A powerful song cycle looking at Australia's 20-year involvement in the Afghanistan war will kick off Hobsons Bay City Council's 2023 Arts at your Doorstep program.
Fred Smith was the first Australian diplomat to be sent to work alongside Australian soldiers in Uruzgan Province in 2009, and worked from Kabul International Airport on the difficult evacuation in 2021.
The Sparrows of Kabul performance begins with songs from Fred's acclaimed Dust of Uruzgan album, which draws on his experiences working alongside those soldiers in southern Afghanistan and culminates with material he wrote after working on that dramatic evacuation.
The performance at Altona Theatre on Wednesday 26 April is the first event in the Arts at your Doorstep program, which will bring exciting performances to Hobsons Bay throughout 2023.
Other events on the Arts at your Doorstep program include:
- Emma Donovan and The Putbacks on July 14
- Goddesses of Jazz on September 13
- Whalebone on September 27
- Double Feature by Damian Callinan on October 19
- Sounds of Silent presenting Steamboat Bill Jr on May 18 and The General on August 3
"Arts at your Doorstep is all about making sure everyone in Hobsons Bay can experience great theatre," Mayor of Hobsons Bay, Cr Tony Briffa, said.
"We want people in the west to be able to see some of Australia's best performers without having to travel to the city or beyond.
"I encourage our community to get behind these events, and also make a night of it with dinner or drinks at one of our many fantastic local venues."
For bookings visit Hobsons Bay Tickets.
Photo: Musician Fred Smith. Credit: Geoff Dunn.
