Bloc Party - 20 Years Of Bloc Party - Brisbane

It was almost a sell-out at Brisbane’s Riverstage on Friday night, with the grassy hill packed tightly shoulder to shoulder. Ponchos, hoodies, and mid-strength cans were the uniform of the night as light rain came and went. Still, no one was going to let the weather spoil the fun. Everyone had come to see two big bands, and the excitement in the air made it clear this was going to be a night to remember.

Young the Giant started the night with a burst of energy that quickly grabbed the crowd’s attention. Lead singer Sameer Gadhia was impossible to miss, moving around the stage, switching instruments, and showing a mix of charm and warmth. The band smoothly moved between upbeat, catchy songs and slower, more relaxed ones that gave the music room to breathe.

Their set flowed easily, moving from big singalongs to softer songs. ‘Mind Over Matter’ had the crowd gently swaying, before they moved into the dreamy sounds of ‘Superposition’. They finished with the high-energy ‘My Body’, getting everyone jumping and singing along, leaving the Riverstage full of energy and the crowd ready for what came next.

By the time Bloc Party took the stage, the rain had stopped, and the crowd’s roar grew even louder. They launched into a full celebration of 'Silent Alarm’s 20th anniversary, playing the album in its entirety across the main set and encore, delivering each track with the same urgency and bite that made it a classic.

As the show went on, the mood lifted with fan favourites like ‘Blue Light’ and ‘Banquet’, keeping the crowd fully engaged. The band clearly enjoyed playing together, they fed off the crowd’s energy and made the show even more exciting.

The encore started strong with ‘Plans’ and then built up to a big finish with ‘Helicopter’, ‘This Modern Love’, and ‘Ratchet’. It was the perfect way to end a night that mixed memories of a great album with the fresh energy of a band still going strong, leaving the crowd buzzing as they headed out into the damp Brisbane night

Thanks to Bloc Party, Destroy All Lines, Morse Code Pr and the Riverstage in Brisbane for having us along

Review by Jack Carruthers for Music Kingdom Australia