Monthly Events

Discover how contemporary photo-artist Mark Kimber makes the ordinary 'xtraordinary' in his exhibition 'Mark Kimber: Selected Works'. Continuing his exploration of the urban landscape, the artist cleverly uses natural and artificial light to inject a new energy to familiar sights and scenes from metropolitan Australia. If it is true that familiarity breeds contempt, this series of works by Mark Kimber will inspire deeper contemplation of the built environment and perhaps engender a new affection for urban Australia which the vast majority of us call home. In a career spanning 30 years, Mark Kimber's works have been exhibited both nationally and internationally and are held in gallery collections across the country including the National Gallery of Australia in Canberra. Mark Kimber is currently the Studio Head of Photography and New Media at the University of South Australia's South Australian School of Art. The Ipswich Art Gallery is open daily from 10am - 5pm. Entry to the Gallery is free.

Experience Sci-Art and discover the art of invention through the use of everyday materials! See how artist John Coleman creatively re-assembles items to produce imaginative, interactive moving sculptures that combine science, art and sustainable technologies. Experiment with touch points, sensors and simple electronic circuits to create movement, sound, lighting effects and air flows. Sci-Art is a playful investigation into how things work and celebrates the idea that function is as important as an artwork’s form. Touching is more than encouraged at Sci-Art; it is essential! Sci-Art is recommended for children aged 4 – 14 years. All ages welcome. The Ipswich Art Gallery is open daily between 10am and 5pm. Entry is free.

It’s said that a face can tell a thousand stories. See how local photo-journalist Rob Williams captures some of the city’s most renowned residents in his debut solo exhibition ‘Faces of Ipswich’. The artist uses extreme, close-up photography to portray both current and former locals in their natural state without the distraction of a staged smile or pose. By removing these distractions, the artist is able to honestly photograph his subjects and bring an enhanced authenticity to this series of large-scale portrait works. ‘Faces of Ipswich’ tells stories of triumph, tragedy and controversy and is inspired by Rob Williams' love of photography, people and the place he calls home. The Ipswich Art Gallery is open daily between 10am and 5pm. Entry is free.

The Ipswich Festival is recognised as one of the fastest growing festivals in Queensland. The Festival fosters and encourages an atmosphere which brings families together to enjoy the many free attractions. Each year we also encourage and welcome visitors to join together with local residents for fun, music and free family entertainment. Visit the Ipswich Festival website for a full list of events.

Brand new Ipswich based theatre company, Risk Productions, inaugural show explores the five year relationship between author Jamie Wellerstein and struggling actress Catherine Hiatt as they tell the heartbreaking story of how they fell in love and how everything fell apart. Jamie begins his story with all the hope and giddiness of their very first date, while Cathy's story starts with her alone, with nothing left of Jamie but his wedding ring. The two meet only once for a fleetingly beautiful moment before their stories drift apart again. Starring David Harrison and Jane Elshaw, the Last 5 Years is beautiful, breathtaking and unbelievably heart wrenching. This award winning show will leave you questioning every assumption you've ever made about love, loss and everything in between. Tickets are priced from $25 and is showing in Ipswich for three shows only. See the website for more details!

2013 marks 150 years since the Sisters of Mercy arrived in Ipswich. They came to establish the town's first Catholic school at the request of local parishioners and their arrival signaled the beginning of an educational institution which continues in Ipswich today. 'Celebrating 150 Years of Mercy' contains memorabilia which chronicles the Sisters' role in the community as well as the origins and evolutions of St Mary's College and St Mary's Primary School. It is a celebration of 150 years of Catholic education in Ipswich and the resilience of faith. It is also a tribute to the women, the Sisters of Mercy, who have dedicated their lives to sustaining Catholicism in Ipswich. Image courtesy Picture Ipswich. The Ipswich Art Gallery is open daily between 10am and 5pm. Entry is free.

On the first Sunday of each month from 10am to 3pm, and also as a special treat for passengers on days when the steam train leaves the Workshops Rail Museum to travel to Grandchester and back, the historic station at Grandchester will be open by volunteers on behalf of the National Trust of Queensland, for viewing. Explore Queensland's first railway station, built in 1865. Visitors can walk through the heritage-listed station, which features an indoor signal cabin and hosts railway memorabilia required to run the station in the 19th and 20th centuries. Some local arts, crafts and produce, and refreshments (juice and chips) will be available to purchase.

