Red Hot Summer To Create Music History In 2026
The RED HOT SUMMER TOUR will create history in 2026 and is thrilled to announce for the first time in 40 years, Australian Crawl will take to the stage, alongside the iconic Men At Work. They will be joined by an all-star Aussie line-up featuring Birds of Tokyo, Vika & Linda, Eskimo Joe, Boom Crash Opera and Ella Hooper.
James Reyne, Simon Binks and David Reyne come together to celebrate the music of Australian Crawl. This is the first time in over 40 years that three original members will share the stage, joined by John Watson (Australian Crawl 83- 86), Brett Kingman, Josh Owen, Andrew McIvor, Sean Johnson, Melinda Jackson and Nicole Kurta. In a short career between 1978 and 1986 Australian Crawl delivered numerous chart hits and iconic songs that are woven into the fabric of Australia.
James Reyne says “We ran our own shows on the Pen and a following grew. One can only shake one’s head at the sometimes wonderful inventions of folly in all its guises and forms for the trip was a blast; such fun and high spirits were had that upon return we decided we should perhaps give this thing a year, before we returned to our studies; just to see what happens. What a ride.”
Simon Binks stated “I’m looking forward to this upcoming celebration of Australian Crawl. Who would have thought that this far down the track three original members would be sharing the same stage once again.”
David Reyne commented “Back in 1979, a bunch of us from the beaches of the Mornington Peninsula twanged some guitars, banged some drums, blended together some tunes and played a gig or two for the local board riders’ club. They swung from the rafters, stomped the floorboards and drank an Army’s worth of beer. Buoyed by the reaction, we loaded the gear into the back of a couple of old Holdens and plied our noise all the way up the East Coast. It was a riot. Each night a howling, joyous, sunburnt shindig. Australian Crawl was born. What a delight it will be to do it all again with those of us from the original gang who haven’t yet propped permanently at Heaven’s Bar.”
Formed in Melbourne in 1979 and best known for breakthrough hits such as Down Under, Who Can It Be Now, Be Good Johnny, Overkill, and It’s a Mistake, Men At Work achieved global success as a Grammy-winning, multi-platinum selling act before disbanding in 1985.
“The first two Men At Work records went crazy,” Colin reflects. “And when you have success like that, the dust never really settles. I learned only through time and experience, not to compete with my past, but embrace it, and let it live with me…. not in the main house of course, but in the casita down the back yard.”
Responding to demand, Colin Hay and Greg Ham continued to tour the world as Men At Work from 1996 into the 2000s. Sadly, Greg Ham passed away in 2012. Founding member Colin Hay has developed a solo career over the last 35 years, writing, recording, and touring extensively throughout the world as a solo artist. He is presently part of Ringo Starr’s All Starr Band.
Since 2019, he has also toured and played under the Men At Work banner with his formidably talented group of LA based musicians, where he plays an exclusively Men At Work set, including all the hits and dearly loved songs which have clearly stood the test of time.
“My favourite Men At Work tour was the summer of 1981, when our stars were in ascension, and we hugged the coast of eastern Australia, and the west from memory. I very much look forward to returning, 45 years on, to join the Red Hot Summer Tour 2026, to share the stage with old friends and new, and play those songs again, for all those who want to hear them!”
Formed in Perth in the early 2000’s, Birds of Tokyo have grown from independent roots to become one of Australia’s most popular contemporary rock bands.
Since their 2008 breakthrough Universes, all five of the group’s albums have reached the ARIA top 3 including two #1 hits: March Fires (2013) and Human Design (2021). Classic songs like Good Lord, Plans, Lanterns, Two Of Us, Brace and Unbreakable have all been top 10 airplay hits and more than seventy of their tracks have featured on Triple J, making them one of the National Youth Broadcaster’s three most played artists of this millennium. The band has also won the APRA Award for “Most Performed Rock/Alternative Work” on a record setting six separate occasions.
Epic live shows have always been at the core of their appeal. Birds Of Tokyo have played major festivals from Splendour In The Grass & Falls to Red Hot Summer and they have appeared as special guests for superstars like Muse, Midnight Oil, Cold Chisel, Incubus and Bon Jovi. In recent years the band has toured across Australia with the country’s most prestigious Symphony Orchestras drawing unanimous critical acclaim and selling out three nights each at the Sydney Opera House and Melbourne’s Hamer Hall.
