Mail: 36/97 Eastern Valley Way Belconnen, ACT 2617
Publisher ABN 76 097 301 730 Pty Ltd
Managing Editor
Allan Sko
E: allan@bmamag.com
Cover/Article Design + Entertainment Guide Editor Allan Sko
Social Media Manager
Angel Nash
Writers Justin Heazlewood, Josh Nixon, Aegipan Samara-Wickrama, Tamsin Kemp, Jannah Fahiz, Allan Sko
ISSUE #554 RELEASE DATE
Thursday, 26 June
EDITORIAL DEADLINE Friday, 6 June
ADVERTISING DEADLINE Wednesday, 18 June
Art and civilisation has been parting ways for some time now. Music is wallpaper. Films are screen fillers. Paintings are quirky dream farts that make no sense. Poetry is what a tagline would look like if it had a nervous breakdown. It feels like art is dead and that feeling is important to me. It’s a manifesto philosophy that helps me make sense of the world; a trend I’ve been observing for ten years or so. Sure, art is getting made, but does the modern world really need it? Musicians I know have existential crises each time they release an album. A CD used to feel like an occasion - now it’s a collection of digital files, uploaded to the thick, dark cloud. Carrie Brownstein, writing for NPR in 2009, observed how the context of artist intention was being demoted:
“As exciting, democratising and demystifying as a more global and decentralised music industry is, this bottomless sonic stew also means that we’ve largely divorced artists from place, history and physicality.”
My D – I – V – O – R – C – E became final today.
The typographical ecosystem of lyrics, credits and cover art which sustained all three dimensions of a record has been dismantled by technology in the name of convenience. Meanwhile, the market value of songs, movies, books and local theatre shows has plummeted. ‘Everything is free now’ sang Gillian Welch in 2001.
With humans, the market value tends to dictate the emotional value. The value of art as an ingredient of society has been depreciated. When was the last time you heard about arts funding in a minister’s budget? (Or felt it missing?)
Someone hit the big score
They figured it out
That we’re gonna do it anyway Even if doesn’t pay
Artists not making money is nothing new. Artists feeling indifference from the commercial world is as old as the (Lauryn) hills. Hopefully it’s not just the middle age of experience talking, but … something feels different. Shop signs used to be handpainted by a signwriter, now they are digitally printed with istock images. Hotels used to hang up paintings, now the trend is hyper-real photos of iconic cities. The words ‘relax’ and ‘laugh’ carved out of wood. Some sort of anti-abstract mantra for a consumer cult. A straight line for a treeless inner world.
The wellness industry is exploding. The ‘experience’ industry is where it’s at. People frequent beer festivals the way they used to see bands. A punter is furious if their favourite tipple is no longer deemed ‘independent.’ If their favourite artist paired with a brand, it would barely ruffle a beard hair. ‘Food is the new rock ‘n’ roll,’ I sang as The Bedroom Philosopher in 2015. Idiocracy by Mike Judge is coming to pass.
Art is dead.
Let’s face it.
It looks beautiful, still.
That doesn’t mean it’s not being made. I just put out an independent book, with glee. The fact there are still bookshops feels like an exotic miracle. But then I see a twelve-year-old perfecting the art of walking and scrolling. I know that they have Minecraft and Tik-Tok and YouTube and infinity everything, more or less, and I see a sprightly, precious attention span being stunted like growth - along with the context for artistic expression; flattened, smoothed and spat out portrait ratio to be enjoyed on tiny speakers up the back of a bus.
Memes are not art. Podcasts are not art. Tattoos are not art.
Art feeds imagination. It restores boundaries. It ignites dreams. Art matters. It’s the truth of humanity. It’s the closest reflection of our inner selves. Sitting with a CD pouring over the lyrics isn’t just a nineties nostalgia demo, it’s an example of fans in a sweet spot with music (and technology for that matter). Humans are susceptible to the sin of gluttony. The soundtrack to our lives was never meant to be an all-you-can-eat buffet.
Going to the cinema. Sitting up late to finish a book. Talking about a shared TV show at school. They may seem trite, but I believe in there somewhere, art was the glue mending the fabric of society. Holding us together, stopping our egos from flying away into space, or disappearing into the black hole of our savage laziness.
Justin’s new book Dream Burnie is available from Paperchain Bookstore or via dreamburnie.com. His 2014 book about artists in Australia is to Funemployed
Skyscraper Stan and his longtime touring band and collaborators, the Commission Flats, have generated a body of work that has attracted a loyal, and more recently, global fanbase drawn to their easy lyrical style, inventive arrangements, and deft genre twists and turns— from folk and country to indie rock and consummate soul— all key elements across the diverse new album.
As the weather gets cooler, Stan and the Band are taking their critically acclaimed live show around the country to celebrate the new record Those Were Days - a project several years in the making and well worth the wait.
Belco Sounds—a Connect Up 2617 intiative, funded by Medical Research Future until October—is a fortnightly live music programme that aims to support emerging Canberran artists and provide young folk with free gigs at which to connect.
Created by Mei, Esther, and Alex, who work with Connect Up 2617, says Mei: “We have a passion for music/art and appreciate the importance of community and social connection. This differs from traditional live gigs by focusing on creating a friendly and welcoming atmosphere in which people can meet new faces.”
“Connect Up 2617 has a range of free activities for 18-30s in the Belconnen-Bruce area. If you wish to meet new people, we have something for you!”connectup.au, @belco.sounds, @connectup2617
Continuing one of the good news stories amid a torrid touring landscape, the mighty melding of Canberra venue powerhouses that is Smith’s @ Belco keeps rolling out the big shows.
And June heralds the arrival of one of Australian music’s most key figures: Neil Murray.
Originally springing from Victoria’ western district, in the late ‘70s maverick songman set course for the Northern Territory with guitar in hand.
He emerged at Papunya in 1980 as a founding member of the pioneering Warumpi Band. Over three albums (Big Name, No Blankets, Go Bush and Too Much Humbug) and 20
years of performing, thrust contemporary indigenous music into mainstream Australia, yielding such classic songs as My Island Home, Blackfella Whitefella, Fitzroy Crossing, Jailanguru Pakarnu, Stompin Ground, From The Bush and Waru. He has since become one of Australia’s finest singer/ songwriters, enjoying a solo career since 1989. He has released a remarkable string of albums – the latest being The Telling, which marks a recording career of four decades.
Virtuoso bassist, prolific composer, and band leader
Steve Hunter formed his first band in 1978 - at age 18and never looked back.
Releasing ten albums, and contributing to many other artists and bands, he has performed with international artists Billy Cobham, Chick Corea, Mark Isham, and Bobby Previte and Oz artists The Translators, Mark Simmond, Dale Barlow, the Joseph Tawadros trio, James Muller, and Bandaluzia.
