Photo: Matt Warren for YELO.
May is stacked across South East Queensland, with big touring shows, local favourites, heavy nights, coastal festival energy and a few nostalgia-heavy singalongs worth locking in now.
From the Sunshine Coast to Brisbane and the Gold Coast, these are the gigs worth circling this month.
For the full weekly listings, check the Sunshine Coast Gig Guide, Brisbane Gig Guide and Gold Coast Gig Guide.
This month’s picks
Sunshine Coast
STAHR — The Presynct, May 1
STAHR bring a heavy Sunshine Coast night to The Presynct on Friday, May 1.
It is a strong local pick for anyone chasing a loud room, a proper crowd and something with a bit of bite.
Tickets → The Presynct
The Grogans — Norton Music Factory, May 2
The Grogans bring their loose surf-rock energy to Norton Music Factory in Caloundra on Saturday, May 2.
This one feels made for the Coast: guitars, heat, a local room and the kind of crowd that knows exactly what it came for.
Tickets → Norton Music Factory
The Australian Pearl Jam Show — Norton Music Factory, May 9
The Australian Pearl Jam Show head to Norton Music Factory on Saturday, May 9.
For anyone after a nostalgia-heavy singalong with big guitars and familiar choruses, this is an easy Sunshine Coast pick.
Tickets → Norton Music Factory
Southern Sons — The Events Centre, Caloundra, May 16
Southern Sons bring a familiar Australian songbook to The Events Centre, Caloundra on Saturday, May 16.
It is one of the month’s warmer picks for anyone who wants the big-room version of a night out.
Tickets → The Events Centre
The Buzz Lovers — Imperial Hotel, May 22
The Buzz Lovers bring their Nirvana tribute show to Imperial Hotel on Friday, May 22.
It is a late-month Sunshine Coast pick for anyone who wants distortion, nostalgia and a room that knows what to do with both.
Tickets → Imperial Hotel
Brisbane
Deftones — Brisbane Entertainment Centre, May 6 and 7
Deftones are one of the biggest heavy shows landing in Brisbane this month, with two nights at Brisbane Entertainment Centre on Wednesday, May 6, and Thursday, May 7.
With Interpol and Ecca Vandal also on the tour, this is one of the major arena moments on the May calendar.
Tickets → Brisbane Entertainment Centre
Mariah the Scientist — Fortitude Music Hall, May 12
Mariah the Scientist plays Fortitude Music Hall on Tuesday, May 12, bringing one of the month’s biggest R&B shows to Brisbane.
Not every midweek gig deserves a calendar hold, but this one does.
Tickets → Fortitude Music Hall
J.I.D — Fortitude Music Hall, May 15
J.I.D hits Fortitude Music Hall on Friday, May 15, adding a major hip-hop moment to Brisbane’s May run.
For a month heavy with rock, nostalgia and festival-style bills, this gives the calendar a sharper turn.
Tickets → Fortitude Music Hall
Loathe — The Tivoli, May 16
Loathe bring a heavy Brisbane night to The Tivoli on Saturday, May 16.
This is one of the sharper picks for anyone chasing a darker, heavier room in the middle of the month.
Tickets → The Tivoli
Split Enz — Brisbane Entertainment Centre, May 16
Split Enz land at Brisbane Entertainment Centre on Saturday, May 16.
It gives Brisbane one of the month’s biggest nostalgia-heavy singalong moments, built for a crowd that already knows the words.
Tickets → Brisbane Entertainment Centre
Gold Coast
Here Comes The Sun — Queen Elizabeth Park, May 2
Here Comes The Sun brings a coastal festival moment to Queen Elizabeth Park on Saturday, May 2.
It is a strong Gold Coast pick for anyone chasing open-air music, sea air and a proper start-of-month outing.
Tickets → Cooly Tickets
Skegss — Gold Coast Pro, Snapper Rocks, May 3
Skegss hit Gold Coast Pro at Snapper Rocks on Sunday, May 3.
It is exactly the kind of Gold Coast match-up that makes sense: surf, guitars, chaos and a crowd already halfway to a festival mood.
Tickets → World Surf League
Blues on Broadbeach — Broadbeach Parklands, May 17
Blues on Broadbeach brings a major festival weekend to Broadbeach Parklands on Sunday, May 17.
It is one of the Gold Coast’s obvious May anchors, with a city-wide festival feel and plenty of reasons to stay out longer than planned.
Tickets → Blues on Broadbeach
Murphy’s Law — Vinnies Dive, May 22
Murphy’s Law land at Vinnies Dive in Southport on Friday, May 22.
It gives the Gold Coast a rough-edged punk option in a room built for close-range chaos.
Tickets → Vinnies Dive
Bluebottle Kiss — Mo’s Desert Clubhouse, May 29
Bluebottle Kiss head to Mo’s Desert Clubhouse on Friday, May 29, giving the Gold Coast a strong left-of-centre pick for May.
It is one for anyone chasing something a little deeper than a standard touring-room night.
Tickets → Mo’s Desert Clubhouse
More May gigs across South East Queensland
May is not short on options across the region. The trick is choosing what actually deserves the night out.
Keep an eye on the full Sunshine Coast Gig Guide, Brisbane Gig Guide and Gold Coast Gig Guide as more shows are added.
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