Karaoke Championships Anyone?
This Sunday is your chance to be part of the World Karaoke Championships. The search is on to take one lucky Australian karaoke singer’s fifteen minutes of fame to the world stage for the world finals of the Karaoke World Championships 2014. Celebrating 12 years and hosted in as many as 30 different countries worldwide, the Karaoke World Championships have become the opportunity of a lifetime for aspiring vocalists to perform on the world stage.
Heats will be held at The Byron Bay Brewery; final winners will secure a place in the Queensland state finals at the Coolangatta Tweed Heads Golf Club on Saturday October 4. The winner of the state final will win immediate entry to represent their state in the Australian National Grand Final later that same evening where they will compete for the chance to represent Australia in Sweden in November. First prize in the Australian competition includes a return trip to Stockholm, Sweden, with five nights’ accommodation, cash prizes, Capital Karaoke prizes and a trophy. Sunday July 20 at Byron Bay Brewery, 8.00pm start, $17.50 / $20.For more information, please visit byronbaybrewery.com.au.
Here comes the Sun
Soldiers of the Sun present their smorgasbord of joyous alt-country bluegrass and funk music with a gig that promises an old-time shuffle feel mixed in a big bowl of brilliantly eclectic and contemporary lyrics along with some truly vintage sounds.
No strangers to the Aussie roots scene, grab a seat at their gig at the Sheoak Shack in Fingal Head on Saturday.
Swingers Unite
Grab the car keys, get a babysitter and come on out to our night of rock and roll dancing at the Tyalgum Hall hopping along to the music of The Cadillac Rockers!
This up-and-coming young band plays all the hits of 50–60s and more with experience way beyond their ages. Dress up for the occasion and swing the night away on the fabulous wooden dance floor. Kids welcome.
Friday at Tyalgum Community Hall. Tickets online – www.trybooking.com/89103 or at the door $15A/$10 concession or $7 per child 7.30pm show. BYO drinks only and group bookings available.
Middle Heat
It’s the third and last heat of the Middle Pub Band Comp this Saturday from 7.30pm and with six bands on the bill what a massive night it will be. Performing for special guest judges – guitar maestro Geoff Wright (Procul Harum, Tina Turner) and wonderful local songstress Rebecca Ireland – for a chance to play at the Mullum Music Fest 2014 are: Mt St Pats young guns the Squeak Lemaire Trio, melodic swamp-stompers Basking Shark, Brunswick blues-rockers Native Son, gypsy-cabaret act Out of Range, acoustic prog-rockers The Silencio and metal-men Level H.
It’s a great show for all ages so come early, grab a quality $15 main and make a night of it.
Frank Music
Isaac Frankham has a unique ability to connect with audiences and interact with them as he performs the best of contemporary music.
Strong vocals overlay percussion, bass and triggered drum samples alongside six- and twelve-string acoustic and electric guitars. Isaac takes well-known songs, spicing them up with grooves and sonic textures that have people on their feet dancing or just chilling out with a slower number.
Friday at the Ballina RSL.
A New Empire of Music
This Saturday and Sunday sees music and night-life come to the Empire Cafe in Mullumbimby with live DJs in from 5pm. Friday you can enjoy the funky minimal tunes with DJ Wadeep and on Saturday groove to the laidback eclectic tunes with DJ Aqua from BayFM. Reservations during those days are highly recommended!
Friday’s Bliss
House of Bliss is open for their fortnightly chanting and kirtan this Friday. Special guest in the house this week is Mel Dobra.
Mel’s a beautiful local sacred-music musician who recently released her debut album Sacred Tides. She has travelled with heart musician Kevin James for many years, and this new project aligns with her intention to create a space where the community can find a deep connection with themselves, with each other and with the planet through the shared power of music.
Along with Mel will be the ever-evolving house band. Friday at St Martin’s Hall, Mullumbimby, 6.30pm for chai and treats, 7pm chanting. $15/$10 concession. For comfort bring a cushion or blanket.
Open Mic Mullum
The Mullumbimby Ex-Services welcomes talented beginner, emerging, and professional players to join in on the Open Mic every Friday from 8pm, with MC the delightful Ms Fiona Dell.
Tree at The Rails
Escaping the chilly Victorian winter for one show at the Byron Bay Railway Friendly Bar (‘The Rails’) is Tree (formerly holycow). Fronted by a unique male/female combo, Ian Treloar and Ree Liddell work roots cruise blues ’n’ Rasta with strong songlines with soaring vocals/harmonies, earthy rhythms.
On board are nine- and six-string acoustic guitar-synth, resonator, mandolin, charango, drums loops and stomp.
The songs talk of spacejunk, politics, love, environment and survival. Catch them at the Rails on Thursday.
Milling Around for Music
Multi-award-winning songwriter and vivacious Melbourne performer Melissa Main combines forces with local soul-tress Shelly Hughes to present an afternoon of fine tunes, double-dating and mutual high regard. Shelly and Melissa perform at the Rous Mill Hall on Sunday from 3pm.
Workin’ It at the Platinum Lounge
This week the latest SCU talent is featured at the Platinum Lounge at the Lismore Workers Club. Parkside Orchestra make the kind of music they love from laidback Ray Mann Three-inspired grooves to heavier blues tunes similar to the John Mayer Trio’s and featuring Torsten Gustavsson on guitar/vocals, Scott Finch on bass and Freyja Hooper on drums. Fossic play a set of original alternative music and wowed everyone at the third-year exams a few weeks ago featuring Benja Melon Meek on guitar/ vocals, Angus McIlveen on bass/vocals and Lachlan Dwyer on drums/vocals. Tuesday from 7.30pm.
Knight and Daze at the Billi
Kellie Knight and the Daze fuse old-school funk with groove, rock licks and nu-jazz improvisation to serve up eclectic originals and audience favourites alike. Influenced by artists such as James Brown, Stevie Wonder and Miles Davis, this band show their might with guitar and keyboard improvisation that will blow your mind, a rhythm section that holds the tribal beat, and one of the most powerful voices you’ll hear. Catch them at the iconic Billinudgel Pub for a Sunday Session this Sunday at 3pm.
Digging that soul
Geoff Achison is an independent Australian musician who has forged his own path to a successful career that has won him fans all over the world.
Having taught himself to play in the isolation of rural Australia, he has developed a blues/funk style all his own that can be delicate one moment and explosive the next. Unaware of how the sounds he was hearing on his limited record collection were produced, he invented some of his own techniques – without the aid of pedals or gadgets. Just watching him wrench a myriad of sounds from his simple set-up can be something of a spectacle.
Inspired by the great Blues and R&B music of yesteryear, Geoff’s live set features an infectious mix of gutsy original tunes, improvised jams and dynamic new arrangements of blues & soul classics.
Geoff Achison & The Souldiggers at the Currumbin SoundLounge Friday. Doors open from 7:30pm, show begins at 8:30pm
Tickets $20 online, or $22 at the door unless sold out.
Hearing Horace
The Horace Bevan Band was formed around a year ago after an impromptu session at the Aussie Hotel in Ballina. After a six-year journey of soul searching, and musical experimentation with dozens of talented musicians, Horace came across four of the most unlikely candidates and struck gold. The band have released three singles and even received airplay in the US with Heart Like Mine. The band has four songwriters so it’s no wonder they’ve managed to crank out 30 original compositions in the past year. They play the Club Lennox on Saturday with special guests Jamie Lockhart and Adaja Black and weekends from 9.30am till 2.30pm.
If you want to see more of What’s on in Byron Bay, Tweed, Lismore, Ballina and the Northern Rivers this week then see our gig guide page.
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