MELBOURNE | Tuesday 30th April to Monday 6th May 2013
This week the Fair Trade Festival returns with a fantastic showcase of guilt-free goodies for one and all. Aspiring writers can look forward to the Dandenong Ranges Writers Festival, while those happy to remain bookworms will find a treasure trove at the Clunes Booktown Festival.
It's a good week for foodies with the Grampians Grape Escape sharing a table with the Kellybrook Cider Festival and the Chestnut Festival.
For fans of cinema there's the Audi Festival of German Films, the Indian Film Festival of Melbourne and the Australian International Experimental Film Festival pushing many a boundary on the big screen.
Have a great week in Melbourne!
Brett
A Fair to Remember
Victorian Fair Trade Festival highlights the plight of disadvantaged workers throughout the world with events that include fair trade markets with ethically produced goods such as food and clothing along with exhibitions, business seminars and other highlights that include the Fair Trade Mothers' Day High Tea. When:May 4 to 19
All A'Bard!
Dandenong Ranges Writers Festival, held at various venues, presents a program of events for writers and readers throughout May with special events that include readings, dinners, book signings, discussions and more with children's favourite Andy Griffith, Sophie Cunningham, Emilie Zoey Baker and many other guests. When:May 2 to 29 - Various Dates
Clunes Booktown Festival is an enormous book fair held in the town of Clunes, located an hour and a half's drive from Melbourne. With buildings all across Clunes becoming temporary bookstores with a large range of booksellers from all over Australia taking over the historic town, there are also special guests. When:Saturday & Sunday, May 4 & 5
Nuts About Apples
Grampians Grape Escape, held at Halls Gap Oval, is a gastronomic getaway where foodies can indulge in delicious gourmet fare, fabulous wines and cooking demonstrations by celebrity guests. Showcasing 100 Western Victorian wine and food artisans, the festival includes live music, children's entertainment and more. When:Saturday & Sunday, May 4 & 5
Chestnut Festival, held at Mount Dandenong's Kalorama Reserve, offers a great day of fun for the whole family with proceeds supporting Mount Dandenong Pre-school. Along with fairground rides, petting zoo, prize raffles, market stalls and plenty of delicious roast chestnuts, the festival also features live entertainment. When:Sunday May 5 - 10am to 4pm
Kellybrook Cider Festival, now in its 25th year, celebrates all things cider with a great day out for the whole family. Held at Kellybrook Winery, the festival will present food marquees with tastings and sales of traditionally made rustic ciders, live music performances and entertainment for kids with pony rides and more. When:Saturday & Sunday, May 4 & 5
From Indie to India
Australian International Experimental Film Festival brings quality experimental film and video from all over the world with unique works being screened at Melbourne's LOOP Project Space. Held to promote independent cinema, most of the films have never been seen in Australia and are likely not to be seen here again. When:Wednesday to Sunday, May 1 to 5
Audi Festival of German Films presents an eclectic mix of German films screening at Melbourne's Kino Cinemas and Palace Cinema Como in South Yarra. This year's festival features an exciting program that includes special guests, Georg Maas, Jan Tengeler, Marten Persiel, Phillipe Mora and Harald Grosskopf. When:May 1 to 15
Indian Film Festival of Melbourne showcases the world's biggest film industry with a program that also celebrates this year's 100th anniversary of Indian film, from the first silent feature to today's modern blockbusters. Held at various venues, the festival also features special guests Q&A sessions and Masterclasses. When:May 3 to 22
Found Objects
Second Life, held at red gallery in Fitzroy, is an exhibition of works by Ngaere Guyatt, an artist who repurposes dilapidated objects to transform them through processes of bricolage, creating three dimensional assemblages and wall relief works. Second Life coincides with exhibitions by Olivia Pintos-Lopez and Susie Leahy Raleigh. When:May 1 to 18 Official Opening:Wednesday May 1 - 6pm to 8pm
Toorak Village Sculpture Exhibition, held along the shop windows and sidewalks of Toorak Village, is a unique arts event that attracts works from a diverse range of sculptors. Now in its 12th year, the popular event features sculptures that range from interior designs to large outdoor pieces with many available to buy. When:May 1 to June 16
Jack's Yer Uncle
Jack Charles V The Crown shines the spotlight on one of Australia's near forgotten treasures as he tells his remarkable true story himself. A respected Aboriginal elder and one of Australia's most highly regarded performers with a life that's larger than fiction, Jack will present his powerful tale at Frankston Arts Centre. When:Wednesday May 1 - 1pm & 8pm
Amadeus, performed at Parkville's Union House Theatre, is a musical that explores the rivalry between Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart and Antonio Salieri, court composer for the Emperor of Austria. Presented by CASUM, the play incorporates new and contemporary music while also re-invigorating the classic Mozart repertoire. When:Until Saturday May 4
AMoeR presents a story beyond the everyday romance as it explores what connection really means using a twisted oceanic world, taking the audience on a visual feast of the grotesque and the beautiful. Told in a Butoh inspired style of physical theatre, performances are held at Collingwood Underground Theatre. When:Wednesday to Sunday, May 1 to 4
Swinging from the Skas
The Furbelows, a band that brings together two of the most popular jazz styles of the 1930s, will perform at St Kilda's Alliance Française de Melbourne. Combining close harmony vocals with a hot swing rhythm section, they're inspired by groups such as The Andrews Sisters and the fiery gypsy jazz style of Django Reinhardt. When:Thursday May 2 - 8pm
Melbourne Ska Orchestra, fronted by Nicky Bomba and appearing at Melbourne's Forum Theatre, brings together the sizeable force of over a dozen horn players, a mean rhythm section, percussionist, 2 organists and 3 singers as they perform music from the golden ska period of 1963 through to modern day classics. When:Saturday May 4 - 8pm
Do You Laika Comedy?
