Welcoming our latest Immigrants at the Rails
Willie McElroy & The Immigrants are an exciting new band formed in the Byron Shire. Their music traverses Celtic to soul to folk. Willy’s passionate lyrics deal with contemporary struggles of oppression, love and kindness, yet are rooted in a deep mythological past. The Immigrants transport these songs to life with earthy rhythms and beautiful melodies. A seasoned crew, with colourful pasts, between them they have won ARIAS, released countless albums and trotted around the planet playing shows through Europe, the UK, Russia, Korea and the US. Their new self-titled CD produced by Christian Pyle is being launched at The Rails on Saturday 6 August.
Jackson, Fidler & Tindley
Polka Dot Productions welcome Bill Jackson and his trusty sidekick Pete Fidler to Club Mullum on Saturday 6 August at 7.30pm. Bill Jackson has firmly established himself over the past few years as one of Australia’s finest singer/songwriters. He achieves this by marrying compelling melodies and fine musicianship to clever, witty, poignant lyrics that never underestimate the intelligence of his audience.
Steel & Bone was awarded Folk Alliance Australia ‘Radio Presenters Album of the Year’ in 2008 and his 2011 album Jerilderie was The Cowboy Sweetheart’s Album of the Year on BayFM. More recently Bill and his songwriting brother Ross have embarked on a three-album project The Wayside Ballads – recording around 30 songs on two continents in a relatively short time. Volumes 1 and 2 have been released to great acclaim and Volume 3 is in the works.
Bill Jackson will be performing with multi-instrumentalist Pete Fidler, who has just released his own solo album Buzz in The Room. Together they have toured the US four times.
Local legend Sara Tindley will open the evening with a wonderful batch of new songs. Sara recently began recording her fourth album. Saturday 6 August at 7.30pm. Presale tickets are $23 – trybooking.com/211410.
SAE Live on the Green
Be part of Live on the Green at SAE when local bands Ragga Jump and Global Ripple play live and are streamed to Facebook. Changing the world one song at a time, Ragga Jump is led by songwriter/guitarist John Fog, so if you like your music funky, and you want to jump up and have some fun, heal da world with teggae music, this is the gig to see. SAE Institute in Byron on Friday 5 August at 1pm. Barbecue included!
Whale Music
Do your bit for Sea Shepherd and help them raise funds to keep their environmental campaign on track!
This Saturday sees some of the region’s best DJs gather together to spin tunes and get the dance floor pumping. Featuring Jimmy D, Crystal Digit, PsyPhi and Magu, and introducing Parametric with warmup tunes. With sound by SAE Byron, lighting and lasers by Min Min Lighting and events, and visuals by 4dlux, this is going to be a fully immersive experience! And of course, no fundraiser would be complete without a raffle! Prizes include Sea Shepherd merchandise, whale-watching tour for two from Byron Bay Whale Watching www.facebook.com/whalewatchbyronbay, dolphin kyak tour for two donated by Go Sea Kayak Byron Bay. Also, live art by Rady and silent auction of artwork!
Kohinur Hall, Main Arm, 4pm–midnight.
Songs of the silver screen
Mullum’s Uke Night is turning five. Miss Amber & Stukulele have been enthralling crowds with their big songs on little instruments, cleverly coming up with unique concepts each month to keep their event creative and fun. This month it’s songs of the silver screen. $15. Starts at 7pm at Mullumbimby Ex-Services on Thursday.
Chango Tree at the Rails
The Chango Tree have been hard at the desk with the final mix for their latest album Home. The unique male/female guitar/vocal combo, Ian T and Ree Liddell, have been mashing up their contrasting styles; while she rides the dobro, mandolin and guitar he is a ‘surf-dawging’ on eight-string acoustic-electric guitar synth. It’s blues-cruise, surf-ska, funky-folk with a smash of harmonies. New CD released of original works is planned for November but there is a pre-release at The Rails hotel in Byron on Thursday.
The Tao of banjo
Béla Fleck and Abigail Washburn have mastered the deceptively intricate art of the duet. And they’ve done it on the banjo. Their performances embrace a diversity almost unthinkable – coming from just two banjos and one voice. Washburn’s beguiling composing, playing and singing blend with Fleck’s riveting and virtuosic musicianship to create music that is both unique yet familiar in texture. Fleck, a 16-time Grammy Award winner, has collaborated with Chick Corea, Oumou Sangare, Zakir Hussain, Edgar Meyer, Dave Mathews, Earl Scruggs and the entire Cleveland Orchestra for his banjo concert The Imposter.
Washburn’s banjo has taken her far beyond the usual old-timey comfort zone, musically and geographically. An alumnus of Uncle Earl, the powerhouse all-female string band, Abby’s adopted second homeland is China, and her music resounds with echoes of Appalachia and the tidal wave of emerging Chinese cultural influence.
Together, Fleck and Washburn employ the relatively rare three-finger-and-clawhammer banjo duet to create an explosion of musical white heat.
Bangalow A&I Hall, Wednesday 17 August.
All tickets and booking info:
www.redsquaremusic.com.au.
The spy who loved music
They were planning a gig a few months back, but a health setback put plans on hold. But now the band are fighting fit and ready to gig.
For people that get The Spys, it is more than a trend or a lifestyle accessory, and stands for more than lining up a shot at super stardom; it means something. The band’s iconic high-energy rock, with hard-edged ska/reggae influences and a strong social conscience, give the the band and its songs an integrity and life force that have proven difficult to kill.
Friday at the Ballina RSL. Tix are $25, and are available at the club.
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