The Tivoli and The Princess Theatre are thrilled to announce their flagship music and arts program, Open Season, will once again ignite Brisbane from late May – July 2024, set to deliver some of the most memorable new music experiences in the city’s cultural calendar this year.
Following the success of the previous three years, Open Season 2024 will extend its reach beyond the walls of the two iconic venues, spilling the event’s dynamic energy onto the streets of Brisbane with several exciting new pop-up locations revealed.
Get ready to spend some time with a cutting-edge line-up of international and local talent, ready to warm your heart and mind over the winter months. You’ll be getting cosy with…
“Open Season is about bringing Brisbane to life over the typically quieter winter months, promoting togetherness and celebrating artistic adventure,” says The Tivoli and Princess Theatre Creative Director, Dave Sleswick.
“We are stoked with this year’s line-up and proud that Open Season has become such a huge highlight in the city’s cultural calendar. This year’s Open Season program has something for everyone.”
“From iconic heritage acts to sets from some of Australia’s most exciting up-and-coming artists. There is street art, delicious food, shows for the kids and even a performance art series. There’s a lot to discover in this year’s edition and we can’t wait to welcome you back,” said Sleswick.
Open Season will officially open its doors on the first day of winter, bringing Bowen Hill’s King Street to life with a free, all ages street party celebrating First Nations excellence, food and music from some of the country’s most admired Indigenous artists at Blak Day Out.
Enjoy the soulful stylings of ARIA-nominated Emma Donovan as she headlines the program alongside 3%, the newly formed hip-hop collective made up of Dallas Woods, Nooky and Angus Field. That’s after Meanjin locals BADASSMUTHA and The Ancient Bloods warm the stage, with more special artists that are yet to be announced.
Blak Day Out will also launch King Street’s Open Season Food Fiesta, showcasing local Indigenous retailers and diverse food offerings. Gather, feast and dance as King Street comes alive with a string of pop-up bars, food stalls, outdoor music stages and entertainment. Entry is free, register your interest HERE.
In 1998, Kenny Sabir and a group of multicultural friends came together to launch an independent music label that would reflect their activism and desire to champion the next generation of young Australian artists. With a roster of bold, change-making acts, Elefant Traks surged to the vanguard of local hip-hop and electronic music, nurturing some of the culture’s most important new artists in the process.
After 25 years, the label is going out on a high, celebrating their legacy with a huge night of music featuring a line-up of their greatest artists, a big backing band and a visual show. Expect all the classics – from Hermitude’s The Buzz and The Herd’s The King is Dead – and much, much more. Open Season is honoured to host the iconic label’s last ever outing. Don’t miss it!
Acclaimed for their cathartic, heavily dynamic instrumental rock songs, Texas quartet Explosions in the Sky will bring their scathingly intense live performance to Open Season. Touted early on as the next phenomenon in moody, crescendo-heavy post-rock, they gradually became one of the genre’s most successful bands. Experience their powerful atmospheric guitar interplay firsthand this winter.
It’s going to be a soul stirring experience when Brooklyn-born INIKO makes their debut Australian performance. One of the most celestial voices on the international soul scene, the gifted songwriter, producer and multi-instrumentalist has generated an inimitable brand of cosmic soul and a devoted fan-based that has seen them attract over 4m TikTok followers across the globe. It’s going to be a night of warmth and whimsy when INIKO takes over.
More than a decade since releasing her critically acclaimed, widely beloved debut album Night Time, My Time, American singer-songwriter Sky Ferreira has become a musical enigma bordering on pop myth. Between a string of film appearances and teasing a handful of one-off tracks, the multi-talented artist left fans wondering when – or if – she’d release a follow-up to her iconic debut.
Now, 10 years after her last Australian shows – and with that second album rumoured to be nearing release – Ferreira is finally back and set to take The Princess Theatre stage by storm after her appearances at Vivid Sydney, and Melbourne’s Rising Festival.
