CLANCY OVERELL | Editor | CONTACT
American Music executives and touring promoters remain relatively confused this week, ahead of North Carolina country superstar Luke Combs’ long-awaited tour of Australia and New Zealand.
Australian fans hoping to attend one of the stadium shows in this massive world tour had to be quick on the draw – as tickets sold at a Taylor Swift-warp speed.
Combs first arrives in Brisbane for two nights next week, before making his way down south and around the Perth – with the capital cities expecting hundreds of thousands of rural hicks rolling into town by the ute and lorry load.
However, that does not appear to be the case – judging by ticket sales.
A representative for Ticketek says initially their staff thought there must be something wrong with the audience data.
“Obviously everyone who uses our service gives us their details, so we have a clear insight into the characteristics of the people attending these shows” said the ticketing company’s spokesperson, Vi Agogo.
“So you can imagine how confused we were when we started to see suburbs like Redfern, Mount Druitt and Inala dominating ticket sales”
“We were expecting the big country towns like Tamworth and Deniliquin… Maybe Gympie… But it seems the target market for Luke Combs is the hood”
As the spokesperson also points out, the data shows that the average Australian Luke Combs fan is also fond of luxury sports brands like Nautica and Ralph Lauren.
“Again, these aren’t the type of customers that traditionally buy riding boots. It’s Nike TNs and Shox. They also appear to be the number one ticketholders for the South Sydney Rabbitohs and Penrith Panthers.
The Betoota Advocate spoke to one of these surprisingly passionate fans.
“We love Ukey in our house adlay” says one Country & Western Sydney fan, Roddy Rymonds (20).
“I first heard him when I was a teenager…” says the young eshay, as he readjusts his bumbag.
“My pop got me onto him coz he reckon he sounds like Charley Pride”
As Rodney points out, the August 16 show at Qudos stadium will be his first ever concert, as someone who finished school in lockdown.
“I was gonna go to the OneFour tour but the cops keep shutting down the drill concerts, so Ukeylay will be my first real one” he says.
“I’ve got cousins lining up for my extra ticket.” he says.
“And ever since he covered Tracey Chapman all the aunties wanna come too”
