Hoodoo Gurus, BrisAsia and Skibidi Toilet – here’s what’s on in Brisbane this weekend
This weekend we cross the boundary between January and February. The year is picking up steam and Brisbane’s social scene is not falling behind. With Lunar New Year celebrations, circular fashion markets, beat wizards Hoodoo Gurus or wizard wizards Penn & Teller, this weekend is bursting with fun things to do and see. It’s all here for you in the best things to do this weekend from January 30 to February 2.
Concerts on in Brisbane this weekend
Head to The Triffid on Friday January 31 to see 22-year-old First Nations singer, songwriter, and producer Sycco perform tracks from their debut album Zorb. Expect a heady mix of psychedelic sound, dizzying hyperpop, mesmerising electronic dance tones and a good bit of garage rock.
Catch Australian music icons Hoodoo Gurus as they perform the hits at The Fortitude Music Hall. On Saturday February 1, the legends of rock will celebrate the 40th anniversary of Stoneage Romeos by performing it in its entirety, with support from Screamfeeder.
Theatre and live events on in Brisbane this weekend
World-renowned duo Penn & Teller are celebrating their 50th anniversary of magic with a tour of Australia, hitting the Concert Hall stage at QPAC from January 29 to February 7. The modern-day wizards will astound audiences with a brand-new array of mind-bending tricks.
Lose your head when SIX the Musical returns to the QPAC stage until February 9. The globally celebrated and multi-award winning high-octane musical sees feisty Tudor queens boldly rewrite five hundred years of history. Last season was a sell out so don’t delay in booking tickets!
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You’d better shape up – GREASE is the word and it’s back until February 1! The much-loved musical is returning to the QPAC stage with an all-new multimillion-dollar production, promising to be slicker, sexier and more electrifying than ever before. Sing along as you watch Patti Newton as the much-loved Miss Lynch, Bobby Fox as Vince Fontaine and the incomparable Marcia Hines as Teen Angel.
If you’re feeling spicy this weekend, Blanc de Blanc Encore promises a night of laughs and lots of skin. Performing at Brisbane’s latest theatre and bar The West End Electric, this riotous revue of acrobatic talent and great tunes has been choreographed by Kevin Maher (whose past clients include Madonna and Britney Spears) and scored by Danish electronic artist Kenneth Bager. Running into the new year, Blanc de Blanc Encore invites you to escape the ordinary for a captivating night of circus cabaret.
Award-winning circus sensation Blush returns to QPAC this summer for a non-stop celebration of the surprising, the subversive and the supremely sexy. Until Sunday January 26, this outrageous brand of adult circus promises to shock and scandalise with a decadent evening of sensational acrobatics, operatic cabaret and tongue-in-cheek burlesque.
Art and exhibitions on in Brisbane this weekend
Catch three exhibitions at IMA in Fortitude Valley. The gallery is currently hosting a number of engrossing exhibitions, starting with Archie Moore: Comic Paintings – a collection of large works that emphasise the difference of his childhood experiences — experiencing bullying and abuse; poverty, shame, and low self-esteem — with those of the American white middle-class teen whose name Archie shares.
Get insight into a massive viral sensation Skibidi Toilet with IMA’s new exhibition, Boom, which is running from Saturday January 18 to Thursday April 10. IMA’s screening room will host the first institutional display of the YouTube video series, which has become a Gen Alpha cultural touchstone.
Platform 2025 is the second iteration of IMA’s annual Queensland new-artists project. This year, the exhibition is showcasing work from three artists – Shannon Toth, Jarrod van der Ryken, and Keemon Williams. The exhibition is running until Sunday March 30.
Rachel Burke documents her year of loss through her vibrant, raw and honest exhibition, Thanks for Nothing. The multidisciplinary artist and designer has swapped her trademark tinsel for more than half a million melty beads, hand-placed to create this new body of work. Opening at Side Gallery this weekend, Thanks for Nothing explores Rachel’s personal journey with fertility, loss and grief, presented through an unexpectedly inviting and vibrant lens. Catch Rachel in conversation this Saturday February 1 at the gallery from 5:30 pm, followed by the opening night event from 6:00–8:00 pm.
QAGOMA’s fiercely anticipated flagship event The Asia Pacific Triennial continues for its 11th year with more than 500 artworks by artists from over 30 countries. Exhibition attendees can expect to discover a vibrant multi-part project from Haus Yuriyal (a collective of 28 artists from Papua New Guinea), a three-dimensional installation of suspended tunnels, cascading curtains and towering scrolls from leading Thai artist Mit Jai Inn, portraits of everyday life in Hong Kong by senior painter Yeung Tong Lung as well as plenty more installations, paintings, sculptures and multi-disciplinary projects.
Museum of Brisbane’s New Light: Photography Now + Then continues into the new year. Stroll your way through a mesmerising display of photographs spanning from 1890 to 2024. The collection features the remarkable tale of amateur Brisbane photographer Alfred Henrie Elliott (1870-1954), whose extraordinary images lay dormant for decades until they were discovered in 1983, stored in cedar cigar boxes beneath a home in Red Hill.
Art appreciation takes to the streets with Museum of Brisbane’s newly-curated immersive walking tour through The Star Brisbane and Queen’s Wharf Brisbane. Explore the art, history, and architecture within Brisbane’s visionary new lifestyle and cultural precinct. This bespoke 45-minute walking tour is free for a limited time, giving you a rare opportunity to explore Brisbane’s newest multi-million-dollar public outdoor art gallery as well as visit key heritage sites in the precinct.
Fun events in Brisbane this weekend
Commemorating the Lunar New Year and celebrating the best of Asian culture and cuisine, BrisAsia Festival will be lighting up Brisbane between January 31 to February 9. Now in its 13th year, this popular festival’s action-packed program will be filled with old favourites as well as exciting new acts – from the Singapore Symphony Orchestra to K-Pop showcases.
Need a hit of dopamine? Dopamine Land: A Multisensory Experience is running at Uptown until Friday February 28. Combining media, technology and play, the event features a series of spaces designed to stimulate touch, sight, smell and even memory.
The summer season means $2 swims are back. The popular initiative lets you swim more for less this summer with $2 pool entry to Brisbane public pools. Available at the 22 swimming pools across the city, visit a Council pool to cool off, relax, enjoy water play or improve your fitness with a lap this weekend.
Step inside Bluey’s World – for real life! Bluey’s iconic Queenslander is calling Northshore Hamilton home until September 2025, allowing fans of the show to immerse themselves in the Heeler home they know and love. With innovative set designs, interactive games, and activities for children and adults alike, Bluey’s World has been carefully curated to mirror the spirit of the series, encouraging creative play and connection. A must visit for the young and young at heart!
Get your movie fix this summer under the starry night sky, with Moonlight Cinemas screenings happening at Roma Street Parkland. This weekend you can catch new releases Sonic The Hedgehog 3, Wicked and Mufasa: The Lion King.
Markets on in Brisbane this weekend
Brisbane’s most beloved circular fashion market, Love Me Again Market (LMAM), is making a triumphant return to Morningside, launching a new market location at the historic Morningside School of Artson Sunday February 2. The market will feature 25 stalls hawking pre-loved fashion and accessories (from designer labels and on-trend pieces), alongside freshly brewed coffee from an on-site van.
Tote bag at the ready – fresh-local produce, bespoke goodies and street food snacks all await at Brisbane’s weekly markets as well. Kelvin Grove Village Market, Jan Powers Farmers Markets, Nundah Farmers Markets, West End Markets, Riverside Markets and the Redcliffe Markets are open and trading this weekend.