A magical musical adaptation of the award-winning picture book. The team behind The Gruffalo and The Gruffalo's Child return with songs, laughs and scary fun for children aged 3 and up and their grown-ups. All Tickets $12.00

It's exactly the same as any other book club its members read the same works and take part in lively debate, although sometimes the book is forgotten when some of the group haven't read it, or there's a juicy piece of gossip to dissect. But the club slips into the background when Deborah's fantasy of an affair with a real writer becomes a reality. During her hilarious story we meet her husband Wally, a lawyer who is in training to run a marathon, the somewhat inept lover Michael, and the members of the club. Real drama is averted by a comic resolution when Deborah returns to solid reality. Adult $42.00 Concession/Student $38.00 Group 8+ $36.00 Ipswich Library Members $36.00

Gear up for the second Cruzin Nostalgia Drags event for 2013 on May 11 at Willowbank Raceway! Adult admission $25, Student admission $20, Kids 13 and under FREE. For more information about this exciting event visit www.willowbankraceway.com.au.  

Ladies Night Off offers ladies an ultimate indulgent shopping, pampering and relaxing experience in an air-conditioned venue. For a nominated entry fee ($25 online OR $30 door sales) ladies will receive; ~ entry to exclusive event/s for Ladies Only! with access to 40 amazing exhibitors showcasing their awesome products & services just for you ~ a Goodie Bag (100 only) with exclusive promos, deals and information from local community businesses & exhibitors at the event/s ~ unlimited non-alcoholic drinks ~ unlimited fresh gourmet finger foods ~ unlimited delicious desserts and sweets ~ a free mini pamper session of your choosing ~ a $5 donation from your entry fee to help support our beautiful new Springfield Lakes Community Centre Please bring cash with you as there is no readily available ATM at this venue. Bookings ESSENTIAL for catering purposes. Online tickets = $25 Door sales = $30 Exhibitor bookings & online Tickets sales available at: www.eventsguru.id.au

A Tommy Fleming concert is a musical experience not to be missed with one song more haunting than the other. He has a universal appeal to all ages and backgrounds with a fan base that is growing stronger worldwide year by year. Show commences at 7:00pm.  Adult $49.00,Conc/Student $47.00, Child 14 & Under $30.00 GROUPS 10+ $47.00

The 2013 Ipswich Show is going to be bigger and better than ever before. Celebrating 140 year milestone with lots of entertainment and attractions for the whole family! Special guests include the one and only Justice Crew who will be performing at the show on Friday 17th May. The Ipswich Show will also include excellent entertainment such as the Rocket Truck, Demolition Derby (Saturday Night), Monster Trucks (Sunday), the travelling fishing show, Bricks n Fun displays, exhibits galore, 3 stages of entertainment and demonstrations, animal nursery, fireworks, FMX Kaos Motorcross, Eljay Freestyle Entertainment, RSPCA EMU, trade stands and so much more....

Carline Mufflers Powercruise 1 Day Powerplay will see hundreds of QLD's toughest street machine, hot rods & imports hit Queensland Raceway for one huge day of Cruising, Racing, Drifting & Skidding. Plus plenty of off-track entertainment - Show & Shine all weekend, Trade Stalls and Business displays, Miss Powercruise Comp and more! All spectator tickets are available at the gate on the day - cash sales only on the day. Tickets are $35pp. Kids 12 & under admission FREE with a paying adult. Don't miss out on this exciting powercruise powerplay day!

Melbourne International Comedy Festival Roadshow is back, with a big night of comedy from some of the world's funniest comedians. Our cast of intrepid travelling comedians is hitting the road, entertaining crowds all across Australia. You can be a part of the fun when we roll into your town! Don't miss Roadshow 2013 - all the hijinks are coming your way! Tickets $38.00 Group 10+ $28.00

If your surname isn't Miyagi or Yokohama, don't worry, it's just the cars that must be Japanese to participate on 25-26 May 2013. You can race your Mitsubishi Evolution in the sprints, shoot your Nissan Silvia round the short course drifts and parade your WRX in the show'n'shine, all while soaking up some Queensland-flavoured karaoke. Representatives from Japanese car retailers will be on-hand for the day, with demo models of the latest Japanese vehicles. The QR track is not forgotten in the midst of the Japanese-mayhem, with open cruise sessions and happy laps. So prep your ride and bring out the old Konica, it's All Japanese National Titles time.

Schedule: Saturday 25th May 2013 - Time Attack Sprints, Cruising, Show & Shine, Top 10 Shootout. Sunday 26th May 2013 - All Day Drifting across four layouts including Short Track, Skid Pan and two tracks on the main circuit! Admission: Saturday $20pp, Sunday $20pp, Weekend Pass $30pp - KIDS 12 and under FREE!

