HUNTER Bruce Springsteen fans are waiting with baited breath to see if The Boss will make a Hunter return as part of a rumoured 2017 Australian tour.
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No announcement on new shows has been made but rumours that have bubbled almost since the moment he left the Hope Estate stage after a two-night stand in February 2014 have reached fever pitch.
Tales of Springsteen’s 2017 jaunt to Australia emerged after Frontier Touring boss Michael Gudinski appeared on radio earlier this week to promote “a massive February and March of rock”.
While he offered no specifics on air, Fairfax Media’s Bernard Zuel reports an official Springsteen announcement may come in the next few weeks.
Given the success of his previous shows at Hope Estate it is probable the rocker, 67, may make a return to the region.
The fabled E Street Band, which has most recently toured through Europe and South America in support of a boxed set re-release of double album The River, accompanied Springsteen on that 2014 tour as well as one that preceded it a month earlier.
It is unclear if the next tour, which will likely be in support of upcoming “very different” solo album Chapter and Verse, will incorporate the storied outfit.
Springsteen will also release his autobiography, Born to Run, in September.
Despite his age the rocker remains a vital live presence, playing for several hours with the skill of a seasoned showman.
He also had some fun with his Hunter venue, kicking off the first of two shows at Michael Hope’s wineries with a re-arranged version of Electric Flag’s Wine, Wine, Wine.
His two nights in the Hunter followed a Sydney show where he performed album Darkness on the Edge of Town in its entirety.
Springsteen in the Hunter: The 2014 review
BRUCE Springsteen brought thousands to their feet at Hope Estate on Saturday, delivering the first leg of a two-night stand at Hope Estate.
Starkly different to Wednesday’s Sydney show, where Springsteen played album Darkness on the Edge of Town in its entirety, the first Hunter show delivered a smattering of hits from almost every era of his storied career.
Dressed in a simple black t-shirt and jeans, Springsteen hit the ground running with a rocked-up version of Electric Flag’s Wine, Wine, Wine amended to include Hunter lyrics.
The rollicking opener quickly gave way to torrents of hits and fan favourites including Badlands, Born to Run, Because the Night and The River.
Playing for about three hours, the show also covered deeper cuts including American Skin (41 Shots) and Workin’ on the Highway.
Springsteen hand-picked signs from the audience as he danced through the crowd at several points, delivering two songs requested in writing - Murder Incorporated and The Wish, a song written for his mother.
The two Hunter shows were linked with versions of Thunder Road, with a full E Street Band version on Saturday replaced with a devastating pared-back version for Sunday.
While the second Hunter show began more slowly than the first, it quickly began to brim with crowd favourites including Brilliant Disguise, Rosalita (Come Out Tonight), The Rising and Human Touch.
Springsteen also delivered Born in the USA, arguably his signature song, for the first time on Sunday.
It was the only time the song was played during his three NSW shows this week.
Bruce Springsteen and the E Street Band will head to Brisbane to finish their Australian tour.
Wine, Wine Wine
Badlands
No Surrender
Two Hearts
Bobby Jean
High Hopes
Just Like Fire Would
Murder Incorporated
Trapped
Wrecking Ball
The River
American Skin (41 Shots)
Because the Night
Working on the Highway
Darlington County
Shackled and Drawn
Waitin' on a Sunny Day
The Ghost of Tom Joad
Land of Hope and Dreams
The Wish
Friday on My Mind
Born to Run
Dancing in the Dark
Tenth Avenue Freeze-Out
Shout
Thunder Road
Spill the Wine
My Love Will Not Let You Down
Death to My Hometown
Seeds
Out in the Street
Rosalita (Come Out Tonight)
High Hopes
Just Like Fire Would
Johnny 99
Heaven's Wall
Brilliant Disguise
Human Touch
I'm Goin' Down
Pay Me My Money Down
Shackled and Drawn
Radio Nowhere
The Rising
The Ghost of Tom Joad
Badlands
4th of July, Asbury Park (Sandy)
Born in the U.S.A.
Born to Run
Ramrod
Dancing in the Dark
Tenth Avenue Freeze-Out
Rockin' All Over the World
I Wish I Were Blind
Thunder Road