Chart-topping singer-songwriter John Butler playing Toowoomba’s Empire Theatre as part of run of intimate shows

Acclaimed singer-songwriter John Butler is returning to Toowoomba for an intimate show, featuring songs from across his career.

Legendary Australian singer-songwriter John Butler will play an intimate show in Toowoomba as part of a new tour.

John Butler loves the feeling of filling an entire hall with the sound of just his guitar, a harmonica and his voice, and he’s looking forward to doing just that with Toowoomba’s Empire Theatre.

“It’s always a pleasure to play venues like that, because they literally don’t make them like it any more,” he said.

“It brings out the very best for music, especially when you’re playing an intimate solo show.

“You can still get the full spectrum of how I play — the dynamic is wide.

“I just think you get more (from a solo show), because I’m still able to melt your face, (but) but there are very fragile moments.”

The acclaimed singer-songwriter, best known for his work in the John Butler Trio, will play the Garden City for the first time in more than half a decade on March 13.

Butler said audiences could expect a cross-section of his 25-year career, including cuts from his latest album Home and hits like Better Than and Ocean.

“I’m bringing four (instruments) – I’ve got two 12-strings, a lap-steel, a banjo and a six-string,” he said.

“It’s different from the trio show, I’m trying to take songs from my whole career.

“I love playing those songs, like the Better Thans — one of my favourite artists is Stevie Wonder, and if I saw him I’d want to see him play Superstition.”

Butler has been keeping himself busy over the past 12 months, including taking on the new challenge of recording his upcoming album himself as opposed to using a studio engineer.

“I’m doing all the recording myself, I really want to make a solo album in the sense that it’s not a trio but it’s still a full sonic experience, with drums and bass parts,” he said.

“It’s a lot of fun — I’ve never engineered for myself, but I’m finding little bits of gold.

“It’s something I’ve really wanted to do.”

But playing for an audience is what he really lives for, and Butler said he is enjoying the experience now more than at any point in his career.

“I’m loving playing more than ever, and there’s a lot of freedom with it,” he said.

“It’s a conversation between myself and the audience (and) Queensland has the perfect combo (for live music).

“Some places, the audience really listens to the point where you think you’re bombing, and there are some who are enjoying it so much they’re ruining the show.

“Queensland always has a perfect balance (of giving and receiving).”

John Butler will play the Empire Theatre on March 13.

Tickets go on sale from 9am today (Wednesday) and can be found at the Empire Theatre website.