Has Drake performed in Australia?

Drake is one of the biggest hip-hop artists in the world. The Canadian rapper, singer, songwriter, record producer, and actor has achieved immense global popularity and success over the course of his music career. Many of Drake’s songs have topped charts worldwide, and he holds several Billboard chart records. With his widespread fame and popularity, Drake has performed concerts in many countries around the world. One country he has toured and performed shows in multiple times is Australia.

Drake’s Popularity and Concert Tours

Since rising to fame in the late 2000s, Drake has become one of the most streamed artists in the world on services like Spotify. He has achieved numerous major hits like “Hotline Bling,” “God’s Plan,” and “In My Feelings.” His albums have consistently debuted at number one in countries like the United States and Canada. Drake has broken numerous streaming and chart records. For example, in 2018 Drake broke the Beatles’ 1964 record for most simultaneous Billboard Top 100 songs when he charted 27 different tracks at once.

With his massive success, Drake has headlined multiple major worldwide concert tours. His tours have included:

• Away from Home Tour (2010)
• Club Paradise Tour (2012)
• Would You Like A Tour? (2013-2014)
• Jungle Tour (2015)
• Summer Sixteen Tour (2016)
• Boy Meets World Tour (2017)
• Aubrey & The Three Migos Tour (2018)
• Assassination Vacation Tour (2019)

These tours have seen Drake perform shows across North America, Europe, and Australia/New Zealand among other parts of the world. The tours have typically included festival stops and shows in major cities in each region visited.

History of Drake Performing in Australia

As part of several of his world concert tours, Drake has performed many shows in Australia over the years. Here is a brief history of Drake’s performances in Australia:

• 2010 – Drake’s Away from Home Tour included a stop at a festival in Australia called Supafest. He performed at the Gold Coast stop of Supafest in April 2010.
• 2012 – During Drake’s Club Paradise Tour, he performed 6 shows across Australia in February 2012. The cities he performed in included Sydney, Perth, Melbourne, Brisbane, Adelaide, and Gold Coast.
• 2015 – On his Jungle Tour, Drake returned to Australia for a concert at Qudos Bank Arena in Sydney in February 2015.
• 2017 – Drake’s Boy Meets World Tour included 4 big shows in Australia in February 2017. The shows were in Brisbane, Sydney, Melbourne, and Perth.
• 2019 – Most recently, Drake performed over 20 shows across Australia & New Zealand as part of his Assassination Vacation Tour in November 2019.

So in summary, Drake has toured and held concerts in Australia during 4 separate years – 2010, 2012, 2015, and 2019.

Notable Drake Concerts in Australia

Some of Drake’s most memorable and highest-grossing concerts in Australia include:

• Supafest in Gold Coast (2010) – Drake performed at the first ever Supafest festival in Gold Coast alongside artists like Kelly Rowland and Eve.
• Rod Laver Arena & Brisbane Entertainment Centre (2012) – During Drake’s Club Paradise Tour, he performed at these major arenas for big crowds of over 13,000 people.
• Qudos Bank Arena in Sydney (2015) – This show had tickets sell out in record time as Drake performed hits from his album If You’re Reading This It’s Too Late.
• Laneway Festival (2019) – Drake headlined this major Australian music festival during his Assassination Vacation Tour, performing in Brisbane.
• Marvel Stadium in Melbourne (2019) – This massive stadium concert in Melbourne attracted over 50,000 fans.

These shows demonstrate Drake’s ability to draw large crowds and headline big venues across cities in Australia.

Drake’s Setlists for Australia Concerts

During his Australian tours, Drake has performed many of his hit songs that were popular at the time of each tour. His setlists have typically included a mix of his own solo hits as well as collaborations with other artists. Here is an overview of the types of songs he has performed:

• Number one hits like “Hotline Bling,” “God’s Plan,” and “In My Feelings”
• Fan favorite album cuts like “Started from the Bottom” and “Hold On, We’re Going Home”
• Songs from his recent albums at the time of each tour
• Collaborations like “Forever” with Kanye West, Eminem, and Lil Wayne
• Guest appearances on hits like Rihanna’s “What’s My Name” and “Work”

In the specific shows, some examples of Drake’s setlists have included:

February 2012, Rod Laver Arena Setlist Highlights:

• “Headlines”
• “Crew Love”
• “Take Care”
• “HYFR (Hell Ya F***ing Right)”

February 2017, Qudos Bank Arena Setlist Highlights:

• “Free Smoke”
• “Fake Love”
• “Jumpman”
• “Controlla”
• “Hotline Bling”

Drake has mixed up his setlists to include both old and new material during his Australian tours. But his live shows consistently feature his biggest hit songs that fans want to hear. The crowds have enthusiastically welcomed Drake during each of his tours through Australia.

Drake’s Impact on Australian Music and Culture

Drake’s popularity and concerts in Australia have had a significant influence on Australian music culture in a few key ways:

• Increased hip-hop’s popularity – Drake’s success and crossover appeal from rap to pop has grown the popularity of hip-hop in Australia’s mainstream music.
• Inspired local artists – Australian rappers and R&B artists have cited Drake as a major influence and inspiration for their own music.
• Boosted urban music scene – Drake’s appearances at Australian music festivals and urban focused events have contributed to growth of the scene.

Drake has not only drawn large crowds to his own shows, but has helped elevate hip-hop and R&B’s profile across Australia. His music and tours have shown that there is a strong appetite for urban music in Australia. Other rappers who have achieved success in Australia like Iggy Azalea have credited Drake’s international success as paving the way.

Comparison to Other International Hip-Hop Artists touring Australia

Drake stands out from many other North American rappers for his repeated tours through Australia and willingness to perform in multiple cities. Compared to other major international hip-hop stars, Drake has established himself as one of the most regularly touring rap artists in Australia.

While other big name rappers like Kanye West have performed limited shows or festival dates in Australia, Drake has shown a stronger commitment with his repeated multi-city national tours.

Reasons for Drake’s Success in Australia

There are a few key factors that have contributed to Drake’s ability to keep touring successfully in Australia:

• Mainstream pop crossover appeal – Drake’s blend of rapping and melodic pop singing has given him very wide appeal in Australia beyond just hip-hop fans.
• Promotion by Aussie radio – Stations like Triple J have provided valuable support and promotion for Drake’s music and tours in Australia.
• Collaborations with Aussie artists – Drake has worked with Australian artists like Iggy Azalea which introduces him to new local fanbases.
• Touring with other hip-hop acts – Performing festivals and shows with other big rap names has exposed more fans to Drake’s music who may attend primarily for other acts.

Drake’s music transcends genres in a way that has allowed him to become a household name in Australia. His concerts offer Australian hip-hop fans a chance to see one of the biggest global rap superstars. This winning formula has led Drake to cement himself as one of the most successful and regularly touring North American rappers in Australia.

Conclusion

In summary, Drake has performed and held concerts across cities in Australia on 4 major world tours since rising to fame. Highlights include headlining Australian music festivals and arena shows in Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane, and Perth. His sets feature both his renowned solo hits and collaborations with other artists. Drake’s popularity, mainstream appeal, and relationships with local artists have enabled him to successfully tour Australia multiple times. Compared to other leading North American rappers, he has become one of the most frequently touring hip-hop artists from overseas in Australia. His concerts have showcased his impressive catalogue of music and furthered the popularity of hip-hop in the country.