Issuu

JANUARY

Winner, 2019 NT Media Awards, Best Magazine or Lift Out A CULTURAL CONNECTION Expressions of interest for 2020 DAAF now open

'TIS THE SEASON! Festive fun for the whole family

SWEETHEARTS IS BACK Iconic piano bar revived for New Year's Eve

Yo u r fre e what ’s o n g u i d e TO TH E TO P E N D

MUSIC

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PERFORMING ARTS

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VISUAL ARTS

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BOOKS & FILM

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FOOD & DRINK

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COMMUNITY

DECEMBER

20 19

O FORTUNA! A Celebration of the Voice SAT 7 DEC 2019, 7:30 PM

Prelude talk 6:40pm

DARWIN CONVENTION CENTRE Witness star tenor Kang Wang as he brings his favourite arias to life. A special collaboration with Darwin Chorale, True Colours Chorus, and local singers, Orff’s spectacular and fiery Carmina Burana will delight audiences in this triumphant evening.

DSO.ORG.AU/BUY-TICKETS | 08 8980 3333

Presenting Partner

TAKSU THE ART OF BALI

Recent Gifts to CDU Art Collection

24 OCTOBER 2019 – 7 MARCH 2020 CDU Art Collection and Art Gallery Buildng Orange 12, Casuarina Campus www.cdu.edu.au/artgallery Opening Hours Wed to Fri 10 am – 4 pm, Sat 10 am – 2pm

Balinese Mask – Rangda, 20th century, 48 cm h x 31 cm w, wood, pigment, CDU3224. Donated through the Australian Government’s Cultural Gifts Program by Michael Abbott AO QC, in 2018.

INSIDE

OFFTHELEASH.NET.AU E: editor@offtheleash.net.au T: 08 8941 7413 offtheleashmag

elcome to the final edition of Off The Leash for the year! 2019 has been a big one at OTL headquarters, but I’ll get to that soon.

F R OM T H E

The DAAFF team is calling out for Indigenous artists and designers to get involved, with expressions of interest for the 2020 program now open. Check out the main feature to find out more. It’s the most wonderful time of the year! And I fully stand by that statement as a total Christmas tragic. Soak up those festive feels with a bunch of great things to do this silly season. If you’re keen for a break from the kitchen this Christmas, Hilton Hotels have a fiesta – even a siesta – that you can take advantage of. On the subject of the silly season, to celebrate a new trip around the sun, there’s a host of events to help you celebrate. Mindil Beach Casino Resort is bringing back a golden oldie this New Year’s Eve – does ‘Sweethearts’ mean anything to you? If it does, you’re in for a treat. Find out more in Music.

#OTLmag

GPO BOX 2325, Darwin NT 0801

The Museum and Art Gallery of the Northern Territory (MAGNT) has opened the doors to Sidney Nolan’s Ned Kelly series, on tour from the National Gallery of Australia. The MAGNT team also plans to crack a pretty unique Aussie record – hint: Ned Kelly. Find out more in Art & About.

r o t i d E

Since 2007, the Darwin Aboriginal Art Fair Foundation (DAAFF) has championed Indigenous art, art centres and, most importantly, artists with its annual three-day fair in Darwin. Fast-forward 12 years, and Indigenous fashion is also at the forefront of the annual program. In exciting news, 2020 will see the very first National Indigenous Fashion Awards.

@OTLmag

And we’ve brought back the In The Pipeline section! We feel it’s not only our duty to let you know about events happening now, but to also give you plenty of notice for events coming up. Check it out to find out about the 2020 Wide Open Space Festival, back fresh and rejuvenated after a year off.

Earlier, I mentioned 2019 has been a biggie for OTL… I was stoked to return to the team in April and have absolutely loved being back. This edition, we officially farewell our champ journo Tamara, who has skipped the country to live in Europe. We wish Tamara all the very best and welcome her updates – even if they make us a little envious! To end the year on a high, we were honoured to take out the 2019 NT Media Award for Best Magazine or Lift Out. As a little not-for-profit org, this award means a lot to us. We feel incredibly lucky to be able to showcase the Top End each month. There are so many wonderful things to experience and celebrate here, and we’re proud to play a role in sharing them.

OPERATION OUCH | 7

Butterfingers | 21

On behalf of the OTL team and our board, I’d like to wish you all a very Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year. Catch you in 2020!

Our friends at Tracks Dance look back on the wonderful year that was and, for the first time, the NT’s performing arts sector is acknowledged at the inaugural Performing Arts Awards.

O FORTUNA! | 22 OTL is proudly supported by

Tierney White Managing Editor and Development Manager

Tamara Howie Journalist

Sarah Novinetz Graphic Designer

Off The Leash Inc. acknowledges the Australian Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples as the Traditional Custodians of the lands on which we live, learn and work. We pay our respects to their Elders past, present and emerging.

Distributed to remote Indigenous communities with the assistance of

#o tlmag Use our hashtag for a chance to see your pics here

@musicnt

2019 NT Media Awards Pennyrose Wiggins' exhibition opening at Outstation

Cheers!

Darwin does Darawank

Cover proudly sponsored by Darwin Aboriginal Art Fair Foundation.

@tamara_howie working on #otlmag from afar! Tropical wedding cake by @c_bella_m

Gracie Kumbi, 'Yams', Screen printed 2019, Screen print on linen, 2mx1.37m, Merrepen Arts

Tactile Arts opening of Feast

WINNER 2019 NT MEDIA AWARDS Best Magazine or Lift Out

@darwinfestival

Happy Birthday Sarah!

Although all care taken to ensure information in Off in The is correct, it is subject to change. We recommend checking offtheleash.net.au for updates. Although alliscare is taken to ensure information OffLeash The Leash is correct, it is subject to change. We recommend checking offtheleash.net.au for updates.

December 2019 | January 2020

FEATURE Left: 2019 From Country to Couture, Julie Shaw, MAARA Collective x Bula'bula Aboriginal Arts Corporation, MAARA Collection. Photo: Dylan Buckee. Right from top: 2019 From Country to Couture, Aly De Groot x Anindilyakwa Arts, Bush Dye Collection. Photo: Kate Noble Photography. 2019 Darwin Aboriginal Art Fair, Arpaka Dancers from Thursday Island. Photo: Dylan Buckee. 2019 Darwin Aboriginal Art Fair, Children's Workshop with Anindilyakwa Arts. Photo: Dylan Buckee. Background: Dino Wilson, 'Murranga (bush potato)', hand screen printed fabric, 2m, Jilamara Arts and Crafts

The Darwin Aboriginal Art Fair Foundation is gearing up for a massive year in 2020, with the ever-popular Darwin Aboriginal Art Fair, the fourth instalment of the From Country to Couture fashion shows, and, for the first time, the National Indigenous Fashion Awards. The DAAFF team is calling out for Indigenous artists and designers to get involved, with expressions of interest for 2020 now open!

Connection

By Tierney White ince 2007, the Darwin Aboriginal Art Fair Foundation (DAAFF) has showcased Australia’s Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander culture and artistic diversity through the Darwin Aboriginal Art Fair (DAAF). These days, the national not-for-profit organisation is owned and directed by a membership of 70 Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander art centres, who collectively represent more than 10,000 artists across the country.

A Cultural

The popularity of DAAF and the fashion shows consistently gains momentum year after year, attracting interest from national and international visitors, art collectors, media and fashion designers. 2019 saw one of the most exciting collaborations in the Australian fashion world with the Mangkaja x Gorman Collection. It’s no surprise, then, that this interest has culminated with the introduction of the inaugural National Indigenous Fashion Awards.

including textile and fashion designing, manufacturing, marketing and retailing. “We need to know that our First Nations creatives are the drivers of these vibrant collections, and the future of Indigenous fashion.” Expressions of interest are also invited for the 2020 DAAF Public Program. 2019 attracted over 17,000 visitors to the three-day art fair, providing the opportunity to soak up our country’s incredible Indigenous culture through artist workshops, food workshops, artist talks and cultural dance performances. Local Indigenous artist, musician and emerging curator Shilo McNamee is DAAFF’s Public Program Coordinator, and says the DAAF Public Program is continually evolving.

DAAFF Research & Development Officer Nina Fitzgerald says the awards further cement Darwin’s position on the national map for celebrating and acknowledging Indigenous culture and creativity.

“This year, we changed the format a little. We moved from casual drop-in sessions to artist masterclasses, where participant numbers were capped,” she says.

“Darwin is now home to the ‘trilogy’ of Australian Indigenous arts awards including the National Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Art Awards, National Indigenous Music Awards, and the National Indigenous Fashion Awards,” she says.

“As an artist, I really look forward to learning about different methods and practices, and hearing from artists who have travelled from some of the most remote regions of Australia. This space is about cultural immersion – we want participants to feel comfortable to watch and ask questions.”

“We are very proud to have the opportunity to present the inaugural National Indigenous Fashion Awards – fashion and textiles are an important contemporary platform for artists and designers to express their historical and sacred stories. The awards will cement the Northern Territory as the beating heart of Indigenous fashion.”

And according to McNamee, when it comes to the DAAF Public Program, variety is the spice of life.

Expressions of interest are now open for artists and designers to be considered for the 2020 fashion shows, and nominations for the fashion awards will open in March 2020. But there’s one key criterion organisers are looking out for in all submissions. “The most important application criteria for From Country to Couture and the National Indigenous Fashion Awards is the focus on Indigenous agency,” Fitzgerald says. “The Indigenous fashion movement is incredibly exciting and is growing at a rapid pace. We are therefore very conscious of prioritising and featuring collections that Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander artists and fashion designers have directed at each and every part of the production process,

“I really love the diversity of our program – there is definitely something for everyone to enjoy. For the public program EOIs, we are looking for solo performers in our lunchtime concert series, presenters for workshops and cultural learning, and cultural storytellers and artists for our children’s education and workshop space,” she says. “We are also working with local Aboriginal artist Darlene Devery to develop our children’s interactive education space into something really engaging and exciting. I can’t wait to see the full program come together!” Expressions of interest for From Country to Couture and the DAAF Public Program are open now, and nominations for the inaugural fashion awards will open in March 2020.

INFO

daaf.com.au

AROUND TOWN

Festive Fun City of Darwin Carols by Candlelight

WHEN AT COST INFO

Christmas at Darwin Waterfront

ROUND UP THE LITTLE ONES and head along to the Darwin Waterfront, where a magical Christmas Wonderland awaits. Every night of December, the parklands are lit up – quite literally – like a Christmas tree. Marvel at the gingerbread man’s house, giant pine trees, giant bauble and, of course, Santa’s sleigh. Santa also makes a special appearance every Saturday. Snap a photo with the jolly man in red and collect a sweet Christmas treat!

Waterfront Christmas Wonderland WHEN AT COST INFO

UNTIL TUE 31 DEC | 7-10PM DARWIN WATERFRONT FREE waterfront.nt.gov.au

Santa Visits the Waterfront WHEN AT COST INFO

SAT 7, 14 & 21 DEC | 7-9PM DARWIN WATERFRONT FREE waterfront.nt.gov.au

Christmas Carols by the Sea What’s hotter than Christmas in Darwin? Not much! So soothe your soul and cool off with some Christmas carols at Nightcliff Pool and the Darwin City Brass Band.

