Kylie Minogue Performs ‘Where the Wild Roses Grow’ with Nick Cave and the Bad Seeds in Brighton

Two of Australia’s most enduring musical legends reunited on stage in Brighton, England, on Friday evening (Aug. 1). Kylie Minogue made a surprise appearance during Nick Cave and the Bad Seeds’ concert at Preston Park, joining the band to perform their haunting 1995 masterpiece, “Where the Wild Roses Grow.”

Stepping onto the stage midway through the set, Minogue’s arrival for the iconic murder ballad marked the first time the pair had performed the track live together since their unforgettable 2019 collaboration during Minogue’s legendary afternoon slot at Glastonbury.

Prior to that momentous festival appearance, they memorably shared the stage in 2018—which marked the Bad Seeds’ last live rendition of the song—as well as in 2013, following a handful of live performances in the mid-1990s shortly after the release of their acclaimed album, Murder Ballads.

Reflecting on the magical evening via Instagram, Minogue shared her thoughts with fans. “I’ll forever be your Wild Rose @nickcaveofficial,” she wrote, expressing her gratitude to the Bad Seeds and praising the “wonderful crowd, wonderful night.” She also gave a nod to Susie Cave—Nick Cave’s wife and the creative force behind the fashion house The Vampire’s Wife—for designing the stunning white lace dress adorned with wild-rose embellishments that she wore for the performance.

Earlier that same day, Cave and the Bad Seeds treated fans to an intimate, four-song surprise set on the rooftop of Brighton’s Resident Music record store. The acoustic-leaning performance featured “Train Long-Suffering” from 1985’s The Firstborn Is Dead—a deep cut that had sat untouched for 27 years before being resurrected for their 2026 European tour—alongside a poignant cover of T. Rex’s “Cosmic Dancer,” previously performed by Cave only as a solo act.

“Wherethe Wild Roses Grow” remains an absolute pinnacle of modern Australian songwriting. Composed by Cave and issued as the lead single from the Bad Seeds’ landmark 1996 record Murder Ballads, the dark duet juxtaposed Minogue’s delicate pop persona against the ominous narrative of Cave’s calculating murderer, creating an unforgettable artistic contrast.

The track became an enormous commercial breakthrough for Cave, peaking at No. 2 on the Australian ARIA Singles Chart and reaching No. 11 in the U.K., ultimately earning the 1996 ARIA Award for Song of the Year. Its striking music video—featuring Minogue submerged in a river in a clear homage to John Everett Millais’ famous painting Ophelia—became an MTV staple, propelling Murder Ballads to unprecedented heights.

As one of the defining pop powerhouses of her era, Minogue boasts an impressive legacy with seven entries on the Billboard Hot 100 (anchored by smashes like “The Loco-Motion” and “Can’t Get You Out of My Head”) and 11 titles on the Billboard 200, highlighted by her 2001 album Fever. Furthermore, her 2023 anthem “Padam Padam” secured her a historic Grammy Award for Best Pop Dance Recording. Meanwhile, Nick Cave and the Bad Seeds continue to captivate audiences across their extensive 2026 European tour, cementing their status as alternative rock royalty.

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