Puffio

All this week the place to be (in the wonderful world of radio) is Radio Adelaide on 101.5 FM, since until Sun 17 Sept it's their 'Live Music Fest '06', a voluminous confabulation between the radio station and live musicians across this city. On just about each and every show they host you'll be able o hear live music played from the Radio Adelaide studios on North Terrace. They'll be abuzz with performances encompassing just about every genre of music you can imagine - and a few you can't.

Back in the days when Puffio was very very young (and not a little niaive) there were school productions each and every term (or so it seemed) of the most estimable musical 'Bye Bye Birdie', a satire based in Sweet Apple, Ohio, which is visited by superstar pop singer Conrad Birdie. It's pretty cheesy, which is why Puffio was surprised to see this 1950s musical revived for a season at the Adelaide Centre for the ARTS, from Fri 22 until Tues 26 Sept. Thrill to the bubblegum splendour of a bygone era, when the girls wore chiffon and bobby sox and John Howard was a pimpled teenager.

A little advance notice that the grand opening of the Festival Centre's Sunday Markets will be on Sun 8 Oct, when the centre and surrounds will be abuzz with fun and frolicsome excitement; markets, stalls, free activities such as a bouncy castle and giant puppets. As has become abundantly clear, these activities must now be accompanied by face painting for the kiddies, so there is no doubt a bevvy of painted urchins will also be in attendance. There will also be free bands performing, tours of the Festival Centre, and other attractions on the day, which runs from 10am to 4pm.

Currently on display in the foyer of The Adelaide Festival Centre is 'Stranger In My Own Land', paintings by Stella Bradshaw-Duigan, showcasing people who are so frequently represented as strangers in their own land. The artist says "There are more similarities between the peoples of the earth than differences; I want people to see these and lose the fear. The paintings are my statement against racism." 'Stranger In My Own Land' concludes on Mon 2 Oct.

32 years ago the membership of Blackwood Players, the esteemed amateur theatre group, met in the Blackwood Memorial Hall in a Special General Meeting called to rescue the organisation from crippling divisions. This month, in another such special meeting, the organisation has done it again, electing a new board of management and President and taken up the challenge to keep on keeping on and make themselves a theatre group of relevance to today. Good on 'em. You'll be hearing more of them as news comes to hand.

Coming up in November, another Australian premiere for Independent Theatre... this time Artistic Director Rob Croser sets his sights on the strife of mid twentieth century South Africa through an onstage adaptation of Alan Paton's seminal novel 'Cry The Beloved Country'.

The countdown to the 2006 SHORTS Film Festival (Wed 25 to Sun 29 Oct) has begun, since the festival poster has been unveiled by Adelaide's own film producer David Lightfoot, in conjunction with the festival's co-directors Teri Whiting and Ben Barnett. The launch also involved acclaimed Australian film director Greg McLean, Director of 'Wolf Creek', who was a previous SHORTS entrant. The Festival takes place at the Garage Bar on Light Square. Do you want to know more? Entry forms and festival details are available at: www.shortsfilmfestival.com

It's an oft asked question: 'What is the state of play in the arts in SA?' The answer, perhaps, will be given, in the next in the series 'Politics In The Pub', to be held at the Wheatsheaf Hotel on Sun 24 Sept from 4 to 6pm. There, three experts in the field will talk it up big as they attempt to answer this most vexing of questions. Do you suppose the Premier (who is after all the Arts Minister) will be there to hear Christie Anthoney, (Director, Adelaide Fringe), Greg Mackie OAM, (Executive Director, Arts SA) and Douglas Gautier (CEO, Adelaide Festival Centre) chew the fat?

Currently on show at the Art Gallery Of SA is one of the world's largest Rodin sculpture collections. 'Rodin: Genius of Form' is an exhibition showcasing the largest collection of Rodin sculpture in the southern hemisphere, and features the Gallery's major collection of twenty sculptures by Auguste Rodin (1840-1917) and includes a rare small scale bronze of his most famous work, The Thinker on loan from a private collection. A number of special events have been planned around the exhibition; on Sun 24 Sept there will be a piano recital by renowned composer Stephen Whittington featuring music of the period as well as new work inspired by Rodin.

Congratulations in advance are due to all nominees in the SA finals of the National MBS Young Performers' Awards, which will be held at Cynthia Poulton Hall of St Peter's Cathedral on Mon 18 Sept. The finals will be judged by two of South Australia's leading musicians: internationally renowned tenor Thomas Edmonds, and pianist Diana Harris, President of The Music Teachers' Association of South Australia. The finalists are: Warwick Ambrose (piano, Mt Barker), Cherie Boogaart (mezzo soprano, Trinity Gardens), Alexandra Castle (flute, Unley), Sky Ingram (soprano, Dovar Gardens), Monique Lapins (violin, Kensington), Robert MacFarlane (tenor, Campbelltown), Thomas Marlin (cello, Heathpool) and Sarah Jane Windsor (soprano, Ascot Park).

'Acts Of Sedition And Love #1' is described as a seditious cabaret which will perform for one night only. Brought toy you by th4e highly seditious and always interesting Vitalstatistix Theatre Company, the night will be compered by Maude Davey, and will feature Adelaide's leading female performers in cabaret... Andrea Rienets, Miz Ima Starr,

Astrid Pill, Daisy Brown, Sophie Hyde, Rebecca Summerton, Miss Patsy D Cline, Fanny Jacobsen, the Port Adelaide Community Choir, Amethyst De Wilde, Hot For Joe, and Jean Mary Matthews. With cabaret seating and offering subversive and provocative performance, it all happens at the Waterside Hall at Nile St Port Adelaide on Sat 23 Sept at 8pm.