The Scene - Local Entertainment News

S Sense

Australia is the only place in the world where you can leave a town, drive for three days and end up in a town exactly like the one you left. Unless you're from Nimbin. Then within half an hour you can be in a town so different from the one you left, you don't understand the customs. ("What do you mean I can't smoke with my coffee?")

I'm on the road heading south with two other comedians. Sound like fun? Well, yes.

Western Victoria is flat. It's so flat that after five hours of driving, we went over a speed bump in Bendigo and my ears popped.

The Camira would be useless here - nowhere to hill start the thing.

The roads are flat and straight. You can put the car on cruise control, tie the steering wheel down and jump into the back for a snooze.

Once, we came upon a corner - we just had to stop the car and have a look at it. I took a photograph. Wow. Then we reversed up and drove that corner again just for the thrill.

And it's a good thing that sheep eat dirt. Because that's about all there is in those vast, treeless paddocks speckled with grey flocks of sheep and smudged with zephyrs of dust carrying away the topsoil to create glowing sunsets in Melbourne for the Ugg boot brigade.

It's a tragic landscape.

Tragic because you can go to the Grampians national park and see (and smell and feel) what those done-over fields could (would) have been like with a little respect and understanding. Except for the cigarette butts (what is it with ciggie smokers?) and used sanitary pads, the Grampians were a spiritual and literal breath of fresh air rising dramatically out from the buggered billiard table landscape.

After sheep, what next? Nothing. Just desert.

I tell you - every time I travel the big brown land, I realise how precious bio-diverse areas like the North Coast are. And how quickly they can disappear.

The big art

Ballina Art Society member Barry Mason completes a masterpiece before the big opening of the society's annual exhibition next Friday.

I love the visual arts. They reflect our culture (both local and global) back to us but you don't need earplugs to enjoy them. So, I'm happy to announce the official opening (with refreshments and Celtic harp by Susan Graham) of the Ballina Art Society's 33rd Annual Art Exhibtion next Friday, April 1, at the Ballina RSL Club from 12pm.

Morag Page will officially open the exhibition.

This year's display, with over 140 artworks, ranges from expressionist to traditional styles and employs media as diverse as oils, pastels, acrylics, pencil and mixed.

The exhibition runs for three days - Friday, April 1 from 12pm-8.30pm; Saturday, April 2 from 10am-8pm; and Sunday, April 3 from 10am-4pm.

Entry is delightfully free.

For more information phone Barry Mason on 6687 6779.

Goodness Tayshus me

Over 20 years ago, comedian Austen Tayshus had a number one hit with Australiyana and his career in stand up comedy took off. He became famous for his hilarious and hard-hitting live shows.

Being a graduate of the Australian Film and Television School, doing live stand up is not the only vehicle for his comic talent.

A few years back he won the Tropfest Best Film award for his film (also starring him), Intolerance. He has appeared in Moulin Rouge, Jane Campion's Holy Smoke and many others. He is currently in pre-production with his film There's Something about Jesus, which Austen reckons "will be a huge short-term commercial and creative success but a long-term cult film."

In his live performances, Austen (6' 3", sunglassed and dressed in black) challenges our perceptions of ourselves as Australians ("sport, sport, sport") and takes a healthy swipe at modern life.

Take on the comic challenge and check out Austen Tayshus at the Ballina RSL Club this Saturday, March 26, from 8pm.

He appears with our local funny girl Mandy Nolan (big laughs, tight dresses) and Raw Comedy Winner, Ben Chesser.

Once more, with feeling

Wilf Stephens was a local legend of 60s rock with North Coast rock band The Astranotes. His memory will be honoured in an appropriately rockin' way next Thursday.

The Astranotes were THE rock band of the 60s and 70s in the Northern Rivers. Many locals will remember (with twitching feet) those stompin' nights at Lismore City Hall and the Italo-Australian Club.

