With the arrival of Dan Sultan’s new solo EP, Dirty Ground, imminent (out November 7), the Melbourne muso today backs up the news with an announcement of solo tour dates for February and March next year.

Dirty Ground bursts with sparse, stunning songs and was recorded in just one day with Jan Skubizewski of Way of the Eagle. It features co-writes with legendary local musicians Paul Kelly, for the title track ‘Dirty Ground’ and ‘On The Leffy’; and Paul Dempsey, for ‘Mountaintop’. Also included on the EP is the poignant ‘Man on TV’, which Sultan wrote whilst in Nashville.

The majority of tracks have been part of Dan’s repertoire for some time – amongst his original demos for Blackbird – but the musician felt they were better suited to a solo release due to their stripped back, raw and emotive nature. They show another side to the ARIA-winning (and once again, ARIA nominated) rockstar we’ve come to know through Blackbird.

You can take a look at Dan’s striking live rendition of ‘Mountaintop’ here:
MOUNTAINTOP – LIVE FROM THE WAY OF THE EAGLE STUDIOS
The live version of the EP track was also recorded at the Way of the Eagle Studios.

The Dirty Ground tour will take Dan back on the road in intimate solo mode. The shows will allow him to fully showcase his unique talent as not only a singer and songwriter, but a teller of stories – perfect for fans who would prefer to see him in a close setting, and experience the album and EP in their rawest and most emotive forms.

“I enjoy playing with my band and I also enjoy playing solo. I’m looking forward to getting back on the road with more space on the tour bus.” – Dan Sultan

Opening up the solo shows will be popular folk rockers, Pierce Brothers. The last year has been one wild ride for these local musicians, with their latest EP The Night Tree coming in at #21 on the ARIA Charts. The boys recently sold out five headlining shows in their hometown of Melbourne – an astonishing feat without major radio play or label support.

This tour is proudly presented in association with the GO! Foundation, which Dan serves as an ambassador. The GO! Foundation aims to assist Indigenous Australian youths achieve their goals through education scholarships. A portion of the tour profits will be donated directly to the foundation which was co-founded by Australian of the Year Adam Goodes and Michael O’Loughlin.
In the lead up to the tour Dan will perform on a bunch of the hottest Summer festivals including the Queenscliff Music Festival, the Falls Festivals in Lorne, Byron Bay and Marion Bay, and the Riverboats Festival in Echuca.
Dan has been nominated for five ARIA Awards this year, including Best Album and Best Male.

DAN SULTAN TOUR DATES
Feb/ March solo shows presented by Tonedeaf and in association with the GO! Foundation. Support from Pierce Brothers. Tickets on sale October 31.

NOVEMBER
Saturday 1 ANZAC Albany with WASO – Albany WA
Monday 3 Mushroom Free For All at Margaret Court Arena – Melbourne VIC
Saturday 22 Homeground at the Sydney Opera House – Sydney NSW
Friday 28 Queenscliff Music Festival – Queenscliff VIC

DECEMBER
Monday 29 Falls Festival – Lorne VIC
Tuesday 30 Falls Festival – Byron Bay NSW
Friday 31 Falls Festival – Marion Bay TAS

FEBRUARY
Friday 13 Zoo Twilights – Melbourne VIC
Saturday 14 Riverboats Music Festival – Echuca VIC
Thursday 19 Aurora Spiegeltent, Garden of Unearthly Delights – Adelaide SA *
Friday 20 Aurora Spiegeltent, Garden of Unearthly Delights – Adelaide SA *
Saturday 21 Rockford Wines – Tanunda SA *
Tuesday 24 Araluen Arts Centre – Alice Springs NT
Wednesday 25 Playhouse at Darwin Entertainment Centre – Darwin NT
Friday 27 Queens Park Theatre – Geraldton WA
Saturday 28 Front Garden at Fremantle Arts Centre – Fremantle WA

MARCH
Sunday 1 Nannup Music Festival – Nannup WA
Friday 6 West Gippsland Arts Centre – Warragul VIC
Saturday 7 Theatre Royal – Castlemaine VIC
Tuesday 10 Powerhouse Theatre – Brisbane QLD
Wednesday 11 Arts Theatre at Gold Coast Arts Centre – Gold Coast QLD
Friday 13 Taronga Zoo – Sydney NSW
Saturday 14 Blue Mountains Folk Festival – Katoomba NSW *
Sunday 15 Anita’s Theatre – Thirroul NSW
Tuesday 17 Newcastle City Hall – Newcastle NSW
Wednesday 18 Street Theatre – Canberra ACT
Thursday 19 Street Theatre – Canberra ACT
Saturday 21 National Theatre – St Kilda VIC

*Pierce Brothers not performing

DIRTY GROUND EP OUT NOVEMBER 7

Posted in News, Tour, on Tuesday, October 28th, 2014

Posted in Tour, on Monday, September 1st, 2014

April 4 is turning out to be quite the day for fans of Dan Sultan.  First, the release of his new album, Blackbird. And now, the news that Sultan will hit the road for a mammoth national tour from June.

