Smash Mouth returning to Gold Coast for The Hello Sunshine festival

Turn-of-the-millennium hit makers Smash Mouth are making their return to the Gold Coast - and their lead singer has a message for those coming to see the show.

Smash Mouth lead singer Zach Goode has a message for Gold Coasters coming to see the band next year – Don’t expect to hear the biggest hits at the beginning of the show.

The turn-of-the-millennium hit makers will make their return to the Gold Coast after a long absence in March next year at the The Hello Sunshine festival, armed with a catchy array of hits and some new singles.

It will be held at Southport’s Broadwater Parklands and is the first iteration of the festival to be held outside of Melbourne.

Mr Goode, who took over as the frontman of the band in early 2022 following the departure and subsequent death of founder Steven Harwell, has never visited Australia and said he was looking forward to entertaining crowds.

Smash Mouth

“For us, we have a leg-up on a lot of other bands because we have the most hits and that’s because of Shrek, which has been the gift that keeps on giving as new generations of kids find that and that’s both a blessing and curse,” he said.

“Guys come to the show and hold up a sign saying ‘play the Shrek song’ when we still have 90 minutes to go onstage.

“We build the set lists around the big songs as the centrepieces but it’s like when you go to see Journey, they don’t play Don’t Stop Believin’ first. Spoiler alert, we will play all the hits but we’re not going to play them all first.”

Smash Mouth was formed in 1994 though bass player Paul De Lisle is the sole remaining founding member.

Its biggest hits include their cover of The Monkees’ I’m a Believe, which was used on the Shrek soundtrack, 1999’s All Star and 1997’s Walkin’ on the Sun.

Mr Goode was previously the lead singer of Ghoulspoon and has toured with other bands, including the Foo Fighters and No Doubt.

Smash Mouth with former leader singer Steven Harwell

Mr Goode said the band will play several of the new singles recorded since he joined the band, including a cover of Rick Astley’s 1980s hit Never Gonna Give You Up.

“Walking on the Sun, Believer and All Star are the big crowd applause moments when people lose their minds,” he said.

“The most unexpected one people get excited about is Ride On, our new single which is part disco, part fun song and people love it.

“It’s just three minutes of fun.”

The Hello Sunshine festival will also feature acts including, Stone Temple Pilots, Kasey Chambers, Rogue Traders and Wolfmother.

Mr Goode said he hoped to see some of Australia during his week on the road between festival gigs.

“I’m looking forward to it, it’s one of the few places I haven’t been to on tour yet,” he said.

“You see what you see but sometimes the cliche is true that on tour you just see the airport and the hotel.”

The festival will be held on March 8, with tickets now on sale.

Other acts to play at the gig will be Whistle and Trick, Drapht, and Lenny Pearce.

Children’s character Bluey will also perform and song and dance show, while meeting with fans.

The first festival was held in Melbourne in 2023 and featured Amy Shark and The Cat Empire while this year’s was headlined by Grinspoon and the Veronicas.

Originally published as Smash Mouth returning to Gold Coast for The Hello Sunshine festival