Big Band at Banga
The Northern Rivers Big Band present an evening of swing dancing at the Bangalow Bowling Club this Saturday. With their 16-piece band in full swing, the NRBB will perform plenty of dance tunes, plus a few beautiful ballads for close dancing, with the music of the best big bands such as Duke Ellington, Count Basie, Glen Miller and many more. Show starts 7.30pm. Admission is $25 cash only at the door. The bar and bistro open at 5pm.
The Train comes to Mullum
Zion Train have been the undisputed leaders of the dub/dance genre for the past two decades. Heavily involved in the UK alternative and DIY underground culture during the 1990s, they are well known as purveyors of the finest roots reggae music. Known as one of the finest live dub acts on the planet, they fuse dynamic onstage dub mixing alongside acoustic instruments and the best vocalists. This show will see Zion Train’s Neil Perch (live dub mixing), The Mighty Asterix from Salmonella Dub on the mic, plus a very special lineup on horns. They play the Mullum Civic Hall on Saturday 24 October. Tix: $25, available from: kupromotions.com.au/latest-events/zion-train
Open Your Eyes
Local soul, roots and reggae troubadours the Jesse Morris Band launch a new single at the Rails in Byron this Saturday. Titled Open Your Eyes, it features a collaboration with local dub-master and kiwi born Kakhand, who will be spinning tracks and beats throughout the night. The show will be supported by the gypsy-songstress Rosie Miss-Chief.
The Jesse Morris Band have just returned from playing 150 shows across Australia over the past 12 months and are gearing up for more national touring to launch a bunch of new tracks off the forthcoming new release. The Jesse Morris Band features TK Dread on bass, Rob DeMasi on drums, and showcases the freedom songs of singer/guitarist Jesse Morris plus a plethora of guests on horns, percussion and voice. You can download the track free for one week from the Jesse Morris Band Facebook page www.facebook.com/jessemorrisband. Rails Hotel Byron Bay from 7pm.
Tango, Paris and you
A chance encounter with Argentinean tango in Paris at the age of 23 and Australian classical mandolinist Ruth Roshan fell in love with the tango. Now, with her quintet Tango Noir, she has recorded three acclaimed albums of melodic tango-inspired pieces and songs, and gathered an exceptional group of musicians around her in the process. Grand piano, violin, accordion, jazz flute, cello and mandolin create a luscious musical landscape to listen to (and dance through), with tango classics and original compositions.
Ruth Roshan is a sassy woman, at ease and confident in a professional and tight lineup. She lures you in to her music with a deceptive sweetness, and then delivers songs with charmingly cheeky ‘attitude’ that is refreshing to find in tango.
Ruth Roshan & Tango Noir perform at the Byron Theatre on Friday 2 October in support of their new original CD Stories of Love & Regret.
Tickets at byroncentre.com.aupass.
Lisa’s African dance party
Top local and international artist Lisa Hunt’s first show back in Byron after her annual tour of Europe and the US will be a special African (l.e.a.f) Dance Party on Friday 2 October at the Byron Bay Golf Club, to celebrate local charity African LEAF’s 10th anniversary. Lisa’s connection with African LEAF began in 2013 during a visit to Kenya when she visited the 16 orphan children sponsored by African Leaf in Nairobi. Since then she’s been wanting to do something to help raise funds for these beautiful kids, all of whom she wanted to bring home with her!
Tickets are $20 each (available only at the door) includes a free $5 ticket in a mega-raffle, drawn on the night, for the major prize of two five-day Bluesfest passes, kindly donated by the Bluesfest team. Show at 8pm. Meals can be purchased at the club’s restaurant from 5.30pm (bookings recommended – ph 6685 6470). All ticket sale proceeds will go to African LEAF.
Whistle while you uke
Miss Amber and Stukulele have learned that four out of five happy songs have whistling in them. Come and join the chorus as we sing, strum and whistle tunes from the September songbook entitled Happy Folk including Monty Python’s Always Look on The Bright Side Of Life. Uke Night this Thursday with special guests Uke Loveys and Chris Mallory from Two Lions – Club Mullum in the Ex-Services auditorium. Doors Open 6.30. Entry is $10 for grownups and $2.50 for kids under 16.
Playing it Lazy
Black Rebel is The Lazys’ second collaboration with Billy Talent guitarist Ian D’Sa, who co-wrote their debut Top 10 single Shake It Like You Mean It last year. Lauded with rave reviews around their trademark high-energy live shows, The Lazys are eager to return to the stage. Their no-nonsense stage presence also grabbed the attention of Rolling Stone magazine, which hailed them as the new torchbearers of Australian hard rock following their CMJ Music Marathon show in New York City last year. Friday at the Hotel Great Northern.
From Nashville to the Rails
Blind Willie Wagtail play the Rails this Sunday. After five weeks touring the southern states of the US the band is feeling inspired. Peter Hurcombe was in raptures about the experience: ‘What a mind blower musically were New Orleans and Nashville!’ The Wagtails play the Rails from 6.30pm.
New Noonan
She’s been part of your sonic life since George first appeared in the mid–late 90s, and since then she’s done… well, damn near everything.
After traversing jazz, dance and classical, having collaborated, and found ‘a bigger broader tripper and dirtier palette’, Katie Noonan returns with sounds and textures from new sonic terrain. Transmutant is her latest haunting offering and Katie will be appearing at the Byron Community Centre on 23 October. Tickets at the venue.
More Reasons than you need
Crafting country-tinged ballads about booze and women, David Garnham and the Reasons to Live know all about twisted love and the human condition. Garnham made Australian songwriting history when he won the prestigious International Songwriting Competition for his song Love Inside a Jar.
They are joined by Jessie Vintila (above) of the Lucky Wonders and Leo Rondeau from the US at Club Mullum (Mullumbimby Ex-Services) on Friday at 7.30pm. Tix are $35 at the door.
Little Rae of Sunshine
Jasmine Rae is fast becoming one of Australia’s most admired female vocalists, songwriters and performers. Featuring her unique soulful country sound and captivating lyrics, Heartbeat, the new album released on 15 May through ABC Music/Universal Music Australia, is the three-time ARIA-nominated, CMA International Award winner and two-time CMC Music Award winner’s finest work yet. At its core, Heartbeat is an honest celebration of life and love, therapy for the hard times, and your motivation to break the shackles, listen to your soul, take control and ‘dance to the rhythm of your own Heartbeat!’
Jasmine plays the Ballina RSL on Saturday at 8.30pm. Tix are $25 for adults, $15 for under-15s and are available at the club.
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