Morning Melodies Return
Dean, Narelle and Paul are back where songs old and new are played in that sweet style called swing, including classics from Frank Sinatra, to Dean Martin and Sting, songs from the ’30s through to the ’70s and more.
The 90min morning shows are on the second Friday of the month at the Ballina RSL and feature the band having an infectiously good time – no bad mood is safe as they engage with the audience on and off the stage; After the sets the band likes to meet and greet patrons.
Ballina RSL, Friday 10am. All Tickets: $15
A Powerful Dance of Raw Physicality, Tenderness and Honesty
Made in response to a world in upheaval; from bushfires to Black Lives Matter and the isolation of COVID-19 lockdowns, Era is a powerful dancework of raw physicality, tenderness and honesty, created locally by MaKom – four female dance artists from very different backgrounds.
MaKom is a collective of women movers who arrived in the Northern Rivers at different times over the last 14 years and have each made a home here. Kimberley McIntyre is Australian born, of Scottish descent, Meggie Danielson is American, and Alona Rosenberg and Noa Rotem are from Israel. They have been working together as MaKom Collective since 2018, bringing together a diversity of individual practice including contemporary dance, Gaga (dance vocabulary), theatre, Body-Mind Centring and Contact Improvisation.
‘Being women and responding to our environment, and creating as women, as a collective, is central to the work we make,’ says McIntyre. ‘Our lives overlap as business partners and mothers, as well as artists in different collaborations locally and nationally.’
‘2020 was such an interrupted, tumultuous year for our community and the world at large, so we found we had a lot to dance about! The work almost made itself as we continued to meet each week and respond to everything that was happening.’
McIntyre says the pandemic interrupted the way the group practised in many ways. ‘We stopped touching while we danced. We stopped sharing the space and stayed only in separate sections of the studio. Then we stopped going to the studio at all. We met in Alona’s backyard and had our own sections of the yard and our own chair that no one else touched. One week we decided to go out as separate ‘exercising people’ and did our practise as if we were randomly meeting in the park. We improvised on netball courts. We needed this practice to stay sane. Adapting to the restrictions made for very interesting choreographic material – and this is included in Era.’
The women say that The Black Lives Matter protests held in June 2020 all over the world, and the rally of over 5000 people in Byron Bay also had a profound impact on them. ‘As artists we looked at our own histories, we responded and moved without shying away from the uncomfortable. We were digging into our inheritance, looking for responses, correct or otherwise. We live with ignorance but we also live with heart, and we try to dance with our heart and our gut.’
Era is a dancework that offers moments of dynamic movement and intense relationships, mixed with intimate witnessing and tender connections. Audiences will have time to reflect on their own experiences of the last year and more as we continue to live through very interesting times.
Erab, Makom Collective. Thursday 29 July, 7.30pm
NORPA at Lismore City Hall. $20–$30. www.norpa.org.au.
The Big Gig… Mandy Returns with Lindsay Webb
Lindsay Webb is more than your average standup comic. He has an almost mind reader like ability to pick faces in the audience and create a show purely on where they come from and what they do.
Lindsay has supported many great acts around the country, including Wil Anderson’s and Jim Jeffries’ Qld shows, and back in 2009 Webb took out the Guinness World Record for the Longest Show by an Individual: 38hrs 6min. It just shows what a relentless energy Webb has – able to improvise and create unique comedy experiences every time he hits the stage.
Lindsay Webb is joined by the superbly talented Sandeep Totlani as support, and after months absence, the long awaited return of the much loved Mandy Nolan as MC.
Big Gig Comedy at the Ballina RSL on Thursday 29 July at 8pm. Free Show! Doors open at 7.30pm. No more booking in – it’s first to the gate! This is a COVID Safe event.
Passionate Commitment to Music
Ole Falco’s passionate commitment to his music inspires audiences – he ignites a unique connection with people, catching and holding attention on his beautiful originals and unexpected arrangements of known songs. Falco’s focus is to create a positive tone in the performance space that evokes an easy and uplifting social scene.
Powered by the vibrant and diverse music community in Byron Bay, his work reflects the beautiful environment of this region in which he shares his unique musical journey.
Catch the passion at The Rails on Sunday.
Mystery Guest in the Darko…
Byron Theatre will finish off the month of July with the screening of cult classic Donnie Darko, on the anniversary of its release. Donnie Darko is the story of an awkward teenager who befriends Frank, a figure only he can see who wears a bunny costume. Frank informs Donnie that the world will end in 28 days, 6 hours, 42 minutes, and 12 seconds.
As well as the anniversary screening, Three Lords and Dashboard Animals will guide you on an immersive, multi-sensory audiovisual journey, via a live performance of an original soundscape inspired by the Donnie Darko soundtrack and a visual ‘mind-bending’ projection that is sure to have you spreading the word about this experience.
There will also be a special attendee in the audience during the event…
Byron Theatre. Saturday 31 July, 8pm. Tickets: byrontheatre.com.au
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