Looking for activities and events at the Sandgate Town Hall? You’ve found the right place. Below are up to date stories to help Sandgate locals and visitors find things to do at the Sandgate Town Hall.
Address: Cliff and Burnett Street, Sandgate
Sandgate Town Hall Events in December 2024
Festive Fun with a Folk Twist
Local musician Grace Spinks is getting into the spirit of the season, hosting a brand-new event for the 4017 called Festive Folk, Carols and Christmas Craft.
It’s the perfect get-together at the Sandgate Town Hall for friends and family and will feature three hours of beautiful folk music and crafty fun.
“I wanted to create an event that celebrated an Australian Christmas,” Grace said.
“I feel like all our songs and celebrations are about a white Christmas, or that traditional North American Christmas, which obviously we don’t have – folk music really suits a warm Australian Christmas.”
The festive event will feature live performances from Grace, Kelsey Berrington and Brook St, who are a husband-and-wife duo from the Sunshine Coast.
“I saw all of them perform at the Woodford Folk Festival last year,” Grace said.
“The Sandgate Town Hall is such an amazing venue, it’s so beautiful. Hopefully, this could become an annual event and we will start some new Christmas traditions in Sandgate.”
The craft aspect of the event will be self-led, with all the materials supplied, with afternoon available to purchase.
“We will be making orange garlands using dried fruit and it’s all local, upcycled, natural materials,” Grace said.
“People can come with their friends or family and sit at a table – all the materials will be there, with some inspirational photos, but it’s going to be independent crafting.
“There’s something for everyone. People who like to craft will be doing that and people who are there for the music can sit back and enjoy that as well.”
Grace, 20, has just finished a bachelor’s degree in Popular Music (singing) at the Queensland Conservatorium of Music. She is taking part in the Woodford Songwriters program and has also just released new music.
“This will be a fun event to really get into the Christmas spirit,” she said.
“I just love the feel of folk music, there’s an energy there and there’s no barrier to connecting with it.”
For more information, or to secure tickets, go to www.gracespinks.com or search Humanitix for Festive Folk, Carols and Christmas Craft.
Tickets are $23 for adults and $18 for concession.
Festive Folk, Carols and Christmas Craft
- Saturday, 21 December, 12.30pm-3.30pm
- Sandgate Town Hall
- Cnr Cliff and Seymour Streets, Sandgate
Ernest Aines Brings Unique Folk Sound to Sandgate
Award-winning singer-songwriter Ernest Aines is set to enchant music lovers in Sandgate this month.
Armed with just his guitar and a stomp box, Ernest will showcase his intricate fingerstyle guitar work, indie-folk vibes and ethereal vocals at the Sandgate Town Hall on 4 December.
Following a string of sold-out shows in the UK, Ernest said he was now looking forward to bringing his unique style to Sandgate.
“I think it’ll be a lovely evening,” Ernest said. “From what I’ve heard, the people of Sandgate are big music enthusiasts. Can’t wait to see such a beautiful venue in person.
“Audiences can expect an eclectic mix of genres, including country, Celtic, 80s dream ballads and a bit of stripped-back singer/songwriter material.
“I’ve even got a couple of upcoming singles up my sleeve where I break out the electric.
“I’m a bit of a fingerpicker and create elaborate tunings that create their own harmonies.”
This year has been particularly significant for Ernest, who was nominated for the 2024 Australian Folk Artist of the Year and Music Victoria’s ‘Best Folk Work’ for his debut album Spiral Bound, which amassed more than 340,000 streams in its first year. He has also received multiple awards for his songwriting over the years.
Once a busker on the streets of Melbourne, Ernest has since graced the stages of major Australian folk festivals, including the Woodford Folk Festival, the Blue Mountains Festival and the National Folk Festival in Canberra. He also played at the Cambridge Folk Festival in the UK, where he was on the same bill as Robert Plant.
His tour through England and Ireland received standing ovations.
