TWiSK #398
We-Akon Dilinja Dawn 26 January
Slippery slopes at Skate Park after resurfacing
Midsumma festival kicks off
New theatre @ Theatre Works
LEGO Day at Library
Park Run breaks records
More about TWiSK Local Stories Initiative
Suggest local stories for TWiSK in 24
Victorian Beach Tennis Open 2024 @ St Kilda West Beach
Monday 22 January – Tuesday 23 January, 7 am – 9 pm
This Beach Tennis competition blends both professional and amateur matches on St Kilda’s beachside. Apparently, a growing sport overseas, this looks like a fun beach sport cousin to volleyball or badminton.
Info 
Fountain Lakes in Lockdown – A drag parody @ Alex
Tuesday 23 January – Sunday 28 January, 7.30 pm (1.30 pm Sunday)
Extra shows added Friday 2 February and Saturday 3 February
Relive the uniquely Melbourne pandemic experience through the eyes of these uniquely Melbourne characters hilariously parodied by Art Simone, Thomas Jaspers, Leasa Mann and Scott Brennan. $55/$49
Tix 
On The Uncertainty of Signs @ Theatre Works
Tuesday 23 January – Saturday 27 January, 7.30 pm
???? The Age: Read review
“On The Uncertainty of Signs” weaves a revelatory musical output with the love stories. A cabaret for the natural wine generation and their parents who couldn’t stand the stench.
Sonically, it represents a departure from the theatrical pop he’s known for, moving closer to the sort of adult contemporary boomer dads (and their woebegone gay sons) play in their Subaru Outback. Think Pretenders, Peter Gabriel, but mainly, Lana Del Ray.
Joined on stage by a full band, this is a show for anyone who’s navigated the intoxicating contours of love amid the chaos of modern life. A courageously cringe exercise in wholeheartedness as antidote to these apathetic times.
Tix
Hot Summer Nights! – Adults Only circus @ Gasworks
Tuesday 23 January – Saturday 27 January. 7 pm – 8 pm
Tuesday 30 January – Saturday 3 February. 9 pm – 10 pm
Saturday 3 February. 6.30 pm – 7.30 pm
This outrageous adults-only circus cabaret show features a new, hand-picked cast of Australia’s top circus performers and hosted by the multi award winning cabaret star Tash York. “A non-stop steamy celebration of the cheeky, the awe-inspiring and the downright sexy.” $40/$30
Tix 
James Reyne “Crawl File”- the hits of Australian Crawl @ Prince Band Room
Thursday 25 January & Saturday 27 January
Sold out – wait list only
Tix 
We-Akon Dilinja @ Alfred Square
Friday 26 January, 5.45 am – 7.30 am
For We-Akon Dilinja’s fifth year, the Boonwurrung People invite you to join a dawn gathering that honors respect, remembrance, and revival. No bookings are required.
Livestream and info 
Richie Weed (Tumbleweed) + Tropical Strength @ George Lane
Friday 26 January, 7.00 pm – 10.45 pm
“Spirit Songs & Stories is about the songs that naturally form, direct from some other place, without intellect getting in the way, its about keeping it as authentic to the original transmission as possible.”
Tix 
Parkrun @ Albert Park
Every Saturday 8 am
Free, fun, and friendly weekly 5k community events. Walk, jog, run, volunteer or spectate – it’s up to you!
Meet at Coot Picnic Area, Albert Park, in the BBQ shed directly across the road from the Melbourne Sports and Aquatic Centre (MSAC).
Info
See larger story below about record attendance last week. 
The Lord of The Rings – Extended Edition Marathon @ Astor
Saturday 27 January, 11 am
Long weekend of The Ring – 755 minutes in toto.
Tix 
David Keenan (IRE) @ George Lane
Saturday 27 January, 7.00 pm – 10.45 pm
Experience an evening with David Keenan, an extraordinary innovator in Irish song writing. Supported by Lucie Thorne.
Tix 
RISE presents FAMOUS @ Palais
Saturday 27 January, 8 pm
RISE is improving the mental health and wellbeing of young people in the Performing Arts. $89
Tix
Celebrate National LEGO Day @ St Kilda Library
Sunday 28 January, 10 am – 1 pm
The team from Brick Kit will be bringing along an 11 metre racetrack for everyone to test out their LEGO racing cars and see how fast they can go. All LEGO will be supplied on the day at this free event which also marks the relaunching of their LEGO clubs for 2024.
Free, no bookings required
Info
Sunday Sessions: art + play + music + bar @ Linden
Sundays 28 January, 4 and 11 February, 12.30 pm to 3.30 pm
Linden New Art welcomes you to a series of Sunday Sessions, transforming their front yard into a dynamic space where music, art, and community converge. Join them for live DJ sets and engaging family workshops!
