In fantastic news for lovers of the sinuous synth pop sounds of bands like Ultravox and Visage (or indeed ayne who appreciates first class songwriting), Scottish icon Midge Ure, legendary member of both bands (and others including The Rich Kids and even Thin Lizzy) has announced a tour of Australia for October.
Famously kept from the number one spot in the UK by the atrocious Shaddup Your Face by Australia’s Joe Dolce, Ultravox’s defining moment in the eighties was of course the single ‘Vienna’ (with Ultravox touring Australia in 1981 supported by the magnificent Machinations), but Ure has consistently released magnificent songs over the decades as well as being involved in a host of charitable causes, including work in co-writing and producing ‘Do They Know It’s Christmas’ for Band Aid which enshrined him alongside Bob Geldof as one of the most important figures in British music.
Ure says:
I performed live long before I was ever allowed anywhere near a recording studio and as much as I love spending time writing and recording, live music remains my first love. This ‘Catalogue’ tour will allow me to not only play a wide selection of hits from my past but perform some of the most requested favourites. Revisiting these moments from my musical life is something I am really looking forward to sharing.
Indeed, he is a consummate performer. Witness this recent mesmerising performance of ‘Fade To Gray’:
Outside of the studio – Ure has worked as a musical director for legendary concerts such as The Prince’s Trust, Night of the Proms, Wicked Women for Breakthrough, and In Honour Of Nelson Mandela; performed alongside the likes of Phil Collins, Mark Knopfler, Sting, Elton John, Eric Clapton and Sir Paul McCartney for the Music for Montserrat benefit in 1997 and was a driving force behind the legendary 2005 Live 8 Concert which featured just about every major performer from across the globe.
Tickets for the tour go on pre-sale via Destroy All Lines at 9am local time Thursday, 27 March. Details of the tour are as follows:
Thursday, 9 October Astor Theatre Perth
Saturday, 11 October The Gov Adelaide
Sunday, 12 October The Tivoli Brisbane
Tuesday, 14 October Odeon Theatre Hobart
Thursday, 16 October Enmore Theatre Sydney
Friday, 17 October Palais Theatre Melbourne
Feature Photograph: Andy Siddens
