Visiting Brisbane from the University of Western Australia, Darren Jorgensen will discuss Australian esoteric art at IMA. Ideas in the talk are from a paper he is researching, which looks at how artists such as Norman Lindsay and Danie Mellor mobilise ritual images in their work. In the process of synthesising ritual traditions, esoteric artists themselves become neither gods nor acolytes. Darren’s paper explores some of these tensions in Australian art history. See Darren discuss esoteric art on May 23 at IMA.

The period prior to adulthood is filled with dreams and the pressure to uphold the legacy of past generations. Exploring the idea of what makes a man a man, The Danger Ensemble’s Sons of Sin follows a group of young men passing through the rites of passage that come before adulthood. Confessions of hopes and dreams are acted alongside scenes of drinking games and sporting matches by a cast of twenty-something actors in similar stages of life. Sons of Sin can be seen at Judith Wright Centre from May 17–25.

Laughing is an act we learn from a young age, when our parents would resort to almost any measure to see our tiny dimpled cheeks blush with glee. And while our idea of what is funny may change with time, the infectious appeal of laughing remains. Spreading laughter across the country, the Melbourne International Comedy Festival Roadshow is a band of travelling comedians including Cal Wilson, Asher Treleaven, Harley Breen and Nazeem Hussain. The event will be at Brisbane Powerhouse from May 15–18.

One of the most exciting parts of an event is the anticipation that builds whilst getting ready, especially when the occasion is a ball that requires you to wear your finest threads. The ACT for Kids charity is celebrating its 25th anniversary by hosting its Silver Gala Ball at City Hall on May 11 – the first event to be held in the newly opened building. The ball and ongoing initiatives of ACT for Kids are supported by Mercedes-Benz Brisbane, which provides the charity with cars as prizes for raffles, and also hosts other fundraising events at its Fortitude Valley dealership.

Photographer Gregory Crewdson’s melancholic style and preoccupation with human alienation has seen his work likened to the paintings of Edward Hopper and films of David Lynch. Through his photographs, Gregory depicts a eerie view of middle America, often using a process similar to that of cinema, where sets are constructed, actors are hired and large lights illuminate the set. This process is best reflected in the Beneath the Roses series, which is on display alongside Gregory’s Sanctuary and Fireflies series. You will be able to enjoy Gregory’s works at IMA until May 25.

It is often the stories grounded in real experience that resonate the most. At just 14, actor and playwright Jon Haynes wrote his first piece of theatre, an autobiographical play, but was unable to find a producer for it. After another failed attempt at penning a play, he decided to refine and perform his first piece, The Poof Downstairs, and coerce friends into playing the extra roles. The problem with Jon’s rather slack friends, however, is that they often forget to show up. Jon will perform with or without his cast at Brisbane Powerhouse from April 24–27.

Some of cinema’s most profound stories feature a misunderstood protagonist, as is the case with the films in GOMA’s Monsters program, which celebrates the likes of Frankenstein and King Kong. Primarily drawn from the first half of the 20th century, when monsters were prevalent in cinema, the series of films is presented in six strands: bloodthirsty fiends, zombies, mutants and shapeshifters, misunderstood monsters, mad doctors, foreign entities and monstrous absurdities. Monsters will screen at GOMA from April 19.

While Adele’s raw and intensely powerful vocals give the chanteuse an undeniable presence that taps into emotional vaults, it is her unpretentious and seemingly grounded response to sudden fame that makes her all the more endearing. In the cabaret Rumour Has It: Sixty Minutes Inside Adele, British-born songstress Naomi Price stars as Adele, singing her songs and delivering a performance that has moments of hilarity and poignancy. The show can be seen at Judith Wright Centre from April 24–27.

To celebrate the 7th Asia Pacific Triennial of Contemporary Art (APT7), GOMA is hosting a free Up Late event as the exhibition draws to a close. Australian music duo Canyons will perform an original music score to a three-panel video installation that was created by exhibiting APT7 artist, Daniel Boyd. Daniel’s work references the subjective nature of history through dots indicative of partially revealed stories, while the performance by Canyons will blur the lines between programmed and live music to reflect Daniel’s installation. APT7 Up Late begins at GOMA on April 12.

Through his determination to revive vaudeville, The Birdmann has carved a niche for himself in the performance realm. In his latest show, The Events of Momentous Timing, The Birdmann performs alongside local artist Tigerlil to solve a mysterious murder. The show begins with The Birdmann gaining consciousness after blacking out, only to find himself handcuffed and holding a black stiletto. To solve the murder, he must rely on these clues and sporadic flashbacks. See the performance from March 22–23 at Judith Wright Centre.

