Good things festival 2024

HAVE WE GONE MAD? GOOD THINGS IS BACK, AND IT’S ENTIRELY BONKERS!

THE GOOD THINGS FESTIVAL 2024 HUGE LINE-UP IS HERE.

Are you ready for the madcap chaos of Australia’s largest travelling music festival? Good Things season returns with a head-spinning lineup fit for a fever dream. Across three East Coast dates, this year’s Good Things Festival will deliver a trip down the rabbit hole with a stacked bill of international heavyweights, old favourites, hungry up-and-comers, and Aussie staples. And in a boon for younger attendees, Sydney’s Centennial Park festival date will be a 16+ event for the first time!

No one has cultivated a cult of personality quite like KORN. As the coveted headliners for Good Things Festival 2024, the Californian nu-metal pioneers will be celebrating the thirtieth anniversary of their landmark self-titled debut album and a career trajectory that speak volumes: two GRAMMY® Award wins, multi-platinum album certifications, and over 40 million records sold worldwide. Continually pushing the limits of the alternative, metal, and rock across their back catalogue, KORN’s unwavering sonic vision incorporates everything from dubstep and hip-hop to the bagpipe sections of frontman Jonathan Davis. Forever for the freaks, KORN’s Good Things appearance will find them in fine form and off the leash.

Seeing SUM 41 will be a bittersweet occasion for dedicated Aussie fans, as the Good Things Festival acts as the band’s last-ever ‘Tour of the setting Sum’ tour Down Under. Pulling from their formative album trinity—All Killer No Filler (2001), Does This Look Infected? (2002), and Chuck (2004)—along with their recent Heaven :x: Hell double-LP, the Canadian rockers are determined to go out with a bang, one befitting their status as a beacon of millennial domination. Come for the high-energy pop punk, and stay for the heavy metal anthems.

Speaking of anthems, it’s hard to deny the impact VIOLENT FEMMES have had on the broad history of alternative music. The Milwaukee outfit have been festival mainstays throughout their awe-inspiring 40-year career, and direct influences on Pink, John Cusack, Mark Morris, The Pixies, and more. German heavy arena sensation ELECTRIC CALLBOY known for their viral hits like Hypa Hypa, We Got The Moves, RATATATA and their pulsing cover of Cascada’s Everytime We Touch have proven that the group’s blend of retro pop synths, arena rock, and metalcore is both a recipe for chart-topping success and captivating audiences worldwide.

After bringing their own curated The World Is A Vampire Festival to Australia last year, and the recent release of the band’s thirteenth studio album, Aghori Mhori Mei, The Smashing Pumpkins frontman BILLY CORGAN will wow the Good Things Festival crowd with a spirited set supported by The Delta Riggs as his backing band. Festival punters will be treated to tracks from CORGAN’s expansive solo catalogue as well as songs he’s written for The Smashing Pumpkins. MASTODON have racked up numerous accolades that transcend their sludge metal origins. Alongside collaborations with Game of Thrones, Adult Swim, and DC Comics, the Atlanta quartet finally took home a GRAMMY® Award after six career nods. 2021’s Hushed & Grim double-LP took meditations on grief and transformed them into moments of melodic mourning and raging bursts of energy. Guitarist/songwriter KERRY KING will bring a taste of his trademark fury to the Good Things Festival for 2024. With KING’s first solo LP outside of thrash titans Slayer, From Hell I Rise, unleashed on the world, expect a dose of blunt-force riffage and pointed lyrical themes with some Slayer classics thrown in as the kicker.

The long-awaited return of THE GASLIGHT ANTHEM to Australian shores has been almost a decade in the making. With the release of their highly anticipated comeback album, History Books, in October last year, it’s now Australia’s turn to be a part of the band’s rebirth. Newfound ARIA Hall of Famers JET will also get their shine on as they take to the stage to celebrate the recent twentieth anniversary of their multi-platinum debut album, 2003’s Get Born. Fans can expect to hear radio rock hits like Are You Gonna Be My Girl, Rollover DJ, and more. With their reputation as seasoned pros and one of the country’s most incredible live acts, punk rockers THE LIVING END will get the crowd pumping with iconic anthems like Second Solution and Prisoner of Society, making their only live shows for 2024 ones to remember. After playing their seminal Bricks Are Heavy LP on the road last year, 90s punk icons L7 return to give audiences another taste of Californian riot grrrl history including favourites like Pretend We’re Dead, Shitlist, Wargasm and more.

Sydney futurists NORTHLANE are global ambassadors for Australian metal, known for their exhilarating live show and unrivalled creative expression. With consecutive ARIA Award wins and #1 chart debuts already in the bag, the band’s latest Mirrors Edge EP is their most daring effort yet. Fans will also see BOWLING FOR SOUP on their first trip Down Under in over fifteen years. The Texan pop punkers are fresh off a pair of 2024 Download Festival performances, and celebrating the twentieth anniversary of their fan-favourite A Hangover You Don’t Deserve LP. While 2024 already belongs to ALPHA WOLF, their Good Things appearance is set to cap off the metalcore crew’s most successful year to date. The Melbourne quintet just wrapped up a completely sold-out Australian headline tour following the release of their acclaimed third full-length, Half Living Things.

For the alternative rockers, Orlando emo sensation SLEEPING WITH SIRENS are no strangers to devoted Australian crowds, and their Good Things Festival set will deliver on stratospheric hooks and huge sing-a-longs. Not to be outdone, Brisbane’s THE BUTTERFLY EFFECT will bring their emotionally charged performance to the festival stage, anchored by frontman Clint Boge's powerful croon. 90s flagbearers 311 were last in the country in 1998 and have since maintained their standing as one of the genre’s most entertaining outfits with a groove-laden sound dipping into rap, reggae, and funk.

Award-winning songwriter, artist, and novelist AViVA will rally her “Outsider” community to the call with her idiosyncratic spin on pop-rock immediacy. Sacramento’s DESTROY BOYS will be eager to unleash tracks from their brand new Funeral Soundtrack #4 LP and expand on their bratty punk origins. With a career spanning half a century, legacy rockers DRAGON will showcase their heavy prog pedigree and penchant for soul-flavoured melodies. Meanwhile, DIY rock troubadour FRANK TURNER AND THE SLEEPING SOULS will mark another return to Australia as part of the Good Things Festival, this time supporting his acclaimed new album, Undefeated.

Pennsylvanian outfit FROM ASHES TO NEW have climbed to the front of the rock vanguard, embracing the freedom of hybridity and experimenting with hard rock, hip-hop, electronic, and alternative sounds. Known for stretching genre descriptors into alluring new forms, alt artist GRANDSON has netted over one billion streams and a dizzying list of high-profile collaborators including Mike Shinoda, Travis Barker, and Tom Morello. Backing up with another trip Down Under following 2023’s ‘The Midnight Demon Club’ tour, Cape Cod iconoclasts HIGHLY SUSPECT will bring their rule-breaking rock philosophy to the festival stage with cuts from their shiny new full-length, As Above, So Below. Swedish heavy purveyors IMMINENCE will introduce Aussie crowds to the uncompromising alt-metalcore vision of their bludgeoning fifth full-length,The Black—this is one set metalheads do not want to miss.

KILLING HEIDI will throw it back to the early 00s when their album debut Reflector became a four-time ARIA winner and mega-smash single Weir was an inescapable earworm, playing the record in full for the Good Things Festival crowd. As one of Britain’s breakout heavy exports, LOATHE have built a reputation for their intense, multi-media live show, as seen on a recent North American tour run supporting Knocked Loose. Mixing metalcore with shades of electronica, pop, and post-hardcore on their stunning debut full-length, Secrets Of The Future, Sydney newcomers RELIQA will dazzle with their intricate take on progressive metal stylings. Influenced by early 90s and 00s pop-punk, TAYLOR ACORN’s sound is imbued with youthful exuberance and relatability, tackling mental health struggles and head-on with catchy hooks and earnest vulnerability.

