Blank Gold Coast issue #32 – April 16 by Blank Street Press

April â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;16

issue #032

MUSIC

GC PEOPLE

FILM

MUSIC

LIFESTYLE

Stranglers Richie Ramone The Cat Empire Broadbeach Blues GC Music Awards

Scott French Suzi Muddiman Burn Morgan Kristy Dallas

GC Film Festival Eamon Farren Mountain Films Sophie Mathisen Poster exhibition

The Ruiins Crown The Humble Stav + the Dark Aaron West Julia Rose

Cafe 28 Cooly Hendrixx Cadence Vice Baby Mexican Madness

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Lawless Tails Recorded at Lovestreet Studios, Tails is the new album from Felicity Lawless, out 1 April. The album follows the release of single and video for Cowboy Cameraman, which showcases Felicity’s fiery, flashy flamenco guitar and on point visuals. Felicity says the album is a collection of stories, and if the lead single is anything to go by we’re in for a treat. Felicity launches the album at The Motor Room, Brisbane on 2 April with Ladi Abundance.

Editor: Samantha Morris

White Lodge launch new album

Culture + Lifestyle Editor: Natalie O’Driscoll

The Gold Coast's premier peddlers of echo laden garage-psych(osis), White Lodge, have been building a steadily more impressive

Editorial Intern: Doris Prodanovic & Claudia McCristal

profile and reputation across the local musical landscape over these past few years. From their own unhinged headlining shows through to impressive support slots for bands of the ilk of The Growlers, Thee Oh Sees, The Garden, Gooch Palms and Drunk Mums, the guys are ready to deliver on the promise displayed on their earlier EP and split 7 inch single and thrust a definition exclamation mark of righteousness through the heart of the local musical landscape with the unfurling of their debut long player. To celebrate the occasion the guys will be launching the album at Elsewhere on Friday 22 April.

Beatniks: the GC’s newest record store After 15 years in the music industry playing in bands, owning a recording studio in NZ and managing various record stores across both

Design: Chloe Popa, Blunt Pencil Studio Advertising: Amanda Gorman Money Coordinator: Phillippa Wright Photographer: Leisen Standen, Lamp Photography Contributors: Christie Ots, Samantha Morris, Anthony Gebhardt, Jodie Bellchambers, Natalie O’Driscoll, Jake Wilton, Cam Alexander, Tiffany Mitchell, Glenn Tozer, Rick Hollis, James Wills, Pip Andreas, Doris Prodanovic, Anna Itkonen, Nate James, Mark Weblin, Sarah Loughlin, Sarah White, Erin Bourne, Terry “Tappa” Teece, Marj Osborne, Catherine Coburn

We show our respect and sincerely acknowledge the Traditional Owners of this land and their elders past, present and emerging. Editorial: news@blankgc.com.au Advertising: advertising@blankgc.com.au Gigs: gigs@blankgc.com.au About us: Blank GC is independently owned and published by Samantha Morris and Chloe Popa. Most of our writers contribute their time pro-bono to boost the cultural scene on the Gold Coast. Founded in 2013 we are the Gold Coast’s independent cultural voice, relying on advertising to keep us in the fray. Opinions expressed herein are not necessarily those of the editor, publishers or the writing team.

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countries, Jayden Faass decided it was time to put all his experience, knowledge and interests into his own store, #beatniks. The City’s newest record store specializes in pre-owned and new vinyl, retro record players and entry level to high-end gear catering to all budgets. “We want people to dig through the racks and find their favourite records at reasonable prices,” Jayden told Blank GC. “As well as records and audio equipment you'll find T-Shirts, posters, merch and other music related items for sale (also a few relics on display!).” #beatniks is in Niecon Plaza, Broadbeach.

Melbourne, Bendigo and Sydney before finishing with a homecoming celebration at Brisbane’s The Brightside on 10 June.

Anthony Callea, Hot Potato Band, Little Georgia, The Lamplights, Beny D Williams, The Reversals and Cheap Fakes, amongst others.

New album for CC on the horizon Brisbane/Byron Bay reggae funksters CC the Cat have a new album in the wings, a new keyboard player and a run of shows scheduled for coming months. The band travelled to Bali last year to lay down fourth studio release, Free Spirit which is a collection of uplifting, inspirational reggae songs, due for release mid-year. Rohan Seekers (Astro Travellers) will join the band as keyboardist in the next run of shows. Astro Travellers recently took out the Urban category at Queensland Music Awards. CC the Cat play Byron Bay Brewery on 4 April, NightQuarter for GC Film Festival on 9 April, Shorty’s at Lennox on 10 April, Skypoint Q1 on 27 April and Nobby Surf Club on 23 April.

Ruminating at Sharks Sydney-siders The Ruminaters are giving Australian audiences some loving before they head to London and Europe in May. They’ll be overseas to tour and record. But before they go, they’ll hit up Shark Bar on 1 April

GC features in Queensland Music Awards Shadow by the Sun takes Former Angels along east coast Brisbane’s favourite new purveyors of rock and/or roll Former Angels, are hitting the road in support of new single Shadow by the Sun, out 25 May. It’s destined to be an instant rock classic, with blistering riffs and a surf rock-indebted singalong chorus. They hit Toowoomba, Broadbeach (29 May),

Bond University graduate Deena was last month awarded the Queensland Music Awards’ Most Promising Female Songwriter for 2016. She’ll celebrate at her alma mater in May when she performs alongside Karl S Williams at Live At Bond on 29 May. Amy Shark also took out the Pop Category for her song Golden Fleece which she co-wrote with bandmate Brad Hosking. Nice one, Gold Coast.

Live At Bond celebrates GC Music as well as homecoming

Belligerents go elsewhere Five-piece indie/psych merchants The Belligerents are GC-bound, with new single Before I Am keeping them company for the ride. They’ve been working hard for five years and have developed both their sound and their fanbase over that time. The new single is off debut album, out soon. They’re at elsewhere, Surfers Paradise on Friday 6 May.

Presented as part of the University’s homecoming activities, which celebrate the founding of Bond University 27 years ago, the next Live at Bond event will feature Karl S Williams and Bond graduate, Deena. Karl was Gold Coast Music Awards Artist of the Year for 2015 and there’s no doubt his sound has a strong connection to the blues of the Mississippi delta as well as spirituals and country gospel – with a healthy dose of Appalachian banjo and swampy soul for good measure. Karl and Deena will play Live at Bond on Sunday 29 May.

15th Annual Run to Paradise in May

May 19-22, 2016

The second annual Surfers Paradise LIVE festival has announcd its lineup and it’s pretty big. One of the country’s most enduring rock bands, the Choirboys, are headlining this year’s event, which is set to transform the heart of Surfers Paradise into a multi-stage music festival over three days and nights. Also on the bill for the event, which runs 6 – 8 May are Thirsty Merc, www.blankgc.com.au

SIERRA-KILO-ALPHA: MELBOURNE SKA ORCHESTRA HEADS FOR NIGHTQUARTER As I prepare to interview Nicky Bomba about the impending Melbourne Ska Orchestra tour, I can’t help but blurt out, “how many of you are there, exactly?” I mean, I just took a look at the press photo and there are so many people. So, so many that we struggled to make it work for a cover. He laughed. “Well it depends on where we’re touring to. Anywhere outside of Melbourne there’s 25 – 27 of us. It’s enough for a football team.” I don’t know much about football, but that sounds like more than one football team to me. He laughs again. “OK, maybe two.” The Melbourne Ska Orchestra was initially a once-a-year project, but around 2009 it became more than that. Fast forward to the band’s tenth birthday in 2013-2014 (which coincided with their debut album release) and they hit it big in Australia, toured overseas, and bagged a slew of awards. “Good response?” Nicky said when I asked about it? “We got awards like you wouldn’t believe.” “Our songs got added to a ska film, we won best ska record for Ready Steady Ska in the UK, got The Age best band award. That trajectory is still going.” Bomba comes from a Maltese family of six. Born overseas and coming here quite young, he reflects that the makeup of the band is very much a multicultural mix. “Scottish, Venezuelan, Trinidad, Jamaican… It’s a nice reflection of the makeup of our culture anyway,” he said. “I was always brought up in a big family. The idea of a big extended family being on stage and playing music that you love and have written,” he trails off. The composition of the band itself embodies all that ska is meant to be. According to Nicky, anyway. “There’s something about the rhythm and feel (of ska) that’s resonated with me a long time,” he told Blank GC. “If I had to describe it, it would be a combination of fun, hope, danger, and community.”

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I asked Nicky to tell me about the journey since forming Melbourne Ska Orchestra.

2016 sees the release of the Orchestra’s second album SierraKilo-Alpha.

“2003 was the 40th anniversary of when ska hit the planet. 1963 was when Billy Small’s My Boy Lollipop put ska on the map and Jamaica on the map,” he said.

“We step up with our production,” Nicky said. “We were careful about how we recorded it, mixed it, mastered it. We wanted it to sit alongside any song on the radio and be as powerful and as big.”

“Our 2003 gig was the 40th anniversary of that. We just had this tribute band that played once a year. Then in 2009 we secured Bluesfest. Then we kind of stepped up the band, started writing songs, doing more gigs and we released our first debut album at the 50th anniversary of ska in 2013.” As well as Melbourne Ska Orchestra, Nicky has Bustamento and solo projects. He says “Bustamento is like a street boat, Melbourne Ska Orchestra like a cruise liner,” and he reminds me that many members of the band work in multiple projects too. “That’s our existence, we come together and do the orchestra or Bustamento (they share many band members). It’s like the old jazz band mentality – you can be in six or seven bands and it’s all ways to make an income and be creative.” And getting so many people together to rehearse?

“We still wanted rawness to the band, which is important, but from a writing perspective we wanted to offer something a bit different; some Latin things, some funk things and some reggae things, there’s some old school ska stuff and some two tone stuff too.” “Our song writing process really opened up a bit more. We actually recorded 23 songs.” If that’s getting you a little bit excited about the album and upcoming tour, then rightly so. Melbourne Ska Orchestra have honed their live show, it’s recording as an orchestra that’s somewhat novel. “It’s called the Melbourne Ska Orchestra but that doesn’t mean we play the purest ska. Who are the ska police anyway?” Nicky asked.

“It’s much like a soccer team,” he said. “The good thing about it is that there’s lots of us - 30 to 40 people - who are available. If someone can’t make it, someone always takes their spot.”

“That’s our calling card at the moment,” Nicky said of their live show.

Nicky said that when they’re recording there can be 40 people there easily.

“Our reputation is based on how good our live show is. It’s energetic, it’s powerful, it’s fun, it’s huge, irreverent, spontaneous, we love working with the crowd.”

“When you have a good team you know what works. Everyone answers things quickly. It has to have a certain efficiency about it.” And how the hell does everyone get paid? “Sometimes,” he said, “ we do things for next to nothing, sometimes everyone gets a bit of a wage. It’s definitely not a financial venture. But there’s a lot of love there, we get to go to places, play to people and not lose money.”

“We don’t have that hit song that everyone knows.”

“It becomes a big community event and you will walk away with a big smile and spring in your step.” Samantha Morris

Melbourne Ska Orchestra plays NightQuarter on 22 April. Tickets $39.30+BF via Oztix. Minors permitted with a legal guardian.

THE STRANGLERS…THE RETURN OF THE MENINBLACK English rabble-rousers The Stranglers have traversed an epically varied career trajectory throughout their 42 years in the music game. Emerging as pissed off outsiders at the dawn of UK punk and antagonising the establishment and their musical contemporaries in equal measure with their belligerent and confrontational ethos, they could sneer, offend and three-chord pogo with the best of the ‘class of 77’ while simultaneously embracing so called non punk elements such as keyboards and songs with a greater running time than three minutes. Never the types to pander to expectations, they wrote their own rule book stylistically and artistically and by the mid 80s were riding the heights of commercial success via radio hits such as Golden Brown and Always the Sun. Surviving the loss of original vocalist Hugh Cornwell, they have managed to remain musically relevant whilst at the same time garnering a whole new generation of disciples. Prior to their upcoming tour of Australia, Anthony Gebhardt passed a few questions across to legendary bassist Jean Jacques (JJ) Burnel, a man whose modus operandi is ‘to the point’ and whose thuggishly melodic bass sound has remained a key cornerstone of the band’s ethos as well as influencing a whole host of musicians across decades and genres…

How do you go about putting together a set list for a new tour - with such an extensive back catalogue is it tough to all agree? Is there any way to keep those perennial set standards that must always get played fresh and interesting for the band? Keeping anything that’s old fresh and exciting is always a challenge. That’s why we drop pieces for years sometimes. Fortunately we have other familiar tunes that get aired. Will you be dusting off any surprise selections song wise on this upcoming tour, or do we need to come along to find out!? You’ve answered your own question : ) Is there any chance of (founding drummer) Jet Black making it down under this time around, even if just to drum on a few numbers? Jet won’t be travelling with us. He doesn’t travel well. In fact I doubt if he’ll even make it to one show in the UK this year. Last year he tried four numbers on the first night, then two on the next night and we were lucky not to lose him on the third night. His health is shot and we are just lucky to have him still giving an opinion on stuff. How many drummers do you know who are still battering their skins in a rock band at nearly eighty years of age!? What was it like playing alongside Blondie and our very own The Saints when you last toured here in 2012? Did you guys have anything to do with either band back in the late 70’s heyday of punk? It was a real pleasure. We always have a lark with those old timers. Our paths have crossed on numerous occasions over 40 years. The Saints I knew from two seminal tracks from way back when.. Demolition Girl and (I’m) Stranded, are all-time classics! What's the fan base and demographic like these days - do you find you've picked up many new converts along the way in addition to the old stalwarts who've been there with you for the entire journey? The demographic has definitely changed over the past ten or so years, since (2004 album) Norfolk Coast. I suspect it’s a combination of the last three albums having been very well received, a general re-assessment of the band, a reaction to X Factor, Pop idol etc from the more savvy teenagers and the fact that all the high jinx we were involved in back in the day, which detracted from our music, is possibly now seen as a badge of honour in these more sterile times. JJ I'll touch briefly on your solo work, in particular your 1979 debut, the electro-rock hybrid Euroman Cometh - it was one of those records that I just had to get on the strength of that amazing album cover alone! What is that building on the front cover and is it still around? And what are your thoughts on the state of play in Europe today in light of the themes and ideas you addressed on that record?

I see you've recently been playing some shows in England where you've performed your legendary Black and White record in its entirety. Is there any chance that we'll be treated to that over here in Australia on the upcoming tour?

What are your thoughts on bands excavating their back catalogue albums and playing them live in their entirety? And do you think the band would consider doing it with any other of your releases?

No, I would rather be playing the set that we have been playing throughout Europe this last year. It will include some pieces from Black and White but not in its entirety.

It can be a bit of a challenge because you rarely inhabit the same head space as you did, especially when you are talking about something you produced 38 years ago! (in the case of the Black and White album.)

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The building was the Pompidou centre in Paris, which is most definitely still around and was designed partly by Richard Rogers. As for Europe, we are living a state of flux where huge forces are at work and the natural order of things is changing. I was reading up on your guest appearances on other people's albums and it says you played bass on a Jacques Dutronc record in 1987... what was it like working with such a 60s French musical legend?

WALLAPALOOZA ANNOUNCES MELBOURNE LEG He was equal to himself and didn’t disappoint in the slightest. I’m surprised you know of him! Yourself and Peter Hook are my favourite bassists, and he kinda gets compared to you a bit in regards to the 'melodic' way in which you play the bass...although your style is more menacingly melodic! How did you develop this distinctive sound of your’s and did you realise you were onto something early on? I read that ripped speaker cones is part of the set up.... a la (50’s pioneering guitarist) Link Wray!? Haha yes ripped speaker cones might have had an influence on my sound! Peter Hook has very kindly mentioned that I was his main influence. I only realised that I had something to my sound because everyone made a big deal of it. The band have often been perceived as unfashionable outsiders. After all these years do you think you've finally got the respect and recognition you deserved? And do you feel vindicated in sticking to your ideals and doing things totally Stranglers, such as not having a textbook definition 'punk' sound, not looking to conquer America, insisting on releasing Golden Brown as a single?

Saturday 16 April sees Gold Coast grown touring festival, Wallapalooza return to Melbourne for a one day ear-blasting of epic proportions. The Corner Hotel will play host to Electric Mary, Dallas Frasca, Dirt River Radio, Smoking Martha, Redstarborn and The Mercy Kills, amongst others. Samantha Morris caught up with Festival Director, Andy Clark. to the prowess of their music and live shows. Add Melbourne seems like it’s going to be big this year. What’s our own Redstarborn and Smoking Martha for a bit going on? of Queensland flair and it’s destined to be one hell of a night. We wanted to make this the year that Melbourne will be my largest investment in live we showed Melbourne what Wallapalooza is all music to date, not withstanding the massive Gold about and I think we will definitely make an Coast event I am going to announce soon. With impression. Wallapalooza we have chosen the best Melbourne has to offer in all facets, the venue, the production, and most importantly the artists. Wallapalooza What’s the impact of taking a GC-grown will be using some state of the art visuals to help event like Wallapalooza to other cities? deliver our message of STRENGTH AND UNITY THROUGH MUSIC, along with Melbourne’s best The impact is huge. For the first time the audio and lighting engineers. Gold Coast is exporting highly talented artists to other states and showcasing them under its own banner. Wallapalooza is What makes you so excited about this lineup? becoming recognised as a high quality show with exceptional acts. We are "the show The line up is arguably the strongest that has ever from the Coast" and very proud to be a been on the same bill at The Corner. Electric Mary GC born and bred event. are renowned for their live shows and Dallas Frasca is unstoppable on stage. The Mercy Kills, Dirt Wallapalooza’s Gold Coast lineup will be River Radio and Sheriff are relatively unknown in announced any day now. Stay tuned. Queensland but have huge followings in Melbourne due

I think you’ve answered your own question again! :) I was interested to read of the massive influence that Captain Beefheart has been on the band - another musical maverick! Is it his sound or attitude that's most rubbed off on you guys? For me his time signatures and lyrics have been his greatest influence. So 40 years in the music biz and still going strong - do you ever envisage a finish line? Finish line on the last breath. In addition to your music you're also known for your interest in karate and motorcycles...is there something else a bit more obscure that also drives the man?

APRIL Saturday 2 April / 8pm / $10 Entry THE JAKE FOX BAND "Album Launch" + Wren Klauf + Pirates of the Tempest + Audsox

Identity has always been an issue with me.

Friday 8 April / 8pm / $10 Entry REDSTARBORN + Veal + UverseU + Lotus Ship

If you were to give one piece of advice to an up and coming band entering the music industry now, what would it be?

Saturday 9 April / 8pm / $10 Entry “Alt- Rock Madness !” featuring ELECTRIC ZEBRA + Special Guests

I get asked this occasionally and my answer is always the same - make your own mistakes, there are no rules, be honest. Anthony Gebhardt

Friday 15 April / 8pm / $10 Entry PAYMENTS IN GOLD + Fox 'n' Firken + Loud Goes Bang + The Dead Maggies (Tas) Saturday 16 April / 8pm / $10 Entry Dispunktion + Special Guests Friday 22 April / 8pm / $10 Entry JOSH KING "Single Launch" + Twelve Past Midnight + Wayward Suns + Daneel Friday 29 April / 8pm / $10 Entry STAV AND THE DARK + Salt & Steel + Nowhere Else + The Midnight Project (Melb)

(Get A) Grip (On Yourself) and be sure to catch the eclectic delights of The Stranglers when they traverse their four-decade deep musical treasure trove at The Tivoli in Fortitude Valley on Monday 18 April.

Saturday 30 April / 8pm / $10 Entry REGGAE PALACE “Currumbin’s newest reggae jam” Hayes + Brooke Lambert Restaurant + Bar + Gaming Serving tapas until 10pm Courtesy bus available – 5534 2322 www.currumbincreektavern.com.au

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Image courtesy of Lamp Photography

504 SOUL: AARON WEST

Aaron West is an unassuming guy. Until he steps behind a guitar. He grew up on a farm in Tamworth before moving to the Gold Coast where he studied at Robina High. He spent a year at the Conservatorium, but got offered a teaching position elsewhere. “I felt like I was learning more outside the university than in,” he said, before adding that he’s glad for the year he had there. “I was playing with really good players.” Since the Con, he’s been gigging ever since. One of that rare breed who can proudly claim to be full-time. He’s made a living from music ever since high school.

I guess the bluesy African-American soul genre is to be expected. He grew up listening to old blues music.

“I’ve been a professional musician ever since high school and have made a living from it – but I’m only just now starting out as a band leader – it’s a whole new road for me. I know it’s not going to be easy but if I want to be successful, then I have to do it.”

That genre and the influence of Aaron’s musical roots come through loud and clear when you listen to his new album 504 Soul. Recorded in New Orleans with some of the most incredible musicians you’ll ever meet, the record is already making waves in the city it was recorded in, getting rave reviews in street press Off Beat, “which is kind of a big deal,” Aaron said. “It’s the bible for music there,” he explained. “Off Beat reviewed it and said some really good things about it” “It was finally finished in December and now just waiting to sort out some video stuff,” he said of the exact launch date for the album. He’s also waiting for a new website. “There’s this thing in Australia called the Australian Blues and Roots Charts. I’ve sent it to them. The band that plays in it (the album) is kind of well known in soul and blues circles.” The Absolute Monster Gentlemen are the backing band for Jon Cleary who is a pianist and singer in NOLA. Now, they’re also the backing band for Aaron West. “I’ll send it to those charts, so hopefully the album will do well and make it up the charts. Then the plan is to use that as leverage to get on festival circuits around here,” he said.

