Australian live music fans were spoilt for choice in 2022: with borders finally reopened globally, we saw hundreds upon hundreds of artists make their way Down Under for some much-welcomed gigging. Whether they were filling out stadiums for titans like Billie Eillish and Dua Lipa, or flocking to more intimate gigs at their nearest local, Australian crowds welcomed a stellar batch of touring artists with open – and likely flailing – arms.
Heading into 2023, the touring landscape only grew more chaotic – there’s been no shortage of enormous stadium and arena tours from pop and rock icons, as well as theatre and club runs from our indie favourites. The second half of the year is positively stacked with drool-worthy gigs, from pop heavyweights like Charlie Puth and Lizzo, to rock and punk favourites like Evanescence, Thrice and Ghost.
There really is something for everyone on the calendar, so with that in mind, NME has compiled a roundup of the biggest tours, concerts and gigs set to hit Australian shores throughout 2023.
Evanescence: Celebrating 20 years of ‘Fallen’
When: August 24 – September 2
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Back in March, Evanescence celebrated the 20th anniversary of their iconic debut album, ‘Fallen’ (the record that gave us hits like ‘Bring Me To Life’ and ‘My Immortal’). To honour the milestone with their Australian fans, the gothic greats will play highlights from ‘Fallen’ – and favourites from across their entire discography – over five dates this August.
Hitting stages in Meanjin/Brisbane, Eora/Sydney, Kaurna/Adelaide, Naarm/Melbourne and Boorloo/Perth, this tour will mark the band’s first in Australia since 2018. Tickets for all of the dates are on sale now – find them here for Meanjin’s show and here for all the others.
We Came As Romans
When: August 29 – September 2
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We Came As Roman’s first visit to Australia since 2015 will see them joined by Invent Animate, who will play their debut shows in the country. The four-date run includes stops in Adelaide, Sydney, Melbourne and Brisbane, and comes in support of We Came As Romans’ 2022 album ‘Darkbloom’. Find tickets here.
Thrice
When: August 31 – September 7
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Thrice’s Australian tour will celebrate the 20th anniversary of their 2003 major label debut, ‘The Artist In The Ambulance’. It includes shows in Melbourne, Sydney, Brisbane, Adelaide and Perth, Badlands, all of which take place between August 31 and September 7.
Sunshine Coast band Wifecult will support the Melbourne, Sydney and Brisbane shows of the tour, while local punks St Judes will open the Adelaide gig. Perth alt rockers Shangrila will perform at both of the WA dates. Tickets are on sale here.
Napalm Death and Wormrot
When: September 5 – September 12
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The British grindcore pioneers head back to Australia in spring for their first shows in the country in six years. Since their last visit, the band have released two new records: 2020’s ‘Throes of Joy in the Jaws of Defeatism’ and a companion to that album released last year, ‘Resentment Is Always Seismic’.
Napalm Death will be joined on the tour by Singaporean purveyors of extreme metal Wormrot, who released latest album ‘Hiss’ last year.
Culture Club
When: September 5 – September 14
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New Romantic icons Culture Club are gearing up for their long-awaited return to Australia, with their first tour in six years slated for September. Boy George and co. will play five shows across all the regular hotspots, taking to arenas in Perth, Sydney, Melbourne, Adelaide and Brisbane. It’ll be a ‘greatest hits’ affair, with the setlist drawing from all six of their studio albums. Find tickets here for all of the dates.
Neck Deep
When: September 5 – September 11
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Welsh pop-punk Neck Deep will tour Australia in September, with stops in Melbourne, Sydney, Brisbane, Adelaide and Fremantle. Since the band last toured the country in 2018, they’ve released their fourth studio album ‘All Distortions Are Intentional’, and returned earlier this year with standalone single ‘Heartbreak of the Century’.
Neck Deep will be joined on the run by local favourites Yours Truly. The band – now a duo comprised of vocalist Mikaila Delgado and guitarist Teddie Winder-Haron – last released the ‘Is This What I Look Like?’ EP in 2022. Find tickets for the tour here.
Extreme and Living Colour
When: September 6 – September 13
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Extreme and Living Colour will co-headline a quintet of Australian tour dates this September, marking the first trips Down Under for both of them in five years. Extreme will be plugging their upcoming sixth album – aptly titled ‘Six’ and due out on June 9 – while Living Colour are celebrating the 30th anniversary of their classic 1993 album ‘Stain’. Tickets for all shows are on sale now – find them here for Brisbane and here for everywhere else.
Against The Current: The ‘Nightmares & Daydreams’ tour
When: September 8 – October 4
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Against The Current‘s Australian tour comprises three successive dates in Brisbane, Sydney and Melbourne this September. At the top of the following month, the band will play shows in Belgrave (October 1) and Adelaide (October 3), before wrapping up the six-date tour in Perth on October 4. Find tickets here.
Cattle Decapitation and Fallujah
When: September 12 – September 20
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American deathgrind veterans Cattle Decapitation are headed back to Australia in September, bringing with them songs from their blistering new album ‘Terrasite’. Joining them on the tour – which will include shows in Perth, Adelaide, Sydney, Melbourne, Canberra and Brisbane – will be Californian technical death metal outfit Fallujah. Find tickets here.
Junny
When: September 15 – September 17
The rising Canadian-Korean K-pop star – who has written and composed for the likes of NCT, Baekhyun, SHINee and more – will visit Australia for the first time in September.
As part of the tour, Junny will play two shows – one at Crown Casino in Melbourne and another at Home the Venue in Sydney – in support of his latest album ‘Blanc’, which arrived last year. Tickets in Sydney are sold out, but limited VIP tickets remain for Melbourne. Find those here.
