Aussie Dates: Ed Sheeran, Johnny Marr

Sheeran’s visit, his fourth, is his largest downunder, with eight shows, five in Australia (March 20 to April 4) and three in New Zealand (April 8-11). His last two Australian tours, in 2012 and 2013, were sellouts.

According to Frontier, his 2015 run is the first by a musician in 20 years to undertake an Australian arena tour completely solo, accompanied only by his guitar and a loop pedal. All tickets are capped at A$99 ($86.50).

“Ed wanted to ensure that his shows were accessible to all of his fans,” Frontier Touring managing director Michael Gudinski said. “It’s incredibly rare these days to have all tickets at one price in arena venues but Ed wanted to make it happen.”

After two sellout shows in Sydney and Melbourne this year, Johnny Marr returns for five theatre stops in Australia (Jan. 29 to Feb. 5) and one in Auckland, New Zealand (Feb. 7).

Britain’s The Kooks return for their biggest Australian tour with four open-air shows Jan. 17-24. The dates, booked through Chugg Entertainment and XIII Touring, include Sydney’s The Griswolds and Welsh four-piece Catfish and The Bottlemen making its Aussie debut.

Chugg Entertainment brings Jason Mraz back to Melbourne’s Palais Theatre (Dec. 3) and Sydney State Theatre (Dec. 6) as part of the Grammy-winning troubadour’s run through Taiwan, Singapore, South Korea, Japan and the Philippines. British singer-songwriter George Ezra added two theatre shows early January for Secret Sounds in between festival appearances.

Live Nation has Ed Kowalczyk, whose band Live counted Australia as a major territory, on his I Alone Acoustic Tour with two theatre stops early November.

Guitarist Yngwie J. Malmsteen returns after a decade, with Tombowler confirming theatre and club dates through Australia and New Zealand Feb. 5-11.

Following sold-out shows last year, Kingdom Sounds has U.S. post-hardcore band The Red Jumpsuit Apparatus back in 13 clubs Dec. 4-22. This time they are joined by U.S. band Hawthorne Heights.

Canadian metal veterans Anvil’s world tour takes in five Australian clubs Nov. 6-10, booked by Consume.