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“A guy called Aaron Saxon is a good friend of mine. He had a band called Voodoo Groove that used to play at Purple Haze on Chevron Island. They used to have a really cool music scene there. Todd Burns – a drummer – was my neighbor for a while and he was connected with a guy calld Frank Corneola who runs Drum Tech.” “There are a lot of world-class players here. They don’t get a whole lot of credit,” he said.

“But I have played so many other styles too. When you do it for a living you get forced to play all sorts of stuff. But my passion has always been that old African-American music,” he said.

“Mostly I’m into musicians,” he explained. “I grew up here and was really inspired by a guy called Max Stowers – he’s a bass player here on the Coast.”

I asked Aaron how he’d describe his own genre. He calls it African-American soul / blues. While he doesn’t necessarily like to pigeon hole his sound, “it helps the public,” he said. “I find the terms useful when I’m looking for other people’s music, I guess other people do too.”

“Dad used to have a lot of blues and old-school reggae stuff when I was a kid.”

You can buy 504 Soul via CDbaby and itunes and you can get hard copies at Just Funkin’ Music (Ballina) or off Aaron at his gigs.

which starts us down the path of talking Gold Coast music.

Some of Aaron’s backing band are also local – Will Sargisson and Jeff Reid to name two –

It’s clear Aaron’s musical connection to the Gold Coast runs deep but this new album sees Aaron step out of his comfort zone somewhat.

The record is named after the area code for New Orleans – 504. “I didn’t want to call it The Big Easy this or the Crescent City that,” he said, noting that anyone from the area would get the reference. But while the album was recorded in New Orleans, Aaron only visits the USA “once in a blue moon.” “Whenever I can afford to,” he said. “Hopefully next year I’ll go and do some more recording over there – get the tentacles out.” 504 Soul isn’t Aaron West’s first album, but it’s the first he’s putting energy into promoting. “It’s the first one I’ll ever try marketing. I’ve done original albums in the past but by the time I’ve finished, I’m bored with the songs.” It’s hard to imagine Aaron getting bored. He’s regularly called upon to play with local bands – including Hanlon Brothers. He’s done stints at Jazz on Broadbeach as well. In fact if you google Aaron, you get a string of musical projects, gigs and festival inclusions. So what’s next for Aaron West? “I’m still going to do side band stuff for people,” he said. “But long-term, I want to be able to play music with my band – both here in Australia and overseas.” I already told you, Aaron West is an unassuming guy, but if there’s one thing you take from this story, let it be this. Aaron West’s music deserves to be heard. And his album 504 Soul deserves pride of place in your playlist. Samantha Morris

FREAKS + BEATS SET TO SHOCK THE ‘QUARTER The stages of NightQuarter will shock and mesmerise audiences like never before, as the venue adds a fun-filled spectacle of the bizarre to its program for the first time this April. The aptly named Freaks and Beats show is guaranteed to wow, with some of Australia’s most celebrated sideshow performers sharpening their angle grinders and swords in preparation for the freaky first! NightQuarter’s Marketing Manager, Alice Conway was the first to embrace the creative concept pitched by the team of Gold Coast’s multi-award winning festival, Buskers by the Creek and is looking forward to witnessing the magic unfold. Blank GC caught up with Cindy Jensen, the brains (and everything else!) behind Buskers by the Creek to have a quick Q+A about her freaktastic concept. Can you tell us about some of the acts that will be featured in Freaks + Beats? We've got everything from sword swallowing, Indian pow-wowing and a drumming strongman, to magic, tiger acrobatics and belly dancers, original singer/songwriters and acrobatic angle grinding (that has to be seen to be believed). How did the concept come about? The sideshow performers Space Cowboy and LizardMan were crowd favourites at Buskers by the Creek and we've had loads of requests from fans wanting an encore. Given NightQuarter is all about live, original music, I thought we’d bring freaks and beats together in a new concept show. Are you looking to make this a regular event? At this stage, Freaks and Beats will be a once and once only. Our Side Street events will be regular, though. Natalie O’Driscoll

Freaks and Beats hits NightQuarter on Saturday 2 April from 6.00pm in The Paddock. $15 (+ b/f) for adults, which includes entry to NightQuarter. Kids free. Tickets via oztix.

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Champagne

Image courtesy of Lamp Photography

EVER SO HUMBLE The local, almost cult-like, following around newly formed four-piece Crown the Humble has been nothing but astonishing. Their rise to fame is a – mind the pun – humbling story at the least and one that’s riddled with truncated searches for the remainder of the band and tales of songwriting ease. The group sat down with Jake Wilton at the justrelaunched Burleigh Brewery to discuss all this and more. Hearing about this band in the lead up to our interview, the phrase flung around frequently was “rapid rise”. In context, Crown the Humble has only been operating under that name since mid2015. Considering the peak in expert-class quality with the band’s two new singles and consistent southeast Queensland touring schedule, “rapid rise” no longer seems appropriate. “We’ve just released two songs,” says band front man Jimmy Brine, proudly. “Next plan is to get an EP out with five, maybe six, songs. Would have to get the funds together and give it a proper crack.” The songs Jimmy speaks of? The newly released Gypsy Girl and Rubber Arm have been getting flogged on local radio stations and national community stations too with Jimmy mentioning that Dubbo local radio wanted to have a chat with the group.

Enjoy a night at Thai Mudgee and the impressive talent of emerging Australian blues-folk musicians. Food and beer included.

“It’s all fallen into place so quickly,” boasts Jimmy speaking about the, also prompt, formation of the group.

NASHVILLE-BASED DAN CHAMPAGNE’S

“Jenny, Warwick [Chipman, drums] and I all used to hang out with none of us really speaking about playing music or instruments. The realisation came when I played an open-mic night and asked Chip to bring his drum box and for Jenny to jump on keys.” With Jimmy now understanding his friends’ hidden musical abilities, he thought it unjust for it to go to waste. Vinnie was the final piece to the – another pun incoming – humble pie, with him being discovered through an advertisement on Facebook. “He was the only person who responded,” laughed Jenny.

“Getting into the studio for that one was heaps of fun. We just experimented a little more with it,” recalled Jimmy.

Now legitimised with a rehearsal space and full membership of Crown the Humble assembled, Jimmy said there’s plenty more songs to come in the near future, which will also see the band taking the same approach to crafting their art since the beginning.

The song, so simple in design, rides true to Crown the Humble’s graceful approach to song crafting – making their local

$25 per adult | 7.00pm | April 6th Thai Mudgee, 69 Railway Street, Mudgeeraba www.facebook.com/thaimudgee

After Party at the Wallaby Hotel from 10.30pm

A huge amount of experience resides in the Crown the Humble collective with Jimmy and Vinnie playing in and out of groups and solo gigging for years. Jenny, on the other hand, hasn’t played music since high school but saw the potential in pairing up with her mates to enter the fray again.

Jenny [Rulfs, keys / vocals], having only just joined the band at the moment they went in to record Gypsy Girl and Rubber Arm, gave the track plenty more undertone and folk authenticity with her casual, unobtrusive vocal underlays.

WITH SPECIAL GUEST MC GLENN TOZER, CULTURAL ADVOCATE FOR THE GOLD COAST

reign equal to their potential national domination.

Crown the Humble champions a tantalising earthy and raw quality of folk-rock that feeds effortlessly into its organic, almoststupidly, catchy melodies. Gypsy Girl, for example, tells a story of man trying to hold on to a lover who's about to leave his life forever.

“That song has come a long way from when it was just a live track; before taking it to the studio. The crescendo used to be so minimal, in comparison, but is really awesome, and so much fuller, now on record,” detaied Vinnie [Heke, bass].

“We’ll take the songs into rehearsal and allow everyone to find their groove and their part in the song. Essentially find the music element of the song then adding lyrics to it,” formulated Jimmy.

You can catch Crown The Humble at Glow festival on 30 April and Vintage Velvet on 6 May, and you can listen to their tracks via triple J Unearthed and Soundcloud.

percussive guitar style is mesmerising, with his latest single Supernova rushing to the top of the Triple J unearthed chart on release, and new live album Heartland Hurricanes launched to rave reviews.

CLAIRE ANNE TAYLOR’S

recently released album “Elemental” is fantastic, with her emotive lyrics and powerful voice delivering a memorable blues/folk experience unique amongst emerging artists.

Tickets essential at www.glenntozer.com.au/events (Limited VIP ticket options available)

PRESENTED BY TRIP LE J AN D THE MUSI C

SUNDAY 8 MAY TH

NIGHTQUARTER WI TH GUES T S PI E RC E B ROT H E R S TI C KET S : NIGHTQUARTER.COM.AU

Little Sea In Stereo Jordan Millar

Choirboys Thirsty Merc Mahalia Simpson

Anthony Callea Harrison Craig The Lamplights

BLUES ON BROADBEACH: BEST LOCAL LINEUP EVER One of our favourite free events, Blues on Broadbeach has announced one of the best local lineups in history. In our opinion anyway. Nestled amongst the likes of Tex Perkins, The Bamboos, Eric Burdon and The Animals and Diesel are some of the most talented Australian artists who just happen to call the Gold Coast home. Leading our list of favourites is Felicity Lawless, who’s just about to release her new album Tails and is fresh from playing Bluesfest Byron Bay’s busking stage after being a finalist for both Artist of the Year and Emerging Artist of the Year in the 2015 Gold Coast Music Awards. She’s not the only Gold Coast lady to make the cut, either. Nicole Parker-Brown and the Late Late Show also get a guernsey. Also on the lineup is champion busker Juzzie Smith, champion bluesmen Mason Rack Band and champion full stop Black Rabbit George. Howling their way through the streets of Broadbeach will also be Phil Barlow and the Wolf, Mescalito Blues as well as Bluesville Station. Mitch King, James Street Preachers, Free Soul Collective and Peter McFarlane and the Sidewinders also make it onto the bill. Griffith University’s Schoolyard Blues also takes place as part of the four-day event. Schoolyard Blues features students from southeast Queensland schools including Guardian Angels, Aquinas College, Kingston State College, Nerang High and Fraciscan Colleges and runs on Friday 20 May. Samantha Morris

Blues on Broadbeach runs 19 – 22 May through the streets and venues of Broadbeach. As well as the headliners and local talent, there truly is blues music of all types in the program and the main festival events are absolutely free! Program at bluesonbroadbeach.com.

“and they’re offering $20 meal vouchers or drinks for entertainers.” “There’s also no noise restrictions,” Mike explained, “so we can run a full band happily. The guys that turned up last night, we ended up turning into a four-piece and jamming at the end.” “What I’d really like is a couple of original up and comers to experience it,” he said. “We offer great production, great lighting and we can offer a live demo recording if they’re willing to work with us on it.” “I’m not sure there’s many other open mics that do that at the moment or that even have capability to record live from the desk – that’s something we can discuss prior to them becoming involved,” he said. Not surprisingly, like many musicians, Mike is a passionate advocate for open mic nights. He says the key benefit is getting live experience.

OPEN MI

Mike Edwards has been working as a musician on the Gold Coast since 1986. That’s when he started his first band, The Talk with a fellow Miami High student. By 1988 they were touring with Mondo Rock, Painters and Dockers, Richard Clapton.

“It’s a very different, different dynamic in originals bands to covers bands. You fall in love with writing your own stuff. Then APRA and copyright complicates things,” he said, adding that he’s taken a step back from originals projects for now.

“Rick (Hollis) and I were playing pubs underage,” Mike told me. “We had to talk owners and managers around to letting a 14 year old in to venues to perform.”

The first time I meet Mike he’s heading up local covers band Remedy. They’ve got a set at Cooly Hotel which starts at midnight. Midnight! On a Wednesday! The place is heaving like I’ve never seen it – it’s a party for an English language school and it’s impossible to get to the bar. When the band start their set the dance floor is full of writhing bodies, spilt drinks and mating rituals.

“Our teen years were pretty rad. We’ve had a pretty good upbringing on the Gold Coast in the live music scene,” he said. Mike has genuinely had a varied musical career here. He’s played in a bunch of originals (Alone Alaska + others), and cover bands (Nemesis, Remedy), as a solo artist, and has trod the boards in every venue in southeast Queensland (not to mention mining towns) you could dream of. He’s released albums, had international radio play, toured locally and further afield and supported a heap of local artists to find their feet. And when he’s not rocking and rolling, he’s prepping food at Hard Rock Café – where he’s worked on and off for over a decade. It’s not that unusual to find a Gold Coast musician working between covers and original bands, but Mike says it’s a hard road to tread.

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In what some might call a hobby, Mike also runs open mic and jam nights. Something he’s done on the Gold Coast for more than 16 years. Venues have included Fisherman’s Wharf Tavern, Brannigan’s Tavern (now Envy, Broadbeach), The Cave and later District 21 (Nobby Beach), Hard Rock Café, Cooly Hotel and now the Lonestar Tavern. When we speak, he’d just wrapped up the first Monday night session at Lonestar – after a change from Thursday nights. “Lonestar is a great venue,” he said. “It’s a great room and they’re very supportive of keeping the night running. It’s a good room,” he said,

“If you’re only just emerging and haven’t done a lot of live shows and you want to sell your product and sell yourself to a venue it’s good to have experience performing,” he said. “Stage presence and performance is an important part of music.” “For anyone emerging or up and coming – having the ability to get up and play your stuff live out of the rehearsal room, out of the bedroom, out of the shed – that’s the biggest benefit of open mic. It helps with nerves and you get to see the process, whether it’s sound and lighting techs or engineers, it gets you working with these kinds of people.”

“It’s about getting out and getting that experience and taking that passion to the people.”

Mike Edwards runs Lonestar Tavern’s open mic night every Monday. Phone 0433 738 620 for more information or to book yourself in.

OPEN MIC NIGHTS ON THE GOLD COAST MONDAY MERMAID WATERS: Lonestar Tavern, hosted by Mike Edwards. Meal vouchers for performers. Phone TUESDAY NERANG: 3rd Tuesday of the month, jam session at Nerang All Sports Club, hosted by GC Acoustic Music Club. Visit coastacoustics.com.au. Phone 0410 478 954. WEDNESDAY CHEVRON ISLAND: The Loft, hosted by Bernadette Butler. Doors open 6.30pm, open mic (music and poetry) starts at 8.00pm.

“It’s a lot different to sitting in your bedroom with mates and a small PA,” Mike said.

KIRRA: Beaches on Kirra, 6.00 – 9.00pm. Bookings info@mattiebarkermusic.com

Mike shares some local open mic success stories with me. Marcus Blacke, Karl S Williams, Nina Ward, Joshy Dredz, they’ve all spent many nights honing their craft behind an open mic.

TWEED: Ivory Tavern, Hump Day Expression Session open mic. 6.30pm. Prizes and vouchers for performers.

Johann Coppers, otherwise known as Hans Solo was a frequent player at The Cave as well. “He was jamming around the GC and writing his songs and playing covers with a mate at the time,” Mike said. “He’d quite often talk or he’d pick my brain on what to do, how to move out of jam nights and into performing regularly and writing.” “And now he’s moving ahead in leaps and bounds. He’s gigging three or four nights a week playing originals and covers,” Mike said. “That’s a success story for running open night, whether it’s me or anyone else who’s promoting it.” “And it’s not about the organisers,” Mike is quick to add. “It’s about encouraging people and emerging artists, and having opportunities to get up on stage in a live situation, whether they’re playing covers or original material.”

THURSDAY NERANG: Town and Country Motel and Restaurant, 7.00pm. Bookings 5578 4488 KIRRA: North Kirra Surf Life Saving Club, 7.00 – 10.00pm, hosted by Karl Peters. MUDGEERABA: Wallaby Hotel. Gold Coast Muso’s Jam, 8.00pm. SATURDAY 2nd Saturday of the month, afternoon jam session at Country Paradise Parklands, hosted by GC Acoustic Music Club. Visit coastacoustics.com.au. Phone 0410 478 954. SUNDAY BURLEIGH: Zullaz Bar and Eating Place. Phone 5535 3511. KIRRA: Kirra Sports Club, jam session from 2.00pm. Phone 5536 7422.

Want to perform in a Band ?

YOUNG WARRIORS is a fun 10 week program, based at the Helensvale Cultural Centre that provides aspiring musicians age 12-19 years with the experience of rehearsing, playing in a band and performing in live gigs. Register by April 14 to reserve your place at the orientation and jam session on April 16 All musical abilities welcome. No instrument? No problem! For full details and to register, email admin@weekendwarriors.org.au

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JULIA ROSE: WE ARE LOVE Last time we caught up with Gold Coast singer / bassist / songwriter Julia Rose, she’d finished up a massive tour and was in the studio working on a new album for 2016 release. Never one to disappoint, she has delivered in spades, with her crowd funded EP Romeo now available. A meditation on all things love, Julia’s third album takes her operatic gypsy stylings to a new level of complexity. We checked in with the hardworking songstress to get her thoughts on this latest endeavour. Last time we spoke you’d had a big 2014 and were looking forward to a rest in 2015. It seems silly to ask with the album coming out, but did you get a break? I'd have to say 2015 was the biggest year of my life, both personally and musically. We spent a lot of time in the studio trying out new sounds, doing different versions of vocal takes and most exciting is the re-entry of the electric guitar which has featured in a couple of tracks. My guitarist of 14 years (Gold Coast muso legend Felicity Lawless) and I, used to play in a hard funk/soul/ska band together (Anarchist Duck & Bertha Control) and it was then that I really fell in love with her electric guitar. So we mucked around with that sound and together with my old mate and fellow Duckie Anders Cassidy on drums, we really sealed the deal. My producer Guy kept the ball rolling and was on quality control. His favourite thing to do was throw in a suggestion for a new vocal line, he'd ‘sing’ it to me then well... I'd interpret it… after asking him to repeat it a few times for my personal entertainment, especially the high As. I love the EP. It’s chilled, heartfelt and gorgeously produced. Tell me about the inspiration behind the single Romeo… Thanks for the praise. The inspiration for the track is Love. Love is the answer to everything. I was inspired when I met my partner who I fell in love with 4 years ago, and am still hooked. Love is love, love is beautiful, love is everywhere, if we look for it. Can you introduce us to some of the musicians on the album? The violinist stood out for me particularly. The violinist is my little sister Louise Cottone, she used to play for the Queensland Orchestra and I stole her, what an

angel! My guitarist is none other than Felicity Lawless and the drums were played by Anders Cassidy and Dan Hitzke. The choir was sung by my old band mates Bertha Control including my other sister CC the Cat (Claire Cottone). I’m guessing a decent chunk of this year will be taken up with touring the album. Any ideas where you’re headed and for how long? We launched the EP at Brisbane Powerhouse which was totally excellent, we had live art by Rebecca Cunningham, and launched the film clip for Romeo by Damian Lang. It was such a huge success and the band was amazing. We have a string of release shows throughout Brisbane, Gold Coast (NightQuarter 23/4) and NSW. Then Human Records label are heading back to Japan mid-year. It’s not every year you launch an EP, we are so pumped!! What do you like to do in your spare time (if you get any!)? In my spare time I grow vegies and spend time in the garden, take my dogs for a walk and swim in the creek, travel (I love the beach), and I love getting addicted to shows with strong female leads that totally kick butt. Very occasionally, I practice. Anything else about the EP you’d like readers to know about? I meant what I said about love, and not just the love you have for your partner, your folks, your sibling or child, but love for all people in all walks of life. I believe no child belongs in a detention centre and real Australians welcome refugees. Most of us came here generations ago as refugees/ migrants from distant lands and my family, 100 years on, are still grateful for the freedom we have and the space Australia offers. I give thanks to the Traditional Owners of this land both past and present for welcoming us all here. We are One Mob, we are Love, we are Music. Natalie O'Driscoll

Check out juliarosemusic.com for music and clips

RICHIE RAMONE: TOO TOUGH TO DIE It's fair to say that US punk godfathers The Ramones have well and truly transcended their brat-beaten beginnings and ascended to the lofty heights of one of the best loved and most highly influential bands in the history of contemporary music. Not bad for a rag-tag bunch of New York miscreants who started out singing about sniffing glue and teenage lobotomies! Whilst on the surface their musical template of three chords and the (dumb) truth was pretty simple, over time, as their musical proficiency increased, 'Da Bruddas' embraced their love of 60's pop and garage sounds, as well as veering off into more hard rock territory. This was particularly evident during the mid 80's, with albums such as Subterranean Jungle, Too Tough To Die, Animal Boy and Halfway To Sanity subtly realigning the band's musical template. And the powerhouse drummer on board at the vanguard of this era was none other than Richard Reinhardt, aka Richie Ramone. The man has had an interesting career trajectory since his Ramones days, including arranging a classical composition called 'Suite For Drums and Orchestra' in 2007. I asked Richie about this while on the phone from New York doing press for his upcoming Australian tour. "I took some time off from rock and roll and wanted to do something different so that's what I did. I arranged some songs from West Side Story. It's a different type of drumming, I could really get crazy with it, as opposed to rock drumming where you're just holding down a beat. But now I've gotten back into rock and roll, working on a new record and stuff." Anthony Gebhardt

Read the full interview at blankgc.com.au. Richie Ramone is at The Great Northern Hotel, Byron Bay on Thursday 28 April and Brisbane’s Woolly Mammoth on Friday 29 April.

www.blankgc.com.au

Image courtesy of Lamp Photography

THE RUIINS, RELEASE DEBUT SINGLE EVENTUALLY Since their beginnings just last year, The Ruiins have developed a unique sound that sits somewhere between raw blues and vintage acoustic rock. They’ve already scored support slots for the likes of Tijuana Cartel’s Black Rabbit George and for a humble two-piece, kick serious aural butt. Touring up and down the eastern coastline, the Ruiins have managed to grace crowds with their unique sound while gathering a humble following. And now they have a new single to their name. Cam Alexander caught up with pair: Adam Dooker (drums / vocals) and Pat Sugden (guitar, vocals) for a chat amongst the brewing vats at Burleigh Brewing Co. You recently released debut single Eventually. What was the recording process like on this song? I read you worked with Sean Cook who worked on Big Scary's Album Vacation. What was it like working with him? Yeah it was cool, we didn't really know what to expect going in to work with an actual producer, we’ve really only done home recordings or worked with someone who studied it at university. But he was there to help construct the song and help make it what it is now. It was good t to have a professional point of view. It was cool working with someone who has worked with such big bands before and has such a good name in the industry. We both learnt so much throughout the experience. Your single tour kicked off a couple of weeks ago in Byron, what's been your favourite show of the tour so far? Byron was heaps fun, we had some friends there and everyone went mad and we played with some really cool bands. The Sydney shows were the same. Probably the best sound that we’ve had, that we felt connected with the audience the best, was at Liars Bar in Broadbeach. Eventually recently got air time on Triple J. What's it feel like to hear something you've created being played to listeners across the country? It was sick, I’m not gonna try and play it down. We were jamming at the time and Dom Alessio emailed us and we didn't see it. Then our mate called us, which was odd for a Monday night, so we called him back and he was losing it saying ‘listen to this!’ and it was

our song playing on Triple J. We got into my car in the garage and cranked it up, there were high-5s and hugs, it was a good feeling. It was cool having our friends from all over the place messaging us saying they just heard our song as well. We also just got rotation on Triple J Unearthed, I'm not sure how often it plays, but that’s cool. And hopefully we get a few more plays on Triple J.(You can text in on 0439 75 7555 and show them some love) Do you have any bands or artists that have influenced your current sound? Obviously we do, growing up listening to certain kinds of music. But I don't think we have said, ‘alright lets make ourselves sound like this kind of band’. The way our writing process is, is just to make up a riff or melody and work off that. We don’t really have a set structure of how we’re going to make the song. We kind of just play it out and see how it sounds and I guess dissect it as it comes. Eventually it starts off chilled out and then the chorus is more punchy so it’s kind of got two different styles in those parts and then the bridge is different again. What's next for The Ruiins? Can we expect more music soon? We’ll run eventually for a bit and then after a while we’ll work on releasing another single for our upcoming EP, so that will be in a few months time and later on in the year the EP will follow. We’ll definitely be doing more shows for the next single. We’re keen to keep playing. Sydney was so much fun, hopefully we’ll get to travel a bit further to Canberra or Melbourne and definitely more Brisbane shows as well.

