with special guests
DAVE DOBBYN, THE TOPP TWINS and THE EASTERN (NZ)
CAITI BAKER (Darwin)
and SARAH BLASKO (all other AU shows)
Frontier Touring is thrilled to announce the return of acclaimed Sugar Man, Rodriguez, to Australia and New Zealand next February and March!
‘Australia and New Zealand audiences hold a very special place in my heart so I can’t wait to return down under in 2019.’ – Rodriguez
The legendary singer-songwriter and self-taught guitarist will bring his iconic blend of folk and psychedelic rock to our shores for a run of seven massive headline shows plus three very special A Day On The Green events.
“His voice remains untouched by the years….” – The Guardian
“It (Cold Fact) is one of those rare lost albums that turns out to be a genuine classic.” – Pitchfork
Joining Rodriguez on all headline shows (excluding Darwin, Auckland and all A Day On The Green shows) will be one of Australia’s finest voices, Sydney based and 3x ARIA Award winning, Sarah Blasko. Joining the bill in Darwin will be soul singer Caiti Baker, an A.B. Original collaborator and one half of electro-soul duo Sietta. A Day On The Green special guests include Xavier Rudd, Busby Marou, Pierce Brothers & Alice Skye. Local legends Dave Dobbyn, The Topp Twins and The Eastern will open the Auckland show.
Rodriguez has had strong ties to Australia and New Zealand ever since his music gained airplay locally in the mid-1970s, long before the rest of the world caught onto his talent thanks to Malik Bendjelloul’s Oscar-winning film Searching for Sugar Man. He first toured Australia and New Zealand in the late 1970s and later returned to Australia in 2014 then again in 2016 for a run of 14 shows and also released the iconic live album, Rodriguez Rocks – Live In Australia (out now through Inertia).
“Close your eyes and you might as well be listening to the young man who recorded Cold Fact nearly five decades ago.” – Sydney Morning Herald
“…he proved that he’s still more than capable of entertaining and charming sold-out crowds – an ordinary legend indeed.” – The AU Review
The Searching for Sugar Man documentary follows Rodriguez’s celebrated history that began in the bars and clubs around Detroit in the 1960s. Drawing inspiration from the city’s post-industrial urban decay, Rodriguez recorded and released albums Cold Fact (1969) and Coming From Reality (1971), which produced hit songs ‘Sugar Man’, ‘I Wonder’ and ‘Cause’. These releases went largely unnoticed in the US, despite Cold Fact being certified five-times platinum in Australia and Coming From Reality peaking at #24 in the ARIA Album chart.
Thanks to bootleg recordings and word of mouth, Cold Fact found its way to South Africa where its counter-culture lyrics resonated with the country’s politically-alienated youth. Without a telephone and working factory and construction jobs to support his family, Rodriguez remained oblivious to the fact that he was bigger than Elvis in South Africa.
Nearly five decades after the release of his debut, Rodriguez’s incredible vocal and musical skill is finally being heard by audiences throughout Europe, the United Kingdom and North America, including festival audiences at Glastonbury and Coachella.
Easily one of Australia’s finest, Sarah Blasko will be joining Rodriguez on all February and March 2019 dates. Having just released her sixth studio album Depth of Field(EMI Music) featuring the singles ‘A Shot’ and ‘Phantom’, Blasko has reached rarefied status. From the classic debut The Overture & The Underscore (2004) through to the stunning synth-laden Eternal Return (2015), her five-album run of genre-defining indie-rock and art-pop is unparalleled.
Vocalist and front woman Caiti Baker will also be joining Rodriguez for a one off exclusive show in Darwin. Having toured nationally and internationally as one half of electro-soul act Sietta, Baker stepped out on her own and released her incredible debut album ZINC last October including singles ‘Heavy On My Heart’ and ‘Make Your Own Mistakes’. She has toured with and supported a number of artists including A.B. Original, Dan Sultan, Son Little, Guy Sebastian and Booker T.
With twelve Top Ten albums under his belt three of which are certified platinum and double platinum, eight New Zealand Top 10 Singles, 22 New Zealand Music Awards, a record three Silver Scroll Awards not to mention a Lifetime Achievement Award and a spot in the NZ Music Hall of Fame, Dave Dobbyn needs no introduction. Easily one of New Zealand’s most respected, loved and revered song writers, Dobbyn has written the soundtrack to many Kiwi lives. He is considered a national treasure with a string of hits including ‘Loyal’, ‘Whaling’, ‘Slice of Heaven’, and ‘Welcome Home’ just to name a few. These songs are synonymous with good times and come February, this will be no exception when they come alive on the Villa Maria stage.
Jools and Lynda Topp, the twins behind many a comedy duo, have been performing their unique brand of acoustic country for more than 30 years. With nine albums, a successful TV Series, and a feature documentary to their name, it is no wonder the twins are well loved by New Zealanders. They were inducted into The NZ Music Hall Of Fame in 2008 recognising the influence their songs have had on New Zealand culture since the early 1980s. Having just this year being honoured with a Damehood, The Topp Twins will bring their much loved songs and personalities to Villa next February.
Hailing from Lyttelton, The Eastern will kick off proceedings in Auckland this coming February. A string band that roars like a punk band, swings like a gospel band and drinks like a country band, they have developed a reputation as New Zealand’s hardest working troubadours. With four albums and over 1000 shows under their belts, they have won many a heart along the way. Their 2012 album Hope and Wire reached Gold status in New Zealand, with the song ‘State Houses By The River’ a finalist in the prestigious APRA Silver Scroll Awards. A perfect way to kick off what will surely be the show of the Summer.
Act quick to secure your tickets to see this modern day poet perform live!
Tour Dates
Sat 2 Feb – Villa Maria, Auckland (All Ages)
Tue 5 Feb – ICC Sydney Theatre, Sydney (All Ages)
Sat 9 Feb – A Day On The Green, Mt Cotton *
Tue 12 Feb – Royal Theatre, Canberra (All Ages)
Fri 15 Feb – Margaret Court Arena, Melbourne (All Ages)
Sat 16 Feb – A Day On The Green, Yarra Valley *
Tue 19 Feb – Entertainment Centre, Darwin (All Ages)
Sat 23 Feb – A Day On The Green, Barossa Valley *
Tue 26 Feb – Derwent Entertainment Centre, Hobart (All Ages)
Fri 1 Mar – Kings Park & Botanic Garden, Perth (All Ages^)
* Not Frontier Touring shows
^ U18s can attend if accompanied by parent/legal guardian
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