22 February 2025 – Sandstone Point Hotel – words by Cecilia Pattison-Levi – pictures by Paul Blackburn
After a really easy drive to Sandstone Point Hotel, where the parking was easy, the event organisers for the venue had the lines of fans sorted early and everything moved smoothly throughout the day. These events like Look Out 2025 are super exciting when you get to see so many great bands on one day – exhausting – even Jetacknowledged the effort in sustaining it was hard – but it was managed and Look Out 2025 produced a great day of new music and throwbacks to 1990’s and 2000’s reminiscences of music important to the crowd and long-standing fans.
The band first up to kick off the big day was the forever fantastic Magic Dirt (aka The Dirt). It is always a hard ask to start these events off but The Dirt performed it with aplomb and lots of reverb and feedback and statements about liking butterflies that had me thinking about ‘Grab Your Hair’. I have seen Magic Dirt three times over the last 4 months and they never disappoint. They delivered a strong set, working through a small part of their extensive catalogue of recorded music. With great songs like ‘Ice’, ‘Competition Girl’ and the magic ‘Plastic Loveless Letter’ and the fans were happy.
Magic Dirt – LookOut Festival – photos by Paul Blackburn
Magic Dirt comprises of Adalita Srsen (guitar and vocals), Raúl Sánchez (guitar), Steve Patrick (bass) andAndre Fazio (drums). And, it was really great to see Adalita Srsen taking the time to talk to fans before the set started. She is a strong visual focus as the band comes onto the stage. The band’s skill with their instruments and playing with the amplifiers and speakers to deliver a constant wall of feedback was fun. Raúl Sánchez, Steve Patrick and Adalita Srsen pushed the dials to the “these go to eleven” setting.
It was terrific when The Dirt told the crowd that they were going to play new material and then launched into ‘Ice Age Number Seven’. It was fantastic to hear new songs and an announcement of a new album to come sometime this year. They also let us know about the welcome to venue service being performed by Phil Jamieson which could explain a lot of the interesting moments throughout the day – as Magic Dirt were about to go and enjoy that. Fans really appreciated The Dirt’s authentic performance of guitar rock with throw backs to 70s, 80s and 90s classic guitar reverence.
Jebediah (aka The Jebs) were next up onto the Sandstone Point Hotel stage and looked to have been imbibing of welcome to venue activities. The band: Kevin Mitchell (vocals, guitar), Chris Daymond (guitar), Vanessa Thornton (bass), and Brett Mitchell (drums) looked like they were having a great time. Fans in the crowd were hoping that the set would be throwing in a mix of new and old favourite songs.
Jebediah – LookOut Festival – photos by Paul Blackburn
The 1990’s really came to life in this set from Jebediah as the crowd was transported back to their teenage hood through “the guitars being set to spaceship” mode and songs like ‘Leaving Home’, ‘Please Leave’, ‘Yesterday When I Was Brave’ and ‘She’s Like A Comet’. There were some odd moments when the Brett Mitchell forgot what he was playing (welcome imbibing issue?) and Kevin Mitchell couldn’t decipher the setlist or know how many songs they were playing (wine in the water bottle probably didn’t help) and he stated: “We have been doing this for 30 years and we still aren’t getting it right and my guitar is still out of tune”. Vanessa Thornton sensibly rehydrating with coconut water just laughed as she tried to direct the band back on course.
The Jeb’s set was great fun. And, it went by so fast. I think the only way to fix that and get a good overview of their new music is to go see them again and really get to grips with their new album ‘Oiks’ because the outstanding song from the day was ‘Better Than That’ and it was great.
Next up to the stage were The Veronicas and it was great to see them performing live in Australia and in their home range of Brisbane. There were quips from them about going to high school with people in the crowd and probably dating some of them back in the day. The Veronicas put on a stripped back but full and clever set at Look Out 2025. They performed as a classic three-person band with themselves on vocals and guitars and the fabulous Tony – the multi-tasking guitarist, synth and drums musician.
The Veronicas – LookOut Festival – photos by Paul Blackburn
They knew and understood the day and its vibe. They played with the 1990’s and early 2000’s music for the crowd with guitar riffs from The White Strips, Nirvana and Icona Pop and Charli XCX’s ‘I Love It’. They rightly pointed out that they were the outliers on this day as they perform a more pop-punk sound with an inclination towards the disco style of music than the other bands on the bill with them today. They also were happy to be included with bands that were important to them and who they were listening to in their teens.
As a fan of The Veronicas new album ‘Gothic Summer’ it was great to hear ‘Jungle’, ‘Detox’ and ‘Here To Dance’. I would have loved ‘Perfect’ to be on that setlist but instead we got an awesome cover of Tracy Bonham’s ‘Mother Mother’ – it was so good! – I love that song. The Veronicas didn’t disappoint fans of their older material as they delivered the hits in: ‘Untouched’, ‘In My Blood’, ‘4ever’, ‘Take Me on the Floor’, ‘Everything I’m Not’ and ‘When It All Falls Apart’.
The Veronicas set was joyful and fun. Watching Lisa and Jessica Origliasso completely own the stage with every moment and perform all those catchy songs was truly spectacular. I can’t wait to see them again as they will be supporting Cyndi Lauper at the Brisbane Entertainment Centre in April. So good!
As The Veronicas farewelled fans, the stage was re-arranged with speed and a really impressive drumkit was wheeled into place for Spiderbait. Spiderbait (aka The Bait) were up next to the Look Out 2025 stage and the tone of the day took a very different turn in musical direction with increased crowd surfing!
Spiderbait – LookOut Festival – photos by Paul Blackburn
Kram (aka Mark spelled backwards) came out onto the stage and tucked into the drum kit. He, then, directed vocal and singing lessons for the crowd “Let’s get you warmed up proper”, musical appreciation and stories of Homebakeand Brisbane’s past in Red Hill with police encounters and being young and in a rock band interaction explained. It was funny, nostalgic and as Kram stated: “its not like that anymore – Thank God” as he encouraged the crowd to smoke more weed – which would have been preferable to the drunk people behind me kicking off into an alcohol fuelled fight. Thanks to Janet English who kept on eye on things from the stage as security dealt with things. My leg and foot however will take a few days to recover.
The Bait formed in 1989 with that classic punk rock line-up and ethos of three members and good songs and it has not changed with: Kram on the drums, vocals; Janet English on bass guitar and vocals; and Damien Whitty on guitar. After decades together, the friendship is obvious as they work to give the capacity crowd an awesome show.
Spiderbait put on a really great opening songs with the fantastic ‘Straight Through The Sun’ as a starter, ‘Outta My Head’, ‘Shazam’, ‘Monty’ and ‘Hot Water And Milk’. The fight occurred. And, it took me a song ‘Tonite’ to get back into the vibe and back on board The Bait train with ‘Fucken Awesome’.
It has been 21 years since Spiderbait released ‘Tonight Alright’, the album that features the awesome cover of ‘Black Betty’. I must admit this was a real indication that I am getting old – the age of that album and the fact that Kram had his son come on to the stage and play drums (very competently) for The Bait as he performed the lead vocal role on ‘Old Man Sam’. It is exciting and depressing all at once when you watch the new guard push through – the son, like the father, is an awesome drummer.
Spiderbait delivered for fans with great tracks like ‘Buy Me A Pony’ that had the whole crowd singing. Then, the cover of Motorhead’s ‘Ace Of Spades’ followed by ‘Calypso’ and of course the Lead Belly classic cover of ‘Black Betty’. Spiderbait was great fun, firing on all cylinders, showing us why they’ve been a force to be reckoned with in Australian music for the last 30 years.
The next band onto the Sandstone Point Stage were the Lismore boys: Grinspoon (aka The Spoon or The Grinners – depending on the state you grew up in). And, it was another classic performance that included beer, whiskey and taunts to the “VIP macaroni and cheese platter eating” classes up the back as Phil Jamieson rallied the crowd with: “Are you ready? Are you fucken ready!”
Grinspoon – LookOut Festival – photos by Paul Blackburn
The opening guitar riff of ‘Unknown Pretenders’ hit hard, and The Grinners were off and running and it was the perfect track to start on. Phil Jamieson was running around the stage like a kid hyped up on sugar with ADHD and his pouting and posing at the crowd was wild. The jumps, the spinning, the beer spraying – it was all happening! The next tracks performed were ‘DC X 3’ (Dead. Far. King. Cat!) as the mic stand was held over the pit for the crowd to sing the four-word middle part and ‘Just Ace’ which signalled crowd surfing time.
Phil Jamieson then talked to the crowd about their new album ‘Whatever, Whatever’ which is their first new material in 12 years. Grinspoon featured the songs ‘Never Say Never’ before they played the fantastic song ‘Nasty’ which has a great guitar solo and Phil Jamieson screaming through the megaphone. He did that a few times during the set – he seemed to be really enjoying himself with the megaphone especially while ignoring the drunk morons ‘shoey’ requests with: “I don’t know that song. Let me sing you this instead”. Classic!
Grinspoon put on a class performance. Their songs: ‘Hard Act To Follow’, ‘Better Off Alone’, ‘Chemical Heart’ and ‘Champion’ were awesome. The cover of INXS’s (Andrew Farriss) ‘Don’t Change’ was a blinder and showed they really knew their audience well. Phil Jamieson then ingeniously asked the crowd whether there was time for one more song and the chant started and The Grinners finished their outstanding high octane set with ‘More Than You Are’.
It had got dark during Grinspoon’s set. As the stage backing curtain came down and the lights changed, the stage was re-arranged for the last time as Jet were welcomed to the stage.
Jet (the only band not to be a “The” band) put on a blistering heavy blues rock set with outstanding class. The band came on stage with beer, the lead singer had a cigarette and a glass of whiskey – it was going to be smooth vintage rock ‘n’ roll – old skool style! And, it was. The band could see the fatigue in the fans at the end of a long day. They acknowledged it and they delivered a performance and setlist to combat it with great songs interspersed with a rock banger to keep the energy levels up. It is astounding to think that Jet’s fabulous debut album ‘Get Born’ has just turned 21. It was older than two of the kids I was standing next to in the pit.
Jet – LookOut Festival – photos by Paul Blackburn
Australia needs a premiere heavy rock blues band and Jet are becoming that band. I saw them at Good Things 2024 and they were really good, but last night at Sandstone Point Jet really took off. Their cover of AC/DC’s ‘A Long Way To The Top’ signalled where they are heading and it’s the right direction because they did such a fine job on that song – the drums, bass, guitar, keys and voice got it so right. It was also brave to finish with a cover when they have some many of their own fine songs.
Jet’s set was energetic highlighting their classic hits like ‘Last Chance’, ‘Put Your Money Where You Mouth Is’, ‘She’s A Genius’, ‘Rollover DJ’ and of course ‘Are You Gonna Be My Girl’. What was even better was to hear new music in ‘Hurry Hurry’ which was so on brand and really good. The fans appreciated the new and the nostalgia factor of seeing Jet perform iconic tracks. I wish them all the best on their upcoming USA Tour. And, can’t wait to see them again. Real rock class!
It was another classic day of great music at Sandstone Point Hotel with Look Out 2025.
