TWiSK #393
Cruel Sea 30 years from Honeymoon @ Palais
Space2b laneway market
Boris Frankel’s memoir launch
Shakespeare in the gardens
Summer Camp Festival @ St Kilda Marina
Plus many music, theatre and community events
PPCG 5 Minutes of Fame @ St Kilda Sports Club
Tuesday 28 November, 5.30 pm – 8.30 pm
It’s a free event with Open Mic, delicious dinner and raffles. The mischievous Bum Ladies are back, creating mayhem wherever they go.
To register your spot in the audience, P: 8598 6600 or E: info-support@ppcg.org.au
Launch of Boris Frankel’s memoir @ Readings
Tuesday 28 November, 6.30 pm
Join Boris in conversation with Jeff Sparrow as he launches his memoir, No Country for Idealists: The Making of a Family of Subversives.
With opening remarks from St Kilda’s favourite subversive, Carmel Shute.
Free but please book
Panel discussion: 50 Shades of Rainbow @ Pride
Wednesday 29 November, 6.30 pm – 9.30 pm
A panel discussion with Blake Johnson (he/him) (Journalist, Channel 7), Justine Dalla Riva (she/her) (CEO, Victorian Pride Centre), Eva Dickson (she/her) (Philanthropy Coordinator, Minus18) and Andrew Shepherd (he/him) (President, GLOBE Victoria).
The evening will be hosted by Vikas Raheja (he/him), host of the “Let’s Talk, Melbourne” podcast (and GLOBE Victoria Strategic Programme Director), while entertainment will be provided by young and up-coming queer community artists from Melbourne.
Casual tickets purchased online or at the door on the night for $20/$10
More info 
Blues Music Victoria – 2023 Hall of Fame @ Memo
Wednesday 29 November, 7 pm
The Fourth Annual Blues Music Victoria Hall of Fame! $45/35/25+bf
Tix
(Image: Ian Collard 2023 Hall of Fame Inductee)
City of Voices presents FLOOD @ South Melbourne Community Centre
Wednesday 29 November, 5.30pm – 7pm
The downpour of characters emerging within City of Voices inclusive theatre continues.
Book now, its free
1 show, 1 hour, with drinks and nibbles afterwards
The Long Pigs @ Theatre Works
Wednesday 29 November – Sunday 10 December, mostly 7:30pm
Suitable 12+
Horror meets hilarity! Spine-tingling original theatre that is hilariously dark and frighteningly funny. Join this underground clown cult set in a rickety abattoir-shack, the Pigs are working hard on their latest obsession to rid the world of every last red-nose clown.
However, the count of the catch reveals all is not well. They are one nose short!
Tix
Who’s Afraid of Virginia Woolf? @ Red Stitch
Until 17 December
Yikes. The Red Stitch season of Who’s Afraid of Virginia Wolf has sold out but they are taking waitlist applications. Headed by Kat Stewart and David Whiteley (supported by Emily Goddard and Harvey Zielinski), the three hour show has earned rave reviews. Worth the gamble of joining the waitlist.
Tix 
Bananagun, ENOLA + more @ Espy Gershwin
Thursday 30 November, 7 pm
A night of live music in celebration of Aus Music Month, featuring Bananagun, ENOLA, Platonic Sex and Heavy Amber. $28
Tix
Merchant of Venice @ St Kilda Botanical Gardens
Friday 1 December 2023 – Saturday 23 December, 7 pm
(Thursday – Sunday) Melbourne Shakespeare Company presents a family friendly show combining live music, larger than life characters and lots of laughs. This action-packed show will run for 90 minutes without an interval. $33/$30 Children $20
Tix
The Rose Garden, enter via Cnr Tennyson and Blessington Streets
The Johnnys @ St Kilda Sports Club
Friday 1 December, 7.30pm
There’s gonna be a showdown!!
Pre-sale $30+bf/ $40 Door
Tix
Yiruma Live @ Palais
Friday 1 December, 8 pm
South Korean pianist and composer Yiruma is celebrating 23 years since his debut album with a new recording, The Rewritten Memories. $151
Tix
Mini Market @ Christ Church
Saturday 2 December, 9.30 am – 2 pm
Sausage Sizzle, books, plants, clothes & lots more!
14 Acland Street
Summer Camp Festival @ St Kilda Marina
Saturday 2 December
LGBTQIA+ outdoor music festival
“Slip Slop Slayyyyy, your favourite camp for the queers, curious & cuties is back.”
