Is it just me, or does New Years’ have a way of sneaking up on you? With so much focus on Christmas, it’s all too easy to enter the final week of December without any plans to kickstart the year right. So let me make it easy on you, Sounds of Oz readers. Field Day is celebrating 25 years in Eora/Sydney with a massive New Years Day bash.
The likes of Carl Cox and Jamie Jones, The Presets, Deborah De Luca, Bag Raiders, Kölsch, and Patrick Mason will make sure the anniversary celebrations are the ultimate party. New for 2026 is CAMP GROUND, a fresh stage celebrating local queer talent.
“Field Day has always been a space where LGBTQIA+ communities are welcome and celebrated,” organisers Fuzzy said in the presser. “Queer artists and revellers have been a big part of Field Day’s 25 years of success. We’re thrilled to honour that by introducing CAMP GROUND to the festival in 2026 – curated by and for LGBTQIA+ communities, spotlighting some of Sydney’s best.”
Field Day will take over the Domain on January 1. General admission and VIP tickets, along with Fast Forward passes and a fantastic Double Trouble New Year bundle, are all available now from Moshtix.
If you’re a sucker for bold, honest lyrics as I am, I know you’ll love Benjamin Trillado’s latest single “16.” It’s a beautiful, bittersweet coming-of-age folk anthem inspired by Benjamin’s own experiences growing up queer in Wurundjeri Woi-wurrung Country/Sunshine in suburban Naarm/Melbourne.
“I remember being at school and feeling like every day I was just trying not to get caught,” he recalled. “I felt like I knew more about myself, yet I started to go further inwards.”
Benjamin may not have been able to be his full self then, but he’s certainly found his voice now. If you’ve ever felt like you needed to make yourself smaller, I know Benjamin’s raw vocals and powerful lyrics will strike a chord with you.
As it became clear that New South Wales would swelter on Saturday, I began to dread Jimmy Barnes’ Working Class Man 40th Anniversary show in Wonnarua Country/Pokolbin. If I hadn’t spent around $200 on the ticket, I might have cancelled. I became even more nervous as we neared Bimbadgen Estate and saw the car’s temperature gauge click over to 43 degrees. I felt nauseous by the time I found my seat and started to worry that this was all a bad idea. But superb music, and a healthy dose of soda water, has a way of making everything better.
John Rooney was a late addition to the bill. Ordinarily I would have made sure to catch an artist I wasn’t familiar with, but I’m sure in the heat he’d forgive me missing his set. One artist I wouldn’t miss is Kate Ceberano. She’s always excellent, but I’m not sure I’ve ever enjoyed a set as much as this one promoting her new Australian Made live album. I wasn’t familiar with this release, so every classic cover was a surprise. Hits of the past like “Boys in Town” and “Barbados” fit her like a glove, while modern tracks like “Chandelier” and “The Joker and the Thief” were unexpected joys. And she was always going to make the Barnesy-loving crowd happy with a cover of Cold Chisel’s “You Got Nothing I Want.” Kate also treated us to plenty of her own numbers including “Bedroom Eyes” and a reggae-tinged take on “Pash.” While she stole focus with her effortless charisma, I’ve got to give praise to her stellar band including the always fabulous HARTS. What a fantastic surprise to see such a brilliant artist in his own right sharing the stage with our Kate.
Kate’s celebration of Aussie music perfectly led in to Ian Moss’s solo set. Another national treasure and Jimmy’s former bandmate, he was always going to go down a treat with this crowd. It’s been some time since I’ve seen Mossy with a full band, so it was a real thrill to hear songs from his entire career given that electric treatment. From Cold Chisel hits like “Choir Girl” and the epic closer “Bow River” to “Nullarbor Plain” from 2024’s Rivers Run Dry, it was top notch. I also loved seeing Ollie Thorpe, who I last saw as part of The Whitlams’ Black Stump Band, with Mossy. He got his chance to really shine sharing vocal duties on “Georgia on My Mind.”
I was really looking forward to Icehouse after they blew Hall & Oates off the stage in 2012. I’m pleased to report they have very much still got it. The blend of founding member Iva Davies and long-term bandmates Paul Gildea and Paul Wheeler with newer members like saxophonist Hugo Lee and keyboardist Michael Best is inspired. They sound so tight, unmistakeably Icehouse, yet so fresh. I also loved seeing the supremely talented Michael Paynter doing double duty with Icehouse and Barnesy. Icehouse has a catalogue that is so rich, you don’t realise how many hits they had until they’re delivering them. They performed so many of them with the kind of energy that makes you forget many of the band members have done these songs for decades. They still seem to relish sharing their music with us. When a band plays with such precision and enthusiasm, you will always have a good time.
