News

Live Review: Ricky Martin

Ricky Martin

Rod Laver Arena

 

Latin heart throb Ricky Martin is know for cementing history for recording the greatest World Cup anthem of all time with his 1998, kicking off the global Latin fever of the late 90s. Melbourne is the Australian kick-off of his “Live 2025” tour, and the buzz in the venue was electric from the moment the lights dropped, the crowd ready to dance.

In Australia for the first time since 2015, Ricky Martin hit the stage with his unique blend of Latin world music, the party kicks off with Pégate, the Puetro Rican is flanked by dancers. Moving through his slew of Spanish hits with Marìa, Martin is having the time of his life as he dances along the catwalk, waving to fans.

The arena is awash with dancing and celebration, and Martin switches to English with ease to ramp things up with Shake Your Bon Bon  and She Bangs making the crowd go wild. From the opening moments, Martin seized control of the stage, fans from every corner of Latin America clearly adoring of the singer.

During Por Arriba, Por Abajo, Martin challenges each side of the arena to a dance off- and the crowd loves it. As he leads the charge, he acknowledges fans from Latin America and waves to people holding flags representing their heritage. From Columbia to Brazil and Puerto Rico, the room is full of Latin American fans, drinking in the superstar. Martin declares the right side of the auditorium the winners, raising his arms and fist pumping the air.

Ricky Martin has a universal appeal across two genres, world music and mainstream pop, and it isn’t difficult to see why. The choreography and band interplay are tight; you got both a spectacle and musicianship, which can be rare in big-arena shows, pyromania and confetti rounding out the spectacle.

Wrapping up with Livin’ La Vida Loca and La Copa de la Vida ( Cup of Life), he is one of those rare performers that is immersed completely in the performance and the smile never leaves his face for the entire show. With costume changes, dancing and a high energy performance, Ricky Martin is pure joy to watch.

Ricky Martin’s Melbourne show delivered what it promised: big hits, strong energy, professional production, audience connection. If you’re a fan of his era, Latin-pop or just a great live pop show, this was a very solid outing. It felt celebratory and polished — the kind of show where you leave humming the songs, already looking forward to next time.

Words by Amanda Lee Starkey

live review

Live Review: Rob Thomas at The Forum Melbourne

Live Review: Rob Thomas at The Forum Melbourne

29 October 2025

—

Under the glittering starry ceiling of The Forum, Rob Thomas returns for the first of three sold-out shows in Melbourne. It’s been a few years since he last graced Australian stages, and the crowd makes it clear just how much his presence has been missed. His ‘All Night Days’ tour brings with it a renewed energy with a blend of nostalgia, craftsmanship, and the easy charm of an artist completely at home in his element.

Thomas sets the tone early with ‘I Believe It’ and ‘Give Me The Meltdown’ full of confidence, upbeat, and undeniably polished. His stage presence is magnetic his sheer charisma commands the space.

“I get to come here every couple of years, on my own and I come here with the greatest pop/rock band in the world Matchbox 20. How about for the next two hours of our life we just celebrate life being human and listening to music here together. Melbourne, are you with us?” He shouts at the audience to encourage cheers.

The set flows effortlessly through a carefully balanced mix of material, leaning into both beloved hits newer offerings and some Matchbox 20 favourites. ‘Her Diamonds,’ ‘Picture Perfect’ and ‘Mockingbird’ arrives early with melodic hooks still as irresistible as when they first charted. The crowd is a cross-generational blend of long-time followers and newer fans, singing every word and their voices rising in unison as if rehearsed.

“I put on a record earlier this year called ‘All Night Days’. I was very excited because at my advanced age, it was the first time since, like, 2010 that I have a top 10 record,” he boasts. He continues to share the first single off it called ‘Hard To Be Happy,’ ironically about not being happy but being okay to not be okay.

Thomas’s voice remains remarkably intact — perhaps a touch more weathered at the edges, but richer for it. The lived-in tone gives his ballads greater emotional weight and there’s no need for embellishment as his voice carries every ounce of sentiment.

“As I get older, I have these moments at the beginning of any given evening where I think, that I can still party like a rock star. Technically, we can all rally up and party like a rock star anytime that we want to, but I just can’t recover like the rock star that I was 30 years ago,” he laughs. “I wrote a song about that very moment that you realise where your intentions and what you want to do might be limited by the physical,” he reveals before playing ‘Heaven Help Me.’

Midway through the night, Thomas strips things back for a stunning acoustic section where he makes a strong connection with the audience.

“I am the lead singer of the greatest pop rock band in the world. Just to give everybody a sense of how old this song is…this is my son, Mason on the guitar. And this song was written when he was born. Now, with all of us here in my age group – just do that sad math for a second,” he jokes before encouraging us to embrace the feeling and sing along to ‘If You’re Gone’ with him at the top of our voices.

He then takes a seat at the piano to slow things down with ‘Little Wonders,’ a song he explains is about just paying attention to all the little beautiful moments when they happen.

He shares a heartfelt personal and introspective memory about his beloved dog recognising the true nature of life and reality than we actually can – a moment he shared that he says he’d do anything to have back. “Life is not the thing that just happened. It’s not the thing that you’re waiting to happen. Life is the thing that’s happening right now. This moment right now, this is it and that’s pretty beautiful,” hey declares.

He stays at the piano for the next song as he takes us way back with a solo stripped-back rendition of the Matchbox 20 classic ‘3am’ with the addition of an epic saxophone solo to finish. We stay in Matchbox 20 for a bit longer with ‘Thrill’ as he performs solo under the spotlight for an emotional moment.

