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Culture Roundup: Wednesday 22 February, 2017

Latest News

Up to 550 homes pegged for Byron Shire’s newest suburb

Community feedback is now sought on three planning documents that will shape the future of Gulgan Village, a new residential suburb proposed on the elevated slopes of Saddle Road. 

Other News

Past and present collide at Byron Theatre

A classic Australian novel is getting a contemporary makeover at the Byron Theatre this week, with Tirra Lirra by the River brought to the stage using cutting-edge audio-visual effects.

Avoiding ‘great reset’

Energy is the lifeblood of civilisation. When the energy powering our civilisation is disrupted for an extended time, it...

Taxing labour vs capital

Catherine Cusack (Echo, 27 May) says she believes ‘Australians are fine with fairness for housing. The issue is messy...

Here’s to the Flotilla

The Global Sumud Flotilla is about brave people doing exceptional things with skill, compassion, colour, spirit and gruff chutzpah. Would...

‘Open slather’ if rural housing expands under Tweed policy, says councillor

A Tweed councillor is warning that protections for agricultural/environmental land could be diminished if a strategy to expand housing on rural land is adopted by Council. 

Evans Head STP: kicking the environmental can down the road

For decades the Evans Head Sewerage Treatment Plant (STP) has been dumping effluent into Salty Lagoon in Broadwater National Park. Rich in nutrients and other contaminants, the lake succumbed to these pollutants with a massive fish and bird kill in 2005.

Family Night at the Byron Artisan Markets at Railway Park this Saturday
Family Night at the Byron Artisan Markets at Railway Park this Saturday

Family Fun at Artisan Markets

Families are in for a great evening at the Byron Artisan Markets this Saturday with a jumping castle, face painting, Shorty the Clown, and upbeat retro tunes, kicking off at 4pm. Byron Markets manager Karen Pieper said, ‘We run a great little market in the centre of town every Saturday night during summer. We want to invite visiting families and Byron Shire locals – who often get forgotten in the rush of tourist events – down to our fun family-friendly little oasis in Railway Park.’ Along with a tasty cheap meal and a handmade gift from artisans, Karen says, ‘Parents can relax as the kids are catered for with magic tricks, balloon animals, the jumping castle, playground, and the ever-popular climbing tree.’ Featuring Sebastiaan Scholtens performing 60s rock’n’oll classics that both kids and parents will love!

Family Night at the Byron Artisan Markets – Railway Park on Saturday, 4–9pm.

French Provençale cooking at Byron Community College on Friday 7 April
French Provençale cooking at Byron Community College on Friday 7 April

A Taste of Provence

If you’d like to learn a bit more about French Provençale cooking with an actual French person, join chef Bruno in a class at Byron Community College on Friday 7 April. Students will participate in the development of a three-course menu and enjoy a shared meal at the end. See www.byroncollege.org.au/course/FrenchCooking.

If you like the sound of that, but want more, you can join Bruno and Louise Pouget at their family’s guesthouse in Provence on a five-day food and cultural tour in September, in the picturesque Luberon National Regional Park. See www.latable.com.au/news.

IN / OUT Art

Three artists / three conversations / three days only. 10 Station Street Studios, Bangalow.

IN / OUT is the culmination of three dynamic artists’ meeting at the threshold of unity and chaos presenting their conversations on utopian dystopia, female phantasm and techno-religions.

Three artists, three conversations for three days only. Join artists Jared Bruce, Luke Bubb and Jess Foote for the opening night on Friday from 5pm.

The exhibition is also open to the public over 9am–5pm Saturday and Sunday at 10 Station Street, Bangalow.

Jackie Loeb at the Byron Services Club on Monday 6 March
Jackie Loeb at the Byron Services Club on Monday 6 March

Loeb is the Answer

Jackie Loeb is coming to a venue near you, and you’d better not miss out. This winner of last year’s MO Award for Best Australian Comic is a cracker. She’s not just funny, she’s musical. In fact Jackie could well have been a cabaret star, but instead she prefers to take the piss – out of herself and the music industry.

Jackie’s show Jackie Sings the Worst Songs Ever Written has played to rave reviews internationally, played to rave reviews and sold out at the Sydney Comedy Festival, and was nominated for the Best Comedy Award at the Hollywood Fringe Festival. This accolade opened many doors for Jackie in the USA, including appearances at the Hollywood Improv, The Laugh Factory, The Comedy Store, The Icehouse in Pasadena and the Comedy Palace in San Diego.

Jackie Loeb headlines at the Byron Services Club on Monday 6 March with Ellen Briggs as support and Mandy Nolan as MC. The stars only align once in ever decade, so catch three of the country’s finest women comics for one night only!

Doors 7pm. Show 8pm, $20/25. Tickets online at www.mandynolan.com.au or at the club.

Enquiries to 6619 0529.

Mongrel Auditions for Shakespeare

Following on from the successful production of The Incorruptible, the Drill Hall Theatre Company announces its next Mongrel Arts Project, Shakespeare’s Macbeth. Set in 2020, the production imagines an apocalyptic post-Trump world.

If you wish to audition please nominate a time and send a theatre CV to [email protected]. Some of the traditional male roles will be played by female actors.

Who’s Afraid of David Wolfe?

With more than 22 years of dedicated experience and having hosted more than 2,750 live events, David ‘Avocado’ Wolfe is the rock star and Indiana Jones of the superfoods and longevity universe. The world’s top CEOs, ambassadors, celebrities, athletes, artists, and the real superheroes of this planet – mums – all look to David for expert advice in health, beauty, herbalism, nutrition, and chocolate!

David champions the ideals of spending time in nature, growing one’s own food, and making today the best day ever. He teaches that inspiration is found in love, travel, natural beauty, vibrant health, and peak performance.

