ENTERTAINMENT
culture POP UP DESIGNERS
The Byron Designers Collective Pop-up at Newrybar this Saturday and Sunday features local independent artists and designer stalls laden with handmade jewellery, fashion, photography, art, and homewares. The emphasis for the Byron Designers Collective is that all products are designed and handmade locally. 13/15 Old Pacific Highway Newrybar, 8am–2pm.
MAKING LAUGH Now in its 21st year, Mandy Nolan’s standup comedy class at Byron Community College continues to go from strength to strength with a capacity class of 17 and even a waiting list lining up to see if they have what it takes to make people laugh. What would make seemingly normal people voluntarily sign up for something that most would cite as one of their biggest fears? Well, it’s not all strictly voluntary. Some people’s friends and family sign them up! With just six three-hour classes under their belts the comedy initiates are sent into the spotlight wide eyed, finding new ways to find humour in who they are, how people see them and how they think. ‘Comedy
is something innate,’ says teacher and comedian Mandy Nolan. There is incredible humour and release in translating our challenges into humour! I think humour is the ultimate coping mechanism. So who is lining up this year? ‘We have a plastic surgeon, a private detective, a massage therapist, a wedding photographer, a school teacher, a retired principal and a whole lot more!’ Come and catch the 17 new comedians at the cult graduation known as The Virgin Sacrifice | Mullum Ex-Services | Monday |8pm | $10/15 at the door, or book by emailing mandy@mandynolan.com.au | MC Mandy Nolan
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HEAVEN AND HELL WHAT THE BIG O DID FOR CASH TWO FRIENDS COME TOGETHER TO TELL THE STORY OF TWO FRIENDS. SLIM PICKENS AND BARRY FERRIER DON WIGS AND GUITAR TO TELL THE STORY OF HEAVEN AND HELL, THE FRIENDSHIP AND THE MUSIC OF JOHNNY CASH AND ROY ORBISON. Tell me, what is Heaven and Hell all about? Two boys grew up in poverty, a few hundred miles apart, during the Depression, each driven to succeed by tough beginnings, going on to be world-famous stars through their prodigious talent. They met at the beginning of their careers and remained lifelong friends, understanding each other’s struggle. Riches and great success didn’t protect them from tragedy and heartache.
Both were religious, but though they had so much in common, they were opposites in so many ways – Johnny’s bass voice and Roy’s voice high like an angel; Johnny was a rebel and wild man, while Roy was shy and conservative. Johnny was taking drugs and leaving his first wife Vivian, while Roy was chasing his wild girlfriend Claudette, desperate to settle down; he married her twice before she died in his arms after a motorcycle accident at age 24.
How did Cash and Orbison become friends? Cash went to Texas to promote Cry Cry Cry, appearing on a radio show; the resident band featured Roy Orbison as vocalist. Johnny was so thrilled by Roy’s voice that he gave him Sam Phillips’s phone number at Sun Records, advising Roy to lower his voice and change his name. This led to Roy’s first hit Oobie Doobie, so Johnny and Roy’s stellar careers ran in parallel. Johnny was godfather to Roy’s son Alex, the only one of Roy’s three boys to later survive a house fire. Johnny bought the property when Roy would never go back there, and planted an orchard where the house was.
How have they influenced you as a musician? They were both storytellers, Johnny in the tradition of folksingers, but Roy developed his own style of pop opera. Each had a unique unmistakeable vocal style that was part of the sound track to our youth.
What was intrinsically different in their world views?
What are the songs of theirs that always thrill you when you hear them? You can’t forget the tough realism of Folsom Prison Blues or the aching melancholy of Crying. What’s it like to play the songs of Cash or Orbison, is it hard to make them your own? As no-one can really hope to closely imitate either of these unique artists, one inevitably must make the songs one’s own, but aim to capture the essence of the song. The songs are introduced into the show where they reflect the emotion of the story. What should we expect for the show at the Byron Theatre? No recorded backings, it’s all real – in the Cash songs, Slim plays standup bass and stompbox to Barry’s guitar; in the Orbison songs, Barry plays a unique mini-drumkit, keyboards and harmonica to Slim’s guitar, and together they produce a powerful harmony sound. The show is a fantasy, set at the Pearly Gates, as each reflects on their life story, hoping to make it through. It’s a full multimedia production with supporting imagery from their lives, featuring all their greatest hits.
Find your inner Zen
Slim Pickens and Barry Ferrier present Heaven & Hell: The Friendship of Johnny Cash & Roy Orbison at the Byron Theatre on Friday at 8pm. Tickets are $35/25 at byroncentre.com.au.
