Roachford Returns To Australia For The ‘Then And Now’ Greatest Hits Tour

One of the most compelling and consistent soul artists the UK has produced, ROACHFORD, finally returns to Australia for the First Time Since 2004 for the Then and Now Greatest Hits Tour. Andrew Roachford MBE is someone who channels the energy of James Brown before going on stage each night, and who, on record, summons up the spirit of everyone from Al Green to Joe Cocker. When he sings… you listen, and he is always performing… always playing live somewhere… being a true artist.

ROACHFORD has released eleven studio albums and several greatest hits collections, been sought-after as a songwriter by the likes of Michael Jackson, Joss Stone & Chaka Khan, and consistently toured on his own and with contemporaries including Terence Trent D’Arby and The Christians. For the past ten years, he has also been part of Mike + The Mechanics, recording & touring with Mike Rutherford’s post-Genesis band.

One of the best soul men around, Roachford has the unique ability to harness the two-way energy between musician and audience. His latest album Then & Now (2023) is an insightfully curated compilation of recently written new music and revisited hits. Join him for one of these legendary shows as he performs all his Greatest Hits including Cuddly Toy, Only to Be with You, Lay Your Love on Me, This Generation, Love Remedy and More. Andrew talks to Hi Fi Way about the tour

Absence makes the heart grow fonder, you must be excited to be coming back after such a long gap?
It’s a lifetime for some people! Some fans weren’t even born the last time I came, or were just kids who are now old enough to come to the gigs. That’s kind of shocking. I’m glad I’m finally able to visit Australia and New Zealand again, especially Adelaide. It’s been a long time.

Was it just a case of the planets not aligning, with things like a global pandemic making it harder?
Yeah, you hit the nail on the head. It was just a matter of timing, especially when planning a long trip like touring Australia. You need the right team in place to make it happen, and for a while, the timing just wasn’t right. But now, everything has finally lined up.

What have you missed most about touring Australia?
Oh, the crowds, without a doubt! Australian audiences really go for it, and if they like you, they show it. That kind of energy pushes me to hit another level because my shows are all about intensity. Even more so now than ever.

Beyond that, Australians might take this for granted, but the food is incredible! The fresh produce and seafood are on another level compared to the UK, especially London, where we don’t have the same climate for it. And of course, the weather! The summers, the sunshine, it’s a stark contrast to the last few weeks in London, which have been nothing but permanent grey skies.

Do you have any great tour stories or memories from last time you were here?
Absolutely. Sydney was great, I got to hang out with my mate Jimmy Barnes and his wonderful family. We became friends, started writing together, and I got to experience a different side of the city. Getting lost in the Blue Mountains was memorable, though not at the time! Looking back, though, it was an adventure.

Adelaide stands out as well. On our first tour, Cypress Hill had just been there, and they were saying it had the best marijuana around! I don’t drink or smoke, but my guitarist ended up at a club standing in the middle of the dance floor, not dancing, because he had clearly partaken. Turns out, Cypress Hill wasn’t wrong! And the heat in Adelaide was intense, that’s another thing I remember clearly.

Are you noticing younger fans coming through to your shows?
Definitely. People introduce their kids to our music, and over time, new generations start coming to shows. When you’ve been doing this long enough, you start seeing the kids in the audience, especially those who are musicians or want to be. It’s great spotting future drummers, bass players, or singers in the crowd, knowing they’re being inspired just like I was when I went to gigs. It feels like giving back.

You’re a legendary performer and artist, and you’ve done so much, but I have to ask, what was it like working with Michael Jackson?
Back in the day, a lot of people reached out, and Michael Jackson was one of them. His management told me he loved my music and said it reminded him of Sly and the Family Stone, which was a massive compliment. I knew how much Michael loved Sly since he owned all their publishing rights.
Unfortunately, we never got to work together. The timing didn’t work out, he was deep into the Dangerous album by then, and our schedules didn’t align. But just knowing he reached out and acknowledged my work was unbelievable. When the artists you grew up listening to reach out to you like that, it’s the ultimate validation.

