Bernard Fanning and Kasey Chambers are teaming up for a short series of shows.
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The Sooner or Later Tour features 11 gigs in the eastern states of Australia and arrives at Bendigo’s Ulumbarra Theatre on February 18.
Former Powderfinger frontman Bernard Fanning said he hasn’t played in Bendigo since the band’s Sunsets Farewell Tour.
“Since then I haven’t done a lot of regional shows but that’s what this is all about,” he said. “Kasey and I have known each other for about 15 or 20 years. We have always played on each other’s records and done a few guest spots on each other’s shows over the years.
“Over the years I have also sung on her records, the last one was for (Golden Guitar-winning song) Bittersweet.”
Chambers duets with Fanning on his new single Sooner or Later and during the recording sessions, the idea to tour together came up.
“She was singing on my record and we just got chatting about doing shows,” Fanning said.
“The response (from fans) has been really good. They like the song and the idea.
“It would be great to be able to go everywhere but schedule-wise we can’t do a long tour.”
Music fans will effectively get two shows for the price of one if they buy tickets to the Sooner or Later gig.
Fanning said despite the two artists coming from different music genres, it was the songwriting that would stand out in the show.
“(Differing music genres) is part of attraction but it really comes down to songwriting,” Fanning said.
“There are so many genres now that I couldn’t tell what one I fit into. It will be really good music for the whole night, that's what it boils down to.
“People make more about the idea there are country music fans and rock music fans but I find people's tastes are pretty eclectic.”
Fanning said each musician and their band would play a set before joining forces for a finale.
“Each band does a set then we come together,” he said.
“It’s not that typical that acts like Kasey and I go out together on road. We thought it would be an interesting and fun thing to do.”
The first show on the Sooner or Later Tour is on Australia Day in Tamworth.
As well as Bendigo, Shepparton (February 17) and Ballarat (February 19) will also host shows on the Victorian leg of the tour.
Beyond February, Fanning will be finalising his fourth solo record, Brutal Dawn, which is part two of a two-part project. The first part of the project, Civil Dusk, was released last year.
Bernard Fanning and Kasey Chambers play at Ulumbarra Theatre on Saturday, February 18.