Where Stillness Speaks: Blanco White at The Triffid

Blanco White

The Triffid, Brisbane | Friday, 27th March 2026

Be careful what you wish for — you just might get it.

Ah, The Triffid. If you transported a suburban beer barn into the inner city, and pressed it into the shape of half a tin can, that would be the Triffid. But, here we are, on the close of Blanco White’s second visit to this continent. Reviewing Josh Edwards’ first show in Brisbane - two years ago at the Zoo - I predicted that this trio of musicians’ musicians would be playing a bigger venue next time. I just didn’t expect that stage to be in a sweaty aircraft hangar.

The near-sellout Triffid crowd is not generally known for its restraint, yet when the band appears in their usual unassuming manner on stage, you could hear a pin drop. (Or a beer pull). We’d missed the support act, Chloe Foy, and arrived just in time for an atmospheric version of ‘Colder Heavens’. The pace seems fractionally slowed, and the pared back iterations continue throughout the set tonight.

The recently re-done ‘So Certain (Something Reminds Me)’ is the first song to really showcase the haunting violin sounds of Charlie Schnurr. The instrument, combined with her ethereal vocals, shifts the vibe to an altogether otherworldly place.

At its heart, it’s this tension between the ‘hobbity’* , occasionally mournful Celtic roots and the bright joyful Flamenco interpretations that makes Blanco White music so compelling.

The drama and lush instrumentation has been smoothed into a sonic soundscape tonight, too-tight-to-be-called-a-jam, and many of the songs played through the set are of a similar tempo.

There is a noticeable build up in ‘El Buho’ with a percussive solo by Cameron Potts.

The crowd erupts with the intro to their breakout single. But the pure dopamine rush of ‘Olalla’ tonight sounds slightly melancholic and wistful. The line ‘Somebody told me to believe in better times’ is bittersweet in light of the current world situation.

They close with a euphoric violin solo ringing out from ‘The Lily’.

Where will they play next in Queensland? This time, all bets are off!

*Don’t @ me, that was Josh’s description