Visiting Australia is starting to become a habit for the Zac Brown Band.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
The eight-piece band first came to our shores in 2013, by which time they had already recorded three albums, and were known for the rich voice of Zac Brown, their tight harmonies and brilliant musicianship.
Not to mention their original songs that were avoiding the Music Row trap of the time of recording songs about tailgate drinking parties and tan lines.
They were back in Australia two years ago for their Antipodean headline tour, which saw concerts sell out.
Another two years down the track, and the band returns less than a month before the release of their next album, Welcome Home.
While their last release, 2015’s Jekyll + Hyde, saw the band experiment with sounds, promotion surrounding the new release has declared the band is getting back to its roots.
Almost a decade has passed since Zac Brown Band burst onto the scene, planting those roots with an album called The Foundation, and its hit single, Chicken Fried.
They were a band influenced by several genres, from country to southern rock, with some reggae thrown in as well.
They were a band influenced by several genres, from country to southern rock, with some reggae thrown in as well.
While they had been around for several years honing their craft, it was the release of The Foundation, their first major label album, in November 2008, which propelled the band towards stardom.
In 2010 the band picked up the Grammy for Best New Artist. And it was later that year that they really came across my radar in a big way, thanks to an email from music publicist Kris Katsanis.
After listening to The Foundation, my initial reaction was I wasn’t sure if I really liked it. But the talent was undeniable, and the songs grew on me.
With follow up albums, You Get What You Give and Uncaged prior to Jekyll + Hyde, there were more to songs to discover.
The Grammy-award winning As She’s Walking Away has to be one of the greatest country songs of all time, while hearing the band sing Lance’s Song from the album Uncaged is one of those moments when you know straight away that it’s a true story, and clearly meant a lot to the band.
With each visit to Australia, the band has increased the number of Australian fans, which has no doubt increased again over the last week.
After playing in Byron Bay during Bluesfest, the band played in Melbourne on Wednesday night.
Their final gig on this Australian tour is at Sydney’s International Convention Centre on Friday night. Which is where I’ll be.