15 Love Jazz? The free Jazz Jam at The Duke is for you. All players, no matter what age or level, can play at a gig with experienced musicians. BYO instruments. Third Tuesday of each month from 7.30pm.

16 Experience the beauty of takayna/the Tarkine at takayna – a journey. At The Long Gallery, Salamanca Arts Centre until June 26.  

17  Head to the RACV hotel for the launch of My Forests – a new book by Janine Burke, who takes readers from spectacular West Papuan tree houses to Tasmania’s Tyenna Valley, exploring the connections between trees and civilisations over time. 

18 Party on at Dark Homo, the fourth iteration of the fun and sexy after-dark event at O bar from 9pm until 5am. Strictly 18+. More info on eventbrite. 

18+19 Can a bunch of clever kids work together to uncover and outsmart a thief? Find out when you take the kids to see Emil and the Detectives at the Theatre Royal. 

19 Enjoy a feel-good four-course degustation banquet with premium Tassie produce at Variety Tasmania’s Variety of Chefs Gala Evening fundraiser at Wrest Point Entertainment Centre tonight

20 Today is World Refugee Day and the start of Refugee Week – raising awareness about the issues affecting refugees and celebrating the many positive contributions refugees make to Australian society.  

20 The fifth Bottletops – a day of wine, food and music – will be hosted by Tom McHugos & Friends today from 1-5pm. Sample wine, beer and spirits tastings from over 200 small producers, plus snacks. 

21 Grab your dancing shoes and head along to Dance Folk Tasmania’s Contra Dance get together. All dances are taught to all levels and ages.  7:15pm at St James Hall, 462 Elizabeth St, New Town. Book ahead through trybooking.com 

22 Know a tween who would benefit from yoga? Yoga and mindfulness classes for tweens are on Tuesdays, 4:15, 42 Darcy St, South Hobart. 

23 Join Reconciliation Tasmania in a hands-on cultural learning workshop to walk through the timeline of colonisation and its effects on Aboriginal people. 9am-12pm, UTAS Sandy Bay. Rectas.com.au 

24 After a very long wait, the Melbourne International Comedy Festival Roadshow comes to the Theatre Royal. Cal Wilson, Brett Blake, Michelle Brasier, Luke Heggie, Chris Ryan are on the gigs. 

25 Get some classical music into your life this evening with Musica Viva Tasmania. Nicolas Fleury, Emily Sun and Amir Farid play the Hobart Town Hall from 7:30pm.

26 (and 27) The pointes are on point as the Victorian State Ballet presents Beauty and The Beast, the full length classical ballet production of the traditional fairy tale at Theatre Royal

26 Follow the big band sounds to Moonah for a special winter jazz show by Nadira and Friends Big Band.They’ll perform a selection of songs and show tunes from The Great American Songbook from 6pm. 

27 Free plants! Lambert Gully Bushcare group are hosting their annual plant giveaway to help you create a native habitat in your garden. 3:30-4:30pm, Southern end of Lambert Avenue, Sandy Bay.

28 Prepare your standing ovation for The World of Musicals, a production of classics including The Lion King, Fiddler on the Roof, The Pirates of Penzance, Wicked, Cats and West Side Story at Theatre Royal.

29 Take a tour of the oldest Synagogue still in use in the Southern Hemisphere – it’s right here in Hobart. Tour starts at 11am, but you must book beforehand via hobartsynagogue.org

30 Warm up the vocal chords for The Festival of Voices – a joyous celebration of choral, contemporary and cabaret singing held in winter in Hobart since 2004. Runs until July 11. 

JULY

1  12-14 year old writers with an interest in mysteries will love the Creative Crime Writing workshop with local author Tansy Rayner (who writes the Cafe La Femme mysteries as Livia Day). 4pm-6pm, 24 Davey St. taswriters.org 

2 Take a walk on the wild side at the winter edition of Burlesque After Dark tonight at the Grand Poobah. 9-10:30pm. Book ahead. 

3 Moonah’s vibrant Multicultural market is on today – and the first Saturday of every month. Experience the food, clothing, tea, craft, art and music of diverse cultures. 67 Hopkins St, Moonah, from 9:30am-2pm.

4 The Tasmanian Youth Orchestra and the TYO Chamber Orchestra present a compilation program of ‘serious fun’, featuring overtures, encores and works by Suppé, Gounod, Coates, Glazounov, Glinka, Delius, Handel and Tchaikovsky today at 2.00pm at The Farrall Centre, The Friends School, Hobart.

4 Five Things to Say, an ensemble of accomplished musicians from diverse musical backgrounds, will reunite to compose, record and perform a new collection of world music in Tasmania this month, supported by the Australia Council for the Arts. The premiere concert is on today at the Baha’i Centre Auditorium in Hobart. Five Things to Say seamlessly blend their expertise in classical, contemporary, jazz, Indian classical, ethno folk, latin and bluegrass musical traditions into a feast of musical flavours and textures. Anticipate beautiful, complex soundscapes, unusual instrumentation and memorable moments inspired by a rich tapestry of global musical traditions. The ensemble features pioneering Tasmanian musicians Emily Sheppard on violin, viola and eel-skin erhu, and Elisse Kleiner on flute. This performance will premiere works from their second collaboration, showcased only hours after their composition in an intensive creative residency at Dreamfarm Eco-Arts Retreat in the Huon Valley. The concert offers a rare glimpse into a process of collaborative music making that transcends the boundaries of genre.

