The Scene - Local Entertainment News

The best bags under the sun

Special Valentine's Day giveaway

The Echo and Birch Carroll & Coyle in Lismore are giving readers the chance to win one of four prize packs, each featuring a fashion handbag from the movie Under the Tuscan Sun and a CD from the recent hit film Cold Mountain starring Nicole Kidman.

Each handbag features a print from the new movie Under the Tuscan Sun, keeping with the latest fashion of having stars pictured on handbags.

Under The Tuscan Sun, starring Diane Lane, is about an American lawyer who quits her stressful job and travels to Tuscany, Italy, looking for a new life. She decides to buy a derelict villa near the village of Cortona. While rebuilding her new home and leaning how to live in another country, she finds a new start on life... and love.

Each handbag is cream and brown with the print in warm colours on the sides - perfect for this autumn or winter's fashions. Under the Tuscan Sun begins at Birch Carroll & Coyle on February 26.

To go in the draw to win one of the prize packs phone 6622 2888 between 10 & 10.20am on Monday, February 9, and tell us one of actors who starred with Nicole Kidman in Cold Mountain.

Just the two of us

Guitarist extraordinaire Tommy Emmanuel (pictured) and his equally talented brother Phil are playing together in a special 45th anniversary concert next Friday, February 13, at the Lismore Workers Club.

Tommy and Phil began their musical careers playing in a family band with their sisters, but it wasn't long before their paths took them separate ways. This is the first time the siblings have played together in years and it's not likely to happen again soon, so if you're a fan, this is a very rare treat indeed.

Tickets are available from the club. Phone 6621 7401.

Get on board the bus

As part of the Channel [V] Billabong Bus Detour event, funk/hip hop bands 1200 Techniques (pictured) and the Resin Dogs will be playing live in Ballina on Monday, February 16.

To celebrate the tour, The Echo is offering readers the chance to win one of three giveaway packs containing official Detour merchandise including caps, t-shirts and a CD (see below).

The Detour event sees Channel [V] and Billabong combine the best elements of music and skate culture to present live shows along the east coast and Ballina is lucky enough to be included on the tour list.

The event is like a mini music festival, with a giant screen, mobile stage, live bands and pro skaters including Jon Lorcan, Russell Grundy and John Dickenson. There will also be a special screening with Billabong's new surf flick Stepping Stones and never before seen skate footage, as well as other local DJs and artists yet to be announced.

The only difference to other festivals is it's completely free and televised nationally. In fact one lucky punter will even have the privilege of singing the closing song of the show with 1200 Techniques on national TV!

The Ballina Detour show will be presented by James Mathison (the presenter of Australian Idol) with Jabba and Mikey. This amazing live event is open to all ages and as it's not something that happens every day so be sure not to miss it.

The event is being held at the Missingham Bridge Amphitheatre in Ballina from 4pm.

Freebie: The Echo has three Detour prize packs to give away. For a chance to win phone 6622 2888 between 11 & 11.20am on Monday, February 9, and tell us who hosted Australian Idol alongside James Mathison.

Get folked

Kristina Olsen and Peter Grayling play a combined concert in Byron Bay next Thursday.

Ku Promotions is proud to present the legendary folk icon Kristina Olsen and cello wizard Peter Grayling in concert together next Thursday, February 12, at the Byron Bay Community Centre.

Kristina Olsen is back in Australia for the 10th anniversary of her first performance here (at the Woodford Folk Festival in 1994) and to promote her new collection of originals, In Your Darkened Room, which also features the stunning sounds of Peter Grayling's cello.

An amazing multi-instrumentalist, Kristina's mastery of so many instruments was the result of her school choir teacher telling her she had a terrible voice. She stopped singing and started playing every instrument around. Later she learned that Bonnie Raitt had a voice teacher, so she gathered her courage and saved her pennies and headed off for classes with the same teacher, Florence Riggs. Her repertoire now includes some 16 instruments such as saxophone, clarinet, bass guitar, piano, concertina and hammer dulcimer, plus she's got a killer folk voice.

Tickets to this concert are $22. Book on 6685 6807 or try your luck at the door. Doors open at 7.30pm for an 8pm show.

New York, New York!

Cate McQuillen and Hewey Eustace from 'mememe productions' (some may recognise them as the Two Pot Screamers). Cate is travelling to New York to attend the Kidscreen Conference this month.

After winning the recent SPAA (Screen Producer's of Australia) Holding Redlich Pitching Competition in both judges and people's choice categories, Cate McQuillen from 'mememe productions' is heading to New York next week for the prestigious Kidscreen Summit.

Mememe productions won the pitching competition with their interactive children's TV show called 'unda.ragers', which gives children the chance to make and perform their own songs. Set inside a disco ball, the show allows children to create their own music by selecting elements of beat, bass, lyrics, melody and sound.

The prize for the pitching competition was to travel to any other conference in the world to network and shop your ideas, so Cate is packing her bags and leaving the relative warmth of her north coast farm to brave the record cold temperatures of -31 in New York.

