Historian and author Robert Allen, a researcher who has worked with the State Library of Queensland and spent years documenting Brisbane’s cultural and social history, will lead four walking tours throughout the day. Drawing on his deep knowledge of the Valley’s music past — from legendary spaces like The Zoo and the infamous Whisky‑a‑Go‑Go to the independent venues shaping Brisbane today — Robert brings the kind of insight, accuracy, and local storytelling that only a dedicated historian can offer.
California Lane CD & Record Fair — Fortitude Valley
Looking for things to do in Brisbane on May 16? Glitter Records and California Lane are hosting their second CD and Record Fair in the heart of Fortitude Valley.
📍 Location: 22 McLachlan Street, Fortitude Valley
🕤 Time: 9:30am to 3:30pm
📅 Date: Saturday, 16 May 2026
🎟️ Entry: Free
What’s On at Our Next California Lane CD and Record Fair
A community‑built, DIY music event honoring Brisbane’s cultural history and the independent spirit of the Valley.
4ZZZ Merch Pop‑Up
Australia’s longest‑running independent radio station 4ZZZ has called Fortitude Valley home since 1992, and in their 50‑year history they’ve created more than 150 different T‑shirt designs — each one a little snapshot of Brisbane’s music culture. This market, they’re joining us in California Lane for the first time. Their staff, volunteers, and iconic banana mascots will bring a wide range of Zed merch, including tote bags, T‑shirts, bottle openers, stickers, and more.
Vinyl DJ Sets
A lineup of guest DJs will be announced soon. Expect vinyl‑only sets, curated by people who genuinely love the craft of collecting, playing, and sharing music.
Fortitude Valley Music History Tours
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
Browse thousands of vinyl records, CDs, cassette tapes, and rare formats from a carefully curated community of vendors who are helping drive Brisbane’s contemporary vinyl and CD revival.
- Sacred Crates
- Beat Market
- Disc Space
- More to be announced
From Glitter Records
“This market grew from conversations with Arthur and Erene Apostolos in California Lane and our shared desire to bring people together through music. Glitter Records has been part of the Fortitude Valley community for four years, and I’m passionate about building deeper local connections. Brisbane has a unique music culture — this event is about shining a light on what makes it unique.” — Riley, Founder of Glitter Records
Supported By:
- 4ZZZ Community Radio — Brisbane’s independent music and community station
- No.7 Print House — a Brisbane screen‑printing studio specialising in bespoke prints for record covers, posters, cassette tapes, apparel, and creative projects
- The IMA — The Institute of Modern Art (IMA) is Australia’s oldest independent public art gallery, championing contemporary artists and ideas through free exhibitions, events, and community‑focused programs
- The Lanes Fortitude Valley — the vibrant laneway precinct that brings together food, culture, music, and community events
📰Featured On
Record Store Day Australia Events Page – Thanks to the Record Store Australia team, our California Lane Record & CD Market has been featured on the official Record Store Day Australia website. We’re grateful for the support and proud to be included among other music-loving events.
Our fair has also featured in the November 25 2025 issue of The Village Voice (Brisbane), New Farm Peninsula edition — in a special article titled: “Come Celebrate 100 Years, 100 Stories in The Valley.”
Scenestr Magazine – November 7, 2025 – we were featured in “Building Fortitude Valley’s Legacy: 100 Years, 100 Stories,” a heartfelt piece by Matt Innes that explores the Valley’s rich musical heritage, the centennial of its iconic buildings, and the vibrant energy of the community day we’re proud to be part of.
The Weekend Edition – November 11 – our first fair was mentioned in “A Century of History Will Be Celebrated with a Full-Day Party in California Lane.” The article highlights the larger centennial celebration of Carroll’s Corner and the Rollinson Buildings.
Cosmic Magazine published a dedicated news feature titled “Glitter Records Launches a New Brisbane Record Fair in California Lane,” spotlighting the launch of the new CD & Record Market in Fortitude Valley.
Culture blog The Glitter & Gold ran a news piece announcing the first fair, highlighting it as a celebration of music’s physical beauty and the joy of community events.
Mentioned on ABC Radio Brisbane — Mornings (November 21, 2025): Riley, owner of Glitter Records, spoke with presenter Kelly Higgins-Devine about the fair and the 100 Years, 100 Stories centennial celebration.
Featured in The Village Voice – April 2026: Our fair was also highlighted in the April 2026 issue of The Village Voice (Brisbane) in an article titled “Turn It Up! For Music Heritage,” which noted the involvement of 4ZZZ and Glitter Records, and explored Fortitude Valley’s unique contribution to Australian punk, protest, gay, grunge, and indie music — and the cultural legacy that continues to shape the area today.
In April 2026, The Glitter & Gold published a news feature announcing the second California Lane CD & Record Fair, highlighting its expanded cultural program for 2026. The article covers the event’s retro‑inspired poster by No.7 Print House, 4ZZZ’s first‑ever merch‑archive pop‑up, vinyl‑only DJ sets led by Judy Jetson, and new music‑history walking tours with historian Robert Allen. It also spotlights a special guest talk by John Willsteed of The Go‑Betweens, exploring Brisbane’s punk and post‑punk legacy.
Our record fair was also reported in a digital news article by Scenester on April 16, 2026.