Iconic Australian rock band ICEHOUSE are returning for a series of headline tours this year.
ICEHOUSE’s unofficial Australian anthem, ‘Great Southern Land’, is turning 40 years young in 2022 and the band are heading to Brisbane, Sydney, and Melbourne to celebrate the song that’s been the soundtrack to everything from discussions about Mabo and the impassioned theme to the Australian cricket team walking on the field, to having a plane named after it.
Check out Melbourne’s most comprehensive gig guide here.
‘Great Southern Land’ was first released in August 1982 as the lead single from ICEHOUSE’s multi-platinum second studio album, Primitive Man. The song debuted at #5 on the Australian Singles Chart and made its debut on triple j.
‘Great Southern Land’ has been a part of almost every Australian’s summer soundtrack for the past 40 years and in 2014, it was inducted into the National Film and Sound Archive’s Sounds of Australia registry. It’s also been remixed a number of times, most notably Bill Laswell’s The Great Southern Mix, clocking in at almost 16 minutes, and the Byrralku Dhangudha remix from 1994 which features Indigenous musicians playing and singing the chorus in their own language. Its message is as current and relevant today as it was when it first appeared.
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The writing of Great Southern Land was triggered when Iva became incredibly homesick during the first ICEHOUSE overseas concert tour.
“I recall the lightbulb moment when I was flying from east coast Australia to the west, falling asleep over inland desert and waking several hours later still over desert — for the first time, the continent’s vastness really hit home.”
ICEHOUSE Great Southern Land 2022 The Concert Series:
- Sidney Myer Music Bowl, Melbourne: November 19
With The Psychedelic Furs + Mark Seymour & The Undertow + Motor Ace + Emma Donovan & The Putbacks - Brisbane Riverstage, Brisbane: November 26
With The Psychedelic Furs + Alice Skye - Sydney Opera House Forecourt, Sydney: December 12
With Mark Seymour & The Undertow + William Barton + Karen Lee Andrews
Tickets for all shows go on sale Thursday 21 July, 9am. My Live Nation members can secure tickets first during the exclusive pre-sale Wednesday 20 July, 10am – Thursday 21 July, 9am. For complete tour, ticket and VIP information, head here.
