Steve Hogarth will make his Australian solo debut in December with four H Natural performances in Sydney and Melbourne, with recent European setlists revealing a wide-ranging mix of Marillion favourites, solo and collaborative material and songs by David Bowie, Bob Dylan, Pink Floyd and others.
by Paul Cashmere
Steve Hogarth will perform in Australia for the first time this December, bringing his H Natural solo show to Sydney and Melbourne for four performances that will draw on more than three decades of Marillion material while leaving room for covers, personal favourites and songs from his work outside the band.
The Australian dates mark a significant moment for an artist who has been a central figure in Marillion since joining the band in 1989. Marillion have never toured Australia, despite maintaining a substantial international following, making Hogarth’s decision to undertake the journey alone the first opportunity for Australian audiences to see him perform in this format.
The H Natural shows are deliberately different from a conventional Marillion concert. Hogarth performs without a fixed setlist, allowing audience interaction and requests to influence the music and conversation. His recent performances in the UK in December 2025 and the Netherlands in January 2026 provide the clearest indication yet of the repertoire Australian audiences could encounter.
The Netherlands setlist contained 22 songs. Ten were Marillion compositions, accounting for almost half the performance. Seven were covers, while the remaining five came from Hogarth’s solo, collaborative and pre-Marillion work. The UK performance followed a similar model, with eight Marillion songs, seven covers and six other selections across 21 songs.
Among the Marillion material, several songs stand out as established highlights of the Hogarth era. “You’re Gone”, from 2004’s Marbles, is particularly significant. The song became Marillion’s first UK Top 10 single since “Incommunicado” in 1987, reaching No. 7.
“Afraid of Sunlight”, the title track from Marillion’s 1995 album, also appeared in the Netherlands set. Hogarth has previously identified that album as his favourite Marillion recording. Other substantial selections include “Easter”, “The Hollow Man”, “Fantastic Place”, “Beautiful”, “Waiting to Happen”, “Genie”, “Faith”, “House”, “Three Minute Boy” and “A Voice From the Past”.
The setlists also demonstrate how extensively Hogarth draws on music outside Marillion. David Bowie is represented by “Ashes to Ashes” and “Life on Mars?”, with a brief “Heroes” excerpt also used in the Netherlands. Bob Dylan’s “Like a Rolling Stone”, Pink Floyd’s “Wish You Were Here”, Peter Gabriel’s “Here Comes the Flood”, Nine Inch Nails’ “Hurt”, Talking Heads’ “Once in a Lifetime”, The Kinks’ “Dedicated Follower of Fashion” and Joe Jackson’s “It’s Different for Girls” have all featured.
That breadth reflects Hogarth’s career before, during and beyond Marillion. He was a keyboard player and co-lead vocalist with The Europeans before forming How We Live with guitarist Colin Woore. How We Live released Dry Land in 1987, after which Hogarth considered leaving music before being introduced to Marillion.
Hogarth joined Marillion following the departure of Fish, first working with the band during the development of Seasons End. He became the voice of a new phase for the group, beginning with that 1989 album and continuing through 15 studio albums. His tenure has encompassed albums including Brave, Afraid of Sunlight, Marbles and An Hour Before It’s Dark.
His solo career has provided another strand to the H Natural repertoire. Hogarth released Ice Cream Genius in 1997 and subsequently worked extensively with Richard Barbieri, including the albums Not The Weapon But The Hand and Waiting To Be Born. The recent setlists also include “Red Kite”, recorded by Hogarth and Barbieri, alongside “Dry Land”, originally associated with How We Live.
The format has particular relevance for Australia because it bypasses the economic obstacle that has kept Marillion from touring the country. Hogarth previously explained that the band had been unable to make an Australian tour financially viable, prompting him to undertake the trip independently. The result is a four-show run rather than a full Marillion tour, with the H Natural format placing the focus directly on Hogarth’s voice, piano, stories and audience interaction.
For Australian fans, the recent European setlists suggest there will be recognisable Marillion songs alongside less predictable choices. “You’re Gone”, “Easter”, “Beautiful”, “Fantastic Place”, “Afraid of Sunlight” and “Faith” are among the more substantial Marillion highlights already demonstrated, although the absence of a predetermined set means none is guaranteed.
The first Australian H Natural performances take place in Sydney and Melbourne in December, giving audiences their first opportunity to experience Hogarth’s solo format in the country.
Tour Dates
Thursday 10 December, Sydney, Oxford Art Factory
Sunday 13 December, Sydney, Lazybones Lounge
Wednesday 16 December, Melbourne, Corner Hotel
Thursday 17 December, Melbourne, Corner Hotel
Ticket Details
https://www.sadcloudtouring.com
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