The Scene - Local Entertainment News

Portraiture profiles positive people

Alstonville artist, Pauline Roby, has entered this humorous piece, titled Eat my Landscape, featuring local organic farmer, David Roby, in the Regional Treasures Art Award...

The annual Regional Treasures Art Award is on show at the Lismore Regional Gallery from Thursday, September 4.

This year the awards were open to any artist whose work explores a person in the Clarence, Richmond and Tweed River valleys that the artist believes to be of value to the community. The exhibition promises to be a celebration of people who have made a special contribution to the Northern Rivers community.

Entries submitted this year include such inspirational subjects as charity workers, community volunteers, doctors, surgeons, actors, journalists, organic farmers, great recyclers, artists and assorted local identities.

Two awards will be presented this year. The adjudicator for the Regional Treasures Art Award will be noted Australian artist Stephen Killick. a painter and sculptor, Stephen has had 25 solo exhibitions of painting, sculpture and drawing within Australia and overseas.

The Lismore Regional Gallery will award this prize of $1,000.

There is also a $1,000 Popular Choice Award sponsored by the Northern Rivers Echo newspaper. Gallery visitors are invited to vote for their favourite artwork and the work receiving the most votes wins. One vote per person will apply. Echo Editor, Simon Thomsen, will present the Popular Choice Award on Saturday, September 27 at 1pm. The gallery will supply an afternoon tea.

For more information phone 6622 2209.

School Drama

Trinity students' dramatic score...

It's on again - the showcase of regional HSC Individual and Group Performance pieces. Each year the Far North Coast Drama Collegiate organises a showcase of performance pieces after the actual HSC week.

This year has an even larger program with selections from Kyogle High School, South Grafton High School, Mullumbimby, Maclean, Kadina and Lismore High Schools, Nimbin Central, Woodlawn and Trinity Catholic Colleges.

Students have worked on the projects for 8 months to create original material and interpretations of established scripts.

There are two shows at the Star Court Theatre in Lismore on Thursday, September 11, with a students' show at 11am and a public performance at 7pm.

Tickets are available at Caddies in Carrington Street, Lismore, or at the door. Prices are $10 or $8 for groups.

Small Poppies is a Big Show

Tilani Brockenshire explores the tribulations of schooling...

The Small Poppies is the latest production from local youth theatre company, Theatre Theatre. Angela Mitchell directs this play by acclaimed Australian playwright, David Holman. It takes a comic yet poignant look at the multicultural differences in communities as seen through the eyes of five year olds as they begin their journey through school.

Theatre Theatre's last production, Dr Seuss, also directed by Angela Mitchell, played to over 1000 school children during two days at the Lismore Workers Club.

The Small Poppies is a play that will delight and inform local audiences from preschoolers through to senior citizens with its witty look at contemporary issues of language difference, bullying and cultural adjustment to school.

The Small Poppies is on at the fabulous Rochdale Theatre, Ballina Rd, Goonellabah, on Friday, September 5 and September 12, with two shows starting at 10.30am and 1pm.

Cost is only $5.50.

Jazz takes aDrubbing

Scott Tinkler trumpets concert triumph...

The regular Concerts @ Maggies jazz gigs are one of the highlights of the area's entertainment scene. Every Wednesday the lucky Lismore jazz lover can go down to Maggie Moores Pub and partake in some of the finest live music available.

Next week, Wednesday, September 10, is a very special treat with a night of exhilarating grooves and dynamic improvisations from some of Australia's best musicians collected together in Sydney based band, Drub.

Drub's cooler than cool sound comes from Simon (the stick) Barker on drums, Brett (bottom end) Hirst with twisting molten bass lines, Carl (rock god) Dewhurst on soaring soundscapes and Scott (trumpet boy) Tinkler weaving a 'thread of angular melodic depravity' - you'll have to see for yourself what that means.

For only $9/7, this is a jazz spectacular and just one of the fabulous gigs that Concerts @ Maggies presents regularly at Maggie Moores Pub, from 8.30pm.

