Iggy Pop Has Still Got It – Summer Concert Tour 2026 In Review

10:30am, arriving early to claim my patch of grass under a tree, marking it with my complimentary deck chair. Then a trip to the bar for elevenses. Iggy Pop was my target today, after having to leave the Big Day Out 2007 early and missing his headline set with The Stooges on that occasion. So, I was never going to miss this opportunity!
Also having never seen any of the other bands live, I was genuinely keen to catch their vibe. Every one of them delivered. Despite my weather app screaming “100% rain,” we barely copped a light sprinkle, just enough to cool things down. No harsh sun, a friendly, up-for-it crowd, and a beautifully run event. Thanks to Greenstone Entertainment for putting on such a quality day.

Zed kicked the day into gear with Renegade Fighter, instantly locking in the crowd and setting a confident, upbeat tone. A run of well-loved classics followed before the band shifted gears into newer material from their latest album, with Face The Rain landing particularly well. Ali Palmer stepped in for a guest vocal moment that lifted the set nicely. Closing with Glorafilla before an unexpected encore of Radiohead’s Creep, Zed delivered a tight, generous opener that warmed the amphitheatre perfectly.

Hoodoo Gurus were next and now we’re cooking. They brought sunburnt surf riffs, ripping through a hit-stacked set with zero filler. Tojo, I Was A Kamikaze Pilot, Bittersweet, and How Many Times rolled out effortlessly, followed by My Girl, 1,000 Miles, and a roaring What’s My Scene. They sealed it with a rousing, roof-lifting (if there was a roof) Like Wow – Wipeout! Like wow indeed. No misses, no mucking about, just seasoned pros delivering a masterclass in Australian beach-rock.

Joan Jett & The Blackhearts hit hard and early, opening with the Runaways’ Cherry Bomb before tearing into Light of Day, a Springsteen-penned track. Political messages were clear and unapologetic, drawing big reactions. Material from her recent Mindsets EP, including Make the Music Go Boom, punched through strongly. Highlight was a blockbuster closing run of I Love Rock ’n Roll, Crimson & Clover, Hate Myself for Loving You, before circling back to Bad Reputation. Ms Jett’s razor-sharp guitar reminded everyone exactly who was in charge.

Iggy Pop blew the decibel meter when he crashed the stage, instantly tripling the noise. “Hello neighbours, Iggy is here!” Nearly 80 years old and moving like a punked-up energizer bunny, he wasted no time launching straight into Stooges classics TV Eyes and Raw Power. Lust for Life with a wink, a pose, and that unmistakable snarl. “I’m just a modern guy,” he sang at us while posing as a senior-supermodel – topless, camp and scary. Real Wild Child thrown in for good measure got the crowd moving.

From there it was a savage dive back into Stooges territory. Death Trip dragged us into the abyss before snapping back to 1969 and a ferocious I Wanna Be Your Dog. Iggy barked at the band to speed it up, then immediately detonated into Search and Destroy, faster, louder, nastier. No quarter given. The six-piece band gave massive depth and muscle to songs that once thrived on raw minimalism, amplifying everything without scraping off the danger.

Iggy stopped just long enough to sip a Cloudy Bay Sauvignon Blanc, then the chaos resumed as he prowled the stage from side to side, complete dynamic menace. Nightclubbing appeared late, slower and darker, but even that didn’t last long. Seemingly bored with restraint the band smashed straight back into distortion and anarchy.
The set closed with Funtime and Louie Louie, Iggy waving goodbye, sweat-soaked and triumphant. An expletive-filled sermon proving that Iggy is “Pop” by name only. Once a Stooge, always a Stooge. Sure, Dog Food, Loco Mosquito, and I’m Bored were missed, but honestly, I felt totally buzzed, tantamount to sitting in an electric chair on high voltage, and enjoying it… What a showman. What a show. 10/10