Minister for Tourism, Sport and Major Events Steve Dimopoulos said: “Another sold out major event is great news for Victoria – it will support businesses and jobs in our creative, tourism and hospitality industries.

​“More than half of ticket buyers will come from outside of Melbourne for this one-night only experience, reinforcing the importance of the state’s major events calendar as a drawcard for visitors.”

ALWAYS LIVE Chair and Mushroom Group CEO Matt Gudinski said: “Billy Joel is undeniably a superstar and one of the greatest artists of our generation but the speed his MCG concert sold out highlights just how true that is.

​“This is a fantastic result for Frontier, ALWAYS LIVE and the state of Victoria. We are incredibly proud to deliver this amazing one night only event and can’t wait to see Melbourne full of life this December.”

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An artist who requires little introduction, Billy Joel is one of the biggest concert draws in the world. Having sold over 150 million records and scoring six GRAMMY® wins from 23 nominations, Joel ranks as one of the most popular and respected entertainers in history – the sixth best-selling recording artist of all time, and the third best-selling solo artist.

Performing one Australian show only in Melbourne’s most iconic stadium, the concert is presented in partnership with ALWAYS LIVE, a state-wide celebration of contemporary live music supported by the Victorian Government through Visit Victoria.

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Billy Joel // Photo Myrna Suárez

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Tina Arena – live ‘enchante’

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Billy Joel’s anthology has soundtracked the lives of millions, his impeccable musicianship and transcendent songs recognised worldwide. Inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall Of Fame in 1999, Joel received The Kennedy Center Honors (one of the USA’s top cultural awards) in 2013. In 2014, he received both The Library of Congress Gershwin Prize for Popular Song and the once-in-a-century ASCAP Centennial Award – the latter presented to American music icons in recognition of their incomparable accomplishments in their respective music genres and beyond. In 2016, the Library of Congress selected ‘Piano Man’ for preservation in the National Recording Registry for its “cultural, historic, and artistic significance.” He’s the recipient of numerous other awards, including a Tony (for Movin’ Out, a Broadway musical based on his music), MusiCares Person Of The Year, and an inductee in the Songwriter’s Hall of Fame.

‘Piano Man’, ‘You May Be Right’, ‘Always a Woman’, ‘We Didn’t Start the Fire’, ‘Uptown Girl’, ‘Big Shot’, ‘It’s Still Rock and Roll to Me’, ‘Only the Good Die Young’, ‘New York State of Mind’… the hunger to see this highly influential songwriter remains undiminished.