It’s the announcement you’ve been waiting for: Frank Ocean Splendour in the Grass sideshows are happening. The man behind Channel Orange will play two side dates in addition to his Byron Bay commitments this July, one in Sydney and one in Melbourne. Set for the Hordern Pavilion and Festival Hall respectively, the dates will mark the OFWGKTA-member’s first ever solo jaunt to Australia.
Earlier today, Frank Ocean himself let the news slip when his website posted a ‘You’re Not Dead…’ world tour poster, with Sydney and Melbourne nestled among the likes of Munich, London, Montreal and Paris. Late this afternoon, promoters Live Nation and Niche made it official. Tickets to both shows go on sale from 10am on Thursday, June 6 – and you can count on both selling out very quickly.
The visit comes off the back of a phenomenal year for the newly-solo star. Ocean’s debut solo record Channel Orange was, by all accounts, one of the best releases of the year. “Sure, Channel Orange– the major label debut from Frank Ocean that arrived in July on a tidal wave of hype – would never be mistaken for ‘dance music’,” our reviewer wrote. “The word ‘electronic’ certainly applies, though, from the brilliant 10-minute synth jam Pyramid to the luxuriant beats of Thinkin Bout You and Pink Matter. There’s accomplished production on each track, but the ‘less is more’ mantra pays off. Pharrell, Om’mas Keith, André 3000 and even John Mayer show up (in the case of Mayer,very briefly), but Channel Orange is all Frank Ocean. The guy can write. As the story goes, he spent many hours perfecting the album’s vocal performances, and the songs leave an indelible impression.”Frank Ocean Splendour sideshows
Friday July 26 – Festival Hall, Melbourne
Monday, July 29 – Hordern Pavilion, Sydney
Tickets on sale 10 AM, Thursday June 6
