Holding Absence | 170 Russell | Melbourne | 16th August
Holding Absence are one of those bands on a seemingly permanent uphill ascent. The many years of relentless and extensive touring as a supporting band have led to the well-deserved next few months of upcoming headlining shows.
Ocean Grove | 170 Russell | Melbourne | 15th August
As the night drew to a close, the impressive line-up left everyone more than satisfied, Blinder, Deficit and Cane Hill all came through as expected and this is certainly not the last we will see of ocean grove within the coming years as they set aboard the Hellbound II metal cruise joining the jam-packed line up featuring Amity Affliction, Parkway Drive and Alpha Wolf, be sure to not miss out.
Parkway Drive “Killing With A Smile” | The Forum | Melbourne | 9th August
Decades later, the impact of that debut album is still undeniable: it’s alive, hitting as hard as ever, and proving why it shaped an entire generation.
Plini | Northcote Theatre | Melbourne | 8th August
Plini’s Northcote Theatre show was as down-to-earth as it was grandiose. Incredibly talented artists with endless chemistry both in their musicianship and on-stage interactions. It was a joy to have been able to experience the electricity in that theatre last night.
Laufey | Rod Laver Arena | 1st August
If Laufey doesn’t end up as a generational artist, up there with the jazz and classical all-timers, then the timeline probably got messed up somewhere. I believe it’s inevitable.
Karnivool + Tesseract | Melbourne | Margaret Court Arena | 24th July
The Neighbourhood | Margaret Court Arena | Melbourne | 10th July
The Neighbourhood truly are a unique indie rock band that have contributed so much depth and saturation to the alternative rock scene over the years.
Deafheaven | The Forum | Melbourne | 9th July
Deaf Heaven is certainly a band for the books and with so many gigs approaching in the next couple of months, it certainly presents so many opportunities to experience their heavy thrill live.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.