Dance
The Mona Lisa goes digital, a rockin' Elvis musical and chaotic ballet – what's on at HOTA this year
Event News

The Mona Lisa goes digital, a rockin’ Elvis musical and chaotic ballet – what’s on at HOTA this year

10 Jan 2024

HOTA has lifted the lid on a stellar 2024 program, with its gallery walls, theatres and outdoor stage to host a stacked series of events across the year, from grand productions and futuristic art exhibitions to intimate dance performances, soul-stirring orchestra concerts and high-octane musicals. Ready to colour your calendar with arts and culture? Take a peek at these highlights. more

Dance
Be transported to a dream-like labyrinth at Brisbane Festival's world-premiere production, Salamander
Event News

Be transported to a dream-like labyrinth at Brisbane Festival’s world-premiere production, Salamander

26 Jul 2023

In case you haven't heard, Brisbane Festival is taking over the city from September 1–23 with a culture-soaked line-up of more than 1000 performances encompassing art, dance, theatre, installation and music. The first cab off the rank is world premiere Salamander – a large-scale, dream-like dance theatre work created by internationally renowned choreographer and director Maxine Doyle and artist and designer Es Devlin. more

Dance
Dive below the surface at HOTA's groundbreaking UNDERGROUND Festival
Event News

Dive below the surface at HOTA’s groundbreaking UNDERGROUND Festival

20 Jun 2023

In a world viewed through the lens of social media and filters, many of us are often left contemplating the human experience. HOTA's UNDERGROUND Festival is giving artists, creatives and audiences the chance to take risks, explore ideas and consider what makes us human. Over three winter nights, audiences will have the opportunity to occupy HOTA's intimate spaces and explore the obscurity of life and raw emotion, seeking to understand what enrages and liberates us. Fuelled by big ideas and homegrown contemporary artists, here is a peek at what you can expect at UNDERGROUND from July 13–15. more

Dance
Buckle up for the biggest-ever BLEACH* Festival featuring 38 events over 11 jam-packed days
Event News

Buckle up for the biggest-ever BLEACH* Festival featuring 38 events over 11 jam-packed days

07 Jun 2023

Gearing up for its 12th year, BLEACH* Festival is marking the milestone with its most ambitious program to date – 300 artists, 218 performances and 38 events including two world premieres across five hubs. Go ahead and block out your calendar from August 3–13, because you're not going to want to miss a minute of the fun. Here's what the 2023 iteration of the Gold Coast's premier arts and cultural festival has in store ... more

Dance
Free live music, after-work tipples and all of your festive entertainment needs – add these unmissable December events to your calendar
Event News

Free live music, after-work tipples and all of your festive entertainment needs – add these unmissable December events to your calendar

29 Nov 2022

And just like that, December is upon us. As your weekends fill up with festive gatherings and you frantically finish up work for the year while trying to dodge (or embrace) Mariah's Christmas jingle, it's important you still find some time for yourself. If you've got a few spare dates left on the calendar for December, or if you're ready to emerge from the chrysalis of your couch and embrace life as the ultimate social butterfly, The Star Gold Coast has a bounty of events to keep you busy well into the new year. From tacos on the lawn and scenic sundowners to weeknight delights and your Christmas and New Year's Eve plans, The Star has your December sorted. Let's dive in, shall we? more

Dance
Celebrate cultural connections and homegrown artists at Horizon Festival on the Sunshine Coast
Event News

Celebrate cultural connections and homegrown artists at Horizon Festival on the Sunshine Coast

13 Jul 2022

Over ten days in August, the Sunshine Coast is playing host to a contemporary multi-arts festival. More than just your average collection of visual art, music, theatre, dance, words, film and creative workshops, Horizon Festival is rooted in celebrating the natural beauty of the Sunshine Coast with a program that thoughtfully honours and highlights the Traditional Custodians of the land in which it operates – the Kabi Kabi and Jinibara Peoples. If you relish in celebrating art in all of its forms, have a thirst for the knowledge shared by our First Nations Peoples and are craving a northern escape, then head up to the Sunshine Coast from August 26 until September 4 and immerse yourself in ten days of spectacular creativity and culture-rich performances. more

Dance
BLEACH* Festival 2022
Event News

From First Nations feasts to late-night secrets and sonic Sunday soirees – our top picks for BLEACH* Festival in 2022

12 Jul 2022

After almost two years of waiting, BLEACH* Festival is preparing to light up the Gold Coast with carefully curated creativity and performances over 11 days in August. From August 11-21, Gold Coast locals are encouraged to celebrate and support an ever-talented collective of artists, singers, performers and musicians as they take over beachside esplanades, botanic gardens and hinterland hideaways. With more than 233 artists, 94 performances and 36 events lined up on the program, there is bound to be something to satisfy every creative appetite. If you're a little stuck on what to attend, fear not! We have combed through the program and plucked out a few highlights worthy of pencilling into your calendar for BLEACH* in 2022.  more

The Locals Next week:

Dance
BLEACH* Festival 2022
Event News

Culture-soaked creativity and expert storytellers bring BLEACH* Festival’s 2022 program to life

30 Jun 2022

Unless you're new to the coast or have been living under a rock, you're probably well familiar with BLEACH* Festival. For those who aren't, well, allow us – BLEACH* is the Gold Coast's premier arts and cultural festival that proudly and passionately champions the incredible artists and performers that make up the tapestry of our shining city. BLEACH* has been no stranger to COVID-related cancellations and, much to the dismay of everyone on the Gold Coast, last year's festival took a hit. Luckily for us, BLEACH* is back, better than ever and is here to celebrate its 11-year milestone by transforming beachside esplanades, botanic gardens and hinterland hideaways into backdrops for spine-tingling and thought-provoking experiences from August 11-21. We recommend clearing your calendar because the 11-day program has just been released and is packed with a bounty of events and… more

