HELEN MUSA leads her latest Arts in the City column with the news American rocker Gary Puckett and the Union Gap are back, this time playing in Queanbeyan.

Old rock memories will come flooding back when Gary Puckett and the Union Gap return with a show loaded with hits such as Young Girl, Woman, Woman, Lady Willpower and Over You. The B, Queanbeyan, February 5. 

Screen Producers Australia has announced the appointment of former ACT chief minister Kate Carnell as the inaugural chair of its council. Carnell’s connection with the screen sector includes her participation in SPA’s Screen Export Council and her work as the inaugural Australian Small Business and Family Enterprise Ombudsman where she represented small businesses nationwide, including those in the Screen Industry.

Oud virtuoso Joseph Tawadros will be back in town with his recital, The Oud Unleashed. A six-time Aria-winning composer, Tawadros weaves humorous onstage banter and storytelling, while his playing is influenced by jazz, flamenco, prog rock and even bluegrass. The Street Theatre, February 9. 

Home grown band, Super Rats will be cranking out old and new Romanian favourites in the northern end of Glebe Park as part of the National Multicultural Festival, February 7.

Carl Dewhurst is widely regarded as one of Australia’s leading jazz and improvising guitarists. He’ll be here with bassist and composer Cameron Undy alongside drummer Alex Inman-Hislop to launch his latest album Avicennia. Smith’s Alternative, Civic, February 5. 

The third Ovations Awards dinner will feature the announcement of 2024 award winners from the Canberra and Queanbeyan theatrical and dance communities. Not to be confused with the Cat Awards, which have a different geographic focus, they will be held at the Hellenic Club Woden, on February 7. All nominees are at ovations.org.au

As part of the 46th conference of the Australasian Society for Classical Studies, Rome expert Prof Denis Feeney, from Princeton University, will give a free public lecture on the topic: “Reading books and oral performance in Rome”. Coombs Lecture Theatre, ANU, February 4.