Glam rock, crime fiction and moonlit movies – what’s on this weekend
There’s no excuse for no plans this weekend with the Gold Coast hosting a fount of enticing events, gigs and experiences. With an broad selection of music gigs hitting stages across the coast, you can take your pic from disco, glam rock, electric, punk and blues. Pro Wrestling Australia comes to GC for the first time ever while community events like free salsa classes, moonlit movies and theme park fun runs offer a chance to get social. Check out our guide to what’s on across the Gold Coast this weekend.
Music and live shows on the Gold Coast this weekend
Glam rockers Wet Kiss are hitting the road with an Australian tour of their sophmore album Thus Spoke the Broken Chanteuse, full of thrilling dramatic tracks with a sound plucked straight from the 80’s. The seven-piece high-drama group is fronted by self-described “punk Bette Midler” Brenna O, supported by a ragtag team of musical misfits, all dedicated to stylish insanity and euphoric melodies. The costumed characters will light up the stage at Vinnies Dive in Southport this Friday night, enchanting the crowd with their reckless abandon and electric charisma. This is a bewitching you won’t want to miss. Grab your tickets here.
Electronic aficionado Airwolf Paradise will be spinning the discs at elsewhere in Surfers Paradise this Friday night (and into Saturday morning) with his high-energy tracks that get blood pumping and feet moving. The Australian DJ just wrapped up his American tour in 2024, and has been in high demand ever since, garnering support from heavyweights like Peggy Gou, Diplo and Dom Dolla. Don’t miss your chance to see the livewire in action.
If you had one of those weeks and want to release some pent-up energy, fill your Saturday night with the untamed noise of CLAMM, celebrating their unapologetic new album Serious Acts at Vinnies Dive. The Naarm/Melbourne trio have made a name for themselves in the world of garage punk, which has seen them shares stages with Amyl & The Sniffers, King Gizzard and many more. Tickets are available here.
Australia’s biggest celebration of emo and pop-punk music, Taking Back Saturday (TBS), is crash-landing at Mo’s Desert Clubhouse this Saturday night to prove once and for all that punk isn’t a phase. TBS has thrown throwback parties across Australia, New Zealand and the United Kingdom, championing hits from My Chemical Romance, Pierce the Veil, Paramore, Fall Out Boy and many more. Grab your tickets here.
After supporting The Kid Laroi on his stadium tour in 2024, Onefour will kick off an Australian tour of their own, titled Look At Me Now, exploring the group’s defiant journey. Following a year of UK collaborations with Mabel and Headie One, viral TikTok tracks and a Netflix documentary, Onefour will continue to break the mould of Australian rap as they continue their tour. Hosted at Coolangatta Hotel, Sunday night’s show will be supported by hip-hop rap group The 046. Tickets are available here.
Alt-emo NSW locals Deadshowws will begin their Summer Rust tour, hitting Brisbane, Ipswich and Gold Coast. On Sunday night, they will take on Vinnies Dive after a busy start to the year, supporting Trophy Eyes and Basement, releasing their single ‘I Should’ and playing three packed NSW shows. Sunday’s gig will feature a stacked support lineup, with Meanjin’s own post-hardcore band, Verum, fresh alt-rock four piece sunbleached and indie psychedelic rockers Glowdown. Grab tickets here.
End your weekend with the masterful blend of surf, blues and folk from the cultured voice of Ash Grunwald will grace The SoundLounge in Currumbin this Sunday afternoon. The festival favourite has worked alongside the likes of Kasey Chambers, The Black Keys, Keith Urban and Xavier Rudd and has been selling out shows all over the country. Make sure you secure your spot here.
You might like
Craving a dose of disco? Disco Inferno is SOPO’s nostalgic night-club experience inspired by Studio 54 complete with lasers, LED screens, pyros and retro-themed lightning. Pumping out throwback tunes straight from the 70s, 80s and 90s, this Saturday night at SOPO is one for the ages. Grab your tickets here.
Die-hard Cold Chisel fans will find sanctuary in Burleigh Heads this Sunday with Celebration of Chisel, performed by Chisel fans for Chisel fans. Fans under 5 get free entry, so bring the family along for an afternoon of rock appreciation. Tickets are available here.
Markets, festivals and food events this weekend
Lovers of (fictional) crime will unite this Friday and Saturday as the Currumbin Crime Writers Festival takes off for a two-day celebration where crime meets the coast. 10 authors and publishing specialists, including Fiona McIntosh, January Gilchrist, Georgia Harper and more will be present to disperse their criminal knowledge, alongside a host of workshops, panel discussions and book signings. Tickets are available here.
Embrace the apres-ski vibes at Aviary Rooftop Bar’s Aviary Après this weekend! Throughout winter, the popular Southport rooftop bar and dining spot transforms into a cosy alpine escape with fireside s’mores, spiked hot chocolates, mulled wine and some of the city’s best golden-hour views. It’s the perfect way to toast the season – no snow boots required! Read more about Aviary Après over here.
