S Chain are one of the great Australian bands playing Bluesfest this year.
BLUESFEST IS ON!
THE CHAIN REACTION! PHIL MANNING PICKED UP THE GUITAR AT 15. HE’S BEEN PLAYING NOW FOR NEARLY 58 YEARS. THIS YEAR, CHAIN PLAY THE BYRON BLUES FESTIVAL. IT WILL BE A LIGHT ON THE HORIZON FOR THE LEGENDARY MANNING WHO JUST TOOK OUT A LEGEND AWARD AT THE VICTORIAN BLUES HALL OF FAME. FOR ARTISTS LIKE MANNING, ALTHOUGH THEY ARE COMMITTED TO THEIR DAILY PRACTICE OF PLAYING, HAVING 12 MONTHS WITH VERY LITTLE OPPORTUNITY FOR LIVE GIGGING HAS BEEN WEIRD.
‘I did a gig with Geoff Atchison – he was on before me and he said “Phil I am shaking in my boots”! I said, “I know how you feel!”. We are all out of practice playing on stage in front of an audience. That is the challenging thing – it’s part of your stage craft – to learn to get on and relax after having 9 or 10 months of doing nothing!’ says Phil. ‘I gave up drinking a year and a half ago, so I didn’t even have that added benefit of a few stiff drinks before I went on!’ laughs Manning, who took to being back in the spotlight. ‘It was nice to get on stage and play in front of people – it will be fantastic to be able to play Bluesfest, and considering the amount of effort Peter and all his staff have put in – it’s phenomenal.’ Phil echoes the sentiment of Bluesfest director Peter Noble, who was on Facebook earlier this week posting about the need for more formalised support for the music industry. ‘I don’t think people have enough appreciation of what a social responsibility musicians and entertainers have to the audience,’ says Phil. ‘It really is a thing that helps people cope with life. I did a gig in Sorrento and it was a great thing, and towards the end of the night I played a song from one of my albums – which is a love song saying “you can trust me” and there were all these people crying! It was astounding! I had people coming up saying the whole table was crying – even the guys – I realised it was very little to do with the song, it was more to do with some sense of relief from the people and being out of lockdown. I know in my case I was getting incredibly disjointed just walking around my local neighbourhood. You could smile and you couldn’t see if people were smiling back, I found it all incredibly dehumanising.’ But lockdown wasn’t a time when Manning and his Chain colleagues kicked back and did nothing. ‘Matt Taylor (lead singer) and I both individually made great use of this time. We have been incredibly creative, Matt had to work – he put out a book on his life called I remember when I was young – it was online, there were things that weren’t quite right, so now it’s out in hard cover – and Matt has a new solo album. And in my case I almost have a new solo album.’ ‘During lockdown I forced myself to get up and do old fashioned practise, I am 72 and have been playing for nearly six decades, and your hands get pretty knocked about. You are always learning. It’s just magnificent – for something as simple as a scale of music – that people can take those 12 notes and turn it into an endless supply of songs and styles, and I always say, with electric guitar you can get 50 guitar players and give them a Stratifier and an amplifier and they will all sound different.’ One of the good things Phil sees coming out of the pandemic and its impact on the entertainment industry is the reintroduction of cover charges at gigs. ‘A lot of the venues around Melbourne that used to have free gigs haven’t been able to afford it, so they all have to put on a cover charge, which I think is a great thing! 'I don’t do those horrible three hour gigs any more, but used to. You’d play three sets and you’d get to the end of the third set and a bunch of guys wander in and go, “Why are you stopping? Keep going!".' Phil is keen to be playing Bluesfest for 2021. ‘It's a magnificently organised festival – I have done a bucketload of festivals in my life and Peter and his staff have it nailed. It’s always such a pleasure to be there. 'We are looking forward to having Chain back together, this will be the first time we have played in years.w ‘I am the only original member from back in 1968 when Chain started – and then Matt Taylor joined in 1970 – the band has been going 53 years and Matt and I worked in the Bay City Union so we have been working together for 54 years – our relationship has lasted longer than my marriages!’ Chain are one of the great Australian bands playing Bluesfest this year. For tickets go to bluesfest.com.au
24 The Byron Shire Echo January ǩǮ, ǩǧǩǨ
E
V
E
N
by lilith ON PAGE 39
GET CREATIVE The BSA has some great courses on offer that you should check out. If you have ever thought about making art or broadening your skills, now is the time! Painter Dale Rhodes will be running an eight week course to give foundational skills for portraits, still life and landscapes. Kat Shapiro Wood is running a class in ceramic sculpture, exploring the vast potential of clay as a sculptural medium. Travis Paterson offers an introduction to cardboard etching and drypoint printing techniques. And Michelle Dawson will guide students through various approaches to drawing the figure, from classical core techniques to more contemporary expressive activities, developing the eye and improving drawing skills. For more info go to byronschoolofart.com
BURLESQUE IN BRUNS With the ongoing success of its signature show, Cheeky Cabaret, it was inevitable that the team behind the Brunswick Picture House would put together their very first allburlesque show last year – and with fabulous results! They are thrilled to announce that Bruns Does Burlesque is back! Featuring some of Australia’s hottest burlesque artists today with a very special twist, as only the Brunswick Picture House can do. Sexy, sassy, stunning and innovative, the cast of Bruns Does Burlesque is truly representative of the breathtaking beauty the world of burlesque performance can bring... and they’re bringing it right here in Brunswick Heads. Friday 7pm and Saturday at 9pm.
