Australian National Botanic Gardens
Growing, studying and promoting Australian plants

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GPO Box 1777
Canberra ACT 2601
AUSTRALIA

Telephone (02) 62509450
Facsimile (02) 62509599
Media enquiries: Cheryl Martin 6250 9546

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NEWS RELEASE

2 January 2003

2003 Summer Concert Series at the Gardens

It’s on again! The Australian National Botanic Gardens, together with the Friends of the Gardens, presents the 2003 Summer Concert Series.

Concerts will be held every Saturday and Sunday evening from 4 January until 16 February from 6:00 to 7:30 pm. The Saturday night "Twilight Jazz" concerts will be held on the Eucalypt Lawn and "Sunday Serenade" concerts on the café lawns in front of Hudsons Café. Entry to the concerts is by gold coin donation to the Friends of the Gardens. Wine can be purchased from the Friends of the Gardens at the venue.

‘The concerts have been jointly presented by the Friends of the Gardens and the Garden’s staff and management for the past 6 years, and have become a popular way for locals and visitors to enjoy the beauty of the Gardens in the summer months’ ANBG Director, Mr Robin Nielsen said. ‘We are anticipating that this year’s program will be as popular again".

The concerts are a perfect night out for the whole family, with activities for the children and the chance to enjoy the surroundings of Australia’s largest collection of native plants, while being entertained by some of Canberra’s finest musicians.

The Gardens has extended its opening hours during summer, from 9:00 am until 8:00 pm daily. Visitors are invited to walk through the many popular features including the Rainforest Gully, the Rock Garden, the Tasmanian Garden and the fascinating Display Glasshouse. Free guided walks depart from the Visitor Centre at 10:00 am, 11:00 am and 2:00 pm daily.

During summer, special Wednesday evening ‘Twilight Walks’ will be conducted by the Volunteer Guides of the Gardens, departing from the Visitor Centre at 6:00 pm and concluding at 7:00 pm. Bookings are recommended and can be made by calling the Visitor Centre on 6250 9546.

The Australian National Botanic Gardens is located at the base of Black Mountain on Clunies Ross Street, Acton. Further information on the concerts and the Gardens is available on-line at www.anbg.gov.au/anbg or by calling the Visitor Centre on 6250 9540.

This Weekend at the Gardens!

Saturday 4 January – "Annie and the Armidillos" on the Eucalypt Lawn

Annie and the Armadillos are one of Canberra’s best exponents of Rhythm and Blues Groove and modern dance music and will be performing all time favourites from various R & B legends. The contagious and energetic performance of Annie and the Armadillos will have young and old grooving and moving under the eucalypts.

Members of the Band include:

Annette Sloan – Lead vocal and costume changes
Ryan Malcolm – Guitar
John Coates – Bass
Jonathon Jones – Drums/percussion and regular ring-ins
Wayne Kelly – Piano/keyboards
Dave Brown – Saxophone
Mike Mamantof - guitar

Sunday 5 January – "Earthly Delights" on the Café Lawn

Earthly Delights is one of Australia's most inventive and interactive folk/world music bands- and one with enormous cross-generational appeal. Since being founded in 1995 the Canberra-based band has become well-known for being able to entertain people of all ages with both fine music and fun dancing. The musicians are not only accomplished at playing dance tunes from many different European traditions, but also at crossing traditional boundaries, mixing medieval and other instruments and blending Anglo-Celtic, Central European and other musical styles to produce exhilarating new music. Their usual high standard of music and entertainment is sure to be a delight to all who attend the Sunday evening concert.

Members of the Band include:

John Garden – lute-back hurdy gurdy, border bagpipes and wooden flute
Ian Blake – soprano saxophone, border pipes and recorders
Laszlo Lakk – transylvanian viola, Hungarian zither, guitar and cello
Johnathon Jones - west african djembe, latin american congas, middle eastern darabuka, celtic bodhran, and snare drum
Gillian Pratten – cello

Media Contact:

Cheryl Martin
Communications Officer
Australian National Botanic Gardens
Ph 6250 9546
Fx 6250 9528
Mb 0418 955 661

Email cheryl.martin@deh.gov.au

 

 


Updated 3 January, 2003 by Murray Fagg