The second half of the set leans into groove and nostalgia. The band joins back in for ‘Streetcorner Symphony’ and ‘Lonely No More’ pulsing with funk-inflected energy, as fans clap along to its gospel-tinged rhythm. Thomas’s rapport with his audience is effortless — playful, witty, and sincere. He cracks jokes and frequently steps back from the mic to let the crowd take over the choruses.

The strobe lighting flickers across the stage for ‘I Am An Illusion.’ Thomas runs off stage for a breather as his band jams along before her returns for the encore.

‘All Night Days’ is at the top of a four-song encore which also includes a cover tribute to Aussie legends INXS with their iconic hit ‘New Sensation.’ The atmosphere is electric, and everyone joins him in dancing along.

“I believe, that right now, somewhere all over the world this song is played…in many places in Australia, there’s a band playing this song at a pool bar, or at somebody’s wedding. It gets played a lot. And I say this with all the humbleness that I can bring out. I do believe in my heart of heart that there are only two people that should ever perform this song and I’m one of them,” he exclaims before unleashing ‘Smooth’ complete with big electric guitar solos from his son Mason. Even after 25 years, that Santana collaboration remains the defining moment of any Rob Thomas show.

‘This Is How A Heart Breaks’ is the final song of the night that brings the show to a soaring close sung at full volume. Thomas pours energy into the final choruses, leaving a lasting impression of his enduring artistry that’s emotionally rich, effortlessly engaging and brimming with youthful energy.

Words by Michael Prebeg

News

News: POPPY ANNOUNCES CONSTANTLY NOWHERE AUSTRALIAN HEADLINE TOUR 2026

POPPY
ANNOUNCES CONSTANTLY NOWHERE
AUSTRALIAN HEADLINE TOUR 2026

WITH SPECIAL GUESTS
OCEAN GROVE &
INERTIA

POPPY’S  NEW SINGLE
UNRAVEL
OUT NOW ON SUMERIAN RECORDS

 

Today, subversive performance artist and GRAMMY®-nominated metal singer-songwriter Poppy, announces her Constantly Nowhere headline Australian tour for January 2026.

Presented by Live Nation and triple j, the tour will kick off in Brisbane at Fortitude Music Hall on Tuesday January 20, then heading to the Roundhouse in Sydney on Wednesday January 21, Forum in Melbourne on Thursday January 22, Hindley St. Music Hall in Adelaide on Saturday Jan 24 and ending at Metropolis in Fremantle on Monday January 26. Special guests on all shows are Melbourne’s Ocean Groveand Sydney’s Inertia. Full details below.

Last week, Poppy released her new single Unravel via Sumerian Records.It’s her first solo release since last year’s critically acclaimed album Negative Spaces. “Unravel” is Poppy at her most vulnerable, fusing haunting vocals and intimate lyrics that culminate in a high-octane, passionate chorus. With each new release, Poppy continuously cements herself as a boundary-pushing artist paving her own experimental metalcore lane. “Unravel” was produced by Jordan Fish (Bring Me The Horizon, Architects, Halsey & Amy Lee) and co-written by Poppy and Jordan Fish.

Listen to Unravel HERE. 

Last month, Poppy, Amy Lee, and Courtney LaPlante — three of rock’s most prominent signature voices — joined forces on a brand new single, “End of You,” out now via Sumerian Records.

“End of You” is a musical tour de force from three artists at the top of their game. In the accompanying video, Poppy, Amy and Courtney conjure powerful dark energy and even more powerful messages as they sing “the end of you is the start of life for me.”

Watch the music video HERE

An insatiably inventive drive has fuelled Poppy’s surrealistic rise through countless corners of the arts and music worlds, with each of her many projects so far revealing a different glimpse of a true visionary unconcerned with genre, unimpressed by convention, and forever defying expectations. It’s that eclecticism that has cemented Poppy’s reputation as a boundary-obliterating artist redefining culture as we know it, at every turn.

From performance art provocateur, to video director, to sci-fi graphic novel author, to a globe-traveling recording artist whose songbook encompasses anything from brutal metal breakdowns and snappy ‘60s bubblegum, to trap-pop and grunge-punk, absolutely nothing has been off-limits when it comes to Poppy masterfully executing her varied artistic vision. Her 2021 GRAMMY nod for Best Metal Performance (“BLOODMONEY”) marked the first time a solo female artist had ever been nominated in the category. In 2025, Poppy earned her second GRAMMY nomination for Best Metal Performance for her collaboration with Knocked Loose on the track ‘Suffocate’

Poppy’s last couple years have been memorable, between touring with Bad Omens on their recent sold out Australian tour, 30 Second to Mars, Avenged Sevenfold, Baby Metal and releasing smash collaborative singles with the likes of Bad Omens (“V.A.N.”), Knocked Loose (“Suffocate)”, and Baby Metal (“from me to u”). It only gets better, with the solo artist now vaulting deep into her next daring era with the release of her fifth multi-versal full-length, Negative Spaces, produced by Jordan Fish (Bring Me The Horizon, Architects, Halsey & Amy Lee).

This is the thrilling sound of an ever-evolving artist redefining their legacy one song at a time, with a welcome understanding that there’s still so much inspiration to be found in the margins yet to be explored, deep within the negative spaces.

Tickets go on sale Friday, 31 October, 10am local time.

Mastercard cardholders have special access to presale tickets in Brisbane, Sydney, Melbourne & Adelaide. Mastercard Presale starts Tuesday, 28 October, 10:00am (local) and ends Thursday, 30 October, 10:00am (local). Plus, Preferred ticket access to some of the best tickets are available from Friday, 31 October, 10:00am (local). Check out priceless.com/music for details.

