The Scene - Local Entertainment News

Out of Africa

A scene from African Footprints.

The Echo is offering readers the chance to win tickets to South Africa's longest running and most successful production, African Footprints, which is being performed at the Gold Coast Arts Centre from June 18-25.

The production is described as an anthology of South African dance forms, told with a powerful message of reconciliation and peace. Accompanied by the passionate words of acclaimed poet Don Mattera, the performance features a multi-racial cast of 22 singers and dancers, six percussionists and drummers, a guitarist and a penny whistle player/saxophonist. These young performers meld African and European dance styles and music, incorporating the uniquely South African Kwela-Jive as well as traditional gumboot, hip hop, stomp, tap, and jive.

Using dance and song the production tells South Africa's story, from life on the streets of Soweto to the imprisonment of black Africans and the country's obsession with soccer.

The performance has just finished a sell-out season in Melbourne, where it received standing ovations every single night, and it now has a one-week season on the Gold Coast.

African Footprints will be performed on Wednesday, June 18, at 11.30am and 7.30pm, on June 19 and 20 from 7.30pm, on June 21 at 4.30pm and 8.30pm, on June 22 at 3pm and 6pm, on June 24 at 7.30pm and on Wednesday, June 25, at 11.30am and 7.30pm.

Tickets are $55 for an adult or $49 concession. Tickets are available now from www.gcac.com.au or phone (07) 5588 4000.

Freebie: The Echo has two doubles passes to giveaway for either Tuesday or Wednesday, June 24 or 25. To go in the draw to win phone 6622 2888 between 11 & 11.10am on Monday, June 23. Winner's names will be printed next week.

No Splendour for sneaks

Tickets to Splendour in the Grass this July are now officially sold out, and organisers want to reinforce that there will be NO tickets available for purchase at the gate.

The two-day event at Belongil Fields has an awesome line-up, with new artists including Sarah Blasko, Adam Freeland (pictured), Overdub, The Re-Mains, James De La Cruz and more now added to the already impressive list.

The absolute last chance to get a ticket is in The Echo's Splendour in the Grass competition, which kicks off this week. Organisers are strongly discouraging people from heading to Belongil Fields in the hope of buying tickets, and security will be very tight.

In fact anyone who tries to fence jump or attempt to enter the venue unlawfully will be immediately turned over to authorities, removed from the site and prosecuted.

Organisers would also like people to note that anyone intending to travel from Byron Bay to the event by shuttle bus will need to present their event tickets before boarding the service. The same applies to people parking in the neighbouring carpark at Belongil Fields.

The Echo has two weekend passes to giveaway to Splendour in the Grass, which are rarer than hen's teeth at the moment and no doubt highly coveted. To go in the draw to win write in 25 words or less why you should get a pass. We realise everyone wants to go so we're not looking for sincerity (no bits of paper with 25 lines of 'please' on it) – we want something original, funny, witty or clever. People should send entries to Splendour in the Grass Competition, PO Box 37, Lismore, NSW, 2480. Entries must be received no later than 5pm on Monday, July 7, and entries with more than 25 words will be disqualified.

The winner's names and their winning entries will be printed in the issue dated July 10, 2003. People are welcome to enter as many times as they like, so good luck!

Bentley Art entries

Organisers of the 19th annual Bentley Art Prize are urging local artists and photographers to get an entry form and put themselves in the running for more than $2,500 in prizes.

Categories include open art and open painting, Aboriginal art (adult and student), amateur, open and student photography, student and primary art and art other than painting and photography. Each artist may submit three entries in each category.

Prizes include the $1000 Open Art Prize as well as more than $1,500 in smaller prizes for other categories. The works will be displayed in August at the Bentley Hall.

Entry forms are now available in Lismore from The Echo office, Premier Picture Framing, the Regional Art Gallery, the Heritage Centre, Fletchers Fotographics and Uptown Picture Framing. They can also be picked up from Richmond Valley Council, the Casino and Kyogle libraries, Kyogle Art Gallery and Tom Rodgers in Kyogle, or phone Bentley Art Prize organiser Reg Hartley on 6663 5253.

All artworks must be completed and delivered with the entry form and appropriate fee by July 28, 2003. This year proceeds from the event go to the Life Saver Rescue Helicopter in Lismore.

Choice, man

The Body and Soul Theatre Company's cast for Choice.

The Body and Soul Theatre Companys new play Choice opens next Friday, June 20, at the Christian Life Centre Auditorium in Lismore.

Choice is a series of unrelated scenes that swing from satirical comedy to intense drama and back to snap shots of realism, woven together with one common theme – the choices we make today will ultimately determine our future.