Here she will mix it with all the world's best children's TV creators including the Sesame Street crew, the Disney family and the Nickelodeon gang.

"The nice thing about pitching at Kidscreen Summit is that it's not so much of a competition, there's no winner, so the pressures off and it's not so much of a pitch as a showcase," Cate said. "We then get an appraisal of how the show would go from the North American and Canadian markets point of view and that's the sort of feedback we're looking for. Our project is the only one that involves real people - the others are all animation or 3D animation - and that seems to be the trend so it will be interesting to see how they deal with the live aspect of it. More than anything I just hope to have a positive impact on people and make friends."

Unda.rangers is one of five projects from around the world that were chosen to pitch at the Kidscreen Summit, making it a little like the World Idol for kids TV.

Get your Mojo back

To promote their latest EP Bring It, which you may have heard on Triple J recently, Brisbane band Elephant Mojo (pictured) are performing a free gig this Sunday, February 8, at the Great Northern in Byron Bay.

From all reports these guys are fantastic and they will be playing with local funksters Swanky Dee, who are always great for a dance. The gig kicks off at 9pm.

A Hole new world

Singer, songwriter and multi-instrumentalist Jane Hole (pictured) will be performing with her new band, Aurora Jane, at a number of venues around the North Coast this week.

A former member of the popular folk outfit Sparks Fly, Jane Hole has joined forces with some of the country's finest musicians to create Aurora Jane, a band that blends folk, rock, funk, world music and jazz.

Aurora Jane's impressive line-up includes Andrew Fry from the John Butler Trio on bass and Fi Claus from Gorgeous on strings and backing vox, with Dom Santamaria from Epicure and Corey Keem from the Wayne Parker Trio both on drums.

Catch Aurora Jane this Friday, February 6, at the Australian Tavern in Murwillumbah from 9pm or next Wednesday, February 11, at The Rails in Byron Bay from 6.30pm. They also play at Nimbin on Friday, February 13, from 9pm.

Drumming up a storm

The Young Drums with members of the Japanese drumming outfit TaikOz during a visit to Lismore.

2004 is shaping up to be a big year for the local Young Drums Percussion Orchestra according to musical director Peter Jaggle, and local people now have the opportunity to be part of this unique group.

The program for this year so far includes some short tours along the east coast, a possible tour to Japan as well as a couple of major performances in Lismore. To cap it all off an award winning film company are creating a documentary film about the group, which will also be filmed this year.

The orchestra also has funding for an artist in residence program from the NSW Ministry for the Arts and they expect to have some world-class percussionists coming to work with them during the year.

The Young Drums are also involved in NORPA's new production, The Flood, which will be performed in Lismore on the Easter weekend. For this project the Young Drums are working with some of the most talented and respected people in the industry including Mike Askill (percussionist extraordinaire of Synergy fame), Dr Michael Hannan (Head of Music at Southern Cross University and one of Australia's foremost composers) and Steve Langton (a maker of bizarre and wonderful percussion instruments).

The Young Drums School is now taking enrolments for our 2004 program. There are places available for students of all ages and abilities (including absolute beginners) in our one-on-one lesson program where you can study drumset, hand drums or tuned percussion.

If you are a bit older (or even a lot older) and have an interest in drumming and percussion the Young Drums are now offering an adult class on Tuesday evenings. This is a fun (no pressure) program, which delves into African and Latin hand drumming along with some stick work. There is also a bit of Japanese Taiko drumming and more.

To get involved in this amazing drumming experience or find out more phone 6621 4888.

Get back - Do it again

One of the Weekend Warrior bands performing their concert.

Weekend Warriors is holding their recruiting get together called the Meet and Greet Jam next Saturday, February 14, at the Lismore Heights Bowling Club Function Room from 3pm.

In the sixties and seventies and ever since, teenagers by the thousands have picked up instruments and started bands. Most of them then landed jobs, got married and left their performing days behind, but many never got over their passion for playing in a band.

However, thanks to a nationwide program offered by musical instrument retailer Nicholas Music, Weekend Warriors, ex-musicians are getting back in on the action and reclaiming a bit of their raging youth.

"Once you get music in your blood, you're always a performer," said Dean Fuller of Nicholas Music, the local sponsor of Weekend Warriors.

Nicholas Music puts musicians together in groups according to their instrumental ability and their musical taste and then provides a place to rehearse. There is even a music 'Coach' to help and guide the new warriors and clean off some of the rust. After rehearsing one night a week for several weeks, the Weekend Warriors then play a full-blown concert with a big PA and lighting for their family and friends at a local venue.

"The best experience ever!" said one happy Weekend Warrior named Trevor. "Got into a band with others exactly like myself had a great time! Being taught by the Coach to play in a 'Big Concert' night was great. The program gave me the confidence to do it and have the ultimate fun."

