The inaugural edition of New Year’s at the Bowl transformed the Sidney Myer Music Bowl into a sprawling, multi-stage celebration to close out 2025. The event featured a formidable lineup headlined by electronic icons Underworld and Carl Cox, joined by a strong supporting bill including Confidence Man, Sam Gellaitry and Ross From Friends.
From a production standpoint, the event was a success. The sound quality was impressive throughout the day, remaining crisp and punchy even at the back of the amphitheatre. The atmosphere struck a great balance between a high-energy rave and a communal celebration, largely thanks to the iconic location. The venue’s natural elevation provided the perfect vantage point at midnight, offering sweeping views of the fireworks erupting across the Melbourne cityscape. It was a visual touch that truly elevated the experience.
Musically, the day delivered some incredible highs. Experiencing Underworld live was amazing, but it was Carl Cox who delivered the best set of the festival. His track selection was perfect, masterfully traversing between house, techno and disco to keep the energy moving. Sam Gellaitry also delivered a stellar performance, showcasing material from his recent album alongside some incredibly fun edits that really engaged the crowd.
However, the scheduling of Ross From Friends created a significant friction point. Placing his set on the Sundial stage from 11:30pm meant a direct clash with both the midnight countdown and Underworld’s closing performance. Unfortunately, this resulted in his set being quite empty, as the majority of the crowd gravitated towards the main stage for the midnight moment. His high-energy Bubble Love set would have been far better suited to an earlier slot to warm up the crowd, rather than being left to compete with the festival’s climax.