For 30 years BayFM has been the independent voice of our community, spreading news, views, info, and great ˠ˨˦˜˖ʡ ʴ˦ ˔ ˡˢ˧ʠ˙ˢ˥ʠˣ˥ˢЁ˧ ˢ˥˚˔ˡ˜˦˔˧˜ˢˡʟ we run on a tiny budget. After 30 years our broadcasting kit is just about cactus. Your donation can help us get set for a future where we know we’ll be needed.
TUSCANY NEAR MULLUM Okay, so you can’t travel, that means you need to find a little bit of the wider world in your world. Hidden away in the hills behind Mullumbimby, with amazing mountain views, is a hint of Tuscany. Every Friday evening the hill-folk and friends gather for woodfired pizza, calzone, salads, homemade desserts, organic wines, cocktails, and more at Huonbrook Valley. During summer they’re also offering live, local music every second Saturday with Chris Fisher playing 6 Feb. Huonbrook Valley is located 20 minutes’ drive beyond BBFM_Echo Ads_85x148mm_17122020-v4-outlines.indd 1 Mullumbimby, through spectacular rainforest and ‘heritage listed’ Byron Shire potholes. Just five minutes past Malcolm’s Corner, Session Times: Thu 28 Jan - Wed 3 Feb drive until you see the big White Villa at 361 Huonbrook Road. HIGH GROUND (MA15+) FAMILY FILMS Ph: 6684 0400. Online bookings required. NFT Daily except Thu: PENGUIN www.HuonbrookValley.com.au BLOOM (PG) NFT Daily: 12:00, 2:10, 4:30, 6:50PM DRAGON RIDER (PG) Daily: 1:10PM MAYA THE BEE: THE GOLDEN ORB (G) Daily: 11:15AM THE CROODS 2: A NEW AGE (PG) Daily: 11:20AM, 1:20, 5:20PM THE WAR WITH GRANDPA (PG) Daily: 3:15PM
Women Like Us – at the Lismore Workers Club on Saturday 13 Feb and The Regent Theatre in Murwillumbah on Saturday 27 Feb. All tix from womenlikeus.com.au
22/12/20 8:22 pm
NFT = No Free Tickets
11:40AM, 2:00, 4:30, 7:00 Thu: 11:20, 1:30, 3:45, 7:00 OCCUPATION: RAINFALL (M) NFT Daily: 11:45AM, 3:30, 7:20 PIXIE (MA15+) NFT Daily: 11:15AM, 3:20, 7:30 AMMONITE (MA15+) Daily: 4:30PM DAWN RAID (M) Daily: 1:20PM PROMISING YOUNG WOMAN (MA15+) Daily: 11:50AM, 2:00, 4:45, 6:45PM
MY SALINGER YEAR (M) Daily: 4:30, 6:45PM SUMMERLAND (PG) Daily: 2:15PM THE DRY (MA15+) Daily except Wed: 11:45, 2:15, 4:15, 7:15 Wed: 11:00AM (Babes In Arms), 2:15, 4:15, 7:15 THE MARKSMAN (M) Daily: 2:10, 7:00PM THE WITCHES (M) Daily: 5:15PM WONDER WOMAN 1984 (M) Daily except Thu: 11:15AM, 6:30PM Thu: 11:15AM
108 Jonson St, Byron Bay Book online now at PalaceCinemas.com.au Admission Prices: Adults: Stud/Conc: Senior: Child:
$14 $12 $11 $10
Wednesday All tickets
$10
BALLINA FAIR CINEMAS
Tel: (02) 6686 9600
rd ballinafaircinemas.com.au
th
Thursday January 28 to Wednesday February 3
JANUARY/FEBRUARY
THU 28TH
FRI 29TH
SAT 30TH
SUN 31ST
MON 1ST
TUE 2ND
DRAGON RIDER PG 92 MIN
12:00 PM
12:00 PM
12:00 PM
12:00 PM
HIGH GROUND MA15+ 105 MIN
10:35 AM 2:45 PM 6:45 PM
10:35 AM 2:45 PM 6:45 PM
10:35 AM 2:45 PM 6:45 PM
PENGUIN BLOOM PG 95 MIN
10:25 AM 12:15 PM 4:40 PM 7:00 PM
10:25 AM 12:15 PM 4:40 PM 7:00 PM
PROMISING YOUNG WOMAN MA15+ 113 MIN
2:05 PM
THE CROODS: A NEW AGE PG 95 MIN
WED 3RD
10:35 AM 2:45 PM
10:35 AM 12:50 PM 2:45 PM
10:35 AM 12:50 PM 2:45 PM
10:25 AM 12:15 PM 4:40 PM 7:00 PM
10:25 AM 12:15 PM 4:40 PM
10:25 AM 12:15 PM 4:40 PM
10:25 AM 12:15 PM 4:40 PM
2:05 PM
2:05 PM
2:05 PM
10:45 AM 2:05 PM
10:45 AM 2:05 PM
10:15 AM 1:45 PM
10:15 AM 1:45 PM
10:15 AM 1:45 PM
10:15 AM 1:45 PM
THE DRY MA15+ 117 MIN
12:35 PM 4:15 PM 6:30 PM
12:35 PM 4:15 PM 6:30 PM
12:35 PM 4:15 PM 6:30 PM
12:35 PM 4:15 PM
12:35 PM 4:15 PM
12:35 PM 4:15 PM
12:35 PM 4:15 PM 6:30 PM
WONDER WOMAN 1984 M 151 MIN
3:35 PM
3:35 PM
3:35 PM
3:35 PM
3:35 PM
3:35 PM
3:35 PM
10:35 AM 12:50 PM 2:45 PM 6:45 PM 10:25 AM 12:15 PM 4:40 PM 7:00 PM 10:45 AM 2:05 PM
North Coast news daily in Echonetdaily www.echo.net.au