Australian alternative music history
From the pub circuit and punk to independent labels, radio and the digital shift: how the scene grew.
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Independent guide / Australian scene / Radio / Gigs
Australian indie music, explained
How the scene grew, why community radio matters, how to find new bands, start a music podcast, book a show and enjoy a gig. Move the cursor to flip through the crate, then scroll out into the night.
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What does indie actually mean?
Indie began as short for independent: music released by small labels and artists outside the large record companies, and promoted through gigs, community radio, fanzines and word of mouth. Over time the word turned into a genre label too, so a band can sound indie without being independent, and the other way round.
In Australia the story is tied to a busy live circuit, a strong community radio sector, youth radio and a long run of touring festivals. This site is an independent guide to that culture: the history of Australian indie and alternative music, how to discover bands, how to start a music podcast, how bands book shows and how to go to a gig. It does not review albums, sell tickets or speak for any band.
Gig-going guide
A night out in five stops
Scroll sideways through one evening at a small show, from the bill to the walk home.
Guides
Six plain guides
Each guide answers one question people really ask and points to the next logical step.
Community radio in Australia
Non-profit, volunteer-run and local: what community radio does for independent music.
Read the guideHow to discover new indie bands
Eight dependable ways to find new bands, from gig bills to community radio and record shops.
Read the guideHow to start a music podcast
Format, kit, hosting and the music rights question you must answer before you press record.
Read the guideHow to book a gig for your band
Find the right room, send a short pitch and understand how local bills are put together.
Read the guideGig etiquette and what to expect
When to arrive, where to stand, what to wear and how to be a good neighbour at a small show.
Read the guideThe quiet engine
Why community radio matters
Before streaming playlists, a local station was often where a band first heard itself on air. Community radio is non-profit, volunteer-driven and rooted in a place, so a presenter with a niche taste can play a track that no commercial network would. It is still one of the most human ways to discover new music.
Our guides explain how stations work, how to listen and how bands can send them music, and how a radio habit can grow into a podcast.
- Community radio stations in Australia are non-profit and rely heavily on volunteers.
- The national youth broadcaster began in Sydney in 1975 as 2JJ and went national under the name Triple J in 1989.
- The Saints, from Brisbane, released their first single on their own in 1976.
- Bandcamp lets artists sell music directly to listeners.
- In Australia the legal age for alcohol is 18, and licensed venues often check ID.
