At Bluesfest Byron Bay this year, our photographer Jason Rosewarne had incredible access to Lukas Nelson and  Promise of the Real, shooting photos from backstage, side-stage and front and centre. Lukas and band had a wonderful festival, sharing their stage with Leesa Gentz from Hussy Hicks for a duet, and in another inspiring performance with William Crighton and Tracker Pete. It was also a great opportunity for Lukas and band to give us a taste of their next recording, performing tracks from the heart warming, upcoming Turn Off The News and Build a Garden album. There are some amazing photos here of Lukas, Logan Metz (keys), Corey McCormick (bass), Anthony LoGerfo (drums), and Tato Melgar (percussion). Jason was recently placed in the top 20 in Australasia’s Emerging Photographers of 2019 in the portrait category. No surprises there, check out his shots and you’ll see why.

Diesel at Melbourne Guitar Show 2018. Pic by Jason Rosewarne

Australian hit machine Diesel has today announced the Sunset Suburbia project: a trilogy of EPs leading into an album in 2020. And to coincide with the release of new music, Diesel will hit the road once again this October. With his powerhouse band, Diesel will showcase songs from all three Sunset Suburbia EPs, plus hits and fan favourites spanning 30 years of music making.

Diesel says, “Suburbia has always held a strange fascination for me. I remember designer cul-de-sacs strewn with shotgun shells in Chandler, Arizona; little vignettes of skateboarding around closed service stations on weekends in Perth; some guy in the hot tub in his backyard where I’m riding my bike over the rail overpass in Sydney. I love going into where people live — the sights, the smells, the little repetitive things that make their world. It’s kind of a bittersweet thing but it’s the stuff of life and it has a way of making songs.”

After more than 30 years of recording, Mark Lizotte (Diesel) has found a more direct route from inspiration to revelation.
“I’ve really enjoyed [recording the EPs] as it elongates the recording process, allowing for each EP to take on a uniqueness. I’ve always been a bit bummed when getting to the end of making a record, and this in a way delays gratification, making 3 ‘mini albums’ on the way to an LP. I’m also really excited at the prospect of releasing each one as limited edition signed and numbered 10” vinyl to compliment the tour.”

On Sunset Suburbia (Vol. I) (out 19 July), this union of spontaneity and experience yields four of the most instantly arresting songs of Diesel’s multi-platinum career: the kind of exhilarating FM radio hits that sealed his reputation as a 1990s pop-rock auteur with Hepfidelity, The Lobbyist and Solid State Rhyme.

“There’s a lot of lost innocence in these songs. ‘By The Scars’ is pretty much about one or two years in my teens when a lot of things happened… I lost my virginity, I had two guys with balaclavas point a shotgun at me at a gas station… It’s about the time you basically realise the world isn’t as safe as you thought.”

Vol. I of Sunset Suburbia follows last year’s top-20 retrospective, Diesel 30: a double CD which was led by the FM radio embrace of ‘Give Me Saturday Night’.

The second Sunset Suburbia EP will drop later this year, Vol. III is currently under construction, and an album, featuring even more new songs, is due in 2020. Be sure to catch the evolution of Diesel’s ever-expanding horizon as he and his band roll out Sunset Suburbia to a city, town or suburb near you.

DIESEL SUNSET SUBURBIA TOUR AUSTRALIA

OCTOBER – DECEMBER 2019

GENERAL PUBLIC ON SALE NOW

Thursday 10 October
20 Years At The Brass Monkey
Brass Monkey | Cronulla, NSW Tickets on sale Monday 2nd September
* Solo show

Friday 11 October
Central Hotel | Shellharbour, NSW
centralhotelshellharbour.com.au

Saturday 12 October
Manly Leagues Club | Manly, NSW
oztix.com.au

Friday 18 October
Entrance Leagues | Bateau Bay, NSW
oztix.com.au

Saturday 19 October
Wingham Akoostic Festival | Wingham Showground | Wingham, NSW
akoostik.com.au

