Rain on a weekend is pretty much only good for when you’re too hungover to leave the house, otherwise it has no place in our precious stretch of work-free time. Lucky for us, the forecast is looking mighty fine – no excuse to stay couch-bound, folks! From beery birthday bashes and shank-tastic takeovers to mighty gladiators and comedy superstars, we’ve squished the best things to do in Brisbane on the June 22–25 weekend into one handy list. more
July is a great month for a lot of reasons – winter days full of crisp air and sunny skies, officially marking the halfway point of the year and of course, the Teneriffe Festival sets up shop. This social calendar highlight celebrates everything we know and love about one of Brisbane’s (technically) newest suburbs, bringing together delicious food, awesome entertainment and a wholesome sense of community. Mark your diary for Saturday July 1 because it’s going to be one delight of a day. more
You can bleat on all you like about sexism not being an issue in the music industry, but the facts don’t lie – women are critically underrepresented. Things have certainly come a long way, thanks in large part to badass ladies who have paved the way to equality between the sexes in music, but there is no denying that we still have progress to make. Bursting onto The Tivoli stage on Sunday July 16, Songs That Made Me will shine a light on Australian female talent with a line-up featuring Deborah Conway, Clare Bowditch and Hannah Macklin. more
We are no strangers to the fact that Westfield Chermside has been killing it lately. The retail powerhouse recently gifted Brisbane with a fashion precinct that would make even the most discerning fashionista totally dizzy and is following this up with a food offering that is equally mind-blowing. Not one to shy away from an opportunity to celebrate, the centre is throwing a party to welcome its new foodie residents to the neighbourhood. The fun all starts on Thursday June 22, but you ain’t seen nothin’ yet … more
What happens between here and eternity? One thing is for sure – the arts make life worth living, and are capable of transporting us to an otherworldly place. From June 21–23, the Judith Wright Centre will play host to Heaven & Earth, three nights of unique performances showcasing the specialist disciplines of the Aboriginal Centre for Performing Arts. With one evening each dedicated to singing, dancing and acting, this is a triple-threat program that promises to be on another level. more
Nostalgia is a powerful thing – sometimes we all yearn to take things back to a simpler, more wholesome and carefree time. As much as living in the present day has its advantages (hello, wifi), the lure of generations past provides a certain comfort and joy that we can’t quite put our finger on. So why wouldn’t we jump at the chance to rewind time for a day? Sanctuary Cove’s famous Sunday Sounds has returned for winter with a distinctly retro twist – the precinct is kicking things off on June 25 with an afternoon filled with classic tunes, live entertainment and vintage-themed fun for the whole family. more
For most of us, Thursdays are a bit of a bummer. They are that pesky little stopper between you and the weekend – something of a roadblock preventing you from living your best life. The fine folk at the Port Office Hotel thought that it was time for this day of the week to get totally revamped and to shirk off its reputation as totally lame – thus, The Thursday Club was born. Commencing from Thursday June 15, this brand-new event is set to extend those weekend feelings and get the good times rolling (a day earlier than usual). more
Time is zooming past us this year at a rate akin to one of those scenes in a movie where everything is on hyper-fast forward and things get blurry. The distinct chill in the air points to the indisputable fact that it is winter, which is a pretty excellent time to be hanging out in Brisbane. Our amazing climate means that we can get around outdoors but there are still plenty of chances to rug up and snuggle once the evening rolls around. Make the most of the new season by taking advantage of Brisbane City Council’s LIVE Guide – we’ve taken the liberty of picking our top five events for the winter. more
Cabaret is one of those things that you can’t really pin down into any specific description. Most of us are familiar with the vague, abstract concept – smoky rooms, dimly lit tables, clicking fingers and simmering sensuality. Turns out there is so much more to the genre than we give it credit for – and there is a dedicated event set to show us what it’s all about. The Queensland Cabaret Festival is returning from June 1–15, sashaying into three key venues to bring us a load of sauce, sizzle and spark with a serious side of heart. more
Regardless of where you come from in the world, there is one event on Brisbane’s cultural roster that gets everyone super excited year after year. After all, how is it possible to resist the combination of drinking, dancing and more food than should possibly be consumed in one sitting? When it comes to celebrating culture, the Greeks have got it going on – strap yourself in for the 2017 edition of the Paniyiri Greek Festival, returning to Musgrave Park and The Greek Club on the May 20–21 weekend to bring a hefty dose of joy to town. more
