October in Perth: top events in your city this month
There are hundreds of events on around Perth this month, from a drone show over Kings Park to a comedy festival in a suburban hall. These are the forty-odd we'd actually message the group chat about.
Every pick below links to its live page on Keen, with dates, prices and the ticket link. The links retire once an event is done, so if one tells you it's been and gone, that's the truth doing its job. For the always-current version, what's on in Perth is rebuilt from the catalogue nightly.
The big nights
Zara Larsson: Midnight Sun Tour
Perth HPC, Mt Claremont · Tuesday 20 October
A big arena pop show with the full production. A Tuesday night that will feel like a Saturday.
LANY: Soft World Tour
Ice Cream Factory, Northbridge · Tuesday 27 October
Big, aching alt-pop anthems from a band built for singing along. Bring tissues and the friend who cries at everything.
Sonny Fodera
Ice Cream Factory, Northbridge · Saturday 17 October
A house set from a genuine global name. The Saturday night of the month for anyone who dances.
Jebediah: Are We Ok?
Freo.Social, Fremantle · Saturday 3 October
A hometown one-off from a band that grew up down the road. Expect a room that knows every word, loudly.
Cat Burns
The Rechabite, Northbridge · Wednesday 14 October
An honest, warm set of new songs in the Rechabite hall. A midweek gig that feels like a secret.
Cooper Alan
Ice Cream Factory, Northbridge · Thursday 15 October
A headline country show that outgrew its first room. Boots welcome.
Lamb of God and Trivium
Perth HPC, Mt Claremont · Friday 2 October
Two metal heavyweights on one co-headline bill. Loud in the best possible way.
Crooked Colours: Dirt Road Gold Album Tour
Freo.Social, Fremantle · Friday 16 October
Euphoric builds and heartbreak vocals from a hometown favourite.
The Redgum Years
Freo.Social, Fremantle · Friday 30 October
The songs, the stories and that unmistakable campfire voice. Take your uncle; you'll both have a great night.
John Jorgenson
The Duke of George, East Fremantle · Friday 9 October
Gypsy jazz and classical guitar from a Grammy winner, with local players alongside, in an intimate room.
Grand Final Sunday: where to watch
Roosters v Knights on Sunday 4 October. It's 7:30pm in Sydney, which makes it a 4:30pm kick-off here: an afternoon game with the whole evening left over. The full list is on where to watch the Grand Final in Perth.
Grand Final at Peach Pit
Scarborough · Sunday 4 October · 18+
Twelve big screens on the beachfront, a $60 siren-to-siren drinks deal with a cheeseburger at half-time, and booths with their own TV for four to six.
Grand Final at Patriots Sports Bar
Brass Monkey Hotel, Northbridge · Sunday 4 October · 18+
The American-style sports bar inside the Brass Monkey, with the game on every screen and a hot wing comp at half-time. Ambitious, given what's at stake.
Grand Final at the Guildford Hotel
Guildford · Sunday 4 October, from 1pm
A double header in the Hall at this heritage pub on the way into the Swan Valley: the NRLW decider from 1pm, then the men's.
Grand Final at The Royal
East Perth · Sunday 4 October, from 1pm
The waterfront pub makes an afternoon of it, with kids' activities from 1pm to 5pm, raffles and footy share platters for the table.
Grand Final at The Galway Hooker
Scarborough · Sunday 4 October, from 3pm · 18+
The Irish pub on the Esplanade has it on every screen, live music before and after and a roast all day. The alfresco area is kept for walk-ins.
On stage
Moortabiny
Kings Park, West Perth · 2 to 4 October
Kings Park's first drone show, with storytelling based on the work of Noongar author Kim Scott and music made from the park's own plant data. Three nights only.
The Book of Mormon
Crown Theatre Perth, Burswood · from 20 October
The filthiest, funniest musical on the circuit, back for a Perth season. Don't bring your nan unless your nan is very cool.
Mystique: A Journey Beyond Reality
Crown Theatre Perth, Burswood · 2 and 3 October
An illusion spectacular in two acts. The whole car ride home will be spent working out how.
The Tease Factory
The Court, Northbridge · Friday 23 October
The Perth International Burlesque Festival's opening night: feathers, sequins and headliners flown in. Peep Show on the 9th is the charity warm-up.
Comedy
The Side Splitter Comedy Festival takes over Hamilton Hill Memorial Hall for two weekends (23, 24, 30 and 31 October), with a pop-up garden bar and food trucks each night. Four of the best:
Pete Helliar: An International Kerfuffle
Hamilton Hill Memorial Hall · Saturday 31 October
The true story of one joke that became an international incident. $32, which is very reasonable for an international incident.
