Tayor Swift, Coldplay, Bruce Springsteen set to hit Melbourne in 2023
Megastar Pink is set to headline a Melbourne stadium show this year, as a slew of the world’s biggest music stars announce Aussie tours.
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Musical superstars are planning world tours that look set to rock Melbourne’s stadiums in 2023 and 2024. Here’s a sneak peek at mega shows heading our way this year and next.
PINK
Summer Carnival 2023
Pink’s 2023 stadium tour, the largest of her career, kicks off in England in June, before European dates and a run across America.
The trek marks her first outing since the Beautiful Trauma world tour in 2019.
TAYLOR SWIFT
The Eras Tour
Swift described the concept of her latest tour as a “journey through all of my musical eras”.
Her shows caused disruption overseas after Ticketmaster’s website crashed during the rush to buy tickets.
She said later: “It’s truly amazing that 2.4 million people got tickets, but it really pisses me off that a lot of them feel like they went through several bear attacks to get them”.
COLDPLAY
Music of the Spheres World Tour
Coldplay’s latest outing will be on the same scale as the epic A Head Full Of Dreams and Mylo Xyloto tours, but the band has also put two years of planning into making the shows environmentally friendly.
The pyrotechnics will contain less harmful chemicals and confetti is 100 per cent biodegradable.
BRUCE SPRINGSTEEN
The Springsteen and E Street Band 2023 Tour
The Boss returns to stadiums after several runs on Broadway.
However, soon after announcing plans to hit the road, Springsteen was forced to address a backlash surrounding inflated ticket prices on his tour.
The 73-year-old rocker said he had kept ticket prices affordable over the years, but in doing so had been playing “under market value”.
He added: “Why shouldn’t that money go to the guys that are going to be up there sweating three hours a night for it?”
METALLICA
M72 World Tour
Metallica will play two nights in every city it visits, with each show featuring completely different setlists and supports.
The band will also play in-the-round, which means the famed Metallica snake pit will be centre stage.
The band said: “Starting in April of 2023, we’ll be visiting 22 different cities around the world and playing two nights in each city, with each ... show a completely unique experience.”
BEYONCE
Renaissance 2023
Queen Bey announced plans to return to the stage by auctioning “two concert tickets to Beyonce’s Renaissance 2023 tour” at the Wearable Art Gala late last year.
The auction details said: “Celebrating her seventh studio album, Beyonce has announced that she will be taking ‘Renaissance’ on tour ... starting in summer 2023.”
The tour will visit “national and international destinations.”
THE WEEKND
After Hours til Dawn Tour
The Weeknd’s new tour will reflect the post-apocalyptic themes of his After Hours and Dawn FM albums.
Promoters said the show is a “journey through a cosmic cataclysm that has erupted and plagued the Earth,” adding: “The devastation is widespread and will most likely continue till dawn”.
THE EAGLES
Hotel California Tour
The LA supergroup playing their 1976 masterpiece, the Hotel California album, in its entirety, followed by a greatest hits set.
The line up includes Eagles founding members Don Henley, Joe Walsh and Timothy B. Schmit, and country music superstar Vince Gill.
MOTLEY CRUE AND DEF LEPPARD
The World Tour
British rockers Def Leppard and Sunset Strip legends Motley Crue will join forces for a global jaunt kicking off in February.
“We’re beyond thrilled to bring this massive tour to a global audience,” Def Leppard’s Joe Elliott said.
Motley Crue added: “We truly can’t wait to take the show around the globe.”
DRAKE
No official tour plan yet, but his upcoming shows at New York’s iconic Apollo Theatre hint at a bigger picture for live shows in 2023.
But hip hop megastar Drizzy has one condition: he wants Atlanta rapper 21 Savage on the bill.
“Tour. I can’t wait,” Drake said last month, adding: “Free up my brother 21 Savage so that we can touch road and go on tour, straight up.”
THEATRE STANDOUTS
Theatre lovers are in for a treat in 2023. Key shows include:
Mary Poppins
The supercalifragilistic spectacular with Stefanie Jones in the lead, and Marina Prior playing dual roles of nice and nasty.
Her Majesty’s Theatre, from January 29.
& Juliet
A brilliant remix of William Shakespeare’s tragic love story backed by the biggest pop hits of all time.
Regent Theatre, from February 26.
Midnight
A Melbourne-made musical that casts Cinderella as a strong woman who isn’t afraid to speak her mind, and challenge tradition.
Athenaeum Theatre, from June 23.
The Mousetrap
The West End production of Agatha Christie’s classic murder mystery has played in London for 70 years.
Comedy Theatre, from February 17.
Rocky Horror Show
A time warp classic with Jason Donovan as Frank N Furter and Myf Warhurst narrating.
Athenaeum Theatre, from May 18.
Moulin Rouge
An encore performance of a dreamer, the showgirl, a few charlatans. The soundtrack is jukebox heaven.
Regent Theatre, from August 20.
Tina — The Tina Turner Musical
Looks set to finish its Sydney run later this year. Will it play Melbourne next?
Beetlejuice
Here’s hoping this dark doozy, with music and lyrics by Melbourne’s Eddie Perfect, premieres in his hometown.
MJ
Fingers crossed, too, this dazzling showcase of Michael Jackson’s songs, dancing and pop culture impact comes to Australia’s music theatre capital in 2023 or 2024.
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