2024 also marks the return of the talented STAGE 666 Artists and their carnivalesque Freak Show lounge. Witness the knife-throwing, gravity defying stunts of host Captain Ruin, or be amazed by Princess Tweedle Needle’s daring feats of bodily transgression as the “princess of pain” performs the ‘human pincushion’ act, skewering her flesh with glee, swinging a beer keg with her lady bits. Direct from the underground nightclubs of Berlin, you don’t want to miss out on STAGE 666’s guest star!
GOOD THINGS FESTIVAL LINE UP:

Korn
Sum 41
Violent Femmes
Electric Callboy | Billy Corgan | Mastodon | Kerry King
The Gaslight Anthem | Jet | The Living End | L7 | Northlane
Bowling For Soup | Alpha Wolf | Sleeping With Sirens | The Butterfly Effect | 311

In Alphabetical Order:

DATES AND VENUES:

Friday 6 December - Flemington Racecourse, Melbourne (15+)
Saturday 7 December - Centennial Park, Sydney (16+)
Sunday 8 December - Brisbane Showgrounds, Brisbane (15+)

Early Bird pre-sale tickets on sale Tuesday 27 August @ 10am AEST Time
Sign up now for early bird pre-sale tickets at www.goodthingsfestival.com.au

General Public tickets on sale Thursday 29 August @ 10am AEST Time
https://www.oztix.com.au/

For more information head to www.goodthingsfestival.com.au

Festival Review

Good Things Festival

Celebrating their fourth year, alt festival Good Things made its spectacular return to Flemington Racecourse for a stacked lineup of international and local heavy hitters. Ticking boxes for metal, punk, emo and rock fans, Good Things delivered on all fronts for an incredible day of live music and even better vibes. Dealing with typical Melbourne weather of extreme sun and some rain, the day ran smoothly as we saw all members of the alt scene come together to celebrate some old favourites and amazing up-and-coming talents.

Kicking off the Good Things festival in Melbourne was US band PVRIS, who delivered an incredible set despite the fact that lead singer Lynn Gunn was battling a cold. Opening with the intense I DON'T WANNA DO THIS ANYMORE, PVRIS set a high-octane tone for the rest of their set. Songs like ANIMAL and HYPE ZOMBIES showcased their unique blend of alt-rock and electronic pop, which kept the crowd on their toes. Their raw emotion in Dead Weight resonated, while the anthemic My House from first album White Noise had fans singing along at the top of their lungs. The set concluded with the powerful GODDESS; a fitting end to a performance that was both vulnerable and commanding - proving that PVRIS is a force to be reckoned with, even under challenging circumstances.

British electronicore pioneers Enter Shikari were also tasked with warming up the crowds, which is exactly what they did. Delivering a supercharged performance borrowing from their catalogue of seven albums, the St Albans four-piece wasted no time launching into { The Dreamer's Hotel } and Juggernauts, which had the crowd itching to pile into the first huge mosh of the festival. At this point, vocalist Rou Reynolds is thoroughly ready to go - his dancing now erratic, before he claims 'this one's a banger', and the band performs Bloodshot. Jumping into the audience and running through the crowds, Reynolds is singing into the faces of audience members, hopping onto the sound desk, and putting on a show for the camera. satellites was dedicated to the queer community, while the climate change-inspired Arguing With Thermometers still hits hard to this day - despite being written 12 years ago. Enter Shikari enter into a quick-fire round of older hits, which include Havoc B, Bull,The Last Garrison and Sorry, You're Not a Winner - which has been given new life as a '2023 version'. Before we know it, the band's energetic set comes to a close with Live Outside, complete with the audience singing along to every word. While this was not Enter Shikari's first time at Good Things, we're sure it won't be their last.

Following Enter Shikari, Eskimo Joe took the main stage at the Good Things; infusing a sense of nostalgia and continuing on the vibrant energy seen throughout the day. Their entrance, set to the iconic Imperial March from Star Wars, immediately captured the audience's attention. The band opened with Sarah, a classic hit that set the mood, followed by New York and Setting Sun - the latter prefaced by lead singer Kav Temperley expressing his fondness for the summer festival and its embrace of the colour black. Their performance of Foreign Land was not only a crowd-pleaser, but also a fitting tribute to Icehouse - highlighting Eskimo Joe's ability to blend contemporary sounds with classic influences. The band's set continued to impress with Love Is a Drug and the ever-popular Black Fingernails, Red Wine, eliciting a chorus from the audience. A special moment came with Sweater, their first-ever written song, which offered a glimpse into the band's journey and growth. Before concluding with From the Sea, Eskimo Joe reminisced about the Big Day Out festival, connecting with long-time fans and creating a shared sense of history and appreciation for the evolution of the Australian music scene.

Once again, the festival's diverse range of sub-genres and intense performances were on full display with bands such as Make Them Suffer, Hanabie, and Slowly Slowly each bringing their unique flair. Perth-based Make Them Suffer, known for their heavy sound, shook the grounds with tracks like Ether, Contraband, and Doomswitch; blending ferocious energy with intricate melodies. Following them was Hanabie from Japan; who captivated the audience with their dynamic setlist, which included Hyperdimension Galaxy and Osaki ni Shitsurei Shimasu and featured their eclectic mix of heavy metal and playful theatrics. Slowly Slowly brought a change of pace with their heartfelt and introspective songs. Their set ranged from the poignant Longshot to the energetically melancholic Race Car Blues. A set highlight was Safety Switch, where they invited Bonnie from Stand Atlantic to the stage for a memorable duet. Slowly Slowly's cover of Blink-182's I Miss You was a crowd favourite, and their commentary about feeling like 'little plankton' watching 'the big boys on the big stage' added a personal, relatable touch to their performance.

Corey Taylor's set at the Good Things festival in Melbourne was nothing short of spectacular; encapsulating his versatility and charisma as a performer. Opening with Post Traumatic Blues, he instantly grabbed the audience's attention. His transition to Stone Sour's Tumult and Song #3 reminded everyone of his range as an artist, which was only further supported by his interaction with the audience. With a 'Melbourne, are you fucking ready? Make some noise!' screamed to the crowd, and a confession to his love for Australia, Corey had everyone eating out of his hand from the moment the set began. The performance took an even more exciting turn with Slipknot hits such as Before I Forget and Duality, with Taylor urging the crowd to sing along. The energy peaked when he performed an unexpected cover of the SpongeBob SquarePants theme, showing his playful side, while Corey's rendition of Snuff was hauntingly beautiful, creating a poignant moment amidst the high-energy set. The announcement of a song from his recent album, CMF2, added to the excitement, with a stunning guitar solo that felt like an additional headliner in the middle of the day. The performance concluded on a high note with a homage to INXS, one of his favourite Australian bands, through a cover of Don't Change. This gesture, coupled with his promise of a special surprise for their next visit, left the Melbourne crowd eagerly anticipating his return.

Continuing with a diverse array of performances, were artists Bullet for My Valentine, who played an intense show, and a captivating set by Royal & The Serpent. Bullet for My Valentine started off strong; delivering a hard-hitting performance with songs such as Knives and Over It. Their classic 4 Words (to Choke Upon) was a highlight, chock-full of the band's signature heavy riffs and emotive vocals, while Piece of Me continued to energise the crowd before we moved to catch Royal & The Serpent on Stage 5. Royal & The Serpent faced a challenging start with technical difficulties and delays, but regardless, turned it into an opportunity to display their resilience. As the project of New Jersey native Ryan Santiago, the set opened with their hit Overwhelmed, which set the tone despite the setbacks. The performance was a rollercoaster of emotions, with tracks like i can't get high and FUCKBOI REJECTS showing off Santiago's range and depth. While apologising for the 'hot mess' that was their set, single Happier in Hell and closing track Lover Abuser (Save Me) more than made up for it. Needless to say, we're excited to see Royal & The Serpent back in Australia sometime soon.

