Alex the Astronaut and Stella Donnelly’s hotly anticipated national co-headline tour kicked off this week, starting at The Northern, Byron Bay last night Thursday 12th and heading to Soundlounge, Gold Coast tonight, Friday 13th April. This is your chance to see two of Australia’s brightest young stars play eclectic solo sets and maybe even a collaboration or two. Tickets have been flying out the door, with shows in Adelaide, Sydney, and both Melbourne dates now sold out. A second Sydney show has been announced plus a venue upgrade in Fremantle (full details below). Tickets to remaining shows are on sale now and selling fast from alextheastronaut.com.
With guitars in tow, Alex the Astronaut and Stella Donnelly will travel through seven states to play 14 shows this month with an incredible lineup of local artists in each city. Pool Shop, the pseudonym and solo project for Jaimee from Major Leagues, is opening the show at The Northern in Byron Bay, Soundlounge in Gold Coast and Solbar in Maroochydore. The incredible voice behind ‘Whoever You Love, I’m Cool’, JEFFE is joining them for both Sydney shows at Oxford Art Factory (Thursday sold out), with chill/electronic artist and r&b beats producer Jamilla to support at Fremantle Arts Centre and The River Hotel in Margaret River. Adelaide locals Mane will kick off the show at Rocket Bar in Adelaide (sold out), indie-roots artist Kat Edwards will support in Hobart, with Alexander Biggs joining the bill at both Melbourne shows at The Corner Hotel (both sold out), plus shows in Ballarat and Bendigo.
The release of Alex the Astronaut’s 2nd EP See You Soon last year took her from ‘artist to watch’ to the name on everyone’s lips. The EP’s lead single ‘Not Worth Hiding’ landed at #23 in this year’s triple j Hottest 100 after turning heads like no other song did last year. The innocent, straight up and pure nature of Alex the Astronaut’s – aka Sydney-based Alex Lynn – style of writing saw praise come in from all over the globe including from the Rocket Man himself Elton John who called the single, “fabulous”, with Pedestrian sharing, “Feel like having a little quiet moment to yourself on the first morning of spring? Hit play. Go on. Whatever it is you’re doing can absolutely wait. This is worth it.” Alex has been invited to perform at world-renowned music showcase, the UK’s The Great Escape this year, and is excited to share that she has packaged the See You Soon EP and debut To Whom It May Concern EP as a double-vinyl release which will be available on this upcoming tour.
At the beginning of 2017 Stella Donnelly released her debut EP Thrush Metal, a bold and unapologetic five-track release written over the space of two years. Led by the single ‘Boys Will Be Boys’ – a powerful account of society’s tendency to victim-blame, rather than face up to perpetrators – its release signalled the start of a cracking year for the Perth-based Donnelly, who Pitchfork heralded as “one of Australia’s buzziest young singer-songwriters”. Stella won the J Award for Unearthed Artist of the Year, a slew of WAMIs and has been invited to perform at the UK’s The Great Escape this year. Her brutally honest and witty observations of people and relationships are transformed into blissful poems and give a glimpse into what it’s like to be a millennial woman in the age of Trump, Tinder and third wave feminism.
It’s a musical bond born in Brisbane, where they met during the annual BIGSOUND festival, and they’re about to take it national. Don’t miss your chance to see these two incredible musicians before the rest of the world discovers the magic that is Alex the Astronaut and Stella Donnelly.
Check out Rob Walker’s interview with Stella Donnely from the Port Fairy Folk Festival HERE
ALEX THE ASTRONAUT & STELLA DONNELLY
Australian tour – April 2018
Tickets on sale now and selling fast at alextheastronaut.com
Thursday 12 April – The Northern, Byron Bay NSW w/ Pool Shop
Friday 13 April – Soundlounge, Gold Coast QLD w/ Pool Shop
Saturday 14 April – Festival 2018 Brisbane (Commonwealth Games) – Cultural Centre Forecourt, South Bank QLD
Sunday 15 April – Sol Bar, Sunshine Coast QLD w/ Pool Shop
Wednesday 18 April – Oxford Art Factory, Sydney NSW w/ JEFFE SELLING FAST
Thursday 19 April – Oxford Art Factory, Sydney NSW w/ JEFFE SOLD OUT
Friday 20 April – Fremantle Arts Centre Front Garden, Fremantle WA w/ Jamilla VENUE UPGRADE / SELLING FAST
Saturday April 21 – The River, Margaret River WA w/ Jamilla
Sunday April 22 – Rocket Bar, Adelaide SA w/ Mane SOLD OUT
Tuesday April 24 – Republic Bar, Hobart TAS (ANZAC Day Eve) w/ Kat Edwards
Wednesday 25 April – Corner Hotel, Melbourne VIC w/ Alexander Biggs SOLD OUT
Thursday 26 April – Corner Hotel, Melbourne VIC w/ Alexander Biggs SOLD OUT
Friday 27 April – Karova Lounge, Ballarat VIC w/ Alexander Biggs
Saturday 28 April – Tap House, Bendigo VIC w/ Alexander Biggs