FREE SPIRIT: LIKE A FOX I first came across Jake Fox when he was competing in the Gold Coast’s greatest showdown for buskers – Battle of the Buskers – hosted by Buskers by the Creek in October 2015. He was amongst fine company that night and now with a new album just about to be released, it seemed like a good time to catch up. Jake has just finished the Bachelor of Popular Music program at Griffith University and has been included in the SEED program, but he’s not entirely done with study. He’s still completing a psychology degree. “I started in 2013 and graduated last year,” he said, adding that the BPM course was a lot of fun. “I met all the people I’m working with at the moment. A lot of like-minded people. Not just musically, but outside stuff too.” When I ask him to elaborate, the 24 year old says things like environmental concerns go hand-in-hand with music. “We all have sustainability concerns and stuff like that.” His new album Free Spirit was recorded at the studios at Griffith and will be launched (with band) on 2 April with Wren Klauf, Pirates of the Tempest and Audsox in support. It’s his second album. “This is more serious,” he says. “I’m trying to do it all properly. The first one was to get gigs and online presence and the second one, hopefully is to make an impact.” Jake says the inspiration for his songs come largely from nature. “I guess I’ve got a more natural style, it just comes to me through things like surfing, adventuring, exploring. Also movies.” “For me it’s mainly observing things. Songs don’t have to be exactly about me, but putting myself in the shoes of someone experiencing those things.” We move onto talking about Jakes’ new album. He’s focused on getting as much social media

coverage as possible with a couple of singles out ahead of the long-player’s launch. He said he’s only just getting his head around the album himself. “I’ve just got the concept of it,” he said. “It’s funny that that happens after you record it all. It’s about beginnings and endings – losing relationships and then finding them again, life and death, the circles of life – all that sort of thing.”

“We’ve also tried to do a bit of different production with the songs,” he said. “To make the songs into a bit of a journey… all these diff sections and bouncing guitar parts off each other. It’s just a little different to the standard pop production.” Jake describes his solo work as “cruisy, surfy, acoustic.” He said his band which comprises Shooty Tanahashi (drums), Elliot Hahn (also studying BPM), Rebecca Pentti (flute) and Niall McDicken (bass) is more “reggae-rockfunk.” McDicken also produced most of the album. “At the launch, we’ll see what happens. We’ll songs off the album, get a bit funky. A lot of my style is trying to get those emotional slower songs out and get people into that. But by midway I’m trying to get people to dance and get into it.” Samantha Morris

Free Spirit is out 2 April via Bandcamp and other sites. It’ll be available online for $15 or at gigs for $20. The launch, on the same date, features Jake Fox Band + Wren Klauf + Pirates of the Tempest + Audsox at Currumbin Creek Tavern. www.blankgc.com.au

album reviews

HARTS Peculiar (single) Have you ever taken out an earphone and caught someone talking, mid conversation? That is how the latest single from Melbourne musician Harts begins, abruptly and leaving you wondering how you wandered into the song.

MACKLEMORE + RYAN LEWIS

CLAIRE ANNE TAYLOR JULIA ROSE Elemental

Romeo (EP)

Redheads have been my nemesis for as long as I remember. Their allure and then the subsequent emotional trauma they unleash has confounded me.

From the opening notes of the country style guitar and weeping violins of the title track, Julia Rose’s Romeo EP will take you on a musical journey told through a soundscape of ambient beats and production reminiscent of Lana Del Rey’s Born to Die album.

This Unruly Mess I’ve Made

I confess Claire Anne Taylor’s new album Elemental, made me cry at times. She’s a tall lass, with fiery red hair, and a voice that draws you in with its unique tone over folk/blues guitar. The lyrical themes of love and family will resonate with many listeners and definitely moved me. The album kicks off just so, with the clever hand-clapping Judge, getting my body moving and eliciting a bit of a sing-along in the car. From a family of six kids, Claire’s passion for her family is conveyed in the following tracks, with track three, My Mother, The Mountain drawing out the odd tear with beautiful lyrics and emotive vocals. “If there’s a little bit of her in me, I will rest easy…” Track six, I Blame the Moon, channels jazz songstresses of old, speaking of the bittersweet frustration of love and loss. For me, the highlight track is Dead to Me, towards the end of the album, and its powerful style rocks out. Maybe it was its pertinent content for me personally but the song resonates long after it ends and its heavy counterpoint to a generally bluesy, mellow album is fantastic. You’ll want to listen to it a few times, I’m sure. The album closes with Old Love and rolls back through on repeat back into the first track, Judge, seamlessly which these days is a great feature of a well-crafted album. Claire and her team should be proud of this offering and it’s recommended for those of you out there who like their folky blues brooding and beautiful. Glenn Tozer Claire Anne Taylor supports Daniel Champagne, 6 April at Thai Mudgee. Tickets $25. 24

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Though her press kit describes her music as baroque folk, there is no harpsichord or period piece lyrics to be found here as such a description would suggest. Instead, the listener is guided through 21 minutes of chilled music telling lyrical tales of love won and lost through atmospheric beats, surf guitars and melancholy strings, all while Julia handles both vocal and bass guitar duties. Julia’s vocals effortlessly glide into head voice on many of the tracks that are held down by her melodic bass playing which is particularly evident on the track I Remember, while guitarist Felicity lawless fills the gaps with guitar licks that conjure images from a classic spaghetti western film from days of yore over a reggae groove on the track Hell n Back. Come What May and its reverb drenched, ambient beats are punctuated by sparse piano and guitars with a rockabilly twang that introduce the chorus. The EP was a crowdfunded effort with local producer Guy Cooper overseeing the production and mixing of the record. Overall, Julia Rose’s Romeo EP is more than worthy of a spin when the mood for some mellow listening strikes and may be just what the doctor ordered when you need to just sit back and chillax. Rick Hollis

More than three have passed since Macklemore and Ryan Lewis found the globes’ ears with their debut album The Heist and now the duo return with sophomore release This Unruly Mess I’ve Made. “It was time to look at the mess, not just the one we created, but the one that is the very fabric of our country,” the Seattleborn MC says. “We question our politics, we laugh, we scream…we live.” Opening with what feels like an invitation into one of music’s most prestigious nights– Light Tunnels is a six and a half minute breakdown of Macklemore’s 2014 Grammy experience. It’s brutally honest and strips the Grammys and its stars of the phony glamour with lines like “Tonight we toast to our accomplishments / insecurity dressed up as confidence.” Light-hearted fun follows with Downtown revisiting the humour that launched the two into world stardom with 2012 chart topper Thrift Shop. Downtown is another ‘stunting on a budget’ track. The album is loaded with big name features (there’s even a line from Macklemore’s cat on the hilarious Brad Pitt’s Cousin) but it’s Downtown that gains old school street cred with the inclusion of hip-hop pioneers Melle Mel, Grandmaster Caz and Kool Moe Dee. It’s this kind of weaving between serious issues and taking the piss that gives This Unruly Mess balance, even slipping in a charming open letter to his little girl on Growing Up with Ed Sheeran sealing the sweetie pie deal on the chorus. Stand out track Kevin hits hard with the story of a friend’s overdose on prescription drugs. I’m yet to get through it without goose bumps but this is mainly thanks to the silky soulful vocals of Leon Bridges. St Ides follows, drenched in nostalgia, Macklemore reflects on his past struggles with alcohol over a groove that feels like Caleb of Kings of Leon is about to jump in on. This Unruly Mess is just that – confusion, guilt, regret, self indulgent, perspective shifting, clever, witty…it’s a shinning light on a beautiful Americana mess. James Wills

That said it quickly captures your attention, in that funk-synth way that became the Harts signature back in 2014 with Daydreamer. Mixing rock riffs with light-hearted vocals Peculiar is sure to be a hit after Harts Bluesfest Byron Bay appearance last weekend. You may not be able to sing along, as the words are vaguely indecipherable, but that won’t stop you from waving your hands in the air and enjoying the hell out of the song – just like the Bluesfest crowd did. Christie Ots

TIN PAN ORANGE Rich Man (single) Emily Lubitz’s opening nonchalant cat-like yowl and prowl adagio… He can buy the love he needs/ opens doors with all his keys /takes you where the people know/ where if like yours to own, provides the trigger propelling us to that distinct Tin Pan Orange sound that fans know and love. And that sound is the warm tones of Tin Pan Orange’s distorted tremelo guitar, mindfully added with bass clef piano and Alex Burkoy’s yearning violin. The new single and Youtube clip Rich Man is a hair teaser from their up and coming album Love is a Dog. The filmclip directed and filmed by Jam Nawak opens with Emily styled by mysterious hands, layering her with beauty devices and vanity vices only for her to calmly discard them leaving only her long hair flowing freely and a sense of relief. Emily sings cadences of haunting falsetto with a cautionary tale - Lady when a rich man comes / take your breath away / burning like a million suns / lady walk away. Fans of Tin Pan Orange can feel the lurve from 8 April, the release date of their Love is a Dog album. Pre-order at tinpanorange. com/ or catch them during their national tour in May which includes Mullumbimby. Tiffany Mitchell

YOUNG WARRIORS SOUGHT FOR NOMINATIONS RECREATIONAL MUSIC MAKING OPEN FOR

GOLD COAST MUSIC AWARDS

And at the end of the day it’s all about providing professionally supervised and mentored programs as well as opportunities for youth to participate in live music. You don’t even need to own an instrument. “Active music making has been shown to provide significant benefits to participants,” Dom said. “Young people can greatly benefit from making music together in a band. Among the individual benefits that collective music-making provides are: confidence, development of a sense of aesthetics, teamwork, problem-solving skills and deep focus, discipline, striving for excellence, leadership, determination, self-worth, perseverance, cooperation and coexistence, competitive spirit, and academic success.” Dom said that these benefits can disseminate to families too and that many studies have revealed that music making can have benefits to a student’s overall learning and behavior. “There’s some good neuroscience research that children involved in music have larger growth of neural activity than people not in music training,” Dome explained. “When you’re a musician and you’re playing an instrument, you have to be using more of your brain.” Image courtesy of Marc Grimwade Young Warriors is a new program initiated by City of Gold Coast through Helensvale Cultural Centre with the aim of getting young people involved recreationally in making music. It’s a ten-week program providing aspiring musicians aged 12-19 with the experience of rehearsing, playing in a band and performing in live gigs. Project Manager Dom DiSisto took time to tell Blank GC about the program. “It will be used as a pilot program with the aim of developing a national rollout for the delivery of music making programs for youth by local government,” Dom said. “It is being developed and part funded by the Australian Music Association with support from the NAMM Foundation - a US foundation that supports music making initiatives.” Dom said that Council is supporting the event with funding, venue space, access to recording studio and music equipment as well as general community networking.

“Being a part of a musical program can make young people develop a heightened sense of self worth,” he said. The program starts on Saturday 16 April with a sign-on, jam and band workshop, with events then taking place Sunday 17 April and most of the weekends leading up to mid-June. The program then culminates in a number of live performances, including Helensvale Cultural Centre and Hard Rock Café. Samantha Morris

To register or find out more, email admin@weekendwarriors.org.au.

Thanks to the enormous support of sponsors and the Gold Coast music industry, nominations are now open for the second annual Gold Coast Music Awards. Last year was big. Those who attended the soldout event will attest to that. As organisers, we were utterly overwhelmed with nominations, with votes for the People’s Choice Award and with guests on the night we presented the incredible trophies designed by Dion Parker. We already know that 2016 bigger. That’s largely thanks to City of Gold Coast who have again thrown their weight behind the Awards. But they’re grown their support for 2016 and are now our Premier Partner. Not just that, but in partnership with Gold Coast Music Awards, for the first time in a long time, there will be a Gold Coast music showcase at BIGSOUND. Burleigh Brewing Co. is also back as our most awesome Presenting Partner and as sponsor of the People’s Choice Award. We are absolutely thrilled that they’ve come on board for the second year running after such an incredible effort in 2015. We also have a new category this year. For the first time there’ll be an award for Best Music Video. We know there are a heap of local musicians and their creative partners who invest time and talent into making incredible videos to accompany their songs. With the help of GC Film Festival we’re going to be shining a light on some of that talent. Other categories remain unchanged. Nominations are now open for: •

Artist of the Year, sponsored by Southport Sharks, Cabana Bar + Lounge

•

Emerging Artist of the Year, sponsored by Griffith University and the Queensland Conservatorium's SEED program

•

Song of the Year, sponsored by NightQuarter

•

Music Champion of the Year, TAFE Queensland Gold Coast

•

Live Music Venue of the Year

•

Live Music Event of the Year

•

Music Video of the Year

Last year we received 241 nominations across six categories and more than 30,000 votes in the People’s Choice Awards. We had more than 25 creative partners including SWELL Sculpture Festival and major events such as Live at Bond, Bleach* Festival and Bluesfest Busking Competition used the Gold Coast Music Awards as a tool for discovering talent to include in their programming. Our Emerging Artist of the Year, Hanlon Brothers, went on to play Woodford Folk Festival (to great acclaim) and have credited the awards with giving their 20-year career a much needed kick up the proverbial. They’ve also been confirmed as the house band for this year’s awards. In brief: •

7 categories include artist, emerging artist, song, video, venue, event and champion of the year

•

nominations close 30 April

•

winners receive trophy designed by Dion Parker

•

People’s Choice Award will be decided by popular vote from 1 – 15 June

•

People’s choice winner receives one-off, sculpted trophy by SWELL Sculpture Festival artist (yet to be confirmed

•

Other prizes include paid performance opportunities from partners and friends and marketing packages from Blank GC

•

We work hard ALL YEAR to put our winners and finalists in front of decisionmakers who’ll help boost careers

•

Awards ceremony held Thursday 16 June at Burleigh Brewing Co.

•

To be considered for the Gold Coast showcase at BIGSOUND you must nominate for an award. It won’t necessarily be winners and finalists chosen to represent the City. We’ll curate a lineup that helps grow the Gold Coast’s presence as far as the Australian music scene is concerned.

We can’t wait. GC Music Awards team: Chloe Popa, Amanda Gorman, Natalie O’Driscoll and Samantha Morris

gcmusicawards.com.au www.blankgc.com.au

APRIL

GOLD COAST GIG GUIDE

SUNDAY 3 APRIL

SATURDAY 9 APRIL

Sounds of Sunday: Patrick Rowe + The High Grade | Broadbeach Tavern Liar’s Bar

Claire Cottone (solo) + CC The Cat (+ Little Big Shots, short films for kids) | NightQuarter, Helensvale

Benny D Williams (5.00pm) | Sunhouse Coolangatta

Electric Zebra + Psychoibis | Currumbin Creek Tavern

Stephen Lovelight (5.00pm) | JR’s Smokehouse

Vanishing Shapes | Phoenix Rising Cafe, Nimbin

Julie Hayes | Burleigh Brewing Co

My Figment | Phoenix Rising Cafe, Nimbin (1pm)

Maja + Jordan Penida + Tommy Sheehan | NightQuarter, Helensvale

Taylor | Cambus Wallace

Baltimore Gun Club + Kobrakai + Concrete Surfers + Brown Doubt | Lonestar Tavern

FRIDAY 1 APRIL Candice Dianna | Murwillumbah Services Club Von Villains | elsewhere, Surfers Paradise

The Ruminators + The Delicates + Love Cannons | Miami Shark Bar Andy Penney (8.00pm) | Hard Rock Cafe, Surfers

Benny D Williams | Cooly Hotel (5.00pm)

Mason Rack Band | Southport Sharks

Open mic night | Lonestar Tavern

Funk n Wagnels | Southport Sharks

Sean Fitzgerald’s East of Eden | Currumbin Wildlife Sanctuary markets

WEDNESDAY 6 APRIL

Mitch King | Miami Marketta

Daniel Champagne + Claire Ann Taylor | Thai Mudgee

Felicity Lawless | Mandala Organic Arts Cafe, Mermaid Beach

Hump Day Expression Sessions (open mic) | The Ivory Tavern

The Jake Fox Band album launch + Wren Klauf + Pirates of the Tempest + Audsox | Currumbin Creek Tavern Felicity Lawless + Ladi Abundance | The Motor Room, Brisbane Buskers by the Creek presents Freaks and Beats: Space Cowboy + Zoe L’Amour + Energy Entertainments Fire & Fury + Free Like Me + Kenny Slide (Tapas Street) | NightQuarter, Helensvale (tickets $15) Benny D Williams (6.00pm) | Beaches on Kirra The Bean Project (2.00pm) + Andrea Kirwan (7.00pm) | Sheoak Shack, Fingal Harsh Critics + Kabanaz + Port Royal + Young Pros | Lonestar Tavern Ben Amor | Hidden Groove, Tugun

The James Street Preachers | Cambus Wallace

THURSDAY 7 APRIL Twin Haus + Baskervillain | Soundlounge Fiesta de la Musica: The Spirit of Latin and High Standards of Jazz (1.00pm) | The Arts Centre Gold Coast

FRIDAY 8 APRIL Redstarborn + Veal + UverseU + Lotus Ship | Currumbin Creek Tavern Ben Salter + Mexico City | Soundlounge, Currumbin City Over Sand + Phoebe Sinclair + Mitch King | NightQuarter, Helensvale Benny D Williams (8.00pm) | Hard Rock Cafe, Surfers

Chelsea Rockwells + Alice Lost Her Way + TrashQueen + Shane Fell | Benowa Tavern

CC The Cat (duo) | Nimbin Hotel

Carlie Fairburn + Yosi Chopen | Phoenix Rising Cafe, Nimbin (1-4pm)

Josh Lee Hamilton | Burleigh Brewing Co.

