Category: Tour Announcements

Posted on by Lauren Katulka

Duran Duran, Smashing Pumpkins, QOTSA Play Adelaide

Adelaide may have missed out on the V Festival, but that doesn’t mean they’ll miss some of the event’s biggest names. 80s pop icons Duran Duran and 90s emo pioneers Smashing Pumpkins are making the trip to South Australia. As an added bonus for Pumpkins fans, Queens of the Stone Age will also appear at this very special show.

Duran Duran will play all their classic tracks and songs from their newie Red Carpet Massacre on April 1 at the Adelaide Entertainment Centre. The big Smashing Pumpkins/Queens of the Stone Age show will play the Ent Cent on the following night. Yes, that’s right: two massive shows on in the middle of the week. I can imagine there’ll be some very bleary-eyed workers in Adelaide!

Tickets for both shows will go on sale to the public at 9 am on Monday 11 February from Ticketek.

Image source: Brian Aris @ Wikimedia Commons

Posted on by Lauren Katulka

Michael Bublé Announces New Shows

Do you have your Michael Bublé tickets yet? This Canadian cutie’s concerts have sold out all over the country, but tickets to some new shows will go on sale tomorrow.

“Australia is one of Michael Bublé’s most popular world markets,” tour promoter Paul Dainty said in a press release.

“When tickets to his national tour went on sale in December they sold out in just minutes. Extra shows were added, yet the demand was still there for more concerts, so Michael has agreed to extend his touring itinerary to look after his fans.”

Michael will perform very special encore shows in Melbourne, Adelaide, and Perth when he tours this May/June. These are the final shows for the tour, so if you miss out this time you’ll miss out for good! Here are all the dates:

28 May 2008 – AIS Arena, Canberra (SOLD OUT)
30 May 2008 – Entertainment Centre, Sydney (SOLD OUT)
31 May 2008 – Entertainment Centre, Sydney (SOLD OUT)
5 June 2008 – Entertainment Centre, Sydney (SOLD OUT)
2 June 2008 – Entertainment Centre, Brisbane (SOLD OUT)
3 June 2008 – Entertainment Centre, Brisbane (SOLD OUT)
6 June 2008 – Rod Laver Arena, Melbourne (SOLD OUT)
7 June 2008 – Rod Laver Arena, Melbourne (SOLD OUT)
9 June 2008 – Entertainment Centre, Adelaide (SOLD OUT)
11 June 2008 – Challenge Stadium, Perth (SOLD OUT)
12 June 2008 – Challenge Stadium, Perth (SOLD OUT)
14 June 2008 – Challenge Stadium, Perth (SOLD OUT)
15 June 2008 – Challenge Stadium, Perth (NEW SHOW)
17 June 2008 – Entertainment Centre, Adelaide (NEW SHOW)
18 June 2008 – Rod Laver Arena, Melbourne (NEW SHOW)

Image source: Quintin3265 @ Wikimedia Commons

Posted on by Lauren Katulka

Kiss Announce More Aussie Dates

Kiss fans who feared the band would jet off after performing at Melbourne’s Formula 1 Grand Prix can rest easy. The band has just announced concerts in Sydney and Brisbane.

The line-up will include original members Gene Simmons and Paul Stanley, with Eric Singer on drums and Tommy Thayer on guitar.

Tickets go on sale on 4 February at 9 am. Prepare to rock and roll all night at the following venues:

16 March 2008 – Formula 1 Grand Prix, Melbourne
18 March 2008 – Entertainment Centre, Brisbane
20 March 2008 – Acer Arena, Sydney

Posted on by Lauren Katulka

Joe Jackson’s Stepping Out In Oz

I’m showing my age here, but I’m pretty psyched to read Joe Jackson’s coming back to Australia in May. Joe will play a string of dates at lovely intimate venues to support the release of his latest album Rain.

If you’re a fan of his early work I wouldn’t stress. When Joe played here in 2003 he played a lot of early material, so I’m sure songs like “Is She Really Going Out With Him?” “Real Men,” and “Stepping Out” will all get a run.

Here are Joe Jackson’s dates:

20 May 2008 – Brisbane Convention and Exhibition Centre, Brisbane
22-23 May 2008 – State Theatre, Sydney
25 May 2008 – Town Hall, Melbourne
27 May 2008 – Entertainment Centre, Adelaide
30 May 2008 – Riverside Theatre, Perth

Image source: Joe Jackson press kit

Posted on by Lauren Katulka

Buffalo Tom Announce Aussie Tour

Here’s some good news for fans of Boston indie kings, Buffalo Tom. It’s been a long wait (nearly 10 years!), but the trio is finally heading back to Australia.

Fans can expect some great shows, including classics like “Sodajerk” and “Taillights Fade” and tracks from last year’s Three Easy Pieces album.

Catch Buffalo Tom at:
7 March 2008 – The Hi Fi Bar, Melbourne (with Even and Elecom)
9 March 2008 – Golden Plains Festival, Meredith
11 March 2008 – The Metro, Sydney (with Smudge and Sam Shinazzi)
12 March 2008 – The Zoo, Brisbane (with Screamfeeder and Sam Shinazzi)

You can buy tickets for the solo shows through Love Police Tours, and Golden Plains tickets directly from the festival website.

