Allan Caswell Plots 'The Really Long Goodbye Tour'

English-Australian songwriter and country music icon Allan Caswell has announced his plans to embark on a farewell tour.

However, the said tour is expected to last so long that we don’t have all the dates to share with you. Named The Really Long Goodbye Tour, Caswell’s first date will take place at the Tamworth Services Club on Sunday, 26 January (Australia Day).

Touring with his friend Dane Sharp, Caswell is set to continue until he has returned to “all the places he has enjoyed playing over the years.” As a press release notes, that could be many, many places.

“Considering he has played nearly every town in NSW, every state in Australia, NZ, the USA, East Timor, Iraq and Afghanistan and most of the big country and folk festivals around the country… it might take a while,” the press release reads.

Allan Caswell is recognised as Australia’s most recorded songwriter, with over 750 of his songs recorded by Slim Dusty, Barry Humphries, James Blundell, Cilla Black, Patti Page, The Living End, Graeme Connors, The Wolfe Brothers, Ella Hooper, and more.

His best-known song, On The Inside, was recorded by Lynne Hamilton and released in 1979. It was used as the theme music for the Australian drama series Prisoner.

Caswell is also a critically acclaimed artist, having won eight Golden Guitar awards from 48 nominations, ARIA and APRA Awards, gold and platinum records and other music industry awards. This year, he was added to the Australian Country Music Roll of Renown in Tamworth.

Here’s what Caswell has to say about the Really Long Goodbye Tour:

I am unlikely to go back to Iraq or Afghanistan but everywhere else is a possibility. I already have shows planned with friends like Lindsay Waddington, Pixie, Dane Sharp and Matt Scullion and will be taking ‘Used To Be A Gold Song … The Allan Caswell Tribute Show starring Allan Caswell as himself’ around the country.

I am not retiring … I am still writing way too many songs and making too many records … and besides I can’t retire … my golf game is terrible.

Touring is challenging these days … the CD sales, that once paid for diesel and accommodation, are all but gone. That said, I will be hitting the road in short bursts so I can still keep my songwriting and workshops going. Getting in front of an audience with my songs and stories is a huge part of my life … songwriting? … that goes forever.

You can keep up with Allan Caswell news on his website.