Monday 5 February – Sunday 11 February

TWiSK #400

Opera with Eddie Perfect and Lyndon Watts
Jude Perl starts Comedy Gold series
St Kilda’s Queer History revealed
Summer Jam Street Basketball
Twilight Beach Polo
St Kilda Latin Festival
Cricket The Musical
Linden Postcard show final week

Council is back on Wednesday
Council considers aged care feedback before cutbacks
Cook statue set for debate

Postcard show final weekend @ Linden

Closes Sunday 11 February
Freed from the constraints of postcard sizes, this is possibly St Kilda’s most popular exhibition.
InfoAdele Barbaro Live @ The National
Monday 5 February, 7 pm – 10 pm
Dubbed the Great Big Giveaway Show, this live variety show will be packed with inspiring stories, fascinating interviews, hilarious games, live music and of course … plenty of prizes! Supported by Samuel Johnson, Pia Miranda, Emma Watkins and Conrad Sewell. $129
Tix 

Pirritu @ St Kilda Library
Tuesday 6 February, 6.30 pm – 7.30 pm
Pirritu’s music is a gentle, honest, and melodic personal journey that entices you into the depths of sadness, love, and shimmering hope. Their work honours a cultural journey to connect back to land, language, and family with a continual thirst for deeper understanding of his people and country. Free
Please book
Destroyed @ Explosives Factory
Tuesday 6 February – Saturday 10 February, 7.30 pm
A one-act performance of queer femme heartbreak, grief, torture and swathed in blood, based upon the Tragedy of Macbeth by William Shakespeare. Created by experimental artist Ebony Rattle.
Tix
No wheelchair access

Sunset Cinema @ St Kilda Botanical Gardens
Tuesday 6 February – Saturday 9 March, 7 pm – 11 pm
This week includes Saltburn, Anyone But You, The Boys in the Boat, Mean Girls (Musical) and The Boy and the Heron. $25/$18
Tix
Out of Focus @ Alta Forma
From Wednesday 7 February
Opening event Saturday 10 February, 2 pm – 4 pm
An exhibition of jewellery and images by Naarm based artist Mascha Moje.
altaforma.au
Suite G07/620, St Kilda Road
Wed–Fri 11 am – 3 pm, Sat 12 pm – 3 pm
St Kilda’s Queer History with Graham Willett @ Carlisle Street Arts Space
Thursday 8 February, 6.30 pm – 7.30 pm
Historian Graham Willett will highlight the ways in which LGBTQIA+ Melbournians have, over the decades, gathered there, creating places for themselves and turning established venues to their own purposes. Lady swimmers and naked bathing, cafes and cruising grounds, Arts Balls and HIV/AIDS Centres. Free
Bookings
Inside St Kilda Town Hall, Carlisle Street
Sunset Market @ Acland Plaza
Thursday 8 February, 4.00 pm – 8.30 pm
Presented by the makers and traders of the St Kilda Esplanade Market.

The Australian INXS Show @ Memo
Thursday 8 February, 7 pm
Fronted by Dellacoma Rio, whose uncanny portrayal of Michael Hutchence has captivated audiences worldwide, this 6 piece band will take you on a journey through all the classic INXS hits. $59 EB discounts.
Tix
Vic Opera: Candide by Leonard Bernstein @ Palais
Thursday 8 February – Saturday 10 February
Voltaire’s satirical tale of mindless optimism springs to life through a brilliant score from famed, West Side Story composer, Leonard Bernstein.
Cast includes the multi-talented music theatre Renaissance man, Eddie Perfect, and award-winning star of Hamilton, Lyndon Watts. $39
Tix

