It’s been 12 years since Thirsty Merc first exploded onto the Australian music scene with their debut independent EP, which they followed up with three critically acclaimed studio albums, and a steady string of well-received singles.

Many of the band’s hits, including timeless tunes like ’20 Good Reasons’, ‘Someday Someday’, ‘Mousetrap Heart’, and ‘In The Summertime’, have gone on to become staples of the Australian rock canon, helping the band sell over 200,000 records.

Fast forward to 2015 and Thirsty Merc are now a fully independent unit and they’re tackling the recording and release of their fourth studio album and first new material in five years, which they’ve aptly titled Shifting Gears, very differently.

“We’ve haven’t really stopped since 2002, and being around for over a decade, we’ve got lots more experience than when we started,” says frontman Rai Thistlethwayte.

“We’ve also got still got loads of energy, and we want to harness that energy to work hard, around the clock, to continue touring and making good music.”

Having completed recording sessions with longtime collaborator Lindsay Gravina (The Living End, Kate Miller Heidke, Roland S Howard), Thirsty Merc are now readying the release of Shifting Gears and the album will be out on 4th September.

To celebrate, the band have announced an extensive string of live dates set to kick off this September. Tickets for all shows on The Good Life Tour go on sale at 9am local time on Monday, 27th July. Readers can check below for all dates and details.

Thirsty Merc National Tour Dates

Monday, 14 September 2015
Caravan Club, Oakleigh, VIC
Tickets available from www.caravanmusic.com.au

Wednesday, 16 September
Memo Music Hall, St Kilda, VIC
Tickets available from www.memomusichall.com.au

Thursday, 17 September 2015
Plaza Tavern, Hoppers Crossing, VIC
Tickets available from www.moshtix.com.au and the venue

Friday, 18 September
Commercial Hotel, South Morang, VIC
Tickets available from www.moshtix.com.au and the venue

Saturday, 19 September
Village Green Hotel, Mulgrave, VIC
Tickets available from www.moshtix.com.au and the venue

Sunday, 20 September
Karova Lounge, Ballarat, VIC
Tickets available from www.oztix.com.au

Tuesday, 22 September
The Loft, Warrnambool, VIC
Tickets available from www.oztix.com.au

Wednesday, 23 September
Barwon Club, Geelong, VIC
Tickets available from www.oztix.com.au

Thursday, 24 September
Ramsgate Hotel, Henley Beach, SA
Tickets available from www.moshtix.com.au

Friday, 25 September
Norwood Live, Norwood, SA
Tickets available from www.oztix.com.au

Saturday, 26 September
Revesby Workers Club, Revesby, NSW
Tickets available from www.rwc.org.au and the venue

Thursday, 1 October
Rooty Hill RSL, Rooty Hill, NSW
Tickets available from www.rootyhillrsl.com.au and the venue

Friday, 2 October
Astor Hotel, Goulburn, NSW
Tickets available from www.astorhotelmotel.com.au and the venue

Saturday, 3 October
The Oaks Hotel, Albion Park, NSW
Tickets available from www.theoakshotel.com.au and the venue

Wednesday, 7 October
ANU Bar, Canberra, ACT
Tickets available from www.ticketek.com.au

Thursday, 8 October
Mona Vale Hotel, Mona Vale, NSW
Tickets available from www.oztix.com.au

Friday, 9 October
Halekulani Bowling Club, Central Coast, NSW
Tickets available from www.oztix.com.au

Saturday, 10 October
Baroque Room, Katoomba, NSW
Tickets available from www.oztix.com.au

Sunday, 11 October
Club Forster, Forster-Tuncurry, NSW
Tickets available from www.offbeatoperations.com.au and the venue

Wednesday, 14 October
The Basement, Sydney, NSW
Tickets available from www.moshtix.com.au

Thursday, 15 October
Panthers, Port Macquarie, NSW
Tickets available from www.offbeatoperations.com.au and the venue

Friday, 16 October
Armidale Services Club, Armidale, NSW
Tickets available from www.offbeatoperations.com.au

Saturday, 17 October
Grafton District Services Club, Grafton, NSW
Tickets available from www.offbeatoperations.com.au and the venue

Sunday, 18 October
Hoey Moey Beergarden, Coffs Harbour, NSW
* Free Show *

Wednesday, 21 October
Spotted Cow, Toowoomba, QLD
Tickets available from www.oztix.com.au

Thursday, 22 October
Coolangatta Hotel, Gold Coast, QLD
Tickets available from www.oztix.com.au

Friday, 23 October
The Zoo, Brisbane, QLD
Tickets available from www.oztix.com.au

Saturday, 24 October
Villa Noosa, Noosa, QLD
Tickets available from www.villanoosa.com.au/whats_on

Wednesday, 28 October
Northcote Social Club, Melbourne, VIC
Tickets available from www.northcotesocialclub.com

Sunday, 1 November
King George Gardens – Wangaratta Jazz Festival, Wangaratta, VIC
Tickets available from www.wangarattajazz.com/tickets/

Saturday, 7 November
Belmont 16’s, Newcastle, NSW
Tickets available from www.16s.com.au

Sunday, 8 November
Heathcote Hotel, Heathcote, NSW
Tickets available from www.heathcotehotel.com.au

Thursday, 12 November
Friends Restaurant, Perth, WA
Tickets available from www.friendsrestaurant.com.au

Friday, 13 November
Wintersun Hotel, Geraldton, WA
Tickets available from www.moshtix.com.au and www.wintersunhotel.com.au

Saturday, 14 November
Charles Hotel, Perth, WA
Tickets available from www.ticketmaster.com.au and www.charleshotel.com.au

Sunday, 15 November
Ravenswood Hotel, Perth, WA
Tickets available from www.ticketmaster.com.au and www.ravenswoodhotel.com.au

Friday, 20 November
SSA Club, Albury, NSW
* Free Show *

Saturday, 21 November
Mulwala Ski Club, Mulwala, NSW
* Free Show *

Saturday, 28 November
Palmerston Tavern, Darwin, NT
Tickets available from www.moshtix.com.au

Get unlimited access to the coverage that shapes our culture.
to Rolling Stone magazine
to Rolling Stone magazine