Issue 744
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The Scene - Local Entertainment NewsDidjin' with the DJs
Charlie McMahon is one of the world's top exponents of the didjeridu, and is bringing his unique digital sounds to the Great Northern this Friday, November 9. Charlie has been a pioneer of developing a stronger vibrational sound to the didjeridu. Charlie took up the didjeridu as a child. As a teenager he lost his right hand whilst experimenting with rockets in his backyard. Following years of study and working with Aboriginal people, Charlie formed Gondwanaland in the mid 80s. The group released three albums and performed in front of 120,000 people at Sydney Cove for the Bicentennial, an Australian record to date. Charlie's popularity led to an extensive overseas touring with Midnight Oil in 1994. More recent solo experiments have seen Charlie invent the 'Xenophon', a seismic recording device that gives the didjeridu a vibrational, melodic and harmonious sound. Mixing a big-beats techno rhythm with digitalised didj, Charlie's Xenophonic dance music has led to pumping performances in clubs and at outdoor dance music festivals and now you can catch him in action supported by local DJs Scooter and Jackie Onnassid. This exclusive gig is presented by Bay FM's 'In Didj'n'Us' program. Tickets for Charlie McMahon are available from the Great Northern or at the door.
A Sunday of song
A brilliant line-up features at this year's A Cappella Festival at the Thursday Plantation Soundshell, Ballina this Sunday, November 11. A cappella singing meant 'singing in the style of the chapel', but is now generally taken to include any unaccompanied singing. More than 100 performers from Bellingen to Brisbane will join for a day of glorious singing. The line-up includes AkaBella from Bellingen, Mouth Orchestra from Brisbane, as well as locals Isabella Acappella, Allegro Gone Troppo, Acapellicans, Collusion, Alchemy and the eloquent Stand Up Poets! AkaBeIIa is a 32-member choir with a stage presence that is vibrant and colourful. Spirited performances draw the audience into the choir's global repertoire which includes music from East Timor, Africa, Hungary, Bulgaria, America, Torres Strait Islands, Holland and South America, as well as contemporary songs from Australia and original compositions. Come for the day, enjoy the music and savour the intense power of song. Bring a picnic, a rug and join in under the marquee. Singing in the Rainforest runs from noon to 5pm this Sunday. Admission is $20/$15 conc/kids free, and includes entry to the Thursday Plantation East Coast Sculpture Show.
Funny films
The largest touring film festival in Australia, the Over the Fence Comedy Film Festival, will be screened in Lismore next Saturday, November 17 at the Star Court Theatre from 7.30pm. The screening includes 16 short films, selected from more than 250 entries. They are a wild collection of off-beat productions, some blackly ironic and irreverent, some using slapstick humour and romance. The subject matter is as wacky and innovative as the styles, the films covering everything from the competition between rival marijuana growers to an ironing board that runs away from home. 'Humour is never ridiculous - it is the absence of humour which is truly ridiculous,' the festival's patron and master of lateral thinking, Edward de Bono, said. If you've got a sense of humour, Over the Fence promises to be a lot of fun. Tickets are $10/8 at the door.
Funky farewell to Wednesday jazz
The Concerts at Maggies jazz series will wrap up for 2001 with a performance by Jim Kelly's Thrillseekers next Wednesday, November 14, at Maggie Moores. The end of year gig will feature Jim on guitar with fellow musicians from Southern Cross University including Greg Lyon on electric bass, Scott Hills on drums, James Cox on percussion, Dave Ades on saxophone and Scott Tinkler on trumpet. The gig starts at 8.30pm. Tickets are $5 at the door.
Plenty of spiritIf you enjoyed the Spirit of Ireland when it came to Lismore last year, then the good craic is that a brand new production from the respected Ceol Chiarrai (Ireland) Teorana comes to Lismore City Hall next Friday, November 16. This spectacular presentation will feature a young company of 14 highly talented performers including eight of the very best dancers only Ireland can produce and an exciting Irish group of musicians and singers hailed by critics as 'the Young Chieftans'. The Spirit of Ireland has evolved over many years to become one of the most popular Irish cultural dance and music shows and offers audiences a spectacular evening of toe tapping original dance and music presented by Ireland's most talented young musicians, singers and dance champions. For bookings phone the Northern Rivers Ticket Centre on 6621 5600.
