Hermitude Played a Tiny Gig At A Community Centre In Their Hometown Last Night

You must never forget where you came from, or so goes the old axiom. Luke Dubber and Angus Stuart, known as Hermitude, were raised in the Blue Mountains of NSW and have never denied their roots, their base and the place that brought them together.

You had to be a local to go to this show. A few hundred physical tickets sold out from The Velvet Fog, a record store in Katoomba, within a day and the neighbourhood feel of the night was evident right from the start. A sausage sizzle greeted patrons as they entered and the all-ages nature of the show meant that no alcohol was allowed into the venue. All ages it was too - all the way from little babies in huge headphones, through the early teens and up to the more mature set.

The family vibe was reflected in the choice of support act. Stuart’s younger brother Finbar performed with Sumatra, a group that had borrowed more than a little from the main act, bringing the warm vibes inside when compared to the plummeting temperature outside.

With an Acknowledgement of Country from Tim "Urthboy" Levinson, and some shoutouts to the local suburbs, the Blackheath Community Centre was primed to watch their 'local heroes done good’.

What better place than Hermitude's backyard to play some world premieres from their upcoming sixth album, Pollyanarchy? For a group originally known for their immersive instrumentals, which have seen them play shows around the planet, the teasers certainly point to an edgier sound.

“This is probably the most sick Thursday night gig we’ve ever done in our lives!” exclaimed El Gusto (Stuart), grinning from ear to ear at the crowd, who pulsed up front, eager to dance and bounce for HyperParadise. 

The audience only got more excited with every song, whether it be old favourites or tracks so new that they’d never been performed before. The neighbourhood was up for it, with kids on shoulders, general booty-shaking around the community hall, and one stage-diver in particular who made older gig-goers cringe.

What came next was magical. As the duo built up to the climax of the evening - “We’ve still got 15 minutes till the cops knock on the door and we’re going to use every minute” - they dropped The Buzz and the kids in the room spontaneously took to the old stage and danced their hearts out. A horde of at least 40 locals bounced on stage with pure joy and passion, completely blocking all view of the musicians, dancing deliriously and having the time of their lives. It’s moments like this that highlight how important regional (especially all-ages) shows can be. How often do you see this sort of reaction in an inner-city venue? 

Hermitude @ Blackheath Community Centre. Photo by Cole Bennetts.

Fresh track Northern Lights finished off the main set, the song’s refrain, “Don’t lose it all” ringing out as the stage bowed under the weight of the next generation of fans.

That’s the beauty of Hermitude. They may have progressed to a modern sound as they near their 20th anniversary, but they haven’t (and seemingly never will) forgotten where they come from.