The Scene - Local Entertainment News

S Sense

8.32pm: The pub. There are a thousand pubs in the naked regional centre - this is just one. I am The Protector.

It's Friday night, danger night. Inside, through my dark shades, I see feral young uni types drinking Coopers and talking ring tones. Confident dames smoulder in the cigarette haze, the smoke from their rollies clinging to their dreadlocks like mist rising from anchor rope (?).

They're acting disinterested in me. Yeah, right...

Mental note: It's early yet in the city of sin.

I order Coopers. To blend in.

9.11pm: There's a sudden movement in the corner. Trouble. Instinctively, I reach for my disability card... but it's just some bloke who has won $5 on the In Your Dreams pokie machine. Wears thongs. Probably trying to win back the rent money.

Mental note: Pokies plus thongs equals desperate. Possible threat.

I give him my I-know-what-you're-up-to look over the top of my shades. He swears at me. Danger crackles around the room. But I laugh at danger. I'm a professional.

I order more Coopers. To blend in.

10pm: I'm leaning against the bar, empty glass in my hand, all my professional faculties focussed on a sassy broad (possible security threat) in ugg boots who just walked in, when the barman says to me, "You right, mate?"

Mental note: I could be right; I could be, um, not right. Who wants to know?

"Who wants to know?" I smirk at the (big) barman. Perhaps a bad move...

10.01pm: Trouble at the bar. Drunken Disability Card technique is powerless against Barman's Sober Fist technique. Taking off my shoes, I try karate - Butterfly tradition. It gets a laugh. Tensions settle. I brush chips off my shoulder.

Mental note: Barman is edgy. Probably knows I'm onto him.

I order more blend. To Cooper in.

10.05pm: Barman suggests it's time to leave.

Mental note: The Protector goes when he's ready to go.

Amazingly though, I'm ready to go. There are other gin joints, other sleazy dives in this bhurg that need The Protector. I tell Barman my work is done here now and put out my hand. Professional to professional. He hands me my shoes. I smile my I-know-what-you're-up-to smile and count the socks.

Mental note: Barmen do not need a sense of humour to pour beer.

10.30am. Mission accomplished. Placing wallet and disability card beside the bedlamp, The Protector can sleep knowing that this ville is that little bit safer.

B who ya wanna B, Sophie

American singer/songwriter Sophie B Hawkins is very happy - after ditching her gloves, beanie and a major record label, she is wonderfully free - and playing Byron next Wednesday.

Sophie B Hawkins shot into the spotlight in 1992 with her debut album Tongues and Tails earning her a Grammy nomination for Best New Artist, reaching gold sales in the US and yielding a top five hit with Damn I Wish I Was Your Lover. Her follow up albums, Whaler and Timbre, confirmed to the world her special songwriting and vocal talents.

But there was trouble brewing. Increasingly frustrated at the limitations that Sony (her record label) was imposing on her, Sophie finally liberated herself from the clasp of the giant company and has produced her first independent album, Wilderness.

Now she's happy and free! Experience Sophie at the Great Northern Hotel in Byron next Wednesday, April 20. Tickets are $25 from the venue (6685 6454), from the ABC Shop in Ballina and from Music Bizarre in Lismore.

Youth-full exhibition

This work, one part of Remnants Quintet, is by Maia Lambrechstein (who was a Kyogle High student last year) and is part of the Make It Yours exhibition. It also featured in last year's ArtExpress exhibition (an exhibition of the state's best artworks created by HSC art students).

The Roxy Gallery in Kyogle is now holding its annual Youth Week exhibition - this year titled Make It Yours.

The exhibition showcases artworks by the community's youth with most of the works from Kyogle High School - including a large body of lino prints produced by year 10 students, still-life sketches by year 11 students, and works by photography classes.

Make It Yours runs until May 4.

The Roxy Gallery is situated at 143 Summerland Way, Kyogle.

For more information phone 6632 3518.

Smooth groove in M'bah

Skylarks (pictured), with their warm jazzy Latin feel, are playing at the Aussie Tavern in Murwillumbah this Friday, April 15, from 9pm and at the Imperial Hotel, also in Murwillumbah, this Sunday, April 17, from 1pm.

