LIVE REVIEW: BENEE – Fortitude Music Hall

Last time BENEE was on Australian shores it was February 2020, and everything seemed hopeful. She was playing Laneway Festival, and we were promised to see so much more of the breakout star with the release of her highly anticipated debut album under her sleeves, and a world tour. But then the world locked down, and the landscape quickly changed. But two years later and she is finally back with 2 new EP’s and a debut album full of material ready to play to her excited fans.

Rolling into Brisbane, BENEE had the crowd screaming loud at Fortitude Music Hall as the lights dimmed and the intro of ‘Make You Sick’ and a mixture of flashing lights filled the venue. Walking onto the stage to ‘Tough Guy’ she kicked off an 80 minute set full of big singalongs with ‘Happen To Me’, ‘Find An Island’, ‘Soaked’, ‘Doesn’t Matter’ and ‘Winter’ providing some special moments.

The crowd were excited to be there, but BENEE seemed equally stoked as she bounced across the stage, and screamed about anything that happened in-between songs. It was a euphoric energy that was so contagious, and allowed the punter to be as excited as they wanted to be. She revealed early on in the set that they were recording for triple j’s Live At The Wireless, and repeatedly told the audience as she got them hyped and kept the energy at an all time high.

She’s only just put out her new EP ‘Lychee’ but she already teased new music by performing unreleased track ‘Morning Routine’ which had an electric pop-punk energy that had hit written all over it. ‘Soft Side’ saw her performing by herself before her band and Muroki’s crew invaded the stage for a dance. While ‘Night Garden’, ‘Marry Myself’, ‘Kool’, ‘Beach Boy’, ‘Snail’ and ‘Glitter’ kept the singalong’s loud. As she neared the end of her set, she didn’t slow down and kept thanking the crowd for coming out to see her. Closing the show with ‘Supalonely’ and ‘Sheesh’, you could tell that she didn’t want the gig to end, and neither did her fans.

On opening duties was rising New Zealand newcomer Muroki, who was introducing himself to Australian audiences for the very first time. With previously released singles ‘Surfin’ and ‘Wavy’ scattered throughout the set, as well as a groovy cover of Sam Sparro’s cult hit ‘Black And Gold’, he immediately had audiences vibing along. With his new EP slated for release later this year, he played the unreleased ‘Simple Pleasures’ which teased that more bangers were to come following his recent single and the closing track of his set ‘Find Me’.

Check out the full gallery captured by Zennieshia Butts Photography BELOW;