BLANK - ISSUE 92 - NOVEMBER 2021

The Long Sunset with Angus and Julia Stone issue #92 - November 2021

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NOVEMBER 6-7 GOLD COAST CAR SHOW, MUDGEERABA SHOWGROUNDS A huge display of cars, bikes, trucks and retro caravans.

Market stalls both days.

NOVEMBER 13 SATURDAY NIGHT BOARD GAMES, OLD POST OFFICE, 57 RAILWAY STREET, MUDGEERABA 6pm – 10pm

Come along to meet new people and play board games. Bring your SATURDAY - Rev-it-Up Family favourite game and teach how to Retro Day with Cars & Caravans play it or jump into a game with from 50’s to 70’s bands, monster others. Bring along drinks and trucks, FMX stunts & fireworks. snacks (event is alcohol free).

SUNDAY - everything on Wheels $2 entry fee. a section of Austinville Show Cars, Bikes, Trucks, Conservation Area along the Meetup.com Caravans & more! upper reaches of Mudgeeraba Creek. Register online to goldcoastcarshow.com.au/ NOVEMBER 5, 12, 19, 26 secure a spot and receive full MUDGEERABA LAWN BOWLS details of the event. For more NOVEMBER 6 CLUB, SOMERSET DRIVE, information, go to HINTERLAND REGIONAL PARK MUDGEERABA naturallyGC@goldcoast.qld.

BUSHCARE GROUP TREE gov.au or phone 5581 1537 PLANTING, HINTERLAND LIVE & FREE entertainment on REGIONAL PARK Friday nights – relax and enjoy, 8am - 10am eat at the bistro.

NOVEMBER 24 GC TECHSPACE OPEN NOVEMBER 5 Whitey Protect, restore and enhance NIGHT TOUR, OLD POST NOVEMBER 12 Caleb Lafaitele our natural areas. If you enjoy OFFICE, MUDGEERABA NOVEMBER 19 Wolfie being outdoors, being part NOVEMBER 26 Raff De of a community and want to GC Techspace have a make a difference to our natural community tour on the 2nd NOVEMBER 27 environment then come along to and 4th Wednesdays of every AUSTINVILLE LANDCARE this event. month. People of all ages and GROUP, AUSTINVILLE experiences can come together Eventbrite.com.au CONSERVATION AREA, 621 to access tools, equipment, AUSTINVILLE ROAD share knowledge and learn.

NOVEMBER 11 Bring your laptop and any REMEMBRANCE DAY, projects from home.

In conjunction with the City’s ELSIE LAVER PARK Natural Areas Management Meetup.com/gctechspace/ 11am Unit, this group is currently focussing on restoring

local choirs

Free Family school

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NOVEMBER 28 MUDGEERABA COMMUNITY CHRISTMAS CAROLS, FIRTH PARK, MUDGEERABA The combined Churches of Mudgeeraba have organised this event - bring your family and friends along to enjoy a fun evening of Christmas carols, with performances from local schools, orchestra, choirs & dancers.

Activities for the kids, food trucks, picnic seating.

Division9@goldcoast.qld.gov.au NOVEMBER 28 MUDGEERABA COUNTRY MARKET, MUDGEERABA SHOWGROUNDS, 115 MUDGEERABA ROAD 4th Sunday of the month 7am – 12pm Community market, local stall holders, creatives & producers, food vendors & live entertainment.

Free car parking and dog friendly. facebook.com/ MudgeerabaCountryMarket DECEMBER 3 & 4 FESTIVAL OF SMALL HALLS SUMMER TOUR 2021 SPRINGBROOK COMMUNITY HALL (3 Dec) – hosted by Springbrook Community Association MT NIMMEL HALL, AUSTINVILLE (4 Dec) – hosted

by Mt Nimmel Hall Committee Featuring Tullara and Andrea Kirwin, with local support These Idle Hands For more information on the event and the exciting artists, and to purchase tickets Festivalofsmallhalls.com

20 NOV 11 DEC

Logan Launch

4 DEC

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Blank - issue #92 - November 2021

Blank - issue #92 - November 2021

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Your local stories

Managing Editor: Natalie O’Driscoll

Hey Blankers,

Creative Director: Chloe Popa

This is a special edition. If you’re reading it on the Gold Coast, you may not realise that it’s a special edition, but trust us, it is.

Advertising & Partnerships Manager: Amanda Gorman Partnerships Support: Simone Gorman-Clark TeamWriters: Anthony Gebhardt & Zac Fahey Graphic Designer: Heidi Glasson Distribution: Swingin' Safari Crew Contributors (print and online): Natalie O’Driscoll, Anthony Gebhardt, Zac Fahey, Marj Osborne, Glenn Tozer, Erin Bourne, Simone Gorman-Clark, Prudence Clark, Nikki Archer, Dani Teveluwe, Anne Janelle, Amelia Green, Yasmin Nelson.

Logan content writer: Belinda Topan Logan photographer: Beauden Gouge Logan section and front cover Graphic Design: Jennifer Daniell Logan distribution and partnerships: Neil Beattie and Deirdrie Tehan Cullen Cover: Angus and Julia Stone Acknowledgement of Country: We genuinely respect and acknowledge the Traditional Owners of the land on which we work and play. We honour their elders past, present and emerging as well as the rich contribution that continues to be made to society through art, story and music.

About us: Blank is independently owned and published by Samantha Morris, Chloe Popa, Amanda Gorman and Natalie O'Driscoll. Founded in 2013 we are an independent voice for local music, arts and lifestyle and we rely on advertising as well as our generous contributors to keep us ticking. Opinions expressed herein are not necessarily those of the editor, publishers or the writing team.

Editorial: news@blankstreetpress.com.au Advertising: advertising@blankstreetpress.com.au Gigs: gigs@blankstreetpress.com.au Follow us: Facebook/Instagram@blankstreetpress

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When Blank’s owners Chloe and Sam first decided to start a street press here, it was in response to the tired old stereotypes about how Gold Coast was a cultural wasteland; all style no substance. It wasn’t true eight years ago, and now it’s about as far from true as it is possible to get.

The fact is, every city has a beating cultural heart.

Sometimes you just need to know where to look for it.

This month marks the first of our expanded editions into the City of Logan, a city with a nascent musical and arts scene that’s grown exponentially in recent years, and will no doubt continue to do so, the same way Gold Coast’s has. And we want to be at the forefront of it.

Again!

So if you’re reading this mag in Logan, you’ll notice the middle eight pages are dedicated to the cool happenings and awesome folks in your cultural scene.

Gold Coasters, your mag will look the same. But to mark this momentous occasion, we would very much like to acknowledge and celebrate the passion and hard work of our Swingin’ Safari crew Neil Beattie and Deirdrie Tehan Cullen, without whom our 400+ distro spots would not have received their mags for the last eight years, and without whom we absolutely would not have been able to pull off the move to our northern neighbours.

This dedicated pair have worked for us and also donated countless hours of their own spare time in support of Blank’s endeavours over the years, and we wouldn’t be where we are without them. They aren’t interested in the spotlight, so you won’t see any pics of them in our pages. But they did agree to send us a couple of messages to be immortalised in this special edition.

Neil: “We both genuinely love being part of the Blank Team - it is a privilege to contribute to the exciting evolution of the region's cultural evolution. It’s been easy to see how this has very much driven by Blank Street Press...offering partnerships with local and regional creatives. Not very often do people get the chance to be paid for doing what they love, it’s like a hobby gig where we get to regularly visit all the cool cafe's, bars, libraries and shops that offer Blank magazine for their customers. As a professional news photographer of many years with camera always at the ready Deirdrie has taken some great little photo essays of a Blank Day of Distro on the GC, which are always interesting... the venues thumping... the cafes full… the Blank - issue #92 - November 2021

scene ticking along and really thriving in many ways... that's a real added bonus of being out and about being part of the Blank Street scene.”

Deirdrie: “I love being a part of the Blank Team and Swingin Safari Events! I have been helping drop off Blank before COVID, so it’s been amazing seeing the changing face of the Gold Coast over the years… Now with excitement, we are merging further North into Logan and distributing into Brisbane CBD! My passion stemmed with the arts and culture at Queensland College of Art, where I emerged as a professional press photographer for 10 years. My priorities changed when I had my three wonderful kids (and now a grandson), however I still had a camera in hand and became one of the grassroots advocators establishing the Gold Coast Birth Centre as the main consumer rep… Some of my birth images of local mums and families still done their walls. After completing two degrees in Arts Psychotherapy and Counselling, I have just started my business Eco & Art Therapies. YES, arts, culture and fun are in my blood! I love connecting with people on the road when we deliver Blank and keeping up with the creative scene of the Gold Coast.”

Enjoy this edition dear readers, and take care of yourselves.

Til next time.

Yours, Natalie O’Driscoll Managing Editor

Be sure to bring your favourite mark making implement to scribble your love letter to Miami on The Walls’ walls. Dress code: Miami chic (as pictured). Saturday 4 December at 5pm. Free ticketed event, register at Eventbrite.

Photo by Juanita Broderick

Red Bull Trail Heads comes to GC

Festival of Small Halls returns

Red Bull Trail Heads is the brain child of Red Bull Endurance Athlete Courtney Atkinson. It brings the fun and exciting influence of enduro mountain bike racing to the world of Trail Running, and on 13 November it’s coming to Numinbah Valley.

Feeling brave? Visit redbull.com to enter.

The latest Summer tour of Festival of Small Halls will feature stellar performances from uniquely talented Australian / Fijian artist and producer Andrea Kirwin and magical folksy guitar whizz Tullara, and will hit Austinville on 4 December. Tix at festivalofsmallhalls.com.

Exhibitionist Bar gets new menus

Send a love letter to The Walls Join The Walls team, artists and creative community in celebrating nine years of magic in Miami with a final sunset at THE WALLS, featuring an eclectic and fascinating range of past exhibiting artists.

Get ready for delicious days and nom nom nights on the roof of HOTA Gallery, with two new limited menus on offer at the Exhibitionist Bar. On 16-17 Nov, it’s all about Ramen Rave. We’re taking ramen, shaking, stirring, pushing it to the extreme. And on 30 Nov-1 Dec Never Mind the Menu. Here’s a Burger. A menu so filthy, it’s banned in the UK. It’s burgers. Read the bloody name. All the details at theexhibitionistbar.com.au.

Take me to Paris, HOTA After a string of successful Queensland and international tours, French-born, awardwinning singer and songwriter Pauline Maudy presents a personal show about growing up in two places. Take Me to Paris is a show about belonging and identity. It’s about our search for an idealised version of heaven on earth, Napoleon’s fascination for Australia, Australia’s fascination for the city of love and everything in between.

Go to Paris on Friday 12 November in the Lakeside Room. Tix at hota.com.au.

Blank - issue #92 - November 2021

It’s Santa Paws time!

There’s nowhere better to grab a pressie for your pooch than Santa Paws at the Park on Sunday, 7 November at Country Paradise Parklands, Nerang. With over 100 doggy market stalls, talks and demos, fundraising activities for Animal Welfare League and a photo booth to take a photo of your pup with Santa, you’ll be wagging your tail for sure. Free entry, RSVP via FB.

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NEWS TAP ON

by o you t t h g brou

Chutney And Burleigh Brewing Forging A Good Time Alliance Words by Anthony Gebhardt

Since we last had a natter with on-the-rise Gold Coast rock band Chutney, they’ve been busy forging intrepid musical pathways, despite the current pandemic-induced challenges plaguing the live music scene.

With a bunch of new tracks both on the airwaves and getting ready to detonate, the band have also managed to forge a solid alliance with local craft beer legends Burleigh Brewing.

It's a partnership that commenced earlier in the year and shows no signs of waning, as we discovered when speaking with the Burleigh Brewing Marketing Team.

“Our partnership with Chutney first came about when we engaged them to play at our Burleigh Comedy Night back in March. We've been pals ever since and it's blossomed into a super supportive relationship.

“We originally really bonded over how we can support the local community and give back through our respective passions.

