Ups and Downs have released their first new original music in 10 years with the EP Radio Is Dead on Basketcase Records. The Brisbane jangle pop band will tour Australia in October 2026 to celebrate the 40th anniversary of their acclaimed 1986 mini-album Sleepless, performing that record in full for the first time alongside hits and fan favourites.

Australian jangle pop legends and '80s/'90s indie faves Ups and Downs are back with a new EP, and a run of shows to mark the 40th anniversary of a beloved release.

With their new EP Radio Is Dead, Ups and Downs summon pure guitar pop with summery melodies and classic harmonies that appear suddenly and stay with you forever. The EP has been released physically and digitally on Basketcase Records, distributed locally by MGM and internationally by Redeye Worldwide. It is their first new original music in 10 years.

Musician holding a microphone in warm golden lighting beside "Ups and Downs" and "Radio Is Dead" text on a red-brown backdrop.

Following last year’s sold-out tour to celebrate 40 years as a band (and the release of the vinyl-only anthology, Stained Glass Memories), Ups and Downs will head out again in October to commemorate the 40th birthday of their acclaimed mini-album Sleepless, as well as the new EP.

At these four special shows, Ups and Downs will play Sleepless in its entirety for the very first time, along with a second set of their other hits and crowd favourites.

Critics widely consider the 1986 Sleepless mini-album (featuring the indie hit single The Living Kind and their classic cover of Neil Diamond’s Solitary Man) to be a masterpiece of the 1980s Australian "paisley" and jangle pop eras.

UPS AND DOWNS' new EP Radio Is Dead is out now

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UPS AND DOWNS SLEEPLESS 40 YEARS ON TOUR 2026

QLD
Fri 2nd Oct Crowbar Brisbane, Fortitude Valley https://crowbarbrisbane.com/
Sat 3rd Oct Wallaby Hotel, Mudgeeraba (Gold Coast) https://wallabyhotel.com.au/

NSW
Fri 9th Oct Crowbar Sydney, Leichhardt https://crowbarsyd.com/
Sat 10th Oct Hamilton Station Hotel, Newcastle https://www.thehamiltonstationhotel.com/

flyingsaucerpresents.com.au

Ups and Downs band members stand against an urban brick wall beside the "Sleepless 40 Years On" tour poster.

“It is incredible to think we started on this journey 40 years ago – and it’s not over yet. The band is sounding better than ever” - Greg Atkinson, Ups and Downs

Formed in Brisbane in the early 1980s, Ups and Downs quickly became known for their jangly guitars, melodic hooks, soaring harmonies and introspective lyrics, cementing their place in the hearts of indie music fans.

Ups and Downs gained attention with their breakout single "The Living Kind", which became a staple of the Australian alternative music scene, topping the independent charts. Their EP Sleepless and album Underneath the Watchful Eye showcased the band’s ability to blend heartfelt songwriting with infectious guitar-driven sounds, drawing comparisons to the likes of R.E.M. and The Church. Tracks like "In the Shadows" and "Lit by the Fuse" demonstrated their knack for crafting memorable songs that resonate with fans of thoughtful, melodic rock offering a distinctive blend of indie and post-punk.

Regulars on the local Alternative charts of the day (and also ARIA Award nominated for "The Living Kind" in 1987), Ups and Downs also made in roads internationally, with early releases on the esteemed UK/US indie What Goes On, also the first international home of both Died Pretty and the Celibate Rifles.

Four men in 1970s-style clothing stand against a brick wall in muted outdoor light.