Lou Barlow | Credit: Lorne Thomson/Redferns

Dinosaur Jr’s Lou Barlow Announces Two Free Solo Australian Shows

February 1, 2024

Dinosaur Jr‘s Australian tour has once again expanded, with bassist Lou Barlow announcing he will play solo dates in both Melbourne and Sydney while the band are on tour in February 2024.

In Melbourne, Barlow will perform at the Preston shopfront for independent punk label Poison City Records on Thursday February 15th at 5pm. Meanwhile, in Sydney, Barlow is set to take to the stage at the boutique Chippendale venue Phoenix Central Park on Tuesday February 20th for two performances: One at 6:30pm and one at 8:15pm.

Both shows are free to attend; however, those wanting to attend the Sydney show will have to enter a ballot as per the usual Phoenix Central Park protocol. The ballot will close on Tuesday February 14th, and successful entrants will be notified by the venue. The ballot can be entered here.

Lou Barlow – ‘In My Arms’

In a statement posted to their social media, Poison City noted that they were “delighted” to have Barlow performing at their store. “We had the pleasure of releasing Lou’s excellent solo album Reason to Live in this part of the world a few years back, so [we’re] very excited to hear some of those tracks and more performed in our little store,” they wrote.

Barlow is indeed an accomplished solo artist in his own right away from Dinosaur Jr. He began releasing solo music in the early 90s under the moniker of Sentridoh, before later changing to his real name. He is also the frontman of Sebadoh, who last toured Australia in January of 2020, and a member of Folk Implosion.

Barlow’s solo shows come after frontman J Mascis announced his own solo shows for Sydney and Brisbane, and after the band added two new Melbourne shows to their Where You Been anniversary tour as a make-good following the cancellation of Tent Pole Festival in Geelong. The full updated itinerary can be found below.