Annual touring festival Good Things has become one of summer’s biggest and loudest events, bringing the very best in rock, punk, metal, emo and more to the east coast each December.

This year’s sixth edition is no exception. The bill spans a range of genres, as well as international and homegrown stars. Let’s take it from the top, shall we?

Who’s topping the bill?

Prog metal titans Tool sit atop the Good Things line-up, back in Australia for the first time since February 2020, right before the COVID pandemic and off the back of their then-fatefully titled comeback album Fear Inoculum.

One of the most critically acclaimed heavy acts of their generation, Tool’s devilishly complex rhythms, along with the surreal presence and powerful vocals of frontman Maynard James Keenan, has long made them a must-see live act. This marks their first time headlining an Australian festival since the Big Day Out in 2011.

A live concert with smoke, banks of lazers and a pentagram beamed out across a sold out arena

Tool’s live shows are a spectacle of titanic grooves, hypnotic melodies and high-scale production. (Supplied: Good Things)

If you missed Weezer joyfully smashing through hits and fan favourites on their 2023 tour, then here’s your next chance to enjoy Buddy Holly, Island In The Sun, Hash Pipe, Say It Ain’t So, their fan-driven cover of Toto’s Africa, and many more.

The four-piece has evolved over decades, from “geek rock” poster boys for Gen X’ers and Millennials everywhere, into an arena-sized concern with all the familiar singalongs and spectacle you’d want.

Fresh from Shirley Manson’s mental and physical recovery, Garbage will be back in Australia for the first time since 2016.

This time, they’re armed with a new album, Let All That We Imagine Be The Light, as well as the stylishly dark anthems — like Stupid Girl, Cherry Lips, and I Think I’m Paranoid — that made them one of the biggest-selling artists of the 90s and 2000s.

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Swedish trailblazers Refused announced earlier this year that they’d be breaking up for good, which means Good Things is your last chance to farewell the hardcore group.

From their prophetic 1998 album The Shape of Punk to Come (which, if anything, you’ll know from soundtracking The Bear) through to 2019’s War Music, Dennis Lyxzén and co. have never been anything less than visceral. And that includes their live show.

Who else is playing?

Horns will no doubt be thrown up for the inclusion of metal mainstays Machine Head, while pop-punk diehards will flip out at seeing both All Time Low and New Found Glory rubbing shoulders on the same bill.

You’ve also got 2000s US rock staples The All-American Rejects, Kentucky act Knocked Loose (known for their rain-soaked late-night talk show performance), the pitch black sonic chaos of Lorna Shore, as well as MySpace-era favourites Cobra Starship and ska-punk heroes Goldfinger.

Decked in outlandish costumes and brandishing gimmicks (hello, staged decapitations), Gwar need to be seen to be believed. They’ll fit neatly alongside Vegas glam rockers Palaye Royale, self-styled “bimbo core” feminist Scene Queen and Bad Nerves, who call themselves the “bastard child of a Ramones/Strokes one-night stand.”

Five costumed members heavy metal band Gwar pose against white backdrop

Costumed metal act Gwar fill their live show with gnarly riffs and comical sprays of goo. (Supplied: Good Things)

Representing Australia on the bill is acclaimed Perth metalcore crew Make Them Suffer, on-and-off-again pop-punks Tonight Alive, Melbourne post-punk outfit Civic, the progressive sounds of Windwaker, the pop-facing heaviness of Yours Truly and … James Reyne!?

Believe it. Good Things typically includes a nostalgic surprise each year and Reyne, Australian Crawl frontman and ARIA Hall of Famer, will sure get pipes pumping with pub rock staples like Reckless, The Boys Light Up and Way Out West.

One of Good Things’ most unique additions, Stage 666 makes a wild return to showcase alternative entertainment, including a mix of live music, circus acts, pole dancers, and competitions.

Austin, Texas freak show performer The Lizardman will demonstrate his patented Cranial Corkscrew, Jacqueline Furey shows off her fire-breathing, sword-swallowing burlesque act, alongside punk rock clown Captain Ruin and the karaoke band Kill Your Pop Stars, who’ll pay tribute to the late, great metal pioneer Ozzy Osbourne.

Here’s the full Good Things line-up:

Tool, Weezer, Garbage, All Time Low, Machine Head, The All-American Rejects, Knocked Loose, Lorna Shore, Refused, New Found Glory, Make Them Suffer, Dayseeker, James Reyne, Kublai Khan TX, Cobra Starship, Goldfinger, Tonight Alive, Bad Nerves, Civic, Dead Poet Society, Fever 333, Gwar, High Vis, Inertia, Palaye Royale, Scene Queen, South Arcade, Wargasm, Windwaker, Yours Truly.

Here’s the dates, and the festival is once again welcoming younger moshers:

Fri 5 December — Flemington Racecourse: Melbourne, Wurundjeri Woi Worrong Land, VIC (15+)

Sat 6 December — Sydney Showgrounds: Sydney, Gadigal Land, NSW (16+)

Sun 7 December — Brisbane Showgrounds: Brisbane, Turrbal Jagera Land, QLD (16+)

Tickets are on sale from Thursday 21 August, 10am AEST. You’ll find more info at the Good Things website.