There's plenty to do around in north west Sydney this weekend. Check out some of the acts you could catch.
View a gallery of images of the performances on this weekend by clicking on the image below:
Some of the acts you can catch around the region this weekend:
Yodelayheehoo: International country entertainer and yodeller Wayne Horsburgh will be paying tribute to the great Slim Whitman, Marty Robbins, Frank Olfield and others at Blacktown Workers on Saturday, June 9 from 8pm as part of the 'Love That Country Music' show. Bookings: workersclub.com.au/shows.
Circle the wagons: Comedian Vince Sorrenti will be taking a short reprieve from the events circuit to perform at Blacktown Workers with his comedian friends this Saturday, June, from 8pm. It will be his only western Sydney show. Bookings: 9830 0600.
Free at Castle Hill RSL: Suite AZ, who you may recognise from appearances on many high-rating Australian television shows including 'Sunrise' and 'Australian Idol', will be performing soul, groove and r’n’b songs at the RSL on Saturday, June 2 from 10pm. Details: 8858 4800.
Sunday on Broadway: One of the best loved voices in music theatre, Peter Cousens, celebrates the magic of Broadway - accompanied by one of Australia's leading ladies - under the baton of conductor Guy Noble at the Riverside Theatres Parramatta this Sunday, June 3 from 3pm. Details: riversidetheatres.com.au.
Wherefore art thou Romeo? 'Romeo and Juliet' — Shakespeare’s timeless tale of two star-cross’d lovers — is at The Pavilion Theatre, Castle Hill Showground, Castle Hill, June 1 to 23. Pictured are Tiffany Hoy and Jack Crumlin. Bookings: paviliontheatre.org.au.
Fraser in the house: House DJ/producer Chris Fraser brings the sixth instalment of the 'Raw' CD series to The Mean Fiddler on Friday, June 1. Details: 9629 4811.
Game on: The Mario Bros are performing at Parramatta RSL Club this Saturday, June 2 from 7.30pm. Details: 9633 5177.
Castle Hill Comedy Club is at Castle Hill Tavern, 25 Victoria Avenue, Castle Hill, on the last Thursday of every month from 7.30pm. Simon Kennedy, Brett Nichols and Julia Wilson perform on May 31. Free. Details: 9634 5300.
Vince Sorrenti and Friends is at Blacktown Workers, 55 Campbell Street, Blacktown, on Saturday, June 2, 8pm. Bookings: 9830 0600.
The Laugh Garage Comedy Club is at Riverside Theatres, corner Church and Market streets, Parramatta, once a month. Ben Darsow is the featured comedian on Saturday, June 2. Bookings: 8839 3399.
Free at the RSL
DJ Jessie James will be spinning tracks at Castle Hill RSL on Friday, June 1, from 10pm.
The commercial radio announcer and voice over artist began her career as a radio DJ when she was 15 and was soon invited to participate on dance music station Wild FM. In 2011 she was a finalist in EMI Music’s She Can DJ Competition (the winner received a global recording contract).
Saturday’s a chance to see Suite AZ who you may recognise from appearances on many high-rating Australian television shows, including 'Sunrise' and 'Australian Idol', as well as the Arias.
Specialising in soul, groove and r’n’b, the band has worked with Jimmy Barnes, Delta Goodrem, Jack Vidgen, Guy Sebastian, Jessica Mauboy, Sneaky Sound System and Paul Kelly, among others. They are on from 10pm.
Or for something a little more soulful, singer-songwriter and pianist Angie Dean will perform jazz standards, blues, as well as the latest pop songs, in the courtyard on Sunday from 1pm.
Details: 8858 4800.
Three short plays
Cherrybrook Technology High presents a special primary matinee performance of 'Three Short Plays' by Lin O’Loughlin, Joanna Hempel and Colin Thiele next Tuesday, June 5 from 11am in the school hall.
O’Loughlin’s 'The Miracle' is about a girl who finds she has special powers after a flood; Hempel’s 'Gabriella Rhymes With Fella' centres on new Australian Gabriella and the racism and bullying she endures in school in the 1950’s; and Thiele brings a BIT of slapstick to the stage with 'Talking Shop'.
The plays are directed by Julianne Cannon, Cate Cunningham and Anthony Felton, respectively.
Cost: $2 per student. Bookings: 9484 2144.
Chicks at the Flicks
Event Cinemas Castle Hill’s next Chicks at the Flicks night is Wednesday, June 6 at 7pm — a preview screening of 'Friends With Kids', an ensemble comedy about a close-knit circle of friends at that moment in life when children arrive and everything changes.
Chicks at the Flicks is an ongoing program at Event Cinemas and includes a gift bag in the $26 ticket price and pre-movie entertainment from 6pm, including stalls, live music and lucky door prizes.
A Gold Class package is also available for $65 which includes a film ticket, a glass of chilled Blush or White Spritz on arrival and a dinner-themed high tea.
Bookings: eventcinemas.com.au.
