Sydney R&B breakout star RIAH to support ASHANTI on 2026 Australian Tour
With only weeks to go until Australian and New Zealand fans welcome GRAMMY winning singer/songwriter and artist ASHANTI back to their shores, additional buzz has been added today with the announcement of RIAH as national support for ASHANTI’s Australian shows.
The R&B singer/songwriter from southwest Sydney has had a massive few years, making her impact on the Australian scene in a short, but prolific period of time. Winning the Triple J Unearthed High Indigenous Initiative in 2024, RIAH was then handpicked by The Kid LAROI to perform at his wildly successful SXSW Sydney showcase that same year. Since then, she has supported artists including Miss Kaninna, Budjerah, Electric Fields, BARKAA and more, while developing her own strong following as a headliner.
A proud Pasifika and Indigenous Australian woman, RIAH’s deep connection to her identity and culture (she is of Tongan, Fijian, Italian and Kamilaroi descent) has informed each step she has taken as an artist to date. Her rise and potential has been documented in It’s Not For You: Inside the Artists Rewriting The Rules of the Australian Music Industry, written by former Camp Cope bassist Kelly-Dawn Hellmrich, pointing towards just how much is still waiting to be uncovered when it comes to RIAH’s artistry.
‘Ashanti is R&B royalty! I am thrilled to join her on her National tour. We are ready to bring the energy, vocals and vibe to every single stage. Be prepared things are about to get HOT’ RIAH
Returning to Australia/NZ following an extensive run of international tour dates including a recent successful UK arena tour with Sean Paul, this new chapter for ASHANTI is one that is only adding to a career marked by numerous awards and accolades.
Tickets remain for her long-awaited Australian and NZ return, with a waitlist available for fans in Melbourne who missed the initial opportunity to grab their tickets. As a change to her schedule, ASHANTI’s Melbourne show on Saturday 14 November is now taking place at the brand new live music venue, MELBOURNE CROWN LIVE.
ABOUT ASHANTI
One of music’s forever icons, ASHANTI has maintained her status as a genre champion since her debut, self-titled album launched her to global stardom in 2002. Earning her the #1 spot on both the Billboard Top 200 and R&B Charts and becoming the fastest-selling debut album by a female in history (per Soundscan), the ASHANTI album solidified the artist’s place as part of music’s DNA for a whole generation.
In the years that have followed, ASHANTI has built a catalogue of six studio albums and has received numerous Billboard Music Awards and American Music Awards alongside her GRAMMY, while also counting multiple Soul Train and ASCAP Awards among her extensive collection of awards and honours.
Among her biggest hits of course: ‘Foolish,’ her signature single and lead single from her self-titled album; ‘Rock Wit U (Awww Baby),’ taken from her Chapter II record and more recently experienced a resurgence when sampled by British artist Aitch; and ‘Only U’ from her Concrete Rose record, a defining shift in sound that became a club favourite. As a collaborator as well, ASHANTI was a voice of a generation and teamed up with the likes of JA RULE (‘Always On Time,’ ‘Mesmerize’), FAT JOE (‘What’s Luv?’) and FABOLOUS (‘Into You’).
She has sold over 30 million albums to date, while also having ventured into film successfully, starring in and producing projects alongside Samuel L. Jackson, Sharon Stone, Susan Sarandon and more. A decorated author and ambassador of various youth organisations and initiatives in the United States, ASHANTI has long used her platform for advocacy and artistry, while consistently being recognised for her contributions to music and recording. In April 2022, ASHANTI received a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame.
