The Scene - Local Entertainment News

S Sense

I like to dance.

Once, I won a keyring with a compass on it for being the best dancer at a school social. The strobe and the bass connected me to something essential, something... human. I let go. I expressed myself.

But the other kids gave me such a hard time for being so, well, uncool. Kids are cruel. (And the stupid compass on the keyring wouldn't work in a car - electromagnetic interference from the motor.)

I now dance alone. I am a closet dancer. Sometimes, at night, when I am pleasantly solo, when the tedia of the day are spirited away by flighty moonshadows and fruity two-year-old grape ferment, I dance. Oh yeah baby. I put on a CD and I groove.

I'm by myself but not alone. I'm surrounded by dancers - each one a candlelit reflection of me - in the windows. We and me are perfectly in time. They wink at me. They're a bit chubby but I like them. We're a perfect chorus line. We are Sufi dancers. We whirl like planets around a sun.

We dance up the country making it grin in secret. Our left hands point to the earth, our right to the heavens. We cha cha cha channelling Smokey - I am a whirling dervish doing motown. And like I did years ago, I let go.

On December 17, whirling dervishes across the world will celebrate the birth of Jelaluddin Mevlana Rumi, a mystic poet, who in the 13th century founded the Mevlevi Order - the whirling dervishes. God through dance.

I whirl faster. I am that poet. I speak with form and movement to God, my many reflections encouraging me. After changing the CD and refreshing my glass - whoops, dropped it. Oh well, there's plenty - I spin like a dollar coin on a wet bar. We laugh. We cry. We duck walk like Chuck and we fall to the floor enlightened (but unconscious). My dancing friends disappear into window sills.

The next morning, I awake in a fez lying amongst muesli bar wrappers, empty bottles, broken wine glasses, a condom(?), wine stained CDs and my pants hanging from a light bulb in the lounge room.

Sad tale of a drunk dervish.

Journey in paint

This painting, by Ildiko Hammond, is part of her latest exhibition at Armistead's Gallery in Lismore. The painting, called My Pixie, is inspired by the artist's daughter.

Ildiko Hammond grew up in Sydney, where she did a Diploma of Fine Arts majoring in printmaking. She exhibited regularly in Sydney and the Blue Mountains but then moved to Lismore two years ago - like many inspired artist have before her.

She had a successful exhibition at Armistead's Gallery at the beginning of the year and this latest back-by-popular-demand exhibition features her newest work.

Ildiko loves to slap the paint on until, as she says, "it is so thick it threatens to fall off the painting." She feels her new paintings are more personal to her.

"My paintings are therapy and they are becoming my life's visual journey."

Opening night for Ildiko's exhibition is next Wednesday, December 8, at Armistead's Gallery in Lismore from 6 to 8pm. The exhibition runs until December 22.

For more information phone 6622 8011.

Wild flower power

This linocut, called Waratah, is part of Lynette Weir's exhibition Wildflowerings.

Australian wildflowers have always been a passion for artist Lynette Weir. She grew up in southern Sydney surrounded by the Royal National Park and spent many childhood hours exploring native bushland. Her love for Australian flora is obvious in her exhibition at Kolinda Gallery in Alstonville.

Lynette is interested in the floral heritage of different areas and she paints many local species - including endangered species and small, often overlooked wildflowers.

She hopes that through her work people may gain a greater appreciation of our Australian wildflowers and in both preserving and growing local indigenous species.

Lynette's linocuts begin as drawings, which then progress into a design, which is carved into artist's lino. They're printed in black ink and hand-coloured with watercolours. Each print is individually handmade and is part of small, limited editions.

Waratahs have been a favourite with Lynette. As part of the Olympics Arts Festival she was invited to include some of her waratah designs in the State Of The Waratah exhibition at the Royal Botanic Gardens, Sydney.

She was featured artist at the Parc Menai Celtic Festival in 2003 with her renditions of the wildflowers of Cornwall, Ireland, Scotland, Isle of Man, and Wales. Lynette's Celtic Wildflower Collection was also part of The Australian Celtic Festival in Glen Innes earlier this year.

Don Page is opening Wildflowerings at Kolinda Gallery, Alstonville, this Friday, December 3. The exhibition will continue until December 17. For more information phone the gallery on 6628 0297.

Evans Headlining Photography

One of the huge panoramic photographs by Dr Richard Gates on show in Evans Head from this Sunday.

