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RONAN KEATING AUSTRALIAN TOUR

With Special Guest Tina Arena

LAUNCHES VERY FIRST CONCERT AT
SANDALFORD WINES MARGARET RIVER – SUNDAY JANUARY 17

International superstar Ronan Keating will undertake his first concert tour of Australia in eight years when he returns to our shores in January 2010.

In news that will thrill his legions of Australian fans, the charismatic Irish star will perform indoor concerts in Melbourne and Sydney, and seven ‘a day on the green’ winery events around the country, including the very first concert to be held at Sandalford Wines in Margaret River on Sunday January 17.

The tour’s very special guest will be the wonderful Tina Arena. Following two sold-out seasons of performances here in 2008 and 2009 and with sales of her recent album ‘Songs Of Love and Loss’ close to 200,000 units, Tina is looking forward to touring again – and especially with Ronan.

“Like every Aussie living abroad, I love coming home for Christmas but this year I’m also really looking forward to touring with Ronan,” Tina said. “We’ve sung together before but never toured together, so that has me really excited. He’s a genuinely lovely guy and I’m really looking forward to performing with him again.”

Popular singer/songwriter Damien Leith, who has just released his new “Remember June” album, will open the concert.

Ronan will arrive in Australia next week for a promotional tour to launch his new album ‘Stay’ (released on Universal Records on November 13), and to announce the concert dates.

The 2010 tour through Australia, New Zealand and the UK is his first solo outing since 2004 and Ronan is incredibly excited about putting the show together and having the opportunity to perform all his classic hits like ‘Life Is A Rollercoaster’, ‘Lovin Each Day’, ‘When You Say Nothing At All’, ‘If Tomorrow Never Comes’, ‘The Long Goodbye’, and ‘I Love It When We Do’ plus the songs from ‘Stay’.

Australia has always embraced Ronan’s music and to date he has three Platinum albums (‘Ronan’, ‘Bring You Home’ and ‘Songs For My Mother’) and two Double Platinum albums (‘Destination’ and ‘10 Years Of Hits’), with his total sales in this country now in excess of 1.2 million units.

Released earlier this year, ‘Songs For My Mother’ held the #1 spot on the ARIA Album Chart for four consecutive weeks.

With record sales in excess of 22 million albums globally, an enviable Guinness Book Of Records listing for being the only artist ever to have 30 consecutive top 10 singles in the UK chart (beating the likes of Elvis and The Beatles!), an Ivor Novello and BMI songwriting awards, an autobiography and an extensive and much-applauded list of charity endeavours, Ronan’s triumphant career shows no signs of slowing down just yet.

This year he has climbed Kilimanjaro for the UK charity Comic Relief, raising an outstanding £3.5 million, ran the London Marathon, completed a hugely successful two month arena tour with Boyzone, and was honoured with a Special Achievement Award from Cancer Research UK to recognise his on-going work for The Marie Keating Charity (began after his mother’s death from breast cancer in 1998). Most recently he has recorded ‘Stay’, a set of traditional and modern festive classics that evoke special memories of Christmas for him.

The tour will be another triumphant return home for TINA ARENA. Earlier this year, and twelve years since the initial success of her French hit ‘Aller Plus Haut’, Tina was recognised for her contributions to arts and music by being awarded the French Order of Merit, presided over by President Sarkozy himself. A summer of European touring followed, backed up by the release of Tina’s French Greatest Hits album ‘The Best and Le Meilleur’.

“There really is nothing like the out-door venues in Australia,” Tina said. “They are some of the best places on earth – and surrounded by the holy grape! Touring them with Ronan will be an amazing start to 2010.”

DAMIEN LEITH’s musical odyssey has been an amazing one to say the least. The Irish-born troubadour's career went stratospheric when he won Australian Idol in 2006 aged 30. His beautiful falsetto and touching songs captured millions of hearts and multiple platinum awards. The singer-songwriter's journey continues with his third album ‘Remember June’ (out October 9), which teams him with acclaimed producer Stuart Crichton. The result represents an artistic leap for the maturing artist, who will no doubt win over many new fans during this tour.
Ronan Keating, Tina Arena and Damien Leith is a superb line-up for this very first ‘a day on the green’ concert in Margaret River. It’s definitely one not to be missed!

EVENT INFORMATION:
Sunday January 17 – Sandalford Wines, Metricup Road, Wilyabrup

‘a day on the green’ is a fully licensed event. Minors (children under 18 years of age) may only attend the event if they are accompanied by their parent/step-parent or legal guardian. All patrons (including minors) must have a valid ticket for entry.

Strictly no BYO alcohol and NO GLASS. Low deck chairs and picnic rugs are recommended. Food will be available at the venue or BYO picnic.

TICKET PRICES:
$395.00 Concert & Dining Packages
$160.00 Gold (A Reserve Seating)
$ 99.50 General Admission


PLAYING TIMES:
GATES OPEN 3.00pm
DAMIEN LEITH 4.15pm
TINA ARENA 5.30pm
RONAN KEATING 7.00pm

TRANSPORT:
Leave the car at home and take the bus. To check for your nearest pick up point, contact Gannaways
Charters & Tours 9752 3036 or go to www.gannawayscharterservice.com.au for fares and schedules.


ABOUT SANDALFORD WINES MARGARET RIVER:
Sandalford Wines is West Australia’s leading wine tourism operator having won the State award four times. The Sandalford Wines vineyard is one of the oldest in Margaret River, dating back to 1970. It is certainly the largest at 1,000 acres. The Prendiville family acquired the Swan Valley and Margaret River properties in 1991 with a vision to present concerts at both venues. That vision has now become a reality.

TICKETS ON SALE MONDAY NOVEMBER 9

General Admission, Reserved Seating and all inclusive Concert & Dining Packages available through ticketmaster.com.au and 136 100.

General Admission tickets are also available at the following retail outlets:
ALBANY: Urban 280 & Vibes, BUNBURY: Collins Music, BUSSELTON: Blue 62, MANDURAH: Trax, MARGARET RIVER: Beach Life, WILYABRUP: Sandalford Wines Cellar Door.