**WAMCon 2026**

Friday 14th & Saturday 15th August 2026

Freo.Social & The Old Court House, Fremantle, WA 6160

*WAMCon is a must-attend music conference for artists and industry to network, learn and connect with the broader music sector.*

Across two days, WAMCon presents a diverse program of **keynote presentations, panel discussions, practical workshops, masterclasses and 1:1 sessions**. Led by a curated line up of industry experts, the program delivers practical insights, tailored advice and direct access to valuable networking opportunities.

Designed to support real career development, WAMCon connects local artists with leading national industry professionals while offering accessible pathways to learn, engage and grow. The conference addresses the real-world challenges facing today's music community, equipping attendees with the tools, knowledge and connections needed to build a sustainable career. 

Full Conference Pass holders will also receive entry to the official WAM Showcase on Saturday night, featuring an exciting line up of Western Australian artists performing across four Fremantle venues.

**PASSES AVAILABLE** 

**EARLY BIRD:**

**Member Early Bird Conference Pass**
Exclusive early access + **$119 member discount**. Includes access to all conference sessions, invitation to the WAM Sundowner networking event and early access to 1:1 (speed networking) bookings.

**Early Bird Conference Pass**
Access to all conference sessions, invitation to the WAM Sundowner networking event, and early access to 1:1 (speed networking) bookings.

**U18 Early Bird Conference Pass**
Access to all conference sessions and early access to 1:1 (speed networking) bookings.
***Important:**** U18 attendees must arrive and be accompanied by a parent or guardian at all times. Both the U18 attendee and their parent/guardian are required to purchase a ticket (each can purchase this U18 ticket type).*

**GENERAL ADMISSION:**

**Member 2 Day Conference Pass**
Receive an exclusive **$69 member discount**. Includes access to all conference sessions and entry to the WAM Showcase.

**2 Day Conference Pass**
Access to all conference sessions and entry to the WAM Showcase.

**U18 2 Day Conference Pass**
Access to all conference sessions.
***Important:**** U18 attendees must arrive and be accompanied by a parent or guardian at all times. Both the U18 attendee and their parent/guardian are required to purchase a ticket (each can purchase this U18 ticket type).*

**DAY PASSES**

**Friday Day Pass**
Access to all conference sessions on Friday 14 August.

**Saturday Day Pass**
Access to all conference sessions on Saturday 15 August.

**WAM MEMBERS RECEIVE EXCLUSIVE DISCOUNTS! **

**To access member prices, sign up ****HERE**** today!**

**U18 Attendance**
Under 18s are welcome to attend WAMCon but must arrive and be accompanied at all times by a parent or guardian. The accompanying adult must also purchase U18/Parent-Guardian ticket. For any questions, please contact info@wamusicweek.com.au.

**Accessibility**
For any accessibility requirements or questions, please contact info@wamusicweek.com.au.

WAMCon 2026 

Get ready for the ultimate country night out where the audience becomes the star. 

The Big Sing Off: Country is a high-energy stage show packed into one unforgettable night of music, fun and crowd participation. 

From the timeless storytelling of Dolly Parton & Kenny Rogers to the stadium anthems of Shania Twain, Taylor Swift & Luke Combs. 

With a full live band, charismatic hosts, epic lip-sync battles, lyrics on the big screen, it's more than a show &mdash; it's a fullblown country celebration. 

Arrive early and warm up with a fun line dancing lesson with the Cherry Steppers before the band kicks off. 

---

*We honour and acknowledge the Whadjuk Nyoongar people as Traditional Owners of the land on which we work and live. We pay our respects to elders past, present and emerging and recognise that the land and sovereignty has never been ceded*.

**TICKETING INFO**

***18+ LICENSED SHOW - MINORS PERMITTED WITH A LEGAL GUARDIAN **
** SET TIMES ARE SUBJECT TO CHANGE**

**PLEASE NOTE THE FOLLOWING:**
When ticket sales have closed on the day of the show they may still be available at the door.
Once purchased tickets are non-refundable & non-transferable
A booking fee applies to all advance tickets

**VENUE INFO:**
Photo ID is essential, acceptable ID is a current and valid Australian Photo Drivers Licence or Passport
The venue reserves the right to refuse admission to any person.
Intoxicated persons will not be admitted.
Dangerous behaviour including Crowd Surfing, Stage Diving, Moshing and Violent Dancing is not allowed and will result in your immediate removal from this venue.
Inappropriate behaviour at this venue will lead to your banning.