An all-inclusive event from day to night featuring live music, DJs, art, and performances with Jessie Ware (UK) and Trixie Mattel (USA) headlining. $142
Tix
The Cruel Sea – 30th Anniversary Tour @ Palais
Saturday 2 December and Sunday 3 December, 8 pm
To celebrate the anniversary of their landmark album The Honeymoon Is Over, The Cruel Sea are set to reunite for a national tour, featuring Tex Perkins (Vox), Jim Elliot (Drums), Ken Gormley (Bass) and Dan Rumour (Guitar), together with Matt Walker (Guitar) filling in for the much-loved & revered James Cruickshank. Fans can expect to hear plenty of favourites from The Honeymoon Is Over, as well as a selection of songs across their entire catalogue. $109
Tix 
Sammy Owen Blues Band @ St Kilda Sports Club
Saturday 2 December, 8 pm
Their residency continues. The first Saturday of the month is for blues.
Free
Yacht Rock Revival @ Memo
Saturday 2 December, 7 pm
“Nautical but nice.”
Melbourne’s “smoothest” 1970’s tribute band, paying tribute to the definition of 70’s light rock, ‘smooth’ meant everything. $50/$40/$30
Tix 
Laneway Festive Market and Affordable Art Show @ Space2b
Sunday 3 December, 10 am – 3 pm
Explore a Makers Market in the colourful laneway at the rear of Space2b with a wide range of multi-cultural gifts, homewares, food & fashion items. There will be local musical entertainment, delicious Syrian food, and coffee throughout the day.
At noon you can witness the opening exhibition of the annual Affordable Art Show, with established, emerging and many culturally and linguistically diverse artists.
Enjoy some light refreshments and meet the artists from 12 pm – 1 pm
More info
144 Chapel Street
The Outlaw Luncheon @ George Lane
Sunday 3 December, 1 pm – 5 pm
An afternoon with Brooke Taylor & The Poison Spitting Gin Queens, Duncan Phillips, Ben Mastwyk & The Energy and Stefanie Duzel and Misty Harlowe. $30
Tix 
Underground Music walking tour @ George Hotel
Sunday 3 December, 2 pm – 4 pm
Join Melynda Von Wayward, and Rob Wellington to explore St Kilda’s iconic music venues from the Palais Theatre to The George Hotel in Fitzroy Street. Hear about the bands, promoters, fashion, and artists involved in a significant decade of Australian music history from 1977 to 1987. Free
Tix 
Meet The Artist > Elise Cakebread @ Linden
Sunday 3 December, 2 pm – 3 pm
Enjoy a relaxing afternoon of casual conversation, as exhibiting artist Elise Cakebread gives a floor talk discussing sustainable practice with textiles, offering insight into the ethos behind her astounding new body of work Gathering Dust, showing at Linden Projects Space until 23 December.
Note: No wheelchair access
RSVP
Rebecca Barnard & Billy Miller’s Silly Season Singalong @ Memo
Sunday 3 December, 3 pm
Along with their usual singalong favourites, Billy and Rebecca will urge you to sing with gusto to some ripper tunes from 1969 and 1977 that they’ve never tried before and are thirsty to play! $35
Tix 
Book talk: Esmond Dorney – Architect @ St Kilda Army and Navy Club
Sunday 3 December, 4 pm – 6 pm
The St Kilda Historical Society presents a book talk about one of Australia’s most notable modern architects, Esmond Dorney (1906-1991), written by his son Paddy Dorney.
Esmond Dorney has particular resonance in the St Kilda/Elwood area due to his considerable body of work in designing apartment buildings in Elwood.
Paddy Dorney, who is also an architect, will introduce his book and his father’s legacy in Elwood and surrounding suburbs.
This is a free public event.
Booking essential.
88 Acland Street, (upstairs with lift access)
The Peptides @ St Kilda Sports Club
Sunday 3 December, 5 pm
Free
Zetetic XIV @ Carlisle Street Arts Space (Town Hall)
Until 25 January, Monday – Friday 8.30 am – 5 pm
A selection of works by artists in residence at Shakespeare Grove Artist Studios including Dan Bowran, Alan Cotton, Janenne Eaton, Salvatori Lolicato, Alanna Lorenzon, Helen Philipp, Jonny Reding, Lucia Rossi, Tanya Salehian, Betty Sargeant, Jarra Steel, Adele Varcoe, Clarine Wilmar and Mina Young.
