Weekend Roundup April 3

Blame it on the Boog!

J Boog is a man of many influences. The singer of Samoan descent was born in Long Beach and raised in Compton, California.

Growing up in the rough streets of Compton, the strong sense of tradition and culture that J Boog absorbed from his family was instrumental in his path to stay off the streets and begin a successful music career.

At the age of four, after hearing his older sister playing the piano, he developed an interest and started watching her and learning about music. Soon, J was singing along to the notes and melodies he heard his sister play. He hasn’t been the same since.

J Boog’s music career became serious in 2005, when a couple of brothers from his neighbourhood brought him to one of J’s favourite artists, George ‘Fiji’ Veikoso. The two began working together immediately and J ended up moving to Hawaii in 2006 to continue developing his craft.

After releasing his debut album Hear Me Roar, in 2008 J Boog met Gramps Morgan of Morgan Heritage and there was an instant chemistry. Shortly after, Gramps, J Boog and other Wash House family members were in Jamaica recording. It is authentic island music and genuine Jamaican reggae at the same time. Truly a new and exciting combination.

J Boog is in Byron at the Brewery tonight Thursday April 3 with local support.

Doors at 8pm. Tickets: $35 pre-paid / $45 door: Can be purchased at the venue or through: facebook.com/events/272146016286943/.

Afromoses

This Sunday there will be all-African flavour at the Beach Hotel, as Afromoses takes the stage followed by DJ Manie Shika later in the night.

As usual, Afromoses brings his band O’Jah from Newcastle and Sydney to create a lively mix of African-, reggae- and salsa-inspired tones.

Afromoses has just come back from a tour in Ghana, and we have heard he has some exciting surprises for Byron. Afromoses, the multi-award winner, brings an eclectic mix of music and musicians to Byron Bay, and you can expect a high-energy show that will have your feet moving for hours.

Afromoses will also perform an intimate dinner show at Café Oska on Saturday. Get your tickets at cafeoska.tictail.com, or at Café Oska.

Badlands for Byron Band

Young Byron band The Badlands have crawled out from the chilled seascape of Byron with a killer sound more suited to underground laneways of Los Angeles. The band was founded by two surf-hungry mates driven to live their dreams.

With a raw yet purposeful self-titled EP under their belt, the lads have strung together a handful of successful shows in local areas and with their recently recorded single New Age Prescription Product, tracked at 301 Byron Bay and produced by Jordan Power. The boys are looking to spread their musical wings and are preparing to light up rooms beyond the bliss of Byron Bay with an east coast tour planned for June this year.

This Friday will see them releasing their single to the public at the Great Northern, Byron Bay. Joining them on the night will be local boys VernasKeep and blues duo Mescalito Blues, so with a great lineup of local talent and a free copy of their new single upon entry it’s sure to be a night not to be missed.

Found in Translation

Historically Darren Middleton is best known as the lead guitarist and songwriter from Australia’s most loved band Powderfinger.

His debut solo album Translations was released in November 2013 to an incredibly positive reception.

In the weekend prior to Translations going into production, a lightning bolt hit Darren. That lightning bolt was One Thing.

One Thing is a song about the spark or driving force that may seem buried at times in our lives, but still exists nonetheless – the desire to feel connected.

One Thing made so much sense that the album plans were postponed so that it could be included. Owing to the late release, Darren was only able to play a few launch shows before the end of 2013. The upside is that 2014 is a blank canvas. His first show of the year will be supporting his old mate Pete Murray at the Forum on Saturday 15 March followed by an acoustic tour that sees Darren playing both songs from Translations and songs from past bands, stripped down to an acoustic format.

Supported by Jac Stone. Doors open from 7.30pm, show begins at 8.30pm Tickets $25 online, or $29 at the door unless sold out.

Barking up the right tree

Two brothers from the mountains of Barkers Vale in northern NSW, Australia.

They play bluegrass, roots and swing music original and traditional.

They like animals, trains, cheese and crackers, beer, murders, caravans and buses, 5-string banjo, guitar, fiddle, jewsharp, humorous banter and harmony singing.

See them at the Sphinx Rock Cafe, Mount Burrell, this Sunday 6 April.

Live in the Garden of Groove

The Poinciana Café Garden Of Groove is now presenting live music on Friday nights in their delightful courtyard setting starting this week.

