Conrad Sewell is hitting the road for a massive tour in celebration of the 10th anniversary of “Firestone”, the Kygo single that gave Sewell his first international hit.
But you won’t find Sewell playing in Sydney, or Melbourne, or Brisbane. Instead, the soulful singer-songwriter will be performing in Wagga Wagga, Kingscliff, Albury, Mackay, and many more lesser-visited spots on his biggest regional Australian tour to date. The intimate, acoustic sessions will feature support from René Le Feuvre.
“I’m extremely excited for this tour. Some of my favourite memories are from touring regional Australia. Getting to see the country while playing to my loyal fans is always so special. I am looking forward to just being on the road again. I also have a bunch of new music that I have been itching to test out on a live audience, which is always exciting,” Sewell says.
“Firestone” was a global sensation for Kygo and Sewell, and the single has been streamed over one billion times on Spotify alone.
“’Firestone’ changed my life in many ways,” Sewell admits. “It’s always incredible to be a part of a song that touches that many people. But for the song to still stand the test of time and be so loved 10 years later is a dream come true.”
Ahead of his lengthy run of shows, Rolling Stone AU/NZ caught up with Sewell to discuss the importance of regional touring.
Ticket information for Sewell’s regional tour can be found here.
Rolling Stone AU/NZ: Are you looking forward to your regional tour? How does it feel to be able to bring your music into communities that don’t get as many live music opportunities as major cities?
Conrad Sewell: To me, it’s one of the most rewarding things you can do. I still remember my first regional tour, the people that come out love music so much and there is a sense of connection in those towns like no other.
Do you think emerging artists should embrace regional touring early on in their careers?
Touring regionally is really important to me because it’s an amazing way to build your fanbase with fans that really care. I also love connecting with these fans after the shows, it’s usually much more intimate than capital city shows.
What are some of the barriers to touring remote areas? Do you have any ideas of how to improve accessibility?
Yes, get more sleeper vans in the country – I think there’s only one. It’s also just about knowledge. A lot of young artists don’t realise how important regional touring is, they just want to play in the capital cities.
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Are there any towns that you haven’t played that are on your touring bucket list?
We haven’t done much in Adelaide. I’d like to go south of Adelaide to some of the beach towns there and see that side of the country!
Have you ever played a show in a small town where you had low expectations, only to be blown away by the response?
Wagga Wagga, we sold out three nights in a row, and I just wasn’t expecting that kind of love there. I absolutely love Wagga Wagga and always make sure it’s on the list of regional shows!
Is there a regional town or city that you would urge all artists to play?
Wagga Wagga and Dubbo, those two are always favourites of mine. When I first played in Wagga Wagga, we sold out three nights back to back to back. I just couldn’t believe the support out there. I think any artist who’s played Dubbo knows that place is wild, it’s so much fun. Any time I am in Dubbo it’s a huge party, definitely one of my favourite places to play in Australia.
Do you think regional touring helps to build an artist’s career and fanbase?
It’s core fans that you can build on. I think this is key to building a lasting audience – once they’re a fan in regional areas, they’re a fan for life. They seem to come back with every lap you do.
Why is it important for artists to connect with regional music communities?
Because it’s the real working-class people of Australia, they appreciate it. They’re grateful you’ve come to them. There’s a real sense of gratitude in these towns, especially the more remote ones, because they don’t always get as many touring acts coming through. The energy and enthusiasm from the crowd makes all the effort worth it and you really feel that connection when you’re on stage.
Have you found that audiences in regional communities engage with your music differently?
I just think they appreciate it in a different way. Not every artist they like makes the effort to come to their town, so when you do, there’s a really good energy around regional shows. If you show them the trust and effort to come to their town, you can usually expect to see them the next time you roll around too. It’s not a revolving door of audiences in regional Australia like it might be in capital cities.
