Hera Björk reveals why she's touring Australia in 2025

Iceland's Eurovision legend Hera Björk is heading Down Under for a tour of Australia in January 2025.

Hera first represented Iceland at the 2010 Eurovision Song Contest in Oslo. Her song Je ne sais quoi finished 19th but is a huge fan favourite across the world.

Fourteen years later in Malmö, she competed for a second time with her song Scared of Heights.

She had been due to tour Australia in 2020 with the OGAE club here before the pandemic struck.

It's been a trip a long time coming for Hera.

"This has been a dream of mine now for 15 years because in 2010 for the first time, I met Australian media," she told us.

"There also was a lot of Australian fans there so I was like, 'Oh, I'm gonna come down to Australia. So this is a dream come true for me."

The Queen of Effing Everything tour will see Hera visit Melbourne, Brisbane, Sydney, Perth and Adelaide throughout January and February next year.

The one-off ice spectacular

There will also be a special one-off Queen of the Ice(land) show in Melbourne featuring Ice Skating Victoria.

Will we see Hera doing a triple axel across the ice while hitting one of her signature big notes?

Not quite!

"I used to roller skate when I was in the like, back in the 80s," she explains.

"But I will be on my own two feet somewhere in the middle, and have these beautiful dancers skating around me."

It still promises to be an on-ice extravaganza though!

About her shows

The tour itself will bring the best of Hera to her Aussie fans.

"It's called the queen of effing everything for a reason," she says, clearly knowing her audience.

"It's a little bit to show it's about me. It's about my life.

"I'll be sharing stories. Of course, I'm singing the songs, my songs and my favorite songs, or songs that like deeply connect to me and my experience through life. It's just going to be fun."

Not so scared of heights

Although it's a tight schedule, she still hopes to see a little bit of Australia.

One experience she intends to do very much counters the literal title of her song Scared of Heights - she plans to climb the Sydney Harbour Bridge.

"I think I'm gonna do that, I love climbing actually and I love jumping from high points," she says.

"The song it's a metaphor of don't be scared, don't let fear control you."

Will she do a shoey?

In a challenge Aussievision has traditionally given visiting artists, we asked Hera if she would do a "shoey."

After explaining this meant having a celebratory drink from a shoe, and that we'd offer her a clean one, she was more than happy to give it a go.

"I mean, I can drink from a shoe, I'm a Viking!"

We'll be hoping she can live up to what Brooke Scullion did at her Brisbane show in 2023.

We also asked if her gold suit from this year's Eurovision will make an appearance.

"The suit itself is like seven kilos," she explains.

"I got used to it the longer I wore it, but I don't think I'll be bringing that one, it takes four people to dress me up in that thing!"

Eurovision 2024

Hera also shared the triumphs and challenges of this year's Contest.

"I did have a fabulous time, I could understand the language and I love the food so that's that makes this all always easier," she explained.

"But of course, the political landscape was a little bit haunting. But that being said, my team and I, we, in a way, connected on a deeper level."

When we ask her about which Icelandic artist she'd like to see at the Contest, she is hesitant.

"If it's gonna be the same, like drama as last time no one, I wish this upon no one," she says

"It was a lot to take, but I am a mature experienced woman with a fantastic team, so I could do it. But for some young artists, I don't wish this upon anyone."

Thankfully the reception from Aussie fans will be more than enthusiastic and it's something Hera's can't wait for.

"I am really looking forward to it, lots of love to all of you!"

Tour details

Hera will be performing across the country in January and February.

• Melbourne: 22 January - O'Brien IceHouse (plus four nights cabaret show - details TBC)

• Brisbane: 27 January - The Brightside

• Sydney: 30 January, 1 February - The Bridge Hotel

• Perth: 3 February - Connections

• Adelaide: 5 February - The Jade

Get all details on the tour website.

Watch our interview with Hera below

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