On the Banks: Mallrat Support Act Review

Tonight, our first international act graces the Cultural Forecourt stage at South Bank, set outside of QPAC’s Playhouse theatre. Inside, attendees gather to see The Great Gatsby, while in the open air, we’re waiting for Welsh singer Marina to return. Our international Princess of Power is joined by Brisbane’s own beloved pop princess, Mallrat, complementing the retro femme-pop of the main act with her own ethereal new tracks and longstanding hits.

This is what happened at Mallrat’s set at On the Banks on February 26^th, 2026.

MALLRAT

Tonight, Mallrat appeared looking like she had stepped out from the cover of her album, Light Hit My Face Like A Straight Right, the stage dark and lit only with a delicate, heavenly golden glow. DJ Sissy joined the performance, providing the hype and the backing tracks, while Mallrat delivered a beautiful vocal performance, starting with My Darling, My Angel before jumping into the street beats of Pavement. We were treated to the short and sweet Wish On An Eyelash next, with the set shaping itself into a mystical demonstration of Mallrat’s poetic lyricism and elegant vocals, occasionally spiced up with an autotuned filter.

We continued to delve into the heartfelt themes, showcasing vulnerability set against a celestial backdrop, in The Worst Thing I Would Ever Do. The edgy love song feels confessional and leads nicely into her cover of Lana Del Rey’s cover of Radio, with its grittier lyrics elevated by the airy sweetness of Mallrat’s vocals. This one had the crowd fully onboard, bopping along on the ground and singing along. Mallrat continues to mask darker undercurrents and heavyhearted honesty under sugary sweet melodies and sparkling instrumentals.

Mallrat’s music is the culmination of over a decade of honing her skills in writing and production. The influence of folk stories, of magic and mythos, is particularly evident in this era of her music. While Virtue emulates the feeling of being trapped in an untrustworthy forest with spirits on the lurk, the transition to the rolling sounds and senses of Defibrillator brings upon a desperation to correct things, to twist time by willpower alone. Continuing with the symbolic exploration of light, we had Ray of Light and the interlude of The Light Streams In and Hits My Face back-to-back. Her pop music becomes the vehicle through which to explore the complexity of free will and determination, interpreted through the lens of magic and mystery in Hocus Pocus.

The cinematic soundscapes Mallrat experiments with now are more than the bubbly pop and notes of edge in her longtime hits, like Groceries and Rockstar (which were missed in the setlist tonight). I’m glad that Mallrat is devoting her sets to her newest release, especially if she’s performing to new fans who will be drawn to the insightful storytelling, subtle beats and melodic vocals that the singer deserves to be known for. But I always appreciate the heartfelt tenderness of Charlie and was glad to end things on an even higher note as Mallrat used her final song to hype up the crowd even more with dance track, Hideaway.

Mallrat’s year isn’t stacked yet, so I’m hoping she’ll have time to add some more Aussie dates soon! If you’re in Darwin or Townsville, check her out at her upcoming festival slots for an experience you won’t forget or regret!

Fave song: Hocus Pocus