Jimmy Barnes surprises fans with a busking performance in Melbourne 

Jimmy Barnes delighted fans by playing a couple of surprise busking shows in Melbourne on Thursday night.

The performances were part of the City of Melbourne’s Music in the City series, which has already seen showings from the likes of Daryl Braithwaite and Tones and I.

Jimmy’s gigs were announced just fifteen minutes prior on social media.

Melbourne’s Lord Mayor Sally Capp said the busking gigs are about ‘bringing the buzz back’ to the city.

The Cold Chisel rocker has been keen to get back on stage after the COVID-19 pandemic destroyed the live music scene.

‘Victoria in particular did it really tough but look what’s happening overseas, we’ve been really lucky,’ Jimmy said.

‘We realise how we missed banding together and seeing live music and letting off steam. It’s a good, healthy thing to do. It’s where people get together and share energy, it’s communal. It’s an important part of this life.’

Earlier this week, Jimmy questioned why privileged tennis stars felt the need to complain about their treatment in Australian quarantine hotels.

The music legend was recently shacked up in a hotel in Melbourne with his wife Jane Mahoney doing his mandatory 14 day self isolation period.

And while the quarantine program has drawn the ire of several internationally acclaimed tennis players, the Australian rocker has ‘no idea’ why they’re complaining.

‘Here we are in Melbourne hotel isolation, waiting for Covid test results. I don’t know what those tennis players are complaining about,’ he wrote on Twitter at the time.

Jimmy shared a picture of his hotel room and the meal he’d ordered to be delivered from one of his favourite restaurants, Vlados.

The 64-year-old offered a smile as he sat at the dining table alongside Jane midway through their meal. 

‘Just had a delicious dinner… They even sent their mustard and horseradish. Strawberry pancakes for dessert.’