This winter, high tea gets a decadent twist as Calleija Jewellers teams up with Sheraton Grand Mirage for an indulgent high tea experience at Pearls Bar. Running daily from June 1 to August 31, guests will be greeted with ocean views, a welcome cocktail and a parade of indulgent bites – think salmon caviar tarts, champagne-compressed watermelon and white chocolate pearl macarons. Plus, every guest goes in the draw to win a sparkling Tahitian pearl and diamond pendant, and a luxe two-night stay at Sheraton. Treat yourself! Book your spot here.
When the weekend rolls around, the golden coast turns into a lively hub of recurring produce markets and community gatherings. Miami Marketta Night Market, Palm Beach Farmers Market, Helensvale Farmers Market, Carrara Car Boot Markets, HOTA Farmers and Artisan Market and Robina Farmers Market will be hitting the Gold Coast this weekend.
Art Exhibitions taking place this weekend
Over two months ago, the National Gallery of Australia began their Enjoy this Trip – The Art of Music Posters exhibition, and this Saturday, the event will close with one last celebration. Late to the Party will feature screen-printing workshops, live music and pop-up record store, creating an atmosphere to send you back in time to the Summer of Love, all in the heart of HOTA.
Explore literary treasures at HOTA’s blockbuster exhibition Writers Revealed: Treasures from the British Library and National Portrait Gallery, London. The one-of-a-kind exhibition experience brings together over 100 rare manuscripts and portraits from literary legends like William Shakespeare, Jane Austen, the Brontë sisters, William Blake, Virginia Woolf, Sir Arthur Conan Doyle, Lewis Carroll, Sir Kazuo Ishiguro and Zadie Smith – many of which have never been seen outside the UK. Structured in five thematic sections, the exhibition spans 500 years of authorship, offering a rare glimpse into the lives of iconic English-language writers through their original works and portraits.
Marvel at illuminated night walk Astra Lumina at Currumbin Wildlife Sanctuary. The cosmic after-dark journey will take you on a curated trail through Currumbin’s 27 hectares of pristine bushland by night, with immersive projections, incredible lighting and otherworldly soundscapes. It’s a must! Grab your tickets here.
Fun experiences hitting this Gold Coast this weekend
Don your dancing shoes this Sunday and shimmy your way to Broadwater Parklands for an afternoon of learning and passion at Salsa in the Park. This free three-hour event invites beginners and seasoned professionals alike to meet new people and learn some new moves. No partner? No problem. The organisers will happily find you a dance partner.
Pro Wrestling Australia Black Label is hitting the Gold Coast for the first time this Saturday night, with Coolangatta Hotel hosting the one-night-only QLD vs NSW showdown. The 18+ night out will bring beers, brawls and mayhem to the coast as wrestlers The Tuckman, Xtina Kade, Third Eye, RUFIO and more take to the ring. Grab tickets here before they’re all gone.
Dreamworld and WhiteWater world will turn into Dreamworld Fun Run this Sunday, giving the Gold Coast the unique chance to use Queensland’s biggest theme parks as its running track. Take your pick from the 5 km Fun Run or the 2 km Junior Dash for Guide Dogs Queensland, with $5 from every registration being donated to Dreamworld’s charity partners. Register here!
Robina’s Greenheart Parklands will turn into a starlit movie theatre this Saturday night with a screening of If, the family-friendly story about imaginary friends. Movies Under the Stars will have food trucks, ice cream and most importantly popcorn so you can settle down on your picnic blanket with a feast before the movie begins.
This Saturday, the Gold Coast Suns and The Greater Western Sydney Giants will compete in AFL Round 23 in the Sun’s last regular season home game for the year. See the champions battle it out at People First Stadium in Carrara in what is set to be a thrilling match. Secure your tickets here.
Care to peek into your future? This Friday night, Black Woman Magic will host a night of tarot card reading. Madame Lumen, a professional card reader hailing from the Sunshine Coast, will be deciphering the cards with her 20 years’ experience as a mystic. The tickets include a free reading and a glass of house wine, so secure your spot here.
Queensland’s best in Netball will compete on the Gold Coast this Saturday in the Hart Premier Netball League at Gold Coast Sports and Leisure Centre in Carrara. See QLD’s 8 Sapphire Teams and 10 Ruby Teams take to the court in this free event.
Treat the little ones to an enlightening and fun story time this Friday morning, as visual artists Norton Fredericks hosts HOTA’s Rainbow Story Hour for August. Perfect for kickstarting young imaginations and friendships, this free event kindly asks you to register first.
Flock to Paradise Centre in Surfers Paradise this August for the chance to win one of seven Parties in Paradise packages curated for next-level fun. When you spend $10 or more at any participating Paradise Centre retailer, scan the QR code in-store to go into the draw to win a package worth up to $2500. The seven packages being offered up include prize money to spend at Timezone, MANIAX, Nahm Talay Thai, Surfers Beer Garden, Wahlburgers, Padlock’d or Celebrity Ink. With every $10 earning you another entry, head down to Paradise Centre for the chance to win an unforgettable party experience to share with the crew.
