Just one month before it was scheduled to kick off, England’s folk poet Billy Bragg has been forced to reschedule his upcoming Australian tour in the wake of COVID-19 regulations.
First announced back in July, this extensive tour of the country was set to see Bragg holding what is effectively a three-night stand at venues in Perth, Adelaide, Melbourne, Sydney, and Brisbane, playing cuts from his extensive career.
While the first night features the entirety of Billy Bragg’s current setlist, which stretches across his 35-year career, the second sees selections from his first three albums, including 1983’s Life’s A Riot With Spy Vs Spy, 1984’s Brewing Up With Billy Bragg, and 1986’s Talking With The Taxman About Poetry.
The third night will feature cuts from the next three records in his career (save for 1990’s The Internationale), with 1988’s Workers Playtime, 1991’s Don’t Try This At Home, and 1996’s William Bloke all getting a look-in.
“After more than three decades of travelling around the world in a van, or spending all day flying vast distances to play a gig, I’m looking forward to having some time to explore cities that I usually only get to see between the soundcheck and the show,” Bragg said at the time.
“And this three night stand format is a way of keeping things interesting, both for me and the audience. I tried it out in Auckland recently and had a lot of fun revisiting my back pages.”
Unfortunately though, with shows, tours, and events being cancelled left, right, and centre due to COVID-19, Bragg’s upcoming tour has been named as the latest casualty.
“Because of everything that is going on in the world right now, I have no choice but to postpone my April-May Tour of Australia and New Zealand,” Bragg said in a statement.
“However, thanks to some speedy work by my team over there, we’ve able to reschedule all dates for January – February 2021. Of course I’d love to see you sooner, but right now, we all need to concentrate on doing what we can to support each other through this crisis.
“I’m really looking forward to seeing you all, but until then, stay safe and take care of each other.”
Now kicking off in late January, the tour itinerary is mostly the same and follows the same route as the original tour, though his Melbourne shows have now been upgraded from the Croxton Bandroom to the gorgeous surrounds of The Forum Theatre.
Tickets to these new dates are on sale now via Handsome Tours, while all previously-purchased tickets remain valid for next year. If you’re unable to attend these rescheduled shows, be sure to contact your point of purchase prior to 11.59pm on April 3rd to obtain a refund.
Billy Bragg ‘One Step Forward, Two Steps Back’ Australian Tour 2021
(Rescheduled Dates)
Friday, January 29th, 2021
Saturday, January 30th, 2021
Sunday, January 31st, 2021
Freo Social, Fremantle, WA
Thursday, February 4th, 2021
Friday, February 5th, 2021
Saturday, February 6th, 2021
The Gov, Adelaide, SA
Thursday, February 11th, 2021
Friday, February 12th, 2021
Saturday, February 13th, 2021
The Forum Theatre, Melbourne, VIC (New Venue)
Wednesday, February 17th, 2021
Thursday, February 18th, 2021
Friday, February 19th, 2021
Metro Theatre, Sydney, NSW
Tuesday, February 23rd, 2021
Wednesday, February 24th, 2021
Thursday, February 25th, 2021
The Triffid, Brisbane, QLD
Tickets on sale now via Handsome Tours