The Live Nation Presale starts Wednesday, 29 October, 10:00am (local) until Friday, 31 October, 9:00am (local) or until allocation is exhausted. To purchase presale tickets, sign up now at livenation.com.au/register.

LIVE NATION AND TRIPLE J PRESENTS 
POPPY
CONSTANTLY NOWHERE
AUSTRALIAN TOUR 2026
WITH SPECIAL GUESTS
OCEAN GROVE AND INERTIA

Tuesday 20 Jan, 2026 – Fortitude Music Hall, Brisbane
Wednesday 21 Jan, 2026 – Roundhouse, Sydney
Thursday 22 Jan, 2026 – Forum, Melbourne
Saturday 24 Jan, 2026 – Hindley St. Music Hall, Adelaide
Monday 26 Jan, 2026 – Metropolis, Fremantle

TICKETS ON SALE FRIDAY, OCT 31, 10AM (LOCAL)
Mastercard Presale: Tue 28 October, 10am > Thu 30 October, 10am (local all cities except Fremantle)
Live Nation Presale: Wed 29 October 10am > Fri 31 October, 9am (local)
Spotify Presale: Thu 30 Oct, 10am > Fri 31 Oct, 9am (local)

For complete tour & ticket information, visit: livenation.com.au
live review

Live review: Fridayz Live 2025 at Marvel Stadium, Melbourne

Live review: Fridayz Live 2025 at Marvel Stadium, Melbourne

25 October 2025

—

Melbourne’s Docklands pulsates with nostalgia and high-octane energy as Fridayz Live returns for its final stop of the 2025 tour. With the spectacular line-up headlined by Mariah Carey and Pitbull, and supported by the likes of Wiz Khalifa, Lil Jon, Eve, Tinie Tempah and Jordin Sparks, expectation is enormous, and the spectacle lives up to it with an evening built on memories and hits.

An image montage of Jordin Sparks flashes up on the screens featuring magazine cover shots, music videos, movies and live performances from performing on American Idol to showcase the accomplished American singer/actress.  She kicks off the event with the iconic hit ‘One Step At A Time,’ followed by ‘Battlefield,’ which is the perfect stadium moment for her to blow the audience away with her incredibly powerful vocals.

“I haven’t been here in 18 years – I’m sorry it took me so long to come back,” she apologies. The crowd fully embraces the nostalgia of her music for huge singalongs on smash hits like ‘Tattoo’, ‘No Air’ and a fun energetic cover of Whitney Houston’s ‘I Wanna Dance With Somebody (Who Loves Me).

DJ Yo! Mafia takes control of the changeover sets tonight to keep the party going playing a mix of high-energy songs to dance along to as we wait for the next main act to hot the stage.

Tinie Tempah gets the crowd ready to party as he brings his UK-flavoured hip-hop/pop into the mix with a high-energy set full of bangers from ‘Pass Out’ to ‘Miami 2 Ibiza’ and everything in between. The stadium quickly turns into a rave, and he keeps tabs on the audience as he does quick ratio checks on the ladies and lads to see who gives the best crowd reaction.

He shares a couple of new songs called including one track fittingly called ‘Energy’ which is special treat for fans to hear it before it releases in a few weeks. Tempah’s collaborated with everyone from Jess Glynne to Calvin Harris, Zara Larsson and Labrinth, so he drops hit after hit to keep the momentum all the way through as the crowd excitement builds.

Timeless hip hop queen Eve commands the stage with her presence and her performance brought both swagger and groove, backing dancers and moving visuals giving her set a dynamic edge. Performing her hits ‘Who’s That Girl’, ‘Tambourine’ and her popular collaborations with Gwen Stefani including ‘Let Me Blow Ya Mind’ and ‘Rich Girl.’

She takes a moment to pay tribute to her brothers DMX with a celebration of their music as we put our arms up in the air with an ‘X’ formation as we dance along to ‘Party Up’ with her and the crew.

Lil Jon takes the stage and shifts things into full-party mode kicking the tempo up a gear with recognisable anthems, booming beats, crowd participation and “Yeah!/Okay!” chants bouncing through the arena.

His slot is loaded with crunk moves and thunderous beats with classics like ‘Get Low,’ ‘Shots,’ and ‘Turn Down For What,’ takes us back to the ‘2000s – a time when everyone partied hard and danced all night long. He gets energy levels up so it can turn into a real wild party, and the crowd gets rowdy.

Wiz Khalifa’s set offered a tonal shift with looser, melodic, and at times poignantly reflective. He mixes in the expected club anthems ‘Black and Yellow,’ ‘Young, Wild & Free’ with the softer moments like ‘See You Again,’ giving the bill a necessary emotional counterpoint to the full-throttle party segments.

Thousands of Pitbull lookalikes with bald caps, sunglasses and black suits fill the arena, eagerly waiting for Mr Worldwide to make his grand entrance on the stage with ‘Don’t Stop The Party’. The stadium ignites as he bursts onto the stage with his repertoire of hits spanning party anthems, Latin-infused tracks and collaborations– executed with the kind of unstoppable energy his fans expect.

He riles up the crowd to join him in getting loose, wild, nasty, freaky as he rides the wave of crowd enthusiasm commandingly with his unapologetic energy – complete with dancers, confetti cannons, and that trademark motivational banter that turns audience members into instant devotees.

“Life is not a waste of time and time is not a waste of life so let’s not waste any time – get wasted tonight and have the time of our life,” he shouts, as he gives the audience some of his many life lessons to follow.

