LIVE REVIEW: Slowly Slowly End Tour At Hometown Performance

It was a massive night ahead for Slowly Slowly as they are welcomed back to their hometown of Melbourne for their first-ever arena headlining show. Wrapping up their Forgiving Spree Tour, which had taken them around the country in celebration of their latest album, the band was set to go out with a bang—and that’s exactly what they did at Margaret Court Arena.

Joining them on tour were two very special guests from the U.S., Honey Revenge and Grayscale. As someone who was especially excited to catch both openers live, it felt like a huge bonus having Grayscale kick off the night. Longtime favourites of mine, their set included a blend of older gems like Fever Dream and In Violet, as well as powerful new tracks from their latest album The Hart. Hearing those songs live for the first time was genuinely incredible and they delivered in every way. Now, Honey Revenge is a band that most definitely should be on your radar. I first discovered them back in 2022, and when their song Distracted was released, I knew they were something special, and their live performance confirmed just that. Their ‘90s pop punk vibes, bubblegum aesthetic, catchy tunes, and infectious energy make them such a fun band to watch live. The sheer joy on their faces as they played was contagious, encouraging crowd participation with a sing-a-long during their track Habitual. While the arena was filling out during their set, the crowd unfortunately didn’t quite meet the energy these bands deserved, not that it was any fault of the artists, because they were phenomenal.

As the night went on, it was finally time for our main headliner. Watching a Melbourne band headline an arena is something special, and Slowly Slowly proved they belonged on that big stage. They kicked things off with Blueprint, instantly showcasing why they’re one of the best live acts going around. From the very first drum kick, they were all in—Ben Stewart leaping from platforms and drum kits, shirt drenched in sweat from the sheer energy he poured into every moment. Backed by Albert Doan on guitar, Alex Quayle on bass, and Patrick Murphy on drums, the band tore through an electric setlist packed with fan favourites like Daisy Chain and Ten Leaf Clover, as well as new standout favourites from their new album with tracks like Meltdown Masquerade and Love Letter. The crowd was fully into it—belting out every word with a passion that made the whole arena pulse with energy. A heartfelt moment was shared when Ben paused to reflect: “Some nights I feel like the luckiest man in the world, and tonight’s one of those nights.” truly showing they are present with us for the night and taking in every moment. A unique part of this tour has been their ongoing collaboration with Converse, where they’ve hidden a secret “love letter” at each show. One was hidden somewhere in the arena, and during the set, Ben flung another into the crowd for one lucky fan to catch. He also made sure to take that time to shout out the entire crew that made the tour possible—from lighting to photography—and gave a warm mention to Honey Revenge, sharing that after touring together in the US, they couldn’t resist bringing them back for the Australian leg. Just when the crowd thought the energy couldn’t go any higher, Longshot kicked in, sending the arena into full-blown chaos—in the best way. Ben teased that “this is our unofficial last song” before launching into God. Of course, the crowd wasn’t ready to say goodbye, and the band returned to close the night with Jellyfish and Race Car Blues, two songs that complete a show of theirs. There’s something about hearing Race Car Blues live. The emotion, the rawness, the crowd screaming “I miss myself, my friends do too” in unison, it’s the kind of moment that sticks with you long after the nights over.

What an incredible show to have been able to witness, to be able to play in an arena in their hometown is something they should be very proud of and if any band deserves to be standing up there, it would have to be them. They delivered a polished, emotionally charged, and unforgettable performance that made you proud to call Melbourne home. I truly believe that there is something extra special about a Slowly Slowly show and their energy is undoubtedly unmatched. I’m looking forward to seeing what is in store for the future for this band, because no doubt they’ll just continue going from strength to strength.