The Scene - Local Entertainment News

S Sense

I love the Big Prawn in Ballina.

Yes. I admit it. I like it. It's not advertising anything. It's not metaphysical. It's just a bloody Big Prawn.

But recently, I was shocked. The Big Prawn is very faded at the moment. It looks sort of... sick.

I read somewhere recently that the present owner of the Big Prawn doesn't like the Prawn. I don't know if that's true, but I say, look after that Prawn, mister.

The Big Prawn is the symbol of Ballina. Byron may have its dolphins (I am so over dolphins. Can't even eat them. Well, you can, but...) and Lismore may have its ample parking, but Ballina has its Prawn.

It's definitely one of the better Big Things around. Coffs Harbour's Big Banana is really not that big. Let's face it. Coffs has got a size issue.

Not Goulburn though. It has a huge man-made sculpture, the Big Merino. And it's thoughtfully placed in the middle of the Big Overgrazed Landscape. Which is also man-made.

The worst Big Thing I've seen is actually a Small Thing - the miniature Uluru near Bulahdelah. Just like the famous rock except it's much smaller and made of concrete panted brown. I call it the Big Poo.

And the toilets are inside the Poo.

Suddenly, it struck me - the Big Prawn is painted red - the colour of a cooked prawn. The Big Cooked Prawn. It's dead! (Hold your noses Ballina - that is one Big Prawn.)

What if they had the Big Steak instead of the Big Brahman Steer in Rockhampton? What if you went to Coffs and saw the Big Banana Cake? What if in Goulburn they had the Big Mutton Carcass hanging from The Hook (luxury apartments)?

It's hard to love a dead thing. (Except for disco...)

So let's paint the Prawn an uncooked colour. Like greeny blue. Let's make it live.

The prawn is Ballina's totem. It represents the fertility and diversity at the mouth of our river. It's a symbol of life. So let's have a living fake prawn.

Then Ballina could have tourists. (No really. Eco-tourists.)

Big Things - do they represent our dreams and responsibilities or are they evidence of our community leaders' failing eyesight?

They're coming...

The buffed boys of Hotshots are here to continue the war on body hair.

Take five young men from different walks of life (there's a hairdresser, baseballer, fashion designer, model and surveyor), add dance routines by choreographer Gerry Symonds from the world famous Tap Dogs, and you have the Sydney Hotshots, who will come together (pardon the pun) to entertain the women (and sensitive men) of the North Coast.

As part of their Young Guns tour, the Sydney Hotshots will bring their well-oiled bodies plus their two hours of hot routines and stunning costumes to the Ballina Beach Hut this Saturday, February 12; the Yamba Bowling Club next Wednesday, February 16; and the Powerhouse Nightclub (Canberra Hotel) in Lismore next Friday, February 18.

The Hotshots promise they will provide plenty of eye candy for women of all ages with loads of audience participation. (I think that means you can touch. Lucky girls.)

You can even get photos and autographs with the lads after the show.

Freebie: The Echo has a double pass to give away for both the Ballina and Lismore shows, and the lucky winners will also receive a Young Guns prize pack with a T-shirt, poster and keyring. But wait! There's more...

The Ballina Beach Hut will provide a dinner for two lucky readers (plus a friend each) WITH THE HOTSHOTS (!!!) before the show this Saturday, February 12. Oh my God!

To go in the draw to win one of these titillating prizes phone 6622 2888 between 10 &10.15am this Friday, February 11, and tell us where the Sydney Hotshots are from. (Crikey. A hard one.)

Not Big Fence sitters

Rich Latimer and Chris Boniface (Vue) will launch their first single, Big Fence, this Thursday.

Rich Latimer and Chris Boniface have been playing together as a band for over nine months, doing their own style of original retro rock - think Black Keys, White Stripes.

Having played their original songs in concert from Brisbane to Yamba after winning the Jim Beam band competition last year, they have just finished their first single, Big Fence. Topically, it's about this government's treatment of children in our refugee detention centres. I'm guessing Big Fence is not supportive of that treatment. Chris' astute comment on that situation is succinct - "grrrr."

Winning the comp last year earned them recording time at Top Cat studios in Alstonville and the results are ready for the taste test.