His current trio with Matt McMahon (piano/keyboards) and Gordon Rytmeister (drums) has been playing regularly for seven years, occasionally augmenting to a 4-piece with the addition of guitarist Ben Hauptmann. Steve brings this 4-piece to Canberra, performing originals along with a few tunes by Chick Corea and Miles Davis.
While Steve’s music sits under the jazz umbrella, his music also draws on elements from Spain, Africa, and Latin America and Funk.
Dust off your winter coats, gig-goers, because there’s plenty o’ Canberra happenings to warm both limbs and soul.
First up on Saturday, 24 May, is a night of Indigenous music when Canberra’s Djaarmby Band plays Smith’s Alternative from 8pm (doors 7:30pm).
The band describe themselves as “Oz rock mixed with didgeridoo and traditional lyrics, Indigenous rock, folk, pop band with tribal voices and didgeridoo”. We don’t get to see traditional instruments on stage nearly often enough, so this opportunity is exciting.
Supporting them on the night is Gaslight Puppet Show, who will be playing songs from their brand new album, Esoterica. Tix are $15 ($10 for conc.) via the Smith’s website.
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On Saturday, 7 June, you can enjoy Persian Music Night, also at Smith’s Alternative. This is the 4th event of its kind that the Persian Art Centre of Canberra has held, delighting us with a few hours of Afghan and Iranian music.
“Our performance brings to life beloved old and new Persian pop songs,” say the players on what to expect.
“We celebrate the rich musical heritage of Afghanistan & Iran with a modern twist.”
Doors 2:30pm, tix $25 via the Smith’s website (12+ event.
In further Saturday, 7 June show news, I’ve got a metal concert called Mel-berra which, if you couldn’t already tell, combines Canberra and Melbourne artists. This is happening where all the best heavy shows play; The Baso. Taliesin hit the headline spot, with stoic support by Deep Majestic Thunder and Endless Grin. Doors 7pm, tix $20 via Oztix ($15 for conc).
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On Friday, 20 June, another show for heavy music lovers emerges called New Blood, this time with a different combo of Canberra and Sydney bands.
This metalcore line-up comprises local legends Switch Up, as well as Herald and Wyndfall, with the latter celebrating the release of their new single Butterflies. It is also their first show! And our special guest, travelling down from Sydney, is Arbiter. Tix $18.40 via Oztix.
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Next up is a single launch for local altrockers Dead Weights Dreaming They’re hosting a release party for their song Rebecca on Saturday, 21 June at Dissent from 7:30pm (music starting at 8:30pm).
Locals Soarers (bringing the rock) and Alec Randles (fingerstyle guitarist extraordinaire) will join them. Tickets are available now via Humanitix for $10.
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And lastly, if you’re a lover of birthdays, you must come along and celebrate Tom Woodward’s 41st!
The beloved CBR folkster is putting on a party at Dissent Cafe and Bar on Thursday, 26 June, where he’ll be joined by his band, The True Delusions. A bunch of great artists are also lining up to celebrate, including Cicatrix, Mesa+ and Napoleon Ice Cream.
Expect a kooky, folky, rocky, and thoroughly fun vibe along with the rollicking music. Doors 6pm, hit up Dissent website/ socials for ticket pricing.
Oh, and before I go, a quick note for you crafters... Did-ya know there’s a Crafternoon meet-up every Wednesday from 12:30pm at Smith’s Alt? Come along with a craft project and have a cuppa with other creatives.
As always, a liddle sumfing for ev’ryone! Enjoy yourselves, and don’t forget to leave your house 10 minutes early so you can defrost your car.
See ya in the next one! - Jannah
Mikelangelo and the Black Sea Gentlemen are the Australian quintet known for their compelling songs, irrepressible style, and wildly entertaining live shows. Now, after three years away from the live circuit, they return to celebrate the 20th anniversary of their definitive album, Journey Through The Land Of Shadows — the record that cemented their place both here and in the UK by showcasing their distinctive blend of storytelling, dark humour, and musical mastery.
High time to have a catch up with mainman Mikelangelo ahead of the show, methinks!
[BMA’s ALLAN SKO] Michael, hello! Hopping straight to it... Looking back at the creation of Journey Through The Land of Shadows, did you ever imagine or indeed hope that you would be celebrating its 20-year anniversary on one of Australia’s grand stages?
Songs are timeless entities. Having these as companions through life’s joys and trials has been good. Like good friends, they continue to teach me lessons and don’t let me off the hook when it matters.
Many songs on Journey are among the first I wrote, dating back to 1990-94. The Black Sea Gentlemen arrived in my life at the end of 2000, and the album, our second offering, was recorded in 2004 in Canberra with Kimmo Vennonen.
By its release in 2005, some of these songs had been around for 15 years. There’s no real expiry date on a song. They will arrive when they want to and be played to people when the time comes.
It seems that time has come around again, and we’ll set sail for the Land of Shadows at the Canberra Theatre Playhouse, one of my favourite venues anywhere.
[BMA] Going back even further, can you pinpoint a particular moment where you knew music was the thing to pursue, or was it more of a steady and growing certainty?
I can pinpoint the exact moment, in 1987, upstairs at the ANU Bar, singing the 13th Floor Elevators classic You’re Gonna Miss Me with my brother’s group, Kill City.
Standing on that high stage, in front of a darkened room of people, the hot lights on my skin, the intensity of the band behind me, holding the microphone and letting rip... I was 17, and I felt right at home up there.
I knew then, in my bones, that I’d be a singer.
While the Black Sea Gentlemen have created our own eclectic musical world of absurdist European folk, Kabaret Noir, Balkan Western, and idiosyncratic storytelling, I’m still a rock ‘n’ roller at heart.
[BMA] On the topic of a song’s longevity, recently Josh Pyke re-released some of his old work with new arrangements to reflect on how songs from his distant past have changed meaning over time.
For example, a song he penned on the raw emotion he felt upon the death of a close friend has now, all these years later, transformed into a more joyful remembrance and celebration of his life.
Which is all a long-winded way of asking: have many, if any, of the songs on Journey gone through such transformations over the years due to circumstances/you as a person changing?
Well, that’s the first time Mr. Pyke and I have ever been mentioned in the same paragraph.
I can understand his desire to do this. While I have singer-songwriter material that falls into the autobiographical world of personal feelings and experiences, the songs on Journey are different beasts: dark, mythical, and layered with imagery, symbolism and metaphor.
I’d liken them more to the poems of William Blake or Samuel Taylor Coleridge’s Rhyme of the Ancient Mariner, which my Ma read to me in my cradle, or even to the paintings of Hieronymus Bosch, with their hilarious, beautiful and horrific panoramas.
While my life experiences inform the Journey songs, each has a beating heart of its’ own, which keeps from making any fundamental changes to the lyrical or musical thrust of the work.
