OCEAN GROVE - Live in Sydney
Mid-Week Madness at Factory Theatre
for the OCEAN GROVE Oddworld Underground Tour
Thursday 17th August 2026
Words and Visuals by: Jimmy Wah
The atmospheric warmth of the fairy lights in the courtyard, the street art on the walls, The Factory Theatre Food truck aroma, and the buzz of anticipation for an electrifying performance… these are all the elements that came together to make the air rich with that unmistakable camaraderie only live music can deliver. School-night shenanigans are always a struggle for those that work during the day, but that didn’t stop the stacked line-up of the Oddworld Underground Tour from delivering a banquet of beats and sonic exploits to fuel the week’s commitments. As fans and chancers wandered in from the streets, there was an optimistic energy cutting through the recently descended darkness. Nu-metal has seen a revival in recent years which could be seen just by the fashion at The Factory, but we were about to get a taste of just how heavy its resurgence has become.
First up was BLINDER, a South Australian nu-gaze outfit greeting a steady stream of newcomers who were already filling the floor. These young newcomers to the live music scene put together a solid set featuring tracks from their latest EP release low-res with recent singles chrome, shadows and hurting. The familiar blend of cinematic atmospherics, crushing guitars and explosive drums that we’ve come to know and love was punctuated by obvious influences from the early 00s. Will and Ella’s despondent vocals felt as if they were sailing across a sea of turn of nu-metal distortion, with Frankie and Dane holding down the bass-heavy groove. I’m quietly confident that we’ll be witnessing BLINDER grow into a familiar staple on the national stage.
Next up were Western Sydney locals, DEFICIT, who knocked the sugarcoat off the evening in the best way possible. Concert-goers looking to blow off steam before taking on the weekend were dealt a brutal assault of hardcore grooves dressed as nu-metal. Vocalist Nathan Newman demanded a psychotic mosh-pit that we soon witnessed would take no prisoners. I was immediately reminded of ALPHA WOLF’s recently departed vocalist Lochie Keogh who did an equally amazing job of hyping the crowd and injecting the room with energy. Mac Ryan on guitar, Michael Campbell on bass, and Zak Borg drums were a flawless extension of the front-man’s energy. Chugging riffs and blast beats turned The Factory floorinto a battlefield that would make any soldier blush.
Tonight’s special guests, CANE HILL, came all the way from the New Orleans to support OCEAN GROVE on their national tour for their first Australian visit in over a decade. These guys brought the perfect blend of evocative atmospherics and crushing brutality that combined the best of what the openers offered. The charisma of vocalist Elijah Witt was on show before the first song even finished, inviting the audience to become a part of what they had brought across the ocean. As the set continued, the hooded James Barnett on guitar revealed himself to become an activity powerhouse as Ryan Henriquez on bass made shadows dance with his formidable mop of hair. It was impossible not to be drawn to glimpses of Devin Clark behind the kit who showcased an absolute masterclass behind a stage that ebbed and flowed with the heavy dynamics CANE HILL possessed. The anticipation for this performance won’t be contained for so long next time. Australia loves CANE HILL.
Emerging through the mist came the act we’d all been waiting for, OCEAN GROVE, with Dale Tanner meeting a rapturous applause as he stepped onto the podium that now stretched across the front of the stage. The opening drop of JUNKIE$, was met with an explosive jump that sent a shockwave through the crowd whose ripples didn’t stop for the full 60 minute set. I’m always hypnotized by the energy that consumes any space where these guys perform whether its a contained room or an open field. It seems like no instruction is needed for arms to be raised and heads nodding in unison as strobes and smoke give way to the pump, party, pain and passion of the music. In the limited time that is offered by a 4 band bill in a mid week set, OCEAN GROVE were able to deliver a fulfilling taste across their discography, with songs like MY DISASTER and NO OFFENCE DETECTED from their latest album ODDWORLD, to deep cuts from The Rhapsody Tapes and Black Label.
As the set wore on, bodies meeting bodies in the moshpit gave way to bodies floating overhead, as Dale pumped up the crowd. It felt like we were swimming in a sea of 2000s fashion, with loose shirts, baggy pants, caps and beanies that extended from the floor to the stage. The familiar faces of Twiggy Hunter on bass and Matthew Kopp on keys were joined by the unmistakable energy of Sam Bassal on drums. The lesser known face of Zak Kopp on guitars brought a frenzied presence on stage, adding to the explosive dynamics of OCEAN GROVE. The weight of the nu-metal party was only replaced by the gravitational tones in songs like LAST DANCE where hands and fists were replaced by glowing lights and Dale reminding us all to embrace every moment. Like CANE HILL, the set was far too short and sweet for the appetite of the crowd but before the final song FLY AWAY, we were instructed to try crowd surfing if we’d never tried it before.
I’ve been to some unbelievable shows in 2026 but I walked away feeling like this one topped them all. If you’ve never seen OCEAN GROVE (or even if you have) I urge you to go to their next one. The energy of the entire line-up was next level.
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