FourPlay with strings attached

FourPlay is a string quartet with a difference - more rock band than classical.

FourPlay originally formed when a group of classically trained musician friends got together to have a bit of a laugh by playing Metallica and Beastie Boys covers for their University Band Competition. They ended up surprising themselves (and their friends) by winning the comp.

These distinctive arrangements of covers and the construction of their original pieces, which have consequently placed them on stages all around the world, led Rolling Stone magazine to comment, "They spit in the eye of classical romanticism, chain-sawing into these songs and then throwing them together in new shapes."

There is no other string quartet operating like FourPlay. They bring a dynamic fusion of a rock 'n roll mentality and pop sensibility to the finely honed skills of classical musicians with years of training.

The Sydney Morning Herald wrote, "More Metallica than Mozart. The first string quartet to have inspired moshing and crowd surfing."

Their original material spans many genres - pop, rock dub, klezmer and gypsy. They also perform their own arrangements of music by artists such as Radiohead, The Strokes, Jeff Buckley, Led Zeppelin, The Velvet Underground, The Beastie Boys, Depeche Mode, Miles Davis and many more.

Enjoy some FourPlay at the Beach Hotel in Byron next Thursday, April 21.

Playing on Ramsey Street

After launching his CD Listener in Lismore and Newcastle, David Ramsey then rode shotgun (on guitar) with Jimmy Willing & the Real Gone Hick-Ups for a while.

Now he's back on the North Coast playing a bunch of gigs to promote his album.

David is joined by multi-instrumentalist Matt Elliott (formerly of Ragweed, currently of the Hoochers) to form the David Ramsey Duo. Matt's abilities on guitar and percussion add new dimensions to David's mixture of trad-folk ballads and dirty blues compositions.

The David Ramsey Duo will perform at the Lennox Point Hotel this Saturday, April 16. Newcastle icon Tad Poedee will kick off the evening from 9.30pm.

Lismore audiences can also hear David play a solo acoustic set at the Rous Hotel's Unplugged night on Wednesday, April 27.

David will also join acoustic folksters Black Train for a performance at the Clunes Village Common (the old school) this Friday, April 15. It starts at 8pm, with entry by gold coin donation. (See Hurdy Girly story.)

Hurdy Girly

Barb Dwyer will show off her remarkable hurdy gurdy skills at this month's Folk In Common gig at the Old School Site in Clunes.

The hurdy gurdy is an instrument with a history stretching back a thousand years. There is no mistaking the sound of the hurdy gurdy. And the best person to play it is Barb Dwyer, who has lugged her hurdy gurdy around the world performing and gathering songs to add to her very cosmopolitan repertoire.

You can hear Barb and her magical instrument at Folk In Common - a friendly gig under the stars (inside if it's raining) at the Old School Site in Clunes this Friday night, April 15, from 8pm.

Other acts include Chrissie and Jack Claff, Karl Farren (Irish muso) and Black Train (early American music).

Poetic Echo

Live Poets, a veritable institution on the North Coast (12 years it's been going, I think), will feature two of the area's finest poets - Laurie 'Sport' Axtens and S 'Arty Farty' Sorrensen (pictured)- at this month's gig.

These two venerable artistes/journalists will re-connect with their poetic roots (mine left town) next Wednesday, April 20, at the Rous Hotel in Lismore. You will be treated to a display of performance poetry so skilled and awesome that you will be rendered speechless by such virtuosity. There will also be Laurie.

And others.

Showtime is 8.30pm and entry is $6/4.

Freebie: The Echo has a double pass to giveaway to some lucky reader. To go in the draw to win phone 6622 2888 between 10 & 10.15am next Monday, April 18, and tell us for what newspaper do Laurie and S write. (Der.)

Something's cooking in the Kitchen

Andy Jans-Brown will headline The Asterix Kitchen - a night of music, words, colour and movement at the Tatts Hotel in Lismore.

