It’s just over a week after he performed at the NRL Grand Final and Teddy Swims is due to step onto the stage at Qudos Bank Arena for the opening night of his Australian arena tour. At the Grand Final, he’d stood in front of a packed stadium dressed in a chequered blue suit jacket and matching kilt, delivering four songs — including a spirited cover of AC/DC’s “TNT.” It was a fitting preview for what’s to come: a performer comfortable on the biggest stages, yet still rooted in warmth and soul.
Inside Qudos, the atmosphere feels intimate despite the scale. Fans are visibly invested — the kind of crowd that knows they’re catching an artist in full stride. Swims’ career has been a steady climb built on resilience and craft, from Atlanta clubs to breaking Billboard records with “Lose Control,” now the first song ever to spend 100 consecutive weeks on the Hot 100. Tonight, that same blend of gratitude and momentum fills the air — he’s back on stage, performing to a sold-out crowd in a venue far larger than the one he played just over a year ago, in July 2024. And this is the first of 3 nights here at Qudos Bank Arena.
Supporting him is Matt Corby, whose opening set provides a grounded counterpoint. Performing with calm assurance, Corby’s voice drifts between hushed clarity and effortless power, holding the crowd’s attention without demanding it. It’s a reminder of why he remains one of Australia’s most consistently admired artists — understated, precise, and deeply in tune with his audience.
When Swims arrives, the transition feels seamless. There’s no bombast, just connection — a singer at ease with the weight of expectation. If his NRL performance was spectacle, this is soul in motion: a night where craft and charisma find their balance. In contrast to the pyrotechnic grandeur of his Grand Final set, Swims steps out in an immaculate white suit, his trademark hat and sunglasses perfectly in place. His soaring voice fills the cavernous venue as his band, a tight and spectacular unit, slot in behind him with instinctive precision. He grips a voluptuous mic stand that curves like sculpture, more art piece than prop, and moves across the stage with easy command. Between songs, he speaks of his love for Australia and when the crowd roars back, the exchange feels less like fandom and more like communion.
Swims will perform in Brisbane, Melbourne, Adelaide and Perth next – go HERE for tickets.
Images Deb Pelser
