The Scene - Local Entertainment News

S Sense

Is it just me or does it strike others as a bit rich that the Australian government (and even Bob Brown) is kicking up a stink about roadworks at Gallipoli?

Lest we forget, the Gallipoli peninsula is Turkish land. It belongs to the Turks, whose country we tried to invade 90 years ago, but we were bravely beaten back (over 200 days) by soldiers defending their homeland. If the Turks want to put a road there who are we to argue?

I suppose the Japanese have a right to control development around Sydney harbour because they sent a couple of mini-subs there to attack us during WWII. (Actually, I think the Japanese do have a fair say in development around the harbour...)

Instead of reminding us about the futility of war and the valiant but wasted bravery of our youth, vested interests are cynically manipulating the Anzac experience to cultivate a nationalism that accommodates war.

Lest we forget, those politicians who are so angered that Turks are doing earthworks at Gallipoli are the same who pushed Australia to illegally invade Iraq (against the majority of Australian's wishes) just to access economic and political benefits. That is not the spirit of the Anzacs - that's the spirit of the corporate war machine.

My uncle went to war. He wouldn't talk about it afterwards but he hated politicians who advocated war or glorified it in any way. "They know nothing," he'd grumble.

Too right. Living in a reality vacuum, with no contact with real people or the real world, where their kids won't have to fight or die, many politicians haven't a clue about the Anzac message - which honours service men and women for their bravery but mourns the waste.

To hear these self-serving politicians bleating about roadworks in Turkey is just, well, insulting.

Lest we forget, Anzac Day is not a backpackers' party, nor an event for political grandstanding, nor about a piece of dirt; it's a sobering historical reminder of the vicissitude of war.

It was politicians who created the nightmare that was Gallipoli. It was brave citizens, not pollies, who fought, suffered and died at Gallipoli, leaving loved ones to truly understand the stupidity of war and the greedy ignorance of those who promote it. Anzac Day is for mourning our warriors' sacrifice and encouraging peace.

Lest we forget.

Sambam thank you Ma'am

Jules Kelly is a local promoter and a lover of live music. She organises the weekly Jazz & Blues nights at the Rous Hotel in Lismore, which is one of the events that makes this area so fortunately flush in the arts. Thanks Jules.

Next Tuesday, April 26, the Jazz & Blues night features Jim Kelly's Sambamenco Band with Elizabeth Lord (pictured).

This six-piece outfit has styles ranging from Brazilian to flamenco - all imbued with the spirit of jazz. Jim 'Cat Gut' Kelly, Greg 'Mr Bass' Lyon and Elizabeth 'The Voice' Lord all contribute songs to the repertoire.

The musical action starts at 8.30pm and entry is $5.

Very funny - now you must die!

Akmal Saleh is an Australian comedian with an Arab heritage - just the comedy ticket in this post 9/11 world.

Ballina RSL presents Akmal Saleh next Wednesday, April 27. Akmal is seen regularly on The Glasshouse, The Footy Show and Rove - he's probably the most in demand comedian in Australia at the moment. Locals may have seen him previously at Laughing Lizard Comedy Lounges in Lismore. (Rumour has it that the Lizard Comedy Lounge will start again soon...) And some readers may remember his "great oil crisis" gig at Nimbin MardiGrass a few years ago - now that was funny! Akmal is a very funny bloke whose time has come.

Tickets for Akmal's show are $20 and available on 6686 2544 after 10am daily.

The show starts at 8.30pm.

Heavy medal fling

These five children aged between seven and 11 from Alstonville and Wollongbar areas travelled to Maclean this Easter to compete in the dancing section of the Annual Highland Games (the 101st!). Despite the kids being a little nervous and only having learnt this style of dance for eight months, the judges awarded them with three medals - congratulations dancers!

They are taught by Rosanne Kinnane (there's a Scottish name) at Suzanne Whiteman's Alstonville Dance Studio. For more information phone 6628 5359 (Rosanne) or 6686 2520 (Sue).

