King of the indie Kids, Ben Lee wants you to Gamble Everything For Love and catch his disease with the Australian artist to celebrate the 20th anniversary of his career-defining album, 'Awake Is The New Sleep'.
A career arc any DIY artist can only dream of, Ben Lee has been part of the Australian (and international) musical zeitgeist since he crash-landed into the mainstream in the mid '90s as a precocious and insanely talented singer-songwriter garnering Hollywood attention (he features on the 'Something About Mary' soundtrack).ARIA Awards nominations and a string of hits including 'Cigarettes Will Kill You' and 'Something Borrowed, Something Blue' followed cementing Lee's status as certified hitmaker.
However, it was the release of 'Awake Is The New Sleep' in 2005 that launched Ben into the upper echelons of the music hierarchy with it's trio of bangers: 'Catch My Disease' (still his biggest hit), 'We're In This Together' and 'Gamble Everything For Love'.
Alongside the big numbers were series of deeper cuts highlighting Lee's exceptional songwriting talents including album opener 'Whatever It Is' alongside 'Close I've Come', 'Ache For You', 'Into The Dark' and 'Apple Candy'.
The album was nominated for a J Award as well as picking up five ARIA Awards noms scoring three wins (including Single Of The Year and Best Male Artist), while 'Catch My Disease' was #2 in the 2005 Hottest 100.
Now Lee will return to the road for an 11-date tour this spring taking in Canberra, Newcastle, Sydney, Byron Bay, Brisbane, Gold Coast, Castlemaine, Torquay, Melbourne, Adelaide and Fremantle.
"Hi, it's your friend Ben. Hope all's well. Writing with the news that today I am announcing a special 20th anniversary Awake Is The New Sleep Australian tour for September and October.
"I'm not really a nostalgic person, I prefer to keep pushing forward with new projects and ideas, but this feels weirdly right to me. I've done so much touring in the last couple of years, averaging about 100 shows a year, and it's become abundantly clear to me that this album, 'Awake', was a really vital part of so many people's lives and emotional journeys.
"I've chatted to so many people about the wide-eyed exploration and optimism of the record, and how it still seems to find people at the exact right time that they need that kind of energy.
"For me, it's an album of endings and beginnings. I made it when I'd just left a major romantic relationship, had no record deal for the first time in my career, and was getting into spirituality, philosophy and the occult (but wasn't in over my head just yet – that would come soon enough, lol).
"It's an album that seemed to change a lot of lives, including mine. I'm looking forward to facing that, head on, and exploring what these songs mean to me and the audience today, 20 years on. They still feel potent.
"In conjunction with the tour announce I am also releasing 'Catch My Disease 2025' – a 20th anniversary reworking of my unlikely 2005 anthem, with my buddies Phantom Planet.
"My history with Phantom Planet goes deep. I can be seen in a blur running across their debut album cover 'The Guest'. We have toured together and collaborated in different ways.
"Most importantly, 'Catch My Disease' was written 'backstage in Pomona' when I was opening for them in 2003. Epic tour. Loud and rowdy. Pashed a lot of girls. Good memories.
"Anyway, a little while back, Alex the singer from PP and I were collaborating with Ninajirachi on her most recent single 'All I Am'. I asked if he would be up for reworking 'Catch' with me. He said 'yes, as long as we can go shoegaze with it'. I said 'of course'.
"I made a few tweaks to the lyrics too. Had to chuck in a mention of Ulladulla – a little internet easter egg for those that saw the Breakfast Shirts TikTok about my notorious Marlin show where I left the venue while the band were still playing at the end of my set!
@breakfastshirts Episode 1, Marlin Hotel, Ulladulla. Key takeaway is that Ben Lee is a legend #breakfastshirts ♬ original sound - Breakfast Shirts
"Also shouted out some of my favourite Aussie artists, Mallrat and Miss Kannina in the bridge. We gotta keep championing Aussie music, no matter how bleak the industry outlook is.
"As always, we have unparalleled talent right in our backyards, and we've got to get behind it at every opportunity; and just for fun got a few musician pals to sing backing vox on the track: Lara Meyerratken, Sadie Dupuis, Alex Lahey, Khatumu and Tim Blunt from FVNERAL.
"Back to the shows, I'm going to play the whole album in full, with a great band behind me, and tell you some stories about how these tunes came to be. We're doing it 2005 style, no backing tracks, no click tracks, no video screens. Just a great band on a stage covered in flowers, singing songs about love and lust and adventure and interconnectivity. It's gonna be a vibe.
"Come along for the ride, and in the meantime, tune into my weekly podcast Weirder Together with my wife Ione Skye, as we gear up for the tour, it's a guaranteed good time. Big love! Your friend. Ben."
Tickets on sale from 2pm (local time) on 22 May.
Ben Lee 2025 Tour Dates
Thu 25 Sep - UC Refectory (Canberra)Fri 26 Sep - King Street Bandroom (Newcastle)
Sat 27 Sep - Liberty Hall (Sydney)
Thu 2 Oct - Beach Hotel (Byron Bay)
Fri 3 Oct - The Princess Theatre (Brisbane)
Sat 4 Oct - Miami Marketta (Gold Coast)
Thu 9 Oct - Theatre Royal (Castlemaine)
Fri 10 Oct - Torquay Hotel (Torquay)
Sat 11 Oct - Northcote Theatre (Melbourne)
Fri 17 Oct - The Gov (Adelaide)
Sat 18 Oct - Fremantle Arts Centre