Vue will launch Big Fence at the Great Northern Hotel in Byron tonight (Thursday, February 10) at 9pm, and again at the Lennox Point Hotel next Friday, February 18.

You can check out where Vue is gigging by visiting their website at http://vue.rock.com.

Clothes for comment

Owner of Nothing To Wear, Cat Anderson (right) and milliner Julie Robins at the shop's opening last Tuesday.

Cat Anderson has a very firm idea on what she likes fashion wise. Her distinctive 50s/60s personal style is obvious from what she wears but is also reflected in her own fashion label, Nine Lives.

"Be yourself. You're a beautiful person. Your clothes will reflect that," she said at the opening of her new shop, Nothing To Wear, last Tuesday in Lismore. "I hope to cater to a diversity of tastes where style and quality underlie the design differences. That's why I'm providing a venue for local designers to display and sell their stuff... we have some of the very best fashion designers I have ever seen, right here on the North Coast."

Fashion is art, she pointed out to me. I agree. But where's the men's fashion?

"Maybe in the future..." she smiled.

If you're a fashion designer and would like Cat to have a look at your clothes or accessories, drop into Lismore's coolest fashion shop, Nothing To Wear, in the Star Court Arcade, or phone the shop on 6622 2595. And if you've got nothing to wear, you know where to go...

The Necks big thing

The Necks like to experiment with music. See the results this weekend.

With the Bell Award for Best Australian Jazz Ensemble and the ARIA Award for Best Jazz Album under their belts, and now with their 12th album Mosquito/See Through just out, The Necks are going from strength to strength. And from town to town. They will perform at the Byron Bay Community Centre next Friday, February 18.

I heard Mosquito/See Through. Great. And the mosquitoes didn't bite either.

Doors open at 7.30pm. Tickets are $23 and available on 6685 5659.

Say Hi to Highfield... at Bangalow

Highly respected journalist John Highfield will address a special meeting of the Northern Rivers branch of the Friends of the ABC at 2pm on Sunday, February 20, at the Bangalow Bowling Club.

Entry is a $10 donation (or $5 concession) to cover costs. Space is limited, so those wishing to reserve a seat at this event should phone Jill Keogh on 6688 4558.

Fighting for art

Art Of Fighting certainly don't look too tough to me. I might pick on them at their gig next Thursday in Byron.

Aussie band Art Of Fighting will play at the Great Northern Hotel in Byron next Thursday, February 17, as part of their Come Round & Show Me Tour.

Art Of Fighting are on a national drive-by in support of their album Second Storey.

This CD was embraced by punters and radio stations alike when it was released last year - especially when Art Of Fighting wowed all and sundry when they brought those songs to life on their last tour. The band played to full houses in Sydney, Melbourne and Brisbane last August.

Many discovered that what might appear subtle on the record is hard to ignore in a live setting. With a wistful array of sonic textures, gentle loping sounds and buzzing rock guitars, Art Of Fighting proved that their live shows are a captivating extension of the recorded material.

Tsunami Carnival

The Frocks will try to hold it all together at Le Carnaval de L'Art this Saturday.

Le Carnaval de L'Art (that's 'carnival of art' for those who are Francophillicly challenged) is a tsunami fundraiser specifically aimed at providing relief for the Talalla Bay district of Sri Lanka. This circus-based fundraiser is on at the Buddha Bar in Byron this Saturday, February 12.

This Carnival of the Arts features some of the best North Coast artists including The Frocks, Elke von Rees, Atmo the Mime, Suzie Leigh, Mirth, Dimitrie, The Goblins, projection by Katrina Folkwell, poetry and live music by Andy Holm and The Hairy Elf Orchestra.

There will be appearances by The Golden Cherup, Zarlov (the tragic comic), Vladimir, Ravi Oli, belly dancers and loads of other characters. How exotic!

DJ E.H.B. and DJ Madhu will get you up and dancing 'til late for a good cause - then a fire finale at midnight.

The show starts at 7pm. Tickets are $15 at the door. All the money goes to the relief of the tsunami victims through a small non-religious registered charity, the Australian Foundation for the Peoples of Asia and the Pacific (phew!). Check'em out on the web at www.afap.org.

All dressed up and somewhere to go

Covers band Smart Artists are preparing for the 'Heroes and Villains' night at the Eltham pub this Saturday, February 12, and they're wondering where Horace is...

