Returning to Australia for his After Hours Tour, Richard Marx concluded his Australian Tour in Melbourne at Margaret Court Arena, with a special guest, new music since his last visit and fond Australian memories.
Taking to the stage, suave and well-dressed in a white dinner jacket, Richard Marx stated that this concert was ‘our party’, our night and “I’m just your humble host in a white dinner jacket.” Plus, “Thanks for not going over to see those Mumford guys”, playfully joking about the concert right next door at Rod Laver Arena. Accompanied by a four-piece band filled with familiar faces from his last visit, Marx shared, “I am so happy to be here with you tonight.” And the best part was, you knew that he genuinely meant it.
Richard Marx’s relationship with Australia is long, dedicated and has been thus far, a beautiful journey. When you go to a Richard Marx concert, not only do you get to witness Richard’s excellent vocals and are reminded on what a fantastic songwriter he is, but you also get to witness his cheeky humour and excellent storytelling.
From showing off an old photo of his with his big hair and poking fun of himself, to receiving a letter from a fan and joking “I hope it’s dirty” which was received with many light-hearted chuckles from the audience, living in Sydney for a while due to filming The Voice Australia, retelling of a funny experience when staying in Argentina and witnessing a cheering crowd outside his hotel room, to sharing footage of his 30th birthday where Australian’s own John Farnham attended and jammed with him.
And then hearing ‘All I Ever Needed’ from his After Hours album, a song Marx wished Frank Sinatra sung. It actually sounded like it belonged in that era, and showcased how excellent Richard Marx’s songwriting skills really are. It was an honour getting a glimpse into what has been the wonderful life for Richard Marx and see his boundless talents live.
Marx commented that his After Hours album was recorded together with a full live orchestra, just like the legends used to do it, which made you really appreciate his craft and respect for the process. No over productions or auto-tuning, just pure magic, music and authenticity which is a natural part of Richard Marx’s ethos.
Keeping with The Great American Songbook theme, Richard also performed a gorgeous rendition of ‘Fly Me to the Moon’ with a self-composed introduction that felt like it had always been there. This performance was intimate, exquisite, and Marx was given a standing ovation in the end. It didn’t matter if it was an original song or a cover, Richard Marx always has a way of making a song his own. Everyone in the Melbourne venue was so respectfully quiet during this song, you could hear a pin drop in between the lyrics and silent pauses, which Richard was grateful for.
Creating another awesome Australian memory, Richard Marx invited beloved Melbourne singer, Kate Ceberano to the stage to sing a duet of his unreleased song, ‘Go With Me’. It was a gorgeous performance and even though Marx admittedly shared that they only rehearsed once, and Ceberano nervously shared that she didn’t want to “fuck the song up”, their voices melded together beautifully. It would be a shame not to have a professional studio recording of this duet. Ceberano was also a little starstruck by Richard stating, “You’re so wonderful. You’re handsome too. Romance is not dead!”
At this point, it would be hard not to declare Richard Marx an honorary Aussie. He was just so comfortable up on that Melbourne stage, whether it be singing a gorgeous acoustic mini set with ‘Keep Coming Back’ and ‘Hold Onto the Nights’, or singing stunning covers of John Farnham’s ‘That’s Freedom’ and ‘Burn For You’, sharing his deep love for the Australian singer, who is like a brother to him.
All the hits were present including ‘Endless Summer Nights’, ‘Should’ve Known Better’ and ‘Hazard’. A highlight of the evening was when Richard walked through the surprised Melbourne crowd to sing ‘Too Late To Say Goodbye’, high fiving patrons, hugging fans and taking some quick fun selfies along the way, all while wearing a huge genuine smile and displaying perfect vocals that never wavered.
Concluding the evening with his iconic hit, the song that made me fall in love with his songwriting and music when I was a kid, ‘Right Here Waiting’, it was a magical moment singing along to the timeless classic ballad. It didn’t matter how old you were or which generation you were born into, everyone, and I mean everyone, knew the words. So much joy filled the Melbourne venue that night. You just had to be there.
If it wasn’t already clear, Richard Marx loves Australia with all his heart. Our country has a unique and beautiful relationship with the legendary American award-winning singer-songwriter, and I hope that we make more memories together for many years to come.
Richard Marx brought his After Hours Tour to Australia thanks to TEG Dainty, and performed his final show of the Australian leg in Melbourne on Friday the 24th of April 2026 at Margaret Court Arena.
For more information, visit:
https://www.richardmarx.com
https://www.tegdainty.com/tour/richard-marx
https://margaretcourtarena.com.au/event/richard-marx-after-hours-tour-2026
https://www.instagram.com/therichardmarx
Photography by Grant Alexander.
