Sydney, Australia (Universal
Music Australia) - After announcing that Kanye West, the chart topping, multiple platinum-selling and multi-Grammy nominated artist, would be here as a very special guest on the U2 tour, Michael Coppel is hugely pleased to be able to confirm that the ground-breaking artist will now be playing his own headlining shows.
Arguably the most important creative force in hip-hop music today, Kanye West is in a league of his own, building the future of hip-hop as he digs back in time with his unique ear for samples that connect the past with the present in a brand new way.
No matter where you lived in 2004, if you owned a radio, a TV, a computer or a CD player, Kanye West had broken into your music consciousness with his first album 'The College Dropout'.
This debut from the producer/taste-maker/rapper/video director/label CEO/hip-hop icon has gone on to sell in excess of 3 million copies and garnered 2 Grammy Awards ('Best Rap Album of the Year' & 'Best Rap Song' for 'Jesus Walks').
'The College Dropout' was named 'Album of the Year' by The New York Times, Time Magazine, Blender, Rolling Stone, GQ, Spin, The Source, XXL and nearly every other major publication. Now Kanye's follow-up album, 2005's 'Late Registration', has reaffirmed West at the top of his game.
Featuring the smash hit singles 'Diamonds From Sierra Leone' and 'Gold Digger' and the soon-to-be smash 'Heard Em Say', 'Late Registration' is a must for any music fan. 'Gold Digger' hit No 1 in Australia and around the world, propelling Australian sales of the album toward platinum.
Already named as Rolling Stone's No 1 album of 2005, Kanye is also up for 8 Grammy Awards including 'Album of the Year', 'Record of the Year', 'Best Rap Solo', 'Best Rap Song Collaboration', 'Best Rap Song' and 'Best Rap Album'.
Kanye has also won the 'Artist Achievement Award' at the 2005 Billboard Awards, was recently named in Time Magazine's list of 'the 100 most influential people in the world', featuring on the magazine's cover, and received Rolling Stone's 'Troublemaker of the Year' Award.
In Australia West's performing line up will number between 12 to upwards of 25 people, including a drummer, keyboard player, DJ, backing vocalists, a musical director, a harpist and string sections of varying size.
In Sydney, at Kanye's special request, he will be rockin' the house with a very special show featuring the augmented string section at the iconic Sydney Opera House Concert Hall, a venue whose unique architecture West has always admired.
Kanye West – it's a must!
THURSDAY MARCH 16 AUCKLAND ST. JAMES
MONDAY MARCH 20 BRISBANE CONVENTION CENTRE
THURSDAY MARCH 23 MELBOURNE FESTIVAL HALL
WEDNESDAY MARCH 29 ADELAIDE THEBARTON THEATRE
SUNDAY APRIL 2 SYDNEY OPERA HOUSE
TICKETS ON SALE FRIDAY FEBRUARY 10
Tickets available from:
Brisbane: Ticketek 132 849 ticketek.com.au
Adelaide: Venuetix 8225 8888 venuetix.com.au
Melbourne: Festival Hall 9329 9699 or Ticketmaster 136 100 ticketmaster.com.au
Sydney: Opera House box office 9250 7777 sydneyoperahouse.com or Ticketek 132 849 ticketek.com.au
