TWiSK #360

Big week for live music
Another Sunday Stroll with Elwood Choir
Bob Brown in Q&A @ Astor
Grand Prix numbers shame
Get active for school holidays
Podcast 23.5
An audio preview of the week to come in music and arts
Listen Now 18 mins

The Battle of Long Tan – ANZAC Appeal Launch @ Astor
Tuesday 11 April, 6.30 pm
This 90-minute documentary has rare interviews with the seven surviving commanders at Long Tan in a special one off screening.
There will be a Q&A with Zak Hepburn and documentary director Damien Lay, a performance of ‘I Was Only 19’ by Augie March singer Glenn Richards, with the original writer and singer John Schumann also in attendance (this year marks the 40 year anniversary of the song) and short talks from Vietnam veterans and members of RSL Victoria.
A percentage of ticket sales will be donated to the ANZAC Appeal.
Tix

Dinosaur craft @ St Kilda Library
Wednesday 12 April at 11 am to 12 pm
Create a t-shirt emblazoned with your favourite prehistoric predator or gentle giant and design and decorate an impressive 3D dinosaur sculpture to take home. Suitable for ages 6-12
Info
The Scientwits: More Wrong Experiments! @ Gas Works
Wednesday 12 April – Sunday 23 April, 11 am and 2 pm
“One-of-a-kind, high-energy and interactive sketch comedy show for kids.”
There will be science, there will be mess and sadly, for poor Scientist Sam absolutely nothing will go to plan thanks to Captain Chaos. $27
Tix
Steve Poltz (CAN) @ George Lane
Wednesday 12 April, 7 pm
Sold out
MaSiWei @ Palais
Wednesday 12 April, 8 pm
One of the biggest names to come out of the Chinese hip-hop scene.
Tix 

Ready Set LEGO @ St Kilda Library
Thursday 13 April, 11 am to 12:30 pm
Join Brick Kit for an exhilarating hands-on LEGO workshop. Design, experiment, refine and race your LEGO creation on an enormous 11 metre racing track! Learn about physics whilst challenging yourself to beat your own fastest time. Suitable for ages 6 – 12
Info
More activities
School holidays @ St Kilda Library
Henna Art with Anudeepa @ Carlisle Street Art Space
Thursday 13 April, 11.30 am – 1:30 pm
Distant Shores workshop presented by City of Port Phillip + Space2b
Mehndi is a temporary body tattoo drawn on the arms, hands and feet. The mehndi mixture is made from a ground paste or powder from the leaves of the Henna plant. It is a tradition to apply mehndi on both the bride and bride groom’s hands, legs and the sole of their feet to maintain a cool temperature.
In this workshop participants will be guided by Anudeepa on how to create a beautiful mehndi on their hands or arms. Anudeepa will provide designs or you can create your own. All materials will be provided. Free
Bookings are necessary as places are limited 
99A Carlisle Street

Anya Anastasia + Coda Chroma @ George Lane
Thursday 13 April, 7 pm – 11 pm
“South Australian songstress Anya Anastasia’s music is a powerful blend of experimental folk and West-African inspired desert rock.”
Anya is performing with her full band. Supported by cinematic pop musician Coda Chroma.
Tix
Kim Volkman heads a trifecta of bands @ St Kilda Sports Club
Friday 14 April, 7 pm
Kim Volkman and The Whisky Priests, River of Snakes and Persecution Blues. $30
Tickets 

Fabels + USER @ George Lane
Friday 14 April, 7:00 pm – 11:30 pm
Fabels are a two piece that play original, experimental, progressive, dreamscape music with dynamic arrangements.
Tix

Jack Howard & The Long Lost Brothers @ Espy Basement
Friday, 14 April, 8 pm
Jack Howard will be hitting the Espy Basement with his awesome band of Long Lost Brothers and Sisters, Jack’s tunes range from the dark and moody to driving disco and powerful rock.
Jack has invited a great new up-and-coming local band, Wake In Fright, as guests on the night. Free
Tix
Cosmic Psychos @ Prince Bandroom
Friday 14 April, 8 pm
“The band’s repetitive lyrics, fuzzed out guitar and wah-wah bass sound has remained unchanged over their 30 plus year career.” $57
Tix

Myanmar: Democracy in a complicated country @ U3APP Zoom
Saturday 15 April, 2.30 pm – 3.30 pm
Myanmar has been in a state of turmoil amounting to civil war since the military seized power in February 2021. The presentation will look at history of Myanmar under British rule, the period since the army took power in a coup in 1962 and consider what is in store now.
The speaker, Chris Lamb is a former Australian ambassador to Myanmar and the seminar is open to the public. Free
Info and link