Dance
Buskers by the lake
Event News

Buskers by the Lake is bringing three days of adrenaline, creativity and sword swallowing to Lake Kawana

06 Jun 2022

Creativity and personal expression come in many forms. Some of us sing, some dance, some may participate in adrenaline sports and others, well, they play with fire and swallow swords. The Australian and international busking community is rich with incredibly talented individuals that thrive on doing what they love in the hopes that it will entertain others. Buskers by the Lake is a Sunshine Coast festival that gives renowned and up-and-coming buskers the chance to show off their skills as part of a wider project, entertaining audiences over three days in one giant, lakeside extravaganza. The festival theme is 'Fantasyland', so get ready to soak up the sunshine and experience a whole new world of mystique, magic and marvel.  more

Dance
Keep the summer vibes rolling with drag duos, half-price pizza and Fleetwood Mac by a symphony orchestra
Event News

Keep the summer vibes rolling with drag duos, half-price pizza and Fleetwood Mac by a symphony orchestra

02 Mar 2022

Well, that's it for summer, folks. The calendar has officially clicked over to March (can you even believe it?) but that doesn't mean the party has to end. Before you go and bust out the winter woolies and plan your hibernation activities, The Star Gold Coast is keeping the summer vibes alive with a stellar line-up of things to see, do and devour. From incredible acts playing live on The Lawn to drag duos, a 24-piece symphony orchestra performing some of Fleetwood Mac’s finest, half-price pizzas and towering burgers, The Star Gold Coast is the place to soak up the last of the warm-weather vibes. Here's what's happening this March ... more

Dance
Endless summer – five ways to warm up your weekend in the middle of winter
Event News

Endless summer – five ways to warm up your weekend in the middle of winter

29 Jul 2021

At the beginning of winter, the mercury dropping is a bit of a novelty – enjoying the crisp mornings and cool evenings is a bit of a treat. By the time July rolls around though, we are aching for a spot in the sunshine with a deliciously summery cocktail in hand. Well, friends, we've got just the thing to ward off the winter blues – a round-up of weekend warmers that you can find on the coast, and all in the one location. more

Dance
It's getting hot in here – The Pink Flamingo Spiegelclub unveils its sexy new stage show RIPPED
Event News

It’s getting hot in here – The Pink Flamingo Spiegelclub unveils its sexy new stage show RIPPED

20 Jul 2021

Ladies' nights tend to conjure images of seedy clubs, cheap booze and penis straws. If that's not quite your vibe but you are still looking to have a night out with your nearest and dearest indulging in crafted cocktails and cheeky entertainment, The Pink Flamingo Spiegelclub's brand-new show RIPPED could be right up your alley. The saucy adults-only spectacular features a bevy of handsome men, aerial acrobatics and moves that would make your nan blush.  more

Dance
Raunchy rides and cliffside concerts – five must-see events at BLEACH* Festival 2021
Event News

Raunchy rides and cliffside concerts – five must-see events at BLEACH* Festival 2021

15 Jul 2021

Ready your glad rags – BLEACH* Festival is back and she's ready to party! This year, the city's pre-eminent multi-day arts and cultural event is celebrating its impressive ten-year milestone with a jam-packed program of art, live music, cabaret, theatre, dance and stories across three main hubs including Burleigh Heads, Southport and Mudgeeraba. As an extra-special treat, there will also be performances in the cultural corridors of HOTA and Dust Temple in Currumbin. This year's festival runs from August 12–22 and whilst we firmly believe the entire festival program is well and truly worthy of the spotlight (you can check that out here), we’ve cherry-picked some of our must-see events for your viewing pleasure. more

Dance
Get set to immerse yourself in inflatable installations and floating exhibitions – Brisbane Festival is coming back with a bang
Event News

Get set to immerse yourself in inflatable installations and floating exhibitions – Brisbane Festival is coming back with a bang

14 Jul 2021

If you can believe it, in two short months it will be September. Although this year seems like it is passing by quicker than you can sing Earth, Wind & Fire’s catchy song, that's not necessarily a bad thing, as the arrival of September means the return of our favourite city-wide fiesta – Brisbane Festival! The beloved celebration will set our city alight from September 3–25 with a thrilling three-week program that is shaping up to be the brightest party yet. From an art-filled boat cruising down Brisbane River and dance performances inside a bubble to much-anticipated stage shows and enchanting gardens full of larger-than-life florals, it doesn't get more weird and wonderful than this. more

Dance
Giddy up for a night of decadent debauchery with adults-only circus cabaret show INFAMOUS
Event News

Giddy up for a night of decadent debauchery with adults-only circus cabaret show INFAMOUS

03 Jun 2021

Get ready to enter the pleasure dome, Gold Coast – INFAMOUS is back and it's bigger, cheekier and even more jaw-dropping than ever before! Shaking up an intoxicating elixir of circus and risqué cabaret, the saucy adults-only stage show and its delightfully extravagant Spiegel Big Top is rolling into the Broadwater Parklands from Friday June 18 to Sunday August 8 to deliver night-after-night of wild debauchery, sass and even a Wheel of Death. Intrigued? You definitely should be. Read on for all of the juicy details ... more

Dance
HOTA's new Fireside events series to light up your winter nights this July
Event News

HOTA’s new Fireside events series to light up your winter nights this July

22 Jun 2020

After months of virtual concerts, live-streamed ballet lessons and 80s-themed lounge-room workouts, we're thrilled to bring you news of Fireside, a month-long series of events happening at HOTA this July. Yes, we're talking actual events with actual people, real performers, live music, food, drinks and a helluva lot of fun. It's time to pack away the loungewear, folks – July just got a whole lot better. more