Big Name, No Blankets | Andrea James with Anyupa Butcher & Sammy Tjapanangka Butcher
review, musical Catherine Lawrence review, musical Catherine Lawrence

Big Name, No Blankets | Andrea James with Anyupa Butcher & Sammy Tjapanangka Butcher

Each of the actors presented a compelling portrayal of the members of the band. Baykali Ganambarr’s Sammy was humble, modest, honest and a great narrator of the story. Definte highlights included the fantastic vocals and performances by Cassandra Williams (Suzina, Mum & Ensemble), and the superb stage presence and singing by Taj Pigram, as the Warumpi Band frontman.

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Limbo - The Return | Strut & Fret
review, circus Glorianna Grace review, circus Glorianna Grace

Limbo - The Return | Strut & Fret

Without spoiling too much, it was an enchanting blend of artistry, music, and acrobatics that was sensual, whimsical, intense, and dangerous. If you fancy a ride into a sinister and sexy circus netherworld that will leave your heart pounding, then ‘Limbo-The Return’ is the perfect show for you.

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Dreams & Stories | Queensland Symphony Orchestra with William Barton
review, music Harmonie Downes review, music Harmonie Downes

Dreams & Stories | Queensland Symphony Orchestra with William Barton

Sculthorpe’s Kakadu followed, which was a standout in terms of William Barton’s additions through didgeridoo. Note that this was not part of the original score and something Sculthorpe included after hearing Barton play. In part a beautiful homage between musos. I loved the harmonic shifts of the different instruments mimicking birds, trees, nature and the sometimes flight, fright, freeze and fawn.

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Our hot picks for BrisFest 2024
article, festival Ads J article, festival Ads J

Our hot picks for BrisFest 2024

Spring is in the air and what does that mean for Magandjin / Meeanjin? It’s time for BrisFest! Running from 30 August to 21 September this year, we’re once again spoilt for choice with some epic offerings of theatre, circus, musicals, dance, cabaret, live music, installations and so much more. This is way too much goodness in the program for this year’s festival, so who better to turn to than the writers of NEHIB to let you know what you simply must see at BrisFest this year.

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Rough, Red and Raw | Architects of Sound
review, cabaret Kristy Stanfield review, cabaret Kristy Stanfield

Rough, Red and Raw | Architects of Sound

As architects of sound, they’re far more important, far more conceptually insightful and artistically refined, percipient guardians of the zeitgeist. They are a whole new level of artiste, and we mere mortals cannot possibly comprehend their brilliance. With a certain vivacity, an ironic holier-than-thou attitude and so much lycra, the group expertly poke fun at influencer culture. In fact, I was just thinking to myself how brilliantly they embodied the wankiness so often found in the art world when they revealed the title of their latest album: “Art Fap”. Perfect.

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Mosaic Multicultural Festival | Multicultural Australia & Brisbane Serenades
music, festival, review Harmonie Downes music, festival, review Harmonie Downes

Mosaic Multicultural Festival | Multicultural Australia & Brisbane Serenades

These are just some of the many performances featured in the massive action-packed program - there was so much content to discover. The event was so joyous and provided me with numerous insights on how multicultural Brisbane really is and its relevance to celebrate and promote. Not only that, but the audience loved seeing their own culture represented, just like a mini Olympics for the arts.

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Mzaza on the Art Boat | Brisbane Festival
review, music Ranjini Ganapathy review, music Ranjini Ganapathy

Mzaza on the Art Boat | Brisbane Festival

Brisbane’s Art Boat was more than a thing of beauty as it cruised on Maiwar that evening. We moved across melodies and water bodies in more ways than one. The Art Boat was a vehicle of creative expression and the universality of humankind. Like the request for an encore, it demanded that we paid attention to all that surrounded us externally and filled us internally.

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BlakWarehouse Party | Blak Social & Brisbane Serenades, Brisbane Festival
review, music Kaylee Vera review, music Kaylee Vera

BlakWarehouse Party | Blak Social & Brisbane Serenades, Brisbane Festival

I was blown away by the music I was lucky enough to experience. Dameeeela, DJ Kritty, Sovblkpssy, and DJ PGZ provided the music, their tracklists were all unique, but all highlighted the best First Nations artists around the country with unique styles and remixes. Brisbane's First Nations dance music scene is deadly, and I am inspired to seek out more.

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Raising funds for the Support Act ‘Roadie fund’ with loud music and good times
article, interview Nadia Jade article, interview Nadia Jade

Raising funds for the Support Act ‘Roadie fund’ with loud music and good times

The pandemic hit many industries very hard, and one that was almost impossibly decimated was the arts. But while the artists at the front of house made a lot of headlines, one of the industries that didn’t get so much attention was behind-the-scenes… the crew who get our stages and venues bumped in, lit, rigged, bumped out, and transported. On Sunday, August 7, starting from 5pm at The Zoo Brisbane, COUNT ME IN: Fundraiser will be taking the stage to raise a donation for CrewCare’s ‘Roadie Fund’.

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La Serenata | Opera Queensland
opera, review Tristan Niemi opera, review Tristan Niemi

La Serenata | Opera Queensland

Wang himself is charming in the humblest of ways. He captures us with his talent and endears himself to us immediately after with his sweet demeanour. This charm is enhanced immensely by his technical prowess. Wang sings with every fibre of his being.

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Songs of Love & War | Opera Queensland & Chrysalis Projects
music, opera, review Tristan Niemi music, opera, review Tristan Niemi

Songs of Love & War | Opera Queensland & Chrysalis Projects

Opera is not the snooze-fest many think it to be. It possesses the same drama, romance, and impassioned violence of the modern soap or young-adult drama. Imagine a Riverdale musical episode but if the singing was superb and the show was well-written. If held regularly, intimate and more financially accessible events like this might help improve my generations’ perception of this delicious artform.

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"We were looking for ways and spaces where all our different musical pursuits could coexist and combine…" Connor D’Netto on NONSTOP
interview, article Fliss Morton interview, article Fliss Morton

"We were looking for ways and spaces where all our different musical pursuits could coexist and combine…" Connor D’Netto on NONSTOP

It’s easy for people to assume certain types of music to exist in a certain place, presented in a certain way, and maybe even listened to by certain people. That’s so limiting on every level. It limits the kind of art artists feel comfortable (or are even allowed) to create; it limits whether people feel comfortable in certain spaces and therefore whether they are able to experience different kinds of art; it limits how people are able to come together, connect and interact.

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It's Only Life | The Head Bros
musical, review Virag Dombay musical, review Virag Dombay

It's Only Life | The Head Bros

Speaking of those performers, Maddison Hutchins brought such joy and levity whenever she walked on stage; matched by her buoyant vocals. Whenever she was on stage, you couldn’t help but look at her as she was so animated.

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Rhythmology | Tyson Goddard & Backbone
dance, performance art, review Ofa Fanaika dance, performance art, review Ofa Fanaika

Rhythmology | Tyson Goddard & Backbone

It’s 7pm and I don’t want to be late and as we arrive a few minutes past the hour and do the obligatory check-ins, we see the place is teeming with POC people, the familiar feel of Backbone Youth Arts reeks of that uniquely old ozzy bowlo vibe, but as we enter through the next room, the set slips into a shimmering pink backdrop, fully seated with fabulousness dripping, geometry in the ceiling, warm hues with lighting low, you can feel the vibration from the punters peaking with jittered excitement.

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