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Live Review: One Republic at Sidney Myer Music Bowl
15 Feb 2026
OneRepublic turns Sidney Myer Music Bowl into a mass singalong of pop anthems and polished showmanship, with Freya Ridings setting the tone through a spellbinding, piano-led support set.
Freya Ridings emerges first, cutting a striking figure dressed entirely in black with a dramatic cape flowing behind her for an almost gothic-pop vibe. She opens with ‘Wicker Woman’, her voice immediately commands attention with its rich, and raw trembling intensity.
It’s Ridings’ first time back in Australia in 6 years. Over the last 3 years she’s been working on a new album, she reveals excitedly. “During the making of this album I was going through a little bit of a difficult time and feeling defeated by life and a little bit heartbroken. So, I wrote this song ‘Undefeated’ as a kind of spell to remind myself that as long as we’re still breathing, then there is something to fight for,” she shares, before taking a seat at the piano to play the anthemic song.
‘Face In The Crowd’ follows, its yearning chorus ringing out across the amphitheatre, before she switches things up with another new song performed on acoustic guitar with a similar theme that inspires listeners to find strength in heartbreak. Stripped back and earnest, it showcases her songwriting chops and further cementing the sense that Ridings is entering a new creative chapter. If these unreleased tracks are anything to go by, it’s one steeped in resilience and emotional clarity.
Of course, the loudest singalong of her set comes with ‘Lost Without You’ dedicated to anyone who’s ever lost anyone in their lives. From the opening piano notes, thousands of voices join hers, turning the Bowl into a communal heartbreak choir.
The last two songs are a bit happier to help us rise up stronger than we were before and rebuild after heartbreak. She closes with ‘Euphoria’, another new offering, this time pulsing with what she describes as a Celtic tribal vibe. The rhythm builds steadily, percussive and primal, layering over her soaring vocal lines. It feels expansive and cinematic with a bold ending that hints at a broader sonic palette ahead.
OneRepublic takes to the stage as the night falls and the city lights shimmer in the distance. They waste no time launching into ‘RUNAWAY’, immediately injecting high-octane energy into the Bowl. Frontman Ryan Tedder bounds across the stage, exuding charisma from the first beat.
‘Feel Again’ and ‘Good Life’ follow in quick succession, their buoyant choruses ricocheting around the venue. Tedder’s stage presence is magnetic. He kicks and tosses his tambourine around like a hacky-sack, barely breaking stride vocally. It’s that effortless multitasking that makes him such a compelling performer.
One Republic have been together as a band for 19 years and they’re like a family. “We have a lot of music to get through but the most important song in our catalogue is the 2nd song we ever put out ‘Stop and Stare’. The first song everybody knows, but the second one is the reason we’re still a band, and funny enough, it was right here in Australia when we came here for the first time in 2008 and the day we landed here, the song went to number one here,” Tedder recalls.
Mid-set highlights include ‘Rescue Me’ and the technicolour rush of ‘Life in Colour’. Before singing ‘Something I Need’ Tedder shares a story of the song’s origin – written after a trip to Australia in 2012 after a night out in Sydney. “We went out and we made a mistake going toe-to-toe with some local Aussies drink-for-drink,” he laughs.
Tedder isn’t shy about working with the most famous singers in the industry, including everyone from Taylor Swift to Adele, Ed Sheeran, Ozzy Osbourne and even Australians like Matt Corby and Empire Of the Sun. Outside of One Republic he’s got an endless list of songwriting credits on just about every hit record in the past two decades. He chooses a couple of those songs that he’s co-written for other artists to sing himself tonight including Beyoncé’s ‘Halo,’ delivered with theatrical flair, followed by a powerful rendition of Leona Lewis’ ‘Bleeding Love’.
‘Wherever I Go’, ‘Run’ and ‘Lose Somebody’ keeps the momentum high before the inevitable emotional swell of ‘Apologize’. Even after all these years, its chorus still hits with cinematic force in a live setting.
One of the night’s most charming moments comes with the introduction of a new song that he reveals is coming out in early April called, ‘I Need Your Love.’ Tedder dedicates to “every barista in Melbourne.” The crowd roars in approval — a city that runs on coffee appreciates a shoutout. The track itself felt warm and radio-ready, classic OneRepublic with a polished pop sheen.
As the set barrels toward its finale, Tedder amps up the theatrics — kicking signed Wallaby team balls out into the audience for lucky fans to catch, adding a distinctly Australian touch to the proceedings. ‘I Ain’t Worried’, ‘I Lived’ and ‘Sunshine’ ensure the energy never dips, while a blistering guitar solo from Zach Filkins offers a moment of rock indulgence.
Before the final stretch, Tedder grins and declares, “We don’t need a DJ to close — we are the DJ.” What follows is a euphoric megamix of ‘I Don’t Wanna Wait,’ ‘Calling (Lose My Mind)’ and ‘If I Lose Myself’, complete with a surprise chorus of Olivia Dean’s ‘Man I Need’ woven in to finish. It’s a slick, celebratory and undeniably fun — the band fully embraces their dance-pop instincts.
‘Counting Stars’ provide the inevitable climax, tens of thousands chanting the hook into the Melbourne night. As the band takes their bows, Oasis’ ‘Wonderwall’ plays over the speakers, the crowd singing along one last time as OneRepublic exits the stage.
Words by Michael Prebeg