While it's rated PG and is suitable for older children parents should be aware that the play explores themes of suicide, death, abortion and racism (in a non-offensive way).

Choice will be performed next Friday and Saturday, June 20 and 21, and also the following Friday and Saturday, June 27 and 28, all from 7pm.

Tickets are $8 for adults or $5 for children under 10. Refreshments will be available.

Freebie: The Echo has two double passes to give away to opening night (June 20). To go in the draw to win phone 6622 2888 between 10.30 & 10.40am on Monday, June 16, and tell us your name.

Live Poets!

The Live Poets! return to the Rous Hotel next Wednesday, June 18, for their monthly gathering. This month's show will feature the popular Poetry Slam for all poets in training for the Byron Poetry Prize and the Nimbin Performance Poetry World Cup (both will be contested during the August Writers' Festival weekend).

Open readings are always included, and new and visiting writers are most welcome. The show starts at 8pm and tickets are $6/4. For more info phone David on 6688 8294.

Freebie: The Echo has two double passes to giveaway to Live Poets! To go in the draw to win phone 6622 2888 between 10 & 10.10am on Monday, June 16, and tell us how often the Live Poets! is held.

Isabella in concert

Local vocal ensemble Isabella A'Cappella is performing in concert next Saturday, June 21, at the Rochedale Theatre in Goonellabah.

With a huge repertoire and an amazing vocal range Isabella A'Cappella is one of the most sought-after live singing acts on the north coast, and their concerts are always fantastic.

The concert starts at 7.30pm. Tickets are now available from Simon Chate 6628 7273.

Dancers wanted

Local dancers have the opportunity to audition to perform with the Gold Coast Dancer's Company this Sunday, June 15, at the Star Theatre rehearsal studio in Lismore.

There are 15 places available and dancers need to be trained to the level of Grade 5 or above in RAD or equivalent. The selected dancers will rehearse in Lismore every Sunday for five weeks before the major performance of the piece, La Boutique Fantasque, in Lismore on July 27.

At the end of the performance the most promising local dancer will be awarded a scholarship to a Holiday Vacation Dance Course on the Gold Coast.

For an audition form and more information phone (07) 5598 4292.

Stringing us along

Local string ensemble Poco Vivace will perform in concert this Sunday, June 15, at St Andrew's Church Hall in Lismore from 4pm.

The group largely features violin performers (although other instruments are used) with performers ranging in age from high school students to adults.

The group performs a wide variety of styles from classical to modern, and with the beautiful acoustics of St Andrew's it should be a very special concert.

Tickets are $15 for a family or $7 per adult at the door.

Art prize entries

Entries for the Country Energy $35,000 Art Prize for Landscape Painting competition close this Friday, June 13.

A partnership between Country Energy and the New England Regional Art Museum, the inaugural competition is the most valuable art prize in NSW, and well worth taking part in.

Entry forms are available from the Lismore Regional Art Gallery. For more information visit the website at www.countryenergy.com.au or phone 132 356.

Cool bananas!

Entries for the second annual Cool Bananas Short Film Festival close on August 15, and local filmmakers are being urged to enter films ASAP.

Films must be less than 10 minutes in length and contain the image of a banana and the phrase 'got it in one!' There are two categories – youth (18 and under) and open. The finalist films will be screened in Coffs Harbour in September and prizes will be announced that evening. Entry forms can be obtained from the website at www.coolbananas.com.au/filmfest.

A night with Fabio

Zimbabwean master musician Fabio Chivhanda will perform a one-off gig with his five-piece international line-up this Saturday, June 14, at Coorabell Hall.

Fabio is a master of the traditional 22-key Mbira thumb piano, and his mix of east and north African tribal rhythms is truly mesmerising.

He will perform alongside female singer/percussionist Ajak Kwai from Sudan, a former refugee who has used her astounding voice to gain recognition for the plight of other refugees since coming to Australia four years ago. Her singing is a powerful, stunning combination of melodies, not unlike the magnificent Anjelique Kidjo.

Tickets to this performance are $15/12 at the door. The show starts at 8pm and fine food and drink will be available.

Seducing you

To celebrate the launch of his new album Seduction, Australia's premier live dance act Endorphin (pictured) is holding a special gig tomorrow, June 13, at the Great Northern.

With explosion visual projections and amazing lighting, not to mention energetic dance music, this will be a spectacular performance of dynamic electro-multimedia.

He will be joined on stage by north coast singer Sarah McGregor and Triple J's Sharif Galal (Groove Train) and Sydney's DJ Archie.

