The show will feature original songs peppered with stylised retro rock ‘n’soul covers from artists such as Tina Turner, Aretha Franklin, Shirley Bassey, Gloria Gaynor, Stevie Wonder, J.J. Cale and James Brown, just to name a few.

An incredibly passionate and distinct vocalist, Carola’s commanding voice has sung out on concert stages and at festivals across the country.

She took out the highly coveted Song of the Year Award and was nominated for Best Rock Song and New Recording Talent in the North Coast Dolphin Awards. She has also been voted into Triple J’s prestigious Unearthed Top 20 Pop Chart.

Carola’s broad range of vocals, from deep haunting to screaming soprano, enables her to groove her way from velvety tones through to raw sensuality and gutsy power. Her stage presence is sassy, with no inhibitions to cut loose.

“I like to generate good times,” said Carola. “It’s all about how I feel when I’m performing. I feel good and I want people to feel good, to celebrate. Our music is very uplifting.”

The Byron at Byron’s Head Chef, Gavin Hughes, will prepare a lavish celebratory feast of canapés followed by four courses, petit fours, tea and coffee to welcome in the new year.

8:00pm, Saturday 31st December 2011.
$195 per person including canapés, four courses, tea, coffee and petit fours, a glass of sparkling wine and live entertainment. Bookings are essential. Please telephone 02 6639 2105

Menu:
Freshly shucked Sydney rock oysters with finger lime and chardonnay granita
King prawn beignets with chipotle aioli
Chilled vichyssoise with macadamia oil
Crostini of New Zealand smoked salmon, pickled cucumber and salmon roe
Caramelised onion tarts, Nimbin goats curd and honey macerated pine nuts
Marinated yellow-fin tuna, pomegranate molasses, pickled heirloom vegetables and radishes, potato bread crostini
Brioche-crumbed Bangalow pork cheek, King prawn with vadouvan, sweet corn purée and candied corn kernels
Loin of lamb wrapped in prosciutto, braised leeks and peas, smoked tomato fondue, black garlic and thyme jus
Valrhona chocolate tart with black cherry sorbet and macerated berries

It will be the first time that an Australian artist has ever headlined this iconic musical event.

Bluesfest says its announcement is testament to the special place Cold Chisel’s music has come to occupy in Australian hearts and minds.

The band’s record-breaking Light The Nitro tour is currently drawing to a close, with a final gig scheduled for Brisbane next Tuesday night.

The tour has been the biggest ever by an Australian-based band; drawing nearly 300,000 fans across 36 huge shows. It’s also been unanimously hailed by critics and fans alike across Australasia.

In addition to performing classics like ‘Forever Now’, ‘Khe Sanh’ and ‘When The War Is Over’, this special Bluesfest appearance will also see Cold Chisel premiere new songs from their forthcoming album.

The as yet untitled collection of new tunes was recorded over the last two years – partly with original drummer Steve Prestwich and partly with new drummer Charley Drayton.

“Most of us have played Bluesfest solo over the years, but it feels great to be playing there for the first time as Cold Chisel and also be the first Australian band to ever headline the whole Festival,” said frontman Jimmy Barnes.

“We’ve all had an amazing 2011 and this should be a great way to kick off an even bigger 2012.”

For Bluesfest playing schedule visit www.bluesfest.com.au

Originally composed [1716] for the girls in the orphanage where Vivaldi was priest, it remained relatively unknown until 1939.

Since this performance in Siena, it has become a firm favourite with choirs and audiences for its theatrical quality and rich contrasts of texture and expression.

Also on the program will be a selection of settings of Ave Maria, of which many have been written but only four will be performed.

And the celebration? It is 400 years since the death of Tamas Luigi de Victoria, possibly one of Spain’s best composers and a master of intricate choral writing, often with the pipe organ as soloist, from the late Renaissance. His music has great intensity and emotional appeal that belies its era.

TWILIGHT PERFORMANCE:

Wednesday, 30 November, 2011 @ 6.00pm, St Mary’s Anglican Church, Ballina.

EVENING PERFORMANCE:

Thursday, 1 December, 2011 @ 7.30pm, St Carthage’s Cathedral, Lismore.

