A Perth return is on the cards for the Teskey Brothers, and this time they’re closing a summit rather than a festival. The folk-rock act, winners of an ARIA Award, will headline Global Citizen Nights: Perth on Oct. 20, a free, ticketed show that ends the Global Citizen NOW: Perth action summit.
The lineup at Riverside Theatre at Perth Convention & Exhibition Centre now includes South Summit and Ruby Rodgers. The event brings Global Citizen back to Perth for the first time since 15 years, following the landmark End of Polio concert held in 2011.
The Headliner
Josh Teskey, the band’s frontman, welcomed the booking. “It’s a real honor to be invited to play at Global Citizen Nights: Perth,” he said. “What Global Citizen is doing is so much bigger than music, so it’s pretty special to be able to contribute in a small way. We’re really grateful to be part of it, and looking forward to getting up there and playing some tunes to close out this really special event.”
Their third studio album, The Winding Way, from The Teskeys came out in 2023, and it reached No. 1 on the ARIA Chart. That was their second time at the top spot, following 2020’s Live At The Forum, which had also claimed the number one position. The record eventually took home the prize for best blues & roots album at the ARIA Awards.
What the Summit Covers
Leaders from government, business, philanthropy and other fields will gather in Perth for a summit running Oct. 18-20. The event centers on how Western Australia can become a major producer of renewable energy.
The new group of speakers includes Ian Thorpe, the retired Australian swimming champion, as well as Mathias Cormann, secretary-general of the Organisation for Economic Co-operation, and John Butler, the chart-topping WA-based musician and activist who will give the keynote address.
The Organisers
Hugh Evans founded Global Citizen in Australia back in 2008, and he serves as both its co-founder and CEO. The organization calls itself the world’s largest movement dedicated to ending extreme poverty. A statement says that more than US$50 billion in commitments announced across Global Citizen platforms have since been deployed.
Michael Sheldrick, who co-founded Global Citizen and serves as its chief policy, impact and government affairs officer, discussed the event. He noted that it was a global moment. “We couldn’t be more excited to return to Western Australia with Global Citizen Nights: Perth,” He also said that the movement had grown to include millions of people. “It’s going to be an unforgettable night of Aussie music closing out two important days of action spotlighting WA as a renewable energy powerhouse, and how we can help build a future where our neighbors across the Indo-Pacific have access to reliable, affordable electricity.”
Melbourne’s Precedent
Melbourne hosted the first international edition of the Global Citizen NOW action summit in March 2024. That event also wrapped up with a live music show, headlined by ARIA Hall of Fame inductees Crowded House.
How to Get Tickets
The Perth edition of Global Citizen Nights offers free tickets, which can be secured through taking action at globalcitizen.org/nights. Details about the event are posted on the concert page.
Key Facts Box
- Headliner: Teskey Brothers
- Support acts: South Summit, Ruby Rodgers
- Date: Oct. 20
- Venue: Riverside Theatre at Perth Convention & Exhibition Centre
- Tickets: Free, ticketed, available through globalcitizen.org/nights
- Previous Perth show: End of Polio concert, 2011
- Album: The Winding Way (No. 1 on ARIA Chart), 2023
- Previous album: Live At The Forum (No. 1 on ARIA Chart), 2020
- Summit: Oct. 18-20, Perth leg
- Previous Summit: Melbourne, March 2024, headlined by Crowded House
The Bottom Line
The evening pairs music with a cause, and the Teskey Brothers arrive with a solid track record. South Summit and Ruby Rodgers round out the lineup. The summit’s emphasis on renewable energy in Western Australia gives the concert a wider frame than your typical festival lineup.
The band’s thanks comes from the heart. They view the show as a modest offering toward something far beyond music.
The Teskey Brothers headline a free concert at Perth’s Riverside Theatre, with support from South Summit and Ruby Rodgers. The event takes place on Oct. 20, at the Perth Convention & Exhibition Centre. Tickets are required but cost nothing, and they’re available through globalcitizen.org/nights. The performance follows the End of Polio concert held in 2011.
The show is part of the Oct. 18-20 Perth leg of the Summit. The Teskey Brothers’ album The Winding Way reached No. 1 on the ARIA Chart, which was released in 2023. The previous Summit took place in Melbourne in March 2024, where it was headlined by Crowded House.
Source material: “The Teskey Brothers to Headline Global Citizen Nights: Perth Concert,” Billboard.
Get the Notebook.
The day's best stories and every fresh verdict, in plain English, in your inbox by seven. One email a day, no more.