The Scene - Local Entertainment News

Stay in the loop

After gracing the stages of some of the most prestigious festivals in Europe, electro dance band Loonaloop (pictured) have returned to Australia to perform a swag of East Coast gigs, before heading off to the Big Day Out and Sydney Fringe Festival.

The five-piece outfit play high-energy dance tunes, featuring an unusual mix of violin, vocals, didgeridoo, percussion, drums, bass and electronica. The members of Loonaloop obviously love what they do and their enthusiasm for playing quality dance music is totally infectious.

You can catch Loonaloop on the north coast this Friday, December 19, at the Great Northern in Byron Bay from 9.30pm or on Saturday, December 20, at the Canberra Hotel in Lismore from 10pm.

Peace by peace

Israeli peacekeepers Sheva perform on January 6 and 7 at the A&I Hall in Bangalow.

After performing at the Woodford Folk Festival this year Israeli seven-piece Sheva are performing two gigs on the north coast in early January, and The Echo has a double pass to giveaway to one of those shows.

Sheva (which means the number seven) is a world music ensemble that was born on a remote community in the Galilee Mountains of northern Israel in 1997. Their music promotes a message of peace, harmony and healing for all, drawing lyrics from biblical texts, sufi zichers and innovative prayers for peace that they have melded into a unique sound.

Performing on a variety of instruments derived from Middle Eastern, Asian, African and European cultures, Sheva have created a live show that talks of unity and joy, moving all those who hear this inspirational outfit.

After becoming a phenomenal success in Israel almost overnight, Sheva went on a tour of the USA in 1998, which led to a personal invitation from His Holiness the Dalai Lama to perform at the Sacred World Music Festival. Since then Sheva has toured continuously promoting their message of peace around the world, but it wasn't until 2002 that they hit Australian shores to stun the crowds at the annual Woodford Folk Festival.

The enraptured response from audiences said it all, and Sheva are now back for a second year at Woodford and an accompanying tour down the east coast. In keeping with their philosophy of harmony amongst all cultures, Sheva are donating part of the proceeds from this tour to the Sulha Peace Projects.

Their message of peace is all the more poignant for the fact they come from one of the most war-torn countries in the world, and it is perhaps because of their origins that they have committed themselves to spreading words of love and wisdom throughout the globe.

Sheva perform on Tuesday and Wednesday, January 6 and 7, at the beautiful A&I Hall in Bangalow. Tickets are $25 and are available now from Santos Health Food Stores in Byron Bay and Mullumbimby.

Freebie: The Echo has one double pass to giveaway to either gig. To go in the draw to win phone 6622 2888 between 11 & 11.15am on Monday, December 22, and tell us the worldwide symbol for peace.

Two pots of gold

Popular north coast duo Two-Pot Screamers (pictured) are performing a number of gigs around the north coast this weekend after a break from the local live music scene.

Cate McQuillen and Hewey Eustace have been playing music all over the north coast for the last 10 years, performing a mixed brew of old and new classics in their enthusiastic, professional style.

They are both accomplished musicians in their own right, Cate most recently performing in the Melbourne production of Hair (for which she was nominated as Best Female Performer at the Green Room Awards) while Hewey has played with everyone from rock band 21 Guns to blues guitarist Jeff Lang.

Two-Pot Screamers perform this Friday, December 19, at the Cecil Hotel in Casino, then on Saturday, December 20, at the Rous Hotel in Lismore from 8.30pm, and finally on Sunday, December 21, at the Australian Hotel in Ballina.

Touch Woodford

If you're still trying to think of something to do over the Christmas/New year break, Woodford Folk Festival is a great alternative to visiting the parents-in-law. With more than 200 performers, as diverse as John Butler to the Nuns of Kathmandu, plus street theatre, dance groups, children's activities, circus workshops and a range of other fantastic events, Woodford is like another world - one you may not necessarily want to come back from.

The village atmosphere and generally festive vibe is infectious as hundreds of people celebrate the very best of folk culture and music during the six-day event. And that's the great thing about Woodford - you can stay for the whole six days, camp out and immerse yourself in the entire experience or you can simply buy a one-day ticket and enjoy your favourite bands and performers in this fabulous setting.

Tickets to Woodford Folk Festival are available from the gate and kids are welcome and well catered for (children under 12 are free with an adult).

A six-day camping pass will cost you about $300, while a New Year's Eve ticket is around $70, or there are three-day passes and other options. To find out more and get exact ticket prices visit the website at www.woodfordfolkfestival.com or phone (07) 5496 1066.

