News: The Cruel Sea set sail on national tour with Mick Harvey

The Cruel Sea are set to embark on a national theatre tour that promises to be one for the ages. The tour will feature legendary musician Mick Harvey joining The Cruel Sea on stage (handling keyboards, percussion, and backing vocals) for all dates except Mandurah.

The Cruel Sea formed in Sydney in late 1987, initially performing atmospheric instrumentals drenched in surf-rock vibes – fittingly, they even took their name from a 1964 surf instrumental track. When Tex Perkins (also known for fronting the Beasts of Bourbon) stepped up as lead vocalist in 1989, the group’s gritty blend of surf, blues and indie rock suddenly had a voice to match its twang, and their popularity surged.

Mick Harvey is best known for his influential career alongside Nick Cave – he was a founding member of the incendiary post-punk outfit The Birthday Party and later the chief architect (and bassist, guitarist, drummer… you name it) in Nick Cave and the Bad Seeds. He also helped revive the cult rock band Crime & the City Solution, further cementing his status as a linchpin of the ’80s underground scene. Over the years, Harvey has also earned renown as a producer and solo artist in his own right, releasing a string of solo albums and soundtracks.

This tour’s setlist is a dream come true for devotees. The first set each night is devoted to Straight Into The Sun, The Cruel Sea’s brand-new album – their first studio release in over two decades. Playing the entire record front-to-back is a bold move that underscores the band’s confidence in their new material. It’s a chance for fans to soak in fresh songs that haven’t yet been road-worn, and to hear how The Cruel Sea’s distinctive style has evolved after a long hiatus. Expect hypnotic, surf-inflected grooves, enriched by the perspective of years apart and the energy of recent reunions.

For the second half of the evening, The Cruel Sea will dive into the vault. This “greatest hits and rarities” set promises to be a joyous romp through the group’s rich back catalogue – from beloved singles to deeper cuts that haven’t seen live air in years.