CIRCUS Oz is coming back to town with its family show “Model Citizens”, two of the performers, Jake Silvestro and Lachlan Sukroo, grew up in Canberra and started their careers with Warehouse Circus, eventually forming Poncho Circus here before running away to join Circus Oz. Expect mesmerising aerialists, cheeky characters, daredevil acrobats, cigar box juggling, hula hooping and “backyard banter”. At Canberra Theatre, August 16-18. Bookings to canberratheatrecentre.com.au or 6275 2700.

“OPERA in a Nutshell: La Traviata” will see singers Sarahlouise Owens, Christopher Lincoln Bogg and Colin Milner, with Colleen Rae-Gerrard at the piano, performing all the “juicy bits” and “big hits” in telling the story of this most popular of Verdi’s operas. At Wesley Music Centre, 20 National Circuit, Forrest, 5pm, Saturday, August 18. Bookings to trybooking.com/VQSV or at the door.

ANU Musical Theatre Company, the former ANU Interhall Productions, is about to stage “Dogfight”, with music and lyrics by Benj Pasek and Justin Paul, the duo known for “La La Land” and “The Greatest Showman”. The show follows a bunch of marines through a last night of debauchery on the eve of their deployment to a conflict in Southeast Asia. At Belconnen Community Theatre, until August 16-25. Bookings to dogfight.getqpay.com

BRINDABELLA Orchestra will perform pieces by Coates, Tchaikovsky, Mascagni, Rossini, while solo guitarist David Wardle will be performing the first movement of Haydn’s Concerto for cello and orchestra, arranged for guitar and strings by Jovan Pesec. At North Belconnen Uniting Church, Conley Drive, Melba, 2pm, Sunday, August 19. Entry by donation includes a program and afternoon tea.

UK production “The Simon & Garfunkel Story”, with Philip Murray Warson as Paul Simon and Charles Blythe as Art Garfunkel, will take audiences through the stories of the famous duo, with songs like “Bridge over Troubled Waters” and “The Sound Of Silence”, performed with a full band. Llewellyn Hall, Sunday, August 19. Bookings to ticketmaster.com.au

THE Griffyn Ensemble has been in Tennant Creek working with Arrernte indigenous song writing legend Warren H. Williams to create some more stories and songs about the stars. Now new “astro-works” written by Williams and Griffyn, alongside a reworking of Griffyn’s “Southern Sky” will be performed in slightly less starry Canberra. “One Sky, Many Stories”, at Belconnen Arts Centre, 7pm, August 18. Bookings to griffyn.iwannaticket.com.au

GUITAR duo Slava and Leonard Grigoryan will be reprising a happy experience from 2016, when they were invited to perform a series of concerts with the Beijing Guitar Duo, Meng Su and Yameng Wang. The four guitarists will be performing at The Playhouse, Canberra Theatre Centre, 8pm, August 20. Bookings to canberratheatrecentre.com.au or 6275 2700.

AROUND 1600 young people and adults in 53 choirs from Canberra and interstate, will take part in this year’s choirs section of the Australian National Eisteddfod running from August 17-18 at Canberra Girls Grammar School Hall and Llewellyn Hall. The event will climax on the evening of Saturday, August 18, where six choirs will take part in the Open Australian Choral Challenge and Open Choral Group sections, with a first prize-bag of $5,500. Bookings to nationaleisteddfod.org.au

VIOLINIST Ray Chen will be here with French pianist Julien Quentin for Musica Viva, performing Beethoven, Grieg, Falla, Monti and a world premiere of “Dark Matter” by Matthew Hindson. He will also mentoring talented students in masterclasses. At Llewellyn Hall, 7pm, August 16. Bookings to musicaviva.com.au

“ONE Night Only” is a celebration of the music of the Bee Gees and boasts at least one star from years gone by. This concert will highlight bass player Neil Rhodes, who used to play for Gerry and the Pacemakers. Lanyon Vikings, 8pm Saturday, August 18. Bookings to vikings.com.au

THE Hayes Theatre production of the musical “Calamity Jane”, played by Virginia Gay, rolls into town this month. Musical highlights are “The Black Hills” and “Secret Love”. At Canberra Playhouse, August 15-19. Bookings to canberratheatrecentre.com.au or 6275 2700.

PHOENIX Pub in Civic has as follows: Piss Weak Karaoke, 9pm, Thursday, August 16, free entry; New Age Group, Perverts Again, Dog Name, Alien Abduction Fantasy, 9pm, Friday August 17; The Filthy Darlings, Dr Goddard, Like Foxes, Wesley and The Crushers, Dani Paryce & Matt Elford, Saturday, August 18.

“MOVING Climates” will see artists responding to the experiences of scientists, in the Ralph Wilson Theatre, Gorman Arts Centre, 55 Ainslie Avenue, Braddon, 6pm, August 17, 18 and 19. Bookings to eventbrite.com.au

JOSHUA Ryan, who was recently announced as the winner of the 2018 Sydney University Medal in Music, will perform a recital of Bach, Elgar, Harwood and Messiaen on the Wesley Uniting Church organ, 20 National Circuit, Forrest, 3pm, Sunday, August 19. Free entry, no booking required.

VETERAN Aussie blues-roots artist Geoff Achison will be at The National Press Club, 7pm, this Saturday, Thursday, August 16. Free entry.

FOUR Winds has Windsong series three coming up with Genevieve Lacey on the recorder, Jane Gower on bassoon and Lars Ulrik Mortensen playing the harpsichord. At Windsong Pavilion, Four Winds, Barragga Bay, 1pm-3pm, Sunday, August 19. Bookings to fourwinds.com.au