Comedy Gold @ The National Studio 2
Fridays 9 February – 1 March, 7.30 pm
9 February
Jude Perl (pictured) and guests including Mel McGlensey
16 February
Carl Donelly (UK) and guests including Bart Freebairn, Robyn Reynolds, Tabitha Booth and Nicolette Minster
23 February
Andrew Hansen and guests Ivan Aristeguieta, and He Huang
1 February
Lehmo and guests Urvi Majumdar and Lizzy Hoo
Comedy Gold is lovingly curated by Janet A McLeod, aka The Fairy Godmother of Melbourne Comedy
Comedy Gold will be held in Studio 2 – an intimate black box theatre with cabaret tables and general admission seating.
Theatre seats (general admission) $35, Cabaret Seating $39, Cabaret Table (4) $150
Tix
Invincible: A Glorious Tribute to Michael Jackson @ National
Friday 9 February, 8 pm
International touring show featuring two Michael Jacksons and a 14-member cast.
Produced and directed by leading dance producer Darrin Ross, and choreographed by Lavelle Smith Jr, who has closely worked with Michael and Janet Jackson, Rihanna, Chris Brown, and the Rolling Stones.$75+
Tix
Summer Jam Street Basketball @ Peanut Farm
Friday 9 February to Sunday 11 February, 10 am – 9 pm
This is street basketball with theatrical attitude. It’s a celebration of basketball culture with the best elements of a summer block party. Think music, food, amazing court action in a transformed Peanut Farm location. Men’s, women’s and wheelchair events.
Free Friday, other days $20+
Info
Local vendors are teaming up to provide discounted tickets to Summer Jam’s Saturday games with any purchase at the following shops:
7 Apples Gelato, Village Belle, Boneyard Social Club, FAT JAK’S, Brotherwolf St Kilda, Saul’s Balaclava & Tickle Pink Elwood.

“Unplugged” – The Iconic Album & Music of Eric Clapton @ George Lane
Friday 9 February, 7 pm – 11 pm
Matt Arthur and The Lazybones as they pay tribute to Eric Clapton’s legendary “Unplugged” album.
Tix 
Twilight Beach Polo @ West Beach
Saturday 10 February, 2 pm – 7 pm
Horses, fashionable folk, food and festivities. Great location adjacent to West Beach Pavilion. $120 +
Tix
Road closure: Pier Road, 12 pm to 8 pm
St Kilda Latin Festival @ South Beach Reserve
Saturday 10 February, 2 pm to 10 pm
Branded as Fiesta Del Sol, this regular gig prides itself on music, culture, food and beer. $119 + generous early bird discounts.
Tix
Book Bazaar @ Holy Trinity Balaclava and Elwood
Saturday 10 February, 2 pm – 5 pm
Loads of great books, art, travel, fiction and more.
175 Chapel Street

The Blow Out – Album Launch + Checkerboard Lounge @ George Lane Matinee Session
Saturday 10 February, 3:00 pm – 6:00 pm
Authentic and original blues & roots .
Tix

Cricket The Musical @ Memo
Saturday 10 February, 7 pm
Denis Carnahan brings his one man cult hit musical comedy show to Melbourne for the first time.
Australia’s hardest working musical sports satirist uses his unique satirical spin to investigate events, along with battles with broadcasters and sponsors, and the game’s history of treachery, villainy, facial hair, and illegal abrasives. $45
Tix

Matt Joe Gow & The Dead Leaves – Live Album Release @ George Lane
Saturday 10 February, 7.30 pm – 11.00 pm
Matt Joe Gow and The Dead Leaves present a live EP release from their “Woodshed Sessions” album.
Tix
St Kilda Repair Cafe and Bike Kitchen @ EcoCentre
Sunday 11 February, 2 pm – 5 pm
Bring your broken items to reduce waste and learn new skills, all while having a cuppa. Free / by donation
38 Blessington St (across from previous EcoCentre)

Musical movies every Sunday and Wednesday @ Classic Elsternwick
Every Sunday 4 pm, repeated Wednesdays 11 am
Classic Cinemas are making a song-and-dance of the movie musical, with a year-long celebration of the best and boldest films the genre has to offer.
Great list of titles.
Tix
The Peptides @ St Kilda Sports Club
Sunday 11 February, 5 pm
Free
Sunidhi Chauhan @ Palais
Sunday 11 February
Noted Indian playback singer. $79 +
Tix 

Next week
Monday 12 February – Sunday 18 February

Super Bowl Watch Party @ St Kilda Sports Club
Monday 12 February, 9.30am
Free
Simple Minds @ Palais
Tuesday 13 February
Sold out.
Angel Monster @ Theatre Works
Wednesday 14 February – Saturday 24 February, 7.30 pm
Sex, consent, violence and empowerment crash-tackle together in a full-femme-full-bodied conversation where the agenda is Equality, Ownership and Individuality.
Direct from a smash hit season at Edinburgh Fringe, this is raw, visceral confessional powerful dance from one of Queenslands’s most prolific award-winning dance-theatre artists. Angel Monster is a portrait, a requiem and a call to arms for angels and monsters alike. $45/$35
Tix