Never stop rockin'

Local rock'n'roller, Mary Lou (pictured) has taught hundreds of people how to dance rock'n'roll during the last decade or so. But now, she's retiring. But not from rock'n'roll - that would be unthinkable - but from teaching rock'n'roll dance.

To commemorate her years of teaching, past and current students and friends are invited to a dance at Rous Mill Hall on Saturday, April 30, to mark the end of Mary Lou's Ready To Rock dance classes. The rockin' starts at 7.30pm. Bring a plate of finger food for supper and $2 and you're in.

Goodbye Mary Lou - may you always be Ready To Rock!

For more info about the dance phone 6624 2935.

Raising Helsinki

They're not builders or designers. This octet (pictured) is in fact an up and coming Melbourne band called Architecture in Helsinki.

With their weirdly lovable CD In Case We Die (which Rolling Stone described as "the work of a band with one vision - pop perfection") receiving national airplay, these guys and gals are heading north to the Great Northern Hotel in Byron this Sunday, April 24, to present their architecture.

The art of war

Lest We Forget is an exhibition opening at the Paperbark Gallery in Evans Head Arts & Industry Estate this Sunday, April 24, featuring the Bradford Exchange's latest release of limited edition fine porcelain plates - The Anzac Legend: 90th Anniversary Commemoration.

Evans Head calligrapher, Vanessa Crisp, makes her debut in the medium of fine porcelain limited editions with her Gallipoli artwork a feature of the commemorative plate.

A display of memorabilia will also be part of the exhibition - including the first Anzac Day Dinner Menu from April 25, 1916.

An official opening will be held at 12pm this Sunday.

Lest We Forget will run until May 10.

This limited edition commemorative plate The Anzac Legend (which features the calligraphy of Vanessa Crisp) is part of an exhibition at Paperbark Gallery in Evans Head.

Spirit Chayser

Newly formed band Chayser earned the right to play at the 2005 East Coast Blues and Roots Music Festival after impressing the judges at the King Of The Buskers Competition (held a week prior to the festival at venues around Byron) who gave Chayser top points. They also won Crowd Choice award. This entitled Chayser to a paid performance at the Blues Festival.

The band will be headlining The Underdog (an independent music and film festival) at Bangalow A&I Hall next Friday, April 29.

Support acts will include Red House, The Vue, Avinta, Luca and the Wright Brothers. Tickets are $15 at the door or $10 pre-sale from Way Out East (Ballina) and All Music and Vision (Lismore).

Re-Cog-nise Normal

Cog have announced national dates for their tour celebrating the release of their debut album, The New Normal.

Cog will play the Great Northern Hotel in Byron this Saturday, April 23, with support bands In The Grey and Karnivool. Tickets are $15 from the venue, the ABC Shop in Ballina and Music Bizarre in Lismore. Doors open at 9pm.

Real Gone country

Singing songs about one-horse towns, rodeo clowns and girls with holes in their stockings, Jimmy Willing & The Real Gone Hick-Ups (pictured) have breathed new life into country music forms. Renaissance man Jimmy Willing (puppeteer, graphic artist and frontman for the Hick-Ups) puts cool back into country. No. True.

See them at The Rails in Byron this Saturday, April 23, from 6.30pm and at the Lennox Point Hotel on Saturday, April 30, at 9pm.

In search of the Loth chord

Formally dressed at an inner city gig, Lothlorien play a contemporary type of Celtic tribal fusion genre - well, it's very danceable whatever you call it.

Melbourne band Lothlorien return to the North Coast for a gig at the funky Durrumbul Hall in Main Arm next Friday, April 29. (Not this Friday...)

The band will be promoting their new CD Relics 1993-1997 and are well warmed up with a recent tour of Queensland and big gigs at the Woodford Folk Festival under their belts.