Puggs in Space is a weekly comedy night at Melbourne's Pugg Mahones. Featuring a stellar lineup of comic genius, the night is a pay as you feel event where you're invited to throw in as little or as much as you like. With Ryan Coffer as MC this week, guests include Arielle Conversi, Anthony Jeannot, Jon Bennet and many others. When:Tuesday April 30 - 8pm
Exploding Heads Impro, Melbourne's newest, youngest and most vibrant Improvisation Comedy and Theatre group, present an evening of breakthrough comedy and theatrical truth through the rich development of characters and stories, with plenty of madcap audience participation. Shows are held at The 86 in Fitzroy. When:Monday May 6 - 7:30pm
The Darling Punts of May
Warrnambool May Racing Carnival, one of the most popular premier regional racing events, features Australia's longest thoroughbred race. Held across three days, the Carnival is action packed with quality racing, exceptional catering, Fashions on the Field and great entertainment for adults and children. When:Tuesday to Thursday, April 30 to May 2
AFL Premiership | Round 6 Collingwood v St Kilda
Friday May 3, 7:50pm - Marvel Stadium Essendon v GWS
Saturday May 4, 1:45pm - Marvel Stadium Richmond v Geelong
Saturday May 4, 7:40pm - MCG Carlton v Melbourne
Sunday May 5, 3:15pm - MCG
MELBOURNE | Tuesday 30th April to Monday 6th May 2013
This week the Fair Trade Festival returns with a fantastic showcase of guilt-free goodies for one and all. Aspiring writers can look forward to the Dandenong Ranges Writers Festival, while those happy to remain bookworms will find a treasure trove at the Clunes Booktown Festival.
It's a good week for foodies with the Grampians Grape Escape sharing a table with the Kellybrook Cider Festival and the Chestnut Festival.
For fans of cinema there's the Audi Festival of German Films, the Indian Film Festival of Melbourne and the Australian International Experimental Film Festival pushing many a boundary on the big screen.
Have a great week in Melbourne!
Brett
A Fair to Remember
Victorian Fair Trade Festival highlights the plight of disadvantaged workers throughout the world with events that include fair trade markets with ethically produced goods such as food and clothing along with exhibitions, business seminars and other highlights that include the Fair Trade Mothers' Day High Tea. When:May 4 to 19
All A'Bard!
