Brisbane Entertainment

Brisbane is home to some vibrant and lively entertainment options, and a thriving nightlife scene. The nightlife landscape has expanded considerably over the last decade to include international stage acts, a plethora of eateries and nightclubs, and a music scene encompassing everything from lazy jazz to thumping dance music.

Nightlife

Brisbane’s club scene has been drastically revitalised in recent times and spreads from the elegant Paddington district along Caxton Street through the city and into the thumping heart of the Valley. Here you can find a mix of hard-edge modernism along with cosy, hidden retreats.

For a more chilled-out vibe, the bars and lounges of West End or New Farm may be more to your taste. Brisbane’s beautiful historic pubs, many of them recently revived and boasting wide, shady verandas and beer gardens, are perfect places for spending a sunny afternoon or eating a quick meal at night.

If dancing and partying the night away is your choice, the city boasts many happening clubs. Mercury Nightclub and Vibe are both good for dancing to the best R&B beats in town. Level 5 at the Hilton, Fridays Riverside, The Port Office Hotel and Adrenalin Sports Bar are other venues popular with young, vibrant crowds.

Theatre and music

The Queensland Performing Arts Centre (QPAC) in the Queensland Cultural Centre is the hub for Brisbane’s performing arts scene. The city is also home to a lively independent theatre scene, with smaller companies making a growing impact. The Queensland Theatre Company stages eight or nine productions a year, ranging from classics to new Australian works. It draws some of the country’s best actors and directors.

The well-established La Boite Theatre Company stages innovative, contemporary Australian plays. The company performs at the new 400-seat Roundhouse Theatre. The Brisbane Powerhouse Centre for the Live Arts houses innovative, alternative contemporary works. A former electricity plant, the huge brick factory is now a dynamic art venue for exhibitions, contemporary performances and live art.

Brisbane’s music scene is vibrant and varied. The Caxton Street strip is home to a musical medley, with Casablanca’s playing sweet soul tunes opposite Hotel LA’s infectious pop-dance culture. Farther along the street, the Caxton Hotel is always thumping with its 20-something crowd dancing to renditions of 1980s and ‘90s pop classics. Latin lovers should check out Club Brazil, and City Rowers plays pulsating dance music all night for young groovers.

For classical music fans, the Queensland Orchestra offers a diverse blend of orchestral and chamber music, while occasionally venturing into fun material such as movie themes, Cole Porter hits and gospel music. It schedules about 30 concerts a year.

Festivals

Brisbane puts on a number of lively festivals and events throughout the year, with highlights including:

• Cockroach races are held at the Story Bridge Hotel on Australia Day (January).
• Caxton Street Seafood and Wine Festival features seafood at Brisbane’s largest street party. You can sample cooking from many famous restaurants and enjoy live acts on two stages (April).
• Musica Viva Australia is a series of international concerts (April to November).
• Paniyiri Greek Festival is a multicultural event showcasing Greek culture. This one-day ethnic festival attracts over 20,000 people from Brisbane’s Greek community (May).
• Brisbane Medieval Fayre features a range of cultures and time periods, with battle re-enactments and lots of entertainment (June).
• Brisbane International Film Festival showcases a dynamic programme of features, documentaries, shorts, experimental works, animation and video as well as seminars (August).
• Brisbane Riverside Festival is an arts event with food, entertainment and fireworks (September).
• The biennial Brisbane Festival is an international multi-arts festival, showcasing talent from around the globe including various Australian artists.
  It features opera, dance, theatre and music along with free community events.
• Pinnacles Music Festival is a 15-day celebration featuring jazz and improvised music (November).