 

Adults $59.90 Concession $54.90 Ireland's most famous and successful singing duo, Foster & Allen, are returning to Ipswich. Mick Foster and Tony Allen first toured Australia in 1983 and this will be their 18th trip 'Down Under'. These charismatic singers have been performing their unique blend of easy listening and folk music for over 30 years. Their popularity is proven with sell-out concerts and ever-increasing record sales. Between them, Foster & Allen have sold 18 million records, making them one of Ireland's biggest entertainment exports and putting them in the same league as U2, Enya, Boyzone and The Corrs. Their 23 albums have included the immensely popular The Rambles of Spring, A Bunch of Thyme, Maggie and After All These Years. After more than 30 years Foster & Allen's popularity continues to flourish and local fans should book tickets promptly as their concerts always sell well.

Guy Sebastian has earned a special place in Australian music history as the Australian male artist with the most number one singles. His recent single Battle Scars (featuring US rapper Lupe Fiasco) debuted at number one on the ARIA singles chart, where it remained for an amazing six consecutive weeks. Battle Scars also gave Guy his first American hit, peaking at number one on the Billboard R&B/Hip-Hop Digital Song Chart. Make sure you get along to Guy Sebastian's Ipswich concert. This is a show you don't want to miss! VIP Presale (password required) - Monday 11 February @ 2:00pm - Tuesday 12 February @ 5:00pm. An email has been sent to past patrons with password to access the presale. General Public On Sale - Wednesday 13 February @ 9:00am. Please note there is a Maximum of 30 Tickets per transaction.

Join Australian icon JOHN WILLIAMSON for a special concert performance showcasing new songs from his recently released album THE BIG RED as well as the hits and unofficial anthems that he is celebrated for. Firmly cemented in the nation's musical culture, John Williamson's impressive career spans more than forty years. John Williamson has survived and soared in the often cut-throat entertainment industry. His unofficial anthems, tributes to legends and unsung heroes and tender ballads have captured the spirit of the nation in song unlike any other. His honest and passionate songs are synonymous with the country that inspires him, and connect him with his countrymen regardless of age, sex or creed. Add to this his ability to deliver unforgettable live concert experiences that combine the perfect blend of humour, romance and campfire stories woven together by his music. You can understand why he is one of the most in-demand live performers in Australia. Along his journey he has been inducted into the prestigious ARIA Hall of Fame, secured three ARIA Awards, 24 Golden Guitars, MO Awards, APRA Awards, Platinum and Gold albums and over 4 million album sales to name just some of the recognition he has earnt. It all started when he penned that classic OLD MAN EMU back in 1970. From this 'silly' song (as he often refers to it) that went to #1 for five weeks, he has continued to create hits including TRUE BLUE, COOTAMUNDRA WATTLE, RIP RIP WOODCHIP, RAINING ON THE ROCK, WINTER GREEN, SALISBURY STREET, GALLERIES OF PINK GALAHS and HAWKESBURY RIVER LOVIN' to name but a few of the 400+ songs written by the multi-award winning songwriter. His resume and catalogue would make any songwriter envious; not bad for a kid from Quambatook in Victoria's Mallee country. You can call him what you want, Mallee Boy, True Blue or just plain Fair Dinkum; but there is no denying that after more than forty years in the music industry, John Williamson is truly an Australian icon. ADULT $49.00 CONCESSION $47.00 GROUP 8+ $47.00 SCHOOL AGE CHILD $30.00

This faithful tribute opens with a blistering set by Australian performer Jon O. Nicholson of the hits of Roy Orbison, including heartbroken ballads and bluesy rockers like Only The Lonely, Running Scared, Crying, Mean Woman Blues, Pretty Woman and many others. Staring 26-year-old Scott Cameron as Buddy Holly, the second set pays homage to the musical icon, with fabulous hit songs like That?ll Be the Day, Peggy Sue, Oh Boy, Maybe Baby, and Rave On! Proving that demand for rock and roll is very much alive, be prepared to scream and shout with over two hours of non-stop hits spanning three incredible decades of chart-topping hits. Adults $65.00 Concession/Student $59.00 Group 8+ $59.00

Join us for an evening of taste sensations! Experience wines from the South Australian Clare Valley region, from the family owned Taylors Estate, matched with a delicious 5 course tapas menu. Ticket includes a glass of champagne upon arrival, wine tasting, five course tapas menu and entertainment. $50 per person.

Dependable: Papercuts by Pamela See depicts a world that is in conflict, and conflicted, over oil. See how the artist presents the 'black gold' conundrum through exquisite Chinese papercuts portraying oil as both an aid and a threat to our modern-day existence. Discover cleverly hidden scenes and narratives in Pamela See's intricate series of works inspired by events overseas and at home including the 2009 oil spill in Moreton Bay. Fusing traditional and contemporary art, Dependable: Papercuts by Pamela See is a thought-provoking journey exploring the costs and benefits of oil and the point where justification of its use begins and ends. Pamela See has exhibited both in China and Australia and her artworks are held in collections across the country including The National Gallery of Australia and The Art Gallery of South Australia. Image courtesy of the artist and Andrew Baker Art Dealer.