Australian singer-songwriter Ben Lee is set to commemorate the 20th anniversary of his acclaimed 2005 album, Awake Is The New Sleep, with a nationwide tour this September and October.
The tour will feature Lee and his band performing the album in its entirety, embracing a nostalgic approach with no backing tracks, click tracks, or video screens, reminiscent of the original 2005 performances.
In conjunction with the tour announcement, Lee has released a reimagined version of his hit single “Catch My Disease,” collaborating with Phantom Planet and featuring guest vocals from artists including Lara Meyerratken, Sadie Dupuis, Alex Lahey, Khatumu, and Tim Blunt of FVNERAL. The updated lyrics pay homage to contemporary Australian artists Mallrat and Miss Kaninna.
Victorian fans will be able to catch him at Castlemaine, Torquay and Northcote in October.
“I’m not really a nostalgic person, I prefer to keep pushing forward with new projects and ideas, but this feels weirdly right to me,” Lee said in a statement.
” I’ve done so much touring in the last couple of years, averaging about 100 shows a year, and it’s become abundantly clear to me that this album Awake was a really vital part of so many people’s lives and emotional journeys. I’ve chatted to so many people about the wide-eyed exploration and optimism of the record, and how it still seems to find people at the exact right time that they need that kind of energy.”
“For me, it’s an album of endings and beginnings. I made it when I’d just left a major romantic relationship, had no record deal for the first time in my career, and was getting into spirituality, philosophy and the occult (but wasn’t in over my head just yet – that would come soon enough lol).
“It’s an album that seemed to change a lot of lives, including mine. I’m looking forward to facing that, head on, and exploring what these songs mean to me and the audience today, 20 years on. They still feel potent,” he said.
Pre-sale tickets for Frontier Members will be available starting Tuesday, May 20 at 2 PM local time, with general sales opening on Thursday, May 22 at 2 PM local time.
For more information and ticket details, visit Ben Lee’s official website.
BEN LEE AWAKE IS THE NEW SLEEP AUSTRALIAN TOUR DATES 2025
- Thursday, September 25 – UC Refectory, Canberra, ACT
- Friday, September 16 – King Street Bandroom, Newcastle, NSW
- Saturday, September 17 – Liberty Hall, Sydney, NSW
- Thursday, October 2 – The Beach Hotel, Byron Bay, NSW
- Friday, October 3 – The Princess Theatre, Brisbane, QLD
- Saturday, October 4 – Miami Marketta, Gold Coast, QLD
- Thursday, October 9 – Theatre Royal, Castlemaine, VIC
- Friday, October 10 – Torquay Hotel, Torquay, VIC
- Saturday, October 11 – Northcote Theatre, Melbourne, VIC
- Friday, October 17 – The Gov, Adelaide, SA
- Saturday, October 18 – Fremantle Arts Centre, Fremantle, WA
