Review: Joshua Hobbins
Photography: Nate Rose

On a packed Sunday night at Brisbane’s Riverstage, Yungblud delivered a headline set that felt every bit like a true rock star performance. With local favourites Dune Rats warming the crowd, what unfolded was a night defined by energy, sincerity, and a level of audience engagement that rivalled anything I’ve witnessed in recent memory.

Dune Rats opened to an already packed Riverstage and the response was immediate. The trio’s loose, unpredictable approach wasted no time in turning the venue into a party. Bassist Brett Jansch was a blur of movement for the entire set, flinging himself around the stage with reckless abandon, while the band’s banter kept things light and loose. Early in the set, frontman Danny Beus enthused, “I thought last night was good, but you cunts are way better!”, drawing a roar from the crowd and setting the tone for what followed.

Tracks like Scott Green, 6 Pack, Ratbags, and a rowdy cover of The Angels’ classic Am I Ever Gonna See Your Face Again all landed exactly as intended, igniting singalongs and chaos from the front barrier right through to the back lawn. A fan was pulled on stage for a shoey, and during Am I Ever Gonna See Your Face Again, their mate Toby, alongside Jacko from Beddy Rays, joined in, prompting the entire Riverstage to belt out “no way, get fucked, fuck off!” in unison. A classic ending to an impressive set.

Following a War Pigs intro, the first nod of the night to Ozzy and Black Sabbath, Yungblud exploded onto the stage in a massive confetti blast, sending the already hyped crowd into absolute meltdown. Launching straight into Hello Heaven, Hello and The Funeral, he immediately established command of the crowd. This was full-scale rockstar energy, delivered without ego and with genuine gratitude. He repeatedly expressed how happy he was to be there, and it never felt scripted.

The response from the audience was overwhelming and never let up. At one point, I genuinely thought I might need earplugs just to protect myself from the volume of the crowd alone.

Lovesick Lullaby, Strawberry Lipstick, and fleabag kept momentum high, with fleabag delivering one of the night’s most memorable moments when a fan was invited on stage to play guitar with the band. She did not disappoint. Lowlife became a massive call-and-response exercise, while Changes, dedicated to Ozzy, carried real emotional weight and reverence.

Yungblud continually professed his love for Brisbane and Australia, even hinting that his festival BludFest could be heading down under in 2027. His voice was outstanding all night, soaring when needed and pulling back with control during quieter moments. The band were equally solid, tight and powerful, never overshadowing the frontman. Fire, Wild Woman with its Aerosmith collab energy, and Ice Cream Man added variety and momentum, before the closing stretch of Loner, Ghosts, and Zombie delivered a cathartic finish, phones and arms in the air and voices united.

You could feel the genuine love for the crowd and the sense that Yungblud does not take moments like this for granted. That feeling was only reinforced by the fact that he headed straight to Crowbar after the show to work the bar, a move that perfectly matched the spirit he brought to the stage.

Between Dune rats’ chaotic warmth and Yungblud’s unwavering joy and sincerity, Riverstage felt united by something simple and powerful, a shared moment that clearly meant as much to the artists as it did to the crowd.