MULGA BORE HARD ROCK
About
HEAVY RAIN SINGLE RELEASE TOUR
Presented by Artback NT | August 2025
Fresh off the back of major festivals and national acclaim, Central Australia’s teen glam-rock phenomenon Mulga Bore Hard Rock are set to bring their electrifying desert-born sound to stages across the Northern Territory this August for the Heavy Rain Single Release Tour.
From the Red Centre to the Top End
Hailing from the remote desert community of Akaye (Mulga Bore), northeast of Mparntwe/Alice Springs, this powerful six-piece band is made up of teenage to adult cousins and siblings who combine classic hard rock energy with bold glam style and First Nations pride. Singing in both English and Anmatyerre, and inspired by icons like KISS and AC/DC, Mulga Bore Hard Rock are reshaping what Australian rock looks and sounds like — loud, proud, and rooted in country.
NT Tour Dates
29 June – Jump Inn Jams, Jump Inn, Mparntwe
The tour begins with a stop at Jump in for a Jam before flying to Darwin
2 August – Garma Festival, Gulkula
Mulga Bore Hard Rock will perform as part of Garma’s epic Saturday night lineup, taking the stage just before Yothu Yindi — one of the most influential First Nations bands of all time. Yothu Yindi’s fusion of Yolŋu culture and contemporary rock has inspired generations of Blak musicians, including Mulga Bore Hard Rock themselves.
4 August – Garma Festival Open Day
The band returns to the Garma stage to perform for broader community audiences during the festival’s popular Open Day program.
7 August – Katherine Beat Festival
A homecoming moment for the band, who first rose to prominence at Katherine Beat in 2022 when they won the Battle of the Bands. That win sparked national attention and led to a once-in-a-lifetime invitation: opening for KISS on their End of the Road tour in the Gold Coast.
8 August – Darwin Festival at Darwin Railway Club, Garramilla
Their second Darwin Festival appearance sees them light up the Railway Club stage, joined by local singer-songwriter Casey Jane, known for her heartfelt lyrics and tropical Top End soul.
About the New Single – Heavy Rain
Out now via Community Music, Heavy Rain is a storm-fuelled anthem inspired by a wild thunderstorm that hit Mulga Bore late last year. The song captures the intensity of a lightning strike near frontman Alvin Manfong’s house — a moment that led him to pick up his guitar mid-storm and start writing.
“My legs were shaking, kids were screaming, parents were like ‘shhh, be quiet’. I started playing random chords, and this feeling just came over me about the rain,” says Alvin (aka Thunder Child).
Following breakout tracks Young Men and Sweet Home Mulga Bore, which were championed by triple j Unearthed, Double J, fbi.radio, SYN FM and more, Heavy Rain builds on the band’s growing momentum.
This year alone, Mulga Bore Hard Rock have performed at Golden Plains, Port Fairy Folk Festival, BIGSOUND, and SXSW Sydney, earning praise from NME, The AU Review, and Double J, who called them one of the “finest acts” of the event.
Still in their teens, Mulga Bore Hard Rock have already shared the stage with legends, challenged expectations, and carved a space for remote Blak youth in Australia’s rock scene. The Heavy Rain Single Release Tour is a celebration of where they’ve come from — and where they’re going next.
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Cast & crew
Alvin Manfong aka ‘Thunder Child’ on lead vocals and guitar
Kirklen Birk aka ‘Desert Demon’ on bass and vocals
Aiden Manfong aka ‘Desert Dingo’ on drums
Niara Tilmouth aka ‘Queen of Hearts’ on guitar and vocals
Tyrell Bird aka ‘Star Boy’ on guitar and vocals
Talvin Bird aka Black Diamond on Bass