Sweet and Sour TV promo

This clip is one of a series of television promos for the 1984 ABC TV series Sweet and Sour.

In 1984, Sweet & Sour hit the ABC, following the fictional band The Takeaways as they navigated the highs and lows of Sydney’s music scene. Shot in an old warehouse in Pyrmont, the show offered a frank, heartfelt snapshot of young musicians trying to break into the industry. Though it only ran for one season, its prime 6pm pre-dinnertime slot made it a cult classic for Gen Xers – and the soundtrack went platinum.

The sound: A high-energy mix of 80s pop-rock with a post-punk bite, Sweet & Sour is pure offbeat joy. It captures the pulse of Australia’s music scene just as it was breaking onto the global stage, giving voice to creative outsiders finding their footing in a world dominated by pub rock and mainstream pop. Behind the scenes, songwriting legends like Deborah Conway, Martin Armiger, and Ian Moss helped craft an album that’s a contagious explosion of jangly guitars and infectious melodies. Its DIY ethos mixes with radio-friendly production values, sitting comfortably alongside tracks by INXS or Eurogliders. Think electric guitars layered with synths, delivered with both an edge and a grin.

The look: Sweet & Sour beckoned fans to embrace the chaos of self-expression, where life’s sweet and sour moments are equally celebrated. The band’s wardrobe – oversized jackets, outré hats, and loud colours – mirrored the sartorial rebellion of the era, where no pattern clashed and no look was ever too much. The aesthetic carried through to the artwork, with kinetic Memphis-inspired shapes and band members outlined in neon graffiti-like strokes. It’s the visual embodiment of a show where creativity and style trumped polish.

Singular delights: The title track, Sweet and Sour, remains a standout, full of sugary hooks and a bittersweet punch. Deborah Conway’s vocals bristle with defiant energy, speaking directly to anyone who’s ever felt like an outsider.

Its singular strangeness: A fictional band becoming a real-world musical success is a gag – and a good one. The Takeaways don’t just exist within the show, they transcend it, releasing singles that slapped and scoring actual hits on the charts. The fact that actors mime to the vocals of real musicians – like Conway and Cathy McQuade – adds another layer of playful deception. 

Why it still matters: Sweet and Sour was ahead of the curve, both in its meta twist and spotlight on strong female protagonists navigating a male-dominated scene. And its scrappy optimism still resonates: stardom will elude most but the messy joy of creation is anyone’s for the taking.