Issue 808

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The Scene - Local Entertainment News

• Local Gig Guide

Army Band Plays for Charity

The RAAF Air Command will perform a charity concert at Lismore City Hall tomorrow night.

As part of a visit to the North Coast for the re-dedication of the Lismore War Memorial, the RAAF Air Command is performing a charity concert tomorrow, March 1, at Lismore City Hall.

The band started as a part-time brass band in 1932 and was led by various musicians until its establishment as a full time unit in 1969. At this point the band had 12 musicians and in the last three decades the group has grown to include more than 40 musicians.

The band is in high demand around Australia, probably due to their highly diverse repertoire which ranges from traditional orchestra music to jazz, rock and pop songs.

They have supported well-known musicians during tours across the country, including guitarist Tommy Emmanuel and singer Rhonda Burchmore.

Tomorrow night's gig will feature a little bit of everything, from Dambuster's March and extracts of Mozart's Horn Concerto to popular contemporary tunes such as From this Moment On and Moonlight in Vermont.

Tickets to the gig are $10 adults/$5 children and all proceeds from the event will go to St Vincent's Hospital's Palliative Care Unit. To book phone 6621 5600.

Tents for the Memories

Khaki Marquee perform at Kyogle's Commercial Hotel this Saturday night.

After being absent from the local music scene for the past 12 months, six-piece band Khaki Marquee return to the live circuit with a gig this Saturday, March 2, at Kyogle's Commercial Hotel.

The band has gone through several line-up changes in the last year, and the current band line-up includes some of the original founding members as well as some fresh faces.

All six members of the band are vocalists and being multi-talented musicians, the members often swap instruments to create different styles of music during their shows.

The band largely performs heavy rock, but there are elements of funk and groove thrown in.

Khaki Marquee are currently recording their third EP for release later this year, and Saturday's gig will feature some of the band's new material, along with some of the old.

The free gig kicks off at 8.30pm.

A Not so Cruel Sea

Prop play the Great Northern on Friday.

Prop is a unique conglomeration of vibraphones, marimba, synthesisers, drums, percussion and bass guitar - a tuned percussion group with a rhythm section.

Prop's music uses a mixture of styles and genres, including Minimalism, Jazz, Funk, Techno, and Groove.

Think of post-rave dub, soundscapes, texture, atmosphere, harmonic colour as opposed to melody, heavy minimal groove, '70s inspired Astro-Jazz, the Avante Garde, hypnotic, slowly unraveling intricacy and a keen timing for improvisation... you are getting close to Prop's sound.

Prop received a Federal Government grant to tour and promote their debut album, Small Craft Rough Sea. They head for the Great Northern this Friday to kick start March with support from Shakespearean Full Fathom Five, who've just released a new EP featuring the single '5 Minutes From Machine', produced by Magoo, plus a remix from Regurgitator's Ben Ely.

Tickets for the double-bill gig at the door.

Cows with Puns

Tuntable Community School presents Dana Lyons live in concert this Friday, March 1 at Tuntable Hall.

Dana is an American environmentalist and singer/songwriter, remembered for the cult song 'Cows With Guns', which reached number two on the Australia Country Music Charts, as well as becoming a favourite on Triple J.

This Friday's gig is a rare chance to see Dana (it's his only show in Australia during this visit) in a small and intimate setting, with people able to enjoy dinner and the show as well as meet Dana afterwards and hear his stories.

Dinner is at 6.30pm, with the show at 7.30pm. Tickets are $7/5 at the door, with a gold coin donation for kids.

Laughs Return with the Lizard

The Laughing Lizard Comedy Lounge monthly comedy shows return to Lismore in 2002, with the first show to be held next Tuesday, March 5, at Maggie Moores.

The gig promises to deliver plenty of laughs, with Brisbane-based comedian Shelly Plunkett headlining the gig. Shelly has been doing stand-up comedy for seven years and her confronting and saucy humour has scored her gigs alongside some of Australia's most well-known comedians, including Eric Bana, Judith Lucy and Mick Molloy.

Shelly will be supported by Desh, winner of Queensland's Triple J Raw Comedy competition. Following the retirement of Antonio the Piano Man last year, music will be provided by local piano maestro Harry Freeman and comedian/singer Divishti.

Divishti is a well-known comedian who has previously performed at the Lizard, and her recent musical collaboration with Harry Freeman proved popular at the Woodford Folk Festival. As always, the show will feature MC S Sorrensen and audience members are welcome to try their luck in the $50 joke competition.

Fine food is also available at the venue, and a meal and show is just $20 (book on 6622 1888). Show only tickets are $12 and uni students are $6 (bring student ID).

The show kicks off at 8.30pm.

• Freebie: The Echo has one double pass to giveaway to the Lizard. To go in the draw to win, phone 6622 2888 between 10 & 10.10am on Monday, March 4 and name a famous comedy duo.

