Iconic Australian rock group Cold Chisel will perform all of their biggest hits when they embark on a special tour marking 50 years of making music together.
The ‘Big 5-0 tour’ is set to feature plenty of nods to the group’s history over 11 different performances in October and November.
It kicks off right here in Armidale on October 5, before heading to the Gold Coast, Sydney, Wollongong, Melbourne, Perth, Brisbane, Newcastle, Ballarat and Hobart. It will culminate in a final performance in Adelaide, where the band formed, at a concert following the city’s 500 supercars event.
Why Armidale? That’s where the band was based in 1974-75. Don Walker grew up in Armidale, moved to Adelaide where the band was formed under the name ‘Orange’, and moved back to Armidale to study science at UNE in 1974 with the band – including a 16 year old Jimmy Barnes – in tow. He was later awarded an honorary doctorate by our local university.
Older locals – many of whom would have seen the band’s first gig under the name ‘Cold Chisel’ at the Armidale Town Hall on March 2, 1974, – will tell stories of the Armidale references in early Chisel tracks. For example, the line “sitting on a beach drinking rocket fuel” allegedly refers to the large hill near Mary White College, and the now banned alcoholic concoction long favoured by UNE students.
They’ll hit the road less than a year after frontman Jimmy Barns underwent open heart surgery, with the rocker admitting he never thought he’d see the milestone performances come together.
“The Big Five-0 is a landmark moment,” he said.
“There have been plenty of times where I never thought I’d live to see this day so I’m going to make the most of it.
“I can’t wait to celebrate with my mates and with all the fans who have been such a big part of our story.
“We’re gonna smash it!”
Audiences in Melbourne, Sydney and Brisbane will see the group perform in a specially-constructed Big Top tent, in a reference to a 1982 album launch.
Supporting acts include The Cruel Sea, The Superjesus, Birds of Tokyo and Karen Lee Andrews.
Piano player and chief songwriter Don Walker said the band was going all out.
“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,” he said.
The band will also release a best-of album in August.
Guitarist and singer Ian Moss has reassured fans they’ll hear the most popular hits in the setlist.
“There are a minimum of 15 songs that our audience demands to hear,” he said.
“This time we’ll be playing all of them plus we’ll be throwing in lots of musical surprises.”
The gig in Armidale on October 5, 2024 sadly will not be at the Armidale Town Hall. It is being held at Petersen’s Winery.
Cold Chisel mailing list members can access pre-sale tickets for other gigs from Friday and general admission goes on sale on June 4.
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