<strong>THE DAY THE MUSIC DIED</strong>

THE DAY THE MUSIC DIED

50TH ANNIVERSARY “AMERICAN PIE” AUSTRALIAN TOUR INCLUDING WIN ENTERTAINMENT WOLLONGONG

07 November, 2022


Grammy award honouree, Songwriters Hall of Fame member, and BBC Lifetime Achievement Award recipient Don McLean will be bringing his American Pie 50th Anniversary Tour to Australia in 2023.  Celebrating the 50th anniversary of one of the most iconic songs and album ever this year, McLean will entertain fans across the country, 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 Don McLean“2022 marks the 50th anniversary from 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.”

As tragic as the backstory behind the song “American Pie” is with the much too early death of the new rock’n’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 Van Gogh 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 ted “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.

And he never gets tired of writing new songs and new stories. In 2018, the sound senior released his 19th studio album, ‘Botanical Gardens’ which received rave reviews. Songs from it subsequently proved themselves live and will maybe even find their way into the setlist next year, alongside “American Pie” and all the other feats from this decades-spanning and unparalleled composition and performance career.

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 is 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.

Says Andrew Farriss “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.”

50TH ANNIVERSARY ‘AMERICAN PIE’ AUSTRALIAN TOUR DATES 2023

Saturday 1st April – The Fortitude, Brisbane

Sunday 2nd April – Kings Theatre, Coloundra

Monday 3rd April – Empire Theatre, Toowoomba

Wednesday 5th April – Twin Towns. Gold Coast

Friday 7th April – Twin Towns, Gold Coast

Saturday 8th April – Twin Towns, Gold Coast

Sunday 9th April – Twin Towns, Gold Coast

Wednesday 12th April – C.ex Coffs, Coffs Harbour

Friday 14th April – Town Hall, Tamworth

Saturday 15th April – The Station, Newcastle

Sunday 16th April – Llweellyn Hall, Canberra

Thursday 20th April – Hurstville Entertainment Centre, Hurstville

Friday 21st April – The Concourse, Chatswood

Saturday 22nd April – Sydney Coliseum, West Sydney

Monday 24th April – West Point, Hobart

Wednesday 26th April – Princess Theatre, Launceston

Friday 28th April – Win Entertainment Centre, Wollongong

Saturday 29th April – The Palais, Melbourne

Sunday 30th April – Costa Hall, Geelong

Tickets on sale Friday 11TH November at 9.00am local time

Tickets are available at:

www.oneworldentertainment.com.au

For further information visit:

www.donmclean.com