He powers through his hits as the crowd goes wild to ‘Hotel Room Service,’ International Love,’ ‘Timber,’ and a string of singalong mashups designed to keep the crowd moving at all costs. Inflatable Fireball bottles are thrown around to his hit ‘Fireball’ to further encourage punters to party and drink the night away. As a first-generation Cuban, he teaches us some Spanish and gives us a little bit of Miami vice before he leaves teaching us his motto, “What happens in Vegas stays in Vegas but what happens in Miami never happened.”

A sea of bald caps can be seen leaving the floor area in a mass exit after Pitbull’s set before Mariah Carey graces us with her presence to close the night. It’s their loss though because she does not disappoint. Bald caps are soon changed over to Santa hats in hope that the Christmas queen gives us her iconic anthem tonight. A montage of her album covers flash up on the screen to build excitement before Carey steps into the arena looking flawless in sparkling outfit with her flowing long locks.

She starts off with a new song ‘Type Dangerous’ from her latest album ‘Here For It All’ before diving into her catalogue of signature classics including ‘Emotions,’ ‘Touch My Body,’ and ‘Dreamlover’. Other than introducing some songs before she sings them with the occasional wave, she doesn’t say much else or really connect deeply with the audience. But the fans are here for whatever level of effort she gives us.

Upbeat tracks like ‘Fantasy,’ ‘It’s Like That,’ and a mash up of ‘Honey’ with ‘Heartbreaker’ give us all the nostalgic feels. With an entourage of dancers and backup singers around her, Carey’s movement is kept to a minimum, which lets her focus on her vocal delivery and as she delves into her emotive ballads like ‘Hero,’ ‘My All,’ ‘Always Be My Baby’ and ‘We Belong Together,’ and it’s clear that vocally she’s still got it – even hitting her signature high-octave whistle notes during her iconic vocal flights.

For a big finale, Carey returns for a surprise encore with her festive hit ‘All I Want For Christmas Is You,’ and it’s everything we’ve dreamed of to hear it live as Marvel Stadium transforms into a winter wonderland with confetti cannons exploding over the audience like snow as Carey defrosts early for the season to grant us our Christmas wishes.

Words by Michael Prebeg
Photos by Jordan Munn

News

News: Tour Announcement | Bloom 2026 Australian Headline Tour With Special Guests AVOID
Destroy All Lines & Pure Noise Records Presents

BLOOM
2026 AUSTRALIAN HEADLINE TOUR
WITH SPECIAL GUESTS AVOID
 

Prepare to step into a spectacular new chapter for melodic hardcore act BLOOM, with the Sydney five-piece set to release their eagerly-anticipated sophomore album this Friday, alongside the announcement today of a national Australian headline tour to officially launch the album on home soil next February, joined by special guests AVOID (USA).

Starting their national run on Wednesday 11 February in Brisbane, BLOOM will trek through the Gold Coast, Newcastle, Sydney, Wollongong, Melbourne and Frankston, before concluding on Saturday 21 February in Adelaide.

One of the most prolific rising acts on the Australian heavy scene, BLOOM emerged in 2017, introducing the world to their open-veined take on melodic hardcore that would ultimately build into their 2024 debut full-length, Maybe In Another Life. Wasting no time to rest on their laurels or the acclaim that accompanied their debut LP, BLOOM quickly turned their gaze to working on their sophomore album The Light We Chase (due out October 31 via Pure Noise Records); a multi-faceted and matured collection of songs that finds the band extending their creative reach beyond internal and external expectations. Steeped in light and shade equally, amongst stadium-ready anthems, hazy moments that straddles shoegaze, grunge and dreampop, bone-rattling heaviness and lashings of authentic emotion, The Light We Chase firmly places BLOOM at the forefront of heavy music, while also boasting the group’s first credited guest vocals, including Movements’ Patrick Miranda, Yours Truly’s Mikaila Delgado and Void Of Vision’s Jack Bergin.

Recently ticking off performances with Silverstein in Europe earlier this year, as well as performances throughout 2025 alongside Chelsea Grin, Currents, Trophy Eyes, and their own almost entirely sold out run in support of single Withered last month, BLOOM are now currently on the road with fellow Aussie staples Thornhill and Ocean Grove in the UK and Europe, and will close out the year in North America supporting Silverstein. With their live show declared most recently by HiFi Way as “a rip-roaring success”, and Scenestr praising that “the energy is purely unmatched and is definitely a contender for performance of the year”, BLOOM‘s anticipated return to Australian audiences in 2026 is only set to ignite further following the release of The Light We Chase this Friday.

A band with no shortage of adjectives to describe their high-octane sound, spanning engaging, edgy, erratic, irreverent, wild, vibrant and fun, Seattle five-piece AVOID channel the insatiable sonic legacy of their home town into their own unique aesthetic, bringing passion, innovation and provication back into heavy music, while also building a powerful community in the process. Introducing a new era for the band via singles like My World, COWABUNGA and Split (Kill It) in the lead-up to their 2022 album Cult Mentality, AVOID have also carved out an enviable reputation for their live performance, catapulting 90s/00s aesthetics and infectious hedonism into the modern day that has seen them in demand touring with Silent Planet, Dayseeker and Thornhill amongst many others.

