After the Soundwave/Harvest festival boss first heralded the good news in February, promoter AJ Maddah has now revealed the official touring dates for the Vans Warped Tour’s return to Australia at the end of the year.
Maddah first announced that he’d help bring the Warped Tour back to Australia by buddying up with festival founder Kevin Lyman, and confirmed that the tour would reach Brisbane, Melbourne, Sydney, and Adelaide, as well as some regional areas of the east coast, now revealed to be Coffs Harbour and Canberra.
While the venue details and all important lineup have yet to be revealed, Maddah announced the official November/December tour dates through his favourite form of social communication, Twitter:
Aus Warped Dates Are:
FRI 29 BRISBANE
SAT 30 COFFS HARBOUR
SUN DEC 1 SYDNEY
FRI 6 CANBERRA
SAT 7 MELBOURNE
SUN 8 ADELAIDE#WarpedAu— AJ (@iamnotshouting) May 2, 2013
Speaking about its Australian return, Maddah noted his enthusiasm of working with Warped Tour founder, saying “Kevin Lyman IS warped and always the man to thank. I’m just privileged to assist him.” He also remarked on the differences between the December festival and his own February-bound Soundwave: “Warped is about mayhem & DIY punk rock spirit. [Soundwave] is about delivering a slick & orchestrated day of performances.”
It will be the first Australian leg for the Vans Warped Tour in more than a decade. First launched in 1995, three years later in January 1998 the festival first made its way to Australia with a lineup that featured Pennywise, Frenzal Rhomb, Blink 182, The Living End, Bodyjar and more, but the Warped Tour has abstained from an Australian visit since 2002.
Though there are no official confirmations for the December lineup as yet, unfortunately, Maddah has confirmed that the Vans Warped Tour will be the only chance to catch them as there won’t be any sideshows for the festival.
Taking into consideration that it’s the first time the tour has come to Australia in over a decade, he justified thusly:
@xXMoshLordXx not this year. I'd like to wait til we have re-established the festival in Aus 1st.
— AJ (@iamnotshouting) April 5, 2013
As for the lineup rumour mill, in response to the question of pop punk bands The Story So Far or Man Overboard playing the tour, he emphatically tweeted, “that’s uncanny. I just emailed Man O less than a minute ago!”
Punk rockers 28 Days – who are currently on a national tour – are also keen for a return from the Warped Tour, recently stating on their Facebook page; “So the Warped tour is coming back to Australia. Hopefully its stays true to its roots and remains a punk rock festival and hopefully a bit more of a local feel.”
The Melbourne outfit toured with the festival back in 2002 alongside The Mighty Mighty Bosstones, MXPX, Pennywise, The Vandals and Eskimo Joe.
Maddah is probably considering 28 Days’ invitation if his previous comments citing that the Warped lineup would feature “lots of locals” are anything to go by:
@Shelmer75 Thanks Rhys. Yes, Warped will have lots of locals.
— AJ (@iamnotshouting) March 2, 2013
The lineup for South America’s Warped Festival for 2013 could give fans a hint of who to expect at December’s shows. With names like The Used, Memphis May Fire, Reel Big Fish and Black Veil Brides gracing the South American earth in July/August this year, there is possibility that we could be enjoying these acts in our very own backyard come December.
Vans Warped Tour 2013 Dates
Brisbane: Friday, November 29
Coffs Harbour: Saturday, November 30
Sydney: Sunday, December 1
Canberra: Friday, December, 6
Melbourne: Saturday, December 7
Adelaide: Sunday, December 8
Lineup and ticket info TBA soon!
