Australian electronic music act Peking Duk has found itself at the centre of a heated debate following its pre-match performance at the AFLW Grand Final on Saturday night. The Canberra-born duo, consisting of Adam Hyde and Reuben Styles, took to the stage at a packed Ikon Park, delivering a set that sharply divided spectators at home and in the stands.
A Star-Studded 17-Minute Set
In front of a capacity crowd, the pair played a 17-minute set that featured a total of six tracks. The performance was a collaborative affair, showcasing four different guest singers. Hyde opened the show with his solo project Keli Holiday's 2025 hit, Dancin', a song tipped as a favourite for this year's Hottest 100 countdown.
He was then joined by Reuben Styles as Peking Duk behind the decks, welcoming Ben Woolner from Safia to the stage. Woolner performed the duo's popular tracks, Take Me Over and Say My Name, songs that helped launch Peking Duk to prominence after their formation in 2010.
Polarised Fan Reactions Emerge
While the energy in the stands was reportedly high, the broadcast audience reaction was far from unanimous. Social media quickly became a battleground for opinions on the performance's quality.
Some viewers were brutally honest in their criticism. One fan declared they turned off the broadcast immediately, while another compared the spectacle to the infamous 2011 Meatloaf performance at the men's AFL Grand Final, labelling it a 'train wreck' and questioning the choice of artist for such a significant sporting event.
However, it wasn't all negative. Many fans in attendance and online were full of praise. One supporter enthusiastically posted, 'Peking Duk. Inject it into my veins. 10/10,' while another expressed disappointment that the grand final wasn't at a larger venue like Marvel Stadium, celebrating that the duo 'go OFF!!'
A Grand Finale with Classic Hits
Despite the mixed feedback, the duo pushed through their ambitious setlist. After Woolner's appearance, they were joined by Zimbabwe-born, London-raised, and Melbourne-based artist KYE, who performed an unreleased Peking Duk track called Thrills.
To close the show, longtime collaborator Lucy Lucy took the stage, thrilling the crowd with renditions of the group's 2018 classic Fire and their 2014 breakout hit High. The performance cemented a pre-match entertainment segment that, for better or worse, got everyone talking ahead of the Brisbane versus North Melbourne clash.
