The latest on CBR Music with Jannah Fahiz
March Madness is here! It’s a good sort of mad, though, and with the hottest days now behind us for another year, it’s the perfect weather to get out and enjoy yourself. I’ve got some of the best events in town for the weeks ahead. Read ahead for exciting times.
First up, on Saturday, 8 March, we had Questfest 2025 – The Questpocalypse.
This festival is “a fun day of cosplay, nerd culture and a stacked line-up of epic fantasy metal as well as a band with aliens”. This year’s musical line-up had Antonamasia, Pyrefly, Defiant Dawn, Mirrorshield, Ethereal Realm, Shu Nagua, Visualis, and Saralisse.
Naturally, the cosplay aspect of the event comes prizes for the Best Dressed including board games, collectables, and vouchers. This is all went down at The Baso!
On Saturday, 15 March, we have a single launch at Live at the Polo with local folk/punk misfits, A Commoner’s Revolt, celebrating their new tune, Allende’s Ghost. Doors open at 7pm, and tickets are available for just $15 via Humanitix. Also performing will be local ska-sters Doxxed and punk rockers, Domesticated Incels. If you want to let loose a little, this one’s for you.
Next up is Apeiron-Baroque who are gifting us two shows; a kids’ instrumental concert followed by a longer concert for all generations. Apeiron-Baroque is an early music ensemble based in Canberra led by co-founders John Ma and Marie Searles (pictured top right). To quote their modus operandi: “Taking cues from other genres of music, we present high-quality concerts that are honest, raw, and passionate in a casual and relaxed atmosphere. Performances are designed to be entertaining, informative, and accessible to all ages and backgrounds.”
The concerts take place at Wesley Uniting Church on Sunday, 23 March. The first show lasts for 30 minutes, starts at 3pm, as is $10 for adults and $5 for children. The second show goes for 75 minutes, starts at 4:30pm, and is $40, with cheaper options for students and kids. Tickets can be purchased via Trybooking.
For something completely different, on Saturday, 29 March, there’s hardcore mini-festival, Capital Punishment. Boasting a great line-up of hardcore/ punk bands old and new, we have Shackles (celebrating 10 years of Forced to Regress), Fat Lip (final show), Gravitate, Highland Light, Discount Code, Step 2 Me and Minefield (first show).
What’s more, there’s also a karaoke afterparty for all to get involved in! 7pm, $45 via The Baso/Oztix.
More festivals, you say? Well, then! Saturday, 26 April, heralds another Dansonfest. The longstanding big day of punk and rock bands coming together to honour the memory of Nicholas “Ginger Ninja” Schrieber has a massive line-up for 2025, including:
Bodyjar, Press Club, Boudicca, Local Resident Failure, Amends, Steel City All Stars, Nerdlinger, Sketch Method, Revellers, Modus Fire, Super Best Friends, Lamexcuse, Ebolagoldfish, Dingus Man 2000, Jamie Hay & Liam White and Nelly Nova (Box Dye). Doors at 3pm at The Baso, with tix $49.95 via Oztix.
That’s it for now. From instrumentals to full-blown festivals, there’s something for everyone. Now go forth and enjoy your mad March (and avaristic April) – Jannah
Send gigs and info to:[JANNAH.FAHIZ@GMAIL.COM]