Community Billboard 27th of July to the 2nd of August

Some of you would have loved to have lived the 50's era, and if you are looking to reminisce about the good old days and swing about with retro atmosphere then the "Back to the 50's Festival" is on to bring you a weekend of music, fashion and beauty parades, vintage markets, 'Elvis' on stilts, and lots more 50's style activities.

On the first evening of the festival they will be showing two 50's flicks "Singing' in the Rain" and "Jailhouse Rock", and on Saturday there will be a display of hot rods, classic cars and motorbikes plus dance workshops and competitions.

There will be plenty of food and entertainment to keep you rocking away, the entertainment includes solo artists and bands belting out a mixture of jazz, blues, swing, rock n roll, country, boogie woogie and latin. They include Pat Capocci, the Drey Rollan Band, the Jive Bombers and the Aston Martinis.

When: Friday 31st July & Saturday 1st August.

Where: St Ives Showground, 450 Mona Vale Road, 2075.

Cost: $19.50.

If you are looking for some feel good music and want a night of spirit lifting entertainment then "One Vibration" is where you will have a mix of genres bringing that fine hammock sound of Reggae, Afro Beats, Dub, Soul, Jazz, and Rhythm.

Onespace is extremely proud to present to you an event of soul shaking, knee quaking Afro beat and dub reggae goodness.

Xavier Rudd United Nations band "Kooii Music" are the main act who's legendary member is Bobby Alu an accomplished songwriter & travelling musician from the Gold Coast. He is a Singer, Ukulele strummer & drummer.

Also joining them will be DJ Marc Kundalini, as well as special solo guest Dwayne Martens, plus you will also have some great local Sydney artists playing on the night.

And not to worry about going hungry or thirsty as there will be a pop up wholefoods café and organic wine and kombucha bar by "Egg of the Universe".

Expect a fresh simple sound with tastes of Polynesian ukulele, pacific beats, catchy songs, tasty harmony & powerful log drumming on a bed of slick style.

When: Saturday 1st August, 7:00pm–12:00am.

Where: Paddington Uniting Church, 395 Oxford Street, 2021.

Cost: $25.00.

For all fans of art and for those who appreciate great imagination the lovely Cockatoo Island will be hosting the underbelly arts festival this weekend.

You will get to see work from the boldest new voices in Australian art. There will be visual art, performance, theatre, live art, music, sound, dance, digital practice and ideas, with a focus on emerging artists and experimentation.

The aim of the festival which started in 2007 and has had over 800 artists coming together is to create large-scale events in non-traditional spaces, where audiences and artists can experience new art like no other exhibition/festival.

There will be more than 100 artists presenting works to tickle your fancy. This year’s line-up is notable for featuring international artists (from Iran, Switzerland and the UK) and Indigenous artists. There will also be a kids’ program, a great spread of food options that goes beyond the usual suspects.

One of the main highlights will be the party on the Saturday night with music from Lucy Cliché, T. Morimoto, Fake (a new collaboration between Lavurn Lee and Thomas William Smith), Rainbow Chan and Corin (live), Austin Buckett, and more.

For a weekend of singers, performance artists, broadcasters and much more this will certainly be an Island of fun.

When: Saturday 1st & Sunday 2nd August, 11am.

Where: Cockatoo Island, Sydney Harbour, 2000.

Cost: Weekend Ticket $45, Saturday Night Art Party $15.

Volunteering yourself to help others is definitely one of the most rewarding feelings one can get, you are making someone happy just by your presence.

If you have always thought of sparing some of your time for others or maybe you are a frequent volunteer and are looking for a place where you can make a great impact on others lives, then down at the "Gaden Centre" as part of "Holdsworth Community" which is a non-profit organisation based in Woollahra they are doing great work with the community to provide services to over 65s, people with a disability and families with young children.

Volunteers are needed here to assist with seniors’ outings, this is a great opportunity to do something that is both useful and rewarding, lots of great activities take place at the centre such as literary luncheons, watercolour workshops and much more.

Holdsworth’s activities for over 65s can be centre based such as music, movies and discussion groups or bus outings taking in the many interesting sights that the Sydney area has to offer. Volunteers are a welcome part of the team and will receive induction training and ongoing support from Holdsworth’s experienced staff.

