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Byron Shire
June 2, 2026

Culture Roundup: Dec 20–27, 2017

Latest News

Advocates and civil society organisations call to drop the charges against Herzog protestors

In an open letter to the NSW Premier, Attorney-General, Minister for Police, and Commissioner of Police, advocates and civil society organisations have called for the charges to be dropped against people protesting against the visit of the President of Israel on 9 February 2026.

Other News

More than a pantry – helping feed our community

Neighbourhood Centre has been running a low-cost community pantry? And over the last few years it’s really expanded.

Booyong killing fields

I am writing to express how devastating it is to live opposite a killing field – Casino Food Company’s...

Lord of the land

Slaughtering 30,000 is fine; causing starvation is fine; making homeless a million is fine; demolishing homes is fine; wrecking...

Rail Master’s Cottage

The destruction by fire of the Rail Master’s Cottage prompts questions of social justice. Is this land still related...

Tweed man charged with alleged child abuse material

Detectives say they have charged a man with alleged child abuse material offences in the Tweed Heads area.

Fire destroys Mullumbimby family home

A Gofundme campaign has been set up to help a family who lost everything in a house fire last week. Frea Bandini-Alefosio writes, 'We are neighbours and friends of Jeff and Alma Jackson, long time Mullumbimby locals, we are setting up this fundraiser to help support them after a devastating house fire'.

Women Like Us

Women Like Us Halls of Shame & Byron show!

It’s been two-and-a-half years on the road for Women Like Us comedians Ellen Briggs and Mandy Nolan who have chalked up an impressive 72 shows performing to almost 20,000 people from Moree to Melbourne, Townsville to Tamworth, Bundaberg to Brisbane and Surfers to Sydney.

They call themselves ‘the bogan woman’s thinking woman and the thinking woman’s bogan’.

Women Like Us guarantees two hours of non-stop laughter with crowds declaring it the funniest show they’ve seen. The most common refrain is: ‘I can’t believe you girls aren’t on TV!’ TV wouldn’t handle Women Like Us. It has to be seen to be believed!

Women Like Us is at the Pottsville Community Hall on Friday 12 January, Uki Hall on Saturday 13 and Byron Services Club on Monday 22 January. All shows at 8pm and all shows $30 with tickets available at womenlikeus.com.au


Starlight Festival shines

Discover four transformational days with more than 80 workshops, talks, sound healing, yoga classes and more at the Starlight Festival this year.

Featured this year are:

Crystal Armonica – a transformative and transcendent experience. The crystal armonica is a rare celestial instrument of 30 pure quartz crystal bowls invented by Benjamin Franklin in 1761.

Jo Kelly is an award-winning singer/songwriter and qualified ayurvedic practitioner. Jo was awakened to her spiritual path in 2005, by Sri Ravi Shankar, where she discovered pranayama, chanting and devotional music.

Mark Wiseman brings a modern approach to meditative singing-bowl sessions. Mark thrives among nature and his music takes great inspiration from the energies of the world around him.

Dini Martinez is known globally for her authentic, free-spirited and inspiring workshops and retreats. Her practice emphasises breath, flow and philosophy.

Christina Covington is an ayurvedic lifestyle consultant, counsellor, healer and medicine woman. She is a successful businesswoman, mentor and mother of two. Passionate about encouraging the embrace of life as a sensual, abundant activated queen.


And there’s Chocolate Yoga!
Experience the medicinal properties of ceremonial-grade cacao moving through your body in a specially designed kundalini yoga practice, involving ceremony, pranayama, asanas, dance, relaxation, chanting and meditation.
When: 4–8 January. Where: Bangalow (A&I Hall & surrounding pavilions)
Price: $20 admission. 4-day pass $50. Locals 2-for-1 day 4 & 5 January.
Tickets at the door or online: www.starlightfestival.com.au


Steve Allison

Country Club Comedy welcomes Steve Allison!

After two months’ hiatus Country Club comedy is back! Featuring Steve Allison as the January headline with S Sorrensen as support and Mandy Nolan as MC!

Steve Allison has that rare gift of walking into a room and making everyone his mate. Steve Allison was born into show business. With a natural sense of humour and quick wit, Steve’s show is a well-crafted mix of snappy one-liners, hilarious stories, funny home truths and current topics. It’s Aussie humour at its best.

Now in demand on the growingly popular Comedy Cruises, this is a chance to catch Steve on land. Steve is joined by support act, the hilarious dry poster boy for pissed-off ageing, S Sorrensen, and the outrageous wit of Mandy Nolan.

