10.4 C
Byron Shire
June 24, 2026

Culture Roundup – February 3, 2016

Latest News

Handcrafted delicious French pastries at Mullum Farmers Markets

Allie Godfrey A taste of France has arrived at the Mullumbimby Farmers Market, with local pastry chef Dan introducing his...

Other News

AI: Artificial Intelligence, or Artificial Inflation?

It feels as if AI is everywhere – whether it’s those intrusive bots on every website or every headline about how it’s either going to be a boon for humanity, or end us.

Six dwellings proposed on flood-prone Mullum block

Six units are proposed at the eastern end of New City Road, Mullumbimby, on a site that was inundated during the 2022 floods. Submitted by Duncan Band's Kollective, Development Application (DA) 10.2026.269.1 at 73 New City Road is on public exhibition with Byron Shire Council, and sits within the Shire's flood planning area.

Science in the Pub, Lismore, 16 July

An engaging and informative Science in the Pub event is planned on Thursday, 16 July, from 5pm at Two Mates Brewing, South Lismore.

Tweed keeps rate increase below rate of inflation

Tweed Shire Council says it has adopted one of the lowest rate increases in the cross-border region for 2026/27, with the average household bill rising around 3.6 per cent once all charges are counted. This is below the current annual rate of inflation of 4.2 per cent.

Trumpism

Is it naïve to think of a promise in the political context as no more than intention to do...

A bit of fun to raise some funds

Bobby Conn and Molly O’Neil, from Drover (either end) Paul Tansley from Stone & Wood (back) with Damian Farrell from Fletcher St Cottage pulling out his best Ray Charles moves. Join them and plenty of other performers at the 12th Festival of The Stone on Saturday, 20 June

ellen-briggs-live-
Ellen Briggs

Something Funny this Way Comes!

Things get funny at the Court House on Thursday when open mic comedy kicks off 2016 with Ellen Briggs as MC. Catch this marvellous mouthy Mullumbimby mama telling it how it is – and heading up a brand-new crop of comics on the talking stick. Thursday 4 February at 8pm. Free entry.

Rebellious Flower

The story is a bouquet of handpicked flowers from the garden of an unending celebration. Inspired on the life of Osho it’s a first feature film on the spiritual guru – Rajneesh Osho.
This film narrates life of Raja in his adolescence and youth and, moreover a rebellion in him; he is keen to unearth the answers beneath the surface of facts that are acceptable to others. It beautifully narrates the transition Raja goes through in the phase of enlightenment and sanctity.

His childhood mentor his maternal grandmother called as Nani by him, who nurtures his childhood and is a strong pillar in his learning phase, is very well depicted in the film. Rebellious Flower is an anecdote that takes on the path of beliefs that Raja resolves to walk on. In retrospect he surmises that existence is inevitably attained by purely accepting the simplicity of subconscious with the help of his mentors – Magga Baba, Paggal Baba and Masto Baba.

He embarks on a journey to understand the beauty that lies behind the unexpressed phrases of human perception and this is how he transforms to be a rebellious flower to share the essence and scent of its being, unconditionally.

Screening from Thursday, Pighouse Flicks Byron Bay.

Could You Handle It?

Off-grid is not a state of mind. It is not about being out of touch, living in a remote place, or turning off your mobile phone. Off-grid simply means living without a connection to the electric and natural gas infrastructure. From 2011 to 2013 Jonathan Taggart (director) and Phillip Vannini (producer) spent two years travelling across Canada to find 200 off-gridders and visit them in their homes. They met off-gridders in every single province and territory and, through their film, they narrated and chronicled in depth the experiences, challenges, inventions, aspirations, and a life people have chosen – a way that draws on skills of the past and is inspired by concerns for our collective future. Taggart and Vannini also witnessed firsthand the joy of success and the heartbreak of disappointment. Life was never going to be easy nor impossible living off-grid.

Life Off Grid – Release February 4, Pig House Flicks Byron Bay

Deya-Dova2mb
Deya Dova performing as part of harmonic temple at the byron community centre this sunday

In Harmony

Sonic Temple and Harmonic Spaces presents Harmonic Temple an intentional exploration of visionary music and art featuring a visionary art gallery, dance temple and artist talks.

Enter the Harmonic Temple, a sacred space of sound and art for our community to use as a vehicle for personal and collective transformation.

Sonic artists at the event include Kalya Scintilla & Eve Olutio, Deya Dova, Temple Step Project (DJ Set), Dakini and DJ Lo Qi.

