With the cold wind and rain that hit Adelaide for the King’s Birthday long weekend, it was good that there was plenty of warmth and shelter to be had at the Beer and BBQ Festival. With beer and craft stalls inside and plenty of open fires outside, it was a cosy place to escape the…
With the announcement that this year will be the final Adelaide Beer and BBQ Festival in this format, there was a mixture of celebration and sadness. Despite the wintry weather outside, there were numerous undercover spaces, warmed by copious open wood fires. There were plenty of stallholders, from beer producers to scented candles and all…
Japanese Breakfast returned to Melbourne for the first time in eight years on Thursday, playing a stunning theatrical set at PICA as part of this year’s RISING Festival. Michelle Zauner and her band moved between sparkling pop and deep sentiments, pulling from their newest record For Melancholy Brunettes (and Sad Women) and beyond, including tracks…
Marlon Williams took over Melbourne Town Hall on Wednesday night, opening up RISING 2025. Delivering a warm, emotional set that marked the Australian debut of his first full-length Māori-language album Te Whare Tīwekaweka. Backed by his long-time band The Yarra Benders and joined by kapa haka group Ngā Mātai Pūrua, Williams blended tradition with his…
Last night, Spacey Jane kicked off the Australian leg of their ‘If That Makes Sense’ tour with a sold-out performance at Brisbane’s Fortitude Music Hall. The Perth indie-rockers captivated the audience with their signature blend of nostalgic melodies and heartfelt lyrics, delivering a set that resonated deeply with the fans. Supported by special guests Phoebe…
UK five-piece Ezra Collective lit up the Forum on Thursday night with a set bursting with rhythm, joy, and pure talent. Blending Afrobeat, hip-hop, and jazz, the band had the crowd moving from the jump, with drummer Femi Koleoso setting the pace alongside Joe Armon-Jones (keys), TJ Koleoso (bass), Ife Ogunjobi (trumpet), and James Mollison…
Chelsea Wolfe’s return to Sydney at the Metro Theatre was a mesmerizing display of her signature darkwave artistry. Performing to a packed out theatre, Wolfe captivated the audience with a set that spanned her illustrious career, showcasing the haunting beauty and intensity that connects her with the fans. The tour continues with gigs in Brisbane,…
Evan Dando and his Lemonheads dropped into Sydney’s Enmore Theatre to play back to back two of their most acclaimed albums: It’s a Shame About Ray (1992) and Come On Feel the Lemonheads (1993). A nostalgic trip back to the 90s and the fans lapped it up singing along to their hit songs “Its a…
The final day of the 2025 edition of The Great Escape was another action-packed and diverse assortment of fabulous acts. The Australian contingent was well-represented again, with Sounds Australia running their showcases down at The Beach stages during the day. All three stages were used, so there was plenty to see. Emeree played on what…
Darwin’s Mindil Beach, nestled on the shore of Larrakia country, is known for it’s iconic tropical sunsets and night-time beach markets. It’s also home to the equally iconic BASSINTHEGRASS musical festival that has been a feature in Darwins music scene since 2003. This year was no exception, with the Hilltops Hoods proudly proclaiming that this…
Holy Holy brought their A Grand Hiatus tour to a sold-out Forum on Saturday night, delivering a mega two-hour set that spanned their decade-long career. The band performed fan favourites like “True Lovers,” “Teach Me About Dying,” and “Maybe You Know,” alongside new tracks from their latest album, Sweet Bitter Sweet, including “Love You Still”. The crowd…
The sun returned to Brighton for day 3 of The Great Escape. If you missed seeing a band you fancied because of a clash, there is always the chance that they will pop up at an unofficial event, be it in a record shop or a pub. Melbourne’s Folk Bitch Trio played two official slots,…
Ball Park Music brought their Like Love tour to a packed Forum Theatre on Friday night, delivering a punchy set stacked with fan favourites and tracks from their fresh new record. Highlights included “Cherub”, “It’s Nice to Be Alive”, and the tongue-in-cheek single “Please Don’t Move to Melbourne”, with the Melbourne crowd singing every word….
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…
