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TINA ARENA & RICHARD MARX ANNOUNCE ADDITIONAL SHOWS

Face to Face Touring are thrilled to announce additional shows with Australian music icon Tina Arena live in concert alongside co-headline Grammy-winning singer, songwriter, producer and cultural touchstone, Richard Marx. They will be performing with special guests including Oz music legends Daryl Braithwaite, Kate Ceberano, Southern Sons, and 1927.

This live music experience will be dazzling, with a star-studded line-up and stacks of beloved hits performed live and under the stars. Get ready for a spectacular endless summer night of live music that will make memories.

Tina Arena is one of Australia’s highest selling artists of all time, selling more than 10 million albums worldwide. Her landmark second solo album Don’t Ask was released in 1994 which included one of her biggest hit singles to date Chains. The song cemented Tina Arena’s status as a powerhouse in the global music landscape with its hauntingly crafted lyrics and emotionally charged vocals that only she can deliver. The album has become one of Australia’s biggest selling of all time. It gained ten x ARIA Award nominations and won five including ‘Album of the Year’.

Richard Marx is a prolific singer, songwriter and producer whose career spans four decades long and boasts an extensive list of accolades. He has sold more than 30 million albums worldwide and to this day, remains the only male artist in history to have his first seven singles reach the Top 5 on the Billboard charts. Over the course of his stellar career, hehas written and produced hits for a roster of artists that include Keith Urban, Hugh Jackman, Josh Groban, Barbara Streisand, Kenny Rogers, *NSYNC and Luther Vandross, of which he and Vandross won a Grammy Award for Song of the Year for Dance With My Father.

Richard Marx’ influence remains steadfast in popular culture today, having written, performed and released countless worldwide No. 1 albums. These include the self-titled debut Richard Marx, as well as Repeat Offender and Rush Street, all of which have spawned massive hits such as Hold On To The Night, Should Have Known Better, Don’t Mean Nothing, Endless Summer Nights, Satisfied, Right Here Waiting, Keep Coming Back and Hazard. Over the decades, these songs became staple tracks that continue to dominate airwaves globally and in turn, have stood the test of time. Marx has achieved a seven-year string of triumphs that rivalled any in pop-rock music history.

Daryl Braithwaite is an iconic Australian singer/songwriter and ARIA Hall Of Fame Inductee. As the frontman and vocalist for the 1970s band Sherbet, Braithwaite rode a wave of local and international success with songs such as Howzat and Summer Love propelling the band to superstar status.

Braithwaite went on to embark on a highly successful solo career which included a No. 1 ARIA Album Chart for his album Edge (1988), featuring the hit singles As The Days Go By and One Summer. Braithwaite’s 1990 follow-up album Rise included the single The Horses which reached No. 1 on the ARIA Singles Chart and to this day remains an anthem for generations of Australians. In 2020, he joined a host of local and international artists to perform at Fire Fight Australia, Concert For National Bushfire Relief in front of an audience in excess of 70,000 at Sydney’s ANZ Stadium.

Iconic artist Kate Ceberano has been electrifying stages with her presence for over four decades. 11 platinum and 8 gold albums, 10 Top 10 albums, 15 Top 40 singles, 3 Countdown awards, 5 ARIA awards from 20 nominations (9 X for Best Female Artist) and over 6000 live performances.

I’m Talking’s platinum debut, Bear Witness, brought Kate‘s jaw-dropping voice to national attention via their five Top 20 singles and is enshrined among Rolling Stone’s Top 200 Australian Albums of all time. There’s her record-breaking run with John Farnham in Jesus Christ Superstar, her triple Platinum smash debut solo pop album Brave, her Platinum selling jazz album You’ve Always Got The Blues, her 2014 induction into the Australian Songwriters’ Hall of Fame, Kate was a force of nature from day one. Kate Ceberano. Australian entertainment royalty and a bona fide national treasure.

Southern Sons, the iconic band from the 1990s are returning to their roots and revisiting the songs that kickstarted their music careers, bringing music lovers a nostalgic journey through their timeless hits. Original members Jack Jones, Geoff Cain, and Peter ‘Reggie’ Bowman will come together to deliver an unforgettable experience, featuring chart-topping classics like Hold Me In Your Arms and Heart in Danger, among others.