It’s time to gather the kids and head to carols for a night of festive cheer. Light a candle and sing along for the 44th annual Carols by Candlelight. Pack a picnic and get set to belt out a festive tune or two. WHEN SUN 1 DEC | 4.30PM AT GEORGE BROWN BOTANIC GARDENS COST GOLD COIN DONATION INFO facebook.com/ carolsbycandlelightdarwin

Tennant Creek Christmas Tree This free community event has everything to keep the little ones entertained – face painting, a jumping castle and, of course, a visit from Santa. All little ones under 10 receive a special gift from the big man himself. WHEN SAT 7 DEC | 5-8PM AT PURKISS RESERVE COST FREE INFO facebook.com/ tennant-creek-childrens christmas- tree

Top End Collective Christmas Market Support local this Christmas with small businesses and community groups sharing their Christmas goodies at this special festive market. There’s plenty to choose from for the whole family. WHEN SUN 8 DEC AT JAPE HOMEMAKER VILLAGE COST FREE INFO facebook.com/ top-end-collective

SUN 22 DEC | 6PM NIGHTCLIFF POOL FREE darwin.nt.gov.au

Light Up Christmas Are you on the hunt for Christmas lights? Join the festive fun at this winter wonderland experience with snow, nativity scene, petting zoo plus Santa’s workshop. WHEN SUN 22 – TUE 24 DEC | 7PM AT C3 CHURCH DARWIN COST FREE INFO facebook.com/ light-up-christmas-darwin

Night Before Christmas Charity Pub Crawl If you find yourself in Darwin without friends or family this Chrissy, enjoy the company of some new pals on this festive pub crawl through six of D-Town’s finest establishments. Funds raised go towards furry friends at PAWS Darwin – that’s what we call Christmas with a cause! WHEN TUE 24 DEC | 4-10PM AT VARIOUS LOCATIONS COST $60 INFO facebook.com/ darwinpubcrawls

Christmas Day Dining Indulge this Christmas and celebrate at Mindil Beach Casino Resort’s restaurants, with a variety of dining offers to choose from. All children 12 and under will receive a special gift from Santa! WHEN WED 25 DEC | 6AM-10PM AT MINDIL BEACH CASINO RESORT COST $20-$180 INFO mindilbeachcasinoresort. com.au

NEW YEAR’S EVE New Year’s Eve at Darwin Waterfront A soirée of free family friendly festivities kick off 2020 with a bang! Hosted by Amy Hetherington, the line-up includes a concert by Aussie icon Daryl Braithwaite, an Australian Pink Tribute Show, the Nickelodeon SpongeBob SquarePants Bikini Bottom Beach Party, roving entertainment, food stalls and two fireworks extravaganzas – one at 9pm for the little ones and one at midnight. Boom! WHEN AT COST INFO

TUE 31 DEC | 4PM DARWIN WATERFRONT FREE waterfront.nt.gov.au

Fiesta & Rock Start your night – and year – right with a Mexican fiesta dinner. Finish it off by dancing the night away to the tunes of Dr Elephant. WHEN AT COST INFO

TUE 31 DEC | 7PM THE CAV $20 AFTER 10PM facebook.com/thecavdarwin

New Year’s Eve with DJ KC DJ KC Bishop is back to rock The Memo and ring in the New Year. WHEN AT COST INFO

TUE 31 DEC | 8PM TENNANT CREEK MEMORIAL CLUB FREE facebook.com/djkcbishop

LISTINGS

COST INFO

Garden Gatherings Calling all budding green thumbs! Head along to Lakeside Drive Community Garden to grow food and skills with other gardening enthusiasts. The helpful Community Garden team will be there to answer your gardening questions. WHEN AT COST INFO

SUN 1 DEC | 9-11AM LAKESIDE DRIVE COMMUNITY GARDEN FREE ldcg.cdu.edu.au

Too Much Stuff Flea Market Have you got too much stuff? Or, do you need stuff? Head along to Too Much Stuff Recycling Upcycling Flea Market to sell or pick up some goodies. WHEN SUN 1 DEC | 9AM-12PM AT ALAWA HALL COST FREE

Darwin Kind #2 Be part of this social crowdfunding evening, where locals pitch their unique ideas to better the Darwin community. WHEN AT COST INFO

THU 5 DEC | 6PM LUCKY BAT FREE facebook.com/darwiniskind

Palmerston Arts Gathering You're invited to get inspired, collaborate and create with other local artists at these creative art gatherings. WHEN AT COST INFO

SAT 7 DEC & SAT 4 JAN 10AM-1PM PALMERSTON RECREATION CENTRE FREE palmerston.nt.gov.au

Rails Market Day Find yourself some treasures at the Rail’s market, with stalls full of new and used arts and craft. Got some stuff to sell? Sign up and sell your treasures. WHEN AT COST INFO

SUN 8 DEC | 2-5PM DARWIN RAILWAY CLUB FREE | $20 STALL HOLDERS facebook.com/ darwinrailwayclub

Drag Queen Bingo Calling all Bingo lovers! Grab your dabbers and party stilettos for the campest night out in Darwin. With fabulous special guests each week, join Darwin’s favourite Diva Miss Ellaneous and friends for a hilarious night out!

WHEN AT

TUE 3, 10 & 17 DEC | 7PM CAVENAGH HOTEL

WHEN AT

THU 5, 12 & 19 DEC | 7PM GOOD TIMES BAR AND GRILL

$10 partypassport.com.au

Community Dinner You’re invited to embrace the flavours of our wonderfully diverse multicultural community in the Top End at the third Palmerston Multicultural Community Dinner. Attendees are encouraged to bring a plate of food to share if they can. Head along to make new friends and experience food, music and games from around the world. WHEN AT COST INFO

THU 12 DEC | 6-8PM PALMERSTON RECREATION CENTRE FREE | BRING A PLATE TO SHARE palmerston.nt.gov.au

Summer Dance Program The National Institute of Performing Arts (NIPA) is giving Top Enders the chance to kick-start their dance in 2020. WHEN AT COST INFO

WED 22 & THU 23 JAN 9AM-6PM DARWIN CREATIVE DANCE INDUSTRIES $400 darwincreativedance.com.au

Your Beautiful Book with Natalie Sprite Spend a weekend diving deep to create work that matters. You will be supported in finding your themes, your voice and the spine of the story. You’ll also pick up some practical tools on where to start and how to finish. WHEN AT COST INFO

SAT 11 JAN | 10AM-3PM DARWIN SAILING CLUB $100 | $60 MEMB ntwriters.com.au

Tennis World Darwin Holiday Program Let your kids join in the fun these school holidays with a hit of tennis at Tennis World Darwin’s 2020 School Holiday Program. WHEN AT COST INFO

WED 22 – FRI 24 JAN | 9AM-3PM TENNIS WORLD DARWIN$55 FULL DAY | $40 HALF DAY facebook.com/ tennisworlddarwin

Bruce Munro: Tropical Light Darwin illuminates with a 2.5km outdoor exhibition featuring eight sculptures by world-renowned artist, Bruce Munro. This free exhibition is connected by a self-guided path throughout the city, with contributions by local artists across various mediums. WHEN AT COST INFO

DAILY | 7-10.30PM DARWIN CBD FREE tropicallight.com.au

Tropical Antics Aboriginal Bush Traders (ABT) has installed a dazzling display of vibrant glowing green ants on their front lawn. Inspired by Tropical Light, ABT reached out to Ironbark Aboriginal Corporation’s talented Holtze Team to commission a large green ant that could glow at night.

The end result, several ants created by artists Daleighla Brock and Ben Worthington. Head along and see for yourself! WHEN AT COST INFO

DAILY | 6.30PM-6.30AM ABORIGINAL BUSH TRADERS FREE aboriginalbushtraders.com

Australian Air Races Exhibition This exhibition captures all the excitement – and risk – of the early flying machines that touched down in Darwin a century ago. Learn about Darwin’s place in Australia’s history of flying. WHEN AT COST INFO

Code Club

WHEN

WHEN SAT 7 & 14 DEC | 10AM-1PM COST FREE

AT COST

LET’S DANCE Movement Medicine Take the dive into the magnificence of the moving body and unleash your innate creativity with great music and great company, in a space where the freedom to be is welcomed and encouraged.

SUN 22 & 29 DEC, EVERY SUN IN JAN | 10-11.30AM NIGHTCLIFF COMMUNITY CENTRE $15 | $10 CONC

Argentine Tango Practica Practice the skills and techniques at this casual, collaborative practice session, and improve your Argentine tango dancing moves! WHEN AT COST INFO

SUN 8 DEC | 4.30-6.30PM STUDIO 13, COCONUT GROVE $5 facebook.com/ groups/northerntango

EVERY TUE-FRI | 9AM-4PM NORTHERN TERRITORY ARCHIVES CENTRE FREE naa.gov.au

Singo! Everyone loves to sing along to their favourite tunes, and who doesn’t love a bit of Bingo? Singo combines the best of both, for high-energy night of fun. WHEN AT COST INFO

EVERY WED UNTIL 15 JAN 8PM NIGHTCLIFF SPORTS CLUB FREE facebook.com/ nightcliffsportsclub

Tropical Nights at Crocosaurus Cove Enjoy face painting and entertainment by The Burning Circus, along with a big croc show inspired by the tropical season, and special reptile handling. WHEN AT COST INFO

EVERY WED & FRI | 5-6.30PM CROCOSAURUS COVE $36 | $23 CHILD | FREE U4 AND LOCAL PASS HOLDERS croccove.com

DARWIN WATERFRONT waterfront.nt.gov.au

2019

4 JAN

7 dec

1 FEB

2020

www.palmerston.nt.gov.au | (08) 8935 9926

TacTileARTS

contemporary craft studios and gallery

Aqua Fitness It’s the coolest way to burn calories. That’s right, in the pool. Dive into the Wave Lagoon for some pool-based aerobics. Cost includes all-day entry.

ceramics Exhibitions Workshops textiles mixed media Studio Space mosaics lino printing Craft Fairs silver jewellery pottery Retail

WHEN EVERY SUN | 8.30-9.15AM COST $12 | $8 KIDS U15

Tactile Arts is at 19 Conacher Street, Fannie Bay, at the top of the hill from the carpark of the Museum and Art Gallery of the Northern Territory

January School Holiday Fun Keep the kids entertained with these fun and free activities, every weekday in January. WHEN MON 6 – FRI 24 JAN 10AM-12PM COST FREE

PALMERSTON LIBRARY palmerston.nt.gov.au/library

Storytime WHEN TUE 3 & 10, THU 5 & 12 DEC 10-10.45AM COST FREE

Gadgets and Games WHEN TUE 3 & 10 DEC | 3.30-4.30PM COST FREE

the Tactile Arts shop is located within NT Parliament House

www.tactilearts.org.au admin@tactilearts.org.au

phone (08) 8981 6616

glass

PERFORMING ARTS

COMICS'

CORNER SHOWCASING TOP END COMICS AND LOCAL STAND-UP PERFORMERS

OPERATION OUCH RITISH IDENTICAL TWINS Dr Chris and Dr Xand van Tulleken, are descending on the Top End with their live stage show for kids, Operation Ouch, jam-packed with crazy experiments, amazing facts and all the gross things the little ones love. Dr Xand dropped us a line from London to tell us all about their Down Under adventure. Operation Ouch sounds interesting… What’s in store for young Top End fans? We’ve built this show with a backbone running through about the way your body and brain speak to each other when you experience strong emotions. Kids get upset or excited in a more extreme way, and it can be quite frightening or difficult to deal with.

