Willing Hick-Ups
Singing songs about one-horse towns, rodeo clowns and girls with holes in their stockings, the Hick-Ups have breathed new life into antiquated styles such as country swing, the heel-and-toe polka and the cowboy waltz.
Using a foundation of double bass, stripped-down drums and acoustic guitar, the Hick-Ups are a cranking country folk band.
Add Jimmy Willing, the long, tall storyteller, and let him loose to weave his tales and you have showtime.
This is an unforgettable act.
They broke the mould after making Jimmy Willing and The Hick-Ups. Live at The Rails, Byron Bay, on Saturday.
Jack Derwin
Jack’s two previous albums, Covered all in Blue and Rocking on a Calm Sea were both among the top five most-played albums in the Australian Blues Roots Charts for two consecutive years.
Both albums remained in the charts for a period of at least 12 months with Covered all in Blue also receiving three Chain nominations, for best blues album, song and male vocalist of the year awards.
Jack Derwin’s music has developed into a blend of blues, folk and jazz with dynamic originality, delivering rich-timbred vocals, resonating guitars, blues harp and stomp box.
Catch him at Pizza Paradiso in Suffolk Park on Saturday from 6.30pm. Free.
Bennett’s Brew
The music of James Bennett is best described as folk/pop with a diversity of influences such as Bob Dylan, John Butler and Angus Stone.
Although James delivers a repertoire of popular covers, his real strength and appeal is in his original songs. James already has a considerable catalogue of well-crafted compositions he is currently entertaining audiences with on the mid north coast of NSW.
With residencies at two popular music venues in Port Macquarie and countless other gigs on the coast, James has become a much sought-after performer and proven crowd favourite.
Friday at The Brewery. 8pm. Free.
A Full Billi Moon
Spring is finally here, making it much more fun to go out, and local rock band Moonstone are playing at the Billinudgel Hotel this Sunday, beefing up their sound with the addition of keyboard player Gary Pinkerton.
After a brief hiatus over winter, Moonstone are back with their own particular style: rock songs and funky dance numbers, tunes from the Seventies till now.
With Petra Vine as lead singer, Moonstone start at. 3pm.
Freedom in the Forest
Electric Forest create a unique festival atmosphere where self-expression, freedom and personal journeys meld into a positive life-affirming experience through dance within an immersive multimedia environment.
The Electric Forest presents Spring Equinox Cyber Tribal gathering and welcomes DJ Pob to the decks. A regular guest at Electric Forest events, DJ Pob is back by popular demand, dishing up a two-hour set of grooving electronica and alternative beats.
Check out Pob’s radio show Sonic Rotation Friday night on Bay FM from 10 till midnight.
Also featured is Nick Taylor, producing music in Japan in 1991 as Blissed with partner Tsuyoshi Suzuki.
Nick’s sound has constantly evolved over the years, from trance, through drum and bass, to breaks, house and electro.
Today his style is a reflection of this wide range of influences. With state-of-the-art sound, stunning digital projections and lighting from Crystal Grid. Tickets are $20 on the door. Vegetarian Solstice feast catered for by Vego Gone Troppo.
Kohinur Hall. 7pm–12 midnight Saturday.
Getting some Butch for Byron
With more than 100 releases in five years, as a producer German-born Butch, featured earlier this week, cuts his own path across dancefloors and decks around the world.
He features at Essential Intentions Open Air Party at the Byron Brewery alongside GC Stretch on Saturday. 2pm start time. $20.
The Pilots
Dreamed up under the shade of Byron Bay’s pandanus trees, the Pilots are the newest prospects to emerge from the beating tropical heart of Byron Bay.
Formed in early 2013 by good friends Kit Bray, Byron Carney and Harry Deacon, they are a three-piece band that makes the kind of ceremoniously uplifting, indie surf rock that sounds like something for which you’ve inadvertently been searching but never dreamed that you could find.
The Pilots recorded their debut self-titled 4-track EP with the assistance of acclaimed US producer Nick Didia (Pearl Jam, Powderfinger, Rage Against The Machine). In an anthemic ode to young love and the glory of summer romance, the Pilots’ debut EP is available now for all and sundry to experience. Put it on when the sun shines next and enjoy a life-affirming skip into all that glitters from these young upstarts.
The Pilots launch their EP at the Beach Hotel on Friday.
Songs for Fred
This Friday sees a very special concert hit the stage of the Byron Theatre. Songs for Fred features Kyle Lionhart, Tim Stokes, Guy Kachel, Jimmy Dowling, Milo Green and Kim Banffy, with musicians raising money to be donated to assist the wonderful work of the Fred Hollows Foundation.
Concert-goers will be treated to solo performances from all of the artists, but also collaborations between them, some never yet seen!
You’ll hear the wry observations of Guy Kachel, Jimmy Dowling’s clever distillation of moments in time and Kim Banffy’s beautiful use of metaphor and melody. Add to this Milo Green’s quirky and deceptively simple songs, Tim Stokes’s haunting ballads and groove-based country/roots/dance, vibes and Kyle Lionhart’s show-stoppingly beautiful lyrics and angelic vocal tones, and you have the makings of an awesome night!
And the bonus is that in attending this concert you are not only having a fantastic night, but you are enabling more of the life-changing work of the Fred Hollows Foundation.
The Fred Hollows Foundation has been about the business of drastically changing the lives of individuals in Indigenous communities who are literally going blind. With a simple operation blindness is reversed and quality of life is restored.
Saturday at the Byron Theatre, 7pm. Tix $25 available at Byron Community Centre or online.
Let it Uke
Melbourne-based ukulele and recording artist AJ Leonard’s reputation has skyrocketed in the last five years owing to his unceasing efforts in pushing the boundaries of virtuosity and style.
Now regarded as Australia’s finest exponent of the ukulele, he has harnessed his years of experience and knowledge bringing it to the stage and leaving audiences thinking; this is as good as it gets.
Together with cellist Jenny Rowlands, they are a true melding of musical minds, known on the world circuit for their unique ukulele/cello interplay and finely crafted arrangements as exhibited in their unique interpretation of Sergeant Pepper.
Joined by the Northern Rivers Uke Orchestra, this will be an amazing show! Friday at the Bangalow Bowlo. $20 on the door. Kick off 7.30pm.
Locals in Band Comp!
Local Byron band Parkside Orchestra are have made it through to the Queensland State Final of the National Campus Band Competition.
With a distinctive flavour created from drawing on inspirations from different genres, this trio make their own grooves.
Come along and cheer them on at the SCU Unibar on Thursday!
Wayward Nightingales sing at noon
The Wayward Nightingales have created a sound that is one minute intimate, the next dusty and joyful.
These three women have obviously taken long journeys among traditional, country and folk music with a lively wanderlust. Original songs with subtle insight and honesty are accompanied by slide guitar, banjo, fiddle and mandolin in perceptive and fearless instrumentation.
This northern rivers trio offer you something beautiful with enough dirt and soul to keep it really, really interesting. Doma Cafe in Federal on Saturday from 12pm.
Icehouse Running Hot
They started out as Flowers back in 1977 and then renamed themselves Icehouse. With a swag of hits, this Aussie rock band loved for their pub style can still deliver one hell of a show.
The songs are instantly recognisable to lifelong fans and to the new group of listeners who have found their way to Icehouse in recent years. Sunday, Twin Towns at 7pm.Tickets $69
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