Dress up in your best party gear and dust off your dancing shoes – Brisbane Powerhouse has unveiled a jaw-dropping ten-day celebration (happening from May 6–15) to mark its 21st birthday. Since it reopened its doors as a celebrated cultural precinct in May 2000, Brisbane Powerhouse has hosted a dazzling selection of artists. One such band is ARIA-winning outfit george, which will return to where it all began for four shows from May 6–8, performing the complete double-platinum album Polyserena. Other confetti-covered event highlights include a retrospective look at Brisbane’s monumental multi-arts festival Tranceplant. This large-scale performance and installation event was the first documented festival at Brisbane Powerhouse in 1994 – six years before the venue officially opened as the cultural destination we know it to be today. On Wednesday May 12, ABC Radio’s Rebecca Levingston will host a thought-provoking Writers+Ideas event with original Tranceplant producers and participants, signalling the official launch of the Tranceplant History Project – a digital archive of the infamous event. Another project giving us a blast from the past is Regenerate – a free exhibition showcasing the building’s rich 95-year history that will be on display until Saturday May 15. Regenerate is accompanied by a commemorative book written by Stefan Treyvaud, which is available to purchase at the Brisbane Powerhouse box office.
The party is just getting started, friends. The celebrations will culminate in a very special 21st Birthday Concert on Saturday May 15, hosted by local comedian Mel Buttle. This variety-style concert will feature an awe-inspiring line-up of artists including pop-queen Kate Miller-Heidke, ARIA-winner Clare Bowditch, funny man Wil Anderson, home-grown heroes Briefs Factory, William Barton with Camerata, multi-talented circus troupe CIRCA, plus rising stars Benjin Maza, Alinta McGrady and many more. This is one birthday bash you don’t want to miss out on. Tickets for the george, the 21st Birthday Concert and Tranceplant are on sale now via the Brisbane Powerhouse website. Go on, snap some up before it’s too late!
This article was written in partnership with our friends at Brisbane Powerhouse.