*Minors are permitted with a legal guardian. When on premises minors must be accompanied **at all times**.

**COVID-19 SAFETY GUIDELINES:**
Due to the lifting of COVID-19 mandates in WA, Freo.Social is operating at full capacity and restriction free!
We still encourage our patrons to observe good hygiene practices and encourage you to stay at home if you are unwell.

The Big Sing Off: Country 

2026 marks the 50th year as a recording artist for legendary Australian musician Ed Kuepper. To celebrate he is taking to the road with The Exploding Universe (of Ed Kuepper) a full band performance featuring the added talents of drummer Mark Dawson, bassist Peter Oxley, keyboard player Alister Spence and brass arranger Eamon Dilworth as they tackle material from right across Ed's illustrious 50-year career.

From the release of The Saints epochal 7" (I'm) Stranded in August 1976, via the genre-defying Laughing Clowns, an ARIA award winning solo career spanning some 30+ stand alone albums / compilations and live recordings, side journeys into The Aints, The Aints! and movie soundtracks plus continued sonic exploration via collaborations with Dirty Three drummer Jim White and jazznerds Asteroid Ekosystem, to a recent world tour back where is all began with The Saints '73-'78; Ed Kuepper has forged, flourished and conquered the recorded medium many times over.

&ldquo;For me Ed is a prime mover, a musician who has transformed music numerous times over, always swimming upstream, always seeking new terrain, always creating on his own terms. It's a vast, singular body of work, no one else could have produced it. I get the same pleasure listening to Ed as I do listening to Neil Young or John Martyn or Patti Smith or Michael Rother.&rdquo; - Steve Cross / Remote Control records

---

*We honour and acknowledge the Whadjuk Nyoongar people as Traditional Owners of the land on which we work and live. We pay our respects to elders past, present and emerging and recognise that the land and sovereignty has never been ceded*.

**TICKETING INFO**

***18+ LICENSED SHOW - MINORS PERMITTED WITH A LEGAL GUARDIAN **
** SET TIMES ARE SUBJECT TO CHANGE**

**PLEASE NOTE THE FOLLOWING:**
When ticket sales have closed on the day of the show they may still be available at the door.
Once purchased tickets are non-refundable & non-transferable
A booking fee applies to all advance tickets

**V****ENUE INFO:**
****Photo ID is essential, acceptable ID is a current and valid Australian Photo Drivers Licence or Passport
The venue reserves the right to refuse admission to any person.
Intoxicated persons will not be admitted.
Dangerous behaviour including Crowd Surfing, Stage Diving, Moshing and Violent Dancing is not allowed and will result in your immediate removal from this venue.
Inappropriate behaviour at this venue will lead to your banning.****

*****Minors are permitted with a legal guardian. When on premises minors must be accompanied**** **at all times**.

Event Finishing Times - ****all mid week and Sunday events will be scheduled to finish by no later than 11.30pm and on Fridays and Saturdays, no later than 12 midnight.

**COVID-19 SAFETY GUIDELINES:**
Due to the lifting of COVID-19 mandates in WA, Freo.Social is operating at full capacity and restriction free!
We still encourage our patrons to observe good hygiene practices and encourage you to stay at home if you are unwell.

The Exploding Universe of Ed Kuepper

**La Gran Fonda Freo**, is a vibrant Chilean cultural celebration featuring live music, traditional dance, authentic food and a festive atmosphere bringing the Chilean and Latin community together in Perth.

The biggest Chilean Fonda in Perth is back once again, come and enjoy with live music, cueca, traditional food and party until midnight.

2 live bands
2 Chilean dj
traditional folk dances
 traditional Chilean food

La gran Fonda Freo- Chilean independence celebrations 

---

*We honour and acknowledge the Whadjuk Nyoongar people as Traditional Owners of the land on which we work and live. We pay our respects to elders past, present and emerging and recognise that the land and sovereignty has never been ceded*.

