In Partnership with Keno
Saturday night at the local pub doesn’t always look like this – hundreds of people enjoying the late afternoon sun next to the beach, inflatable pencils flying through the air, and a dancefloor bouncing to synth-pop.
But that was exactly what happened on Saturday, May 31st, when Rolling Stone Local Legends took over Manly’s iconic Hotel Steyne for a huge night of live music by local talent.
It was the second stop in the Local Legends series, following Great Gable’s set in Brisbane a week earlier. This time, Melbourne alt-pop trio Blusher were headliners for the Sydney performance.
Doors opened from 4pm, and soon after attendees had already started staking out spots in the courtyard to catch the last of the sunshine. Local indie rock band Marvell kicked things off with a solid opener, setting the tone for what was to come.
Next, Charli Lucas and Molly Millington returned for their second Local Legends appearance, sharing the stage once again for a relaxed, playful acoustic set. Then came Borderline, the New Zealand pop quartet, who have quickly amassed a loyal Aussie fanbase. Their performance had the crowd fully tuned in and by this point, the courtyard had transformed into a tightly packed dance zone.
Credit: Supplied
At 8.30pm, Blusher hit the stage for their headline set. The trio brought their signature high energy, performing a mix of dance-pop and electro with tracks like “RACER” and “WHATEVERWHATEVER” and “ACCELERATOR”. Over the course of the night, Hotel Steyne welcomed hundreds of music lovers, with fans dancing well past the final track.
“Local venues mean the world to us,” Blusher’s Lauren told Rolling Stone AU/NZ before the event. “It’s so intimate. You get to really see the sweat on people in front of you. People are so close and you just get that awesome connection, you feel this energy, this love of music.”
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Credit: Supplied
That intimate, packed pub vibe is exactly what Rolling Stone Local Legends, powered by Keno, was created to celebrate – shining a spotlight on the venues that give emerging artists a stage to find their crowd.
These gigs were all about community, discovery and that feeling of watching a band for the first time and knowing they’re about to be your new favourite.
Missed out on being there? Check out our hype reel from the night below.
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