Ah, the Aussie live music scene. Equal parts sweaty mosh pit, communal therapy session and national comedy showcase, it’s a place where anything goes, and often does.

Our gigs aren’t just about who's on stage; they’re about the strange, unexplainable, sometimes unhygienic traditions that make overseas acts look at us with confusion and admiration. Nobody really knows how most of these started, but we’ve committed to them with such passion that they’ve become almost as iconic as the songs themselves.

From turning footwear into glassware, to chanting obscenities at the top of our lungs and dancing in synchronised unison like it’s Year 6 PE all over again, there’s nothing quite like an Australian crowd.

So, whether you’re gearing up for your first festival or you’re a seasoned gig-goer with the Nutbush moves etched into your muscle memory, here are seven of the weirdest and most wonderful live music traditions that we have proudly claimed as our own.

The Shoey

The Shoey: you either love it or hate it. Probably our most famous export after Vegemite, this tradition says a lot about our nation.

The act of drinking alcohol from a shoe has surprisingly refined origins dating back to the 20th century, when sipping champagne from a woman’s slipper was considered peak decadence. Fast forward a century, and Australians have stripped away the sense of glamour, swapping satin heels for sweaty Converse.

The modern shoey really took off in the early 2010s, where it was mostly done in the sporting scene, before spreading to music crowds (thanks, Daniel Ricciardo).

Now, it’s seen as a rite of passage for international artists touring here, and while some are disgusted by the idea, others jump at it. Most notably, Post Malone, Yungblud, and Harry Styles have all embraced the opportunity.

Is it gross? Absolutely. Do we care? Not one bit. The Shoey is both disgusting and beautiful, a uniquely Australian bonding ritual between performer and audience.

“Am I Ever Gonna See Your Face Again?”

If you’ve ever been to an Australian party, wedding, gig, or even a casual Friday at the local pub, chances are you’ve heard The Angels’ hit Am I Ever Gonna See Your Face Again, and you know what’s coming.

Originally intended to be a heartfelt acoustic ballad, audiences have turned this classic into something else entirely with their iconic call-and-response: “No way, get fucked, fuck off!”

The chant reportedly surfaced in Mount Isa in 1983, much to the band’s initial horror, as they thought the crowd was hurling abuse at them. Though its origins remain a mystery, it stuck, and today it’s one of the great Australian traditions. It’s loud, rude and cathartic, and absolutely must be shouted at the top of your lungs.

“Aussie, Aussie, Aussie! Oi, Oi, Oi!”

Our unofficial national chant, borrowed from the British “Oggy, Oggy, Oggy”, was hammered into our brains during the Sydney 2000 Olympics, and we’ve been yelling it ever since. Simple, effective and impossible not to join in, the chant has transcended sport to become a staple at gigs and festivals.

For touring acts, it’s an initial ceremony- someone inevitably yells the first “Aussie, Aussie, Aussie!” And the crowd responds with military precision. It’s a guaranteed way to hype up a room, and while it may confuse visiting artists, it never fails to unite an audience.

The Nutbush

If there’s one thing every Aussie has in common, it’s learning the Nutbush in primary school. No one asked for it, no one remembers the lesson, but somehow the choreography to Tina Turner’s Nutbush City Limits is permanently stored in our collective muscle memory.

The dance was introduced into schools in the mid-’70s by the NSW Education Department and quickly became the default group dance at weddings, parties, and, of course, gigs. The current world record for the biggest crowd doing the Nutbush at one time is 6,594 people.

If you want to hype up your audience, chuck this banger on your pre-show playlist and watch the magic happen.

The Eagle Drop

This one is, in my opinion, our most eyebrow-raising tradition. The ‘Eagle Drop’ sees punters dropping their pants to dance whenever Daddy Cool’s classic Eagle Rock plays. Where it started is anyone’s guess. Some claim it happened for the first time at a Sydney private school, others swear by a Queensland uni, and some name various foot clubs. Wherever it began, it spread like wildfire.

Thankfully, this is one tradition that is less common today than in the ‘80s and ‘90s, but it’ll still pop up occasionally, so be prepared.

“Hey Baby”

Some mysteries just can’t be explained- like how DJ Ötzi’s 2000 Eurodance hit Hey Baby embedded itself so deeply into Australian culture.

For reasons unknown- but probably just because it’s an absolute banger- the chorus has become a staple chant at sporting events, festivals and gigs, usually filling the silence pre-show, during stage changes, or in the case of technical difficulties (see Lorde’s 2018 Splendour in the Grass set).

A simple and catchy track, every person in the crowd will know it- guaranteed. Whether you like the song or not, you’ll end up joining in, too. Resistance is futile; the chant will get you.

Doof Sticks

Finally, the art form that is the doof stick. For the unfamiliar, these are basically long poles topped with bizarre decorations that you’ll find at raves and dance festivals. The ‘art’ on top ranges from random photos of celebrities, memes, drug-related puns or elaborate papier mâché creations.

They serve no real purpose other than being funny, making you easy to spot and being quintessentially Aussie. Try explaining to a non-local why someone is dancing under a giant cardboard cut-out of Danny DeVito’s head and you’ll quickly realise that some things can’t be explained, only experienced.

They remain controversial, however. In 2024, the Beyond The Valley and Lost Paradise festivals announced some restrictions so as not to hamper the enjoyment of punters. “We’re obsessed with all the creative Doof Sticks you bring each year, but we just ask you to keep them small, slim, and respectful,” Beyond The Valley’s urged fans.

“We kindly ask for a little bit of doof stick etiquette this year,” echoed Lost Paradise.

At the end of the day, Aussie live music traditions are chaotic, hilarious and even a little gross, but they’re ours. They’re one of the reasons that international artists remember us as some of the rowdiest and most entertaining crowds on tour.

From shoeys to the Nutbush, chants and doof sticks, these traditions are what take a standard gig and turn it into a uniquely Aussie experience. Sure, they don’t always make sense, and no one knows how they started or where they came from, but that’s half the charm, and I wouldn’t have it any other way.