The Scene - Local Entertainment News

Potter is coming!

Okay. The kids love Harry Potter. A lot of adults do too. Come on, 'fess up. You've been borrowing a kid just to see the movies.

The eagerly awaited next installment of the Harry Potter tale, Harry Potter and The Goblet of Fire, opens in Australia on December 1. Enthusiastic fans need not fear queues nor sold-out sessions - tickets can be purchased online at www.birch.com.au.

Movie fans can also go online to get tickets for Peter Jackson's King Kong (December 14), The Chronicles of Narnia: The Lion, The Witch, and The Wardrobe (December 26), The Legend of Zorro (December 26), Jim Carrey's latest - Fun With Dick and Jane (December 26), and kiddies' favourite Chicken Little (January 1).

Jazzin' it up

Phil Morris, Davey Rankin and Pietro Fine are but three of the Lismore Stompers who will be blowing up a jazz storm this Sunday.

This Sunday, November 13, the Lismore Stompers will play some fine trad jazz, including the jazz classics and tunes from all over the world, at the Dunoon Sports Club from 3pm.

The line-up is a local who's who of local jazz musos with iconic local trombonist (and wise guy) Davey Rankin leading the crew. Phil Morris is on trumpet (all the way from Cornwall - not Corndale - Phil has performed with some of the greats such as Aker Bilk.) Pietro Fine plays clarinet and is a member of just about every progressive band on the North Coast (like KaOZ Klezmer). On banjo the Stompers have Greg Warner, and on the upright bass is the four-stringer master Mark Bromley. Completing the rhythm section is youngster Peter Wilkins (from The Hoochers and Red Eyed Frogs).

This will be a first class trip around the jazz world. Tighten your seat belts.

Getting published

She knows how to get a publisher interested because she's been there, done that. Her name is Rhonda Whitton and she's giving a seminar on just that - getting your book published.

The Northern Rivers Writers' Centre has arranged for publishing guru Rhonda Whitton to conduct a three-hour seminar, called A Decent Proposal - how to sell your book to an Australian publisher, in Byron Bay on November 28.

The seminar will focus on preparing the kind of book proposal that publishers really want to see. It will also unveil trade secrets on targeting publishers, the pros and cons of agents, manuscript appraisal and the realities of the industry.

Rhonda Whitton is an authority in the publishing field. She's a practicing freelance journo and manuscript assessor and in 1997 she conceived of, researched and co-wrote the first edition of The Australian Writers' Marketplace - now widely regarded as a favourite companion digest for Australian writers.

A Decent Proposal - how to sell your book to an Australian publisher will be held on Monday, November 28, from 5.30-8.30pm at the Byron Community Centre.

Tickets are $15 for NRWC members and $20 for non-members. For more info and bookings phone 6685 5115 or email susie@nrwc.org.au. Early bookings are a good idea as numbers are limited.

Latin dancing grooves

Latin American band Latin Fire are Queensland's top Latin music band and they'll be playing up a storm this Saturday, November 12, at Durrumbul Hall near Mullumbimby. They play that sexy music that just makes you want to move. Sweet salsa...once you start, you can't stop. The sensual rhythms start at 8pm. Food and drink is available, and feel free to wear a flower in your hair. $10 gets you in.

Jazz Convention

The 60th Australian Jazz Convention is looming large on the cultural horizon. The convention will be held in Lismore from December 26-31. There will be thousands of jazz musos and aficionados in that fair town with lots of concerts, workshops, talks etc.

Accommodation is in great demand. Southern Cross Uni has some accommodation available. For more info or to book phone Mick Mead on 6620 3935. There are also some vacant houses available for weekly rent. Phone Rodda on 6622 0068.

If anyone has booked accommodation at the Metropole Hotel they should ring John Bancroft urgently on 6622 8147. (Sounds bad...)

For more info about the Jazz Convention phone John on the above number.

Return of the classical

The flood washed out their concert earlier in the year, however young pianist Jayson Gillham will return with other young Australian classical talent for the last Musica Viva Lismore event of the year on November 19.

Musica Viva Lismore does a great job. It's a non-profit organisation of volunteers that brings a series of chamber music concerts to the Northern Rivers each year at a very affordable cost.

