Seventeen years after calling it quits, one of Australia’s most cherished rock acts, Powderfinger, has lifted the curtain on a full national comeback tour that has sent shockwaves of excitement through the country’s music scene.
The Brisbane-bred outfit first confirmed their long-rumored reunion to fans last week, and on Monday they shared full details of the run, which is set to launch in September 2025. The tour will open with four consecutive sold-out-style opening nights in the band’s hometown, before moving on to 14 additional stops across major Australian cities including Cairns, Sydney, Adelaide, Perth and Melbourne. What sets this tour apart from conventional runs is that every show will be hosted inside a purpose-built, stadium-scale big-top tent, a unique setup that promises an intimate yet massive live experience for attendees.
In an official statement announcing the schedule, the band members said they are “absolutely ecstatic” to step back onto a stage together after nearly two decades apart. “For years, fans and promoters have thrown countless ideas around for us to get back on tour, but it never quite lined up for every one of us, and it never felt like the right moment,” the statement read. “That’s changed now, and we couldn’t be more ready to do this.”
The band also expressed their deep gratitude for the enduring support they’ve received in the years since their breakup, noting that their fanbase has grown far beyond the listeners who followed them during their active run. “We’ve always been so thankful that long-time fans have stuck with us all these years, but we’ve also gained so many new fans who have never gotten the chance to see us play live,” they said. “Time and time again, people tell us our music is tied up in their most precious, happy memories. We’re heading out on this road to spread a little more of that joy across the country, alongside some of Australia’s most beloved established acts and exciting emerging talent. We can’t wait to build brand new memories with every single person who comes out.”
Mirroring the tour scheduling strategy that worked well for British rock band Oasis during their 2024 world comeback tour, all Powderfinger shows will be held exclusively on Friday and Saturday nights, allowing both the band and fans to accommodate work and personal schedules. As of the announcement, no international tour dates outside of Australia have been revealed, leaving international fans waiting for further updates.
During their original run as an active band, Powderfinger dropped seven full-length studio albums, cementing their legacy as one of the most influential acts in Australian rock history. Their 2000 release *Odyssey Number Five* holds a particularly iconic spot in the country’s music canon: in 2011, listeners of ABC’s national youth music station Triple J voted it the greatest Australian album of all time. The album’s lead single, *My Happiness*, claimed the sixth spot on Triple J’s 2025 ranking of the 100 greatest Australian songs of all time. Other fan-favorite hits from the band’s catalog include *On My Mind*, *These Days* and *Sunsets*, all of which remain staples on Australian rock radio decades after their release.
Since the band’s original split in 2008, members have pursued their own individual career paths within the music industry. Frontman Bernard Fanning has built a successful solo career, releasing multiple well-received solo albums and touring regularly across Australia. Bassist John Collins has stayed rooted in Brisbane’s live music scene, opening two of the city’s largest and most popular live music venues that continue to host both local and international acts today.