Melbourne’s favourite folkies Things of Stone and Wood are playing their top ten, gold record ‘The Yearning’ in full for the first time live this March.
It’s been twenty-five years since the album broke through, paving the way for Australia’s burgeoning folk scene including The Waifs, John Butler and Angus & Julia Stone.
Anchored by the hit ‘Happy Birthday Helen‘, what started as a quick celebratory ode for singer Greg Arnold’s now-wife, quickly became a staple in Australia’s national songbook prompting everything from an APRA Songwriter of the Year award to a Late Show parody. The massive support saw the album ‘The Yearning’ become an instant classic, with other singles ‘Share This Wine‘, ‘Rock This Boat‘ and ‘Single Perfect Raindrop‘ also hitting the charts and creating a unique snapshot of early 90s Melbourne.
After re-forming in 2014 for a sell-out tour, the band proved that their crowd were still as loyal as ever and the decision to play ‘The Yearning‘ for another round was an easy one.
“Touring again showed us just how much the band had meant in so many people’s lives, not just our own,” said Greg Arnold. “The Yearning is still such a special record for us and it’s interesting how many people have their different favourites on there—it’s not all about Happy Birthday Helen.”
The band’s only 2017 shows will feature the album’s full fourteen tracks from beginning to end as well as some other crowd favourites from other albums in what will be not just a tribute to one of Australia’s all-time best albums, but also to the band’s lasting legacy in Australian folk rock.
Fellow 90’s indie chart toppers Club Hoy have reformed exclusively for the tour and will play the main support. They’ll play hits off their huge debut “Thursday’s Fortune”, a record that saw their twin vocal sound and sweet melodic folk pop songs cut through the fuzz guitar of grunge that dominated the era.
THINGS OF STONE AND WOOD
THE YEARNING TOUR 2017
Thu 15 March – The Spiegeltent, Adelaide SA
Fri 17 March – The Fly By, Fremantle WA
Sat 18 March – Nukara Festival, Geraldton WA
Thu 23 March – The Northcote Social Club, Melbourne VIC
Fri 24 March – The Northcote Social Club, Melbourne VIC
Sat 25 March – Lizottes, Newcastle NSW
Sun 26 March – Newtown Social Club, Sydney NSW (Matinee)
Wed 29 March – Spiegeltent, Hobart TAS
Fri 31 March – The Worker’s Club, Geelong VIC
Sat 1 April – Sound Lounge, Currumbin, QLD
Sun 2 April – Black Bear Lodge, Brisbane, QLD
Ticketing and more details from www.thingsofstoneandwood.com