Steely Dan Down Under

The upcoming trek marks the jazz rock band’s first dates Down Under since the group’s inaugural Australia/New Zealand tour in 2007.  The tour will include both arena gigs as well as several performances booked as part of the popular winery concert series “A Day On The Green.”

British singer/songwriter Steve Winwood is coming along as Steely Dan’s special guest. The trek marks his first visit back to Australia in more than two decades.

The tour kicks off Oct. 19 in Perth, Australia at Sir James Mitchell Park. Dates are booked through a Nov. 5 “A Day On The Green” show at Church Road Winery in Napier, New Zealand.

The Dan will also be making stops at Darling Harbour, Australia (Oct. 25); Melbourne, Australia (Oct. 27); Christchurch, New Zealand (Nov. 2) and Auckland, New Zealand (Nov. 4).

Additional “A Day On The Green” gigs in Australia include shows in Hunter Valley at Bimbadgen Estate (Oct. 22), Brisbane’s Sirromet Winery (Oct. 23), Yarra Valley’s Rochford Eyton Winery (Oct. 29), and McLaren Vale at Leconfield Wines (Oct. 30).

Previously announced U.S. Steely Dan dates are scheduled for July 2 through Sept. 30.

Before teaming up with Steely Dan, Winwood will appear with Eric Clapton at a series of shows at London’s Royal Albert Hall May 26-27, May 29-30 and June 1.

Steely Dan features the dynamic duo of vocalist/keyboardist Donald Fagen and guitarist Walter Becker along with their touring band recently dubbed the Miles High Big Band.

The group includes drummer Keith Carlock, guitarist Jon Herington, bassist Freddie Washington, keyboardist Jim Beard, and Michael Leonhart, Walt Weiskopf, Roger Rosenberg, and Jim Pugh on horns. The backup trio, now known as the Embassy Brats, features Carolyn Leonhart-Escoffery, Cindy Mizelle and Catherine Russell.

Steely Dan has sold more than 30 million albums worldwide. Fans are crossing their fingers that the title of the group’s ninth and most recent album – 2003’s Everything Must Go – isn’t a clue that the album is Steely Dan’s last.

Winwood’s most recent album is 2008’s Nine Lives, which includes the hit single “Dirty City” featuring Clapton on guitar.

Select tickets are on sale now through a “A Day On The Green” members pre-sale. A pre-sale for Frontier Touring members begins May 17. Additional pre-sales begin May 18 and 19. Tickets go on sale to the general public May 23.

For more information, click here for Steely Dan’s website and here for Steve Winwood’s site.

Click here to learn more about “A Day On The Green.”