Surrealist. Vaudevillian. Carnival Barker. Crooner.
Godfather of Grit, Gravel and Glitter.
TOM WAITS is all these and more…
Celebrating Tom Waits pays homage to the one and only Tom Waits – his music, his style and his legacy.
Featuring a stellar line-up of guest vocalists:
*Hugo Race (The Wreckery)
*Dave Graney (Dave Graney and the Coral Snakes)
*Richie Weed (Tumbleweed)
*Peter Fenton (Crow)
Tom Waits is truly one of the world’s greatest and most unique talents, with a stunning back catalogue spanning over 4 decades and a breadth across smoky jazz, wry balladry and muscular barnyard funk.
Celebrating Tom Waits promises a spellbinding journey through Waits’s musical highlights, mining his most memorable moments.
Hugo Race, Dave Graney, Richie Weed and Peter Fenton draw on their own remarkable and personal experiences as profound shapers of the Australian musical landscape to bring the Waits’ catalogue to life. Each will interpret the ‘Prince of Melancholy’s’ brilliant songs and wistful melodies. Wait’s colourful troupe of thespian misfits come captivatingly to life in this powerful, poignant and unique celebration.
For more information on the vocalists visit: https://metropolistouring.com/celebrating-tom-waits-2026/
Celebrating Tom Waits June 2026 Tour Dates
Friday 19th June SYDNEY, Factory Theatre
Saturday 20th June MELBOURNE, Max Watts
Saturday 27th June BRISBANE, The Triffid
Sunday 28th June ADELAIDE, The Gov
Presale: Friday 6th February, 10:00am Local
General Public On Sale: Monday 9th February, 10:00am local
From: https://metropolistouring.com/celebrating-tom-waits-2026/
Guest Vocalist Bios
Hugo Race
Hugo Race is an internationally acclaimed Australian musician, singer-songwriter and producer with a career spanning over three decades. An original member of Nick Cave & the Bad Seeds, he helped shape their influential early sound before going on to front the legendary ’80s underground band The Wreckery. With his long-running project Hugo Race & The True Spirit, he has released an extensive catalogue blending blues, rock and experimental soundscapes. Through acclaimed collaborations including Dirtmusic and Fatalists, Race continues to push creative boundaries, touring worldwide and producing music that resonates across cultures and genres.
Dave Graney
Dave Graney is a rock musician, singer-songwriter, and author. Since the late 1970s, he has collaborated with drummer and multi-instrumentalist Clare Moore, forming several bands including The Moodists and Dave Graney and the Coral Snakes. Graney is distinguished by his flamboyant stage persona and genre-defying music, with notable albums including You Wanna Be There But You Don’t Wanna Travel which reached number 10 on the ARIA charts. In 1996, he was awarded the ARIA for Best Male Artist, and he has also authored two memoirs: 1001 Australian Nights (2011) and Workshy: My Life as a Bludge (2017).
Richie Lewis
Richie Lewis is the lead vocalist of the Australian grunge rock band Tumbleweed, known for their heavy, fuzz-driven sound and psychedelic influences. Rising to prominence in the early 1990s, Tumbleweed became a key part of Australia’s alternative rock scene, supporting acts like Nirvana. With his dynamic stage presence and distinctive voice, Lewis remains an integral force in the band’s enduring legacy.
Peter V. Fenton
Peter V. Fenton is a celebrated Australian musician, composer, actor and writer whose career encompasses music, stage, screen and literature. As founding singer-songwriter and guitarist of the acclaimed rock band Crow (formed 1986), he established himself as a distinctive voice in Australia’s alternative music scene with a string of influential 1990s albums and the band’s 2010 return with Arcane. Beyond Crow, Fenton’s solo album In the Lovers Arms (2004) highlighted his gift for intimate, emotive songwriting. He is also an accomplished actor (Praise, Love Is a Four Letter Word) and published author. Fenton continues to evolve creatively, engaging audiences across multiple art forms.
