Guy Sebastian to play Australian arenas on Madness tour 2015

HE is our biggest male pop star yet Guy Sebastian is taking the risk of his career and he readily admits it is all to do with Madness.

GUY Sebastian is taking the risk of his career, stepping up to match his international pop peers with his first national arena tour.

With six No. 1s and sales of more than three million singles and albums, the Battle Scars singer and songwriter will take his Madness show to Australia’s entertainment centres in February.

Sebastian said winning the Best Live Act at the ARIAs last year, an award voted by the legion of fans who saw his 53-date Armageddon tour last year, helped him decide it was time to play the big stages.

He joins an elite club of local acts who have filled arenas including AC/DC, Keith Urban, John Farnham, Kylie Minogue and Jimmy Barnes.

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A natural born showman, Sebastian said his dream for the Madness tour was to match his international competition with a full-scale production.

“I do not believe in just taking a DJ and two dancers. That’s why we are moving to these venues, not because I think I am this and that, but I want to set myself the challenge,” he said.

“And it is a win win for the audience because we opening it up to be a huge show.”

Sebastian is a realist when it comes to the risk of touring and is aware the current market for pop shows is not only competitive but over-saturated.

In his music studio ... Guy Sebastian is to tour Australia’s biggest indoor venues next year.

Tours by Lady Gaga, Justin Timberlake, Kylie Minogue and Miley Cyrus are yet to sell out.

“I have lost a lot of money on tours before because we have over shot. But it’s an investment in the fans, to give them a show, otherwise it’s a job and I’m doing this only to make money,” he said.

Sebastian is working with his long time collaborator Bruce Ramus, who has designed and directed shows for U2, REM, David Bowie and James Brown among others, on the Madness production.

The singer and songwriter has been busy this year with the addition of son Archer to the family as well as performing and promoting his career in the US where Battle Scars sold more than one million copies.

Seventh studio album almost finished ... Guy Sebastian is happy with Madness. Picture: Cameron Richardson.

The first taste of the Madness album was the top 5 single Like A Drum which reached triple platinum sales.

The next single Come Home With Me is released tomorrow with the album expected in November.

The tour will kick off at the Wollongong Entertainment Centre on February 12, followed by Brisbane Entertainment Centre on February 14, Qantas Credit Union Arena, Sydney on February 18, Rod Laver Arena, Melbourne on February 21, Adelaide Entertainment Centre on February 25 and Perth Arena on February 28.

Tickets go on sale from August 18.

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Originally published as Guy Sebastian to play Australian arenas on Madness tour 2015