Review by Markus Hamence – Splits Enz: Forever Enz Tour. Performance date: Monday 25 May 2026. Adelaide Entertainment Centre, Hindmarsh, South Australia.
Time folded in on itself in Adelaide last night as Split Enz transformed the Adelaide Entertainment Centre into a colourful, theatrical celebration of art-pop brilliance, nostalgia and pure musical joy. The Forever Enz tour has already carried enormous anticipation across Australia, but there was something extra electric about the Adelaide crowd, who welcomed the legendary New Zealand icons like returning heroes for the final show of their 2026 tour. From the opening moments of ‘Shark Attack’ (With a mad entrance), it was clear this wasn’t going to be a generic nostalgia trip. This was a full-scale celebration of one of the most inventive bands ever to emerge from Australasia.
The setlist was jam packed with classics that have become woven into the DNA of Australian and New Zealand music history. ‘I Got You’ had the entire arena instantly singing along, while ‘History Never Repeats’ exploded with urgency and theatrical chaos that still feels wildly modern decades later. ‘Poor Boy’, ‘Dirty Creature’, ‘Six Months in a Leaky Boat’, ‘One Step Ahead’, ‘Message To My Girl’ and ‘I See Red’ each landed like massive emotional checkpoints for the crowd, with every chorus turning into an arena-wide singalong.
Tim Finn remained the wild heartbeat of the evening, bouncing across the stage with playful charisma and fearless energy. Neil Finn balanced the madness beautifully with warmth, precision and vocals that still carry enormous emotional weight. Together, the brothers created some of the night’s most powerful moments, particularly during the softer, more reflective songs where the audience collectively leaned in and absorbed every lyric.
“Split Enz proved ‘history never repeats’ – they 100% made it feel alive and contemporary like it was the first time enjoying the music.”
Markus Hamence
Musically, the band sounded sensational. Noel Crombie’s unmistakable theatrical flair remained a visual highlight, while Eddie Rayner’s shimmering keyboard work added the lush textures that have always separated Split Enz from standard rock bands. Tracks like ‘Strait Old Line’, ‘My Mistake and ‘Nobody Takes Me Seriously’ reminded everyone just how deep the Split Enz catalogue truly is.
The production itself struck the perfect balance between retro spectacle and contemporary polish. Rich lighting, dramatic shadows and bursts of colour amplified the theatrical DNA of the band without ever feeling overproduced. The magnificent graphics on teh over-sized screens told a engaing story that complimented the music and made stage one great big visual force. The audience ranged from lifelong fans reliving youth memories to younger music lovers discovering firsthand why Split Enz became such a cultural force.
Opening the night were the magnificent music treasures Vika & Linda Bull, who delivered a support set overflowing with soul, warmth and effortless class. Their harmonies filled the Entertainment Centre beautifully from the very first song, creating a completely different energy to Split Enz but one that complemented the night perfectly. Songs including ‘When Will You Fall for Me’, ‘Raise Your Hand’, the banger ‘Never Let Me Go’ and some new tracks off their forth-coming new album ‘Where Do You Come From’, ‘That’s How I Pray’ and ‘Bliss’ showcased exactly why the sisters remain two of Australia’s most beloved vocalists.
“Vika and Linda turned the arena into a giant lounge room singalong drenched in soul, memory and heart. These ladies are a joy and have talent in spades.”
Markus Hamence
There was something genuinely moving about seeing Vika & Linda’s grounded soulfulness open the night before Split Enz launched into their art-pop theatricality. Together, the acts created a concert experience layered with personality, emotion and musical history.
By the encore, Adelaide wasn’t simply watching a concert anymore. The crowd was fully inside the world of Split Enz – dancing, singing and surrendering to songs that continue to transcend generations. The Forever Enz tour could easily have leaned purely on nostalgia, but instead it celebrated creativity, weirdness, honesty and fearless musicianship in a way that still feels fresh.
Last night at the Adelaide Entertainment Centre, Split Enz proved that history may never repeat, but magic absolutely can.
Check out a slick Vika & Linda Gallery from the night
And the mega Split Enz Gallery
