RÜFÜS DU SOL ANNOUNCE SELL OUT SHOWS, SECOND SHOWS ANNOUNCED
What a huge week it’s been for Australia’s own RÜFÜS DU SOL. After dropping their anticipated third LP Solace last Friday, the trio announced their biggest Aussie tour yet on Monday, and this morning their epic run of shows just got even bigger with Melbourne, Brisbane and Perth selling out within minutes of going on sale this morning. To graciously satisfy the demand from their eager and loyal fanbase, the guys have announced second shows in Melbourne at Sidney Myer Music Bowl on Valentine’s Day Thursday February 14, Perth at Fremantle Arts Centre on Sunday February 24 and Brisbane at Riverstage on Sunday March 3. Massive venues, massive tracks; this tour is set to be the Aussie live music event of the new year.
Blown away by the intensity of the swift sell outs, the band are even more pumped to bring their tour to home shores, with Tyrone Lindqvist enthusing, “It felt strange not to play in Australia for so long, but we wanted to come back with an entirely new show for everyone on our own terms. We never even anticipated having this many people want to come and see the show, we are legitimately blown away, we got the news right as we stepped on stage for the first show of the Solace tour. We walked on thinking about how exciting these shows at home are gonna be. Australian crowds are amazing to us.”
Solace follows RÜFÜS DU SOL’s previous two platinum-certified albums ATLAS and Bloom, and is an album that is as sonically rich as it is emotionally intelligent. The Australian three-piece, comprised of members Tyrone Lindqvist, Jon George and James Hunt, have explored new territory on Solace; born out of a particularly poignant period for the band, it tackles heavier themes such as the pain of loss and the persistence of memory. This is unequivocally the group’s most sophisticated work to date.
The Australian Solace tour follows a rigorous two-year world tour which saw the band perform everywhere from legendary California festival Coachella, to Serbia’s EXIT. This intensive period of touring helped pave the way for the Solace live show, crafted through years of varied live experience for the band. Giving fans a rare insight into what to expect for the upcoming tour, Tyrone says, “This new show has allowed us to be able to take people on an inner journey and to get lost in the depths of Solace. It’s the most ambitious live experience we’ve put together yet.”
The brand new live show will push the band’s on-stage abilities to new levels. With an emphasis on jamming and live improvisation, the trio will bring the magical spontaneity of their studio process to the stage in an unprecedented format. Bringing a host of new analog gear into the fold, as well as a revamped visual setup, the new live show will allow for each RÜFÜS DU SOL performance to be sonically distinct. Of the upcoming shows, Jon says, “Some of our favourite moments have been at these outdoor venues. These live experiences just bring everyone together – whether you’re losing your friends, or finding new ones, but being so content in dancing and connecting with the music and the band on stage. We really hope to bring those moments and create that emotional connection over the summer.”
General public tickets to all shows are on sale now, Friday October 26.
RÜFÜS DU SOL SOLACE AUSTRALIAN TOUR
TUE 01 JAN | FIELD DAY, SYDNEY NSW | 18+
Tickets available from www.moshtix.com.au | 1300 GET TIX | All Moshtix Outlets
THU 14 FEB | SIDNEY MYER MUSIC BOWL, MELBOURNE VIC | ALL AGES **NEW SHOW ADDED**
Tickets available from https://www.ticketmaster.com.au/ | 136 100 | All Ticketmaster Outlets
FRI 15 FEB | SIDNEY MYER MUSIC BOWL, MELBOURNE VIC | ALL AGES **SOLD OUT**
Tickets available from https://www.ticketmaster.com.au/ | 136 100 | All Ticketmaster Outlets
WED 20 FEB | ADELAIDE ENTERTAINMENT CENTRE, ADELAIDE SA | ALL AGES
Tickets available from www.ticketek.com.au | 132 849 | All Ticketek Outlets
FRI 22 FEB | FREMANTLE ARTS CENTRE, PERTH WA | 18+ (MINORS MAY ATTEND WITH SUPERVISING ADULT) **SOLD OUT**
Tickets available from https://www.oztix.com.au | 1300 762 545 | All OzTix Outlets
SUN 24 FEB | FREMANTLE ARTS CENTRE, PERTH WA | 18+ (MINORS MAY ATTEND WITH SUPERVISING ADULT) **NEW SHOW ADDED**
Tickets available from https://www.oztix.com.au | 1300 762 545 | All OzTix Outlets
SAT 23 FEB | 3 OCEANS WINERY, MARGARET RIVER WA | 18+
Tickets available from https://www.oztix.com.au | 1300 762 545 | All OzTix Outlets
SAT 02 MAR | RIVERSTAGE, BRISBANE QLD | ALL AGES **SOLD OUT**
Tickets available from https://www.ticketmaster.com.au/ | 136 100 | All Ticketmaster Outlets
SUN 03 MAR | RIVERSTAGE, BRISBANE QLD | ALL AGES **NEW SHOW ADDED**
Tickets available from https://www.ticketmaster.com.au/ | 136 100 | All Ticketmaster Outlets
Solace is out now via Sony Music.
