'Weird Al' Yankovic Announces 2023 Australian Tour

"Weird Al" Yankovic has announced his return to Australia with The Unfortunate Return Of The Ridiculously Self-Indulgent, Ill-Advised Vanity Tour. The shows promise intimate evenings of musical comedy, focusing on original, non-parody songs from his 14-album catalogue.

The tour removes the high-octane, big-production show "Weird Al" usually puts on in favour of something smaller. His original band of four decades will accompany the five-time Grammy winner on their first visit to Australia in eight years. 

The Unfortunate Return tour begins in Melbourne on Friday, 10 March 2023, at the Palais Theatre. "Weird Al" and co. then head to Adelaide's Norwood Concert Hall on Monday, 13 March, Sydney on Wednesday, 15 March, at the Enmore Theatre, Perth's Astor Theatre on Saturday, 18 March, and ending the run at the QPAC Concert Hall in Brisbane on Monday, 20 March.

"Weird Al" Yankovic is the highest-selling comedy artist of all time. His 2014 release, Mandatory Fun, was the first comedy album ever to debut at #1 on Billboard's Top 200. He is one of only three artists who have had their own Top 40 singles in the last four decades, the others being Michael Jackson and Madonna. 

Joining "Weird Al" on tour is his longtime friend and fellow comedian, Emo Philips. Philips has performed over 7000 stand-up comedy shows worldwide, including a two-week theatre run in London’s West End. Career highlights include his acclaimed comedy album E=MO Squared, and the hour-long HBO special Emo Philips Live At The Hasty Pudding Theatre. 

Pre-sale tickets go on sale Thursday, 1 December, at 11 am local time via TEG Dainty. The general sale begins on Friday, 2 December, at 11 am local time.

This year, "Weird Al" has experienced the biopic treatment in Weird: The Al Yankovic Story. Yankovic stated at the start of the year: "When my last movie, UHF, came out in 1989, I made a solemn vow to my fans that I would release a major motion picture every 33 years, like clockwork.

"And I am absolutely thrilled that Daniel Radcliffe will be portraying me in the film. I have no doubt whatsoever that this is the role future generations will remember him for.”

On being approached by Yankovic, Appel said: "When Weird Al first sat me down against my will and told me his life story, I didn’t believe any of it, but I knew that we had to make a movie about it.”

Weird: The Al Yankovic Story was co-produced by Adam McKay and Will Ferrell's company, Funny Or Die.

"WEIRD AL" YANKOVIC

The Unfortunate Return Of The Ridiculously Self-Indulgent, Ill-Advised Vanity 2023 Australian Tour

TOUR DATES

Friday, 10 March - Palais Theatre, Melbourne

Monday, 13 March - Norwood Music Hall, Adelaide

Wednesday, 15 March - Enmore Theatre, Sydney

Saturday, 18 March - Astor Theatre, Perth

Monday, 20 March - QPAC Concert Hall, Brisbane

Purchase tickets here.