Alt-rock heroes and a wine festival – here’s what’s on in Brisbane this weekend
Music
If the arrival of a new month has you feeling like time is just going too fast, fear not. Brisbane is hosting a couple of tribute shows this weekend to soothe your soul with a night of nostalgia. For our super troopers, dancing queens and chiquititas, Anywhere Festival is hosting an ABBA Girls Tribute Show. Hosted by The Paint Factory in Yeronga on Friday night, this show is a femme-focused celebration of the women in ABBA. Expect a fun-filled night of replica costumes and pop-powered tunes performed live.
Also on Friday, The Princess Theatre will be welcoming Fleetwood Mac tribute band Seven Wonder. Described as an authentic and exhilarating celebration of the legendary rock band, revel in all the rumours of this scandalous and sensational band. The band will be performing Rumours as well as Fleetwood Mac’s other beloved hits.At the Triffid, Scottish alt-rock band The Jesus and Mary Chain return to Brisbane in celebration of its 40th anniversary. Bursting on the scene in the early 1980s, the band’s intense and darkly romantic music would go on to define a generation. The Reid brothers will be performing all their classic hits on Saturday night.
QPAC’s Clancestry continues this weekend, bringing a celebration of First Nations identity and connection to QPAC. This weekend will see a jam-packed program including Mob Music, where a stacked line-up of First Nations will be performing on QPAC’s outdoor stage.
On Thursday, New Zealand’s indie-darling Ladyhawke returns to Brisbane this weekend with her cult-favourite rock-pop-synth sounds. This latest show will celebrate the 15th anniversary of Ladyhawke’s debut self-titled album. Dance it out to Ladyhawke’s era-defining music from hits like “My Delirium” to “Magic.”
Live events
Catch the queen of laughs Atsuko Okatsuka is bringing her brand new show Full Grown to The Tivoli. This marks the debut tour from the HBO alum who is known for her irreverent and honest stand-up, enriched by her fascinating life moving from Japan to Los Angeles as a child.
Strap on your LiveStrong bracelet, grab your Motorola and curate your Top Eight, Anywhere Festival is transporting you to 2004 this Saturday. 2004 Slumber Party marks a new circus and variety show from Glitter Martini, featuring scoubidou supplies, popcorn and all the iconic music of the era. VENTspace will be transforming into a mismatched sleepover for this nostalgic night.
At South Bank Parklands on Saturday, the night sky will be illuminated by the glowing lanterns of LUMINOUS Festival. This day-long celebration of Brisbane’s multicultural community kicks off at 11:00 am with a performance by Tokoton Taiko drummers. Discover music and dance workshops, food and craft stalls, sporting activations and of course, the lantern parade.
Theatre
Queensland Theatre’s fervently topical and femme-fuelled new play continues this weekend. POTUS, Or Behind Every Great Dumbass Are Seven Women Trying To Keep Him Alive offers an enticing satire of American politics. Centred around a fictitious President of the United States’ (POTUS) and the team of seven powerhouse women who must resolve his missteps, POTUS is a playful yet poignant look at modern politics.
Searching for simply the best this weekend? TINA – The Tina Turner Musical, the Broadway show dedicated to the Queen of Rock ‘n’ Roll is continuing to rock out QPAC. Experience the iconic career of the legendary songstress with simply the best of the songstress’ music. Celebrate the tour de force that was Tina and experience her inspiring rise to fame, renowned career and lasting legacy.
Exhibitions
The World Press Photo Exhibition has returned to Brisbane Powerhouse to showcases the best achievements in photojournalism and documentary photography over the last year. With a fascinating line-up of subjects and a diverse range of photographers, this exhibition invites you to find new perspectives on the news cycle from the last year with heart-wrenching and heartwarming stories.
The highly anticipated new exhibition Hoda Afshar: A Curve is a Broken Line is currently showing at UQ Art Museum. Experience works from one of Australia’s leading names in photo-media as this exhibition continues Hoda career-long dialogue with the themes identity, marginality and displacement through photography and video.
QAGOMA’s latest blockbuster Iris Van Herpen: Sculpting the Senses continues to captivate audiences this weekend. The exhibition showcases more than 100 mesmerising garments by the prolific Dutch designer, showcasing 3D printing, new-wave fabrications and robotics. The designs are exhibited alongside the specimens, contemporary art and artefacts to traverse Iris’ fascinating world of science, art and fashion.
Across the river, Brisbane Quarter is hosting SHAPE OF WATER – a new exhibition to compliment QAGOMA’s Iris Van Herpen: Sculpting the Senses. Experience the majestic works of Lydia Pearson – renowned Australian fashion designer and Lecturer Fashion at QUT’s School of Design – as well as eight final year QUT Bachelor of Design students in dialogue with Iris’ genre-bending garments. If all this artistry has you working up an appetite, Brisbane Quarter’s elite restaurants are offering themed beverages and bites, drawn from the essence of the exhibition as well.
Food and drink
It’s National Wing Week – meaning it’s time to flock to your favourite wing-slinging establishment to celebrate the sensational snacks. Winghaus is living up to its name, serving up a limited-edition menu deal so you and your friends can feast on 60 wings plus sides for $89.
Get ready to swirl, sniff and sample a delicious selection of drops this weekend at Strange Grape Co.’s Sip Happens Festival. Hosted by The Triffid, this day-long festival will be pouring more than a hundred wines from 25 of the best small Australian producers. With local bands and chances to meet the makers, expect a wine wonderland.
Markets
The highly anticipated BrisStyle Earring Market returns to enchant earring enthusiasts and supporters of local craftsmanship for its fourth year. This one-of-a-kind event will take place over two days at the iconic Paint Factory in Yeronga. Shop from 64 makers and even feast at one of the on-site food trucks or unwind at the local White Oat Distillery’s Gin Bar.
Shake out your tote bag and stock up on fresh-local produce, bespoke goodies and street food snacks at one of the weekly markets as well. Riverside Markets, Kelvin Grove Village Market, Jan Powers Farmers Markets, Carseldine Markets, Nundah Farmers Markets and the Redcliffe Markets are open and trading this weekend.
Want more? Head to our comprehensive Event Guide for all of the fun around town where you can search by category, date, location and more! We do our best to remove cancelled events but be sure to check the organiser’s own event page for the most current updates.