Discover music posters and handbills from State Library’s collections. Explore their do-it-yourself design and recall the bands and venues of Brisbane’s independent music scene of the 1970s and 80s.
Themes
A sign of the times
As punk rock swept across Australia in the late 1970s, Brisbane became home to a small but strong independent music scene. Along with a DIY attitude towards music-making, came a similar approach to music promotion.
Rocking the suburbs
Posters and handbills reflected the resourcefulness and determination of its creators to support local line-ups through years of instability, venue shortage and split audiences.
DIY meets technology
Technology advancement during the 1980s led to new production methods and greater design possibilities. Fast forward to the present day, DIY culture has made a comeback through compositions and performances that can easily be created, recorded, mixed, published and distributed independently.
Stories
Brisbane gigs
Dive into our collection of photos from Brisbane gigs throughout the1970s and 1980s. Were you there?
Brisbane punk band photographs
Photographs and ephemera of performances by Brisbane punk bands, including the Black Assassins, Flêche and La Fetts.
John Willsteed music poster archive
Uncover our collection of original music posters from around the state, collated by local artist and musician John Willsteed.
4ZZZ Market Day photographs
Explore photographs taken of the fun and live acts at the first 4ZZZ Market Day in 1982.
Paul O’Brien Collection
Discover photographs of bands and fans in the Brisbane punk scene from the late 1970s to the early 1980s.
The Humans and The Convertibles
Clippings and photographs of Brisbane new wave band The Humans and rockabilly band The Convertibles.
From the blog
Brisbane Radio Station 4ZZZ — 40th anniversary
5 December 2015
State Library is active in acquiring and preserving published and unpublished materials documenting Queensland's music history — 4ZZZ is of course no exception....
(I'm) Stranded by The Saints rarity
28 July 2016
2016 marks the 40th anniversary of a limited release single, by a then unknown Brisbane band, which...
A night at Festival Hall with the Ramones (1980)
18 June 2016
On July 18, 1980 US punk rock band the Ramones performed at Festival Hall as part of their tour of Australia...
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