Southern Sons’ debut self-titled album, which received an ARIA nomination, soared to the top of the charts, captivating audiences with hits like Heart in Danger, Hold Me In Your Arms, Always & Ever, and Waiting For That Train. The release of their first single, Heart in Danger, in 1990 solidified their position as a formidable force in the music scene, dominating charts for years to come. Their 1992 album, Nothing But The Truth, continued their streak of success, featuring singles such as Lead me To Water and You Were There. Additionally, three Southern Sons tracks were included in the acclaimed 1993 Sydney Dance Company production of Beauty & The Beast. The band’s third and final studio album, Zone, released in 1996, showcased a guest appearance by Men At Work’s Colin Hay on the lead single, Don’t Tell Me What’s Right.

Way before Australian Idol and The Voice existed, a wily kid named Eric Weideman was talent-spotted after a scorching performance on Red Faces for Hey Hey It’s Saturday! Weideman teamed up with former Moving Pictures songwriter Garry Frost, his brother Bill Frost and James Barton to form 1927.

They gigged until they were tight then landed a hit with smoky, rocking chugger That’s When I Think of You. It was the first single taken from debut album …ish (1989), followed by yearning power ballad If I Could, a song that still blindsides you with its vulnerability. They weren’t done, releasing You’ll Never Know and Compulsory Hero, all from …ish which topped the album charts and helped the band win at the 1989 ARIA Awards for Breakthrough Single and Breakthrough Album.

Next came The Other Side (1990) which went to number three on the ARIA Album charts backed by soaring pop hit Tell Me a Story. 1927 disbanded and things went quiet, but the music remained until 2009 when there was a demand for 1927, people wanted to hear them play those jams live. The demographic of the band has changed and developed. The songs have managed to reach a new generation of music fans – punters who know greatness when they hear it.

TINA ARENA & RICHARD MARX
DON’T ASK…AGAIN TOUR 2024

Saturday 23rd November

Seppeltsfield Wines, Barossa Valley SA

***Full line-up***

Tickets available at Ticketmaster

Saturday 30th November

Sandstone Point Hotel, Sandstone Point QLD

***Full line-up***

Tickets avalable at Ticketmaster

Saturday 7th December

Mornington Racecourse, Mornington VIC

***Show already announced and on-sale***
Presented by ALWAYS S LIVE and Face To Face Touring

Tickets at Ticketmaster

Monday 9th December

Sydney Opera House Forecourt, Sydney NSW

***This show features Tina Arena & Richard Marx only***

Tickets available at Sydney Opera House

Pre-Sale:

Friday 23rd August 10:00am – Monday 26th August 9:00am local time

General Public On Sale:

Monday 26th August 10:00am local time

For all tickets & tour information, please visit:

www.facetofacetouring.com.au

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TINA ARENA & RICHARD MARX TO CO-HEADLINE MELBOURNE SHOW

TINA ARENA AND RICHARD MARX

TO CO-HEADLINE MELBOURNE SHOW

ALWAYS LIVE and Face to Face Touring are proud to present Australian music icon Tina Arena live in concert alongside co-headline Grammy-winning singer, songwriter, producer and cultural touchstone, Richard Marx. Exclusive to Victoria, they will be performing with special guests including Oz music legends Daryl Braithwaite, Kate Ceberano, Southern Sons, and 1927 at Mornington Racecourse on Saturday 7th December.

Tina Arena is one of Australia’s highest selling artists of all time, selling more than 10 million albums worldwide. Her landmark second solo album Don’t Ask was released in 1994 which included one of her biggest hit singles to date Chains. The song cemented Tina Arena’s status as a powerhouse in the global music landscape with its hauntingly crafted lyrics and emotionally charged vocals that only she can deliver. The album has become one of Australia’s biggest selling of all time. It gained ten x ARIA Award nominations and won five including ‘Album of the Year’.

