Overview
All the world's a stage, or so William Shakespeare told us. For Queensland Music Trails, all of the Sunshine State is an excuse to celebrate live tunes. Debuting with a trial run in 2021, then returning in 2023, this event goes big on hitting up music festivals and gigs while also exploring. So far, the outback, Scenic Rim and southern Queensland have scored some love, and next it's finally Brisbane's turn.
Meet the Brisbane Music Trail, which was always promised, but hadn't yet become a reality. Also in the event's original plans, as led by QMF (Queensland Music Festival) and receiving a $20-million investment by the Queensland Government over its first three years: trails in the far north, along the reef, and through both the Gold and Sunshine Coasts.
Mitch Lowe
Brisbane's first-ever trail is a case of capitalising upon timing, because everyone knows that the River City is a hub for music in September anyway. Brisbane Festival takes over the city for three weeks, and BIGSOUND makes the Queensland capital the centre of the music world for four days. Unsurprisingly, they're both a part of this debut Brisbane Music Trail.
Accordingly, Brisbane Festival's jam-packed music lineup earns a place on the trail, spanning everyone from Paul Kelly to Gretta Ray, and also Groove Terminator with the Soweto Gospel Choir and a tribute to rock's Laurel Canyon era, from Friday, September 1–Saturday, September 23. And when BIGSOUND returns from Tuesday, September 5–Friday, September 8 with 141 acts on the bill, that's a Brisbane Music Trail event as well.
"Brisbane's music community has a long and proud history of working together to achieve amazing things. This story can be told in words, but it is best experienced through the unique events and venues we have that can't be replicated anywhere else," said Queensland Music Trails CEO and Creative Director Joel Edmondson, announcing the Brisbane Music Trail.
"The Brisbane Music Trail is a long-term initiative to bring our strongest homegrown experiences under one banner so that September becomes the month that Brisbane owns live music in Australia."
The Brisbane Music Trail runs from Friday, September 1–Saturday, September 23 at various venues around Brisbane — head to the event's website for more information.
Top image: Mitch Lowe.