Dragon are a band etched into Australia’s history. Starting off in New Zealand before coming across the ditch to huge success in the 70s and 80s, they became almost as iconic as the Australian music industry itself. The band has gone through a few personnel changes, reuniting in 2006 with Mark Williams as the new lead singer following Marc Hunter’s passing, Bruce Reid on guitars and Pete Drummond on drums. While sporting a new line-up, the band were playing at the iconic Bridge Hotel in Rozelle, the longest-running independent live music pub in Sydney, which has almost as long and storied a history as the band. The venue was completely sold out and the crowd was ready for a wonderful night of music.

The band went through their entire setlist with passion and pizzazz, from the powerful “Speak No Evil” to “Magic”, along with a call-and-response in “O Zambezi”. The band were in fine form from the start and really had the crowd engaged, with Mark Williams showing off his powerful voice that reverberated through the venue very well while being well supported by the rest of the group.

The band have had so many hits and there was a fantastic multigenerational crowd in the audience, with people of all ages enjoying the show and the wonderful music that encapsulated the Australian pub rock scene of the 70s and 80s. The music is difficult and so the band showed immense skill in nailing it, but also showed great presence, which was reciprocated by the audience. There was also some time for some Mark Williams numbers, with “Show No Mercy” being a highlight.

The band then really revved up the audience with “April Sun in Cuba” and “Are You Old Enough” before closing with the indomitable “Rain”, which just had such power and poignancy in the Bridge Hotel. Williams turned the mic over to the crowd to sing back the Aussie classic, soaking the audience in joy and wonder.

Overall, this was a wonderful night which showed off the best of Australian pub rock music and just how special it is to so many. The Bridge Hotel was the perfect host for such a venue, with its history rivalling the band’s in stature and its place in Australian pub culture. This really was such a celebration of what it means to be an Australian music lover. While the band may have gone through several iterations, this felt as powerful as ever.

Rating: ★★★★1/2

Dragon – Bridge Hotel – 11 September 2026