The Shorts Celebrate 25 Years

From the Birchip Town Hall to the Forum Melbourne, The Shorts, formerly known as Severed are celebrating 25 years of music, a remarkable achievement for any band and one that has now earned them a place on an international tour, alongside legendary American punk band, Descendents.

On Friday, June 5, 2026, The Shorts will reach a major milestone, performing at Forum Melbourne as part of the Descendents’ Run Down Under tour, before also appearing at the Adelaide show on June 8.

Described in the tour guide as “fast and raw Aussie punk that fits perfectly with the Descendents’ vibe”, the band has earned its place on a national stage.

The Descendents, formed in California in 1977, are widely regarded as pioneers of modern pop punk, with this concert celebrating 30 years of their most successful album, “Everything Sucks”.

Their enduring influence mirrors, in many ways, the journey of The Shorts, whose success has been built, not on overnight fame, but on persistence, passion and a genuine love of music.

The Short’s began back in 2001 under the name “Severed”, with brothers Danny and Brodie Glen on guitar and drums, joined by schoolmate Simon Sharp on bass.
Shaped by school music programs and a strong family tradition, the Glen brothers and their friends were influenced in no small part by their mother Joan, widely respected for her dedication to teaching music to young people across the district.

In the early 2000s, the boys were also part of the Buloke FReeZA program youth development workshops hosted at the Wycheproof Lions Music Room. Supported by local musicians including the Fawcett brothers, Tom Lord, Anthony Patton and Josh Pellegrino, and backed by the efforts and equipment of Ian Harvey, these sessions provided invaluable opportunities for young performers.

By 2002, Severed were already making their mark, performing at the Buloke Family Fun Day and competing in Push Start competitions. They followed this up with appearances at Rampage in 2004 and a string of local FReeZA events.

Additional performances at the Birchip Variety Concert, Donald Music Festival and the Rainbow Battle of the Bands saw the group take the stage with only a handful of songs, but plenty of enthusiasm.

As their confidence and repertoire grew, so too did their opportunities. Still only aged 12, 14 and 15, they secured regular gigs at the Birchip Hotel under the ownership of Quentin and Nola Jull.

By 2007, when interviewed as part of ACMI in the Regions: Stories from Birchip, the young band spoke of their enjoyment playing at the Birchip Variety Concert, which raised money for the local hospital and their ambition to create more original music.
From there, the journey expanded well beyond Birchip. The band began performing at larger venues including the Royal Hotel in Horsham, the Commercial Hotel in Swan Hill, the Swan Hill Club and the Kerang Hotel, with parents taking on the role of chauffeurs as the underage musicians travelled across the region.

As their sound developed and they began writing more original music, the band evolved from Severed into The Shorts. Rebranding as The Shorts, the group developed their own sound while continuing to build a strong following.

Over time, they shared stages with some of Australia’s most recognisable acts including Hunters and Collectors, Killing Heidi, Unwritten Law, Russell Morris, Kingswood, Jebediah, Area 7, Frenzal Rhomb, Me First, the Gimme Gimmes and Strung Out.
In the past eight years alone, The Shorts have released more than 50 songs, receiving airplay across major national platforms including Triple J, Triple M and ABC, along with features on programs such as Rage and international streaming services.

Although their journey has taken them overseas, with Brodie performing at festivals and venues across Germany, the Netherlands and the Czech Republic, building valuable international experience, and the band members are now spread across Victoria, with Brodie and Simon based in Ballarat and Danny remaining in Birchip, the band has never forgotten its roots.

They continue to return for local events including the Mallee Root Round Up and the Birchip Harness Racing Club Mallee Bull Cup meeting, and still play regularly at the Birchip Hotel, where it all began, maintaining a strong loyalty to the community that first supported them.

In 2024, Brodie brought together a local line-up including Eleanor Parry and Josh Pellegrino to perform at the Buloke FReeZA Prom, continuing the band’s loyalty to their hometown and inspiring the next generation of music enthusiasts across Buloke.

From local halls to international stages, The Shorts’ 25 year story stands as a testament to what can grow from a passionate group of young people, with talent, dedication, opportunity and strong family and local support.