Here’s arts editor HELEN MUSA’s latest Arts in the City column.

Canberra crime writer Jack Heath returns with Choppy Water, a high-stakes thriller set aboard a luxury cruise ship in March 2020, as the world closes its borders and a killer is trapped among the passengers. Blending the tension of Death on the Nile with the pace of Die Hard, the novel explores fear, isolation and survival. Out November 3.

Kennie Simon celebrates 16 years as the lead singer of Hot Chocolate with 16 Years of Hits with Hot Chocolate, performing iconic songs including You Sexy Thing, Every 1’s a Winner and It Started with a Kiss. The B, Queanbeyan Performing Arts Centre, October 21.

As part of Canberra Art Biennial, April Phillips presents World Wide Webs, a solo exhibition developed with Alex Lundy. Using handprinted material at Megalo Print Studio, Phillips explores the nostalgia and visual landscapes of early digital spaces through the imaginative perspective of a femme spider. Print Studio, Kingston, until November 14.

Canberra Symphony Orchestra’s 2027 season, Other Worlds, features 16 programs travelling from Antarctica and fin de siècle Paris to the deep sea. Highlights include Vaughan Williams’ Sinfonia Antarctica, Dvořák’s New World Symphony, Mozart’s Symphony No. 40, Rachmaninoff’s Symphonic Dances, chamber music at the NGA, new Australian music at the National Museum, and big nights featuring Ben Folds, BABBA, Broadway and Joe Hisaishi’s Studio Ghibli scores.

Ian McLean’s 18-piece jazz orchestra The Blamey Street Big Band, and Canberra vocalists Jared Newall, Leisa Keen and Steve Amosa will perform songs from the classic Rat Pack era of Frank Sinatra, Dean Martin and Sammy Davis Jr, alongside newer interpretations by Michael Bublé, Harry Connick Jr and Robbie Williams. The B, October 24

The Ginninderra Wind Orchestra presents a free afternoon concert, Music from the Big Screen, featuring performances of beloved film soundtracks from Star Wars, James Bond, The Sound of Music, Rocky and Robin Hood. Lyneham Performing Arts Centre, October 24.

Oriana Chorale presents Aurora Sun, celebrating the mysterious beauty of the Aurora Borealis and Aurora Australis with music by Ēriks Ešenvalds, Veljo Tormis, Ola Gjeilo, Ben van Tienen and Sebastian Allen. The same program will be performed at two sessions, Larry Sitsky Recital Room, October 18.

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