Blast from the past: The Masters Apprentices to headline winter festival
Iconic Aussie rock group The Masters Apprentices headlines this year’s Brisbane Winter Sessions Festival, which promises two solid weeks of great music across the City.
This year’s Brisbane Winters Sessions Festival has a treat in store with the return of iconic Aussie rock group The Masters Apprentices as headline act.
The festival returns August 2 to 16 with 14 events over two weeks across 12 venues with 30-plus artists. The 2026 program brings together Australian rock, international DJs, Balkan brass, African diaspora sounds, jazz, indie, singer-songwriters and queer club culture across Fortitude Valley, New Farm, West End, Newstead and Woolloongabba.
ARIA Hall of Fame inductees The Masters Apprentices headline the festival, bringing one of Australia’s most enduring rock stories back to Brisbane. Formed in Adelaide in 1965, the band helped shape Australian rock with classics including Undecided, Living in a Child’s Dream, Turn Up Your Radio and Because I Love You.
Don’t know their stuff? Go on YouTube and have a look at some old clips. They were way ahead of their time.
Now, more than 60 years on, founding members Mick Bower and Brian Vaughton still perform with Craig Holden, Bill Harrod and Dan Matejcic. For their Brisbane show at The Triffid on August 16, for the first time in more than 25 years they’ll be joined by songwriter and guitarist Doug Ford — a rare reunion of the key songwriters from both sides of the band’s history.
Their songs have travelled well beyond the 1960s and ’70s, covered and sampled by artists including Radio Birdman, Silverchair, The Reels, Gnarls Barkley and Hoodoo Gurus.
Organiser, producer and ARIA award-winning artist Tyrone Noonan says this year’s festival is the most musically diverse yet.
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“This year we’ve assembled a line-up that truly reflects what Brisbane sounds like in 2026,” Noonan says. “From ARIA Hall of Famers The Masters Apprentices to Balkan brass bands, music from the African diaspora, world-class international DJs, hidden laneway jazz clubs, indie rock fundraisers and queer club nights, there’s genuinely something for everyone.
“That’s always been the dream – to show that Brisbane’s music scene is as broad and as deep as any city in the world. And having The Masters Apprentices headline, with Doug Ford joining Mick Bower on stage for the first time in 25 years, is a once-in-a-generation moment. These are the songs that built Australian rock and roll. To bring that history to The Triffid as part of our festival is incredibly special.
‘Brisbane Winter Sessions is about gathering people through music, about community, and it’s about connection’
“We’re also proud that so many of our events are free this year. Live music should be accessible. Whether you’re discovering a new artist at a suburban pub on a Thursday night or dancing to DJ Vadim in West End on a Sunday afternoon, Brisbane Winter Sessions is about gathering people through music, about community, and it’s about connection. That’s what keeps us going.”
This year’s program covers a wide span of sounds and scenes. International DJ, producer and Jazz Fudge/Ninja Tune label founder DJ Vadim (UK/Russia) brings his blend of hip-hop, reggae, dub, soul, funk and electronica to a free event at Flying Colours in West End, supported by DJ Katch (Resin Dogs) and DJ Tyrone.
Grinspoon frontman Phil Jamieson brings his solo PJ Air Tour to Crowbar Brisbane, performing songs from his forthcoming sophomore album 10Charlie. \
Jazz is well represented, with The Primetime Sextet at The Alligator Club, the Mitch Bellert Quintet at The Ruby Jazz Club, and Dr Jeff Usher presenting an intimate tribute to Ray Charles. Blind since birth, Dr Usher has spent more than 40 years as a performer and holds a PhD in music composition from the University of Queensland.
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World music features strongly at Mirrorball Ministries, where Olifantenpad Brass Band, Queensland’s only Balkan/Eastern European brass band, will perform music from Ukraine, Turkey, the Balkans and Romania alongside GOSTI, whose members draw on percussion traditions from Nigeria and South India.
Diaspora Calling at Jiva on Brunswick is a free celebration of African music and culture with DJs, live performances and spoken word.
At Black Bear Lodge, Raising the Roof Volume 03 will raise funds for Brisbane Youth Service during National Homelessness Week, with indie and alt-rock acts Vinted Vineer, Lottie McLeod, Exit Guide and Chelsea Costar, hosted by Flamingo Blonde.
A Night of Light & Shade at The Junk Bar features Tyrone Noonan (george), Gold Coast songwriter Fergus Hogan and progressive darkwave artist Satellite Mile, while Kristy Apps & The Perfect Storm and Cosmic Sun Lounge bring indie rock and jangly pop to The Cave Inn.
But wait, there’s more … in a festival that’s a winner for the City, according to Lord Mayor Adrian Schrinner.
“Brisbane Winter Sessions celebrates our city’s live music scene, bringing leading artists and local talent to some of Brisbane’s most loved venues,” says Schrinner. “Events like this support small businesses and jobs while giving residents more free and affordable ways to enjoy everything Brisbane has to offer. We are proud to support festivals like this that showcase Brisbane as Australia’s lifestyle capital and create more to see and do across our city.”
The festival includes a mix of free and ticketed events, with many shows free, making live music more accessible while supporting local and touring artists, venues and crew. It also includes a major community fundraiser for Brisbane Youth Service, with 100 per cent of ticket proceeds donated.
Brisbane Winter Sessions gives emerging and established artists a platform to connect with audiences and helps create the kind of inclusive, energetic atmosphere that reflects Brisbane’s music community. Proudly supported by Brisbane City Council, the festival continues to grow each year and offers something for almost every kind of music fan this winter.
Brisbane Winters Sessions Festival program has 14 events that will take place across 12 venues, August 2-16.
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