Paul Dempsey is bringing his ‘Shotgun Karaoke’ tour back for one final run in 2026, announcing four special ‘Christmas Karaoke’ shows for December.
The Something For Kate frontman will take the ever-changing covers show to Sydney, Adelaide, Brisbane and Melbourne, wrapping up a year that has seen the concept play to some of the biggest audiences of Dempsey’s career.
The run begins at Sydney’s City Recital Hall on December 4th, before heading to The Gov in Adelaide on December 11th, Brisbane’s Tivoli on December 12th, and Melbourne’s Forum on December 19th. Singer-songwriter Jess Hitchcock will join Dempsey as special guest across the four dates.
A portion of every ticket sold will also be donated to organisations supporting people experiencing homelessness in each of the four cities. The Sydney show will support Wayside Chapel, with proceeds from Melbourne going to Sacred Heart Mission, Adelaide supporting Catherine House, and Brisbane supporting Emmanuel City Mission.
“I’ve been having such a blast doing these Shotgun Karaoke shows, the atmosphere at every show has just been pure joy with everyone singing along and getting right into it,” Dempsey said. “I’m looking forward to some festival good times with this last handful of shows and then getting back to my own writing and a new Something For Kate album in the works.”
The shows extend a project that began with Dempsey’s stripped-back approach to songs from across generations and genres. His Shotgun Karaoke Vol. II album was released through EMI in 2025, followed by a sold-out metropolitan tour late last year that included the Sydney Opera House, Melbourne’s Palais Theatre and QPAC in Brisbane.
Dempsey has since taken ‘Shotgun Karaoke’ through regional Australia, regularly adding new songs and fan requests to the setlist from night to night. The December shows will continue that approach, with fresh additions promised along with the possibility of a few Christmas inclusions.
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Hitchcock, meanwhile, brings a sound spanning pop, country, folk and opera, alongside a body of work shaped by her Torres Strait, Papua New Guinea and Pacific family connections and her advocacy work.
Pre-sale tickets will be available from 12pm local time on Thursday, September 10th until 11am on Friday, September 11th, with fans able to sign up through Dempsey’s website. General tickets go on sale at 12pm local time on Friday, September 11th.
Paul Dempsey’s Christmas Karaoke
with special guest Jess Hitchcock
Friday, December 4th
City Recital Hall, Sydney — All Ages
Friday, December 11th
The Gov, Adelaide
Saturday, December 12th
The Tivoli, Brisbane
Saturday, December 19th
The Forum, Melbourne