Friday 25 October
Gateway Hotel | Geelong, VIC
oztix.com.au

Saturday 26 October
York On Lilydale | Lilydale, VIC
oztix.com.au

Friday 1 November
The Juniors | Kingsford, NSW
seatadvisor.com

Saturday 2 November
Hornsby RSL | Hornsby, NSW
hornsbyrsl.com.au

Saturday 9 November
Bridgetown Blues Festival | Bridgetown, WA
bluesatbridgetown.com.au

Sunday 10 November
96FM Kickstart Summer Concert w/ Jimmy Barnes
Ascot Racetrack | Perth, WA
ticketmaster.com.au

Friday 15 November
The Triffid | Brisbane, QLD
oztix.com.au

Saturday 16 November
Southport RSL | Gold Coast, QLD
seatadvisor.com

Friday 22 November
The Gov | Adelaide, SA
oztix.com.au

Saturday 23 November
Get Your Blues On | Renmark Riverfront | Renmark, SA

Friday 29 November
Lizottes | Newcastle, NSW
lizottes.com.au

Saturday 30 November
Lizottes | Newcastle, NSW
lizottes.com.au

Friday 6 December
The Basement | Canberra, ACT
oztix.com.au

Saturday 7 December
Paddington RSL | Paddington, NSW
oztix.com.au

Friday 13 December
Lizottes | Newcastle, NSW
lizottes.com.au

Saturday 14 December
Lizottes | Newcastle, NSW
lizottes.com.au

Sunset Suburbia (Vol. I) EP Out Fri 19 July through Bloodlines

Pre-order  available here

Sunset Suburbia (Vol. I) tracklist:
1 By The Scars
2 I’m With A Girl
3 Coming From You
4 Wake Up With An Angel

It’s comforting to know that Boy & Bear are back with a new single and a massive international tour. Comforting because it’s always great to have new music from one of Australia’s greatest music exports and even more comforting to know that singer, songwriter Dave Hosking is back after enduring a miserable few years suffering from a condition that he is still fighting, but currently has in control. Today, the band returning with a triumphant new single, ‘Hold Your Nerve’, their first new music since the release of the soon to be platinum, #1 ARIA album, Limit of Love (2015).

Along with the release of ‘Hold Your Nerve’, the five-time’s ARIA winners have announced their global tour beginning with headline shows in Brisbane, Perth, Melbourne and Sydney in August then shows in North America, UK and Europe.  Tickets are onsale today from www.boyandbear.com

After the most tumultuous period of the band’s lives both personally and professionally, ‘Hold Your Nerve’ is an upbeat, optimistic song in which the group channel their trademark penchant for organic, seventies sounds into one of their most direct, modern and addictive songs to date.

Produced by Boy & Bear and Collin Dupuis (The Black Keys; Lana Del Rey) and mixed by Tom Elmhirst (Amy Winehouse, Beck, Adele), the single is the first taste of their fourth studio album penciled for a release later this year. Even though on the surface ‘Hold Your Nerve’ charts the story of front-man Dave Hosking and his current partner’s failed first attempt at their relationship, dig deeper and it reveals the backdrop of a debilitating illness front-man Dave Hosking has been dealing with since 2011.

Showing early symptoms of exhaustion – Dave was initially misdiagnosed with chronic fatigue syndrome and then depression and anxiety. The symptoms soon intensified to include cognitive issues which robbed Hosking of the ability to piece together lyrics and write songs. Hosking’s struggled whilst writing and recording Limit of Love and as his health continued to decline he noticed a deterioration in his eyesight and a constant ringing in his ears.

After working with a myriad of specialist’s, hope came in late-2015 when doctors detected a gut bacterial issue that has been poisoning his nervous system. Medication and a radical alteration of his diet offered minor improvements, to the point where he could commit to touring Limit of Love. By the end of the cycle, however, Hosking had deteriorated further.