Tickets at the door, adult $12, concession $10, enquiries 0429 185 361.

With an eclectic sound blending acoustic lounge funk, soul folk, surf country and desert blues, his hypnotic music has been influenced by the likes of Paul Kelly, Ben Harper, John Butler, John Williamson, Dave Matthews Band and The Grateful Dead.

“Stokes is a friend and we’re all delighted to have him play here on Father’s Day” said The Byron at Byron’s James Lancaster.

“Kids, dads and mums will be tapping their toes, it’s impossible not to love this man when he performs live.”

Tim Stokes has performed at countless songwriter venues and festivals along the east coast of Australia, as well as numerous countries around the world.

“I get my love for music from my Dad,” said Tim Stokes.

“He loves to sing and loves to dance sometimes. He isn’t particularly good at either but does it regardless and I think that is what singing and dancing is all about. 

“In his record collection as a child was John Lennon and Yoko Ono, Bonney Em, Men at Work, John Williamson and the Bee Gees. That was it, one record of each. I think all of these artists have left an imprint on me in subtle ways.”

Join Tim and The Byron at Byron team on Father’s Day for lunch. Choose from three entrees and mains:

Entree
- Salumi meat board: Local salamis and cured meats, pickles, mustards and sourdough
- Spring tart of leeks and Gruyère de Comté with wild rocket and pear salad
- Yamba king prawn cocktail

Main
- Freckle’s catch of the day, vegetables and smoked tomato beurre blanc
- Tarragon chicken, leek and mushroom pie with cream potatoes and freshly podded peas
- Chargrilled Hayters Hill rump steak with hand cut chips, cauliflower beignets and onion gravy

Sunday 4th September from 12.30pm. Two course lunch including a beer for Dad. $60 per person (children up to 12 years may dine from the kids menu). Bookings are essential, 6639 2111 or restaurant@thebyronatbyron.com.au

The first of its kind in the region, the Think Tank was an innovative two-day event designed to explore the risks and rewards of embracing new art, ideas and experience in the festival context.

Following hot on the heels of Splendour in the Grass 2011, the Think Tank capitalised on the success of yet another Splendour festival and brought locals, artists, students and event organisers together with key festival identities from across the country to discuss art in festivals.

Organised by NORPA, Lismore Regional Gallery and Arts Northern Rivers, and supported by Splendour in the Grass and the Australia Council, the program included speeches, panel discussions, Q&A and audience questions.

It was an intimate setting, with guests seated in lounge chairs, and warmly lit by lamps. They kept the 150 ticket holders fully engaged as they shared their experiences across venues, States and festivals.

According to organiser Carli Leimbach, the event was well-supported for a number of reasons.

“Firstly it is an area that is generating a lot of interest at the moment. People now think about festivals as much broader than just musical events, and there is a lot of excitement at the growth of a whole new realm of making and participating in art,” she said.

“Plus the calibre of our guests was crucial. We really did have some excellent speakers, including Brian Ritchie from MONA FOMA in Hobart, whose keynote speech was inspiring, and Imogen Semmler from Underbelly Arts, Lisa Havilah from Carriageworks, and Fernandos Llanos, a video artist from Mexico.”

Also participating in the event were two emerging artists whose work has been presented at Splendour in The Grass. Carl Scrase and Jordana Maisie are just two of the artists who have participated in the Splendid Program and developed works that were commissioned for inclusion at Splendour.

Jordana’s Close Encounters was a huge hit with festival-goers this year. The 20-metre wide mirrored spaceship, which could receive and send text messages, was located in the centre of the festival site, acting as
beacon, meeting place and curious diversion for attendees.

“On the first day, people were just sort of getting familiar with it,” said Jordana. “But on the second day it really
took off, and people started playing and getting more and more adventurous.

Jordana said the Splendid Program provides a unique opportunity for artists to be exposed to ‘massive audiences’, to learn skills like site analysis and to create projects for different spaces and different audiences.

“But by far the best thing for me about being involved in the program was the collaboration, getting to meet different people and make really important connections that will last forever,” she said.