“Having a standing ovation in the home of The Beatles was an incredible feeling,” Ernest said. “If they’ve been raised on the best and they were still impressed, that’s a great achievement indeed.”
However, Ernest said the highlight of his musical journey so far was “being gently assaulted by a living legend in Tom Paxton” (Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award-winning American folk singer-songwriter).
“He grabbed me and shook me while staring intensely into my eyes exclaiming, ‘Keep doing this,’ after my showcase performance at the Folk Alliance International in Kansas City,” he said.
Looking ahead, Ernest will continue his international tour in 2025, with a performance planned for Glasgow in January as part of the Celtic Connections festival.
Tickets for the Sandgate concert start at $33. Get your ticket here.
Ernest Aines
- Wednesday, 4 December, 7.30pm-8.50pm (doors 7pm)
- Sandgate Town Hall
- Cliff and Seymour Street, Sandgate
Sandgate Town Hall Events in November 2024
Sandgate Theatre Turns on Gaslight in New Show
Prepare for an evening of suspense and drama as Sandgate Theatre Inc presents its latest production.
Gaslight by Patrick Hamilton, the chilling tale of a woman whose sanity is eroded by her husband’s manipulations, opens at Sandgate Town Hall this month.
Director and Sandgate Theatre Inc vice president, Catherine Radbourne, said Gaslight was chosen for its excellent narrative and smaller cast.
“I think the themes of the play are relevant to today’s audience even though it’s set in the 1880s in London, England,” Catherine said. “We are blessed with a great cast and I’m looking forward to bringing this play to our audiences.”
Gaslight explores the dangerous undercurrents of marriage marked by deceit. The plot thickens as a former police detective enters the scene, raising questions about the flickering lights that plague Mrs Bella Manningham.
The cast features Shannon Bea as Mrs Manningham, Ewan Orton as Mr Manningham, and Gareth Macready as former detective Rough.
“Shannon is able to show the strength and intelligence of the character, but also brings the fragility of the troubled mind to Mrs Manningham,” Catherine said.
“Mr Manningham is a fairly complex character with a dark past and Ewan is finding those elements bring more richness to the character.
“Gareth is playing Rough as the warm and empathetic person that Mrs Manningham is so greatly in need of in her life.”
Completing the cast are Carmen Heath as Elizabeth the housekeeper and Alannah Sadler as housemaid Nancy. Costumes have been created by Jacklyn Radbourne, with set design and sound by Gordon Heath and lighting by David Scheiwe.
Catherine said they had handled Gaslight’s heavy subject matter (coercive control) with as much honesty and sensitivity as possible.
“The play is where the term ‘gaslighting’ comes from, so we felt it would be a little educative as well for our audiences, helping them understand how easy it may be for someone to fall victim to this type of abuse,” she said.
“While the times now are different from when the play is set, perhaps it might give others courage to help those they love, get out of a dangerous relationship or recognise behaviours that may not be healthy and get help.”
She said the actors had also been encouraged to voice any concerns during rehearsals.
Performances will be seated rows instead of tables. Audiences are welcome to bring food and drink.
Those affected by the themes explored in Gaslight can find support by contacting Beyond Blue (1300 22 4636), Lifeline (13 11 14), DV Connection (1800 737 732) and MensLine (1300 78 99 78).
Gaslight
- Friday, 1 November – Saturday 16 November, 7.30pm
- Sandgate Town Hall
- Seymour Street, Sandgate
Sandgate Town Hall Events in October 2024
Robbie Crosses Off Bucket List with Original Music Concert
For more than 50 years, musician Robbie McGowan has captivated audiences across Australia, working with some of the biggest names in the music industry.
This month, he brings his band of top-class musicians to Sandgate Town Hall for ‘Rob Robbie McGowan’s Bucket List Concert’, a showcase of his original material crafted over the last 30 years.
Robbie said he had long wanted to present a concert of his own work and that this performance would also include songs that had shaped him as a musician.
“You can expect to hear my own arrangements of some classics from the 60s, 70s and 80s, along with some inspirational originals that I have played for many audiences over the years and know that they are always well-received,” Robbie said.
