Simple Minds today unveiled plans for a nine-date summer tour of Australia and New Zealand at the end of this year that also will feature ’80s-era contemporaries Devo and The Church sharing the bill and will hit a mixture of indoor venues and wineries taking part in the popular A Day on the Green concert series.
The trek opens Nov. 30 in Melbourne, with seven more dates in Australia followed by a single, tour-ending concert in New Zealand — Auckland, to be specific — on Dec. 15. Four of the concerts, including the New Zealand gig, are part of the A Day on the Green winery series; those shows also will feature Aussie rockers Models on the bill.
In a news release, Simple Minds’ Jim Kerr, who will lead the band through a run of European shows this summer, said: “Australia holds a very special place in the heart of Simple Minds. It was the first country anywhere in the world to embrace our music and we have wonderful memories of the tours we’ve done. We’re extremely excited about playing in Australia again.”
As for U.S. fans still hoping for Simple Minds to return to this country, shortly before announcing the dates Down Under, Kerr posted on Facebook, “I ask all of those who are keen to see us in USA/CANADA/S.AMER/OZ and NZ not to give up hope in seeing us live. It could be sooner than you think — fingers crossed — and thanks for all your enthusiasm.”
Tickets for all the Australia/New Zealand shows go on sale July 2.
Tour dates: Simple Minds, Devo and The Church
Nov. 30: Palais Theatre, Melbourne, Australia
Dec. 1: A Day on the Green, Rochard Wines, Yarra Valley, VIC, Australia *
Dec. 2: Entertainment Centre, Adelaide, Australia
Dec. 4: Kings Park & Botanic Garden, Perth, Australia
Dec. 7: Entertainment Centre, Sydney, Australia
Dec. 8: A Day on the Green, Bimbadgen Winery, Hunter Valley, NSW, Australia *
Dec. 9: A Day on the Green, Sirromet Wines, Mt. Cotton, QLD, Australia *
Dec. 12: Entertainment Centre, Wollongong, WIN, Australia
Dec. 15: A Day on the Green, Villa Maria Estate, Auckland, New Zealand *
* Also featuring Models
PREVIOUSLY ON SLICING UP EYEBALLS
- Tracklist revealed for Simple Minds ‘x5’ box set featuring band’s first five albums
- Simple Minds announce ‘5X5 Live’ European tour, box set featuring first 5 albums
- Blondie and Devo to tour U.S. together this September — full dates announced
- Stream: Devo, ‘Monsterman’ — theme song to Syfy’s new series ‘Monster Man’
- Video: The Church performs ‘The Unguarded Moment,’ ‘Tantalized’ with orchestra
Devo with Simple Minds and The Church? Odd combo don’t you think?
One of those “I’d love to but probably don’t have the spare cash at the moment” announcements. I’d pay good dollar to see Simple Minds, The Church and then happily accept Devo – in that order. Although if The Church and Devo are support for the Minds, then yeah, that does sound a tad weird…
Hopefully the Church is headlining. That would only be right