Katy Perry Tribute | Southport Sharks IZANIA | Miami Marketta Sarah Frank | Mandala Organic Arts Cafe, Mermaid Beach

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Ben Amor | Hidden Groove, Tugun

CC The Cat + Ruby Blue | Byron Bay Brewery

SATURDAY 2 APRIL

MONDAY 4 APRIL

Kenny Slide | Boardriders Coolangatta

Vanishing Shapes | Treehouse Belongil

A Little Province | Southport Sharks Round Mountain Girls | Miami Marketta

SATURDAY 16 APRIL

Andy Jan Brown | Miami Marketta

Johnny Cash tribute show | RSL Southport

SUNDAY 10 APRIL

Gavin Doniger & the Mescalito Blues + Sian Evans + The Francis Wolves | NightQuarter, Helensvale

Benny D Williams (2.00pm) | House of Brews, Surfers Paradise

Dispunktion + guests | Currumbin Creek Tavern

Mescalito Blues (5.00pm) | JR’s Smokehouse

Lavidius + Killers Creed + Desmantra + The Cilikis | Lonestar Tavern

CC The Cat | Shorty’s, Lennox Head Sounds of Sunday: Kenny Slide + Sunset City + Drop Legs | Broadbeach Tavern, Liar’s Bar Joshy Dredz | Cambus Wallace

CAOS Festival: Eternal Thought | Crestmead PCYC Ben Amor | Hidden Groove, Tugun Andy Holm | Phoenix Rising Cafe, Nimbin (1pm)

M.E Biard | Currumbin RSL Deck Sessions

Captain Wow | Southport Sharks

MONDAY 11 APRIL Open mic night | Lonestar Tavern

Jesse Morris Band + Julian Temple | Mullum Markets (morning) and Boardriders Coolangatta (evening)

WEDNESDAY 13 APRIL

SUNDAY 17 APRIL

The Weather Man | Miami Marketta

Hump Day Expression Sessions (open mic) | The Ivory Tavern

Andy Burke & The Sundowners (5.00pm) | JR’s Smokehouse

‘Dinner Under the Stars’ with Vanishing Shapes | Phoenix Rising Cafe, Nimbin (6pm)

Aaron West & The Custodians | Byron Golf Club

The James Street Preachers | Cambus Wallace

Jesse Morris Band + Julian Temple | Broadbeach Markets

FRIDAY 15 APRIL Jesse Morris Band + Julian Temple | NightQuarter, Helensvale PAYMENTS IN GOLD + Fox ‘n’ Firken + Loud Goes Bang + The Dead Maggies (Tas) | Currumbin Creek Tavern Payments in Gold + Fox ‘n’ Firken + Loud Goes Bang + The Dead Maggies | Currumbin Creek Tavern

CC The Cat (solo) | Skypoint Q1

Benny D Williams | Genki Cafe, Palm Beach (10.30am) Mapstone | Phoenix Rising Cafe, Nimbin (1pm) Taylor | Cambus Wallace

MONDAY 18 APRIL Open mic night | Lonestar Tavern

WEDNESDAY 20 APRIL

SUNDAY 24 APRIL

Hump Day Expression Sessions (open mic) | The Ivory Tavern

Jerome Williams (5.00pm) | JR’s Smokehouse

The James Street Preachers | Cambus Wallace

Sounds of Sunday: Benny D Williams | Broadbeach Tavern Liar’s Bar

THURSDAY 21 APRIL

CC The Cat (solo) | Nobby Surf Lifesaving Club

Aaron West & The Custodians | Brisbane Jazz Club

Ben Amor | Marty’s, Cabarita

FRIDAY 22 APRIL

Bassix | Phoenix Rising Cafe, Nimbin (1pm)

Twelve Past Midnight + Josh King + Wayward Suns + Daneel | Currumbin Creek Tavern

Benny D Williams | House of Brews (2.00pm)

Taylor | Cambus Wallace

Phil Jamieson + Jud Campbell | Soundlounge

MONDAY 25 APRIL

Melbourne Ska Orchestra + The Cheap Fakes + Mzaza | NightQuarter, Helensvale (ticketed event)

Gabby Bogart | Phoenix Rising Cafe, Nimbin (1pm)

SATURDAY 23 APRIL Felicity Lawless (album launch) + Julia Rose (EP launch) + Dan Hannaford Band | NightQuarter, Helensvale Broken Leg + Regular Band + Lab Jacket | Lonestar Tavern Waax + Maids + The Royales + Yes Sir Noceur | Miami Shark Bar

Open mic night | Lonestar Tavern

WEDNESDAY 27 APRIL Hump Day Expression Sessions (open mic) | The Ivory Tavern

Bullhorn + CC The Cat | Nimbin Mardi Grass (Bush Theatre Cafe Babaganouj + Good Boy | Miami Shark Bar Tokyo beef + Forbidden Planet + Black Rainbow + CUD | Lonestar Tavern Reggae Palace: Hayes + Brooke Lambert | Currumbin Creek Tavern Benny D Williams | Iron and Resin Garage (9.00am) The Jacqui Walker Band | Southport Sharks Sean Fitzgerald’s East of Eden | Boardriders Coolangatta Mettaphor Sweet Jazz | Miami Marketta

Surfers Paradise Live: Choirboys + Thirsty Merc + Anthony Callea + Harrison Craig + Little Sea + In Stereo + Mahalia Simpson + Hot Potato Band + Busy Kingdom + Little Georgia + Jordan Millar + The Lamplights + Nicole Skye + Benny D Williams + The Fullstops + Izania + Fat Picnic + The Reversals + Mercury Sun + Wasted Wanderers + Cheap Fakes

SATURDAY 7 MAY The Drones | The Northern, Byron Bay Hot Potato Band | NightQuarter, Helensvale

SUNDAY 8 MAY

THURSDAY 28 APRIL

SUNDAY 1 MAY

WEDNESDAY 11 MAY

Richie Ramone | Great Northern, Byron Bay

FRIDAY 29 APRIL Stav and the Dark + The Midnight Project + Salt and Steel + The Midnight Project | Currumbin Creek Tavern (upstairs) Devil’s Kiosk + Sarah Frank | NightQuarter, Helensvale Jax Haze (8.00pm) | Hard Rock Cafe, Surfers Benny D Williams | Kingscliff Beach Hotel Yes Sir Noceur | elsewhere, Surfers Paradise

Black Woman Magic: Grace Barbe + Jingki + Loa | Nimbin Bush Theatre

PLATFORM, original music showcase | Southport Sharks AKoVA | Miami Marketta

Rockin Bodgies | Southport Sharks

Kenta Hayashi | Mandala Organic Arts Cafe, Mermaid Beach

SATURDAY 30 APRIL Millencolin | Cooly Hotel

MONDAY 2 MAY

An innovative music project based on the Gold Coast. High profile gigs. Industry Exposure. Know more. Do more.

Benny D Williams | House of Brews (2.00pm)

MAY Joshy Dredz | Cambus Wallace

proudly presents...

The Cat Empire + Pierce Brothers, NightQuarter, Helensvale

MONDAY 9 MAY

Kenny Slide | Burleigh Brewing Co.

Eastwood | Miami Marketta

Keelan Mac + Bud Rokesky + The Altais + The James Street Preachers | NightQuarter, Helensvale

FRIDAY 6 MAY – SUNDAY 8 MAY

The James Street Preachers | Cambus Wallace

Ben Amor | Hidden Groove, Tugun

AKoVA | 3Blue Ducks, Byron Bay (2.00pm)

GLOW Festival: Cheap Fakes + Crown the Humble | The Arts Centre Gold Coast

Open mic night | Lonestar Tavern

Hump Day Expression Sessions (open mic) | The Ivory Tavern

Open mic night | Lonestar Tavern

FRIDAY 13 MAY

WEDNESDAY 4 MAY

LOVE CANNONS + The Maslows + Blaire + Dylan Leigh Davis | Currumbin Creek Tavern

Hump Day Expression Sessions (open mic) | The Ivory Tavern

Benny D Williams | Boardriders Coolangatta

THURSDAY 5 MAY

SATURDAY 14 MAY

Thirsty Merc + Tequila Mockingbyrd | Beach Hotel, Byron Bay

Tinpan Orange | Mullum Civic Hall

Fiesta de la Musica: The Best of Brass | The Arts Centre Gold Coast

SUNDAY 15 MAY CC The Cat | Hotel Brunswick

FRIDAY 6 MAY PEACH FUR + Lotus Ship + Deja Vudu + Stone Witches | Currumbin Creek Tavern Crown The Humble | Vintage Velvet The Belligerents | elsewhere, Surfers Paradise

WEDNESDAY 18 MAY Hump Day Expression Sessions (open mic) | The Ivory Tavern

Get involved. seed@griffith.edu.au @theseedseries

www.blankgc.com.au

CINEFIEND

AN ART EXHIBITION PAYING HOMAGE TO THE ART OF THE MOVIE POSTER. OPENS AT HILLIER AND SKUSE GALLERY, FRIDAY 1 APRIL AT 6.30PM AND RUNS THROUGH TO 30 APRIL. 88 - 90 BUNDALL ROAD, BUNDALL. PICTURED: NOSFERATU, STEVE HILLIER

Gold Coast

EMPIRE RISING Melbourne-based jazz / ska festival favourites The Cat Empire have a new album and an epic Australian and world tour on the horizon. Jodie Bellchambers spoke with Felix Riebl about Rising with the Sun and what inspires them to make you want to listen and dance.

You just played Bluesfest. Tell me about the significance of the event to you? It means a lot to the band, we’ve played Bluesfest about six times. I remember going up doing the musician’s pilgrimage, I was just out of school with a bunch of friends checking out that festival and standing up in the audience and looking up at the stage and thinking like - man I’m going to be in a band that’s going to play here one day no matter what, I was just so inspired by that. Out of all the festivals in Australia that’s the one that has the most weight for me for that reason. I mean last week as I said we played WOMAd and that’s another festival that also really suits us. But Bluesfest is a place I always went when I was young and it just a place that you go and discover new up and coming bands. While playing around with lively world music sounds, your new tracks also combines new synth sounds, how are you enjoying performing it live? Yeah absolutely, Olly has always had such a big job in the band because there are no guitars - we’ve really explored new sounds. It adds a new colour to the band and I think for us it’s a big relief, it really lightens thing up. Especially the synth on Wolves we played the track and Harry was on this broken down synthesiser and a cracked cable and it kept on breaking up. In some ways we never intended on making that the sound but it just sounded great. It’s just got a really wild tropical disco kind of feeling to it and that became the feeling for the song.

music when I was 14 or 15 and it just moved me. It was like another language that I couldn’t understand - it had a rhythm that just went ‘round in circles and I heard trumpets and percussion. After that I got really interested in African music. I grew up listening to a lot of rock and that was the start for me and from there I just followed where it took me. It was a lot of experimenting with different things and eventually having our own sound and that was the start of The Cat Empire and we have just kept on evolving. The entire band is extremely professional, talented and no doubt have personal ideas. How did you as a group develop the song writing process on the new album? We didn’t rehearse for this album we just made a conscious decision - the musicians would be hearing the song for the first time as it was sparking so it gave it a real freshness. For me I write songs very privately. I go away, I take all the experiences from tour and festivals and then being in a quiet room with a piano for fairly long spurts of time, I create the songs that way. Then I take them to the band and often the song entirely transforms, like Wolves. In my head it was going to be a lot simpler and the band totally transformed it into a loose, fun song. Harry on the other hand usually comes in with an idea for a song and then the band will build on it in the studio. There are other ways as well that it happens but a lot of the songs are really made in the studio.

Where does the strong world music inspiration come from?

The album has a very positive upbeat message for listeners. In the age of negative media bombardment how important do you think creating music like this is?

I kind of found it in my head that we should make Australian people dance more to other music. I remember hearing Cuban

You know I’ve written a lot of songs and I found it’s harder to write a song about festive and happy stuff rather than

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heartbreak. I’m grateful for The Cat Empire to be able to write happy music. Not that all of the Cat Empires songs are happy, anyone that can listen to our 6 or 7 albums knows that there are sad songs on there. We are a very rhythmic band we rely on the horns and the rhythmic instruments to fill up a festive audience. I don’t know why the chemistry in the band kind of takes on a life of its own, you kind of follow it and try and make the most of it. If you look at the music today it is all fairly miserable. I try to write songs that are not necessarily happy but they make me joyful. I mean like the song the Bataclan - I was devasted by that news, we played in that venue is Paris, when I wrote that song I was deeply sad but it turned out to be a celebratory song. You’ve embarked on a huge tour to promote the new album Rising With the Sun which has already debuted at No.1 in Australia and in the top 10 and top 20 in 27 countries worldwide. You must be looking forward to the reception you’ll no doubt get from live audiences – both here and abroad? Yeah absolutely, it’s always a great feeling when the album is received well. I think what I like about it is it’s just really vibrant and the songs they transform on the stage. We did WOMADelaide last week and we had a really great time there and we are about to do Blues and Roots. Such a good feeling to stand behind the music and let the music do the work.

The Cat Empire play NightQuarter on 8 May, with Pierce Brothers in support. Tickets via Oztix.

FROM THE HEART TO THE HEAD: STAV’S TRANSFORMATION When I sat down with Stavroula Giouzelis, she brought her two daughters. Not surprisingly, they’re fans. “I like how she sings,” Laila said. Stav tells me that the girls regularly dance and sing along to the band’s music. Laila has helped with melodies, lyrics and other bits and pieces on the way. Stav’s band – named Stav and the Dark play rock-structured songs. Basic formats, catchy and repetitive and a good dose of blues, soul and pop thrown in for good measure. Stav’s drummer Benny Galagher also joins us. The introduction is simple. “He has a big background in music,” she said. “He used to play in Mofo is Dead.” Stav’s band has undergone some evolution since we first met at a marketing workshop for bands nearly two years ago. “I met Benny. At the time we had Marty, JP and I was originally using session players,” she said. “But since then it’s mainly been Benny and I.” “Music-wise, I’ve been writing a lot. Writing with the band, and on my own,” Stav said. She’s also been working on some Greek music – a nod to her cultural heritage. One that obviously delights and drives her. “It’s an old classic Greek tune I originally wanted to record for my dad,” she said. “But I’m going to take it seriously and release it.” “I love my Greek music,” she said. “It’s very old school – a song from the 1950s called To Vouno. Eden (Telea, guitarist) is quite good with that Mediterranean stuff too – he might have a go on my dad’s bouzouki.” “Greek music is so passionate. That passion also comes across in rock music for me which is most of the music I have written up until now.” I’m curious as to what kind of audience a rock band from the Gold Coast thinks they’ll engage with a traditional Greek song and Stav smiles. “Melbourne is the second biggest population of Greeks in the world, outside of Athens,” she explained. Seriously? I had no idea.

“It all stemmed from the pain,” she said. “For ten years I became a hermit. I couldn’t do my music. I couldn’t even sit here.” “Mental health is massive in the music industry. And obviously there’s a lot of drug and alcohol problems as well,” she said. “People suffer so much. They don’t get paid well – it can cause a lot of issues – I guess that’s why people write songs.” Adding to the complexity of life, Stav says that since leaving home aged 20, she’s had eight people in her life suicide or die from drug overdoses. “The drug thing gets me. I’ve had a lot of issues with it myself – much of it in the closet – it all stems from the pain. The drug thing is crazy – it just leads to too many suicides.” Stav’s life seems rich now. She’s on the school P&C, she volunteers for the school reading group as well as swimming and on the canteen and its menu meetings. She says her husband is “amazing.” Sounds like it. He’s funding the band’s next single.

“Up until Eden (joined the band), it’s been all my music and lyrics. I’m limited too,” she said. “So four brains are better than one.” “We’re really widening the parameters,” Benny added. Samantha Morris

Stav and the Dark’s new single and video are scheduled for release in mid-June. And they hit Currumbin Creek Tavern on 28 April with Salt and Steel, The Midnight Project and Nowhere Else.

And the band sounds tight too. Benny’s partner Tanya is “a big value to the band”, Stav’s sister’s partner Eden, “a bonus”, Benny himself who Stav says is“a great rock drummer, he’s made everything so much better.” “We’re like family – we have jams and then we have BBQs and stuff,” Stav said. The camaraderie is obvious as we sit together at Burleigh Brewing too. Benny is clearly a hit with Stav’s two beautiful daughters.

“I have lots of family there. I’d really like to get in and do a bit of promotion for it. It’ll attract an older audience, but if I use a live band it will attract the younger ones too.” Don’t be fooled into thinking that this is a deviation from Stav’s normal rock programming. She and Benny assure me that they’re still tracking forward there too, although Benny says the songs that Stav has been writing have changed somewhat in the past year.

“Everything from schools to indigenous issues,” she said, then laughed “it’s gone from Bon Jovi to Midnight Oil, rather rapidly too.”

“We’ve gone from hearbreak and what you go through with life’s ups and downs to political and worldly topics,” he said.

Domestic violence is covered too - with the track She’s out to get me looking at abuse in relationships. And Fighting Demons, a mental health song she says is about fighting demons in this town will be the band’s first single which she hopes to record at Sunnyside Studios at Worongary.

Stav has had a tumultuous ten years. She suffered from post-natal depression as well as chronic pain. The pain culminated in hip replacement but in the process caused untold amounts of depression and anxiety.

Benny said that while they’re all from the same school of rock, lineup changes have been challenging. “It’s taken a while to gel and start writing together,” he said. Stav is adamant she wants everyone to have an impact.

“He also writes funny songs. Sozzy – has all these references to Kevin Rudd – it’s hilarious. Without his support, this wouldn’t happen,” she said.

With news that Stav is writing more from the head than the heart I’m curious as to the breadth of topics she’s exploring.

Stav nods. “I used to write from my heart, now I write from my head. With illness, physical and mental health issues, I have learned so much.”

“It’s a lot harder to write from your head. I want things to have an impact. I’m a Greek, I’m passionate.”

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THURSDAY 31 MARCH

THURSDAY 7 APRIL

WORDS | Alternator Poetry Jam | Dust Temple | 7.00pm

ACTION + ART | STAMP Youth Initiative (runs to 15 April)| The Arts Centre Gold Coast

FILM | Opening night, Gold Coast Film Festival | The Arts Centre Gold Coast | 6.00pm red carpet for 6.45pm screening of Eddie the Eagle

FRIDAY 8 APRIL

WEDNESDAY 20 APRIL

ART | Mel Brigg – A New Journey (runs until 30 April) | Gallery One, Southport

COMEDY | Mandy Nolan | Mackenzie’s Sports Bar, Southport Sharks | 7.30pm

WORDS | Alternator Poetry Jam – Manal Younus | Hinge Gallery | 7.00pm

FOOD | (Truck) The Dapper and Chic + Siguenos [Josh Lee Hamilton] | Burleigh Brewing Co | 5.00pm

THURSDAY 21 APRIL

FRIDAY 1 APRIL

FILM | Free Classic Movie Night | Hillier Skuse Gallery | 7.00pm

FOOD | Long Table Harvest Dinner | 100 Mile Table, Byron | visit harvestfoodfest.com

FILM | Women In Film Luncheon, Gold Coast Film Festival (tickets $95) | Bazaar at QT Hotel

COMEDY | Dave Williams | The Basement | 8.00pm

FRIDAY 22 APRIL

COMEDY | Women Like Us: Mandy Nolan and Ellen Briggs | Currumbin RSL

SATURDAY 9 APRIL

FOOD | Mexican Madness (runs until 2 May) | Citrique Restaurant, Marriott Surfers Paradise

COMEDY | Mike Van Acker | Dog & Parrot Tavern Robina | 7.30pm

FOOD | (Truck) Mangia Mangia + Little Havana [Julie Hayes] | Burleigh Brewing Co | 5.00pm

MARKETS | Isle of Capri markets, lifestyle, home, fashion, health | Capri on Via Roma | 8.00am – 1.00pm

ART + FILM | Cinifiend Movie Poster Exhibition (runs to 30 April) | Hillier Skuse Gallery

FILM | Little Big Shots and the best of Emerge as part of GC Film Festival at NightQuarter Short Films | $5, from 4.00pm

FILM | Free Classic Movie Night | Hillier Skuse Gallery | 7.00pm

SUNDAY 10 APRIL

SATURDAY 2 APRIL

FOOD | (Truck) Barraca | Burleigh Brewing Co

DANCE | Sankofa | The Arts Centre Gold Coast | 7.30pm

MONDAY 11 APRIL

ART | Freaks + Beats | Nightquarter Helensvale

MONDAY 4 APRIL COMEDY | Michael Bennet + Iain Wright | Broadbeach Tavern | 7.30pm

TUESDAY 5 APRIL COMEDY | Christian Elderfield + June Hordern | The Cecil Hotel, Southport | 7.30pm

WEDNESDAY 6 APRIL COMEDY | Paul McMahon + Desh | Mackenzie’s Sports Bar, Southport Sharks | 7.30pm

COMEDY | Bryan O’Gorman | Broadbeach Tavern | 7.30pm

TUESDAY 12 APRIL COMEDY | Bryan O’Gorman | Cecil Hotel, Southport | 7.30pm

WEDNESDAY 13 APRIL

MARKETS | The Village Markets | Paradise Point Park | 8.00am – 1.00pm

COMEDY | Joel Bryant + Pete Rosky | Mackenzie’s Sports Bar, Southport Sharks | 7.30pm

ACTION | Student Surf Festival (entries close 21/4) | Duranbah Beach | visit surfingaustralia.com

THURSDAY 14 APRIL

FOOD | Harvest Festival Picnic | Mavis’ Kitchen, Uki | visit harvestfoodfest.com

COMEDY | Bryan O’Gorman | Dog & Parrot Tavern Robina | 7.30pm

THURSDAY 28 APRIL

FRIDAY 15 APRIL

COMEDY | Marty Bright + Sam Kissajukian | Dog & Parrot Tavern Robina | 7.30pm

FOOD | (Truck) Weiner Haus [Matty Rogers] | Burleigh Brewing Co | 5.00pm

FRIDAY 29 APRIL

FILM | Free Classic Movie Night | Hillier Skuse Gallery | 7.00pm

THEATRE | Sugarland (runs to 30 April) | The Space | 7.30pm

COMEDY | Daniel Townes | The Basement | 8.00pm

FILM | Free Classic Movie Night | Hillier Skuse Gallery | 7.00pm

ART | Tweed Creative Youth Night | Studio: Buchanan St Murwillumbah | 7.00pm

COMEDY | Tahir | The Basement | 8.00pm

SUNDAY 17 APRIL COMEDY | Andy Thompson + Fiona McGary | Palm Beach Hotel | 7.30pm

SATURDAY 30 APRIL ART | GLOW Light Installation + music + performance | Evandale Lake | 5.00pm

Two questions: Who’s playing? What’s pouring?

Photo courtesy of Dustin Rabin

ROMANCE IS BORN AS TINPAN ORANGE RELEASES NEW ALBUM & TOUR THIS APRIL With a Pozible crowdfunding campaign giving them a huge vote of confidence, Australia’s indie folk darlings Tinpan Orange will release their much awaited fifth studio album Love is a Dog in April. Tiffany Mitchell spoke to Melbourne singer/songwriter Emily Lubitz about how the new album was produced, that Cabarita track and who in their band is their version Keith Richards. It’s been a heady few years for Emily Lubitz of Tinpan Orange – creating a new album Love is a Dog, forming and touring with her other band and being mother of two young boys. We start by talking about the direction of this new album?

