Legendary singer-songwriter Rodriguez will be back in Australia for an extensive run of performances with his band this November and December, including a very special a day on the green performance in the Hunter Valley.
Promoter Roundhouse Entertainment has assembled a wonderful group of fellow music luminaries – Xavier Rudd, Russell Morris, Archie Roach and Mark Wilkinson – to join Rodriguez under the stars at Bimbadgen, Hunter Valley on Saturday November 19.
This will be the first time Rodriguez has performed in the Newcastle/Hunter Valley region for more than 25 years, having previously played the Newcastle Civic Theatre in 1979 and 1981.
The legendary self-taught guitarist’s love affair with Australia is no secret; Rodriguez first toured our shores in the late 1970s, long before the rest of the world caught onto his talent thanks to Malik Bendjelloul’s Oscar-winning film Searching for Sugar Man.
The Searching for Sugar Man documentary follows Rodriguez’s celebrated history that began in the bars and clubs around Detroit in the 1960s. Drawing inspiration from the city’s post-industrial urban decay, Rodriguez recorded and released albums Cold Fact (1969) and Coming From Reality (1971) that largely went unnoticed in the United States.
Thanks to bootleg recordings and word of mouth, Cold Fact found its way to South Africa where its counter-culture lyrics resonated with the country’s politically-alienated youth. Without a telephone and working factory and construction jobs to support his family, Rodriguez remained oblivious to the fact that he was bigger than Elvis in South Africa.
More than four decades after the release of his debut, Rodriguez’s incredible vocal and musical skill is finally being heard by audiences throughout Europe, the United Kingdom and North America, including recent appearances at the iconic Glastonbury and Coachella festivals.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qyE9vFGKogs
Lauded as the downtown Bob Dylan, Rodriguez’s blend of social politics, emotional insights and street observations, showcased in songs like ‘Sugar Man’, ‘I Wonder’ and ‘Cause’, vividly capture a certain time and place, all complemented by his impeccable voice.
Rodriguez’s most recent Australian tour in 2014 saw extra shows quickly being added in several cities to meet overwhelming demand, and the music icon’s return later this year is set to be just as highly anticipated. Act quick to secure your tickets!
Sat 12 Nov – Convention & Exhibition Centre, Brisbane, QLD (All Ages)
Tue 15 Nov – State Theatre, Sydney, NSW (All Ages)
Thu 17 Nov – State Theatre, Sydney, NSW (All Ages)
Sat 19 Nov – Bimbadgen Estate, Hunter Valley, NSW (All Ages)
Mon 21 Nov – Derwent Entertainment Centre, Hobart, TAS (All Ages)
Fri 25 Nov – Plenary, Melbourne, VIC (All Ages)
Tue 29 Nov – Thebarton Theatre, Adelaide, SA (All Ages)
Sat 10 Dec – Kings Park & Botanic Gardens, Perth, WA (All Ages)