Youth want Facelift

Formed in May of this year from members of well-established bands (well, they were well established) in the northern NSW and southern Queensland areas, Facelift (pictured) made its debut performance at the Southern Cross Uni's band competition last week in heat five, which they won.

They play all original music and class themselves as hardcore/contemporary metal. Facelift's surgical team is Jazz Simpson, Josh Hobbins, Ryan Ambrose and Ben Kelly. Facelift is preparing for an operation to remove a debut EP which will be exposed to the public around October.

You can catch Facelift at the Band Comp finals at SCU's Union Bar this Thursday, September 4, from 8.30pm.

It should be a great night and it's free!

Setting the Tibetan scene

Trikaya - Gong with the wind instruments...

In the Between brings together four of Australia's finest music collaborators in a highly original performance piece that uses The Tibetan Book of the Dead as its source material.

Trikaya features Michael Askill on singing bowls, bells and gongs, Riley Lee on shakuhachi, Tenzin Choegyal on Tibetan flute and voice, and James Coates with spoken word. This richly atmospheric work will inform and transform the audience with the ancient and universal wisdom of Tibet.

'Liberation through Hearing in the Between' is a more accurate translation of the 14th century text by Padmakara usually known as The Tibetan Book of the Dead.

Combining selected text readings with musical meditations and sound illuminations, the Trikaya quartet will perform an original interpretation of this very profound, poetic and universal wisdom.

This thought provoking and unusual show is on Friday, September 12, at the Lismore City Hall from 8pm. It is also showing at the Byron Bay Community Centre on Saturday, September 13 at 6.30pm and 9pm. Tickets are $25/22 and $13/youth.

Eastern Exotic

Deirdre Paillas, Valerie Tamblyn-Mills and Dr Fred Cole get ready to reach the high notes...

The Lismore Show Choir and the Nouveax Singers will be taking audiences on a journey through Eastern Europe in their new show, Eastern Exotic.

The program includes vocal music by Tschaikowsky, Borodin, Dvorak, Bartok, Smetana and Arvo Part. The selections run the gamut from folk song through musical theatre to grand opera.

Though featuring choirs, there will also be solo and small group works with performers including Sheila Kane, Juliana Connell, Paul McGeown and Matthew Whittingham.

The choirs will combine to present the 'Polovtsian Dances' from Prince Igor by Borodin which, conducted by local vocal whiz Valerie Tamblyn-Mills and played by Dr Fred Cole on Lismore City Hall's concert grand piano, should prove to be a thrilling finale.

The show will be presented once only at Lismore City Hall this Sunday, September 7 at 4pm. Tickets are $15 at the door.

Forte support

Forte rocks.

Witness the power of Byron Bay rockers, Forte, on the upcoming Grinspoon tour. Big heavy rock, loud and proud and glazed with a little psychedelia. This is what you can expect when hit with their wall of sound. Forte is driving it all home with the release of their Deadweight single, taken from their acclaimed debut album In A New Light.  

Forte is the proud owner of one of the dirtiest rock 'n roll sounds in the Australia.

The Herald Sun was impressed, stating 'Not since AC/DC and Rose Tattoo has Australia had a rock n' roll outfit that kicks out the jams as loudly and proudly as Forte.'

Catch them supporting Grinspoon on Tuesday, September 9, at the Lismore Workers Club.

Hip hop happenings

NORPA Dance Action is presenting Rural Beat - October school holiday workshops and performances.

The Rural Beat workshops will be based on elements of Hip Hop culture such as break and funk dance, MCing and aerosol art, while also encouraging participants to try other cultural dance forms, such as Capoeira and contemporary. Artists will include Trick Nasty (Brisbane) and Gerard Veltre (Melbourne).

Workshops will be held at Lismore PCYC and in Byron Bay from Monday, September 29 until Thursday, October 2. Rural Beat is funded by the Artstart Youth Arts and Skills Festival. For more information and to register, contact Emma at NORPA Dance Action on 6622 3279 or emma@norpa.org.au. Programs out soon.

