Formed in the cold, dark depths of Gadubanud Country/The Otways (South West Victoria), Naarm/Melbourne-based group The Refuge is an unstoppable force of heavy riffs, emotive vocals, and machine-like synchronisation.

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The melodic yet abrasive four-piece is a grunge/rock band that draws its influences from groups such as Queens of the Stone Age, Black Sabbath, Soundgarden, and Alice in Chains. With a love of psychedelia, punk, and old-school heavy metal, their recordings and live performances have a distinctive sound.

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By 2017, the band — consisting of Riley Newton (vocals/guitar), Noa Matthews (guitar/vocals), Cam Potter (bass/vocals), and Leon Kennedy (drums/vocals) — had performed over 50 live shows before the age of sixteen, giving them experience and stagecraft beyond their years. In the same year, the Apollo Bay teenagers impressed judges and secured The Queenscliff Music Festival Emerging Artist Grant, as well as a performance slot at the festival, appearing alongside major acts such as The Temper Trap, Bernard Fanning, and Xavier Rudd.

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At the beginning of 2020, the band released their two official singles, “Long Time” and “Follow Me.” This was followed in 2022 by their four-track debut EP, "Far From Perfect". In 2023, the group released the powerful sludge/rock track “Linchpin". In 2025, the four coastal rockers did anything but slow down, releasing three singles — “Heart in My Hands,” “The Winding Road,” and “Call My Own” — and embarking on an electrifying regional tour across Victoria, Australia.

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Just a couple of months into 2026, The Refuge has already kicked things off strongly with five shows in January alone, including an electrifying performance supporting Wolfmother at one of Melbourne’s historic venues, The Gershwin Room at Hotel Esplanade (The Espy). The rest of the year will see the band continue to grow in both writing and performance, bringing fresh new material and dynamic, unique live shows.