Amyl & The Sniffers Cover $35,000 Bar Tab following Melbourne Gig Cancellation
Melbourne, Australia – Punk band Amyl & The Sniffers turned a cancelled free concert into a windfall for seven local Melbourne pubs, reportedly picking up a $35,000 bar tab following the eventS abrupt shutdown. The band’s generous gesture has been hailed as a notable boost for the venues and a demonstration of support for the city’s live music scene.
The cancellation of the band’s November 15, 2025, performance in Fed Square left fans disappointed, but Amyl & The Sniffers quickly redirected their energy – and funds – to the pubs that have long supported their rise. Rather than let the allocated budget for the event go unused, the band opted to spend it on drinks for patrons at venues including The Curtin, one of the first pubs to host the band. The move sparked an immediate surge in business, extending beyond the band’s direct contribution.
“I was like… Jesus, that’s wild. Absolutely wild,” said Benjamin “rusty” Russell of The Curtin, in a statement to the Australian Broadcasting Corporation (ABC). “We talk about Melbourne music community – well that is it. [the band] cut their teeth in places like this, so to see them give back like that is amazing.”
JP, a manager at another participating pub, added to the ABC, ”We couldn’t have received any more love than what we’ve received tonight from them. We are one of the first pubs they ever played in. We love them, love what they’ve done for the pub, whether it be for publicity or for the community.”
The band later acknowledged the spree with a social media post stating, “If [you’re] reading this, the bar tabs are long spent.”
the outpouring of support comes on the heels of a prosperous performance at Reading 2025,where NME awarded the band four stars,praising Amy Taylor’s stage presence and the band’s energetic set. The review highlighted the band’s ability to create a “pocket of joy” amidst global uncertainty, noting that their performance was “exactly what the iconic Reading & Leeds main stage was built for.”
