Shoeys & Power Outages: Max McNown’s Debut Australian Tour Has Seen It All
On the back of a sold-out tour, Max McNown’s debut hit ‘A Lot More Free’ has officially gone Gold in Australia.
Max McNown (Nate Griffin)
Rising U.S. country artist Max McNown has officially landed in Australia, and the love from Down Under is real. Halfway through his debut Australian tour, McNown has already sold out major venues like The Forum in Melbourne and Sydney’s iconic Roundhouse. For a first-time visitor, it’s a surreal experience.
“I didn’t go in with any expectations, which is kind of how I live my life,” McNown says. “But I’ve been more than pleasantly surprised. The crowds here have been even better than everyone said they would be.”
While this tour is technically part of his A Lot More Free headline run, his first ever international headlining shows, it’s clear Australia has embraced him as one of their own. And according to Max, he has the viral magic of his hit single A Lot More Free to thank.
“I remember one of my biggest posts ever, 90% of the comments were from Australians,” he laughs. “Something about that song really hit here.”
Of course, no tour is without its hiccups. In Brisbane, McNown found himself mid-performance when the entire PA system cut out: mics, instruments, everything. For thirteen minutes, Max and his band had to hold the crowd’s attention with nothing but charisma, acoustic improv, and a few unexpected cultural moments.
“Everyone in the front row was just like, ‘You’re not singing right now,’” he recalls. “So we sang Cover Me Up, signed autographs, and then... I did a shoey. That was the last thing before the power came back.”
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Reflecting on the tour so far, Max says that Brisbane mishap may have ended up being the most memorable moment. “When something like that happens, it can go one of two ways. But that crowd? They leaned in, they stayed with us, and it turned into something really special. It felt like a room full of friends, not just fans.”
That moment gave him a new kind of confidence. “It reminded me that no matter what goes wrong, just be yourself and it’ll all work out.”
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There certainly has been a bit of a bromance blooming on tour as well. Australian singer-songwriter Austin Mackay has joined McNown out on the road to open all the shows across Australia and New Zealand, and the chemistry between the two is undeniable, both onstage and off.
“I’m very choosy with openers,” McNown says. “Austin stood out because he’s just a genuinely good dude. We had coffee in Auckland before the first show and ended up talking for three hours straight, no small talk, just real conversations. That’s my kind of person.”
Blown away by Mackay’s talent, McNown added “He loops, he plays harmonica, electric, acoustic, he’s just super creative. His set keeps people locked in.”
When questions about a possible collaboration between the two, it isn’t out of the question. “We’ve had some baby conversations about it,” McNown teases. “I co-write everything I release, and Austin usually writes solo, but we’re definitely tossing the idea around.”
Despite the tight schedule, McNown is finding time to soak up the Aussie experience. “We’re going to the zoo to see some koalas,” he says. “And I really want to get out on the water, see the Opera House from the harbour, kind of where Nemo’s dad came up in Finding Nemo, you know?”
He’s also checked off a major bucket list item: visiting Hobbiton in New Zealand. “That was a dream come true,” he grins.
As McNown continues to take on Australia one sold-out show at a time, one thing is clear, this rising star has found a second home down under. With his heart-on-sleeve songwriting, viral hits, and fearless stage presence, Max McNown is more than welcome here.
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