Creating the Sacred with Carmella and Yantra
Award-winning Carmella Baynie joins forces with composer Yantra De Vilder, the two becoming ‘kindred souls devoted to the exploration of sacred music’. Both bring their extraordinary back catalogue of experience to the stage with Carmella having opened for the likes of Eartha Kitt, Jenny Morris and Paul Capsis, and has also played in China, Malaysia, Singapore and Hong Kong. Carmella has gone on to become one of Australia’s most popular sought-after sacred singers, travelling the world performing and facilitating vocal workshops throughout New Zealand, India, Asia and the USA. Yantra is a composer, performer, and multi-instrumentalist in dance, theatre, film and TV. She has broad experience working with musicians across diverse enthnographies, fusing traditional instrumentation and unique community voice with contemporary instrumentation, new music technologies and soundscapes.
The two come together for their Sacred Chant performance at the Byron Theatre, Community Centre, on Saturday.
Show is at 8pm. Tickets are $25.20 at byroncentre.com.au and at the door (if any left).
CC the Music
The east coast’s fave reggae feline Claire Cottone of CC the Cat is finding her feet in her new home in the northern rivers with a bunch of local shows. After winning best reggae track at the prestigious North Coast Dolphin Awards in November and showcasing at Byron Bay Falls Festival over New Year, CC’s been prowling around this funky town looking for stages to get her paws on.
CC has reconnected with her original bassist of many years, Tracy Stephens (Hussy Hicks), for some duo shows in Byron Bay and surrounds, still kicking with the main band (based in Brisbane) for big stage shows. CC the Cat plays the Mullumbimby Farmers Markets on Friday morning, Treehouse that evening from 7.30 and as a duo at the Brewery on Saturday.
Bach to Basics
With a program that embraces much-loved works in the string repertoire, ACO2 returns to northern New South Wales and Queensland with Around the World. Taking the audience on a journey through America, Russia and Germany, and culminating in a voyage through Salzburg, Barcelona, Paris and Maputo with Berger’s Metropoles Suite for Violin and Strings, Around the World will be led by acclaimed violinist Benjamin Schmid. Also featured on the program are works by JS Bach, Tchaikovsky and Barber.
Benjamin Schmid said, ‘Bach’s E Major Concerto is a classy classic – its second movement is eternal in its incredible beauty and quiet longing. Barber’s Adagio for Strings is as popular as it is beautiful and it takes us to the music of the United States. The build-up in energy in Tchaikovsky’s Souvenir de Florence is compelling, merciless, and beautiful, and to experience that with an elite ensemble such as ACO2 will be an essential sensation!’
Making their debut with ACO2 in 2015 are emerging artists Harry Bennetts, Madeleine Jevons, Amy Brookman (violins); Martin Alexander (viola); Ruben Palma (cello); and Aurora Henrich (double bass).
St John’s Hall, Mullumbimby, Sunday at 3pm. Tix via Eventbrite, 6687 1393.
Heavy Woody Stereo
Hold tight, Byron – welcome to Heavy Stereo – a new regular night brought to you by the Ku team. Expect bass-heavy music, bands, DJs, producers, and our legendary production values at Woody’s Surf Shack in Byron. For the first instalment, Ku presents Jacky Murda on the wheels of steel. Jacky is one of the most in-demand ragga jungle DJs and producers on the planet right now, working with a who’s who of the scene. With support from 3rdEye and Crucial D, all powered by the Solidarity Sound System. Jacky Murda is never one to disappoint. Expect a tear-out jungle session, whistle and horn crew in attendance! Fyahhh! Headline entertainment from 12 noon. Saturday 23 May. Tickets are $10 and are available from www.kupromotions.com.au/latest-events/jacky-murda.
Holidays with Angie and Dean
Holidays On Ice is a collaboration between Angie Hart (Frente!), Dean Manning (Leonardo’s Bride) & Stella Mozgawa (Warpaint). Their Hat & Hall tour will take in the Drill Hall in Mullum on Fri 22 May. The show will include the screening of a 40-minute film directed by Dean Manning. Angie is best known as the voice of Frente! The group achieved worldwide success with numerous records, and a US Billboard Top 10 hit for their version of Bizarre Love Triangle. Dean was the songwriter/guitarist for Leonardo’s Bride, whose two critically acclaimed albums included the APRA Song of the Year Even When I’m Sleeping, which was also voted one of APRA’s Top 30 Australian Songs of All Time. Los Angeles-based Stella Mozgawa is a member of indie rock band Warpaint as well as featuring on Kurt Vile’s Wakin’ on a Pretty Daze. While Stella is absent, Angie and Dean team up for a killer show. Drill Hall, Mullumbimby, Friday 22 May. Doors open at 6pm and tickets are available from www.kupromotions.com.au/latest-events/holidays-on-ice.
Still Matt
Matt Stillert is a Sunshine Coast-based alternative blues/roots musician who has been performing for more than 10 years. His unique style ranges from soothing folk melodies, to high-energy, foot-stomping blues, displaying a dynamic blend of roots music. His EP release Don’t Fear the Beard from early 2012 demonstrated his promising debut, selling out the first pressing.
