Overview
If you've always thought that Brisbane could use a twice-yearly food market that doubles as a pop-up arts and culture festival, rejoice — because you're about to be in luck. Announced in 2022 among a slate of additions and changes to Brisbane Powerhouse, Night Feast is that event, and it'll unveil its debut outing from Wednesday, March 1–Sunday, March 26, 2023. And, the neon-lit riverside setup just keeps adding excitement to its evolving lineup.
First, the food. Already on the culinary bill from past program drops: Longrain's Martin Boetz, e'cco Bistro's Philip Johnson, Lyndon Tyers at Donna Chang and Tuan Nguyen at Ngon, plus Lek Senee from Lek's Thai and Patricio Sarno from Mary Mae's Kitchen & Bar — and City Winery's vino thanks to winemaker Dave Cush.
Bruce McKinven Design
After a wave of Night Feast's headlining chefs and eateries were announced in late January, the event has now revealed a heap more. Get ready for dishes from Taro's Ramen and Ham on Rye, as well as from Saison Salumi and Wine & Dine Em. The full bill will still add a few more names to come, but it also spans chef Anchalee Kasurin whipping up poffertjes pancakes.
All up, operating 4.30–9.30pm from Wednesday–Sunday at the Powerhouse forecourt and its surrounding parks during its first-ever run, Night Feast will survey Thai, Vietnamese, Japanese, Middle Eastern, Italian, Greek, modern Australian cuisine and more across 20-plus gourmet food stalls. Communal feasting will be one of Night Feast's big focuses — and getting the restaurants taking part in Night Feast to dish up the absolute top thing on their menus is another. That means tucking into their signature dishes, but by the river in New Farm.
Taro's Ramen, Anwyn Howarth
Night Feast will also feature an open fire pit for roasting and a dedicated dessert bar, plus cocktails and a top-notch wine list to wash it all down with. But, the food side of the program is just one of the highlights. The arts and music program looks just as ace, giant illuminated humanoids and laser beams that look like intergalactic events included.
Those towering glowing figures come courtesy of Amanda Parer's Fantastic Planet, which has been to Brisbane before alongside other the artist's past works such as Intrude, What's That and Lost. And those lasers are the product of Australian audiovisual artist Robin Fox, who is part of Night Feast's lineup and Powerhouse's also-debuting "festival of other music" ΩHM. His site-specific Brisbane Constellation is all sound and light, as aided by a matrix of crystal refractors. The aim: to make you hear what you see and feel.
Attendees can also look forward to Zimoun's symphony made with everyday materials; Rising Lotus, a series of large triangular sculptures that'll loom over the venue; the refracted sunlight-focused Tower; Theatre of Thunder's Succulenticca, aka costumed creatures roving around; and an old-school gaming den courtesy of Netherworld. Or, via Swiss site-performance designer and fog artist Tom Mùller, Steam Works will deploy four large industrial fog generators to pump out steam twice a day, in a piece that responds to Brisbane Powerhouse's industrial past.
The music roster features Akala Newman, GLVES, Lucy Francesca Dron, Mark Crotti and Nicole McKinney on different dates, plus Paris Irwin, Paulina and the QUIVR DJS.
Cole Bennetts
Also included at Night Feast: Blade Runner-meets-Queensland theming with a dash of Cantonese culture, thanks to site design by Bruce McKinven (Dark Mofo).
After its March debut, the market will take place again from Wednesday, October 4–Sunday, October 29, 2023, then return each March and October moving forward.
Kgbo via Wikimedia Commons
Night Feast will debut at Brisbane Powerhouse, 119 Lamington Street, New Farm, from Wednesday, March 1–Sunday, March 26 — operating 4.30–9.30pm Wednesday–Sunday. For more information, head to the event's website.
Night Feast will then return again from Wednesday, October 4–Sunday, October 29 — plus twice a year after that.