**TICKETING INFO**

***18+ LICENSED SHOW - MINORS PERMITTED WITH A LEGAL GUARDIAN **
** SET TIMES ARE SUBJECT TO CHANGE**

**PLEASE NOTE THE FOLLOWING:**
When ticket sales have closed on the day of the show they may still be available at the door.
Once purchased tickets are non-refundable & non-transferable
A booking fee applies to all advance tickets

**VENUE INFO:
**Photo ID is essential, acceptable ID is a current and valid Australian Photo Drivers Licence or Passport
The venue reserves the right to refuse admission to any person.
Intoxicated persons will not be admitted.
Dangerous behaviour including Crowd Surfing, Stage Diving, Moshing and Violent Dancing is not allowed and will result in your immediate removal from this venue.
Inappropriate behaviour at this venue will lead to your banning.**

***Minors are permitted with a legal guardian. When on premises minors must be accompanied** at all times.

Event Finishing Times - **all mid week and Sunday events will be scheduled to finish by no later than 11.30pm and on Fridays and Saturdays, no later than 12 midnight.

**COVID-19 SAFETY GUIDELINES:**
Due to the lifting of COVID-19 mandates in WA, Freo.Social is operating at full capacity and restriction free!
We still encourage our patrons to observe good hygiene practices and encourage you to stay at home if you are unwell.

La Gran Fonda Freo (la original)

The Rugby vibe is coming to town in September. Join Ricus Nel, Early B and Barto in Perth on the Saturday. The Springboks are playing the Wallabies on Sunday in Perth. Get your Springbok supporter gear on and get your tickets. Hierdie is sommer net lekker loslit kuiers saam met van die beste kunstenaars.

---

*We honour and acknowledge the Whadjuk Nyoongar people as Traditional Owners of the land on which we work and live. We pay our respects to elders past, present and emerging and recognise that the land and sovereignty has never been ceded*.

**TICKETING INFO**

***18+ LICENSED SHOW - MINORS PERMITTED WITH A LEGAL GUARDIAN **
** SET TIMES ARE SUBJECT TO CHANGE**

**PLEASE NOTE THE FOLLOWING:**
When ticket sales have closed on the day of the show they may still be available at the door.
Once purchased tickets are non-refundable & non-transferable
A booking fee applies to all advance tickets

**V****ENUE INFO:**
****Photo ID is essential, acceptable ID is a current and valid Australian Photo Drivers Licence or Passport
The venue reserves the right to refuse admission to any person.
Intoxicated persons will not be admitted.
Dangerous behaviour including Crowd Surfing, Stage Diving, Moshing and Violent Dancing is not allowed and will result in your immediate removal from this venue.
Inappropriate behaviour at this venue will lead to your banning.****

*****Minors are permitted with a legal guardian. When on premises minors must be accompanied**** **at all times**.

Event Finishing Times - ****all mid week and Sunday events will be scheduled to finish by no later than 11.30pm and on Fridays and Saturdays, no later than 12 midnight.

**COVID-19 SAFETY GUIDELINES:**
Due to the lifting of COVID-19 mandates in WA, Freo.Social is operating at full capacity and restriction free!
We still encourage our patrons to observe good hygiene practices and encourage you to stay at home if you are unwell.

BOK JOL PERTH 2026

Destroy All Lines Present
**August Burns Red 'Season Of Surrender' Aus Tour 2026**
with special guests Bloom + I Promised The World (usa)

Australia, prepare to surrender to the might of **AUGUST BURNS RED** this September and October, with the GRAMMY Award-nominated stalwarts set to return to our shores joined by special guests **BLOOM** and** I PROMISED THE WORLD** (USA

*&ldquo;We are so excited to headline Australia for the first time in 7 years! We are bringing two of the best up and coming acts in metalcore today to make this a can't miss show. This tour will also be the first place in the world where we do a tour celebrating the release of our brand new record Season of Surrender. We hope to see you all soon!&rdquo;* - August Burns Red

 Crafting their signature brand of metalcore for over two decades, **AUGUST BURNS RED** have ferociously established themselves as one of the foremost acts in the genre. Hailing from Lancaster, Pennsylvania, the band's milestones and legacy spans everything from multiple top 10 placements on the Billboard Top 200, and tours with everyone from Bullet For My Valentine through to A Day To Remember and countless more. Also with two GRAMMY Award nominations in their wake, nominated for Best Metal Performance in 2016 for *Identity* and again in 2018 for *Invisible Enemy*, **AUGUST BURNS RED** have never rested on their laurels or stopped pushing the limits of their sound; a fact that has loudly carried into 2026 with the upcoming release of a their tenth studio album *Season Of Surrender* due out on June 5 via Fearless Records.
 
