Sydney Scoop presents our monthly curated guide to what's on in our Greater Sydney - just for YOU...
Music charity Support Act has announced its annual fundraiser Ausmusic T-Shirt Day will return on Thursday 30 November. Ausmusic T-Shirt Day is a day of fun and awareness held during Ausmusic Month to celebrate Aussie music and raise urgently-needed funds for music workers in crisis. It’s supported by ARIA, triple j, Heaps Normal, Gildan Brands and AAMI, who will be matching up to $40k in donations.
Funds raised from the campaign go towards helping Support Act continue its crucial work supporting musicians, managers, crew and music workers through crisis relief support, mental health and wellbeing programs, the Support Act Wellbeing Helpline, Mentally Healthy Workplaces Program and dedicated First Nations support.
Music lovers across Australia can get involved by buying an Ausmusic T-Shirt and/or making a donation.
Directed by Ian White and presented in Sydney by Groovescooter and Label Distribution, Mutiny In Heaven is a film that's every bit as crazed, loud and in-your-face as the band it documents: pioneering Australian group, The Birthday Party. Led by a young and unruly Nick Cave, the band’s threatening live shows and shock-inducing songs were propelled by the internal-organ-shifting bass of Tracy Pew and the utterly unique guitar sounds of songwriter/guitarist Roland S. Howard and guitarist-turned-drummer Mick Harvey.
Changing their name from The Boys Next Door during a drug and alcohol fueled plane flight that relocated them from infamy in hometown Melbourne to a squalid group house in London in 1980, the film follows their ascent, apex and inevitable collapse and is a thrilling tale of epic struggle, artistic genius and total dysfunctionality. Told in the group’s own words, Mutiny In Heaven brings the band’s story to the screen for the first time alongside fantastic live footage. This twisted tale of a bunch of misfit musicians whose first shows in the USA were too wild for New York audiences (where concerts were shut down minutes after starting) winds up in Berlin and along the way hints at the latent talents of Nick Cave, who of course has gone on to be one of the world's most adored songwriters and live performers. The Sydney premiere of Mutiny In Heaven will show at the Hayden Orpheum Picture Palace Cremorne 2 November 7pm and Golden Age Cinema 3 4 5 and 12 November.
Sibyl (pictured) part of the Sydney Opera House’s 50th Birthday Festival, by South African artist William Kentridge, stages signature elements of his multi-disciplinary artistic practice – film, projection, and hand-painted backdrops – layered with elements of performance including live piano, immaculate vocals, and dance to create this visually stunning fusion of theatre and music - Joan Sutherland Theatre 2 - 4 November.
The inaugural BOLLYWOOD FILM FESTIVAL will launch nationally on Thursday 2 November to Sunday 5 November 2023 at Dendy Cinemas. This is a brand-new celebration of Indian film in Australia, aligned with India’s biggest and most important holiday of the year – Diwali. The program includes a curated selection of new and classic Bollywood titles including:
• Kennedy from the director of Gangs of Wasseypur, Ugly and Psycho Raman comes this crime drama about an insomniac ex-cop turned assassin looking for redemption.
• Dug Dug a religious satire that revolves around a motorbike in a village that is making ever-one’s dreams come true, if they pray and offer some alcohol to it.
• To Kill a Tiger the multi award winning documentary about one man’s fight for justice following the rape of his daughter in a country where rape is reported every 20 minutes.
• Fire In the Mountains Ajitpal Singh’s directorial debut tells the story of a mother’s battle to build a road in a Himalayan village to take her wheelchair-bound son for treatment.
• Brand Bollywood Downunder a documentary that delves beneath the colourful exterior of Hollywood’s biggest rival to discover the artistry, organised chaos, and politics that led to Bollywood taking Australia by storm.
• Joram a survival-thriller about a displaced indigenous man Dasru on the run with his three-month-old baby girl JORAM.
