Column: TidBits
| Date Published: Tuesday, 7 December 10
| Author: Julia Winterflood
| 2 years, 5 months ago
WHAT: ‘80s movie revival WHEN: Various dates WHERE: Arc Cinema, National Film and Sound Archive
Whatever nouveau ‘80s kids, enough with your tight stonewash jeans. But an ‘80s movie revival at Arc Cinema I can handle. Like The Karate Kid when there was actually karate in it and Footloose with a side of Bacon. The Outdoor Season starts on Boxing Day with Die Hard II: Die Harder and continues in January and February with Ghostbusters and a 30th anniversary screening of Raiders of the Lost Ark. In February, Arc hosts the only Canberra screening of The Human Centipede in a Friday night horror double with the homicidal sell-out of 2010 CIFF: Rubber. Book on 6248 2000. www.nfsa.gov.au
WHAT: An eclectic pie that shouldn’t work but does WHEN: Wed Dec 15 WHERE: The Irish Club, Weston
Now firmly established on the European and UK festival circuits Hat Fitz, Australia’s wild man of blues and Northern Ireland’s Cara Robinson, return to Australia to perform selections off their eagerly awaited and critically acclaimed CD Beauty ‘n’ the Beast. Take one heaped teaspoon of Seasick Steve, a liberal helping of Catfish Keith and a pinch of Joni Mitchell. Finish well with a dusting of Blind Willie McTell and put into a studio at gas mark five. Bake for one week. What you get is an eclectic pie with so many flavours that perhaps shouldn’t work together, but somehow just do.
For over a year now Effigy have worked hard to bring you the best in quality electronic music from Australia and around the world. For their final show for 2010 they wanted to go back to their roots for a night of all things progressive at the venue that helped it all happen. In one of their biggest line-ups to date, Effigy Entertainment is proud to present Jerome Isma-Ae, Jaytech (pictured), and JML, with support from Peekz, fourthstate, String Theory, Gabriel Gilmour and Brenton Kalisch. Doors at 8pm, $15 on the door. Head to the Effigy Entertainment facebook group for more info.
WHAT: Surfing rockabillies WHEN: Sun Dec 19 WHERE: The Front
“We are Mother & Son from Wollongong, and you should come to our show because what else are you gonna do on a Sunday night? We play loud surf/rockabilly tinged garage rock ‘n’ roll with growly vocals and misfortunate tales. We also have a tendency to jump on the tables at Phoenix and drink too many pints of Bulmers. We are also launching our LP! And The Fantastic Fighting League are playing! So it’s gonna be a crazy night… might be an idea to call in sick for Monday… it sure beats staying home and watching the Sunday night movie.”
WHAT: Testing out new shit WHERE: Canberra Courtyard Studio, Canberra Theatre WHEN: Josh: Mon Feb 7 – Sat Feb 12. Charlie: Sat Feb 6 – Sun Feb 7
Josh Thomas is returning to C-Town for a week in February to develop his brand new stand up show for 2011. He will be performing his work-in-progress material in the intimate surroundings of the Courtyard Studio at the Canberra Theatre Centre for six days. You’ll see it before anyone else but Josh wants you to know that it might be a bit shit. Charlie Pickering will also be testing out his new stuff on the Canberra guinea pig masses, but he didn’t say anything about his new material being a bit shit. You can buy tickets for both comedians’ shows from canberratheatrecentra.com.au or by calling 6257 2700.
WHAT: Dubstep Don WHEN: Wed Jan 5 WHERE: The Clubhouse
Flying Lotus didn’t have to search far for musical inspiration. Talent and creativity shone within his incredibly talented musical family. He is the great nephew of the late legendary jazz pianist Alice Coltrane, wife of John Coltrane, and a cousin of jazz musician Ravi Coltrane. His music has been described as the sound of creating, and has helped inspire and craft the future of dubstep, hip-hop and electronic music. With innovation and skill he has crafted his own cult position as a pre-eminent figure within 21st century art. Supported by Hudson Mohawke and The Gaslamp Killer.
