Tag: Brisbane

As the crisp autumn air settles over Brisbane, the city is buzzing with a dynamic lineup of cultural happenings. From visual arts and classical music to jazz, literary workshops, and live performances, here’s your guide to the must-see events for the weekend of May 9 to 11, 2025.

South Brisbane

May 9, 2025
Chat 10 Looks 3 Live
Category: Musical
Leigh Sales and Annabel Crabb bring their popular podcast to life with sharp wit and spontaneous charm.
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May 9, 2025
Continuum
Category: Jazz
A captivating recital featuring top jazz talent from Queensland Conservatorium.
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May 10, 2025
Writing Life Naturally with Mary-Rose MacColl
Category: Workshop
Explore personal storytelling in a reflective session led by a celebrated author.
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May 10 & 11, 2025
The Strauss Gala
Category: Orchestra
Enjoy the elegance and grandeur of Strauss in this orchestral celebration.
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May 11, 2025
Words and Pictures with Shannon Horsfall
Category: Workshop
A creative session blending illustration and storytelling for all ages.
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May 11, 2025
An Extended Sound Performance by Dean Ansell
Category: Art Exhibit
A thought-provoking fusion of sound, story, and urban space.
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Kangaroo Point

May 9, 2025
Galapagos Duck
Category: Jazz
Legendary jazz ensemble returns for a night of vibrant, soulful music.
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May 10, 2025
Dezzie D & the Stingrayz
Category: Jazz
Get your groove on with retro jazz and swing classics.
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May 11, 2025
The Trombone Kellie Gang – Mother’s Day Special
Category: Jazz
A festive Mother’s Day celebration with lively jazz by the river.
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Bowen Hills

May 8 to 11, 2025
Affordable Art Fair
Category: Fair
Dive into a world of creativity with works from emerging and established artists at this vibrant art marketplace.
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May 10, 2025
Refracted – Voxalis
Category: Classical
An innovative performance blending light, music, and emotion.
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Brisbane City

May 9, 2025
HRBRT
Category: Jazz
Live grooves and chilled brews at this riverside performance space.
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Runcorn

May 10, 2025
Artist Talk with Melissa Stannard
Category: Art Exhibit
A meaningful discussion on art, memory, and culture.
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Lytton (Port of Brisbane)

May 10 to 18, 2025
A Narrow Strip Along A Steep Edge
Category: Art Exhibit
An immersive outdoor exhibition set against Brisbane’s industrial history.
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West End

May 11, 2025
Brunswick Street Parade Live
Category: Live Music
A Sunday session featuring vibrant local sounds in a beloved venue.
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Whether you’re in the mood for music, visual storytelling, or community connection, Brisbane is brimming with unforgettable moments this May weekend.

Brisbane’s cultural calendar is in full bloom this weekend. Whether you’re after powerful theatre, mellow jazz, or thought-provoking art, the city has a little something for every curious and creative mind. Here’s a curated list of what’s on.

April 29 to May 4, 2025

New Farm (Brisbane Powerhouse)

Sh!t-faced Shakespeare
Category: Theatre Comedy
A raucous, unfiltered take on the Bard with one actor drunk and the rest trying to keep it together.
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May 2, 2025

South Brisbane (Queensland Conservatorium)

Ba Da Boom
Category: Percussion
An explosive percussion ensemble showcasing bold rhythms and world influences.
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Bowen Hills (JMI Live)

Mt Gravatt SHS Jazz Night with JMI
Category: Jazz
A swinging night of student talent, improvisation, and big band energy.
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May 3, 2025

Indooroopilly (Indooroopilly Library)

Meet Laura Elvery
Category: Meet and Greet
Join author Laura Elvery for a personal discussion on writing, inspiration, and creativity.
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South Brisbane (QPAC)

Shakespeare’s The Tempest
Category: Theatre
A classic tale of magic and revenge brought to life by Queensland Symphony Orchestra.
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Bowen Hills (JMI Live)

Jeff Usher with Brunswick Street Parade
Category: Jazz
An intimate jazz night with Brisbane legend Jeff Usher and ensemble.
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May 4, 2025