Image source: Randy Levine @ Flickr

Posted on by Lauren Katulka

The Phenomenal Ruthie Foster Announces Aussie Tour

Australia’s been a bit slow to cotton on to the brilliance that is Ruthie Foster. But all that’s set to change when this talented soul artist tours Oz for the first time to support her fifth album, The Phenomenal Ruthie Foster.

Ruthie touches down in March for a string of dates including Sydney’s The Basement, the Port Fairy Folk Festival, the Blue Mountains Music Festival of Folk, Roots & Blues, the Point Nepean Music Festival, and the East Coast Blues and Roots Festival.

To coincide with the tour, Shock Records will release three of Ruthie’s previous albums, which were unavailable in Australia. Shock will also release a tour edition of The Phenomenal Ruthie Foster, which includes a bonus live disc.

Here are Ruthie Foster’s Australian tour dates:

4 March 2008 – The Basement, Sydney
8-9 March 2008 – Port Fairy Folk Festival, Port Fairy
13 March 2008 – Northcote Social Club, Melbourne
14 March 2008 – Brunswick Town Hall, Melbourne
15 March 2008 – Mossvale Music Festival, Mossvale
16 March 2008 – Blue Mountains Music Festival of Folk, Roots & Blues, Katoomba
20 March 2008 – The Factory Theatre, Enmore
21-22 March 2008 – East Coast Blues and Roots Festival, Byron Bay
23 March 2008 – Point Nepean Music Festival, Mornington Peninsula

Image source: McBeth @ Flickr

Posted on by Lauren Katulka

Matchbox Twenty Exiled to Australia

Today I received the news I’ve been waiting months to hear. The rumours are true, and my favourite band on the planet, Matchbox Twenty, are returning to Oz.

With the band coming out to promote their greatest hits album Exile on Mainstream, the shows are set to be killer. The tour kicks off on my birthday, April 10, in Melbourne (fancy that!) before heading to Adelaide, Perth, Sydney, the Hunter Valley, and Brisbane.

I know it’s nearly Christmas and money’s tight, but you have until December 14 to save up for tickets to these must-see shows.

Image source: Sry85 @ Wikimedia Commons

Posted on by Lauren Katulka

Michael Bublé’s Coming!

I’ve got to tell you, I’m more than a little bit excited at recent news that Michael Bublé is heading back to Australia next May to promote his third album, Call Me Irresponsible.

I’ve seen Michael on his last two visits to Australia, and he never fails to impress me. It may have something to do with his amazingly pure voice, it may be about his old-school charisma, or it may just be those gorgeous brown eyes. Either way, his return is good news.

It seems the man himself is also pretty chuffed by it.

“I love coming to Australia,” he told AAP. “You are all so nice. Sort of like Canadians, but with good suntans.”

Awww, doesn’t it just make you all warm and fuzzy inside? Also heartening is the news that unlike most artists, Michael’s keeping his ticket prices low. The best seats in the house will only set you back around $100, which is a whole lot less than most of the big stars charge these days.

Of course, at these prices they’re going to go quickly. Sydney and Perth fans can get theirs on December 3, while shows in Canberra, Melbourne, Adelaide, and Brisbane will go on sale on December 6.

Image source: Quintin3265 @ Wikimedia Commons

Posted on by Lauren Katulka

The Ice Man Commeth. Vanilla Ice, That Is

Well here’s some unexpected touring news! Vanilla Ice only had one hit in Australia, and that was 17 years ago, but he’s not going to let that stop him visiting our fair shores.

He’ll play “Ice Ice Baby” of course, but don’t think that’s all you’ll hear. Word is that the Ice Man does mean cover versions of “Satisfaction” and “You Shook Me All Night Long.” A little AC/DC should go down a treat with his Aussie fans (they do exist, right?).

As you can imagine, he’s not exactly packing out entertainment centres these days. You can catch Vanilla Ice kicking off his Aussie tour at the King Street Hotel in Newcastle. From there he’ll visit Coffs Harbour, Wollongong, Sydney, Brisbane, the Gold Coast, Airlie Beach, and Cairns. Am I the only person who thinks this tour may be a good excuse for a surfing holiday?

Kid Kenobi, MC ShureShock, and The Stafford Brothers will add some much-needed cred to the gigs.

Image source: Apavlo @ Wikimedia Commons

Posted on by Lauren Katulka

Lior Tours Endless Road

Lior’s debut album Autumn Flow did big things in 2005, scoring a handful of ARIA nominations and achieving gold status. Now he’s set to replicate this success with album number two, Corner of an Endless Road.

“These new songs are intensely personal and candid,” says Lior. “Corner of an Endless Road is a true representation of my musical landscape; think Led Zeppelin jamming with Nick Drake at a teahouse somewhere in the Middle East.”

That’s some description! Sadly we’ll have to wait until February 9 to hear the new disc, although the first single “Heal Me” is out in November.

But fans will have a sneak peek of the album when Lior takes the new songs on the road in November. He’ll play some very special intimate shows, starting at the Governor Hindmarsh in Adelaide on the 16th. From there he’ll visit Melbourne, Sydney, Fremantle, Brisbane, Port Douglas, Cairns, and Byron Bay. Full details of the shows are available at Lior’s website.

Image source: Jeaneeem @ Flickr.com