If anyone still needs convincing that rock isn’t dead, Melbourne is making a fairly compelling argument this weekend.
Rock Is Not Dead 3 takes over The Prince Bandroom in St Kilda this Friday, 28th and Saturday, 29th of August, bringing together 12 Australian rock acts, showcasing some of Australia’s finest emerging rock ‘n’ roll bands via a community built around supporting the next generation of Australian rock.
Friday night belongs to the women.
Headliner Cassidy Paris returns home for her only Australian show of 2026, having spent much of the year dominating stages overseas.
Riff Raiders make their long awaited return to the stage in support of their latest album, Welcome To Mars, while Albury-Wodonga’s Empress & Aces arrive fresh from the studio armed with new material. Their track The Greatest Plan was named 2025 Australian Rock Song of the Year by Canada’s CGCM Rock Radio, who have now partnered with Rock Is Not Dead to make the collaboration and award an annual fixture.
Karly Jewell rounds out Friday night’s bill, also fresh from the studio, while her ARIA charting release There’s A Jewell In Town continues to find new fans.
Then on Saturday, things get a bit more rowdy.
Doors open at 2:30pm for an afternoon and evening featuring some of Australia’s best hard rock.
Saturday headliners Wicked Smile are also fresh from overseas, with their second album When Night Falls earning attention around the world. RIND is quite possibly their only Australian appearance for 2026.
Adelaide’s Audio Reign literally released their killer new New Way To Live, last week, and Melbourne favs Warbirds are set to make their first live appearance since February after spending recent months locked away in the studio.
The Dreadful Tides are hot on the heels of latest single Love Sick and several sold out shows. The RIND crowd will be the first to get an early taste of their new material.
WA is sending their best in the form of Electric State, armed with new single Head In Hands, and Parabelum will make their interstate debut with their collision of aggressive melodic metal and pure live energy.
Gold Coast progressive theatrical rockers Kalatone make their Melbourne debut after winning over the crowd at Rock Is Not Dead 2 in Brisbane, while The Revolation kick off proceedings with an acoustic set led by Dean Wittman-Lamb and featuring latest single Promised Land.
If you’re looking for rock in Melbourne this weekend, you aren’t going to have to look very hard.
Rock Is Not Dead (RIND) is the brainchild of Dunwell Touring’s Shane Dunn, whose approach has been to build something closer to a rock community than a conventional touring brand.
Dunwell Touring & Promotions is quickly establishing itself as part of a new generation of independent Australian promoters, driven by Dunn’s passion for local talent and determination to put Australian bands onto bigger stages around the country. That community extends beyond the bands.
There are the RIND Angels, a crew of volunteer music fans who help promote the events, wrangle artists, manage merchandise and generally keep the whole machine moving.
Then there’s the FLL: The Fvcking Legends Lounge. FLL guests get access to band meet and greets, catering and a few other perks, with fans travelling from around Australia for the RIND experience.
As far from the corporate rock show as you can be, RIND is all about Australian bands, fans and a promoter who still believes in putting on a great rock show.
Rock Is Not Dead. Who said it was?
ROCK IS NOT DEAD 3
Friday, August 28
Cassidy Paris
Riff Raiders
Empress & Aces
Karly Jewell
Doors 7pm
Saturday, August 29
Wicked Smile
Audio Reign
Warbirds
The Dreadful Tides
Electric State
Kalatone
Parabelum
The Revolation
Doors 2:30pm
Prince Bandroom, St Kilda
One and Two Day passes available now via Oztix