The temperature might have plummeted on day 2 of The Great Escape, but the music was hot hot hot! Kicking off the day was the Sounds Australia showcase at Komedia, with total tommy up early at 12:25. It was a packed house, and it was a stellar set. It’s little wonder why there is such…
The 2025 edition of The Great Escape kicked off in Brighton on Wednesday. The sun was out and there was hard choices to be made about what who to see. So many venues, so many artists. One of the early highlights was Canada’s Alix Fernz, at only seventeen years old, he had the Hope &…
Slowdive, the shoegaze pioneers from the UK, returned to Australia with New York’s indie darlings, Beach Fossils, performing at Sydney’s Enmore Theatre, the first of two nights. Slowdive’s performance was a masterclass in atmospheric sound. They transported the audience into a world of lush reverb and delicate melodies with the opener “Avalyn”, and tracks including…
Canadian rock duo, Death From Above 1979 released their debut album, You’re a Woman, I’m a Machine, in 2004 but subsequently broke up in 2006. However, the pair reunited in 2011 and are currently touring the album in Australia. We caught their show at Adelaide’s Governor Hindmarsh Hotel. The Aussie warmup band DZ Deathrays need…
By any measure, Bluesfest 2025 was a resounding success. Last year, there was an announcement that this could be the final year of the North Byron Bay event. However, the community rallied to support it, with over 110,00 people attending this year over four days. By the last day, it was announced that tickets were…
Ocean Colour Scene have been on a mammoth tour of the UK since late March. Supporting them has been Kula Shaker, and performed in Liverpool last night. The last time I saw both bands on the same bill was at Glastonbury in 1997. It was worth the wait! It was a packed room at Mountford…
Saturday’s Bluesfest hosted a glorious sunny day for the sold out crowd. Thanks to the overwhelming support of this year’s event, it was announced that Bluesfest will continue into 2026, with specially discounted pre-early bird tickets available for sale at the festival. The overall mood is one of celebration of community, with a couple of…
One thing that you can’t control is the weather. With recent heavy rains in northern NSW, many were worried that this year would be another muddy Bluesfest. However, the weather has been glorious for the last week, including the Easter long weekend. With gravel being laid to ensure no muddy patches, festival goers this year…
This year could possibly be the final Bluesfest, but based on the overwhelming support for the Byron Bay festival makes it feel that next year’s event is possible. On opening day, three stages were in operation. Sydney band Velvet Trip opened the Crossroads stage with a psych infused indie rock set that had the crowd…
Tom Morello – lead guitarist from the legendary bands Rage Against The Machine, Audioslave and Prophets of Rage – delivered a raw energy master class at Sydney’s Enmore Theatre last night. Morello is widely regarded as one of the most innovative and influential guitarists of the modern era, blending heavy metal, punk rock, funk, and…
Iconic 1980s jangly guitar rock band Ups and Downs known for their perfect pop sound return on their 40th Anniversary tour. There’s something beautifully nostalgic about seeing a classic Aussie guitar band like Ups and Downs at a venue like the Marrickville Bowlo. It’s the kind of place where the floorboards creak with history and…
Sex Pistols featuring Frank Carter played their legendary album Never Mind the Bollocks, Here’s the Sex Pistols in its entirety! We were luckly enough to have one of the most iconic and influential records in punk history live at Sydney’s Hordern Pavilion. The band’s original members—guitarist Steve Jones, drummer Paul Cook, and bassist Glen Matlock…
Mallrat wrapped up her Australian tour with a packed show at Melbourne’s Forum Theatre on Friday night, performing tracks from her new album Light hit my face like a straight right. Grace Shaw and her band delivered a tight, emotive set featuring recent singles ‘Pavement’, ‘Hocus Pocus’ and ‘Ray of Light’, alongside fan favourites like…
You Am I on their Hi Fi Daily Double Down tour performed the first show of two at Sydney’s Enmore Theatre, playing in their entirety the classic albums Hourly Daily and Hi Fi Way. Marking the 30th Anniversary of Hi Fi Way, Tim Rogers, the unstoppable force of Rock and Roll was backed brilliantly by…
Dua Lipa’s 2025 Radical Optimism tour stop at Sydney’s Qudos Bank Arena was nothing short of spectacular. From the moment the lights dimmed, the crowd knew they were in for a night to remember. The British pop sensation effortlessly brought her infectious energy and unmistakable style to the stage, delivering a performance that lived up…
