The National Multicultural Festival is back for another year. Photo: National Multicultural Festival: Twitter.
One of the biggest events on the Canberra calendar arrives this weekend. The National Multicultural Festival will turn the CBD into a bustling hive of music, dance, food and culture from around the globe with free events and performances taking place all weekend.
Beatles fans will rejoice as a supergroup of Aussie rockers are bringing Abbey Road to life on the Canberra Theatre stage this Saturday. It’s a rare and exciting chance to catch the album live in its entirety, a feat that not even the Fab Four themselves dreamed of achieving.
From the NGA’s Art Weekend and Shakespeare By The Lakes, to recycled fashion markets and the hometown gig for Canberra’s favourite teenage punks, there’s so much going on in the capital this weekend that you’ll struggle to fit it all in the schedule.
All Weekend
Performers at the launch of the Multicultural Festival in Civic. Photo: Supplied.
National Multicultural Festival
Where: Canberra City
When: Friday from 4:00 pm to Sunday 4:00 pm
The National Multicultural Festival takes over the CBD once again this weekend. With around 200,000 attendees expected across various locations throughout the city, there’s something on offer for everyone. Expect cuisine from around the world, cultural performances, family-friendly spaces and a host of other activities. Headlining this year’s festival are singer-songwriting megastar Vanessa Amorosi, former MasterChef contestant Adam Liaw and local electro-pop sensation LIV LI. Head to the festival website to check out the full program of free events.
The cast of Lakespeare & Co.’s A Midsummer Night’s Dream. Photo: Supplied.
Shakespeare By The Lakes: A Midsummer Night’s Dream
Where: Friday in Glebe Park, Saturday and Sunday on the National Library’s Patrick White Lawns
When: Friday at 6:30 pm, Saturday and Sunday at 4:30 pm
It’s perhaps Shakespeare’s most-loved comedy and you can catch it for free this weekend. Lakespeare & Co is an independent theatre company on a mission to bring the works of The Bard to audiences in their natural habitat. A choice of two locations is on offer this weekend, with Glebe Park and the Patrick White Lawns of the National Library both set to host local performers taking on the revered play. Tickets are free to book via Eventbrite, with the option of a grazing platter on Friday evening if you feel so inclined.
Senior Moments 2: ‘Remember Remember’ hits The Playhouse this weekend. Image: Supplied.
Senior Moments 2: ‘Remember, Remember’
Where: The Playhouse, Canberra Theatre Centre
When: Friday and Saturday, 2:00 pm and 7:30 pm
Australian showbiz legends Max Gillies, Tony Barber and Normie Rowe are back with a sequel to their wildly successful Senior Moments show. It’s a brilliantly funny comedy revue full of sketches, songs and downright silly moments from a troupe of performers who, by their own admission, ought to know better. Tickets start at $55. You can scoop up your own and find out more at the Canberra Theatre Centre website.
Friday
Night Shift returns as part of the monthly Art Weekend at the NGA. Photo: Supplied.
Art Weekend: Night Shift
Where: National Gallery of Australia
When: 5:00 pm to 9:00 pm
Art Weekend returns to the NGA on Friday night. A free, monthly program of talks, music, creating and unexpected art encounters, this is the perfect opportunity for newcomers and experienced art-lovers alike to dive into everything the national collection has to offer. This month’s program responds to ‘Belonging: Stories of Australian Art’, with Far North Queensland artist Arone Meeks on hand to share insights into his own and others’ creative practice. Head to nga.gov.au for all the details on this month’s activities.
Teen Jesus and the Jean Teasers make their triumphant homecoming this weekend. Photo: Claire Warren.
Teen Jesus and the Jean Teasers ‘Desk Chair’ Single Launch
Where: Transit Bar
When: 8:00 pm to 12:00 am
If you’ve been meaning for a while to get out and head to a gig, this is the one you don’t want to miss. Local teenagers Teen Jesus and the Jean Teasers are on a path to national (and international) stardom, and there’s no better place to catch them live than in their hometown. Also on the bill are local indie-rockers Sputnik Sweetheart, who created a highlight of 2019 with their EP Growing Pains. Tickets are $16.50 and available through Moshtix.
Local record label Warm Water and Badger & Co are teaming up to bring live music to the heart of ANU campus during O-Week. Photo: Harry Chalker.
Friday Night House Party
Where: Badger & Co, Kambri Precinct ANU
When: 9:00 pm – 2:00 am
Local record label Warm Water is teaming up with Canberra’s newest (and sleekest) pub, Badger & Co, to offer up a string of enticing local live music events in celebration of ANU O-Week. The series wraps up on Friday with a night of music and good vibes courtesy of a host of local DJs. It’s all paying homage to the serendipitous way these two organisations started working together and the aim of the game is to show off as much local talent as humanly possible.
Saturday
The wreath-laying ceremony for the 25th Anniversary of Operation TAMAR will be held at the Australian Peacekeeping Memorial on Anzac Parade. Image: dva.gov.au
25th Anniversary of Operation TAMAR, Rwanda
Where: The ceremony will be held at the Australian Peacekeeping Memorial on Anzac Parade, with the official reception to follow in Anzac Hall at the Australian War Memorial Canberra
When: Ceremony begins at 10:00 am
Join representatives from the UN and peacekeeping bodies as they commemorate what was arguably the first violent peacekeeping activity since the Vietnam War in which the Australian Defence Force took part. Seating will be provided at the wreath-laying ceremony as well as at the official reception to follow in Anzac Hall. Head to dva.gov.au to find out more information and background about Operation TAMAR.
