The Triffid Concert Venue - 6 Stratton Street, Newstead
Brisbane's newest concert venue is definitely giving fans of live music something to sing about. What was formerly an American World War 2 aircraft hangar has been given a new lease on life, giving keen concert goers the chance to rock out in a venue boasting a slightly post apocalyptic feel.
A former WW2 aircraft hangar has been repurposed as Brisbane's newest live music venue
The venue's name borrows from the 1951 sci-fi novel by John Wyndham where enormous killing plants proceed to take over the world. While there are no killing plants – or much greenery of any kind in the industrial precinct surround the venue's Newstead home – there is a distinctly unearthly feel about the venue. This is only compounded by the fact that you are downing drinks and letting hair down in a place that used to house US military planes during not-too-distant war times.
Open since November 2014,
The Triffid is the brainchild of former Powderfinger bassist and Brisbane local John Collins, who had long been scouting sites for more intimate venues in a hope to diversity the number of live music venues in Brisbane. With the support of key Brisbane hospitality identities, as well the backing of Splendour in the Grass founders Paul Pittico and Jessica Ducrou, The Triffid was born and has been welcomed as a new addition to the Brisbane music scene.
My first 'day at The Triffid' was during a Connor Oberst (ex- Bright Eyes frontman) concert in February. With some awareness of the venue, but otherwise not knowing exactly what to expect, I was consistently surprised throughout the evening and always in a good way.
The Triffid's expansive beer garden offers pub food, meals and the plenty of pre-show drinks - picture courtesy of Facebook page
The expansive outdoor beer garden that connects to the indoor venue set the tone for a very fun night, with a kitchen offering tasty bar food as well as more comprehensive meals for those who want to line their stomachs with something a little more substantial. There are also two bars on-site and we swilled several jugs of James Squire's cloudy apple cider in favour of sitting through the supporting act.
I can speak for everyone in our group who all agreed that the smoky lighting and atmosphere inside the 800 capacity domed roof venue was second to none. The creators of The Triffid obviously spent a lot of money (and most likely time) getting the acoustics just right. With the right amount of sound reverberating off the walls, Oberst's vocals were always crystal clear with the supporting band never muddying the main melody or becoming overpowering.
During the 90- minute concert, every bass line and guitar solo was being absorbed into my very being. To get such a buzz from live music I have three things to thank: great music, impeccable acoustics to do the songs justice, and most definitely the cider pre drinks.
The vocals Conor Oberst and the music from the supporting band were done justice with the venue's acoustics
The joy of spending time in the ambient lighting of the beer garden before the show only added up to what was an amazing night out of live music in Brisbane. It's definitely on the way to cementing itself as a major venue attracting class acts, both local and international.
The Triffid is at 9 Stratton Street, Newstead
Click here to see their upcoming events and gigs
See the making of The Triffid and how the space was converted in the time lapse video below.
The TRIFFID, Brisbane, Time Lapse from browndog on Vimeo.
