Ball Park Music’s Dean Hanson had a good reason for missing the 2026 Queensland Music Awards this week on the Gold Coast; the rhythm guitarist and bass player was hospitalized after fracturing his collar bone playing a game of social cricket.
Hanson had successful surgery overnight, so their forthcoming Rock and Roll Adventure Tour “may continue,” reads an update from the beloved indie rock band. As a result of the injury, the opening show May 1 at the Beach Hotel in Kingscliff is “just too soon for us to be back to 100%,” reads that social message, and a new date has been locked in for June 13. All tickets remain valid.
“Thanks for understanding and supporting Deano while he lets his new upgrades load,” the post continues, “so we can come hit the stage better than ever.”
When members of BPM attended the QMAs, Hanson was conspicuously absent (Jennifer Boyce didn’t show, but guests were told that she’s doesn’t much like awards ceremonies). The group went on to collect two awards, including album of the year for Like Love, their ARIA Chart topping eighth studio collection.
While collecting the QMA trophy, bandmate Paul Furness remarked: “Our guitarist Dean couldn’t be here tonight because he broke his collarbone the other day. He was trying to take a catch in the seventh grade cricket in Brisbane. He dropped the catch and broke his collarbone.”
The statement, issued today, puts a different spin on his “heroic effort to change the course of a social cricket match.” It’s unclear who won the game, or when Hanson will be cleared for band duties, or a return to the pitch.
Like Love went to No. 1 on the ARIA Albums Chart in April 2025, the band’s first leader after long streak of frustrating misses which included three titles that peaked at No. 2: Puddinghead (2014), Ball Park Music (2020), and Weirder & Weirder (2022). Later in 2025, the band opened for Oasis on the reunited Britpop legends’ stadium tour of Australia.
