ONCE UPON A TIME IN FINLAND...

Once upon a time in Finland – someone came up with an idea to combine bluegrass, Finnish folk and rock/metal music. The outcome was Steve ’n’ Seagulls. This band’s live music video covers, including their take on AC/DC classic ‘Thunderstruck’, have to be heard to be believed. Their latest record Another Miracle also has six original tunes.

Seven caught up with Remmel and Herman post-gig at 1am Swedish time last week. How does it feel to do originals compared to doing covers?

Herman – Well, I guess there’s a little bit more work to do with the originals because you start from zero. So in that sense, it’s quite a bit different. But when you think about a show, it’s not. It’s just playing music and having fun and so it really doesn’t matter if it’s original or a cover.

After so many hits on covers, what made you decide to write something of your own?

Herman – On the second album, Brothers in Farms, we decided to try to make one original on the album and we recorded that and – that was the beginning of that.

Remmel – Yeah, I don’t remember it being like a situation where we really decided or anything, it just felt like a natural thing to maybe compose original material.

Did you find the people close to you, like your family and friends, were ‘WTF’! when you started doing this?

Herman – Maybe. Yeah. I’m still struggling with my spouse with that. My stage persona is so different than before.

Apart from the other musicians and the other bands that inspire you, what inspires you as musicians?

Remmel – Oh, I would say maybe music in general. It’s always been that it’s a passion for me. I really like to read about music and I like to listen to my vinyls and play different instruments and everything.

Herman – I also like instrumental skills. I was born and raised with heavy metal music – like listening to thrash metal, Megadeth and listening to those guitars. That’s been a huge inspiration.

Do you find that you struggle with the accents and getting the inflections right?

Remmel – We grow up studying English. We started when we are in third grade or something like that. And I think all of us have also grown up with English music or music in English. So… but sometimes when we are recording something, then you more notice little pronunciation things. Maybe on the rhythmic part of words or specific letters – like, how do you pronounce ‘river’?

Eve – umm ‘rivah’

Remmel – yeah?

Herman – yeah?

Eve – er, yeah

Remmel and Herman *silence*

Eve – See you at Easter.

Remmel and Herman – YEAH!

Steve ’n’ Seagulls will definitely be one of the funnest shows at Bluesfest. They play Friday, Sunday and Monday. Download the app and make sure you add them to your planner.

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The Best Of Bavaria And Then Some

The Rotary Club of Tenterfield is thrilled to announce the return of Bavarian Beerfest and the Original Bavarian Brass Band, from the Unter Allgäu region of Bavaria, Germany. Thirty-two musicians from Bavaria will be spending a week in Tenterfield, exploring the region, seeing the sights and putting on several concerts and performances. This visit honours the sister city partnership between Tenterfield and Ottobeuren.

Other festival favourites are on again, culminating in the Bavarian Beerfest on Saturday – a night of music, singing, dancing and German food and beer.

The festival kicks off with a Garden Concert at Glenrock Gardens, Wednesday 15 March at 10.30am. Tickets are $50 and include lunch and entertainment in award-winning gardens. Drinks are available to purchase.

Friday 17 March at 7pm is the first ever Multicultural Music Concert, featuring the Original Bavarian Brass Brand, Pipe Bands, Highland Scottish Dancers, Orkeztra Lizmore and an eclectic mix of local music. Tickets are $25 and food and drink will be available to purchase.

Saturday morning is for Music & Markets! The band will be playing a free mini-concert in Bruxner Park on Saturday 18 March at 9am. There will also be short performances from the University of Queensland Emmanuel College Highlanders Pipe Band, Tenterfield Highlanders Pipe Band, Warwick Thistle Pipe Band, Highland Scottish dancers, Orkeztra Lizmore and local entertainers and dancers. Wander around the market stalls and listen to some fantastic music. This event is supported by the NSW government.

The Bavarian Beerfest is undoubtedly the highlight of the festival from 5pm on Saturday 18 March, at Memorial Hall. The Beerfest is all about the celebration of traditional German beer, food and music. Tickets are $70 and include seven hours of entertainment by the Original Bavarian Brass Band and an empty beer stein on arrival. Food and drinks are available to purchase.

On Sunday 19 March, enjoy a recovery breakfast at Arrajay Downs at 8am. Tickets are $30 and include a homegrown breakfast, entertainment by Jess Lockwood and a farm tour. At 9am on Sunday there is a free Schubert Mass and morning tea with the Bavarian Brass Band at St Mary’s Catholic Church

Funds raised from this event are distributed by the Rotary Club of Tenterfield for disaster relief, youth projects, community assistance programs and other local projects.

