The Streets' upcoming Australian tour is a must see for every fan and in fact every one. For this upcoming tour will be a bit of a swansong for the Brit-rapper Mike Skinner.
Once hailed the "voice of a generation for his tales about life in the suburbs", Skinner is preparing to put down the microphone after almost a decade. Sad, but true.
The fourth Streets album, 'Everything is Borrowed', was released last year, and Skinner plans to deliver the fifth and final album this year.
He has already written 10 songs for it, and says it feels like the end of a chapter.
"I just think it will be a very tidy five albums and they'll all make sense as one thing, and then I'll just go on and do something else. I've been doing this kind of formula now for - well it will be nine or 10 years by the time I'm done - and it's been constant. I'm always going to have a lot going on. I don't think it will be sad for me," Skinner said.
Until then, Skinner is planning on making the most of his remaining time as The Streets, turning his live shows over the next year into celebrations.
He had to cancel a US tour planned for late last year because it wasn't financially viable, but is looking forward to hitting Australia's shores in February for a string of shows, including the Playground Weekender festival in NSW.
"All I want to do is cover the costs really, and I'm just a little bit more popular in Australia so the gigs are a bit bigger and it kind of works out," he said.
"The shows are the best they've ever been, they're so crazy. At the moment it does feel like the end, and the shows are fantastic."
On the last album Skinner made a rule that he would not mention modern life, and the result is a collection of his most philosophical songs.
On his final effort, the London-based 'geezer' is changing tack again.
"It's a lot more train of thought, this one," he said.
"When that works, you end up with really quite inspired-sounding twists and turns that I think people really like. The other side of that coin is that you don't end up with those really simple songs that I've been known for in the past."
Given his appetite for experimentation, his next career move is sure to be interesting.
"I'd like to make a film next," Skinner said.
"I've been studying screen writing for the whole time I've been doing The Streets really.
"If you listen to (second album) A Grand Don't Come For Free, that is very much drawn from screenwriting more than songwriting really."
As long Mike Skinner is still producing magic in some form, fans will be happy.
Dates for The Streets 'farewell' tour:
5th Feb - The Forum, Sydney NSW
6th Feb - The Tivoli, Brisbane QLD
9th Feb - HQ, Adelaide SA
10th Feb - Billboard, Melbourne VIC
13th Feb - Metro City, Perth WA
*The Streets will also be appearing at Playground Weekender
Del Rio Riverside Resort, Wiseman’s Ferry
Friday 6, Saturday 7, Sunday 9 February
www.the-streets.co.uk
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