Courtney Barnett, Drifting Clouds

The Tivoli, Brisbane

Wednesday, 4th November 2026

Words and photos by Chris Searles

Damn, it was a hot day today! We easily cracked 30 before noon outside, with a real oven blast of late January heat arriving in early November, the recent rain a sudden distant memory. So, the relief of a super cool air-conditioned Tivoli is a welcome relief tonight for the also effortlessly cool Courtney Barnett on the opening night of her quick three-night Australian tour, promoting her latest album, Creature of Habit, released in March this year.

Living in LA these days, and having recently completed a Europe / UK tour, we’re all stupidly excited to see Courtney again, more than four years since her last show at The Tiv. I often get to a show early and hang by the merch desk, it’s a great way to judge an artist’s connection to their audience, and let’s just say the t-shirts, caps, vinyl and bandanas on sale tonight deliver. Courtney describes herself as “a merch enthusiast who happens to play guitar”, so everything is snapped up and instantly collectible.

I’ve got to be transparent, while I’ve heard the gorgeously timeless track ‘Bawuypawuy’ on Double J, by Arnhem Land’s Terry Guyula and his musical project Drifting Clouds, I haven’t explored much further. But I sure will now. The three-piece effortlessly slides onto The Tivoli stage with a minimal setup of two keyboards and drum kit, but soon fills the room with a sound that could be just as easily from 1980s synth pop as 2026, with gorgeous synth textures and pre-recorded saxophones underpinning Terry singing in traditional Yolŋu language.

It is immediately obvious why Drifting Clouds won Best New Talent at the 2026 National Indigenous Music Awards, with the audience paying more attention with every expertly delivered gorgeous song.

Then just a touch after 9pm, Courtney and band literally bounce onto the stage. Her preferred three-piece live approach is immediately locked in and sounding fantastic, no opening night nerves to be seen or heard here.

With the coolest guy in any room on bass, Bones Sloane, and Warpaint’s powerhouse Aussie drummer Stella Mozgawa completing the rhythm section, Courtney joyfully slings her fellow lefty Kurt Cobain Signature Fender Jag around her neck as they launch into ‘Stay In Your Lane’, the opening track from her latest release. It’s such a great song, a real statement of intent, and instantly recognisable as hers. Its pounding drum fill intro and fuzz bass hook our ears, feet and hearts straight away.

It takes me a minute, but I soon realise that Courtney’s seriously stacked pedal board is going to three Fender Deluxe Amps sitting on the floor behind her. This almost seems to set her free and give her space to roam the stage at will, and it’s a pure joy to watch. Up and down, across and back… she moves nonstop with her unique and infectious approach to frontwoman duties. She still looks and plays like she did from the day we first saw her, and that’s such a wonderful thing to see.

For someone whose lyrics are often quite melancholic, introspective and a little sad, Courtney seems awfully happy and excited to be here. More than just a little juxtaposed to the traditional indie genre and vibe that she seemed to embody 15 or so years ago, this is clearly a person enjoying their time as an artist and performer.

The deeply intuitive and sharp observations of someone considering what a normal suburban adult life in Melbourne’s suburbs would look like in her mid-20s have seen her continue to evolve into one of our finest singer-songwriters of today. And as a 39-year-old these days (I know right, time flies!!), I think early 20s Courtney would love and admire late 30s Courtney.

After years of heavy touring schedules, bouts of anxiety, highly public relationships, establishing and then closing Milk! Records, Courtney has experienced an enormous amount in a relatively short amount of time, all while living under the burden of adoration and expectation. Tonight, she seems almost reborn in her all-white jeans and t-shirt stage clothes, and endless energy and smiles.

The setlist is curated beautifully with ebbs and flows, and an ease that works so well over more than 20 songs. I’m genuinely surprised by what an outstanding guitarist she is, filling The Tivoli with her unique rhythm playing and punchy lead when the song calls for it. They are a super impressive power trio, and Courtney thanks us for being a noisy crowd, says how much she likes that, and announces the “new” songs, which slide in amongst the (it has to be said) classics like ‘Avant Gardener’, ‘Depreston’ and the second last ‘Pedestrian at Best’.

The night builds and builds, the temperature rises on the floor and matches the heat outside, but we’re all so happy feeding off the energy and enthusiasm from Courtney and her band on stage. The merch is all but sold out, the 900 of us are buzzing, and we leave hotter but even happier than when we arrived.

Thanks for being a creature of habit Courtney, you’re perfect how you are and always will be.

Courtney Barnett Photo Gallery

Drifting Clouds Photo Gallery