Fans can never complain they did not get what they paid for as the Pierce Brothers played for a whopping 1 hour and 40 minutes – that being said, the crowd wouldn’t let them leave the stage.

Their polished performance at the Sidney Myer Music Bowl was energetic and showcased the immense talent of all four members of the band in creating a new soundscape for Australian music.

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.