What’s happening in Brisbane this Autumn
Following the success of our previous guide to the good things Brissy has got going on, we thought we’d update you with the latest happenings over the autumn months. Here’s a heads-up on the stuff you don’t want to miss, along with a useful tip on where to stay while you’re there:
LIVE MUSIC
Hey you! You need to get yourself to The Blurst of Times Festival at The Foundry on the 16th April. Srsly, it’s gonna be sick. There are so many top acts, including Kirin J Callinan, Dune Rats, Methyl Ethel, Polish Club and Bad // Dreems. Tickets are here. Snooze = Lose. We went last year and it was awesome.
Don’t miss the amazing Sarah Blasko at The Tivoli on 15th April 2016. She’s supported by our very own contributor, Jack Colwell.
Meredith is supporting San Cisco at The Triffid on April 27/28. Deets here and check out her new slice below.
Melbourne multi-instrumentalist and producer LANKS is playing at The Friendzone @ Brightside on the 14th April. This’ll be a great gig, we reckon. Tickets available here.
A bit further down the line this, but The Living End are at The Tivoli on Friday June 10. Tickets from ticketmaster. Get ’em now or they’ll all sell out.
Back in May, and Darling James and Machine Age have a co-headline show at The Milk Bar on the 13th May to celebrate the release of Darling James’ latest single.
The ace Camp Cope play on Saturday 28 May at Crowbar. Tickets on the door.
And lastly but not leastly (is leastly a word?), next Wednesday the 13th April, Oh Pep! are playing at Black Bear Lodge. This is them…
WHERE TO STAY
We dig the good folk at ibis and the way they are keen to support the Australian music scene (the epic Astral People party that we went to in an ibis car park in Sydney is testament to that). You can have a look at their website to see all the stuff they’re doing.
Anyhoo, not only do they want to give a leg-up to local artists, but they also know how to look after the weary adventurer as well. If you need somewhere to stay while in Brissy, then you should check out its newest internationally-branded hotel, ibis Styles Brisbane Elizabeth Street, which has just opened its doors.
The new premium economy hotel is slap-bang in the middle of the city (meaning it’s easy to get to and from gigs) and the place offers a cracking vista of the river or the city. The bedding is comfy, the decor is bright and attractive and rooms have SmartTV’s with media ports. Very 21st Century! The staff are helpful and attentive and will happily give you lots of useful tips about the best things to see in the local area and where to get some good food, as well as the best bars to visit.
To book ibis Styles Brisbane Elizabeth Street and for more info, visit accorhotels.com
OTHER HIGHLIGHTS
Let Me Be Myself is an exhibition created by the Anne Frank House, which is travelling around Australia. It’s on from now until May 22nd at Pine Rivers Heritage Museum, Old Petrie Town. Opening hours are Tuesday to Friday: 10.00am – 3.00pm, Saturday: 10.00am – 2.00pm, Sunday: 9.00am – 2.00pm. Admission is gratis!
A love-sick hero. A blood-thirsty plant. A mouth-watering musical! Cult comedy musical classic, Little Shop of Horrors, is currently on at Playhouse QPAC. Deets here.
One thing you should always do when in Brissy is #GettotheGabba. The Brisbane Lions have a bunch of home games coming up, including a rare and tasty looking Saturday night showdown with Collingwood. Here are the dates of their home fixtures:
Saturday 16 April, 4.35pm v Gold Coast Suns
Sunday 1 May, 1.10pm v Sydney Swans
Saturday 14 May, 7.25pm v Collingwood
Saturday 28 May, 1.45pm v Hawthorn
And talking of sport, how about an NRL double header? Suncorp Stadium hosts two matches on 14 May. The reigning premiers the North Queensland Cowboys take on the Melbourne Storm, after which, followed the Brisbane Broncos battle the Manly Sea Eagles.
FREE THINGS TO DO IN THE DAYTIME
If you’re like us, you don’t have much money to throw around. And what little cash you do have goes on gigs and albums, right? Well, luckily there is plenty to do in Brisbane for zero dollars. You can head to the South Bank and get cultural at the Gallery of Modern Art, which is next to Queensland Art Gallery and the Science Centre. And GOMA Is obviously always worth a visit.
Then stroll along the South Bank where you’ll find market stalls on weekends, a whole lot of talented buskers, a rainforest walk (think Ewok Village) and, if you want to pretend you’re on the coast, a manmade beach.
On the water’s edge, the Botanic Gardens are a lovely place to spend a sunny afternoon. You’ll see ducks, a zillion lizards and some beautiful flowers, plants and trees, like this big guy (pictured above).
Another thing that seems too good to be free but absolutely is free is the Cityhopper ferry, which goes up and down the Brisbane River every half-hour or so. It’s a fun way to see the city and the Story Bridge.
WHERE TO EAT
Don’t miss LR Sushi on Adelaide Street. It’s a tiny little hole in the wall that serves the greatest sushi. It’s fairly cheap compared to its competitors. Also, try Botanica (Enoggera Tce, Paddington). They serve salad and baked goods. When we say salad, we’re talking turmeric-infused cashew cream drizzled over golden brown sweet potato and pumpkin. When we say baked goods, we’re talking decadent chocolate cookies the size of your face.
Then there are Boundary Street Markets (pictured above) in the West End, open Friday night, Saturday and Sunday. This place is a vibrant hub of food stalls, where you can grab cuisine from all over the globe and eat it around log fires in the courtyard, before washing it all down with a few beers and some live music.
So, that should do you for starters. Some sick gigs, a place to stay, stuff to do for free in the daytime and the best places to fill your faces. What are you waiting for?
Words and pictures by Bobby Townsend with additional material from Keely Thurecht.
