'The Real Thing' singer-songwriter, Russell Morris has called time on his legendary 58-year career but not before one, final run of shows.
The Australian musician – who has gifted us such classics as 'The Real Thing', 'Wings Of An Eagle', 'Sweet Sweet Love', 'Rachel', 'Hush', 'It's All Over Now Baby Blue' and 'Black Dog Blues' – will perform headline concerts in Adelaide, Newcastle, Perth, Brisbane, Gold Coast, Melbourne, Wollongong and Sydney in August-September supported by a 13-piece band.After almost 60 hectic years of vans, hotels, auditoriums, pubs, clubs, planes, late nights, early starts, rehearsal rooms, backstage jams and meals on the run, Russell is keen to enjoy this victory lap around Australia.
"For too many years to count, more than I care to admit, I've performed across every corner of Australia," Russell says. "From smoky clubs to rowdy pubs, sprawling festivals to RSL halls; I've done it all, and I've cherished every second of it.
"Since the '60s, I've poured my heart into this circuit, but after decades of constant motion, I started to feel a creeping sense of déjà vu – maybe I was repeating myself, treading the same worn paths
"That's why my albums have danced through so many styles: folk, rock, blues, you name it. I'm not built for the repetitive; it's like circling the drain, and I refuse to let that be my story."
It was April 1969, still months from Neil Armstrong's historic moon walk, when the relatively unknown Morris entered the charts with an odd song that ran for six-plus minutes (totally against the standard three-minute pop song).
By the time Armstrong touched down on the moon, 'The Real Thing' had spent a month atop the charts, which was an uncommon occurrence at the time for Australian artists. The next 6 decades would see Russell release 15 albums and play thousands of shows.
His crowning moment occurred late in his career, with his 2012 blues album 'Sharkmouth' notching #1 on ARIA album chart and winning the 2013 ARIA Award for Best Blues and Roots Album.
"We've crafted this tour as a kind of farewell – a grand send-off to this chapter," adds Morris. "Is it the last shows? Who can say for sure? Life's unpredictable, and I'm not one for absolutes, but right now, it feels like it could be.
"One thing's certain: no more endless rounds of clubs, pubs, or RSLs. Maybe a rare one-off gig down the line, if the stars align. For now, though, this is my way of closing the loop – not the end of my music, but the end of the beginning. A pivot, not a full stop."
Tickets on sale from 10am (local time) on 10 April.
Russell Morris 2025 Farewell Tour Dates
Sun 3 Aug - Festival Theatre (Adelaide)Thu 7 Aug - Civic Theatre (Newcastle)
Sat 9 Aug - Perth Convention & Entertainment Centre
Fri 22 Aug - QPAC (Brisbane)
Sat 23 Aug - Twin Towns Services Club (Gold Coast)
Wed 27 Aug - Hamer Hall (Melbourne)
Sat 6 Sep - Anita's Theatre (Wollongong)
Sun 7 Sep - Sydney Opera House Concert Hall