These days, we keep each other up to date with what's going on in our corresponding calendars and if there's anything we can align on we try to make it happen. We support them, and they support us right back!”

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This mutual support was most recently in-play at the Crafted Beer Festival in Broadbeach in September. Chutney played a blistering, good-time set that went down a storm, with Burleigh Brewing in attendance and seeding them beer and merch.

Says Chutney’s Andy Reid of the experience; “Crafted was a blast! To be back in a festival environment on a perfect Gold Coast day, by the beach with all our mates drinking delicious beer was quite a treat.

“The whole weekend was amazing, I think it was obvious how much fun we were having and that energy infected the crowd, which made for the best set we've ever played. Keen for more days like that!”

Andy also elaborated on the origins of the band’s partnership with Burleigh Brewing and why ongoing collaborations make sense.

Blank - issue #92 - November 2021

“We reached out to Burleigh Brewing regarding some rider for our recent show with Peach Fur in Warwick, as we'd struck up a relationship when we played the pre-party for the Gold Coast Comedy Festival. We were hoping to secure a couple of cartons of beer, maybe! We were surprised to learn that Burleigh Brewing already had ourselves and Peach Fur highlighted to work with and had been discussing partnering up literally that week!

“After chatting it was obvious that they really wanted to engage in local live music and supporting artists. So far they've helped us out with lots of delicious beer, tonnes of merch and splashing our name everywhere they can.

“They're looking to support live music events across the coast in whatever capacity they can - watch this space, we've barely scratched the surface when it comes to all the exciting projects we have in the works with the legends over at Burleigh Brewing!”

As far as what the future holds, it’s somewhat sobering to realise that for a relatively new band like Chutney, the joys of playing regular live shows to a bumper crowd is something

that to-now has eluded them, as Andy elaborates; “As a band that released our first single (‘Outcast’) a month before the dreaded 'vid hit, we haven't really known the freedom of open borders or full capacity crowds at all. We've learnt that we need to release strong songs and videos and engage online as best we can to stay relevant in these strange times, so we will continue to work on that formula.

“Our next single 'Life I Like' is out on November 4th and is honestly our best work yet. With any luck life will begin to return to normal and we can get out on the road soon. We take a lot of pride in our live show and it's always been a dream of ours to tour the country. Hopefully we can make that happen soon!”

Burleigh Brewing has announced its next Brewer’s Notebook beer is being released in late November, ready to refresh during the hottest month! Not only that, the team are gearing up for a new Summer Merch collection.

Follow @burleighbrewing and @chutney_band for updates.

QLD MUSIC TRAILS & SCENIC RIM REGIONAL COUNCIL PRESENT

THE

Elysian Fields

THE

Canungra

Live in the Scenic Rim

ANGUS & JULIA STONE BALL PARK MUSIC BABE RAINBOW • HATCHIE #qldmusictrails

Sat 12 Feb 2—10pm

Blank - issue #92 - November 2021

thelongsunset.com

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Stone’s Long Sunset a Scenic Rim sensation Angus and Julia Stone are heading our way in early 2022 for The Long Sunset, a new, bespoke music event set in the lush surrounds of the Scenic Rim. We scored a wonderful chat with the engaging Julia just ahead of tickets going on sale.

Words by Glenn Tozer

Julia Stone has an energetic positivity to her voice that is infectious and would bring a smile to anyone’s face. Joking about growing up with cattle farmers as grandparents, she seems very comfortable about the upcoming festival with her brother Angus at Elysian Fields, a sometimes polo and equestrian facility, in the picturesque Scenic Rim green fields, just west of the Gold Coast hinterland.

“Riding in on a white horse would be amazing but I’m not sure we can incorporate that into our show,” Stone laments, tongue firmly in cheek.

“This show is really exciting though, our first in Queensland since 2018,

will feature indie-folk outfit Angus and Julia Stone and Brissie rockers Ball Park Music, who will be supported ably by Babe Rainbow and Hatchie.

Canungra’s Elysian Fields will come alive on 12 February 2022 for this boutique live music and camping experience, which has been part-funded by the Australian Government’s RISE Fund and Bushfire Recovery Initiatives.

Joel Edmondson is CEO of Queensland Music Festival, the entity that created Queensland Music Trails to activate regional Queensland as live music tour destinations. He has hopes these sorts of events will become some of our state’s most popular.

and Angus and I are so glad to be coming, particularly because it’s rural and we don’t often get to play rural shows. Half our holidays as kids were based at our grandparents’ farm near Bulahdelah on the NSW mid-north coast. If we weren’t sailing, we were farm kids.”

“Hosting world-class cultural events throughout regional Queensland is important for our culture and our economy, particularly as we work towards the global event that is the 2032 Olympics.

We hope that these sorts of events will grow organically to grow the regional economy and build momentum over the coming decade,” Edmondson states optimistically.

The Long Sunset, the latest event from the creative brains at Queensland Music Trails,

“Importantly though, the identity of these events should be about the intimacy. Angus

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& Julia Stone performing at The Long Sunset fits that objective perfectly; an intimate afternoon gathering in the country.”

As Stone reflects on holidays as a child, and then the influence of her parents as she and Angus grew as musicians, her personable chatter shows why industry leaders like Edmondson are so positive about this event, and about Angus and Julia.

In April 2021, Stone released ‘Sixty Summers’, a solo album perhaps best described as a pop-folk triumph, but which also captures some of her personal experiences and aspirations quite beautifully.

The title track reflects on the brevity of life, at a moment earlier in Stone’s life where a friend had exclaimed ‘Can you believe we only have sixty summers left?’

So what does Julia Stone have planned for her remaining sixty summers?

“Well, both of us, Angus and I, are committed to living authentically. We don’t want to make records we think will be a hit. We want to make records that we really like.

Blank - issue #92 - November 2021

We’ll keep following the feeling; the inspiration; there’s always something to learn,” Stone remarks.

“More personally, I’m beginning to love the arena of mental health. There’s such a need there in our community. I think I could be helpful in that arena.”

Testing new experiences and embracing new challenges has not been foreign to Angus and Julia Stone, and even this year they released a scored soundtrack to international hit video game hit ‘Life is Strange’. They’d had a song already incorporated into an earlier edition of the game, but being asked to score an entire new episode came at the perfect time.

“We really do thrive together in the studio.

We’d finished touring a show, all around the world over about two years and had reached that moment where we felt we’d like to keep doing what we love doing without being in a new city every night,” Stone recalls.

“The video game episode was about a brother and a sister, and involved superpowers, and it just resonated with us.

The team in Colorado were so lovely and it was such a surreal experience to see where all the video game production happens.”

What’s going on, Tyrone Noonan?

Words by Natalie O’Driscoll

Most of the ‘Life is Strange’ album was recorded on Angus’ farm, but they also spent some time with Neil Finn in New Zealand as they put together the final elements.

The interview pauses again for laughter as Stone suggests her real superpower is making the whole team stop in order to eat, whether in a studio or on a stage rehearsing a performance. What is truly a superpower, however, is Angus & Julia Stone’s capacity to inspire a new generation of performers.

In an earlier interview with Blank, awardwinning GC duo Hollow Coves called the music of Angus & Julia Stone a seminal influence on their early career. With the Gold Coast pair having now reached 200 million streams, Julia reflects on how the success of other artists like Hollow Coves, inspired by her and her brother, makes her feel.

“Mostly, it makes me feel really old,” she laughs.

2021 is the 50th anniversary of Marvin Gaye’s musical masterpiece ‘What’s Going On’, and HOTA, Home of the Arts is celebrating this epic milestone with a brand new production by one of Australia’s most respected musicians, Tyrone Noonan.

hatred, suffering, and injustice at every turn.

Covering themes of racism, drug abuse, poverty and the environment in his lyrics, Gaye not only addressed the issues of 1971 America but also appeared to have a crystal ball when it came to worldwide issues, 50 years on and 30 years after his death.

“It’s coming up to 20 years of hard work for us. Someone wise once told me, ‘a popular song is a doorway to your music’, and ‘Chateau’ and ‘Big Jet Plane’ are that for us.

Those songs really mean a lot to me and I have so much gratitude for the way they make people feel. It’s even still surprising when, more recently, video gamers recall our songs as memorable to them.

Having performed the songs of Marvin Gaye for years with his band Palimpsest, Tyrone - who has tasted significant national success as co-lead of Brisbane band George along with sister Katie has re-arranged ‘What’s Going On’ in its entirety for a bespoke production that will be getting its second outing only on the Gold Coast, following a successful showing at Brisbane Festival.

“Whoever you are, we are so bloody excited to be coming up to Queensland to play all our songs for you, old and new.”

When we caught up with Tyrone, we asked him about his relationship with Marvin Gaye’s music.

“We’re at crunch time now. This upcoming event in Glasgow [United Nations Climate Change Conference] is a real opportunity for us to face up to this reality – that’s already that’s looking like it might a kind of whitewash situation - that we’ve been living unsustainably on this planet for too long.

The interview closes with more laughter following Stone’s unexpected pun about champing at the bit (with The Long Sunset being hosted by an equestrian centre). The feminine half of Angus and Julia Stone is filled with joy and hope, and there’s little doubt a trip to the country for a Long Sunset in February will help us enter 2022 amply supplied with Julia Stone’s wonderful optimism for life.

“I’ve always be a fan, and this particular album is such an incredible body of work to be placed into one recording,” he tells us.

“Marvin seemed to be aware of this back in 1971 before anyone was talking about ecology.”

“I love and respect so many musicians and songwriters, but I don’t think that any one artist has ever created such a complete body of work”.

‘Mercy Mercy Me (The Ecology)’ was Gaye’s second single release from the iconic album, a title that reputedly caused a stir with his record label.

Canungra’s Elysian Fields in the heart of Yugambeh Country will come alive on 12 February 2022 for The Long Sunset, a unique music and camping festival with a vast selection of food and art from local artists and artisans and a wholesome, unique experience for all ages. Tickets go on sale 5 November at thelongsunset.com, and will certainly sell out.

The Long Sunset is a Queensland Music Trails event presented by QMF and Scenic Rim Regional Council.

History agrees, with ‘What’s Going On’ holding the coveted number one spot on Rolling Stone’s 500 Greatest Albums of all Time, and its title track holding steady at number six on the Greatest Songs list.

‘What’s Going On’ is a concept album, told from the point of view of a Vietnam vet returning to his home country to witness

“It’s actually more relevant than when it was written, which a little disheartening in a way,” says Tyrone.

“Motown founder Berry Gordy apparently said ‘What the fuck does ecology even mean?’ laughs Tyrone. “Although he wouldn’t have been alone. Quite a few people wouldn’t have known what that meant back in 1971.”

The upcoming production will see ‘What’s Going On’ performed in full with a short interlude between each side, along with some choice song selections from throughout Marvin’s hugely successful career.

This is no Broadway show; it’s all about recreating the legendary live experience

Blank - issue #92 - November 2021

of Marvin Gaye and the time is right to witness the spectacle of a live performance of this album.

Tyrone is joined by his Palimpsest bandmates for this show, featuring some of Queensland’s finest musicians: Brendan St Ledger on keyboards, James Mcintyre on guitars, Joshua Hatcher on saxophones, flutes and glockenspiel, Chris Pearson on bass, Aaron Jansz on drums and Cindia Reine on percussion.

I ask Tyrone how he plans to channel Marvin on stage.

“It’s interesting - I know this is going to sound weird - but I do believe it is like channelling,” he says “At the Brisbane Fest show I really really got that feeling, and I almost felt like I was out of my own body observing what was happening, just giving over to that energy.”

It seems the crowd felt it too, if the “absolutely amazing” feedback was anything to go by.

“I think everyone in that whole room was connected that night,” Tyrone tells us “You know Gaye does deal with some heavy subjects on the record but it’s not all doom and gloom, it is quite hopeful and we finish the show with a bunch of dancing tunes from throughout his career which is lots of fun.”

