FRIDAY 18 JULY: Thanks to all the great venues around the South Coast who support independent musicians, we have a sensational selection of live music for every taste. Pop in for a drink or book a table for lunch, show your appreciation for the plethora of fine entertainment across our region. Plus what else is happening in Jervis Bay this winter.
Live Music Saturday 19 July
Cambewarra Estate in Bangalee is our pick for lunch on Saturday, with music by Dan Challis from 12.30pm and an art exhibition by Jack Ardill in the community gallery space. Singer/songwriter Dan’s music is lyrically driven acoustic folk while Jack’s art exploring the transience of nature is on at the gallery every weekend till 27 July.
Head to Flamin Galah in the Huskisson industrial zone for a change of pace from 4.30pm. Ziggy McNeill, the genre-blending guitar virtuoso will play a high-energy solo set that will blow you away. Expect flamenco flair, bluesy grooves, and classic rock in Ziggy’s unique blend.
El Horses in Nowra is the place to be on Saturday night with the Casey Greene Quintet playing jazz from the Blue Note catalogue, with compositions from Wes Montgomery, Dexter Gordon, Benny Golson, Hubert Laws, Chick Corea as well and some fresh original compositions from Casey, Jeremy & Peter. Joining Casey on saxophones, flute and clarinet are some of best South Coast jazz musicians, $25+bf, from 7pm.
Live Music Sunday 20 July
Irish Slow Sessions is turning one! This is a monthly gathering, every third Sunday, of locals at the Sandbar Restaurant in Huskisson to play traditional Irish music. This Sunday from 3pm, bring your instrument, your voice or your ears, help celebrate the anniversary of these gatherings with a surprise afternoon treat, and stay for dinner of an Irish-style lamb main and a Kilkenny for $30. All welcome.
Cupitt’s Estate in Ulladulla is the pick for lunch on Sunday with The Castaways playing their blend of folk, country and pop from 12.30pm. Book in for an Italian feast (min 4 people, $79 pp) and make a day of it in the winter sun, with family-style dining on Italian classics.
Jervis Bay Brewing Co’s Sunday Session is featuring Jason Norris in the beer garden in the Huskisson industrial zone. Local singer-songwriter & music producer Jason will wind down your weekend with stripped-back acoustic renditions of Top 40 songs from across the eras, from 3pm.
The Heads Hotel at Shoalhaven Heads is another great venue for Sunday Sessions. This Sunday, The Freewheelers will play their electrifying blues-rock grooves and soul-stirring melodies from 1pm-4pm.
Bannisters Pavilion rooftop bar is the evening top pick, watch the sun go down with a drink in hand during happy hour at The Rooftop every Sunday between 4–6pm, with specials on warming mulled wine, tap beers and cocktails. Playing music this Sunday will be Jack Willis.
Stitch for Wellbeing
Two more sessions of mindful stitching with Dr Natalie McDonagh are set for Wednesday 23 and Wednesday 30 July. All materials are supplied, including fabrics, threads and needles – or bring your own project. Natalie will guide a short mindfulness meditation, as well as help beginners to choose some fabrics and threads for simple yet satisfying stitching. Free to join in, or make an optional donation to Arts Muster, the sponsor of these sessions.
Arts Muster is a winter weekend of arts and crafts events coming up in Huskisson on 23/24 August.
To find out more about these events, read Natalie’s latest article on tutor, Catherine O’Leary who will be teaching a workshop on how to make ethereal felted sculptures, which are easy to achieve even by absolute beginners.
Mini Book Art Competition
Also by Arts Muster, a new art competition is offering great prizes – including packs of art papers and vouchers to Boobook on Owen – for the best mini books on the theme, “The Place Where I Live”. Entries are $25 each, for up to two entries, and free for under-12s and under-18s. Submit your book before 15 August, to be in the running.
The best mini art books will be displayed at Boobook on Owen from Monday 18 August. All of the books will be for sale at a special pop-up book shop at the Arts Muster Artisans Markets on Sunday 24 August, with all proceeds from the competition going to scholarships to art workshops for local high school students.
Find out what to make, and how to enter, on the Arts Muster website.
