Sunday night at the Adelaide Entertainment Centre was electric, with fans buzzing in anticipation for The Wombats. Before the headliners took the stage, two stellar openers set the tone for the night.
First up was Ra Ra Viper from WA, bringing their laid-back west coast surf rock vibes. Their set started off mellow, easing the crowd in with softer tracks before building momentum and closing with their latest single Tora. By the end, the room was swaying along, soaking up that big, sun-soaked Western Australian sound that feels tailor-made for summer road trips.
Next came Bea and Her Business from London, who lit up the stage with her infectious pop energy. The crowd sang along from the very first chorus, but it was when she performed Me Against My Head that the atmosphere shifted—suddenly the whole venue was silent, completely captivated. She lifted the energy straight back up with Good Things, getting the crowd involved and locking everyone into her performance.
By the time The Wombats arrived, the audience was more than ready. They launched straight into Sorry I’m Late, I Didn’t Want to Come, and from that moment the singalongs didn’t stop. The setlist struck a perfect balance between nostalgia and fresh material—classics like Tokyo (Vampires & Wolves) and Kill the Director had the whole venue bouncing, while tracks from Fix Yourself, Not the World and Oh! The Ocean showed the newer material is just as beloved.
Visually, the show was a feast. A fur-lined backdrop and playful lighting added to the band’s quirky charm. Frontman Matthew Murphy kept the energy high with his witty banter and sharp vocals, bassist Tord Øverland Knudsen bounded across the stage with unstoppable energy, and drummer Dan Haggis kept everything tight and driving.
One standout moment came when the crowd sang Kill the Director almost completely acappella—a powerful throwback to the band’s debut that reminded everyone how it all began. The encore was a knockout, with Greek Tragedy—a track that’s found new life thanks to TikTok—nearly drowned out by the audience’s voices, before Let’s Dance to Joy Division closed the night on a euphoric high.
The Wombats proved once again why they’ve remained festival favourites for nearly two decades. With a set packed full of hits, infectious energy, and a crowd who knew every word, Adelaide got exactly what it came for: a night of pure, unrelenting fun.
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