Jonah Marais is returning to Australia with Jack Avery and Zach Herron next month, and their fans have already had a say in how the tour will unfold.
Jonah Marais hasn’t even arrived in Australia, but Why Don’t We fans have already managed to change his Melbourne show.
The singer is heading our way in November with former bandmates Jack Avery and Zach Herron, marking the first time the three have performed together since 2022. But when younger fans discovered they wouldn’t be able to attend the originally planned Melbourne concert, they decided to do something about it.
According to promoter ThePhoenix.au, underage fans and their parents began contacting organisers, asking for an all-ages option.
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They got their wish.
The November 11th performance has been relocated to Northcote Theatre, where an alcohol-free mezzanine will accommodate all-ages ticket holders alongside a separate licensed auditorium for over-18s.
The promoter even issued a public thank-you to the families who reached out, praising the respectful way they made their case.
It’s a welcome outcome for fans who have waited years to see Marais, Avery and Herron sharing a stage again.
And judging by the trio’s memories of Australia, they’re just as keen to return.
Why Don’t We ‘8 Letters’ video
Why Australia Was Always On The Cards
For Marais, returning to Australia wasn’t a last-minute decision.
He’d been talking to his manager about organising another visit for months, largely because of how much he enjoyed touring here with Why Don’t We.
Asked what he remembers most about the country, he doesn’t mention a particular venue or landmark.
It’s the people.
“I feel like you guys have like such a like passion and excitement for life, and it’s fun energy to be around.”
He also remembers the band’s Australian concerts as some of their best.
Avery doesn’t need much convincing either.
“I always tell people my two favourite countries I’ve ever visited were Singapore and Australia, and I stand by that.”
Herron is particularly excited about getting back on the road after spending several years away from touring.
“I’m so excited to get back out there and see the fans again.”
The opportunity came together in a way Marais probably couldn’t have planned.
After repeatedly raising the idea of an Australian tour, his manager eventually approached a local promoter. An offer arrived, and that same day Marais spotted Avery and Herron livestreaming together on Twitch.
Watching his old bandmates gave him an idea.
“it would be fun for us, but it would be super fun for the fans too”
He asked them to join him, and the arrangement developed into what is now The Dreamer Tour.
It’s important to distinguish the shows from a full Why Don’t We reunion. Marais is touring under his own name, with Avery and Herron appearing as very special guests.
Still, it means fans will get to hear songs associated with the group performed by three of its founding members again.
Marais also reveals that bringing the two onto the tour has prompted conversations about further shows. Nothing beyond Australia has been announced, but it’s something they’re discussing.
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When Fans Get A Little Too Excited
The Melbourne campaign is a reminder of what can happen when fans make themselves heard. But the three musicians know that enthusiasm can sometimes get out of hand.
They’ve certainly experienced both sides.
Marais recalls supporters appearing at private homes and trying to access hotel rooms during Why Don’t We’s touring years.
Herron has had fans waiting outside his hotel room door, leaving him wondering how they even found out where he was staying.
The trio also remember an occasion when a woman ran onto the stage during a performance and was tackled by security.
Those experiences weren’t exactly part of the job description when they first started making music together.
And yet, despite some uncomfortable encounters, the three remain grateful for the people who supported them.
Marais says the moments that have stayed with him aren’t necessarily the huge crowds or the elaborate fan encounters.
They’re the conversations with people who explain what the music has meant to them.
He remembers meeting supporters who told him Why Don’t We’s songs helped them through periods of serious emotional distress, including moments when they had contemplated suicide.
It gave him a different appreciation of what a song could mean to somebody listening thousands of kilometres away.
For Herron, those face-to-face interactions were an important part of touring.
When you’re constantly moving between cities, recording music and preparing for the next performance, it can be difficult to comprehend how personally listeners have connected with a particular song.
Sometimes it takes somebody standing in front of you and telling their story.
That’s what makes the Australian return exciting for the trio. They’ll be able to reconnect with people who have followed their music for years, many of whom are now older themselves.
And in Melbourne, a group of younger fans have made sure they won’t have to miss out.
There’s Still Plenty Of The Old Chemistry
Of course, not every memory of Australia is quite so meaningful.
Herron remembers the country as the place where he first decided to try gambling.
Unfortunately, his first attempt wasn’t especially successful.
“I lost a lot of money.”
He seems to have taken the experience in his stride, although it probably wasn’t the Australian souvenir he’d planned on bringing home.
The conversation also takes a strange turn when the three are asked to reveal something fans might not know about them.
Marais admits he’s developed a serious appreciation for pickles.
Herron offers the unusual revelation that he doesn’t burp.
Avery, meanwhile, claims he can gleek on command — a trick involving spraying saliva from beneath the tongue.
He learned it at school after other students repeatedly did it to him, eventually figuring out how to do it himself.
It’s not particularly glamorous, but the exchange provides a glimpse of how comfortable the three remain together.
They’ve clearly got plenty of memories from their time in Why Don’t We, and the Australian tour will give them a chance to create a few more.
What Australian Fans Can Expect
The upcoming performances will mix Marais’s solo material with songs from Why Don’t We’s catalogue.
The promoter has advertised favourites including “8 Letters”, “What Am I”, “Fallin'”, “Don’t Wake Me Up”, “Trust Fund Baby” and “Hooked”, alongside contributions from Avery and Herron.
For longtime fans, it will be an opportunity to hear familiar material with three of the voices they associate with it.
For Marais, it’s also a chance to introduce audiences to the music he’s been making independently.
The tour begins in Melbourne on November 11th before travelling to Sydney, Brisbane, Adelaide and Perth.
Whether the three decide to organise further shows remains an open question, but they’ve got plenty to look forward to over the coming weeks.
And thanks to the persistence of Melbourne’s younger Why Don’t We fans, the opening night will now include an audience that might otherwise have missed out.
Jonah Marais – The Dreamer Tour Australia 2026
With very special guests Jack Avery & Zach Herron
Wednesday, November 11th – Melbourne, Northcote Theatre
Thursday, November 12th – Sydney, Enmore Theatre
Friday, November 13th – Brisbane, The Tivoli
Sunday, November 15th – Adelaide, The Gov
Monday, November 16th – Perth, Astor Theatre
Tickets: ThePhoenix.au