Nick Mason’s Saucerful Of Secrets: The Echoes Tour
When: September 16 – September 25
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As the only Pink Floyd member to perform on all 15 of their studio albums, founding drummer Nick Mason has earned the right to lead his own tour of the iconic prog-rockers’ early catalogue. Performing with his Saucerful Of Secrets band (which also features Pink Floyd’s former touring bassist Guy Pratt, as well as guitarists Lee Harris and Gary Kemp, and keyboardist Dom Beken), Mason will deliver cuts from Pink Floyd’s pre-‘Dark Side Of The Moon’ era in Melbourne, Brisbane, Sydney and Perth. Find tickets here.
Rex Orange County
When: September 19 – October 1
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Rex Orange County didn’t make it to Australia last year as initially planned, but fans needn’t fret about his eventual return – a run of five new dates has been announced, taking in Kaurna/Adelaide, Meanjin/Brisbane, Gadigal/Sydney, Naarm/Melbourne and Boorloo/Perth over the last couple weeks in September and very start of October. Tickets are on sale now – find them here.
P1Harmony: [P1USTAGE H : P1ONEER] tour
When: September 20-22
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K-pop boyband P1Harmony will head down under for the very first time on their [P1USTAGE H : P1ONEER] tour, playing Festival Hall in Melbourne, Hordern Pavilion in Sydney and then Spark Arena in Auckland. Get more show details here and check out NME’s interview with the “meme kings” of K-pop.
Nick Mulvey
When: September 20 – September 22
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Nick Mulvey will make his way to Australia for the second time ever this September, marking his return some nine years after he first visited in 2014. This time around – touring in support of last year’s ‘New Mythology’ album – he’ll perform in Meanjin/Brisbane, Eora/Sydney and Naarm/Melbourne. All three shows are on sale now, with tickets available here.
The Acacia Strain and Dying Wish
When: September 21 – September 30
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In September, The Acacia Strain return to Australia for the first time since 2017. They’ll be bringing with them fellow US metalcore act Dying Wish – who will play their debut Australian shows as part of the tour. Novocastrian hardcore outfit Volatile Ways will also be joining for the majority of dates on the run.
The Acacia Strain’s upcoming visit comes in support of their recently-released albums ‘Step Into The Light’ and ‘Failure Will Follow’, which arrived simultaneously in May featuring collaborations with Full of Hell’s Dylan Walker, Primitive Man’s Ethan McCarthy, Sunami’s Josef Alfonso and more.
JPEGMAFIA
When: September 25 – September 27
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Just over a year since his last visit, rap experimentalist JPEGMAFIA returns to Australia for a pair of headline shows to coincide with his Listen Out festival appearances. Peggy will play underneath the (artificial) stars at the Forum in Melbourne on September 25, before performing at the Roundhouse in Sydney two nights later.
JPEGMAFIA’s most recent album was his link-up with Danny Brown, ‘Scaring The Hoes’, which arrived earlier this year. Even without his collaborator, Peggy’s shows lately have seen him draw heavily on that album’s songs, so expect to hear the likes of ‘Lean Beef Patty’ and ‘Fentanyl Tester’. Find tickets here.
Tems
When: September 26 – October 3
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NME 100 alumnus Tems will head Down Under in late September, taking to theatre stages in Eora/Sydney and Naarm/Melbourne before she performs at the Promiseland festival on the Gold Coast. Fans can expect to hear cuts from both her EPs – 2020’s ‘For Broken Ears’ and 2021’s ‘If Orange Was A Place’ – with tickets for all the shows available here.
Hiss Golden Messenger
When: September 27 – September 30
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North Carolina singer-songwriter MC Taylor will bring his long-running indie-folk project to Australia for the first time in September. In addition to a headline performance at Hunter Valley festival Dashville Skyline, Taylor – joined by his full live band – will play headline shows at Melbourne’s Corner Hotel and the Great Club in Sydney.
By the time the shows roll around, new Hiss Golden Messenger record ‘Jump for Joy’ will have arrived, adding to an already extensive catalogue of songs for Taylor and co. to draw from. Find tickets here.
Giveon
When: September 30 – October 4
The American R&B singer will tour Australia for the first time this year, beginning with an appearance at Promiseland on the Gold Coast alongside Ms. Lauryn Hill, Tems, Fireboy DML, Koffee, ONEFOUR and more.
He’ll then play a headline show at Sydney’s Hordern Pavilion, along with a pair of consecutive dates at the Palais Theatre in Melbourne. Tickets are currently sold out for all headline dates, but Promiseland tickets are available through the festival’s website.
Son Little
When: September 27 – October 1
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Son Little’s second time Down Under – following up on a short trip he made back in 2016 – will see him play stately venues in Meanjin/Brisbane, Eora/Sydney and Naarm/Melbourne, as well as the Wanderer festival on the Sapphire Coast. The R&B songster has dropped three albums since his last visit – ‘New Magic’ in 2017, ‘Aloha’ in 2020 and ‘Like Neptune’ last year – so these setlists are sure to be jam-packed with jams. Tickets are on sale now – find them here for the Eora show and here for all the others.
Kevin Morby
When: September 27 – October 8
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American singer-songwriter Kevin Morby returns for a string of headline shows in addition to an appearance at Wanderer Festival in Palumba Beach. Morby will be bringing songs from last year’s ‘This Is a Photograph’, which NME called one of the best albums of 2022, describing it as an “ambitious, heart-warming and deeply personal entry from a songwriter who knows no other way than to bare it all”. Find tickets here.
Fireboy DML
When: September 30 – October 2
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Nigerian afrobeats star Fireboy DML is headed to Australia for the first time. He’ll kick off his visit with a performance at Promiseland on the Gold Coast, alongside the likes of Ms. Lauryn Hill, Giveon and Tems.
Following that appearance, he’ll play headline shows at the Forum in Melbourne and Sydney’s Enmore Theatre, lighting up stages with his eclectic blend of R&B, dancehall and more. Find ticketing details for Fireboy’s headline dates here and Promiseland here.
