By Ellie Stanton
MUSIC
ALTERNATIVE
British singer songwriter Ben Ottewell tours Australia after launching his third solo album, A Man Apart. Known for his gravelly voice, Ottewell crosses multiple genres including Americana, blues and folk. Ottewell first gained a following in the late '90s as the lead guitarist of the indie-rock outfit Gomez.
A short-nosed echidna from Melbourne Zoo. Credit: Joel Sartore / joelsartore.com
Today, 8.30pm, Caravan Music Club, 95-97 Drummond Street, Oakleigh, $27-$35, 9568 1432, caravanmusic.com.au
FOLK
Tamblyn Lord's one-man show Call of the Ice.
The Newport Folk Festival features a program of concerts and workshops at The Substation, the Newport Bowls Club, Newport Scout Hall and Market Street. With performances by the all-female urban folk group, The Angelicats, roots musician Kelly Brouhaha, alt-country duo Miles and Simone and more.
Today and tomorrow, various times and venues, Newport, free-$37, 1300 799 136, newportfolkfestival.org.au
POP
Helpmann Award-winner Michael Griffiths performs a cabaret-style concert with Sweet Dreams: Songs of Annie Lennox, a celebration of new wave sensation the Eurythmics and Lennox's solo career. Griffiths will perform such hits as Why, Thorn in My Side and Walking on Broken Glass.
The Wolf and Peter reimagines Sergei Prokofiev's Peter and the Wolf and is told from the perspective of the wolf.
Today, 7pm, Melbourne Recital Centre, 31 Sturt Street, Southbank, $29-$39, 9699 3333, melbournerecitalcentre.com.au
SOUL
Merrily We Roll Along is a witty and moving collaboration by composer Stephen Sondheim and playwright George Furth.
Karise Eden's powerful sound first gained national attention in 2012 as a contestant and the eventual winner of the first season of The Voice Australia. Eden hits The Flying Saucer Club to perform soul songs as well as new material from her upcoming album.
Tomorrow, 2.30pm, The Flying Saucer Club, 4 St Georges Road, Elsternwick, $33-$54, 9528 3600, flyingsaucerclub.com.au
Ben Ottewell, former lead guitarist for Gomez, tours Australia.
LIVE
THEATRE
MERRILY WE ROLL ALONG
Kelly Brouhaha will perform at the Newport Folk Festival.Credit: Ben Searcy
Franklin Shepard is a wealthy Hollywood film producer who desperately wishes his life had turned out differently. Exploring the forces that shape our lives, Merrily We Roll Along is a witty and moving collaboration by composer Stephen Sondheim and playwright George Furth.
Today, 7.30pm, Southbank Theatre, 140 Southbank Boulevard, Southbank, $39-$49, 8688 0800, mtc.com.au
ACMI celebrates its new exhibition, Wallace & Gromit and Friends: The Magic of Aardman, with a family Sunday event dedicated to the claymation creations of the studio.
CALL OF THE ICE
Last year, Tamblyn Lord travelled by boat to the remote Antarctic Adelie Land in an expedition inspired by his childhood hero, Sir Douglas Mawson. In this one-man show about the pioneering spirit, Lord draws from Mawson's poetic diary Home of the Blizzard and his own photos and videos.
A young drill monkey is featured in Melbourne Zoo's National Geographic Photo Ark by Joel Sartore.Credit: Joel Sartore
Today, 7.30pm, tomorrow, 4pm, La Mama Courthouse, 349 Drummond Street, Carlton, $15-$25, 9347 6142, lamama.com.au
THE WOLF AND PETER
Get your skates on as River Rink returns to Fed Square.
The Wolf and Peter is a playful reimagining of Sergei Prokofiev's Peter and the Wolf, told from the perspective of the wolf. Designed for families, this dance and live music-filled production aims to introduce the next generation to contemporary dance and performance. Suitable for children aged six and older.
Today, 2pm and 6pm, tomorrow, 11am and 2pm, Fairfax Studio, Arts Centre Melbourne, 100 St Kilda Road, city, $24, 1300 182 183, artscentremelbourne.com.au
Carb load at the Ballarat Potato Festival.Credit: Anthony Evans
CABARET
Greek Goddess is the true story of Melina Mercouri, the popular Greek actor, singer and activist who took on the Greek Army in 1967 and won. Maria Mercedes plays Mercouri in this cabaret featuring traditional Greek songs, protest music and songs from Mercouri's films. Presented in English, French and Greek.
Celebrate winter at the Docklands Firelight Festival.
Today, 7.30pm, Gasworks Theatre, 21 Graham Street, Albert Park, $40-$45, 8606 4200, gasworks.org.au
FOOD
CANADIAN
Helpmann Award-winner Michael Griffiths performs a cabaret-style concert with Sweet Dreams: Songs of Annie Lennox.Credit: Kurt Sneddon
Today marks the 150th anniversary of Canada, and The Wharf Hotel is inviting Canucks and their friends to celebrate with a variety of Canadian food specials and drinks. Expect poutine, hot wings and beaver tails as well as Ketel One Bloody Caesars and Molson Canadian Lager from the bar. The festivities also include live music, games and giveaways.
