ArtistDirect News
Rick Beato Announces First Australian & New Zealand Tour in October 2026
Rick Beato, the American musician, producer, and YouTube educator, will bring his live show to Australia and New Zealand for the first time in October 2026. The tour, presented by Frontier Touring, includes four dates in Auckland, Sydney, Melbourne, and Brisbane. Tickets went on sale on 15 June, after a 72‑hour presale that began on 12 June. The shows are scheduled for 24, 29, 30, and 31 October, with the Auckland and Brisbane performances open to all ages and the Sydney and Melbourne concerts restricted to 18 + audiences.
Beato, born in 1962, has built a career that spans performing, songwriting, audio engineering, and record production. He owns Black Dog Sound Studios in Stone Mountain, Georgia, and has produced for acts such as Needtobreathe, Parmalee, and Shinedown. In addition to studio work, Beato has lectured on music at universities and gained a global following through his YouTube channel, which reports more than 5.6 million subscribers and over 2 billion total views. His channel features music analysis, artist interviews, and a popular series titled “What Makes This Song Great?”
The live show, which Beato has performed in North America and Europe, is divided into three parts. First, he reflects on his own career, offering anecdotes from studio sessions and touring experiences. Second, he performs a live version of the “What Makes This Song Great?” segment, dissecting the songwriting, arrangement, and production of well‑known tracks. The final portion is an audience Q&A that Beato describes as a highlight, allowing fans to pose questions that often lead to unexpected insights.
The Australian and New Zealand tour is scheduled for four venues. The first show takes place on 24 October at SkyCity Theatre in Auckland, New Zealand, and is open to all ages. The second performance is on 29 October at Factory Theatre in Sydney, New South Wales, and is restricted to audiences 18 and older. The third concert occurs on 30 October at Thornbury Theatre in Melbourne, Victoria, also 18 + only. The final date is on 31 October at Princess Theatre in Brisbane, Queensland, and is open to all ages. Tickets are available through Frontier Touring’s website and partner outlets, with a 72‑hour presale that began on 12 June at 1 p.m. local time.
Beato’s connection to Australian music dates back to his work on the debut album of Michael Johns, the Brisbane‑born singer who finished eighth on American Idol in 2008 and later released a self‑titled album in 2009. Johns encouraged Beato to visit Australia, and the upcoming tour marks the first time the producer has performed in the country. In an interview with Australian Musician, Beato said he is 64 years old and that he has friends from Australia forever, adding that one of his best friends lives in Sydney.
During the interview, Beato also discussed broader industry topics. He noted that copyright challenges remain a concern for creators on YouTube and that trade events such as NAMM still offer valuable networking opportunities, though he believes manufacturers need to increase their presence to keep the shows relevant. He said that encouraging young people to learn an instrument is difficult in an era dominated by TikTok, AI‑generated music, and instant gratification, and he offered no simple solution.
The tour represents a milestone for Beato, who has built a reputation as a music educator and analyst through his online presence. Fans attending the October shows can expect a mix of personal anecdotes, technical breakdowns of iconic tracks, and direct interaction with the performer. The event is expected to attract musicians, producers, and general music enthusiasts across the region.
Beato, born in 1962, has built a career that spans performing, songwriting, audio engineering, and record production. He owns Black Dog Sound Studios in Stone Mountain, Georgia, and has produced for acts such as Needtobreathe, Parmalee, and Shinedown. In addition to studio work, Beato has lectured on music at universities and gained a global following through his YouTube channel, which reports more than 5.6 million subscribers and over 2 billion total views. His channel features music analysis, artist interviews, and a popular series titled “What Makes This Song Great?”
The live show, which Beato has performed in North America and Europe, is divided into three parts. First, he reflects on his own career, offering anecdotes from studio sessions and touring experiences. Second, he performs a live version of the “What Makes This Song Great?” segment, dissecting the songwriting, arrangement, and production of well‑known tracks. The final portion is an audience Q&A that Beato describes as a highlight, allowing fans to pose questions that often lead to unexpected insights.
The Australian and New Zealand tour is scheduled for four venues. The first show takes place on 24 October at SkyCity Theatre in Auckland, New Zealand, and is open to all ages. The second performance is on 29 October at Factory Theatre in Sydney, New South Wales, and is restricted to audiences 18 and older. The third concert occurs on 30 October at Thornbury Theatre in Melbourne, Victoria, also 18 + only. The final date is on 31 October at Princess Theatre in Brisbane, Queensland, and is open to all ages. Tickets are available through Frontier Touring’s website and partner outlets, with a 72‑hour presale that began on 12 June at 1 p.m. local time.
Beato’s connection to Australian music dates back to his work on the debut album of Michael Johns, the Brisbane‑born singer who finished eighth on American Idol in 2008 and later released a self‑titled album in 2009. Johns encouraged Beato to visit Australia, and the upcoming tour marks the first time the producer has performed in the country. In an interview with Australian Musician, Beato said he is 64 years old and that he has friends from Australia forever, adding that one of his best friends lives in Sydney.
During the interview, Beato also discussed broader industry topics. He noted that copyright challenges remain a concern for creators on YouTube and that trade events such as NAMM still offer valuable networking opportunities, though he believes manufacturers need to increase their presence to keep the shows relevant. He said that encouraging young people to learn an instrument is difficult in an era dominated by TikTok, AI‑generated music, and instant gratification, and he offered no simple solution.
The tour represents a milestone for Beato, who has built a reputation as a music educator and analyst through his online presence. Fans attending the October shows can expect a mix of personal anecdotes, technical breakdowns of iconic tracks, and direct interaction with the performer. The event is expected to attract musicians, producers, and general music enthusiasts across the region.