Find out what’s on in Perth and beyond, this July.

With the weather getting wetter and colder, it’s the perfect time to head indoors into Perth’s many wonderful theatres, auditoriums and galleries. Our July gig guide has plenty hot tips about where to keep warm!

Circus

Extravaganza
Presented by CAJ Entertainment
@ The Royale Theatre, 2 July

If you’ve caught any of CAJ Entertainment’s “Exhibit” programs you’ll know that the company is committed to providing space for circus artists to experiment, and to providing circus with an adult audience in mind, rather than the usual “family friendly” fare.

CAJ’s latest show, “Extravaganza” promises an array of acrobatics, magic feats and aerials by some of Perth’s most innovative circus makers. Taking place at The Royale Theatre, “Extravanganza” is an 18+ event – and if you purchase a VIP booth you’ll get a bottle (or two!) of bubbles.

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Choral music

Cloud Nine on tour
Presented by Giovanni Consort, 2-15 July

I had the pleasure of experiencing Giovanni Consort’s Cloud Nine at last year’s Awesome Festival.

This is no ordinary recital. Instead of sitting in an auditorium, audience members lie down, in near darkness, as members of the Consort move around their prone bodies. Immersing the listener in glorious harmonies, this program gives new meaning to the term “surround sound”. Whether you’re a choral aficionado or a newbie, it’s enchanting stuff.

Blending plainsong, polyphony, forest sounds of the night, didgeridoo, choral harmony and Latin liturgy, this program also comes highly recommended by Seesaw Mag’s Leon Levy – check out his review.

Cloud Nine tours to Bunbury, 2-4 July; Margaret River, 5-6 July; Beverley, 7-8 July; Esperance, 11-12 July; Gosnells, 15 July

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Film

Revelation Perth International Film Festival
@ Luna Cinemas Leederville, 7-17 July
and online 18-24 July

The Revelation Perth International Film Festival is celebrating its 25th anniversary this year, with another curated program celebrating independent film-makers and boundary-pushing storytellers.

Rev, as it is fondly known, features films from around the globe, but that doesn’t mean they’re overlooking our own backyard. I love the sound of Bassendream, for its setting in 1990’s Perth suburbia on the last day of the summer school holidays – I’m a sucker for teen nostalgia and this shoe-string budget film promises to bring it.

If you want more local film, check out Rev’s Westralia Day, on Saturday 9 July at The Backlot, for a celebration of locally-produced short films and long form content.

BREC International Film Festival
@ Bunbury Regional Entertainment Centre, 6-24 July

Perth isn’t the only city in WA celebrating film this month – if you’re a film-buff in the South-West then Bunbury Regional Entertainment Centre (BREC) International Film Festival has you covered.

With films from Australia, Iran, Denmark, Finland, France, Hungary, Japan, New Zealand and the USA, the festival promises road trips, rail journeys, opera, dance, love, war, thrills, drama, family connections and extraordinary contemporary cinematography.

This year includes a new addition to the program: Classic Film Wednesdays, and French Film Friday will take place 22 July.

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Dance

In Crimson by Natalie Allen and HotHouse Company
@ All Saints College, 12-16 July

West Australian dancer Natalie Allen has had a stellar career so far, performing and collaborating with some of Australia’s most prestigious dance companies, including Sydney Dance Company and Australian Dance Theatre, as well as with globally renowned UK dance theatre company Punchdrunk International.

So it’s exciting to watch her stretch her wings as a creator right here in Perth. Her new work In Crimson is inspired by Edgar Allen Poe 1842 tale, The Masque of the Red Death. Plague themes are so hot right now, but I’m also interested to see how Allen has developed this work, which began life as Stained in Crimson for LINK Dance Company in 2020.

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Classical music

An Afternoon in Paris
Presented by Australian Baroque
@ Government House Ballroom, 17 July

Australian Baroque is known for programs that pair Baroque music with food and beverages, in programs such as “Bach and Beer”, “Coffee Cantata” and “Cakes and Corelli”.

Now they’re taking a French turn at Government House Ballroom, bringing you petit fours, sparkling wine and Teleman’s Paris Quartets for flute, violin, cello and harpsichord.

Sounds like a treat for the ears and the taste buds.

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Contemporary music

31 July: The Hoopla Sessions
Presented by FolkWorld.Inc.
@ Freo.Social

It’s Fairbridge, but not as you know it… because it’s in Fremantle.

Folkword Inc, the team that presents the much-loved Fairbridge Festival, is bringing a new series of triple-bill concerts to Freo.Social, featuring some stellar much-loved and up-and-coming local musicians and bands.

The middle of the three is taking place 31 July, and features The Liquid Project, a neo-soul/disco nine-piece big band (all WAAPA grads) with rotating vocalists and a three-piece horn section. Their aim? To win over your hearts, minds and dancing shoes.

Joining them is Grand Remedy, who combine traditional Irish tunes with improvisation and medleys, and indie rock/folk outfit Claudie Joy & The Joy Boys.

Note that the first concert takes place 26 June, so depending when you read this you might still catch it, and the third is 28 August – head to fairbridgefestival.com.au/hoopla_sessions to check out those line ups.

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Pictured top is The Liquid Project, who will be playing at The Hoopla Sessions.

What to SEE: Winter holidays kids’ gig guide