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SURFING THE ACOUSTIC Timo Pankau is a 24-year-old singer/songwriter, performing emotive songs through his raspy vocals and colourful storytelling throughout Europe, the UK and Australia. Looking for new challenges, Timo moved to Australia, Byron Bay in 2013, where he established himself in the local music scene, gaining regular spots, playing gigs at coffee shops and bars and drawing the attention of BayFM and local newspapers. He performed at the Guinness World Record attempt for the biggest busk in the world, held in Brisbane. Timo is currently completing his debut EP and has just recorded his latest single Never too Late, which will be available on iTunes, Spotify and Last.FM from the end of April. He plays Friday at the Byron Brewery from 7.30pm.
FALEEPING OUT! The Byron Bay Brewery will play host this Saturday to Faleepo Francisco. The three-piece band from Brisbane consists of Rhys Roberts (guitar/vocals), Aaron Muscat (guitar/vocals) and Jack Dean (drums/backing vocals). After playing in multiple venues in Brisbane to the likes of The Zoo and The Hifi, and selling out 250+ capacity venues around Brisbane, the band then moved on to tour Byron Bay, Gold Coast and Toowoomba. Faleepo Francisco’s raw energy, powerful onstage performances and catchy riffs make for The Brewery show to be a massive night for Brisbane’s indie rock trio. Opening will be Brisbane’s soulful solo artist Ian Jenkinson. Saturday at the Brewery from 7.30pm.
SOUTHERN CROSS ARTS FESTIVAL WITH PAUL GRABOWSKY The inaugural Southern Cross Arts Festival – featuring jazz legend Paul Grabowsky, the band Tora and national campus band competition winners Parkside Orchestra, ARIA awardwinning guitarists the Grigoryan Brothers, and exhibitions of visual arts – will launch on Friday at the Lismore campus of Southern Cross
University. Southern Cross Arts Festival is a concept developed by the School of Arts and Social Sciences at the uni and will involve events at the Gold Coast, Lismore and Coffs Harbour campuses. It runs from March to October 2015 and features more than 30 events, including 25 bands and music groups, art exhibitions, creative writing performances and media presentations. Acts will include local and interstate bands such as The Babe Rainbow, Tora, and The Demon Parade, alongside Southern Cross University student bands Nocturnal Tapes and Parkside Orchestra (winners of the 2014 National Campus Band Competition). In Lismore on Friday the university will be hosting the jazz legend Paul Grabowsky, presented by the Northern Rivers Conservatorium. Visit the Southern Cross Arts Festival website for dates, times, locations and other information lexsa.com.au.
LOU BRADLEY AND THE CHAMBERS OF MUSIC Ku Promotions are proud to present for the first time Bill Chambers, the legendary father of altcountry music in Australia, and ARIA-nominated Mullumbimby hillbilly Lou Bradley. The pair are teaming up for a one-show-only double bill – The Moonshine Sessions. Bill Chambers brings with him the experience and collection of original songs that come from a genre as old as the hills, and a music soul as old as time itself. With a collection of awards and accolades plenty enough to tow with a trailer, Bill Chambers has a haunting and seductive way of capturing even the most sceptical country music audiences. One show and you’re hooked. Completely unpretentious, Chambers has directly influenced the most successful female country music artist in Australia (his daughter Kasey), and hundreds of other artists that have come along in the music industry perhaps looking for a way that they too can express their art without the bells and whistles that seem to cloud the music scene today. One of those artists is Lou Bradley. Lou says that she remembers going to the Tamworth Country Music Festival for the first time in 2005 and was ready to go home and never come back until she caught the famous Bill Chambers
sessions at the pub. Moonshine was recorded in Bill’s house, completely live. Just Bill on dobro, wizen board and guitar, Lou’s husband Phil on banjo and mandolin, and Lou on guitar and vocals and songs – sitting in a circle playing and singing. Just like that. No overdubs, no edits. No bullshit. Something that both Bill and Lou had always wanted to do. Thursday 9 April at the Court House Hotel, Mullumbimby. Doors open at 7.30pm and tickets are available from www. kupromotions.com.au/?p=1568.
UKE NIGHTS MARCH WITH GOSPEL The Saints are marching in as Miss Amber and Stukulele’s uke night does gospel – with special guests Jessie and Emma from The Lucky Wonders leading the Raise the Roof Gospel Choir. Also appearing are the talented chanteuse Renee Searles and Gareth Baajland from The Barkers Vale Brothers on banjo. This cherished monthly event at the Court House Hotel is set to take you higher than ever before. Heavenly! This Thursday from 6.30pm. The songbook is available by joining the mailing list at www. ukemullum.com – Adults $10, kids under 15 $2.50.
