OK UPSTAIRS/DOWNSTAIRS

Georgia KnightConstant MongrelThe Empty ThreatsBilly Gardner & FriendsSleeper & SnakePlacementCOMETSCheckpointLara

OK UPSTAIRS/DOWNSTAIRS brings the OK spirit to Wurundjeri Country, turning the Brunswick Ballroom into a miniature OK Motels world: part gig, part social club, part wholesome fever dream.

Some people celebrate Christmas in July. We quite like OK in September. So if you've been hanging out for an excuse to catch up with your OK mates before the next big one, then this is it.

Across two floors, there’ll be live music, tarot readings by Radical Self, Kara-OK with our live house band, Devo Tea (spiked or as it comes), and the chance to meet your brand new bestie with some friendship matchmaking help from Human Love Quest.

Downstairs is free entry all day, so if there's anyone in particular you're keen to catch, make sure you arrive nice and early to grab a spot. Tickets are required for Upstairs only.

Since 2018, OK Motels has been bringing people together through live music, creativity and community, creating welcoming spaces where strangers become friends and a good time is guaranteed.

MORE INFO ABOUT OK UPSTAIRS DOWNSTAIRS

(including playing times)

GEORGIA KNIGHT

Georgia Knight is a Naarm-based singer, songwriter and musician whose music sits somewhere between dark pop, trip-hop and the avant-garde. Writing and performing primarily on an autoharp, she pairs sweeping synth textures with a voice that feels completely her own. Since the release of Hell on Bent Street in 2023, Georgia has quietly become one of the country's most compelling live performers, playing festivals and sharing stages with Blonde Redhead, Mogwai and Angie McMahon. Her debut album, Beanpole, arrived in late 2025.

CONSTANT MONGREL

Constant Mongrel are a Melbourne post-punk quartet whose abrasive guitars, free-jazz leanings and razor-sharp songwriting helped define Australia's underground music scene throughout the 2010s. Across three acclaimed albums, they carved out a sound that was both confrontational and deeply considered, while members also played in bands including TERRY, Nun and Woollen Kits. Rarely performing in recent years, a Constant Mongrel show is a pretty special event, we're lucky they're coming to play for us!

THE EMPTY THREATS

The Empty Threats are a Kaurna/Adelaide quintet whose music folds post-punk, noise rock and art-pop into something exhilaratingly unpredictable. Equal parts catharsis and celebration, their live shows have earned a reputation as some of Australia's most unforgettable. Since forming in 2017, they've released two acclaimed albums, toured Australia, the UK and Europe, won Best Live Act at the 2023 National Live Music Awards, and shared stages with artists including BENEE, Methyl Ethyl, Jimmy Barnes and Teen Jesus & the Jean Teasers. You might have been lucky enough to catch them in Charlton earlier this year, too.

BILLY GARDNER & FRIENDS

Billy Gardner & Friends brings Last of the Natural Light to the stage with many of the musicians who helped shape it. Recorded slowly over five years, the album grew from a collection of half-finished songs into something quietly expansive, held together by layered arrangements, generous collaboration and an instinct for knowing when less is more. Performed by a rotating cast of friends and collaborators, the live show leans into the warmth of the record, with guest vocals, harmonies, acoustic guitars and strings.

SLEEPER & SNAKE

Sleeper & Snake is the duo of Amy Hill and Al Montfort, two prolific figures in Australia's underground music community. Blending outsider folk, post-punk and experimental pop, their songs unfold through warbled keyboards, cello, harmonica and beautifully skewed harmonies. Quietly playful and endlessly inventive, Sleeper & Snake trades spectacle for atmosphere, creating intimate performances that reward close listening while never quite settling where you expect them to.

PLACEMENT

Placement are a Kaurna/Adelaide post-punk collective whose music balances dissonance, rich vocal harmonies and sheets of experimental noise with an instinct for melody. Their partially improvised live shows blur the line between gig and performance art, unfolding with equal parts precision and chaos. Since emerging in 2021, they've become one of South Australia's most exciting live bands, sharing stages with Hockey Dad, Flyying Colours and Paradise Club while building a reputation for leaving audiences slightly dazed and wanting more.

COMETS

COMETS are a Naarm/Melbourne instrumental psych band built around members of Eddy Current Suppression Ring, Boomgates, Hedge Burners and Trial Kennedy. Since forming in 2021, they've crafted hypnotic, groove-driven instrumentals that favour momentum over excess, earning a shortlist for the Australian Music Prize with their debut album Rain Faces. With a third album arriving later this year, COMETS continue to explore expansive new territory while remaining firmly grounded in the chemistry that first brought them together.

CHECKPOINT

Are Checkpoint the loudest band going round? Probably not… but they try. This delirious Frenzy punk supergroup featuring members of Hobsons Bay Coast Guard, Pinch Points, Dr. Sure’s Unusual Practice, Gutter Girls and Dragnet set out to send you into upside down hyperspace with their machine-like rhythms, redlined guitars and distorted vocals.

LARA

Lara is the collaboration between Archie Shannon and Sarah Hellyer, best known for their work in Floodlights. Stripping things back to a more intimate setting, the duo explores quieter songs built on understated arrangements, close harmonies and thoughtful songwriting. A natural extension of two musicians who've spent years playing together, Lara offers a different perspective on their craft while retaining the warmth and honesty that have become a hallmark of their music.

TICKETING INFO

Please have a digital or printed copy of your ticket ready on arrival along with a valid photo ID. Acceptable ID includes a current and valid Australian Photo Drivers Licence, State Approved ‘Proof of Age’ card or Passport.

The Brunswick Ballroom strives to improve our practices when it comes to sustainability and to reduce our carbon footprint. We don’t sell or provide plastic water bottles.

VENUE INFO

THE BALLROOM MENUYou can view the delicious offerings available by clicking here. Please note, offerings available may vary per show.

ACCESSIBILITYThe Brunswick Ballroom is Accessible.The Brunswick Ballroom has made significant improvements to accessibility by installing an Acorn Chairlift. (Model: New Acorn Indoor 180 Curved Stairlift.)

Companion Tickets AcceptedAccessible Seating can be purchased by entering this code before selecting your tickets: BBACCESS26Accessible Seating ensures a reserved seat for both you and your companion.Premium Accessible Seating ensures a reserved table and includes one complimentary meal for both you and your companion from our menu.Companion tickets must be valid and will be checked upon entry into the venue.

VENUE FAQSTo find out more about the venue, FAQs can be viewed by clicking here.