Scottish born singer-songwriter Colin Hay has today announced he is returning to Australia with his band for an East Coast tour commencing on 31 January at the Tivoli in Brisbane.
Colin Hay, best known as the frontman for Australian hit makers Men at Work, has received renewed acclaim for his troubadour-style solo career with the release of his acclaimed new album, Fierce Mercy.
Fierce Mercy, Hay’s 13th solo album, was recorded in Los Angeles and Nashville and mixed by Vance Powell (Chris Stapleton, Jack White) and Gordon Hammond (Buddy Miller, Don Williams). The album explores themes of love and loss, mortality, and even the odd UFO sighting, but always with the singular perspective and insight that define Hay’s work.
Colin returns to Australia with his US Band – on guitar, tres and vocals, Cuban, San Miguel Perez, with fellow Cuban Yosmel Montejo on bass and vocals – Scheila Gonzalez on keyboard, flute, sax and vocals – Cecilia Noel, percussion and vocals – and Jimmy Branly on drums. This smorgasbord of international flavours, added to Men at Work and Colin Hay songs, will delight audiences with Latin infused rhythms and sweet harmonies.
Colin Hay said, “Of course I am excited to be coming down to Australia, and playing both new and old songs, in the heat of the summer in January and February. How could I not be, I will be accompanied by my LA based band of immigrants, hailing from Cuba, Guatemala and Peru. By now it’s more or less a family affair, and they are my favourite people, both to play and tour with. Step out and come see us, you won’t regret it.”
2016 was something of a breakout year for this career artist and included performances on The Tonight Show With Jimmy Fallon, Jimmy Kimmel Live! and ABC’s Greatest Hits; sharing the stage with Of Monsters and Men, Milk Carton Kids, Choir Choir Choir!, Kings of Leon; being publicly cited as an influence by artists as distinct as James Hetfield (Metallica), Jeremiah Fraites (The Lumineers), Troy Sanders (Mastodon) and The Infamous Stringdusters; as well as the completion of a documentary film about his career entitled Waiting for My Real Life, named for one of his best known solo recordings. Now finding himself in the unprecedented place of having both ’80s fame and indie credibility, it’s possible that Hay has delivered the defining album of his solo career with Fierce Mercy.
Alongside the thoughtful storytelling in his songs, Hay’s shows are peppered with
hilarious anecdotes from his, often surreal, experiences in the world of rock music.