By Cristina Natoli
Music
JAZZ
The Jeff Lorber Fusion brings contemporary jazz to Bird's Basement. Trailblazers in creating what was originally known as jazz fusion – traditional jazz combined with funk, R&B and other alternative sounds - Grammy Award-winner Lorber and his crew will be celebrating his newly released album, Step It Up.
Coppelia Ballet
Today and tomorrow, 6pm and 9.30pm, Bird's Basement, 11 Singers Lane, city, $39-$56, 1300 225 299, birdsbasement.com
CROATIAN
Considered the country's leading Croatian folkloric ensemble, Hrvatska Zora welcomes guests to a musical spectacular of Croatian culture for one night only at the Clocktower Centre. The Kreni Kolo concert will represent the various regions of Croatia with diverse choreography, traditional instruments and costumes.
Today, 6pm, Clocktower Centre, 750 Mt Alexander Road, Moonee Ponds, $20-$40, 9243 9191, clocktowercentre.com.au
Dance
The Listen Out dance music festival returns for 2016 with a curated line-up of Australian and international acts. Taking place at St Kilda's Catani Gardens, homegrown talents include Rüfüs, Tash Sultana and Ngaiire. International performers include Harlem Shake's Baauer, A$AP Ferg, Stormzy and Claptone. Today, 1pm-10pm, Catani Gardens, St Kilda, $115-$170, listenout.com.au
Jon Toogood.
ROCK
It's the first weekend of the Rolling Stone Live Lodge, also known as Rolling Stone Australia's takeover of The Workers Club. Special live performances will take place, in addition to artist Q&As and DJ sets. Tomorrow night the Lodge is hosting An Intimate Evening with Jon Toogood. Until October 9.
Tomorrow, 7.45pm, Workers Club, corner Brunswick and Gertrude streets, Fitzroy, $25, 9415 6558, theworkersclub.com.au
Live
THEATRE
Sarah Goodes directs a production of Joanna Murray-Smith's Switzerland. The tale imagines what happens when a man from the publisher's office tracks down reclusive author Patricia Highsmith in the Swiss Alps to persuade her to write a final book. This unwelcomed visit sets this thriller into motion. Season ends October 29.
Today, 4pm and 8.30pm, Southbank Theatre, 140 Southbank Boulevard, Southbank, $39-$115, 8688 0800, mtc.com.au
BALLET
A classic comic ballet and costume designs by the late Kristian Fredrikson have been revived with the Australian Ballet's performance of Coppelia. Dr Coppelius is a toy-maker whose desire to create a daughter and bring her to life has dire consequences, involving young couple Franz and Swanilda. Season ends October 1.
Today, 1pm and 7pm, Palais Theatre, Lower Esplanade, St Kilda, $42-$232, 136 100, ticketmaster.com.au
CABARET
A sell-out at the Anywhere Theatre Festival, the Melbourne Fringe Festival presents Giema Contini's Awesome Ocean Party. Contini (who believes she may be part octopus) takes the audience on a journey of love, loss and legends through storytelling, an ocean-themed birthday party, and song, with the help of pianist Ned Dixon.
Today and tomorrow, 5.30pm, Butterfly Club, Carson Place, off Little Collins Street, city, $28-$32, 9660 9666, melbournefringe.com.au
A Prudent Man.
PERFORMANCE
Lyall Brooks stars in the Fringe Festival performance of A Prudent Man, a dark comedy about right-wing politicians and what it truly means to be right. The show provides the audience with a witty insight into the psyche of the Pauline Hansons, the Donald Trumps and other conservative leaders of the world. Until October 1.
Today at 9pm, and tomorrow at 8pm, Fringe Hub, Arts House, North Melbourne Town Hall, 521 Queensberry Street, North Melbourne, $20-$25, 9660 9666, melbournefringe.com.au
Food
FRENCH
Milk The Cow wants to transport you to Paris with their Sip Wine, Nibble Cheese, Feel French soiree. Melbourne's own Raleigh Williams and her French-inspired band La Nuit Blanche will perform the songs of some of France's favourite artists such as Vanessa Paradis, Camille and Charles Trenet. A full a la carte menu and cheese range will be available and ticket prices include a glass of French wine on arrival.
