New York alt-metal pioneers Helmet will perform their landmark 1994 album in full for the very last time, backed by a stacked local lineup.
If you thought the ’90s were done surprising you, Helmet’s Betty Fest might have something to say about that. The New York alt-metal heavyweights are bringing their third studio album Betty to Northcote Theatre on 26 April for a one-off festival event, performing the record front to back for the very last time.
The afternoon isn’t just a Helmet show, either. A genre-spanning local support bill rounds things out, tipping a hat to the band’s wide-reaching influence on Australian heavy music.
Helmet — Betty Fest
- Northcote Theatre, Melbourne — 26 April (doors from 2pm)
- With Civic, Chimers, Lothario, DEAD and Snake Thighs
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Betty Fest marks the final opportunity anywhere to catch Helmet running through their highest-charting record in its entirety. Originally released in 1994 via Interscope Records, Betty fused precision riffs with detours into jazz, blues and oddball funk, nudging the boundaries of what heavy alternative music could do. Tracks like Milquetoast, Wilma’s Rainbow and Biscuits for Smut became touchstones for an entire generation of bands that followed, from Deftones and Korn through to Mastodon.
Melbourne lo-fi punks Civic will bring the ruckus alongside Wollongong post-hardcore duo Chimers, Castlemaine heavy outfit DEAD, punk rock agitators Lothario and rising Naarm act Snake Thighs. It’s a lineup that covers a serious stretch of the heavy spectrum, which feels right given how many corners of alternative music Helmet helped shape.
Formed in 1989 by vocalist and guitarist Page Hamilton, Helmet carved out a sound built on mathematical precision and raw punk energy. Their 1992 album Meantime went gold and established them as one of the most influential acts in alternative metal. Betty pushed things further, incorporating unexpected textures while keeping the band’s signature blunt-force attack firmly intact. The record peaked at number 45 on the Billboard 200 and has only grown in stature since.
This second Melbourne date was added after the 25 April show at Northcote Theatre sold out, so if you missed the first round, this is your shot — and your last chance to hear Betty performed live.
For more information, head here.
