Blank Gold Coast issue #43 - April 2017

April '17

issue #043

ART

MUSIC

FESTIVALS

Dust Temple Portrait Prize

Sabor Y Control Shapeshifter The East Pointers The Waifs Irish Mythen

Bluesfest Byron Bleach* Festival GC Film Festival Food & Wine Festival Buskers by the Creek

The Undercurrent Bitter / Sweet Flaneurie Phunk Femme Heroine

LIFESTYLE Fire Cue Currumbin co-working Ironwoman Kirsty Higginson AP8 Fierce Females Lucky Bao

MUSIC GC Music Awards Chelsea Rockwells Fisherman’s Wharf Cosmic Dad Surfers Paradise LIVE

THE VERONICAS TIGERTOWN

THE EVENT KICKS OFF BY HOSTING

THE 2017 GOLD COAST MUSIC AWARDS CEREMONY THURSDAY 27 APRIL Presenting Partner

ESKIMO JOE TAXIRIDE

FRIDAY 28 APRIL

SATURDAY 29 APRIL

SUNDAY 30 APRIL

MENTAL AS ANYTHING PSEUDO ECHO 1927

TIPI FOREST • SPLENDOUR IN THE CRAFT • BOUTIQUE BARS • GLOBAL VILLAGE • THE FORUM • LITTLE SPLENDOUR • HEAPS MORE

THE XX • QUEENS OF THE STONE AGE • LCD SOUNDSYSTEM • ROYAL BLOOD • HAIM • SIGUR RÓS • SCHOOLBOY Q (ONLY AUS SHOW ) • VANCE JOY TWO DOOR CINEMA CLUB • PEKING DUK • RL GRIME • BONOBO • FATHER JOHN MISTY • CATFISH AND THE BOTTLEMEN • TASH SULTANA • PAUL KELLY STORMZY • KING GIZZARD AND THE LIZARD WIZARD • GEORGE EZRA • FUTURE ISLANDS (ONLY AUS SHOW ) • BANKS • BERNARD FANNING • DUNE RATS CUT COPY • ÁSGIER • ALLDAY • MEG MAC • RAG‘N’BONE MAN • THUNDAMENTALS • LIL YACHTY • SAN CISCO • CLIENT LIAISON • REAL ESTATE DAN SULTAN • VALLIS ALPS • D.D DUMBO • MAGGIE ROGERS • TOVE LO • POND • BIG SCARY • THE SMITH STREET BAND • OH WONDER A.B. ORIGINAL • DOPE LEMON • THE KITE STRING TANGLE • YOUNG FRANCO • JULIA JACKLIN • KINGSWOOD • AMY SHARK • LUCA BRASI THE LEMON TWIGS • VERA BLUE • SLUMBERJACK • BAD//DREEMS • BAG RAIDERS • TOPAZ JONES • MIDDLE KIDS • OCEAN GROVE CONFIDENCE MAN • BISHOP BRIGGS • LATE NITE TUFF GUY • JULIEN BAKER • KILTER • LANY • HOCKEY DAD • KIRIN J CALLINAN • AIRLING COSMO’S MIDNIGHT • GRETTA RAY • MOONBASE • THE PEEP TEMPEL • TORNADO WALLACE • THE MURLOCS • MALLRAT • LUKE MILLION • THE WILSON PICKERS • ROMARE • JARROW • GOOD BOY • KUREN • ONEMAN • WINSTON SURFSHIRT • SET MO • HWLS • HARVEY SUTHERLAND & BERMUDA CC:DISCO! • ENSCHWAY • DJHMC • NITE FLEIT • ALICE IVY • WILLOW BEATS • WILLARIS. K • MOOKHI • TRIPLE J UNEARTHED WINNERS PLUS SWINDAIL • DENA AMY • ANDY GARVEY • PLANÈTE • SAM WESTON • SUPER CRUEL • CHRISTOPHER PORT • LEWIS CANCUT • KINDER INSTAGRAM @SPLENDOURINTHEGRASS TWITTER @SITG #SITG2017 SPLENDOURINTHEGRASS.COM TIX FROM MOSHTIX.COM.AU • 126 TWEED VALLEY WAY, WOOYUNG • 15 MINS NTH OF BYRON BAY

PHOTO: SHOT BY HANNAN

LIVE IN THE PADDOCK BEST VENUE 6 WINNER 201

TICKETED SHOWS

APRIL GIG GUIDE

SAFIA 8TH APRIL SATURDAY

SATURDAY 1ST APRIL ROUND MOUNTAIN GIRLS SARAH FRANK

THE WAIFS

SUNDAY 21ST MAY

FRIDAY 7TH APRIL STEELE SYNDICATE SKY EATER

MINISTRY OF SOUND: THE REUNION TOUR 05-08

SATURDAY 8TH APRIL THE WAIFS*

SATURDAY 27TH MAY

BLISS N ESO

FRIDAY 14TH APRIL PAUL COSTA GEMMA KIRBY

SATURDAY 17TH JUNE

BABY ANIMALS & THE SCREAMING JETS

SATURDAY 15TH APRIL SABOR Y CONTROL RIO RHYTHMICS

WEDNESDAY 22ND NOVEMBER

UB40

nightquarter.com.au

FRIDAY 21ST APRIL ZOMBIE WALK HONEY REMIXED BELLA MAREE SATURDAY 22ND APRIL THE SEVEN UPS COLIN LILLIE FELICITY LAWLESS FRIDAY 28TH APRIL HOT POTATO BAND THE MAE TRIO SATURDAY 29TH APRIL KINGFISHA WILL ANDERSON

*free entertainment unless specified as a ticketed event

1800 264 448

town centre drive, helensvale

S t r u t & Fr et a n d B l e a c h* Fe s t i va l p r e s e n t

’êêêêê AN ABSOLUTE MUST SEE’

WE ST END WILMA (UK)

#043 APRIL 2017 Editor in Chief: Samantha Morris Cultural Editor: Natalie O’Driscoll Design: Chloe Popa Advertising: Amanda Gorman Music Coordinator: Mella Lahina

B L E A C H * F E S T I VA L SPIEGELTENT GOLD COAST 29 MAR - 16 APR

Money Coordinator: Phillippa Wright Partnerships Coordinator: Simone Gorman-Clark Sub editor: Cody McConnell House Photographer: Leisen Standen, Lamp Photography Lifestyle cover photo: Lamp Photography Contributors: Trevor Jackson, Leisen Standen, Natalie O’Driscoll, Christie Ots, Gina Martin, Nae Kurth, Catherine Coburn, Anna Itkonen, Erin Bourne, Pip Andreas, Dan Maynard, Glenn Tozer, Kylie Cobb, Emma Whines, Tiffany Mitchell, Simon Benson, Lachlan McConnell.

