M A N D Y N O LA N ’S
SOAPBOX
W W W . E C H O . N E T. A U /
TAIKOZ QUARTET
S O A P - B OX
COAL DANCING
It’s on, the fight the Murdoch papers have been waiting to see. Adani – ironically defended by the very same people it will end up fucking over! The media have been busy fuelling the antagonism between the two camps known as ‘pro-Adani’ and ‘anti-Adani’. Couldn’t they just be called ‘pro-future of the planet’ and ‘anti-future of the planet’? Or ‘two groups of people who will get equal benefit from an Adani coal mine: none’. While pro-Adani supporters get backrubs from Pauline and Clive as they paint placards with tired slogans about Greens taking their jobs, perhaps they need to consider that the renewable-energy industry not only offers more longterm jobs than coal, it also ensures that the areas where they live don’t suffer degradation and that we don’t keep contributing to climate change. It’s a fact. Renewables actually create MORE jobs than coal. So why are there still Australians holding firm in the coal camp? Coal is screwing them, their kids, and the towns where they live. Vested interests vest a lot of interest in stirring the pot. It’s pretty clear the Murdoch papers hate renewables. In fact in a story by a Fox News reporter they stated that solar would never work in the US because it didn’t have as much sun as Germany! Most people think of Murdoch as a media mogul. That’s true, but he’s also an oil man, with considerable equity stakes in oil and gas companies. So it’s no surprise that the Murdoch papers are our corporate cheer squads going for coal. Paul Murray wrote a coal-sucking syndicated column for Murdoch media that called Bob Brown and the people who were dedicating weeks of their life to speak up against corporate giants ‘smug’. We’re talking about little people standing up against the country’s power brokers. I know who’s smug here, and it’s certainly not people brave enough to protest Adani at the literal coalface. Going into a community brainwashed by the media into believing that giant corporations like Adani have their interests at heart is terrifying. Especially after the decades of adverserial diatribe that puts each group in their corners to play out the whole orchestrated ‘them and us’ charade. Yep you’ve seen it before: dole-bludging tree loving hippies in one corner, and hard-working Australians being denied jobs in the other. It’s the story that polarises Australians and distracts us from the truth: that a very small percentage of people will profit at the expense of a great many more. And it seems to me that almost the whole country is against Adani. It always makes me feel sad when I see ordinary people in support of corporations who will eventually screw them over too. There are not 10,000 jobs – there are probably more jobs at Bunnings. In fact Adani was referred to the consumer watchdog for ‘misleading vulnerable jobseekers with inflated claims’. With driverless trucks and automated vehicles, they’d be lucky to have 100 full-time jobs. The Great Barrier Reef supports 64,000 jobs, so why isn’t the Murdoch muscle ramping up to save that valuable natural asset from the devastating impacts of being a coal port? Just the other day the Courier Mail reported that ‘700 proAdani supporters’ had braved the rain in Mackay dwarfing the Green’s convoy! They live there! All they had to do was turn up – with an umbrella! The Greens’ convoy have had to travel thousands of kilometres, and have braved more than rain; they’ve braved, according to the Canberra Times (coincidentally a Fairfax paper) gunshots, abuse, and stones being thrown at cars. And someone assaulting a 61-year-old woman with a horse. Well, Courier Mail, I’d say that’s a little more intense than rain. Clermont is also refusing to sell food or provide services to the convoy. And the convoy are serving what giant self-interest? Who is getting rich here? Adani or Bob Brown? The environmental defenders aren’t corporate or medial moguls. They’re not profiteering. They’re passionate about the future. They’re heroes. They are mums and dads, grandparents, and young people – people who actually give a shit about the future of everyone’s kids. This isn’t as Paul Murray naively says about ‘people who can feel warm and fuzzy at the other end of the country telling thousands of Queenslanders what they should be allowed to do for work’. The future belongs to everyone, not just a few Queenslanders, and coal is not the future. To keep using coal now is like using heroin to give up heroin. So if jobs are the issue: give those thousands of Queenslanders a career in renewables. Next Saturday the anti-Adani convoy hits Canberra – be there if you can. Don’t believe the bullshit of the mainstream media – they have their investment portfolios, not our best interests, at heart.