Recently, founding member Wilf Stephens unexpectedly passed away. In memory of Wilf and his contribution to the local music scene, the other members of the Astranotes are reforming for a one-night stand to honour the man and the music. Original members Des Grace, Neville Keevers, Jim Andrews, Bob Pearce, Peta Riley, Joe Aleman and John McBride will strap on and plug in for a night of rockin', dancing and remembering at the Italo-Australian Club next Thursday, March 31, from 7.30pm. Entry is by a gold coin donation.

Supporting the Astranotes will be Fossil Rock - one of the many North Coast bands who have followed the musical path pioneered by the legendary Astranotes.

For more info phone 6686 9255 or 6624 4565.

Orchestrated musical magic

Following its formation in 2003, LSO - the Lismore Symphony Orchestra - will present its first performances for 2005 at the Bangalow A&I Hall next Friday, April 1, and at Lismore City Hall on Saturday, April 2.

The LSO continues to pursue its original objectives of providing an opportunity for competent local musicians to play in an orchestra; presenting good quality, affordable performances; providing a network through which orchestra members can share knowledge, skills and ideas; and providing the opportunity for talented soloists to perform with an orchestra.

Tickets are available from the Lismore Music Centre, The Bookworm in Alstonville, La Boutique in Ballina and Barebones Artspace in Bangalow. Prices are $15/10 or $40 for a family.

Discover Dance Energy

A scene from the 2004 Dance Energy Studios concert Odyssey at Lismore City Hall. Classes have now begun for 2005.

Dance Energy Studios in Lismore and Alstonville have resumed activities for 2005, with classes in classical ballet, jazz/funk, hip hop and contemporary dance now available.

Teachers Suzanna Bowen and Susan Flinn said children three years and over can now join the classes for fun and/or competition.

As well as the classes, Dance Energy Studios runs the Australian Dance Assessment Programme, which is the only government-accredited ballet syllabus (also taught in primary and high schools for the HSC).

For more information on this energetic group or to join for 2005 phone 6682 6117 or 0422 817 401.

Young musos with old soul

Who likes old soul music? Me.

Heidi Holland & The Scarlet Letter Band will be pumping old soul into the cooling night air next Tuesday, March 29, at the Jazz & Blues night at the Rous Hotel in Lismore.

You'll hear Steve, Otis, Aretha, Percy and a heap of others recognisable on a first name basis. This group of young musicians goes back to the roots of soul - creating a soul-bendingly different contemporary sound.

The gig starts at 8.30pm and entry is a cheap $5.

Rockin' the country - with dog

Band leaders Mick Daley (of The Re-Mains) and Jimmy Willing (of the Real Gone Hick-Ups) and Circus the Singing Dog are joining forces for a gig at the Great Northern Hotel in Byron next Thursday.

Next Thursday, March 31, the Great Northern Hotel in Byron Bay will be transformed into Dodge City for a showdown with three great alternative country acts in a Country Rock and Roll spectacular.

Hard-touring country rock and rollers The Re-mains head the bill, hot on the heels of their appearance this weekend's East Coast Blues and Roots Festival.

The Re-mains have been blasting away at the coalface of country rock all over Australia with banjo and pedal steel ablazing. They've played Woodford Folk Festival, Tamworth Country Music Festival, Melbourne's Brunswick Festival and 20 other dates from Sydney to Brisbane already this year.

Jimmy Willing and the Real Gone Hick-Ups need no introduction to locals who love seeing their spectacular hillbilly cabarets featuring Circus the Singing Dog and, of course, Jimmy Willing, cavorting onstage like a manic Amish preacher turned carny ringleader.

Christian Pyle, from Acre, is a quietly spoken guitarslinger with a songbook straight from the high plains of heaven and he'll kick off a night you can remember out there by the campfire, every time the can of baked beans explodes...

This triple country bill costs just $7.

Note: The Re-mains will also perform at the Billinudgel Hotel with comedian Austen Tayshus this Sunday, March 27, from 2.30pm.

