Hilltop Hoods - Never Coming Home Tour
21st of February 2026
Adelaide Entertainment Centre - Sold Out
From the moment doors opened at the Adelaide Entertainment Centre for Hilltop Hoods second sold out hometown show, the energy was electric. DJ Eclipse set the tone from the side stage, delivering high energy remixes that kept the crowd engaged as the venue steadily filled on a humid summer night in Hindmarsh, setting a perfect tone for the night ahead.
Opening the night was Trails, the solo project of Daniel Rankine, known for his work with AB Original. His set provided a smooth introduction to the evening, easing early arrivals into the space as both seating and floor areas filled. The set combined electronic sounds and hiphop to create smooth, laid back energy with sharp, thoughtful lyrics, creating a vibe that was easy to settle into regardless of familiarity to the music. Daniel touched on topics in lyrical form such as violence against women, First Nation people and personal reflection. By the end, the steadily growing audience was fully engaged, clapping, moving along, and dancing to cues, this proved that long time friend of Hilltop Hoods quietly won over the room.
Maverick Sabre hit the stage at 7:55 and immediately grabbed everyone’s attention with his raspy voice and cool presence. He had a small two piece band with him, and together they sounded great. One standout moment was when he slowed down Oasis’s Don’t Look Back in Anger, turning the classic song into something that felt super personal and emotional. The crowd held out their phone torches, creating a shimmer across the venue like stars shining onto the floor, the crowd sang along in a truly special moment. During the show, Maverick Sabre moved between hip hop, mellow soul, and light electronic beats, making each song feel easy and natural while still showing off his vocal range. By the end of his performance, the audience was fully engaged, singing along, clapping, and swaying with the music.
Hilltop Hoods kicked off their set with instant energy, grabbing the crowd’s attention from the first beat. Opening with their hit song Leave Me Lonely from their 2019 album The Great Expanse had fans on their feet right away, singing and moving along to the high energy first song as lights, visuals and confetti lit up the stage, this setting the tone for an exciting night. Before the first song had even finished the duo front men Suffa and Pressure made full use of the large stage covering all grounds. Third song in Hilltop Hoods paused before the start of The Nose Bleed Section to dedicate a song to a young fan who was attending her very first Hilltop Hoods concert. A small but heartfelt moment that Hilltop Hoods do every show to welcome and show love back to the new fans who attend their show.
Hilltop Hoods’ stage setup was as impressive as their performance. With a cat walk into the crowd, a 2 tired stage set up for the band with flames and sparks that shot as high as the ceiling, co2 hitting at every beat drop and confetti to end the show.
The night’s guest appearances were standout moments that kept the energy high throughout. The long-running partnership with Maverick Sabre was clear during I Won’t Let You Down, a performance that felt like the result of years of shared experience on stage rather than just a song. South Australian pride shone through when Adrian Eagle harmonised with the crowd on Clark Griswold, delivering the line “life can be so beautiful” with genuine emotion that resonated across the arena. Montaigne’s vocals on 1955 fit seamlessly, while Marlon Motlop added a soaring lift that elevated the track. Illy joined for his part in Exit Sign, matching the group’s intensity and keeping momentum high, and the night came to a close with Six60 on Never Coming Home, with Montaigne returning to add her vocals to an electrifying finale. From start to finish, the audience was fully engaged, responding to every cue and sharing in the energy of each collaboration.
By the final song, it was clear that Hilltop Hoods aren’t just performers, they’re masters of creating an experience. Every song, every guest appearance, and every stage effect worked together to keep the crowd engaged, leaving the arena alive with energy and excitement long after the show ended, creating an unforgettable headline performance.
Gallery https://musicfestivalsaustralia.com/event-photos/hilltop-hoods-never-coming-home-tour
Thank you to the Hilltop Hoods, TEG Live, On The Map PR and the Entertainment Centre for having us along.
Photos by Gavin Karjalainen for Music Kingdom Australia