Grab a drink, soak up the summer vibes, and revel in the fusion of sun, art and music.
RSVP
26 Acland Street
Benny & The Flybyniters @ George Lane
Sunday 28 January, 2.30 pm – 6.00 pm
Benny & the Flybyniters have been a stalwart of the Melbourne roots music scene since 1999.
Tix
Alireza Ghorbani @ Palais
Sunday 28 January
Alireza Ghorbani was a solo vocalist of the National Orchestra of Iran at 27. By the age of 30, he had become a prominent figure in Persian song, mastering various Middle Eastern musical scales. He possesses exceptional vocal techniques, covering both the non-rhythmic radif and rhythmic tasnif styles. $200
Tix
Sarah McLeod @ George Lane
Postponed
Tix
Next week
Monday 29 January – Sunday 4 February
Gardening 101 @ Elwood Neighbourhood House
Mondays from 29 January to 25 March, 9.30 am – 11.30 am
This course is taught by our experienced tutor with extensive knowledge of sustainable gardening practices. An 8-week course covering an introduction to horticulture, plant growth processes, planting and propagation techniques and even how to create a worm farm!
Enrol: Sorry the class is full but you can register interest for next semester
Learn to Sew! Sewing Basics @ Elwood Neighbourhood House
Tuesdays 30 January to 2 April, 12.45 pm – 3.45 pm
Learn your way around a sewing machine, and discover how to use your knowledge to create a range of items such as a lined tote bag. Students will be guided by an experienced tutor over the 9-week course. For complete beginners.
Enrol now: Hurry classes often full up quickly
UB40 featuring Ali Campbell @ Palais
Tuesday 30 January
UB40 featuring Ali Campbell is the reggae and pop collective responsible for serving up hits including Red Red Wine and Kingston Town. $99
Tix
I Want it That Gay @ Theatre Works
Tuesday 30 January – Saturday 3 February, Thu, Sat 7 pm, Wed, Fri 9 pm
I Want it That Gay is a cabaret-comedy that sheds light and humour on the challenges of growing up with starkly heteronormative music, popstars and paradigms. At times hilarious and at times heartbreaking, the show is an irreverent look at the way popular culture shapes what we see and therefore who we’re allowed to be.
Tix
Home Economics @ Explosives Factory
Tuesday 30 January – Saturday 3 February, 7.30 pm
A delicious series of vignettes teetering on the axis of sex and food
Real food, real mess and a sickly saturated design underpin our society’s complicated relationship with overindulgence of all kinds.
Tix
Velvet Bloom @ St Kilda Library Summer Sounds
Wednesday 31 January, 6.30 pm – 7.30 pm
Mornington born and raised guitarist and exquisite vocalist Maddy Herbert a.k.a Velvet Bloom will fill the library with tunes. Her music “speaks to the human spirit with an oozing honey pot of silky vocals, lush soundscapes and raw emotion.” Free
Book 
St Kilda Comedy @ George Lane
Wednesday 31 January, 8.00 pm – 11.00 pm
“An epic night of unparalleled laughs and lagers.”
With comedians like Daniel Connell (pictured), Billy Styles and Elijah Dries, with guest performances by: Jeremy Dooley, Fergus Neal, Jackie Hatton, William Wang, Christina Schmidt, Sahil Bhatia, Akwasi Osei-Tutu, Abhishek Mishra and Richard Meneses.
Tix 
Sunset Cinema @ St Kilda Botanical Gardens
Wednesday 31 January – Saturday 9 March, 7 pm – 11 pm
First sessions include Next Goal Wins, Barbie, Poor Things and Wonka. $25/$18
Tix
Walter Trout Band (USA) @ Memo
Wednesday 31 January and Thursday 1 February, 7 pm
American Blues Rock legend Walter Trout is a warrior, survivor, icon. From his early days in 1970’s LA supporting the likes of John Lee Hooker, Big Mama Thornton and Percy Mayfield – through to his stint playing guitar for the seminal Canned Heat (1981-1985). Later he joined British blues giant John Mayall’s Bluesbreakers, where he paired up with fellow six-string virtuoso Coco Montoya. He’s touring with a band. $85/$75
Tix
The Pleasures @ George Lane
Thursday 1 February, 7:00 pm – 10:30 pm
The Pleasures are a new band fronted by Australian country music icons Catherine Britt and Lachlan Bryan.
Tix
The Dry 2 with Bana, Connolly & Harper Live @ Astor
Friday 2 February, 6.30 pm
Be amongst the first to see, Force of Nature: The Dry 2, the highly-anticipated sequel to the 2021 Australian box office smash hit, The Dry, with Eric Bana, director Robert Connolly and author Jane Harper in attendance.
