LIVE REVIEW: THE BIG PINEAPPLE FESTIVAL 1/11/2025

Hilltop Hoods, The Cat Empire, SIX60, The Jungle Giants, PNAU, Thelma Plum, MKTO, Polaris, Hands Like Houses, Rum Jungle, Betty Taylor, Headsend, Beckah Amani, Ivana and Frank and Louis Nambour - Sunshine Coast - 1 November 2025

Words by Cecilia Pattison-Levi

The day started with the drive up the M1 to Caloundra (love Caloundra) and a quick breakfast. Before racing to catch the bus (Caloundra bus interchange) to catch the ride into the Big Pineapple Music Festival. The festival was celebrating its 10th anniversary and the bands on the bill were a very eclectic mix, and so different from the vibe of last year.

I love the Big Pineapple Music Festival as the organisers are brave in the bands they choose to highlight. I like being an honorary “Piney” for the day. The site was changed up this year with the main stages (Sea Shepherd and Triple J) being set down at the back of the site (yes actual pineapple fields). The site had great food and drink options spread throughout the whole site. There was a better set-up with some seating and tent coverage as well.

Photo credit Cecilia Pattison-Levi

The Big Pineapple Music Festival is about music, but there are more aspects than just the bands. The best way to see the site all laid out is to take a ride on the Ferris Wheel (not recommended during storms). You can see the whole site – the two main stages, the dance music stage, and the beautiful location. There were stalls selling some very expensive herbs (not that type – it’s definitely BYO on that front). The Woodford Folk Festival people and Sea Shepherd were stalls doing good work. The merch tent was being well patronised. There was a yoga tent with people doing their thing.

There are also events like Piney toss and then there are the outfits. Big shout out to the sunflowers, the girl who dressed as a jellyfish (impressive) and the many matching festival outfits (loved those overalls and shirts). There were also the serious music fans who were hanging out down the front. I have to say it was lovely meeting so many fans especially the guys waiting all day for the Hill Top Hoods, the poor guy who missed The Used/Hands Like Houses gig at The Tivoli, the fantastic girls who were massive fans of Polaris and the biggest fan who scored a pic from the lead guitarist (well deserved) and to Laura and Josh who were enjoying the acts on the Sea Shepherd stage.

However, I am a music fan and for me it is all about the bands. The day commenced with the local duo Frank and Louis. From busking on the streets of the Sunshine Coast to making their first Big Pineapple appearance, it was great that the day kicked off with local talent in brothers, Frank and Louis. They christened the Triple J stage with a good short set. They played a mix of their original indie-rock, pop and folk songs such as ‘Groundhog’. It was then that the first light rain band of the day came through and I was glad of the seat that had an umbrella.

Frank and Louis continued on. The brothers are the masters of playing guitars, drums, bass, harmonica and the skill of live looping and they educated the crowd about the difference between their live music and the use of backing tracks. The duo showed the technique as they played their own original songs like ‘Fat Man’, ‘King Baby’ about Donald Trump’s America and a cover by Parcels.

The first musician to christen the Sea Shepherd stage was Melbourne electronic dance music singer and songwriter Ivana with DJ Twoface (Blake) accompanying her. There were some very enthusiastic fans bopping down the front – big and early - in the heat. Ivana (aka Ivana Ilic) has done well on Australian Idol and has signed to the German dance label, Place Called Home.

I have been following Ivana as a young songwriter for a while and it was great to see and hear her live. She has released a trio of successful singles: ‘Ooh La La La’, ‘Beating Heart’, and ‘Liar Liar’. And, she played a range of original dance pop, that included a remix of Jennifer Paige’s ‘Crush’, the unreleased ‘One Way Ticket’, hit song ‘I Can See My Whole World Changing’ and her new single ‘Need Your Love’.

Then, the day proper commenced with Gold Coast singer and songwriter Beckah Amani on the Triple J stage. I saw Beckah Amani support Ravyn Lenae earlier in the year. It was great to see the young Tanzanian-Australian musician and her accompanying drummer Josh deliver a fine festival set. Beckah Amani seemed a bit tense at the start but she settled down and quickly got into the groove with her silky soft R&B groove.

Beckah Amani has the most fantastic voice and the crowd appreciated hearing it. Her musical influences were on show through her original songs ‘Waiting On You’, ‘Superstar’ and ‘Try For Me’ seamlessly blended genres, giving us deep heart-felt songs one moment and absolute blast of pure pop the next. She really had relaxed by the time she performed the ballad ‘Freefall’, ‘Higher Love’ and the fabulous ‘I Don’t Know Why I Don’t Leave You’ complete with arm actions. It was a strong set.

Then, the next stage hosted a change in song and style with Byron Bay’s Headsend. It was the three-piece band’s first ever festival performance. I saw part of their set at Big Sound 2025 and it was great to see a proper set performed. It was grunge rock all the way! Headsend (Kyuss, Rasmus and Bon) delivered raw and nostalgic rock energy.

