“It’s exciting because I’ve got all my friends and family and local supporters,” he enthuses. “I’ve got everyone coming, from high school buddies, to primary school buddies, everyone’s going to be there.
“It’s more exciting than nervous,” he continues. “All walks of life are going to be there, I’ve got Mum’s high school friends, I’ve got my best friend’s hairdresser coming, everyone’s going to be there, it’s going to be a hoot.”
The tour is a combination of bigger shows, like his hometown gig which is part of Adelaide Fringe, outdoor shows, benefit concerts for charity, and the final date of the tour will be in Melbourne, at the small, intimate Northcote Social Club.
“We go to Melbourne for the final ‘blowout’ show,” he announces. “It’s at Northcote Social Club, that’s the big one.
You may expect a pretty familiar indie pop, singer/songwriter-type of show from an artist such as Burton, however he tells us he’s something quite different in store for his fans. While there are traditional elements, it will still be something the punters may not expect.
“I was talking to my bandmates yesterday about how best to describe it,” he recalls. “It’s the acoustic pop thing, but I think the better way to describe it is, it’s a singer/songwriter vibe, mixed with cabaret. So I’ve made a story out of the show.
“I’ve been inspired by a couple of previous relationships, and I’ve made it into this arc, going through all the experiences of love that we encounter,” he describes. “It’s hitting home that love is love, and we all have to do the same old shit time after time.”
He has an interesting band with him as well, part of which he brought over from the States and partly recruited from his home town. “I’ve got a string quartet and a rhythm section,” Burton reveals. “Piano, drums, electric bass and two vocals. It’s a big band – there’s going to be ten of us travelling around.
“I’m a lucky guy to have such a cool band with me.”
Burton will also be playing the double-bass on a number of tunes.
The Aussie tour is kicking his year into high gear and Burton has plenty on his plate for the rest of 2015, both as a solo artist and with his myriad other musical endeavours.
“I’m flying to London for an orchestra gig,” says Burton. “I’m doing a couple of recording and concerts. Then back to the States for my ‘day job’, which is managing an orchestra and playing in the orchestra around New York and touring in the States.
“We’re going to Europe in June and then I have a solo tour of the West Coast, California, in the [Northern] summer.” Busy man.
BY ROD WHITFIELD
