Eskimo Joe Announce ‘Black Fingernails, Red Wine’ 20th Anniversary Australian Tour

The WA trio will perform their classic album in full at all shows.

Image Nate Hill

It’s hard to believe, but next year marks the 20th anniversary of Eskimo Joe’s seminal album, Black Fingernails, Red Wine. To celebrate this momentous occasion, the Western Australian lads are hitting the road and performing the album in full.

Released in June 2006, Black Fingernails Red Wine debuted at #1 on the ARIA Album Chart, achieved 4x Platinum sales and spawned a string of hit singles, including ‘Comfort You’, ‘Sarah’, ‘New York’ and ‘How Does It Feel’.

The multi-ARIA Award-winning trio will not only perform the entire album live, but they’ll also play a set of their biggest hits, including tracks like ‘From the Sea’, ‘Love is a Drug’, ‘Foreign Land’, and their latest single, ‘Miracle Cure’.

They aren’t doing it alone either, bringing along special guest Alex Lloyd, who will open each show.

Eskimo Joe get things underway with two hometown concerts at Freo Social in Fremantle on Friday 1 May and Saturday, 2 May. The three-piece then perform at Brisbane’s The Triffid on Saturday 9 May, Melbourne’s Corner Hotel on Friday 15 May, Sydney’s The Factory Theatre on Saturday 16 May, and finish up in Adelaide at The Gov on Friday 5 June.

Tickets go on sale at 9am AEDT today, Thursday 13 November, via eskimojoe.net.

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“Looking back, we’d been working really hard leading up to that record, honing our songwriting and performance,” says frontman Kav Temperley. “By the time we got into the studio, we were feeling pretty match fit. But I don’t think any of us realised at the time what a huge impact that album would have on us, or how much it would change our trajectory. I have nothing but gratitude for the fact that we can still go out and play Black Fingernails Red Wine and that it still means so much to so many people. It absolutely blows my mind and warms my heart.”

“Playing the album from start to finish is such a special experience for us,” says guitarist Stu MacLeod. “It’s a chance for us to relive a pretty special moment in time for us, and to revisit those songs that never made it to the stage. Some of my favourite Eskimo Joe songs are incidental album tracks that we just never performed live.”

Guitarist and drummer Joel Quartermain adds, “With this album, the band really arrived at a point of creative cohesion.  We seemed to have that elusive balance of experience, youth and (blind) confidence to go after a pretty ambitious vision.  It was a sweet spot, and when we play these songs live, it’s fun to return to that place.  The record works as a whole piece, so to perform it in its entirety only makes sense and feels great!”

Along with the anniversary shows, Eskimo Joe are collaborating with Howard Park Winery to release a special Black Fingernails Red Wine 20th Anniversary Edition Cabernet Sauvignon. More details to come on this one.

Catch Eskimo Joe performing at The Gov on Friday 5 June. Ticketing information available at eskimojoe.net.

ESKIMO JOE BLACK FINGERNAILS RED WINE
20th Anniversary Tour  Dates

with special guest Alex Llyod

Friday 1 & Saturday 2 May – Freo Social, Fremantle, WA

Saturday 9 May – The Triffid, Brisbane, QLD

Friday 15 May – Corner Hotel, Richmond, VIC

Saturday 16 May – The Factory Theatre, Sydney, NSW

Friday 5 June – The Gov, Adelaide, SA

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