I’m going to start with the event that you should probably already have tickets to if you’re interested in going – Sound and Fury: Cold Winter, Hot Party. It returns to the Nishi Gallery in Acton after a sold-out spectacular at the National Film and Sound Archive earlier this year. If you like music, theatre, dance, spoken word and other glorious sights and sounds, you’re going to kick yourself if you miss this one – this is the kind of event folks rave about for months afterwards. It’s on Saturday July 15 from 8pm, and tickets (if there are any left) are selling for $20 + bf via Eventbrite.
There’s a special semi-homecoming at Smith’s Alternative on Friday July 14 when Parliamentary Square perform a set of improvised jazz from 7pm. The band is made up of Canberrans past and present, with a focus on exploring the realms of contemporary jazz as well as reinterpreting blue-note classics. Entry is $15, but if you’re a Canberra Musicians Club member, you can get in for $10.
The Canberra scene often loses great artists to the lure of the major metropolitan centres, but thankfully the capital has a way of bringing them back for the occasional visit. On that note, Julia Johnson will be returning to our fair city to perform at Smith’s Alternative on Saturday July 22 from 9pm. She’ll be launching her new single, ‘Melissa’, and will be supported by Bonniesongs and Evan Buckley. If you want to pop in, it’ll set you back $15.
The Polish Club is one of Canberra’s most beloved venues, and there is a lot happening there at the moment, with a substantial refit to install a new lighting rig, a redesigned PA system, and finally open up the main stage for performances! They’re also launching the live@thePolo video team, aiming to capture events for later reference and enjoyment. To kick it all off is a night of local musical brilliance, featuring Waterford, Oranges, Betty Alto, Slow Turismo and Mondecreen. Indie rock, dark pop, upbeat tunes, electronic dance: whatever you dig, it’s somewhere in this line-up. It’s on Saturday July 29 from 8pm, and tickets are $20 + bf via Moshtix.
The Bootlegs Sessions at The Phoenix over the next few weeks look like they’re going to make any Tuesday hangovers you suffer as a result totally worth it. On Monday July 17, Rumblr, Neon Highways, Neon Violence, and The Guitar Cases will be joined by Suburban Haze from Newcastle, providing a night of rock that spans across a range of styles. On Monday July 24, An Inconvenient Groove, Moosk, The Wumpaz and Alec Randles step up to the Phoenix stage, with the month being rounded out by Massive Sherlock, Okinawa Girls, Kaminski For Mayor and James Steinbeck on Monday July 31. As always with The Bootlegs, they all start at 8pm, they all have free entry, and all will be accepting donations so that the bands get some moolah for enriching your Monday night.
Finally, if you’re not catching Moaning Lisa and Teen Jesus & The Jean Teasers when they support Wet Lips at The Phoenix on Saturday July 29 from 9pm, you’re an absolute fool, especially since it’ll only cost you $10.
