The wait is almost over – next week, Paul Kelly takes the next step of his extraordinary career, commanding arena stages nationwide for a historic run of sold-out shows.

Australia’s greatest storyteller will launch his biggest tour yet at Perth’s RAC Arena on Tuesday 26 August, the first of seven unmissable nights that mark Kelly’s only live performances of 2025 – and the largest venues he has ever played. From Perth, the 17-time ARIA Award-winner and five-time APRA honouree will bring his unmatched songbook to fans in Brisbane, Sydney, Hobart and Adelaide, before returning home for two triumphant nights at Melbourne’s iconic Rod Laver Arena. There, in his hometown, Kelly will perform to more than 25,000 fans across two nights, before flying to Aotearoa for three additional dates.

These are no ordinary concerts. With his legendary band by his side, Kelly will deliver the unforgettable songs that have soundtracked fans’ lives, each night promising to be a career-defining celebration from an artist whose influence on Australian music is unparalleled.

A limited handful of production-release tickets remain and are on sale now.

Fans can expect an unforgettable show, Kelly performing his iconic hits alongside new material from his forthcoming album SEVENTY, out Friday 7 November (pre-order here). SEVENTY showcase an artist still at the peak of his powers, still finding new ways to move the fingers, the music, the heart, the mind.

New single ‘Rita Wrote A Letter’ was released last week. Nearly 30 years after introducing characters Rita, Dan and Joe in ‘How To Make Gravy’, Kelly returns to the story from Rita’s point of view – this time in a ghostly, darkly comic twist. “You hear Rita’s voice loud and clear, but Joe talks even more,” Kelly says. “I couldn’t shut him up.”

Special guest for the Australian arena dates is three-time GRAMMY® winner Lucinda Williams: “I first heard Paul Kelly several years ago doing his ‘spin the wheel of songs’ show in Los Angeles and I was blown away. Not long after that I was able to do some shows with him in Australia and that experience was something I always remember fondly. It is an understatement to say that I am thrilled to be doing these momentous shows with him again all these years later”.

Rounding out the bill is two-time ARIA winner Fanny Lumsden, who returns from sold-out dates across Scotland, Ireland and England.

Over 40 years and across 30 albums, few songwriters find ways to keep that creative fever burning for as long and as brightly as Paul Kelly. Don’t miss these landmark shows.