What's On in Wollongong

“He’s a man of great style, an exceptional songwriter and tremendous singer” – Elvis Costello “Jim Lauderdale could easily be called a renaissance man. He’s a great singer, great guitar player and there’s no way you could miss his work as a songwriter.” – Ricky Skaggs 2-time Grammy winning Americana legend Jim Lauderdale returns to Australia for his first tour since 2023. The legendary singer-songwriter, whose rhinestone-studded silhouette has been iconic in American roots music for decades, is bringing his peerless catalogue of songs, soulful vocals and cosmic charisma back down under for a series of special shows across NSW and Victoria. Fresh off his Nashville Songwriters Hall of Fame induction, the raucous troubadour will take in full band headline dates in Melbourne and Sydney, followed by his first ever visits to Cronulla, Bulli and Newcastle for intimate acoustic shows. All shows will feature ARIA-nominee Imogen Clark as special guest, and will showcase the incredible songs from throughout Lauderdale’s 40 year career, including the classics made famous by George Strait, Elvis Costello, The Chicks, Solomon Burke, Old Crow Medicine Show and countless others that have recorded his work over the decades. Lauderdale’s music blends country, soul, blues, bluegrass and rock’n’roll and on stage he is an artist not to be missed

“A body of work that culls from various styles weaved together into what Massachusetts-based punks A Wilhelm Scream appropriately call “A Wilhelm Sampler,” Lose Your Delusion finds the accomplished rock quintet at its most daring, experimental and cohesive.” Recorded at Anchor End Studio in New Bedford, MA and produced by guitarist/vocalist Trevor Reilly and James Whitten, the songs on Lose Your Delusion appeared as somewhat of a mirage for the band over several years during moments where the members of A Wilhelm Scream — Nuno Pereira (vocals), Trevor Reilly (Guitar, Vocals), Jason Milbank (Guitar), Brian Robinson (Bass, Vocals) and Nick Angelini (Drums) — privately went through a slow, rough stretch of uncertainty. This period of time, however, raised the stakes and renewed a strong focus felt during the early days of the band, which was centered around connecting with fans on an emotional level and providing strength to those who found it in the music. Rife with real stories about the people, places and ideas that are important to the band and its history — along with working to permanently lose the distractions that cloud our daily lives — Lose Your Delusion is less about taking the piss and more about throwing bouquets. From the chaotic and experimental shot of punk found in album single “Be One To Know One” that squarely takes aim at anxiety, pain and self doubt to the politically charged “Apocalypse Porn,” the complexity of the album finds the band in unfamiliar territory that was wholeheartedly embraced by each of its five members.  “This is our most unapologetically earnest album to date,” said Reilly. “It's our fifth full-length record and it feels like our first in that we feel we have so much more to say and energy to put out into the world. After all these years, A Wilhelm Scream have lived their lives and did whatever they needed to do to get to the point where they could assemble and write the songs that absolutely needed to be written. Each song on Lose Your Delusion is a product of never cutting corners at any point, be it with writing, recording, practice or performance. Providing commentary on the past few years and the toll it’s taken in regards to our collective stress, anxiety, frustration and panic, the album serves as a pillar in the band’s rich and evolving legacy. As a band playing punk rock for over a decade, its members haven’t focused on success or image — it’s the ideal of music coming from an honest place that they strive to be their lasting legacy. Despite operating just below the radar, A Wilhelm Scream have carved out a reputation as one of the best live bands around, bolstered by their staggeringly rich albums of ultra-technical melodic punk rock firestorms. Playing 250+ worldwide shows each year, the band possesses a work ethic  that can only be described as “heroic.” “I guess it's because you never know when your new album is gonna be your final album so you really wanna put all ya got into it,” Reilly sums up. “That’s the legacy I want our band to leave behind when all is said and done.”

Following the release of their #1 debut album, Everything Every Single Day, Eora/Sydney indie favourites The Rions embark on a huge 19-date regional tour around Australia, visiting all corners of WA,VIC,NSW,QLD and TAS in Feb, March and April 2026.  Forming as a band after winning their high-school talent show, The Rions – composed of Noah Blockley, Harley Wilson, Asher McLean and Tom Partington - could never have imagined what they have now achieved.  Amassing 72 million global streams across their catalogue, a #1 debut record, touring the world and selling out venues across the globe - it’s safe to say they’re one of Australia’s greatest musical treasures. Their debut record was followed with three iconic tours; beginning by playing in some of Australia’s biggest theatres, followed by a return to the UK and EU where they sold out venues in Bristol, London, Manchester, and Leeds. Finally, they wrapped up the year with shows at beloved festival Spilt Milk, playing on stages alongside some of the world’s biggest artists.  Now, with new songs in rotation and new cities to visit, they prepare for the Everywhere Every Single Day Tour. After a momentous 2025, you better get in quick to catch The Rions live in a city near you in 2026.  Presented by Select Music and UNIFIED Artist Management.