IF THE BUILD-UP has got you dreaming of a winter escape, why not have A Celtic Christmas with A Taste of Ireland? This traditional Irish dance show brings all the festive cheer of an Irish Christmas to the Top End stage. Featuring ballads and tunes from across the Irish counties and provinces, this performance fuses contemporary and heartfelt airs to tell the nation’s tale. World Champion dancer and choreographer Ceili Moore says the show’s sure to get those toes tapping. “You know what Christmas time is

Throughout the show, we’ve got lots of experiments – we have various cameras to look in different bits of my head. We even have a diarrhoea machine, which is a very fun look at how the human gut works. For anyone worried, no one is going to get wet in the front row! Ew! How much do the little ones love the gross stuff? In every show, we ask whether we should make the show more disgusting or less disgusting… In 10 years, I’ve met about five kids who want it less disgusting. Are there lots of little doctors in the making at your shows? When we started, we thought it was for kids who were interested in the body and science and human health, but so many families watch it because their kids – or the grown-ups in their lives – are in hospital

or going through something. We hear from doctors and nurses in Australia and the UK who say that kids and grown-ups are better at being patients, too, and they’re more relaxed – that was the surprise for us making the show. What’s your favourite fact about the human body? There are so many weird things! We were filming an episode of Ouch at an IVF clinic and were talking about how the cells when you’re made stay the same temperature for your entire life – 37degrees. The coldest day I’ve had is minus 40 degrees and the hottest is 40 degrees, and during that time, those cells stay the same temperature – that’s amazing to me! WHEN AT COST INFO

SUN 26 JAN | 1 & 4PM DARWIN ENTERTAINMENT CENTRE $49.90 yourcentre.com.au

A Celtic Christmas like – it’s festive and happy and fun, and we celebrate all the traditional Irish things about Christmas and have a lot of fun along the way. Everyone will laugh and cry, and everything in between. It’s a real rollercoaster and your toes won’t stop tapping,” she says.

“We came to Darwin a couple of years ago and held a workshop for local dancers. My mum owns a dance studio in Sydney, and about six months ago a girl from Darwin arrived who wanted to do Irish Dancing. We hope to have that same impact again!”

Moore has been dancing since she was three-years-old and has travelled all over the world spreading Irish cheer, even inspiring a new generation of dancers.

You’re in for a good night. To be sure, to be sure.

A Celtic Christmas “I think Irish dancing is a very unique sport or artform. Not many sports require you to be as athletic as an Olympic athlete and as pretty as a ballerina,” she says.

WHEN AT COST INFO

SAT 7 DEC | 7.30PM DARWIN ENTERTAINMENT CENTRE $49.90-$69.90 yourcentre.com.au

A YEAR IN REVIEW

With the arrival of December comes the slow, sweaty glide of the buildup, bringing with it time to reflect on the comic year that was. 2019 saw the emergence of some incredible talent. In fact, I can’t recall a year since 2014 that has seen the emergence of so many local comedy dynamos. Richard Snr Fejo led the way with his first-class raconteur, full of warmth and delightful cheekiness. His version of 'Gangsta’s Paradise' with the changed lyrics “rice and bully beef” was gold, and is still sung by one particular commuter in the car to work each day… Micah Kickett also arrived on the scene, courtesy of his win in Deadly Funny NT. A quintuple threat who can sing, rap, act, do voices and write some of the sharpest material in town, Kickett’s another dynamo you need to keep an eye on. He’s sure to go far and has the gift of holding his audience in the palm of his hand, as he leads you on some of the most beautiful comic tales. Arun Alexander is another newcomer, winning the 2019 Raw Comedy final in his first ever gig. This 17-year-old puts this verymuch-older columnist to shame with his comedic chops. He’s a great joke writer, comfortable in front of crowds, and delivers some of the funniest character-driven comedy since Celia Pacquola came onto the scene. After being singled out and picked on, responding with some timely heckles during Nazeem Hussein’s Darwin Festival show, Basic Idiot, Alexander was invited to open for Hussein on the second night. Watch out for him once he finishes his year 12 exams… Another delightful surprise was the comic arrival of the energetic Leah Potter, who single-handedly pushed comedy into new territory with her

sell out Fringe show, Recollections from the Dungeon. Leah fearlessly tacked politicians and their tackle in Politics in Bars, the Darwin dating scene in All the Single Ladies with Hanada Ghazala and Gabby Wolfe, and Girls Gone Wild with Jodi Watson. After the success of Rage Against the Washing Machine, Nicole Stevens triumphantly delivered an immaculate display of deadly and dry one-liners, and incisive musical satire in her 2019 show Not as Crap as Last Year. And let’s not forget the virtuoso observational comedy of Amy Hetherington in her 2019 triumph, Where They Hide the Crazy, which sold out in Darwin, won the prestigious Adelaide Fringe Weekly Comedy prize, and went on to sell out at the Melbourne International Comedy Festival. Darwin is truly rediscovering its halcyon days of stand up. Get amongst the joy of local comedy because we are blessed with a ridiculous bounty of comic talent in this little creative comedy cradle that is the Top End. For excellent local stand up comedy check out the listings on page 9.

Will Crawford is an up-andcrawling comic. He moonlights as a land rights lawyer and policy activist.

2019

Year Aon Track

Our friends at Tracks Dance look back on the wonderful year that was. Is one of your New Years' resolutions to move more? #getinvolved and join the dance in 2020! Europe Research, Photo: Christiane Fennell

Global Positioning, Photo: Duane Preston

Global Positioning Photo: Duane Preston

INFO

tracksdance.com.au

Choreographic Program, Photo: Duane Preston

Make a Dance in a Week Photo: Duane Preston

En Masse, Photo: Duane Preston

Global Positioning, Photo: Duane Preston

Lajamanu Week, Photo: Jessica Devereux

Choreographic Program, Photo: Duane Preston

National Dance Forum 2019, Photo: Charlie Bliss Dead Singers Dance Society, Photo: Duane Preston

Grey Panthers Green Room Performance, Photo: Helen Orr

Global Positioning, Photo: Duane Preston Costume Exhibition Photo: Duane Preston

Studio Warming, Photo: Duane Preston

Make a Dance in a Week Photo: Duane Preston

Global Positioning, Photo: Duane: Preston

LISTINGS

Performing Arts Awards The Northern Territory is bursting with talent, both on stage and behind the scenes. For the first time, those dedicated to the Territory’s performing arts sector will get the recognition they deserve at the inaugural NT Performing Arts Awards. Nominations are open until December 2 for performers, people working behind the scenes, outstanding collaborations, and artists inspiring the next generation. The winners will be announced at a small ceremony on December 13.

Identifying a gap in the NT’s performing arts sector, the awards are an initiative of the W3 alliance comprised of Brown’s Mart Arts, Corrugated Iron Youth Arts and Tracks Dance Company.

the contribution of those in the performing arts.

Winners in each category receive $200 cash, a season’s worth of double-passes to the three organisations for 2020, and a workshop pass for Corrugated Iron.

“Artists and arts workers work well above and beyond the wage that they take home. They help create the wonderful lifestyle that we love here in the Territory and they are courageous in choosing to work in an industry that can be a financial struggle. I think acknowledgment of their achievements is way overdue.”

Brown’s Mart Theatre Executive Director Sean Pardy says it’s great to be able to formally recognise

WHEN NOMINATIONS CLOSE MON 2 DEC | AWARDS NIGHT FRI 13 DEC INFO brownsmart.com.au

The Sickle of Life Russian immigrant Sveta has travelled from rural Russia in search of her one true love – but it's easier said than done... Head along and enjoy this one-woman show with a few surprises.

be donated to the RSPCA Darwin’s Guardian Angel Appeal. WHEN AT COST INFO

SAT 21 DEC | 6.30-9.30PM DARWIN RAILWAY CLUB $40-$80 dragterritory.com

First Thursday Comedy

WHEN FRI 6 DEC | 7.30PM AT THE VENUE AT FANNIE BAY COST $25 INFO facebook.com/ sveta-does-cabaret

The Queens of Christmas Cabaret Drag Territory’s annual Drag Christmas is back with an all-new show and special guests. Head along to join the fun at the campest Christmas party this side of the North Pole. $10 from each ticket will

WHEN AT COST INFO

THU 5 DEC | 7.30PM HAPPY YESS AT BROWN’S MART THEATRE $10 topendcomedy.com

Canned Comedy Darwin WHEN AT COST INFO

THU 12 DEC | 7PM DECK BAR CAN OF FOOD topendcomedy.com

PAUL HERON 0421 060 838 EXPERIENCED AND TRUSTED PROPERTY ADVICE

Drop past the gallery to see Paul’s new release artworks as part of his next exhibition ‘The Bight.’ ‘The Paddock’

Shop 6/27 The Mall Darwin, NT 0800 O P E N 6 D AYS A W E E K

LISTINGS

Thu

Fri See Viaual Arts 18

Sat

6 Aqua Fitness 6 Movement Medicine 16 Anthropocene : The Human Epoch

Sun See Books & Film 16

Who are your favourite authors? I’ve read heaps of books by lots of different authors. I’d say some of my favourite authors are James Dashner (Maze Runner), Trent Dalton (Boy Swallows Universe), Jonathan Stroud (Bartimaeus), Barry Jonsberg (The Whole Business with Kiffo and The Pitbull) and Phillip Pullman (His Dark Materials and The Book of Dust).

Mon

Do you hope to be a professional writer one day? Becoming a professional writer in the future is definitely a possibility. I like writing and I suppose I’d like to have it as a job one day.

Tue

What was the moment like when they read out your name as the winner? I was surprised when my name

I wasn’t really expecting to win all three. I knew there was a $500 prize for the overall winner, but the main reason I entered my story in the awards was to have some fun and have a go.

Mon

6 January School Holiday Fun 6 Australian Air Race Exhibition 22 Darwin City Brass Band Rehearsals 22 Jam Night

What is Nathaniel about? Nathaniel is a fictional eightyear-old boy who lives on a small, remote bush property. My story is a snapshot in time of his life as he asks the people around him about life and the meaning of it, and tries to understand the bush and what might be beyond.

was called out as the winner of the 9-12 category, and was surprised again when I suddenly found myself standing on the stage with the Palmerston Regional award, and it felt amazing when I won the whole thing.

6 January School Holiday Fun

See Books & Film 16

Congratulations! First of all, how did you get in to writing? Writing has always been a hobby of mine. I’ve written a few things here and there over the last few years, but this is the first time I’ve entered anything in the awards.

16 Yuli

Sun

12-year-old Jethro Pollock took out three gongs – including the overall winner – with his book, Nathanial. We asked the young writer a few questions.

East Arhnem - djutjutj (chu-chut) West Arhnem - bobo (bor-bor) Tiwi - nimpangi (nim-pang-ee) Daly-Wagait - ma-mak (mah-muck) Dessert - jakuru (jah-ku-ru)

18 #NedinDarwin Challenge

See Around Town 6

Sat

Emily Tyaemaen Ford is a Rak Mak Mak Marranunggu woman from Kurrindju, who speaks two languages Rak Mak Mak Marranunggu and Rak Marrithiyel. She is on the City of Darwin Youth Advisory Committee and works in Indigenous research at Northern Institute.

Fri

If you’d like to learn more about these languages, you can find heaps of resources in many Indigenous languages online. I even found some books at The Bookshop the other day!

THU 23 JAN | 8.30AM-4.30PM CASUARINA LIBRARY FREE | AGES 15-25 launchdarwin.com.au

Young Territory Author Awards Creative minds were out in force at the 2019 Young Territory Author Awards, with hundreds of entries submitted to the annual writing competition.

Goodbye! These are general and well-known terms for goodbye in the region. Each language or dialect may have its own word for goodbye, and you can always ask a speaker if you aren’t sure.

Thu

“Someone said ‘hey, do you want to do drama in community health’, and I said ‘Yes!’”

All Indigenous Australian languages come from a place of family and strength. Our languages are from our ancestors, and are gifts from them to us. Many articulate the culture, land, relationships and people in a way that no other language would quite be able to.

