NEWS
Eric Hutchinson is finally making his way back to Australia after a 16 year absence, with three East Coast theater dates locked in for November. The shows will also mark his first headline tour across the country.
The short run will begin at Brisbane's Lefty's Music Hall on Nov. 19 before heading to Melbourne's Northcote Social Club on Nov. 20. It wraps up in Sydney with a performance at The Lansdowne on Nov. 21.
Hutchinson's connection with Australia has always been a unique one. His breakthrough in the country came after his song "Rock & Roll" was featured on the Australian drama Packed to the Rafters, helping the track earn platinum certification and climb to No. 1 in 2009. He previously visited Australia as a support act for Jason Mraz and Kelly Clarkson during tours in 2008 and 2009, but he never had the chance to return with a headline show of his own.
"I honestly have no idea why I never came back to Australia, other than the fact that it's super far away from New York City, where I live," he said in a statement, adding that the timing finally aligned after years of fan requests.
Back in the United States, the success of "Rock & Roll" followed a different path. The song became Hutchinson's first gold certified single in the country, although it did not enter the Hot 100. The album Sounds Like This originally found its audience as an independent release after a Perez Hilton endorsement helped it climb to No. 5 on the iTunes Store in September 2007. It later debuted at No. 1 on the Billboard Heatseekers chart before receiving a broader release through Warner Bros. Records in May 2008. Since then, Hutchinson has continued putting out new albums while growing a loyal fanbase through consistent touring.
The Australian dates are in support of Hutchinson's latest album, the 2026 release Repeating Myself, which has been described as a return to the piano driven pop and soul style that first introduced him to many listeners. Fans can also expect to hear familiar favorites including "Rock & Roll," "OK, It's Alright With Me" and "A Little More."
Marshall Hamburger, winner of the tenth season of Australian Idol in 2025, has been announced as the opening act for all three shows.
Eric Hutchinson Australian Tour
Presented by Teamwrk Touring & MRG Live
Thursday, Nov. 19 — Lefty's Music Hall, Brisbane
Friday, Nov. 20 — Northcote Social Club, Melbourne
Saturday, Nov. 21 — The Lansdowne, Sydney
NEWS
Burna Boy gave fans an exclusive look inside one of the most important performances of his career, with Billboard there to capture the entire experience.
For a new Billboard video diary, the versatile musician walks viewers through his full routine as he got ready for the first FIFA World Cup Final halftime show on Sunday. The footage begins with his police escorted arrival and continues through the excitement of walking onto the field at New Jersey’s MetLife Stadium. It offers an honest look at everything that happened before and after the major performance.
Throughout the day, Burna enjoys several unforgettable encounters. He takes pictures with Shakira, his collaborator on the official 2026 FIFA World Cup anthem “Dai Dai.” The pair performed the track during Sunday’s halftime show, while it remains at the top of the Billboard Global 200 for a second week and leads the Billboard Global Excl. U.S. chart for a fourth week. Burna also catches up with streamer iShowSpeed, shares a hug with Justin Bieber and meets Ted Lasso star Jason Sudeikis, who surprised the audience by introducing Bieber. Once the greetings are over, Burna fits in one last rehearsal before heading out to perform.
The footage continues as Burna walks onto the field and joins the celebration. He looks thrilled when the set concludes, making his way through the players’ tunnel and returning backstage. There, he receives compliments from Chris Martin, who organized the halftime show and helped write the finale song “We Dance” alongside his Coldplay bandmates.
Watch Burna Boy’s complete Day in the Life video through Billboard below.
