A Full-Circle, Fever Dream Kind of Night with Bradley Simpson in Brisbane

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30 May

Still fronting the band that soundtracked countless teenage daydreams, Bradley Simpson is now stepping into something of his own—this time it was all about him, his music and his panic years. His debut solo tour arrived in Brisbane with confidence, and an intimate set up, almost like a studio. It wasn’t just a concert; it felt like the start of something new.

Bradley Simpson at The Princess Theatre | 28 May 2025 | Credit: Sakina Indrasumunar (@kindravision)

Full disclosure: this review might be a little biased.

Brad and The Vamps have been my all-time favourite since their YouTube cover days back in 2012. So, seeing him step onto the stage at The Princess Theatre, not as the “lead singer of British pop band The Vamps” but as a solo artist, felt surreal. Like watching someone you grew up with finally stepping into the spotlight, or in this case, step into it again, but entirely as themselves.

The night opened with Brisbane’s own Phia Scott, whose mellow, feel-good sound set the perfect tone. With a full band behind her and a voice that blended raspiness with soft, indie-pop-rock warmth, she had the crowd gently swaying along. Her cover of “Kiss Me” was sweet and romantic, and she charmed the audience with little stories, shoutouts to her bandmates, and even her hair routine.

Phia Scott at The Princess Theatre | 28 May 2025 | Credit: Sakina Indrasumunar (@kindravision)

“Postcard,” her angsty-but-composed standout track, hit like the eye of a storm, while “We Were Almost”, a song about limerence, felt the most emotionally resonant. The whole set flowed beautifully. It was a great move on Brad’s part to spotlight a local artist—Phia absolutely held her own.

As the lights dimmed for the main act, the energy in the room shifted. Despite it being State of Origin night (yes, people were sneaking glances at the game), the moment the heavy drum intro hit, the theatre snapped into focus. Brad kicked off with “Getting Clear,” then moved into “Picasso” and “Cry at the Moon.”

I was in the pit for those first three songs, and honestly, it felt like a fever dream. Lights flashing, people screaming, and all i could think was—I can’t believe this is happening. The stage setup was cozy, carpeted, like we’d stepped into his creative space, but the energy? Electric.

Just like that, the room was buzzing.

The setlist was packed with standouts. “Favourite Band” had everyone shouting Nieve Ella’s verse like it was gospel. “Holy Grail” turned into a sea of phone lights. “The Band Is Not Breaking Up” became an intimate acoustic moment in the middle of the crowd, with everyone going silent before softly joining in.

His cover of JET’s “Are You Gonna Be My Girl” ignited the room, flashing lights, wild energy, and the crowd belting out the second verse unprompted. It was chaotic in the best way. When someone yelled for him to take his clothes off, he laughed and said, “it’s not a Magic Mike show, but it could be.”

Throughout the show, he shared little asides, about being back in Brisbane, turning chaos into calm with The Panic Years, and about the beauty of being in your twenties.

The encore, “Daisies,” became a crowd-led sing-off, and he closed the night with “Carpet Burn,” a sunset-sounding track that felt like the perfect goodbye.

No shoey this time, despite requests—but honestly, no one left disappointed. The entire night was proof that Bradley Simpson’s solo era isn’t just a new chapter, it’s a homecoming.