That said, arrangements naturally evolve over time as songs are played, and anyone who has seen me live will know that I ‘adapt’ my songs in various ways, in the heat of the moment, as I lie in an audience member’s lap, or leap from seat to seat.
The live scenario is just that; almost anything could happen and probably will.
[BMA] Speaking of live scenarios... regale us with what to expect from the upcoming Canberra Theatre show!
We’ll play the whole Journey album in full, in album order, which we’ve only ever done once.
The album was a very involved undertaking. After an initial week of live recording, we spent 12 weeks over a year overdubbing, mixing, and mapping out the group’s sonic and thematic terrain.
When played chronologically, the songs have a cumulative intensity that is quite transformative.
As well as fan favourites One Of Those A Minor Days and A Formidable Marinade, which I will sing, some highlights will include The Great Muldavio’s story of how he was given his name; our accordionist Guido interpreting my song El Diablo, sounding the re-animated corpse of Bela Lugosi; an unexpected delight from the vault sung by our bassist Little Ivan.
And our violinist Rufino performing the magic realist romantic epic Things Will Never Be The Same. That song was initially intended to be sung by his brother, Senor Handsome (David Branson), who died in a car accident on the way to a Black Sea Gentlemen show in 2001.
Rufino’s rendition always packs a tragi-comic punch; he is an amazing singer with an incredible stage presence. David’s spirit is very much alive in the song; in the whole show, for that matter.
My wondrous sister Anushka will also join us, with whom I co-wrote the song Figueres, which she sings on the album. Anna is a force of nature, and no doubt I’ll rope her into another song or two. She’s just so good.
[BMA] Further to this show, I believe there’s already something in the works to mark the band’s 25th anniversary next year?
I’ve always felt that the Gentlemen will still be playing in our 90s. This group can just keep going, perhaps even beyond the grave.
It’s been like the parting of the Red Sea (or perhaps the Black Sea?) putting together a small run of dates for this year, and it has taken the better part of two years to get it happening. While everyone in the group is keen to play shows together, our schedules are wildly busy.
So, the main focus, for now, is the four shows we have coming up in Melbourne, Canberra, Sydney and, because two band members live there, the lovely little town of Candelo.
Very much looking forward to touring further afield next year. We are developing some unique merchandise to celebrate the 25th, so there will be memorabilia and ephemera and, who knows, perhaps even a real jar of Formidable Marinade to put to use in the kitchen!
While it’s good to celebrate these milestones, I’m also working on new material with the Black Sea Gentlemen. It’s early days, so I’ll keep it under wraps for now, but I must say, it feels pretty exciting to be developing ideas with the group.
They are a fine bunch of Gentlemen.
Termination Day sounds more like a reckoning than a warning. This is not only a result of the song's style but, perhaps more importantly, the style of delivery.
The track kicks off with a guitar chord slamming down like a gavel; a blunt declaration that we’re not here to dance but to bear witness. The groove is slow, deliberate, almost plodding, like someone pacing the floor waiting for a call that never comes.
It's folk rock, but there's nothing quaint about it. It's got the dusty snarl of Dylan's Highway 61, the grizzled edges of The Band, and the weary, fatalistic sneer of someone who's seen the eviction notice more than once.
Woodward's lyrics circle back like a vulture gnawing at the same rotten bone:
You've been waiting For your termination day
They spent your money
It's a slow burn
Blowing it all away
It’s less lament and more a punch to the gut. He sings it like a soul watching the world crumble in slow motion, wheels grinding, the rich getting richer while the rest of us sink.
And then there's the refrain: Let it slide
Lose your livelihood easy
Let it slide
As they do you so slow.
It's a line that sticks in your throat like a bad memory. This isn't the sound of someone pulling himself up by his bootstraps. It's the sound of someone staring into the abyss and daring it to blink first.
Woodward's voice is a rasp, a drawl, a man too tired to scream and too angry to shut up. You can practically hear the last shred of hope unravelling as he lets the words "let it slide" drag across the beat.
Musically, the song is deceptively simple — a guitar that sways and stumbles, a backbeat that shuffles along like a man with his hands in his pockets, waiting for the axe to fall. Katie Walsh's backing vocals echo like a ghost in a dark hallway, as if she were singing from some other room or some other life.
The groove is relentless, chugging and churning along, keeping you locked in the same cycle, over and over, until the chorus slams you back against the wall.
But it's the final verse where Woodward hits hardest:
Internet hustler
On your tiny screen pretends
Repeat their program
You'll make easy money and new friends
It's a line that cuts like a blade and is not just about one man's downfall. It's about all of us, trapped in a digital labyrinth, scrolling our way to oblivion while the bigwigs laugh from their towers. Woodward's seen the bottom of the barrel — or maybe he just keeps looking for it. He walked the east coast of Australia with nothing but the ache in his feet and got ejected from America like a bad punchline.
What does that do to a man?
On Termination Day, Woodward is not offering answers. He's singing from that place between the fall and the landing, trying to make sense of perpetually shifting ground.
It's not a cry for help, not a rallying call — just the uneasy lull of someone still waiting for the dust to settle, still checking for bruises that haven't shown up yet.
THE WORD ON METAL WITH JOSH NIXON DOOMTILDEATH@HOTMAIL.COM
Sweet Dark Lord Satan! We’re almost halfway into 2025 already? This pace is as furious as the riffs, with shows and releases raining down.
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Thursday, 5 June, is a big one for fans of classic Floridian metal when Athiest pop into The Baso, a long overdue firstever tour from this storied act that has long cast its influence and name-checked by favourites and new bands alike.
It was cool to see this tour come up on the list, especially after revisiting their back catalogue that Nuclear Blast reissued a couple of years back.
Joined on this Australian run by Sydney’s Anoxia and Melbourne’s Vexation, it’s gonna be a special night for fans old and new.
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Something not coming to Canberra yet tempts a Sydney trek is Imperial Triumphant on Saturday, 7 June, doing a show off the back of their Dark Mofo appearance.
Similarly, I was having FOMO seeing the full Necrosonic line-up announced which, in addition to the last issues update, has included Portal and Bolzer. You might also consider a quick Hume mission to Crowbar on 15 August for a special show with these notable additions.
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For fans of a more contemporary take on the heavy spectrum, three shows are coming up over the winter period, so you should start gearing up and getting your tickets sorted pronto.
June sees the Canberra leg of a regional tour from Perth’s Make Them Suffer. The band has switched things up throughout their career, evolving into what they consider the prime form of their lives with last year’s self-titled record. They land at The Baso on Saturday, 21 June, with a cracking 4-band bill that includes touring partners-in-crime Justice for the Damned, The Gloom In The Corner and Sydney’s Harroway. Tix through Oztix.
Thy Art Is Murder also takes on the regional centres of the land ahead of joining Parkway Drive on their 20th anniversary European tour later in the year.
