11 C
Byron Shire
June 25, 2026

Everyone’s getting the blues at The Northern

Latest News

NSW budget and the Northern Rivers

The Minns government says it's handed down a budget which locks in major funding for North Coast health infrastructure, alongside targeted cost-of-living relief designed for regional households and disaster recovery, as locals continue to face higher costs.

Other News

Site confirmed for future high school at Pottsville

The NSW government says it has secured a site for a future high school in Pottsville, delivering on its commitment to future-proof public education for the growing Tweed community in the Northern Rivers.

Putting their money where their mouth and conscience is

Climate action group Rising Tide say they will disrupt business at Tweed City ANZ today, as local long-term customers withdraw their life savings from the bank.

What are we going to *DO* about it?

Israel is expediting legislation to plan and legalise 69 outposts, allocating over 100-million shekels (about US$34-million). Israel’s Defence Ministry is...

Science in the Pub, Lismore, 16 July

An engaging and informative Science in the Pub event is planned on Thursday, 16 July, from 5pm at Two Mates Brewing, South Lismore.

Aged care

The Byron Central Hospital (BCH) branch of the NSW Nurses and Midwives Association (NSWNMA) would like to express our...

Appeal to locate missing woman

Police are appealing for public assistance to locate a woman missing from the Kempsey area.

Jeff Martin

The Northern, Byron Bay have the remedy for anyone who’s got the blues – over four big days, ‘Blues at The Northern’ is delivering live music across two stages headlined by Jeff Martin (The Tea Party), Paul A. George (Tijuana Cartel), Minnie Marks, the Mason Rack Band, plus a stacked lineup from start to finish – and the absolute blues chaser is that the entire four days are free!

Byron is turning on a ‘festival’ of blues over the weekend starting on Thursday at 7pm with Katie Palmer in the Backroom, and finishing with Jesse Witney and Kane Muir in the Backroom, and JB‘s Blues Breakers starting off things in the front bar.

Friday is going to be very good, starting in the Backroom at 7pm and welcoming Paul A. George from Tijuana Cartel onto the stage at 11:15pm. The front bar will have the Dan and Hannah duo, and Poly & Co.

Saturday will see five great acts culminating with a show from the Mason Rack Band in the Backroom, and firing up with the Harry Nicholls Band in the front bar.

On Sunday there will still be plenty more to see with the thriller band, Marshall OKell, and headlining Jeff Martin from The Tea Party, followed by the Donny Shades Band in the Backroom, and in the front bar from 5pm The Swamps followed by Eric Downer.

The fun starts on Thursday from 6pm, Friday from 7pm, Saturday from 7pm, and Sunday from 5pm.

The Northern – home of the blues this weekend. More info at thenorthern.com.au.



For four decades The Echo has printed the stories some people loved, some people hated, and some pretended not to read. If you want us to keep telling the truth, the real truth, not the sugar-coated version. We’ll need your support to keep the presses rolling.

If you are a local business owner help us and in turn we help you. All The Echo asks for is advertising, not a free ride. It is every advert in The Echo and on www.echo.net.au, which creates the space for all the stories and coverage of community events, happenings and concerns.

If you are a reader you can become a sponsor of The Echo. Your support keeps the us independent.

Even a small one-off or regular donation from you will help keep the echo’s independent voice alive and strong.

Support Us

Become one of the supporters who helps keep independent, local journalism alive in the Byron Shire by contributing anything from as little as the cost of a coffee each month.

You're Wonderful, Thank you for supporting independent journalism in the Byron Shire

You’re supporting The Echo, thank you

Your contribution is keeping independent, local journalism alive in the Northern Rivers.

Because of supporters like you, we can keep every story free for everyone — no paywall, no exceptions. Your money goes directly to funding our newsroom of 40-odd local workers covering the stories that matter to this community.

Tell us what you think, give us your opinion

The Echo loves your letters and comments and is proud to provide a community forum on the issues that matter most to our readers and the people of the NSW north coast. So don’t be a passive reader, email us your epistles at editor@echo.net.au.

The letters deadline for The Echo is noon Friday. Letters longer than 200 words may be cut. The publication of letters is at the discretion of the letters editor. Please remember to include your full name, address and telephone number.

Online comments are no longer available.

Appeal to locate missing woman

Police are appealing for public assistance to locate a woman missing from the Kempsey area.

Citizen science last line of defence for threatened species

Native forest logging is again in the spotlight in NSW, following Monday night’s Four Corners investigation into Forestry Corporation NSW’s failure to protect nationally endangered species.

Site confirmed for future high school at Pottsville

The NSW government says it has secured a site for a future high school in Pottsville, delivering on its commitment to future-proof public education for the growing Tweed community in the Northern Rivers.

Eleven winners at Byron Bay Herb Nursery

The Byron Bay Herb Nursery continues to create constructive pathways to achievement with twelve students from Byron Bay Herb Nursery’s disability support program recently graduating with a Certificate II in Horticulture.