The Asterix Kitchen is a concept night at the Tatts Hotel in Lismore this Friday, April 15, that will intoxicate the senses by bringing together local musicians, artists, poets and freaks (accordian players?).

Andy and his band have just returned from their first national tour. You may remember that when Andy and his band took off from Lismore last year (Andy is doing a music degree at SCU) they got 10 minutes down the road when their caravan, containing all their instruments, caught on fire. Now there's an omen. Undaunted, he continued his quest and now he's back and (musically) on fire! You will hear songs from his new EP, Into The Sun.

Re-psycle will provide the chilled beats throughout the evening while emerging outfit Khanelion will set your gypsy heart alight (like a caravan).

The Asterix Kitchen will also include a showcase of local acoustic singer/songwriters and poets. The venue will be dressed up by local artists and brought to life by the outrageous antics of the Asterix Kitchen Circus. Sounds like a heap of fun.

The night kicks off at 8pm and entry is just $4.

For more information phone 0408 402 825.

Canadian folk feature

One's a brown-eyed, raspy-voiced, guitar-slingin' blonde, the other is a blue-eyed, fiddle playin' brunette - together, you've got Madviolet.

Madviolet's music is broadly folk but touches on alt-country, rock and pop. Brenly MacEachern and Lisa Marie Maclsaac met in Toronto, Canada, four years ago. Something musical clicked between them and the pair, as Madviolet, have since toured Canada, the US and the UK.

They released their debut album Worry The Jury and are now performing in Australia for the first time.

You can feel the Madviolet magic at the Bangalow A&I Hall next Friday, April 22, from 8pm.

Support will be provided by the charmingly inspired local duo Scarlett Affection (which won a Dolphin Award last year for its music.)

Tickets are $20 at the door.

Good IDR

Sisters Ang (left) and Carolyn make up the duo IDR (aka I Dig Red).

This newly formed local outfit plays songs combining the sisters' songwriting, guitar and vocal talents. The result is original country pop-rock, which you can savour at the Sphinx Rock Café, Mount Burrell, this Sunday, April 17, from 1pm. Oh, and there's good food available at this pretty, rural venue.

Go Anna and have a big night!

The Goanna Bakery and Café in Lismore is holding another theme night after its successful Middle Eastern night a few months ago. This time it's an Afro-Latino night with music by Tropicoso and a three-course Afro-Latin menu for $28.

The tasty fun all happens this Saturday, April 16, from 6.30pm.

Hector DeSantiago and Stephen Nugent formed Tropicoso in 1987 in Sydney. Stephen had previously been working as a Yembe player in a West African ensemble. When he began playing with Hector they took the African mother root and began building their repertoire based on Afro-Cuban, Afro-Brazilian, Afro-Peruvian and other Afro-Latino combinations.

Bookings are probably a good idea. Phone the Goanna on 6622 2629.

Dynamic dance in Lismore

We've got big plans for lovers of dance, hip hop, and chamber music during autumn.

Our program begins with an extraordinary show presented by NORPA Dance Action on April 30 at the Star Court Theatre.

Morganics, aka Morgan Lewis (pictured), started break dancing at Circular Quay in Sydney in 1984, and has developed into a leading hip hop artist, teacher and community worker. He has been passionately concerned with creating an authentic Australian hip hop voice, and has worked with Aboriginal people from Long Bay Jail to Wilcannia and Bourke.

The show he will present in Lismore - Crouching BBoy, Hidden Dreadlocks - is autobiographical, and brings together hip hop, physical theatre, stand up comedy and performance art.

The show has toured nationally to rave reviews at venues including the Perth International Festival, The Powerhouse in Brisbane, and the Studio at Sydney Opera House.

Morganics will be supported by the local Urban Street Rural Beat crew, who are working with him to develop a piece to open the show.

To book for this dynamic performance phone the Northern Rivers Ticket Centre on 6621 5600. Groups of 10 or more get a discount - phone NORPA Dance Action on 6622 3279.

Win Morganics tix!

NORPA has two single tickets to give away to Crouching BBoy, Hidden Dreadlocks. The first email received at norpa@norpa.org.au with "Morganics" in the subject line will win - but make sure you include a daytime contact number.