Taking on 16 dates from Queensland down to Tassie, the show blows into town at The Baso on Saturday, 12 July, with special guests Melancolia, Hate Complex, Melting, and Annihilist.
And Northlane rounds out the metalcore triumvirate with a Sunday, 10 August date booked at The Baso.
After their ridiculously well-met EP last year, the band are out road-testing material to make up a full-length album with a studio sesh booked in after this run. Along for the trip are Ocean Grove, Mirrors, and Heists.
Of course, you could also save your bickies up for Hellbound Cruise 2026, presented by Destroy All Lines and featuring 2/3 of the above-mentioned headliners.
Departing on 26 October, the first attempt at one of these metal cruises out of Australia features “14 decks of madness” for the 3-day cruise.
The line-up is headlined by Parkway Drive with sets from Polaris, Northlane, The Butterfly Effect, Make Them Suffer, In Hearts Wake, Belle Haven, Bloom, Chez, Diamond Construct, Future Static, Ocean Sleeper, Reliqa, The Beautiful Monument, The Gloom In The Corner, To The Grave and Windwaker.
Packages range from $1500 to $3500pp for a twin share suite, with payment plans available. Kinda mental! [In THIS economy??? - EDITOR AL]
And finally, if you prefer your heavy metal more traditional, the much-seen viral meme of frontman Bobby Liebling has seemingly spurred Hardline Media to FINALLY bring out legends Pentagram to Australia in August.
The revitalised Pentagram line-up released Lightning In A Bottle at the start of the year before that meme
blew up the internet for a while and introduced a new generation to doom metal. The band hits The Baso on Wednesday, 6 August, and tickets are on sale now.
And that’s it for this month. Catch your breath while you can; plenty more to come.
BY AEGIPAN SAMARAWICKRAMA - AEGIPAN101@GMAIL.COM
Hear ye, hear ye!
Another issue, another column from your Ol’ Mate Pan (not that I was planning on going anywhere!)
We find ourselves in the second quarter of 2025 – the heaters are on, the temperatures are dropping, but as always you fine folk are bringing the heat to dance floors around the Territory –and I’m here to stoke the flames.
Haven’t we been blessed lately? Dissolve was an absolutely legendary night.
Big, beautiful crowd, an unreal rig, and killer sets from everyone on that line-up (special shout-outs to Kazuki, Lucidity, and Burley Bassweight who brought some unforgettable tunes to the tunnel).
Earlier this month, we saw Opiuo and The Sponges at Symonston, which ended with one of the best drum and bass sets I’ve raged to, thanks to the B2B dynamic duo Nurocosmic and Kaliopi.
And the day after (when some of us were still trying to duct-tape our fragile selves together), we had the first Royal Rollers at the brand spanking new Beatsuite Boutique and hooooooo BOY... that venue is shaping up to be something special. Headz are Rolling are going to be throwing down these free drum and bass parties at Beatsuite on the first Saturday of every month so make sure you mark your calendars accordingly!
While we’re on the subject of gigs, here’s a little gander at what’s on the horizon. ---
First up on the agenda, the fourth Ethereal Dimensions event will be kicking off at Beatsuite on the 25th.
Like the last few, there’ll be independent markets alongside music that runs throughout the day and into the night. Entry is free, but if you feel like donating to keep these events running, that’s also an option.
Wayout Events are taking over Shadows Nightclub (formerly Sideways) on the 30th to shine a spotlight on the talented women in the scene with All Femme Line Up.
CBR Base Babes are putting salvajoe, Suga, and Lucidity behind the decks, supported by Vinuki and Boggas. Tix start at $10, so how could you not come out for a night of givin’ and supporting the women in our community?
Looking to bring back vibes from the heydays of Canberra’s rave scene? Then you’ll want to hit up Back 2 Rave at Shadows Nightclub on Saturday, 31 May.
A night of ‘90s rave, acid house, trance, techno, UK breakbeat & more awaits! Legendary DJs Chris Fraser and Jon Wicks will be headlining, with able support by Raydar and Emagica. Tix are $25 through Humanitix.
Looking ahead to June’s end, RPG Events is hosting the first of two doofs under the name Forest Life from the 20th to the 22nd. And what better way to celebrate the Winter Solstice than 48 hours of camping, music, dancing, performance, workshops, and good grub?
In terms of music, the line-up so far includes:
- Shepz (SYD)
- Fractialias/Nazca (South Coast)
- Deejhammer
- Lucidity
- salvajoe
- Sub:Internal
- Gabba Yokka
- Forest Cult (aka Gammacell of Burley Bassweight Crew)
- Tama Yaga
- Pann
And that’s only the 1st round of announcements! There will also performances by Asteria Entertainment and Laurel Lithe to look forward.
Further to the musical talent, there will be a new stage built by the RPG crew, an art gallery, a trippy interactive exhibit, markets and clothing stalls, proper kitchen facilities, and even a heated indoor chill-out/temple area run by CBR Bass Babes.
Forest Life is a smaller, more intimate and exclusive kind of doof. Tix are strictly limited to 100-150, and the first release (including a combined ticket for the second doof in the series) are on sale now through Humanitix.
A few more words - RPG, recognising that the festival landscape has significantly changed, is adapting to the new era by hosting a doof that focuses on nurturing the community and providing a platform for local and interstate artists to perform.
If you’ve been keeping up with the news (and what I mentioned in my last column), you’ll know just how damned important a move like this is. I, for one, am incredibly appreciative of the level of innovation, initiative, and hard work being put into this event.
So if you want to be a part of that too, you better pencil Forest Life Ep1 into your calendars, get out
there, and support the artists and crews that keep our community thriving!
My release radar is looking unusually light this time around, so I’m once again putting the call out to any and all local producers to shoot me your masters before release so I can put your creations in the ears of my readers – hit me up at aegipan101@gmail.com
The only release for this column is the third Unusual States of Matter V/A from Soliq Records. If you’ve been keeping up with this unique compilation series, you’ll remember that each volume showcases diverse and distinctive sounds and styles from a handful of talented artists whose tracks are curated and compiled to create an epic, enthralling sonic journey.
I’m going to come right out and state that I believe this volume, featuring tracks from Nostavalgia, Drop Bear, Xenobaba, Severed, and KliNiK, to be the best in the series so far.
Why? Because on Volume 3, the aforementioned sonic journey tells its story in contrasts – hypnotic and energetic, light and dark, organic and synthetic. The upbeat and soulful electro on Nostavalgia’s Someday, the unnatural soundscapes on xenobaba’s Incognition, and the pulsating, darkly cinematic Profundum by Severed stand out as pivotal moments in this odyssey of duality.
And to the legends at Soliq - you keep releasing ‘em, and I’ll keep writing about ‘em!
