Volume 38 #30 3–9 January, 2024 Editor: Eve Jeffery Editorial/gigs: gigs@echo.net.au Copy deadline: 5pm each Thursday Gig Guide deadline: 5pm each Friday Advertising: adcopy@echo.net.au P: 02 6684 1777 W: echo.net.au/entertainment
SHINE BRIGHT AT STARLIGHT
‘JENNY IS SO FUNNY I HOPE SHE QUITS’ – AKMAL
The Starlight Festival is a four-day festival of community and wellness that is held in Bangalow. The event has five spaces offering over 100 workshops, talks, classes, concerts and presentations, all included with the cost of entry. Visitors are free to relax and build their own itinerary and discover a different mix of yoga, sound healing, ceremony and wellbeing each day. Participants can browse the main hall to gain insight into their future with a reading, find the perfect crystal or just bliss out with a massage. Between events, Chef Todd ‘Stream’ Cameron will be offering a different, nourishing, vegan, gluten-free menu each day to explore. Monique Carmela is an international guest presenter from New Zealand. Monique says that for many years she struggled with accepting herself for who she really is. ‘I felt completely lost and disconnected. I was deeply afraid of what others thought of me, of not fitting in, and held the belief that I was never going to be enough for anyone or anything.’ ‘I pushed everyone away before they could get too close and when they did get too close I would sabotage the relationship. I was overwhelmed by emotional triggers and felt hopeless. ‘Twelve years ago I embarked on an incredible journey of self-discovery where I have received the teachings and practices that have allowed me to cultivate unshakeable self-love, acceptance and discover that I was always more than enough and worthy beyond measure.’ Erin Zen Warrior, also an international guest presenter from NZ, is a qualified personal trainer, sports therapist, holistic foodie and contractile field practitioner. The daughter of a martial arts sensei and yoga instructor/bodybuilder, Erin was born to be fascinated with movement. At age 20, she was focused on yoga and dance, and dabbled in martial arts and circus. A three-month trip to India brought her closer to understanding the mind-body conjunct. By 29, her body started to show signs of severe adrenal fatigue owing to over-training. The message from the yogis became clear – balance is key. She continued to ‘align herself’ with osteopaths, movement, and up-to-date research on food and supplements, but with a new focus: how to build a well-tuned body holistically – and what does that really mean? Eli Usma, international presenter, is a native from the Colombian Curandera, a Mayan astrologer, a keeper of herb and plant lore, Womb Wisdom Keeper, and a Western somatic human movement and health coach who specialises in physical healing, emotional bio-decoding, mental health and spiritual immersions. Nicky De Gruchy and Peter Baird (of Victoria) have been partners in music, life and art for over 30 years and have been performing, teaching and
International award-winning ‘songbird and improvisational queen’ Jenny Wynter brings her newest spontaneity-infused musical comedy show BYO Love Stories to the Northern Rivers region10–13 January. Monique Carmela cultivates and teaches unshakeable self love at Starlight Festival.
creating together as well as pursuing their own projects. In the past 20 years they’ve performed extensively as the duo, Little Oberon. Their creative journey has always been strongly connected to nature and on a trip to the Snowy River in 2006 they found themselves spontaneously composing a piece of music while camped on its banks. This was the birth of Essence of Place, a project that sees them traveling to places across Australia and composing music arising spontaneously from their relationship with the landscape. A complete list of presenters and more information is available from starlightfestival.com.au. The festival runs 4–7 January at the Bangalow A&I Hall and surrounding pavilions. A one day pass is $35; a weekend pass is $60. Locals are invited to purchase a two-for-one day ticket to attend on 4 and 5 January. Tickets at the door or online from starlightfestival.com.au.
‘I’m a shameless pop music tart,’ says Jenny, ‘and it was upon re-reading my teenage diary entries that I realised how so many of my early experiences with love read just like pop song lyrics. Obsessions with bad boys, inappropriate crushes, naive love ideals… it’s all pop music – and comedy – gold.’ Described as ‘a pop musical comedy experience,’ BYO Love Stories sees Jenny sharing glimpses into her own romantic history, while inviting the audience to share snippets from their own to fuel spontaneous musical comedy creations. Whether you want to write down a suggestion for a title of the perfect epic rock ballad, or share inspiring details of one of your own love stories, or even take up the invite to leap onstage for a one-night-only pop duet... this is guaranteed to be a show that will never be repeated. Literally. What happens in the BYO Love Stories show, stays in the BYO Love Stories show! Wednesday 10 January, Bangalow Bowls Club, 8pm. Thursday 11 Jan, Piggabeen Hall, 8pm. Friday 12 Jan, Pottsville Community Hall, 8pm. Saturday 13 Jan, Last Rites Bar, Yamba, 8pm. Tix $30 full, $25 concession To book: www.mandynolan.com.au
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