It was a relief to see the backline filled and mics setup for the headliner, Matt Kopp AKA Running Touch. He had been a festival favourite throughout 2019 and was well known for his stage presence and overall consistent performance. A year of rest didn’t dampen his talents. The graphics for the show was well curated, amplifying the energy he was presenting on stage.

QR codes and masks were not a feature at my last Forum gig, but they were firmly ingrained in the standard routine as the crowds began to line up on a warm January Wednesday. After sitting empty for months, it was the injection of humans needed to bring music back to live (pun intended). 

It was a night of firsts for a lot of people - a first gig back for fans, a first sit-down gig for many (if not all), and a first sip of Brandy for frontman, Quin Grunden of Melbourne’s indie-surf rock trio, The Grogans.