If you read these columns regularly, you know I like to drop a recommendation for an artist or album outside of the electronic music sphere, and I’ve got a killer one for you this time.
You might have read an earlier recommendation to check out a hardcore band out of Fresno, California named Farooq – well, these cats have finally released their stellar new album The Kickout to the public and I cannot get enough of it.
The metallic edge is even sharper than it was on The Heat, the riffs and drumming are furious yet groovy and focused, and the vocals explode through each and every line of the lyrics.
The stand-out track for me is This Won’t, I Can’t, which clocks in at just over one minute but is, from start to finish, a raging anthem of stubborn persistence – believe it or not, I use that song as my alarm clock so that I’m hyped to face the day.
That’s it from me this time around!
Remember, if you’ve got gigs, festivals, new releases, or even a bit of hot gossip that you want to see in future columns, get in touch with me at aegipan101@gmail. com. I don’t bite...hard.
Brit stand-up comic, actor, author, panellist, and excoriator of personal truth, Alan Davies, has been a mainstay for so long now, it’s hard to recall a time when he wasn’t here.
Whether sleuthing his way through seemingly impossible crimes in Jonathan Creek, challenging Kelsey Grammar’s Fraiser Krane as the longest-running TV character as anchor panellist on QI, or hosting his own sit-down chat show, As Yet Untitled, Davies’ ubiquity and longevity is matched only by charm and humour.
But then, during the pandemic, Davies dropped a bombshell in the form of a new book, Just Ignore Him
To those expecting a gaggle of hilarious anecdotes and wry observations, be prepared: it is a fiercely honest and commendable examination of a secret he has held onto for decades: that of the abuse he suffered from his father.
Undergoing the early stages of my own fraught journey to sobriety and its associated hardships, it was an honour and a joy to tell Davies himself how much his book helped, and how brilliant it is both in terms of writing, and vulnerability.
“Thank you, that’s very kind. That means a lot,” Davies responds. “The next book picks up from there, somewhat, and it’s about a life and career in comedy and television.”
Indeed, we find Davies in the midst of double-promo duties, extolling the virtues of both his new book, White Male Stand-Up, and his new stabnd-up show, Think Ahead, which is coming to Canberra Theatre on 8 December.
“There are bits of anecdotes here and there, but it’s mainly about examining how you carry the past with you. It’s not behind you. It’s not a closed chapter or any of those things which I regard as nonsensical. It’s with you, and present.
“In my case, it was very secret,” Davies continues. “Building this public face whilst carrying this private secret; those two things are quite far apart.
“And it was hard, at times, to manage that. I realised I had to bring those two things closer together. And that’s what that book did.”
Davies was to discover that personal growth and selfreconciliation weren’t the only benefits from undergoing such a weighty undertaking. “I can be more open in my stand-up now,” Davies reveals. “Which, for a long time, never felt like the forum to do that.
“Stand-up can be skin deep and trivial at times,” he continues. “So now, later in my life, I’ve been more able to bring everything to the table at once, and hopefully it’s the better for it.”
Davies’ comments bring to mind a recent YouTube I watched: a compilation of Jim Carrey clips in which he is imparting various slices of wisdom gained from navigating his own identity crisis of some years back.
A line that resonated was his assessment of what depression was: your body shutting down because it can no longer
reconcile the facade you present to the world with the truth you feel inside.
I bring this up with Davies, adding that it wouldn’t have been an easy thing to undergo his own self-assessment, and enquiring about catalyst for action he experienced.
“I think that’s true to a degree,” he says of Carrey’s assessment. “I think [unearthing the past] started when I met my wife and we had children.
“Once I had a family, it became unsustainable to be erratic and moody and difficult. There needed to be more stability, understanding and cooperation.
“I had lived on my own for 15 years, y’know, and I drank a fair bit and smoked a fair bit. I had a way of shutting things off. And then you go out to the comedy clubs, and you’re a funny guy, right? And you do QI on television and you’re larking around playing the fool...”
Creating a feedback loop of validation and mirth, while wonderful, I venture, can create a bubble within which your protected from any mesaningful growth.
“Yeah, right!” Davies enthuses. “You’re building this edifice, this public persona, whilst carrying around this other stuff.
And it was the risk that it posed to my family, to my kids and their happiness [that spurred me to action]. I didn’t want the stuff that had impacted me and my childhood to be carried forward.
“I wanted, needed, to deal with it better. To manage it.”
“And so, that’s what my new book is about. How do you have this life that you want to have? I want to do comedy and acting and but how do you manage it with some of the pressures and downsides of it?
“It’s not always a boon to be recognised in public places, for example. How do you reconcile the two, and how do you keep your kids sane?
“So, yeah, it’s been a hard thing to write,” Davies concludes on the subject. “But I’m quite pleased with the outcome, and I hope people enjoy it. It’s got more light and shade, and there’s more to it than the previous book, which was going in search of a mistreated boy.”
Oh no, wait… That doesn’t conclude topic. Fuck me… he did the audiobook, didn’t he? Good grief, that must have rough.
“I had to do it,” Davies says of the task. “It’s very, very personal, obviously. And they wanted me to do it.
“The thing I remember about it is,” Davies says, a wry smile of recollection slowly spreading. “There were a couple of moments in the text where I thought, ‘Oh, no… I don’t like THAT line!’
“Or I encountered a bit of repetition that I thought I’d got in the editing. Because I wrote it in pieces and assembled it with the help of an editor, there was a lot of repetition which we edited. Seemed a couple slipped through.”
I assure Davies that, from the prospective as both a career Editor and a listener of his audiobook, his perceived worries were trivial at worst, and unnoticeable at best. This feedback sparks a thought in Davies regarding the nature of books versus stand-up.
“It’s an interesting thing,” he ponders. “When I do stand-up, with a live audience, I know if the gig’s gone well or not. It’s right in front of you. And I know if I’ve performed well, if I was tense and anxious or relaxed, whether I felt committed or if I felt I was holding back…
“With a book, it’s in a vacuum. You have to wait months before hearing feedback.
“But it has been very gratifying eventually hearing feedback, whether via social media or the old-fashioned letter writing, which I’ve discovered still exists.”
Having received precisely THREE pieces of handwritten fanmail myself, I pose that there’s a certain richness with someone taking the time to sit down and write out their thoughts by hand.
“I think that’s true,” Davies says. “It’s nice to know that someone’s taken the time, and enjoyed what you’ve done.
“And it’s good to put things on record,” Davies continues. “I look back on my first book, which I wrote 15 years ago, and I find stories and anecdotes that would have otherwise been lost, even to me.
“And it’s nice to have something my three kids can dip into later in life.”
Becoming painfully aware that the clock was ticking and there was a stand-up show still to celebrate, I ask whether Davies’ recent reconciliation had led to a renewed verve on-stage?
