A great list of things to do in St Kilda delivered to you every Sunday evening

TWiSK #372

Life’s a cabaret in St Kilda @ Memo and Ruby Carter Jazz
Brooke Taylor @ George Lane
NAIDOC Week: The Voice discussion @ Pride


RoPP refutes broken promises
Pearl says he voted against waste tax too!

Plus more music, arts and community

Melbourne Cabaret Festival
Memo and Ruby Carter Jazz Lounge
Tuesday 4 July – Sunday 9 July

Held across two great venues at the St Kilda RSL in Acland Street, The Melbourne Cabaret Festival features over 12 shows in the cabaret style ranging from the Kransky Sisters, tribute shows and tree hugging storytelling.

Opening Night Soiree
Tuesday 4 July, 7 pm
The Cabaret Festival kicks of with an all singing all dancing soiree compared by St Kilda original Rachel ‘Boom Boom’ Berger.
The soiree menu features three diverse acts from across the Festival program:
Frankly, Matthew Hadgraft and the crew from The Songs That Made Memphis $55/$35
Tix
Alister Kingsley presents ‘Get It Together’
Wednesday 5 July, 6:30 pm
Alister Kingsley is a musical comedian, actor and organisationally challenged person in recovery.
Tix
Jacqui Dark presents ‘Songs My Friends Taught Me’
Thursday 6 July, 6 pm
After a brutal year of surgery and chemotherapy, Jacqui Dark returns to the cabaret stage in a show co-created with Daryl Wallis and Sam Russell to celebrate the friends who got her through. $45
Tix
Chelsea Heaney presents ‘Historians Call Us Roommates’
Thursday 6 July, 6.30 pm
Nuns, Pirates and Spies, oh my! Queer ‘erasure’ has resulted in a lot of queer couples being described in the history books as “roommates” .
In this one-hour cabaret, comedian Chelsea Heaney explores centuries of queer stories, from polyamorous gothic queens to convent burning nuns, there are many shades of gay. $45/$40
Tix
Matthew Hadgraft presents ‘Elton John: Your Song’ –
Thursday 6 July, 8 pm
After critically acclaimed seasons since 2017, Matthew Hadgraft returns with his tribute to Elton John: Your Song. $45/$30
Tix
‘Tree Huggers: A Dharma Cabaret’ with Chris Burgess & Arlon Faria
Friday 7 July, 6 pm
The longest distance we all travel is the 18 inches from the head down to the heart…
Let strangers come together, for one night of soulful, splendid, curious cabaret and meet ourselves and each other on that journey.
A new kind of cabaret that acknowledges vulnerability as the beating heart of meaningful and transformative storytelling. $45/$30
Tix
Nikki Nouveau presents ‘Swingtime in Paris’
Friday 7 July, 8 pm
Nikki Nouveau and her dynamic swing band explore the timeless allure of Paris in a compelling musical memoir, bringing to life the bygone era of French jazz and classic show tunes from the 1940s, 50s and 60s. $45/$30
Tix
The Kransky Sisters
Saturday 8 July, 4 .pm & 6:30pm
The musical sisters from Esk are turning the hubcaps on the highway and bringing a delightful mix of their nutty stories and songs. $65/$55
Tix
Prinnie Stevens: Lady Sings the Blues
Saturday 8 July, 7:50pm and Sunday 9 July, 7:50 pm
Lady Sings The Blues is a story about women in song; their hurts, struggles and pain; and the transformation of that pain into music.
Featuring the songs of the greats like Billie Holiday, Etta James and Ella Fitzgerald; along with the modern day voices of Aretha Franklin, Whitney Houston, Beyonce and more. $65/55/30
Tix
Trevor Jones’ Piano Bar
Saturday 8 July, 8.15 pm and Sunday 9 July, 8.15 pm
Singalong to your favourite songs by request. Anything is possible from Elton, Billy and Beyonce through to showtunes and standards. $30
Tix
High Tea Jazz with Tamara Kuldin Trio
Sunday 9 July, 2.30 pm
An afternoon of melodies with Tamara Kuldin and her trio celebrating the likes of Ella Fitzgerald, Doris Day and Frank Sinatra, while enjoying your selection from an array of savoury, sweet, hot and cold high tea delicacies (approx.12 pieces pp).
Accompanied by tea, coffee and a glass of bubbles, served at your lounge table. $85/80+bf
Tix
Anton Koritni presents ‘Australian Poetry on Piano’
Sunday 9 July, 5 pm
Anton Koritni celebrates the poets who were integral in creating a distinctively Australian cultural identity by transforming their classic verses into modern song. Not just bush ballads, other pieces explore themes of social satire, love, death, childish wonderment, and raucous boxing arenas! $45
Tix
Frankly Presents ‘Ten Carat Cranium’
Sunday 9 July, 6.45 pm
A night of poignant silliness, Frankly’s treatment plan will consist of filter less anecdotes, original music and one serious question: can your own insanity be your greatest teacher? If you’re thinking not…be convinced in this totally ridiculous and utterly joyful story of how one manic episode changed her life for the better! $45/40+bf
Tix
Roller Skating 101 @ PCYC St Kilda
Tuesday 4 July, 2 pm – 4 pm
Get your skates on and learn the basics from skate pro Hayley Halo.
Skates on the day are limited, so BYO if you can. Suitable for ages 12 – 17 years.
Register

