Blab Music
Don Walker Releases Fifth Solo Album Love Songs and Announces 2026 National Tour
Australian songwriter Don Walker has announced the release of his fifth solo studio album, Love Songs, set for 7 August 2026. The album will be distributed by MGM Distribution and will be available on vinyl, CD and digital platforms, including Spotify and Apple Music.
Love Songs follows Walker’s 2023 solo effort Lightning in a Clear Blue Sky and compiles nine tracks that span more than two decades of his writing career. The opening track, “Let’s All Get Together,” features a brass‑driven arrangement, while the album closes with a 14‑minute narrative piece titled “Darwin.” Other songs include the country‑inspired “Breakfast in Paris,” the reflective “Deeper Light,” the emotionally charged “Luck” and “Fly Away,” the intimate “Could You Still Be Here,” the melodic “The Girl I Used To Know,” and “It Will Always Be You.”
According to a Noise11 interview, Walker explained that the material on the album was recorded at different times, some as far back as the late 1990s and early 2000s. He also discussed how certain recordings evolved over the years and highlighted collaborations that shaped the project.
Walker’s career began as the principal songwriter for the Australian pub‑rock band Cold Chisel, where he wrote many of the group’s defining songs. After the band disbanded in 1983, he continued to record and tour both as a solo artist and in various ensembles. In 2012 he was inducted into the Australian Songwriters Hall of Fame, underscoring his reputation as one of the country’s most respected lyricists.
The interview revealed that Walker worked with country legend Slim Dusty on a project that has remained largely unreleased. He also spoke about a long‑buried soundtrack project for the film Freedom, which featured the late INXS frontman Michael Hutchence, and an attempt to rework his solo song “You’ve Got To Move” into a Cold Chisel track inspired by the B‑52s’ “Love Shack.”
In addition to the album release, Walker will embark on a national tour beginning on 16 October 2026. The tour, promoted by AMNPlify, will include a show at Melbourne’s Memo Music Hall on the opening date and will feature special guest Jimmy Dowling. According to The Note, the tour will also cover venues in Queensland, including the Imperial Hotel in Eumundi on 30 October and the Old Museum in Brisbane on 31 October.
Tickets for the tour are on sale through the official website and major ticketing platforms. Walker’s performance schedule is also listed on Bandsintown, which provides venue details, dates, and links to purchase tickets.
Love Songs is available in 180‑gram vinyl, CD, and digital formats. The album’s nine tracks total 46 minutes and have been made available on streaming services, where listeners can explore the full tracklist. The release is part of MGM Distribution’s catalog of Australian artists.
The album’s launch and accompanying tour highlight Walker’s continued influence on Australian music. While the project draws on decades of songwriting, it also showcases his willingness to revisit and re‑interpret earlier material. The tour’s inclusion of a well‑known country figure and a celebrated guitarist underscores the collaborative spirit that has defined Walker’s career.
As of now, Love Songs is scheduled for release on 7 August 2026, with the national tour commencing in October. Fans can pre‑order the album and purchase tickets through the official channels listed above. No further releases or collaborations have been announced.
Love Songs follows Walker’s 2023 solo effort Lightning in a Clear Blue Sky and compiles nine tracks that span more than two decades of his writing career. The opening track, “Let’s All Get Together,” features a brass‑driven arrangement, while the album closes with a 14‑minute narrative piece titled “Darwin.” Other songs include the country‑inspired “Breakfast in Paris,” the reflective “Deeper Light,” the emotionally charged “Luck” and “Fly Away,” the intimate “Could You Still Be Here,” the melodic “The Girl I Used To Know,” and “It Will Always Be You.”
According to a Noise11 interview, Walker explained that the material on the album was recorded at different times, some as far back as the late 1990s and early 2000s. He also discussed how certain recordings evolved over the years and highlighted collaborations that shaped the project.
Walker’s career began as the principal songwriter for the Australian pub‑rock band Cold Chisel, where he wrote many of the group’s defining songs. After the band disbanded in 1983, he continued to record and tour both as a solo artist and in various ensembles. In 2012 he was inducted into the Australian Songwriters Hall of Fame, underscoring his reputation as one of the country’s most respected lyricists.
The interview revealed that Walker worked with country legend Slim Dusty on a project that has remained largely unreleased. He also spoke about a long‑buried soundtrack project for the film Freedom, which featured the late INXS frontman Michael Hutchence, and an attempt to rework his solo song “You’ve Got To Move” into a Cold Chisel track inspired by the B‑52s’ “Love Shack.”
In addition to the album release, Walker will embark on a national tour beginning on 16 October 2026. The tour, promoted by AMNPlify, will include a show at Melbourne’s Memo Music Hall on the opening date and will feature special guest Jimmy Dowling. According to The Note, the tour will also cover venues in Queensland, including the Imperial Hotel in Eumundi on 30 October and the Old Museum in Brisbane on 31 October.
Tickets for the tour are on sale through the official website and major ticketing platforms. Walker’s performance schedule is also listed on Bandsintown, which provides venue details, dates, and links to purchase tickets.
Love Songs is available in 180‑gram vinyl, CD, and digital formats. The album’s nine tracks total 46 minutes and have been made available on streaming services, where listeners can explore the full tracklist. The release is part of MGM Distribution’s catalog of Australian artists.
The album’s launch and accompanying tour highlight Walker’s continued influence on Australian music. While the project draws on decades of songwriting, it also showcases his willingness to revisit and re‑interpret earlier material. The tour’s inclusion of a well‑known country figure and a celebrated guitarist underscores the collaborative spirit that has defined Walker’s career.
As of now, Love Songs is scheduled for release on 7 August 2026, with the national tour commencing in October. Fans can pre‑order the album and purchase tickets through the official channels listed above. No further releases or collaborations have been announced.