September 28, 7pm, Milk The Cow, 323 Lygon Street, Carlton, $20, 9537 2225, milkthecow.com.au
DINNER
Next door to The Press Club restaurant is Press Club Projects, a test kitchen dedicated to the culinary creativity of chefs George Calombaris and Reuben Davis. Press Club Projects is inviting guests to an intimate experimental dinner to launch the new techniques and developing dishes the chefs have devised. The night includes a six-course meal and a behind-the-scenes tour. There will be two more experimental dinners for the year on October 29 and November 12.
Today, 7pm, The Press Club, 52 Flinders Street, city, $160, 9677 9677, thepressclub.com.au
HIGH TEA
Animal lovers won't want to miss the opportunity to enjoy complimentary access to the Melbourne Zoo for one hour followed by an elegant Sunday lunch with high tea in the Rainforest Room. The High Tea will boast a buffet of sweet and savoury treats served with tea and coffee. The Melbourne Zoo hosts these high-tea events one Sunday each month, and fortnightly during winter.
Tomorrow, 2pm, Melbourne Zoo, Rainforest Room, Elliott Avenue, Parkville, $36-$79, 1300 966 784, zoo.org.au
Elsewhere
MARKET
CITY
Feel content knowing that you are participating in eco-friendly shopping at The Little Sparrow Market, which sells only ethically made products using sustainable materials. More than 60 stallholders will be on the premises, selling everything from vintage goods to hand-made creations and homewares. Vendors include Coconut Revolution, which will be selling beauty products made from organic, cold-pressed coconut oil and Ford Millenary by Australian TV personality and celebrity milliner Chantelle Ford.
Tomorrow, 10.30am-4.30pm, Federation Square, Flinders Street, city, free entry, littlesparrowmarket.com
NAGAMBIE
The very first Nagambie Farmers' Market will take place this weekend and on the fourth Sunday of each month from now on, where visitors can buy not only fresh produce, but livestock as well. Yapunyah Meadow Grazed Chickens will be selling their poultry, which is often sold to select butchers and restaurants. Other stallholders include Woodstock Flour and Strathbogie Brewing Co.
Tomorrow, 9am-1pm, High Street, Nagambie, free entry, vfma.org.au
Aeolian Island Exhibition.
EXHIBITION
A dedication to Aeolian-Australian heritage and culture, the exhibition From volcanoes we sailed: connecting Aeolian generations continues at the Immigration Museum. A collaboration by the Societa Isole Eolie and the wider Aeolian community, the exhibition relays stories about the people who lived in the Aeolian islands of Lipari, Volcano, Salina, Stromboli, Panarea, Filicudi and Alicudi, and their journeys from life among the volcanoes to new lives in Australia. Until October 30.
Today and tomorrow, 10am-5pm, Immigration Museum, 400 Flinders Street, city, free-$14, 131 102, museumvictoria.com.au
SCULPTURE
One of Australia's most celebrated sculptors, Bruce Armstrong showcases more than 20 of his works dating from the 1980s to now in his exhibition An Anthology of Strange Creatures. Best known by Melburnians for his 2002, 23-metre-tall Eagle sculpture in the Docklands, Armstrong's creations of various shapes and sizes, from red gum to cast bronze works, will be on display. Ends January 29.
Today and tomorrow, 10am-5pm, The Ian Potter Centre: NGV Australia, Federation Square, Flinders Street, city, free entry, 8620 2222, ngv.vic.gov.au
Fringe Furniture.
FESTIVAL
The Melbourne Fringe Festival's longest running event, the Fringe Furniture exhibit, is celebrating its 30th anniversary with a special redesign theme. Exhibitors are encouraged to draw inspiration from the iconic and cutting-edge designs of the past to create new, next-level industrial designs. The experimental space that is Fringe Furniture is a platform for artists and designers to exhibit unique and vanguard homewares, temporary and permanent works. Until October 2.
Today and tomorrow, 11am-5pm, Abbotsford Convent, 1 St Heliers Street, Abbotsford, free, melbournefringe.com.au
FAMILY
This weekend is the last opportunity to make your own music at Bellbird. A joint presentation by Melbourne Fringe and ArtPlay, Bellbird is an experience that will blur the senses. Dubbed a forest of sound, guests are blindfolded when entering the interactive musical installation and are able to wander around and create their own songs by tugging various streaming ribbons attached to brass bells. Bellbird is considered ideal for families and children aged four and older.
Today and tomorrow, 10am and 1.30pm, ArtPlay, Batman Avenue, Birrarung Marr, city, free, melbournefringe.com.au