One of their concerts was cancelled earlier this year when the skies opened and Lismore flooded. No-one could get in or out.

So Musica Viva Lismore has decided to present that concert next Saturday, November 19, at Lismore City Hall. It will feature Jayson Gillham and the Southern Cross Chamber Orchestra.

Jayson Gillham, who was a finalist in the Sydney International Piano Competition last year, will play Mozart's Piano Concerto No 12 in A major. (A personal favourite.)

Also featuring on stage will be 18 year-old Nick Hewett, a trumpeter from Lismore who is now studying at the Sydney Conservatorium, and soprano Margaret Schindler.

Musica Viva Lismore wants young people to come to this concert. Hearing a live orchestra and virtuoso performances for the first time can be life-changing and there are few opportunities to attend such performances in the Northern Rivers. This concert, with its diverse program and award-winning young soloists, provides an ideal opportunity for parents, teachers and friends to provide that experience.

The gig starts at 8pm.

Tickets to the concert are available from Dymocks Lismore (6622 4987) and at the ABC Centre in Ballina (6686 2436).

For more info phone 6624 7807.

Men's media business

Next Wednesday, November 16, there'll be a screening of films, presented by Men's Media, about men's issues (like male identity, separation from kids, depression) at the Star Court Theatre in Lismore. For the last few months a group of local men, aged from 15-61, developed a number of short films.

As well as the film screenings, musicians Collin George and Karl Farren - both contributors to the Fatherhood CD - will perform live at this special evening.

The 2005 People's Choice Exhibition of Thanks Dad Photos will also be exhibited. These pics show Australian men with their children.

There'll be munchies available from the Channon Youth Group. Oh, and the bar will be open.

It all starts at 7pm and entry is only $5.

For more information contact Grant McGifford on 6622 0901 or email gmcmedia@eml.cc.

The Empire has sold out

Tickets to The Cat Empire at Thursday Plantation in Ballina this Saturday, November 12, have all sold out, so if you haven't got any - too late.

Poets in the pub

Following the annual excitement of the Lismore Poetry Cup the Live Poets! will return to the normal(?) world of performance poetry at the Rous Hotel in Lismore next Wednesday, November 16, from 8.30pm.

This month's show will feature two of the region's popular and award-winning poets - previous winner of the Byron Bay Poetry Prize, Geraldine Bigelow, and previous Lismore Poetry Cup winner and member of the famous Stand Up Poets, Christine (from the jungles of Lillian Rock) Strelan.

New and visiting poets are always welcome, and hopefully there should be a few poetic words from new Poetry Cup winner Lismore's Catherine Stewart and Australia's most easterly poet, Michael Johnson.

For more info phone David on 6688 6485.

* Freebie: The Echo has a double pass to the Live Poets! to give away. To go in the draw to win phone 6622 2888 between 10.15 & 10.30am next Monday, November 14, and tell us the name of one other member of the Stand Up Poets touring troupe. Clue: Initials are DH and SS.

BACK2BACK is back

Nick Taylor will be at his desk working his dance magic at BACK2BACK - a DJ and dance extravaganza in Byron.

This Friday, November 11, sees the return of BACK2BACK to the Backroom of the Great Northern Hotel in Byron. Featuring local Byron DJs and performance artists, BACK2BACK has established itself over the years as a regular local showcase event. Check out DJs Nick Taylor, Jackie Onassid, Scoota, Ruff Dimond and Sarah Tonin playing a range of dance beats, from breakbeat to tech house to electro clash to tough disco.

Media works for you

If you have an idea for the screen then MediaWorks - a three-day, project-focused intensive workshop aimed at media practitioners based in the Northern Rivers area - is for you.

MediaWorks will focus on getting your project made - financing, distribution and marketing as well as looking at developing a cross-platform project. The workshop, which has been supported by the Australian Film Commission and the NSW Film and Television Office, will also provide the contact details for the relevant organisations.

Filmmaker Cathy Henkel (producer of The Man Who Stole My Mother's Face and I Told You I Was Ill - The Life and Legacy of Spike Milligan) will facilitate the workshop.

Co-presenting the session is Kerry Sunderland of Evolve Media Consulting (specialising in adapting media forms to new technologies) and Nick McMahon, CEO of Crawfords, who is responsible for The Saddle Club.

