Albany 2026: Five editions of rollicking fun echoing off historic walls as this year’s Live @ Town Hall closes

A packed schedule of headbangers, foot stompers and toe tappers came to a hell-raising conclusion on Saturday as the City of Albany’s Live @ the Town Hall finished the season with a bang.

Headlined by Queenslander punk-rockers The Chats, who turned the historic hall into a swirl of chaos with hits Smoko, Pub Feed and Identity Theft, the final edition of the successful series was a sold-out hit.

Joining the unfiltered, unashamedly Aussie three-piece were Melbourne grunge-punk duo Mannequin Death Squad, hardcore Perth entertainers Sooks, Esperance blues group Grand Casual and local legends PACKHOaRSE.

“The October 24 show was the fifth and final Live @ the Town Hall event in a huge year made possible through Revive Live,organisers said.

“This support has enabled the program to expand significantly, bringing national acts to Albany whose touring routes might otherwise bypass the region, while creating valuable opportunities for Great Southern and WA artists and helping strengthen the live music ecosystem and regional touring circuit.

“We’re incredibly grateful, and this feels like the perfect way to finish.”

The Live @ the Town Hall calendar saw five editions of home-grown artists draw big and enthusiastic crowds.

The first event on the bicentennial calendar of the series was a Pride month special, with internationally acclaimed act Alter Boy taking the reins to kick off festivities in February.

Alter Boy were joined by Georga Raath, Rosalie Chilvers, and Parclo along with intermittent sets from DJ Lima Brightlove.

Indie-rock darlings DICE and Letters to Lions draw huge crowds for the sold-out March show, supported by the likes of cinematic outfit Gap Year, joy-fuelled punk chaos of Lauren and the Goodfights, and Great Southern–raised folk-rock collective Alison Parade.

In June, the stage was graced by breakout artist and singer-songwriter Darcie Haven, Perth indie-pop riser Newport, Shorehaven, Navy June and local act Freak Maestro.

August marked the biggest show yet and a showcase of Aboriginal excellence, with six-time ARIA award winner and groundbreaking Yolŋu rapper Baker Boy storming the show as the main act.

Independent artist Miss Kaninna made her Great Southern debut, with 14-year-old Noongar Wongi R&B artist INKABEE, and razor sharp hip hopper JJ Vacant.