The Living End’s 2017 run of Australian shows has received a high-octane injection today, with the announcement that a huge line-up of incredible local talent is set to guest alongside the Aussie punk rock legends for their upcoming Staring Down The Highway regional tour.
The trio will be supported by a selection of some of the most exciting future stars of Australian rock, including Melbourne party punk animals The Bennies (all shows), as well as a high calibre line-up of local regional talents, including:
Canberra: The Spindrift Saga
Wollongong: Raised as Wolves
Newcastle: Split Feed
Central Coast: Lion Island
Laurieton & Coffs: Son of Jaguar
Ipswich, Gold Coast & Byron: Good Boy
Townsville & Airlie Beach: Why Wait
Geelong & Frankston: Pretty Littles
Traralgon: The Diecasts
Hobart: A Swayze and The Ghosts
Speaking of these regional shows, The Living End’s frontman Chris Cheney could barely contain his excitement to be hitting the road again for the performances ahead. “Scott, Andy and myself are getting in the Tarago for a big, loud, sweaty rock’n’roll tour and we got The Bennies coming along with us and they rule!! Hard!”
The news runs alongside the announcement that the band will be joined by several special guests at their run of zoo shows in Sydney and Melbourne this March.
They’ll be joined on stage by none other than Australian rock icon, Jimmy Barnes (Sydney, March 5th) as well as multiple ARIA award winners and revered songwriters in their own right, Josh Pyke (Sydney, March 4th) and Dan Sultan (Melbourne, March 2nd & 3rd). The all-female string quartet, The String Sirens, will be adding to the emotion and ambience of each show as well, while rising Melbourne rocker Gabriella Cohen will be supporting all zoo shows.
Speaking of the shows, Cheney explained each performance would be a unique experience. “There’ll be an acoustic set, an electric set, a string quartet and some seriously legendary guests.”
2016 was a year to remember for The Living End, even for rock icons of their calibre. Having released their ARIA # 5 album Shift in May; levelling their sold out major city national Shift tour; performing on the at the 2016 AFL Grand Final; headlining festivals around the country; and scoring nominations for Best Rock Album and Best Australian Live Act at this year’s ARIA Awards – so far it has been a year in which the kings of Australian rock reclaimed their throne after a five-year hiatus after their 2011 ARIA-Award winning album, The Ending Is Just The Beginning Repeating.
2017 looks set to tread a similar outstanding path, with not only these multiple tours, but the announcement this week that Chris Cheney will be performing as the lead star of the Australian cast of Green Day’s American Idiot musical.
Cheney will appear in the role of St Jimmy from the show’s opening on February 23 up until the start of the Zoo shows in early March, before being replaced by fellow local rock icon, Phil Jamieson (Grinspoon).
THE LIVING END
STARING DOWN THE HIGHWAY TOUR 2017
WITH SPECIAL GUESTS THE BENNIES + LOCAL ACTS
Tix $45 + BF, On Sale Now From thelivingend.com
Wed 8 March ANU Bar Canberra ACT
Thur 9 March Waves Wollongong NSW
Fri 10 March Cambridge Hotel Newcastle NSW
Sat 11 March Entrance Leagues Club Central Coast NSW
Wed 15 March Laurieton United Services Club Laurieton NSW
Thurs 16 March Coffs Ex Services Club CEX Coffs Harbour NSW
Fri 17 March Racehorse Hotel Ipswich QLD
Sat 18 March Night Quarter Gold Coast QLD
Sun 19 March The Northern Byron Bay NSW
Wed 22 March Tanks Arts Centre Cairns QLD
Thur 23 March (SOLD OUT) Tanks Arts Centre Cairns QLD
Fri 24 March Dalrymple Hotel Townsville QLD
Sat 25 March Magnums Hotel Airlie Beach QLD
Thur 30 March Wool Exchange Geelong VIC
Fri 31 March Kay St Traralgon VIC
Sat 1 April Pier Live Frankston VIC
Fri 7 April Odeon Theatre Hobart TAS
THE LIVING END
2017 Melbourne and Sydney Zoo Shows
SUPPORTED BY GABRIELLA COHEN
Thursday 2 March Melbourne Zoo Twilights Melbourne VIC
Tickets: http://www.zoo.org.au/melbourne/whats-on/zoo-twilights
Feat. special guests: Dan Sultan and The String Sirens
Friday 3 March Melbourne Zoo Twilights Melbourne VIC
SOLD OUT!
Feat. special guests: Dan Sultan and The String Sirens
Saturday 4 March Twilight At Taronga Sydney NSW
SOLD OUT!
Feat. special guests: Josh Pyke and The String Sirens
Sunday 5 March Twilight At Taronga Sydney NSW
Tickets: twilightattaronga.org.au
Feat. special guests: Jimmy Barnes and The String Sirens