Tuesday at the Ocean Shores Country Club. Free. 7pm


Workshops for young people

Kickstart the year with creativity and develop your performance skills at NORPA this January.

NORPA is offering three exciting theatre workshops for young people aged 8–18 with leading Australian theatre practitioners and educators Barry Lang, Kate Walder (ATYP) and Ajita Cannings (NORPA).

Stepping into images with Barry Lang 

Bridge the space between imagination and physicality by exploring the intersection of image, movement, music and text. Explore collaborative strategies for theatre-making and creating images that emerge from young people’s concerns and interests.

Not a Word with Kate Walder 

For 12–15-year-olds

Explore how much you can say without actually saying anything. Discover how physical theatre can help us express a range of emotions and explore clowning and mask work.

Empowered playmaking with Ajita Cannings 

For 8–12-year-olds

This workshop holds children’s natural joy and inherent inquisitiveness as performers and creators at its heart. An exciting and safe environment explore performance.

Each workshop runs over 22–25 January.

10am–4pm

Lismore City Hall

Cost: $260 per student / $240 earlybird price if paid by 7 January.

A limited number of financial-hardship scholarships are available.

For more information and to book visit www.norpa.org.au or contact Ajita Cannings on [email protected]


Glittery Clittery

Glittery Clittery

The All-Singing, All-Dancing, All-Slaying Fringe Wives Club are bringing their hit debut show Glittery Clittery to Brunswick Picture House this January! Part explosive physical-comedy-cabaret, part interactive club night, this sequin-covered, champagne-fuelled, cosmic feminist extravaganza is guaranteed to blow your minds and your pants! 

Fri 5 Jan – 7pm – Adult $30 | Concession $25

Tickets at brunswickpicturehouse.com


The Mermaid Experience

Ballina Players have done it again!  Bringing The Little Mermaid to life onstage! There is more to this classic tale than froth and bubbles. There is wisdom, like loving someone how they are instead of how we want them, or not blaming all humans for a few wicked ones.

The Little Mermaid runs at Ballina Players from 12 till 21 January.  Details and booking information on the website www.ballinaplayers.com.au or via Facebook. Tickets can also be purchased from Just Funkin Music in River St, Ballina. 


CharliePickering

Laugh it Up with Charlie Pickering

Edgy, polished and inventive, Charlie Pickering is one of the most exciting names in Australian comedy. Charlie is a political junkie,

law graduate, and was the voice of his generation as a regular team captain for Generation X on Network Ten’s quiz show

Talkin’ ’bout Your Generation. He was also on your TV screen every weeknight for five years as co- host of The Project,where the day’s news is dissected, digested and re-constituted by some of Australia’s funniest and smartest.

He’s joined by Damian Power as support and Ellen Briggs as MC – this is one cracker of a show.

Byron Brewery.

Thursday 18 January

Doors 7pm.

Show 8pm.

$25.

Tix on trybooking.com/SLDY


Austen Tayshus

The big man of comedy’s Byron pilgrimage

There are few comics with the tenacity and killer instinct of Austen Tayshus. The comedy superstar, who first came into being in 1981, has the ability to take a room hostage just with his tongue. He’s the closest thing the Australian comedy scene has to its very own Bill Hicks.

In 1983 he released the highest-selling Australian single of all time Australiana – selling more than 200,000 units and going double platinum. In fact three decades later, it’s still the highest-selling single in Australian recording history.

Austen Tayshus headlines at the Byron Services Club on Monday 8 January 2018 with Mandy Nolan as MC and support. Doors 7pm. Show 8pm. Tickets $20/25 at the club or online at mandynolan.com.au



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Eclectic Selection for the week beginning 3 June 2026

Eclectic Selection: What’s on this week is a taste of some of the events that can be found in the Byron Shire and beyond this coming week.

Stout Blackout Blowout at Earth Beer

Nestled among the rolling green hills of Cudgen, just minutes from Kingscliff on the Tweed Coast, Earth Beer Company has become one of the...

Greens from The Farm are flourshing

At the heart of a thriving market garden is timing, soil health, and a deep connection to the seasons – something Josh Dooley from...

Interview with Pacific Avenue

South Coast rockers, Pacific Avenue, have left an indelible mark on the music industry, their debut studio album Flowers secured a spot as a number one Australian album earning two ARIA nominations. Now, their recently released second studio album, Lovesick Sentimental, looks to be heading in the same direction.