Info
99A Carlisle Street
Next week
Monday 4 December – Sunday 10 December
Morrissey @ Palais
Monday 4 December and Tuesday 5 December, 8 pm
“Each night on this tour will highlight the fan-favourite songs that made you cry and the songs that saved your life, spanning from the early days of The Smiths through to today.” $81+
Tix 
DEVO The Farewell Tour Celebrating 50 Years @ Palais
Wednesday 6 December, 8 pm
Produced by Brian Eno, 1978’s “Q: Are We Not Men? A: We Are Devo!” ignited underground fame with its call-to-arms sound. $109+
Tix
Basile – Blame it on The Greek (USA) @ Memo
Wednesday 6 December, 7 pm
Basile’s unique blend of material, improvisation, and characters has made him one of the most sought-after comedians.. $60/ $50+bf
Tix 
Asylum Seeker Food Drive @ Elwood Neighbourhood House
Thursday 7 December, 9.30 am – 4 pm
The Elwood House crew are running another food drive for the Asylum Seeker Resource Centre in the lead up to Christmas. They welcome donations that are non-perishable food items (within the use-by date), toiletry or sanitation items, or basic cleaning goods.
If you have any questions or would like more information, call 9531 1954 or email reception@esnlc.org.au
Check here for a list of most needed items
Courtney Marie Andrews & her band + Robert Ellis @ Espy Gershwin
Thursday 7 December, 7:30 pm
Excitement is building for Americana fans (and TWiSK) for Courtney Marie Andrews with Robert Ellis.
“It’s a musical match made in acoustic folk-godly heaven, with this sublime pairing of two of the greatest American contemporary singer songwriters around today.” $50
Tix
Reza Sadeghi @ Palais
Friday 8 December
Reza Sadeghi is a Persian pop singer, songwriter, and multi-instrumentalist, and one of the most popular Persian singers. $100
Tix 
Community Christmas Tree Festival @ Holy Trinity Balaclava and Elwood
Friday 8 December – Sunday 10 December
A display of Christmas trees creatively decorated by a variety of community groups and individuals
Friday 10.30 am – 6.00 pm, Saturday 10.30 am – 4.00 pm, Sunday 12 noon – 4.00 pm
Adults by donation, Children under 15 free
Elwood Community Choir Concert
Friday Night 7.00 pm
Adults by Donation
Carols around the Christmas Trees
Sunday 4.00 pm
All Welcome
Cnr Brighton Road & Chapel Street
Into the Mystic – The music of Van Morrison @ Memo
Saturday 9 December, 7 pm
Joe Creighton & his 8 piece band will take you Into The Mystic on a journey that begins in the 1960s and moves through the decades encompassing Van Morrison’s worldwide hits.
TWiSK says these shows have a big feel good sound than Van fans will appreciate. $50/45/35
Tix 
CHAGALL closes soon @ Jewish Museum
Ends Sunday 10 December
CHAGALL offers visitors the opportunity to engage with the beauty of printmaking, the intimacy of illustrated poetry, and the grandness of public art installations created by twentieth century master Marc Chagall (1887-1985). $25/$20/$10
View CHAGALL before time runs out.
26 Alma Road
Wheelchair access via rear entry
Postcard Show 2023-24 > Opening Event @ Linden
Saturday 9 December, 1 pm – 4 pm
Be some of the first to see the Linden’s Postcard Show 2023-24. With new found freedom in dimensions and materials, this year’s exhibition is sure to catch everyone’s eye. Prizes will be announced from 2.30pm. All welcome.
RSVP 
Neil Murray @ George Lane
Sunday 17 December, 4:00 PM 8:00 PM
Hurry. A rare chance to hear Neil Murray a founding member of the pioneering Warumpi Band, which over three albums and twenty years of performing thrust contemporary indigenous music into mainstream Australia.
Tix
Tentative start for renters united
TWiSK report from Renter’s Forum held last week
About thirty people (half of then current renters) attended a public forum for renters organised by Les Rosenblatt and Alex Darton with support from Progressive Port Phillip last Tuesday.
Assembled in a circle, the participants discussed their experiences and heard from tenants rights group Renters and Housing Union (RAHU) and academic Kate Shaw.
Three progressive Port Phillip Councillors also attended.
Rental distress
The real-life experiences of rental distress were front and centre, with stories of massive rent increases, rental insecurity and intense competition for new rentals.
Alex Dutton, a delegate for the fledgling Renters and Housing Union and local resident, explained that he was involved in the RAHU Inner South (covering Port Phillip, Stonnington, Glen Eira, and Bayside) to promote tenants’ rights.
