After sixteen years away, Secondhand Serenade will finally return to Australia in 2025 for three shows — this time joined by a full symphony string section.
The project of Californian singer-songwriter John Vesely, Secondhand Serenade began in the mid-2000s with an acoustic guitar and a home recording setup, quickly becoming a touchstone of the MySpace generation. His 2007 breakthrough album Awake carried songs that would go on to define a particular corner of emo-pop: Fall For You, Your Call, and Maybe became staples for fans seeking unfiltered confessions wrapped in melody.
In the years since, Vesely has continued to write with the same openness, moving from bedroom beginnings to international stages. Tracks like Find Somebody Else, Edge of a Riot and Not Enough show a songwriter still revisiting the themes of vulnerability, longing, and recovery — only with new layers of experience.
The upcoming Australian dates promise a setlist that spans two decades, with orchestral arrangements giving a fresh frame to songs that once thrived on stark simplicity. For long-time listeners, it’s a chance to reconnect with a voice that once carried through laptop speakers late at night; for new ones, an opportunity to hear emo’s softer edge refracted through strings and memory.
TOUR DATES
Fri, December 19: Max Watts, Melbourne
Sat, December 20: Manning Bar, Sydney
Sun, December 21: The Triffid, Brisbane
Pre Sale: Wed, Aug 27 @ 9.00am
On Sale, Fri, Aug 29 @ 9.00am
Tickets HERE.