“I can’t reveal too much but I’m looking at how drama and film can be employed in the community health sector,” she says.

16 A Boy Called Sailboat

So, as this year and decade draws to a close, I hope that you keep on thinking about the Indigenous languages of our country.

AROUND TOWn Books & fILM Performing Arts YOUTH Visual Arts Food & Drink Music FESTIVALS

offtheleash.net.au

Hello dear OTL readers! We are at the end of the United Nation’s International Year of Indigenous Languages. What a glorious year it has been – or if you’re reading this in January, what a glorious year it was. I’d like to once again thank all the people who have shared their beautiful languages and their stories with us throughout the course of 2019. If you’d like to read any of those stories again, you can check them out on the Off The Leash website.

Fri

with a Local

WHEN AT COST INFO

Now she’s back, Lexie is finding a way to meld her passion for community health with her love of film and creative arts.

6 Aqua Fitness 6 Movement Medicine 7 Operation Ouch 16 Herbs: Songs of Freedom

6 Tropical Nights at Crocosaurus Cove 6 Australian Air Race Exhibition 18 Climate (opens) 22 Loud@The Library

Language

Get That Job! White Card Training Interested in working in the construction industry? This is

25 26

Thu

“I find myself feeling more relaxed and happier up here than I was down south. There’s also been some really good opportunities

THU 16 JAN | 8.30AM-4.30PM CASUARINA LIBRARY FREE | AGES 15-25 launchdarwin.com.au

WHEN THU 5 & 12 DEC | 3.30-4.30PM AT CITY OF PALMERSTON LIBRARY COST FREE INFO palmerston.nt.gov.au

See Music 22

After studying down south for three years, Lexie was drawn back to the Top End.

6 Australian Air Race Exhibition

Wed

22 Arafura Wind Ensemble Rehearsals

6 Australian Air Race Exhibition

Most folk in Darwin will know Lexie for her role in the arts, as both actor and filmmaker. Her films have graced the screen at the Darwin

6 January School Holiday Fun 6 Tennis World Darwin Holiday Program 6 Tropical Nights at Crocosaurus Cove 6 January School Holiday Fun (ends) 22 Loud@The Library

6 Tropical Nights at Crocosaurus Cove 6 Australian Air Race Exhibition

“I had this moment of sliding doors – do I do the creative thing or be more realistic? I decided to be realistic, so I went to uni and did a psychology and gender studies degree in Melbourne, and I’ve just finished my honours at CDU,” she says.

“I started off primarily acting and didn’t really break in to doing my own film production until fairly recently. I’ve always loved performance and performing arts, whether that be on stage or on screen. I’ve got a burning desire waiting to be discovered by a famous person – that burning desire to be creative or centre of attention, who knows?” she laughs.

in terms of work and study that I don’t think I would have been able to access living in a bigger city. If you put your hand up here and let people know you’re interested in something, opportunities will come to your doorstep. People are really helpful in fostering creativity here, and it’s all about who you know, and everyone knows everyone.”

Tue

6 January School Holiday Fun 6 Summer Dance Program 6 Tennis World Darwin Holiday Program 6 Australian Air Race Exhibition 10 Get That Job! First Aid Training 22 Arafura Wind Ensemble Rehearsals

28 22 Jam Night

6 Australian Air Race Exhibition 22 Darwin City Brass Band Rehearsals

Although all care is taken to ensure information in Off The Leash is correct, it is subject to change. Not all events can be listed on this calendar, so we recommend checking offtheleash.net.au for updates.

The 22-year-old has always had a love for the screen and stage, but when it came to her studies, she chose the pragmatic route.

International Film Festival over the last few years, making the move from the stage to behind the camera.

WHEN AT COST INFO

Get That Job! First Aid Training Are you aged 15-25 and looking to gain new skills and employment? Head along to this free school holiday workshop to gain your First Aid Certificate. This training provides the skills and knowledge to confidently manage emergency situations and provide care until medical aid arrives.

Geek Squad Get your geek on at Geek Squad, from anime to gaming, and everything in-between.

Lexie GregorY t’s pretty rare to be able to combine two very different passions, but Lexie Gregory has struck gold, combining her interest in community health with her love of performing arts.

the workshop for you! Learn safe work practices, risk management principles, safety signage, and leave with your White Card accreditation.

6 January School Holiday Fun 6 Tropical Nights at Crocosaurus Cove 6 Australian Air Race Exhibition 22 Loud@The Library

Profi

Wed

TH YOU le

6 January School Holiday Fun 6 Australian Air Race Exhibition 10 Get That Job! White Card Training 22 Arafura Wind Ensemble Rehearsals

6 January School Holiday Fun 6 Summer Dance Program 6 Tennis World Darwin Holiday Program 6 Tropical Nights at Crocosaurus Cove 6 Australian Air Race Exhibition

See Music 22

YOUTH

Wed

22 New Year’s Day Sounds by the Lagoon

Tue

6 Tropical Nights at Crocosaurus Cove

See Around Town 6

6 January School Holiday Fun 6 Australian Air Race Exhibition 22 Darwin City Brass Band Rehearsals 22 Jam Night

Calendar

Mon

PY HAP AR YE

NEW

6 Fri

6 January School Holiday Fun

10 6 January School Holiday Fun 6 Tropical Nights at Crocosaurus Cove 6 Australian Air Race Exhibition 18 Climate Member’s Exhibition Application Close 22 Loud@The Library

See Music 22

Sat

6 Your Beautiful Book with Natalie Sprite

2 Thu

6 Australian Air Race Exhibition 22 Arafura Wind Ensemble Rehearsals

3 Fri

6 Tropical Nights at Crocosaurus Cove 6 Australian Air Race Exhibition 22 Loud@The Library

Sun

See Around Town 6

JAN

6 Aqua Fitness

6 Movement Medicine

Mon

See Feature 4

See Around Town 6

6 January School Holiday Fun

Sat

Wed

6 Palmerston Arts Gathering

Tue

6 January School Holiday Fun 6 Tropical Nights at Crocosaurus Cove 6 Australian Air Race Exhibition

6 January School Holiday Fun 6 Australian Air Race Exhibition 22 Darwin City Brass Band Rehearsals 22 Jam Night

Sun

6 Aqua Fitness 6 Movement Medicine 22 First Sunday Blues

Thu

Wed

6 January School Holiday Fun 6 Australian Air Race Exhibition 22 Arafura Wind Ensemble Rehearsals

6 January School Holiday Fun 6 Tropical Nights at Crocosaurus Cove 6 Australian Air Race Exhibition

Wed

19 Thu

6 Drag Queen Bingo 6 Australian Air Race Exhibition 22 Arafura Wind Ensemble Rehearsals

See Around Town 6

20 Fri

6 Tropical Nights at Crocosaurus Cove 6 Australian Air Race Exhibition 22 Loud@The Library

Christmas Day

Wed

See Around Town 5

Boxing Day

Thu

Tue

Tuck into some leftovers and enjoy the Boxing Day Test match on the telly. You deserve it.

25 26 ry Mer as istm Chr 17 Christmas Day at Hilton Darwin

5 Christmas Day Dining

Mon

5 New Year’s Eve at Darwin Waterfront

Sat

5 Santa Visits the Waterfront

9 The Queens of Christmas Cabaret

DID YOU KNOW...

Boxing Day was traditionally a day off for servants. Their masters would pop some gifts in a special Christmas box, which they’d take home to open with their families the day after Christmas.

See Around Town 5

Sun

5 Christmas Carols by the Sea

Fri

5 Light Up Christmas 6 Movement Medicine 6 Aqua Fitness 19 Christmas Presence (last chance)

6 Tropical Nights at Crocosaurus Cove 6 Australian Air Race Exhibition 22 Loud@The Library

See Around Town 5

OTL Christmas Cracker #2 How do you make a bandstand?

offtheleash.net.au

AROUND TOWn Books & fILM Performing Arts YOUTH Visual Arts Food & Drink Music FESTIVALS

Answer: Hide all the chairs.

Tue

18 Tue

6 Singo! 6 Tropical Nights at Crocosaurus Cove 6 Australian Air Race Exhibition

24 Sun

5 Light Up Christmas 5 Night Before Christmas Charity Pub Crawl 6 Australian Air Race Exhibition 22 Darwin City Brass Band Rehearsals 22 Jam Night

OTL Christmas Cracker #3 What did one snowman say to the other?

5 Waterfront Christmas Wonderland (Closes) 5 Fiesta & Rock 5 New Year’s Eve with DJ KC 6 Australian Air Race Exhibition 21 Sweethearts NYE Party 21 Butterfingers NYE 22 Darwin City Brass Band Rehearsals 22 Jam Night Answer: Do you smell carrots?

17 Mon

6 Drag Queen Bingo 6 Australian Air Race Exhibition 22 Darwin City Brass Band Rehearsals 22 Jam Night

23 Sat

5 Light Up Christmas

6 Aqua Fitness

6 Movement Medicine

See Around Town 5

8 Sun

Thu

5 Top End Collective Christmas Market 6 Rails Market Day 6 Aqua Fitness 6 Argentine Tango Practica 22 Natalie Pellegrino Duo

6 Drag Queen Bingo 6 Storytime 6 Australian Air Race Exhibition 6 Community Dinner 9 Canned Comedy Darwin 10 Geek Squad 20 In The Studio #3 (last chance) 22 Arafura Wind Ensemble Rehearsals

2 Mon

9 Performing Arts Awards Nominations Close 22 Community Pop Choir

See Visual Arts 19

3 Tue

6 Drag Queen Bingo 6 Storytime 6 Gadgets and Games 6 Australian Air Race Exhibition 22 Darwin City Brass Band Rehearsals 22 Jam Night

4 Wed

6 Singo! 6 Tropical Nights at Crocosaurus Cove 6 Australian Air Race Exhibition

DEC See Visual Arts 19

Thu

6 Darwin Kind #2 6 Drag Queen Bingo 6 Storytime 6 Australian Air Race Exhibition 9 First Thursday Comedy 10 Geek Squad 22 Arafura Wind Ensemble Rehearsals

Sat

Sun Fri

19 Portrait of a Senior Territorian (last chance)

15 19 Yirrkala Print Space Collagraphs (last chance)

6 Aqua Fitness 20 You Are a Strange Loop

5 Santa Visits the Waterfront 6 Code Club 19 Almarra-Jitu – All The Birds Have Wings (last chance) 20 You Are a Strange Loop 20 Gapu IX (last chance) 22 Belle Haven

6 Australian Air Race Exhibition 9 Performing Arts Awards 19 Beneath The Surface (last chance) 19 A Small Vision (last chance) 20 You Are a Strange Loop 22 Natalie Pellegrino Duo 22 Z Star Trinity 22 North Coast Bars: Hip Hop Night 22 Loud@The Library

See Music 22

Mon

OTL Christmas Cracker #1

Why are Christmas trees terrible at knitting?

See Visual Arts 19

Answer: Because they always drop their needles.

