Not even the fact it was Brisbane’s coldest night of the year so far could deter dedicated punters from making their way to Black Bear Lodge for Mid Ayr’s My Mayhem EP launch. With supports from up-and-comers These Guy and Daggy Man, there was a sizeable early crowd. It’s the last weekend before the new lockout restrictions come into place, so the night was as much a final hurrah to the good ol' days of dancing and drinking when and where you want, as we face a whole heap of uncertainty from here on.

First up is Thomas Calder, performing under his new solo project, Daggy Man. Calder’s also known as the singer/songwriter for The Trouble With Templeton, which Hugh Middleton of Mid Ayr is also a part of. TTWT went on an unofficial hiatus over two years ago and tonight is one of the first live shows Calder has done since. This time however it is just him and his guitar, but he needs nothing else to entertain. From the second he steps up the audience are mesmerised by his musical talent and witty banter. Watching Calder perform latest single 'What You Desire' was truly a magical moment.

These Guy step up next and deliver a solid set. It’s hard to pin point the exact genre to class them. They so subtly jump from electronic to experimental pop with hints of that Brisbane garage rock sound we all love up here. Fronted by Joe Saxby, this three-piece create a wall of sound that could be mistaken for a group of five or six. Saxby’s responsible for the synths on the computer which seem to have quite a set timing to them. As great as this is to keep the tracks rolling through it sometimes comes across as awkward and muddles the flow of the set. 'Roamin’ sees Saxby bring out his saxophone for the set highlight. Before the track begins he jokingly feels the need to tell us that yes, he plays the saxophone and that yes, it is a cool thing to do. It’s one of the slower paced songs featured on their ‘pay what you want’ album Lunchbox released just a week before - check it out if you haven’t already.

Mid Ayr front man Hugh Middleton takes to the stage alone with just his acoustic guitar to kick start the set. Joined then by bassist Alex L’Estrange and drummer Zach Moynihan the band cultivate a dreamy pop rock sound that leaves you feeling beautifully transfixed. Black Bear Lodge has now filled, at some points making it hard to catch a glimpse of the stage in front, lit mostly by an alternating string of coloured lights. All present are celebrating Mid Ayr’s recent EP release My Mayhem a project been in the works for several years and Middleton makes a note of how great it is to see so familiar faces at an event he’d worked so hard to make happen. Throughout the set he throws in some humble love and appreciation to his support acts and their achievements. To contrast with the soothing pace of the show, there are powerful bold moments in which Middleton is almost screaming but it’s so beautifully controlled it gives you shivers down the spine. EP title track comes in second to last and before we all know it, the band join punters on the d-floor to continue the celebrations.

Belle Armstrong