A community radio station birthed during the conservative Bjelke-Petersen era as a counterculture movement at University of Queensland in the 1970s, the state's longest-running FM station, 4ZZZ is celebrating its 50th birthday in 2025.
Still proudly community-owned and volunteer-powered after 50 fearless years, 4ZZZ has been home to countless activists, artists, musicians, journalists, creatives and volunteers who have all partaken to create the rich, vibrant fabric offering an alternative approach, where the voices of disenfranchised young people could be heard."This is more than a birthday – it's a tribute to everyone who's ever tuned in, turned up, or taken part," shares 4ZZZ Chairperson Ruth Gardner. Spread across August to December, there will be multiple celebrations and events staged to showcase the 4ZZZ spirt.
The jewel in the crown will be 4ZZZ's iconic Market Day festival, which is being dusted off and reinvigorated almost 20 years since its last instalment. Billed as ZED50 and set to take place at Roma St Parklands (25 October) across two stages, two legends of Queensland music, The Saints '73-'78 and Regurgitator will headline joined by Melbourne exports Tropical F... Storm as well as First Nations rapper Briggs' punk-metal side project Big Noter.
There'll also be a host of emerging Queensland talent including the driving tempo thunder of Full Flower Moon Band, the crunchy, swirling, psych poppin' colour of Nice Biscuit, the jazz-butchered mayhem of Party Dozen and the neo-soul punk activism of First Nations group Dancingwater.
Then there are Queensland stalwarts like the punk-funked gristle of Butterfingers, the raw, impatient scorch of the long-lived Screamfeeder, the fruity punk of Flangipanis, the queer as folk, rock pulp of Platonic Sex, and the many minds that make rock future light work of Velociraptor.
Now based on Barry Parade in Fortitude Valley, 4ZZZ still stands as one of the most enduring voices in Australian media - playing a major role in shaping the music, cultural and political scene of this city and beyond since the very start.
"It's a massive responsibility, but it's a massive honour to be part of something that has such an incredible legacy and has such an incredible part in people's hearts," Station Manager Jack McDonnell says.
"We are standing on the shoulders of people that really fought so hard to make sure that those independent voices and those communities were heard in a time where there was such strict media control and strict government that was repressing anything that was alternative."
To celebrate this wealth of culture, enlightenment and lifestyle, 4ZZZ will host live gigs, one-day festivals and boat parties as well as programming specials and reunions featuring Zedders past and present.
There'll also be poster exhibitions from decades of DIY art and activism, panels, talks, book launches, dinners, bush walks and community-outside broadcasts.
"4ZZZ is such a cornerstone in the Brisbane music scene and that takes a lot of hard work and dedication over so many years," Jordan Royal, a Zed volunteer and host of the 'Sonic Alien' programme says.
"The fact that 4ZZZ is a 24-hour radio station run by volunteers is such an amazing community, passion-filled project. It's truly a blessing I get to contribute to that legacy and be a part of 4ZZZ."
4ZZZ will also broadcast regular shows 'Right Here Right Now' (Tuesdays 6-7pm) highlighting bands from the last 50 years and some of the hottest up and coming local talent, as well as 'Talking Zeds' (Thursdays 10am-12pm). Former shows and former announcers will return to tantalise your ear buds with some deep dives with foundation members and an eye on the rear view mirror.
"When you think everything is wrong with the world, five minutes speaking to a Zedder or being around the station can pretty much cure you of that melancholy," Ruth Gardner says. "Rather than just talking to our own audience, we'll actively engage in panels where we examine ourselves and our direction, how we engage and where we can improve.
"Our strategic planning process is not the vision of any one person; it's truly the vision of the entire organisation and we take consultation really seriously. I think Triple Zed will continue to be extremely relevant and hopefully grow its place as a cultural and creative icon of the southeast Queensland corner."
4ZZZ's 50th birthday campaign reaffirms the station's steadfast community focus by involving subscribers, listeners, and supporters, with an invitation to submit an original letter 'Z' – created in any medium, dashed off or painstakingly constructed. The contributions will be pasted on the city's walls and posted across the web.
"Triple Zed has done a really great service to Brisbane in providing a place for people to express themselves, whether that's through music or news and current affairs," says Dr Heather Anderson, a community radio academic (Griffith University) and author of book '50 Years Of 4ZZZ'.
"It really helps the different communities to be able to develop a voice and from an academic, theoretical perspective that capacity to be able to find your own voice and to have a voice is particularly empowering and particularly important.
"That's one thing that Triple Zed has really done for Brisbane. . . it's a place that genuinely amplifies the voices and that is really empowering for people, especially people who don't quite have the confidence within mainstream society to put themselves forward, it's a safe space to do that."
Join 4ZZZ for the ride and help shape the next 50 years. 4ZZZ's 50th birthday celebrations run from 8 August to 8 December. Click here for the full programme.
ZED50: A Market Day Celebration Of 50 years Of 4ZZZ Radio takes place at Roma Street Parklands on 25 October. Tickets on sale from midday (local time) on 12 June.
ZED50: A Market Day Celebration Of 50 years Of 4ZZZ Radio Line-up
The Saints 73-78Regurgitator
Tropical F... Storm
Full Flower Moon Band
Big Noter
Butterfingers
Screamfeeder
Nice Biscuit
Party Dozen
Dancingwater
Flangipanis
Platonic Sex
Velociraptor
