LIVE REVIEW: BRYAN MARTIN + JARRAD WRIGLEY @ THE BRIGHTSIDE 14/04/26

Words by Cecilia Pattison-Levi Photos Steph Ure

The Brightside was full – and it was a Tuesday night: “a school night” – I was informed by a country music fan. But the full venue was waiting for two good things: the breakout US country music singer songwriter Bryan Martin to perform his first ever headline performancein Brisbane, Australia and his supporting act, breakout Australian country music singer songwriter Jarrad Wrigley to deliver his “first ever set opening for a star US country musician”. And boy, did he get that right!

Queensland-born country musician Jarrad Wrigley commenced the evening of raw and authentic country music at The Brightside. He noted that he was feeling a “bit strange without his hillbilly band”, but he was supported with the wonderful violin/fiddle player Cait Jamieson, who made his music pop as the sound of the strings reverberated around the venue. He played some of his great original songs in ‘Farmer's Tan’, ‘Borderline Crazy’, ‘Further To the Land’, and ‘Ain’t Gonna Catch Me’.

Jarrad Wrigley has had a big couple of years: he is a graduate of JMC Academy, he’s appeared on ‘Farmer Wants A Wife’, his constant gigging has been rewarded with his win of the 46th Toyota Star Maker, Australia’s most prestigious country music competition. What a way to start a music career!

Blending traditional country roots music, Jarrad Wrigley performed songs that celebrated Australian life with honesty, humour and heart, like his very funny ‘Cockadoodledoo’ song, a wonderful version of Queensland’s own folk history with a lovely cover, and huge singalong moment, of Banjo Patterson’s ‘Waltzing Matilda’, and a cover of The Dingoes ‘Way Out West’.

The crowd had really backed in the young singer by this point as the crowd were interacting with him freely. Jarrad Wrigley had a definitive hard “no” to the “shoey” request - unless – and it would have had to be “a good approach” - with a young lady’s phone number. Then, a guy in the crowd yelled out “what was his type?”, and he reckoned that “could be arranged”. He handled the response with humour, and grace.

It was a really good 30-minute set full of Jarrad Wrigley’s “emotional support songs” and others delivered with style. Cait Jamieson’s backing vocals and violin underpinning the performance were just fantastic.

After a short break, the stage was mostly dressed already, it was just a quick check, and some water was put down in readiness for the Logansport, Louisiana-born country rock ‘n’ roll musician Bryan Martin and his amazing band to take the stage.

The venue went dark right on 8.45pm and Bryan Martin’s band came to the stage and played an introduction that was full of the “Texas line”: “both kinds…country and western”, mixed with real rhythm and blues rock ‘n’ roll tinged with Southern Gothic sounds straight out of the bayou. It was hard, heavy, and the melodies were just so good.

The first song ‘More Than The Shine’ kicked off what we were going to get: real, raw, and authentic country rock ‘n’ roll. Then, the song ‘Boot Scootin Boogie’ let us know the night was to celebrate the music with dancing. Then, Bryan Martin laid down his philosophy of “a good song is a good song” regardless of genre: as he delivered the ‘Never Coming Home’, and the affecting ‘Lost’.

I could see why Bryan Martin was making fans and people in the music industry very excited. His music is the real thing: visceral, big, and traditional rock ‘n’ roll. His music digs deep, never hiding from the highs and lows in life. He was all about: “what you see, is what you get”, and it was brilliant.

Bryan Martin also perfectly set the background, tone, and pace of his performance as he built the tension. The songs ‘Whipping Post – Going For Broke’, ‘Wishbone’, ‘Buzzards’, and ‘Memory To Drown’ hit the emotional buttons as his songs speak to lived experience, real world, and working class struggles in a way most country artists hope to do, but few achieve.

But it was the amazing ‘Tug O War’ that demonstrated that we were in the presence of a genuine songwriter, and narrative storyteller with next level star class. He followed that blinder of a song with standouts: the haunting ‘Wolves Cry’, and the emotional punch of ‘Beauty In The Struggle’. Then, he brought the rock ‘n’ roll excitement of ‘Can’t See You’ and then a short cover of Ozzy Osbourne’s ‘Crazy Train’ that melded into the ground-shaking single ‘We Ride’. The Brightside crowd were at boiling point, and the singalong was huge. It also ended the regulation set.

But Bryan Martin and his band were not finished. The encore of ‘Simple Man’ made a statement for keeping your feet grounded in the music. It was a powerful statement about remaining true to yourself. Before he ended the night and his debut headline performance in Australia, with the fun and engaging ‘Outlaw’. The crowd went off! The drinks went flying as the singing and dancing reached its peak craziness.

Bryan Martin left the stage as his outstanding band finished the performance with amazing drumming underpinning the big basslines, and guitar riffs. The crowd loved it!

If you want to see a musician that is “the real thing”, get along to see Bryan Martin, and then go and see him again, because you will want to – I know I do.

No Barriers would like to thank all the organisers: Destroy All Lines and The Brightside for a brilliant night!