the desk · a newcomer's guide · 2025
A Guide to the Scene
Everything a newcomer needs; who kept the spirit alive, how to find a first gig, how to mosh, and how to stay out of the drama.
Welcome to the Brisbane underground music scene. You may not know me but I’m the writer of a magazine called Breakbone (@breakbonemagazine on Instagram) which specialises in documenting and distributing information about the Brisbane underground music scene. Through my work, I aim to provide a platform for musicians ignored by the mainstream. I set out to write this guide after witness wave after wave of newcomers arrive without the ‘basic knowledge’ that makes the scene fun—and drama-free. So many people arrive unprepared, uneducated, and straight up oblivious to the harsh reality of what is a community of immature teenagers—many of them from rough backgrounds.
As a history enthusiast (ask anyone about my landmark work A Complete History of the Brisbane Youth Music Scene), I also didn’t want the customs and traditions of the underground scene to be forgotten to time only to be rediscovered and revived years or decades later, which is the unfortunate nature of the Brisbane underground music scene throughout its existence. Most importantly, I wanted to write a guide for people who were like me a year and a half ago—obsessed about the good parts of the scene without fully recognising its true nature, and thus being subject to experiences that could’ve been avoided with some education. With that being said, I hope you find this guide useful.
What is the ‘scene’?
The Brisbane underground music scene is a loose community of bands and fans who stage all-ages, DIY gigs—usually centred on alternative rock. Its roots stretch back to the 1970s, when The Saints, one of the first punk bands, were pushed out of conventional venues by both conservative bookers and the authoritarian Bjelke-Petersen government. Forced to rent community halls and play house shows, they created an all-ages, DIY culture that still defines Brisbane’s underground.
Who kept that spirit alive?
Fast-forward to the late 2010s and you’ll find Kaleb Collings reviving the original spirit of the 1970s scene by founding Casualty Records in 2019. His work inspired George Roberts (Project Punk) and Ixara Dorizac (Antidismal) to launch their own gigs. All three of these record labels have ceased organising all ages gigs, though the spirit started by Kaleb still persists through Braxton Hunt-Nissen’s Deadtrigger Records, established in 2022, and Worldrot, a long-running hardcore punk promoter. Ask around and you’ll hear many definitions of what the scene is depending on what it means to a specific person, but most people would agree that the scene is the crowd that got inspired by Kaleb’s work and therefore the 70s scene, with some overlap with the hardcore scene through its members and similar all ages, DIY methodology.
Am I the right age to join?
Are you under 18? The majority of attendees and organisers are teens playing for or watching other teens, and once you’re past 18 it would simply be weird for you to attend a gig in the underground scene. To quote Arran McKenzie, the frontman of Piss Off, a very big band in the scene: ‘we play for the all-ages, for the ones who can’t get into proper venues’. If you’re in high school, you’re exactly the audience the scene is meant for.
How do I find my first gig?
Start by following Deadtrigger Records and Worldrot on social media. Their shows are friendly to newcomers and offer a sampler of the bands and genres you’ll encounter in the scene. Once you form connections, you’ll naturally find out about house gigs, record store sets, or community hall gigs held by individual bands or groups of bands. Deadtrigger Records’ gigs remain the most accessible and drama-free as they are held with proper security and management and have good amenities. The staff are also very friendly speaking from experience and will gladly help you if anything comes up.
Is there a must-see venue or tradition?
Absolutely—Paddington Skatepark. With many community halls banning gigs due to the illegal and delinquent behaviour of a small group of attendees, Paddington Skatepark remains the only ‘OG’ gig venue, with a history stretching all the way back to the 1990s. It has always been a place for energetic metal/hardcore-focused shows. Every single gig I’ve attended there has been phenomenal. Gigs held at Paddo always epitomise the spirit of the scene through its large crowds, hardcore-approved moshpits, and strong community spirit.
Which acts should be on my radar?
Findaway, PIMP, Heatstroke, BRAX, Piss Off, Shock Value, and Phantasm Street. These seasoned acts deliver tight sets with songs that have history and deep personal meaning behind them. They treat their fans like friends and whenever you find them on a bill, you can place a bet that you’re going to have a good time.
How do I actually make friends?
Gigs revolve around tight-knit cliques, and breaking straight into one is difficult. A better strategy is being active in the crowd by letting yourself get lost in the music and contributing back in some way, whether that’s through taking photos and posting them, writing a magazine, or starting a band. Just because you have people talking to you doesn’t mean you can trust them though; there are a bunch of things you should keep in mind when socialising with people in the scene which I will go over later. Playing the social game in the scene is like international diplomacy; sides switch quickly and you should always watch your back as your allies can quickly become adversaries. You should never share any personal details about yourself to people you’ve just met. Keep the conversation to things about music and gigs, and when you have determined that they are at gigs for the music, act with a desire to genuinely connect and have similar interests and are of a similar age, build that connection gradually through chats and hangouts.
