The Tivoli, The Princess Theatre & QPAC present…
OPEN SEASON 2025
LINEUP ANNOUNCEMENT
MAY – JULY 2025, BRISBANE / MAGANDJIN
Presale available from 8am AEST Wednesday 26 March
Tickets on sale to the general public from 9am AEST Thursday 27 March
Sign Up For Presale Link
Winter is rolling in, but Open Season 2025 is turning up the heat! Running from May – July, Brisbane’s most thrilling music and arts series is back – bigger, bolder and better than ever. The fifth edition will ignite six iconic venues with over thirty electrifying events, spanning intimate gigs to full-blown spectacles. Now in its 5th year, Open Season has raised the bar even higher thanks to a fresh new partnership with QPAC, teaming up with The Tivoli and The Princess Theatre to deliver its most dynamic lineup yet. The result? A city-wide celebration of world-class artists, genre-defying performances and must-do music experiences, all on Brisbane’s doorstep.
“This program is designed to inspire, to awaken our adventurous spirit, step out of the house and get amongst some seriously excellent live music,” says Dave Sleswick, Creative Director of The Tivoli Group. “Every year, Open Season expands and evolves. This time, with QPAC on board, we’re taking over the whole damn city. International icons, national treasures and incredible local talent will take over a variety of intimate and grand venues throughout Brisbane. It’s an open invitation for everyone to experience the magic of live performance and the power of community through music.”
QPAC Chief Executive Rachel Healy said the partnership was a great opportunity to throw open QPAC’s doors to a wider audience and to work with another of Brisbane’s leading live performance presenters.
“This is the first time we’ve partnered with Dave and the team at The Tivoli Group to present performances at QPAC as part of Open Season; it’s proving to be a brilliant collaboration, and we love that we’re increasing the footprint and audience of this awesome festival.
“Both QPAC and The Tivoli Group are all about ensuring as many people as possible experience live performance together. We’re passionate about presenting both new and emerging artists as well as those established and already loved, and shouting from the rooftops that Brisbane is well and truly a live music capital.
“It’s thrilling to see Open Season grow every year and the program this year is better than ever. It really is fast becoming a destination music festival for Brisbane and we’re very proud to be on board.”
Open Season 2025 delivers a stacked lineup of world-class artistry. To kick things off, audiences are invited to experience the ethereal soundscapes of iconic Icelandic three-piece Sigur Rós when they’re joined by the Brisbane Philharmonic Orchestra for a spine-tingling, must-see performance in QPAC’s Concert Hall. Feel the cosmic pulse of Emmy and Grammy-nominated multi-instrumentalist, composer and bandleader Kamasi Washington and sway to the trademark dusty soul, slow disco and Afrobeat grooves of Pale Jay, before diving into the shimmering yet haunted world of DIIV’s latest record Frog in Boiling Water – a moving and reflective body of work from the masters of indie-rock and shoegaze.
Mix some Afro-Cuban jazz with salsa, add a dash of reggae, a drip of soul, and a hint of hip-hop and you have an idea of what to expect when Mercury Prize and BRIT Award-winning jazz-funk outfit Ezra Collective hit Brisbane with their joyfully exuberant live show. One of the most singular and distinctive songwriters of her generation Jessica Pratt will grace Open Season with the bewitching, elusive and mystical blend of her acoustic guitar and graceful vocals.
Brace yourself for what influential, Icelandic electronic duo Kiasmos have in store as they return to the live stage for the first time in over five years. And get ready to transcend as you delve into the experimental and textured electronic sounds of Mount Kimbie – one of the UK’s most innovative and adventurous musical forces. See why Chicago born, LA based Ravyn Lenae has been making huge waves in the global R&B scene when she takes over The Tivoli stage with her atmospheric sound and honey-sweet vocals.
Homegrown heroes Skegss will bring their signature high-energy show to Brisbane, while a host of other beloved Aussie bands will celebrate some major milestones at Open Season 2025. Reuniting for the first time in over a decade, Blue Mountains act Cloud Control will mark 15 years of Bliss Release, the debut album that introduced them to the world. With founding bassist Jeremy Kelshaw back, they’ll take the stage in their original lineup for this special anniversary set. Don’t miss the chance to revisit a record that left a lasting mark on Australian music history.