THE PROVINCE OF BRUNSWICK Byron band A Little Province has been blowing away audiences with their heavy-bass-lined, folkinfused prog rock for five years now. Lyrically, A Little Province are paving the way to ‘become a pioneer, control your own desires, be proud of your ideas, find the flame that burns the highest’. Melodically, their rhythms are designed to get you dancing, and take you on a journey, as the violin soars amid the fabric of heavenly affected guitar, the angelic voice of the singing drummer, mandolin, and heavy bass. They play the Hotel Brunswick on Sunday.
This concert will include performances by boys’ and girls’ groups as well as songs performed by the whole company of adults and children. Most excitingly, the famous Dustyesky Russian choir of Mullumbimby Festival fame will be performing some of their repertoire of Russian songs. St Martin’s Hall in Mullumbimby on Sunday, 5pm and finishing at 6.30pm with champagne, juice, strawberries and cheese included in the price. Adults $10, children free. Profits will go towards the song project based at Mullumbimby Neighbourhood Centre. For more information contact: janet@ songdynastymusic.com / 0438 965 397.
RACE TO SEE ROB AT THE RAILS On tour direct from New York City, Sony recording artist Rob Johnson will grace the stage at the iconic Rails Hotel on Saturday, promoting his latest single Never Give In. Rob Johnson aka rAce has the ultimate male soul/R&B voice and is the frontman of Manhattan band rAcemusic. The roots of Rob’s music are in the so-called ‘race music’ first developed in the southern American states in the early 20s and 30s in juke joints, churches, shacks and homes. With his heart in the past and his mind on the future generations his songs have really come to life on the lively streets of New York City. Catch Rob Johnson with a live five-piece band showcasing his original music plus a handful of his favourite tunes from such artists as Stevie Wonder, Michael Jackson, Prince, Earth Wind & Fire, and Musiq.
RUSSIAN THE MUSIC Song Dynasty Music, a new company in Mullumbimby, is for children and adults who are singing for their health and for the fun of it. There are adult choirs, girls’ choirs and a boys’ choir. The emphasis is strictly on the pleasure that singing in groups can bring to people’s lives.
ASHLEY LOPEZ AT THE BYRON BREWERY ON SATURDAY WITH UNDERSCORE ORKESTRA
ART OUT LOUD Loud in the Gallery is a dynamic exhibition celebrating National Youth Week, with final-year works showcased from secondary schools in the Ballina shire. Students from Alstonville High, Ballina High, Southern Cross K–12 School, Xavier Catholic College and the Emmanuel Anglican College will experience their artwork being exhibited in a professional
28 March 25, 2015 The Byron Shire Echo
gallery while giving the community a valuable insight into the processes, skills and concepts the students explore in art making. Loud in the Gallery is an annual exhibition, proudly presented by Northern Rivers Community Gallery and Ballina Shire Council as part of the National Youth Week celebrations in April 2015. Loud in the Gallery will be open from Wednesday 1 April to
Sunday 26 April 2015, with the launch event to be held in the Gallery from 5.30pm to 7pm on Thursday 2 April 2015.
Saturday at the Brewery. Earlybird tix $22 +bf available at www.wildhoneyevents.com or $25 at the door.
ONE NIGHT OF LIQUID GOLD! STARLIGHT FESTIVAL Get your glitter on for a tasty, CONNECTS THE ANCIENT potent mix of live gypsy WITH THE MODERN jazz music from Portland’s Underscore Orkestra and tribal fusion bellydancer Ashley Lopez from the USA, a regular guest with cuttingedge band Beats Antique, whose graceful flexibility and depth of artistry will blow open your mind! The night also features a cast of shining stars from all over Australia, including local diva Carola Apsara, The Barefoot Gypsies and Silk Road Rebellion, who will take you on a beguiling journey with swords, silk fans, zills and exotic contemporary sounds. A decadent night of alchemical sights and sounds not to be missed!
Twice a year the Bangalow A&I Hall plays host to the Starlight Festival – a festival of conscious living, awakening and connection to humanity’s true potential through workshops, talks and ceremonies with national and international presenters. The Easter long weekend sees a diverse and eclectic mix of cross-cultural and traditional healers such as Kyle Lazich, a herbalist and chocolate wizard! His love and appreciation of divine vibrations and sacred music has been a foundation from which the Sound Journeys have grown.
Byron Shire Echo archives: www.echo.net.au/byron-echo