Converge Fest Brisbane Wrap-Up

History is in the books with the first-ever Converge Festival going down over the last two weekends in Brisbane and Melbourne. Wall Of Sound took on the Brissie leg of this inaugural celebration of alternative music. 

With the focus on community and connection, the lineup of these two dates was touted as being carefully curated and by gosh, was it ever. Walking into the iconic The Brightside on what did end up being a sunny Brisbane day, there was a spattering of stalls, the smell of delicious food from venues built in Lucky Egg Fried Chicken and two stages (indoor and outdoor) being prepared; there was a sense of anticipation in the air. 

Bands had their merch laid out for sale, while The Art Of Lyrics had a stall set up, selling hangings handwritten by a multitude of different artists. This stall would later also host sessions with some of the bands on the bill, offering a unique piece of memorabilia for fans to get their hands on.

Ultimately, it was a laid-back atmosphere that allowed not only the community to talk and connect, but also allowed the bands to shine. We were also lucky enough to spend sometime backstage with two of the acts on the bill, Brisbane’s Isla Vera and Melbourne’s Nightlight.

Isla Vera was tasked with being the first band to ever play Converge Fest. The melodic post-rock outfit brought just the right amount of heavy and energy to lure the still waking up crowd to the stage.

For a band that had been working on re-establishing themselves, the festival was the perfect opportunity. Being only their second show back in 5 years, plus mostly keeping their heads down and working on new material, they could not resist hopping on the bill.

“Yeah, honestly, it was really good to just get up there with a lot of similar bands and really establish ourselves because we've been off the scene for a while,” frontman James told Wall of Sound.

“It's just good to get out there and meet the new people that are coming to see these shows every day and show love to the 2010 core, inside the emo scene. No, it's great that the revival is coming back. I love it.”

Not only did Converge Fest lend itself to helping aid the revival of some of the scene, it also gave a home to new sounds and acts who don’t normally fit into those traditional genre-focused lineups. Reciting the moniker “Pop music for alternative people,” Nightlight were one of those acts.

“We're kind of too heavy for the pop lineups, and then we're too pop for the heavy lineups. So it's nice to find our place in this little scene.

It's very lovely to be included, and I think it doesn't matter if you are into more heavy music, that's our slogan,” explained Nightlight keytarist, Hayley.

They certainly found their place at The Brightside. At home on the indoor stage, where they were able to create a mood of glitter and glam with lights and fun stagewear, their stage presence was next level. The trio- a singer, keytarist and drummer- embarked on an endeavour to get the room dancing and by god did they. Ripping through a set of fun originals they also snuck in a very on brand cover of Bring Me The Horizon’s and BABYMETAL's collaborative effort 'Kingslayer'.

Make sure you check out our full chats with Isla Vera and Nightlight to find out more about these two rising acts.

We also were able to catch...

‍The Comfort

If we are talking about building community, then Brisbane’s The Comfort know a thing or two. Delivering a set of post-hardcore bangers from across their career, those in attendance were able to grab a sneak peak of their new album which is out in October.

In what may be a stroke of marketing genius or a real conundrum, time will tell, their next release is due to drop on October 3rd- the same day as the new Taylor Swift album. This led to frontman Liam Holmes producing a huge QR code sign, asking everybody to pre-save and help them out with streams. It’s moments like this that stick in your mind, because for at least those who get to see them between now and then, there is no forgetting the date that Let The Love In drops, so catch us spinning that on October 3rd.

East Capri

Punchy, in your face but full of groove, East Capri made their mark on the festival instantly. Dubbing themselves alt-pop metal, there was also a nod to nu-metal stylings and vibes in their set. Instantly making an impression with vocalist Eden Cartwright in a pink ski mask, they oozed an effortless vibe that had people bouncing along.

A set full of twists and turns, and never sitting comfortably in one style, this is a band that, while they are not brand new, is definitely on the up and coming.

Sienna Skies

If we want to talk about mainstays in the Australian music scene, then we cannot go too far past Sienna Skies. The Sydney post-hardcore act has been tearing up the scene since 2006, and watching their set over the weekend, you can see why they are still in the business. With many fans in the audience proclaiming that Sienna Skies is who brought them today, their pull power is undeniable. 

Fans in the pit did not slow down, some two-stepping almost the entire set. Polished, energetic and just a brilliant inclusion to this already day of hidden gems, it was definitely one of the highlights. 

‍Talk Heavy

Rave reviews from the crowd on this Brissy act's super fun set. Bringing their brand of emo/pop punk, Talk Heavy are starting to really gain traction. A super high-energy but melancholic sound that conjures up such a nostalgic feel, especially amongst the elder emos out there. 

It is just not possible to have a bad time at a Talk Heavy show, so it's no wonder that when curating a lineup like this, these Brisbane natives had to be included.

Bad/Love

As the sunset and the lights kicked in, it was the perfect time for Bad/Love to take the stage. Giving us the first, and maybe only, wall of death of the event, the band proved why they are becoming one of the most reliable names in the upcoming Australian heavy music scene. 

Treading the line of that emo/metalcore vibe, they are just the right amount of heavy that gets the pit moving but still pulls you into your feels. It was a perfect way to enter the tail end of the night, and honestly, this is one band that just belongs on a big stage. 

Bad Neighbour

Talking amongst those in attendance after the show, there seemed to be a common sentiment: that Bad Neighbours’ set was one of the favourites of the night. The Brisbane indie rock band were the last act to play on the indoor stage and that had the room locked in. Their melancholic but high energy sound is the perfect cross-genre blend to unite all those across the alternative spectrum and they took The Brightside main room by storm.

Even as fatigue set in for some event-goers, they still managed to find a place to take in the incredible energy that Bad Neighbour brought. Tight, refined and infectious, it’s honestly a surprise that this band is not even bigger than what they are. 

‍Young Lions

One of the most anticipated sets of the festival was Young Lions playing their 2017 album Mr Spaceman in full, and let’s just say, they did not disappoint. Shooting off confetti and streamers almost instantly, their set transformed the space into a true big festival atmosphere. The sing-alongs were on another level and frontman Zach Britt seemed to be more at home in the pit, spending most of the set in and over the barrier.

It was hard not to become fully immersed in the set. Emotion drenched the air as the previously quite laid-back audience suddenly could not contain themselves. So much so, the barricade was in danger of falling and at times was lifting. It was an all-around love fest as the fans' passion was returned tenfold by the band's energy. Finishing off once again with a confetti cannon, it was the ultimate finale to the festival.

When we look at the Australian live music landscape, genre-specific and/or large touring festivals seem to dominate the heavy music space. In a time where people are feeling increasingly more disconnected while also feeling the pinch of financial constraints, a concept like Converge Fest truly steps up to fill that gap.

There weren’t wild mosh pit scenes... well, apart from Young Lions almost causing a barricade collapse... nor were there hugely massive headline names, but there was something even more special. There was community. There were bands with strong followings as well as those who are waiting in the wings to explode. There were people able to go have a good day out, chat to those around them and not break the bank. No judgement, relaxed vibes and fantastic music from across the alternative music spectrum. 

Most importantly, it was just a brilliant Sunday out.
We hope to see you for the next one.

Words by Kayla Hamilton @kaylazomboid