Badlands & Port Royal
Byron Bay Brewery | Thursday | 7pm | Free
The Badlands have returned in 2019 with their highly anticipated new single Ultraviolent now out across all platforms. To celebrate they’re in the midst of a national tour, including Brisbane, Sydney, and Melbourne, and they play their hometown show this Thursday at the Byron Bay Brewery, with a host of new songs thrown in to their well-loved mix. As one of Byron’s most locally celebrated bands, the show promises to be the usual concoction of on- and off-stage rock’n’roll antics. To accompany the show and bring their own show-stopping performance to the stage are Brisbane’s Port Royal, who celebrate the eve of the release of their new single Ain’t Got You. The band have a major national tour kicking off and are notorious for their flamboyant rock’n’roll performances and unique sense of style. The band enjoy a mix of Rolling Stones, Oasis, and AC/DC coming through their live sound. Their sellout shows at Brisbane’s The Zoo, as well as a swiftly growing national fanbase, are clear indicators of where the band are heading and this Thursday promises to be a sweet treat for Byron. At the Brewery on Thursday at 7pm. Free.
Russell Morris
Byron Bay Services Club | Saturday 6 July | 8pm | $35 – $40
Russell Morris and his band are playing the Byron Bay Services Club on Saturday 6 July, starting at 7.30pm with Pat Tierney. $35 presales or $40. Go to www.trybooking.com/510652 for the real thing!
Lazy Sunday afternoon on the deck with Kathryn Jones & Friends
Ocean Shores Country Club back deck | Sunday | 2–5pm | Free
Local award-winning artist Kathryn Jones has rustled up a stellar lineup of artists with music ranging from blues roots through to contemporary bluegrass for her Lazy Sunday with Kathryn Jones. Joining her are Mick Albeck, Hamish Dutton, Claire Atkins, Clelia Adams, Alan Brooker and Neil McCann. This family-friendly event is a great opportunity to discover new music while watching the sunset over the Mullumbimby hinterland.
Performing alongside Aussie greats such as Paul Kelly, Kasey Chambers, Troy Cassar-Daly, Lee Kernaghan, Beccy Cole, and Rod and Geoff McCormack, Mick Albeck joins Hamish Dutton, who has an equal passion for music. Both will share flat-out bluegrass instrumentals to haunting celtic airs, beautiful vocal numbers to Django Reinhardt-style swing tunes.
Fresh off the back of the sold-out, controversial play SHIT, actress-cum-awarded-ceramicist-cum-editor and writer Claire Atkins now turns her passionate hands to making music before heading into Rockinghorse Studios to record her debut album.
Internationally acclaimed, multi-award-winning singer/songwriter Clelia Adams’s evocative retro music mix has captivated the Australian and international country music world.
Kathryn’s most recent album Lil Gypsy scored eight nominations at the Tamworth Country Music Festival. A finalist in the Tamworth Salute Awards (TSAs) in the New Songwriter of the Year, Kath won Best Vocal/Musical Event in the People’s Choice Awards and received a Brumby Award for the first single Even Cowgirls Sing the Blues. Kathryn will be playing some well-known tunes alongside bassist Alan Brooker and Neil McCann as well as all her guests.
The Empire gives back
Dj’s and Live Music | 5pm | Free with an item of canned food
This Saturday The Empire Cafe in Mullumbimby gets bodies shaking for a good cause. With DJs and live music from Si Clone, Abel el Toro, Tara Bloom, Kim Dimond, and The Italian Chef. Entry is free but you need to bring an item of canned food that can be collected and donated to the Neighbourhood Centre! From 5 till 11pm on Saturday… for the best in b-sides, bootlegs, and freshest sounds!
Uke Night with Miss Amber & Stukulele
Club Mullum – Mullum Ex-Services | Thursday | 7pm | $15
Looking for some joy? Miss Amber and Stukulele present an easy-play songbook of some well-loved classics including songs from The Eagles, Linda Ronstadt, Carole King, and more. Special guest vocalists include resident Country Queen powerhouse Clelia Adams. This will be a great night for uke players who are just starting out.