Songs from the 'hood

A fantastic new album celebrating the joys of being a dad, Fatherhood, was released in November and The Echo is now giving readers the chance to score themselves a copy of this stirring new CD.

The album is a wonderful compilation featuring emerging and renowned artists including Paul Kelly, John Butler, Tex Perkins and Archie Roach, who have all created songs capturing the essence of what being a father is all about. Others, including a number of female artists, have also written songs about what their fathers mean to them.

This makes for a very diverse album, varying from John Butler's poignant Spring, a song about miscarriage, to Leigh Carriage's reflective song Anthem, Lez Beckett's hip hop tribute Dear Father to Mike Rudd's hilarious finale My Dad Said.

Steve Biddulph, best selling author of Manhood and Raising Boys, wrote the forward for the album, summing up a powerful CD that speaks volumes about love.

"Totally glorious, strikingly different, these songs tap into a vein of male creativity that has s long been hidden," Steve says. "The spoken word segments are so evocative they send you into deep reflection and with an urge to change your own life starting this very second. This is the purpose that music was made for."

Fatherhood honours the role of fathers within their families and their communities, whilst also expressing the deep affection fathers have for their children. Put simply by John Butler, who recently became a father, "Fatherhood is such a profound state to be in, it should be honoured and celebrated."

All profits from the sales of Fatherhood, which was released by Rawmix, are being donated to the Uncle Project and Pathways to Manhood, two mentoring charities devoted to providing positive guidance to young boys during their often tumultuous journey to adulthood.

Copies of Fatherhood are now available at Leading Edge record stores and the ABC Shop in Lismore.

Freebie: The Echo has one copy of Fatherhood to giveaway. To go in the draw to win phone 6622 2888 between 10 &10.15am on Monday, December 22, and tell in what month is Father's Day held.

Chicks with flicks

Entries are now being sought for the Northern Women Film Competition, which will run in conjunction with the Northern Women's Film Festival in late January, 2004.

The competition is designed to provide an opportunity to highlight female filmmakers, and also motivate and inspire women filmmakers in the Northern Rivers to get out of the office, home or school and produce a new video.

North Coast CAMERA is now looking for films 10 minutes or under that were made by women in 2003. All short films must be written and directed by women living in the region (66 phone area code). Registration is only $10 and films should be submitted in VHS format.

Judging will be based on technical quality and content, with a panel of respected local female filmmakers to judge the finalists.

Prizes will be awarded in the following categories: Best Film, Best Script, Audience Choice, Best 1st Film and an Encouragement Award. Entry forms are available from North Coast CAMERA's office, under the Conservatorium, on the corner of Keen and Magellan Streets, Lismore or via email on editor@nrg.com.au. For more info email the above address or call event coordinator Julia Hine on 0412 946 475.

Break it down

NORPA Dance Action is calling all MCs, breakers and hip hop dancers to get involved in the Aussie Battlers competition to be held on Australia Day next year (January 26, 2004) at the PCYC in Lismore.

Aussie Battlers is an extension of the Australia Day Break Comp, which has been going for the last two years, and has been hugely successful.

In 2003 more than 200 people attended Aussie Battlers to watch local B-girls and B-boys strut their stuff and this year the event is gearing up to be bigger than ever, with more hip hop music and dance showcased than ever before.

Participants can enter three different sections: as a break crew, competing in crews of four and as a group or solo funk/break routine. MCs can rhyme, beatbox or freestyle for an open mike and battle. Anyone can enter and have a go or simply come along to watch and support their local hip hop scene.

The competition will be hosted by local MC's Les 'Bex' Beckett and Krisdafari.

For more information or to register email emma@norpa.org.au or phone 6622 3279 ASAP.

Get smart

Tickets are now on sale for a special New Year's Eve gig featuring local four-piece Smart Artists and former rock legends Bourbon Street, who recently reformed after many years off the live circuit.

If you're an old Bourbon Street fan this is a great way to spend your New Year's Eve, and the Smart Artists are always a lot of fun, playing old classics that everyone can sing and dance along to.

Tickets are just $12, with the night to kick off at 8pm. For bookings phone the venue on 6686 2544.

Arts for all

Young Opera Workshop, Lismore (YOWL) is a new initiative of Valerie Tamblyn-Mills' teaching studio, Voxbox, designed to make arts accessible to all young people in the Northern Rivers.

An ongoing venture, YOWL will prepare and then perform one work each year in the January school holidays (the first being Gilbert and Sullivan's operetta The Gondoliers).

