Ragga Jump lock the gate
Pull into the Rails on Friday night and enjoy the musical stylings of Ragga Jump, Byron’s finest world funk reggae beat band. With their new protest song against the coal seam gas industry Lock the Gate, this is a band that knows how to unite a crowd.
While you might be locking your gates against the greedy mining companies, you’ll be leading this warm Byron band right down your garden path!
Dancing for Africa
This Friday at the Byron Bay Brewery acclaimed Ghana musician and African dance teacher Gabriel Otu performs with his full band Happy Africa Locomotif. African dance music at its best! Bring your dancing shoes and a full bag of energy. 7.30pm start, free entry.
Hip-Hop rap ’n’ stuff
Lovers of hip-hop are in for a treat at the Brewery on Saturday with up ’n’ coming Gold Coast-based female rap star Jesswar as well as local Byron crew The Hated and local SAE college hip-hop project Kombat Kollektion. Eleven rappers and four DJs will make this night a true showcase for contemporary hip-hop and rap in Australia. 7pm start. Free entry! Don’t miss out!
The Lyon on Wednesday
The Greg Lyon Quartet brings music to your ears every Wednesday at the Brunswick Bowling Club, 6.30pm to 9.30pm.
The quartet champions real jazz with superb renditions of the classics that will make you feel you’re sitting in one of Melbourne’s best jazz clubs. The Bowling club is also offering great meal and Shiraz deals to make a complete night out with friends. Actually shanks and Shiraz with jazz!
CC the Bruns pub
Australia’s premier female reggae artist CC The Cat delivers honest and uplifting reggae, funk and soul music with her powerful voice and anthemic songs, backed by a bangin’ band featuring some of the country’s best musicians, currently proving themselves to be one of the hottest touring acts in the Aussie roots scene. The Brisbane/Byron Bay-based five-piece, fronted by sassy songstress Claire Cottone (aka CC), features legendary bassist Julia Rose (CC’s sister), drummer Dave Bell (Kingfisha), trumpeter Stevie Buchanan (Bullhorn) and trombonist Ange Gadd (One Dragon Two Dragon). Between them, band members have played nearly every major festival stage in Australia.
Only four and already singing TV Tunes!
Miss Amber and Stukulele are proudly celebrating the fouth birthday of Uke Night at the Mullum Court House Hotel this Thursday from 6.30pm. The night is all about TV themes… so strap on a uke, belt out The Ballad of Gilligan’s Isle, Green Acres, and all your old faves or just enjoy the entertainment with special guests The Northern Rivers Uke Orchestra, those talented Brandolinis The Three Little Sisters and a first for Uke Mullum – ukulele maestro Azo Bell. Come and have some cake – Adults $10, Kids under 16 $2.50. Join the mailing list at www.ukemullum.com for the link to the songbook.
Wow – it’s Marou at the Bruns!
Mandolins, ukulele and whistles – stories of travels across the globe, and the pull of home. Like catching up with old friends you’ve been hanging out to hear from, Farewell Fitzroy is Busby Marou’s welcome return, the highly anticipated second album from the Queensland duo.
Two years on from their acclaimed self-titled debut, Farewell Fitzroy is 12 tracks of folk-pop and country-tinged songcraft, distinctly Australian storytelling, and the gifted musicianship of Tom Busby and Jeremy Marou. Recorded with US producer/engineer Brad Jones (Missy Higgins, Josh Rouse, Justin Townes Earle) in April 2013 at his Nashville studio, Alex The Great Recording, after two solid years of touring the globe Tom and Jeremy were determined to capture new songs with their full band sound. They spent a month literally sleeping in the studio – which, by the way, was haunted.
Resting on your Laurels
The Laurels are a neo-psychedelic four-piece based in Lewisham, in Sydney’s inner west. Forming in 2006 after the members met at a Silly Hat party, each of them originally living in disparate parts of the east coast.
The band garnered critical acclaim for their shoe-gazing guitar techniques and understated vocals emulating the loud and headily distorted sound of 90s artists such as Ride and My Bloody Valentine. They are joined by Nicholas Allbrook and guests at the Hotel Great Northern on Friday 7. Free show. 9pm.
The Acfields in paradise
Bound by two distinct voices that have obviously spent many a childhood car trip harmonising with each other, sibling songsters Dan and Hannah Acfield have been aptly described as ‘the ying to each other’s yang’. The pair have left their previous solo careers behind and created a colourful blend of folk-pop and alt-country as The Acfields, and have been rewarded with groundswell and national acclaim. Hannah was described by Gotye to have ‘an expressive voice that engages you instantly’, and was nominated as a MusicOz finalist three years in a row, while Dan’s songRed, Yellow and Blue was deemed by Triple J’s Alex Dyson to be ‘one excellent tune’, and earned him the spot of Indie Act of the Week on Rage.
Following a successful crowdfunding campaign, The Acfields have just finished recording their first full-length album and can’t wait to share it with the world.
Catch them at Pizza Paradiso, Suffolk Park, on Friday, 6.30pm
Tawadros brothers at the Regent
Just after returning from his latest overseas tour the triple ARIA-award-winning musician Joseph Tawadros, together with his brother James, will be appearing for one performance only on stage at the Regent in Murwillumbah. Joseph has been hailed as one of the world’s greatest exponents of the oud, the forerunner of the modern guitar. Every one of his albums has been nominated for ARIA recognition. He has recorded, composed for and performed with many of the biggest international jazz and classical artists. The Australian raved about the Egyptian oudist, calling him ‘One of the most impressive musicians to emerge in Australia… with a dazzling technique dispensing hair-raising tempos… His writing displays a real depth of emotion… revelling in a zest for life and celebration.’
Joseph Tawadros will be appearing together with his brother James on percussion for one concert only on stage at the Regent Cinema, Murwillumbah, on Sunday at 3pm. $27/$22 presale on www.trybooking.com/146021, or $30/$25 at door.
Come home to smooth jazz
Fiona Dell is bringing her dynamic show to Brunswick Heads with a world-class lineup featuring Sharny Russell on keyboards, Jack Thorncraft on bass, Sam Schlenker on drums and Martha Baartz on saxophone. Performing songs from her beautiful debut album Come Home (arranged and produced by APRA award winner Sharny Russell) this versatile local singer/songwriter will have something in her repertoire for everyone. So gather your mates together at The Bowlo and get ready to be entertained by some of the best local musicians
in the business.
For dinner reservations and more information contact the Brunswick Heads Bowling Club on 6685 1328. Saturday from 7pm. Free Entry.
Pacific Heart
Samoa, Easter Island and New Zealand are coming together at Kulchajam in Byron Bay to bring you Pacific Heart. This will be an evening of soulful acoustic music for the family. With well-known artists from the Pacific who have the gift of story telling, this is a show not to be missed.
Yoyo Tuki from Easter Island will headline the night so bring your dancing shoes and your island style to this very special event. Samoan singer Elena B Williams will open the show followed by Tom Francis from New Zealand, who will be melting the hearts of many. Delta Kay will be doing the traditional welcome to country.
Show kicks off at 6.30pm Friday. This only happens once in a blue moon so why not step out and up with some Pacific Hearts.
Tickets online now at kulchajam.org $16 for online tickets or $20 at the door, kids under 16 free..
