9 January 2026 – Riverstage, Brisbane – words by Bella Cockle – pictures by Vincent Shaw
Each time a band as prolific as Turnstile grace Australian shores, they leave behind a little piece of them that stays with us for the better. Turnstile’s performance at the Riverstage in Brisbane was one of the most vibrant displays of inclusivity and community that I’ve seen at the hands of a band in a long time.
Australia had the pleasure of watching alternative rock staple Basement support Turnstile on their five-date headline tour around our grounds. After having their last Brisbane show cancelled on last year’s New Bloom Fest run thanks to Cyclone Alfred, the group made an admirable effort to make up for lost time. Opening track ‘Are You The One’ saw crowd surfers and moshers hit the barricade full pelt. Early set times did well to ensure everyone was at their energetic peak, and Brisbane was ready to party. Heading straight into 2016 hits ‘Promise Everything’ and ‘Aquasun’, this proved to be a set dedicated to their early work that garnered Basement their cult following. Frontman Andrew Fisher’s gravelly vocals painted a picture of a tour thoroughly well performed thus far.
Basement – Riverstage – photos by Vincent Shaw
Fisher dedicated ‘Spoiled’ to Yamba band, Scram, who opened the night with a fierce set; a total punch in the face for those of us who had shown up straight from work. After a 7-year gap since their last album, Basement finally confirmed that a new record is on the way. They knew we’d need convincing so to substantiate their promise they played not one, but two completely unreleased songs for us. The songs spoke to a lane of music reminiscent of their first record in 2011, I Wish I Could Stay Here, so I’m incredibly curious as to how the complete album will come together. Fisher commented that for a moment he’d forgotten they weren’t performing at a large-scale festival, but instead a Turnstile show in Australia; that the ability for a band to cultivate such a massive following across the world is truly insane.
And it was, truly, insane. After Basement departed the stage and the lights eventually dimmed for the headline, Riverstage attendees were already restless and were practically trying to draw Turnstile out with their yells and applause. When they made their way on stage in the dark, a single spotlight shone on frontman Brendan Yates for a hypnotic solo of the ‘Never Enough’ intro … the calm before the storm. It pulled an immediate chant response from the crowd to close out the introduction. Then, as if the fuse had run out on a stick of dynamite, Turnstile exploded into ‘T.L.C.’, sending fans tearing through the mosh. The sheer curtain at the back of the stage projected the shadows of the band moving at 100 miles per hour, which eventually dropped to reveal the token colour display of their latest project Never Enough.
Turnstile – Riverstage – photos by Vincent Shaw
Turnstile kicked off their full 20-song set with several tracks which catapulted the band in front of an infinitely broader, more diverse audience. There were kids on parents’ shoulders, kids in the mosh, teenagers getting their first taste of a hardcore show, and fans who’ve been lucky enough to have witnessed the Turnstile chaos many times before. The Riverstage screen now exhibited footage from a crowd cam that showed faces of unbridled euphoria from front row fans. From my perspective, this could only have ever been an outdoor show, no venue walls could have contained the atmosphere that the band and the crowd created.
Turnstile – Riverstage – photos by Vincent Shaw
As an ode to those who have traversed back through their discography and those who grew up with it, the band performed tracks like ‘Drop’, ‘7’, and ‘Keep It Moving’; though the setlist predominantly celebrated their latest two projects which flowed together seamlessly.
There was a camera with a birds eye view of the mosh showing the people moving as one giant entity, it was cinematic to the point of feeling like you were witnessing a documentary that you were actually apart of. It was an incredibly involved design choice for their set and engaged the audience so much more. Eventually, a giant disco ball was lit up for a groovy instrumental showcase of ‘SEEIN’ STARS’.
Turnstile – Riverstage – photos by Vincent Shaw
By the end of the night, Turnstile had put on an undeniable masterclass and showed the extent to which creativity, culture, and diversity are inherently intertwined with hardcore and the scene at large. Whether you consider yourself a hardcore purist, or you’ve barely broken into the community, you can rest assured you will leave a Turnstile show feeling part of something bigger than yourself. This band have so much to offer anyone who is willing to listen, in the hopes that you then share that message of love and acceptance to others.
Turnstile – Riverstage – photos by Vincent Shaw
