Benefit the Spirit
From the happy shores of Hawaii come two of the hottest performers on the world circuit: Dustin Thomas (USA) and Elijah Ray (USA), and the Australian debut of North Carolina-based producer/performer Numatik, in one unforgettable night of music and message.
Dustin has graced our stages as bass player with Nahko and Medicine for the People, and as a solo and collaborative performer. Big hair, big smiles, and a whole lot of love – Dustin makes waves from America to Australia with his infectious blend of beat-box/soul-folk.
Armed with his voice, a guitar, and universal anthems of love and war, this young singer/songwriter continues to inspire hearts around the world on his mission of peace, joy, and unity.
Elijah Ray has just successfully concluded his first national tour, and last year saw him on the Wanderlust circuit to the USA, NZ and Australia, supporting Michael Franti, Xavier Rudd and Nahko and Medicine for the People. Elijah’s pioneering heart and transformational music crosses an insanely wide variety of genres, from acoustic soul, funk, world beat, dance / pop and rock to soul-stirring piano ballads, symphonic soundtracks, shamanic grooves, and sound healing environments.
Numatik is an international dance movement born from the mind of Summit Jaffe. As both a producer and performer, Numatik bridges the worlds of cutting-edge electronic dance music, soul-driven hip-hop, and uplifting world beat grooves to create a vibrantly charged performance with something for everyone. They play on Friday at the Mullumbimby Civic Hall. Tickets: www.spiritfestival.com.au/tickets.
Hits of the 70s
This Thursday from 6.30pm in the Club Mullum auditorium, Miss Amber & Stukulele present a special themed Uke Night – Hits of The 70s. You will re-live the iconic musical moments from the decade including hits from Elton John, George Harrison, Cat Stevens, Rod Stewart, ABBA, Suzi Quatro, CCR, Kate Bush, The Pretenders, Sex Pistols and loads more. Special guest Sara Tindley will be in her element while Ash Bell will be pretending he was there. Adults $12.50 and kids under 16 still only $2.50. Dress up in your 70s best for the most interactive musical fun you will find this side of Uranus. Join the mailing list at ukemullum.com to download the songbook.
World Fusion under Poinciana
Tarshito is a multi-award-winning musician/composer/producer who has been playing, recording and producing world fusion music in the area since the mid-80s.
He has released more than 50 albums of his music and has played with many of the top local, national and international artists, with influences from rock, jazz, funk, tribal, trance, latin, afro, eastern, and meditation to kirtan music. He is joined by Peter Haddock, a multi-instrumentalist, who has played with many accomplished Aussie musos and has been known on the local scene for his superb flute and guitar playing for a few decades, and Pramad, who has been around for 10 to 15 years on and off flipping between Byron, Amsterdam and UK. He is an accomplished keyboard player giving that third dimension to the group who have been jamming together for the past two years with a few travel breaks. The trio will be playing Tarshito compositions with much spontaneous improvisation. They play the Poinciana in Mullumbimby on Saturday from 6.30pm.
Go Ashforth
Jamie Ashforth is well known throughout the area as a seasoned guitarist and harmonica player with longstanding local bands The Bohemian Cowboys, Goodrich and The Dave Scott Band. His harmonica playing has been featured on recordings by Canadian bands the Tea Party and These Raven Skies, Australian band Lepers and Crooks, as well as Elena B Williams, Wards Express and many others. Jamie recently released an album of original songs entitled The Light of Day and has been doing solo shows locally and on the Sunshine Coast since the album. Monday at the Rails.
Comes a Time for Sharny
Uniquely gifted, award-winning pianist/vocalist/composer Sharny Russell, a longtime resident of Byron Shire, will be launching her new album Comes a Time. Sharny is a jazz artist who is highly respected among her peers, and who has recorded with ABC. Her voice is as sweet and lyrical as it is commanding. Her style is fresh and original, and at the same time divinely musical and totally accessible to those new to the genre. Nik Fotakis from Australianjazz.net said: ‘Her latest album is a collection of high-spirited soulful songs, in the best classic jazz tradition, the one that the singer/pianist knows all too well, and delivers with warmth, charm and perkiness’.
