Music
Toot toot chugga chugga, The Wiggles are coming to town this weekend for a host of shows at Fortitude Music Hall. With three shows a day from Thursday to Sunday, there are plenty of chances to catch the colourful childhood classics in concert during these school holidays. The supergroup will be performing all its leading hits like ‘Fruit Salad‘ and ‘Hot Potato‘ which no doubt, the whole family will love.

For a hit of Aussie rock, find The Grogans at The Triffid this Friday from 7:30 pm. Fresh off the back of its European tour, The Grogans have returned to home soil to tour its latest album Find Me A Cloud. Experience the trio’s laidback rock sounds and relatable lyricism live and loud this weekend.

Australian legend Shannon Noll will also be performing this weekend at The Princess Theatre on Saturday and Sunday. The ‘What about me?’ singer and robbed Australian Idol contestant is bringing his original sounds and covers to Brisbane. Snag tickets to one of his two shows now.

A medley of entertainment heavy-weights teaming up with Queensland Symphony Orchestra this weekend to pay tribute to the late pop-icon Olivia Newton-John with Hopelessly Devoted. Led by renowned drag queen Courtney Act, stage and screen stars like David Campbell, Jess Hitchcock, Georgina Hopson and Christie Whelan Brown will be performing some of the original Pink Lady’s most loved hits.  Conducted by Nicholas Buc, this evening farewells Olivia with a fabulous show of toe-tapping tunes.

Theatre and cinema
Experience the magic of the musical classic Beauty and the Beast the Musical at Lyric Theatre. With a sensational soundtrack penned by Alan Menken, this musical reimagines the beloved Disney film for the stage. The classic fairy-tale story comes to life with captivating sets and opulent costumes for a reverie of romance. This weekend also sees the start of the school holidays and QPAC’s Playhouse Theatre is gearing up to delight little ones with the help of the Roald Dahl classic James and the Giant Peach. This latest stage adaptation by Shake & Stir is juicy in mischief and magic as it follows James and his collection of curious critters on their soaring journey.

La Boite Theatre kicks off its 2024 program this weekend with the return of the contemporary classic Closer from prolific playwright Patrick Marber. The cult-favourite show follows the relationships between a quad of four friends as they endure love, lust and betrayal. Closer’s intimate take on modern love debuts this weekend.

Pass le popcorn, Alliance Francaise French Film Festival returns to Palace Cinemas for its 35th year. Film fanatics can experience a captivating program featuring 41 films from legendary French filmmakers to emerging talent. Find your screening here.

Exhibitions
Experience Japanese artist Hiromi Tango’s artist residency at the Museum of Brisbane this weekend, showcasing the community-led project Gentle Petal. The multi-room installation features upcycled textiles for attendees to create flowers, which will then enliven the walls of the Adelaide Street Pavilion. Hiromi’s vibrant project aims to inspire healing through the social connection of creating together.

Across the river, QAGOMA’s blockbuster exhibition Fairy Tales continues for another weekend. Journey through its galleries of grandeur artworks and artefacts that explore the fantastical world of fairy tales. Childhood stories come alive in this curated collection – bound to delight kids and adults alike. Over the weekend, Australian Cinémathèque is continuing its movie marathon of fairy-tale-themed films – spanning new contexts and different eras. This weekend, see the haunting Czech adaptation of Alice in Wonderland, Neco z Alenky (1988).

In the same precinct, QAGOMA also just launched its latest exhibition from Waanyi artist Judy Watson. mudunama kundana wandaraba jarribirri is a career survey of four decades of work, featuring prints, paintings, sculptures and more that channel the stories of her family’s Waanyi Country in north-west Queensland. Whilst exploring QAG, you can also take a wander through the Seeds and Sovereignty exhibition. These curated pieces from the museum’s Indigenous Australian Art Collection consider the intricate relationships between plants, people and Country. Discover artwork by traditional and emerging First Nations artists and unlock the cultural stories, ceremony and Songlines.

Around the river, Brisbane’s Institute of Modern Art farewells its first suite of exhibitions of the year. It’s your last chance to discover African American artist Arthur Jafa’s poignant meditation on African American history, life, and identity – which is shown alongside the multi-medium exhibition from Australian-Lebanese artist Justine Youssef’s Somewhat Eternal. IMA’s exhibitions are open daily from 10:00 am.

Food and drinks
Sardinian restaurant Pilloni is serving up both the sizzle and the steak with an exclusive dining experience in collaboration with renowned rangeland Westholme Wagyu. The steak savants will be finishing its touring supperclub with dinner at the West End eatery this Thursday. The menu has been designed to fuse the finesse of Westholme Wagyu’s premier cuts with the rustic art of Sardinian cuisine, featuring house-made ravioli, MB9+ wagyu brisket and even a sweet ravioli dessert as well.

Both wine connoisseurs and novice sippers are invited to sample the best new wine release of the season at the autumn edition of World of Wine at Treasury Brisbane. Presented By Samuel Smith & Son and Negociants Australia, the autumn edition of World of Wine will be pouring 100-plus highly anticipated season-release tastings from more than 25 Australian winemakers. Drinks start flowing from 6:00 pm on Monday April 8.

Markets and other wholesome goodness
Local-Milton haunt Warehouse 25 is hosting a Mural and Market Day event this Saturday in collaboration with some of Brisbane’s best emerging artists. In celebration of autumn, the venue’s centrepiece mural is getting a refresh with a new work by Thea Skelsey. The local artist is set to be painting live, and unveiling it on the day. Discover the ceramics, artwork, jewellery and thread creations from more than ten local creatives, with snacks provided by a pop-up ice-cream cart and live DJs spinning all afternoon. Festivities kick off from midday.

Stock up on fresh-local produce, bespoke goodies and street food snacks at one of the weekly markets as well. Riverside Markets, Kelvin Grove Village Market, Jan Powers Farmers Markets, Carseldine Markets, Nundah Farmers Markets and the Redcliffe Markets are open and trading this weekend. For our night owls still craving the delicious market fare but can’t beat the ‘snooze’ button, hit up Eat Street Northshore. Open on Friday, Saturday and Sunday nights.

On Saturday morning, The Curated Market is taking over the rooftop of the luxury Breakfast Creek Lifestyle Precinct. This market series lets you raid the closets of Brisbane’s most stylish, with a considered selection of stalls featuring the most coveted brands. Entry is $3 and shopping starts from 8:00 am.

For more finer things, finery fans can take a wander through The Gem Garden at Molten Store’s James Street. The new monthly event series lets you trawl through the brand’s loose gemstone and diamond collection and learn more about the bespoke jewellery journey. This weekend, the store will transform with a flower installation by esme fleur and sweet treats from conceptual caterer Zosia Cooks.

Southbank’s community wellness space Flowstate has your next sweat session sorted with its free workout classes Feel Good – open to all age groups and levels. The Autumn series lineup features a range of trending workouts, designed to get you mindfully moving with your community. Start your Saturday at this riverside gym, with yoga kicking off at 7:30 am and followed by pilates and aqua aerobics.