Powderfinger played 200-seat Brisbane venue on humble start

Summarised from 2 outlets · Updated 9 Oct, 22:55 · Archive

Australian rock band Powderfinger played one of their first shows at the Orient Hotel in Brisbane in 1990 for five dollars.

Australian rock band Powderfinger has announced a 2027 tour, prompting reflection on their early years. In 1990, the band played one of their first gigs at the Orient Hotel in Brisbane, a 200-capacity venue. The performance was part of a five-bands-for-five-bucks bill, with the band sandwiched between the Batfinks and the Worms on the original gig flyer.

Andrea Smith was booking the Orient Hotel at the time. She gave Powderfinger the gig based on a recommendation and recalls the band as a four-piece: Bernard Fanning on vocals, Ian Haug on guitar, John Collins on bass and drummer Steven Bishop. Bishop was later replaced by Jon Coghill, with Darren Middleton joining as a second guitarist.

Smith, now a music educator and mentor, said she was impressed by the band's 'passion, lots of enthusiasm' and the way she 'could see there was a seed of something there'. She highlighted their politeness as unusual for a rock band: 'They were just super nice people, very happy and respectful and very thankful they'd been given a gig.' After that first gig, Smith received 'a stack of comments from people saying how great they thought they were'. Powderfinger went on to sell more than two million albums and become 'part of Australia's cultural fabric'.

How it is being reported

• How a humble band rode the Orient express to fameThe announcement of a 2027 tour by beloved Australian band Powderfinger has made many people happy - and they've never forgotten where it all began.The West Australian · 9 Oct, 22:31
• How a humble band rode the Orient express to fameThe announcement of a 2027 tour by beloved Australian band Powderfinger has made many people happy - and they've never forgotten where it all began.Perth Now · 9 Oct, 22:31

In this story: Powderfinger · Andrea Smith · Orient Hotel · Brisbane · Bernard Fanning · Ian Haug · John Collins · Jon Coghill

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