On my frequency
From its origins in 2006 as a one-night landcare music event, Earth Frequency Festival has grown significantly over the past 10 years and become a highlight of the QLD festival calendar. Now well into its second decade of operation, Earth Frequency continues to evolve and expand. In 2017, Earth Frequency will be returning to its awesome Ivory Rock and expects to reach capacity at 5,000 attendees.
The 2017 music lineup features a huge range of international and domestic talent across a wide spectrum of live and electronic music genres. Highlight bookings include Beardyman, undoubtedly the world’s most creative beatboxer and improvised genre-bending loop artist, the legendary Australian hip-hop collective The Herd, progressive trance masters Ace Ventura, Marcus Henriksson aka Son Kite, Sensient and Smoke Sign, and US bass-music pioneers Desert Dwellers, Sixis, Digital Rust and Biolumigen. Festival favourites Opiuo, Spoonbill, Kingfisha, Hugo and Treats, Lubdub and Griff top the domestic lineup. More than 100 artists will complete the music lineup, which spans across four days and three nights.
Music is not the only focus with a massive visionary art lineup including Collin Elder (Canada), Randal Roberts and Morgan Mandala (USA), resident artist Adam Scott Miller and more than a dozen Australian artists showing art in the Osmosis Gallery and performing live painting throughout the festival.
The festival also features a wide range of roving and stage performances, a full program of inspirational and educational talks and workshops, a huge craft market and food area, a family space with activities for the young ones, and amazing decor and stage design throughout the festival.
Tickets are on sale now and the organisers have announced a limited capacity of 5,000 for the festival this year and beyond, to help preserve the intimate and welcoming vibe that the festival is well known for. Tickets are selling fast and the organisers advise everyone wishing to attend to get in early for their tickets this year as there may not be any gate sales.
For more information: earthfrequency.com.au. Ivory Rock 17–20 February.
Music of the mystics
The intoxicating and rousing music of Qawwali comes to Byron Bay just once a year! Journey on a magic carpet to the Far East and be transported into a realm of ecstatic devotion.
Qawwali music celebrates the great Sufi mystics of old and reminds us of a human longing for divine union that is deeply embedded in Sufi poetry.
Renowned Sufi singer Tahir Qawwal is known for authentically representing this musical tradition with the blessings and guidance of his teachers in India and Pakistan. This last year has proved busy and fruitful for him and his group Fanna-Fi-Allah, with tours in India, Pakistan, Europe, Canada and America. Here in Australia, Tahir tours with a talented group of musicians who are deeply tied to the culture of Qawwali through their ancestry.
Byron Theatre’s Music of the Mystics concert on 6 January 2017 will again offer audiences a glimpse inside a rich and vibrant Sufi culture that embodies religious tolerance, devotion and mysticism.
Tahir Qawwal’s music continues to mesmerise audiences worldwide, igniting hearts and encouraging people to remember the depth of devotion that music stirs. He is passionate about sharing the colour and beauty of Sufi culture with the world, through his music and via a documentary film that is now in its final stages of editing. He says: ‘Devotional music is a path of remembrance, of returning to that original dance of existence that words can’t describe’.
Join in the music and dancing on 6 January at The Byron Theatre. Tickets online $25/door $30.
Dan Hannaford at the Rails on Friday
Playing the Rails
Byron-based singer/songwriter Dan Hannaford has opened Australian tour shows for the likes of Charlie Musselwhite, Donavon Frankenreiter, Charlie Parr and Australia’s own Tex Perkins and The Black Sorrows.
He’s been busy performing all around Australia and recently touring between Europe, the UK and America. Dan Hannaford’s musical career began when he played on a Channel [V] broadcast showcase in 2009, where he was spotted by record industry legend Seymour Stein, who requested a demo. This led to the recording of the Bootleg EP / demo at Sony Studios in 2010.
Since then Hannaford has graced hundreds of stages including performances at Falls Festival in Byron Bay, Australian Blues Music Festival in Goulburn, National Folk Festival in Canberra, Gympie Music Muster and Tamworth Country Music Festival. He’s also showcased his talent at the iconic Byron Bay Blues Festival, being named on the bill alongside John Fogerty, Cold Chisel and Crosby Stills & Nash with his single Deeper Water included on the Bluesfest 2012 compilation album.
He plays Friday at the Rails.