Paul Kelly Plots One-Off Return To Kings Cross

Paul Kelly

Paul Kelly is celebrating his enduring relationship with the Sydney area of Kings Cross this month, today announcing a one-off show for his return.

Of course, Kings Cross is beyond an area of Sydney for Paul Kelly – it’s part of his artistic mythology, featuring throughout his many songs and stories of intimate gigs and unforgettable characters.

He’s returning on Sunday, 30 August, playing a one-off show at The Potts Point Hotel. On the exterior wall of the venue is a recently completed mural of Kelly, painted by Scottie Marsh.

Along with the show, Kelly has announced that he’s releasing a deluxe edition of last year’s album, Seventy, just two days before his return to Kings Cross.

Fans can secure their chance to attend the one-night-only gig by pre-ordering from the Seventy (Deluxe Edition) range in the singer’s official store or enter an exclusive ballot to win tickets. You can enter the ballot here.

Reflecting on his return to Kings Cross, Kelly said:

I haven’t played in Kings Cross for many years. In the mid to late eighties, we played the Kardomah Café and The Manzil Room quite a few times. The Manzil Room was in the laneway behind The Potts Point Hotel. A wee hours sticky-carpet venue, attracting all the denizens of the night – street workers, bohemians, drug dealers, desperadoes, off work musicians.

 

We’d play three sets, starting around 1am. The painter Brett Whitely sometimes dropped in to hear us. He had some expansive dance moves. My sister Anne, a Loreto nun, dutifully came to see us there once. Now that’s commitment! Maybe she came twice, I don’t remember. There’s a lot I don’t remember, though I do remember staggering out into the dawn light many a time after the last set to head up Darlinghurst Road for bacon and eggs at Una’s Café.

 

Una’s still there but The Manzil is long gone. It’s a block of apartments, now. I wonder if the residents sometimes hear our chattering ghosts, the faint distant throb of our music.

In addition to his return to Kings Cross, Kelly is celebrating the 40th anniversary of his landmark double album, Gossip, with a special 2LP anniversary edition. You can pre-order your copy here.

Upon its release last year, Seventy landed at #2 on the ARIA Albums Chart and followed Kelly’s sold-out arena tour. The Music’s Tyler Jenke described it as “arguably one of the year’s finest records.”