Tix
8 Ball Aitken Band @ Memo
Friday 2 February, 7 pm
8 Ball Aitken has toured the world for more than a decade performing his swampy- blues-rock across twenty countries to date. $40/30
Tix
Monthly Mini Market @ Christ Church
Saturday 3 February, 9.30 am – 2 pm
Books, plants & much more
14 Acland Street
Would you like to join our other stallholders and have a stall with us on the first Saturday of any month?
Contact Robyn 0408 536 241
St Kilda Queer Art Club @ St Kilda Library
Saturday 3 February, 11 am – 1 pm
A free event for the gays and theys as part of the Midsumma celebrations! Art club is an open invitation to express, explore, experiment, and engage with different art-making prompts and materials. Facilitated by queer arts therapist and community facilitator, Don Fazliu.
Bookings 
Shop small, shop local, shop queer @ Pride
Saturday 3 February, noon – 5 pm
Gay Stuff is prideful and celebrates everything queer with a fabulous line up of vendors. Featuring specialty goods from a collection of Melbourne’s finest queer and allied artists, creatives and style makers.
Cold Irons Bound + The Golden Rail @ George Lane Matinee Sessions
Saturday 3 February, 3.00 pm – 6.00 pm
The Golden Rail are relatively new by name but have a musical backstory stretching all the way to Perth in the sunny, indie 1980’s.
Tix
Pallett Band @ National Theatre
Saturday 3 February, 7.30 pm – 9 pm
Pallett Band is the alternative voice of Iran’s current generation.
Comprising seven classically trained musicians from Iran, Australia, Mexico, Netherland and USA, Pallett seamlessly blends contemporary and classical Persian poetry, creating a captivating dialogue between social issues and cultural heritage. $89+
Tix
Frank Yamma w/ David Bridie @ George Lane
Saturday 3 February, 7.30 pm – 11.:00 pm
Frank Yamma is one of Australia’s most significant Indigenous songwriters with an ability to cross cultural and musical boundaries.
Tix
Midsumma Pride March @ Fitzroy Street
Sunday 4 February, 11 am – 5 pm
Marching from Lakeside Drive to Catani Gardens, the annual pilgrimage parades down Fitzroy Street passing gloriously before the Pride Centre before concluding with free entertainment, and festivities, including DJs and live performances, in Catani Gardens. Free
Info
Road closure time: 8 am – 3pm
Witness the crowning of Acland’s Drag Star! @ Acland Plaza
Sunday 4 February, 2.30 pm – 4 pm
A family-friendly, emerging drag competition hosted by the radiant and larger-than-life drag queen, Brenda Bressed, who etched her name in the entertainment world as a standout contestant on Season 12 of The Voice Australia. She’ll be joined on the back of a beautiful old mobile Dodge stage truck, by the wonderful artists as they sing, dance and strut their stuff, vying for the title of Acland’s Drag Star, winning great prizes. Free
No booking required
St Kilda Festival @ St Kilda
Saturday 17 February & Sunday 18 February 2024
Free and all ages. First Peoples First Saturday, followed by Big Festival Sunday crowd fest!
Info
Local Park Run numbers add up @ Albert Park
The growing national enthusiasm for Park Run has hit a new milestone, with it’s millionth participant recorded last Saturday. Bravo.
Locally there was also big milestone, with the Albert Park Run recording the largest number of participants in Australia – at 1090 people.
Joanne Watkins, Event Director (Volunteer), Albert Park parkrun, said more people were always welcome.
‘Park Runs are free, fun, and friendly weekly 5k community events. Walk, jog, run, volunteer or spectate – it’s up to you! – but best of all its every Saturday at 8 am.’
The meeting point and finish line is at the Coot Picnic Area, Albert Park, in the BBQ shed directly across the road from the Melbourne Sports and Aquatic Centre (MSAC).
There is a briefing for first time runners before every start at 7.50 am. Always Free
More info
Video with ABC Lisa Millar about Park Run
First class stake park, second class maintenance?
Skating enthusiasts have slammed the results of recent regular maintenance at the hugely popular St Kilda Marina Stake Park.
The top skaters say the latest concrete surface coating has made skating hazardous especially on hot days and after rain. They say the similar problems have troubled other skate parks across Australia, sometimes prompting lengthy shutdowns for remedial work.
Council unaware of a problem
The Council first became aware of the concerns when contacted by The Age in December, when Mayor Cunsolo said no complaints had been received from skaters.
Since then, Council received three ‘requests’ relating to “a small section of coping tiles and newly applied surface coating”. This prompted Council officers and expert contractors immediately inspect the skate park.
On Friday, Mayor Cunsolo said minor works to “improve user experience based on the feedback received” had been arranged including re-setting a section of coping tiles and surface coating to some small sections where bollards have been removed.
“We expect the re-setting of coping tiles will be completed over the next two months,” she predicted.
“The recent maintenance works were carried out by expert contractors with extensive experience in skate park construction and repairs,” she stressed.