The gig starts at 9.30pm and tickets are $16.

Love that Latin

Jim Kelly's Latin Lovers with Elizabeth Lord perform at Maggie Moores on Wednesday.

To celebrate the last Wednesday of the University semester, Southern Cross University music lecturer, Jim Kelly, is bringing his group the Latin Lovers to Maggie Moores next Wednesday, June 18, for a night of saucy, exotic rhythms.

Jim Kelly's Latin Lovers features special guests vocalist Elizabeth Lord, with Jim on guitar, Steve Russell on keyboards/vocals, James Cox on percussion, Greg Lyon on bass and Dave Sanders on drums.

The Latin Lovers brings together some of the region's best jazz musicians, who will perform music from Central and South America. It's a great way to end the Uni semester and it promises to be a big celebration.

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

Simone's heart and sole

One of the works by Simone Weihermann, now on show in Mathers Arcade.

The Mathers Shoe Store and Lotus Cafe have joined forces to create a new exhibition space for local art students in two of the Mathers Arcade windows.

Fittingly, the first work to be exhibited is a series of mini handcrafted shoes made by Southern Cross University third year visual arts student Simone Weihermann. The delicate ceramic pieces began with a simple meaning and gradually evolved into something deeper.

"My work began as a light-hearted look at shoes as objects of fetishism, and led onto an exploration of Chinese foot bindings, more commonly called Lotus or Lilly foot," Simone said. "All my work is about women's issues and how women's body's are mediated by society. These works are all very little and often people say how sweet they look, which in a way reflects society's attitudes towards women and the idea that they have to be cute and small. Post-modern art questions why we do things and I think this question's notions of beauty and why we consider something to be beautiful."

Simone's work is on show in the arcade exhibition space until June 30. She will also have her work included in an exhibition by third year SCU ceramic students at the Lismore Regional Art Gallery in September.

Other students are now wanted to exhibit their work in the exhibition space. To book phone Shannon on 6621 4576 or Stefan on 6622 1854.

A bell of a concert

The spectacular new bells of St Andrew's will herald the beginning and end of a beautiful night of sacred music, Bells Ring and People Sing, this Saturday, June 14, at St Andrew's Anglican Church in Lismore.

The bell-ringers and choir of St Andrew's will perform alongside local singing sensation The Nouveaux Singers and the Tapestry instrumental group. They will perform works by Bach, Purcell, Britten, Bruckner, Rutter and others, directed by Deirdre Paillas and Warren Whitney. People will also hear the world premiere of Sleep Holy Babe, written for The Nouveaux Singers by local composer Michael Crouch, and see a video detailing the history of St Andrews' new bells.

Proceeds from the concert will be shared by St Andrew's Anglican Church and CASPA (Child & Adolescent Specialist Programmes & Accommodation), better known as the former North Coast Children's Home.

Bells Ring and People Sing runs from 5.45pm to 8pm and tickets are $15/10 at the door.

A light supper will follow.

Re-maining in Lismore

Local country rock band The Re-Mains will be strutting their stuff next Thursday, June 19, at the Tatts Hotel in Lismore.

The boys have recently finished a tour of Newtown in Sydney, where their music was well received.

"The response from the locals there was totally mind-boggling," says drummer Nick Edin. "The crowds went wild, and totally loved our music. It's a wonder we managed to get out of Sydney alive!"

Check out The Re-Mains next Thursday and see first-hand why this local group have been added to the magnificent Splendour in the Grass line-up.

The show starts at 8pm and tickets are $5 at the door.

Give me a band

Talented local singer/songwriter Vanessa Hoffman (pictured) is one of many local musicians taking part in the 2NCR-Tatts Hotel Band Comp, which starts on June 26.

The Tatts Hotel and 2NCR are still looking for more musicians and bands to take part, and entrants can be any age and play any style of music or instrument. Prizes include a recording session (two-track EP) with Reelspirit Recording Studio, a DVD music video clip of the winning performance by D Burch and Kiko Michel Productions, plus $500 cash from the Tatts.

There will be six heats in the competition altogether, held each Thursday night from June 26 to August 7 at the Tatts Hotel. Winners will also perform at the 2003 Herb Festival from August 16-17. This is a great opportunity to win some prizes and support a fabulous community radio station and its hundreds of tireless volunteers.

To get an application form visit Lismore Music, Music Bizarre, the Tatts or the 2NCR-FM studios at Southern Cross University. All proceeds go to 2NCR-FM to support their transition to financial independence. Applications close June 26.

For more information phone 2NCR-FM on 6620 3006.