Get dancing

If you yearn to dance, but are not sure what classes and courses are available near you, find out from the new NORPA Dance Action Dance Map, available from NORPA's office at Lismore City Hall.

It lists dance classes, physical theatre classes and studios, and includes a diverse range of styles such as flamenco, hip hop, classical ballet, tap, jazz, square dancing, mime, clowning, capoeira, bhuto, break dance, belly dance, ballroom dance, salsa, tango and combinations of dance and yoga or Pilates and Qi Gong.

There is also a section on dancewear suppliers.

The Dance Map information will also be online soon at NORPA's website www.norpa.org.au.

The Dance Map has been put together by Dance Action coordinator Emma Newman and team. Dance Action is also coordinating the upcoming Dance Week celebrations from May 9-15, and the fourth performance of Big Feet Little Feet - a showcase of new, locally-produced original dance and physical theatre works that will be performed on June 3 and 4 at the Byron Bay Community Centre.

For further information on Dance Action projects, or to subscribe to the Dance Action email bulletin (with details of upcoming shows, workshops and other events of interest) contact Emma on 6622 3279 or email emma@norpa.org.au.

Music of the Spheres

Australia's only full-time string quartet, aptly named the Australian String Quartet, will perform at Lismore City Hall on May 14 as part of their biggest national tour ever. The program is called Music of the Spheres and includes music from Schumann to Mendelssohn. Pianist Benjamin Martin will be a special guest.

Touring Method-ically

Having recently performed at the Blue Mountains Folk Festival and the Royal Easter Show, Method (pictured) is back in the area this week, bringing you some more of their funked-up, rootsy, acoustic groove. Clear? Well maybe you'll just have to hear them.

This duo, comprised of Bill Jacobi (Flyod Vincent & the Childbrides) on amped-up acoustic guitar and vocals, and Frank Corby (Bondi Cigars) on drum kit and vocals, is also recording the third Method CD at Fracas Studio in Byron Bay.

Be methodical at the Brunswick Hotel this Friday, April 15; the Canberra Hotel in Lismore this Saturday, April 16; and at The Rails in Byron this Sunday, April 17.

Graphic Art in Alstonville

Ballina Arts and Crafts Centre Inc (BACCI) will be exhibiting members' artworks at the Alstonville Plaza next Thursday and Friday, April 21-22. BACCI was established in 1999 to raise funds to build a community art gallery in Ballina - and the good news is that last week Ballina Shire Council gave approval for the Northern Rivers Community Art Gallery to be built at Treelands Reserve in Ballina. Council has committed $400,000 to the project. Good work, BACCI!

Dance party 4 de youf

There's some fun to be had tonight (Thursday, April 14) with an under 18s Dance Party at the PCYC (corner of Dawson and Orion streets in Lismore). No drugs, no alcohol - just fun for 13 to 18 year olds with dance music presented by Expand Entertainment.

Entry is $3. The dance fun starts at 7pm and rages until 10.30pm.

Die happy - the opera

For the third consecutive year, Richmond Valley will host an evening of twilight opera when Co-Opera, the people's opera company, returns to Casino this Sunday, April 17, at St Mary's High School oval at 7pm.

This year Co-Opera will present its first operetta, the comedy classic Die Fledermaus by Johann Strauss - a famous operetta in the Viennese tradition.

Performed entirely in the round, Co-Opera's production of Die Fledermaus is directed by young Adelaide director Johanna Allen, whose inventiveness brings out the latent comedy in the operetta. The music is, well, yer classic chandelier Strauss, and the story line is loaded with humorous twists and turns.

People are encouraged to bring a picnic rug (or maybe a fold-out chair) and a hamper to enjoy at the performance, which will be enhanced by the participation of the Lismore Show Choir.

Gates open at 6pm. Tickets are $33/28 and $5 for school kids. They are available at the Casino and Lismore Visitor Information Centres. Phone 6662 3566 or 6622 0122.

