The Scene - Local Entertainment News

Girls just wanna have fun

Mandy Nolan performs at the Ladies Lizard Lounge next Tuesday.

The Laughing Lizard Comedy Lounge returns for the first time in 2004 with a very special Ladies Lizard Lounge next Tuesday, February 3, at Maggie Moores.

Not only will the evening feature all female talent but it will also be one of the few shows without S Sorrensen at the helm, so make the most of it before he returns as the prodigal host in March.

The special guest MC for next week is dancer and comedienne Renee Searles, who will guide comedy lovers through a riotous night of all-girl entertainment with her irreverent take on life and plucky attitude.

Flaming red-headed sheila, comedienne and singer, Divishti, returns to the Lizard Lounge this month after a long break. Hailing from Queensland's Sunshine Coast, Divishti's no-nonsense, tell-it-like-it-is approach to comedy is absolutely hysterical and was a big hit at this year's Woodford Folk Festival.

Also performing is local poet and writer Christine Strelan - a dynamic and mesmerising talent. Her passion for poetry is evident in every performance as she transforms her art from the page to stage.

Featured performer for the Ladies Lizard Lounge is the north coast's own Mandy Nolan. Mandy currently runs the One Night Stand Comedy Club in Byron Bay and writes entertainment for the Byron Echo, whilst also fostering comedic talent with her various comedy courses. With a sharp wit and engaging personality, Mandy's tales of love and lust will be a fantastic finale for this oestrogen-charged extravaganza.

There will also be a few unexpected surprises on the night and the regular joke competition, with fine food available from the venue. Tickets are $20 for a meal and show deal (book early on 6622 1888) or $12 for the show only ($8 for students). The fun kicks off at 8.30pm.

Freebie: The Echo has one double pass to giveaway to the Ladies Lizard Lounge. To go in the draw to win phone 6622 2888 between 10 & 10.15am on Monday, February 2.

Let's get physical

Lismore Physical Culture Club's new principal instructor, Carly Lynch (left) and assistant instructor Arneeka Gill.

The Lismore Physical Culture Club is welcoming a new principal instructor, Carly Lynch, following the retirement of Margaret Webster.

Physical culture (or 'Physie') brings together jazz, dance and ballet, which are combined to develop strength, grace, coordination, flexibility and confidence, whilst also being fun and fostering friendships.

As a national finalist in physical culture Carly brings with her fresh ideas and experience. She strongly believes that if her girls have performed and feel they have done their best and had fun, then they are true champions.

Carly has already achieved outstanding results with girls from the Lismore club becoming national placegetters and finalists. By her side is Arneeka Gill, who has two years teaching experience.

Lismore Physical Culture Club is holding a sign on afternoon next Tuesday, February 3, at Lismore Heights Public School from 4.30-6pm. Lessons will then resume at the school on Tuesday, February 10.

Class times are: 5-7yrs 4.15pm, 8-9yrs 4.45pm, 10-13yrs 5.30pm, ladies 6.15pm, 17-25yrs 7pm, 14-16yrs 7.45pm. For more information phone Carly on 6689 9235 or Debbie on 6625 1992.

A slice of heaven

The Wild Zinnias play the Hillbilly Heaven Gig at the Gollan next Thursday.

Renowned talent Jimmy Willing returns to the live music scene in 2004 with yet another radical, raging event - a Hillbilly Heaven Gig next Thursday, February 5, at the Gollan Hotel.

Jimmy will be playing with his infamous band the Real Gone Hick Ups, who have caused a few stirs around the region with their wild, often dirty hillbilly country music and generally debauched behaviour that has breathed life back into the local live circuit.

However, if you take hillbilly back to its original roots you'll find the Irish, hence the inclusion of local sensation The Wild Zinnias on the bill. The band play fiddle, accordion, bass, drums, bodhran, acoustic guitar and piano, fusing traditional Celtic jigs and reels with a unique contemporary sound.

The name Wild Zinnias comes from a Mexican flower, but it's only the luck of Irish that ensured it became their namesake. Working in his garden at Mullumbimby one day 12 years ago, Willy had two packets of seeds to plant - Wild Zinnias and Broad Beans. At that moment he decided the band would be called after whatever grew first... thankfully this time slow and steady didn't win the race!

Completing the Hillbilly Heaven Gig line-up is Lismore duo Cranky Hank, which features local icon 'Parrot Michael' playing old rock n' roll music with musical soul mate Hank Williams.

As always, a Jimmy-inspired gig promises to be raucous, raunchy night out, and thanks to the legendary Gavin Meyers at the Gollan Hotel it's all for free. The lunacy begins at 8pm.

Groove Is In The Heart

Local 70s and 80s retro band Pink Zukini (pictured) will be performing their funky grooves this Sunday, January 31, at the Canberra Hotel.

The band formed last November and have since been gigging all over the north coast, and their flamboyant costumes and energetic delivery have made them a popular new addition to the local scene.

