Bic Runga Brings Red Sunset to Brisbane
Show Review ★ Mariyah Shahrin★ @mariyahshoots★ 3 Minutes
Iconic Aotearoa New Zealand singer-songwriter Bic Runga has returned to music after 15 years with the release of Red Sunset in 2026. To celebrate, she’s taken this album on tour across Aotearoa New Zealand and Australia, and has graced our very own The Princess Theatre in Brisbane on 11th April with guest, Silicon.
Aotearoa New Zealand-grown Silicon (Kody Nielson) opened the night, and to the crowd's surprise, Bic herself came out to play on drums. Initially, I thought this was just a special treat for the first song, but she stayed with the instrument for the whole set. Silicon ushered us through an almost ethereal set with a synth-led, psychedelic, and electronic sound, with elements of funk and soft vocals. The on-stage ensemble was also accompanied by Cass Basil on strings and Kody himself on keys. Their set was short and sweet, creating a calm aura through the theatre as the crowd patiently waited for Bic.
As Bic Runga came on, she instantly introduced us to her new sound with ‘Glass Atrium’ from her new album. Alongside her, Cass returned on strings, Kody swapped to the drums, and a new addition, Kyle, joined on keys. Through their chemistry and ease on stage, I got the sense that this must be a group of friends who simply love playing music together. The excitement in the crowd was palpable, filled with admiration that she’s well and truly back. With a guitar in hand and unwavering vocals, Bic maneuvered her place on stage with an effortless nature and a formidable presence, as if she never even left.
Photos via Mariyah Shahrin, full gallery hereThe night was a charming journey through songs of past and present from albums Drive, Beautiful Collision, Birds, and Red Sunset, creating an eclectic mix of nostalgia and an introduction to her recent experimentalism. Her performance of ‘Birds’ was particularly immersive with bird calls and matching visuals, whilst during ‘Listening for the Weather’, we witnessed Bic’s multi-instrumental talents as she pulled out a harmonica, gaining an amused applause from the room. Despite the sonically different sound in Red Sunset, the movement between these songs and those of her past wasn’t jarring, but instead a coherent extension of her discography — still honest, still moving, still Bic.
The artistic arrangements of the stage embodied what Bic’s music has always felt like to me — cozy and dreamy, like waking up to sun rays shining through the window on a Sunday morning. Donned with a white sheet and lightbulbs swirled across the stage floor, lighting up to the beat of the songs, the show felt intimate. I wondered if performing at The Princess Theatre was a specific choice by her, as the rustic venue with carpeted floors and historical architecture perfectly complemented her earnest spirit.
Then, to end the night, she played ‘Sway’ and the crowd erupted. Unsurprisingly, as it’s her most commercially successful song, but it was more than that. I’ll be honest, this was quite a special show for me. ‘Sway’ was one of the songs that comforted me in feeling homesick when I lived in Aotearoa New Zealand, soothed by Bic’s and my similar Malaysian Chinese roots. Put simply, ‘Sway’ always felt like home, and I expect it felt that way for the many Kiwis in the crowd. For four minutes, we were all transported back to the memories tethered to this song, transcending the almost three decades since its release. Despite the lighthearted jokes she previously made about attendees only waiting for this part of her performance, judging from the smile on her face, my guess is she’s well aware of the sentiment this song holds for her fans.
Photos via Mariyah Shahrin, full gallery hereAfter the show, Bic held a meet-and-greet and signing, where I excitedly shared my sentiments and was met with grace, honesty, and appreciation. But not before I met and became friends with an equally excited group of strangers waiting in line to meet her, all with different stories but with the same common ground. Moments like these serve as a reminder of the magic that music can bring, a brief pocket of time where a shared love creates new connections, memories, and meaning.
Bic Runga is set to continue the remainder of her Red Sunset tour in Sydney, Canberra and Fremantle before flying off to the UK for shows in June.
