Three years is a long time to wait for a return, but Maggie Lindemann made sure Melbourne felt every second of it when she stormed back into Forum Theatre last night.
The Texas born alt-pop shape shifter delivered a set that was equal parts catharsis and chaos, ripping through tracks from across her catalogue with the kind of confidence that comes from an artist fully settled into their evolution.
Maggie Lindemann Gallery, Melbourne – May 15th, 2026
Friends of Friends
Before Lindemann took the stage, Melbourne was handed a fitting warm-up courtesy of Friends of Friends, the support act already familiar to Australian crowds through runs alongside Kasabian, Sea Girls, The Reytons and Slowly Slowly, brought their self-described maximalist chaos to the Forum.
Their set lurched between jagged intensity and moments of strange beauty, pulling the room into their world and priming the crowd for what was to come.
Friends of Friends Gallery
By the time the lights dropped for Lindemann, the Forum was ready.
Opening with fang before tearing through spine, joyride and fate, Lindemann wasted no time establishing the night’s mood, with Heavy guitars cutting through the theatre while her vocals stayed sharp and commanding, balancing raw power with the emotional weight that has become central to her live show.
There’s always been a darkness to Lindemann’s world, but live, it hits differently, what came through most in Melbourne was how naturally she now commands that tension between vulnerability and aggression.
The “sad girl” aesthetic that has followed her career has evolved into something far more formidable, darker, louder, and fully realised.
Tracks like self sabotage, break me! and Knife Under My Pillow landed with punishing force, while it’s still you and lost cause gave the room brief moments to breathe before plunging back into the distortion.
The crowd never let up, every chorus was met with full volume singalongs, with Forum’s floor turning into a sea of raised hands through Scissorhands, hostage and one of the ones.
Closing on i feel everything, Lindemann capped off the night with a reminder of just how far she’s come sonically, the newer material feels bigger and more emotionally expansive live, proving the evolution she spoke about in our recent feature is already translating powerfully on stage.
Melbourne’s wait may have been long, but Lindemann’s return felt worth every second.
With just one Australian date remaining, Brisbane fans at The Tivoli tomorrow night are next in line to witness one of alt-pop’s most compelling live performers in full flight.
Remaining Australian Tour Date:
Sunday, May 17th – The Tivoli, Brisbane
Photography by Alexander Hallag
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