Australian Crawl will return to the stage for the first time in 40 years with a Sydney Opera House Forecourt performance on November 28, joined by Boom Crash Opera.
by Paul Cashmere
Australian Crawl will make their first Sydney stage appearance in four decades when the band performs at the Sydney Opera House Forecourt on Saturday, November 28, 2026, with Boom Crash Opera joining the bill. The performance will form part of Australian Crawl’s return to live performance following their reunion as co-headliners of the 2026 Red Hot Summer Tour.
The Sydney performance brings together James and David Reyne to celebrate the Australian Crawl catalogue, with the brothers joined by John Watson, who was a member of the band between 1983 and 1986, along with Brett Kingman, Josh Owen, Andrew McIvor, Sean Johnson, Melinda Jackson and Nicole Kurta.
Australian Crawl’s original career spanned 1978 to 1986, producing a run of Australian chart songs that became closely associated with the country’s pub rock and pop landscape. The Sydney concert represents a significant return for a group whose recorded output was concentrated into less than a decade.
The Forecourt setting at the Sydney Opera House places the reunion against Sydney Harbour, with Boom Crash Opera providing the second half of a bill built around two established Australian bands.
For Boom Crash Opera, the concert provides another opportunity to revisit a catalogue that includes 13 Top 50 singles and five Top 50 albums. The band’s songs include “Great Wall”, “Hands Up In The Air”, “City Flat”, “Onion Skin”, “Get Out Of The House”, “The Best Thing” and “Dancing In The Storm”.
Founding member Peter Farnan has previously described the band’s sound as reflecting its name, combining elements of indie pop and stadium rock. The group emerged in the 1980s and maintained a continuing presence in Australian music through its recordings and live performances.
Australian Crawl’s recorded career produced a series of enduring songs including “The Boys Light Up”, “Reckless”, “Errol” and “Things Don’t Seem”, helping establish the band as one of the defining Australian acts of its era.
The Reyne brothers’ involvement connects the new live configuration directly with Australian Crawl’s history. James Reyne was the band’s lead vocalist and principal songwriter, while David Reyne was the group’s drummer during its original period.
The Sydney concert follows the announcement of Australian Crawl’s participation in the 2026 Red Hot Summer Tour, which begins in October and continues through November. Several dates on that tour have already been listed as sold out or selling fast.
Tour Dates
Saturday 17 October, Toowoomba, Queens Park
Sunday 18 October, Sandstone Point, Sandstone Point Hotel
Saturday 24 October, Berry, Berry Showground
Sunday 25 October, Manly, Keirle Park
Saturday 31 October, Hunter Valley, Roche Estate
Sunday 1 November, Coolangatta, Coolangatta Beach
Saturday 7 November, Ballarat, Victoria Park
Sunday 8 November, Mornington, Mornington Racecourse
Saturday 14 November, Swan Valley, Sandalford Wines
Sunday 15 November, Glenelg, Glenelg Beach
Friday 20 November, Brisbane, Riverstage
Sunday 22 November, Melbourne, Sidney Myer Music Bowl
Saturday 28 November, Sydney, Sydney Opera House Forecourt
Ticket Details
Sydney Opera House tickets go on pre-sale Friday 18 September at 10am local time. General public sales commence Monday 21 September at 9am.
https://facetofacetouring.com.au
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