Watch: Party Dozen – ‘Special Unit’

Sydney duo Party Dozen return with new single and music video, ‘Special Unit’. Written, performed, recorded, mixed and mastered, shot by and starring the band themselves, the track packs a lot into its 2 mins and 39 seconds. Less is more. More volume. More energy. In a three week period that will see Party Dozen play Sydney Opera House (for Vivid Festival) this Monday 25th May, and Red Rocks (as part of a full US tour with Amyl & The Sniffers), ‘Special Unit’ is “a huge noise for the huge rooms.” The group will warm up with an already sold-out Tote Hotel show in Naarm/Melbourne on Thursday 21st May.

Speaking on the new single, Party Dozen share; “You have the right to remain stupid. Anything you say or do will be laughable. If you cannot afford common sense, a version of it will be provided for you. You have minimal training and exhibit zero qualities that qualify you for the authority bestowed upon you. So here’s your gun, and your uniform. Have fun out there and welcome to SPECIAL UNIT.”

These words serve as an introduction to the track’s video, which allows us to spend an evening in the company of the Party Dozen Special Unit, watch here. As in the award-winning clip for Crime In Australia’s ‘Coup  De  Gronk’, which was declared Best Video at SXSW Sydney 2025, Kirsty and Jono are a duo inflicting terror upon the people of Sydney, but this time (arguably?) from a different side of the law, and in an altogether less calculated and more chaotic way.

2025 was nothing minor for Party Dozen. The year featured a US tour with Lambrini Girls and a headline tour across mainland Europe, a quick jaunt back to the UK for Pitchfork Fest, a week in NZ and some last Aussie shows with King Gizzard and the Lizard Wizard, rounding off their busiest year yet. November also saw the release of ‘Mad Rooter’ / ‘Ghost Rider’, a 7” that signalled the beginning of a new relationship with European label City Slang. ‘Mad Rooter’ and ‘Special Unit’ are the first tastes of PD’s fifth album, which will see the light of day later this year..

Party Dozen are Kirsty Tickle (saxophone) and Jonathan Boulet (percussion and sampler), a semi-improvised psych noise band from Sydney. Over the course of four albums they have gone from underground Sydney punks to globetrotting Sydney punks, featuring on festival bills across multiple continents and having guests such as Nick Cave to billy woods feature on their tracks.

Stream / purchase ‘Special Unit’ here.

Party Dozen 2026 Live Dates

Thu 21 May – The Tote, Melbourne, AU [SOLD OUT]
Mon 25th May – Vivd, Sydney Opera House, Sydney, AU [tickets]
Thu 4th June – RBC Amphitheatre, Toronto, CA*
Fri 5th June – Place Bell, Montreal, CA *
Sat 6th June – Tubbys, Kingston, CA
Sun 7th June – TV Eye, New York, USA
Mon 8th June – Skyline Stage at the Mann, Philadelphia, USA *
Tue 9th June – MGM Music Hall at Fenway, Boston, USA *
Wed 10th June – The Anthem, Washington, USA *
Fri 12th June – The Factory, St Louis, USA *
Sat 13th June – Cactus Club, Milwaukee, USA
Sun 14th June – The Salt Shed, Chicago, USA *
Tue 16th June – Astro Theatre, Omaha, USA *
Wed 17th June – Red Rocks Amphitheatre, USA *
Sat 20th June – Surly Brewing Festival Field, Minneapolis, USA *
Mon 22nd June – Zebulon, Los Angeles, USA
Sat 11th July – Beers & BBQ Festival, Adelaide, AU

* with Amyl & The Sniffers

Tickets and further tour details at partydozen.com