Ghost
When: October 3 – October 7
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Ghost’s next Australian congregation has been locked in for this October, taking Papa Emeritus IV and his band of Nameless Ghouls to their biggest stages yet in Sydney, Melbourne and Brisbane.
All three dates of the tour have been upgraded from their original venues, and it’s been confirmed the band will be bringing their full international concert production over so fans can enjoy the full Ghost experience. The tour comes in support of their recent ‘Phantomime’ EP. Find ticking information here for Brisbane, and here for everywhere else.
- READ MORE: Ghost’s Tobias Forge talks new covers EP ‘Phantomime’: “It casts a glimpse as to where I want to go”
She Wants Revenge
When: October 3 – October 7
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It’s been nearly two decades since we first heard the mind-melting magic of She Wants Revenge, and now the Californian five-piece are finally taking their live show to Australia. Newly reunited (for the second time), they’ll play small theatre shows in Meanjin/Brisbane, Naarm/Melbourne and Eora/Sydney this October – see tickets here.
Waterparks
When: October 3 – October 8
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Waterparks’ have finally announced their first headlining tour of Australia, making the trek this October to support their just-released fifth album, ‘Intellectual Property’. It’ll also mark the first time local fans can see them play cuts from ‘Fandom’ (2019) and ‘Greatest Hits’ (2021). Supporting all five dates of the tour will be Lights, making her return to Australia for the first time since 2012. The run will head to theatres in Perth, Adelaide, Sydney, Brisbane and Melbourne, with tickets for all cities available here.
Mount Eerie
When: October 5 – TBA
Washington songwriter Phil Elverum – also of The Microphones – brings his Mount Eerie project to Australia in October for a handful of headline shows. He’ll perform at the Art Gallery of NSW as part of the inaugural Volume festival program, plus shows in Castlemaine, Melbourne and a Brisbane date to be announced.
On two of the shows, Black Belt Eagle Scout will both play opening sets and join Elverum as his backing band. Tickets for Castlemaine and Melbourne are on sale now. Find more information about the Sydney date here.
They Might Be Giants: ‘An Evening With: Flood, Book And Beyond’
When: October 5 – October 11
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2023 marks the 33rd anniversary of They Might Be Giants’ landmark third album, ‘Flood’ – an odd year to celebrate an anniversary for, maybe, but one fans certainly won’t question. The legendary alt-rockers will perform their seminal effort in full on the upcoming run, hitting stages in Brisbane, Sydney, Melbourne, Adelaide and Perth this October. See here for tickets.
Weezer
When: October 6 – October 8
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While in the country as main support for KISS‘ final Australian show on their farewell tour, Weezer will slot in a couple of headline shows. They’ll bookend the KISS support slot at Accor Stadium in Sydney with their own dates at Melbourne’s John Cain Arena and Brisbane Entertainment Centre.
Australian trio Regurgitator will join the American alt-rockers at both of their headline shows, as well as the KISS gig. Find ticketing details for Weezer’s headline dates here.
KISS: ‘The Final Curtain’
When: October 7
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One last Australian show has been locked in for KISS’ farewell tour, with fans in Eora/Sydney being treated to a standalone gig at Accor Stadium on Saturday October 7. Weezer will perform as the main support and tickets will be available here.
In a press statement, KISS bassist Paul Stanley said of the upcoming show: “You have made your voices loud enough that it was impossible for us not to hear you! We are overwhelmed by your petitions and calls for one last KISS so we are now announcing that The End Of The Road will detour one last time to Sydney for a final bombastic farewell. As unexpected as this is for us, we will make it unforgettable for all who share the night with us.”
Bakar
When: October 7 – October 15
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British singer-songwriter Bakar is set to tour Australia for the first time, combining festival appearances in Canberra and Wollongong with headline shows in Melbourne, Brisbane, Sydney and Perth.
Having made a splash with his acclaimed 2018 mixtape ‘Badkid’, Bakar is currently still touring off the back of his debut studio album, last year’s excellent ‘Nobody’s Home’. Find tickets for his Australian shows here.
Radwimps
When: October 9 – October 13
Japanese rockers Radwimps – who you may have heard soundtracking Makoto Shinkai’s 2022 film Suzume alongside Kazuma Jinnouchi – will play Australia for the first time in October. The trio will play the Hordern Pavilion in Sydney before a pair of shows at the Forum in Melbourne.
“This is going to be our very first tour in Australia and we’re so excited to perform in front of you so please be prepared!” said lead singer Yojiro Noda in a statement. All three shows are sold out.
Hobo Johnson: Hobo Johnson Won’t Do a Shoey Tour
When: October 11 – 18
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Hobo Johnson returns to Australia in October, hitting Brisbane, Sydney, Melbourne and Adelaide for headline gigs and Wollongong’s Yours & Owls Festival. The tour’s emphatic name, the Hobo Johnson Won’t Do a Shoey Tour, should give you an idea of what (not) to expect.
Peach Pit
When: October 12 – October 16
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Canadian indie outfit Peach Pit are set to bring their jangly guitar-pop to Australia for the first time. The band’s debut headline tour includes will see them bring favourites from 2020’s ‘You and Your Friends’ and last year’s ‘From 2 to 3’ to stages in Melbourne, Sydney and Brisbane. Find tickets here.
Sorry
When: October 12 – October 17
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The British band – who’ve steadily cemented themselves as one of the more interesting, left-field indie rock acts in recent years – will make their maiden voyage to Australia in October.
Along with appearances at the inaugural SXSW Sydney and Yours & Owls Festival in Wollongong, Sorry will play headline shows in Brisbane, Melbourne and Sydney, delivering favourites like 2018 earworm ‘Starstruck’ and newer cuts from 2022 album ‘Anywhere But Here’. Find tickets here.