Hector and friends are not happy
Clearly, young skateboarders are not the type to immediately ring council with feedback. TWiSK is aware of the experience of Hector, aged 16, a keen skater since he was two!
Shortly after the maintenance works, Hector went to the skate park and unexpectedly crashed on a super slippery surface – nothing was broken but he was bruised with swollen knees and wrists. Later he took to social media to share his story and was stunned to receive hundreds of comments of similar stories.
The comments included: “Dangerous af – bro!”, “WTF”, “Yeah brah me too”, “Same!”, “Not cool my sister broke her elbow”, “Go to Riverside (City of Yarra skate park)”, Skilda now lame as!”, and “Slammed my ankle!.”
Hector’s mum is not so shy. She emailed council and has yet to receive a reply.
Meanwhile, bungled maintenance closes other parks for repair
In Adelaide, the City of Onkaparinga recently closed the Minkarra Skate Park and used laser technology to remove sealant that was deemed to be too slippery.
In Castlemaine, the local newspaper recently reported that skaters had branded the local skate park as “virtually un-skateable” after an expert contactor applied anti-graffiti sealant Skate FX.
Eyewitness finds a much loved park
TWiSK spent a leisurely hour at the skate park on Saturday talking to skaters and their parents. Ten – 15 skaters were on the park, with the majority being pre-teens on scooters. There were only a few riders using the big bowl. When asked about the changes, most were aware and mentioned the problems with a section of the ‘coping’ and the resurfacing.
But the overwhelming feedback was how much the park was loved. Words like quality, popular and friendly were frequently used.
But there were fewer skaters using the bowl than on previous visits where queues to use the bowl were commonplace. Maybe some higher skilled skaters have rolled on?
That would be a shame for one of Australia’s top skateparks.
But the last word goes to Hector
Hector reckons Council should check with skaters before wasting money.
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A few words about the TWiSK Local Story Initiative
This is not a call for money. Rather it’s a call for local story ideas that you feel are worthy of serious investigation and creativity.
Every reader is invited to participate in a bold new phase for TWiSK, namely the research and publication of original and expertly informed public interest journalism focused on local issues identified by our readers.
We have sourced a modest but workable fund to financially support about six story projects with up to about $2000 in fees and expenses.
Should the model be successful, we anticipate a regular flow of story project funds. FYI No funds from any level of government or corporate are involved.
There are three ways YOU can to support this local story initiative:
1. Suggest local stories that you’d like to read
2. Nominate local topic experts (or volunteer as a topic expert)
3. Nominate a local storyteller (or volunteer as storyteller).
Simply email with your suggestions and nominations.
But first a few more words about the TWiSK Local Story Initiative
We are striving to develop a new model of local journalism that teams up local subject experts with skilled storytellers to create stories that are rich with local knowledge, a good read and original content.
The storytellers can be journalist or writers, but also other locals with a gift for storytelling, such as photographers, actors, artists, academics, teachers and alike.
Crowd sourcing for local stories, local experts and local story tellers
We want you to help TWiSK collate a dynamic list of worthy, local and (importantly) publishable story ideas that can be covered in 1000 words or less.
The story topics need to be focused and achievable. Big topics like the environment will need to focused on specific local concerns, action and or inaction. (FYI There is an initial list included below.)
The aim is to create an extensive initial list of story topics that are diverse, ambitious and relevant to St Kilda. Not just about politics or government, not just about problems or issues, not just happy endings. Topics that you want to read about and would enrich, inform or motivate our community.
Final shortlist will be selected by reader poll
The plan is to identify a sensational short-list of local story topics and then use a reader poll to cull the list down to the most promising six 1000-word story topics.
We’ll then allocate the stories to an appropriate duo of subject expert and storyteller to combine skills and knowledge to craft the final draft.
TWiSK will fact check and review the story for fairness and objectivity before publishing and promoting the story.
Here some initial story ideas to get you started:
Container deposit scheme: is it making a difference on local litter, especially on beaches?
Bulk billing doctors: What’s happening to access to GPs in St Kilda? Why do we sometimes have to wait weeks for an appointment?
Street prostitution: There are fewer street sex workers in St Kilda but does that mean there are still vulnerable sex workers?
Is St Kilda artist friendly? Was it ever a mecca for painters and artists? Have paints been exchanged for computers?
Fitzroy Street construction plans: What works are planned and permitted on the street? What impact might they have?
Restaurant revival: Not a week seems to pass without media reference to a St Kilda restaurant revival. Is it true and what’s on the menu?
Local sporting clubs: who’s growing, who’s shrinking, who’s changing and who’s resisting?
Greg Day
Happy to chat anytime 0418 345 829
Content suggestions and community questions are always welcome.
gday@archives.gdaystkilda.com.au
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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.
