The Yarra Ranges-based seven-piece band Playlunch landed an incredible fourth place in triple j’s Hottest 100, capping off a mega 2025.
It was the bogan funk outfit’s breakout single Keith which soared into the top five, beating international heavyweights such as Chappell Roan, Fred again.. and RAYE.
The catchy funk-rock earworm took the country by storm with its hilarious lyrics, telling the story of a psycho tradie neighbour named “Keith”, played by ex-AFL star Barry Hall in the song’s music video.
Frontman Liam Bell said he and the band felt like “the luckiest blokes in the music industry”.
“It’s such a dream come true for us… It’s rare that you get to work with the kind of people we get to work with, play in a band with your best mates, and participate in a community made of the most passionate music fans in the country,” he said.
Playlunch’s cover of It’s Raining Men for triple j’s Like A Version also landed at 73 on the Hottest 100, cementing the band into Australia’s music canon.
The music video for Keith became an immediate sensation upon its release in June 2025 but it was thanks to a genius social media campaign that the song performed so well in the Hottest 100.
Barry Hall starred in the series of short clips, written and edited by Mr Bell, which saw Keith take Playlunch hostage in a bid to gain popularity, and it’s safe to say that his plan succeeded.
Mr Bell said the band wouldn’t be anywhere without the support of their fans.
“Obviously it’s great to see all these years of hard work paying off, but this industry is full of artists working their asses off who never see these kind of results.
“We’re here because of our fans, it’s as simple as that,” Mr Bell said.
Emerging from the Yarra Ranges, Playlunch began as an independent band, working hard to establish their unique brand rooted in Australiana culture.
Their 2022 debut single, No Hat, No Play, laid the foundation for a cult following which saw fans rock up to gigs in athletics day house colours and yard duty uniforms, handing out detention slips.
The band went from writing songs about the ABC to being signed by the broadcast corporation’s music label in November 2024, and ever since, they’ve been packing out venues all around the country.
Mr Bell said their song Keith had rooted itself in Australian pop culture.
“The fact this silly song about a stupid neighbour has gone on to become this cult sensation, and Barry Hall’s Keith seems to have become an icon of Aussie culture is an honour beyond words.
“Whether it’s the people behind Fast Forward, Working Dog, Skithouse or Aunty Donna – we are so inspired by the great canon of Aussie comedy and art, and every single day we aspire to create work that can resonate with people the way those classics resonate with us,” Mr Bell said.
Looking forward, the band are excited to continue putting on shows and bringing their dopamine-filled funk bangers to Australia and the world.
“Keith cracking the top five of the Hottest 100 feels like confirmation we’re on the right track, and we can’t wait to get to work putting on the best show we possibly can for everyone who voted for us.”