You can get connected with Tyrone and Palimpsest when they cross the stage at the Lakeside Room at HOTA on Saturday 13 November, performing the iconic ‘What’s Going On’ in full as well as selected Marvin Gaye tunes. Tix at hota.com.au. And in the words of Tyrone, “come prepared for a transformative experience”.

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NOW COVERING

city of Logan Blank - issue #92 - November 2021

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Family by JW sets the bar for GC staycays

Meet You At The Markets, Part 7: Mike the passionfruit man

Words by Natalie O’Driscoll

Words & Photography by Dani Teveluwe

Looking for the perfect family staycay on the Gold Coast? Look no further, because JW Marriott Gold Coast Resort & Spa has gotchu, fam.

A luxurious 223 room property in the heart of Surfers, JW Marriott boasts panoramic views of hinterland and ocean, and is a short walk from our world-class beaches.

But what really makes it the family destination of choice is Family by JW, an absolutely jam-packed calendar of interactive activities that is sure to keep the young – and the young at heart – entertained all day long.

This exciting new program enables guests to get their culinary skills on; either in a sushi making class at Misono, a creative pizza making session or even with the pastry chefs in Citrique who will take you through the ins and outs of chocolate making (and yes, you get to eat what you make). There’s even a booze-free junior mixology class with healthy juices and mocktails on offer!

One of the main features at the JW Marriott has always been its spectacular Lagoon Pool, filled with over 300 colourful tropical fish. Guests can now attend a fish feeding session every morning of the week, and learn about the different types that call the Lagoon home.

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And if you’d rather get up close and personal with the sea life, hire sea scooters and snorkel equipment all week long from the Recreation Centre and enjoy an adventure through the artificial reef in the JW Sweet Water Pool.

A complimentary JW Marriott Scavenger Hunt will supply curious minds with some fun facts throughout the self-guided activity, while JW Sports Course is open from 9am to 5pm, seven days per week, with equipment available to borrow from the Recreation Centre.

After something a little more indoors?

The Games Room in the Activity Centre will definitely have something to surprise and delight, with a range of arcade-style games for the whole family to enjoy.

Starving after a day of fun in the sun, you’ll be happy to know that all three of JW Marriott’s restaurants have kid’s menus available, making family dining a breeze. And if you’d like that little bit of extra space after retiring to your rooms, there are interconnecting rooms so parents can have a little downtime. Of course, the onsite spa is always there for that, too.

You can book your next family holiday now at jwmarriottgoldcoast.com or by calling 07 5592 9800.

From the easygoing and laidback nature of the exchanges Mike shares with his customers, you would never guess that this calm comedy fan once worked in the hustle and bustle of Shanghai.

Growing up amongst the beauty of the Northern Rivers, Mike has always held the lustre of our gorgeous home close to his heart. However, in 2007 he moved to Shanghai, China to run his thriving business running childcare centres and family events, and lived there for 12 years.

The workload eventually took its toll, unfortunately leading to burn out, prompting he and his wife to move home to Australia in 2018, where they decided to get into farming by collaborating with the most experienced passionfruit growers in the region.

Leasing a three-acre plot from an established family farm in Newyrbar, not far from where Mike grew up, he and his wife Isis planted their passionfruit crop three years ago, inspired by a holiday to Fiji, where the luscious vines grow abundantly.

Farming has been a welcome change of pace, with Mike stating that farming is teaching him to “go with the flow a little bit, as Mother Nature will determine how you go.”

Their fruit speaks for itself; the scent of the freshly cut passionfruit filling a room with its sweet and delicious smell.

Blank - issue #92 - November 2021

When I asked Mike about the challenges of farming he said the hardest part was keeping up with demand. He and his wife often sell out of stock at the markets they operate at, and whatever small amount of fruit is left over is cut and pulped to sell to their customers in jars, ready to serve.

They also sell refreshing drinks - passionate flamingos – sweet passionfruit pulp mixed in with soda water, served on ice – the perfect treat on a warm Goldy day.

Their farm consists of 2500 vines, and when Mike isn’t tending to the vines, or pulping unsold fruit, you will catch him at a stand-up comedy gig around the Gold Coast or Byron Bay. Every four years the vines they farm need to be replanted to optimise their fruit production and this is done through a process of grafting new baby vines to established plants. Fortunately, COVID has seen sales increase and they hope to expand their crop in the future by planting more vines and increasing their growing capacity.

Passionfruit is a seasonal crop and when the fruit is flourishing you can catch Mike or Isis at the Currumbin Markets Thursday mornings, Burleigh and Palm Beach Markets Saturday and Bundall HOTA Markets of a Sunday.

HERITAGE GOLD COAST, PART 7: COMING TO LIGHT

Dreaming of dumplings at HOTA Words by Natalie O’Driscoll

Words by Nikki Archer

Last month this column featured early colonial Gold Coast pioneer, William Duncan. I stated his grave was purportedly lost somewhere in Burleigh. My source was an old newspaper article which referenced an even older newspaper article. After publishing, Duncan's grandson informed me that this gravesite is actually in Nerang.

This was not the first time I had come across conflicting information when researching local history. Accounts, unfortunately, are never perfect or complete. Even if recorded, it’s rare to find two versions that are the same. Ideally, hard evidence is available to clarify; things like records, artefacts, articles, photographs, etc - ie ‘stuff ’.

Our city is fortunate that the Gold Coast Hinterland Heritage Museum (Mudgeeraba) and the Gold Coast Historical Museum (Bundall) hold loads of 'stuff '. Making sense of all of it, and being able to collate and present it in a way that tells a story, falls to volunteers. Ongoing support and training is provided by the City of Gold Coast and the Queensland Museum. This support has made possible a new exhibition for each museum.

I met with Josh Tarrant of the Queensland Museum (Museum Development Officer for South East Queensland), during installation of Gold Coast Historical Museum’s latest exhibition and raised the question about history being an imperfect science.

“From a museological perspective, the main principles are to document things.

There are gaps of knowledge because things aren’t documented or understood.

Things sit unknown. There are always

blind spots in history for various reasons”, Josh says.

“We don’t know as much as we think we know or might know. It’s not novel in a museum context to say ‘we don’t know’.

This is...”

“- coming to light”, Catherine Elek, museum volunteer interjects. Josh agrees and adds, “...more information keeps coming to light.”

We’re all impressed with Catherine’s segue to the exhibition title. ‘Coming to Light’ is a curation of digitised images of early 20th century Gold Coast from glass plate negatives attributed to Guy Hunt (18841950). His album was passed down the family line to be part of the Dunn Family Collection and generously made available to the public.

Every image in this collection is historical eye candy. It includes timber getters, Southport Peace Parade in 1919, the Cambus Wallace ship figure head, a wedding cake and a flying fish. They provide an amazing visual record of how the Gold Coast actually was a century ago.

There’s no guesswork involved.

Not everything, however, is as clear as images. In Hunt's album is an image of sugar mill owner Robert Muir who passed away when Hunt was four years old.

Who took the photograph? Josh is of the opinion it might have been taken by Will Stark, another photographer known for the time period in which it was taken. We find other images that show the markings of Robert Le Strange.

Another question arises: how did Stark’s and Le Strange’s work end up in Hunt’s collection?

Photography was an exclusive hobby relying on darkroom chemicals.

Pharmacies were meeting places for photographers to process their images.

Small groups of enthusiasts would swap and gift photographs. Hunt, being a pharmacist by trade, ran his own lab and darkroom from his home.

Photography, like curating museum exhibitions, is a marriage of science and art.

Over time, Hunt’s work has also become of historical importance. His glass plates and the curation process of their display, have helped clarify life from 100 years ago.

While illuminating, it leaves me wondering about what we’ve missed, what lives, what stories have come and gone without such records. I ask, “What stories don’t we tell?

How do we look for these gaps?”

Josh says, “Communities should tell their own stories. Museums should be places to explain histories about places they love, ask questions and bring knowledge to the table. The main thing is keeping that in mind and how we work with it when we do find gaps in the knowledge.”

Oh hi, little dumplings! A whimsically colourful dumpling dreamscape full of fun, discovery, and adventure awaits kids, kids at heart and art lovers, when beloved Brisbane-based artist YEAHYEAHCHLOE brings her colourful world to HOTA’s Children’s Gallery in November.

The wonderfully imaginative Dumpling Dreams plops youngsters, the young-atheart, and their adventurous adults into a wildly colourful world complete with delicious new sidekicks.

A blank canvas to build your own world and bond with your new dumpling friends, little visitors will spend hours imagining dreamy futures, and discovering new ways to connect with the environment and people closest to them. Little creative hearts are free to dip their toes into the world of art and be themselves in a safe, inclusive space.

Featuring Augmented Reality experiences and interactive activities, you’re only limited by your imagination.

Fill your days, weekends, and holidays with colour, connection, and creativity with Dumpling Dreams.

This is a FREE event, and will run at HOTA Children’s Gallery from 27 November to 18 April. Visit yeahyeahchloe.com for more about the artist.

‘Coming to Light’ officially opens 1pm Sunday 7 November. RSVP histsocbun@ bigpond.com.

Gold Coast Historical Museum (8 Elliott St, Surfers Paradise) is open 10am-3pm Sundays, 9am-1pm Tuesdays and Wednesdays.

Blank - issue #92 - November 2021

15

Darby and Joan films on the Gold Coast

Words by Prudence Clark

Darby and Joan’, supported by the Queensland Government via Screen Queensland’s Screen Finance Program and produced by Australian production company CJZ, is an eight-part series heralded as a ‘rollicking road trip with a mystery twist.’

Queensland as the odd couple’s stunning backdrop, I really believe that this part road movie, part mystery adventure series will be hugely popular.

Harry J Hart Drops Eagerly Awaited Debut EP

Sounds intriguing, how have the locations you’ve been working in played a part?

Words by Anthony Gebhardt

Starring Emmy® Award-nominated and Logie Award-winning Bryan Brown (Bloom, Cocktail, The Thorn Birds) and Emmy® Award-winning Greta Scacchi (Palm Beach, War & Peace, The Terror), the series is being filmed in and around the Gold Coast, featuring the immense beauty this region has to offer, from majestic gorges and idyllic billabongs, to sweeping grass plains and historic country towns.

It’s funny, throughout filming it’s as though the landscape itself has also become an active character in the story. It’s hardly surprising though as we’ve been so lucky to film in some absolutely breathtaking locations, I honestly have to stop sometimes whilst on set and say to myself, ‘Wow, this is such an amazing place to work.’

One of the Executive Producers of ‘Darby and Joan’, Claire Tonkin, took time out from her busy schedule to chat about this exciting new project, which will also be streamed to millions via one of the world’s leading streaming services, Acorn TV, in the U.S., Canada, the United Kingdom, Latin America, Australia, Spain and Portugal, among others in 2022.

Firstly, tell us a little bit about Darby and Joan?

In a nutshell it’s about Australian detective, Jack Darby (Brown) fleeing his past mistakes, while English widow, Joan Kirkhope (Scacchi) is also fleeing in the sense that she is attempting to outrun her grief. With the remote background, their very different worlds collide and as the story develops, they are thrown together and drawn into the intriguing mysteries lurking in the isolated, tropical corners of Queensland. And so begins an epic story and a fascinating mystery about who they are and who they want to be. With

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What has been your favourite location so far?

I absolutely loved Mount Tambourine and of course, the Gold Coast has some truly incredible beaches. It is such a far cry from the skyscraper, concrete jungle images I had in my head before I arrived here. It’s such a beautiful part of Australia, with some truly breathtaking scenery.

Anything else you’d like to mention?

I just want to express my thanks and gratitude to the Gold Coast and surrounds, you guys don’t know how lucky you are to live with such incredible landscapes, rainforests and beaches all within a stone's throw of each other. Not to mention the weather. We’ve loved every minute of it and I know I’ll be taking some lifelong memories back to Sydney.

Stay tuned for more details and dates regarding the upcoming release of Darby and Joan, a series not to be missed. To read the full interview, head on over to blankstreetpress.com.au.

