Against The Grain 2026

By Bec Hoole (Pipin) & Jessica Chate (Serendipiti)

Photos by Tessa Fleur on Kodak 400

Saturday the 20th of June saw the Clarence Corner precinct in Woollongabba activated like it never had been before. Punters flocked to Against The Grain, the inaugural festival hosted by independent label GRAIN, teaming up with Open Season to bring us a day of tunes, grooves and ultimately community and friendship. A block party like no other, Against The Grain, saw over 30 musical acts bring their sonic prowess to The Princess Theatre, Brisbane Brewing Co, Echo & Bounce and Season Three, with art installations also presented at Woolloongabba Art Gallery and access to food and drink from Birria Boy and C’Est Bon (have you ever been to a music festival where you can literally buy fresh oyster before…. I mean C’MON!).

The atmosphere was electric from the get-go, kicking off the day with Adelaide/Kuarana band Swampmeet, who took over the car park stage which was set up between the back of The Princess Theatre and Brisbane Brewing Co. This whole event felt uniquely Brisbane, a collection of like minded souls, bonding under the winter sun without a cloud in the blue sky. Ranging from international acts such as Stereolab and Cola, to local legends Peachy and Tomorrow’s Forecast - this block party held something for every kind of music lover.

Pipin’s Picks

When perusing this lineup for this day I had the pleasurable realisation that I could literally attend any set and I would have the best time. I was mentally transported back to Nine Lives Festival at the Tivoli for a brief moment, the memory of a similar effervescent energy that predated Covid times. When collating my notes together on Sunday, while I nursed my sore feet and head from a mix of day drinking and dancing till I couldn’t anymore - there were a few distinct stand outs that really soundtracked my day and special memories that were now inGRAINed forever (pun intended).

Way Dynamic

Way Dynamic delivered a warm, quirky and easygoing set full of beautiful melodies, adding a real sense of chill to our afternoon in the sunshine. The collection of different instruments on stage kept the crowd guessing with violin adding a rich, uplifting layer and weaving effortlessly between shakers (which were all the shape of fruits of course), melodica, agogo bells and even a recorder. There was so much fun packed into the percussion, with playful rhythms giving each track plenty of energy and band members moving around the stage to play them. Their sound was light and groovy adding to the sunny, relaxed, and effortlessly charming combination of musicians on stage. The crowd favourite was definitely “Miffied It” which sparked recognition as soon as its recognisable guitar line rang out. A personal highlight for me was when the band finished a track with a discordant recorder solo, awakening the primary school music teacher in me and adding another playful, unexpected moment to an already truly delightful performance.

Tomorrow’s Forecast

Gold Coast hunnies, Tomorrow's Forecast, packed out The Brewing Co, drawing a crowd of enthusiastic punters noticeably turning to their friends in excitement for the set. One of the standout moments came from the track "Ribbons" with its understated verses creating a sense of anticipation that captivated the room. Frontperson Bonnie Kruger looked especially magical in a blue crocheted bonnet, with her voice further showcasing the band's remarkable musicianship, combined with harmonies from Olive McCagh that resonated throughout the venue. The bridge of “Holding On To You” built steadily to a powerful crescendo, prompting the crowd to sway and move in unison. It was a compelling set from the Gold Coast outfit and a reminder of why they have become such a beloved act in the local scene.

Gut Health

Naarm outfit Gut Health delivered a set that felt like being swept up in a hypnotic storm of sound. From the moment the orange lights started pulsing in sync with the thumping bass and kick drum, the atmosphere was electric. The band's unique setup, complete with an additional percussion player rocking on sample pad, snare and extra cymbals, created a relentless groove. Athena Uh Oh, Gut Health’s captivating frontperson, was striking with visual flair in a tartan dress with hooping detail that later lent itself to a costume change. Delayed vocals drifted over washed-out guitars as the band locked into an infectious rhythm, with energetic dance moves keeping the crowd completely engaged.