To apply to MediaWorks, you must forward the following information:

1. A one-page description of the project, be it a documentary, short, feature, animation, cross-platform/online or television program;
2. Additional pages providing a brief biography of the key principals of the project - writer, director, producer; and
3. An outline for the project and how you intend to bring the project to market.

Applications should be forwarded to kate@screenworks.com.au. Applications close Monday, November 13. MediaWorks is on December 12, 13 and 14 from 9-5pm. Cost is $100 and there will be concession places available upon application. For more info phone Kate on 6680 9220 or 0414 321 641.

Over 30 and raging - safely

The Over 30s Night, for those who like their socialising safe (especially for women) and the atmosphere cordial and not loud and overwhelming, is on this Saturday night, November 12, at the Lismore Workers Heights Bowling Club. There's a DJ, munchies and a good vibe. $5 gets you in. It starts at 7pm.

Songwriter support

Songsalive! is a worldwide, non-profit organisation dedicated to nurturing, supporting and promoting songwriters and composers. It is run by songwriters for songwriters, with members receiving opportunities to perform, be heard, be supported, and be promoted through a network of programs.

Jo Young (pictured) is coordinator of the new Byron Bay chapter and is bringing the Songsalive! experience to the Bay on Sunday, November 20, at 7pm with the first song critique workshop at The Studio @ The Buddha Bar in Byron Bay. Co-founder of Songsalive! (and Delta Goodrem's singing teacher) Roxanne Kiely is coming to Byron for the launch and will also run a vocal workshop on the Sunday afternoon.

Song critique workshops are a monthly event where members can develop collaborations, meet industry guests and showcase and workshop their music for feedback in a professional and supportive environment.

The workshop runs from 2-4pm. Cost is $55 and includes a double CD exercises package. Additional family members who do not require their own CD packs can attend for $20.

For more information check out the website at www.songsalive.org/byronbay, phone Jo on 0418 789 967 or email byronbay@songsalive.org.

S Sense

I don't cry much. I'm pretty tough. I didn't cry when my girlfriend left me. (Okay... when each girlfriend left me.) I didn't cry when I cracked a molar in half by biting into a pizza made with un-pipped olives by a gourmet terrorist. I didn't cry when I wandered through the devastation of a newly clear felled and burned forest near Recherche Bay. I got depressed. Some of my comrades got angry. The Jedi fidgetted with his light-sabre, his dark mood creating flashes of lightning and howling winds around us.

No, I don't cry much.

But I'm crying now.

I'm sitting alone on the lawns outside the Tasmanian Parliament in Hobart. When I say alone, I mean with about 4000 other people. I'm alone because I've separated myself from my companions to absorb the emotional intensity of this rally to save Recherche Bay, about two hours south of here, from the ravages of the woodchip industry.

On the makeshift stage in front of me, Peter Cundall, star of Gardening Australia, implores those assembled to "never, ever stop fighting." Earlier, Senator Bob Brown had addressed the throng, speaking of the respect that the French and Tasmanian Indigenous people had shown each other - of the dignity and peaceful joy of that first encounter just over 200 years ago. He asked if that wasn't what the world could do with right now. The people there, bound by a love of country like the Lyluequonny people before them, responded in a spontaneous cheer.

It was at that point the tears started flowing.

Luckily, I had my Akubra down low over my face and my sunnies on. And my face was partially hidden by a sign that read "Recherche needs more research". Yeah, it's not brilliant, but it was made by a kid with more wisdom than marketing skills.

With tears sliding down my cheeks and feeling a knot of grief (and love) untie itself inside me, I hear the very honourable Mr Cundall say, "That's your bloomin' lot" and leave the stage. Though I think I'm invisible behind my sunnies, a young person with a Save Tassie's Forests t-shirt, and her purple-streaked hair braided with red white and blue ribbons, lays her "Respect our history" placard down and touches me gently on the arm.

"You okay?" she asks.

Surprised, I turn to her and wiping my finger under my sunglasses I say in a quiet, faltering voice, "Yeah. Yeah, sure. I just got, um, something in my eye."

