Seventeen years after their final show, Powderfinger are reuniting for a stadium-sized travelling rock ’n’ roll spectacle spanning six cities.
For years, the question has lingered over Australian rock: would Powderfinger ever play together again? Now, after more than a decade and a half of speculation, the answer is officially yes.
Powderfinger have announced a major Australian tour for September and October 2027, bringing Bernard Fanning, Darren Middleton, Ian Haug, Jon Coghill and John “JC” Collins back together for their first national run of shows since the band called it quits in 2010.
The 18-date tour will take in Brisbane, Cairns, Perth, Sydney, Adelaide and Melbourne, giving fans across the country the chance to experience one of Australia’s most enduring rock bands live once again.
“We are absolutely ecstatic to be coming together to play again,” the band said in a statement. “Over the years there have been tons of suggestions for us to go back on the road but, until now, it never felt quite right or lined up for all of us.”
That moment has finally arrived.
A reunion 17 years in the making
Powderfinger’s return carries a particular weight. Their songs have become part of the national soundtrack.
Across seven studio albums, Powderfinger established themselves as one of the country’s most successful rock acts, earning five ARIA No. 1 albums, 18 ARIA Awards and three APRA Awards, including two for Song of the Year. Their singles have featured 22 times in triple j’s Hottest 100, with “My Happiness” and “These Days” each reaching the top spot.
Their legacy remains remarkably alive. In 2025, three Powderfinger songs featured in triple j’s Hottest 100 of Australian Songs of All Time, underscoring the band’s continuing connection with listeners — including those who weren’t even born when the group played its final show.
The band are acutely aware of that generational divide, and the reunion is designed to bridge it.
“We have always been so grateful for the continued support from our long-term fans and over the years we’ve picked up a lot of new ones who have never seen us play,” they said. “So, it feels right to bring all of these people (including our kids who were too young to see us play) together for a special run of shows around the country next year.”
From farewell to a new beginning
Powderfinger announced their split in April 2010 after 20 years together, marking the end with the mammoth Sunsets Farewell Tour. More than 300,000 people attended the farewell run before the band played their final show on 13 November 2010.
For a group whose songs had become fixtures of Australian musical life, the goodbye felt definitive. The years that followed only deepened the mythology around their live performances — and the possibility, however remote, that the five members might one day share a stage again.
Now, rather than simply revisiting the past, Powderfinger are building their comeback around an ambitious new touring concept: an epic, stadium-sized big top that will travel between central city locations around the country.
Part rock show, part festival and part travelling spectacle, the production will feature both standing and seated ticket options, a curated food and drinks offering, and the communal atmosphere of a touring event that arrives in town, brings thousands of people together and then moves on.
The big top will land at Brisbane Showgrounds, Cairns’ Cazalys Stadium, Perth’s Wellington Square, Sydney’s The Domain, Adelaide’s Ellis Park and Melbourne Park Oval.
It’s a suitably grand setting for a band whose biggest songs were made to be shouted back by thousands of voices at once.
Backing the next generation of Australian music
The reunion won’t be a nostalgia exercise alone. Powderfinger will curate an all-Australian support lineup, bringing established acts and emerging artists together across the tour, with different performers appearing on different dates.
For the band, the decision is also about supporting the broader ecosystem that sustains Australian music — from artists and managers to touring crews and creative teams.
“When you book an Australian support act, you’re also backing the teams behind them — the crews, management teams and creatives who make up Australia’s music industry — which is a huge focus for the band,” they said.
The support lineup is expected to be announced in November, during AusMusic Month.
The tour will also partner with Mission Australia, raising funds and awareness for people experiencing homelessness and the complex challenges that can contribute to it, including family violence, mental health struggles and financial hardship. Further details on the partnership and opportunities for fans to participate will be announced closer to the tour.
When and where to see Powderfinger
The 2027 tour begins with four shows in Brisbane before heading north to Cairns, west to Perth and then through Sydney, Adelaide and Melbourne. The final two Melbourne dates will bring the national run to a close on 29 and 30 October.
2027 Australian tour dates
- Brisbane, Brisbane Showgrounds: Friday 3 September, Saturday 4 September, Friday 10 September and Saturday 11 September
- Cairns, Cazalys Stadium: Friday 17 September and Saturday 18 September
- Perth, Wellington Square: Friday 24 September and Saturday 25 September
- Sydney, The Domain: Friday 1 October, Saturday 2 October, Friday 8 October and Saturday 9 October
- Adelaide, Ellis Park: Friday 15 October and Saturday 16 October
- Melbourne, Melbourne Park Oval: Friday 22 October, Saturday 23 October, Friday 29 October and Saturday 30 October
Artist and Telstra presales open Wednesday 14 October, with Live Nation presales beginning Friday 16 October. General public tickets go on sale Monday 19 October, with times varying by city.
Fans can sign up now at powderfinger.com for presale access.
The band will also sit down for an exclusive tour-announcement interview in The Big Issue, with the print edition available from local vendors from Tuesday 13 October.