Live tunes
A bunch of must-see concerts, gigs and music-soaked soirees are coming to Brisbane this weekend, and we are ready for some live tunes. Listen Out will be taking over Brisbane Showgrounds on Sunday while GRAIN’s Birthday Weekender will be bringing some awesome homegrown acts to The Brightside from Saturday to Sunday. On Friday, Pandamic is headed to Tomcat while Cousin Tony’s Brand New Firebird is coming to Wooly Mammoth on Saturday, and Hannah Sands, Pipin, and SAIK will hit Black Bear Lodge on Saturday and rising multi-talented creative Hallie will make tracks to the venue on Sunday. Over at The Princess Theatre, legendary 90’s alt-funk, soul-rock pioneers Skunkhour will be bringing the noise on Saturday and New Jersey singer-songwriter Jeremy Zucker will be serenading crowds on Sunday. Texan GRAMMY-winner and contemporary R&B star Leon Bridges will sweep Aussie audiences off their feet at the Fortitude Music Hall this Saturday. The Tivoli will come alive with banger ABBA beats on Saturday as part of Gold – The Ultimate ABBA Show, while the inimitable Jonathan Van Ness returns to Brisbane this Friday with the Imaginary Living Room Olympian Tour! On Friday, head to The Triffid to celebrate the life, music and art of local legend, Nathan Smith. Tragically, Nathan lost his fight with cancer on 29th June 2022, leaving behind his band The Glycereens and a legacy of creativity that calls for a celebration of great heights. Australia’s #1 Oasis Tribute Show, NOASIS, will play the best of Brit-pop on Saturday at The Triffid, while King Stingray will take over the venue on Sunday and Monday night. The Zoo will host Art of Fighting on Friday, Muroki on Saturday, and Javier Vazquez on Sunday. Unwind to great tunes and good company all in the stunning sub-tropical surrounds of the Roma Street Parkland this Sunday at The Sound Society. On Sunday, park goers can soak up some upbeat tunes from rhythm and blues band Dezzie D and the STINGRAYS at Lakeside Lawn. Fans of beachside beats rejoice – the Caloundra Music Festival is back for its 15th year of stellar acts and good vibes. From September 30 to October 2, the Kings Beach Amphitheatre will come alive with three stages and ten hours of live music each day. Headline acts include Art vs Science, Baker Boy, Ben Lee, Client Liaison, Coterie, Felivand, Missy Higgins, The Presets, The Regime, The Rolling Stones Revue (featuring Adalita, Sarah McLeod and Tim Rogers), Skunkhour, Vaudeville Smash and The Waifs.

Exhibitions
Curious culture lovers can check out Chiharu Shiota’s spellbinding showcase The Soul Trembles at QAGOMA. This enchanting exhibition is the largest solo exhibition of thread-weaving artist Chiharu Shiota’s work to date – and it’s an art-filled ‘gram-worthy adventure, to say the least. You can expect to see mammoth installations featuring millions of black, white and red threads, which express the intangible experiences of life – memories, dreams, anxiety and silence. Just nearby, you can stumble upon Embodied Knowledge, a focused survey of new work by Queensland artists showing at Queensland Art Gallery. This group of commissioned and recent projects brings to the fore the voices of women, people of colour and LGBTIQA+ artists, all with a close connection to the sunshine state. Are you ready to enter a labyrinth of mirrors? Installation artist Keith Courtney’s mesmerising mirror maze Kaleidoscope, an immersive artwork of glass, steel, mirrors and moving prisms that visitors can traverse through, has finally arrived at Brisbane Powerhouse. A sparkling crystal palace by day, Kaleidoscope uses a colour field of ever-changing light to both treat and disorientate the senses once the sun sets. Fans of Mickey, Minnie, Elsa, Anna and everyone in between are sure to adore Queensland Museum’s newest exhibition, Disney: The Magic of Animation. This kid- and adult-friendly exhibition will draw back the curtain on almost 100 years of the Walt Disney Animation Studios, revealing the magic and hard work behind scenes of your favourite animated films. Jewellery lovers can take their peepers over to Museum of Brisbane to discover World of Wonder: Margot McKinney, a mesmerising celebration of the brand that is Margot McKinney. You’ll be able to set your eyes upon a treasure chest of jewels – from magnificent opals and eye-catching pearls to rare, exotic gems like blue tanzanite, lilac amethyst and pink tourmalines. If you truly want to immerse yourself in an out-of-this-world experience then prepare to enter Eephus and Sudo’s Funderdome from September 2 to October 1. Created by Tara Pattenden, this playful exhibition reimagines the classic video game arcade of yesteryear and will transform the Metro Arts galleries into an interactive space filled with eccentric games and friendly monsters. The Calile Hotel recently welcomed Gerwyn Davies for an artistic collaboration that’s well worth checking out. Created in conjunction with Jan Murphy Gallery, Gerwyn’s photography exhibition Pleasure will be unveiled on location at The Calile from September 16, the very same place it was shot. The artworks follow a group of playful misfits that have checked into the hotel donned in colourful costumes, and have made the space their playground. Giving us the perfect excuse to wander around the city is Brisbane City Council’s newest Outdoor Gallery exhibition, play/ground. From now until April 16, 2023, city strollers are set to be wowed by a series of breathtaking artworks in light boxes, banners, vitrines, and evening projections across destinations including Howard Smith Wharves, Ann Street and Fish Lane. Back for its fourth year in a row, art lovers must be quick to check out the Brisbane Portrait Prize Exhibition at Brisbane Powerhouse from September 29 to October 30.