For this performance she will be joined by superb musicians: her sister Helen Russell on double bass, Martha Baartz on saxes and flute, guitarist Jamie Clark, and drummer Joe Marchisella. She performs at the Bangalow Bowlo with a support set by local singer/songwirter Fiona Dell on Friday 5 May at 8pm. Tickets for sale online at bangalowbowlo.com.au.
Mercy-Mercy
Formed in late 2015 by guitarist Neil Jeffs, vocalist Lindy Lou Smith, drummer Jim Lieschke and bassist John De Laurence, Mercy-Mercy play contemporary blues with influences such as Kenny Wayne Shepherd, Beth Hart and Joe Bonammasa, but they are also rooted in tradition paying homage to masters such as BB King, Nina Simone, Buddy Guy and Etta James.
Mercy-Mercy bring their own tough, sometimes soulful, sometimes funky style to well-known, and not-so-well-known blues classics and are currently working on material for their first release together. Some of these new songs feature in a show that promises to be energetic, good fun and intended to do what the blues has always done – make you forget about your blues. Mercy-Mercy are performing at The Rails in Byron Bay on Sunday from 7pm.
Eureka Hall fundraiser – 2 May, 2017
The Isabella a Cappella vocal group and friends will be performing at the Eureka Hall this Tuesday. Isabella a Cappella perform an eclectic mix of pop, folk, blues and jazz and the performance will also feature Dylan Curnow on piano with guest vocalists. The group had initially planned this event to be a fundraiser for an upcoming recording project, but after the recent flooding disaster in Lismore, Isabella a Cappella will be donating all proceeds – after costs – to the Lismore City Council Flood Appeal Fund. Please join us for a night of dinner, drinks and music. Food with a Caribbean theme will be provided by Miss Brown’s Caribbean Kitchen. Doors will open at 5.30pm with dinner and the show scheduled to start from 6.30pm. Tickets are $50 and include dinner, the show, tea/coffee, a glass of champagne and canapés on arrival and entry to the lucky door prize. Raffle tickets, cakes, and other goodies will be on sale on the night, with 100 per cent of proceeds going to the campaign. Fifty per cent of CD sales will also be donated to the fund. There is no ATM at the venue, so please bring cash!
Dance till you drop
Celebrate the songs that make your feet jump and your hips swivel from Prince, Bowie, Cohen and Michael. Their spirits are with us through their music. Come along, bring your friends for a great Sunday afternoon of dance, song and good vibes. Sunday 2–6pm at the Northern Rivers Hotel in North Lismore (also known as the Bayou). $10 adults. $7 concession. Kids under 10 free. The Lismore Greens just LOVE to dance!
Focus on a Grad
Born in Los Angeles, producing out of Byron Bay, Daniel Cordero is an audio graduate and current film student at SAE Institute Byron. If art is his passion, then music, film and photography are his world. Daniel started his music career in 2009, DJing at house parties and private events in California, before moving on to playing at nightclubs in Florida. While serving in the US Navy, he would perform for fellow sailors and marines. After six years serving his country as a Navy Rescue Swimmer/Sonar Operator, he decided to pursue his passion for music and dedicated his life to becoming an artist, so he enrolled in audio at SAE Institute in Hollywood, before relocating to the sunny shores of SAE Byron Bay to study film. As a photographer, Daniel specialises in concert and event photography. Whether it’s in the studio, on tour, backstage or onstage, he has captured every moment in the artist’s musical journey.
The uber-creative, multi-talented artist has done many things in his career, but what he enjoys the most is specialising in concert and event photography.
‘Being surrounded by artists all the time, I’m constantly inspired and influenced by everyone I work for. Thanks to SAE I’ve worked on the ground at various music festivals including Bluesfest, Splendour in the Grass and Island Vibe. Currently I’m filming music videos, commercials, shooting for the Byron Shire Council, and building web content for local businesses,’ says Daniel.
You can see Daniel’s work on his Facebook page @casjphotography.
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