Mamas Makin’ Music
The Treehouse | Thursday 17 Jan | 7.30pm | FREE
Following the release of their Juicy EP, Melbourne’s all-lady lineup The Mamas are poised to embark on their first-ever tour, playing shows in Melbourne, Canberra, Sydney, Lismore, Byron Bay and Brisbane. Equal parts fabulous and fearsome, they’ve been disciplining and nurturing audiences around Melbourne for the past two years, becoming known for their sequin-studded shows and their knack for toeing the line between hard-hitting social commentary and outrageous comedy. Expect alarming sensuality, disarming humour, four-part harmonies, and good, old-fashioned maternal wisdom.
Thursday at Treehouse in Belongil at 7.30pm.
Back to Backhouse
Byron Region Community College, Mullumbimby | Sat 26 Jan | 12.30pm | $30-35
Australia/NZ’s gospel expert and choir-leading supremo Tony Backhouse presents Rehearsing for Heaven, a rousing a cappella singing experience for all levels of singers. Tony brings dazzling yet simple arrangements of gospel, soul, and African songs to raise voices and spirits almost instantly. Four- to six-part harmony is achieved without effort by this absolute master of a cappella.
Following his 19th year of leading singers at Summersong Music Camp, the NZ native and Sydney resident continues leading workshops for amateurs and professional choirs all over Australia, NZ, the USA, Canada, Europe, and the South Pacific. He is an accomplished vocal arranger, composer, singer, and choir leader, whose first Australian choir, The Cafe of the Gate of Salvation, is now over 30 years old. He’s recorded and toured with The Heavenly Lights Quartet, arranged and sung backup for dozens of artists, and written several books on choral music and method.
Open to ages 12 and up. Saturday 26 January, 1–4pm, at the Byron Region Community College, Mullumbimby (air-conditioned).
No pre-bookings; cash only at the door. Doors open 12.30.
Tickets $35 or $30 for Summersong graduates.
Info: [email protected]
Curiosity that won’t kill cats
Byron Bay Brewery | Sat 19 Jan | 6pm | $20-25
The Cunning Stunts have created something amazing. Once a month at Billindugel they throw a Sunday arvo party that sees half the Shire get their booty out for a bit of a dancefloor session. It’s a great community atmosphere and at the same time the crew have raised tens of thousands of dollars for local charities in the area. After growing their Nudge Nudge brand to capacity they have branched out to create CURIOUS, an experience of cosmic osmosis with DJs playing sets and live guest musicians. The DJ lineup includes DJ Jamie Porteous with SHE J (percussion) and Ezmaytrix (vocals), DJ Crucial D with Dave Wray (saxophone), DJ Dale Stephen with Vanessa Baker (vocals), DJ Lord Sut, and DJ James Scott.
New sponsor Brookie’s Gin will have delicious, decadent libations available, Creatrix Body Art will be there to adorn revellers, and our venue the Byron Bay Brewery will be providing amazing, food, beers, beverages, and offering their courtesy bus.
In line with all conscious activities Cunning Stunts represent, a percentage of the profits from this event at The Byron Bay Brewery on Saturday night will be donated locally; the recipient for this night is Story Dogs.
Tix at cunningstunts.com.au.
Tribute to Nicks & Mac
Byron Theatre | Sat 16 March | 7.30pm | $44-49
Gold Dust Woman is a musical tribute to the awesome talents of Stevie Nicks and Fleetwood Mac. The show takes audiences on a journey in music from the early years through to Stevie’s successful solo career. Just last year Stevie Nicks was inducted into the 34th Hall of Fame and is the only woman in history to be inducted twice – once with Fleetwood Mac and once as a solo artist.
The show is at the Byron Theatre on Saturday 16 March. Tix on sale now.
A Few Good Women help
Áine Tyrrell Return to the Sea!
