"Australia Up Late" Program During "Optimism"

'AUSTRALIA UP LATE' PROGRAM DURING 'OPTIMISM'

Image: Operator Please Live Australian music, comedy, talks and films will headline the 'Australia Up Late' series at the Gallery of Modern Art (GoMA) on Friday nights through January and February 2009.

'Australia Up Late' will be held at GoMA from 5.30pm until 10.30pm every Friday from January 2 to February 20, 2009 during the 'Contemporary Australia: Optimism' exhibition.

Tickets will be available for purchase from qtix (www.qtix.com.au) from November 15, 2008 for $20.

Queensland Art Gallery Director Tony Ellwood said the 'Australia Up Late' program would kick off with an energetic performance by young Gold Coast five-piece Operator Please, on a specially designed stage by Queensland's own m3architecture.

'In addition to live music performances, the program presents emerging and high profile Australian comedians addressing the theme of 'optimism' and 'Australia' including Josh Thomas (Brisbane), Sean Choolburra (Brisbane/Sydney), members of The Chaser (Sydney) and The Brides of Frank (Brisbane).

'The Gallery's Australian Cinmathque will screen series one and two of the iconic 'Kath and Kim' television show to complement comedian Jane Turner's inclusion in 'Contemporary Australia: Optimism', and 'Beat On: Australian Electronic Music', a selection of dynamic, award-winning music videos from Australia's contemporary electronic music scene.

'Since the inaugural Up Late program kicked off last summer during the Gallery's 'Andy Warhol' exhibition and continued during the recent 'Picasso & his collection' exhibition, the program has attracted over 35,000 visitors on Friday nights,' he said.

Queensland Art Gallery Deputy Director, Programming and Corporate Services, Andrew Clark said the 'Australia Up Late' program would continue to provide audiences with an alternative Gallery experience and the opportunity to view the major 'Contemporary Australia: Optimism' exhibition after dark.

'Each week from January 2, 2009, audiences will experience the wide range of musical and comedic talent the country has to offer, and every Friday evening will offer a different experience', Mr Clark said.

On Friday January 9, 'Australia Up Late' will focus on Australian hip hop with performances by local outfit Resin Dogs (Brisbane) and Sydney-based MC and producer Urthboy (Tim Levinson) one of Australia's leading exponents of hip hop.

David McCormack and special guests will present '1990 2008: A Retrospective from Brisbane to beyond' on Friday January 16, while musician Ed Kuepper will perform with The Laughing Clowns on Friday January 23.

Much-loved Brisbane singer Katie Noonan will take the stage on Friday, February 6 to perform a classic set of Paul McCartney and John Lennon songs and in the following weeks the program will also feature the John Steel Singers (Brisbane) and The Gin Club (Brisbane).

For more information on the program visit:
www.qag.qld.gov.au/optimism_uplate

Media Inquiries:
Amelia Gundelach
Media Coordinator
Queensland Art Gallery
Tel: 61 (0) 7 3840 7162
61 (0) 404 994 985
Fax: 61 (0) 7 3844 4827
E: [email protected]

SOURCE: Queensland Art Gallery