Athena Uh Oh was impossible to look away from, commanding the stage at full intensity by crawling across it, headbanging wildly, and constantly closing the gap between performer and audience. The percussion throughout the set was exceptional, driving every song forward with precision and power. What really stood out was how all the individual elements came together, each part feeding into the next to create a towering wall of sound that completely blew us away.

Serendipiti’s selections

Cola

The highly anticipated Montreal post-punk three-piece Cola was a real discovery highlight for me. Classic 90’s influenced indie-rock, the trio was met by an eager Brissy crowd who had gathered inside The Princess for their first Aus tour. Despite only having the three onstage - drums, bass and guitar - the ornately designed theatre felt sonically full and delightfully hazy, matching the dark, moodily lit stage. Whilst I hadn’t encountered their music before that day, I found myself closing my eyes headbobbing along to every song - soaking up the energy of the space and hooking into the grungy basslines. Something about the music reminded me of what I listened to as a teen growing up in a small regional town. It felt like leather jackets and smoke, town hall DIY gigs and the colour dark purple. The kind of music you put on to dance around your kitchen to if you’re a lead in a 90’s romcom who feels misunderstood but like, also free. Y'know? I was also pleasantly surprised to note that during this set (and the whole festival actually), there was barely a phone in sight. Only the odd flash from a digi or film camera. It felt like a real tribute to the overall culture of the festival - seeped in nostalgia. The entire energy of the festival to me felt like I had climbed into the way the world felt as a misunderstood teenager. A real, brooding pleasure to revisit. 

Pond 

I have this nostalgic recollection of seeing Pond for the first time back as a teenager, in the soaring afternoon sun of the Splendour mainstage. With that memory in mind, I knew I was going to enjoy this festival set, but I don’t think I was fully prepared for quite how brilliant a time I was in fact going to have. Delightfully nostalgic, heavily fuzzed, synthy psych-rock - larger than life. This set landed at the perfect time; I’d just had some hot chips, I had a fresh drink in hand, my best friend was beside me and it was impossible to resist soaking up the absolutely delicious energy of the moment. Folks were hanging over the fence, there was theatrical crowd surfing, the lights were glowing purples and reds and the moon even made an appearance over the outdoor space. There was room to dance, room to chat, the volume was enough that you ascended on the ambience, yet not too much that you felt swept away. The whole band’s stage presence was infectious - my best friend and I actually just couldn’t stop dancing and grinning at each other the entire set. The groove was hitting just right, hands were well and truly in the air and quite frankly, I felt that sheer joy that I’d felt back when I was a teenager - connected, present, alive! But this time even better - because it felt like I was living in that very version of the world I dreamt of when I was 16. It felt open and expansive, the air was alive with the thrum and thrill of big festivals like Splendour, yet with all the cosy air of community that came with the intimate space. Every fourth face in the crowd you’d recognise from the scene. All in all, a set (and an entire festival in fact) that I felt lucky to know about, lucky to get to experience. 

Selve

I caught Selve for the first time opening for Playlunch earlier this year and found I spent the entire set either a.grinning and/or b.pulling that lil stank face one makes when one is having a musically-induced fantastic time. After chatting with them after that first show, I knew I’d be catching their next Magandjin/Bris set - so I already had this particular date in my calendar (before I even realised it was part of Against the Grain festival!) When you catapult together the highest of explosive energy, matching tracksuits, insane vocals and a real good time dancing -  that’s where you find Selve. A real melting pot of influences - their music kind of feels as if Tame Impala, Red hot Chilli Peppers, Fontaines DC and the entire Disco genre had a baby. There were synth-bass tones to scrinkle your nose to, hooky sparkling guitar licks and build after build energetically. First nations led and equipped with the most magnetic stage presence - Selve put out the biggest energy, which the crowd promptly doubled and sent back straight back onstage. Their crowd engagement had every person in that packed-out room onside, boogying and having an absolute ball. Since the festival, I’ve been rinsing their freshly dropped EP Breaking out of Heaven and I’m already looking forward to the next time I get to catch them live.