Brisbane Festival’s Street Serenades program is coming to you soon

The performances are brief and no notice is given because they don’t want too many spectators. Welcome to Brisbane Festival in the age of COVID-19, when the show comes to you.

It has been a joy and one of the treats of Brisbane Festival this year.

They call it Street Serenades, and it has been bringing performances to your suburb, possibly even your street, and it continues for the next two weeks from Thursday to Sunday.

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We are talking about small guerrilla-style pop up gigs in all 190 Brisbane suburbs.

Have you caught any yet?

Did a caravan or a small stage turn up in your street and start cranking out the music or some wacky show?

If not, hold on, because they are coming though I can’t tell you what time or exactly what day or I’d have to kill you.

But I can let you in on a few of the suburbs on the hit list for later this week. Expect some action at Jindalee, Sherwood, Nundah, Wavell Heights, Paddington, Yeronga, Kedron, Chermside, Albion, Mt Crosby and The Gap, and that’s just a selection of the places that will be visited.

So who is coming? Well this week Sean Sennett, Oscar Theatre Company, Little Red, Sahara Beck, Briefs Factory, Tom Thum (lucky if you get him!), The Australian Voices, Camerata, the QSO ...my god, who isn’t coming?

My wife and I have witnessed two Street Serenades gigs so far and hope to catch more soon. Our first was by Tyrone Noonan and friends, and they played stuff off his new album in T.C. Beirne Park in Hendra on the first weekend of Brisbane Festival.

There was a small but enthusiastic crowd, and as the boys played more people came out of their houses with kids, babies, dogs and a libation or two.

Tyrone Noonan prepares for his surprise gig at Hendra for Street Serenades

It was terrific but short. These gigs are just 20 minutes long due to COVID-19, and there’s no notice because they don’t want big crowds.

If you want to get close up and enter the roped off zone close to the stage you will have to register or you can just enjoy the show from a little further off.

We were in Merehaye Street at Wooloowin last Friday evening for another show, this one by Briefs Factory. MC was the outrageously entertaining Fez Fanaana, since Briefs factory is his show. It was a bit of circus, a bit of clowning and lots of fun for everyone with the kids sitting on beanbags and little deck chairs having a ball.

Host with the most Fez Fanaana welcomes folks to his pop up Briefs Factory gig for Street Serenades at Daniel Place, Newmarket – Picture: Richard Walker

We know some folks in that street and they came out with wine glasses in hand to enjoy the free show in their cul-de-sac as the sun set and the music played.

I hear Fez and the troupe went on to do a show at Newmarket shortly after that one and they have more scheduled.

It’s a lovely idea and I’m sure it’s not one that will just disappear once the pandemic is over. This should continue in some form each year at Brisbane Festival and I know artistic director Louise Bezzina and her team are thinking about that considering what a huge success Street Serenades has been so far.

With two more weeks to go there’s a chance they may turn up in your suburb so be on the lookout. You’ll love it!