One of the highlights of Bluesfest this year was set to be the reunion of Split Enz after 20 years but when Bluesfest fell by the wayside, the fate of the Split Enz reunion seemed somewhat unclear. Yet not only did the tour go ahead but an extra Brisbane sideshow was added, making this reunion of the more eclectic side of the Finn brothers bigger and better than ever.

Having reviewed both Tim Finn and Crowded House as live shows in the past year, it was a treat to see them now in three different contexts. This is probably the weirdest and wackiest of them all, with the singers showing off their more experimental side as part of one of the band that put the brothers onto the world map. Crowded House was definitely the bigger of the two bands internationally, but Split Enz has a cult following within Australia and New Zealand that probably even exceeds the love for Crowded House in some circles. This was shown by the fact there was barely a seat empty in the cavernous TikTok Entertainment Centre for the first of their two Sydney shows, with everyone eagerly anticipating the band’s biggest hits. 

First, the crowd were treated to a 40-minute set from Vika & Linda, which showed off some beautiful gospel vocals before Split Enz took to the stage. It was a great appetiser, with the duo singing in perfect harmony and evoking influences as far and wide as ABBA and even the Finn brothers themselves. It was a fitting start to the night, one that very much set the tone for the audience, most of whom arrived early to catch their set.

When Split Enz took to the stage, the band kicked off the night with the energetic “Shark Attack”, emerging from beneath an orange tarp in a unique and exciting opening to reveal the Finn brothers in their trademark colourful, snazzy suits which added to the retro vibe of the night. Tim Finn largely took the reins as frontman for much of the set, while Neil Finn largely remained on guitar although he still delivered some terrific vocal moments throughout the night. Neil’s vocals were definitely the stronger of the two, with Tim struggling at times, especially on some of the higher notes but this was a performance drenched in nostalgia, so it mattered little for the capacity crowd in attendance. From the second song, “History Never Repeats”, the audience were up and singing along, creating a joyous atmosphere as many fans relived what would have been their youth, given Split Enz disbanded in 1984. Even for those in the room born decades after the peak of the band, the energy in the room was palpable, with vocal struggles overlooked as everyone basked in the oddity and wonder of the songs.  

The band sprinkled their biggest hits throughout the set, performing “Dirty Creature” early on in what proved to be one of the highlights of the night, with particularly strong vocals and instrumentals that worked beautifully for the number. Eddie Rayner’s keyboard work was especially impressive throughout the evening, helping recreate the strange edge that made Split Enz so distinctive in the first place. Soon after, they followed with “Message to My Girl”, which was another great rendition that had the crowd up and dancing before the band moved into an instrumental version of “Double Happy”, accompanied by a parade of classic Split Enz costumes on the screen behind them. 

One of the more beautiful moments of the concert came when Tim Finn sat down at the piano to perform “Stuff and Nonsense”. Although his vocals were not perfect, the emotion of the song really shone through within what was otherwise a fairly zany and lively set. That strong balladic moment provided a beautiful contrast and was really well received by the audience. Ironically, “My Mistake” had to restart due to a mistake from the Finn brothers themselves, but it quickly turned into a lively singalong, with the crowd chanting the refrain straight back at the band. Moments like this, alongside the relaxed banter between the brothers, made the performance feel warm and genuinely human rather than overly polished.

Split Enz saved many of their biggest hits for last, with a run through “Six Months in a Leaky Boat”, “I Got You” and “I See Red” before closing the main set. The encore of “Spellbound”, “I Hope I Never” and “Strait Old Line” ensured the audience left in delight after a set full of passion, humour and great music.

Noel Crombie was another major highlight, closing out the night with his iconic spoon solo while also delivering some terrific instrumental moments throughout the concert including a short moment on drums at the end and a guitar solo midway through the show that was slightly tongue-in-cheek but still had genuine skill behind it. Crombie brought entertainment and also cohesiveness to the set to support the two Finn brothers on vocals, which was absolutely vital to the overall experience. Even after all these years, the band still managed to feel remarkably energetic and youthful onstage, with the crowd revelling in the vibe created in the venue. 

Overall, this was a really fun night of music that brought a huge amount of nostalgia for many in the audience. While the vocals definitely struggled at times compared to the original recordings, it was still a thoroughly entertaining occasion, with the whole band showing what absolute professionals they are. The songs were eclectic, experimental and captured the spirit of Australian and New Zealand music in the 1970s and 1980s, while also laying the groundwork for bands like INXS and, of course, Crowded House that would follow. A great night of nostalgia and fun, and yet another feather in the Finn brothers’ cap. One would think this might be the last Split Enz reunion and the crowd definitely savoured it as such, but I have a suspicion that the Split Enz story might not be over yet. 

Rating: ★★★★

Split Enz – TikTok Entertainment Centre – 18 May 2026

All photo credits: Tom Grut