Hilltop Hoods is one of Australia’s most successful music groups, having pioneered and transformed the genre of Australian hip hop, putting it on the world stage. For this latest tour, they have sold out arenas all around the country, with two capacity shows at Qudos Bank Arena in Sydney.

The arena was heaving in anticipation when the Hoods took to the stage, and the group started strong with “Leave Me Lonely”, “Chase That Feeling” and “The Nosebleed Section” to have the crowd up on their feet from the very start. It was an electric energy, with the mosh pit filled to the brim and bouncing in unison to the songs. It was a great experience and a pleasure to watch and listen to.

The two stars of the group, Pressure (Daniel Smith) and Suffa (Matt Lambert) were on fire from the start, showing great energy and an amazing flow as they bounced around the stage. In some ways, this was a new experience for them as well, as they asked the audience how many had actually been to a Hilltop Hoods show before, which was met with a polite response. But when they asked who hadn’t been to a Hilltop Hoods show before, the crowd erupted. This is a testament to the group’s staying power across the Australian music industry over the last 35 years that they continue to pick up fans along their journey. 

“We’re just a little band from Adelaide so to come and play in Sydney for 30,000 people this weekend is insane,” they said. 

They then proceeded to perform some songs from their new album, Fall from the Light, supported by Nyassa, who showed an incredible voice and great stage presence, with Pressure and Suffa running around the stage at lightning pace as she sang. They kept the tempo of the show moving with collaborations with Montaigne, Marlon, Adrian Eagle and Illy which added some variety to the show and showed off just how many hits the group has had across a wide range of styles. A whimsical cover of “Don’t Worry, Be Happy” was a nice change of pace before the group played “Don’t Happy, Be Worry” off their latest album.

By this point, the crowd was really pumped up and the mosh pit was absolutely thriving as the group brought Matiu Walters on stage to perform “Never Coming Home” before closing out the main set with “Rattling the Keys to the Kingdom”. It was a fantastic set of music and the crowd absolutely loved every minute, with Suffa and Pressure showing that they’re still very much at the top of the game.

After the main set, there was quite a delay when the DJ’s turntables malfunctioned. But eventually, the crowd got what they were waiting for in “Still Standing” before the group closed out with the iconic “Cosby Sweater” which had everyone in the audience singing along and dancing as if they had no cares. It was a wonderful and energetic way to finish a great night of Australian music.

Overall, this was a fantastic performance, with some of Australia’s greatest taking to the stage and delivering what was a superb show. It was well produced, cohesive, it had variety and it had energy which was exactly what the crowd needed. The Hoods should also be commended for bringing out a bunch of fantastic Australian vocalists, as this really added to the ambience and felt incredibly important for Australian music. A great concert and a fantastic occasion for all at Qudos.

Rating: ★★★★1/2

Hilltop Hoods – Qudos Bank Arena – 27 February 2026