Glasgow art rock legends Franz Ferdinand headlined part of the On The Steps concert series at the iconic Sydney Opera House Forecourt. From the opening blast of “The Dark of the Matinée,” Alex Kapranos stalked the stage with the swagger of someone who knows exactly how to command a crowd, playing all the classics including…
Brooklyn art-rock shapeshifters TV On The Radio delivered one of the best gigs of 2025 leaving Sydney’s Enmore Theatre audience totally energised. Tunde Adebimpe, the magnetic lead singer, prowled the stage with the restless energy and Kyp Malone’s harmonies and guitar textures with the rest of the band adding to an emotionally charged gig. Song…
Doja Cat delivered a slick, high-voltage performance on her Ma Vie World Tour at Qudos Bank Arena, proving she’s one of pop’s most unpredictable forces. Commanding the stage with effortless swagger, she bounced between razor-sharp rap flows and glossy pop hooks, turning hits like “Paint the Town Red” and “Woman” into mass singalongs. Pete Dovgan…
English indie legends Kaiser Chiefs returned to Sydney’s Hordern Pavilion to celebrate the 20th anniversary of their debut album Employment and proved their debut still packs more bite than most bands’ entire careers. Lead singer Ricky Wilson bounded across the stage like a man fuelled by nostalgia and nitroglycerin, leading a crowd of old-school indie diehards…
Sharon Van Etten and The Attachment Theory played one of the best gigs of 2025 at Sydney’s Enmore Theatre. Van Etten is magnetic, she draws you in, her vocals are emotional and her lyrics are overwhelming in the best way, plus The Attachment Theory is super tight and like part of Van Etten’s family. Kicking…
Lenny Kravitz kicked off his Blue Electric Light Australian Tour in style to a packed out Sydney’s Qudos Bank Arena. Opening with “Bring It On” Lenny exploded onto stage with a groove-heavy blast that set the tone for the night. Backed by his incredibly tight band consisting of Craig Ross his long-time lead guitarist, Hoonch…
Sam Fender made a long-overdue return to the Sidney Myer Music Bowl last week, delivering a set that felt big, loud and completely effortless. The crowd didn’t miss a lyric, with “Hypersonic Missiles” and “Seventeen Going Under” landing exactly the way everyone hoped, heavy and cathartic. The night was a complete standout in Melbourne’s live…
Holly Humberstone made a gorgeous return to the stage for her first show in over a year, stepping into a room buzzing with warmth as she moved between crowd-favourites like “Scarlett” and “Overkill” and newer tracks that landed just as softly and sharply. A quietly confident comeback that Melbourne soaked up from start to finish….
It’s been twelve years since Metallica last played Australia, but boy did they make up for lost time. Stopping at Adelaide on Wednesday as part of their M72 World Tour, the heavy metal juggernauts put on what could probably be called the show of the year. Some 50,000 fans of all ages packed out Adelaide…
Honouring the tenth anniversary of Adelaide’s designation as a UNESCO city of music, Music SA hosted a gala event on Tuesday night at the Entertainment Centre to recognise the state’s musical talent. After a red carpet entrance, local all-girl rock group winners, Oscar the Wild, played a short, energetic set. Cliffy Wilson “Welcomed to Country”, before…
British-Sri Lankan artist, rapper, and cultural icon M.I.A. returned to Sydney at the iconic Enmore Theatre with a stunning performance of songs from her back catalogue including “bamboo banger”, “bird flu”, “bad girls” and to the delight of her fans finishing the set with her massive hit “paper planes”. Warming up the crowd brilliantly was…
An essential part of a memorable festival is rain and mud. Throw in a violent electrical storm, and you have Bingo. Thus, Adelaide’s 2025 Harvest Rock Festival is memorable for this and many more reasons. A severe thunderstorm on midday Saturday meant that a shelter in place warning was issued. Rundle Street pubs were filled…
King Gizzard & The Lizard Wizard turned Fed Square into a spontaneous early-night rave, playing a surprise free DJ set that drew thousands into the city centre. Blending their usual psych-rock chaos with pulsing electronic tracks, the set felt loose, loud, and communal, a reminder of why Melbourne loves them still after all this time….