AusdanceThrough Northern Rivers Dance Action Ausdance NSW will present a series of Breakdance Workshops over the next two weekends. The workshops will be conducted by breakdance teachers from Chanel Direct in Brisbane, or the Gravity Warriors as they are better known. People of all ages and abilities are welcome to attend the workshops. They will be held this Saturday and Sunday, November 10-11 as well as November 17-18 at the Lismore City Hall Dance Studio from 2-4pm. Workshops are $5. To book phone 6622 0300.
Come togetherThe Baha'i Communities of Ballina and Lismore will present a night family entertainment this Sunday, November 11, at the Alstonville Entertainment Centre. The Baha'i community believes that world peace is inevitable and there is 'Unity in Diversity' so they have made the event a multicultural feast for the senses, with many songs and dances from different cultures being performed. The gig is being held on Sunday as it's Armistice Day, the day which supposedly ended the war, and also the eve of the birthday of Baha'u'llah, founder of the Baha'i Faith. The free event includes performances by the Reconciliation Choir and Mereki as well as Persian, Spanish, Filipino, Arabic and Indonesian song and dance. Free supper is available for all. The gig starts at 7pm.
Dolphins showcaseThe third Dolphin Awards Showcase in the lead up to the presentation night on November 27, will be held next Thursday, November 15 at the Tatts Hotel from 8.30pm. Presented by the North Coast Entertainment Industry (NCEIA) the showcase will feature performances by five local bands - Silencer, Animism, Age6, Animals Are Smarter and the headline band Tone-sic. Tone-sic's five band members are all students at Mullumbimby and Kadina High Schools and range in age from 15-17. After just six months of jamming in a tin shed the talented group has already managed to produce a CD containing 12 tracks, all of which are originals. With influences such as Static X and Mudvayne, Tone-sic play their own blend of funk and rhythmic metal, which recently scored them a gig supporting Sunk Loto. The showcase is a great chance to see local bands strutting their stuff. Entry is by gold coin donation. To book for the Dolphin Awards Presentation Night on Tuesday, November 27 at the Lismore RSL Club, phone NCEIA on 6622 0222.
Vote 1 Kyogle festivalThe climax of the Kyogle Fairymount Festival is this Saturday, November 10, when more than six bands take to the Super Stage in Kyogle's main street for a 12 hour feast of music. Performers include the Tim Gaze Band, The Sommers Family and Breathless. The feature of the evening will be a three hour performance from 9-12pm by The Romaniacs. For more details phone John on 6632 2450.
Debut CD from local songbird
Local singer/songwriter and Southern Cross University (SCU) student, Sangeeta, will launch her debut self-titled CD with a special video showing and concert next Thursday, November 15 at the Star Court Theatre. The night will feature performances by Sangeeta and the concert musicians featured on the album as well as a screening of two video clips which will accompany the album. Concert musicians performing on the album include SCU lecturers Michael Hannan on piano and John Fitzgerald on acoustic guitar with Ian Slade doing video and cinematography. Also performing on the night will be SCU ex-graduates Suzanna Carmen on violin and backing vocals, Peter Wilkins on drums, Julius Hofstettor on saxophone, Tim Webb on bass and Simon Williams on guitar. While the CD was written, arranged and produced by Sangeeta, the production involved more than 50 people and the use of 17 different instruments including double bass, timpani, flamenco guitar, cello, piano and the Indian tanpura. The CD launch will also include a special performance by local poet Tanya Delys Mandorla. The gig starts at 7.30pm. Entry is by gold coin donation.
Radio just 4 kids
10 year-old Lismore resident, Lara May, likes listening to the radio. Lara says she would often turn on 2NCR only to find all the radio programs were done by adults for adults, so she did the only thing she could and created her own show. The show, JFK (Just 4 Kids) is hosted by Lara and features a range of stuff just for kids, including music, book and movie reviews, jokes, poetry, public announcements, guest interviews, entertainment and heaps more. According to Lara she was inspired to do the show for herself as much as anyone else. 'I decided to do JFK as I was sick of turning on the radio and listening to a lot of dribble which didn't interest me,' Lara said. 'I found it was always stuff for adults and lots of commercials. I want a show that kids will look forward to listening to every week and give them information about stuff they would like to know about - topics which are important to us in our world.' Lara's show is interactive, with young guests performing poetry on the show and talking about their personal achievements. 'I work on my show as part of my after school activities and I still have time for my drama and drawing lessons... but I do have less time for TV!' Lara said. Anyone who wants to be part of Lara's show, contribute something or make a community announcement should write to Lara at JFK (Just 4 Kids), PO Box 1285, Lismore 2480. JFK is on 2NCR FM, 92.9, from 12-1pm every Sunday.
Misery loves company
Former Good News Week house band The Gadflys are back with a great new single 'Misery'. Written by Phil Moriarty, 'Misery' belies its title to deliver an irresistible toe tappin', floor fillin' groove. The CD single also features the title track for their forthcoming release The Girl. Brothers Phil and Mick Moriarty formed the band in 1989 in Canberra with long time friend, Andy Lewis. Andy left in the early 90s to join The Whitlams. Meanwhile, The Gadflys released their acclaimed album Dimitri's Bungalow and played with three different bass players until 1998 when the prodigal Andy returned. In the first half of 2000, the band laid down the tracks which became the basis of their most recent album, Many Happy Returns. The tragic sudden death of Andy Lewis during the recording of Many Happy Returns propelled the guys into self-imposed exile, getting together only to finish work over the months that followed. Now they're back, re-energised, passionate and grooving to a new beat. Tickets for the Gadflys are available at the door.
The bad girls of Caddies
A new exhibition by local artist Lina Eve, the Bad Girl series, is now on show at Caddies. The exhibition features a selection of powerful artworks surrounding the 'secret adoption' era of the 50s, 60s and 70s, when nearly 80,000 young women in NSW lost their children to adoption. The works look at how women were 'punished' in this time for being pregnant and unmarried by having their children taken away from them to be made available for adoption. An interesting and insightful exhibition, the Bad Girls series is on show until November 17.
Top dad caught on film
Lismore Primary School student Joshua Mapstone, 12, is $100 richer this week after winning the best primary school photographer section of the Father's Day Photo Competition. Joshua won first place for a photo of his father, Geoff, putting his younger brother Michael into a safety car seat. He was presented with his Darcy McFadden trophy and prize money at a presentation last week, where the competition's coordinator, Chris Hawke from Community Connections, congratulated him on his photograph. 'It was just a really lovely candid everyday moment, which the judges saw as special,' Chris said. 'The photo demonstrates there's a caring relationship between these two people. The standard of entries was very high.' Joshua was delighted with his win, as was his father Geoff, a single dad. 'I was quite amazed - I guess I didn't expect it to win because it was just an ordinary everyday photo,' Geoff said. 'We're both pretty excited. I think the competition is a great idea because there's generally not enough interaction between children and their fathers, and this encourages fathers to spend more time with their kids.' While he will save most of the money, Joshua, an avid cricket player and member of three different teams, will splurge out and buy himself a new cricket helmet. Winners of the People's Choice Award were Michelle King of Lismore first, Monika Nowland of South Grafton Primary School second and Susan O'Hara of Nashua third. Local Gig Guide
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Charlie McMahon brings his didj to the Great Northern this Friday. 
Bellingen group Akabella performs at the 'Singing in the Rainforest' a cappella festival at Thursday Plantation in Ballina this Sunday.
Organisers of the Over the Fence Touring Comedy Film Festival with their mascot, Stompy.
Trumpet player Scott Tinkler (pictured) will perform with Jim Kelly's Thrillseekers for the final Concerts at Maggies gig this year.
Local singer/songwriter and Southern Cross University student, Sangeeta (pictured) will launch her debut CD at the Star Court Theatre next Thursday.
Lara May in the 2NCR studios, doing her radio show JFK (Just 4 Kids).
The Gadflys perform at the Great Northern in Byron Bay this Saturday.
'Clayton's Mother', one of the paintings in Lina Eve's exhibition Bad Girls, now on show at Caddies.
Joshua Mapstone, 12, with his Darcy McFadden Trophy, father Geoff Mapstone (right) and Father's Day Photo Competition coordinator, Chris Hawke.