The Scene - Local Entertainment News

Lismore's Inaugural Art Fair

A new joint project by the Lismore Regional Art Gallery and Winsome Hotel, the inaugural Lismore Art Fair, will open at the Winsome Hotel on January 22.

The Lismore Art Fair is a contemporary installation-based exhibition - the first of its kind in Lismore.

The fair will see a variety of well -known and emerging local artists each establish cameo exhibitions in the rooms on the second floor of the hotel. Exhibiting artists include Brett Adlington, Judy Anderson, Chang, Graham Deller, Amber Gooley, Haley Hillis, Melissa Hirsch, Jonathon Hochman, Fergus Binns, Tim Hoey, Cal MacKinnon, Luke Roberts, Sachiko, Des Sheridan and Brent Young.

The inaugural Lismore Art Fair will be opened at the Winsome Hotel on Wednesday, January 22, from 7.30pm, with entertainment by Hudibrastic Funk and DJ Ray as well as performance art and video.

Holiday Activities

The Byron Bay Youth Activities Centre (YAC) summer program continues throughout the summer school holidays in Byron, providing local youngsters with heaps of activities to get involved in.

Every Monday through January local DJ Noodles will be teaching how to use turntables and how to spin hip-hop records from 11am to 4pm, while every Tuesday YAC will have free pool and ping pong competitions with cash prizes for the winners.

Two three-hour surfing lessons for young people, led by the crew from Black Dog Surf'n, will be held next Thursday, January 16 and the following Thursday, January 23.

One of the most popular events is a trip to Wet 'N Wild, being held next Friday, January 17. For just $30 people get entry to Wet 'N Wild, transport and lunch.

Local beauty therapist Edwina will host a make-up and beauty course at YAC on Wednesday, January 22, looking at the art of applying make-up as well as hair and nail tips. Throughout January there's also jewellery-making classes, graffiti workshops, Local Area Network parties, BBQs and Didgeridoo lessons, plus the YAC now has a heap of new facilities.

For a program drop into YAC, Gilmore Crescent, Byron Bay, or phone Fi on 6685 5775.

Roadshow on the Brink

Proem performs with the Endangered Species Roadshow in Mullumbimby this Saturday.

The NSW Endangered Species Roadshow's last gig in the area will be held this Saturday, January 11, at Durrumbul Hall in Mullumbimby.

The Endangered Species Roadshow is travelling around NSW from January to March raising awareness about endangered species in the lead up to the NSW state election.

Dressed in life-size costumes of a Koala, Masked Owl, Yellow-bellied Glider and Tiger Quoll, volunteers from the Rainforest Information Centre will travel with the roadshow collecting signatures for a petition to present to the NSW parliament - calling for the protection of natural habitats.

As well as being part of the roadshow the animals have starred in a video, On the Brink, about their plight, which features the voices of Jack Thompson and Olivia Newton-John.

This will be shown at each of the roadshow gigs.

This Saturday is the last gig for the roadshow in the area as it travels off to other parts of the state. The gig will feature performances by Jez, Hot Rubber Glove, Lismore sensation Proem, Aryn and The Instant Prize. The event starts at 7.30pm, and tickets are $15/10.

A Taste of Tibet

Ku Promotions' ongoing Go Global Music Concerts, which bring the best of Woodford to the north coast, continue next week with yet another world class act.

The upcoming concert will feature Tibetan performer Tenzin Choegyal (pictured) performing a two-part show with his brother Tsering Dorjee Bawa on Friday, January 17 at Ewingsdale Hall.

The first half will feature Tenzin performing stories of his nomadic Tibetan childhood through song and music, telling of how his family fled the Chinese colonisers and lived in a Tibetan refugee community in India for many years.

The second half will feature Tsering, a long-time member of the Institute of Performing Arts in Dharamsala, performing sacred Tibetan Buddhist ritual dances in full traditional costume.

The concert starts at 7pm and tickets are $16 at the door. Be early for a good seat.

The Downsyde of Hip Hop

Downsyde perform with local hip hop outfit PSP at the Tatts on Wednesday.

When it comes to live hip hop bands, Western Australian six-piece outfit Downsyde are right up there with the best. The band started as an MC trio in 1996, with the average age of the band members being just 16. For six years the three MCs - Optamus, Dazastah and Dyna-Mikes - continued to develop their own style, moving away from the USA-driven gangster rap to a more soul-based, funky type of hip hop.

During their travels around the country Downsyde took on board three other band members - deck master DJ Armee, percussionist Salvatore and Cheeky on keys, loops and samples.

Using influences from their differing backgrounds - Middle Eastern, Aboriginal, South American, Australian, Asian and European - the band have created a type of world music that reflects both the mix of cultures within the band and their mutual love of the hip hop genre. Throw in lyrics which talk frankly about life, political issues, racism, tolerance, respect and culture and you are left with an entertaining and interesting style of music.

