The annual celebration of Australia's cherished '80s-'90s pub-rock culture, Melbourne's Wanstock returns for two evenings of boisterous Aussie rock & roll in March.
With Wanstock alumni including Dragon, The Kevin Borich Express, Spectrum, Hush, The Black Sorrows, and Baby Animals, the Friday instalment of Wanstock – which was born in 2018 from organiser Geoff Wansbrough's love of the legendary Aussie pub-rock era – welcomes back three-time ARIA Award winners Baby Animals (who'll headline Friday's line-up) who were one of Australia's biggest rock bands of the early-mid '90s (touring with the likes of Extreme and Robert Plant)."We are super excited to be heading back to Wanstock for the second time," declares Baby Animals. "We had a blast at the first one and cannot wait to return for another rocking show!"
Late '90s, early 2000s rock heroes Taxiride led by original member Jason Singh, bring their catalogue of hits (including 'Creepin' Up Slowly' and 'Get Set') to Wanstock alongside Aussie covers sensations Strait Shooters (who cover everyone from Midnight Oil through to Cold Chisel), who return to the Wanstock stage after a rousing appearance at the 2024 edition.
"Wanstock. . . picking up where Woodstock left off," shares Singh. "Looking forward to joining a long list of incredible artists and bands that have played Wanstock over the years, bring on 2025." Melbourne rockers known for their stomping live show, Rattlincane flesh out the Friday line-up.
Set to take over Shoppingtown Hotel in Doncaster (14-15 March), the Saturday evening will feature a number of international arrivals fronted by UK power-pop rockers The Babys, who are celebrating their 50th anniversary in 2025.
With such hits as 'Isn't It Time', 'Every Time I Think Of You', 'Back On My Feet Again', 'Midnight Rendezvous' and 'Head First', The Babys have survived line-up changes and the shifting tides of the music industry to remain a regular touring band, recently playing with Rick Springfield in Fort Dodge, Iowa.
New Zealand's new wave rockers Mi-Sex will also jump onto the Wanstock stage performing music from a catalogue that produced multiple Top 10 hits across five studio albums, including 1979's 'Graffiti Crimes' and 1980's 'Space Race'.
"It's such an honour to share the bill with The Babys at Wanstock 2025," Mi-Sex keyboardist Murray Burns says. "'Isn't It Time' must be one of the biggest British hits from the '70s and remains one of the best rock vocal performances to this day, so our first trip to Wanstock is gonna be a blast!"
Returning to the Wanstock stage once again in 2025, following their headline outing back in 2020 and performing at the 2024 edition, will be the Ted Mulry Gang, the group behind the 1975 smash single 'Jump In My Car'.
Two local acts return for their back-to-back Wanstock performances, with rock trio Standing Room Only and emerging alternative punks Day Dreamers completing the Saturday line-up.
"I grew up in that awesome pub rock era of Australian music," shares Wansbrough. "Every pub had bands on, and the cream rose to the top and we gave the world acts such as INXS and AC/DC.
"As such, a few years ago, I was having a birthday and thought: maybe I should book a favourite band. Then I thought, maybe I will book several of my favourite bands. The idea grew from there.
"There are three aspects to Wanstock: One: enjoying some of those classic bands of our youth; two: giving some emerging talent a chance to play; and three: having some fun while we still can.
"It was getting too much of a struggle to fit all the bands on one day," Wan continues, "hence the expansion to two next year. I am really looking forward to this, with such great acts as The Babys in Australia for the first time in a very long time, and the hard rocking Baby Animals. With all the other great supports, it will be an unforgettable couple of nights."
Tickets are on sale.
Wanstock 2025 takes place at Shoppingtown Hotel (Melbourne) 14-15 March.
Wanstock 2025 Line-up
FRIDAYBaby Animals
Taxiride feat. Jason Singh
Strait Shooters
Rattlincane
SATURDAY
The Babys
Mi-Sex
Ted Mulry Gang
Standing Room Only
Day Dreamers
