After nearly a decade as a band, three albums and countless tours across Australia, the US and UK, beloved Brisbane band The John Steel Singers have announced that they will be going on hiatus following their national tour this month.
In a letter to fans, the band wrote:
Now that it sounds like we’re breaking up I think it’s gotta be a good time to announce that we’re going on a hiatus after this upcoming tour. Don’t worry, we still love each other very much and will still make lots of music together. (Life has gotten peculiarly busy these days. There is a brand new child in the band, a brand new bar, a brand new business and the ongoing challenge of balancing life with touring has led to the decision of halting the touring life for now.) It hasn’t been an easy decision but it has been made easier by the fact that we made a goddamn beautiful decision and built ourselves a studio so we can look forward to making music again when the time is right… maybe in a few weeks.
The good news is the JSS will hit the road for a series of farewell dates, beginning on 19 August. The band will perform their hits, as well as songs from their new EP, Midnight at the Plutonium, in Toowoomba, Brisbane, Canberra, Sydney, Melbourne, Adelaide and Perth supported by Alex Lahey. They’ll also have the added bonus of Kirsty Tickle on sax and vocals and Jono Boulet on percussion – as well as all the pals they can get on stage. Full tour details and links are:
Friday 19 August 2016 – Spotted Cow, Toowoomba
Saturday 20 August – The Triffid, Brisbane
Thursday 25 August – Transit Bar, Canberra
Friday 26 August – Newtown Social Club, Sydney
Saturday 27 August – Northcote Social Club, Melbourne
Friday 2 September – Jive, Adelaide
Saturday 3 September – Amplifier, Perth
Tickets via Oztix (Toowoomba, Brisbane, Perth); Moshtix (Canberra, Adelaide) and Ticketscout (Sydney, Melbourne)
David Edwards is the editor of The Blurb and a contributor on film and television