‘Tia Gostelow’ // Brisbane Festival
‘Tia Gostelow’ was hypnotising.
In the intimate venue of the Courier-Mail Spiegeltent on a Saturday afternoon, Tia Gostelow performed her first-ever, all-ages concert to a small yet captivated audience. For an artist so young, with an already impressive resume and a sound more mature than her years, it is easy to see why she is becoming an Australian artist to be reckoned with.
Gostelow and her bandmates (Jordan on guitar, Sebastian on drums, and Marcos on bass and vocals) started the concert with ‘Vague Utopia’, setting up a musically hypnotic atmosphere. Gostelow sang through her debut album ‘Thick Skin’ – released in 2018 – with her unique, mellow, but deliciously powerful voice, enhanced by gentle reverb. Throughout the concert, she gave the audience an insight into the inspiration behind some of the songs. ‘Strangers’ particularly resonated with the audience, based on her reflection about how we never know which strangers will end up being an important part of your life.
Alongside the songs in her album, Gostelow sung a cover of Empire of the Sun’s ‘We Are The People’ which she infamously performed for Triple J’s Like A Version. She also performed her latest single ‘Get To It’, one of her personal favourites, which was a glimpse into the energy and sound of her next album.
Gostelow’s stage presence was calm and enthralling. She connected well with the audience through her movement on stage, eye contact, and relaxed conversation between numbers. Her work with bandmates was also understated but razor-sharp. Their musical skill and wordless communication amongst each other ensured perfectly timed and well-balanced music, and with Gostelow clearly comfortable in her position as the front of the small ensemble, their enjoyment radiated through the venue.
Kudos to the lighting crew for the use of warm blue and pink tones to create an intimate and cosy atmosphere; complementing the emotions conveyed through Gostelow’s songs. The tech operators in the Courier-Mail Spiegeltent throughout the course of the Brisbane Festival has been nothing short of amazing, elevating the small space into an outstanding performance hub.
Tia Gostelow presented a wonderfully soulful, hour-long concert of her beautifully written indie rock songs. She also stated that her current tour ‘‘Get To It’’ is the last tour in which she will be playing all the songs from ‘’Thick Skin’’. Such is a tantalising promise of new and even more amazing music and concerts from this young powerhouse, who is sure to take Australia, and the world by storm.
For more events at the Brisbane Festival, visit Brisbane Festival’s Website. To keep up to date with Tia Gostelow, visit Tia Gostelow’s Website.
