The Brightside Brisbane Expands with The Next Stage
The Brightside Brisbane is expanding its footprint in Fortitude Valley with a purpose-built outdoor venue, set to change how locals experience live music.
The development, named The Next Stage, promises world-class sound, improved artist facilities, and a versatile space for festivals, community events, and touring acts, making the venue a central hub for Brisbane’s music community.
Phase One: 2025 Upgrades
Phase One of the project, launching in 2025, will feature a permanently installed L-Acoustics sound system to streamline show setups and reduce production costs.
Artists will have access to a dedicated green room with toilet facilities and direct stage entry, while a flexible mezzanine will accommodate VIPs, friends, and family for an elevated view of performances.
Upgraded bars, cold storage, and additional facilities will improve service and comfort for guests.
Phase Two: 2026 Enhancements
By 2026, Phase Two will introduce a retractable roof, allowing shows to continue regardless of weather. New toilet facilities will improve accessibility and capacity, and a rooftop bar overlooking the outdoor area will offer a unique space for private functions.
The upgrades aim to ensure every event, from intimate gigs to large festivals, can be hosted safely and comfortably.
Community and Artist Impact
The Brightside Brisbane has built a reputation for diversity and energy, hosting over 350 acts in the past year alone, including King Gizzard & The Lizard Wizard, IDLES, Ocean Alley, and Amy Shark.
Community feedback guided the design of the new outdoor space, reflecting the needs of performers, promoters, and fans. The venue continues to prioritise the Fortitude Valley community while providing a platform for rising local talent and touring artists.
Australia’s own Kate Ceberano will take centre stage in Fortitude Valley as she brings her acclaimed Australian Made Tour to the Fortitude Music Hall. The performance marks one of only a handful of metro shows added after all 21 regional stops sold out earlier this year, underscoring her enduring connection with audiences across the country.
The Brisbane show takes place on Saturday, 20 September, just one night after Ceberano’s Melbourne date at Hamer Hall. Adelaide will also host a stop in October. The decision to include major city venues came after demand from fans exceeded expectations. For Brisbane, it is more than a concert—it is a community celebration at one of the Valley’s most significant live music venues.
Ceberano said the Australian Made Tour allows her to reflect on four decades of music while spotlighting songs that helped shape her own artistry. The performance offers not only her best-known hits but also fresh interpretations of classic tracks from Australian bands and songwriters. For many long-time followers, the concert presents a chance to revisit the soundtrack of their lives, reimagined through Ceberano’s distinctive voice.
A voice that shaped Australian music
With 11 platinum albums, eight gold albums, and more than 6,000 live performances, Ceberano has become one of Australia’s most recognisable and influential performers. Her early career took off with the 1986–87 Australian Made Tour, where she performed alongside acts including INXS, Jimmy Barnes and Divinyls. That tour became a defining moment for the local industry, showcasing the power of homegrown talent on a national stage.
Returning nearly 40 years later to a project inspired by that original tour, Ceberano brings a contemporary perspective. Her set blends her own chart successes with reimagined versions of Australian classics by Silverchair, The Church and Bernard Fanning. The combination reinforces her place not only as a performer of her own catalogue but also as an interpreter of the country’s wider musical heritage.
Photo Credit: Kate Ceberano Official Site
Her career is marked by versatility. From her pop breakthrough Brave to jazz collaborations and orchestral projects such as My Life Is A Symphony, Ceberano has moved between genres without losing her distinctive style. Along the way, she has earned four ARIA Awards, a spot in the Australian Songwriters Hall of Fame, and wide recognition as both a singer and songwriter.
Sharing the stage
On the current tour, Ceberano is joined by guitarist and vocalist Harts, a musician mentored by Prince, whose influence can be heard in his style. He contributes not just as a collaborator but as part of the creative force on stage. Also featured is Kathleen Halloran, an emerging guitarist whose skill has been gaining national attention. Halloran not only performs alongside Ceberano but also steps forward as the support act, providing audiences with a strong sense of continuity across the evening.
The inclusion of both musicians reflects Ceberano’s reputation for encouraging and highlighting new talent while maintaining her own established voice. Their presence brings added depth to the performance, ensuring that the Brisbane audience experiences a mix of generational perspectives in Australian music.
Continuing a legacy
The Fortitude Valley performance comes as Ceberano releases her Australian Made – Live album, building on the momentum of recent national tours. In 2023, she toured with a full orchestra for My Life Is A Symphony, while in 2024 she performed with Jon Stevens on Superstars Live. These projects, combined with her current run, highlight her ability to reimagine her career while continuing to draw in new listeners.
