The Whitlams - Return to Rock Island

“Return to Rock Island” takes the band back to its favourite rock rooms, where if only the walls could talk about the joyful two, three and four night residencies over the decades. Long sweaty nights at these pubs formed the bedrock of The Whitlams ’ reputation as a memorable force in the Australian live scene.

What better way to mix things up after the elegance of the celebrated Orchestral ’26 tour, with its eight symphony orchestras, 30,000 people, and concert halls across the country. Now it’s back to the pubs where the audience is standing up close.

Joining the bill for the whole tour is William Crighton with band, promoting his 4th studio album, ‘Colonial Drift’. The pioneer of Bush-Psych and a bold voice of Australian folk rock, Crighton weaves stories of land, spirit, and struggle with raw intensity.

The tour opens at two pubs where the band held Sunday afternoon residencies back in 1994 - Hotel Brunswick just north of Byron Bay, and the Hoey Moey in Coffs Harbour.

From there, multiple nights at The Triffid in Brisbane and The Corner Hotel in Melbourne, before a long- awaited return to Sydney’s Metro Theatre, the venue where the band filmed its live DVD performance in 2004.

The set list will tend towards the high energy side of the seven album repertoire - loud, and built for a crowd with nowhere to sit.

Tim Freedman is joined by stalwarts Terepai Richmond on drums and Jak Housden on guitar, with Ian Peres returning on bass and keys.

"The songs splash colours across a portrait of a lonesome, inner-city suburbia that few others can match for original detail and authenticity.... The Whitlams have never sounded even mildly like anybody else."
- The Newcastle Herald, 2022