The band had that surfer look crossed with Nirvana, Chili Pepper and Iggy Pop sounds and look. Headsend brought the heavy sounds. Their original songs like their latest single ‘Stove’ were featured along with their other tracks ‘Secrets’, ‘Reel’ and I think ‘Blindside’ (sorry if I got this song title wrong). It was a powerful set and a great introduction to the young NSW band.

Photo credit Marc Roberts

Then, the Sunshine Coast locals Betty Taylor took to the stage and pumped up the crowd. Betty Taylor (Sophie Patrick, Kayla Smart, Claire Chittick and Katie Ishaque) plays straight rock ‘n’ roll with great lyricism and jangly, wistful and chiming guitars. It is underpinned with solid drum and bass control of the rhythm and fantastic vocal harmonising. The band is named after Sophie Patrick’s 99-year-old grandmother.

Why are Betty Taylor so good? It is their rockin’ attitude and great song writing that is embedded with irony and humour that has produced such outstanding tracks as: ‘Can’t Get Enough’, ‘Glitter’, ‘Fuck You’ and ‘Gaslighter’. There were new songs like ‘Fall Right Back’ and new single ‘Suckerpunch’ where the crowd participated in the Triple J radio ad for it. Then, the band closed out their set with the strong songs ‘Hollow’, ‘Young Dumb Immature’ and the brilliant song ‘Stallin’.

There was a lot of pride in the crowd for the national and international success that Betty Taylor have earned. Sophie’s dad was in his very loud coloured shirt. The lady who was a Piney volunteer, who gave Sophie her first part time job in her café. The band was having fun and it showed in the crowd interaction, especially when the Woodford Elder Puppets turned up, and in the performance of their new songs. Betty Taylor’s sets are just so much fun! Thanks for the setlists from the fans at the front. Excellent!

Well, Rum Jungle had to follow that fun filled performance up. The large crowd shuffled sideways to see Newcastle’s Rum Jungle (Benny McIntyre, Josh Giles, Michael Kolmajer and Frazer McDonald). The band upped the ante and were hell bent on making the most of their place on the Big Pineapple band list. Rum Jungle delivered a clever mix of surf rock and alternative pop that got the crowd dancing. They have some very catchy and infectious melodies in their armoury with the likes of their new single ‘What’s Next’ having its first live outing.

Rum Jungle played a great festival set while engaging the crowd with chat about the festival and letting everyone know: “that Ferris Wheel – I am so going on that after this”. Then, the band played ‘Weather’s Better’ from their debut record ‘Recency Bias’. As well as their songs ‘Everything Is Easy’, ‘Keep’ and ‘Her And The Sun’.  The crowd just loved Rum Jungle’s fun indie-pop set.

Then, Canberra-based post-hardcore band Hands Like Houses and their original songs came onto the stage and exploded with their heavy sound. Hands Like Houses (Matt Cooper, Alexander Pearson, Joel Tyrrell, Matt Parkitny and Josh Raven) were: “tired, jetlagged, and feeling f**ked: but where else would you be, but the Big Pineapple”.

The crowd was blown away by the energy pouring out of Hands Like Houses. They delivered a tight set of songs including ‘Panic’ and the affecting ‘Hollow’. The band slowed things down and left the mellifluous Josh Raven to sing a glorious cover of Chris Isaak’s ‘Wicked Game’ that started a circle pit. True!

Hands Like Houses sounded larger than life (except through the broken central speaker that was spoiling their set). I went to the sound desk to let them know. Despite that, the band had the whole venue jumping, moshing and the circle pit went off. Bodies were jumping and colliding and it was quite a spectacle. The band dialled it up and delivered the song ‘ICU’. Then, they closed out their set with ‘Heaven’. Hands Like Houses gave an exceptional performance and set up the next set perfectly for Polaris.

Polaris set the Big Pineapple crowd into heavy metal, headbanging, heaven. As the band (Jamie Hails, Daniel Furnari, Rick and Jack Schneider) launched into their opening song ‘Nightmare’ the crowd erupted. The energy was palpable, as Jamie Hails immediately took control of the stage, feeding off the crowd’s intensity. Polaris set was exciting to watch with the wall of death being done for the first time in the day. There were multiple circle pits going off. Crowd surfing started and many surfers ended up at the front and into the arms of the security guards. Flame pillar cannons were going off and the crowd was deep in metalcore.

Polaris delivered a commanding set in the late afternoon with tracks like ‘Landmine’ from their 2020 release ‘The Death Of Me’ and the affecting ‘All Of This Is Fleeting’. With songs like ‘Dissipate’, ‘Masochist’, ‘The Remedy’, ‘Overflow’ and ‘Inhumane’: Polaris gave older and newer fans a great broad range of songs from their growing back catalogue delivered with skill. Polaris performed one of the best sets of the day!