Her return to Fortitude Valley is also significant for the local community. The area is known for its strong live music culture, and hosting an artist with such longevity reinforces its role as a central hub for performance in Queensland. For fans attending on Saturday, it will be a night that links local venues to a broader national story of music-making.
Tickets for the Brisbane show remain available through Kate Ceberano’s official website and the Fortitude Music Hall. For many in Fortitude Valley, the concert is not just another tour stop but a chance to witness one of the country’s most enduring voices return to the stage in a familiar setting.
A new live music event will bring a week-long series of outdoor concerts to Brisbane CBD, with Roma Street Parkland set to host performances by major Australian artists.
A seven-night concert series is scheduled for Roma Street Parkland Amphitheatre in Brisbane CBD this September. Titled “Night at The Parkland,” the event will showcase headline performances from leading Australian artists across two weekends.
Organised by the team behind Sydney’s “Night at The Barracks,” the Brisbane edition will be held in the natural surrounds of Roma Street Parkland and its existing amphitheatre structure.
ICEHOUSE will open the event on Friday, 5 September. Lime Cordiale and Jack River will perform on Saturday, 6 September, followed by Xavier Rudd on Sunday, 7 September. The second weekend includes Amy Shark on Thursday, 11 September; Grinspoon’s 30th anniversary performance on Friday, 12 September; Cut Copy and guest KLP on Saturday, 13 September; and James Johnston with Zac & George on Sunday, 14 September.
Photo Credit: Night At The Parkland
On-Site Experience
The event will include large video screens and professional lighting across all nights. Food trucks and artisan drink stalls will be present at the venue.
Environmental Commitment
Night at The Parkland will operate with a strong sustainability focus. Measures include the elimination of single-use plastics, the promotion of public transport, and a partnership with ENGIE to offset all event emissions using 100 per cent renewable energy. Recycling facilities will be implemented throughout the site.
Event Access and Delivery
The series is produced by the creators of Night at The Barracks and is supported by Brisbane Festival. The Roma Street Parkland location provides central accessibility within Brisbane CBD.
Legendary punk band Sex Pistols, featuring Frank Carter, will perform at Fortitude Music Hall in Fortitude Valley, marking their first Australian tour in nearly three decades. The event will showcase the band’s iconic 1977 album, “Never Mind the Bollocks, Here’s the Sex Pistols,” played in full.
Sex Pistols, one of history’s most influential punk bands, is bringing their 2025 Australian tour to Fortitude Valley. Band members Paul Cook, Steve Jones, and Glen Matlock will be joined by Frank Carter, known for his work with “Gallows” and “Frank Carter & The Rattlesnakes.” This tour marks their first visit to Australia since 1996.
The upcoming show at Fortitude Music Hall on 9 April 2025 is part of a seven-stop tour. This gives Australian fans a chance to experience the energy of “Never Mind the Bollocks” live.
Formed in London in 1975, Sex Pistols were pioneers of the UK punk movement, influencing generations of musicians. Their rebellious spirit and politically charged lyrics made them both controversial and legendary.
The band originally featured Johnny Rotten (John Lydon) on vocals. However, their lineup has evolved. Rotten last toured with the group in 2008, and their most recent live performances were in 2024 when Frank Carter first joined forces with Cook, Jones, and Matlock for a series of UK shows.
Setlist: A Full Album Experience
Fans can expect a complete live performance of the band’s only studio album, “Never Mind the Bollocks, Here’s the Sex Pistols.” This means hearing classics like:
Anarchy in the UK
God Save the Queen
Pretty Vacant
Holidays in the Sun
This follows the band’s 2024 UK performances, which were met with rave reviews. These performances proved that their raw, high-energy style remains as powerful as ever.
Photo Credit: 97reayj/YouTube
The Legacy of Sex Pistols
Despite releasing just one studio album, the Sex Pistols shaped the punk movement worldwide. Their 1977 album remains one of the most influential rock records, cementing their place in music history.
Since their 2024 reunion, their collaboration with Frank Carter has injected new life into their performances. Still, they remain true to their rebellious roots.
What’s Next for the Sex Pistols?
The Australian and New Zealand tours are now locked in. Speculation is growing about potential additional dates or projects. The 2025 Download Festival has confirmed their participation, indicating that the band’s resurgence is far from over.
