Family fun day in Byron
Byron Bay Football Club are having their annual Family Fun Day this Saturday at the Rec grounds in Byron from 9am. There will be a jumping castle, sausage sizzle, other fun activities and games all day, followed by music and food in the early evening at the Northern.
Big Bello laugh
Comedy lovers are in for a treat at Bello Winter Music with a nightly hour of comedy at 5 Church Street, Bello’s most ambient, hipster venue. Come and witness Ryan Coffey create a masterpiece about his beard and his search for love. Also featured are Greg Sullivan, Paul McMahon, Mandy Nolan and Ellen Briggs. 8pm 3–5 July with Nolan hosting the inaugural opening concert on opening night at the Memorial Hall.
Ron Curran’s Dynamic Drawing Group Exhibition at Kulchajam 4 & 5 July
The dynamic art of drawing
Ron Curran’s popular life-drawing class is responsible for unleashing many dormant creative juices in our shire, and to celebrate, the crew have put together a showcase of work. The exhibition opening will be on the Saturday and will represent work from a large number of participants. There will also be a Q&A-style session. The show is at Kulchajam in Byron on 4 and 5 July.
Ryan Coffey, headlining at the Big Gig Comedy Club at the Ballina RSL on Thursday and appearing at Bello Winter Music the following weekend
A nice big Coffey
Coffey combines his incisive comic eye, his blistering guitar skill, his howling vocal talent, and his mastery of the loop pedal to create hilarious anthems to everyday life – live, before your eyes.
His debut at the 2011 Melbourne International Comedy Festival show earned him a nomination for the Golden Gibbo Award for Best Independent Artist. Coffey is just as at home on an outdoor stage in the summer sun and tearing up rock festivals.
Supported by Nick Penn and MC Mandy Nolan, Thursday at the Ballina RSL at 8pm. Free.
Blackboi at Poetry at the Paradiso in Suffolk Park on Wednesday
Poetry pizza in paradise
Hosted by Vasudha Harte, Poetry at the Paradiso will feature Blackboi and Possum and Tango as well as open mic.
Blackboi is an (Ab)Original empowering word sleuth of Gumilaroi and Maori descent. He has played alongside Archie Roach, Xavier Rudd, John Butler, Young Warriors, Wolfmother and Dubmarine. He will be making his first appearance as a poet at the Paradiso.
Possum & Tango is the love-child of acclaimed Nimbin poets Janey Treasure and Biskit. They have recently been inspired to work together to create poetry for two.
6.30pm Wednesday at Pizza Paradiso, Suffolk Park.
Winter Magic at Circus Arts on Friday with Circus Arts students’ fabulous skills on show
Winter wonderland of circus talent
Be carried away on a magical journey as the Circus Arts students weave a winter wonderland circus for all to enjoy! Shorty the Clown, MC extraordinaire, will entertain with magic and laughter to warm your hearts! So much talent under one roof! This will be a winter night to remember so wrap up in your woollies and join the circus family for a fun and affordable night out!
Raffle prizes to be won, $5 trapeze swings after the show and cafe and bar open from 6pm. Friday 7pm. Adults $5, Kids $3 Under-3 FREE. Tickets on the door. Byron Entertainment Centre. www.circusarts.com.au.
Wendy Matthews, performing Sunday 12 July at the Ballina Jockey Club for the Ballina Wine and Food Festival
Wine and food festival
The main Ballina Fine Wine and Food Festival on Sunday 12 July is at the Ballina Jockey Club (11am 5pm). Entry to the festival is for 18 years and over only. Rachael Beck and Wendy Matthews will be performing at the festival on Sunday. Buses will be running from Byron Bay, Bangalow, Lismore, Alstonville, Lennox Head and Ballina. Bus tickets are just $5 return, so no need to worry about driving.
It includes cooking demos showcasing local produce and food producers in the area. Cottage industries will showcase their wonderful products. Local restaurants will cook their signature dishes for patrons to sample with tasting plates available for purchase. A variety of wines, craft beers, ciders and spirits will be available to sample and glasses and bottles of wine, beer and ciders are available to purchase to enjoy on the day or to take home. Winemakers and brewers will be on hand to talk about products and share their knowledge at information sessions, which will be conducted throughout the afternoon.
Tickets for Sunday’s event available from ballinafinewineandfoodfestival.com.au.
Arty party for kiddie widdies
Enjoy a FREE family-friendly day of playful art making in the school holidays. Spinks Park in Lismore will be transformed into a place of wonder and play with arty activities galore including body percussion, dancing with The Cassettes and paper-plane making.
Bring the whole family, bring a picnic and bring your wonderful imaginations! Thursday 2 July 10.30am–2.30pm, Spinks Park, Lismore (behind the Lismore Regional Gallery on Molesworth St). More information at 100wonderplace.com.au.
NAIDOC celebrated
This year’s vibrant annual NAIDOC Group Exhibition coincides with national NAIDOC Week celebrations. The exhibition features paintings, ceramics, textiles, weaving and digital media works by Aboriginal artists associated with the northern rivers region.
The official launch of the exhibition is Thursday 5.30–7.30pm and all members of the community are welcome. The Northern Rivers Community Gallery is located at 44 Cherry Street in Ballina and is open Wednesday to Friday from 10am until 4pm and weekends from 9.30am until 2.30pm. For further information contact the Gallery on telephone 6681 6167.
Elliot Barnes and Ralph Fiennes in Man and Superman, one of Bernard Shaw’s most exciting plays by the National Theatre screening at the Palace in Byron on Saturday and Wednesday
It’s a bird, it’s a plane, oh, bugger it’s just a man…
Bernard Shaw’s Man and Superman is the latest offering from the National Theatre’s NT Live program, screening at Palace Cinema this week. Ralph Fiennes stars as Jack Tanner in this exhilarating reinvention of Shaw’s witty, provocative classic. Man and Superman asks fundamental questions about how we live. Man and Superman, directed by Simon Godwin, screens at Palace Byron Bay at 1pm on Saturday and 12.30pm on Wednesday. Tickets $23–25 available now at the cinema or online at www.palacecinemas.com.au.
Love and Mercy, film about the Beach Boys at the Palace
Mercy on us all
Palace Cinema is previewing one of the highlights of the Sydney Film Festival, Love and Mercy, this weekend. The film is an intimate and unconventional portrait of Brian Wilson, co-founder of the Beach Boys. The film examines the personal voyage and ultimate salvation of a cultural icon whose success came at extraordinary personal cost. Love and Mercy previews at Palace Byron Bay Cinema on Friday, Saturday and Sunday.