Their sound is bigger than ever with uillean pipes, Wurlitzer keys, violin, low and high whistles, accordian, Celtic harp, fretless bass, 12-string guitar and percussion. This gig will also feature The Blissmongers and new band Pyramyd.

With live art (what is that?) by Jarrah Tree and Joshi, photography by Jess, the hypnotic sounds of DJ Jahngly and cool hot food, this is an all-senses gig.

Doors open at 7.30pm and entry is $15/12.

Market-ing the art

The name says it all: photographer Lee Pearce (left) and painter Mike King-Prime stand outside Bangalow A&I Hall where, with their help, the visual arts will have a home on market Sundays.

Bangalow's A&I Hall will become a showplace for local artists with a monthly exhibition on Bangalow market Sundays. The concept is called, reasonably enough, Art On Sunday. The exhibition will contain the work of local painters, printmakers, potters and photographers as well as ceramicists, sculptors and woodworkers. That's just about everyone...

The A&I Hall, although not part of the Bangalow market, provides a spacious, traditional venue for displaying art works, and the exhibition will be another attraction of market day.

Mike King-Prime, founder of the Cape Gallery in Byron, believes, "Art on Sunday will provide a peaceful environment, in a beautiful old hall, for contemplating the art works which will be on sale at affordable prices."

The first Art On Sunday will run from 9am to 5pm this Sunday, April 24, with an official launch at 3pm by Morag Page, a Bangalow identity and wife of state MP Don Page.

Stolen keys - Vasudha fundraiser

Local pianist, singer, songwriter and poet, Vasudha, recently had her keyboard and CD collection stolen from her car (give 'em back you bastards!) so now there'll be a fundraiser for Vasudha at Coorabell Hall this Saturday, April 23.

An impressive line-up of local talent will play to raise monies for Vasudha. They include The Hoochers Jam Band, which will feature frontperson for The Hoochers, Miss Jodie, hot trumpeter Ben Van Kleif and cool guitarist Matt Elliot.

Also performing is Lunatic Fringe, with their funky hip hop/reggae sound, who reformed for this one-off gig. Punters can also enjoy the talents of Jez, Bianca Symonds and Sal Yates, D.Ms Defy and Ms Exotica (funky rap), Jason and Daniella (amazing dancers), Amir (from Sheva), and MCs Glitter Girl and the very funny Benji Booth.

Sounds like a great night's entertainment with food, raffles and an art auction all happening. Entry is $15/10.

A dose of the best medicine

The Australian String Quartet will perform their classical show Music of the Spheres in Lismore on May 14.

The perfect antidote to too much bad news is a good dose of the giggles, which is just what we've got planned for the merry merry month of May.

The Melbourne International Comedy Festival Roadshow is coming to Lismore on May 20 to flood Lismore City Hall with laughter.

Two of the acts confirmed so far are Jackie Kashian and Justin Hamilton, both talented young stand up comics with a healthy level of irony in their blood.

Three more acts, and the emcee, are yet to be announced. For more information on the roadshow visit www.comedyfestival.com.au.

This is a show we expect to sell out, so to make sure you get your share of the giggles, get a wriggle on to the Northern Rivers Ticket Centre on Molesworth Street, go online to www.norpa.org.au or phone 6621 5600.

It's also not too late to subscribe for the season and select this show as part of your package.

Subscription brochures are free from NORPA at City Hall, the Northern Rivers Ticket Centre, from The Echo's paper stands around the region or by phoning 6622 0300.

Music of the Sphere

If music is the food of love, then the Australian String Quartet's Music of the Spheres will be a banquet for the heart and soul.

Australia's only full-time classical four-piece ensemble, they will have only been back in Australia for two weeks after touring China when they appear at Lismore City Hall on May 14.

The venue was going to be the A&I Hall in Bangalow, but since that was published in the 2005 subscription brochure, it has been changed to the City Hall, so guest artist Benjamin Martin can make use of the grand piano for Schumann's Piano Quintet in E Flat, Opus 44.