“With the electronic dance music scene turning formulaic and predictable, they’ve gone deeper and darker…. A digital storm in the desert” Cameron Adams, Herald Sun
SHANNON BENNETT AND LORENZ GROLLO ANNOUNCE GEDDES LANE BALLROOM – NEW LIVE MUSIC VENUE FOR MELBOURNE
GEDDES LANE BALLROOM, GEDDES LANE, MELBOURNE
Thanks to Shannon Bennett and Lorenz Grollo, a unique project is underway to launch a brand new pop-up project restoring live music to an iconic location. The 400+ capacity venue, encompassing a ground floor bar and first floor band room is situated in the heart of Melbourne, Australia’s music capital. The infamous 170 year old ex-Showgirls Bar 20 venue will be undergoing a makeover as part of the King Street Revival (KSR) project, transforming its beautiful old bones into a vibrant and world class, live music venue where punters can enjoy quality curated live music, alongside exemplary food and drinks from a menu heralded by the inimitable Shannon Bennett. Innovative partnerships are underway, including development of cashless technology, and there are plans for a variety of bespoke vending machines and a green room that’s actually green! Set to open its doors with an impressive fanfare and an iconic Melbourne rock act (stay tuned to socials for dates and details), with official entry via Geddes Lane, future plans for the site include a takeover of the lane itself with food vans, projections, street art and rotating pop up events set to redefine the historic laneway.
In a time that many live music venues are closing their doors, the notable team behind Geddes Lane Ballroom are excited to shine a light on Melbourne and celebrate all things music and the vibrant Melbourne laneway culture. And even though the three level bluestone venue housed Showgirls Bar 20 strip club for the past 20 years, it was home to one of Melbourne’s most beloved live music venues, The Grainstore Tavern for the two decades before that. It was here that John Farnham’s Whispering Jack album was launched (the Chain Reaction video filmed), with thousands of artists including Tina Arena, INXS, Daryl Braithwaite and the Little River Band performing on that same stage over the years.
Geddes Lane Ballroom will be booked by Ben Thompson and Ashlea O’Loughlin (The Venue Collective, 170 Russell, East Brunswick Club). “We’re excited to be bringing live music back to one of Melbourne’s most popular venues throughout the 80s and 90s”, enthuses Thompson, “It’s been a hidden gem, centrally located, close to trains and trams and a big carpark with a fantastic tried-and-tested band room. We’re doing some acoustic treatments, putting in a world class PA and cleaning the place up. Live music fans will love it. With the loss of so many live music venues over the last 10 years including quality smaller rooms like Ding Dong Lounge and Shebeen, there aren’t many options out there. People need the option to come into the city and experience original live music. The venue will be open to all conceivable genres of music from local, national and international acts and we have some surprise shows planned for summer.”
Determined to restore old world class and sophistication to an iconic space, Grollo Group CEO Lorenz Grollo explains, “Our inhouse team are completing cosmetic and compliance works only. But for the removal of some ‘choice’ objects and elements from its former use, we’re deliberately embracing the wonderful bones of this 1850’s Melbourne icon, after all how many live music venues can claim to be 170 years old and once a notorious strip club?!”
Offering insight into what we can look forward to devouring on the feasting front, Bennett enthuses, “We’ll be presenting great food that has a social conscious, is sustainable and good for you, and it’ll be fast food. And think retro drinks like Japanese slippers that were in fact invented in Melbourne, seriously tasty local beers, local produce, our Benny burger will be huge feature and we are designing our own vending food machines offering salad bowls, Lui bar sausage rolls and heaps more!”
When asked about how the Grollo / Bennett partnership came about, Grollo jokes, “never underestimate the sparks of lateral brilliance that come from meetings with Shannon Bennett!”
Excited about the many prospects of Geddes Lane Ballroom, Grollo insights, “Geddes Lane Ballroom is an initiative under our King Street Revival (KSR) project. We’re passionate about cleaning up King Street, ‘one pole at a time’, and delivering a fun and safe food and entertainment precinct for all Melburnians to enjoy. For too long King Street has been known for all the wrong reasons. We’re now going to put it back on the map for reasons we can be proud of. Geddes Lane Ballroom, alongside our KSR Residency & Bar (artist residency for and curated by prominent street art and fine art muralist Cam Scale), are the first big steps on our KSR journey.” Already fringed by the Rialto’s new retail and office precinct, home to Australia’s first Mercedes me and global co-working provider, Spaces, a refreshing culture of change is underway in Melbourne’s midtown.
