Review and photos: Luke Petty 

A balmy, star-lit sky set the scene at Brisbane’s Riverstage as fans swarmed the lawns in force, ready to end a massive 17-year drought for Shinedown’s long-overdue return to Australia alongside co-headliners Bush. By the time the gates swung open, a decade and a half of built-up anticipation crackled through the air like static. Framed by a flawless, clear Queensland evening, the energy was high and the hungry crowd utterly locked in and ready for a masterclass in heavy rock.

Opening for the rock giants, New Zealand’s Coast Arcade delivered a solid set that instantly hooked the early crowd. The four-piece exploded onto the stage with unbridled energy, spearheaded by frontwoman Bella Bavin, who somehow managed to vault into the air without missing a single beat on her guitar. While the whole band radiated effortless stage presence, it was bassist Leo Spykerman who stole the show for many—beaming ear-to-ear, tearing across the platform, and visibly having the absolute time of his life. It was impossible to pull your eyes away from the sheer joy radiating from the stage, proving Coast Arcade didn’t just hold their own alongside international headliners, but thoroughly earned every single cheer.

With the schedule change, Shinedown were up next, which had some fans questioning things from the get-go. A roaring sing-along to John Denver’s iconic “Take Me Home, Country Roads” instantly brought everyone together. That sense of musical unity set the tone for Shinedown’s explosive, dynamic performance. Though, I’m still trying to figure out how a guy dancing with a TV on his head during “Sledgehammer” fit into it all (yes, that actually happened).

Pyrotechnic heat blasted into the stands as the Florida quartet launched into “Safe and Sound”, with drummer Barry Kerch mercilessly punishing his snare kit. “Devour” and “Diamond Eyes” set the stage ablaze like wildfire, delivered with sheer, unadulterated power. Brent Smith’s vocals were ridiculously pristine, commanding every inch of the stage with the kind of effortless swagger only a veteran frontman can pull off.

When the heavy riffs of “Enemies” kicked in, Brent Smith parted the packed crowd like the Red Sea, carving a path straight through the floor to climb all the way up the Riverstage hill. Reaching the peak, he commanded thousands of fans to jump on his mark—and on the count of three, the entire amphitheatre erupted, bouncing like absolute maniacs in total sync with the band.

The intro to “Cut the Cord” echoed across the amphitheater, signaling what easily became one of the undisputed highlights of the night. Flawlessly timed bursts of pyrotechnics slammed alongside Brent Smith’s towering vocals, creating a spectacular, larger-than-life moment. Pausing to acknowledge the long drought between Australian tours, Smith made sure the audience knew tonight belonged entirely to them—urging everyone to grab the moment and make every single second count.

Shinedown capped off their night with a soulful, stripped-back rendition of Lynyrd Skynyrd’s “Simple Man”. Serving as the night’s final encore due to strict time constraints, the timeless rock anthem proved to be the ultimate sign-off for the Brisbane crowd. Hopefully, we won’t be waiting another 17 years for their next visit, because they brought the house down.

Taking the stage with the effortless swagger of seasoned rock royalty, Gavin Rossdale and company unleashed a wall of heavy, distorted riffs that immediately proved why Bush remain absolute titans of the 90s grunge era. Ripping through an aggressive opening stretch with “Everything Zen,” “Quicksand” and “The Chemicals Between Us,” the band sounded every bit as raw, vital and thunderous as they did when Sixteen Stone first took over the airwaves. Rossdale commanded the entire Riverstage, his distinctive, rasp-edged vocals echoing across the lawns as the crowd threw every word back at him in unison.

The brooding, melodic pulse of “The Land of Milk and Honey” injected a dark, hypnotic energy into the set. Built on a churning rhythm and jagged guitar lines, the track allowed the band to showcase their heavier, more atmospheric edge. Rossdale’s raspy, emotive delivery cut sharply through the mix, pulling the entire crowd into the song’s tense, building groove before letting it erupt into a wall of pure, distorted noise.

The crushing signature riff of “Machinehead” sent shockwaves right through the grassy slopes of the Riverstage. It was an absolute masterclass in 90s alt-rock dynamics.

Closing out with the iconic, hypnotic bassline of “Comedown,” Bush brought their set to a soaring, cathartic climax. The heavy distortion washed over the amphitheatre as the crowd joined in for one final, unified chorus, singing back every single word under the night sky. It was a massive, anthemic release that left the Riverstage buzzing, capping off a masterclass performance from true rock royalty.

– GALLERY –