Federal Hall | Sun 10 Feb | 3-6pm | $30
In 2017 Áine Tyrrell returned to her homeland of Ireland to make her latest album Return to the Sea. She packed up her three kids, took fellow musician and producer Mark Stanley and the girl who now calls Australia home visited the places and people in her home country who have helped make her the woman she is today to record her album, not in a studio, but with her feet and her heart firmly in the country of her birth. This is how she tells her stories best. ‘It’s about standing in power, owning your own skin, and making sense of the shared responsibility we have as humans,’ says Tyrrell.
Tyrrell travelled by ferry to the Aron Islands, where only Irish is spoken; there are no cars and often no electricity, to record in the front bar of a pub with a bunch of old men. She recorded with her father, folk legend Sean Tyrrell; she recorded with other Irish folk legends, in houses and halls, in churches and lounge rooms across her homeland. She even managed a number one on the Irish charts with her song Don’t Be Left Crying! She then returned to Australia to record Row Back the Levy with fellow Irish woman Cara Robinson – a song full of reflection and patriotism that bridges the divide in a country torn in two.
The album is ready to go, and to help her get this extraordinary new work on the road and into the hearts of her adopted country, her colleague and friend Mandy Nolan has stepped up to host a fundraiser – A Few Good Women – to make sure the fiercely independent Tyrrell and her music go as far and wide as they deserves.
‘I have heard Áine’s new album and it’s incredibly powerful, inspiring, and unique,’ says Mandy. ‘Getting an album on the road is a real challenge for independent artists, and for live touring artists like Áine it’s absolutely imperative she play to as many people as she can. As a fellow artist I really want to support the work she’s done. For someone like me getting my work out is easy: I just turn up. But for a touring live musician like Áine it’s a lot more complex. There’s a band to consider, touring schedules, promo… and of course let’s not forget she’s a single mum of three!’
Mandy Nolan will host A FEW GOOD WOMEN at Federal Hall on Sunday 10 December. Featuring Delta Kay and the Bunyarra Dancers, a performance by Mandy Nolan, a conversation with Mandy and Áine, and then a one-hour solo set by Áine previewing some of the work from her new album.
With art for auction by Uncle Magpie, Emma Walker, and Mandy Nolan, fabulous raffle prizes, afternoon tea, and a bar! This will be a rocking Sunday summer soirée!
For tickets go to mandynolan.com.au.
Z-Star Trinity & Hussy Hicks
Lismore City Hall | Sat 2 Feb | 7.30pm | $25-35
After taking the Australian blues scene by storm in 2018 with 100 live shows and festivals, UK frontwoman Zee Gachette returns with her power trio, Z-STAR TRINITY, featuring Beck Flatt (Blues Arcadia) on drums. Setting stages alight with their high-octane blues and raw rock passion, the trio were touted as the highlight of many a festival last winter and return to Lismore City Hall for this amazing show with local legends Hussy Hicks.
Tix are available on lismorecityhall.com.au.
Catching Taylor
Club Mullum | Sat 2 Feb | 6.30pm | $20
Claire Anne Taylor is a unique Australian artist. She is a force of nature… born into her Father’s hands in the family barn in Tasmania’s ancient Tarkine rainforest. Taylor and her five siblings were raised in a quaint bush home, rich with creativity and music. During her childhood, the Taylor barn was home to a family of Tasmanian Devils and some say that Taylor developed her unique, raspy singing style from nights spent listening to the devils growling beneath the floorboards. Her 2016 debut album Elemental was loved and lauded. The new album All the Words is as impressive, if not more. Her poetic story telling has never been more potent than on track two, Pick You Bones, a tale about a bar-room brawl between a man and a woman… guess who wipes the floor with him? Whoops – spoiler!
Don’t Miss Claire Anne Taylor with her new band and special guests Ash Bell and Sara Tindley. Celebrate the launch of All the Words, a very welcome addition to our musical heritage. She’s got the kind of voice that sits up on the top shelf with music greats like Joplin, Baez and Winehouse…
Tix at mullumexservices.com.au.