Jim Williams @ George Lane Matinee Sessions
Saturday 15 April, 3 pm – 6 pm
“Once described as ‘an urban Johnny Cash’ for many reasons including, dynamic live performances, his working class attitude, his infectious rhythmic playing, personal honesty and genuine open-heartedness.”.
Jim has a swag of awards including ASA 2018 Independent album of the year, two APRA awards for 2008 Country songs of the year and Modern Country song of the year, and a 2018 Golden Guitar nomination.
Tix

John Kennedy & The New Originals – Album Launch @ George Lane
Saturday 15 April, 7:30 pm  – 11:30 pm
John Kennedy & his band The New Originals are launching their new album. Readers may recall JK’s previous and numerous incarnations: JFK and the Cuban Crisis, John Kennedy’s Love Gone Wrong, John Kennedy’s 68 Comeback Special, JFK and the Midlife Crisis and now the New Originals.
Big voice, sense of fun, a real troubadour.
Tix
64 Falcon @ The Bowlo
Saturday 15 April, 7.30 pm
Free
66 Fitzroy Street
‘Sunday Stroll’ @ Elwood Singing Walking Trail
Sunday 16 April, 10.30 am – 12.00 pm
Explore this unique musical trail along Elwood foreshore with members of the Elwood Community Choir and Musical Director, Jeannie Marsh.
Meet at Song Site 9: Elwood Pier, at the end of Head St, then walk to Song Site 12 (King of Tonga bar).
More info, locations and tunes
The Elwood Singing Walking Trail is a 6.8 km route around the parks, beach and canal of leafy Elwood. You can also take a self-directed musical stroll at any time – simply access the songs via the QR Code on the distinctive signs at each of the 12 Song Sites.
Meet The Artist > The Escape @ Linden
Sunday 16 April, 2 pm – 3 pm
Join curator and artist Anna Garcia Solana as she discusses her ongoing curatorial project Fire Escape through the lens of her current exhibition The Escape. The artist talk with take place in Linden’s Projects Space. Free
RSVP

The Giants – Q&A with Bob Brown @ Astor
Sunday 16 April, 3:00pm (single feature)
This special event session includes a post film Q&A with Bob Brown and the film makers. The Giants explores the intertwined fates of trees and humans in this poetic portrait of environmentalist Bob Brown and the Forest.
Tix

A Neil Young Tribute Feat. JD Delves and Band @ George Lane
Sunday 16 April, 4 pm – 8 pm
J.D. Delves with his five piece band ‘Harvest Moon’. J.D has dedicated his musical life to Young and there is no better representation to pay homage to Neil Young’s catalogue of truly inspiring music.
Tix

The Rechords @ Espy
Sunday, 16 April, 6  pm
Influenced by Old Time Hillbilly, Bluegrass, Alt Country, Traditional Rockabilly with hints of classic vocal groups of the 60’s and a twist of pop vibes. TWiSK saw the trio support Eilen Jewell and they were really swinging. Free

Not Finished With You Yet @ Alex Theatre on Fitzroy Street
Until Sunday 16 April
“It’s saucy, funny, and deeply entertaining from start to finish. It’s not afraid to be outrageous or risqué …
Well scripted, and wonderfully performed, it’s the musical to see!”
Weekend Notes Review
Part of the Melbourne International Comedy Festival
A new musical with a powerhouse cast headed by real-life partners Christie Whelan Browne and Rohan Browne.
Tickets from $66 (previews) $71
Tix and info 
1/135 Fitzroy St
Wheelchair access, accessible toiletThe Women’s Show #18 @ Vivienne Anderson Gallery
Until Saturday 22 April
vivienandersongallery.com
284–290 St Kilda Road
Tuesday to Friday 1 1am — 5 pm, Saturday 12 pm — 4 pm

Soon

Brave New Artists > Holiday Program @ Linden
Tuesday 18 April – Saturday 22 April, 10 am – 3 pm
For those aged 6 – 11 years.
Pull back the curtain of the art world, be an artist, create your own masterpiece, tryout being a curator, and install your exhibition. Everything is possible for Brave New Artists at Linden these school holidays. Our young participants will explore various kinds of art making and on the last day, the Brave New Artists will run an exhibition of their own artworks for family and friends! Free but booking essential
For more info and RSVP  |  Contact: events@lindenarts.org
Swordfighting: Lightsabers (5-12 yrs) @ Gasworks
Wednesday 19 April, 10:30 am – 11:30 am
Young padawans, your Jedi training starts here. Learn the art of fencing with traditional foils before applying the principles using lightsabers. Lightsabers provided. $25
Tix
Swordfighting: Fencing (5-12 yrs) @ Gasworks
Wednesday 19 April, 12 pm – 1 pm
En garde! Learn about the history of fencing and enjoy an active session of this strategic sport – a great workout for your body and your mind. $25
Tix


