Greetings and Welcome

Two days to go before the OPENING NIGHT of the Darwin Festival 2006 with the FREE Santos Concert on the Esplanade on THURSDAY AUGUST 10 the entertainment begins at 6.30pm, bring your blanket, chairs and friends,and enjoy the very best in Indigenous music featuring Broome sensation The Pigram Brothers, whose new CD Under the Mango Tree has been nominated for this years Deadly Awards, one of the best bands in the Northern Territory Nabarlek Band with their cutting edge fusion of traditional and contemporary styles, and up and coming sensation from Western Arnhem Land Wildflower.

Food stalls and a licensed bar are available please no byo alcohol.

MR BIG goes shopping!

Last week Tracks Dance gave a sneak preview of what’s in store for audiences at their new show MR BIG which opens on Friday 11 at the Shell Darwin Terminal in McMinn Street. The six lead dancers and their break dancing tutor from Brisbane, entertained large crowds in the Casuarina Square food court on Friday night giving Festival Volunteers a chance to distribute programs and promote the fact that bookings for all festival shows can be made at the Casuarina Square Information Desk. Stayed tuned more info about more performances by Festival artists at Casuarina Square.

Lunchtime Shows in Smith Street Mall

Starting this Thursday, the Festival, in conjunction with Darwin City Marketing will be hosting a series of lunchtime performances in the Smith Street Mall. Starting at 12.30 the concerts and dance performances will showcase some great Festival acts and hopefully bring a sense of the Festival season to the streets of Darwin. If you’re in town at lunchtime time drop in to see some excellent music shows in Raintree Park on Thursdays and some very special dance and cultural performances outside the Galeria Aracade on Wednesdays.

Smith Street Mall Lunchtime Festival Program:

  • Thursday August 10 Pigram Brothers
  • Wednesday August 16 Kirribati Dancers
  • Thursday August 17 Roy Mackonkey (unplugged)
  • Wednesday August 23 WAKA Our Journeys Our Canoes
  • Thursday August 24 Worldfly

DARWIN FESTIVAL BANQUET SOLD OUT

The Darwin Festival’s inaugural Crab and Rosè dinner is a sell out success!

Festival Director Malcolm Blaylock said “This is great news for the Festival and those that have booked for this banquet, it really is going to be a great evening of sand between the toes, while savouring the delights of freshly cooked Crab accompanied by a light Rosè.”


The banquet program has been introduced into this year’s festival and has definitely earned an ongoing presence in next year’s program, and while the Crab and Rosé evening has sold out tickets are still available for Jimmy Shu’s Tastes of the Top another sensational banquet to be held in the Botanic Gardens featuring a superb menu of Indian, Thai and Nonyan cuisines featuring local produce from acclaimed restaurateur Jimmy Shu. “Imagine said Blaylock “white tablecloths under the stars in a our beautiful Botanic Gardens fabulous company, fine wine and the culinary delights of Jimmy Shu, definitely another gastronomic highlight of the year”


This year’s festival looks set to eclipse the success of 2005 with ticket sales for other programmed events well ahead of last year. Blaylock urged Festival goers to book early

“Last year we had ten sell out shows and this year we look like exceeding that landmark”

For more information on Festival events http://www.darwinfestival.org.au/

For bookings call 89803333 or http://www.darwinentertainment.com.au/

For Jimmy Shu’s tastes of the top:
http://slowfooddarwin.com.au

Volunteers

We still need more people to help with the many and varied tasks involved in putting on the Festival. Anyone who can lend a hand, even if just for an hour, particularly during the day, please call Sean Kavanagh on 8981 0083 or email him on

sean@darwinfestival.org.au or contact@darwinfestival.org.au