John Farnham clarifies he never retired as he adds more concerts

JOHN Farnham insists he never retired as he continues to sell out shows at age 69.

Trolls continue to argue Farnham’s The Last Time tour in 2002 (named after an album) was his farewell tour.

Rather, Farnham said the stress of national arena tours led him to take a break. In the last five years he has found a new — and increasingly younger — audience at outdoor festivals.

“I never said I was going to retire, I just said I was never going to do those big (indoor) venues again under my own steam,” Farnham clarified.

“I used to find it really stressful, I didn’t want to push it and wind up playing to crickets and frogs, so I slowed down for a few years.”

Farnham sold all 12,000 tickets to his first A Day on the Green show at Rochford Wines in under an hour. He has announced a second show on Sunday December 9, again joined by Daryl Braithwaite, Richard Marx, Russell Morris and Bachelor Girl. Tickets go on sale 10am tomorrow

He will also headline three NSW and SA regional Red Hot Summer Tour shows next April, with Vanessa Amorosi joining the all-Australian bill.

This is his third straight summer playing A Day on the Green and Red Hot Summer Tour outdoor shows, as well as being a drawcard for the lucrative luxury cruise ship concert circuit.

“I usually like to go fishing over summer and I haven’t been able to fish for the last three years, (manager Glenn) Wheatley keeps getting me work! There’s a lot of barramundi up in far North Queensland who never want to see me again.

“But I’m surprised at how busy I am. I’m enjoying it more than ever, or at least as much as I ever have. The outdoor shows are amazing. They tell me the audiences are getting younger and younger too, which is great.”

Exclusive: John Farnham on the 30th anniversary of his No. 1 hit single Age of Reason
Farnham is still working on a new album, which will be his first original set since 2010.

“I’m looking for material for a new album at the moment and I’m getting songs that are a bit too young, lyrically. I’m 69, I need grown up songs.

“I’m going to record some of the really bloody good songs I’ve got in from some people whose names I can’t mention. But frankly, it’s difficult. Unless I can put some good strong songs together I don’t want an album with fillers on it. I’m sourcing songs from all over the world and the top writers aren’t going to give their best songs to me, they’ll give them to someone who’s going to sell 10 million albums. But I have got some beauties, I just need to find some more.”

The Red Hot Summer Tour shows will be Vanessa Amorosi’s first Australian gigs in over five years.

Now based in LA and working with Dave Stewart (Eurythmics), Amorosi will release a new album in early 2019.

She has just released a cover of Gnarls Barkley’s Crazy with producer Robin Lynch.

John Farnham, Daryl Braithwaite, Richard Marx, Russell Morris, Bachelor Girl — A Day on the Green, Leconfield Wines November 24, Bimbagden December 1, Sirromet Wines December 2, Rochford Wines December 8,9. Tickets on sale now

John Farnham, Daryl Braithwaite, Jon Stevens, Vanessa Amorosi, Thirsty Merc, Dragon — Red Hot Summer Tour. Mackay Park Batemans Bay NSW March 23, Bella Vista Farm Baulkham Hills NSW March 30, Old Mount Gambier Gaol, Mount Gambier, SA April 6. Tickets on sale 9am Thursday, Ticketmaster