Big Gig Comedy – Daniel Connell, S Sorrensen & MC Mandy Nolan
Ballina RSL | Thurs 26 July | 8pm | Free
Daniel Connell is affable, lovable and hilarious. His observational, dry, often unanticipated comedy has seen him take to stages all over the country. From winning 2009 Canberra heat of the ‘emerging comedians’ Green Faces Daniel quickly became a regular on the Canberra comedy scene. At the 2017 MICF Daniel made his debut on the Oxfam Gala (ABC) and was also selected to go on tour around Australia and Asia with the MICF Roadshow.
Pop-Up comedy! – Mandy Nolan, Paul McMahon
Lennox Bowlo | Mon 23 July | 8pm | Free
Tix $10 at Club Lennox at the door or mandynolan.com.au.
For the last two decades comedian Mandy Nolan has dedicated herself to mentoring new and emerging talent. Nolan has been running comedy rooms in the region, giving new comics the chance to work alongside headline acts. This Monday sees Nolan kick off Pop-Up Comedy – a new initiative that literally sees comedy events ‘pop up’ in a venue near you! This Monday sees six exciting new comics take to the stage, including Lisa Sharpe, Joan Lowensohn, Vanessa Mitchell, Robert Grayson, Richard Jeans and John Peacock.
Belongil West Byron: The Movie
Film and Q&A | Marvell Hall | Fri 27 July | 6pm | $10
Mullumbimby Civic Hall | Wed 8 August | 7pm | $10
The Wetland Shorts Collection | Fri 27 July | 6pm | $10
The voice against West Byron has been rising – with the community concerned about the impacts of such development. One of the issues is the effect on local wetland and waterways. To appreciate the diversity and vibrancy of the local flora and fauna come see Belongil West Byron: The Movie, featuring Dave Rastovich and Hannah Fraser as they kayak up the Belongil West Byron. Come see the Wetlands Shorts Collection – followed by a Q&A with the Belongil Catchment Drainage Board and guests with Dr Mary Gardner.
Marvell Hall, 37 Marvell St, Byron. Hot soup for sale.
Muffin Walloper’s Tea Party
Town Cafe, Bangalow | Fri 20 July | 10am
What exactly is a Muffin Walloper’s Tea Party? I’m glad you asked. It’s a painting-and-cake installation. Katrina Kanetani has made some amazing cakes; it’s what she does – she’s a master pastry chef. Karena Wynn-Moylan has painted the cakes. It’s up to you to work out which is low carb. All paintings are gluten free!
Come see the paintings and eat cake. RSVP by texting 0414 822 196
Vitamania: Why we swallow the pill
Mullumbimby Civic Hall | 6.30pm | $17-22
Emmy award-winning filmmaker Sonya Pemberton will be at Mullumbimby Civic Hall on Wed 8 August to screen and answer audience questions about her latest feature documentary Vitamania: The Sense and Nonsense of Vitamins.
Vitamin pills can be curative, or lethal, just like pharmaceuticals, but people can buy them without consultation. How on Earth in today’s risk-averse world did this come to pass?
In Vitamania, scientist, presenter and YouTube star Dr Derek Muller investigates this surprisingly urgent question. He sets out to uncover the real benefits and risks of a collection of molecules equally beloved by medicos and marketers – but for very different reasons. He asks: ‘In a world where even the scientists disagree, how do we decide to take them or not? How do we separate the sense from the nonsense?’
Ultimately Vitamania seeks to empower consumers to make reasoned and informed decisions about vitamins. Following the screening, Sonya Pemberton will be in conversation with Catherine Marciniak, senior features reporter with ABC North Coast for a behind-the-scenes discussion about the making of the film, along with a dive into the complex issues it covers.
Pre-booking for the Mullumbimby Civic Hall screening is recommended. Doors open 6.30pm. Film starts at 7pm followed by Q&A. Tickets www.screenworks.com.au.
Screening starts 7pm, followed by director Sonya Pemberton in conversation with Catherine Marciniak (ABC North Coast).
Cheeky Cabaret
Brunswick Picture House | July 27 & 28 | $35 – 45
Two years in, people continue to talk about the Cheeky Cabaret at the Brunswick Picture House. Bold, brash, sexy and dangerous, with tongue laced firmly in cheek, this is one party you will not want to miss! Smashing together circus, vaudeville, comedy and everything in between, the Cheeky Cabaret has rightfully become the talk of the town.
It features a different cast of troubadours, miscreants, delectable divas and cabaret queens every month, so no two shows are ever the same! Bring Grandma but leave the little ones at home.
Tickets available at brunswickpicturehouse.com
Songkeepers
Brunswick Picture House | July 18 & 22 | $12 – 17
In the obscure churches of remote central Australia, a hidden legacy of ancient Aboriginal languages, sacred poetry and baroque music is being preserved by four generations of songwomen who make up the Central Australian Aboriginal Women’s Choir. The choir embarks on an ancient historic tour of Germany to take back the hymns that were given to their great grandparents by German missionaries, now sung in language. Come on an adventure as the unlikeliest band on Earth goes on tour to the other side of the globe!
Our very own Picture House Choir will be on hand 18 July to perform Yurala and One Day and Baba Waija under the direction of Janet Swain. Then again on Sunday at Brunswick Picture House at 5pm with a special Q&A. Tix at brunswickpicturehouse.com
Khentrul Lodrö T’hayé Rinpoche
TALKS: CWA Hall, Mullumbimby | The search for Ultimate Truth |July 24 | 6.30pm | FREE
TALKS: Bangalow A&I Hall | Finding Joy in Troubled Times | July 25 | 6.30pm | FREE
Day of Meditation Training | July 28 | 10.00am & 2pm | FREE
Khentrul Lodrö T’hayé Rinpoche is giving a public talk called Finding Joy in Troubled Times, about how to improve our lives with mind training.
Khentrul Lodrö T’hayé Rinpoche grew up in Tibet and became a monk at age seven. Since then he has studied the mind and how our happiness lies within our mind. He is now sharing what he learned with the world, and here, specifically, methods we can use to foster great health of mind.
Rinpoche has been in the United States since 2002 and has established more than 20 practice and meditation centres across North America. He travels and teaches continuously for eight months of the year, including international destinations in Canada and most recently, South Africa. This is his first visit to Australia.
Pre-register for the free day of meditation training online at katogcholing.com/thekey because space is limited. Chairs are provided, but if you prefer to meditate in a traditional sitting posture on the floor, please bring your own cushion.
Info at [email protected]
For four decades The Echo has printed the stories some people loved, some people hated, and some pretended not to read. If you want us to keep telling the truth, the real truth, not the sugar-coated version. We’ll need your support to keep the presses rolling. 