Sun

Calendar

1 5 Waterfront Christmas Wonderland

Sat

5 City of Darwin Carols by Candlelight 6 Garden Gatherings 6 Too Much Stuff Flea Market 6 Aqua Fitness 22 Landscapes 22 First Sunday Blues

7 Wed

5 Tennant Creek Christmas Tree 5 Santa Visits the Waterfront 6 Code Club 6 Palmerston Arts Gathering 7 A Celtic Christmas 20 Landmarks (last chance) 22 Between the Moon and the Cotton 22 DSO - O Fortuna! 22 Natalie Pellegrino Duo

11 6 Singo! 6 Tropical Nights at Crocosaurus Cove 6 Australian Air Race Exhibition 22 Archie Roach in Conversation with Liz Trevaskis

Fri

22 The Young and the Reckless

Tue

6 Tropical Nights at Crocosaurus Cove 6 Australian Air Race Exhibition 9 The Sickle of Life 19 Christmas Presence (opens) 22 Drapht 22 Natalie Pellegrino Duo 22 Hotel Red: Swing ‘n Jazz ‘n Blues 22 Loud@The Library

Mon

6 Drag Queen Bingo 6 Storytime 6 Gadgets and Games 6 Australian Air Race Exhibition 22 Darwin City Brass Band Rehearsals 22 Jam Night

23 Wide Open Space Musician EOIs Deadline

16 Thu

Wed

6 January School Holiday Fun 6 Australian Air Race Exhibition 10 Get That Job! White Card Training 22 Arafura Wind Ensemble Rehearsals

22 6 January School Holiday Fun 6 Summer Dance Program 6 Tennis World Darwin Holiday Program 6 Tropical Nights at Crocosaurus Cove 6 Australian Air Race Exhibition

See Music 22

17 Fri

Thu

6 January School Holiday Fun 6 Tropical Nights at Crocosaurus Cove 6 Australian Air Race Exhibition 22 Loud@The Library

23 Tue

6 January School Holiday Fun 6 Summer Dance Program 6 Tennis World Darwin Holiday Program 6 Australian Air Race Exhibition 10 Get That Job! First Aid Training 22 Arafura Wind Ensemble Rehearsals

22 Jam Night

6 Australian Air Race Exhibition 22 Darwin City Brass Band Rehearsals

See Viaual Arts 18

24 Fri

6 Australian Air Race Exhibition

Wed

6 January School Holiday Fun 6 Tennis World Darwin Holiday Program 6 Tropical Nights at Crocosaurus Cove 6 January School Holiday Fun (ends) 22 Loud@The Library

6 Tropical Nights at Crocosaurus Cove 6 Australian Air Race Exhibition

18 Sat

18 #NedinDarwin Challenge

See Around Town 6

See Music 22

19 Sun

16 Yuli

6 Aqua Fitness 6 Movement Medicine 16 Anthropocene : The Human Epoch

Sat

Thu

See Books & Film 16

Sun

Fri

6 Tropical Nights at Crocosaurus Cove 6 Australian Air Race Exhibition 18 Climate (opens) 22 Loud@The Library

6 Aqua Fitness 6 Movement Medicine 7 Operation Ouch 16 Herbs: Songs of Freedom

16 A Boy Called Sailboat

25 26 30

22 Arafura Wind Ensemble Rehearsals

6 Australian Air Race Exhibition

Mon

6 January School Holiday Fun

See Books & Film 16

Tue

Mon

6 January School Holiday Fun 6 Australian Air Race Exhibition 22 Darwin City Brass Band Rehearsals 22 Jam Night

AROUND TOWn Books & fILM Performing Arts YOUTH Visual Arts Food & Drink Music FESTIVALS

offtheleash.net.au

Flix in the Wet

Upcoming events Waterfront Christmas Wonderland Every night in December 7pm to 10pm | Free The magic of Christmas will come to life at the Darwin Waterfront. Thousands of lights will illuminate the tropical harbour-side parklands, transforming it into a Christmas wonderland.

Santa Visits the Waterfront Saturday 7, 14 and 21 December 7pm to 9pm | Free Santa will make cameo appearances, giving out lollies and taking photos with children every Saturday in December at the Waterfront Christmas Wonderland in the Parklands.

New Year’s Eve Tuesday 31 December 5pm to 12pm (midnight) | Free Ring in the New Year at Darwin Waterfront, kicking off the night at 5pm with a free outdoor concert and a fireworks spectacular at 9pm and midnight. Find a spot on the lawns and settle in for an evening of entertainment for the whole family.

January School Holiday Fun Monday 6 to Friday 24 January 10am to 12noon| Free Keep the kids entertained with activities on every weekday.

While the Deckchair Cinema is closed for cyclone season, get your film fix at the Flix! Sunday afternoons | January - March, 2020 Event Cinemas | Casuarina Tix & Info:

www.deckchaircinema.com Flix is a Dawin Film Society project

All events are alcohol and glass free. waterfront.nt.gov.au

Workshops | Monthly Events | Opportunities

at MAGNT Darwin until 23 February 2020 Admission fees apply

PA L M E R S TO N

Come together to celebrate our mul cultural community. Enjoy food, games and music from around the world. Please bring a plate of food to share if you can.

Adults

$10

Kids 5-15

Concession

Under 5

Free

Purchase tickets online at magnt.net.au/nolan Must be accompanied by a paying adult

Multicult u r al Thursday 12 December 2019

National Gallery of Australia, Canberra, Gift of Sunday Reed 1977

8941 2651 ntwriters.com.au executive@ntwriters.com.au

Sidney Nolan Ned Kelly, 1946 (detail) from the Ned Kelly series 1946 – 1947, enamel paint on composition board, 90.80 x 121.50 cm,

NORTHERN TERRITORY WRITERS’ CENTRE

This is a national touring exhibition from the National Gallery of Australia palmerstonNT - www.palmerston.nt.gov.au/events

has moved forward a lot and we’d like a laser projector. It has a lot of environmental benefits, and benefits in terms of the picture on the screen.”

Screen DREAMS

Photo: Melanie McMurdie

BIG

But before you get too excited for 2020, there’s a full season of exciting films on for Flix in the Wet, Darwin Film Society’s program at BCC Cinema Casuarina while the tropical monsoon drenches the outdoor cinema.

DECKCHAIR CINEMA ISN’T JUST OTL’S FAVE big screen in the Top End – it turns out more people than ever are settling in under the stars at the iconic outdoor cinema. This year, a record number of film lovers flocked to the Deckie for a flick.

“It’s been a fantastic year for the cinema – we’ve had more people through the door than any year in history. I don’t think we’re doing anything different, but we’re better at getting the word out there,” he says.

General Manager James Parker says almost 50,000 movie fans have kicked back on a deckchair during the 2019 season.

This means good news for 2020, with a few secret squirrel – and not so secret squirrel – projects in the pipeline.

“A big year feels fantastic. Having success this year means we can do more for our customers and members, and we can re-invest in the cinema, and the film and screen culture in Darwin,” Parker says. “We have lot of projects that we’re working on, so hopefully we can deliver some of those. At some point, we’d like to move on to a new projector – the technology

“It’s a really great program this year, we’re really happy to have a great mix of films. We’ve got our first family film for quite some time. It’s always tricky [for families] because the Deckchair is open at night, so it’s great to have A Boy Called Sailboat on for Flix. It’s a fantastic, quirky arthouse film that the kids will love!” So grab some popcorn, round up the kids, and get down to Flix in the Wet before screenings sell out. Because they will!

NT WRITERS CENTRE REVIEW

By Kingsley Gittins

Flix Wet IN THE

AT COST INFO

EVENT CINEMAS, CASUARINA $16 | $12 CON | $10 MEMB | $35 FAM deckchaircinema.com

Beauty by Sandra Kendell

Yuli This Flix opening film depicts the deeply affecting story of the Cuban dancer Carlos Acosta (Yuli), a legend in the dance world and the first black dancer to perform some of the world's most famous ballet roles. From growing up on the streets to performing at London’s prestigious Royal Ballet, his story is told through an interweaving of dramatised storytelling and dance, with Acosta himself making an appearance.

Anthropocene : The Human Epoch Anthropocene is a cinematic meditation on humanity’s massive re-engineering of Earth. Three award-winning filmmakers travel to 20 countries over four years to document the impact of humans on the planet. A sobering and visually ravishing look at the horrific ecological damage wrought by modern human civilisation. Don't miss this film festival favourite.

A Boy Called Sailboat This charming, family-friendly fable tells the story of a young Mexican-American boy who brings a touch of magic to the world.

WHEN SUN 19 JAN | 5.30PM

WHEN SUN 26 JAN | 3.30PM

Sailboat lives with his parents at the edge of the desert near the Texas border. One day, he rescues a little guitar from a pile of rubbish and, as he starts to spread music, his community is changed for the better.

WHEN SUN 19 JAN | 3.30PM

Herbs: Songs of Freedom The founders of Pacific reggae, Herbs, were one of New Zealand’s most important bands of the 80s, best known in Australia for ‘Slice of Heaven’, as well as protest songs such as ‘Nuclear Free Pacific’. Though infectiously upbeat, Herbs’ music was always politically conscious. This funny and engaging documentary celebrates the iconic band in an emotional round of interviews, jams and memories, culminating in a moving reunion concert.

WHEN SUN 26 JAN | 5.30PM

I’M LEFT WITH A SMILE on my face – even as an adult – after reading Sandra Kendell’s sweetly illustrated children’s book Beauty. This is a story with some wonderfully relevant themes about the environment, conservation and just learning how to get along with your neighbour, all wrapped up in a child’s love for the tree in her garden. The simple and effective narrative will appeal to younger children, and the language is perfectly attuned to an early primary school audience. This is then mixed with a steady dose of environmental and scientific fact that gives the book substance without taking away from the story. Kendell is also not afraid to use technical jargon such as ‘symbiosis’ and ‘photosynthesis’, a bold choice that pays off and gives the book credibility in terms of its educational value. It is not for nothing she recently scored an NT Natural

Resource Management Award for her contribution to conservation and environmental education! The quality of the illustrations is immediately apparent, stunning watercolours and bold, bright colours, combined with intricately drawn birds and insects to great effect. What is even more pleasing is that the animals, plants – even the buildings – are very obviously from the Northern Territory. I believe I even spotted the animated possum that tells me to turn my phone off at the Deckchair Cinema before a film! There is much talk about children no longer being interested in reading, and that the reason for this is they aren’t finding themselves or their experiences in the books on offer. Well, we can address this problem by getting kids to read great local books such as this one. And maybe us adults can learn a thing or two along the way.

FOOD

DRINK

HEAD TO HILTON FOR

Christmas Cheer HILTON HOTELS ARE PUTTING on quite the spread this Christmas, with two of their three Darwin hotels offering a Christmas Day package good enough for the man in the big red suit himself! If you find yourself without Christmas lunch plans – or simply want a break from cooking in a hot kitchen – Hilton has you covered for a festive feast with all the trimmings. Tickets include a three-hour beverage package, festive novelties – yes, that means crackers and the genius jokes that come with them

– a gift for the kids, and a visit from Santa Claus. And then, there’s the food… Think honey-glazed Christmas ham with grilled pineapple, slow-roasted turkey with olive and cranberry relish, grilled barramundi with dill and creamy caper sauce, and slowcooked lamb shoulder with fruit roulade and rosemary jus. Delish. But we’re not done yet. There’s hot crusty bread, cheese platters, NT prawns, fresh oysters, Mediterranean pasta salad, fresh garden salad with pomegranate dressing, and broccolini, walnut and Persian feta pear salad.

And, of course, there’s dessert! If you’ve still got room in your belly, tuck into some traditional Christmas pudding, Yule log and walnut pie. And no Christmas feast would be complete without a fresh pav with fruit and cream! Nothing tops off a Christmas lunch quite like an afternoon kip. Luckily, you’re in the right place! NT residents can take advantage of the special Territorian accommodation rates, which includes a late checkout of 1pm. Merry Christmas, indeed.

