Having already announced an epic Australian tour, Neil Finn and Paul Kelly are ready to add even more Melbourne dates to their quickly selling joint tour.
The duo recently announced that they would be opening Adelaide Festival with a free concert, and will be joining forces for a national tour in February and March next year, taking in venues across the nation including Melbourne, Brisbane, Perth, and Sydney.
The two cultural icons will perform as part of the one band, with set lists featuring a select number of songs from both their stellar careers.
With Kelly having just released his eighth studio album, Spring And Fall, and Finn preparing to record a brand new solo record to be released in late 2013, it’s a logical time for these two legends to come together.
“Paul and I have discussed doing a tour together since I thrashed him on my tennis court in St Kilda in ’93,” says Finn. “Good things take time and the only problem we have is deciding which songs to leave out.”
While Finn struggles to choose which of his Crowded House, Split Enz, Finn Brothers and solo catalogue to work into the set, while Kelly himself has a long backlog of material to sift through, with song choices ranging from “Dumb Things”, “To Her Door”, and “How To Make Gravy” among one of Australia’s most esteemed song catalogues.
In the tour’s press release Kelly praises Finn’s track record, all the while questioning his skills as a guitarist. “Neil has had good form over a long period of time – songwriting, singing and stuff – but his backhand still needs a lot of work.”
Luckily there are enough dates lined up to get through a large selection of both artists’ respective work.
Joining them on the tour will be Elroy Finn on drums and Paul Kelly’s nephew Dan Kelly, with whom he collaborated on his eighth studio album Spring and Fall, released last month.
Along with the two legendary musicians, Melbourne songbird Lisa Mitchell has been announced as a guest performer and support act for the tour’s Melbourne, Brisbane and A Day On The Green shows in Rutherglen and Armidale.
The indie sweetheart is building on the success of her positively reviewed latest album Bless This Mess which, according to our review sees her hinting at a possible crossover into rock territory. The album released last month follows the platinum selling debut Wonder and her well received debut EP Said One To The Other.
This tour marks a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to catch two iconic musicians together on stage. Don’t miss this one.
Paul Kelly & Neil Finn Australian Tour
w/ special guest Lisa Mitchell
Saturday, February 16 – SOLD OUT
Palais Theatre, Melbourne
Monday, February 18 – SOLD OUT
Palais Theatre, Melbourne
Tuesday, February 19 – SOLD OUT
Palais Theatre, Melbourne
Wednesday February 20- SOLD OUT
Palais Theatre, Melbourne
Wednesday, February 27
Brisbane Convention & Exhibition Centre
Friday, March 1
Elder Park, Adelaide
Monday, March 4 – SOLD OUT
Palais Theatre, Melbourne
Tuesday, March 5 – SOLD OUT
Palais Theatre, Melbourne
Wednesday March 6 – NEW SHOW
Palais Theatre, Melbourne
Sunday, March 10
Opera House, Sydney
Monday, March 11
Opera House, Sydney
Tuesday, March 12
Opera House, Sydney
Thursday, March 14 – SOLD OUT
Kings Park, Perth
Friday, March 15
Kings Park, Perth
For tickets click here.
