Mullum Music Festival
14–17 Nov
Stamp your musical passport at Mullum Music Festival this year with bands and musicians from Chile, South Africa, US, UK, Ethiopia, Canada, and the Solomon Islands playing alongside a power-packed local and national lineup. Now in its 12th year, Mullum Music Festival’s defining characteristic is its ability to offer a genre-diverse lineup for a multitude of music lovers. This is an inclusive festival for everyone from two to 82.
This year’s program features Wagons, hot on the heels of their long-awaited 2019 comeback album Songs From the Aftermath, the perfect melodic and lyrical blend between Americana and alt pop – you’ll be seduced by the alluring dark vocals of Henry Wagons.
Mojo Juju cleaned up at the National Indigenous Music Awards this year with Native Tongue claiming both album of the year and song of the year. Mojo Juju is proof that some of the best music in the country right now is being made by First Nations people.
Conjuring an immersive and psychedelic sonic landscape both live and on record, Steve Gunn (US) is known for telling other people’s stories, but on his breakthrough fourth album, The Unseen In Between, he explores his own emotional landscapes with his most complex, fully realised songs to date.
The heady vocals of Rachel Baiman have you hooked from hello. Her smoky tones move effortlessly between bluegrass and folk, old time and country.
Mullum offers quiet places to listen and wild places to dance. In fact, if there’s ever a place you can truly let loose on the dancefloor, it’s Mullum Music Festival. People there LOVE to dance. This year the call to the floor is from Dereb The Ambassador bringing Ethiopian-tinged soul beats and dirty rhythms to the fore.
Mullum 2019 also welcomes Nano Stern, Kent Burnside, Ruby Boots, Joe Pug, and Allensworth from the US, Z Star Trinity and Blair Dunlop from the UK, Sibusile Xaba from South Africa, and Alysha Brilla from Canada.
The local region is well represented with Russian middle-aged boy band Dustyesky, Alfalfa, Mr Rhodes, and former Mullum Youth Mentorship Program winners Loose Content among others making up 30 per cent of the bill. They play alongside national musical treasures such as Harry James Angus, Hat Fitz & Cara, Husky, Claire Anne Taylor, and Hussy Hicks – all making their pilgrimage to Mullum Music Festival stages.
It’s like a farmers market of musical produce, rich, juicy, home-grown, and free of industry modifications. This is independent music, uncompromised, fiercely organic, and best of all… it’s music that’s good for you!
14–17 November. Tix at mullummusicfestival.com
Byron Bay Guitar Festival
Byron Bay Brewery | 12 & 13 October
Earlybird tickets are still available to the third annual Byron Bay Guitar Festival at the Byron Bay Brewery 12 & 13 October. Right now you can secure a bargain ticket of $50 for one day or $90 for two days to the biggest little festival in Byron!
Getting change from two pineapples and seeing legends like Frenzal Rhomb, The Delta Riggs, Chris Tamwoy, Nathan Cavaleri, Nicole Brophy, Minnie Marks, Peter Northcote, The Soul Movers, Fergo & The Burden, and many more PLUS guitar markets, displays, and demos, PLUS mega sales through Byron Music, PLUS intimate masterclasses in much-loved live music venue like Byron Bay Brewery over two days is an absolute BARGAIN! Check out the website: byronbayguitarfestival.com.
