Brisbane Festival: Dallas Green lost for words at Riverfire gig

Just days after the death of his friend and producer, superstar Dallas Green admitted he had been close to cancelling his performance for the Brisbane Festival closing ceremony. Thankfully, for us, he chose to go on.

FOR a man who writes lyrics for a living, Canadian superstar Dallas Green was lost for words.

Still reeling from the death of his producer and engineer Karl ‘Horse’ Bareham in a “tragic accident” this week, the City and Colour frontman revealed he had been close to cancelling his performance at Brisbane’s Riverstage on Saturday for the closing ceremony of the Brisbane Festival.

Brisbane lights up for Riverfire

VIEW GALLERY

Instead he wanted to pay tribute to his friend the best way he knew how, with music.

‘We made the decision to keep moving on and playing in his honour but I need to address it, I don’t really know what to say,’ Green said.

‘This show and all the shows from now on are a celebration of his life.’

In his first gig since Bareham’s death, Green was visibly shaken but determined throughout the emotional set.

It was an evening of juxtaposition with the vibrant fireworks of Riverfire against Green’s visible grief.

Dallas Green of City and Color. Picture: Mark Metcalfe/Getty Images

The sun set over Rivertage during the closing party with Didirri opening the festivities followed by songtress Odette and The Jezabels before the spectacular fireworks display lit up the skies.

But it was Green’s soaring vocals that stole the show.

Crowds were still, frozen and respectful as they gave their full attention to Green as he paid tribute to ‘Horse’ in the best way possible.

With an image of a horse as a backdrop the entire evening, Green dedicated the performance, and the rest of the gigs on the upcoming tour, to their colleague.

Bareham had been Green’s producer and ‘compatriot’ for 16 years and worked on the band’s soon to be released A Pill For Loneliness.