The Artstart program is funded by the Minister for Education and Training and Minister assisting the Premier on Youth Affairs, administered in NSW by the Department of Education and Training and administered in the North Coast of NSW by Arts Mid North Coast Inc.

Also part of Rural Beat is the dance performance, Remember Me.

A woman with a hidden past arrives in the city. What will happen when a lover opens her suitcase and discovers her past? Bodies collide and cultures clash as two lovers try to understand their personal pasts. This is a dance/physical theatre performance in a consumer driven world, using elements of hip-hop and projected images.

Many may remember Gerard Veltre from the Urban Street Rural Beat Hip Hop workshops held in April this year. He returns with a dynamic and physical cast including Maria Randall, a local dancer who grew up in Casino and trained at NAISDA.

NORPA Dance Action and Carnivale Multicultural Arts Festival present this new and exciting performance, showing at the Star Court Theatre in Lismore on Wednesday, October 1 at 8pm and Thursday, October 2 at 12.30pm, followed by workshops for students. For bookings phone 6621 5600.

Assistance for Indy artists

In September the Association of Independent Record Labels will launch AIR Pocket, a year long program designed to assist independent record labels and self-released artists in furthering their careers. Delivered on-line and live, AIR Pocket is a dynamic forum for sharing music business strategies and ideas.

Between September 2003 and July 2004 AIR Pocket will explore several different focus topics that are vital to the survival of any record label or self-released artist within the competitive music industry.

AIR Pocket online will feature interactive online forums, interviews with industry professionals, information sheets focusing on several key topics as well as video footage from the national forums. As the resources are created and discussions are undertaken by members, AIR Pocket online will become a dynamic and valuable resource which will continue to grow.

AIR's executive officer, Julie Owens, says "AIR Pocket is a great opportunity for everyone releasing records - it enables seasoned independent labels to sharpen their skills as well as the new labels and self-released artists to learn to operate on a professional and successful level.

"AIR Pocket adds to a number of other services already available to young record labels and self-released artists through AIR such as discounted CD pressing, bar-coding, discounted travel and online CD sales".

Membership to AIR costs $220 per year and entitles members to all of AIR's services.

For more information regarding AIR and AIR Pocket visit www.air.org.au.

Air Pocket is a Commonwealth Government funded service under the Small Business Enterprise Culture Program.

Ceramic Art

Confetti is an exhibition in two parts by final year ceramics students undertaking the Bachelor of Visual Arts course at Southern Cross University.

Contemporary art theories have challenged students to explore the materiality of ceramics. Students have responded to social and political issues such as genetically modified crops, the corrupt Western capitalist regime, identity, and gendered spaces.

Confetti is sponsored by SCU and the Lismore Regional Art Gallery.

The first show will be held at the Lismore Regional Art Gallery from Thursday, September 4 to Saturday, September 27.

The second show will run from Thursday, October 2 to Saturday, October 25. Both have openings (cheese, crackers and wine?) from 5.30pm. These exhibitions will feature recent works in ceramic and other media from the graduating students.

Nimbin's blue mooning

The Nimbin School of Arts will present its next major fundraising cultural gala, the Blue Moon Ball, at the Nimbin Hall on Saturday, September 13, from 8pm.

The Blue Moon series of cabarets and balls are an institution in the area. They attract an audience from all over and present some of the very finest talent in all the performance arts.

This show will feature Nathan Kaye and the Dreamseeds, the Romaniacs, Daniella Finkenauer's Salsa Troupe, plus comedy (but not from me - S) trapeze, fine food and some surprises.

Seating is strictly limited so book at Perceptio's Bookshop on 6689 1766.

Kyogle Culture

Internationally renowned violinist, Ronald Woodcock, will give a concert with works by Albeniz, Benjamin, Granados, Khachaturian, Mozart, Saint-Saens and Stravinsky in the Kyogle Memorial Institute Hall on Sunday, September 7, at 2.30pm.