For an act at the peak of their career, with a #1 album in Australia and selling out venues such as the Hordern Pavilion and Riverstage, the band made the decision to take 2017-18 off the road to give Dave time to focus on his health. it was a decision fraught with uncertainty and anxiety. But there was no question that Hosking’s wellbeing was the priority. Whereby Limit of Love was written collaboratively, the band spent months of 2017-18 trying out new writing ideas as Hosking rode an emotional and physical rollercoaster.

Dave made significant progress during this period when he was introduced to a new treatment, called Faecal Microbiota Transplant (FMT). Also known as a stool transplant, FMT is the process of transplanting faecal bacteria from a healthy person into a recipient. His donor, Harry was brought to Nashville for the writing and recording of the new album.

Prior to the FMT treatment, Hosking had been unable to conjure lyrics or remember melodies long enough to put them to use. For the first time since recording Limit of Love, he experienced enough relief to allow him to contribute to the songwriting sessions for the new album.

While Dave’s health remains a work in progress, both he and the band can finally look to the future with optimism. ‘Hold Your Nerve’ is their first step back into the light.

BOY & BEAR
Hold Your Nerve Australian dates

PRESALE: UNTIL THU 6 JUN 11.59PM

GP ONSALE: FRI 7 JUN @ 9AM

Thursday August 15 | The Tivoli, Brisbane
Friday August 16 | The Forum, Melbourne
Saturday August 17 | Enmore Theatre, Sydney
Friday August 23 | The Astor, Perth

http://www.boyandbear.com/

After selling out its last three years, the music jewel of the Bellarine the Queenscliff Music Festival is back for its 23rd year with a killer first round line up of local and global artists.

Icons performing on the Peninsula this November are a mix of solo sensations and chart-topping bands. Multi-award winning singer-songwriter Missy Higgins and multi-talented musician, broadcaster and sometime actor Clare Bowditch will be flying the female frontrunners flag, and country music star Troy Cassar-Daley and blistering blues-rocker Ash Grunwald will bring the songbook swag. New Zealand are lending legend Tim Finn, who will bring his adored back catalogue of hits from Split Enz to solo days, and British percussive guitar master Newton Faulkner will perform his latest and greatest with gusto.

Spectacular showmen The Cat Empire and Melbourne’s own future soul quartet and (twice Grammy hopefuls!) Hiatus Kaiyote will bring the big band sounds, along with folk trio stalwarts The Waifs and fan favourite intergalactic rockers The Delta Riggs. Another flock of eclectic entries on the international front are coming coast-side in 2019 too. Canada’s Juno Award nominated artist and producer Alysha Brilla will showcase her cross-cultural roots, Southern Californian surf rockers Allensworth are perfectly placed to bring the coastal grooves whilst Nashville-based touring troubadour and cult-followed entertainer Steve Poltz will once again grace our shores with his dynamic and dexterous on-stage antics.

More Aussie acts rounding out the announce are adored satirical singer-songwriters Paul McDermott & Gatesy, Rhiannon Atkinson-Howatt’s indie-pop alter ego Merpire, Americana eight-piece Fools, six piece rhythm n’ roots outfit Amaru Tribe, Sydney jazz trio Brekky Boy, dance-inducing Dubarray from the Sunshine Coast, Tamworth-raised, Sydney-based singer-songwriter Charlie Collins, Tasmanian folksinger Claire Anne Taylor and eighteen year-old indie, rock & soul up-and-comer Stevie Jean have been announced to perform too.

A weekend-long celebration of live music, family-friendly activities, craft beers, fine wines, local produce and more, it’s no wonder the Queenscliff Music Festival and its picturesque locations attract musicians, entertainers and visitors from all over the country as well as overseas. The festival team are also incredibly aware of their environmental footprint as an event that sees approx 20,000 people come through each year, and are immensely proud of the 90.07% of waste they were able to divert from landfill in 2018. The Queenscliff Music Festival have recycled all plastics into picnic tables and benches, so attendees of this year’s festival will most likely be sitting on and eating off the results of this great initiative.

