Interview
Benjamin Clementine returns to Australia with piano and songs stripped bare
Benjamin Clementine, the British composer and Mercury Prize-winner, brings his Back to Basics Tour to Australia in October 2026 with solo piano performances across Adelaide, Sydney and Fremantle. The stripped-down shows feature Clementine alone with his instrument, presenting his compositions - drawn from classical music, chanson and theatre - in their purest form.
INTERVIEW: Markus Hamence chats with Benjamin Clementine on his 2026 Back to Basic Australian tour
Benjamin Clementine is a British composer, pianist, singer-songwriter, and filmmaker whose work has established him as one of the most singular voices in contemporary music.
Unbound by genre, his compositions draw from classical music, chanson, poetry, and theatre, creating a body of work that is both intimate and expansive.
Clementine first came to international prominence with his Mercury Prize-winning debut album At Least for Now in 2015. Since then, he has built an international career defined less by convention than by artistic independence, performing at many of the world’s leading concert halls, theatres and festivals while cultivating an audience that extends across Europe, Asia, the Americas, and now Australia.
His current Back to Basics Tour returns to the essence of his artistry: one voice, one piano and songs presented in their purest form. Stripped of unnecessary production, the performances reveal the precision of his musicianship and the emotional immediacy that have become hallmarks of his work. His Australian premiere concert offers audiences an opportunity to encounter an artist whose performances remain deeply personal, uncompromising, and unforgettable.
Thursday, 15 October 2026: Dunstan Playhouse — Adelaide, SA
Wednesday, 21 October 2026: Enmore Theatre — Sydney, NSW
Saturday, 24 October 2026: Fremantle Arts Centre — Fremantle, WA