Richard Marx is a prolific singer, songwriter and producer whose career spans four decades long and boasts an extensive list of accolades. He has sold more than 30 million albums worldwide and to this day, remains the only male artist in history to have his first seven singles reach the Top 5 on the Billboard charts. Over the course of his stellar career, hehas written and produced hits for a roster of artists that include Keith Urban, Hugh Jackman, Josh Groban, Barbara Streisand, Kenny Rogers, *NSYNC and Luther Vandross, of which he and Vandross won a Grammy Award for Song of the Year for Dance With My Father.

Richard Marx’ influence remains steadfast in popular culture today, having written, performed and released countless worldwide No. 1 albums. These include the self-titled debut Richard Marx, as well as Repeat Offender and Rush Street, all of which have spawned massive hits such as Hold On To The Night, Should Have Known Better, Don’t Mean Nothing, Endless Summer Nights, Satisfied, Right Here Waiting, Keep Coming Back and Hazard. Over the decades, these songs became staple tracks that continue to dominate airwaves globally and in turn, have stood the test of time. Marx has achieved a seven-year string of triumphs that rivalled any in pop-rock music history.

Daryl Braithwaite is an iconic Australian singer/songwriter and ARIA Hall Of Fame Inductee. As the frontman and vocalist for the 1970s band Sherbet, Braithwaite rode a wave of local and international success with songs such as Howzat and Summer Love propelling the band to superstar status.

Braithwaite went on to embark on a highly successful solo career which included a No. 1 ARIA Album Chart for his album Edge (1988), featuring the hit singles As The Days Go By and One Summer. Braithwaite’s 1990 follow-up album Rise included the single The Horses which reached No. 1 on the ARIA Singles Chart and to this day remains an anthem for generations of Australians. In 2020, he joined a host of local and international artists to perform at Fire Fight Australia, Concert For National Bushfire Relief in front of an audience in excess of 70,000 at Sydney’s ANZ Stadium.

Iconic artist Kate Ceberano has been electrifying stages with her presence for over four decades. 11 platinum and 8 gold albums, 10 Top 10 albums, 15 Top 40 singles, 3 Countdown awards, 5 ARIA awards from 20 nominations (9 X for Best Female Artist) and over 6000 live performances.

I’m Talking’s platinum debut, Bear Witness, brought Kate‘s jaw-dropping voice to national attention via their five Top 20 singles and is enshrined among Rolling Stone’s Top 200 Australian Albums of all time. There’s her record-breaking run with John Farnham in Jesus Christ Superstar, her triple Platinum smash debut solo pop album Brave, her Platinum selling jazz album You’ve Always Got The Blues, her 2014 induction into the Australian Songwriters’ Hall of Fame, Kate was a force of nature from day one. Kate Ceberano. Australian entertainment royalty and a bona fide national treasure.

Southern Sons, the iconic band from the 1990s are returning to their roots and revisiting the songs that kickstarted their music careers, bringing music lovers a nostalgic journey through their timeless hits. Original members Jack Jones, Geoff Cain, and Peter ‘Reggie’ Bowman will come together to deliver an unforgettable experience, featuring chart-topping classics like Hold Me In Your Arms and Heart in Danger, among others.

Southern Sons’ debut self-titled album, which received an ARIA nomination, soared to the top of the charts, captivating audiences with hits like Heart in Danger, Hold Me In Your Arms, Always & Ever, and Waiting For That Train. The release of their first single, Heart in Danger, in 1990 solidified their position as a formidable force in the music scene, dominating charts for years to come. Their 1992 album, Nothing But The Truth, continued their streak of success, featuring singles such as Lead me To Water and You Were There. Additionally, three Southern Sons tracks were included in the acclaimed 1993 Sydney Dance Company production of Beauty & The Beast. The band’s third and final studio album, Zone, released in 1996, showcased a guest appearance by Men At Work’s Colin Hay on the lead single, Don’t Tell Me What’s Right.

Way before Australian Idol and The Voice existed, a wily kid named Eric Weideman was talent-spotted after a scorching performance on Red Faces for Hey Hey It’s Saturday! Weideman teamed up with former Moving Pictures songwriter Garry Frost, his brother Bill Frost and James Barton to form 1927.

