An Evening With marks the 30th anniversary of the four-piece’s most beloved album Starfish, with the band to play the work in its entirety including their iconic hit Under the Milky Way.

That timeless song – written by frontman Steve Kilbey and his then girlfriend Karin Jansson – has gone on to be covered by the likes of Sia and The Killers, has featured in films like Donnie Darko and was even performed at the opening of the 2006 Commonwealth Games by the Melbourne Symphony Orchestra.

The tour kicks off at Anita’s Theatre on November 23 before heading to Newcastle, Brisbane, Sydney, Melbourne, Canberra, Auckland, Adelaide and Perth.

The announcement of the ARIA Hall of Famer’s decision to include the Illawarra in their national schedule is further testament to the region’s pulling power for artists with the live music scene continuing to flourish.

It comes on the back of a major tour announcement from current ARIA hit-makers Sheppard who have teamed up with Yours and Owls to deliver a concert under a Big Top at the University of Wollongong’s Innovation Campus.

This week Wollongong was again hailed a leader in nurturing live music and culture at a state parliament inquiry, which looked at how the city has changed over the past six years.

Presale tickets for The Church go on sale Tuesday July 10, with general admission on sale Friday July 13. For more information visit: www.frontiertouring.com/thechurch