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All weekend
CANBERRA INTERNATIONAL MUSIC FESTIVAL Eleven days of intimate performances and music-making in some of the city's most iconic settings. This year's program has expanded from just classical music to include contemporary and world music. April 28-May 8. Full program and tickets at cimf.org.au.
SPANISH FILM FESTIVAL A program of dramas, romances, thrillers and box-office hit comedies from across Spain, plus a selection of films from Latin America. Until May 8 at Palace Electric. Program and tickets at spanishfilmfestival.com/events/canberra.
Friday April 29
5.30pm INTERNATIONAL DANCE DAY Two dance performances are on at New Acton to celebrate International Dance Day. Sprout is a dance, installation and interactive performance work performed by Alison Plevey, Olivia Fyfe and Debora Di Centa, and Ocean Island...Mine! is a woman, a 500kg block of ice, a shovel, and the steady walk from point A to point B. Free.
5.30pm VINYL LOUNGE Take along your LPs or just sit back and ease into the weekend with the music at the National Film and Sound Archive. Drinks and nibbles available from The Bench Room cafe. 5.30-7pm. Free.
6pm 52-STOREY TREEHOUSE Andy Griffiths' and Terry Denton's latest bestseller comes to life on the stage as the team behind the hit adaptations of The 13-Storey Treehouse and The 26-Storey Treehouse return with this crazy play for the whole family. Also Saturday at 10am, 12pm and 3pm. Tickets at canberratheatrecentre.com.au.
8pm GLAMOUR AND MOIST Cabaret with Canberra glamour drag queen, Tammy Paks, at Polit Bar. $24 from politbar.co.
8pm HEDGE FUND Sydney-based indie-post-rock outfit Hedge Fund are touring the east coast with their new single Summer's Getting Shorter. The Basement. $13.80 from oztix.com.au. 18+.
8pm UV BOI On track to becoming the next global infatuation, Brisbane-based producer UV Boi is touring the country in support of his debut EP. Supported by Collarbones, Gill Bates and Villette. Transit Bar. $18.40 from moshtix.com.au.
9pm BOMBS AWAY ARIA nominated, multi-platinum artists Bombs Away are no strangers to the charts and their songs are getting high-rotation airplay around the globe. They'll be at Academy. Supported by T-Time, Menttis and Jake Raven. $15 at the door. 18+.
Saturday April 30
10am ORANJEFEEST A celebration of all things Dutch at the Albert Hall. Wear orange, put on your clogs and enjoy some of the Netherlands' best food, music and games. Until 4pm. Free entry. See oranjefeestcanberra.org.
10am OPEN GARDEN 'Carol's Oasis' will be open to the public in Calwell. The steep garden has impressive views and a lush tropical feel. Refreshments and raffle tickets available for purchase with proceeds supporting Beyond Blue. 10am-4pm. 109 O'Connor Circuit, Calwell. See opengardenscanberra.org.au.
1pm CIRQUE AFRICA The world-renowned circus is coming to town. A combination of acrobatics, theatre, song and dance, and a celebration of African culture, both new and old. Free parking. Exhibition Park. Also on 7pm. Running until May 29. $30-$60 from ticketek.com.au.
3pm HIP-HOP AT THE NPG Find your inner dancer at the National Portrait Gallery with a celebration of hip-hop featuring local dance artists inspired by the National Photographic Portrait Prize 2016. A free half-hour event for Ausdance ACT Dance Week. Also 4pm. Bookings not required. See portrait.gov.au.
7pm SHAKESPEARE – THE SONNETS OUT LOUD A rare opportunity to enjoy a complete reading of William Shakespeare's 154 sonnets, to mark the 400th anniversary of his death, performed by William Zappa and Tobias Cole with live accompaniment, directed by Dianna Nixon The Street Theatre. Tickets at thestreet.org.au.
7pm HEAVEN Kit Brookman's play about what comes after death. When schoolgirl Angela dies in a random road accident Max gathers a ragtag group of teens to bring her back from the dead. Courtyard Studio, Canberra Theatre Centre. Also Friday and Sunday at 7pm. Tickets at canberratheatrecentre.com.au.
7.30pm SPEAKING IN TONGUES National University Theatre Society presents Andrew Bovell's play about two couples who set out to betray their partners in a production directed by Matthew Barton. ANU Arts Centre. Tickets at trybooking.com.
8pm UNCLE VANYA Canberra Repertory Society presents Anton Chekhov's tragicomedy about relationships and the environment, set on a Russian country estate and directed by Geoffrey Borny. Theatre 3, Acton. Tickets at canberrarep.org.au.
8pm HOT POTATO BAND An 11-piece brass band, known to cause a severe case of happy fever. They made waves at last year's Woodford Folk Festival, and are now on a full headline east coast tour. Transit Bar. $10 at the door. 18+.
9pm CHROME DJs playing industrial, alternative and dark electronic. The Basement. $10 entry. 18+.
Sunday May 1
From 7am KS FOR KIDS A fun fitness challenge for the whole family. Take on a 5km, 15km or 30km walk or run around Lake Burley Griffin. Funds raised support the Children's Medical Research Institute. Patrick White Lawns. Register at ksforkidswalk2016canberra.gofundraise.com.au.
From 10am COLLECTOR PUMPKIN FESTIVAL The annual festival of all things pumpkins is on at Collector. There will be stalls, arts and craft, food and pumpkin-themed competitions. 10am-4pm. $5-$10 entry, under 15s free.
10am MICHELAGO MAYFAIR A family fun day with music, food, market stalls, live entertainment and activities for kids at Michelago, just south of Canberra. 10am-3pm. Free entry. See michelagoregion.org.au/mrca.
10.30am TODDLERS' PROM ANU Music Society presents the Toddlers' Prom in the Big Band Room of the Peter Karmel Building, next to the ANU School of Music, with the ANU Music Society's Big Band, Orchestra and Concert Band playing a range of children's music, jazz, classical and movie music aimed at ages two to seven. Tickets $6-$10 at the door.
4pm WINSTON SURFSHIRT Hailing from Sydney's northern beaches, Winston Surfshirt will headline a lazy afternoon of music. Supported by Room and Ville. The Aviary, Westside Acton Park. $15 from trybooking.com.
Do you have an event? Email us at canberralife@canberratimes.com.au
