Powderfinger confirm reunion for national tour 16 years after saying farewell in last live show

Powderfinger has confirmed the band is getting back together for a national tour in 2027 after a series of cryptic clues were posted on billboards and social media this week.

It’s the first time the 18 times Aria-winning Australian rock band has played live since its Sunsets Farewell Tour, which wrapped up in the band members’ home town of Brisbane in 2010.

In a video posted to the band’s Instagram account today, Powderfinger’s Bernard Fanning, John “JC” Collins, Ian Haug, Darren Middleton and Jon Coghill announced they’ll be touring Australia from September 2027.

“We always said that if we were going to get back together to do some shows that you guys would be the first to know,” said Fanning.

“We’re going to build something pretty special just for you guys,” said Middleton. “We’ll see you from the stage.”

The rumour mill was in overdrive after digital billboards appeared in Brisbane, Sydney and Melbourne on Tuesday with clues such as “ALBUMS: 7” and “ARIAS: 18” – which fans were quick to spot as references to the band.

An Instagram account called the Return of the Electric Horsemen also appeared on Tuesday – it has since been deleted. The account’s name was a clear nod to Powderfinger’s last track on the 1996 album Double Allergic, (The Return of) the Electric Horseman. Other hints on the social media account included the message “I see your signs on the street now. Do you?”, cribbing from the opening lyrics of hit single from 2000, My Happiness.

After forming in 1989, Powderfinger eventually became one of the most awarded rock acts in Australian music history. The band had five consecutive No 1 albums on the Aria charts in its 21 years, but in April 2010, band members announced their split.

A hugely successful farewell tour followed, which ended on 13 November 2010 – a number that also appeared in the coordinated marketing campaign.

Although it’s been 16 years since the band last toured live, Powderfinger reunited briefly in 2000 for a live-streamed performance called One Night Lonely, raising more than $500,000 for charities Beyond Blue and Support Act.

Last year the band narrowly missed out on a top five position in Triple J’s Hottest 100 of Australian Songs, with My Happiness coming in at No 6. These Days came in at No 14 and (Baby I’ve Got You) On My Mind at No 70.

The band said it would be touring from September 2027, but gave no details about where the performances would be.