British hip-hop artist Lady Sovereign has pleaded guilty to spitting in the face of a Brisbane bouncer and being drunk and disorderly just hours after arriving in Australia.

Louise Amanda Harman, known as Lady Sovereign to music fans, was struggling to stay awake when she appeared in court on Saturday morning.

She was charged with assault shortly after midnight after spitting at a bouncer.

The court heard she had been hysterical, shouting and struggling as she was thrown out of The Beat nightclub in Fortitude Valley.

She was fined $400 and ordered to pay $200 compensation to the bouncer.

The magistrate told her the court takes spitting seriously because of the health implications.

Lady Sovereign is due to take the stage at the Parklife music festival in Brisbane later today.

Parklife spokeswoman Natalie Giraldo says the organisers are pleased to have their star out of police custody.