In the past 12 months Thirsty Merc have been one of the busiest bands in the country crisscrossed the nation at least 5 times, done over 90 shows and ran up over 100,000 Frequent Flier miles between them.
With the temperature rising, and Spring and Summer calling, Rai Thistlethwayte, Phil Stack and Matt Smith, with Mick Skelton on select shows, will work their way around Australia once more from now until Autumn, 2017 on the Shifting Gears Tour.

Thirsty Merc
Kicking off with a crowdfunding campaign in mid 2015, Thirsty Merc released their new, original album, Shifting Gears, last September and the band immediately hit the road on The Good Life Tour. Several weeks into the tour, the band were rocked by the tragic death of their friend, Shane Cooper and the critical injuries suffered by drummer, Mick Skelton, in a terrible car accident putting a halt to everything.

Shifting Gears – Album
Lead singer, Rai Thistlethwayte, said: “Our hugest thanks to the Aussie Music Industry, the general Music Community, and above all – our Fans – for the support over the last year. Thank you ALL for sticking by us. Life can be so overwhelming and debilitatingly challenging, but it’s through those times that you often experience the most human growth. We’ve got the spirit. And we’re gonna rock these upcoming shows like never before to bring this album home!”
The Grind, track 7 from Thirsty Merc’s ‘Shifting Gears’
Kicking off on 3 October at the Caloundra Music Festival, the Shifting Gears Tour will take the band to Broken Hill and Mildura as well as Swan Hill for the first time, and back down to Tasmania after a long absence.
Tickets for the Shifting Gears Tour are on sale now.
Sunday, 2 October 2016 – Caloundra Music Festival, Kings Beach, QLD – Tickets available from the Caloundra Music Festival
Friday, 7 October 2016 – Ettamogah Hotel, Kellyville Ridge, NSW – Tickets available from Moshtix
Saturday, 8 October 2016 – Grand Chancellor Ballroom, Launceston, TAS – * SOLD OUT *
Sunday, 9 October 2016 – Republic Bar, North Hobart, TAS – Tickets available from Moshtix
Monday, 10 October 2016 – Drift Café Bar, Devonport, TAS – * SOLD OUT *
Friday, 14 October 2016 – Slug N Lettuce, Parafield Gardens, SA – Tickets available from Moshtix
Saturday, 15 October 2016 – Concordia Campus, Highgate, SA – Tickets available from Oztix
Sunday, 16 October 2016 – Royal Oak, North Adelaide, SA – Tickets available from Moshtix
Thursday, 20 October 2016 – Royal Hotel Muswellbrook, Muswellbrook, NSW – Tickets available from the venue | 02 6543 1070
Friday, 21 October 2016 – Young Services Club, Young, NSW – Tickets available from the venue | 02 6382 1944
Saturday, 22 October 2016 – A Day on the Green – Robert Oatley Vineyards, Mudgee, NSW – Tickets available from Ticketmaster
Friday, 28 October 2016 – Inverell RSL Club, Inverell, NSW – Tickets available from Oztix
Saturday, 29 October 2016 – A Day on the Green, Petersons Armidale Winery, Armidale, NSW – Tickets available from Ticketmaster
Friday, 4 November 2016 – Coogee Diggers Club, Coogee, NSW – Tickets available from Moshtix
Sunday, 6 November 2016 – Live at the Foreshore, Camp Shortland, Newcastle, NSW – Tickets available from Ticketbooth
Friday, 11 November 2016 – Mount Pritchard Community Club ‘Mounties’, Mount Pritchard, NSW – Tickets available from the Venue
Saturday, 12 November 2016 – Wyong Lakes Festival, Memorial Park, The Entrance, NSW – * Free Entry *
Sunday, 13 November 2016 – 96FM’s Kickstart Summer of Music, Houghton Winery, Middle Swan, WA – Tickets available from Ticketmaster
Wednesday, 16 November 2016 – O’Donohues Irish Pub, Emu Plains, NSW – Tickets available from Moshtix
Saturday, 19 November 2016 – Broken Hill Rockfest, Broken Hill, NSW – Tickets available now from Rockfest
Friday, 25 November 2016 – Gymea Hotel, Gymea, NSW – Tickets available from Moshtix
Saturday, 26 November 2016 – River Rockfest Mildura, Mildura, VIC – Tickets available from Rockfest
Friday, 2 December 2016 – The Black Swan Hotel – The Perch, Bendigo, VIC – Tickets available from the Venue
Saturday, 3 December 2016 – River Rockfest Swan Hill, Swan Hill, VIC – Tickets available from Rockfest
Sunday, 4 December 2016 – Sooki Lounge, Belgrave, VIC – Tickets available from Oztix
Saturday, 10 December 2016 – Club Central, Menai, NSW – Tickets available from the Venue
Saturday, 17 December 2016 – Blue Cattle Dog Hotel, St Clair, NSW – Tickets available from Moshtix
Friday, 23 December 2016 – Pure Gold Live, ICC Sydney Theatre, Darling Harbour, NSW – Tickets available from Ticketek
Saturday, 7 January 2017 – Summernats, Exhibition Park, Canberra, ACT – Tickets available from Summernats
Wednesday, 25 January 2017 – Hamilton Hotel, Hamilton, QLD – Tickets available from Moshtix
Thursday, 26 January 2017 – Racehorse Hotel, Booval, QLD – Tickets available from the Venue | 07 3282 1222
Friday, 27 January 2017 – Villa Noosa Hotel, Noosaville, QLD – Tickets available from Moshtix
Saturday, 28 January 2017 – Parkwood Tavern, Parkwood, QLD – Tickets available from Moshtix
Saturday, 4 February 2017 – The Oaks Hotel, Albion Park Rail, NSW – Tickets available from the Venue | 02 4257 1211.
Friday, 10 February 2017 – SS&A Club, Albury, NSW – *Free Entry *
Saturday, 11 February 2017 – Mulwala Ski Club, Mulwala, NSW * Free Entry *
Saturday, 18 February 2017 – Caves Beachside Resort, Caves Beach, NSW – Tickets available from the venue | (02) 4980 9999