The Fuse Festival Explode! Showcase was a huge night of Australian artists considered by the Fuse Festival curators ready to be catapulted on to the world stage. Securing a much sought after spot in the line up is undoubtedly a testament to the quality of each band selected.  

Perfectly calm summer weather in the picturesque Rymill Park set the scene, and the 2010 line up did not disappoint, as the night saw each band take the stage to show the crowd just how export-ready they were. 

The event ran smoothly with each artist keeping to their allocated time and no obvious technical dramas. The two stage set up allowed music to almost constantly blast from the speakers, maintaining the festival vibe and keeping the crowd engaged. 

While I missed opening act and Triple J Unearthed winners Kingfisha, I arrived just in time to see Jimblah bust out original Aussie hip hop with a melodic R&B style vocal accompaniment. Unique act The Beards took to the stage next, each member sporting a healthy beard while singing an entire set’s worth of songs about beards. As farcical as this may seem, The Beards underpin their humourous lyrics with seriously good rock and roll. Laura Hill brought her softer acoustic rhythms to the stage, followed by a much higher energy set from rockers Mayfield.  

Not having heard many of these artists before, I found it hard to take home a lot of significant insights into their sets – to me, everyone was on their A-game and sounding great. The acoustics from the stage carried well across the venue, and the crowd steadily grew as the night carried on. Foxx on Fire gave an impressive performance, followed by The Medics, local hip hop hero Delta, Jimmy & The Mirrors and The Paper Scissors. 

By the time The Swiss took to the stage, the crowd had hit the threshold needed to get the kids dancing. Their unique act of fun, vibrant disco melodies and driving beats added a new dimension to the vibe. The Swiss delivered the commanding performance that fans have come to expect from this talented trio. The Killgirls kept the energy high as the anticipation in the crowd grew for headline act the Hungry Kids of Hungary. Taking to the stage at around Midnight, it was easy to see that the Hungry Kids of Hungary were the band everyone came to see. An impressive set was met with a boisterous crowd who made a lot of noise for these boys from Brisbane. 

While this massive showcase of local and interstate talent was at times overwhelming, the night as a whole was a great success. The bands delivered strong sets to an appreciative crowd, and I am confident the Fuse Festival Explode! Showcase did great service to the local music scene this night.