Vika & Linda are two of Australia’s most celebrated and enduring voices who have captivated Australian audiences with their powerful harmonies and magnetic stage presence. From their Tongan roots singing in church to global tours with The Black Sorrows, the sisters have released nine studio albums, topped charts, written an autobiography, and collaborated with legends like Paul Kelly and Kasey Chambers. Inducted into the ARIA Hall of Fame and awarded the OAM for their service to music, Vika & Linda are revered for their genre-spanning versatility and soul-stirring performances. With enduring influence and boundless energy, they remain one of Australia’s most treasured and trailblazing vocal duos.
Their stunning new album, Where Do You Come From? is a record that marks the sisters’ emergence as powerful songwriters in their own right, it is the most personal and revealing body of work in their nearly four-decade career. After a lifetime of lending their voices to the stories of others, this record marks a moment of stepping forward, the sisters telling their own story in full; a widescreen work that spans identity, ancestry, motherhood, ageing, grief, joy, and the grounding presence of water.
As Eskimo Joe enter their 29th year, there are no signs of slowing down. With their latest single Miracle Cure gaining huge radio support nation-wide and the band continuing to remain one of Australia’s favourite live bands, Eskimo Joe are still as vital as ever.
Their countless worldwide shows, 6 studio albums, 35 ARIA nominations for 8 wins and nearing 1 million records sold are among the plethora of achievements that the band continues to add to. Their songs have become staples of Australian radio, and their live performances, from packed festival stages to intimate theatre shows, continue to captivate audiences with their power, precision, and emotional honesty.
Three decades on, Eskimo Joe remain one of Australia’s most loved and enduring bands; a testament to the staying power of great songs, true friendship, and the undeniable magic of music.
These here are crazy times. But Boom Crash Opera is one band you can rely upon. The producer of their debut album told them: “The most important thing a group can do is stay together. Keep it together and you can do anything you want.”
Boom Crash Opera took those words to heart, proudly becoming one of Australia’s most-loved bands, with 13 Top 50 singles and five Top 50 albums. As founding member Peter Farnan says, “We sounded like our name.” It’s an intoxicating mix of indie pop and stadium rock, with unforgettable hits such as Great Wall, Hands Up In The Air, City Flat, Onion Skin, Get Out Of The House, The Best Thing and Dancing In The Storm. Nearly four decades after the band began, the start of Onion Skin remains an irresistible rallying cry: Keep it in! Cut it out! Kick it out!
With a magnetic stage presence, dynamic vocals and unmistakable offbeat charm, Ella Hooper is one of Australia’s most beloved — and delightfully unpredictable — performers. As frontwoman of rock phenomenon Killing Heidi, Ella became the first woman and youngest-ever recipient of APRA’s Songwriter of the Year award and has a swag of ARIA Awards to her name. A full-spectrum entertainer, she’s also a familiar face on Australian TV and radio, proving her mettle on shows like Spicks & Specks and RocKwiz. Now firmly in her solo era, Ella is embracing a rich country/Americana sound infused with heart, humour and a distinctly regional flavour. Ella Hooper is a captivating live performer not to be missed.
RED HOT SUMMER TOUR DATES 2026:
Saturday 17th October
Queens Park, Toowoomba QLD
Sunday 18th October
Sandstone Point Hotel, Sandstone Point QLD
Saturday 24th October
Berry Showground, Berry NSW
Sunday 25th October
Keirle Park, Manly NSW
Saturday 31st October
Roche Estate, Hunter Valley NSW
Sunday 1st November
Coolangatta Beach, Coolangatta QLD
Saturday 7th November
Victoria Park, Ballarat VIC
Sunday 8 th November
Mornington Racecourse, Mornington VIC
Saturday 14th November
Sandalford Wines, Swan Valley WA
Sunday 15th November
Glenelg Beach, Glenelg SA
Telstra Presale:
Monday 22nd June 9.00am > Tuesday 23rd June 9.00am (local time)
Telstra Plus members get exclusive Red Hot Summer Tour access plus $20 off for the first Early Bird GA tickets purchased.
Visit Telstra Plus for more information
Red Hot Summer Tour Presale:
Tuesday 23rd June 10.00am > Wednesday 24th June 10.00am (local time)
General Public on sale:
Thursday 25th June 9.00am (local time)
Tickets are available at:
www.redhotsummertour.com.au
