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SO LONG, SILO
- Olive McCagh
- Aug 3
- 4 min read
Updated: 2 days ago
Written by Olive McCagh . 2025
Meanjin’s live music scene felt alive and as strong as ever, their hearts beating as one under the beaming lights of The Brightside. Two stages, nine acts, hundreds of punters, one last SILO.
You could feel the gravity of this event coming to a close, as music lovers, young and old, filed into the concrete jungle. Even by Alison’s early set the outdoor stage area had blossomed into a crowd of interested ears.
That’s something I find so unique to this city, you’ll rarely find someone at a show that is just dipping their toes in. Rather, the typical Brisbane music lover will dive in headfirst to form a loyal love for their new favourite band.
There’s plenty of room on the table for the next best thing, SILO has found a way to have it’s finger on the pulse, every time.
Brisbane’s up-and-comers Alison were a stand-out, I’m a sucker for 90s noise and this quartet have a way of innovating the classic grunge style into something that is strictly theirs. Despite the size and shocking height of the outdoor stage, Alison came in strong, their distorted guitars and punchy drums caught the crowd’s attention from a mile away. Drawing in the crowd from indoors and smokers (sometimes the hardest thing to do). The four-piece are a medley of some of the best Brisbane bands, and you could see their confidence and hear their expertise. They were tight and raw; each moment felt like second nature to the band. Alison fit right into the explosive lineup and showcased the promise and talent of Meanjin’s up and coming scene. Between Happy Hour and the energetic set, the crowd was left buzzing.
The high-rises towered over the outdoor stage, cradling the crowd between the Valley’s iconic buildings. The city cast its shadow over the event, reminding us how this event was inherently Brisbane’s.
The inside stage honed some of the greatest acts of the evening, all the way from Canberra Sonic Reducer were quick to win over the crowd. They ooze sex, drive and serve as a massive fuck you to “the man”. The four-piece reminisce on OG punk and translate it into modernity. Following the release of three massive singles, and pre-empting their sophomore EP ‘SQUEEZE’, Sonic Reducer knew their sound and how to seduce the crowd with it. With manic movements vocalist Cormac directed the crowd into a frenzy, we became his puppets for the set. The songs were fast, frantic and raw, they truly had the punk edge that I think can only be born from political capitals of the world like Canberra. Every band in GRAIN’s lineup had a strong sense of self expression and projected a unique voice into the void of Brissy music lovers.
It wasn’t long until the evening had set us back outside again, filing from the well-loved smokers to the outdoor stage. Where Sex Mask took us back into a world post-punk. The Naarm three-piece showcased a tight set – rap melodies flirted with experimental rock instrumentals. It was something new, enigmatic and the band knew it. With a combination of vocals, drums and guitar on stage, Sex Mask transformed their set into a rave. There wasn’t a moment of true silence as they excited the crowd. My favourite track was “How to Be Cool at Parties” and seeing them live reassured me that they truly knew how. Their approach to music and performance strayed from tradition and allowed them to curate a set that was both impressive, and unforgettable.
SILO 27 encapsulated exactly what GRAIN, Brisbane and Australia have to offer. And the results were tangible as the crowd doubled and tripled throughout the night. Musicians, punters, industry workers, older people, young people coexisted in this space, sharing their love and appreciation for upcoming Australian music. Showing unwavering support at a time of real struggle for the industry. Contradicting the notion that our scene is low quality, has low-interest and low-significance.
Radio Free Alice were a MUST-SEE of the night, despite having work dauntingly early the next morning their 11:30 set time was worth running the risk. They erupted onto the stage;I watched as the large crowd struggled to squeeze into the insides of The Brightside. The Melbourne four-piece have been making their mark all over Australia, and the world by now. We were lucky to get their peak, before their move to London. The energy was almost unmatched, only rivalled by those in the crowd. As they formed a drunk choir back to the band. Their post-punk tracks drove the evening home as they showcased bangers “Look What You’ve Done”, “Paris Is Gone”, and their newest single “Empty Words”. The combinations of saxophone, Noah Leary’s unmistakable vocals and raw expressive motifs defined RFA’s performance as ambitious and powerful. They left their mark on The Brightside’s stage before bidding goodbye, not long until they take over UK stages, who are bound to appreciate their innovative post-punk sound.
By the end of the evening everyone resorted to the most popular stage of the night – smokers. These acts were only four of my favourites from the stacked lineup. It was a bittersweet so long to GRAIN’s SILO events. Within each and every SILO, the lineups were carefully curated with active and genuine music fans at the wheel. Making for some of Brisbane’s most exciting evenings, their love for local and national talent created the perfect balance for music lovers to discover new music and find new love for their old favourites.