Musical Career Highlights and Inspirations
Robbie’s extensive career began at age 16 when he joined his father’s five-piece band, Hi-Way 1. This early experience allowed him to learn the organ and travel across Western Australia, the Northern Territory and Queensland.
“After three years on the road, we arrived in Brisbane, where I put down my roots,” he said. “I played the club scene for a long while, then in 1979, along with two other musos and a manager, we formed the band Witzend.”
Witzend played backup for iconic Australian singers like Normie Rowe, Jade Hurley and Allison Durbin, as well as international acts like The Drifters and The Stylistics.
Following his time with Witzend, Robbie worked as a fill-in guitarist and recorded more than 80 jingles. In the late 90s, he also worked as a stand-up comedian.
The early 2000s presented Robbie with the chance to perform as a warm-up act for notable bands like Herman’s Hermits, The Drifters, The Platters and The Animals. This experience, he said, inspired the creation of ‘that60sguy’.
“It was during this period that I witnessed the impact the 60s songs were having on audiences some 40 years later,” he said. “That’s when the idea for ‘that60sguy’ was born. I wanted to create a character rather than try to copy any band or singer from that era. This meant I could perform any music from the 60s and present the songs themselves as the stars of the show.”
See Robbie as the star of the show by scanning the QR code, booking online or contacting Karen on 0435 783 751.
Rob Robbie McGowan’s Bucket List Concert
- Saturday, 19 October, 7pm-9.30pm
- Sandgate Town Hall
- Cliff and Seymour Street, Sandgate.
Sandgate Town Hall Events in August 2024
Sandgate Theatre Brings Back Café One Acts To Sandgate Town Hall
Story: Kelly Walker
Dates: Friday, 16 August – Sunday, 25 August, 7.30pm
Sunday, 18 August, 2pm
Sandgate Theatre is proud to present its Café One Acts once again. Showcasing actors, playwrights and directors from the 4017 area, greater Brisbane, the City of Moreton Bay and beyond, these shorter format plays make a wonderful induction to the world of community theatre.
Elizabeth Womack, Secretary of Sandgate Theatre Inc, said each Café One Acts performance would include a series of two longer one-act plays and three 10-minute plays.
“They are very compact, featuring foreshadowing and unexpected plot twists,” Elizabeth said.
“The plays will tell stories with themes ranging from love, commitment and friendship, to infidelity, manipulation and miscommunication.”
Opening the show is A Stab In The Art, directed by Brighton’s very own Christine Linning who has over 30 years of experience with Sandgate Theatre.
“It’s set in an art gallery, which is showing five very colourful paintings,” Elizabeth said. “Each piece of art is extremely important in the overall development of the plot.”
The next three plays in the lineup are each 10 minutes long.
“The first one, A Matter of Husbands, was written in 1923,” Elizabeth said. “The play involves two female characters who are listed as Famous Actress and Earnest Young Woman – can you guess what the play might be about?”
“The second 10-minute long performance is called Ashes to Ashes about two sisters having difficulty in resolving an issue. This one was writtenin 2022 by Yeppoon playwright, Jill Curran, who has absolutely mastered the art of writing one-act plays and has written over 20 of them!”
The last 10-minute play, Yesterday, is about a couple, now in their sixties, who meet up again after 41 years.
“This one includes snippets of music from 1923, including the Charleston,” Elizabeth said. “It also features music with Louis Armstrong playing in the first band he belonged to.”
Elizabeth explained that the final play of the collection is a longer one, lasting about 35 minutes.
“This one is called Box and Cox and is directed by Chris Packman who has over 25 years of experience with the Sandgate Theatre,” she said. “It’s a farce that was first performed in 1847!
“Café One Acts represents exceptionally good value for money. The show is family-friendly and guests are able to bring their own drinks and nibbles for a fun night out.”
Tickets are $15 for adults and $10 for concession. To book, go to the Try Booking website.
