Following a Top 10 ARIA Australian Albums chart debut for their first album in 23 years, the rapturously received Rae Street, and an almost-completely sold out received “Original Duo” national tour (featuring co-founders Greg Arnold and Mikey Allen), Things of Stone and Wood have announced that their second album of 2026, The Final Forest, will be released on October 30. It will be released on CD, limited edition 180-gram green vinyl and all digital formats and is available to pre-order now: https://mgmreleases.com/the-final-forest
The release will precede the start of the band’s The Final Forest Album Launch Tour. See dates and links below.
Although The Final Forest can be considered the twin of Rae Street, this time around they’ve taken a classic 70s’ retro studio approach rather than a bedroom folk approach. But still, the authenticity and vibes of TOSAW are there, built upon the simple foundation of a piano trio playing live. Era-appropriate close harmonies feature heavily, reminding us that they began their life as a band drinking beers and singing in a share house. It is charming, a little rough, and almost impossible not to feel the love.
The Final Forest tracklisting
1. The Hills of Johanna
2. The Final Forest
3. Open My Eyes
4. Miles Away
5. One Day
6. Wither on the Vine
7. Take Me Home
8. For The Lovers
9. They Disappear
10. Take To The Skies
And in keeping with the classic ’70s piano-led studio sound of the new album, the November tour will be a band tour, as opposed to the duo shows which served the bedroom folk style of Rae Street so well. The band now is the trio that made the album: Greg Arnold on piano and vocals, Michael Allen on bass and vocals and Tony Floyd on drums and vocals. Showing they haven’t forgotten who they are, the shows will also be a classic acoustica fest, with all three of them singing over acoustic guitars, mandolins, accordions, recorders and of course that tireless hippie evergreen … the tambourine!
Things Of Stone And Wood: The Final Forrest Tour
Nearly 40 years ago a rag-tag bunch of folkies got together and formed a band called Things of Stone and Wood that went on to define Melbourne in the early 90s. Off the back of their top 10 single ‘Happy Birthday Helen’, the band achieved national success, ARIA and APRA awards, international tours, a gold album The Yearning and even a Late Show parody, kicking off a career that would make them one of Australia’s most loved and enduring acoustic bands.
Fast forward to 2026 and the band are still here, doing what they do best: playing passionate and energetic live shows and recording and releasing new music. November sees the band touring their second album for the year, the retro inspired The Final Forrest.
The Final Forest is the twin album to their March 2026 Album Rae Street, which debuted at #10 on the ARIA Australian Album chart). This time around, they’ve taken a classic 70s’ retro studio approach (rather than bedroom
folk of Rae Street) but still the authenticity and vibes of TOSAW are there, built upon the simple foundation of a piano trio playing live. Era-appropriate close harmonies feature heavily, reminding us that they began their life as a band drinking beers and singing in a share house. It is charming, a little rough, and almost impossible not to feel the love.
The band launch will The Final Forrest in November with select shows around the country. They will debut the new tunes (as well as Rae Street’s ‘almost new’ tunes) alongside classic radio hits like “Happy Birthday Helen”, “Wildflowers”, “Rock This Boat” and “Share This Wine”.
Come on down and see how this band, with two albums and two tours for 2026 continue hold their place as one of “Melbourne’s most inspired and inspiring acoustic band[s]” (Michael Dwyer).
Tues 3 Nov – Brunswick Ballroom, Melbourne VIC – Tix
Fri 13 Nov – Lefty’s Music Hall, Brisbane QLD – Tix
Sat 14 Nov – Belconnen Arts Centre, Canberra ACT – Tix
Sun 15 Nov – Avoca Beach Theatre, Avoca Beach NSW – Tix
Thur 19 Nov – Camelot Lounge, Sydney NSW – Tix
Fri 20 Nov – Ellington Jazz Club, Perth WA – Tix
Sat 21 Nov – Freo Folk Festival, Fremantle WA – Tix onsale soon…
Tix and details www.thingsofstoneandwood.com
Things of Stone and Wood: You’d Gone Before You Went / The Windmills Turn (Official Video) (From Rae Street, 2026)
Things of Stone and Wood’s The Final Forest is out October 30, 2026 thru MGM and from https://mgmreleases.com/the-final-forest
The band’s first album of 2026, Rae Street, is available now thru MGM and from https://mgmreleases.com/raestreet