NYC soul man to tour in May with special guests The Harlem Gospel Travelers + The Meltdown
Marking 20 years since his debut, Eli Paperboy Reed has announced that he will celebrate his milestone with an extensive Australian tour in May 2025, including an international headliner position at Blues On Broadbeach.
Known for his sweaty, searing performances and his raspy, soulful voice, Reed will bring his sensational new show to our shores, featuring special guests and recent Grammy® nominees, The Harlem Gospel Travelers (HGT), who will also perform their own shows.
Now with famed indie label Yep Roc Records as his home and nine acclaimed albums to his name, Reed also produced HGT’s latest album, Rhapsody, which earned the nod for Best Gospel Roots Album, making the unique trio – the first openly queer group to be nominated for a Grammy Award®.
Despite their name, the group members hail from across New York City, uniting through Harlem’s Gospel For Teens program, where they were mentored by Reed.
Offering an exhilarating live experience that will be unique to Australian audiences, The Harlem Gospel Travelers will join the line-up for the first leg of the 20 Years Of Eli Paperboy Reed Tour. they will perform in Melbourne (Corner Hotel, May 8), Castlemaine (Theatre Royal, May 9), Canberra (The Baso, May 10) and Sydney (Metro Theatre, May 11), concluding their dates with Blues On Broadbeach (May 16-18).
In these shows, HGT will deliver their own dynamic gospel funk sets as well as joining Reed on stage with their sweet, fervent vocals.
Also joining the lineup are The Meltdown, Melbourne’s purveyors of southern soul from the Great Southern Land, featuring rich instrumentation with a blend of Stax and Motown vibes. Members of The Meltdown will also form part of Reed’s and HGT’s respective bands. They will travel with Reed for his entire tour, which for the second leg, extends to Perth (Perth Blues Club @ The Charles Hotel on May 20; Freo Social on May 22), Adelaide (The Gov, May 23), Queenscliff Town Hall (May 24) and Gippsland (Meeniyan Town Hall, May 25).
In an exclusive, one-off event, Eli Paperboy Reed will stage an intimate duo setup at Wollongong’s Centro CBD on Tuesday, May 13. He will be joined by The Meltdown’s charismatic frontman, Simon Burke.
Of his forthcoming third return to Australia, Reed says, “I can’t wait to get back to Australia and reconnect with my fans over there – hopefully make some new ones too.
“My passion for performing is stronger than ever and my brand new show is guaranteed to get everyone dancing and sweating. We’re gonna have a great time, I promise you that!
“I’m also honoured to be one of the headliners at the iconic Blues On Broadbeach, sharing the stage with some phenomenal local and international artists.”
Two decades after busking in Harvard Square and honing his craft, this trailblazing soul man continues to write, sing, and perform on his own terms, delivering electrifying performances that connect deeply with audiences.
He adds, “I could never have imagined that 20 years ago, when I was starting out, playing for tips on the streets of Boston, that music would take me where it has.
“The lessons I’ve learned over the last two decades have made my music more mature and my live show the best it’s ever been. I can’t wait to see what the next 20 years bring.”
Don’t miss this soul-stirring celebration that pushes gospel and soul into bold, exciting territory.
Tickets are on sale from Monday, December 9 at 10am AEDT.
* Eli Paperboy Reed is available for Zoom and phone interviews between 8am and 1pm AEDT w/c Dec 10 and Dec 17.
* Radio announcers: For exclusive music content from Eli Paperboy Reed, please contact Erin Jameson.
* Interviews can also be arranged with available members of The Harlem Gospel Travelers upon request.