Whether it’s overt or more of a guilty pleasure, most of us can admit to having a voyeuristic streak. Now more than ever with social media, it’s a cinch to keep track of people we know and people we don’t – because let’s be real, we’re all guilty of a Facebook stalk. What happens when these curiosities spill over into reality? Behind Closed Doors is coming to QPAC from May 19–27 to scratch that kiss-and-tell itch, combining sensual contemporary dance and seductive modern jazz to give viewers a glimpse into the private lives of (fictional) strangers. more
Long gone are the days when South Brisbane’s Fish Lane was written off as a dark and drab industrial lot. Time, innovation and a heck of a lot of hard work have seen the precinct go through a full swan-like transformation on us, becoming one of Brisbane’s favourite foodie hotspots and cultural hubs. Celebrating this renaissance for the second year running is Fish Lane Festival, bringing together the best food, music and art on Saturday May 13 for a party you won’t soon forget. more
Who doesn’t love a good street party? The combination of delicious food, flowing beverages and some killer live tunes is not only a sure-fire winner in the fun stakes, but also a great way to get out and celebrate the community spirit that Brisbane is so well-known for. When it comes down to it, these events are best left to the professional party people – those with a reputation for creating good vibes. The Stones Corner Festival returns on Sunday April 30 for an all-in fiesta that will be taking over the hub of the suburb, sprawling through the streets to bring you the best that Brisbane has to offer. more
When it comes to famous modern composers, most of us could only name a handful (if that). One thing for darn certain is that a name that is instantly recognisable in the musical world is Hans Zimmer. Even if you don’t know it off the top of your head, he’s the major dude responsible for some of the most famous and beloved scores in recent memory. Hans Zimmer Revealed is coming to the Brisbane Entertainment Centre on Saturday May 6 for one night of intensity that explores and celebrates the career of a living legend – with the man himself performing. more
When it comes to the arts, creative collaboration can take a performance to levels that simply could not have been reached as a solo effort. Fusing art forms creates magic on the stage, creating experiences that are as stunning as they are surprising. Australian Brandenburg Orchestra and contemporary circus troupe Circa are reuniting for a fearless fusion of movement and music, proving that these two art forms go together like they were made for each other. Spanish Baroque: Brandenburg and Circa is coming to QPAC on Tuesday May 16 for one night of high-intensity entertainment bursting with passion, power and virtuosity. more
“It was the best of times, it was the … blurst of times?” This iconic quote isn’t just a throwback to the golden age before The Simpsons became actually quite awful – it is also the namesake for one of Brisbane’s finest music festivals. What The Blurst of Times lacks in anthropomorphic monkeys, it makes up for in tuneage – we’re talking about a line-up that is stuffed with some of Australia’s best live acts across a range of genres. Taking over three key Fortitude Valley venues on Saturday April 29, Blurst is a one-day rager that ironically promises nothing but the best of times. more
When it comes to the at-home musical experience, nothing beats the warmth of a good record (because let’s be honest, nobody really gets nostalgic over CDs). Vinyl has seen a serious resurgence in the past few years, breathing new life into a music market that is so digitally driven. On Saturday April 22, vinyl fans from around the world will celebrate Record Store Day – a time to come together and get amongst the unique culture of a record store and the special role these independently owned entities play in their communities. Brisbane’s favourite stores are getting in on the action – here’s the scoop. more
First thing’s first – rock and roll is so much more than a genre. Rock and roll is an attitude and a way of life that is built around pushing boundaries, sticking it to the man and generally kicking huge amounts of ass. It makes sense, then, that rock and roll forms the basis of one of Brisbane’s most exciting cultural events. Taking over the historic Old Museum for the April 1–2 weekend, A Rock & Roll Writers Festival celebrates and explores the intrinsic relationship between writing and music, utilising the smartest (and boldest) minds in the business. more
When it comes to cultural experiences, two things that tend to complement each other perfectly are art and music. Each has such a powerful impact on the way that we feel and perceive things, so it makes sense that when the two are combined, magic happens. The fine folk at Opera Queensland have cottoned on to this theory, creating a landmark event in the company’s debut creative venture of the year. Sensory is steeping into the Gallery of Modern Art on Friday April 7 for one night of all-in pleasure set to stun, surprise and tantalise perceptions from head to toe. more
Usually stereotypes surrounding the queer community are the absolute worst, but there is one universal law that we can acknowledge with our hands over our hearts as being true – these folks know a thing or two about throwing a party. This fact is why regardless of sexual orientation or identification, Big Gay Day has become one of the most hotly anticipated street festivals on Brisbane’s social calendar. The event returns to its spiritual home of The Wickham this Sunday March 12 to prove that Brisbane’s heart and soul is painted with every colour of the rainbow. more