‘The Best Summer’ Doc Captures Foo Fighters, Bikini Kill, Sonic Youth, Pavement, Beck, Beastie Boys & More on the 1995/1996 Summersault Australian Tour

Director and longtime alternative‑rock devotee Tamra Davis has opened her personal archive for The Best Summer, a new documentary built from hours of footage she shot during the Summersault tour of Australia in the summer of 1995/1996. The film just premiered at the Sundance Film Festival, offering a rare, behind‑the‑scenes look at some of the era’s most influential artists.

The traveling festival staged five shows between December 29, 1995 and January 7, 1996, moving across Australia with a lineup that now reads like a who’s‑who of ’90s alternative culture. Beastie Boys—then at the height of their popularity—headlined, but the depth of talent was staggering. Foo Fighters were still the new kids on the block, Bikini Kill was pushing the riot grrrl movement into the mainstream, Sonic Youth and Pavement were indie‑rock royalty, and Beck was on the cusp of a breakout year with Odelay.

Beyond those marquee names, the tour also featured Rancid, The Amps with Kim Deal, and Jawbreaker. Local acts rounded out the bill, while DJ Shadow and Money Mark made appearances. Each stop even included a Dysfunctional Skate Art Exhibition, underscoring the festival’s blend of music, art, and counterculture.

Davis—who would go on to direct films like Billy Madison and Half‑Baked—was married to Beastie Boys’ Mike D at the time and traveled with the group throughout the tour. Bikini Kill’s Kathleen Hanna joined her in interviewing artists, creating candid moments that anchor the documentary. Speaking to Variety, Hanna reflected on how different the era felt:

“There’s a self‑consciousness that we didn’t have to have, because we weren’t constantly on camera. Tamra having a camera was, like, a novel thing… a cool tool that we could play with.”

Davis added that the two of them simply charged ahead:

“We were just these bossy girls… ‘Hey, we have questions for you,’ and we’d just waltz into people’s dressing rooms.”

Hanna recalled stepping in after the film crew attempted interviews:

“It reminded me how important it is to be obnoxious—not rude or taking up too much space—but to be someone like Tamra, who makes something happen.”

Looking at the documentary’s themes through a 2026 lens, Hanna noted how much the touring landscape has changed:

“A lot of bands can’t afford to tour. Rent’s too high. It’s a different world economically, and it’s a different world in terms of how self‑conscious people are about being a brand… You didn’t have social media. I didn’t feel like I had to uphold a personal brand.”

If you want, I can also craft a shorter news‑blurb version, a punchier headline, or a more nostalgic angle that leans into the “lost era before branding” theme.

“It reminded me how important it is to be obnoxious—not rude or taking up too much space—but to be someone like Tamra, who makes something happen.”

Looking at the documentary’s themes through a 2026 lens, Hanna noted how much the touring landscape has changed:

“A lot of bands can’t afford to tour. Rent’s too high. It’s a different world economically, and it’s a different world in terms of how self‑conscious people are about being a brand… You didn’t have social media. I didn’t feel like I had to uphold a personal brand.”

Currently, Tamra Davis is looking around for a distributor for a future widespread release for ‘The Best Summer’.  It’s unclear where or when the general public will see this alt. rock time capsule.