Bad Habit Records’ third birthday party turned the Old Ambo Gallery ramp into a packed all-day mix of heavy bands, markets and community, with Just Say Go’s final show giving Black Market Day its emotional core. Words and photos by Marc Roberts.

With local music venues, promoters and artists all doing it tough against inflation and the rising cost of putting on live shows, Saturday’s Black Market Day in Nambour felt like a genuine success story.

Black Market Day kicked off with stalls from 8am, before the old Ambo Gallery ramp filled with bands through the afternoon. At first glance, it might not seem built for a heavy music show, but its character and oddness are exactly why it works. Run by Bad Habit Records, which was celebrating its third birthday in the current location, the event was co-presented by Guerrilla Bookings and World Rot.

The lineup offered a strong cross-section of what this region and beyond are producing right now. Local acts Step Back, Precious Rest, No Allegiance and Human Condition joined Brisbane’s Leaker, Valve and Sick People. Each brought their own shape and energy to the day, from abrasive and heavy through to more melodic sounds. The crowd moving through across the afternoon reflected that mix. People came for the bands, but also for the markets and the wider sense of community around the event.

Victorian acts Bright Sun and Time Peace made the trip north. Their presence showed the day had pull well beyond the Sunshine Coast, and reinforced the idea that Nambour is increasingly on the radar as a stop for touring acts looking for something real outside the capital cities.

A final show and a strong local turnout

But it was Just Say Go that gave the day its emotional centre. Saturday marked the band’s final show, and the ramp space became the setting for a farewell that won’t be forgotten quickly by the people who were there. A final show done well carries its own weight. Part celebration, part loss, Just Say Go delivered that in full.

Alongside the music, Black Market Day also brought together makers and local creatives, with records and physical media throughout the space. It grounded the day in the kind of local exchange that helps keep a scene alive. That mix of live music, local trade and a venue with real character is part of what made the event land so well.

Nambour has been building something for a while now, and Saturday felt like a clear sign of how far that momentum has already come.

Photo Gallery: Nambour Black Market Day

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