RED HOT SUMMER TOUR is turning it up a notch for a scorching all Australian line-up for the 2026 series. The renowned outdoor festival will be headlined by our most iconic and enduring singer/songwriter, Paul Kelly. The master storyteller, whose music is woven through the fabric of modern Australia, will be supported by much loved crowd favourites, Missy Higgins, The Cruel Sea, The Cat Empire, Kasey Chambers, and Jess Hitchcock.
Paul Kelly says, "The band and I have many great memories from our last Red Hot Summer tour. We're looking forward to making some new ones!"
Paul Kelly stands as Australia's most treasured musical storyteller, a songwriter whose fourdecade career has created the soundtrack to modern Australian life. Over forty years and across thirty albums, Kelly has carved out a unique position among world songwriters through the sheer range and innovation of his work, crafting songs that span from the intimate streets of St Kilda to the vast emotional landscapes of the human experience. His legendary compositions like "To Her Door," "Deeper Water," and the now-classic "How to Make Gravy" have become part of Australia's cultural DNA, with the latter growing from a 1996 release into a beloved Christmas anthem that captures the essence of family, regret, and hope.
Kelly's artistic vision extends far beyond individual songs to encompass the broader Australian story. He has penned tributes to the country's greatest cricketer in "Bradman" and its most infamous bushranger in "Our Sunshine," while his collaboration with Kev Carmody on "From Little Things Big Things Grow" taught more Australians about land rights history than any newspaper headline ever could. Since the late eighties, his work alongside Indigenous artists including Archie Roach and Yothu Yindi has seen him stand shoulder to shoulder in the fight for justice, cementing his role not just as entertainer but as conscience of the nation.
The breadth of Kelly's artistic restlessness is extraordinary. He has set Shakespeare sonnets to music, explored everything from bluegrass to experimental dub, collaborated with jazz legends, and created multilingual Christmas albums featuring Hebrew, Te Reo Maori, and Latin. His 2017 album Life is Fine became his first No 1 album, while recent releases like 2024's Fever Longing Still and the forthcoming SEVENTY prove that at 70, this Order of Australia recipient remains creatively vital and still finding new ways to move hearts and minds.
Fresh from wrapping up a sold-out arena tour of Australia and New Zealand, where he premiered the infectious sequel to "How to Make Gravy" - "Rita Wrote A Letter" - Kelly brings decades of masterful storytelling to Red Hot Summer. This darkly comic ghost story, told from Rita's perspective nearly 30 years after we first met Dan, Joe and Rita, promises to become another beloved addition to the Kelly songbook, proving that even his most cherished characters still have stories to tell. In the kellyverse of love, loss, legend, wit, and poetry, every performance is an invitation to gather around the fire and hear the stories that matter most.
Missy Higgins is one of Australia's most beloved singer/songwriters. She has struck a deep and enduring chord with her irresistible melodies, 'arrow through the heart' lyrics, unforgettable live concerts, plus classic songs like 'Scar', 'The Special Two', 'Steer', 'Everyone's Waiting', 'Futon Couch' and 'A Complicated Truth'.
Missy has blazed a trail for female singer/songwriters in Australia, marching to her own drumbeat, earning 26 ARIA Award nominations and seven ARIA #1's (so far!).
2024 was a huge year for Missy with the release of her new album The Second Act - "a kind of sequel" to her hugely influential debut The Sound Of White. That raw and introspective classic was about taking on the world as a 20-year-old while The Second Act is about doing that all over again as a 40-year-old, after the stories you told yourself turned out not to be true. Written, produced, and performed largely on her own, it's a powerful statement which topped the ARIA charts 20 years to the day after Missy's The Sound Of White reached #1. She also hit the road across 2024 with The Second Act Tour which won the publicly voted ARIA Award for Best Live Act on a night when Missy was inducted into the ARIA Hall Of Fame, taking her career total to 11 ARIAs and capping a year which was transformative.
Missy's stunning 2024 success was followed in 2025 headlining some of Australia's leading summer festivals and placing twice in triple j's Hottest 100 of Australian Songs including 'Scar' at #4, cementing her place as an artist of singular and enduring influence to multiple generations.
Formed in 1987, The Cruel Sea carved their place in Australian music history with a genreblurring sound, fusing blues, roots, surf, rock, soul, and cinematic soundscapes, led by charismatic frontman Tex Perkins. Their albums The Honeymoon Is Over (1993) and Three Legged Dog (1995) catapulted them to national stardom, earning them eight ARIA Awards and cementing their legacy with hits like 'Better Get a Lawyer', 'Black Stick', 'Just A Man' and 'The Honeymoon Is Over'. Their 1993 masterpiece, The Honeymoon Is Over, became the soundtrack of a generation, spending more than a year in the ARIA album chart, solidifying the seminal album its place in Australian history.
