[ 18 May, 2012 to 20 May, 2012. ]

And so we come to the end of another fun filled week in the Capital.

What’s worth seeing and doing around town this weekend?

Just leave your ideas in the comments.

[ 19 May, 2012; 6:30 pm; ]

Self described “hip pop folk punk” and all round good sort Bryony Aziz is launching her EP this Saturday night at Digress and she’s put together a top flight list of singer songwriters to support her.

It’s amazing value with Drew Walkey, Rafe Marris, Matty Ellis and Nigel Mcrae all worth far more than $5 to [...]

[ 1 June, 2012 to 2 June, 2012. ]

We’ve been sent details on a great reason to look forward to the start of June with two big nights of music to celebrate the opening of Sam King’s new recording studio.

Musicians will use any excuse for a party… and the opening of Canberra’s newest studio ‘I Am Merloc Studios’ was all the opportunity that [...]

ANU Vice Chancellor Ian Young has stuck his head over the parapet to make the case again for what they’re trying to do at the School of Music.
A lot has been said and written about the proposed changes to the ANU School of Music over past weeks.
Much of the talk has revealed the passion our [...]

The Folk Festival is a strange beast for a few reasons:
– It relies on vast armies of volunteers working for free (often in highly professional capacities).
– It charges like a wounded bull. Seriously it hoovers money out of my wallet harder than any casino I’ve visited.
– It pays the most cursory to negligible [...]

The Canberra Times reports that the mass sacking of School of Music staff is now not going to go ahead and instead there’s going to be a redundancy program to trim numbers by a still hefty third.
All other parts of ANU facing cuts will no doubt be planning their own rowdy protests to apply pressure.
[Photo [...]

Orangedrummaboy has sent in pictures from today’s protest in defence of the School of Music and these words:
The usual quiet of the ANU campus was intruded upon by a large, loud though peaceful march, protesting the cuts proposed for the School of Music.
After meeting in Union Court for music and speeches of solidarity, the [...]

Thanks to Captainblack for the tip, the Hong Kong Academy for Performing Arts is reporting that the School of Music head Adrian Walter is heading their way.
These appointments take a long time to work out normally.

The Save the School Of Music concert’s live stream is up and going now.
They plan to keep the music going for the next 24 hours until the big protest tomorrow.
If you’ve got pictures of video of the concert of protest send them into images@the-riotact.com .
UPDATE: Huzzah for embed code, you can watch it here now [...]

The ABC reports that Professor Adrian Walter, presiding over the stricken ANU School of Music, has gone on indefinite leave but ominously has the Vice-Chancellor’s “full support”.
Professor Young says the decision for Professor Walter to take indefinite leave was unexpected.
“Adrian Walter has been under enormous pressure,” he said.
“At a meeting not with me, but [...]

[ 11 May, 2012 to 13 May, 2012. ]

As another productive week draws down it’s time to consider the merriment of the weekend.

What is worth seeing and doing around Canebrra over the next few weeks?

Just leave your suggestions in the comments.

[ 8 June, 2012; 8:00 pm; ]

Intriguing news in of the expanding music program at Smiths Alternative Bookstore:

The Melbourne Building in Civic is home to some sensational restaurants and cafes and it’s about to have an unlikely new live music venue, under the guise of Smiths Alternative Bookstore.

It’s almost part of the furniture, Smiths books, established in 1976 and a regular [...]

Soon to be released.
Goody Hallett and Other Stories
The Feldons
http://www.cdbaby.com/cd/thefeldons

We’ve had these thoughts sent in by an informed reader who chooses to remain anonymous. The potential concern about the audit performance of the School of Music is certainly food for thought.
The announcement of job cuts and program changes at the ANU School of Music last week was viewed as a drastic turn of events [...]

Canberra has a reputation for having a large and vibrant music scene at least in proportion to the fairly small population of the city.
Though traditionally a stronghold of metal in the suburbs and jazz/avant garde among the School of Music graduates there is also some truly excellent punk rock music to come out of [...]

This in from the thinking hipster’s favourite obscure band:
WATERFORD HIT THE ROAD
Canberra’s Waterford are poised to take the sounds of their debut LP ‘Say Ok’ to the big rock-smoke in a run of shows this May and June. Returning to Sydney and Melbourne on this mini-tour, the group will play the Lansdowne Hotel on May [...]

If you’ve got a spare half hour you can enjoy the complete spin package surrounding sacking all the staff at the School of Music. ANU’s posted the press conference to YouTube with this note:
Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Academic) Professor Marnie Hughes-Warrington and Head of the ANU School of Music Professor Adrian Walter give this press conference on [...]

