It was absolutely stinking hot out at the Bendigo Jockey Club on the weekend. Proper country heat, no shade, dust in the air, sunscreen barely hanging on. But none of that slowed anyone down. People were piling in early, already a bit red in the face and very ready to scream along to songs they haven’t stopped loving for twenty years.

Kicking things off were Parker, who made the trip down from the Gold Coast and brought solid early energy. They did exactly what you want an opener to do on a day like that. Got the crowd moving, warmed everyone up and set the pace.

Then Kisschasy hit the stage and, honestly, they may have stolen the show a little bit earlier in the day. They were tight, loud and completely in their element. The nostalgia factor was strong, but it didn’t feel dated. It felt earned. Every chorus landed and you could see it on people’s faces, that mix of disbelief and joy hearing those songs live again. By the end of their set, the whole place felt like one big, sweaty singalong. They absolutely set the standard.

Yellowcard followed and ripped in a bit louder, a bit sharper. That violin cutting through the heat just hits differently live. The crowd was already up and about, but Yellowcard took it up another notch. Arms in the air, mates hugging, lyrics screamed like it was the mid 2000s all over again.

And then Good Charlotte came on and were absolutely phenomenal.

From the first song it was just hit after hit. No filler, no slowing down, just anthem after anthem rolling out across the racecourse. Every chorus felt massive. The crowd absolutely loved it. You could feel the ground shaking at times from everyone jumping in sync. Joel worked the stage like a seasoned pro, but it never felt phoned in. It felt like they genuinely appreciated a regional Victorian crowd turning up in force.

What stood out most was how big it all sounded. They weren’t just trading on nostalgia, they were sharp and locked in. The songs still carry weight and the crowd still knows every word. It felt less like a throwback and more like a reminder of how many genuine bangers they’ve got.

By the end of the night, there was this humming feeling in the crowd that this needs to happen again next year. The line to get into the after party was mental, stretching on forever, and it was cool seeing people from all over Victoria make the trip to Bendigo just for this.

Hot, loud and chaotic in the best way, it was one of those regional shows that proves you don’t need a capital city skyline to make something feel massive. Bendigo showed up, and so did the bands.

Good Charlotte – Motel Du Cap Australian Tour 2026
With Yellowcard and Kisschasy

Tue 17 Feb 2026 – RAC Arena – Perth
Thu 19 Feb 2026 – Brisbane Entertainment Centre – Brisbane
Sat 21 Feb 2026 – Bendigo Racecourse – Bendigo
Wed 25 Feb 2026 – Qudos Bank Arena – Sydney
Fri 27 Feb 2026 – Auckland Domain – Auckland

Tickets on sale now

Good Charlotte Turn Bendigo Into a Pop Punk Furnace