Things to Do in Wollongong

Last Ride Records Presents: HAYWIRE - Live in Australia, August 2026 With guests Feel The Pain HAYWIRE keep cementing their reputation as maybe the hardest working band in music right now, not just hardcore, period. Having just been through Australia supporting Poison The Well, they're heading straight back to headline a run of more intimate shows, the kind of room where you really get to see Haywire at their peak. Joining them on every date except Perth will be Newcastle's Feel The Pain. They kicked off 2026 sharing stages with Turnstile, Gridiron and Iron Mind, then headed to New Zealand for their first overseas shows, and now they're locking in their first Australian tour of the year alongside Haywire.

SESAME GIRL BUTTERFLY WING IN A SILVER LOCKET TOUR With the release of their new EP ‘Butterfly in a Silver Locket’ alternative indie band Sesame Girl announce their Australian Headline tour. ‘Butterfly Wing in a Silver Locket’ marks an exciting new era for the band, and has seen praise from tastemakers such as NME, Rough Trade and Clash. Sesame Girl has shared the stage with acts such as Spacey Jane, Vacations, MAYA, The Belair Lip Bombs, Teen Jesus and the Jean Teasers and British India alongside appearing at festivals such as Spilt Milk and Yours and Owls. TOUR DATES: AUG 14 – MELBOURNE – NIGHTHAWKS AUG 15 – BRISBANE – SEASON THREE SPACE AUG 21 – CANBERRA – DISSENT AUG 22 – SYDNEY – EVELEIGH AUG 29 – WOLLONGONG – LA LA LA’S SEP 4 – BUANGLA – BLOOMFIELD MUSIC & ARTS FESTIVAL

Hot on the heels of the announcement of DICE’s second album, I Thought The Altitude Would Make It Worth The View , today the four-piece from Perth announce an extensive national tour in support of the album. Starting in Adelaide in August, the tour then makes its way around the country, taking in both capital cities and regional stops, finishing up in the band’s hometown in September. It’s been said that young people don’t know how to communicate anymore. DICE exists to respond to that idea. Comprising of Ben Hodge, Tom King, Regan Beazley, and Sam Barrett-Lennard, the Perth-based four-piece makes music for authentic connection. For movement, for feeling, and for being present. These are songs that push you to run outside and be a kid again, to fall in love, dance in your kitchen, take a spontaneous trip with mates, jump into a river, or lie in the grass doing nothing at all. This mission has resonated far beyond their Western Australian roots. Since the 2024 release of their ARIA-charting debut album Midnight Zoo, DICE has transformed from local indie-rock darlings into a high-velocity global export. Following the critical acclaim of their debut, the band spent 2025 cementing their status as a premier live act and evolving their sound with the release of the WINGS EP. Their massive 2025 World Tour saw the group move into larger venues, turning the pressures of early adulthood into bright, liberating anthems for sold-out crowds in London, New York, Toronto, Bristol, Denver, Amsterdam, and Sydney. Having maintained a position on triple j’s Most Played Artists list for three consecutive years, DICE continues to build momentum with an unwavering life’s too short philosophy. Following the success of ‘Chasing Hearts’, ‘Alter Ego’, and the euphoric ‘Hourglass’, the band has spent the last year recalibrating their sonic DNA. Now, DICE enters 2026 with their latest single, ‘COOLER.’ Recorded at the legendary EastWest Studios in Los Angeles alongside Grammy-winning producer Joe Chiccarelli (The Strokes, The White Stripes), the track represents a total evolution for the band. It is a blissful, lighter, and euphoric world that bridges the gap between their raw garage-rock energy and a new, sophisticated pop-rock refinement. By working with Chiccarelli to move past the bones of the song, experimenting with abstract layering and punchy synths, the band brought in Jay Watson (POND, Tame Impala, GUM) to add his signature melodic depth and texture on keys. The result is a high-fidelity invitation back to those fleeting moments of freedom and possibility. DICE creates the soundtrack to experiences you’ll feel nostalgic for before they’ve even happened. As they continue to fly at their own altitude, ‘COOLER’ marks the beginning of their most ambitious chapter yet, a year defined by major milestones and a bold new vision that is only just beginning to unfold.

Sydney punk rockers Dear Seattle are hitting the road this August, announcing an extensive regional Australian headline tour with very special guests Seahaven (US) who will be making their debut visit to our shores. Tickets are on sale now via Destroy All Lines With a distinctive Aussie tinge to their emotive and propulsive wares, Dear Seattle are a headbanging-with-heart punk rock band from Sydney’s Northern Beaches. One part mosh pit, and one part love letter, the band have created a truly unique and powerful style of songwriting that’s connecting with fans across Australia and the rest of the world. Whether charming Missy Higgins herself with their 2019 triple j Like A Version of " The Special Two " , launching their own beer, burning up the charts and airwaves, or penning melodic, sing along anthems, Dear Seattle are a band who build unforgettable moments with charming execution. Their latest album, TOY (Domestic La La), released last year and marked a major milestone for the band, debuting at #4 on the ARIA Albums Chart and earning Dear Seattle their first ever Top 10 ARIA chart position. Following a massive year of shows all over the world, TOY was re-released earlier this year as an expanded edition featuring two bonus tracks. Joining Dear Seattle on their trek across Australia is Seahaven, an alternative rock band from Torrance, California, known for blending emotionally raw songwriting with melodic, atmospheric guitar-driven music. Over nearly two decades, the band has earned a devoted following through acclaimed releases including Winter Forever , Reverie Lagoon: Music for Escapism Only , Halo of Hurt , and their self-titled 2026 album. With introspective lyrics, dynamic arrangements, and a sound that balances melancholy with soaring hooks, Seahaven continues to evolve while staying true to the honesty that has defined the band from the beginning.

C. W. Stoneking returns to Australian stages this August and September, bringing his one-of-a-kind brand of hokum blues, jungle exotica, and old-time gospel to rooms and halls across the country. With a voice that sounds like it was conjured from a different era entirely, Stoneking delivers a live experience unlike anything else — raw, hypnotic, and utterly transportive. From the tropical stages of the Darwin Festival to Sydney's Factory Theatre, the Corner Hotel in Melbourne to a golf club in the NSW hinterland, this tour winds its way through cities, coastal towns, and hidden gems alike. Wherever he plays, C. W. Stoneking turns the room into something stranger and more wonderful than it was before he arrived. Don't miss your chance to catch a true original on home soil.

The hottest punk party of the year is back! Gong locals Sort It Out are returning to La La La’s for their yearly birthday celebration, capping off a massive sophomore year. Joined this time by fellow local punks Speaking Terms and Sydney’s Tallulah .

To celebrate the release of their debut album How Much Love Have I Got Left , Cheeky Leash are hosting a special album release party at La La La's on 12 September. Join the band for this milestone and party to remember and be among the first to pick up exclusive merch and vinyl, with signings available on the night. Entry is free with RSVP. La La La's, Front Bar 3PM - 6PM Merch Bundle 1: Merch Bundle 2: Merch Bundle 3: Merch Bundle 4: