Ball Park Music at The Fortitude Music Hall – A Love Letter to Brisbane

Ball Park Music returned to their hometown stage at The Fortitude Music Hall on Friday, May 24, delivering a performance that felt less like a concert and more like a deeply personal homecoming. Kicking off with Like Love, the anthemic title track from their latest album, the band wasted no time inviting the crowd into an evening of shared energy and emotional resonance.

Photos by Robbie Hume - @robihume

“It’s Friday night, we’re in Brisbane, and we are going to have a good fucking time.”

This declaration from frontman Sam Cromack set the tone for the night: exuberant, honest, and unmistakably Brisbane. Songs were interspersed with anecdotes and dedications, including a heartfelt nod to his wife, before launching into All I Wanted Was You. The show struck that rare balance between introspection and joy – a perfect blend of the newer, reflective Ball Park Music and the raucous, spirited band fans have grown up with.

The venue itself played a starring role in the night’s magic. The Fortitude Music Hall – spacious yet intimate – seemed to pulse with anticipation from the moment the doors opened. As the crowd swelled, so too did the collective sense of homegrown pride. It wasn’t just a gathering of fans, it was a reunion of sorts; friends from different eras of Ball Park fandom meeting under one roof, wrapped in memories and lyrics that had soundtracked their lives.

Photos by Robbie Hume - @robihume

There was something undeniably nostalgic about the set – not just the old favorites like It’s Nice To Be Alive or She Only Loves Me When I’m There, but the way the band leaned into the quirks and camaraderie of Brisbane life. “Who here has been betrayed by a friend who moved to Melbourne?” Sam joked, before assuring the crowd, “In my experience, people always move back to Brisbane… and here we are.”

The band’s musical chemistry was on full display, with Sam’s vocals bolstered by harmonies from Jen and Dean, adding emotional depth to fan-favorites like Cherub, a song that reliably brings tears to my eyes every time it’s performed live. The blue-hued lights during Cherub cast a dreamlike spell, lingering just long enough before the riff took off and we, as the crowd, were right there with them.

Trippin’ The Light Fantastic came with a light show that paid playful homage to the disco-floor visuals of its video clip – a touch of whimsy that didn’t go unnoticed. And by the time Struggle Street closed the main set, it felt like a nod to every Friday-night wanderer embracing the chaos of the Fortitude Valley streets just outside the venue.

Then came the encore – a raw, sincere moment as the band gathered around a single mic to sing Overwhelming Sound with Dean holding the chords down on guitar while Dan strummed along next to him on the same instrument. This was followed by the crowd’s voices merging into one – a community echoing the words of Exactly How You Are, a final sing-along that left the crowd glowing.

Photos by Robbie Hume - @robihume

Ball Park Music’s affection for their hometown was palpable, and they weren’t shy in sharing the stage love, shouting out local openers Platonic Sex and Bean Magazine – a perfectly curated Magandjin lineup. More than just a gig, the night felt like a conversation between the band and their city – honest, heartfelt, and full of love.