Tuesday 8th April

Hello Canberra,

📆 Today: Jimmy Carr is coming to Canberra + Ghost Tours on the foreshore.

⛅️ Weather: 22° and partly cloudy

Looking Ahead: 🤣 Jimmy Carr is Coming to Canberra

UK comedian Jimmy Carr is back on tour with his brand-new show Jimmy Carr: Laughs Funny. He's coming to Canberra next March, and tickets are on sale now. I expect this one to sell out quickly. Details here.

Something to do: 👻 Kingston Foreshore Ghost Tours

Join local comedian, storyteller and ghost hunter Sarah Stewart for a guided tour of the Kingston Foreshore and Causeway — once the most notorious area in Canberra. Hear eerie tales and history that might just chill your blood and change the way you see this side of town. Details here.

Coming Up: 🚂 Easter Steam Train Rides

The Picnic Steam Train is back this Easter long weekend, running between Canberra and Bungendore. The return journey takes around two hours and includes stunning views of Molonglo Gorge, plus three tunnels along the way. Details here.

🎨 Arts Around Canberra

This week's arts wrap:

Thom Roberts: The Portrait Gallery’s next major exhibition, The Immersive World of Thom Roberts, opens this Saturday. It's the first solo exhibition for multidisciplinary contemporary Australian artist Thom Roberts, showcasing more than 100 works spanning his prolific, decade-long career to date. The exhibition is free! Details here.

Bach to the Bush: Acclaimed cellist and co-founder of the Bowerbird Collective, Anthony Albrecht, returns to Canberra for Bach to the Bush — music for solo cello. Details here.

Northern Lights: Swedish-Norwegian violinist Johan Dalene grabbed the world's attention when he won the prestigious Carl Nielsen International Competition in 2019, and he's just been named Artist-in-Residence with London's Royal Philharmonic Orchestra. This charismatic young performer will play at Llewellyn Hall alongside pianist Jennifer Marten-Smith in June. Details here.

Glassworks Exhibitions: Two new shows have opened at the Canberra Glassworks:Tom Fereday: Arum — Award-winning designer Tom Fereday presents sleek glass objects that blend industrial precision with quiet innovation.
Katie-Ann Houghton: Meander — Inspired by urban textures and architectural patterns, Houghton's new works explore the fluid rhythm of form and glassmaking. Details here.

CSO Down South: The CSO is heading down south to perform at the Tuggeranong Arts Centre this Thursday evening. Water and Wild features free-flowing music for flute, piano and cello, inspired by water, breath, spirit and song. Details here.

Arts National Talks: Arts National are hosting two events this week with Susannah Fullerton, President of the Jane Austen Society of Australia and author of several books about Jane Austen. She'll be sharing her passion for Austen's novels and her interest in her life. Details here.

PhotoAccess Openings: Two new exhibitions are opening at PhotoAccess this Thursday — Light | Intersection by Alex Walker and Nudes by Skye Thompson. Details here.

Coming Together in Song: The Canberra Men's Choir, the Canberra Community Voices, and the Dante Choir are joining forces for a concert at the Merici College Auditorium. It's happening tonight (apologies for the late notice). Details here.

Coming Up: ACT Youth Week

ACT Youth Week 2025 runs from April 10–20 (yes, it's more than a week, but "ACT Youth Week and a Bit" isn't quite as catchy). There are a number of free events happening around Canberra for people aged 12 to 25. Details here.

Queer Canberra: 🌱 Pride Grows

Pride Grows is an inclusive community group welcoming queer folk and allies who are dedicated to caring for the local Canberra environment. It's a great way to meet new people while also spending time outdoors in nature.

This week, Pride Grows will be at Gunning Showgrounds Bushland Park to weed and replant native species around the yarning circle, helping to refresh recent plantings done in collaboration with the Ngunnawal community. All are welcome — no bushcare experience or tools are needed! Details here.