Imogen Semmler from Underbelly Arts said: “There is a lot of art being made these days that depends on an audience, and cannot exist without an audience. In fact we had a couple of pieces at Underbelly that were created by the visitors as they interacted with the art.”

And, as Brian Ritchie put it: “The best way to get people to engage with the art is to put them inside the piece. If it is fun and mesmerising, they will soon forget that it is art that they are dealing with.”

The Splendid program was developed by partner organisations Lismore Regional Gallery, NORPA and Arts Northern Rivers, and supported by Splendour in the Grass (which is contributing $150,000 to the program over three years), and the Australia Council for the Arts.

PICTURES: Lisa Havilah and Brian Ritchie; Paul Gazola and Carl Scrase. Photographer: Nharyan Feldmann.

Brian Ritchie, Curator of MONA FOMA (Museum of Old and New Art Festival of Music and Art in Hobart) and founding bassist/multi-instrumentalist of the American alternative group Violent Femmes, is just one of the big names that will attend the Splendid Think Tank and share his knowledge and experience with local art practitioners, arts workers, festival directors and events organisers.

His keynote address on Thursday morning will answer the question: How do festivals act as experimental spaces for new cultural forms, new technologies and new modes of audience engagement?

On Thursday afternoon he will be joined by Marcus Canning, Director/CEO, ARTRAGE Festival, Perth; Lisa Havilah, CEO, Carriageworks; and Craig Walsh, Artist & Curator, Splendour in the Grass, for a series of presentations, discussion and interaction.

Think Tank attendees will then have the opportunity to book in with one of the guests for a one on one.

Day two of the Think Tank is a half-day Public Arts Lab facilitated by leading international artists including video artist Fernando Llanos from Mexico, performer Paul Gazzola from Berlin/Adelaide and Interdisciplinary artist, Técha Noble from Sydney based The Kingpins.

The Public Arts Lab will provide an opportunity to workshop ideas that promote audience involvement and ways to transform the festival site into an experimental playground.

The Splendid program was developed by partner organisations Lismore Regional Gallery, NORPA (Northern Rivers Performing Arts) and Arts Northern Rivers, and supported by Splendour in the Grass, and the Australia Council for the Arts, through their Opportunities for Young and Emerging Artists Program.

Now in its third year, the initiative has helped build the culture of experimentation and interdisciplinary arts practice in Australia by facilitating opportunities for young and emerging artists to conceptualise and create new art and performance for festival audiences.

As a finale showcase event for the Splendid program, the Think Tank is a way to connect with and fuel future collaborations between festival directors and artists.

Tickets for the Think Tank and Arts Lab are $45 ($25 concession) and can be purchased from the NORPA website at www.norpa.org.au.

There is also an optional Think Tank dinner on Thursday August 4, priced at $45.

Download the full program at www.artsnorthernrivers.com.au/pages/our-events.

PICTURE: Founding member of the Violent Femmes, Brian Ritchie (picture by Duncan Giblin).

Hailing from Perth, Jebediah formed in 1995 when members Kevin Mitchell, Brett Mitchell, Chris Daymond and Vanessa Thornton were still in high school.

Earning fans quickly with their tuneful, upbeat, distorted brand of pop, the four-piece signed quickly to Murmur Records, home to bands like Silverchair and Ammonia.

Jebediah have played sold-out shows in each capital city, reminding fans why they fell in love with this electric live band.

With the latest album, Kosciuszko, released in April 2011, Jebediah have been making a return seven years after the release of previous album, Brackston Hicks.

• Thursday 15th of September 2011
• Southern Cross University, Lismore
• Uni Bar
• Tickets at the venue & www.bigtix.com.au

For more information go to www.bigapachee.com.au

Coming from as far afield as Grafton, Bonalbo, Lismore, Ballina, Lennox Head and Byron Bay, the group represent a diverse range of interests including music, film, visual arts, fashion, creative writing, dance, street art, installation and videography.

Each of them will receive six months of creative direction and support from a specially selected mentor, and up to $500 towards the achievement of a creative project, to be undertaken as part of their involvement in the scheme.

