Prince Announces He’s Touring Australia This February

Australia has long had a love affair with Prince, with his previous tours selling out arenas around the country.

It will also mark the first time Prince has ever toured New Zealand.

This morning’s unexpected announcement did not include Prince’s Australian tour dates.

American singer-songwriter extraordinaire Prince is set to return to Australian shores later this month as part of his Piano & A Microphone tour.

He’ll perform four shows at the State Theatre in Melbourne on February 16 and 17, two shows at the Sydney Opera House on February 20 and two shows at Sydney State Theatre on February 21.

Details at the moment are scant, with promoter Dainty Group promising “all details announced soon”.

We’re promised to witness special interpretations of well-known hits alongside B-sides, brand-new material and possibly some covers.

Tickets for the show at the 2000-plus capacity theatre will go on sale at midday on Thursday February 11 via ticketmaster.

But it seems Europe’s loss is our gain: Prince cancelled his solo “Piano and a Microphone Tour” late previous year after the Paris terror attacks.

Tickets for all but the Sydney Opera House shows will be available through Ticketmaster.

According to reviews of these shows, Prince performed on a stage decorated sparsely with candles and shrouded in smoke.

Though it’s possible Madonna’s Auckland shows – which haven’t sold out – will now be competing with Prince for ticket buyers.