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 release of ‘Don’t Worry ‘Bout Me’ signals the next chapter in Pez’s storied career.
Be prepared for a face-melting night of metal mayhem when Cenotaph hits Adelaide this October.
Catch Brazilian icons Azymuth and nu bossa star Sabrina Malheiros at Lion Arts Factory this October.
The alt-country, roots, blues, folk, indie and rock festival features over 25 acts across 12 venues around Semaphore.
The Whitlams team up with the country’s best symphony orchestras for a run of shows next year.
The two bands will take over Lion Arts Factory this October.
Catch the indie folk project of Emily Sprague live at The Scenic Hotel this December.
This marks the second collaboration between the indie rockers and country superstar.
The indie folk singer-songwriter Isabel Rumble has announced three headline shows in South Australia.
Catch the indietronica at Lion Arts Factory this October.
Nick Cave & The Bad Seeds return home for a run of shows in early 2026.
The seven-piece behind viral hits ‘Boys’ and ‘Keith’ kick off their national tour in Adelaide this September.
SoLUNA has been described as an “exploration of sound and setting progressing from day to night showcasing world-class progressive and house lineups.”
Get down to The Joiners Arms this October for a celebration of all things reggae.
‘Jealous Type’ is taken from Doja Cat’s upcoming fifth album Vie.
Metalcore heroes Better Lovers will be joined by Split Chain and Blind Girls.
Matt Hansen returns to Australia as part of Strummingbird Festival and announces headline shows.
Kicking My Feet arrives Friday 17 October via Recess Records / Virgin Music Group.
Aussie funk heroes Skunkhour are celebrating 30 years since the release of their iconic single, ‘Up To Our Necks In It’.
The 10th edition of the New Year’s Eve fest also includes appearances from Addison Rae, JoJo, 070 Shake and many more.
The Cali punk act will perform Hoss in full alongside a set of fan favourites.
UK D&B heavyweight Wilkinson is back for a huge national run this November.
The track is the third single taken from David Byrne’s upcoming new album, Who Is The Sky?.
Catch the talented singer-songwriter performing at Summertown Studios in October.
The talented singer-songwriter will perform tracks from Feeding the Wolves alongside fan favourites this November.
Australia’s newest EDM fest takes over Sydney and Melbourne across one weekend in November.
Catch the Melbourne rockers at The Grace in October.
Check out a range of incredible live performances and interactive ewxperiences on Sunday 28 September.
Head down to Whitmore Square/Iparrityi for a day of live music, food and market stalls this November.
This year’s festival also features performances from Marc Rebillet, Duke Dumont, Hot Dub Time Machine and more.