Well, you've been waiting for it and now it's here - the Eltham pub's 'Heroes and Villains' night presented by Radio 88.9 and Jack Daniels. You can dress up as a good guy or as George Bush. (Or some other suited villain. It was just the first name that came into my head.)

The promoters have been smart enough to hire the rock'n roll guns of the Smart Artists - purveyors of classic rock and roll.

This five piece band just loves to play - Supertramp, Cheap Trick, The Eagles, Peter Frampton, Genesis, Robbie Williams - the range is huge; the intensity red hot.

And their love of performance comes out in their show - and will certainly get the joint rocking for the 'Heroes and Villains' gig.

The only real question is - who will you dress up as?

Should be a great night.

Local wave of talent

Colin Bullock is one of the rising stars of North Coast music featuring in Rising Tide - a concert of the best local original musical artists.

There's something in the water on the North Coast that nurtures artistic talent. (Some say it's more likely to be something we breathe.) No matter what causes it, the North Coast has musical talent by the truckload. We're spoilt here with a huge variety of young musicians with talent to burn.

Rising Tide is a showcase of the North Coast's top young musos performing only original music. These are the acts that are making waves not only on the local scene but also nationally (and internationally as well).

You can hear and see five of the best all in one concert at the Great Northern Hotel in Byron next Wednesday, February 16, from 8.30pm.

Check out these local songwriters and performers - Marshall, Mason Rack, the New Town Jets, Kristy Gentz and Colin Bullock.

These are the names to watch in the future of Australian music. Tickets are $10.

Tuntable falls for the hoe-down

Diana Anaid will perform at the Tuntable Community Hall this Friday, February 11, before heading off to the US.

Diana Anaid, our local musical star, and Dana Lyons, an international star now living in the area, will showcase their talents for a good cause when they play at the Tuntable Falls Community Hall this Friday, February 11.

The concert is a Back To School Hoe-Down to raise funds for the Tuntable Falls Community School, which is now in it's 20th year. (Oh God, I remember when it opened!)

Nimbin performers, Doug and Biskit, will entertain the punters and there'll be fabulous food. So, y'all, dress up in hoe-down style and come on down this Friday at 7pm.

Cost is $15/10. For more info phone 6689 1223.

Band music is big fun

The Lismore City Concert Band is a great way to enjoy playing music (and to make new friends who have similar musical interests) and to participate in performances in the Lismore area.

The band is based in Lismore at the Arts and Craft Pavilion at Lismore showground. It plays an important role in community life by providing music for community events like Anzac Day, the Lismore Lantern Parade, festivals, concerts etc.

It also gives budding musicians (including children) a chance to rehearse together, once a week, in a safe and supportive environment.

The Lismore City Concert Band supports school bands by giving interested school students a chance to be inspired by rehearsing and performing with experienced musicians.

Rehearsals are every Monday afternoon from 4.50-6.30pm. (Except school and public holidays). The band is keen to encourage new membership. If you're interested or would like more information phone 6621 3246 or 6628 0295.

Theatre workshop for youth

Playback Theatre is for young people between 15 and 22 who want to learn skills in creative communication and listening. And have fun discovering their "inner artist".

Playback Theatre is presenting a two-day workshop on Saturday and Sunday, February 26-27 from 9.30am-4pm at 'C Block', in the Conservatorium site, Keen Street, Lismore.

Bring a lunch to share and wear comfortable clothing. The cost is a donation to tsunami relief efforts. Bookings are essential by Friday, February 18, to 6622 3143.

Smokin' at the Channon

Returning for their third gig in 12 months at The Channon Craft Market is blues band Smokestack Lightnin'. They'll perform at the market this Sunday, February 13.

Smokestack Lightnin's straight from the heart blues is loved by North Coast punters.

Smooth grooves in Nimbin

This Saturday night, February 12, sees the Skylarks fly into the Nimbin Hotel to spread their musical wings and share their warm jazz, cool blues and hot Latin grooves.

This is a chance to dress up and click your fingers to the smooth sounds of Skylarks.

The gig starts at 8pm.

