Grinspoon [Newcastle]
NEX, Newcastle
29 November 2025
On a warm Saturday night in Newcastle, NEX was bursting at the seams with a crowd that looked like it had been gathered by a very enthusiastic casting director: teens in band tees, forty-somethings reliving their Big Day Out glory days, and an impressively even mix of men and women all buzzing with anticipation. Three decades into their career, Grinspoon still pull a packed house, but before the Lismore legends took the stage, the audience was treated to a pair of very different – and very entertaining – support acts.
First up were Coffs Harbour breed Purple Disturbance, making absolutely sure no one eased into the evening gently. Their bare-chested frontman, a mop of black hair whipping wildly in time with their rapid-fire punk barrage, tore across the stage like someone had replaced his bloodstream with espresso shots. Songs blurred, smashed, and tumbled into one another in a way that felt chaotic but purposeful, and by the time they wrapped, the room was well and truly awake.
Next came Adelaide’s Bad//Dreems, whose singer Ben Marwe strolled on in hi-vis, as if prepared to clock in for a shift in pure Australian chaos. Their set was tight, potent, and laced with the dry humour that has long been their calling card. ‘Jack’ was a personal favourite – raw, urgent, and delivered with Marwe’s semi-possessed swagger. Their cover of INXS’s ‘Don’t Change’ drew huge cheers, but it was the closer, a triumphant rendition of ‘My Pal’ by God, that became one of the night’s true highlights. A classic song, done justice.
By the time Grinspoon hit the stage, the energy in the room felt combustible. With a dazzling light show behind them, Phil Jamieson – surely at the peak of his frontman powers – exploded into the 2024 ‘Unknown Pleasures’, a fresh cut that sits perfectly within the Grinspoon canon. The trio of ‘DCX3’, ‘Black Friday’, and ‘Just Ace’, a one-two-three punch that sent the room into full nostalgia-fueled frenzy. Across a 20-song set, the band proved why their longevity matters; their influence on Australian rock is unmistakable, but more importantly, they still sound hungry. ‘Rock Show’ was a standout early-set burst of adrenaline, while the closing trio – ‘Chemical Heart’, ‘Champion’ and ‘More Than You Are’ – formed a finale that left voices hoarse and arms in the air.
As the lights went up and a happily exhausted crowd filtered into the Newcastle night, it was clear Grinspoon remain a force – polished, powerful, and still undeniably fun. With great supports, a ferocious crowd, and a band performing like lifers who still love it, this was a rock show well worth the sweat.