 On a live front, **AUGUST BURNS RED**'s reputation is as formidable as their creative output, renowned for their visceral performances across the globe, most recently stupefying Australian crowds in 2023 supporting Polaris nationally on the Fatalism Tour. Praised by *Scenestr *for delivering* "a raging masterclass in pure American metalcore with a 20-year, career-spanning set list that resonated spectacularly" *of the Adelaide show supporting Polaris, *X-Press Magazine* also declared of the band's 2023 Perth performance on the same run that ABR demonstrated "*why they have cemented themselves as one of the most respected names in the scene."*
 
 One of Australia's most prolific rising heavy acts, **BLOOM** wield an open-veined take on melodic hardcore that has seen them tour the globe, release two full-length albums and cultivate an army of dedicated fans along the way. Emerging in 2017, **BLOOM** released their 2024 debut full-length, *Maybe In Another Life*, before swiftly turning their gaze to their 2025 sophomore album, *The Light We Chase*. Wowing with their multi-faceted and matured collection of songs on album #2, also expanding their creative reach further than ever before, **BLOOM** kicked off 2026 with their biggest headline performances to date, touring Australia nationally to celebrate *The Light We Chase. *Whether sharing stages with the likes of Silverstein and Thornhill or enamouring as headliners, you can definitely count on one thing when it comes to a **BLOOM** live show: it is seriously not to be missed.
 
 Ticking off their live Australian debut in 2026, Texas-hailing five-piece **I PROMISED THE WORLD** will arrive ready to stun this September and October. Born out of a desire to thrive in the face of tragedy, **I PROMISED THE WORLD** started life after the father of vocalist/guitarist Caleb Molina lost his life in 2020 due to COVID. Officially forming in 2023, **I PROMISED THE WORLD** is both an extension and expression of Molina's grief, while also showcasing a cathartic defiance and celebration in the process. With nods to nostalgic sonic terrain woven into their creative DNA, **I PROMISED THE WORLD**'s most recent full-length, their 2026 self-titled EP, showcased a rebirth of sorts for the group whole also notably blending screamo, Midwest emo, post hardcore and more. Most recently, **I PROMISED THE WORLD** supported The Devil Wears Prada across North America

---

*We honour and acknowledge the Whadjuk Nyoongar people as Traditional Owners of the land on which we work and live. We pay our respects to elders past, present and emerging and recognise that the land and sovereignty has never been ceded*.

**TICKETING INFO**

***18+ LICENSED SHOW - MINORS PERMITTED WITH A LEGAL GUARDIAN **
** SET TIMES ARE SUBJECT TO CHANGE**

**PLEASE NOTE THE FOLLOWING:**
When ticket sales have closed on the day of the show they may still be available at the door.
Once purchased tickets are non-refundable & non-transferable
A booking fee applies to all advance tickets

**VENUE INFO:**
Photo ID is essential, acceptable ID is a current and valid Australian Photo Drivers Licence or Passport
The venue reserves the right to refuse admission to any person.
Intoxicated persons will not be admitted.
Dangerous behaviour including Crowd Surfing, Stage Diving, Moshing and Violent Dancing is not allowed and will result in your immediate removal from this venue.
Inappropriate behaviour at this venue will lead to your banning.

*Minors are permitted with a legal guardian. When on premises minors must be accompanied **at all times**.

**COVID-19 SAFETY GUIDELINES:**
Due to the lifting of COVID-19 mandates in WA, Freo.Social is operating at full capacity and restriction free!
We still encourage our patrons to observe good hygiene practices and encourage you to stay at home if you are unwell.

August Burns Red 'Season Of Surrender' Aus Tour 2026

****NEVER ENDING 80S PRESENTS: 80S V 90S THE BATTLE OF THE DECADES - DRESS UP PARTY - 10 YEAR ANNIVERSARY**

**Never Ending 80s Celebrating 10 incredible years of non-stop parties,  are hitting the road for their biggest Tour yet – and this time, it's the ultimate showdown: the Battle of the Decades!  Which side will you be on? This epic live performance will pit the best pop hits of two iconic decades against each other, with a song-for-song battle that will leave you breathless.

