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Byron Echo
Heart and Song Gold Coast Chamber Orchestra with soprano, Gaynor Morgan
Join us for an enchanting afternoon as Byron Music Society proudly presents ‘Heart and Song.’ Prepare to be immersed in a program meticulously crafted by the Gold Coast Chamber Orchestra, showcasing a world premiere composition. Well-known soprano, Gaynor Morgan, will be premiering a setting of poems by Seamus Heaney and Robert Graves, skilfully arranged for soprano, harp, cello and string orchestra by prominent Northern Rivers musician Nicholas Routley.
Byron Echo
Heavy music with a bang!
Heavy music is back at The Northern this week, with a bang! Regular Backroom legends Dead Crow and Mudwagon are joined by Dipodium and Northern Rivers locals Liminal and Puff – the plan is to raise the roof on Thursday at The Northern. This is definitely a night, and a mosh, not to miss. Entry is free!
Byron Echo
It’s MardiGrass!
This year is Nimbins 32nd annual MardiGrass and you’d reckon by now ‘weed’ be left alone.
The same helicopter raids, the disgusting, and completely unfair, saliva testing of drivers, and we’re still not allowed to grow our own plants. We can all access legal buds via a doctor, most of it imported from Canada, but we can’t grow our own. There’s something very wrong there.
Byron Echo
Ignite your creativity at Mullum Laneways Festival
This year’s Mullum Laneways Festival, to be held on May 4 and 5, promises to be a feast for the senses, set to captivate visitors of all ages. On Sunday, May 5 everyone is encouraged to immerse themselves in the heart of the Festival, as Burringbar Street is transformed into a vibrant tapestry of music, dance, art, and more.This is a free event, funded by local sponsorship and a gala fundraising event on Saturday, May 4.
Entertainment News
Byron Comedy Fest 2024 Laughs
The legendary Northern Hotel’s Backroom opens its doors to laughter when it welcomes The Byron Comedy Fest with eight big headline shows. With audiences packing out shows every year, Festival Directors Mel Coppin and Zara Noruzi have decided a new venue with increased capacity was in order. It also means the festival is an all-weather event – expect all your favourites!
Byron Echo
‘No-one ever came back but all reports indicate it’s lovely,’ and so begins this wickedly funny play about death and motherhood. Directed by the Drill’s accomplished artistic director, Liz Chance, Ghosting the Party tells the story of three generations of women who face questions of mortality and life with rigour, honesty and humour.
Byron Echo
Having fun in the Playground
Playground is a well-established event that will go off at Coorabell Hall on Saturday. For over two years, three long-term local DJ’s – Pob, Curly Si and Halo – have been curating this rhythmic happening. Their pedigree is assured and they guarantee the best underground electronic music and a loyal crew that bring a big-hearted vibe. On Saturday they’ll be bringing the dance to the hills.
Byron Echo
Gabriella Cohen in Bruns
Gabriella Cohen, Australia’s folk darling, is coming to Brunswick Picture House to perform a one-off intimate solo show on Saturday. Known for her magnetic performances, off-hand charm and pop sensibilities, Gabriella plays music that is all-at-once laid-back, tongue-in-cheek, and peppered with the sweet sounds of ‘60s girl groups.
Local News
Celebrating Tweed Museum’s 20th anniversary with all and everything
A stunning new exhibition has opened to celebrate the Tweed Regional Museum's 20th anniversary – Omnia: all and everything.
Entertainment News
What’s happening in the rainforest’s Understory?
Springing to life in the Lismore Rainforest Botanic Gardens this April school holidays, Understory is a magical, interactive theatre adventure created for children by Roundabout Theatre.
Byron Echo
All those macas and the Festival of Love
This season’s organic nuts have not been harvested so it is a harvest festival where festivalgoers can pick five kilos free as part of their festival entrance fee which is payable in the new paper money being launched at the Off-Grid Macadamia Festival of Love, to be held at Macas Camping Ground where The Elders of Gaia will be discussing how to get back the many freedoms recently lost and get sanity into local, national and global management.
