Sydney - what's happening? We know and we'll tell you!
Here's what will get you going on your Hot August Nights... and some smooth days...
ADRIAN CUNNINGHAM an Australian native now living in NYC, is a well established and indispensable to New York's jazz scene. For the first time he's briniging his New York based band The Old School to Australia. The group which specialises in the musical tradition New Orleans, are the recipients of the Best Band award, two years in a row at the World Jam competition in Madrid, (2016 and 2017) and Best Band award at Harlem festival 2017 (Vilnius, Lithuania). Adrian Cunningham (clarinet, saxophone, vocals), Jon Challoner (trumpet), John Merrill (guitar), Jim Robertson (bass) will be joined Saturday 10 August at Venue 505 by Sydney favourite Cameron Reid on drums.
BLIGH - HERO OR VILLAIN? challenges his popular narrative, looking beyond the Bounty mutiny to explore the many sides of this most infamous of maritime figures. Judge for yourself at this interactive and immersive exhibition at the National Maritime Museum, Darling Harbour. Step into Bligh's world - climb aboard a replica of the small boat Bligh and crew were set adrift in, see real breadfruit growing, cast your vote. 9.30am - 5pm daily until 2020.
CHICAGO opens in August to razzle dazzle Sydney at the Capitol Theatre. Starring Natalie Bassingthwaighte as Roxie Hart, Alinta Chidzey as Velma Kelly and Casey Donovan as Matron ‘Mama’ Morton’ and Tom Burlinson as Billy Flynn. A true New York City institution, CHICAGO has everything that makes Broadway great - a universal tale of fame, fortune and all that jazz, one show-stopping song after another, and the slickest dancing in town. No wonder CHICAGO has been honoured with 6 Tony Awards, 2 Olivier Awards, a Grammy and thousands of standing ovations.
FIRE'S ON Arthur Streeton’s 1891 painting depicts a man being stretchered out of the Lapstone tunnel after a botched explosion. The drama of the scene, almost overshadowed by the heroic landscape, sets the backdrop for a passionate program by The Streeton Trio – Emma Jardine, Benjamin Kopp and guest cellist Chris Pidcock - featuring music of Aresnky, Babadjanian and Shostakovich at the Independent Theatre in North Sydney 25 August.
GIN QUEEN Caroline Childerley will be bringing one of her popular gin dinners to Sydney. Former Bartender of the Year, Lee Potter Cavanagh, and his team at Rosenbaum and Fuller Bondi will be creating cocktails made with three local gins, to match to delicious food. Joining guests will be Ally Ayres from Karu Distillery, Tim Stones from Manly Spirits Company and Harriet Leigh from Archie Rose. Each distiller will share the story of their gin and chat with diners, creating a unique opportunity to learn more about these award-winning spirits. Thursday 22 August tickets are $160 each and include 4 courses expertly matched to a gin cocktail as well as a taster of each spirit.
HAYSEED DIXIE formed in 2000 when John Wheeler & Mike Daly drank roughly enough whiskey to float a battleship and decided to play around in John’s studio. Having spent the previous few years touring with assorted country hat-acts, John had assembled a proper pile of recording equipment, thus when he and Mike discovered in their drunken epiphany that the Lost Highway of Reverend Hank Williams and the Highway to Hell of Bishop Bon Scott were indeed the same identical stretch of tarmac, they were well and truly prepared to document this revelation in situ. 18+ Oxford Art Factory 21 August.
KEEP IT DISCO 4TH BIRTHDAY SPECIAL with late night lovers Brudo & Hux as they assemble the ultimate Keep It Disco boogie zone for an all night affair of dance and romance. Find yourself a friend and get down Friday night 23 August 8pm - 4am. Mozie down to FREDA'S grab a party hat and save room for cake.
MANAGING CARMEN by David Williamson. Brent Lyall is at the top of his game and should be on top of the world: captain of the most powerful football club in Australia, he has two medals and a beautiful girlfriend on his arm, but something is holding him back from being the charismatic hero everyone expects. Gender bender footy fun directed by Isaac Downey for Lane Cove Theatre Company 16 - 31 August at The Performance Space @ St Aidan’s in Longueville. Tix $27, add $6 for a cheeseplate.
NEW WAVE RAVE '80s new wave hits and underground classics Franklin Furter, Ariane, Hani Hanball 8pm - 4am Freda's Chippendale.
SHAUN GLADWELL: PACIFIC UNDERTOW will be the largest survey exhibition to date of the work of Australian artist Shaun Gladwell, best known for his videos. Pacific Undertow spans two decades of his super cool work. This skater, surfer, artist and video maker is originally from Western Sydney and he's super cool too. His FREE MCA EXHIBITION opened late last month and continues at the Museum of Contemporary Art until 7 October.
SYDNEY FOLK FESTIVAL for city slickers no gumboots required - heads to City Tattersall’s Clu, the historic 750 seat Pitt Street Uniting Church, the Edinburgh Castle Hotel (1885), venues within the Sydney Mechanics School of Arts (SMSA established 1833) and other Sydney venues - with a joyous celebration of all the music genres under folk. Storytelling – colonial, indigenous, multicultural – dance, poetry, theatre, food and drink… and much, much more. The entire line-up is Aussie – in fact all but two acts are from NSW! In the heart of the city Every venue is within a 5 minute walk of Sydney Town Hall.
SYDNEY TEA FESTIVAL featuring world-class loose-leaf teas and an innovative program of workshops, talks and special features.Sunday 18 August 9am - 4.30pm Carriageworks
WHO YOU THINK I AM opened 1 August Palace Cinemas. In this film out of a mix of petulance and curiosity, Claire impulsively creates a fake Facebook profile (Director: Safy Nebbou / Cast: Juliette Binoche, Nicole Garcia, François Civil).
WORLD SQUARE hosts its annual Cherry Blossom Festival with a calendar of FREE events from 12 August. The CBD shopping precinct will bloom under clouds of pink petals (both real and virtual). Visitors can test their paper-folding skills and contribute to the 1,000 cranes origami challenge or try one of the many cherry blossom inspired food and drinks specials such as Cherry Blossom inspired toppings at an exclusive Hokkaido Pafu pop-up.
WINTER IS DARK gin and film festival celebrates the darker side of the season at Golden Age Cinema & Bar all month. Screening each Wednesday in August are two films across four different genres with a Bloody Shiraz Gin cocktail to match. The festival begins on 7 August – Comedy: Harold & Maude and Fargo; 14 August – Romance: Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind and Only Lovers Left Alive; 21 August – Drama: McCabe & Mrs. Miller and Force Majeure; and 28 August – Horror: The Thing and The Exorcist. Presented by Four Pillars Gin in collaboration with Golden Age Cinema & Bar.
ZIRK! The Big Top Spectacular has extended its season in Sydney until 11 August. Combining the thrills and fun of Russia’s finest circus traditions with the skills of today’s daredevil heroes, ZIRK! is the best of international contemporary circus.
Image courtesy of Zirk!
