I first saw Henry Moodie live in 2024 at The Triffid, before he’d even released his debut album, and absolutely loved it. So when another Australian tour was announced, this time celebrating his debut album, Mood Swings, with a Brisbane show at The Princess Theatre, I knew I had to be there. The album came out in October 2025 and, for whatever reason, I hadn’t actually listened to it before the show. I only knew a couple of songs from hearing them live at the last show. I was keen to dive into the album in the live setting first and then inevitably become obsessed and listen for the next month on repeat.
Kicking off the night was Charlie Pittman. I arrived just as his set was starting, but the line was still wrapping around the block, so by the time I actually got inside, Charlie was walking off stage. I’ve seen Charlie a few times now though, and he’s always phenomenal. He’s got a headline tour coming to Brisbane in November, so I’m excited to catch him then.
The next opener was London-based rising pop star Grace Gachot. I hadn’t heard of her before the show, but I was absolutely blown away by her voice and confidence on stage. Even between songs, she spoke so freely and confidently, keeping the crowd engaged and holding their attention the entire time, something emerging artists can often struggle with.
The highlight of her set was definitely ‘Naked’, a song she honestly shared was about being scared to be vulnerable with someone again after having your heart broken. Throughout the song, there were people crying, people swaying, a few phone lights in the air and a whole lot of understanding in the room. It was such a beautiful moment, and I would absolutely love to see Grace return to Australia for her own shows sometime soon.
Both openers fit into the night perfectly, with fans falling in love with them instantly. The chatter between sets was wonderful to hear, with so many people talking about how much they’d enjoyed the performances. It’s not always the case that support acts receive this much attention and respect, so it was really lovely to see.
The lights dimmed and the music got louder as RAYE’s ‘WHERE IS MY HUSBAND!’ started blaring through the speakers. Naturally, everyone screamed along. As the song finished, Henry’s band walked on stage and began playing ‘Mood Swings’, the title track from his debut album.
Henry appeared and the crowd burst into cheers. The first thing I noticed was his shiny, glittery pants and black top with Mood Swings written across it. Simple but effective!
He then introduced the next song by saying something along the lines of, “Brisbane! I know it’s a Saturday night, but for the next three minutes, it’s Sunday Morning!”
While some people might have found that a little cringe, the fans absolutely loved it, and the room erupted into cheers as he launched into ‘Sunday Morning’. He definitely saw the Eras Tour.
Henry wasted no time getting the audience involved, encouraging everyone to clap along with their hands in the air, which continued into the third song, ‘Comedown’. At the end of the track, he decided he wanted even more crowd participation and split the room down the middle for a battle to see which side could sing the loudest.
Every single person was screaming at the top of their lungs, and the intimate theatre sounded like an arena for a few minutes. While Henry never officially declared a winner, I think we all know the left side won. My side, obviously. <3
A couple of songs later came ‘Closure’, my personal favourite of Henry’s. It was a huge singalong moment, with so many people screaming the lyrics through tears. There’s something really special about watching a room full of people connect so deeply with a song, and this was one of those moments.
Henry then sat down with his guitarist for a beautiful, stripped-back rendition of ‘Cigarette’. Before the song, he shared that it was one of his favourites from the album and explained that it was about a toxic relationship he’d been in. The couple in front of me clearly missed that part (or just didn’t care) because they spent the entire song making out. To them, it was the most romantic song ever written.
Each to their own, I guess!
Next came his latest single, ‘MISS U’, which brought another singalong, particularly towards the end when Henry encouraged the crowd to sing the lyrics back to him.
He then announced that he wanted to warm up everyone’s voices in preparation for the big hits, launching into a cover of Olivia Dean’s ‘Man I Need’. It was such a beautiful cover, and the entire room was singing along, even the boyfriends who were dragged along to the show.
The couple who’d previously been making out were now screaming along with Henry and absolutely lost their minds when he made a heart with his hands back at them. It was such a wholesome interaction, and moments like this were happening constantly throughout the show. Henry clearly knows how to connect with his fans and genuinely loves getting to perform for them.
‘You Were There For Me’ was another standout, with everyone’s hands in the air during the chorus, screaming every word back at him. It was one of those cathartic moments that I’m sure so many people in the room will remember for a very long time.
Henry changed the lyrics in the second verse to “Nothing gets close to Brisbane at night”, which sent the crowd into chaos.
Henry then stripped things back again, jumping onto the keyboard to perform ‘Dear Drew’, a song he wrote about his school bully, who he shared had apologised to him at a gym five years after high school.
It was such a raw and emotional moment in the set, and you could tell how much the song meant to both Henry and the people listening. I’m certain there weren’t many dry eyes left in the room.
After a couple more tracks, including ‘Favourite Mistake’ and ‘Beat Up Car’, it was time for the songs that introduced Henry to so many of the people in the room.
During ‘Drunk Text’, Henry climbed down onto the barricade to get face to face with his most dedicated fans in Brisbane, holding their hands as they screamed every lyric through tears. It was such a beautiful thing to witness, and easily one of the loudest moments of the entire night.
‘Pick Up the Phone’ and ‘Ten Years Time’ were strong contenders too, with the entire room singing along at the top of their lungs.
One thing that really stood out to me throughout the night was just how good Henry is at connecting with his audience. While his music clearly means so much to his fans, he also makes a genuine effort to connect with them personally.
From the conversations between songs to the constant eye contact, responding to people’s comments and making hearts back at fans in the crowd, Henry makes everyone feel loved and appreciated. It’s something that a lot of artists find difficult to achieve, especially while trying to put on a polished live show, but he manages to keep every single person engaged, whether they’re a diehard fan or someone like me who only knew a handful of songs beforehand.
Overall, this was such a fantastic pop show and really cemented Henry Moodie as one to watch in the pop space.
I’ve listened to Mood Swings since the show, and while I absolutely love it and have added plenty of songs to my playlists, I really think the live setting is where Henry’s music shines the most. It’s only a matter of time until Henry is taking over the world and selling out arenas, and I can’t wait to be there when he does.