The Blackbird tour will see Sultan touring for close to two months, visiting every state in the country including capital cities and smaller, regional towns.  Sultan will be backed by a full band at all shows, with gig-goers in capital cities treated to a little extra glitz from a big-band set-up.

The past few months have seen the award-winning Melbourne artist deliver smouldering live performances – both in support of Bruce Springsteen and on his own ‘Under Your Skin’ headline dates.

Sultan’s new album is the culmination of many months of writing and recording, and sees powerhouse riffs met by crackling gospel interludes, old-school rock and roll jams, pure country tones, bare and aching ballads, harmonies, horns, banjos – even an Arabic scale or two.  Blackbird is the simple journey of a man singing about love, desire and identity – an Australian musician coming into his own.

Sultan is awash with nervous anticipation for the release.  “It was very daunting thinking about writing a new record as it had been so long since Get Out While You Can, but it was a relief to finally be writing again. And then it was just as daunting thinking about recording a new record but then a real relief to be doing so.

“And then it was also daunting thinking about a new album actually coming out but now it’s very satisfying that it’s in the bag and ready to go! It has taken a lot to finally get to this point and now I’m looking forward to getting on the road and touring it.”

Positive reviews for Blackbird are already flowing in:

4 Stars
Rolling Stone

4 Stars
“The rebirth is evident….This is a big step forward for Dan Sultan.”
– TheMusic.com.au

“It’s clear Dan Sultan was born to do this.”
– HIT

“Dan Sultan’s Blackbird epitomises everything a good Australian rock album should be. A perfectly balanced blend of big band rock n’ roll matched with soft, soulful ballads.”
– 8/10, Tonedeaf 

In addition to releasing his third LP, Sultan is also giving back to the industry by way of his role as an ambassador for AMRAP (and their inaugural Community Radio ambassador no less) – and for Record Store Day Australia.  Melbourne fans can catch him at Readings in St Kilda on Record Store Day – April 19.

Joining Sultan on the road for the Blackbird tour is stellar four-piece rock band Stonefield, whose self-titled album has been making a splash on radio over the past six months, as well Jan Skubiszewski from Way Of The Eagle.  The Melbourne musician and producer will perform a DJ set.  His single ‘Rattlesnake’ topped triple j’s Most Played chart last year.  His new single ‘Shadows’ is out now.

Blackbird is available now.  Tickets for the Blackbird tour are on sale from Thursday April 10.

BLACKBIRD ALBUM TOUR
With support from Stonefield and Way Of The Eagle
Tickets on sale from Thursday April 10

Thursday 26 June The Venue, Townsville QLD **

Friday 27 June Tank Arts Centre, Cairns QLD **

Saturday 28 June River Sessions Festival, Mackay QLD ***

Wednesday 2 July Solbar, Maroochydore QLD **

Thursday 3 July Spotted Cow, Toowoomba QLD

Friday 4 July Soundlounge, Gold Coast QLD

Saturday 5 July Eatons Hill Hotel, Brisbane QLD

Tuesday 8 July The Northern, Byron Bay NSW

Thursday 10 July Cambridge Hotel, Newcastle NSW

Friday 11 July Metro Theatre, Sydney NSW

Saturday 12 July Waves, Wollongong NSW

Thursday 17 July The Forum, Melbourne VIC

Friday 18 July The Wool Exchance, Geelong VIC

Saturday 19 July Westernport Hotel, San Remo VIC

Friday 1 August Settlers Tavern, Margaret River WA

Saturday 2 August Astor Theatre, Perth WA

Friday 8 August Wrest Point Showroom, Hobart TAS

Saturday 9 August Country Club Showroom, Launceston TAS

Thursday 14 August The Gov, Adelaide SA

Friday 15 August Darwin Ampitheatre “NIMAS”, Darwin NT

Saturday 16 August Roebuck Bay Hotel, Broome WA ***

Friday 22 August Port Panthers, Port Macquarie NSW

**Stonefield not appearing
***Stonefield and Way Of The Eagle not appearing

BLACKBIRD IS OUT NOW

Posted in Tour, on Friday, April 4th, 2014

Wow, thanks theMusic.com.au!
The first of hopefully a few more great reviews. 4 days to go.

Posted in News, on Tuesday, April 1st, 2014

Download The Same Man here: http://bit.ly/1cO74nd

Posted in Music, on Tuesday, March 25th, 2014

So here she is! The ‘Blackbird’ album in all her physical glory. You can meet her on April 4th — the official release date which is just under two weeks away — YIKES! I’m nervous and excited in equal measures ’cause I can’t wait to hear what you all think of the tunes.

Posted in News, on Sunday, March 23rd, 2014

So, my label have gone a little crazy and have come up with a pretty special package to shift some more album pre-orders. Sydney and Brisbane, if you pre-order a signed copy of ‘Blackbird’ (due out April 4) you get your name added to the guestlist for my current Under Your Skin tour, Saturday March 8 at The Zoo (Brisbane) or Sunday March 9 at The Metro (Sydney). Spots are super limited so get in quick!

SYDNEY: http://bit.ly/NLBctE
BRISBANE: http://bit.ly/1pSy2TI

Posted in News, Tour, on Tuesday, March 4th, 2014

Posted in Music, on Wednesday, February 26th, 2014