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Fix the driver behind crashes, sound loss and screen glitchesFind Drivers →Clear out junk files and repair common Windows errorsFree Scan →Paul Kelly’s 29 August 2025 concert at Brisbane Entertainment Centre was a carefully paced arena set that moved between intimate songs, familiar anthems and a crowd-led finale. This review covers that specific sold-out Brisbane show—not the separate Red Hot Summer Tour that followed in 2026.
What happened at the Brisbane concert
Fanny Lumsden opened the bill, followed by Lucinda Williams and her band. Kelly took the stage at about 9 pm, beginning at the keyboards with “Houndstooth Dress” before moving into “Firewood and Candles.” Jess Hitchcock joined him on vocals.
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Sean Sennett’s Rolling Stone AU/NZ review describes a set shaped by “light and shade,” with large-screen backdrops supporting the performance. The sequence included “Before Too Long,” “Careless” and “Rita Wrote a Letter,” which Sennett identifies as a prequel to “How to Make Gravy.” The account presents the newer song alongside established material rather than as a departure from Kelly’s familiar catalogue. Read the Rolling Stone AU/NZ review.
How the set built its momentum
Familiar songs and a changing atmosphere
“From St Kilda to Kings Cross” served as a signature moment. Later, “To Her Door” and “Dumb Things” shifted the arena toward what the reviewer calls a beer-hall atmosphere. That contrast helps explain the review’s emphasis on pacing: the show was not described as a run of identical singalongs, but as a set that changed mood while drawing on songs the audience knew.
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The closing stretch
Sennett singles out “Deeper Water” as a high point. “From Little Things Big Things Grow,” co-written by Kelly and Kev Carmody, closed the main set. When Kelly fumbled some lyrics, the crowd carried the chorus, turning the moment into a shared one rather than a polished, distant finale.
The encore included “Leaps and Bounds.” “Meet Me in the Middle of the Air” was the final number. In Sennett’s account, the last song brought the evening to a quieter close after the communal energy of the main-set ending.
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What the review’s verdict means
Sennett calls it “A superb night” and describes Kelly as “one of the grand masters of songwriting and our unofficial poet laureate.” Those are the critic’s judgments, not a measured account of every attendee’s reaction. The review’s strongest case for its praise is the combination of song choice, dynamic shifts and crowd participation—not a claim about objective sound quality or a universal audience consensus.
How this differs from the 2026 Red Hot Summer Tour
The Brisbane performance was a single-artist arena concert with opening acts. The later Red Hot Summer Tour was an outdoor, multi-act Australian bill headlined by Kelly and featuring Missy Higgins, The Cruel Sea, The Cat Empire, Kasey Chambers and Jess Hitchcock. The promoter’s detailed schedule listed dates from 10 January through 23 May 2026; all had passed by 8 October 2026. Its introductory copy described a January-to-March run, but the detailed schedule extended into May, so the dated listings are the clearer guide. See the Red Hot Summer Tour listing.
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A community-submitted setlist for the 23 May Moreton Bay event includes several songs also mentioned in the Brisbane review: “Houndstooth Dress,” “Rita Wrote a Letter,” “Before Too Long,” “Careless” and “From St Kilda to Kings Cross.” It is a record of one later show, not an official setlist or proof that every 2026 date had the same program. View the submitted Moreton Bay setlist.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.Is Paul Kelly touring Australia now?
The dates documented here establish that the 2026 Red Hot Summer shows are historical, not upcoming. A secondary tour tracker reports no currently announced Australian dates, but touring announcements and ticket availability can change; check Paul Kelly’s official website or the relevant promoter for current information rather than relying on an older tracker. The tour tracker’s listing is time-sensitive and is not a substitute for official confirmation.
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