S.Y.L.K.
Rails, Byron Bay | Sunday | 7pm | Free
Brace yourself, Byron Bay, for the funk and soul phenomenon S.Y.L.K. at The Rails on Sunday for a night that will have you firmly fixed on the dance floor.
Originally hailing from Chile, frontman Josue’s appreciation for classic soul and vintage R&B has seen him considered in the same league as musician greats, such as Allen Stone and PJ Moreton. With an alluring, silky-smooth voice that oozes passion and sex appeal, any performance he gives lingers in the mind for days and transcends all pop convention.
Bringing serious soul, funk, and style to the Rails – go back to a time you won’t want to leave! This is a free event. Starts 7pm.
Brazilian Day
Beach Hotel Byron | Saturday | 7pm | Free
Brazilian Day is an annual festival that takes place in New York City sometime in the beginning of September
to celebrate Brazil’s independence. It seems as Brazilians and the love of their culture infect the globe, it’s something being celebrated worldwide with an event in Byron at the Beach Hotel, with Carnaval’s taste, lots of traditional rhythms from different parts of Brazil, and some beats to get you dancing like there’s no tomorrow. Featuring Meninas Da Lua, the Batukanum Drumming School, Salve Jorge with his ethno beats, and many more.
Beach Hotel Byron Saturday from 7pm. Free.
Streeton Trio
Byron Theatre | Sunday 15 September | 3pm | $10–40
Described by Musica Viva as ‘Australia’s most internationally successful piano trio’, the Streeton Trio was formed in 2008, in Geneva, Switzerland, by three young Australian musicians, Benjamin Kopp (piano), Emma Jardine (violin), and Meta Weiss (cello).
Named after the Australian Impressionist painter Sir Arthur Streeton, the trio has received great acclaim for performances in venues such as Wigmore Hall, Het Loo Royal Palace (Holland), Shanghai Oriental Arts Centre, Melbourne Recital Centre, Trondheim Festival, Apeldoorn Festival, and Pablo Casals Festival (Prades).
Winner of the 2011 Music Viva Chamber Music Competition, the Streeton Trio has been laureate of several prestigious international competitions, and has won scholarships from Australia Council for the Arts, Arts Victoria, and Ian Potter Cultural Trust. In 2012, the trio featured as Musica Viva’s Rising Stars ensemble.
The trio has given highly acclaimed performances across the United Kingdom, China, Australia, New Zealand, United Arab Emirates, Holland, Lithuania, Norway, Germany, France, Austria, and Switzerland. The trio performs on Larsen Strings and is currently Fine Music Ensemble in Residence.
Ravel and Brahms Sunday 15 September | 3pm Byron Theatre. Streeton Trio, with Benjamin Kopp (piano), Emma Jardine (violin), and Meta Weiss (cello) plays works including Ravel, Schubert, Ives, Brahms, and Dvorak.
Loveys
Brunswick Picture House | Sunday | 4pm | $22/27
Flirting with The Loveys hits Brunswick Picture House this Sunday. Spring has sprung and love is in the air… Mullumbimby’s very own grownup girl band, The Loveys, are coming to the Brunswick Picture House, presenting their first workshop-style concert to share their combined years of experience in the finer art of flirting. The Loveys are a bunch of big old flirts. Their stories and songs track the ups and down of human relationships. For the Loveys flirting is about daring to share who we are with anyone and everyone. Knowing how to flirt successfully can make your life more open, and your relationships more exciting. Learn how to brighten someone’s day with a well-crafted compliment, eye contact, or a smile. If the Loveys can’t get you flirting, no-one will… A wonderful light-hearted afternoon of connection and laughter, sprinkled with songs about life and love. You will leave with a smile on your face and a spring in your step, and a whole new set of flirting skills. Performing at one of their favourite venues, the Loveys invite the audience to dress for the occasion in their favourite red frocks, socks, bow-ties, and bling. The Picture House kiosk will be serving afternoon tea, and the magical garden will be open… so come early.
If you have yet to experience a Loveys show, do not miss it. Show at 4pm. Tix $22/27 at brunswickpicturehouse.com.
Rainforest Revival Day hosted by Mark Swivel
Hotel Brunswick | Saturday | 4–10pm | Entry gold coin donation
Rainforest Revival Day is a festive fundraiser, initiated, sponsored, and hosted by the Hotel Brunswick. Supporting the vitally important work of Rainforest Rescue and Big Scrub Landcare, it’s a day of information, awesome music, interesting stalls, a dedicated kids’ corner, and so much more.
Funds raised on the day will be matched by both the Hotel Brunswick and sensational local brewers Stone & Wood, who’ll also feature their famous Karma Keg.
The day kicks off with Welcome to Country led by Bunyurra Culture Collective. Following up are inspiring speakers representing Australia’s rainforest community, including the co-founder of Rainforest Rescue and president of Big Scrub Landcare, Dr Tony Parkes, the recent recipient of the Order of Australia for distinguished service to conservation and the environment through the restoration of subtropical rainforest in northern New South Wales. Joe Gala, Indigenous elder and traditional Indigenous dancer from K’Gari (Fraser Island) will also perform.
There’ll be many ways to participate and give back to our rainforests: make a pledge and take home a rainforest tree; purchase a book about rainforest restoration or the Big Scrub; grab a rainforest t-shirt, and buy into the giant rainforest raffle with fantastic prizes ranging from local business contributions to Daintree Rainforest adventures.
Kids’ Corner will feature face painting, Fauna Fetchers Australian Wildlife show, and screenings of Fern Gully 1 and 2.
Music will flow with Kyle Lionhart, Salt and Steel, and Mojo Jacket from 7pm.
The very entertaining Mark Swivel will MC this special day, in celebration of Australian Rainforests, growing the movement towards a more certain future for all life.
So join us to celebrate, dance, dine, donate, and contribute to the survival and revival of these magnificent, majestic, magical places.
Hotel Brunswick, Saturday 4–10pm. Entry by gold coin donation. All funds raised will go towards the revival of Australia’s rainforests.
Merryn Jeann – album launch
Byron Theatre Community Centre | Friday | 7.30pm | $20/25
Merryn Jeann returns home from Paris to debut her gorgeous self-titled debut album. Merryn Jeann won CSDEM Original Song of the Year in France in 2016 with Aloha, a collaboration with French DJ Mome. It 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.
Friday at Byron Centre $20/25.
Tix at byroncentre.com.au
Nimbin Roots Festival
Nimbin | 13–15 September
If you are a little bit curious about visiting Nimbin, the Nimbin Roots Festival, running Friday 13 till Sunday 15 September, is the perfect time to catch Hat Fitz & Cara! Their musical style is a unique combination of folk, roots, and gospel blues with old-time flavourings reminiscent of a time once forgotten. Hat Fitz is a veteran wild man of the blues scene in Australia. He has a record 18 straight appearances at Byron’s East Coast Blues and Roots Festival, a record that is not likely to ever be broken, and one that bears testimony to his amazing live performances and popularity with festival-goers. Cara draws on her soul background (she’s toured Europe and the United States with singers such as Jamiroquai and the hugely popular Corinne Bailey-Rae), and although blessed with a sensational voice she was not content to be labelled as ‘just a singer’. She has taken to drumming duties as well as washboards, flute, and tin whistle, sometimes all at once. Together this pair will take you on a musical journey with ample, boisterous highs, and longing, bluesy lows. From the Australian outback to the Canadian shield, Hat Fitz & Cara put on a show that is guaranteed to energise and invigorate. Tix at nrfest.com