It’s seemingly a welcome change of pace for one of Australia’s most celebrated singer/songwriters.  

“I’m doing only a few shows this year, ‘cause I’m at the end of having made two records, so I’m kind of stay-at-home dad really this year,” he said. 

“The kids are pretty happy that I’m staying home for a while.”

One of Fanning’s select appearances in 2018 will be at the SummerSalt mini-festival at Stuart Park, Wollongong on Saturday. 

Also on the bill is The John Butler Trio, Mama Kin Spender and Oh Pep!.

Having fronted Powderfinger, one of Australia’s most successful rock bands, in 2005 Fanning began pursuing a solo career when he released his debut album, Tea and Sympathy.  

John Butler Trio and Fanning toured together during Powderfinger’s Vulture Street jaunt a decade-and-a-half ago, but have only appeared on the same bill sporadically since then. 

“I guess we’ve played on festivals before (since then); we’ve been on the same line-ups,” Fanning said.

“But not on the same show like this. He’s a good friend, and I love what he does.”

The mini-festival is the latest installment in Fanning’s nearly 25-year history of performing in Wollongong.  

“I’ve always loved playing down there, and I believe the first time was actually when we (Powderfinger) played with Tumbleweed in like ‘94,” he said.

“I think it was an all ages show with them.

“Powderfinger played there a lot. We played the uni a lot, and even did day time shows at the uni.”

Read More: John Butler heads Home for forthcoming album

Last year’s acclaimed album Brutal Dawn was the second installment in a two-album series for Fanning, which followed ARIA Award-winning Civil Dusk.  

The Australian Performing Rights Association recently released the nominees for the 2018 APRA Music Awards.

Fanning was named in the ‘Blues & Roots Work of the Year’ category for Isn’t It A Pity and Reckless. 

“The APRA Awards are voted for by songwriters, which is what my main job is I suppose, and the main passion that I have within the realms of my job is the writing part. 

“So it’s nice to be acknowledged for that stuff.”

Meanwhile, organisers of Summersalt - Zaccaria Concerts and Yours and Owls - have refused to respond to the Mercury’s questions over whether they have ensured this concert will be problem-free after the organisation of their previous Wollongong event was heavily criticised by patrons.

In February, the two organisations co-presented Jimmy Barnes in MacCabe Park which saw them bombarded with complaints over hour-plus queues to get into the venue, hour-long queues for vendors, vendors running out of food halfway through and obstructed views of the stage.