SomethingToDo2

The ABC’s Big Diary website is kind of like the chatroulette of what’s on across Australia. Plug in your location and see what it tells you to do.

It hasn’t been going for long — the website still in Beta — but plenty of groups are taking advantage of its free listings to plug their events, from the Tasmania Skills Institute (take their environmentally-friendly Weed Busters course) to  the NSW Beef Spectacular in Dubbo.

Best of all, lots of things won’t cost you a dime. So what could you be doing that’s free tonight? Well …

The start of the SheppARTon Festival is on, with an opening ceremony featuring a concert by Orchestra Victoria with pianist Caroline Almonte. It kicks off 10 days of dance, theatre, literature, film and all things festive.

In Adelaide, where it’s all happening right now, from 11.30pm The Baker Suite is playing at the Famous Spiegeltent. Hear them here. According to the blurb, guitarist John Baker and accordionist Gayle Buckby conjure “a seductive and potent world full of compelling stories and lush instrumentation”. With Paul Grabowsky on piano, John Aue on double bass, BJ Barker on drums and Karen De Nardi on viola.

And, well, I’m not sticking to the script of things to do tonight, but tomorrow morning, The Cygnet Regatta begins — it’s the largest keel boat regatta in Tasmania. Compete or just rock up and watch the boats sail past.

In Albury, the Planet of the Arts exhibition finishes this Sunday. It’s an interactive exhibition of space art, kids crafts and intergalactic costumes. For those unimpressed by intergalactic costumes (really?), there’s an exhibition of early Bill Henson works also on at the Albury Art Gallery.

My point is, there’s lots happening out there. And here’s a good way to find it.