GOOD THINGS FESTIVAL SYDNEY REVIEW
Good Things Festival came crashing into Sydney with a wall of sound, and it was the most fun, wild, sweaty, chaotic day of music the city has seen in ages. From the moment gates opened at Sydney Showground, the place felt alive, and there were band shirts everywhere, people were ready and rearing to go, and you knew every stage was about to blow up.
WARGASM
Wargasm were hidden gems at Good Things, and they brought chaotic electro-punk energy, and they hit the stage like a shockwave—screaming, jumping, and they fired pure chaos into the crowd. As “Spit.” and “Bang Ya Head” played, everyone was losing it. Their mix of dirty riffs, electronic blasts, and attitude made the whole set feel wild and unhinged. They brought a set of fast, loud, and chaotic classic Wargasm. It was definitely one of the most hyped sets of the day.
STAND ATLANTIC & THORNHILL
With Knocked Loose and All-American Rejects forced to pull out, Stand Atlantic and Thornhill stepped up — and they absolutely smashed it. Stand Atlantic gave us melodic emo energy and catchy, energetic, and anthemic songs.
Thornhill went straight for the throat with heavy breakdowns that shook the whole field. They brought heavy, infused riffs with atmospheric soundscapes, emotive clean vocals, and soaring melodies.
GWAR
GWAR were the chaos we came for. If you saw GWAR, you already know that they brought Blood cannons, monsters, metal mayhem, and ridiculous fun to the stage. Donald Trump made an appearance on stage, and it made the crowd laugh. The dinosaur came on stage, and it brought happiness to everyone's face. Their Riffs, roars, sweat, were in full force, and they brought everything you want from a heavy band throwing down at a festival as they brought their hits, including "The Great Circus Train Disaster, Metal Metal Land, Crack in the Egg, El Presidente and Fuck This Place". As their set came to a close, People were leaving, and they looked like they survived a war zone as they were covered in blood, and they loved every second.
MACHINE HEAD
Machine Head brought Absolute Carnage to the stage, and if you wandered near Machine Head’s set, you probably got caught in a wall of bodies. The set kicked off with "Imperium", and the groove-metal attack turned the pit into a storm. The set continued with hits we know and love, including "Ten Ton Hammer, The Blood, the Sweat, the Tears, and Is There Anybody Out There?" and their fast thrash elements, and vocals mixed screams and cleans, heavy distortion, double bass drums, and melodic harmonies, and they brought energy to the pit and the stage.
ALL TIME LOW
All Time Low brought a pop punk party, and the sunshine. As their set played, they brought huge choruses, jokes between songs, and crowd surfing. An array of songs played including "SUCKERPUNCH, Damned If I Do Ya (Damned If I Don't), Something's Gotta Give, Hate This Song and Dear Maria, Count Me In", and It felt like a summer pop-punk festival inside a metal festival, and the crowd welcomed the vibe.
GARBAGE
Garbage is rock royalty, and Shirley Manson owned the stage from the first second. Garbage brought a moody, grungy, confident set that reminded everyone why they’re icons. The set included an array of hits, including "#1 Crush, Cherry Lips (Go Baby Go!) and Push It and the gritty guitars, powerful drums, and distinctive, commanding vocals that characterised garbage filled the stadium. The catchy pop hooks, dark atmospheres, and themes of love and identity created a sound that was uniquely 90's. As Garbage played “Only Happy When It Rains”, a storm rolled in, and it was Perfect timing for the set. Garbage pushed us into the next set of awesome hits.
WEEZER
Weezer brought pure joy to the venue in the best way, and they brought pure sing-along happiness. Hearing thousands of people belt out “Buddy Holly” and “Island in the Sun” was one of the day’s biggest serotonin boosts. Their blend of chunky, distorted guitars and punk energy with catchy, hooky melodies brought these rock anthems to life. They’re one of those bands everyone loves, and Sydney didn’t hold back with their energy. The energy on stage was fun and light-hearted, and they proved why they deserve to be at every festival.
TOOL
When Tool hit the stage, the entire crowd shifted like gravity, and headed towards the main stage. Their visuals were insane, the sound was huge, and the crowd went completely quiet during those tension building moments. Tool kicked off their set with "Stinkfist", and their catchy, complex riffs and powerful vocals celebrated Tool's talent. The crowd exploded with madness the second the riffs landed, and the drums pounded as songs including "Fear Inoculum, The Grudge, Prison Sex and Vicarious" echoed through the stadium. It felt like a religious experience wrapped in prog-metal, and the crowd was in awe of the rock stars on stage.
Good Things always sneaks in some killer new bands, and this year’s lineup was stacked. Sydney crowds were on fire today as the beachballs flew through the air, the Circle pits, crowd surfers, and strangers were yelling lyrics together. The whole day had that proper metal festival family feeling. Even with the sun and heat, everyone kept the vibe high.
Good Things keeps on getting better, and Sydney delivered a huge mix of metal, punk, rock, nostalgia,and chaos, and made it all fit together. The lineup changes didn’t kill the mood at all; if anything, the replacements lit the spark even more. If you’re a rock or metal fan, this festival is officially unmissable now. Big bands, wild crowds, stupidly fun side attractions — and one of the best end-of-year atmospheres you can ask for.