St Kilda Unplugged @ St Kilda Library
Thursday 15 February, 6 pm to 7 pm
A panel discussion hosted by Sally Moore featuring the incredible Paulie Stewart (Painters and Dockers), Fiona Lee Maynard (Have a Nice Day) and Fred Negro (I Spit on Your Gravy). Free
Tix 
Broadway Bar @ Alex
Friday 16 February, 7.30 pm
Broadway-themed bar with the talented Mark Bradley takes center stage at the piano inviting audience members to seize the spotlight and belt out a Braodway tune. No sheet music required—just bring your voice, enthusiasm, and dreams of being a Broadway star. $5
Info
Nick Giannopoulos Wog Life @ Palais
Friday 16 February and Saturday 17 February, various times
Nick Giannopoulos with a new one-man comedy show featuring his stand up plus two of Nick’s most popular stage characters – The Cleaning Lady & The Taxi Driver. $79
Tix

Putting the St Kilda back into the St Kilda Festival

It’s a common complaint that hardworking local bands find it almost impossible to get a gig at the Council funded St Kilda Festival denying them exposure to the big crowds and the much appreciated performance fees.
At this year’s Festival, with the exception of the Locals Stage on Acland Plaza, there is only one local act booked for the big Sunday program – namely Maya Vice on the Catani Gardens Stage.
The only other local acts are Louis, Jhm, Bailey Judd, Tanya George, John Wayne Parsons and Bernadette Novembre who are all booked for the Acland Plaza stage.
There are numerous local acts who would love to play at their own festival. 
Is the current programming fair?
For the record, the budget for ‘programming’ at the Festival is $430,000 in 2024.
Aware of this criticism, Council has ‘quietly’ introduced a pre-festival ‘festival’ for locals in local venues …

… Introducing the St Kilda Live Music Precinct Friday
16 February

According to Council, “Victoria’s first designated Live Music Precinct will come alive with the inaugural St Kilda Live Music Precinct Friday.”
“Most shows will be free, and others cheap, thanks to City of Port Phillip’s Locals Playing Locals fund that was established to activate local bands in the precinct.”
Here is a complete list of the gigs on Friday 16 February – some are ticketed events, the others are free.
Where possible we have indicated if the acts are on the local music database.
Sliq Mick and the Smooth Operators @ Selina
Friday 16 February, 3 pm
Sliq Mick is a hip hop artist / singer / expressive rapper. All his music is closely related to mindfulness and mental health awareness.
24 Grey St
Andrew Wilkins @ Second Act Wine Bar
Friday 16 February, 4 pm
Andrew Wilkins is a Melbourne-based songwriter, singer and acoustic guitarist.
35-37 Fitzroy St
Andrew is a local artist
The McNaMarr Project @ Ellora
Friday 16 February, 4 pm
Multi-award winning blues artists John McNamara & Andrea Marr are regulars at blues festivals creating ‘the real sound of soulful blues’.
1 Fitzroy St
John and Andrea are local artists
King of Smooth @ The Banff
Friday 16 February, 5 pm
Melbourne musician, Chris Wright, is a versatile multi-instrumentalist, he plays saxophone, trombone, voice and piano, performing regularly under his own name (King of Smooth) and with other local artists.
145 Fitzroy St
Chris is a local artist
Better Than S*x @ Surabaya Johnny’s
Friday 16 February, 5.30 pm
It’s funk for cynics, Jazz for Nihilists, Cowboy Circus Cabaret Chaos…the soundtrack to the privatisation of your nervous system.
47 Blessington St
Better than S*x are a local act
Tio (Vanuatu) + The Black Sistaz @ George Lane
Friday 16 February, 7 pm
Tio is from Port Vila, he honed his musical talent as part of the local roots-reggae scene. ‘The Black Sistaz’. Melbourne-based daughters of the late August Rumwaropen, of the legendary Black Brothers Band of West Papua.
Ticketed gig  $30+
Pseudo Echo @ Espy
Friday 16 February, 7 pm
The iconic sounds of the eighties.
Ticketed gig  $59
11 The Esplanade
Jamie MacDowell @ Iddy Biddy Bar
Friday 16 February, 7 pm
Jamie MacDowell is a lyric-focussed singer/songwriter/guitarist. Free
35/39 Blessington St