Singer/song-writer, guitarist, multiinstrumentalist – it’s fair to say that rapidly rising Gold Coast rock talent Harry J Hart is the complete musical package. Having been on the radar of musical movers and shakers since the tender age of fourteen, 15 October saw Harry drop his long-awaited debut EP, ‘Holding On For My Life’, which he celebrated that night by delivering an absolutely blistering launch show at the HOTA basement.

Compiling early day stand-out numbers such as ‘It Calls Out’ and recent singles ‘Who We Are’ and ‘Make It Easy’ together with powerful new offerings such as up-tempo belter ‘No Goodbye’, the EP represents a culmination of the best of his song-writing prowess to date, as Harry elaborates; “These tracks picked themselves because they’re the six that I like most right now and that I feel represent me and my current musical direction best. My favourites are probably ‘Come Back Down’ and ‘No Goodbye’, because they are the most fun to play live.

“The one that holds extra special significance would be ‘It Calls Out’, as it was one of the first songs I wrote where the song just ‘fell out’. It’s also the song that got me to a finalist position for the Queensland Music Awards and sat for about 8 weeks on top of the Unearthed Charts, in demo format, way back when.”

Blank - issue #92 - November 2021

While dedicated to his own burgeoning original song-craft, Harry is also a disciple of broadening his repertoire through undertaking a wide variety of collaborative work as well as expanding his musical horizons, as he explains; “As well as my own project I love doing session work, where I play for other musicians. For example, I play drums for Eleea, bass for Georgia Hoareau and guitar for Stray Dog Saviours. I also do studio work for other musicians, such as the guitar parts on the recording of Rene Le Feurve’s song, ‘Watch Me Fall’.

“To be a better session musician, I study a variety of genres. I went to Boston (twice), to study Classic Rock then Blues guitar at the Berklee College of Music summer guitar program. I also spent a week studying heavier guitar stuff in LA under Tom Morello (Rage Against The Machine), Nuno Bettencourt (Extreme), Billy Howerdel (A Perfect Circle) and other guitar legends.

“And with travel limited at the moment, I am headed to Tamworth in January to study at the Country Music Academy to better understand the country genres.”

Harry J Hart’s impressive debut EP, ‘Holding On For My Life’, is out now via streaming services.

Cara Mia Pizzeria 300 Marine Parade (Aqua Building), Labrador Ph: 07 5528 3326

Uncle Su at The Star Gold Coast

Words and photograph by Marj Osborne - follow Marj @foodgoldcoast

There’s a saying that running a successful business is ‘all about the show’.

Anthony Laffan, who recently opened Cara Mia Pizzeria with his wife Kasey, is an entertainment guru; an illusionist, comedian, hypnotist and MC. From the circus to cruise ships, and theme parks to casinos, Anthony and Kasey have entertained people throughout the world.

Anthony is the EKKA’s Head of Entertainment. Working as a cruise ship entertainer when COVID-19 hit, it was time for a sea change, Anthony and Kasey settling to open a business as they raised their family.

After six months of research and development, they opened Cara Mia (literally ‘my beloved’), a 40-seat restaurant in Labrador’s Aqua building across from the Broadwater in October 2020.

Speaking to us on Cara Mia’s first anniversary, Anthony reflects on their journey: “If the past 12-months has taught us anything, it’s that you have to ‘think global and shop local’. Our slogan is 'Italian inspired - Australian Made',” Anthony proudly tells us.

“While our family-run pizzeria honours Italian tradition, (such as traditional Italian 13-inch pizzas, a drinks list featuring Italian beer and wine, and even Italian music), everything about us is local and it’s been a winning strategy for us,” he says.

“For example, our bases are made from 100% Australian wheat, but with an Italian grind of ‘00’,” Anthony explains.

“Making dough is a science. It takes 72 hours of attention and precision to get it right, resulting in a base with loads of flavour which our customers love.”

And love it we do. We also discover the ‘Garlic pizza’, a unique taste sensation that will undoubtedly feature on our future orders.

A range of delectable pizza and pasta dishes, fingersmacking fall-off-the-bone ribs and tubs of gelato form Cara Mia’s menu, available as dine in, takeaway or delivery.

The family is intent on providing great meals that are competitively priced, and though the restaurant carries a range of Italian wine and beers, you can also BYO. And as locals discover Cara Mia, it’s buzzing most dinnertimes, frenetic on weekends, so it pays to ring ahead with your takeaway order.

“Fresh locally sourced produce is another key to success.

Our Mozzarella cheese is direct from dairy farmers in Caboolture, gelato from Maleny, fresh produce is local and even our pizza boxes are Australian made, not imported.”

“Our staff of twelve are all local students or family. The pizzeria is all about family. Kasey does the finances and chops the fresh vegies daily, Nona Sandy comes in every day to make the bolognaise sauce, and the boys fold the boxes on weekends,” Anthony says.

Food alone is not enough for a venue to succeed. ‘The warm embrace’ is a mark of truly great hospitality staff.

Fortunately for Anthony, Kasey and the team it’s an area where they excel. In a suburb with plenty of pizza competition, Cara Mia’s hospitality alone makes them stand out. When we visit, Anthony is buzzing about, saying hello, serving customers and throwing in an extra here and there in celebration of their birthday.

“It’s all about the experience. Having come from an entertainment background, we had some skills in knowing what makes people happy, and the need to perfect your art, so we transferred our expertise into Cara Mia Pizzeria,” says Anthony.

“We just love our local customers. They are very special to us. We try to make them feel welcome, joke around and they have some fun. It makes the whole pizza experience special.”

And feeling ‘special’ makes all the difference.

Words and photograph by Marj Osborne - follow Marj @foodgoldcoast

To the sound of drums and cymbals and the flourish of Chinese dragons, The Star Gold Coast announced the opening of its new flagship Cantonese restaurant, Uncle Su. Uncle Su is located at the entryway to The Star’s impressive new tower, The Dawson Hotel, which will open later this year.

With sumptuous décor and beautifully appointed private dining rooms, we are assured that Uncle Su is a restaurant for everyday dining as well as grand occasions.

The restaurant’s name is inspired by the respected term of ‘Uncle’ in Chinese tradition, extending to diners an invitation to dine at Chef Song’s own family table.

Fun, vibrant, and embracing the spirit of family, Uncle Su offers classic Cantonese cuisine, created with local Australian ingredients from our seaside locale.

Executive Chef Song Yao Su has worked in some of the world’s finest restaurants, including at The Mansions, Las Vegas, where he honed his skills working with revered Hong Kong chef Pui Wing Hui. Chef Song has created a delicious menu that brings together his heritage and experience, featuring secret family recipes and signature dishes. It incorporates an abundance of live sustainably sourced seafood (lobster, crab, abalone and barramundi), handmade dim sum, an extensive tea menu, and Chef Song’s specialty Peking duck that is carved at the table.

The Star Gold Coast’s COO, Jessica Mellor says, “Uncle Su will be a restaurant for any occasion, to be enjoyed by family and friends of all generations; a place of warmth and laughter, good times and even better food.”

NOTE: Blank dined as a guest of Cara Mia Pizzeria.

Blank - issue #92 - November 2021

17

Naomi Connell - Sample Food Festival

Hannah May - Bine Bar & Dining

Naomi Connell - Currumbin RSL

Saturday 20 November

Steven Michael - The Coolangatta Hotel

Zak Keenan - Nightcap Nobbys

Mikky and the other Guy - Whisky Lounge, Mudgeeraba

Kent Dustin - Nightjar

Mo's is hosting... THE RETURN OF PINEAPPLE CLUB - Mo's Desert Clubhouse

Ben Amor - Burleigh Brewing Co

Kate Mckay - Precinct Brewing

Monday 1 November

Zak Keenan - Nightcap Nobbys Benny O'Dwyer - Bine Bar & Dining

Tuesday 2 November

Cheap Fakes - Miami Marketta

UNI SOCIAL - EUCA, Dennis, Sofia Isella, DJ YungMangMang - Mo's Desert Clubhouse

Hannah May - Bine Bar & Dining Ondre Davis - Burleigh Brewing Co

Mark Bono - The Coolangatta Hotel

Benny O'Dwyer - Nightcap Nobbys

Seth Sentry - The Coolangatta Hotel FNM - Mo's Desert Clubhouse

Sunday 7 November

Yasmina Despot - The Loose Moose Zak Keenan - Nightcap Nobbys Gaudion - Currumbin RSL

Captain Wow Duo - North Burleigh SLSC eyethewild - Mo's Desert Clubhouse

Brad Johns - The Coolangatta Hotel

Danny Doon - HOTA FARMERS MARKETS - HOTA

Kevin Keepa from the Koi Boys - Koi

James D'Khan - Burleigh Brewing Co

Maddy Breen - Precinct Brewing

The Daisy Dukes - North Burleigh SLSC

Kate Mckay - Nightjar

Mono - Currumbin RSL

Rapture - Southport Sharks

Thursday 4 November

Kate Mckay - Bine Bar & Dining

Maddy Breen - Precinct Brewing

Greer Sullivan - Nightcap Nobbys

Nuz & Kevin (The Koi Boys) - Koi

Benny O'Dwyer - Nightjar

DJ Jack Rabbit - Nightjar Benny O'Dwyer - Bine Bar & Dining

Monday 8 November Friday 5 November

Richard Neill - Whisky Lounge, Mudgeeraba

Zak Keenan - Bine Bar & Dining Kent Dustin - Nightcap Nobbys

Zak Keenan - Precinct Brewing

Tuesday 9 November

Freddie Fresh Prince - Nightjar

Mark Divola - Fat Freddy's Justin Jones - The Coolangatta Hotel Cal Creelman - Currumbin RSL Kate Mckay - Nightcap Nobbys Jason Delphin - Nightjar

Red Rock - Southport Sharks

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Stella McIvor - Currumbin RSL Club Briefs - Miami Marketta Rolling Stones Experience - Surfers Paradise Golf Club Strictly Acoustic - Nightjar

Kate Mckay - Nightcap Nobbys

Greer Sullivan - Bine Bar & Dining Chance Encounter - Whisky Lounge, Mudgeeraba

Tuesday 16 November

Freddie Fresh Prince - Nightjar

Sunday 21 November

Emily Brieger - Currumbin RSL

Wednesday 17 November

Maddy Breen - Precinct Brewing

Zak Keenan - Bine Bar & Dining

Kate Mckay - Nightjar

Brad Johns - The Coolangatta Hotel

Gavin Doniger - Burleigh Brewing Co

Pia Pressure - Nightjar

Nuz & Kevin (The Koi Boys) - Koi

Kevin Keepa from the Koi Boys - Koi

Matt Musella - Bine Bar & Dining

Atman Music - Mo's Desert Clubhouse

Lonely Boot Creations - Mo's Desert Clubhouse Strictly Acoustic - Nightjar Hannah May - Nightcap Nobbys Kate Mckay - Bine Bar & Dining

Greer Sullivan - Precinct Brewing Jason Delphin - The Coolangatta Hotel

The Murlocs - Miami Marketta

Friday 19 November

Rick Barron - The Coolangatta Hotel Dale Carmody - Bine Bar & Dining Benny O'Dwyer - Nightjar Dani Teveluwe - Currumbin RSL

Yasmina Despot - The Loose Moose

The Hunkz - Nightjar

Steve Carter Band - Whisky Lounge, Mudgeeraba

Nuz & Kevin (The Koi Boys) - Koi

Kevin Keepa from the Koi Boys - Koi

Tay Oskee - Miami Marketta

Maddy Breen - Bine Bar & Dining

Brad Johns - The Coolangatta Hotel

Nick Waters - Precinct Brewing

Killer Queen Experience (Tribute) - The Coolangatta Hotel

Disco Disciples - The Coolangatta Hotel Samir Shah - Currumbin RSL

Thursday 11 November

My Kind Of Chaos - The Fool, Middle Ground - Vinnies Dive Bar

Zak Keenan - Nightjar Blank - issue #92 - November 2021

Naomi Connell - Markets In The Meadow Strictly Acoustic - Bine Bar & Dining Common Ground - North Burleigh SLSC Yasmina Despot - The Loose Moose