Fort-ified

Byron band Fort are very busy. After a string of well-reviewed shows along the east coast with bands like Shihad and Black Keys, Fort are amped up and rearin' to rock the Great Northern Hotel in Byron this Easter Monday, March 28.

With support from The Black Stars and The Ride, this will be a night of guitar-riffing power for those who love their rock.

Fort will be releasing a (as yet untitled) CD in Brazil this winter. It'll contain tracks from their 2004 release Never Comin' Down as well as tunes from the band's debut album In A New Light.

Brazil? you may well ask. Well, Brazilian label, Tronador Music, has had success before with Bodyjar, Hoodoo Gurus and Nokturnal - so Fort is in good company with this project.

There's no holding the Fort.

Groovy Happening In Coraki

Celebrate the sounds of the 60s and the good old days (remember when towns had hospitals...) this Easter Saturday in Coraki.

This Easter Saturday, March 26, sees flower power return to Coraki when Darren J Ray's (that's a 60s sounding name, eh?) The Fabulous Sounds Of The Sixties Show relives the era of fab songs and long hair at the Coraki Memorial Bowls Club from 8pm.

You will hear songs by musical heroes of the 60s like The Beatles, The Beach Boys, Gene Pitney, Roy Orbison and The Mamas & The Papas, which will take you right back to the sexy 60s. The show is jammed packed with comedy, costumes and cool music, taking the punter on a magical mystery tour back to the days of love-ins, peace marches and tie-dyed shirts.

Twenty-Four Hours From Tulsa, California Dreamin', Oh Pretty Woman, I Want To Hold Your Hand, Georgy Girl, The Twist, Suspicious Minds - these are just some of the songs you will hear.

Supporting the band is the teenage all-girl group, The Love Bugs. They sing hits like Be My Baby and Will You Love Me Tomorrow, before backing the main act as singers and go-go dancers. (Any cages?)

This show won Best Production Show at the recent 2004 Entertainer Of The Year Awards for clubs in south Queensland.

For dinner and the show it'll cost $30; for the show only $20. For more info or bookings phone 6683 2229.

Giri grooves at Coorabell

Ganga Giri will present a tribal grooves night at Coorabell Hall this Friday, March 25.

Coorabell Hall is the place to be on Good Friday, March 25, for a night of North Coast tribal grooves and dance-compelling beats. Check out the recently homeless Ganga Giri with his pumping percussive didjeridoo and Yeshe's afro percussion before Ganga flies off overseas.

And if that wasn't enough, Mystic Beats will bring you some live, eastern-influenced electronic grooves while DJ Launch Pad will also be doing his rhythmical thing. Big night.

The gig starts at 7.30pm and tickets are $15 at the door.

Noeline no wallflower in new play

Wallflowering

Venue: Star Court Theatre, Lismore

Date & Time: Wednesday, April 6, 8pm

Tickets: Northern Rivers Ticket Centre (6621 5600).

'The elegant Noeline Brown scores a bullseye performance with her finely judged portrayal of Peg. The integrity and finesse of Brown and Scroope, and writer Murray's ultimate respect for love and marriage and belief that when people stop growing they die, makes Wallflowering a fascinating and rewarding play.'

- The West Australian, 2004

Stage and screen legend Noeline Brown returns to the national stage in an Australia wide tour of Peta Murray's (Salt) smash hit ballroom dancing comedy Wallflowering.

Noeline stars as Peg Small, partnered by the dynamic Mr Doug Scroope as husband Cliff, in a delightfully hilarious and poignant play about the nature of marriage, the pursuit of happiness and the perfect foxtrot. Once prize-winning ballroom dancers, Peg and Cliff now find themselves out of step with one another and the changing values of the modern world. While Cliff deals with the dilemma of his writing gifts, limited to the composing of clever lists, Peg is discovering Germaine Greer and is finding that there is no longer any love to put in the Veal Marengo. This charming and beautiful tale explores Peg and Cliff's "ordinary" lives and throughout the journey finds comedy, courage and beauty in the most everyday situations.