Femmex Fundraising

FemmeX, a women-led organisation that aims to support women’s rights locally and around the world, is proud to present its first event series, FemmeX DJ Nights This fundraising initiative will showcase female and identifying-female artists from different parts of the world, including international, inter-state, and local female DJs. All ticket proceeds from the event will be donated to non-profit organisations that support women in need and help raise awareness around domestic violence.

Inspired by the women.life.freedom movement and the women and girls who are courageously fighting for their fundamental human rights worldwide, FemmeX aims to create safe spaces and opportunities for female artists to express themselves while supporting a good cause. The event series will take place every two months, and the first one will be held in Byron Bay.

For the first FemmeX launch in Byron, there is a very special guest: Ava Irandoost. She is an award-winning filmmaker, performance artist, music producer, and DJ. Ava Irandoost grew up in Tehran and left her country at the age of 18 to study architecture at The University of the Arts in Berlin, where she received her Masters in Architecture. Ms DaDa, a Beat Buffet artist from Byron Bay, and Afrodisea, an artist passionate to capture electronic world music will also perform.

Irandoost says she is interested in creating spaces; internal and external spaces of both the characters [of a piece] and the geometrical room. ‘I want to explore the intersection of these areas, that’s where the story is happening.’

All proceeds from the event will be donated to United4Iran. org and tooloo.org. The women.life.freedom revolution in Iran has been an inspiration to the FemmeX team, and they condemn the brutal violence of security forces against peaceful protesters. They also echo Iranian women leaders’ call for United Nations Member States to condemn and list the Islamic Republic of Iran (IRI) as a terrorist organisation. The Islamic Republic of Iran’s long-standing, systematic oppression of women has been legally enshrined in Iran. Under Iran’s Penal Code and other laws and regulations, Iranian women’s rights are severely restricted in marriage, divorce, inheritance, and custody. They must comply with the IRI’s mandatory hijab laws from the onset of puberty. FemmeX Women.Life.Freedom Fundraiser is at Brunswick Heads Memorial Hall this Saturday, starting at 5pm. This event is sponsored by: www.changebility.com

For more information go to www.rotarytenterfield. com or find us on Facebook and Instagram @ bavarianbeerfest.

Tickets are available online at www.trybooking.com/ CEOXU, or phone Karen on (02) 6736 2426.

FESTIVAL DU FILM – TRÈS, TRÈS BIEN

The Alliance Française French Film Festival 2023 presents a complete crème-de-la-crème program of contemporary French films. The 34th edition of the largest celebration of French film outside of France, arrives Australia-wide in mid March.

The culturally curious will once again venture to the cinema and be seduced by a season of electrifying French storytelling. Setting the scene with a heady dose of glamour, lust and manipulation, Nicolas Bedos’ Mascarade opens the festival. An official selection of Cannes Film Festival 2022, the sexy and oh-so-French drama starring Pierre Niney, Isabelle Adjani and Marine Vacth transports cinemagoers to the dreamy shores of Côte d’Azur. Closing the festival on a bittersweet high, is a road trip of sublime joy and tears in Didier Barcelo’s Freestyle, featuring rising star Benjamin Voisin and the enchanting Marina Foïs

Speaking on the festival’s immanent arrival, Karine Mauris, Festival Artistic Director and Cultural Attachée to the French Embassy in Australia, said the 2023 festival represents our most dynamic program to-date. ‘The hilarity of a meta-zombie comedy, suspenseful thrillers and historical dramas that will have you clinging to the edge of your seat, family-friendly flicks and of course, l’amour in all its forms! With over 153,000 eager spectators in attendance last year alone, we’re looking forward to reaffirming our emphasis on discovering the latest and greatest French talent and bringing impactful storytelling to new audiences.’

The Alliance Française French Film Festival is at the Palace Cinema, Byron Bay, from 16 March to 5 April.