5 NAIDOC week begins – a time to celebrate Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander history, culture and achievements and to recognise the contributions that First Nations people continue to bring to our shared culture. The Riawunna Centre for Aboriginal Education is running a series of NAIDOC week events at UTAS www.utas.edu.au/riawunna 

6 Hobart is hosting the National Netball Championships until Sunday. The pick of Australia’s emerging netball talent, including athletes, coaches, umpires and officials, are here for games, talent identification and development. Southern Tasmanian Netball Association, Main Road, New Town. 

7 Local artist Abigail Rothery guides a two-hour life drawing session every Wednesday, hosted by Simple Cider. All materials are provided. Bookings advised. 

9 Stroll up to West Hobart’s Knocklofty lookout for today’s sunrise mandala meditation. Every second Friday. 6am. 

10 Cruise into a good old-fashioned drive-in movie experience watching The Wizard of Oz or Moulin Rouge at the Baskerville Raceway in Old Beach. More info tassieopenaircinemas.com.au

11 Explore Tasmania’s convict history as it intersects with European Romanticism at the Paradise Lost: Thomas Griffiths Wainewright exhibition at TMAG. Until October. 

12 Try a contemporary polynesian dance class with Alejandra Iturriaga. Every Monday at Kickstart ARTS in New Town.

13 If you haven’t yet, head to TMAG to see Tasmanian eco artist Lucienne Rickard’s latest work in progress, a large tableau of flesh-footed shearwater and her family memories. This is a progression from her 2019-21 work Extinction Studies, in which she drew then erased sketches of species we have lost.

FURTHER AFIELD

11 June 

Birds on Bruny is a weekend escape for female photography and wildlife enthusiasts. Award-winning nature and wildlife photographer Coreena Vieth will guide participants through tutorials, photo shoots and other activities on Inala Private Conservation Reserve and other birding hotspots on Bruny Island. There will be opportunities to view and snap pics of all sorts of birds – from raptors to the endangered Forty-spotted Pardalotes. 

11-14 June

Road trip to Scottsdale for the North East Tasmania Art and Craft Festival. Over forty-seven years the NEAC Festival has celebrated fine art and craft from across the state. Scottsdale Mechanics’ Hall, 11 King Street Scottsdale

11-13 June

The East Coast is also hosting the Bay of Fires Winter Arts Festival. It includes art exhibitions, prizes, artist studio and garden tours, performances and a dawn swim.  

13 June

Dust off the sneakers and head to the Launceston Running Festival – the town’s biggest fun run and walk event. Have a go at a half marathon, 10km, 5km or a one-mile road race. There is also an Expo on race day, with food and beverages from local producers and entertainment for kids. The event usually brings national and even international runners, but this year they may have to take the virtual option at 

26 June
If the seventies was your decade, you’ll want to head to the Meander Hall for an epic and glam trivia night. Dress in your seventies best, and be ready for music, prizes, drinks and more. Ticket price includes a gourmet platter and champagne. Red carpet opens at 7pm. Greatwesterntiers.net.au 

27 June

Picturesque Franklin, in the Huon Valley, is the setting for a lovely Sunday afternoon of groovy old blues, funky folk and original tunes played on guitar, fiddle and banjo by multi-instrumentalist Ross Smithard. Held at Franks Cider House and Cafe, so you know there will be wholesome food and local cider to enjoy. Livemusic.net.au for more info.

27 June

Could there be a better trail-run setting than the spectacular Freycinet Peninsula? The 2021 Endorfun Freycinet Trail Run offers two options: a shorter 11 km circuit via Wineglass Bay and Hazards Beach, or the full 29 km circuit taking in Mt Graham and Cooks Beach. 

1 July

Follow the scrumptious smells to Cakealicious: Launceston’s Great Winter Cake Battle. Some of Launceston’s favourite hospitality venues will put their best cake on the stand, and we’re invited to taste our way around town, then vote. 

2 July 

What’s better than a screening of the 1978 classic movie musical Grease? An interactive screening of Grease! It’s on in Burnie for one night only. Dress up in your best Grease/fifties outfit and have a go at winning some prizes. Presented by North West Pride, all profits go towards creating social inclusion, events and support for the local LGBTIAQ+ community.

3 July

Take your little snugglepot or cuddlepie along to the Peter Coombes musical version of May Gibbs’ classic story, bringing the gumnut babies to life in song and dance. The cheeky Snugglepot and his shy brother Cuddlepie hear how nasty humans are and decide to go on an adventure to find out for themselves. Launceston Conference Centre, 2pm. 

10 July

Warm up with the Burnie Highland Pipe Dance at their Mid Winter Ceilidh. It’s like a bush dance, featuring Ian McLeod and his Ceilidh band, dance callers and local celtic musicians. Burnie Arts and Function Centre. 

13 July 

The Irish take to the stage in Devonport with the international hit show A Taste of Ireland – The Irish Music & Dance Sensation. Performers from the West End’s Lord of the Dance, Riverdance and Gaelforce Dance, alongside a treasure trove of Irish Dancing World Champions, will revamp classics like ‘Danny Boy’ and ‘Tell Me Ma’.