The Scene - Local Entertainment News

Jazz with an Afro

The six-piece band (yes, one is missing from the photo) features Anna Matherson on vocals, Peter Yock on guitar, Zac Tombs on keys, Darren Boyd on drums, Jazz with an afro

Visiting jazz outfit Vol t ron (pictured) will perform at the weekly jazz night next Wednesday, June 4, at Maggie Moores.

Alex O'Reilley on percussion, Stewart Tayl or on bass and a special guest appearance from Shaston on sax.

While this journalist has never seen Voltron in action, they are described in their biography as being like 'a big fat black man driving an orange convertible down the streets of New Orleans with his afro swaying in the wind' - whatever that's supposed to mean.

At a guess they play fairly groove-based, funky jazz.

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

Free tix for Troy

The Echo is giving one lucky reader the chance to win a double pass to Troy Cassar-Daley's upcoming Lismore show as well as a copy of his new CD Long Way Home.

The multiple Golden Guitar winner (pictured)is coming to the Lismore Workers Club next Friday, June 6, with special guest Sara Storer.He will perform award-winning songs from the new album, as well as some of his old favourites.

The gig starts at 8.30pm and tickets are $25.To book phone 6621 701.

Freebie: To go in the draw to win the double pass and copy of Troy’s latest CD phone 6622 2888 between 11 & 11.10 on Monday, June 2, and tell us what north coast town Troy is originally from.

Double trouble

This month's Laughing Lizard Comedy Lounge features a double header with two Brisbane- based comedians, Sally Kimpton (pictured )and Mark McConville.

This is Sally and Mark's rst time at the Lizard, and it should be a good show with each comedian bringing their own style of comedy.Mark, a former actor, takes a very physical approach to his comedy while Sally (who you'l l see playing doctors and nurses on All Saints soon)loves to take the piss out of trashy chicks magazines and current a airs.

Sally and Mark will be supported by local up and comers who have been involved in local comedy courses with Robert Grayson and Mandy Nolan.Should be a good laugh, even if the jokes aren't funny! There is also the regular Millies on Magellan $5 0 joke competition, for anyone who's game, plus plenty of other surprises.

As always the night is hosted by S Sorrensen, with David Hallett on rhyme and sound, and the delightful Cat at the door.The show is being held next Tuesday, June 3 ((it's always the rst Tues day of the month), at Maggie Moores from 8.30pm.

Fine food is available at the venue and a meal and show ticket is just $20 (to book phone 6622 1888).Show only tickets are $12 ((or $8 for students with ID)at the door.

Freebie: The Echo has one double pass to giveaway to the show only. To go in the draw to win phone 6622 2888 between 10 & 10.10am on Monday, June 2, and tell us where the headline comedians are from.

Last Splendour tickets for locals

John Butler is one of the Australian acts performing at Splendour in the Grass in July.

Organisers of Splendour in the Grass have confirmed the two-day music festival in July is completely sold out, although they have put aside a number of tickets for locals only.

The limited number of weekend tickets will go on sale at Soundwaves in Byron Bay next Monday, June 2, from 9am.There is a strict limit of two tickets per person and tickets will only be sold to those who live in the Byron shire (ID for proof of residence is required), and there will be no exceptions.

This is the absolute last chance for locals to nab themselves a ticket, as there will be no tickets sold at the gate.And it's well worth your while if you love live music.

The Splendour in the Grass line-up is pretty amazing, and includes acts such as The John Butler Trio, Coldplay, Powder nger, The Music, Death In Vegas, Magi c Dirt and Placebo.More acts have been confirmed since, including Veruca Salt, Frenzal Rhomb, Sarah Blasko, Downsyde, The Sleepy Jacksons, DJ James De La Cruz, Overdub and more.

The festival will be held at Belongil Field on the weekend of July 1 9 and 20.It's a market- style atmosphere, with food vans and local stallholders selling their wares.There is even an on-site cinema for those experiencing TV withdrawals.