Emo legends Taking Back Sunday played to a packed out stage, opening with older singles What's It Feel Like to Be a Ghost? and A Decade Under the Influence, which had the audience screaming along. Newer tracks Tidal Wave and You Can't Look Back showed how far the Long Islanders have come over the last few decades, and were a worthy addition to the setlist. You're So Last Summer and Cute Without the 'E' (Cut From the Team) saw frontman Adam Lazzara's mic-swinging skills in action, amongst the audience's singing along to every word - all while thinking back to their earlier years. With everyone feeling nostalgic at this point, set closer MakeDamnSure brought the audience back down to earth for their 2006 hit, which hit home for a lot of people. We caught the second half of Michigan artist I Prevail whose energy exceeded all other bands in the day. From performing their big hit Hurricane, an amazing cover of Chop Suey, Deep End, Judgement Day, and closing on Choke and Gasoline, I Prevail had the biggest circle pits of the festival and kept telling the crowd, 'here's some more heavy songs'. It was what the crowd wanted and the band absolutely delivered.

New wave 70's band Devo stole the show for a full hour as the American legends took to Good Things with all their signature moves and costumes to wow the crowd. From opener Don't Shoot (I'm a Man), tracks including Peek-A-Boo! and Going Under and dropping crowd favourite Whip It mid-way through their set while throwing out trade-mark hats, the performance was absolutely faultless. Videos that told stories about our glorious milky way accompanied reverse evolution jackets and yellow tearable hazmat suits for the second half of the set - performing Planet Earth, Uncontrollable Urge and Mongoloid. Pre-encore tracks of Jocko Homo, Smart Patrol/Mr. DNA and Gates of Steel had the crowd wild for more Devo, while closing tracks Freedom of Choice and Gut Feeling (Slap Your Mammy) sent the band off with some new fans in an endless sea of people on the main stage.

Back on the main stage, the Florida-born and bred Limp Bizkit were due to bring nu-metal back to the masses. With a sea of red caps in the audience, the band came on stage to open with Break Stuff - which vocalist Fred Durst claimed was the 'real reason [we] came here today'. Classics My Generation, Rollin (Air Raid Vehicle) and a cover of George Michael's Faith were set essentials, and had the audience screaming along to every word. Just when we wondered what would close out the set, the band revisited another round of Break Stuff, much to the crowd's delight. Prior to the main headline set, we head over to check out what was on across the rest of the Racecourse and caught some of the boys of Short Stack spending time with Shaun, Andy and Bradie. Partying along to everything from We Dance to a Different Disco, Honey to their new song IDGAF as well as crowd favourite Princess, the boys had a great time joking around on stage - telling the crowd to be prepared for 'the heaviest shit you'll hear all day'. We then headed over to spend some time with the Emo Never Sleeps DJ's at Stage 666 and bopped along to some Linkin Park, BMTH, and of course, Electric Callboy.

With everyone full of energy for the night's headliner, the anticipation was palpable for Fall Out Boy - one of this generation's biggest-ever bands. The Chicago four-piece, consisting of vocalist/guitarist Patrick Stump, bassist/lyricist Pete Wentz, lead guitarist Joe Trohman and drummer Andy Hurley, have had a busy year since releasing their latest album So Much (for) Stardust. Lead single Love From the Other Side opened the set, after their rendition of We Didn't Start the Fire brought the band out to the screaming audience. Playing a huge setlist borrowing from their eight albums, standout tracks included The Phoenix, which included plenty of pyro effects as well as a flamethrower on Pete's bass, Grand Theft Autumn from their debut album, the rarely played Bang the Doldrums and Disloyal Order of Water Buffaloes. Sitting behind a piano, Patrick treated the crowd to partial covers of Midnight Oil's Beds Are Burning and Journey's Don't Stop Believin' , before another cover of Crazy Train is played, which leads into the iconic Dance, Dance. Tonight's magic 8 ball-picked song is The (After) Life of the Party, which is a slow burn at first, until its build-up - which makes My Songs Know What You Did in the Dark all the much better. Just when we thought we hadn't sung enough, set closers Thnks fr th Mmrs, Centuries and Saturday had us screaming along at the top of our lungs - our nights well and truly fulfilled.

There's a lot to love about Good Things Festival - the bands, the people and the atmosphere. It's a great day out spent listening to some great international and local talents, enjoying amazing food and exploring all that is on offer at the racecourse. We haven't missed a Good Things yet, and we don't plan to. We eagerly await hearing who will play the fifth edition, and can't wait to attend again next year.

Stay up to date year-round by heading over to the Good Things Festival website here.

SUFFERIN SUCCOTASH...GOOD THINGS IS HERE!

THE GOOD THINGS FESTIVAL 2023 HUGE LINE-UP IS HERE

We interrupt your regular viewing to announce that Good Things season is upon us - and if you thought 2022 was huge, that’s not all folks! Australia’s largest and favourite travelling music festival, Good Things Festival, returns this December with a bumper line-up set to descend on the east coast, bringing a horde of new and iconic faves from Australia and around the globe together for nothing but a good time.

Leading the pack for Good Things Festival 2023 will be none other than American rock idols FALL OUT BOY. From dominating your Myspace era to becoming one of rock’s biggest-selling bands, FALL OUT BOY have proven time and time again that their sweltering legacy is definitely not a phase, with their latest 2023 album So Much (For) Stardust marking the band’s seventh consecutive top-ten charting album. Armed with a career to date that spans Billboard #1 debuts, gracing the cover of Rolling Stone, sold out stadium runs playing to over 1 million fans and multiple Grammy Award nominations, a FALL OUT BOY live experience is guaranteed to be explosive, enigmatic and packed full sentimental delights as well as fresh cuts.

Whether you’re a Dad Vibes stan or have been rollin’ since day one, Good Things Festival are also bringing in Florida heavies LIMP BIZKIT to keep the party rockin’ this December. One of the most influential acts of the nu metal era, LIMP BIZKIT have garnered three Grammy Award nominations alongside their timeless angst and genre-straddling prowess that brought rap metal to the masses; a fact that continues colourfully to this day. And from breaking stuff to whipping it, American new wave legends DEVO will also take the Good Things Festival stages later this year for their last-ever Australian appearances as part of The Farewell Tour Celebrating 50 Years. The ultimate meeting point for rock and electronic fusion, DEVO’s impact on the alternative music landscape is as revered as their tongue-in-cheek charm, and you absolutely won’t want to miss the final bucket list chance to catch the group live in action on our shores this December.

Also locked and loaded to return to down under, post-hardcore Grammy-nominated heroes I PREVAIL will be bringing the arena vibes, continuing their meteoric rise that has spanned their decade-long career. Hailed as being one of rock’s biggest breakthrough bands, I PREVAIL’s might has only intensified of late with the release of their 2022 album True Power. And speaking of might, Welsh metal outfit BULLET FOR MY VALENTINE have got you covered, with their explosive and infectious blend of heavy metal, metalcore and beyond set to collide into beautiful chaos across the east coast of Australia, while Slipknot frontman COREY TAYLOR gears up to keep the party firing on all cylinders, bringing his solo adventures to Australia alongside his brand-new album CMF2.

Flying the flag for all things raucous, Golden State staples PENNYWISE will flex their fiery flair, with the iconic California punk rockers heading our way yet again after a monstrous headline run in 2022. And also repping the punk at Good Things Festival this year will be none other than the ARIA Award-winning stylings of thrash pop mainstays SPIDERBAIT; three friends from a small country town who took the industry by storm decades ago, and have snagged nearly every accolade in existence on the Australian music scene.

