Brisbane Teenage Fan Club Set To Celebrate Young Creatives

A new youth-centred initiative, spearheaded by Brisbane singer-songwriter Deb Suckling, is launching at The Cave Inn on January 16: the Brisbane Teenage Fan Club.

Motivated by the lack of opportunities for young people to perform, learn stage skills, and grow fanbases, Suckling and 4ZZZ presenter and festival co-ordinator Branko Cosic decided to create a space for teenagers to do just that.

“Branko and I had talked about doing something like this for a couple of years, especially after what teens had gone through with COVID, current mental health stats and really having so few outlets to perform live apart from in school,” Suckling said. “A couple of beers with Steve Bell, music journalist legend, at The Triffid beer garden and he came up with the name Brisbane Teenage Fan Club. A name was just what we needed to get started and we are all thrilled to see the first BTFC showcase come to life.”

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The showcase, set at the Cave Inn on January 16, will feature DJ’s, artwork and photography from emerging young creatives, as well as performances from a range of promising artists, aged 13 to 18. You’ll have the opportunity to watch queer indie rock band Hugo and the Hive, rapper Massy, grunge-rock group The SumFinks, and the female-fronted October Fall - all for free.

Despite the free entry, this launch is actually a fundraiser, aiming to raise money for mentoring opportunities for young creatives with established Brisbane creative legends. On top of that, the money raised will be put towards the Brisbane Teenage Fan Club hosting four showcases a year at major Brisbane music venues. 

Brisbane itself has become a hub for burgeoning creatives, with youth-focused label Anti-Dismal launching last year, thanks to local icon Ixaras.