The band features the vocal talents of Karin van den Hooven (ex Pussycats) with Max van den Hooven on lead guitar and vocals (ex Crush), Adam Owens (Stingrays, El Gonzo Green) on bass guitar and saxophone, Mike Hunt (ex Graverobbers) on drums and Wayne Green (Stingrays) on keys, synth, bass, guitar and vocals.

The music starts at 10pm.

Trinity spectacular

The Trinity Catholic College band, who perform a live music score in Under MilkWood.

Trinity Catholic College's 50th anniversary stage production of Dylan Thomas' radio play Under MilkWood will be performed from Thursday to Saturday, January 29-31 in Lismore.

Renowned for their quality theatre performances, Trinity has assembled a cast and crew of more than 70 students to bring this play, and its many colourful characters, to life.

Set in Wales in 1953 (the same year Thomas died in New York) the play revolves around a retired, blind mariner, Captain Cat, and a day in the life of the village Llareggyb.

The play looks at the differing characters in the town and is a masterful look at the human condition, with a script that is both insightful and moving.

The play will be performed at the Champagnat Theatre in Hindmarsh Street from 7.30pm each evening with an extra matinee performance on Saturday (Jan 31) at 3pm.

Tickets are $12/8 from Caddies Bean Shop.

Lismore kids go sick over hip-hop

Action from the final of the Aussie Battlers break dance crew battle. The team members of the winning crew, ILL-usions, were able to produce a series of crowd-stunning head-spin manoeuvres that saw them rotating on their heads over 20 times without their hands touching the ground. Photo: John McPherson

More than 300 breakers and poppers, beat boxers and rappers turned out for the Aussie Battlers Break competition on Australia Day at the PCYC.

The Darwin team of dancers, Style Impressions Krew, came to Lismore after being invited by fellow dancers at the Stomping Ground Men's and Boy's Dance Festival in Bellingen, where they won the break crew competition. However, winning Aussie Battlers crew, ILL-usions, from Brisbane, turned the tables on Style Impressions Krew on Monday, who they lost to in the Bellingen final.

Presented by NORPA Dance Action this is the fourth year the competition has been run, and going on its phenomenal success again this year it will become a regular event on the Australian hip-hop calendar.

Goonellabah's new culture

The Goonellabah area continues to grow in leaps and bounds and this week yet another new facility has been established - Goonellabah' s own Physical Culture Club.

Affiliated with the national BJP Association, Year 11 Trinity Catholic College student Jaime Whittingham (pictured) is striking out on her own to teach 4 to 10 year olds all the fun, discipline and skills she has learned over her eight years under legendary physical culture teacher Margaret Webster.

Jaime took first place at zone competition in 2002 and second in 2003 and taught 4 to 9 year olds last year with the Lismore club. She is excited to bring physical culture to the Goonellabah Community Centre on Tuesday afternoons for local girls, giving them a fun activity to take part in that will build friendships and confidence.

Physical culture is a combination of aerobic type exercises and basic ballet and jazz dance. At approximately $4 per week, it is a reasonably priced and healthy activity for young girls that has far reaching benefits both physically and emotionally.

For more information phone Jaime or Lisa on 6624 2271. Alternatively you can have a chat with Jaime at Lismore Square this Sunday, February 1, outside Kmart. Enrol on Sunday and get your first lesson free.

Raw comedy

Australia's largest national comedy competition, Raw Comedy, gives aspiring comedians a chance to break into the competitive comedy business, with the first prize a trip to the world famous Edinburgh Fringe Festival.

This year locals have a chance to get in on the action with Raw Comedy heats being held next Monday, February 2 (and Feb 16) at Mandy Nolan's Comedy Club at the Byron Bay Bowlo (register at www.comedyfestival.com.au).

As well as heat entrant the night will also feature the fantastic Maleny-based comic, Divishti. The night starts at 8pm and tickets are $15/10. For info and bookings phone 6685 4045.

Surf's up

After two years in production and numerous trips to exotic locations around the globe Jack McCoy's new feature film, Blue Horizon, will come to the Bay Dendy Cinemas next Wednesday and Thursday, February 4 and 5.

Blue Horizon is Jack McCoy's most ambitious project to date and follows the incredible journey of two of the world's best surfers - current two-time world champion Andy Irons of Hawaii and Australian 'soul surfer' Dave 'Rasta' Rastovich. The film documents their unique and contrasting lifestyles, taking viewers to come spectacular surf locations across the globe.

His film will be shown as part of the annual 2004 Jack McCoy Surf Film Festival, which was created to bring surf films back to the big screen instead of being relegated to the home video genre.

In addition to Blue Horizon, the 2004 Festival will feature the winning entry from Surf Shorts, a national competition set up to encourage independent filmmakers, as well as giveaways from Billabong.

