‘Enough’: Why musician Paul Kelly is OK with ‘stopping’

While the Australian musician already has half of his 30th album in the can, the 69-year-old reckons he’s “slowing down” when it comes to adding to his enviable catalogue.

Treasured architect of the Australian songbook Paul Kelly is gearing up for another watershed year with the biggest Australian tour of his four decade career and 29th studio record.

While he already has half of his 30th album in the can, the 69-year-old master musician reckons he’s “slowing down” when it comes to adding to his enviable catalogue.

“There’s the possibility it all might stop; I think I’m slowing down (writing) and it might just stop one day,” he said.

“And I’m OK with that; there’s enough songs in the world.”

Paul Kelly performs at his Always Live intimate show in Melbourne. Picture: Tony Gough

Fans were thrilled to witness the intimate performance. Picture: Tony Gough

There was no flagging of energy or enthusiasm when Kelly returned to one of the little rooms he played in his early years to launch his big 2025 tour this week.

He chose an intimate gig at one of Melbourne’s hallowed rock venues, the Gershwin Room at the Espy, for the live premiere of songs from his new album Fever Longing Still, out on Friday.

With the famed “From St Kilda” mural of the revered artist looming large on the outside wall of the venue, inside about 500 fans listened attentively to the new stuff and swelled into pub choir mode for the old stuff.

Although this was the first time Kelly and his band had flexed their considerable live muscle on their latest works, they were supremely match-fit running through the worthy additions to his esteemed canon of love songs.

As he launched into recent single Taught By Experts, a song which sounds like it could have been ripped from his 1986 record Gossip, Kelly introduced it as being “straight out of the factory, that one”.

While this audience was a gathering of true believers and naturally intrigued by his first collection of new recordings since 2018’s Nature album, let’s face it, they were there for the “hits.”

When Kelly and the band swung into Before Too Long, the ripple of recognition supercharged the energy in the room.

There was no flagging of energy or enthusiasm when Kelly returned to one of the little rooms he played in his early years to launch his big 2025 tour this week. Picture: Tony Gough

Paul Kelly with poster artist Fred Negro. Picture: Tony Gough

The brilliant Careless – is there a better opening verse lyric? – To Her Door, Dumb Things, Deeper Water, were all sung loudly in the key of everyone.

He introduced one of his most cherished songs, How To Make Gravy, with “they made a movie about this one.”

The film screens on BINGE from December 1 ahead of Gravy Day on December 21, adopted by his fans in celebration of the song.

The general ticket sale for his big arena shows around the country in August and September next year opens at 3pm on October 30 via ticketek.com.au.

PAUL KELLY 2025 TOUR

August 26, RAC Arena, Perth

August 29 Brisbane Entertainment Centre

August 30, Qudos Bank Arena, Sydney

September 2, MyState Bank Arena, Hobart

September 4, Adelaide Entertainment Centre

September 6, Rod Laver Arena, Melbourne

Originally published as ‘Enough’: Why musician Paul Kelly is OK with ‘stopping’