This Week in Newcastle: Plays, a Band Search, Markets & Music

by Skye on December 2, 2011

Summer is here! Get out and celebrate in Newcastle by getting along to any or many of the great gigs & events on in town this week!

Friday, 2 December

The world’s biggest little play festival is here at the Civic Theatre. Short + Sweet Newcastle 2011 presents the top 10 short plays from across Newcastle, the Hunter Valley and Central Coast in this annual competition. Short + Sweet is the culmination of a short script writing competition that features the top 10 productions, of 10 minute plays, with 10 casts, 10 directors and one winner. Short + Sweet is a series of tasty bite sized theatrical treats, served up to intrigue and delight audiences.The festival runs from the 30th November till the 3rd December. Doors open at 7.30pm. Tickets available from Ticketek for $35. For more information see the Civic Theatre website.

The second semi final for the Bacardi Band Search this year sees Sunset Exodus, How to survive a Bullfight and the winner from heat 6 battling it out for a place in the Grand Final! Starts at 8.30pm at The Cambridge Hotel. Tickets are available from Moshtix.

Newcastle arts organisation Octapod will launch its new space tonight! Join in the fun and celebrate the past & future of all things Pod. Details here.

If alt-bluegrass intrigues you, don’t miss Melbourne’s Mustered Courage in Newcastle this weekend! Starting with a gig at The Lass O’Gowrie tonight, they’ll be playing the middle set between The Rum Corps and I Am The Agent. It’s set to be another great Friday at The Lass. If you can’t make it, or just have to see them again, you can catch the band at The Wickham Park Hotel tomorrow afternoon.

Saturday, 3 December

The Olive Tree Market is Newcastle’s Handmade Artisan Market. As many Urban Insiders would know, the Market is held on the first Saturday of the month at The Junction Public School. Come along and spend a few hours exploring stalls, meeting the artisans and uncover fantastic locally handmade wares! Stalls include: printmaking, jewellery, design, handmade toys, fashion, photography, ceramics and more! There is also delicious food, organic bread, coffee and plants. Local musicians, including Samba Frog and Fode Mane, play at each market. Buskers are welcome! Runs from 9am - 3pm. For more information see their website.

They may have victory in their name, but that won’t stop the Jets from claiming a win over this team from Melbourne. The Newcastle Jets need you at Ausgrid Stadium to help seal the deal, and deliver a real victory to Newcastle. Starts 7:45pm. Tickets available from Proticket.

Sunday, 4 December

Another one for market lovers! Newcastle City Farmers and Craft Market brings together local farmers and producers just like markets of days gone by. Our gourmet food producers have an amazing tasty array of foods to sample and buy. You get to chat to the farmer, find out where your food is made, how to cook it and even taste test while you shop in the pavilions and around the village green atmosphere of the showground. Along with food you will find artisan stalls selling the Hunter’s best range of quality goods, from clothing made from vintage material, jewellery makers and painters. The Farmers Market also has a resident chef, on hand to demonstrate a range of different meals all made with ingredients sourced from our own farmers and producers. At Broadmeadow Showground, Griffiths Road Broadmeadow.

Acclaimed as one of the world’s greatest living pop icons, Elton John‘s audience has seen him traverse a career that began in the 1960s when he was a shy singer/songwriter and saw him grow into one of the most successful musicians of all time. His crossovers from classic balladry, soul and disco to country, gospel and rock have often confounded but never disappointed his legion of worldwide fans. As one of the greatest showmen of all time, his spectacular stage shows continue to leave the competition standing still in his wake. Don’t miss this rare opportunity to hear one of the world’s greatest pop musicians in spectacular form when ROCKET MAN returns to Hope Estate in Pokolbin this December. Tickets are available from Ticketek.

Tuesday, 8 December

Play for a pint or sing for your supper the The Great Northern Hotel tonight. On Tuesday nights there is a great open mic night if you feel like tuning the pipes and having a sing, or just checking out some local talent!

Wednesday, 7 December

Blues fans, Wednesday is your night! Lizottes Newcastle is playing host to A Night at The Crossroads - A Tribute to Robert Johnson. This great show is an assembly of some of the finest bluse musicians from Sydney and Melbourne featuring Dom Tuner from The Backsliders. See Lizotte‘s for more details.

Merewether Fats hosts a blues jam at The Great Northern Hotel tonight. Head along from round 7pm for a set from the house band and stick around to check out the local blues crew.

Thursday, 8 December

Ben Wells and The Middle Names are playing tonight at The Great Northern to launch the second single from their forthcoming EP ‘House, Come Home’.  The Hobart-based indie 6 piece will be heading up the coast for Festival Of The Sun.

Off the back of a massive sell out tour of Europe playing to enormous crowds at legendary festivals such as Rock Am Ring and PinkPop, rockers Wolfmother will be road-testing some new songs off their forthcoming album at Newcastle Leagues Club tonight. Doors open at 8:30pm. Tickets from Oztix.