Monday 22 November

Kent Dustin - Nightcap Nobbys Maddy Breen - Bine Bar & Dining

Hannah May - Precinct Brewing

Sunday 14 November

Kent Dustin - Bine Bar & Dining

Zak Keenan - Nightcap Nobbys

Antagonist A.D - Mo's Desert Clubhouse

Mitchells Fold - Whisky Lounge, Mudgeeraba

Wednesday 10 November

Brooke Supple - North Burleigh SLSC

Saturday 6 November

Naomi Connell - Burleigh Brewing Co

Zak Keenan - Bine Bar & Dining

Zak Keenan - Nightjar Michael Hickey - Sanctuary Markets

Saturday 13 November

Matt Musella - Nightcap Nobbys Fat Albert - The Coolangatta Hotel

Thursday 18 November

Let there be AC/DC - The Coolangatta Hotel

Maddy Breen - Bine Bar & Dining Kallidad - Mo's Desert Clubhouse

Brad Johns - The Coolangatta Hotel

Hannah May - Nightjar

Kent Dustin - Bine Bar & Dining

Strictly Acoustic - Bine Bar & Dining

Mo's is hosting... NEXT LEVEL - Mo's Desert Clubhouse

Bugs - Miami Marketta

Monday 15 November

daste. - elsewhere Hannah May - Nightcap Nobbys

Jethro Andrews - The Coolangatta Hotel

Resonance - Currumbin RSL

Nik Reeds - Whisky Lounge, Mudgeeraba

Kent Dustin - Nightcap Nobbys

Pia Pressure - Nightjar

Amanda Hutton - The Salvation Army Gold Coast Temple Corps

Matt Musella - Bine Bar & Dining Gaudion - Miami Marketta

Greer Sullivan - Bine Bar & Dining

Rick Barron - Burleigh Brewing Co

Friday 12 November

Zac Hubbard - Currumbin RSL

Wednesday 3 November

Kate Mckay - Precinct Brewing

Kate Mckay - Bine Bar & Dining

Kate Mckay - Precinct Brewing

Freddie Fresh Prince - Nightjar

Brad Ledwidge - North Burleigh SLSC

Benny O'Dwyer - Nightcap Nobbys

MacKenzie Duo - The Coolangatta Hotel

The Rolling Stones Experience Southport Sharks

Brooke Supple - Fat Freddy's Rush Hour Band - Southport Sharks Cory Hargreaves - North Burleigh SLSC DJ Jack Rabbit - Nightcap Nobbys

Tuesday 23 November

Freddie Fresh Prince - Nightjar

Wednesday 24 November Brixton Alley - Nightjar

Life is a Myth - Bine Bar & Dining Brad Johns - The Coolangatta Hotel Kevin Keepa from the Koi Boys - Koi

Thursday 25 November Holy Holy Marketta

- Hayley Mary - Miami

Atman Music - Inner Peace Yoga Studio

Jason Delphin - Bine Bar & Dining Benny O'Dwyer - Nightjar Maddy Breen - Nightcap Nobbys

Friday 26 November

Lily Grace - Whisky Lounge, Mudgeeraba

The Sea Shall Not Have Them | Debris Words by Erin Bourne

Maddy Breen - Nightjar Kate Mckay - Precinct Brewing Strictly Acoustic - The Coolangatta Hotel Greer Sullivan - Nightcap Nobbys Michael Hickey - North Burleigh SLSC

OMAR-GOSH!

Hannah May - Bine Bar & Dining

Words by Yasmin Nelson

Saturday 27 November

Steven Michael - The Coolangatta Hotel Luke Pauley - Currumbin RSL Greer Sullivan - Nightjar AlphaStomp - Whisky Lounge, Mudgeeraba Matt Musella - Precinct Brewing Gregg Peterson - Burleigh Brewing Co Benny O'Dwyer - Bine Bar & Dining Matt Collins - Currumbin RSL

It’s been a long seven years since the last release from Gold Coast instrumental two piece, The Sea Shall Not Have Them. From the quality of their new album ‘Debris’ it would seem like it was seven years spent honing their already considerable talents.

From the opening and title track ‘Debris’ to the finale of ‘Underneath’, this album is entrancing. ‘Debris’ gives listeners a feeling of being beckoned down the rabbit hole, and just like Alice’s adventures, you’re in for quite an experience. The track

Sunday 28 November

The Daisy Dukes - North Burleigh SLSC Michael Hickey - Southport Yacht Club Pete Woodhouse - Precinct Brewing Benny O'Dwyer - Nightcap Nobbys DJ Jack Rabbit - Nightjar

Blank Gig Guide brought to you in partnership with Gigl.

To list your gig visit gigl.com.au OR email gigs@blankstreetpress.com.au

Nuz & Kevin (The Koi Boys) - Koi Yasmina Despot - The Loose Moose Maddy Breen - Bine Bar & Dining The Smashed Crabs - The Coolangatta Hotel Kate Mckay - Bine Bar & Dining Blakboi - Tom Avery - Burleigh Brewing Co

Monday 29 November

Kent Dustin - Bine Bar & Dining Zak Keenan - Nightcap Nobbys

Tuesday 30 November

Freddie Fresh Prince - Nightjar

SCAN FOR GIG DETAILS.

feels spacious and invokes the mystery of the sea.

With vocals from Ed Fraser (HEADS./KinoMotel), ‘Lower the Sky’ follows and feels like the darker twist in your rabbit hole journey. While ‘YXO’ is a poignant song that refuses to just be background music; and the ending fade-out feels almost apologetic for leaving you.

‘Splinters’ picks you back up with a far more rock sound. The journey continues with ’Everything Melts’, another track that taps into the Gold Coast mood with a sound that dances around surf rock style but still retains its unique The Sea Shall Not Have Them style. This track also features the talents of Ian Haug of The Church, The Predators and Powderfinger.

The album, ‘Debris’ delivers the full ambient, psychedelic, rock, ominous, sultry and unexpected journey it promises. The Sea Shall Not Have Them are masters of creating a mood, then switching it up on you with tempo and instrument changes, even throughout one track.

Just when you think you know what you’re in for here though, a track like ‘In Mid Air’ gives you what feels like a short breather or interlude in the intensity.

That intensity comes right back at you with ‘Ash Cloud’ but the lads tie it all together nicely and land you safely home with finale track ‘Underneath’.

The ‘Debris’ experience is officially released 5 November.

Blank - issue #92 - November 2021

You won’t meet anyone around the Gold Coast music scene that hasn’t heard of Omar Hanlon (omar_4am).

His extensive music career has seen him work alongside Stan Walker, Vybez, Sammy J, one third of the ‘Hanlon Brothers,’ and more recently he was touring with one of Aussie’s best, Amy Shark.

I can’t believe by the age of 13 you had already won a battle of the bands with your brother! What’s it like now being Amy Shark’s Bass guitarist?!

It’s amazing. I'm super lucky to play with Amy. We grew up together on the Goldie and I've known her since we were both like 17. Playing with her I get super proud seeing that she's come from the same place I've come from, with the same things, and now she’s reached a level where she can sell 20,000 tickets to a concert!

You seem like you’ve done it all in the music industry, so what’s next?!

I’m just finishing up my Bachelor of Contemporary Music at Southern Cross University and then I want to study my masters and build a legacy around the young up-andcoming musicians. I’m getting into my mid-thirties now and I’ve lived off music my whole life, so now it’s about giving back.

When I was growing up here on the Gold Coast, there weren’t many Polynesians around, so I feel like I can teach in a way to my Polynesian family to say yes, you can do it.

What made you pick Southern Cross University?

Well firstly, they gave me a bunch of recognised prior learning because I’ve worked in the industry for a long time, so they cut about 18 months off for me.

I just provided evidence of all my touring and got letters from people like The Commitments.

The Commitments.. as in the Ireland band behind the hit ‘Mustang Sally’?!

Yeah, their bass guitarist couldn’t make it over, so I filled in when they toured Australia!

That’s amazing! So how has COVID-19 changed things for you?

I was lucky because I started studying a few weeks before COVID hit! But it definitely changed my (and many creatives alike) thought process on music.

I aim to spend more time with friends now, whereas before I'd be like, no I'll go to work this weekend. It's changed me in a way where I'm not all about hustle anymore, I’m about quality rather than quantity.

You can spot Omar on a Saturday night playing at Pink Monkey, on stage with Amy Shark, and no doubt in a lecture theatre inspiring many soon! Check out his Instagram @omar_4am To find out more about studying at Southern Cross University visit scu.edu.au/study

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Tugun Hall upgrade honours local legend Words by Anthony Gebhardt

Situated on Golden Four Drive in Tugun, the Tom Atkin Hall, which opened back in 1967, is the Gold Coast’s only community owned hall and a true cultural landmark. To maintain its legacy and relevance in todays landscape the hall is currently undergoing a façade redesign, spearheaded by former Gold Coast City and Queensland architect Philip Follent.

The planned 40’s / 50’s picture theatre style façade, we hope, will create that ‘Instagrammable’ moment, such as for a bride-to-be wanting to hire the cute hall for her wedding reception. Or as a desirable location for local creatives to put on performance /music events or host comedy nights... and maybe even to become part of the ‘Small Halls’ cultural phenomenon!

Philip is a passionate advocate of maintaining our city’s cultural heritage and developing sustainable and integrated civic spaces. He recently took time out from his busy schedule to enlighten us on the progress of the upgrades as well as providing a fascinating history lesson on the origins of the man for whom it is named.

We have just finishing making the steps ‘grander’ and enabling ramp access, which now unintentionally looks like a mini Tokyo Olympics Skatebowl - but without the colour!

Can you put us in the picture on how the current renovations of the Tom Atkin Hall are coming along?

The fabulous old hall, originally built by volunteer labour, is now 55 years old and is ready for a facelift. It's the only community owned hall on the coast and the trustees, Tugun Progress Association, keep the weekly rent affordable to foster events for a range of demographics, from dance to drama to music and health activities.

Who exactly was Tom Atkin and what was his relevance to the local Tugun community?

Tom Atkin, remembered fondly as an influential school teacher (despite chain smoking during playground duty!), was a tireless community advocate and a WW2 returned serviceman, decorated for brave and covert service behind enemy lines. He was the first member (#001), of the Tugun Bowls Club but gained most respect for his negotiation for community betterment with politicians of all persuasions - all of whom thought he voted for them! His legacy of community group membership and stewardship is remarkable and included starting the Gold Coast’s Schizophrenia Fellowship and lobbying for the Tugun

bypass. He died at the age 90 in 2007 and asked that his ashes be scattered along the Tugun bypass.

Outside of the preservation of the hall are there any other projects of this type that you’re involved with?

The best that a community can do is to lobby for quality development, not the dross that is often sadly replicated with little care for the character of neighbourhoods or topography. I am an architect by training but continue to advocate for a landscaped, indeed biophilic city that celebrates and facilitates humankind’s need to touch nature daily, a city that says we are the Gold Coast, not just a stack of buildings beside a beach that could be anywhere in the world.

It is endemic landscaping that makes the difference and gives authentic identity to places. The Coast will get better the more trees we plant and the more we as citizens demand better public spaces.

If you’d like to contribute to the process of restoring and maintaining this piece of Gold Coast history, head to the Australian Cultural Fund website to make a tax deductable donation to the Tom Atkin Hall Rejuvenation project. To read the full interview, visit blankstreetpress.com.au.

Faces of the Gold Coast

Celebrating our people because people matter!

Words by Anne Janelle

Here's to dreams in action, especially when they're bursting from the hidden streets of a GC industrial estate that may not have warranted a second look before these legends arrived!

The creative music hub known as Mo’s Desert Clubhous” is the brainchild of Kimberly, Christian and Emelia, three friends who met in the US. Not long after, they decided to craft a vision right here on the GC. We met up at the Burleigh hub.

