LIVE: Travis with Josh Pyke — Fremantle, 8 January 2026

LIVE: Travis with Josh Pyke — Fremantle, 8 January 2026
Metropolis Fremantle, Western Australia
Review & photography by Linda Dunjey

Josh Pyke set a warm tone as opener, alone on stage with guitar and harmonica. The crowd were supportive although as Josh commented, they were really there to see Travis. Josh gave stories between some of the songs, including The Lighthouse Song, inspired by Cape Leeuwin and written for his girlfriend at the time — now his wife. It was a great start to a night that proved to be exceptional.

Two decades after their last Perth appearance, Scottish band Travis returned to a packed Metropolis Fremantle as part of their Australian tour celebrating the 1999 studio album The Man Who, touted as playing the album in its entirety along with fan favourites. Frontman Fran Healy took the audience through the evening with a steady stream of emotional, funny and often poignant stories with the other band members nodding and smiling as if this was the first time they were reliving old memories. It was made even more wonderful with images from the bands younger days as backdrops to the songs.

Early highlights included Driftwood and Turn which saw punters singing along with arms around each others shoulders, and when Healy asked how many Scots were in the audience, it looked like half the room responded with shouts of encouragement.

The Last Laugh of the Laughter featured gorgeous harmonies and although Healy seemed to strain reaching for the upper register he pushed through, the layered vocals landing with emotional weight. Why Does It Always Rain on Me? followed, though background chatter grew noticeably loud at times — so much so that some were forced to leave. No doubt it was old mates reconnecting with the music which formed the soundtrack to their younger days. [Editor’s note: why these twonks cannot go and talk outside instead of ruining other people’s enjoyment of a concert is beyond us but undoubtedly grounded in their ignorance and self involvement. Should be a law, etc…]

The segment of fan favourites took the energy even higher (if that was possible) with Closer (Lean on Me) and Flowers in the Window, followed by a hilariously unexpected cover of Britney Spears Hit Me Baby One More Time. The night closed with Sing, with what felt like the entire venue singing the words at the top of their lungs. It was the perfect closer to a concert that will stay strong in our shared memories as joyful from the opening chords to the last.

Hopefully it wont be another 20 years ’til we see Travis again.

Category: Live Reviews, Photo Galleries