PS. I'm actually writing this in Senator Bob Brown's office on the ninth floor of a building that overlooks Hobart city and the harbour (which has the clearest water I've ever seen). What a treat. And there's free tea! Supplied by the Australian people. Cool.

Local six-piece groovesters The Bliss Mongers Collective have released their long awaited album Where Moments Are Made and are ready to launch this masterpiece with some funky fanfare this Friday, November 11, at the Durrumbul Hall. Be prepared to dance - support act is the delightfully inspiring Andrea Soler and The Common Thread. The good vibes start at 7pm. Entry is only $7, leaving you with enough money to buy a CD. Cool.

Stipsky plays melodies from around the globe put to extremely funky rhythms with daring improvisations and fabulous flipping theatrics as you can see from the pic. Oh, and there are original tunes as well. You can catch these unpredictable and inspired musicians on stage (not the truck) at the Bangalow Hotel this Friday, November 11, and at the Nimbin Hotel this Saturday, November 12 from 8.30pm.

Gabi Bliss will strut her musical stuff (a powerful voice and intriguing songs) along with beguiling sister act Scarlett Affection, daringly different duo Doug & Biskit, Nimbin boy Martin Preedy, regular Rebecca Ireland and award-winning songstress Lou Bradley at the Byron Vista Social Club in Ewingsdale Hall (near Byron) this Sunday, November 13, from 7.30pm-ish. $10 gets you in. Compere and songster Mook and the gorgeous, velvet-voiced Shanto will be there of course.

Mandy has a deaf teddy. She also fronts the metal band Brain Resin. Next Thursday, November 17, a metal gig of gargantuan proportions will headbang the Tatts Hotel in Lismore. The bands are (and I love metal band names) Brain Resin, Afterbath (from Brisbane), and locals Pig Man Vampire, Taxim Vetala and Narcotic Death. Yes folks, from 9pm there'll be a steaming brew of screaming banshees, blast beats, psychedelic doom, metal terror, old school and new school all for $5.

With their blend of jazz beats, funky rhythms and infectious (have you had your shot?) pop melodies, Brisbane band Namaste Jake has been building a loyal following throughout Australia and Europe over the last couple of years. Having just wrapped up recording of their latest CD, they bring their psychedelics (and their music) to the Nimbin Hotel this Friday, November 11, from 8.30pm.

Earth conscious groovers Andrea Soler and The Common Thread will enchant the Sphinx Rock Cafe at Mount Burrell this Sunday, November 13, from 1pm. Original, sensual and inspiring.

A Page from the Led book

Jimmy Page could play that Les Paul Gibson like ringin' a bell. This is a photo of the guitarist playing in Sydney in 1972. There are plenty of photos from that concert to be seen at the One Night Stand exhibition coming soon.

Led Zeppelin played a concert at the Sydney Showgrounds way back in 1972. Working as a freelance press photographer in those days, Ted Harvey, now a Northern Rivers resident, photographed the gig on that day in February '72.

Ted says, "I drove my van around to the back of the stage, parked and walked to the front. I was surprised. I seemed to be the only press photographer there. I had free movement around the stage - great for picture taking!"

Ted continued, "All this was a distant memory until recently rummaging through a box in storage. I found my original negatives, and realised that no one, apart from Zeppelin, had seen the photos. I thought others might like to relive the memories of an era that will never be repeated."

One Night Stand: Led Zeppelin Photographs by Ted Harvey opens at the Lismore Regional Gallery on Monday, November 28, from 5.30-8.30pm. It will then show the next day from 10am-4pm.

The exhibition will be opened by rock historian Glenn A Baker.

Tickets are $5 and available from Caddies Coffee Shop in Lismore.

Small is good

This etching by Angela Gill is called Two to Tango and is part of an exhibition of miniature art at Blue Knob.

The latest exhibition at the Blue Knob Hall Gallery, Many Mini Micro, is a display of miniatures in various media. The artists, including members of the Australian Miniature Society, are exhibiting framed paintings, photographs, drawings and sculptural pieces. Many Mini Micro also features several intricate 3D pieces representing the rooms of a quaint house - complete with their super-miniature contents - made by Carolyn Scott-Brydges and Francine Witton.

