More than 14 years on from the release of their last studio album, The Whitlams have officially returned with a new single, sharing the epic “Ballad of Bertie Kidd” today.
Working with producer Daniel Denholm once again, the lengthy track serves to add an anecdotal chapter to the life of one of Australia’s most infamous criminals, Robert ‘Bertie’ Kidd. Beginning in a a pub in Sydney, the tale sees Freedman confronted by a Rabbitohs who tells him a of a notoriously ill-fated heist.
The storyteller recounts a robbery in Gosford in 1988, with Bertie Kidd aiming to lead his crew to stealing masterpieces by the likes of Pro Hart and Ken Done. Unfortunately, the group don their balaclavas far too early, and are nabbed by the police.
“I’m glad to be back in the songwriting ring with a long narrative, which I find the most challenging and rewarding of styles,” explained frontman Tim Freedman. “Bertie’s biographer didn’t know about this episode, but he sure does now. I hope we do the slapstick and tension of the real events the justice they deserve.”
The Whitlams’ last album, Little Cloud, emerged in 2006, with doubt being raised in recent years as to whether the group would return with new music at any point. In mid-February, the group revealed they would be releasing a long-awaited new single alongside plans for a national tour.
The track’s impending arrival – titled “Gaffage and Clink” and serving as a tribute to long-time tour manager Greg Weaver, who passed away suddenly in 2019 – was soon replaced by news of “Ballad of Bertie Kidd”, with the former tune likely set to arrive in the near future.
Last month, Freedman also announced a run of solo tour dates, which are set to kick off early next month and run through to December. These dates will be followed by The Whitlams’ planned full-band tour, which is scheduled to begin in August of 2021.
The Whitlams’ “Ballad of Bertie Kidd” is out now.
Tim Freedman – Solo Tour 2020
Friday, November 6th (Sold Out)
The Music Lounge, Wollongong, NSW (Early and late show)
Saturday, November 7th
The Music Lounge, Wollongong, NSW
Thursday, November 12th
Lismore City Hall, Lismore, NSW
Friday, November 13th
Kingscliff Beach Hotel, Kingscliff, NSW
Saturday, November 14th
Byron Theatre, Byron Bay, NSW (Late show – Sold out, early show added)
Sunday, November 15th
Maclean Bowling Club, Maclean, NSW
Tuesday, November 17th
Lizotte’s, Newcastle, NSW
Wednesday, November 18th (Sold Out)
Lizotte’s, Newcastle, NSW
Friday, November 20th (Sold Out)
Blue Mountains Theatre, Springwood, NSW
Saturday, November 21st (Sold Out)
Brass Monkey, Cronulla, NSW (Early and late show)
Sunday, November 22nd
Brass Monkey, Cronulla, NSW (Early and late show)
Tuesday, November 24th (Sold Out)
Camelot Lounge, Marrickville, NSW (Early and late show)
Wednesday, November 25th
With special guests Jak Housden and Phil Stack
City Recital Hall, Sydney, NSW
Thursday, November 26th (Sold Out)
Camelot Lounge, Marrickville NSW (Early and late show)
Friday, November 27th (Sold Out)
Bendooley Estate, Berrima, NSW
Saturday, November 28th
The Street Theatre, Canberra, ACT (Early and late show – Sold out, afternoon show added)
Sunday, November 29th
SS&A Albury, Albury, NSW
Tuesday, December 1st
Rockford Winery, Barossa Valley SA
Wednesday, December 2nd (Sold Out)
The Gov, Adelaide, SA
Thursday, December 3rd
The Gov, Adelaide, SA
