The Scene - Local Entertainment News

S Sense

An election is announced.

Funnily enough, Jesus comes back. To see how the Christian™ values thing is going in the land of the Golden Arches - Australia.

He'd have to fly in. I mean, his being an Arab and all, he wouldn't want to come in by boat. That'd be silly.

"I saw them chuck baby Jesus in the ocean," says the PM even though he didn't. Not drowning, walking on water.

"These are the poor who seek refuge," says Jesus, his feet still wet.

"They have no money. Let's kill something!" says the PM.

"Wait on champ," says Jesus. "Thou shalt not kill. Pretty straight forward commandment."

"Non core! Non core!" shouts the PM. "Let's bomb bad people."

"Judge not and you will not be judged."

"I'm not judging," says the PM indignantly. "I got this powerful friend who does that."

"Who in hell is in charge here?" demands the haloed one, angry lightning flashing from his fingertips like a paint job on a Monaro. The Saviour is getting a bit prickly.

"The Australian people," says the PM, "reckon I am."

Flash!

"Well, actually, my powerful friend, Mr President is. I'm his, um, boy."

Flash! Flash!

"Okay. Okay. It's the... the... you're not going to like this, Mr Christ... it's the moneylenders!"

With that admission, Jesus went off his holy head.

"I tell them - Woe to you that are rich for you have received your consolation! Give, and it will be given to you! Blessed are the poor, the hungry, the disadvantaged - everyone! Except bloody moneylenders... and plumbers. Well, maybe not plumbers, but..."

Jesus takes a deep breath, his sacred heart pounding. He hankers for a glass of wine. Even water will do, if you know the trick. Wink wink.

"Don't hurt me, Lord," says the PM. "Not financially, anyway."

"Why do you call me Lord and not do what I tell you? What do I have to do?" asks the son of God, his hands and feet tingling.

Then Jesus leans way down to the PM and gives him a big hug - and a glass of red. "Do unto others..."

"I'm leaving," says Jesus, striding out across the waves. "And I'm withdrawing my Christian™ trademark from your country. Try Citibank. These are desperate times. I'm going to NZ."

Sheehan mastery

Percussion maestro Greg Sheehan will conduct a four-day intensive rhythm and drum camp at the famous Funkey Forest Retreat in Upper Main Arm from Wednesday, September 15, to Saturday, September 19.

The camp includes delicious meals, a naturally beautiful site in which to either camp or share dormitory accommodation, plus four days of working closely with Greg in a small group on all aspects of technique, notation, polyrhythms, body percussion and much, much more...

The camp is designed for intermediate, advanced and professional drummers, percussionists or any player with a focus on rhythm.

Greg Sheehan is one of Australia's best and most innovative drummer/percussionists and regarded internationally as a leader in his field.

Cost is $475/400 including meals and accommodation. For more information or bookings phone 6624 7612 or email soniac@aapt.net.au.

Tea Tree Artist's Tree

'Bangalow Road' - a painting by 2003 Coraki Art Prize winner, Glen Vause.

River town, Coraki, is hosting an Artsfest this year on the weekend of October 29-31, as well as its regular Tea Tree Art Prize. There'll be arts demonstrations, workshops, graffiti art, music, bus tours and stalls - and of course, lots of art to look at.

This highly acclaimed annual event has more than $5000 in prizes, including $1000 for Best in Show.

Last year's Open Prize winner, Glen Vause, also won second prize, Best in Show and Overall Popular Choice. Not only did he scoop the pools at Coraki, Glen also won in two categories at the 2004 Aspects Art Show in Goondiwindi and was pre-selected for the 2004 Waterhouse Art Prize in Adelaide and for the Country Energy Art Prize. Local boy done good.

Entry forms for the Coraki Tea Tree Art Prize are available now at art shops, galleries, framers and photo shops throughout the region.

For more information phone 6683 2626 or 6683 2325.

Mandipensa, Mindanao Man

Datu Efren Mandipensa, a tribal chief from the island of Mindanao in the Philippines, returns to the Northern Rivers to perform a speaking, singing and cultural tour throughout September.

You can hear his story, songs and traditional rhythms as he talks about positive environmental initiatives created in his country.

Chief Datu will appear at the Blue Tongue Cafe in North Lismore next Tuesday, September 7, from 7pm and at Byron on Wednesday, September 8, at Seed Savers, from 4.30pm. He'll also perform on Thursday, September 9, at The Channon Diversity Farm from 4.30pm, with a garden tour and presentation later in the evening. His final two appearances are an evening presentation at Nimbin's Djanbung Gardens on Saturday, September 11, from 4.30pm and a breakfast at Barkers Vale Permaforest Trust on Monday, September 13, from 9am. Entry is by gold coin for all the above events.

For more information phone 6621 3294 or email ruthr@ozemail.com.au.

that include a tribal training centre, forest garden and permaculture projects, culture strengthening strategies and farming ideas created within sacred law

Box Set with Poker Dots

Through the looking glass darkly - The Box Monsters play the big gig at the Italo Club this Saturday.

If you were among the hundreds that came to the great Rage Against HoWARd gig a few weeks ago, you would appreciate the pleasure of a smoke-free, child-friendly venue.

Jimmy Willing, who was a main organiser of that previous gig, will be taking advantage of the fantastic ballroom at the very comfortable Italo Club in North Lismore this Saturday, September 4, with a gig that will be to dancers what oil is to Bush.

On the bill are The Red Hot Poker Dots, who are fresh from a tour of the USA. Their music is a sort of smokin' twistabilly country-bop. These cowboys (and cowgirl) are living proof that punk is not dead - it's just moved outside the city limits and wears a Stetson.

With a lead singer that obviously suffers from ADHD, Jimmy Willing & the Real Gone Hick-Ups will be there. Catch Jimmy Willing (literally) as he drops to his knees and pushes the dance floor to fever pitch. They're a punk rock band disguised as a nice country outfit with a dash of Elvis pelvis.

If Tom Waits and The Cramps held up a bank, the soundtrack in the getaway car would be by The Box Monsters. With their creepy costumes and swampy sound, they're responsible for keeping rock 'n' roll alive and kicking in Lismore.

Also performing is Dave Ramsey, a young up-and-coming blues man. He is a lover of the good old stuff, country and Delta Blues. Currently the guitarist in The Real Gone Hick-Ups, Ramsey is on the rise.

The show starts at 6pm and costs a budget conscious $6.

Bring ya kids and ya grandma and have a dance on the North Coast's biggest dance floor!

Artist conquers Germany

The region's most famous Aboriginal artist, Albert 'Digby' Moran (pictured), is now making a name for himself far from his Cabbage Tree Island home.

Digby left for Europe earlier this week to launch his first solo exhibition of paintings at the Hamlin Museum in Germany, where 40 of his paintings will be on display for the next three months.

"I'm getting all excited and anxious now," said Digby, just hours before stepping on the plane. "It's huge for me and I think it's good for the local area and both the indigenous and non-indigenous community. It's a great chance to promote Northern Rivers art."

Ballina gets their Noises Off

Ballina Players are set to present their next production, Noises Off, by Michael Frayn.

Performances are on Friday and Saturday, September 10 and 11; Thursday to Saturday, September 16-18; and Thursday to Saturday, September 23-25. All shows starts at 8pm.

There's also a matinee on Sunday, September 12, at 2pm.

Tickets are $16/14 ($10 for kids). Bookings can be made at La Boutique in Ballina or phone 6686 2662.

Tankstream dream concert

The Tankstream Quartet will perform in Ballina as part of Musica Viva's concert series for 2004.

Since its formation in 2000, the Tankstream Quartet (quartet in residence at the Australian Institute of Music in Sydney), has established itself amongst the finest chamber music ensembles in Australia.

The quartet will perform an interestingly diverse program, featuring composers Mozart, Schubert (favourites of mine) and Shostakovich (surprise package) at St Mary's Anglican Church in Norton Street, Ballina, next Saturday, September 11.

The Tankstream Quartet is renowned for its distinctive musical approach, demonstrated by its success in international competitions and a growing prominence on the concert stage.

Tankstream has given concerts throughout Australia and has performed and competed internationally in England, Austria and Japan, winning in the Osaka and Melbourne chamber music competitions. This is the outstanding performing ensemble of the younger generation of Australian chamber music.

This year the members of Tankstream Quartet were chosen as cultural ambassadors to represent Australia at the Danish royal wedding. They played for the Governor General when he hosted the Danish royal family at dinner, and then gave a concert to a packed hall in Copenhagen. The highlight of this remarkable experience was playing at the reception in Fredensborg Palace.

The concert starts at 8pm. Tickets are $28/24 (with students $14) and are available from Dymocks in Lismore (6622 4987) or from the ABC Centre in Ballina (6686 2436). Or get them at the door.

Art, art and more art

A selection of works by members of the Lismore Art Club is currently on show at Armistead's Gallery in Lismore.

The exhibition features some of the prize-winning works from the Lismore Art Club's 42nd annual exhibition as well as a number of other artworks in a variety of media.

The exhibition is on show until September 15.

Armistead's Gallery is at 43b Wyrallah Road, East Lismore. For more information phone 6622 8011.

Regional artistic reflections

One of the works that Jenny Kitchener, a local artist and teacher, will be exhibiting in her exhibition On Reflection at Lismore Regional Gallery during September.

Lismore Regional Gallery invites us to consider the world of performing artists, the problem of aging, deconstructing our dinner parties and the place of water in our dry land. These are the subject matters for four exhibitions presented by the gallery in September.

Local artist, Jimmy Willing, calls his exhibition, Jimmy Willing and the Pack of Cards, "an exhibition about show business. It reflects the different aspects of my creative process and highlights the cross-over of visual and performing arts". His exhibition uses the artistry of puppeteer Lenka Muchova and Box Monsters members, Sean Louth-Robins, Jason Rogers and Cornelius Delaney.

Jenny Kitchener says her exhibition, On Reflection, is about "change and how it affects our relationships with one another". Jenny's mother has Alzheimers and the work reflects Jenny's fragmented responses to this huge change in her relationship with her mother.

The third exhibition, Plate of Plato, by Hayley Hillis, is a distillation of material gathered over a series of dinner parties with friends. Hard work.

"Plate of Plato reflects my interest in recording events in order to extract their essence through a process of deconstruction and presentation aimed at reflecting the memories of such occasions," said Hillis.

The final exhibitor in this month's showings, Allan Geier, will be exhibiting in the Lismore Regional Gallery and the Norco ArtSpace in South Lismore.

Geier has been producing fountains, sculptural commissions and public artworks both in Australia and overseas. This work, titled Fish 'n Sticks, is the third in the series, Fountain for a Dry Land.

These exhibitions are on show until September 25. The gallery is open Tuesday to Saturday. For more information phone 6622 2209.

Drama Queen works

Kate McDowell learns the hard way in The Lesson - one of the HSC performance pieces in Drama Works at the Star Court Theatre next Thursday.

Each year the Far North Coast Drama Collegiate organises a showcase of student performance pieces after the actual HSC week.

This year there is an even larger program with selections from Trinity Catholic and Woodlawn Colleges, plus South Grafton, Maclean, Ballina and Lismore High Schools.

The theatre styles range from realist to absurdist, from physical to stylised.

There will be two shows at the Star Court Theatre in Lismore next Thursday, September 9. Sadly, the matinee at 11am is sold out but there are still tickets available for the 7pm show - if you hurry to Caddies Coffee in Lismore for tickets. Any left will be on sale at the door. Prices are $10/8.

Romance the Trance with Psychedelia

Fractal Glider tweaks the magic buttons in Lismore this Friday. Photo by doofpix.com.

Prepare for the freshest psy-trance sounds from Melbourne this Friday, September 3, at Lismore's One Bar & Niteclub. It'll be a high voltage event featuring some of Australia's best trance music from Fractal Glider, Ozzy, (both from Tribeadelic - Australia's premier party outfit and record label) and locals Luke Psywalker (Digital Psionics) and Eld vs. Fresh (PsyPneumatix).

Fractal Glider is Paul McCosh, who began producing psychedelic trance in Melbourne in 1995. Since then he has released two solo albums and featured on 14 compilations on labels worldwide.

Deck wizard, producer and sonic sorcerer Ozzy has played alongside the likes of GMS, Infected Mushroom, Skazi, Logic Bomb and many other leading producers from around the world.

This will be dance heaven.

The music grooves on from 9pm-4am.

Uni to Resin-ate with hot Dogs

Resin Dogs sniff out the good gig at Uni.

Resin Dogs, one of Australia's biggest acts, will perform at the Campus Central UniBar auditorium next Thursday, September 9, from 8pm.

The Dogs, who won the Australian Dance Music award for Best Live Act in 2002 and 2003, have just finished a very successful tour of the UK and are about to embark on an nationwide tour with the world-famous Black Eyed Peas - but they wanted to play a gig to the Lismore crowd first. Sweet...

Supporting the Resin Dogs will be local hip-hop and funk masters, El Gonzo Green, and the filthy vinyl wizardry of Mud.

Tickets are $20/15 for students and $25/20 for guests. This will sell out fast so bookings are best. Phone 6627 6888.

When Irish champs are dancing

Proud local winners at the State Irish Dancing Championships (l-r) Katherine van den Berg, Harlie Byrnes, Connor van den Berg, Asher Douglas (kneeling), Alexandra Hahn, Freya Douglas and Tammy Curry.

The Lismore School of Irish Dance is celebrating the stunning success its solo and team dancers achieved at the Queensland State Championships held in Ipswich last weekend.

Solo dancers Harlie Byrnes (23), Tammy Curry (23), Connor van den Berg (16), Alexandra Hahn (14), Katherine van den Berg (12), Freya Douglas (11) and Asher Douglas (9) qualified for the Australian Irish Dancing National Championships to be held in Sydney in October.

These dancers are all from Lismore and its surrounding area.

The dance school's Under 11 and Under 16 girls and mixed teams also qualified for the national championships.

"This is the best result we've ever had at a state championships," said dance teacher Glenys Ritchie. "It was such a delight to see the dancers perform so well and bring home the trophies. I'm so proud of them."

And so are we. Good on you, champs.

Tonkin rockin' Rainbow

Tim Tonkin clutches his trophy at the Dolphin Awards last year.

Catch award winning local muso Tim Tonkin at the Rainbow Cafe in Nimbin this Saturday, September 4.

As part of the Durga Babies, Tim received Dolphin Awards for Album of the Year and Production of the Year for their CD, Love Comes, last year.

It's a fantastic album and Tim is Nimbin's Mr Music. Catch him from 1pm.

Regional Treasures - enter now!

Just a further reminder that entries have opened in the Lismore Regional Treasure Art Prize, with prize money of $5,000 on offer. That's a lot of money for an artist.

The award is open to any artist whose work explores a person, place or subject in the Clarence, Richmond and Tweed River valleys that the artist believes to be of value to the community.

Entries close on Friday, October 1, at 4pm. Entry forms are available from the Lismore Regional Gallery. For more information phone 6622 2209.

Filming workshop postponed

Cut to the Creative, a one-day workshop in basic filming techniques, has been postponed until Saturday, September 18. Run by North Coast CAMERA, this workshop is designed to help up-and-coming video makers get their creative mojo happening by teaching the skills of scripting, camera techniques, shooting to edit, lighting and many other aspects of this craft.

For more information phone 6621 5454 or 6688 0031.

Something Fishy at the Rous

Fish is a four piece jazz outfit that will blow hot and cool at the Rous Hotel in Lismore next Tuesday, September 7, from 8.30pm.

James Sherlock, Dave Ades, Thierry Fosmale and Dave Sanders will fish for that perfect jazz groove using sharp hooks, with a baited backbeat, tied to strong melody lines, at the next session of the weekly Jazz & Blues Night at the Rous. Tickets are $5.

NORPA presents

SPRUNG!
A Monkey Baa production in association with Glen Street
Star Court Theatre, Lismore
Tuesday, Sept 7, 7pm
Wednesday, Sept 8, 10am & 7pm
Tickets: $$22.20, $17.20, $12.20. Family $56.80.

NORPA welcomes spring with Sprung!

Andrew Daddo makes kids squirm. He also makes them laugh, shudder and occasionally shift uncomfortably in their seats... and the kids wouldn't have it any other way.

Since 2001 the popular Australian television presenter has revealed to the world a previously hidden talent as one of Australia's leading storytellers for children. There is an irrepressible magic about a child's 'take' on life, and some-how, big grown-up Andrew Daddo has been able to put his finger well and truly on it.

Daddo's first book, Sprung!, an episodic journey through the hilarious scrapes and travails of young Fergus Kipper, was an immediate bestseller in 2000. This success led him to pen further titles, including Writing On Wet Cement, Creepy Cool and Sprung Again!

Now Sprung! has been adapted successfully for stage by Eva Di Cesare, Sandra Eldridge and Tim McGarry and is on its way to Lismore.

And the stage version is just as funny as the book. According to Marcus Bower of Art, Culture and Entertainment (July 20, 2004) "Sprung! sprang out of the blocks and bowled over young and old alike."

NORPA will present performances of Sprung! at the Star Court Theatre, with the feature performance at 7pm next Tuesday, September 7. This will be followed by two matinee performances on Wednesday, September 8, at 11am and 1pm. Tickets can be purchased at the Northern Rivers Ticket Centre on 6621 5600 or visit www.norpa.org.au.

Congratulations to the following winners of a family pass to Sprung!

NORPA/Eagle Boys Pizza competition: B McGuiness of Goonellabah.

NORPA E News competition: P Boardman of Lismore.

Verbatim Theatre Workshop

Lismore City Hall
September 18, 10am-5pm
Tickets: $35 AWG members & students. $45 non-members.

NORPA C-Lab will bring playwright Alana Valentine to the North Coast in September to develop a project for theatre titled 'SENSATE'. While Alana is residing in the area she will participate in a one-day Verbatim Theatre workshop presented by the Australian Writers' Guild and NSW Ministry for the Arts. This increasingly popular form of theatre uses the words of real subjects but the skills of a playwright. Verbatim theatre is a growing theatrical phenomenon throughout Australia and the world. In this workshop Alana Valentine explores the making and shaping of verbatim theatre and its growing esteem as a new form of exciting and 'authentic' drama.

For budding writers, script clinics for theatre, film, television and radio writers will also be held at Lismore City Hall on September 24 and 25. Places are strictly limited for these face-to-face assessments of each writer's work. These clinics will provide writers with a unique opportunity to receive constructive and critical feedback and guidance on the future direction of their work.

For more information on these workshops contact the Australian Writers' Guild on 9281 1554 or download a registration form at www.awg.com.au.