Acknowledgement of Country We genuinely respect and acknowledge the Traditional Owners of the land on which we work and play. We honour their elders past, present and emerging as well as the rich contribution that continues to be made to society through art, story and music.

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. Founded in 2013 we are the Gold Coast’s independent cultural voice and we rely on advertising as well as our generous contributors 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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S I M P LY MIND-BLOWING

IF BAZ LUHRMANN MADE A NIGHTCLUB, THIS WOULD BE IT

THE HIGHLIGHT O F T H E F E S T I VA L

ME T RO (UK )

T I ME OUT S YDN EY

WEE KE ND NO TE S

BLANCSHOW.COM

point

blank Cunningham all score sets at the brewery with food trucks as diverse as Biggie Smallz, Weiner Haus, Cycho Buffalo Wings, Little Havana, Baracca and Little Wahaca also on rotation through the site. Head brewer Brennan Fielding hosts a special backstage tour of the brewery on 19 April for $50 per person and on Saturday 22 April the brewery screens Pulp Fiction as part of the Gold Coast Film Festival.

We love that a brewery can do so much more than just make great beer. Get all the details at burleighbrewing.com.au.

A night all about women Wednesday 26 April will see Envy Hotel in the Broadbeach Mall taken over by a handful of talented Gold Coast musicians and artists for a special event that aims to raise funds and awareness around men’s violence against women and girls. The evening’s musical entertainment will be provided by folk singer / songwriter Elly Hart, flamenco queen Felicity Lawless and soulful jazz diva Nicole Parker-Brown. Artists Damo Mob and Caroline Pledger will conduct live body painting. A silent auction will be held, as well as raffle draws throughout the night. Entry is $10.00 either at the door or via a direct donation to White Ribbon at inmemwrevents. everydayhero.com/au/tracie, and doors open at 5.00pm. This event is dedicated to the memory of Teresa Bradford.

Record Store Day at Beatniks One of our favourite record stores, Beatniks is celebrating its first birthday and Record Store Day with a massive celebration of all things vinyl. Record Store Day will be held on Saturday 22 April this year and #beatniks will have live music, spot prizes, in-store turntable and LP giveaways and tons of limited releases. Beatniks is located in Neicon Plaza, Broadbeach. You’d be mad to miss this event.

Stay tuned to Blank Gold Coast for the live music lineup.

Music and film bonanza at Burleigh Brewing Co this month Burleigh Brewing Co continues to dish up tasty treats this month with music, film, food and brewery tours all on the menu. Local original artists Josh Lee Hamilton, Hell & Whiskey, Kiara Jack, Hayley Grace, Kenny Slide and Nick 8

www.blankgc.com.au

Kodiak Empire’s Hakbah East Coast Tour Brisbane’s Kodiak Empire are turning heads with ever-changing time signatures, textures and tones, and explosive instrumentals. The prog-rockers are now embarking on an east coast tour to support of their acclaimed debut EP Silent Bodies. Kodiak Empire’s six-date tour will kick off supporting none other than Aussie prog stalwarts COG at Brisbane’s Eaton’s Hill Hotel on Saturday 8 April. They’ll also hit Newcastle, Sydney, Wollongong, Melbourne and wrap up back in Brisbane on Saturday 29 April with a show at Foundry Records.

Broadbeach Country Music Festival drops second lineup 25 super impressive country music acts have been added to the 2017 Broadbeach Country Music Festival line-up. The Wolfe Bothers, Sara Store, Caitlyn Shadbolt, Tomato Tomato, Drew McAlister, The Viper Creek Band, The Wilson Pickers and Round Mountain Girls will join international superstars AMERICA plus Kasey Chambers, Troy Cassar-Daley and Shane Nicholson. The event, now in its fifth year runs 28 – 30 July and draws more than 30,000 visitors. Get the full lineup at broadbeachcountry.com.

soundlounge p

A 50th Annivers

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featuring Yes Sir Noce Thee End Le TRAPDOOR + guests

Ticket price

soundlounge presents

presents

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www.blankgc.com.au

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BREAKOUT ARTIST OF THE YEAR sponsored by Griffith University, Queensland Conservatorium Being Jane Lane Chelsea Rockwells Donny Love Jacob Lee Tesla Coils The Ruiins

EVENT OF THE YEAR sponsored by TAFE Queensland Gold Coast Blues on Broadbeach Buskers by the Creek Fuzzfest Shakafest Summertime Sessions in the Village Wallapalooza ALBUM OF THE YEAR

sponsored by ALH City Over Sand - Good Grief Driven Fear - Freethinker Felicity Lawless - Tails Hussy Hicks - Lucky Joe’s Wine & Other Tales from Dog River Lane Harry x Ike Campbell – Youth

VIDEO OF THE YEAR

sponsored by QT Gold Coast Chelsea Rockwells - Stone Felicity Lawless – Cowboy Camerman Marcus Blacke – Umbrella Brain Phoebe Sinclair – This Isn’t Love Purple Zain – I Am The Best The Black Swamp – Common Crows

VENUE OF THE YEAR

sponsored by Oztix Elsewhere Expressive Ground Miami Marketta NightQuarter Soundlounge

ARTIST OF THE YEAR

sponsored by Southport Sharks Amela Duheric Amy Shark Benny D Williams Driven Fear Ella Fence

SONG OF THE YEAR

sponsored by NightQuarter Amy Shark - Adore Athena Joy - Blue CC The Cat - Free Your Mind Chelsea Rockwells - Stone Electrik Lemonade - We Know This Eliza and the Delusionals - Salt Hussy Hicks - Whole Lotta Jacob Lee - I Just Know Tesla Coils - Eyes The Ruiins - Eventually 12 www.blankgc.com.au

FINALISTS ANNOUNCED FOR GOLD COAST MUSIC AWARDS Punk, hip-hop and Korean pop all feature as finalists for the 2017 Gold Coast Music Awards, with winners to be announced at a beachside event on Thursday 27 April.

Dark brooding as well as sweet pop offerings, unabashed pub rock, folk, metal and indie-rock all get a look in as well.

