Under The Southern Stars rock festival kicks off with Cheap Trick, Bush and Stone Temple Pilots

After three postponements, a two-year wait and a $1 million grant, Under The Southern Stars kicks off the return of international rock tours to Australia.

It was third time lucky for the kick-off of Australia’s first international rock tour in two years as the members of Cheap Trick, Bush and Stone Temple Pilots arrived in the country for the ambitious Under The Southern Stars mini-festival.

The 12-date national run premieres in Newcastle, NSW, on Friday, a week after Foo Fighters celebrated the opening of Australian borders and the revival of our live music industry with a fly-in, fly-out show in Geelong, Victoria.

Bush frontman Gavin Rossdale believes it’s no coincidence that international rock shows are the first to land back in Australia after the two-year enforced hiatus.

Gavin Rossdale of Bush at The Hard Rock Cafe in Sydney ahead of Under The Southern Stars tour. Picture: Don Arnold/WireImage.

While pop and hip hop may rule streaming, rock shows are still box office gold even as bands are now regarded as music’s underdogs.

“The thing is we are meant to be the disenfranchised, we’re meant to be counter culture people,’ Rossdale said.

Cheap Trick have been frequent visitors to Australia since their first shows in 1979 and frontman Robin Zander said there was a sense of both gratitude and relief to be able to play live again.

Robin Zander (second left) and the members of Cheap Trick. Picture: Don Arnold/WireImage.

“At this point in our career, it’s amazing that we’re still together and we’re here playing for these audiences,” he said.

“And these audiences have been in seclusion for two years. It’s like if you haven’t eaten for two days and someone throws you a steak dinner, you are going to swallow it up.

“People are coming out because they’ve been starving for good music.”

Under The Southern Stars, which also features Black Rebel Motorcycle Club, Rose Tattoo and more, was originally scheduled for March 2020 as the pandemic swept the world.

Bush will alternate the tour headlining spot with Cheap Trick and Stone Temple Pilots. Picture: Don Arnold/WireImage.

It was pushed back a year but the Delta outbreak and international border restrictions forced another reschedule, with the event managing to stay afloat courtesy of $1 million grant under the Federal Government’s RISE scheme.

The festival, which will play both indoor arenas in capital cities and regional outdoor shows, goes ahead as Australian promoters start to flood the market with a raft of international events.

Tours are currently on sale for Guns N’ Roses, Justin Bieber, Billie Eilish, Dua Lipa, Kings Of Leon, The Strokes, Jack Harlow and Liam Gallagher with Ed Sheeran and Harry Styles expected to soon announce their return to Australian stages.

For all dates and ticket details, https://www.underthesouthernstars.com.au/

Originally published as Under The Southern Stars rock festival kicks off with Cheap Trick, Bush and Stone Temple Pilots