What’s happening where… it’s all in HELEN MUSA’s weekly “Arts in the City” column.

THE seventh annual “Burlesque Idol” returns for one night only on International Women’s Day. Billed as “the ultimate tournament of tease”, judges are all burlesque identities – Sharyne Jewel, Alyssa Kitt, and Canberra’s Jazida with emcee Betty Bang Bang. At the Harmonie German Club, Narrabundah, Sunday, March 8. Book at eventbrite.com.au

IF you wondered whatever happened to Sculpture in the Paddock, last seen in 2018 at Shaw Vineyard Estate, there’s a new outdoor sculpture prize with a prize pool of $25,000, presented by Shaw Wines in Murrumbateman in partnership with Belconnen Arts Centre in September. Sculpture@Shaw is now open for artist entries at sculptureatshaw.com.au

THE Canberra Symphony will kick off for 2020 with “Llewellyn One: Organ Symphony”, with guest organist Joseph Nolan performing the title work by Saint-Saëns. As well, the CSO will perform Beethoven’s “Egmont Overture” and Natalie Williams’s work “XPT”, while the orchestra’s percussion section will perform Carl Vine’s “Percussion Symphony”. Llewellyn Hall, 7.30pm March 18-19, pre-concert talk 6.45pm. Book at cso.org.au

MEANTIME, news is to hand that the CSO’s featured artist for last year, saxophonist Nick Russoniello, was performing on the Diamond Princess when the cruise ship was quarantined for two weeks. His concerts, including Gerringong Music Club’s first one for the year, have been cancelled because while now back in Australia, he’ll still be in quarantine.

FIERY contemporary Irish singer-songwriter Eleanor McEvoy will be back here presenting songs from her new album, ”Forgotten”, recently recorded in London. The entire side of the album, 20 minutes of music, was recorded non-stop without any mistakes, noises, string breakages or technical issues. Tuggeranong Arts Centre, support act 7pm, McEvoy from 8pm, Thursday March 19, book at tuggeranongarts.com

UK PRANKSTER, scammer, author and comedian, James Veitch, will be in town for the Canberra Comedy Festival with his new show, “Tentative”, billed as “nerdy, creative and cheeky”. Street One at The Street, 8.30pm, March 19, book at thestreet.org.au

FELLOW Brit, Mark Watson, will also be here for the Comedy Festival, performing a much-needed audit of his time on earth in “This Can’t Be It”. At The Hilarium, Festival Square, 8.30pm, March 19. Book at canberracomedyfestival.com.au