Out lesbian icon and Grammy award-winning singer-songwriter Melissa Etheridge is heading to several Australian cities in July next year, it has just been announced.

This will be her first Aussie tour since 1996, and fans are promised ‘an intimate evening of over two hours of powerful performances from Etheridge’s extensive catalogue of hits.’

Her Fearless Love tour will kick off in Auckland, New Zealand in July 2012 and will continue on to Australia taking in QLD, NSW, VIC, SA and WA:

Fri 6 July – Civic Theatre, Auckland, NZ
The Edge 0800 289 842 or www.the-edge.co.nz

Sat 7 Jul – Michael Fowler Centre, Wellington, NZ
Ticketek 0800 842 538 or www.ticketek.co.nz

Tue 10 Jul – QPAC Concert Hall, Brisbane, QLD
Qtix 136 246 or www.qpac.com.au

Wed 11 and Thurs 12 Jul – Opera House, Sydney, NSW
Sydney Opera House 02 9250 7777 or www.sydneyoperahouse.com
Ticketek 132 849 or www.ticketek.com.au

Sun 15 Jul – The Plenary, Melbourne, VIC
Ticketmaster 136 100 or www.ticketmaster.com.au

Tue 17 Jul – AEC Theatre, Adelaide, SA
Ticketek 132 849 or www.ticketek.com.au

Fri 20 Jul – Riverside Theatre, Perth, WA
Ticketek 132 849 or www.ticketek.com.au

The folk-rocker’s most recent album Fearless Love was released last year. The official video for its title track is shown below.