360 ANNOUNCES PART 2 OF BACK TO LIFE REGIONAL TOUR, JOINED BY SPECIAL GUEST DREST
Off the back of a killer 12 date regional run through Victoria, Queensland, New South Wales and the ACT for Part 1 of his Back To Life tour last month, beloved Australian rapper 360 will continue to conquer in 2024, today announcing 12 new dates in March and April for Part 2 of his regional takeover. Previously embarking on a fully sold out run of shows, his first in just under six years last June, Part 2 of 360’s ongoing regional tour will kick off on Thursday 14 March at Blazes Showroom in Tamworth, swinging through New South Wales and Tasmania, before finishing up in Western Australia at Dunsborough Tavern on Saturday 20 April, with special guest drest supporting on the full run.
Tickets go on-sale to the general public at 9am local time on Friday 15 December. Fans are invited to pre-register now at 360music.com.au to access pre-sale tickets from 9am local time on Thursday 14 December.
Returning to stages in November for the first half of his Back To Life regional tour, 360 also joined forces with Support Act for some of the run, with a donation of $1 per ticket purchased matched by a further $1 from Live at your Local being donated to the music industry charity, Support Act. And with the first part of the Back To Life tour officially now done and dusted, the positivity and memories grown throughout that run will firmly flow into the upcoming 2024 shows, as 360 poignantly shares, “Part 1 was so good, though I’m not going to lie, after the first tour in June I was nervous because I felt so rusty still. I had to shake off a lot of cobwebs and it got in my head a bit, I felt stiff, I struggled loosening up and having fun performing. But this tour – that feeling has completely gone, thankfully. Now I’ve been just vibing with the music, having fun and feeling like I used to back in the day. It’s taken a lot of work to get here, but it’s so good to be back.”
An ARIA Award-winning, multi-platinum pioneer, 360’s art has consistently resonated globally throughout his career, thanks largely due to his honest, authentic and self-aware nature as well as his inescapably likeable sonic flair. Closing out the year and gazing towards 2024 tapping into his own life and broader society, 360’s culturally conscious state of flow has also been heavily inspired in 2023 by the likes of Danheim, Hans Zimmer, Nicholas Britell, Mac Richter and Dustin O’Halloran. “I listen to them when I’m zoning out,” 360 reveals, “and picturing the life I want to create for myself”. Returning with gusto in 2023, 360 is undeniably back, better than ever before – and his hard-fought and inspiring journey to finding peace and strength against the odds has exuberantly flowed over into his creations as well as his live performances, as 360 reveals, “I was in a horrible place, I had a whole bunch of music I was making but the lack of self-confidence and social anxiety had wreaked havoc on my frame of mind. I wanted to stay indoors and avoid the world, I lost the spark to live and be better. But this year I made a conscious choice to turn things around and take back control of my life, so it’s been a mixture of things. It started with a ton of therapy every week, understanding my issues inside and out. Then that evolved into working with a life coach. I had to figure out the exact man I wanted to be and stop living like a little boy, so that’s what I’m in the process of doing right now. A lot of it is about doing the work I would usually avoid doing at all costs. I’m not a confrontational person and I let that get out of hand to the point I wouldn’t stand up for myself or communicate honestly. So learning to be more assertive, to have trust in myself and actually love myself again. Also, I can’t stress the importance of the fitness side of things, smashing the gym regularly and eating healthy has done way more than any medication has…so this has been the process to coming back to life.”
