No Place Like Nundah [Single]

If you ever need to go somewhere incognito, there's no place like Nundah.

In what seems like another time - the distant year of 2019 - Meanjin quartet The Double Happiness penned what was to become an instant classic, a paean to the unassuming north side suburb of Nundah.

‘No Place Like Nundah’ holds a special place in the hearts of Brisbanites, and was voted in at #15 in the 2020 4ZZZ Hot 100.

The b-side of the 7” is an ode of another kind, a cover of ‘Footprints in the Dark’ by Ancient Channels.

These are the only 2 tracks the band have released to not receive the vinyl treatment, something that we’re very eager to rectify.

“This song is our love letter to Brisbane. What started out as a misheard quote from ‘The Wizard of Oz’, turned into a nostalgic piece about a Brisbane of long ago. It’s a nod to memory, and what happens when the things that tie those memories to a place are no longer there.

'Nundah’, (as it’s affectionately known), speaks to the trams which made their final journey in 1969 to make way for buses, iconic and dearly missed dance hall, ‘Cloudland’, the King George Square fountain, the Mt Coot-tha TV towers, the (XXXX) brewery amongst other landmarks. It’s akin to taking a drive around an earlier Brisbane - the big country town - that existed in our formative years.

“As for the suburb itself, it’s also come a long way. The Nundah of today is a bustling and thriving village. I recall calling into a shop in Nundah in 1993, feeling (and also hoping) that no-one saw me. Ha! I guess you could say I needed to go somewhere incognito!” says songwriter and vocalist, Kristin.

The song was originally recorded with Meg Welchman on bass and backing vocals, whose presence is missed every day. The Double Happiness have been very blessed to have the talents of, "The Duchess of the deep end”, Adele Pickvance, on bass duties since 2022. credits

released March 7, 2019

Kristin (Black) Fergusson - rhythm guitar, vocals
Peter Fergusson - guitar, vocals
Meg Welchman - bass, backing vocals (on Nundah)
Adele Pickvance - bass (on Footprints)
Simon Welchman - drums

’No Place Like Nundah'
Originally released as a stand alone digital single in 2019

Recorded, Mixed and Engineered by Peter Fergusson
Mastered by Kieran Fergusson

'Footprints In The Dark' (Originally performed by Ancient Channels)
Appeared on ‘House Keys’ Vol. 1 in 2022

Recorded and Mixed by Peter Fergusson at FBR Studio
Mastered by Kieran Fergusson

Artwork by Aaron Sammut at Double A Creative