Masego
When: October 12 – October 20
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The saxophonist-rapper Masego released his self-titled sophomore album in March this year, an extension of his self-described “trap house jazz” style first heard on the 2018 single ‘Tadow’, with French multi-instrumentalist FKJ. In a live setting, Masego switches between his saxophone, the microphone and drum machine, combining jazz, soul and hip-hop.
Masego will make six stops on his 2023 tour, playing shows in Brisbane, Wollongong, Sydney, Melbourne, Adelaide and Perth. In Wollongong he’ll play Yours & Owls festival – check the rest of the line-up here.
Wallice
When: October 13 – October 15
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Wallice wowed Aussie audiences earlier this year when she played her debut shows in the country supporting The 1975 on the band’s ‘At Their Very Best’ tour. In October, the Los Angeles singer-songwriter (and NME 100 member) is coming back to play her first headline shows here – in Melbourne and Brisbane – along with an appearance as part of the inaugural SXSW Sydney. Find tickets for the headline dates here, and more info on SXSW Sydney here.
Oliver Tree
When: October 13 – October 21
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Less than a year since his last visit to Australia (for Splendour in the Grass 2022), the enigmatic Oliver Tree will return for a run of headline dates alongside an appearance at Yours & Owls Festival in Wollongong.
Oliver will play shows in Brisbane, Sydney, Melbourne, Adelaide and Perth, with support from Los Angeles rapper Sueco. Grab your tickets here.
Lil Tjay
When: October 14 – October 21
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New York rapper Lil Tjay is one of the major drawcards of this year’s Yours & Owls Festival in Wollongong in October. He’ll follow that appearance with headline shows at Sydney’s Hordern Pavilion, Festival Hall in Melbourne and Fortitude Music Hall in Brisbane.
Lil Tjay’s Australian dates are part of his ‘Beat the Odds’ world tour, which comes in support of this third studio album ‘222’. That arrived in July, featuring collaborations with the likes of The Kid LAROI, Summer Walker, Fivio Foreign and Polo G. Find tickets for Tjay’s Australian dates here.
Phony Ppl
When: October 15 – October 18
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Eclectic New York quintet Phony Ppl will return to Australia in October, after their debut trip back in 2019. Since then, the band have released third studio album ‘Euphonyus’, another genre-diverse record featuring collaborations with Megan Thee Stallion and the Soul Rebels.
In October, the band will play three Australian shows, bringing their distinct blend of hip-hop, R&B, soul and jazz to stages in Sydney, Melbourne and Brisbane. Get yourself tickets here.
Earl Sweatshirt
When: October 15 – October 19
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The enigmatic rapper returns to Australia in October for an appearance at Wollongong’s Yours & Owls Festival along with a trio of east coast headline dates. Since last visiting in 2020, Earl has released his fourth studio album: ‘Sick!’ arrived early last year.
NME called the record a “dystopian world full of thunderous bass and disorientating melodies” in a four-star review, praising “bars that feel venomous yet picturesque”. Earl will show off cuts from the album at theatres in Sydney, Melbourne and Brisbane – find tickets here.
Descendents
When: October 13 – October 19
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The Californian punk legends return to Australia for the first time in over six years. Milo and co. will play five headline shows in addition to an appearance at Yours & Owls Festival in Wollongong.
Since their last visit, Descendents have released their eighth studio album: 2021’s ‘9th & Walnut’, a collection of songs originally written by the band in their earliest years. They’ll be bringing those cuts, plus classics from albums like ‘Milo Goes to College’ and ‘Everything Sucks’, in October. Find ticketing info here.
Bury Tomorrow
When: October 13 – October 21
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In what will be their first-ever headline tour of the country, Bury Tomorrow will make their Australian debut next year with new bandmates Ed Hartwell and Tom Prendergast in tow. The October run of shows will arrive shortly after ‘The Seventh Sun’, the band’s upcoming album set for release in March 2023. Bury Tomorrow’s six-date tour includes shows in Newcastle, Brisbane and Perth. Head here for tickets.
Lauv: Between Albums Tour
When: October 18 – October 26
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Lauv will return to Australia on the Between Albums Tour, which is already mostly sold out. He’ll play two concerts apiece in Perth, Sydney and Melbourne, capping off the run with a gig in Brisbane. Tickets are still available for the October 19 show in Perth and October 26 show in Brisbane at time of writing.
Happy Mondays: ‘Twenty Four Hour Party People’ tour
When: October 19 – October 25
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The baggy kings in the Happy Mondays have announced their return to Australian shores, with six shows on the itinerary for this October. Along with two Melbourne dates, they’ll play in Brisbane, Sydney, Adelaide and Perth for the local leg of their ‘Twenty Four Hour Party People’ tour, across which they’ll perform a slew of their greatest hits. Remaining tickets for all the shows are on sale now: you can find them here if you’re in Brisbane, or here if you’re anywhere else.
Built to Spill
When: October 20 – October 26
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American indie rock veterans Built to Spill will return to Australia for the first time since 2016. They’ll kick off their tour with shows at Sydney’s Manning Bar and the Triffid in Brisbane, before a three-night residency at Melbourne’s Northcote Social Club as part of the city’s new music festival, The Eighty-Six.
Since they last played in Australia, the band have released their ninth studio album, last year’s ‘When the Wind Forgets Your Name. They also have a new line-up, with bassist Melanie Radford and drummer Teresa Esguerra joining frontman and sole constant member Doug Martsch in 2019. Find tickets here.
Harvest Rock sideshows: Warpaint, Bright Eyes, Sparks, The Lemon Twigs, Chromeo, Santigold
When: October 21 – November 4
After a successful debut last year, Adelaide festival Harvest Rock returns in late October with a very tempting line-up for alternative music lovers. If heading to South Australia isn’t within reach, you’re in luck: plenty of international drawcards on the bill will play their own headline shows while in the country.
