One of the world’s most recognised rock bands will visit Geelong for a one-off concert next month.
The Foo Fighters will take to the stage at GMHBA Stadium on Friday, March 4 as part of state government initiative to kick-start the live entertainment industry after the effects of the pandemic.
The 12-time Grammy Award-winning band will arrive in Australia next week for what will be its first performance in the country since 2018.
The show will also be the first full-capacity stadium show by any international music artist in Australia since the pandemic first hit back in March 2020.
The Foo Fighters will be supported by Australian bands Amyl and the Sniffers and The Meanies.
Tourism, Sport and Major Events Minister Martin Pakula said it was expected around 25,000 fans would flock to the stadium.
“The Foo Fighters always put on an epic performance and this concert will further cement our position as Australia’s home of live music,” he said.
The concert will be part of the state government’s Always Live program, a statewide “music celebration” that would bring live music to regional Victoria and Melbourne throughout 2022.
Pakula said the Geelong concert will be followed by a program of dozens of events held at venues across Victoria later in the year.
“The Always Live program will deliver live music right across Victoria with both local and international artists – showcasing the state on the global stage,” he said.
Pakula said the program aimed to showcase a diverse mix of local and international talent and support local jobs and tourism businesses, by driving music fans to the regions and Melbourne suburbs.
He said it delivered on the government’s election commitment to deliver a new music festival held at venues across the state and also brought to life a long-held dream of late Australian music icon Michael Gudinski.
“Always Live was a passion project for my dad to ensure Victoria continued to be recognised as the music capital of Australia,” Always Live chairman Matt Gudinski said.
“I know Dad would be very proud to see the event launched and form a major part of re-establishing a thriving live music scene.”
Tickets for the Foo Fighters’ concert will go on sale at midday on Friday, February 25.
Geelong’s state parliament MPs all welcomed the announcement and said the concert would bring major benefits to Geelong.
“This will be a blockbuster event right here in the heart of our city, drawing in crowds and boosting our local economy,” Geelong MP Christine Couzens said.
The announcement has forced Nitro Circus to reschedule its show, which was originally set for GHMBA Stadium on March 4.
Thrill One Sports and Entertainment chief executive Joe Carr said the Nitro Circus show would move to Monday, March 7.
”We’re happy to support the state of Victoria, its government, and our partners Visit Victoria and Kardinia Park Stadium Trust in this very important effort to bring back live events as part of the reopening strategy,” he said.
“While we anticipate that the date change may create adverse conditions for some of our ticketholders, this initiative will ultimately benefit not only Victoria but the entire country as more fans get to experience the visceral excitement that only live entertainment can deliver.”
All Nitro Circus tickets already purchased will be honoured for the new date.
