Bruce Springsteen will take the stage at Hope Estate in February as the final announced show of a tour his devout Australian fan base began calling for almost the moment he stepped off the Hope Estate stages two years ago. 

The legendary New Jersey rocker will land in Perth on January 25 for almost a month of shows in the country, working his way towards the Hunter for an all-ages show at Hope Estate on February 18. 

Nine shows have been announced so far, including a stop at Hanging Rock. But lengthy gaps remain between each date, potentially leaving enough room for extra shows to be announced if demand matches previous gigs. 

Springsteen’s 2014 tour, his first stop in the Hunter, was a sell-out success.

It is also far from a fluke, with the E Street Band selling two million tickets so far this year alone. 

Both Billboard and Pollstar named Springsteen the global touring act of 2016.

In the Hunter support acts on February 12 will include reformed Melbourne rockers Jet and blues guitarist Diesel, also known as Mark Lizotte. Diesel’s most recent album Americana includes a reinterpretation of Springsteen’s iconic Born to Run. 

Marlon Williams will also join Springsteen at some of his shows. 

Jake Clemons, Springsteen’s saxophonist and nephew of late and legendary E Streeter Clarence Clemons, has also visited the Hunter as a solo performer since the last run of E Street shows.

He previously told Fairfax Media those two Hope Estate shows in early 2014, which were the first times he played after his father’s unexpected death just days earlier forced him to return home instead of playing in Sydney, had been cathartic. 

‘‘[At Hope Estate] everyone seemed very encouraged that I was able to make it back out and be a part of those shows, everyone was very warm and I was very grateful for that,” he said.

“The Bruce fan base is just really, really warm and loving and kind like a beautiful family.

‘‘The view there was amazing, being able to look out into the field it was really, really beautiful.’’

The early-morning Tuesday tour announcement has been a long time coming for some of the Springsteen faithful in Australia. 

Whispers Springsteen was planning a 2017 return to Australia emerged after Frontier Touring boss Michael Gudinski appeared on radio to promote “a massive February and March of rock”. 

While he offered no specifics on air, the Springsteen speculation machine hit overdrive in record time. 

By the time Frontier Touring, the promoters behind the latest tour and his 2014 dates, posted a lyric from 2012 album Wrecking Ball highlighting the word “tomorrow” the game was all but up.

Confirmation arrived in the early hours of Tuesday, Australian time. It arrives as Springsteen draws a US tour to a close that has seen records tumble night after night for his longest show on home soil.

Most have pushed past four hours long, proving the 66-year-old rocker remains in fine form.

His recent European tour and American shows, promoting a reissue of The River and held mainly in stadiums, have also received the rapturous . 

American records have tumbled during the current tour, falling narrowly short of the reigning champion, a four hour and six minute epic delivered in Finland in 2012. 

Springsteen also releases his autobiography Born to Run late this month, as well as new album Chapter and Verse. 

Presale tickets for Bruce Springsteen’s 2017 tour go on sale late next week.

Saturday: 

Sunday: My Love Will Not Let You Down