Author talk
Stephanie Dowrick, author of 'Choosing Happiness', provides guidance on how to tackle the pressures of the modern world, including shortcuts to a happier and more confident life, at Castle Hill Library, corner Pennant and Castle Streets, Castle Hill, on June 6 from 7.30pm.
Tickets are $5 per person. Bookings are essential: thehills.nsw.gov.au/library.
Fraser tours Raw CD
House DJ/producer Chris Fraser brings the sixth instalment of the 'Raw' CD series to The Mean Fiddler on Friday, June 1.
Released by Fm Dance Floor Radio and mixed by Fraser, the station’s music director, 'Raw 2012' includes dance-floor hits by Tonite Only, Afrojack, Example, Skrillex, Bombs Away, Kaskade and Laurent Wery, among others.
For a sneak preview, go to: youtube.com/watch?v=TSyyZY3T1ZU&list=UUBI8eYKScRlWqYzJWcnGh0w&index=2&feature=plcp.
Details: The Mean Fiddler is on the corner of Windsor and Commercial roads, Rouse Hill.
Don’t hold back
The Potbelleez want you to ‘‘Go-o-o-o-o’’ to The Australian Hotel and Brewery (350 Annangrove Rd, Rouse Hill) on Thursday, June 7. ‘‘The western suburbs has been really big for the Potbelleez,’’ Potbelleez producer/DJ Dave Goode said.
Gamers delight
'The Garden of Forking Paths' exhibition revisits some of the earliest computer games running on the original hardware, as well as some of the latest creations by leading artists.
It is on at the Hawkesbury Regional Gallery, 300 George Street, Windsor, until July 8.
According to curator Neil Jenkins, the free exhibition will ‘‘challenge younger audiences’’ understanding of what a computer game is, providing a hands-on exploration of just how ‘‘freakin’ slow’’ everything was back in the 80’s and 90’s.
Details: 4560 4441.
Photo exhibition
'A Place of Sense' is a free exhibition of photomedia and installation works by Aboriginal artists Darren Bell and Nicole Foreshew that reflects on a continued connection to Blacktown and western Sydney.
It is showing at the Blacktown Arts Centre, 78 Flushcombe Road, Blacktown, Tuesdays to Saturdays, 10am-5pm, until July 7. Details: www.artscentre.blacktown.nsw.gov.au.
Trivia
Have a good laugh while testing your knowledge with the trivia every Tuesday night at the Ettamogah Hotel, corner of Merriville and Windsor roads, Kellyville Ridge. Details: 9629 1130.
Picnic in the park
Grab a bunch of your favourite people and head down to Rouse Hill Regional Park for a picnic.
The park on Worcester Road, Rouse Hill, features several children’s playgrounds, walking tracks, cycling and rollerblading track and a horse riding circuit. Details: 4572 3100.
Step back in time
Blacktown City Bicentennial Museum is open 11am-3pm on the first Sunday of every month, except January.
Originally the first public school to open in Riverstone in 1882, this museum at 81 Garfield Road East, Riverstone, now displays items from the historic meatworks, historical farm machinery, household furniture, sporting memorabilia, books, photos, military items, and more.
Details: 9627 7232.
Make a request
The Mario Bros are performing at Parramatta RSL Club this Saturday, June 2 from 7.30pm.
The duo was formed by Chevy Mario from the The Pink Chevy’s as an outlet to play some rock songs with long-time musician-singer friend Mick Aquilina. Requests from the 60s to the noughties are welcomed.
Details: 9633 5177.
Photo festival
The world’s second-largest photo festival, Head On, includes an exhibition by UWS PhD candidate Kellie Greene in Rydalmere.
'Im/material Traces Within Ireland’s Culture' runs until June 8 at The Female Orphan School Gallery, West Wing, Building EZ, Parramatta Campus, University of Western Sydney.
Greene seeks through her photographic exhibition to capture the im/material traces of lives once lived in the Ireland’s vast network of state funded and religious run institutions.
Images include former Magdalen laundries, mother and baby homes, industrial and reformatory schools, which are disappearing quietly, yet rapidly, from the Irish landscape.
Details: 0414 273 465.
Me and My Girl
What happens when a cheeky Cockney Londoner inherits a title and a country mansion?
Join more than 120 Tara girls with boys from The King’s School at Riverside Theatres Parramatta on June 15 and 16 where you will meet the Cockney lead Bill in musical-comedy 'Me and My Girl', played by James Kane, and his “girl” Sally Smith, played by Pennant Hills resident Natasha Spencer.
One of the conditions of Bill inheriting his title is that he has to marry a girl from the aristocracy, which his Sally very definitely is not. Musical frivolity ensues.
Bookings: riversideparramatta.com.au.
Romeo et Juliette
Fall in love all over again with the martyred lovers of Verona when Riverside Theatres presents 'Romeo et Juliette' on June 16 and 17 at 1pm.
One of the key figures of contemporary dance, Sasha Waltz, revisits Shakespeare’s 'Romeo and Juliet' to Berlioz's dramatic symphony, combining music, song and dance.
