The Amity Affliction - Tour 2026 - Sunshine Coast
Regional shows always feel a little more personal, and last night at The Shed inside the Banana Bender Pub on the Sunshine Coast proved it. The near sold out room filled quickly with fans ready to sing every word. It wasnt polished or flashy it was raw, energetic and exactly how heavy music should feel.
RedHook kicked things off with pure chaos and confidence. Their mix of heavy riffs, electronic flourishes and massive hooks grabbed the crowd immediately, with frontwoman Emmy Mack owning every inch of the stage. By the third song, people were jumping and pushing forward, turning the room into a bouncing mass of energy. It was the perfect opener, full of potency and impossible to ignore.
In Hearts Wake from Byron Bay followed with a much heavier punch. Lead singer Jake Taylor commanded the stage as thick riffs and crushing breakdowns shook the floor and finally cracked the pit wide open. Mid set, Emmy from RedHook joined them on stage for a few songs, adding an extra spark to an already explosive performance. Their set hit hard from start to finish, leaving the crowd fired up and ready for the headliner.
When The Amity Affliction hit the stage, there was no easing in. They launched straight into 'Kickboxer' and the entire room erupted. 'Like Love' and 'Drag The Lake' followed, and suddenly it felt less like a gig and more like a massive singalong. It also marked the first full Australian tour for new bassist and clean vocalist Jonathan Reeves, who slotted in seamlessly and brought fresh energy while keeping the bands signature sound intact. New tracks from their upcoming album ‘House of Cards’ landed just as strongly, with the already released title track giving fans a taste of what to expect when the full album drops on April 24th.
Midway through the set, the pace shifted into something more emotional. 'All My Friends Are Dead' 'Dont Lean On Me' and 'I See Dead People' had the crowd singing every word back. Joel Birch spoke openly between songs, thanking fans and sharing how much these smaller, regional shows mean to the band. It felt less like watching a concert and more like being part of a shared moment.
The final stretch didnt let up. 'All Fucked Up,' 'Youngbloods,' 'Death’s Hand' and 'Soak Me In Bleach' came one after another. The pit never stopped moving and security barely kept up with crowd surfers.
Then came the encore, 'Pittsburgh,' and the nights most heartfelt moment, with Joel bringing his son Boey on stage to celebrate his 10th birthday. Thousands of voices sang along as father and son shared the moment, turning an already powerful closer into something genuinely special.
The night felt huge, with no big production or gimmicks, just three incredible bands and a crowd giving it everything. Shows like this are why regional tours matter and why The Amity Affliction keep connecting so strongly with their fans.
Thank you to The Amity Affliction, RedHook, In Hearts Wake, SBM Presents, Select Music and Beehive PR for having us along.
Review by Jack Carruthers for Music Kingdom Australia