There will be a visual feast with Autumn Skye, Daniel Mirante, Jake Kobrin, Adam Scott Miller, Jonathon Van Dorn, Katia Honour, Pumayana, Izzy Ivy, Light Wizard, Galactic Seed, Mad Betty, Jason Morning, Chandrika Steinhardt, Beau Deeley, Yao Art and so much more.

Harmonic Temple will be held at the Byron Community Centre this Sunday from 6–12pm. Visit www.byroncentre.com.au for more info.

Dan-and-Shelly-Hughes.
enjoy award-winning, original songs from dan and Shelly Hughes Brown at Northern Rivers Community Gallery Saturday 13 February

Belles Lettres: a free afternoon of poetry, art and music

Join Dangerously Poetic Press for a free afternoon reading of intimate letter poems at the Northern Rivers Community Gallery in Ballina.

Local poets will read both original and favourite ‘epistles’.

Enjoy the jazzy voice of Shelly Hughes Brown with her award-winning original songs accompanied by Dan Brown on the keyboard. Their recent projects and performances include their CD Where the Owl Was, the Cole Porter Tribute Night in Byron Bay, working behind the scenes with The Mullumbimby Music Festival, recording childrens’ songs for The Quincys, performing at Woodford Folk Festival, and leading vocal workshops at the amazing Summersong Music Camp in Lennox Head.

Share a letter poem to your beloved at the Open Section in honour of Valentines Day.

This is one of the last chances to see the Belles Lettres exhibit by artists Nathalie Verdejo and Hannah Massey.

Saturday 13 February, 1–2.30pm at the Northern Rivers Community Gallery, 44 Cherry Street, Ballina.

JanetAndChoir8
Get your little songbirds along to the scout hall, mullumbimby Mondays for specialist training to nurture their musical abilities

Choirs for kids who love singing

Does your child sing around the house and love using their voice? Chances are that they have musical ability that could be nurtured and developed. We offer specialist training for musical kids who really love to sing – early childhood music, girls and boys choirs. All classes are held on Mondays at the Scout Hall, River Terrace, Mullumbimby. Term one 2016 commences on Monday 8 February. Cost is $120 per term.

Janet – 0438 965 397. Register now for 2016 at www.songdynastymusic.com.



For four decades The Echo has printed the stories some people loved, some people hated, and some pretended not to read. If you want us to keep telling the truth, the real truth, not the sugar-coated version. We’ll need your support to keep the presses rolling.

If you are a local business owner help us and in turn we help you. All The Echo asks for is advertising, not a free ride. It is every advert in The Echo and on www.echo.net.au, which creates the space for all the stories and coverage of community events, happenings and concerns.

If you are a reader you can become a sponsor of The Echo. Your support keeps the us independent.

Even a small one-off or regular donation from you will help keep the echo’s independent voice alive and strong.

Support Us

Become one of the supporters who helps keep independent, local journalism alive in the Byron Shire by contributing anything from as little as the cost of a coffee each month.

You're Wonderful, Thank you for supporting independent journalism in the Byron Shire

You’re supporting The Echo, thank you

Your contribution is keeping independent, local journalism alive in the Northern Rivers.

Because of supporters like you, we can keep every story free for everyone — no paywall, no exceptions. Your money goes directly to funding our newsroom of 40-odd local workers covering the stories that matter to this community.

Tell us what you think, give us your opinion

The Echo loves your letters and comments and is proud to provide a community forum on the issues that matter most to our readers and the people of the NSW north coast. So don’t be a passive reader, email us your epistles at editor@echo.net.au.

The letters deadline for The Echo is noon Friday. Letters longer than 200 words may be cut. The publication of letters is at the discretion of the letters editor. Please remember to include your full name, address and telephone number.

Online comments are no longer available.

Local farming legend retires after 23 years

Thursday, 25 June marks the end of an era for local farmer Kenrick Riley who is retiring from Byron Farmers Market after 23 years. Kenrick...

Highwayman’s Winter Whisky Feast

Highwayman’s Dan Woolley has been working with whisky for over 20 years, and started to fill his own barrels here in Byron Bay over...

Men’s XV: Byron Shire Rebels vs Lismore

The Rebels Men’s XV put in a dominant attacking display of rugby to see off Lismore 42-17, racking up six tries in a performance...

Byron’s Winter Whales raise $43,000

The Byron Bay Winter Whales (BBWW) took to the ocean for the 39th time this year on the first Sunday of May and raised $43,000 for local organisations and charities.