Earlier this year I wrote about regional music scenes outside the capitals, covering Wollongong, Newcastle, Geelong, and others. Since then I’ve kept digging, talking to more promoters, venue operators, and artists around the country. Here are five more scenes doing genuinely interesting things in 2026.

Adelaide

I know, Adelaide is technically a capital. But in terms of how the national music industry treats it — routinely skipped on tours, underrepresented in media, ignored by major labels — it functions like a large regional city. That outsider status has become a creative advantage.

The closure of several live venues over the past decade forced the scene to get resourceful. House shows, warehouse events, and pop-up performances became the norm. That DIY infrastructure is now being formalised, with spaces like the Lion Arts Factory and Ancient World providing consistent programming.

Adelaide’s hip-hop and electronic scenes are particularly strong. Producers there are developing sounds that don’t fit the templates set by Melbourne or Sydney, partly because they’re not trying to impress those scenes. And the cost of living means you can still afford a rehearsal space and a flat without working five shifts a week.

Gold Coast and Hinterland

The stereotype of the Gold Coast as a cultural wasteland hasn’t been accurate for years, but the rest of the country is only now catching up. The city has a cluster of venues supporting original music — Elsewhere, Miami Marketta, and several smaller rooms provide regular platforms.

What’s particularly interesting is the Hinterland. Towns like Currumbin Valley and Mudgeeraba have become home to studios and creative spaces attracting artists priced out of Byron or wanting something quieter than Brisbane. There’s a relaxed, experimental energy that produces music you wouldn’t hear anywhere else.

The Gold Coast Music Awards, now in their fourth year, have helped professionalise the scene and give local artists recognition that doesn’t depend on moving to a bigger city.

Hobart

Hobart’s scene punches absurdly above its weight for a city of 250,000. MONA’s influence is part of it — the museum’s willingness to program ambitious music has raised the cultural temperature of the entire city. But the scene isn’t just MONA’s orbit.

The Republic Bar and Cafe, Brisbane Hotel, and Altar sustain a grassroots live culture. Tasmania’s isolation means artists develop without pressure to conform to mainland trends. There’s a gothic, atmospheric quality to a lot of Hobart music that feels connected to the landscape: cold water, old-growth forest, long winters.

Dark Mofo has become one of Australia’s most important cultural events. But beyond the festival circuit, Hobart has a thriving DIY scene centred around cassette labels, bedroom recording, and small-capacity shows. The Bass Strait crossing makes touring expensive, but streaming has flattened geography, and several Hobart artists have built national followings without relocating.

Sunshine Coast

If the Gold Coast’s scene is maturing, the Sunshine Coast’s is emerging — with a distinct character that reflects the region’s identity.

The Solbar in Maroochydore has become the anchor venue, programming local and touring acts with a consistency that didn’t exist five years ago. Caloundra Music Festival draws regional and national acts, and smaller events throughout Maleny, Montville, and Eumundi create a distributed live music ecosystem.

The region’s population surge brought musicians, producers, and industry professionals who relocated from Brisbane, Sydney, and Melbourne during and after the pandemic. They brought experience and networks. Folk, roots, and acoustic music remain strong — the landscape lends itself to it — but there’s a growing electronic and indie-rock undercurrent reflecting the changing demographics.

Launceston

Tasmania’s second city doesn’t get attention even by regional standards. But Launceston has a small, determined music community producing work worth paying attention to.

The Royal Oak Hotel anchors the live scene. Junction Arts Festival has become an important event for northern Tasmania. And what’s distinctive is how music interconnects with visual arts and craft culture. Collaborations between musicians, visual artists, and filmmakers are common, producing genuinely cross-disciplinary work rather than token gestures.

A busy gig in Launceston draws 60 to 80 people. But those 60 to 80 people are engaged, supportive, and show up consistently. That audience loyalty is something larger scenes struggle to maintain.

What Connects These Scenes

Every one of these communities has at least one reliable venue, artists who choose to stay rather than relocate, some form of local institutional support, and audiences who understand that supporting local music means showing up and buying tickets.

The Australian music industry remains centralised around Melbourne and Sydney. That’s not changing overnight. But the most interesting music in Australia right now isn’t necessarily coming from those cities. It’s coming from places where artists have space, community, and the freedom to develop without a scene that’s already decided what’s cool.

Pay attention to the regions. That’s where the good stuff is happening.