Highlights include Sparks‘ first Australian tour in some 25 years, and a Bright Eyes/Warpaint double-header at Northcote Theatre in Melbourne. Find tickets for Bright Eyes here, Warpaint here, and all other shows here.
SXSW Sydney sideshows: Otoboke Beaver, Los Bitchos, Connie Constance
When: October 22 – October 27
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South by Southwest (SXSW) comes to Australia for the first time in October, with the Texas-born festival’s inaugural Sydney edition set to bring a slew of exciting artists and speakers to our neck of the woods. In addition to their appearances at SXSW Sydney, multiple international acts will also be playing their debut headline shows around the country.
That includes Japanese punks Otoboke Beaver, who will play shows in Brisbane and Melbourne (as part of new festival The Eighty-Six), and a Melbourne show for English singer-songwriter Connie Constance. London’s Cumbia-inspired instrumental psych group Los Bitchos, meanwhile, will play shows in Melbourne and Perth alongside their SXSW performance. Find tickets here.
The Corrs
When: October 25 – November 6
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The Corrs’ first full-scale national tour in over 20 years will take place towards the end of 2023, with shows in most capital cities booked for October and November. The pop rock family band will be supported in all cities – including Perth, Newcastle, Sydney and more – by singer Natalie Imbruglia as well as Toni Childs, and Germein. Find tickets here.
Charlie Puth: ‘Charlie’ tour
When: October 27 – November 1
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Charlie Puth has announced the Australian leg of his ‘Charlie’ album tour, heading Down Under for the first time ever this October. Performing cuts from his recent third album – which he’s described as his “most personal yet” – he’ll take to stately venues in Meanjin/Brisbane, Naarm/Melbourne and Gadigal/Sydney; tickets for all three shows are on sale now, here for Meanjin’s and here for the other two.
Lagwagon: ‘By Request’ tour
When: October 27 – November 5
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Lagwagon are returning to Australia at the end of October, playing six of their own shows as well as the Schooner Or Later festival in Sydney. All of their setlists will be unique, too, with the band exclusively playing songs requested by fans. It’ll be a night to remember for any Lagwagon fan, and tickets to all of the shows are on sale now – find them here for the first one in Meanjin/Brisbane, and here for the rest.
Sam Smith: ‘Gloria’ tour
When: October 28 – November 8
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The singer will tour Australia for the first time since 2018, playing arenas in Adelaide and Brisbane, as well as two dates in Melbourne and Sydney and Brisbane. The tour comes in support of Smith‘s fourth studio album ‘Gloria’, featuring their smash hit Kim Petras collaboration ‘Unholy’.
Half Alive
October 31 – November 2
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After making their debut in 2019, Half Alive will return to Australia to play three shows in spring. The Long Beach band will be showing off cuts from their second album, ‘Conditions of a Punk’, which they released late last year. Find your tickets here.
Example: ‘Bangers, Hits and a Couple New Bits’ tour
When: November 3 – November 17
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British-born, now Australian-based EDM purveyor Example will play a trio of east coast shows in November as part of a tour he’s calling ‘Bangers, Hits and a Couple New Bits’. It’ll mark his first major Australian headline tour in a decade and, as the name suggests, see him delivering an eclectic set filled with classics from across his extensive catalogue.
Example will be joined for all three dates of the tour by Australian DJ Godlands. Find tickets for those shows here.
Porter Robinson
When: November 4 – November 11
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Porter Robinson will return to Australia in November for his first tour of the country in over half a decade. The American producer and singer will play both legs of This That festival in Queensland and Newcastle, with headline dates at Melbourne’s Margaret Court Arena and Sydney’s Hordern Pavilion sandwiched between.
Robinson’s current live setup sees him singing and playing piano and an assortment of digital instruments while accompanied by a full-scale visual production. He’ll be playing songs from latest album ‘Nurture’ – an intimate, introspective record that arrived in 2021. Find ticketing info for Robinson’s headline shows and This That festival.
Def Leppard and Motley Crue
When: November 8 – November 14
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Def Leppard and Mötley Crüe have announced the Australian leg of their co-headlining world tour, playing stadiums in Meanjin/Brisbane, Eora/Sydney and Naarm/Melbourne this November. In a press statement, Def Leppard frontman Joe Elliott said: “After getting back on the road this past summer, we’re beyond thrilled to bring this massive tour to a global audience including some special dates in Australia!”
Mötley Crüe shared their excitement in a group statement of their own, writing: “We had an incredible time playing The Stadium Tour in North America and we truly can’t wait to continue taking the show around the globe with The WORLD Tour in 2023. Crüeheads get ready because we have a few amazing Australian dates set for you!”
Tickets for all three shows are on sale now, here for Meanjin and Eora and here for Naarm.
The Aces: ‘I’ve Loved You For So Long’ tour
When: November 9 – 12
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They’ve shown their hand: Utah band The Aces will head to Australia for the first time ever on the ‘I’ve Loved You For So Long’ tour in support of their new album of the same name. They’ll perform in Melbourne, Sydney and Brisbane before flying to Tokyo, Japan.
The Exploited
When: November 9 – November 19
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The Exploited‘s nine-date Australian tour serves as a belated celebration of the band’s 40th anniversary. The Exploited’s first run of shows in the country since 2015 will kick off with back-to-back shows in Geelong, Melbourne, Adelaide and Perth from November 9. Successive shows from November 15 will follow. Find tickets here.
Suicidal Tendencies
When: November 10 – November 18
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The Californian punk-thrash crossover veterans will return to Australia for the first time in over five years in November. Mike Muir and co’s ‘Still Cyco Punk After All These Years’ tour marks four decades since their landmark, self-titled debut album arrived in 1983.
They’ll be playing the album in full, bringing the likes of ‘Institutionalized’, ‘Subliminal’, ‘Two Sided Politics’ and ‘Won’t Fall in Love Today’ to stages in Brisbane, Sydney, Melbourne and Adelaide. Find tickets here.