Sunrise-Sunset And Something In Between is Dr Richard Gates' first photographic exhibition and can be enjoyed at Paperbark Gallery in the Evans Head Arts and Industry Estate.

"It wasn't difficult choosing Evans Head as the subject matter for the exhibition," says Richard. "I've loved the natural beauty and character of Evans Head for 50 years. What's been hard is deciding what not to choose."

In the last couple of years Richard's been shooting panorama photographs using a Hasselblad X-Pan 35mm format. He loves panoramas - "What's great about panorama pictures is that you capture a whole scene, just as you see it, rather than just a bit of it as happens with conventional photographs."

And these photos are big - at more than one and a half metres framed, they're not easily missed!

The exhibition reflects Richard's love and concern for the local environment. He's been recording a pictorial history of the area including the environmental degradation that comes from inappropriate development.

One of his pictures, Yellow Tail at Snapper, recently won the Photography Prize at the Coraki Tea Tree Art Prize.

The opening is this Sunday, December 5, at 12pm, with an introduction from Dr Lindsay Aitkin. The exhibition runs until January 16. For more information phone 6682 5188.

Fun-raiser jazz by the river

Brett Iggulden likes hot sax and will show us his chops at the Lismore Jazz fundraiser this Sunday.

The Lismore Jazz Club will host this year's final fundraiser (for the annual Australian Jazz Convention to be held in Lismore late next year) at the Frog & Peach, the former restaurant by the river at Wyrallah, this Sunday, December 5, at 3pm.

The Brett Iggulden Quartet and the Channon Jazz Trio will provide the jazz in bucket loads - enough to get the toes tapping, the fingers clicking and music lovers up and dancing.

Brett Iggulden is a trumpeter, saxophonist, co-founder of the famous Red Onion Jazz Band and former musical director (now patron) of the Bellingen Jazz Festival - a passionate and dedicated jazz man.

Local music educator and bassist, George Urbaszek, leads the Channon Jazz Trio, a distillation of the Northern Rivers Conservatorium Big Band. This trio, says George, "has loads of drive and even more fun."

The Frog & Peach, on the main road in the village of Wyrallah, is now a private house, but the groovy spacious areas overlooking the river make it a great venue for live music. Bring your own drinks and nibblies.

Donation entry $8/5. Cheap. For more information phone 6622 5912.

Whian Whian gig gig

Jodie Hoocher and her band The Hoochers will shake the rafters at Whian Whian Hall this Saturday.

It's been a while since there was a big rage in a community hall in the Dunoon/Whian Whian area. And, as many people remember, country hall gigs go off!

Local North Coast band The Hoochers, in conjunction with the Whian Whian Hall people, are remedying that situation with a night of entertainments at the Whian Whian Hall this Saturday, December 4.

The Hoochers play what they call "funkafide blues" - a blend of jazz, funk, blues, swing, bop and jive. Apparently they don't play opera.

Also performing is Acoustic Bluestic (a local folk-blues duo), the Belly Funk Dancers, Dave Ramsey, Rohan Langford, Peppa Rose and others. Sounds like a big night.

Local businesses are coming to the party, so to speak, with gifts to be raffled on the night, which will raise funds for the hall. Keep the country halls alive!

Entry is $8. There will be food available on the night but bring your own drinks. The show starts at 7.30pm.

Irish I wish

The Irish Dancers are reel-y ready to jig in A Celtic Journey this Saturday.

The Lismore School of Irish Dance's popular annual concert high-kicks off this Saturday, December 4, at the Lismore Workers Club from 2pm.

It's like Lismore's very own Riverdance or Lord of the Dance, but we call it A Celtic Journey.

There will be live musicians, vocalists and more than 50 Irish dancers.

The school's senior dancers are among the best in Australia, having won trophies and medals at the recent state and national Irish Dance Championships.

A Celtic Journey represents the culmination of another year of hard work put in by the dancers and their teacher, Glenys Ritchie.

The Irish Dancers are also receiving welcome production assistance from Kadina High's senior music and drama students, who are contributing their stage management, lighting and video recording skills.

Tickets are $12 for adults and $5 for children at the door.

For more information phone 0416 224 258.

Lifesavas on Z-Trip of their lives

The Lifesavas may sweat to death in those uncool jackets at Byron this Sunday.

