Good Things Festival 2025
- Hot & Heavy
- 35 minutes ago
- 4 min read
From the moment we arrived, you could feel something electric in the air. Good Things Festival 2025 was a monster of a day. loud, warm, chaotic, heartfelt and ultimately unforgettable. With it's massive lineup spanning metal, hardcore, punk, emo and alt rock, this year’s iteration showed just how diverse and thriving the scene has become.
Let me take you on a journey.
T Rex Autopsy — Early Triumph
We kicked off with T Rex Autopsy, who took home their spot by winning the festival’s battle of the bands. The crowd’s reaction was insane from the very first chord. There was this raw, infectious love flowing between the band and the audience, not just noise, but genuine connection. this is their big 'i made it' moment. After their set we chatted and fangirled our way through the relief and excitement of seeing local talent absolutely smash it on that huge stage.
Windwaker — Energy to Match the Sky
Next up was Windwaker, one of Australia’s own powerhouses. These guys are carving out a reputation for enormous live energy, they are a band who’ve been shaking up the scene with their album Hyperviolence (goat) and extensive touring.
Fan favourite doesn’t even begin to cover it, Liam’s vocals were insane and every member brought thunder. Thankfully the sun was still kind to us, because if it was peak midday heat I’d have been in a shady puddle somewhere by then.
Festival Grounds and Realities
We took a breather to wander the vendor stalls, including stopping by Not A Phase Apparel who had travelled all the way from Canberra and hooked us up with our GT outfit, huge love to them for that. check them out!
After that it all went a bit sideways because the sun did decide to show up with full force. I found myself out for an hour... it was rough. sun combined with sweat and being so pasty tends to do that but major props to the festival for plenty of water stations and ready to go electrolytes which saved me and so many others.
That said, while the grounds felt bigger than recent years (which is cool), the layout wasn’t ideal for folks with disabilities. I know I wasn’t the only one taking shade breaks and trying to navigate the heat and crowds while staying hydrated and trying to keep the pain as low as possible, we're only half way there.
dayseeker — Emotional Charge
Once I felt human again I eased back in for the act I was most hyped to see Dayseeker. These guys are a California post hardcore band known for blending emotionally charged melodies with big, sweeping moments in their music.
They had a new record dropping around this festival season (Creature in the Black Night in October 2025), and you can hear how their sound has grown into something powerful and expansive.
Your girl was twirling. I was singing along. I was jumping around. Despite my usual 'cool kid' stance, Dayseeker made me forget everything else and just feel.
Closure — Girl-Fronted Power
Emily and I caught Closure next, full respect for seeing a woman fronted band take the stage at GT, there were a good amount of female fronted bands on the bill which is what i like to see. closure's presence was magnetic and it’s something this scene truly needs more of. That moment reminded me why festivals like this matter: representation, diversity and space for every kind of voice.
Fever 333 — Unmatched Intensity
Okay. I’ll be honest. I knew Fever 333 as a name, but I hadn’t really heard them much before this. (Don’t hurt me.) But holy actual shit, their set was wild. Fever 333 mix punk, hardcore and hip hop influences into something explosive and unpredictable, and frontman Jason Aalon Butler is a force of nature delivering politics, passion and pure intensity in every shout.
The crowd tossed back every bit of energy they threw at them. It was like a breath of fresh air cutting through the usual festival march.
Kublai Khan TX — we're all babygirls
When Kublai Khan TX hit the stage, i was feral! Even though sometimes the sound struggled and cut out, nobody cared. when it got sorted out, that crowd erupted like mad. Amid all the frenzy, the frontman calling us “babygirl” was peak Good Things energy, and I finally got my live fix of one of the wildest acts on the bill.
Lorna Shore — Nightfall deliciousness
There was no contest for me in the clash between Lorna Shore and Tool. I’m not 50 (yet), and I already had my chance at Tool earlier in the year — but getting to witness Lorna Shore outside at night with this community was a different experience entirely. Their crushing sound, the thunderous heaviness and the shared energy of everyone around me made it feel almost spiritual.
Let’s just say that iconic video footage of me reacting to “To the Hellfire” needs to be replayed forever.
Final Thoughts and Wishlist
At the end of the day I was utterly beat but beyond grateful. Good Things Festival 2025 might have had some rough spots with layout and heat, but the music, the crowd, the moments of shared joy and intensity far outweighed it. With a lineup that included major names like Tool, Weezer and Garbage and deep live acts from across genres from pop punk to metalcore and hardcore, GT proved why it’s still one of Australia’s most electrifying festival experiences.
Already I’m buzzing with curiosity about next year’s lineup. I have to see Down & Out. Fall Out Boy to close the day properly? Imagine that. Motionless in White making the crossover? Let’s make it happen.
Seeing this festival as media, as someone with a story to tell... instead of just an attendee, felt like full circle. My first festival was Good Things 2023, and here I am in 2025 living it with more passion and context than ever. That’s a huge moment for me, and I’m eternally grateful.
Good Things 2025 was not just amazing.
it was meaningful.
