Issue 727
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The Scene - Northern Rivers Local EntertainmentGood Man for the Badlands
With partner Sonia Leber, he created an aural sculpture played in 80 speakers among the eucalypts around the main stadium. The project is titled 5000 calls in the Urban Forest, and they spent a year collecting 5000 recordings of the human body making noise, singing and speaking, then let the ‘piece' randomly compose itself so that things forever sneak up on you. The work is in place at Homebush for a decade. Chesworth is one of Australia's most innovative and imaginative, yet little known composers. He's just written his second opera for Opera Australia and has created numerous public soundscapes. But he's best known for the eight piece David Chesworth Ensemble featuring the unusual combination of strings, trombone, percussion, piano and sound effects. They play music that's classically-tinged, yet contemporary, rhythmic, melodic, passionate, lush, fun and atmospheric. Unlike a lot of contemporary composers, Chesworth's music is accessible and enjoyable. But he's not sure what pigeon hole it fits in when asked to describe it. 'If I said it, I probably wouldn't write it... I try and write the music no-one else writes,' he explained. The music hints at everything from Penguin Cafe Orchestra to the Balanescu Quartet, Steve Reich and Philip Glass, yet it's refreshingly and delightfully original. 'What's interesting is that music can have conversation with an audience and do it on a number of levels.' Chesworth said. 'The idea is that it's this interesting, pleasurable experience. But you can put more into it that has this subtle conversation with the listener – you might refer to another mood in parentheses – like a little thought balloon in the music that says ‘hang on, this is not all it seems'. 'I kind of have fun with that – I like the way music can reach down and grab you right inside and change you. People can be moved – and all the other things you can attach are like musical Post-it notes stuck to it.' The Ensemble has released two CDs, Exotica Suite and Badlands. Music from both albums features in a concert at Lismore City Hall on Friday, July 27. Badlands is a reworking of Carl Orff's ‘Das Schulwerk' – music used in the 1973 Terence Malick film Badlands – which tears along with a rich intensity, moments of fragile beauty and brooding malevolence. The David Chesworth Ensemble's performance at Lismore City Hall is part of Norpa's Southern Cross Music series. Tickets are on sale now from the Northern Rivers Ticket Centre in Molesworth Street, Lismore. Phone 6621 5600.
Strings for Dinner
FourPlay started life as a classical string quartet originally made up of friends from the Australian Youth Orchestra. Inspired by the Kronos, Balanescu and Brodsky Quartets, they blur the boundaries between classical and rock music. In 1995 FourPlay transformed themselves into an electric string quartet. Their repertoire consists of pop music played on classical instruments and original music such as dub, klezmer, ambient and avant-garde. Artists whose works they arrange vary from The Beastie Boys to Willie Nelson to Sinead O'Connor and many more. FourPlay perform a dinner and show concert at Country Fresh in the Bangalow Hotel this Saturday, July 14. Tickets are $45 from Fresh (7 Jonson St, Byron) and Country Fresh at the pub, or phone 6687 1711. Doors open at 6.30pm for dinner at 7pm sharp.
Taking the Micky
Mick Hart has been a busy boy since releasing his stunning debut album Still the Flowers Bloom. Constant touring brings him back to Byron this Saturday, June 14, for a gig at the Great Northern with much missed songbird Gyan. Sydney-based Hart, the former frontman for the Squealing Pygmies, recorded the 14 track album in Spring 2000, then mixed in London during one of his frequent European tours. 'The songs are just a reflection on your life and other people's lives,' Hart says. 'There's sweet moments, there's sad moments, there's some aggressive, angry stuff.' It ranges from the epic opener ‘Flowers Bloom' to the Led Zep Eastern period-influenced ‘For Nowhere'. Hart's an amazing performer on stage, as anyone who caught him on stage at the Blues festival will attest. For this concert he's joined by a woman not seen locally for some time – Gyan. She left for fame and fortune in England in the mid-90s, and recently returned to the North Coast for a sneak preview warm up at the Rails. She remains a classy performer, and this gig should be a corker. Tickets for Mick Hart and Gyan at the door of the Great Northern.
Drums and Chums
Lismore youthful living treasures, The Young Drums Percussion Orchestra, are giving a special concert at the Lismore Workers Club this Saturday, June 14. It's the first full concert the group has been able to give since major damage occurred to their equipment during a concert at the Homebush Olympic Park more than a year ago. In the end, the NSW Government stepped in with funding support to help the group get back on its feet. The Orchestra's hardworking conductor, Peter Jaggle, said the group now has new equipment and a new show to boot. 'This is a concert to let our home town know that the Young Drums are back,' Peter said. Saturday's concert will also feature two of the world's leading percussionists, Ray Pereira and Nii Tettey Tetteh, who have both offered their services as a show of support to the young players. Ray is on Australia's greatest percussionists, and has played with a who's who of Australian and international musicians. Tettey is a master musician from Ghana, who plays the African drums and flute. He's an hypnotic performer who charms and delights a crowd. Don't miss the chance to witness one of Lismore's musical wonders joined by internationally regarded performers. The concert will begin around 8pm. Tickets are $20 family, $10/5 kids, from the Workers Club or at the door.
