Boy & Bear Share The Pros and Cons of Touring Regionally
Exactly a decade has passed since the debut of their chart-topping, ARIA-nominated masterpiece, Harlequin Dream, and now, Sydney’s beloved Boy & Bear have made a triumphant return. Their latest offering, the single “Abraham,” signals the dawn of a new era, accompanied by the exciting revelation of an EP entitled Lost Dreams. This timing is no coincidence; Lost Dreams is a treasure trove of long-forgotten gems from the Harlequin Dream recording sessions. It’s both a celebration and a profound continuation of the band’s most successful work to date. Today, we bask in the radiant glow of “Abraham” as it leads the way, paving the road for the EP’s grand unveiling on Friday, September 15. As the band gears up for an extensive regional tour spanning September, October, and well into November, the Lost Dreams chapter begins, promising fans an unforgettable musical journey. To celebrate the release and tour, Dave from Boy & Bear shares with us a little insight into what goes into touring and travelling regionally.
G’day, Dave Symes from Boy & Bear here..
Yeah, that’s right, time to polish the boots and head back out on the road.
After releasing our new self-titled album in May this year, we played some Aus/NZ city shows and now we are taking that tour to regional Australia over the coming months.
We haven’t done a regional tour in Aus for quite a long time so I’m really looking forward to this one.
I like touring, well I like travelling and I love playing shows… So, I guess that’s touring..
It’s a special feeling to travel around and set up a show and have people come along and listen to the music you are creating. And I enjoy the different towns and places you get to play, each one has its own unique vibe, and I love it when I get to go somewhere I’ve never been before. It all adds to the energy of the show.
It has its ups and downs too. For me, the hardest thing about touring is when the schedule is really tight and you don’t get time to actually look around the place you are playing in, you just have enough time to throw down a coffee while you’re loading your bags into the van and driving to the next load in and soundcheck, and you might only see the venue you are playing in… and this also reflects the other hard thing which is the amount of time you actually get to sleep… Late nights and early mornings don’t leave much time to dream… And then, even when the itinerary allows for a good rest, more often than not you tend to get over-excited and not land it… Haha… Having said that, a sleep in the back of the van while driving down the highway is one of my favourite things…
But sometimes, it all works out and you get time to explore where you are before doing the show..
I like to look ahead and plan where I might be able to get out and about during the tour…Good food and good pubs, record stores and vintage stores are on the list as well as local galleries, and I’m always looking for outdoor adventures…
Looking ahead at the first weekend of shows in Victoria, I’m looking to hit up The Mill Breweries and flea markets in Castlemaine and do the coastal walk along the Surf Coast in Torquay.
Hope to see you at one of our shows.
Symesy:)
Boy & Bear are all set to kick off their regional tour this weekend. All the dates are listed below.
BOY & BEAR – UPCOMING TOUR DATES:
Tickets available from www.boyandbear.com
WED 13 SEP | THEATRE ROYAL, CASTLEMAINE VIC | 18+
THU 14 SEP | GPAC, TRARALGON VIC | ALL-AGES
FRI 15 SEP | PIER BANDROOM, FRANKSTON VIC | 18+
SAT 16 SEP| TORQUAY HOTEL, TORQUAY VIC (SOLD OUT)
SUN 17 SEP | TORQUAY HOTEL, TORQUAY VIC | 18+
THU 21 SEP | BEER DELUXE, ALBURY NSW | 18+
FRI 22 SEP | ANITAS THEATRE, THIRROUL NSW | ALL-AGES
THU 28 SEP | NEWCASTLE CIVIC THEATRE, NEWCASTLE NSW | 18+
FRI 29 SEP | DRIFTERS WHARF, CENTRAL COAST NSW | 18+
SAT 30 SEP | BLUE MOUNTAINS THEATRE + COMMUNITY HUB, BLUE MOUNTAINS NSW (SOLD OUT)
WED 4 OCT | ALBANY ENTERTAINMENT CENTRE, ALBANY WA | ALL-AGES
THU 5 OCT | THE RIVER, MARGARET RIVER WA | 18+
FRI 6 OCT | THE RIVER, MARGARET RIVER WA (SOLD OUT)
SAT 7 OCT | OUT OF THE WOODS FESTIVAL, FREMANTLE WA | 18+
WED 11 OCT | SEABREEZE HOTEL, MACKAY QLD | 18+
THU 12 OCT | MAGNUMS, AIRLIE BEACH QLD | 18+
FRI13 OCT | JCU UNIBAR, TOWNSVILLE QLD | 18+
SAT 14 OCT | TANKS ARTS CENTRE, CAIRNS QLD | 18+
SUN 15 OCT | TANKS ARTS CENTRE, CAIRNS QLD (SOLD OUT)
WED 8 NOV | KINGS BEACH TAVERN, SUNSHINE COAST QLD | 18+
THU 9 NOV | KINGS BEACH TAVERN, SUNSHINE COAST QLD (SOLD OUT)
FRI 10 NOV | BURLEIGH BAZAAR, GOLD COAST QLD | 18+
SAT 11 NOV | EMPIRE THEATRE, TOOWOOMBA QLD | ALL-AGES
SAT 23 NOV | SHOALHAVEN ENTERTAINMENT CENTRE, NOWRA NSW
SUN 26 NOV | QUEENSCLIFF MUSIC FESTIVAL, QUEENSCLIFF VIC | ALL-AGES