Christmas Day Gala Buffet at Hilton Darwin WHEN COST INFO

CHRISTMAS DAY, 12-3PM $179 | $109 CHILD 12-16 | $85 CHILD 5-11 | FREE U4 darwintickets.com.au

Christmas Day Lunch at DoubleTree by Hilton Esplanade WHEN Christmas Day, 12-3pm COST $175 | $99 CHILD 12-16 | $75 CHILD 5-11 | FREE U4 INFO darwintickets.com.au

Territorian Holiday Rates COST $115-$140 INFO facebook.com/doubletree byhiltonhotelsdarwin | facebook.com/hiltondarwin

BAR IN THE 'BURBS IT WAS A WORLD AWAY from Nightcliff that Dom Wundke concocted the plan for the Top End’s newest cocktail bar. “I had the initial idea for a bar when I first moved to Nightcliff a few years ago, but it was only after drinking a few tequilas with my friend in Mexico that I thought I could actually do it. The more I thought about it, the more it made sense – I’ve always loved hospitality and hosting people at my house, so this is really an extension of my house in some ways,” he says. Dom’s Bar and Lounge opened its doors last month and has all the vibes of a cosy wine bar with a tropical Darwin flavour. The table tops are made from African mahogany and Darwin black bottle trees that fell in Cyclone Marcus, and the drinks are inspired by local flavours. “All of our syrups are homemade by our staff and we’re trying to feature as many local ingredients as we can,” Dom says. “We’ve got our seasonal cocktail

It’s not easy weaving through the red tape of starting a new business, but Dom says all the hard work has paid off. And the locals love having a new watering hole in the hood. “I think people have been waiting for a venue like this in Nightcliff for a very long time. Some people who have been in the area for 35 years came in, and they were just over the moon that there’s a nice cosy little cocktail and wine bar around the corner,” he says. “I’m so proud to open the doors to the public and people are liking the drinks and neighbourhood feel.” So head along and take a tropical tipple at Dom’s! WHEN FRI & SAT, 4PM-LATE SUN 2-10PM AT ARALIA ST, NIGHTCLIFF INFO facebook.com/ doms-bar-lounge

by Emma Lupin

GULP NT PRESENTS Photos: Emma Lupin

Community

COOK GROWING & UNDERSTANDING LOCAL PRODUCE

are high and monsoon merriment is bubbling? This time of year happens to be pineapple season, which is also Lisa’s favourite fruit. This is no passing phase – Lisa pays permanent homage to this sweet treat with an impressive life-sized pineapple tattoo on her back. She also has a large collection of kitsch home ware, vintage costumery, and a fat stash of pineapple trivia.

Lisa Piec’a Pineapple loves making tasty refreshing drinks from local ingredients. What better time to make thirst-quenching creations than when the humidity and heat

specials, which we’re featuring at the moment. The Nightcliff Sunset is a rosella gin spritz, which was very popular on the opening weekend, and we’ve also got The Seabreeze, which is a rosemary whisky sour.”

Lisa’s love for pineapples formed in her childhood growing up in South East Queensland, an area well known for pineapple production. Family favourites included frozen pineapple, and mint and pineapple punch at their booze-free parties.

Lisa moved to Darwin several years ago with a dream to start a pineapple farm, but found a career in community services, lured indoors by air conditioning and salary packaging. And she loves Darwin, with its small-remote-city quirks, do-it-yourself fun, friendliness and the amazingly cheap bus service. Luckily, pineapples grow easily in the Top End, so Lisa’s been able to hone her cocktail skills at various gatherings. Imagine drinking one of her signature Frothy Refreshers down on a humid, stormy night, by a suburban Darwin pool with Thassi Poodpon friends? Alcohol optional... INFO gulpnt.com gulpcommunity@gmail. com

Method Grind salt and chilli together in a mortar and pestle, and tip into a small dish. Brush the rims of your glasses with piece of lime and dip in the salt mix.

Frothy Refresher Makes 4-6 drinks Spiked Version ¾ cup tequila 1 ¼ cup pineapple juice ½ cup lime juice ¼ cup local honey or other liquid sweetener, like agave or rice syrup 1 summery style, lightly-flavoured beer ½ teaspoon smoked salt (normal salt also is fine) ½ teaspoon chipotle chilli powder, such as sumac or paprika Mint and lime to garnish

Blitz the tequila, juices and sweetener in a blender until you get a good frothy mix. Divide between the glasses and top with the beer. Garnish with a pineapple wedge and sprig of mint. Un-Spiked Version Replace tequila with extra pineapple juice, then use either non-alcoholic beer or omit sweetener and add ginger beer. Tips! Make it authentic and source your ingredients from our bounty of produce markets. You want all the ingredients super-cold – it’s even better if the juices are frozen.

VISUAL ARTS Sidney Nolan, 'Ned Kelly', 1946, enamel paint on composition board, 90.8x121.5cm, National Gallery of Australia, Canberra Gift of Sunday Reed 1977

Art U&T

ABO

with Assistant Curator of Art Clare Armitage

Sidney Nolan’s

Ned Kelly series UNTIL 23 FEB, 2020 AT MUSEUM AND ART GALLERY OF THE NORTHERN TERRITORY COST $3-$10 INFO magnt.net.au

ome of the most iconic paintings in Australian art history are presented in Sidney Nolan’s Ned Kelly series. Now, it’s the Top End’s turn to see the works up close at the Museum and Art Gallery of the Northern Territory (MAGNT). And take part in an interesting record attempt…

#NedinDarwin

We sat down with MAGNT’s Assistant Curator of Art Clare Armitage for a chat.

WHEN SAT 18 JAN | 10.30AM

How significant is it for Darwin to be able to show these works? It’s very significant. It’s a collection of paintings that normally live in the National Gallery of Australia and they’ve never been to Darwin before, and haven’t left Canberra for the last 15 years. It’s very exciting. Tell us a bit about the history of these paintings. Is there anything about these works people may not know? The paintings depict the historical story of Ned Kelly and the time he spent being a fugitive, up until the time he was sentenced to death. Most of the works refer to an historical event that actually happened, but some of

Climate at the Heart of Art CLIMATE CHANGE IS on the tip of everyone’s tongue. From politicians, farmers, climate scientists and young people. Opinions differ but everyone has one. Darwin Visual Arts (DVA) invites its members to reflect on the social, political and environmental factors at play about everything ‘climate’, and create a work for its member’s show – the gallery’s first exhibition of 2020.

The City of Darwin’s CITYLIFE

Platform lightbox project has teamed up with DVA, and will select 10 works from the exhibition to be professionally photographed and illuminated in lightboxes throughout Darwin from April to September. Got an idea boiling away? No matter what your medium is or your take on the climate emergency, you’re invited to contribute to the conversation through art. Not a DVA member? Not a worry. Start the year with DVA’s creative

community and share your work throughout the year at the member’s shows.

Climate Member’s Exhibition WHEN APPLICATIONS CLOSE

FRI 10 JAN | EXHIBITION FRI 31 JAN – SAT 22 FEB AT DVA COST FREE INFO dvaa.com.au

Lightbox WHEN APRIL – SEPTEMBER AT VARIOUS LOCATIONS COST FREE

the works he painted are just things Nolan imagined. They don’t refer to anything in the historical story, or factual events, they’re imaginings of a place or a landscape that no one envisioned being part of the story he was telling. What else is Nolan exploring in this series? Nolan talks about so many different things in those paintings. It’s not just telling the story of this one historical figure – it’s a more human story about what it means to be alone, what it means to be in a community, what it means to be running away from something and what it means to face death. A whole lot of really big existential themes are addressed in a very sophisticated and powerful way. MAGNT are having a bit of fun with this show… Tell us about #nedindarwin? We’re running an event on January 18 that has two aspects. One is a Ned Kelly look-alike competition for the best beard and best helmet. The other is an attempt for the Australian Book of Records record for the most Ned Kelly look-alikes in one place.

PAUL JOHNSTONE GALLERY

Harriet Place, Darwin | 8941 2220 | pauljohnstonegallery.com.au TUE–FRI 10AM-5PM | SAT 10AM-2PM

NORTHERN TERRITORY LIBRARY

Parliament House | Corner Bennett and Mitchell Street, Darwin ntl.nt.gov.au TUE, THU, FRI 10AM–5PM | WED 10AM-8PM | SAT & SUN 1–5PM

Portrait of a Senior Territorian Congratulations to all participants and winners of the 2019 Portrait of a Senior Territorian Art Award, specifically Catherine Miles for winning the overall prize for her work, Paul and Elmer. Here’s what the judges had to say: Nyangulya Katie Nalgood, 'Love Birds', acrylic on canvas, 71x91cm

ALMARRA-JITU.

“This is a terrific painting, demonstrating an impressive level of expertise. Mr Patteson’s face is so

recognisable. The painting depicts Mr Patteson and his Seeing Eye Dog, Elmer, doing what they usually do, but it also evokes a feeling of trust. There is even emotion in the dog’s face. The viewer is left with the feeling that these two have been through a lot, and have done it all together.”

UNTIL SUN 15 DEC

Paul Patteson and his Seeing Eye Dog, Elmer, with the 2019 Portrait of a Senior Territorian Art Award winner, Catherine Miles. Image courtesy Northern Territory Government. 'Paul and Elmer', 2019, synthetic polymer, 76x76cm

ALL THE BIRDS HAVE WINGS The birds and their songs are the sound memories of Nyangulya Katie Nalgood’s home. Born in 1957 at Nimingarr Station, she fondly remembers time spent out bush with her family where she first heard and fell in love with the birds, saying to herself, “I would like to paint these when I grow up…Birds

are the first thing we see, you know, when we wake up. See and hear.”

NCCA

This is a delightful exhibition documenting Western Australia’s incredible birdlife.

WED-FRI 10AM-4PM, SAT 9AM-2PM, OR BY APPOINTMENT

Northern Centre for Contemporary Art Vimy Lane, Parap | 8981 5368 | 0402 379 630 | nccart.com.au Jo Boniface, 'Innermost'

UNTIL SAT 14 DEC

Christmas Presence

DARWIN VISUAL ARTS

1/8 McMinn St, Darwin, Harbour View Plaza | 8981 9351 | dvaa.net.au TUE-FRI 12PM-5PM | SAT 10AM-3PM

Celebrate 2019 with the Northern Centre for Contemporary Art members’ show, Christmas Presence. All artwork is for sale, and a maximum price tag of $150 makes these creations a perfect Christmas gift or addition to your collection by supporting local artists.

WHEN SAT 7 DEC – SUN 22 DEC | OPENING 6PM, FRI 6 DEC

THE PROJECT SPACE

1/3 Vickers St, Parap | 8941 3935 | salonartprojects.com.au TUE–FRI 10AM-5PM | SAT 10AM-2PM

Noŋgirrŋa Marawili, 'Lightning and the Rock', 2019, collograph, 64x100cm

Pascale Zufferey, 'Bush Birds' (detail), 2019, mixed medium, 50x60cm

Paul Seden, 'A Taste of Tassie', 2019, chalk, 21x20cm

Beneath A Small Vision A Small Vision is the debut exhibition by Darwin artist Paul Seden. He first entered the world of chalk pastels via fellow local artist Pascale Zuffery, so it seems only fitting he would first exhibit alongside her exhibition Beneath The Surface. Paul is a unique and diverse artist with works covering landscapes, portraits, cartoons and children’s storybooks.

The Surface

Beneath the Surface is a series of mixed media artworks created by local artist Pascale Zufferey. Pascale’s artworks reflect the Top End – the people, landscape and its wildlife, particularly the bird life. Beneath the Surface is a playful look at our wonderful landscapes and the little things hidden beneath the surface. Zufferey invites you to come closer to the artworks and discover some of the elements hidden beneath the layers.