Today, noon, The Wharf Hotel, 18-38 Siddeley Street, city, free entry, 8680 6000, wharfhotel.com.au
DINNER
Wine and dine along the water's edge with a progressive dinner as part of the Docklands Winter Glow Festival. Begin the evening with a seafood entree and nibbles at Black Cod before settling in at Watermark Docklands for its signature lamb shoulder with spinach and potato mash. Dessert and hot chocolate will be served at the final stop, Wawa Chocolatier.
July 5, 6pm-9pm, various locations, Docklands, $48, 9080 1000, docklandswinterglowfestival.eventbrite.com.au
OUT OF TOWN
The inaugural month-long Ballarat Winter Festival kicks off with today's Ballarat Potato Festival, celebrating the versatility of the spud. Carb lovers can try a variety of starchy dishes showing off the region's produce, including potato pizza, curly fries, potato string-wrapped Australian king prawns, and handmade potato gnocchi in lamb ragu. Dessert options include potato gelato, loaf cake with sweet potato, and brownies with sweet potato and chocolate icing.
Today, 3pm-8pm, Ballarat Mining Exchange, 8 Lydiard Street, North Ballarat, gold coin entry, ballaratwinterfestival.com.au
ELSEWHERE
MARKET
The Castlemaine Farmers' Market hosts more than 50 food producers from Central Victoria. DMC Honey will bring its honey and honeycomb from around Harcourt, Castlemaine and Maldon. Olives, cold-pressed extra virgin olive oil and infused oils will be available from Splitters Creek Olives. Try Burrum Biodynamics' Demeter-certified biodynamic oats in your porridge. Dug up no more than three days in advance, potatoes from Bernie's Spuds last up to 10 weeks.
Tomorrow, 9am-1pm, Victory Park, Castlemaine, free entry, vfma.org.au
FAMILY
ACTIVITY
Get your skates on as River Rink returns to Fed Square. From today until July 23, take a spin with friends and family while enjoying views of the Yarra River and the city skyline. Each ticket includes skates and a 45-minute skating session, beginning on the hour, every hour. Seventy-centimetre skating aids can be hired for those unsteady on their skates. Warming food and beverages will also be available.
Today, 10am-10pm, tomorrow, 10am-9pm, River Terrace, Federation Square, corner of Flinders and Swanston streets, $15-$24.50, 13 61 00, fedsquare.com
WORKSHOP
ACMI celebrates its new exhibition Wallace & Gromit and Friends: The Magic of Aardman with a family Sunday event dedicated to the claymation creations of the studio behind Chicken Run and Shaun the Sheep. Meet founder David Sproxton, create your own stop-motion masterpiece and experiment with Zoetrope, one of the earliest animation forms. Compete in a character costume competition or try your hand at a range of Aardman video games.
Tomorrow, 11am-4pm, Australian Centre for the Moving Image, Federation Square, corner of Flinders and Swanston streets, free, 8663 2200, acmi.net.au
FESTIVAL
Warm up this winter weekend with the Docklands Firelight Festival, which infuses the traditions of the winter solstice with arts, music and food, including mulled wine, hot chocolate, smoked meats, soup and paella. Expect roving performers, including fire breathers, dancers, drummers and musicians. On both nights the festivities culminate with a fireworks display and the burning of a large effigy.
Today and tomorrow, 5pm-9pm, Newquay Promenade, Docklands, free 1300 663 450, whatson.melbourne.vic.gov.au
EXHIBITION
Melbourne Zoo opens National Geographic Photo Ark, an exhibition showcasing National Geographic photographer Joel Sartore's global work to document every species in the world's zoos and wildlife sanctuaries. Sartore has taken studio portraits of more than 6000 species in more than 40 countries, with the goal of inspiring people to help protect these animals by supporting conservation efforts. Runs through October 1.
Today and tomorrow, 9am-5pm, Leopard Lodge, Melbourne Zoo, Elliott Avenue, Parkville, included with general admission, 1300 966 784, zoo.org.au/photoark
OUT OF TOWN
Darker Days is a new family-friendly winter festival celebrating the dark beers of the High Country Brewery Trail. Featured brewers include Black Dog Brewery, Blizzard Brewing, Bridge Road Brewers, Sweetwater Brewing Co, Thirsty Crow and Nightingale Alpine Cider. Gather around the fire to roast marshmallows and chestnuts, or sample wine and gourmet foods from local producers. Expect live music, campfire tales and a ceremonial burning after sunset.
Today, 1pm-11pm, Bright Brewery, 123 Great Alpine Road, Bright, free entry, 5755 1301, brightbrewery.com.au