Saint Etienne's Final Lap: A Farewell Tour Down Under
The legendary British indie electronic-pop group Saint Etienne is gearing up for their final Australasian tour, marking a bittersweet moment for fans. This tour, presented by Destroy All Lines, will be a grand finale to a career spanning over three and a half decades, during which the band has crafted some of the creamiest and classiest pop music with electronic touches and swinging '60s flair.
The tour kicks off in New Zealand, with a concert on November 20 at Auckland's Powerstation, followed by a show in Wellington the next day. From there, the band will travel to Australia, playing in each of the country's five capital cities: Adelaide, Melbourne, Sydney, Brisbane, and Perth. The general onsale for these shows begins on Friday at 9 a.m. local time at destroyalllines.com.
This tour comes on the heels of the release of their final studio album, 'International', which dropped in September 2025. The album features a collaboration with Brisbane electronic-pop act Confidence Man on the track 'Brand New Me', adding an Australian connection to the record. 'International' peaked at No. 8 on the Official U.K. Albums Chart, one of the band's three career top 10 appearances, and boasts 11 entries in the top 40. Saint Etienne has also landed 17 tracks on the top 40 of the Official U.K. Singles Chart, including a top 10 appearance with their 2000 collaboration with Paul Van Dyk on 'Tell Me Why (The Riddle)', which reached No. 7.
The band's longevity is a testament to their enduring friendship and musical partnership. Bob Stanley and Pete Wiggs, the bandmates since childhood, turned their friendship into a band in 1990 with their cover of Neil Young's 'Only Love Can Break Your Heart'. Their first recording, completed in just two hours in a bedroom studio, even earned them a spot on the Billboard Hot 100, peaking at No. 97 in 1992. Singer Sarah Cracknell completed the lineup when she joined for their third single 'Nothing Can Stop Us' and the 1991 album 'Foxbase Alpha'.
Despite the tour being their final lap, Saint Etienne has stated that they 'aren't splitting up as such'. They remain close friends after 35 years of recording together, but feel it's time to go out with a bang. Before heading Down Under, the band will tour the United Kingdom and Europe for summer festival shows and headline concerts, giving fans one last chance to see them live.
This farewell tour is a fitting conclusion to Saint Etienne's remarkable career, offering fans one last chance to experience their iconic sound. With their unique blend of pop, electronic, and '60s influences, the band has left an indelible mark on the music industry, and their final tour is a celebration of their enduring legacy.
