Music has played a crucial role in the lives of many Queenslanders, both directly and indirectly. It has helped shape the social, cultural and even political identity of the state. The State Library of Queensland will explore Queensland's musical experiences from the past 160 years with their latest event
Live! Queensland band culture.
From May 11th until November 15th, the state library of Queensland will host a number of musically inspired exhibitions, performances, talks, workshops and films. Join in the fun at the official
Live! launch party from 3.30pm on Saturday May 11. A free mini festival will be held featuring an eclectic mix of musical entertainment from Scottish dance classes through to evening DJ performances.
The main exhibition showcasing Queensland's musical story will be held in the SLQ gallery. Here you will be able to discover the connection between the bands, the fans, the venues and of course the music over the past 160 years through photographs, memorabilia, digital stories and displays. Gain an indigenous perspective of Queensland's musical heritage with the
Deadly Brothers exhibition and events, then head up stairs to the Phillip Bacon heritage gallery to explore the role that music has had on shaping Queensland communities.
John Wilcox and Beryl Copeland dancing at the Blue Room Club, Brisbane,1956, John Oxley Library, SLQ, 184451
Look out for regular performances such as
Sunday sessions where you can catch local bands for free or plan ahead to take advantage of special one-off performances. Curator's talks, covering exhibition highlights, will feature as a regular monthly event. If you're looking to forge a career in the music industry, song writing, music business and video editing are just some of the workshops on offer during
Live. Special guests will be on hand throughout the event including Robert Forster (12 June) of the Go-Betweens and George's Katie Noonan (15 August). As an added bonus Katie will be sticking around to share dinner later in the evening with fans. If you're up to the challenge, get a team together for the
Live! trivia night (23 August) where prizes will be up for grabs for those who think they know their music. Catch a film for free including
Chicago and
Bran Nue Dae. Bookings are required for some events in the
Live! program. See the
website for further details and costs.
Bernard Fanning of Powderfinger performing at the Alternative Nation music festival at Chandler, 1995, John Oxley Library, SLQ, 404739
Relive Queensland's past through the sounds and sights of music in one of the largest events ever hosted by the state library. Not only will music lovers be entertained, but visitors' eyes and ears will be opened to the influence that music has had on the state.