The venue has had a good spruce up, a world class PA has been fitted, and Geddes Lane Ballroom is bringing the music back! The calendar is now open for bookings, with the bandroom set to officially open to the public over the coming months.
For bookings and further information, please contact: Ashlea O’Loughlin and Ben Thompson bookings@geddeslaneballroom.com
RUDIMENTAL ANNOUNCE TOAST TO OUR DIFFERENCES AUSTRALIAN TOUR – FEBRUARY 2019
East London luminaries, Rudimental have today announced they’ll be heading back to Australia for a national tour in February 2019, as part of their Toast To Our Differences world tour to celebrate the release of their new album that’s set to drop globally on January 25, 2019. Tickets will go on sale at 11am on Wednesday October 10 through Ticketek, except the Brisbane show which is through Ticketmaster.
The tour will see Rudimental play Margaret Court Arena (Melbourne) on February 8, before moving through to Bonython Park (Adelaide), Old Mt Gamier Gaol (Mt Gambier), Hordern Pavilion (Sydney), Mindil Beach (Darwin), Riverstage (Brisbane) and finishing up at R.A.C. Arena (Perth) on February 17.
With over 1.4 billion global streams, 20 million single sales, 40 platinum awards, 22 million monthly listeners on Spotify (ranked 55th artist in the world), 700 million YouTube views and a global audience of 1.5 million+ across socials, there is no doubt Rudimental are conquering the world and loving every second of it! Their single These Days featuring Jess Glynne, Macklemore and Dan Caplen has racked up more than 2.4million sales worldwide and has just been certified triple platinum here in Australia. The new single with Major Lazer, Let Me Live featuring Anne-Marie and Mr. Eazi is quickly climbing the airplay charts on a similar trajectory to all the other Rudimental singles that have gone before it.
There’s a lot of love for these guys here in Australia (one of their best performing markets) and it’s been over two years since the full band last toured here. But the good news is, they’re pumped to get back to our shores after being reminded of just how fun our Aussie audiences are when they headlined Snowtunes with a DJ set last month. Piers Agget enthuses, “We can’t wait to come out to Australia again. It feels like our second home, we’re gonna be playing the new album and touring with new singers and bringing a new spin on that Rudimental vibe”.
Division Agency are particularly excited to be bringing Rudimental back down under, having enjoyed a long and successful history with the band. They first introduced them to Australian audiences at Future Music Festival back March 2013 where they took the country by storm and proved to be one of the stand out performances that year and in subsequent appearances.
General public tickets go on sale at 11am on Wednesday October 10, with pre-sales beginning with Telstra Thanks® at noon on Friday October 5 and concluding at 5pm on Sunday October 7.
The new album Toast To Our Differences is set for a January 25, 2019 release.
For further information, visit https://www.rudimental.co.uk
RUDIMENTAL NATIONAL ‘TOAST TO OUR DIFFERENCES’ TOUR
Presented by TEG LIVE, DIVISION AGENCY and Nova
FRI 8 FEB | MARGARET COURT ARENA, MELBOURNE | ALL AGES
Tickets available from https://premier.ticketek.com.au | 132 849 | All Ticketek Outlets
SAT 9 FEB | BONYTHON PARK, ADELAIDE PRESENTED BY SPACE EVENTS | ALL AGES
Tickets available from https://premier.ticketek.com.au | 132 849 | All Ticketek Outlets
SUN 10 FEB | OLD MT GAMBIER GAOL, MT GAMBIER PRESENTED BY SPACE EVENTS | ALL AGES
Tickets available from https://premier.ticketek.com.au | 132 849 | All Ticketek Outlets
WED 13 FEB | HORDERN PAVILION, SYDNEY | ALL AGES
Tickets available from https://premier.ticketek.com.au | 132 849 | All Ticketek Outlets
FRI 15 FEB | MINDIL BEACH, DARWIN | ALL AGES
Tickets available from https://premier.ticketek.com.au | 132 849 | All Ticketek Outlets
SAT 16 FEB | RIVERSTAGE, BRISBANE| ALL AGES
Tickets available from www.ticketmaster.com.au/ | 1300 136 122| All Ticketmaster Outlets
SUN 17 FEB | R.A.C. ARENA, PERTH| ALL AGES
Tickets available from https://premier.ticketek.com.au | 132 849 | All Ticketek Outlets