An live review of a Red Hot Summer Tour concert at Mornington.

Author: Greg Phillips, Australian Musician.

Date: 5 December 2025.

Original URL: https://australianmusician.com.au/red-hot-summer-mornington-2025-crowded-house-angus-julia-stone-the-church-more/

Article Text

Red Hot Summer, Mornington 2025: Crowded House, Angus and Julia Stone, The Church and more.

Review: Greg Phillips. Photos: Jason Rosewarne

The partnership between the originators of the Red Hot Summer Tour series and Face to Face Touring has to be one of the most successful and endearing business collaborations in Australian music at the moment. The professionalism, efficiency and the quality of artists that they continually present for music fans is top shelf. If only they could do something about Melbourne’s weather!

We ventured out to Mornington Racecourse on Saturday for day one of a two day residency by Crowded House, Angus and Julia Stone, The Church, Mark Seymour with Vika and Linda, The Waifs and opener Jae Laffer from The Panics.

Talk about Melbourne’s ‘four seasons in one day’ (as Crowded House did later in the evening). One minute we were shading the sun’s glare from our eyes and within minutes, donning our ’winter coats’ (as Paul Kelly will address on the next Red Hot Summer Tour). Amazingly, despite some ominous looking clouds, it didn’t rain at all on the Saturday.

As the crowd shuffled in, The Panic’s Jae Laffer took to the stage to deliver his earnest, Dylanesque melodies. To be honest, most were more interested in staking their territory and stocking up on supplies for the day. Those who cared to listen would have heard tunes from Jae’s solo albums such as Dream of Life and The Long Daydream, as well as more familiar Panics material. By the end of Jae’s set, as more people had entered the arena, he received a modest amount of well-earned applause for his brief set.

The Waifs

The Waifs featuring sisters Vikki Thorn and Donna Simpson with Joshua Cunningham and band took to the stage to spark up the venue with their feel-good Australiana fare. Beginning with the light-rockin’ Highway One featuring Vikki on harp, The Waifs eased into a wonderful groove. A heartfelt How Many Miles generated the first dancers of the day, while Ironbark brought Josh Cunningham to the front mic, with Vikki Thorn sidled up next to him on mandolin and harp as they charged through the delightful, gentle rocker. Bridal Train, Done and Dusted, and London Still endeared the band to our hearts even more before leaving us with a cheerful singalong on Lighthouse.

To say that Mark Seymour and band were enhanced by the addition of Vika and Linda would be a massive understatement. Those girls add magic to any stage they inhabit and their vocal power was evident from the get-go with their impressive backing on Mark’s opener The Boxer. Vika and Linda took centre stage to perform their much-loved tune When Will You Fall For Me, written by their stage mate Mark Seymour as the crowd became totally involved in proceedings. This performance wasn’t just the case of Vika and Linda helping out Mark, clearly the three had put a lot of work into framing this setlist with invigorated arrangements of songs aimed at giving the audience a refreshing experience with old faves and new. A reconstructed version of the Hunters & Collectors hit Do You See What I See gave us a different perspective of the classic song. Leaving Mark to his own devices, Holy Grail began a long list of iconic Australian songs that were shouted back at the stage during the day. Mark and band, including the incomparable Cam McKenzie on guitar, delivered a vibrant Westgate and then of course, Throw You Arms Around Me had mates and couples, arms wrapped around each other singing the anthem at the top of their lungs. Vika Bull taking lead vocals on the legendary Hunters’ track Say Goodbye provided a moment to savour, ending a very entertaining set from three of Australia’s finest recording and performing artists.

Allocated just nine songs to win the Mornington crowd over with, could there have been a better choice of opener for The Church than the epic Tantalized? Certainly my favourite Church song, the band ripped into a heroic version of the track on Saturday. Metropolis followed, highlighting Kilbey’s astounding ability to knock out a chart-buster, as he did again with Almost With You. Then to help alleviate Kilbey’s allergic reaction to playing the old hits, the band manoeuvred into more recent territory with the psychedelic sanctuary of The Hypnogogue, which actually slots into the hit-laden setlist with ease. Indicating his displeasure in playing the next song once again, one of the band’s biggest hits, Kilbey suggested we “singalong if you know the stupid fucking lyrics” to Unguarded Moment. In a further sarcastic jibe at the tune, at the end of the chorus Kilbey sarcastically shouted out the famous Angels’ crowd line “No Way, Get Fucked, Fuck Off!” Steve was having a lot of fun up there and so were we. I’ve been a long-time Church fan but back in the day I’d never rated them as a live act. However with the addition of their guitar powerhouse which includes Ian Haug, Jeffrey Cain and Ash Naylor (and not forgetting drummer Tim Powles’ contribution to the engine room), this is now one intoxicating unit. Under The Milky Way melted hearts then the band took the opportunity to offer a preview of things to come with their new single Sacred Echoes (Part Two), taken from their upcoming 2026 album, which we’ve had the pleasure of hearing and believe it to be superb. Wrapping the set up with the timeless Reptile, The Church had taken the day’s festival to another level.

