On a golden autumn Saturday in the heart of the Hunter Valley, 15,000 punters swarmed Roche Estate for a day-long masterclass in classic rock. It was a turnout for the ages — a crowd that spanned decades, dress codes, and celebrations. Bucks parties, hen nights, 50ths, even an 80th birthday. And the hats? Cowboy, Akubra, trucker, tricorn, top — you name it, someone rocked it.There was just something in the air — something louder than nostalgia and tastier than the local Shiraz. This wasn’t just another tour stop. It was a proper gathering of the faithful, ready for an all-day sonic bender.

First out of the gates: Dallas Frasca, channelling raw rock energy and pure sunshine in equal measure. “I’m here to get you warmed up—but what a beautiful day it is,” she beamed, immediately owning the early slot. Her voice, all grit and gospel fire, didn’t just fill the air — it moved it. “I’ve been on an arena tour with ZZ Top — I’m living my dream — right here — in front of your eyes — real time.” With energy and authenticity in equal measure, Frasca didn’t just open the day — she lit it up.

When Rose Tattoo took the stage, the mosh swelled and the volume soared. Angry Anderson led the charge like a man with unfinished business. “We’re not here to fuck around—we never fuck around!” he barked, as the band launched into a barrage of riffs and solos that felt carved out of granite. The energy hit hard, and the crowd — now of all ages — was fully locked in. A rockabilly-stomp version of ‘Blue Suede Shoes’ brought both surprise and delight. “Feels good, doesn’t it? Fuckin’ oath it does!” shouted Anderson, before they wrapped with a promise: “We want to leave you with a smile on your face—and a song in your hearts.” They did.

As the sun dipped lower and the shadows grew long, Baby Animals took their place. Suzie DeMarchi remains a class act — aging like a fine Hunter Shiraz: deep, complex, and still capable of knocking you flat when the moment demands it. ‘One Word’ sparked mass singalongs, but ‘Early Warning’ brought the barnstorm — all fire and drive. And when a string went out of tune, the frontwoman didn’t miss a beat: “It was in tune when he bought it!” They signed off with their new single, a thundering cover of ‘Ace of Spades’, played with enough menace to rattle the rafters of nearby wine cellars.

With the air beginning to cool, The Living End brought the heat. Their colossal bass rig — double upright and dual Ampeg 8x10 fridges — practically warranted its own postcode, and the sound it produced? Monstrous. “A lot of people sitting down — they must think they’re at a Seekers concert!” Chris Cheney challenged. Within minutes, the lawn was a living, leaping sea of bodies. “There’s a lot of negativity in the world today,” Cheney said. “Everywhere you look, there’s a moaning Minnie complaining about something. Well — this is what it’s all about: real people gathering together to watch other real people playing real instruments.” Mohawked bassist Scott Owen turned his upright bass into a rockabilly spectacle — spinning it, climbing it, absolutely unleashing.

“I don’t mind hitting a few jazz notes every now and again,” Cheney grinned mid-set, “but I will not go so low as to play an out-of-tune guitar — you’ve paid bloody good money to get here.” New single ‘Alfie’ showed off the band’s current form — tight, melodic, fierce. ‘West End Riot’ and ‘White Noise’ whipped the place into chaos, and ‘Waltzing Matilda’, played as a bass-led instrumental, caught everyone off guard in the best way. They closed with ‘Prisoner of Society’, and if there were any doubters left, they were silenced.

As darkness draped the valley, George Thorogood & The Destroyers rolled in like a Cadillac with chrome pipes. George, in a tee decked out with Aussie road signs, prowled the stage with blues swagger and just enough cheek. “Must say how nice it was to hear ‘Bourbon, Scotch and (Australian) beer’ in an Australian accent,” he grinned, before unloading ‘Get a Haircut’. The strobe-heavy lighting cast the band in full glow, and then came the sledgehammer: “You want it? You’ve got it!” — ‘b-b-b-b-b-b-Bad to the Bone’ roared into life, and with it, the night hit full tilt.

Then, the main event. ZZ Top arrived like royalty — understated swagger, towering amps, and pure Texas groove. And that bass. A 17-string, canary-yellow monstrosity that looked like it came from a steampunk guitar fair. A surprise gift from bassist Elwood Francis, it turned heads and tickled gearheads. “This one’s for all you beautiful Australian ladies out there,” Billy Gibbons purred before sliding into ‘Gimme All Your Lovin’’. What followed was a run of rock ritual: ‘Legs’, ‘Just Got Paid’, ‘I Gotsta Get Paid,’ and a crowd-roaring ‘Sharp Dressed Man’. Their synchronised moves — smooth, sly, and as precise as ever — drew cheers every time they hit in unison. Then, the finish: ‘La Grange’. That iconic, coiled riff unspooled into the night, rich as molasses and just as heavy. A perfect ending — dirty, tight, and completely timeless. Worth noting: earlier in the evening, Francis — once a guitar tech — was seen quietly working at the tech bench, fine-tuning something like a man still fluent in both stagecraft and strings.

The unsung heroes — the MC, the techs, the roadies — kept everything smooth. The transitions were tight, the sound was faultless, and the energy never dipped. The Hunter’s finest Shiraz flowed, and somewhere, a single amp buzzed gently into the night. As the crowd began to filter out, two mates were overheard near the photo pit, still grinning: “That wasn’t just a gig, mate — that was a pilgrimage.”

The Red Hot Summer Tour continues its journey:

Sunday, May 4, 2025 – Stuart Park, Wollongong, NSW
Saturday, May 10, 2025 – Sandstone Point Hotel, Sandstone Point, QLD (Sold Out)
Sunday, May 11, 2025 – Sandstone Point Hotel, Sandstone Point, QLD (Second Show Added)

RHST Gallery https://musicfestivalsaustralia.com/new-blog/redhotsummertour2025gallery

Thank you to the Red Hot Summer Tour, Face To Face Touring, Menard PR and the Roche Estate for having us along

Review and Photos by Andy Kershaw for Music Festivals Australia