A MASTERCLASS IN DARK, HIGH ENERGY HIP HOP | NIGHT LOVELL

LIVE REVIEW | NIGHT LOVELL w/ MUDRAT, HAARPER | NORTHCOTE THEATRE, MELBOURNE | 13th November 2025 by Alira Fratantaro

Melbourne got a serious dose of dark energy earlier this month, with Night Lovell taking over the Northcote Theatre for a set that reminded everyone why he’s been one of the most compelling voices in underground rap over the past decade.

MUDRAT

First up on stage was Naarm/Melbourne’s formidable punk/hip-hop hybrid MUDRAT, who absolutely set the tone for the night. Their opening track, Break Free, is a genre-bending mission statement for the project. Thrashing riffs, thumping vocals, and half time grooves that showcased MUDRAT’s MC skills at full force. Seeing them live for the first time, I was blown away by how effortlessly they switch between punk frontman energy and top tier rap chops. The crowd was fully engaged, and their speeches, about Palestine and a blunt “fuck rich people”, added a fiery, political edge that made the set even more memorable.

HAARPER

Next up was HAARPER (Richard McLaughlin), a familiar name for anyone who grew up on the darker side of rap with Night Lovell and $uicideboy$. His punk rap style, mixing heavy bass, aggressive lyrics, and metal inspired instrumentation, hit just right in the intimate theatre setting. I’ve been a fan for years, and seeing him deliver his tracks live, from Give Me Brain to Bungee Gum, reminded me why his music has such an enduring energy.

Night Lovell

Then it was finally time for Night Lovell. His set, that was just over an hour, was the perfect mix of newer material and nostalgic hits. He opened with MORRISON from his 2023 album, played a career spanning set including JOAN OF ARC featuring $uicideboy$, dropped an unreleased track Run, and closed with the track that defined my teenage years, Dark Light. The energy in the room was unreal, and a cheeky Aussie Aussie Aussie chant during the set made the night feel both massive and personal.

This was Night Lovell’s second Australian tour, his first being in 2018, and it was incredible to finally see one of my favourite artists live. From the intensity of the openers to Lovell’s commanding presence on stage, the night was a masterclass in dark, high energy hip-hop.