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Photo – IZZIE AUSTIN

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LANEWAY FESTIVAL 2026
Sideshows are here!

BENEE, Cavetown, Geese, Gigi Perez, Jensen McRae,
Malcolm Todd, Mt. Joy, Oklou, Wisp

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Photo – Charlie Hardy / www.charliehardy.com.au

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Following record demand that saw Laneway Festival sell out in Sydney and Melbourne in under an hour, Handsome Tours, Laneway Presents and Astral People are proud to announce a series of sideshows showcasing some of the lineup’s brightest stars and most exciting new voices. From debuts to long-awaited returns, these shows are your chance to catch Laneway favourites up close and personal.

Benee

BENEE

Six years after her last Laneway appearance, BENEE is finally back – this time with three headline shows in Sydney, Melbourne and Torquay. The New Zealand artist behind ‘Supalonely’, ‘Glitter’ and ‘Soaked’ has spent the past few years taking her genre-blurring alt-pop to stages worldwide, touring with Olivia Rodrigo and Tate McRae, and playing festivals across the globe.

Her long-awaited sophomore album Ur An Angel I’m Just Particles is out November 7, led by new singles ‘Off The Rails’ and ‘Cinnamon’. The record shows BENEE at her most vulnerable and inventive yet, weaving sharp storytelling through restless pop production. Fresh from supporting Tate McRae across the UK and Europe, she now brings her magnetic live energy and new songs to Liberty Hall, 170 Russell and the Torquay Hotel.

Cavetown / Photo – Jaxon Whittington

CAVETOWN

Since first uploading songs to YouTube as a teenager in Cambridge, Cavetown’s Robin Skinner has become an anchor for a generation of listeners who’ve found solace in his music. His new album Running With Scissors marks a bold new chapter — exploring family, identity and the leap into adulthood — and features first-time collaborations that expand his sound in vital new ways.

With billions of streams, multiple platinum singles and festival appearances at Glastonbury, Lollapalooza, Primavera – and now Laneway Festival – Cavetown’s Sydney and Melbourne sideshows will bring together the songs that made him a bedroom-pop icon and the ones shaping where he’s headed next.

GEESE

GEESE

Fresh off their third studio album Getting Killed, New York City four-piece Geese are set to make their long-awaited Australian debut. Chaotic in form but driven by intent, their new record is a mix of tenderness and fury that pushes the band further into untamed territory.

Garage riffs collide with Ukrainian choir samples; hissing drum machines pulse beneath screeching guitars; lullabies dissolve into furious experiments. Getting Killed captures Geese at their most unpredictable – a band tearing up their own foundations to see what comes next. This February, they quench the thirst of their cult-like fanbase with headline shows in Sydney, Melbourne and Perth alongside their spot on the Laneway Festival lineup.

Gigi Perez

GIGI PEREZ

Try to hold back your tears — Gigi Perez is making her Australian debut. Born in New Jersey and raised in Florida, Perez first broke through with ‘Sometimes (Backwood)’, which hit #1 on Spotify’s U.S. Viral chart and has since clocked over 200M streams. Her debut EP How To Catch A Falling Knife (2023) and singles like ‘Sally’ and ‘Figurines’ showcased an artist blending grit with vulnerability.

In 2024, Perez earned her first U.S. Billboard Hot 100 entry with ‘Sailor Song’, a career-defining track now surpassing 1.7B global streams. In April of 2025, she released her latest album At The Beach, In Every Life. Following tours across the US, UK and Europe – and a support slot for Laneway Festival alumni girl in red – Perez announces two long-awaited Australian headline shows in Sydney and Melbourne.

Jensen McRae

JENSEN MCRAE

Los Angeles songwriter Jensen McRae brings her deeply personal storytelling to Sydney and Melbourne for her first Australian shows. Blending folk and alt-pop with lyrical precision, her music feels like a late-night conversation that cuts straight to the core.

With vivid imagery, sharp social commentary and a voice that aches with honesty, she arrives in Australia hot on the heels of her 2025 album I Don’t Know How But They Found Me! McRae is carving out her own lane – one where storytelling reigns and emotions are front and centre.

Malcolm Todd

MALCOLM TODD

Los Angeles-born songwriter Malcolm Todd has gone from scooping ice cream to racking up millions of streams in just a few years. After a viral breakthrough with ‘Roommates’ and his mixtape Sweet Boy (2024), Malcolm Todd doubled down with his 2025 self-titled debut album – a record that blends humour, honesty and restless ambition into a singular voice.

Featuring Omar Apollo on the standout single ‘Bleed’ the album captures Todd at his most fearless, pushing his pop instincts into bold new territory. With a devoted fanbase and a reputation for chaotic, heartfelt live shows, Malcolm Todd now makes his Australian and New Zealand debut with headline sideshows in Sydney, Melbourne and Wellington.

MT. JOY

MT. JOY

Since forming in 2016, the Philadelphia native indie-rock band has put in their 10,000 hours preparing for this very moment. With over one billion streams, half a million tickets sold, and four acclaimed records – Mt. Joy (2018), Rearrange Us (2020), Orange Blood (2022) and Hope We Have Fun (2025) – the band have become one of indie rock’s most beloved acts, selling out the likes of Madison Square Garden, Red Rocks and The Greek Theatre.

