Issue 733

The Scene - Local Entertainment News

Sea aint heavy

Big Heavy Stuff headline a triple bull at the Great Northern this Saturday.

Giving a whole new meaning to the rock 'n' roll cliché 'difficult third album' when their support and record label disappeared as they were about to step into the recording studio. Two years later, the four-piece has released the 12-track Size of the Ocean, a dark and grinding ode to life's troubles and the vagaries of the music scene. Now with the WA label Redline Records (set up by Jebediah), Big Heavy Stuff are splashing about with their new songs - plus a softer acoustic side - and heading for the Great Northern this Saturday, August 25.

Despite the fact that fellow guitarists, vocalists and lovers Greg Atkinson and Carolyn Polley support Manly (the fact that anyone cares about rugby league anymore is a minor miracle), they know how to make good indie rock.

For good measure, they're bringing along the synth-riffs and punchy chord progressions of Sekiden, plus the screaming thrash of Rival Flight.

Tickets at the door.

Ace time

Melbourne four-piece Motor Ace put both hands on the wheel this year when they released an excellent debut album, Five Star Laundry.

The single, "Hey Driver" - a song referring not to cars, but rather to being led by forces beyond your control, is a pumping adrenalin-charged track, which also has a live version of the crowd favourite Chromakey, while the latest release, Lorenzo - about being stuck at home underage, while everybody else is having a good time, is vintage Patrick Robertson, circa 1994.

After two years of touring, and playing supports for everyone from Blink 182 to the Foo Fighters, Motor Ace are swinging by the Great Northern this Sunday, August 26, as part of their Last Legs tour. The plan is to head back into the studio for a follow-up album before the end of the year, so this is you last chance to catch one of the hottest and hardest bands of 2001 for some time.

For good measure, Palladium and the likely lasses from Lash play support. Tickets at the door.

Cheesey music

Soft and runny on the inside... Monsieur Camembert play the Great Northern this Friday.

The intriguingly titled Monsieur Camembert is a six-piece band playing stirring Eastern European music that fuses Gypsy-Swing, Klezmer, Hungarian & Russian Gypsy, Tango, French Musette, Greek & Israeli Music, with their own original compositions.

Their music is passionate and uplifting with a Hot Club gypsy guitar strum, a swinging double bass, and pumping accordion over which violin and classical guitar take their unbridled leads.

Toss in some trumpet, flugelhorn, sax, clarinet, flute and piano and you've got the makings of a fine cheese platter - which was served up at the opening of the Sydney Paralympics.

Described as "Australia's hottest Klezmer/ Gypsy band" (and probably Australia's only...), you can catch Monsieur Camembert at the Great Northern hotel, Byron Bay, this Friday, August 24. Tickets at the door. And don't forget to bring your dancing shoes.

Bangarra in Grafton

Australia's leading indigenous dance company, Bangarra Dance Theatre, stars of the Sydney Olympics opening ceremony, are in Grafton this Friday, August 24, for a one-off show at the South Grafton High School auditorium.

The show will feature 'Awakenings', plus highlights from two shows previously seen in Lismore - 'Ochres' and 'Fish'.

Why there? Because the students from South Grafton played a major part in the opening ceremony and artistic director Stephen Page says it's the company's way of saying thank you.

The show kicks off at 7.30pm. Tickets are only $10, but they're only available at the door on the night.

Dolphin entries close tomorrow

Strewth, is it that time of the year already?! Entries in the 2001 Dolphin Awards, the local music industry's version of the Grammys, close this Friday, August 24.

Nomination forms are available from record and music stores through the region, or phone the North Coast Entertainment Industry Association on 6622 0222.

Now don't panic if you're ready this on Saturday morning, 'cause the Dolphin people are a pretty forgiving bunch. But take this as a warning that you'd better get your act - and tape - together quick smart if you want to enter.

The Dolphin Awards night will be held on November 27 at Lismore RSL club.

Celtic Jam night revamped

There's an old Irish saying that, if it aint broke don't fix it.

