dust at The George Tavern, 22nd January 2026.

By Hard of Hearing on January 29, 2026

The Aussie five-piece bring their new record 'Sky Is Falling' to London.

Photo: Nikola Jokanovic | Words: Sam Schlipalius

It's another cold and wet January night at The George Tavern, up and comers Tooth have just finished their impressive supporting set and dust are about to perform.

Forming in Newcastle, Australia, dust first gained traction with their EP 'et cetera, etc' back in 2023, a chaotic and explosive debut experimenting with atmospheric guitar sounds, drum machine backings and punchy vocals. Following the success of their EP and a string of support slots with powerhouses like Interpol, Bloc Party and Slowdive, dust bring their brand new album 'Sky Is Falling' to the UK and EU.

dust start hot, playing 'Drawbacks' from the new record. Frontman Justin Teale spits out lyrics with speed and angst, gripping onto the frame of the famous George Tavern stage. It's impressive watching him keep up with drummer Kye Cherry's speed and aggression behind the kit. I'm enthralled instantly, and as the late comers push past me from the smoking area, it's clear that dust have the room. After a handful of tracks, Teale acknowledges the audience and thanks everyone for coming out on a cold wet night. We hear an "Up the Aussies" cheer from a punter towards the back of the room before they dive back into their set.

While there are no shortage of post-punk bands on hand in London right now, dust offer something so refreshing, combining unrefined and jagged guitars with soothing and soft soundscapes. Saxophonist Adam Ridgeway gives a whole new vibrant layer of sound and emotion, cutting through the band's deep bass sound and raw instrumental sections. Ridgeway locks in with bassist Liam Smith to kick off another new track, 'Just Like Ice'. They build up the tune's emphatic intro as Teale and guitarist/vocalist Gabriel Stove trade lyrics back and forth.

With a warmed-up crowd at their disposal, dust burst into 'Alternator', a fan favourite from their EP. Ridgeway's saxophone whines whilst the mosh pit grows – the band have almost the whole room moving. They follow up with 'Joy (Guilt)' before being coerced into an encore performance of 'The Gutter', a fitting finish giving fans one last chance to throw their body about before they are released back onto the cold London streets.

Bands like this don't come around often – dust hugely impressive both visually and sonically. With a set as good as the one I've just seen, there's no saying how far these guys can go.