Come mark another day celebrating the furthering years of 4ZZZ radio station… and the cultures they generate from that power transmission of a nucleus.
As sure as day becomes night, 4ZZZ slips into the streams of creative diversity, as the risers of this vibrant ZED51 doorstep cross over into another 50 years of a Brisbane community of media-active cultural spaces.
In light of this ever-evolving radio station, and that idiosyncratic warmth of inner glow all were left with post-October ’25 ZED50 celebration… it was hard not to continue this energising, inclusive trip into our Meanjin futures.
Presented by 4ZZZ, Saturday 24 October 2026 is ZED51 – 13 bands once again cloaking the hills of Roma Street Parklands with music, stalls, and that incredible community spirit.
Two stages, no crossovers, open to all ages, along with market stalls, food, and more running from midday to 10pm.
Join us in such humble entreaties…
“Last year 4ZZZ turned 50. To celebrate, we hosted a plethora of events across three months that resulted in one heck of a birthday party.
One such event was Zed50, a nod to the market days of old and a showcase of the sound of our community – past, present and future.
‘Do it again next year,’ the crowd screamed. Well, you yelled and we listened, so we are gearing up to do it all again at Zed51.
This year’s event promises to be bigger and better than ever. It recognises how far 4ZZZ has come since 1975 and where it is headed post-50th.
Music is a universal language and we here at 4ZZZ look forward to sharing some of our favourite acts, from near and afar, with you (our community) at Zed51.”
– Nick, 4ZZZ Station Manager
Artists
MUDHONEY played a show for 4ZZZ in 1990 at East Leagues Club on March 10 with Proton Energy Pills and Alien Virus to about 600 people… and then that same year ventured back for the December 8 LIVID Festival at the RNA along with TISM, Died Pretty, Jack Frost, Falling Joys, Clouds, Xero and more in lieu of the 4ZZZ 15th birthday celebrations.
Last year Mark Arm from Mudhoney fronted The Saints ’73–’78 at last year’s 50th anniversary… and now moments converge with those progenitors of grunge once again heading back to Brisbane to play ZED51. Touch me… this is sick!
Joining them in this burgeoning moment for Brisbane to rejoice in the love of culture will be the pop-time goodness of Brisbane’s very own CUSTARD, running riot in the apartments caught between having the technology and a Wisenheimer… music is never crap. It is fun. Thank your lucky star for that. Get ready for a full fry up.
A matriarch of rap, proud Malyangapa, Barkindji woman BARKAA takes a good bite from the hand that feeds, provoking all with a rollicking air of tiddas time and a “handle on storytelling that is unshakably confident and honest”. King Brown, Preach, Our Lives Matter… we up!
THE MARK OF CAIN finally return to Brisbane in the opening salvo of a new era – there is nothing like a good blast of TMOC to start the day and an even better one to finish it off. Twenty-five years on from “This Is This” will attribute such rumblings with all that and more. Tell me.
CASH SAVAGE & THE LAST DRINKS rack up the tunes and knock back the best so no soul is left unturned by these Naarm heavyweights. Cathartic. Communal. With Cash looming hard centre of this emotional storm.
“A fucking spectacular live phenomenon.” – Beat Magazine
SHONEN KNIFE return from Japan and re-cut their sugar-saturated, food-obsessed power pop-punk fusion they have been teasing Australian audiences with since their first visit touring the Big Day Out in 1997. Touring off the back of the re-recorded debut album Let’s Knife Re-Cut.
Come ride the rocket!
I HEART HIROSHIMA – those dark, smouldering skeletons of a Meanjin life without buildings – Sullivan, Matt and Cameron – make this once-in-their-times reformation to torch “London in Love”, “Shakeytown”, “Punks”… like kicking embers down streets of departure. Tuff Teef. The Rip. They were maps of our shadow territories. Witness.
In the provocation of this, erase backgrounds with Meanjin’s TAPE/OFF amid the wild-swept oscillation of their 2025 album Fort Sensible.
DEM MOB, hot off the back of six months touring with Regurgitator and imminently about to deliver their debut album, wake the power of music with the most remote hip-hop ever delivered.
MITCH, PLEASE crash cats and fizzy drinks in a Disney-whimsical nerd-punk free-for-all – providing the spicy toppin’ on the 2025 4ZZZ Hot 100.
SUPERHOTEL are five pieces of Meanjin strained through observational poetry and alt-country rock – recently caught guestin’ with Flight of the Conchords’ Bret McKenzie.
The atypical STILL FULL FROM LUNCH embrace the biggish band playoff while 14 arms swing free from the hills hoist… with seven of them, this is vast, and all termites.
Grace from Nice Biscuit returns with the psychedelic folk of her side project BABY COOL, shimmering in light of latest album Infinity Baby.
Power this all up for another lush day of community transmission!
Spread that feeling.
ZED51. Onwards to more years of that people-powered radio.
Event Details
Saturday 24 October 2026
Roma Street Parklands
Albert Street, Spring Hill, Brisbane
Tickets from Oztix – sign up for preregistration from 23 June.
4ZZZ Subscribers Only Presale: Wednesday 24 June – Midday
General Public Onsale: Thursday 25 June – Midday
This is an all-ages event. As a condition of entry, all persons under 18 years of age must be accompanied by a responsible adult.
Featuring
MUDHONEY (US), BARKAA, CUSTARD, THE MARK OF CAIN, CASH SAVAGE & THE LAST DRINKS, SHONEN KNIFE (Japan), I HEART HIROSHIMA (one-show reformation only), TAPE/OFF, DEM MOB, MITCH, PLEASE, SUPERHOTEL, STILL FULL FROM LUNCH, BABY COOL.
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