New Gold Coast outfit Chelsea Rockwells have been named finalists for three categories – Song, Video and Breakout Artist of the Year, with local superstar Amy Shark being named a finalist for two – Song and Artist of the Year.

Newcomers Eliza and the Delusionals, Jacob Lee, Purple Zain, Phoebe Sinclair and Tesla Coils sit alongside the city’s established artists like Hussy Hicks, Felicity Lawless, Lane Harry x Ike Campbell and Benny D Williams.

Heavy rock, metal and punk are represented with Driven Fear named finalists for both Artist of the Year and Album of the Year and The Black Swamp finalists for Video of the Year.

Co-founder of the Awards, Chloe Popa said judging was incredibly hard.

“Our judging panel is made up of independent experts from across the music industry,” she said.

“And the most frequent comment we had from them was about the incredible level of talent on show.”

“We know the Gold Coast continues to punch above its weight when it comes to music,” Chloe said. “These awards are about showcasing the diversity of genre, the depth of talent and the size of the local music industry. People outside of the Gold Coast are starting to pay attention to what’s happening here. It’s a very exciting time for musicians on the Gold Coast.”

“As well as awards for Song, Video, Artist, Album and Breakthrough Artist, we are thrilled to have such a strong pool of finalists for Venue of the Year and Music Event of the Year,” Chloe said.

Tallebudgera-based Expressive Ground makes its first appearance as a finalist in the awards for Venue of the Year this year, standing alongside bigger industry players: elsewhere, Miami Marketta, NightQuarter and Soundlounge.

Expressive Ground is run by a not-forprofit group and provides rehearsal and live performance spaces for all-ages gigs.

Finalists for Event of the Year are Blues on Broadbeach, Buskers by the Creek, Fuzzfest, Shakafest, Summertime Sessions in the Village and Wallapalooza, again showing the diversity of genre and scope for music events on the Gold Coast.

“Fuzzfest was a boutique riff-fest that took place on one day at the Currumbin Pub,” Chloe said.

“It showed off the best fuzz guitar bands on the Gold Coast and was pulled together by a tiny team with no budget.

People raved about the day and the quality of music. Wallapalooza is similar in that regard.”

“Blues on Broadbeach, on the other hand has a massive budget but attracts a gazillion people with its incredible lineup of international and local blues stars.”

“We’ve got a family-friendly Friday night series in Mudgeeraba, an indie-rock fest for millenials at the Miami Tavern and the best busking event happening in Australia in the list. It’s very hard to compare that diversity, but they all contribute enormously, to the local cultural economy,” Chloe said.

Thanks to a new partnership with Surfers Paradise Alliance, this year’s Gold Coast Music Awards will take place on the beach in Surfers Paradise with two distinct components. A live music program featuring Amy Shark, Hanlon Brothers, Aquila Young and Yes Sir Noceur will run on a public stage and is free and all-ages. In a ticketed marquee adjacent, the award presentations will take place.

FISHOS UPS ITS LIVE MUSIC OFFERING Fisherman’s Wharf has undergone many evolutions over recent decades. From the venue for Nirvana’s much-talked about gig on the Gold Coast, to hosting DJs and dance music late into the night now. While the pub itself has changed dramatically, the constant has been its million-dollar location, right on the Broadwater.

Claudine Battistuzzi is the venue’s Operations Manager – a role she’s held for ten years. She’s seen the venue change quite a bit over her tenure.

“We used to be a massive live entertainment venue up until around 2008 when liquor licensing laws changed,” she said. “That forced us to reinvent ourselves and become a bit more well-rounded good food, family-friendly, function facilities as well as live entertainment.”

“I like to think of us as probably the best waterfront venue on the northern Gold Coast,” she said.

“I’m trying to get more in touch with the local music scene and get connected with the right people to get better live music here, and do it consistently.”

Fishos has a monthly gig called Saxxy Sundays (first Sunday of the month) which features DJs and a live saxophonist. This month’s DJ is The Potbelleez’s Jonny Sonic. Easter Saturday sees McKenzie take to the stage and Gold Coast Music Awards Artist of the Year (2016) and finalists for 2017, Hussy Hicks will play 30 April for a long weekend session of epic proportions.

Hussy Hicks’ Julz Parker says she’s excited to play the venue.

“I used to play there as a teenager with Local Duo 'Double Shuffle' on a Saturday or Sunday arvo. It was a big part of my apprenticeship. We actually played the very last gig at the old Fisherman’s Wharf bar,” she said.

The Awards concert warms up the stage for Surfers Paradise LIVE which features The Veronicas as well as a heap of local talent and runs Friday 28 – Sunday 30 April.

“It really is great that Gold Coast venues that have more of a walk up crowd (as opposed to a dedicated ticket buying music crowd) are realising that there is a whole swag of Gold Coast original bands who can not only bring new people to the venue but can give their regular patrons a great experience,” she said.

TICKETS TO THE GOLD COAST MUSIC AWARDS PRESENTATION CEREMONY ARE ON SALE NOW VIA OZTIX.

HUSSY HICKS PLAY FISHERMAN’S WHARF 30 APRIL. DJ JONNY SONIC (THE POTBELLEEZ) IS THERE 2 APRIL. CHECK GIG GUIDE FOR OTHER LISTINGS.

Gold Coast

ALL SIGNS POINT EAST FOR CELTIC TORCHBEARERS

A TASTE OF PERU FOR BLEACH* 2017 Sabor y Control (in English, “Taste and Control”) is a Peruvian salsa dura orchestra established in 2000 by saxophonist Bruno Macher.

Macher and his band set out to rescue the roots of the genre while seeking their own identity, both in sound and lyrics. Originating in New York in the 1970s, salsa dura is a style of salsa music that places emphasis on the instrumental part of the music over the vocals.

With eight albums produced to date, this ensemble of over 10 performers seek to convey their collective experiences of their homeland in Lima, Peru into music. Audiences will get the chance to get up and dance as Sabor y Control take over the Gold Coast for the first time at Bleach* Festival 2017.

Bruno Macher talks about the relationship between the band members.

“We believe that it has been fate that has joined us,” he says.

“We have been together for 16 years and we are a family.”

The Sabor y Control family not only seeks to entertain and get its audiences up on their feet, but also aims to tell stories through its music.

“Sabor y Control is always in a constant search for the elements that define the neighbourhood, the street, the corner,” explains Bruno. “[We turn] all these experiences into their interpretations, closely linked to our customs and daily life.

“Sabor y Control is a social orchestra that seeks to generate positive change in people through their music and lyrics.”