14TH – 15TH APRIL 2018 8AM – 2PM
SUBSCRIBE TO BAY FM
WIN ONE OF 2 FULL SEASON TICKETS TO BYRON SPIRIT FESTIVAL
HURRY! PRIZES DRAWN 5PM 16TH APRIL SUBSCRIBE NOW AT BAYFM.ORG OR PHONE 66 807 999 AS A THANK YOU TO OUR EXISTING SUBSCRIBERS, 2 LUCKY WINNERS WILL ALSO WIN A TICKET TO THE FESTIVAL. Community Radio Bay FM 99.9 T 6680 7999 | W bayfm.org Bay FM public fund donations are tax deductible
34 April 11, 2018 The Byron Shire Echo
ve W e l o rs e b i r c s su b
NANIHI TAHITIAN PEARLS Luxury Tahitian pearl Jewellery A COLOURFUL LIFE Designer handmade indoor & outdoor cushions GHOST & LOLA Bold vintage jewellery with a dark bohemian edge JOURNIER Beachside inspired Decor & Fashion & Prints BG POTTERY Handmade pot plants & mosquito coil burners GATINHA EXOTIC BEACHWEAR Original handmade beach towels/sarongs
JULIAN JET PHOTOGRAPHY Local images in available in prints & T-shirts THE KNICKER PARLOUR Beautiful knickers & vintage inspired swimwear KYLIE PAISLEY PENCIL DRAWINGS Awe inspiring pencil drawing portrait specialist ELODIE Handmade contemporary jewellery DAYS THE LABEL Handmade women’s apparel #Linen
NEWRYBAR HALL 73/75 Old Pacific Hwy, Newrybar
STARS BY LILITH
FOR THE LAST DAYS OF MERCURY RETROGRADE, THE USUAL CONDITIONS APPLY: THINK TWICE, CHECK EVERYTHING, SLOW DOWN, DRIVE CAREFULLY, SPEAK KINDLY, BE PATIENT, REFRESH YOUR SETTINGS…
ARIES: There’s nothing you like more than a fresh start and this week clears the decks for your personal new year renaissance. Sure there are speed bumps, but aim for a smooth cruise to ease your way into the changes. Remember the ancient saying: To hold on is strength, to let go is wisdom…
TAURUS: Mercury and Jupiter, planets of expansion and communication, in retrograde this week take us all back over old territory to clear roadblocks so we can move forward freely and unobstructed. In earthy Tauran terms, you might want to think of it as preparing the soil before planting new seeds. GEMINI: First, reread the introduction above. That said, this is a cracker week for planning, strategising, brainstorming, mind mapping, rethinking, going back to the drawing board. Yes it’s tedious redoing something you thought was sorted, but you know what they say about the best-laid plans. Trust me, you’ll be glad you did. CANCER: This week’s unexpected upsets are best viewed as opportunities; Venus in your social zone brings support and atssistance to help you in flipping the script. If volcanic passions have you out of your watery element, then visualise what it’s like to be lava and go with the liquid fiery flow. LEO: This week’s work and/ or health issues respond best to a mix of discipline and flexibility, courage and creative thinking. The emotional climate’s feisty, but why waste time in power plays? Downsizing and streamlining bring a sense of achievement – ditto reconnecting with someone or something from the past with an important message for you. VIRGO: Venus, Mars, Saturn and Pluto are all in fellow earth signs, plus there’s fire energy lighting up your finance and let’s-get-physical sectors – which all sounds like a pretty decent week for you pragmatic sensualists. Only proviso? Don’t believe unsubstantiated news or gossip. Check sources, discriminate between fact and personal opinion.
LIBRA: Venus rules two zodiac signs, yours and earthy Taurus. Be warned this week she’s hanging out in Taurus territory at indulgence headquarters. If your Libran scales are weighing the advantages of flying solo against the benefits and drawbacks of group operating, use a balance of intuition and practicality to choose. SCORPIO: While it’s exciting and stimulating, a certain amount of drama infuses this week’s obligations, with their escalating crescendo of power plays and urgency to make weighty decisions. Your instincts are strong to reform and regenerate: you’re on the transformation express and there’s no turning back. Just try to stay fluid. And cool. SAGITTARIUS: A second look at something you took for granted might bring a jarring surprise or uncomfortable insight this week, to do with the merciless nature of black/ white, right/wrong attitudes. You’re in a positive cycle right now, so look for answers where you wouldn’t usually. Answers which may ask for a different response… CAPRICORN: Too many bosses could spoil this week’s broth with a brouhaha of conflicting opinions and clashing agendas. If home or social tensions reach pressurecooker intensity, don’t engage in competition with anyone but yourself, to gain emotional control… with bonus points for speaking with kindness, acting with understanding, behaving with patience. AQUARIUS: You’re enterprising, energetic and enthusiastic, with personal initiative and leadership skills peaking – while behind the scenes strong, unsettling emotions conduct a private wrestling match. It’s a matter of balancing both, and when you need a break this is a great week for catching up on what you’ve been putting off. PISCES: Niceness just won’t cut it this week, which is into radical authenticity. If tensions manifest between finances and friends owing to changes in circumstances, earnings or savings, there’s no point in faking feelings, so forget pretending and keep it real. Peak time? Late-week Pisces moonlight: enjoy it with whom and what you love.
Byron Shire Echo archives: www.echo.net.au/byron-echo