Robbie Williams to Perform at Australia’s Melbourne Cup Day

Robbie Williams, the British pop superstar, will take the stage at Australia's prestigious Melbourne Cup Day on November 3, the Victoria Racing Club (VRC) announced. The One Direction frontman will headline the Elms Live Stage at Melbourne's Flemington Racecourse, performing after the day's final race and delivering a second show in the mounting yard as part of the Nine Network broadcast, just before the Lexus Melbourne Cup trophy presentation.

This performance, the club is billing as the biggest pre-Cup event ever at Flemington, comes days before Williams embarks on his Australian arena tour. Williams expressed his excitement in a statement, promising "big songs, big energy, and a massive celebration after the race that stops the nation." This marks Williams' first performance at Flemington, a venue he's always dreamed of gracing.

The VRC's Kylie Rogers hailed this as "the perfect way to celebrate the prestige and significance of Lexus Melbourne Cup Day," as it's Williams' first appearance at the event. This date coincides with a significant period in Williams' career. His 13th studio album, Britpop, dropped in January, debuting at number one on the U.K. Official Albums Chart, cementing his record as the most chart-topping albums in the history of the U.K. chart, surpassing the Beatles' 15.

Britpop, featuring guest appearances from Chris Martin, Tony Iommi of Black Sabbath, and Mexican duo Jesse & Joy, received some of Williams' best reviews in years. The Australian and New Zealand legs of Williams' Britpop Tour also include support from Manchester's The Lottery Winners and Melbourne's G Flip, with Wellington's Drax Project joining for the New Zealand shows.

The Melbourne Cup Carnival, an annual four-day event, runs from October 31 to November 7, with Australian DJ FISHER set to perform on the final day. General admission includes both of Williams' performances, promising a night of unforgettable music and celebration.