Review: Bleak Squad at East Perth Power Station
Bleak Squad at East Perth Power Station
w/ Ursula
Sunday, February 8, 2026
Looming tall above the Swan River, the gothic silhouette of the industrial art deco East Perth Power Station was perfectly soundtracked by the moody noir-rock of Aussie alt-music supergroup Bleak Squad on the group’s first visit to the west coast as one of the must-see acts of the 2026 Perth Festival season. Comprised of Adalita (Magic Dirt), former Bad Seed Mick Harvey, Art of Fighting’s Marty Brown, and Mick Turner of Dirty Three fame, the four veterans were instantly at home on the Power Station stage, where their musical prowess and brooding concoction of languid guitar, haunting piano, and vocals shimmered across the cavernous venue.
Support on the night came from local alt-rockers Ursula, who, perhaps entirely by coincidence, are themselves something of a supergroup. Made up of members first known to punters from other projects, the four-piece were locked in from the get-go, delivering a rock-solid set that felt like a love letter to the ’90s slacker-grunge era. Vocal duties were shared between co-leads Robbie Rumble and Ashby Ranson, both of whom cut effortlessly through the heavier, fuzzed-out moments thanks to their formidable pipes, while also demonstrating undeniable chemistry when duetting together.
The rhythm section of Sara McPherson on bass and Tyler Ray Michie on drums was tight throughout, propelling rockier tracks like Hot N Bothered into overdrive while deftly guiding the slower, more tender moments of the set. While there was only limited crossover with the melancholic sonic territory of the night’s headliners, Ursula more than fulfilled their role, igniting a buzz of excitement throughout the venue.
After a brief interlude, Bleak Squad took to the stage and brought with them a darker, more brooding energy. All dressed in black, save for Adalita’s striking Russian red stilettos, the group appeared eager to demonstrate their new wares, a refreshing sight for artists who, as Mick Harvey noted mid-set, collectively boast over 250 releases and, as a result, could be forgiven for resting on their laurels at this stage of their storied careers.
Opening with the title track from their debut album Strange Love, the band leant into a slow-burn intensity. Adalita was initially reserved, almost nervous, but grew freer with each passing song and even began to joke and banter with the crowd between songs. For those only familiar with her work fronting legendary rockers Magic Dirt, her vocals were a revelation: clear, commanding and deeply emotive and, in the context of the group, provided a perfect anchor for Mick Turner’s signature distorted guitar squawks and Marty Brown’s rhythmic, lyrical drumming.
The set breathed with a loose, improvisational feel, yet remained grounded via Mick Harvey’s steady, atmospheric multi-instrumental contributions. In one of the highlights of the night, Harvey swapped with Brown to take over on drums for his duet with Adalita on the darkly beautiful World Go To Hell.
The set culminated in the feedback-heavy finale of the Turner-penned Melanie, with the sprawling track allowing the group to truly lose themselves in the moment. Held in a trancelike state until the final note, it took the crowd a few moments to snap back to reality.
Returning for an encore, the group launched into the Magic Dirt and Roland S. Howard collaboration Summer High, before closing the night with their latest single, Black & White. Though technically in 4/4 time, the group’s characteristically shambolic looseness gave it such sway and swing that it belied the sheer technical musical brilliance at play on the night.
Ending on this lighter note, the group’s warmth came to light and settled in amidst the heavier emotional weight of the main set, leaving the audience in a state of transcendence. Simply put, Bleak Squad offered a beautiful and brooding spectacle that is bound to be remembered as one of the highlights of the Perth Festival ’26.
MICHAEL HOLLICK
Photos by Linda Dunjey