Their program will also include Mendelssohn's Capriccio, Opus 81 and his String Quartet in D Opus 44 No 1.

The ASQ are based in Adelaide, and have played all manner of venues, from an old mine shaft to some of the world's biggest stages.

The Lismore show is part of their most ambitious tour calendar yet - 25 concerts in 19 centres including two overseas tours and four national and regional tours.

Tickets are on sale now at the Northern Rivers Ticket Centre or phone 6622 0300.

ASQ members will also hold workshops for local string players at Lismore City Hall on Sunday, May 15, from 10am. The cost is only $15 adult/$10 concession, but places are limited, so register now on 6622 0300.

Win a double pass to a classic gig

We have one double pass to the Music of the Spheres on May 14 to give away to a classics-loving Echo reader.

To win, just tell us why you would like to go. Put the answer in an envelope with an Echo masthead and your name, address and phone number on the back and send it to: ASQ ticket giveaway, NORPA, PO box 225, Lismore, 2480.

• Belle Paterson of Lismore won the four-show subscription offered in last week's Echo.

Retro Gold

With their signature razzle-dazzle lightshow and the glamorously spunky Solid Gold dancers all refreshed after a long summer break sipping pina coladas poolside on The Love Boat, DJs Rock Solid and Gopher Gold have been trawling through their record collections to pull out the very best in retro.

Be it glam rock, fluffy disco, heavy metal or 80s pop, there's no doubt it will make it onto the playlist for the fancy dress retro party that is Solid Gold.

It's on this Friday, April 22, at the One Nightclub at Mary Gilhooleys in Lismore.

Doors open at 9pm and entry is $10.

Queer shorts

The Film Society (and the Queer Collective) will screen the Sydney 2005 selection of the best queer short films in Australia at the UniBar (Campus Central) in Lismore this Friday, April 22. There'll be a special prize for Drag King and Queen. Goody.

Unplugged talent

Unplugged - an acoustic performers' gig showcasing local and travelling musical talent - settles into its fourth-Wednesday-of-the-month routine with a big gig at the Rous Hotel in Lismore next Wednesday, April 27, from 8pm.

This month's featured act is Phil Levy and Leo Glass, both from local band The Romaniacs.

Also performing will be other musos who, like John Farnham, missed out on the Anzac Cove gig this year - David Ramsey, Allan Hughes and Thrillbilly Stomp - among others. And there's even a fireplace at the venue...

Entry is $6/4. For more info phone 6622 7451.

Uni electronica

Endorphin will play Campus Central Auditorium in Lismore next Thursday, April 28.

Endorphin (aka Eric Chapus) is one of the foremost electronic acts in Australia. Renowned for his live performances, Endorphin weaves together an array of visual imagery and music to create a live production that explodes with an energy that seduces all the senses.

DJ Archie adds fuel to the sounds with a blend of his signature scratches. Soma Rasa will support.

Tickets are $13/10 for students and $18/15 for guests from the Union front desk. Proof of age (18+) and student ID is required. Information for members and their guests.

Karaoke in Lismore and Casino

Karaoke at the Gollan Hotel in Lismore has shifted from its Sunday timeslot to Thursday nights. Mary-Ann, from Northern Sounds Karaoke, is happy to be providing karaoke bliss in the newly renovated Gollan Hotel. She loves doing karaoke because, as she says, you never know when "you'll uncover a hidden talent".

Check out the karaoke with Mary-Ann next Thursday, April 28, at the Gollan from 7.30pm.

Oh, and the final of the Karaoke Idol is at the Commonwealth Hotel in Casino this Saturday, April 23, from 7.30pm.

Poetry workshop

For all you budding performance poets out there Dangerously Poetic will be holding a workshop called Poetry in Performance this Saturday, April 23, at the Bangalow RSL Hall from 10am-4pm.