But then the Irish also gave us Murphy's law - "If anything can go wrong it will". Since many Irish regard Murphy as an optimist, the organisers of the monthly Celtic Jam Night have decided not to rely on the luck of the Irish for its continued success.

The session has always had an open door policy to allow new musos to participate. However, through the evolution of the Celtic Jam Night, the quality of the performers and the extent of their repertoires have gone through the roof, leaving new musos keen on learning Celtic music and/or instruments in their wake.

As a way of bringing new musos back into the fold, ograniser and frenetic fiddler Jamie Corfield will host a beginner's session that will run for an hour or so (starting at 6pm) and will dovetail into the main session.

The session will allow less experienced players to learn and share new tunes, play at slower speeds and get tuition in specific styles or instruments. Organisers will also make available a list of people willing to teach and their contact details.

The next Celtic Jam Session is tonight, August 24, at the Rous Hotel, Lismore, and the beginner's session starts on September 27 before the Guinness really starts to flow for the full jam. For more info, contact Jamie on 6620 3158.

Channon Ball

To celebrate the end of winter and the first day of Spring the annual Channon Spring Ball - Full Moon Fever will be held next Saturday, September 1 at the Channon Hall.

The theme for this year's ball is 'dare to be different - follow your dreams' which according to organisers gives people plenty of scope to dress elegantly, weirdly, in disguise, in full regalia or in whatever else takes your fancy.

Adorned with hundreds of flowers and lanterns, the newly renovated hall will have an indoor and outdoor entertainment area with a huge fire outside in case it's chilly.

Local funk/rock band Hubibrastic Funk will be the feature act at the ball with support from local comedians, dancers and other singers and musicans.

Proceeds from the event will go to the Channon Hall Trust, Channon Fire Brigade and Channon Youth Group.

Tickets are $20 per person which includes a light supper.

For more details see the ad in this week's Echo.

Snappy dads wanted

One of the entries in this year's Father's Day Photo Competition is this photo of Peter Kuestler with his six-year-old son Simba in a snow cave in the Kosciusko National Park recently.

People can have their favourite father/child photos displayed throughout the Northern Rivers during September simply by entering the photograph in the Father's Day Photo Competition.

All photos entered will be exhibited at community venues, schools and shopping centres from Tweed to Grafton in September which coordinator Chris Hawke says gives the community a chance to see the great things dads and male carers are doing.

"Everyone who sees this travelling exhibition can choose the photo they like best and vote in the 'Peoples Choice' category sponsored by Lismore Shopping Square," Chris Hawke said.

"This is a great way to thank dad for Father's Day. Simply choose a few snapshots of anyone with their dad or significant male carer and enter them at no cost.

"As well as cash prizes some photographers will also win prizes from our other sponsors Fletchers Fotographics, Ballina Fair, Kmart and Domino's Pizza," he said.

Photos can be of any size, in black and white or colour and the categories are: best photo of child with father/carer, best photo of boy 12-18 years with father/carer, the Darcy McFadden Trophy for best primary or secondary student photographer and the People's Choice Award for the best overall photo.

Entries for the competition close at 5pm on Friday, August 31.

For more information or to get an entry form phone 6622 3143 or visit www.justsuper.com.au.

Tatts is live and kicking

The Tattersalls Hotel's new managers, Dave De Nardi (left) and Ben Conte, who are turning the Tatts back into a venue for live bands, DJs and acoustic musicians.

If you're under 25, a Lismore resident and not opposed the odd night out for some good entertainment, it's no secret there are few, if any, venues that suit you.

All that looks set to change however since two local young blokes, Ben Conte and Dave De Nardi, both 22, who have taken over management of the Tatts Hotel in Keen Street.

Ben and Dave have been involved in the local music scene for many years and worked in local hotels since they were 18.

Their own desire to see some good live music led them to take over the hotel. As well as presenting local and touring bands, live DJs and acoustic musicians they wanted to provide a venue where aspiring local bands could strut their stuff. The guys even think they might throw some comedy into the mix a little down the track.

