William Crighton is bringing his most powerful work yet to Newcastle, with his new album Colonial Drift and a national tour locking in a stop at Hamilton Station Hotel this June.
The ARIA-winning Bush Psych artist has dropped what he calls his boldest and most personal record to date, and he’s ready to unleash it live.
Colonial Drift lands as a heavy, evocative piece of work, shaped by the messy beauty and contradictions of modern Australia. It dives into the tension between nation, history, identity, and the wild times we find ourselves navigating.
Across the record, Crighton explores conflict, connection and the razor-thin edge between despair and hope, and he doesn’t shy away from the grit. It’s an album built for big feelings and even bigger conversations.
The record is a true partnership, co-written with his wife and creative collaborator Julieanne Crighton, whose vocal presence winds around William’s in ways that feel both grounding and otherworldly.
The late Rob Hirst also leaves a strong imprint across the album, featuring on standout tracks including Warzone and Horizon. The film clip for Warzone carries an especially emotional weight, filmed just an hour after William and Julieanne learned of Rob’s passing, a moment that has clearly fuelled the raw intensity you can see in their performance.
Musically, Colonial Drift is a sweeping journey through rock, psych, blues and roots, stitched together with field recordings, spoken-word fragments and musical interludes that build into Crighton’s unmistakable “Bush Psych” sound.
The album’s earlier singles like Further Down the Road, Sex, Death & Choices and Beautiful Country have picked up strong national support, including high rotation on Double J.
Crighton hasn’t gone it alone on the record either, bringing in an impressive lineup of collaborators including Jeff Lang, William Barton, Jim Moginie, Luke Davison, Matt Sherrod and more.
Recorded partly at The Grove and partly in Crighton’s own home studio, the album is immersive, layered and utterly uncompromising, the kind of work that demands to be experienced live.
William Crighton’s Colonial Drift Tour hits the Hamilton Station Hotel on Friday, 12 June, with what’s sure to be a powerful and memorable show. Tickets are on sale now, and Colonial Drift is available on CD, vinyl and all streaming platforms.