With some members playing since they were children and others starting after they finished school, the group is as diverse in its membership as the crowds who flock to enjoy them.

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“Each member has a different musical history,” says Bruno. “[So] when we get together we combine our personal experiences and translate them in a musical way.”

One thing shared by all members is a passion for their craft and dedication to providing fans with quality entertainment.

“For us, it is important to both play well and enjoy when you play,” says Bruno.

“They are two things that go hand in hand and cannot be separated. It is important that each musician devotes time to the music and his instrument in order to make a quality show.”

Following their Australian visit, the hardworking group is planning to record their ninth studio album, as well as videos for their new songs.

It may be the first salsa dura experience for many Bleach* festivalgoers, but if the incredible recordings we’ve heard so far by this non-stop party band is anything to go by, we are confident it won’t be the last.

Bruno’s hopes for the festival are simple.

“It is the first time for us in Australia and we that hope people enjoy our music.”

Natalie O'Driscoll

SABOR Y CONTROL WILL BE PLAYING AS PART OF BLEACH* AT THE NIGHTQUARTER, A FREE EVENT FROM 6.30PM ON 15 APRIL, AND AGAIN AT BLEACH* AT BURLEIGH FROM 2.30PM ON 16 APRIL.

Named Ensemble of the Year at the Canadian Folk Music Awards, The East Pointers are about to embark on an Australian Tour to delight festivalgoers and small venue crowds alike. And they’re no stranger to Australian audiences. Their debut album Secret Victory was penned mostly while touring here. Gold Coast fans are in for a treat too, with the band announcing a set at Mudgeeraba for Bleach* Festival. Samantha Morris chatted to Koady Chaisson (banjo) ahead of the band’s visit.

Welcome back to Australia. You’ve spent quite a bit of time here recently. Tell me about the connection you have with Australian audiences?

I think the thing we love most about Australian audiences is your willingness to dance. You all seem to understand that this music is meant for dancing and you’re not afraid to let loose and get a bit crazy!

You’ve been dubbed ‘torchbearers’ for a new wave of traditional Celtic music. Is that a difficult path to tread?

We try not to think too much about it, to be honest. When we started this band it was with the dream of making eltic music more accessible to people who may not have had the exposure to it that we did growing up. So far it seems to be going pretty good!

I have a friend who’s a big fan and he warned me to bring dancing shows for your show.

Sounds like a rollicking experience. How do you know when you’ve performed a killer set? Is dancing the only yardstick? Are there others? What audience reactions make you the happiest after a show?

Dancing is definitely a great way to gauge a set. If people are up on the dance floor it certainly makes us feel like they’re into what we are doing. There’s really nothing quite like it.

Having someone come up after a show and tell us that we brightened up their day is probably one of the things that makes us happiest after a show, after all, that’s the #1 goal!

On this current tour you play a mix of festivals, regional towns and capital cities

and you play some beautiful community halls and arts centres. What are some of the more unusual places you’ve played gigs in?

We played an abandoned town outside of Queenstown in Tasmania while on tour with The Festival of Small Halls last year. It was an eerie experience to be playing in a hall that used to be the hub of a booming little town.

We also played the Shetland Folk Festival in Scotland last year. It takes place on several small islands that are a 12 hour ferry ride north of Aberdeen through the North Sea. They send you out on buses and ferries to the various island venues, and the bands end up jamming along the road. It’s extremely beautiful up there, you should look it up!

Your debut album Secret Victory was penned mostly while touring Australia. What impact did our country have on your music?

Australia is a beautiful place and we tried to capture a bit of it in the tunes we wrote here.

There’s no better place to be while trying to write a record than on a hilltop overlooking Gardiners Bay in Tasmania. Inspiration comes easy there.

There will be lots of people reading this who’ve never heard of The East Pointers before. What do you have to say to them about coming to see you while you’re here?

What rock have you been living under? Just kidding. Please come out to our show!

THE EAST POINTERS PLAY MUDGEERABA HALL FOR BLEACH* FESTIVAL ON 9 APRIL.

Springbrook Mountain’s Annual

MFest

Free family event

The Beauty Pageant (Bleach Festival 2017) 8 April Mudgeeraba Memorial Hall, Railway Street, Mudgeeraba w: bleachfestival.com.au East Pointers from Canada (Bleach Festival 2017) 9 April Mudgeeraba Memorial Hall, Railway Street, Mudgeeraba w: bleachfestival.com.au Mudgeeraba Street Party and Mudgeeraba Pool Open Day (Free Family Fun Day) 9 April Railway Street, Mudgeeraba (11am-3pm) w: goldcoast.qld.gov.au/events Casey Fogg playing at the Mudgeeraba Street Party and Wallaby Hotel 9 April Wallaby Hotel, Railway Street, Mudgeeraba (on stage 1pm and 2.30pm ) w. wallabyhotel.com.au/whats-on Angry Anderson 16 April Advancetown Hotel, Nerang Murwillimbah Road, Advancetown (1pm-4.30pm) f: Advancetownhotel Nicole Parker Brown and the Late Late Show (Classic Jazz and Blues) 30 April Advancetown Hotel, Nerang Murwillimbah Road, Advancetown (1pm-4.30pm) f: Advancetownhotel MFest a Celebration of Mother, Music, Mountain (Free) 13 May Springbrook State School Grounds, Springbrook Road, Springbrook (10am - 4pm) w: goldcoast.qld.gov.au/events

Celebration of Motherhood & The Creativity of Women - for all the family!

Mudgeeraba Street Party and Pool Open Day

10am - 4pm

10

Year Anniversary

Free Entry All Welcome

Sunday 9 April 2017 11am – 3pm age Green and Mudgeeraba Vill Mudgeeraba Railway Street, tain Come and see Cap show at noon. eat • Grab a bite to • Market stalls • Jumping castle • Rock climbing ment • Stage entertain

live magic Jack Sparrow’s

on More informati P 07 5581 6728 ast.qld.gov.au E division9@goldco

by Proudly supported er – Division 9 Councillor Glenn Toz

nesses following local busi Thank you to the event: for supporting the

om.au cityofgoldcoast.c

Saturday May 13 Springbrook State School SPRINGBROOK QLD 4213

MAGIC SHOW

Free Workshops Yummy Food Men’s Shed Fire Truck “Little Squirt” kids ride maryen@maryencairns.com

Live Women-Led Music:

Sista Moon

Susan McCarter, Byron Bound, Maryen Cairns, & more! www.MFest.com for full details

www.MFest.com.au Stalls: mfest@selfhelpretreat.com.au

Deck Acoustics

BONNIE TYLER May 18-21, 2017 IAN MOSS bluesonbroadbeach.com TRIO

SLIM JIM PHANTOM KEVIN BORICH - RAY BEADLE - HARTS

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ROCKING WELL WITH CHELSEA ROCKWELLS Finalists for three categories of the Gold Coast Music Awards and with killer songs and a bangin’ video in their arsenal, Chelsea Rockwells are turning heads locally and across mainstream radio for their unforgiving approach to rock.

