James Taylor, a man who has lived his life through song, has decided his April tour of Australia will be his swan song.
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"This may be the last time I tour Down Under, I'm really hoping you all can make it. I'll see you one last time," he said in February. When Weekender ask him about this he chooses not to confirm or deny, but drops several subtle hints.
"The last time I was out with my band was last September, so this has been a long hiatus for me," the six-time Grammy Award winner tells Weekender.
"I'm anxious to get back together with the band, and to get back to Australia. It's such an exceptional place - so singular, so unique - it's always wonderful to go there."
Taylor first toured in Australia in 1981 and his upcoming tour, An Evening with James Taylor and His All-Star Band, will be his eighth. This 10-date tour includes a stop-off at A Day on the Green in Bowral on April 28.
He is the headline act at the event held at the Centennial Vineyards, and will be joined by Ella Hooper and Josh Pyke.
JOSH PYKE
Australian singer-songwriter Josh Pyke is opening for Taylor alongside fellow Australian artist Ella Hooper. Pyke hit the ground running in 2007 with the release of his debut album Memories and Dust, going on to win four ARIA Awards and releasing another five top 10 albums .. and counting.
He says he was "very excited and honoured to get the nod" to support Taylor on tour.
"Playing these sorts of shows is a gift for any artist, but I'm especially excited to play to an audience that is a little outside my demographic but who I know appreciate the craft of songwriting. I can't wait," he tells Weekender.
ELLA HOOPER
Hooper became the first woman to be awarded APRA's Songwriter of the Year. After releasing three hit albums with Killing Heidi, she embarked on a solo career.
Hooper says she was "gobsmacked" to be asked to support Taylor on tour.
"It's not a gig I ever thought I'd get, but the more I lean into my own singer-songwriter roots and put them to the front of my career, it's amazing how the gigs that celebrate that and see that in me are coming along. I'm thrilled as it's a real honour," she says.
Tickets are still on sale and can be bought through Ticketmaster.
The gates open at 1.30pm. Ella Hooper will perform first (3.15pm), followed by Josh Pyke (4.30pm) and James Taylor (5.45pm).
