Elton John’s globetrotting farewell tour will return to Australia next January for encore shows in Melbourne, Sydney and Brisbane, and his first-ever performance in Newcastle.
The 75-year-old’s Farewell Yellow Brick Road tour is currently playing to North American audiences, and new Australian dates have been added to 2023’s rescheduled shows in Auckland, New Zealand.
Elton John will play four encore Australian performances on his Farewell Yellow Brick Road tour.Credit:
His original run of more than 30 farewell shows in Australia took place from late 2019 until March of 2020, wrapping up just days before the COVID-19 pandemic halted international touring.
The glittering, worldwide swansong has now unexpectedly been extended for Australian fans, who might have missed the chance to kick up their heels with Crocodile Rock and sing along to Candle in the Wind the last time Sir Elton was here.
The multiple Grammy Award-winner’s upcoming Melbourne and Sydney shows will take place almost 52 years since he first played in Australia, and his last time on stage in Brisbane will be his 233rd and final Australian performance – at least for now.
After a career spanning six decades, he is retiring from touring to spend more time with his family.
“It’s quite incredible, really … it’s wonderful to have him coming back for these shows.”
Michael Chugg, who is promoting the tour with Frontier Touring and AEG Presents, recalls seeing John’s maiden Australian tour and has “cut a few birthday cakes” with the veteran entertainer.
The year before releasing his chart-topping song Rocket Man in 1972, John played his first Australian show at Kooyong, and a week later played at Randwick Racecourse in Sydney. In between, he played at Festival Hall in Brisbane.
“I saw him play at Randwick Racecourse, and I had [New Zealand band] the La De Da’s on that ’71 tour as well, they were supporting him,” Chugg said.
“He’s never played Newcastle. He’s played the Hunter Valley many, many times, but a lot of people in Newcastle don’t go to the Hunter Valley, so we thought we’d do the renovated Newcastle stadium, and we’re excited about that.”
The farewell tour will end with a show at Dodger Stadium in Los Angeles in November next year.
“It’s quite incredible, really … it’s wonderful to have him coming back for these shows,” Chugg said. “It’s going to be fun, and we’re looking forward to it.”
Tickets for Elton John’s Farewell Yellow Brick Road tour go on sale Monday, August 1, through ticketmaster.com.au (for Newcastle) and ticketek.com.au.
ELTON JOHN’S 2023 TOUR DATES
Tuesday, January 10: McDonald Jones Stadium, Newcastle, NSW
Friday, January 13: AAMI Park, Melbourne, VIC
Wednesday, January 18: Allianz Stadium, Sydney, NSW
Saturday, January 21: Suncorp Stadium, Brisbane, QLD
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