Skateboarding legend Tony Hawk is coming to Brisbane’s Fortitude Music Hall on 27 January 2024 for a once-in-a-lifetime event celebrating 25 years of the hit video game franchise Tony Hawk’s Pro Skater (THPS).
Hawk will perform live skating demonstrations on a more than 11-foot vert ramp installed inside the venue. Joining him are Lizzie Armanto, Elliot Sloan, Reese Nelson and Felipe Nunes of the Birdhouse skate crew.
Bringing THPS to life
Photo Credit: Joseph Gall/Wikimedia Commons
The event aims to capture the energy and excitement of the beloved THPS franchise. In addition to the skating, it will feature musical performances by bands from the original THPS soundtracks, including Bodyjar, DZ Deathrays, and Alex Lahey. Sydney-based cover band Birdman will also play songs from across all THPS games.
Attendees will be able to play classic THPS video games on a giant 5-metre projection screen behind the bands. Console stations for each franchise entry will be set up across the venue.
Finally, the Fortitude Music Hall itself will recreate a level from the iconic game series, bringing it to life.
With a storied career spanning decades, Tony Hawk has become synonymous with skateboarding. From pioneering gravity-defying tricks to creating one of gaming’s most popular franchises, his influence continues today through his support of skateparks across the United States through his organisation, The Skatepark Project.
Experience Tony Hawk’s legendary skills in person, alongside the musical entertainment and gaming activation that defined a generation. Book your tickets here.
The NBA Exhibition makes its Australian debut at Queens Plaza from 9 November. Organised by Istanbul-based creative agency Muse, the immersive showcase celebrates all things basketball in 20 themed sections across two levels and a thousand square metres.
The NBA Exhibition
Visitors can test their own skills by shooting hoops, seeing how high they can jump and testing their reflexes. Virtual reality goggles allow you to watch NBA highlights, while augmented reality technology allows fans to take photos with digitally rendered versions of their favourite players.
An exhibit dedicated to His Airness, Michael Jordan. Photo Credit: The NBA Exhibit Australia
The exhibition features a treasure trove of autographed jerseys, balls and sneakers from legends such as Michael Jordan, Kobe Bryant and Shaquille O’Neal. Historic artefacts include an original leather basketball from the 1940s and a massive size 22 shoe owned by Shaq.
Handprint of 2.11m tall, 2x NBA MVP Giannis Antetokounmpo. Photo Credit: The NBA Exhibit Australia
On opening weekend, visitors can get up close and personal with the Larry O’Brien Championship Trophy. This coveted trophy, currently held by the Denver Nuggets, is awarded annually to the winner of the NBA Finals.
Celebrating Australian greats
Patty Mills led the Boomers to their first international medal at Tokyo 2020. Photo Credit: Twitter/Basketball Australia
There is also a section dedicated to memorable Australian NBA and WNBA stars such as Patty Mills, Ben Simmons, Luc Longley and Andrew Gaze. NBA-themed artwork by Australian artists will be on display.
Dates: November 9 to December 9 Opening hours: – Monday to Wednesday 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. – Wednesday to Friday 9 a.m. to 8 p.m. – Saturday 8:30 a.m. to 8 p.m. – Sunday 8:30 a.m. to 6 p.m. Duration: the exhibition takes around 45 to 60 minutes explore. Accessibility: the venue is wheelchair accessible with elevator access available on site. Pricing: tickets are $30 for adults (seniors and students start at $24) and $21 for children 12 and under.
Looking for a little excitement in the coming months? Fortitude Valley is about to become a hotspot for a raft of exciting new events all lined up for 2021.
To celebrate Good Food Month, the Brisbane Night Noodle Markets are back at an all-new and exciting venue: the City Botanic Gardens. Entry will be completely free, however registration is encouraged in order to comply with COVID-19 safety and prevention measures.
Attendants will be able to indulge themselves with delicious street food from all across Asia from countries such as Japan, Taiwan, Vietnam, and the Philippines. Among the many stalls present throughout the event, people can expect to bump into familiar names such as Hoy Pinoy, Bao Brothers Eatery, Flying Noodles, and Bangkok Street Food.
Read more about the event at the Good Food Month website here.
Alanna Sapwell’s Esmay – July 25
Photo credit: Instagram/alannasapwell
Alanna Sapwell, formerly the head chef at Arc Dining, is set to open up Esmay, her pop-up restaurant, at the site of the kitchen at the old Alliance Hotel in Spring Hill for one day only as part of Good Food Month. Though she’s toured and set up shop all over Australia, the opening of Esmay marks her first time bringing the pop-up restaurant to Brisbane.
Esmay is a restaurant that offers comfort-style cooking that makes use of seasonal and regional ingredients with Sapwell’s innovative twists. On the 25th of July, two sittings will be available for lunch and another two sittings will be available for dinner.
Those interested in booking tickets for lunch and dinner can do so by clicking these links.
The Circus of Light – July 31 and August 21
Photo credit: Facebook/Psycho Circus
The Fortitude Music Hall is scheduled to host a series of upcoming light shows hosted by Psycho Circus on the 31st of July 2021 and the 21st of August, dazzling the audience with a gorgeous circus performance complete with an immersive set of visual and sound dynamics.
Those interested can expect to see glitter face paint stalls, confetti cannons, daring acrobatic feats, lasers and light displays, a barrage of balloons, and plenty more — all while the beats of house, bass, and d&b music play in the background to bring the circus to life.
Entrance to the circus will be limited to attendees over the age of 18, and people are encouraged to put on their snazziest and boldest outfits for a spectacular evening to brighten up a dull and dreary winter.
Tickets can be purchased via this website, and for the latest updates and announcements concerning the circus, follow their Facebook event page.
Hey Chica! – August
Photo credit: Facebook/Hey Chica
Fortitude Valley is about to receive a taste of Cuban life with Hey Chica, an upcoming social club, bar and restaurant along Brunswick St that boasts that it’s “the closest you’ll get to Cuba without a passport”.
Hey Chica comes fresh from the minds of the team behind Retro’s, however with this bar, customers can expect to lose themselves to a venue with the vibes of a local street party, complete with Latin American street food and cool cocktails.
The bar has been scheduled to open sometime in August at 315 Brunswick St, Fortitude Valley. For the latest updates and announcements concerning the bar and restaurant, visit their website or follow their social media pages on Facebook and Instagram.
