Taylor Swift, Ed Sheeran, Sam Smith and Elton John: it’s a starry week for Melbourne music fans
IT’S a massive week of music in Melbourne. Here’s our guide to who’s coming, what to expect, and how to get your hands on tickets.
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FUEL up those private jets and get the five star hotels ready — this week Melbourne is playing host to some of the biggest names in music.
Between them Taylor Swift, Elton John, AC/DC, Ed Sheeran and Sam Smith have sold around 300,000 tickets for their shows in Melbourne and Geelong over the next seven days, playing a mix of arenas, stadiums and wineries.
Melbourne will see everything from Taylor Swift with a huge array of musicians and dancers showing how a pop concert is done in 2015, to Ed Sheeran doing it all by himself as the first artist to tour stadiums in Australia without a band.
Swift and Sheeran will again demonstrate AAMI Park is a viable venue for concerts while if anyone’s going to stomp on the precious turf of Etihad Stadium it may as well be AC/DC and their legion of fans.
Meanwhile Elton John will return again to his happy hunting ground of Rod Laver Arena as well gracing Geelong with his presence for a huge A Day on the Green show.
Here’s your guide to Melbourne’s biggest week of international guests for the year.
ED SHEERAN
Where: AAMI Park
When: Tonight, tomorrow
Who will be going: People who couldn’t nab a ticket to his sold out arena show earlier this year. And the people who went to those shows and need another dose.
What you need to know: Sheeran will be the first artist to play stadium-size shows in Australia without a band. It’s just the 24-year-old Brit, his guitar and his hi-tech loop pedal that creates a one-man symphony before your eyes. It’s incredible to watch. Sheeran managed to make arenas seem intimate, can he do the same in a supersized venue?
What to expect: Covers of acts from Stevie Wonder and Bill Withers to Blackstreet, 50 Cent and Nina Simone. Could his mate Elton John pop up on Sunday? He joined Sheeran on stage at Wembley early this year for a duet of Don’t Go Breaking My Heart.
Can you get a ticket: Sorry, both shows sold out, because it’s Ed Sheeran.
AC/DC
Where: Etihad Stadium
When: Sunday, Tuesday
Who will be going: People aged from near birth to near death and everything in-between. AC/DC are a musical institution passed down from generations. There’ll be true believers from back in the day to kids who’ve discovered them in the last five years and probably some fans fearing this could be the band’s last hurrah.
AC/DC QUIZ: How big a fan are you anyway?
What you need to know: It probably won’t be their last hurrah. They’ve survived a singer dying and now guitarist and songwriter Malcolm Young leaving, leaving Angus Young as the last original member. As long as Angus Young is breathing, he’ll be rocking. There’s a few new songs from Rock or Bust, as well as nearly all the signature hits like Back in Black, Thunderstruck, Dirty Deeds, TNT, Whole Lotta Rosie, Highway to Hell and You Shook Me All Night Long. But still no It’s a Long Way to the Top. You need to go to a John Farnham concert to see that one.
What to expect: A lot of people in overpriced devil horns and a whole lotta volume.
Can you get a ticket: You’re in luck, try Ticketmaster.
TAYLOR SWIFT
Where: AAMI Park
When: Thursday, Friday and Saturday
Who will be going: Tay’s in her imperial period, appealing to kids, their parents, 20-somethings, 30-somethings, 40-somethings, hipsters, pop fans ... She’s got that across the board following that only the likes of Pink have managed of late.
What you need to know: Swift’s 1989 album back to front. She plays 15 of the 16 songs on the deluxe version of the chart-topping album and literally only three earlier hits — Love Song, We Are Never Ever Getting Back Together and I Knew You Were Trouble. And her diehard fanbase are more than happy with that. She can keep the greatest hits tours for a few decades down the track.
What to expect:Surprise guests. Melbourne is the final leg of the entire 1989 world tour. There were no guests in Sydney, but that show was being filmed for a DVD so required 100-per-cent Swift. Could Elton John get up with Taylor on her first show when he’s likely to be in Melbourne? Or Ed Sheeran, whose tour will have just finished? If it happens you’ll know about it on social media instantly. And expect traffic hell, with every parent trying to get close enough to drop off and pick up their kids.
Can you get a ticket: Couple of seats left, but don’t dilly dally.
SAM SMITH
Where: Rod Laver Arena
When: Tuesday, Wednesday
Who will be going: The fans who had tickets when this tour was abruptly postponed earlier this year due to Smith having a vocal issue that led to surgery on his throat. They have rebuilt him, he’s hitting all the right notes (but not that new Bond theme and its skyscraper-high notes). Plus he got to upgrade the venue and add more seats.
What you need to know:Smith’s In the Lonely Hour was the most popular heartbreak album since Adele’s 21. Aside from those wounded lyrics on Leave Your Lover, Stay With Me, I’m Not the Only One and Like I Can there’s also lighter moments including his Amy Winehouse cover Tears Dry on their Own and his first hits La La La and Latch.
What to expect: Australia’s the end of a very long world tour, so Sam’s near the finish line — these will also be his first shows in Melbourne, which always makes for a special night.
Can you get a ticket: There are a few left, but be quick.
ELTON JOHN
Where: Rod Laver Arena, A Day on the Green Geelong
When: Friday, Saturday
Who will be going: Elton’s got an audience that spans decades, just like his string of hits. He’s also a regular visitor to these shores, with a lot of return customers. Then there’s those who will be there to tick Elton off their concert bucket list.
What you need to know: This is his All the Hits tour. Which isn’t technically correct, you probably won’t hear Blue Eyes, Empty Garden or Kiss the Bride, but if he played all his hits we’d be there all night.
What to expect: Pretty much non-stop classic hits by a man who’s played Crocodile Rock, The Bitch is Back, Daniel, Your Song, Tiny Dancer, Candle in the Wind, Bennie and the Jets etc thousands of times but never goes through the motions. You came for the hits, he knows it and delivers them just as you remember. Everyone’s happy.
Can you get a ticket: If you’re lucky, you might still get to his Saturday show.
ALSO PLAYING TONIGHT
THE WIGGLES
Two shows today — 10am and 1pm — promising the largest inflatable sets Australia has ever seen. Tickets from Ticketek.
CHRIS CORNELL
The frontman of Soundgarden, Chris Cornell, is no stranger to these shores. He’s back in solo mode and plays the Palais Theatre tonight. Tickets from Ticketmaster.
SHEENA EASTON
Scottish singer Sheena Easton has been based in Vegas for a while. Her hits include 9 to 5 (Morning Train), Modern Girl, We’ve Got Tonight, Sugar Walls, Strut, For Your Eyes Only and U Got the Look with Prince. She’s playing the Palms at Crown tonight and there’s super-cheap tickets (like $40) on lasttix.com.au
Originally published as Taylor Swift, Ed Sheeran, Sam Smith and Elton John: it’s a starry week for Melbourne music fans
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