Pre-sale tickets on sale: Tuesday 28 October @ 9am local time

To Gain Early Ticket Access Register Here -> https://daltours.cc/BLOOM2026

General tickets on sale: Thursday 30 October @ 9am local time
Tickets from www.destroyalllines.com
Destroy All Lines & Pure Noise Records Presents

BLOOM
2026 AUSTRALIAN HEADLINE TOUR
WITH SPECIAL GUESTS AVOID
TOUR DATES:

WEDNESDAY 11 FEBRUARY – CROWBAR, BRISBANE
FRIDAY 13 FEBRUARY – MO’S DESERT CLUBHOUSE, GOLD COAST
SATURDAY 14 FEBRUARY – HAMILTON STATION HOTEL, NEWCASTLE
SUNDAY 15 FEBRUARY – CROWBAR, SYDNEY
TUESDAY 17 FEBRUARY – DICEY RILEYS, WOLLONGONG
WEDNESDAY 18 FEBRUARY – MAX WATTS, MELBOURNE
FRIDAY 20 FEBRUARY – PELLY BAR, FRANKSTON
SATURDAY 21 FEBRUARY – LION ARTS FACTORY, ADELAIDE

General tickets on sale: Thursday 30 October @ 9amlocal time
Tickets from www.destroyalllines.com
News

News: Supports Announced for Lewis Capaldi 2025 Australia and New Zealand Tour Dates

Supports Announced for Lewis Capaldi 2025

Australia and New Zealand Tour Dates

 

After two years away from the spotlight, global superstar Lewis Capaldi is well and truly, back. Back in the charts with his huge new single Survive, and this November and December, back on tour in Australia and New Zealand across Christchurch, Auckland, Brisbane, Sydney, Melbourne, Adelaide and Perth presented by Secret Sounds, Live Nation and WME.

Announced in July, these completely sold out dates will be the first time Lewis has returned to Australasia since Falls Festival in 2019/20, and his Auckland Town Hall performance in 2019. For future touring news, visit livenation.com.au and secretsounds.com.

In Ōtautahi and Tāmaki Makaurau, soulful pop rising star Jude Kelly will take the stage as support. “Carving out a lane with evocative releases” is how Rolling Stone describes the sonic world of 25-year-old Jude Kelly, her inimitable voice and authentic charm forming the touchstone of her timeless songwriting, driven by emotive lyricism and a folk tinged flare. Taking inspiration from the likes of Lana Del Rey, Maggie Rogers and HAIM, Jude Kelly has experienced a lifetime of love, loss, growth, accomplishment, and resilience, and through it all, she’s been writing songs. Earlier this year, Jude shared her debut EP, The Seven Spirits of Her, a project carefully crafted with producers Josh Fountain (BENEE, Ruel) and Devin Abrams. Her breakout single ‘Clarence’ caught the attention of Coldplay’s Chris Martin during his recent trip to New Zealand, and her releases have garnered acclaim from the likes of Rolling Stone AU/NZ, InStyle, Ones To Watch, Coup De Main, and more. Following last year’s sold-out Auckland debut headline show, Rhythm & Vines Festival set, and recent support for Sienna Spiro and Amble, Jude’s live performance prowess continues supporting Lewis Capaldi and Freak Slug on their tour stops in New Zealand.

Joining Lewis across Australia is his good mate, Ireland born Aaron Rowe. For Aaron, singing and playing guitar is not a choice, it’s an extension of himself. Almost exactly a year ago, Aaron was singing covers at his regular Saturday gig in The Dame Tavern when one of his future managers would walk in and discover him playing. A few weeks later, Lewis Capaldi would also stumble into Aaron’s usual Sunday sessions at Cassidy’s on a stag do. Like fate, a few weeks after that, he would bump into Lewis again whilst performing at an open mic in Nashville, where Lewis introduced him to his best friend, now Aaron’s manager, who just so happened to have listened to his demos that very morning. Over a month before the release of his first single, ‘Hey Ma’, people were already sharing their own versions online by piecing together the song through snippets that had surfaced on social media. He wears his influences on his sleeve; from Sam Cooke to Nina Simone to Paulo Nutini. His stage presence brings song histories, personal anecdotes, random thoughts and funny observations, blurted out with erratic but effortless charm. Aaron’s songwriting balances the heart wrenching with the heartwarming, all the while holding open the door to us into his very personal world.

Alongside Aaron Rowe, Australia will be treated to the captivating voice of Central Coast indie-pop force Fletcher Kent – one of Australia’s major young songwriting talents. Kent has three singles out currently, all of which showcase his genre-blurring ability to find strength in raw emotional honesty and relate back to his connection to the earth and sea on which his music is made. Kent’s music is deeply introspective, exploring themes of self-realisation, identity, and human connection. Melodies and songs were woven in early, through the sounds of his father’s fireside guitar and his mother’s lullabies. These intimate moments soon translated to years of street performing across the vastness of the country – during family road trips around Australia – where he honed his now intuitive ability to connect with audiences. Fletcher’s three previous singles, ‘Wasted’, ‘I’ll Be’ and ‘Are You Ready’ have made waves throughout notable playlists, grabbed the attention of outlets such as Rolling Stone and landed him a slot as one of Live Nation’s ‘Ones To Watch’ artists. With this growing list of accolades, high-profile live slots, and global backing from industry heavyweights, Fletcher Kent is more than just one to watch – he’s shaping up to be one of the defining voices of the next generation.

These dates will be the first time Lewis has returned to Australasia since Falls Festival in 2019/20, and his Auckland Town Hall performance in 2019. His new track ‘Survive’ sees him reunited with close collaborator Romans, who co-wrote his global megahit ‘Someone You Loved’, that extraordinarily turned 10x Platinum earlier this year.

Lewis’ last release, the hit-stacked record Broken By Desire To Be Heavenly Sent, scored him his second UK number 1 album, creating another three heartbreaking UK number 1 singles, ‘Pointless’, ‘Wish You The Best’ and the Platinum-certified ‘Forget Me’ working with hitmakers including Max Martin (Taylor Swift, The Weeknd), Malay (Lorde, Frank Ocean), and longtime collaborator Phil Plested (James Bay, Bastille).

