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

Steve Bell, Journalist

Steve Bell

Many, many moons ago Steve Bell was unassumingly writing a small fanzine for the inner-city Brisbane record store where he worked when on one otherwise normal day he was poached into the cutthroat world of street press, embarking on an eye-opening journey interviewing bands and banging on about music for the street press publication Time Off. It's an association that's now existed for well over 20 years - including a decade full-time as the print editor for Time Off/The Music - and one which still provides him with immense enjoyment and satisfaction, even though in recent times it's nestled alongside other music-related vocations such as co-owning a record store and indie label, radio broadcasting and navigating the podcast world.

Reviews / Album
Album Review: Various - The Glory Days Of Aussie Pub Rock Vol 2
"It's the songs that you don't already know backwards that make these collections so fascinating."
Features / Music
Rome Ramirez Takes Brad Nowell's Legacy Seriously In Sublime With Rome
"I've been a fan for pretty much my whole life, so to be able to play that same music now is like a dream."
Features / Music
Rhiannon Giddens On Writing Slave Narratives From "The Woman's Point Of View"
"Not all of my songs are great or even good - and I may never do another record of original music, this is just what came out of me."
Reviews / Live
Live Review: Bruce Springsteen & The E Street Band
"There's a lot of love in the room tonight, and only a small portion emanating from the stage as part of the Valentine's Day spectacular."
Features / Music
Flying Nun Records founder Roger Shepherd
How Flying Nun Records Built An International Indie-rock Legacy On Their Own Terms
"We can’t try and be dishonest with ourselves thinking that we can generate music that’s going to be played on the radio."
Features / Music
From Home Away From Home To Recording Music At Radio Stations
"People would go surfing and be on the beach listening to the Femmes."
Reviews / Album
Album Review: The Courtneys - The Courtneys II
"An uplifting, feel-good wedge of dreamy lo-fi bubblegum garage-punk."
Reviews / Album
Album Review: Son Volt - Notes Of Blue
"As vital as anything he's penned since Uncle Tupelo's halcyon days."
Reviews / Album
Album Review: Strand Of Oaks - Hard Love
"Anchoring him firmly in groove-laden rock realms after an early career flecked with folk."
Reviews / Album
Album Review: Sodastream - Little By Little
"A welcome and well-crafted return."
Reviews / Album
Album Review: Tobin Sprout - The Universe And Me
"It's his innovative arrangements and oft-cryptic lyrics that never fail to fascinate."
Reviews / Album
Album Review: Cloud Nothings - Life Without Sound
"...He's polished away their rougher edges, leaving a more measured and mature collection."