Formed in 1987, The Cruel Sea carved their place in Australian music history with a genre-blurring sound, fusing blues, roots, surf, rock, soul, and cinematic soundscapes, led by charismatic frontman Tex Perkins. Their albums This Is Not The Way Home (1991), The Honeymoon Is Over (1993) and Three Legged Dog (1995) catapulted them to national stardom, earning them eight ARIA Awards and cementing their legacy with hits like Better Get a Lawyer, Black Stick, and The Honeymoon Is Over. Their 1993 timeless classic album, The Honeymoon Is Over, became the soundtrack of a generation, spending more than a year in the ARIA album chart, solidifying the seminal album its place in Australian history.
With the first-ever vinyl release of The Honeymoon Is Over on its 30th anniversary in 2023, the band was encouraged to return to touring. Late last year, The Cruel Sea supported Cold Chisel on their Big 5-0 tour of Australia, and earlier this year, they released their first album of new original material in 23 years, Straight Into The Sun. The result is an album that explores new territory while retaining their signature sound that made the band great in the first place.
Aussie icons The Cat Empire catapulted into 2023 with a fresh new line-up of band members, with Felix Riebl and Ollie McGill continuing on the legacy, while preserving the vibrant energy and exhilarating musicality that fans adore. In August 2023, they released their nineth studio album Where The Angels Fall which was met with great acclaim, debuting at #5 on the ARIA Charts, charting at #1 on the AMRAP Metro Charts for three consecutive singles.
The Cat Empire illuminated stages across the globe performing to sold-out crowds across Europe, UK, North America, and Australia. Their magnetic force captivating millions with their high energy performances and explosive sound and visuals. In 2024, they set off on a massive 40-date world-wide tour across the UK, including Glastonbury Festival, Europe and North America, before heading home for a string of electrifying sold-out performances. These shows featured their most beloved tunes and exuberant new music with Australian symphony orchestras in premiere venues across the country.
2025 has seen The Cat Empire release their tenth studio album Bird in Paradise, which debuted at #2 on the ARIA charts, and marked a triumphant return to a more organic, "live in the room" sound. From the outset, the band made the bold decision to ditch the fragmented methods of modern production, opting instead to capture the magic of musicians playing together in the same space. For fans, this album offers a refreshing callback to The Cat Empire's earlier days, while showcasing the wisdom and musicality they've honed over two decades. It's a testament to their ability to create worlds within their music-worlds that are expansive, colourful, and authentic. With Bird in Paradise, The Cat Empire prove they're not just making music; they're building a legacy that continues to surprise, inspire, and soar.
Kasey Chambers is widely celebrated as one of Australia's most exceptional live performers, earning a devoted following through her raw, emotionally charged stage presence and unmistakable voice. Over a career spanning more than two decades, Chambers has become a festival favourite, captivating audiences across Australia and the United States with her heartfelt storytelling and genre-defying music.
Known for her authenticity and down-to-earth charm, Kasey's live shows are both intimate and powerful, often described as transformative experiences.
With a catalogue of acclaimed albums and countless live shows under her belt, Kasey Chambers remains a standout artist whose live performances continue to resonate, inspire, and leave lasting impressions wherever she plays.
Jess Hitchcock is a power-house vocalist who has been captivating audiences. Paul Kelly has called her his 'secret weapon'. You likely know her from her duet with Paul, 'Every Day My Mother's Voice', and this Red Hot Summer Jess is joining Paul's band again but also bringing her own band and new music to the line-up to kick things off for the day.
RED HOT SUMMER TOUR DATES 2026:
Saturday 17th January
Warrnambool Racecourse, Warrnambool VIC
Saturday 24th January
Speers Point Park, Lake Macquarie NSW
Saturday 31st January
Westport Park, Port Macquarie NSW
Sunday 1st February
Broadwater Parklands, Southport QLD
Sunday 8th February
Werribee Park, Werribee South VIC
Saturday 14th February
Berry Showground, Berry NSW
Sunday 15th February
Bella Vista Farm, Bella Vista NSW
Saturday 28th February
Gateway Lakes, Wodonga VIC
Sunday 8th March
Launceston Country Club, Launceston TAS
Saturday 14th March
Bendigo Racecourse, Bendigo VIC
Saturday 21st March
Kent Reserve, Victor Harbor SA
Red Hot Summer Tour Presale: Wednesday 24th September 9.00am to 11.59pm (local time)
General Public on-sale: Thursday 25th September 9.00am (local time)
Tickets are available at: www.ticketmaster.com.au