In October 2015 Dallas Green released his fifth studio album under the moniker City and Colour, titled If I Should Go Before You. This combined with the announcement that he would be returning to our shores for Byron Bay Bluesfest, was enough to have us playing Woman on repeat. Before beginning his world tour at the end of 2015 Dallas was bunkering down with some friends in Nashville, TN to complete his most recent album.

“We really wanted to see it as a progression,” says Emily. “Two albums ago we did a home recording and it was a lot of layers, so we didn’t play anything together, we tracked it all in our living room. With the second album we were in a studio with a producer and he was very involved, he cut up our songs, he had so many opinions, we went with him because we love his style, his sound. And then with Love is a Dog we wanted to go back to doing it on our own - but we wanted to play live, we wanted that feeling of people in a room playing a song together, it’s not perfect but it’s that energy. We used this amazing guy - Adam Selzer - in Portland in America to mix it and he brought this whole beautiful quality which was really in line with the raw, live sound.”

Given the bluesy nature of some of the tracks, we were curious to whether the location had influenced the album at all.

Emily says that many songs on the album have a feeling of longing. In particular a track called Cities of Gold.

“I think the house we found, and the proximity to my friends in the band there, definitely contributed to the song writing,” Dallas explains. “Not so much it being "music city" and all, but just the collective vibe that was felt in the house where we demoed everything was very palpable.”

“I have been doing this for ten years, I’m 33 and I got this other life with family and stuff and I guess sometimes I don’t know where I am in the landscape of the music biz. I have doubts and I have my insecurities and I watch these people who I am a huge fan of doing things… it is sort of second guessing maybe, where I am in my life and why I am doing it.”

COLOURING OUTSIDE THE LINES

Dallas is known for incorporating his musical friends into his tours and musical endeavors, and lets not forget his previous work with band Alexisonfire. He has successfully been releasing music for over a decade now as a solo artist, which has its own pressures for someone as humble as Dallas Green. “I put an inordinate amount of pressure on myself,’ he says, ‘which outweighs any sort of outside influence. However the experiences are a little different, just because I'm the "leader" of the project and I have to try to describe my vision to other people.”

When asked about the album title, why IS love a Dog, Emily is passionate. “It’s actually a reference from a Charles Bukowski poem – Love is a Dog from hell. I really like Bukowski,” she says. “He often inspires me. It’s a reference to him but I kind of

took off those last two words … ‘from hell’ – because Love is a dog is from my position and I guess it’s ambiguous and it depends how you see dogs.” Interestingly there is a song titled Cabarita and Emily confirms that Harry wrote that song about the coastal hamlet over the border. “He put a spell on me as he played it to me and said this could be a Tinpan song - he wanted an Aussie rural town – I don’t know if he’d ever been there, he might’ve just seen the sign when he tours up there and liked the syllables.” Decoding the Tinpan Orange sound, I suggest that guitarist/ violinist Alex Burkoy must be like having their own version of Keith Richards on lead guitar. “Can you please write that,” Emily laughs. “That’s so great, that’s awesome – he so IS! He is so exciting to play with – as Harry says he’s our ‘music enabler’! Alex just follows an idea, does it and then some.” Tinpan Orange’s growing legion of fans who pledged their crowd funding support mid 2015 have now received their signed CD or vinyl. And they won’t have to wait long to hear the new album live when the band takes to the road in April on a national tour that stretches from Launceston to Darwin.

Tinpan Orange play Mullum Civic Hall, 14 May.

This sense of self-criticism lends itself to his music, with many tracks seeming to encapsulate that moment of selfdoubt we all feel and overcome throughout life; and is, in a way, the reason why Dallas’ music is often explained as being both light and dark simultaneously. “I've never sought out fame or recognition in a sense that I assumed I deserved it,” Dallas explains, “I've just always wanted to write and sing songs for people. The fact that I've been able to do that for over half my life now fills me with tremendous gratitude. For me, there is no reason to feel any other way.”

Read the full story by Christie Ots online at blankgc.com.au.

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Food & Drink

QUIKSILVER CAFÉ 28 72-80 Marine Parade, Coolangatta Overlooking Coolangatta beach, smack bang in the middle of our two most famous surf breaks, Kirra and Snapper Rocks, Quiksilver’s flagship destination store in The Strand is the first of its kind in Australia; a concept store perfectly suited to the Cooly lifestyle. Diversified business was a growing trend in eateries in 2015. Diversification can arise by businesses sharing common goals, subletting part of a store’s space to share the rent, or by maximising facilities during different hours, all of which can result in market traction for both businesses. Only an elite few, Boardriders being the best example, envision a complete lifestyle destination store from the beginning. Café 28 Cooly is the dining and entertainment part of the Boardriders retail store. Serving a modest range of unpretentious fare for their all-day breakfast and lunch (Bacon and egg sangas, Avo mash, and Ham-cheese-tomato melts from $5 - $13; Share boards $20), juices and protein-based smoothies augment the menu of staples. But their not-so-shabby coffee is a different matter. It’s a sustainable blend direct-trade sourced bean from Syndicate Espresso, roasted to order by Melbourne-based Clark Street Roasters. With overtones of nuts, cocoa, caramel and complex fruits, it’s a brew to satisfy most palates. Prefer cold drip? It’s happening over there on the back counter. The eye candy within sight for surfers is the revolving carousel of surfboards mounted above head height as well as the eye-catching surf footage shown on the huge screen. The showcase shop for Quiksilver and Roxy surfwear and DC shoes is just through the glass doors, along with Uppercut Deluxe 34

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Barber shop. Grab some wholesome food with a piping hot coffee after the surf, chill out with friends over a cold beer and snacks…all the while the surf rolls, beside you on the screen and over beyond the street and gleaming sand. Café 28 Cooly is also licensed. Happy Hour on Friday from 5pm – 7pm begins the weekend’s festivities with the bar serving $4 tap beers and house wine, while the café ramps up its fare with burgers trotted out to fill empty tums. On the stage beside the café the action is about to begin, with three bands playing in the venue on any given Friday night. To see Café 28 Cooly as merely a coffee shop is simplistic. It’s far more than that! It’s a unique place which celebrates all things ‘Cooly surf ’. “We come together to live the moments,” says the inscription on one pillar. It’s foundational. From portraits of the Quiky (Quiksilver) and Roxy Pro winners adorning one wall beside footage of them conquering the world’s great pipelines, to the apparel and needs of its culture, those moments are inscribed on every item under this roof. Quiksilver has come a long way since their 1969 ‘Puberty Blues’ beginnings. This is as neat a complete lifestyle destination shop as you could ever hope to see! Get the surf generation in through the front doors, and they’ll find so many reasons to stay and play. Everything they need is here. Why would they choose to go anywhere else! Marj Osborne Read more of Marj’s reviews on Good Food Gold Coast www.foodgoldcoast.com.au

VICE BABY

72-Outrigger Resort, 2007 Gold Coast Highway, Miami 80 Marine If you are a coffee lover who enjoys a bit of an adventure, then pack your bags and follow the intoxicating hawker market-like scent down the side of the Outrigger Resort on the Gold Coast Highway, for an oriental oasis awaits you with coffee and street food delights for the taking. Embarrassingly when I say for the taking I did just that, without paying, on my first ever visit to the café. Oops. It should be a clear indication that Rob and Chee, owners of Vice Baby, are awesome people when they laugh off my accidental thievery and tried to give me more freebies to make me feel better about it! Vice Baby was first conceived when Rob and Chee were visiting the Gold Coast on holidays from Melbourne. Chee’s father owns the popular Miami Rice Chinese restaurant in the Outrigger building and on seeing the run down courtyard out the back they fell in love with the space. They proceeded to sell their café in Melbourne and put in the hard yards to create the tranquil “oriental oasis” that is attached to the back of Miami Rice. Having utilised 5 Senses coffee in their café in Melbourne, they brought the beans with them to Vice Baby using the Compton Road blend as their house coffee. Rob reported that they love a Synesso machine, but are currently utilising the popular La Marzocco to churn out the beverages. The Compton Road espresso goes down very quickly. It has a lingering brown sugar scent, piques of lemongrass and leather, and an acidity that whets the appetite. With a bright flavour of chocolate, brown sugar and wooded tobacco,

this is a well-balanced cup of coffee! Moving into the milk coffee the chocolate flavours become more pronounced, with a sweet, smoky lemon twinge that picks up the palate. With rotating single origin coffee, their current offering is from the San Lorenzo Community in Costa Rica and is used in their cold drip, which is made on coconut water, giving off a wildly exotic scent with the coconut water enhancing the sweet butterscotch and sultana flavours that end on a beautifully tart note. It’s the kind of coffee that makes you start questioning what you have been doing with your life up to that point, because clearly the way you have been drinking coffee was flawed. It’s seriously amazing. Vice Baby is currently closed Tuesday and Wednesday, trading from 6.30am to 3pm all other days, but is open 7 days a week through the school holidays. Be sure to keep an eye on their Instagram @vice_baby for their secret Sunday sesh details with drinks and food aplenty. Catherine Coburn

Food & Drink

CADENCE CAFÉ 75 Nerang Connection Road, Nerang You never know what you’ll come across when you get away from the big smoke. Everyone is pretty familiar with the talent showing up on the coastal strip, particularly on the south end, but head out into the ‘burbs towards the highway, and even beyond, and there’s some damned great eating to be had.

and O’Reilly’s) and Chef Marco Passos (also ex-Versace and Moo Moo). It’s serious talent descending on Nerang. Carlos tells us that he’s a mountain biker who loves mixing with his own. He took on the challenge of helping owners Kylie and Mark to refit the café, building the tables themselves from recycled Beechmont timber to add character.

We’d heard there’d been a funky makeover of a space underneath a Nerang bike shop, so finding Cadence on the lower level of Just Ride took only a process of elimination. Funky indeed! The very industrial look of distressed timber, bricks, timber and concrete set against the stainless steel kitchen fits right in with the cycle brigade, being close to the velodrome and several riding routes.

His food philosophy? “I think it’s great to use a bit of technique, a bit of ‘mis en place’, and put together simple food with great flavours,” he says. Of course it’s not that simple. Given his previous experience there must have been adjustments to fit the clientele and cost factors; changes he’s enjoyed.

What we weren’t prepared for was the food. Fresh tuna topped with guacamole salsa on the tacos? Seriously? Banana protein pancakes? House made smoked BBQ sauce on slow-braised pulled pork? Cadence’s kitchen staff could tell the average café a thing or two about great food! It was obvious from our first dish. "We knew from the beginning that we wanted to do things differently to other cafés,” Cadence’s co-owner Kylie tells us later. “We wanted to employ chefs, not cooks. We were really fortunate that both of our chefs were already customers and keen bike riders looking for a change of lifestyle." In fact the owners, Kylie and Mark, have scored not one, but two 'five star chefs', Head Chef Carlos Peixoto (ex-Versace

But that’s the trend. As we dine out more often and far less auspiciously, there’s been a scaling down of fine dining venues, leading to some really talented chefs choosing alternative lifestyles. It’s a ‘win/win’ for both them and the dining public: they get to work in daylight hours and have more face contact with both their families and the dining public, while we’re blessed with a huge improvement in daytime dining standards. "We started with a specific goal, to build a community and culture around the bike shop," says Kylie, "a social hub where people can gather to meet before or after rides or runs. We want to maintain a family-friendly atmosphere with a playground for small children and lots of seating nearby." Cadence has been an amazing new addition to Nerang

that locals have relished. With ambience and the choice of indoor/outdoor dining, cyclists catch up after their early morning ride, while workers use it as their lunch stop, even though many have to eat and run! The weekends are more laid back, with families and even large groups gathering at a central place halfway between Brisbane and Byron Bay, Brisbane and Binnaburra or Lamington National Park. While the menu falls into the healthy eating category, it also caters for a variety of dietary preferences – gluten free and vegetarian options through to traditional. There’s still some menu tweeking going on. Lunch has been a hastier affair than expected, with many workers having only 30 minutes to commute, dine and run. Nevertheless, this venue is well appreciated for its clever design – a large kitchen and servery, its own bathroom facilities, open spaces expanding onto grassy lawns and a dedicated playground, its edges shadowed by large gums. Think of it as a little dining oasis landed in the middle of retail and industry; exactly the sort of space where you could enjoy a chat and relaxed meal. What a valuable addition to the community! Marj Osborne Read more of Marj’s reviews on Good Food Gold Coast www. foodgoldcoast.com.au

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Food & Drink

WOMEN ON WATER

HENDRIXX ESPRESSO

Surfing Queensland is offering a program for women to try stand up paddle boarding. Created to encourage women into a healthy, active lifestyle, women aged 18+ years are welcome to participate in the event, called Women on Water. Children (male and female) are also welcome to attend, but must be 8 years or older and accompanied by a female participant.

1063 Gold Coast Highway, Palm Beach

The ‘café without a menu’ has set Palm Beach talking, dividing opinions about their start-up process and ‘raison d’être’. To some, the menu should have been in place from Day One. But others sort of get what the owner is trying to do – go slowly, start with coffee and get feedback about what people want. So, are you confused? When we visited Hendrixx, it was immediately clear to us that the venue was a work of love. Sharing an iconic building on a busy Palm Beach corner with a surf shop, Hendrixx has scored a high exposure venue close to the beach many looked at but few could afford.

“I was always a music fan. A bit of a rebel teenager, I joined a record club and followed the music of Led Zeppelin, Iron Maiden, Black Sabbath, and of course Jimi Hendrix. Jimi was my idol, so this place is a tribute to him.” Look closely at the detail around you, and Marc’s passion becomes obvious. “We made these tables here from railway sleepers,” he tells us. “You see the angles of this place, the dimensions and unexpected interesting features? It’s all about challenge and interest.” So, what about the ‘interest’ on the menu?

Outside, cars race past on the highway; inside, we could be a world away. The interior of the café is visually stunning, yet at the same time relaxed and casual. A huge mural of Jimi graces the wall, lost in his music. It’s the centrepiece behind a gorgeous bar, all glass bricks and rolled steel benchtop, shining in sexy glamour. Lounges sit in neat groups awaiting patrons to sink into them, chatter dens waiting to be completed. To one side a lopsy-daisy kitchen wall tells us everything here is just how it’s been planned – a little left of centre.

“Dishes here are always going to be light and healthy. That’s what we’re on about – nutritionally balanced food with some treats thrown in. We’re going slowly with that, finding out what people want.”

Visit Hendrixx’s web page and you’ll see a menu of hot and cold drinks and pastries. Tongue in cheek, really, a snub at the expected formula, however on offer when we visited was a light but inconspicuous menu – salads, toasties, açai brekky bowls, fresh juices and smoothies, pastries from Panya Bakery (thanks, Nobuki), and cakes and slices from Sumptuous Foods.

We get the feeling that, like many restaurateurs and bar proprietors, Marc has built the venue as a local haunt to hang out in with his friends, a feeling that he affirms.

You’ll also see online the title of the shop: Hendrixx Espresso: Boutique Coffee House. Coffee House, not café.

“And the books up there?” I look up towards the ceiling.

At Hendrixx, coffee’s a serious matter. Sourced from Fonzie Abbott, one of Brisbane’s favourite independent roasters, it’s a brew for diehard coffee drinkers; dark, smooth, bold and brooding. Sampling an espresso of their beloved beans was a sweet delight. A salted caramel aroma carried through to the taste with marshmallow fluffiness, which was cut through with a nice little punch of acidity. The beans translate well across the board from black to milk coffee with the same deep caramel flavour being enjoyed with each sip, and a surprising note of mango popping up occasionally. With rotating single origin beans on offer we were lucky enough to sample beans from Kimil in Papua New Guinea, an espresso, which was delightfully savoury with malt notes dancing across the tongue.

Somehow it seems that there’s no hurry. That’s the man. We’re away from the surf, one of his other loves, lounging in the den of a collector, in his space. Counters and walls are dotted with an eclectic collection of art. ‘Marilyn’ sits on the floor below a nude torso, waiting to find her bit of wall. Waiting.

“I want this place to be comfortable. A lounge to celebrate rock culture,” he tells us, “and we’ll be applying for a liquor license so we can open evenings.” He picks up a ladder and, climbing it, pulls down a vintage copy of a classic for me to look at. “Have you ever read this?” he asks, knowing of my professional interest. “No,” I smile, holding the original copy to my heart. “You come back whenever you want. You can borrow it,” he tells me. I hesitate then, speechless, not knowing how to deal with this trust, this generosity. “You see the logo of the coffee house, here?” he points to the ‘XX’. Kiss Kiss.

‘Have your one cup a day and make it strong’ comes to mind. This we understand!

Private passions and obsessions. Now I think I’m beginning to understand.

We spoke to Hendrixx’s owner, Marc (Spike) Neumann, about his vision for the espresso house and its origins.

“Say no more.” I smile.

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Marj Osborne and Catherine Coburn

April sessions commences at 10.00am on Tuesday 5 and Saturday 16 April, at Gold Coast Recreation Centre, 1525 Gold Coast Highway, Palm Beach, with 9.45am arrival. The session runs for two hours, no prior experience is necessary and all equipment is supplied (SUP boards and paddles, life jackets, amenities to shower/change). For more information contact Surfing Queensland on 07 5520 1165. Terry “Tappa” Teece

Women on Water takes place 5 April, 16 April, 7 May, 21 May, 3 September, 20 September, 15 October, 24 October, 5 November and 19 November. Register at surfingaustralia.com.

Lifestyle HAPPY 20TH BIRTHDAY GOLD COAST YOGA CENTRE

YOGA RETREAT? Type 'yoga retreat' into Google and you will get over 10 million results! All show beautiful locations, peaceful and/ or smiling participants and delicious food, so how do you choose which is right for you? One major question you need to ask yourself is ‘Why do I want to go on a retreat?’ Do you want to deepen your yoga practice and knowledge or is it more of a holiday with regular yoga thrown in? Look at the daily schedule of your potential retreat and see if that will meet your wishes. More points to consider: •

Location. There are retreats all over the world so where do you want to go? How close to home or far away do you need it to be?

•

Budget. Can you go all out 5 star luxury or do you need to be a little more modest?

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Inclusions. What is included and what would you like to have included? Some retreats will offer accommodation, yoga and food packages while others offer those plus spa treatments, cleanses and various other activities.

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Other Activities. It’s no good going on a Surf/Yoga retreat if you turn green at the thought of bobbing around in the ocean. What other activities or attractions are around the retreat that you would be interested in?

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Yoga Style. Choose a retreat that offers a style of yoga that you enjoy or would like to try. If you’re not sure what the retreat offers in terms of yoga style, ask before you book.

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Yoga Teachers. If you can, check out the teacher’s style of teaching, will you be happy with that for the duration of the retreat? Us humans tend to gravitate to different types of teachers, what is fabulous for one person is horrible for another. Make sure you find a teacher you are happy to practice with.

•

Recommendations. Most people will happily tell you all about their ‘one time at yoga camp’ stories. Look into those retreats with the most glowing references from people you know.

Enjoy finding the retreat that is right for you, have a fabulous time while you’re there!! Erin Bourne www.aloka.com.au

On the 14th of May the Gold Coast Yoga Centre celebrates 20 years of sharing yoga and community. I had the great pleasure of sitting down for a chat with Suzanne, co-founder and owner, of the GCYC to discuss the changes, challenges and the great bits since she and Cam started the centre. What was the yoga scene like on the Gold Coast 20 years ago? There were a couple of established one person operations and one centre, Shanti, which was at the time in the Marriott hotel. Yoga students didn’t have the experience or prior exposure to yoga that they do now. It was a more unusual activity. I remember Madonna appeared on Oprah (in 1998) and said she did Ashtanga yoga and that’s when the yoga explosion really began. We couldn’t put the phone down for 2 weeks after that, we got that many calls! What was the GCYC like in the early days?

don’t do anything else and people feel that. We used to try to be all things to all people with classes for mums and bubs, surfers, seniors, etc. We have found our niche over time, which is holding space for people who have a consistent and evolving practice. We are also conscious of keeping the entry still available. You recently started the apprenticeship and mentor programs, what prompted these? People started asking for it and the question changed. Up until recently people were wanting a month training and we don’t offer that. Then there was a shift and people were asking for training and wanted the apprenticeship. I was craving teaching again so it was perfect timing. What is your advice for people who are contemplating or have just started their yoga journey?

We started in the church hall in Park Street, Burleigh with people telling us we wouldn’t get past two months. When we needed to expand we moved to the Burleigh Theatre Arcade. Mark joined us at this point (see picture). The by-line we used at the time was Awareness, Empowerment and Immortality, quite the claim! We then moved out to the industrial area in Burleigh and thrived. We ran an apprenticeship style teacher training, which had very high prerequisites. 14 people started the training and two finished, Kath and Danny who teach at GCYC still. It was zoning issues that forced the move to the current location in Palm Beach.

Take the time you need for your body and your journey. Yoga is not a quick fix, it’s like a seed, it needs attention and watering etc. to grow.

What is the mission or ethos of GCYC?

The milestone is a big one, what are the plans for celebrations?

[Laughs] A good question. The mission is, in a simplistic form, to help people do yoga. Really it is a mission from a higher purpose, to hold space for people to find their practice and their path. Since the ‘explosion’ of yoga into the mainstream there has been a proliferation of studios on the Gold Coast. What is your point of difference? Longevity and teachers who live the path. Your life is the path, its not just asana, not just on the mat. Take your witness, philosophy, surrender with you. The teachers live the path, still study as well and live the full experience. They

What is your advice for business longevity? Stay within your capacity and grow when it feels natural to grow. The more research and time you can put into decisions the better, respond rather than react. The roots need to be strong, but still allow creativity to flow. Make sure you have time to regenerate and restore yourself.