Out of Range at Maleny Music Festival
Friday 30 August till Sunday 1 September
Local band Out of Range head for the Sunshine Coast this weekend to play at Maleny Festival, where they will be showcasing a fantastic new lineup (including Rex Carter on drums, Julian Smith on double bass and Cameron Smith on trumpet) and a host of new songs. They will be singing about extinction rebellion, homelessness, and other political issues, with their inimitable upbeat, humorous, and genre-fluid style. They played to a packed house at Mullumbimby festival last year and promise the same joy on the Sunshine Coast. So get away for the weekend and join them. Maleny festival is family friendly with kids under 12 going free. outofrangeband.com
Friday 30 August till Sunday 1 September. www.malenymusicfestival.com
Blindmouth
Court House Hotel, Mullumbimby | Friday | Free
Blindmouth are a 4-piece indie alt rock band hailing from Mullumbimby. They have been honing their sound playing gigs in the local area since their conception in 2016, playing supports with a range of artists such as Walrus and the Carpenter, A Little Province, and Raku O’Gaia and playing the prestigious Mullumbimby Music Festival in 2018. With three songwriters, Blindmouth’s eclectic style fuses genres from rock, jazz, punk, and blues (just to name a few) with rich 3-part harmonies to make for an interesting and diverse live show. 2019 saw the release of Blindmouth’s debut EP What Have I Done in May and since then they have been playing regular gigs in the Brisbane music scene.
They play the Court House in Mullumbimby on Friday. Free entry.
Warm Up DJs, Stephen Allkins, Mr Ha Yes, Abel el toro, Cinco Cinco Cinco, Milk, The Italian Chef. Featuring Tashmeen
Rock & Roll Cafe, Mullumbimby | Saturday | 5–11pm | Entry by a donation of canned food.
Everyone’s favourite little Mullum laneway hang, Rock & Roll Cafe, is celebrating 10 years and to thank everyone they are hosting a birthday festivity called Warm Up – a charity event in aid of the Mullumbimby Neighbourhood Centre. With local music maestros DJs Stephen Allkins, Mr Ha Yes, Abel el toro, Cinco Cinco Cinco, Milk, The Italian Chef. Featuring Tashmeen live vocals.
Free entry by an item of canned food will be collected and donated to the Mullum Neighbourhood Centre. At the previous event over 200 much-needed canned food items were collected and donated to the centre.
DJs will be playing across all formats; records, CDs, and digital. Music selection is eclectic: reggae, soul, funk, hip-hop, disco, house, and techno for the crescendo later on.
5–11pm on Saturday 31 August. Bar snacks and drinks available. Rock & Roll relaunch dinner service Thursday 12 September!
Shire Choir
Bangalow Hotel | Thursday 5 September | $12
There’s nothing quite like singing together. 1000s of Northern Rivers locals have experienced the joy of a collective singfest with Shire Choir bringing music to the pub at the Bangalow Hotel. Join the crew when they celebrate their first birthday with cake, drinks, prizes, and surprises PLUS learn a classic pop/rock song in three-part harmony with 100+ others.
Choir mistress Melia Naughton says: ‘These monthly gatherings have been so soul nourishing and uplifting as a community comes together to belt out a song! Singing is good for us on so many levels and because we’re in a dark room with a drink in hand there is no obligation or expectation; it’s an experience for singers and non-singers alike – everyone who has a voice.’
Sally Schofield, the choir organiser, agrees. She says: ‘It’s been incredible seeing such a diverse mix of humans come together to sing. Many arrive looking apprehensive, or exhausted after a long day, but by the end everyone is transformed. Bright eyes, big smiles. They leave feeling a whole lot lighter. It’s the best therapy!’
Thursday 5 September at the Bangalow Hotel. Tix $12 at the door or on www.facebook.com/theshirechoir.
Justin Townes Earle (US) returns with new album OZ tour
With special guest Emily Lubitz (Tinpan Orange)
Club Mullum (Mullum Ex-Services Club) | Wednesday 11 September 8pm
No stranger to the southern hemisphere, the formidable singer/songwriter Justin Townes Earle is coming to play Mullum Ex-Services. Yep, Townes will play our biggest little town. He’s touring on the back of his brilliant new album The Saint of Lost Causes. He loves coming out here and says: ‘Australia is one of my favourite countries to tour, and my fans there have always come out and supported my shows and my new music. I’m really looking forward to coming back for what will be my biggest Australian tour to date.’ He’s supported by the delightful Emily Lubitz of Tin Pan Orange. That’s quite a double bill!
Wednesday 11 September 8pm. Tix and Info: www.redsquaremusic.com.au
