TO mark the 60th Eurovision Song Contest, and Australia’s new role as competitor in the event, Shortis and Simpson plan to take a roller coaster ride through six decades of European history, complete with glitter, over-enthusiastic dance moves, and corny songs.

FOUR shows only. Teatro Vivaldi, ANU campus Thurs/Fri/Sat May 14/15/16, 7pm (3 course dinner and show) $70/$80/$90(depending on seating) Show only $30/$40/$50, 8.30pm Matinee Sat May 16, 2.30pm (afternoon tea and show) $40/$50/$60 (no show only) bookings to 62572718.

THE VanuARTu art auction today, May 14, is set to raise $10,000 to help rebuild Vanuatu after the devastation caused by Cyclone Pam. works from more than 30 artists, including paintings, etchings, photography, sculpture and jewellery will be up for sale at Tuggeranong Arts Centre on the lake shore will host drinks and entertainment by Canberra’s newest jazz outfit LuLu Swing and a preview of the art works from 5pm.The auction, which is being run by LJ Hooker’s top auctioneer Dan Cooper, will commence at 6pm. 100% of proceeds from the sales will be forwarded directly to Care Australia (no administration fees or commission will be taken by TAC).

THE winner of 18 Grammy Awards, The Legendary Count Basie Orchestra has provided the supremely distinctive sound and swing behind some of the greatest singers of the modern age. Current members include a solid core of musicians hired by Basie, including saxophonist John Williams, bassist James Leary and singer Carmen Bradford, as well as former members of Glenn Miller, Benny Goodman and Lionel Hampton’s ensembles. May 17, at The Canberra Theatre, bookings to canberratheatrecentre.com.au or 6275 2700.

IF you’re feeling a bit on the chilly side you could visit The Q and pick up handmade socks, scarves, beanies, wraps and much more as the talented members of the Canberra Spinners & Weavers present their Annual Exhibition and Sale, “Warped & Twisted”. Be quick, it all wraps up at 2pm this Saturday 16 May.

COME to the Drill Hall Gallery to experience Anthony McCall’s seminal expanded cinema work ‘Line Describing a Cone’ (1973). Beginning with a single point of light, McCall’s ‘film’ takes a line for a walk to emphasize the sculptural quality of light. Gradually, a single point becomes an arc, the light source developing into a 3 dimensional cone in which the viewer is encouraged to participate. Presented in association with CEMENTA festival and Kandos. This Saturday 16 May 2015 • 5pm • free event.

LAST Day of sales is this Friday 15 May, until 6pm at the Craft ACT Shop with its 20% off everything sale before moving to new premises in Braddon’s Ori Building on Lonsdale Street. Craft ACT: Craft & Design Centre, Level 1 North Building, 180 London Circuit, Canberra.

THIS Friday 15 May at 7pm in the NFSA is showing “Rangle River” (1936, G). A rarely seen treat from the early days of Australian talkies, it’s an Australian ‘western’ that tells the story of a fierce rivalry between two neighbouring Queensland cattle stations.

THE Australian Chamber Orchestra has ‘Mostly Mendelssohn’ in Llewellyn Hall this Saturday 16 May, 8pm. MENDELSSOHN String Symphony No.9 BOTTESINI Gran Duo Concertante for Double Bass and Violin WOLF Italian Serenade MENDELSSOHN (arr. Tognetti) Violin Concerto in E minor Stefan Jackiw Violin Satu Vänskä Lead Violin Maxime Bibeau Double Bass. Bookings to aco.com.au

PHOTOAccess presents ‘Second Contact Port Moresby’ by Sean Davey, in the Huw Davies Gallery Manuka Arts Centre,  until  24 May.

JAKTMAN fine art gallery a powerful exhibit of aboriginal art from Ernabella Art Centre opening at the Front Gallery in Wattle St Lyneham from today (14-May) until 25-May.

TEMPO Theatre is presenting Agatha Christie’s classic whodunit, Spider’s Web at Belconnen Theatre from the 15th through to the 23rd of May. Clarissa is adept at spinning tales of adventure for the entertainment of her bored house guests, but when a murder takes place in her own drawing room, she finds live drama much harder to cope with, especially as she suspects she knows the murderer. Who is the body in the drawing room? How were they murdered? How can it all be solved before her husband gets home with his VIP guests? Tickets at 6275 2700 or on line at canberraticketing.com.au.

