The Scene - Local Entertainment News

S Sense

Black rings under my eyes are making me look like a cartoon robber. Or a terrorist. Lord knows I have destroyed myself.

The August party season should come with a warning sticker. 'Partying is addictive' or 'May contain traces of nuts.' It never stopped. I was shaving in the Camira on the way to the next party. My hand is permanently shaped to hold a drink. I collected enough Coopers bottle caps to tile my garden paths. (No, I don't know why either.)

This year's partying seems more determined than ever. There's a sense of urgency. My birthday became a birthweek - I wasn't letting go of my youth without a fight. Oh, what a glorious battle... (But I lost. Stupid kidney.)

Maybe in a world where fear of others is inculcated into the population for reasons that are ultimately financial and anti-human, the very act of sharing food, booze and time with your fellow man and woman (fellow woman?) with no thought of exploitation or material gain in the future, is an act of rebellion. Socialising (the name says it all) creates society. When the fairy lights come on, our fear of the future gets parked at the gate for a while.

Under the spell of the mirror ball you stop worrying about the environmental vandalism, the suffering of the geographically unlucky, the madness of out-of-control capitalism and the obscenity of depleted uranium weapons and you live.

For a moment you actually believe Ballroom Blitz is the greatest song ever written.

With partying you're not escaping the real world, you're creating it. Normal people plan parties; deranged weirdos plan pre-emptive bombings of normal people out for a party. You couldn't plan an invasion or a suicide mission with a party hat on, could you?

Partying is being alive. It exalts living, honours community, wrecks livers and encourages relationship turnover.

I rage against the fear machine armed with a vegie pizza slice and a vodka.

Yes, fellow red-eyed rebels, the symbol of the new resistance is the plate of finger food. We are the finger food freedom fighters. We are the guacamole guerillas. We are the party party.

And we have a code, a motto... no, it's a war cry - Bring a plate to share!

Be alert. At anytime a party may go off near you. If you see any suspicious party-type behaviour (like balloons on the letter box or women in evening dress and gumboots) phone that number on the fridge magnet immediately. And order a large vegetarian with chilli. Forget the coke. Buy a bottle of wine and call around to the party room. I'll be there, comrade.

Blue ball

The Nimbin School of Arts next gala cultural opus will be the annual Blue Moon Ball. Celebrating the diversity of performance arts with a healthy dose of dance music as well, the ball will be held at Nimbin Hall on Saturday, September 10.

The featured acts include the brassy Unity Jazz Band, singers Diana Anaid and Compass Rose, comedian Jonathan Atherton, Nomad Dance, Tuntable Falls Circus, poet Christine Strelan, wild dancers One Time Crew and the band of Henchmen.

These shows have been a sellout in recent years so you'll want to get in quick with bookings. Dinner is available and the show is licensed.

Tickets are $20/$15 and are available at Perceptio Bookshop (6689 1766).

Air guitar championship

Darrin 'Jimmy Dangles' Smith, from Wollongong, is Australian Air Guitar Champ for 2005. Congrats man. This virtuoso of the imagined six-stringer is now competing in the 2005 10th Annual Air Guitar World Championship in Finland this Saturday, August 27.

Jimmy Dangles' dynamic performance (air blood flowing from his fingers) gave him the edge over second place, defending champion 'Rock N Roll Troy' (from Victoria) and third place-getter 'Max Power' (from the ACT).

The World Championship attracts a large field of competitors from all over the world. Air guitaring promotes world peace. All evil things disappear from the world whenever people play the air guitar...

You can follow our boy Jimmy Dangles' progress at the World Championship live via web stream starting at 4am this Saturday. Follow the link from the website at www.airguitaraustralia.com.

Morris major jazz

Phil Morris (pictured) is not a cigarette. He and his band, The Phil Morris Small Band, will not give you cancer, yellow teeth or erectile problems.

Hasn't there been a feast of jazz in our neck of the woods lately? The North Coast is warming up for the 60th Annual Australian Jazz Convention, which the Lismore Jazz Club is hosting in that fair city from December 26-31. The Australian Jazz Convention was first held in Melbourne in 1946 and has been held every year since. There'll be about 300 jazz musos (lock up your daughters) and over 1000 delegates (lock up the bar) from all over this wide, uranium-filled land congregating in Lismore to talk, listen and live jazz for a week. Actually, according to the Lismore Tourist Office there is no accommodation left unbooked for that period. Going to be a big one...

But in the meantime there's some great jazz this weekend.

The Phil Morris Small Band plays jazz classics and smoky original arrangements in a laid-back style. This cool, finger-clickin' stuff can be safely inhaled.

