Showing at the Showgrounds!
Film lovers will flock to the Bangalow Showgrounds, and the A&I Hall, from January 14, as the village lights up for eight exciting days of films and events. And tickets are on sale now!
Opening with the not-to-be-missed drive-in screening of Fellini’s 1960 masterpiece, La Dolce Vita, the program is jam-packed with films for everyone:
High Ground, starring Jack Thompson, Simon Baker and Jacob Junior Nayinggul is a Northern Rivers’ premiere. Shot in Kakadu National Park by Andrew Commis (Babyteeth) and directed by Stephen Maxwell Johnson (Yolngu Boy), this is a great opportunity to preview the film before it hits our local screens.
Food and dog lovers will be delighted by a screening of The Truffle Hunters, a heart-warming documentary that was a hit at the Cannes film festival. It follows a group of fascinating characters and their beloved dogs as they roam the Italian countryside in search of the elusive and lucrative truffle.
Also in the food strand of the festival is the fascinating new documentary Ottolenghi & The Cakes of Versailles.
The Bangalow Film Festival 2021 closes with a very special screening of the spaghetti western, A Fistful of Dollars.
Byron Mayor, Simon Richardson, says: ‘I’m looking forward to seeing both locals and visitors safely enjoying this exciting new film festival in Bangalow, after a challenging year that saw so many events cancelled in the community. Congratulations to the organisers for a great addition to our creative calendar.’
Full program and ticket sales available at: bangalowfilmfestival.com.au
Lovejoy Threesome in Lennox
Much to the astonishment of management and band members, the Lovejoy Threesome jazz/pop ensemble has, for the first time since their infamous break up and lawsuit, decided to mend its broken bridges and bury the hatchet. Legal representatives were not concerned as the band was still under contract.
‘I’m doing this for the money, obviously,’ says pianist Dr Fred Cole, who had no idea that he wouldn’t be paid. His message to the media was brief: ‘The rest of the band is, of course, still a bunch of spuds.’
Fellow band member and double bass player, Hans Lovejoy, was contacted in his Las Vagas hotel room, bloated on uppers and booze and was told the news. ‘I love Elvis’, he said in a slow mumbled drawl. ‘Scoobie doobie doo doo!’ he yelled at one point, and then slumped back onto his toilet shaped Jason recliner with a club sandwich and passed out.
The nice one of the group, Ben, was unavailable for comment as he was sunning himself on a mega-yacht in the New Hebrides, or as it is now known, Vanuatu.
The band, who have thrilled and delighted audiences with impromptu impersonations of dead black people, plan to bring the magic of rare jazz standards and popular music back from forgotten vaults on Sunday at the Lennox Pub. As usual, their attorneys will be taking 100 per cent. Starts at 3pm.
The Space Cowboy Gallery – Grand Opening
The Space Cowboy Gallery is a unique Art Space located in Byron Bay’s bustling Arts and Industry Estate. It highlights the visual art of this 55 times Guinness World Record breaker and sideshow celebrity.
Special guests include Benjamin Walsh, Michael Lira, and Shenzo Gregorio, as their mad cap Mexican rock trio ‘El Zito’, as well as Lollita Pop, Zoe L’amore and a heart stopping performance by the Space Cowboy atop his giant Tesla Coil. See him create art with over one million volts of electricity passing through his body and then into his paintings. Don’t miss the world premier of this this live art creation combining paint and high voltage electricity.
The Grand opening of The Space Cowboy Gallery will be held on 18-19 December 2020. Gates open at 7pm.
Grand Opening Performance starts at 7.30pm sharp!
12 Wollongbar Street, Byron Bay.
This is a registered COVID Safe, 18+ event.
For more information go to: www.thespacecowboy.com
Endless Summer Nights are coming to The Brunswick Picture House
The Picture House summer holiday program, Endless Summer Nights, features over 40 shows, offering something for all fancies.
Returning this summer is the signature Cheeky Cabaret, which continues to sell out, month after month… along with the best boys and girls in the business featuring in Bruns Does Burlesque, back after premiering to sell-out crowds last January. Not forgetting the kiddies, the All Ages Circus Bonanza is one for the whole family to enjoy together, with a collection of the best circus acts around.
Some of the most exciting names in comedy today are coming to the Picture House this January starting with Tommy Little and his new show I’ll See Myself Out and an epic triple bill of Nikki Britton, Sam Taunton and Tom Ballard. Followed up by one of the most daring and unconventional comics in Australia; Sam Simmons performs his show Sam I Am. Picture House favourite from 2019, Anne Edmonds returns with Lloyd Langford as they tell jokes, stories and sing a few songs, as they mix Business with Pleasure. Rounding off the stellar line up of comedy and the last shows on the Picture House stage prior to renovations is Australia’s adopted son of comedy Arj Barker. He has a worldwide following and is a regular on Australian TV screens.
To find out more go to: brunswickpicturehouse.com
The Austentayshus Virus
He’s big, he’s bold and he’s back! Austentayshus is the big bad wolf of Aussie comedy, huffing and puffing his way through the zietgiest. Every year he makes his satirical sojourn to Byron Bay. He loves it here. He says we ‘get him’. That we are one of the smartest crowds in the country. Of course we love hearing that – and we also love hearing his improvised downloads on the politics and drama of our town.
With the entire region becoming a film making mecca, with Nicole being here, and the Hemsworths, and Mark Wahlberg up the road doing a luxury quarantine so he can shoot a Ladbrokes ad – you are going to want to hear what Tayshus makes of all that.
Tayshus was there when comedy started in this country, and he’ll be there to the bitter end. His knowledge of world events and International politics puts him in a league of his own. Hear him on covid, conspiracy and the jokes he gets made in China.
Presented by Mandy Nolan in three hot summer shows!
Saturday 9 January at the Mullumbimby Ex-Services at 8pm.
Sunday 10 January at the Byron Services at 5pm, and Monday 11 January back at the Byron Club at 8pm.
All tix are $40 on mandynolan.com.au
Bringing Broadway to Byron!
Michael Cormick is an internationally renowned singer and actor. Michael Cormick is the host and star of The Supper Club – the transformation of the Byron Theatre into a glamorous and unforgettable night at the theatre. Michael’s leading roles include The Phantom of the Opera, Beauty and the Beast, Romeo & Juliet, Jesus Christ Superstar, Evita, The Rocky Horror Show, Lloyd Webber’s The Woman in White, and many more.
Michael will be joined by musical theatre stars Rachael Beck, Blake Bowden, Graeme Isaako and Natasha Marconi, and by soul powerhouse Lisa Hunt and jazz ensemble the Sharny Russell Trio.
‘I love the live element of performing in a theatre. It’s an immediate exchange between the performer and the audience. I have been a performer all my life, and have experienced this in many forms in lead roles across London, New York, Paris, Italy and at home here in Australia, but to be in such an intimate setting makes this truly special.’
– Michael Cormick, Artistic Director
7-9 January at the Byron Centre. Tix at byroncentre.com.au
