Events

Published on December 8th, 2023 | by Adrian Gunning

Missy Higgins announces “The Second Act Tour” celebrating The Sound of White 20th Anniversary

Missy Higgins is unveiling ‘an anniversary tour with a difference’ to celebrate 20 years since her trailblazing debut, The Sound Of White.

The Second Act Tour will see Missy touring theatres nationally next autumn in a special two act show (see dates, venues and ticketing info below). The first set each evening will include some brand-new songs, plus a few fan favourites from early in her career, all played in stripped back, acoustic mode. After an intermission Missy will then return with her full band to perform The Sound Of White in its entirety plus some of her other hits. This will be the first time that she has done a theatre tour since 2018, soon after playing stadiums across Australia as Ed Sheeran’s special guest. It will see Missy returning to many of the same venues she first played when The Sound Of White exploded back in 2004.

Frontier Member presale commences Monday 11 December, staggered times before the general on sale Wednesday 13 December, staggered times, see below. Tickets and tour information via frontiertouring.com/missyhiggins

Watch: Missy Higgins – Scar

The Sound Of White is one of the biggest and most influential albums in Australian music history. The intensely introspective collection of yearning songs yielded bona fide classics like “Scar”, “Ten Days” and “The Special Two”. It has sold a million copies and received 6 ARIA Awards. Over the last 20 years The Sound Of White has also inspired dozens of young Australian women – including major artists like Amy Shark, Gretta Ray, Gordi and Angie McMahon – to follow in Missy’s footsteps and sing their own songs in their own ways.

“I wrote all those songs in my late teens when I never thought anyone would hear them, so they were very personal, like I was writing my secrets in a diary”, says Missy. “I did less of that on later albums for lots of reasons but lately I realized I’d gone back to that confessional mode of songwriting. I guess it’s been my way of dealing with the end of my marriage. So I feel like I’ve come full circle … I was starting life from scratch at 20 and now, like lots of people, I’m figuring out how to start life all over again at 40.”
“In that respect this new album that I’m recording right now will be a kind of sequel to The Sound Of White. They’re both looking forward nervously and wondering what comes next. They’re both asking questions like “who am I?” and “who do I want to be?” so I liked the idea of previewing some of this new material in the first act of a live show, then going back to the start of the story in the second act. Plus it will just be fun to play all those old songs again for the first time in ages. At very least it will be something different and if I’ve learned anything over the last year or two it’s that you’ve got to keep embracing new challenges!”

Legendary Group Music Director of the triple j Networks, Richard Kingsmill, reflects “the incredible success of The Sound Of White was not just in its sales figures, as impressive as they were. Missy Higgins was something bigger. With her talent, honesty and unapologetic Australianness, she was a signpost for so many artists that followed. The number of local singers and songwriters I’ve interviewed over time who have told me that Missy, and especially that debut album, was the reason they picked up an instrument and started singing in the first place is mind-boggling. Her success crosses the gender divide too. We’ve had plenty of male rock groups in our Like A Version studio wanting to cover Missy songs. Dear Seattle’s cover of ‘The Special Two’ for instance made it into the Hottest 100 of Like A Version this year. So Missy inspired that next generation of artists in a way you don’t see very often. And she’s kept showing music fans that it wasn’t just a time-and-place success story either through the other releases that have come for her over the past 20 years.”

Watch: Missy Higgins – Ten Days

The anniversary of this landmark release will be celebrated with a deluxe edition on CD and LP containing bonus live recordings of every song on the album plus newly expanded artwork. It will land on April 5, 2024. Physical pre-orders commence today, pre-order here.

The Sound Of White 20 Year Anniversary Edition will also feature a new track – “Cry Me A River” – which can be heard online now. The classic American torch song was written originally for Ella Fitzgerald and was a hit for Julie London in the 1950’s. Over half a century later Justin Timberlake ‘borrowed’ the title. The tune has a special place in Missy’s heart as it was the first song she ever performed live – sneaking into licensed venues as a 13-year-old to sing it with her older brother’s jazz combo. This stripped back version was recorded at a Sydney charity concert the night before she swept the 2005 ARIA Awards and features her brother, David, on piano. It has always been a fan favourite, but she has never released a recording of “Cry Me A River” … until now.

Watch: Missy Higgins – Cry Me A River

This smouldering love song kicks off a huge 12 months for Missy as she begins her “Second Act”.  The beloved singer/songwriter will start releasing some of her brand-new songs in the lead up to this special two act tour and follow it with her new album later in the year.

“I’m very aware that female artists usually find it hard to get their songs heard in their 30’s or 40’s but I’m determined to try and shake that up a bit”, says Missy. “When I was writing The Sound Of White I was going through the same things as lots of other teenagers and I think that’s probably why those songs have struck such a chord with young people over the years. Life throws some curve balls at all of us as we get a bit older though so I’d like to think that people who grew up with The Sound Of White will find something they can relate to in the new songs as well – even if they probably won’t get to hear them on commercial radio or TikTok.”

Missy Higgins has been nominated for an extraordinary 26 ARIA Awards since being Unearthed by triple j way back in 2002. She remains one of Australia’s most popular live performers; playing to more than 200,000 Australians last summer across various outdoor events including dozens of huge gigs with Paul Kelly.


About the Author

agun@impulsegamer.com'

Adrian lives in Melbourne Australia and has a huge passion for gaming, technology and pop culture. He recently finished his a Bachelor of Journalism and is currently focusing on games journalism. When not writing and playing video games, Adrian can be found in Comics 'R' Us debating the pros of the DC Universe and cons of the Marvel Universe.


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