Folk legend heads Down Under in 2023
Don McLean will be bringing his American Pie 50th Anniversary Tour to Australia and New Zealand in 2023. Celebrating the 50th anniversary of one of the most iconic songs and albums ever this year, McLean will entertain fans across the two countries, proving that “bye-bye, Miss American Pie” will forever remain a classic staple in music. He will be supported by one of Australia’s most revered singer/songwriters, Andrew Farriss.
“I am thrilled to be getting back to Australia with my band,” says McLean. “2022 marks the 50th anniversary of when ‘American Pie’ landed at the No. 1 spot on the Billboard chart, and we will be celebrating. We’ll be performing songs from the American Pie album plus many of the other hits that fans will be expecting to hear.”
“I’ve admired Don McLean since I was a teenager, he is a legendary troubadour, and I am very excited to tour with him and perform for the Australian fans,” Farris says of touring with the folk legend.
The trek kicks off April 1st in Brisbane and treks through Australia through April 30th including four stops in Gold Coast. It heads to New Zealand in May for five stops in Nelson, Invercargill, Christchurch and Palmerston North before wrapping May 9th in Auckland.
Tickets on sale Friday, November 11th at 9 am local time via oneworldentertainment.com.au.
As tragic as the backstory behind the song “American Pie” is with the much too early death of the new rock and roll-hope Buddy Holly, the track is also magnificent and legendary. And “American Pie” still goes to heart as soon as originator Don McLean plays this classic at his concerts. Still, it’s worth remembering that the 76-year-old composer has written and sung numerous other melodic and harmonic successes in his decades-long career with “Vincent (Starry Starry Night),” “Castles in the Air,” “And I Love You So,” and “Cryin’,” all of which will be heard and reveled in along with newer pieces on the upcoming tour. Earlier this year in March, McLean celebrated the 50th anniversary of “Vincent (Starry, Starry Night)” by releasing an intimate performance that was recorded at the Immersive VanGogh Exhibit.
The eight-and-a-half-minute ballad “American Pie” has been making history since its release in 1971. Alongside songs by other icons such as Bing Crosby, Judy Garland, Woody Guthrie, and Aretha Franklin, McLean’s composition was also voted “Song of the 20th Century.” Handwritten lyrics to the song were auctioned off for more than $1.2 million in 2015, and the composition was added to the Library Of Congress National Recording Registry two years later. Here, you’ll only find a few selected evergreens, such as “Somewhere Over The Rainbow”. So much for the cultural significance of Don McLean and his 1971 stroke of genius!
Over the years, the song has been covered again and again by music icons like Madonna and Garth Brooks. Rapper Drake repeatedly sampled McLean tunes and hip hop icon Tupac Shakur also cited him as an important influence.
Accordingly, the complete discography of the legendary and still active singer/songwriter is also significant. Among other things, Don McLean has a star on the Hollywood Walk Of Fame and was inducted into the National Academy of Popular Music Songwriters’ Hall Of Fame in 2004.
Join multi-Grammy-nominated, award-winning artist, songwriter, and producer Andrew Farriss and his band as they take you on an acoustic, boundless journey through his catalogue of hits, including selections from his time with the legendary rock band, INXS, who sold over 80 million albums, notched seven Top 10 sings, through his current solo, self-titled country/Americana album, which produced a Top 40 single on the Billboard’s indicator chart.
Farriss’ music has held influence in the rock, pop, country, and Americana genres for over four decades and displayers a stunning versatility few artists possess.