A Blues Base for Hat Tipping

The Soren Carlbergg Quartet are essentially a blues-based band – they use the blues as a primary foundation and their musical prowess often sees them tipping the hat to many other musical genres during their live performances. Drifting between funk, blues and jazz, they create a groove that entertains all night long.

The band has built an enthusiastic following over the five years since its official formation, with punters young and old delighting in the band’s powerful presentation and slightly bent interpretation of ‘the blues’ genre. Their delivery is professional and sharp, with all blues styles referenced in their sizeable repertoire.

Original songs also feature strongly in their sets; penned by Soren and Louis, they are now the most requested songs at gigs. The combination of Soren’s raunchy vocals and guitar, with Louis Muller’s fantastic guitar work and his contrasting vocal style, backed up by the killer rhythm section of Martin and Leroy – it all comes together completing a truly unique and infectious sound!

See them on Thursday at the Ballina RSL from 7.30pm. For info and tickets visit: ballinarsl.com.au.

A Wild and Wonderful Time with Wild Thyme for the RVC

With their recently announced collaboration the Regional Venue Collective (RVC), comprising of the Byron Bay Theatre, The Regent Theatre in Murwillumbah and Star Court Theatre in Lismore, have already got great things lined up for 2022, and as every great journey starts with the first step, that first step is wonderful for the RVC.

The inaugural Regional Venue Collective tour features Wild Thyme, appearing at The Regent in Murwillumbah next month. Wild Thyme is the recently birthed and incredibly glorious love-child of three musicians at the top of their game; Arlene Fletcher on double bass and vocals, Katie Crane on guitar and vocals, and Laura Targett on fiddle and vocals. With influences from bluegrass, to klezmer, to gypsy-jazz, to swing, to the dance music of European folk traditions, Wild Thyme have the skills to explore musical expression in innovative and exciting ways. 

Experiencing a live show is to immerse yourself into their exciting, immediate and passionate world – full of driving, high-energy music with beautiful harmonies. Wild and upbeat, tender and soulful, their virtuosic instrumental expertise and outstanding improvisational skills mesmerise and delight audiences. The three musicians, who come from diverse cultural backgrounds from around there world, combine influences to create an exciting brew of music which covers many genres and invents a few along the way, with an edge-of-your-seat freedom and immediacy. Wild Thyme’s infectious joy, sass, laughter and authenticity combined with their outrageous musical skills make them the must-see break-out act of the summer.

The shows are at The Regent in Murwillumbah on Thursday 13 January, the Star Court Theatre in Lismore on 14 January and at Byron Theatre on Saturday 15 January, with all shows starting at 7.30pm. Tickets for Wild Thyme are $25/20 and are available online from all three venues. 

For more info and to book tickets,
visit: www.byroncentre.com.au/whats-on,
www.the-regent.com.au/live-events and
www.starcourttheatre.com.au/events.

CINEMA

Palace Showing us the BIG Love with a Children’s Classic Come to Life

In 1963 Norman Bridwell and his wife Norma Bridwell brought to life many childrens’ dream pet in the form of Clifford – the Big Red Dog.

It has only taken 58 years, but finally, FINALLY we get to meet Clifford (who animators couldn’t have made any cuter, even if he was a kitten).

Clifford comes to us on the screen in the story of Emily Elizabeth who struggles to fit in at home and at school, until she discovers – from a magical animal rescuer – a small red puppy… who is destined to become her best friend. 

When Clifford becomes a gigantic red dog in her New York City apartment and attracts the attention of a genetics company who wish to supersize animals, Emily and her clueless uncle, Casey, have to fight the forces of greed as they go on the run across New York City and take a bite out of the Big Apple. Along the way, Clifford affects the lives of everyone around him and teaches Emily and her uncle the true meaning of acceptance and unconditional love. Based on Norma Bridwell’s imaginary childhood friend, and now the beloved Scholastic book’s official mascot, Clifford will teach the world how to love – big.

You can see Clifford this week at Palace Cinemas in Byron Bay: www.palacecinemas.com.au/cinemas/palace-byron-bay.

Ballina Fair Delivers Toe Tapping Magic from Colombia

Walt Disney Animation Studios has reshaped the trope of a family torn then healed, then torn then healed again, with Encanto (the Spanish word for charm) – the tale of an extraordinary family, the Madrigals, who live hidden in the mountains of Colombia, in a magical house, in a vibrant town, in a wondrous, charmed place called an Encanto.

The magic of the Encanto has blessed every child in the family with a unique gift, from super strength to the power to heal – every child except one, Mirabel. But when she discovers that the magic surrounding the Encanto is in danger, Mirabel decides that she, the only ordinary Madrigal, might just be her exceptional family’s last hope.

With the not-unexpected intake and outflow of ideas, but with colour and magic and light where you least expect it, Encanto, from the makers of Moana, is set to a series of toe tappers by Lin-Manuel Miranda.

Encanto is on this week at Ballina Fair Cinemas: ballinafaircinemas.com.au.

Bangalow Film Festival

In addition to a full week of wonderful screenings at the Bangalow Showgrounds, a carefully curated program of talks, showcases and workshops will take over the A&I Hall, aligning with the festival’s core theme of ‘Sustainable Futures’. The program will also take place at the Star Court Theatre in Lismore, presented by Renew Fest. More detail on this will be announced in the weeks to come.

From Thursday 20 to Saturday 22 January, Lismore’s Star Court Theatre will play host to some unique film screenings, including the NSW premiere of The Hidden Life of Trees, following German forester Peter Wohlleben, who theorises that trees are sentient, social beings. Or immerse yourself in the visual spectacular of Homo Sapiens, accompanied by a live film score from Austrian born, Brisbane-based ARIA winning musician, Heinz Riegler.

Cult film Häxan (The Witch) is celebrating its 100th anniversary and we’re honouring it with a special screening, featuring a live sonic accompaniment by local band {{black:rainbow}}.

The festival finishes up at the beautiful Regent Theatre in Murwillumbah from Thursday 27 to Saturday 29 January. On offer is another film for music lovers who will relish the first-person exposition of Courtney Barnett’s documentary, Anonymous Club. Focussing on one of Australia’s most revered singer-songwriters, the film is a vulnerable and creative journey about life on the road.

The Regent will also play host to the world premiere of Miles Away, the Sundance Grand Jury Prize winning film Flee and the new sexy drama by French auteur Jacques Audiars, Paris, 13th District.

The festival will close with Facing Monsters, an unapologetic documentary, with breathtaking cinematography, about WA surfer Kerby Brown and his quest to ride a ferocious slab wave in the deep Southern Ocean that no one on the planet has dared to surf before.

For more information or ticket enquiries, visit: bangalowfilmfestival.com.au.