Speaking of Aussies, beloved indie rockers SLOWLY SLOWLY will be ready to delight this December with their anthemic melodics and colourful pop and armed with their buoyant 2022 album Daisy Chain which snagged triple j’s feature album upon release. Meanwhile, British electronic rockers ENTER SHIKARI will be packing their dynamic wares to wow the crowds wielding their seventh full-length album, the #1 charting A Kiss for the Whole World.

The relentless fury of Poland metallers BEHEMOTH will be primed to blow the festivities into a whole new stratosphere when the group make their eagerly anticipated return down under. A band whose creative innovation is as revered as their jagged dynamics, BEHEMOTH’s live show is renowned for its power, as is the sweltering live reputation of influential groove merchants SEPULTURA who will return to Australia this December all the way from Brazil.

Also letting the good vibes roll this December, prolific indie rockers TAKING BACK SUNDAY will hit our shores armed with hooks, odes to heartbreak and their notorious live potency, alongside the enigmatic electropop stylings of the chameleonic PVRIS guaranteed to bring all of the captivating feels to a Good Things Festival stage near you.

But just when you thought that was as good as it gets, in keeping with Good Things Festival 2023’s nod to some of our most beloved icons, the gamut of Australian alternative rock will also be celebrated in brilliant fashion by some of the most formative names in the game, including the chart-topping, multi-time ARIA Award-winning rockers ESKIMO JOE, as well as the band who nearly broke the airwaves with their irresistible rockin’ earworms in the 90s: JEBEDIAH.

Continuing the Aussie flavour at Good Things Festival this year, you’ll never have so much fun as you do copping punk rock rapscallions FRENZAL RHOMB live in action, with the Sydney group lined up alongside quintessential Central Coast pop punks SHORT STACK and charismatic Melbourne mainstays BOOM CRASH OPERA to lather you in all the fun and punk-tastic earworms you can handle. And continuing a huge year of touring and releasing new music, Tassie rockers LUCA BRASI are ready to dazzle with their emphatic rock wares, as are symphonic metal dynamos MAKE THEM SUFFER, Sydney melodic hardcore outfit BLOOM and Melbourne post hardcore powerhouses TAPESTRY.

For lovers of metalcore and its surrounds, clear your schedule and get pumped for the J-pop-soaked riffs and breakdowns from Japan’s HANABIE, as well as the cathartic yet towering potency of Ohio quartet THE PLOT IN YOU, the lush brutality of British melodic heavy-hitters WHILE SHE SLEEPS, and the pummeling force of Australia’s very own OCEAN SLEEPER. And from riff city to delicious brutality, Russian deathcore titans SLAUGHTER TO PREVAIL are ready, willing, and gleefully able to lure you into the mosh.

And that’s still not all! Whether you need a hit of buoyant punk, glossy alt pop or both; good news, you don’t have to choose because Florida rockers MAGNOLIA PARK and solo sensation ROYAL & THE SERPENT will both be in your Good Things Festival future in 2023, with Sydney pop punks STAND ATLANTIC also locked in to stupefy later this year with a heap of new tunes in tow.

DATES AND VENUES:

Friday 1 December - Flemington Racecourse, Melbourne (LIC AA 15+)
Saturday 2 December - Centennial Park, Sydney (18+)
Sunday 3 December - Brisbane Showgrounds, Brisbane (LIC AA 15+)

Early Bird pre-sale tickets on sale Tuesday 22 August @ 10am AEST Time
Sign up now for early bird pre-sale tickets at www.goodthingsfestival.com.au

General Public tickets on sale Thursday 24 August @ 10am AEST Time
http://goodthings.oztix.com.au/

For more information head to www.goodthingsfestival.com.au

Festival Review

Good Things 2022

Making its triumphant return after the pandemic, Good Things Festival delivered a mammoth lineup for its third time around. Starting off the festival’s circuit in Melbourne, punters from all over the state (and even interstate) headed to Flemington Racecourse for the sold-out festival. With the weather gods working in Melbourne’s favour for once, the day was full of good vibes all round, and an awesome lineup to match.

Kicking off the day on the main stage was Adelaide duo Teenage Joans, who as a last-minute addition to the lineup, absolutely killed it in their opening slot. Their hit singles Ice Cream and Terrible draw in all early arrivers, while new unreleased track Superglue was a sign of exciting things to come from the duo. Guitarist/vocalist Cahli Blakers and drummer/vocalist Tahlia Borg have been working the festival circuits for a while now, making their Good Things debut a piece of cake. Their Hottest 100 entry Wine absolutely went off, while the title track Hospital Bed from their upcoming album made its live debut. Wrapping their set up with a supercharged Charli XCX cover of Vroom Vroom, Three Leaf Clover and Something About Being Sixteen, we’re sure we’ll see the duo welcome back again at GTF.

Coming out of their retirement for Good Things was local pop-rockers Kisschasy, who treated the audiences to their debut album United Paper People played in full. Pulling in some massive crowds, the boys had everyone drawn in for the nostalgia of their hit album - which had us all singing along to every word. Playing tracks such as This Bed, Hearing Voices Tonight, The Shake, and of course, Do-Do’s & Whoa-Oh’s and Face Without a Name, the Melbourne four-piece were in fine form. It was as if they never went on a break.

Prog-rock powerhouse Thornhill was up next, with set-openers Raw and Leather Wings, which had the audience raging from the get-go. Thornhill have become local legends in the scene; selling out shows and touring the festival circuits to massive crowds, so it’s no surprise that the band was booked for Good Things. With the four-piece as energetic onstage as ever, vocalist Jacob Charlton had the audience eating out of his hand as the set raged on. Before we knew it, the closing track Where We Go When We Die wrapped up the set, bringing an end to yet another amazing Thornhill show.

Playing easily one of our favourite sets of the day was Electric Callboy. Coming onstage in matching tracksuits and mullets, what ensued was a set full of party anthems, costume changes and raving. Coming all the way from Germany, the electronicore group wasted no time starting the party with Pump It and Arrow of Love, which had everyone dancing along with their trademark synth hooks. The band were vocal about how excited they were to be in the country, and playing their first summer festival in Australia - which was met with ecstatic screams from the crowds. Tekkno Train and Mindreader off their most recent album Tekkno went completely off, with a sea of fists raised in the air, and a steady mosh heaving. Briefly leaving the stage for a final costume change involving bowl cut wigs and white vests, the band ended on a high with their next-level banger We Got the Moves, leading the crowd into a mass singalong and choreographed moves.

It wouldn’t be an alt festival without metalcore legends The Amity Affliction, who have become a mainstay in the scene’s festival circuits throughout the years. Pulling in the masses to the main stages, Amity ran through hit after hit, with Pittsburgh and All My Friends Are Dead being among some of our set highlights. In true Amity fashion, pyro effects just turned everything up to 11, especially when classic hits Chasing Ghosts and Soak Me in Bleach rolled around.

Reviving the nu-metal genre at Good Things was Ocean Grove, whose nostalgia-fuelled tracks have earned a massive following over the last few years. Rap-heavy singles Superstar and Ask For The Anthem had the whole audience bouncing along to each word as vocalist Dale Tanner jumped around on stage like a maniac, while the band put their all in to please the heaving crowd. With the good weather beating down on us, Ocean Grove finished up on the summer anthem Sunny, which set the vibe for the rest of the day.

Playing their first-ever Australian festival, Brit rock duo Nova Twins absolutely destroyed their first set for Good Things, with boss bitch anthems Fire & Ice and Cleopatra starting the set off strong. The duo, consisting of vocalist/guitarist Amy Love and bassist Georgia South, have built a major international following through their fusion of genres and grumbling bass lines, topped off with quick-firequick fire, cleverly written lyrics. Puzzles saw the duo encouraging a mosh pit with twerking in the middle (something we didn’t thinkthing we’d see at the festival), while earlier single Taxi had the audience up and jumping along. Performing with seemingly unending energy, the duo performed a massive set from the two albums they have put out, with personal favourite tracks Antagonist and Choose Your Fighter closing out the show strong.

