Care to spend a rare evening with the renowned Radiohead frontman as he offers new versions of his seminal back catalogue?
Thom Yorke has announced a solo tour of Australia, his first shows on our shore of any kind since Radiohead last toured here in 2012.
The news is a big surprise to fans, and dare we say even a little disappointing to those who were expecting a tour from The Smile – Yorke’s new band alongside Radiohead guitarist Jonny Greenwood and drummer Tom Skinner.
However, performing two shows each in Melbourne and Sydney, this solo tour is sure to be special, as Yorke reworks material from his vast discography.
“I will be alone on stage trying a new kind of solo show thing playing versions of songs from my recent and not so recent past,” Yorke said in a statement of the upcoming tour, which also takes in New Zealand, SIngapore and Japan.
Here’s a taste of what to expect: Yorke performing Radiohead track ‘Bloom’, the opening from 2011’s The King of Limbs, in solo piano mode.
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An artist who needs little introduction, Yorke is the creative, angel-faced force out front of Radiohead, one of the most culturally important and critically acclaimed bands of their generation. After rewriting the rule book on what a contemporary band could sound like, his career has stretched into an extensive, explorative career of various solo and collaborative projects.
He’s released an awful lot of music since Radiohead’s last visit Down Under twelve years ago.
Besides Radiohead’s 2016 album A Moon Shaped Pool, there’s also been two albums from The Smile: 2022 debut A Light For Attracting Attention and Wall of Eyes, released earlier this year in January.
Yorke has also released several solo and soundtrack projects, including Tomorrow’s Modern Boxes (2014), ANIMA (2019), the 2018 score for director Luca Guadagnino’s remake of horror movie Suspiria, and most recently, Confidenza, the soundtrack to the 2024 Italian drama of the same name.
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Thom Yorke will perform two shows in Melbourne in late October before taking to the stage at the Sydney Opera House forecourt for two shows early November.
“This is historic,” says Ben Marshall, Sydney Opera House Head of Contemporary Music.
“I’m ecstatic to announce the long-awaited Opera House debut of one of the greatest musicians of our time … Yorke will bring his hauntingly existential lyrics, inimitable falsetto and rapturous arrangements to the Forecourt for two nights only.”
Don’t miss Thom Yorke at the following dates. Tickets are on sale from Wednesday 5 June.
Tuesday 29 October — Sidney Myer Music Bowl: Wurundjeri Woi Wurrung Land, Melbourne
Wednesday 30 October — Sidney Myer Music Bowl: Wurundjeri Woi Wurrung Land, Melbourne
Friday 1 November — Sydney Opera House Forecourt: Gadigal Land, Sydney
Saturday 2 November — Sydney Opera House Forecourt: Gadigal Land, Sydney