Royel Otis opened their national tour with a sold-out Melbourne show at Margaret Court Arena, marking a huge moment for the Australian duo as one of their biggest shows yet. Fresh off the release of LP Hickey, they moved through favourites like “i hate this tune”, “Sofa King”, and “Murder on the Dancefloor” to a…
In 2015, The AU Review’s John Goodridge interviewed Kiss founder Paul Daniel “Ace” Frehley after the release of his 2014 solo album Space Invader. We stumbled upon it while thumbing through our extensive archives and are now publishing it in tribute to the pioneering musician, who sadly passed away on 16th October 2025, aged 74. Read…
Freak Slug made her Melbourne debut at The Night Cat as part of her first Australian tour, following the release of her breakout album I Blow Out Big Candles. The Manchester artist brought her bedroom-pop energy to an intimate, packed room, moving through tracks like Sexy Lemon and Radio with warmth and chaotic charm. Eloise…
The First Annual Liberty Ball took place at Sydney’s Liberty Hall, featuring incredible international and local artists. Headlining the night was Nashville-based American singer Nikki Lane and her band. Nikki has that cool vintage Americana twang sound with raspy vocals and absolutely killed it. On the outdoor stage were Laid Back Country Pickers all the…
Audrey Hobert’s Melbourne debut at The Toff in Town was one of her first-ever Australian shows, with just 300 fans securing a spot through a ballot system. She played tracks from her debut album Who’s The Clown? to the tiny room, filled with warmth and anticipation, offering a rare close-up introduction to a rising songwriter. Eloise…
Wunderhorse hit the Forum on Tuesday night, their first Melbourne headline show and one that clearly struck a chord, having upgraded the show from Northcote Theatre due to massive demand. The set pulled from Cub alongside newer material, with tracks like “Teal” and “Leader of the Pack” sending the crowd into full, jumping sing-along mode….
Del Water Gap packed out Max Watt’s for his sold-out Melbourne show on Sunday night. Stellar tracks like “Ode to a Conversation Stuck in Your Throat” and “Perfume” hit hard, while newer cuts from upcoming record Chase The Chimera slotted in seamlessly. The setup was simple but effective, with the banter staying short and sweet whilst…
SummerSalt turned Torquay Commons into a coastal party despite grey skies and a wintery chill, with punters rolling out camping chairs and braving the drizzle for a stacked lineup. Rising names like Ra Ra Viper, Bea and Her Business, and Del Water Gap set the stage for big hitters Ball Park Music, DMA’S, and The…
This weekend saw legendary Sydney band Drop City play Sydney’s Factory Theatre to mark the 30th Anniversary of their seminal 1995 release Magic Transistor Radio. From the moment the first chords rang out, the crowd was transported back to the 90s psychedelia sounds from Drop City. The guitars shimmered with reverb-soaked textures, layered against a…
It felt like magic was in the air on the final day of the 2025 Mundi Mundi Bash. The weather had been perfect all week, the music was universally loved. The attendance and money raised for Beyond Blue and the Royal Flying Doctor Service (RFDS) was outstanding. A large part of the success of this…
Friday morning opens to a bright sunny day on the Mundi Mundi Plains. Perfect weather for the traditional Mundi Undie Run. One notable feature of the Mundi Mundi festival is the inclusiveness. People with disabilities, families, pets, Indigenous workshops are all celebrated and embraced. Bring out your strange. This year an incredible number of people…
This week, a record crowd of some 15,000 music lovers descended onto Belmont Station near Broken Hill in western NSW for the now iconic Mundi Mundi Bash. While the event officially started on Thursday, many took advantage of early-bird entry and were treated to acts such as Chocolate Starfish, The Headliners and the local “Mundi’s…
Radio Free Alice are currently tearing it up in the UK. They are on a massive tour, with more than twenty shows in the UK sold out, as well as shows in New York, Canada, as well as appearances at the famed Reading and Leeds festivals on the immediate horizon, as well as Shaky Knees…
Little Birdy on tour celebrating the 21st Birthday of their iconic debut album bigbiglove played at Sydney’s Manning Bar on a very wet and miserable Saturday night. Little Birdy delivered the entire album with heartfelt precision, breathing revitalised life into each song. “Beautiful to Me” carried its original charm with the crowd singing along to every…
Tick Tick Boom! The Hives just laid proof as title holders to the current “Best Live Rock and Roll Bands In The World” with a wild performance from the Swedish Kings at Sydney’s Enmore Theatre. Led by the marquee of lead singers Howlin Pelle Almqvist, his lethal brother Niklas on guitar plus their dangerous band…
Faye Webster on her Underdressed At The Symphony Australian tour delivered an impressively intimate set, showcasing her laid-back folk and cool indie‑rock with her exceptional band at Sydney’s Enmore Theatre. Hailing from Atlanta Georgia, Faye beautifully played tracks from her back catalogue to a sold out Enmore Theatre the first of two sold out shows…
Sarah Blasko is currently whizzing around Europe and the UK on her I Just Need To Conquer This Mountain tour. She played Manchester on Wednesday night at the fabulous Deaf Institute. Sarah has brought a band with her on this tour, and played the entire album from beginning to end, before launching into a selection…