Who’s gonna make the gravy with Paul Kelly this year? Some of Australia and New Zealand’s finest musical exports, Courtney Barnett, Kate Miller-Heidke, and Marlon Williams, will join the legendary songwriter on this world class lineup in Perth, Melbourne, Sydney, and Brisbane on the Making Gravy tour. Providing sweetness, and that extra tang, Thelma Plum will open proceedings in Sydney.
Back by popular demand – and now in its third year, the Making Gravy tour kicks off the festive season celebrations with the music of Paul Kelly’s four decade-long career, reserving a special place for the Christmas classic ‘How To Make Gravy’. The special guests, selected by Paul, elevate the outdoor concert series to a new level, highlighting the best and brightest local talent in today’s scene.
The tour will head to Perth for the first time this year, kicking off at Stadium Park at Optus Stadium on Saturday 7 December, before returning to Melbourne’s Sidney Myer Music Bowl on Thursday 12 December and Sydney’s The Domain on Saturday 14 December, wrapping up on Gravy Day itself, Saturday 21 December, at Brisbane’s Riverstage.
It’s perfect timing, with Kelly’s just-announced new greatest hits album Songs From The South (1985 – 2019) being released on November 15 through EMI Australia. It will feature numerous revered songs from the iconic songwriter’s illustrious career, including cuts from his most recent studio albums, Life Is Fine and Nature. There’ll be classics like ‘To Her Door’, ‘Dumb Things’, and ‘From Little Things Big Things Grow’, recent gems such as ‘With The One I Love’, the Dan Sultan collaboration ‘Every Day My Mother’s Voice’, and a brand new single with Kasey Chambers, ‘When We’re Both Old And Mad’, and of course, ‘How To Make Gravy’.
Alongside the album release of Songs From The South (1985 – 2019) is Kelly’s new book, Love Is Strong As Death, a collection of poems curated by Paul himself, to be released on November 18 (Penguin), and 13 Ways To Look At Birds, Kelly’s classical album out at the end of the month on August 30.
Inducted into the ARIA Hall of Fame in 1997, Paul Kelly is renowned as one of Australia’s greatest performers and songwriters, with a prolific 24 studio albums, multiple film soundtracks, and two live albums to his name. 2017’s Life Is Fine saw Kelly finally achieve his first ARIA #1 album, also earning him ARIA Awards for Best Male, Best Adult Contemporary Album, Best Cover Art and Engineer Of The Year. He backed it up with another ARIA #1 album in 2018 with Nature. He’s toured Australia countless times, both as headliner and occasionally in support of greats like Bob Dylan and Leonard Cohen, and in 2017 was awarded the Order of Australia for his distinguished service to the performing arts and the promotion of the national identity through his contributions as singer, songwriter and musician.Over the last few years, Making Gravy has become an unmissable live music experience. Christmas has come early with this unbeatable lineup, so get your tickets now so you don’t miss out.
TOUR DATES
Saturday 7 December – Stadium Park At Optus Stadium, Perth (18+)*
Thursday 12 December – Sidney Myer Music Bowl, Melbourne (All Ages)
Saturday 14 December – The Domain, Sydney (18+)*
Saturday 21 December – Riverstage, Brisbane (All Ages)