WHEN FRI 29 NOV – FRI 13 DEC | OPENING 6PM, FRI 29 NOV

Yirrkala Print Space Collagraphs Salon Project Space and Yirrkala Print Studio present a series of exquisite collagraphs by artists from Buku-Larrŋgay Mulka. Continuing to push the boundaries of creative expression from north-east Arnhem Land, the editioned works on paper display innovative methods Yolngu artists are using to communicate important cultural stories and designs. Artists include Noŋgirrŋa Marawili, Nyapanyapa Yunupiŋu, Wukun Wanambi, Mulkun Wirrpanda and Barayuwa Munuŋgurr.

UNTIL SAT 14 DEC

OUTSTATION

GYRACC

2/3 Parap Place, Darwin | 8981 4822 | outstation.com.au

Godinymayin Yijard Rivers Arts and Culture Centre Stuart Highway, Katherine East | 8972 3751 | gyracc.org.au

TUE 10AM-1PM | WED–FRI 10AM-5PM | SAT 10AM-2PM

TUE–FRI 10AM-5PM | SAT 10AM–3PM

Landmarks Scenes distinctive of the Northern Territory observed by Darwin-based Artist, Pennyrose Wiggins, are decisively painted onto aluminium signs with great finesse and rigor. Haunting, yet alluring apparitions of the natural and artificial Top End environment emerge from and disappear into the objects on which they are painted, heightening the viewer’s awareness of our coexistence with nature.

Major Cameron and Susan Ashley, 'Bush Apple' (detail), 2019, etching print on paper, 20x48cm

Gapu Ix - Djilpin Artists In Collaboration With Basil Hall

Landmarks is the sequel to Pennyrose Wiggins’ 2017 exhibition, NeighbourHOODS.

UNTIL SAT 7 DEC

Pennyrose Wiggins, 'Tropical Living', 2019, oil and acrylic on aluminium road sign, 60x60cm

CHARLES DARWIN UNIVERSITY ART GALLERY Building Orange 12, CDU Casuarina Campus | 8946 6621 | cdu.edu.au/artgallery WED–FRI 10AM-4PM | SAT 10AM-2PM | SUN 11 & SUN 18 AUG 10AM-2PM

Gapu IX showcases the ninth series of prints on paper made by artists from Djilpin Arts in collaboration with master printer Basil Hall. This exhibition illustrates the creative processes and output of printing workshops undertaken with Basil Hall in August at Djilpin Arts Centre in Beswick. Gapu IX also features other new 2D and 3D works by Djilpin artists. Artists include Angelica Wesan, Augustina Kennedy, Brett Bush, Darryl Jolly, Julie Ashley, Major Cameron, Samuel Wesan and Susan Ashley.

UNTIL SAT 14 DEC

Taksu: The Art of Bali For the first time in many years, Darwin audiences have the opportunity to see the rich diversity and splendour of Balinese art. Taksu: The Art of Bali profiles recent gifts to Charles Darwin University by two of Australia’s most prominent collectors of Balinese art, Michael Abbott AO QC and the late Christopher Hill. I Gusti Putu Sana, 'Dancer', 1998, Chinese ink on paper, 83x61cm, Donated by Mary Harrison Hill and family in memory of Chris Hill, CDU3009

UNTIL SAT 7 MAR, 2020

MAGNT

Museum and Art Gallery of the Northern Territory 19 Conacher Street, The Gardens | 8999 8264 | magnt.net.au

Unit 3 /1 Clocktower Caryota Crt, Coconut Grove darwincommunityarts.org WED TO FRI 10AM-4PM | SAT 10AM-2PM

IN THE STUDIO #3 NEW WORK BY ARTISTS FROM THE FREE SPACE STUDIO In The Studio #3 is a selection of new works produced throughout 2018 and 2019 by a group of artists from the Free Space Studio. The exhibition provides a view into the life of the studio, showcasing the diverse visual practices of the artists across ceramics, painting, textiles, collage and printmaking. Featuring works by Abigail Maralngurra, Wendy Lamble, Leigh Zarimis, Annie Moors, Angelique Martin, Mark Cavanagh and Jim Simpson.

MON–SUN 10AM-5PM

Therese Ritchie: burning hearts

UNTITLED

UNTIL THU 12 DEC

Therese Ritchie is renowned for her provocative prints that make fearless political and social commentary. This exhibition situates these prints within her practice more broadly, and considers the fundamental role photography has played in her development as an artist.

UNTIL SUN 28 JUN

MAYFAIR

7 Harriet Place, Darwin | 0421 983 995 | facebook.com/mayfairdwn THU-SAT 10AM-2PM

You Are A Strange Loop: Territorian Portraits Furthering the notion of a traditional portrait, these works deal with the act of looking – in the periphery, in the rear view mirror, side-eyed and dead-eyed, bringing together new and established artists who are focused on the tricky, daunting business of looking back.

Therese Ritchie, 'Rite Price' (detail), 2016, pigment print, AP, 58.5x79.5cm

WHEN FRI 13 – SUN 15 DEC | OPENING 6PM, FRI 13 DEC

MUSIC

Sing Us a Song, You’re the Piano Man Mindil Beach Casino Resort brings the nostalgic vibes this New Year's Eve, with the return of a Darwin favourite.

Sweethearts NYE Party

WHEN TUE 31 DEC | 9PM AT MINDIL BEACH

CASINO RESORT

COST $55.50 PRE-SALE

$66.50 DOOR

INFO mindilbeachcasinoresort. com.au

f you belted out a tune at the Casino in the 80s or 90s, there’s a good chance Chris O’Brien – sporting a mullet and wearing tight blue jeans – was leading your tune on the piano at Sweethearts. The Casino’s iconic piano bar was the place to be in the 80s and 90s, where a wide range of music lovers, from politicians through to tradies, gathered for a good time. Mindil Beach Casino Resort takes you back in time to the heyday of Sweethearts this New Year’s Eve – complete with O’Brien, the original piano man at the keys.

“Sweethearts was the place where every part of society met and would have a ball, singing at the top of their lungs,” O’Brien says. “It was a different era back then – people didn’t go out to get drunk, they went out with one thing in mind – to have a good time. The entire room of two to three hundred people would be singing at the top of their voice. As a piano player back then, you felt more like a conductor at times, not a performer.” In preparation for the special one-off event, O’Brien, who hasn’t performed for years, says he spoke

with a local musician working the circuit to find out what songs still get revellers singing along. “I was curious to see how far out-of-date I was,” he laughs. “What was absolutely breathtaking is that a lot of the songs from that era – ‘Brown Eyed Girl’, ‘American Pie’, ‘Mustang Sally’ – they’re all in today’s current playlists. I think when people go out to have a good time, they want to be part of something. The 80s were a moment in time where songwriters wrote songs that were inclusive. They wrote songs that people could sing along to.”

O’Brien is expecting to see a lot of familiar faces from the original Sweetheart days, even if they look a little different 30 years on. “I reckon it’s going to be a very, very funny night. I think there’s going to be a couple of hundred people who will recognise each other, who may not have seen each other for a long, long time. Back then, I could fit in to tight blue jeans and I had a mullet – now I can’t fit in to tight jeans and am bald,” he laughs. So brush up on lyrics from Billy Joel and Elton John, and re-live a beloved part of Darwin history.

Butterfingers BRISBANE HIP HOP OUTFIT Butterfingers has been toiling away recording a new album this year – but before they release it next year, they’re making tracks to the Top End to bring in 2020.

It’s about what happened, since the last Butterfingers record came out. Why we stopped, all the things that have happened since, and why we’re back together doing music again.

We had a yarn with front man Eddie (Evil Eddie) Jacobson about the upcoming album and their New Year’s Eve show at Darwin Railway Club.

Were you writing the songs as the events happened? A couple of them had been started a while back, but the bulk of the writing has happened in the last 12 months.

How does a New Year’s gig differ to other gigs? Generally speaking, it’s the night of the year everyone gives themselves permission to get loose – but in my experience, Darwin is kind of loose all of the time.

Butterfingers NYE Supported by Roy Mackonkey, Bloody Marys, Danger Den and Zaza Raiz (DJ) WHEN AT COST INFO

TUE 31 DEC | 7PM DARWIN RAILWAY CLUB $65-$70 facebook.com/darwinrailwayclub

We sure like to have a good time! What can you tell us about the new album? The whole thing is a story from start to finish – kind of like a concept album, but not super literal all the way through. What’s the story you’ve got weaved through?

Has your approach to song writing evolved over the years? After the first album came out, I got quite a problem with writer’s block. I really struggled to write the second record. Now I have a process, which I never had before. I kind of feel like I can write about anything indefinitely, which is a good way to feel. How did you find your process – did you develop a routine or was it age and wisdom? I started studying script writing – not at uni or anything – just online looking at stuff and reading books,

and realising every thought process is just asking and answering questions in your own head. When I realise what those questions are, which makes a story, I feel like the options are endless after that because you can always keep asking questions. Butterfingers has always blended genres – what’s the new album leaning towards? Instrumentally it’s a lot more guitar-oriented. We always did guitar stuff and played punk songs in the middle of hip hop tracks, but the guitar is now bleeding in to the hip hop tracks more and more. Do Top End fans get a chance to see some new tunes to ring in the New Year? We’re definitely going to play some new stuff, but we don’t want to let everyone down so obviously we’re going to play the bangers!

DECEMBER 19 - JANUARY 20

GIG guide OTL's quick and essential guide to live music in the Top End. Rock on! To find out more, head to offtheleash.net.au

/offtheleashmag @OTLmag

#OTLmag

Landscapes Arafura Music Collective celebrates AusMusic month and the year of Indigenous Languages with Landscapes – The Music of Australian Composers. Enjoy an afternoon of Northern Territory culture, beautiful chamber music and fine wine and food.

WHEN

MON 2 DEC | 5.30PM

WHEN

WED 1 JAN | 12-6PM

KATHERINE REGIONAL ARTS

DARWIN WATERFRONT

COST

FREE

INFO

katherineregionalarts.org.au

COST

FREE

INFO

watefront.nt.gov.au

Drapht Drapht is back with a massive tour, featuring his full live show and a travelling circus of friends on the road to help with Drapht’s never-ending list of hits including such as Jimmy Recard, Rapunzel, Don Quixote and Mexico. WHEN

FRI 6 DEC | 8PM

DISCOVERY DARWIN

COST

$30

INFO

drapht.com

Between the Moon and the Cotton All female gentle-punk folksters Lunar Maria team up with alt-country muso Alice Cotton and band, to present a night of family-friendly live music in a humble house. Bring your own drinks. The venue’s address will be sent to ticket holders closer to the event. WHEN

SAT 7 DEC | 8-11PM

SECRET LOCATION

Archie Roach in Conversation with Liz Trevaskis Not many have lived as many lives as Archie Roach – stolen child, seeker, teenage alcoholic, lover, father, musical and lyrical genius, and leader – but it took him almost a lifetime to find out who he really was. Join Archie Roach in-conversation with ABC Darwin’s Liz Trevaskis for a chat about his memoir Tell Me Why. WHEN

WED 11 DEC | 5-7.30PM

NORTHERN TERRITORY LIBRARY

COST

$50

INFO

ntl.nt.gov.au

Loud@The Library Free live music from local musos.

Hotel Red: Swing ‘n Jazz ‘n Blues Hotel Red is made up of local musos Annie Gastin, George Tumino, Dan Davies, Phil Giffard, Sarah Lynar and Allen Murphy. Join them as they play the best blues, jazz, soul and swing grooves of the century. WHEN

FRI 6 DEC | 7PM

DARWIN RAILWAY CLUB

COST

$25

$10

COST

North Coast Bars: Hip Hop Night Happy Yess is the place to be for all of the hip hop you can handle, as six acts take to the stage to perform freestyle. WHEN FRI 13 DEC | 9PM $10

COST

JAM NIGHTS AND OPEN MIC

Z Star Trinity WHEN

FRI 13 DEC | 7PM

COST

$30-$35

Belle Haven Belle Haven head to the NT on their Forget Me weekender. Supported by local guests Summit, Draftday and Clockwork Riot.

