Aussie Dates: James Bay,
‘We Will Rock You’

Frontier Touring locked him in for five Australian theatres Jan. 30 to Feb. 7, and his New Zealand debut Feb. 9 at Auckland Town Hall.

The Queen-inspired “We Will Rock You” musical returns to tour 2016, with the local production to be directed by its writer, Ben Elton. It will be produced by John Frost, in association with Queen Theatrical Productions, Phil McIntyre Entertainment and Tribeca Theatrical Productions. In 2003, Australia was the first country outside the UK to produce a local version, opening at Melbourne’s Regent Theatre that August with a record advance, and winning five gongs at the next year’s Helpmann Awards.

Chugg Entertainment has British Columbia’s Yukon Blonde at to club shows in Sydney and Melbourne mid-September after the band’s appearance at the Big Sound conference and showcase in Brisbane.

Chugg Entertainment extends Walk The Moon’s Sept. 11 closing slot at YouTube FanFest at Sydney’s Qantas Credit Union Arena, with club dates Sept. 10 and Sept. 13.

The Fall is back for four theatre and festival dates through Handsome Tours Oct. 20-25. Mercury Rev does its first shows Down Under since 2003, with two club dates mid-December behind its The Light In You album.

Sleeping With Sirens returns for its first headlining run in two years. Live Nation has the band making its New Zealand debut Sept. 16 before six club and theatre shows Sept. 17-24.

After two years, experimental Danish quartet Mew makes its first trip Down Under. Birds Robe Collective, which says they spent five years lobbying to make the flight, has the band at three clubs along the East Coast Dec. 2-4.

Philly-based Kendrick Lamar collaborator Bilal, already confirmed for Sydney’s Outside festival Sept. 26, does two club dates just before for Slingshot Touring and Astral People.

Blue Murder Touring and Select Touring have The Darkness at five clubs Nov. 6-13.