Mt. Joy’s rise has been fuelled by powerful songwriting and a reputation for electrifying live shows. In 2025, Mt. Joy continued their ascent with the release of their fourth record, Hope We Have Fun, and their wildly successful North American tour of the same name. In February 2026, Mt. Joy make their Australia and New Zealand debut at Laneway Festival with headline shows in Sydney and Melbourne.

Oklou

OKLOU

Before the world knew her, French musician Oklou was already the underground’s secret weapon – collaborating with Caroline Polachek, Sega Bodega, Flume and Shygirl while quietly redefining the edges of electronic pop.

Now, with her debut album choke enough out in the world, she’s firmly at the forefront of the scene. Across 13 tracks, Oklou builds a world of lush ambience and surreal intimacy, turning electronic production into something cinematic and deeply human. February 2026 will mark her debut Australian shows.

Wisp

WISP

It only took one viral moment for Wisp to cement herself as shoegaze’s new force. Since her breakout viral single ‘Your Face’ racked up over 130M streams, Wisp has gone on to tour with Slowdive and Panchiko, play festivals from Coachella to Camp Flog Gnaw, and earn praise from the New York Times and NPR.

Fresh off the release of her debut album If Not Winter, the 21-year-old Californian artist is bringing her restless, romantic shoegaze down under. Her Sydney and Melbourne shows – alongside her Laneway debut – will be the first chance for Australian fans to experience her immersive sound live.

Photo – Charlie Hardy / www.charliehardy.com.au

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Handsome Tours & Laneway
presents

BENEE

Wed 11 Feb – Liberty Hall, Sydney
Sat 14 Feb – Torquay Hotel
Sun 15 Feb – 170 Russell, Melbourne

CAVETOWN

Wed 11 Feb – Liberty Hall, Sydney
Sat 14 Feb – Torquay Hotel
Sun 15 Feb – 170 Russell, Melbourne

GEESE

Wed 11 Feb – Metro Theatre, Sydney
Thu 12 Feb – Croxton Bandroom, Melbourne
Sat 14 Feb – Freo.Social, Perth

GIGI PEREZ

Tue 10 Feb – Enmore Theatre, Sydney
Wed 11 Feb – Forum, Melbourne

JENSEN MCRAE

Thu 12 Feb – Metro Theatre, Sydney
Sat 14 Feb – 170 Russell, Melbourne

MALCOLM TODD

Wed 4 Feb – Meow Nui, Wellington
Tue 10 Feb – Roundhouse, Sydney
Wed 11 Feb – Northcote Theatre, Melbourne

MT. JOY

Mon 9 Feb – Enmore Theatre, Sydney
Tue 10 Feb – Forum, Melbourne

OKLOU

Tue 10 Feb – Metro Theatre, Sydney
Thu 12 Feb – Northcote Theatre, Melbourne

WISP

Thu 12 Feb – Liberty Hall, Sydney
Sat 14 Feb – Croxton Bandroom, Melbourne

Presale:

Thursday 9 October (local time)

9am – Malcolm Todd, Geese, Oklou
11am – Gigi Perez, Wisp
1pm – Jensen McRae, Mt. Joy
3pm – Cavetown, Benee

General On Sale:

Friday 10 October (local time)

9am – Malcolm Todd, Geese, Oklou
11am – Gigi Perez, Wisp
1pm – Jensen McRae, Mt. Joy
3pm – Cavetown, Benee

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LANEWAY FESTIVAL
2026 Dates

Presented by Triple j

AUCKLAND / Tāmaki Makaurau (18+) – SELLING FAST
Thursday 5 February 2026 – Western Springs

GOLD COAST (16+) – SELLING FAST
Yugambeh Jagun
Saturday 7 February 2026 — Southport Sharks

SYDNEY (16+) – SOLD OUT
Gadigal & Bidjigal
Sunday 8 February 2026 — Centennial Park

MELBOURNE (16+) – SOLD OUT
Wurundjeri Biik 
Friday 13 February 2026 — Flemington Park

ADELAIDE (16+) – SELLING FAST
Kaurna Yerta
Saturday 14 February 2026 — Adelaide Showgrounds

PERTH (16+) – SELLING FAST
Whadjuk Boodjar
Sunday 15 February 2026 — Arena Joondalup

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Joey Valence & Brae / Photo – JARED TINETTI

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About LANEWAY FESTIVAL

Laneway Festival began in 2004 at St. Jerome’s Bar — a tiny, ex-Swedish meatball shop turned speakeasy hidden down Melbourne’s Caledonian Lane. Opened by Jerome Borazio as a hangout for friends, the bar quickly became a hub for like-minded music lovers. When friend and music booker Danny Rogers returned from New York, the pair decided to put on Sunday gigs in the bar’s back yard.

By February 2005, the Summer Series had spilled into the laneway itself. Posters were printed, restaurants sold food out their back doors, and a makeshift stage was thrown up at one end of the alley. The sold-out street party had no production manager, few rules, and an entire community behind it. A festival was born.

Twenty-one years later, Laneway Festival is one of the most loved and respected live music events across Australia and New Zealand — a tastemaker festival renowned for discovery, community, and championing the most exciting artists from around the world.

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Follow LANEWAY FESTIVAL
Website – Instagram – Facebook – Spotify

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AMNPLIFY – DB