Conrad Sewell to play Cairns for first time on regional tour amid bushfire relief benefits

ARIA award-winning Australian artist Conrad Sewell will play Cairns for the first time next month – and there’s an added philanthropic bonus for those heading along to the gig.

ARIA award-winning Australian artist Conrad Sewell will play Cairns for the first time on a regional tour raising money for the bushfire appeal.

Sewell will stop at Edge Hill Tavern at Manunda on his Big World regional tour, showcasing his current autobiographical single Big World.

“There’s a lot of places I’ve never played before like Cairns, which is one of the cool things about doing this tour,” he said.

“It was an idea put to me after our massive capital city tour last year, getting out into the heart of Australia.

Conrad Sewell is starting his Australian regional tour, which will include a stop at Edge Hill Hotel in Manunda on February 9.

“I grew up singing in pubs and taverns, I really feel at home on stages like that.

“My music is mainly acoustic guitar so you can strip it back, make it really suited to that type of venue.”

Sewell will perform songs from his ARIA #1 debut album LIFE as he visits regional towns around Australia.

All profits from the tour merchandise will be donated to Australia Red Cross and Australia Zoo Wildlife Hospital in light of the recent bushfires.

Sewell, who is based in Los Angeles, said he had seen the global response to the fires and wanted to make a difference.

“I was back in Australia over Christmas. I’ve seen how it’s affecting people and how the world is increasingly responding to it,” her said.

“My grandpa, who’s done work with emergency services for RSL, has been keeping me up to date with it. He’s talked about making long drives out to deliver supplies to affected communities.

“To be able to come home, spend time in regional communities, some of whom have been affected, and raise as much money as we can is important.

“The whole world is paying attention, some might call it self-promotion, but when you look at how much money has been raised, I say rock on.”

Sewell, who is also part of the line-up for the Fire Fight Australia bushfire relief concert to be held at Sydney ANZ stadium on February 16, said he was planning to see if he could do a couple of pop-up shows at bushfire-affected towns.

He will play Edge Hill Tavern on February 9, 8pm.

Tickets $44.90 available at oztix.com.au

Originally published as Conrad Sewell to play Cairns for first time on regional tour amid bushfire relief benefits