At the end of November the young creatives will come back together to present their work and share what they have learned under their mentor’s guidance.

Arts Northern Rivers’ Acting CEO, Julie Clark, says she was thrilled with the applications that were received for the Young Creatives Mentoring Program, and is more than excited about the 12 mentor mentee matches that have been made.

“Knowing that the Northern Rivers region has an abundance of creative residents, we felt extremely confident that we would have some incredible mentors step forward, and we certainly haven’t been disappointed,” she said.

“Amongst those that we have successfully matched are some well-known faces from the Northern Rivers arts scene, including renowned sculptor John Dahlsen, award-winning author Martin Chatterton, and musicians Melia and Nerida Naughton from Scarlett Affection.

“There were also some fabulous applications from local young people, making for a great mix of creative matches.

“I am really looking forward to watching the scheme unfold over the next six months, and seeing how far the mentoring project can help these young creatives progress their careers and ideas.”

The participants in the Northern Rivers ArtStart 2011 Young Creative Mentoring Project are: 

• Alex King from Grafton, mentored by Carli Leimbach (filmmaking)
• Clare Douglas from Nashua, mentored by Martin Chatterton (creative writing)
• Danika Smith from Alstonville, mentored by Karen Hanna (music, songwriting and performance)
• Eliza McLead from Lennox Head, mentored by Melia and Nerida Naughton from Scarlett Affection (music, stagecraft and performance)
• Jack Tinning from Lismore, mentored by Randolf Reiman (electronic music and DJ mixing)
• Jacob Fitzroy from Alstonville, mentored by Karena Wynn-Moylan (video and installation)
• Jaz Who from Nimbin, mentored by Wendy Powitt (fashion design)
• Marcus Upton from Lismore, mentored by Emma Harrison (street art)
• Mel Robin from Lismore, mentored by John Dahlsen (visual arts/sculpture)
• Lily Noakes from Byron Bay, mentored by Anne Leon and Potts (textiles/fashion)
• Ria Tierney from Bonalbo, mentored by Bernadette Curtin and Fran Flynn (visual arts/photography)
• Ruby Teather from Byron Bay, mentored by Jade Dewi Tyus Tungghal (dance/choreography)

Evening auditions will be held on 23 and 26 May at Uki State School for performers from dance, circus, music, comedy, physical theatre, performance poetry and more.

Cabaret 360 Director Hamilton Barnett said the highly anticipated event, now in its third year, would run for the first time over two nights in 2011 – a decision made after the previous annual shows sold out.

“The whole purpose behind the cabaret – and indeed behind Ukitopia – is to support, nurture and showcase the arts in the Tweed region,” Hamilton said.

“That’s why we encourage performers to audition and assist them to develop their acts, as well as inviting existing professional performers to explore new territory.

“In the previous cabarets, we’ve seen performers from teenagers to people in their 70s traverse the full range of human emotion in their acts, from the sublimely moving to the outrageously funny.”

Hamilton said this year’s cabaret would be strictly M-rated so performers and audience members needed to be over 15, and preference would be given to original, contemporary pieces.

Anyone interested in auditioning for this year’s show can contact Hamilton at cabaret360@gmail.com or on 0439 021 233.
Original contemporary pieces will be given priority.

Cabaret 360 will be held in the Uki Hall on Saturday 25 and Sunday 26 June. Tickets will go on sale later this month.

PICTURE: Diane Wilder and Perri (courtesy of Vibrant Imaging).

Listeners of Triple J’s ‘Roots & All’ program and ABC Regional Radio are probably already familiar with Ms Tindley, as would be anybody who caught the East of Everything or Bondi Rescue series’. Her emotionally honest and poetic style blends folk and country.

Sara has performed at major festivals including Blues Fest, Splendour in the Grass, Gympie Muster and Tamworth.

Enjoy Sara Tindley, a three-course lunch, a glass of sparkling wine and receive a flower for mum at the stunning Byron at Byron on Mothers’ Day.

$80 per person, children up to 12 years may dine from the kids menu.

From 12.30pm. Bookings are essential, contact 6639 2111 or restaurant@thebyronatbyron.com.au