“I don’t know about that so much,” he considers. “I still think of the content of the books as separate from my stand-up.
“But what IS the case is I’m no longer going on stage or trying to prepare material burdened with the knowledge I’ve got some other stories and secrets that had never been told.
“The funny thing I found was,” Davies continues, “when I started to talk a little bit on stage about the contents of Ignore Him, most of the audience didn’t know I’d written it!
“It was released during the pandemic, so I didn’t go around doing book festivals because there weren’t any. And it wasn’t talked about a lot in the press. Because it’s about my father, and he was still alive at the time, I feel the newspapers were a bit nervous about that.
“Also, books sales are different. Even if it’s a book that sells 100,000 copies, and most authors would be happy with that, it’s still a country of 67 million people.
“But you can have a bit of fun with that... I can ask who’s read it, and two people will put their hand up,” Davies chuckles. “So, that presents a funny way into talking about how I used to do comedy when I was younger, and how I feel different about it now.
“In the end, when you put together a stand-up show… my way of doing it is jotting things down all the time, over months—things you think are funny, things you thought of or were said or heard—and then you try and blend them together and order them.”
This tired-and-true of creating stand-up has the same revelatory benefits as journaling.
“My preoccupations are revealed to me when the show’s completed,” he reveals. “And I think, ‘Oh, I see what I’ve been obsessed with for the last 12 months’.
“I’ve never set out to do a show about “X”, you know,” he continues. “It’s always been a bit random. I don’t want a show that’s heavily researched and structured; I want
something light and free-spirited, and I want to engage with the people in the room.
“Material generated from notes shared with an audience, talking to and hearing from the audience and engaging with them on that… that’s what stand-up is, for me.
“I think most stand-ups, and I’m one of them, will say, ‘That’s the thing that you really love’. It feels like that’s your profession, your skill. Other stuff, people can do as well. Other people can write, can act.
“But no one can do your show. It’s YOU. And it’s a time where there’s NOTHING between you and the audience; you’re looking them in the eyes.
“It’s the thing I started doing when I was 22 and can’t imagine not doing it. I’m sure that when it comes to my last gig, I won’t think it’s my last gig; it will just turn out to have been.
Alan Davies and his new show, Think Ahead, will be at Canberra Theatre on Monday, 8 December. Tickets are $81.90 + bf and are on sale now via Canberra Ticketing.
Club Sandwich
CBR’s own Chris Ryan hosts a hilarious line-up of comics in Tuggeranong! Bring your workmates, your Mum, there’s something for everyone! 7pm, $25/$20 via TicketTailor
TUGGERANONG
ARTS CENTRE
Lakeside at 5 -
Leisa Keen Trio
Grab a wine and enjoy a smooth blend of popular jazz tunes & pop tunes with a “jazz treatment,” performed by the Leisa Keen Trio. 5:30pm, entry by donation
TUGGERANONG
ARTS CENTRE
HOME Movie Night
An annual fundraiser supporting a unique not-for-profit initiative in our community. This year features the funny, poignant, and well-cast film Hunt for the Wilderpeople. 6pm, $85 via Ticketsearch
THE Q - QUEANBEYAN PERFORMING ARTS CENTRE
Lightbulb Improv
presents - Double Dare Lightbulb Improv presents a night of double dares to get the laughs at Smiths Alternative. 6:30pm, $20 via venue
SMITHS ALTERNATIVE
Pink Pony Club
Presenting Pink Pony Club: a special place where boys and girls can all be queens. With the Superficial DJs playing your favourite pop anthems all night long! 7pm, $19.90 via OzTix THE BASO
Charm Of Finches
Australian sister duo Charm of Finches delivers intricate folk-pop that is simultaneously graceful and darkly bewitching. 7:30pm, $29 + bf via venue
THE STREET THEATRE
Sneaky Jeremiah
Sneaky Jeremiah is a CBR-based good time band delivering soul, blues, R&B, popular anthems, Americana and classic rock. 8pm, free entry
OLD CANBERRA INN
The Black Owl Quartet
The Black Owl Quartet play Gypsy Jazz manouche style music, based in Canberra Australia. 8pm, free entry
DICKSON TAPHOUSE
SAT 24 MAY
Saturday SalonThe Bassoon
As part of TAC’s Saturday Salon series, Ben Hoadley charts a journey through the fascinating history of the bassoon, the deepest member of the woodwind family. 1:30pm, $38/$32 via TicketTailor
TUGGERANONG
ARTS CENTRE
HoneyClub
CBR-based blues & rock duo playing an array of covers across several genres, all lovingly peppered with their own spin. 2pm, free entry
OLD CANBERRA INN
Blamey Street Big Band
Swings ABBA
After swinging the music of The Beatles, James Bond and Disney, the daring and inventive Blamey Street Big Band are now set to present their latest instalment: a toe-tapping, twohour concert of ABBA’s hits re-imagined for jazz orchestra. 5pm, $30-$50 via Ticketsearch
THE B - QUEANBEYAN PERFORMING ARTS CENTRE
Voxneon - Fade to Grey Australia’s synth rock wizards Voxneon return to Canberra in 2025 with Fade to Grey, an electrifying new ‘80s show dedicated to their new romantic heroes Visage, Ultravox, Duran Duran, Spandau Ballet, Howard Jones, OMD, and Depeche Mode. 7pm, $39 via OzTix
THE BASO
Djaarmby Band LP Launch
- Sandstone Country
Come enjoy a night of indigenous rock with Canberra’s Djaarmby Band. With Warren (Gunggari) Saunders, Darren (Gunai Kurnai) Rix, Richard (The Church) Ploog, Rohan “Plukka” Anderson and special guest Goo Calligeros on lead guitar. 8pm, $10/$15 via venue
SMITH’S ALTERNATIVE
SUN 25 MAY
Dept of Rock All Stars
Cruisin’ Division
Cruise into Smith’s for an arvo of great times with The Shadies, Howling Moon, Transit Dolls, and Capybara Spa. 3pm, $10 one band, $20 whole show
SMITH’S ALTERNATIVE
Braydon Poacher
Braydon Poacher has an eclectic mix of covers that span over a variety of genres and he’s not afraid to use them! Playing from 4pm, free entry
OLD CANBERRA INN
Flik
CBR based singer/songwriter, Flik, combines featherlight fingerpicking with lucid and comforting vocals in a project brimming with vulnerability. 4pm, free entry
