Ball Park Music I Concert Review

Editorial Staff
Dec 14, 2025
4 min read

Updated: Dec 28, 2025

"Like Love" Comes Alive in Berlin

Ball Park Music, one of Australia’s most beloved indie bands, released their eighth album "Like Love" on April 4, 2025 - a record defined by warmth, emotional honesty, and a refined folk-rock sensibility. Led by frontman Sam Cromack and produced alongside longtime collaborator Matt Redlich, the album explores love, distance, vulnerability, and change with remarkable clarity.

Tracks like “Please Don’t Move To Melbourne” stand out through comforting, strumming guitar lines, balanced and warm production, and lyrics that contrast cheerful melodies with emotional fragility. Lines such as “Please don’t leave me standing here”capture the fear of loss, while repeated phrases like “Pick me up” express a longing for closeness and reassurance. It’s music that feels intimate yet universal: soothing, reflective, and deeply relatable.

The Brisbane indie darlings have long established their status as one of Australia's most revered and endearing bands – with five of their seven albums having debuted in the ARIA top five, four of their songs having gone platinum and no less than a dozen Hottest 100 placements to their name.

On their European tour, Ball Park Music brought "Like Love" to the stage and we attended their final German show at Kantine am Berghain in Berlin. Experiencing these songs live revealed how naturally the album translates into a shared, emotional concert experience. What follows is our Ball Park Music concert review: an evening shaped by warmth, energy, intimacy, and a rare sense of connection between band and audience.

The journey to the venue already feels like part of the experience. Tucked away next to the legendary Berghain, Kantine am Berghain isn’t the easiest place to find, but once you arrive, it reveals itself as a true indie oasis.

Ball Park Music I Concert Review Kantine am Berghain — *Kantine am Berghain*

Inside, the space feels warm and inviting: red lighting, candles, light smoke, a fireplace, and even real bamboo behind glass. There’s a small seating area, a spacious outdoor section that must be beautiful in summer, and a fast, friendly bar. The atmosphere is relaxed, cozy, and perfectly suited for an intimate live show.

The venue is filled to the last spot with a diverse audience. Couples, longtime fans, and curious newcomers stand side by side. Despite being packed, the room never feels overwhelming - instead, it creates a sense of shared closeness and anticipation.

The opener, Neighbour (Australian born, Berlin based 'Neighbour' slays emotional demons with his songs of honesty - Indie, Pop, Rock, Acoustic), turns out to be a perfect match for the evening. With clean guitar tones, piano, bass, violin, and choral-like vocals their singer-songwriter-leaning set feels intimate and emotionally rich. The warm, well-balanced mix allows every instrument to breathe, and when the band plays together, their artistry becomes immediately apparent.

From the very first second, Ball Park Music take full control of the room. They open strong, energetic, and confident and the audience is instantly with them. Guitar solos hit precisely, the rhythm section drives the songs forward, and the synergy between band members is striking.

Sam Cromack’s vocals come through clear, warm, and powerful, while the band’s overall presence feels joyful and grounded. There’s a natural ease in how they perform together: no overacting, no distance, just genuine connection. The energy flows seamlessly between stage and crowd, building a shared emotional tension that remains present throughout the entire show.

Sonically, the concert is outstanding. The mix stays consistently clear and balanced, whether during loud, energetic moments or quieter, more intimate passages. The drums sound full and precise, the bass is deep and contagious, and the electric guitar solos stand out every time.

Lighting plays a crucial role in shaping the mood: electric guitars paired with red lights create an atmosphere that shifts effortlessly between emotional depth and party-like euphoria. At times, the lead guitar switches to a half-acoustic sound, with gentle strumming that perfectly supports the band’s love-centered songwriting.

Keyboards and synths add another layer to the soundscape, never intrusive, never superficial, but essential. Clean piano tones and subtle synth textures elevate the emotional impact, filling the room in a way that would leave a noticeable gap without them.

What stands out most is how deeply the audience connects with the music. Love songs resonate visibly especially among the many couples in the crowd and moments like “Please Don’t Move To Melbourne” turn into collective sing-alongs. The crowd dances, sings every word, and fully lives the moment.

Notably, very few people hold up their phones. Instead of recording, they experience. That alone speaks volumes about the band’s ability to captivate.

A particularly heartfelt moment unfolds when the band reveals it’s the bassist’s birthday. The audience breaks into song, party hats appear on stage, and the interaction feels playful, warm, and genuinely connecting. Each band member is later introduced and celebrated individually, adding another layer of appreciation and intimacy to the evening.

After intense, high-energy sections, the band allows space to breathe: tambourine-driven rhythms, soft backing vocals, and beautifully built song dynamics showcase their songwriting and performance instincts. "Like Love" comes alive on stage, proving just how deeply these songs resonate on a human level.

From start to finish, the atmosphere remains consistently strong - on stage and in the audience. After a stretch of slower, intimate songs, the energy rises once more, culminating in a final track that feels like the perfect ending to a perfect evening.

There’s a sense of familiarity and warmth by the end, as if you’ve just spent the night with close friends: the kind you’ll happily meet again next weekend. Even the humorous addendum lands effortlessly:

“Are you feeling horny tonight?” - “Medium horny!”

The room erupts, laughter turns into dancing, and the party carries on. Ball Park Music deliver an intimate, joyful, and deeply human live experience. Berlin won’t forget this night and judging by the smiles in the room, neither will the band.

A masterclass in connection, energy, and emotional honesty. A live show that feels less like a concert and more like belonging.

"Please Don't Move To Melbourne" is now featured on the INDIENOXZINE Playlist - follow the playlist to stay updated on new highlights.