Round Up Your Mates: Here’s What’s On Offer In Your City This Weekend
Junkee has partnered with Coopers to introduce the new Coopers Session Ale – the perfect beer to enjoy with mates.
Whether you’re out on the town or having a coldie at home with mates, the weekend is a sacred time.
So, in honour of this precious and fleeting 48 hours, we’ve rounded up the best things going down in Australia’s capital cities so you can gather the crew and fill your social schedule with the country’s best goings-on.
Adelaide
Transitions Film Festival
This weekend, the Transitions Film Festival kicks off in Adelaide with an epic line-up of documentaries about humanity. Hit it up to fulfil your cultural and intellectual quotas before kicking on to the pub to discuss how you’re going to change the world and what-not.
The festival opens on Friday night with a doco called Food Fighter — it’s about OzHarvest’s crusade to end food waste in Australia. Festival film tickets start at $16 a pop.
Where: Mercury Cinema, 13 Morphett Street, Adelaide
When: May 18-27, 2018
Thirsty Merc Take Me Back Tour
Finish off your weekend in Adelaide with a throwback to Thirsty Merc’s hay-day at their Take Me Back Tour gig. Iconic tunes like ‘Someday, Someday’ and ’20 Good Reasons’ are perfect fodder for an absolute nostalgia fest.
Tickets cost $37.75 per person for gigs at both the Slug ‘N’ Lettuce (which is just a great name for a venue) in Parafield Gardens and The Grand Bar in Glenelg.
Where: Various locations in Adelaide
When: From 8pm, Saturday, May 19, and Sunday, May 20, 2018
Sydney
Ball Pit Party
You can indulge your inner big kid at a Ball Pit Party in Bondi Junction this weekend — and, yep, it’s exactly what it sounds like. The adult wonderland includes a huge ball pit, a bar serving up cocktails, and DJs on the decks all day.
Grab tickets for a two-hour slot, or upgrade to the bottomless brunch before it sells out.
Where: The Junction, 195 Oxford Street, Bondi Junction
When: 5pm–1am, Friday, May 18, 11am–1am, Saturday, May 19, 11am–7pm , Sunday, May 20, 2018
Confidence Man At The Metro Theatre
For fans of new age techno, Sydney’s upcoming Confidence Man gig is guaranteed to be an epic scene and a solid dance session. Confidence Man has been selling out tours and garnering huge crowds at festivals across Australia and Europe for ages, so it’s a show not to miss.
Tickets cost $40.60 per person.
Where: The Metro Theatre, 624 George Street, Sydney
When: From 7pm, Friday, May 18, 2018
AIR: Music For Museum
For this one-of-a-kind experience at the Australian Museum, Iconic French electronic duo AIR has composed a soundtrack specifically to accompany a gallery visit, while international record club Classic Album Sundays will be spinning rare vinyl while you browse the Westpac Long Gallery. It all adds up to a solid dose of music and art before you kick on to dinner and drinks.
Tickets cost $39 per person.
Where: Australian Museum, 1 William Street, Sydney
When: From 6pm, Friday, 18 May, 2018
Sydney Comedy Festival: Mates: A Fully Improvised Aussie Soap Opera
The Sydney Comedy Festival is serving up a tonne of awesome shows this month, and what better way to end the weekend then with a fully improvised Aussie soap opera? It’s totally chaotic, messy, and amazing, so it’s sure to satisfy comedy fans of every ilk.
Tickets start from $10 per person.
Where: The Factory Theatre, 105 Victoria Road, Marrickville
When: 4:45pm, Sunday, May 20, 2018
Melbourne
Mr. McClelland’s Finishing School
Mr. McClelland’s Finishing School is a dedicated dancing night celebrating all pop music, from The Beatles to The Spice Girls. Gather the crew and prepare to cut loose.
Entry costs $10 per person.
Where: Mr. McClelland’s Finishing School, 484 Smith Street, Collingwood
When: From 10pm, Friday, May 18, 2018
The Rabbit Hole Launch Party
If you’re keen for a big night, The Black Rabbit is throwing a launch party for an upcoming event series on May 18. ‘Rabbit Hole’ is set to be a huge night with a line-up of great DJs, and tickets are selling fast.
Tickets start at $20 per person.
Where: The Black Rabbit, 85 Queen Street, Melbourne
When: 9am to 3pm, Friday, May 18, 2018
Good Beer Week
Melbourne’s Good Beer Week is one of the best going around and there are a heap of free and ticketed events running throughout the city all week and all this weekend. If there was ever a time to celebrate the glory that is beer, this is it. Check out the packed schedule and sink some beers with your mates in honour all of the happiness it brings.