DICKSON TAPHOUSE
The Wet Whistles - Sex, Drugs & Country Music
Buckle up, country rock fans— The Wet Whistles are hitting the road and rolling into 2025 with a bang! The Sex, Drugs & Country Music Tour is bringing high-energy anthems, boot-stomping riffs, and a whole lot of whiskey-fueled mayhem. 5pm, $29.60 via OzTix
THE BASO
The Date Brothers Live Ian and Nigel Date are known for their electrifying guitar work and captivating live performances, with music drawn from the western European gypsy jazz tradition. 7pm, $40/$30 concession via venue
SMITH’S ALTERNATIVE
Lloyd Spiegel & Charlie A’Court - Keller Sessions
Come & see Australia’s Lloyd Spiegel and Canada’s Charlie A’Court for a special Keller Sessions. 7pm, $35-$45 via venue
HARMONIE GERMAN CLUB
Cody Pennington Country Show Tour
Nashville-native, Cody Pennington, brings his Country Show Tour to Australia! Cody’s live show blends his original country tunes with chart-topping country hits from artists like Luke Combs, Dolly Parton, Morgan Wallen, and many more. 7pm, $50 + bf via Moshtix
UC REFECTORY
Jen BristerReactive Tour
In a constant state of exacerbation at the state of the world and people generally, can Jen find her zen? 9pm, tickets $55 + bf via venue
THE STREET THEATRE
Legally Blonde: The Musical For four nights only, Rocky Hill MTC presents this fabulously fun, award-winning musical ft. a starstudded cast of Goulburn locals. 7pm, $45/$35, kids $25 via GPAC GOULBURN PERFORMING ARTS CENTRE
Open Mic Music Night! All genres welcome and entry is free! 7pm, $0 via OzTix
THE BASO
Comfy Gutters
Building a name for themselves around the CBR music scene over the years, the ‘Gutters pul in the punters with their captivating original story-telling. 7pm, free OLD CANBERRA INN
The Joe Cocker ExpressMad Dog VS The Englishman
See QLD eight-piece band honour one of rock, blues & soul’s greatest voices. A journey of Cocker’s career, capturing two defining eras in his life. 7:30pm, $49/$45 + bf via venue
HARMONIE GERMAN CLUB
Frames
Two-piece Canberra Based Alternative Jazz Outfit blending bass and drum loops to provide a rhythmic and energetic atmosphere. 8pm, free entry
DICKSON TAPHOUSE
Skyscraper Stan and The Commission Flats Album Launch
Skyscraper Stan and the Commission Flats launch their new album, Those Were Days 9:30pm, $35/$30 + bf via venue SMITH’S ALTERNATIVE
The Black Owl Quartet
The Black Owl Quartet play Gypsy Jazz manouche style music, based in Canberra Australia. 2pm, free OLD CANBERRA INN
Actual Life: Fred Again Appreciation Party
Join us for a huge night of No Future DJs spinning all eras of Fred + other alt EDM till late. 7pm, $22 via OzTix
THE BASO
Lior
Lior is known for his dynamic and moving performances, and has earned a reputation as one of Australia’s finest performers. 8pm, $59/$55 + bf via venue
THE STREET THEATRE
Malia Stirling
Stirling plays an Oz-folk-pop sound in the same ilk as Missy Higgins, Kate Miller-Hiedke and Joni Mitchell. 4pm, free entry
OLD CANBERRA INN
Braydon Poacher
Braydon Poacher has an eclectic mix of covers that span over a variety of genres for everybody to enjoy! 4pm, free entry DICKSON TAPHOUSE
Carvin JonesThe Ultimate Rock n Roll Blues Party of the Year
Carvin Jones, The King of Strings, was voted one of the 50 Greatest Guitarists of all time by Guitarist Magazine. 5pm, $52.05 via OzTix
THE BASO
Don’t Shoot Me, I’m Only
The Piano Player
A runaway success in London’s West End, at successive Edinburgh Festivals, at the Melbourne Comedy Festival and right across the USA, this is a hilarious send-up of classical music. 11am, $20 via Ticketsearch
THE B - QUEANBEYAN PERFORMING ARTS CENTRE
[PLAY] Scenes From The Climate Era
A remarkable, illuminating, shocking, and inspiring piece of theatre, Scenes from the Climate Era is exactly what it says – over fifty small plays that catch the exhilaration, frustration, and fascination of living in interesting times. 7:30pm, $30-$69.90 + bf via Ticketsearch
THE Q - QUEANBEYAN PERFORMING ARTS CENTRE
THU 5 JUNE
Atheist (USA) OZ Tour w/ Vexation & Anoxia
The legendary pioneers of technical death metal make their long-awaited Oz debut. 7pm, $63.25 via OzTix
THE BASO
The Bon Jovi Experience
The closest you can get to experiencing the real thing. Feel the power, passion, and high energy of the skillfully replicated Sambora/Jon Bon Jovi combo. 7pm, $35.20 via OzTix
THE BASO
Pactman
Blending genres from Soul, Hip-hop and funk, Pactman has solidified himself as one of the most entertaining DJ’s to dance to in town! 7pm, free entry
OLD CANBERRA INN
Baroque, Brazil and Beyond 7:30pm, $59/$55 + bf via venue
THE STREET THEATRE
CB Ghost
CB Ghost promises an unforgettable live experience, offering original, toe-tapping tunes deeply rooted in Australian folk-rock, with influences ranging from oceanic inspiration to inner Sydney blue-collar experiences. 8pm, free entry
DICKSON TAPHOUSE
Eden Plenty
Eden Plenty is one of Australia’s most beautiful original voices, his talent is matched only by his love of creating and sharing music. 2pm, free entry
OLD CANBERRA INN
Persian Music Night 4
A vibrant live performance of timeless Afghan & Iranian melodies reimagined with fresh arrangements. 3pm, $25 via venue
SMITH’S ALTERNATIVE
Dúo Caivano Sawyer EP Encuentros Release
Join Duo Caivano Sawyer for an unforgettable musical journey! This talented duo will take you on an enchanting exploration of the musical landscapes of Argentina; from an intimate interpretation of tango from urban Buenos Aires. 4pm, $30/20 via venue
SMITH’S ALTERNATIVE
Melberra Metal Excellence w/ Taliesin, Deep Majestic Thunder & Endless Grin
A face-melting, riff-shredding, beer-spilling, headbanging metal extravaganza that will tear a hole in the space-time continuum! 7pm, $20 via OzTix
THE BASO
Gladys: A Musical Affair
The team behind the viral Gladys COVID videos present a new musical comedy about Gladys Berejiklian, “The Woman Who Saved Australia” but couldn’t save herself. 7:30pm, $35-$40 via Ticketsearch
THE Q - QUEANBEYAN
PERFORMING ARTS CENTRE
Georgia Bennett
