Kicking off this year’s Brisbane Festival, Riverstage is holding a birthday bash to celebrate its 30th birthday with the amazing Hot Dub Time Machine, Cub Sport, Confidence Man, Last Dinosaurs and Clea! Not only will the big balloons be brought out to open up Bris Fest 2019, but Riverstage will also be hosting the festivals unmissable closing event, featuring the name on everyone’s lips, City and Colour.
Riverstage Birthday Bash
Riverstage Birthday Bash is going to be absolutely huge, kind of like what I imagined my 21st would be, big lights, superstar music acts, maybe a balloon or two. Needless to say, I didn’t get that, but now I get to live vicariously through Riverstage.
So what’s going down? Well, Riverstage is turning 30, and will be opening up Brisbane Festival by hosting a Birthday Bash. And yes, you’re invited, no need to check the letterbox for that invite. The event will take place on Saturday 7th September at the iconic outdoor amphitheatre, Riverstage.
Look, all the big names are gonna be there, all the cool kids and even the not-so-cool kids as well. Rumour has it Hot Dub Time Machine is going to make an appearance. Scratch that, I have confirmation from a friend of a friend that he will 100% be there, exploding onto the stage with a showcase of bops from every decade and every genre. Think ’60s rock seamlessly transitioning into ’90s R&B. Count us in.
Joining him by the river city’s stage are this country’s best and brightest. And birthdayiest. It’s Riverstage’s party and she’ll cry if she wants to, so she’s invited pop four-piece Cub Sport to help with that wish. Confidence Man will be showing up to get the party started with their electro-pop magic, Last Dinosaurs are coming to show off their legendary status in indie rock, and Clea got a VIP invite to the party, so she’ll be coming with her best act, ready to hypnotise with her silky voice.
The party’s going off, so we decided to ask some of these esteemed performers what their most memorable gift ever was.
Cub Sport: Our friend Grace (aka Mallrat) gave us one of the most incredible gifts you could ever hope to be given – Cher tickets. We literally cried.
Hot Dub Time Machine: Ummm, my birthday is December 30, so it often clashes with NYE or Christmas, and now that I’m a DJ, I’m generally doing a gig.
One I’ll never forget was doing Falls Festival in Marion Bay, Tasmania 2016. I did the gig, (playing after Grandmaster Flash!) and waiting at the back of the stage was an awesome little possum! It was so crazy to be out in the wilderness, at the most southern point possible, at a giant noisy festival which backs onto a national park for my birthday. So I offered some of my birthday booze to it. It said no.
What if I told you that was just the opening night? There’s still the closing night as well, and boy are there more treats in store for you.
City and Colour closes out Brisbane Festival
City and Colour will be performing his only Australian show at Brisbane Festival’s closing night. And guess where it’s gonna be held. Yep, Riverstage, on the 28th of September.
With an album coming out on October 4, Dallas Green, the mind behind City and Colour, has been making a name for himself around the world. Just take a look at how his music is described: “City and Colour balances the delicate extremities of eloquence and energy, bow at the ready, aimed at our hearts, a quiver full of lush guitars set to strike us all down.”
Doesn’t that sound absolutely perfect? Well, I was the one who wrote that description, but it’s 100% how listening to City and Colour feels. And now, he’s coming to Brisbane, with a slew of opening acts that are of a similar inimitable calibre.
The Jezabels, Odette, Didirri and rising star Asha Jefferies will be joining the man of the hour, alongside a fireworks display and some other top-secret acts who are yet to be announced. Wait, did I say fireworks display? I meant to say Sunsuper Riverfire.
Yep, you read that right. Sun. Super. River. Fire. Four of the best words that could possibly come together. This fireworks show will light up Brisbane with an intense array of colourful explosions. One could even say that you’ll be witnessing both city… and colour. Thank you I’m here all night.
But back to the man of the hour. If you don’t know who City and Colour is then it really is about time you got initiated. Check out ‘Astronaut’ below and get back to me.
The feels just don’t stop coming. Canadian born Dallas Green is not just a singer, but also a guitarist and a songwriter for a lot of your faves out in the world. He’s a member of Alexisonfire, and heartstring-tugging duo You + Me with P!nk. Not to mention he’s won three Juno Awards, but really who’s counting.
All in all, Riverstage is the place to be, and you will not want to miss it. Hell, there are even more events than just these two, Brisbane Festival is going to be extraordinary.
Be sure to get your party hats for the opening event Birthday Bash, or see the city come alive in colour with the aptly named City and Colour and co. to close off the event.
Personally, I’d be going to both because nobody likes sitting out of the party of the year.
Brisbane Festival 2019 Music Line-up
30 Years Of Riverstage
Saturday, September 7th: Riverstage Birthday Bash
Hot Dub Time Machine
Cub Sport
Confidence Man
Last Dinosaurs
Clea
Saturday, September 14th: Amity Affliction: Heaven And Hell
Underøath, Crossfaith, Trophy Eyes, Make Them Suffer, Void of Vision,
Thornhill, Pagan, Endless Heights and South East Desert Metal
Saturday, September 21st: Symphony For Me
Saturday, September 28th: Closing Night: City And Colour
The Jezabels
Odette
Didirri
Asha Jeffries
QPAC
Saturday, September 6th: Jacob Collier
Saturday, September 27th: Kate Miller-Heike
The Tivoli
Saturday, September 6th: The Church of House: Groove Terminator
Friday, September 13th: The Middle East and special guest Banff
Saturday, September 14th: Holy Holy
Thursday, September 26th: No Country For Old Men + Tropical F*ck Storm (TFS)
Tivoli In The Round
Tuesday, September 17th: Paul Dempsey
Wednesday, September 18th: No Mono
Thursday, September 19th: Emma Louise
Friday, September 20th: Husky
The Courier-Mail Speigeltent
Wednesday, September 11th: Girlpool
Sunday, September 22nd: MZAZA
Thursday, September 12th: Justin Townes Earle
Sunday, September 15th: Lydia Fairhall and The Black She Oaks
Thursday, September 26th: Carmouflage Rose
Saturday, September 21st: Tia Gostelow
Thursday, September 19th: Bruno Major
Saturday, September 14th: I Left My Heart In Highgate Hill
Sunday, September 8th, 15th, & 22nd: Jazz On Sundays
