The Rubens have returned to Australian stages with a new record and a clear-headed frontman — a reset that makes their Oct. 16 release, Group Therapy, feel timely as the band embarks on a 24-date national tour through February 2027. For listeners and live-music fans, the story matters: it’s a comeback shaped by recovery, creative independence and a renewed appetite for guitar-driven rock.
At the centre of the shift is vocalist and guitarist Sam Margin, who stepped away from alcohol after years of using partying to blunt anxiety and stage pressure. The change isn’t just personal; it informs the album’s title and the band’s current energy on stage.
Margin says the onstage moment remained a refuge even as offstage drinking and anxiety began to spiral. After seeking help, he returned to performing sober — a development that has reshaped how the group approaches touring and recording.
What Group Therapy sounds like
Recorded in a converted WWII communications bunker and produced by Konstantin Kersting, Group Therapy marks a deliberate pivot back to amplified guitars after the band’s recent synth-leaning work. The opening track stakes that claim early, signaling a more direct, rock-forward approach without losing the melodic hooks that built their audience.
- Producer: Konstantin Kersting
- Recording location: The Bunker (a converted WWII communications bunker)
- Musical direction: Return to guitar-driven rock following the synth textures of the previous album
- Themes: Recovery, pressure of performance, personal and creative freedom
- Release date: Oct. 16, 2026
The album also carries the weight of past ambitions. The band — which has toured the United States multiple times and worked with notable producers and artists — still holds on to the “America dream” that figured in their earlier years, even as careers and personal lives have evolved.
From Menangle to national stages
Formed in 2011 in Menangle, a semi-rural village southwest of Sydney, The Rubens are built around the Margin brothers — Zaac, Sam and Elliott — alongside longtime friends Scott Baldwin and William Zeglis. Early wins on triple j Unearthed and a 2016 Hottest 100 victory with “Hoops” helped catapult them into mainstream attention.
They’ve enjoyed a run of commercial success, landing multiple top-five ARIA albums and a No. 1 with 2021’s 0202. Now operating without their previous label partners, the band says independence has given them full creative control — a liberating but daunting change.
“We were allowed a long rope before, but going entirely independent means we make the calls now,” Elliott Margin explains, noting that management handles logistical details while the band steers the artistic direction. The move signals a willingness to apply lessons learned over years of touring and recording to the next phase of their career.
What the tour looks like
The Group Therapy tour spans regional towns and capital cities, reflecting a broad domestic footprint and a commitment to fans outside major centres. The trek began with a high-profile slot at Singapore’s Grand Prix Music Festival and will keep the band on the road into early 2027.
| Date | Venue | Location |
|---|---|---|
| Oct. 16, 2026 | City Recital Hall | Sydney, NSW |
| Oct. 23, 2026 | The Gov | Adelaide, SA |
| Oct. 24, 2026 | The Globe Hotel | Mt Gambier, SA |
| Oct. 29, 2026 | Black Flag Brewing | Coolum, QLD |
| Oct. 30, 2026 | The Tivoli | Brisbane, QLD |
| Oct. 31, 2026 | D’Ag Pub | D’Aguilar, QLD |
| Nov. 5, 2026 | Theatre Royal | Castlemaine, VIC |
| Nov. 6, 2026 | Forum | Melbourne, VIC |
| Nov. 7, 2026 | Barwon Heads Hotel | Barwon Heads, VIC |
| Nov. 20, 2026 | Odeon Theatre | Hobart, TAS |
| Nov. 21, 2026 | Forth Pub | Forth, TAS |
| Dec. 3, 2026 | Freo Social | Fremantle, WA |
| Dec. 4, 2026 | The River | Margaret River, WA |
| Dec. 12, 2026 | Romano’s | Wagga Wagga, NSW |
| Jan. 22, 2027 | Shoal Bay Country Club | Shoal Bay, NSW |
| Jan. 23, 2027 | Woodport Hotel | Erina, NSW |
| Jan. 24, 2027 | Toronto Hotel | Lake Macquarie, NSW |
| Jan. 25, 2027 | Mona Vale Hotel | Mona Vale, NSW |
| Jan. 28, 2027 | The Recky | Pacific Palms, NSW |
| Jan. 29, 2027 | Hoey Moey | Coffs Harbour, NSW |
| Jan. 30, 2027 | Yamba Bowling Club | Yamba, NSW |
| Jan. 31, 2027 | Hotel Brunswick | Brunswick Heads, NSW |
| Feb. 12, 2027 | Wombarra Bowling & Rec | Wombarra, NSW |
| Feb. 13, 2027 | The Pavilion | Kiama, NSW |
Setlists blend new material — including singles such as “Goanna,” “Are You Getting High,” “No Champagne” and “The Cannonball” — with older fan favourites. For regional audiences, the tour underscores the band’s sustained focus on connecting with listeners outside major centres.
Beyond the live shows, the record and the sober reset speak to broader conversations about mental health in the music industry: sustained touring and public expectation can exact a toll, and recovery often becomes a creative turning point.
For now, The Rubens are capitalising on that turning point. The band is self-releasing and steering its creative course, presenting a version of themselves shaped by experience, healthier routines and a clear sense of purpose.
Group Therapy is available now, and tickets for remaining dates can be found through the band’s official outlets and promoter channels. The national tour is presented by triple j.
