Bleak Squad Add New Dates To ‘Strange Love’ Australian Tour
The Aussie supergroup is performing tracks from their critically acclaimed debut album, Strange Love.
Image Felix Oliver
After bypassing Adelaide on their run of tour dates last year, Aussie supergroup Bleak Squad are finally performing in the City of Churches this August.
Comprising Adalita (Magic Dirt), Mick Turner (Dirty Three, Mess Esque), Mick Harvey (Nick Cave & The Bad Seeds, PJ Harvey, The Birthday Party) and Marty Brown (Art of Fighting), Bleak Squad can best be described as a noir rock outfit whose debut album, Strange Love, received rave reviews.
Speaking about how the band came to be, Brown says, “I was sitting around Fitzroy pool one summer bemoaning I wasn’t playing drums enough. So I thought I might start a new project and just called everyone then and there. I knew everyone had a completely unique musical personality, but I wasn’t expecting how well those personalities would complement each other.”
Out of those sessions came the album Strange Love, with Adalita and Harvey on vocal duties, complemented by Turner’s guitar work and Brown’s drumming.
Bleak Squad’s remaining tour dates include a headline show at the Factory Theatre in Sydney tonight, Thursday 5 March, and an appearance at Golden Plains Festival on Sunday 8 March.
After a short break, Bleak Squad are back on the road for four shows in a row at Brisbane’s Princess Theatre on Thursday 30 July, Eumundi’s Imperial Hotel on Friday 31 July, Murwillumbah’s The Regent Cinema on Saturday 1 August and Adelaide’s The Gov on Sunday 2 August.
Tickets for all shows are on sale now at feelpresents.com.
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Bleak Squad have also shared two previously unreleased songs: original composition ‘Black & White’, written by Adalita and Turner, and a cover of an old Marlene Dietrich song. Together they comprise the band's first 7” release, which is available now in a limited edition, one-time pressing.
Speaking about the new songs, the band revealed, “‘Suitcase in Berlin’ is Bleak Squad's version of an old Marlene Dietrich song 'Ich Hab’ Noch Einen Koffer in Berlin’. Translated and arranged by Mick Harvey, and actually the second version of it that Mick has recorded.
“‘Black and White’ has origins from an instrumental created by Mick Turner, with lyrics by Adalita, and demonstrates the potency of Bleak Squad being able to craft something that is so loose and shambolic but nuanced, that ends up sounding like it was always meant to be.
Catch Bleak Squad performing at The Gov on Sunday 2 August. Tickets on sale here.
Bleak Squad Australian Tour Dates 2026
Thursday 5 March - Factory Theatre, Sydney, NSW
Sunday 8 March - Golden Plains Festival, Meredith, VIC
Thursday 30 July - Princess Theatre, Brisbane, QLD
Friday 31 July - Imperial Hotel, Eumundi, QLD
Saturday 1 August - The Regent Cinema, Murwillumbah, NSW
Sunday 2 August - The Gov, Adelaide, SA