Z-Trip is a DJ, producer and (according to his publicist) rock god. He is one of the most sought after DJs worldwide. Whether opening for the Rolling Stones or tearing it up in sweaty clubs, Z-Trip always rocks the party the hardest. And modest...

Expect 80s classics, monster rock anthems and pop hits, all served with pounding hip hop beats and funk rhythms when he joins the Lifesavas for their hip-hop gig at the Great Northern Hotel in Byron this Sunday, December 5.

Lifesavas are the hottest new crew from the Quannum family (DJ Shadow, Blackalicious, Lyrics Born). They represent all that is good about hip-hop - tight lyricism, musicality and consciousness - all served with a good dose of humour. Theirs is not the tedious gansta rap that often pollutes hip-hop, creating a sort of stale testosteronal conformity that the world (and this band) doesn't need.

The gig starts at 8.30pm.

All aboard the Groove Train

Brisbane electronic trio, PTY LTD, will play at the Groove Train launch in Byron this Friday.

Triple J's Groove Train program on Friday nights is a showcase of new dance sounds, so it's appropriate that the launch of the new Groove Train CD should be at Byron Bay - land of the wild dance party. (I mean, Lismore rocks, but Byron is soooo trendy.)

Triple J's Sharif Galal is joined by locals Dave Atkins and Noodles. Brisbane live electronic outfit, PTY LTD, will also feature. It all happens at the Great Northern Hotel this Friday, December 3.

The Groove Train CD, out this month, is teeming with some of Byron's favourite Australian dance acts, including Katalyst, Endorphin and Tracky Dax - to name but a few.

Dave Atkins is the drummer of Resin Dogs. Together with Noodles, Atkins has run a radio show on local community radio called Hydrophonic and the two are known as the hot turntabalists of the area's club scene.

PTY LTD have moved and grooved audiences at some of Australia's biggest outdoor festivals over the past few years, including Good Vibrations and Queensland's Valley Fiesta. PTY LTD fuse organic funk and deep house elements creating a dance-oriented hybrid of sounds.

Tickets are $15/10 at the venue. The CD is available at all regular outlets.

Visit the choral riffs

The Acapelicans are ready to let it rip in the all-singing, no-banjo concert at the Summerland House With No Steps this weekend.

Two local community choirs, Voices in the Roar (Alstonville and Lismore) and The Acapelicans (Ballina) are holding a fundraising extravaganza at the Summerland House With No Steps in Alstonville this Sunday, December 5, from 4pm.

Voices in the Roar, led by Alstonville musician and singing teacher, Simon Chate, was formed in early 2002 and has about 25 singers. As its name suggests, Voices in the Roar sings with energy and exciting, vibrant harmony.

The Acapelicans, steered by well-known musician and conductor Warren Whitney, is a 16 member group which has been entertaining local audiences for more than seven years. The Acapelican repertoire encompasses a wide variety of musical styles, from contemporary to sacred, often with complex harmonies.

The two choirs will sing together and individually. Half of the gig's profits will go to the Summerland House with No Steps. Entry is $12/10 and a very classy afternoon tea is included in the price.

PS: The Acapelicans are also presenting their annual Christmas Concert at St Mary's Church in Ballina next Wednesday, December 8, at 7.30pm. They will be supported by young trumpeter Nicholas Hewett and the Ballina Youth Choir. Tickets are $15/$12, which includes drinks and a selection of delicious food.

Artist? Roger that, Jason

Jason Rogers is all smiles with his recent artistic recognition as an emerging talent.

Southern Cross University graduate, Jason Rogers, is one of eight artists chosen to exhibit his work at the Australian Council for the Arts' Hatched@ozco exhibition in Sydney this week. (Ain't that a painful name?)

The exhibition is based on Hatched - the most prestigious annual survey of emerging artists in Australia. This year's Hatched exhibition at the Perth Institute of Contemporary Art contained work from 68 outstanding visual art students from 18 tertiary art schools. Hatched@ozco features eight of these emerging artists.

Jason's work has a grungy aesthetic people enjoyed so much that all of his work was sold at the Hatched exhibition and he has had to create new work for this Australian Council of the Arts exhibition.

"The key subject matter I work with is masculinity," says Jason. "In my paintings I explore identity and what seems to be a crisis in male identity."

Rub-a-dub-club

Local Ska/dub outfit, Dubshack, have a little rest beside their tour bus on their way to the Coorabell Hall gig this Friday.

