Camp Cope Honors Their Last Performance with ‘Live at Sydney Opera House’

Camp Cope Bids Farewell with Vinyl Release

The beloved power-emo trio Camp Cope is set to say farewell, this time through a special vinyl release. Their final performance at the iconic Sydney Opera House has been captured in a limited, one-time-only pressing, available today via their long-time labels, Poison City Records and Run For Cover Records.

This live album, titled Camp Cope Live at Sydney Opera House, is also offered digitally on Bandcamp. Once the vinyl sells out, it will not be repressed.

Celebrating a Remarkable Farewell Concert

The album features Georgia Maq, Kelly-Dawn Hellmrich, and drummer Sarah “Thomo” Thompson, along with their unofficial fourth member Jennifer Aslett (of San Cisco and Julia Jacklin fame). It showcases songs from their extensive catalogue, including Camp Cope (2016), How To Socialise & Make Friends (2018), Running with the Hurricane (2022), and their 2017 split with Cayetana.

Special guests such as Julia Jacklin and other friends and family joined them on stage, making the occasion extra memorable. A standout moment was the live debut of the ten-minute rendition of “The Opener.”

Reflections on Their Journey

Reflecting on this unique release, Georgia Maq, now living in Los Angeles, expressed her sentiments: “This release is special because it’s a record of the very last time we were in a room together. Kelly and Thomo changed me, and the three of us will always be Camp Cope.”

Bassist Kelly-Dawn Hellmrich shared the band’s past experiences, recounting how they were once warned that their loudness and strong opinions could end their careers. “Then we sold out the Concert Hall at the Sydney Opera House, with a room full of people who’d probably been told they were too much of something,” she noted. “I’m grateful this album exists as a forever record of the night we filled one of the greatest rooms in the country with everything they wanted to silence.”

Commitment to Independence

Drummer Sarah “Thomo” Thompson elaborated on the decision to release the album solely on vinyl and Bandcamp, highlighting its significance for the band. “From our early days with amps we couldn’t hear to touring worldwide, our commitment to independence has never wavered,” she stated. “Streaming platforms like Spotify have never cared about artists or their music. Thanks for staying with us as we forged our own path; this album is for you, not the industry that attempts to stifle bands like ours.”

A Legacy of Change and Inclusivity

Camp Cope, which formed in Melbourne, has made significant strides in advocating for safer and more inclusive spaces in the Australian music scene. Their legacy is woven with the challenges they addressed and the positive changes they inspired.

Their second album, How to Socialise & Make Friends, received international acclaim, earning praise from outlets like NPR, The New Yorker, and The Guardian. Critics celebrated the raw emotion and honesty found within their music, recognizing its impact on inspiring future generations of artists.

Camp Cope’s ‘Live at the Sydney Opera House’ is now available.