5 August 2022

Things to do in Canberra this week (5 - 11 August)

| John Coleman
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Queen Forever Queen tribute band.

The show must go on! Queen Forever will rock you at the Canberra Theatre. Image: Queen Forever.

Queen Forever – Break Free concert

When: Friday 5 August, 7:30 pm
Where: Canberra Theatre Centre
How much: $92.45.

Have yourself a real good time at Canberra Theatre this Friday as Melbourne-based tribute band Queen Forever takes to the stage in authentic costume. They’ll be performing some of Queen’s best-known songs, including Crazy Little Thing Called Love, Radio GaGa, We Will Rock You, We Are The Champions, Another One Bites The Dust, Don’t Stop Me Now, Somebody to Love, Killer Queen and, yes, Bohemian Rhapsody.

Reckon no one can ever successfully replicate Freddie Mercury? Hamish & Andy disagree, arguing Queen Forever lead singer Gareth Hill is “the perfect mirror of Freddie”. You can decide yourself, though.

Winter Schnappsfest 2022

Schnapp into Winter. Image: Supplied.

Winter Schnappsfest: festival of German food and drink

When: Friday 5 August, 6 pm to 11 pm
Where: Harmonie German Club, Narrabundah
How much: $16.84; get your tickets here.

We might be two months off Oktober but it’s not too early to celebrate the best of beer halls with schnapps and other German spirits, German cuisine, a live band, and games at Harmonie German Club’s annual Schnappsfest.

Electric vehicles

The range of EVs is constantly expanding – the EV Expo has the latest. Photo: James Coleman.

Electric Vehicle Expo

When: Saturday 6 August and Sunday 7 August, 10 am to 4 pm
Where: EPIC
How much: Free; register here.

Still thinking about making the jump from petrol to EV? You’ll be able to get up close to some of Australia’s current electric cars and motorbikes, have your lingering questions answered, and witness the Australian launch of the Toyota HiLux-based electric ute, the ROEV One.

The Ten Tenors - Highway Men Tour

None shall sleep when The Ten Tenors are at Canberra Theatre Centre. Image: Canberra Theatre Centre.

TEN Tenors come to Canberra

When: Saturday 6 August, 2 pm and 7 pm
Where: Canberra Theatre Centre
How much: $141.90 to 147.85; get your tickets here.

The iconic Australian singers have returned from a whirlwind US tour – but not without picking up a heap of US country music on the way. Combined with Aussie country favourites from Keith Urban and a mix of rock and pop classics like Unchained Melody and Nessun Dorma, the TEN Tenor’s Highwaymen Tour will make you want to come back again, and again, and again …

Music in the Fields

Wine, cheese, meats, a velvet couch and classical music. All’s well with the world. Image: Supplied.

Music in the Fields: Canberra Symphony Orchestra at Pialligo Estate

When: Saturday 6 August, 6:30 pm
Where: Piallago Estate, 18 Kallaroo Road, Pialligo
How much: $129; bookings here.

We’ve all sat back in a winery and thought, “all this place needs is a chamber quartet”, right? Some of Canberra’s best musicians from the Canberra Symphony Orchestra will be performing chamber music at Piallago Estate, while the Estate’s restaurant puts on a fine-dining spread including charcuterie, canapés and wines.

Dirrum Festival poster

From a Ukrainian-Australian activist to the founder of March4Women, hear from some of Australia’s movers and shakers at this year’s festival. Image: Supplied.

Dirrum Festival: Food stalls, live music and conversation

When: Saturday 6 August, 4 pm to 9 pm
Where: Radford College, 1 College St, Bruce
How much: $10-$30; get your tickets here.

Radford College’s annual festival has hosted some big-idea speakers over the years, including Kevin Rudd and former Chief Scientist Ian Chubb. This year, speakers include Thailand cave diver and 2019 Australian of the Year Dr Richard Harris, Ukrainian-Australian poet and activist Anastasia Radievska, Invictus Games champion Ben Farinazzo, March4Justice founder Janine Hendry, author Thomas Mayor, Fulbright Scholar and ANU professor Dr John Minns, CEO of the Winnunga Nimmityjah Aboriginal Health and Community Services Julie Tongs, poet and authors Jahzeel Campbell and Thomas Mayor.

The evening will also feature live music and food stalls.

Beaning promotional image

Keep the kids entertained and learn something yourself at The Beanies. Photo: Canberra Theatre.

The Beanies from ABC Kids TV live on stage

When: Saturday 6 August, 10 am & 12 pm
Where: Canberra Theatre Centre
How much: $27.95 – $35.95; get your tickets here.

There’ll be everything for kids – but something for the parents too as The Beanies from ABC Kids go live at Canberra Theatre. Laura, Mim and Michael will be caring for a baby egg for an hour – and exploring parenting struggles from discipline to Instagram.

The Crowd & I: Australian Chamber Orchestra comes to Canberra

When: Saturday 6 August, 8 pm
Where: Llewellyn Hall, ANU School of Music
How much: $25 – $59; get your tickets here.

Australia’s own chamber orchestra is on tour this week with a concert of Bach, Shostakovitch and Chopin, exploring the concept of the individual’s relationship with the crowd. Canberra’s the first to benefit, with Melbourne, Sydney and Brisbane to follow.

Old Bus Depot Markets

From jewellery to homewares, food and fashion, the Old Bus Depot Markets have something for everyone. But did you know they were themed? Photos: Old Bus Depot Markets.

Multicultural Sunday at Old Bus Depot Markets

When: Sunday 7 August, 9:30 to 5 pm
Where: Old Bus Depot Markets, Kingston.
How much: Free.

Every week has a theme at Canberra’s Old Bus Depot Markets – and this week is Multicultural Sunday, bringing a distinctly international flavour (literally, for some stalls) to the markets. Check out the other regular Sunday markets in Canberra, including Haig Park Village Markets, Trash and Treasure Market, and Tuggeranong Bric’a’Brac and Rummage.

Jane And Jimmy Barnes

Opening Night Dinner with Jane And Jimmy Barnes. Photo: Canberra Writers Festival.

Canberra Writers Festival launch: dinner with Jimmy and Jane Barnes

When: Wednesday 10 August, 6:30 to 10:30 pm.
Where: Gandel Atrium, National Museum of Australia
How much: $150; get your tickets here.

It’s been two years but the Canberra festival for local and international writers is back! It kicks off on Wednesday with Jimmy and Jane Barnes in conversation with Her Canberra’s Emma MacDonald over a meal inspired by the Barnes’ best-selling book Where the River Bends. The full program for the rest of the festival will include actor Richard Roxburgh, former Prime Minister John Howard, and writers Liane Moriarty and Trent Dalton.

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