Musicians WantedThe Australian Songwriters Association recently appointed local singer Vanessa Hoffman as their Northern NSW coordinator and her first aim is to launch Wax Lyrical, a professionally-hosted open mike night. The night is designed for original musicians and poets of all genres and abilities, providing the region's many talented composers with a forum to share their work and receive helpful feedback. 'I've seen the concept work well in other towns such as Perth, where Wax Lyrical offers performers the option to record their music live to CD for a small fee,' Vanessa said. 'They also run Wax TV, a film clip of selected performances which is edited and run on community television. These are the long-term goals for Wax Lyrical here on the east coast.' Vanessa is now calling for all interested poets, musicians and music lovers to contact her so she can get Wax Lyrical up and running. For more information phone Vanessa on 6633 7273 or 0417 933 310.
Last Call for Early BirdsThe Byron Bay Writers Festival is sooner than you thought and this weekend is your last chance to snap up an early bird tickets and save money. Festival director Jill Eddington, said there had already been an overwhelming response to the program and ticket sales have been strong. With tickets reduced by up to $15 before July 15, it's well worth buying a ticket now. Tickets are available from Jetset Travel in Marvel Street, Byron Bay, which is open Mon-Fri 9am-5pm and Sat 9am-12pm, or call 6685 6554 for program information and tickets. You can also order by phone, fax or on the web at www.nrwc.org.au This year for the first time early bird rates also apply to the evening events. On Friday night you can see the wonderful Andrew Denton being interviewed by David Leser, followed by Warren Fahey of Larrikin Records who will talk about and performing Political and Protest Songs. Tickets are $15 early bird or $20 after July 15. On Saturday, the film night features Yolngu Boy, with Peter Thompson interviewing the director, producer and writer of this amazing new Australian film. Tickets are $11 early bird or $15 after Sunday. Passes are also offered at an early bird price: 3 days discounted from $125 to $110, a two-day pass from $95 to $85 and a single day from $50 to $45. Tickets to this years most popular events are going fast.
Bentley ArtA reminder that the annual Bentley Art Prize is looming at the end of the month, with entries closing on July 20. There are 11 sections, including the Echo-sponsored Aboriginal student art prize for indigenous youth under 18. The open art prize is worth $1000. There are photography, youth, painting and aboriginal art sections. For details, phone Reg Hartley on 6663 5253. You can pick up an entry form from The Echo, local art supply shops or the Lismore art gallery.
Putting Dad in the Picture
When Alstonville High School's photography teacher Jane Hewetson heard about the annual Fathers' Day 2001 Photo Competition, she saw it as the perfect opportunity to promote positive relationships within her classroom. Jane has now integrated the competition into the curriculum for her year 11 students. To pass their photography course, the students have to attend a Real Relationships Photography workshop and enter a photograph in the competition. The workshop, to be held in early August with Richmond River High School's photography teacher Steve Blanch, will teach the students how to take photos of positive moments in existing relationships between children/young people and their mums, dads and carers. 'By focusing on the competition, we get the students thinking about positive relationships within their own family community, which in turn will encourage them to seek better relationships with their parents or carers,' Jane said. 'We've integrated this into the portraiture component of their course – it's art in real life. Not only does it make the students think about relationships, but it challenges their artistic abilities as they try and convey a feeling through a photograph.' The Fathers' Day Photo Competition has six categories and some great cash prices can be won, as well as vouchers from local businesses. Photos can be of any size, in black and white or colour. The only criteria is they must express a positive connection between a male person and their father or carer. Categories are best photo of child with father/carer since last year's Father's Day, Best Photo of boy 12–18 years with father/carer, Best Primary and Best Secondary Student Photographer, Best Photo of a Child with Father/carer (no time frame) and the People's Choice Award for the Best Overall Photo. Judges for the competition include Northern Star photographer, Jacklyn Wagner, The Echo's Terra Sword, Ted Ashby from Adult Learning and president of the Lismore Camera Club, Marie Cook. The panel will also include last years Fathers' Day Photo Competition people's choice winner, Michelle King and best student photographer, Emily Jordan. Entries for the competition close at 5pm on Monday, August 20. For more information phone 6622 3143.
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Anyone wandering around the vast Homebush Olympic stadium last year may have been hearing voices. You have Melbourne composer David Chesworth to thank.
Electric string quartet FourPlay deliver a dinner concert at the Bangalow Hotel this Saturday.
Mick Hart returns to Byron
The Young Drums are back with a bang! Catch them in a star studded line up at the Workers Club this Saturday.
Alstonville High School photography teacher, Jane Hewetson and Fathers' Day Photo Competition coordinator, Chris Hawke, with year 11 students (clockwise from front left) Jessica Lodge, Brendan Rosolen, Aimee Keenan and Sam Thompson. 