Interviews
Byron Echo
Interview with director/choreographer Maureen Bowra, of Menopause The Musical
For those who are cranky, hot and sweaty, and those who have to live with them, Menopause The Musical might just be the care package you need to get you through ‘the change’. The show is coming to Byron at the end of the month and Seven caught up with director/choreographer Maureen Bowra to see how her hormones were hangin’.
Byron Echo
Festival back with a BANG
The Southern Cross Soloists will present the Bangalow Music Festival after after a very, very long wait. Seven had a chat with Artistic Director, Tania Frazer, about just how exciting it is to be back.
Byron Echo
Alexandra Hudson wins Aussie RAW
On 22 March Ballina’s Alexandra Hudson became the NSW RAW comedy finalist, and last Sunday she won the Australian RAW Comedy crown – well, she won half of it – she was the joint winner with Bron Lewis from Queensland.
Interviews
Interview with Brad Kora from L.A.B. work
Eve Jeffery - 0
L.A.B was formed in 2017 by drummer and producer, Brad Kora, following his split from much-loved New Zealand dub/electronic stalwarts ‘Kora’. L.A.B also comprises...
Byron Echo
Interview with Linda Bull
Eve Jeffery - 1
Linda Bull has been to Bluesfest so many times she’s lost count. Linda and her sister Vika are pretty much one of Australia’s most iconic singing duos and certainly the most well known sister act.
Byron Echo
Interview with Joe Camilleri of The Black Sorrows
Eve Jeffery - 1
Joe Camilleri is bringing The Black Sorrows goods to Bluesfest 2022 and for all those fans of the constantly evolving Camilleri – Jo Jo Zep, the Sorrows, The Revelators, Bakelite Radio, The Voodoo Sheiks and Here Comes The Night, you will get a bit of everything on Good Friday and Easter Saturday.
Byron Echo
Interview with Dave Faulker from the Hoodoo Gurus
Eve Jeffery - 1
The legendary Hoodoo Gurus will make their Bluesfest debut next Easter. By any measure, they are one of Australia’s greatest, best-loved, most enduring rock bands of all time.
Entertainment News
Interview with Michael and Tanya Trotter from The War and Treaty
Eve Jeffery - 0
The lovebirds of class and style
The War and Treaty were the absolute highlight for me at the last Bluesfest – lovebirds Michael and Tanya...
Entertainment News
Interview with Christone ‘Kingfish’ Ingram
Eve Jeffery - 0
Guaranteed to be one of the most foot stomping shows at the 2022 edition of Bluesfest; Christone ‘Kingfish’ Ingram is an incredible young guitarist...
Interviews
Interview with Liam Finn from Crowded House
Eve Jeffery - 0
CROWDED HOUSE A family day out at Bluesfest
Formed in Melbourne in 1985, out of the ashes of New Zealand’s Split Enz, by Neil Finn, Paul...
Entertainment News
Interview with Kelly Brouhaha
Eve Jeffery - 0
Growing up in in regional South Australia, Kelly Brouhaha’s family moved around a lot as her dad worked with a bank that posted him all over the state.
In a not uncommon story Kelly was the ‘new kid’ in about six different primary schools. ‘When we did the final move I basically refused to get in the car unless Mum bought me a drum kit (child logic, right!).’
Kelly ended up with a guitar instead and spent most of her high-school years slumped over it practising to distract herself from the loneliness of being yet again the new kid. ‘I found music incredibly healing and it’s been with me since.’
Byron Echo
Interview with Tex Perkins
Eve Jeffery - 1
It is understandably difficult to pull together a coherent picture of Tex Perkins – a man whose career has included everything from the lilting, dark country of the Dark Horses, to the hard-edged and snarling pub rock of the Beasts Of Bourbon, through to the evocative soundscapes of the Cruel Sea and beyond...
Entertainment News
Interview with Jimeoin
Eve Jeffery - 0
Though hailing from the Emerald Isle, a good astrocartographer would tell you that Australia is the place Jimeoin was destined to become famous. He has also gained international recognition and is a frequent performer at comedy festivals, including the world’s biggest arts festival, the Edinburgh Fringe where he made his debut in 1993 and where he has appeared regularly ever since – but Australia is his home.
Entertainment News
Interview with Austen Tayshus
Eve Jeffery - 0
Austen Tayshus – I was born funny
Wikipedia says: Austen Tayshus, born on 17 March, 1954 (despite what he says) is the stage name of...
