Details

By Clyde Bramley

Clyde Bramley

09 February 2026

Hits: 512

• hard-ons
• new christs
• jupiter 5
• grooveyard
• van ruin
• sick fizz
• velvet parade
• the autumn hearts
• hovering spooks

 _{Clyde in action on bass with The Ons and Ons and flanked by keyboardist John Hoey and guitar-ist-vocvlist Glenn Morris.}

The On and Ons, for a variety of reasons, only did a handful of gigs in 2025, a situation that we plan on rectifying in 2026! So accordingly, I would like to pay tribute to the wonderful bands that we played with throughout the year. They are listed below in chronological order:

#1. Grooveyard, Marrickville Bowlo.
It’s been more than 40 years since I last shared a stage with Grooveyard! It was just great to hear their timeless Jangle-Rock one more time. Check out their "Avalanche Of Love" single (’84), and "Grooveyard" 12” EP (’89), all re-released digitally in 2024. Also on the bill for this gig was -

#2. Van Ruin.
A classic-sounding Sydney hard rock act fronted by Phil Van Rooyen, along with Al Creed, Stu Wilson, and Andy Newman, whose album "Trauma Magnet" is getting attention OS in places like France where they toured successfully this year.

Read more …

Details

By The Barman

The Barman

03 February 2026

Hits: 960

• dave favours
• dom mariani
• mc50
• east coast low
• chris masuak's dog solider
• trauma magnet

_{The Barman on a Banyo and Brisbane talent scouting trip with Stu McLaughlin (The Mick Medew & Ursula 4) and Kylie Lovejoy of The Glycereens.}

TEN BEST ALBUMS OF 2025 (IN NO PARTICULAR ORDER)*

Badlanding – East Coast Low (Crankinhaus)
A step up to world class from this evergreen Newcastle crew. The horn section and Rob Younger’s production are secret sauces but don’t forget Michael Cornish’s killer vocal.

Trauma Magnet – Van Ruin (Crankinhaus)
People make a big deal about credentials but the past history of members does not always make a good record. This is an exception. No laurels are being rested on here. Al Creed’s guitar and Phil Van Rooyen’s songs rule. 

10 More – MC50 (earMUSIC)
This slipped out with little fanfare at the end of 2025. Even better than the live bonus MC50 disc that came with the anaemic faux “MC5” album “Heavy Lifting”. Paraphrasing SonnyVincent: Rock on, (late) Brother Wayne.

Read more …

Details

By Big Daddy K

Big Daddy K

30 January 2026

Hits: 1094

• top ten
• psychotic turnbuckles
• kevin cherry
• the beasts
• east coast low
• big daddy K
• jupiter 5
• drugs in sport
• 2RRR
• fuck the neighbours

TEN MEMORABLE MUSIC EVENTS OF 2025 IN NO PARTICULAR ORDER

(1) WOLLONGONG AND NEWCASTLE
Sydney's satellite cities have long held the mantle of creative incubators, with their alluring property prices, sun-kissed beaches, and a vibrant local populace ready to both entertain and be entertained. While the Sydney music scene has seen better days, it’s refreshing to witness bands from Wollongong and Newcastle stepping into the limelight, particularly in the realms of post-punk and alternative genres,

These regional cities are breathing new life into the music landscape, fostering a plethora of new acts supported by improved venues and facilities, creating an electric atmosphere for more creative music.

Read more …

Details

By Steve Lorkin

Steve Lorkin

21 January 2026

Hits: 1213

• buzzcocks
• sex pistols
• rolling stones
• ray ahn
• asteroid b612
• cherie currie
• hoodoo gurus
• the church
• lipstick killers
• neptune power federation
• steve lorkin
• the jane does
• funkadelic
• frank carter
• steven danno

Time served with Minuteman, Spectres Revenge, Cool Charmers, Sheek The Shayk,  Dave Tice’s Buffalo Revisited, and others. Manager of The Psychedelic Unknown.

2025 HIT PARADE  (not in any order)

1. Neptune Power Federation: Live anywhere.
My fave Oz band ATM. New album coming in 2026, I believe,

2. Sex Pistols Featuring Frank Carter at Hordern Pavilion, Sydney
On paper this could have been a disaster, however, Cook, Jones and Matlock with young bloke Frank Carter on vocals were a true celebration of one of music’s most influential albums. The purists stayed at home during the night of the gig crying in their lemonade but the true fans were out in force. Great gig!

