News: Midlake return to Australia for first tour in 13 years

It’s been 13 years since Midlake last toured Australia, but the Texan indie-folk favourites are finally heading back Down Under. The six-piece will return in March 2027 for three headline shows in Melbourne, Brisbane and Sydney, armed with their sixth studio album, A Bridge To Far.

Formed in Denton, Texas, in 1999, Midlake have spent more than two decades carving out a distinctive place in indie music, blending psychedelic rock, intricate folk arrangements and richly layered instrumentation into a sound that has earned them a devoted international following.

Their return comes alongside A Bridge To Far, an album that finds the band looking inward rather than chasing new musical influences.

Recorded at The Echo Lab in Denton and produced by Sam Evian, the record explores hope, perseverance and human connection, with frontman Eric Pulido and his bandmates drawing on the musical chemistry developed over more than 25 years together.

Lead single The Ghouls helped kickstart the creative process, while The Calling, Days Gone By and Guardians reveal a band still finding fresh territory within its familiar musical landscape.

The album also features contributions from Grammy-nominated singer-songwriter Madison Cunningham, Hannah Cohen and Meg Lui, adding new voices to Midlake’s expansive arrangements.

It’s a welcome return for a band whose catalogue has long rewarded close listening. From the pastoral psychedelia of The Trials of Van Occupanther to the darker textures of The Courage of Others, Midlake have never been particularly concerned with following indie-rock fashion.

And after more than a decade away from Australian stages, the opportunity to hear those songs alongside the new material is long overdue.

The tour kicks off at Melbourne’s Corner Hotel on 5 March before heading to Brisbane’s Brightside Outdoors on 10 March and Sydney’s Manning Bar on 11 March.

For Australian fans who have waited since 2014, March can’t come soon enough.