Georgia Bennett (AKA Gia Ransome) is a singer/songwriter who, with band in tow, evokes a great romance in an old dive bar. An experience of suave, bluesy rock. 4pm, free entry OLD CANBERRA INN
Eden Plenty
One of Oz’s most beautiful, original voices, with a talent matched only by his love of sharing music. 4pm, free entry DICKSON TAPHOUSE
Stella Anning + Michael J Brady - Between The Lines Exploring what’s left to be said while living the dual life of songwriter and jazz guitarist. 7pm, $20/$15 + bf via venue
SMITH’S ALTERNATIVE
The Blues Accelerators
Playing two sets upstairs where there is more room to swing! 7pm, $15/$10 conc/CBS member SMITH’S ALTERNATIVE
Musica Viva AustraliaNorthern Lights
Fearless Swedish-Norwegian violin virtuoso, Johan Dalene, makes his long-awaited Oz debut with eloquent pianist, Jennifer Marten-Smith. Together, they create a soundscape of romance, drama and technical brilliance. 4pm, $65 + bf via Musica Viva LLEWELLYN HALL
Comfy Gutters
The Gutters have been building a name for themselves, pulling in punters with their brand of original story-telling. 8pm, free DICKSON TAPHOUSE
Cry ClubFor Your Health Tour
Cry Club have continued growing over the years, honed via extensive touring and a constant push to do what’s most exciting. 7pm, $29.60 via OzTix
THE BASO
Johnny Reynolds Band
An international performer for the past 40 years, starting in the Dublin circuit in 1982. 8pm, free OLD CANBERRA INN
Dean Haitani
Dean draws from blues & roots music, and his love of funk and old school R&B rhythms. 2pm, free OLD CANBERRA INN
William Alexander & The Northern Shiners in Concert
Enjoy a great show from these CMAA Golden Guitar-nominated acts. 2:30pm, $20 via venue
SMITH’S ALTERNATIVE
Dickson Taphouse Battle of the Brewers - 3rd Heat
World-class beers from some of the most prestigious breweries Oz has to offer. Choose who you think deserves the title! 3pm, free DICKSON TAPHOUSE
The Jazz Haus Canberra: Steve Hunter Band
Original compositions along with a few tunes by Chick Corea and Miles Davis. 7pm, $45/$38 via TicketTailor
TUGGERANONG ARTS CENTRE
The Preatures - Blue Planet Eyes 10th Anniversary Tour
The iconic Sydney band reunite to celebrate the 10th year of groundbreaking debut LP, Blue Planet Eyes. 7pm, $59.90 via Moshtix
UC HUB
On Repeat: Hamilton
Singing Hamilton all night in a club? Yes, please! 7pm, $24.50 via OzTix
THE BASO
Assassins 88Street Magick LP Launch
The Assassins launch their highlyanticipated new album, and they’re bringing along musical chums—Sylvia and At Last—to celebrate. 7pm, $15
SHADOWS NIGHT CLUB
Australian Eagles & Money For Nothing: Dire Straits
An unmissable tribute featuring Australian Eagles Show and Money For Nothing: Dire Straits Experience. 7:30pm, $90 + bf Ticketsearch
THE B - QUEANBEYAN
PERFORMING ARTS CENTRE
Melbourne International Comedy Festival Roadshow
Now in it 27th year, the bringing together of the brightest stars from the 2025 MICF awaits. 8pm, $54.90 via Ticketsearch
THE Q - QUEANBEYAN
PERFORMING ARTS CENTRE
Canberra Reclink Community Cup Launch
The first 2025 fundraising event for CBR’s fave for-charity football match between muso’s and media. A late arvo of live indie-alt-folk music, footy trivia, team sign-ups, plus music from The Burley Griffin, James Cahill + more GANG GANG CAFE
CBS June Pro Blues Jam
The Bad Habits host CBS June Pro Blues Jam, followed by the finest musicians in the region jamming together for a fab arvvie of live music. 1pm, $15/$10, kids U12 free HARMONIE GERMAN CLUB
[Screening] Jaws
A film that redefined summer cinema and still keeps audiences on seats’ edge, celebrate the 50th anniversary of this epic. 4pm, $12 +bf Ticketsearch
THE B - QUEANBEYAN PERFORMING ARTS CENTRE
Inez Hargaden
Inez draws from folk, pop, rock, and jazz to explore the joys and tribulations of life. 4pm, free OLD CANBERRA INN
Dean Haitani
Blues & roots, funk and old school R&B rhythms. 4pm, free entry
DICKSON TAPHOUSE
New Blood - MetalCore w/ Switch Up, Wyndfall, HERALD & Arbiter
CBR and SYD join forces to showcase the best new metalcore acts in their regions, with Wyndfall celebrating their newest single, Butterflies. 7pm, $18.40 via OzTix THE BASO
DJ Jordan Harrison
Grooves from every decade of modern music. 7pm, free entry OLD CANBERRA INN
Celtic Folk
Performing contemporary trad music from the Celtic diaspora. 8pm, free entry
DICKSON TAPHOUSE
Ben Drysdale
With shades of indie folk, soul, and blues, Drysdale takes you on a journey of reflection and hope via introspective ballads and upbeat foot-stompers. 2pm, free OLD CANBERRA INN
Bringing their infectious energy to a unique blend of bluegrass-infused Oz folk. 6pm, $15/$20 via venue
SMITH’S ALTERNATIVE
[Screening + Afterparty]I Should Have Been Dead Years Ago
An essential doco on fringe dwelling muso/artist Stuart Gray, aka Stu Spasm, who helped influence ‘90s grunge and underground rock via notorious Sydney band, Lubricated Goat. With afterparty ft. Brisbane gutter rock outfit Gravel Samwidge, The King Hits, and Ape Rib. Film @ 6pm, afterparty @ 8pm, $15 via Trybooking
POT BELLY BAR
Make Them Suffer
With special guests Justice For The Damned, The Gloom In The Corner & Harroway. 7pm, $54.90 via OzTix THE BASO
Aidan JonesChopin’s Nocture
Aiden grew up playing classical piano, but failed his conservatory audition at 18. He then focused on MDMA before starting stand-up in 2011. In the pandemic, he returned to the piano and wrote this show. 7pm, $35/$30 + bf via venue
SMITH’S ALTERNATIVE
Dept of Rock All Stars Cranked Division
With Sonic Death Ray, Phoenix Bureau, Echo! and Dumpster Fires. 3pm, $10 one band, $20 all SMITH’S ALTERNATIVE
AVA
Finding the sweet spot between soul, jazz, and pop, blending vocal harmonies, hip-hop beats, and braintingling chords. 4pm, free OLD CANBERRA INN
Rimi Tomy Live Concert
The prominent Indian playback singer has captivated audiences with her versatility in both trad and contemp styles! 6pm, $50-$100 + bf via Ticketsearch
THE B - QUEANBEYAN PERFORMING ARTS CENTRE
Promise and PromiscuityA New Musical by Jane Austen and Penny Ashton
In this hilarious, one-(freakishly talented)-woman show, Penny takes on all Austen’s characters with song, dance, and bad cross-stitching. 7:30pm, $45 + bf via venue THE STREET THEATRE