We are not really extravagant people so it’s a day of celebration at the centre. On May 14th we have a yoga demo and classical indian music concert, food, prizes/giveaways and finish with Kirtan. It’s a time for the community to come together and celebrate. Erin Bourne www.aloka.com.au

Join the party at Gold Coast Yoga Centre 37/2 Eighth Ave, Palm Beach on May 14th. www.blankgc.com.au

Lifestyle

Tourist in my Town

ON THE ROAD… WITH KIDS JOHN AHERN Photos courtesy of Annelise Waldron

“One Family. 30 countries. No turning back.” You could forgive the average parent for looking askance at John and Mandy Ahern when they announced their intention to purchase a second-hand motorhome in Europe and drive around with their two small children for a year. “You and your kids? In a van? For a year? I can’t think of anything worse!” Still, ‘dream stealers’ notwithstanding, this is precisely what they did. John’s firsthand account of their intense, beautiful and infuriating time together makes for a funny and fascinating read, not in the least because every word of it actually happened. If you’ve never given much thought to what happens to toilet waste on campervans, you will after reading this account. As someone who has travelled solo to many of the towns visited by the adventurous Aherns I thoroughly enjoyed being to be able to see them from a different perspective, that of a family, seeking a range of entertainments and budget stays, and safety for a pair of rambunctious little ones. The book is really a thoughtful look at the pressures of modern life and modern expectations, and what happens when these things are deliberately thrown out the window. It’s perhaps a sad indictment of today’s values that in order to connect properly to one another a family feels they have to take themselves halfway around the world, however the message about the benefits of simpler living is loud and clear. The largest journey the family undertakes throughout the trip is actually the one that leads them towards each other. Peppered with humorous disasters, colourful characters and a range of fiery and, at times, touching interactions, the book entertains and enlightens rather than sermonises. An inspiring tome populated by an inspiring family, and written by a talented Gold Coast author. Natalie O’Driscoll 38

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A DAY OF SPOILING YOURSELF ON MOUNT TAMBORINE As soon as you walk up the drive at Escarpment something in the air makes you want to use your hushed 'zen' voice and tip toe around so as to not disturb anything. A sense of calm lingers in the air on the tree-lined paths leading though the retreat and up to the viewing point. From its mountainside location you can see for miles all the way to the coast. The main hub of the retreat is a grand treehouse with a stone fireplace as the centrepiece, and panoramic views of the surrounding rainforest. The Escarpment Day Spa offers a range of treatments to thoroughly indulge yourself; the rooms are large enough for couples or friends to enjoy a treatment experience together. The girls and I had a chat at the beginning of our massages, but after about five minutes I was so relaxed I had forgotten how to form sentences, and after about 10 minutes I didn't even want to. After our 90-minute full body treatment we floated back to the treehouse for a pot of tea and one last look at the incredible view. Set on a plateau atop Queensland's Scenic Rim, there are so many things to do on Mount Tamborine, it is difficult to know where to start. We head to Eagle Heights to wander down the main street and look at the interesting boutique shops, some of which sell their own homemade fudge. You cannot have a trip to Mount Tamborine without trying the fudge. There are so many to choose from you will probably buy 2 or 3, but don't feel guilty. You can take them to work on Monday as a treat for the office. If they survive the car trip home that is! With all the pampering and fudge tasting we have worked up quite an appetite so we head over to Tea and Niceties for a well deserved Devonshire Tea. Being from England I am rather partial to a scone, and tea from a delicate bone china

cup in the afternoons. Nothing like a few tasty treats and a good catch up with friends to finish off the weekend. Set in a beautiful garden, with the option of dining inside or outside, Tea and Niceties ticks all the boxes when it comes to afternoon tea. A little birdy told me they are also about to open a pop-up restaurant for locals on a Saturday evening. They will be hosting guest chefs from all over the country for a one-night-only, single-sitting, pop-up spectacular! Bookings will be taken one week before on a first come first serve basis. But shhhhhhh, it's a secret! Sarah Loughlin To see more from Sarah visit itsonlyaplanerideaway.com

For more information visit escarpment.com.au and teaandniceties.com.au

How to Make a Monster – the art and technology of animatronics is exhibited over three levels at Gold Coast City Gallery from 26 March until 12 June. For further details and to book your ticket visit theartscentregc.com.au.

Lifestyle

MY SISTER CATHRIONA In September 2015, 30 year old Cathriona White took her own life. As her family and friends attempted to mourn this unbearable loss, an international media circus ensued. Without regard for the family’s grief or wish for privacy, Cathriona’s struggle was publicly dissected and discussed for entertainment purposes, and her parents and siblings hounded by the press. Cathriona’s sister Sarah Molloy shares with Blank GC how the violations of an uncaring media made the worst of all possible times, even worse. I remember exactly where I was standing and exactly what song was playing when I got the call to tell me my sister Cathriona had died. It was a Josh Thompson song and it made me think of her. “I hear you’re out there now and you’re doing all right. New lease on life in Hollywood… bet the west coast sun looks good on you.” My phone rang and I never even thought that it was too early in Ireland for my family to be calling me. I heard Larina’s voice on the other end of the phone, choking back tears as she told me Cathriona had killed herself. I fell to my knees and asked her what she had said. I was certain I’d misheard. It didn’t make any sense. Everything was working out for Cathriona. She was happy. She’d renewed her passport. She was getting a tattoo removed. People who are going to kill themselves don’t get tattoos removed. What the hell was going on? Within hours of our family finding out that she was gone it was an international story. Cathriona’s closest friends heard the news on radio broadcasts before we had a chance to tell them. My sister’s death was broadcast by every media outlet on the planet. And it was listed under “entertainment”. Picture that for a second. Put yourself in our shoes. Imagine the unimaginable. Imagine your family is suddenly minus one. Just like that. No warning. Just gone. Imagine trying to get through the day in a world that suddenly doesn’t have them in it anymore. Now imagine having millions of people worldwide voicing opinions on your loss. People saying how stupid she was to kill herself over a man. People saying it was all his fault. Others saying it wasn’t his fault and that she had mental health issues that were to blame. People guessing and gossiping publicly and without any knowledge about what had happened. Strangers arguing about who was to blame. Strangers being entertained by your grief. Journalists phoned our home to try to speak with my brother. My brother was eleven years old and they wanted to exploit the fact

he had lost his sister and his father in the space of three years. For entertainment. Photographers posted pictures of my stepfather’s grave on the internet. Strangers were walking on his grave, taking photographs. For entertainment. Reporters were going door to door in our village trying to get neighbours to spill the beans on the White family - looking to create drama and scandal and only succeeding in breeding mistrust in a small community. Can you imagine what that was like for us? To be grieving an immeasurable loss and simultaneously to be wondering who could be trusted? To hear who had been only too keen to tell the newspapers what they wanted to hear. For money. For entertainment. A journalist parked outside my sister’s house - monitoring the comings and goings. When approached by mourners to ask what he was doing he rolled his eyes. He may have gone on to write a compassionate article about the pressure the family was under and the palpable grief in the community. I don’t know. I do know that the journalist was far from compassionate. The media involvement was awful. There is no other way to describe it. It was truly awful. It subconsciously permeated everything that we did. When Cathriona’s body arrived in Ireland we didn’t go to meet her at the airport because too many cars would attract the media. When we went to finally see her we were aware of photographers and journalists hovering nearby and hoped that we wouldn’t draw their attention. At the wake, as hundreds of people came through to pay their respects and offer condolences we couldn’t help but wonder if, somewhere among them, there was a reporter. Once the wake was over and we moved to go to the church we followed the coffin outside. All of a sudden I noticed a noise I couldn’t place and I was stunned by flashing lights. They were taking photographs. Those disgusting people were taking photographs of my sister’s coffin being placed into a hearse. My knees buckled and my mother put her arm around me to stop me from

falling and whispered in my ear to ignore them. I could not believe that there were people like that in the world. How do you take a photograph like that and cause such pain to people and justify it to yourself? They followed us as we walked from the funeral home to the church - flashing cameras in our faces the entire time. I have seen the photo that was taken the moment I realised what they were doing. They’ve captioned it as me being “overcome with grief ”. I was grieving. I was not overcome by my grief in that moment. I was overcome by the shameless callousness of the media. I’m not really sure what I hope to gain from writing this. Maybe for a handful of people to realise that the things that you write online can and do get read by the people you are writing about or by their families. Maybe for people to realise not everything that is written in newspapers is true. Maybe for people to realise that although you are technically entitled to an opinion doesn’t necessarily mean that you should have one. I have no opinion on your bereavement so you do not need to have one on mine. When I think about my sister’s death I often become angry. I am angry with the media for turning Cathriona’s death into a circus. I am angry with people for allowing themselves to be entertained by such shoddy, irresponsible journalism. I am angry that in the days and weeks following her death I found myself being defensive. I am angry that I felt the need to defend my sister to strangers who thought that their opinion was valid. I am beyond angry that someone saw my beautiful 8 year old niece crying her heart out outside the church and thought, “I’m going to take a picture of that because it is going to make me money.”

I often wonder if the journalists who were phoning my home and knocking on elderly neighbours' doors pictured themselves doing that when they were kids. When they were young and dreamed of being reporters is that really where they saw themselves? Surely someone somewhere must have wanted to be an ethical journalist. And yet of all of the articles I came across only one had any semblance of respect. Brendan O’Connor’s piece in the Irish Independent was the only common-sense report that I read. It was the only report with any empathy. He was the only person who seemed to say, “We don’t know what’s going on here. We shouldn’t believe everything we read. Let’s all just stop being arseholes.” I’m grateful to him for that. The media decided that there was a story to be made and they made one. Cathriona’s death was one of the worst things to happen to our family. It was not in any way “entertainment”. And yet somebody, somewhere decided that it was. That’s all it took. Someone decided this was a story and they made it so. The media has such an incredible power to draw attention to things that are happening in the world. There is so much injustice. There is so much suffering and so much pain. There are so many things that media attention could make a difference to. Instead they focus on grieving families and whether or not the deceased brought it all on themselves. There really is something wrong with the world. Sarah Molloy

If you or someone you know needs help, call Lifeline on 13 11 14 or the Suicide Callback Service on 1300 659 467. If someone is in immediate danger, call Triple Zero (000). www.blankgc.com.au

Film

From transvestite to teenage killer accomplice, no one can accuse Queensland born actor Eamon Farren of choosing easy roles. While building an international reputation for his striking looks and intense performances, Eamon is returning to the Gold Coast - the city of his childhood and adolescence - for the tour of his new film Girl Asleep. Eamon exchanged emails with Blank’s cultural editor Natalie O’Driscoll about how it feels to be returning for Gold Coast Film Festival. A few years ago you described Jennifer Lynch’s Chained as being a career highlight. Has anything since surpassed that experience?

EAMON FARREN: HEART OF DARKNESS

Chained has been and will always be very special to me for many reasons and over the last few years, I've been fortunate to have found myself working on other great projects and with incredible people. Two of which are Switzerland and Carlotta. Switzerland is a play I did last year with the Sydney Theatre Company. It's a brilliant two-hander that tells the story of the last few days of author Patricia Highsmith's life. It's a dark, witty thriller imagined by Joanna Murray-Smith. In it, I got to work opposite one of 'the greats' in Sarah Pierse and loved every minute of it. Another project I'm so proud to have been involved in is Carlotta. Apart from being an incredibly important story, it was lead by the incomparable Samantha Lang who gave me the opportunity to play Ava

opposite Jess Marais' Carlotta. It was the kind of shoot that was all at once intense, hilarious, inspiring, heartbreaking and magical. And as a Gold Coast kid, it was so awesome to meet another Gold Coaster - Carlotta herself. I won the AACTA award for that role and I will always be incredibly proud of that film and everyone who threw their hearts into making it. Tell us about your character in Girl Asleep, and what connected you to him? I play Adam in the film. Adam is a pretty cool customer with as much 70's swag and 'tude as anyone can handle. He's Greta's sister's older boyfriend and I think, to Greta is a representation of male sexuality. What Matt (Whittet, the film’s writer and star) and Rosemary (the film's director) have done so beautifully, is create a story about adolescence. It's a story that explores that time in everyone's life when you careen toward adulthood with your childhood still hanging on for dear life. It creates fears, excitements, explosions and feelings that seem bigger than everything. And Adam is just one part of that. Another part is Adam's alter-ego Benoit Tremet, the incredibly talented French crooner. I loved playing Benoit and got to employ some muscles I developed in Benowa State High's French Immersion Programme.

Read the full interview at blankgc.com.au and catch Girl Asleep on Friday 8 April at The Arts Centre Gold Coast and Sunday 10 April at BCC Coolangatta. More at gcfilmfestival.com.

THE ART OF THE MOVIE POSTER EXPLORED AT HILLIER AND SKUSE Movie posters influence how we see a film. They’re a powerful visual tool that sometimes determine whether a film will reach an audience, and what that audience will be expecting when the curtains are drawn back. Before the dawn of this digital evolution, noteable artists were often commissioned to make the posters which accompanied movies. And those posters were frequently viewed as an artform themselves. Not only did they play a role in advertising and marketing a film, but in promoting the film industry as a whole. The art of the movie poster will be the focus of an exhition which opens at Hillier and Skuse this month. Eva Breckon is the guest curator. She said her goal was “to offer as varied as possible samples of great movie posters in the cult/b-movie, and noir genres, staying largely true to the originals, yet interpreted by the artists.” Eva has been a cineaste since her teenage years. “I still am,” she said. “Though I don’t collect posters these days. I personally prefer the old hand painted posters where the artist’s brush strokes are still visible connecting the viewer with a human hand rather than a digital code.” Eva said she hopes that people will feel encouraged to explore the movie poster art form. Cinefiend: a tribute to movie poster art will feature famous movie posters from B-movie/cult/noir genres that have been re-interpreted, re-painted and re-made, yet staying very

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close to the originals. The exhibition will comprise around 60 works of art. On show will be works made by artists: Eva BreckonThomas, Jesse Breckon-Thomas and Kyan Rain De Vere. Complementing the poster exhibition will be a space in the exhibition dedicated to the screening of a Trailer Reel of B-movies, film noir and cult, presented and made by Andrew Levold, director of films The search for Weng Weng and The Last Pinoy Action Hero.

Film Screenings (7.00pm, free): > Search for Weng Weng, 1 April > Metropolis, 8 April > Night of the Living Dead, 15 April > Cat ‘o Nine Tails, Friday 22 April Exhibition runs 1 – 30 April. Hillier and Skuse is located at 88 – 90 Bundall Road, Bundall.

SOPHIE MATHISEN: DRAMA QUEEN Hard working Australian actor Sophie Mathisen didn’t shy away from making tough choices when developing her first feature film, Drama. Not only did she write, direct and star in it, she decided to conduct the entire shoot in Paris over one hectic month and instituted a hiring policy which ensured that the entire crew was made up of equal numbers of men and women. The result of her efforts will be screening at Gold Coast Film Festival, where she will also be in attendance for a Q&A with the audience. We spoke with Sophie about the film, which has been described as ‘a relationship film about love, life, death and what’s for dinner.” I understand the central relationship is one between a straight girl and her gay male best friend. What prompted you to explore this type of relationship? I have always been rather frustrated by the lack of depth and overall exploration of this kind of friendship within screen culture. My longest relationships have been with my friends and I think this is a generational issue – in a societal context where a nuclear family is not necessarily the norm, that of course shapes your outlook on love, marriage and partnership. That’s not to say I’m cynical – far from it, it’s just to say that my experience has been that friendships endure when love fades. Having a partner isn’t a marker of success or failure in life and regardless of your marital status there are people who will love and care for you when you feel totally alone. I imagine that ensuring the crew on the film were 50/50 male and female added to your task load. Why do you think this hiring policy was so important? People unfortunately believe that there is equal opportunity in the film industry and to those folk, who are normally men, I’d say try being a lady on set. It’s not simply as cut and dried as saying that the best applicants get the jobs, there are social factors that go into being the ‘best applicant’. As social creatures our environment shapes us – having fewer women working and recognised at the highest level shapes the way young people envisage and plan for their future. Looking at the lower statistics of female directors, writers, editors, sound designers, lighting technicians affects how you are received and perceived in those roles. Because of the high instance of female engagement on Drama some of the male crew and actors took to calling us ‘sexy crew’ and look, at the time we chuckled, but it speaks to how women are seen in the film industry. We

are the pretty faces the camera is pointed at, not the brawn lifting those cameras between takes. How do you feel about the argument that we live in a meritocracy and that opportunity exists for anyone, male or female, to succeed equally in filmmaking? I think that perspective is highly out of touch with reality and usually belies a lot of fear and anxiety around the push for more equality. The film industry is hard for everyone but despite that truism it still remains harder for some than others. It’s the same for all minorities – fewer opportunities and less recognition results in lower engagement in the sector. An intersectional approach in acknowledging the increased difficulty for women of colour, trans and intersex women and non-able bodied women is important when advocating for change. If we are to be a truly inclusive environment, it’s not about transposing the old rules with a set just as flawed, it’s about really examining the structural bias that underpins our industry and exploding that. Finding friends and peers engaged in the same pursuits as you is so important in providing support for your aspirations and often as a woman it feels as if you’re the only one. That can be crazy-making and often a deterrent from continuing in the film industry. But honestly, people like Lucy Fisher [Festival Director of GCFF] make it worthwhile. The simplest thing, like listing whether a film passes the Bechdel Test, ensures that as female you feel recognised and your contribution acknowledged. BRAVO LUCY FISHER! It’s a really incredible step in makers being accountable for the content they create and thinking critically about representation on and off screen. What was the appeal to you about Paris as a setting in Drama? Do you have much personal attachment to Paris, or France? Jonathan, one of the lead actors (and one of my best friends) is French and my connection is through him. His family was so supportive in hosting us - the crew lived in the Burteaux residence, on a variety of couches and blow up mattresses for an entire month. I spent a good deal of time there in the lead up to shooting and it’s a beautiful city. I found the people to be incredible. As an actor, did you feel a different connection to material you wrote yourself, or that you made different choices?

Film

Absolutely (and what a great question). The big difference is to do with the rhythm and flow – I think one of the strongest elements of Drama is the dialogue – it sounds the way that people actually speak. Oftentimes screenwriters follow a formula that often feels expository or inauthentic. We spend our lives talking and yet scripts often read as two virtual strangers talking about key plot points neither one seems to know too much about. Ultimately it comes down to trusting that your audience is smart enough and interested enough to invest in something that unfolds slowly rather than simply giving you everything upfront. My background is in theatre and there is such a rich and vivid history of writers really demanding audiences to go with the story without having a guidebook of where you’re going. So really I crafted the performance the way I would if it’s on stage – be true to the moment as it happens. Affect nothing, deny nothing. The story ultimately unfolds the way it unfolds and the job of the actor is to be a conduit for the experience of the narrative. What’s next for you? I’m currently in pre-production for the follow up to Drama, a comedic romantic tragedy. Although that’s an invented genre, the film (The Book) plays in the same space as Drama - looking at the lengths we go to get a significant other and often how ludicrous that pursuit can be. Nearly a third of all adults in the urban environments live alone and I want to make a story for the women and men who know that living alone is not necessarily a marker of being “broken” or “immature”. It’s just a choice, like being married is a choice. I’m producing it with my sister and we are hoping to make this one a little bit less stressful in its production approach but ultimately we are hungry to make another film so we’ll get it done anyway we can. Observant audiences will note that in the final scene for Drama, Anna, our lead protagonist actually passes a film poster for The Book that we embedded in postproduction as a little marker of what’s next. We always imagined Drama as being a part of a trilogy of films so we’re excited not only for the second instalment but also the third. Natalie O'Driscoll

Drama is showing at The Arts Centre Gold Coast on Saturday 9 April at 3.00pm. Tickets at theartscentregc. com.au. Stay afterwards for Q+A with Sophie Mathisen. www.blankgc.com.au

Film

BURN TO BE BAD

BANFF MOUNTAIN FILM FESTIVAL 10 CLOVERFIELD LANE JOHN GOODMAN, MARY ELIZABETH WINSTEAD, JOHN GALLAGHER JR. I wasn’t a fan of the single-cam first person perspective, Cloverfield (2008), with its vomit-inducing motion sickness approach to story telling. So it was heartening to hear 10 Cloverfield Lane was a stand-alone film with no ties to the original, for lack of a better word. 10 Cloverfield Lane isn’t necessarily a sequel. Nor is it a prequel. It just happens to live in the same universe with a whole new director, Dan Trachtenberg, and an incredible producer who has become more than a household name – J.J. Abrams we salute you! When Michelle (Mary Elisabeth Winstead) wakes up from a horrific car crash trapped alone in a dimly lit concrete cell, her would-be captor, Howard (John Goodman) soon puts terror to rest as he explains she wasn’t kidnapped, she was actually saved, not from the crash, but from some apocalyptic event requiring they remain in the underground airtight bunker, made quite homely, for at least two years! Another young survivor, Emmett (John Gallagher Jr.) soon joins the pair on their extensive hiatus from reality, but as you’d expect things become apparent not all is well in the little underground home away from home. Hard-earned trust is easily broken as clues and mysteries simmer to the surface. The claustrophobic tension increases as crisis slowly begins eating away at the subterranean trio… The true strength of 10 Cloverfield Lane rests heavily on superb performances by the actors themselves, most particularly John Goodman. I love it when a role is executed so flawlessly you forget you’re watching a well-recognised actor. Their identity becomes entangled in the character they’re portraying, and without realising it, it’s all you can see. Think Cathy Bates in Misery! Definitely making it into my top 3 films of the year so far, 10 Cloverfield Lane draws you in as an immersive experience like a frightful work of art – a film to truly get lost in. Nate James

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It’s a far cry from the beaches of Gold Coast to the mountains of Banff, but fans of outdoor adventure and travel are in for a treat as Banff Mountain Film Festival brings a 2.5hour screening to The Arts Centre Gold Coast at the end of the month. As its moniker suggests, the festival originates in Banff, in the Canadian Rockies but tours the world visiting more than 35 countries. This year’s tour showcases nine breathtaking films. The longest, Unbranded has won awards all over the world including picking up the People’s Choice Award at the Banff Mountain Film Festival in Canada. It follows four guys and their 16 wild horses on a 5000km journey from the Mexican border all the way north to the Canadian border with the USA. The other long film won Best Snow Film at Banff Mountain Film Festival and the filmmaker is an Australian, Anthony Bonello. The film captures a crew of skiers, Anthony and photographer Reuben Krabbe, who head to Svalbard in Norway to try and capture an image of a skier in front of a solar eclipse. It turns out that there are only a couple of chances in a lifetime to put skiing and a solar eclipse together. It is a pretty rate convergence. After bad weather, freezing temperatures and a roaming polar bear they manage to get the shot - which turns out to be awesome and has since been on the cover of Powder Magazine. The program also includes a collection of breathtaking mountain biking, climbing and ski films. Exhilarating and thought provoking, a Banff evening is a must-see for those with a spirit of adventure. Through the big screen you’ll visit remote cultures, be transported to the world’s last great wild places and experience amazing footage of adrenaline packed action sports. Samantha Morris

Banff Mountain Film Festival is at The Arts Centre Gold Coast on 16 April 2016. Tickets via theartscentregc.com.au.

