John Williamson Suffers ‘Significant’ Hand Injury, Nixes Concerts

Australian “bush music” legend John Williamson has pulled out of four scheduled concerts following suffering a “significant” hand injury.

Williamson is recovering from surgery to his left hand after it was crushed by a rock sculpture at his Willoshed, the singer and songwriter’s hinterland property which he opens-up to guests for live performances.

Due to his injury, Williamson’s planned performance at the Tamworth Music Festival on Australia Day, Jan. 26, has been canceled, though Williamson plans to make the trip to Australia’s so-called “home of country”.

“Tamworth bound,” he writes on Instagram, “I won’t be able to play guitar but I’ll be celebrating with all my country mates instead.”

In a separate post on Facebook, he adds, “I’ll see you at Tamworth for the Golden Guitar Awards and perhaps a cold beer instead.”

Dates at Redland Performing Arts Centre (Feb. 1), Ipswich Civic Centre (Feb. 2) and Toowoomba’s Empire Theatre (Feb. 3) are all postponed. His next round of dates are due to start March 3 with a concert at Home of the Arts on the Gold Coast.

A musician and conservationist, Williamson’s career spans more than 50 years. The 78-year-old has sold more than 5 million albums and accumulated more than one billion streams. Over time, he has collected 28 Golden Guitar awards, three ARIA Awards and in 2010 he was inducted into the ARIA Hall of Fame.

Tamworth has a special place in his heart. In January 2022, Williamson was honored with a life-sized bronze statue in his image, permanently located in the New South Wales town’s main street.

Williamson’s signature song “True Blue” is an alternative national anthem, and “Rip Rip Woodchip” was embraced by logging protestors in the ’80s. In 1992 he was made a Member of the Order of Australia “for service to Australian country music and in stimulating awareness of conservation issues.”

Last year saw Williamson hit the road for an extensive touring schedule, which included a spot on the Deni Ute Muster, and a performance with Morgan Evans onstage at the Sydney Opera House Concert Hall. In October 2023, he released “Be a Part of This Land” through Warner Music Australia, a song that encourages everyone in Australia to come together and appreciate the land they live on.