Puffio

Down at the Fringe office they're hoping 2008 is going to be a big one, now that the Fringe has become an annual event. It's worth noting that artist registrations are now open, and the Fringe office has officially put the call out for all artists to register to participate in what they're calling the largest Fringe Festival in the southern hemisphere. Get your ideas together, and get online to register, since you have until Fri 19 Oct to finalise your event at www.adelaidefringe.com.au

'Life's A Playground' is an exhibition of illustration by Sandra Gale and Colleen Peirce, and conveniently located and avaiaable for your perusal at Zuma Caffe in Gouger Street, adjacent the markets. "Bruised egos, grass stains, fumbling, sliding and kiss chasey. How different is the grown up world from schoolyard playground?' the artists ask. The illustration is of Sandra Gale's Flamingo Lady.

Puffio gets to kick this one around a little because it's much, much more than just a visual arts exhibition. Take a look at the lineup: ten visual artists, five dancers, two musicians and a cinematographer present a dynamic visual named 'FlŸgge', until Wed 15 Aug, and all at the NewJay Gallery in North Terrace, city. Man, if only they had face-painting for the kids and a couple of jugglers or firebreathers or something. 'FlŸgge' presents a fusion of dance and visual art by students and graduates from the South Australian School of Art and Adelaide Centre for the Arts.

Australian jazz singer Michelle Nicolle returns to her hometown of Adelaide to perform the annual evening jazz concert at the University of Adelaide, where her love of jazz music began. Thus, on Sat 11 Aug at 7.30pm in Elder Hall Nicolle will be performing some of Henry Mancini's most famous songs, including Moon River, Days Of Wine And Roses, and Charade, performing alongside a premier student jazz ensemble and the Elder Conservatorium Big Band, directed by Dusty Cox.

Another quick exhibition sneaks into the mix: 'Glory, Glory, Fifth Avenue' is an art exhibition by SA artist Bowen Ellames, showing at A Room Of Ones Own in Elizabeth St Croydon (Queen St precinct) from Sat 11 Aug.

Puffio sometimes cannot get a grasp on where people are coming from. Take Fri evening, for example, when the admittedly rather gloomy 'Everything's Fucked' was playing in The Space at the Festival Theatre. Surely the title might have suggested to some of the audience (a paltry few, it must be admitted, but there's a point to be made here) that the subject matter might be... shall we say... forward thinking. You might suggest a title like that is even risque. In any event, what possible reason could anyone have for getting a bit huffy at interval time and stomping off into the night? It's not like they weren't warned. Or perhaps the large signs around The Space which bore the hallmarks of a virulent infestation of "Achtung!! Minefield" proportion weren't overt enough. Sheesh.

The rather wondrous a cappella group The Idea Of North, who originated in these parts, are on their way back for a concert series, and if you've not seen them perform before you shouldn't hold back. Touring for Country Arts SA, this four piece jazz vocal ensemble tell jokes, they sing, and they have fun. They play at the Sir Robert Helpmann Theatre (Mount Gambier) on Tues 14, the Chaffey Theatre (Renmark) on Thurs 16, the Noarlunga College Theatre on Sat 18, the Keith Michell Theatre (Port Pirie) on Mon 20, the Middleback Theatre (Whyalla) on Tues 21, and the Nautilus Theatre (Port Lincoln) on Thurs 23 Aug.

"Learn to Knit with your plastic shopping bag or make a wallet from a soy milk container... and much more!!" They're not just cheap, they're committed. Or nutty. It's curious, it's weird, it's on at the Sunday Arts Market at the Festival Centre, where you can attend an inspiring eco-creative workshop and find out how to turn trash into treasure...

The Message Sticks Indigenous Film Festival is on a national tour, and will be at the Tandanya National Aboriginal Cultural Institute in Adelaide from Thurs 16 to Sat 18 Aug. A free event curated by Producer Darren Dale and award-winning director Rachel Perkins, the 'Message Sticks' Film Festival (which kicked off at the Sydney Opera House in May 2007) features the latest Indigenous films from Australia and around the world. It includes shorts, feature films and documentaries, thirteen of 'em in all.

Headquarters Studio is celebrating SALA with two exhibitions in its warehouse location on the Western fringe of the city in Richmond. Photographic artist Lisa Picciau is showing 'disarm', a series of new work; and there's also the first group exhibition by the artists at Headquarters. 'Silver Road To Storyland (red:eye adults)' is a showing of moving image work by this eclectic group of artists who all work as freelancers across the film, television, theatre, music, multimedia and photography industries. They are Kerri Hudson, Andy Marshall, Sam Oster, Felecia Hick, Ashlee Page, Jason Sweeney and Iain Dalrymple.