The Byron Reggae Club presents Dubshack, Groove Foundation and DJ Booth at Coorabell Hall this Friday, December 3.

Dubshack's song Lifesaver will appear on 4ZZZ's Skatrek, due out in January next year. The song was also selected for the soundtrack of local surf movie As Is, directed by Jason Collins.

Away from the big screen, the band will be delivering their smoky blend of ska, dub and skank in the high atmos of the famous dance temple, Coorabell Hall.

Groove Foundation, which is a free-form hillbilly ensemble (what?), will also perform with a sound that has its roots in funky-dub and space-jazz (just like hillbillies...).

An added treat is the appearance of DJ Booth, who promises "trouser-flapping bass and tasty dub-wise anthems". The gig starts at 8pm with Japanese food and chai (non-Japanese) available. Entry is $15/10.

Hard to Port

Jane Hole and her band Aurora Jane will be performing in sunny Port Macquarie for the festival.

The Festival of the Sun will descend upon the high sea cliffs of Port Macquarie on Saturday, December 11, in a riot of celebration with a day of music, street entertainment and local arts centring on Town Beach Breakwall.

The gates open at 10am to a tasty selection of food stalls, local art exhibits and colourful side alley shops. On the main stage, a killer line-up of Aussie rock talent will play throughout the day and into the evening.

The stage will see performances from Gabriel's Day, Level One, Aurora Jane, The Winters and local band Cameron Laws.

Of course, being a festival there will be belly dancing, fire-breathing, street theatre and drumming... and drumming workshops and a drumming carnival - how much drumming is too much?

More good news - this festival is free!

Lisa makes Sphinx rock - or swing...

Lisa Yeates will be singing her songs of love and protest at the Sphinx Rock Café at Mt Burrell on the Murwillumbah-Kyogle road this Sunday, December 5, from 1pm.

Lisa is a well known performer, and is part of the cool n' easy jazz group, The Skylarks.

The Sphinx Rock Café dishes up fantastic meals in a rural setting and serves up the entertainment every Sunday from 1pm.

Blue Knob exhibition

Blue Knob Hall Artspace and Gallery, near Nimbin, will host the opening of an exhibition of artworks by well-known local artists this Saturday, December 4, at 3pm. The exhibition runs until the end January.

The café serves breakfast, lunch and tasty treats. The gallery and café are open from Wednesday to Sunday, 10am to 4pm (except December 25-26).

Papua in Kyogle

The Roxy Gallery in Kyogle currently has a touring Northern Territory art show in its space. Papua Barat Merdeka (Free West Papua) is a photographic overview of the little known and troubled Indonesian province of West Papua - from the fall of President Suharto in 1998 to the present day. The photographer/artist is Kyogle-based Andrew Kilvert.

The exhibition is comprised of photographic banners and insightful text documents highlighting the current themes and issues of the province. Exploring the tensions which typify Indonesia/Papua relations, the exhibition exposes massacre, gold rush towns, tribal militia, West Papuan mythology and contemporary politics.

Andrew Kilvert is a self confessed Papua-file who began working on development projects in the remote villages of Papua New Guinea. His interest in Indonesian controlled Papua grew by meeting refugees from the western half of the island.

Papua Barat Merdeka is an informative, educational insight into the culture of West Papua and runs until December 15.

'Allo 'Allo - last chance

Lismore Theatre Company's production of that very funny TV show, 'Allo 'Allo, is into its last week with final performances on this Friday and Saturday, December 3-4, at the Rochdale Theatre in Goonellabah.

There is a war on seriousness and la resistance is futile. Tickets for this humour fest are $15/12 and are available at the theatre when it opens its doors at 7.30pm.

Conspiracy Heaven

Next Thursday, December 9, there will be a screening of two new documentaries about the 9/11 attacks at Star Court Theatre in Lismore. 9/11 In Plane Site and 9/11 The Great Illusion question the veracity of government views of the event.

What was strapped to the belly of the airliner that hit the Twin Towers? Eyewitnesses claim that the planes were not airliners because they had no windows.

These films believe there is a conspiracy.

Come on... would GW Bush lie?

Tickets are $5 and the screening starts at 7.30pm.

Bundjalung Art

Just a reminder that the Art Of The Bundjalung Nation exhibiton opens at Lismore City Hall this Friday, December 3, at 5.30pm. Tickets are $15 and available at the door. Why not buy a beautiful artwork and support indigenous health services? It runs till December 8.