In case you missed it again, we’ve got your back. Heat Two had everyone riled up in the Botanic Bar, rocking out to the nostalgic cover songs from your school discos, and the banging originals that leave you jaw-dropping.
If you haven’t figured it out, Battle of the Bands is a live music showdown at QUT’s Botanic Bar, running every Tuesday until week 7. In K-pop terms, it’s QUT’s Produce 101, and you have a say in which band will make it to the semi-finals. If this sounds like your scene, go secure your bragging rights and go crazy with a Fireball in hand.
The Bands:
Offbrand got us started off. They may not sound familiar, seeing as they’re new to Brisbane’s music scene, but you’ll be paying attention to them after this. They had a high-energy pop sound that was perfect for warming the crowd up with their catchy covers and originals! Devouring the crowd with a strong melody that demands everyone’s attention, contrasting the lead singer’s relaxed stage presence. With that charisma and professionalism, you couldn’t tell they’re fresh faces. If you want to see more of them, check out @offbrandband on Instagram and Spotify.
Following up was Liquid Sun. They’ve already made a name for themselves in the Brisbane alternative rock scene, active since 2020, and you can bet you’ll be seeing more of them. The upcoming band has Oscar Holt on drums, Augustine Oostenbroek and Johno Russell on guitar, Robbie Harris on vocals, and Hudson Seefeld on bass.
They started off warming up the audience with a throwback to our school disco days with their cover of “I Write Sins Not Tragedies”, then blasted them into their originals that left us wanting more. Robbie had every right to show off his vocal range in their set, but he wasn’t the only one under the spotlight — the guitarist had his time to shine with an exhilarating guitar solo, playing up the cheers. They’re teasing a new song in the works, don’t miss it at @liquid.sun.band on Instagram.
The Judgement
If you need a refresher, Battle of the Bands is judged using a three-tier system: one vote from the audience (a pink token handed out on arrival), one from our iconic Botanic Bar staff, and one from a special guest judge, who was Cleo from TalkerSpace.
This week, Liquid Sun won by a landslide. Seeing as they were last year’s runner-up, they secured a spot as fan favourite. Let’s see if they’ll hold up in the semi-finals.
What’s next?
With the Semi-finals approaching, it’s only getting hotter from here. 5th of August has Hazy and Soleil facing off. Go loud, go crazy, or maybe have some nice ambient background music for your game of chess. Be there or be square.