And then you’ve worked with names like Chaka Khan and Joss Stone, that must be incredible, too!
Chaka Khan, of course, was a big one. But honestly, getting accolades from Elton John was a huge moment. When I met him, he just said, “Your music, man!” Elton is a big supporter of new music, if he loves something, he spreads the word. When Permanent Shade of Blue came out, he lost it! He went and bought loads of copies, and all of his mates found it in their Christmas stockings that year. To know that Elton John was such a fan was massive for me. I’ve always admired him, and since we’re both songwriter-keyboard players, we had a lot in common.

Are people still seeking you out for collaborations or songwriting projects?
Every now and then I get approached, though I’m still very much focused on writing for my own projects. About twelve or thirteen years ago, I got a call from Mike Rutherford of Genesis, saying he wanted to do some writing with me, which was a real wow moment.

We initially met just to get acquainted, but we ended up writing on that very first day. He had his guitar out, and we got straight to work. Since then, I’ve done three albums with him for Mike + The Mechanics, and I became the new vocalist for the band alongside my friend Timothy Howar, who’s another phenomenal rock vocalist. Over the past twelve years, we’ve been touring and making records together, it’s crazy to think about.

Do you ever feel pressure to write another big hit like Cuddly Toy or Only to Be With You, or do you just take it as a compliment and keep moving forward?
Of course, after Cuddly Toy became massive, the record company asked if I could write a couple more of those, as if ordering from a menu at McDonald’s! But for me, that was just one moment, I have plenty of moments, and I want to grow as a songwriter, artist, and singer.

I don’t want to just replicate past successes because that would be uninspiring. Sticking to one formula would be boring. What excites me is stepping out of my comfort zone, trying new things, and evolving. That drive is probably why I’m still here, feeling like there’s always more to explore and improve.

Did you enjoy revisiting your songs for the Then and Now compilation?
I really did. I don’t spend a lot of time listening to my own albums, for instance, I couldn’t tell you the last time I listened to Permanent Shade of Blue apart from when I was making it and when it first came out.
Revisiting my past work was like flipping through an old photo album. So many memories came flooding back. I could also hear how I’ve evolved as a person over these thirty years of life experiences. My perspective has changed, and I could hear that growth in my voice. It was fascinating to compare the artist I was then to who I am now.

What was your first reaction when listening to your older songs again?
When I first recorded them, I was always my own worst critic, thinking, I could have done this better, I should have changed that. But now, with time and distance, I can appreciate them differently.
In their own way, they were perfect, honest and true to the moment in which they were created. Now, I can listen without being overly critical and just love them for what they are.

Are there plans for more new music this year?
Definitely! I’m constantly getting inspired. I’ll be diving into songwriting again, and it’s looking very promising. 2026 is the target since next year is packed with touring. I’ll be doing the Mike + The Mechanics tour at the start of the year, followed by summer shows, a short break, then heading to Australia. After that, it’s more dates, festivals, and a UK tour at the end of the year.
In between all that, I’ll be finding time to record new music, but 2026 is when I expect to release something new for sure.

Do you think the Mike + The Mechanics tour will make its way to Australia at some point?
I hope so! Funny enough, we’re kicking off next year with shows in South Africa, so we’re already traveling this far. I keep joking with Mike, another twelve hours on the plane, and we could be in Australia!
Mike + The Mechanics has had success all over the world, and when we tour, we also play Genesis songs. Our drummer, Nick Collins (Phil Collins’ son) adds a great touch to that. The show includes Genesis moments alongside classic Mike + The Mechanics hits, It’s such a strong set, and I do hope we can bring it to Australia in the near future!

Interview By Rob Lyon

Catch Roachford on the following dates, tickets from Metropolis Touring…