Americana music icon Jim Lauderdale announces biggest ever Australian tour in 2026

“He’s a man of great style, an exceptional songwriter and tremendous singer.” – Elvis Costello

“Jim Lauderdale could easily be called a renaissance man. He’s a great singer, great guitar player and there’s no way you could miss his work as a songwriter.” – Ricky Skaggs

2-time Grammy winning Americana legend Jim Lauderdale returns to Australia for his first tour since 2023. The legendary singer-songwriter, whose rhinestone-studded silhouette has been iconic in American roots music for decades, is bringing his peerless catalogue of songs, soulful vocals and cosmic charisma back down under for a series of special shows across NSW and Victoria.

Fresh off his Nashville Songwriters Hall of Fame induction, the raucous troubadour will take in full band headline dates in Melbourne and Sydney, followed by his first ever visits to Cronulla, Bulli and Newcastle for intimate acoustic shows. 

“I’ve been coming to Australia for almost 25 years now,” Lauderdale says. “I feel such a deep connection to the musicians and music lovers down under and I can’t wait to get back in 2026.”

All shows will feature ARIA and Golden Guitar nominee Imogen Clark as special guest, with the great Hannah Aldridge joining the shows in Melbourne and Sydney. Hailing from the iconic music city of Muscles Shoals, Alabama, Hannah’s smokey voice and noir-inflected Southern storytelling have made her a favorite of music lovers around the world, and she's no stranger to Australian shores.

The tour’s set lists will showcase the incredible songs from throughout Jim Lauderdale’s 40 year career, including the classics made famous by George Strait, Elvis Costello, The Chicks, Solomon Burke, Old Crow Medicine Show and countless others that have recorded his work over the decades. Lauderdale’s music blends country, soul, blues, bluegrass and rock’n’roll and on stage he is an artist not to be missed.

JIM LAUDERDALE: HALFWAY DOWN UNDER AUSTRALIAN TOUR

With special guests IMOGEN CLARK and HANNAH ALDRIDGE*
*Melbourne & Sydney only

ALL SHOWS ON SALE NOW

SAT 07 & SUN 08 MAR - PORT FAIRY FOLK FESTIVAL, PORT FAIRY VIC 

MON 09 MAR - BRUNSWICK BALLROOM, MELBOURNE VIC 

WED 11 MAR - MARY'S UNDERGROUND, SYDNEY NSW

THU 12 MAR - FLAMINGOS, NEWCASTLE NSW 

SAT 14 MAR - HERITAGE HOTEL, BULLI NSW

SUN 15 MAR - BRASS MONKEY, CRONULLA NSW