Speaking of Aussie music legacies, Killing Heidi will also grace the stage for a 25-year anniversary performance of Reflector, the debut album that saw the duo win 4 major ARIA Awards and sold 4x Platinum, while also taking out the prestigious APRA Songwriters of the Year award in 2001. See why the early ‘00s belonged to Killing Heidi with their incredible performance! Then, it’s time to catch The Preatures blazing live show as they mark ten years since their debut LP, Blue Planet Eyes, cemented them as one of Australia’s most electrifying rock ‘n’ roll bands.
Blak Day Out returns for its fourth year, boasting a powerful lineup of First Nations artists for an unforgettable celebration of music, culture and community. Taking over The Princess Theatre on Saturday 26 July, this landmark event, curated by Alethea Beetson (Blak Social) and co-presented with QPAC’s Clancestry, honours the strength, resilience and creativity of First Nations voices, inviting all to be part of this transformative experience. Leading the 2025 lineup is the legendary Christine Anu, the 17-time ARIA nominated, APRA AMCOS Award-winning artist celebrating 30 years of her platinum debut album Stylin’ Up. Joining her is the soulful and deeply moving sounds of Gamilaraay woman Thelma Plum and the fierce, uncompromising Miss Kaninna, who is currently taking the world by storm. An all-ages event designed for music lovers of all backgrounds, Blak Day Out is an opportunity to connect with Country, celebrate powerful storytelling and witness some of the best live music Australia has to offer. Stay tuned for the full lineup to drop soon.
Electronic music features heavily in this year’s Open Season program. Fresh from dancefloors across the world, catch Moktar’s distinct cross of club and techno merged with traditional Arabic instrumentation when he is joined by a lineup of very special guests for a sweaty night of dance. Local legend and Grammy nominee Maxwell Byrne (aka Golden Vessel) will hit the stage with his house project 1tbsp, supported with a live set from Melbourne-based producer Pruient, while Shouse bring their drum machines, synths and anthemic, globally adored, bangers.
Local singer-songwriter Sahara Beck will return to Open Season with her boundary-pushing pop songs and captivating stage presence. This very special, intimate performance will see Sahara take over the stunning Grand on Ann in Brisbane’s CBD – an architectural masterpiece that exudes timeless elegance and historic grandeur. There’ll be the candid musings of Soccer Mommy,the vivid arrangements of Surprise Chef and the neon-drenched sounds of MonoNeon, otherwise known as “the greatest f*cking electric bass player” by Flea of Red Hot Chilli Peppers. Brisbane-based collective The Gin Club will also reunite for the first time in years to ignite The Princess Theatre with their dynamic live show, celebrating the 20-year anniversary of their sophomore album Fear of the Sea.
Brisbane will also be treated to pop-up performances as part of Quivr’s Quiet on Set program in Fortitude Valley’s Winn Lane, featuring tomboy, electronic-pop artist Handsome, and Melbourne-based jazz virtuoso Emma Volard. To wraps things up, a free jazz and martini night featuring home-grown ensemble Accomplice Collective will be on offer at The Inchcolm Hotel in Spring Hill. Patrons are invited to take up unique hospitality offerings and special deals on King Street in Bowen Hills and grab a specially brewed Open Season Lager from Green Beacon at all participating venues.
Stay tuned, as more acts will be added in the coming months!
More than just a festival, Open Season is a statement for the city. Since its inception, it has earned a reputation for curating a cutting-edge blend of music and immersive experiences. From exclusive must-see performances to unexpected collaborations in unique spaces, Brisbane’s live music scene is hot and flourishing and Open Season is at the heart of it all.
Now it’s time to go and play! Tickets to Open Season go on sale at 9am AEST Thursday 27 March, with presale available from 8am AEST Wednesday 26 March. Head to the Open Season website for all the details
In alphabetical order…
1tbsp | Accomplice Collective | Christine Anu | Cloud Control | DIIV | Emma Volard
Ezra Collective | Handsome | Jessica Pratt | Kamasi Washington | Kiasmos
Killing Heidi | Miss Kaninna | Moktar | MonoNeon | Mount Kimbie
Pale Jay | Purient | Ravyn Lenae | Sahara Beck | Shouse
Sigur Rós w Brisbane Philharmonic Orchestra | Skegss | Soccer Mommy
Surprise Chef | The Gin Club | The Preatures | Thelma Plum
+ more to be announced.
OPEN SEASON
May – July 2025, Brisbane/Magandjin
openseason.live
TICKETS
Presale available from 8am AEST Wednesday 26 March
Ticketson sale to the general public from 9am AEST Thursday 27 March
