Fresh Finds: Class Of 2025 – Aussie Acts To Add To Your Playlist

Joe Dolan, Journalist

Joe Dolan

In 2016, I was studying professional writing when an email dropped into my inbox with an opportunity to intern with a budding street press magazine (those were a thing back then). By the end of the eight-or-so-week course I was hooked - and for some bizarre reason,The Musicdecided to keep me around.

Since then I’ve gone on to review countless live gigs, albums, standup sets, theatre shows and gotten to interview some bone fide legends along the way too. Nowadays, I even perform and work on the occasional show myself, but I still like to find time to get out amongst the action whenever I can.

If it weren’t forThe Music, I can genuinely say my life would be totally different. Definitely more boring, to say the least.

Features / Arts
Scottish Comic Fern Brady Really Wants Egg Boy To Come To Her Show
Fern Brady chats to Joe Dolan about the people’s champion, Egg Boy, provocative material and being yourself on stage.
Features / Arts
A Tweet From Nick Offerman Caused A Lot Of Different Reactions For Flo & Joan
UK comic songsters Flo & Joan are bringing their trademark deadpan delivery and enviable vocabulary Down Under for the first time. Rosie and Nicola Dempsey tell Joe Dolan about starting out in Canada, loving lexicons, and their celebrity fanbase.
Features / Arts
Love 'Peaky Blinders'? Then Consider Going To See Sarah Keyworth's New Show
Sarah Keyworth’s debut show was always going to be something close to her heart. She tells Joe Dolan about honesty, vulnerability and, most scary of all, pop culture references.
Features / Arts
DeAnne Smith Is Tackling The Hard Topics Differently This Comedy Fest
While DeAnne Smith is a comedic powerhouse – honest and transparent – the stand-up admits she still doesn’t really know how to sell herself. By Joe Dolan.
Features / Arts
These Comics Juggling Stand-Up & Telly Gigs Will Make You Feel Deeply Unproductive
For the likes of Becky Lucas, Nina Oyama and Melanie Bracewell, the juggling act of writing for television and stand-up is tiring, stressful and extremely rewarding. By Joe Dolan.
Features / Arts
David O'Doherty Is Making Snap Bracelets Great Again
With the nationwide tour of his new show looming, returning comic favourite David O’Doherty is already looking to the future of stand-up merchandising. He chats to Joe Dolan about his key demographic, inventions in audio downloading, and becoming an unlikely activist figure in Ireland.
Features / Arts
Tom Allen Has Learnt To Embrace His Inner Elitist
Camp, cheeky and more cutting than a cake knife, Tom Allen has taken his UK home by storm. He tells Joe Dolan about criticising amateur bakers and embracing your inner bitch.
Reviews / Live
Live Review: Golden Plains 2019
"What a damn fine festival this is."
Reviews / Live
Live Review: The Hot 8 Brass Band, The Seven Ups, Horns Of Leroy
"The spirit of the almost mythical French Quarter flows through their fingers."
Features / Arts
Becky Lucas Is Actually Pretty Happy About Being Booted Off Twitter
Since a joke about beheading the PM got her kicked off Twitter, Becky Lucas has taken a break from joking about the more controversial topics going around. She tells Joe Dolan about the relief that comes in not having an agenda and caring less about what people think of her.
Reviews / Arts
Glitter Bomb Comedy
"Glitter Bomb is not only one of the most well-run shows in Melbourne, but also the most inclusive and exciting showcase around."
Reviews / Live
Live Review: Gabriella Cohen, Full Flower Moon Band, Tamara & The Dreams
"The farewell sadness melts away to leave a beaming glow of revelry for band and crowd alike."
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