Review: Old Mervs at Fremantle Arts Centre
Old Mervs at Fremantle Arts Centre
w/ The Pretty Littles, Free Aviary
Saturday, October 31, 2026
WA duo Old Mervs returned to Fremantle Arts Centre on Saturday night, two years after they last headlined the venue.
There were some concerns that ‘OldMervaween’ might have to compete with Halloween parties, but instead, the nearly sold-out show was packed with people dressed up and ready for a great night.
Promoting their new album Carparks, the two-piece band, consisting of best mates David House and Henry Carrington-Jones, set off around Australia to tell the story of their experiences growing up in their hometown of Kojonup and the events that have shaped them.
Fremantle was the final Australian show of their tour before they headed off to New Zealand, but they showed no signs of road weariness, smashing it out of the park and captivating the crowd with a mix of old and new hits.
The night opened with local bands Free Aviary and The Pretty Littles.
Free Aviary’s smooth indie sound was a perfect representation of WA music, kicking off the night with an energetic set that quickly engaged the crowd. The four-piece arrived with a shiny new single, Hold My Mind, which showcased the growth of their sound since forming just a couple of years ago.
Whether you were up at the front on the barricade or further up the hill on a picnic blanket, The Pretty Littles brought wicked energy with their chaotic vibe, leaving no dull moments throughout their set. The crowd had a great time banging their heads and enjoying the relatable Aussie cultural references, with songs about playing footy and getting punched in the guts.
Both opening acts proved to be real crowd-pleasers and got everyone warmed up and ready for the headliners.
With AC/DC’s Thunderstruck blaring through the speakers as the pre-show music, seemingly in tribute to their favourite AFL team, the Fremantle Dockers, the crowd was buzzing as Old Mervs made their entrance.
Opening with Heavy in the Morning, they had the crowd locked in from the outset. It was almost hard to hear them over everyone singing along to the emphatic “We’re going, we’re going home.”
And home was exactly how everyone seemed to feel. The band’s connection with WA was evident throughout the show, capturing that special feeling that comes with seeing a local band play on home turf.
The clear love for the new album shone through the entire performance, with the crowd singing along to Carparks tracks Adeline, Stacked Up, Old Friend, Once More, She Said and Abbey’s Wine with just as much energy as their older and more popular tracks. It was genuinely difficult to pick a clear crowd favourite, which was a real testament to the band’s hard work and their ability to create music that connects so strongly with people.
“I never thought we’d headline here again,” lead singer David House shouted into the crowd, reflecting on a big couple of years for them. They then finished with their two most streamed songs on Spotify, Cellphone and What You’ve Lost, sending the crowd jumping along to the “la la la” section of the latter and bringing the night to an end on an ultimate high.
The ever-present “one more song” chants continued as the band wrapped up, with their outro song, AC/DC’s TNT, providing another nod to the Dockers.
From the moment the lights came on, it was clear spirits were high, with the crowd already reminiscing about the night. All in all it was an unforgettable show, with Old Mervs’ commitment to their music, their mateship and their fans shining through.
APRIL HANCOCK
Photos by De Williams