They shared: "The American desert inspired us creatively.

It was amazing to witness creatives in the Burning Man context. We came back and originally wanted a space to work, create and collaborate with other people but it is has grown into a creative warehouse with multiple spaces for performances, live streaming, vodcasts and jam sessions.

“Mo's is short for the Mojave Desert because that's where we met but I think he's more... he can be whoever you want

20

him to be, maybe the last man standing at every party?! The term clubhouse came from our want to make a safehouse, a home for creatives. They're doing it tough. We wanted a space that was good quality with affordable rates to support the industry.

“We have to collaborate with others to get through so that's why we have gigs in conjunction with other locals because we can all support each other. Covid has hit the arts. It forced us to regroup. We've done some renos and were lucky to receive grants; one from Arts Qld to assist with our podcast room and also Regional Arts to set up desertTV for live streaming.

“Our dreams? Definitely to continue to evolve. To grow from a storage shed to this with a limited budget blows our minds.

We have a really loyal crew. It's special and we never want to lose that".

Thanks guys. You make our GC brighter and we love you for it. Perhaps sometimes you just need walk on the opposite side

of the street and notice things to see your town in new and sweet ways. This is what happens when we dare to colour outside the lines of the glitter strip. Did you know there's a whole heart out there and its local

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beat is loud and wild and quirky if you lean in and listen?

Follow @facesofthegoldcoast for more.

Paddle, Paddle, Paddle: A Story for the Dads Words by Prudence Clark

A bit DISTRACTD? Maybe it’s ADHD Words by Natalie O’Driscoll | Photography by Simone Gorman-Clark

DISTRACTD is a brand new Gold Coast organisation connecting communities, delivering information, education, panel discussions, mingles and advocacy, all about Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD).

ADHD is one of the world’s most common mental health disorders. According to the World Federation of ADHD, it is thought to occur in nearly six percent of children and 2.5 percent of adults.

And yet, confusion abounds about how it presents, how it is diagnosed and treated, with many people suffering the effects of ADHD throughout their lives without even realising that they have it, let alone knowing what to do about it.

One such person was Amanda Gorman, local artist and Blank’s partnerships manager. Diagnosed with ADHD as an adult, she became hyper-focused on ensuring that there was a local organisation where people could come together and support one another, learn, and break down some of the stigma around this hugely misunderstood disorder.

Enter DISTRACTD. What was your first reaction to learning you had ADHD as an adult?

At first I had no understanding of what it was. I had heard of it but had no idea other than thinking it was hyperactive kids. So when I was told I had it possibly I was confused. Then after looking at symptoms and seeing how differently ADHD can present in individuals I was intrigued.

Once the official diagnosis was made, it all made perfect sense to me. I had a feeling of a light being switched on - of understanding a whole lifetime of behaviours. I was actually really happy to know. Everything made sense all of a sudden.

Are there any common misconceptions about ADHD that you’d love to dispel?

Yes there are quite a few. It’s not bad behaviour or parenting and girls have it just as much as boys but they don’t always get picked up as easily if they are not being hyperactive. It’s not a matter of trying harder - I like to refer to it like this - you would not ask someone who required glasses to try harder to see. It is a REAL disorder. There are so many more, that we’ll discuss in DISTRACTD. There are so many systems and strategies along with treatment to help with these things, that we’ll also be covering in the organisation. It’s not something you grow out of but it’s something you can help with forming habits of actions over time to improve areas.

What is your vision for the future of DISTRACTD? My blue sky goal for Distractd is to unite our Gold Coast ADHD community and break the stigma around it. I would love for the Gold Coast ADHD families and individuals to feel a sense of belonging with the organisation. That they feel valued, seen, and supported better together. That the industry professionals working in the space each day can all come and have an opportunity to put forth their various studies, findings and knowledge for the community to digest and learn from as they wish at the regular events we will hold.

I want this to be a positive ADHD Movement where people can feel that sense of belonging and hopefully be proud of ADHD as there are so many positive aspects of this too.

Catch the first of the DISTRACTD meet ups at 6pm on 10 November at Karma Collab Hub in Burleigh. A panel will discuss getting a diagnosis, where to go afterwards, give practical life coaching advice and the event will also feature a talk on medications from a psychiatrist, with a Q+A session at the end. It’s a free event, but registrations are essential. Visit distractd.org. To read the full interview, visit blankstreetpress.com.au.

If you’re sick of the same old bedtime stories revolving around dinosaurs, bears and puppies, then the new children’s book, ’Paddle, Paddle, Paddle’ by Stacey Cole, could be just what you and your little one are looking for.

Born and bred on the Gold Coast and with a Masters of Education under her belt, Stacey has always had a passion for working with children and believes that reading a good book can make anybody who is unhappy, happy.

After growing tired of watching her husband, Jackson, rummage through the bookshelves for a ‘good’ book to read to their baby boy Sonny, Stacey decided to fix the problem once and for all and just write a book.

“Jackson was always looking for a book to read to Sonny that he could actually relate to, one that wasn’t too long or too short.

Given surfing and reading are such huge parts of our lives, I decided to combine the two and write a book!”

Statistically, women do most of the reading in a child’s life, both at home and in school and I am sure there are plenty of mums out there who could recite most of their book collection by heart and know which pages to skip when pushed for time.

However, research also shows that when a father reads to a child, he is more likely to scaffold the story and read it in smaller sections, facilitating the child’s overall understanding and breaking down the story in a more logical, nonpage skipping manner.

“Believe it or not, incredible things happen to a child’s brain when a dad reads to them - it truly does have positive long-term effects,” Stacey said.

“Not only does it enhance positive mental health for the father and the child, but it also improves language skills, selfconfidence and strengthens their bond.”

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Not to mention the fact it gives mum enough time to sneak in a glass of wine and sit down for ten minutes.

Of course writing any kind of book, be it for adults or children, comes with challenges and Stacey found that at times feedback from friends and family was hard to swallow.

“My Dad told me I should be careful using words like ‘rad’ and ‘wettie’ for wetsuit in a book, and although there was a part of me that agreed, I also know they are really common words for my target audience,” she said.

“I guess it came down to trusting my own gut instinct about what would and wouldn’t work. Overall, I’m really happy that the book has received such great feedback at the charity events and story time readings around the Gold Coast and can’t wait to flesh out more ideas on paper for my next one.”

You can follow Stacey at @by_staceycole to find out where she is doing readings of her great book, ‘Paddle, Paddle, Paddle’.

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Meet Fast Proof Press Words by Anthony Gebhardt

Fast Proof Press (FPP) is a family founded Gold Coast commercial printing business that has been servicing the print needs of both local and interstate clients for over 40 years. They are also the printers of this very magazine!

Situated in Lawrence Drive, Nerang and specialising in digital, web and offset printing, the firm is managed by brothers Matthew and Daniel Whitton, who took over the running of the business from their late father Bob in 1998.

To find out more about the history of the firm and how they’ve managed to stay relevant and successful after

all these years, we recently had a chat with Director Of Sales Daniel Whitton.

Can you give us a brief rundown on the history of Fast Proof Press – how it all started and a few of the key milestones you've achieved along the way?

Our father Bob Whitton started Fast Proof Press back in 1979 in a small factory in Southport. He had a vision to service the tourism industry with colour brochures, together with a desire to give his three boys a better life growing up on the Gold Coast. Over his time, he taught us the passion and craft of both printing and running a family business.

Under his reign, the business expanded into the Sydney Market, employing hundreds of people we now call family. Winning both Gold Coast Business of the Year, and Queensland Business of the Year, Fast Proof Press is a well-known Print Service Provider.

Bob our father passed away at the early age of 52, passing the business to his sons in 1998.

Your company has been in the printing game now for over 42 years, which in itself is an epic achievement!

What particular factors do you think have contributed to FPP remaining relevant and viable, particularly in an industry that has evolved to the degree that printing has?

Fast Proof Press was always and still is to this day, at the forefront of the industry. We were the first to offer colour printing and the first to install Apple Macs and to ‘image direct to plate’. It may seem sad to say, but with the early passing of our father, it left the business to be run by directors whom were in their 20's, allowing us to understand and embrace new technology.

In a rapidly changing world, with less and less physical medium and an ever-stronger focus on the online realms, how do you see the future of printing?

UPCOMING EVENT

In one word – relevant! Print media is more and more relevant than ever before. Yes, a lot of items have taken the online route, however we are seeing more and more return back to print, as they lose credibility in the online space. Imagine buying a million-dollar property off-the-plan without a really nice brochure to take home with you? Having a hard copy brochure to take home for your coffee table reinforces your decision to purchase. The world wide web is just that, it is very impersonal and so large up-and-coming brands find it very hard to get traction, this is where print shines; branded boxes, local flyer marketing, personalised direct mail, custom corporate gifting and niche magazine publishing all turn to print to become and also to remain relevant.

Thursday 10th November Karma Collab Hub, Lemana Lane Miami 6pm - 8.30pm

Hear from Industry experts Dr Glen Craig (Psychiatrist) & Dr Jeff Bailey (Psychologist) and others discussing ADHD topics through informal couch conversations with DISTRACTD founder Amanda Gorman

Check out the team and their services at fastproofpress. com.au.

RSVP to attend at

www.distractd.org 22

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Get ready for a FREE Summer Block Party

My Kind Of Chaos Get Ready To Stir Things Up Again Words by Natalie O’Driscoll

Words by Anthony Gebhardt

High octane punked-up alt-rockers My Kind Of Chaos are resurfacing on the local music scene with a revamped line up and a swathe of tunes both old and new in tow, which they’ll be showcasing as part of their first live show in awhile at Vinnies Dive on 11 November.

We first featured them in the pages of Blank about a year ago, and at the time the band had just released their hardhitting debut record, ‘The Monster Stirs’ and were ready to take it on the road, before the ravages of COVID put paid to the bands grand plans.

Says front man and founding member Nic Griffiths of how things have played out over the past 12 months; “Yeah we were all ready to go and then it all fell apart.

As the guy who put all this together it hit me pretty hard but it was so providential, because the band that is now My Kind Of Chaos, is the band I’ve dreamt of being in my whole life.

“Mick Norris, our bass guitarist has been with me since the beginning and is without a doubt one of the best bass players I have ever worked with.

“Our guitarist, Cameron Appleton-Seymour, joined just before it all hit the fan. I’m so glad he did because when we had to convert all the songs into a three piece, he had to re-learn everything, but rose to the challenge without a second thought. He is an incredibly talented guitarist and I can’t imagine this band without him in it.

“We kept looking for drummers and finally we found Rick Zammit. Rick slotted in straight away and learnt all the songs in four days and was exactly what we were looking for. Drummers like him are so rare and we’re all so very stoked to have him on board.”

Having utilised the pandemic induced down-time to solidify their ranks, the guys are now super-charged and

champing at the bit to get out there and make up for lost time, Nic tells us.

Say a great big musical sayonara to 2021 with 21 Artists, seven venues, five hours and one street.

“Now that the gigs are lining up we’re going to hit the ground running, gig as much as we can and not look back.

All of us have the same tunnel vision and that’s rare. Usually not all band members are as equally committed but we all want the same thing. Music is our lives and unless we’re all playing music together, we’re not really living our best life.”

As restrictions ease and music fans look to a summer of more fun, QMusic and the brains behind BIGSOUND have teamed up for the ultimate end-of-year party on 28 November; one last chance to say ‘F@#K off!’ to 2021, and hello to 2022!

In the meantime, the band have released some cracking singles, including most recent number, the punchy and funny ‘Calm Down Karen’, which is actually a sneakpeak of their upcoming second album. Says Nic of the machinations of the new material;

Kicking off BIGSOUND's 21st birthday celebrations, BIG SUMMER BLOCK PARTY is a free, all-out blowout closing off of Fortitude Valley’s Warner Street for five hours of non-stop music, food trucks, outdoor bars, local DJs; and 21 of Queensland’s hottest artists take to the stages in seven of the city's most beloved venues.

