Show me the Monet, music, dinosaurs and more! Best in Brisbane this weekend
Here it is: your curated guide to the very best of Brisbane’s entertainment and culture scene.
Whether you’ve got a hot date, kids to keep happy or a catch-up with friends, these are the events that should be on your radar.
Friday, August 4
Roller Coaster, a new roller-skating music theatre production.
Festivals: Bleach*
For its 12th year, this arts festival takes over North Burleigh, Broadbeach, Gold Coast Regional Botanic Gardens and HOTA (Home of the Arts), where roller-skating musical Roller Coaster will be rexing (look it up) onto the main outdoor stage.
Gold Coast, Aug 3-13. Buy tickets
Music: What So Not
Emoh Instead’s electronic outfit presents Anomaly: Live Mode – an audiovisual experience pairing the Anomaly 3D animated storyline with What So Not’s thrilling music.
The Tivoli, 7pm. Buy tickets
Ministry of Sound: Testament 2023 features rave culture’s golden years.Credit: Internet
Nightlife: Ministry of Sound: Testament 2023
Salute the ’00s as Ministry of Sound brings rave culture’s golden years back to Brissie. Hitting the decks will be The Bloody Beetroots, Digitalism, FreQ Nasty, Skool of Thought, Stanton Warriors, Goodwill, Groove Terminator, Jaime Doom, Kid Kenobi, Matt Nugent and more.
Warner Laneway, 8pm. Buy tickets
Saturday, August 5
Museums: Dinosaurs of Patagonia
Gawp at the bones of the world’s biggest dinosaur – that’s the titanosaur Patagotitan to its friends – at this exhibition of 16 prehistoric beasts from South America, curated by palaeontologists from Argentina.
Queensland Museum, until Oct 22. Buy tickets
The Archibald Prize 1956 winner, William Dargie’s Mr Albert Namatjira. Credit: Estate of William Dargie
Art: Archie 100: A Century of the Archibald Prize
Some of the finest portraits in the history of Australia’s most famous art prize have been tracked down for this stunning retrospective, from William Dargie’s 1956 portrait of Albert Namatjira to Tempe Manning’s 1939 self-portrait and Wes Walters’ 1983 painting of a louche Molly Meldrum in his prime.
HOTA Gallery, Surfers Paradise, until Oct 2. Buy tickets
Music: Sticky Fingers
Head to the Riverstage to see and hear the mad-as-feck psychedelic rockers from Sydney playing tracks from their five albums and three EPs.
Riverstage, 5.30pm. Buy tickets
Sunday, August 6
Theatre: Mamma Mia! The Musical
Here we go again… it’s the return of the jukebox musical based on the songs of ABBA and (knowing me, knowing you) we’ll all be dancing in the aisles.
Lyric Theatre, QPAC, Aug 6-Sep 24. Buy tickets
The Sensory 4 system combines multichannel motion graphics and cinema-quality surround sound.Credit: Grande Experiences
Art: Monet in Paris
Step inside Le Grand Palais and into the world of impressionist master Claude Monet via this sensory exhibition of large-scale projections of his most celebrated paintings, alongside works by Pissarro, Morisot, Renoir, Cassatt, Cézanne and more.
Northshore Hamilton, until Aug 27. Buy tickets
Markets: Suitcase Rummage
Buy pre-loved or locally made products direct from the owners and makers at this grassroots, sustainable market favourite.
Reddacliff Place, Queen Street Mall, first and third Sunday of the month, 12-5pm. Free.
Need more inspiration? Why not check out some of Brisbane’s small and secret museums?