Level 42's first Australian tour tackles World Machine at The Gov in January

Level 42 have never toured Australia. That changes in January 2027, when the UK band fronted by bassist and vocalist Mark King bring their World Machine anniversary show to The Gov on 21 January. It is a genuinely notable booking for Adelaide, given how long fans here have waited.

World Machine, released in 1985, is arguably the band's defining statement. It fused jazz-funk precision with pop instincts and a progressive streak that set Level 42 apart from most of their contemporaries. Four decades on, the record still gets cited as a benchmark for its innovation and its groove, and it's easy to hear why once you drop the needle on tracks like 'Lessons in Love' and 'Something About You'.

Both of those songs feature in the setlist, alongside 'Running in the Family', 'Hot Water' and 'Love Games'. Beyond the album performance, the band will round out the night with a broader run through their catalogue, a career that has produced more than 30 million album sales worldwide and 18 UK Top 40 singles.

What's kept Level 42 relevant across four decades isn't nostalgia. It's musicianship. Mark King's slap bass technique remains one of the most distinctive sounds in pop and funk, and the band's reputation for tight, technically accomplished live performances has followed them since the early 1980s. Seeing that kind of chops in a room the size of The Gov, rather than an arena, is the drawcard here.

Doors open at 7:30pm on 21 January 2027, with tickets priced at $90.85 plus booking fee. For anyone who grew up on World Machine or has simply heard 'Lessons in Love' more times than they can count without knowing who made it, this is a chance to see the band responsible, in a venue that suits their sound. First Australian tour, four decades in the making. Worth marking the calendar.