Live music
Rock your favourite pair of studded jeans and roll your way over to your local watering hole Suzie Wong’s Good Time Bar immediately (or, at least by this Saturday). Rock ’n’ roll is the name and Suzie Wong’s has searched every nook and cranny to bring us the best live entertainment every week – she certainly knows how to pick ’em! With an EP and two albums under its belt, four-piece rock-pop outfit Sonicman will be gracing the stage, bringing its large repertoire of songs this Saturday night from 7:00–8:30 pm. Once you’re warmed up, keep the good times rockin’ and rollin’ with California’s “most earnest Grateful Dead cover band”, The Richard Pictures. If Grateful Dead is a foreign term to you, take our word for it – its repertoire of songs has been covered long after its reign for good reason. Off the back of a big Saturday, The Mojo Dollz will take to the stage to cure your Sunday blues playing from 9:00 pm until late.  All this happening under one roof? You better believe it.

Up on McLachlan Street, Superfly Studios is kicking off the weekend on Friday night, with Brisbane’s most sought-after RnB duo, The Fonoti Brothers. The pair is guaranteed to melt away any and all of life’s troughs, singing sweet tunes and making space for the weekend you deserve. The live music and high vibes continue on Saturday night, with a set by returning band One Sound covering all bases across 70s, 80s, 90s, soul, funk and RnB. As if that line-up wasn’t incentive enough – there’s also no cover charge!

Chequered blankets and wicker baskets at the ready – rustle up the troops, whether it be family or friends (furry ones included) and make your way to Victoria Park to get your dose of nature with a side of smooth tunes. With free live performances of some of Brisbane’s best local talent, Park Vibes will provide your afternoon playlist, singing you through a day of family fun as you take part in activities from 11:30 am to the golden hour of 4:30 pm. Paper-plane making and colouring has been found to be tiresome work, resulting in tuckered out little ones – in short,  everybody wins!

All things food and drink
When Friday rolls around, save yourself the group chat mayhem of where to meet and what to eat … and drink. Instead, make your way to Fiume Rooftop Bar and kick off the weekend with a Tattinger champagne in one hand and a Moreton Bay bug roll in the other for just $40. With tipple and eats sorted, all that’s left to do is enjoy the sky-high views of Brisbane City herself – a lit up Story Bridge as the backdrop to your weekend antics. Sounds lip-smackingly good to us.

Get some pork on your fork! On Saturday and Sunday, meat-loving BŌS Restaurant will be home to chef Adrian Richardson’s Sucking Pig Festival, arriving from the streets of Melbourne straight into the stomach of Brisbane City – bright eyed and pig-tailed. Delectable eats are promised with the four-course menu boasting Adrian’s signature crispy roast suckling pig, sizzled to perfection and leaving diners with a moist, juicy and tender serving. Tickets are still available and include hand-selected Australian wines and beers. Don your trotters and come hungry – let’s pig out!

Bejewelled foreheads and flower crowns at the ready – the yearly festival that has everyone in a twist is making its way to Lina Rooftop – well, kind of. If you didn’t have the chance to make it to Coachella, Linafest is bringing the balmy desert night vibes right here to South Brisbane. Think all things colour, fireworks, light shows, flames, art and most importantly, music. Linafest is the party that never ends, with headline acts, DJ sets and daily entertainment from Wednesday to Sunday each week until Sunday April 30 (sorry, it does eventually have to end). Expect pool parties, drink offers, special set menus and rosé all day. See summer off in style – by the pool!

Theatre, film and live shows
Catch Venus in Fur at the Latvian Community Hall on Saturday April 22 for an electrifying production by the X Collective. The play follows the scintillating tale of a woeful wanna-be actress paying her dues – whatever they may be – to make it to the highly sought-after shiny lights – better known as Hollywood. A sure fire way to put a pep in your step – Venus in Fur forces you to dip your toe in the pool of gender power dynamic, playfully accompanied by lightning-fast dialogue and venomous wit. Say what you want about her, she’s got resilience in bags.

Forty years on, fans continue to marvel at the creation that is the Star Wars saga. Not only are the visual effects of this masterpiece an out-of-world experience (get it), but the musical scores are, and remain to be, next to none. On Saturday April 22, the Brisbane Convention and Exhibition Centre will be home to Star Wars: The Force Awakens In Concert, uniting Star Wars fans far and wide and those whose ears prick for a symphonic masterpiece. By the way – if you arrive early, rumour has it you may be able to bump into Han Solo himself – let’s just say the foyer is the place to be.

Fancy a bit of rule breaking this weekend? Formidable director Hannah Barr’s Revolt. She Said. Revolt Again. is taking to the Metro Arts stage from Wednesday to Saturday, bringing a performance that is certainly not well behaved. Watch in awe as protagonist Alice Birch revolts against the status quo, delivering a performance intended to push and bend the boundaries, leaving no one unscathed. Intrigued? We know we are. Tickets are available through the Metro Arts website but hurry – the revolting ends on Saturday April 22!

