For immediate release – Candid, humourous and emotionally powerful songwriter Loudon Wainwright III is returning to Australia for a highly anticipated national concert tour in March 2008. A regular to these shores, it’s certainly been too long since Australian audiences have been able to experience this unique and influential performer in person.

Loudon is heading to Australia in support of his acclaimed new album, Strange Weirdos: Music From and Inspired by the Film Knocked Up. The record was produced by Joe Henry (Solomon Burke, Aimee Mann), who described the result as the “best Loudon Wainwright album in 15 years.”

Loudon Wainwright III began his career as a folk singer/songwriter in the late '60s, singing funny and nakedly honest autobiographical songs. Signed to Atlantic Records, he recorded Album I (1970) and Album II (1971), accompanying himself on acoustic guitar, before switching to Columbia Records, for which he made the folk-rock Album III (1972), which featured the Top 40 novelty hit “Dead Skunk.”

Throughout his career, Loudon has engaged in the type of soul-baring that many other artists talk about doing, but few have the guts to actually do. Called “the not-so-sensitive folk singer” by Greg Reibman in Billboard, Wainwright has built a cult following with funny, biting, and incisive songs about virtually any subject. He is, according to Tom Surowicz of the Twin Cities Reader, “a thoroughly compelling master of irony” and in Rolling Stone contributor David Browne’s words, “our greatest pop satirist.”

Ultimately, Wainwright's artistry revolves around his ability to probe and expose the most intimate facets of his own life. His humor and engaging stage persona have made him a cult figure and a concert favorite. Don’t miss this one of a kind artist on his upcoming Australian tour.