You saw them rip it up in 2024 Dept of Rock's Battle of the Bands - come back and see our bands do it again in the Dept of Rock's All Stars shows at Smiths in May, June and July 2025. Sunday afternoons have never been so much fun.

All Stars gigs give bands that entered last year’s comp, the chance to play again and for longer, without competition pressure but still within the fun and friendly Dept of Rock community. So dust off those dancing shoes and get down to Smith’s and join in the fun as our public servant rockstars let loose again.

Drop in for one band ($10) or see a couple bands or stay for the whole show ($20).

Cruisin’ Division

Put a smile on your dial and diamonds on your shoes - four of our finest bands are cruising into Smith’s to give us a great afternoon of live music!

The Shadies
The Shadies is an inclusive, fun loving ukulele band that play at lunchtimes in the shade of the trees outside our office in Barton – and sometimes under the lights at Smith’s! The Shadies play anything and everything with their own special interpretation. Because they welcome musicians and wanna-be musicians from across their department (currently DCCEEW) the Shadies line-up is as dynamic as their music. Finalists in 2024 Battle of the Bands, The Shadies are back to sprinkle the fairy dust via their wonderful quirky music infused with love, light and laughter.

Howling Moon
Howling Moon are a Canberra-based indie band that play original songs that cross genres of rock, blues and atmospheric prog drawing on love, loss and landscape. Super talented musos and storytellers, Howling Moon have graced the Smith’s stage for Dept of Rock Battle of Bands in 2023 and 2024 and are back for All Stars – get ready to howl at the moon in May.

Transit Dolls
The T-Dolls are an original power trio consisting of Luke McGrath drums (The Missing Lincolns, Babyfreeze, Lulu & the Tantrums), Stuart Mitchell bass/ vocals (ZZG, Blue Angel & Dr Wiedemann Orchestra) and James Montgomery-Willcox guitar/ lead vocal (The Feldons, the Get Downs, Strange Brew). And lucky us, they’re back with catchy, danceable original 1970s style glam/ pub rock with power pop influences. Come see the band everyone is talking about – and get ready to dance.

Capybara Spa
Capybara Spa is one of the premier rodent-derived bands in the ACT - and runner up in 2024 Battle of the Bands! Performing guitar driven, mostly original material, their music has been described as: ‘Maybe post punk pop’, ‘Would have done well in the 70s’, ‘Would listen to it if another band played it’ and ‘Rodenty rockstars of the highest order’. Capybara Spa consists of Tammy, Pete, Nick, Louise, Gregg and Beck and they are back for one purpose - to entertain us.