Australian singer-songwriters, James Reyne and Ella Hooper have collaborated to re-record Reyne's 1992 hit with James Blundell 'Way Out West'.
Originally released by country-rock band The Dingoes as their debut single in 1973, Reyne and Blundell's version peaked at #2 on the ARIA singles chart and won Country Song Of The Year at the 1992 APRA Music Awards."When James came to me with this idea," Ella explains, "I was like – 'hell yeah!' I've always adored that song, it's got such a lovely, laconic feel to it and it's such a unique Australian song too.
"I used to belt out this song growing up in the country, it's a dream to be doing it for real with James! It definitely deserves another spin."
To be released 21 April, Reyne and Hooper will tour their new version together on an 18-date run from late May to August with shows in Tasmania, South Australia, Queensland, New South Wales, Victoria, Western Australia and Northern Territory
"Big, big, big, big, BIG news. James and I are going on an extensive national bloody tour under the banner of the great 'Way Out West' – a classic and uniquely Australian song, one of my absolute childhood favourites, it was," shares Ella.
"I'm so honoured and thrilled! It's going to be EPIC! I love James' voice, his songs, his swagger and working with him. He can do and has done it all.
"He's also bad-ass and extremely well versed in the more country/ Americana tones I'm slinging these days, so it's a perfect storm.
"We're gonna sing, we're gonna sway, we're going to take you back to a simpler, sun-drenched time when a country kid could sit on a crumbling top paddock fence and sing the James Blundell parts to the razor tones of Reyne, belting out this Dingoes classic."
Tickets are on sale.
James Reyne & Ella Hooper 2023 Tour Dates
Fri 26 May - Theatre Royal (Hobart)Sat 27 May - Adelaide Festival Centre
Thu 1 Jun - The Tivoli (Brisbane)
Fri 2 Jun - The Tivoli (Brisbane)
Sun 4 Jun - Miami Marketta (Gold Coast)
Fri 9 Jun - Anita's Theatre (Wollongong)
Sat 10 Jun - Enmore Theatre (Sydney)
Sat 17 Jun - Palais Theatre (Melbourne)
Fri 23 Jun - Empire Theatre (Toowoomba)
Fri 30 Jun - Freo.Social (Fremantle)
Sat 1 Jul - Astor Theatre (Perth)
Sat 15 Jul - Ulumbarra Theatre (Bendigo)
Sat 22 Jul - Ballarat Civic Hall
Fri 4 Aug - Darwin Entertainment Centre
Fri 11 Aug - Townsville Regional Entertainment Centre
Sat 12 Aug - Tanks Arts Centre (Cairns)
Fri 18 Aug - Drifters Wharf (Central Coast)
Sat 19 Aug - Toronto Hotel (Newcastle)
