Your weekend: what's on around town
MUSIC
JAZZ The seven sons of Chicago jazz legend Phil Cohran form the appropriately titled Hypnotic Brass Ensemble and arrive in town as part of the Brunswick music festival. The "bad boys of jazz" gained worldwide recognition with track War, which soundtracked The Hunger Games. Support comes from Melbourne soul act Zillanova. Today, 9pm, The Jazzlab, 27 Leslie Street, Brunswick, $35-$40, 9388 1999, brunswickmusicfestival.com.au
CLASSICAL The Melbourne Symphony Orchestra continues the Mahler Cycle with a performance of Symphony No. 9, the last symphony that he completed and, according to a poll of the world's leading conductors, the fourth greatest symphony of all time. MSO director of artistic planning Ronald Vermeulen will host a talk before things kick off. Today, 7.30pm, Hamer Hall, Arts Centre Melbourne, 100 St Kilda Road, city, $39-$119, 1300 182 183, artscentremelbourne.com.au
Southbank transforms into Naples for the Neapolitan Pizza Association Pizza Festival.
SOUL Soul orchestra Grand WaZoo: Kings of Soul bring their dynamic music to Bird's Basement. Founded by trumpeter and arranger John Montesante, the 13-piece orchestra has proven to be masters of soul and funk for more than 30 years. Suitable for all ages, with dinner available at the venue beforehand. Today, 7.30pm, Bird's Basement, 11 Singers Lane, city, $35-$49, 1300 225 299, birdsbasement.com
ROCK Big Country gained fame for defining the sound of Scottish rock in the 1980s with tracks including In A Big Country and Wonderland. They come to St Kilda's Memo Music Hall ready to perform their Grammy-nominated album The Crossing, as well as their greatest hits. Tomorrow, 7.30pm, Memo Music Hall, corner of Acland and Albert streets, St Kilda, $69.50-$90, 9534 3556, memomusichall.com.au
Big Country.
LIVE
BALLET After 50 years in dance, master choreographer Graeme Murphy has his own retrospective. The Australian Ballet pays tribute to Murphy with a revival of his Firebird alongside excerpts from other productions in this special anniversary tribute. See why Murphy is officially designated one of our National Living Treasures. Today, 1.30pm and 7.30pm, State Theatre, Arts Centre Melbourne, 100 St Kilda Road, city, $87-$235, 1300 182 183, artscentremelbourne.com.au
LIVE ART African artist collective Still Nomads celebrates the 22nd anniversary of Fugees' seminal hip-hop album The Score in Black Sonic Futures, part of the festival of live art. They've curated an assembly of black artists to riff off the album's ideas and themes, approaching the album in its entirety through multiple art forms. Today, 8.30pm, Arts House, North Melbourne Town Hall, 521 Queensberry Street, North Melbourne, $15-$20, 9322 3720, fola.com.au
THEATRE Marguerite Duras' autobiographical novel The Lover caused a sensation when it was published following her illicit affair as a young girl with a wealthy Chinese man in 1930s French Indochina. Laurence Strangio adapts this classic of 20th-century literature into a passionate duologue between the older Duras and her younger self. Today, 6.30pm, La Mama Courthouse, 349 Drummond Street, Carlton, $20-$30, 9347 6142, lamama.com.au
LIVE ART Unknown Neighbours brings five performers from Melbourne and Seoul together in an exploration of the neighbourhood surrounding Theatre Works. The performance starts inside local residences before winding up at Theatre Works, and serves as a live art exploration of the poetry surrounding home and neighbourhood. Today and tomorrow, 6.30pm, Theatre Works, 14 Acland Street, St Kilda East, $37-$45, 9534 3388, fola.com.au
Unknown Neighbour.
FOOD
PIZZA Southbank transforms into Naples for the Neapolitan Pizza Association Pizza Festival, a free event being held as part of the Melbourne food and wine festival. A variety of pizza makers (better known as pizzaioli, in Italian) will set up shop by the Yarra river, cooking their specialties in authentic ovens. The family-friendly event will include live entertainment, activities for kids and, of course, world-class pizza. Today and tomorrow, noon, Crown Melbourne, 8 Whiteman Street, Southbank, free, 9823 6100, melbournefoodandwine.com.au
CHEESE The famed Milawa Cheese Company turns 30 this year and is celebrating in tasty style at the Rose hotel in Fitzroy. The company's cheese has garnered a string of awards, with their King River Gold in particular gaining a cult following among cheese lovers across the country. Expect cheese pairings with Starward whisky, Bridge Road brewery beer and Brown Brothers wine, exclusive 30th anniversary cheeses and some high-country hospitality. Today, 7pm, The Rose, 406 Napier Street, Fitzroy, $90, 5727 3589, melbournefoodandwine.com.au
The Lover.
