Words by: CeeCee
Photos by: Cameron Stemmler @filmandmusicdegenerate (taken at Hindley St Music Hall, Adelaide)
Closing out their biggest headlining tours to date, Slowly Slowly returned home for a high-energy, all-ages performance at Margaret Court Arena. Joined by two dynamic U.S. support acts, the band played to a venue packed with an enthusiastic crowd that danced and sang along all night.
Philadelphia rockers Grayscale made a powerful first impression on Melbourne with their high-octane set, marking their debut performance in the city. From the moment they hit the stage, it was clear the band came ready to bring the energy—and the crowd was more than willing to match it.
Vocalist Collin Walsh kicked things off with guitar in hand for the first couple of songs, showcasing a different side of his performance before launching fully into his dynamic role as frontman. The band didn’t stay still for long—there was constant movement, jumping, and engagement that electrified the atmosphere. ‘This is our first time in Melbourne,’ Walsh announced to cheers, clearly feeding off the energy in the room. Before launching into the emotionally charged In Violet, he rallied the audience:
‘I know you’ve got more energy than this—wanna get everyone down like this and then jump up!’
The room erupted, bodies flying up in unison as the breakdown hit. Fan-favourite Some Kind of Monster hit hard, but it was during Dance With Your Ghost that the crowd reached another level. “Let me see those hands up, up, up!” Walsh called out, and hundreds of arms shot skyward, clapping and waving to the beat.
Grayscale left the Melbourne crowd buzzing, wrapping their set with a sense of gratitude and infectious enthusiasm. A strong debut that left no doubt they’ll be welcomed back with open arms. Stepping on stage in coordinated black shirts and striking purple pants, Honey Revenge wasted no time making a statement—visually and audibly. The vibrant band brought serious energy to the night, fuelling a room full of eager fans with infectious hooks, playful attitude, and relentless movement.
From the jump (literally), the crowd was bouncing along with the band’s kinetic performance. I found myself next to one of their most devoted fans—her face lit up with a smile, belting out every lyric with the kind of joy that’s impossible not to catch.
During Rerun, arms were raised high as the band commanded, ‘Hands up!‘—and the crowd obeyed without hesitation. Lead singer Devin Papadol kept the vibe playful and cheeky throughout, teaching the crowd lyrics mid-set: “I’m gonna teach you the words to this song so you don’t feel left out.” But it wasn’t all sweet encouragement—there was sass too. Before launching into Habitual, Devin teased, ‘If you don’t know the words, you’re a little bitch—I don’t know what to tell you.’ The crowd roared with laughter and excitement, embracing the chaos.
With bold hooks like ‘Are you, are you how you say impressed?’ echoing through the venue and another round of crowd-wide sit-down-and-jump-up moments, the energy never dipped. They closed the set with a bang, delivering their fan-favourite Airheads to a sea of raised hands and joyful voices.
Honey Revenge proved they’re more than just catchy tunes—they’re a full-on experience, and one fans won’t forget anytime soon. Melbourne’s own Slowly Slowly delivered an emotionally-charged, high-octane set that had the crowd singing along from the very first note. Known for blending raw vulnerability with arena-sized hooks, the band brought both heart and heat to their hometown stage.
The singalongs were relentless—fans belted out every word with passion, creating a chorus that filled the room song after song. At one point during Nothing On, front man Ben Stewart picked up a guitar, adding an extra layer of intimacy to the moment before launching back into his usual high-energy performance. He made full use of the stage, dancing and moving with the kind of magnetism that kept eyes locked on him throughout the night.
The crowd was already buzzing, but the energy spiked when Bassy from Bukowski—who had joined them on their recent UK/EU tour—surprised everyone by jumping onstage to perform Creature of Habit Pt. 2. “What a beautiful surprise,” Ben smiled, clearly caught off guard in the best way.
Before All Time, Ben looked out at the crowd and asked, “Are there any lovers here?”—a question met with wild cheers. He grinned and fired back, “Fantastic. We’ve played most of this tour to a bunch of fuck heads,” sending the crowd into a laughing frenzy.
There were quieter, poignant moments too. Two love letters were discovered in the audience, fittingly during the band’s heartfelt newer track Love Letters. Then came a special visual moment—Ben stood on the drum riser to get Patrick Murphy drummer on the LED wall, bringing the whole band into focus and sharing the spotlight.
For Hurricane, Ben left the stage for its quiet intro, only to come storming back on, leaping onto a platform as the full band kicked in. The crowd swelled with energy once again. And in a powerful near-end moment during Ten Leaf Clover, Ben raised his mic stand to the audience, letting their voices take over the delicate outro.
Capping off the night with a flourish, Ben tossed his guitar to a waiting tech after the final song—pure rock star energy, perfectly matching the night’s electric atmosphere.
Slowly Slowly reminded everyone why they’re one of Australia’s most beloved live acts: unfiltered, unpredictable, and utterly unforgettable.