Members of Powderfinger, You Am I, Jet and Spiderbait are joining forces to take on a Beatles classic. Photo: Jay Wennington.
Abbey Road Live
Where: Canberra Theatre Centre
When: 7:30 pm start
A sense of finality hangs over The Beatles’ magnum opus, an understanding that the band had one last creative push left in them that might well be their last. Four musicians from some of Australia’s most iconic bands have joined forces to bring Abbey Road to the stage, bringing an all-time classic album to a 2020 audience. According to Powderfinger’s Darren Middleton, we can expect moments of tenderness, all-out psychedelia and some of the most influential songwriting of all time. Tickets are still available for this unique performance. They start at $81.90 through canberratheatrecentre.com.
Sunday
Get on down to the all-local markets at The Plot this Sunday. Photo: Supplied.
Love Local Markets
Where: The Plot, 12 Beltana Road, Pialligo
When: 10:00 am to 3:00 pm
Food, drink, market stalls, a beautiful location, a family-friendly atmosphere and the comfort of knowing that every penny you’re spending is headed straight back into the local community. It’s the perfect way to spend your Sunday. Click here to check out the full list of stallholders, including Wildbrumby Distillery, Clyde River Berry Farm, Grease Monkeys, Luna Rose Jewellery and so much more.
Art Weekend is back at the NGA. Photo: Jack Mohr.
Art Weekend: Sensory Sunday
Where: National Gallery of Australia
When: 8:30 am to 10:00 am
Sensory Sunday is a free monthly program that provides people on the autism spectrum or those with social anxiety or who are neurodiverse with early morning access to the gallery. It’s the perfect opportunity to experience the National Gallery of Australia away from the noise and busyness that might stop you from heading into a gallery space on any given day. Entry is free and short conversational tours will be on offer for those wanting to discover more about the works on display.
Check out Super Sunday this week at NGA. Photo: Supplied.
Art Weekend: Super Sunday
Where: National Gallery of Australia
When: 11:00 am to 3:00 pm
Art Weekend continues on Sunday afternoon with Super Sunday, a jam-packed program of family-friendly activities and events that create a multitude of new ways to engage with the national collection. Create your own landscape art, have a go at iPad drawing, do the wombat-wobble with Wiradjuri singer Johnny Huckle, sit and listen to storytellers, take a virtual reality tour – there’s so much on offer that it’s probably best to expect the unexpected. Head here to find out more about this month’s program.
The Three Sixty Fashion Market will take over the Fitter’s Workshop with recycled and new fashion. Photo: Supplied.
Three Sixty Fashion Market
Where: The Fitter’s Workshop, Kingston
When: 10:00 am to 3:00 pm
As if you needed any more excuse to update your wardrobe. Peruse new and recycled clothes in the cavernous interior of the heritage-listed Fitter’s Workshop. The Three Sixty Fashion Market is committed to encouraging a circular economy, meaning sustainability, recycling and up-cycling are always going to be kept in mind. That doesn’t mean the shopping is any less enticing, though. You’re guaranteed to unearth some great buys.
Hear what Kevin McCloud has to say and ask him some questions of your own. Image: Supplied.
The World According To Kevin McCloud
Where: Canberra Theatre Centre
When: 4:00 pm and 7:30 pm
It’s safe to say that Grand Designs has revolutionised the way we think about architecture in our day-to-day lives. Its host Kevin McCloud is set to delve into his own personal story, as well as field questions from the audience in this rare theatre appearance. Expect anecdotes about his life as a TV presenter, environmentalist and all-around design guru, as well as fascinating insights into the future of design and architecture. Tickets start at $109 through canberratheatrecentre.com.
All Week
Nick Moir’s ‘The Burning’ is showing at Tuggeranong Arts Centre.
Nick Moir’s ‘The Burning’ Exhibition
Where: Tuggeranong Arts Centre
When: Monday to Friday from 10:00 am to 4:00 pm, Saturday from 10:00 am to 6:00 pm
The impacts of a horrific bushfire season are still being felt around the region, and Canberra’s artistic community is certainly no different. Moir has spent 25 years photographing extreme weather events in his role as photographer at The Sydney Morning Herald. This series of photographs are a surreal reminder of the practical and emotional dangers that fire creates.
Wednesday
Sia Soliola is the special guest at this week’s Menslink Midweeker. Photo: Raiders.com.au.
Menslink Midweeker: Sia Soliola
Where: Gryphons Caffe Bar
When: 5:30 pm start
Menslink Midweekers are free events, open to people of all ages and genders. This week’s edition will see Sia Soliola, known as the ‘Spiritual Leader’ of the Canberra Raiders, sharing his story. Midweekers are a fantastic chance to connect with the local community and engage with some of the key issues facing men in the Canberra region. Grab a meal, a coffee, or a drink and hear from a community leader whose impact reaches far beyond the footy field.
The Street Uni sessions is a free, all-ages, drug and alcohol-free music event. Image: supplied.
The Street Uni Sessions #11
Where: The Street Uni, 23 East Row Civic
When: 6:30 pm to 8:30 pm
The Street Uni is an invaluable youth and community organisation committed to providing cultural and creative pathways for young people. The Street Uni Sessions are a monthly all-ages, drug and alcohol-free event featuring a lineup of established and up-and-coming local musicians. This month’s iteration includes four acts spanning folk, rock, and hip-hop, as well as an open mic, making it the perfect way to get involved in the music scene.
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