3. Ray Ahn’s Birthday
All-round good fellow, way out graphic artist and master basser celebrated his birthday with a cavalcade of luminaries gracing the stage at the tiny MoshPit Bar in Sydney. Jolly good fun.

Read more …

Details

By Ewen Hill

Ewen Hill

18 January 2026

Hits: 877

• ed kuepper
• penny ikinger
• new christs
• cosmic psychos
• eddy current suppression ring
• charlie owen
• ups and downs
• painters and dockers
• x
• Don Mcglashan
• SnarskiCircusLindyBand

_{"Hey you in the black (Birdman) shirt!"}

Hola all the way down the deep deep south from this Melbourne correspondent and avid punter, last seen DJ'ing at an Auckland bar off K Road. My Top 10 (+GST) is based on the chemistry and science of great venues, appreciative crowds and our musicians, all of us doing it hard to keep live music .. umm err.. live 

Don Mcglashan, Newmarket in Auckland, New Zealand
A wonderful evening sans live music but with Don doing a Q&A after the first screening of the film "Anchor Me: The Don Mcglashan story". Don was a member of NZ bands Blam Blam Blam, The Front Lawn, and The Mutton Birds. Do not be shy in trying to track down their music.

Read more …

Details

By Chris Masuak

Chris Masuak

17 January 2026

Hits: 1092

• chris masuak
• los revelators
• chris masuak's dog solider
• spiritbox
• deep sea diver

2025 threatened to be a year of crushing existential foreboding … a year of vulgar democratic erosion, racism, and sensationally grotesque hyper-nationalism. Violent weirdness. But, we managed to thwart most of it. Here are some observations and some highlights: 

1. Australia seemed to have decided to skirt pesky issues like empathy and human decency, defer to genocide apologists, and chuck justice, accountability, and democratic freedom to buggery.
Trying to understand the “rules” in oZ has become more complex, confusing, and demoralizing than trying to find a parking space in Leichhardt!

2. The Decline and Fall of the US Empire.
“So what?”, some may say.  With the United Stazi no longer the de facto Boss Of Stuff, 2026 is bound to be a  clusterfuck as the status quo Rearranges Their Priorities.

 3. The Epstein Files. (Waits for laughter to subside.)
“How guilty is Donald?”

“Your world does not understand how dumb he really is.” (Epstein’s response.)

 How much popcorn can we eat?

 4. Los Revelators
This groove-tastic li’l Spanish garage power-punk ensemble continues to chug away, having blasted out a few choice concerts and mini tours over the year (notably, one show with Leon rock legends The Salamanders).. The debut album should be ready for release in early 2026.

Read more …

Details

By Robert Lastdrager

Robert Lastdrager

17 January 2026

Hits: 625

• helen cattanach
• moler
• robert lastdrager
• t-bones
• continental robert susz
• the tommys
• kreep 500

It’s been a busy year for the Tommys: plenty of shows pushing our new 45 "Born To Follow" b/s "Window Pane” including a live-to-air on 3CR’s fabulous "Burning Vinyl" radio show.

1. 1969 Ludwig Supraphonic snare drum
There’s a reason why this is the most recorded snare in history. Just killer.

2. Pork Pie Drum Throne.
To any drummer or bar stool hog out there. Pay the extra and never look back

3. Little Green Festival, St Kilda Bowling Club, March 2025

4. The T Bones celebrated their 40^th Anniversary with a cavalcade of lineups from over the years.
Helen "Hellcat" Cattanach of Moler and I were the rhythm section on the first 45 and album. Great fun to rock out again including a warmup show at Bar 303, Northcote.

5. Show with Kreep 500 Town Hall Hotel at North Melbourne
Played some fun shows this year with Mick and Otto's raucous rockin’ garage two-piece.

6. The Wraylettes with The Tommys - Bendigo Hotel, Collingwood

7. Pearly Shells with Robert Susz - Jazz Lab, Brunswick.
I lived in Darlinghurst in 1985 and used to catch Continental Robert and his bar band at the Piccadilly Hotel in the Cross every Sunday arvo for free. He still has the tone and chops, and the Pearly Shells Big Band nailed it.

8. Ocean Vuong – The Emperor of Gladness

9. Archie Moore, kith and kin – Queensland Art Gallery 
Immense.

10.  Perfect Days - Wim Wenders.  

Details

By Matt Ryan

Matt Ryan

10 January 2026

Hits: 804

• hard-ons
• johnny casino
• digger and the pussycats
• dead moon
• the johnnys
• asteroid b12
• the breadmakers
• toody cole
• phil macdougall

1 Scott Boland’s Hat Trick
We’ll get to music in a minute, but we have to start off with the greatest moment in the history of sport. Such a legend he even opened the batting on Boxing Day. Just name the Junction Ovel after him now.

