Overview
Good news, Brisbane: we’ve got a new piece of infrastructure on the build, and for once it’s not a bridge. New music venue The Triffid is set to open its doors at the end of October and promises to be the go-to music spot this summer.
Located in one of Newstead’s historic WWII hangers, The Triffid is the brainchild of leading music industry figures Paul Piticco and Jessica Ducrou (Splendour In The Grass, Falls Festival), hospitality identity Brett McCall (Green and Gold Events, Urban Purveyor Group) and most former Powderfinger bassist John Collins.
“I spent 25 years touring with Powderfinger, playing all manner of venues, so it was really important to me to build a venue that was not only somewhere that punters looked forward to going to but a space that bands enjoy playing at as well," said Collins. "I know the importance of having a room that sounds good, and that has been a major focus.”
There’s nothing rash about its development, with these key figures clashing heads over 18 months to ensure The Triffid is nothing short of musical excellence — and we’re quite confident it will be. It's not built like some Valley-esque stage-and-seating set-up; the venue is set to have an 800-person capacity with an outdoor beer garden and imposing arched roofline to match.
To baptise the stage, The Triffid has lined up some pretty impressive acts to show off their space. From October 30, they'll be hosting Triffid Seeds, a three-night showcase of Brisbane’s best emerging acts. On the first night you can catch Hello Hokkaido, Outliers, Avaberee, The Royales, Tundra and Salvadarlings, and it won't cost you a cent.
On November 8, The Triffid will officially kick into action with a launch party featuring electrifying Melbourne nine-piece Saskwatch, Brisbane indie favourites The Creases and Byron Bay locals MT Warning.
Kicking off on November 9, Triffid Roots will take over the beer garden each Sunday, curated and hosted by triple j’s Sarah Howells. The first edition of Triffid Roots will feature Pat Tierney and Liam Gerner.
It’s fair to be a tad concerned about the longevity of a new music venue, especially in Brisbane. This year already we’ve seen Tempo and The Joynt close their doors, and let us never forget the Cloudland Dancehall atrocity of 1982. Our history isn’t great as far as venues go, but with the some solid names behind The Triffid and a booming music scene at its side, it wouldn’t be rash to buckle up your dancing shoes and prepare yourself for a hot spot with some staying power.