July Second Saturday: Golden Days

To celebrate the important role music plays in Indigenous communities, kick up your heels and relive the golden days of dancing in style at a free mini-festival at State Library.

We’re tipping our hats to a time when dance halls were thriving and doing the limbo was a must. Bring your dancing shoes, learn the moves and show them off at the Golden Days Ball!

Before you hit the dance floor, learn some moves at our free dance classes. Waltz your way through the 40s, jive into the 50s and rock around the clock with moves from the 60s.

Enjoy mesmerising moments from Steven Oliver’s Black Queen, Black King high energy musical and join Brisbane’s most vaudevillian, madcap cabaret dance band, The Ragtag Band, for a rocking good time.

Then put on your party dress and dance the night away at the Golden Days Ball! Be transported back to the dance halls of 40s, 50s and 60s with mismatched table cloths and floral centre pieces, and let the live music pull you to the dance floor. Join in the festivities and be in the running to win great prizes.

You can even get dolled up for the Ball at our special hair and makeup stations. Bring your own foundation, choose a look from the 40s, 50s or 60s and have your features highlighted ($25) or get a full royal treatment ($70). We also have a fully stocked costume rack jam-packed with clothes for you to choose from.

Let the style flow, get in to the spirit and dance the night away.

The Second Saturday mini-festival programs are part of the Live! Queensland band culture program. Check out the full program of activities or download the free SLQ Live! app (available from the App Store and Google Play) and plan your visit.

Schedule of events 

3pm  Step back to the 40s (dance lesson) 
3.30pm  Live! curator’s talk 
3.30pm  Deadly Brothers curator’s talk 
3.45pm  Step back to the 50s (dance lesson) 
4.15pm  Live! curator’s talk 
4.30pm  Step back to the 60s (dance lesson) 
5pm  Some Just Trip artist talk 
5.30pm  Live! curator’s talk 
5.30pm  Deadly Brothers curator’s tour 
6pm  Black Queen, Black King by Steven Oliver (performance)
6.30pm  The Ragtag Band (live music)
7pm  Golden Days (music and dance)

Please note: to book for any of the above events you need a Live! Second Saturday: Golden Days ticket. This ticket gives you access to every event happening as part of the mini-festival.