There were 50,000 people at Brisbane’s Suncorp Stadium to say farewell to AC/DC’s PWR/UP Tour. It was also time to farewell the band that put Australian music on the world map. The band formed in 1973. Their first live performance was at Chequers nightclub in Sydney on 31 December, New Year's Eve 1973, and now this was probably their last ever performance in Australia.

This was the band’s first headline gig in Brisbane in 7 years. It was wonderful to see them back in Brisbane at the Crowbar to kick off the mystery gig for the venue’s birthday bash. It was a night of the various flavours of hard punk rock, from its hard edge to its ‘poppier’ heart, with Bella Amor and Haters supporting. Tonight Alive are back.

The Mayhem Ball leaned heavily into spectacle, narrative and visual excess. The ambition was clear, but the constant layering of production left little room for spontaneity or musical risk, creating a performance that felt impressive yet emotionally distant. 

The Good Things 2025 Festival ended on a high note: there were beach balls, chicken crowd surfers, banana people and crowd surfing boat races. And it didn’t rain or storm. Bonus! Here are the highlights.

The night of music had already been set like a blender to genre purée and Wargasm were only going to intensify that reality. Their sound is a collision of guitars, bass, thrashed drums, and electronic rave music and the genre is picking ‘your own adventure’.

The big crowd that sold-out The Tivoli, on a Tuesday night, got to hear the stories behind the creation of the songs, and the songs themselves, that made The Church a household name in Australia and internationally. Steve Kilbey had a vision for his band, but “it was not as easy as I thought – getting into the charts,” as he described his deal with the devil to gain fame.

The Brightside had a line stretched down Warner Street on a Sunday evening as the venue filled for Kalandra’s first ever Australian tour. Portair’s atmospheric soundscapes floated over the crowd before Kalandra’s melancholic Nordic folk, gritty guitars and ethereal melodies created a magical, authentic night of musical highlights.

This is one concert double bill that you do not want to miss: Kim Dracula and Wednesday 13 are a pairing made in heavy metal heaven or hell depending on your view. The ‘Horror Down Under Tour’ gave Brisbane an awesome night of live heavy rock music with a twist and the right amount of chaos.

A seated Fortitude Valley Music Hall made no sense for Opeth, but the band delivered a heavy and emotional set that rose above the awkward layout. Caligula’s Horse opened strong with a beautiful and dynamic performance that the crowd adored. Opeth’s mix of new songs and their back catalogue carried the night.

The Clouds delivered a unique and memorable gig for their 35th Anniversary tour, with soaring harmonies, puns, humour and an 18-song set that the crowd loved. Ghost Mutt opened with a dynamic 8-song set, and the night was full of ‘I Love You’s’, wit, and moments that felt like being with long-lost friends.

Metallica’s return after twelve years hit like a tsunami out of Suncorp, Evanescence delivered a beautifully curated set with Amy Lee’s voice soaring across the stadium, and Suicidal Tendencies kicked off the night with a burst of unfiltered psycho energy. It was a massive night that felt long overdue.

The Animals came to perform at Twin Towns at the Gold Coast, to bring the music of one of the best 1960s British bands to the people. The band demonstrated the force this timeless music still has on the crowd, as a diverse all ages crowd took that magical musical tour.

It was acoustic music heaven when Trousdale brought their authentic version of music to The Crowbar for their first ever visit to Australia. Joined by Brisbane bands My Daydream and LoveLoveLove, melodies, harmonies and songwriting ruled the night.

From local talent to international heavyweights, the Big Pineapple Music Festival’s 10th anniversary delivered a wild mix of genres, unpredictable weather, and unforgettable performances. Despite storms, the energy never faded as Betty Taylor, Polaris, The Cat Empire and Hilltop Hoods made it a day of pure live music magic and festival spirit.

After a 14-year absence, I See Stars lit up The Triffid with their first-ever Australian headline show. Devin Oliver “took total control of the crowd”, shifting “effortlessly between melodic clarity and guttural intensity” as “massive pit circles” erupted. A “top class” performance that proved the wait was worth it, and Brisbane was in I See Stars heaven.

With a gravel-tinged voice and swagger straight out of the ’70s, Jackson Dean lit up Brisbane. From soulful ballads to boot-stompin’ anthems, he delivered storytelling that hit deep — a rising artist already walking the line between the shadows and the spotlight.

‘The energy, enthusiasm, and intensity of the crowd was next level.’ Zebrahead’s long-overdue Brisbane show turned Crowbar into a madhouse of shoeys, stage dives, and sing-alongs. From start to finish, it was a joyful mess of chaos, tequila talk, and tunes that reminded everyone why Zebrahead are masters of the punk party.

From that moment the whole crowd was Imminence’s captives as the songs ‘Desolation’ and ‘Heaven Shall Burn’ were delivered. The performance was so immersive it felt like stepping into another dimension.

For seven years from 2005 to 2011, JD Fortune was the front man for INXS. He sang and wrote songs on their final studio album, ‘Switch’. He returned to Brisbane at the Triffid and reconnected with his Australian fans, playing the music that changed his life: from his love of AC/DC, his time with INXS, and now his own chapter with his own original songs.

Sacred Hearts headlined Black Bear Lodge for the launch of their new single ‘Possession’, joined by Zzade and Gashhound. The night featured raw, diverse performances from local Brisbane acts blending punk, dark pop, and post-punk sounds.