Dandenong Ranges Writers Festival, held at various venues, presents a program of events for writers and readers throughout May with special events that include readings, dinners, book signings, discussions and more with children's favourite Andy Griffith, Sophie Cunningham, Emilie Zoey Baker and many other guests. When:May 2 to 29 - Various Dates
Clunes Booktown Festival is an enormous book fair held in the town of Clunes, located an hour and a half's drive from Melbourne. With buildings all across Clunes becoming temporary bookstores with a large range of booksellers from all over Australia taking over the historic town, there are also special guests. When:Saturday & Sunday, May 4 & 5
Nuts About Apples
Grampians Grape Escape, held at Halls Gap Oval, is a gastronomic getaway where foodies can indulge in delicious gourmet fare, fabulous wines and cooking demonstrations by celebrity guests. Showcasing 100 Western Victorian wine and food artisans, the festival includes live music, children's entertainment and more. When:Saturday & Sunday, May 4 & 5
Chestnut Festival, held at Mount Dandenong's Kalorama Reserve, offers a great day of fun for the whole family with proceeds supporting Mount Dandenong Pre-school. Along with fairground rides, petting zoo, prize raffles, market stalls and plenty of delicious roast chestnuts, the festival also features live entertainment. When:Sunday May 5 - 10am to 4pm
Kellybrook Cider Festival, now in its 25th year, celebrates all things cider with a great day out for the whole family. Held at Kellybrook Winery, the festival will present food marquees with tastings and sales of traditionally made rustic ciders, live music performances and entertainment for kids with pony rides and more. When:Saturday & Sunday, May 4 & 5
From Indie to India
Australian International Experimental Film Festival brings quality experimental film and video from all over the world with unique works being screened at Melbourne's LOOP Project Space. Held to promote independent cinema, most of the films have never been seen in Australia and are likely not to be seen here again. When:Wednesday to Sunday, May 1 to 5
Audi Festival of German Films presents an eclectic mix of German films screening at Melbourne's Kino Cinemas and Palace Cinema Como in South Yarra. This year's festival features an exciting program that includes special guests, Georg Maas, Jan Tengeler, Marten Persiel, Phillipe Mora and Harald Grosskopf. When:May 1 to 15
Indian Film Festival of Melbourne showcases the world's biggest film industry with a program that also celebrates this year's 100th anniversary of Indian film, from the first silent feature to today's modern blockbusters. Held at various venues, the festival also features special guests Q&A sessions and Masterclasses. When:May 3 to 22
Found Objects
Second Life, held at red gallery in Fitzroy, is an exhibition of works by Ngaere Guyatt, an artist who repurposes dilapidated objects to transform them through processes of bricolage, creating three dimensional assemblages and wall relief works. Second Life coincides with exhibitions by Olivia Pintos-Lopez and Susie Leahy Raleigh. When:May 1 to 18 Official Opening:Wednesday May 1 - 6pm to 8pm
Toorak Village Sculpture Exhibition, held along the shop windows and sidewalks of Toorak Village, is a unique arts event that attracts works from a diverse range of sculptors. Now in its 12th year, the popular event features sculptures that range from interior designs to large outdoor pieces with many available to buy. When:May 1 to June 16
Jack's Yer Uncle
Jack Charles V The Crown shines the spotlight on one of Australia's near forgotten treasures as he tells his remarkable true story himself. A respected Aboriginal elder and one of Australia's most highly regarded performers with a life that's larger than fiction, Jack will present his powerful tale at Frankston Arts Centre. When:Wednesday May 1 - 1pm & 8pm
Amadeus, performed at Parkville's Union House Theatre, is a musical that explores the rivalry between Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart and Antonio Salieri, court composer for the Emperor of Austria. Presented by CASUM, the play incorporates new and contemporary music while also re-invigorating the classic Mozart repertoire. When:Until Saturday May 4
AMoeR presents a story beyond the everyday romance as it explores what connection really means using a twisted oceanic world, taking the audience on a visual feast of the grotesque and the beautiful. Told in a Butoh inspired style of physical theatre, performances are held at Collingwood Underground Theatre. When:Wednesday to Sunday, May 1 to 4
Swinging from the Skas
The Furbelows, a band that brings together two of the most popular jazz styles of the 1930s, will perform at St Kilda's Alliance Française de Melbourne. Combining close harmony vocals with a hot swing rhythm section, they're inspired by groups such as The Andrews Sisters and the fiery gypsy jazz style of Django Reinhardt. When:Thursday May 2 - 8pm
Melbourne Ska Orchestra, fronted by Nicky Bomba and appearing at Melbourne's Forum Theatre, brings together the sizeable force of over a dozen horn players, a mean rhythm section, percussionist, 2 organists and 3 singers as they perform music from the golden ska period of 1963 through to modern day classics. When:Saturday May 4 - 8pm
Do You Laika Comedy?
Puggs in Space is a weekly comedy night at Melbourne's Pugg Mahones. Featuring a stellar lineup of comic genius, the night is a pay as you feel event where you're invited to throw in as little or as much as you like. With Ryan Coffer as MC this week, guests include Arielle Conversi, Anthony Jeannot, Jon Bennet and many others. When:Tuesday April 30 - 8pm
Exploding Heads Impro, Melbourne's newest, youngest and most vibrant Improvisation Comedy and Theatre group, present an evening of breakthrough comedy and theatrical truth through the rich development of characters and stories, with plenty of madcap audience participation. Shows are held at The 86 in Fitzroy. When:Monday May 6 - 7:30pm
The Darling Punts of May
Warrnambool May Racing Carnival, one of the most popular premier regional racing events, features Australia's longest thoroughbred race. Held across three days, the Carnival is action packed with quality racing, exceptional catering, Fashions on the Field and great entertainment for adults and children. When:Tuesday to Thursday, April 30 to May 2
AFL Premiership | Round 6 Collingwood v St Kilda
Friday May 3, 7:50pm - Marvel Stadium Essendon v GWS
Saturday May 4, 1:45pm - Marvel Stadium Richmond v Geelong
Saturday May 4, 7:40pm - MCG Carlton v Melbourne
Sunday May 5, 3:15pm - MCG