Phil Morris emigrated from Cornwall last year, having performed across the UK with some great jazz performers (like Acker Bilk). He has recorded six albums with the Lake Records Jazz Band.

Phil captains his jazz ship with trumpet and vocals. Pietro Fine plays up a storm on the piano. Stingrays drummer Michael Bullen drives the engine on drums and George (Mr Bass) Urbaszek is master of the four stringer. Cool combo.

As a special treat Liora Claff is guesting as vocalist. She's been a singer all her life singing mainly jazz in Sydney and on the North Coast. (What? No Chisel?)

You can breathe in the Phil Morris jazz fumes with all the family at the Dunoon Sports Club this Sunday, August 28, at 3pm.

There you can enjoy cool music, hot food and cheap grog. And it's free entry. Sunday heaven.

Learning flamenco

You want to do something new? Maybe something that's challenging, healthy and, well, sexy? Try flamenco.

This intensely passionate, intricate and bold art form promises food for the brain and body while taking rhythm appreciation and body co-ordination to new levels. The classes are being run by Serena Joy (pictured) who has been teaching in Lismore and Federal over the last year and is now also beginning new classes in Byron. Professional flamenco artists from around Australia are regularly invited to give workshops in music, dance and percussion throughout the year so there's plenty of varied flamenco experience.

The new beginner's classes start in Lismore at the Northern Rivers Conservatorium (C Block - behind the library) on Saturdays from 11.30am-12.30pm. There's no need for any prior dance experience and all ages and genders are welcome. Beginner classes in Byron are at the Buddha Bar Dance Studio (a.k.a. the Arts Factory) on Fridays from 10.30-11.30am. Guitarist Jason Miles is also available for lessons in flamenco guitar by phoning 0410 620 025.

For more info and bookings phone Serena on 6624 3498.

Guilty Ballina

The cast of Dead Guilty (pictured) looks very suspicious in Ballina Players' latest production. Who dunnit? It's not the butler because there isn't one. Can't tell? Well, Dead Guilty, a real thriller directed by Mary Richards, opens next Friday, September 2, at the Players Theatre in Swift Street, Ballina, and runs until September 17.

For more info or bookings phone Mary on 6686 2662.

Lord of the sing

The Elizabeth Lord Quartet (pictured) is a very smooth outfit. With Steve Russell tickling the keys, Jack Thorncraft slapping the double bass and Dave Sanders brushing the drums, Elizabeth's voice has the perfect musical setting in which to do its melodic thing.

Next Tuesday, August 30, Elizabeth Lord and the boys will present their show With A Song In My Heart at the Jazz & Blues Night at the Rous Hotel in Lismore.

Presenting songs from her Live At The Pandanus Lounge CD, Elizabeth will feature original arrangements of Rogers and Hart, George Gershwin and Cole Porter. (Don Walker?) A night of romantic indulgence just waiting to be experienced. For only $5. From 8.30pm.

CD Vasselling fast

Luke Vassella is reading The Echo to keep up to date with his music engagements. Luke has just had the Sydney launch of his new album Foreign Language to a capacity crowd at the Vanguard in funky Newtown. A song from that album, Keepin' On, has been receiving a lot of airplay locally on Triple Z, Bay-FM and 2NCR-FM.

Luke will be doing an in-store performance at Choppers Music in Lismore this Saturday, August 27, at 11.30am. Hear him live and check out Foreign Language. (It's in English.)

Teenage sports? No drama

The Teenage Drama Company (pictured) is presenting a night of theatre sports at the Rochdale Theatre this Saturday, August 27, at 7pm.

Theatre sports is a very scary (if you're doing it) and highly amusing (if you're not) entertainment. It is the sky-diving of the theatrical world.

You'll see these young actors think quickly on their feet. Comedy pressure is fully on with input from the audience. And they can be tough...

The Teenage Drama Company has been working hard at the different improvisational skills required to host such a night and are looking forward to thrilling an audience.

So get to the gig, yell out your ideas from the audience and laugh till it hurts - all for $5.

More Idols

The Ballina RSL's Riverside Lounge was packed with people last Sunday who came out to support the local talent for heat six of the Ballina's Idol competition. They weren't disappointed, with another nine talented contestants battling it out for a place in the second semi-final.

But sadly (sniff) only some from each heat make it through.

This time they were (l-r) Jai Luke from Mullumbimby, Sarah Grant from Goonellabah, Rachel Reid from Alstonville and Pasquale Ferguson from Alstonville.

There are two heats left. The 24 semi-final contestants will compete for the 10 spots in the Ballina's Idol final to be held in the Ballina RSL Club auditorium on September 30. They'll be competing for over $10,000 in prizes, which include $4,000 worth of Panasonic goods, $4,000 in cash and an eight-hour recording session.

