The Electric Balbi
Steve Balbi is a singer, composer, performer and producer, who first emerged onto the music scene on bass, with the Kevin Borich Express, at the age of 17. From there, Balbi went on to cultivate a production and songwriting partnership with Justin Stanley, founding and producing Aussie chart-toppers Noiseworks, then Electric Hippies.
Numerous European tours, four multi-platinum award-winning albums and various ARIA Award nominations later, Balbi accepted an invitation to front eighties new-wavers Mi-Sex in 2011, whose music, including the 1979 classic Computer Games, remains timeless.
As a producer, Balbi has also worked with Glenn Shorrock, Juice, Jenny Morris, Pearls & Swine, Toe to Toe, Vincent Stone, Fyre Byrd and Christine Anu, to name just some. Most recently, he composed and produced the new Test Cricket Theme for Fox Sports, and even joined forces with test cricket legend Brett Lee on a recording project that’s pencilled-in for an early-2021 release.
Don’t miss this amazing creative chameleon at the Ballina RSL, this Saturday 6.30pm and 9pm.
Tickets at ballinarsl.com.au
Great Southern Buskers!
Great Southern Nights presents Byron Buskers! Live and onstage at the Byron Theatre. The line up features the incredible Miss Renee Simone. As well as being a performer, Renee Simone is the director of entertainment company Byron Bay Experience, creative director of Byron’s iconic NYE event Soul Street and the curator of this Great Southern Nights event.
Renee Simone believes that Byron Bay is a hub for world-class entertainers. ‘We have over 60 amazingly talented people on the books. When we had almost the entire year’s worth of bookings cancelled from the calendar over the course of a couple of weeks, we had a mental health crisis on our hands. One of the biggest nights of the year for community and local performers, NYE Soul Street, got cancelled due to covid which also left a bit of sadness around how to tie up this disaster of a year for our industry. Being asked to put this Great Southern Nights event together at the end of November has given me so much joy. I’ve engaged some of the most gifted people I know, and we are all feeling a sense of support and community in this very special recovery show.’
Miss Renee began playing on the streets of Byron with her tropical trio Blackbirds. Elegant and relaxed, she embodies the Byron vibe, and you can expect sublime four part harmonies as they perform songs from her albums Blackbirds and Roar.
Other artists include; Pete Hunt – with his tranquil vocal and guitar style, with African, jazz and Celtic folk influences; Indigenous Songwoman, Tamwah – a beat-maker and a dream weaver. Broadwaters is a local duo comprised of Matt Day and Jessie Rose – as the name suggests expect a vast variety of styles and moods from this dynamic pair. Resonant Hand offers music inspired by the tribal dance tunes of the Philippines as well as sacred harmonies of the Pacific Islands. Black Rabbit George is the solo act from the front man of the electronic band Tijuana Cartel; he delivers hypnotic psych-folk, blending gorgeous layers of instrumentation and lavish textures on acoustic guitar. MC Benhur Helwend is a longtime Byron local who performed with Miss Renee Simone for many years in the Blackbirds.
This fabulous show is brought to you by Great Southern Nights and is presented at the Byron Theatre, on Saturday with doors from 6pm. Tix on byroncentre.com.au
Lilith in the Gran Slam
More than 40 poetry-slamming seniors from Cairns to Sydney will light up the internet this month when the ground-breaking ‘Gran Slam’ project goes digital in a free live streamed event.
The 2020 ‘COVID edition’ of the popular slam poetry project will culminate this Friday when a razor-sharp collective of seniors showcase what they have learned during eight weeks of coaching and workshops under the tutelage of experienced poets and literary performers.
Hosted by award-winning comedian and cabaret artist Jenny Wynter, Gran Slam LIVE will see the free-wheeling wordsmiths perform their own works, as well as special appearances by their Gran Slam mentors, Sarah Temporal and Luka Lesson, and musicians Gordon Hamilton and Tom Thum.
One of the featured Gran Slams is one of our own – Lilith Rocha! The 78-year-old from Suffolk Park is not just a renowned Astrologer, she’s also a hula dancer and a poet!
Gran Slam LIVE will be live streamed via Vimeo on Friday, 27 November from 7–8.30pm (AEDT) and 6–7.30pm (Qld time).
To register for the free online event, visit
feroscare.com.au/granslam-2020.
Have Your Xmas Party at the Palace
Wondering what to do in this COVID compliant world for your upcoming Xmas party?
Palace Byron Bay are now taking bookings for Cinema Hires for Christmas staff parties. For just $300, you can hire out a private cinema for up to 20 people (per screen), making this the ultimate staff night or family gathering.
They’ll also throw in a current film of your choice and free popcorn for each guest at no additional cost. All you need to do is pick a time, date and movie.
For more information, additional catering options and to discuss our great new releases please enquire at
[email protected]
Men Like Us!
Yes it’s true! Women Like Us have launched Men Like Us! About 5 years ago two very accomplished women that just happen to be superbly talented, created a travelling two-handed show called Women Like Us. Mandy Nolan and Ellen Briggs started Women Like Us five years ago and have since performed just shy of 200 shows.
In September 2019 Ellen had to cancel an appearance for personal reasons, Mandy Nolan asked Lindsay Webb to fill in for Ellen. The result, as expected, a great show. As it went so well, Mandy and Ellen decided to expand the ‘Like Us’ brand and have commissioned a brand new show Men Like Us.
Men Like Us are Lindsay Webb and Dan Willis. Both performers have been performing comedy for over 22 years and have travelled the world. Now they are travelling together bringing you shows with the same ethos as the Women Like Us shows. The show Launched in October 2020 with a run of regional NSW shows for Healthwise NSW. Now the boys are fully on the road, and happily guided by their wonderful matriarchy.
At the Mullumbimby Ex Services Club on Saturday 11 December at 8pm.
Tix at womenlikeus.com.au
Open Studios
Ever wondered what goes on behind the closed doors of an artist’s studio? Open Studios happens this weekend and next and gives art lovers a chance to see the artist in the place where the magic happens. For many artists this is their sacred space – where they engage in the process of art making. Inviting the public in is a real honour and not one to be missed!
Discover over 34 artists’ studios from Byron to Ballina and beyond.
Go to os-bbb.com to register for tours happening 28–29 November and 5–6 December.
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