They came in at #75 on 4ZZZ’s Hot 100, scored supports for Thirsty Merc and Screaming Jets and this month unleash their debut EP Eleven Vol 1 with a launch show at Hard Rock Café.

Samantha Morris caught up with drummer Sean Dalton ahead of the band’s mini-tour and debut release and we started by talking about the band’s finalist berth in the Hard Rock Rising competition which brought them to the attention of the local music industry.

“We were actually mid way through recording (the EP) at Loose Stones Studios the week of the first heat, so it was a pretty full on week,” Sean said of the competition. “We finished a full day of recording then went straight to the show.

Sean says the band’s experience at Loose Stones was humbling. Working with people like Matt Bartlem, Zach Hylton and Forrester Savell meant Chelsea Rockwells was pushed to take their music to the next level.

“There's still a lot of pressure going into the studio without a big record label budget though,” Sean said. “You don't have time to waste, so you have to be prepared and wellrehearsed.”

“The response so far has been very positive,” Sean said. “These are the very first songs we've put out into the world, so we're stoked with the response,” he said of the lead tracks off the EP. “I think Aztec and Stone were a good introduction to the sound of the EP but I think tracks like Night Time Falls and Chasing The Sun offer a little more depth and variety.”

The band’s video for Stone sees them as a finalist for GC Music Awards Video of the 20

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Year and Sean says that visual component is important.

“Music and visuals go together hand in hand but can also make or break a song. I've seen many videos that have almost ruined a good song for me because I associate the two together.”

“Videos are also an essential part of the release process these days, just look at how many views music videos accumulate on YouTube.

The glory days of MTV may be dead, but people clearly still enjoy a good music video,” he said.

Chelsea Rockwells is headed back into the studio soon to record new songs and Sean says they haven’t really stopped writing since recording the EP.

CHELSEA ROCKWELLS WILL HIT HARD ROCK CAFÉ, PRESENTED BY BLANK GOLD COAST ON FRIDAY 21 APRIL WITH THE BLACKWATER FEVER + PAGING JIMI IN SUPPORT.

MUCH-LOVED SISTERS THE WAIFS TOUR IRONBARK AROUND AUSTRALIA Just one look at the beautiful cover photo on The Waifs' new album Ironbark says a lot about who they are and what they are about; friends and family bound together by their love of music, of performing and of Australia.

It's 25 years since West Australian sisters Donna and Vikki Simpson (now Vikki Thorn) joined forces with Josh Cunningham to create one of the country's best-loved bands. One can't imagine a better way to commemorate this significant landmark in the band's career than with a double album of 25 original songs, one for each year, all of them recorded in the kitchen of Cunningham's home near Moruya, where he grew up. That's the amazing and unexpected harvest from a couple of weeks of recording late last year, when the trio assembled with regular collaborators David Ross McDonald (drums, percussion) and Ben Franz (bass, dobro), not really knowing what they were about to record, other than maybe some covers of other artists' material.

"There was a freshness to it and a flying by the seat of our pants thing," says Cunningham.

"The familiarity of the environment and the history around it was conducive to the recording. It wasn't like a normal studio where the clock is ticking and the atmosphere can be a bit sterile. We had the crickets and cicadas and the birds."

"We didn't even have a list of songs," says Thorn, who for the first time is the leading contributor to a Waifs album, with 10 songs of her own and a co-write with her sister on the poppy 'Not the Lonely'. "What I love about this album is that you can hear the chemistry.

Some of those tracks it was only the third or fourth time we had played the songs together.

I can hear the tension of us all listening to the music. That tension translated beautifully on some of the tracks. " Ironbark album is now available to purchase instore and online through Jarrah Records and MGM.

THE WAIFS WILL BE AT NIGHTQUARTER ON SATURDAY 8 APRIL, WITH SPECIAL GUESTS JEZ MEAD’S GOLDEN MILE. HEAD TO THEWAIFS. COM FOR DETAILS.

APRIL 2017 LIVE GIGS AT FISHERMAN’S WHARF TAVERN Fish bo w l l o un ge bar | e v e nts | di ni ng | functions

Goldi-Licious PRESENTED BY

LISA HUNT

Holly Tapp Appearing-

2nd Ap ril

15th April

Live @ Fishos on Easter Sunday from 1.30pm

16th A p ril

SUNDAY 19th MARCH, 2pm

NO COVER CHARGE, FREE COURTESY BUS 0422 869 951

30 t h Apr i l

2 8 t h M AY

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BE HEARD ABOVE THE NOISE

Image: Hannah Hervall

BRIGHTSIDE, BUFFY TRIVIA AND BEER: JUST ANOTHER NIGHT ON THE ROAD WITH BALTIMORE GUN CLUB I tailed my way into the gig this evening at Brightside and found my self knee deep in a Buffy Trivia night. Being an ardent trivia fan, I sequestered a seat in the smoking area and listened intently, quickly realising I've never actually seen an episode of Buffy. The pungent stench of week old deep fryer oil coated my throat in a sickly sarcoma as I wondered if its powers would reduce the self inflicted effects of my commitment to the dying art of smoking.

Where is my bar tab.... where is this mythical beast that possesses my ticket to ride?

No time for that now, $8.50 is exchanged for a cold refreshing ale. The music has started.

Ahhh yes a beer and some live original music, there's nothing quite like it.

Sludgy blues is delivered and I'm eating it up like a 12 year old at his first Sizzler visit, cheesy bread and all.

I make small talk about soundcheck, and casually inquire as to the existence of the golden tickets.

"How many people in your band?"

Cue moral dilemma...

Do I insist we are a P Funk cover band and insist we have 15 members but only 12 drink?

"Three man... three piece."

Six tickets are granted. Bless.

Echo's of groundhog day ensue.

"You're going to have to turn down that guitar mate."

The room becomes warm.

As the sonic buffet continues we find, well, I find myself soaked in what preppy chefs with a nest egg at their disposal would refer to as modern contemporary Australian metal fusion.

