Friday relief wasn’t on the cards for Mundi Mundi 2025!
Rolling into the early arvo slot was NSW’s own powerhouse trio, 19-Twenty — like lightning in a bottle, jacked up on espresso shots. Their set had one speed: full throttle. If you didn’t bring a sweat towel and a water bottle, you were in for a workout. But the boys hit a snag… their beloved instruments didn’t make it on the flight. While the gear was off on its own little holiday, it definitely wasn’t headed to Mundi. Still, that didn’t slow them down.
We got stories from growing up in Goulburn, cheeky cover mashups snuck into the chaos of a setlist (which was all over the shop since Johnny’s double bass was MIA). “Having a Good Time” made an appearance, “Call It What You Want” got a run, and somehow “Killing in the Name” and “Cotton Eye Joe” had the crowd bouncing like it was 1995.
Even without their own gear, the lads powered through and absolutely smashed it. Total pros.
Next up were The Chantoozies, dropping a string of 80s and 90s bangers that had us all time-traveling straight back to our younger days. They brought the fun to the red dirt and didn’t waste a second—kicked things off full throttle.
Still buzzing about being the first-ever act to hit the Mundi Mundi Bash stage, they wore that badge with pride. The crowd lapped up “Love the One You’re With,” and when “Kiss and Tell” hit, it was game on. They shared stories from their time in the music biz, reflecting on how much things had changed since back in the day.
Then came “Wanna Be Up” and it absolutely roared through the crowd—15,000 strong and every single person belting it out. “Baby It’s You” got an even louder response, and I’m not gonna lie, that one’s a personal fave. These ladies still had it, no doubt, and we were stoked they brought it to us.
Mi-Sex were up next and came in ready to tear it up. It was their third time hitting the red plains, and you could tell—rock ‘n’ roll was in their blood. Things got off to a slightly bumpy start thanks to a tech hiccup, but Steve just laughed it off. Apparently someone was “flying low” in front of 15,000 people… Steve just grinned and rolled with it. Classic.
He warned the crowd he had a bit of a swearing habit and promised to keep it clean for the family vibe. It was a solid effort… for about five minutes. But honestly, no one minded—it just added to the charm. They kicked off with “Falling In and Out With You,” gave “Cast Away” a spin (which the crowd absolutely ate up), and then dropped the big one—“Computer Games.” That track lit the place up. Still hits like a freight train.
Mi-Sex cranked it up and left the stage buzzing. Brad Cox had his work cut out for him trying to keep that energy rolling.
Brad Cox strolled onto the stage like he was about to settle in for a day of cricket, rocking a bucket hat, a sharp outfit, and that trademark cheeky grin. He’d heard the earlier sets and knew exactly what kind of energy he was stepping into—and he was more than ready.
He kicked things off with “Acres” and absolutely smacked it for six. From the get-go, Brad was bouncing around the stage, hyping up the crowd and throwing out smiles like confetti. The guy’s a walking good time, and the crowd soaked up every bit of it.
“Drinking Season” got a solid cheer when it dropped (no surprises there), and “Beer and Fishing” had people raising their drinks like it was a national anthem. When he wrapped it all up with “Give Me Tonight,” it was the perfect closer—everyone lifted their cups in a big, messy, joyful salute. Brad left the stage on a high, and yeah… it was one hell of a show.
Everyone was keen to have the lanterns lit (pun totally intended lol) by Birds of Tokyo. Honestly, I had no idea how they picked their setlist—too many bangers to choose from, and unless they were given a three-hour slot, someone was bound to miss their fave. Classic first-world festival dilemma.
It was their first time at Mundi Mundi, and they were clearly blown away—by the crowd, the setup, and that unreal backdrop. You could tell they were vibing hard with the whole scene. Big props to the crew behind the festival, seriously legends.
With over 15,000 voices singing along to some of the best Aussie rock tracks from the last decade, it was pure magic. Crowd went wild for “There Goes My Baby,” “Smith Street,” “Plans,” and “I’d Go With You Anywhere”—that last one turned into full-blown karaoke and it was honestly stunning.
Then came the big one—“Lanterns.” Everyone had been waiting for it, and when it hit, the whole place lit up (literally and emotionally). We wrapped the night on a massive high, and yeah… the buzz was real.
Missy Higgins was up next, dialing things down a notch and pulling us into a more intimate space. The energy shifted, and we were all ready to sink into the mind of a multi-ARIA-winning legend.
It wasn’t her first rodeo at Mundi—she wowed us back in 2022, and we were keen to see her do it again. She shared stories about her travels and the new chapter she was stepping into—raw, honest, and full of that singer-songwriter soul.
She rolled out a bunch of favourites (which, let’s be real, were ours too): “Watering Hole,” “Set Me on Fire,” “Ten Days,” and her latest track “Craters,” which hit deep. She even snuck in a cheeky cover of Sabrina Carpenter’s “Coincidence” that caught a few of us off guard—in the best way.
Then came “Scar.” That one hit different. With the sun dipping and the landscape glowing, it was the perfect closer. Just stunning.
Wrapping up the night was an epic tribute to David Bowie—“Ziggy: 50 Years of David Bowie.” With iOta, Jeff Duff, Steve Balbi, and Bryden Stace leading the charge, we were taken on a wild ride through Bowie’s legendary catalogue—from “Space Oddity” to “Let’s Dance.”
It was a full-blown spectacle—lights, colour, drama, and all the magic that Bowie stood for. The four of them together pulled off something special. At times, you could close your eyes and swear Bowie was up there with them, grinning down. Seriously cool.
Highlights? The costumes were next-level—they didn’t hold back. Song-wise, “Little China Girl,” “Changes,” “Young American,” and “Let’s Dance” all hit hard. But “Under Pressure” gave me full-body goosebumps—easily one of the night’s biggest moments. “Heroes” came right after and nearly stole the show.
After a massive day of music, it was the perfect send-off. Still smiling, still buzzing, and absolutely pumped for Saturday. Huge shoutout to the Rossco Hunter, the Mundi Mundi crew, the volunteers, Cardinal Spin for the access, and of course, the crowd. Legends, all of you.
All photos by Hunter Brothers Media
