Photo Gallery: Ups and Downs + The Crystal Set – Marrickville Bowlo, Sydney (10.04.25)

Iconic 1980s jangly guitar rock band Ups and Downs known for their perfect pop sound return on their 40th Anniversary tour.

There’s something beautifully nostalgic about seeing a classic Aussie guitar band like Ups and Downs at a venue like the Marrickville Bowlo. It’s the kind of place where the floorboards creak with history and the crowd actually listens to the music.

Musically, Ups and Downs remain a tight unit. The harmonies between brothers Greg and Darren Atkinson are still rich, and guitarists John Flade and Peter Shaw’s  knack for shimmering guitar interplay hasn’t dulled with time. Songs like “Lit by the Fuse”, “In the Shadows” and “Moments Away” carried a dreamy urgency, with enough dynamic control to hold the crowd’s focus.

The Crystal Set back together after 33 years was the perfect support with their atmospheric dream pop sound and didn’t disappoint.

Images by Pete Dovgan.