The Black Keys will return to Australia in 2015 to give our flagging international festival market a shot in the arm, while simultaneously promoting their latest album, Turn Blue. Announced as the headlining act for Byron Bay Bluesfest 2015, the blues rock duo will also top new concert series Rolling Green and embark on a series of headline tour dates.
The pair’s Turn Blue Australian Tour will seem them taking on crowds in Sydney, Melbourne, Perth and Adelaide. The seven-time Grammy Award winners will be making their eighth appearance Down Under, having last toured in 2012, following the release of their platinum-selling album El Camino.
Meanwhile, the boys will be joined by Spiderbait, Band of Skulls and Bad//Dreems at Rolling Green. The new concert series is presented by the same minds as the popular A Day On The Green events, similarly taking place at wineries in Victoria and NSW, though with a more youthful, boutique focus.
The band’s busy Australian schedule seems in line with comments made by Soundwave promoter AJ Maddah in the wake of the Big Day Out’s cancellation for 2015. According to Music Feeds, after BDO promoter C3 Presents announced that the event would not take place in 2015, Maddah stated that this was due to a “shortage of headliners on cycle this year”.
Other festivals that seem to be suffering from the headliner drought include Falls Festival, which will be helmed by UK indie outfit Alt-J, who only recently unveiled their second album, and even Soundwave, arguably Australia’s biggest touring rock festival.
Though AJ Maddah initially stated that the Soundwave 2015 lineup would feature “80 to 90” acts, with only “around 14 bands” set for the forthcoming second lineup announcement, it looks as though the lineup will ultimately consist of around 60 bands spread over two days.
As Music Feeds reported at the time, Maddah also stated that the festival would include four headliners. However, the promoter recently confirmed that organisers decided to book guitar god Slash and shock rocker Marilyn Manson in place of a fourth headliner.
It’s little wonder then that the Fever hit-makers have been snapped up by a major festival and a new boutique event as they make the rounds to promote their latest studio effort. Readers can view The Black Keys’ hectic Australian schedule below.
The Black Keys Australian Tour Dates
Byron Bay Bluesfest tickets on sale now
Rolling Green tickets on sale from 9am Thursday, 11th September 2014
Tour tickets on sale from 12 noon Thursday, 11th September 2014
Friday, 3rd April 2015
Bluesfest, Byron Bay NSW
Tickets: Bluesfest
Sunday, 5th April 2015
Rolling Green, Rochford Wines, Yarra Valley VIC
Tickets: Rolling Green
Tuesday, 7th April 2015
Margaret Court Arena, Melbourne VIC
Tickets: Ticketek
Friday, 10th April 2015
Qantas Credit Union Arena, Sydney NSW
Tickets: Ticketek
Saturday, 11th April 2015
Rolling Green, Bimbadgen Winery, Hunter Valley NSW
Tickets: Rolling Green
Tuesday, 14th April 2015
Red Hill Auditorium, Perth WA
Tickets: Oztix
Thursday, 16th April 2015
Entertainment Centre Theatre, Adelaide SA
Tickets: Ticketek
