Moonfire NOT illegal doofers
The other day I got an email from a mantra trance band Moonfire. Most recently they were incorrectly reported by the Northern Star as being associated with illegal doof parties. While the editor of said paper did offer to make an emendment, the only thing they did was remove the mistake from the article. Moonfire would like it to be known that the quotation from the original article: ‘A Moonfire event was planned and advertised on Facebook for 1 April, with DJ Om bragging that illegal doof parties had been held at the Byron Lighthouse for the last 15 years’ misrepresented the band who, in fact, have nothing to do with illegal doofs.
They do mantra chanting. Yes, that’s right. These bad boys of mantra are a yoga-based band that does not drink, smoke or take drugs. All their events are drug and alcohol free.
Busk your Way to Blues!
Every year Byron Bluesfest holds a busking comp which shines the spotlight on new talent and gives them an opportunity to play a world class festival.
In the lead up to Bluesfest, talented singers, songwriters and bands are giving it their best shot.
The general busking is Tuesday 11 and Wednesday 12 April at the Beach Hotel from 5pm with a grommet busking Comp at the Byron Youth Centre from 10am on Saturday and Sunday.
Aloha with Hula Girl
Aloha Baby are wrapping up a four-week residency at the Treehouse on Belongil this Saturday.
The restaurant folk are sad to see the Hawaiian trio go as their cruisey island vibes are just perfect for their alfresco dining experience. To help celebrate, graceful local dancer Gisela Conechado will be performing some Hula dances – two sets from 7.30pm. Wiki wacky woo!
Dreamboat
Brisbane-based soul-jazz five-piece Captain Dreamboat head out on tour in support of their latest single Modern Love, stopping in at Byron Bay to showcase their R&B-inspired groove. Ofa Fanaika, a staple of the West End music scene and a member of well-loved local dub/reggae act Chocolate Strings, fronts an assembly of some of Brisbane’s and Australia’s best emerging jazz musicians to form Captain Dreamboat. After gelling their talents together they have formed a formidably tight force, able to achieve complex sonic concepts in the studio and impromptu creations live onstage.
You can catch Captain Dreamboat performing their new single Modern Love along with plenty more of their numbers, this Saturday at the Byron Bay Brewery from 7pm. Free entry
Sacred Earth
Sacred Earth are one of Australia’s musical success stories. Having sold more than a quarter of a million albums, they’re Australia’s top-selling artists in the ambient music genre, and the second you hear their sound, it’s easy to see why. Sacred Earth’s music is nothing short of spellbinding. Prem’s captivating vocals have an other-worldly quality, encapsulating the depths of human emotion with striking clarity as she sings sacred mantras and heartfelt lyrics that resonate with people of all ages and from all walks of life. While Prem plays her keyboard with a gentle touch, Jethro adds vocal harmonies and soothing instrumental melodies, playing shakuhachi (Japanese flute), Indian bansuri, Irish tin and low whistles and acoustic guitar.
They perform at the Byron Community Centre on Saturday 29 April at 7.30pm. Tickets at byroncentre.com.au.
and her band
The Black Irish
Born into the legendary Black Family – which includes her mother, Frances, and her aunt, Mary – Aoife Scott has been surrounded by and immersed in music from an early age, from listening to her grandparents, mother, aunt and uncles making music around the fire, to observing the backstage workings of festivals both here and abroad.
Aoife moved to the west coast of Ireland several years ago and her passion for the native Irish language spoken there is reflected in her choice of songs. She possesses a voice that evokes the wild western landscape: fragile one minute and forceful the next. Her experiences while living in the west, the people, the places and the sounds of Connemara, can be heard in her remarkable and unique performances.
She plays the Bangalow Hotel on Wednesday, the Rails on Thursday and the Mullum Ex Services on Sunday.
Uke Friday
For the first time in six years Miss Amber & Stukulele’s Uke Night has missed a month.
Owing to the flooding last week the March event was postponed till this Friday 7 April. This is a great opportunity to bring out the kids for the first-ever non-school-night uke celebration from 6.30pm at Club Mullum. Adults $12.50, kids younger than 16 $2.50.
Small Town love
Small Town Romance showcases the musical partnership of Jim Arneman (Indian Pacific, The Slim Dusty Family Band) and Flora Smith (Flash Company). Jim spent his childhood on the road watching his family perform, later joining his mother Anne Kirkpatrick and the extended Slim Dusty family clan on stage. This year the pair are excited to get out on the road and showcase their new album.
They play at the Treehouse on Thursday from 7.30pm.