Scottish filmmaker Luke Fowler uses his films to create portraits of social radicals. In his film All Divided Selves, which was nominated for the Turner Prize 2012, Luke traces the life of Scottish anti-psychiatrist R.D. Laing, who quickly morphed from psychiatrist to celebrity after his theory on schizophrenia was published in his book The Divided Self. Luke’s documentary is constructed from historical footage, including comments from R.D. Laing. All Divided Selves will screen at IMA from March 16.

Known as the founder of Ethio-jazz, Mulatu Astatke purveys an infectious sound that captivates from the first note. His Ethio-jazz style emerged during 1960s, fusing tradition Ethiopian harmonies and with the vigour of Latin jazz. In his upcoming Brisbane show, Mulatu will be joined by nine-piece Ethio-jazz ensemble Black Jesus Experience, which experiments with music by blending traditional Ethiopian sounds with jazz, funk and hip hop. Join the jazz group on March 11 at Brisbane Powerhouse.

After marvelling at the shiny exterior of the Wintergarden, step inside and you will discover a retreat of boutiques, far removed from the bustle of the CBD outside. The shopping precinct stocks a variety of wares in one location, with new neighbours continually joining its portfolio of chic retailers and food nooks. Now you can grab your caffeine fix from hideaway Gramercy, where you can also nibble on delicate cakes and treats made in store. You can also acquire some sartorial treasures with the array of pre-loved designer wares available at Designer Archives with Chanel, Burberry and Lanvin available, or perfect your existing wardrobe with the tailoring services offered at Tinker Tailor Fine Alterations.

Those who spent their formative driving years in a vehicle as reliable as Kenickie’s first car in Grease will recall the perils of a lack of power steering and air-conditioning. If you have paid your dues and are looking for a brand-new vehicle, the Nissan Pulsar could be a worthy candidate. Returning to Australia this month, the redesigned vehicle features a spacious interior for your belongings – whether they be children, shopping or holiday luggage – and aerodynamic efficiency. Pulsar Hatch and Turbocharged SSS models will also be available mid-year.

From ink-wash painting to shadow plays, papercuts, puppetry and woodblock prints, Chinese animators draw upon a variety of techniques to create new works. As part of The 7th Asia Pacific Triennial of Contemporary Art, GOMA’s Australian Cinémathèque is showcasing a retrospective of 200 animated works. Titled Mountains and Waters: Chinese Animation Since the 1930s, the retrospective presents animation from Hong Kong and Taiwan, classics from the pioneering Wan brothers and film from the golden age of Chinese animation. APT7 Cinema will be screened at GOMA until April 14.

Hope and belief are powerful and uplifting emotions. In exploring the joy that can come from faith, artist Angelica Mesiti recorded a ten-minute silent film at a rock concert. Named Rapture, after the Christian ideology, the slow-motion film shows teenagers at a rock concert in scenes of fervour that are suggestive of religious worship and spiritual transport. Rapture won the $20,000 2009 Blake Prize for Religious Art and was the first video work awarded the prize. Rapture will be played at the IMA until March 2.

Since its small beginnings at Balmain High School in 1991, Flickerfest has grown to become one of Australia’s most prominent short-film festivals, receiving a record 2,300 entries this year. Of the entries, a shortlist of 100 films will be screened at the festival that travels across Australia every summer. The Brisbane leg of the festival is being shown at the Judith Wright Centre across three nights from February 21–23, broken into Australian and international film screenings. Brisbane talent is represented in two of the films, Captive and The Captain.

When friends Miles and Simone started singing improvised duets together last summer, they discovered a musical chemistry that flowed naturally. Miles is a founding member of The Suitcase Royale and Simone is an opera singer, and together the duo has cultivated a sparse yet soothing sound tinged with folk and country influences, which is simply supported by an acoustic guitar, an old piano and a banjo. Miles and Simone are performing a free gig at Brisbane Powerhouse on February 13 that will showcase songs from the duo’s first album, Home In Your Heart.

The alter ego of Australian journalist and comedian Mark Trevorrow, Bob Downe is a flamboyant polyester-clad media personality who shot to fame while hosting the fictional morning show, Good Morning Murwillumbah. After dabbling in cabaret, comedy and acting, Bob is now treating audiences to a taste of his singing prowess. Bob Downe: 20 Golden Greats is Bob’s new solo show, filled with a range of catchy classic pop, disco and rock hits. Bob promises that you will know every one of the songs he is preparing to perform. From December 12–15, Bob will be in residence at Brisbane Powerhouse.

An inland sea is a rare feat of nature that only graces the landscape of a few countries across the globe. Brisbane’s own inland sea, coming in the form of a ten-piece band of the same name, draws inspiration from each of its band members to create a catchy blend of indie folk-pop music. Swelling five-part vocal harmonies, intricate instrumentation and lyrical sincerity create a wonderfully captivating show. See Inland Sea, accompanied by supporting acts Thelma Plum and Dom Miller and his M8s, at Judith Wright Centre on December 13.