Overview
Australia's music festivals are doing it tough, with 2024 seeing both Groovin the Moo and Splendour in the Grass cancelling after announcing their lineups. The best way to cope as a punter, and to lend your support to the country's music scene and performers, is to make a date with live gigs. Brisbanites mightn't be able to travel north or south to get muddy, then, but you can hit up Open Season, The Tivoli and The Princess Theatre's annual roster of shows.
The two venues share the same owners — and, from Monday, May 20–Thursday, August 1 in 2024, will share this program of gigs and performances. Open Season first unveiled its talents for this year back in March, but it wasn't done nabbing impressive acts to take to The Tiv and The Princess' stages. Cue another lineup drop, this time with Dirty Three, Ladyhawke, Pond and Cosmo's Midnight.
Kath Gould
Dirty Three, aka Warren Ellis, Mick Turner and Jim White, are playing their first Brisbane show in 12 years. Ladyhawke is celebrating the 15th anniversary of her self-titled debut album, Cosmo's Midnight have a new record dropping in May and Pond are doing the rounds after recently touring with Queens of the Stone Age.
All four join an Open Season bill that already boasts Explosions in the Sky, Sky Ferreira, INIKO, Regurgitator and more. First Nations festival Blak Day Out is also a highlight, featuring Emma Donovan, 3% — which includes Dallas Woods, Nooky and Angus Field — plus BADASSMUTHA and The Ancient Bloods. So is a dance party in Winn Lane with help from QUIVR DJs.
This year's Open Season is putting record label Elefant Traks in the spotlight, too, at a 25th-anniversary gig that doubles as a farewell with Hermitude, The Herd, Horrorshow, Urthboy and The Last Kinection all on the bill. The show will both celebrate history and make it, marking Elefant Traks' last-ever event.
Similarly on the roster for now: Yves Tumor's Aussie debut, Blonde Redhead's first Australian trip in 13 years, plus everyone from Marlon Williams and Mildlife to The Paper Kites and SLUMBERJACK — alongside BAYNK, Two Another, DICE and the initial Brisbane outing for Queer PowerPoint.
Open Season 2024 Lineup:
Explosions in the Sky
INIKO
Dirty Three
Sky Ferreira
Yves Tumor
Marlon Williams
Blonde Redhead
Ladyhawke
BAYNK
The Paper Kites
Cosmo's Midnight
Regurgitator
Pond
SLUMBERJACK
Mildlife
Forest Claudette
Two Another
DICE
Queer PowerPoint
Bunny Racket – Rock 'n' Roll for Kids
Blak Day Out featuring:
Emma Donovan
3%
The Ancient Bloods
BADASSMUTHA
and more
Elefant Traks 25th Anniversary — The Finale:
Hermitude
The Herd
Horrorshow
Urthboy
The Last Kinection
and more
QUIVR Laneway Parties
Brisbane Street Art Festival:
David Lee Pereira
Damien Mitchell
Open Season run from Monday, May 20–Thursday, August 1, 2024. For further details and tickets, head to the event's website.
Dirty Three image: Ben Searcy. Open Season images: Will Johnstone, Curdin and Lachlan Douglas.