A walk through memory lane in Brisbane after dark

Nothing in recent memory has made me feel quite as young as the night I had out in The Valley a few weeks ago.

It started with a modicum of decorum: a wine at Gerties on Brunswick Street, then something to line the stomach at Ciao Papi on Howard Smith Wharves. After a drink further along the riverfront, my friend suggested Netherworld, an arcade bar in The Valley. I was all ears.

Elbowing my way through Brunswick Street Mall, I couldn’t help but smile. It was heaving with the same hopefulness I remember from the Saturday evenings I spent here in my early 20s: bodycon dresses and freshly cut fades, the familiar waft of New York Slice pizza, club entryways hazy with artificial smoke.

After a recon to the revamped GPO, the night ended as all nights in The Valley should: a kebab in hand and a slightly off-kilter walk home. And, to my complete surprise, the desire to spend more nights out in the city’s shady entertainment precinct.

There’s something magnetising about the sticky grime that slips onto Brisbane’s city streets once the sun goes down. Away from the too-bright glare of that Queensland sun and the sea of businessmen in plaid shirts and pale chinos, the city has a totally different feel. Sure, it doesn’t always feel safe or law-abiding, but it’s guaranteed to be interesting. And when you’re in the mood for it, it’s a lot of fun.

I’m not necessarily saying you should go join a queue at The MET this weekend, but if you’ve been flirting with the idea of a night out in Brisbane, September is the month to do it.

One reason is that spring is officially here. We hardly suffer through winter, but the changing of the seasons still has a distinct feeling. The sun goes down later, temperatures creep into the mid-20s and suddenly those rooftop bars along the river have a whole new appeal.

September 1 is also the start of Brisbane Festival, the annual international arts festival which runs until September 23 and features over 1000 performances (230 of which are free) in venues across the city.

South Bank Piazza will play host to a cabaret-circus show; the Moorooka Block Party will once more descend on Peggs Park; QPAC and Brisbane Powerhouse are sharing the load of theatre shows; and a newly transformed warehouse in Northshore has internationally acclaimed stage designer Es Devlin attached to its credits.

Riverfire returns this Saturday, bringing with it some 400,000 spectators to vantage points around the CBD. Along with its trademark fireworks display, this year’s program includes Nieergoo: Spirit of the Whale, a newly launched drone show created in collaboration with traditional owners.

If you like lights but prefer less-extravagance, there’s Lightscape in Brisbane’s City Botanic Gardens. The multisensory light and sound experience spans more than two kilometres, taking visitors on an immersive – and very cool – journey through the park. With food trucks, drink stations and 90 minutes to lose yourself in the maze, it makes for a good pre-drinks or post-dinner activity.

Then there’s Howard Smith Wharves, the precinct that has become a major sparkling jewel in the city’s crown.

A week after being hot property for Riverfire, Felons Brewing Co is keeping the buzz going via Seasonal Fruit!, a mini music festival with bands like Babe Rainbow, The Lazy Eyes, Gregory and The Slingers on its lineup. And just when you think the brewery might take a breather, on Saturday 30 September it’s hosting Lagerpalooza, Queensland’s largest outdoor lager festival running over three days and featuring 17 breweries.

And of course, who can forget BIGSOUND, the largest music industry event in the Southern Hemisphere. It returns to Fortitude Valley’s entertainment precinct for its 22nd year from September 5 to 8.

Don’t let the words “industry event” put you off. There are 140 bands playing across 23 stages at BIGSOUND this year. It’s your chance to discover new Australian talent, check in on some of the best music venues in the country (all within a stone’s throw of each other) and maybe reinvigorate an affection for The Valley you thought you’d retired long ago.

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