CHILLI Since 2012, picturesque Wandin in the Yarra Valley has played host to an annual herb and chilli festival. More than 90 stalls showcase the spicier side of life with cuisine including chilli beer, Cambodian BBQ and handmade ice-cream. Teams will duke it out in the Australian Chilli Cook Off, and there's a free KidZone for children. More than 40 varieties of chilli will be available to buy. Today and tomorrow, 10am, 125 Quayle Road, Wandin, $18-$24, 9735 2962, herbchillifestival.com.au
ELSEWHERE
MARKET Euroa Village Farmers' Market holds its annual bartenders' race today, featuring the six beers of accredited producer Strathbogie Brewing Company. Lisadurne Hill will be there with their range of grassy, punchy and smooth olive oils, and Flying Bok Choy will have seedlings and potted herbs to take home and plant out. Take advantage of the temporary relocation to the Memorial Oval car park to stock up before heading inside to watch the Euroa Gift races. Today, 9am-1pm, Euroa Memorial Oval, Slee Street, Euroa, free entry, vfma.org.au
In One Night.
KENSINGTON Showcasing local talent, the Kensington Market holds a minimum of 70 specialty stalls each month, offering an eclectic mix of treasures from artisans and designers from surrounding areas. Shop fresh produce, designer fashion, children's wear, jewellery and visual art while enjoying fresh food and coffee, live music, a petting zoo and more. Past stallholders include Poly Design Studio, Von's Vegan Bakehouse, the Raw Philosophy and Totally Innocent. Tomorrow, 10am-3pm, Kensington Town Hall, 30-34 Bellair Street, Kensington, free entry, kensingtonmarket.com.au
FESTIVAL The In One Voice Jewish culture street festival returns to Elsternwick with a day full of events. On top of a concert, kids' zone and nosh tent, the core of the festival is a community groups expo, which last year highlighted almost 100 Jewish community groups. If you can't make tomorrow's festivities, head down to the old ABC warehouse in Elsternwick tonight for music and more at the In One Night event.Tomorrow, 11am-5pm, Selwyn Street, Elsternwick, free entry, inonevoice.org.au
The Melbourne Symphony Orchestra continues the Mahler Cycle with a performance of Symphony No. 9.
FAIR The Melbourne Art Book Fair returns for a fourth time to the NGV, with participants including book publishers, journals and magazines. The lively events program includes a session on overcoming the pressures involved in self-publishing, zine making workshops for teenagers, several book launches and a discussion on what makes a good book cover. The winner of the Cornish Family Prize for Art and Design Publishing will also be announced. Today, 10am-7pm, tomorrow, 10am-5pm, NGV International, 180 St Kilda Road, city, free, 8620 2222, ngv.vic.gov.au
INSTALLATION Amsterdam design collective Experimental Jetset set up shop at RMIT in Experimental Jetset: Superstructure. A highlight of Melbourne Design Week, Superstructure is both a retrospective of the designers' work and a large-scale installation. Exploring the relationship between cities and graphic design language, the exhibition is designed as a journey through the four quarters of an imaginary city. A purpose-designed newspaper will also be produced in collaboration with nine Melbourne-based graphic designers. Today, noon, Design Hub, RMIT University, corner of Swanston and Victoria streets, Carlton, free, 9925 2260, designhub.rmit.edu.au
Grand WaZoo: Kings of Soul.
FAMILY Scrub up on your wordiness with the Word Alert! festival of crosswords, spelling and grammar. Presented by writing school the Good Copy as part of NGV's art book fair, the free program of events brings words off the page and out into the open. Sessions include a spelling bee for both children and adults, a workshop demystifying cryptic crosswords for beginners, and a two-part crossword tournament. Today, noon, tomorrow, 10.30am, NGV International, 180 St Kilda Road, city, free, 8620 2222, ngv.vic.gov.au