Chris Martin emerges barefoot in Perth, stopping for casual Channel 9 interview

When in Oz... Coldplay frontman Chris Martin has been bailed up by Channel 9 during an unexpected outing in Perth - and his demeanour couldn’t be more Aussie.

The United States may be known as the land of the free, but Australia is the land of the free-foot.

Chris Martin got among the Aussie barefoot movement – popularised by local Hollywood heavyweight Chris Hemsworth years ago – as he touched down in Perth ahead of Coldplay’s back-to-back stadium shows at Optus Stadium this weekend, where he was spotted ducking out for a casual stroll sans shoes along the Swan River.

The British frontman, who hasn’t performed in Australia since 2016, was bailed up by Channel 9 during his low-key outing Friday, where he gracefully gave a rare interview to the local journo as he posed for photos with a handful of fans.

Chris Martin ducks out of his Perth hotel sans shoes.

The Coldplay frontman rocked a T-shirt and shorts for the low-key outing.

Martin complimented Nine reporter Jamie Freestone on his smart outfit, while acknowledging he hadn’t dressed appropriately for the brief news bulletin cameo.

“Happy to see you, look how smart you are,” Martin, 46, said to Freestone. “Look at this, unbelievable. I should’ve made more of an effort.”

Martin, who is based in Los Angeles, added in a message to Aussie fans, “Thank you! We’re lucky to play everywhere, and particularly in a city furtherest away from anywhere else in the world.”

Perth has been given a first glimpse at Coldplay frontman Chris Martin, stepping out of his luxury hotel barefoot to soak in the WA sun.

It comes 24 hours before two back-to-back concerts here. #9Newspic.twitter.com/BRtpCgu0Tm

— 9News Perth (@9NewsPerth) November 17, 2023

Just when you thought Martin’s outing couldn’t get any looser (for someone of his calibre), the Viva La Vida singer jumped a wire fence after spotted a couple tying the knot, pausing to congratulate them on their wedding.

“We invited him to our wedding but he’s resting his voice tonight,” the bride told Nine.

Martin stopped to pose with local newlyweds.

It comes after east coast Coldplay fans were left devastated back in May when the legendary band announced it would only be stopping in Perth as part of their world Music of The Spheres World Tour, through an arrangement between Live Nation and Tourism WA.

“What about the most populated cities in Australia like Melbourne!” wrote one person under LiveNation Australia’s Instagram post at the time.

“What a shame. No way I’m flying to the other side of the country. Tourism ploy?” asked another.

“WHY JUST PERTH,” said another.

Coldplay is set to perform back-to-back shows at Perth’s Optus Stadium this weekend. Picture: Jim Dyson/Getty Images

Martin, who is staying in the VIP area at Crown Perth, jetted into Perth on Thursday night ahead of Saturday and Sunday night’s shows, which will be attended by an estimated 134,000 fans.

Ticketmaster confirmed a whopping 300,000 people were waiting in the queue for pre-sale tickets in May, which at the time, marked a record for online ticketing queues in Australia.

That was swiftly broken by Taylor Swift, with around four million Aussie attempting to buy tickets to her upcoming Eras Tour on Ticketek back in June.

Coldplay – considered to be one of the best live performance acts in the music industry – won’t be in Australia for too long, with their final concert of 2023 taking place in Kuala Lumpur on November 22.

They kick off the European leg of the blockbuster tour in June.