8 – 9 May 2026
7.30pm
TICKETS ON SALE 10AM THURSDAY 18 DECEMBER
The Whitlams joins the Canberra Symphony Orchestra in two performances of their renowned symphonic collaboration on Friday 8 and Saturday 9 May at the Canberra Theatre Centre. The Whitlams was the first Australian indie band to perform with Australia’s finest orchestras back in 2004, and the show has developed in the ensuing 20 years as new albums have been written and released.
This retrospective performance of the band’s career will see the CSO share centre stage, playing a wide palate of styles written by many of Australia’s finest composers. Tim Freedman’s friendship with the late Peter Sculthorpe is marked by two gorgeous arrangements, and full symphonic treatments have been provided by MSO Principal Conductor Benjamin Northey, Sean O’Boyle, Iain Grandage, Daniel Denholm, and Jamie Messenger.
Classic compositions including “No Aphrodisiac” and “Blow Up the Pokies” will be joined by highlights of The Whitlams’ 2020s resurgence with a song from each of the two recent albums, “Sancho” (2022), and the Americana influenced, “Kookaburra” (2024).
Tim Freedman says, “Once every seven or eight years we get to perform in the middle of the beautiful storm of a symphony orchestra. It’s great we can bring this to Canberra where our roots are deep, from those scrappy ANU bar shows in 1993 onwards.”
“The Whitlams’ orchestral show is a tour de force of emotion and classic songs. The two-hour show encapsulates The Whitlams’ remarkable story. Beauty, pathos, humour, tragedy and triumph”. – The Music
You may also like the following events from Canberra Theatre Centre:
Also check out other
Music events in Canberra,
Entertainment events in Canberra,
Arts events in Canberra.
