The New Bloom Festival 2025 at Sydney’s Roundhouse was a dynamic showcase of local and International alternative and punk music, featuring a lineup that kept the energy high throughout the event. Here’s a breakdown of the performances:

The doors opened, and soon enough afterwards, Feel the Pain from Newcastle kicked off the epic day of music with their metallic hardcore sound, immediately igniting the crowd into a frenzy. Their aggressive riffs and intense vocals set the tone for the day, with mosh pits forming early on.

Gloam followed what was a tremendously enjoyable start to New Bloom, inclosing the venue in their signature shoegaze ambiance, a genre emerging in the late 1980s and early 1990s. The dense, reverb-laden soundscapes created a mesmerizing atmosphere, allowing the audience to immerse themselves fully in the music.

Secret World, hailing from West Sydney, brought a surge of energy back to the stage. Frontman Ryan Pond’s engaging presence, including frequent interactions with the crowd, blurred the lines between performer and audience, making their set particularly memorable.

Glitterer, arriving in Oz for the first time from Washington D.C., the solo endeavour of Ned Russin from Title Fight, presented a lo-fi, high-energy post-punk experience. The minimalist arrangements and introspective lyrics offered a contemplative interlude amidst the day’s high-energy acts.

Sweet Pill from Philadelphia, USA, delivered a new touch of metal and screamer Emo, giving a fantastic performance for their first time in Australia. Hyper-energised vocals from Zayna Youssef commanded attention, and insane facial expressions and crazy headbanging rocked the house. Her dynamic vocals and the band’s fusion of emo and pop-punk resonated strongly with the audience, prompting wildly enthusiastic sing-alongs.

One Step Closer introduced their melodic hardcore style to the festival. While the crowd’s energy was briefly subdued, possibly due to earlier events of an incident in the mosh pit, the band’s heartfelt performance gradually drew in more active participation. This group of boys all the way from Pennsylvania knows just how to bring the metal energy, giving New Bloom metal heads exactly what they came for. The powerful emotional energy of the band has a way of resonating with fans of the genre that one on the outside may not understand.

Balance and Composure continued New Bloom’s momentum, delivering a set that balanced intensity with melody. This American emo band, returning for the fourth time, shows yet another example of why people flocked in droves to the UNSW Roundhouse on the day. The audience’s engagement deepened, with many fans visibly moved with tears in their eyes by the emotive delivery of songs from their latest album, ‘With You in Spirit’. Along with their new material and already known favourites, Balance and Composure certainly has got it down to bring on insanity during a set, as evident by the flood of people pouring over the punter barrier crowd surfing.

The moment many were waiting for… the time for Drain from Santa Cruz to slam things up to the next level. The band’s high-octane hardcore punk set incited vigorous moshing and crowd surfing. Creating the metaphorical absence of a barrier during their performance allowed the crowd the feel of direct interaction with this beloved band, amplifying the communal atmosphere. Drain encouraged the crowd into wild circling and what seemed another endless stream and flood of crowd surfers pouring onto the arms of security during a non-stop action-packed set.

Basement’s long-awaited return was met with enthusiasm, marking the absolute highlight of the evening. Closing the festival with a performance that was both nostalgic and invigorating. Their blend of emo and grunge resonated deeply with fans who sang along to classics like ‘Covet’ and ‘Pine’. The band’s appreciation for the audience’s fervour was evident, creating a fitting end to the festival. With the electric vibes of the night, Basement could not have ended New Bloom Festival any better. Let’s hope we see many or maybe all of these great bands at New Bloom again to celebrate and blissfully enjoy another night of metal, emo and rock music.

New Bloom Festival 2025 successfully curated a diverse lineup that celebrated the richness of alternative music. From the fervent mosh pits to the heartfelt performances, the festival fostered a sense of community and showcased the evolving landscape of the alternative music scene in Australia.

Thank you to Destroy All Lines and Dallas Does PR for having us along

Review by Jasmine Blanch

Photos by @yourmusicpix for @musickingdomaustralia

New Bloom Fest 2025