The Scene - Local Entertainment News

Be afraid, be very afraid

Eddie Murphy in a scene from The Haunted Mansion, which is now on show at Birch Carroll & Coyle in Lismore.

To celebrate the opening of Eddie Murphy's new comedy flick The Haunted Mansion, The Echo and Birch Carroll & Coyle in Lismore are giving readers the chance to win one of four fantastic Haunted Mansion prize packs.

Like The Pirates of the Caribbean, The Haunted Mansion is based on one of the most popular rides in the Disney theme parks, and the adventure on screen is just as hilarious and terrifying as the real thing.

In the film Murphy plays a job-obsessed real estate agent, Jim Evers, whose workaholic nature has caused him to neglect his family. Promising he'll make amends by taking them for a weekend at the lake Jim is unable to resist another business opportunity when Gracey Manor goes up for sale. Jim assures them they'll just have to make a quick 20-minute detour to the manor and that's when the real fun begins.

The special effects and make-up in this film are outstanding and even though it has scary moments, director Robb Minkoff has pulled off the right balance of horror and comedy to make it a great family film that kids and teenagers will both love.

The Haunted Mansion is now showing at Birch Carroll & Coyle in Lismore. See their advertisement for session times or phone the movie info line on 6622 4350.

Freebie: The Echo has four Haunted Mansion prize packs that each include a double pass to see the movie, a black shoulder bag, a watch, keyring, fridge magnet and bell. To go in the draw to win phone 6622 2888 between 11 & 11.15am next Monday, March 29, and tell us another film Eddie Murphy has starred in.

The Empire strikes back

New Australian sensation The Cat Empire (pictured) have had a fast rise to fame recently with their unique concoction of music that combines everything from reggae and jazz to hip hop and pop.

While their gig tomorrow, March 26, at the Great Northern is completely sold out you can still catch them at the East Coast Blues and Roots Festival, which will be held in Byron Bay this Easter long weekend from April 8-12. For tickets and daily playing schedules visit the website at www.bluesfest.com.au or book on 6685 8310.

Everyone deserves music

Five lucky readers have won double passes to see Michael Franti and Spearhead plus a host of other great acts at the opening night of the Blues Fest.

After much deliberation and nail biting we have finally managed to pick the five winners of our East Coast Blues and Roots Festival competition. We received hundreds of entries for the comp and we sincerely apologise to those who didn't score a ticket because we believe (in the words of a legend) that everyone deserves music. Each of the following people have won a double pass to the opening night of the festival on Thursday, April 8:

• Moira Kenny from The Channon;
• Rod Harvey from Ballina;
• Teva Majchrzak from Wollongbar;
• W Knight from Lismore Heights; and
• Molly Magahy from North Lismore.

Congratulations to our winners and thanks to everyone who took the time to enter!

There's still plenty of time to buy tickets to the festival, which features more than 75 artists on four stages over five huge days.

For a full line up, playing schedule and all festival info go to www.bluesfest.com.au. For tickets visit the website or phone 6685 8310 during business hours.

Fatten up on jazz

Jazz in the Countryside's next gig on Wednesday, March 31, at their new venue, Mary Gilhooleys Function Room, will feature creative local jazz band FATS (pictured).

The band brings together some of the region's most accomplished musicians including Thierry Fosmale on bass, Dave Ades on alto sax, James Sherlock on electric guitar and Greg Sheehan on drums/percussion. Nuff said.

The gig starts at 8.30pm. Entry is $5.

A day in the life

The cast from Scattered Lives - Theatre Theatre Productions' new play about the lives of refugees.

Theatre Theatre Productions' latest play, Scattered Lives, is a poignant and topical story about the lives of four refugee families and their journey to Australia. Sometimes hopeful, sometimes harrowing, this production by local teenagers is a timely reminder that every refugee has a face, a family and a heart.

Scattered Lives will be performed in Lismore twice only. The first performance is this Friday, March 26, at the Lismore Workers Club, with the second show next Friday, April 2, at the Rochedale Theatre in Goonellabah.

Both shows start at 8pm. Tickets are $10 at the door or through Caddies.

French ties

Local a cappella group Nouveaux Singers will be performing a number of songs as an introduction to Musica Viva's classical piano concert with Harold Brown this Friday, March 26, at Lismore City Hall. The concert starts at 7.30pm.

Tickets are $28/24 or $14 for students. Phone 6622 4987.

