When AC/DC reached Australian shores with their Black Ice World Tour in early 2010, the boys weren't the only ones ready to rock.
For Stage and Screen, planning for Bill Bailey's 'Larks in Transit' tour started back in May in collaboration with Adrian Bohm Presents who is managing the tour. With Bill travelling to many regional areas it was particularly important to secure high quality accommodation early, as the options can be limited.
When seen through the eyes of a comedian, life takes on a very different perspective. That’s the magic of having a brain that is wired a bit differently to the rest of us mere mortals. After over 20 years as a touring comedian Bill Bailey has seen a lot of the world and its weird and wonderful ways! So he had a lot of material and experiences to draw on when he set about putting together his current tour.
It's been two decades since Bill first took to Aussie stages, and he's commemorating this milestone with a typically eclectic collection of observations in his new show dubbed ‘Larks In Transit Tour”. The quirky British comedian has been dubbed the ‘brainiest comic of his generation’ by the Daily Telegraph, with The New York Times calling him ‘a treat for the funny bone, the brain and the ear’. Also a talented musician and television star, Bill is globally recognised from his time on the award-winning show Black Books and Never Mind The Buzzcocks. But what drives Bill is bringing his off beat comedy to live audiences.
For his current tour Bill’s incorporating a bit of everything, with it being described as “a compendium of travellers tales and the general shenanigans of twenty years as a travelling comedian. With musical virtuosity, surreal tangents and trademark intelligence.” In his own irreverent style Bill tackles politics, philosophy, the pursuit of happiness, death metal, ringtones and an excruciating encounter with Paul McCartney. Bill has already wowed audiences across the Tasman, performing in Christchurch, Invercargill, Dunedin, Wellington and Auckland in October. In Australia his Larks On Tour schedule is taking him from the top to the bottom – kicking off in Darwin before heading to Cairns, Townsville, Gold Coast, Adelaide, Launceston, Hobart, Geelong, Melbourne, Brisbane, Perth, Sydney, Newcastle, Wollongong and wrapping up in Canberra in December.
With Stage and Screen behind him all the way, Bill's flights across the globe were carefully managed before his 15 city Australian tour even began. Bill’s modest tour entourage includes an assistant and crew of five to manage the logistics. Excess luggage - including a number of stage props, was taken care of without batting an eyelid, and arrangements secured in advance for the next leg of Bill’s tour which is taking place in Malaysia, Singapore and Hong Kong.
TOP BILL
For Bill Bailey, music has been a constant in his life and none more so than when he is on the road touring. So what genres tickle the fancy of this talented comic and musician?
Bill’s top 10 albums
1. Talking Heads – Remain in Light (1980)
2. The Clash – Combat Rock (1982)
3. Beck – Odelay (1996)
4. Red Hot Chilli Peppers – Blood Sugar Sex Magik (1991)
5. King Curtis – Live at Fillmore West (1971)
6. The Dandy Warhols – 13 Tales From Urban Bohemia (2000)
7. Tom Waits – Blue Valentine (1978)
8. Lamb – Fear of Fours (1999)
9. Elvis Costello – When I Was Cruel (2002)
10. David Bowie – Ziggie Stardust (1972)
