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.

Reviews / Arts
Stand Up For Mehdi (MICF)
"The notion of change via comedy is well and truly on display."
Reviews / Arts
Chimp Cop Forever (MICF)
"Chimp Cop Forever plays to its strengths and stays within its own parameters as a farcical sketch show."
Reviews / Arts
The Stevenson Experience: Identical As Anything (MICF)
"Their songs are catchy but the content of their comedy is unsavoury and questionable - like Robin Thicke with a joke book."
Reviews / Arts
Laura Dunemann: Flannelette (MICF)
"Dunemann shines either in pure bouts of passion or in an awkward shyness."
Reviews / Arts
Political Asylum (MICF)
"Thank god for Andy Zaltzman and Mae Martin."
Reviews / Arts
Neal Portenza: P.O.R.T.E.N.Z.A (MICF)
"No one is safe from the all-seeing eyes of the hairy one."
Reviews / Arts
Tom Walker And Bridie Connell: Motherfather (MICF)
"MotherFather is the type of show that the festival was created for."
Reviews / Arts
Rural Ranga and Strawberry Siren: Pussy Play Masterclass (MICF)
"The rest of the world has TED Talks, 'Pussy Play Masterclass' has BED Talks."
Reviews / Arts
Diana Nguyen: Naked (MICF)
"Naked does what it says on the tin and exposes the inner life of a radiant stage presence."
Reviews / Arts
Bob Franklin: An Hour's Too Long For Stand-Up (MICF)
"Without a doubt one of the most prolific comedic talents working in the country."
Reviews / Arts
Ben Russell: The Pilot (MICF)
"Russell demands total attention and completely transports his audience."
Reviews / Arts
James Acaster: Represent (MICF)
"A series of odd occurrences that fall well into the dark cavity between fantasy and reality."
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