Up North Festival returns to Bustard Town for 2025 iteration

As the Wet season winds down, Darwin is gearing up for a high-energy night of live music that is set to shake the city.

Darwin’s underground music scene comes alive as Up North Festival 2025 brings heavy-hitting punk, rock, and metal acts to Bustard Town. Picture: Joshua Izzy.

The Up North Music Festival is back for 2025, and this year’s line-up is bigger and louder than ever.

As the Wet season draws to a close, Bustard Town will host an electrifying night of alternative rock, punk, and heavy music on Saturday, March 22.

The festival, now a staple of Darwin’s underground music scene, will bring together top acts from across the Northern Territory, as well as a special homecoming performance from pop-punk favourites, Danger Den.

Having relocated to Melbourne, Danger Den has been “making waves” in the southern music scene, and their return to Darwin is set to be a highlight of the festival.

Joining them on stage will be East Arnhem Land surf-punk band Mr Chrisy Mertas and Alice Springs hard rockers NGLAH, who are “racing up the Stuart Highway” for an unmissable set.

Darwin’s underground music scene comes alive as Up North Festival 2025 brings heavy-hitting punk, rock, and metal acts to Bustard Town. Picture: Joshua Izzy.

The line-up also boasts some of Darwin’s alternative acts including:

• Akrasia
• HOAX
• Rat King
• The Burnouts
• Temperamental

Callan Power from Stone Cold Records, the festival’s hosts, said this year’s event would be the biggest yet, with more bands than ever before.

“We last held this particular event in 2023 at the Darwin Railway Club. We also held an event called ‘Top End Punk’ in 2024, which was a huge success,” he said.

“This year showcases more of the NT music scene as we have doubled the number of bands playing, including three bands travelling from out of town.”

Mr Power said the diversity of the line-up sets this year apart.

“From pop punk to thrash metal, this line-up shows the best of what the whole of the NT has to offer, not just Darwin.”

The official Up North Festival 2025 poster featuring a powerhouse line-up of punk, rock, and metal acts ready to shake Darwin on March 22. Picture: Stone Cold Records / Supplied.

Showcasing NT talent is a key focus for Stone Cold Records.

“There’s a lot of hidden talent in the NT, so showcasing the alternative scene is important to get them out there and show Darwin what they do,” he said.

“It’s not just for the punters who love the genres and want a great night out, but also for the hardworking bands and artists.”

Mr Power said they are expecting a strong crowd, with previous events drawing over 150 people.

“This is the biggest throwdown of the season. If you want to see the best of what the NT has to offer in terms of punk, rock and metal music, this is the show you want to be at!”

Tickets are on sale now, with early bird passes already snapped up.