Australian rockers Cold Chisel and pop band Crowded House to headline the 2024 VAILO Adelaide 500 after-race concerts

Australian rockers Cold Chisel and pop band Crowded House announced as headliners for this year’s VAILO Adelaide 500.

Australian rock royalty Cold Chisel will reunite for a high octane show at this year’s VAILO Adelaide 500.

The seminal band, fronted by Jimmy Barnes, will headline the motorsport event’s post-race concert series with their first Adelaide gig in four years.

They will be joined on stage on Sunday, November 17 by fellow Australian acts The Cruel Sea and The Superjesus.

Beloved pop band Crowded House, led by Neil Finn, will entertain revheads on Saturday, November 16, two years after their acclaimed appearance at SA’s Harvest Rock Festival.

The announcements follow much speculation over the 2024 line-up, with US bands Pearl Jam and Red Hot Chili Peppers, plus British group Coldplay, among the big names tipped to succeed last year’s headline act Robbie Williams.

Cold Chisel, Phil Small, Jimmy Barnes, Ian Moss, and Don Walker. Picture: Justin Lloyd.

Instead, the Khe Sanh hitmakers, formed in Adelaide in 1973, will return home for the V8 race’s 25th event as part of their new Big Five-0 tour.

Barnes said he can’t wait to celebrate Chisel’s 50th anniversary with their Adelaide fans who have been “such a big part of our story from the beginning”.

“Some of the best moments of my life have been spent on stage with Cold Chisel and I hope we keep going ‘til the day we drop. We’re gonna smash it,” said Barnes, who performed solo at the 2022 event.

Crowded House. Picture: Supplied

Barnes returned to performing in March after requiring open heart and back surgery to repair damage caused by a life-threatening infection.

That near-death experience has fuelled his desire to play again with his band of brothers, including Don Walker, Ian Moss, Phil Small and drummer Charley Drayton, who replaced the late Steve Prestwich in 2011.

“I grew up with them … they were the first real family I had,” Barnes said.

“We lost Steve … and it could happen to any of us at any time and we might never get to play again if we don’t seize the moment.

“I want to savour every minute of this, not because I think it’s the last time but because I want to make it so important.”

Guitarist and singer Ian Moss said the group, who will be making their third appearance at the V8 event, will bring all their classic tunes to Adelaide.

“It is a great feeling standing on stage and hearing our fans singing our songs along with us.

Adelaide, bring your voices,” he said.

Crowded House will perform at the motorsport event for the first time, with Finn’s sons Elroy and Liam, joining Nick Seymour and Mitchell Froom in their line-up.

Australian artist Meg Mac will support the band, who have sold more than 15 million albums, and are set to release their latest record, Gravity Stairs, on May 31.

General Admission tickets, which include entry to the after-race concerts, are on sale now, with grandstand tickets on sale from 9am on Wednesday through Ticketmaster.

Tickets and more information: ticketmaster.com.au