The Vibrajets @ Royal Melbourne Yacht Squadron
Friday 16 February, 7 pm
With a scorchin’ repertoire of wigged-out surf, frat and rock’n’roll, this string-bustin’ Melbourne four-piece harks back to a time when music was fun rather than phoney. Free
Pier Rd
The Vibrajets are a local act

Bernadette Novembre @ Espy Basement
Friday 16 February, 7.30 pm
A big sultry sound described as a mix of late 1960’s Rock and Brit/Alternative Rock. A classy local talent. Free
Tix 
11 The Esplanade
Bernadette is a local artist

Jack Howard’s Epic Brass @ Memo
Friday 16 February, 7.30 pm
Jack and the band will play one cranking horn-soaked St. Kilda-focussed set with guests Paulie Stewart, Penny Ikinger, Helen Cattanach, Fiona Lee Maynard & more!
Ticketed gig $45
Many of the band are locals
Keep the Circle Unbroken @ National
Friday 16 February, 7.30 pm
Melbourne Rock grass band Row Jerry Crow bring together a circle of incredible artists
including Debra Byrne, Brooke Taylor and Jimmy Phoenix to perform songs from Nitty Gritty Dirt Band recording of their triple LP. Will The Circle Be Unbroken.
Ticketed gig $42/36
Brooke Taylor is a local artist
Release the Rats! @ St Kilda Sports Club
Friday 16 February, 7.30pm
Four original genre bending bands: Murray’s Bay Country Club, River of Snakes, Burn in Hell and Sam Agostino. 
Ticketed gig $25/$20

The Band She @ Loud Mouth
Friday 16 February, 8 pm
Irish duo in Melbourne (previously Glasgow based). Free
168 Acland St

Synthotronica @ 29th Apartment
Friday 16 February, 9 pm
Synthotronica is the alter-ego of award-winning artist, composer and multi-instrumentalist Ania Reynolds. Her original brand of electronic sonic mayhem combines fat beats with fatter synths and live baritone sax with the occasional triangle solo. Free
29 Fitzroy Street
Ania Reynolds is a local artist

MD DUO @ Jimmy O’Neills
Friday 16 February, 9.30 pm
Irish trad duo playing a range of popular hits mixed with Irish jigs and reels. Free
154-156 Acland St
Catholic Guilt @ Lost For Words
Friday 16 February, 9.30 pm
Punk/alt-rockers Catholic Guilt combine elements of punk, alt, folk and rock, resulting in a sound they describe as ‘honest music’. Free
211 Barkly St
Catholic Guilt are locals
Better Than S*x @ The Vineyard
Friday 16 February, 11 pm
In the ring for another swing, Better Than S*x comes twice on one night. Greedy or boastful?
71A Acland St
Local act

Underground Music Walking Tours @ St Kilda
Friday 16 February, 2 pm and 5 pm
Two tours exploring St Kilda’s iconic music venues with special guests can almost remember what it was like 🙂 Free – hurry these will book out
2 pm Rob Wellington in conversation with special guest Fred Negro (I spit on your Gravy).
5 pm Melynda Von Wayward in conversation with special guest Paulie Stewart (Painters and Dockers).
The tours include a live music stop, featuring, the fabulous ‘Folk Bitch Trio’ (pictured).
Book 2 pm | Book 5 pm 
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
TWiSK presents the complete list of local acts playing
Here is a complete list of the local acts booked for the Festival Sunday
Locals Stage (Acland Plaza)
Sunday 18 February
Louis
11 am – 11.40 am
Jhm
1 pm – 1.40 pm
Bailey Judd
3 pm – 3.40 pm
Tanya George
4 pm – 4.40 pm
John Wayne Parsons
5 pm – 5.40 pm
Bernadette Novembre
6 pm – 6.40 pm
Contreau Summer Stage (Catani Gardens)
Sunday 18 February
Maya Vice
11.45 am – 12.30 pm

Also at the festival
Social Bowls Club – St Kilda Festival Edition
Sunday 18 February, 12 noon til late
An open air affair over 2 stages all day party featuring our biggest line up yet including an international + all star local lineup! $33
Ticketed 

Design Awards 2024 nominations close soon

Nominations close for the 2024 Design and Development Awards (DADA) close on 29 February.
From apartments to urban art, theses biennial Awards have highlighted innovative and imaginative design in Port Phillip since 1998.
2024 Award Categories
Small scale
Residential new build – one to two dwellings
Residential alteration or addition – one to two dwellings
Residential – three or more dwellings
Mixed use
Non-residential
The Awards are free to enter. Submissions close on 29 February.
For more info