And in recent ticket news, weekend passes and Camping & Glamping are on sale now with single day tickets going on sale on the 1st of July.

The 23rd Queenscliff Music Festival will run from 22nd – 24th November 2019.

The first line up announcement is:

Allensworth (USA)

Alysha Brilla (CAN)

Amaru Tribe

Ash Grunwald

Brekky Boy

The Cat Empire

Charlie Collins

Claire Anne Taylor

Clare Bowditch

The Delta Riggs

Dubarray

Fools

Hiatus Kaiyote

Merpire

Missy Higgins

Newton Faulkner (UK)

Paul McDermott & Gatesy

Steve Poltz (USA)

Stevie Jean

Tim Finn (NZ)

Troy Cassar-Daley

The Waifs

More information: https://www.qmf.net.au/

Legendary Aussie rockers Grinspoon have announced their epic Chemical Hearts national tour, set to make its way around the country in October and November, supported by The Hard Aches, Gooch Palms and Bugs.  In celebration of the tour, the band will be releasing a Chemical Hearts vinyl record on the day the tour kicks off (October 11) with a tracklist that will offer fans a nostalgic taste of what’s to come at the shows.

In 1997, the youthful Grinspoon uploaded the track Sickfest to triple j Unearthed, not knowing the life-changing success that was to come.  With Sickfest, Grinspoon won Unearthed’s national band comp in its first year – and for the next two months the track was the stations’ most request song.  What followed was an illustrious career, with seven albums, Top Ten ARIA chart spots, ARIA Awards, 13 ARIA nominations, more than 1,000 gigs, tens of thousands of frequent flyer miles, 7 appearances at the Big Day Out as well as slots at Homebake, Falls Festival, Splendour In The Grass, an NRL Grand Final and a Commonwealth Games Closing Ceremony in Melbourne.  Despite these massive achievements, Grinspoon don’t have plans to wrap things up any time soon.

The Chemical Hearts tour will be packed with hits and audience faves from the band’s festival performances over the years, but will also pay homage to their discography after the record that thrust them into the spotlight, Guide To Better Living.  It will kick off in Fremantle on October 11 at Metropolis, then move through Perth, Melbourne, Canberra, Hobart, Adelaide, Wollongong, Newcastle, Sydney, Gold Coast, and wrap up in Brisbane on November 8 at The Fortitude Music Hall.

The accompanying vinyl record, Chemical Hearts, will contain some of the band’s favourite singles and a taste of the setlist from the tour.

“It is with great delight that we announce a cute little sojourn around the country with Grinspoon visiting (hopefully) all of you!  We are going to be doing a little thing called Chemical Hearts.  The tour comes with the crazy new vinyl record which features (arguably) some of our favourites on wax,” says lead vocalist Phil Jamieson. “Joining us are absolute legends of the game The Hard Aches, Gooch Palms and Bugs.  These concerts will have a very exciting atmos  due to the individual scintillating performances by these amazing acts.  We’re super excited to be doing this tour.  We don’t get out much anymore and our last one focused primarily on our first record and this one will take a more broad approach to the little nuggets of songs that came between 1995 and 2013.  Sooooooo…. long story short.  TOUR – CHEMICAL HEARTS – OCTOBER / NOVEMBER ~ ripper time.  Ripper bands.  Great times.  Classic hits.”

Tickets on sale now

The Chemical Hearts vinyl record will be available October 11.

Grinspoon is Phil Jamieson on vocals, Pat Davern on guitar, Joe Hansen on bass and Kristian Hopes on drums.

