11 September 2026 – Roma Street Parkland, Brisbane – words and pictures by Bec Harbour
The amphitheatre at Roma Street Parklands is an under-utilised space for performance in Brisbane in recent years (indeed in most of the time I have lived in Brisbane). It was used by 4ZZZ for market days way back when, and occasionally there were other performances held for smaller events, usually during the day, but nothing like A Night In The Parkland, the sister events to Sydney’s A Night At The Barracks events.
As I walked down the hill from Spring Hill I could see people milling about waiting for friends and chatting with people close to the gates with its neon sign declaring A Night At The Parkland. I could hear the support band playing (alas, work commitments did not allow me to make it in time for them, but from what I did hear they sounded great!).
A Night At The Parkland is supposed to be a whole evening experience with multiple bars specialising in different beverages and a really good selection of foodtrucks so you can have dinner and some drinks while listening to some really great music. The area is divided into 2 areas – platinum which is down the front of the amphitheatre and seated or you can relax up the back on the picnic blanket area.
Pulling double duties tonight with photography, my first stop was down to the stage to catch Magic Dirt. They tore through a 9 song set with a few new ones thrown in (are we getting a new album?) kicking off with ‘Supertear’, followed up with one of the new ones ‘Ghost’.
Magic Dirt – A Night At The Parkland – photos by Bec Harbour
‘Pace It’, ‘Watch Out Boys’ and ‘Get Ready To Die’ came next and Adalita stopped to ruminate on the next song, also a new one, ‘Killer Eyes’. The crowd erupted for perennial favourite, ‘Plastic Loveless Letter’.
Magic Dirt – A Night At The Parkland – photos by Bec Harbour
Adalita stopped once again to talk about the next new one they were going to play, which was not really a new one. This had been written back in the day before Dean Turner’s passing and had been thrown up in the air a few times without getting the right feel for the song – apparently something has clicked and the song was ‘Ice Age’ and dedicated to Turner’s memory.
Magic Dirt – A Night At The Parkland – photos by Bec Harbour
As usual, the end of the Magic Dirt set descends into wonderful chaotic mayhem with closing song, ‘I Was Cruel’ providing the soundtrack. Guitars and bass were hoisted into the air and pressed against amps to get maximum feedback, Adalita rolling around on the stage doing a shoulder stand and then we were done. Magic Dirt once again showing us what great Australian music looks and sounds like!
After a quick stage change over, grabbing a drink, we were back for The Cruel Sea. Fun fact, despite loving this band, I have never seen them live. I have seen Tex in various incarnations as well as other members of the band in different projects, but never together. Second fun fact – Tex was their lighting tech and liked them enough to join when the instrumental group decided that they needed a vocalist.
The Cruel Sea – A Night At The Parkland – photos by Bec Harbour
Tonight, they were running through their album Three Legged Dog. Three Legged Dog was probably the album that most people heard first with ‘Better Get A Lawyer’ getting some decent radio airplay back in the day.
Tex Perkins is the consummate frontman – and he doesn’t even do that much! What he does do, is hold an audience to task and draws them in with that baritone voice. He is also a funny bastard who is not scared to point out and exploit his misspent youth. They kicked off with the title track of Three Legged Dog after Tex explaining that the title seemed apt as both he and James Cruickshank (RIP) both had broken legs at the time so the band was a “bit of a three legged dog during recording…”
The Cruel Sea – A Night At The Parkland – photos by Bec Harbour
Once the Three Legged Dog part of the set was over, Tex asked if anyone was a delivery driver in the audience – a few cheers went up and The Cruel Sea went into ‘Delivery Man’. Then one of the loveliest songs they do, ‘Woman With Soul’ then an abrupt turnaround for ‘Fangin’ With Hoons’.
I had found myself a nice beanbag and an umbrella to sit under to watch the remainder of the set up in the picnic area with my dinner and a drink. The next couple of songs, ‘Navigate’, ‘Straight Into The Sun’, ‘Waste Your Time’ and ‘It’s Alright’ became my dinner soundtrack. The opening notes of ‘Black Stick’ had me tapping my foot and the blast of ‘The Honeymoon Is Over’ sent a mini shockwave through the crowd. The set closed with ‘4’ and one of the best alt-country songs ‘This Is Not The Way Home’.
The Cruel Sea – A Night At The Parkland – photos by Bec Harbour
A Night At The Parkland is super relaxed and has some more dates coming so keep an eye out. It is easy to access with public transport options surrounding the venue as well as parking garages within walking distance. The food options were varied and I never saw a huge line at any bar in the venue – it was a 10/10 experience – would definitely do again!
