The stormy start to the Brisbane Festival Closing Party was not enough to dampen the moods of Riverstage party-goers – whether they were staying dry-ish under the trees, dressed in their Sunday Best disposable jackets or throwing caution to the wind as they danced in the downpour, everybody was there for one reason: the music.
And with Violent Soho shirts in abundance, it was little wonder who the crowd was most excited for. Headlining the event, the Mansfield-natives closed the show with some of their biggest hits. A satisfying set that still left the crowd wanting more, made clear by the deafening roars and applause echoing minutes after the band had already left the stage.
But the day was not complete without each and every talented Australian band playing their part. Kicking off the event, Brisbane-based alternative indie rock group WAAX performed a mix of their old and new music. Attendees were even surprised with a yet-to-be-released track off the band’s upcoming album. Representing Western Australia, Methyl Ethel played their first show since releasing their newest track Scream Whole just a few days earlier. The mere sight of one of the members coming to stage led countless fans down from the hill, and shortly after a mosh pit was formed. Hardly surprising to the fans, it stayed for the entire set.
Meg Mac, Triple J’s Unearthed Artist of 2014, was the penultimate artist. The 28-year-old from Melbourne performed in her unique style of blues rock alongside her sister, Hannah. With the crowd swaying, and more than one lighter in the air, the singer was well regarded. Not just by the crowd, but the other bands as well, as they watched from the private viewing platform above.
It started with a drizzle, and ended with a bang, literally. The culminating event of the three-week long Brisbane Festival finished with a pyrotechnic display in the night sky. Coinciding with the Riverfire ceremonies, the festival took full advantage of its riverside position and incorporated the annual event into the show. With the sci-fi/superhero theme playing through the amps, and the channel 9 coverage on the big screen, the display was one of the best in years.
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