The Scene - Local Entertainment News
Dem Bones, Dem Hip Bones
 The enigmatic iOTA has been described as a 'modern-day Tom Jones' (by his publicist).
His new EP Little Carlos is iOTA's first release since The Hip Bone Connection and in that time much has happened. iOTA opted out of the city, choosing the simpler country life and ‘Little Carlos' bears testimony to how much this move has reinvigorated him.
The EP features bass player Bongo and drummer Sid Green, to offer a smooth and languid feel.
Little Carlos reveals a more relaxed and confident singer and a band that knows how to back the voice. Bongo's fluid bass grooves couple perfectly with Green's drumming. The six-track 34 minute EP puts most albums to shame in its richness. You can catch iOTA's new sound at the Great Northern this Sunday, with support from Shane Nicholson and Fourth Floor Collapse. Tickets at the door.
Chilblain Battles On
 Local four piece metal/rap band Chilblain (pictured) perform this Friday, August 10 at the Canberra Hotel from 10pm, with support from New Machine and Subsyde.
They will also perform next Thursday, August 16, at Southern Cross University's Band Comp Final where they will be up against other local bands El Gonzo Green, Counterstroke and Polluted Paris.
Both gigs are free.
Must Be Talking To An Angel
 Gina Jeffrey plays Lismore Workers with Rick Price this Saturday.
Gina Jeffrey's latest album, the glorious sounding Angel, is the result of a lot of hard work in the home of country music, Nashville.
But why was this Aussie country fish in American waters?
'Nashville is a great place for inspiration. I always come back terribly inspired,' Gina explained.
Her seven months recording Angel in Nashville was also a dream come true, because she got to work with producer Garth Fundis
'I'd admired him for 10 years or more – many of my favourite albums were produced by him. I've always just loved the music he makes and this was too good an opportunity, when I'm 70 going to look back on this time and brag to my grandkids about it,' she laughs.
'I really felt like I wanted to make a different album. I'd reached an intersection in my career and I couldn't keep going straight head,' Gina said.
'Garth was very hands-on and he was there every second. They were very big days and he pushed me vocally into areas I didn't know I could do.
'I'd set little boundaries, but he'd push me to step outside my comfort zone, which was a great thing – generally he was right!'
The result shows a great maturity in Jeffreys, and offers a wide range of contemporary styles.
The album also bears the fruit of a close songwriting collaboration with Rick Price.
I said to Rick ‘I wanna progress and live dangerously musically'. His response was ‘let's experiment and have fun'. So some songs are the most country I've ever done – others are completely different. We felt like there were no rules,' she said.
They ended up with 12 songs. ‘Out of the Blues' also made it onto the album.
'Angel was written in 3-4 hours at the kitchen table and we were pretty pleased when we finished. It was the first song we wrote together.'
It was also a hit, going to number 1 on the country charts and crossing over to the pop chart.
The collaboration has continued with Rick Price joining Gina Jeffreys on the tour – to the merriment of both.
'It's the most fun concert I've ever been involved in – and I always have fun. But I've had sore cheeks from laughing with Rick,' Gina says
'Rick blows everyone away with an acoustic set, then we do some stuff together, and put each other off singing as much as we can!'
Tickets for Gina Jeffreys and Rick Price are on sale now at the Lismore Workers Club. Provided they're not sold out, you can also get them at the door on Saturday night. The show starts at 8pm.
Leigh Gets High
 Vocalist Leigh Carriage will present her new show, Riding High, next Wednesday, August 15 at Maggie Moores' regular jazz night from 8.30pm.
The show features a smorgasbord of timeless jazz standards from the 1930s to 1950s with light-hearted Porter classics, romantic Gershwin ballads and a few sassy Ellington surprises.
Leigh's rhythm section includes Steve Russell on keys, Jack Thorncraft on acoustic bass and Dave Sanders on drums.
Tickets are $5 at the door.
Big John's Back on Track
 John Wibberley plays the Canberra next Tuesday.
After a two year absence – moving states, changing record labels, bands and managers, the talented John Wibberley is back on the road with a new EP
The three single EP, Heartless Land, features the title track, which originally appeared on his critically acclaimed album of the same name. It's been recorded and released with two new songs.
With a new band and new lease of life, John Wibberley plays at the Canberra Hotel, Lismore, next Tuesday, August 14.