Entertainment News
A festival in laneways
Mullumbimby, a town known for its abundance of artists and creatives with a passion for what drives them, is set to host the much-anticipated Laneways Festival 2024 on May 4 and 5.
Entertainment News
Metal is back at The Northern
Beast Machine are coming home from a successful spell in the United States and the thrash/metal two-piece with their massive sound layered with riff-driven guitars and thundering drums are coming to lift the roof off of the Backroom. Check out their new music video currently out for their latest single ‘Pretend’, which is featured in HEAVY magazine.
Byron Echo
Revolution– a night of protest songs
Award-winning Australian bluesman Frank Sultana has been releasing original music since 2011. In January 2023, in Memphis Tennessee, Sultana competed in and won the prestigious International Blues Challenge, becoming only the third person outside of North America to do so in the event’s 39-year history.
Byron Echo
Understory: a theatre show connecting kids to nature
Understory is a magical, interactive theatre adventure created for children by Roundabout Theatre, springing to life in the Lismore Rainforest Botanic Gardens this April school holidays.
Byron Echo
Share the love cactus
Want to experience fresh, new music? A new local band has germinated from the fertile artistic soils of the Northern Rivers. Hashimoto’s Cactus is the lovechild of Stephen Lovelight, who is one of the members of the Round Mountain Girls.
Byron Echo
The second time around is more fun
Murbah Youth Fest 2024 is on this Saturday from 10am to 3pm in Knox Park, at the heart of Murwillumbah. This is the second...
Byron Echo
Digging in deep at the Nudge
Only fools would miss April’s Nudge Nudge Wink Wink with two awesome Australian guest DJs Jason Digby, and Embelina, joining the Cunning Stunts’ resident...
Byron Echo
Opportunities for young people at the YAC
The YAC has a long history of music in the Byron area and the team are always looking to add more opportunities for young...
Byron Echo
They’re Speaking In Tongues in Bangalow
Bangalow Theatre Company (BTC) presents Speaking In Tongues, written by Andrew Bovell.
This play was the inspiration for the film Lantana and explores the core...
Entertainment News
Mastering the art of storytelling: Mark’s path to creative success
Travelling the world as a photographer and journalist has the makings of a dream career for most, but for Mark Gambino he admitted he wasn’t achieving much.
Byron Echo
Interview with The Space Cowboy aka Chayne Hultgren
As we gear up for ‘Enjoy the Ride’ at Otherworld in Byron Bay, we caught up with the man behind the art, The Space Cowboy, aka Chayne Hultgren. From setting 56 Guinness World Records, to captivating audiences in over 40 countries, he’s now making worldwide waves as a visual artist. Here’s what he had to say about his latest venture.
Byron Echo
Carrying and passing the torch
Eve Jeffery - 0
With eight USA Blues Music Award nominations, career tour dates in 20 countries, and her recent induction into the Blues Victoria Hall of Fame, Fiona Boyes is a relentless and curious musical explorer.
Byron Echo
We just love him!
If you’re over 50 you might not be a fan of Tom Jones, but you can bet your mum is. If you’re under 40 you might not even know who he is, but your grandmother probably wet her pants at the mere mention of his name.
Entertainment News
Peter Garrett gives Bluesfest the nod
Eve Jeffery - 0
If I say the words ‘US Forces give the nod’, I can pretty much guarantee that you will hear the unmistakable voice of Peter Garrett ringing in your ears. Your head may even start to bob up and down a bit.
Byron Echo
Records galore!
Byron Bay Easter Record Fair returns again to Ewingsdale Hall. Now in its 15th year, the Byron Bay Easter Record Fair is one of the biggest and best in this country. Matt the Vinyl Junkie has spent years on buying trips to the US and Japan scouring dusty warehouses, shops, flea markets and private collections. He can offer an astounding 30,000 records in one place covering most genres.
Entertainment News
Cinema: Wicked Little Letters
Based on a true scandal that stunned 1920s England, Wicked Little Letters centres on neighbours Edith Swan and Rose Gooding in the seaside town of Littlehampton.
