On the eve of a still Thursday night, the Bacardi Express rolled into Brisbane. After winning tickets online, a group of us were pretty excited to hit up this completely free gig presenting five completely awesome artists. Arriving early to make sure we got through the doors, we were surprised to see a line already stretching down the street from the Tivoli. We joined the end and crossed our fingers that we would be able to jump on board the Bacardi Express.

Well. If more companies realised the lucrative business in putting on a free concert, we would have far more epic Thursday nights. The Tivoli was full to capacity, but still with enough room to move, and the bars were serving only Bacardi, Bacardi and more Bacardi!

First to leave the station was Cassette Kids. With lead singer Katrina Noorbergen powerful vocals standing out, they succeeded in enthusing the crowd to dance and enjoy the music. Powering along behind came Yves Klein Blue, most recognised for their hit “Polka”. Saving this big song until the end of their set, they rocked the stage with other notable tracks including “Make Up Your Mind”. Extremely entertaining, and great for a dance, they left nobody disappointed.

Miami Horror was a personal favourite with many of the audience members. With lead vocalist Josh Mariarty making a statement in an awesome feathery jacket, they gave an amazing performance featuring the electro-beats we’ve all come to love. Presenting the songs of their EP, as well as a few new ones to be featured on their album, Miami Horror is one band we will never tire of seeing live.

Miami Horror

We were very happy that after a year of festival mania for Art vs Science, they boarded the Bacardi Express train. The excitement in the crowd was palpable as they stepped onto the stage to perform, and they delivered one hit after another, with highlights obviously being their “Parlez vous Francais?” and “Flippers”, both of which did very well in Triple J’s hottest 100 of 2009. They whipped up the Tivoli into a frenzy, and the bouncers were having a hard time preventing people jumping up onto shoulders.

Being a big fan of La Roux’s self titled debut album, and being locked out of the performance at Parklife last year, it was remarkable to finally see the enthusiastic and vibrant live performance. Elly Jackson strutted her stuff on stage, with her poppy vocals being right on target of those on her record. She had a real talent for hitting all the top notes with a fantastic pose on stage, and every song was electrifying to both watch and dance to. La Roux were fantastic, and a band I would absolutely love to see again.

La Roux

Well, as the Bacardi Express tooted its horn and left the station, we exited into the Fortitude Valley, suddenly thinking “it’s very quiet around,” when we realised that yes, it is still Thursday night. Feeling like an entire music festival in five short hours due to the calibre of the sets that were played, Bacardi Express was definitely one hell of a ride, and one I personally would not hesitate to jump onto again.