Overview
In 2020, when Brisbane started to settle into a state of normality again after its first lockdown of the pandemic, The Tivoli launched Open Season: an event that aimed to entice music lovers back to live gigs and shows. For three months, it filled the Fortitude Valley venue with tunes and performances — and it was such a hit that it's coming back in 2021 for another round.
This year's Open Season will run twice as long, spanning from July through until December. It'll also take place at two locations, not one. In August, Woolloongabba's Princess Theatre is set to fling open its doors after a huge revamp — the venue is 133 years old, after all — and, because the same folks are behind The Tiv as well, the two sites will both be hosting this big multi-gig festival.
That means you'll have multiple places to head to, and a whole heap of bands and shows to see — and that's just from the first lineup announcement (with more acts due to be added in August). Leading the bill so far are King Gizzard & The Lizard Wizard, who'll play a five-show residency; Regurgitator, playing their seminal debut album Tu-Plang live; and everyone from Julia Jacklin, Jarryd James and Tropical Fuck Storm to Marlon Williams and Young Franco. The return of the Nine Lives Festival at The Tiv, headlined by Stella Donnelly, Mildlife and Big Scary, is also on the program.
That's not all that's on the agenda. Also included: arty dinner party Bite Club, Briefs Factory's latest cabaret experience; Briefs' latest club show, too; and the likes of Sunnyboys, HTRK, The Murlocs and Amyl & the Sniffers also hitting the stage.
Some of the shows in the series are actually slated for this coming weekend, kicking off on Saturday, July 3 — but obviously that'll depend on whether Brisbane is out of lockdown.
Open Season is set to kick off on Saturday, July 3 — as long as Brisbane is out of lockdown — and run through until December. For further details, or to buy tickets from Friday, July 2 (or via pre-sales from Thursday, July 1), head to the event's website.
Images: Somefx.