Sly Withers
Rosemount Hotel, 459 Fitzgerald Street, 6006 North Perth Kort
fös. 20.11.2026 18:00
Music festivals don’t have to be in a big paddock, or at a showground, or only on the east coast. Some music festivals feel more like catching up with mates at your favourite watering hole, they strive to give you that feeling of the great “stumble-upon”, where you catch a band for the first time and immediately go “Yep, this is for me.”
Sidefest is one such festival. Born from the depths of mid-Covid Perth by a yearning for deeper connection within their playground, Sly Withers work with their team to create an in-venue festival that is uniquely theirs: both local and scene-local within Australia, with a huge focus on community-building and an ethos that rising tides lift all boats.
With that, let’s introduce you to Sidefest 2026 at the Rosemount Hotel, across three stages: featuring Adelaide’s finest The Tullamarines headlining Friday 20 November, with US shoegaze-rockers Slow Mass joining an all-star WA cast including smol fish, Noah Dillon, Symmetrical Dogs, Ursula and more. Sly Withers then head up Saturday 21 November with a huge bag of mates in tow: Towns (SA), Bad Neighbour (QLD), Rowena Wise (VIC via Margaret River), and local legends Ratsalad, The Points, Clancy, Ratking and heaps more.
It’s a scene health check. It’s a big party with your mates. It’s community first. It’s keen to grow, slowly, with you. It’s exactly what you make it, and if the last four festivals are anything to go by, it’s gonna be a helluva weekend.
Tickets are cheaper than a bad haircut and more likely to get ya outta the house. Be there or be square.
Flytjendur
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Sly Withers
Feelsy indie-punk from Perth's northern suburbs.
Management: skinny@sidequest.com.au
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Rowena WiseInspired by the strong storytelling sensibilities of 60s folk icons, Rowena Wise is a sharp lyricist who finds truths in fiction. Exploring themes of love, alienation and self-empowerment, her output is best filed as indie rock, garage pop and alt-folk, marking her as a rising talent who could soon be on a par with the likes of Aldous Harding, Courtney Barnett and Julia Jacklin.
Originally hailing from the surf town of Margaret River, Western Australia, Rowena Wise travelled extensively as a kid to perform in her family band. Her mother a folk musician from Chicago and her father a luthier who built her custom guitars, Rowena had a deep love for music instilled in her from a young age. Now based in Naarm/Melbourne and with a burgeoning reputation as a live performer, Rowena’s new music has a newfound sense of honesty, holding space for all of life’s beauty and messiness.
Growing up in Margaret River, Western Australia, Rowena was surrounded by music from an early age. Her father, a luthier, built her custom acoustic and electric guitars, while her mother, a folk musician from Chicago, instilled in her a love of music that would shape her career. Rowena travelled and performed from a young age as part of a family band, before moving to Melbourne at the age of 18 to pursue her own music.
Rowena's music defies easy categorization, with elements of indie rock, garage pop, and alt-folk all present in her sound. Her lyrics explore themes of love, alienation, and self-empowerment, delivered with a candid, understated power. A lover of poetry and melancholic wordplay, Rowena's performances are marked by a depth and relatability that has earned her a devoted fanbase and critical acclaim. -
RATSALAD.Just three mates making loud Aussie-punk music and having a bunch of fun along the way. -
The TullamarinesCram together four perennial over-thinkers into an Adelaide jam room, sprinkle in some love, care, anxiety, and affection, and you get The Tullamarines.
Josh, Angus, Benny, and Lucinda met on the local gig circuit and quickly bonded over a shared enthusiasm for songwriting. Now a bunch of inseparable nervous wrecks, they share the highs and lows with the honesty and warmth of an old friend. Their unique blend of perspectives smacks you over the head with a pillow, while you’re jumping on a bed of giddy indie pop—a feeling that resonates throughout their discography and live shows.
Having already shared the stage with the likes of Alex Lahey, The Vanns, The Buoys, and Teenage Joans, and completing national tours with TOWNS, Stumps, Dear Seattle, and Polish Club, The Tullamarines have cemented themselves as a rising force in Australia’s indie scene. 2024 kicked off with the release of ‘Loser,’ the first single of the year, which sent them on another headline tour across the country.
With more shows, new releases on the horizon, and a growing legion of fans, The Tullamarines are a band showing no signs of slowing down
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Noah DillonFremantle songwriter Noah Dillon creates a melting pot of honest stories and emotional tales, seamlessly colliding mundane existence with the darkest depths of life.
It’s been a whirlwind couple of years. 3 singles over the course of 2020 grew the audience nationally with all singles hitting over 200,000 hits on Spotify, picked up by Triple J, and coming in as the 4th most played artist for the year on Triple J Unearthed.
On the live stage the band have been lucky to get back to work, touring around Australia and selling out shows in major cities for their 2021 single “That’s Just How I Feel”. The band were selected to play Australia’s first COVID safe festival in Good Day Sunshine festival, Noah performed digitally on the first Isol-aid festival, and signed to the very reputable New World Artists. Triple J high rotation for the tear jerker “Knievel Daredevil” saw Noah’s songwriting evolve and voice shine, and upbeat single “That’s Just How I Feel” has propelled the band into the hearts of Australia. Known for raw emotion and euphoric soundscapes expect to dance, laugh and cry all at the same time. -
smol fishIndie rock four-piece smol fish are a band of best friends from Boorloo (Perth), Australia. With earnest lyricism and playful instrumentation, the band explores the lovely and lonesome aspects of being a 20-something navigating the world today.
Though they humbly describe themselves as "not big," smol fish has already achieved significant milestones in their musical journey. They’ve been honored as a triple j Unearthed feature artist, and their track "Sad Girl Summer" dominated the airwaves on RTRFM throughout 2021. In 2022, smol fish had the incredible opportunity to accompany Noah Dillon on a national tour, gracing stages in 12 cities across Australia.
Renowned for their electrifying live performances, smol fish have fostered a dedicated local following. Their unique style and seamless on-stage chemistry have solidified their presence in the local music scene.
This past year marked a pivotal moment in the band's career with the release of their sophomore EP, "Crocodile Tears," on September 1st. The EP has garnered widespread attention, amassing over 21,000 monthly listeners on Spotify on release. Their latest single, "Sweet Taste," has found a home on numerous influential playlists, including "All New Rock" (421k likes) and "Fresh Finds Indie" (188k likes), both with global reach. As a result, the band's audience has shifted significantly to the US and UK/Europe, and after a whirlwind of success at industry showcase event Bigsound, industry players overseas are now taking note of their music.
The band will cap off their huge 2023 on the triple j stage at this year’s WAMFest, and then supporting Alex G at his sold-out Perth show this December.
The past year has been a time of growth and recognition for smol fish, and they show no signs of slowing down. With their dynamic sound and compelling storytelling, smol fish is poised to capture the hearts of audiences worldwide. Be sure to superglue your socks to your feet, because smol fish are ready to blow them off!
