Roxette’s Legacy Continues: A Night of Hits, Heart, and Nostalgia

Roxette playing live onstage at A Day On The Green at Sirromet Winery

ROXETTE, JON STEVENS, BOOM CRASH OPERA

SIRROMET WINES, MT COTTEN, QLD

SUNDAY 16 MARCH 2025

Photos: Yejin Cho

Words: Ben Preece

Live at Sirromet Winery – A Celebration in the Sun

A sprawling, sun-drenched Sirromet Winery set the scene for a day steeped in nostalgia, as fans gathered in their respective Roxette era t-shirts, a walking timeline of the band's legacy. Some repped the peroxide-and-leather Look Sharp! days, others the colourful fanfare of Joyride and even a couple diehards donned Crash! Boom! Bang! merch. But, of course, trepidation leads the way today as this won't quite be Roxette as we once knew it. With Marie Fredriksson’s tragic passing in 2019, the dream was seemingly over—who could replace her after all? She had the kind of voice that didn't reach for the heavens, it could soar and touch them. The band’s heart and voice was absent today, but in her place, Swedish singer Lena Philipsson took the reins alongside Per Gessle. A different energy, no doubt, but a capable stand-in for a catalogue far too beloved to fade away.

Support Acts: A Double Dose of Aussie Rock

The afternoon kicked off with Boom Crash Opera, a band that’s always been a celebration of timeless pop-rock. During their criminally early set, while a large percentage of the audience was still arriving, they delivered the perfect warm-up, pulling from across their discography. Barefoot frontman Dale Ryder was the target of guitarist Peter Farnan’s jokes about his lack of awareness of the Queensland heat, but it didn’t slow him down. Their hits still pack a punch—‘Dancing in the Storm,’ ‘Get Out of the House,’ ‘Gimme’—before a rousing closer in ‘Onion Skin,’ ringing across the outdoor arena as the sun settled into a picture-perfect afternoon.

The crowd is engaged now, beers flowing freely, and those early singalongs set the stage for the man of the hour, Jon Stevens. Switching effortlessly between Noiseworks and INXS, Stevens plays human jukebox, moving song-for-song between two remarkable catalogues. He launches in with ‘Kick’, into Noiseworks’ ‘Touch’, then back to ‘New Sensation’, flipping between eras with ease. The sun dips during his set and a terrified kangaroo bounds throughout the crowd (who knew roos could actually jump this high literally over the heads of tall humans?), anxious to find a quick exit. It’s a power-packed set that low-key steals the show. Between songs, Stevens preaches "life is short" affirmations, but it’s his performance that does the real talking. His takes on Michael Hutchence’s vocals are on point, nailing ‘Never Tear Us Apart’ and ‘Need You Tonight’ with effortless cool, before closing with his own anthem, ‘Take Me Back.’ A Day On The Green favourite, his presence here today clearly sold a lot of tickets—and left the crowd buzzing with a memorable, powerhouse performance.

Jon Stevens playing live onstage at A Day On The Green at Sirromet Winery

Roxette: The Hits Endure

By the time Per Gessle and his band hit the stage at 7 PM, the sun is gone, and it’s party time! The mood is set for a showcase of greatest hits and some deeper cuts, opening with ‘The Big L,’ ‘Sleeping in My Car,’ and ‘Dressed for Success.’ Gessle leads the charge with his signature restless power-pop enthusiasm, while Lena Philipsson is animated and holds her own, clearly supported by a loving and supportive band.

Marie’s Absence: A Heart-Wrenching Void

While the energy is high, Marie Fredriksson’s absence is deeply felt. This is particularly true during the big ballads—‘Fading Like a Flower’ and ‘Crash! Boom! Bang!’—the latter of which Per himself begins, making for a fan service moment, as we had his demo of the song on the CD single for 'Run To You' in 1994.

Setlist Surprises and Powerhouse Hits

The hits come thick and fast, with some curious choices (‘What’s She Like’), totally welcome deeper cuts (‘Things Will Never Be the Same’), and occasionally questionable selections (‘Vulnerable’). But when the

big ones arrive, they land with serious clout. ‘Dangerous,’ ‘How Do You Do!,’ ‘Joyride,’ and, of course, their biggest anthem, ‘It Must Have Been Love’, hit with the strength of some of the best of all-time. Philipsson dedicates the latter specifically to Marie, delivering the tearjerker to end them all. Yet, the crowd—primed by wine and nostalgia—sings every chorus with consummate gusto.

A Band Built on Legacy and Love

Gessle watches the crowd closely—he doesn’t miss a single detail, he is a Capricorn after all. He’s clearly designed this show for both longtime fans and newcomers alike, assembling a classic crack team of Roxette musicians.

Original keys player/producer Clarence Öfwerman remains at his side, while legendary guitarist Jonas Isacsson returns to the fold. Lanky guitarist Christoffer Lundquist, part of the band since 2010, has the most energy on stage, leaping off risers and leading the band through a guitar-led ‘Waltzing Matilda’ and cheekily launching ‘She’s Got Nothing On (But the Radio)’ with the unmistakable ‘Highway to Hell’ riff. There is a lot of love on this stage, perhaps necessary not only for long time followers, but also for Per himself. If he was to bring Roxette back to life, it would have to be from a place of love.

Encore: A Perfect Farewell

An acoustic version of ‘Spending My Time’ ("a little song I wrote the same day as the ‘Joyride’ song," Per quips) delivers one of the biggest singalongs of the night. That is until 'Listen To Your Heart' lands, it is truly humungous! Then, ‘The Look’ explodes with electric energy, proving that the success of Per’s throwaway tune with weird guide lyrics still intact was no fluke. Its power in undeniable, the strength of its hook second-to-none and its interactive opportunity effortless, it's the consummate pop song. Its followed, curiously, by the inferior 'Queen Of Rain' which finishes the show while punters stream out to get ahead of the exit traffic. It's a bit sad to see actually, and certainly can't be encouraging for the people onstage, but the song didn't hit here in Australia and its sentiment has always been a bit lost on us. Still, the songs live large in our memories.

Final Thoughts: A Bittersweet Triumph

It certainly isn’t the Roxette of old, but it’s Roxette enough. Per Gessle’s songs remain little slices of pop perfection, and he deserves to keep the legacy of the most successful part of his career alive while he can. Honestly, they deserve a career-affirming TikTok hit. If tonight proves anything, it’s that Marie Fredriksson is truly next level—an irreplaceable vocalist whose absence is deeply felt. But while no one can fill her shoes, Lena Philipsson delivers a solid, heartfelt tribute. Confident, playful, and charismatic, she sings Per’s songs perfectly well. Factor in a stunning Queensland evening, a setlist stacked with pop brilliance, and a crowd happily lost in their own Roxette memories, and what we get is a show that—while bittersweet—is ultimately a celebration of music that still lives on.