Indiana Jones and The Dial of Destiny @ Astor
Until Wednesday 5 July, various times
The legendary Harrison Ford teams up with the amazing Phoebe Waller-Bridge for his last spin of the archaeological money making machine.
Tix

Material Remains @ Linden
From Thursday 6 July – Sunday 6 August
A curated exhibition featuring the work of five local artists exploring the socio-historical, archival and formal threads of fabric.
Info
26 Acland Street
Tuesday – Sunday, 11 am – 4 pm
Closed on Public Holidays
The Linden Projects Space is not wheelchair accessible

Brooke Taylor & The Poison Spitting Gin Queens @ George Lane
Friday 7 July, 7 pm – 11 pm
TWiSK loves Brooke. She’s a local songwriter and guitarist with a passion for folk, rock and country. Always impressive. Tix almost sold out.
Tix
Limited access

E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial with Henry Thomas Live @ Astor
Saturday 8 July, 6:30 pm
A Special Event Screening featuring an extended pre film introduction from star Henry Thomas Live on stage in collaboration with Metro Comic Con.
Tix
NAIDOC Week: The Voice discussion @ Pride
Friday 7 July, 5 pm
A discussion facilitated by Victoria’s Commissioner for LGBTIQ+ Communities Dr Todd Fernando with panellists N’arweet Dr Carolyn Briggs AM, Sheena Watt MP and Professor Paula Gerber. Free
Tix
Away @ Theatre Works
Saturday 8 July – Saturday 22 July
Shakespearean in structure, but deeply personal in tone, Michael Gow’s Away is a uniquely Australian look at small families… and their epic stories. Directed by Steven Mitchell Wright.
Tix and info

Matt Joe Gow & Kerryn Fields @ George Lane
Saturday 8 July, 7.30 PM – 11.30 PM
Kiwi’s Joe Gow & Kerryn Fields are bonafide masters of their craft, steeped in Alt-Country influences, building their sound around acoustic instruments and honest songwriting. Almost sold out
Tix
St Kilda Repair Café @ EcoCentre
Sunday 9 July, 2 pm – 5 pm
Before you toss out that favourite thing, try the Repair Café solution.
They also divert old PCs and phones for use by refugees.
38 Blessington St

Hornstars @ Espy
Sunday, 9 July 2023 6:00 pm
Hornstars are a nine-piece outfit set to blow you away with three sets of dance floor fillers. Free
Info

Ongoing


The Wizard of Oz @ National
Until Sunday 9 July, 7.30 pm, Saturday matinees 1.30 pm
“Travel the yellow brick road with Dorothy and Co. in a distinctly steam-punk fashion.
“While remaining faithful to the story itself we’re off to see the Wizard across a rainbow laser highway with a deliciously subversive flair!” $65/$59
Tix
Shhh @ Red Stitch
Until 16 July
Fast tracked from the US, this new work by Clare Barron is a semi-autobiographical attempt to provide a measure of clarity about painful experiences. Described by Red Stitch as a challenging exploration of pain, pleasure, freedom and disappointment, and sisterhood.
Tix

Next week
Monday 10 July – Sunday 16 July


The Milk Carton Kids @ Memo
Tuesday 11 July, 7 pm
Kenneth Pattengale and Joey Ryan are The Milk Carton Kids, who joined forces with their delicious harmonies and intricate guitars in 2011 in their hometown of Eagle Rock, California. $65/60
Tix
Public Forum: No New Coal and Gas @ St Kilda Town Hall
Tuesday 11 July, 6.30 pm – 8 pm
An Australia Institute forum with speakers Adam Bandt, Kavita Naidu and Richard Denniss.
Hear about Australia’s plans for vast new export coal mines and gas fields, despite calls to stop all new investment in fossil fuels.
RSVP essential 
The Moth Melbourne GrandSLAM Championship @ National
Wednesday 12 July, 7:30pm
Story telling – a battle of wits and words – fierce, hilarious, heart breaking and all points between. $44
Tix