The Brian Jonestown Massacre
When: November 11 – November 24
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American psych-rockers The Brian Jonestown Massacre will return to Australia return to Australia in November, playing 10 shows around the country.
Anton Newcombe and associates have released three albums since their last visit here – a self-titled 2019 record, 2022’s ‘Fire Doesn’t Grow on Trees’ and this year’s ‘The Future Is Your Past’ – so there’s plenty of new material for the band to showcase. Find tickets for those shows here.
Robbie Williams: ‘XXV’ world tour
When: November 11 – December 1
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Arriving over a year after his two headline shows and performance at the AFL Grand Final this year, concertgoers will again welcome Robbie Williams as part of his ‘XXV’ Australian tour. The run of shows includes both metropolitan stadiums – in Sydney and Melbourne – and regional wineries like Queensland’s Mount Cotton.
Williams, who will be touring his namesake album ‘XXV’, added new dates to the schedule in September, bringing the number of tour dates to nine. Find tickets here.
Dance Gavin Dance
When: November 12 – November 19
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Dance Gavin Dance will make it Down Under for the first time in four years this November, playing five theatre shows in support of their monumental tenth album, last year’s ‘Jackpot Juicer’. Joining them will be Nothing More, whose own last time performing to Australian fans came all the way back in 2015. The two acclaimed rock outfits will head to Naarm/Melbourne, Boorloo/Perth, Kaurna/Adelaide, Gadigal/Sydney and Meanjin/Brisbane – find tickets here for the lattermost date, and here for all the others.
Liturgy
When: November 16 – November 18
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Brooklyn black-metallers Liturgy are finally making their way to Australia this November, playing intimate gigs in Meanjin/Brisbane, Eora/Sydney and Naarm/Melbourne with support from fast-rising noise artist Uboa. Fans can expect to hear highlights from their sprawling sixth album – ‘93696’, which arrived independently back in March – as well as gems from across their full 16-year catalogue. Tickets are on sale now – find them here.
Bloc Party
When: November 10 – November 14
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Before they kick off an east coast co-headline tour with fellow turn-of-the-century indie rock titans Interpol, Bloc Party will play three very special headline shows. Kele Okereke, Russell Lissack and co. will kick off their Australian visit with a show at Red Hill Auditorium in Perth, before dates in Adelaide and Hobart. Sort out your tickets here.
Joji
When: November 16 – November 20
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YouTube-prankster-turned-R&B star Joji played his first Australian shows earlier this year as part of Laneway Festival. Now, he’s coming back to play his first headline shows here, with three arena dates in November as part of his ‘Pandemonium’ tour.
The singer-songwriter is still touring in support of his third studio album ‘Smithereens’, which featured the ARIA chart-topping single ‘Glimpse of Us’. He’ll be joined on all three shows by special guests Sam Gellaitry and SavageRealm. Find tickets here.
Interpol and Bloc Party
When: November 18 – November 23
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Interpol and Bloc Party, two of the most iconic, lasting bands to have emerged from the early 2000s indie rock explosion unite for three Australian east coast co-headline shows in November.
They bring with them a combined wealth of classics, plus cuts from latest albums ‘The Other Side of Make-Believe’ and ‘Alpha Games’, both of which arrived last year. Find ticketing info here.
Coldplay: ‘Music of the Spheres’ world tour
When: November 18 – November 19
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Coldplay are returning to Australia in November to play two shows: a pair of exclusive concerts at Perth’s Optus Stadium on November 18 and 19. The gigs will mark the British band’s first shows in Western Australia in 14 years, and was organised in partnership with Tourism WA in a bid to attract interstate visitors.
The Perth concerts – which will feature support from Amy Shark, Thelma Plum and Tash Sultana – form the Australian leg of Coldplay’s ‘Music of the Spheres’ world tour, in support of the band’s 2021 album of the same name. Both shows are sold out.
Måneskin: ‘Rush! Tour’
When: November 20 – November 25
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Still riding the high of their Eurovision win in 2021, Måneskin are taking their just-released ‘Rush!’ album to Australia this November. It comes as part of a four-month world tour to support the album – their third overall, earning three stars from NME – with local dates locked in for Brisbane, Sydney, Melbourne and Adelaide. Tickets are on sale now – find them here.
The Weeknd
When: November 20 – December 4
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At long last, Abel Tesfaye is bringing his ‘After Hours Til Dawn’ tour to Australia this year, for his first shows Down Under since late 2017. With cuts from both 2020’s ‘After Hours’ and last year’s ‘Dawn FM’ to showcase alongside other favourites, the musician better known as The Weeknd will have a wealth of material to draw on.
For these east coast stadium shows, Tesfaye will be joined by hip-hop producer extraordinaire (and frequent collaborator) Mike Dean, along with R&B singer Chxrry22. Find ticket info here.
Beth Orton
When: November 22 – November 26
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BRIT Award-winning singer-songwriter Beth Orton will return to Australia for the first time in six years in November, playing concert halls in Melbourne and Sydney, and the Tivoli in Brisbane.
Orton will perform with her full band in tow, playing songs from her eighth studio album: last year’s acclaimed ‘Weather Alive’. Find tickets here.
Paramore and Remi Wolf
When: November 22 – November 27
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Paramore will return to Australia for their first shows in the country in over five years, playing three shows in November in support of their 2023 album ‘This Is Why’. The trio will be joined on all dates by special guest Remi Wolf, with the singer returning less than a year after her debut Australian headline tour. Find ticketing details here.
Frank Turner and the Sleeping Souls: The Never Ending Tour of Everywhere 2023
When: November 22 – November 29
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Frank Turner’s always on the road, so it’s no surprise that the UK singer-songwriter and his band the Sleeping Souls are bringing The Never Ending Tour of Everywhere 2023 down under. With special guests Mom Jeans and Emily Barker, they’ll play headline shows in Sydney, Brisbane, Melbourne, Perth and Adelaide, and perform at Victoria’s Queenscliff Music Festival.