After not performing live in almost 18 years, Melbourne-based band TISM reunited for a series of shows at Good Things. With a career spanning the last 30 or so years, the seven-piece ‘anonymous’ band took to the stage in their trademark balaclavas. Playing a show that could only be seen to believed, the group wore massive silver balloons attached to their heads and led the audience through a set packed full of their hits, with plenty of shenanigans thrown in. Classic tracks Everyone Else Has Had More Sex Than Me and Greg! The Stop Sign!! went absolutely off with the massive crowds - all yelling along with every word. Death, Death, Death, Amway, Amway, Amway and (He’ll Never Be An) Ol’ Man River began to draw the set to a close, and had all jumping in unison. Love them or hate them, TISM sure know how to put on a show.

Punk rock legends NOFX were up next on the main stage, treating the audience to their fifth studio album Punk in Drublic being played in full. With plenty of banter back and forth between the band and vocalist Fat Mike, the four-piece delivered all of their best hits to an energetic crowd. Returning since their last Melbourne dates back in 2018, we were happy to see the veteran punk rock act before they call it quits in 2023.

We quickly made our way to another stage to see Cali pop punk band The Story So Far, whose hard hitting lyrics and catchy hooks have earned them their name in the scene. Frontman Parker Cannon is a machine onstage; spitting lines with a collected calm, despite the heartbreak behind them. Hits such as Roam and High Regard were met with screams from the audience, while fast paced tracks such as The Glass and Bad Luck saw a sea of crowd surfers throughout the set.

As the day started to near a close, alt-metal icons Deftones took to the stage to play to a packed out crowd. The band’s distinct style and experimental tendencies have cemented them as heavy hitters within the scene - and the band’s nine studio albums are a testament to that. Starting their set off with Genesis and Diamond Eyes, Deftones reminded everyone why they were still around, with a jaw dropping kick off. With the crowd in a trance-like sway along, hits such as Digital Bath, Sextape and Rocket Skates went off without a hitch, and were also personal set highlights. Before we knew it, the set was coming to a close with Change (In the House of Flies) and Back to School (Mini Maggit); with the grumbling basslines reverberating throughout the crowd.

Up next, immediately on the main stage, was the band a lot of the audience had been camping out for; Bring Me The Horizon. As one of the first countries they’d headlined a festival in, the band’s excitement and enthusiasm was palpable - so fair to say, the band put on a massive show. With some of the coolest graphics we’ve seen in a show, their ‘AI’ welcomed us to the show, before announcing their opening track, Can You Feel My Heart, which was met by a sea of people as far as the eye could see. Showering the audience in a flurry of pink confetti, Happy Song, Teardrops, MANTRA and Dear Diary had the crowd going wild, before the build up to Parasite Eve drove everyone over the edge. Newer track sTraNgeRs and lead single Shadow Moses from their hit 2013 album Sempiternal went absolutely off, before the set was kicked up a notch. ‘This next one is a big fucking tune’, vocalist Oli Sykes told us before the band tore into their Babymetal featured track, Kingslayer, which absolutely killed it. Another newer track DiE4u went down an absolute treat, before things were slowed down a bit with an acoustic version of Follow You, which was met with a sea of dazzling phone lights swaying in the audience. Jumping into the pit, Oli Sykes ran along the crowd for what appeared to be their final song of the night, Drown, before BMTH disappeared offstage. With their AI announcing their return, the band were back onstage for an encore of Obey and their anthemic hit, Throne, which had the audience raging. Shooting red streamers out into the crowd, it was clear to see that Bring Me The Horizon had done nothing but work hard to get where they are now - and it’s only further up from here.

Needless to say, Good Thing Melbourne came to yet another very successful close - filled with an incredible lineup, great weather, and good times all around. As one of Australia’s newer festivals, Good Things has impressed year after year - and we can’t wait to see what they have in store next time around.

GOOD THINGS FESTIVAL MELBOURNE OFFICIALLY SOLD OUT…THAT’S ALL FOLKS!

LIMITED TICKETS LEFT FOR SYDNEY & BRISBANE IS ON TRACK TO SELL OUT THIS WEEK!

The good things are imminent, with Good Things Festival officially kicking off this Friday in Melbourne. The Melbourne edition is now sold out of it's additional allocation marking the festival sold out. Tickets to both the Sydney and Brisbane events are flying out the door and not far from slappin' on the sold out signs.

Headlined by one of the world’s most electrifying and successful rock bands BRING ME THE HORIZON, the stacked line-up also includes Australian iconic and gold-selling larrikins TISM performing for the first time in 19 years, American heavyweights DEFTONES, pioneers of SoCal punk NOFX will perform their 1994 iconic album ‘Punk In Drublic’ in full including all your favourites as well as THE AMITY AFFLICTION, GOJIRA and ONE OK ROCK to name a few.

With recent additions to the stellar lineup including OCEAN GROVE, TEENAGE JOANS, YOU AM I, PALEDUSK, THE GLOOM IN THE CORNER, TO THE GRAVE and THOSE WHO DREAM, there's now only a few more sleeps until the mosh pit event of the year kicks off - so definitely get planning your day, with all the Good Things Festival maps and timetables available now.

Good things come to those who wait, but don't delay securing your ticket to Australia's biggest alternative travelling music festival for Sydney and Brisbane before they both sell out! See you in the pit!

Tickets on sale now at
www.goodthingsfestival.com.au

*To The Grave not appearing in Sydney

DATES AND VENUES:
Friday 2nd December - Flemington Racecourse, Melbourne (LIC AA 15+) SOLD OUT!
Saturday 3 December- Centennial Park, Sydney (18+)
Sunday 4 December – Brisbane Showgrounds, Brisbane (LIC AA 15+)

Tickets on sale now at www.goodthingsfestival.com.au

GOOD THINGS FESTIVAL | FACEBOOK | TWITTER | INSTAGRAM | TIKTOK

featured band announcement

ELECTRIC CALLBOY RELEASE NEW SINGLE, FUCKBOI FEAT. CONQUER DIVIDE

TAKEN FROM NEW ALBUM,
TEKKNO OUT SEPTEMBER 9 VIA CENTURY MEDIA

TOURING AUSTRALIA IN DECEMBER
FOR GOOD THINGS FESTIVAL 2022

On and on! With We Got The Moves, Pump It and Spaceman, Electric Callboy have already released three anthems that are loved and celebrated by the fans, which is reflected in over 35 million video views on YouTube. The fact that Electric Callboy are on the road in a sphere of their own, which reveals itself in elaborately produced music videos and party-ready sound, is nothing new. With Fuckboi, Electric Callboy are now once again reaching ahead to their upcoming album and give a glimpse into the diversity of their sound, which stands out from the first three singles of Tekkno out September 9 via Century Media / Sony Music Australia.

Pre-order Tekkno here

Between modern trap elements and driving alternative rock beats, Fuckboi builds on a catchy sound that proves to be a true hit even without the bombastic party factor. Instead, Electric Callboy builds on an American pop punk vibe, which is confirmed by a cleverly placed feature with Conquer Divide. The all-female band from the U.S. gives Fuckboi a 2000s sound that falls somewhere between Avril Lavigne and Paramore, cleverly adding a skate punk influence to the Electric Callboy sound. In particular, it is the voice of singer Kia that lifts Fuckboi to another level in a duet and perfectly complements the voices of Nico Sallach and Kevin Ratajczak.
Listen/stream Fuckboi here

Also visually Electric Callboy build together with Conquer Divide a setting that catapults us into the USA of the 2000s. With high school musical vibe, Electric Callboy sketch the scenery of a skate hall loaded with good vibes. Once again, the video was realized by guitarist Pascal Schillo and his own production company, and once again convinces with captivating quality that has become a trademark of the band and its identity.