An artist who has never been one to do anything in halves, the prolific rapper swiftly cemented himself on the Australian scene via his 2008 debut album What You See Is What You Get, before the game-changing 2011 release Falling & Flying catapulted 360 into a whole new stratosphere. Hailed for its emotive weight, authenticity and genre-fluid finesse, Falling & Flying paved the way for 360’s continued domination with 2014’s Utopia and 2017’s Vintage Modern firmly sealing his legacy. But amongst his renowned battle rapping dexterity, searing creative innovation and collaborations, 360’s path has simultaneously been lined with mountains, from an accident in 2010 that almost upended the release of Falling & Flying to his battle with addiction and mental health issues in later years; all moments in time that ultimately helped guide and strengthen 360’s resolve, leading him to new music as well as his triumphant return to performing earlier this year. Now primed and focused on a horde of upcoming projects, 360 will also imminently be joined on Part 2 of the Back To Life regional tour with drest – a young singer-songwriter hailing from the small farming town of Finley in New South Wales, and currently based in Melbourne. Weaving a melting pot of indie, rock, pop, and rap, drest’s dazzling sonic amalgamation is equally connective and fresh, with sold out shows across Australia alongside 360 in his wake, his own headline shows and a recent single heavenwillwait out in the world.
Alongside drest in 2024, 360 is primed to continue bringing his exhilarating live show around regional Australia, with the Back To Life Part 2 tour guaranteed to satiate past, present and future fans of the magnetic rap maverick. Expect unapologetic and heartfelt storytelling from an artist who can tackle any style and make it his own. And hitting some familiar and less travelled locales next March and April, prepare for some incredible moments from one of Australia’s most engaging modern artists, who is as excited to be back and thriving, as much as his legions of fans are excited to have him back. “I am working on an album, collab projects, and I intend to jump back into the arena of rap battling as well,” 360 reveals. “I’ll be doing a bunch of other shit too, like showing certain steps I’ve taken to get myself better, I really wanna show others who are stuck in a rut that if they need a way out, this is how I’ve done it, but you’ve gotta put in the hard work. It’s fucking good to be back.”Tickets to the Back To Life Regional Tour Part 2 go on sale at 9am local time on Friday 15 December from 360music.com.au.
360 – BACK TO LIFE REGIONAL TOUR PART 2
Tickets available from 360music.com.au
THU 14 MAR | BLAZES SHOWROOM, TAMWORTH NSW | 18+
FRI 15 MAR | FINNIAN’S, PORT MACQUARIE NSW | 18+
SAT 16 MAR | KING STREET, NEWCASTLE NSW | 18+
THU 04 APR | MIRANDA HOTEL, MIRANDA NSW | 18+
FRI 05 APR | SHOAL BAY COUNTRY CLUB, SHOAL BAY NSW | 18+
SAT 06 APR | DRIFTERS WHARF, CENTRAL COAST NSW | 18+
THU 11 APR | ROYAL OAK HOTEL , LAUNCESTON TAS | 18+
FRI 12 APR | PUB ROCK DINER, DEVONPORT TAS | 18+
SAT 13 APR | REPUBLIC BAR, HOBART TAS | 18+
THU 18 APR | LEISURE INN, ROCKINGHAM WA | 18+
FRI 19 APR | THE CARINE, DUNCRAIG WA | 18+
SAT 20 APR | THE DUNSBOROUGH TAVERN, DUNSBOROUGH WA | 18+
HERE COMES THE SUN ANNOUNCES VIC INSTALMENT FOR 2024, ALONGSIDE FLAGSHIP WA FESTIVAL FEAT. OCEAN ALLEY, BALL PARK MUSIC, RUBY FIELDS, JACK BOTTS, SOUTH SUMMIT, CLEWS & MORE TO BE ANNOUNCED, SET TO RIDE IN TO TORQUAY MARCH 30 & MARGARET RIVER APRIL 13
WA’s beloved Here Comes The Sun festival is receiving a major upgrade in 2024, with the inclusion of an east coast instalment set to delight Victorian music lovers in March. Additional to the festival’s flagship Margaret River 3 Oceans (WA) event on Saturday 13 April, the acclaimed festival will also swing through Torquay Common (VIC) on Saturday 30 March. The coastal festivals will see a haul of Aussie faves take to the stage, including Ocean Alley, Ball Park Music, Ruby Fields, Jack Botts, South Summit, and Clews, with more to be announced.