GRINSPOON ‘CHEMICAL HEARTS’ NATIONAL TOUR

FRI 11 OCT | METROPOLIS, FREMANTLE WA | 18+

SAT 12 OCT | METRO CITY, PERTH WA | 18+

WED 16 OCT | THE FORUM, MELBOURNE VIC  | 18+

FRI 18 OCT | UC REFECTORY, CANBERRA ACT | 18+

WED 23 OCT | ODEON THEATRE, HOBART TAS | 18+

SAT 26 OCT | ENTERTAINMENT CENTRE THEATRE, ADELAIDE SA | AA

THURS 31 OCT | WAVES, WOLLONGONG NSW | 18+

FRI 1 NOV | ENTERTAINMENT CENTRE, NEWCASTLE NSW | AA

SAT 2 NOV | HORDERN PAVILION, SYDNEY NSW | AA

THURS 7 NOV | THE STAR BROADBEACH, GOLD COAST QLD | 18+

FRI 8 NOV | THE FORTITUDE MUSIC HALL, BRISBANE QLD | 18+

Tickets available from http://www.grinspoon.com.au/

Acclaimed Australian musician and Maton endorsee Joe Robinson is a self-taught virtuoso guitarist who has just launched a 12 week online training platform called JOES12, featuring many other guitar legends such as Steve Vai, Eric Johnson, Robben Ford, Keb Mo and Tommy Emmanuel to name a few. Joe has immersed everything he has learned into this 12 week course, which features over 30 hours of footage. Designed to give you a big picture view of the different aspects of being a modern guitarist, he’ll dive deep into topics like Practice, Foundations, Arranging, Gear, Improvising, Songwriting, Recording, Touring and so much more.

Not only will you learn first-hand from Joe about how he approaches his music, you’ll also hear him ask 19 of his mentors what they’ve learned during their careers. As well as chats with the guitarists named earlier, you’ll also get an insight into the minds of producers, engineers, luthiers and industry luminaries such as Fred Gretsch.

Joe has put together an expert team who will support you every step of the way. Whether you are already a member, or considering joining, there’s a FAQ section onsite or you can email and ask for further assistance.

“I am fortunate enough to travel the world playing music for a living and I am constantly asked about my practice schedule, what it’s like being on the road, what the Nashville scene is like, what books did I read, who did I study, how do I begin writing songs… the list goes on. I feel there is plenty of tutorial content out there – but not enough real insight into what is involved in being a professional musician,” says Joe of his JOES12 project. “My mentors have helped me so much during my journey as a musician and I’m so thrilled to be able to spread their wisdom to you all. I have no doubt that Immersing yourself in this course for 12 weeks will be an informative, enriching experience that will sharpen your skillset and deepen your music.”

Check out the course now. Also lookout for Joe Robinson’s fabulous new album Undertones, which was released in March this year.

For more information, visit the JOES12 website https://joes12.com/

The Australian Music Association is excited for the return of the Melbourne Guitar Show, set to rock Caulfield Racecourse on August 3 and 4, 2019 – and this year’s show is set to be colossal.  Proudly presented by Triple M, Australian Musician, PBS and media partners Noise11 and Beat/Mixdown, the lineup boasts an impressive haul of both local and international artists.  In addition to the world-class performances from the artists on the massive lineup, #MGS2019 will also hold a huge gear expo that will feature a gigantic variety of electric and acoustic guitars, effects pedals, amps and more state-of-the-art guitar technology, both home-grown and from around the world.  See, try and buy!  It will continue to be Australia’s biggest guitar pop-up shop, as well as hosting information seminars, demonstrations, and live performances from Australia’s most talented guitarists.

On Monday we announced a handful of high profile artists who will be performing at this year’s Melbourne Guitar Show, August 3&4 at Caulfield Racecourse.

Now we can reveal a shipload more!

