. . . . . Drag Queen Story Time . . . . . 1000 Voices Story Bridge . CLICK THE PIC TO VIEW THE NEWS
Brisbane Powerhouse presents…
MELT FESTIVAL 2025
Jet Skis to Drag Slams:
Melt 2025
has some program updates!
22 October – 9 November
Brisbane/MagandjinTICKETS ON SALE NOW
Queensland, are you ready to get MELTed?
.In just two weeks’ time, Brisbane/Magandjin will sparkle, shimmer and sashay into Melt 2025 when the festival ignites across 60 venues with hundreds of events over 18 gloriously queer days (22 Oct – 9 Nov). From cabaret to club nights, picnics to pageants, from art on the streets to pride on the river, Brisbane city is about to be well and truly drenched in queer culture and creativity.
Hot off the (glitter) press: Melt’s latest program updates are fresh, fierce and unmissable, so get ready to plan, plot and show up like you mean it!
Rueben Kaye Joins 1000 Voices
With tickets already flying for his theatre show enGORGEd at QPAC on 6 November, cabaret’s Swarovski-studded comedic assassin Reuben Kaye will take the reins of Melt’s queer community choir 1000 Voices at Southbank Piazza on Sunday 9 November. Expect glamour, razor-sharp wit and just the right amount of shade. Keep your eyes peeled for surprise cameos from some of Australia’s favourite drag queens, it’s guaranteed to be hotter than a Drag Race werkroom meltdown.
Gerwyn Davies Shimmer Locations Announced
Gerwyn Davies’ bold new project Shimmer is stepping out of the gallery and lighting up Brisbane’s streets! Inspired by Gerwyn’s iconic self-portraits, this vibrant outdoor exhibition showcases striking photographic portraits created in collaboration with trans and gender diverse young people from Open Doors Youth Service. Each image features handcrafted sculptural costumes, co-designed with the artist, allowing wearers to express themselves in spectacular ways while keeping their anonymity intact. Together, the works celebrate self-expression, resilience and the power of chosen visibility. Explore the artworks and the stories behind them across eight locations spanning Fortitude Valley, Newfarm, South Brisbane and Brisbane City.
Christian Hull Joins Melt’s In Conversation Series
Melt Festival is thrilled to announce that beloved Brisbane comedian and creator Christian Hull is set to join entertainment journalist and podcaster Jonathon ‘JMO’ Moran for his edition of the In Conversation series. In this lively and unfiltered session, Christian flips the script, interviewing JMO about his memoir Mental as Anyone as they dive into stories of identity, addiction, resilience and radical self-care with trademark humour, heart and unapologetic honesty.
The In Conversation series also features actor/writer Zoe Terakes discussing their debut book EROS, and writer Tim Pokok in a deep and raw exploration of his memoir The Truth Will Set You Free: Growing Up Gay in Opus Dei. Together, these powerful voices share journeys from silence and shame to liberation and healing, offering insight, courage and connection in true MELT Festival spirit.
.Drag Queen Story Time, Water Show and Play Date Added to River Pride Picnic
Melt is bringing even more family-friendly fun to New Farm Park this year with the River Pride Picnic, featuring the return of the beloved Drag Queen Storytime and an unforgettable on-water spectacle. Families can gather under the trees for three fabulous Drag Storytime sessions at 12:3pm, 1:10pm and 2:15pm, where talented drag performers from Shelf Lovers bring picture books to life with colour, laughter and heart.
On the river, the Water Show kicks off at 1:15pm with jet skis, a striking water-skiing flag line and flyboard performers, building to a dazzling finale when the tugs release their water cannons and rainbow pyrotechnics light up the sky! Plus, there’s food trucks, live entertainment and plenty of space to picnic and soak up the sunshine, the River Pride Picnic is a joyful, inclusive celebration for all ages.
Rounding out the family fun, Play Date invites kids and their grown-ups to join pop duo Turtle and Sugar Rush for the ultimate dance and play party. Bursting with pop anthems, Auslan-inclusive moves and plenty of sparkle, this high-energy mini disco celebrates identity, body positivity and the joy of self-expression, a colourful reminder that everyone shines brightest when they’re free to be themselves.
Hole-Mania Returns to Meltdown Closing Night Party
What’s camp, chaotic and ready to pin you to the floor? Wrestling. With drag. The outrageous smackdown Hole-Mania 2 returns to Melt’s closing night Meltdown, led by the unholy duo of Shandy and GoGo Bumhole. Expect body slams, face slaps and more sequins than you can shake a folding chair at. It’s camp carnage, baby and the only way to end the festival!
Drink & Drop at Vertigo During October
Across October, stop by Brisbane Powerhouse’s Vertigo restaurant for their Drink & Drop second birthday experience: grab a rooftop drink, take in the sky-high cityscape views, snap a selfie and then step straight off the edge for a 17-metre drop. At just $29, it’s a 40-minute hit of adrenaline designed for walk-ups only (subject to availability). No bookings, no fuss.
Check out the full Melt 2025 program on the festival website and discover the hundreds of events that celebrate queer arts, culture and community. From family-friendly fun to the risqué, Melt is a vibrant, inclusive celebration where everyone can feel part of the magic.
.MELT 2025
Brisbane/Magandjin:
22 October – 9 NovemberTICKETS ON SALE NOW!
For more information, please visit:
melt.org.auMelt is supported by the Queensland Government, through Tourism and Events Queensland, and Brisbane City Council, through Brisbane Economic Development Agency.
Miss First Nation, 1000 Voices and Shimmer by Gerwyn Davies is supported by Tim Fairfax AC and Gina Fairfax AC.
Selected events from Queensland Artists have been made possible through the Melt Development Program, supported by the Queensland Government through Arts Queensland.
About: Melt is an annual open access festival of Queer art and culture premiering in Brisbane/Magandjin, Australia. Melt takes pride in showcasing diverse arts and cultural events. With an extensive lineup of venues and artists, this destination festival aims to foster inclusivity, provoke thought and celebrate the LGBTQIA+ community.
Brisbane Powerhouse acknowledges the Jagera/Turrbal peoples, the First Nation Traditional Owners of the land on which we gather. We pay respects to all Elders past and present and acknowledge the young leaders who are working beside our Elders in our cultural industries. We recognise all First Nation peoples as the original storytellers of these lands and acknowledge the important role they continue to play in our community.
Follow MELT FEST
Website – Instagram – Facebook – Tik Tok
AMNPLIFY – DB
My nickname is “The Amnplifier”. Why? Because around here my focus is on being a conduit for providing greater outcomes that people come here for. My day to day “work” is living in the moment, and I love helping others concentrate on finding their connection to themselves through their experiences.
Why start a music environment? The truth is I love music, I love writing, and I love life. I work with musicians every day, and I feel certain that I will be until they put me in the ground. I have been managing people in businesses of some sort for over thirty five years so along the way I have developed some “wisdom” from my regular and constant “observations”.
Amnplify your experience. That is what we want you to do here, and if you want to let me know why you do, or don’t, shoot me a message on Facebook.
Hope you enjoy yourself here and find something that hits you somewhere.
