What an amazing year we had in 2011! We bring our 2011 “Best Of” retrospective coverage to an end with a look back now at our 11 favourite tours from the year, featuring the international artists we hope will keep coming back to Australia for more…
11. Future of the Left
This is one crazy good live band – it’s why they keep coming back to Australia (this time for Meredith), and why we keep filling up their shows with fans. We know a new album is on the way so hopefully we’ll see them back here in 2012…
Check out our coverage: https://www.theaureview.com/artist/future-of-the-left
10. Portishead
The Harvest Festival headliners impressed with what many called the best shows of their career. Well, perhaps we said that. But in any case, these were emotionally powerful, epic shows that pleased their fans several times over, and served as an incredible introduction to the rest…
Check out our coverage: https://www.theaureview.com/artist/portishead
9. Edward Sharpe and the Magnetic Zeros
Out here for Big Day Out at the start of the year, the Edward Sharpe shows lived up to their legend as being energetic, powerful and beautiful. This is one hell of a live band.
Check out our coverage: https://www.theaureview.com/artist/edward-sharpe-and-the-magnetic-zeros
8. Elbow (Pictured)
Only one word can describe this band: Wow. Impressing audiences at Splendour in the Grass and at sold out sideshows around the country, they were a shoo-in for this list.
Check out our coverage: https://www.theaureview.com/artist/elbow
7. The Cure
All it took was one of the most ambitious performances of the year – a three album salute at the Sydney Opera House as part of VIVID festival – to see The Cure added to our lineup. And no wonder – it was a very special show (which apparently we’ll see on DVD one of these days…) that saw fans from around the world flock to our landmark venue.
Check out our coverage: https://www.theaureview.com/artist/the-cure
6. Sufjan Stevens
Also at the Sydney Opera House, this time for Sydney Festival – alongside a string of shows around the country, Sufjan played his latest record The Age of Adz pretty much in full (even that epic 30 minute song!!), plus a few old favourites, in what was one of the most impressive live shows any of us at the AU have seen in some time. The music is more experimental here, so I suppose it’s not surprising that the performance is too… but it still took a lot of us by surprise.
Check out our coverage: https://www.theaureview.com/artist/sufjan-stevens
5. The Wombats
Touring Australia twice off the back of their insanely popular record This Modern Glitch – headlining Groovin’ The Moo in May and then their own shows in October – The Wombats gave all their fans a night to remember with massive singalongs and lots of dancing. They really were wonderful parties!
Check out our coverage: https://www.theaureview.com/artist/the-wombats
4. The National
Also visiting our shores twice in 2011 – once for Falls Festival and then again for Harvest – were the always phenomenal The National pleased all their fans with breathtakingly brilliant sets, featuring tracks from their latest LP, High Violet – which for many is considered their best album yet.
Check out our coverage: https://www.theaureview.com/artist/the-national
3. The Hives
Does anything really have to be said about The Hives? They’ve been doing the same old shtick now for so long – it’s definitely time they brought out a new album… but nonetheless they still wrap us up in a ball of fun and send us on our way, time and time again. New album or not, I’ll see these guys any day of the week.
Check out our coverage: https://www.theaureview.com/artist/the-hives
2. Pulp
Jarvis Cocker’s reformation with Pulp was arguably inevitable but it was still joyous news when it was announced. Even more joyous was the news that they’d be touring Australia for Splendour before most other territories in the world. Amazing! And the shows certainly lived up to the high expectations that were put before them. I for one will never forget seeing them at Woodford… one of those “pinch me” moments, that’s for sure.
Check out our coverage: https://www.theaureview.com/artist/pulp
1. Foo Fighters
With Tenacious D and Fucked Up in tow, the Foo Fighters delivered the biggest stadium shows of 2011, with the sort of spectacle AC/DC had brought us in 2010, and the sort of singalongs you could never have dreamed of ten years ago, watching them in the Metro or even the Hordern. And ultimately that’s what these shows were about: the music, the guitars, the drums and the Dave. What more do you need?
Check out our coverage: https://www.theaureview.com/artist/foo-fighters
