grinspoon at red hill auditorium / perth, wa

I'm putting Red Hill Auditorium in my top three live venues to watch live music in Perth. There is something so uniquely Perth about hearing Australian birds in the surrounding cliffs and tress while you wait for the bands to start playing and watching the sun set to the west as the opening act plays. And with a lineup stacked from start to finish, this show felt like a celebration of Australian music across generations.

Lonesome Dove

Lonesome Dove opened the night with exactly the kind of energy you want at Red Hill. Huge vocals, effortless charisma, and that kind of high-tempo, high-spirit performance that gets people moving even before the sun has fully dipped. They’re the type of band that’s just fun to watch, they were clearly loving every second on stage and it was infectious. A killer way to start the night.

Bad//Dreems

Watching Bad//Dreems is a trip. Chaotic, sweaty, and strangely grounding all at once. They crash through songs about identity, politics, and Indigenous issues with raw intent and tight precision. Fkn thrilling to experience live.

There’s a reason they have such a loyal following: they’re one of the few bands that can be completely unpolished and completely deliberate at the same time.

Regurgitator

By the time Regurgitator hit the stage, the smell of weed rolled through the air and the crowd loosened instantly. Within seconds, it turned into a full-blown mosh and exactly the kind of movement you want when the 'Gurge are in charge.

They sounded tight as hell, bouncing between genres and eras with ease. And Sarah Lim, their newest multi-instrumentalist, was an absolute weapon. An energetic multi-instrumentalist, she brought a fresh spark to the band’s already-wild live energy.

Grinspoon

You could feel the excitement in the air while the stage was preparing for the headliners. Conversations in the crowd suggested that fans of all ages and backgrounds were here to watch a band that has been important to them for a long time now.

Grinspoon’s stage visuals leaned into their cowboy-themed tour. Western tones and a cinematic edge that fit surprisingly well with Red Hill’s landscape. But the real show was Phil Jamieson, who performs with the energy of someone half his age, leaping across the stage, kicking through the air, and throwing himself into every moment like he’s still playing the first tour of his career.

From the first note, the crowd was loud. And as soon as the opening chords of each song hit, you could hear the entire amphitheatre erupt, screaming immediately in recognition. It felt nostalgic without feeling dated, Grinspoon sounding as explosive and confident as ever.

A massive lineup. A massive night. And a reminder that live music in WA is very much alive and kicking.

Photos and Review by Cassandra Edwards