[MUSIC INTERVIEW] JAMES – 2026 Australian Tour Interview
With over 30 million albums sold across a storied career, JAMES are amongst the most commercially and artistically successful bands of their era. They return to Australia and New Zealand for the first time since 2018 performing all the songs their iconic album ‘Laid’ plus a career-spanning set featuring greatest hits and deep cuts.
The highly influential English band formed in Manchester in 1982. Known for frontman Tim Booth’s enigmatic vocals, introspective lyrics, and fearless spirit of genre experimentation, they are key figures in the legendary ‘Madchester’ scene.
JAMES achieved massive success with anthems including ‘Sit Down’, ‘Getting Away With It (All Messed Up)’ and ‘Laid’. The band celebrated their 40th anniversary in 2023 and released their 18th album ‘Yummy’ in 2024 which reached #1 in the UK Albums Chart, their first studio album to do so. The album as described by MOJO: “after 18 LPs and over four interrupted decades at the coalface, James are still re-inventing themselves”.
The band release a documentary detailing their whole career directed by Chris Atkins (Who killed the KLF, James Blunt: One Brit Wonder) this August.
James October 2026 Australian and NZ Tour Dates
Thursday 8th October – Red Hill Auditorium, PERTH
Saturday 10th October – Margaret Court Arena, MELBOURNE
Sunday 11th October – Hordern Pavilion, SYDNEY
Tuesday 13th October – Fortitude Music Hall, BRISBANE
Thursday 15th October – Civic Theatre, AUCKLAND, NZ (James Only)
Tickets:
Pre-sales: Tuesday 30th June at 9:00AM Local
General Public On Sale: Thursday 2nd July at 9:00AM Local
Sign Up for Pre-sale: destroyalllines.com/tours/
This week we spoke to band about the tour. You can take a listen to the interview right here: