The Scene - Local Entertainment News

S Sense

Driving is weird. I mean, you do it all the time and hardly think about it. "Goodbye, I'm off to the pub or the beach or South Australia."

But then occasionally you look at the whole concept more, well, realistically.

Two metal boxes with wheels barrelling towards each other at 100 km/h with, say, a metre between them. On my country road you're lucky to fit your rear vision mirrors.

And here am I worrying about heavy metals in food.

What about roundabouts? Are there rules? Engineers and boffins have been trying to negotiate traffic flow at intersections for a hundred years - traffic lights, give way signs, those metal axle breakers that stop you from cutting the corner... if you see it in time. Genius.

Roundabouts are a sign that they've just given up. "Okay everyone. In you go. Good luck."

I've seen senior citizens, who learnt to drive when the madness was less rampant, stuck at a roundabout for what seems like hours, looking longingly at the windmill and milk-can shed among the trees, unable to get to this island of rural charm at the roundabout's centre, thwarted by the hyped-up, spilt-second, life and death waltz that is the modern intersection.

Then again, at most other times, it seems to me that putting new drivers in a vehicle capable of 200km/h on a road that follows an old bullocky track to a roundabout with me on it, is the most rational thing in the world to do since stopping the XPT service.

A jazz dream come true

Rankin and Fine realise a jazz dream.

The Australian Jazz Convention is the longest running jazz event in the world and takes place yearly for musicians and people who love jazz music. The big news is that Lismore has won the right to host the 60th Australian Jazz Convention. As many as 1000 jazz musos and friends will meet in Lismore between Christmas and the new year (2004/05) to exchange musical ideas and enjoy the art of jazz music.

Local Jazz Club members and well known musicians, Davey Rankin and Pietro Fine, led the charge to have Lismore host the event, staving off fierce (and very confident) competition from Noosa Heads.

Dave and Pietro actually met at the 30th Jazz Convention in Melbourne in 1975. Since that time they have both moved to the North Coast where they have continued their friendship and shared the same dream - that their adopted home, Lismore, would one day be the site for an Australian Jazz Convention. The dream has come true.

With help from Lismore City Council, through the interest of then councillor John Crowther, the Lismore bid was presented at the 58th Jazz Convention in Forbes last December.

Of course, with such a win, comes the reformation of the Lismore Jazz Club. With the help of John Bancroft and the staff from the Lismore Events Office, the Lismore Jazz Club will organise a series of fundraisers to raise the necessary bucks to facilitate the convention.

The inaugural fundraiser for the 60th Jazz Convention will be held on Sunday, June 27, at the Lismore RSL Club from 2pm. Stay tuned.

The Circle continues...

Local author Melaina Faranda has released the latest in her 'Circle' series of books - entitled Princess. A contemporary retelling of the classic fairytale Cinderella, The Circle: Princess examines the pressure to conform, beauty myths, body image issues and their powerful impact on teenage self-esteem.

"I really resent how the preoccupation with appearances consumes valuable energy, time and happiness that could be so much more powerfully employed elsewhere," Melaina said. "This in itself is a reflection of something badly wrong in our society."

The Circle series examines the lighter and darker sides of magic, friendship, love and daily life. Blending the mythical and real, The Circle series explores crucial issues confronting teenagers today.

The Circle: Princess is now available from all good bookstores for $14.95.

Freebie: The Echo has two copies of The Circle: Princess to give away. To go in the draw to win phone 6622 2888 between 10 and 10.10am on Tuesday June 15, and tell us the name of, um, another book... any book... no, seriously.

Bringing Spain to Byron Bay

Anthony Garcia and Paul Thom will join forces this Saturday, June 12, to bring a touch of 18th century Spanish sensuality to Byron Bay, with music inspired by the fandango.

Think of castanets, foot stamping, tambourines and bright silk costumes and you have a picture of the fandango (or Nimbin), a sexually provocative, very popular, Spanish dance.

Most of the music in the concert will be drawn from the 18th century, but it will also feature original work by Garcia and improvisation between the two instrumentalists.

The combination of guitar and harpsichord is rarely heard, but it works exceptionally well in this Spanish context.

Anthony Garcia travelled to Mexico in 1994 where he studied with several maestros, participated in master classes with virtuoso guitarists and received many awards.

Paul Thom is best known as Dean of Arts at Southern Cross University, but he also studied harpsichord in Amsterdam with the Dutch master Gustav Leonhardt and has appeared as a soloist in Paris, Oxford, the United States and Australia.

You can feel the Spanish heat at the Byron Community and Cultural Centre on Saturday from 8pm. Tickets are $20 at the door. For info phone 6685 5659.

Danger. Danger. Poetry ahead.

Two of Byron Bay's most popular performers, Gina Lakosta and Vasudha, will warm up the first winter Dangerously Poetic monthly reading with a great afternoon of words and music this Saturday, June 12, at the RSL Hall in Bangalow.

The afternoon also includes the popular open reading section where poets and aspiring poets can time their rhymes and work their assonances off.

The poetry starts at 3pm and a $4 donation is appreciated.

Splend-did competition for rare tickets

Daniel Johns and Paul Mac dissociate together...

The complete line-up has now been announced for Splendour In The Grass, the popular two-day music festival at Belongil Fields in Byron Bay, on July 24-25.

Confirmed acts include The Dissociatives, Fiery Furnaces, PJ Harvey, Dashboard Confessional, Sneaky Sound System, Ozomatali, Slinky and Rocket Science.

For those unlucky punters who have not secured tickets to the now sold-out event, The Echo is giving away two double passes as prizes in our Splendour competition, as well as various CDs from some of the performing artists.

To go in the draw to win, all you have to do is write in and tell us why you should be one of the lucky ones to win a double pass. Keep it under 25 words (or at least try) and if you make it funny, poetic (or even pathetic enough), you may increase your chances of success.

Last week's juvenile attempt by S at securing bribes has been discovered so gifts must now be extended to the editor as well...

Mail your entry to Splendour Comp, PO Box 37, Lismore, NSW, 2480, before Monday, June 21. Winners will be announced on June 24. Go for it.

Last dance, folks

Ragweed season nearly over...

After more than five years of playing foot-stompin' ragtime acoustic blues, local band Ragweed are packing up their instruments, and calling it a day.

Ragweed will stage their final gig this Friday, June 11, at the Dunoon Sports Club from 8pm.

Formed as a three-piece in The Channon area with guitar, harmonica and tea chest bass, these guys immediately turned heads with the vigour and fun of their performances. Then with the addition of drums and percussion, they began to infiltrate the live music scene in pubs, creating a toe-tappin', bootie-shakin' good time.

Eventually the festival scene caught onto their blues potential and Ragweed became a hot festival act, with gigs at the Woodford Folk Festival among others.

For the last 18 months, Ragweed have been playing up and down the east coast but the time has come to "leave this city, and don't come back no more" - to coin an old blues phrase.

That's right folks, this really is your last chance to catch Ragweed in full bloom before they head off on a tour of the great unknown. So head out to Dunoon this Friday and enjoy the final flowering of Ragweed.

Huck Finn on the Richmond

The Ballina Players latest musical production, Big River: The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn, will begin its three-week season at the Players Theatre in Ballina from next Friday, June 18.

Big River is a musical adaptation of Mark Twain's book of childhood discovery, The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn. This is one of Broadway's most popular musicals of the last 20 years and features all those well-known characters - the Widow Douglas, her stern sister Miss Watson, the uproarious King and Duke (who may not be as harmless as they seem), Huck's partner in crime Tom Sawyer, Huck's drunken father, the sinister Pap Finn, Jim the runaway slave and the lovely Mary Jane Wilkes.

The story, which deals with issues of racism and justice, and its surprise ending are set to some fine songs written by country legend Roger (King of the Road) Miller. He won a Tony award for this Big River score.

The Ballina Players, led by Sue and Paul Belsham, have assembled a cast of experienced musicians, singers and dancers as well as creating a beautiful set (may be not the one pictured) in which to play out this musical drama.

Big River: The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn will be performed next Friday and Saturday, June 18-19, and each weekend until July 10. There will also be a Sunday matinee on July 4. Tickets are $20/18 from La Boutique in Ballina or phone 6686 2662.

Ain't that rice...

The Sushi train is departing from Sushi Central this Friday, June 11, for a Sushi & Soundwaves journey that features all the sushi you can eat plus DJ Bad Itch's underground UK hip hop. All that for $15. If you just want to catch the music after 8.30pm it'll cost you just $5.

Sushi Central is located in Eggin's Lane (behind Caddies).

Cream of the Trop

North Coast CAMERA is screening Tropfest 2004 in Lismore next Friday, June 18, at the Star Court Theatre.

Tropfest is one of the world's largest short film festivals and this year had more than 600 entries that have been whittled down to 16 finalists. Tropfest continues to unearth some of the best filmmaking talent in this country and the results are always entertaining.

Some of the 16 short films are Wild Thing (A young boy lies beneath a huge oak tree as life unravels around him), Confessions of an Animation (Life can be a little different through the eyes of an animation), Self Serve (Griff pulls into a remote country service station to get some service), The Belfast Boys (A story about three brothers growing up in a country of war) and Summer Angst (It is the start of the summer holidays and Felicity is 15, bra-less and boyfriend-less... ).

So if you're into Australian film culture, or just looking for an entertaining night out, check out Tropfest 2004. It's much better than the trash on TV at present. Screening starts at 7.30pm.

Rous-ing Poetry

Strelan dazzles the Live Poets!

The Live Poets! - one of the North Coast's cultural institutions - will be mixing metaphors next Wednesday, June 16, at the Rous Hotel in Lismore. This month's gig features two great poets - Daevid Allen and Christine Strelan.

Daevid Allen was a founder of the mythic cult band, Gong, which formed after a Glastonbury festival over 30 years ago. Daevid still travels for six months of the year through the US, Japan and Europe with a band as a performance poet and musician.

Christine Strelan needs no introduction to poetry and literature lovers on the North Coast. Her peformances with the Stand Up Poets!, her solo gigs, her books of poetry and her novels have seen her develop into a potent force in spoken word and literary circles. Her most recent novel, Lost Books, is fresh from the press and will be available at the gig.

David Hallett is, as always, the show's MC and he can be contacted for more information on 6688 8294. Live Poets! starts around 8pm and entry is $6/4. There will be open readings for all you poets out there.

Freebie: The Echo has a double pass to give away to a lucky reader. To go in the draw to win phone 6622 2888 between 10.15 and 10.30am on Tuesday, June 15, and tell us the title of another of Christine Strelan's novels...

Up and Atherton

Many years ago, at the Woodford Folk festival, I saw this fresh faced Brisbane lad do one of his very first stand up gigs. The audience simply fell about in uncontrollable laughter as this new comic with the gift of mimicry and languages took them on a journey exploring human foibles.

Shortly after his first appearance, Jonathon Atherton (pictured) was snatched up by Discovery Channel's Lonely Planet as their anchorman - his ability to speak several languages and his keen cultural insights set him apart as not only a comedian, but something of an anarchic anthropologist. That is how he approaches his material. Wildly energetic and fiercely intelligent Atherton deconstructs the human psyche, social behaviour, and the way we humans co-habit on the planet. He recently spent 18 months performing throughout the UK and the US where he stunned audiences there with his remarkable ability for parody and political comment.

Jonathon is the feature act at Mandy Nolan's Stand Up Comedy Club at the Byron Bowling Club Monday, June 14, along with Sandy Gandhi as support and some brilliant up and coming talent on the open mike. Ms Mandy promises to keep her clothes on for at least the first half of the show!

The laughs start at 8pm. Tickets are $10/15 and are available from the Byron Bowling Club or phone 6685 4045 for bookings.

Stars at night

Ross Ward and Jim Kelly are part of The Bay All Stars

After their huge success at this year's Byron Blues and Roots Festival, The Bay All Stars will get down and dirty at Mary Gilhooleys Irish Pub & Restaurant next Wednesday, June 16.

This week's jazz night promises to be one of the best with some of the coolest swing, jazz and blues talent in this area - talent like Ross Ward, Jim Kelly, Steve Russell, Greg Lyon, Jack Thorncraft and Dave Sanders.

The show starts at 8.30pm and costs $5.

Half Way There Party

Rock Hardson will turn the tables at UniBar.

The year is half way over and the Campus Central UniBar is holding a huge party to celebrate next Thursday, June 17.

But they won't be doing a half decent job of it - they'll be going all the way with two big acts. The 8-piece funk outfit, Groove Dalley will be playing alongside DJ Rock Hardson.

Groove Dalley is a North Coast based progressive groove outfit which draws inspiration from bands such as St Germain, D.I.G., Daft Punk and Jurassic 5. Groove Dalley has established a large and diverse following in local circles, due partly to their deliverance of killer live shows that never leave an audience in their seats. This has earned them the opening spot for this year's Splendour In The Grass.

Before and after Groove Dalley is the turntable action of DJ Rock Hardson.

Rock Hardson is one of the leading funk/disco artists playing in Australia at present. He recently featured on Triple J's Mix Up program and has played on tours with international acts like Jamiroquai and The Avalanches.

Tickets are free to students and $5 to guests. Doors open at 8pm and the gig is for punters 18 years and older. For more information phone 6627 6888.

Body on the line

Agius in a raw light...

By taking photos of her own body, artist Michelle Agius mixes her personal vulnerabiltiy with the viewer's voyeuristic excitement to create a visual experience that is evocative and sensual. This is pretty daring stuff, blurring the line between the erotic and the intimate.

Agius has put together a body (excuse the pun) of work for her exhibition, entitled In The Raw Light, which is running at the Waywood Gallery in the Byron Arts and Industries Estate until early July.

This exhibition includes works on paper, paintings, photography and the relatively new "gclee" print on to canvas.

Agius has exhibited extensively on the east coast of Australia over the last twelve years and has received more than one award for her design work.

For further information phone 6685 5808 or visit the website www.waywoodart.com.

Good theatre sports

Linc TV and Lismore Theatre Company are hosting a free theatre games night next Wednesday, June 16, at the Rochdale Theatre in Goonellabah from 6pm.

The night will include traditional theatre sport games - no acting experience is required - just turn up!

These theatre sports nights will continue fortnightly, culminating on Wednesday night, June 30, in a live television production, called Twisted Wits.

It's all fun and games. For more info phone Jamie Grant on 0423 658 242.

Calling all fashion designers

Lismore Regional Gallery will present Fashion Fuse on July 24.

Fashion Fuse is a showcase of local fashion designers in a diverse and original fashion parade of the very best local creations.

The organisers are looking for more local designers to get involved. If you're a designer and want your creations to be aired in public phone 6633 7057 or 6622 2209.

Soya wanna be an artist?

The Noise Festival invites young artists (aged 25 and under) to enter SOYA for the chance to win $5000 cash plus $5000 in Qantas flights to advance their budding careers.

There are seven categories young artist can enter - music, fashion design, photography, moving pictures, words, industrial design and pictures.

Each winner will also receive a mentorship with a high profile expert in their creative area. Some of the mentors are Paul Mac, Gillian Armstrong, Peter Morrissey and Marc Newson - those in the know will recognise these names as absolute leaders in their fields.

Find out more by visiting the website www.noise.net.au or phone 1800 080 826.

Tribal Hoedown

Gypsy folk band, Stipsky, and world funk band, Fatter than Nusrat, will be the feature acts of Tribal Hoedown at Coorabell Hall this Friday, June 11.

Add to these main ingredients the subtle additives of poetry, dance, assorted guest musos and DJ Loverug and you have an exciting recipe for a hot winter's night.

There'll be plenty of food and drinks, dance partners and the fresh air of the Byron hills. The show starts at 8pm and costs $12/10.

Stick it to 'em

The industrial strength three-piece dub reggae outfit, Stick, plays Byron Bay for the pure joy of it (very generous of them) at The Rails this Friday, June 11. This band loves to play and there have been stories of their playing for more than four hours straight - well, not exactly straight, but you know what I mean.

They revel in dancehall grooves with impromptu licks from the 70s, 80s and 90s thrown in for the sheer fun and virtuosity of it all. Combine that with their very sweet harmonies and you'll be dancing until the ankles snap.

This is the only band on the continent that wants to start early and doesn't take half-hour bong breaks. No responsibility is taken for loose hips, aching legs or happy glowing faces.

The gig kicks off around 9pm.

Dance chance

The Gold Coast Dancers Company is inviting all classical or contemporary dancers, aged 10-19 years, to audition this Saturday, June 12, for roles in an exciting dance production due to open at the Seagulls Stardust Room in September.

Three internationally experienced choreographers, Paul Loyd, Louise Deleur and Fiona Munroe, will select dancers for three ballets - one classical, one contemporary and one modern.

For info phone (07) 5598 4292 (evenings) or 0413 045 337.

Zukini in beef town

Retro Covers band, Pink Zukini, will perform their very own adult show at Cougars Nightclub, Casino RSM, on Friday, June 18, from 9.30pm. There will be costumes, wigs and weird stage props... you'll just have to see it for your self.

Triv Lit

Do you know your Dickens from your Dostoevsky? Are you absolutely astounded by Astley? Are you blighted with a lack of Blyton? Ever been won over by Winton? Ever been talking with Tolkien? Can't get enough questions?

Well, go and test your literary knowledge at the Bumper Literary Trivia Quiz at the Byron Community & Cultural Centre this Sunday, June 13, from 7pm.

There are celebrity judges, MC Mick O'Regan and loads of prizes to be won.

Book a table of 10 for $80 or grab an individual seat for $10. For bookings phone 6685 5659 or 0407 552 441. All proceeds go to the Byron Community & Cultural Centre.

It's for R.E.A.L.

Two Bobs Worth is a family night of comedy and variety presented by Body & Soul Theatre Company that includes skits, theatre sports and an auction of various goods and services. This one-off show is a fundraiser for the Religious Education Association of Lismore (R.E.A.L.).

Robert Allen from Lismore High School and Robert Sipe from Kadina High School will ad lib their usual witty way through the evening with Josh Symes from Richmond River High School acting as compere. These three gentlemen are all chaplains working with their respective schools and this show will see them stretching the boundaries of their usual duties in an effort to raise money for the chaplaincy cause.

You can be part of the fun at the Christian Life Centre in Molesworth Street, Lismore, on Friday, June 18, from 7.30pm. Tickets are $5/2. For more information phone 6625 1556.

Lismore Lantern Parade Afterparty

Fountain Room and Gardens at Lismore City Hall
Saturday June 19 from 8pm
Tickets $15/$10 concession

Put down your lanterns and join the Light n Up crew at Lismore City Hall for a post Lantern Parade celebration on Saturday, June 19, from 8pm. With mulled wine and full bar facilities, yummy food, amazing atmosphere and some hot music from the highly danceable, ska-influenced Utopians - what could be better on a chilly winter's evening? Don't miss this opportunity to celebrate 10 years of the Lismore Lantern Parade. Tickets are available from Caddies Coffee and the Rainbow Region Visitor Information Centre.

La Guerra

Produced by Teatro del Mundo
Star Court Theatre
July 9 & 10 at 8pm
Tickets $20/$15 + booking fee

Inspired by Spanish poet Federico Garcia Lorca's works, La Guerra is a stormy flamenco dance theatre performance. Teatro del Mundo has devised a dramatic interpretation of the horrifying events that led to the outbreak of the Spanish Civil War. This is captured through an emotional link between this tragic moment in history and flamenco.

First performed in December 2002 in the Adelaide Festival Centre's Space Theatre, La Guerra was proclaimed one of the most successful works presented that year. Principal artists are associate directors Liana Vargas and Chris Shepherd - both veteran performers, choreographers and dancers.

Flamenco Workshop

NORPA will host a workshop with Teatro del Mundo on Saturday. July 10, at Lismore City Hall. The workshop will cover traditional flamenco tuition and the most up to date European trends. Bookings are essential. For more information contact Emma Newman at NORPA Dance Action on emma@norpa.org.au, 6622 3279 or visit www.norpa.org.au

The Lismore Feast

Lismore City Hall Gardens
Saturday, October 16
7pm til late
Tickets: $88 + booking fee

"Thanks for creating one of the best events we have ever attended. The night was wonderful - and everyone was proud to be there. Lismore - our little piece of paradise."

Jaki Melkman, 2003 NORPA Subscriber

NORPA is excited to announce the celebrity chef for the 2004 Lismore Feast. Karen Martini, currently Executive Chef at the Icebergs Dining Room and Bar and formerly of the Melbourne Wine Room, will cook for 200 lucky 'feasters' in the gardens of Lismore City Hall on Saturday, October 16. Winner of Best New Restaurant in the 2004 Good Food Guide, the two hat Icebergs is certainly making headlines throughout the country. Karen is well respected in the industry for innovative, Mediterranean style food. She has developed a wide repertoire of mainly French and Italian dishes from her training at Tansy's in Melbourne and from travelling in Europe.

Ms Martini is currently working on a special menu for the evening featuring local produce. The menu will be available from the Northern Rivers Ticket Centre and the NORPA website in late June. The 2004 Lismore Feast promises to be another exceptional evening you won't want to miss. A celebration of fine food, fine wine and entertainment, with old friends and new - it is an evening well spent.