Under the Southern Stars adds Cheap Trick to 2021 lineup, reveals new festival dates
Subscribe
X

Get the latest from Beat

03.02.2021

Under the Southern Stars adds Cheap Trick to 2021 lineup, reveals new festival dates

Cheap Trick
Words by Tom Williams

It will be Australia’s first festival tour featuring international artists since the beginning of the pandemic.

Rock and Roll Hall of Famers Cheap Trick have joined Bush and Stone Temple Pilots as international headliners for this year’s Under the Southern Stars (UTSS) festival, taking the place of Live who can no longer perform.

The festival will thrill rock fans around the country across newly-announced dates in April and May 2021.

What you need to know:

  • Under The Southern Stars has added Cheap Trick to the lineup in place of Live
  • They will form part of the first international festival tour in Australia since the pandemic
  • New festival dates have been announced for April and May

Keep up with the latest festival news here

Australian rockers Rose Tattoo and Electric Mary will accompany the three international groups for all 11 shows, with Cheap Trick, Bush and Stone Temple Pilots rotating their playing order so each group can headline a number of shows.

Cheap Trick’s 20th album, In Another World, is set to be released on April 9, and punters can expect plenty of new tracks to be performed. Outside of that, classics such as ‘Surrender’, ‘The Flame’ and ‘I Want You to Want Me’ are sure to make their way onto the veteran rockers’ setlist.

UTSS has been continually challenged by the pandemic, repeatedly having to postpone scheduled shows, cancelling the Perth show and being forced to remove American band Live from the lineup. Despite these setbacks, their determination to bring international touring back to Australia has resulted in a COVID-safe festival plan that could make UTSS a historic event.

UTSS promoter Andrew McManus is cautiously optimistic about the pioneering potential of this years’ festival.

“We are aware the eyes of the world will be on us championing the re-opening of live international touring,” he said, “not only in Australia but globally.”

The bands will rock various open-air stadiums and fields, both in rural and metropolitan areas around the country. Organisers are urging fans to get on board and support what could be a groundbreaking festival for the recovery of the entertainment industry.

Under the Southern Stars comes to Hastings Foreshore Reserve on Saturday May 8 and Port Melbourne’s The Timber Yard on Wednesday May 12. Find out more here.