Bodyjar & Press Club Headline Canberra’s Dansonfest 2025

Dansonfest – otherwise known as Canberra’s favourite punk festival – is making an epic return to The Baso on Saturday April 26 for a night of punk belligerence courtesy of Naarm’s Bodyjar, Press Club and more.

Dansonfest was first created in memory of local punk rock legend Nicholas “Nicky” Sofer-Schreiber (aka The Ginger Ninja) who had passed away in 2013. Since, friends of the beloved punk rocker have memorialised his impact through Dansonfest and Gingerfest, the latter boasting lineups featuring Jeff Rosenstock of Bomb the Music Industry!, 28 Days, Jay and Lindsay from Frenzal Rhomb and the returning Bodyjar.

After a several year hiatus, Dansonfest made its return to The Baso in 2024, commemorating 11 years since the passing of Nicky, and serving as a reunion for all of his friends. The 2025 edition of Dansonfest is set to kick things back into action, re-establishing the festival as an annual celebration of punk rock within Canberra’s thriving music scene, with support from the government’s Office of the Arts Revive Live initiative.

As such, Dansonfest 2025 are calling on Naarm heavyhitters Bodyjar and Press Club to headline the festivities.

Bodyjar are returning to our country’s capital for the first time since 2019, feeding the hunger of their Canberra fans with tracks from their 2022 album New Rituals alongside classics like One In A Million and Not The Same. Press Club will provide a teaser to their forthcoming album To All The Ones That I Love set to release in May, before heading on their European tour.

Elsewhere on the lineup you will find Wollongong’s Steel City All-Stars, Western Sydney’s Amends, Newcastle’s Local Resident Failure, Boudicca, Jamie Hay & Liam White, and Sydney’s own Nerdlinger, Ebolagoldfish and Modus Fire.

Organisers will also be platforming acts from Nicky’s local scene, including Nelly Nova (Mel from Box Dye), Revellers, Sketch Method, Dingusman 2000, SUperbestfrienDS (collaborative project of Super Best Friends and SUDS) and Canberra punk legends Lamexcuse.

Dansonfest 2025 is happening at The Baso in Canberra on Ngunnawal & Ngambri Country on Saturday 26 April 2025 from 3 PM.

Tickets are currently on second release general admission at $59.95 and can be purchased here. Find a playlist of all the music you can expect to hear on the night below.