AusLeisure

Returning to Australia and New Zealand for the third time in five years, legendary rock act Bruce Springsteen and the E Street Band have announced a series of dates across Australasia in early 2017.

Their first tour since the sellout 2014 run will include a mixture of arena and stadium shows, as well as performances at the Hope Estate Winery in the NSW Hunter Valley and the picturesque Mount Macedo venue at Victoria’s Hanging Rock.

The tour’s New Zealand dates have particular significance as they will include a concert at Christchurch’s AMI Stadium on Tuesday 21st February.

Vbase General Manager, Darren Burden says Springsteen’s first and only South Island concert, expected to attract a crowd of 30,000, will be a huge boost for the city.

Burden explains “it’s something promoter Frontier Touring has been working hard to make happen with Vbase.

“We are gearing up for a major production which will not only benefit local music and entertainment industry suppliers, but also boost the city’s hospitality industry by bringing thousands of extra visitors to Christchurch.”

Christchurch Mayor Lianne Dalziel is delighted the city will host the music legend in February next year, adding “(Springsteen) will be here at a very significant time for Christchurch, the week we mark the sixth anniversary of the 2011 earthquake. Our city is full of people who share his passion and energy, and we can assure him of a very warm welcome.”

Bruce Springsteen and the E Street Band last performed for New Zealanders in Auckland in March 2014, where Springsteen dedicated a song to Christchurch. His song 'My City of Ruins' struck a chord with many after the Canterbury quakes.

Frontier Touring’s Michael Gudinski, the promoter responsible for the tour, has been working closely with Vbase to confirm the legendary artist’s tour date.

Gudinski stated “I know it will mean a lot for the city and I'm sure the people of Christchurch and the South Island are going to make Mr Springsteen and the E Street Band feel very much at home.”

Having performed performed two sold-out shows at Auckland’s Mt Smart Stadium in 2014, demand is expected to be high for Springsteen’s return to Auckland on Saturday 25th February 2017.

The announcement adds to what is already shaping as one of Auckland’s busiest outdoor concert seasons, says Paul Nisbet, Director Auckland Stadiums, which is a business unit of Regional Facilities Auckland (RFA).

Nisbet said the announcement follows bookings for Coldplay’s Head Full of Dreams Tour (Saturday 3rd December 2016 at Mt Smart Stadium); Guns N’ Roses Not in this Lifetime Tour (Saturday 4th February 2017 at Western Springs); and Auckland City Limits (Saturday 11th March 2017 at Western Springs).

Nisbet explained “our venues have been among the busiest outdoor concert venues in the Asia-Pacific region in recent years, which demonstrates the demand for international stadium shows in Auckland and the versatility of our facilities.

“Over the summer of 2015/16, our venues hosted around 190,000 fans at outdoor concerts and we expect we will overtake that in 2016/17.”

Joining The Boss at all shows, aside from Adelaide and Perth, will be Australian rockers Jet - who are reforming especially for the tour - as well as Diesel for the Hanging Rock and Hunter Valley dates and Marlon Williams for the pair of scheduled New Zealand shows.

Bruce Springsteen and the E Street Band Australia/New Zealand Tour

Wednesday 25th January: Perth Arena
Monday 30th January: Adelaide Entertainment Centre
Thursday 2nd February: AAMI Park, Melbourne
Tuesday 7th February: QUDOS Bank Arena, Sydney
Saturday 11th February: Mt Macedo, Hanging Rock
Tuesday 14th February: Brisbane Entertainment Centre
Saturday 18th February: Hope Estate, Hunter Valley
Tuesday 21st February: AMI Stadium, Christchurch
Saturday 25th February: Mt Smart Stadium, Auckland

Tickets for all shows on sale from Friday 23rd September.

For full tour information go to www.frontiertouring.com/brucespringsteen

Lower image: Concert crowd at Auckland's Mt Smart Stadium, courtesy of Regional Facilities Auckland.

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