Tickets go on sale on Friday 8 December at 10am local time from www.hctsfest.com
Heading into its fifth year, Here Comes The Sun has become an institution in WA with seven successful events under its belt. The expansion into Torquay is massive, but not surprising, given the laid-back coastal vibe the festival is famous for. Fittingly, both dates will coincide with two of Australia’s most important surfing competitions: the World Surf League Margaret River Pro, and the Bells Pro in Torquay.
Here Comes The Sun is one of the leading events programmed by Macro Music – the team responsible for Out Of The Woods, Good Day Sunshine and Sugarloaf Rock, as well as over a decade of high profile artist management. Filling the need for a world-class event in the Margaret River region, Here Comes The Sun was born, delivering artists like Tame Impala, Amy Shark, Crooked Colours, ShockOne, and more to the south west.
There is no more fitting a headliner for Here Comes The Sun 2024 than Australia’s beloved psychedelic-surf-rockers, Ocean Alley. For the last decade they have sold out shows across Australia, North America, Europe, UK, and New Zealand – headlining to over 75,000 people globally in 2023 alone – including spots at Splendour In The Grass, Reading & Leeds (UK), and BottleRock (USA).
The winner of 2018’s Hottest 100 for their anthem Confidence (now certified quadruple-platinum), Ocean Alley released their fourth album Low Altitude Living last year, captivating audiences with their psychedelic beauty. Citing their love for the ocean as their biggest inspiration, there couldn’t be a more apt musical accompaniment to Australia’s best surfing competitions.
Melancholic masters, Ball Park Music are one of Australia’s most successful acts, producing six incredible albums in nine years (five of which debuted in the ARIA Top 10). Festival veterans, the beloved Brisbane five-piece have made sold-out appearances at Summer Sounds and Neck Of The Woods, as well as recently joining icon Paul Kelly’s Making Gravy concert series.
When Ruby Fields’ aptly-titled debut album Been Doin’ It For A Bit debuted at #1 on the ARIA Charts, it confirmed that Australia absolutely loves the silky-voiced singer-songwriter. Shortly after, the world followed suit. One of the most talented and emotionally-moving artists in the country, Ruby Fields switches from a haunting solo delivery to a cyclonic full-band attack in the blink of an eye.
The image of Jack Botts surfing at sunset is one of the most perfect depictions of his aura as a human. His debut album Sucker For Sunsets is a genre-bending masterpiece that delves deep into his soul, displaying personal lyrics that run the gamut from pain to elation. Laid-back and blissfully breezy, his music is summer incarnate; filled with the highs, lows and in-betweens of real life.
WA’s five-piece indie reggae band South Summit are the perfect soundtrack to summer on the coast. Melding the diverse sounds of Aboriginal, Māori and Western culture; South Summit have taken off since forming during lockdown – surpassing over two million streams, earning a nomination for Triple J Unearthed ‘Artist Of The Year’, and impressing crowds at Groovin The Moo, Falls, and Rolling Sets.
Clews are one of the most exciting new artists in Australia, fronted by the sibling power of Lily and Grace Richardson, whose love for ’90s anthems shows in their incredible songwriting and lush dual vocals. Amassing fans all over the globe, Clews are well on their way to becoming a festival staple, wielding grungy melodic power that sits somewhere between PJ Harvey and Warpaint.
TICKETS FOR HERE COME THE SUN FESTIVAL 2024 GO ON SALE ON FRIDAY 8 DECEMBER AT 10AM LOCAL TIME FROM WWW.HCTSFEST.COM
HERE COMES THE SUN FESTIVAL
SATURDAY 30 MARCH | TORQUAY COMMON | TORQUAY, VIC
SATURDAY 13 APRIL | 3 OCEANS WINERY | MARGARET RIVER, WA
BOY & BEAR SHARE TRANQUIL INTERPRETATION OF FEEL BY ROBBIE WILLIAMS
Adding their own dreamy spin to a 2002 classic, the brand new single Feel from Sydney’s Boy & Bear gifts a lush and brooding interpretation of the Robbie Williams original hit song. Fresh off the back of a massive regional run of shows, with over 26,000 tickets sold nationally, Boy & Bear’s latest rendition adds yet another stellar sonic reworking to their repertoire, joining their beloved 2010 cover Fall at Your Feet and 2020’s Wicked Game.