Joining the already announced:
Ash Grunwald
Sarah McLeod
Stars feat:
– Mal Eastick
– Nick Charles
– Roger McLachlan
– Mick Pealing
Lloyd Spiegel
Keith Merrow (USA)
Dennis Jones (USA)
James Norbert Ivanyi
Anna Scionti
Robyn Payne’s Engine Room

will be:
Dave Leslie (Baby Animals)
Phil Manning
Chris Finnen
Shannon Bourne
Cartridge Family feat:
– Sarah Carroll
– Suzanna Espie
Adam Miller
Paul Carey and Julian Scheffer
Minnie Marks
Simon Hosford’s Fair Warning (Playing entire Van Halen debut album)
James Ryan
Van Larkins
Mark ‘Phisha’ Fisher
The Organic Trio feat:
– Rob Papp
– Rob Mercer
– Jon Wade
Rod Bustos
Chris Bieniek
Jeremy Barnes
Michael Dolce
Sergio Ercole
Liz Frencham
Corey Legge
Ben Kelly
Charlie Bedford

And that’s not the end of it. Stay tuned for even more huge surprises over the coming weeks leading up to the show.

Drawing thousands of guitar lovers and enthusiasts to the 2018 Melbourne Guitar Show, #MGS2019 is growing year on year and is gearing up for the biggest event yet.  Champion of the Australian music products industry, Australian Music Association (AMA) will be teaming up with australianmusician.com.au and presenting sponsors Triple M, 3PBS, Noise11 and Beat/Mixdown to present this year’s guitar-centric weekend.  At last year’s show, punters not only enjoyed scheduled performances and demos from the awesome artists on the lineup, but also witnessed surprise on-stand appearances from some of Australia’s finest artists, including Harts, Darren Middleton (Powderfinger), Bec Sandridge, Dan Sultan and many more.  Both the organisers and the exhibitors are constantly wrangling acts right up until the very last minute – and who will be joining the all-star jam this year? Come on down and find out!

Thrilled to present #MGS2019 once again, AMA executive officer and MGS organiser, Rob Walker says, “It’s exciting to see the show develop each year and add value to the live music industry.  We are proud to present such a broad range and quality of guitars, amps and gear from the big brands to local artisans.  And each year we get to put together a program of live music featuring the considerable talents of our guitar community.  It’s a great weekend for anyone into music, particularly guitars.”

Rob continues, “And not only will the #MGS2019 provide a hands-on chance to see and play such a broad range of gear, there’ll be bargains a plenty.  We like to call it Australia’s biggest pop up guitar store!”

The Melbourne Guitar Show will be held at Caulfield Racecourse on August 3 and 4.

Tickets are on sale June 7.

The Melbourne Guitar Show is produced by the Australian Music Association, an incorporated not-for-profit. Proceeds, if any, are used to provide services to the Australian music products industry, particularly the promotion of music making to the community.

Online ticket prices when pre-ordered:: Adult day pass $20, adult weekend pass $30, family day pass $40, concession day pass $10, concession weekend pass $15

MELBOURNE GUITAR SHOW DETAILS

SATURDAY AUG 3 | CAULFIELD RACECOURSE |10.00am – 6.00pm

SUNDAY AUG 4 | CAULFIELD RACECOURSE | 10.00am – 4.00pm |

pic Danny North

Following the highly successful 2017 tour in celebration of the band’s seminal album, The Joshua Tree Tour, 2019 will see the band make a much anticipated return to New Zealand and Australia for the first time since the record-shattering U2 360° Tour in 2010, as well as the first Tokyo shows since the Vertigo Tour in 2006. The Joshua Tree Tour 2019 will also bring U2 to Singapore and Seoul – for the first time ever – with what promises to be very special concerts from “the biggest band in the world” (The Guardian).

Special guest Noel Gallagher’s High Flying Birds is confirmed as support for  the dates in New Zealand and Australia with Noel saying, “We, NGHFB, are beside ourselves. The Joshua Tree 2017 Tour was some of the most fun we ever had. It will be both an honour and a pleasure to share the stage with our friends and comrades once again. It’s gonna be a ripper!!!!!”.