Downsyde will perform a one-off gig next Wednesday, January 15, at the Tatts Hotel in Lismore - with support from local hip hop outfit the Pillar of Sound Project, or PSP.

Tickets are $5 at the door and the gig kicks off at 8.30pm.

If you do miss Downsyde next week you can still catch them with Machine Gun Fellatio at the Ballina RSL Club on Tuesday, January 21. Tickets are just $22, but hurry, as they'll sell fast.

LINC TV Back on the Air

If you're fed up with the abysmal offering on TV during January, there is an alternative. Local community television station LINC TV (the only regional community television station in Australia) is broadcasting again on UHF 68.

For info phone LINC TV on 6622 0144.

Kids Acting Classes

Children aged eight to 18 years old in the local area have the opportunity to take part in intensive one and two-day acting workshops, run by The Academy of Screen Performance in Byron Bay.

The Academy specialises in 'acting for the camera' covering voice, movement, character development, script analysis and technical awareness. However, as well as acting skills, the classes are great for developing confidence and self-esteem in a fun environment.

At the end of the workshops participants receive a taped copy of their final performance as well as a certificate of attendance.

For more information and prices on Academy courses phone (07) 5531 5744.

Seniors Concert Tickets and Comp

A short story/poetry writing competition is now open for people aged over 55 who reside in the Ballina, Byron, Lismore, Richmond Valley and Kyogle council areas.

Entries must be no more than 1,000 words and categories include fiction, local history/anecdotal, humorous, poetry and Indigenous/Aboriginal. The theme of the competition is 'the best time for ages'.

Entries close on February 28. For an entry form phone 6686 7522.

Freebies for Film Buffs

A scene from one of the films, Karl Sundlov, that will be shown at the Flickerfest 2003 screening next weekend.

The Echo, in conjunction with the Island Quarry Arts and Eco Centre, is giving two people the chance to win a ticket to the Flickerfest International Short Film Festival screening in Byron Bay next weekend (see freebie below-right).

Flickerfest has become one of the most sought-after short film competitions in the world, and this year there are a record 840 entries - all of exceptional quality.

For the fifth year the Island Quarry Arts and Eco Centre will present Flickerfest in Byron Bay, with a program that features 17 films representing14 countries. The films will be shown on 35mm film over two nights and people are welcome to attend one or both of these nights.

The films range from amateur to professional and cover every genre imaginable, not to mention subject matter. Whether looking at the journey of three men taking humanitarian aid into Romania or a forklift driver's first day on the job, the films are skilfully made and cleverly-crafted pieces of art. Flickerfest 2003 is being screened at the Byron Bay Scout Hall (at the end of Marvel Street) next Saturday and Sunday, January 18-19. Doors open at 8.30pm each evening and tickets are $12/10 for a single night or $20/18 for a weekend pass.

People should bring a cushion or beanbag to make themselves comfy and food and drinks will be available.

For a full Flickerfest 2003 program visit www.IQ.org.au. For more information and bookings phone Shane on 6685 9999.

Freebie: The Echo has two single tickets to giveaway to Flickerfest 2003. To go in the draw to win phone 6622 2888 between 11 & 11.10am on Monday, January 13 and tell us what year was Flickerfest first screened in Byron Bay (tip: read the story!)

Acoustic Country in Concert

Sara Storer performs with Troy Cassar-Daley in a special acoustic concert in Ballina.

Before heading off to the Tamworth Country Music Festival later this month, country stars Troy Cassar-Daley and Sara Storer are joining forces to present a special acoustic concert this Saturday, January 11, at the Ballina RSL Club.

The pair have nine Golden Guitar Award nominations between them (the results will be announced at the Tamworth Country Music Festival on January 25), including rivalling one another for the APRA Song of the Year and Vocal Collaboration of the Year. Troy and Sara were also nominated for Male and Female Vocalist of the Year respectively.

Sara is a fairly new performer on the country circuit, although her recent release Beautiful Circle has gained her plenty of country radio airplay. After hearing Sara perform John Williamson promptly took her on tour as his support, and later collaborated with her on harmonica for the new album.

Troy Cassar-Daley needs little introduction, being a multiple ARIA award winner and stalwart of the Aussie country music scene. Troy will perform songs from his new album Long Way Home, with Sara doing numbers from Beautiful Circle.

So if you can't make the Tamworth Country Music Festival this year, this acoustic concert with Sara and Troy should make the perfect remedy.

The gig starts at 8pm and tickets are $22/15. To book phone the club on 6686 2544.

Freebie: The Echo has one double pass to giveaway to this gig, and a copy each of Troy and Sara's new albums for a runner up. To go in the draw to win phone 6622 2888 between 11 & 11.10am on Friday, January 10 and tell us in which town the Golden Guitar Awards are announced.

Use the form below to search through the Northern Rivers Echo Newspaper web site.

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