Highly Suspect
When: November 23 – November 25
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More than seven years after they last toured Australia on their debut run of shows, American rockers Highly Suspect will return in November for a trio of east coast dates that includes their first Brisbane show.
The band are touring in support of their fourth album ‘The Midnight Demon Club’, which arrived in September last year after being previewed with singles like ‘Natural Born Killer’ and ‘Ice Cold’. Find tickets for all three shows here.
Dermot Kennedy
When: November 24 – December 10
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Dermot Kennedy will play his biggest Australian shows to date this year, following up a string of sold-out gigs in 2022. In addition to appearances at all four stops of this year’s Spilt Milk festival, the Irish singer-songwriter will play headline shows in Melbourne, Sydney and Brisbane.
Since he last visited Australia, Kennedy has released his second album ‘Sonder’, which this tour comes in support of. The album arrived last last year, and features singles like ‘Better Days’ and ‘Kiss Me’. Find tickets for Kennedy’s headline shows here.
Electric Callboy: ‘Tekkno’ tour
When: November 25 – December 1
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German techno-metal outfit Electric Callboy will embark on their first-ever headline tour of Australia in November, plugging cuts from ‘Tekkno’ – their highly acclaimed sixth album – in Fremantle, Adelaide, Melbourne, Sydney and Brisbane. It follows their recent trek here for last year’s Good Things festival, and you can score tickets to these new shows here.
Post Malone: If Y’all Weren’t Here, I’d Be Crying tour
When: November 23 – December 3
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After warming up stages around the country for Red Hot Chili Peppers over the summer, Post Malone will return for a headline tour towards the end of the year in support of his forthcoming fifth studio album, ‘Austin’.
Headline shows have been confirmed for Brisbane, Sydney and Melbourne. Canberra, Gold Coast, Ballarat and Perth dates are also on the cards, with details to be revealed at a later date. In the meantime, find ticketing info for the east coast headline dates here.
Jackson Browne
When: November 29 – December 1
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After coming down with a severe illness, Jackson Browne was forced to axe the Sydney and Melbourne dates of his recent Australian tour. Fans in those cities won’t have to wait long for his return, though: the 74-year old rock’n’roller has announced new shows for the end of this year, taking to Melbourne on Wednesday November 29, Sydney on Friday December 1, and Mount Cotton on Saturday December 2.
He’ll be joined by Liz Stringer at all three shows, and additionally by The Waifs and Vika & Linda in Queensland. Tickets are on sale now via Frontier.
Foo Fighters
When: November 29 – December 12
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Foo Fighters have announced their momentous return to Australia, slating five enormous shows on the itinerary for the end of the year. Touring in support of their just-released 11th album, ‘But Here We Are’, it’ll be the rock titans’ first trek Down Under since the passing of drummer Taylor Hawkins last March (with Josh Freese sitting in his place). They’ll take to stadium stages in Boorloo/Perth, Kaurna/Adelaide, Naarm/Melbourne, Eora/Sydney and Meanjin Brisbane, with most shows supported by up-and-coming acts from around the country.
The Chats will open for the Foos everywhere but the first Naarm show, where Teen Jesus And The Jean Teasers will open alongside UK emo band Hot Milk. The latter group will also play in Meanjin and Eora, while Teenage Joans will open the show in Boorloo and the second show in Naarm, and Body Type will kick things off in Kaurna.
Tickets for the Boorloo show are available here, with all the others available here.
Kraftwerk
When: November 29 – December 15
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Kraftwerk, the fathers of electronic pop music, will make their return to Australia and New Zealand in November. In addition, the band will make its way to rural Victoria to headline the beloved Meredith Music Festival. The tour marks the first time since May 2013 that the current line-up of Ralf Hütter, Henning Schmitz, Falk Grieffenhagen and Georg Bongartz have made the trip.
Founded in 1970, in Dusseldorf, Kraftwerk’s groundbreaking use of synthesisers changed the face of pop music. They have left an almost unquantifiable legacy over 11 studio albums, including its seminal works ‘Autobahn’ (1974), ‘Trans Europa Express’(1977), ‘Die Mensch-Machine’ (1978) and ‘Computerwelt’ (1981). Their robotic funk was adopted by early hip hop culture in the breakdancing and DJ scenes.
Enter the Meredith Music Festival ballot here.
Fletcher
When: December 2 – December 9
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It was just last August that Fletcher made her Australian debut, but fans of the New Jersey songstress will be thrilled to know she’s already locked in her second trip. Come December, she’ll perform in some of the country’s most iconic venues – the Hordern Pavilion in Eora/Sydney, the Forum in Naarm/Melbourne, the Fortitude Music Hall in Meanjin/Brisbane and Metro City in Boorloo/Perth – with tickets for all of the shows (including a newly added second date in Naarm) on sale now; find them here for Meanjin and here for everywhere else.
50 Cent
When: December 2 – December 10
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50 Cent will head to Australian arenas at the end of the year, performing giant shows in Boorloo/Perth, Kaurna/Adelaide, Naarm/Melbourne, Eora/Sydney and Meanjin/Brisbane. His first tour here since 2019, it’ll celebrate 20 years of his acclaimed debut album ‘Get Rich Or Die Tryin”. See here for tickets to all dates, including newly added shows in Naarm, Meanjin and Eora.
- READ MORE: Soundtrack Of My Life: 50 Cent
Jai Paul
When: December 4 – December 5
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Before 2023, it didn’t seem like Jai Paul would ever perform live at all, let alone here in Australia. That all changed in January, when it was revealed the reclusive British songwriter and producer would play his first-ever live shows as part of this year’s Coachella Festival.
