McAlister Kemp announce first tour in six years

[EDITOR’S NOTE: Due to ongoing COVID-19 restrictions, the After The Breakdown 2021 Tour has been cancelled. For additional information, details are available here.]

Powerhouse duo, McAlister Kemp have announced their first tour in six years, following their separation in 2015 to work on solo projects. Comprised of Drew McAlister and Troy Kemp, the seventeen-date After the Breakdown – 2021 Tour will take the duo from Cairns to Geelong and includes appearances at the Deni Ute Muster and Groundwater Country Music Festival.

Kemp says, “After a six-year break, we are stoked to be announcing the After the Breakdown – 2021 Tour! We’ll be playing all our favourite MK songs as well as some new tracks that we’ve been working on over the last year. We love an Aussie country crowd and look forward to a long overdue party with you guys again soon!”

The duo reunited in 2020 to celebrate the ten-year anniversary of McAlister Kemp’s debut album, All Kinds Of Tough. Originally announced as a one-off special concert for the Tamworth Country Music Festival, they broke a new record at the iconic Longyard Hotel when their show sold-out within four days, leading to a second show announced for the following day.

McAlister Kemp remains one of the most successful Australian country acts of the last decade. From the immediate, breakout success in 2010 (which saw them take home the award for ‘New Talent of the Year’ at the 2011 Golden Guitars) through to disbanding in 2015, the duo earned their stripes as one of the highest selling and most loved touring acts in Australian country music.

Their three highly acclaimed albums – All Kinds of Tough (2010), ARIA-nominated Country Proud (2012) and Harder to Tame (2014) – produced number one video and airplay hits including Country Proud, Hell Yeah, It Don’t Buy You Love, Harder to Tame, Fight Me and All Kinds of Tough. They have toured extensively, playing to big crowds on large festival stages, and opening for the likes of Adam Brand and international acts Alan Jackson and Big & Rich.

Both have also had lucrative solo careers. McAlister released two albums, 2015’s Black Sky and 2017’s Coming Your Way, and was one-fifth of Adam Brand and The Outlaws, the super group who took home the 2017 ARIA award for ‘Highest Selling Australian Artist’. His latest track, When This Is All Over is an upbeat song about the positives coming away from an event or tragedy, and is the first release since his 2019 singles, The Stranger and Live Young.

Kemp released his debut solo album Against The Grain in 2015, which features the #1 singles How We Roll Around Here and Small Town Girl. He picked up a Rob Potts ‘New Talent Of The Year’ Award at the 2018 CMC Awards for his duo project Tailgate Drive with Damien Baguley from The Viper Creek Band and his duet of Hung Up On You with songstress Jayne Denham was nominated for ‘Vocal Collaboration Of The Year’ at the 2019 Golden Guitar Awards.

Kemp, who now calls Nashville home, released a handful of singles too, including Needles On The Vinyl and features on the patriotic track, I Still Call Australia Home with Kristy Cox, O’Shea, Travis List, Camille and Stuie, Jedd Hughes, Katrina Burgoyne and Sam Hawksley.

The name of the tour is the title of the first song the duo wrote together since reconciling.

Kemp says, “After The Breakdown is about getting on with your life after a tragedy or something happening that was bad, but it almost felt like we were writing a cathartic song about us too.”

McAlister adds, “[The song] was based off a friend of ours whose partner committed suicide. That was the start of the idea and then it evolved into a healing process with us.”

The duo has since written a handful of songs together, including the ballad When You See Me. And while there has been no word on a release date for either song, Kemp previously stressed a tour and new releases would likely happen if the demand is there – and considering the now tour announcement, an educated guess would be that some new music will follow.

McAlister Kemp ‘After The Breakdown – 2021 Tour’

Fri Oct 1 – Canberra ACT, Southern Cross Club
Sat Oct 2 – Deniliquin NSW, Deni Ute Muster
Thur Oct 7 – Toowoomba QLD, Highfields Tavern
Fri Oct 8 – Townsville QLD, Dalrymple Hotel
Sat Oct 9 – Cairns QLD, Edge Hill Tavern
Fri Oct 15 – Windsor NSW, Windsor RSL
Sat Oct 16 – Newcastle NSW, Toronto Hotel
Thurs Oct 21 – Mulgrave VIC, Village Green Hotel
Fri Oct 22 – Mt Evelyn VIC, York on Lilydale
Sat Oct 23 – Geelong VIC, Gateway Hotel
Sun Oct 24 – Hallam VIC, Hallam Hotel
Fri Oct 29 – Muswellbrook NSW, Muswellbrook RSL 
Fri Nov 5 – Taree NSW, Club Taree
Sat Nov 6 – Budgewoi NSW, Halekulani Bowling Club
Thurs Nov 11 – Wollongong NSW, Centro CBD
Fri Nov 12 – Picton NSW, George IV Hotel
Sat Nov 13 – Gold Coast QLD, Groundwater Country Music Festival

Tickets go on sale 10am, Monday 5th July from www.mcalisterkemp.com.au

Keep up to date with McAlister Kemp on their Facebook page here.

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Image: Supplied