Featured in The RiotACT this week is Cousin Tony’s Brand New Firebird, who will be playing at Transit Bar on Thursday night from 8 pm with the ever-stunning Kilroy and Finnickers. Cousin Tony’s will be bringing their ‘Electric Brown’ tour to the nation’s capital, after playing sold out shows in Melbourne and Brisbane. Be sure to get your ticket quickly to catch the indie pop sound everyone is talking about!
BAD!SLAM!NO!BISCUIT! – Canberra’s ultimate poetry slam – has made the move to Smith’s Alternative! Be sure to check it out tonight, as it features Nick Delatovic after his unreal performances at the National Folkie.
The Basement has a huge night planned on Friday with Hence The Testbed and Neon Violence amongst others, while CBR indie-folk legends Helena Pop release their long-awaited EP at the Polo along with My Pet Ant and Boroky. Check out the Folk-Punk Afternoon at Smith’s on Saturday, featuring the likes of The Careerists, Jim Dusty and Boots Byers, while at The Phoenix, smooth shoegazers Passive Smoke (a band I thought had called it quits!) will be playing with Shoeb Ahmad, opening for Cat Heaven at 8 pm.
Plus, all weekend, go check out The Earth Festival at the National Botanical Gardens, which, amongst other vegan-inspired things, has a stack of acts playing, including GhostNoises, Rhys Coles and Kirsten Hayes. Way more details (and gigs) down below!
Wednesday 18th
- The Hard Aches ‘Mess’ album launch w/ Antonia & The Lazy Susans, Sincerely, Grizzly and Azim Zain & His Lovely Bones @ Transit Bar, 7 pm start
- Reclink Community Cup Season Launch @ The Phoenix, 7 pm start
- BAD!SLAM!NO!BISCUIT! feat. Nick Delatovic, NORI and the BAD!SLAM!NO!BISCUIT! Canberra National Piano Man @ Smith’s Alternative, 8 pm start
Thursday 19th
- Warwick Alder Quartet @ Smith’s Alternative, 7 pm start
- Avi Avital & Giocoso String Quartet @ Llewellyn Hall, 7 pm start
- Cousin Tony’s Brand New Firebird ‘Electric Brown’ tour w/ Kilroy and Finnickers @ Transit Bar, 8 pm start
- Rival Fire and Bad Moon Born @ The Basement, 8 pm start
- Daughters of the Rum Rebellion @ Polish White Eagle Club, 8 pm start
- Piss Weak Karaoke w/ Chris Endrey @ The Phoenix, 9 pm start
Friday 20th
- Poetry In Motion @ Gang Gang Cafe, 6.30 pm start
- Jayne Denham ‘Calamity’ album tour w/ Jake Sinclair @ Harmonie German Club, 7 pm start
- Chegga’s 40th: Hence The Testbed, Queen Tribute, GtoA, Neon Violence, From Hell’s Heart and John Wickham @ The Basement, 7 pm start
- Phileas Fogg Trio @ Smith’s Alternative, 7 – 9 pm
- Hightime 420 Party w/ The Ansah Brothers, Chris Duke & The Royals and Ebolagoldfish @ Transit Bar, 8 pm start
- Helena Pop EP launch w/ My Pet Ant, Boroky and Jamie Leone @ Polish White Eagle Club, 8 pm start
- L.A. Tooze w/ Neko Pink and Kilroy @ The Phoenix, 8.45 pm start
- Down The Middle w/ Betty Alto and House of Strangers @ Smith’s Alternative, 9.30 pm start
- Mr Wolf presents Nailz & Ponytails: HUDAK, Joshua amour and Clique @ Mr Wolf, 10 pm start
Saturday 21st
- The Earth Festival: GhostNoises, Rhys Coles, Kirsten Hayes, Bridie K and The Blue Angel and Dr Wiedemann @ Australian National Botanical Gardens, 10 am start
- Jeff & Deej w/ Dorothy-Jane ‘DJ’ Gosper @ Old Canberra Inn, 2 pm start
- Folk-Punk Afternoon: The Careerists, Boots Byers, Ben the Red, Jim Dusty, Garfuc*el and Click Cult @ Smith’s Alternative, 3 – 6 pm
- Glenn Cardier and the Sideshow @ Harmonie German Club, 7 pm start
- Blooming ‘Ways To Go’ single launch @ Smith’s Alternative, 7 – 9 pm
- Birthday Slash Fest IV: Inhuman Remnants, The Plague, Deiformity and Terrorvorous @ The Basement, 8 pm start
- Cat Heaven w/ Passive Smoke, Shoeb Ahmad and Sodium Sunday @ The Phoenix, 8 pm start
- Red Sea w/ Mechanical Embrace, Chud and Sally Chicane @ Transit Bar, 8 pm start
- Green Mohair Suits @ Smith’s Alternative, 9.30 pm start
Sunday 22nd
- The Earth Festival: GhostNoises, Rhys Coles, Kirsten Hayes, Bridie K and The Blue Angel and Dr Wiedemann @ Australian National Botanical Gardens, 10 am start
- Sunday Jazz Jam @ Smith’s Alternative, 1.30 pm start
- Moondog @ Old Canberra Inn, 3 – 6 pm
- Nozl w/ Poetry In Motion @ Smith’s Alternative, 4 – 6 pm
- Key Grip @ Smith’s Alternative, 7 – 9 pm
Monday 23rd
- CBR DIY ‘Gig Guide’ presents Bootlegs Sessions: Boots Byers & The Magpie Choir, Lefty, Slow Dial and Swoon Queen @ The Phoenix, 8 pm start
Tuesday 24th
- KaraokeLove Tuesdays @ Transit Bar, 7 pm start
Check out our Gig Guide for upcoming world-class live music showcasing local talents, Australian artists, and international musical acts at some of the best venues in the country. Find out about the latest gallery and exhibition openings, new restaurants, all-day cultural events, family-friendly activities, and so much more. There truly is something on offer for everyone, no matter what tastes and interests you have.
Our What’s On page details the shows, events, and activities taking place over the coming days. We make it easy to plan your week, with all of the vital information in one place: when, where, who, and why.
So, get your diary ready and start making plans. It’s time to explore Canberra’s lively events calendar, and get the most out of life in our wonderful city.