The group is now looing for businesses or individuals to sponsor YOWL members, either in full or in part, to cover tuition and production costs and help make YOWL a success.

"Arts education is an expensive business and such luxuries as piano, ballet, acting or singing lessons are affordable to the relative few," a YOWL statement said. "This places the talented but untrained at a distinct disadvantage in being selected for places in highly competitive performing arts and arts education university courses. YOWL has made a commitment to working with any young person who wants the opportunity, rather than only those who can afford it."

The cost for each participant is approximately $150. People who come on board as sponsors will be acknowledged in all printed material, they will receive two tickets to each show, plus have the chance to get to know the young person you have sponsored. For more information on YOWL and sponsorship phone Valerie on 6624 6734.

Artfelt thanks

Armistead's Quality Picture Framing & Gallery would like to thank artists and customer alike for supporting the business since it opened in September. The gallery, located on Wyrallah Road, has already held various high calibre exhibitions and owner, Rhonda Baker, has been delighted by the enthusiastic response.

"With the response we have received we now ensure an ongoing calendar of events and exhibitions for next year," Rhonda said. "We have been delighted with the exceptional quality of work presented to us, which we have shown in a series of fortnightly exhibitions, including prize winners from Southern Cross, Bentley and Coraki Art Prizes as well as diploma and graduate students from TAFE and University. We are proud to represent our emerging artists and invite you to do the same, by visiting us and viewing their wonderful work."

Armistead's Quality Picture Framing & Gallery is at 43b Wyrallah Road (in the Wotherspoons building). The gallery is closed from Christmas Day until January 5, 2004.

Keep an eye on The Echo's back page for future exhibitions.

A raging success

On site at the Holding Redlich Pitching Competition in Melbourne recently were 'unda.ragers' executive producer and creative director Cate McQuillen (right), producer Aliison Kelly and 'unda-ragers' DJ Michael Balk.

Northern Rivers based multimedia collective, ME-ME-ME Productions, have wowed audiences at the 2003 SPAA Conference in Melbourne, winning the Holding Redlich Pitching Competition recently.

Well-known locals Cate McQuillen and Aliison Kelly developed an interactive children's TV show called 'unda.ragers' for the competition, which gives children the chance to make and perform their own songs.

Set inside a disco ball, the show allows children to create they own music by selecting elements of beat, bass, lyrics, melody and sound.

Using colourful costumes, pilot footage of 'unda.ragers' they shot on the north coast in September, hula hoops and gift bags, Cate and Aliison spruiked their prospective show, bravely presenting their idea to some of the most influential people in the industry.

The concept obviously impressed judges and audiences alike, winning them both the judges and People's Choice award at the pitching competition and with it airfares and entry to the Kidscreen Summit in New York and $2000 spending money.

It is the second year an innovative idea from the Northern Rivers has won the Holding Redlich Pitching Competition.

Groove into the New Year

The Great Northern in Byron Bay is presenting Groove Terminator (pictured) as their feature artist on New Year's Eve, but tickets are already selling fast, so it's advisable to book now.

Byron Bay is renowned for having huge New Year's Eve parties and this year is no exception.

Not only will the gig itself be a fantastic show, but the town will also be alive with groove and techno street parties, a stage on main beach, food stalls and plenty of other activities that will have you dancing in the New Year in style.

Tickets to Groove Terminator are $40, with support by Forte and Intercooler. To book phone the Great Northern on 6685 6454.

Nimbin babies

Nimbin groovers The Durga Babies (pictured) will perform on Christmas Eve at their original stomping ground, the Nimbin Hotel, from 8pm.

The Durga Babies bring together three of the north coast's finest musicians - Tim Tonkin on drums, Nathan Nancarrow on bass and Michael Turner on vocals/guitar - and their unique brand of refreshing pop, rock, retro style music has earned them a huge fan base locally.

Whether performing at a small country hall or a major festival the Durga Babies always put on a great show, and they especially go off whenever performing in their home town.

The Durga Babies sensational debut CD Love Comes will also be available at the gig.

Never too Young

Smooth, captivating vocals and interesting musical arrangements combine to make Jamison Young's new CD Shifting Sands of a Blue Car a strong, pop-laced album with great 'breakfast on the verandah' tunes.

Jamison is a fantastic solo performer and multi-instrumentalist, who often utilises slide guitar, bass, trumpet, drums, keyboards and scratching all in one performance.

However this new CD is a collaboration between Jamison and Tim Powles (The Church, Stella One Eleven), who has cleverly manipulated Jamison's songs using beats, samples and electronica to give them a slightly sharper edge.