"We want to cater for the young people in Lismore and as many of them are Uni students and low income earners, we wanted to put on quality gigs that were accessible to everyone," Dave said.

"We want to see the Tatts return to what it was years ago - a happening music venue with live entertainment and a youthful atmosphere. We realise there is a need for an original music venue in Lismore and it's our aim to provide this."

The Tatts will start their new line up of entertainment from next week. Wednesdays will be a weekly jam night run by local singer/songwriter John Glen, with Thursday open to local bands or touring feature artists. Fridays will see a mix of professional and upcoming DJs hit the decks while Saturdays will feature a different live band each week.

Their first touring act, Triple J favourites Primary, will perform next Thursday, August 30.

Ben and Dave have installed a 10ft TV screen for all the big sporting events and they will hold different drink specials and promotions weekly. Local bands interested in performing at the Tatts should phone Ben or Dave on 6621 2284.

Student art on show

Students at Trinity Catholic College get to show off their skills on the canvas during their annual art exhibition, Heart Smart Art, which opens next Tuesday, August 28 at the St Mary's Site Hall on Dawson Street.

Finishing off their major HSC artworks last week to include in the exhibition are year 12 students (l-r) Luisa Smith, Jasmine DeVincenzo, Vanessa Webb, Erin Wilson and Brett Gollan.

The exhibition features more than 100 artworks from students from years seven to 11 as well as the major HSC artworks from year 12 students.

The exhibition will showcase a huge variety of mediums and subject matter, from a bedspread depicting medieval scenes and fantasy creatures to a large oil painting of Moulin Rouge star Nicole Kidman.

"It's really interesting to see how young people perceive and then present the world around them through art," Trinity Catholic College art teacher, Jay Foley, said.

"The art faculty at Trinity would like people to come and support the talented young people in our community and celebrate creativity, originality and diversity in learning."

Students from each year will be presented with awards for excellence at the opening on Tuesday, which runs from 6-9pm, with refreshments provided by the college's hospitality students. The show will then be open for public viewing on Wednesday and Thursday, August 29-30, from 9am-7pm each day. Entry is $3.

Choirs combine

To welcome in Spring, Deidre Pailas, Valerie Tamblyn-Mills and Warren Whitney are combining their talents for a special choral concert next Friday, August 31, as a 'farewell to winter'.

Loudly Sings the Cuckoo will feature five local choral groups - Unlikely Angels, Lismore Show Choir, Lismore Choral Society, Ballina's Acapelicans, and the Nouveaux Singers - joining together for a night of beautiful music, ranging from 13th Century rounds to selections from Strauss and contemporary musicals.

Tickets are $10/8 and will be on sale at the door for the 8pm concert.

Sibling talents

Brother and sister piano virtuosos Michael Kieran Harvey and Bernadette Harvey Balkus will come together for the final Lismore concert in the Musica Viva 2001 series on Friday,
September 7.

The performers who blow away both audiences and the critics with their power, passion and talent, and this promises to be a stunning night of music featuring works by contemporary Australian composers and American composer George Crumb.

The concert will launch the 89th Lismore Eisteddfod with great style. Tickets are on sale now from the Northern Rivers Ticket Centre in Molesworth Street, Lismore. Phone 6621 5600.

Timber talk

A special lunchtime talk, titled Trees for Life: the Life of Trees, will be held at Lismore Regional Art Gallery next Thursday, August 30, from 12.30pm.

Timber craftsman Roy Schack is travelling from Brisbane to discuss his philosophy of his craft and the use of timbers for his artwork in the exhibition which currently on show at the gallery, Rings of History.

Joining him is David Wilson from State Forests, who will talk about how timber is selected for harvesting, and the state of play in the forestry industry.

In the middle will be Echo editor Simon Thomsen, who'll speculate on whether a real newspaper, made from paper, will ever disappear in favour of the Internet.

The audience will be invited to ask questions. Entry to the talk is by donation.