Acclaimed Australian singer-songwriter Alex the Astronaut has announced an Australian tour, her first in nearly four years.
Singer, songwriter and storyteller Alex the Astronaut has unveiled Australian tour dates in support of her forthcoming album How to Grow A Sunflower Underwater (out July 22) and released the video for her latest single ‘Haircut’ today. In her first Australian tour in almost four years, Alex the Astronaut will play 10 headline shows with a full band around the country this August and September with special guests to be announced, plus performances at Splendour in the Grass, River Sounds and Springtime Festivals.
Inspired by the reflection that came after Alex the Astronaut cut off all her hair for charity, ‘Haircut’ “celebrates personal growth and the journey of self-discovery side by side with your friends.”
Alex The Astronaut tour dates and venues
Sunday July 24 – Splendour in the Grass – Bundjalung Nation / Byron Bay, NSW
Thursday August 11 – Freo Social – Noongar / Perth, WA
Saturday August 13 – Darwin Festival – Garramilla / Darwin, NT
Thursday August 18 – Kambri at ANU – Ngunnawal Country / Canberra, ACT
Friday August 19 – City Recital Hall – Eora / Sydney, NSW
Saturday August 20 – The Cambridge – Mulubinba / Newcastle NSW
Sunday August 21 – River Sounds – Gumbaynggirr Nation / Bellingen NSW
Friday September 2 – Tanks Arts Centre – Gimuy / Cairns QLD
Saturday September 3 – The Triffid – Meeanjin / Brisbane, QLD
Sunday September 4 – Springtime Festival – Kombumerri Country / Gold Coast, QLD
Thursday September 8 – Corner Hotel – Naarm / Melbourne, VIC
Friday September 9 – Altar – nipaluna / Hobart, TAS
Saturday September 10 – Uni Bar – Kaurna Land / Adelaide, SA
Check out Melbourne’s most comprehensive gig guide here.
On the video, which was directed by Claudia Bailey, Alex the Astronaut shares, “I loved Call Me By Your Name when I first saw it because it was presented as a love story first, and not just a ‘gay story’. In the same way, I wanted to show a story about gender just as a story about growing up. I think the biggest part of growing up is our friends. Claud the director made such a beautiful, bright narrative about two friends working out themselves side by side that fits the song perfectly.”
Alex continues, “Claud, the crew, LJ (my on-screen best friend) and I had so much fun filming. It felt like we were filming a movie. I think it got across the joy, terror, brightness, dark and excitement of growing into the person that you want to be.”
Alex the Astronaut’s forthcoming second album How to Grow A Sunflower Underwater is an exploration of post-traumatic growth. The album documents both the seemingly mundane (a haircut, a therapy session, a trip to the beach and the supermarket) and utterly life-changing moments (her experience as a caretaker and the PTSD that followed, her recent autism spectrum diagnosis). Mixed by Miro Mackie (St. Vincent, Dirty Projectors) and produced by Alex the Astronaut with Sam Cromack, Daniel Hanson, and Dean Hanson of Brisbane band Ball Park Music, How to Grow A Sunflower Underwater brings her intensely personal storytelling to a kaleidoscopic form of folk/indie-pop. Alex the Astronaut hopes with the release of How to Grow A Sunflower Underwater, her self-reflection might inspire listeners to open up and re-examine how they connect with others.
With over 25 million streams and over two million views on her music videos under her belt, Alex the Astronaut has released two EPs, To Whom It May Concern (2017) and See You Soon (2017), and her critically acclaimed, ARIA nominated debut album The Theory of Absolutely Nothing (2020).
Tickets are on sale now from alextheastronaut.com.