[ 24 November, 2012; ]

Andrew Barr has announced the lineup for this year’s Voices in the Forest at the Arboretum:

This year’s concert features performances by Sumi Jo, a Korean soprano, and Stuart Skelton, an Australian-born tenor. The Royal Military College Band, the Voices in the Forest Orchestra, and choirs and soloists from schools and colleges across the ACT will [...]

I’ve been meaning to ask for ages… Does anyone know if there’s anywhere in Civic that sells guitar strings? The second hand CD store in the interchange used to but don’t anymore…
Would be so handy if there was rather than having to go out to Phillip or Mitchell every time.
Thanks RiotACTers

“All academic and general staff positions in the School of Music will be declared vacant”
This in from a source. It starts out sounding all flexible and modern and then BAM, you’re all sacked.

UPDATE 03/05/12 12:05: We now have the staff email:
[Staff.all] ANU School of Music
staff.all-bounces@anu.edu.au [staff.all-bounces@anu.edu.au] on behalf of VC [vc@anu.edu.au]
Sent: Thursday, [...]

[ 4 May, 2012 to 6 May, 2012. ]

After a rare full week of work there’s a properly deserved weekend coming up here in Canberra.

So what’s worth seeing and doing around town this weekend?

Just leave your thoughts in the comments!

[ 13 May, 2012; 2:30 pm; ]

If you’re wondering what to do this mother’s day this looks worth a guernsey.

Back at the start of April we put out a call for Canberra (and near surrounds) based local acts who’ve put together music videos.
Today we present that playlist.
If you know a video that’s on YouTube and should be in here let us know.
Also we plan to make this a living list. So be sure [...]

[ 1 May, 2012 to 31 May, 2012. ] Tuesday 1st 7:30pm
Mind Games Presents
Andrew and Shannon’s Classic Trivia

Thursday 3rd 9pm
The Skronks
Space Party
Peking Shears

Saturday 5th 9:30pm
Owen Campbell

Monday 7th 8pm
Canberra Musicians Club presents The Bootleg Sessions
Los Chavos
No Hausfrau
State College
Dan Musil

Tuesday 8th 7:30pm
Alison and Joel’s Geeky Trivia

Thursday 10th 9pm
Xav Ier
Tom Woodward
Dylan Hekimian

Saturday 12th 9:30pm
Briscoe
Waterford
Lavers

Monday 14th 8pm
Canberra Times FLY presents The Bootleg Sessions
Cracked Actor
Elisha Bones
Lavers

Tuesday 15th 7:30pm
ARC Cinema [...]

In a nerve wracking venture out of our comfort zone we’re kicking off an interview series called “10 minutes with… ”
The pilot for these was shot on Tuesday with Laurence Kain and we talked about his adventures with rock climbing, Honkytonks, and the Foreshore Festival.
Many thanks to King O’Malleys for the use of their room [...]

[ 11 May, 2012; 8:00 pm; ]

Facebook brings word of an awesome night of local talent coming to ANU:

Mikelangelo and the Tin Star return to Canberra on the No Sign Of A Pipeline tour Friday 11th May.

The group are touring to celebrate the release of the first official film clip from their debut album ‘The Surf’n'Western Sounds Of…’ which was [...]

Wild rumours were circulating this morning that the Board of Gorman House had been sacked or resigned.
Gorman House has informed us there have been no sackings or resignations.
So there.

[ 27 April, 2012 to 29 April, 2012. ]

It’s been a damn funny week with a public holiday in the middle to confuse us all.

But the weekend is hard upon us!

What’s worth seeing and doing around town?

Just leave your suggestions in the comments.

[ 11 May, 2012 to 26 May, 2012. ]

Phoenix Players have announced their upcoming production of How to Succeed in Business Without Really Trying at the ANU Arts Centre.

There’s also a lengthy info page on the production.

How to Succeed in Business Without Really Trying is one of the funniest and most loved musicals of all time. Based on the book of the [...]

Canberra’s Owen Campbell got a second shot on Australia’s Got Talent, said what the judges wanted to hear and moves on in the show.
I’m glad for him he gets the continued exposure. Glad for the Canberra music scene that one of their own is finally getting mainstream exposure which will get more attention for the [...]

[ 29 April, 2012; 3:00 pm; ]

Hello Rioters,

Hashemoto and Mr Fibby are heading again to the top of Mount Stromlo to play at the site of the Yale-Columbia telescope as the sun sets over the Brindies, and you are all invited! BBQ provided by the CMC, although I haven’t asked yet, so maybe not.  
If you came along last year then [...]

While I suspect Owen would have preferred to be making headlines by means other than brawling on air with talent show judges it has had a plus side.
His album Sunshine Road has gone to the top of the Australian Blues charts on iTunes.
We await with bated breathe his re-emergence on the show and can’t help [...]