and I’ll ask, ‘How do you know this?’ They say, ‘Our parents raised us on good music.’ It’s being passed down. The songs are real. The bands wrote their own material. The lyrics were layered and meaningful. It touches you.”

Yacht Rock Revival’s line-up reads like a dream team of seasoned performers. Susan leads on vocals, joined by Pete Newmarch on male lead vocals and guitar, Tom Petrasek on guitar and vocals, Rob Powell on bass and high harmonies, Joe Petrolo on keys and piano, Paul Van Ross on synthesiser, saxophone, soprano sax, flute and vocals, Fab Giorgio on drums and Javier Fredes on percussion.

Together, they recreate the lush, polished sound that defines the genre.

Susan’s personal favourite track?

“It has to be What a Fool Believes by Michael McDonald featuring The Doobie Brothers from 1978. It’s considered the number one yacht rock song in the world.”

Yes, there is apparently an official ranking system — the Yachtski Scale — a 0–100 rating that determines whether a song truly qualifies as yacht rock. Susan assures me it’s real.

“There’s always debate about what counts. The name was tongue-in-cheek, but the music is taken very seriously. It’s huge in the United States and it’s really growing here in Australia too.”

And the song that consistently blows the roof off?

“Lido by Boz Scaggs. When we use that as our encore, the crowd are jumping up and down, scream-singing. It’s amazing.”

Then there’s the look.

“I go for the Farrah Fawcett hair,” Susan laughs. “Big hair, aviator sunglasses with blue and pink reflections, platform shoes — which the boys hate because they hurt — necklaces, captain’s hats.”

Yes, captain’s hats. In fact, you can buy your own at the merch stand, along with T-shirts, pens and stickers.

But beyond the costumes, the choreography and the note-perfect harmonies, what truly sets Yacht Rock Revival apart is the joy.

“We have 100 per cent fun. The band members are the best bunch of people I’ve ever known — apart from my children,” she adds quickly. “We have an absolute ball on stage. When we see the happiness in the audience, it comes right back to us. We’re high as a kite when we walk off. It’s a brilliant feeling.”

If Susan could sail into the sunset for a jam session with one original yacht rock legend?

“It would have to be Michael McDonald. He’s the godfather. Christopher Cross and Kenny Loggins are right up there too — but if I had to pick one, it’s Michael McDonald.”

So, if you’re heading to Odyssey Festival on July 25, do yourself a favour and arrive the night before. Dust off the flares. Tease up the hair. Slip on those platforms.

Stereo City Nights is your invitation to step into a time machine — one filled with smooth grooves, soaring harmonies and the kind of feel-good energy that lingers long after the final note fades.

Trust me — you’ll be smiling all the way home.

Tickets for Stereo Nights and the Odyssey Festival are available at www.odysseyfestival.com.au.