Socialise? Dear lord, ‘tis my first beer and I already have enough friends. The books are currently closed. All positions are filled.

Brilliant, I have spied the drink card Barron. This will be the cumulative effort of my social interaction thus far tonight. Obtain ticket. Obtain beer.

The beer Barron happens to be the sound engineer.

Luckily he is not mixing Pink Floyd tonight, it's more of a case of set and forget.

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Then, you need to take that info and brand the shit out of your stuff! That means consistently presenting your visual media across all of your platforms (photography, logos, colours, language, tone, sound, style etc.) so that it becomes identifiable and recognised as uniquely you.

F Think of your business as a person, with its own personality and identity - what does it look like, sound like, feel like?

Don't get me wrong, there's not much else I'd rather be doing.... Well, my lady of course but that's another story entirely.

My band mates have not yet arrived as I find my self being that guy standing in the corner alone - face slightly illuminated by my hand held device attempting to keep myself busy and occupied.

Well, first and foremost, you must have a clear idea on who your audience is, exactly what it is they are buying (music, tickets to a show, a sense of belonging) and what appeals to them.

Here are some ideas on how to do just that:

I watch the next band soundcheck.

Punters alternate between slugging drinks, tapping toes and brandishing smart phones high above their heads capturing the proceedings.

Are they treading the fine line between human comfort and minimised overheads by not firing up the air-conditioning?

This will take a few moments to fully assess.

We are bombarded by 3000+ images a day with some statisticians reporting we need to see something as many as 8 times to recognise it! How then, do you make sure your voice is heard above the visual noise so that when your audience is ready to ‘buy’, they think of you?

And with that my brethren arrive. They don't drink.

This in itself, along with a myriad of other reasons is why we yin and yang so well. Designated drivers are hard to come by and good friends are even harder.

But I digress.The crux lay herewith.

Financially it is far more viable for me to purchase lemonades for the boys rather than "wasting" a ticket to Valhalla.

Time to brass tac this conundrum and plead my case.

Simon Benson

F Define who you are, your point of difference and where you fit in the scheme of things now (and in the future).

F Make sure your branding reflects your ‘product’ and resonates with your intended audience.

F Create a branding system with values and key identifying elements that allow you to mix things up to keep it interesting but recognisable as you.

F Invest in professional services as soon as humanly possible (graphic design, photography, web design).

F Apply your branding elements consistently across all marketing channels (social media, advertising, products) F Be creative, bold AND strategic. #powerUP Kylie Cobb

Gold Coast. Spoilt for Choice.

GOLD COAST

MUSIC AWARDS

2017

Burleigh Brewing, proud sponsor of the Gold Coast Music Awards People’s Choice Award 2017 Voting opens from 10th April via http://gcmusicawards.com.au/peopleschoice/

HANGING FIVE WITH COSMIC DAD

UNDER THE RADAR AT BLUESFEST Bluesfest has always been a veritable smorgasbord of tasty artists, with a wide array of music to suite the palate of any punter. However there are a few homegrown, or little known, artists that we want to shine the spotlight on for a moment.

Little Georgia Take, for example, Aussie duo Little Georgia – a delightful pairing of Ashleigh Mannix and Justin Carter. Any GC music lover will be familiar with the name Ashleigh Mannix, who has been treating local audiences to her powerful and angelic vocals for many years.

In 2016 Little Georgia released their debut album Bootleg and have been touring for the last year. A refreshing honesty infuses their folksy music, with embellished harmonies tying their compelling songs together. You can catch them on Saturday and Monday of the five-day festival and we strongly recommend you do.

Nic Cester Our next artist may not necessarily be flying under the radar, but he’s certainly homegrown. Nic Cester, former lead singer of Aussie band Jet, has returned with something a little left of centre as far as his previous music is concerned. Backed by an enchanting cohort of Italian session players, strings and horns Cester takes a walk on the soul side of life with his new material. Even if Jet wasn’t your cup of tea, this show will be worth catching as Cester debuts never before heard songs and showcases just why Australia fell in love with him in 2003. Make sure you swing by on Sunday or Monday to be the first to hear some of his new material.

Max Jury While Max Jury hails from Iowa, USA he is definitely on our ‘to watch’ list and as soon as you lend an ear to the 21 year old’s lofty croon and heartfelt lyrics you’ll understand why. We could compare this old soul with some of the greats, call him a ‘country infused Elton John’, but his music stands on it’s own. You can see him Thursday, Friday, Saturday or Sunday – and he’s also putting on a sideshow in Sydney Thursday night.

Busby Marou This duo has had a pretty impressive career so far. Over the last few years they’ve recorded a song for the Finn Brothers’ tribute album He Will Have His Way, they’ve supported James Blunt and Pete Murray in 24

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Australia and recorded at Murray’s home studio. Most recently Busby Marou have been making headlines after reaching the number one spot on the ARIA charts for their third album Postcards From the Shell House. Tom Busby and Jeremy Marou have such a strong musical connection and their voices and style blend so well together. If you’re into laid-back blues and stunning harmonies – don’t miss Busby Marou on Friday 14 at Jambalaya stage and Monday 17 April at Crossroads.

IVY Taking home the 2016 Bluesfest Busking Competition, IVY will return to the stage this year for another hazy rock show. Hailing from the Central Coast these guys are no strangers to the big stage, having played at Sweaty Palms Festival and Mountain Sounds Festival in 2016. Together Kane Brown, Steve Pokrajac and Benny Pokrajac create a big, fuzzy rock and roll sound that I challenge you not to stomp along to. If you missed them at last years festival I implore you not to do the same this year. They’re on Sunday 16 April at Delta stage.

Laura Mvula Where to begin? Laura Mvula is one of those magical talents that transcends genre.

Mvula started out working with gospel and a Capella groups in her hometown of Birmingham, UK and has a spectacular vocal ability. She creates her own brand of neosoul and collaborated with Nile Rodgers on Overcome, the single from her 2016 album The Dreaming Room. This goddess will not disappoint fans of Erykah Badu, Solange and Nina Simone and you have three chances to see her at Bluesfest: Saturday 15 April at Delta, Sunday 16 April at Jambalaya and Monday 17 April at Crossroads.

Gina Martin and Christie Ots

BLUESFEST TAKES PLACE 13 – 17 APRIL AND MIRACULOUSLY, THERE ARE STILL TICKETS LEFT. MORE AT BLUESFEST.COM.AU.

