After a sold-out run of ROY – A Tribute To Roy Orbison to metropolitan centres in 2016, revered singer-songwriter Damien Leith is gearing up to revisit the music of his idol in 2017 for a special The Hall of Fame Tour. Taking the show to regional Australia, the tour is an opportunity for Damien to perform in towns he hasn’t played in years, or if at all. When the ROY show toured the capital cities earlier in the year, it was always his plan to take it on the road to country Australia.
“I’m a country boy at heart, originating from a small village in Ireland called Milltown, so regional tours are special to me” he says. “Touring in regional areas around Australia is an amazing experience. I always meet great salt to the earth people and the whole vibe and atmosphere in a show is electric. Audiences really appreciate you being there and there is always a great sense of community.”
The tour commemorates 30 years since Roy Orbison was inducted into the Rock n Roll and Songwriters’ Hall of Fame. Damien says he will be performing songs such as In Dreams, Crying to Running Scared, Oh Pretty Woman and Blue Angel, to name a few. The show is jam-packed with as many Roy songs that can be fitted into the set list.
“This show is a favourite of mine because, I get to stand on stage and celebrate Roy’s incredible career,” says Damien. “I don’t try to impersonate him or sound like him, its really a case of me saluting one of the all-time greatest singers. Roy’s songs are raw and real and melded together with that distinct melancholy intensity of his voice. He created a unique way of writing and delivering a song, and it’s for that reason that to this day, he continues to find new fans all over the world.”
Damien has always had a strong affinity with Roy’s music. He recorded and worked with the late Barbara Orbison and continues to write with legendary musicians in Nashville who worked with Roy throughout his career. In fact, when Damien released his album Roy – A Tribute to Roy Orbison it stayed in the ARIA Top 20 chart for 22 weeks and it was nominated for not only an ARIA award, but also sold multi-platinum.
“Since recording my Roy – A Tribute to Roy Orbison album, I have had the great honour of writing with legendary songwriter Joe Melson, who co-write Crying and Blue Bayou, and others, with Roy,” says Damien. “In a way, I am keeping in touch with Roy through Joe, who says that nothing excited him to write music since Roy until he heard my voice. So you can imagine, it is an absolute honour and privilege to work with Joe and keep Roy’s legacy alive.”
Damien’s ROY tour in April saw him visit Perth, Adelaide, Sydney, Gold Coast, Melbourne and Hobart – with all shows selling out. For Damien, they were an amazing experience and he is looking forward to replicating the atmosphere for the 2017 run. “I was blown away by the reaction to the six sold-out metro shows that I did earlier this year,” he says. “We had people singing, dancing and even crying. The fact that audiences were on their feet by the end of the night is the greatest compliment and feeling for any band.”
Damien Leith’s ROY – A Tribute to Roy Orbison – The Hall of Fame Tour tickets are on sale now.
Friday 17th February 2017
Capitol Theatre, TAMWORTH NSW
www.capitoltheatretamworth.com.au
Saturday 18th February 2017
Laycock Street Theatre, GOSFORD NSW
www.gosford.nsw.gov.au/theatres
Friday 24th February 2017
Traralgon Town Hall, TRARALGON NSW
(02) 5176 3333
Saturday 25th February 2017
Karralyka Theatre, RINGWOOD VIC
www.karralyka.com.au
Friday 3rd March 2017
Wesley Performing Arts Centre, HORSHAM VIC
www.wesleypac.com.au
Saturday 4th March 2017
Westside Performing Arts Centre, SHEPPARTON VIC
www.riverlinksvenues.com.au
Friday 10th March 2017
Orange Civic Theatre, ORANGE NSW
(02) 6393 8112
Saturday 11th March 2017
Blue Mountains Theatre & Community Hub, SPRINGWOOD NSW
www.bluemountainstheatreandhub.com.au
Friday 17th March 2017
Pilbeam Theatre, ROCKHAMPTON QLD
www.seeitlive.com.au
Saturday 18th March 2017
Moncrieff Entertainment Centre, BUNDABERG QLD
www.moncrieff-bundaberg.com.au
Saturday 8th April 2017
Park Lane Theatre, LENNOX HEAD NSW
www.communityspaces.com.au
Sunday 9th April 2017
The Jetty Theatre, COFFS HARBOUR NSW
www.jettytheatre.com
Friday 21st April 2017
Colac Otway Entertainment Centre, COLAC VIC
www.copacc.com.au
Saturday 22nd April 2017
Wyndham Cultural Centre, WERRIBEE VIC
www.wyncc.com.au
Friday 12th May 2017
Redlands Performing Arts Centre, CLEVELAND QLD
www.rpac.com.au
Saturday 13th May 2017
Caloundra Events Centre Playhouse, CALOUNDRA QLD
www.theeventscentre.com.au
Friday 23rd June 2017
Wonthaggi Arts Centre, WONTHAGGI VIC
(03) 5672 1083
Saturday 24th June 2017
Kyneton Arts Centre, KYNETON VIC
1300 888 802
Saturday 1st July 2017
The Glasshouse, PORT MACQUARIE NSW
www.glasshouse.org.au
Thursday 6th July 2017
Keith Michell Theatre, PORT PIRIE SA
(08) 8586 8500
Friday 7th July 2017
Chaffey Theatre, REMARK SA
(08) 8586 1800
Saturday 8th July 2017
Barossa Arts & Convention Centre, BAROSSA SA
www.barossaconvention.org
Friday 14th July 2017
Forge Theatre, BAIRNSDALE VIC
(03) 5152 1482
Saturday 15th July 2017
Drum Theatre, DANDENONG VIC
www.drumtheatre.com.au
Sunday 16th July 2017
Swan Hill Town Hall, SWAN HILL VIC
www.swanhillonline.com
For more information, please visit www.damienleith.com.au