The Poinciana Café is extending their trading hours on Fridays to incorporate live music and food in their ambient courtyard setting. Music will start from around 6pm, and this week features the duo of Chris Mallory and Kara in the form of Two Lions, an act who bring their delicate mix of depth and humour and deliver it through well-crafted folk songs with a rare onstage chemistry that will leave you wanting more. Kick-off is 6pm. And don’t forget to drop by for the Sunday sessions – which are now on Saturday! The bar is open all afternoon, with cocktail specials available, and resident DJ Dave Dogg (Resin Dogs/2Dogs/Wolfmother) plus guests playing some chilled beats to ‘fit the moment’. Cafe open from 8am for breakfast and lunch with music from 3pm.

Tedeschi on the Steinway Grand

Brilliant Australian and international pianist Simon Tedeschi plays Gershwin on the Steinway grand piano at the Byron Community Centre on Sunday at 2pm. (Don’t forget Daylight Saving ends that day.) If you are a Spicks and Specks fan you would have recently seen Simon on the panel doing well to keep up with the pace and wit of the other panellists.

His shining moment comes near the end when he is asked to perform. Simon plays his party piece, sitting cross-legged on the floor with his back to the grand piano. With arms behind his head and hands sometimes crossed, he plays a complicated little piece with aplomb, followed by loud cheers and clapping from the studio audience.

Simon performed his first concert in the Sydney Opera House at the age of nine. He is a regular guest on Spicks & Specks and The Drum, and has been the subject of two Australian Story documentaries. In the movie Shine he played the hands of David Helfgott.

Tickets $30, members $25, children $10.

Jammin’ Billi

This Sunday sees the blues come to Billi.

With the blues festival coming up, whet your appetite with a free show at the Billinudgel Hotel featuring some of the country’s finest musicians and singers including Belle Hendrik, Geoff Wright and Lez Karski. Belle’s voice has been described as ‘chili chocolate with bite’! She is also a mean bass player and was nominated for a 2014 Chain Award (Australian Blues Music Award) and her CD with band The Rogue Gene is currently gracing the blues charts. She has toured the world honing her craft and has been a regular performer at the Billi jams.

Australian guitar legend Geoff Wright is well known and respected in the music industry, both here and overseas, and held in high regard as one of Australia’s finest players. His has played with JJ Cale, Max Merritt and Tina Turner to name a few. His has a distinctive voice that truly delivers.

Lez Karski is well known and loved for such bands as The Bondi Cigars and The Hippos. Both bands had a lot of airplay and sold many albums. Lez has a smooth style; he is truly an impressive guitarist and his voice is best described as Drambuie with hint of Grrrrr. Also on the day there will be an all-star lineup of local talent including award-winning vocalist Lyne Davis, Steve Foster – harp extraordinaire, big Jim Robertson, plus drums and piano.

So don’t miss what promises to be a great afternoon of music. From 3pm.

Sea Shepherd Benefit

Support the Sea Shepherd by rocking on down to the Hotel Brunswick on Saturday to catch Mat McHugh (of the Beautiful Girls) and Darren Middleton (of Powderfinger) when they present a very special concert for our whales. Well the whales won’t be there. But no doubt they’ll be grooving away at sea. From 12 noon, running through until 10pm.

$10 donation via entry. Other artists include Pilots, Wandering Eyes, Chris Mapstone and Milan Martin.

The Olley Is Open

To celebrate the opening of the Margaret Olley Art Centre, Margot Anthony and the Friends of The Tweed Regional Gallery and Margaret Olley Art Centre Inc present the Lyrebrid Trio at the Tweed Regional Gallery. These graduates of the Queensland Conservatorium won the Beleura Prize for best piano trio and the Audience Prize at the Asia Pacific Chamber Music competition. They have recently returned from a residency at the Banff Centre for the Arts in Canada.

Sunday 6.30pm at the Tweed River Art Gallery.

Students Shine

Five participants from a 7-week music and performance course are ready to ‘beam their gleam’ in your direction at the next SHINE performance event, which takes place in a Myocum house concert on Sunday at 5pm. Participants have been guided, both individually and as a group, through a process that combines artistic, body-based and empowerment psychotherapies with singing, songwriting and performance to produce breakthrough results. To reserve one of the 15 tickets and for all event logistics, please contact Susanna Carman [email protected] or phone 0423 838 228.