Ashnikko Brisbane, 2026

reviewgallery

29 Sept

Ashnikko's Brisbane night for her Smoochies Tour was greeted by a sea of people filling up the slopes of Riverstage. People came in elaborate and bold fits - trinkets, bejewelled stickers, handmade pieces - all in ode to the beautifully chaotic energy that Ashnikko embodies and preaches.

Melbourne-based Robert Baxter opened the night and prepped the crowd to hone into their cunty energy, performing songs from his newest album partyanimal along with other album classics like KITTY KAT and SUSPICIOUS. They did not fail to captivate the crowd with their sole but immense stage presence and their unapologetic and infectious energy definitely geared the crowd up for the queen of whimsy herself - Asknikko.

Ashnikko's entrance onto the stage was nothing short of exhilarating and suspenseful. Her different sets had unique narrations announcing the next scene and setting the tone of the songs she'd perform next. Ashnikko and her two dancers filled the stage with their big presence and had the crowd of over 6000 fans entranced and fixated on them. Performing songs from her Smoochies album like Trinkets and Microplastics (and my personal favourite from her 2019 album Hi, It's Me - STUPID), Ashnikko is truly a one-of-a-kind artist and performer, even taking time to interact with fans and appreciating the efforts of their intricate outfits and reading out notes and signs that they had written for her. In her own words, the "seed of her music is to heal with her family" and with her fluidity in the art she creates, anyone could see how her music empowers listeners to tap into their own whimsical, chaotic, youthful sides. With parents sitting their kids atop their shoulders, exchanging smiles, and sharing a core experience enjoying the art that screams for you to be unapologetically you, we don't doubt that Asknikko will always be well-loved by different generations in the future.