Some Australia’s most respected musicians will join forces in January to pay tribute to the art of Lou Reed, The Velvet Underground & Nico. All eras of Lou Reed will be celebrated including everything from I’m Waiting For The Man to Perfect Day, from Venus In Furs to Satellite of Love, from Sweet Jane to Vicious, from Pale Blue Eyes to Walk On The Wild Side, from Femme Fatale to Coney Island Baby and so much more!
The fabulous cast includes: Robert Forster (The Go-Betweens), Mick Harvey (The Bad Seeds, The Birthday Party), Dave Graney (Dave Graney and the Coral Snakes), Rob Snarski (The Blackeyed Susans, The Triffids) and Stefanie Duzel.
The Band iconsists of: – Robbie Warren (Died Pretty), Barton Price (Models, The Winged Heels), Roger Mason (Models), Paul McDonald (Glide, the Gin Palace, Steve Kilbey) and Mark Tobin (Caligula, the Gin Palace, Steve Kilbey)
Dave Graney returned to Australian Musician to discuss the upcoming Celebrating Lou Reed, The Velvet Underground & Nico concert series, which will hit Sydney, Brisbane, Melbourne and Adelaide in early 2026. The production, curated by Metropolis Touring with musical direction from Paul McDonald, brings together an impressive lineup including Robert Forster, Mick Harvey, Rob Snarski, Stefanie Duzel and Graney himself, backed by what Graney promises will be a “really good band.”
MORE ABOUT THE SHOWS
Graney’s connection to Lou Reed goes back to his teenage years in Mount Gambier, discovering Transformer and Rock ‘n’ Roll Animal at friends’ houses and being captivated by Reed’s mix of great songwriting, Bowie’s touch, and the power of Mick Ronson’s guitar. He recalls the shockwave of Metal Machine Music, a friend spending all his pocket money on the infamous double LP of pure noise and the mystique surrounding everything Reed released during the 70s.
For these tribute shows, Graney has deliberately selected only Reed’s solo material: “upbeat kind of groovers” he can “dance around and sing,” rather than play guitar. While the arrangements and sequencing are still to be finalised, he’s looking forward to performing alongside a cast he knows well and admires.
Reflecting on Reed’s legacy, Graney laughs about the artist’s famously combative media persona, admiring his dry humour and his ability to disarm interviewers. He speaks thoughtfully about the Velvet Underground’s unique alchemy and avant-garde ideas colliding with primitive pop instincts, as well as the crucial but complicating influence of Andy Warhol and New York’s art-world mythology.
As for the band’s approach, Graney isn’t yet sure whether the spirit of Steve Hunter and Dick Wagner’s explosive Rock ‘n’ Roll Animal arrangements will be echoed, or whether the music will lean closer to the Velvet Underground’s original forms. But he’s clearly energised by the possibilities: “It should be fun… something different.”
Before signing off, Graney also reveals he has his own new music on the way, a rock album created with longtime collaborator Clare Moore, titled Laburnum of the Mind, with a single planned for early next year.
Celebrating Lou Reed, The Velvet Underground & Nico! January 2026 Australian Tour Dates
Saturday 24th January SYDNEY, The Metro
Sunday 25th January BRISBANE, The Triffid
Friday 30th January MELBOURNE, 170 Russell
Saturday 31st January ADELAIDE, The Gov
Tickets from: https://metropolistouring.com/celebrating-lou-reed-2026/
