Everything arts is in full swing this week. HELEN MUSA brings it together in this week’s “Artsweek” column. 

GEORGE Huitker is closing the book on Canberra band Junk Sculpture after 30 years by releasing a third single, “Brother from Another Mother” (from the new album “The Perfect Thing To Do” on April 28, viewable here. The band has performed locally and in places as far off as Tingha and the pub on the road to Mungo, done Midnight Oil impersonations and table-top dancing at Vivaldi’s and even once “rocked The Lodge”. 

CAHOOTS Lab 2023 continues this week, with the Canberra premiere of Sia Ahmad’s “depth disintegration” performed by Benjamin Anderson on double-belled bass trombone with electronic playback, Belco Arts, 8pm, April 28; “ Knots” by Ashleigh Hazel, featuring video, projection, sound, music and live performance, 6pm-7pm, Belco Arts; “portrait of an artist”, a collaborative workshop by Linda Chen, Mill Theatre, Fyshwick, 1pm-3pm, April 30, free; the making of a clowning work, “Booj and Waa”, with Deb Cleland and Millie Rooney. Mill Theatre, free, drop in anytime on April 30, noon-4pm.

KIERAN Pender will speak on “Why Whistleblowing Matters: Secrecy and Transparency in Australia,” Manning Clark House, Forrest, 2pm, April 30.

CRAIG Foster will give the 23rd Manning Clark Lecture, “Australia’s Third Act: Reconciled, Independent, Truly Multicultural”, Manning Clark Hall, Kambri Cultural Precinct, ANU, 6pm, May 2.

Dance

• THERE’S a dance aspect to the Canberra International Music Festival, which opens on April 28, in “Seeds of Life, which culminates in “Hillscape”, choreographed by Australian Dance Party’s Ashlee Bye, with a new composition by Dan Walker. National Arboretum, 11am, April 28.
  
• DANCE artists, James Batchelor and Liz Lea, mark International Dance Day with “Batchelor + Lea”, The Playhouse, 3pm, April 29.
• AS part of Australian Dance Week there’ll be a free Hungarian dance workshop and Jinx 103 performance in Gorman Arts Centre, from noon, April 29, followed by “Creature,” a 40-minute work about “origins” to be performed by Trefeli and Gyula Cserepe.
  

On stage

• SUZANNE Hawley’s play “Wild Thing”, is at The Q, Queanbeyan, April 28 and 29.
  
• ACTING Shakespeare will be offered at the Hedley Beare Centre for Teaching and Learning, 7pm,  May 2-June 6. Questions or enrolment to peterbwilkins@aol.com or 0408 034 373.
• “PRINCESSES of pop” the story of female superstars Judith Durham, Helen Reddy and Olivia Newton John, The Q, Queanbeyan, April 29.
  
• Canberra Rep’s upcoming play “Crimes of the Heart”, by Pulitzer Prizewinning playwright Beth Henley, is set in Mississippi and revolves around three sisters coming together. Canberra Rep Theatre, April 27 -May 13.

Concerts

• CANBERRA International Music Festival, April 27-May 7. 
• “SINGIN’ with a Swing,” by Canberra vocal trio The Stilettos is the Morning Melodies treat for the month. The Q, Queanbeyan Performing Arts Centre, 10.30am, April 27. 
• CANBERRA Symphony Orchestra’s latest concert in the Llewellyn Series is titled “Electric Blue”, Llewellyn Hall, April 26-27.
• FRIENDS of the School of Music Ensemble Prize Concert, Big Band Room, Karmel building, ANU, 6.30pm, April 27.
  
• THE 20-piece Spectrum Big Band will be joined by the band at Hawker College on International Jazz Day, exploring the historical developments of jazz and the influence of big bands in popular media. Murranji Theatre, 51 Murranji Street, Hawker, 2pm, April 30. 
• A Sunday afternoon organ recital will be performed by Sydney organist Kurt Ison playing works by Dietrich Buxtehude, Georg Leyding, Kurt Ison, Fanny Mendelssohn, Florence Price, José Elias, GF Handel, Frank Bridge and Louis Vierne. Wesley Uniting Church, Forrest 3pm, April 30.
• JOHN Ma and Marie Searles will present a lunchtime concert of light classical music for violin and piano, Wesley Music Centre, 12.40pm – 1.20pm, May 3.
• GARY France’s “Vibelicious” sextet is appearing in Geoff’s Jazz with a tribute American jazz vibraphonist and bebop player, Milt “Bags” Jackson. Smith’s Alternative, Civic, 7pm, May 3.

Galleries

• PHOTOACCESS, Griffith, has “The Grand Scheme” by Chris Round, “Huon” by Noah Thompson and “Between presumption and melancholy” by Toni Hassan, April 27-June 10.
• “THE world folding in upon itself” by Shanti Shea. ANCA Gallery, Dickson, until May 7.
• “FIGURE It,” paintings and sculptural ceramic forms by Tilly Davey. Canberra Contemporary Art Space, Manuka, April 27-May 7.
• AARWUN Gallery’s Annual Art Auction, Federation Square, Gold Creek, doors open 9am, auction starts 10.30am, April 30.