A young musician and budding entrepreneur who is still at school in Brisbane at Cleveland High School, Braxton Hunt-Nissen has been organising and promoting youth gigs in his local area for a while with DeadTrigger Records.
Currently part of Redland Performing Arts Centre's Passage programme, on Monday (14 April) Braxton and his team will host SkatePUNK, a free all-ages event held at Capalaba Skate Park. "For context, last year we ran a youth week festival called SkatePUNK – a free music festival at Capalaba Skate Park," Braxton says."It attracted around 250 people from all across South East Queensland, and was supported by The Y Queensland, Headspace, and Rotary Club of Capalaba. This year, SkatePUNK is back, bigger than ever, and you're invited.
"Southeast Queensland's very own alternative music and culture festival, fully showcasing emerging young talent will be held on Monday 14th April (second Monday of April school holidays).
"The day features live music across a multitude of genres on two stages, skate demonstrations, and mini creative markets from youth all across Southeast Queensland, for people of all ages. Everyone performing at this event is under the age of 25. The bulk of this event is free, including entry."
Who is... My name is Braxton Hunt-Nissen, a 17-year-old student, multi-instrumentalist, and entrepreneur from the Redlands, QLD, Australia.
You recently had meetings with former QLD Premier Stephen Miles and Powderfinger's John Collins, in his new Nightlife Commissioner role, about red tape associated with staging all-ages shows; how productive were those meetings, did you achieve any outcomes and how do you plan to keep lobbying those in power to make the changes needed?
Yes! Everything from funding opportunities to new industry connections – any chance I have to bring awareness to how difficult it is to run all-ages shows and help ease some of the hassle, the better.
If I could tour with anyone... It would have to be either Stand Atlantic or Bring Me The Horizon. Two of my favourite bands of all time, especially Stand Atlantic; seen them live twice now and met them all at an in-store, they are so cool.
Social media is... A tool, a blessing and a curse. Obviously I use it for marketing and building my public brand, but it's also a great way to contact people abroad and find new bands on there. It's just so addicting – damn you Instagram Reels.
The most scary scenario I've found myself in, was... A few months after my first school gig, I planned to put on an EP release show during a lunch break. We were using the performance space, creating light shows, I even pulled a live band together.
We expected 60 people, so we set up 60 chairs. What ended up happening was a crowd of 200 rowdy teenagers trying to bombard the space, banging on glass windows and doors; we had to barricade ourselves in the venue, and as soon as a teacher got tackled, it was cancelled. Very scary and it was very upsetting seeing hard work be dismantled in a matter of minutes, but looking back it was pretty funny. Forever putting that down as a key memory.
If you had to live in a city abroad, where would you choose and why? I'd have to choose Brighton, UK. There's such a big music scene over there especially within the punk and indie scene. The Concorde 2 is one of my dream venues to go to, alongside The Hope and Ruin.
Three people you'd like to invite around for a dinner party... Chester Bennington, he got me into music. I love Linkin Park (rest in peace Chester). James Marriott – he's just a proper good bloke who makes some killer indie tunes; and probably Heath McTegg from Amphetamines (also one of the best friends, love you man).
If we were coming over to your place, what would you cook us? Steak sandwiches! I make some pretty mean steak sandwiches, with homemade relish and mustard mayo to go alongside it. It's SO GOOD!
The last time I saw the inside of a gym was... Yesterday, thank you very much! I am a strong believer that keeping up with your physical health benefits your mental health, and since I've been back at the gym I have felt so good both physically and mentally. It really does wonders to you.