Thursday, December 10th
Soundlounge, Currumbin, QLD
Friday, December 11th
Bar Wunder, Toowoomba, QLD (Early and late show)
Saturday, December 12th
Villa Noosa Hotel, Noosaville, QLD (Early and late show)
Sunday, December 13th
Ipswich Civic Centre, Ipswich, QLD
Tuesday, December 15th
Brisbane Powerhouse, New Farm, QLD
Wednesday, December 16th
Brisbane Powerhouse, New Farm, QLD
Tickets on sale via The Whitlams’ website
The Whitlams “Gaffage and Clink” Australian Tour 2021
Monday, August 2nd, 2021
(Originally Monday, August 3rd, 2020)
Lizottes, Newcastle, NSW
Tuesday, August 3rd, 2021
(Originally Tuesday, August 4th, 2020)
Lizottes, Newcastle, NSW
Wednesday, August 4th, 2021
(Originally Wednesday, August 5th, 2020)
Lizottes, Newcastle, NSW
Friday, August 6th, 2021
(Originally Friday, August 14th, 2020)
(With Phil Jamieson & Alex Lloyd)
The Gov, Adelaide, SA
Saturday, August 7th, 2021
(Originally Saturday, August 15th, 2020)
(With Phil Jamieson & Alex Lloyd)
The Gov, Adelaide, SA
Tuesday, August 10th, 2021
(Originally Tuesday, August 18th, 2020)
Lizottes, Newcastle, NSW
Wednesday, August 11th, 2021
(Originally Wednesday, August 19th, 2020)
Lizottes, Newcastle, NSW
Friday, August 13th, 2021
(Originally Friday, September 25th, 2020)
(With Alex Lloyd & Emily Wurramara)
Odeon Theatre, Hobart, TAS
Wednesday, August 25th, 2021
(Originally Friday, August 7th, 2020)
(With Emily Wurramara)
The Art House, Wyong, NSW
Thursday, August 26th, 2021
(Originally Thursday, August 6th, 2020)
Lizottes, Newcastle, NSW
Friday, August 27th, 2021
(Originally Friday, September 18th, 2020)
(With Alex Lloyd)
Anita’s Theatre, Thirroul, NSW
Saturday, August 28th, 2021
(Originally Saturday, August 8th, 2020)
(With Emily Wurramara)
Blue Mountains Theatre, Springwood, NSW
Sunday, August 29th, 2021
(Originally Sunday, August 9th, 2020)
(With Emily Wurramara)
Blue Mountains Theatre, Springwood, NSW
Thursday, September 2nd, 2021
Originally Thursday, September 10th, 2020)
(With Ben Lee & Emma Russack Band)
Corner Hotel, Melbourne, VIC
Friday, September 3rd, 2021
(Originally Friday, September 11th, 2020)
(With Ben Lee & Emma Russack Band)
Corner Hotel, Melbourne, VIC
Saturday, September 4th, 2021
(Originally Saturday, September 12th, 2020)
(With Ben Lee & Emma Russack Band)
Corner Hotel, Melbourne, VIC
Friday, September 10th, 2021
(Originally Friday, August 21st, 2020)
(With Ben Lee)
Astor Theatre, Perth, WA
Saturday, September 11th, 2021
(Originally Saturday, August 22nd, 2020)
(With Ben Lee)
Astor Theatre, Perth, WA
Friday, September 17th, 2021
(Originally Friday, September 4th, 2020)
(With Ben Lee & Emily Wurramara)
The Triffid, Brisbane, QLD
Saturday, September 18th, 2021
(Originally Saturday, September 5th, 2020)
(With Ben Lee & Emily Wurramara)
The Triffid, Brisbane, QLD
Sunday, September 19th, 2021
(Originally Sunday, September 6th, 2020)
(With Ben Lee & Emily Wurramara)
The Triffid, Brisbane, QLD
Friday, September 24th, 2021
(Originally Friday, August 28th, 2020)
(With Ben Lee & Emily Wurramara)
Shoalhaven Entertainment Centre, Nowra, NSW
Saturday, September 25th, 2021
(Originally Saturday, August 29th, 2020)
(With Ben Lee & Emily Wurramara)
Enmore Theatre, Newtown, NSW
Sunday, September 26th, 2021
(Originally Sunday, August 30th, 2020)
(With Ben Lee & Emily Wurramara)
Enmore Theatre, Newtown, NSW
Tickets on sale now via The Whitlams’ website
