Dierks Bentley Stakes Out New Territory

Dierks Bentley photo by Jim Wright, courtesy of Capitol Nashville.

March 17, 2009 — As one of country music’s real road warriors, Dierks Bentley has seen plenty of the U.S. and Canada, and he’s even done a couple tours of Europe and played at a Nobel Peace Prize concert in Norway.

Nevertheless, he’s found new ground to cover with his upcoming tour of Australia as an opening act for Brooks & Dunn. Which is, of course, accompanied by a very long air trip.

"I cannot wait for the 20-hour flight in coach," he told the national radio show GAC Nights: Live From Nashville. "It’s gonna be soooo exciting."

Okay, so the travel won’t be so great. But the destination — that definitely gets a thumbs-up.

"I’ve always wanted to go to Australia," he continued. "Had a lot of opportunities to go down there and always wanted to and just waited for the opportunity. [Brooks & Dunn] have already gone down there and sold out buildings. Now we get a chance to go open up for them. So it’s the best way to crack into the country and make as many fans as possible and get in front of as many fans as possible. It’s a great opportunity and we’re real psyched they asked us to go. Other than the flight, I can’t wait."

Country stars seem to have taken note of the market of late. Joe Nichols and Deana Carter both performed there for the first time in the last three weeks, and Taylor Swift likewise made her first run Down Under, adding a four-song performance at the Sound Relief benefit concert on Saturday in Sydney. The show raised money for victims of the bushfires that destroyed more than 1,000 homes. Taylor was on the same bill with Coldplay, Jet and Barry Gibb, who had a cool country-related surprise: Olivia Newton-John made a guest appearance, Billboard reported, to cover "Islands In The Stream," which Barry wrote with his brothers for Kenny Rogers & Dolly Parton.

Dierks’ visit to Australia begins May 1 in Perth.