The Ekka just got that little bit more exciting..
As part of its huge 150th anniversary celebrations, the Royal Queensland Show has announced Ekka After Dark - the first ever offsite concert in the event’s history.
Teaming up with Brisbane live music institution The Tivoli, alongside Select Music and Triple M, the Ekka will take over the iconic venue on Tuesday 11 August for a one night only country party headlined by Australian country heavyweight Casey Barnes.
Barnes is bringing his Made For This Tour to the event, celebrating new music and mega hits that have made him one of the biggest names in Australian country music. Between ARIA Awards, Golden Guitars, chart-topping singles and a live show that’s electric, he’s become one of the country scene’s most reliable headline acts.
The concert marks a major shift for the Ekka, which has traditionally kept its music programming inside the Showgrounds through venues like Stockmen’s Bar and Grill. But for its 150th year, organisers are clearly aiming bigger.
The lineup surrounding Barnes also leans heavily into the next generation of Australian country talent, with appearances locked in for DJ Desert Rose, Farmer Wants A Wife star and 2026 Toyota Star Maker winner Jarrad Wrigley, plus rising Northern NSW singer-songwriter Beau Shearer.
But one of the night’s biggest talking points is set to come from much closer to home.
Barnes’ daughter, Charli Barnes, will make her first ever solo live performance at Ekka After Dark, marking a pretty major full circle family moment for the Barnes camp. For longtime fans who’ve followed Casey’s career rise over the years, there’s something undeniably wholesome about seeing the next generation stepping onto the stage for the very first time.
RNA Chief Executive Brendan Christou said the event was designed as a special addition to the Ekka’s milestone celebrations while also shining a bigger spotlight on Queensland’s live music scene.
“The Ekka is all about showcasing the best of Queensland, including its live music, particularly country music. For many years the Ekka has had a jam-packed schedule of live music acts in venues such as Stockmen’s Bar and Grill,” he said.
“Ekka After Dark is an exciting extension of that Ekka entertainment program which will not only provide further exposure for our state’s live music scene, but it sees us partner with the iconic venue and our neighbour, The Tivoli.”
The ticket bundle is honestly one of the smarter parts of the whole thing. Fans get entry to the Ekka from 4pm with a Twilight Ticket before heading over to the Tivoli for the concert itself - meaning you can smash strawberry sundaes, drop some money on showbags and then end the night enjoying live country music with hundreds of other fans.
EVENT DETAILS
Event: Ekka After Dark
Date: Tuesday 11 August 2026
Time: 6pm - 11pm
Venue: The Tivoli
Tickets: $69 (includes Ekka Any Day Twilight Ticket + concert entry)
Tickets available now via Ticketmaster.
EKKA AFTER DARK LINE UP
Casey Barnes
DJ Desert Rose
Jarrad Wrigley
Beau Shearer
Charli Barnes
Countrytown brings you Australia’s best country music news, interviews, charts and more every week! This post was authored by Countrytown and originally published on the Countrytown website. It has been re-published with permission.
