We suspected it for years, now it’s confirmed: the only empire truly worthy of world domination is Empire of the Sun. But theirs would be a radiant, benevolent dictatorship — built on color, love, and mutual protection.
“We need to cover each other,” Luke Steele repeats onstage in Milan, elevating his celestial aesthetic to something palpably real.
Empire of the Sun have never belonged to the present. They are heirs to sun-worshipping civilizations, yet seem to have descended from a far-off, untouchable future.
Their universe feels like a dream suspended between “The Emperor’s New Groove” and a high-concept fantasy video game — a place that somehow just makes you feel good, without needing explanation.
They are, in many ways, pioneers of the chill Australian music wave, prophets of a rhythm that has, since 2009, transported listeners straight into a vivid dreamscape.
It had been years — since before the pandemic — since Empire of the Sun last crossed European skies. And remarkably, their recent stop in Milan marked their very first show in Italy.
Visually, the band draws inspiration from Alejandro Jodorowsky’s cult masterpiece The Holy Mountain, blending their discography into a hallucinatory world of sound and symbol. Their hits — from “Walking on a Dream” to “Standing on the Shore,” from “Change” to “We Are the People” — orbit a realm where psychology, spirituality, and esotericism intersect.
Famed for their genre-defying sound and visually dazzling performances, Empire of the Sun have spent the past decade mesmerizing millions around the world — building a mythos that’s as iconic as it is cinematic.
Luke Steele and Nick Littlemore are architects of a dreamworld, where reality dissolves into kaleidoscopic fantasy. Their live shows are pure spectacle, and their latest album, “Ask That God”, opens the door to a bold new chapter: one where sonic experimentation meets spiritual curiosity.
Tracks like “Cherry Blossom” and the title piece “Ask That God” are already fan favorites — elevated live into experiences just as transcendent as their early anthems.
Their journey began with Walking on a Dream (2008), a debut that gifted the world platinum singles and a distinct visual identity. They pushed boundaries further with Ice on the Dune (2013), delivering hits like “Alive” and “DNA” and launching a global tour that cemented their legend. In 2016’s Two Vines, they embraced lush disco-pop, collaborating with icons like Lindsey Buckingham, members of David Bowie’s Blackstar band, and Wendy Melvoin of Prince & The Revolution.
Now, with Ask That God, Empire of the Sun step into a new dimension — where mysticism and sound converge, reshaping their artistic vision and pulling us deeper into the cosmos they’ve spent over a decade creating.
Empire of the Sun’s Setlist in Milan: Can We Expect the Same at Upcoming Shows?
- Changes
- The Feeling You Get
- Half Mast
- Cherry Blossom
- We Are the People
- DNA
- Television
- Music On The Radio
- Revolve
- High and Low
- Swordfish Hotkiss Night
- Ask That God
- Happy Like You / Wild World
- Walking on a Dream
- Standing on the Shore
- Alive
Empire of the Sun’s Upcoming Tour Dates Around the World
Europe
- July 31 – 013 Poppodium, Tilburg, Netherlands
- August 2 – The Old Royal Naval College, London, United Kingdom
- August 4 – Palladium, Cologne, Germany
- August 5 – Zenith, Munich, Germany
- August 6 – Sziget Festival, Budapest, Hungary
- August 8 – Grape Festival, Trenčín, Slovakia
- August 10 – Summer Well Festival, Buftea, Romania
- August 13 – Krizanke, Ljubljana, Slovenia
- August 14 – Areál 7, Prague, Czechia
- August 15 – Bittersweet Festival, Poznań, Poland
- August 17 – Uber Eats Music Hall, Berlin, Germany
- August 19 – Cirque Royale, Brussels, Belgium
- August 20 – Cirque Royale, Brussels, Belgium
- August 22 – Rock En Seine, Paris, France
- August 23 – Zürich Open Air, Zürich, Switzerland
- August 27 – Black Sea Arena, Ozurgeti, Georgia
- August 30 – Bonus Parkorman, İstanbul, Turkey
USA & México
- September 23 – Granary Live, Salt Lake City, Utah
- September 25 – Grand Sierra, Reno, Nevada
- September 27 – CRSSD Festival, San Diego, California
- September 28 – Santa Barbara Bowl, Santa Barbara, California
- October 1 – Ford Amphitheater, Colorado Springs, Colorado
- October 3 – Austin City Limits, Austin, Texas
- October 4 – The Zoo Amphitheatre, Oklahoma City, Oklahoma
- October 6 – Mahalia Jackson Theater, New Orleans, Louisiana
- October 8 – Nashville Municipal Auditorium, Nashville, Tennessee
- October 10 – Austin City Limits, Austin, Texas
- October 25 – Pulso GNP, Santiago de Querétaro, México