Tex Perkins & The Fat Rubber Band @ Memo
Friday 14 July, 7:00pm
Tex Perkins and The Fat Rubber Band return after a successful 26-date European run, offering fans a ‘Swamp Meet’ treat with good friend & special guest Kim Salmon kicking off the night with his solo show, Rooted. $60
Tix
Saturday Seminar – Trump’s Australia @ U3APP zoom seminar
Saturday 15 July, 2.30 – 3.30 pm
“Trump or a Trumpist could very well win the next US Presidential election and if they do, American democracy as we have known it will probably come to an end.”
The latest book by Bruce Wolpe, Trump’s Australia, will be the focus of this U3APP seminar. The seminar will take the form of a conversation between Bruce Wolpe and Jim Walter canvassing key issues in the book and most tellingly what a Trump victory might mean for Australia.
Jim Walter is emeritus professor of politics at Monash University and an active member of Port Phillip U3A.
Register at www.u3app.org.au
Click on “public events” in the menu.
Silent movie and music @ Holy Trinity
Saturday 15 July, 7 pm start
Lights, camera, music. Enjoy Buster Keaton silent classic The General (1926) accompanied by by David Johnson, OAM, on the Fincham pipe organ at Holy Trinity Balaclava & Elwood Anglican Church. $20
Tix 
175 Chapel Street
Banter with Brenda @ St Kilda RSL
Postponed.
For more information 
Andrew Jobling: info@andrewjobling.com.au; 0414 973 315 or
Eva Sifis; eva@byaccident.com.au; 0403 766 966

Book ahead


The Exploding Universe of Ed Kuepper @ National
Wednesday 6 September @ 8 pm – 10 pm
The first live band experience of Ed Kuepper’s solo material since 2009.
Featuring Ed’s legendary sparring partner Mark Dawson on drums, Sunnyboys bassist Peter Oxley plus celebrated pianist Alister Spence and brass maestro Eamon Dilworth, The Exploding Universe will tackle the best of Kuepper’s recent vinyl reissues Electrical Storm and the classic Honey Steel’s Gold (and more). $67.40
Tix

Pride welcomes Craig Bell as new Chair
Craig Bell has been appointed as new Chair of the Victorian Pride Centre. He takes over from outgoing Chair, Hang Vo, who has stepped down from the Board after four years, including two as Chair.
Craig Bell is the CEO of CoINVEST (the portable Construction Industry Long Service Leave Scheme) and current director, and previous Chair, of the Lord Mayor’s Charitable Foundation, and has been a Board Director at the Pride Centre since July 2022.
He brings experience in strategy, finance, and ICT to the role of Chair.
Hang Vo is the CEO of the Sacred Heart Mission and President of the ACOSS Australian Council of Social Service – so she’s a busy person.

PS Media Port Phillip presses pause
After 12 months, PS Media’s local online news pilot has failed to meet expectations and has been “paused”. 
Backed by some big names in journalism, philanthropy and tech, the PS team were running three pilots (Port Phillip, Brimbank and Logan in Queensland).
Judging by online content, things haven’t gone to plan in all three pilot locations.
Their Brimbank and Logan pilots have not published new stories this year – and are presumed paused. 
LINA membership grows
Meanwhile membership of Local Independent News Association continues to grow as journalists and communities strive to find ways to deliver local content. Examples of local efforts include Brunswick Voice  and Hyperlocal News (CDB and Docklands) – and of course TWiSK.
Journalism doesn’t grow on trees
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Local and independent coverage
of Council news and decisions
RoPP says TWiSK bin tax coverage was rubbish

Residents of Port Phillip (RoPP) spokesperson Campbell Spence has contacted TWiSK to strenuously object to the idea that ROPP has broken an election promise to oppose the Council bin tax.
In his statement from RoPP, Campbell points out that Councillors Clarke and Sirakoff opposed the extra waste charge when it was first approved last year – and therefore meet their pre-election promise.
“ROPP was very supportive of the 2023/24 budget for rates being set at 2.8% instead of the maximum allowed under the State Government rates levy of 3.5%. The rates reduction was tied to the modest increase of the waste charge. To suggest that you can remove the waste levy and have lower rates does not make sense.
“In order to achieve the lower rate increase, Cr Sirakoff and Cr Clark voted to support the proposed Budget. The waste levy battle was concluded in June 2022 and not at the recent council meeting as postured by TWiSK.
“To that end, ROPP Councillors, voted for a lesser rate increase as a fantastic outcome for residents.”
Read RoPP statement in full 
TWiSK is delighted to include Mr Spence’s response
TWiSK exists to promote participation in community activities including local politics.
TWiSK respects that there are a variety of point of views and is committed to fair and balanced coverage.

Correction and apology
Cr Pearl protests via SMS: “I voted against waste charge too!”

Last week we reported that Cr Bond was the only councillor to vote against the additional waste charge.
Shortly after posting the story, we got a friendly protest from Cr Marcus Pearl via SMS.
“There were actually two’ plus a thumbs up it said.
A review of the video recording clearly shows that Cr Pearl also voted against the charge.
For the record, the Council minutes recorded these votes:
FOR: Crs Baxter, Clark, Crawford, Cunsolo, Martin, Nyaguy and Sirakoff
AGAINST: Crs Bond and Pearl
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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