Bomba on Malibu

Enigmatic performer, producer and lifelong troubadour, Nicky Bomba, returns to the scene with Malibu, his first solo release in ten years.

Bomba’s reputation as a world-class performer has seen him grace stages from Istanbul to Tokyo, Hong Kong to Detroit and garnered him a weighty trove of accolades including four ARIA awards.

Whether at the helm of the titanic Melbourne Ska Orchestra, or slamming skins on the drum kit with John Butler, Nicky’s magnetic connection with the audience is a testament to his spectacular creativity and joyously bon vivant attitude. With new material and a whole new live show, Nicky is hitting the road in May to bring his electrified energy to the stage.

Nicky Bomba plays all the instruments on the album, and he produced and recorded the whole thing whilst deep in lockdown during 2020 at his home studio in the Alpine region of north eastern Victoria. The album is about simplifying and getting back to basics, acknowledging the trappings of modern living and finding a way to fly through the bullshit.

You can see Nicky Bomba this Saturday, 15 May, at the Mullumbimby Civic Hall.

Tickets https://bit.ly/May15Malibu

Once in Lismore…

After a sell-out 2019 Sydney season, the breathtaking Broadway musical Once is about to melt hearts again when it plays the Lismore City Hall for five shows only in August. Based on the movie of the same name by John Carney, Once features a script (book) by Enda Walsh, and music and lyrics by Glen Hansard and Markéta Irglová.

It is the only Broadway show with music that won the Academy Award ®, Grammy Award ®, Olivier Award and Tony Award ®.

This critically acclaimed production is directed by Richard Carroll with musical direction by Victoria Falconer. It features stunning dance sequences created by Hamilton’s resident director Amy Campbell. Jay Laga’aia joins Australian musical theatre stars, Toby Francis and Stefanie Caccamo, who are returning to the roles inspired by the love story of Once’s songwriters: Hansard and Irglová.

Irish singer and songwriter Glen Hansard formed his group The Frames in 1990, before appearing as guitarist Outspan Foster in the motion picture The Commitments. In 2001 he performed with The Frames at a music festival in the Czech Republic, where he first met Markéta. Six years later they formed the folk-rock duo The Swell Season. Their self-titled album included several songs that found their way onto the 2007 Once soundtrack: including, When Your Mind’s Made Up, Lies, Leave and the Oscar-winning Falling Slowly.

Now it is Lismore’s turn to fall in love with this modern-day musical that reminds us of the power of music to connect us all.

Once plays the Lismore City Hall from 19–22 August. Book now at: norpa.org.au/events/once/

Women Like Us: All New Show

After five star reviews and sell out seasons at Adelaide and Melbourne International Comedy Festivals (A/MICF), Women Like Us comedians, Ellen Briggs and Mandy Nolan, present their brand new show. These mouthy mamas of mirth are lauded for their ability to dish the dirt on the everyday.

Women Like Us started out as a touring show five years ago to take the stories of seasoned comics and middle aged women on the road to speak to other women. Comedy clubs seemed so dominated by the narratives of men, and very often the young. Women Like Us was an experiment in claiming space for a section of society who often feel overlooked and underrepresented: middle aged women. The experiment paid off. With over 170 shows under their belt, performances at Perth, Adelaide, Brisbane, Melbourne and Gold Coast Festivals, and as regulars on the regional touring circuit for mental health drought relief functions, Women Like Us has formed something of a tribe around them.

When they were showcased as part of ‘Upfront’ at MICF another reviewer said ‘Two totally relatable ladies who hit the nail on the head of charismatic female comedy. Prepare yourself to be hunched over in hysterics!’

Women Like Us is stand up at its best, where Ellen and Mandy talk about housework, chickens, love, big undies, disappointment, resentment, sex when you’re drunk, fit bits, yoga farts and being a menopausal woman dealing with teenage angst. How do you navigate conspiracy theorists in a small town? Is it wrong to admit you don’t like your dog? How do you deal with the death of your parents and the failures of your kids?

Confessions of Women Like Us is an autopsy on the life you’re living; Is it what you expected? After a show with Mandy and Ellen, you’ll feel cleansed… and probably a lot better about your life!

Ellen Briggs and Mandy Nolan are overworked, overweight and over it… they are Women Like Us.

Dunoon Sports Club, Saturday 29 May at 8pm. Doors at 7pm. All tix $40 at womenlikeus.com.au.

Melting moments

Melt: Festival of Queer Arts and Culture is a spectacular event with dazzling performances and provocative discussions.

This festival is designed to celebrate LGBTIQ+ arts and culture to promote visibility and inclusivity among the queer community.

Melt will inject sparkle and substance into Brisbane Powerhouse, with a mix of theatre, cabaret, music, visual arts, storytelling, forums, panels and conversations. This event is an explosive vibrant celebration of love!

Melt is on at Brisbane’s Powerhouse from 20–30 May.

CINEMA

Cinema at the Quad

The Quad is thrilled to present its first ever outdoor cinema event! Set over three nights from the 21–23 May, The Quad is bringing you some cult classics to kick-back and enjoy under the stars. The program will be presented with headsets delivering crisp and perfect sound in a truly immersive experience.

The program has been put together by highly regarded film critic and programmer, Peter Castaldi, and is designed to offer something for everyone; a selection of music and performance-oriented features on Friday night, family friendly classics on Saturday and a deeper dive into the world of arthouse and high end cinema on Sunday.

‘This program is designed to delight, entertain and shake the audience around a little. Each night is specifically tailored to suit different age groups and tastes, but also to appeal to all who might just want to drop in on any of them,’ says Castaldi.

‘I’m especially thrilled that this Quad series is the perfect combination of picnic, gathering, and great films under the stars – with the bonus of perfect sound heard through WiFi headsets!’

Friday is an epic Aussie double bill featuring One Perfect Day, taking you into the wild and dangerous world of clubbing, trance and dance, followed by Baz Luhrmann’s modern masterpiece Romeo + Juliet. 

Saturday night could not get more family-friendly, warm and fuzzy! The original, and the best  Storm Boy, remastered, will always be one of the most moving and captivating family movies to have ever been produced in Australia. 

Sunday night is for all those who want to take a leap into the truly unusual. Cory McAbee’s  The American Astronaut  is a post punk cowboy rock ‘n’ roll sci-fi western, rich in both reference and originality.

Bring the picnic blankets and hampers and head to The Quad for a great night of outdoor cinema in the heart of Lismore, 21–23 May.

Byron Underground Films

The brand new Byron Underground Film Festival will be held across two weekends starting on Friday 21 May at 7pm with  Terror Nullius, a collage of Australian films, splicing together historic sound and vision with a streak of malicious humour, followed by multiple sessions on Saturday 22 May, from 2pm covering a wide range of short film categories, then closing the festival on Friday 28 May at 7.30pm with the Australian Premiere of CBD Nation, a brilliant documentary following the emotional stories of people who’ve opted to take medicine into their own hands when conventional medicine has failed them. For more info go to filmfreeway.com/byronbayunderground.