Cover Image: Local talent Hannah Stow delivering a heartfelt moment during her Milk Bar set, showcasing both vulnerability and vocals. Photo: Linda Dunjey

Hannah Stow
Milk Bar, 8 August 2025

At their farewell show in Fremantle this year, Holy Holy’s set was marred by technical problems early. Instead of sulking, the band used the opportunity to play some uniquely unplugged tunes, and the intimacy became an ideal way to start.

Effectively turning lemons into lemonade, exciting Perth prospect Hannah Stow managed the same feat on Friday. When distorted noise from the backing track threatened to derail the start of her set, she took the opportunity to introduce herself and give us an insight into her personality. 

Turns out Stow is not just a great songwriter, she’s funny AF. “How’s your mum?” she asked to a chorus of laughter and random responses. “How’s your kids?”

When a punter got too excited and asked to speak into the mic, it looked for a second as if she might hand it over, before asking, “You want my mic? You want my pants too?” She was disarming and warm, and the sound issues soon forgotten. From the big chorus and distorted guitars of second song (and instant highlight) Let Me Know, Stow was on fire all night.

Showcasing bucketloads of charisma and startling emotional depth, Dawson Road was a heartfelt ode to her dad. He reappeared later in the insightful ballad Traits (released just a couple of months ago), while another signature ballad, the intimate In the Dark, featured the romantic and self-aware couplet: “I’m awfully pushy and sometimes hard to read/ But I found with you it’s easier for me to breathe”. 

And so it was that the combination of upbeat humour and soul-searching lyrics became the night’s theme. Mixing the emo-pop sensibility of Amy Shark with urban beats akin to Mallrat, Stow is an original on the Perth scene. A registered nurse and former Australian Idol contestant who’s lately been getting plaudits from Triple J, her upward trajectory is matched by an energy as sparkling as her diamante top. 

It looks set to last as long as her countless tattoos, too. Bringing support act Airia up for a cover of Avril Lavigne’s Complicated got the eager crowd singing along, as did popular single Tell Him ’Bout Us to close the main set.  

All three supports were winners. Wesley Black brought infectious high energy and even hyperpop and hip hop to the main slot, while Coorj in particular got the night off to an excellent start with futuristic R&B akin to the Weeknd, plus some Prince-worthy guitar shreds and a new track, A Brighter Dawn, released that day.

He wasn’t the only one to drop a new song that day. Stow’s brand-new single Toxic Teady Bearalready sounds like a hit, with it’s catchy and self-deprecating lyrics (“At least I’m self-aware,” she notes).

Of course, Stow wasn’t allowed to leave without an encore and a little more banter; in the unlikely event that she’s not WA’s next big thing, there’s a budding career as a standup comedian in the wings. In Your Room was an absolute banger to finish, the guitars roaring and the room left elated.

Coupled with her emotionally astute observations (“Could you be more repressed?” she asked on the other encore track I Didn’t Change), there’s the sense of a fully formed talent here with genuine life experience, even if she’s still just starting out. 

For more information on Hannah Stow and her upcoming events, visit:
https://hannahstow.com