Housed in a converted church on Warner Street, we’ve seen it all from packed-out punk gigs, sweaty late-night singalongs, indie breakouts, and wild day festivals. In the last 12 months alone we’ve showcased over 350 events across our stages - a testament to the energy, diversity and passion that keeps the venue pulsing week after week.
Fortitude Valley has always been AT the heart of Brisbane’s live music scene and since 2014 The Brightside has stood proudly in the thick of it.
Our venue has always been more than just four walls and a sound system, it’s a launchpad, a sanctuary, a mosh pit, and a memory maker. And now… it’s time to introduce the next stage. We’re building a brand-new outdoor space, a bold addition that will transform our car park into a purpose-built, open-air performance area known as The Brightside Outdoors. We’ve built this space hand-in-hand with the people who live and breathe live music from consultants, promoters, booking agents, artists, and touring techs. Every detail has been crafted to deliver unforgettable shows for performers and punters alike.
Phase One will include:
A brand-new outdoor stage, powered by a permanently installed, state-of-the-art L-Acoustics concert sound system. Less bump-in, more music. We've built it to reduce production costs, streamline setup, and open the space up for more shows, more often, without compromising on world-class sound in.
A dedicated artist green room with all the bells and whistles including toilet facilities, plus direct stage access for a seamless experience. Touring’s tough. Long drives, late nights, back-to-back shows. So we’ve created a space where artists can breathe, reset, and feel looked after before they hit the stage. We listened to the feedback, and are building the green room we always wished existed.
An adaptable VIP, friends & family private mezzanine, linked directly to backstage, so artists can have their nearest and dearest close by, soaking up the show together in style.
The mezzanine isn’t just for VIP’s, it has been designed with flexibility in mind. It can be closed off fully or in sections for select events to help reduce overall capacity and create a more intimate atmosphere when needed. This allows the space to adapt to different show formats while maintaining a comfortable and considered guest experience all with an incredible elevated view of the stage.
A brand-new bar, cold room, storage facilities, all built with guest comfort, speed of service, and flow in mind. Faster pours, colder beers, and less time in line means more time enjoying the show.
Phase Two (expected 2026) will include:
Fully retractable roof over the Brightside Outdoors, transforming the space into an all-weather venue. Rain or shine, the show goes on. The design keeps the space protected from the elements while still allowing us to open up to the night sky, so we can keep hosting gigs under the stars.
New toilet facilities will serve the entire venue, with the flexibility to operate separately for Brightside Indoors and Outdoors when hosting multiple shows across different stages. The upgrade includes more inclusive, accessible amenities, and the ability to open the facilities for full-venue block parties and small scale festivals, ensuring comfort and convenience for every event.
We’re also adding a brand-new rooftop bar overlooking Brightside Outdoors, built on the existing structure. This elevated space will boost capacity, offer a unique setting for private functions and VIP events, and further cement The Brightside as a truly multi-faceted venue.
Our goal is simple: to invest in live music, upgrade our space, and evolve The Brightside into a future-ready multi faceted venue where rising local acts, touring bands, and all-day festivals can come alive in the heart of Fortitude Valley. A completely unique space loud, live, and under the stars.
The Valley’s next stage is coming.
Some of the incredible acts that have played our stages at The Brightside over the past 11 years include:
IDLES, Ocean Alley, Amy Shark, Polaris, Royel Otis, Lime Cordiale, Nothing But Thieves, King Gizzard and the Lizard Wizard, DMA’s, The Jungle Giants, Cub Sport, G Flip, Skegss, Alpha Wolf, The Chats, Tinlicker, Northlane, L.A.B., Kisschasy, The Getaway Plan, In Hearts Wake, Hands Like Houses, Basement, Dream on Dreamer, Holy Holy, Trophy Eyes, The Red Jumpsuit Apparatus, #1 Dads, I Killed the Prom Queen, Hellions, DZ Deathrays, Shortstack, Northeast Party House, Frenzal Rhomb, Citizen, Vallis Alps, Kirin J Callinan, Ocean Grove, Goldfields, Real Friends, Last Dinosaurs, The Peep Temple, Title Fight, The Maine, The Murlocs, Donny Benet, Ivan Ooze, Never Shout Never, Girlpool, Make Them Suffer, Funeral for a Friend, Alvvays, Twin Peaks, Being as an Ocean, Ocean Sleeper, Tired Lion, With Confidence, Pup, Osaka Punch, Sons of the East, Moses Gunn Collective, The Delta Riggs, Frank Carter & The Rattlesnakes, Confidence Man, Angel Olsen, The Front Bottoms, As It Is, The Creases, Shag Rock, Deez Nuts, Gareth Liddiard, Helmet, Alex Lahey, Dead Letter Circus, Just A Gent, Japandroids, Psychedelic Porn Crumpets, City Calm Down, Against The Current, The Acacia Strain, WAAX, Methyl Ethel, The Hunna, NERVE, Tiny Little Houses, Cloud Control, Strung Out, Didirri, Awaken I Am, Remi, Tigers Jaw, Dance Gavin Dance, Ruby Fields, Chase Atlantic, The Beths, Thornhill, Peter Bibby, Between You & Me, The Moving Stills, Dry Cleaning, Bad//Dreems, Dune Rats, Royal Headache, Wavves, Teenage Joans, Teen Jesus & The Jean Teasers, The Terrys, The Buoys, Sly Withers, Drug Church, Bugs, Alice Phoebe Lou, Slayyyter, Rum Jungle, Adam Newling, Mild Minds, Chase & Status, Floating Points, Hard-Ons, Regurgitator, Sorry, The Bennies, Telenova, Dayseeker, Genghar, Daily J, DRAIN, Speed, Hope D, Cousin Tony’s Brand New Firebird, The Aces, C.O.F.F.I.N., Private Function, The Hard Aches, Atreyu, Goldlink, Millencolin, The Growlers, Young Franco, Old Mervs, The Rions, Budjerah, DICE, The Grogans, Grentperez, 1tbsp, Beddy Rays, BAYNK, Viagra Boys, Art vs Science, Crooked Colours, John Floreani, The John Steel Singers, Selfish Sons, Kite String Tangle, Baker Boy, Yung Gravy, Polish Club, British India, Vacations, The Garden, Triple One, Kwame, Pist Idiots, Leisure, Emotional Oranges, Winterbourne, The Meanies, Tumbleweed, Windwaker, Thirsty Merc & Many thousands more.