It’s free to list your gigs in the gig guide. gigs@echo.net.au w: echo.net.au/gig-guide

Wednesday 8

RAILWAY HOTEL, BYRON BAY, OOZ

BEACH HOTEL, BYRON BAY, 3.30PM HAYLEY GRACE, 8PM KAYEL

HOTEL BRUNSWICK 6PM BENNY D WILLIAMS

BANGALOW BOWLO 7.30PM BANGALOW BRACKETS’ OPEN MIC SESSION

MIDDLE PUB, MULLUMBIMBY, 8PM KRAPEOKEEE WITH JESS

ELTHAM HOTEL 7PM ARLO MCKINLEY & EARLY JAMES

NIMBIN TOWN HALL 5PM ECSTATIC DANCE NIMBIN WITH DJ AKELA BLOOM

Thursday 9

RAILWAY HOTEL, BYRON BAY, MARSHALL OKELL BEACH HOTEL, BYRON BAY, 5PM LIFE IS A MYTH, 8PM BAYLEY

PEARL

BYRON THEATRE 7PM PINK FLOYD’S THE DARK SIDE OF THE MOON 50TH ANNIVERSARY SPECIAL EVENT

HOTEL BRUNSWICK 6PM BENNY O’DWYER

BRUNSWICK HEADS PICTURE HOUSE 7PM STELLA DONNELLY — ‘FLOOD’ AUSTRALIAN TOUR

ROADHOUSE, BYRON BAY, 7.30PM COMEDY NIGHT – FEAT.

