The concerts not to miss in 2015
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Venue farewell … Elton John will perform the final concert at the Qantas Credit Union Arena on December 19. Picture: AFP / Jorge Guerrero
Source: AFP
THE world’s biggest pop stars didn’t always include Australia on their world tour.
It was only a couple of decades ago that frustrated fans organised petitions as a last-ditch attempt to entice Paul McCartney, Madonna and Depeche Mode to return to the Australian concert stage.
Madonna is finally returning after a 23-year absence to play arenas in 2016 and Britpop heroes Blur perform here this week 18 years after their last visit.
The declining value of recorded music sales via downloads or CDs has forced artists back on the road and Australia is an almost automatic destination for everyone.
The recent Pollstar mid year report revealed Michael Gudinski’s Frontier Touring landed at No. 8 among the world’s highest ticket sellers.
Punters bought 932,426 tickets to Gudinski’s tours this year including Ed Sheeran, The Script, Rod Stewart, Eagles, Kylie and Foo Fighters.
Guitar wizard … Ed Sheeran will take on Australian stadiums all by himself in December. Picture Simon Cross.
Source: News Corp Australia
Gudinski will be celebrating a blockbuster 2015 with Taylor Swift, Sam Smith and Sheeran playing gigs at the end of the year.
Nine Live, who promoted One Direction and Ricky Martin, came in at No. 26 on Pollstar’s top 100, with sales of almost 230,000 tickets.
Pollstar estimates our leading promoters sold close to 1.7 million tickets to concerts this year, not including the tours promoted by Live Nation Australasia whose sales are counted in the multinational parent company’s accounts.
They brought Paul Simon and Sting, Nickelback and Motley Crue’s final run to arenas this year.
With only a handful of national festivals remaining, the concert business has refocused on delivering “event” gigs by artists who enjoy a long love affair with Australian audiences including Robbie Williams and AC/DC.
Robbie’s Back … A year after his Swing tour, Williams returns to get his hits out. Picture: AFP/LIONEL CIRONNEAU
Source: AFP
Fleetwood Mac’s return with Christine McVie returning to play with the band is one of the most anticipated gigs, with their world jaunt on track to be one of the biggest grossing global tours.
Sydneysiders are being treated to a slate of top acts booking their final shows in the Qantas Credit Union Arena, affectionately known as the Ent Cent, ahead of its demolition in December.
Cold Chisel will recreate their famous Last Stand sets from their farewell concerts in 1983 while Elton John, who holds the record for the most shows by an artist at the city venue, will be the last to perform there on December 19.
Mac’s Back … Fleetwood Mac’s return to Australia this year is shaping up to be one of the biggest tours of the year. Picture: Supplied.
Source: Supplied
“Australia has been one of my favourite countries to tour in ever since my first visit there at the start of my worldwide career in 1971. Some of my most memorable concerts have taken place in venues all across the continent. The Australian audiences always seem to bring out the best in us,” John said.
Of course Taylor Swift fans will be well versed in her setlist, costumes and between-song banter by the time she kicks off the Australian leg of her 1989 World Tour having savoured the myriad YouTube clips since she began the shows in North America in May.
