Entertainment
29 January, 2025
Music icons join forces
TWO of Australia’s most celebrated musicians – Bernard Fanning and Paul Dempsey – have joined forces to create the extraordinary Fanning Dempsey National Park.

With their debut album ‘The Deluge’ and a string of electrifying performances, the duo has crafted a sound that has to be experienced live.
Mr Fanning, former frontman of Powderfinger, and Mr Dempsey, the creative force behind Something for Kate, are no strangers to success.
Between them, they boast nine No.1 albums, millions of record sales and an astonishing array of accolades. Yet this collaboration is not about revisiting past glories. Instead, it’s a fearless leap into uncharted musical terrain.
“We agreed straight away there’s no point doing something together if it’s going to be what people think it’s going to be,” Mr Dempsey said.
“It’s not the two of us with acoustic guitars singing campfire songs,” he said.
“Instead, we’ve embraced a bold sonic ethos, shifting from guitar-driven rock to an adventurous palette of synths, robotic rhythms and experimental textures.”
Tracks like lead single ‘Disconnect’ and the title track ‘The Deluge’ showcase a fearless willingness to push boundaries, weaving together ethereal synths, pounding drums and striking saxophone bursts.
Their shared love for the sounds of their youth – think David Bowie, Duran Duran and Depeche Mode – has inspired a fresh direction.
Eschewing their Aussie rock roots, they’ve crafted a soundscape that blends nostalgia with innovation, channelling the spirit of ‘new romanticism’ with modern-day energy.
Following the success of their sold-out 2024 headline tour and a dazzling performance on ABC’s NYE broadcast, Fanning Dempsey National Park is taking their music on the road once again with The Deluge 2025 Regional Tour playing in Cairns at the iconic Tanks Arts Centre on May 1.
For fans of these legendary artists, this is more than a concert – it’s an invitation to witness two of the nation’s finest musical minds breaking new ground and redefining what collaboration can mean.
Prepare to step into Fanning Dempsey National Park, where the journey is as exciting as the destination.
Fanning Dempsey National Park is at Tanks Arts Centre, Thursday May 1.
Tickets available from www.ticketlink.com.au