They gigged until they were tight then landed a hit with smoky, rocking chugger That’s When I Think of You. It was the first single taken from debut album …ish (1989), followed by yearning power ballad If I Could, a song that still blindsides you with its vulnerability. They weren’t done, releasing You’ll Never Know and Compulsory Hero, all from …ish which topped the album charts and helped the band win at the 1989 ARIA Awards for Breakthrough Single and Breakthrough Album.

Next came The Other Side (1990) which went to number three on the ARIA Album charts backed by soaring pop hit Tell Me a Story. 1927 disbanded and things went quiet, but the music remained until 2009 when there was a demand for 1927, people wanted to hear them play those jams live. The demographic of the band has changed and developed. The songs have managed to reach a new generation of music fans – punters who know greatness when they hear it.

This event is part of ALWAYS LIVE, a 17-day state-wide celebration of contemporary live music supported by the Victorian Government through Visit Victoria. From Australia’s hottest emerging artists to the international and Australian acts you know and love, memorable Music Moments are made each year with ALWAYS LIVE, only in Victoria, November 22 – December 8, 2024. Program out now – visit alwayslive.com.au for program and ticket details with more to come!

TINA ARENA & RICHARD MARX
‘DON’T ASK…AGAIN 2024’

Saturday 7th December

Mornington Racecourse, Mornington VIC

Pre-Sale:

Friday 16th August 10:00am AEST – Monday 19th August 9:00am AEST

General Public On Sale:

Monday 19th August 10:00am AEST

Tickets at Ticketmaster

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Gig ReviewsReviews

[Review] Richard Marx @ NEX, Newcastle 01/03/2023

Back in 1987, when Saturday morning tv was filled with the latest music videos, a handsome young man appeared on the screen. He was the epitome of a late 1980s pop star with a flowing mane cut into a designer mullet and the voice of an angel. Young women’s hearts melted for this lad (including mine), but he was so much more than just another pretty face, he had real talent, too. Single after single reached the Top 10, and this success followed through into the 1990s (and beyond). Even grunge couldn’t dim this man’s star. And to this day, he is the only male artist to have written songs that have reached the number 1 position over the past 4 decades. A song of the year Grammy Award winner in 2004, Triple Platinum status, in excess of 30 Million in record sales, 26 Top 20 singles, 17 Top 10, 14 Number 1s, this man is a powerhouse. So when I woke up to the news that I was going to be attending his concert in Newcastle (my hometown) tonight, I was more than just a bit excited. What a way to start the month! 

Introducing Mr Richard Marx, an Adult Contemporary Pop-Rock American Singer / Songwriter / Musician / Producer. He has written and co-written hit songs for artists like Kenny Rogers, Nsync, Luther Vandross and our very own, Keith Urban, as well as a slew of chart-toppers of his own.

Arriving at the NEX complex in Newcastle, NSW, the line to enter was long due to this concert being sold out, but the staff did their best to get us all inside and seated quickly and efficiently for an 8pm sharp start. 

Right on time the support act entered the stage, acoustic guitar slung across his body. He introduced himself as Dandelion Head, otherwise known as J Blynn, an American, now Melbourne-based guitarist / singer / songwriter who was recently a featured artist on Rage. 

J is also Richard Marx’ guitarist. As Dandelion Head, he played a 5 song acoustic set including his latest song, Sad Eyes

Then it was a quick outfit change and he returned to the stage with a drummer, bass guitarist and Mr Richard Marx himself, in tow. Showtime!

