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Dear Seattle in Newcastle – live review

May 17, 2025

On Thursday night, Dear Seattle tore through Newcastle, bringing some flash flooding with them, resulting in a venue change from King Street to the iconic Hamilton Station Hotel. After what I can assume was a soggy scramble, all the bands made it to the Station and kicked things off with minimal delay.

Opening the night, Melbourne’s Lucky hit the ground sprinting. Fronted by a powerhouse vocalist with an attitude to match her stage presence, their brand of pop-punk was fast, catchy, and emotionally sharp. As the damp crowd continued to file in, those in early enough to catch Lucky were definitely treated to a band that will likely be getting a spin on their Spotify this week.

Towns took the stage next, and immediately flipped the vibe to chaotic, joyous fun. Equal parts pop-punk show and comedy gig, the Adelaide duo bounced between heartfelt tracks and hilarious banter. They know how to read a room – whether it was getting the crowd to jump, scream, or just laugh, they kept the momentum building with charm and charisma to spare.

Then came Heart Attack Man, all the way from Cleveland, Ohio. Their sound was heavier than the openers, leaning into post-hardcore riffs with a punk rock snarl, but with harmonies reminiscent of Four Year Strong. They were tight, loud and confident, holding the stage like veterans. On their maiden voyage to Australia to play shows, the crowd responded to their bouncy and fun version of pop-punk and really showed them a warm welcome.

And then: Dear Seattle. Riding high off their sophomore album TOY, they stepped into the spotlight with a setlist that spanned both nostalgia and new growth. The crowd was all in from the first downbeat – arms around mates, screaming lyrics into the back at them, surfacing every ounce of joy the band’s music taps into. Tracks like “Nothing’s Stopping Me Now” and “Here to Stay” hit especially hard live.

Their sound – equal parts grungy grit and soaring alt-rock – feels even more alive on stage. And while the volume and energy was dialed to 11, what stuck most was the emotional weight behind their music and the clear connection that it has with their fans. This band wears their heart on their sleeve, and on this tour, they’ve clearly found their stride.

Review by Aidan Willis. Photo by Charlie Hardy.