Funny & Dusty
Hailing from South Africa, Dusty Rich is a self-confessed comedic space-warrior riding a living volcano with one hand whipping the reins and the other gingerly fingering the lava-hot truth that flows freely down all sides – smothering the world in comedy magma. His meteoric rise in the comedy industry is owed to the fact he had learnt to ride meteors at a very early age – a mind meteor, smashing through the atmosphere of mediocre and mundane. Each show is unpredictable and hilarious, leaving audiences gasping for air.
Catch Dusty Rich at the Big Gig at the Ballina RSL this Thursday when he’s joined by Aaron Pratt as support and Mandy Nolan as MC. 8pm. Free.
Shamanic Art
Contemporary visionary artist Alex Sandro Carletti studied and graduated at Adelaide Central School of Art, focusing his attention upon oil painting. His artwork emerges through meditations and vision quests, often through solitude in nature.
As a practising art therapist, he has been working in the healing arts for two-and-a-half years, utilising art and shamanic processes to unravel inner spaces and heal psychospiritual wounds. His work seeks to capture transcendence, sacred themes and altered states of consciousness.
A spiritual quest for illumination and self-healing have led him through many rites of passage and initiations of understanding and insight, reflected through his art practice.
Alex will be running a forum and workshop at Lone Goat Gallery in Byron on Sunday 2 April, 2–3.30pm.
Best of Melbourne Comedy Fest in Mulllum!
The Kagools have been listed as one of the top five international acts at the Melbourne International Comedy Festival this year. You don’t have to go to Melbourne to see them because Mandy Nolan is bringing them to Mullumbimby.
Winner of the Best Show at Adelaide Fringe, at Buxton Fringe, and also winner of the best family show! That’s right! You can bring the kids! Tearing it up all around the world, this multi-award-winning physical comedy act from the UK is bloody insanely hilarious!
With Mandy Nolan as MC and Lindsay Webb as support – at the Mullumbimby Ex-Services on Saturday 22 April. Show at 8pm. Tickets $25/30 at the club or online at mandynolan.com.au.
incREDible ART
Local emerging artists with a disability will be exhibiting their work at the Lone Goat Art Gallery in Byron Bay this week. The REDinc artists will share with the local north coast community a fresh and unique view of the world through various arts media: acrylic, mixed media, ceramics and works on paper. Josie Donnelly the exhibition director says: ‘Our artists participate regularly in group and solo exhibitions throughout the year, as well as exhibiting in art competitions regionally, nationally and internationally. The professional art practices of the REDinc artists are supported by experienced and passionate local artists and facilitators; this exhibition is one of our yearly events that showcase the talent of our artists.
The IncREDible Art exhibition will give insight into the lives, interests and experiences of local contemporary artists with disability by showcasing their vision, spirit and breadth of abilities, expressed beautifully in their range of works. The artworks are vibrant, expressive and passionate.’
The incREDible Art Exhibition will kick off with an opening night on Friday 7 April, 6–8pm, and running until Wednesday 19 April.
All welcome.
Byron Harmony Day and Byron Bay High School have been delivered an extraordinary gift from the provincial government of Jogjakarta, a world premiere dance performance directed by internationally renowned Indonesian filmmaker Garin Nugroho, who has created a significant dance piece titled Bedoyo Pager Bumi, embracing contemporary and traditional Javanese performing arts.
Judy Shelley, director of Australia Indonesia Arts Alliance who organised the gift, said, ‘Garin Nugroho is Indonesia’s most famous and internationally acclaimed filmmaker. He is revered in Indonesia for telling his stories through film and multimedia.’
Bedoyo Pager Bumi tells the story of the great conflagration the Javanese people faced with the impact of the Dutch colonisation of the East Indies and the influx of the Muslim faith during the 19th century.
The story is told by eleven performers including two singers, three contemporary Javanese dancers, and six Bedoyo dancers trained in the traditional Javanese style.
Showcasing vocal and dance arts drawn from a repertoire of dances to give substance to a complex narrative around this passage of time from the early 19th century to the present day, from the effect of outside influences on traditional cultures during the time of colonisation, and also now the influence of modern global culture on the traditions of the island of Java, its society and culture.
Bedoyo Pager Bumi (Celestial Gates of Mother Earth) will be performed on one night only at Byron Bay High School performing art space Saturday. 6.30pm for a 7pm start. Entry by donation.
Byron Harmony
The annual Byron Harmony Day celebrates the diversity of our multicultural community here in Byron Shire.
Some really delightful new ‘never-seen-before’ performances will grace the stage at Main Beach Park this Saturday, such as the Japanese community gathering professional Koto player Adarsha together with Shakuhachi (traditional Japanese flute) along with Yumiko Suzuki and the Japanese community children performing cultural dances and singing in traditional kimono. Another stunning new group is Japanese-Indian fusion Micotsuki Shivamoon – the beautiful kirtan duo of Mico Sundari and sitar maestro Shivam Rath, rising stars of Byron devotional music. So be early to catch the awesome Bunyarra Dancers at 11am and Shivamoon at 11.30am.
Another exciting new troupe will be the Grupo Batala – an inspiring group of 11 Brazilian women drummers and singers who will perform to raise funds for community projects in Brazil. This year Byron Harmony has also been blessed to receive massive support from the Indonesian Consulate in Sydney, who have invited three separate groups to travel to Byron for this weekend of Harmony activities. Alfira and Murtala from Suara Indonesia Dance Group have become well known nationally through touring festivals and venues across Australia to share the Sumatran dances of Aceh and Minagkabau cultures as well as Javanese and Balinese traditional dances. The unique naturally funky sounds of bamboo angklung orchestra will be presented by Adelaide group Adelindo.
Children’s activities and performances will be a major theme on Harmony Day this year ranging from a colourful Bollywood kids’ dance performance to Balinese Mask Dance performance, free Indonesian bamboo music and Sumatran dance workshops, jumping castle (by donation), face painting, environmental and Aboriginal craft activities will be available all day. Come and create a memory in plaster or bronze – cast of hands, feet or face of beloved kids or family with Martin.
Celebrate Byron Harmony Day 11am till 7pm on Saturday at Main Beach Park (wet weather venue is Byron YAC).
Guilty of Dancing!
Kick up your (vintage) heels and hit the dancefloor for the final fundraiser for Guilty Pleasures Cabaret & Burlesque Festival, this Saturday at Bangalow Bowling Club from 8pm.
The night will include funky retro tunes from the fabulous DJ Flashdance, a guest performer or two, and great prizes.
Come dressed in your finest Hollywood 40s or 50s glamour and join us! Tickets are $20 at the door and proceeds go towards production costs for the Guilty Pleasures Festival happening over 12–14 May in Brunswick Heads. To find out more go to www.guilty-pleasures-fest.com.au.
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