Despite the pandemic, the band recently managed to sell more than 60,000 tickets, selling out almost every tour show, while Pump It and Spaceman both charted in the Top 35, putting them in the list of the most successful singles by a German metal band. Pump It also prevailed internationally at the Heavy Music Awards, edging out acts such as Bring Me The Horizon.

Electric Callboy are known for their ecstatic live shows. A live show that will be duly celebrated on a big arena tour in 2023 and will be supplemented by six more new songs and will attract more and more attention internationally.

Electric Callboy will be heading to Australia for the very first time in December to perform at the Good Things Festival.

GOOD THINGS FESTIVAL 2022

Friday 2nd December - Flemington Racecourse, Melbourne (LIC AA 15+)
Saturday 3 December- Centennial Park, Sydney (18+)
Sunday 4 December – Brisbane Showgrounds, Brisbane (LIC AA 15+)

Featured band announcement

BRING ME THE HORIZON sTraNgeRs OUT NOW

HEADLINING GOOD THINGS FESTIVAL IN DECEMBER 2022

Global phenomenon Bring Me The Horizon resume the next chapter of their hugely successful journey with the release of a new single entitled sTraNgeRs out now via RCA / Sony Music Australia. The track is the second to be released from their critically acclaimed POST HUMAN EP series.

Listen HERE

Oli said “The song came out of a long writing trip in LA, and as soon as the lyric ‘we’re just a room full of strangers’ came it took on such a deeper double meaning - how it would feel to be performing it live as that’s what it is.. all strangers connecting on this mad level.. and that it was like rehab..
Coming out of lockdown and the pandemic, everyone is recovering from something and I’m so aware that so many people struggle daily with differing traumas, and just wanted to stress that they’re not in this alone… and we’re a community here to help each other”

The band wanted to share these very personal mental health journeys to help and inspire others and asked fans if they would like to anonymously contribute and play a part in this very special process. The response was overwhelming and these stories formed the narrative behind the official video and some very unique short form clips, which have been revealed across the band’s socials this past week. These shorts formed the haunting and cinematic mini film that accompanies sTraNgeRs, which gives a surreal glimpse into this very personal world.

Bring Me The Horizon have had an exhilarating few years with a UK Number 1 and a Number 3 in Australia for the first instalment of their EP POST HUMAN: SURVIVAL HORROR, a much talked about performance with Ed Sheeran at The Brits in February, as well as a plethora of prominent features with the aforementioned Ed Sheeran, Tom Morello, Machine Gun Kelly and Sigrid to name a few. They now firmly sit in the top 500 most streamed artists globally on Spotify and their year high continues with a special curated festival in Malta that took place in May, the upcoming release of EP two and a headline appearance at Reading & Leeds Festival in August.

With another year of impressive achievements under their collective belt, Bring Me The Horizon look set to continue their successful mission to put heavy music on the map on a global level and beyond!

They'll be heading back to Australia in December to headline the Good Things Festival.

GOOD THINGS FESTIVAL 2022

Friday 2nd December - Flemington Racecourse, Melbourne (LIC AA 15+)
Saturday 3 December- Centennial Park, Sydney (18+)
Sunday 4 December – Brisbane Showgrounds, Brisbane (LIC AA 15+)

Featured Festival

GOOD THINGS 2022

Australia’s largest and favourite travelling music festival, aka Good Things Festival, is officially returning to ignite mosh pits and more along the east coast in December - and we can’t wait to celebrate with you!

With so few things to celebrate over the past few years and a severe lack of live music and festivals, it’s about time we all had something to look forward to; and Good Things Festival is bringing the good times and then some, offering a world-class line up entirely worth the wait.

To kickstart the celebrations lying in wait this December, Good Things Festival 2022 has confirmed none other than one of the world’s most electrifying and successful rock bands BRING ME THE HORIZON to headline proceedings. With BRIT and Grammy nominations, multi-platinum selling releases and over 1 billion YouTube views in their wake since forming in the early 2000s, BRING ME THE HORIZON continue to push expectations and sonic boundaries, and their live performances are nothing short of show-stopping to say the least.

They said it would never ever happen, but an Australian miracle will also take place at Good Things Festival – for their first live performances in 19 years, iconic and gold-selling larrikins TISM will be exclusively appearing onstage.

Forget the tone-deaf empty platitudes, Good Things Festival has also brought American heavyweights DEFTONES to ramp up festivities. Hailing from Sacramento, California, DEFTONES are undeniably one of the most innovative and enduring alternative metal acts of all time, and they’ll be in extremely good company alongside rough-and-tumble punk favourites NOFX this December as well. Pioneers of SoCal punk and nearly four decades into their careers, NOFX will perform their 1994 iconic album ‘Punk In Drublic’ in full and all your favourites at every Good Things Festival 2022 appearance, with all the hooks and refined raucous energy primed to explode on Aussie stages.

Speaking of Aussie stages, a band no stranger to playing at home and abroad is none other than The Amity Affliction, with the Queensland metallers set to bring their melodic and majestic brand of metalcore to the masses. Wielding their latest release, 2021’s EP ‘Somewhere Beyond the Blue’, as well as a horde of old favourites, this is one astounding affliction you’ll be ecstatic to experience live in action.

The party will be in full swing when Japanese rockers ONE OK ROCK take the stage, with the quartet’s dynamic blend of pop rock, post-hardcore and alternative rock set to simultaneously ignite some good vibes and dynamic singalongs. And fresh from releasing their chart-topping 2021 album ‘Fortitude’, French progressive metal behemoths GOJIRA are ready to unleash all the earth-shattering polyrhythms, blast beats and thought-provoking thematics fans have come to know and love on Australian soil.

The metal vibes keep coming with some delicious goth heaviness via Italian quintet LACUNA COIL, while noise firebrands and habitual party starters FEVER 333 will be lending their voice to the celebrations, as will the crushingly brutal Ukrainian hell-raisers JINJER. German metalcore shapeshifters ELECTRIC CALLBOY will be making their first ever trip down under for the occasion, with superstar start-up JXDN also set to chalk up his first-ever Australian performances.

Of course, it wouldn’t be a proper party without the inclusion of some other punk favourites, with appearances locked in from Swedish troublemakers MILLENCOLIN and Californian pop punk lords THE STORY SO FAR, as well as some triumphant sets from Norwegian punk rockers BLOOD COMMAND and Florida alternative giants SLEEPING WITH SIRENS to ensure a blistering blowout of epic proportions.

The festivities continue, with American electronic music duo 3OH!3 and urban punk duo NOVA TWINS guaranteed to get you all fired up. And heavy metal icons SABATON will arrive armed with their band new album ‘The War To End All Wars’, choosing Australia as one of the first to hear the new tunes live, while SOULFLY will also fly the heavy metal flag, returning to their adoring down under fans after one of their longest periods away from Australia in their 30 year career.

But it’s not just the internationals we’ll be celebrating with this December, with an army of Aussie beloveds also ready to roll. Australian punk rock institution COSMIC PSYCHOS, a band who can claim Pearl Jam’s Eddie Vedder as a mate and musical peer, will be storming the Good Things Festival stages. Fellow Aussie staples also set to appear include rock and electropop trio REGURGITATOR and emphatic ARIA-nominated rockers KISSCHASY, as well as formidable artisan punk storytellers CHASING GHOSTS.

And that’s still not all! Join some of Australia’s favourite alternative exports at Good Things Festival this year, from some melodically charged mayhem courtesy of Sydney metalcore outfit POLARIS, to some lush modern heavy charm via Melbourne’s THORNHILL - and some fiery, razor-sharp moments from everybody’s favourite screaming rap-rock-electro-pop mutants REDHOOK for good measure!