If you can spare a day a week, or even a day a fortnight, and enjoy spending time with people call 9302 3600 during business hours. You will be making someone very happy.

When: Your availability.

Where: Holdsworth Community Centre & Services, 64Holdsworth Street, Woollahra, 2025.

Cost: Free.

One of the wonderful benefits of our imagination is to be able to design, may it be home décor or architecture, if you are interested in seeing the latest designs coming out of Australia then head along to "Workshopped" it is arguably Australia’s longest continuously running annual exhibition showcasing emerging Australian design talent for the past 15 years.

You don't have to rush it as the event will be on for over two weeks, this year "WORKSHOPPED 15" asks designers to consider design in architecture.
Reshaping and redefining, reinventing materials, techniques and forms to create functional product or new classics.

It is expected the work of approximately 50 designers will ultimately make up this year’s exhibition who will be provided with a platform to reach national and international audiences including manufacturers, retailers, fellow designers and consumers at large.

When: Thursday 6th to Sunday 23rd August, 9am to 6pm.

Where: Supa Centa Moore Park, 2 Todman Avenue, Moore Park, 2021.

Cost: Free.

Another great day out to source some homemade produce and stock up your wine collection is on next week as that really says it all in the name is Sydneys "Good Food & Wine Show".

The three day event is back with hundreds of local and international exhibitors, displaying and selling a range of items to satisy your tastebuds, you will have a great selection of sweet or savoury, and beer or wine.

There will be celebrities & experts throughout the event giving you tips and advice as Gary Mehigan, Adam Liaw, Miguel Maestre and more cook live on stage.

This is your chance to go behind the labels of boutique producers, meeting the makers and learning their stories. From family-run businesses to established artisan companies, you will also have coffee master classes if you want to be the finest barista at home, and learn all about the wide range of craft beer out there nowadays, plus lots more attractions.

When: Friday 7th – Sunday 9th August 10:00am – 6:00pm.

Where: Sydney Showground, 1 Showground Road, Sydney Olympic Park, 2127.

Cost: General Entry: $34.00.

Just recently we had "National Pyjama Day" to help raise awareness for a great cause helping children in foster care enjoy a brighter future. Next week we will have another charitable day by wearing a certain outfit as it is "Jeans for Genes day". Jeans for Genes is the iconic fundraising campaign for the "Children’s Medical Research Institute".

Each year, Australians unite by wearing their favourite jeans and outdoing each other with crazy denim outfits, and donating money or purchasing merchandise, to support genetic research.

On the first Friday in August workplaces, schools and streets become a sea of denim in a united stance against childhood disease.

A day to wear your favourite outfit to the office all for a great cause and easily get involved yourself by getting a merchandise box sent to you or a collection box.
Every dollar raised on the day helps scientists at "Children’s Medical Research Institute" discover treatments and cures, to give every child the opportunity to live a long and healthy life.

When: Friday 7th August.

Where: Everywhere.

Cost: Free.

Looking for an exhibition to head along to that is mixed with all great forms of art with and many contrasting artists, then up in North Sydney's community centre "Changeable Art" will be held, a one-day pop up exhibition.

It will feature up to twelve local and regional emerging artists showcasing their work within the centre’s light-filled rooms. The space has given a voice to hundreds of artists since its inception in 2007.

They will be showcasing glass, painted ceramics, landscapes, mosaics, fairy tale still life and spectacular lily leaves will fill the rooms, for your chance to enter multiple artistic worlds in one day.
For novice art buyers it is an opportunity to learn about individual tastes whilst for the matured art eye it is a great chance to purchase artworks at affordable prices.

Some of the Featured artists are Alex Snellgrove, Divya Verma, Laxmi Duble, Michelle Livingston, Raj Panda, Susannah Paterson, Yulia Pustoshkina, Penny Sasso. Get up close and personal with the artworks and start or add to your art collection.

When: Saturday 8th August, 8am to 3pm.

Where: North Sydney Community Centre, Civic Park at 220 Miller St, North Sydney, 2059.

Cost: Free.