Paul Kelly Releases 30th Album ‘Seventy’
The record includes the singles ‘Rita Wrote a Letter’ and ‘The Body Keeps The Score’.
Image Dean Podmore
Just over a year since the release of 2024’s Fever Longing Still, Australian icon Paul Kelly has released the follow-up album Seventy.
The title of Kelly’s 30th album is a reference to his age, with Seventy consisting of 13 enthralling tracks capturing Kelly’s unique view of the world.
“Telling stories is deeply human and has been since we started to become humans,” explains Kelly in reference to Chaucer's The Canterbury Tales and Boccaccio's Decameron, inspirations for Seventy.
Along with the previously released singles ‘Rita Wrote A Letter’, the long-awaited sequel to the beloved Australian classic ‘How To Make Gravy’, and ‘The Body Keeps The Score’, Kelly has released a music video for the record’s lead single ‘Happy Birthday, Ada Mae’.
A compassionate exploration of love, legacy and the people we connect with in life, the accompanying music video was directed by Kelly's daughter, Maddy Kelly, and features his granddaughter, two-year-old Ada Mae.
Reflecting on the song’s message, Kelly says, “In the end, love is all of us that remains.”
Speaking about the video collaboration, Kelly shared, “It's a joy working with my daughter and granddaughter. It fills my heart. Three generations in one little song.”
Director Maddy Kelly adds, “Having my dad write this song for my daughter Ada Mae was incredibly special. Her face lights up whenever she hears it—she thinks it's her birthday again. When I was asked to direct the film clip, it felt like a full-circle moment. It was a beautiful task to capture the incredible bond between grandfather and granddaughter, and to preserve that love between my dad and my daughter. It's a memory our family can cherish forever."
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The release of Seventy comes as Kelly prepares to hit the road again in 2026 as part of the Red Hot Summer Tour. Joined by an all-Australian lineup including Missy Higgins, The Cruel Sea, The Cat Empire, Kasey Chambers and Jess Hitchcock, Kelly is looking forward to playing live next year.
“The band and I have many great memories from our last Red Hot Summer Tour. We’re looking forward to making some new ones!” says Kelly.
The Red Hot Summer Tour 2026 takes place from January to March and begins on Saturday 17 January at Warrnambool Racecourse in Warrnambool. The traveling festival then takes over Speers Point Park in Lake Macquarie (Saturday 24 January), Westport Park in Port Macquarie (Saturday 31 January), Broadwater Parklands in Southport (Sunday 1 February), Werribee Park in Werribee South (Sunday 8 February), Berry Showground in Berry (Saturday 14 February), Bella Vista Farm in Bella Vista (Sunday 15 February) and Gateway Lakes in Wodonga (Saturday 28 February).
The final three dates are Launceston Country Club in Launceston (Sunday 8 March), Bendigo Racecourse in Bendigo (Saturday 14 March) and Kent Reserve in Victor Harbor on Saturday 21 March.
Tickets for the Red Hot Summer Tour are on sale now via redhotsummertour.com.au.
Seventy by Paul Kelly is out now via EMI. Listen here. The Red Hot Summer Tour 2026 takes place at Kent Reserve in Victor Harbor on Saturday 21 March. Tickets on sale now via redhotsummertour.com.au.
Red Hot Summer Tour 2026 Lineup and Dates
Lineup
Paul Kelly, Missy Higgins, The Cruel Sea, The Cat Empire, Kasey Chambers and Jess Hitchcock
Dates
Saturday 17 January – Warrnambool Racecourse, Warrnambool, VIC
Saturday 24 January – Speers Point Park, Lake Macquarie, NSW
Saturday 31 January – Westport Park, Port Macquarie, NSW
Sunday 1 February – Broadwater Parklands, Southport, QLD
Sunday 8 February – Werribee Park, Werribee South, VIC
Saturday 14 February – Berry Showground, Berry, NSW
Sunday 15 February – Bella Vista Farm, Bella Vista, NSW
Saturday 28 February – Gateway Lakes, Wodonga, VIC
Sunday 8 March – Launceston Country Club, Launceston, TAS
Saturday 14 March – Bendigo Racecourse, Bendigo, VIC
Saturday 21 March – Kent Reserve, Victor Harbor, SA