Get ready to strap in, armour up, and knock the rust off your broadsword, SUPANOVA Pop-Culture Expo is coming to the Gold Coast Convention Centre, April 9th and 10th. One of this year’s most exciting convention superstars, Burn Gorman, of Torchwood and Game of Thrones fame, spoke to Blank about what he’s expecting from Australia’s biggest pop-culture convention. “I’ve never been to Australia, but Supanova has a great reputation,” says Burn. “I’ve been to large conventions before, and people always say that when they come to Australia they have an amazing time. Mainly because you guys are a damn lot of fun!” As one of the founding cast members of the Dr. Who hit series spin-off, Torchwood, Burn believes there won’t be any shortage of fans ready to help celebrate the 10-year anniversary of the much loved show. “It’s all a bit of a jolly really. Torchwood attracts specific fans that are a little bit out there! Kind of strange, wonderful, and very good company!” Accompanied by fellow co-stars, Gareth David-Lloyd and Naoko Mori, Torchwood fans can expect loads of fun hearing stories from behind the scenes, and personally meeting their heroes face to face. Game of Thrones of course will be another major drawcard for punters entering in droves to see and hear about the biggest show on television, gaining unstoppable momentum with every season roll out. “People into Game of Thrones have extremely good taste”, says Burn, who played Karl Tanner, the mutinous Nights Watch ranger whose head misfortunately met the pointy end of Jon Snow’s sword. Clearly Jon Snow did know something after all. “I myself am a massive fan of Game of Thrones”, declares Burn. “I actually got in touch with them and said if there’s anything I can do, no matter how small it is I would love to be in the show. Something worked out in the end. I just wish I could’ve stayed longer.” With villainy clearly sculpted on Burn’s highly recognisable face, he isn’t too shy to admit why he’s called upon for so many dubious roles. “You’ve got to work with what you’ve got haven’t you? What God gives you. I just have, shall we say – a unique face, which thankfully gets me work - as a jerk!” He laughs. Punters will soon have a chance to see if Burn Gorman truly is a jerk or not, however this Blank reporter found the contrary to be more on point. Pun intended! Here’s to hoping the same can be said for Jack Gleeson, who portrayed the much-hated Joffrey Baratheon. He too will be making his debut appearance at SUPANOVA, so with any luck bags of rotten tomatoes will be sold at the door. (Though I have a bag sitting in the sun already, just in case!) With that being said, it would appear villains aren’t born at all – they are in fact made. Made by George R.R. Martin! Nate James For more information about the Gold Coast leg of the tour, visit: supanova.com.au

Pictured: Scare Campaign

OUR TOP PICKS FOR THE GCFF

So, you’ve heard the Gold Coast Film Festival has come around again and you thought you might catch one of their movies. Great. So you go to gcfilmfestival.com, download the program, and then… ummm…. well… that’s where I get a bit lost. Now, don’t get me wrong. I’m a big supporter of GCFF and have seen many a great movie there. But there is soooo much on; movies, film industry events, school screenings, free family flicks, lunches, dinners. It seems if you just want to watch a couple of interesting movies, the massive program might be a bit daunting. Assuming you work nine-to-five, Monday to Friday, here are some of our top picks: First up, there are the ‘Big Four’ – these are the evening movies, all at The Arts Centre Gold Coast, on the Friday and Saturday nights during the program. Friday 1 April, 6.00 pm sees the screening of Broke, a great Aussie movie where an ex-rugby league player struggles with ‘redemption, hope and determination’. How could you not love this? Saturday 2 April, 8.15pm brings us Mr Right, a hilarious comedy where a kick-ass-assassin falls in love with the girl-next-door and together they take out the bad guys. One not to be missed. On Friday 8 April, 6.00 pm you can catch Girl Asleep described in the brochure as a ‘quirky, surreal, coming-of-age movie’. If that doesn’t get you in, then nothing will. Also catch this on Sunday 10 April 1pm at BCC Coolie. Finally on Saturday 9 April, 8.30 pm, there is The Legend of Barney Thomson, a Scottish comedy starring Robert Carlyle as a socially awkward barber who accidentally kills his boss and gets confused for a serial killer. I

like it already. (You can also catch this at BCC Coolangatta on Saturday 2 April at 7.00pm)

The other big movie of the festival is Eddie the Eagle. Two words. Hugh Jackman. If you miss the opening night screening at The Arts Centre Gold Coast (31 March), you can head down to BCC Cinemas at Coolangatta on Sunday 3 April 3.00pm to catch it there. For those who don’t work nine-to-five, there are plenty of alternative options:

10.00am and Saturday 9 April at 12.30 pm, both at The Arts Centre.

Had enough yet? No? Then try Drama, a romantic comedy set in Paris with a not-soperfect ending. Saturday 9 April 3.00pm at The Arts Centre.

Still not satisfied? Lots of free family movies and a whole lot of other stuff. Head to the website and check it out. Catch ya at the movies. Mark Weblin

Gold Coast Film Festival runs 31 March -10 April

First up, try Victoria - ‘gritty, tense, gripping’ – where a naive thrill-seeker becomes getaway driver for a gang with disastrous consequences. Tuesday 5 April 6.30pm at The Arts Centre. Next, there’s Scare Campaign. Good oldfashioned horror. If you like blood and gore, this is for you. I got scared just watching the trailer. April Fool’s Day seems an apt time for it to screen. Friday 1 April, 8.45pm at The Arts Centre. If you like Aussie action flicks, then The Hunters Club – filmed on the Gold Coast – is for you. Two ex-army buddies take on a mysterious band of assassins with lots of guns, knives, martial arts, and …skate boards. Definitely one to catch. Monday 4 April 6.30pm at Event Cinemas, Australia Fair. For something a little more off-beat, catch Her Composition - a struggling music student becomes a call-girl to find inspiration for her work. Wednesday 6 April, 7.30pm at The Arts Centre. If that’s a bit too serious, you might want to catch the animation, April and the Extraordinary World: a story set in an alternate future where a little girl searches for her scientist parents. Thursday 7 April

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CMYK / .ai

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Arts & Culture WORLD FIRST CARBON NEUTRAL SURFING EVENT A world first hits the Gold and Tweed Coasts next month, with the Student Surf Festival 2016 being held at Duranbah Beach on Sunday 24 April. The event is open to all Gold Coast university students, and it promises to be a fun day of competitive surfing, with some prizes thrown in. The challenge, which began over 10 years ago, was based on a desire to integrate the international student community and the Australian student community with surfing as the vehicle. I have commentated at these events for many years, and as well as being incredibly fun they continue expand the cultural awareness of all participants. Many say the best part of the entire event is the chance to meet some wonderful people from many different countries who have come to study here on the Gold Coast. As well as the surf contest there is an expression session with some great prizes, and a party night at Kommune Resort where a JS Surfboard signed by all the World Tour competitors will be auctioned to raise money for the Volunteer Tweed Marine Rescue. And that’s not all!

This year, as part of a study project, some students will be powering the PA and computer judging systems from renewable sources. If successful, this may even be used as a prototype for surfing events in the future. The Southern Cross University School of Arts and Social Sciences has built Australia's largest solar-powered audiovisual production system, nicknamed the Sunflower. The Sunflower has been designed by SCU visual arts and audio technicians and students to look like a giant flower, made up of a state-ofthe-art energy generation storage and a management system which can be tilted and positioned for optimum orientation to the sun. It has a 1.2 kw solar panel array and a lithium battery bank that can provide enough power to run a festival stage entirely from solar energy. It’s amazing new technology and a world first for a surfing event. Terry “Tappa” Teece

The Student Surf Challenge 2016 will be held on Sunday 24th April. To get more information regarding eligibility and entering you can search for the event at numberoneevents.com.au. The divisions are Open Men, Open Women, International Men, and International Women.

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DADDO, RE, MI. CAMERON DOES VON TRAPP

I can’t remember a time when there wasn’t a Daddo on my television screen. The ubiquitous brothers – Cameron, Andrew and Lochie - have been the charming, handsome faces on some of Australia’s favourite dramas, lifestyle programs and reality shows since the eighties. In the early nineties, eldest brother Cameron moved to LA to carve out an acting career in the US. Twenty-plus years and several shows later, he is now back on Australian soil to perform in the current production of The Sound of Music, as the stern Captain Von Trapp. Natalie O’Driscoll caught Cameron in between surfs on the Gold Coast during his whirlwind publicity tour. The role of the stoic Captain Von Trapp seems to be somewhat of a departure from Cameron’s naturally goodnatured temperament. He’s loving every minute of it though. “It’s an iconic show”, he states. “The story is so uplifting, it’s a pleasure to do. You know if you’re doing Les Miserables, the feeling is in the title.” Of being back in front of a live audience instead of in front of a camera, he’s simply jubilant. “It’s lovely, I love it. It’s very immediate.” It’s not all fun and games, however. Like any run of continuous shows, it can be a hard slog. “This is gruelling in its own way. My journey… Each show begins with the Captain tightly buttoned up and then he has this emotional undoing. So it’s quite exhausting doing that eight shows a week. You have to hit the reset button!”

I push for a few more details, hoping for a juicy snippet. Cameron is cagey, however. “It makes for a great story when I tell the whole story. I might have to write a book and put it in there,” he laughs. Seeing that’s all I’m going to be able to squeeze out of him on The West Wing front, we continue talking about his time in the City of Angels. Currently, his wife and children (two of whom are still in school) are remaining in LA while he completes The Sound of Music tour. He plans to return home once the show wraps up, and then the entire family is relocating to Australia, perhaps permanently. “The kids are the main reason we’re doing it,” he says. “They had three months here over summer for Christmas and they were like ‘we want to live here for a while’.” “It’s an exciting change for us. I don’t feel like we’re coming back, really, because it’s changed in the 20 years we’ve been away.”

Cameron’s return to Australian soil comes after a long stint of walking the pavements of Los Angeles. Both figuratively, while landing roles on a variety of Hollywood shows, and also literally, as a water purifier salesperson during a quiet acting patch. After a recurring role on ill-fated Melrose Place spinoff Models, Inc., Cameron landed smaller roles in Hope Island, FX: The Series and all my all time favourite television drama: The West Wing. I just have to ask him about that one.

I wonder what he will miss about Los Angeles.

“It was an interesting job!” Cameron is diplomatic.

Well we’ll be excited to have him back, and with any luck we’ll be seeing more of his smiling face on our screens over the next few years. I ask if there is any work lined up that he can tell us about.

“It was the first time I’d ever done a guest star job on a TV show in America and up until then my manager and agent had kept me away from it. But because it was The West Wing… you know [my role] was originally an arc, but they cancelled that storyline which was a bummer, because I was a bit excited about that!” Understandably. He continues. “The day I did was pretty intense, it was a number one show and Aaron Sorkin had written that episode and he was there, and he was an intense guy. It wasn’t enjoyable by any means because it was so tense.” I had read Cameron quoted in a previous interview giving snippets about some issues with his scene with Toby (played by Richard Schiff) and some tensions within the cast, so

“I’ll miss our friends, the community of friends that we have. I will miss the convenience of things, that you can get anything any time you want, and that’s from the hardware stores at midnight to the golf warehouse full of stuff… but mostly the community. We probably will move back to Sydney, most of my family are there.”

“The Sound Of Music will take up until the end of the year. Then there’s a great TV project through Foxtel, there’s a movie that I’m writing with my wife that can take any amount of time, and I’ll certainly be looking at musical theatre. I’ll continue with my Smooth FM radio gig too, so there’s a lot going on.”

The Sound Of Music continues its run at the Lyric Theatre in Brisbane until 1 May, 2016. Tickets at qpac.com.au

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Arts & Culture

DALLAS DOES POST-APOCALYPTIC DYSTOPIA 39 year old Gold Coaster, Kirsty Dallas has been writing all her life.

But what started as a hobby covering novels, short stories and poetry has turned into something completely different. In 2012, she first became published after a chance meeting with someone who had self-published a book while worked in the movie industry. She still works two days a week at her “real” job – at an optometrist’s, but the rest of her week she spends writing. In that short time span since 2012, she’s published eight books with a ninth due for release on 15 April. One of her stories Decker’s Wood, which is a comedy romance, sold 20,000 copies across the world in its first month. “Once you get into the Amazon Top 100, that’s when you’re officially rating as an International Best Seller,” she told me, as we caught up at the new Burleigh Brewing Co. facility. But she’s adamant she is not a numbers girl. “If people are reading it, that’s cool.” It’s rare that authors don’t keep track of how many books they’ve sold. Kirsty is one of those international best sellers but she finds it hard to quantify her volume of sales. “People do read them and I make money off them – I just don’t keep track of all the numbers, she said. “That first book published – was the coolest feeling – when people started getting in touch with me and saying they loved my book – it hit me – oh my god – I just became an author.”

Plus she has researched women’s shelters and regular contacts people for added perspectives, interviewing them online via email.

Kirsty said the political awareness around domestic violence has changed a lot in recent years. “Once apon a time it was a taboo subject that we didn’t talk about,” she said. “More people are aware of it now, can understand it. They can read a book and understand and appreciate it and can understand the horrors women go through in that situation.” “A lot of people who haven’t experienced that, don’t understand it. You get that ‘why didn’t she leave’ kind of thing.” “I hope my books open up people’s eyes to why one wouldn’t leave.” Kirsty’s new book, though, is something totally different to anything she’s written before. She normally writes contemporary / comedy romance. This new book, called When Nothing is All You’ve Got is dystopian. “It’s set in an anti-utopian society – a post-apocalyptic place,” she explained. “It’s based in Earth’s future. Basically America has crumbled under war – they’ve been attacked. In an effort to gain control of the states and country – they’ve segregated the states with borders and have brought in zero tolerance for crime. There’s no grey anymore. It’s black and white.

Kirsty’s debut book, Saving Ella is the first book in a series called Mercy’s Angels which deals with abuse against women, with the whole series revolving around a women’s shelter. As the series unfolds, Kirsty has published other projects. “I’m kind of somebody who writes depending on mood. I’m a mood writer. I can’t force myself to sit and work on a particular project if it’s not there – I just move onto something that’s working better for me.” Four books have been published in the Mercy’s Angels series with a fifth in progress as we speak. “I’ll just keep on writing while people keep on reading. That particular series I do get a lot of feedback from,” Kirsty said. “I get a lot of women who reach out to me who’ve read it.” Kirsty explains that she has her own experiences when it comes to domestic violence. “I am a domestic abuse survivor myself,” she said. “So, feelings, emotions, I can place myself in those situations.”

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If you commit a crime, you go to prison and the prison is underground.”

“They have closed off the New York subway system and the whole novel takes place underground in this prison.” “It’s like Mad Max meets Cinderella,” she said. “It’s a story about a girl who’s more or less discarded by her father and the lead character – her name is Nada, which is Spanish for nothing - she is the underground’s most successful cage fighter.” Samantha Morris

When Nothing is All You’ve Got goes live on 15 April and will be available electronically via Amazon for Kindle, itunes, Nook and Kobo. It will also be launched in paperback format on 23 April at Pomeroy’s Café at Capri on via Roma.

BATTLING EACH OTHER WITH WORDS With Dust Temple undergoing serious renovations, which will include a commercial kitchen, I’m personally looking forward to more exciting and frequent events there. Like Theatre sports. Dust Temple hosted the hilarious Battle of the Words as part of Somerset Celebration of Literature and Bleach* Festival, and the intimate setting was perfect for high energy silliness and theatrical improv. Most Gold Coast audiences would be unaware that there is a professional (yes they get paid) theatre sports troupe based in Brisbane. They joined fast-talking MC Roger Beames at Dust Temple on the night to provide coaching and support for three Gold Coast student teams.

Roger Beames describes theatre sports as "a performance version of improv". Of the student teams, he says "they were very gutsy to get up. They know the form or game involved in theatre sports, but the subject matter is new to them on the night." Games included 'Death in a Minute' in a firetruck and at a random breath test, 'I Love You' in a public swimming pool and on Hamilton Island, and 'Double Figures' (one person sits in front with arms behind back; another person sits behind performing all the arm gestures) about a camera that only takes good photos, and insects as the food of the future.

as the winner on the night, after which, the pros performed high energy malarkey in such forms as an opera about a chef on a train making poisonous spaghetti bolognaise (thank you audience!). As a hapless victim of the chef 's poison lies dead on the stage, a baritone booms "Don't make an assumption about your consumption." Theatre Sports Queensland runs a youth theatre sports festival every year. There are about 40 teams from South East Queensland, but only two from the Gold Coast. Hopefully more events like Battle of the Words will encourage more performance based improv in our backyard.

Judges Patrick Lyon and Katrina Fischer (organiser) declared the team ‘Tension of the Task’ and its team captain, Anna Harris,

Pip Andreas

THE ARTS CENTRE GOLD COAST PRESENTS

AT THE CULTURAL PRECINCT

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Arts & Culture

GOLD COAST CULTURAL PRECINCT: THE NEW HEART OF ARTS Over the next 10-15 years the various stages of a multimillion dollar cultural precinct on the Gold Coast will get delivered. The construction of Stage 1 has started with the estimated completion for the 2018 Gold Coast Commonwealth Games. But what makes a cultural precinct and what can we expect of this large-scale project? Cultural Precincts are considered central to a city’s artistic reputation, driving creativity, innovation and economic growth. At its best, a cultural precinct re-energises the city, improves visitor experiences and better connects the cultural assets. The Cultural Precinct website summarises the project. “A cultural precinct will create a focal point, a new kind of civic square that will be a destination for locals and tourists. It will be a place where people come together to engage with arts, culture and each other, a place that ‘makes visible’ the Gold Coast’s cultural and creative life.” “The City of Gold Coast's vision is that when completed, the Gold Coast Cultural Precinct will include drama, music, dance, art, new media and public sculpture, as well as creative educational opportunities and an extensive outdoor program of activities that make the most of the exceptional public space opportunities of Evandale.” Stage 1 of the Cultural Precinct has commenced. Nothing earth shattering has taken place yet as the project is still in its demolition phase, but mid-year the construction is expected to start for the Riverside Hub closely followed by the construction works for the Amphitheatre and the Artscape. All of this is expected to be completed late 2017 just in time for the 2018 Commonwealth Games. The Amphitheatre (or Versatile Outdoor Space if you prefer) is envisioned as a green area to host performances of all kinds and scale. Equipped with services and technology for wide range events, the space is designed to suit performances from more intimate performances with the smaller audiences of up to 1000 people, to headline acts attracting 5000 people and more.