So if you think you've got the talent and nerve to have a go, you need to be quick as the last two heats are filling up fast. Get down to the Ballina RSL Club or visit the website at www.ballinarsl.com.au for entry forms. Cheap Wine is a good song.

For more info phone Nancy on 6681 4325 or 0414 462 513.

Model baby's first photo op

This photo is a part of the 2005 Thanks Dad National Photo Competition. Gryphon Richardson (he's the little one) hopes to be the youngest person featured in the competition. Gryphon was born in Lismore on August 9 this year. His dad Jeremy (the other one) looks pretty chuffed about the whole birthing thing. Gryphon's mum Vanessa was also involved. Good work and congratulations Jeremy and Vanessa. Oh, and welcome Gryphon.

Any photo of men having positive time with kids can be entered in this competition by anyone of any age. There's $1500 in prize money in various categories. For more info visit www.thanksdadphotos.org or phone Chris on 6622 3143.

Wilde and Earnest

Oscar Wilde, the great Irish playwright, once said that "seriousness is the only refuge of the shallow". Humour and wit are the essential ingredients of his play The Importance of Being Earnest, which plumbs the depths of human nature and is the latest production from Lismore's own gang of thespians, the Lismore Theatre Company.

The play was first performed in London in 1895 (when Wilde was 41) and has been performed all over the planet many times since.

Two young and eligible bachelors, Algernon Moncrieff and Jack Worthing, are in the habit of masquerading as an imaginary character - Earnest - in order to pursue more interesting (and romantic) lives. And interesting it surely gets when the imaginary Earnest falls in love - twice. The result is a comedy of errors containing some of the wittiest lines ever written by a playwright.

The Importance Of Being Earnest is on at the Rochdale Theatre in Goonellabah (nice theatre) next Thursday, Friday and Saturday, September 1-3, and every Thursday, Friday and Saturday after that until September 17. All shows start at 8pm.

There's also a matinee at 2pm on Sunday, September 4, and Saturday, September 10.

Tickets are $15/12 (there are group discounts) from Caddies Bean Shop in Lismore (6621 7709). For group bookings phone 6687 9167 or 0431 958 991.

• Freebie: The Echo has one double pass to give away to some lucky reader. To go in the draw to win phone 6622 2888 between 10.15 & 10.30am next Monday, August 29, and tell us in what town Oscar Wilde died on November 30 in 1900. Clue: Jimmy's there.

Heading Morph

Next Thursday night, September 1, dance groovemeisters Morph (pictured) return to the SCU Unibar in Lismore for a much anticipated two-set performance of their particular style of music which they call 'trazz'. (You know - a bit jazz; a bit trance.) It's fully produced, totally live music at its best where dance is the purpose and the inevitable. Instruments include bass, drums, synths, samples (maybe that's not technically an instrument), percussion, flute, trumpet, sax, and didgeridoo.

This time the Melbourne-based band is bringing with them the ambient guru Jiah Karni, who has been working with the band in Melbourne. This'll add an interesting new dimension to the show.

Morph gigs in Lismore are always huge. Entry is $5 or free for students. Dance on until breakfast (at Sweethearts).

Celebrating dad

Author, broadcaster and raconteur Sandy McCutcheon will ponder out loud about being a dad at the upcoming Fatherhood Festival. Comedian Mandy Nolan will find out that she isn't a father and doesn't even faintly look like a man.

The Fatherhood Festival aims to share, question and celebrate the roles of fathers in a three-day program of concerts, comedy, art and conversations at the Bangalow A&I Hall and showgrounds from Friday to Sunday, September 2-4.

One of the many activities is the Big Café Conversation on Saturday, September 3, where Sandy McCutcheon (author of The Magician's Son), Dr Bruce Robinson (author of Fathering From the Fast Lane) and Alan Close will discuss fatherhood, their own fathers and ideas they have learnt from fathering.

Get up close and personal at the A&I Hall (turned into a café) at 3pm. Coffee and cookies are included in the ticket price of $25.

Also as part of the big daddy celebration, I will be taking part in a serious panel discussion at 8pm on Saturday, September 3, with Wil Anderson, Mandy Nolan and Brendan Lovechild.

As you can probably tell, the fun factor will be very high. And fathering is fun, isn't it? Isn't it?!

This comedy panel is on at the A&I Hall and costs $25/20.

Tickets for all events are available from Southern Cross Credit Union branches, Mullum Bookshop, Music @ Byron, Barebones Artspace in Bangalow and Leading Edge in Ballina. To find out more about the Fatherhood Festival visit the website at www.fatherhoodfestival.com or phone 6688 4071.