RACHAEL HORNBUCKLE + MC KATE PAYNE

LENNOX HOTEL, HOTEL STAGE 8PM THURSDAY JAM NIGHT

THE CITADEL, MURWILLUMBAH, 7PM MANISH PINGLE WITH BOBBY SINGH

Friday 10

RAILWAY HOTEL, BYRON BAY, THE DIRTY CHANNEL

BEACH HOTEL, BYRON BAY, 4.30PM HENRY WEST, 8PM SLIM

JIMZ, 9PM THE GOOD KIDS, 10PM SOUTH SUMMIT, 11PM DJ

GENE ENGLISH

BYRON THEATRE 7PM MANISH PINGLE

HOTEL BRUNSWICK 7.30PM ZIGGY MCNEIL

BRUNSWICK HEADS PICTURE HOUSE 6PM QUEER BALL

FESTIVAL – QUEER BALL ARTS, 6PM QUEER BALL FESTIVAL –QUEER BALL PARTY

GALLERY 3, BYRON BAY, 5PM LEONA DEBOLT EXHIBITION

LAUNCH – YOU’VE COME TO THE RIGHT PLACE

THE NORTHERN, BYRON BAY, 8PM SOAKED OATS

YUM YUM TREE CAFÉ, NEW BRIGHTON, 6PM ROD MURRAY – A

TRIBUTE TO JAZZ

WANDANA BREWING CO., MULLUMBIMBY, 4.30PM DJ PAPA

BITCHO

MIDDLE PUB, MULLUMBIMBY, 5PM BALCONY BEATS – DJ

DANIEL PITTARD

ST JOHN’S SCHOOL HALL, MULLUMBIMBY, 7.30PM ECSTATIC

DANCE MULLUMBIMBY WITH DJ LO QI

TINTENBAR HALL 7.30PM TINTENBAR UP FRONT

CLUB LENNOX 7PM MATTHEW ARMITAGE

BALLINA RSL LEVEL ONE 10AM DEAN DOYLE WITH SOPHISTICATION MORNING MELODIES

TWO MATES BREWING, LISMORE, 4PM KATIE BROOKE

METROPOLE, LISMORE, 7PM JON J BRADELY, 8PM DJ BOZ

MURWILLUMBAH SERVICES CLUB 6.30PM FIRE N ICE

THE CITADEL, MURWILLUMBAH, 7PM OLLIE TWOHILL LAUNCH

KINGSCLIFF BEACH BOWLS 6PM BILL JACOBI

TWIN TOWNS, TWEED HEADS, THE SHOWROOM 8PM CIRQUE

MOTHER AFRICA

COOLANGATTA HOTEL 9.30PM ULTIMATE’90s SHOW

Ballina Fair Cinemas

Saturday 11

RAILWAY HOTEL, BYRON BAY, BEN WALSH, 8PM THE TYLER DURDENS

BEACH HOTEL, BYRON BAY, 3PM LEO VINE, 6PM INO PIO, 8.30PM

DJ KIRA SUNDAY & DJ LABONTE

BYRON THEATRE 5PM SOPHIE LABELLE + THE RAINBOW

CREATIVES GRAND FINALE

HOTEL BRUNSWICK 2PM OLE FALCO, 7.30PM MICKA SCENE

THE NORTHERN, BYRON BAY, BEN WALSH

YOUTH ACTIVITY CENTRE (YAC), BYRON BAY, 11AM WOMEN’S

MUSIC INDUSTRY FORUM

BYRON TWILIGHT MARKET 5PM BARRY FERRIER

KULCHA JAM, BYRON BAY, 9PM BOOTIBASS FT. MISTA SAVONA AND DJ SHIAN LOVE

BRUNSWICK HEADS MEMORIAL HALL 5PM FEMMEX WOMEN. LIFE.FREEDOM FUNDRAISER

ST JOHN’S SCHOOL HALL, MULLUMBIMBY, 3PM KEVIN JAMES

CHANTING WORKSHOP

MULLUMBIMBY EX-SERVICES CLUB 4PM PSYCHEDELIC

NIGHT – FEAT. ALPHA OMEGA, THE PSYCH, ZAHLU AND THE ALCHEMISTS OF SOUND AND SPACE X DRAGON

UNITING CHURCH, MULLUMBIMBY, 6PM HOUSE OF BLISS

KIRTAN FEATURING SHUNYA

BILLINUDGEL HOTEL GLITTERATI RIOT

CLUB LENNOX 7PM KAFFENE

BALLINA RSL BOARDWALK 6PM BEN WHITING

METROPOLE, LISMORE, PUFF CODE BROWN TOTAL BUZZKILL & DJ LAINIE

TWO MATES BREWING, LISMORE, 4.30PM BASSIX

MURWILLUMBAH SERVICES CLUB 6.30PM LEIGH JAMES

KINGSCLIFF BEACH BOWLS 6PM NATHAN KAYE

KINGSCLIFF SURF CLUB 6PM JON J BRADELY

TWIN TOWNS, TWEED HEADS, THE SHOWROOM 8PM THE FABULOUS CAPRETTOS – DARYL BRAITHWAITE, RUSSELL MORRIS, JACK JONES & RAI THISTLETHWAYTE

COOLANGATTA HOTEL 7PM JAMES BLUNDELL

DURRUMBUL HALL 7PM KOOII WITH JUMAN AND THE SEEDING

Sunday 12

RAILWAY HOTEL, BYRON BAY, THE LONESOME BOATMAN BEACH HOTEL, BYRON BAY, 1.30PM LUKE HAYWARD, 4.30PM EPIC HOTEL BRUNSWICK 4PM ELECTRIC APES

THE NORTHERN, BYRON BAY, OLE FALCO

MIDDLE PUB, MULLUMBIMBY, 3PM OPEN MIC WITH THE SWAMP CATS

WANDANA BREWING CO., MULLUMBIMBY, 4PM OPEN MIC WITH JACK CAVE

LENNOX COMMUNITY MARKET 9AM DR BAZ AND GOOD MEDICINE

CLUB LENNOX 3PM JB’S BLUES BREAKERS

SHAWS BAY HOTEL, BALLINA, 3PM SUNDAY SESSIONS FT DISCO DISCIPLES

SEAGULLS, TWEED HEADS, 1PM BRAD BLANC

TWIN TOWNS, TWEED HEADS, THE SHOWROOM 2.30PM TOM BURLINSON – SINATRA AT THE SANDS

DUNOON SPORTS CLUB 4PM PLUCKERS AND POETS OPEN MIC

Monday 13

RAILWAY HOTEL, BYRON BAY, ANDY JANS BROWN

BEACH HOTEL, BYRON BAY, 5PM MARK CROTTI, 8.30PM 4’20 SOUND REGGAE NIGHT

Tuesday 14

RAILWAY HOTEL, BYRON BAY, JON J BRADLEY

BEACH HOTEL, BYRON BAY, 5PM AKOVA, 8PM ROGUE ELEMENTS

HOTEL BRUNSWICK 6PM ALBY DAMN

KULCHA JAM, BYRON BAY, 7PM ECSTATIC DANCE BYRON BAY WITH DJ NIC KAIN

TWIN TOWNS, TWEED HEADS, THE SHOWROOM 11AM THE MUNSTER BUCKS IRISH BAND

Wednesday 15

RAILWAY HOTEL, BYRON BAY, JOCK BARNES

BANGALOW BOWLO 7.30PM BANGALOW BRACKETS’ OPEN MIC SESSION

MIDDLE PUB, MULLUMBIMBY, 8PM KRAPEOKEEE WITH JESS

ELTHAM HOTEL 7PM EILEN JEWELL

VARIOUS VENUES, TENTERFIELD, BAVARIAN MUSIC FESTIVAL & BEERFEST