After a decade away from Australia, and over five years apart, the US pop and hip-hop duo MKTO reunited in 2025. MKTO (Malcolm Kelley and Tony Oller) came onto the stage as the rain started to fall. They had a full band supporting them as they opened their set with ‘American Dream’ that had a heavy sample of ‘ABC’ from the Jackson 5 in the mix. MKTO took the Big Pineapple crowd into dance pop heaven and the girls in the crowd went off!

MKTO delivered songs such as ‘My Girl’, ‘Bad Girls’, ‘Goodbye Song’ and ‘Superstitious’. The country music fans were not left out as MKTO performed a cover of Shaboozey’s ‘A Bar Song (Tipsy)’ that had the crowd boot scootin’. The predominantly female fan base was going nuts in the rain. MKTO closed out their set with their smash hit, ‘Classic’, and the crowd loved it.

I quickly took myself up to the SuperLove stage that had been hosting EDM bands and musicians to see Raw Ordio who had been so impressive last year. The place was going off and after a short visit I took myself back to the Sea Shepherd stage.

The rain ponchos were out in force now. The rain was coming down as Thelma Plum took to the stage. Her set started well and her comments about the rain attire especially to the two girls in the “classy” Bunnings green rain ponchos were called out. It was so wet that note taking had to end. Everything was covered in plastic – it was really wet.

Thelma Plum delivered her songs ‘Workshops’, ‘Don’t Let A Good Girl Down’, ‘Nobody’s Baby’ ‘We Don’t Talk About It’, ‘Freckles’ and the huge sing along of ‘Not Angry Anymore’. There was a quick introduction to Ted on drums. Then, the stage crew stopped the set and told everyone to take shelter as the first huge super storm cell came through the venue.

The lightning was bad. Stages were shut down and the venue had turned into a bit of a quagmire. After about 40 minutes, the Jungle Giants restarted the evening with a huge crowd and a slightly reduced set time.

The Brisbane band (Sam Hales, Cesira Aitken, Andrew Dooris and Keelan Bijker) delivered a shorter set of their cool grooves with the R&B, pop and indie roots on show. Jungle Giants performed their popular songs ‘Used to Be in Love’, ‘Hold My Hand’ and ‘Feel The Way I Do’. Sam Hales and his gang absolutely rocked a sea of rain ponchos and bucket-hat wearers. The rain hung off for a bit before the next storm hit.

New Zealand’s Six60 played a reduced genre-defying set. Another storm and rain had started again. At this point, I headed to the back of the crowd as there was some shelter with a large tent. There was a lot of “thanks for staying with us” and “we hope you aren’t too wet” comments made.

The rain stopped for The Cat Empire to deliver their set. The Cat Empire are always captivating live as they delivered ‘Blood On The Stage’, ‘How To Explain?’ and ‘Oscar Wilde’. They showcased both their classic hits and new songs ‘Qué Será Ahora’ and ‘Hello’. Those first-time listeners had the chance to enjoy a distinctive fusion of Afro-Cuban, Seychellois Kreol, Brazilian, and flamenco music that celebrates music, life, and love. 

The lead singer and songwriter Felix Riebl of The Cat Empire brought his own unique flavour to the performance with his magnetic stage presence, which made him especially entertaining to watch. The Cat Empire performed an infectiously groovy and vibrant set.

PNAU played a dynamic EDM set with live vocals. I noticed the Bunnings Poncho girls were still at the front as PNAU created the perfect blend of club-like, all-engulfing dance-pop sounds and live-performance spectacle. PNAU hit the stage that was engulfed in fog and rain humidity with a remixed version of their hit song, ‘Baby’. 

The crowd jumped up and down and moved to the infectious rhythm of PNAU’s electric sound. Not even the storm and rain could pull anyone away from the Big Pineapple party. The band cranked things up even further and took their explosive performance to the highest level with fan favourites like ‘Wild Strawberries’, ‘Come Together’ and ‘Go Bang’.

Australian hip-hop royalty Hilltop Hoods took the Big Pineapple Music Festival home as another storm front was coming. The huge crowd descended into the field. With their signature blend of powerful lyricism, infectious beats and razor-sharp production, the Hilltop Hoods delivered an unforgettable set. I got to hear ‘Leave Me Lonely’ and was two songs in. Unfortunately, for me, I had to leave early as the coming storm looked serious, and as I got myself to the bus, my neighbour rang to say the power was out and damage around Redcliffe from a supercell storm was bad. When I got home, after driving through another vicious storm, powerlines were down and the power was indeed out!

Considering, the weather forecasts, the actual storms and the site: the Big Pineapple Music Festival delivered a great day of live music. The ‘Piney’ festival has a great chilled culture with a terrific vibe. The line-up for the day was fantastic. It had been a great day of local, Australian and international musicians delivering a brilliant serving of live music. I would like to thank the organisers for the amazing experience.