Dust off your picnic blanket and prepare your appetite: six hours of funk, soul, and brass is returning to Surfers Paradise as HOTA brings back its hugely popular Big Brass Barbeque. Taking place on Saturday, 23 January 2027, over the January long weekend, the event transforms HOTA’s Outdoor Stage into a huge summer celebration under the open sky. Following the strong community response to the inaugural event, this second edition promises one massive evening of live music, bringing big brass festival energy into the heart of the city.
Powerful Line-Up Blends Australian Headliners and Local Brass Traditions
Leading the 2027 line-up is The Cat Empire, the internationally celebrated Australian band renowned for their explosive live performances and iconic sound. Joining them from Melbourne is powerhouse group Horns of Leroy featuring THNDO, who bring the high energy of New Orleans brass to the Outdoor Stage. Brisbane’s nine-piece funk-rock outfit The Steele Syndicate will also take the stage, powered by their four-piece horn section.
Adding a distinctly Gold Coast flavour to the evening, local favourites Gold Coast City Brass Band will perform as part of their historic 125th anniversary celebrations in 2027. The much-loved local ensemble continues to connect generations through the energy and unmistakable sound of live brass music.
Highlighting the camaraderie across the bill, The Cat Empire Band Leader, Felix Riebl, expressed his excitement for the upcoming January performance:
“We’re stoked to be heading back to the Goldie to headline The Big Brass BBQ in January. We’ve got stacks of friends from other bands sharing this stage, so it’s going to be a lot of fun and a huge show.”
Six Hours of Outdoor Entertainment, Food Trucks, and Lawn Gathering
Designed as an all-ages event, Big Brass Barbeque invites audiences to gather friends, bring the family, and settle in on the lawn as the sun goes down. The Outdoor Stage will feature six hours of continuous live music filled with soaring horns, infectious rhythms, funk, soul, and roots-driven sounds. To complement the musical programme, BBQ food trucks will be serving up smoky favourites while outdoor bars pour cold drinks, creating a festival setting with plenty of space to relax.
HOTA Commercial Programming Director, Mark Duckworth, stated that the event is rapidly establishing itself as a summer highlight for music lovers across the region:
“Big Brass Barbeque is everything we love about summer at HOTA with incredible live music, a spectacular outdoor setting and an atmosphere that brings people together. Following the response to our inaugural event, we’re excited to bring it back even bigger. It’s the kind of event where the food will be sizzling the drinks will be icy with The Cat Empire leading a fun fuelled line-up of brass, funk and soul.”
With one stage, a stellar line-up, and six hours of summer entertainment, Big Brass Barbeque offers an ideal invitation to kick off the new year with a major night of live music. The event takes place on 23 January 2027 at HOTA, Home of the Arts, 135 Bundall Road, Surfers Paradise. Tickets start from $39 and will be available from 10am Tuesday, 10 November.
Big Brass Barbeque
Outdoor Stage, HOTA, Home of the Arts, 135 Bundall Road, Surfers Paradise
23 January 2027
Tickets available from 10am Tuesday 10 November from $39
To find out more and purchase tickets visit HOTA’s Big Brass BBQ 2027 page .