2023 has brought an opportunity to celebrate the 300th anniversary of one of the greatest events in musical history: J.S. Bach’s appointment as Thomaskantor in Leipzig. As a result, a new era in music history began. Bach Akademie Australia ends a stellar year of early music-making with a heavenly, imperial and imperious program – three splendid concerts in three spectacular venues – featuring 20 instrumentalists and 16 singers. November 18, 19 and 23: Glenwood, Chatswood and City Recital Hall Sydney bachakademieaustralia.com.au/
An Unfunny Evening With Tim Minchin and His Piano at The State Theatre 10 11 12 November will find Minchin performing songs drawn from his 2020 studio album, Apart Together, from his musicals, Matilda and Groundhog Day, from his TV and film writing, and from his early songwriting days around the turn of the century. The set list will be fluid, the chat unplanned, and the vibe informal. He plans to wear shoes.
Yve Blake is holding a two hour workshop How Do I Even Start Writing A Musical at Hayes Theatre Co., where she will share all the tricks, and tools that she's collected over years of writing & re-writing (and re-re-re-writing) FANGIRLS, so that you can unearth your weirdest ideas and make them sing. And the Stephen Sondheim classic A Little Night Music continues at the home of musical theatre in Sydney Hayes until 11 November. Musicals Wicked In Oz at Sydney Lyric Theatre and Tina - The Tina Turner The Musical at The Theatre Royal continue throughout the month.
Young emerging artists from diverse backgrounds who are honing their skills and building their theatrical experience are among the cast and crew of 2 act musical Next to Normal from Whimsical Productions 22 - 25 November at ARA Darling Quarter Theatre. One of the central messages of the work is that love and acceptance has the power to heal. It delves into the concept of intergenerational trauma and aims to break the stigma surrounding mental health treatments. Whimsical Productions aims to avoid the perception that people with mental illness are untrustworthy or 'crazy'. Sydney go along and show your support...
Central Coast Council’s 2023-24 Creative Spaces program is now live! The first creative local in the 2023-24 program line-up, who will be occupying the Gallery Container located in the Toukley Village Green, is Sculptor David Hough. David Hough’s sculptures and a variety of his other work has been skilfully curated to showcase his talent and creativity. David will also be creating sculptural pieces throughout his residency until 22 November 2023. The first 100 visitors will have the opportunity to get their hands dirty and try out sculptural clay play for free held each Sunday with guided sessions by the artist himself.
Started Out Drinking Beer (The Mental As Anything Story) by Stuart Lloyd and forward by Molly Meldrum BOOK LAUNCH Puncher & Wattman, Better Read Than Dead and BFredericksPR present Stuart Lloyd in-conversation with Dave Warner Joined on-stage by Mental as Anything members Reg Mombassa, Peter O'Doherty, and Dave ‘Bird’ Twohill. Wednesday 1 November, 6pm for a 6.30pm start, The Vanguard Newtown
Blondie vs The Pretenders at The Vanguard presents the songs and stories from two of the music world's most enduring and stylish bands. Fronted by the quintessential Rock Chicks, the bands boast astounding catalogues of hits, traversing decades and genres. With Blondie vs The Pretenders you will hear the best of these songs as well as the tales of rock excess that saw their rise to superstardom during the hedonistic 70s and 80s.
Amanda Easton is Deborah Harry and Sarina Jennings is Chrissie Hynde, backed by the renowned A Team Band from the Access All Eras team: Gary Fredericks (guitar), Tim Wedde (keys), Lloyd Gyi (drums) and Steve Bull (bass). From 'Brass In Pocket' to 'Heart of Glass' this electric new show will remind you why these two Hall of Fame bands deserve to cement their positions in the annals of Rock and Roll.
Belinda Carlisle returns to Sydney at the Enmore Theatre 24 and 25 November 2023 with her Decades tour, which celebrates 35 years of her solo career. Her incredible career started in 1978 with the Go-Go’s where she achieved instant stardom with hits including We Got The Beat and Our Lips Are Sealed. After the band's break up Belinda Carlisle embarked on her hugely successful solo career and released her first solo album in 1986, her second album Heaven On Earth produced the worldwide hit Heaven Is A Place On Earth which hit number one on both the US and UK charts.
