ELTON JOHN & HIS BAND
NORTH QUEENSLAND DATES ANNOUNCED
– ONCE IN A LIFETIME –
For The First Time Ever…
MACKAY – Friday 22 September, BB Print Stadium
&
CAIRNS – Saturday 30 September, Cazaly’s Stadium
Tickets on sale on Tuesday 14 March
“Elton played and sang awesomely, with gale-force gusto. Lord knows how many times he’s performed these songs, but somehow he still manages to sound as if he means every word of them.” — The Telegraph UK
Premier of Queensland, Annastacia Palaszczuk, today announced that music icon Sir Elton John and his band will return to our shores from 22 September for the Once In A Lifetimeconcerts, exclusive to Australia. Across two very special nights in Mackay at BB Print Stadiumon Friday 22 September and Cairns at Cazaly’s Stadium on Saturday 30 September, Sir Elton will deliver a Greatest Hits set from a career spanning five decades – A once in a lifetime music experience for the whole family!
Promoter Michael Chugg said, “Elton loves Australia and Australians, it’s an ongoing affair”.
In the 50th Anniversary Year of the Elton John / Bernie Taupin writing partnership, Sir Elton will entertain audiences at North Queensland outdoor venues that he has never before played.
Sir Elton John said “I always love coming back to Australia. It holds a very special place in my heart, ever since my first visit there at the start of my world-wide career in 1971. My band and I are really looking forward to playing there again in September and this tour will be even more memorable because it will be the first time I have ever played Mackay and Cairns…which I can’t believe but there you have it. If the audiences are anything like those at all of the other shows we have done in Queensland over the years, everyone will surely be in for a wonderful crazy night!“
“He plays his audience as deftly as his piano, going up and down the scale of emotion with complete control and with resounding results” – Variety
Additional tour dates may be announced at a later date.
17 October, 1971 marked Elton John’s first performance in Australia when he appeared at Subiaco Stadium, Perth. Having played 186 concerts across the country to in excess of 1.5 million people, Elton John makes a triumphant return to the country that has welcomed him for many years.
The tour will feature iconic hits and classic album tracks from throughout his incredible five-decade career, including a selection of songs from his highly acclaimed album, Goodbye Yellow Brick Road, which celebrated its 40th anniversary with a Deluxe Edition.
Elton John’s band includes Nigel Olsson on drums, part of Elton’s original three-piece band, as well as musical director Davey Johnstone (who first recorded with Elton in 1971 and joined the band in a year later) on guitar, Matt Bissonette on bass, John Mahon on percussion, and Kim Bullard on keyboards.
Undeniably one of the most acclaimed and adored artists of all time, Elton’s spectacular stage shows are sought after by audiences worldwide. Since his career began in 1969 Elton has played more than 4,000 concerts in over 80 countries.
Elton is one of the top-selling solo artists of all time, with 38 gold and 31 platinum or multi-platinum albums, as well as 58 Billboard Top 40 singles in the United States, and he has sold more than 250 million records worldwide. Elton holds the record for the biggest-selling single of all time, Candle in the Wind 1997, which sold 33 million copies, as well as for most appearances on Billboard’s Adult Contemporary chart, with his most recent single A Good Heart (from 2016’s Wonderful Crazy Night) marking his 72nd entry. He has also written the music for stage and screen successes Billy Elliot: The Musical, Elton John and Tim Rice’s Aida, and The Lion King, which was named the highest-grossing stage show or film release in the world.
Among the many awards and honours bestowed upon him are five Grammys, a Grammy Legend award, a Tony and an Oscar, a Best British Male Artist BRIT Award, induction into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame and the Songwriters Hall of Fame, the Kennedy Center Honor, Legend of Live Award, 12 Ivor Novello Awards and a knighthood from HM Queen Elizabeth II for “services to music and charitable services.” Elton was named the first recipient of the BRITs Icon Award, which recognizes the very highest level of British music achievement, presented only to iconic artists whose writing, recording and performances set them apart as having made a lasting impact on the nation’s culture.
Sir Elton John’s Once in a Lifetime tour is proudly supported by the Queensland Government through Tourism and Events Queensland’s It’s Live! in Queensland events calendar in partnership with the Mackay Regional Council and the Cairns Regional Council.
Don’t miss this rare opportunity to hear one of the world’s greatest pop musicians in spectacular form when Elton John returns to Australia this September.
ELTON JOHN ‘ONCE IN A LIFETIME’ EXCLUSIVE AUSTRALIAN CONCERTS
MACKAY
Friday 22 September – BB Print Stadium
Bookings – Moshtix
More information here
CAIRNS
Saturday 30 September – Cazaly’s Stadium
Bookings – Moshtix
More information here