Adelaide’s Best New Music
We’ve rounded up Adelaide’s best new music released in June, including Any Young Mechanic, Ella Ion, and Swapmeet.
Any Young Mechanic – ‘Every Time You Put Me Up, I Get Down Some New Way’
The long-awaited Any Young Mechanic album has arrived, proving patience does pay.
Having toured the world before the record’s release, the band sounds slick, polished and professional. Recorded live, without edits, it’s a treat for the ears and is a big declaration from the band that’s drawn attention far beyond the 5000s.
Maybe because this writer grew up listening to bands that penned extremely long song titles, CityMag is going to put you onto one of the tracks that didn’t make the cut as a single: ‘Every Time You Put Me Up, I Get Down Some New Way’.
The track is a playful jam that sprinkles witty lyrics atop an upbeat but gentle beat, reminiscent of Sufjan Stevens’ best work. Give the full record a spin though, and if you’re free, the band is playing a free gig at Streetlight on July 8.
– David Simmons
Ella Ion – ‘My Love’
It’s no secret that CityMag thinks Ella Ion is one of the greatest living South Australian songwriters.
Her new EP – Liminal Archive – is all the proof anyone would need to substantiate such a claim.
Featuring brilliant songs we’ve been replaying all year (‘Blue Black Crows’, ‘Creature Skin’, ‘Maps’), the EP is a point-in-time document detailing Ella’s musical headspace over the past year or so.
EP closer – ‘My Love’ – is a continuation of the above. Deep, insatiable yearning thrives in Ella’s vocals, and the stripped-back production of the song – just Ella and her guitar – punctuates the feels.
– David Simmons
You might like
Epworth – ‘Wild Boar’
Epworth’s newest song and second single of 2026, ‘Wild Boar’, kicks off with a funky bassline and drum beat before jumping into the opening lyrics.
Locked down is the thought of you now/Swear I can’t block it out it’s on top of my skull yeah.
‘Wild Boar’ is a layered, pop-rock and hip-hop inspired track reminiscent of the best indie bands the 2000s had on offer.
– Rory Dowdell
Jason Sweeney – ‘Blue’
An ambient, experimental journey from long-time musician Jason Sweeney, ‘Blue’ is the first release from the artist under his real name.
Jason Sweeney has been a self-described “queer music odyssey” for more than three decades in bands including Pretty Boy Crossover and The Milliards, with the new self-titled release a bid to “lose the gay shame”.
‘Blue’ is a six-minute journey fit for a film soundtrack, featuring a synth-pop melody and Jason’s haunting vocals.
I know what his blue eyes have been following/It’s blue.
– Rory Dowdell
Maybe Hugo – ‘Dress & Impress’
Maybe Hugo’s latest track is definitely dressed to impress.
Clocking in at two minutes and 49 seconds, ‘Dress & Impress ‘ is accompanied by a slick, retro-inspired music video.
“I’m out here/To dress and impress/Keep in the rhythm/The groove does the rest/I’m out here/To dress and impress/Keep in the rhythm/The groove doesn’t rest,” sings Maybe Hugo.
The song includes funky guitars, bass and drums, with melodious harmonies and synths also joining the mix.
Alongside Maybe Hugo, ‘Dress & Impress’ features Grace Mensforth on backing vocals, Florian Gouello on drums and percussion and Dylan Bosch on guitar and bass.
Maybe Hugo will perform at Big Sound in Fortitude Valley in Queensland in September alongside indie pop singer-songwriter Jem Cassar-Daley, PNG-born R&B and soul artist Ngaiire and indie rock outfit Daily J.
– Charlie Gilchrist
Subscribe for updates
Mika Fucking Goldberg – ‘With My Dog’
Not to be confused with Portishead’s 1994 trip hop song of the same name, Mika Fucking Goldberg’s (MFG) latest EP Glory Box features four tracks, including ‘With My Dog’.
But a shared name is where the similarities end, with the album combining elements of industrial rock and hyperpop.
‘With My Dog’ recounts the life of a glamour girl who walks out to the paparazzi snapping away on their cameras.
According to her Spotify bio, “MFG transforms life’s wreckage into petty hooks, intricate imagery and an unapologetic noise”.
MFG will perform at Ancient World this Friday alongside fireplayer, clutsee, woha.motion and ECB.
– Charlie Gilchrist
Street Legal – ‘The Barassi Line’
‘The Barassi Line’ by five-piece indie rock band Street Legal combines a punk pop sound with politically charged lyrics.
“Who needs another high-rise/God’s waiting room for a hotel lobby/Celebrate a new political donor/A thief becomes a landowner,” sings lead vocalist Matthew Hayward.
“Who needs another high-rise/ God’s waiting room for a hotel lobby/Celebrate the new art critic/A billionaire becomes a cynic.”
The song changes key at the 2-minute 30-second mark, with a hip hop beat joined by an epic, psychedelic guitar solo.
– Charlie Gilchrist
Swapmeet – halfway
‘Halfway’ is the latest single from Adelaide’s emerging indie-rock heroes Swapmeet, who will soon jet off on a world tour across North America, the United Kingdom and Europe in October and November.
The track embraces a self-professed slowcore styling like 1990s predecessors Duster before reaching a crescendo of alt-rock electric guitars to power the final 40 seconds of the song.
Swapmeet will be playing at Rhino Room on September 4 to launch their debut album Mount Zero which releases on July 16.
– Rory Dowdell
Tara Falleti – ‘You Ain’t All That’
Tara Falleti’s latest song You Ain’t All That is a funky, upbeat song dealing with the hardships of modern relationships.
A jazzy bassline and Tara’s effortlessly cool vocals work in tandem before an impressive guitar solo marks the song’s high point.
It is the second song to feature on CityMag’s Best New Music this year, and this one elevates the singer-songwriter’s talents even further.
– Rory Dowdell
Want to see more stories from InDaily SA in your Google search results?
- Click here to set InDaily SA as a preferred source.
- Tick the box next to "InDaily SA". That's it.