SUN 1 DEC, SUN 5 JAN,

WHEN

SUN 2 FEB | 2PM AT

PINT CLUB, MARRARA

COST

GOLD COIN DONATION

INFO

facebook.com/firstsunday blues

Darwin City Brass Band Rehearsals

WHEN

SAT 14 DEC | 8PM

WHEN

EVERY TUE | 7-9.30PM

$22

2 ABALA ROAD, MARRARA

facebook.com/bellehaven

COST

$20 ANNUAL MEMBERSHIP

INFO

darwincitybrassband.org.au

WHEN

EVERY FRIDAY, 12PM

COST

DARWIN AND CASUARINA

INFO

LIBRARIES

COST

$10-$15

COST

FREE

INFO

facebook.com/

INFO

darwin.nt.gov.au/libraries

WHEN

TUE 31 DEC | 7PM

Jam Night

COST

$65-$70

WHEN

EVERY TUE | 9PM

INFO

facebook.com/

NIRVANA

darwinrailwayclub

COST

FREE

INFO

nirvanadarwin.com.au

alicecottonmusic

DSO - O Fortuna!

SAT 1 DEC | 4PM

WHEN

SAT 7 DEC | 7.30PM

PEE WEES AT THE POINT

DARWIN CONVENTION

COST

$5-$60

INFO

facebook.com/

CENTRE COST

$30-$60

INFO

dso.org.au

Natalie Pellegrino Duo The Natalie Pellegrino Duo plays a huge range of music, from old school classics to current party tracks. You’ll hear some funk, soul, pop, rock, reggae and even a bit of country. WHEN

Community Pop Choir The Katherine Pop Choir is open to anyone who wants to express themselves through the joy of pop music – no prior singing experience necessary!

17 Somerville Gardens, Parap 8981 4171 | darwinrailwayclub.org

WHEN FRI 6 DEC | 9PM

Butter Fingers

WHEN

arafuraensemble

LAGOON

DARWIN RAILWAY CLUB

New Year’s Day Sounds by the Lagoon Soak in the energy of the New Year, floating around the Waterfront Lagoon, with this free live concert by Darwin favourite, Max Fredericks.

FRI 6, SAT 7 & FRI 13 DEC 8PM

SIX TANKS BREW CO

WHEN

SUN 8 DEC | 2-5PM

THE LANDMARK

COST

FREE

HAPPY YESS

12 Smith Street, Darwin 0447 842 779 | happyyess.com

Arafura Wind Ensemble Rehearsals EVERY THU | 6.45PM

WHEN

MACKILLOP CATHOLIC

The Young and the Reckless This wild gig is filled with local bands, young and old, including a high school band who won a bet, 12 Degrees South, A Large Aquatic Centre for Men, and more.

COLLEGE COST

FREE

INFO

arafurawindensemble.com

DSO PRESENTS

The

O Fortuna! THE DARWIN SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA celebrated its 30th anniversary in 2019 with concerts all year, but have saved the biggest for last. 160 performers take to the stage for O Fortuna!, a special collaboration with the Darwin Chorale, True Colours Choir, and featured soloists, performing Carl Orff’s spectacular and fiery, Carmina Burana. DSO's Artistic Director Jonathan Tooby says the name Carmina Burana may not mean much to many, but you should recognise it as soon as the music starts.

“If they listen to the first five seconds, they’ll know exactly what the whole piece is – it’s one of those works. It will blow their minds when they hear all these performers together. It’s the biggest show

we’ve done all year,” he says. The special event features the world-renowned tenor Kang Wang, who cut his teeth in Darwin. “He grew up and was sort of discovered here, and now he’s gracing major opera houses around the world, including The Met in New York. It’s truly special. I think that, had we been any other city, unless the price was right, he may not have come. It’s amazing to see what talent has been born out of this town,” Tooby says. Looking back on the year, Tooby says it’s been a pretty special year for the orchestra, and for him personally. “I feel very warm and fuzzy inside looking back. It’s been my first

full year as Artistic Director and curator of this year’s program. This was really rewarding and had so many huge outcomes – our biggest audiences yet, and engaging more artists than ever before,” he says. “I think the DSO has a really important point of difference – we’re surrounded by this incredibly rich Indigenous culture, and it’s such a multicultural place. Every other orchestra in the world follows a traditional lead, and I think we’ve got a great opportunity to break new ground, and that is what’s exciting about being part of the DSO.”

WHEN SAT 7 DEC | 7.30PM AT DARWIN CONVENTION CENTRE COST $30 - $60 INFO dso.org.au

Faste Fiv

Z-Star Trinity BRITISH-TRINIDADIAN ARTIST, multi-instrumentalist and producer, Zee Gachette, has teamed up with Aussie musicians Beck Flatt and Boi Crompton to form the power trio known as Z-Star Trinity. They’re headed to the Rails for a night of epic music. Gachette answered The Fast Five this month. What’s the first album you ever bought? Prince and the Revolution, Purple Rain on cassette. I was living in Trinidad then and, yes, I still have it somewhere! If you could see any artist or band – living or dead – this weekend, who would it be? The Doors. I love the musicality

melodies, poetry the crazy blues vibe – I’m a huge fan. I’d take my drummer lover Beck Flatt. Whose posters did you have stuck to the wall as a teenager? Hendrix, Bob Marley, Lisa Bonet, Prince, INXS, Michael Jackson, The Cure, Midnight Oil. What song would you like played at your funeral? Electric Light Orchestra’s ‘The Whale’. Finish this sentence. The thing people would be surprised to know about me… is my electro-soul alter ego, Lady Z/Slowtrainsou. WHEN AT COST INFO

FRI 13 DEC | 7PM DARWIN RAILWAY CLUB $30-$35 facebook.com/ darwinrailwayclub

MUSIC NT PRESENTS

musicnt.com.au

Milly Moments Photography

There's so much happening throughout the year and this section is our way of giving you a good heads up. Get those 2020 diaries ready – next year is already looking big!

PATSY COLEMAN

2019 has been massive… Has there been a highlight for you this year? It has been an epic year but the highlight for me is the Desert Harmony Festival (DHF) run by Barkly Regional Arts. Going home to Tennant Creek to perform was amazing – almost like my whole life lead up to that moment. It was great. Speaking of Desert Harmony Festival, how did the collaboration with the Opera Australia Orchestra come about? DHF works with the Opera Australia Orchestra every two years to bring an opera to the desert. Part of that is collaborating with artists to bring songs to life. It was a wonderful opportunity to perform with them! You’re a relative ’newcomer’ to the stage. Any tips for emerging musicians? I have been blessed to have met some brilliant people through MusicNT and Barkly Regional Arts. None of it would have been possible without this networking and, most of all, drive. I’ve put my foot to the floor to chase this

PIPE LINE

Festival Returns with Wide Open Arms

dream – if I have one tip, it’s that no one else will chase your dreams. Do it yourself, now, not tomorrow. You’ve been working with Winanjjikari Music Centre on your EP, but live in Darwin – do you still have close ties to the Barkly Region? I do, and there is no one else I would want to do this EP with. The desert and Tennant Creek will always be home – they just understand my story and what I wanted in this EP. I met Jeffrey McLaughlin many years ago and he has been great to work with. The same goes with one of my biggest inspirations Warren H Williams, my mentor on this journey, him being at Barkly Arts at the time it tied it all in nicely. Are there any other NT artists you would like to work with in the future? Oh that is hard there are so many amazing artists in the NT. If you made me narrow it down, honestly, my heart is country and I adore Dave Garnham and the Reasons to Live. A collaboration with them would be epic. Lastly, any advice you’ve received you’d like to share? Don’t get so busy making a living that you forget to make a life. INFO facebook.com/ patsycolemanmusic

Oliver Eclipse Photography

2019 HAS BEEN HUGE for local singer-songwriter Patsy Coleman. With an EP due for release soon, and baby number two on the way, she’s showing no sign of slowing down. Music NT sat down for a chat with Patsy to hear all about the year that was.

IN THE

THE CREW AT WIDE OPEN SPACE Festival (WOS) gave themselves some breathing space in 2019, but are returning recharged and full of energy in 2020. The festival has drawn revellers and families to the unique event in the heart of Central Australia for the last decade, and Director Scott Large says a hiatus this year has allowed the team to rejuvenate. “After 10 years, we wanted to stop and take a deep breath and look at what we’re trying to achieve, what we could do better and what the event meant to the community and to us as the crew. Obviously, we’re not the same people we were 10 years ago, and our priorities have shifted. And Alice Springs has changed as a town in the last 10 years,” he says.

Mark it in the Diary

One of the main achievements this year is getting a new team on board to inject some fresh ideas and energy. If you’re looking to meet the team and get involved, applications are open for musicians, artists and creatives who want to be part of the 2020 festival. “We’re excited to see what’s out there in the community bubbling away,” Large says. “We’re always looking for a couple of things – innovation, and new and exciting ideas, and we like ideas that are well realised or have opportunities for people to collaborate.” While the deadline for musicians, other artists and performers is looming, Large’s hot tip is to get in early.

Neil Murray and Band – Blood & Longing Tour WHEN SAT 22 FEB | 6.30PM AT DARWIN RAILWAY CLUB COST $33 INFO facebook.com/darwinrail wayclub

A Story in Six Weeks with Mary Anne Butler

Silver Jewellery Making WHEN MON 24 FEB – MON 30 MAR AT TACTILE ARTS COST $380 INFO tactilearts.org.au

“Get your applications in early rather than waiting until the last minute. We tend to get a flood in, and by that stage, we’ve already been looking at what’s coming through and starting to plan,” he says. Keen to just head along for three days of dusty delight? Keep an eye out for the first line up drop in early 2020.

Wide Open Space Festival WHEN FRI 1 – SUN 3 MAY 2020 AT ROSS RIVER RESORT, CENTRAL AUSTRALIA COST $210 EARLY BIRD | $110 EARLY BIRD (14-17) | $135 DAY PASS EARLY BIRD | FREE U13 INFO wideopenspace.net.au

Expressions of Interest Deadline MUSICIANS - MON 16 DEC OTHER ARTISTS - FRI 10 JAN

DARWIN ENTERTAINMENT CENTRE yourcentre.com.au

Queen Forever WHEN SAT 22 FEB | 8PM COST $69.90 | $59.90 CONC

WHEN SUN 2 FEB – SUN MAR 8 AT HARBOUR VIEW PLAZA COST $400 | $300 MEMB INFO ntwriters.com.au

The Beatles’ Abbey Road Live

Curator’s Cut – Aeroplane Dance

Amanda Palmer – There Will Be No Intermission

WHEN WED 19 FEB | 5.30-7.30PM AT NORTHERN TERRITORY LIBRARY COST FREE INFO ntl.nt.gov.au

WHEN SAT 29 FEB | 7PM COST $30 - $74

WHEN FRI 28 FEB | 7PM COST $30 - $175

ICONIC SWEETHEARTS RETURNS T U E S D AY 31 D E C E M B E R 2019 9P M – 2A M I N T H E B E A C H S I D E PAV I L I O N

Join us this New Year’s Eve as we throw back to an era gone by and be swept up in the fun, excitement and nostalgia of Sweethearts. The centrepiece of your night will be around the piano with the live and spontaneous charm of Sweethearts original piano man playing all your favourite songs and requests on demand.

Tickets on sale now at mindilbeachcasinoresort.com.au 18+ event