Noeline Brown is an iconic star of Australian television, stage, film and radio, whose TV credits over the last 40 years include The Naked Vicar Show and Blankety Blanks. She is a gifted comedienne and a legend of the Australian entertainment industry. Doug Scroope is also respected as one of Australia's most versatile performers, enjoying an extensive career across stage, screen, television, singing, dancing and acting in a diverse spectrum of productions. Nominated for a MO Award for his role as Louis Epstein in Jolson the musical, Doug also featured in Singing in the Rain and as Ray O'Keefe, the father to David Campbell's Johnny in Shout. He is also a familiar face on many Australian television shows from Police Rescue (as Sgt Percy 'Ptomaine' Warren) to Aunty Jack, Sons and Daughters and Prisoner. This is the first time Doug has been reunited with Noeline Brown since their days together in Kingswood Country.

This talented duo is also complemented by an outstanding original creative team: director Bruce Myles (Love Child, Speaking in Tongues); AFI award-winning set and costume sesigner Anna Borghesi (Ned Kelly, Romper Stomper) and choreographer Tony Bartuccio (A Little Night Music, The Dish).

Wallflowering will be performed once only at the Star Court Theatre in Lismore on Wednesday, April 6, from 8pm. To book phone 6621 5600.

Subscribe and Save

There many reasons to subscribe for the 2005 NORPA series, the most attractive being a saving of 15 per cent on ticket prices and the guarantee of the best seats in the house. Phone 6622 0300 for your free season brochure or visit www.norpa.org.au.

Single tickets for each show in the NORPA season are now on sale from the Northern Rivers Ticket Centre (6621 5600).

Get funked

Deep funk band, The Mighty Pragmatics, will lay down some big soulful dance beats next Friday night, April 1, at Coorabell Hall from 8pm. DJ Shuffle will share rare music from his funk collection.

There will be food and drinks available.

Celebrate Easter through song

St Andrew's Anglican Church Choir and soloists will present Stainer's The Crucifixion this Friday, March 25 (Good Friday) at St Andrew's Anglican Church in Lismore.

The Crucifixion is a well-known 19th century Easter oratorio, which includes four congregational hymns.

St Andrew's Anglican Church Choir is Lismore's largest and longest running church choir, and the 20 members are conducted by organist and choir master Warren Whitney. Everyone is welcome to this special Easter performance.

It begins at 5pm and entry is free.

Get Loud in the Library

Ballina Public Library will be holding 'Loud in the Library' public youth nights each month, beginning next Wednesday, March 30.

This month's theme is 'modelling and film' with special guest Leigh Morris from Gilchrist Casting, who will talk about catwalk tips, modelling and casting.

Each month Loud in Library will present a different theme and provide a place for young people just to hang out and have some fun.

The evening will run from 5.30-7pm and there'll be free pizza to enjoy.

Gypsy sounds

Local seven-piece gypsy funk band Stipsky is playing a number of gigs around the North Coast over the next three weeks. The band takes traditional melodies from the Middle East, Klezma, Celtic and Spanish folk influences and adds funky rhythms for a unique sound.

Catch them this Sunday, March 27, at the Bangalow markets; next Thursday, March 31, at the Tatts Hotel in Lismore; on April 9 at the Hanging Rock Hall; and on April 15 at the Nimbin Hotel.

Theatre auditions

The Lismore Theatre Company is holding auditions for its new production Run for Your Wife, to be performed in Lismore in June.

The cast needs six men (30-60 years) and two women (25-40 years). Auditions will be held on Monday and Tuesday, April 4-5, at the Rochdale Theatre in Goonellabah from 7pm. Expressions of interest to director Brian Best on 6624 8499 or 0412 911 191.