Multitude Choir 20th Anniversary Concert
Date: Saturday, 31 August
A celebration of song and community is coming to Sandgate at the end of August, with the Multitude Choir performing a special concert to mark their 20th anniversary.
Established in Redcliffe in 2004, Multitude Choir is a contemporary, community show choir, which sings a mix of rock, pop, jazz, Broadway, and gospel music.
Adele Moy has been part of the choir for 17 years and said she was looking forward to the anniversary concert.
“The concert will have a mix of all our songs and our styles, and we have some talented members who will be doing solos,” she said.
“We will have a couple of costume changes as well.
“We’re a contemporary choir, we sing all kinds of music – we’re currently performing songs by Adele, Coldplay and Jason Mraz. And we do songs from Broadway shows as well, things like Singing’ in the Rain and songs from Mary Poppins.”
New Voices Welcome
Adele added the Multitude Choir was for “anyone who wanted to sing”.
“We’re not a formal choir by any means, we are a non-audition choir, and we currently have around 40 to 45 members,” she said.
“There’s no restriction on joining, and in fact, we’re always looking for male singers. It’s open to any age, I would say from ages 15 and 16 upwards.
“I really love the sense of community; I love to go along every week and be with like-minded people. And there’s no requirement to read music, although of course some of our members do read music, but we learn by listening.”
The choir’s musical director is Dale Lingwood, who graduated from the Queensland Conservatorium with a Bachelor of Music majoring in jazz piano.
“We’re so lucky to have Dale, he actually plays the piano at QPAC, so it’s amazing to have someone like him as our musical director,” Adele said.
Tickets for the anniversary concert go on sale on 16 June, priced at $25 for adults, $15 for children aged 12 to 15, and under 12 are free. To book, go to Try Booking.
For more information, or to join the choir, go to the Multitude Choir website.
Sandgate Town Hall Events in July 2024
Get Ready for a Bonza Night of Music
Date: Saturday 13 July, 7pm
Fourth Best Band are whipping up a ripper of a time for their latest show, Aussie Icons, and they’ve invited some special guests.
Presented by local non-profit organisation Four57 Incorporated, the concert will see Fourth Best Band playing all things Australian rock, from true blue classic hits to more recent tunes.
Fourth Best Band’s bass player, Chris Ferguson, said it was easy to choose Australian icons as the theme of this year’s concert.
“There are so many wonderful Aussie hit artists and songs to choose from and pair that with all the larrikins, sports stars and infamous Aussie characters and we have a theme for a cracking night of fun,” Chris said.
Guests are encouraged to dress in their best Aussie attire and support a great cause, with a portion of ticket sales donated to Support Act, an Australian charity that assists musicians in need.
Chris said the band would play a diverse set list for music lovers of all ages and tastes.
“There’s the usual suspects like Land Down Under, Holy Grail and It’s A Long Way to the Top, then there’s songs from more modern artists like Regurgitator and Empire of the Sun,” he said.
Heatstroke Will Be The Support Act
Local alternative punk rock band Heatstroke will showcase their talents by opening the night. The band features drummer and singer Xavier Southby, 16, bass player Jack McLaughlin, 17 and lead singer and guitarist Zen Sutton, 16.
Zen said performing at the Sandgate Town Hall would give them experience playing in proper concert venues.
“We’ve been to so many school concerts at the Sandgate Town Hall and have always just admired the beauty of the place and the energy it gives off and we’ve always wanted to be able to showcase the music that we make in a space like this,” Zen said.
Xavier agreed that it was a great opportunity to perform at the hall.
“It’ll help showcase our music to a different demographic and give us experience playing in bigger venues,” Xavier said.
Jack added that it would help show off Heatstroke’s style of music to a larger audience.
“From our many adventures and amazing performances at venues, we thought that we could add this to our amazing list of venues,” Jack said.
Tickets for Heatstroke’s performance from 6pm to 6.45pm are available for just $5, while those wanting to catch the full concert can grab a ticket for $25.
