Jimmy Barnes announces new
‘Stories & Songs’ shows
Working Class Boy No. 1 adult title in 2016
#WorkingClassBoy
Following a 2016 filled with firsts and new records, rock icon and bestselling author, Jimmy Barnes, is already gearing up for an even bigger 2017 with new regional shows added to the Working Class Boy: An Evening of Stories & Songs tour in Mackay, Cairns, Darwin, Newcastle, Penrith and Geelong in response to fan requests.
Encore shows have also been added due to overwhelming demand in Sydney (Enmore Theatre) and Melbourne following sell out performances at the Sydney Opera House and Regent Theatre at the end of 2016.
After setting a record with his fifteenth #1 album back in June 2016 and making his debut as a published author in September, Barnes released his first ever spoken word recording in December.
The Working Class Boy audiobook was written and read by Jimmy Barnes and recorded at his home studio and is only available as a digital download from his website (ie: not from any other online stores) here. Click here to listen to a sample.
Since its release, the hard cover version of Working Class Boy has struck a profound chord with both critics and the Australian public. It spent seven weeks at #1 on the national Bookscan charts ending the 10-week reign of mega-authors JK Rowling and Andy Griffiths and was the No. 1 adult title in 2016.
The next shows on the Working Class Boy: An Evening of Stories & Songs tour take Jimmy back to Tasmania for two sold out shows in Launceston as well as a Hobart date which is also close to selling out. From there Jimmy heads across the ditch for 10 shows in New Zealand
The ‘Stories & Songs’ shows see Jimmy Barnes, surrounded on stage by his children Mahalia and Jackie and son-in-law Ben Rodgers, bring the book to life, while baring his heart and soul. The shows have received unanimous rave reviews including:
“A powerful, deeply emotional and transformative production” – The Daily Telegraph“A sophisticated and very moving piece of storytelling” – The Daily Review“… anyone seeking an emotional, dark, funny, exciting theatrical event — and a powerful singer still in great voice — will be thrilled” – Sunday Mail SA“You know you’ve been to a pretty good gig when the songs of your youth are redefined. That is just what this old Cold Chisel fan is feeling right now after spending a wonderful 150 minutes listening to Australian rock great Jimmy Barnes tell his life story with yarns and song” –
The West Australian Fans seeking tickets for Jimmy’s shows are reminded to only buy tickets from the official ticket agents listed at www.jimmybarnes.com/tour-dates/ so as to avoid “reselling” sites who typically advertise heavily online and often mislead consumers into paying much higher prices than necessary.
Working Class Boy: An Evening of Stories & Songs has been nominated for Best Cabaret Production in the 2016 Sydney Theatre Awards for Jimmy’s sold out performance at the Sydney Opera House Concert Hall. In another first, Jimmy’s son, David Campbell, is also nominated making it the first time a father and son have been nominated for Sydney Theatre Awards in the same year. The Sydney Theatre Awards are being held tonight at the York Theatre, Seymour Centre.
Appropriately the tour has been drawing attention to the great work of the Luke Batty Foundation (www.lukebattyfoundation.com.au). In addition to providing relevant information online and at all of his shows Jimmy also encourages everyone to support former Australian of the Year Rosie Batty’s campaign to end family violence by signing up at www.neveralone.com.au
Working Class Boy has certainly resonated deeply with Australians of all ages and backgrounds. The book is already onto its 4th reprint with Harper Collins Australia confirming that it is the biggest Australian non-fiction debut in the past five years, and the biggest in Harper Collins Australia’s history.
Tickets to all new shows go on general sale at 2.00pm local times on Tuesday, 31 January 2017.
Frontier Members pre-sale: Wednesday, 25 January from 2.00pm local times until Thursday 26 January at 2.00pm local times (or earlier if pre-sale allocation exhausted)
Ticketek Members pre-sale: Monday, 30 January from 2.00pm local times until Tuesday, 31 January at 2.00pm local times (or earlier if pre-sale allocation exhausted)
Jimmy Barnes
WORKING CLASS BOY: An Evening of Stories & Songs
NEW SHOWS
Tuesday, 14 March 2017
Mackay Entertainment Centre, Mackay, Qld
Tickets on sale from 2.00pm local time, Tuesday 31 January from
the venue – www.mecc.com.au | 07 4961 9777Wednesday, 15 March 2017
Tanks Arts Centre, Cairns, Qld
Tickets on sale from 2.00pm local time, Tuesday 31 January from
Ticketlink – 1300 855 835 or www.ticketlink.com.auThursday, 16 March 2017
Saturday, 18 March 2017
Darwin Entertainment Centre, Darwin, NT
Tickets on sale from 2.00pm local time, Tuesday 31 January from
the venue – 08 8980 3333 or www.yourcentre.com.au
Thursday, 23 March 2017
Civic Theatre, Newcastle, NSW
Tickets on sale from 2.00pm local time, Tuesday 31 January
from the venue – 02 4929 1977 or www.civictheatrenewcastle.com.au
and Ticketek – 132 849 or www.ticketek.com.au
Friday, 24 March 2017
Joan Sutherland Performing Arts Centre, Penrith, NSW
Tickets on sale from 2.00pm local time, Tuesday 31 January
from the venue – 02 4723 7600 or www.thejoan.com.au
Saturday, 25 March 2017
Enmore Theatre, Sydney, NSW
Tickets on sale from 2.00pm local time, Tuesday 31 January from
Ticketek – 132 849 or www.ticketek.com.au
Friday, 7 April 2017
Geelong Performance Arts Centre Playhouse, Geelong, Vic
Tickets on sale from 2.00pm local time, Tuesday 31 January
from the venue – 03 5225 1200 or www.gpac.org.au
Saturday, 8 April 2017
Regent Theatre, Melbourne, Vic
Tickets on sale from 2.00pm local time, Tuesday 31 January
from Ticketmaster – 136 100 or www.ticketmaster.com.au
PREVIOUSLY ANNOUNCED SHOWS
Thursday, 2 February 2017
- Country Club Showroom, Launceston, Tas
* SOLD OUT *Friday, 3 February 2017
Wrest Point Entertainment Centre, Hobart, Tas
Tickets available now from www.tixtas.com.au and 1300 795 257
Saturday, 4 February 2017 – Country Club Showroom, Launceston, Tas
* SOLD OUT *NEW ZEALAND DATES
Monday, 6 February 2017 – Civic Theatre | Invercargill
Tuesday, 7 February 2017 – Regent Theatre | Dunedin
Wednesday, 8 February 2017 – Isaac Theatre Royal | Christchurch – SOLD OUT
Thursday, 9 February 2017 – The Aurora Centre | Christchurch
Saturday, 11 February 2017 – St James Theatre | Wellington
Sunday, 12 February 2017 – Pettigrew Green Arena | Napier
Tuesday, 14 February 2017 – TSB Showplace | New Plymouth
Thursday, 16 February 2017 – ASB Baypark Arena | Tauranga
Friday, 17 February 2017 – Claudelands Arena | Hamilton
Saturday, 18 February 2017 – Civic Theatre | Auckland
Please note that in keeping with the nature of this production, the show will be staged over two acts with a short interval. There will be no support band so Jimmy will be onstage from the advertised starting time at all shows.
