Live Review: The Rions @ Cloisters UniBar Adelaide 30/10/26

The Adelaide Uni Cloisters isn't usually the site for intergalactic family reunions, but The Rions turned it into one. The four-piece band from the Central Coast has become one of Australia's most charming acts, pulling a loyal following of fans that have stuck with them since their earliest releases.

Just over a year since their last show in Adelaide, promoting their 2025 album Everything Every Single Day, The Rions returned with a full Halloween special, with costumes being mandatory. The crowd took this brief very seriously, and quickly after doors opened at 7pm, the courtyard became a colourful mix of Halloweekend creativity. 

Featuring support acts Civic Video, Egoism and Peach Fuzz, the night steadily built energy that set the stage perfectly for The Rion's takeover. Dakota Griffiths, a local Adelaide influencer under the name Band Banta, took on DJ duties between sets to keep the crowd buzzing, filling the short changeovers with well-known bangers. 

Arriving onstage in full Star Wars get-ups, The Rions leaned into the Halloween theme with complete commitment. Playing under the small arches of the cloisters, fairy lights strung between the courtyard trees, the venue felt intimate as the audience filled every inch of space between the stage and the UniBar doors.

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Rolling through old and newer songs, The Rions fed off this closeness immediately. 'Shut You Out's' easily recognisable intro washed the courtyard in deep blue light, white beams fanning across the crowd. Between crowd favourites 'Maybe I'm Just A Freak' and 'Welcome To The Conversation', frontman Noah Blockley spoke to the crowd. Dressed as Luke Skywalker, he grinned and shared, "It's a pleasure to share the stage with mum and dad," nodding to his bandmates. 

After Blockley introduced 'Physical Medicine', the courtyard erupted, easily becoming one of the most fun and high-energy moments of the night. Rolling through 2025 release 'Tonight's Entertainment' and dedicating 'Lobby Calls' to support acts of the night, the band also covered Rockwell's 1984 single 'Somebody’s Watching Me'. 

However, this momentum didn't hold, as the setlist didn't flow in the way that The Rions usually nail. The pacing jumped around as the transitions felt a little awkward, though it must have been an intentional attempt to switch things up for the Halloween special. The band played 'Scary Movies' next, their most Halloween-themed track appearing mid-set, and chose to leave Scumbag as the finale, making the conclusion of the show feel slightly mismatched, as the perfect Halloween closer was sitting right there. This didn't overshadow Adelaide’s celebration of a band the city has long supported, and each chorus managed to rise above Blockley's vocals. 

The brief spells of rain never grew heavy enough to threaten the show, and the UniBar provided plenty of shelter. The Rions' Halloween special thrived off the atmosphere of the audience. The crowd's commitment to costumes, ready to shout every lyric, matched the energy of the band's performances.