34 The Byron Shire Echo lëƷ Ǩǽ ǩǧǨǰ
ABBY’S GONNA BE ALRIGHT With a successful solo career, side projects, and a wealth of musical material and accolades under her belt, stemming from her days of fronting the much-loved platinum-selling award-winning band Leonardo’s Bride, Abby Dobson shines once more with the release of her new single Everything’s Gonna Be Alright. Released this Friday, Everything’s Gonna Be Alright is the second single to be lifted off Abby’s newly released second album It’s Okay, Sweetheart. Highlighting Dobson’s distinctive sultry vocals, the song (‘a defiant ode to optimism’) is an infectious, soulful gem and a definite standout on the album. The album was recorded in Nashville – produced by Abby and Brad Jones (Matthew Sweet, Josh Rouse), with additional production back in Australia by Josh Schuberth, and Abby’s nephew; artist/producer Simon Dobson. It’s Okay, Sweetheart is Abby’s first solo album in ten years and is a welcome return for this dynamic singer/songwriter. On the live front, as well as performing regularly to full houses with Lara Goodridge (Fourplay) in their chic, French outfit, Baby et Lulu, the esteemed artist has also performed alongside the likes of Paul Mac, Neil Finn, Daniel Johns, Alex Lloyd, Mark Seymour, Leo Sayer, and more. To coincide with the release of Everything’s Gonna Be Alright Abby Dobson will perform at the Brunswick Picture House on Sunday 12 May at 4pm. Tix brunswickpicturehouse.com.
HELLO BELLO! If you’ve never been to Bellingen then you really should. It’s something special, and during Bello Winter Music, 11–14 July, when over 70 live international and Australian acts take to the stages there, it’s even better! Bellingen is an absurdly pretty town straddling a river and nestled at the foot of the northern NSW tablelands and Dorrigo National Park. Bellingen is only 30 minutes’ drive inland from Coffs Harbour but it’s like discovering Narnia – imagine lush green hills, a silver, misty river, and purple mountains. It’s the kind of place where Frodo Baggins would feel right at home. Just like Bello Winter Music festival itself, Bellingen, or ‘Bello’ as locals call it, is full of things to discover. It’s a laidback, friendly little festival in one of the best holiday destinations in Australia. For nature buffs and thrill seekers alike, the mid north coast of NSW has a wealth of offerings ready to turn a festival trip into a full-blown holiday. www.bellowintermusic.com T: 66 846 195.
Quartet is a show that displays Taikoz’s trademark high-energy performance in a more scalable and flexible format ideal for smaller venues and touring. Featuring all the unique drama, vibrancy, and musicality that Taikoz is famous for, Taikoz Quartet delves deeply into the roots of the taiko drum, but with a contemporary twist. Quartet premiered in Sydney at the Darling Quarter Theatre in May 2017 to a full house and recently performed at the Bellingen Fine Music Festival. This 70-minute work comprising four performers and a multitude of drums as well as the Shinobue (Japanese flute) takes the audience on a thrilling taikoz-style musical journey in a more intimate setting. They play Byron Theatre on Saturday at 7.30pm. Tix at byroncentre.com.au.
BABE RAINBOW Morning Song is the first single to be lifted from the upcoming third album by Babe Rainbow. A generous helping of folk pop, flutes, and floating harmony, acoustic guitar, late-70s electronic fox trot, and the choir of the women of the Wonderfolk. Just an optimistic announcement of new cycle, fresh air. The new album is more musical and ambitious than previous outings, and was produced by Sam Joseph from the Flightless / King Gizzard stable. Feels authentic to the Babe Rainbow but more diverse and sophisticated, like falling in love outwards, a perfect collection of pacific vibrations, brunch in Arcadia. Babe Rainbow sold out all their shows in 2018 across Australia, USA, France, Germany, Japan, UK, and New Zealand before taking time out for the birth of their first bambino and the recording of these new songs. 2019 sees the babes touring the world again, with The Morning Song Tour, their biggest and widest-ever tour of Australia. Special guests to be announced soon. Babe Rainbow play the Hotel Great Northern on Saturday. Tix are $35.20 at the northern.oztix.com.au.
THE MAGNIFICENCE AND DAVE WRAY Trumpet player and singer Cam Smith has been honing his set of almost-traditional jazz and New Orleans inspired originals for over a decade, playing at Edinburgh Fringe, Woodford Folk Festival and every pub and street corner from Canberra to Cairns. In The Magnificence, he’s finally found a gang of all-star Aussie musos that can do the tunes justice. They growl, they mewl, they cook – and they make audiences feel better about otherwise questionable life choices. Join them for a jolly afternoon at the Lismore Jazz Club. Cheap drinks, raffles, good company and there’ll be music. Sunday May 5th, 2pm at Lismore Jazz Club, Lismore Bowls Club, Molesworth St.
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