Jenn & Cannons
‘Music is the connector that binds us all,’ says Jenn Grant, ‘To be able to create music and share the power it can hold is one of life’s greatest gifts.’
This is the very essence behind the voice and songs of Jenn Grant. A heralded singer/songwriter from Prince Edward Island, in Canada’s Maritimes, Grant has four albums and one EP under her belt; she is about to embark on a brand-new journey with her best collection of songs to date.
Grant’s newest offering Compostela translates to ‘field of stars’ or ‘star field’ – which comes from the legend that the dust of the pilgrims who walk the El Camino make up the stars that form the Milky Way.
Joining Grant on part of her tour are Byron Bay’s Starboard Cannons. This contemporary Australiana duo, who are also appearing at Woodford Folk Festival, are promoting their latest album The Valiant and the Brave.
Following a busy year that saw the fellows feature as part of the Festival of Small Halls and Mullum Music Festival, the Cannons are keen to slip back into duo mode for some stripped-back intimate shows alongside Jenn.
Saturday at The Court House Hotel in Mullumbimby.
Shake Your Skank
This is the return of the Boom Faya Family at the Byron Brewery’s beer garden! This time even stronger, more epic and troublesome than ever! On the menu is the wicked original 4’ 20’ sound system crew representing the Monday night fever at the Ginger Pig, together with SKANKSTARZ, the rugged reggae band collective ready to deliver their brand-new live act, scheduled to tour all over Australia over the next few months. 7.30pm start on Saturday. Free.
Fletch
Independent songwriter/artist Sam Fletcher’s latest EP is an introductory to a series of home-grown releases for 2015.
It reflects elements of contemporary pop, blues, jazz, rock and folk but still maintains a good dose of originality throughout. Sam is a self-taught musician and has strived to maintain a certain authenticity to his songwriting. He is not afraid to be left out of a genre-specific typecast and approaches every song as if it were a genre unto itself. See Sam at Club Lennox on Sunday at 4pm.
Top Score!
Dance in the new year this Thursday to the gypsy, jazz, Balkan tunes of The Underscore Orkestra, direct from the USA, at the Byron Brewery. This six-piece band has a sound likened to a mix between gypsy rock big guns DeVotchKa and Gogol Bordello (but just not quite as manic). Special guests direct from the festival circuit, Miss Friby & Co (Melb), will spice up the night with some bent burlesque and vaudeville mayhem. Described by UK comedian Dawn French as ‘strange and frothy, original and fresh’, Miss Friby is as accessible to the burlesque virgin as she is to the seasoned pro.
The exotic flavour continues with tribal bellydance duo, Suadela, direct from Ireland, who will perform with the band and local dancers Ishtar. Tickets available online at www.wildhoneyevents.com.
Pre-sale tix $18 + bf or $25 at the door.
Free Spirit Cyber Tribal Gathering
Electric Forest Events present Free Spirit Cyber Tribal Gathering – a unique festival atmosphere where self-expression, freedom and personal journeys can meld into a positive life-affirming experience through dance within an immersive multimedia environment.
Electric Forest have selected some of the region’s best known and most talented DJs, running midday to midnight this Saturday and Sunday at Mt Belmore. Featuring Jade Sebire, Nick Taylor, DJ Pumpernickle, DJ Sean Candy, Penumbra, DJ Mista Flynn, Short Circuit, DJ El Scorcho, DJ L.Y.D.I.A., DJ Jimmy D, DJ Orion, Manel Gallego, DJ Limes, LeOch, DJ Magu, DJ Kamos and Karlyn Boyter’s Rebirthing Breathwork. Want to work out where it is and how to get there? Follow the link for directions: http://binged.it/1xazXHS.
Marmalade Music
Wild Marmalade celebrate the release of their new album Flux at Hotel Brunswick this Sunday afternoon. Joining forces with Tijuana Cartel’s astonishing flamenco guitarist, Paul George, Wild Marmalade’s power duo of didgeridoo and drums reaches a new dimension with this potent and melodically rich collaboration.
During the height of the European summer Wild Marmalade delivered an exceptional series of concerts across seven countries. Uplifting, inspired, human-powered dance music unparalleled in the world today. Hotel Brunswick on Sunday from 4pm. Free.
Dustin Thomas Medicine
Byron Bay is no stranger to the talents of Dustin Thomas and his infectious blend of beat-box/soul folk. Stepping away solo from Nahko & Medicine for the People, Dustin is armed with a voice, a guitar and universal anthems of faith, love, and war. This young artist continues to inspire hearts around the world on his mission of music, joy and peace. Friday at the Byron Brewery from 8.30pm. Free.
Gypsy Music
Ku Promotions present a sumptuous evening of Catalonian and gypsy music with Woodford favourites, Baix Empordà and The Romaniacs at Coorabell Hall on Saturday 24 January. Presenting a selection of habaneras and tavern songs from the Catalonia region of Spain, Ricardo Balil and his daughter Tania share the stories of Catalonian fishermen and sailors.
Ricardo Balil, who retrieved these songs straight from the taverns in the Costa Brava more than 50 years ago, brings these precious melodies all the way from Catalonia to Australia in an emotive performance next to his daughter Tania Balil. Tania has a unique singing style that is full of raw passion and colour. Local favourites The Romaniacs will finish off the night with their unique blend of gypsy dance music. $25 plus bf. Door $30. Tix available
at www.kupromotions.com.au/?p=1518.
The Real Deal
Mastery of an instrument such as the sarangi (a string instrument from India) requires many years of intense love and dedication to the classical arts. Santosh and Sangeet Mishra, a father-son duo from Varanasi, represent eight generations of direct lineage of this amazing and difficult art form.
Here in the shire we have many lovers of Indian culture, especially kirtan. This concert is a special opportunity to delve into the authentic roots of Indian music, from where kirtan and bhajan come.
Tahir Qawwal and his partner Bhairavi Devi (Sufi Soul Sangeet) will also present a selection of classical and semi-classical devotional sufi songs from India and Pakistan, accompanied by Shen Flindell on tabla. Tahir has just returned from a three-week Peace Tour (through music) in Pakistan, sponsored by the US government. With his American group he shared his love of music at orphanages, colleges, consulate events and sufi shrines. The power of music to bridge cultures is never more important.
Come and support the beauty of devotional music in its traditional form! Drill Hall Theatre, Mullumbimby, this Saturday. $20 presale via www.trybooking.com/112730 (or $25 door). Doors 7pm, show 7.30pm sharp.
From Delhi 2 Dublin 2 Uki
GLO Dance is excited to bring one of Canada’s most renowned world festival acts – DELHI 2 DUBLIN – to the Uki Hall. They are an infectious global fusion of high-energy Indian bhangra rhythms, Celtic fiddle, phat electronic beats, sitar / guitar, conscious emceed vocals, tabla and high vibrational happy dance. They have toured with Balkan Beat Box across the USA and shared the stage with hundreds of bands, from Australia’s Cat Empire to Jamaica’s Ziggy Marley, performing more than 120 shows a year, to crowds of up to 150,000 (Canada’s Parliament Hill this year).
Plus DJ sets before and after with the ecstatic global beats of Dancing Tiger. Friday 8pm, Uki Hall. Info and tix at www.GLOdance.com.
