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 / Live
Live Review: Emmylou Harris & Rodney Crowell
"Their seven-piece band standout out as exceptional players from the get-go, while the voices of Harris and Crowell augment each other perfectly."
Features / Music
Refunds For Bad Gigs In Finland? Nope. Not Gonna Work.
Steve Bell shuts the ruling down with these six reasons.
Features / Music
Putting The Pieces Back Together After A Messy Break-Up
"We recognise that we are the sum of the parts."
Features / Music
The Band's Unintentional New York City Concept Record
"New York City is something that is always moving forward and always changing.”
Reviews / Live
Live Review: The Milk Carton Kids, Timothy James Bowen
"It’s apparent that they have the crowd in the palm of their hands with just their music — it’s so authentically old timey but without the slightest sense of contrivance."
News / Music
The Scientists
Ten Things You Definitely Can't Miss At Leaps & Bounds Music Festival
Kicks off tonight!
Features / Music
Sharks, A Post-Apocalyptic Dixieland And Her Fight With Warner Bros
"I got certified when I was about 35 or 40 because I had a horrible fear of sharks — a morbid fear of sharks."
Reviews / Film & TV
Blood + Thunder: The Sound Of Alberts - Part One
Blood + Thunder: The Sound Of Alberts - Part One Steve Bell
"...the first part of Blood & Thunder documents the Albert’s crew taking the Aussie scene by the scruff of the neck..."
Reviews / Film & TV
Blood + Thunder: The Sound Of Alberts - Part Two
"About an incredible journey and the inspiring story of how much impact can be made using a combination of vision, trust, hard work and integrity."
Features / Music
James Reyne
If He Can't Take The Piss Out Of It, Who Can?
"‘Listen to this one, this is awful — but we’ll play it.’ People seemed to take that in the spirit with which it was intended."
Reviews / Live
Live Review: The Stress Of Leisure, Primitive Motion, McKisko
"A wonderful night of diverse homegrown music, effortlessly showcasing in the process the breadth of talent existing right under our noses."
Features / Music
The Love Story That Saved A Man From Destruction
"I’m over the moon. I’m really happy with my little princess.”