Then it’s time to witness the boundaryless practice of multi-hyphenate artist Yves Tumor. With a wickedly dense discography and dynamic live performances, their genre-defying music captivates audiences worldwide. Experience the controlled chaos and emotive intensity firsthand as they make their way to Brisbane as part of their fiercely anticipated debut Australian tour.
Got kids? Tell them to pack their bags and get in the car, cause you’re taking them to a rock show (or two)! Brisbane legends Regurgitator have designed a special performance for the whole family, young and old, to enjoy. The iconic trio has teamed up with jazz punksters Party Dozen and glitter punk-pop duo Cry Club to deliver one helluva All Ages show.
Ankle biters can’t get enough? Then enrol them in the ultimate school of rock when the Motorhead of children’s music, Bunny Racket takes over The Tivoli! A couple of years back, lead singer and honourable chief lagomorph, Andy Walker AKA King Bunny burrowed down with Brant Bjork (Kyuss) and Robby Krieger (The Doors) to create a sound that would bring all generations together in rock ‘n’ roll harmony. Whether you’re 3 or 103 years old, King Bunny and his fluffy punk rock friends will have you moving.
Prefer to get a baby-sitter? Regurgitator will play an 18+ show on Saturday 15 June, with new album INVADER in tow. Party Dozen and Cry Club will once again join the band, along with mechanical techno retro-futurists Monster Zoku Onsomb!
A smorgasbord of musical moments, Open Season has something for everyone. From US avant-rock legends, Blonde Redhead who’ll hit Brisbane as part of their first Australian tour in thirteen years, the distinctive tone and heartstring-plucking vibrato of New Zealand’s Marlon Williams, to the dynamic live performance of GRAMMY-nominated electronic act BAYNK.
There’s the magical and emotionally stirring music of The Paper Kites, the unbridled energy of electronic duo SLUMBERJACK and the thoughtful alternative R&B of Forest Claudette. Dual ARIA-Award winning psych-jazz outfit Mildlife are along for the ride, as are Two Another with their kaleidoscopic mix of electronic, alternate R&B and soul as well as fast-rising indie-rock stars DICE!
A Brisbane fixture for electronic music, QUIVR is back in Open Season again! Taking over Winn Lane with an electronic program of DJs from all around the country for two free, all-night dance parties.
From its beginnings as a livestream DJ booth and DJ school, to the now well-established bar and music venue, QUIVR was built around an ethos of approachability and has provided a platform for diverse communities to showcase their unique sound. Get ready to move when QUIVR takes over Winn Lane for two huge nights. Line-up incoming!
And the music is just the beginning, with some incredible artworks also a part of Open Season 2024… Experience the cult phenomenon Queer PowerPoint, the experimental performance series that has been taking Australian arts festivals by storm.
Open Season marks the project’s Brisbane debut. Strap yourself in as local queer artists are invited to explore and share an idea, current obsession or ongoing fascination using Microsoft PowerPoint.
Join hosts Xanthe Dobbie and Harriet Gillies for a hilarious night reclaiming and queering corporate presentation culture. Queer PowerPoint has been created by Sydney-based collective Unfunded Empathy and will feature as the closing event for the 2024 International Symposium of Electronic Arts.
Australia’s largest street art festival is back and, in collaboration with Open Season, two internationally renowned street artists – Damien Mitchell and David Lee Pereira – will take on the great walls of The Tivoli carpark! These unique artworks will become the background to Brisbane’s most-loved and longest-standing music institution, free to view for lovers of music and street art.
Keep your eyes peeled because several exciting new additions will be added to the program over the coming weeks, adding to the already stacked offering that Open Season has dished out for Brisbane.
Tickets to Open Season go on sale at 9am AEST Wednesday 27 March, with presale now available. For more information and full program, visit: www.openseason.live for details.
Images: Regurgitator (supplied) | The Ancient Bloods (supplied) | Bunny Racket (supplied) | Queer Powerpoint (supplied)