The Killers kick off Australia tour 2024 with massive Townsville concert
They came, they saw, they Killed. The Killers slayed in Townsville on Saturday night in the first and largest of six Australian concerts.
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They came, they saw, they Killed.
The Killers slayed at the Queensland Country Bank Stadium in Townsville on Saturday night in the first – and what will be the largest – of six Australian concerts.
The polished American rockers and equally as impressive opening act JET from Melbourne drew a mammoth crowd of almost 20,000 concert-goers from throughout Queensland, interstate and even abroad, and received glowing reviews.
“It was an absolutely electric concert last night, complete with lasers, ticker-tape cannons and the entire stadium singing and dancing along to The Killers,” Frontier Touring CEO Dion Brant said.
“It was a short run-up, with less than three months since we announced the show, so we’re really pleased with the 18,000-strong crowd that filled the venue last night.”
Mr Brant said Townsville and North Queensland had long been a region “we’ve been really interested in from a touring perspective”.
“We’ve been really impressed with the venue, the set-up, the atmosphere and the fans, it is an incredible feat to achieve such a fun and intimate atmosphere in a stadium setting, but The Killers, JET and the fans did not disappoint.”
Stadium GM Cameron Jones hailed the “incredible event”, saying the venue “erupted in an explosion of rock and roll, thanks to The Killers and JET”.
“They had fans dancing in their seats to Mr Brightside and belting out the chorus to Somebody Told Me, a really well-behaved and happy crowd and no doubt some fantastic memories created,” he said.
“Once again, North Queensland has showed what we’re capable of, and with around 22 per cent of fans coming from outside the region, including 12 per cent from interstate or overseas.
“It’s clear we’re becoming a destination for big events, and I hope it’s a sign of more to come.”
The Killers went straight for the jugular with iconic anthem Mr. Brightside, the first of 20 songs over a highly energetic 90-minute set, including three encore songs that included highlight ‘Human’.
Not everyone was there just to see The Killers, with one young woman saying JET had rocketed to new heights with a dozen hard-hitting songs in the course of a short hour.
“They are (bloody) awesome, and you can stick that in your newspaper,” she said.
Acting Mayor Paul Jacob said North Queensland music fans “proved why Townsville really is the events capital of the north”.
“As a council, we’re proud to work with organisations like Townsville Enterprise to bring major events to the city and look forward to what’s to come in 2025.”
Councillor Ann-Maree Greaney said the “Killers really did kill it”.
“It was fabulous to see Townsville fans march into Queensland Country Bank Stadium for what was truly a sensational show.”
Townsville Enterprise CEO Claudia Brumme-Smith said it was a great outcome for Townsville and North Queensland to have “the Killers bring their first and biggest show of their Australian tour to our Queensland Country Bank Stadium.”
“The region should be proud – with a population one-tenth the size of the major capital cities, we’ve still hosted the biggest concert of their tour – proving once again the local passion for events,” she said.
“We know events bring immediate economic benefits to our region, and we’ve seen this once again with a significant uplift for our accommodation sector, with a 30-40 per cent increase compared to this time last year.”
Brandon Flowers, on behalf of his band, summed it up at the end of what was an incredible performance.
“It took us 21 years to get here,” he said to an adoring audience.
“It will not take another 21 years to come back.”
FAST FACTS
The Killers line up for Rebel Diamonds Australian tour 2024:
Brandon Flowers (lead vocals-guitar)
Ronnie Vannucci Jr (drums)
Jacob ‘Snake’ Blanton (bass guitar)
Taylor Milne (guitarist)
Ted Sablay (guitarist)
Robbie Connolly (keyboard-guitar)
Additional Killers Australian concerts:
Friday, December 6: Qudos Bank Arena, Sydney, Rebel Diamonds show, all ages
Saturday, December 7: Qudos Bank Arena, Sydney, Hot Fuss show, all ages
Monday, December 9: Brisbane Entertainment Centre, Rebel Diamonds show, all ages
Thursday, December 12: Rod Laver Arena, Melbourne, Rebel Diamonds show, all ages
Friday, December 13, Rod Laver Arena, Melbourne, Hot Fuss show, all ages
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Originally published as The Killers kick off Australia tour 2024 with massive Townsville concert
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