Paul went on to play headline shows in the US and UK, and in December, Australian fans will at long last get to see him perform the likes of ‘BTSTU’, ‘100,000’, ‘He’ and ‘Str8 Outta Mumbai’. He’s only playing two shows while in Australia – both at Melbourne’s 170 Russell. Find tickets here.
The War On Drugs / Spoon / Indigo Sparke
When: December 4 – December 11
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It’s been half a decade since we last saw The War On Drugs tour Australia, but the drought finally ends this December – they’ll be playing stately rooms in Eora/Sydney, Naarm/Melbourne, Meanjin/Brisbane and Boorloo/Perth this December, and they’ll bring Spoon and Indigo Sparke along for the ride.
The tour comes in support of their fifth album, ‘I Don’t Live Here Anymore’, which arrived in October of 2021 and earned critical acclaim: in a five-star review, NME’s Rhys Buchanan called it “a soul-stirring epic”, writing that “there’s magic everywhere you look on this triumph of an album”. Tickets for all four of the shows are on sale now – find them here.
The Tallest Man On Earth
When: December 6 – December 8
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The Tallest Man On Earth (aka Kristian Matsson) is bringing his ‘Henry St.’ tour to Australia this December, performing in theatres along the east coast – Sydney, Brisbane and Melbourne – for the first time since 2016. Tickets for all three shows are on sale now, and you can find them here.
Caroline Polachek
When: December 6 – December 13
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It seems impossible, but Caroline Polachek has never played a solo headline show in Australia (though her band Chairlift performed here numerous times). That all changes in December, when the avant-pop artist brings ‘The Spiralling Tour’ to our shores.
Polachek will be playing three east coast headline dates, bringing songs from this year’s ‘Desire, I Want to Turn You’, 2019’s groundbreaking ‘Pang’ and more. Find ticketing details here.
EarthGang
When: December 8 – December 17
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US rap duo Earthgang are headed to Australia at the end of the year. The majority of their shows in December will see them opening for Genesis Owusu’s tour in support of his second album, ‘STRUGGLER’.
Following their shows with Owusu, Olu and Wow Gr8 will play a one-off headline show at the Rechabite in Perth on December 17. Find tickets for Earthgang’s shows with Owusu and headline Perth date here.
Harry Connick Jr
When: December 3 – December 18
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Harry Connick Jr is currently making waves as a host on Australian Idol, but come December, he’ll embark on his first national tour here since 2010. He’s released a five studio albums in that time, with the most recent being 2021’s Grammy-nominated ‘Alone With My Faith’. Shows will go down in Perth, Adelaide, Sydney, Brisbane, Canberra and Melbourne, with tickets for all of them available here.
Alex G
When: December 5 – December 10
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It’s been more than five years since cult singer-songwriter Alex G last toured Australia. In that time he’s released not one but two brilliant new albums’ worth of off-kilter noise-folk: 2019’s ‘House of Sugar’ and last year’s ‘God Save The Animals’.
In December, Alex G makes his long-awaited return to Australia, playing headline shows in Perth, Melbourne, Sydney and Brisbane alongside his appearance at this year’s Meredith Music Festival. Find tickets for his headline shows here.
Alvvays
When: December 5 – December 16
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Last year, Canadian dream-pop quintet Alvvays returned with their third album and first in five years, ‘Blue Rev’. It was well worth the wait, with NME calling it one of the best albums of 2022.
In December, Alvvays will return to Australia for the first time since 2019, playing as part of the Meredith Music Festival line-up along with headline shows in Sydney, Brisbane, Melbourne and Perth. Hop to it – tickets are available here.
Hot Milk
When: December 7 – December 8
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After their debut Australian shows last year, Hot Milk will return in December to support Foo Fighters on the band’s Australian stadium tour. While here, the Manchester emo duo squeeze in a couple headline club shows.
They’ll come armed with their debut album, ‘A Call To The Void’, which was released in August. Find tickets and more information here.
Novo Amor
When: December 7 – December 9
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Novo Amor (aka Ali Lacey) will play his first Australian shows this December, with the Welsh multi-hyphenate playing theatres in Brisbane, Sydney and Melbourne. He’ll trek down the east coast in support of his fourth album, ‘Antarctican Dream Machine’, which arrived last July – find tickets here.
L7
When: December 8 – December 16
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L7’s first Australian tour since 2016 will kick off on Friday December 8, when the legendary rockers take to the Metro Theatre in Sydney. From there, they’ll hit stages in Brisbane, Adelaide, Perth and Melbourne – a second show already announced for the lattermost city – with the whole tour seeing them perform their classic 1992 album, ‘Bricks Are Heavy’, in its entirety. You can grab tickets for the Brisbane show here, with tickets for all the others available here.
Pigs Pigs Pigs Pigs Pigs Pigs Pigs
When: December 9 – December 16
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The British stoner metal quintet will make their maiden voyage to Australia later this year to perform as part of the Meredith Music Festival line-up. After the festival apperance, they’ll kick on for shows in Melbourne, Canberra, Sydney and Brisbane, bringing their walloping doom to Aussie fans for the first time.
They’ll have new material in tow: the band’s fourth album ‘Land of Sleeper’ arrived in February this year. Fix yourself up with a ticket here.
Metal Church
When: December 14 – December 17
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America’s Metal Church will tour Australia towards the tail end of the year in support of their 13th studio album, ‘Congregation of Annihilation’. Both that album and the Australian tour in support of it will be the band’s first without longtime vocalist Mike Howe, who died in 2021.
Earlier this year, Marc Lopes was announced as Metal Church’s new singer, making his recorded debut with the band on the new single ‘Pick a God and Prey’. Guitarist Kurdt Vanderhoof has called the album the start of “a new chapter in the Metal Church legacy”, while Lopes says he is “honoured to be part of carrying on [the band’s] legacy into a new era”. Find tickets for the upcoming tour here.
Additional reporting by Ellie Robinson and Alex Gallagher
