THE race that stops the nation has reined in a major coup with US pop princess Taylor Swift confirmed to perform at the Melbourne Cup on November 5.
The 29-year-old singer-songwriter is arguably the biggest star in modern pop music, with 43 million monthly streams on Spotify and album sales in excess of 50 million.
The Victoria Racing Club confirmed "Taytay" will perform two songs from her seventh album Lover at Flemington prior to the Melbourne Cup, it what will be her only public appearance in Australia this year.
PATTY'S BACK
AMERICANA singer-songwriter Patty Griffin will return to Australia next year for her first national tour since 2008. The 55-year-old released her self-titled 10th album in March, after taking a four-year hiatus from music to overcome breast cancer.
Griffin performs at Meeniyan (March 1), Melbourne (March 3), Bendigo (March 5), Sydney (March 10), Brisbane (March 12) and Lismore (March 13).
FESTIVE BUTLER
BLUES and roots star John Butler will round out the tour for his 2018 album Home with a series of festival appearances throughout November and December.
Butler will play the Bendigo Blues & Roots Festival on November 8 at the Ullumbarra Theatre, Handpicked Festival on November 9 at Langhorne Creek, Airlie Beach Festival of Music on November 10 and the Sydney Coliseum Theatre on December 20.
Butler will also perform at Bluesfest next Easter in Byron Bay.
BIRDSVILLE BASH
IF you've ever wanted an excuse to pack up the car and head into the Australian Outback the time might have arrived.
Iconic singer-songwriter Paul Kelly and Split Enz and Crowded House star Tim Finn will headline the 2020 Big Red Bash in the far western Queensland town of Birdsville from July 7 to 9.
The world's most remote music festival has also booked John Williamson, Kate Ceberano, Ian Moss, Shannon Noll, Dragon, The Radiators, Mi-Sex, Wendy Matthews, Thirsty Merc, Marc Gable, Glenn Shorrock and Ross Wilson.