Ride the downtown train with Tom

The 40th anniversary of Tom Waits’ ninth studio album will be celebrated with a show at The Potato Shed next month.

10 Years of Tom is a homage to the legendary American singer-songwriter and his music between 1977 and 1987.

As well as 1985 album Rain Dogs – included in Rolling Stone’s100 greatest albums of the 1980s and its 500 Greatest Albums of All Time lists – the show will cover Heartattack and Vine, Swordfishtrombone, Franks Wild Years, Blue Valentine and Foreign Affair.

Waits has captivated fans for four decades with his gritty storytelling and eclectic mix of genres.

Widely praised upon release and a significant shift in Waits’ sound, Rain Dogs continues to find contemporary fans, including Radiohead’s Thom Yorke, who described its lyrics as “an effortless rhyme you could only dream of ever writing. Falling off the tongue so beautifully, but never giving easily, keeping half the story to itself”.

The show will be performed by Glenn Richards (Augie March), Lachlan Bryan, Queenie, Delsinki and Maggie Alley.

Backed by an all-star band featuring Steve Hadley (Tex Perkins), Holly Thomas (Quivers), Stacey Gray (Trial Kennedy) and Ania Reynolds (Circus Oz), the concert promises an immersive journey through the darkly poetic and soulful world of Waits, featuring classics such as Downtown Train (later notably covered by Rod Stewart), Clap Hands, and Jockey Full of Bourbon.

Audiences will experience the raw emotion and enigmatic spirit of Waits’ music through his unique blend of jazz, blues, and avant-garde rock.

10 Years of Tom will be performed at The Potato Shed, Drysdale, on October 10 from 8pm, followed by shows in Ballarat and Brunswick.

For more information and tickets, head to 10yearsoftom.com