Remember how there was that heatwave that had me feeling nauseous? It persisted right up until Jimmy Barnes was due to take the stage. And then the weather took a serious turn. The winds came. The rains came. Oh how they came. Massive droplets that had us soaked to the skin, because of course we had been so worried about packing frozen water, fans, and damp face washers that we hadn’t thought to grab ponchos. We were told the concert would be “paused” and we should seek shelter. It honestly felt worse than the Sting show which was abruptly axed, so I braced myself for a cancellation. Although there was a voice in my head saying “I did not sweat it out only to go home!” And then thankfully, the rain disappeared, at least temporarily, and the show went on. And how.
Given all we had endured, Jimmy seemed determined to make it worth our while. He’s always the kind of guy who gives his all, but he seemed to have a little extra in the tank as he treated us to every song from his breakthrough solo album For the Working Class Man. I loved the opportunity to hear many songs that don’t make his typical sets like “Without Your Love” and “Promise Me You’ll Call.” Given the length of the album, I knew there’d be a few more songs besides, but it was a mystery which tracks would make the cut. There were some old favourites like “Too Much Ain’t Enough Love” and “Lay Down Your Guns” as well as more recent cuts which tie so easily back to early material like “Shutting Down Our Town,” inspired by his upbringing in Elizabeth, and “Beyond the River Band,” a tribute to his love with his beloved Jane who lent her backing vocals and bagpipe skills to the night.
The songs are just one part of the Jimmy Barnes experience. We love them, but we also love him. He’s one of us, our working-class man. In a place like Wonnarua Country/Hunter Valley, a significant coal mining area, his humble beginnings resonate. He might be up on that stage, but he talks to us like we’re old friends. He joked about the “fucking hurricane”, noting that he felt like the president as organisers tried to usher him to a car as the heavens opened up. He said he refused, rebelliously declaring “If we die, we all die together!” That’s our Jimmy.
I am such a fan, I will listen to Jimmy perform anything and lap it up. But there’s something special about being amongst a bunch of Australians as Jimmy belts out monster hits like “Working Class Man” and “Khe Sanh.” I felt it even more intensely on Saturday night, perhaps because we had all gone through so much. The heat, the storms, the joy that made it all worth it. The conditions made me dread this concert, but it was such a beautiful celebration of Aussie talent that I am so glad I put my concerns to the side and attended.
Jimmy Barnes and his ultra-talented mates will continue the Working Class Man 40th Anniversary shows in Eora/Sydney this week and through 2026. And it’s likely to be hot. Bring your water, sunscreen, and hats, and just do it. I promise you, you will not be sorry. Tickets are still available for all remaining dates:
Charly Oakley has won my heart with their poppy new single “Against the Odds.” This is one of those special pop tracks that wears its heart on its sleeve. The combination of Charly’s relatable lyrics and gorgeous, warm voice is incredible.
Charly might be just starting their musical journey, but they’re already impressing the right people. They were signed to management under Sam Dainty and Paul Dainty AO, AM, which put them on the radar of Jonathan Daniel, founder of CRUSH MUSIC whose roster includes megastars like Miley Cyrus and Lorde. Jonathan introduced Charly to LA producer Xandy Berry, who’s worked with artists like Rihanna, Bon Iver, and Miley. Along with his long-time friend and collaborator Jordie Thomas, he helped bring Charly’s vision for “Against the Odds” to life. With all those heavy hitters on their side, you know we’ll be hearing a lot more from Charly Oakley.
I know I’m a little late to the party, as Sly Withers just wrapped up their national tour. But have you heard their latest single, “Make My Mind Up”? I’ve got to check, because if it’s slipped under my radar it just might have escaped your attention. And trust me, this is the track you need for a little late afternoon adrenaline shot.
“The song is about feeling stuck, overwhelmed, and indecisive, but also about the desire to push through and improve,” co-frontman Sam Blitvich explained. “Wrestling with stagnation, needing a push, but still holding onto the belief that you’ll eventually break free and make it out the other side in one piece.”
Sam also explained that it’s the most collaborative song Sly Withers have released. “We used to write individually, but this one started with a vocal hook Fraser [Cringle, drums] came up with, and from there we built out the entire track together as a team. It’s been super exciting to see our writing process evolve and we can’t wait to share more of it.”
They might not have any confirmed shows on the horizon, but don’t fret Sly Withers fans. They’re putting the finished touches on a new album, which we should hear next April. So surely it’s only a matter of time before we see these Boorloo/Perth rockers on the road again.
Image used with permission from Get.Your.Record.Out.
Eora/Sydney pop-punk act The Admired are taking you right back to the 2010s with their anthemic new pop-punk single “All I’ve Got.” Vocalist and guitarist Bianca Davino describes this banger as “a love letter to growing up online in the Tumblr era.” So if you remember that time fondly, I know this one will resonate with you.