Since then he has re-released the EP as Don’t Fear the Beard – reissued with three exciting new tracks on it. He uses a mixture of acoustic, cigar box, lap steel, electric guitars, percussion and soulful vocals with gusto. The opening track on his EP Little Yellow Wand maintained a number one position on the Triple J Unearthed Roots Charts with airplay on Roots ’n’ All.
Matt Stillert plays The Rails Byron Bay Thursday, the Bangalow Hotel on Friday, Nimbin Hotel on Saturday and The Haven Murwillumbah on Sunday.
Getting Conservative
Behind the walls of the old school building in Lismore’s CBD, quality music education is delivered to more than 800 students, from babies to grandparents, every week. The Lismore Conservatorium is holding a careers expo this Thursday and Friday and is inviting people to pop by the Conservatorium’s stall at the Careers Expo at Goonellabah Sports & Aquatic Centre to find out all about their Cert III and diploma courses. The following weekend Conservatorium students are collecting sponsorship to perform in the third annual Music Marathon – the Northern Rivers Conservatorium’s major fundraiser. This year’s goal is $7,000 and all money raised will go towards equipment for students. There is a prize of a whole term of free lessons for the student who raises the most money.
Twelve hours of performances will take place on two stages – acoustic in the Concert Room and a powered stage in the Keen Street Courtyard. All donations over $2 are tax deductible. On the day Lismore Makers’ Market will be held in the grounds. The Music Marathon takes place on Saturday 23 May, 10am–4pm.
Rocking out at the YAC
This Friday sees Byron-based band Big and the Bangs return to the YacRockCafe for their second all-ages show at the Byron YAC in a month. Big and the Bangs are a four-piece local band. Alt-rock, riff rock, heavy blues, psychobilly, rockabilly, mariachi, swamp, hard rock, metal – these guys are serious all-rounders with a massive sound and a stage act that needs to be seen to be believed!
Big and the Bangs are a recipe fuelled by raw garage power, twisted tales from a country swamp, driven in the unbridled direction of psych-rock and executed with veracious proficiency. Big and the Bangs will be joined by Brisbane hardcore, metal and rock bands Dr Parallax, El Monstro and Flynn Effect. Doors open at 6pm and bands kick off from 7pm. This is a free-entry, all-ages, drug-and-alcohol-free show, supported by BUDDI Community Drug Action Team and Byron Youth Service.
Forever at the Rails
Ripping through a 13-song explosion as a self-imposed challenge to write and record as fast as possible, Forever Since Breakfast have spewed forth an epic and melodic ADHD release that gives meaning to the term pop stirrers. Recorded in a farmhouse in Alstonville, the splintering pop sensibilities of the album are distinctly Australian with hints of the impressionistic darkness of REM.
Forever Since Breakfast play the Rails on Sunday with support Black Ghost Party.
Electronic Music For the Ocean
Dwellers of the Deep Electronic Music Fiesta showcases 10 Australian music producers who are donating their time and talent for Sea Shepherd Australia and Weasel Warriors. This ten-hour epic dance party will see all proceeds going to these two very worthy charities. Music will kick off on Saturday 23 May in the Byron Brewery beergarden from 2pm, showcasing some awesome producers such as Dub Farmer, Loud Zoo, Native Dog, Osy, Harmless Prankster and 3rd Eye. From 8pm the party moves inside to the main auditorium with its big pumping sound system cranked up to 11 for Spork, Itsu and Rich Curtis. Tickets are $35 and include dinner at the Brewery. Earlybird tix are just $25, although numbers are limited, so be quick! Tickets at www.goldcoasttickets.com.au or at the door until sold out!
The Nova Experience
The previous 12 months for the Sydney-based indie pop band was one of growth and significant achievement. It saw them release their third EP There’s Something Here, their most popular and critically acclaimed release to date. They won a competition against 100s of bands to open for Stonefield and Amy Meredith at the Ben & Jerry’s Openair Cinema Charity Launch, as well as playing the sold-out Red Deer Music and Arts Festival with The Grates and Kingswood. Nova & The Experience infuse each show with their infectious energy and make sure that their fans are having a new and original ‘experience’ each time they come to see them play. They play the Byron Brewery on Friday from 7.30pm. Free entry.
Finding Your Frequency
Sunshine Coast psychedelic surf roots and progressive rockers Band of Frequencies have played all over the world with the likes of Donovan Frankenreiter, John Butler Trio, Angus Stone, Bernard Fanning and Ash Grunwald, as well as some of the world’s most amazing festivals and events. True believers in sounds beyond boundaries, Band of Frequencies draw their influences from a vast spectrum of blues, roots, rock, funk and psychedelic styles. Their signature blend comes from years of live experimentation, constantly pushing their influences into the creative fires to see what melts, what explodes and what merges. They have successfully forged a bond of sonic elements that represents their coastal roots and strikes a chord in the hearts of passionate music lovers around the globe. They play the Hotel Brunswick on Sunday.
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