DATES AND VENUES:
Friday 2nd December - Flemington Racecourse, Melbourne (LIC AA 15+)
Saturday 3 December- Centennial Park, Sydney (18+)
Sunday 4 December – Brisbane Showgrounds, Brisbane (LIC AA 15+)

Early Bird pre-sale tickets on sale Tuesday 21 June @ 10am AEST Time
Sign up now for early bird pre-sale tickets at www.goodthingsfestival.com.au

General Public tickets on sale Thursday 23 June @ 10am AEST Time
https://www.oztix.com.au/

For more information head to www.goodthingsfestival.com.au

Review: Good Things Festival 2019

Good Things Festival made its return, after a massive first year in 2018

Bringing the one-day alternative/heavy festival to numerous capital cities around Australia, Good Things backed up a solid first year featuring bigger International and Australian acts, a large variety of food options and set the gold standard in what we can expect for a summer festival.

Opening the main stage this year was Poppy; YouTube star turned musician. With her own brand of creep-pop, Poppy’s music verges on the borders of bubblegum-pop and death metal - two unique genres that find a way to blend effortlessly. Opening her set with one of her new releases, Concrete, Poppy made her dramatic entrance onstage flanked by two band members wearing masks. It wasn't until we reached the front that the realisation was made - the masks were of Poppy's face, the look completed with long blonde hair. Alongside tracks Scary Mask (very fitting) and X, her set was truly something to behold, and left us wanting a longer set time.

Speaking of masks, next up were American band Ice Nine Kills, who opened with American Nightmare. The band members continued the theatrics seen by Poppy, dressed up to kill in horror film costumes, with a set packed full of horror references. Much like their latest album The Silver Scream. Set design, weapons and costumes aside, the performance was incredibly action packed, with the audience jumping along and cheering. Vocalist Spencer Charnas' multiple costume changes (Ghostface, Michael Myers, Pennywise) and their recreation of horror scenes was nothing short of entertaining, and made up for a set that we're sure was different from your usual metal-core gig.

Ice Nine Kills' set was followed by fellow international act Dance Gavin Dance, gaining a massive crowd eager to see the band at work. Leading their set with The Jiggler and Chucky vs. the Giant Tortoise, the band brought an incredible energy, each member performing at 110%. Vocalist Tilian Pearson and Jon Mess seamlessly bounced off one another, much to the audiences adoration. Leaving their performance in awe, we head over to the main stage for one of the most anticipated acts of the day.

After teasing a heavy appearance for a while, The Veronicas made their Good Things debut.

Ramping up the audience with opening track Take Me On The Floor, their set was a party from the get-go. If there was any doubts The Veronicas belonged on Good Things' lineup, all of that was out the door from the moment they took to the stage. The Origliasso twins easily elicited one of the biggest crowd reactions of the day, and we were all for it. Playing banger after banger, hit after hit, the band and equally energetic backing members treated the crowd to classics like Hook Me Up and 4ever as well as a well-received cover of Blink-182's I Miss You - cue massive crowd singalong.

The highlight of the set was the moment we'd been waiting for, as we were told, "Please stand for the national anthem" as the opening chords of Untouched rang out. With the audience losing their minds, taken even further when Jess and Lisa ask for a wall of death, we couldn't help but appreciate significance of their set at the event.

After surviving the mosh at The Veronicas, we made our way to see local band Slowly Slowly. We'd seen the boys a few times before, but it was great to really see them in their element at a festival. With a packed out crowd and a killer setlist, the crowd was treated to a guest appearance from Bec Stevens to help perform new single Safety Switch. Playing fan favourites Jellyfish, Alchemy and Aliens to an amped up audience really showed how much fun the band was having. So much so, that by the time they began closing their set off with Ten Leaf Clover, vocalist Ben Stewart and the audience were practically singing the words back to each other.

Without a moment to lose, English rockers Enter Shikari launched into an energy-packed set, with an impressive catalogue and dance moves to match. Dancing around on stage, climbing speakers, and running through the audience was frontman Rou Reynolds approach, and had the crowd cheering along at every moment. Oldies but goodies Destabilise and Sssnakepit were obvious crowd favourites; with the audience yelling along to every word. At the opening notes to Sorry You're Not a Winner, everyone (including the band) goes completely off, and the band goes into a 'quick fire round' - playing three songs in seven minutes. It's a bit of a feat, but Enter Shikari completely own the moment, and play out their set to a more than satisfied crowd.

Rushing back to the main stage, we catch Simple Plan; this year's nostalgic offering. With their angst-driven pop punk anthems, the crowds rush in from every direction to sing (or in some cases, shout) along with every word. Opening with Welcome To My Life, the emo anthem has everyone raging along. Performing Jetlagged, the band bring out guest vocalist Erin Reus from Brisbane band Stateside, who added her own spin on the song. Classics Addicted, Shut Up and the always emotional Perfect close off the set, leaving the audience in high spirits.

Playing their first Melbourne show in three years, Violent Soho made their grand return to our stage, opening with modern classic Like Soda. With the turnout and the performance the Brisbane locals gave, it was as if they never took a break from Melbourne. Playing a massive set, the audience is completely unhinged - pelting rolls of toilet paper through the crowds and onto the stage. Dodging the paper in between songs, Violent Soho rips through In the Aisle, Jesus Stole My Girlfriend and Vacation Forever, leading a mass crowd singalong. Of course it wouldn’t be a Soho show without Covered In Chrome, and with a collective 'hell fuck yeah', it was all over. The boys have easily been a staple for Australian festivals, so we’re sure we’ll see them back soon enough.

It was no joke that American metalcore band A Day To Remember lived up to their namesake - garnering one of the wildest sets and crowds of the day. As usual, their set opened with Downfall Of Us All, leading into a mass singalong with the crowd, which continued right through to the very end of their set. Anthem All I Want is next, and has frontman Jeremy McKinnon flexing his impressive vocal range. Playing Sticks & Bricks live for the first time in Australia, the audience goes absolutely mental when the breakdown hits. Slower songs Have Faith in Me and If It Means a Lot To You have the crowds swaying along, which quickly ramps up when ADTR close off with older track The Plot to Bomb the Panhandle. Their set leaves everyone with an energy burst, all ready for the headlining act.

Metal behemoths Parkway Drive closed off the night, playing their first ever festival headline show. The Byron Bay five piece cemented their status in the Australian alt-scene - making a lot of us wonder why they hadn't headlined before. Pulling out all stops for this headlining tour, the band spent no time mucking around; getting deep into their performance. Opening with Wishing Wells, vocalist Winston McCall's impressive guttural range persists through fan faves Prey and Carrion. With some of the wildest mosh pits we've seen, it's clear how Parkway Drive's hard work and dedication has cemented them as one of Australia's strongest metal acts. Before we don't think it can get any wilder, the encore calls for drummer Ben Gordon's kit, with him playing a solo, rotating 360 degrees. The crowd is absolutely stunned at this point - until the kit is set on fire, and he leads the rest of the band into Crushed and closing track Bottom Feeder, with the stage awash in flames. In possibly one of the most crazy sets we've ever seen, it was easy to see why Parkway Drive were so deserving of a headline slot.

On the mad rush out, everyone is on a concert-high and loving life. At the end of the day, Good Things delivered a massive event, with another strong line up, and an amazingly well run day. We're hoping that the festival is here to stay, and we can't wait to see what it has in store in coming years.

REVIEW - Good Things Festival 2018

You can't have too much of a Good Thing.

In December 2018, Melbourne was introduced to the first iteration of Good Things Festival, designed to bring us something different, something new and something good. MEL Live attended the festival, braving the heat with thousands of punters in the name of all things good.

Located at Flemington Racecourse, Good Things had a lot to prove to win over the audience, and big shoes to fill to make up for the void of a post-Soundwave climate. In their first year of existence, we believe that the festival managed to cater to all audiences and demographics, exceeding expectations of what we can hope for from any new and emerging festivals.

