The weather’s getting warmer and the days longer. Spring is on its way, and there’s hardly a better time of the year to live in Brisbane.
What’s more, the changing of the seasons kicks off a long list of cultural activities that’ll run right through the summer break. And first up is arguably the biggest of them all: Brisbane Festival. We’ve trawled through the listings and argued with each other incessantly to present what we think are the best events at this year’s festival. By all means, see what you want to see, but try to make the following a priority.
Festivities kick off in style on September 8 with Literary Love-In, the Brisbane Powerhouse hosting an overnight party of intimidating proportions. Featuring international, national and local musicians, writers, comedians, spoken-word artists and a live band, the party goes all through the night with panel discussions, movie screenings and a stage vs. page poetry slam. Activities finish off in the morning with a sexual awakening workshop (what? we’ll be there) and complimentary breakfast. Tickets are $35.
This year’s festival features a rich vein of classical music, and it starts on September 9 with a performance by the Vienna Boys’ Choir. A choral institution of over 500 years’ standing, this will be the choir’s first visit back to local shores since 2005. The QPAC Concert Hall matinee programme includes a full performance of Giovanni Pergolesi’s Stabat Mater, Mozart’s Laudate Dominum, and the world premiere of Australian composer Elena Kats-Chernin’s Land of Sweeping Plains. Tickets range from $79 to $99.
One of Brisbane Festival’s major drawcards comes early in the programme with Rufus Wainwright’s September 12 performance at the QPAC Concert Hall. Widely regarded as one of the greatest male vocalists of his generation, Wainwright is touring on the back of the Mark Ronson-produced LP, Out Of The Game. Adding to the appeal is an opening performance by gifted folk-jazz-soul singer-songwriter Krystle Warren. Tickets aren’t cheap at $119, but this will still sell out. Be quick.
The festival’s impressive classical music programme continues on September 12-13 with twin performances by the Australian Brandenburg Orchestra. In one of their more ambitious undertakings, Australia’s finest orchestra of baroque musicians are looking to bring new life to Monteverdi’s 1607 dramatic masterpiece, L’Orfeo. Acclaimed German tenor Markus Brutscher stars as Orfeo with Sara Macliver as Eurydice. If you can’t make it to either of these Queensland Conservatorium shows, the orchestra is also holding a suburban performance the following Saturday at Moreton Bay College in Manly West. Tickets are $70.
If you’re in the mood for something a little more loose-hipped, then September 13 also sees a Courier-Mail Spiegeltent performance by respected roots and rock troubadour, Mia Dyson. Dyson is back in Australia after an arduous few years in the United States and will be playing songs from her brand new LP, The Moment. The live arena is where Dyson really shines, so make this if you can. Tickets are $30.
The Spiegeltent is again the place to be on September 18 with a return to Australian shores for New York alt-rockers Nada Surf. You may only know these guys for ‘Popular’, the anthem that provided a chart-busting kiss-off to mid-90s slacker rock, but Nada Surf have since carved a name out for themselves by producing album after album of pristine guitar pop. The three-piece are long overdue for a visit and tickets are a steal at $40, so look to make a night of it with these guys.
September 19-22 sees the debut local performances of Israel’s award-winning Vertigo Dance Academy. One of the shining lights of Tel Aviv’s lively arts scene, Vertigo have captivated audiences worldwide with their stunning works. Over a trio of dates, the troupe are presenting Mana. Choreographer Noa Wertheim based Mana on the Jewish mythical text of The Zohar, and seeks to take the audience on a journey of discovering one’s essence. Tickets are $45.
Stephen Malkmus and the Jicks will cap off Brisbane Festival’s impressive music programme when they take over the Spiegeltent on September 25-26. The group’s fifth album, Mirror Traffic, was one of the sleepers of 2011, packing all the spazzy grandeur that made Malkmus famous in the first place. This shouldn’t be missed, especially when tickets are going for a paltry $40. You never know: you might see Malkmus’ old bandmate Spiral Stairs (a recently-minted Brisbane resident) in the crowd.
The festival packs yet another Australian debut with No Child… A one-woman theatrical commentary on the New York City public school system, No Child… has spent four years travelling about the US, racking up rave reviews and winning numerous awards. New York actress Nilaja Sun portrays all 16 characters in No Child…, where some extremely sceptical tenth graders run rampant over their teachers. With ticket prices at the Powerhouse just $35 on September 26 and $45 September 27-29, this is nothing short of essential.
Finally, Brisbane Festival just wouldn’t be the same without the Sunsuper Riverfire closing night extravaganza. We may no longer have the dump-and-burning F-111s, but South Bank is still the place to be on September 29 as the river succumbs to endless aerial displays and fireworks. It’s cheesy and more than a little gauche, but Riverfire is also a lot of fun. What’s more, it’s free. No excuses.
