The Never-Ending Shawrie: A Night to Remember in Brisbane

By Stefan Sojka

What a night.

This week in Brisbane, the music industry showed up in force to honour one of its greatest champions, Gregory Shaw, with a surprise live production of This Is Your Life. Hosted by the magnificent Monique Spanbrook, the event was part tribute, part reunion, and one big, beautiful celebration of a man whose influence has quietly shaped Australian music for decades.

From backstage antics to centre-stage glory, the evening was a heartfelt journey through Greg’s legendary career. Artists, friends, and collaborators gathered to share stories, performances, and memories, some hilarious, some moving, all unforgettable.

For me, it was more than a tribute. It was personal.

Back in 1982, in one of those classic ‘sliding doors’ moments, I turned down a job offer from Greg to play keyboards in a band he was managing. Life went one way, music went another, but the thread never really broke. Fast-forward 37 years to the 2019 Tamworth Country Music Festival, where I found myself behind the keys with The Ayres Rockettes and Saltbush Six, and there was Greg again, just as passionate, just as generous.

And now, 43 years since that first opportunity, I had the honour of playing a grand piano at the Brisbane Jazz Club to help close out the show. One final musical note to wrap up a night of love, laughter, and legacy.

We called it The Never-Ending Shawrie. And it truly felt like the continuation of a story that still has many chapters to come.