Owl Talk
Dr Beth Mott will present a talk on our forests and the night-life within, particularly the owls, 6pm to 7.30pm on Thursday 24 July (aligned with World Nature Conservation Day, 26 July). All welcome at the Community Hub, shop 14 Burton St, Vincentia. Beth is a Threatened Species Officer for NSW Department of Planning & Environment.
Arts Trail Official Launch
The Jervis Bay Arts Trail is launching to the local business and tourism industries on Tuesday 22 July at a special presentation from midday at Club Jervis Bay in Huskisson. Members of the Trail will talk about how it works and the marketing and promotion they have developed to support the monthly open studio events. A special presentation will be given by regional tourism body, Destination Sydney Surrounds South (DSSS) and there will be a display of works from the artists and afternoon tea. To RSVP, please email hello@jervisbayartstrail.com.au. The Trail is an artist-led initiative that offers around 20 open studios across the Bay & Basin on the last Saturday of the month.
Bonsai Workshops
There are still a few places in this weekend’s Bonsai Workshop with master bonsai creator, Mason Keane in Woollamia. Mason will show you how to select your plant and begin to train it into an artful shape with wires and pruning. He will help you choose a pot and other design elements, and the two-day workshop includes great food and drinks around the fire in the evenings. Workshops are $500 each all inclusive and bring a friend for $50 off each. Check Mason’s website for more workshop dates this winter – the perfect season to start a new bonsai.
Textile Turnover in Kiama
Crafty folks, head to Kiama on Friday 25 July 1.30-8pm and Saturday 26 July 9am-4pm for the Textile Turnover, a fantastic initiative that is clearing out the craft and sewing rooms of the south coast and rehoming a sensational selection of fabrics and other haberdashery items that have been donated to the event. Pay what you think it’s worth and head home with new treasures. Funds donated will go to the Kiama Downs Surf Life Saving Club after expenses of the event are covered. Organised by Reduce, Reuse, Recycle.
How it works – and how to donate goods – can be found online.
PLAN AHEAD for August
Indigenous Peoples Films
Celebrate International Day of the World’s Indigenous Peoples on Saturday 9 August at Husky Pictures with a special screening of films curated by Canadian First Nations filmmakers with direct links to the Shoalhaven’s First Nations Communities. Yuin elder Uncle Gerry Moore OAM will offer a very special welcome to country and the films will screen from 2pm, followed by afternoon tea around 4pm. Tickets are $15/$40 for a family of four. This event is produced by the Shoalhaven First Nations Film Festival.
Carnival Concerts
Two very special concerts with “carnival” themes are coming up at Ulladulla Civic Centre.
A special kids’ concert on Saturday 9 August will feature music of the circus, free entry and starting at 11am. Kids are encouraged to come dressed as their favourite carnival character – think, clowns, acrobats and circus animals – as the Milton Ulladulla String Orchestra (MUSO) explores the instruments of an orchestra. This concert promises to be fun for kids of all ages.
Then on Sunday 10 August, the MUSO will present Carnevale, a concert of orchestral music that evokes carnivals of the world – think, Venice, Cirque du Soliel, Send in the Clowns. Entry is by donation at the door or prior donation online, with all funds helping to support this vibrant community orchestra.
Great White Movie
Back by popular demand, the movie, The Great White Whale is returning to Husky Pictures on Sunday 3 August at 2.30pm. This is an amazing tale of Australian heroes being the first to climb Big Ben on Heard island in Antarctica, by award-winning filmmaker Michael Dillon who has worked with Sir Edmund Hillary, among many others.
Check out the film’s trailer and buy your tickets at the box office in the foyer.
Third Yoga Retreat Announced
With two weekend retreats sold out and more inquiries coming in, yoga nidra practitioner Tash Pinter has secured another weekend, 12-14 Septmber at Paperbark Camp for a retreat that focuses on “deep rest”. Tash and her collaborators, including body work expert, Tahlia Seinor, will guide their guests through a series of sessions that will take advantage of the body’s natural tendencies to rest and hibernate during the cooler months to emerge refreshed with the spring.
Express interest in attending and find more information at Tash’s website. Read our interview with Tash for more insight into what’s on offer.
