“This one feels different from anything we’ve done before,” says Liam Finn. “For me, definitely. Maybe for the band, too.”
That’s saying something. Crowded House are Rock and Roll Hall of Famers with global tours and a back catalogue big enough to make your dad cry in public. But in 2025, they’re heading somewhere new: deep into regional Australia, leading the charge on the Red Hot Summer Tour. For plenty of stops, it’ll be the first time Crowded House have ever played there.
The lineup is stacked. Angus & Julia Stone. The Church. The Waifs. Mark Seymour of Hunters & Collectors. Vika & Linda. All Australian, all classics.
Liam, who officially joined his dad Neil in the band in 2020, is clearly up for it.
“It’s a really soulful, musically exciting bill,” he says. “I love that [The Church] song ‘Under the Milky Way Tonight’. I’m excited to hear that live every night.”
There are family ties all over the bill — Mark is bassist Nick Seymour’s brother, and Vika & Linda have been mates of Neil’s for decades — but Liam says the vibe is anything but tired. “There’s that nice balance of familiar faces and just being fans of the other acts. It’s rare and cool.”
The tour will cover 12 regional dates from October through December, Mornington, Hunter Valley, Swan Valley and more. That’s a long haul for a band spread across continents, but Liam’s unfazed.
Love Music?
Get your daily dose of everything happening in Australian/New Zealand music and globally.
“I love touring. But with a young family, you feel it,” he says. “Luckily there’s a break in the middle. I might bring them out or go home for a bit.”
They’ve already had a warm-up, headlining Bluesfest back in April.
“We turned up and it was just full-on buzz,” he laughs. “One night, no prep, massive crowd. It was a good little ego boost.”
After that, it was back to New Zealand to start work on a new album, at Neil’s Roundhead Studios in Auckland, which also doubles as the family home. “Dad lives above the studio,” Liam grins. “I just crash upstairs at Mum and Dad’s. It’s very rock ’n’ roll.”
Will regional crowds hear something fresh?
“I’d say yeah,” Liam teases. “We’ll sneak in one or two new ones, probably. But mostly, it’s about delivering the hits — especially for towns that haven’t had us before. We want it to be big, fun, and memorable.”
Liam’s been busy outside the band too. His latest solo project Hyperverse drops June 20th, after a year-long rollout that included song-by-song releases, DIY videos, zines, and a small-batch vinyl drop sold direct to fans.
“I did it completely independent… releasing it song by song… making a music video and making stuff around it, and sort of just trying to make the most of all the parts I really enjoy.”
He even live-streamed the album’s creation — a bold move that brought a new kind of pressure. “It made me more present,” he says. “Like playing live, but in a studio. That thrill of improvisation — one shot to make something good. It changed how I work.”
There’s a celebration gig lined up in LA, with screenings, vinyl, and a live set. But it’s already reshaped how he sees music. “I’m thinking of the next record like a piece of performance art,” he says. “More improvisation. More fan involvement. Just… more fun.”
For more information on Red Hot Summer tickets, click here.