He will be speaking in an ‘unplugged’ event at Jing Organics, 6 Ti-Tree Place in Byron on Thursday 16 March from 6.30pm. Tickets at www.davidwolfeoztour.ticketbud.com.

Steve Philp at the Byron Brewery on Friday 3 March
Steve Philp at the Byron Brewery on Friday 3 March

Steve Philp Headlines Comedy in the Garden

Steve Philp may have started out in children’s theatre – starring in shows such as Barney the Dinosaur and Blinky Bill, The Wiggles and The Dorothy the Dinosaur Show, but eventually it was the twisted minds of adult audiences where he found his true calling.

Moving into standup less than a decade ago, Steve made the finals of competitions such as Triple J Raw and Green Faces and then quickly moved onto the road, touring the country for the last eight years with comedians such as Carl Barron, The Umbilical Brothers, Adam Hills and a number of international acts such as Arj Barker and Tom Green. This immense touring enabled Steve to work in sold-out venues such as the Sydney Opera House and the Enmore Theatre. Steve’s big break came in 2008 when he was selected as one of 14 Australian comedians to travel to Miami and compete in NBC’s top-rating show Last Comic Standing, in which he made the quarter-finals and got to perform to a sold-out Miami improv and an American TV audience of well in excess of two million. This has led to Steve’s appearing on Australian TV this year with a comedy spot on Channel 9’s NRL Footy Show, which has led to his becoming a semi-regular, appearing on numerous Footy Show sketches.

He is the feature act at Comedy in the Garden at the Byron Brewery on Friday 3 March at 8pm. MC is Mandy Nolan and support is Ellen Briggs! This is FREE comedy at its best. So come a little earlier and try some delicious food from the new restaurant. Last month was packed, so to ensure you have a table, booking is essential. Phone 6639 6100.

The Book of the Irish

Sebastian Barry is a playwright, novelist, and poet and is considered one of Ireland’s finest writers.

He has twice been shortlisted for the MAN Booker prize and was named number one in The Guardian’s list of top ten writers to see live. His latest novel Days Without End recently won the Costa Fiction Prize. It tells the story of two young men in the US Army in the 1850s and is described by The Guardian as ‘one of the most compelling, heart-wrenching and bravura fictional projects of recent memory’. Sebastian Barry will be in conversation with Byron Writers Festival founder Chris Hanley on Thursday 2 March from 6pm. Tickets $30/$35 www.byronwritersfestival.com or 6685 5115.

Join this master storyteller as he discusses his powerful new novel, Days Without End.

Full price: $35, Member price: $30

Happy Endings Comedy

Find your funny at the Court House on Thursday 2 March when local standup comedians take to the open mic. Now running for four years, the Court House has been a comedy creche for those preschooling punsters who have been hot-housing their gags over the last few months ready to let loose. This crop is going to be especially well honed as MC and comedy mentor Mandy Nolan will be running a masterclass for comedy aspirants just a few days before. ‘The idea of the workshop is to file off the bits that don’t work, hone the bits that do, and do some straight talking about comedy performance. Expect a sharp and well-rehearsed lineup at the Court House for our comedy night.’ Mandy Nolan is the MC, with 10 comedy graduates onstage strutting their stuff. 8pm. Free. Thursday 2 March.

High Tea with Geena Davis

Join Geena Davis in a regional high tea when the All About Women Festival is streamed from the Sydney Opera House on Sunday 5 March. This will kickstart the Lismore Women’s Festival, so be there at 10am at Lismore Workers Club.

NORPA’s Jeni Caffin says: ‘As a prelude to International Women’s Day we are over the moon to be sharing the Geena Davis keynote address from Sydney Opera House. She is an impassioned, informed and intelligent speaker and galvanises audiences globally.

Cake and conversation: what could be better?’

Bookings and more info: www.lismorechamber.com or call Elise Taylor 0448 833 806.

Under the Gun

Under the Gun is a film that examines the events and people who have kept the US gun debate fierce and the progress slow, even as gun deaths and mass shootings continue to increase.

Through the lens of families affected by the mass shootings in Sandy Hook, Newtown, Aurora, Isla Vista and Tucson, as well as those who experience daily gun violence in Chicago, the documentary looks at why politicians are finding it difficult to act and what is being done at the state and local levels.

The film is executive produced and narrated by US journalist and news anchor Katie Couric (co/executive producer). Head of local distribution through Fighting Chance Films, Dustin Clare, commented, ‘This documentary is a timely release for Australia, with the gun debate back on the agenda regarding restrictions to the Adler Lever-Action Shotgun. Under the Gun is a frank account of both sides of the US gun debate’.

Thursday 2 March at Pighouse Flicks.

Women Like Us at the Regent Theatre in Murwillumbah on Saturday 4 March. Tickets at the venue.
Women Like Us at the Regent Theatre in Murwillumbah on Saturday 4 March. Tickets at the venue.



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Load limit increased for Byron Creek Bridge

The load limit for Byron Creek Bridge has been increased to 24 tonnes, say Byron Shire Council, following structural analysis of the bridge.

Festival and event grants on offer

Community organisations are encouraged to apply for NSW government grants to bring cultural festivals and events to life across the state over the coming year.

Dr Bronwyn Bancroft wins prestigious Ochre Award

Bundjalung woman and artist Dr Bronwyn Bancroft AM has received the Red Ochre Award for Lifetime Achievement in Artistic Excellence.

The Pocket Winter Festival bringing you music, food and fun

The Pocket Winter Festival is set to return on Sunday, 21 June, from 10am to 2pm, bringing together the community for a day of music, food, entertainment and family fun at The Pocket Public School.