Where: Various venues around Melbourne
When: Friday, May 11, to Sunday, May 20, 2018
Hobart
AFL: North Melbourne V. GWS Giants
What’s better than Saturday arvo at the footy? Nothing, that’s what. North Melbourne is taking on the GWS Giants in Round 9, so don your scarf and get down to the game for a good time.
Where: Blundstone Arena, 15 Derwent Street, Bellerive
When: 1:45pm, Saturday, May 19, 2018
Experimenta Make Sense — Up Late
This one-night only exhibition event is an interactive art experience complete with performances from exhibiting artist Gail Priest and local electronic media artist, Matt Warren. It’s running for an hour and it’s free, so it’s the perfect stop-off before heading out on the town.
Where: Plimsoll Gallery loading dock, Hunter Street, Hobart
When: 6:30pm-7:30pm, May 19, 2018
Brisbane
MELT Beauty Pageant
For a wild night, hit up the MELT Festival of Queer Arts and Culture’s iconic beauty pageant event, where drag queens, kings, and trans beauties will battle it out for the crown. If you’re up for it, kick on to the (free) MELT After Dark Opening Party at the Turbine Platform.
Where: Powerhouse Theatre, 119 Lamington Street, New Farm
When: Friday, May 18, 7:15pm
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AFL: Brisbane Lions V. Hawthorn Hawks
An arvo at the footy followed by a few beverages is the ideal way to finish off the weekend. Sport and a Sunday sesh can’t be topped — especially when the Lions are playing at home.
Where: The Gabba, Vulture Street, Woolloongabba
When: 3:20pm, Sunday, May 20, 2018
Greek Paniyiri Festival
Image: Piniyiri 2018
Brisbane’s Paniyiri Festival is the biggest and longest-running Greek festival in Australia, with thousands expected to turn out to celebrate this weekend. It’s packed with events, so get amongst the Greek culture with traditional food, bevvies and dance. It’ll be a great atmosphere, so be sure to stop by and check it out.
Where: Musgrave Park & The Greek Club, Edmondstone Street, South Brisbane
When: 12pm to 10pm, Saturday, May 19, and 10am to 7pm, Sunday, May 20, 2018
Canberra
Rocky Horror Picture Show: Sing-Along Screening
Interactive screenings of The Rocky Horror Picture Show are an experience you’ll never forget. There’s dress-ups, props, and singing, with the added bonus that this month’s event raises funds for Diversity ACT.
Tickets start from $33.
Where: Westfield Woden, 8 Bradley Street, Woden
When: 8:30pm to 11:45pm, Friday, May 18, 2018
Spiegeltent: Blanc de Blanc
It’s Spiegeltent’s last weekend in Canberra, meaning it’s your last chance to see the internationally acclaimed show Blanc de Blanc. It’s all acrobatics and saucy performances under the world-famous Spiegeltent, so it’s set to be a good time.
Tickets start from $65.
Where: Civic Square, London Circuit, Canberra
When: Until May 20, 2018
Darwin
BASSINTHEGRASS Music Festival
BASSINTHEGRASS People’s Choice Music Festival is the place to be this weekend. It’s going to be a big day out with performances from some of Australia’s best musical acts, including Vera Blue, San Cisco, Confidence Man, and Client Liaison.
Tickets are $75 and, by the looks of the line-up, it’ll be well worth it.
Where: Darwin Amphitheatre, George Brown Botanic Gardens, Darwin
When: 11am to 11pm, Saturday, May 19, 2018
Perth
Hatched Opening Night Party
The Hatched: National Graduate Show is kicking off with a party chock-full with live entertainment, Perth’s best food trucks, and a snapshot of the next generation of artists from across Australia. It’s set to be an epic event and entry is free — winner.
Where: PICA Galleries, PICA Bar and Perth Cultural Centre Amphitheatre, 51 James Street, Perth
When: 6:30pm to 8:30pm, Friday, May 8, 2018
Perth Comedy Festival: Aunty Donna Live Performance
As part of the Perth Comedy Festival, Australia’s favourite absurdist comedy crew, Aunty Donna, will be performing their live show: Glennridge Secondary College. The skits and songs by these three blokes have a special place in the Aussie comedy landscape and their show is a must-see.
Where: 474 Hay Street, Subiaco
When: 9pm to 10pm, Saturday, May 19,2018
Maylands Street Festival Birthday Party
For the Marylands Street Festival‘s 120th naming anniversary, it’s throwing a huge (free) celebration that will include everything from a festival bar, food trucks, stalls, and DJs.
Where: Maylands, from The RISE, through 8th Avenue and Whatley Crescent to Railway Parade, Marylands
When: 12pm to 6pm, Sunday, May 20, 2018
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(Lead image: @confidenceman_ / Instagram)
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Coopers Session Ale is now available in cans and bottles in all good bottle shops.