Gig Review: Foo Fighters, Marvel Stadium Melbourne, Saturday 14 November, 2026
Three hours, 28 songs and absolutely no sign of slowing down!
Foo Fighters never fail to impress, and last night at Melbourne’s Marvel Stadium was no exception.
A completely sweaty jam packed Marvel stadium, was the perfect setting for a three-hour, high-energy celebration of one of rock’s most enduring bands. From lifelong devotees to young fans experiencing their very first concert, there was something particularly special about seeing so many families sharing the experience. Major kudos to the parents bringing the next generation of rock fans along. Clearly, the future of rock is in good hands!
An impressive 28-song set list , delivered exactly what you’d hope for at a Fooies gig; a generous serving of original favourites alongside some delicious material from their more recent catalogue. It certainly was a gig that celebrated the band’s history without becoming stuck in it.
And then there’s Dave Grohl. I mean. What more can we say?
Quite simply, the man doesn’t appear to have an off switch. Running from one side of the stage to the other, singing, screaming and working every inch of that enormous stadium, Grohl remains one of rock’s most entertaining front-men. His humour and natural ability to connect with audiences is second to none. At one point, he downed a can of Hop Nation, IPA followed it up with a rather satisfying belch and carried on as though it were just another perfectly rehearsed part of the show. And of course the crowd loved it!
One of the night’s highlights came during a change of pace with more of an acoustic interlude. Stripping things back for a moment, the band delivered a beautiful run through Wheels, Marigold and Big Me. It was a welcome opportunity to appreciate the songwriting beneath the stadium-sized guitars and explosive production.
The heavier moments weren’t forgotten either, with snippets of AC/DC’s Riff Raff and Motörhead’s Ace of Spades adding another layer of rock ‘n’ roll attitude to the evening.
The band themselves were as tight as ever, with each member given their moment in the spotlight during introductions. Rather than the usual quick wave and acknowledgment, the introductions became a musical celebration of their individual band histories, with snippets from their former bands worked into the performance. A reminder that this isn’t simply a collection of musicians backing a charismatic front man. These are accomplished musicians with plenty of rock history of their own.
And then there was Aurora, a particularly poignant moment in the set for me, carrying an added emotional weight in the shadow of the band’s history and the loss of Taylor Hawkins. The neon hawk shining brightly throughout the tribute.
By the time the band returned for the encore, the stadium had been taken on a three-hour musical history through the Foo Fighters catalogue, with Everlong bringing the night to a fitting close.
Foo Fighters continue to prove that their appeal stretches well beyond generations, albums and charts. They are a band that knows exactly how to deliver a stadium show while somehow making it feel personal. The Foo Fighter’s catalogue, carries so many memories for so many that came. After 31 years and 16 tours of Australia, we know that this is the band that keeps on giving and has no signs of slowing down.
Melbourne, you were certainly given your money’s worth. And this is why Foo Fighters are one of the biggest bands in the world!
Some tickets are still available for the remaining shows. Check out https://www.frontiertouring.com/foofighters for further ticket information
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