BRISBANE MUSIC TRAIL The Ultimate Month-Long Celebration of Live Music

GIG GUIDE

WORDS BY STAFF WRITER

Æ Calling all music lovers and adventure seekers! September is about to become the most exhilarating month of your year as Brisbane, the sun-soaked capital of Queensland, gears up to host an electrifying array of music festivals and events that will leave you begging for an encore. Meet the Brisbane Music Trail, a monthlong celebration of the city’s unique and vibrant live music culture.

For the first time ever, three premier music and cultural festivals – Sweet Relief!, BIGSOUND, and Brisbane Festival – have united to create an unrivalled music experience. From Australian exclusives to globally acclaimed acts, this super September is guaranteed to be the most music you’ve ever seen in your life.

Æ Calling all pop culture enthusiasts in regional Victoria! Mark your calendars for the one-day spectacle, Bendi-Con, Bendigo’s annual Pop Culture Extravaganza happening on Sunday, August 27. From its roots as the Bendigo Record Comic and Toy Fair, BendiCon has evolved into an unmissable event for the vibrant pop culture community thriving in Bendigo.

Attracting over 2,000 attendees last year alone, Bendi-Con organisers have put in relentless effort once again to bring together top-notch stalls, artists, fans, and guests, creating a family-friendly and vibrant atmosphere. Guests will be blown away by the lineup of attractions, including guest speakers, panels, original comic book artists and authors in the Artists Alley, a Traders Zone, and a Fan Zone, for Star Wars, Star Trek, Doctor Who, Lego and more of All Ages!

There will also be a market featuring comics, pop culture memorabilia, toys, fashion and loads more on the day.

In a nod to how far the event has come, this year welcomes Bendi-Con’s first-ever International Guest, Gary Erskine, a Scottish comic book artist with thirty years’ experience with Marvel and DC Comics. Voice actor and stuntman Neil Fanning, the iconic voice of Scooby Doo, will also be there. The Biggest Ever Bendi-Con Artists Alley promises an array of talents, including the beloved Dean Rankine sketching his iconic Futurama head portraits for fans.

The Bendigo Cosplay Contest is a definite highlight, where participants in fabulous costumes, handmade or store-bought, get judged by expert cosplayers. It’s all about fun, participation, and fantastic costumes, with the entry proceeds going to the Peter MacCallum Cancer Foundation.

Attendees can also expect surprises and exclusive attractions, like Gary Erskine’s Bendi-Con exclusive artwork, profits from which will contribute to the Peter MacCallum Cancer Foundation.

Securing your spot at Bendi-Con 2023 is a breeze with tickets available via Ticketek. Early-bird ticket holders enjoy quicker entry, and every paid entry has a chance to win one of two Pop Vinyl packs from Pop Toys, valued at over $100 each.

Get ready to unleash your inner geek and revel in a day of pop culture paradise!

Brisbane Festival sets the tone with its internationally renowned arts festival, offering a captivating music program that will keep you dancing all month long. Across 23 days, more than 1000 performances will take over venues and some of the city’s most iconic spots, as well as cathedrals, warehouses, and suburban parks. We’ve got our eye on Paul Kelly at The Princess Theatre, new musical comedy Bananaland, and the decadent circus, drag, and burlesque spectacular Bite Club: 2nd Serve.

But that’s just the beginning. BIGSOUND - the southern hemisphere’s biggest music industry gathering - takes centre stage from 5-8 September, presenting a lineup of over 140 bands and artists across four days and three epic nights in the iconic Fortitude Valley.

As if that’s not enough, the brand-new Sweet Relief! Music Festival will make its debut on 16 September, at Brisbane’s Maritime Green, Northshore. This riverside festival brings legendary electronic music titans Groove Armada (DJ Set) from the UK and cult Australian dance act The Avalanches to the stage for an exclusive performance, plus so many more incredible acts to keep you grooving all night long.

The warm Queensland sun, the city’s picturesque riverside, and the pulsating beats of the music scene: it doesn’t get much better than this. So, mark your calendars, book your tickets, and prepare to experience the most music you’ve ever seen in your life.

BENDI-CON 2023

WHERE: RED ENERGY ARENA, BENDIGO

WHEN: 10AM-4PM, SUNDAY 27 AUG 2023