AUDIENCES may remember Colin Hay accepting a Grammy award in 1983 as the lead singer, guitarist and principle songwriter of Men At Work OR seen and heard him play “Overkill” on Scrubs or listened to his 11 solo albums. Colin Hay’s live performance is billed as ‘an astonishing, powerful journey’ AT the Playhouse/Canberra Theatre Thursday May 14 at 8pm. Bookings to canberratheatrecentre.com.au or 6275 2700.

THIS Sunday 17 May at 1:30 with two talented women, Rita Woolhouse and Diana Weston of ‘Thorough bass’, are performing ‘What my Mother Told Me’ at the High Court. Free, but Booking is necessary for entry but does not guarantee seating. Bookings to hcourt.gov.au

TO celebrate their Welcome to Australia appointment, Thundamentals a special edition ‘Got Love’ band shirt, with 100% of proceeds going to The Asylum Seeker Centre. It’s hoped that the sales might, in some small way, contribute to the Not for Profit’s mission “to provide a welcoming environment and practical support for community-based asylum seekers, while building community support and pursuing social justice outcomes for them.” Friday 15th MAY At UC REFECTORY 18+ Tickets from oztix.com.au and on campus at SHOP UC.

IAN Moss is heading to Canberra for a show at the Street Theatre on May 16. Moss is respected as one of Australia’s iconic musicians – he is a 5 time ARIA Award winner and has an array of chart hits of which he will be performing on the tour. Bookings to the street.org.au or 6247 1223.

MARILYN Hutchinson has a solo exhibition at the Belconnen Arts Centre, opening this Saturday 16 May at 2pm and welcome all to help celebrate.

SALUT! Baroque presents “The Quartet” Friday 15 May 7.30pm, Albert Hall, Commonwealth Avenue Telemann, Handel and CPE, all ex-lawyers, understood the value of self-promotion and used it to their advantage. Salut! Will show you. Tickets at the door

DIRECT from Vegas as they say, Tom Stevens as Dean Martin is so close to the real thing that even Dean Martin’s daughter Deanna has said she has “never seen anyone look or sound as close to daddy”. Tony Lewis as Jerry Lewis is from Melbourne and the comic legend Jerry Lewis himself saw the show and loved it. It’s the 70th anniversary of this legendary duo. 16 May show at Southern Cross Club. Bookings to 6283 7200

‘SEA Stories’: Etchings and mixed media collages by Deborah Perrow and ‘Second Nature’: Paintings and drawings by Jane Ellis will be opened by John Pratt at 11:30am Saturday, 16 May at Strathnairn’s Galleries 1 and 2, 90 Stockdill Drive, Holt. Shows run to June 7.

ON Sunday 17 May ‘Squares 2015’ art exhibition opens in the Woolshed at Strathnairn, 90 Stockdill Drive, and Holt with prize winners to be announced on Sunday 14 June. It’s Strathnairn’s Open Day and studios will be open to the public, displaying works, providing hands-on making opportunities with some studio holders offering works for sale. Squares will be officially opened by David Maxwell, Director of the Riverview Group at 2pm.

LLEWELLYN McGarry’s exhibition ‘Familiar impurities’ opens at CCAS, Furneaux Street Manuka today, 14 May, at 6pm. All welcome.

FORM Studio and Gallery 1/30 Aurora Avenue, Queanbeyan invites everyone to attend the opening of FOREST SUBJECTIVE by Kerry Johns and MEMORY MAPPING by Claire Primrose, two exhibitions of landscape inspired paintings and mixed media running to May 31. Opening this Friday May 15 6pm by GW Bot.

AN exhibition of new sculptures and works on paper by Canberra-based emerging artists Alex Lewis and Jemima Parker, Almost Familiar explores abstract forms which are simultaneously otherworldly and familiar, and continues the artists’ distinct yet aligned investigations of objects and space in relation to the body. At ANCA Gallery, 1 Rosevear Place Dickson, 12-5pm Wednesday to Sunday until May 31.