Y(our) Fest @ Sol Green Community Centre
Saturday 22 April, 11 AM – 5 PM
A free music and arts festival designed by kids for everyone!
Tix 
Cnr Montague St &, Coventry St, South Melbourne

Kumarsutra Greatest Hits @ National
Saturday 22 April, 8 pm
Kumar is hailed as one of South East Asia’s most iconic and respected performing artists and a brilliant stand-up comedian. $80+
Tix

Indonesian Dinner ~ Celebrating Eid
Thurs 27th April, from 6.30pm
Eid is a very important holiday in the Islamic calendar. Celebrated by Muslims worldwide to mark the end of Ramadan. What better way to join in the celebrations and learn more about this fascinating event than to join a special Eid ‘Dinner with Friends’?
$50 per head
Book My Dinner 

Mirka Mora’s St Kilda: A story worth telling

From Janine Burke, VCA Honorary Senior Fellow
In 2018, Mirka Mora, the significant artist and much-loved local figure, passed away.
I’d just been invited to join the committee of the St Kilda Historical Society. We decided to commemorate Mirka and we received crucial support from CoPP’s Cultural Development Fund to cover the research and production phases.
The outcome is a beautiful, lavishly illustrated website which contains my in-depth essay Seaside Angel. Plus I conducted filmed interviews with Mirka’s family, friends and colleagues in Remembering Mirka.
Don’t cut the Cultural Development Fund! Culture is St Kilda.
Visit the SKHS website Remembering Mirka pages 

Grand prix in dollars and (non)sense

Save Albert Park stalwarts Joan and Peter Logan have kept watch on the real cost of the Grand Prix since it was snatched from Adelaide in 1993. Through relentless FOI inquiries and painstaking fact checking, they have documented a Grand Prix of falsehoods and exaggeration perpetrated by a conga line of Victorian Premiers of all political persuasions.
Here is a brief summary of the Grand porkies they have uncovered, in podium order:
Porky #1 The GP will not cost a cent
Whoops, not one cent but an estimated $80m for this year alone. The venue set up itself is estimated at $43M.
Pork #2 A worldwide audience in the billions
Whoops, that’s not quite right, the worldwide TV audience for the entire annual race season is around 440M – each race is obviously only a fraction of that.
Porky #3 Its a hugely popular, with all tickets sold out
Whoops, sold out? But how many tickets were given away, and were staff and contractors included in the figures – in the past many thousands of tix were given away.
Read more detail at Michael West Media 

Town Hall Art Space in flux

Last week TWiSK raised questions about the future of the Carlisle Street Art Space, the gallery in the St Kilda Town Hall.
Previously a public gallery where individual artists could apply to exhibit, the space is now focused on groups and organisations.
TWiSK asked if a decision had been made ahead of community consultation on the Arts and Cultural Heritage Strategy (due for completion in September).
For the time being ….
Mayor Heather Cunsolo replied with is statement:
“While the Visual Art & Cultural Heritage Strategy is under development, expressions of interest for individual artists to exhibit in the CSAS are currently not available. For the time being, the gallery is partnering with groups or organisations such as with Space2b for the current exhibition, and an application form will shortly be made available for future collaborations.
“The draft Visual Art & Cultural Heritage Strategy will consider future direction of the Carlisle Street Arts Space and the recent consultation has been a key part of that development.
“The content on the Have Your Say page was not intended to foreshadow any changes to the gallery, but rather to provide alternate resources for artists looking for individual shows while this work is underway.”

Nothing to see here …

At last week’s Council, meeting, Councillors waved through the CEO Report containing the dismal results of the latest staff survey without question or comment.
The staff turnover at Port Phillip is over 20% per annum and the latest staff survey ranked Port Phillip at about the middle in a ranking of 84 local governments. Ouch.
Why is TWiSK the only voice asking questions about staff issues at Port Phillip?
Happy to present a response from any councillor/s.

Next week … what’s happening at The Vineyard

Thanks to a bit of eagle eyed reporting from The Herald Sun, the good citizens of St Kilda now know there’s a legal arm wrestle happening between Council and The Vineyard. Council as landlord and the operators of The Vineyard have been back and forth at VCAT in recent months – most recently on 5 April. They are booked to be back again on 28 April.
VCAT |  2019 Council Vineyard upgrade  infoGreg 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.

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