Rare Funk Revival

The Mighty Pragmatics is a 10-piece deep funk outfit dedicated to the serious horn line, the rock solid rhythm section and a bass with more spine-twisting funk than any four stringer should have. (Okay, okay. But ukuleles are not the greatest funk machines. What do you reckon, Azo?)

The Sweet Soul Sisters front the band with cool harmonies, hot looks and the ability to send shivers through your dance bones.

In Europe and the US they are calling it the rare funk revival - but here we just call it The Mighty Pragmatics. And you can hear the grooves and see the moves at the Nimbin Town Hall this Friday, February 11, from 8pm. Entry is $10. Funk on.

Dance Auditions

The Gold Coast Dancers Company is holding auditions this Saturday, February 12, at the company's rehearsal studio in Burleigh West.

Performing membership is open to dancers from 9-19 years with strong classical ballet technique and to seniors (over 14 years) who also have contemporary training.

While most of the 45 dancers in last year's performances came from the suburbs of the Gold Coast, six talented dancers from the Northern Rivers were chosen for the company. (Oh yeah. We can dance, man.)

Auditionees must have their current teacher's approval and be available on Saturday afternoons from 1.30pm for rehearsals.

For more info phone Desley on (07) 5598 4292.

Local songwriters converge

John Glen and Vanessa Hoffman are two musos who began the locally famous Wax Lyrical gig at the back of the Tatts Hotel in Lismore a few years ago. It was a showcase for North Coast songwriters. For the last year, John Glen has been based in Adelaide. Now he's back and kick-starting North Coast Songwriters - a gig for original acoustic music - which will be held in the back room of the Tatts Hotel on the first Thursday of each month, commencing on March 3.

If you're interested in performing at North Coast Songwriters for that date or a future one, call John on 0417 409 966 to book a spot.

Love words

It may be that Valentine's Day thing, but love, poetically speaking anyway, is in the air. This Saturday, February 12, at 3pm in the Bangalow RSL Hall, poets and poetry lovers (and just lovers) are invited to share love poems, both ancient and new, in a wordy exploration of romance.

Vasuda, talented musician, poet and songstress, will perform both her own poems and songs plus some of her favourite covers. Jim Higgins, a former English teacher at Byron Bay High, will also share his pick of love poems.

There will be an extended open reading where you can recite your favourite love poem. Tea and scones will be available and entry is $5/4.

Art of the Knob

A new exhibition titled Summer Madness is now showing at Blue Knob Artspace. The exhibition of paintings and sculpture by local artists is open to the public from 10am-4pm until Sunday, February 27.

Summer Madness gives an insight into the process of artists' inspiration and motivation during the silly season with the intensity of our summer temperatures.

Artists at the gallery are also celebrating that Robin Moore, one of the founding members of the gallery, recently received the Lismore City Arts and Cultural Award in recognition of her dedication to community arts - especially in the Nimbin region.

Blue Knob Artspace is about seven kilometres north of Nimbin on the very scenic Blue Knob Road. For more information phone 6689 7449.

Living poetry

One of the venerable institutions of ol' Lismore town is the Live Poets - the monthly poetry gig now in its 14th year. The first Live Poets of the new year will have the metaphors flying all round the Rous Hotel in Lismore next Wednesday, February 16, from 8pm.

This first show incorporates a poetry slam. This is great sport - one two-minute poem could win you cash if the judges think it's good enough. As always, young, old or visiting writers and poetry performers are welcome. Entry is $6/4.

Freebie: The Echo has a double pass to give away to a lucky reader. To go in the draw to win phone 6622 2888 next Monday, February 14, between 11 & 11.15am and tell us the name of the poet extraordinaire who hosts the Live Poets.

Keep the light shining

From this Saturday, February 12, to April 25, Cape Byron will host a touring exhibition from the National Archives of Australia - Beacons by the Sea: stories of Australian lighthouses. The exhibition will provide a rare opportunity for people to enjoy a major exhibition about the history of lighthouses.

The opening ceremony for the exhibition will be at 11am this Sunday, February 13.

Journalist George Negus will be a special guest speaker and will reflect on lighthouses in the modern world.

The exhibition will be held in the former lighthouse keeper's cottage and in the lighthouse itself.

The exhibition recalls the humorous, sad and sometimes tragic stories and experiences of lighthouse keepers and their families. Those were exciting days.