Originally conceived during recording sessions for their latest full length album, the band’s 2023 self-titled fifth studio release, Boy & Bear’s take on Feel, a track originally made famous by British singer-songwriter Robbie Williams melts with languid ambience, woozy keys and the trademark undulating Boy & Bear sunny serenity flowing throughout. And with the recent Netflix docuseries Robbie Williams detailing the prolific popstar’s career ultimately inspiring the group to master and release their interpretation, the end result of Feel itself feels like an unearthed treasure. “When recording new tunes for our latest record and exploring songs for triple j’s Like A Version, we recorded an arrangement of Feel by Robbie Williams,” the band shares. “The song itself, when stripped back to the chords, melody and lyrics is quite sad and haunting, which is unusual for a massive pop song. We really connected with that vibe and leant into that on our version. At the time we recorded it, we didn’t have any plans for it, but then with the recent release of the doco on Robbie we thought it might be cool to put it out into the world rather than leave it gathering digital dust in the “old recordings” folder of our band hard drive. Hope you enjoy.”
Since forming in 2009, Boy & Bear have persistently woven their own unique brand of musical magic, captivating fans across the globe with their sun-soaked and stirring brand of indie rock. A band hellbent on innovation, Boy & Bear have attained a level of staying power most artists could only dream of; and all without sacrificing their authentic vision and driving love for their craft. Achieving early career support from triple j and triple j Unearthed, Boy & Bear swiftly catapulted onto the national stage, releasing their double-platinum debut album Moonfire in 2011, which went on to snag five coveted ARIA award wins. Since then, 2013’s Harlequin Dream and 2015’s Limit Of Love only strengthened the band’s luminous presence, with both albums charting at #1, and Harlequin Dream also marking the group’s second studio album to go Platinum. Also via 2019’s Suck on Light and 2023’s self-titled full length, Boy & Bear have continued to grow and strengthen professionally amidst the ever-changing musical climate – and 2023 continued the dazzling Boy & Bear legacy further again with the recent release of their Lost Dreams EP, comprising found songs from their Harlequin Dream studio time.
Capable of breaking and/or mending hearts with their ever-growing sonic output, Boy & Bear’s creative pathway has also led to them releasing two acclaimed cover songs previously, with their version of Fall at Your Feet recorded for the Tim and Neil Finn tribute album He Will Have His Way now 3x platinum, exceeding 40 million individual streams on Spotify, while the group’s 2020 cover of Chris Isaak’s steamy ballad Wicked Game has generated over 21 million streams and was certified Gold this year. Also having performed across the globe, including multiple world tours and appearances at the likes of Lollapalooza, Bonnaroo, and Splendour in the Grass, Boy & Bear are equally capable of enamouring onstage to sold out crowds at the Sydney Opera House as they are performing on Conan O’Brien or to a hometown crowd. And their largely sold out recent regional Australian tour showcased the rare magic beating at the Boy & Bear core, with some unforgettable moments forged alongside fans across the country. “To every single person who came to one of Aus or NZ album tour headline shows (more than 26,000 of you!) we can’t thank you enough for your ongoing support and love,” the band shares.
“These shows were truly very special to us, particularly after such a challenging few years and making the decision to go fully independent. It felt amazing to get back to so many places we haven’t been for a long time and to share our new music with you. The vibe at these shows was awesome. Special mention and shout out to all the amazing artists that joined us on this tour, to our incredible crew, our team, loving partners and families for helping make it all possible.”
“We’ve got some really exciting plans in the works for 2024 which we look forward to sharing with you soon,” Boy & Bear conclude. “We hope you’re going to be as excited about them as we are.”
Feel is out now.