The Strokes in Melbourne

The Strokes are an American rock band formed in New York City in 1998. Their taut garage rock and post-punk sound became widely known through the debut album Is This It and songs including “Last Nite,” “Someday” and “Reptilia.” Early club performances at Mercury Lounge preceded a 2002 concert at Radio City Music Hall featuring the band and the White Stripes. The Strokes later headlined Governors Ball in 2014, then joined Red Hot Chili Peppers for selected dates on the Global Stadium Tour in 2022. The band has performed far beyond its home city, reaching Fuji Rock in Niigata Prefecture. In Buenos Aires, it has also played Lollapalooza Argentina.

Courtney Barnett is an Australian singer-songwriter and guitarist, born in Sydney in 1987, whose indie rock pairs conversational vocals with closely observed lyrics. Her debut album, Sometimes I Sit and Think, and Sometimes I Just Sit, includes “Pedestrian at Best” and “Depreston”; “Avant Gardener” first appeared on the EP How to Carve a Carrot into a Rose. Courtney Barnett played Glastonbury in 2015, then toured with Kurt Vile in 2017 behind their collaborative album Lotta Sea Lice, performing with the Sea Lice backing band. In 2022, she curated and headlined the North American Here and There touring festival, whose rotating lineup included Sleater-Kinney, Lucy Dacus and Waxahatchee. She has repeatedly toured Australia and the United States. She has also returned to London for headline shows.