Byron Bluesfest
9–13 April 2020
Last week Bluesfest shared a little of what is going to be in store for the 2020 lineup. And it’s impressive! With the return of the lauded Patti Smith, The Dave Matthews Band, and Crowded House, the 31st annual Byron Bluesfest happening 9–13 April is going to be something special. The lineup also includes two acts making their Bluesfest debut: George Benson and Brandi Carlile. With the incredible The War & Treaty (a must-see from last year), Buffy Sainte-Marie, The Cat Empire, Morcheeba, John Mayall, and a while lot more! Festival director Peter Noble really is on his way to taking this internationally recognised event to the next level! For tix and program info go to bluesfest.com.au.
Miss Amber & Stukulele’s Byron Uke Night
Byron Services Club | Thursday 29 August | 7pm | $15 adults, kids under 16 $5.
They’re at it again… Miss Amber & Stukulele are hosting a Uke Night in Byron! So look under your bed or in the cupboard for that ukulele that was given to you a while back… dust it off and get on down to the Byron Services Club on Thursday 29 August. Bring your best singing voice, frock, or suit. Songs are projected onto a screen so you can strum and sing along backed by Rod Coe on double bass and Kate Gittins on flute, clarinet, and accordion. Songbook available though www.ukemullum.com. Adults $15 and kids under 16 just $5. 7pm. Tix at the door
Rebel Yell: Fundraiser for Extinction Revolution
Italo Club, Lismore | Saturday | 5.30pm | $15/20
A century ago, legendary social activist Emma Goldman declared, ‘If I can’t dance, I don’t want to be part of your revolution!’
It’s an attitude shared by the organisers of Rebel Yell!, a night of old-fashioned fun and frivolity being held by Extinction Rebellion Lismore at Lismore’s Italo Australia Club this Saturday to fundraise for four groups of frontline climate-change activists.
Moneys made will be split between FLAC (Frontline Action Camp on Coal), Wangan and Jagalingou (traditional owners of the Galilee Basin), Extinction Rebellion, and local Bundjalung elders.
‘Environmentalists are often wrongly portrayed by people who don’t know us as being humourless and overly serious, not the type of people who know how to celebrate life while fighting to protect it,’ says Susie Gipton, one of the event’s organisers.
MCed by Miss North Lismore aka Jenny Jones, the event features a wide range of acclaimed musical acts from folk to psychobilly, including Jim Bob, Iona Harker, The Lost Seamen, Jatika, Pete Lehner, Karen Anderson, with comedy by Mark Swivell.
Rebel Yell even features that old-time delight – a chocolate wheel – being used to draw an eclectic range of raffle prizes donated by local businesses.
The bar and event will be open from 5.30pm, with freshly made vegetarian food also on sale. Merchandise made from recycled materials will also be available. At the Italo Club in Lismore. Entry is $20 or $15 concession on the door.
Warm Up – DJs and music for Mullum Neighbourhood Centre
Rock & Roll Cafe, Mullumbimby | Saturday 31 August | 5–11pm | Free
Local musician gather together to aid the Mullumbimby Neighbourhood Centre with Warm Up!, a charity event featuring musical maestros DJs Stephen Allkins, Mr Ha Yes, Abel el toro, Cinco Cinco Cinco, Milk, and The Italian Chef, featuring the soul-inspired singer Tashmeen.
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.
Rock & Roll Cafe Mullumbimby from 5pm.
Merryn Jean
Byron Theatre, Community Centre | Friday 6 September | 8pm | $20/25
Last year I had the pleasure of seeing local girl Merryn Jeann play a gig in Paris. I know I am biased, but she literally blew away everyone else on the bill. Our one-time Steiner girl and Mullum Music Festival mentorship winner had come a long way. She clearly has something special. Something recognised overseas with LItzic magazine in France saying of her latest album, ‘We are in the presence of a masterpiece – dare to say it – a masterpiece of finesse and refinement. Merryn Jeann offers us a precious fit that must be kept beside all that is important.’ Merryn won the CSDEM Original Song of the Year in France in 2016 with Aloha, a collaboration with French DJ Mome. She was also awarded triple-diamond status by SACEM France with around 200,000,000 streams.
Her solo debut, a ‘self-exploratory adventure’, already coined a ‘masterpiece’ in reviews, was produced in Byron at Museagency Studios and features some of her old bandmates from Parcels and Tora.
The Byron launch is a big thankyou for strong local support on Kickstarter that helped make the self-titled album.
There will also be the film premiere of Merryn Jeann visualised by Merryn Jeann, the film she made for her eponymous vinyl album.
Friday 6 September at 8pm at the Byron Theatre at the Community Centre. $20/25
EPIC
Byron Golf Club | Saturday | 7pm | Free
Epic bring their band full of renowned full-time musicians to the Byron Golf Club this Saturday. Members of EPIC have performed alongside Earth Wind and Fire, The Doobie Brothers, Nik Kershaw, and 10CC…
The Byron Golf Club on Saturday from 7pm. Free.
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. 
