Motionless In White | Margaret Court Arena | Melbourne | 24th June
Honestly, I have no notes. This has to be one of the best shows I have ever experienced, and every single band and moment during this night was a pure 10/10. However, one thing’s for certain: Everyone needs to see a Motionless in White show at least once in their life.
I Prevail | John Cain Arena | Melbourne | 18th June
Having listened to them since their debut album Lifelines, it is always a pleasure to see I Prevail constantly growing. Watching them seamlessly step up to command a room of this magnitude just proves exactly why they earned the headlining slot.
Poison The Well | 170 Russell | Melbourne | 11th June
I think the best way to describe their music is as an unrelenting wave of sound. Poison the Well is both the immovable object and the unstoppable force, and watching them perform, I could understand how they have such incredible staying power within the hardcore community.
Georgia Maq “Surprise Show” | The Old Bar | Melbourne | 10th June
The progression of her songwriting in LA is promising. I hope that a new chapter in her musical career is coming, and that she can once again find a band that can complement her exceptional, eccentric talents as a songwriter and performer, and I hope that it will happen back here in Melbourne.
Balu Brigada | 170 Russell | Melbourne | 4th June
After more than 12 years of making music together, the brothers have clearly found their lane: songs for cars, crushes, clubs, daydreams and late-night overthinking. At 170 Russell, they made every one of them feel alive.
Melting “A Pathetic Excuse For A Life” Album Review
This EP has a sense that every riff, every breakdown and every scream is trying to rip a hole in the Earth. There’s a real sense of purpose behind this EP, like Melting knew exactly how crushing they wanted it to sound, and decided to amplify that by 10. It’s more aggressive, but also pushed to a whole new level.
Loathe | The Forum
I felt light headed with joy, as they slammed through so many excellent tracks, “Aggressive Evolution” making my neck snap in time and “Two-Way Mirror” glistening in my ears. Erik Bickerstaffe is also nothing short of a pleasure to watch and admire, his talent seeping into every note he emits. In spite of the heavier, angrier songs, he still holds himself and plays with a gentle nature, his vocals dripping with serenity.
Quadeca | 170 Russell | Melbourne | 5th May
Overall, Quadeca’s show at 170 Russell was incredibly enjoyable. It’s rare to see a solo artist at a show this intimate where you’re able to see them flaunt their full spectrum of musical talent and songwriting abilities, as well as appreciate the clear passion for their craft, but when it happens it’s not to be missed.
SUPERHEAVEN | 170 RUSSELL
Robbins took to the drum kit to slam out the opening of “Sponge”, and it felt as though electricity jolted throughout the room as I was swept away into the mosh. Jake Clarke’s voice is as deliciously mesmerising and melancholic as ever, his raspy whining dancing on top of the gritty riffs.
TISM | PICA | Melbourne | 2nd May
TISM’s PICA show was not only a grand celebration of Melbourne music culture, but also a wonderful culmination of a career spanning 4 decades that truly made the most of the opportunity they had given the capabilities of the venue.
Black Foxxes | Young Street Tavern | Melbourne | 25th April
It is difficult to describe without experiencing, but there is something to their soundscape that I have not felt before, something that lures me in quickly and mesmerizes me all the way up until they stop, no matter the runtime. The music grows and dips, churns itself up and then provides soft release, shouts at you and then whispers to you, relies on hypnotic repetition before snapping into something new to surprise you.
Ruby Fields | Croxton Bandroom | Melbourne | 24th April
If I was to describe this band with a single word, I think I would have to say “authentic.” It is impossible to not be engaged with every single second of every story they tell.
HOT MULLIGAN | THE FORUM | April 22nd
It’s the perfect sprinkling of all my favourite sounds combined, and I truly never wanted it to end, and no one else around me did either. It’s very hard to be able to enamour a room of 2,000 people, but to Hot Mulligan it’s second nature. The utter devotion of their fans is really a testament to this band's incredible work, and the unforgettable show that they put on. Filing out of the crowd was slow, my feet heavy from dancing, and as we trudged outside, I still couldn’t find a reason not to be grinning from ear to ear.
PIERCE THE VEIL | ROD LAVER ARENA | April 12th
There was no time for recovery though, as the next track was arguably one of their best of all time, “Bulls in the Bronx”. From where we were sitting, we had a great view of the pit, they looked like a clan of tiny ants, and the first circle pit of night broke out during the bridge. Lionel has to be one of my favourite live drummers out right now, and his bongo solo before “I’m Low on Gas and You Need a Jacket,” sealed that with a bow for me.
Machine Gun Kelly | Rod Laver Arena | April 11th
A Day To Remember | Rod Laver Arena | 8th April
From start to finish, Wednesday night delivered in every way. It didn’t feel like a worknight, with a packed room and a crowd that refused to hold anything back. With a lineup this stacked, it ended up being one of those nights that sticks with you.
Landmvrks Headline Show | Stay Gold | 7th April
Taking a detour from their massive Australian arena tour, French metalcore heavyweights Landmvrks squeezed their stadium-sized energy into Melbourne's Stay Gold for an exclusive headline show. With local hardcore crew Saving Face setting the standard high, here is what went down during one of the most chaotic, unrelenting, and intimate club gigs of the year.
One Ok Rock | Margaret Court Arena | Melbourne | 12th March
It was a fun night with One Ok Rock, carrying the effortless comfort of catching up with an old friend. Always welcome, always great to hear from, and hopefully not too long before we share a room with them again.
Paledusk | Stay Gold | Melbourne | 28th February
As Lights came to a close, the band took a photo with the crowd, bringing their Australian run to an end. With one final “Arigatou gozaimasu” from Kaito, it was over. 2026 has already been off to a flying start for me, and it is hard to imagine many shows topping finally getting to see these guys live again.
Ed Sheeran | Marvel Stadium | Melbourne | 27th February
Since his humble beginnings busking on street corners, Sheeran has mastered the impossible: maintaining the closeness of a pub gig while performing on the world’s biggest stages. This Melbourne stop, the second of a three-night stand, felt less like a standard tour date and more like a spiritual homecoming.