For more information on the event, or to check out the complete line-up, visit the official Splendour website at www.splendourinthegrass.com .Also keep a close eye on The Scene in coming weeks, as we'll have some Splendour tickets to giveaway!

Disco Inferno

If you miss the Martini nights held in Lismore a few years ago and love retro music and a good boogie, check out Studio 54 @ The Winsome - a funky dance party being held this Saturday, May 31, at the Winsome Hotel.

The night will feature favourite disco tunes from the 1970s courtesy of DJs Cat and Cath, and everyone is encouraged to dress up in their funkiest 70s outfits.It's a great opportunity to relive the fantastic music of that decade and it might even trigger one or two memories (that's all that's left if you used your time well) for the older punters in the crowd.

Entry to Studio 54 @ The Winsome is just $3, which is as good as it gets.

And being a one-off event, it's well worth making the most of.

The night kicks off at 8pm.

It's a Lang way to the pub

Australian slide guitar wizard, singer and songwriter Je Lang (pictured)will perform next Thursday, June 5, at the Great Northern in Byron Bay.

This latest tour sees Je performing solo, with nothing more than a couple of guitars and his trusty foot-stomp.

With Jeff Lang, that's all you need.

"Playing solo is the heart and the meat of what I do, " he said.

" The connection with the material, the intimacy with the audience - I love it." Tickets to see this blues legend in concert are just $15.Book on 6685 6454.

DV feature day

North Coast CAMERA will present a DV Feature Day this Saturday, May 31, at the Clunes Technology Centre.

The one-day seminar is designed for people wanting to create a DV feature, or their rst or second short.Facilitated by local filmmaker Dominick Reyntiens, the seminar will look at all aspects of DV feature making.

The day will run from 10am-5pm and tickets are $30/25 for members.

To book phone CAMERA on 66215444.

Ear wax

The region's funkiest original acoustic music showcase night, Wax Lyrical, is on again next Thursday, June 5, at the Tatts Hotel.

This month's showcase features Triple Nip and DJ Wish, Nick O'Connor, Jamie Shaw, Nicky Convine, 3 rd Door on the Left, Vanessa Ho man and more.

Other acoustic artists are welcome to turn, and get up and have a go if time allows.

Organisers of Wax Lyrical are also off ering live CD burning for artists on the night (three songs for $20.) Wax Lyrical kicks off at 9pm and entry is $2.

The next two Wax Lyrical nights will be held on the rst Friday of each month instead of the rst Thursday, making the next two July 4 and August 1.

Amping it up

Nicholas Music is hosting a special Line 6 product showcase next Tuesday, June 3, at the Goonellabah RSL Sports Club from 7pm.

Line 6 specialise in guitar ampli ers that use digital amp modelling technology to provide the guitarist with a variety of vintage tones from one amp.Of particular interest is the new 'Variax' guitar - an entire guitar collection in one instrument, with a range of acoustic, electric and even 12- string sounds available at the ick of a switch.

The Line 6 products will be demonstrated by guitarist Aaron Saxon.

For more info phone Nicholas Music on 6621 7784.

Get that grant

A four-part course, How to Get That Grant with Nikki Fuda, begins next Friday, June 6, at ACE in Lismore.

Getting a grant for an artistic or not-for-pro t project is a competitive process and this course is a great way to learn how to get the grant you need.Participants will go through a series of steps, learning how to apply and succeed at getting grants.

The course will run every Friday from 10am to 1.30pm until June 27.

Class sizes are limited.

Bookings 6621 3 171.

Performers wanted

Local radio station 92.9 2NCR-FM is looking for musicians and bands to apply for the 2NCR- Tatts Hotel Band Comp, which starts on June 26.

There will be six heats altogether, held each Thursday night from June 26 to August 7 at the Tatts.First prize includes a recording session with Reelspirit Recording Studio, a DVD music video clip of the winning performance, plus $500 cash.Winners will also perform at the 2003 Herb Festival from August 16-17.To get an application form visit Lismore Music, Music Bizarre, the Tatts or the 2NCR-FM studios at SCU.All proceeds go to 2NCR.Applications close June 26.For info phone 6620 3 006.