WHAT: SoundOut 2011 WHEN: Sat Jan 29 – Sun Jan 30 WHERE: The Street Theatre
A host of international, interstate and local music provocateurs from Canada, China, Germany, Netherlands, Norway, Sweden and Australia will collide, move walls, swap domiciles, and cross-pollinate in the exploration of their sonic art forms at the SoundOut 2011 Festival of Free Improvisation, Free Jazz and Experimental Music. It will include innovative performances from The Thing (power house free jazz trio), Magda Mayas/Tony Buck Duo, Cor Fuhler, Kim Myhr/Jim Denley, Duo Vulgarites, Yan Jun, Dale Gorfinkel, Rosalind Hall, Laura Altman, Mike Majkowski, Monika Brooks, Michael Norris, Richard Johnson and Spartak. Head to thestreet.org.au for ticket details.
WHAT: Yacht Rock WHEN: Fri Dec 24 WHERE: Knightsbridge Penthouse
Christmas Eve is always a special time at the Knightsbridge Boathouse. Saunter in to a time when men were men, women should have been Farrah Fawcett, and the airwaves filled with the smooth sounds of easy listening rock (no roll). Weekend sailing became the choice form of leisure in the summer months, and thus in recent times this genre has come to be referred to as Yacht Rock. Come prepared to party with a Pimm's Cup in one hand, fingers snapping softly in the other, dressed in pastel and cream, just oozing pure appeal and questionable class. Absolutely must dress for the occasion.
WHAT: Rocking the rock out of the rockers WHEN: Thu Dec 23 WHERE: ANU Bar
“Cell Block 69 have given Canberrans the greatest gift of all, rock, every X-mas for about six years. This will be their first show since they rocked the rock out of the rockers at last January’s 100th Big Day Out. This legendary performance had the stars all a-twitter with triple j’s Dom Alessio tweeting “Cell Block 69 are my new favourite band!” while Joel Quatermain (Eskimo Joe) wrote “The highlight of the night has to have been the appearance by the 'best band in the world', Cell Block 69”. If they can inspire rock stars to go mental, imagine what they can do for a commoner like you.”
WHAT: A heady mix of pop, poetry and rampant sexuality WHEN: Sat Dec 11 WHERE: The Front
“My name is Laura Jean. My Norwegian friend Jenny Hval (pictured) and I, as well as her band members Håvard and Kyrre, will be playing a show at The Front Gallery on Saturday the 11th of December. I would really like you to come. I love playing in Canberra. The audience is always full of people with interesting jobs, like protective escort to the Minister for Forests (do they wear brown pants and a green velvet top with a hat made of leaves for camouflage?). The person with the most interesting job on the night will get a free CD. The music's going to be great too.”
WHAT: Intricate harmonies and spiralling guitarscapes WHEN: Thurs Dec 9 WHERE: Transit Bar
“Having spent the best part of 2010 in the beautiful and eerie surrounds of country NSW recording our follow up to 2007's Mood Patterns, Belles Will Ring are returning to the open road to showcase our brand new songs, in particular our new horn-laden single Come North With Me Baby, Wow. We will also revisit some old rarities, and throw in a few surprises along the way. Expect the familiar intricate harmonies and spiralling guitarscapes, and a host of new songs chronicling the rocky road trip of the soul. Come along, tune in, drop out or whatever it takes to free up your mind.”
WHAT: Summer Rhythm Festival WHEN: Sat Feb 19 – Sun Feb 20 WHERE: Goolabri Resort, Sutton
Summer Rhythm Festival aims to broaden people’s knowledge of mental health through a two day event submerged in music, with a focus on roots, reggae, funk, dub and electronic, or anything else with rhythm! The event exudes friendliness, participation and having a good time with new and old friends. Acts confirmed so far include The Beautiful Girls, Space Invaders, Phrase, The Tongue, King Tide, The Red Eyes, Canyons, as well as a solid local contingent consisting of Dub Dub Goose, Fun Machine, Super Best Friends, Beth n Ben, Readable Graffiti and more. Head to summerrhythm.com.au for all the info.