The album also gained widespread critical acclaim from the likes of The Guardian, New York Times, NME, Rolling Stone, GQ, Stereogum & many more. It also topped airplay charts, smashing an impressive 95,000 units, outselling the rest of that week’s Top 10 combined, as well as outselling first week sales of his own monumental debut album Divinely Uninspired To A Hellish Extent.

April 2023 saw the global Netflix release of Lewis’ compelling, raw and honest feature-length, GRAMMY®-nominated music documentary ‘Lewis Capaldi: How I’m Feeling Now’ – available to watch on the platform now. The documentary shot straight to the top of the Netflix chart, making it the most watched film on the platform since its release.

Lewis’ subsequent success stems back to 2019’s multimillion selling debut Divinely Uninspired To A Hellish Extent, which propelled Capaldi from bedroom musician to superstar. Few had seen a debut release quite like it, becoming the biggest selling UK album of both 2019 & 2020, spawning two UK number 1 singles, bagging a few BRITs and a GRAMMY® nomination, with one of those number 1’s becoming a smash hit on both sides of the globe in ‘Someone You Loved’ which as well as recently going 10x Platinum, is also the UK’s most streamed song of all time & the world’s fourth highest ever streamed song.

After weathering the kind of storm that few can prepare for, Lewis Capaldi returns with a renewed sense of purpose, with some stellar openers to kick off the shows. Lewis isn’t just surviving, he’s returning even stronger, heart wide open, and ready to step out again.

 

LEWIS CAPALDI

AUSTRALIA AND NEW ZEALAND TOUR 2025

All dates sold out


Wolfbrook Arena, Christchurch

Sunday, 30 November

Spark Arena, Auckland

Tuesday, 2 December

 

Entertainment Centre, Brisbane

Thursday, 4 December

 

Qudos Bank Arena, Sydney

Saturday, 6 December

 

Qudos Bank Arena, Sydney

Sunday, 7 December

 

Qudos Bank Arena, Sydney

Tuesday, 9 December

 

Rod Laver Arena, Melbourne

Wednesday, 10 December

 

Rod Laver Arena, Melbourne

Friday, 12 December

 

Rod Laver Arena, Melbourne

Saturday, 13 December

 

Adelaide Entertainment Centre Arena, Adelaide

Monday, 15 December

 

RAC Arena, Perth

Wednesday, 17 December

News

Live Review: James Blunt

James Blunt

Rod Laver Arena

 

It’s been only a year since James Blunt graced Australian shores, and this time he’s back for a very special occasion.

Marking the milestone celebration of twenty years since his break out album ‘ Back to Bedlam’  fans will be treated to the album in its entirety.

Opening with High, Blunt is high energy and captivating to watch. He works through the first four songs- the album’s most successful singles before taking a breath to greet the audience.

Blunt asks the audience “ And my first question is I need to know. genuinely, honestly, who here bought the album in 2005 and has been with me for twenty years?

Thank you so much. Thank  you guys, for what you have given to me, you can never fully understand, because of you, I have a really fucking amazing house in Ibiza.Thank you.”

Blunt has a way of having the audience eating out the palm of his hand- he runs the length of the stage, encouraging the audience to cheer – and the whole room obliges.

Working his way through the album, the audience are treated to songs that are rarely played live. Songs such as Billy- a rather funny tune about his friend that was couch surfing in his apartment.  It’s a real treat for fans to hear these – probably for the first time.

He wraps the album with No Bravery telling the audience it is a song

“I wrote it in 1999 when I was serving in Kosovo with NATO, with the Australian Army as well. 
And the images that the song conjures up. from A genocidal war are the same images that we succeed today in Ukraine and in Gaza. It is really real.”

Images of the war in Serbia flash on the screen as the piano accompanies him.

For the second part of the show he gives us a choice-

“ I’m gonna give you a chance to choose the direction this concert goes in now. And it can go anyway, almost. 
So here here’s what I’m thinking, team. There’s something for you to decide. I could now play to you, you know, songs old songs from the second album of the night I know, like 1973, songs played, and shit  like that. 
Or hear me out. Or I could play my new album, It’s not out  yet. It’s two hours long, it’s fucking epic. 
And. And you’d be the first to hear it. .. That excitement is palpable. So come on, then, let’s put it into a vote. Who wants two hours of the new album? Whoo, yes! 
And who wants all the music? That’s the right answer. That’s always the right answer. 
You never choose the fucking new music, can you man? I don’t have a new album. I don’t need one.”

He goes onto play  Carry You Home followed by Postcards, finishing with Same Mistake. 

James Blunt is really a dark horse when it comes to be an exceptionally good performer. For a man that sings love songs, he certainly knows how to entertain and engage an audience. He is funny, charismatic and extremely talented.  He’s an absolute joy to watch, and his love for performing is absolutely contagious.

Words by Amanda Lee Starkey
Behind the lens Monique Pizzica

 

 

live review

Live Review: Damiano David at Forum Melbourne

Live Review: Damiano David at Forum Melbourne

24 October 2025

—

The venue hums with anticipation as the lights dim and the band kicks into the opening chords of ‘Born With A Broken Heart’. It’s a fitting entrance for Damiano David to step into the spotlight in a dapper fuchsia suit, ready to take us on a compelling journey through his solo-world full of tender vulnerability, theatrical bravado, and a thread of pop-rock to keep the crowd enthralled.

He follows with ‘The First Time,’ which is intimate, yet loaded with his signature rock-tinged sass. The third song from his recently released deluxe edition of his album ‘FUNNY Little FEARS (DREAMS)’ is ‘Mysterious Girl,’ which is a cheeky curveball with reggae-inspired bounce giving David room to own the stage, swaying, grinning and interacting. Another new track ‘Cinnamon’ is a funky track full of swagger and a moment for the guitar solo to shine.