Released to universal acclaim on 9^th March 1987 and featuring hit singles “With Or Without You”,“I Still Haven’t Found What I’m Looking For” and “Where The Streets Have No Name”, The Joshua Tree went to #1 in the U.K, Ireland and around the world, selling in excess of 25 million albums, and catapulting Bono, The Edge, Adam Clayton and Larry Mullen Jr “… from heroes to superstars” (Rolling Stone).

The Joshua Tree Tour is a celebration of the original album and tour of the same name undertaken by U2 in 1987 and features the complete album played in sequence along with a selection of highlights from U2’s extensive catalogue of songs. The innovative staging includes a specially commissioned series of haunting and evocative films from Dutch photographer, film-maker  and longtime collaborator Anton Corbijn – whose iconic photography accompanied the original recording  – in brilliant 8k resolution on a 200 x 45 foot cinematic screen, the largest high-res LED screen ever used in a touring show.

Bono said “It’s only taken me 30 years to learn how to sing these songs and it’s great to be able to say that I’ve finally caught up with the band. Our audience has given the Joshua Tree a whole new life on this tour. Doing these shows has been very special for us, a lot of emotion… From the despair of how relevant some of the dark songs still are, to the joy, pure fun of the staging… it’s quite a ride. And now we get to do it all over again. Auckland, Brisbane, Melbourne, Adelaide, Perth, Sydney, Tokyo, Singapore, Seoul… We’re coming for you”.

“We really, REALLY wanted to bring The Joshua Tree to New Zealand, Australia and Asia” added The Edge. “We promised we would and finally, now we can say that we will see you in November… It’s going to feel like a homecoming and we are very excited”.

The Joshua Tree Tour 2019 kicks off in Auckland on 8th November and will visit Brisbane, Adelaide, Melbourne, Sydney and Perth, before moving on to Singapore, Tokyo and Seoul. Tickets for the NZ/AU shows go on sale on Tuesday 11th June  2019 (times vary per city). U2.com subscribers will have first opportunity to purchase tickets starting Tuesday 4th June through Thursday 6th June with a 4 ticket limit (see www.U2.com for details).

In a first for any artist performing in New Zealand and Australia, and to ensure fans have the best access, stadium floor tickets for all the band’s NZ/AU shows will be paperless with delivery via mobile devices 72 hours prior to the applicable show. There will be an 8 ticket limit for general public sales.
In Japan reservations for U2.com subscribers will begin on Tuesday 4th June. Pre-orders via PIA and ePLUS begin Friday 14th June, and general sale for both performances will begin Saturday 20th July.  There will be a 4 ticket limit for subscribers and an 8 ticket limit for public sales.

In Seoul, the ticketing presale for U2.com subscribers will begin on Monday 10th June with tickets on general sale Wednesday 12th June. There will be a 4 ticket limit for subscribers and an 8 ticket limit for public sales.

Date and venue information for the Singapore show soon to be announced.

NEW ZEALAND / AUSTRALIA / JAPAN / SOUTH KOREA 2019 TOUR DATES:

08 November              Auckland, NZ              Mt. Smart Stadium
12 November              Brisbane, AU              Suncorp Stadium
15 November              Melbourne, AU            Marvel Stadium
19 November              Adelaide, AU               Adelaide Oval
22 November              Sydney, AU                 Sydney Cricket Ground
27 November              Perth, AU                    Optus Stadium

04 December              Tokyo, JP                    Saitama Super Arena
05 December              Tokyo, JP                    Saitama Super Arena
08 December              Seoul, KR                   Gocheok Sky Dome

For complete tour and ticket information, visit: www.u2.com

Epiphone, the leader in affordable professional instruments, proudly presents the Ltd. Ed. George Thorogood “White Fang” ES-125TDC Outfit, the premier signature guitar by blues legend GEORGE THOROGOOD. Featuring a vintage-inspired ES-125 hollowbody archtop in a Bone White finish with removable “Cobra” sticker, new ProBuckerTM P-90 single-coil pickups, a hand-signed Certificate of Authenticity, Custom Hard Case with “snake-skin” handle, and WilkinsonTM Deluxe Tuners.