Cracker Fats

Fats are a hip and funky outfit composed of some of the finest musos in the area - like Dave Ades, Thierry Fossmale and Greg Sheehan. These are the ingredients for some sparkling jazz creativity - but add North Coast newcomer, Willow Neilson, on tenor sax, and Fats just got phatter.

To hear Fats' cool sound, check out the Jazz & Blues night at the Rous Hotel in Lismore next Tuesday night, April 19, from 8.30pm. Entry is $5.

Rock & Bowl

The Nimbin Bowling Club has changed. Under new management and fully renovated (I hope they didn't touch the women's toilet - it's an artwork) the Nimbin Bowlo is offering entertainments on Wednesday, Friday and Saturday nights.

Opening night, this Saturday, April 16, will see Nimbin's Durga Babies filling the joint with their unique sound.

Conservatorium getting bigger

There are now more than 15,000 people learning music in the state's 15 regional conservatoriums.

These conservatoriums are independent, community-owned organisations that provide music education services to regional centres (like Lismore).

Lismore councillor Jenny Dowell welcomed news that there had been a 30 per cent rise in enrolments at regional conservatoriums over the last four years (since the NSW Premier injected $1.5 million in recurrent funding in 2001).

So what about our Northern Rivers Conservatorium? Well, it's getting $50,000.

"The new funding will be used on programs including the Northern Rivers Jazz Festival, concert and information outreach program, school link officer and recording studio enhancement, refurbishment and sound proofing," Cr Jenny Dowell said.

Bow wow art and kid's comp

Just another reminder about the children's competition connected with the Man's Best Friend art exhibition currently on display at Southern Cross University's Next Gallery (in Goodman Plaza at the Lismore campus) until April 22.

The exhibition features 27 artworks depicting dogs or aspects of their lives, including high profile Byron Bay artist John Dahlsen's work with more than 50 old tennis balls, complete with sand and bite marks.

For children 12 years and under, a prize of $60 worth of painting materials (donated by Northern Rivers Drawing Supplies in Lismore) is on offer for the best artwork featuring a dog submitted to the gallery by April 23. The winner will be announced on April 26 and the children's artworks will be displayed at the gallery.

Calling artists and crafters

The new contemporary Nightcap Gallery on Terania Road in The Channon will be opening soon and is looking for artworks by sculptors of large outdoor works as well as indoor pieces - painters, glass artists, ceramicists, potters, woodworkers and others are invited to contact Nightcap Gallery on 6688 6333 or email info@nightcapgallery.com.

Bourbon & Toke

With the departure of Simon (Bourbon Street's bass player) to jolly old England, Bourbon Street has invited Tokyo Joe's bottom-end slapper, Toke, to fill in until Simon returns. (Whenever that is.)

The lads are keen to add Toke's melodic vocals and groovy bass skills to Bourbon Street's rockin' recipe.

They're halfway through finishing their fourth album, and will be doing a number of shows to break in a few of the new songs, and bash out some of the oldies.

Catch them at the Beach Hotel this Friday, April 15, and at Yamba Pacific Hotel this Saturday, April 16.

Achtung! German funk in Lismore

Next Thursday, April 21, at the UniBar (Campus Central) in Lismore, be ready for a super party called Groove Club.

German DJs Flame 'n' Freefrog (how German is that?) will play funk, breakz and house music featuring J. Hofstetter on live saxophone. Apparently these two have a collection of rare 70s funk...

It will start at 8pm and the cost is zero for students and $5 for their guests.

(For members and their guests. Proof of age (18+) and student ID required.)

Wiggle-ing pays big time

The Wiggles have sung and danced their way to the top of a list of Australia's wealthiest entertainers, edging out Hollywood heavyweights such as Nicole Kidman and Russell Crowe.

The four Australian performers topped BRW Magazine's list of Australia's 50 richest performers in 2004 with an estimated gross income of $34.5 million, up from $10.7 million in the previous year.

Kidman almost doubled her earnings and was Australia's second richest performer with $30 million, according to the magazine, which hit newsstands Thursday. She was followed by Crowe, who earned an estimated $20 million in 2004.