Byron Echo
Interview with Julian Louis, Artistic Director and CEO of NORPA
Eve Jeffery - 0
NORPA 2022
NORPA has revealed some of the world-class theatre shows it will be bringing to the region in 2022, with more to be announced...
Byron Echo
Interview with Corr Piccone of Flow Music
Flow Music and their Australian-focused subsidiary, 333 Sessions, has risen out of the disruption of the pandemic to become a mainstay and vital supporter of the Australian electronic music scene.
Byron Echo
Interview with Vanessa ‘Larry’ Mitchell
Eve Jeffery - 0
After being in the online dating scene for a few years, Vanessa ‘Larry’ Mitchell decided to write a book called 50 first dates, which she had planned to be a bit of a reflection on the dating process. Mitchell says it certainly wasn’t going to be a sex book (unless there was sex to document), but more about the process of dating, the nerves, the expectations and the miscommunications that happen with online communication.
Byron Echo
Interview with Three Lords founders Hano Kotevski and Thomas Zachary
Eve Jeffery - 0
Three Lords are local creatives Hano Kotevski and Thomas Zachary who formed an events and entertainment company earlier this year. Concentrating primarily on celebrating classic, cult and popular film anniversaries, they have already showcased their impressive skill range in event management to present Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon, and the 80th anniversary of Citizen Kane.
Entertainment News
Interview with Ross Wilson, composer and Daddy Cool frontman
Eve Jeffery - 0
When the likes of Jimmy Barnes, Michael Gudinski and Sir Elton John call out a song as ‘one of the great Australian rock ‘n’ roll songs’, ‘one of the greatest songs of all time’, and ‘one of my favourite tracks’, then you know it was and still is, a hit.
Byron Echo
Interview with Felix Riebl from the Cat Empire
Eve Jeffery - 0
One of the most danceable outfits in the lineup, The Cat Empire make a welcome return to Bluesfest 2021 with their infectious, genre-embracing anthems and a world-class, awe-inspiring show. Last week Seven caught up with co-founder, band leader and principal songwriter, Felix Riebl, from his lockdown hidey hole in Melbourne.
Byron Echo
Interview with Emily Wurramara
Eve Jeffery - 0
Emily Wurramara’s childhood was one of water and music. Growing up on Groote Eylandt her days were filled with travel, fishing and extended family, and a mother telling stories of dreams and dolphins that would one day become the seeds of Emily’s music.
Interviews
Interview with JK-47
Eve Jeffery - 0
When I was younger and started rapping other rappers called me a weapon and I thought, like the AK-47. But now it’s changed, because now I feel it’s a spiritual warfare about what’s in your mind.
Byron Echo
Interview with Mandy Nolan, the Authentic You
Mandy Nolan is a comedian of more than 30 years, who has taught in excess of 2,000 people how to perform standup. Her most successful student won an Emmy. George Catsi is a comedic character performer and AWGIE-winning writer and academic who teaches character and script development at UTS to animators and filmmakers. Together they present an exciting new class: Elephant in the Room.
Byron Echo
Interview with Amir Paiss
Amir Paiss, co-founder of the legendary world music ensemble Sheva, is releasing his third solo album I Am That I Am. These ten new songs were inspired by what Amir says is love, truth and freedom. Seven caught up with Amir in the lead-up to his album’s launch next week in Mullum.
Byron Echo
Interview with Chris Cheney from The Living End
The Living End are truly Rock Royalty. Formed in 1994 in Melbourne, it was 1997 when the band blasted through with their double A side single featuring ‘Prisoner of Society’ and ‘Second Solution’ – songs that have become festival anthems around the world. This five times ARIA-winning band are one of the Aussie treasures playing at Bluesfest this October.
Byron Echo
Interview with Yaegl Bundjalung man, Mitch King
Yaegl Bundjalung man, Mitch King, is a man with a story to tell. Mitch and long-term collaborator and musician Blake Rhodes, have been creating Flow for almost a year. Flow is Mitch telling his story, inspired by community, Country and the first native title claim on a body of water in Yamba. Mandy Nolan interviewed Mitch in the lead-up to the show’s debut in July.
