The Underground Stage
“Azure Ryder’s crystal-sharp voice rings out in the heat of the afternoon, tremulous and wild. This set is made of mostly new songs from next year’s album but a lack of familiarity doesn’t lessen the impact. That fabulous voice trembles and cracks and soars, and it’s all you can do not to do the very […]
“GRXCE make a rare appearance as a duo today, without the fireworks of their drums or tracks, exposing both its white-hot songwriting core and dialling up the melancholy by a factor of ten. In full band mode it’s blindingly bright, but stripped back the songs carry all the same heat while leaving the raw emotional […]
“Twelve Point Buck are a wild pack, all arty grunge and distorted finesse. It’s a magnificent racket, regal and poised without pretension or arrogance, just a well-founded confidence that it can put you back your arse in three seconds flat should it feel the need. They also make fairy bread. Fabulous.” Gallery Listen
“Sunstalkersss’ smoky bounce is laid back but tough-skinned, head-nodding but rock steady. There’s wide eyes and bared teeth, enough in the mix to keep you buzzing on and on and on.” Gallery Listen
Every week, I scour the latest releases from emerging, DIY, and independent artists in Australia. The best of them end up on the playlist. Follow The Playlist Listen to this week’s edition here or below, 100% made up of the best brand-new music from the best new artists in Australia – never pay-to-play, and always […]
“Vimiera just dive right in, head first and oblivious to danger, rattling rhythms and blistering enthusiasm. Fast of foot and sharp of edge, it’s all about the quick cut.” Gallery Listen
“A year ago, Honey Fuzz were a bit more grunge-dominant, but across 2025 they’ve clearly added a ton of voltage. This set is immediate and energetic, fizzing like a snapped mains cable, and the addition of some well-judged velocity into the heftier parts of the set bring it to life with a crack and a […]
“Penny Red’s debut live show is full of well constructed songs delivered with heart and muscle. Head-nodding and hefty, it’s an introduction with a firm handshake and direct eye contact promising bright things to come.” Gallery
Every week I pick out a bunch of interesting shows featuring emerging, DIY, and independent Australian artists. The full list of shows coming up over the holiday break are below – those are the ones to get out to in the next couple of weeks. Don’t forget, there’s also a futuristic-y dashboard here that lets […]