Australian Artists James Johnston and BOY SODA Gain Ground Overseas
James Johnston and BOY SODA are flying the flag for Australian music overseas, with both artists reaching new international milestones.
While operating in different corners, James Johnston and BOY SODA are flying the flag for Australian music overseas, with both artists reaching new international milestones.
Johnston has just completed his first UK headline run, selling out shows before his appearance on the main stage at Country Calling Festival this month.
The three-time Golden Guitar winner opened the tour in Glasgow, where a bagpiper joined him for a performance of new single “Country Song”, before playing two sold-out nights at Birmingham’s Hare & Hounds. His Manchester stop followed, while the UK run wrapped at Country Calling, where Johnston stepped into the crowd during “One More”.
The tour adds to Johnston’s growing international activity in 2026, which has also included an appearance at Sweden’s High Chaparral Country Festival. His latest track, “Takes Me Back”, also received its first play on BBC Radio 2’s Country Show with Darius Rucker.
Johnston, who has accumulated more than 165 million global streams, will now return to Australia for Gympie Music Muster before heading overseas again for his first Canadian headline show at Calgary’s Ranchmans in September.
Reporting from inside the Australian music business since '94.
His international push follows the release of his second album, Where You’ll Find Me, in 2025. The record was the top-selling Australian country album on the ARIA Charts for the year. His debut, 2023's Raised Like That, previously spent 35 weeks at No. 1 on the ARIA Australian Country Albums Chart.
Meanwhile, BOY SODA has been expanding his own international footprint, performing at Summer Sonic in both Osaka and Tokyo. The Australian R&B artist appeared at the Japanese festival alongside a bill featuring the likes of Jamiroquai and BINI, performing tracks including “Lil Obsession” and “Chase Your Tail”.
“Bringing SOULSTAR to Japan and feeling that instant connection with the crowd was amazing,” BOY SODA said. “To hear thousands of people in Tokyo and Osaka singing my lyrics back to me, when I’m thousands of miles from home... that’s what this whole journey is about. I’m feeling so inspired and grateful.”
The Japan appearances follow BOY SODA’s performance at the Aussie BBQ in New York in June, presented by Sounds Australia, and come as he continues to take his debut album Soulstar beyond Australia.
Released in 2025, Soulstar and its associated releases have generated more than 14 million streams, while “Lil Obsession” earned BOY SODA the ARIA Award for Best Soul/R&B Release. He also signed with Los Angeles-based United Talent Agency last year.
His international schedule is set to continue next month, with his world tour heading to The Echo in Los Angeles and Baby’s All Right in New York. He will then return home for shows at Sydney’s Oxford Art Factory on October 24th and Melbourne’s Howler on October 30th.
The Japan appearances follow BOY SODA’s performance at the Aussie BBQ in New York in June, presented by Sounds Australia, and come as he continues to take his debut album Soulstar beyond Australia.
Released in 2025, Soulstar and its associated releases have generated more than 14 million streams, while “Lil Obsession” earned BOY SODA the ARIA Award for Best Soul/R&B Release. He also signed with Los Angeles-based United Talent Agency last year.
His international schedule is set to continue next month, with his world tour heading to The Echo in Los Angeles and Baby’s All Right in New York. He will then return home for shows at Sydney’s Oxford Art Factory on October 24th and Melbourne’s Howler on October 30th.
Johnston has just completed his first UK headline run, selling out shows before his appearance on the main stage at Country Calling Festival this month.
The three-time Golden Guitar winner opened the tour in Glasgow, where a bagpiper joined him for a performance of new single “Country Song”, before playing two sold-out nights at Birmingham’s Hare & Hounds. His Manchester stop followed, while the UK run wrapped at Country Calling, where Johnston stepped into the crowd during “One More”.
The tour adds to Johnston’s growing international activity in 2026, which has also included an appearance at Sweden’s High Chaparral Country Festival. His latest track, “Takes Me Back”, also received its first play on BBC Radio 2’s Country Show with Darius Rucker.
Released in 2025, Soulstar and its associated releases have generated more than 14 million streams, while “Lil Obsession” earned BOY SODA the ARIA Award for Best Soul/R&B Release. He also signed with Los Angeles-based United Talent Agency last year.
His international schedule is set to continue next month, with his world tour heading to The Echo in Los Angeles and Baby’s All Right in New York. He will then return home for shows at Sydney’s Oxford Art Factory on October 24th and Melbourne’s Howler on October 30th.
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Reporting from inside the Australian music business since '94.
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