Byron Echo
A seasoned bard
Guy Kachel had an idyllic entry to the world of music. Born in Tamworth, he was raised on the banks of the Peel River. The landscape was a fertile ground for his imagination. Seeing this rustic world change, as Tamworth developed into an inland city and friends grew to sometimes troubled adulthoods, provided insights for the artistry that later powered his career as a performer.
Byron Echo
Workshop in Creative Writing For Beginners
Have you always felt like you have a novel in you, but don’t know where to start? Or have you begun the process and...
Byron Echo
Queer family visibility
Did you know that, statistically, if you’ve met a redhead, you’ve also met a trans person? Over 800 trans and gender diverse people live in the Byron Shire, which includes at least 200 children. They’re often a bit hidden though, so come on down and celebrate with them this Trans Day of Visibility!
Byron Echo
Laid-back but lively
Ooz is an acoustic roots reggae artist with a large, eclectic repertoire of crowd favourites. His unique, laid-back but lively style creates a relaxed atmosphere and his song choices have you remembering many of those forgotten classics.
Entertainment News
The Picture House is turning 8
It feels like we were only just ringing in the new year days ago and here we are approaching Easter weekend at The Brunswick Picture House. It’s already been a whirlwind start to 2024 with their biggest and busiest program so far, bringing an eclectic mix of some of the hottest stand-up comedy, music gigs, film screenings and cabaret – and that was just last week!
Byron Echo
Dynamic, rustic yet polished
Animal Ventura is the brainchild of Byron Bay-based singer-songwriter Fernando Aragones. Growing up playing punk and reggae in noisy garage bands in Southern Brazil, Aragones ventured to Australia where the eclectic sounds of the Sydney music scene beckoned.
Byron Echo
NORPA’s wild ride at Lismore Showgrounds
NORPA is taking audiences on an adventure outside the theatre once again, announcing it will stage its original work Wildskin in a warehouse space at the Lismore Showgrounds. A sensory, destination theatre experience, Wildskin inhabits an outrageous and unpredictable world that’s part bush-thriller, part road-trip and a whole lot of NORPA’s signature theatrical style.
Byron Echo
Film fundraiser for Save Wallum
Our Generation Media together with the Brunswick Picture House will be hosting a special fundraiser screening of the award-winning documentary, Luku Ngärra: The Law of the Land in support of Save Wallum.
Byron Echo
Interview with Ian Moss for Bluesfest
Eve Jeffery - 0
If you love Australian music, then you know Ian Moss – with nine Cold Chisel albums and eight solo albums under his belt, Moss is one of Australia’s iconic musicians, delivering an unforgettable sound – not only as a telling soloist on guitar but especially with his silken voice, ringing with clarity and resonating with pure soul. Seven caught up with Ian at home in Sydney to talk about his latest record and Bluesfest 2024.
Byron Echo
Having dinner with the Artists
Next week you can join Art Byron curator, Laith McGregor and influential artists, Lara Merrett and Shaun Gladwell for an exclusive evening of conversation, food and wine at Newrybar Hall. The artists will be in conversation with Vault magazine editor, Alison Kubler, who will discuss their practice, connection to Byron Bay, and involvement in the 2024 iteration of Art Byron.
Local News
Housing not industrial precinct say Lismore locals
Aslan Shand - 0
Locals from Goonellabah and Lindendale have called out the proposed Goonellabah industrial precinct at 1055A Bruxner Hwy and 245 Oliver Ave as being the wrong use of the site.
Byron Echo
A fond farewell to Mungo’s crosswords
This week we sadly publish the last of Mungo MacCallum’s puzzles. Before he died in 2020 Mungo compiled a large archive of crosswords for The Echo.
Local News
Tugun tunnel work at Tweed Heads – road diversion
Motorists are advised of changed overnight traffic conditions from Sunday on the Pacific Motorway, Tweed Heads.
Local News
Driver charged following Coffs Harbour fatal crash
A driver has been charged following a fatal crash in the Coffs Harbour area yesterday.