Local musos in the know are buzzing about this place just off Moorooka 'Magic Mile', home to a very…read morefamous Neve. No, we're not talking about Neve Campbell of 'Party of Five' fame, but the highly sought after Neve mixing desks famously used by The Beatles et al. Head producer Steve Bartlett imported his customised NEVE 5316 31 Channel console from the United States and has an array of instruments for artists to make use of in pursuit of the perfect sound (instruments inc. a Yamaha baby grand piano, Fender guitars, authentic Wurlitzer keyboards etc) and his comprehensive set-up enables songwriters and bands to make the most of the digital and analogue technology on offer. I've spoken to a couple of bands who've had records made with Steve and they say he's a very passionate, hard-working and knowledgeable producer who is really dedicated to making sure the artist gets the best value for money, and ultimately produces the highest quality rendering of their vision. I've been to the studios myself and jammed with a few of the talents who blow through the place. Apart from being an A-grade sound recording facility it's also a cool place to hang out, with a pool table, beer taps (occasionally pouring quality home-brews) and a coffee machine -- they've definitely gone to lengths to make sure the place is confortable and has a few diversions on offer for members of the band to occupy themselves with while they wait for their tracking session. Or just something to do if the jam gets too real... The studios are also available for hire for band nights and word on the street is that live music events will start to kick off in early 2012.

I wish I could enlarge the font so you'd really get the tone I'm using when I say I F**KING LOVE…read moreTHE WAITING ROOM. It's this kind of place that is the reason West End has a reputation for being community minded. It is a DIY music space that is open for local musicians to use for recording, rehearsing and playing gigs. It also opens it's doors to visual artists as well. If you're looking for a place to exhibit your work, look no further! You can also hold workshops there. Hell, let's put it this way, if you're a musician or artist and you've got an idea but need some space to do it, you may as well send these guys an email. It's thewaitingroombrisbane@gmail.com I always like to wander past The Waiting Room on the weekends- there's usually something good happening there. The space is awesome too. It's an old Queenslander that has been tangled up with blue and yellow fairy lights. Depending on what's going on, people usually bring their own grog, find a camp on the floor and watch the band that's playing. At least they're the kinds of gigs I've gone to at The Waiting Room. The gigs that the The Waiting Room put on are usually quite diverse, representing the vast population of musicians who use the space. Going to The Waiting Room for a gig is like going to a fully decked out house party. You rock up with your six pack, walk up the back stairs and rearrange the fridge or esky so you can fit your beers in. You meet some kid you've met around the traps "yeah, yeah man, I've seen you around- good to meet you" and you go watch the band together and bum a smoke off him (or he off you) when you go out back into the garden. You know the deal.

I'm reviewing the Waiting Room both as someone who has hired out the space to put on my own show…read moreand as a regular punter. Cam Smith, the guy who runs the venue, is absolutely wonderful to deal with. He's genuinely passionate about music and puts in a lot of effort to make this a unique Brisbane venue. The place itself is an old Queenslander that has been appropriated into a live music venue. The atmosphere is more akin to a house party than being at an actual venue. except the band that's playing have a professional sound tech with a real mixing desk and PA! (Hint: there's also a bathroom downstairs, so don't wait around upstairs like a sucker) If you're putting on a show, you basically get full control of everything. You organise your own bands, set up your own person at the door, charge your own entry fee, and set your own times (though due to noise restrictions things need to finish up around 11). It's all BYO alcohol, so there's no worrying about the bar or licensing. It's also cash only. Entrance is at the rear, so if you're wandering past and hear some noise that you'd like to check out the front door isn't going to be much help. There's no preferred genre of music that plays here, so you never know what you could be in for. Yes the venue is on the smaller side (I believe max capacity is 80), so busier gigs mean you're less likely to actually see the band play (especially as there is no elevated stage), but I believe the laid back party atmosphere makes up for this. The smaller shows hold a special charm, with many of the patrons just setting up camp on the floor for a quiet night of enjoying the live music.

The Box (a.k.a former space of Box Vintage) is part art gallery, part live music venue (there's a…read morestage out the back), part blank canvas to make it whatever your heart desires. My first introduction to The Box came in the form of a Sourdough workshop where in the beautifully lit front room, with a Baby Grand Piano overlooking us, we learnt the easiest way to make Sourdough. This is a space in West End that has limitless potential. It is in a easy to get to location (I mean, there's a bus stop at the front door - hello door to door service!).

Just held a small photo exhibit here and the space was perfect. It's a great community venue with a…read moregallery space and stage out the back. The staff were really helpful and friendly which made the whole experience really easy and fun. Love THE BOX!

Went to the powerhouse to see Lano & Woodley Lost in Space. A classic Lano &Woodley production. A…read moregreat spot to watch shows like this. The powerhouse is a great spot, right on the Brisbane river. A nice restaurant on site as well for pizza, nibbles and chip pre show.

My friends that live in the area kept raving about this place as their favorite building in the…read morecity so we went out of our way to come. It's awesome, a historic powerhouse building has been converted into a performing arts venue. The main floor has high ceilings and a stage. Down below are smaller theatre rooms for comedy, music, and whatever else is needed. They have a welcoming area and gift shop too. It's really well done with exposed brick and metal columns, but ultra modern too. They have a bar and restaurant overlooking the river as well, which offers picturesque views of nearby neighborhoods and passing boats. I hope to visit again and see a show here!

For a penniless cat, this series of free jazz concerts is perfect!…read moreI have indulged in various types of jazz, such as standard, modern, Latin, and fusion, here since I moved to Brisbane. This event is held on 3rd Saturday of each month. I recommend you to check their website if they have a gig in the month and who is playing. If you would like to grab a sofa seat in front of the stage, you should go there 15-20 minutes prior. You can buy wine, beer, chips, salad and so forth at the restaurant next to Turbine Platform. Unfortunately, there are often kids horsing around or girls chatting aloud.

Recently, my wife and I had the opportunity to watch a Culture Club concert at the Brisbane…read moreRiverstage and it was AWESOME!!! Okay, Boy George was great, but the venue was very cool as well. The outdoor amphitheater atmosphere was lots of fun (especially since it didn't rain). The overall size of the venue wasn't too large, making it feel very cozy and intimate (it also helped that we had GREAT seats - close to the stage vs. the lawn). Venue staff was helpful and efficient. Slight negative was the sound system. However, given the fact that this is an outdoor venue, you really can't expect the acoustics to be the same as an indoor arena. We probably just noticed this because we had just attended a Cure concert at the Maverick Center (Salt Lake City, Utah) a couple weeks prior and had commented that the sound/acoustics there were FANTASTIC. Not a fair comparison, I know, just an observation. Oh, and the stroll through the park to/from the concert was also very nice. We would not hesitate to attend another concert at the Brisbane Riverstage again!!!

I have a theory about the Riverstage as a venue - that is, it's fantastic for the audience and not…read moreso great for the performer. As I say it's only a theory, not being a performer per se, at least not on stage, but I reckon unless it's aboutely jam-packed we as audience have the luxury of moshing down the front, grooving on the grass, lolling around a little further up the hill, or drinking and fagging away over in the licensed area. This means we get a great experience wherever we go, but the performer only gets the really solid feedback from the jammy bit at the front. Mind yo,u I have seen some really packed crowds where this isn't the case eg Fallout Boy and Parkway Drive and I'm sure there are many, many others. Anyhoo, as I said, excellent venue, day or night, plenty of room to move and easy to get to, right next to QUT, in the Botanical Gardens, a short walk from South Bank over the Goodwill Bridge and much better for dancing since they changed those dumb brick pavers over near the stage to the now much softer concrete :).