Interviews
Interview with Tania de Jong, one of the founding members of Mind Medicine
Mind Medicine Australia (MMA) is a charity that seeks to alleviate the suffering caused by mental illness through expanding treatment options available to medical practitioners and their patients. Their focus is on the development of safe and effective psychedelic assisted therapies to cure a range of mental illnesses.
Byron Echo
Interview with Daniel Champagne
Daniel Champagne, exudes a natural ease on stage as he sings poignant lyrics and beautifully crafted melodies that invariably stir the heart with grand romanticism. Daniel spoke to The Echo whilst travelling between Brisbane and Sydney – en route to a show in Auckland.
Byron Echo
Interview with The Buckleys
Sitting with The Buckleys, you know they are siblings. They have this natural ease and fluidity with each other. A lack of self-consciousness. A lot of love, but you also know they keep each other in check.
Byron Echo
Interview with Toni Scanlon, directer of the play Switzerland
Thriller at the Drill
The Drill Hall Theatre Company are about to open the curtain on their latest play, Switzerland, a psychological drama written...
Byron Echo
Interview with Shai Shriki
The Shai Guy
Finally emerging out of COVID-time, singer songwriter Shai Shriki is preparing a great show and a fundraiser to start releasing his new...
Byron Echo
Interview with NORPA dancer Alice Misty Boscheinen and writer and performer, Kate McDowell
When Alice and her support worker Kate venture into the forest for the night – the shapeshifting Dingo is ready for them. Into the Forest is a magical theatre experience performed and devised by dancer Alice Misty Boscheinen with writer and performer Kate McDowell, who is also Alice’s support worker off the stage. Directed and devised by NORPA’s Artistic Director, Julian Louis, Into the Forest explores themes of caring, independence, friendship and fantasy.
Byron Echo
Interview with Steve Balbi
Steve Balbi is living the dream. A creative chameleon, Balbi continues to reinvent his wheel. From bass guitarist in Noiseworks to one half of the psychedelic pop duo Electric Hippies to Mi-Sex in 2011, Balbi is a passionate collaborator, but also a prolific solo artist.
Byron Echo
Interview with Bri Lee
Bri Lee speaks with Courtney Miller about her new book Who Gets to be Smart; Privilege, Power and Knowledge. Bri’s new book is a timely investigation into the current discussions around class and privilege in Australia and around the world.
Byron Echo
Interview with Gyan
The Long Wait for the Truly Original Gyan
It’s 30 years since ARIA recipient Gyan sang her hit Wait from the cliffs of Kiama on...
Byron Echo
Interview with George Catsi
George Catsi performs his one man comedic memoir Am I Who I say I am? at Federal Hall on 17 June (with a Greek feast included in the ticket price), at The Citadel in Murwillumbah on 18 June, and 19 June at the Bangalow Bowlo.
Byron Echo
Interview with Ellen Briggs about ‘Women Like Us’
Women Like Us …
Comedians Ellen Briggs and Mandy Nolan take their smash hit show Women Like Us to Dunoon Sports Club this Saturday. The...
Byron Echo
Interview with Peter Castaldi
The Quad in Lismore presents its first outdoor cinema event – programmed by nationally regarded film critic and programmer, Peter Castaldi. Peter told The Echo about the vision.
Byron Echo
Interview with magician James Galea
James Galea is no ordinary magician. He’s not the smarmy guy in purple velvet with a cage full of pigeons sawing women in half. In fact, James is proud to say he has never cut anyone in half.
Local News
Mullum locals protest flood-prone pod site
Aslan Shand - 0
Around 40–50 locals gathered outside the Byron Shire Council chambers this morning to highlight the risks of, and lack of due process around, the selection of the flood accommodation pod site in Mullumbimby.
Local News
Council: Goonellabah park not available for pods
Eve Jeffery - 0
Tuesday’s debate in the Lismore Council chambers was mostly about the community’s need for open, green space for sport and recreation balanced against the need for places to live.
Local News
Cabarita DA refused on character grounds
Aslan Shand - 0
Tweed Shire Councillors refused a DA for a four-storey block of flats at 2-6 Tweed Coast Road, Cabarita Beach, despite the staff recommendation of approval.
Local News
Concerns over future of Murwillumbah Hospital
Northern NSW Local Health District have sought to reassure locals that facilities won't be downgraded or closed at Murwillumbah Hospital when the controversial new Tweed Valley Hospital in Cudgen near Kingscliff opens in 2023.