Another delighted Weekend Warrior, Leanne, said "I had the opportunity to perform with a band which was heaps of fun. Plus I got to network with other musicians and be able to use great sound equipment. So much fun to able to grow as a musician due to the Weekend Warrior program."

No instrument is needed for this impromptu Jam session next weekend as (most) instruments and the PA are provided. Anyone can join in. To book your spot and get information phone Nicholas Music on 6621 7784 or 0427 217 040.

Get tuned in

Byron Bay's resident reggae/world music dance band, Radio Jupiter (pictured), are heading for the hills for a reggae dance party at Hanging Rock Hall on Friday, February 13.

Winner of the Dolphin Award for Best Reggae and a regular fixture at The Rails in Byron Bay for more than six years, Radio Jupiter plays a big band 7-up sound.

The band features all original, hot and cool, tropical and topical numbers, and it's all dance music with the woven harmonies of five singers.

The dancing starts at 8.30pm. Tickets are $10.

Film fest deadline extended

North Coast CAMERA is creating an event to fill the void left by the WOW Festival's postponement - the Northern Women's Film Festival.

The deadline for entries has now been extended to February 20 so more female filmmakers in the Northern Rivers can enter their shorts.

The films must be 10 minutes or under and made in 2003. All short films must be written and directed by women living in the local area (66 phone area code). Registration costs only $10 and films should be submitted in VHS format.

Judging will be based on technical quality and content. Prizes are awarded in the following categories: Best Film, Best Script, Audience Choice, Best 1st Film and an Encouragement Award.

Entry forms are available from North Coast CAMERA, under the conservatorium, on the corner of Keen and Magellan Streets or via email request to editor@nrg.com.au.

For more info email the above address or call Julia Hine on 0412 946 475. The short list will screen at the Star Court Theatre as part of the Northern Women's Film Festival.

This year the film festival will also feature a documentary session including films such as Anna Yen's Chinese Take Away, a film about her mother, grandmother and her own life and Purple Haze, a hilarious expose about the Jacaranda Queen competition in Grafton by a former winner, Rachel Hynes.

Airing their prose

ABC Radio National is broadcasting a show this weekend that features 11 well-known poets from the Lismore and Byron Bay area. The program - Poetica: Australia's Far East Poets - looks at the unique environment and culture of the region and was produced at Southern Cross University.

As well as some of the characteristic performance poetry developed at the 'Writers at the Rails' readings by the likes of David Hallet, S Sorrensen and Christine Strelan, Poetica will also feature readings by Tanya Delys Mandorla, Laura Jan Shore, Shé Hawke, Bev Sweeney, Melissa Lucashenko, Larry Buttrose, John Bird and Max Ryan - poets whose work has been published in the recent Wingbeats anthology published by Dangerously Poetic Press.

Poetica: Australia's Far East Poets will be broadcast this Saturday, February 7, at 3pm on ABC Radio National: 96.9FM.

Shadow animation

North Coast CAMERA, through Youth Media and Light n Up (Lismore Arts Council) are excited to announce a new project, Animating Shadows, which combines video, simple animation and shadow theatre in a 12 week accredited course.

The project currently has six positions for young people under the age of 25 and six places for people 50 years and over.

Participants will have a unique opportunity to work together learning the basics of video production, shadow theatre and animation. In the process they will create a short film based on their own experiences, which will then be screened around the region.

"Shadow puppetry is a wonderful medium in which to work," course trainer, Kathy McCormick, said. "It enables you to express quite deep and powerful ideas in very simple ways. Story telling and shadows have been around since the time of the cave people, when their fires flickered as they told stories in to the night. Shadow Theatre is not only found in Indonesia, it has had a place in many cultures throughout the world."

The project will run for two days a week from mid February until mid May. No prior skills are required, just an interest in media, story telling and maybe a little creativity.

The workshops will be held in Lismore at the Light n Up Workshop in Orion Street. To get involved phone Grant McGifford on 6622 0901 or Jyllie Jackson on 6622 6333. Hurry, as places are limited.

Join the Club

The Club Muso Showcase is back by popular demand at the Metropole Hotel on Saturday, February 7, and every first Saturday of the month after that.

Club Muso provides a venue where local artists can perform their works, iron out any problems with live performance or just come for some fun. A drum kit and PA with house guitar is available and it's best to book a spot early to ensure you don't miss out. If you just show up on the day they might be able to squeeze you in.

Club Muso runs from 4-10pm either in the lounge or backroom of the hotel. To book a spot phone Dean on 0415 926 916.

Summer up North

Musica Viva will present a special summer concert featuring Sydney ensemble North on Friday, February 20 at St Mary's Anglican Church in Ballina from 7.30pm.

The event is a pre-season concert to give people a taste of what's to come in the 2004 Musica Viva Subscription Series, which begins in March.

Specific details of the Subscription Series will also be available before the concert from 7pm.

For ticket prices and bookings drop into Dymocks on Molesworth Street or phone 6622 4987.