By State Library of Queensland
Bands and venues of Brisbane's indie music scene
As a teenager living in 1970s Brisbane, live music was a difficult and sometimes dangerous proposition. The ‘police state’ mentality of the conservative Bjelke-Petersen government viewed youth culture with deep suspicion, and maintained a brutal hold on licensed and unlicensed live music venues. The determined efforts of many, including radical student radio station 4ZZZ, helped support local indie acts through years of promoter instability, venue shortage and fractured audiences. The rise of music festivals in the 1990s ushered in a new era, in which Brisbane artists are nurtured, and live music is diverse and plentiful.
Alternative venues
The rise of ‘pub rock’ in late 1970s temporarily improved the number of live music venues in Brisbane. Hotels such as The Exchange Hotel and The Queens Hotel converted their beer gardens to concert spaces, however the scene unstable and opportunities limited. Larger venues fared marginally better, as the Playroom, Festival Hall and Cloudland continued to attract interstate and international bands and support local acts. Ironically, the oppressive conditions of 1970s Queensland spawned one of the most important bands of the punk era worldwide - The Saints, whose song I’m Stranded put Brisbane on the world map in 1976, and its lyrics held a potent double meaning for young people living under Bjelke-Petersen. The repressive political environment provided plenty of scope for protest from creative and alienated young people. Club 76, a residential venue, represented not only the ‘do-it-yourself’ ethos of the punk movement, but also the lack of viable live music alternatives for radical musical subcultures. Community halls, such as Baroona Hall, home of the Go-Betweens, provided temporary avenues for performance, and radical student radio station 4ZZZ ‘Joint Efforts’ at the University of Queensland supported a diverse range of local bands, advertised by local street press
Crowd of young people outside the Exchange Hotel, Edward Street, Brisbane, 1978 (1978) by Paul O'BrienState Library of Queensland
A crowd of young people outside the Exchange Hotel in Edward St, Brisbane (1978).
Sydney band The Hitmen at the Queens Hotel, Creek Street, Brisbane, 1978 (1978) by Paul O'BrienState Library of Queensland
Sydney band The Hitmen performing at the Queens Hotel, Creek Street, Brisbane (1978).
Performance by The Hitmen at the Queens Hotel, Creek Street, Brisbane, 1978 (1978) by Paul O'BrienState Library of Queensland
Group of young people outside the 279 Club, Exchange Hotel, Edward Street, Brisbane (1978/1979) by Paul O'BrienState Library of Queensland
A group of young people outside the 279 Club, Exchange Hotel, Edward Street, Brisbane (1978/79).
The Riptides performing at the Griffith University Refectory, Nathan Campus, Brisbane, 1979 (1979-09-21) by Paul O'BrienState Library of Queensland
The Riptides performing at the Griffith University Refectory, Nathan Campus, Brisbane (1979).
The Go-Betweens performing at the Griffith University Refectory, Nathan Campus, Brisbane, 1979 (1979-09-21) by Paul O'BrienState Library of Queensland
The Go-Betweens performing at the Griffith University Refectory, Nathan Campus, Brisbane (1979).
The Hard-Ons performing at the Curry Shop, George Street, Brisbane, 1979 (1979) by Paul O'BrienState Library of Queensland
The Hard-Ons performing at the Curry Shop, George Street, Brisbane (1979).
Brisbane band The Lemmings at the University of Queensland Relaxation Block, 1979 (1979) by Paul O'BrienState Library of Queensland
Brisbane band The Lemmings performing at the University of Queensland Relaxation Block (1979).
Crowd of young people outside the Brisbane Hotel, 1979 (1979) by Paul O'BrienState Library of Queensland
A crowd of young people outside the Brisbane Hotel (1979).
The Poles performing at the 'Rock Against Poofter Bashing' show, Paddington Hall, 1979 (1979-11-24) by Paul O'BrienState Library of Queensland
The Poles performing at the 'Rock Against Poofter Bashing' show, Paddington Hall (1979).
The Hard-Ons on stage at the 'Rock Against Poofter Bashing' event, Paddington Hall, Brisbane, 1979 (1979-11-24) by Paul O'BrienState Library of Queensland
The Hard-Ons on stage at the 'Rock Against Poofter Bashing' event, Paddington Hall, Brisbane (1979).
The Hard-Ons performing at the 'Rock Against Poofter Bashing' event, Paddington Hall, Brisbane, 1979 (1979-11-24) by Paul O'BrienState Library of Queensland
Concert-goers, Brisbane 1979 (1979) by Paul O'BrienState Library of Queensland
Concert-goers in Brisbane (1979).
Adelaide band U-Bombs at the 279 Club, Exchange Hotel, Edward Street, Brisbane ,1979 (1979) by Paul O'BrienState Library of Queensland
Adelaide band U-Bombs at the 279 Club, Exchange Hotel, Edward Street, Brisbane (1979).
Razar on stage at an unknown venue, Brisbane, 1979 (1979) by Paul O'BrienState Library of Queensland
Razar on stage at an unknown venue in Brisbane (1979).
The Ramones performing at Festival Hall, Albert Street, Brisbane, 1980 (1980-07-18) by Paul O'BrienState Library of Queensland
The Ramones performing at Festival Hall, Albert Street in Brisbane (1980).