Marijuana music entries needed

This is the last chance for budding artists (no pun intended) to enter the best recorded track category of the 2004 Marijuana Music Awards, with entries closing next Friday, April 2.

Prizes include the award itself, cash, an opportunity to be a judge of the Australian Cannabis Cup, Nim-FM radio airplay, Daizy Goodies, Bringabong Kit, Hemp Embassy kit and free coffee.

The winner will be announced at Nimbin Mardi Grass on May 2, 2004.

Send your marijuana music entries on CD or cassette tape with $10 entry fee and contact details to Rainbow Records, PO Box 181, Nimbin, NSW, 2480, Australia. For info phone 6689 1011.

Enjoy a session this Sunday

Scurrypoint Multimedia will present a special afternoon of fresh funky beats, breaks and Psi-trance, dubbed Sunday Sessions, this Sunday, March 28, at the Metro Bar on Keen Street, Lismore.

The guys who run Sunday Sessions deck out the Metro Bar with visuals, DJs and a band each week, and already its proven a hit with punters being one of the few music events in Lismore on Sunday.

This Sunday's gig features DJs R2seetoo, Foot-e, Psyatica, TBT, DJoeyjojo, The Dingo and Jake. Special guest on the night is local band El Gonzo Green, who will play a set of high-energy dance/doof grooves to suit the mood. It's the perfect afternoon recovery session and it's free, so grab some friends and check it out. Sunday Sessions runs from 2-10pm.

Mexican films on show

The Chiapas Media Project (CMP), which has recently been on tour through capital cities, will be shown for the last time this Sunday, March 28, at the Blue Tongue Cafe in North Lismore.

The tour features new videos produced by indigenous video makers from Chiapas and Guerrero, Mexico, and a special talk about this very interesting project and its aims. The screening starts at 7pm and all proceeds will go to CMP. Entry is by donation. For information phone Ruth Rosenhek on 6621 3294.

New orchestra debuts

Lismore's new symphony orchestra (pictured) will make its debut in a special concert next Friday, April 2, in the beautiful setting of St Andrew's Church on Zadoc Street.

The orchestra, conducted by Steve Russell, was formed late last year by a group of approximately 40 local musicians, who have recently completed an intense schedule of rehearsals for this inaugural concert.

In addition to the orchestra several of the region's choirs, coordinated by Valerie Tamblyn-Mills, have joined forces to add to this wonderful community event. Not since the demise of the Lismore Regional Orchestra some years ago has Lismore had it's own orchestra, so this should be a enthusiastic display of talent from the region's professional and amateur classical musicians.

The program next Friday includes Beethoven's 5th Symphony, excerpts from Mozart's Requiem, the overture to the Marriage of Figaro, Five Spirituals and Handel's Zadoc the Priest, which is fitting considering the church's location. With such magnificent acoustics St Andrew's provides the perfect venue for what should be a memorable concert.

This once-only performance starts at 8pm and tickets are $15/10 or $40 for a family (two adults and two children). Tickets are now available from Lismore Music Centre, Alstonville Bookworm or La Boutique in Ballina.

Heaven scent

Comic swing trio The Old Spice Boys (pictured) will be the feature of the upcoming 'Thursdays at the Civic' gig next Thursday, April 1, at the Civic Hotel.

The trio (led by ukulele maestro Azo Bell with Tim Reeves on snare drum and Billy Milroy on tea chest bass) use minimal instruments to play an upbeat mixture of jazz, folk and blues that's laced with the unmistakable Old Spice Boys charm and wit.

As well as their own hilarious songs they have come up with the most unlikely interpretations of tunes by artists from Miles Davis to Ian Dury and from Prince to John Coltrane.

The Old Spice Boys have a delightful on-stage chemistry and their mix of humour and razor sharp musicianship make them a hot north coast favourite. Their music and obvious love of performing is completely infectious and with free entry this is one gig definitely worth checking out. The fun kicks off at 8pm.

Soul under the stars

The Lismore Turf Club will hold its first outdoor staged concert this Saturday, March 27, to raise money for Variety NSW - a fantastic charity that provides support for children with life threatening illnesses.

The night will feature American motown, R&B and soul diva Lisa Hunt (pictured) in her first ever Lismore performance, with music from her latest album Forever Soul. Lisa has performed with international legends including Eric Clapton, Tom Jones, Jimmy Barnes and Midnight Oil, and this is a rare chance to see her in a beautiful outdoor setting.

