Get ready to rock the suburbs and roll into summer as Wynnum Fringe 2021 unveils a packed program of music, arts and entertainment across the seaside suburb from 16 to 21 November 2021.
Brisbane’s only annual fringe festival returns, bigger and bolder than ever, after a mega-successful inaugural outing last year with a high-calibre line-up of artists and performers playing free and ticketed events in some exciting and unusual venues.
Founder and Festival Director – and proud Wynnum resident – Tom Oliver said he was thrilled to reveal this year’s diverse program which catered to all ages, interests and budgets.
Highlights include Alexa, Turn on the Lights, a begrudging duet between performer Jacob Watton and an Amazon Alexa smart home device, playing Frenchies Café from 16-18 November and a live stand-up set from Brisbane comedian Damien Power on 21 November.
Waterloo Bay Leisure Centre morphs into a cabaret club across the six-day festival for acts including drag spectacular Voyage to the Galax-She, Twi(lightweights): The Live Drinking Game, Killer Queens, Mirusia: Arias in the Afternoon, Finesse Burlesque, Christopher Wayne: Fully Clothed and Lesbian Love Stories.
Pink Matter brings its 2020 Brisbane Festival hit, The Type, to Kellehers Dance Academy from 19-21 November while one-woman show The Road to Huntsville by Stephanie Ridings, from 18-19 November, is a must-see for anyone who loves true crime podcasts.
In addition to presenting a slate of cutting-edge ticketed productions, Wynnum Fringe has unveiled a huge free program of live experiences.
“We’re closing off Bay Terrace for two days on Friday 19 and Saturday 20 November and filling the precinct with live music, street entertainment, an interactive artwork made by Elisha Oatley, food trucks and even a pop-up whiskey bar in an old church,” Mr Oliver said.
“The Main Stage has a fantastic line-up of exceptional acts starting with Lai Utovou and Lecia Louise on Friday and a full day on Saturday ending with sets by Mark Peric, Kimberley Bowden and THUMP.
“Saturday is also Community Day so we’ll have an epic Bayside Battle of the Bands play out on the Main Stage as well as performances from local dance groups, bands and arts companies at the nearby Latino Lane, Caravan Stage and Mrs Quinn’s Carpark Stage.
“Demonstrating the versatility and beauty of this part of the world, the Yulu Burri Ba Dancers will perform an opening ceremony along the Wynnum waterfront on 19 November while the award- winning Anthony Lawrence performs Poetry on the Boardwalk along Wynnum Mangrove Boardwalk on 20 November.”
“Producing Wynnum Fringe is a herculean task and I am so grateful for the amazing support of the Federal Government, Arts Queensland, Tourism & Events Queensland, Brisbane City Council, Raine & Horne Wynnum and so many local sponsors.”
The festival follows the success of its inaugural Rock the Bay satellite event, a one-day outdoor concert on 9 October headlined by Glenn Shorrock, Ian Moss, Kate Miller-Heidke and Sarah McLeod, with live-streamed performances from Kate Ceberano and Bachelor Girl, supported by Luke Kennedy and Mark Sholtez, Women in Docs, Ella Fence, Lucid Safari and Yulu Burri Ba Dancers.
It also builds on the success of last year’s festival which staged more than 50 events with 150 artists performing for an in-person and online global audience of 45,000 within a COVID-safe environment across three days.
Mr Oliver said while the inaugural festival was a local affair conceived as a COVID response, the event attracted visitors from as far as Warwick and Toowoomba and the Gold Coast and Sunshine Coast, and he expects this year’s numbers to exceed expectations again.
“We’re being ambitious, we’re being bold and we’re being incredibly risky (and risqué) – we’re here to put Wynnum on the global cultural map,” he said.
“Attendees at this year’s Wynnum Fringe can expect world-class entertainment from artists and creators spanning a variety of performance genres from comedy to dance, music to circus and everything in-between.
“It’s a great opportunity for Wynnum to celebrate what it has to offer and for visitors from Brisbane and beyond to experience this beautiful Bayside suburb on the fringe of the city!”
Wynnum Fringe 2021 is supported by the RISE Fund through the Australian Government, the Queensland Government through Tourism and Events Queensland, as well as by Adrian Schrinner, Lord Mayor, Brisbane City Council and Arts Queensland.
Wynnum Fringe 2021 operates within Queensland Health’s COVID Safe framework. If a performance is cancelled due to COVID, patrons will be offered a full refund or the opportunity to transfer to a new date.
Wynnum Fringe 2021 acknowledges the Traditional Owners of the Lands upon which we perform – the Quandamooka People. We pay our respects to Elders: past, present and emerging.
Wynnum Fringe 2021 is on from Tuesday 16 November to Sunday 21 November 2021 at various venues. View the full program and purchase tickets at wynnumfringe.com