2 Dogs Dancing
Australian hip-hop has finally started to gain recognition, largely thanks to the efforts of 2 Dogs, aka. DJ Katch and Dave Dog.
Their public habits range from work with Resin Dogs, DJing, live band performances, recording efforts, staging of hip-hop events, collaborating with both national and international artists, or promoting quality hip-hop acts through the reputation of their Hydrofunk label
The past year or so has seen 2 Dogs back in their home studio, The Pound, to collaborate with some of Australia's premier MC's and DJ's. Raph-Boogie and BVA of Mnemonic Ascent, Lazy Grey and Len-One of Brothers Stoney, DJ Ransom as well as L.A.'s Abstract Rude contribute to 'The D & K Sessions'. The album also ushers in the arrival of female MC Kowhai (pron. Cor-fi).
You can hear the result at the 2 Dogs album launch this Saturday at the Great Northern in Byron.
Good Vibrations
Southern Cross University's school of contemporary art will present the first performance in their Sound and Vision Series next Thursday, August 16 at the University's Art Museum.
The performance, entitled Water Vibration, is a musical and visual collaboration between SCU students Jodie Ramona and Les Dorahy and local guitar trio D'Volv.
The performance involves the activation of a body of water by musical vibrations produced by the live performers.
This process is filmed and simultaneously projected to create a live audio visual experience.
The performance will be followed by some improvised and composed music by D'Volv, an innovative local ensemble featuring Jim Kelly on steel string, Jon Fitzgerald on nylon string and Peter Martin on electric.
The trio's members are all SCU lecturers and accomplished guitarists in their own right.
Entry to Water Vibrations is by gold coin donation. The performance starts at 5.30pm.
Havin' a Ball
 10 piece Latin American band Hot Mambo performs at the Hot ‘n Spicy Ball this Saturday.
With limited tickets available, NORPA is encouraging people to book their seat for the Hot ‘n Spicy Ball this Saturday, August 11 at the Lismore City Hall from 6.30pm.
People will receive tasty samples of rainforest cocktails and hors-d'oeuvres from Regional Cuisine on arrival before the entertainment begins.
People can boogie to Hot Mambo, a 10 piece Latin American salsa band from Brisbane while downstairs in the Balmy Banana Lounge people can relax to the Bossa Nova sounds of DJ Latin Lover.
There will also be prizes and games to keep everyone amused throughout the night.
If you're a little worried about your salsa skills, NORPA is offering a free salsa dance lesson to everyone attending the ball on Friday before the event.
Tickets are $55, however there is a discount for groups of ten or more.
To book phone 6621 5600.
Pirates A-Plenty at Whian Whian
 Some of the young actors from A Patch O' Pirates.
One-eyed villains, talking parrots and swashbuckling heroes... it's all part of Funkafide Production's new performance, Patch ‘O Pirates, this Sunday, August 12 at the Whian Whian Hall from 4pm.
The performers are all local children from Dunoon, Whian Whian, Rosebank and Lismore aged between 4 and 14, who attend Funkafide Production's weekly classes. The classes teach elements of dance, music, drama and movement and under the direction of local primary school teacher, Jodie Digney, they create a performance every so often for the local community.
Tickets are $3 at the door.
Sunday Jazz in Kyogle
 Jazz quintet Focal Point (l-r) Royden Ainsworth, Anne Mitchell, Nirvana Glassey, Sterling Brown and Jeff McGuiness perform at the Kyogle Anglican Church this Sunday.
To raise much-needed funds for the Kyogle Anglican Church, the Grevillia Anglican Ladies Guild is presenting Just Jazz this Sunday, August 12 at the church from 2-5pm.
The event features local Kyogle-based jazz quintet Focal Point, which is led by saxophonist Royden Ainsworth. Royden played for many years in Geoff Harvey's Midday Band on channel nine and has backed music greats such as Lisa Minnelli, Tom Jones and Shirley Bassey.
He will be joined by pianist and singer Annie Mitchell, ex-Navy band drummer Jeff McGuiness, folk-turned-jazz guitarist Sterling Brown and bassist Nirvana Glassey, a music student at Southern Cross University and member of local band Ragadoll.
The band has planned a concert to suit all tastes from traditional and modern jazz, with a few rock numbers thrown in as well.
Tickets to the gig are $10 adults/$5 student at the door, with kids under 12 free.
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