In 1999, the Oklahoma odd-balls known as the Flaming Lips released their ninth studio album The Soft Bulletin. It was branded by NME as Album of the Year at the time, and it’s considered the psychedelic rock group’s breakthrough success with singles ‘Waitin’ for a Superman’ and ‘Race for the Prize’ that have positioned them as leaders in the prog-rock genre.
To celebrate the twentieth anniversary of The Soft Bulletin, the Lips are bringing their elaborate, technicolour party to Hamer Hall for two nights in October as part of Melbourne International Arts Festival. They’ll be performing the album that channelled all their weirdness with their signature wild stage presence – including props, costumes and confetti cannons. Tickets are expected to move quickly when they’re released on Friday, June 7 (or nab pre sale tickets from 9am Wednesday, June 5).