Cold Chisel is celebrating 50 years together with a unique tour called “The Big Five-0”. This monumental anniversary party kicks off on Saturday, October 5, in Armidale, the band’s base in 1974-1975, and will travel through major Australian cities for seven weeks, concluding on November 17 in Adelaide, the city where the band was formed.
Exclusive Presale and General Public Onsale Dates
Fans can access a presale from 12 noon (local time) on Friday, May 31, by signing up for Cold Chisel’s mailing list here. Tickets for the general public will be available from 12 noon (local time) on Tuesday, June 4. Visit coldchisel.com for ticket links and more information.
Tour Dates and Locations
- Saturday, 5 October 2024: Petersons Winery, Mount View, Armidale NSW (Red Hot Summer Tour)
- Tuesday, 8 October 2024: Gold Coast Convention and Exhibition Centre, Broadbeach QLD
- Friday, 11 October 2024: The Entertainment Quarter, Moore Park NSW
- Tuesday, 15 October 2024: WIN Entertainment Centre, Wollongong NSW
- Saturday, 19 October 2024: Sandalford Wines, Caversham WA (Red Hot Summer Tour)
- Friday, 25 October 2024: Flemington Racecourse, Flemington VIC
- Saturday, 2 November 2024: Victoria Park, Herston / Brisbane QLD
- Wednesday, 6 November 2024: Newcastle Entertainment Centre, Broadmeadow NSW
- Saturday, 9 November 2024: Victoria Park, Ballarat VIC (Red Hot Summer Tour)
- Wednesday, 13 November 2024: MyState Bank Arena, Glenorchy TAS
- Sunday, 17 November 2024: VAILO Adelaide 500, Post Race Concert, Adelaide SA
New Album Release: 50 Years – The Best Of
Coinciding with the tour, Cold Chisel will release a new album, “50 Years – The Best Of,” on Friday, August 23. This 25-song double-vinyl set includes all their classic songs and will be available in multiple formats, making it a perfect Father’s Day gift.
Spectacular Shows Under the Big Top
In Sydney, Brisbane, and Melbourne, the shows will be staged under a specially constructed, 10,000 capacity Big Top tent, featuring floor and bleacher seating, as well as a GA standing area. This setup is a nod to the band’s legendary ‘An Evening with the Circus Animals’ shows in 1982.
Special Guests and Outdoor Concerts
The tour will feature ARIA Award winners The Cruel Sea and soulful singer/songwriter Karen Lee Andrews as support acts for most shows. Outdoor concerts in Armidale, Perth, and Ballarat will also include performances from Birds of Tokyo and The Superjesus, making for some unforgettable nights presented by Red Hot Summer.
Grand Finale in Adelaide
The tour’s grand finale will take place after the VAILO Adelaide 500 Supercars event, with Cold Chisel headlining the post-race concert. Tickets for this Adelaide show are already on sale.
A Nostalgic Journey Through Cold Chisel’s Classics
Cold Chisel’s anniversary tour promises a setlist full of their iconic hits, including “Khe Sanh,” “Bow River,” “Flame Trees,” “You Got Nothin’ I Want,” “When The War Is Over,” “My Baby,” “Cheap Wine,” and many more. This tour is not about promoting a new album but purely about the joy of playing live together.
Don Walker’s Take on the Tour
As piano player and chief songwriter Don Walker explains, “We’ll be going all out to celebrate a milestone birthday like this. Bookending the tour in the two places where we first welded the band together, building these circus tent shows in three cities, bringing along some great guests, and doing a set which reaches back across our whole song catalogue should all make ‘The Big Five-0’ a tour to remember.”
Ian Moss on the Band’s Legacy
Guitarist and singer Ian Moss adds, “We wanted to celebrate our 50th birthday by revisiting all of our best work from across the years. As we prepare the setlist, there are a minimum of 15 songs that our audience demands to hear. This time we’ll be playing all of them plus we’ll be throwing in lots of musical surprises as well.”
Phil Small Reflects on the Tour’s Significance
Bass player Phil Small reflects, “Gold is obviously associated with 50th anniversaries, so we thought it would be fun to pull the tour into Ballarat – Australia’s gold mining capital. We’re looking forward to playing the Gold Coast, Newcastle, Wollongong, and Hobart too because each of those cities have been important to us in various ways over the last 50 years.”
Jimmy Barnes’ Commitment to the Band
Jimmy Barnes, recently recovering from emergency open heart surgery, emphasizes the bond between the band members, stating, “Cold Chisel are never apart. We’re as close as brothers. Some of the best moments of my life have been spent on stage with those boys, and I hope we keep going ‘til the day we drop.”
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