As we all know, all good things eventually must end, and Russell Morris has affirmed that today by announcing one last tour before he hangs up his hat and guitar.
After 58 hectic years of vans, hotels, auditoriums, pubs, clubs, planes, late nights, early starts, rehearsal rooms, backstage jams and meals on the run, Russell will circle the country again for the final time on The Farewell Tour this August and September kicking off in Adelaide at the Festival Theatre (3 August) before heading to Newcastle’s Civic Theatre (7 August), Perth Convention and Entertainment Centre (22 August), Twin Towns Services Club (23 August), Melbourne’s Hamer Hall (27 August) and Anita’s Theatre in Thirroul (6 September) finishing up at the prestigious Sydney Opera House on Sunday, 7 September.
Tickets for all shows go on sale at 10.00am (local times) on Thursday, 10 April.
It was way back on 9 April 1969 that this local singer with an odd song that ran to a seriously radio-unfriendly six-and-a-half minutes (!) saw his first solo single slip into the top 40 at #33. There were only four other Australian songs on that chart – not uncommon then – and few local hits rose to the top.
Russell Morris’ The Real Thing did though. By the time Neil Armstrong set foot on the Moon, it had spent a month atop the charts. It was one small step for Russell Morris; one giant leap for Australian music.
Over the next 50+ years, Russell has recorded a remarkable 15 albums, released in excess of 28 singles and played thousands of shows.
The Farewell Tour will feature Russell’s various incarnations – from Hush, Sweet Sweet Love and Wings of An Eagle, through to the acclaimed blues trilogy that began with the landmark, record-breaking, platinum selling #1 ARIA Chart Album Sharkmouth in 2012, which became his most successful album and winning the 2013 ARIA Award for Best Blues and Roots Album.
Russell said, “For too many years to count, more than I care to admit, I’ve performed across every corner of Australia. From smoky clubs to rowdy pubs, sprawling festivals to RSL halls; I’ve done it all, and I’ve cherished every second of it. Since the ‘60s, I’ve poured my heart into this circuit, but after decades of constant motion, I started to feel a creeping sense of déjà vu – maybe I was repeating myself, treading the same worn paths. That’s why my albums have danced through so many styles—folk, rock, blues, you name it. I’m not built for the repetitive; it’s like circling the drain, and I refuse to let that be my story.”
He added, “So, we’ve crafted this tour as a kind of farewell—a grand send-off to this chapter. Is it the last shows? Who can say for sure? Life’s unpredictable, and I’m not one for absolutes. But right now, it feels like it could be. One thing’s certain: no more endless rounds of clubs, pubs, or RSLs. Maybe a rare one-off gig down the line, if the stars align. For now, though, this is my way of closing the loop—not the end of my music, but the end of the beginning. A pivot, not a full stop.”
After being asked for close to 50 years about which of his songs (his children!) are his favourites, Russell has put together a Spotify playlist of all his choices from across his illustrious career which can be streamed from here.
Stay tuned for Russell’s new single, The End of the Beginning, to be released soon.
Don’t miss the chance to see this legendary Australian musician one last time as he takes the stage accompanied by a 13 piece all-star band, including a stunning string quartet, at the nation’s most prestigious venues.
Venue and ticket agency database pre-sales kick off at 10.00am (local times) on Tuesday, 8 April.
General public tickets go on sale at 10.00am (local times) on Thursday, 10 April. For full details go to russellmorris.com.au.