When Cosmic Dad leapt into my inbox to push their new single The Moon Speaks Wisdom, I was surprised I hadn’t heard of them before. Based on the Gold Coast, but only forming this year the three-piece dish up psych-space tunes with a dash of slacker rock.

James Pepperell hung five.

Tell me about Cosmic Dad? Well Cosmic Dad is a new Gold Coast based band formed in early 2017 working in the genres of psych and hard rock. Very new as a band we started creating music as soon as we came together and very shortly afterwards we began writing and recording.

Psych-rock is a burgeoning genre on the Gold Coast. Why do you think that is?

A lot of music nowadays is largely influenced by underground psychedelic rock ‘n’ roll from the late 60s and early 70s. We derive quite a bit of our sound through a fusion of the past and modern Pop-Psyche Rock which is what most other Gold Coast bands subconsciously are doing also.

Tell me about your debut EP Unknown Orbit is set for release on 7 April and is our first attempt at releasing something we have all worked on together as a band.

The songs are all written about life and how everyone perceives things differently and we think that becomes quite obvious when listening to the EP in its entirety.

If you could get a support slot for any band in Australia right now, who would it be?

One of our biggest influences is King Gizzard & the Lizard Wizard. It would be a huge dream of ours to open a show for them at any point in our lives. Even just seeing them perform live is a piece of art.

Where can people see you perform?

Right now we are all working and studying whilst writing music together. We all would like to gig every weekend at every local venue, howeverO'Malley's on Thursday nights seems to be your best bet.

MUSICAL POWERHOUSES JOIN FORCES IN FIGHT AGAINST CANCER Cancer sucks. Along with the physical toll it takes on its victim, often comes a heavy financial toll too.

On Saturday April 15, Jeff Martin and Jeff Burrows (The Tea Party), Sarah McLeod (The Superjesus), and Mick Skelton (The Baby Animals), will play a benefit concert to help raise urgently needed medical funds for their beloved brother, and fellow musician, Corey De Luka, who has recently been diagnosed with kidney and lung cancer.

The benefit show, Corey’s Jam will be held at the Coolangatta Hotel. This will be a rare moment for The Tea Party fans to experience Jeff Martin and Jeff Burrows perform together as a duo. The band is currently on an extensive tour in Canada and the US, and will fly to Australia just days before Corey’s Jam ahead of their Symphony shows in Melbourne and Sydney.

Sarah McLeod will be accompanied by Mick Skelton on drums and they will play some new tracks from Sarah’s upcoming solo release as well as some other sonic gems.

No doubt there will be an all-star jam culminating at the end of the night. Something truly not to be missed by fans of these exceptional artists.

There will be an online Ebay auction held leading up to the event that will be announced shortly. This enables friends from overseas to help with raising money and scoring something rare and special.

FOR TICKETS, VISIT THE OFFICIAL WEBSITE: COREYSJAM.COM AND FOR MORE INFO CHECK OUT THE FACEBOOK PAGE FACEBOOK.COM/COREYSJAM.

Jeff Martin talks about what Corey means to him personally.

“I consider Corey as one of the most kindest, generous people that I’ve met in my career. As a musician, I hold him in the highest esteem as a guitarist and also a talented producer who is a constant presence in my studio.”

There will be a limited number of premium VIP tickets available for fans to attend the Corey’s Jam sound check and meet the artists before the show.

Friday 31 March 8pm / $10 Entry

COMMONSIDE "EP LAUNCH", SKORE / ZABICAMUSICA / DJ FUNKY D

Saturday 1 April

THE MASON RACK BAND / STINGIN RODGERS / BEN AMOR

Friday 7 April

THE REKINDLERS / DAVE IS A SPY / RA RA RUBY / FIGHT IBIS

Friday 21 April

CACTUS DILL-DOS / SECONDHAND TOOTHBRUSH / DROP INS / TWO POT SCREAMER

7.30pm / $20 Entry 8pm / $10 Entry 8pm / $10 Entry

Friday 28 April 8pm / $10 Entry

Saturday 29 April 8pm / $10 Entry

The way it should be

DADA ONO (MELB) / ARALUNAR BEAGLE / WOOTTON MAJOR / DREAMS OF INDIGO THE BLACK SWAMP "SINGLE LAUNCH" / FLAMING WREKAGE (SYD) "ALBUM LAUNCH" / BITTER LUNGS / EVIL EYE

GOLD COAST’S BEST: NEW MUSIC RELEASES FOR APRIL 2017

‘tis the season for releasing new music and video, and there are so many amazing Gold Coast songs to talk about this month that we thought we’d put them in a handy reference guide for you.

Leopold's Treat / Feel

Aquila Young

Napoleonic Wars Nap Wars new single Triple D-D Dank is a tight offering that sees Gold Coast’s math rock outfit develop a more melodic sound than prior singles. Complex time signatures and intricate instrumentation are the order of the day for this new song with killer guitar riffs thrown in for good measure. Triple D-D Dank is part of a split single release with Woollongong’s Basil’s Kite. You can see Napoleonic Wars live at a very respectable matinee gig on 29 April at Foundry Records supporting Kodiak Empire.

New single from new duo Two Birds One Creating a wall of sound, bursting with luminous tones, dancing in tenebrosity and packed with emotion, Two Birds One are not your average Gold Coast Band but are the architects of a dynamic fusion that is both fresh and familiar. Their debut single I Can Have It All is an atmospheric and melodic offering. The duo met while playing in Aquila Young’s band and that influence is audible in this track, which will be released 14 April. You can get a sneaky listen now though, via triple j unearthed.

With bellowing drums and shuddering, gritinfused guitars, Reckoning really puts Aquila’s voice front and centre. It’s dark and desolate but to our ears, it’s the band’s most powerful track to date with a strong chorus and pop qualities that make it a banger for radio and your own playlists. Seriously, once you listen to this song two or three times, you won’t get it out of your head. Get your ears around Reckoning at Aquila Young’s triple j unearthed page or buy it via iTunes. And if you want to catch Aquila perform this song live, you have ample opportunity. She has gigs at Byron, Brisbane, Sydney and Surfers Paradise LIVE as well as at the Gold Coast Music Awards on 27 April, right on the beach at Surfers Paradise.