Other fun things
Brisbane Fashion Week is set to take over the city with a bunch of exciting events from September 26 to October 1. The week-long fashion event brings together emerging and established designers and familiar fashion faces for a week of vibrant runways, stylish soirees and must-attend masterclasses. One fascinating fashion event you should grab a ticket to is the Trash N Treasure Planet Prom Runway, which is set to transform The Paint Factory in Yeronga into an out-of-this-world, eclectic party space – think extraterrestrials, celestial goodness and lots (we mean lots) of glitter. Those feeling adventurous this weekend can hit up Brisbane’s most ‘grammable experience – Imaginaria. Visitors are invited to step inside, slip off their shoes and engage with AI projections, sensor-triggered LED waves, giant silk parachute canopies, cosmic gardens, an anti-gravity sunset, an electronic hall of mirrors and a digital wishing well that whispers your greatest desires. Those keen for a road-trip can make way to Toowoomba Carnival of Flowers, which continues to bloom this weekend. Spectacular gardens, live music and local food and wine are just a small taste of what’s on offer over the course of this colourful event. The creatures of the putt putt course are back from the dead for Halloween Putt Putt, which is back at Victoria Park until October 31. Be sure to proceed with caution as you head onto their fairways filled with spooks galore! Taste bud-tantalising tipples, bopping beats and springtime vibes is what you’ll be met with once you arrive at Spring Spritz at BQ, The City’s newest pop-up bar. Pouring delicious drinks this Thursday at Brisbane Quarter, the pop-up bar will be manned by the master mixologists from W Brisbane. Theatre lovers can deep dive into Queensland Theatre’s tri-lingual reimagining of Shakespeare’s Othello, an epic tale of betrayal, jealousy and revenge that is playing its final show on Saturday. Celebrate spring this weekend with a rosé in hand at one of Brisbane’s favourite rooftop venues. The team at Lina Rooftop have partnered with Whispering Angel to deliver a luxe Spring Long Lunch this Saturday. Guests will enjoy a delectable four-course sharing menu made up of all your favourites including oysters, salmon, slow roasted lamb shoulder, gold band snapper and pavlova, paired with Whispering Angel’s selection of rosé from Château d’Esclans.

Markets
If you’re eager to stroll through some stalls and stock up on some fresh fruit and veg, be sure check out these markets happening – Saturday Fresh Market, Riverside Markets, Kelvin Grove Village Market, Jan Powers Farmers Markets, Davies Park Market, Carseldine Markets and the Redcliffe Markets. For delicious dinnertime eats, Eat Street Northshore is on for your snacking pleasure on Friday, Saturday and Sunday nights.

Written by Sara Weckerle from The Weekend Edition.