Declan Kelly Unveils 'Diesel 'N' Dub' Album + Tour Plans

Just-announced AWME drawcard Declan Kelly is backing up the announcement of his inclusion in that annual showcase event with the release of his Diesel ‘N’ Dub tribute album and the revelation of a string of tour dates in October and November to support the record.

The tour, which along with the album is named for the reggae/dub vibes that permeate the release – a reimagining of Midnight Oil’s seminal 1987 full-length, Diesel And Dust – gets under way on the NSW Central Coast, at The Rhythm Hutt, on Friday, October 17, and takes the esteemed singer-songwriter up and down the east coast as he travels through Sydney, Melbourne and Brisbane, before heading to The Majestic Theatre, on the Sunshine Coast, on Saturday, November 29, for the tour’s (current) final date.

Additional dates and support acts for the tour are yet to be announced, so don’t be too upset if there’s not yet a show in your vicinity – you might yet be in luck.

If it ends up that Kelly won’t be rolling close to your hood, you can always pick up the album, which drops today instore and online via newly formed label Diaspora Music/MGM. Mixed by Mad Professor, Diesel ‘N’ Dub sees guest appearances from a who’s who of Kelly’s contemporaries, including Emma Donovan (The Dead Heart), Frank Yamma and Pat Powell (Beds Are Burning), Katie Noonan (Power And The Passion), Alex Lloyd (Armistice Day), Radical Son (Short Memory), Stiff Gins (Read About It), Tony Hughes (King Of The Mountain), Tina Harrod (Put Down That Weapon), and Stu Fergie (Yidaki Dub).

A portion of proceeds from the album will go to the Indigenous Literacy Foundation, with the release coming in recognition of this week’s National Indigenous Literacy Day. In addition, the tour itself is the recipient of a presentation and promotion grant courtesy of the Australia Council For The Arts, which goes to show that from performers to industry bodies alike, pretty much everyone who has encountered the Diesel ‘N’ Dub project has seen its incredible value.

You can do so too, either by buying the album or a ticket to one of the tour shows – they go up for sale from this Friday, September 12. For a full rundown of dates, venues and ticketing information, check the Gig Guide or see The Music App.