After more than two years since playing in their home country, King Gizzard & the Lizard Wizard’s orchestral set at the Sidney Myer Music Bowl on Friday felt huge, immersive and made for the space. Joined by 29 players of Orchestra Victoria and led by conductor/musical director Chad Kelly, the band stretched tracks from Phantom…
Garbage played at the iconic Sydney Opera House Concert Hall on the last show of their Australian tour. The alt-rock veterans delivered a set with tension and precision. Shirley Manson was magnetic, her voice still cutting deep on “I Think I’m Paranoid” and “Stupid Girl”. Garbage’s sound was perfectly amplified around the Concert Hall with…
Sofia Isella on her YOU’LL UNDERSTAND, DICK tour performed at The Roundhouse UNSW to an ecstatic Sydney audience. Isella’s musicality is even more striking in person. She shifts between violin, keys, and guitar with the focused ease of someone who grew up treating instruments like extra limbs. She has a tender connection with her fans,…
Lewis Capaldi’s Melbourne show last night was purely him; loud, warm and a little bit unhinged in the best way. The crowd was right there with him through the jokes, the big sing-alongs and the heavier moments, with “Someone You Loved” and “Before You Go” hitting exactly as they should. You can read more about…
London indie rock outfit Bar Italia played a killer set at Sydney’s Metro Theatre performing songs off their most recent release Some Like It Hot and early releases. Made up of Jezmi Fehmi, Sam Fenton, and Italian born Nina Cristante their music blends post-punk tension with classic indie rock. Supported brilliantly by experimental genre-fluid band…
When asked how to describe the Meredith Music Festival, my camping neighbour, Phoebe, told me it could be summed up in one word: “collaboration.” Examples abound: Campers negotiating space and interacting with their neighbours. Jostling for prime couch position on the banks of the Amphitheatre Supernaturale. Improved wi-fi access at the Meredith township (making for…
American singer, songwriter, and musician Perfume Genius played tonight at the iconic Sydney Opera House in the Concert Hall. Michael Hadreas, better known by his stage name Perfume Genius performance was intimate yet powerful with his band adding synth-scapes, shimmering guitars and rhythms. Pete Dovgan was their to capture the gig
Parcels brought a full-tilt disco to Melbourne’s Thursday night at the Bowl, sliding between favourites like “Tieduprightnow” and “Withorwithout,” plus a handful of tracks from their new album LOVED that already feel right at home in the set. A tight, joyful homecoming show that kept the crowd moving start to finish. Eloise Coomber was there…
Good Things Festival Sydney unfolded under brutal, blistering heat that turned Sydney Showground into a frying pan and tested every punter’s stamina. Even so, the crowd pushed through, fuelled by cold drinks, shade and the promise of big riffs. Highlights included Shirley Manson and Garbage, Weezer, Fever 333, Bad Nerves, Tonight Alive, Wargasm, James Reyne…
GWAR at Good Things Festival Sydney, turned their mid-afternoon set into a blood-drenched carnival of metal, satire, and sheer lunacy. From the moment the band stomped onstage in full intergalactic warlord regalia, it was clear no one in the crowd or photographers were leaving clean. Jets of blood spray blasted across the pit as the…
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…