Other acts on the night include Kurtis, New York-based world groove performer Didjworks, a spectacular fire dancing show by Flame Oz and a dance party to follow with Bay FM DJ Benji Booth from 11pm.

"The way the stage will be set on the outside of the racetrack itself forms a natural amphitheatre style viewing area with plenty of room on the grass to sit, about 200 stadium style seats and the upstairs terrace for the best view of all," said Turf Club manager, Michael Timbrell. "The club is really excited to be hosting this event. If we reach our target of 1000 people we will raise quite a substantial amount."

Entry is $20 for stadium seating or you can bring a blanket and relax on the lawn. Alternatively, you can buy a $50 VIP ticket, with entry to the private bar, the best view of the show from the terrace, gourmet finger food and jazz music with Natalie and Co from sunset.

The event will happen rain or shine and is for over 18s only. This is a unique gig and tickets will no doubt sell out fast. To book phone the club on 6621 3176 or pick up a ticket from Music Bizarre in Lismore, Way Out East in Ballina or Music@Byron.

Fooling around again

Greg Sheehan and his Magical Toy Shop will be a special highlight of the Hell is a Cabaret gig next Thursday.

Jimmy Willing's upcoming Hell is a Cabaret gig next Thursday, April 1, will be a cultural kaleidoscope of music, circus, poetry, puppetry, art and beer.

While the events are always a little debauched, this special April Fools Day gig will be even raunchier than usual, with some of the region's most intriguing and jaw-dropping acts included on the bill.

Kicking off the night is Greg Sheehan and his Magical Toy Shop - a very unusual performance in which Greg plays an entire percussion set using nothing but kids toys. It's clever stuff and you'll be amazed what he can do with little more than a plastic bag and a few rubber alligators.

Next up is the Porno Puppets of Prague presented by 10th generation Czech puppeteer Lenka Muchova. This eye-popping and hilarious adults-only show features enchanting Bohemian-style erotic fairy tales and some very rude, and extremely funny, surprises.

Jimmy Willing will then present The Von Tramp Family Puppets - a tribe of weird and wonderful handcrafted puppets he has been performing with locally for more than a decade. For this gig he will have his motorbike puppet performing death-defying feats in an exciting stunt show. Also on the bill is Mirth, who perform extreme circus acts, and a spoken word piece by performance poet Benito Di Fonzo, who talks about everything from money to Marx and the meaning of life.

Completing the line up is Jimmy Willing and the Real Gone Hick Ups, who will play a late night dance set for those still keen to party. As always Hell is a Cabaret is totally free. It will run from 8pm till late.

Dreaming of a better world

Ariel Smith, 14, who will read from his story Broken Hearts at the Dark Dreams book launch next Thursday.

Wakefield Press and The Book Warehouse are inviting people to attend the Lismore launch of Dark Dreams: Australian Refugee Stories, written by young people 11-20 years of age.

Each of the entries was chosen from the Australia IS Refugees! School Competition 2002, a nation wide writing project run by Australians Against Racism.

At the launch local school student Ariel Smith, 14, will read from his story, Broken Hearts, which he was delighted to find had been selected for inclusion in the book.

"I'm ecstatic - it's just so surreal to have something of your own published in a nation wide book," Ariel said. "I think Dark Dreams is useful because it shows what young people around Australia are feeling and it's good for people to get that point of view. It's important to get the refugee issue out there again because at the moment it's going nowhere."

Professor Tom Shapcott, head of Creative Writing at Adelaide University, who launched the book two weeks ago in Adelaide, made the following comments.

"To read this collection has been an experience both painful and rewarding," he said. "The accounts which communicate the traumatic events sear us with their authenticity and their humanity. From Holocaust survivors, Vietnamese boat people on to contemporary refugees fleeing oppression in Afghanistan or Iraq, Sri Lanka or Africa, these are accounts we must heed, and learn from."

Dr Baden Offord, the senior lecturer in Australian Cultural Studies at SCU will officially launch the book at 5.30pm at The Book Warehouse, 109 Keen Street, Lismore. Books will be for sale and everyone is welcome.

Ready to rock

Ballina and Lismore's Weekend Warriors bands will strut their stuff at a special concert next Friday in Ballina.

After four weeks of rehearsals and playing live on stage, many for the very first time, Lismore and Ballina's Weekend Warrior bands are ready to rock. The Weekend Warriors are made up of former musicians who have decided to take to the stage again in later life and relive their rock and roll days.