Not so stranded
By the early 1980s, 4ZZZ had extended its activities beyond the University to cultivate live music in a number of city and inner suburban pubs, and staged a series of successful events at Cloudland. A small indie underground scene presented a mixed bag of subcultures including goths, punks, mods, swampies, rude boys and rockabillies, however efforts to nurture local acts amid the chaos of promoters, licensing authorities and fractured audiences proved impossible. On the whole, the band scene in 1980s Brisbane was characterised by instability, venue shortage and exodus, as several bands sought opportunity elsewhere. As 4ZZZ Joint Efforts became increasingly sporadic, Market Days were instituted in 1988 as a fundraising measure, and paved the way for a new avenue of live music –festivals. Peter Walsh’s Livid Festival, first staged at the University of Queensland in 1989, became a major annual event in the 1990s, and other festivals emerged as the decade progressed. Brisbane finally came into its own in the 1990s, as a succession of local bands achieved prominence beyond the border. National radio station Triple J’s Unearthed initiative added to Radio 4ZZZ’s efforts in sourcing and promoting independent local artists. When Powderfinger released their 1998 album Internationalist, not only did it win multiple ARIA awards and spend 100 weeks at the top of the ARIA Albums charts, but the band did it all without leaving home.
4ZZZ Radiothon at the University of Queensland, possibly 1980. (1980) by Paul O'BrienState Library of Queensland
4ZZZ Radiothon at the University of Queensland, possibly in 1980...
Aftermath of a 4ZZZ Radiothon at the University of Queensland, possibly 1980. (1980) by Paul O'BrienState Library of Queensland
...and the aftermath.
Punk rock band Mystery of Sixes performing Azaria at the first 4ZZZ No Choice Market Day, University of Queensland, St. Lucia, 1982 (1982-10-23) by Peter FischmannState Library of Queensland
Punk rock band Mystery of Sixes performing 'Azaria' at the first 4ZZZ No Choice Market Day at the University of Queensland, St. Lucia (1982).
COW performing at the Story Bridge Hotel in Kangaroo Point, Queensland, ca. 1992 (1992) by Peter FischmannState Library of Queensland
COW performing at the Story Bridge Hotel in Kangaroo Point, Queensland (ca. 1992).
Brisbane band The Go-Betweens performing at the Zoo in Fortitude Valley, Queensland, 1995 (1995-12-10) by Peter FischmannState Library of Queensland
Brisbane band The Go-Betweens performing at the Zoo in Fortitude Valley, Queensland (1995).
Audience watching The Go-Betweens perform at the Zoo in Fortitude Valley, Queensland, 1995 (1995-12-10) by Peter FischmannState Library of Queensland
The audience watching The Go-Betweens perform at the Zoo.
Robert Forster and Grant McClennan of The Go-Betweens performing at the Legions Club in Fortitude Valley, Queensland, 1996 (1996-05) by Peter FischmannState Library of Queensland
Robert Forster and Grant McClennan of The Go-Betweens performing at the Legions Club in Fortitude Valley, Queensland (1996).
Custard performing at the Livid Festival in Bowen Hills, Queensland, 1998 (1998-10-03) by Peter FischmannState Library of Queensland
Brisbane band Custard performing at the Livid Festival in Bowen Hills, Queensland (1998).
Brisbane band Custard playing in front of a large crowd at the Livid Festival in Bowen Hills, Queensland, 1998 (1998-10-03) by Peter FischmannState Library of Queensland
Their performance took place in front of a large crowd.
Huge crowd watching Custard perform at the Livid Festival in Bowen Hills, Queensland, 1998 (1998-10-03) by Peter FischmannState Library of Queensland
Custard fans watch on.
Livid Festival at the RNA Showgrounds in Bowen Hills, Queensland, 1998 (1998-10-03) by Peter FischmannState Library of Queensland
The Livid Festival at the RNA Showgrounds in Bowen Hills, Queensland (1998).
Tex Perkins performing at the Valley Fiesta in Fortitude Valley, Queensland, 2006 (2006-09) by Justin EdwardsState Library of Queensland
Tex Perkins performing at the Valley Fiesta in Fortitude Valley, Queensland (2006).
Audience at the Pig City Concert, Brisbane, July 2007 (2007-07-14) by Leif EkstromState Library of Queensland
The audience at the Pig City Concert, Brisbane, July (2007).
Police removing an enthusiastic fan at the Pig City Concert, Brisbane, 2007 (2007-07-14) by Leif EkstromState Library of Queensland
Police remove an enthusiastic fan at the Pig City Concert.
Kev Carmody performing at Pig City Concert, Brisbane, July 2007 (2007-07-14) by Reina IrmerState Library of Queensland
Kev Carmody performing at Pig City Concert.
Kev Carmody performing at his tribute concert in Brisbane, Queensland, 2009 (2009-08-01) by Justin EdwardsState Library of Queensland
Chris Bailey from the band, The Saints at the Pig City Concert, Brisbane, July 2007 (2007-07-14) by Leif EkstromState Library of Queensland
Chris Bailey from the band The Saints at the Pig City Concert.
Ed Kuepper, guitarist with The Saints, playing at the Pig City Concert, Brisbane, July 2007 (2007-07-14) by Leif EkstromState Library of Queensland
And guitarist, Ed Kuepper, performing with The Saints.
Screamfeeder performing at Brisbane Sounds at The Zoo in Fortitude Valley, Queensland, 2008 (2008) by Justin EdwardsState Library of Queensland
Band Screamfeeder performing at Brisbane Sounds at The Zoo in Fortitude Valley (2008).
Crowd surfing while Taking Back Sunday plays at the Soundwave Festival in Bowen Hills, Queensland, 2010 (2010) by Justin EdwardsState Library of Queensland
A young man crowd surfing while Taking Back Sunday plays at the Soundwave Festival in Bowen Hills, Queensland (2010).
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