One New York magazine describes the album as "Chris Isaac meets Pink Floyd vocals, subtle yet intricate guitar work and unbelievable rhythms, all in a mixture that comes across smooth yet engaging." - an analysis we'd tend to agree with. Shifting Sands of a Blue Car is now available in all good record stores.

Freebie: The Echo has two copies of Shifting Sands of a Blue Car to giveaway. To go in the draw to win phone 6622 2888 between 11.30 & 11.40am on Monday, December 22.

Goori music makes its mark

TAFE Goori Music Course teacher Chris Fisher (right) with participants Chris and David Phillips (front), Lesley Phillips (centre) and (rear l-r) Brenden Phillips, Craig Phillips, Ian Bolt and Beau Townsend.

A new eight-week pilot Goori Music Course held at Lismore TAFE recently culminated in a huge Christmas concert at Gundurimba last week, which was developed, planned and organised by the students.

Through a series of workshops and rehearsals students developed their knowledge and abilities of singing and playing musical instruments, performing Indigenous and contemporary music, operating and storing musical equipment in a safe manner, setting up a stage for live performance and more.

This gave each participant a better understanding of the music industry and the knowledge and motivation to find careers in that field.

The final concert at Gundurimba last Friday was a great success, demonstrating the talents of the participants and the commitment of young people involved.

Local singer, songwriter and multi-instrumentalist, Chris Fisher, who has more than 20 years experience as a performer and recording artist, was the principle teacher of the course. Chris performs with Marcelle Townsend-Cross in the popular Lismore act Monkey & the Fish. In recent years he has collaborated with the Bundjalung people of Lismore and Nimbin in many music projects including the Bundjalung People's Gathering whilst also being a support worker for the Goobah Goobah Koori Theatre Company and their dance troop.

Another local singer/songwriter, simply known as Mereki, was also a guest lecturer in this course. Mereki shared her story of how she had overcome her self-consciousness to develop her musical skills and become a confident performer and storyteller. She talked openly about her original songs and experiences working with children and how through music she is able to engage and express her Koori culture.

This pilot course was widely supported by Lismore's Goori community and TAFE are now considering possibilities for next year, including presenting similar outreach programs in Casino and Tabulam.

Logo comp

The Big Scrub Rainforest Landcare Group (BSRLG) is holding a logo competition and entries are now open. The BSRLG was formed in 1992 at a time when most of the fragmented remnants of the Big Scrub rainforest were degrading rapidly.

Since then the BSRLG has started rehabilitation on 30 remnants with a total area of 114 hectares and has planted some 180,00 trees, covering 50 hectares.

It is the region's largest and most active landcare group with more than 300 members and they are now looking for a new logo to use on all promotional material including stationery, signs, advertising and possibly t-shirts and suncaps.

The new logo must represent the rainforest and its flora and fauna in some distinctive way. Other additional considerations might be themes of biodiversity and the concept of caring for the land.

The BSRLG is looking for something simple and bold that can be clearly reproducible as small as 30mm in both colour and B&W. For printing, it is best to keep colours as flat, solid areas, not shaded.

All entries must be an original artwork and the maximum number of entries is three per person. Entries should be no larger than A4 size and they do not necessarily have to contain either the name or initials of the group, as these can be added later as required.

The winner will receive $200 cash and will be notified by mail in February, 2004.

Entries close on January 23, 2004. Entries can be posted to BSRLG Logo Competition, PO Box 1377, Lismore, NSW, 2480.

Funding for youth

INDENT, the NSW state government youth entertainment initiative, has awarded a total of $17.500 in funding to three local organisations, which are helping youth create musical events for their peers.

The Casino/Kyogle's Youth Committees (KCB Entertainment and Kin Dent) have received a total of $11,000 to promote local bands and do a mini tour of the region.

"It is pleasing to see local youth initiatives being supported and I am sure the project to showcase local bands will be well supported by and of benefit to the youth community," Richmond Valley mayor, Charlie Cox, said. "The efforts and involvement of youth in our community deserves to be recognised; Council and the community welcome the recognition that young people will receive from this opportunity."

Byron Bay's Youth Committee (Byron Hard Core) has received $5000 to enable young people to promote a series of drug and alcohol free all ages events. The proposed events include a mini outdoor festival, two band nights featuring local and interstate acts and a band competition (the winner of which could have an opportunity to play at Splendour in the Grass).

Lismore's Youth Committee (Zealous Conceptions) also received $1500 to create an event that will showcase the diverse talents of young people in Lismore.