Festivals

Read the report in fullPerth Festival’s 2020 success dwarfed by 2021 challenge

Artistic director Iain Grandage has opened up on the “fantastic” Perth Festival 2020 — with a report revealing it raked in a record $6 million at the box office — and the challenges to come in 2021.

Simon Collins

COVID-19 crisisSculpture by the Sea gets swept away

The iconic WA event has announced it will be closing down immediately as news spreads that community transmission of COVID-19 has begun in Perth.

Sarah Steger

Ag showWarren Ag Show still going ahead

Warren District Agricultural Show fun for the whole family.

Tari Jeffers

NO FOLKFamily event postponed due to coronavirus

Fairbridge Festival pushed back six months amid ‘difficult time’ for entertainment industry.

Simon Collins

ResultsFestival holds off virus impact with near-record box office result

The 60th anniversary Adelaide Festival has narrowly dodged the bullet of the international impact of coronavirus to post the second-biggest box office result in its history.

Patrick McDonald

LIGHT FESTIVALGardens light up for new festival

The Botanic Gardens and State Herbarium will light up with a new program of curated after-dark events called “Botanica Lumina” including live music, art, film, historical tours and botanically inspired food tastings.

Clare Peddie

FINAL EVENTSCandles on Festival birthday cake

An illuminating installation by a French art collective will transform Adelaide’s Botanic Garden for the final weekend of events in this year’s 60th birthday Festival program.

Patrick McDonald

Read our reviewsWomadelaide 2020: Which acts blew us away?

The sun has set on a fabulous four days of world music at Womadelaide 2020. Here are our team’s reviews of more than 30 of the main acts.

WomadelaideCat ready for Womad late-night prowl

Set for a fifth appearance at Womadelaide, lead singer Felix Riebl says The Cat Empire’s debut at the world music event was a game changer for the band.

Ben Cameron

WOMADELAIDEHand on heart, Kate’s ready for Womad

From Eurovision to Coachella and the New York Opera, Australian singer Kate Miller-Heidke loves a world music stage.

Antimo Iannella

MEXICAN HYBRIDMixed in a mariachi love potion

New York’s only all-female mariachi band brings more than Mexican flavour to this weekend’s Womadelaide line-up.

Patrick McDonald

WOMADELAIDESleaford Mods: austerity Britain electro

For most of the crowd at Womadelaide the Sleaford Mods will be a new experience, offering an unvarnished snapshot of rotten Britain in crisis and a chance to witness a band at the height of its powers.

Gordon Knight

WOMAD COLLABORATIONMali music with strings attached

12th century Malian griot music meets an Australian jazz string quartet in one of Womadelaide’s most unusual collaborations.

Patrick McDonald

DANCE TRILOGYTriptych the light fantastic

France’s Lyon Opera Ballet has brought interpretations of Beethoven’s challenging masterwork The Great Fugue by three internationally acclaimed choreographers to the Adelaide Festival.

Patrick McDonald

Mad MarchZiggy Marley pulls out of Womad amid Festival triple trouble

Headline Womadelaide act Ziggy Marley has pulled out of performing at the world music festival this weekend. It’s one of three major misfortunes to hit the Adelaide Festival within hours.

Nathan Davies and Tim Lloyd

WORLD MUSICA cappella hip hop with a Nordic folk Finnish

Finland quartet Tuuletar blends folk tradition, pop harmonies and beatbox rhythms at Womadelaide in Botanic Park this weekend.

Patrick McDonald

Coronavirus threatHealth Minister slams Buddha festival cancellation

Minister for Health Roger Cook has called out the cancellation of a two-day Buddhist festival in Perth because of COVID-19 fears as being out of step with government advice.

Peter de Kruijff

FREE CONCERTTim Minchin all keyed up for Festival’s 60th birthday concert

The Adelaide Festival’s free opening concert by Tim Minchin will kick off its 60th birthday celebrations in Elder Park tonight, followed by a fireworks display.

Patrick McDonald

HIVE EXPERIENCEHoneycomb for human bee-ings

Artist turned beekeeper Mike Bianco invites participants to lie on a bed of bees in his Anthrocomb installation at the Botanic Garden, part of the Art Gallery’s Monster Theatres exhibition.

Patrick McDonald

They’re back!Teen 80s sensations Jam Tarts back for Highway to Hell

Perth teenage sensations Jam Tarts are getting the band back together as part of an all-star line up set to pay homage to AC/DC in Perth Festival’s Highway to Hell production.

Amanda Keenan

LIGHTS, THEATRE, ACTIONLet there be light

Award-winning designer Geoff Cobham has created a kaleidoscope of lighting effects for Patch Theatre’s new interactive family show The Lighthouse at this year’s Adelaide Festival.

Patrick McDonald

LOLs for daysRanked: The best jokes of Perth Fringe World

Fringe World wrapped up tonight after weeks of side-splitting comedy, dancing and performances. The West’s senior features writer Simon Collins took in 40 shows to bring you its best jokes.