Review: Joshua Hobbins
Photography: Nate Rose
Hardcore has always thrived in intimate spaces; sweat dripping from ceilings, bodies colliding without hesitation, and a sense of shared purpose forged in chaos. But on a mild Brisbane night at Riverstage, Baltimore’s Grammy-nominated trailblazers Turnstile once again proved that hardcore doesn’t lose its power when scaled up; it multiplies.
With a strong early crowd on hand for Scram and Basement, the night felt less like a standard headline show and more like a snapshot of a scene in rude health. A broad cross-section of young and old punters packed Riverstage early, celebrating hardcore in 2026 and signalling just how far, and wide, the genre continues to grow.
It was heartening to see such a healthy crowd already assembled for Yamba hardcore bruisers Scram. Having grown up surfing in Yamba and the surrounding Northern NSW coastline, it was particularly cool to see a regional band seize an opportunity of this scale and make the most of it.
Scram hit the stage with urgency and intent. Their set was driven by great energy and a piercing, cutting snare sound that sliced cleanly through the mix. Obligatory two-steps and beatdown sections landed exactly as intended, drawing movement early and locking the crowd in. The response was immediate and genuine, heads nodding, pits opening, and a sense that everyone knew this was a band worth showing up for.
Basement’s set offered a perfect tonal counterbalance to the raw aggression that preceded it. Opening with Are You the One and Promise Everything, the latter delivered with a massive bass tone that rolled across Riverstage, the UK outfit quickly reminded the crowd why their songs resonate so deeply in live settings.
Aquasun and Earl Grey brought warmth and familiarity, while Spoiled, dedicated to Scram, marked a turning point in the set, with Andrew Fisher’s vocals getting stronger as confidence and connection grew. A new song followed, offering a glimpse of what may lie ahead for Basement, before the back half of the set leaned heavily into emotional payoffs.
Whole, Brother’s Keeper, and Breathe kept the crowd engaged, but it was Pine and closer Covet that truly landed. Covet stood out as the clear set highlight, hands raised, voices carried, and a collective sense of release washing through the audience. It was the calm before the storm, executed perfectly.
When Turnstile finally emerged, Riverstage shifted instantly. Never Enough into T.L.C. (Turnstile Love Connection) was an excellent one-two punch to kick things off, snapping the crowd into motion and erasing any remaining space between bodies. Endless followed with a huge singalong, confirming just how deeply embedded Turnstile’s catalogue has become.
The I Care/Dull medley was heavy, fluid, and paired with some of the best crowd movement of the night. Don’t Play pushed energy all the way to the back of the venue, while Real Thing landed as an early peak and clear set highlight, drawing one of the biggest responses of the evening.
Turnstile’s sound and lighting at Riverstage was exceptional. The low end hit hard without overwhelming, and Brendan Yates’ vocals were on point throughout, cutting cleanly through the mix. Stunning visuals moved fluidly between the crowd and the band, with shifting backdrops and lighting that illuminated the stage and framed every moment with intent. Light Design showcased Yates’ vocal clarity, while Come Back for More/Fazed Out put the spotlight on drummer Daniel Fang, one of the tightest and most creative players in hardcore today, effortlessly driving both groove and aggression.
Mid-set, Sunshower offered a moment of atmospheric release, bathed in colour and movement. 7 was a welcome nod to older material, before Keep It Moving, Fly Again, and Sole kept the crowd bouncing, with Sole bringing another huge singalong moment.
The final stretch of Seein’ Stars, Holiday, Look Out for Me, Mystery, and Blackout tightened the screws once more. Holiday and Blackout stood tall, and the crowd fully locked in as Turnstile pushed toward the finish line.
As expected, Birds closed the night in spectacular fashion. A full stage invasion unfolded, made all the more remarkable by security actively helping fans onto the stage to sing along. It was chaotic, joyful, and completely emblematic of Turnstile’s ethos; no separation between band and crowd, only shared experience.
A big call early in the year, but it’s hard to imagine many shows topping this in 2026. From Scram’s regional grit to Basement’s emotional weight and Turnstile’s genre-defining headline set, this was a celebration of hardcore in all its modern forms, and a clear sign that the scene is only getting stronger.
– GALLERY –