The festival will be screened on Feb 4 at 8pm and on Feb 5 at 4.30pm and 8pm. To book phone 6680 8555.

TAFE talent

The Roxy Gallery is currently showing an exhibition by people who have been studying at Lismore TAFE.

The show includes a diverse range of works from wood carved pieces to sculptural ceramic pieces, as well as prints, ceramic installations, oil paintings and more.

This exhibition runs until the February 11.

The gallery is also seeking expressions of interest from artists working in any medium who would like to be involved in the Roxy's next exhibition, titled Perspectives.

Entry forms are available at the gallery or phone 6632 3518 and leave details. Interested artists should contact the gallery by February 6 as the show will open on February 13.

Sperm count

Having a baby in the 21st century is no longer a simple choice.

Spadinski's Sperm, which opens next week at the Byron Bay Community Centre, is a sharp, cynical and enlightening theatre work that explores the dynamics and dilemmas of one woman's options to conceive as her hormonal urgings kick in. Fraser's a 30-something, urban woman running her own business, who's bonking two blokes on alternate nights and can't choose which one would make the better dad... until she hears about the Divided Sperm Fertility Technique championed by Dr Spadinksi.

Naturally this leads to the unfolding of deeply moral questions - will her lovers, Albert and Billy, be willing to shoot and share? Do we have the right to judge who or how a baby is conceived?

Spadinski's Sperm is directed by Sydney's Stewart Grant and features a fine ensemble of local actors including David Sandford (from ABC TV's Lift Off), Nikki Fuda, Cathy Campbell, Emma Wood, Mat Baker, Annie Grano and Jason Adamek.

Spadinksi's Sperm opens next Wednesday, February 4, for seven shows only. Tickets are $20/17 from the Byron Bay Community Centre.

Business and pleasure

For those of us who have to earn a living, getting back into the office groove after a hectic silly season is easier said than done. Clients are expectant and the banking won't do itself but thoughts often drift back to lazy afternoons, listening to your favourite tunes with a cold one never too far away...

But who says you can't mix business and pleasure? Mary Gilhooleys knows it's time to knuckle down, and believes that's as good a reason as any to celebrate.

Workforce Party 3 - Back To School kicks off this Friday, January 30, at One Bar and Nightclub from 8pm. The night will feature loads of giveaways with a Packard Bell 2-gigahertz Pentium 4 multimedia computer the major prize. There is also a Sky Blue Vodka Lime & Soda promotion in which the first 100 patrons through the door will receive one of the drinks.

For details on how to get tickets listen to ZZZ radio.

Come the raw prawn

Raw Prawn Comedy Club host Mandy Nolan and feature comedienne Sandy Gandhi.

Mandy Nolan's Raw Prawn Comedy Club returns to Ballina in 2004, with the first show being held next Thursday, February 5, at Paddy McGinty's backroom.

The Raw Prawn Comedy Club presents comedians from around Australia as well as showcasing local rising talent, and this month will be headlined by renowned comic Peter Grose. Peter's most prestigious gigs include the famous Improv in LA (which has launched the careers of famous comics such as Seinfeld) as well as spots at the Edinburgh Festival and Adelaide Fringe Festival.

Also appearing is 2003 Raw Comedy NSW state finalist Sandy Gandhi, who has been performing her distinctly Indian-flavoured comedy around the traps for the past three years.

Melissa James and Sharon Fraser will also be performing in the open mike section. Tickets are $10 from the venue. To book phone 6686 2135.

So you think you can sing?

Northern Sounds Karaoke operator, Mary-Ann De Hoon, is kicking off Sunday Karaoke this weekend at the Gollan Hotel.

We all love to sing in the shower, but thanks to Northern Sounds Karaoke operator, Mary-Ann De Hoon, you can now live out your dreams of being a rock star in the comfort of an air-conditioned pub.

Mary-Ann will be holding her popular karaoke afternoons at the Gollan Hotel in Lismore for the next six weeks, starting this weekend. The new event will be a trial run for the pub, and if people love the idea and support it, Sunday Karaoke will become a weekly fixture at the Gollan.

"Gavin Meyers from the Gollan Hotel was happy to give karaoke a go and see if it's something people in Lismore want to continue in the future," said Mary-Ann, who has been operating Northern Sounds Karaoke for more than four years. "Karaoke is lots of fun and anyone can have a go - it's really addictive once you give it a try. Normally you just get to sing along to a radio, but with karaoke you get a real live audience - it's a bit like backyard Australian Idol. Plus the hotel is air-conditioned and there's nothing better than a cold beer and a cold pub on a Sunday afternoon."

Sunday Karaoke kicks off this Sunday, February 1, at 5.30pm. Anyone is welcome to turn up and try the karaoke - just bring your mates and be ready to belt out a tune. If you can't make it this weekend, remember Sunday Karaoke will also be on February 8, 15, 22 and 29, all from 5.30pm.