LIVE REVIEW: Brisbane Was Raised On Fanning's 'Tea & Sympathy'

Bernard Fanning's Tea & Sympathy album is easily recognisable as a Brisbane classic, in the same category as the Brown Snake and the Channel 7 Wheel. Put the three together on a Sunday afternoon, and you've got a dream come true, or just another instalment in QPAC's new live music series, 'On The Banks'. With a dream lineup of iconic Australian voices, a selection of food trucks, and a fully stocked bar, music lovers of all ages gathered to end their week with a healthy dose of live music.

The afternoon kicked off with the soothing country infused tales of Georgia Mooney, with her bubbly personality sparkling as bright as the sun on the river beside us. Thanking the early birds for coming out and securing a "good posi" for the night ahead, Mooney regaled us with stories of songwriting retreats and her debut album, as she charmed the audience with her intimate dulcimer performance. Teasing the crowd with her parting announcement of putting out an album "very soon", she invited everyone to become "internet friends on the 'grams".

Up next was a heartwarming display of family talent with a song-for-song showcase from Jem Cassar-Daley and her father Troy Cassar-Daley. With a laugh over it being "bring your dad/daughter to work day", the audience was taken on a journey through musical genres and stories with Jem's indie pop musings and Troy's biographical country style storytelling. As Jem took the stage with a fresh unreleased tune about a lover who was never really "into sunsets", she was accompanied by her father on backing vocals who then shared that Jem had "only shared that with me about a week ago across the kitchen table". Troy dedicated his song 'Some Days' to "you Brisbane folks", singing to a purely captivated and teary-eyed crowd. The pair announced how excited they were to be part of the anniversary event, with Jem sharing that she imagines Bernard Fanning and Powderfinger songs every time she crosses the river. The contrast that the song-for-song format allowed for was unique and refreshing to see, and was quite an enjoyable way to experience music spanning both generations and genres.

The event progressed with The Paper Kites, the five piece band taking us into the dark of the night with their harmonica and banjo fueled soft soundtrack. Sharing that is was "an absolute honour to be sandwiched between this music royalty tonight", the audience cherished the opportunity to relax and lean into live music amidst the chaos of the world. Thriving off of the crowd's positive energy, The Paper Kites introduced their hit single 'Bloom' by telling the audience "you're welcome to sing along if you know it - please don't sing if you don't know it because you'll ruin it!".

As soon as The Paper Kites finished their set, the crowd started a chant calling for the next act to grace the stage. Echoes of "Kasey! Kasey!" were surely audible on the other side of the river, as Kasey Chambers started her performance with 'Barricades & Brickwalls'. Her enigmatic presence elevated the night, as she embraced the audience after the song 'Not Pretty Enough' with a bright smile and the proclamation "nothing makes me happier than looking down and seeing a big tough guy like you singing all the words". Chambers then went on to give the audience a look behind the curtains of Fanning's rockstar mystique, sharing that he "drinks tea backstage! he's a big softie... [he] has been like a big brother to me in the music industry". Captivating the audience with her eight minute rendition of eminem's 'Lose Yourself', Chambers closed her set on another absolute high with an audience-wide singalong to 'The Captain'.

The entire crowd fell into silence as the man of the night started his set, a center-stage dark silhouette illuminated by a sole white beaming light. 'Down By The River' performed aptly beside the river sent chills through the audience, with fans gathering along the fences to absorb the live magic of Bernard Fanning. Greeting the crowd to the loudest cheer yet of the night, Fanning's face lit up as he commented "who could ask for more! It's incredible, I can see the casino!". With praise of the Brisbane weather on this clear night, Fanning played through his whole Tea & Sympathy album, in an extended 20th anniversary celebration of the 2005 release. A glimpse around the crowd emphasised the significance of the moment, with fans singing along to every song as if to proclaim that the album has never left their regular rotation. Fans donning shirts with the phrase "Raised on Tea & Sympathy" danced along to songs that soundtracked their adolescence and major life milestones. The set felt like a journey through memories of the past twenty years, sealed perfectly with the sing-along charm of Fanning's set closer, 'Wish You Well'.

Watching a community gather together to celebrate such a long-standing piece of art was such a wholesome activity for a casual Sunday afternoon in Brisbane, and I can guarantee that Tea & Sympathy will remain a cultural icon for many decades to come.