GIG
WHAT    Shihad
WHEN    Wednesday, Febuary 13
WHERE   The Pub, Hargreaves Street
Kiwi expats SHIHAD will promote the release of the first single One Will Hear The Other off their just completed new album Beautiful Machine next week in Bendigo.
Along for the ride are Melbourne bands Horsell Common and The Galvatrons, who have both have been making all kinds of noise across the country in the last year.
After four years of releasing sporadic material and touring all across our fine land, Horsell Common finally released their highly acclaimed debut album, The Rescue in September of 2007. The album debuted in the Top 5 on the Australian Independent Record Charts and spawned the Triple J hit single “Good From Afar”.
 
Theatre
WHAT        Castlemaine Theatre Company info night
WHEN        Wednesday, February 13 from 7pm
WHERE      Chewton Community Centre, Pyrenees Highway
DETAILS   Annette on 0438 415 259, call evenings
After two years it’s time for the Castlemaine Theatre Company Inc to stage another children’s production, this time it’s the well loved The Jungle Book,  directed by Carol McKenzie-Grose.
The storyline is similar to the Disney film but the songs are completely different.
And the company is seeking willing locals to be involved, on and off stage.
Most children’s, teenagers and men’s roles require some singing, and there are non-singing roles for women. 
All potential cast members are asked to attend the information night to find out more and to book auditions for the weekend of February 16 and 17.
Lots of help is required for sewing bees for costume making, as well as behind the scenes areas like make-up, backstage and publicity. 

Film
WHAT     Festival fundraiser
WHEN     Tonight, from 7.30pm
WHERE   Theatre Royal, C/maine
COST        $15
There’s a new addition to the Mount Alexander Shire’s calendar of events: the Taradale Mineral Springs Festival to be held every March long weekend to celebrate the local talent and producers.
To launch the festival, an outdoor fundraising screening of I Served the King of England will take place tonight.
 Before the film kicks off at 9pm, festival entertainers will preview their talents with a performance by electic Celtic folk band Herb Garden and an awesome display of circus skills by Freyja Edney, a recent graduate of the Flying Fruit Fly Circus.
Directed by Czech filmmaker Jiri Menzel, I Served the King of England is a bittersweet comedy set during World War II.

Music
WHAT      Choir DVD launch
WHEN      Sunday February,
                  17 from 2.45pm
WHERE    Eaglehawk Salvation Army hall, Church St
COST        $5
DETAILS  Fran on 5442-1009
The Bendigo Sing Australia Choir is proud to take part in this national event to raise the awareness of the benefits that singing has on health.
Sing Australia has now achieved choirs in every state in Australia, who come together for social events and support, especially for the drought affected areas of Australia, where the morale is low
The latest initiative is to support Breast Cancer Network Australia, which have teamed with a gospel choir in Melbourne, “South of the River”.
This choir was successful in the ABC finalists in 2006. Their leader, Deb Chandler, was diagnosed with breast cancer, during this time and her treatment and ‘saving grace’ was the support of the choir and the power of singing.
The local choir will host a showing a DVD of the South of the River Choir.
The admission fee will go
towards the Breast Cancer Network Australia.

Exhibition
WHAT      Sidney Nolan exhibition
WHEN      From February 22 to May 18
WHERE    Ian Potter Centre: NGV Australia, Federation Square
DETAILS  ngv.vic.gov.au or call 8620-2222
I’M very interested, in fact, compelled and dedicated to transmitting emotions and I care for very little else. I care for that process so much that I’m prepared to belt the paint across the canvas much faster than it should be belted; I don’t care so long as I can get the emotional communication; I will sacrifice everything to it – and that I’ve done.” Sidney Nolan, quoted in Sidney Nolan – Australia, 1979.
Not since Sidney Nolan’s death in 1992 has there been a major retrospective.
The National Gallery of Victoria will present the most important survey of the artist’s career.