The musical festivities commenced with Ecca Vandal and WAAX, showcasing some of Australia’s emerging talent in the punk-rock scene. Ecca Vandal, a Melbourne-local, performed at the festival in her first hometown show in seven months, having spent the year touring all around the world. Launching into her tracks with lightning-quick vocals and strong beats, she won the crowd over encouraging them to dance in the heat to her singles, including Price of Living and Battle Royal.

Queensland band WAAX were next to take the stage, being no strangers to the Australian festival circuit. Leading the crowd into a supercharged and animated set, WAAX took the title of first mosh pit for the day as they launched into This Everything and I For An Eye.

The band cycled through their setlist with assistance from Violent Soho drummer, Mike Richards, encouraging the crowd to let loose while they performed a cover of In the Aisle. Before we knew it, WAAX’s set was coming to a close, performing fan favourite Same Same and finishing on the title track for their upcoming album Labrador.

Continuing on with strong Australian artists, we headed to the main stage to catch Northlane. Accustomed to playing at festivals around the globe, Northlane were the perfect choice to bring in the afternoon set. With high level production and lively frontman Marcus Bridge showcasing the heavier side of the festival’s performances, they were clearly a reason many Melbournians chose to attend.

Opening with Genesis, Northlane wasted no time in stirring the rowdy crowd to get amongst it. Playing key tracks from all three of their successful albums Singularity, Mesmer and Node, Bridge and the band powered through their set with the audience singing along to every word. The loyalty fans have shown to Northlane over the years has never faltered and it would be hard to imagine the day without them. Finishing with Quantum Flux, the crowd were left satisfied that Northlane continue to perform at their highest level to date, justifying themselves as an essential component to any heavy music festival.

Michigan-based La Dispute tore up the stage from the get-go, running through each of their hits one after another. Their energy was undeniable and endless, with vocalist Jordan Dreyer even breaking his microphone at one point. The audience hung on every word and note; making it evident that the band was a highlight for many. After belting through songs such as New Storms for Older Lovers and The Most Beautiful Bitter Fruit, the audience went wild as soon as Dreyer uttered the words ‘King Park’.

Powering through the song, the band’s energy was only mirrored by the audience, with Dreyer jumping into the crowd, encouraging a sing (in this case, yell) along. The set was a highlight of our day and was perfect as could be - making us want to see them again as soon as possible.

Making their Australian debut, BABYMETAL walked on stage head to toe in black and gold, and wearing kitsune masks. Beginning their set with Megitsune, the trio’s tight choreography and catchy songs drew in massive crowds at the festival. Smashing out singles Distortion and Gimme Chocolate!!, the trio had the crowd mesmerised throughout the whole set. How they managed to dance around on stage that long, we’ll never know. Judging by how crazy the audience went over BABYMETAL, we’re sure we’ll see them back in the country soon.

For many at Good Things, the Used were a probably a band that a lot of the audience grew up listening to; which was reflected in the masses that came to their stage. Opening with Take It Away, the set was packed full of classics, as well as new hits such as Blood on My Hands and Cry. Their set wouldn’t be complete without getting political, which is exactly what vocalist Bert McCracken did a couple songs in - encouraging the audience to flip off and hold their hands high.

At one point, a mosh pit opened up when McCracken started singing the Play School theme song. Needless to say, the band’s energy onstage had the crowd going wild at all times, and there wasn’t a person around who wasn’t singing or jumping along. Closing with 2002 hit A Box Full of Sharp Objects, the Used proved to everyone why they had stuck around this long.

Welsh powerhouse Bullet For My Valentine played a thundering set to a massive crowd, starting off with one of their newer tracks Don’t Need You. The vocals were well balanced between vocalist/guitarist Matt Tuck and bassist Jamie Mathias, while lead guitarist Padge thrilled the crowds with his screaming guitar riffs.

A few songs into the set, the audience is told that it’s time to go back to 2005, as the band rips into 4 Words (To Choke Upon) from their debut album The Poison. Later in the set, the audience hears what they’ve been waiting for, and go wild as soon as the opening notes of Tears Don’t Fall start playing. After a two year absence in Melbourne, it’s fair to say that Bullet were well and truly missed by the audience, and were a great win for Good Things.

Waiting for the Dropkick Murphys to grace our presence, we were unclear of our exact expectations leading up to seeing the leading American Celtic Punk Rock band. From the moment the band hit the stage, with lead vocalists Ken Casey and Al Barr jumping straight into The Boys Are Back, we realised why they had been booked for Good Things; delivering one of the highest energy performances of the day.

Bringing back memories of every time we’ve spent in an Irish pub, as well as the time we were introduced to the band through the film The Departed, the boys jumped into a range of hits that kept the audience dancing and singing along. Performing Johnny I Hardly Knew Ya, and Out of Our Heads, the band showed no signs of slowing down.

The set felt as if a story was being told to each member of the audience, finishing on Until the Next Time with a big sing-a-long, before launching into their most popular song Shipping Up To Boston. We were thankful the band had been booked in, as they spent the set showing us why they were an important asset to any festival slot.

Following up the Dropkick Murphys on the main stage was Baltimore pop-rock band All Time Low. Known for their cheeky antics, the four-piece put on a fun show, gaining laughs from the huge crowds gathered around their stage. Starting off the set with Damned If I Do Ya (Damned If I Don’t), the setlist only got stronger as it went along, and the pile of bras being thrown on stage only grew bigger.

Vocalist Alex Gaskarth and guitarist Jack Barakat’s on-stage banter was entertainment at best, and by the end of the set, it wasn’t just their usual younger fanbase who were hanging off their every word. Blasting out classics such as Stella, Weightless and Lost in Stereo, All Time Low’s set came to a climax with closing track Dear Maria, Count Me In - leaving the audience wanting more.

Stone Sour were always going to be a big deal at Good Things Festival, with Australia’s obsession with anything Corey Taylor touches being known by everyone, including Corey himself. Seeing fans peering over fences to take a look at the man himself standing backstage, the anticipation finally came to a close when they walked out onto the main stage in the early evening. Opening with Taipei Person/Allah Tea, the crowd roared in excitement as the set began.

Tearing through songs such as Absolute Zero, Bother, Tired and Through Glass, the 60-minute performance from Stone Sour lasted a lifetime as the crowd engaged in every movement and every word. Corey, proving as always why he is so renowned as a frontman to any band, jumped around on stage delivering each lyric with a passion and purpose. Concluding with the song Fabuless, it was time to say farewell to Stone Sour for now, knowing it wouldn’t be long before Corey and one of his projects returns to Australian shores.

The Offspring came on as day became night, and the band launched into playing their hit album Smash in its entirety to a receptive and enthusiastic crowd. With highlights including Bad Habit and Genocide, it was exciting to see the band performing some of their lesser known songs to their die-hard fans across the Melbourne audience. With the expected back and forth between lead singer Dexter Holland and the crowd, it was evident that the banter still remains an integral part of any Offspring show.

Once the Smash album concluded, the band performed Self Esteem before departing the stage. The encore was everything you could hope for and more, performing a barrage of hits including You’re Gonna Go Far Kid, Why Don’t You Get a Job?, Pretty Fly (For a White Guy), and finishing their 90 minute set with The Kids Aren’t Alright. Wrapping up the festival, the Offspring showed us why they deserved the headline slot.

All up, Good Things was a well-run and organised festival with minimal lines for entry, food and bars, and was well prepared for the heat with sunscreen and water stations, mist areas and shade. Plenty of options were available for eating and drinking throughout the day; we were able to enjoy lunch at Sparrow’s Philly Cheesesteaks Food Truck, and dinner at the Hamsa Hummus Bar and Vegan Shawarma tent. The bands and artists performing were exceptionally strong, and we look forward to what’s to come for the Good Things team.