Luke Heggie: I Won't Say It Again
Hamilton Hill Memorial Hall · Friday 30 October
Brutally dry bits, delivered without apology.
Geraldine Hickey: Live
Hamilton Hill Memorial Hall · Friday 30 October
Deadpan storytelling that makes the world feel a bit funnier. Pair it with Heggie for a proper Friday.
The Side Splitter Gala Spectacular
Hamilton Hill Memorial Hall · Saturday 31 October
Peter Rowsthorn hosts eight of WA's best local comedians firing off their best bits.
Shane Todd: Hold Me Back
Freo.Social, Fremantle · Wednesday 21 October
Sharp storytelling from a comic who can't take himself seriously. A second show was added, which tells you something.
Che Durena
The Rechabite, Northbridge · Thursday 15 October
A viral comic making his Perth debut in a proper hall.
Comedy Underground
Lyric Lane, Maylands · Wednesday 7 October Free
Fully improvised stories built from what the room shouts out. Shout something good.
Food and drink
Oktoberfest in the Gardens
Langley Park · Saturday 10 October
Oktoberfest on Langley Park with the river behind you. Steins, sausages and a good excuse for lederhosen.
Oktoberfest at Phat Brewery
Phat Brew Club, West Perth · Saturday 24 October
An oompah band, pork knuckle and a stein you get to keep. The low-key version for people who hate queues.
Kath and Kim: Look At Moi! Karaoke Brunch Cruise
The Decoy paddle steamer, South Perth · Sunday 11 October
Karaoke, brunch and Fountain Lakes glamour on the river. Noice.
Apericena at Rendezvous Scarborough
Rendezvous Hotel, Scarborough · Friday 9 October
Aperitivo on level 25 with the sun going down over the ocean. The view does the heavy lifting.
Dining in the Dark
The Stables, Perth · Thursday 22 October
A whole meal eaten blindfolded, guessing every bite. Excellent for the mate who claims they can taste the difference.
Days out
Fairy Tales in the Park
Hyde Park · Saturday 10 October Free
Disney songs with live classical backing and a picnic on the grass.
Spring Crafted Clay Market
The Glasshouse, Cloverdale · Sunday 4 October
Thirty local potters selling, plus a go on the wheel for yourself.
Bonsai Society of WA 50th Anniversary Exhibition
Morley Sport and Recreation Centre · 17 and 18 October
Fifty years of tiny trees. Weirdly calming; surprisingly competitive.
HALO Rooftop Tours at Optus Stadium
Optus Stadium, Burswood · sessions all month
Climbing to the top of the stadium for the whole city and river laid out below. Hold on to your phone.
Late ones
End of Days: ShockOne b2b Aeon:Mode
Ice Cream Factory, Northbridge · Friday 30 October
A warehouse of drum and bass with a back-to-back you'll hear about.
Freo Dub Club: Vibronics meets Red Earth
The Rechabite, Northbridge · Saturday 10 October
Two floors, two sound systems, eight hours of dub.
Never Ending 80s: 10 Year Anniversary
Freo.Social, Fremantle · Saturday 17 October
Eighties versus nineties pop, costumes strongly encouraged.
Cherry Bomb: Halloween
Connections Nightclub, Northbridge · Saturday 31 October
Drag, burlesque and fire across two floors of queer chaos.
Something different
The Jury Experience: The Killer AI
Perth Modern School, Subiaco · Saturday 10 October
You're the jury in a courtroom drama about a driverless car that killed. Dinner afterwards to argue about the verdict.
Candlelight: The Best of Hans Zimmer
Perth Town Hall · 10 and 24 October
Interstellar and Gladiator on strings, by candlelight in the town hall. A Halloween edition follows on the 29th.
Bingo Loco
Freo.Social, Fremantle · Saturday 10 October
Bingo turned into a rave, with dance-offs and confetti. Nobody is too cool for this; they just think they are.
The part where you actually go
That's the list. The gap between reading it and standing in one of those rooms is the same as ever: someone has to pick a date and make the call.
That's the job Keen does. The quickest way in is Find a time: pick two or three dates that could work, add an idea or two from this page, and drop one link in the group chat. Everyone answers from their browser, no app and no account needed. You see which date wins, tap once, and it's a real plan with RSVPs and a chat of its own.
And once your mates are on Keen too, it starts doing the noticing for you: everyone marks the nights they're free, and when yours line up, Keen tells you, along with what's on that actually suits the crew.
October's forty-odd best excuses are above. Pick one, name a night, and send the message.
Start closer in. See what's on in the next few days, pick a night, send the link.
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