If the Amphitheatre will be for the performing arts, the Riverside Hub will be the home for visual arts. It will utilize the council’s existing Riverside Building for a transitional Riverside Gallery for visual art exhibitions but will give way to the Art Tower, the precinct’s centre piece at a later stage. Flexible gallery spaces will be located in the first floor with an external courtyard to display outdoor art installations and host exhibitions launches and special events. As well as the visual arts hub, The Riverside Hub will be the creative and administrational centre of the precinct. It is likely to accommodate a large variety of office and workspaces from the administration practices of the precinct to cultural partners and creative tenancies. And the weary art lover gets to replenish their hunger and rest their legs at the café of course. Last but not least, Stage 1 includes Artscapes, the areas linking all the facilities together. These areas are curated, artistic and botanical landscapes activated by artistic programming, installations, picnics, markets, festivals and cinema. What makes a cultural precinct a success? Is it simple question of ‘If you build it, they will come’? How do you make sure it is not just geography and a duplication of one of many cultural precincts around the country? Many cities have cultural precincts at the heart of their creative community, arts production, visitor experience and simply the atmosphere and ’the feel’ of the city. Melbourne Art Precinct is a series of galleries, performing art venues and amongst other things, spaces for schools and training institutions of many art schools. Quite distinctively Melbourne. Adelaide Cultural Precinct then again is located along the river Murray at the northern end of the city and is the home of Adelaide Festival Centre, State Library of South Australia and the Art Gallery of South Australia to mention a few. A touch of the old continent with a twist of festivals and contemporary life.

ctured: Lucy Fisher Luke Hemsworth at Gold Coast Film Festival opening night 2015 48 and www.blankgc.com.au

And then there is the Cultural Precinct down the road - Southbank in Brisbane - showcasing the best cultural offerings with a strong focus on the Queensland lifestyle at the banks of the river. Gold Coast Cultural Precinct will be strongly about where we live and how we live. The values of the precinct focus on the outdoor component of the precinct, the Artscape. The garden settings for festivals, events, cinema and family fun will be an obvious representation the outdoor lifestyle of our city and its stunning natural assets. The colourful, vertical museum Gold Coast Art Tower will blend well and be a natural extension of the skyscape with its high risers and vertical lines. And then, as all good cultural precincts do, it will support and expand opportunities for local artists and art practitioners for excellence in local and touring arts and cinema, rehearsals and collaboration spaces. But for a very long time still, this will be a work in progress. The distinctively Gold Coast program of content will be formed along the way and built on the success and challenges of previous stages. As Anna Carroll, Precinct Transition Manager, pointed out, to get the content right and meaningful doesn’t only ensure the precinct will be distinctively Gold Coast, but it will make the difference between the community forming a strong bond with the cultural precinct or not finding it a part of their city. So what next and where to from this stage? In the future there will be a Green Bridge for cyclists and pedestrians linking the precinct with Surfers Paradise, the Art Tower museum complex, a Performing Arts Centre and further development of the Artscape. But before that there will be the Virtual Exhibition about the Cultural Precinct opening in April. Stay tuned for some distinctively cultural Gold Coast and an insight into the latest cultural venture in our city. Anna Itkonen

SLEEPING BEAUTY, REMADE FOR KIDS It’s not every day that the average age of the audience for The Australian Ballet hovers around the five mark. However, with Storytime Ballet, a re-telling of classic ballets for children three and older, that’s exactly what happens. With The Sleeping Beauty Storytime Ballet about to hit the stage on the Gold Coast, we asked ballerina Isobel Dashwood for the low-down. Tell us about The Sleeping Beauty Storytime Ballet? Which role do you play? The Sleeping Beauty; Story time Ballet is a new production of the Australian Ballet’s. Using the art form of ballet to help tell one of the world’s most beloved fairytales this production is an excellent introduction to ballet for boys and girls. I play two roles, which I alternate over the shows; Princess

Aurora (The Sleeping Beauty), and The Lilac Fairy, who is the most powerful Fairy who protects the kingdom. Do you have any advice for young ballerinas? Always be yourself! Work hard and make sure you always HAVE FUN! Dancing is about sharing your passion and taking people to another place so don’t forget to let yourself be lost in the movement. People love that! Who are your heroes in the ballet world? I am really inspired by dancers that are tall and can move fast. Being tall myself I know that it is hard to control long limbs. I look up to dancers like Darcy Bussell, Olivia Bell and Agnes Letetsu. They are each such beautiful

statuesque dancers, but have such strength about them and I find it incredible to watch them command the stage and be able to use their bodies in such an amazing way. I hope one day younger dancers look up to me in that way! Natalie O’Driscoll

The Storytime Ballet: Sleeping Beauty has a five show run from 29 30 March. Tickets at theartscentregc. com.au

EXHIBIT ION ENTRY $5

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Arts & Culture

TASTE OF AN ART LOVER:

DIRECTOR’S CHOICE AT TWEED Director’s Choice; works from the collection exhibition in Tweed Regional Gallery has 70 of the gallery director’s favourite pieces of its collection on show. This is a unique peek into the collection and an insight into the art lover who runs the gallery. The Tweed Regional Gallery has a collection of approximately 1200 pieces across four focus areas: Australian portraiture; works on paper; works about the region or by artists in the region; and works by Margaret Olley and related artists. Since its establishment almost two decades ago, the gallery has expanded its collection purely through acquisitions made with funds provided by the Friends of the Gallery, the Foundation, or through donations by artists, philanthropists and collectors. During this time, the gallery has grown continuously not just in size, but in reputation and merit as well. Then again this might be a given for a gallery, which employs a director who is named amongst the 50 most influential figures in the Australian art industry. Suzi Muddiman makes no apologies for this exhibition being unashamedly about her personal choice. “I have tried to encompass all four areas of work in this exhibition” Ms Muddiman explains. The exhibition reflects her love of history, narrative and form in art. She has shown her love of small work; the admiration of the precision to detail, attention and accuracy. Even the French hanging of the exhibition reflects how art is displayed on the walls at her home. As a director who knows her public as well as the collection, Ms Muddiman has very deliberately included pieces the public has a fondness for and pieces that reflect the diversity of the collection. The importance of the public’s sense of ownership and the love they have for the collection comes through in the exhibition. There is no doubt that portrait of Bill, a jackaroo and a bushpoet, by Robert Henneford is one of the most popular pieces in the collection. When the piece is not on display, the gallery receives requests from the community. And if the piece is on loan, Ms Muddiman has been know to receive letters stating what a shame it is that the piece can not be at Tweed Regional Gallery all the time. Out of the 70 pieces in the exhibition, there are few that stand out for Ms Muddiman more than others; Portia Geich’s painting of her father shows a successful draper in Melbourne who supported his daughters’ careers and aspirations on a time when the society didn’t do so. There’s a photographic portrait of the gallery’s architect Bud Brannigan drinking an espresso in an urban setting in front of a building site. The Alternative Ambassadors (Professors Ross Garnaut & Martin Green) by Giles Alexander is another stand-out piece filled with symbolism, historical reference and a hint of sustainability. The title hints at both the original painting and the alternative energy technologies being displayed in place of the 16th century proto-scientific instruments of Han Holbein’s original masterpiece. And then there is Krefft’s Chair by Rew Hanks, the personal favourite of yours truly as well as one of the favourites of Ms Muddiman. The black and white linocut on paper is full of details and hints of his character and interests. Gerard Krefft was a zoologist, a paleontologist, a reputable scientist and the director of the Australian Museum. Due to his revolutionary ideas and theories, he was fired from the Australian Museum, but as the story goes, he refused to leave the premises and was carried out in his easy chair. His ideas and theories included such radical notions as the lungfish being the ‘missing link’ between fish and amphibians and supporting the theories of his pen pal Charles Darwin. You simply must make the journey to south side of the border for this exhibition. And while you are there, Rick Shearman’s drawings and travel journals in the foyer are an absolute delight and the view from the café is still the best ones in the southern hemisphere. Anna Itkonen

Director’s Choice; works from the collection is open until 5 June at Tweed Regional Gallery in Murwillumbah. For more information visit the gallery website on artgallery.tweed.nsw.gov.au.

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Pictured above: Rew Hanks, Kreftt's Chair, 2012 (Linocut on paper) Pictured right: Petrina Hicks, Eye Candy (from the series Descendants), 2008(Photographic lightjet print on paper)

CRITICAL HITS AT SUPANOVA Nothing gets you motivated for gaming quite like the accompanying, signature theme songs. Before hitting ‘Play’, the music puts you in the scene, preparing you for the next level. This month, US video game ensemble Critical Hit are heading to the Gold Coast to bring the screen to reality. Formed in 2013, Critical Hit has performed at video game conventions from Wizard World, Comicon and Games15 in Dubai, to South By Southwest. These world-class musicians are adding a rock twist to the video game music genre and Supanova from 8 – 10 April, is the next stop where they’ll be sharing their symphonic sound. Executive producer Michael Gluck has spent his entire career in the video game industry and formed the band with Jason Hayes, the lead composer on the original release of World of Warcraft.

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“I wanted to create a video game performance group, and my vision was symphonic rock – this hybrid of classical instrumentation with rock instrumentation to create that hybrid sound, “ he said. “Jason has worked on Diablo and Counter-Strike and other huge games with big budgets who put a tonne of emphasis on the music, so he went to the composers and musicians of these games and he invited them to be part of this ensemble and those were the first musicians we got.” “Not only were they musicians with strong classical backgrounds but they also were accredited video game recording artists so it just added even more power and credibility to what we’re doing.” “They’re the same people who created the music to the games you played hours to.” Whether it’s Tetris, Mario Brothers or Legend of Zelda, Critical Hit cover the entire spectrum of video game history in their performance in which Gluck describes as “an evening of nostalgia.” “I call on all gamers of all ages on all platforms and anyone who has a love games, to come hear the music,” he said. “And for those of you who have never played a video game before, if there’s any of you out there, still come because what you’re going to hear is high energy, symphonic rock music that is highly melodically driven music by top of the class, classically trained musicians.” With the growth of the video game industry in the past decade, there’s no doubting the cultural significance game music has had across the globe. Critical Hit has also had the opportunity to work alongside renowned composer Nobuo Uematsu and his ensemble, the Earthbound Papas, at the Naka-Kon convention in Kansas, with a tremendous reaction to their performance. “Everywhere we perform is a venue where gamers are and that is the perfect target audience for what we do and it’s the exact same reaction we will get when we perform at Supanova,” said Gluck.

“Even though we’ve never played in Australia, I know attendees will... have the same love for this music as they do in the US and that’s why we’re going to kill it.” Doris Prodanovic

See Critical Hit perform at Supanova from 8-10 April and a free show at Broadbeach Mall on Saturday 9 April.

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Arts & Culture

When I started writing about the Gold Coast music scene in 2013 one name kept popping up. It seemed like every second band I interviewed had recorded their album with Scotty French. Or perhaps credited him with playing an instrument on their new album. Then he started showing up for photo shoots. Phil Barlow and the Wolf, The Lamplights, Cheap Fakes, Felicity Lawless. He didn’t just record and engineer music for artists here on the Gold Coast, he played in half the damn bands and their albums as well. But when I finally got around to googling Scotty French, there was very little to uncover. The man is an enigma and then some. Does he care that he’s so heavily involved in so many music projects, yet rarely in the public eye? “I don’t mind at all he said. “Everything I’ve done has come under a different name. Either a band name or Love Street Studios. I don’t mind being behind the scenes. It’s just part of my job at the studio – to make the artist the best they can without taking away from them.” So, he’s humble too. He went to highschool at Palm Beach – Currumbin and studied multi-media at Griffith, but unlike other musically talented people Scotty says there are no other musicians in his family. “They had probably two or three CDs,” he said, of his parents. “There was Phil Collins and there was REM.” Thankfully, somewhere along the way, Scott’s musical horizons were expanded, though he can’t quite put his finger on what drew him into a musical career. “I used to get one CD and thrash it,” he said. “For example, Michael Jackson’s History. I listened to a lot of heavy metal too, which is strange now because I’m not involved in any heavy metal bands,” he said. When I ask for examples, he lists Deftones, Korn, Slipknot. Scott has been at Lovestreet Studios for six years. He says it’s been a gradual process. “We built the rooms just for bands to rehearse in and there was another engineer that brought in some of the first equipment that we used,” he said. “Between him and Barry (Martin) they invested a bit more to make a proper recording studio. I was always there helping build but I didn’t start running it by myself until a few years later.” I ask Scott how he introduces himself when people ask what he does for a living. “I usually say ‘I have a recording studio’ because it makes more sense and gets straight to the point. In terms of the business, I say I’m an engineer / producer.” Scott was 20 when he started working at Lovestreet. I have no idea how you get that kind of experience at such a young age. Scott admits there was lots of “hanging around”. “I learned a bit at uni, a bit at school, but yeah, I’d say I started learning the most just when I started working there. 52

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Just going hands-on, working with a few bands,” he said. “I think it’s kind of a natural progression,” he explained “Being a musician, and being a producer. If I can offer something else to the project, then I do. It happens regularly.” And the bands he’s “offered” something to? Cheap Fakes, Felicity Lawless, The Lamplights, Taylor, Allensworth (USA), Leopold’s Treat, Phil Barlow. His first “proper” band was A French Butler Called Smith. He was only 19. When I ask Scott what instruments he plays he says “just guitar. Mostly guitar.” Then he adds “mandolin, bass, ukulele, drums, trumpet. Maybe a bit of keys.” Just a little bit humble. And also just a little bit busy. How does he manage his time? “I’m not great with a diary,” he laughed, “but my phone diary is extremely important.” “It’s not too bad – because I run the studio I can take the time whenever I need it. So when tours come up it’s easy for me to juggle things. It definitely gets extremely busy sometimes – but being my own boss is the key there.” Scott believes there’s a growing appreciation of live music here on the Gold Coast “that comes from there being more venues and more opportunities to see it (music).” “And really there’s probably a few key people responsible for that,” he said. When

I ask who he reels off a list: Polly Snowden, Miami Marketta, Glenn Tozer, Cindy Jensen, Bleach Festival. “It’s quite tough to do what they do – maybe a lot of people don’t realize,” he said. “It is a struggle to get projects up and running successfully.” “I guess they promote a cultural lifestyle on the Gold Coast that just shows how much fun it can be to go out and do things, to get involved in the community, and to have fun experiences with other local people.” And while he’s reluctant to single any local artists out, I do manage to convince him to share a few of his favourites. On the music front, Tijuana Cartel, Ivori, Karl S Williams and Hussy Hicks are on the list. In terms of emerging bands? “We had a band in called Trapdoor which were really cool,” he said. “And The Wayward Suns, Grace Hughes, Katie Who…” It’s not just contemporary music getting the Lovestreet treatment either. Scott was doing some guided meditation recording at the time we spoke plus he’s done a yoga instruction recording (complete with live yoga in the studio). He’s done voice-overs for ads, jingles, film scores as well as the Kids Alive Do the Five project for Lawrie Lawrence. Thinking back to high school, was this something he ever say himself doing?

“Yes,” he said. “I definitely wanted to do this at school. We had a small recording studio where I used to record friends’ bands at lunchtime. I suppose in the back of everyone’s mind is the motivation to be a rock star – I think I’d be lying to say I didn’t want to be a rock star at one point but I was always intrigued by the studio and being a producer.” And does he feel like a rock star now? “No,” he laughed. “It’s not really as glamorous as it might seem – there’s a lot of driving involved.” “There’s definitely moments of rock ‘n’ roll – I just don’t think they’re as common. If you play three gigs a week, you might have a couple of rock ‘n’ roll experiences a year.” “There are lots of late nights, loading equipment after the show’s finished and everyone goes home – you’re still there, still working, still driving, staying in lots of shitty hotels.” “Actually shitty hotels would be a pleasant change. It’s more like sleeping on people’s couches or sleeping in vans on the side of the road. If we get a shitty hotel we’re stoked.” “I think the hardest thing is - for a band to be a creative entity you have to enjoy the creative side of it or you wouldn’t bother in the first place. And then there’s the polar opposite of that, which is doing the business side of it and promoting yourself – it’s almost the opposite.” “From sitting in your bedroom writing a song to writing a press release, it’s just opposite sides of the brain. I guess it’s the side most people don’t think about.” “There are so many different levels and ideas of success too,” he said before telling me about the emerging acts Lovestreet studios have worked with. They‘ve sponsored Buskers by the Creek’s Battle of the Buskers since its inception, helping Katie Who with her debut EP as a result.

“We ran another band competition where we recorded the winner for free – Scarlett Kill,” Scott added. “I think a recording or release is such a crucial part of both their development and their promotional ability,” Scott said. “A) they need it, but B) they need it to be the best it can possibly be.” And has the technological landscape affected the way Scott works? “The weird thing is that both extremes of the spectrum still exist. You have your mega-multi million dollar studios that bands still want to use if they can. And you have a lot of really good products being made in bedrooms as well.”

Julz’ mum was sitting at the bar right in front of me and she was terrified. She didn’t know if she should move or stay, but she just stayed there. I eventually jumped over her and went back to the stage.” So much for ‘what happens on tour, stays on tour.’ Samantha Morris

Lovestreet Studios is located in Currumbin. Visit lovestreet.com.au.

“All you really need is a comfortable workspace and somebody comfortable to work with – it’s not so much about the technology. It’s about having the time and the right energy to put into it.” “The beauty of having a producer there is so the band can remain in a creative space and not have to work out whether a microphone is working or how something should sound or the technical side of it,” he said. “That’s what we do.” We finish on a very important note. Stories from the road. Julz Parker (Hussy Hicks) spoke to me before the interview about the fear in her mother’s eyes as Scotty jumped over her head at a gig. And here he is telling me he’s no rock ‘n’ roll star. Please explain? “That is actually true,” he laughed. “We were at the snow, at Peak Festival at Perisher and I was playing with Felicity Lawless. I jumped on top of the bar to take a guitar solo. I was told later that the bar was dangerously bendy. So yeah,

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of every month, the studios put on a night of youth entertainment at which all aspiring performers get the chance to show off their skills via an open mic night. The next Tweed Creative Youth Night is being held on Friday 15 April. These events run from 7pm – 10pm. More at tweedcreativestudios.com.au.

and drawing workshops for the kids, as well as a range of other activities. The final ever exhibition of How To Make a Monster: The Art and Technology of Animatronics is showing at the Gold Coast City Gallery until

creative scene. Experience the spectrum of digital arts from animation and projection, to glow yoga and interactive gaming. Be captivated lakeside by the City's dynamic water and laser spectacular. There's also food stalls and live music. Ride the G:link to Surfers Paradise (or park at the Bruce Bishop Carpark), then catch a free water shuttle from the Cavill Avenue pontoon to the event. GLOW is free and takes place 30 April from

Border Art Prize 2016 still open The annual Border Art Prize is shared between Tweed Regional Gallery and Gold Coast City Art Gallery and the venues alternate the prize each year. In 2016 it is Tweed Regional Gallery’s turn to lead the prize, which supports and celebrates art and artists living in the region and is open to all media and subject matter. Emerging and established artists from Tweed Shire, Gold Coast City, Scenic Rim, Ballina, Byron & Kyogle Shires & Lismore, Logan and Redland City areas are eligible to enter. Award winners will be announced at the opening night of the exhibition on Friday 6 May and displayed at the gallery until Sunday 10 July. More at artgallery.tweed.nsw.gov.au.

STAMP Celebrates Youth at the Arts Centre From 7 to 16 April, The Arts Centre Gold Coast is hosting a new initiative for young people in collaboration with Circus Corridor and a team of local, young creatives. STAMP offers a smorgasbord of awesome for everyone aged 15 – 25 years with young people being encouraged to make their mark on the city and The Arts Centre Gold Coast itself, by partaking in a host of new events and programs. STAMP will provide a platform to catapult youth arts and local artists and allows participants to try new things, meet new people and socialise in a custom setting. The inclusive program is highly accessible, with many of the listed events being free. More at theartscentregc.com.au.

Outlet for Tweed Creative Youth Tweed Creative Studios has long provided workshops, events and open mic nights for both adult and youth creatives on the coast. This year there’s a program touching on all of the above, including school holiday programs and after school tuition. On the third Friday

5.00 – 10.00pm. More at theartscentregc. com.au. 12 June. More at theartscentregc.com.au.

Mexican Madness at Citrique The Banff Mountain Film Festival Comes to Gold Coast in April The world's most prestigious mountain film festival is coming back to Australia: the Banff Mountain Film Festival World Tour presents over 2.5 hours of the most enthralling mountain adventure films that will have you on the edge of your seat. This year, the Australian line-up features captivating short films shot in some of the most wild and remote corners of the world. Sure to enthral, it showcases a selection of films packed full of mesmerising cinematography, thoughtprovoking storylines and adrenalin-inducing action sequences. Banff Mountain Film Festival is at The Arts Centre Gold Coast on 26 April. More at banffaustralia.com.au.

Citrique Restaurant has gone mad for Mexican. This ten day food festival is focusing on all things Mexican; from tacos to tequila. Featuring a live taco station, ceviche, fried plantain, empanadas, margarita ribs, Veracruz fish stew, oysters with queso and chipotle cream with desserts including churros, tres leches cake, Mexican chocolate pecan tart, arroz con leche and more, it’s a feast, and then some. Mexican Madness at the Marriott runs

Making monsters for decades John Cox and his wife Julie Anderson have been touring the world for the last ten years with their exhibition How To Make A Monster: The Art and Technology of Animatronics, and the final showing of the exhibit is rather fittingly in their home town of the Gold Coast. At the official opening night on the 24 March, John and Julie spoke to the attendees about the 800,000 people who have visited their show and workshops over the last ten years, and how digital technology has made the art of animatronics almost obsolete. The exhibition is a fascinating insight into the world of Hollywood make-believe before everything became CGI, and there are monster-making

22 April – 2 May. Reservations at 5592 9772.

Lighting up the cultural heart Immerse yourself in the future of the Gold Coast’s Cultural Precinct – it's time to Glow. Under the stars, surrounded by water, with the lights of Surfers Paradise on the horizon, GLOW celebrates its third year. Follow the glow to discover the dynamic and diverse digital talent on the Gold Coast. GLOW will throw a light on the Gold Coast's thriving

New live comedy at Southport Sharks Based Comedy has launched a new night of funny stuff at Southport Sharks. Kicking off 23 March the new weekly stand-up comedy night will bring hilarious acts from Queensland and around the country. The event takes place every Wednesday from 7.30pm at Mackenzie’s Sports Bar, Southport Sharks. What an awesome way to give hump day the flick.

Oh, for freak’s sake NightQuarter is the site of the greatest freak show the Gold Coast has seen for a long time. Freaks and Beats will do more than just wow audiences, with some of the country’s most celebrated sideshow performers already sharpening angle grinders and swords ready for the City’s freaky first. Curated by Buskers by the Creek there’ll be everything from sword swallowing to elite circus skills and knife balance… on teeth. Our favourite fire performers from Energy Entertainments also make an appearance. It’s a ticketed event ($15), it takes place Saturday 2 April and of course, there’s music on the program as well. More at nightquarter.com.au.

PRESENTED BY

A PROGRAM OF

A film festival that captures the spirit of mountain adventure featuring a collection of films from around the globe.

26 APRIL 7PM ONE NIGHT ONLY TICKETS: ARTS CENTRE GOLD COAST BOX OFFICE OR 5588 4000

VIEW THE TRAILER www.banffaustralia.com.au Credit: Les Drus, Chamonix, France ÂŠ Soren Rickards

Principal Sponsors

Associate Sponsors

Issue #32 APRIL 2016

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