Film buffs are in for a treat with the new Sunset Outdoor Cinema at Northshore’s Maritime Green, which is halfway through its six-week program of new-release blockbusters, all-time classics and family favourites, all screened under the stars. This weekend’s program includes the star-studded Babylon on Thursday night, Puss in Boots: The Last Wish on Friday night and cult-classic 10 Things I Hate About You on Saturday night.

The weeks are melting away before our eyes, which means there’s not long left to experience the magic of Lin-Manuel Miranda’s much-loved musical, Hamilton, currently showing at QPAC. The iconic production bows out this Sunday April 23, meaning this is your last weekend to see what everyone is raving about (maybe even for a second time). Don’t throw away your shot!

Queensland Ballet is bringing back renowned masterpiece Giselle, gracing the stage of the QPAC Playhouse until April 29. The celebrated romantic ballet follows a peasant girl’s experience with love, envy, betrayal and tragic redemption. Head to Fish Lane for pre-show nibbles and simply cross the street when it’s show time for the perfect night out.

Exhibitions
Big news! As the saying goes – ask and you shall receive. Brisbane’s rave reviews of Maritime Museum’s out-of-the-box exhibition Imaginaria, has encouraged an encore with the interactive experience now running until April 30. Pop on your best imagination and comfiest shoes – Imaginaria is back with a bang … but not for long!

Sixteen life-sized dinosaur skeletons from South America take centre stage for Queensland Museum’s blockbuster exhibit – 230 million years in the making – Dinosaurs of Patagonia. Your breath is guaranteed to be taken away as you witness the world’s biggest dinosaur, the titanosaur Patagotitan, as well as sharp-toothed carnivores, pocket-sized herbivores and a whole lot of interactive activities. The dinos are in town until October – meaning you can get your prehistoric fix more than once!

Over at QAGOMA, blockbuster exhibition Air is showcasing immersive and large-scale works by leading international and Australian artists exploring the cultural, ecological and political dimensions of air. Hurry, this is the last weekend to set sights on the enchanting collation of artwork that is Air, which closes on Sunday April 23.

Fortitude Valley’s esteemed Jan Murphy Gallery has teamed up with The Calile Hotel to showcase its latest exhibition, Fake, by Queensland-based artist, Michael Cook. The series of 12 large-scale works will be exhibited concurrently in the gallery, and on level one of The Calile for the last weekend. This Saturday April 22 is your last chance – so off you go!

Heading to the Gold Coast this weekend? Check out the hyped Pop Masters: Art from the Mugrabi Collection, New York exhibition at HOTA to see works by iconic artists Andy Warhol, Keith Haring and Jean-Michel Basquiat. Tip – grab a burger and a cocktail at the Exhibitionist Bar while you’re at it.

Weekend markets and warehouse sales
Keen to shop until you drop this weekend? There are a number of warehouse sales popping up around the city and beyond that will help you restock your wardrobe for the change of season. AJE ATHLETICA is having its first-ever Brisbane warehouse sale from Thursday April 20 to Sunday April 23 at the Brisbane Showgrounds John Reid Pavilion. Expect 70 percent off past-season styles that will seamlessly carry you from the gym to gins on the weekend. Over in West End, Australian label Girl and the Sun is popping up at 1/23 Anthony Street on Saturday April 22. From 8:00 am to 2:00 pm you can shop up a storm – we recommend getting in quick, though, as nothing will be over $30! If you’re headed down the coast this weekend, beloved brand Assembly Label will hold its first-ever warehouse sale in Queensland from Thursday to Sunday. Past season styles are up to 70-percent off at this four-day event – expect accessories, footwear and homewares, with tees for $30, jeans from $35, shirts for $40, leather sandals for $40, pants for $50, towels for $30 and kidswear starting from $10. There will also be heavily reduced premium styles including tailored blazers, Italian Jacquard sets, and 50-percent off all silk styles. Find the sale at Tropical Studios at 10/14-28 Ivan Street in Arundel.

If you’re eager to stroll through some stalls and stock up on some fresh fruit and veg over the weekend, be sure check out these markets happening – Saturday Fresh Market, Riverside Markets, Kelvin Grove Village Market, Jan Powers Farmers Markets, Davies Park Market, Carseldine Markets, Nundah Farmers Markets and the Redcliffe Markets. For delicious dinnertime eats, Eat Street Northshore is on for your snacking pleasure on Friday, Saturday and Sunday nights.

Makers on The River is the answer to your weekend prayers. Make your way to Morningside’s picturesque waterfront on Saturday April 22 as Brisbane shows its love for all things local, artisan and handmade. Enjoy live entertainment from national treasure Alex Lloyd, Lecia Louise and the Milan Hendrik Band as you pick and choose from a delectable line-up of gourmet food trucks. Partake in gin and rum tastings or journey to the children’s rides for a day of family fun. Running from 12:00–8:00 pm, you have bucket loads of time to get your dose of local love.

Events may be subject to be postponed or cancelled at the last minute. We do our best to remove cancelled events but be sure to check the organiser’s own event page for the most current updates.

This article was written by Stamatina Notaras from The Weekend Edition.