Woodcock plays Khachaturian's sonata for violin and piano with pianist Iola Shelley followed by Mozart's Kegelstat Trio K498 for piano, violin and viola, with Louise Woodcock on viola, in the first half of the concert.

After the interval the trio will play Saint-Saens, Granados and Stravinsky.

Admission is $10, $20 for a family, $5 for youth and children under 12 are free. Tickets can be purchased at the Roxy Art Gallery next to the Kyogle Post Office, or at the door on the night.

Enquiries to Carol Harris on 6632 1550

Poster competition winner

The 2003 annual Dolphin Awards Poster Competition winner is Samantha Harris, a Southern Cross University student, of Lismore.

Samantha will receive a prize of $250 and her winning entry will be used in the promotion of the 2003 annual Dolphin Awards.

The quality of the entries was of a very high standard and the North Coast Entertainment Industry Association (NCEIA) would like to extend its thanks to all entrants.

Well done Samantha.

The 13th annual Dolphin Awards is an awards presentation night rewarding excellence in original north coast music. Nominations are now open and will close November 13.

For details go to www.dolphinawards.org.au or phone 6622 0222.

Drug and alcohol art

The Far North Coast Region's premier youth art exhibition is now on display at Ballina Fair.

This is the sixth exhibition in the series from the Ballina Youth Service since 1998. The theme, 'Drugs and Alcohol' was chosen as a relevant issue confronting youth in society.

The response from the region's youth has been outstanding with 120 young artists submitting works across the four categories.

Winning entries will also be exhibited at this year's Youth Risk Seminars in Lismore and Tweed Heads.

The Lismore Feast

Saturday, September 20, 7pm
Under the Stars, Lismore City Hall gardens

One of Australia's leading chefs, Stefano Manfredi, made a short visit to Lismore last week to meet with local producers, chefs and regional cuisine representatives. The meeting was to assist the Sydney based chef to select the best of local produce to feature in a sumptuous menu for The Lismore Feast on September 20.

Stefano is often asked to cook, teach, and speak on food-related topics - in Sydney, interstate and overseas - and his past journeys to regional Australia have resulted in the discovery of new wines, farmed fish, olive oils, beef, lamb and organic cheeses and, over time, he has been able to give many small producers a leg-up and the benefit of his advice on what is required to access the restaurant market.

"I live in Australia and, whenever I can (and that's more and more with each passing year), I seek out and use only the finest and freshest Australian ingredients." says Steve. During this visit, Stefano was particularly impressed with The Sweetpork Company and its product Bangalow Sweet Pork.

The menu for the feast will feature this fine meat, as well as produce from the local organic fruit and vegetable market, Clarence Valley prawns and organic chicken. Vegetarians needn't fear, there will be a beautiful vegetarian option for each of the meat dishes.

The Lismore Feast will also feature roving entertainers and live music in a beautiful setting under the stars in the Lismore City Hall gardens. Book a table with friends for this unique dining experience, but be quick, as seating is limited.

Rumpelstiltskin

BUZZ Dance Theatre
Star Court Theatre Lismore
September 18, 7pm
September 19, 10am & 1pm

The magical story of Rumpelstiltskin will unwind like spun gold from a bobbin in Buzz Dance Theatre's acclaimed production of the Brothers Grimm classic.

Filled with quirky characterisations and etched with powerful movement, Rumpelstiltskin promises to extend the fantasy of fiction into the actual world of contemporary dance right before your eyes. A fantastic production for the whole family.

BUZZ Dance Theatre will hold physical theatre workshops for adults on Thursday September 18 at the Lismore City Hall dance studio, 1.45pm. To book for this workshop call NORPA Dance Action on 6622 3279.

Bookings

Bookings for NORPA productions can be made online at www.norpa.org.au or at the Northern Rivers Ticket Centre at 93 Molesworth Street Lismore, 6621 5600.

Coming Soon

Mr Barbeque starring Lyndon Terracini. A funny and entertaining music theatre production, recent winner of a 2003 Classical Music Award.

Lismore City Hall, October 8.