Magic Dirt: Dean Turner Tribute Tour

[Chantel]

Magic Dirt are set to play a run of shows and release an EP in tribute to their bass player Dean Turner, who passed away on August 21.

Dean and Magic Dirt had planned a tour in August but his deteriorating condition, from an extremely rare form of soft tissue cancer called dermatofibrosarcoma protuberans (DFSP), led to its cancellation.

This run of shows in October and November is the band’s loving tribute and offers Magic Dirt and their fans an opportunity to give Dean the rousing and rowdy send-off he richly deserves.

Announcing the tour, Adalita, Raul and Adam paid tribute to Dean. “Dean loved playing live. He liked to play loud and hard and give it all he had – 110% all the way. We are so proud of Dean’s legacy and the gifts he has left with us: his perseverance, passion and commitment to the music, his endearing boyish fun, his invigorating and uplifting attitude on that long hard road and his pure punk rock spirit on stage, behind the scenes and around us at all times.”

The tour also celebrates the release of the White Boy EP, one of the final recording projects Dean assembled. Both Rowland S Howard and Gareth Liddiard of The Drones are featured on the EP dueting with Adalita on tracks produced by Dean. The EP also features two previously unreleased songs, Deep In A Net Of Red and Valley Of The Rose and the 2008 tour EP rarity Future Fuck.

A DVD of the Magic Dirt’s videos for White Boy, Romy and Bring Me The Head Of… will also be given away free to some lucky fans at the gigs. “It was Dean’s idea to giveaway the first 100 copies of the DVD to our fans at the live shows. Dean felt it was vital to include our audience as part of the whole creative process and it was important for him to give something back to the fans. Dean was deeply pragmatic and always thinking ahead. We wish to honour his hard working spirit with these shows, to unite with our audience that has so deeply shown their respect, appreciation and love for Dean and his music.”

Close friend of the band Matt Sonic from Sons of the Sun and Matt Sonic & the High Times will play bass on the tour. Dean produced the first Sons of the Sun record and Sonic has previously filled in for Dean when Dean was unable to play shows in the past.

Magic Dirt tour dates:

Thu 15 Oct – Adelaide, The Governor Hindmarsh
Fri 16 October – Casterton, Casterton Town Hall
Sat 17 October – Warrnambool, The Loft
Sat 24 October – Ballarat, Karova Lounge
Wed 28 October – Melbourne, Corner Hotel
Fri 30 October – Geelong, National Hotel
Thu 5 November – Manly, Manly Fishos
Fri 6 November – Sydney, Annandale Hotel
Sat 7 November – Orange, Freshly Plucked Festival