ABC announce The Lexicon of Life tour is coming to Australia
Legendary British pop icons ABC, fronted by the inimitable Martin Fry, will return to Australian shores in March 2027 for a six-date national tour, performing songs from their landmark album The Lexicon of Love alongside a set of greatest hits spanning their four-decade career.
It will be ABC’s first full Australian tour in over a decade. For Australian fans who have waited years to hear “The Look of Love,” “Poison Arrow” and “All of My Heart” performed live, 2027 marks a long-awaited return.
Tue 9 March Perth, WA Astor Theatre
Thu 11 March Melbourne, VIC Palais Theatre
Sat 13 March Brisbane, QLD Fortitude Music Hall
Sun 14 March Sydney, NSW Enmore Theatre
Tue 16 March Hobart, TAS Odeon Theatre
Thu 18 March Adelaide, SA The Gov
Tickets on early bird presale from Wednesday, 5 August
General onsale from Friday 7 August via destroyalllines.com
Fronted throughout its history by the singular Martin Fry — instantly recognisable in his gold lamé suit — ABC emerged from Sheffield in 1980 as one of the defining groups of the new pop era. Their 1982 debut album, The Lexicon of Love, shot straight to number one on the UK charts and remains regarded as one of the finest British pop albums ever made. Produced by Trevor Horn, it delivered the enduring hits “Tears Are Not Enough,” “Poison Arrow,” “The Look of Love” and “All of My Heart.” In Australia, replicated their UK success. The Lexicon of Love reached #9 on the national album charts of the time (the Kent Music Report), whilst Poison Arrow was top 5 hit single and The Look Of Love reached number 7
ABC followed this with the harder-edged Beauty Stab (1983, featuring That Was Then But This Is Now and S.O.S.), the electronic-driven How to Be a… Zillionaire! (1985, home to US dance chart-toppers Be Near Me and Vanity Kills), and 1987’s Alphabet City, which produced the worldwide smash When Smokey Sings.
In 2016, Fry released The Lexicon of Love II, a sequel to the band’s classic debut, co-written with Academy Award-winning composer Anne Dudley and debuting at number five on the UK album charts. ABC marked the 40th anniversary of The Lexicon of Love in 2022 with a sold-out UK orchestral tour, followed by a Sky Arts television special filmed at the London Palladium. In 2024 the band sold out a 21-date UK orchestra tour to over 35,000 fans and joined Howard Jones for two US tours.
Described by NME’s Stephen Dalton as “an ageless performer” who is “the missing link between Bryan Ferry and Jarvis Cocker,” Martin Fry continues to bring the glamour, songcraft and showmanship that made ABC one of the era’s most enduring pop acts.
Its time to experience The Lexicon of Love again with Martin Fry and ABC, in March 2027
★★★★ “ABC’s literate, erudite pop always hit home… the material has aged spectacularly well, as timeless art does.” – The Guardian
DESTROY ALL LINES PRESENTS
THE LEXICON OF LIFE TOUR 2027Tickets and further information via destroyalllines.com