The last time we experienced brother and sister combo Angus & Julia Stone was in the comfort of The Palais Theatre, where their delicate brand of folk rock, decorated with an elegant lounge room style vista suited the venue to a tee. With a cold wind now picking up, the sound swirling around, and the crowd getting noisier, these were difficult conditions for the band to navigate. Kicking off with The Go Betweens’ hit Streets Of Your Town was an inspired choice, giving the crowd cause to sing aloud. It also showcased Julia’s instrumental versatility, swapping between trumpet and guitar. Another nice touch was seeing Julia repping her locally made Cole Clark AN Grand Auditorium acoustic and Hollow Baby electric guitars throughout the set. The delicate Nothing Else probably suffered from the inclement weather, with its nuances not being able to cut through the stiff, cool breeze. Little Whiskey, featuring electric guitars and thumping drums offered the audience a chance to move and warm up. Private Lawns included a banjo hoedown and a gorgeous trumpet solo, which lifted the vibe too. Angus announced to the crowd how lucky they were to be able to travel the world playing music and share in the joy of making music with each other. As expected Big Jet Plane released the shackles and had the audience up and about in fine voice. Chateau from the duo’s Snow album closed an impressive set, delivered under trying conditions.

Reviews for Crowded House’s Gravity Stairs tour last year were mixed, as was the feedback to the album of the same name with many suggesting that the new material was too mellow and lacking the instant, anthemic, radio-friendliness of their hit songs. Perhaps Neil took that evaluation to heart as the band that hit the stage in Mornington on the weekend was as vibrant as I have ever seen them.

Opening with Distant Sun from their 1993 album Together Alone, it was evident that Crowded House was out for the kill. Everything about this band’s performance on the Peninsula reeked of perfection. Neil’s voice was strong, the band’s harmonies were off the charts, the musicianship was outstanding, and the sound and lighting was stunning. This was one of the world’s finest bands, totally focussed and on top of their game.

World Where You Live featuring Nick’s deep bass licks went over a storm with the vocal crowd. Teenage Summer, one of the more uplifting songs from Gravity Stairs followed. Neil then debated with the crowd as to whether The Seekers song was titled Morningtown Ride or Mornington Ride, before easing into a beautiful version of Fall At Your Feet, joined by the mass Mornington choir. Pineapple Head next and then an impromptu few bars of Bowie’s Moonage Daydream kept us on our toes, backed up by Weather With You. Neil knows a thing or two about constructing a rock show!

Either Side Of the World from the band’s 2016 album Intriguer is a tune I don’t recall ever hearing before but wow, what an incredible performance. The song features such a beautiful melody, amplified by Neil’s sublime piano playing and even included an appearance from a ballet dancer. Kudos to Neil for his ability to not only entertain us but still surprise us in so many wonderful ways. Staying at the piano and furnishing the audience with the divine opening piano chords of Split Enz’ Message To My Girl, you could feel the nostalgic moment engulf the venue.

To The Island, another more recent offering (2021) went down well with the crowd, who were well and truly full of near-Christmas cheer by now. Finn told us that the origin of the song Nails In Your Feet came out of the need to own a grass tennis court while living in East St.Kilda and wearing a pair of spiked sandals to aerate the court. Others however, just assumed madness at walking in the backyard in spiked footwear.

Almost an hour into the show and with the crowd sensing a barrage of hits, the band kicked into a fierce, jamming version of When You Come, backed up with Private Universe (incredibly moody keyboard sounds from Mitchell Froom) and the very apt Four Seasons in One Day. The Howl brought Liam Finn to the microphone to sing his self-penned song, then the band leapt into their early hit Something So Strong. Another Split Enz gem (and preview of the upcoming 2026 reunion tour) I Got You, one of the biggest charting hits in Australian music history turned the party level up yet another notch.

Don’t Dream It’s Over, Chocolate Cake and Better Be Home Soon sent the audience choir into overdrive, ending an amazing day of world class, Australasian music.

https://www.redhotsummertour.com.au/
https://facetofacetouring.com.au/

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