Artists: Blackwater Holylight, Solkyri, Treebeard
Venue: The Corner, Melbourne, Australia (Woiwurrung country)
Date: 19th June 2026

Review by: Ben Eldström
Photos by: Mark Hoffman

All the way out from California, Blackwater Holylight headed up a peaceful evening of shoegaze and post rock at the Corner on their way to play Hobart’s Dark Mofo.

Treebeard

Kicking off proceedings were long-term favourites of ours, Treebeard, whose set had me questioning if they’re the rockin-est post rock band in Melbourne. Instantly there was heaps of energy on stage and it was rubbing off on the crowd filtering in to the room. After a recent lineup change in adding Josh Bills, Treebeard sit in this weird space between familiarity and a new outlook that’s difficult to pinpoint, seemingly like their on the cusp of a change. Come to think of it, it’s been nearly 2 years since their second album Snowman, maybe something’s in the works?!

Returning back to their set, Mountain of Madness is always a personal highlight of their set for me. The rest of their catalogue sits between post-rock and post-metal, but there’s no doubt Mountain of Madness is a heavy-hitting post-metal statement that sounds fantastic live. Throughout the remainder of their set they kept the energy levels high and the brief pauses between songs were met with a strong response from the room, now much closer to full.

It’s been a while since I’ve seen Treebeard and it was a real treat to catch them once more. They slot in so perfectly on any post-rock, post-metal, or prog bill and really set a strong standard for the rest of the evening, prior or after their performance.

Solkyri

A sample played as Solkyri walked out on stage that culminated with “…and then he was totally musically attacked”, which was a great teaser for their entire set.

Crashing into their first song, Solkyri have a majorly pleasing feel good glow to their sound that’s difficult to not be lifted up in. More so described as squarely post-rock, with plenty of highs, some quiet moments of introspection, and then a percussive crash into a thick riff where each is an instant classic. Keeping pace with Treebeard, Solkyri also had a fantastic energy on stage which only added to the energy in the crowd too.

It’d been 11 years since they’ve played the Corner Hotel, although far fewer since they were last in Melbourne, and they’ve never sounded or looked better. Solkyri certainly sound and seem well-experienced, well-rounded, and well-oiled. They’ve honed their craft, they know each other forwards and back, and they delivered a set that was incredibly tight and fun.

Blackwater Holylight

Blackwater Holylight eased into their set with an ethereal synth piece that permeated a mostly blackened stage. It was a long, patient introduction that felt like a quiet invitation rather than an announcement, and it set the tone for everything that followed. When they finally stepped out, it felt less like an entrance and more like a natural emergence from the atmosphere they had already built.

Their early songs leaned into a soothing and pensive space, the kind of slow-blooming shoegaze that lets you settle into your own thoughts while still feeling held by the sound around you. For the first few songs a wash of pink and yellow light slowly oscillated across the stage, giving the band a kind of glowing outline that matched their sound perfectly.

Midway through the set came a brief interlude while the guitarist and bassist swapped instruments. The next few songs hit with considerably more weight, the low end thickening and guitars that could be confused with classic black metal. What had been a room swaying in unison became a room locked into the same rhythmic headbanging, everyone sharing the same wavelength.

By the time the set reached its final stretch, Blackwater Holylight had guided the audience through a full spectrum of moods. From the soft haze of the opening to the heavier surge towards the middle of the set and then the final peaceful close, their set was a wonderful climb and descent over a gazey mountain. It was the kind of performance that leaves you feeling like you have been carried somewhere.