The exhibition will be opened this Friday, November 11, at 6pm by David Helliwell.

Dinner will be available from the Gallery Cafe.

The show runs until December 11. The gallery's new opening hours are Saturday and Sunday, 10am-4pm. For details phone 6689 7449.

A musical life

Southern Cross University academic Michael Hannan (pictured) will showcase his piano music at the Nimbin School of Arts (Nimbin Town Hall) on Sunday, November 13, at 3pm.

The centrepiece of the concert will be a series of excerpts from Resonances, a large-scale multi-movement work which features music based on the calls of the pied butcherbird. Hannan first heard the calls of the pied butcherbird while he was living in Brisbane in 1985, and it has inspired most of his music since that time.

His new works in the program include Mozart Minimalised, a cheeky homage for the 250th year Mozart's birth, and Impromobiles, a series of musical, visual and literary ideas that form the starting points for improvised musical performances.

Entry is $6/3.

Players in the rain

Get your raincoats on for a deluge of song and dance when the Ballina Players present Singin' in the Rain soon.

Ballina Players have had a busy year celebrating their first 50 years of bringing live theatre to the people of Ballina.

With its final production of the year, it's move over Gene Kelly, Donald O'Connor and Debbie Reynolds, because here comes Daniel Nisbet, Darren Lever and Jessica Owens to play the lead roles in the fabulous musical Singin' in the Rain.

This all-singing and all-dancing production will be sure to have toes a tappin'. Singin' in the Rain will be performed at the Ballina Players Theatre in Swift Street from Friday, November 18, until Saturday, December 10.

For more info and bookings see Mary at La Boutique in River Street, Ballina, or phone her on 6686 2662.

U turn, youth dance

Mark Lowndes won Brisbane's Search for a SuperStar competition and now he's coming to Lismore.

Soul Purpose is a dance company from Brisbane (you know, north of Brunswick) and they're putting on a dance party called U-Turn at Lismore City Hall on Friday, November 18, from 7.30-10.30pm. This is something for the youth. The gig will feature Brisbane 96.5FM's 2004 Search for a SuperStar winner Mark Lowndes, dance crew Trick Nasty and various upcoming rappers and performers as well as Brisbane's hottest DJs.

Then on November 26 from 9am-3pm, Soul Purpose will present U-Turn Youth Day, which will feature workshops (skateboarding and hip hop dance) sponsored by local businesses (36 Chambers and Sassy Salsa) and a DJ/MC workshop run by two of Brisbane's most well known DJs - DJ Rock and DJ Maxwell. Free food and drinks will be provided, as well as face painting and a guest speaker.

Silent revolution

There'll be two minutes of silence followed by an 'Om' for peace this Friday, November 11, at 11am. This will take place everywhere. Spare a minute or two to reflect on peace. This is not a terrorist activity.

Getting the GIST of it

Talk about gender issues. Dame Edna is attracted to a cardboard Paris Hilton! It's all part of the fun and seriousness as Lismore TAFE theatre students put their acquired knowledge into their end of year production, GIST.

Lismore TAFE theatre students are presenting their end of year show GIST (Gender-Identity-Space-Time), which explores the many aspects of gender and identity with comedy, drama, music, video and multimedia. This promises to be energetic, unusual and entertaining theatre.

There's Dame Edna holding forth on her latest cause, the Great Nemo brings light to the dark corners of the mind, Elizabethan woman meets cave woman, Wonder Woman meets Chopper Reid... oh, and Shakespeare.

Admission is by donation.

GIST shows next Wednesday, Thursday and Friday, November 16-18, at 7pm, with a matinee on Thursday, November 17, at 12pm.

The venue for all shows is E-block at Lismore TAFE in Conway Street.

For more info phone Lismore TAFE on 6626 6400.

Art is the Wei

This painting Morning Decision is by M Woo Wei Richards and is part of an exhibition called Tied Together currently hanging in Caddies Coffee Shop in Lismore. Other artists include Kerrie Divett, Claudie Frock, Cat Scobie, Jesse Mackintosh, Roberta Bassi, Rose Marin, Jimmy Willing, Amelia Ahern, Sean Louth, Anne Bell, Peter Gibbo Gibson and John Campion.

The exhibition runs until November 30.