Policy mire
Academic Kate Shaw provided a housing policy 101 talk explaining the key concepts in the policy debate, including public vs community housing, affordable housing and inclusionary zoning. She sought to debunk some myths, including challenging the claim that increased supply of apartments would make rent more affordable citing pioneering research from Canadian academic Patrick Condon.
Perspectives of the renters in the audience varied (unsurprisingly), with positive and negative experiences of public housing and contrasting needs of short- and long-term tenants. Government, real estate agents and landlords were variously targeted as the problem, while it was noted that community housing organisation were increasingly large and bureaucratic.
Councillors urge renters to find their voice
The Councillors present (Nyaguy, Crawford and Baxter) were very keen to hear from renters about things that Council could do. Councillors stressed that they strive to represent everybody on Port Phillip, not just the direct ratepayers.
A proposed resolution calling on Council to assist renters in more tangible ways received a positive but mixed response. People were interested in action, but not sure what should happen first and by who.
Most tellingly, a show of hands by those who would help form a Renters in Port Phillip lobby got only one hand (from a Bayside renter). But when the question was changed to who wants a renters lobby, the hands numbered over 10.
Alas, a Renters Rome wont be built in a day.
Get involved
Renters and Housing Union (RAHU)
Contact Les Rosenblatt and Alex Darton
St Kilda worst in Melbourne rental crisis: Herald Sun
“Desperate tenants are spending $400 or more a week to rent an inner Melbourne bedroom as the State’s rental crisis worsens.
In a new Flatmates.com.au survey of more than 10,000 Australians, 48 per cent of renters stated their main reason for living in share accommodation is they can no longer afford to live alone.
Figures from the website show St Kilda is the most expensive Melbourne suburb to rent a bedroom — either in a house or unit — with a median weekly cost of $490.
In Armadale, Collingwood, Prahran and St Kilda East the cost was $400 a week.”
Herald Sun
Probe into Council’s rubbish decision making
But basic questions remain unanswered
Council has announced an independent external review into the ‘the circumstances surrounding the kerbside waste collection issues” after new contractors took over in July.
Readers will recall weeks of widespread collection failures and other bin issues. Council acknowledged the problems but maintained that the issues were limited and short term. In announcing the review, Council reiterated that “90 per cent of kerbside bin collections” were collected normally.
The review will go to Council in February, when Council meetings resume after the summer break. The report findings are expected to be publicly available at that time.
Basic questions remain unanswered
TWiSK has submitted some basic question for a transparent response from Council, namely:
What are the full terms of reference?
Who is conducting the review?
What is the anticipated cost of the review?
We anticipate publishing a detailed and full response next Sunday.
Read council announcement
Community bus changes:
Still waiting for timetable and route information
Community bus changes:In early October, in response to a question from Cr Nyaguy, Council confirmed that the community bus was returning to a timetabled service from late-October.
Yet as we approach December, TWiSK has been told that the Council design team is still working on information relating to bus stops and routes.
Meanwhile, the Council website says:
We are working on upgrading timetables, route maps and bus stop infrastructure as part of the service.
The service currently operates Monday to Friday 8.30 am to 3 pm and has over 150 community transport bus stops between Caulfield Hospital, Elwood, South Melbourne Market, Alfred Hospital and St Kilda Library.
Info for people waiting at bus stops
Have your say about Aged Care changes before 10 December
Have your say about Aged Care changes before 10 DecemberCouncil is proposing to cease in-home care for local aged people in response to a big change in Federal funding next year.
This means about about 650 current clients of Council provided aged care in-home help will need to find new service providers.
Council will continue to provide community-based services such as meals, transport, social connection programs and hop-on-hop-off bus program.
You can comment on the Council Have your say page until 10 December.
St Kilda’s only source of independent journalism combined with local arts, music and community events.
TWiSK is always free and proudly independent – subscribe to keep it that way.
Subscribe for free or with a voluntary option of paid support from $5 per month or $50 annually.
Venues are also invited to subscribe for $150 pa.
Greg Day
Happy to chat anytime 0418 345 829
Content suggestions and community questions are always welcome.
gday@archives.gdaystkilda.com.au
Recent editions
Monday 13 November – Sunday 19 November
Monday 6 November – Sunday 12 November
Monday 30 October – Sunday 5 November
This Week in St Kilda respectfully acknowledges the Traditional Owners of this land, the people of the Kulin Nations. We pay our respect to their Elders, past and present. We acknowledge and uphold their continuing relationship to this land.