Kneecap a Northern Ireland rap group brought their high energy show to Sydney’s UNSW Roundhouse. Blending politically charged lyrics with hip-hop, all three members – Mo Chara, Moglai Bap and DJ Provaist rapped mostly in their Irish language and had their fans going crazy from the get-go, waving Irish flags with some wearing copycat balaclavas,…
Beans On Toast, the moniker for British folk songwriter Jay McAllister is well known to Australian audiences, having toured there a number of times. He is currently on a national tour of his home country, and with our own William Crighton in support. We caught them at the famous Cavern Club in Liverpool on Wednesday…
New Order performed under a rare blood moon at the iconic Sydney Opera House Forecourt on a perfectly warm night. From the very first notes of the classic Joy Division song “Transmission” the crowd was electrified. The legendary British band, known for their fusion of post-punk, electronic, and new wave sounds, delivered a set that…
PJ Harvey’s performance at the Sydney Opera House Forecourt was nothing short of transcendent. In an evening where the majestic backdrop of the Opera House met the raw energy of one of music’s most visionary artists. The sweeping views of Sydney harbour and the iconic sails of the Opera House, was the perfect setting as…
The WOMADelaide music and dance festival kept the energy flowing on a hot Sunday evening in the Adelaide parklands. As the day drew to an end, there was simultaneously the driving London dance beats of DJ Paulette and the soothing and mesmerising synthesiser sounds from Nils Frahm at opposite sides of the park. Earlier in…
The warm weather hung around for the second day of WOMADelaide, nestled within the Adelaide Parklands. As the bats had their own dance party over stage 7, on the main stages the music was primed to make you move. Goran Bregović & His Wedding & Funeral Band bought Balkan joy to the stage. Dressed in…
Set in Adelaide’s leafy botanic gardens, WOMADelaide has a legacy stretching back over 30 years. Bringing the best of world music, arts and dance over the Adelaide Cup long weekend, it is a destination for the faithful. From local bands such as Dojo Rise and Meena De Silva to the incredible voice and stage presence…
Perth’s Kings Park was graced with a special performance from PJ Harvey last week, as part of Perth Festival 2025. The set was split between haunting new material and beloved classics, opening with the ethereal “Prayer at the Gate” and weaving through tracks like “Seem an I” and “A Child’s Question, August”, Harvey delivering a…
In celebration of their ferocious 28th new album, Sorcs 80, the unstoppable Osees returned to Perth last week. Bringing their signature blend of garage rock, punk, and psychedelia to stages across the country this month, Osees stormed Freo.Social for a huge set that left the crowd reeling Tearing through tracks from Sorcs 80 – including…
Fontaines D.C. a post-punk band formed in Dublin, Ireland played one of the best live shows Sydney has seen in a long long time on their ROMANCE Australian tour. After just being announced as Best International Group at the 2025 BRIT Awards, I would go further and call them the best band in the world!…
Courteeners hail from Manchester and are one of Britain’s biggest indie rock bands. Last night, they graced Sydney’s Metro Theatre, playing to an enthusiastic crowd, packed with British fans. Kicking off with “Sweet Surrender” from their latest album Pink Cactus Cafe, the anthems followed with their fans singing their hearts out to all the classic…
In celebration of their latest album Magpie, Vancouver indie outfit Peach Pit returned to Perth’s Freo.Social last week for the WA leg of The Magpie Tour. The night kicked off with a stellar opening set from Melbourne’s Bones and Jones, setting the tone for an evening of dreamy, guitar-driven tracks. Opening with the shimmering title…
Last week, Irish post-punk icons Fontaines D.C. stormed the stage at Red Hill Auditorium for a blistering, sold-out show – one of the headline events for this year’s Perth Festival. Kicking off the night were UK outfit Shame, whose energy suitably whipped up the crowd. Touring off the back of their acclaimed new album, Romance,…
Cuba-American singing sensation Isabel LaRosa showed what star quality is about playing her debut Sydney show to her screaming adoring fans at Sydney’s Liberty Hall. Isabel impressed with her live vocals and dynamic stage presence accompanied by her brother Thomas LaRosa on guitar who was a weapon on guitar. Support came from her brother Thomas…
Luvcat, fronted by Liverpudlian Sophie Morgan played a sold-out show at the Arts Club in her hometown last night. They have been tearing up the country of late, with a bunch of sold-out shows and last night was the final of this tour. We have been crushing on the latest single, the sultry “Love &…