St Kilda history wins prize

Local author Carmel McKenzie has won the Victorian Premier’s History Award with St Kilda 1841-1900: Movers and Shakers and Money-makers.
Carmel began researching the former mansions and grand homes of St Kilda and East St Kilda as a personal project to satisfy her curiosity. After uncovering a wealth of new information about the owners and occupants, Carmel became fascinated by the broader themes and social dynamics that gradually emerged.
Her book probes darker aspects of the culture the elite carefully cultivated, including the oppression of servants and the alienation of the Indigenous, the Chinese and the disadvantaged, before revealing how the lifestyles and choices of the upper echelon unwittingly hastened the collapse of St Kilda’s ‘golden age’.
A superb full-colour publication featuring 185 photos and illustrations, this handsome hardcover work is packed with vivid anecdotes and fresh historical insights gleaned from primary sources.
The St Kilda Historical Society assisted with a grant in 2021.

Council home care decision looms
Will council cease in-home aged help?
50 page engagement report tabled
25% want no change despite that not being offered as an option

Council is set to consider 50-page report on proposed changes to Port Phillip’s in-home support to older people.
Council currently provides in-home support to 650 older people.
Council officers have recommended a so-called Village model of support.
Under this model, Council would no longer supply domestic assistance, personal care, respite care, property maintenance, home modifications, and individual social support.
Council services would be limited to group social support, delivered meals and the council funded hop-on hop-off community bus service.
Council would employ a staff member to assist older people to connect to replacement services. 
Community engagement looked like a sales pitch rather than open consultation
As reported in TWiSK, the community consultation offered participants no alternative to the dramatic exit from services.
Yet more than one-in-four respondents boldly told Council they wanted the in-home services to continue (p 25).
Many more told Council that key features of the existing service were highly valuable to them, namely affordability, consistency and quality.
It would fair to suggest these preferences were another way of saying no change please – indicating a significantly higher level of support.
Heard it on the grapevine
And why wouldn’t older people be concerned? Chaos has plagued other councils as they exited in-home aged services, leaving people without the equivalent privatised services.
Residents of with friends in Bayside are also aware that their council is retaining aged services.
Older Persons Advisory Committee expressed regret
Even the Council’s own Older Persons Advisory Committee bluntly said they ‘greatly regret the decision for Council to step away from in-home services.’
Politely but ominously, they submitted that the ‘reform proposal [was] an opportunity for Councillors to demonstrate that they understand the role local community plays in ensuring older residents are able to age gracefully in place.’
Alarmingly, they called for the proposed community connector service to be more than one person!
Yikes – make a note to ask about the resourcing of the promised connector service that would be linking up to 650 clients!
Reality check – councils are now minor players in home care
Changes to aged care support, especially aged care packages have diminished the role of councils in service delivery. Effectively receiving an aged care package now excludes people from receiving council home support. 
Management of aged in-home services is now big business and highly corporatised with major not-for-profit and commercial suppliers turning over billions in revenue.
Aged care packages are means tested, as are some council services.
Older people will be watching …. closely
Councillors responses to the plan will be closely scrutinised.
It is an election year after all.

Cooking up a storm 
Motion calls for community conversation about the Cook statue
With Council divided, will it be a ‘Captain’s pic’ for Mayor Cunsolo?

Cr Robbie Nyaguy will move a motion to start a community conversation about the future of the recently vandalised Cook statue.
He told TWiSK that he wants the community to have a say on the future of the statue. ‘I’ve had a lot of feedback questioning the place of that statue on our foreshore,’ he said.
Cr Nyaguy wants a two step process. First a report on the costs to reinstate the statue followed by community engagement to understand views on the reinstatement or removal of the statue.
Cr Pearl comes out swinging to defend Cook
Already Cr Marcus Pearl has slammed the motion as the beginning of a campaign to remove the heritage listed statue.
“This is a veiled attempt to undermine the cultural heritage of our community. The motion seeks to unnecessarily divide our community and disregard the broader historical significance,’ said Cr Pearl in a written statement.
He also noted that Labor Premier Allan has already supported the reinstatement of the Cook statue.
“It is concerning that we see efforts within the same political party at the local level that directly contradict this vision,” Cr Pearl said.
The motion will be debated at next Wednesdays Council meeting.
TWiSK will report on the debate next week.