Brisbane's Indie Royalty Unite: Saving A BUGS Life

Written by Jeremy Willett

If you're a fan of the indie rock scene in Australia, you would definitely know the Brisbane outfit BUGS. A band well known for their electric live shows and for their relatable and honest songwriting. Sadly, the band has received devastating news about their bassist, Jordan Brunoli, being diagnosed with stage 4 colorectal cancer, sparking an outpouring of solidarity from fellow musicians and fans alike.

To support Jordan through treatment, BUGS and industry collectives GRAIN and Sunroom have announced a one-day festival at The Tivoli on October 4th, titled "Saving A BUGS Life: A Fundraising Show For Jordan." At the time of writing this article, there are 13 acts announcer that will play between the two stages. Some of these monster acts include DZ Deathrays, Beddy Rays, Sly Withers, Hope D, Dear Seattle and more. A line up of this caliber is just a reminder of how strong our Aussie music scene really is, coming together for a shared cause.

Alongside the performances, a raffle will be hosted to raise additional money with featured items from some of Australia's biggest music icons. The auction items are rare vinyls and signed memorabilia from acts such as Powderfinger, Dune Rats, Regurgitor and Ruby Fields. All items come together at an estimated value of over $5000, with every ticket and donation going straight to the cause. With all this going on in one day, it leaves no doubt that music has the power to bring us all together and prove to the world that we care.

Moments and Events such as Saving A BUGS life reminds us that music transcends the recording studio. Music shapes our relationships between one another; it turns living rooms into concert halls, it reminds us that at the end of the day, we are all humans, and there is no better feeling than being brought together as one. In a world where every news headline you see from a major media outlet is depressing and grim, it's warming to see that deep down our country still understands the idea of community. Unfortunately, the circumstances are desirable, researching and writing this article has restored a bit of faith back into humanity, we just hope this sense of community never dies, especially in music.

RÉZIN wants to wish Jordan the best of every outcome, as this battle is being supported by huge communities all around him and his loved ones. The Australian music scene is entirely behind him, we hope the support is what he needs to push on. If you wish to help out and support him, make sure you buy a ticket and go enjoy the festival, bid on the auction, or alternatively if you can't make it, head to his GoFundMe page and donate to support this cause. A way you can also help is to stream their music, but at the end of the day, every single bit of support matters.