This Week In Entertainment News 27 Feb 2026
It’s one of our biggest editions of This Week In Entertainment News yet, with big names, big dramas, and no shortage of controversy. Plus, a stack of new music and tour announcements from Australia and around the world.
Global superstar Ed Sheeran blew back into Brisbane last weekend as part of his world tour, paying a very special visit to Ipswich after a prolonged campaign led by Mayor Teresa Harding. The redheaded rascal popped by the regional city before his sold-out Brisbane shows to sign a mural portraying his eighth studio album ‘Play’. Mayor Harding also presented Ed with official mayoral chains, declaring him honorary co-mayor of Ipswich.
“It was a wonderful moment to be able to thank him for noticing our city, for making the trip, and for giving Ipswich a moment we’ll be talking about for a long time”, Mayor Harding said.
Pop punk favourites Good Charlotte have also been touring the country and showing their love for Aussie fans. It’s been eight years since Good Charlotte toured Australia, and Joel Madden got a little emotional onstage in Bendigo as he thanked Australian fans for their immense support over the years.
“I was thinking, 30 years ago we started this band, and we came from the middle of nowhere … no one gave a shit about us,” he said.
“We put our first record out in 2000, and we got a call that they were playing our song in Australia on radio, and they wanted us to come do a TV show here. We had to go get passports; we had never left the country. This was the first place we came outside of our own country.
“And you know what? Every f**king time we’re here, everyone is so f**king nice and so f**king welcoming, and they treat us like we just belong here. It always meant so much to me.
“Coming from a small place, I had no idea what the world was like, and I was a little scared. This was a great place to come for the first time. I just want to say how much it means to use that you’re still here.”
Ed Sheeran and Good Charlotte are among a growing trend of international acts heading off the well-beaten metropolitan tour track to play shows in regional communities. Last month, Foo Fighters performed a special one-off show in Launceston and have also included regional centres Townsville and Newcastle on their upcoming ‘Take Cover’ tour.
There’s big trouble in little Melbourne town as owner and long-time booker of iconic venue Cherry Bar, James Young steps away amid backlash from a controversial social media post. Cherry Bar partners announced Young would step away from the role “for the time being”, in light of his comments about large-scale public protests interfering with venues’ business operations.
“The protests vary but the pain is consistent. Enough is enough. I just can’t understand why our council and our government favour the ‘rights’ of illegal protesters (for a large number of varied causes) over the rights of long-term small business operators to open their doors and trade, trying desperately to reignite the ailing Melbourne hospitality industry and pay our bloody rent!
“Please. Hear me out. Of course Cherry Bar has a heart and a real passion for freedom of speech, HOWEVER Melbourne, after two long years surely we can sit down and find a better way forward.”
Cherry Bar’s response has drawn both support and criticism from punters, some commenting they were more shocked with this than Young’s original post. It’s a murky situation that puts the rights of business owners in direct conflict with the right to public protest and individual freedom of speech.
Meanwhile, it’s the end of an era for beloved Sunshine Coast live music venue Solbar, announcing it will be closing the doors for good. Solbar has been a prominent feature of Sunshine Coast nightlife for more than 20 years, hosting countless popular acts. Owners cited industry challenges and rising operating costs as the reason for the closure. It’s yet another nail in the coffin for local Australian music as the sector struggles to recover post-pandemic.
“Rising operating costs, changing audience behaviours and ongoing economic pressures have created a difficult environment for venues to survive,” a statement from Solbar read.
“These challenges have placed enormous strain on independent venues, many of which serve as critical launching pads for emerging artists.”
This year’s British Academy of Film & Television Awards (BAFTAs) erupted in an unlikely controversy involving well-known advocate for Tourette syndrome, John Davidson. Davidson was in attendance for the ceremony because a film inspired by his life ‘I Swear’ was nominated for several awards. While ‘Sinners’ stars Michael B. Jordan and Delroy Lindo were presenting an award, Davidson can be heard shouting the N-word.
The incident has stirred a hornet’s nest, with reactions drawn between support for Davidson and his condition, and outright disgust. Jamie Foxx is among those condemning Davidson for his outburst, which is ironic considering public misunderstanding about Tourette Syndrome is what ‘I Swear’ is all about. The ceremony was broadcast by the BBC on a two-hour delay, and Davidson says he was given assurances any swearing by him would be edited out.
Former Live guitarist Chad Taylor and drummer Chad Gracey have put aside their differences in as bid to have frontman Ed Kowalczyk stop using the band name. The pair issued Kowalczyk a cease-and-desist letter asserting his right to use the Live band name and brand in business operations had been revoked. Kowalczyk refutes these claims via his legal team, and it seems the matter will be resolved in court.
One of the biggest names in heavy metal, Iron Maiden, have announced an Australian tour that is said to hit our shores this November. They will be joined by Megadeth as support. In 2026, Iron Maiden are celebrating five decades with their ‘Run For Your Lives’ tour as well as a documentary film ‘Burning Ambition’, which will have an Australian theatre release in May.
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Delighting Australian music lovers with the news of its return, Groovin The Moo is excited to share the incredible crop of local and international artists who are set to make its special one-off show in Lismore an unforgettable event. Baker Boy, Denzel Curry (US), Dope Lemon, Maple’s Pet Dinosaur, Matt Corby, Ninajirachi, The Chats, The Terrys, Tones And I, Angel White, The Colliflowers, Homegrown Hero Slot, Kath Ebbs Presents Cowboy Country.
Iconic British group From The Jam celebrate their 20th year in 2026 – two decades of music that cleverly added to the broader British songbook, while also developing a creative legacy that remains timeless and respected today. This July, the milestone tour makes its way to Australia and New Zealand, with From The Jam bringing their influential catalogue to fans and newcomers alike.
Fusing sonic vibrancy with a beautifully evolved chapter of songwriting, Foley proudly present their new project in five-track EP, ‘Like An Actress’. The arrival of this new collection marks a new touchstone for the Sydney-based indie-pop duo, as they have spent the last year working relentlessly on new music while touring their acclaimed second studio album, ‘That’s Life, Baby!’
In the midst of a massive 60-date tour across Australia, Brisbane singer/songwriter Laura Frank has today released her latest single ‘God Knows I Know’, a powerful, introspective single about pushing forward and taking risks in life. The track is the first of a string of singles yet to come in 2026, culminating in an album currently set for release in October.
