Bringing the golden age of DIY hardcore shows and all things alternative into a modern setting, in 2025 Australia will play home once again to the freshest up-and-coming artists in the scene with the return of NEW BLOOM FEST, a curated touring festival showcasing all things alt rock, post-hardcore, grunge, punk, and everything in between.
Following its hugely successful inaugural year in 2024, including a sold out Melbourne event, NEW BLOOM FEST is back with a sweltering round two for 2025 in Brisbane, Sydney and Melbourne, headlined by British brooding rock heroes BASEMENT, and joined by hypnotic American icons BALANCE AND COMPOSURE, California hardcore punks DRAIN, melodic indie heavy hitters ONE STEP CLOSER and the debut Australian performances for innovative emo mavericks SWEET PILL, and Washington post-hardcore bohemians GLITTERER.
DRAIN frontman Sammy Ciaramitaro chats with the Everblack Podcast about the band’s return to Australia for the New Bloom Fest 2025, opening for Blink-182, and the influence of hardcore on the new generation.
Watch/listen to the interview here:
Emerging in 2014 from Santa Cruz, California, hardcore powerhouse DRAIN has become a defining force in the American hardcore scene, blending unrelenting sonic chaos with a vibe that’s equally about good times as it is about music. With their two studio albums—2020’s California Cursed and 2023’s Living Proof—the band has been lauded for their seamless fusion of thrash, frantic energy, and petulant hardcore, earning praise from both critics and fans alike.
DRAIN’s influence has been pivotal in the resurgence of hardcore, injecting new life into the genre with a distinctly Californian flavor. The band’s live performances are legendary, having recently supported Knocked Loose on an extensive North American tour. Known for their boisterous stage presence and unique crowd participation, DRAIN encourages fans to join in the fun with boogie boards, pool noodles, and even shark costumes, creating an atmosphere of hedonistic yet wholesome energy.
As of 2024, DRAIN is enjoying impressive traction, with 179.5K monthly listeners on Spotify and nearly 3 million YouTube views. Their reach is further amplified by their inclusion in four major editorial Spotify playlists, which collectively boast an audience of over 309K. Ranked within the top 1,000 metal artists globally as of August 2024, DRAIN continues to solidify their place as one of the genre’s most exciting and influential bands.
NEW BLOOM FEST 2025
Featuring
BASEMENT
BALANCE AND COMPOSURE + DRAIN
ONE STEP CLOSER + SWEET PILL + GLITTERER
SATURDAY 8 MARCH – FORTITUDE MUSIC HALL, BRISBANE
WITH PRIMITIVE BLAST, THE OTHERS, COLOURBLIND, DEADSHOWWS, WIFECULT + MASOCHIST
SUNDAY 9 MARCH – ROUNDHOUSE, SYDNEY
WITH SECRET WORLD, GLOAM + FEEL THE PAIN
MONDAY 10 MARCH – THE TIMBERYARD, MELBOURNE
WITH HORSEPOWER, WAYSIDE + CRAWLING
Tickets from www.newbloomfest.com
