Clapton to Grace City for One Show

MAN IN BLACK: AUSTRALIAN songwriting giant RICHARD CLAPTON will grace Newcastle with his inimitable presence on Thursday, January 25, with one show only at the Hotel CBD. Clapton is an Australian living treasure who has recorded 13 albums in a career spanning 20 years. Many of his songs such as GIRLS ON THE AVENUE, CAPRICORN DANCER, DEEP WATER, DOWN IN THE LUCKY COUNTRY, BEST YEARS OF OUR LIVES and I AM AN ISLAND have survived on the airwaves from the 1970s and continue to be played today. But Clapton continued to produce hits throughout the 1980s and 1990s such as ANGELOU, TRUST SOMEBODY, GLORY ROAD, DISTANT THUNDER and OCEANS OF THE HEART. GIG REFLOATS: SYDNEY-based band THE TITANICS have been rebooked to perform in Newcastle next weekend after a booking error resulted in a no-show at SJ's Hotel in December. The group has been booked to perform at SJ's Hotel on Friday, January 19, again with MACHINE GUN FELLATIO. ARIA-winning songwriter DAVID BRIDIE will also return to SJ's on Wednesday, January 24, with his arresting audio-visual experience, and funky TRIPLE J starlets GEORGE will perform on Sunday, January 28.

NO DREAMERS: AT the beginning of the 20th Century, Sydney eccentric WILLIAM CHIDLEY walked the streets wearing Roman tunics and spouting harmless philosophies about the benefits of natural foods to sex and love. NEWCASTLE REPERTORY CLUB will stage the GEORGE HUTCHINSON play NO ROOM FOR DREAMERS, based on the life of Chidley, at its De Vitre St, Lambton theatre tonight. The club will stage the play on Wednesdays, Fridays and Saturdays, until January 20. TE has a double pass to give away. To go in the draw, mail an envelope with your name, address and telephone number on the back, to NO ROOM FOR DREAMERS GIVEAWAY, PO Box 615, Newcastle, 2300. Or enter on-line at www.nnp.com.au

BLACK SORROWS: CHART-topping Melbourne group THE BLACK SORROWS will drop into the Star Hotel on Sunday, January 28. Fronted by the irrepressible JOE CAMILLERI the Black Sorrows' hits include CHAINED TO THE WHEEL, HOLD ONTO ME, NEVER LET ME GO and HARLEY & ROSE.