This screen event is captured live in high definition direct from Ballet de l’Opéra National de Paris.
Bookings: riversideparramatta.com.au.
There’s a bear in there
Prince Big Ted has a royal crown, he has a royal cloak but doesn’t have a royal castle. He will be at Parramatta RSL on Tuesday, July 3 from 10.30pm with his friends Humpty, Jemima, Little Ted and the 'Play School' toys searching.
As with the television program, the concert will have presenters, songs to move to, nursery rhymes, as well as quiet times to just watch and listen.
Bookings: parramattarsl.com.au.
Dance to love
The magical romantic comedy 'Syncopation' by Allan Knee, writer of award-winning film 'Finding Neverland', is coming to Riverside Theatres in July as part of a national tour.
Directed by Stephen Lloyd Helper, Syncopation tells the story of Henry Ribolow (played by Justin Stewart), a Jewish meat packer who dreams of becoming a ballroom dancer but is yet to find a dance partner — until Anna Bianchi (Emma Palmer), an Italian Catholic seamstress, answers his ad in the paper: ‘‘Give your life a lift. Wanted: A Dance Partner to dance for royalty.’’
Share their dance journey at Riverside Theatres from July 24 to 28. Bookings: riversideparramatta.com.au.
Give up the funk
Step back to the 1950’s and 60’s with Rocatac at Blacktown RSL this Friday, June 1, from 8.30pm.
Expect them to come dressed in their rock and roll glad rags ready to play rockabilly, country rock and rhythm and blues.
Also free at the RSL is the Love Generation (70's show). It is on Saturday, June 2, from 9pm.
Put on your flares and platform shoes and let yourself be transported to the 1970’s as they pay tribute to ABBA, Dolly Parton, Kenny Rogers, John Denver, Karen Carpenter, The Partridge Family, and many more.
Details: 9622 5222.
Love that country music?
Australian country star Emma Hannah is performing at Blacktown Workers on Saturday, June 9 from 8pm as part of the 'Love That Country Music' show.
Hannah was a regular on Gary Shearston’s national folk music television program 'Just Folk' in the mid 1960’s, then in the early 1970’s on John Williamson’s popular 'Travlin' Out West' series.
Her single 'Angel of The Morning' won her a national award for Best Country Record of the Year.
She will be joined in Blacktown by Kenny Kitching (whose double-neck resonator lap steel features on some tracks on her new album 'Songs To Dream On') and international country entertainer and yodeller Wayne Horsburgh, who will be paying tribute to the great Slim Whitman, Marty Robbins and Frank Olfield in the show.
Bookings: workersclub.com.au/shows.
Photo exhibition
'A Place of Sense' is a free exhibition of photomedia and installation works by Aboriginal artists Darren Bell and Nicole Foreshew that reflects on a continued connection to Blacktown and western Sydney.
It is showing at the Blacktown Arts Centre, 78 Flushcombe Road, Blacktown, Tuesdays to Saturdays, 10am-5pm, until July 7. Details: www.artscentre.blacktown.nsw.gov.au.
Learn Hula
Learn the art of the Hula every Wednesday and Thursday, 4-6pm, at Suite 1, Level 1-11 Cleeve Close, Mt Druitt.
The Hula Rama workshops teach participants how to shake their hips to the sounds and rhythms of various musical styles, and how to tie a parea/sarong. They will also take part in a live stage showcase. For ages 12-18.
Registrations: 8886 2800.
Step back in time
Blacktown City Bicentennial Museum is open 11am-3pm on the first Sunday of every month, except January.
Originally the first public school to open in Riverstone in 1882, this museum at 81 Garfield Road East, Riverstone, now displays items from the historic meatworks, historical farm machinery, household furniture, sporting memorabilia, books, photos, military items, and more.
Details: 9627 7232.
Some of the gigs on in the area this week:
FRIDAY
Bull and Bush Hotel: Original Sin + Swingshift, 9.30pm
Castle Hill RSL: Nicky Kurta, 6.30pm; Mark Travers, 9.30pm
Dural Country Club: Live entertainment, 7pm
Ettamogah Pub: Thunderstruck (AC/DC tribute show), 9pm
Hillside Hotel: Luke + Ben Duo, 8pm
Quakers Inn: Dan Spillane, 8.30pm
SATURDAY
Bull and Bush Hotel: 80’s Rock Revival, 10pm
Castle Hill RSL: Zoltan, 9pm; Suita AZ (see online Gallery), 10pm
Castle Hill Tavern: Karaoke, 9pm
Dural Country Club: Live entertainment, 7pm
Ettamogah Pub: Matt Price, 1pm; Fallon Bros, 6.30pm
Hillside Hotel: Matt Price, 7pm
Mean Fiddler: Venus Duo, 6pm
Quakers Inn: Retro party and DJ, 9pm
SUNDAY
Bull and Bush Hotel: Duo, 3.30pm
Ettamogah Pub: The White Brothers, 1pm
Castle Hill RSL: Live jazz, 1pm
Mean Fiddler: Jumping castle and face painting, noon; Shindig, noon