The legendary Marillion frontman brings his acclaimed, audience-driven show to Sydney and Melbourne this December.
For the first time ever, Steve Hogarth, the unmistakable voice of Marillion and one of progressive rock’s most expressive vocalists, will perform in Australia, bringing his acclaimed solo show, H Natural, to audiences in Sydney and Melbourne this December.
Known simply as “h”, Steve has fronted Marillion for more than 37 years, helping shape one of progressive rock’s most celebrated catalogues. Before joining Marillion, he was a founding member of The Europeans and How We Live, while also collaborating with artists including The The, Julian Cope, Richard Barbieri and Trevor Horn.
After more than four decades performing around the world, H Natural marks Steve’s long-awaited Australian debut.
“My desire to play in Australia has been constant for years but sadly, Marillion never found a way to come and break even, so I thought I’d better come on my own.”
Unlike a traditional concert, H Natural has no set list. Every performance is created in the moment, with songs, stories and conversations shaped by the audience, ensuring that no two shows are ever the same.
“The show will go where the audience and I take it. We’ll just feel for it. For me, that’s pretty scary, but it’s always worth the nerves.”
Throughout the evening, Steve shares stories from his remarkable career, reads from his personal diaries, reflects on the people and experiences that have shaped his life, and performs stripped-back versions of Marillion favourites, solo material, and songs that have inspired him. Audiences can expect music spanning artists as diverse as Leonard Cohen, Bob Dylan, Rufus Wainwright, Kraftwerk, ABBA and Kate Bush, all delivered with the warmth, humour and emotional honesty that have become hallmarks of his performances.
Rather than a conventional concert, H Natural is an intimate conversation between artist and audience. Honest, spontaneous and deeply personal, every performance develops differently, making each show a completely unique experience.
Fans also have the opportunity to enhance their evening with a limited VIP Experience, including early venue access, an exclusive pre-show soundcheck, a post-show meet and greet with Steve Hogarth, a signed A2 tour poster, exclusive VIP tote bag and commemorative VIP lanyard.
For progressive rock fans, H Natural represents a landmark event: Steve Hogarth’s first-ever Australian solo tour. With no set list and no two shows the same, each performance promises a completely unique evening shaped by the audience, the moment, and one of the genre’s most distinctive voices.
AUSTRALIAN TOUR DATES
Thursday 10 December
Oxford Art Factory – Sydney
Sunday 13 December
Lazybones Lounge – Sydney
Wednesday 16 December
Corner Hotel – Melbourne
Thursday 17 December
Corner Hotel – Melbourne
TICKETS ON SALE NOW
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STEVE HOGARTH REVISITS ‘ICE CREAM GENIUS’ IN EXPANSIVE NEW DELUXE EDITION
And if the Australian tour isn’t enough for antipodean fans, To mark Steve Hogarth’s 70th birthday, on July 24 this year, ‘Ice Cream Genius’ returns in its most complete form to date. Originally released in 1997, the album was Hogarth’s first solo studio work outside of Marillion, a deeply personal, experimental and intimate record that has grown into a cult favourite over the years.
‘Ice Cream Genius’ was never intended as an extension of Marillion. Built around minimal arrangements, spoken-word passages and unfiltered lyrical moments, the album explores identity, isolation and creativity with striking directness. Its strength lies not in scale, but in its vulnerability: a record that feels exposed, unusual and unmistakably human.
At the centre of the reissue is the 3CD+Blu-ray Mediabook, the most expansive presentation of ‘Ice Cream Genius’ ever assembled. Featuring more than 11 hours of material, the vast majority previously unreleased, this edition opens up the full creative world behind the album including all available live videos of the much-acclaimed ‘h Band’ upscaled and remixed by the artist.
Complementing the Mediabook, ‘Ice Cream Genius’ will also be released for the first time on vinyl as a heavyweight black 2LP gatefold edition. This format includes ‘The Last Thing,’ a track previously unavailable on physical formats in Europe, making it a notable addition for collectors.
Recorded at the Racket Club, with vocals added at Chris Rea’s Sol Mill Studios in Cookham and mixed at Van Morrison’s Wool Hall Studios in Somerset, the album was completed on July 20, 1996, following a break during Marillion’s Made Again tour. The core band was handpicked from ‘the last people on earth anyone might have expected me to work with’ and includes members of Blondie, XTC, Japan, and Eurythmics.The title itself originated from producer Craig Leon, who would exclaim ‘I scream genius!’ in the studio when particularly inspired, a phrase Hogarth later transformed into the album’s distinctive name.
Across demos, writing sessions, studio recordings and live material, the set traces the evolution of Ice Cream Genius from its earliest sketches through to the finished record. Alongside the music, new reflections from Steve Hogarth provide personal insight into the ideas, emotions and circumstances that shaped the album, offering a rare, in-depth look at one of his most intimate and uncompromising projects.
Pre Save ‘Ice Cream Genius’ HERE