Words by Cosmic Staff
Graphic by no.7 Print House

FORTITUDE VALLEY, AUSTRALIA — On Saturday, May 16, Glitter Records and Brisbane’s community radio station 4ZZZ will turn California Lane into a lively space for music and local stories. The California Lane CD and Record Fair will celebrate vinyl, CDs, cassettes and the Valley’s long music history. A history that has shaped Brisbane’s alternative culture for more than fifty years.

Held at 22 McLachlan Street, the event brings together a curated record fair, vinyl‑only DJ sets and guided history tours. Its aim is simple. The fair will reconnect Brisbane residents with the venues, people and stories that defined the city’s sound.

Reviving Brisbane’s Music Heritage

The fair grew out of the 2025 project 100 Years / 100 Stories, created by California Lane and supported by Glitter Records. One of its most popular elements of the event was a series of walking tours led by historian Robert Allen. Robert, supported by longtime Valley local Arthur Apostolos, shared their knowledge of the area’s buildings, venues and characters. The tours drew strong crowds, showing renewed interest in the Valley’s past.

After the first market, Glitter Records’ Riley Fitzgerald, Arthur and Erene Apostolos began exploring how Robert’s approach to history could tap into the area’s musical past.

“The Valley has always been a place of music,” says Fitzgerald. “By the 1990s, everything shifted. 4ZZZ moved in, The Zoo opened, and suddenly local bands and international indie acts had real stages, dedicated venues and an audience big enough to support them. Punk, queer, DIY and alternative scenes were out in the open. Regurgitator were filming Polyester Girl with artists from the IMA crowd. Members of The Go‑Betweens were playing with a new wave of indie musicians. Powderfinger even shot a video outside the California Café — part of the lane where the markets are held today. The big acts were only the tip of a wider movement. We felt there was a story waiting to come out.”

A Partnership Built on Community

The event also marks a growing partnership between Glitter Records and 4ZZZ. After celebrating its 50th anniversary, the station saw an opportunity to reconnect with the Valley community that helped shape its identity. At the fair, 4ZZZ will host a pop‑up stall with T‑shirts, tote bags and a rare archival artwork being brought out especially for the event.

“4ZZZ was the soundtrack to growing up in Brisbane,” Fitzgerald said. “Their recent focus on digitizing their archive fits perfectly with what we do — uncovering old recordings and forgotten pieces of local music history.”

What’s On at Our Next California Lane CD and Record Fair 

The fair offers thousands of records, CDs and cassettes from local vendors, vinyl‑only DJ sets, guided tours of key music landmarks and informal talks with musicians and historians. Visitors can also browse decades of 4ZZZ designs and memorabilia.

4ZZZ Merch Pop‑Up

Australia’s longest‑running independent radio station, 4ZZZ, has called Fortitude Valley home since 1992. This market marks their first appearance in California Lane. Staff, volunteers and the station’s iconic banana mascots will bring a wide range of merchandise, including T‑shirts, tote bags, stickers, bottle openers and more.

Vinyl DJ Sets

A lineup of guest DJs will be announced soon. Expect vinyl‑only sets curated by selectors who are passionate about collecting, playing and sharing music.

Fortitude Valley Music History Tours

Historian and author Robert Allen — known for his work with the State Library of Queensland and his long‑term research into Brisbane’s cultural history — will lead four walking tours throughout the day. His tours cover key music landmarks, such as The Zoo and the former Whisky‑a‑Go‑Go to the independent venues shaping the Valley today.

Music Talk by John Willsteed

John Willsteed, an expert on Brisbane music, will give a special guest talk. He played bass with the The Go-Betweens during the 16 Lovers Lane era. He has also worked with Ed Kuepper and The Apartments, and continues to play in Halfway. Outside music, he is an award-winning film and TV sound designer. He also teaches at Queensland University of Technology, where he studies Brisbane’s punk and post-punk history.

Record & CD Market

Thousands of vinyl records, CDs, cassette tapes and rare formats will be on display. These will be shown by a curated group of vendors, including:

• Sacred Crates
• Beat Market
• Disc Space
• More to be announced

Community Roots, Local Stories

With its mix of music, history and community, the California Lane CD & Record Fair brings people back into the Valley’s laneways. Here will reconnect them with the stories that shaped Brisbane’s sound and celebrates the independent spirit that still defines the area today. For Glitter Records, 4ZZZ and the many locals involved, it’s a chance to keep those stories alive as a living part of Brisbane’s culture.