A full Hoad
Jay Hoad has spent the last seven years touring the globe, following the sun and his inspiration for music throughout the Caribbean, Southeast Asia, Fiji, India, and North America, keeping up a relentless performance schedule while passionately learning about Third World culture and every style of music he can sink his teeth into. Thursday at the Rails.
Chilling with palm wine
In a golden age, before lines were drawn on a map, talking drums beat messages between villages in West Africa. Caravans traded salt, copper, gold… and slaves. Some of these slaves returned from the Americas as sailors bringing guitars and western music. How fine it was to share palm wine and play music, this fusion of Calypso, Latin, and European styles with the traditional rhythms of West Africa closed the gap between three continents with Palm Wine Music.
Something similar has been happening in the hills behind Byron. A group of musicians who meet to play and share palm wine!
The Palm Wine Ambassadors, superlative music to chill to… at the Treehouse in Belongil on Thursday
The Dubmarine Vibe
You could call Brisbane outfit Dubmarine many things, but unforgettable is probably top of the list. When you see this band live, you know you’ll walk away with a grin on your face and sweat on your brow.
High powered and high energy, the nine-piece tour-de-force somehow smash together dub, dancehall, reggae, drum’n’bass, and tap into a groove all their own. It’s heavy, in the best possible way.
Backed by a rhythm brass section and led by the vocal gymnastics of Indigenous superstar and Gangulu man D-Kazman, Dubmarine have a mission – to produce bass-crunching, rhythm-pounding, hip-shaking modern music fusing elements of music from all around the world. And that’s exactly where they have taken their music over the past few years – around the world. Building on a run of acclaimed releases – including the 2014 album Laser Sound Beam – the band has earned fans around the globe, drawn to a near-legendary live show. In Europe they have hit stages and festivals throughout Germany, the Netherlands, Belgium and The Czech Republic, and this year they were invited to perform at the truly unique Sakifo festival in the Reunion Islands.
Recently Dubmarine were the first Australian band to be invited to perform at the International Jazz Festival in Capetown, South Africa. Their star continues to rise here with a live show built on a catalogue of killer releases, including Depth of Sound, that feature the band’s trademark bass-driven foundations, trombone blasts and thunderous synth explosions.
Dubmarine play Island Vibe at North Stradbroke Island 28–30 October.
Tickets and program info at islandvibe.com.au.
New Acts for Falls
Falls Music & Arts Festival Byron has announced that Northeast Party House, Haelos, Hein Cooper, The Middle Kids, Spit Syndicate, Dena Amy and Mallrat will join the already massive lineup with the likes of Childish Gambino, London Grammar, The Avalanches, Violent Soho, Matt Corby, Alison Wonderland. Falls is also getting set to add some local flavour to its upcoming summer bill, giving local emerging acts the chance to play in front of thousands of people from across the country. Falls Byron is teaming up with four local print and online media outlets to foster up-and-coming local acts – and they’re asking the community to pick their fave and score a spot at Falls. The Echo is pushing Tralala Blip, an innovative band that has disabled and non-disabled members. Choose Tralala Blip.
Voting is open until the end of October at the Falls Festival Byron website www.fallsfestival.com/byron-bay/foster-a-band.
Give Pralad a Chants
Pralad and The Chants are an internationally well-known kirtan band with a unique style, infectious rhythm and melody to help facilitate a sacred journey of sound to get you up and dancing. They’ve created the Chant for Peace kirtan festivals to share peace and joy. Join the healing crew at the Mullum Civic Hall on Sunday 6 November from 4pm.
Hill Party
Federal is an amazing place to live. I was there for just 18 months but I totally fell in love with it. The place, the lifestyle and of course the community. The Federal Park Party in the village of Federal is a great way to experience one of our most vibrant communities living in the hills above Byron. Bands and DJs are Maple Duo, Two Lions, Fox Fires, Wandering Eyes, Pob, Chop Suey, Sunny Side Up, Rudekat. Other highlights include jumping castle, dog show, busking comp, games and fabulous food.
Saturday at Federal Park, from 12 noon. Free.
Main Arm Music
Main Arm Upper Primary School hosts an evening of live music this Friday. Headlined by Lou Bradley, and featuring the Cassettes, a unique 80s flashmob performance, and the much-loved Curly Cousins, who promise to delight and inspire both young and old with their rich harmonies, uplifting arrangements, multi-instrumental talents and audience interaction.
Other highlights include Main Arm students showcasing their musical talent, and local favourite DJ Mikey will round off the evening with his worldly beats. With free entry there will also be fun activities, sideshow alley, pony rides and delicious food on offer. From 4pm.
Mrs Jones gets folked up
Ten years have passed since Kathryn Jones stepped onstage at the infamous Mullumbimby Folk Club. Going on to record an EP and two albums, with the latest receiving eight nominations at the 2016 Tamworth Country Music Festival and winning two awards, Kathryn has gone from strength to strength. This pocket rocket of talent and charisma shows just what can happen when a girl follows her dreams. She is joined by her musical partner/award-winning producer Steve Passfield, who crosses many musical borders from his First Fleet Celtic roots to western swing and bluegrass. Chalkboard spots will be available from 6.30pm, so if you are an original singer/songwriter and would like the opportunity to perform to a quiet respectful audience, come along and put your name down. Mullum Folk Club at the Drill Hall on Wednesday 26 October, 7.30pm. Entry $7.50.
UK UKE
This month Miss Amber and Stukulele present British Invasion… a Uke Night that features the burgeoning musical era of the mid-60s when popular UK singers and bands became significant to the rising ’counterculture’ all over the world.
In the front ranks were The Beatles, The Dave Clark Five, The Rolling Stones, Herman’s Hermits, The Hollies, The Animals, The Kinks, The Yardbirds, Gerry and the Pacemakers, Cilla Black, Dusty Springfield, Peter and Gordon, and The Zombies and heaps more.
Thursday 27 October at Club Mullum (Mullum Ex-Services). 6.30pm.
Scratch my Bacharach
Burt Bacharach is one of the most prolific and successful songwriters of the 20th century. Burt Bacharach wrote the music for more than 700 published songs, which have been recorded by some 2,000 artists – from Frank Sinatra and Elvis to The Beatles, Dionne Warwick and The Supremes. Back to Bacharach features Paulini and Michelle Martinez. Australia’s love affair with Paulini started back in 2003 in the first season of Australian Idol. Michelle Martinez is one of the incredible singers who light up the Blue Moon Lounge in the hit TV series Love Child. The collective musicians in the Kings Cross AllStar Band have performed with the likes of Julian Lennon, Frank Sinatra, Liza Minelli, Shirley Bassey, The Temptations, The Four Tops, The Monkeys, Frankie Valli and more.
Back to Bacharach featuring Love Child at The Ballina RSL on Friday.
