Bleak Squad - Murwillumbah
Murwillumbah Regent Cinema, 5 Brisbane Street, 2484 Murwillumbah Kort
lau. 01.08.2026 19:30
It seems like Melbourne super-natural-group Bleak Squad are here to stay. The new Melbourne four-piece comprised of true Australian art-rock royalty: Adalita (Magic Dirt), Mick Harvey (Nick Cave & The Bad Seeds, PJ Harvey, The Birthday Party), Mick Turner (Dirty Three, Mess Esque) and Marty Brown (Art of Fighting) - are today announcing a run of shows in February and March 2026
Adding to their already announced festival appearances at Perth International Festival, Golden Plains and Riverboats, will be their first headline shows in Brisbane, Sydney and Canberra, as well as regional centres the Blue Mountains, Ballarat, Castlemaine, Eumundi and Murwillumbah.
Says Brown: “We looked at our calendars for next year and there were only a few weeks we were all in the country and available, so we’ve jam-packed as many shows into them as we could because god knows when the next opportunity to play live together will happen again”
Their debut album Strange Love has been a roaring, out-of-left-field success in 2025. Topping the AIR Chart, making a top 40 ARIA Chart debut, RRR and 3PBS Albums of the Week, and being shortlisted for The Australian Music Prize (to be announced on Thursday). Plus their first live shows that have left audiences mesmerised, including two shows at the Melbourne Recital Centre and a show in Sydney’s City Recital Hall with Ed Kuepper and Jim White.
As the Golden Plains blurb so rightly sums up:
“Ads and Harvey on vox, Turner on guitar and Brown behind the tubs. Hooboy, is this gonna be speeeeecial.
Squad goals.”
Flytjendur
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Bleak SquadMick Harvey
Mick Turner
Adalita
Marty Brown
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Feel PresentsBonnie Prince Billy, Bill Callahan, Built to Spill, Caribou, Dirty Three, Four Tet, Ed Kuepper, The Hard Quartet, The Mark Of Cain, Osees, Pigs x7
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AdalitaAdalita is a formidable Australian rock icon. She has cemented her well-earned place in the music industry as a highly respected solo artist, since first exploding into the local consciousness back in 1991 as a founding member and principal songwriter of multi-ARIA Award nominated band Magic Dirt.
2022 saw the much-anticipated release of Adalita’s third solo album, Inland. Shimmering with introspection, the record benefits from a solid gestation period, and bristles with raw emotion, cerebral lyrics, and her trademark kick-in-the-guts guitar. This dynamic new work is a layered exploration of self, a tribute to a certain time and place, an analysis of infatuation and obsession, and a celebration of the empowerment of letting go. An array of powerhouse musician friends feature, including multi-instrumentalist (and producer and co-producer on three tracks) Marty Brown, Matt Bailey, Dan McKay, Laura Jean Englert, rising stars Ivy and Mabel Windred-Wornes, and the legendary Mick Harvey. INLAND has had an incredible reception complete with rave reviews from both the industry and fans alike. Upon its debut the album hit number 4 on the ARIA Australian Albums Chart, number 2 on the ARIA Vinyl Albums Chart and number 29 on the national ARIA Albums Chart. INLAND was nominated for the 18th Australian Music Prize (AMP) Award 2022, and also bestowed with feature album of the week at both Triple R and PBS FM Melbourne.
Adalita’s self-titled debut album launched her solo career in 2011, to rave reviews and packed houses on her subsequent national tour. That year was a big one, with national support slots for Blondie and The Pretenders, a special performance for His Holiness The Dalai Lama, and accolades including Best Independent Album at the Australian Independent Record (AIR) Awards and a shortlisting for the Australian Music Prize.
In 2013 her follow up album All Day Venus elevated her rapidly rising popularity, and secured a 2014 ARIA Award nomination for Best Female Artist as well as The Age/Music Victoria award for Best Female.
The COVID years haven’t slowed Adalita down. Her web-based Sunday Sessions were a huge hit in 2021 with isolated fans. She’s now returned to live shows around the country, including various regional and festival appearances, a slate of Rolling Stones and Bob Dylan tribute shows, and a performance at the most remote festival in the world, the Big Red Bash.
Adalita has also rekindled her creative journey with Magic Dirt, who reformed in 2018 to the delight of their loyal fanbase, having garnered nine ARIA Award nominations and secured four Top 40 releases on the ARIA Albums Chart the first time around.
To top it off, Adalita continues to work on a slate of creative collaborations, is a regular guest speaker and artist mentor. She is also a passionate photographer and filmmaker.