Following on from dropping ‘Battleships’, the lead single from his new solo album Departures, and being announced as one of the drawcards in the impressive Australian contingent of the Splendour In The Grass 2013 lineup; Bernard Fanning now has hit three for three with the news of a huge national tour across the nation through July/August.
Totalling 18 shows across metro and regional areas for each Australian state, The Departures Tour will provide the first opportunity for fans to hear Bernard Fanning’s new soulful rock direction in the live setting, as well as some old favourites from his esteemed catalogue.
“I can’t wait to get out into the wide brown land with a new batch of tunes and a new band,” says Fanning of the newly-announced national tour. “This new album is much more energetic so it’s going to make for a really dynamic show when paired with the stuff from Tea & Sympathy. I hope to see you somewhere out there.”
The Departures Tour also marks the singer-songwriter’s return to the stage since fronting Powderfinger for their 2010 Farewell Tour, with a huge run of dates that sold in excess of 300,000 tickets to send-off one of Australia’s most beloved rock acts – so we can expect that his own solo trek will do highly anticipated as fans wait to rush the box office.
As if Fanning needed to push for the hard sell already, but joining the singer on the Departures Tour are Melbourne indie twosome Big Scary and emerging singer-songwriter Vance Joy, both handpicked by the former Powderfinger vocalist himself.
“It’s a privilege to be taking Big Scary and Vance Joy with us as these are both acts that will be rocking houses and warming hearts for years to come,” says Fanning.
Known and loved for their acclaimed debut of 2011, Vacation, Melbourne’s Big Scary are back in 2013 with its creative leaping follow-up Not Art, due June 28th through the duo’s own label Pieeater. Lead singles ‘Phil Collins’ and ‘Luck Now’ have demonstrated a marked leap in ambitious production and songcraft for the pair of Tom Iansek and Jo Syme.
Gaining a rapturous welcome from both fans and critics alike, the first taste of their sophomore album have led to sold out launches across the country. Following in the wake of their own national tour, Big Scary join Bernard Fanning’s Departures Tour – proving their biggest run of shows to date.
Having toured in support of Iceland’s Of Monsters & Men and Australia’s own Julia Stone, fellow Melbournite Vance Joy is fast earning a name for himself, both at home and abroad. His recent SXSW showcase drove single ‘Riptide’ to #1 Most Popular Song on international blog aggregator Hype Machine, with the track attracting a massive 180,000+ plays on Soundcloud in just one month.
Vance Joy’s ever-growing mantle includes an equal record at Melbourne’s Northcote Social Club, where he sold out four shows as part of his God Loves You When You’re Dancing national EP tour.
Something special to note, fans in Cairns are in for a treat with ‘My Gun’-wielding four piece The Rubens also joining the bill, along with the addition of The Medics and Snakadaktal to the already stellar line up. The whole shebang kicks off at Kuranda Amphitheatre on Saturday, August 17.
For those fans who want to get in early and be assured a ticket, there are two opportunities; the first of which is an exclusive fan club presale on Tuesday, May 7 from 9:00am local time. Join the fan club at bernardfanning.com. The second is a Telstra Thanks presale, powered by BangTango from May 2nd at 9:00am for 48 hours. Visit www.telstra.com/music from Tuesday, April 30 for details.
The public on-sale kicks off at 12 noon sharp on Friday, May 10.
Bernard Fanning’s new single ‘Battleships’ is out now and available at http://smarturl.it/bfdepartures.
Forthcoming album Departures is out Friday, June 7 and available to pre-order now from bernardfanning.com
Bernard Fanning 2013 Australian Tour Dates
with special guests BIG SCARY and VANCE JOY
Sunday 14 July: Nambour Civic Centre, Nambour
Tickets available from Venue Box Office (Currie Street), 07 5475 7777, scvenuesandevents.com.au, or bernardfanning.com 18+, Licensed.
Tuesday 16 July: Empire Theatre, Toowoomba
Tickets from Venue box office | 1300 655 299 | empiretheatre.com.au, or bernardfanning.com
All Ages, Licensed.
Thursday 18 July: The Tivoli, Brisbane
Tickets available from Ticketek |132 849 | ticketek.com.au, or bernardfanning.com
18+, Licensed.
Friday 19 July: Arts Theatre: The Arts Centre, Gold Coast
Tickets available from Venue Box Office, 07 5588 4000, theartscentregc.com.au/whats-on, or bernardfanning.com 18+, Licensed.
Friday 26 – Sunday 28 July: Splendour In The Grass
Tickets on sale at 9am AEST on Thursday 2 May through moshtix.com.au and 1300 GET TIX (438 849).
Tuesday 30 July: Newcastle Civic Theatre, Newcastle
Tickets available from Venue Box Office, 02 4974 1977, Ticketek |132 849 | ticketek.com.au, or bernardfanning.com All Ages, Licensed.
Thursday 1 August: Anita’s Theatre, Wollongong
Tickets available from Ticketek |132 849 | ticketek.com.au and bernardfanning.com
18+, Licensed.
Friday 2 August: Enmore Theatre, Sydney
Tickets available from Enmore Box Office, 02 9550 3666, Ticketek |132 849 | ticketek.com.au, or bernardfanning.com All Ages, Licensed.
Sunday 4 August: Royal Theatre – National Convention Centre, Canberra
Tickets available from Ticketek |132 849 | ticketek.com.au, or bernardfanning.com
All Ages, Licensed.
Friday 9 August: Palace Theatre, Melbourne
Tickets available from Ticketek |132 849 | ticketek.com.au, or bernardfanning.com
18+, Licensed.
Saturday 10 August: Geelong Performing Arts Centre – Costa Hall, Geelong
Tickets available from GPAC | 03 5225 1200 | gpac.org.au, or Ticketek |132 849 | ticketek.com.au, or bernardfanning.com All Ages, Licensed.
Tuesday 13 August: Wrest Point, Hobart
Tickets available from Wrest Point Service Centre | 1300 795 257 | TixTas.com.au, or bernardfanning.com 18+, Licensed.
Thursday 15 August: Thebarton Theatre, Adelaide
Tickets available from Venue*Tix | 08 8225 8888 | venuetix.com.au, or bernardfanning.com
All Ages, Licensed.
Saturday 17 August: Kuranda Amphitheatre, Cairns
With Additional Special Guests: The Rubens, The Medics and Snakadaktal
Tickets available from Cairns Civic Centre Theatrefoyer (cnr Florence and Sheridan), TicketLINK | 1300 855 835 | ticketlink.com.au, or bernardfanning.com
All Ages, Licensed. Children under 12 free.
Sunday 18 August: The Venue, Townsville
Tickets available from Ticketek |132 849 | ticketek.com.au, or bernardfanning.com
18+, Licensed.
Tuesday 20 August: Pilbeam Theatre, Rockhampton
Tickets available from Venue box office, 07 4927 4111, pilbeamtheatre.com.au or bernardfanning.com
All Ages, Licensed.
Wednesday 21 August: Entertainment Convention Centre – Plenary Halls, Mackay
Tickets available from Mackay Tix, 07 4961 9700, www.mackayecc.com.au/discover_whats_on/purchase_tickets_online or bernardfanning.com
18+, Licensed.
Sunday 25 August: Astor Theatre, Perth
Tickets available from Venue box office, 08 9370 5888, showticketing.com.au or bernardfanning.com
18+, Licensed.
