Sofia Matthews
Banshees Bar is gearing up to celebrate turning five with a three-day birthday spectacular.
Starting off strong with a variety night on Friday 26 May, Banshees’ very own karaoke host and drag sensation Alexis Diamond will take to the stage to get the party started. Featuring local favourites, including Kholo Pup, Brisbane genre-hop-pop band Fin’s Contingency Plan, Banshees’ folk and roots workshop host, and performances by drag queens BinXx and itsTEALYxo, the night is set to be a hit.
Saturday night will see punk sensations K.T.O from Toowoomba, Brisbane legends Flangipanis, and electro-punks Karoshi perform their knockouts hits to get those heads banging all night long.
To finish off the weekend, Sydney label Art as Catharsis will take over to present their iconic “hangover session” of alternative psychedelic experimental music, featuring the Lamborghini Eagleman, the Brisbane Conduction Orchestra, and Lee Brackenborough.
Banshees’ AI Wheeler said five years is a huge milestone, particularly for a business in the creative industries.
“To have survived all of this turmoil [Covid lockdowns, restrictions and floods] and have built a thriving creative community in Ipswich is a huge achievement,” Ms Wheeler said.
“We want to thank Nina and Ken Weaver, the founder’s of Banshees Bar and Artspace for all the work they did to build this safe space and community, and we can’t wait to celebrate the ongoing community of artists and musicians that support the bar.
“Our regular crowd is like our family, we love seeing them grow and change as people, artists, and performers.
“It’s wonderful to be able to work with so many performers and touring musicians on the weekends as well, and we’re all about connecting them with new, local fans.
“The Ipswich scene has garnered great interest from musicians on a national scale, and we’re often booked up to 6 months in advance for touring and local bands keen to show our crowds what they have.”
Ms Wheeler said the Friday and Saturday night shows are likely to sell out before the doors open, so get in quick before you miss out. Tickets for Friday and Saturday are $15 online, and tickets for Sunday are $12 online and $15 at the door.
For more information on the wild weekend, visit discoveripswich.com.au/event/banshees-fifth-birthday-friday-variety-night/