Who will emerge victorious – will it be the spunky &ldquo;I'm Just A Girl&rdquo; or the timeless &ldquo;Girls Just Wanna Have Fun&rdquo;? Will Madonna's &ldquo;Material Girl&rdquo; reign supreme, or will the Spice Girls steal the crown? And when it comes to music royalty, will 80s Prince outshine the groovy sounds of 90s Jamiroquai? And what about boy bands – will you be dancing to the tunes of Backstreet or Bon Jovi? This is the ultimate test of which decade truly rules, and YOU get to decide the winner.

And it wouldn't be a Battle of the Decades without a full-blown Dress Up Party. Rock your best 80s neon, big hair and leg warmers, or roll in repping the 90s with flannel, denim and attitude &mdash; prizes, bragging rights, and serious style points are on the line.

With the Never Ending 80s leading the charge, you can be sure this 10th Anniversary Tour will be an unforgettable night of electric energy, sing-along anthems, and dance floor magic. So grab your neon, your flannel &mdash; or both &mdash; and get ready to celebrate a decade of Never Ending 80s with the hottest hits of the 80s and 90s. Don't miss the Battle of the Decades &mdash; it's going to be one for the ages!**
**

---

*We honour and acknowledge the Whadjuk Nyoongar people as Traditional Owners of the land on which we work and live. We pay our respects to elders past, present and emerging and recognise that the land and sovereignty has never been ceded*.

**TICKETING INFO**

***18+ LICENSED SHOW - MINORS PERMITTED WITH A LEGAL GUARDIAN **
** SET TIMES ARE SUBJECT TO CHANGE**

**PLEASE NOTE THE FOLLOWING:**
When ticket sales have closed on the day of the show they may still be available at the door.
Once purchased tickets are non-refundable & non-transferable
A booking fee applies to all advance tickets

**V****ENUE INFO:**
****Photo ID is essential, acceptable ID is a current and valid Australian Photo Drivers Licence or Passport
The venue reserves the right to refuse admission to any person.
Intoxicated persons will not be admitted.
Dangerous behaviour including Crowd Surfing, Stage Diving, Moshing and Violent Dancing is not allowed and will result in your immediate removal from this venue.
Inappropriate behaviour at this venue will lead to your banning.****

*****Minors are permitted with a legal guardian. When on premises minors must be accompanied**** **at all times**.

Event Finishing Times - ****all mid week and Sunday events will be scheduled to finish by no later than 11.30pm and on Fridays and Saturdays, no later than 12 midnight.

**COVID-19 SAFETY GUIDELINES:**
Due to the lifting of COVID-19 mandates in WA, Freo.Social is operating at full capacity and restriction free!
We still encourage our patrons to observe good hygiene practices and encourage you to stay at home if you are unwell.

Never Ending 80s - Dress Up Party -10 Year Anniversary

**THIS SHOW IS RECOMMENDED FOR PATRONS AGED 14 YEARS AND OVER**
****MINORS PERMITTED WITH A LEGAL GUARDIAN****SHANE TODD
Hold Me Back
Australia 2026

Armed with his signature wit, razor-sharp storytelling, and a complete inability to take himself seriously, **Shane Todd** is back with his brand new stand up show.

Shane Todd hosts the massively popular *Tea With Me *podcast and performs in some of the world's most famous comedy clubs.

**Presale commences Monday 16th March, 10am (local time).**

**General public tickets available from Tuesday 17th March, 10am (local time). **

**Register for presale access by Monday 16th March, 9am (AEDT) to receive the ticketing links direct to your email via www.tegdainty.com/tour/shanetodd2026**

---

*We honour and acknowledge the Whadjuk Nyoongar people as Traditional Owners of the land on which we work and live. We pay our respects to elders past, present and emerging and recognise that the land and sovereignty has never been ceded*.