Monologue Madness

The Lismore performance of the confronting play, the Vagina Monologues, has already sold-out, and The Echo is giving you the chance to win the last four tickets available to the show.

The once-only performance is being held next Friday, March 8 - on International Women's Day - as part of the V-Day campaign, a worldwide movement to stop violence against women and children.

The play, written by Eve Ensler, features local women including comedian Mandy Nolan, ABC radio presenter Nikki Fuda, Punita Boardman, Marika Cominos and Riteria Nikora, and is directed by Cathy Henkel.

It's based on interviews Ms Ensler did with a diverse group of women, and the Vagina Monologues are a series of stories - some sad, some humorous and some shocking - from these women. Not for the faint-hearted, the play explores how women feel about their girly bits on a variety of different levels.

All proceeds from the event will go to the Lismore and District Women's Health Centre.

• The Vagina Monologues are being performed at the Star Court Theatre at 8pm. To go in the draw to win one of the four remaining tickets phone 6622 2888 on Monday, March 4 between 11 & 11.10am.

Awesome Foursome

The second gig in the 2002 Concerts at Maggies series will be held next Wednesday, March 6 at Maggie Moores, featuring the Leigh Carriage Quartet.

A lecturer at Southern Cross University's music department, Leigh is an extraordinary vocalist with a sultry voice and original flair.

Her unique interpretations of jazz standards are bold and inventive, and she will perform a variety of these jazz interpretations as well as some of her original material.

Leigh will be supported by her long-time rhythm section, which features Steve Russell on piano, Jack Thorncraft on acoustic bass and Dave Sanders on drums.

The gig starts at 8.30pm and tickets are $5 at the door.

Drawn from Life

A popular Dynamic Drawing class is now being held in Lismore every Thursday.

It's suitable for everyone from beginner to experienced. Dynamic Drawing is essentially a life drawing class held in an informal and relaxed setting, and there are regular open floor sessions with live models.

No experience or required level of skill is necessary to join the class and all ages are welcome. Morning tea and art materials are included with each class and no bookings are necessary.

The Lismore class is held every Thursday at the Presbyterian Church Hall (opposite Woolies) from 9.30-12pm. There are also classes every Friday in Byron Bay at the Scout Hall from 9.30-12pm. Classes are $10 each. For more information phone 6685 0178.

The Scottish Play

Auditions are now being held for a new production of William Shakespeare's Macbeth, which will be performed at the Rochdale Theatre in June this year.

The production is a joint venture between the Lismore Theatre Company and director Peter Barclay.

'We are looking for a cast of eight men, four women and three teenage males to play the multiple roles in this, the most harrowing and compact of Shakespeare's works,' Peter said. 'I am keen to contribute to the re-establishment of the Rochdale as an active part of the local performance scene after the senseless vandalism of the theatre in 2001. Many individuals and groups have contributed time and money to restoring the space to its former glory and 2002 is looking good!'

As well as actors, interested production crew are also welcome to apply for Macbeth. Auditions and interviews are being held by appointment. Phone Peter on 6624 8430.

Chill at the Canberra

Local four-piece rock band, Chilblain, headlines this Friday, March 1 at the Canberra Hotel. The band has been together for about four years, and in that time they have won a Dolphin Award for 'youth encouragement' as well as an award for 'best original song' at the North Coast Battle of the Bands.

Last year the band really showed their performing strength, taking out first place in the National Battle of the Bands competition, which was hotly contested by more than 30 bands from across Australia.

Chillblain recently released their debut CD, Blue Print and play original dance music which fuses heavy metal with rap and groove. Chilblain will be supported by Brisbane-based band Japunga and Sunshine Coast outfit, Melodyssey.

The gig starts around 10pm.

The Platter of Little Feats

Three-times undefeated Australian turntable champion. DJ Dexter spins turntables at the Great Northern on Saturday.

Older readers may remember Dexter as the cupid-inclined robot on Perfect Match, but he's also one of the best DJs in the world, best known for his work with multi-ARIA award winners The Avalanches.

He counts Public Enemy's Chuck D among his fans and the father of hip hop, Grandmaster Flash, declared Dexter the most creative and original DJ in the world. He's done alright locally too, as three-times undefeated Australian turntable champion.

Of course Dexter was instrumental (pun intended) to The Avalanches' debut album, Since I Left You, released in November 2000. On 'Frontier Psychiatrist' Dexter proves the 'turntable as instrument', when he splinters 37 different spoken word albums (including Christian children's story's, yoga meditation albums and golf instruction records) into four minutes of psychedelic cartoon madness.

You can catch Dexter spinning the discs at the Great Northern this Saturday night. Tickets at the door.

Nimbin lass-gone-off Diana Ah Naid is back on tour, playing the Great Northern this Sunday with Pre-Shrunk as support.

Local Gig Guide