Strumming starts at 7pm sharp. Entry $15, kids under 16 $2.50, under 5 free. Check out the songbook via www.ukemullum.com
Byron Shire Singer/songwriter Night
Court House Hotel, Mullumbimby | Friday | 7.30pm | $10 or donation
I have been here well over two decades and I can attest the quality of our music from our original singer/songwriters has just got stronger and stronger. Not many people in a regional area would enjoy the depth of talent that we have on tap, so get out and support new and original music by attending a new Byron Shire Singer/songwriter Night at The Court House in Mullumbimby. Hosted by Southwall and featuring Rebecca Ireland, Guy Kachel, Kellie Knight, Ilona Harker, Mark Heazlett, Sean Tonnet, Cheynne Murphy, Luke Bernard, Waz Porter, Kristian Bernnand, and more! $10 or by donation! Friday at the Court House Hotel in Mullum at 7.30
Mullum Music Festival
14–17 Nov
There is Something about Mullum. And there’s definitely something about Mullum Music Festival. Now in its 12th year, everyone’s favourite little festival is getting ready to roll out the green carpet for the extraordinary mix of international, national, and local artists, playing stages, walking the streets, and dancing in halls over the four best days on the Mullum calendar.
So here’s a little taster of the first 13 acts before the full August lineup release!
Playing Mullum for the second time, we welcome back Chilean Nano Stern, who emerged from the underground punk rock scene to spread his wings with classical and jazz training. His music pays homage to Chilean poetry and music traditions but instills hope in those hungry for social justice.
From South Africa, Mullum Music Festival welcomes the astonishing and unique talent of Sibusile Xaba, touted as the linchpin in South Africa’s new generation of jazz musicians. A KwaZulu-Natal-born guitarist and vocalist, he is an acoustic guitar master.
There’s also Aria-nominated Mojo Juju, best known for her breakthrough album Native Tongue; she traverses R’n’B, hip-hop, and soul. It’s impossible not to love her. And Lucie Thorne, heading back to Mullum Music Festival to celebrate the release of her brilliant forthcoming album Kitty & Frank.
Acclaimed Indigenous vocalist Emma Donovan and Melbourne rhythm combo The PutBacks come together to perform a concert of hard hitting and heartfelt soul. The music has a gritty uniquely Australian sound, a tour de force of funk and soul!
Allensworth are the Southern Californian soul quintet that fuses rock and soul into a melting pot of true life anthemic stories. UK power trio Z-Star Trinity deliver driving rhythms; there’s the ethereal pedal steel guitar of the USA’s Joe Pug; purveyors of funk and dedicated groove Sunnyside; Zimbabwe-born Melbourne-based singer/songwriter Thando, with her electric presence and powerhouse big soul voice; Americana singer/songwriter Ruby Boots; the collaborative punch of The Wilson Pickers and Canada’s Juno Award-nominated Alysha Brilla. Her music is inspired by her cultural and religious background; she has an Indo-Tanzanian father and Canadian mother of European settler heritage, and puts out acoustic musings with an upbeat celebratory atmosphere of life!
Mullum Music Festival 14–17 November. On sale now at mullummusicfestival.com
Shire Choir!
Friday 28 June at Club Mullum, Mullumbimby Ex-Services Club, 7 – 9.30pm | Thursday 4 July and Thursday 1 August at the Bangalow Hotel | $10
One of the Shire’s most hotly anticipated events, pop-up singing experience Shire Choir is coming soon to a pub/club/festival near you! Singing is an excellent mental-health tonic, and general all-round feelgood activity.
Shire Choir promises an evening of uninhibited fun, laughter, and a palpable sense of community. Thousands of locals from Lismore to Lennox have experienced the thrill of learning a classic pop/rock song in three-part harmony, and then belting it out with hundreds of friends, new and old. From Fleetwood Mac to Guns ’n’ Roses to Simon and Garfunkel, the song of the night is fun, familiar, and arranged to make YOU sound fabulous. One collective voice. One song.
Directed by the dynamic, award-winning singer/songwriter Melia Naughton (Scarlett Affection) and her team of uber-talented musicians, Shire Choir is for singers and non-singers alike.
We are all blessed with our own unique instrument – our voice. So, come and sing your heart out at Shire Choir!
Tickets $10 via Eventbrite or at the door. Friday 28 June at Club Mullum, Mullumbimby Ex-Services Club, 7 – 9.30pm. Thursday 4 July and Thursday 1 August at the Bangalow Hotel.
Byron Bay Writers Festival attendees will experience Shire Choir on Sunday 4 August when they close the festival with a fabulous, interactive singing session.
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