Backseat DownunderMusicNewsTrack / Video

Grace Shaw, better known as Australia’s indie-pop darling Mallrat, is one of those artists you love with your gut. If you’ve been paying any attention to the Australian music scene, you’ll know her as the sharp, genre-defying voice behind hits like ‘Groceries’ and ‘Charlie’. Now, as she gears up for the release of her new …

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Backseat DownunderMusicNewsTrack / Video

The Jungle Giants are back! After 18 months off the radar, the Meanjin/Brisbane four-piece have just returned to the spotlight with ‘Hold My Hand’, the first taste of their upcoming fifth album. It’s a song shaped by upheaval after frontman Sam Hales spent the past few years reeling from the end of a decade-long relationship, …

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Backseat DownunderMusicNewsTrack / Video

After spending 2024 immersed in the live re-scoring of the 1971 Australian cult classic Wake in Fright, the Naarm/Melbourne outfit Surprise Chef have turned their focus back to their own sound. Their upcoming album, ‘Superb’, out May 16 via Big Crown Records, leans into a groove-heavy, soulful feel while keeping their exciting cinematic edge. The …

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Backseat DownunderMusicNewsTrack / Video

2024 sent Joe Keery’s Djo project stratospheric. ‘End of Beginning’ was the song of the moment, streamed over 1.5 billion times, racking up 60 billion TikTok views, and landing on charts in 41 countries. Now, Keery’s wasting no time, a new album is locked in, a massive global tour is on the way, and he’s …

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MusicMusic FestivalNews

After a wildly successful debut in 2024, selling out in Naarm/Melbourne, New Bloom Festival is back for round two in 2025, bringing a fresh wave of alt-rock, post-hardcore, grunge, and punk acts to Meanjin/Brisbane, Eora/Sydney, and Naarm/Melbourne this March. Tickets are available here. New Bloom has quickly become hallowed ground for the next generation of …

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Backseat DownunderGalleryLive ReviewMusic

Soft Play’s return to Australia hit like a damn battering ram and the sold-out crowd at Factory Theatre didn’t stand a chance. The second Isaac Holman and Laurie Vincent tore into ‘All Things’, the floor turned into a writhing mess of bodies, a seething mass that never stopped squirming. Vincent barely made it through the …

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Backseat DownunderMusicMusic FestivalNews

Australia’s festival scene has been on one lately. From the tree-lined magic of Strawberry Fields to the community spirit of Meredith and the chaos of Beyond the Valley, it seems like every month has another reason to pack your tent, charge your phone, and road trip into the great unknown. If you’ve been lurking on …

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Backseat DownunderGalleryLive ReviewMusic

A few months ago, experimental ritualists Heilung played the Enmore Theatre while I sat at home, consumed by a perilous FOMO for Norse gods, goat horns, and giant Viking drums trimmed with fur. The regret was real, so when the opportunity arose to catch the alluring Wardruna, I didn’t hesitate. War paint on, I was …

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Backseat DownunderMusicNews

The Botany View Hotel and Young Henrys are teaming up to launch Newtown Sound, a fresh initiative that champions emerging artists while giving Sydney’s live music culture another inner west music-centric event. Starting 31 January, this weekly showcase will take over BVH every Friday night, spotlighting Sydney’s newest talent across indie, punk, rock, electronic, and …

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Music

British alt-rockers Kasabian are finally making their way back to Australia, hitting Naarm/Melbourne, Eora/Sydney, and Meanjin/Brisbane for the first time in over a decade. Joining them are Blossoms, whose knack for crafting shimmering, feel-good indie pop adds an exciting contrast to the lineup. Kasabian’s reputation as a live powerhouse speaks for itself, with anthems like …

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