Red Hot Summer Tour 2026
RED HOT SUMMER TOUR is turning it up a notch for a scorching all Australian line-up for the 2026 series. The renowned outdoor festival will be headlined by our most iconic and enduring singer/songwriter, Paul Kelly. The master storyteller, whose music is woven through the fabric of modern Australia, will be supported by much loved crowd favourites, Missy Higgins, The Cruel Sea, The Cat Empire, Kasey Chambers, and Jess Hitchcock.
Paul Kelly – His legendary compositions like “To Her Door,” “Deeper Water,” and the now-classic “How to Make Gravy” have become part of Australia’s cultural DNA, with the latter growing from a 1996 release into a beloved Christmas anthem that captures the essence of family, regret, and hope. The breadth of Kelly’s artistic restlessness is extraordinary. He has set Shakespeare sonnets to music, explored everything from bluegrass to experimental dub, collaborated with jazz legends, and created multilingual Christmas albums featuring Hebrew, Te Reo Maori, and Latin. His 2017 album Life is Fine became his first No 1 album, while recent releases like 2024’s Fever Longing Still and the forthcoming SEVENTY prove that at 70, this Order of Australia recipient remains creatively vital and still finding new ways to move hearts and minds.
Missy Higgins – is one of Australia’s most beloved singer/songwriters. She has struck a deep and enduring chord with her irresistible melodies, ‘arrow through the heart’ lyrics, unforgettable live concerts, plus classic songs like ‘Scar’, ‘The Special Two’, ‘Steer’, ‘Everyone’s Waiting’, ‘Futon Couch’ and ‘A Complicated Truth’.
The Cruel Sea – carved their place in Australian music history with a genre-blurring sound, fusing blues, roots, surf, rock, soul, and cinematic soundscapes, led by charismatic frontman Tex Perkins. Their albums The Honeymoon Is Over (1993) and Three Legged Dog (1995) catapulted them to national stardom, earning them eight ARIA Awards and cementing their legacy with hits like ‘Better Get a Lawyer’, ‘Black Stick’, ‘Just A Man’ and ‘The Honeymoon Is Over’.
The Cat Empire – In 2024, they set off on a massive 40-date world-wide tour across the UK, including Glastonbury Festival, Europe and North America, before heading home for a string of electrifying sold-out performances. These shows featured their most beloved tunes and exuberant new music with Australian symphony orchestras in premiere venues across the country.
Kasey Chambers – With a catalogue of acclaimed albums and countless live shows under her belt, Kasey Chambers remains a standout artist whose live performances continue to resonate, inspire, and leave lasting impressions wherever she plays.
Jess Hitchcock – is a power-house vocalist who has been captivating audiences. Paul Kelly has called her his ‘secret weapon’. You likely know her from her duet with Paul, ‘Every Day My Mother’s Voice’, and this Red Hot Summer Jess is joining Paul’s band again but also bringing her own band and new music to the line-up to kick things off for the day.
Tickets are available at: www.ticketmaster.com.au
For further information, please visit: www.redhotsummertour.com.au