Bright Eyes play Brisbane and Sydney

Hailing from Omaha, Nebraska, the wonderful Bright Eyes will soon bring their indie-rock, folk and alt-pop inspired sounds to Australia for the trio of ‘Harvest’ music and arts festivals coming up in November. Today, we’re pleased to announce that the band, led by enigmatic lyricist and vocalist Conor Oberst, will perform two special sideshows only in Sydney and Brisbane.

Australian Bright Eyes appearances will feature select material from previous albums as well as songs from the seventh Bright Eyes album, The People’s Key released in early 2011. The eagerly awaited follow-up to 2007’s acclaimed Cassadaga LP, the new album is assured and accomplished, artfully arranged and filled with the engaging and mesmeric songwriting for which Conor Oberst is renowned.

Reviews for the The People’s Key highlight its quality, with Rolling Stone saying, “he manages to be everything at once: folkie and punk, old soul and eternal boy, high-plains drifter and hipster heartthrob.” While Drowned In Sound said it’s, “a collection of fleet, shimmering pop songs; a master-class in sonic splendour; a bold, beautiful and brilliant reinvention that should surprise as many as it will enthrall.”

Since 2006, the once revolving cast of Bright Eyes players has settled around permanent members Conor Oberst, Mike Mogis and Nathaniel Walcott, with additional musicians joining them in the studio and on tour. 

The band’s success snowballed in early 2005 when the simultaneous release of the sister albums I’m Wide Awake, It’s Morning and Digital Ash In A Digital Urn saw the Nebraskans hurled into the limelight and the Billboard Charts. To say that the band became a household name would be an overstatement, but for a few months they seemed ubiquitous; from magazine covers to late night talk shows, they were name-checked by everyone from sports casters to country stars. Conor Oberst has spent much of the last few years recording and touring with friends and musicians, The Mystic Valley Band, as well as releasing a highly acclaimed album and tour as part of the so called indie supergroup Monsters of Folk.

Monday 14 November Sydney, The Enmore Tickets on sale Friday 21 October, 9am through www.ticketek.com.au 132 849   Thursday 17 November Brisbane, The Hi-Fi - 18+ Tickets on sale Thursday 27 October, 9am through www.thehifi.com.au