The ES-125 thin-line hollowbody was first introduced in 1956 as a student guitar, but in George Thorogood’s hands, his rare, late 50s two-pickup ES-125 was transformed into one of the most iconic instruments in American music. “My new Epiphones are like riding a thoroughbred horse–you have to hold them back,” explains THOROGOOD. “You should have more to work with not less. That’s when it gets fun. I used to struggle with my old guitars backstage. Now, I can’t wait to get to the gig. Thanks, Epiphone!”

Watch GEORGE THOROGOOD talk about and play his new “White Fang” ES-125TDC,

THOROGOOD and his band, George Thorogood & The Destroyers have sold over 15 million albums, built a classic catalog of hits, and played more than 8,000 ferocious live shows. See THOROGOOD and his Ltd. Ed. George Thorogood “White Fang” ES-125TDC Outfit live in action during George Thorogood & The Destroyers’ forthcoming North American tour, “Good To Be Bad Tour: 45 Years Of Rock.” The “Good To Be Bad Tour: 45 Years Of Rock” tour continues Saturday, June 22 in Hinckley, MN, for all tour dates, visit: https://www.georgethorogood.com.

“Bad to the Bone” Classic ES-125:
The Ltd. Ed. George Thorogood “White Fang” ES-125TDC Outfit is a full hollowbody archtop made in collaboration with GEORGE and Epiphone’s luthiers in Nashville. The “White Fang” features a Bone White finish and a removable “Cobra” sticker that is an exact replica of the decal on GEORGE’s personal customized ES-125. The “White Fang” is powered by new Epiphone P-90 PRO™ single coil pickups, which recreate the tone of the first generation of P-90s invented by Gibson legend Seth Lover. The “White Fang” includes a hand-signed Certificate of Authenticity and Custom Hard Case with “snake-skin” handle.

Epiphone distributed in Australia by Australis Music Group 

Eric Bibb. The Fyrefly. St Kilda. Sunday May 26, 2019
Review and photos: Greg Phillips

Midway through his set, after playing songs titled Going Down Slow and Goin’ Down the Road Feelin’ Bad, it suddenly occurred to Eric Bibb that its seems he’s always going somewhere. For the audience at Bibb’s second sold out show at St Kilda supper club, The Firefly they were going somewhere too, a two-hour long journey through the history of the blues via Bibb’s extensive catalogue of feel-good blues.

Often tagged as being the happiest man on in the world (the title of his 2016 album), it’s difficult to dispute the claim as Eric relates his stories of hope and joy to his adoring audiences worldwide. Audience interaction is key for Eric and he doesn’t mind a singalong either. Needed Time and Mole In The Ground gave ample opportunity for the crowd to test their lung capacity, revealing quite a few decent voices amid the general hum.

With A Dolla In My Pocket, from 2017’s Migration Blues record tells the poignant tale of a musician who disses his factory boss and has to flee town in a hurry without time to farewell his family. The silver lining is that he eventually finds himself in Chicago where he becomes a successful piano player. There’s a point to be made in all of Bibb’s tunes, messages that we can all take away and ponder.

The energy really lifted a notch when Eric pulled out a dynamic version of With My Maker I Am One from 2010’s Booker’s Guitar album. His band, consisting of long time guitarist Stefan Aster, bassist Neville Malcolm and drummer Paul Robinson (who played behind Nina Simone for 20 years) are seasoned musicians who watch, listen and respond to Bibb intuitively. Their contribution is not only solid but also beautifully sublime when such moments are required.

As the band took their second bows on stage, the crowd rose to their feet to salute a consummate performer and story teller. Before they even had time to sit down, Eric had already positioned himself near the exit door ready to chat and thank people as they left the venue … a humble and hugely talented guy with boundless positive energy. Eric Bibb is an artist that absolutely everyone needs to see at least once in their life.