The psychedelic surf rock of super group The Break will launch the next Up Late series at the Queensland Art Gallery this summer.

A diverse line-up of musical acts and conversational design talks will complement evening access to ‘California Design 1930–1965: Living in a Modern Way’ at QAG on Friday nights from November 8 to December 13.

Queensland Art Gallery | Gallery of Modern Art (QAGOMA) Director Chris Saines said tickets were on sale now for California Design Up Late, presented in conjunction with the exhibition from the Los Angeles County Museum of Art (LACMA).

‘Live music on QAG’s Watermall will commence on Friday November 8 with The Break, featuring Brian Ritchie of The Violent Femmes, former Midnight Oil members Rob Hirst, Jim Moginie and Martin Rotsey, and Jack Howard of Hunters & Collectors,’ Mr Saines said.

‘The weekly events continue with guitar-pop from Sydney’s Songs; the doo-wop inflected grungy beach-pop of San Francisco’s Sonny and The Sunsets; a local double-bill with Brisbane five-piece Bandito Folkand the ever evolving line-up of Velociraptor; and off-kilter slacker blues from Melbourne’s Courtney Barnett. The season culminates on December 13 with a solo set from one of Australia most celebrated songwriters, Gareth Liddiard of The Drones.’

Mr Saines said local designers and practitioners would share contemporary links with the exhibition’s eclectic array of furniture, fashion, automobiles and industrial and graphic design through informal talks in the exhibition spaces during the evenings.

California-inspired food and drinks will be on offer at bars inside the Gallery and in the Sculpture Courtyard.

California Design Up Late continues the Gallery’s after hours events which have attracted over 100,000 visitors across nine major exhibitions since 2008.

‘California Design 1930-1965: Living in a Modern Way’ is a major study of modern Californian design from the Los Angeles County Museum of Art (LACMA), on display at the Queensland Art Gallery from November 2 to February 9, 2014. The exhibition examines California’s role in shaping the design culture of the United States and the rest of the world, with more than 250 objects in wide-ranging media, including furniture, textiles, fashion, graphic and industrial design, ceramics, jewellery, metalwork, architectural drawings and film.

For Up Late tickets and further information visit www.qagoma.qld.gov.au/uplate

‘California Design 1930–1965: Living in a Modern Way’ is supported by Gadens. Exhibition organised by the Los Angeles County Museum of Art, California.