“It’s got a different sound to it but we’ve managed to keep our heavy riffs and big drums in there. If you liked the first album, then the second one won’t disappoint. We won’t be releasing it till late next year as we really want to tour ‘The Monster Stirs’ properly, now that we can.”

The inaugural lineup features BIGSOUND showcasing alumni Eves Karydas, First Beige, Sampology, Golden Vessel, Clea and LÂLKA; as well as a selection of the sunshine state’s most exciting new artists like LISI, THE RIOT, dameeeela and more.

Their long-awaited return to the live ranks sees My Kind Of Chaos step up to the stage at Vinnies Dive in Southport on 11 November, for which they’re raring to go, as Nic explains.

Not mention Gold Coast legends Jesswar and Eliza & The Delusionals!

“The songs are so much fun to play and we simply can’t wait to play them to everyone.”

And play them to the people they shall, as My Kind Of Chaos hit the stage across the following dates: Vinnies Dive on the 11th of November with Middle Ground + The Fool, King Lear’s Throne on the 28th of November with Seven Day Mask, Tripsitta and Bare Beets, The Zoo on the 13th of January with The Silencio, Lunchtime and Supertrooper, Banshees Bar on the 29th January with Dirty Dead Dinosaurs and Supertrooper.

Visit blankstreetpress.com.au for the full interview.

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BIGSOUND Festival co-programmer, Ruby-Jean McCabe said, "Cancelling BIGSOUND this year was devastating for us all, so being able to curate a lineup of Queensland's past BIGSOUND showcasing artists and those we believe are the future of BIGSOUND was a real treat for Dom [Miller] and I! It's a celebration of the incredible talent we have in this state, and a sneak peek of what BIGSOUND 2022 could hold."

Big Summer Block Party is a FREE event running from 4pm to 9pm on Saturday 28 November in Fortitude Valley. Check out the full lineup and more at bigsummerblockparty.com.

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Mojo Collective hit their stride Words by Natalie O’Driscoll

Gold Coast blues aggregate Mojo Collective is a groovy mishmash of genres, personalities and nationalities that come together in one funktastic package, and they’ve finally just released their self-titled debut EP with a cracking launch show at Mitchell Creek Rock n Blues Fest.

Jokingly referred to as “the best-rehearsed band on the Gold Coast” by frontman Don Nicholas, Mojo Collective formed a couple of years ago through Gold Coast Musos Jam, basically just in time for COVID. Comprised of Don, Doug Marsden, Béla Vasvári and Bevan Davison, this supercharged supergroup are veteran Gold Coast musos who’ve played with the who’s who of blues, and now together they’ve released an original, high-octane blues, funk and soul album that is a perfect reflection of the group’s synergistic approach.

We caught up with Don Nicholas to talk recording, influences and what’s next for Gold Coast’s funkiest (and most well rehearsed) new musical collab.

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Tell us about your debut EP ‘Mojo Collective’.

The EP was reordered with Troy Borg at his Gold Coast studio, Sunnyside Studios.

We'd heard some material from a friend’s band who'd recorded there previously and liked the sounds he'd captured. Not overproduced, just capturing the essence of each of the players.

We roped in my brother Murray Nicholas as Producer, and what you hear on the EP is the first of that overall collaboration.

The music is all original, with everyone's background and experience bringing us to the sounds you hear. The band's name Mojo Collective (also the EP title) is all about the "mojo" or energy, broad musical influences and individual personalities that each musician in this collective brings to the table, that builds together to capture what we have with these tunes.

How was the launch show at Mitchell Creek?

Awesome. It was really good – I hadn’t played there before. Super welcoming

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crowd! It was the right kind of crowd for us, a little bit older, and they great production, it was a well organised gig and just really well set up. We managed to play Friday and Saturday night, on Friday about 5 o’clock as the sun was starting to go down, and Saturday night was a bit rockier. It was a sell out, and we were really well received.

What’s next for Mojo Collective?

Next up is some more song writing and recording with Troy to build into a full album. We are also in the early stages of promotion of the CDs release via our social channels, and planning further some further Blues festival and local GC gigs in the coming months, following on from the release of the EP. Mojo Collective have merch and CDs available to buy via fb.com/ mojocollectiveband, so that you can not only listen to cool tunes, but look cool while doing so! Keep an eye on their socials for when you can hear them live next. To read the full interview, hop on over to blankstreetpress.com.au.

It’s a pirate’s life for Kallidad Words by Natalie O’Driscoll

E D I U G G GI

NOV 2021

S MONTH MUSIC THI HARKS! FREE, LIVE UTHPORT S O S E H T T A

BERST 5 NOVEMBER

RED ROCK 6 NOVEMBER

RAPTURE 12 NOVEMBER

RECKLESS 13 NOVEMBER

RUSH HOUR 19 NOVEMBER

RO LLING ST O NES EX PERIENC E 20 NOVEMBER

ZOOKEEPERS 26 NOVEMBER

PINK TRIBUTE 27 NOVEMBER

Yo ho, yo ho, the pirate’s life for Kallidad.

Gold Coast’s masked mariachi trio Kallidad have changed the rules of the game yet again with their latest release ‘Black Powder’, a rollicking, pirate-themed stomp from deep within their warped imaginations.

Curious yet? This grimy, lo-fi instrumental number gets right to the keel of the matter, with a swaggering groove that certainly gets its sea legs as it sails along its merry musical way.

The song instantly transports the listener to a world where treasure maps lead to buried gold, sturdy ships sail the seven seas and taverns are full of wild, bellowing, dancing revellers.

Try not to move to this one. We dare you.

“This song is already a live favourite at Kallidad shows,” says the band’s Captain Jace, “and is fast becoming infamous as the high point of a live set that has seen the band travel the world!”

We can sea why (sorry).

While perfectly happy wowing the big crowds at Splendour and Montreux Jazz Fest, this swashbuckling trio are keen to get a little more up close and personal with the local fans at a slew of upcoming shows, kicking off with some Gold Coast love at Mo’s Desert Clubhouse on 5 November.

If you miss them there, you can walk the plank with Kallidad at Nightquarter on the Sunny Coast on 6 November and Lefty’s in Brisbane on 7 November. All tix can be purchased (gold and jewels gladly accepted) through kallidad.com. Arr.

southportsharks.com.au Corner Olsen & Musgrave Aves, Southport QLD | 5532 1155 *Entertainment subject to change at any time.

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Studio Scout: New start-Up seamlessly matching up creatives with dynamic locations Words by Anthony Gebhardt

Studio Scout is a newly launched online marketplace based on the ‘share’ economy, acting as a liaison point for creatives (such as photographers, content creators and social media and events managers) and small business and property owners by providing an on-demand list of spaces available to rent by the hour for creative productions.

and stress out of having to randomly source locations.

We recently chatted with Founder Jess Cutler from Studio Scout to find out more about the concept and how it came about.

Congratulations on the launch of Studio Scout! How did you come up with the concept - was there a particular 'lightbulb' moment where the idea came to you or is it something you've had bubbling away in the background for a while?

With a focus on creation, collaboration and community, it’s the brainchild of local professional photographers Jess and Renee. They liaise closely with all the hosts on the Studio Scout platform (such as property owners, cafes, restaurants, officeco-working spaces and fitness centres) to understand their spaces and locations.

As well as delivering an easy, hassle-free booking system the platform provides information for creatives on important elements such as layout and lighting.

Thank you! I guess like most start-ups, the idea for Studio Scout came from a problem, or frustration that both Renee (Co-Founder Studio Scout) and I experienced. As photographers, we were always looking for real-life locations to book for our clients, but found there was no centralised platform that displayed options, availability and a means to book.

Instead the whole process of booking a photoshoot location was long, slow and

With hosts receiving free listings, it’s also an opportunity to increase their exposure and diversify their income stream, while for creatives Studio Scout takes the time

very manual. The idea came to us in 2020, and when we realized there was no such platform, we knew we wanted to create it.

What's the response been like so far, both from clients and customers?

We have been blown away by the positive feedback, both from Creatives and Hosts.

A common response is how needed a platform like Studio Scout is and there's genuine excitement for the opportunities it will open up.

Projecting forwards, where would you like to take this concept?

STUDIO SCOUT

From

Private Properties

Scout, book, and create in the coolest places across Australia Cafes/Restaurants

Co-working Spaces

Fitness Centres

www.studioscout.co

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Being Creatives, Renee and I have SO many ideas for Studio Scout. Dreaming big, we'd love to be the go-to location scouting and booking platform for Creatives and Brands in Australia. But for us it's more than just providing a service; community and collaboration is at the very heart of what we do. We're always brainstorming opportunities to be able to foster that within our community, so watch this space!

If you’d like to become a Studio Scout Host (and list your space for free) or if you’re a creative looking to take the hassle out of scouting for a location for your next project, get in touch with the team at studioscout.community. To read the full interview, hit up blankstreetpress.com.au.

Introducing Georgia Hoareau Words by Anthony Gebhardt

There’s a talented new songstress on the block and she goes by the name of Georgia Hoareau. Growing up in a highly musical household, Georgia has spent the last few years busking around the Gold Coast with her brother Will as part of the duo The Genez, as well as honing her own burgeoning song craft.

The first taste of her talent has just come out in the form of her impressive debut single, ‘Seventeen’, a coming-of-age lament belying her tender years. Having recently supported on-the-rise rock prodigy Harry J Hart at his recent EP launch at HOTA, Georgia is looking to springboard into 2022, with a debut EP in the pipeline.

We recently had a chat with Georgia to find out more about her music and what makes her tick.

Congratulations on your debut single, ‘17’. Can you put us in the picture on the genesis of the track and how it came together?

Thank you! This song started in my bedroom with a guitar on the night of

my 17th birthday. The song came from having so many expectations for this age and once I turned 17 it wasn’t what I expected. I think you just realise that the person that you are, never changes but everything else does.

Who are a few of your biggest musical influences?

I have so many influences and for different reasons. I have artists like Lennon Stella, Catie Turner, Gracie Abrams, Rex Orange County, Lizzy McAlpine and John Mayer who inspire my song writing. Then there’s Billie Eilish and Finneas whose song writing and production I just love.

Outside of music what do you enjoy doing?

I love going out and seeing my friends or meeting new people, I get a lot of inspiration for my writing from being social. I also love reading, acting and animals. I always want to be a vet until I realised, I needed to do a lot more science subjects then I was doing.

Where would you like to take your music for the rest of 2021 and beyond?

I’d like to release more music and hopefully connect with even more people through my songs. The music industry has been hit hard this last 18 months but I’d love to be doing more gigs and playing my music for people. Beyond that I hope to turn this passion of mine into my career.

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Georgia Hoareau’s moving debut single, ‘Seventeen’, is out now on all major streaming platforms. TO read the full interview, head over to blankstreetpress. com.au.

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KOOLZ Brings The Summer Vibes

Introducing Chiffon Magnifique

Charming Lowfi Business

Tayiha Hits Her Stride

My Kind Of Chaos Rise From The Ashes

Jesswar Delivers

Idle Hands and Rich Harmonies

Joseph Vea Mixes Things Up

Another track oozing with summer vibes this month is KOOLZ’s RnB jam ‘Beach Daze’.

Co-written by local hip-hop artist Scopes and featuring the distinct carefree vocal flow of LEMAIRE, the track was written about enjoying a classic mid summers costal afternoon. With some serious 90s throwback polished pop / RnB production ‘Beach Daze’ has us excited for what's to come in KOOLZ’s forthcoming debut EP.

After a experiencing a particularly tumultuous time over the last 12 months, My Kind Of Chaos seem to have risen from the ashes with a new lineup, tour dates and a re-release of their 2020 record ‘The Monster Stirs’. Featuring eight high-energy 90s punk rock inspired tracks that are sure to put fire a in your belly, the raucous energy in this record seems to be even more relevant now than it was in 2020. You can catch them performing at Vinnie’s Dive on 11 November, and be sure to check out our interview with frontman Nic in this edition.

