LIVE REVIEW: BIGSOUND 2026 Day 3

Photo: Dave Kan

For the 25th year in a row, BIGSOUND is taking over Meanjin/Magandjin’s Fortitude Valley, and best believe here at LivewireAU we are beyond excited for some incredible live music! Each day, resident journos Pipin, Hazel Mei and Tessa Fleur are going to highlight their fave showcases - welcome to our day three recap!

Tessa:

Special Features have been one of the most talked about bands at this year's BIGSOUND. A steady crowd queued down Ann Street to catch their final showcase at the Crowbar. I found a spot perched up at the back of the venue, watching the floor fill near capacity, only ten minutes before the band played. There was a shared anticipation among Brisbane music peers and locals, everyone sensing this was going to be an iconic set for local up-and-coming band. Lights dropped red and Zac tore into the guitar and Jeremy in a full business suit and mid-swig of beer opened with "We’re Special Features and we mean business." They kicked off with "Che Guevara T-Shirt" Jeremy perched on the speakers, the crowd was jumping.

A warning that the next track "might be offensive to some" led into "Royal Treatment " with Jeremy jumping into the crowd to sing it from inside the room. Hearing those lyrics up live and up close hit differently, he made clear he hopes he never actually gets that "royal treatment" himself. A warmer number followed. Jeremy and Zac mentioned they’d been doing uni assignments all day, so performing this set felt good, before sliding into "Fun" which saw Zac take lead vocals, later comparing the room to a sold-out 90s Zoo show. An "anyone on a date tonight?" The intro led into "Maddy's Song" sung back word for word. Then "Poles", my favourite song of their set, where the mosh broke open and a surge of energy echoed throughout the venue. Zac thanked the crowd, saying the moment felt less like a showcase and that BIGSOUND is a rite of passage. They closed with "Cut My Teeth", before ending the set exactly how they'd opened it with a "Free Palestine." Special Features have been one of the most talked about bands at this year's BIGSOUND and they certainly delivered one of the best performances yet.

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Photography by Lachie Neil

Pipin:

Already a fan after catching Wild Gloriosa at the 2025/26 Woodford Folk Festival, I couldn’t miss the chance to witness the magic I knew would unfurl once again. Taking over the Blutes stage on Thursday night for her final BIGSOUND showcase, Wild Gloriosa delivered a set that felt like being wrapped in a warm hug of affirmation.There is something deeply grounding about her presence. Crafting music rooted in self-love, identity and community and transforming vulnerability into something powerful and uplifting, each song feels almost like a manifestation and an act of claiming space, voice and self-worth. Her work is stunningly raw and transformative, and the honesty at its core visibly resonated throughout the room.

On the final night of BIGSOUND, while battling a solid case of the sleepies, I desperately needed something to carry me through the evening. This was exactly that set. There was a strength in Wild Gloriosa’s performance that felt restorative, as though she was passing a little of her own inner resilience on to everyone in the room.

As a choir nerd and harmony lover, I was completely enthralled by the way backing vocalists Emma Volard and Isadora Lauritz interwove their voices with Gloriosa’s into absolutely perfect harmony. The entire band locked in seamlessly, showing their musical connection extends outside of the performance space.

My favourite track was ‘Lover Girl’, particularly its repeated lyrical phrase, “the joy and heartache of being a giver.” Thanks for creating a beautiful space for us to collectively feel things Wild Gloriosa, it was truly magical.

Hazel Mei:

The end of the 25th annual BIGSOUND had arrived and I could hardly believe it, although my poor little achy body could. On a week like this, the live music pick-me-up is everything (everywhere, all at once) and Stimpies definitely understood the assignment! From the moment their anthemic intro bellowed through Ric’s Backyard, a sea of nodding heads and two-stepping music lovers was entranced!

Stimpies are the picture of modern Australiana, and a sonic representation of our musical melting pot. A little bit rock and roll, a little bit country and a whole lot of locked tf in. The band of self proclaimed best friends and lovers showed how well their connection off-stage translates to a world class show. Drummer Van Willis, skillfully guided the band through tempo ramps and song transitions that were the stuff of festival goers’ dreams. Guitarists and vocalists Ned McKenna and Ethan Robins were a vision of synergy. I loved a moment where Ethan screamed out “Make some fucking noise for that guitar,” partway through Ned’s incredible solo. Bassist Bec Wigg gracefully glued everyone together with her musicality and energy. Their album ‘Doing Good’ is out on October 9th and after such an electric showcase, I can’t wait to spend more time in the world of Stimpies.

We're all already wishing it was time for BIGSOUND 2027