Colleen De Winton can help you learn tricks for memorising your poem (bring some along) and show you how to go beyond the fear and have fun in this expressive art.

Colleen has a compassionate, intuitive and direct manner that enables her listeners to explore the art of performance in a safe space.

Tuition for the workshop is $60/$50. For enrolments and info phone Laura on 6680 1967.

Comedy on the Grass

MardiGrass is fast approaching and next Friday, Saturday and Sunday (April 29-30 and May 1) Nimbin turns on its yearly rally for marijuana reform - and what a party it is. There will be plenty of comedy once again this year with comedy at the Oasis Café on Saturday and Sunday nights from 9pm. Comedians include Alan Glover (Hunter Valley), Mandy Nolan (Byron), Mark McConville (Brisbane), Brendan Lovchild (Mullumbimby) and me (from here).

Alan and I will also be commentating the weirdly entertaining Hemp Olympix which run through the day on Saturday and Sunday. This is live reality comedy at its best...

Splendour In The Grass (July 23-24, Belongil Fields, Byron Bay) Latest line-up

Queens Of The Stone Age, Moby, Ryan Adams, Interpol, Bloc Party, Finn Brothers, The Living End, After The Fall, Scribe, Beautiful Girls, Mercury Rev, Willy Mason, Shihad, Decoder Ring, Butterfingers, Sarah Blasko, The Grates and Atlantic. More to be announced.

Furry window

Linelle Stepto is showing her artwork, Fur, at Lismore Regional Gallery's window Art Space at the Norco factory in South Lismore. Through her extraordinary art pieces she explores whether nature is a cultural construct or something that is a part of us all. This question is posed graphically through photographs of animal embryos printed onto five pillow cases. Wow...

The Art Space can be viewed anytime but the best time is between 6-9pm when the space is lit up. Fur will be on display until May 1.

The Re-mains video shoot

Country rock and roll renaissance men, The Re-mains, are filming their first video for the song Quit Singin' The Blues from their new album, Field Conditions. And they want you to be there as part of the crowd scene. You could be on national TV!

The shoot is on this Sunday, April 24, at The Drill Hall in Mullumbimby (right in town) from 2pm and they want you to dress as outlandishly as you want, with perhaps a sartorial nod towards country rock 'n' roll - a cowboy/girl hat here, a pair of snake skin boots there... Kids are welcome too.

Dazzling DJs

With an ever-evolving dance culture, wild dance-floor dynamics and brilliant aural innovations, the North Coast is producing some of the best DJs in the world. Be part of the DJ art this Friday, April 22, when five North Coast DJs play for over five hours in the new dance-friendly Backroom at the Great Northern Hotel in Byron in a DJ spectacular called Back2Back.

Slippin' the disks will be DJs Pob, Scoota, Jackie Onassid, SiClone and Sista Ray.

The backbeats start around 9pm and entry is a very cool $10/7.

More workshops

Lismore Regional Gallery is presenting a couple of art workshops for adults over the next two months.

First up is the Basket Weaving Workshop with Kiersten this Saturday, April 23, from 10am-3pm.

The cost of the all-natural fibres is included in the $40 fee. For more info ring Kiersten on 0400 326 287.

The Mandala - Painting and Meditating Workshop happens at the gallery on May 14 and 21 from 10am-3pm. Working together, workshoppers will create a colourful two-metre square mandala. Group meditation and relaxation will be an important part of the workshop as well. All materials are included in the $65 admission fee.

You should bring a $20 deposit with you when you book for either course at the gallery.

The Channon fun day

There will be a day of fun and learning at The Channon village this Saturday, April 23, to raise awareness of this special community. Activities will start from 9am with tree planting and an environment walk and continue through the day with events in The Channon Hall, The Channon Café, Coronation Park and The Channon Tavern. There is even a tennis tournament. From 7pm there will be a disco at Community Trading opposite The Channon Tavern.