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Martin Boulton

Martin Boulton

Martin Boulton is a freelance music writer.

Rain Dogs perform at The Tote, February 27, 2026.

The floor is sticky, it smells bad, and a pint is $10. It’s perfect

Rain Dogs performed at The Tote in a gig that dripped with atmosphere and sweat.

  • Will Cox, Martin Boulton, Tony Way and Sonia Nair

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Nailing it: Midnight Oil drummer Rob Hirst performing with the band at The Tower Theatre in Philadelphia in 1988.

Midnight Oil’s Rob Hirst changed everything. I wanted to play the drums just like him

To witness Rob Hirst in full flight behind his drum kit, a smile from ear to ear, arms and legs furiously pumping, was nothing short of exhilarating.

  • Martin Boulton
Multi-instrumentalist Jacob Collier performs on stage at Margaret Court Arena in Melbourne during his Djesse World Tour on December 13, 2025.

After 345 shows, this modern-day musical genius brings his epic tour to an end

In a whirlwind of colour and energy, Jacob Collier rounded out his Djesse World Tour at Margaret Court Arena.

  • Martin Boulton, Jessica Nicholas and Tony Way
Metallica fans Daphne Gattari (left) and Paige Scott prepare for the US heavy metal band’s performance at Marvel.

Hours of full on power: Metallica deliver fierce and fiery show

The Metallica family roared their approval at the heavy rock show on Saturday night.

  • Cameron Woodhead, Jessica Nicholas, Martin Boulton, Tony Way and Gabriela Sumampow
Mark Wilson (left), Matthew Francis and Nathan Farrell run the newly opened Punters Club in Fitzroy.

Meet the crew crazy enough to open a free live music venue in 2024

A shared passion for live music and country pubs has driven the new owners of the Punters Club to relaunch the Brunswick Street venue.

  • Martin Boulton
Noel (left) and Liam Gallagher.

‘I might need to go to emergency’: Oasis superfans in race for tour tickets

Oasis fans are making plans to be there when Manchester’s famous Gallagher brothers are reunited on stage.

  • Martin Boulton and Frances Howe
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Noel and Liam Gallagher of Oasis. The band’s first album, Definitely Maybe, was released 30 years ago.

‘The great wait is over’: Gallagher brothers bury the hatchet for Oasis tour

Noel and Liam Gallagher have ended several days of intense speculation, revealing Oasis will return to the stage in 2025.

  • Martin Boulton
Nick Finch and Cash Savage are taking over Estonian House in Brunswick late this month with two concerts aimed at supporting their local music community.

Live music is ‘broken’. This band is trying something radical to fix it

Cash Savage and the Last Drinks are staging a gig aimed at sending all profits straight to musicians, but they’ll be doing more than making music.

  • Martin Boulton
Khruangbin. 

Acclaimed festival darlings Khruangbin on how mistakes can be cool

Houston’s groove masters are returning to Australia for three headline shows.

  • Martin Boulton
Meg Washington returns to the stage this month, having wrapped up filming of How To Make Gravy.

Meg Washington spills the gravy on screen adaptation of Paul Kelly classic

The singer turned screenwriter says the story of How To Make Gravy had to make sense to both fans of the song and newcomers.

  • Martin Boulton