UK dream-punk artist Freak Slug will make her Australian debut with three east coast shows this October.
Manchester’s Xenya Genovese, the wildly imaginative force behind Freak Slug, will bring her thrillingly off-kilter sound to Australian audiences for the first time. The cult dream-punk star has earned international acclaim for her breakout album I Blow Out Big Candles, which has garnered praise from major publications across the UK and US.
Freak Slug’s Australian debut follows a busy 2025 that has seen her perform at festivals across the UK, Europe and the US, including appearances at SXSW in Austin, Texas, Latitude Festival, Kendal Calling, Leeds Festival and Rock N Roll Circus. Her tour has included performances at iconic venues such as Bowery Ballroom in New York, Lodge Room in Los Angeles and London’s MOTH Club.
Freak Slug
- Where: Melbourne, Brisbane, Sydney
- When: 14-17 October
- Tickets: On sale 11 July at 10am via Handsome Tours
Check out our gig guide here.
The self-taught sonic shapeshifter describes her music as a chaotic birthday party of sound, blending 90s grunge, woozy dream-pop and bratty alt-pop into something that feels both nostalgic and entirely new. A visual artist as well as musician, Freak Slug’s world is one of chaotic beauty, lo-fi charm and tongue-in-cheek punk irreverence.
Starting from viral beginnings recording vocals straight into her MacBook microphone, Genovese has collaborated with Jadu Heart’s Alex Headford on her debut album. Her performances promise a surreal, emotionally charged journey through her bizarre and brilliant musical mind, appealing to fans of cult indie, femme punk and experimental pop.
The October tour will see Freak Slug perform at The Night Cat in Melbourne on Tuesday 14 October, followed by Crowbar in Brisbane on Wednesday 15 October. She will also showcase at SXSW Sydney before concluding with a headline show at Metro Social in Sydney on Friday 17 October.
Each performance promises to showcase the unpredictable energy that has earned Freak Slug a growing global cult following. The tour marks an important milestone for the Manchester artist as she expands her reach into the Australian market, following her successful international festival circuit appearances.
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