**TICKETING INFO**

***LICENSED SHOW - MINORS PERMITTED WITH A LEGAL GUARDIAN **
****THIS SHOW IS RECOMMENDED FOR PATRONS AGED 14 YEARS AND OVER****
** SET TIMES ARE SUBJECT TO CHANGE**

**PLEASE NOTE THE FOLLOWING:**
When ticket sales have closed on the day of the show they may still be available at the door.
Once purchased tickets are non-refundable & non-transferable
A booking fee applies to all advance tickets

**VENUE INFO:
**Photo ID is essential, acceptable ID is a current and valid Australian Photo Drivers Licence or Passport
The venue reserves the right to refuse admission to any person.
Intoxicated persons will not be admitted.
Dangerous behaviour including Crowd Surfing, Stage Diving, Moshing and Violent Dancing is not allowed and will result in your immediate removal from this venue.
Inappropriate behaviour at this venue will lead to your banning.**

***Minors are permitted with a legal guardian. When on premises minors must be accompanied** at all times.

Event Finishing Times - **all mid week and Sunday events will be scheduled to finish by no later than 11.30pm and on Fridays and Saturdays, no later than 12 midnight.

**COVID-19 SAFETY GUIDELINES:**
Due to the lifting of COVID-19 mandates in WA, Freo.Social is operating at full capacity and restriction free!
We still encourage our patrons to observe good hygiene practices and encourage you to stay at home if you are unwell.

Shane Todd - Hold Me Back

Timeless. Revolutionary. Chameleon. 

DAVID BOWIE fans, this is for you! 

Celebrating DAVID BOWIE is a salute to everyone's favourite Starman! 

This special event, dedicated to honouring the legacy of one of music's most visionary icons, features an All-Star lineup of Vocalists - Jeff Martin, Kav Temperley and iOTA with a full, accomplished band. 

The 20 song setlist is jampacked with the Best of BOWIE including Heroes, Life on Mars?, Space Oddity, Starman, Under Pressure, Let's Dance, Changes, Ashes to Ashes + More. 

*"David was always an inspiration to me and a true original"* (Mick Jagger) 

*"I feel like my whole career is a tribute to David Bowie"* (Lady Gaga)

---

*We honour and acknowledge the Whadjuk Nyoongar people as Traditional Owners of the land on which we work and live. We pay our respects to elders past, present and emerging and recognise that the land and sovereignty has never been ceded*.

**TICKETING INFO**

***18+ LICENSED SHOW - MINORS PERMITTED WITH A LEGAL GUARDIAN **
** SET TIMES ARE SUBJECT TO CHANGE**

**PLEASE NOTE THE FOLLOWING:**
When ticket sales have closed on the day of the show they may still be available at the door.
Once purchased tickets are non-refundable & non-transferable
A booking fee applies to all advance tickets

**V****ENUE INFO:**
****Photo ID is essential, acceptable ID is a current and valid Australian Photo Drivers Licence or Passport
The venue reserves the right to refuse admission to any person.
Intoxicated persons will not be admitted.
Dangerous behaviour including Crowd Surfing, Stage Diving, Moshing and Violent Dancing is not allowed and will result in your immediate removal from this venue.
Inappropriate behaviour at this venue will lead to your banning.****

*****Minors are permitted with a legal guardian. When on premises minors must be accompanied**** **at all times**.

Event Finishing Times - ****all mid week and Sunday events will be scheduled to finish by no later than 11.30pm and on Fridays and Saturdays, no later than 12 midnight.

**COVID-19 SAFETY GUIDELINES:**
Due to the lifting of COVID-19 mandates in WA, Freo.Social is operating at full capacity and restriction free!
We still encourage our patrons to observe good hygiene practices and encourage you to stay at home if you are unwell.

Celebrating DAVID BOWIE

While Fischer-Z have never previously toured Australia, their music has enjoyed genuine chart success here. Fischer-Z's breakthrough global hit &ldquo;So Long&rdquo; (1980) peaked at #15 on the Kent Music Report (pre-ARIA era) and earned the band significant national airplay. Coupled with the charting success of the later single &ldquo;The Perfect Day&rdquo; (1987 - #12 on the ARIA Charts), these achievements gave Fischer-Z a strong foothold with Australian audiences and laid the foundations for a loyal fan base. Australia continues to rank as Fischer-Z's fourth biggest market for Spotify streaming. 