Pedalling alternative energy

Filmmaker Mark Jago (right) and Peter Pedals from The Rainbow Power Company.

A new documentary about alternative power, The Gaia Energy Show, will screen on LINC TV this weekend.

Created by local film enthusiast Mark Jago and Peter Pedals from the Rainbow Power Company in Nimbin, the documentary is designed to give people a better understanding of sustainable power in a fun and entertaining format.

The show looks at some of the current developments taking place around the world such as the billion-dollar wind energy project in Europe and the approval of a solar tower in Victoria.It also details alternative power strategies used by di erent people in Australia, such as Nimbin resident Terry, who has been generating his own power for the last 15 years and has never paid a power bill in that time.

Mark and Peter hope The Gaia Energy Show will generate interest amongst suburban residents, who are eligible for Government rebates if they purchase a renewable energy system.The Gaia Energy Show will be screened this Saturday, May 31, at 8pm on LINC TV (UHF 68).

For info on how to tune in to LINC phone 6622 0144.

A mother of a drum

A large seven-foot in diameter Grandmother Drum (pictured) will be the focus of a performance and community celebration, Our Children:Keepers of the Legacy of Love for the Next Seven Generations, this Saturday, May 31, at Lismore City Hall.

The multicultural family day honours the vision of the late Bundjalung Elder Fay Smith, as well as all other grandmothers for their dedication to family and community.

The Grandmother Drum itself was made in a remote Alaskan village, where residents embedded more than 200 clear and rose quartz crystals in its base.The drum is dedicated to fostering peace and unity, and can be used by more than 20 people at one time.

On Saturday there will be local performing arts and dance groups performing, and people will also have the opportunity to hear the drum and meet the drumkeeper, Suraj Holzwarth.

This will be a very interesting experience, and is one of the few chances you'll ever get to see the Grandmother Drum, the only one of its kind in the world, rst-hand.

The day runs from 2-6pm and all are welcome.Tickets are $20/15, $10 for kids under 15 or $50 for a family.There is also a one-day drum making workshop near Bangalow next Tuesday, June 3, where people can make a small replica of the Grandmother Drum.

For more information phone 6680 5872.

2003 SEASON

A Property of the Clan
by Nick Enright
Directed by Michael Wren
Star Court Theatre
Wednesday June 4 at 7.30pm
Thursday June 5 at 11am & 7.30pm
Tickets: $15/$10
Ph: 6621 5600

A Property of the Clan features local performers Lachlan Mouncy, Fionn Quinlan, Karri Crossing, Hayli Hooper, Liz Callachor and Jordan Lee. It is a simple and evocatively told story for high school students, their peers and parents.

NORPA's Actor's Co- operative presents A Property of the Clan, by late Australian playwright, Nick Enright next week.

The piece was performed for families and school audiences in Newcastle in response to the tragic murder and rape of Newcastle teenager, Leigh Leigh.

A Property of the Clan deals with youThissues such as teenage drinking, sexual coercion and bullying, themes that still resonate today.

It has been on the high school reading since publication and eventually led to Black Rock, a full length play and feature film.

Enright, who was born in Newcastle, died in March 2003, aged 52. He was one of Australia's most proli c and successful writers, receiving an Oscar nomination in 1993 for his screenplay for the film, Lorenzo's Oil.He was also well-known for his stage scripts, including the adaptation of Tim Winton's popular novel Cloudstreet.The musical The Boy from Oz, about entertainer Peter Allen, was perhaps his biggest box office hit.

The play, A Property of the Clan, is directed by NIDA graduate, Michael Wren and features a local cast and crew.It is a simply told story that focuses on the consequences of actions and exposes the perils of misguided mateship.The play will be performed next Wednesday and Th ursday at the Star Court Theatre.For tickets call the Northern Rivers Ticket Centre on 6621 5600.