New Farm (New Farm Park)

Bands in Parks: A Touch of Tango with Asian Spice
Category: Music
A unique fusion of Latin rhythm and Eastern flair in this open-air concert series.
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West End (The Bearded Lady)

Gypsy Jazz Sundays
Category: Jazz
Mellow gypsy swing in one of Brisbane’s coziest live music spots.
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The Big Jazz Party!
Category: Jazz
A late-night jazz celebration with bold solos, surprise acts, and spirited crowd energy.
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May 2 to 10, 2025

South Brisbane (QPAC)

Carrie: The Musical
Category: Musical
A dark, dynamic retelling of Stephen King’s classic story—with songs that slay.
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May 1 to 6, 2025

Toowong (Richard Randall Art Studio)

Orangutan in Art
Category: Art Exhibit
A compelling exploration of conservation and creativity featuring works inspired by great apes.
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Step Into Brisbane’s Creative Side

This weekend, Brisbane’s arts scene offers everything from Shakespearean storms to jazz improvisation and immersive art. Whether you’re settling into a seat at QPAC or strolling through a riverside gallery, the city is your stage.

As Brisbane marks the final weekend of April with a blend of creativity, reflection, and rhythm, the city offers a rich array of arts and cultural experiences. From jazz to classical quartets, experimental cinema to contemporary art, this is a weekend to reconnect with the artistic pulse of the River City. Whether you’re in Fortitude Valley, Kangaroo Point or the city’s outer suburbs, these events offer something special for every cultural palate.

Fortitude Valley

Institute of Modern Art
26 April 2025
Un Magazine 18.1 Publication Launch
Category: Launch
Celebrate the release of the latest issue of Un Magazine with a creative crowd.
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Outer Space
25 April to 24 May 2025
The Rīgorabana, The Balawaia Exhibition: Dean Ansell
Category: Art Exhibit
A powerful visual journey exploring Indigenous identity and ancestral connection.
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Kangaroo Point

Brisbane Jazz Club
26 April 2025
John Reeves presents his Ragbags Quintet
Category: Jazz
A toe-tapping night of rhythmic flair and smooth improvisation with jazz pianist John Reeves.
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Brisbane Jazz Club
27 April 2025
Mango Jam Big Band presents The Best of Basie
Category: Jazz
A full-swing tribute to Count Basie packed with big band energy and timeless classics.
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Newstead

The Triffid
26 April 2025
Cool Britannia featuring Brisbane Symphony Orchestra Quartet
Category: Classical
An evening of British musical gems performed in one of Brisbane’s most iconic venues.
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South Brisbane

Queensland Symphony Orchestra Studio
26 April 2025
Young Instrumentalists i Prize Finalists’ Recital
Category: Classical
Emerging musical talents compete for top honours in this inspiring showcase.
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GOMA
24 & 26 April 2025
Asia Pacific Triennial Cinema GIFT: A Live Score by Eiko Ishibashi x Film by Ryusuke   Hamaguchi
Category: Audio Visual Arts
An immersive cinema experience with a live musical score accompanying cutting-edge visual storytelling.
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Playhouse, QPAC
26 April to 10 May 2025
The Dictionary of Lost Words
Category: Play
A stage adaptation of Pip Williams’ novel exploring language, memory and women’s voices.
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West End

The Bearded Lady
27 April 2025
Melody Graves and the Hokum Redemption
Category: Jazz
A gritty, deep-south-inspired performance by one of Brisbane’s favourite alt-jazz acts.
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Boondall

Boondall Wetlands Environment Centre
27 April 2025
Understory by Rachel Apelt
Category: Art Exhibit
Explore the intersection of nature and art in this reflective exhibition set within the wetlands.
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This April weekend proves Brisbane is more than sunshine and river breezes, it’s a city of creativity and cultural depth. Whether you’re up for a sophisticated recital, a bold jazz session, or an art exhibit that makes you think twice, the city’s stages, studios and streets are ready to welcome you. Get out there and feel the culture.