Semaphore Music Festival

SA musicians across a range of genres – from alt-country and folk, to blues, roots and indie rock – will perform across a range of heritage precincts at Semaphore and Port Adelaide this long weekend for the annual Semaphore Music Festival. Tonight’s opening headline acts are blues groups Kings & Associates and Gail Page & Friends at the Semaphore Workers Club. Country singer Amber Joy Poulton will also perform tonight at Lickerish Kitchen and Bar. Other headline performers include Naomi Keyte, Jessica Wishart, Nancy Bates, Tara Carragher and Velvet Moth. The festival ends on Monday. View the full program here.

Dido & Aeneas

Bethany Hill will perform as the lead singer in State Opera’s performance of Dido and Aeneas.

The State Opera of South Australia will present a dramatic retelling of love story Dido & Aeneas at Plant 4 Bowden from Tuesday. One of the first English language operas written, Dido & Aeneas tells of Dido, Queen of Carthage and her fateful love for Trojan war hero Aeneas. Their story is told through Henry Purcell’s musical score featuring Dido’s Lament. Audience members are invited to sit at tables and watch the opera unfold around them while enjoying food from the Plant 4 market stallholders. Performances run until October 7.

Faith Healer

Paul Blackwell performs as Teddy in Faith Healer. Photo: Jeff Busby

Irish writer Brian Friel’s play about a travelling showman who performs “miracle healing” is being presented by the State Theatre Company at the Space Theatre – and according to InDaily reviewer Steve Evans, it is not to be missed. Faith Healer is directed by Judy Davis, with Colin Friels playing central character “The Fantastic Francis Hardy”. The play comprises four monologues performed by three characters – Francis, his wife Grace (Alison Whyte) and his manager Teddy (Paul Blackwell) – with a web of half-truths and personal myths revealed as the intertwining stories unravel. Performances run until October 13.

Ruel

Ruel will perform at The Gov on Thursday night.

Fifteen-year-old pop prodigy Ruel will perform at the Governor Hindmarsh on Thursday as part of his Australian tour. Described by Elton John as having “the most amazing voice that I’ve heard from a male singer at 14 years of age”, the Sydney-based musician rose to prominence after his 2017 hit “Don’t Tell Me” was played heavily on Triple J. Ruel’s Australian tour follows his opening spot on American singer Khalid’s Australian tour and the release of his debut EP Ready in June. He will be supported by Melbourne rapper Dylan Joel at Thursday night’s gig.

First Fridays

Absence Embodied by Chiharu Shiota. Photo: Saul Steed

The Art Gallery of SA’s monthly First Fridays evening event next Friday (October 5) will focus on Japanese contemporary artist Chiharu Shiota’s three projects. Visitors can take guided tours of Shiota’s solo exhibition Embodied and the contemporary jewellery display To Have and to Hold: the Daalder Collection. Curator of Contemporary Art Leigh Robb and associate curator of Asian Art Russell Kelty will also give a presentation on Shiota’s spider-web like installation Absence Embodied. Gypsy jazz ensembles Django Reinhardt and Monsieur Swing will perform in the sculpture courtyard at 5.30 and 7.30pm. Read more about Shiota’s collaboration with the Art Gallery of SA here.

Edo Style: Art of Japan

The David Roche Foundation is presenting new exhibition Edo Style: Art of Japan (1615-1868), which features more than 150 works from the Art Gallery of South Australia and private collectors. The exhibition is promoted as a “kaleidoscopic” selection of ceramics, folding screens, hanging scrolls, netsuke, robes, woodblock prints and lacquer ware, all created during the Edo period. Highlights include a selection of prints by iconic landscape artists Katsushika Hokusai and Utagawa Hiroshige as well as a suit of armour created in 1699 by metalsmith and sword expert Myochin Munesuke. Edo Style runs until December 1.