Busby Marou – 20 Years, 20 Gigs Tour, supported by Frank and Louis @ The Warehouse, Townsville Aug 28 2026

I was excited to attend my first-ever Busby Marou show, particularly after spending the weeks beforehand immersing myself in their music. My mate Sam, who joined me for the evening, was equally curious to discover what all the fuss was about with this celebrated duo from Central Queensland.

Opening the night was fresh-faced Sunshine Coast brother duo Frank and Louis, whose indie rock sound provided an energetic start to proceedings. Highlights included the synth-driven Fat Man, which echoed the infectious chorus of The Cure's Just Like Heaven, while King Baby burst to life with an up-tempo groove and guitar work reminiscent of The Strokes. Later in the evening, Busby Marou spoke enthusiastically about the young band's future, clearly impressed by the promise shown by the emerging outfit.

Over the past 20 years, Thomas Busby and Jeremy Marou have carved out a distinctive place within Australia's acoustic folk-pop and alt-country music scene. Their catalogue spans five albums, countless tours, and a career that began in the intimate surrounds of Rockhampton's Oxford Hotel. While Busby joked about both the band and their increasingly grey-haired audience getting older, there was certainly no shortage of energy from either party as the evening became a joyful celebration of two decades of music and memories.

Performing at The Warehouse for the first time, Busby took time to acknowledge and praise Townsville's newest live music venue after playing numerous locations around the city throughout their career. As a frontman, Busby is effortlessly charismatic. His trademark smile, complete with eyes that almost disappear when he grins, immediately draws the audience in. He also possesses a rich and soaring voice with much versatility and purity, perfect for their repertoire. Throughout the night, he encouraged the crowd to sing along, creating a warm and inclusive atmosphere.

Across the stage, Marou provided the perfect counterbalance. More reserved in demeanour but still responsive with a cheeky smirk to the goings-on in the room, his accomplished guitar work and harmonies complemented Busby's outgoing personality, highlighting why the pair have remained such a successful musical partnership.

The setlist offered a carefully curated journey through their 20-year career. Fan favourites arrived thick and fast, including Where I Wanna Be, Best Part of Me, Over Drinking Over You, Everything Is Beautiful, Getaway Car, and Biding My Time. Supporting the duo were drummer DJ, introduced as "the best-looking bloke in the band", and bassist Enzo Russo, affectionately dubbed "The Italian Stallion". Depending on the mood of each song, the pair drifted on and off stage, but whenever assembled as a full band, they sounded polished, tight, and exceptionally well-rehearsed.

Sound of Summer was particularly well received after Busby reflected on the perpetual summer conditions experienced in North Queensland, a sentiment met with enthusiastic agreement from the audience. One of the evening's standout moments came when Busby and Marou stripped things back and returned to their acoustic roots. These intimate renditions highlighted the strength of their songwriting, with Konomie proving especially moving as Busby reflected on the band's humble beginnings in the cramped Oxford Hotel. Naturally, no conversation involving Central Queensland would be complete without a little regional rivalry, and the crowd enjoyed Busby's tongue-in-cheek banter about Rockhampton being superior to Mackay, along with stories from life on the road comparing different towns and audiences.

The performance was peppered with cover songs that showcased the duo's musical influences. Some selections were predictable but no less enjoyable, including Van Morrison's Days Like This and their much-loved Like A Version interpretation of Girls Just Want to Have Fun, which transformed into an exuberant country hoedown by the song's conclusion.

Having recently seen on social media that Busby Marou once toured alongside Dolly Parton, it felt entirely fitting that they launched into a shortened rendition of Jolene. For added entertainment, they invited local audience member Archie to join them on stage to sing a verse of the Parton classic. Fuelled by enthusiasm, and perhaps a Bundaberg Rum or two, Archie struggled to produce anything beyond a mangled version of the already sung chorus but still earned warm applause. Additional highlights included acoustic reworkings of INXS's Never Tear Us Apart and Don Henley's Boys of Summer, both infused with Busby Marou's signature laid-back charm.

By the end of the night, we completely understood why Busby Marou have remained one of Australia's most enduring and beloved live acts. Their songs, storytelling, humour, and genuine connection with audiences have clearly sustained them across two decades in the industry. As the crowd filtered out of The Warehouse, I found myself eager to dive deeper into the duo's catalogue and discover even more hidden gems from their impressive 20-year journey.