The Rions: A Different Kind of Force

A Halloween celebration where music, connection and spooky surprises took centre stage.

Feature SA | Adelaide University Cloisters | 30 October 2026

Review by Brett Partington

Photography by Kate Needs

Adelaide University's historic Cloisters provided a spectacular setting for The Rions' Halloween Special. Warmly lit stone arches met futuristic stage lighting, bringing together old-world charm and a galaxy far, far away.

Star Wars was the theme, and The Rions embraced it, each dressed as their character of choice. Obi-Wan, Luke, Han, Anakin and Chewie were all accounted for and ready to rock, with touring keyboardist Will joining the four band members.

Drums kicked in and ‘Take What You Want’ got the party started.

“Jet Engine City!...Hello There…Happy Halloween!” Noah bellowed to the crowd.

‘Passionfruit’ followed, before a laid-back, spooky rendition of fan favourite ‘Sadie’ delivered the night's first surprise.

Then came ‘Night Light’, the song that changed everything. Winning triple j Unearthed High in 2021 opened doors for four schoolmates with big dreams. Hearing it live was a reminder of just how far they've come.

The live sound was clear, punchy and remarkably close to their studio recordings. Every instrument had its place in the mix, while Noah's vocals soared through with impressive clarity.

There's plenty to admire about The Rions as musicians. Noah is a naturally gifted frontman, delivering lead vocals while playing intricate bass patterns. An impressive combination that takes real skill. Asher has arguably the most relaxed strumming hand in the business, effortlessly delivering clever lead breaks without overplaying. Harley is the band's creative engine, switching between guitar and keyboards while adding depth and character to their sound. Tom anchors it all with powerful drumming, knowing when to get creative and when to keep things rock solid.

What stood out onstage was how naturally the four musicians worked together. Nobody was fighting for attention. Harley regularly turned to face Noah, guitars pointing towards each other, and moved back towards Tom, drawing attention to the force behind the drums. Meanwhile, Asher provided a calm, steady presence on the right of the stage. Each knew when to step forward and when to give the others room.

The bond between The Rions and their fans was unmistakable. Phones held high, voices echoing through the Cloisters and a sea of colourful Halloween characters dancing and singing along.

‘Welcome to the Conversation’ lifted the energy another notch, while the return of an old favourite, ‘Disassociation’, was warmly received by fans.

The magical blend of strings and keys shone through on ‘Physical Medicine’, before the unmistakable piano intro to ‘Tonight's Entertainment’ ignited a joyous chorus of “Heys” from the crowd.

And we wouldn't want to change a thing.

Supporting the next generation

Earlier in the night, interstate support acts Civic Video, EGOISM and Peach Fuzz had each brought their own brand of indie music to the stage. Despite the drizzling rain, all three embraced the Halloween spirit with colourful costumes and energetic performances.

The Rions made a point of thanking them during their set. “They are the best bands in this country,” Harley declared, dedicating a song to them. Noah added, “I would go to see every one of those bands individually, and I hope you guys do it now too.”

They weren't just sharing the stage. They were sharing their audience.

More than just lyrics

The Rions have a musically savvy audience who know their songs, their lyrics and what the band stands for. But it goes deeper than that. Their music tells stories that fans connect with, often finding their own meaning, inspiration and strength along the way.

Before the gig, I'd spent some time backstage chatting with the band about this very connection. Noah summed it up beautifully. “There's a thing about writing a song, where it's like we have one meaning to a song, but someone may relate to it in a completely different way.”

Little did I know I'd soon meet two legendary young blokes in the crowd who would prove his point perfectly. Both were named Liam, both were dressed as Spider-Man, and both had their own stories to tell.

I asked what The Rions meant to them.

Liam, the one wearing glasses, told me he'd first heard ‘Anakin’ shortly after a breakup. “It felt so perfect at the time because I related to it so deeply.” One line in particular struck a chord: “I want you to want me for who I am.”

He explained that he didn't want to change himself to be loved. He wanted someone to love him for who he was, not who they wanted him to become.

Wow! That had my Spidey senses tingling.

The other Liam spoke about how certain lyrics stayed with him. “Some lines would just stick out and I'd need to listen to them again and again to scratch an itch.”

‘Scary Movies’ first drew him to The Rions, while ‘Minivan’ became a favourite he'd play on repeat, particularly for the line about spending another night sleeping in the back of a van.

“Lines like these feel so emotionally resonant and really bring out the overarching meaning of the song,” he explained.

And when ‘Minivan’ arrived later in the set, it was easy to see why. The Cloisters were absolutely pumping, with the crowd living up to their ‘Jet Engine City’ reputation, belting out the chorus at full volume.

The band then turned their attention to judging the Halloween best-dressed competition. After some tough deliberation, it came down to two finalists: the Kung Fu Pandas and The Lorax. Both were declared winners and proudly presented with souvenir lightsabers. Not your everyday Halloween prize!

‘Scumbag’ then brought a memorable night to a close.

Behind the Star Wars costumes, Halloween fun and powerful performances were four young mates doing what they love.

For fans like the two Liams, their songs are more than something to sing along to. They're stories that offer understanding, comfort and sometimes a little hope when it's needed most.

The Rions don't just perform for their audience. They make people feel part of the experience.

Disclosure: The Rions' drummer, Tom, is my nephew.