Fischer-Z's story is steeped in the unconventional. John Watts first entered the pop music world in the 1970s, after studying clinical psychology &mdash; working in an experimental psychiatric facility that didn't use drugs or restraints. &ldquo;I'd be doing a shift there from 8–4pm then get in a van to do a gig in Derby,&rdquo; John Watts recalls. &ldquo;I'd literally dealt with raging psychos all day, so I wasn't afraid of the punk crowds. You go out and play in Wolverhampton ... some snotty little 17- year-olds who threaten to put a cigarette out on your leg and you think, 'Well, come on then!'&rdquo; 

In 1976, Watts teamed up with synth player Steve Skolnik at Brunel University to form Fischer-Z. Their reputation for political songwriting, and frenetic energy earned them a recording deal with United Artists in 1978, putting them in the company of peers like The Stranglers and Buzzcocks. 

Their debut album Word Salad (1979) made waves in the burgeoning post-punk world. Fischer-Z's biggest global chart hit &ldquo;So Long&rdquo; (1980) became one of the first music videos ever aired on MTV, propelling Fischer-Z onto the world stage. Their third album, Red Skies Over Paradise (1981), featured the tracks &ldquo;Marliese&rdquo; and &ldquo;Berlin,&rdquo; and remains one of their most commercially successful efforts. 

Across Fischer-Z's five-decade career, they have released more than 23 albums and sold over two million records. They've played more than 3,000 concerts across Europe, North America, and beyond. Collaborators have included Peter Gabriel, Steve Cropper and the Brass Section of Dexy's Midnight Runners. Fischer -Z have shared stages with giants like James Brown (167,000-strong crowd in East Berlin), toured with The Police and Dire Straits, and appeared alongside Bob Marley on his final European festival tour. 

In recent years, Watts has expanded his creative practice beyond music into multimedia art, poetry and theatre, while carrying forward a reputation for warmth, humanity and restless curiosity. His 2025 project PUNKT! fuses his talents in music, words and visual art into a singular vision.

2026 is a watershed &mdash; 50 years since Fischer-Z's founding in 1976. &ldquo;I can't believe it's already been 50 years,&rdquo; says John. &ldquo;It's been a hell of a journey, full of ups and downs but I can't wait to celebrate with everyone and I'm up for it! Here's to many more years of new music, shows and art.&rdquo; 

To mark the milestone, Fischer-Z will embark on an extensive world tour in Spring and Autumn 2026, visiting Germany, The Netherlands, Belgium, Luxembourg, France, Spain, Portugal, the UK &mdash; and for the first time ever &mdash; Australia. 

At the same time, the band will release a celebratory album titled 50/50. The LP is split: 5 brand new songs (3 earmarked as singles) and 5 re-imagined versions of Watts' favourites from the first five albums.  

**Door Times:**

6.15pm (VIP) | 7.30pm (General Admission)

---

*We honour and acknowledge the Whadjuk Nyoongar people as Traditional Owners of the land on which we work and live. We pay our respects to elders past, present and emerging and recognise that the land and sovereignty has never been ceded*.

**TICKETING INFO**

***18+ LICENSED SHOW - MINORS PERMITTED WITH A LEGAL GUARDIAN **
** SET TIMES ARE SUBJECT TO CHANGE**

**PLEASE NOTE THE FOLLOWING:**
When ticket sales have closed on the day of the show they may still be available at the door.
Once purchased tickets are non-refundable & non-transferable
A booking fee applies to all advance tickets

**V****ENUE INFO:**
****Photo ID is essential, acceptable ID is a current and valid Australian Photo Drivers Licence or Passport
The venue reserves the right to refuse admission to any person.
Intoxicated persons will not be admitted.
Dangerous behaviour including Crowd Surfing, Stage Diving, Moshing and Violent Dancing is not allowed and will result in your immediate removal from this venue.
Inappropriate behaviour at this venue will lead to your banning.****

*****Minors are permitted with a legal guardian. When on premises minors must be accompanied**** **at all times**.

Event Finishing Times - ****all mid week and Sunday events will be scheduled to finish by no later than 11.30pm and on Fridays and Saturdays, no later than 12 midnight.

**COVID-19 SAFETY GUIDELINES:**
Due to the lifting of COVID-19 mandates in WA, Freo.Social is operating at full capacity and restriction free!
We still encourage our patrons to observe good hygiene practices and encourage you to stay at home if you are unwell.

Freo.Social

Events