Even before launching celebrated electropop project Empire of the Sun, duo Luke Steele and Nick Littlemore had been friends in collaborators already in the music scene in their native Australia, separately fronting alt rock group The Sleepy Jackson and electronic outfit PNAU, respectively, since the mid-’90s. The pair began increasingly working on music together throughout the first half of the 2000s, and formally began recording what would become Empire of the Sun in 2007, resulting in breakout debut LP Walking on a Dream the following year. Though initially just intended as a studio project, Dream became a massive hit, not only earning acclaim, winning awards, and climbing the charts in Australia, but also reverberating worldwide, thanks to mega hits “Walking on a Dream” and “We Are the People.” Their sound- which draws from electropop, synth-pop, disco, dance pop, psych pop, and rock in the vein of Phoenix and Daft Punk- takes on a whole new life live, where the pair forged an elaborate, flamboyant, and visually immersive live show, complete with extravagant costumes and rich sets.
Though occasionally switching their focus on other projects and taking extended breaks from Empire of the Sun, the duo still had a very impressive 2010s, contributing to the soundtrack of Dumb and Dumber To, before releasing their disco-infused sophomore album Ice on the Dune in 2013, which spawned another huge hit in “Alive.” 2016’s Two Vines would be their swiftest followup to date, and featured a cadre of impressive collaborators like Fleetwood Mac’s Lindsey Buckingham and David Bowie cohorts Henry Hey and Tim Lefebvre. And, finally, after nearly a decade (in part due to the pandemic, as well as focus on other projects), the band returned with a fourth album in 2024, Ask That God. Another impressive, conceptual, and lush effort from one of the best electropop groups of the modern era, the lauded band have been taking their visually stunning live show around the world since last year in support. Empire of the Sun will play what appears to be their first headlining Nashville show ever on Oct. 8 at Nashville Municipal Auditorium with electronic duo Roi Turbo, and tickets are still available right here while they last! We’re excited to announce that we’re also giving away a pair of tickets to one lucky fan as well, so preview the lineup and enter below.
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Empire of the Sun and Roi Turbo will perform Wednesday, Oct. 8 at Nashville Municipal Auditorium. The show is all ages, begins at 8 p.m. (doors at 7 p.m.), and tickets are available for $54.50-78.25.