“I always like doing a bunch of covers during live shows because I love other artists and it’s a cool way to pay homage to them,” he says before launching into a Kings Of Leon cover with ‘Sex On Fire’ loaded with high energy. The crowd roars as David and his band transform it into a dark-glam anthem, proving his rock credentials are alive and kicking. Moments later, a cover of ‘Nothing Breaks Like A Heart’ (originally by Miley Cyrus / Mark Ronson) is unleashed with a bold version to make it his own, delivering a raw vocal turn that has the audience singing along.

As the show progresses, he begins to strip off layers of his clothing to reveal his shirtless torso covered in tattoos. David’s vocals are in fine form – powerful when needed and delicate when the song required. He moves confidently across the stage, at times theatrical, at other times quietly present next to a single mic. David shows emotional depth in his performance through his personal story telling through self-exploration, heartbreak, healing, glamour and grit. For anyone who only knows him from his work with Måneskin, this was a fresh and assured step forward. He still has that frontman charisma, but tonight he also reveals the person behind it.

“When I was creating this show, I wanted to create three different moments that can represent three different times in my life. The first part of the show represents the last 10 years of my life – everything was so fast paced, everything was so rushed, and I had some of the greatest experiences life could give me,” he recounts.

“I toured all around the world I did everything with my best friends, and it was a fucking amazing honestly but then one day something inside of me broke and I wasn’t really enjoying it anymore. I didn’t enjoy always being far away from home and I wasn’t really inspired. So, I took some time (almost a year), and I wrote a lot of songs, and this record taught me that the reason I was sad was because I was basically living someone else’s life. Everything was perfect but it was not my idea of perfection,” he reveals. He continues to share his song ‘Perfect Life’ that he wrote about being stuck in someone else’s dream and the idea of running away from it.

The show continues to build momentum with ‘Tangerine’ and ‘Zombie Lady’ which follows with tasteful diversions into theatrical territory as David transforms into his playful alter ego for several moments. The final stretch hits with ‘Tango,’ ‘Angel,’ and ‘Over’.’ As the first pulsing beats kick in, David stands centre-stage, spotlight on him alone for several beats, before the band slams back in.

“I’m not good at opening up and making new friends so I was very scared that it was going to be very lonely during this solo album process and instead I found beautiful people that I wrote the record with and they’re friends to me so it’s a big win. He continues to be vulnerable and share a song called ‘Mars’ that he admits he wouldn’t have been able to write two years ago – it’s an open letter that talks about incredible love that he hopes everyone can experience at least once in their lives.

After the band leaves, the applause continues to beg David to return. The encore begins with a reprise of ‘The First Time’ before the grand finale which is a medley of ‘Naked’ and ‘Solitude.’ The two songs merge into one cathartic moment to close.

“It’s not only the song that closes the show but closes the whole project. I wanted it to be that way because it’s a song that has a very important reminder so that every time, I play it I remind myself that I have to fucking do this,” he says. He leaves us with a final revelation about the song that says something very special about what he learned by doing this album, “You don’t know who you are until you don’t know who you are.”

Words by Michael Prebeg

Photos by Amanda Lee Starkey

News

News: GRACE WOODROOFE UNVEILS NEW SINGLE “HAPPY AGAIN”

GRACE WOODROOFE
UNVEILS NEW SINGLE
“HAPPY AGAIN” 
STREAM HERE
OUT NOW INDEPENDENTLY
Photo Credit: Georgia Sedman

(Friday 24 October) Perth-born, Melbourne-based singer and guitarist Grace Woodroofetoday unveils her newest single, “Happy Again”, out independently. The release follows Grace’s celebrated return earlier this year with fellow single “I Love You Babe”, stepping into a new era marked by raw honesty and enveloping indie-pop soundscapes.

Sonically anchored in layers of soft, shoegaze strumming and more soaring inflections from producer Oscar Dawson (Holy Holy), “Happy Again” charts the feeling of diving head-first and whole-body into a new relationship with complete surrender, one that Grace describes is; “overwhelming and beautiful all at once.” Grace’s indelible vocals are as absorbing as ever, wrought with emotion and erupting in the tidal wave of the chorus, while a fuzzy yet forthright guitar-driven soundscape mimics the feeling of explosive ecstasy.

She continues; “‘Happy Again’ gives me a full-body, visceral reaction. The music sounds exactly how it felt: pure release, an explosion of adrenaline and total surrender. When Oscar and I began writing, I told him I wanted the song to feel like looking up through the leaves of a tree and suddenly being blinded by the sun. At the end of the song, I repeat “I never thought I would be happy again” over and over. Screaming those words was so emotional and cathartic for me. I truly felt saved. As the guitar turns manic, my whole body gives over, just like I did in the relationship. I was his entirely, no matter the cost. I wanted this song to capture that feeling of being consumed, of giving myself over to the explosion.”
News

LARGE MIRAGE DROP SHIMMERING VINTAGE ROCK EP & ANNOUNCE EP LAUNCH IN OLYMPIC STADIUM – OPENING FOR ACDC IN SYDNEY, AUSTRALIA!

Large Mirage , released into the universe a shimmering, vintage drenched, psychedelic-retro-rock gem, entitled the ‘WINGS OF TIME’ EP which is out now on all streaming platforms. This 2nd Large Mirage EP contains 4 exquisite tracks produced by Kolya Chan & Blake Rochester: Happy Now ; Wings Of Time; I Don’t Love, Love and Taking My Time (extended version). Each song composed by Kolya Chan on Lead Guitar & Vocals is a vital part of a more complex, diversely-fluid, rock music artwork, that begs the question… What else is to come from this musical genesis? Could the birth of this sublime song collection, on 23rd October 2025 perhaps be what AI/Atlas is heralding ?

