MACHINE HEAD will kick off their November/December 2025 Australian run as a three-piece after the hired guitarist for the trek was forced to withdraw due to a family emergency.
On Wednesday (November 26), frontman Robb Flynn issued a video message addressing the situation and outlining what fans can expect at the first three Good Things festival side shows. He explained (as transcribed by Blabbermouth): “These are gonna be some pretty unique shows that we’re doing for the first three [Good Things festival] side shows in Australia because the guitar player that we had hired to do these six dates ended up having a family emergency. And so, as you know from before, Reece‘s [Alan Scruggs, former MACHINE HEAD touring guitarist] father was recently diagnosed with lung cancer, and so he’s staying home. [MACHINE HEAD producer] Zack [Ohren], who fills in [on guitar] for us sometimes, couldn’t make it out because he had a health issue. And then this guy had something going on. So these first three Good Things festival side shows that MACHINE HEAD are doing are going to be played as a three-piece. It’s gonna be myself, Jared [MacEachern, bass] and Matt [Alston, drums]. And it’s gonna be basically ‘Electric Happy Hour’ style, which is how Jared and I have been doing the livestreams for five years now. In fact, this isn’t the first time at all that we’ve played as a three-piece. The first time we did a secret show at Bloodstock [Open Air] festival, we played as a three-piece. It was just myself, Jared and Matt. Reece‘s first tour that he did with us, he had been given a very bizarre setlist, and we ended up playing about six or seven songs a night for the first two weeks as a three-piece, and it worked out cool.”
“So, I’m actually looking forward to it because it’s still gonna be ‘An Evening With’ show where we’ve got a lot of songs to pull from,” he continued. “We’re gonna do some deep cuts, some fun stuff. And if you’re coming out to either Perth or Sunshine Coast or Canberra, you’re gonna get a pretty, pretty unique, pretty once-in-a-lifetime viewing of MACHINE HEAD shows.
“So come on out, come hang Saturday, Monday and then Wednesday — Perth, Sunshine Coast and Canberra. And we’re gonna be jamming. So check it out.”
The trio lineup of Robb Flynn, Jared MacEachern, and Matt Alston will perform the following headline dates:
• Nov. 29 – Astor Theater, Perth
• Dec. 01 – The Station, Sunshine Coast
• Dec. 03 – UC Refectory, Canberra
MACHINE HEAD will also appear at the Good Things festival, scheduled for December 5 at Flemington Racecourse in Melbourne, December 6 at Sydney Showground, and December 7 at Brisbane Showgrounds. It has not yet been confirmed who will handle second-guitar duties for those festival appearances.
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