Two new shows added to Eli Paperboy Reed Australian tour - a triple-bill like no other

Announcement posted by Jameson & Co 04 Apr 2025

Eli Paperboy Reed (NYC) + Grammy® nominees The Harlem Gospel Travelers + Melbourne's The Meltdown

COME ON GET SWEATY!

A triple-bill like no other
Authentic blues, deep soul and uplifting gospel with
20 Years of Eli Paperboy Reed (NYC)
The Harlem Gospel Travelers (NYC)
The Meltdown (Melb)

Two new dates added!

Get ready for an electrifying soul, blues and gospel explosion like never before! This May, three powerhouse acts come together for a tour that's more than just a celebration - it's a full-blown revival of rhythm and soul, with two new dates added in New South Wales and Victoria.

Marking 20 years since his debut, Eli Paperboy Reed is bringing his high-energy, heart-stopping live show to Australia, but this time, he's not coming alone. Joining him are the Grammy-nominated Harlem Gospel Travelers (HGT) and Melbourne's very own The Meltdown, creating an unparalleled triple-bill for the first leg of the tour before transitioning into a powerhouse double-bill for the second leg.

A Tour Like No Other!
Not only will each act deliver their own incredible set, but The Meltdown will lend their talents as the backing band for both The Harlem Gospel Travelers and Eli Paperboy Reed. Meanwhile, HGT will bring their soul-stirring harmonies to their own high-energy performance before joining Eli for his set, creating a seamless, genre-defying night of music. Expect raw gospel, deep soul, and fiery R&B, all wrapped in a live experience you won't find anywhere else.

A Milestone Worth Celebrating
Alongside this once-in-a-lifetime tour, Eli Paperboy Reed is celebrating two decades of music with a special re-release of his very first album, Sings Walkin' And Talkin' And Other Smash Hits!, via Yep Roc Records. Originally recorded in a basement studio in Allston, Massachusetts, this album captures Reed's earliest musical explorations, performed live to analog tape and self-released as a run of just 300 CDs. Now, fully remastered and expanded, this special edition includes additional tracks and a never-before-heard session recorded for WHRB radio at Harvard University in 2005. The first single from the set, "Stop Talking In Your Sleep (Radio Session)," showcases Reed's signature blend of inner-city gospel and the primal energy of early rock 'n' roll.

Eli reflects, "Looking back at these recordings, I can hear the energy of that time, the hunger to make this music my life. Twenty years later, I'm still on that journey, and I couldn't be more excited to celebrate it with this tour."

Set for a June release, advance copies on CD and vinyl will be available exclusively at these shows.

Grammy®-nominated Gospel
The Harlem Gospel Travelers, hailed as torchbearers of modern gospel funk, are bringing their electrifying sound to Australia for the first time. Their Grammy®-nominated album Rhapsody - steeped in raw soul, tight harmonies, and joyful grooves- was produced by none other than Eli Paperboy Reed. As the first openly queer gospel group to receive a Grammy® nomination, HGT are redefining the genre with both their fearless style and powerhouse vocals. At this year's Grammy Awards®, they turned heads with their dazzling outfits and left an unforgettable mark - serenading Emmy Award-winning journalist Don Lemon with an impromptu a cappella performance on the red carpet.

10 Years of Better Days
Meanwhile, The Meltdown, Australia's premier purveyors of soul, will not only perform their own lush and intoxicating set but will also serve as the backbone of the entire tour, backing both HGT and Eli. This level of collaboration is rarely seen and guarantees a one-of-a-kind musical experience that can't be replicated.

Hailing from Melbourne, Australia, The Meltdown has built a reputation as one of the country's finest, blending the raw emotion of Stax and Motown with the storytelling traditions of Nashville. Led by the unmistakable voice of Simon Burke, their sound is equal parts heart and groove - music that moves the soul and the feet.

Since their breakout hit Better Days - which now celebrates its 10th anniversary - the band has amassed an impressive 125 million global streams. Their self-titled debut album (2017) garnered critical acclaim, cementing their place as a powerhouse of Southern Soul. With a hypnotic rhythm section, soaring brass arrangements led by Lachlan McLean on baritone sax with Eamon McNelis on trumpet, The Meltdown's live performances are an uplifting experience that lingers long after the last note.

With new music on the horizon and exciting announcements in the works, The Meltdown continues to prove why they're a force to be reckoned with in modern soul.

Two Unmissable Legs!
The first leg of the tour (May 8-18) is a full-fledged triple-bill, with Eli Paperboy Reed, The Harlem Gospel Travelers and The Meltdown sharing the stage for a series of unforgettable shows, culminating in standalone slots the Blues On Broadbeach Festival for each respective act, with Eli announced as one of the headliners at this prestigious annual musical extravaganza.

The second leg (May 19-25) sees Eli Paperboy Reed & The Meltdown take the stage together for an exciting double-bill across Australia, keeping the soul fire burning into the final dates of the tour.

And for two very special nights, on May 13 in Wollongong (Centro CBD) and May 19 in Byron Bay (Byron Theatre), Eli will strip things back for an intimate duo performance with Simon Burke of The Meltdown—a rare chance to see two masters of soul music in a unique setting.

Eli on the Tour:
"I can't wait to get back to Australia and bring this incredible lineup to my fans. The energy of this show is going to be like nothing you've ever seen. It's going to be sweaty, it's going to be loud, and it's going to be pure soul from start to finish!"

Don't miss your chance to witness an historic celebration of soul, gospel, and rhythm & blues—a show that blends deep musical history with fresh, exhilarating performances.

This 14-date tour encompasses Corner Hotel (Melb) on May 8, Castlemaine's Theatre Royal on May 9, The Baso (Canberra) on May 10, Sydney's Metro Theatre on May 11, Wollongong's Centro CBD on May 13, Blues On Broadbeach on May 15-18, May 19 at Byron Theatre, May 22 at The Memo in Healesville, Adelaide's The Gov on May 23, Queenscliff Town Hall on May 24 and Meeniyan Town Hall on May 25.

Tickets are on sale now!

Media are invited to contact us for interviews (Eli Paperboy Reed and/or Ifedayo Gatling of HGT), music files, images and apply for reviewer/photographer accreditations.

MEDIA CONTACT:
Erin Jameson
erin(at)jamesonandco(dot)com
+61 419 323 663

FOLLOW THE ARTISTS:
Linktr.ee/EliPaperboyReed
Harlem Gospel Travelers Instagram
The Meltdown Instagram

ELI PAPERBOY REED +

THE HARLEM GOSPEL TRAVELERS + THE MELTDOWN

Thursday, May 8

Corner Hotel, 57 Swan St, Richmond, VIC

7.30pm

$90+bf

Tickets via Oztix | cornerhotel.com

Friday, May 9

Theatre Royal, 30 Hargraves St, Castlemaine, VIC

7pm