May 2025: Beats Round Up
Zara Richards gets down with what’s happening in SA when it comes to hip-hop, house and techno.
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You Should Listen To
Motez – ‘Extra Hard’
Motez never misses. Returning with his first track for 2025, the Adelaide-based producer (who has amassed more than 20 million streams and sold out tours across Aus) turns the heat up to eleven on 'Extra Hard'. Pulled from Bad Boombox’s fourth Hot Meal Brigade mixtape, the two-minute-58 track demands you delay your seasonal hibernation. This hard-groove cut is dynamic and fresh, pulsating with enough energy to conjure damp, dense nightclubs – no matter what time of day it spins. Irresistibly bouncy, this hedonistic track is built for dancefloors at 2 am.
You Should See
Mount Kimbie (UK)
Headlining new festival Porch & Recreation this June, UK duo Mount Kimbie touch down in Australia for the first time since 2018. Born from London’s electronic underground, the two-piece have built a reputation as sonic shapeshifters, folding in “found sounds” that pull from electronic, indie and shoegaze influences to create “ambiguously danceable” tracks. A must-see.
June 1 | Burnside Ballroom | Tickets
Mall Grab
Marking 10 years behind the decks, Mall Grab embarks on his largest headline tour to date. The Australian-born producer and DJ is one of the most influential in the last decade, drawing on techno, trance and lo-fi house to build a noise that’s entirely singular. And with his highly anticipated second album on the horizon, there’s never been a better time to experience his deep cuts and future anthems live.
June 12 | Hindley Street Music Hall | Ticekts
Four More
2BSCENE x CMMONPPL x ACETIC
The beloved alleyway of Nevermind will play host to the union of these three platforms, plus selectors Ivy, xla (BER/MEL), Harry Prider b2b cu.b.
May 3 | Nevermind
Signal + Synthesis
Expect “an exploration of sound texture and communication,” when Passport Duo (ITL/USA) headline this immersive evening, ft. visuals by Joe F and stage design by Hari Koutlakis.
May 9 | The Lab
Mellow Magic Sunday
If you haven't made it to one of these intimate celebrations of SA’s DJ community, take this as a sign. The 2025 season kicks off with Gratts, Tory Kennedy, Ed Temple and more.
July 5 | Brighton & Seacliff Yacht Club
Kiasmos
The Faroese-Icelandic experimental duo will ignite Adelaide’s electronic scene with their minimal techno and orchestral edge this Illuminate Adelaide.
July 18 | Hindley Street Music Hall
The Original Wailers with Al Anderson are performing all the hits from Legend: The Best of Bob Marley & The Wailers.
The R&B singer and rapper will be joined on the road by Majid Jordan.
The trio are also embarking on a national tour this July.
Fans can catch the singer and dancer at the AEC Arena this September.
A record number of performers will take to stages across the city and North Adelaide for this year’s Make Music Day.
The expanded set includes remixes from horsegiirL, The Dare and FDC DJs.
To The Grave will be joined by American death metal meets hardcore outfit No Cure.
The tour arrives in support of Holly Hebe’s new EP, Mood Ring.
This is the latest tease of Bachelor Girl’s upcoming album, Waiting For The Day: Artist Sessions.
This is the first release from the Leeds’ trio since 2023.
This is the UK trip hop outfit’s first headline tour of Australia in over 15 years.
The tour follows the American singer-songwriter’s sold-out 2024 tour.
The track is taken from the quartet’s upcoming EP, Living Room.
The American rapper, singer and multi-instrumentalist is finally touring Australia this year.
The singer-songwriter is touring in support of her new album, Sugar On Blackstone.
The rocking six-piece have also shared new single ‘Warna Prut’.
The legendary UK alt-dance trio are hitting Adelaide one last time this November.
Catch the moody ‘90s inspired electronic artist in Adelaide this August.
‘Are You Getting High’ follows on from the band’s single ‘Goanna’.
The original voice of The Stranglers has moved his tour to December.
‘Sunburnt’ follows the EP’s first single, ‘Important To You’.
The tour is a celebration of their upcoming new album, Cheesy Love Songs.
Thelma Plum is stripping things back to basics for her upcoming national tour.
The lineup also features Meg Mac, Mia Dyson, Lime Cordiale and more.
The Grammy Award-winning performer returns in November.
This is the Melbourne garage outfit’s first album in seven years.
The ceremony will induct the likes of Gurrumul, The Living End, Kate Ceberano, Spiderbait and more into the ARIA Hall of Fame.
The deathcore heroes will be joined on tour by special guests Whitechapel (Aus only) and The Acacia Strain.
Daniel Rankine will mentor students at Adelaide University’s Centre for Aboriginal Studies in Music (CASM).
Catch Roger Sanchez, Utah Saints, John Course and more.