“I wanted to shine a light on the innocence and passion of that time, and how it’s a feeling that we will always strive to capture in our music and why we do this,” she explained. “At our shows I’ve been saying it’s about ‘skipping class to go and follow [Sleeping with Sirens’ frontman] Kellin Quinn around the city when he was here for Soundwave in 2013’, which is obviously a niche reference, but for those who know the vibes … they know lol.”
Hometown fans can see The Admired support GRXCE at The Vanguard on December 11. Tickets are still available through Moshtix.
I’m a big believer in the power of the song. I don’t need state-of-the-art production or bells and whistles. If the song stacks up, I want to celebrate it. So I’m excited to bring you “FREDDY KRUEGER,” the debut single from Eora/Sydney-based singer-songwriter Pardon Bracey.
Produced by Alex Berger of GRXCE and Belvedeer, it’s a gorgeous piano ballad with evocative, poetic lyrics that stopped me in my tracks. Despite its creepy name, Pardon Bracey wrote on Instagram that “FREDDY KRUEGER” is “A love song informed by my experiences of being queer. Growing up, I was told by a lot of people that happy futures were impossible if you’re queer. I spent my teen years believing that I would never find connection and convinced myself that bad behaviour from other men in my proximity was holy. I felt so privileged to experience anything, no matter how incorrect it was because I was never promised happiness. Because I’m queer.”
On an earlier post, he said “I’ve been writing for nearly 10 years and releasing a single is never something I thought was possible. If this is all I get to say, I’m glad that ‘FREDDY’ is the story I get to tell.” I can only hope that it’s not the only music Pardon Bracey shares with us. He’s got a real gift for songwriting and storytelling, so I really hope to hear more from him.
If you hoped to find mellow chill-out music for your Sunday, you might need to keep scrolling. But if you’ve still got a little rock left in you this weekend, check out “I Can’t Look For You,” from Meeanjin/Brisbane indie pop-punk act Bad Neighbour. This is on the heavier side of the genre, with a sound that reminds me of music from Hot Mulligan, who they supported around Australia in 2024.
“We always write based on where we are emotionally and in our collective lives in general,” explained vocalist Cooper Riley. “It’s about separating yourself from things and places that aren’t aligned with where you need to be or where you are going and learning to not squeeze the life out of things that you love. A lot of it is about crippling alcoholism as well – while I haven’t personally dealt with it I have been exposed to so much of it in my life and how it can bring the worst out in people.”
After supporting some massive acts like The Smith Street Band and Motion City Soundtrack this year, Bad Neighbour will end 2025 as the headliners. Hometown fans can catch them at The Outpost on December 13.
A massive hats off to SoSo, who managed to top the ARIA Australian albums charts and secure fourth position on the overall charts this week with their debut album So Much For Second Chances. While it was a few positions short of the ambitious number one overall goal they set for themselves, it’s also an impressive effort for an Aussie independent act with no mainstream media support. We all remember the way outlets fawned over themselves in the weeks leading up to the release of Taylor Swift’s The Life of a Showgirl. No doubt the unrelenting media attention on Wicked: For Good helped its soundtrack land the number one spot. In contrast, there were crickets about these Aussie talents pushing so hard to become chart toppers. Even Triple J refused to give them a go.
So how did these up-and-comers beat out heavyweights like Sabrina Carpenter and KPop Demon Hunters? Not to mention last week’s number one act 5 Seconds of Summer and The Smith Street Band on debut? Talent plays a part, but it’s just one element of the equation. The rest comes down to SoSo’s own promotional efforts and the true believers who supported them. I was thrilled to pre-order my first CD in ages and cover the singles “Something More,”“Candy Mouth,” and “Messed Up” ahead of the album’s release. In fact, I’ve been covering SoSo’s music since 2020. Because I love what they’re doing and I want more Aussies to hear it.
Fans have pretty much cleared out SoSo’s online store ahead of this release, although there are still some orange vinyl copies of So Much For Second Chances available. And you can stream the album on all your favourite platforms. Do it. These guys are the real deal.
Eora/Sydney-based pop artist Daphnie has teamed up with New York City’s own Jiwon for a shimmery new single, “stay long.” This cross-continental collab has got all the good vibes you need heading into your weekend.
“We found out about each other through Spotify’s ‘fans also like’ section when Spotify put us on the same algorithm, and instantly hit it off musically,” Daphnie recalled. “Jiwon already had most of the song but needed some tweaks and a verse from someone. He had someone else in mind, but after our first call asked if I’d do it, and I liked it so much that I had my verse written and recorded within the hour after our call.”
Crank this up and I know you’ll agree that it sounds like fate! “stay long” is on all your favourite streaming platforms right now.
