Spiderbait have been touring around the country as part of their 30th anniversary tour of Ivy and the Big Apples, with their Sydney show being their penultimate performance before closing out the tour in Newcastle. The Enmore Theatre was sold out, with fans spanning the band’s entire journey filling the venue.

The band opened with a bang as they commenced the Ivy and the Big Apples portion of the set with the driving “Chest Hair” before moving into “Hot Water & Milk”. They then had the crowd singing along to “Buy Me a Pony”, with energy and excitement pulsating throughout the audience.

The band had a strong stage presence, showed great musicianship and delighted the crowd, with an excellent flow throughout the set as they moved into “When Fusion Ruled the Earth” and “Calypso”. The group did not interact much with the audience, instead choosing to focus on powering through as much material as possible. This was generally appreciated by the crowd, many of whom were decked out in Spiderbait merchandise in anticipation of the night.

The mix of Kram and Janet on lead vocals, while also sharing guitar duties, was appreciated by the crowd as it allowed the band to show off their artistry and synergy as an ensemble, while Whitt also showcased his fantastic musicality. There were drum solos, pulsating guitar riffs and everything from Janet’s softer vocals to Kram’s hard rock delivery, meaning there was something for everyone throughout the gig.

After moving through the rest of the album, the band returned for an encore, which first brought out the hidden track “Big Furry Green Monster” from their debut album before moving into some of their biggest hits. As they launched into “Shazam!”, the energy in the audience stepped up another notch before the whole crowd screamed along to “F*cken Awesome”. The band then closed the night with their rocking cover of “Black Betty”, complete with excellent guitar work.

“We’ll never forget this night,” said Kram. “All I wanted to say to you is you’re f*cken awesome.”

Overall, this was a great gig which showcased the breadth of Spiderbait’s material to their fans. It was a loyal audience and the band played to them, focussing on powering through as much material as possible rather than a lot of talk. While the set dragged a little especially towards the end of the album portion, it was still a fabulous night for everyone and a great celebration of Australian music. Long may Spiderbait continue to shine!

Rating: ★★★★

Spiderbait – Enmore Theatre – 31 July 2026

Photo credit: Wilk