2 Phil MacDougall’s 45th Anniversary Bash
A wonderful day at the Tote to celebrate Melbourne’s greatest rock n roll soldier. Phil’s PBS program, “Sunglasses After Dark”, is still essential listening every week and I still love that after all this time ,his passion for music, new and old, has never changed.

Read more …

Details

By Ross Nelson

Ross Nelson

09 January 2026

Hits: 929

• ty segall
• ross nelson
• the prize
• 2RRR
• angel face
• the lemion twigs
• the number ones
• kim shattuck
• the highmarts

I hate it when I hear people bemoan the current state of Rock ‘n’ Roll – “there’s no good bands anymore”…”there’s no venues hosting bands”…. These people aren’t trying hard enough. There’s so many great bands, artists and records out there and it’s really not too difficult to find them.

In 2025 I found plenty to love and there’s way too many records that have eluded me. But of the stuff that I spent quality time with these are my picks.

Read more …

Details

By Murray Bennett

Murray Bennett

08 January 2026

Hits: 1125

• sex pistols
• joeys coop
• murray bennett
• the beasts
• john kennedy
• the cruel sea
• the apartments
• frank carter
• fuck the neighbours
• fowl weather vein
• SXY XMS
• the smoking ruins
• dave mccormack

Top 12 Gigs

The Cruel Sea - City Recital Hall, Sydney. 31/05/2025.
Set list full of older songs and deep cuts. 

Read more …

Details

By Deb Nankervis

Deb Nankervis

07 January 2026

Hits: 1097

• penny ikinger
• steve lucas
• lobby loyde
• john cale
• sacred cowboys
• garry gray
• lydia lunch
• painters and dockers
• no fixed address
• the beasts
• x
• belle phoenix
• bart willoughby
• fabels
• joseph keckler
• ruby cannon

Attending 80 gigs this year might seem a lot but imagine if I hadn’t cancelled a further 80 due to perpetual bronchitis and various bouts of flu. Thankfully, no Covid this time. Clearly four was enough.

I generally enjoy all music events so picking a Top Ten was quite a feat. If I’ve liked a band enough to see them more than once, I’ve included those gigs.

No. 1 - Bart Willoughby, No Fixed Address on two occasions
One at The Tote on Jan 3, and again at Yabun festival Jan 26. Their distinctive Aus/reggae rock has moved me since we came back to Melbourne from London in 1979. When my son Vyvyan’s godfather, Louis McManus, sadly passed away in 2004, NFA’s drummer and lead vocalist, Bart Willoughby, stepped up to the plate, his friend and mine being Maxine Briggs, his godmother.

I never tire of hearing Bart’s anthem “We have Survived”, beautifully delivered on a sunny Sydney afternoon at the Yabun Festival in Victoria Park, “Music to a Beat”.

Read more …

Details

By Milly Dalton & Adam Brzozowski

Milly Dalton & Adam Brzozowski

06 January 2026

Hits: 1787

• hard-ons
• tim rogers
• plastic section
• schizophonics
• east coast low
• link and pin
• outtaspace presents
• the owen guns
• jenny don't & the spurs
• the saints '73-'78
• chaputa records

1. EAST COAST LOW:
The band’s third album “BADLANDING” is LP of The Year in terms of songwriting and production. The horn section — featuring Pete Kelly, Rudi Thompson and Rob Parkes — were a mind-blowing dream team at the two gigs we saw at Link and Pin Woy Woy and the Royal Oak. Absolutely splendid.

2. GIG CITY @ THE BRIGHTSIDE, BRISBANE:
We have a long history with Brisbane bands, so took a quick trip up north in November to help celebrate 4ZZZ’s 50th anniversary. Unreal performances by The Johnnys, Gazoonga Attack, plus Wayne and Cowboy Bob doing Blowhard/Fred classics in Coral Outcrop’s Half-Star Band, and Evil Dick Industries. It was ace to see some friendly faces at this ripper venue.

3. THE SAINTS ’73-’78 @ THE GREEN ROOM, BYRON BAY:
The Enmore gig was a total trip, but this was a much smaller venue and, being the final show of the tour, it was a band in sync, in love and on fire. 

Read more …