What should I know about moshing?
Three crowd styles dominate. The pushpit is exactly what it sounds like: people shove shoulders and backs—never faces or private areas—while staying making sure to lift anyone who falls and respecting those who want out. Variations include the circle pit, where everyone runs laps until a breakdown collapses the formation, and the wall of death, in which two halves of the crowd charge at each other at the drop. The hardcore-dance pit is an open pocket where dancers throw moves like the two-step or windmill; it stays relaxed at ‘alternative’ shows but is very chaotic at hardcore gigs. Mellow sets by less energetic or well-known bands usually produce a gentle sway zone, which is little more than rocking back and forth.
How do I avoid drama in the scene and avoid becoming friends with the wrong people?
By not engaging in drama or befriending anyone who uses substances or engages in delinquent activity. The people you should avoid are easy to spot—they usually hangout outside venues because they don’t go to gigs for the music, are usually in tight-knit cliques, can act arrogant and pushy, and are visibly engaging in illegal activity. Avoid them at all costs; drama is rampant and many people in that crowd have unresolved rivalries and will threaten you with fights, damage to your reputation through false rumours, or worse. Fights have happened at gigs because of this crowd and they are a nuisance to gig organisers and peaceful gig attendees due to their erratic behaviour which has on occasion caused regular people to be caught up in their drama and gigs to be banned because of them leaving trash and substance paraphernalia and having to get paramedics and police called regularly.
If you are a victim of drama, contrary to urban legend, DO NOT ENGAGE. Do not respond to any messages or requests from the opposing party, even if they appear well-intentioned, as this is usually a baiting strategy designed to evoke an emotional reaction or responses that they can twist to fit their narrative. Do not post ANYTHING publicly about the situation, even if you believe it will help your cause, because the side people trust is usually dependent on what side someone is friends with and seems the most trustworthy through which narrative they receive first, which side appears least emotional, and which side has the most public support and follower base. For this reason, you should block all offending people, their supporters and friends, and again, DO NOT TALK ABOUT THE SITUATION, especially if you feel hurt and thus your response is going to be emotionally driven and come off as seeking revenge or trying to recover your reputation instead of being a trustworthy account. Only tell trusted friends about the situation without any emotional undertones if they ask about it as this helps you calm down and they can support you. Also keep your social media accounts private and block your enemies, your enemies’ affiliates, and remove anyone with questionable loyalty.
As threats of violence is not uncommon in the scene, you should ideally attend gigs with a friend. If you are worried about anything, tell one of the gig organisers. Remember that online drama isn’t real life and how someone reflects is a reflection of their own inner pain and misery, so feel pity on your enemies for their bad life. A lot of threats are empty threats though you should always stay vigilant.
Remember that there are still good people in the scene and it’s not the end of the world if a bunch of immature teenagers can’t deal with personal differences with responsibility and respect. Befriend people who are dedicated to the music and who are your age. Also, band members are usually very kind people and are especially guaranteed to be passionate about the music and not about online bullshit. People love drama because it provides novelty and ‘fun’. People engage in delinquency because it provides novelty and people from chaotic backgrounds have become accustomed to chaos and thus will interact with a crowd of flawed people because that’s the only community that feels familiar to them. Drama is by far one of the biggest problems in the scene and I hope that if it ever happens to you or your friends that you keep this knowledge in mind.
What organisations or places should I know about?
4ZZZ is a good radio station that specialises in airing non-mainstream music, though they aren’t specifically dedicated to the underground scene. They hold sporadic all ages gigs, usually in their carpark. Rockinghorse Records is a good record shop where you can buy records and buy local magazines including my magazine to enrich your knowledge about the scene and support a local business. The Brisbane Music Spew, much like my magazine, is also another magazine specialising in the Brisbane underground music scene and was what inspired me to start this magazine. You should definitely check my magazine out at @breakbonemagazine on Instagram or by going into Rockinghorse Records though. I put a lot of effort into what I do and a lot of people say I’m among the few people in the scene who understand the spirit and history of it and are carrying it forward to new people.
Is there anything else I should know about the scene?
Not really. The scene becomes easy to navigate with this basic knowledge. Keep your expectations where they should be. The scene won’t magically fix your life, however, it can give you a sense of purpose and community, which is really rare yet important in our modern world. The scene accepts people rejected by society or on the fringes of society and thus as long as you aren’t a delinquent, have this knowledge in mind, and interact with people with an intent to genuinely connect, and don’t have any ulterior motive or hate, you should be fine. Unfortunately, you aren’t going to just find good friends or a community on the first go and you have to just attend as many gigs as possible, stay active in the crowd, and possibly find a way to contribute back to the scene to build a name for yourself.
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