Billed as Brisbane Festival's 'marquee music event', the five-act line-up of London Grammar, James Vincent McMorrow, The Kite String Tangle, Mansionair and Wafia provided perfect vibes for a chilled evening at Brisbane's The Riverstage on Saturday (23 September).
With the tunes kicking off at 4pm in scorching sunshine, and running for close to six hours, the atmosphere was not unlike a mini festival, with the comforting aroma of Dagwood dogs and mid-strength beer reinforcing the feeling.
Click here for more photos.
Wafia is a rare talent whose vocal power is more than enough to fill the amphitheatre, while Mansionair play a slick set and received a big response with 'Hold Me Down'.
Hometown boy Danny Harley of The Kite String Tangle is delighted to be playing The Riverstage for the first time, as he tells us twice. The sun aptly drops over the horizon as he plays 'Illuminate', but it's his final track 'Arcadia' which is the perfect ending to the best set of the day thus far.
The Kite String Tangle - image © Ophelia SymonsBut hold on, the best set of the day is immediately bested as things get international-class with James Vincent McMorrow. The Irishman's soulful delivery is just about perfect on 'Get Low' and 'National', while the towering 'Cavalier' provides a goosebump-y moment or four.
James Vincent McMorrow - image © Ophelia SymonsLondon Grammar are all darkness and mystique as they take to a sparsely-lit stage and singer Hannah Reid begins proceedings with 'Rooting For You'. It's a controlled start, but one that grabs the audience's attention and ensures it stays firmly on the band for the rest of the night.
London Grammar - image © Ophelia Symons'Rooting For You' perfectly rolls into 'Flickers', and while the trio's sound is somehow both delicate and huge simultaneously, it is, of course, Reid's ethereal, choral tones that are the highlight of the set. 'Wasting My Young Years' precedes a cheery rendition of 'Happy Birthday' for guitarist Dan Rothman, who is turning 28.
A cake appears from somewhere and Reid asks the audience to confirm how young and handsome he is before pointing out how cake is bad for her vocal cords, “just like everything else delicious”. Boo hoo.
London Grammar - image © Ophelia Symons'Hey Now' receives perhaps the biggest response of the evening. It fills the amphitheatre from the river to the hot-dog stand and back again, as a captivated audience sings along. Conclusion: London Grammar's music is built for big spaces.
The gig/ mini festival vibes are over by the Brisbane City Council-approved 10pm, leaving plenty of time for reflecting on what was a pretty damn good day of music.
Click here for more photos.
