23 September 2019

Nine things to do around Canberra this weekend (2–4 February)

| Zoe Pleasants
Join the conversation
1
Googfest. Photo: Supplied.

Googfest, this Saturday at the Rockley Oval. Photo: Supplied.

This weekend is all about music and sport. SoundOut, Canberra’s international festival of free improvisation, free jazz and experimental music is on, as is Googfest, Googong’s annual music festival, and Paul Dempsey is playing at the Canberra Theatre. The Canberra Triathlon Festival is on; the Prime Minster’s XI team is taking on England at the Mauka Oval; and Jogalong, a community organised, volunteer-run event which helps women and girls get active, is celebrating its 40th birthday—an impressive achievement!

All weekend

SoundOut 2018

Where: ANU Drill Hall Gallery
When: Saturday & Sunday
SoundOut is an annual international festival of free improvisation, free jazz and experimental music. In its 9th year, this festival will feature artists from Austria, Denmark, France, Malaysia, Norway, Sweden and the US along with local artists. Check out the program here.

Summer Sounds

Where: Eucalypt Lawn, National Botanic Gardens
When: Sat & Sun, 5–7:30 pm
It is the last of the Botanic Garden’s free Summer Sounds events for the summer this weekend. There will be live music with Gypsy Jazz Project playing on Saturday night and the Band of the Royal Military College playing on Sunday night; food and drink stalls; and dance workshops presented by Jumptown Swing.

Friday

Prime Minister’s XI

Where: Manuka Oval
When: Gates open at 5:30 pm, main game starts at 7:15 pm
The annual Prime Minister’s XI cricket match is on this Friday and the Prime Minister’s team will take on England in a T20-format game. One-time local resident, Nathan Lyon is captaining the Prime Minister’s team. Before the main event, Hong Kong will take on an ACT XI team. Tickets from $10, book here.

Starstruck Summer Nights

Where: National Portrait Gallery
When: From 5 pm
The theme of the Portrait Gallery’s Starstruck Summer Nights event for this week is Bush Rangers, Beards and Spirits. Enjoy a drink, tap your feet to the tunes of the Black Mountain String Band or take an after-dark tour of the Starstruck exhibition. The event will be hosted by local spoken word artist, CJ Bowerbird. It is a free event but you will need an exhibition ticket to take the tour, book here.

David Hockney: prints party

Where: National Gallery of Australia
When: 6–8 pm
Check out the National Gallery’s exhibition of David Hockey’s prints with colourful people, food, drink and live entertainment. Curator Jane Kinsman will introduce the exhibition and staff from the Megalo Print Studio and the ANU School of Art and Design Print Workshop will be on hand to answer questions and discuss all things printing. Wear your loudest prints, enjoy a summer punch on arrival and live entertainment from Venus Mantrap and Nick Delatovic throughout the night. This is an over-18 only event, tickets are $35, $30 for concession/student and $25 for NGA and Megalo Print Studio members. Book here.

Saturday

Canberra Triathlon Festival

Where: Rond Terrace
When: 6 am–12:30 pm
The Canberra Triathlon Festival is on this Saturday. It includes four races: Standard—1.5km swim, 40km bike ride and 10km run; Sprint—750m swim, 20km bike ride and 5km run; Super Sprint (Enticer)—200m swim, 10km bike ride and 2km run; and Try a Tri—200m swim, 10km bike ride and 2km run. More details and register here.

Googfest

Where: Rockley Oval, Googong
When: 5–9 pm
Googfest is an annual music festival held over the border in the township of Googong. It is a relaxed family friendly festival with space for the kids to run around and firetrucks for them to climb all over; gourmet food stalls; and people of all ages dancing to great music. The festival prides itself on putting local up-and-coming bands on a line-up with a bigger name act, and this year is no different. The Aston Shuffle are headlining and supporting them will be Sophie Edwards, Ned Philpot, Mondecreen and The Baker Boys Band. Mikah Freeman and Vance Musgrove are the two DJs that make up The Shuffle and they originally hail from Canberra. They have been making music together for over ten years and currently host a weekly show on Triple J, The Friday Night Shuffle. The other bands on the line-up responded to a call out for local performers, and represent a mix of styles, original songs and crowd-pleasing favourites. The night will finish with a fireworks display.

Paul Dempsey

Where: Canberra Theatre
When: 8 pm
Paul Dempsey, the soulful lead singer of Australian indie band Something for Kate and solo performer is playing at the Canberra Theatre this Saturday. There are only a few tickets left, book here.

Sunday

Women’s and Girl’s Jogalong

Where: Weston Park, Yarralumla
When: 8 am
Jogalong is a monthly event held by the YMCA Runners Club which aims to encourage women and girls to get active. Remarkably, Jogalong is celebrating its 40th birthday this month! It started as a group of 10 women running 6 km at Mt Stromlo and has grown to an event that gives women and girls the opportunity to run or walk either 3 km or 6 km in a supportive environment which includes free childcare for kids under five! Jogalong also includes a popular 1.6 km mini-jog event for all kids under 13. Both the 6 km and mini-jog events are handicapped, and the 3 km event is also open to boys under 13. To celebrate its birthday, Jogalong would like to see a huge turn-out of current and former participants this Sunday. In addition, February is Ovarian Cancer Awareness month, so Jogalong has teamed up with local charity OvCan to raise awareness of this disease and money to support patients. Register for Jogalong or make a donation to OvCan here.

Join the conversation

1
All Comments
  • All Comments
  • Website Comments
LatestOldest

Daily Digest

Want the best Canberra news delivered daily? Every day we package the most popular Riotact stories and send them straight to your inbox. Sign-up now for trusted local news that will never be behind a paywall.

By submitting your email address you are agreeing to Region Group's terms and conditions and privacy policy.