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Jimmy Barnes Announces 2018 ‘Working Class Man’ Tour Of ‘Stories & Songs’

More than three decades after releasing the Australian National Tradies’ anthem ‘Working Class Man’, Jimmy Barnes is still one of the hardest working musos in the country.

And to prove it, your m8 Barnesy has just announced yet another fark-off huge national tour, off the back of his freshly-pressed memoir ‘Working Class Man’.

But this one’s no ordinary romp, with the Aussie rock veteran promising fans across the land an evening of both ‘stories & songs’, with each show incorporating a mix of spoken-word yarns and stripped-back renditions of the songs that have shaped his journey through life.

It will form the sequel to his last round of tour dates, which saw the singer deliver a live companion piece to his first memoir ‘Working Class Boy’, which won the ABIA Award as the Best Biography of 2016 and was also the country’s #1 selling non-fiction title last year.

This time around, the focus will be on the ups and downs of Barnesy’s adult life rather than his childhood. A press statement reads:

“The new ‘Working Class Man’ live show and book – again both written by Jimmy – begin in 1974 as he leaves Adelaide in the back of an old bread truck with a then unknown rock group called Cold Chisel. They trace the legendary band’s long climb to the top and their subsequent implosion. The story then picks up as Jimmy carves out a new solo career for himself. He becomes the country’s biggest rock star before drugs and alcohol bring him to his knees and he eventually rebuilds his life thanks to the love of his wife and his family. It’s a spellbinding and searingly honest reflection on success, fame and addiction.”

The rocker will perform 30 dates across all Australian states in March, April & May of 2018, and will use the shows to “help promote the good work of Lifeline”.

As he says in the preface to ‘Working Class Man’:

“In book one I faced the damage that a broken home and a broken heart can bring. In book two I face the impact that a childhood like mine can have on a man. Don’t get me wrong. I’m not blaming anyone for any of this. We all do the best with what we have. But in book two the blame rests squarely on my shoulders, and until I work a lot of things out I carry a lot of baggage around with me …

I have done a lot of great things. I have a beautiful family and wonderful friends. But there were many times, dark times, that I almost let it all slip through my fingers. In the end I asked for help. I used to think that if someone asked for help they were weak. But the toughest thing I ever did was reach out and ask for help. And that was when I started to heal.”

Tickets to the tour will go on sale at the same time that the second volume of his memoirs ‘Working Class Man’ hits bookstores: 10am on Monday, 23rd October (although mailing list fans will have access earlier).

Finally, to celebrate the release, Barnesy is also releasing a limited edition, commemorative version of one of the greatest Aussie rock albums of all time, For The Working Class Man — a deluxe double-disc LP packed with newly remastered tracks and never-before-released live recordings — on 20th October.

You can catch all the details for Barnesy’s 2018 Working Class Man: An Evening of Stories & Songs tour below.

Jimmy Barnes — ‘Working Class Man: An Evening of Stories & Songs’ 2018 Tour Dates

Members of Jimmy’s mailing list and Frontier Touring Members will have the opportunity to access pre-sale tickets from 2pm on Thursday, 19th October until 2pm on Friday, 20th October.

Venue pre-sales from Friday, 20th October from 2pm until Monday, 23rd October at 9am (local times) or earlier if pre-sale allocations are exhausted.

Tickets on sale to the general public from 10am local times Monday, 23rd October.

Thursday, 15th March 2018

Anita’s Theatre, Thirroul NSW

Tickets: Ticketmaster

Friday, 16th March 2018

Anita’s Theatre, Thirroul NSW

Tickets: Ticketmaster

Saturday, 17th March 2018

Canberra Theatre, Canberra ACT

Tickets: Venue Website

Wednesday, 21st March 2018

Devonport Entertainment Centre, Devonport TAS

Tickets: Venue Website

Thursday, 22nd March 2018

Country Club Showroom, Launceston

Tickets: Ticketmaster

Friday, 23rd March 2018

Country Club Showroom, Launceston TAS

Tickets: Ticketmaster

Saturday, 24th March 2018

Wrestpoint Entertainment Centre, Hobart TAS

Tickets: Ticketmaster

Thursday, 5th April 2018

Parklands Resort & Conference Centre, Mudgee NSW

Tickets: Venue Website

Friday, 6th April 2018

Civic Centre, Newcastle NSW

Tickets: Ticketek

Saturday, 7th April 2018

Bathurst Entertainment Centre, Bathurst NSW

Tickets: Venue Website

Thursday, 12th April 2018

Brisbane City Hall, Brisbane Qld

Tickets: Ticketmaster

Friday, 13th April 2018

Empire Theatre, Toowoomba QLD

Tickets: Venue Website

Saturday, 14th April 2018

The Star Theatre, Gold Coast QLD

Tickets: Ticketek

Wednesday, 18th April 2018

Bunbury Regional Entertainment Centre, Bunbury WA

Tickets: Venue Website

Thursday, 19th April 2018

Perth Concert Hall, Perth WA

Tickets: Ticketmaster

Saturday, 21st April 2018

Keith Mitchell Theatre, Port Pirie SA

Tickets: Venue Website

Sunday, 22nd April 2018

Thebarton Theatre, Adelaide SA

Tickets: Ticketmaster

Thursday, 26th April 2018

Frankston Arts Centre Theatre, Frankston VIC

Tickets: Venue Website

Friday, 27th April 2018

Costa Hall, Geelong Performing Arts Centre, Geelong VIC

Tickets: Venue Website

Saturday, 28th April 2018

The Palais Theatre, St Kilda VIC

Tickets: Ticketmaster

Sunday, 29th April 2018

Ulumbarra Theatre, Bendigo VIC

Tickets: GoTix

Thursday, 3rd May 2018

Centennial Hall, Sydney Town Hall, Sydney NSW

Tickets: Ticketmaster

Sunday, 20th May 2018

Darwin Entertainment Centre, Darwin NT

Tickets: Venue Website

Tuesday, 22nd May 2018

Tank Arts Centre, Cairns, QLD

Tickets: Ticketlink

Wednesday, 23rd May 2018

Tank Arts Centre, Cairns QLD

Tickets: Ticketlink

Friday, 25th May 2018

Townsville Entertainment & Convention Centre, Townsville QLD

Tickets: Venue Website

Saturday, 26th May 2018

Plenary Halls, Mackay Entertainment & Convention Centre, Mackay QLD

Tickets: Venue Website

Sunday, 27th May 2018

Pilbeam Theatre, Rockhampton QLD

Tickets: Venue Website

Tuesday, 29th May 2018

Caloundra Events Centre, Caloundra QLD

Tickets: Venue Website

Wednesday, 30th May 2018

Saraton Theatre, Grafton NSW

Tickets: Venue Website

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