A special concert to showcase five local Weekend Warrior bands will be held next Friday, April 2, at the Ballina RSL Club auditorium from 7pm.

The bands will play music from Creedence, The Doors, Van Morrison, Billy Thorpe, R.E.M, Dylan, the late great Johnny Cash and many more. Kids are welcome at the venue and it's a great opportunity to enjoy a great family night out and raise money for the Children's Cancer Fund.

There will also be some very special surprise guests appearing on the night.

Tickets are just $5 and kids under 12 are free. To book phone Nicholas Music on 6621 7784.

Join the party

Dan Kelly plays the Uni Bar next Friday.

The Campus Central Uni Bar has two big gigs happening next week to which everyone is invited.

The first is a huge combined 21st Birthday Party next Thursday, April 1, for around 25 locals having their birthday. Entertainment includes local five-piece Chxsm and Australia's leading funk and nu-skool breaks DJ Slinky, who has previously played the Big Day Out and Splendour in the Grass.

The party kicks off at 7.30pm. Tickets are $2 for students and $5 for guests.

The following night, Friday, April 2, Dan Kelly and the Alpha Males will be performing as part of their national Triple J tour.

Dan, who happens to be the nephew of Paul Kelly, currently has three singles on high rotation airplay at Triple J and is on tour to promote his latest album, Dan Kelly and the Tabloid Blues.

Dan is bringing blues and roots band The Treetops along with him as support.

Doors open at 7.30pm. Again, tickets are $2 for students and $5 for guests.

In your face

Filmmaker John Day in a scene from his film The 1% Problem about drug use in the Northern Rivers.

North Coast CAMERA will present a collection of 10 short films by nine new writer /directors next Saturday, April 3, at the Star Court Theatre.

The films are the result of CAMERA's six-month Work-for-the-Dole program Face Up, and range from comedy to documentary style films and even horror.

Entry is free but a gold coin donation would be appreciated on the night. The screening starts at 7.30pm.

World music

Eight-piece ensemble Stipsky will perform their world music and dance rhythms next Thursday, April 1, at the Tatts Hotel in Lismore.

This big band will play music from Turkey, Egypt, Macedonia, Ireland and Spain as well as some klezmer, gypsy music and a bit of funk. Entry is $3. The music starts at 8.30pm.

THE FLOOD

April 8 - 10
Starting @ the Cnr of Magellan & Keen Strs
6.30pm

Free event

Text by Janis Balodis, music by Michael Hannan, directed by Patrick Nolan, designed by Kathryn Sproul, lighting design by Bernie Tan, sound design by Colin Black, instrument builder Steve Langton, visual artist Craig Walsh, design collaborator Harley Graham.

NORPA's free outdoor production of The Flood explores a community's capacity to pull together in times of crisis in a humorous and accessible way. Actors, choirs and installations tell the story of our modern Noah, Neville in this case, as he and his wife Norah prepare their ark, built on the back of his plumber's ute, for the coming of The Flood.

"The Flood is really a play set to music, but with so much more. There are really interesting elements to the music such as the soundscapes featuring frog and bird calls and the Flood Drummers who are heard but never seen - like an early warning system for an approaching flood," said composer Michael Hannan.

Hannan is currently in rehearsal with community choir members who will also feature in The Flood as part of the Neo Choir (new converts to the cause!). Instrument maker Steve Langton has designed a thong-o-phone (a set of tuned pvc pipes hit with thongs) and a pyro-phone (set of aluminium pipes played with a gas torch) especially for the performance.

The play begins at the corner of Magellan and Keen Streets at 6.30pm each evening. Audience members are invited to join the action and follow the ark as it makes its way through the streets of Lismore and to the river bank. Along the way, shop front windows and a huge installation inside the Star Court Theatre will feature a virtual flood of images including high tide marks, SES updates and an underwater soundscape, creating the illusion of being taken underwater. For more information on The Flood, call NORPA on 6622 0300 or visit www.norpa.org.au

Also in Lismore

Tickets are now on sale for all shows in the NORPA 2004 Season, including Legs On the Wall's production of Runners Up, Company B Belvoir's adaptation of The Underpants and the Sydney Symphony Orchestra, who will play in Lismore for one night only. Tickets are available at the Northern Rivers Ticket Centre on 6621 5600 or at the NORPA website www.norpa.org.au