The main event started with a video montage of Richards achievements, and then the band opened with a song from the latest album, Songwriter, titled Believe In Me, which led into Rush Street hit, Take This Heart, followed by Endless Summer Nights. At this point a lady from the audience approached the stage in front of Marx, holding a sign saying that it was her birthday and could she get a selfie with him. He obliged happily, also signing the album cover she handed him. He told the crowd that he got into the music business to get attention so please take photos and videos, upload them to you tube and social media, do whatever makes you happy, this is your night. Then he crooned the popular ballad, Angelia. Marx then introduced Same Heartbreak, Different Day, telling the audience that it is a special song to him as he co-wrote it with his second son, Lucas, it’s from the latest album and then Marx remained on stage while his band left. He explained that he had written a song for his 2014 album Now And Forever The Ballads that all 3 of his sons had individually told him that they liked, so he had asked them to play this song for this tour via a video recording. He spoke proudly of his talented sons and then a video of them playing When You Loved Me began while Marx accompanied on guitar and sang the song. Afterwards he stopped to take a sip of a strange lemon concoction drink and told another amusing story this time about Canadian singer Bryan Adams and this same drink which apparently is great for singers but also is used as a detox. The crowd laughed and next up were hit songs Too Late To Say Goodbye, which Richard suddenly added to the setlist on the fly – I guess he felt this audience was a Repeat Offender kinda crowd. Following that he played Hold On To The Nights, and Now and Forever. Richard stopped to chat with the crowd again, telling us how he had co-written one of Keith Urban’s popular songs and had worked with American Boy Band, Nsync in the early 2000s, which was the segway into him playing Long Hot Summer by Urban and This I Promise You by Nsync. The set closed out with Marx’ ode about the music industry, Don’t Mean Nothing.

The band left the stage and the crowd clapped and called for an encore. I mentally counted at least half a dozen more “hits” that were yet to be played so I waited for the band to return. First up was a song from the 2020 album, Limitless, accompanied by a video montage clip of Richard and his wife, Daisy Fuentes. The sweet and romantic Front Row Seat.  Marx introduced the popular chart topping, Hazard accompanied by the original video clip being played on the screen, moving seamlessly into Satisfied where the audience sang along loudly as Marx asked us to sing back to him. Should’ve Known Better got the crowd up and out of their seats and dancing in the aisle and singing along. Then it was time for the final song of the night, Marx sat at the keyboard and began to play Right Here Waiting, everyone was singing along with him, not wanting this night to end.

Richard Marx is an artist who knows and understands his fanbase. He’s here to promote his new album, Songwriter, released on September 30, 2022, but he also knows we’ve all come along to hear certain “hits” and he doesn’t disappoint. During the show, people in the audience yelled out thank yous, cheers and encouragement as Richard entertained, performing a cracking setlist made up of fan favourites from the 1987 debut Self Titled album right through to 1994s Paid Vacation and peppered the setlist with some newer content, engaging with the audience by telling funny anecdotes, using self-deprecating humour about ageing, and heartwarming stories about his family. His show included several video montages that included his family which added to the presentation while also telling the story of the songs. Marx spoke often during the show, regaleing the audience with stories and mentioning his Australian friends Keith Urban and John Farnham, and wishing his old friend well. Richard Marx fans are their fans, too and Marx is savvy enough to realise that and elicits the response he desired. Connection made. His main audience are fellow GenXers who have grown up, and older, with Marx, they “get” him. The whole vibe of the night felt different to most other shows I’ve attended. It was pretty low key, laid back, and relaxed, a safe space. Maybe that’s just Newcastle, maybe it was the 75/25 female to male ratio audience, but I believe that it also had a lot to do with Richard and his band.  And hearing these old songs again, it felt like a familiar place, a warm hug from my past, from a simpler time, come to revisit. 24 hours later and I’m still smiling at the new memories of last night, and getting to share this experience with my brother made it even more special to me. He loved the show, too.

Marx is the original Mr Nice Guy, he playfully accepted wolf whistles from the audience with good humour, obliged a fan with a selfie and autograph during the show, and encouraged everyone to have a good time, and to sing loudly with him. You go to a Richard Marx show to have a fun time and you get it – in spades, walking away at the end of the night with a big ole smile on your face. And it’s not just Marx that brings that joy, his band clearly love their job. They smile the whole time they are performing, it’s a contagious happiness.

The only real downside to the night was that it ended after about 2 hours of pure enjoyment and entertainment. It’s no wonder that this entire tour is sold out. I am definitely going to the concert the next time Richard Marx hits our shores again. 

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