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Telsa Coils front man Jed Walters is bringing us into his dark and mysterious musical world yet again with the first release under his brand-new project Chiffon Magnifique.

‘Abomination’ mixes the industrial rhythms and ambiance of a Nine Inch Nails track with the quirky guitar sounds and baritone vocal effects of the post-punk era. Written, performed and produced all in his home studio, ‘Abomination’ is creative expression at its finest.

Hot off the back of winning Breakout Artist Of The Year at the Gold Coast Music Awards, local hip-hop icon Jesswar has released a killer new single ‘BAD LIKE RIRI’. Paying homage to the American superstar Rihanna, the track features a huge collab with Erica Banks of US Tok-tok fame. With savage vocal flow behind a grimy backing the track is raw and unapologetic - a sound that has become unmistakably Jesswar’s own.

After a huge year of releases, Business are continuing to solidify themselves within the Gold Coast music scene with their second EP of 2021 ’a weekend at finn’s’.

Charming Low-fi production is complemented by solid songwriting and an excellent mix of indie guitar-based tunes that range from the fuzzy rock vibes of the opener ‘dreaming again’ to the intimate performance of the EP’s closer ‘home’. A real start-to-finish beauty here from Business.

Local alt-country six-piece These Idle Hands have finally followed up their stunning debut album ‘Petrichor’ with the harmony filled single ‘Wandering’. Led by a loosely strummed acoustic guitar, the dreamy folk ballad is complemented by playful slide guitar, stunning vocals and ruminating lyrical content. You can catch the band in action this month at Groundwater Country Music Festival.

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Adding to the positive vibes of this month’s fantastic batch of new releases is Tayiha with her polished pop single ‘Good Energy’.

Likened to Tylor Swift, Tayiha seems to have the same knack of injecting authenticity into her take on pop music through powerful unfiltered vocals and relatable lyrical content. At only 16 years of age and with every single sounding better than the last it’s clear that Tayiha has a bright future.

Joseph Vea continues to experiment with his sound on his latest remix collaboration ‘Find Me (UK Garage Remix)’.

Featuring verses by NZ rapper Rizvan and the electronic breakbeat inspired production of TamaGotchi, the remix completely flips the script on what you would come to expect from the typical soul flavours of Joseph’s previous work. Paired with a narrativebased film clip that focuses on overuse of mobile devices, ‘Find Me (UK Garage Remix)’ is a refreshing new offering that has all come together beautifully.

Naomi Connell’s Intimate Acoustic Gem

Naomi Connell has taken our breath away with her beautifully intimate acoustic gem ‘Strangers’.

With just a voice and guitar Connell manages to captivate the listener from start to finish through clever wordplay and striking vocal delivery reminiscent of early Laura Marling. Telling the heartbreaking tale of a couple growing apart in love, ‘Strangers’ stands tall as one of the strongest local releases this month.

Hart’s Emotive Rock

Harry J Hart is continuing his stellar year with the release of the well-rounded theatrical pop-rock EP ‘Holding On For My Life’. A collection of songs written about the demise of a relationship, the six tracks take the listener on an emotional journey from the post honeymoon phase opener ‘Who We Are’ to the lingering finality of ’Calls Out’. With emotive rock songwriting reminiscent of a young Daniel Johns, Harry J Hart’s Debut EP well and truly delivers on its anticipation.

Spillage Channel Santa’s Beard

Spillage are giving it to us straight this month with their meat-andpotatoes rock track ‘Feeling Good Today’. Written about the joys of life and the importance of good friendships, Gold Coast based front man Sam De Pasquale describes the track's vibe as "warm and fuzzy" – like Santa’s beard, a hilarious yet strangely fitting illustration of the rugged 90’s inspired rock track.

Anita Springs’ Pure Country

Self-described as “pure country”, Anita Spring has collaborated with country music stalwart Allan Caswell on her latest release ‘Changing My Mind’. Old time fiddle, slow tempo upright piano and emotive harmonies transport you through the swinging doors of saloon in a country-western movie. So, saddle up and hit play on this instant classic.

Future Star…

Local songwriter/producer Joey Bagley has teamed up with 11-year-old future star Lyla Edwards on the uplifting piano ballad ’What If I’. An idealistic song written about the karmic effect of our actions, the track carries an important message for future generations that is flawlessly delivered by Edwards’ stunning vocal. Powerful stuff here from some names that I’m sure we’ll be hearing more from in the future.

Gimmy Flowens Bursts With Colour

The Oogars front woman Gimmy Flowens has released the second single under her own name this month with the playful, post-punk inspired beauty ‘Don’t Be Afraid’. Born from a restless, self-analysing moment about empowering yourself through risk-taking, the track and it’s vibrant accompanying video seem to burst with colour both sonically and visually.

Like every month, we couldn’t write about everything we wanted to, so here is a handful of extra tracks we couldn’t squeeze in but really deserve a listen…

Heavy Wax’s Reggae Earworm

Heavy Wax are getting us prepped for summer with their feel-good groover ‘Take Life Easy’. Driven by a one-drop beat, the track features all the elements of a classic reggae tune from the skanking guitar to the bright horn fills and a chorus that will stick in your head instantly. Written about removing the noise that surrounds us in life, ‘Take Life Easy’ a certified hit, easily Heavy Wax’s strongest release to date.

Mitch King’s Soul Lifting Anthem

Local acoustic hit maker Mitch King has gifted us with another euphoric, blues-infused single ‘Higher’ from his latest EP ‘The Open Doors’. Building from a raw guitar/vocal intro the track channels Mitch’s famous live energy adding layer upon layer of guitar, rhythms and vocals to create a body of sound that seems to lift your soul. Accompanied by a charming video featuring some cool local footage shot at Blues On Broadbeach earlier this year, ‘Higher’ is the full package.

Georgia Hoareau Has Our Attention

Georgia Hoareau has certainly grabbed our attention this month with her excellent debut single ’17’. Channeling the intimate pop vibes of Olivia Rodrigo, Georgia brings us into the allconsuming world of a teenager navigating new freedoms and responsibilities. Simply beginning with a stunning vocal accompanied by piano the track slowly grows adding mostly organic instrumentation to create an honest sound that dances between storytelling indie-folk and modern pop.

Really strong stuff here from this new young talent.

Blank - issue #92 - November 2021

The Medicine Hat Conspiracy, (Self Titled Album)

Casey Barnes, ‘ Gone Gone Gone’

PHARAOHS, ‘Fable’

Send your music, press kit and a high res photo to newmusic@ blankstreetpress. com.au Curated monthly

by Zac Fahey

Girl And Girl EP,

’A Typical Friday Night’

Amy Elise, ‘Only 16’

Wet Season, ‘Drift’

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A scholarship backed by Rolling Stone magazine.

That’s Excellent.

The scholarship, designed to support a Contemporary Music student at Southern Cross University, is a partnership between one of Australia’s most vibrant music universities and the world renowned magazine.

Our music degrees are delivered at Coomera on the Gold Coast and at our Northern Rivers campus in Lismore by lecturers who are practicing musicians with strong industry links.

Start your music career at Southern Cross University and join our growing community of talented graduates making music on stages and in studios around the world.

Applications for the scholarship are open now until 13 December, 2021.

Apply now for 2022. scu.edu.au/music

CRICOS Provider: 01241G

When The Walls Talk: Artist Smalls Words by Amelia Green - Photography by Smalls

CBD Sundown: Laneway Cabaret Words by Natalie O’Driscoll

Vibrant, bold and layered-to-perfection, every Smalls piece enchants audiences, whether viewed up close, or from afar. In fact, this artist’s work jumps off the wall and into your memory.

Remarkably, Smalls paints a diverse array of subjects and styles, from people and lettering, to flora and fauna, with incredible depth and expertise. An absolute master of his craft, passion and exceptional precision tie his dynamic body of graffiti, street, mural and illustration art together.

Over his 12-year professional art career, Smalls has worked with high-profile clients across the country such as Westfield, MasterBuilders Australia, Rebel Sport and Nike.

He also has extensive experience delivering workshops for schools and youth.

yourself into your art and when you see people really, genuinely enjoy it, or stop and say ‘thank you’, it’s pretty special. It’s a unique sort of art from in that you sort of pour yourself into the space during the creation, and then leave it, to possibly never see it in person again. So knowing that it’s left in the view of those who enjoy and appreciate it is a real highlight for me.

What are some of the obstacles or challenges creating art in public?

We sat down with Smalls to chat about his public art practice, how the Gold Coast shapes his work and street art more broadly.

Oh man, in terms of OH&S concerns, being a mural artist is cooked! Balancing awkwardly 3 meters up a ladder in the sun, breathing in fumes for 12 hours a day – I know my back, shoulders and lungs are all just like “bruh, what are you doing?” And in a public space there’s often a list of logistical and access issues to overcome as well; not to mention the stress and self-doubt that’s involved in creating something in the public eye – But still, best job I’ve ever had and I wouldn’t change a thing.

How would you describe your street, graffiti and mural art, to someone who has never seen your work before?

What is one thing more people should know about street art?

I find it difficult to describe which sounds weird, but I’ve always felt the importance of maintaining a broad range of skills, in a variety of mediums and subjects. I feel this allows me to learn from and integrate different mediums and styles together, and also combine learning from alternative practices to try be the best artist I can be. My background involves graffiti, tattooing and a mix of hip hop, and hardcore music which influences my work; but I also enjoy portraiture and nature inspired themes.

That without graffiti, without the tags, street art as it is, wouldn’t exist. I get people all the time come up to say they like my work but hate graffiti – they hate tags, hate writers and wish they would do murals instead. And to me, that doesn’t make sense. Street art has roots in graffiti, it’s grown from graffiti and shares the same soil. Sure, you can like one more, or prefer and appreciate it more, but you can’t love the butterfly and hate the caterpillar.

What do you enjoy most about creating art in public space?

Sounds a bit corny, but I think the reactions and joy it brings to the viewers does it for me. You put so much of

Gold Coasters can check out some of Smalls’ recent work firsthand at Cheeky’s Bar in Surfers Paradise and the Burleigh Motel…. and hopefully many more to come!

Visit iwritesmalls.com and @iwritesmalls for more. Visit blankstreetpress.com.au for the full interview.

Blank - issue #92 - November 2021

Following on from the huge success of October’s inaugural multi-arts event CBD Sundown in Southport, City of Gold Coast is upping the ante with November’s offering, bringing circus to the masses for CBD Sundown: Laneway Cabaret on 26 November.

It’s not every night you get to see a circus but that is just what’s in store for audiences at the next CBD Sundown. It will be a wild night of aerial performance, crazy juggling, acrobatics and acts that will boggle your mind. It’s fun, it's quirky, but best of all it’s local.

We spoke with Gold Coast performer Laurinda Janlewicz about just what will be going down while the sun sets on 26 November.

Can you tell me a bit about what you’ll be doing at the next CBD Sundown, and what audiences can expect?

The next CBD Sundown series will take you on a journey through the wonder and delight of circus. Mr PP’s in Southport are hosting the evening bringing you a special Laneway Circus Cabaret. This circus is for adults with a bit of cheeky sexiness, hilarity and random surprise.

There will be acts of aerial performance, acrobatics, object manipulation, music and fire. Be impressed and inspired by local Gold Coast circus artists doing extraordinary things.

Why should Gold Coasters come along to the next CBD Sundown?

It's different! Activating Mr. PP’s back laneway and carparks with circus exuberance and pizzazz. Local professional circus artists are collaborating together mixing their talents and creating a unique flavour of entertainment for Gold Coast City. It's free from 6-9pm.

So grab your friends and get a glimpse of what the local Gold Coast circus community can do from 6pm – 9pm on Friday 26 November at Mr PP’s Southport and various cospaces, for CBD Sundown: Laneway Cabaret. Like all the CBD Sundowns, there will be roving performers, live art and delicious food and drink options. This is a free event, but you can register through Eventbrite for updates.

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