The legendary punk rockers Lagwagon are heading back to Australia & New Zealand in October/November for a special ‘By Request Tour’ inviting fans to choose their favourite Lagwagon songs and curate the band's setlist for this tour. Manning Bar General Admission Standing (18+) 3 November.
Every year, Head On Photo Festival is an excellent opportunity to see the work of emerging and established photographers from Australia and worldwide. This year, the festival program launches on 10 November at Bondi Pavilion then with amazing exhibitions and events across Sydney and online from the 11th.
Martini Spring Roadshow arrives in Sydney this month and will be serving up amazing value premium Grey Goose Espresso Martinis for just $14! at Forest Hotel (5 Frenchs Forest Rd, Frenchs Forest) 10 – 12 November and Ettamogah Hotel (Cnr Merriville & Windsor Rds, Kellyville Ridge) 17 – 19 and 24 – 26 November.
Iconic LGBTQIA+ venue, The Imperial Erskineville renowned for its vibrant entertainment and deep-rooted connection to the Inner West community, is elevating your weekend brunch game. Running every Saturday from 4 November 1pm to 3pm, the weekends are about to get a whole lot more fabulous with The Impy’s new with Fancy Feast Drag Brunch.
The Impy is offering an afternoon of decadent delights, two hours of sparkling performances, and of course, an opportunity to toast to the weekend with $15 cocktail jug specials.
This 4 and 5 November 2023 The Entertainment Quarter will come alive with Latin American bands, street art installations, food stalls and lucha libre wrestling, to celebrate Mexico’s traditional holiday Dia de los Muertos ‘Day of the Dead’. The fiesta will celebrate the traditional Mexican holiday that reunites the living and dead, honouring loved ones and bringing family together. The street fair aims to increase public awareness of the Mexican community and introduce a classic cultural food and beverage offering to the festival market. Tickets to Dia de los Muertos Fiesta are free and available via Eventbrite: Día de los Muertos Fiesta
Herradura Tequila one of the most historic Tequila distilleries in the world is bringing the ultimate Day of the Dead celebration to Sydney, this Thursday 2 November. The first-of-its-kind event at CIRQ, Crown is open to all in Sydney. To celebrate the traditional festival, guests will be treated to an extraordinary celebration with live installations, skull painting, music, extraordinary performers and even Herradura’s Millionaire Margaritas served up by the CIRQ team. To attend Herradura’s Extraordinary Day of the Dead event, simply book a table at CIRQ here or present yourself to the CIRQ check-in desk on Level 1 of Crown Sydney on the night - no minimum spend required.
NOMAD Group which owns and operates Sydney's NOMAD and Beau Bar (along with Melbourne's NOMAD and Reine & La Rue) will celebrate a decade of NOMAD Sydney. Everyday from 4pm - 6pm, patrons are invited to enjoy Toast To Ten across all venues. Group executive chef Jacqui Challinor has curated a special happy hour 'snacks' menu, along with a selection of drinks to complement, by beverage director Gerard Bellis. 'Toast to Ten' menus are different across all venues, so there's plenty of snacks to make your way through. No bookings required.
On Wednesday 15 November NOMAD Sydney will create a special dinner event, 10 X 10 X 10. Jacqui will create a menu to celebrate 10 years, inviting 10 chefs from the past decade, to create 10 dishes which have been favourites on the menu since opening. The NOMAD 10th Birthday dinner is $195 p/p, including a drinks package for two hours. Tickets are available here.
Garage Sale Trail is Australia's festival of pre-loved stuff, dedicated to helping you extend the life of your stuff and find the ultimate pre-loved gem. Back for another year in 2023, Garage Sale Trail is happening over two big weekends 11 - 12 and 18 - 19 November, Australia-wide. In 2022, over 300,000 Australians shopped or sold at more than 15,000 garage sales across the nation. Together, they extended the life of over 3 million kgs of stuff saving these items from landfill and contributing to the circular economy. Sellers can register for free at garagesaletrail.com.au
