Rob Potts Entertainment Edge, Chugg Entertainment and Foxtel’s Country Music Channel (CMC) are thrilled to announce that American superstar TOBY KEITH will be making his first ever concert appearances in Australia in 2014, bringing his Hammer Down Under Tour to Australia for a series of massive arena concerts next March. Keith will also headline the 2014 CMC Rocks the Hunter festival at the Hope Estate in NSW’s beautiful Hunter Valley.
Joining Keith on the tour will be special guest international stars ELI YOUNG BAND (USA) and KELLIE PICKLER (USA).
CEO of Entertainment Edge, Rob Potts said, “The Outlaws of country music have always been huge with Aussie fans. No surprise this country started out as a convict settlement. So we know why the fans are so excited about Toby’s first ever tour here. They love his larrikin outlaw attitude and the fact that he doesn’t take himself too seriously. We’re super excited to have him touring in March and know the fans will go wild when he rolls out his incredible catalogue of hits. It’s also terrific to welcome back Eli Young Band and to have Kellie Pickler on her first visit down under”
Executive Chairman of Chugg Entertainment, Michael Chugg said, “Toby Keith is one of the biggest artists in modern country music. We’ve been hearing about his rowdy, rockin’ live show in this country for many years. One of the biggest songwriters in any genre, Aussie audiences have really connected with his irreverent humour. We still think “he’s as good as he once was”- and with three international heavyweights on one bill, this is going to be the country tour of the year – my mate Jimmy Buffett said he is not to be missed!”
Singer/songwriter TOBY KEITH is one of the most consistently successful artists in country music history, with over 35 million album sales and 31 US No. 1 singles in two decades of recording, including Should’ve Been A Cowboy, How Do You Like Me Now?!, Beer For My Horses, I Love This Bar, As Good As I Once Was and Red Solo Cup. Winner of multiple CMA, ACM and American Music Awards, the Billboard Country Artist of the Decade is renowned throughout the globe for his swaggering party songs, soulful ballads and rowdy, high-energy live performances. Toby will also be performing songs from his new album, Drinks After Work, which will be released in Australia on 1 November, 2013.
The ELI YOUNG BAND honed their skills as an Eagles-esque live force in the Texas Red Dirt scene, building up an enviable fan following, before breaking into the mainstream country scene with their album, Level, in 2005. The Southern quartet blew us away in 2012 on their first trip down under and they’ve since moved into an even higher gear, with hits including the monster smash Crazy Girl, Even If It Breaks Your Heart and their latest release, Drunk Last Night.
Since rocketing to fame on American Idol, KELLIE PICKLER has been charming the public with her inimitable twang, cheeky charisma and powerful country pipes. Her hits include Red High Heels, I Wonder, Don’t You Know You’re Beautiful and Best Days of Your Life, and she has run the gamut from soul-baring vulnerability to girl power anthems and she constantly reaches for more honest, powerful and dynamic ways to tell her story. The CMT Music Award winner and ACM and CMA nominee, Pickler has also triumphed on television, as the 2013 winner of the US Dancing with the Stars.