March 16th 2019 – Sydney, Australia
Is it Christmas in Australia for U2?
The Sydney Morning Herald has reported on U2’s worst-kept-secret upcoming down under tour (it’s only a rumor, wink wink). And they have done so in the most bizarre fashion imaginable, by quoting Elton John as complaining that John is having trouble getting accommodation for his tour since all the mansions in the Sydney metropolitan area are already booked up by U2 and their crew at the same time. Of course, it’s “possible” that U2 needs several mansions for a vacation down under, but given all the other news we’re hearing through the grapevine, and the bands own statements that they wanted to tour Australia again, we’re doubting it. The SMH reported that U2 would have an “extended stay” in Australia’s largest city. Here’s the exact quote:
John’s stay will coincide with an extended visit by the Irish supergroup U2. The four band members and their respective families are set to stay in Sydney during their Australian tour. And that means a mansion each. As one real estate insider informed PS: “These guys are talking $10,000-a-night houses, there just isn’t that many of them available in Sydney.”
Since Elton John is booked for two nights in Sydney on December 21 and 23, this would indicate that U2 will play around the same time – IE Christmas week. It would be an unusual step for the band, who have a famous tradition of spending Christmas in Ireland – and often joining in public festivities on Christmas Eve. Are we to see them ring in Christmas day a few hours earlier in 2019? Or will their Australian dates be a few days before or after? We will surely know soon.
U2 last toured down under in 2010, playing 10 stadium dates in Australia and New Zealand to a total audience of over 500,000 people. U2 hasn’t played indoor shows in either Australia or New Zealand since the Lovetown tour in 1989, and this tour is expected to be no different. While nothing has been confirmed by the band or Live Nation, it is widely expected that this tour will be another Stadium event.
