Where to Find Live Music Every Night of the Week This Summer
Get your live music kicks from Monday to Sunday.
In partnership with
With restrictions easing across the state, and summer well and truly upon us, it feels like the perfect time to get out and enjoy live music performances once again. You don't need to book in advance to see smaller, more intimate gigs across the city — and you don't have to wait till the weekend, either. Together with Jim Beam, we've compiled a list of where to find live music in Brisbane from Monday to Sunday, from within hidden bars to big outdoor beer gardens.
BROOKLYN STANDARD
Whoever said Mondays are boring has obviously never been to Brooklyn Standard on the first day of the week. Enter through the secret door located on Eagle Lane and you'll find yourself in a dimly lit grunge-style cellar where there's always live tunes to enjoy from Monday to Saturday. With acts ranging in genre from funk to mariachi, there is truly something for everyone. The cocktail list is almost as impressive as the music lineup. You won't go hungry either; it offers an extensive American-style menu of philly cheesesteaks, pulled pork burgers and New York-style hot dogs.
THE BEARDED LADY
Known as the 'Beardo' by hardcore West End live music fanatics, The Bearded Lady is a community bar that is weird and wonderful. It's buzzing every night of the week with bands playing originals and covers throughout the evening. The set up has a personality all its own with exposed beams and eccentric carpets. Of course, the experience wouldn't be complete without a stiff drink. You'll find creatively named cocktails and cheeky pints on tap, alongside comforting eats from salt and pepper tofu to vegan pies.
THE TRIFFID
Beat those hump day blues by heading out to The Triffid for a fix of local live music every Wednesday. Its vintage-inspired bear garden is just a 15-minute walk from Fortitude Valley Station. Acoustic Wednesdays are a crowd favourite and are pup- and family-friendly, too. Beer on tap comes from from Teneriffe-based brewery Green Beacon Brewing Co. For food, keep it under $20 with the classic Triffid Burger for $17 or the Wednesday rump for just $12.
THE WALRUS CLUB
Hidden away in the iconic Regatta Hotel is an underground den known as The Walrus Club. The 1920s speakeasy-style bar is the place to be on a Thursday evening for premium rum (you can choose from more than 150 different blends) and some top-notch live jazz from 8pm. In true prohibition style, The Walrus Club can be entered through a secret staircase from two unassuming entry points by the main bar. Its jazz performances are among the finest in Brisbane. With the City Cat Ferry Terminal just across the road, it's also super convenient on a Thursday night.
THE JUNK BAR
See out the weekend in style at The Junk Bar in Ashgrove. Its Sunday sessions have live music in the Skukum Lounge and its vinyl collection playing elsewhere in the venue. Enter the bar through the red velvet curtains and you'll come across vintage decor and edgy vibes. Recent acts have included Kings and Castles with their dynamic harmonies and acoustic charm. The cocktail menu has classics plus more decadent options like chilli chocolate martinis. And, as the City Glider service takes you practically straight to its door, so you can enjoy your cocktails knowing that getting home is sorted.
Top image: Brooklyn Standard