Take on the town – where to find Brisbane’s best theatre, music and comedy
The times, they are a-changin’. Brisbane is no longer the sleepy oversized country town it used to be, but your favourite places don’t happen by chance. With Brisbane City Council helping to shape lifestyle precincts like Fortitude Valley, Brisbane Powerhouse and Howard Smith Wharves, Brisbane is now a thriving city with an exciting cultural scene at its heart. From world-class theatres and jam-packed calendars of live-music performances to an emerging independent comedy scene, Brisbane’s nightlife has never been more exciting. Want to get amongst it? Here’s a handy ‘how to’ guide on exploring Brisbane’s cultural offering.
Let’s get loud with some live music
Brisbane has a rich musical history. From The Saints and The Go-Betweens to Powderfinger, Regurgitator and Ball Park Music, the city has a long and illustrious history of musical excellence. Fortitude Valley was where many of these bands cut their teeth, honing their craft in front of feverish local punters at some of the nightlife precinct’s most storied venues.
Well connected by public transport (both bus and train), The Valley continues to be Brisbane’s musical epicentre. These days, emerging local artists often plug in and perform at small-scale venues like Black Bear Lodge, Suzie Wong’s Good Time Bar, The Alligator Club, Greaser, Press Club and The Outpost, to name a few. Touring artists can be found tearing it up at Crowbar and The Brightside, while musical megastars often stage their headline gigs at The Fortitude Music Hall and The Tivoli. Beyond the hallowed halls of these venues, Fortitude Valley’s streets also come alive for yearly events – be sure to check Brisbane City Council’s What’s On page to see which shows are on the horizon.
Down at Howard Smith Wharves, one of Brisbane’s hottest planned lifestyle precincts, Felons Barrel Hall is also a cherished outlet for local sounds. The venue has one of the best gig schedules in the entire city, with the cavernous brewery boasting a stage and sound system to rival some of the more established music haunts. Its Seasonal Fruit Festival is also rapidly becoming a must-attend fixture of the musical calendar.
While venue hopping, be sure to keep your eyes peeled for the historical landmarks that honour Brisbane’s homegrown talent, including the Valley Walk of Fame – a series of bronze plaques in the Brunswick Street Mall that celebrate the achievements of artists like the Bee Gees, Savage Garden, The Jungle Giants, Cub Sport, Emma Louise and Violent Soho.
Also, along the laneway connecting Brunswick Street Mall to Duncan Street, you’ll find The Carol Lloyd Memorial – a tribute to the artist that played a formative role in the development of Brisbane’s live-music scene, whose song ‘Together, We’ll Show the World’ was the theme song for World Expo ’88.
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Laughs aplenty – where to catch some killer comedy
Though small, Brisbane’s comedy scene punches above its weight class. The city’s crop of local comedic talent is making a name for itself across the country, with local legends earning slots at some of Australia’s biggest comedy festivals.
When they are home, you’ll find these professional jokesters honing their craft at Good Chat Comedy Club on Caxton Street. Tucked away underneath Caxton Street Brewing Co., Good Chat is a grassroots endeavour that has cultivated a strong local following since its inception in 2017.
Every week, the team brings through fresh new acts from Brisbane and interstate, with incredible comedians like Mel Buttle, Wil Anderson, Tom Ballard, Becky Lucas, Rove McManus, Aaron Chen and Geraldine Hickey popping in for a set. Located a short distance from the Milton train station and a major artery for Brisbane buses, Caxton Street isn’t just for footy fans – comedy is quickly becoming a major drawcard.
If you’re keen to keep the laughs coming, be sure to check Brisbane Powerhouse’s entertainment schedule. In addition to playing host to yearly highlights the Brisbane International Comedy Festival and MELT Festival, the cultural institution regularly welcomes touring comics to the Powerhouse Theatre stage.
Get dressed up for a night at the theatre
From thought-provoking theatre, beautiful ballet displays and outstanding orchestral arrangements, the Queensland Performing Arts Centre (QPAC) has been the home of live performance in Brisbane for close to 40 years.
The undeniable anchor of South Bank’s Cultural Precinct, QPAC is constantly abuzz with theatregoers flocking to catch the latest touring musical, dazzling dance display or stellar symphony. With the new Glasshouse Theatre only months away from completion, QPAC is set to enter a renaissance period as Brisbane’s cultural nexus.
Positioned next to one of the city’s biggest bus terminals, QPAC is a great establishment on which to base a night out. After hopping off the newly minted Brisbane Metro, make tracks to Fish Lane first. Here you’ll find a number of high-quality bars and restaurants perfect for a pre-show feed or tipple. Established favourites like Julius Pizzeria and Hello Please are great picks, while newcomers like Clarence and Marlowe are shaping up to be certified crowd-pleasers.
Back over in New Farm, Brisbane Powerhouse once again earns top marks for its contribution to the arts scene. Thought-provoking panel discussions, engaging independent theatre productions and cabaret spectacles are commonplace at Brisbane Powerhouse, which – thanks to Brisbane City Council – has been reimagined into a one of the city’s best cultural hubs. Oh, and its proximity to world-class drinking, dining and lifestyle precinct James Street makes it a prime pick for a nightlife outing.
If you’re lucky, Brisbane Powerhouse’s month-long sensory celebration of feasting and art, Night Feast, will be running when you visit, transforming the venue into a brightly lit beacon of culture and culinary wonder.
This article was written in partnership with our friends at Brisbane City Council, who have helped shape lifestyle precincts like Fortitude Valley, Fish Lane, Caxton Street, Howard Smith Wharves and Brisbane Powerhouse.