RocKwiz Live! @ Thebarton Theatre, Adelaide 7/12/2025
RocKwiz Live in ’25 returned to Thebarton Theatre on Sunday night with the kind of electricity that only a twenty-year cult favourite can generate.
Standing on Thebby’s stage, Brian Nankervis enthusiastically proclaimed it “a sacred RocKwiz site.” The crowd, packed to the rafters in the newly refurbished venue, agreed. We had come in the pursuit of nostalgia, live music, and celebrating twenty years of a legendary Aussie TV institution.
For the uninitiated, RocKwiz was a live music trivia television show hosted by the incomparable Julia Zemiro and Nankervis. Airing on SBS, each episode paired sharp-edged quiz segments with live musical performances. The show ran for 14 seasons, ending in 2016. Yet, it lives on with cult immortality through regular live performances.
Sunday’s show felt like stepping straight into the warmly riotous Gershwin Room at St Kilda’s Espy. The energy surged the second Nankervis launched into his trademark contestant hunt.
Audience members Peter, Tim, and the first married couple ever to take part in any RocKwiz format, Kellie and Vin, won their way onto the stage. They were enthusiastic, knowledgeable, and earnestly competitive. Watching them banter with the guests — the Kellie, Vin and Phil Jamieson throuple was a delight — and occasionally out-nerding them was a highlight.
The format was refreshingly unchanged in all the right ways. There was a blend of sharp questions with the classic quick-fire chaos that fans love. Zemiro moved across the stage with her trademark combination of warmth, wit, and delicately provocative prodding. Nankervis, the ultimate hype-man, joyously stood behind his podium keeping score. His excitement was palpable. There’s a rhythm in the way the two work together, a comedic choreography that beautifully anchored the performance.
Then came the musical heavy-hitters. Emily Lubitz brought a delicate, velvety calm to her performances, delivering hypnotic vocals. Jamieson traipsed onstage with the swagger and mischievous irreverence that only he can deliver. Casey Donovan was a vocal powerhouse. Her voice filled the Thebby with depth and emotional punch, drawing the loudest cheers. And Beccy Cole, quick-witted and endlessly charming, offered a compelling mix of country heat and comedic zing. Together, they created a unique brand of musical chemistry that only happens when the right artists come together.
Special mention goes to the RocKwiz Orkestra. They were the steady heartbeat beneath every segment, shifting effortlessly from soulful backing to punchy rock riffs. Led by Musical Director Peter Luscombe (drums), with Dan Kelly (guitar), Bill McDonald (bass), Olympia (guitar vocals) and Clio Renner (keys), the Orkestra was tight and intuitive. In many ways, they were the cog that kept the show turning smoothly.
In the end, who actually won was beside the point. What mattered was the exceptional level of entertainment we were treated to.
Fun, jubilantly chaotic, and jammed packed with sing-alongs, Rockwiz Live in ’25 proved that its heart still beats as loudly and lovingly as ever.
Live Review By Anita Kertes