 Since the inception, Large Mirage has embarked on a musical crusade, bringing their unique blend of classic rock from the intimate venues of the Sydney city to theatres and stadiums around Australia. With influences deeply rooted in the aesthetic & musicality of the late 60s / early 70s, Large Mirage has bent genres & defied conventions to deliver a memorable repertoire laden with hooks and awe-inspiring instrumental prowess. Renowned for their electric performances, they have excelled with total abandon, relying on their raw energy, performance skills and virtuosity to deliver an exhilarating live presence.

Releases have featured on iconic Australian media outlets such as ABC , Rebel Fm & Triple M. Since signing with Australian booking agency New World Artists in 2024, Large Mirage have been added to various seminal festivals, performing with icons of Australian rock such as The Screaming Jets , Diesel, & ARC, (a supergroup with members of Powderfinger, Jet, You Am I & Spiderbait) their own residencies and headline shows. This summer sees Large Mirage level up to support AC/DC alongside Amyl and the Sniffers on the Sydney leg of the Power Up Tour to 80,000 people each night, feature on New Year’s Eve lineups at both Lost Paradise Festival & Woodford Folk Festival and will travel across the country with Jon Stevens, Wolfmother, & TheScreaming Jets on the Summer of Love Rockfest Concert Tour Q1 2026.

With influences spanning The Who, Led Zeppelin ( albums I, II & III), Early Fleetwood Mac, The Doors, Jefferson Airplane, Deep Purple, Cream, Black Sabbath & Lynyrd Skynyrd, Large Mirage pays homage to classic rock legends of the OG Summer of Love era & thriving jam scene of that time, while carving out a distinctive niche with a modern twist which resonates for today’s audiences. No two Large Mirage shows are ever the same. This Blue Mountains now inner west Newtown based quartet’s stage presence is a spectacular display of controlled power & craft. Expect powerful dual vocals, wild solos, improvisation plus soaring harmonies, delivered with an unmatched dynamism that’s sets Large Mirage apart from other artists.

LARGE MIRAGE – 2025 /2026 TOUR DATES :

All tickets available from largemirage.com

SUN 16 NOV 2025  | SHELLHARBOUR AIRPORT, ALBION PARK RAIL NSW

w/ THE SCREAMING JETS + more from 10 am – 3pm | No Cover Charge | i98CONVOY Fundraiser

 

 **LARGE MIRAGE HOMETOWN EP LAUNCH**
FRI 21 NOV | ACCOR STADIUM , OLYMPIC PARK HOMEBUSH SYDNEY NSW

LGM opens for ACDC + AMYL & THE SNIFFERS | Gates 5pm | LARGE MIRAGE from 6pm

TUE 25 NOV | ACCOR STADIUM, OLYMPIC PARK HOMEBUSH SYDNEY NSW 

LGM opens for ACDC + AMYL & THE SNIFFERS | Gates 5pm | LARGE MIRAGE from 6pm

 

SAT 27 NOV |  PINEAPPLE LOUNGE 4pm ,  WOODFORD FOLK FESTIVAL, SUNSHINE COAST QLD 

SUN 28  NOV |  PINEAPPLE LOUNGE 10 pm , WOODFORD FOLK FESTIVAL, SUNSHINE COAST QLD 

MON 29 NOV |  BLUESTOWN 10pm , WOODFORD FOLK FESTIVAL, SUNSHINE COAST QLD 

WED 31 NOV | NYE |ARCADIA STAGE 2:30pm (early ),  LOST PARADISE, GLENWORTH VALLEY NSW -SOLD OUT

WED 31 NOV |  NYE |BLUESTOWN 1am ( late), WOODFORD FOLK FESTIVAL, SUNSHINE COAST QLD 

 

SUMMER OF LOVE ROCK FEST TOUR w/- JON STEVENS + WOLFMOTHER + THE SCREAMING JETS + LARGE MIRAGE:

 SAT 14 FEB 2026  |  MARGARET COURT ARENA, MELBOURNE VIC

SAT 28 FEB | THEBARTON THEATRE, ADELAIDE SA ( no Jets )

SAT 7 MAR FORTITUDE MUSIC HALL , BRISBANE QLD

SAT 18 APR | HORDERN PAVILION, MOORE PK SYDNEY NSW

FRI 10 APR | CROWN THEATRE, PERTH WA JON STEVENS + GUESTS+ ( LARGE MIRAGE’s DEBUT PERTH SHOW ).

 

SUN 25 OCT -SUN 1st NOV 2026 -| ROCK THE BOAT ’26 , CARNIVAL SPLENDOUR SYDNEY- NOUMEA- LIFOU | SOUTH PACIFIC

W/- KINGS OF CHAOS: feat BILLY F GIBBONS ZZ TOP , GLEN HUGHES DEEP PURPLE, NUNO BETTENCOURT EXTREME, ROBIN ZANDER CHEAP TRICK, PHIL X BON JOVI, MATT SORUM GUNS N ROSES / THE CULT , JAMES LOMENZO MEGADETH = JAMES REYNE, THE ANGELS , KATE CEBERANO , BABY ANIMALS, ROSE TATTOO, KILLING HEIDI, THE SUPERJESUS, THE RADIATORS ,SISTERS DOLL, LARGE MIRAGE ,THE POOR, good mates STARCRAZY, HOT MACHINE , HAXAN &many more…

Tickets to all LARGE MIRAGE shows are on sale now via links from NewWorldArtists.net event guide & largemirage.com

MUSIC ARTS MEDIA