Will Anderson makes big waves with Notions Recently moving from Mackay to the Gold Coast, Will Anderson has hit the scene in a big way. His debut single Notions, which blends smooth vocals, didgeridoo, guitar and percussion as well as the other ten instruments Will has mastered is turning heads locally and further afield. And despite his youth (Will is only 19), he has already gained national attention by winning the People’s Choice Award at Telstra’s Road to Discovering in 2015 and being named runner up in Queensland’s Most Promising Male Songwriter competition in 2016. He’s also had slots at Caloundra Music Festival, Caxton Street Festival and had support slots with The Cat Empire, Kingswood and Busby Marou. Definitely one to watch. You can see Will perform live at NightQuarter on Saturday 29 April and you can check out the video for Notions on Youtube.

Hanlons tease new video As well as scoring a three-month residency at QT and one of the headliner slots at this year’s Gold Coast Music Awards concert, Hanlon Brothers have released a teaser for their longawaited video for Diamonds. The song was a finalist in two categories of the Queensland Music Awards and Saia Hanlon says it reflects what people have come to expect of the band.

“It’s a bit quirky and left of field,” he told Blank Gold Coast. You can check out the teaser on Vimeo before it is premiered on the Blank GC website on Wednesday 26 April.

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Leopold’s Treat have introduced a new song as part of a new video which exposes the people behind the band and the motivations behind the people. Trust / Feel is the new song, which features in the video produced by James Wills (Shots Fired by James Wills). The song is a contemplation on growth and courage and the video includes music and footage from a number of live shows throughout 2016. You can see Leopold’s Treat at Surfers Paradise LIVE, 28 – 30 April and check out the video on Youtube.

Round Mountain Girls

Meet You At The End is a new concept album from northern NSW’s Round Mountain Girls which tells the story of a man who had it all, lost it all and is searching for a way back.

The ten-track release, released 23 March is their fourth studio album and has been described as the band’s most daring and elaborate release yet. Self-proclaimed pioneers of the Celtabillyrootsgrassfolk genre, Round Mountain Girls is a genre-bending effort with an array of instruments – from frantic banjo and guitar riffs to snapping drums and sultry string lines. Round Mountain Girls hit NightQuarter as part of their release tour on 1 April as well as sets at Bluesfest Byron Bay before gigs at Brunswic Hotel (23 April) and Kingscliff Hotel (24 April). They’ve also just been announced for the Broadbeach Country Music Festival which runs 28 – 30 July.

Jordan Merrick’s untitled ballad

Untitled #1 is a stunning ballad by Gold Coaster Jordan Merrick, with slow finger picking and graceful acoustic guitar. Jordan’s vocals and lyrics entice a sense of aspiration to achieve and to be better despite the demons that can be found in anyone. Keep an eye out for Jordan playing locally or check out his track via Soundcloud.

Bleeding Knees Club are back

Port Royal Not from the Gold Coast but just 40 minutes up the road and with plans to stop in here real soon, Port Royal build on Brisbane’s reputation for serving up epic rock songs. This one, Get Heavy lets you know exactly where it’s headed from its opening riffs. With hints of Mick Jagger swagger, the track is a rollicking, guitar-driven tune with an irresistible call and response chorus. Get Heavy is probably my personal favourite in this long list of awesome new music, so I recommend you get your ears around it via Soundcloud.

“See my face, melting on the pavement. Do my best to hold on to what’s left of it.” So goes Bleeding Knees Club’s first single in a long while. Released earlier in March, the Chew The Gum has already had close to 8000 streams.

With a new label in Inertia Music, Chew The Gum is a sugary punk gem that will make you fall in love with the hooligans with Gold Coast roots all over again. It’s the first taste (and title track) off Bleeding Knees Club’s new EP, to be released Friday 14 April. Frontman Alex Wall has spent the past few years living between New York, LA and his hometown of the Gold Coast releasing three albums on LA’s Burger Records and touring worldwide with sci-fi punk solo project Wax Witches. The band’s co-founder Jordan Malane has taken a step back from band duties to Alex has a brand new four-piece band to introduce with this upcoming EP too. Listen to Chew The Gum now on Soundcloud ahead of the EPs launch this month.

Weekends with Amy Shark Amy Shark will release her new six-track EP Night Thinker on 21 April but before then, she’s delivered a taste of what’s on offer following the success of Adore with new single Weekends.

Amy says Weekends is an “extremely personal” song. “I actually wrote the guitar part about five years ago,” she said. “But I couldn’t think of any lyrics good enough to match the guitar so I let it go for so many years.” The new single follows from the incredible success of breakout track Adore which has now surpassed ten million Spotify streams and accredited with platinum sales in Australia. Her success doesn’t stop there. She’s partnered with RCA records in the USA, appointed a worldwide booking agent team, sold out her national tour, took home three awards at the Queensland Music Awards last week and this week announced as a finalist for two categories in the Gold Coast Music Awards. If a bangin’ new single’s not enough, Amy’s also released a video for Weekends, directed by Gold Coast’s Jude Kalman. You can check it out on Youtube. Order Night Thinker now at smarturl.it/nightthinkerEP and see Amy perform live, for free at the Gold Coast Music Awards on the beach at Surfers Paradise on Thursday 27 April.

Chelsea Rockwells debut EP Finalists for three categories of the Gold Coast Music Awards (song, video and breakout artist) and with killer songs and a bangin’ video in their arsenal, Chelsea Rockwells are turning heads locally and across mainstream radio for their unforgiving approach to rock. They came in at #75 on 4ZZZ’s Hot 100, scored supports for Thirsty Merc and Screaming Jets and this month unleash their debut EP Eleven Vol 1.

The album is a banger, with instantly moshable riffs combined with their signature alt-grunge sound – it’s all rock and no rest. The EP was written over six months, recorded early in 2016 and has been fine-tuned for the past year. See Chelsea Rockwells play their EP live when they hit Hard Rock Café on Friday 21 April.

THE DOLLAR BILL MURRAYS WANT EVERYTHING Brisbane has long been the launching pad for seriously good rock bands.

The Dollar Bill Murrays build on the city’s rock reputation. With fuzzy guitars and an obvious love affair with gritty rock their self-titled debut EP (2015) reached #12 on the 4ZZZ charts. Back in the studio in 2016, the band released killer track Medicine with guitar fans frothing over its thick fuzz licks and mosh-worthy chorus which resulted in much energetic head nodding across Brisbane’s live music haunts and earned the track rotation on triple j Unearthed radio.

The Dollar Bill Murrays’ new single I Want Everything was recorded here on the Gold Cost at Studio Circuit in Burleigh heads under the watchful ear of Brock Weston and despite the entire band being struck down with “some kind of bubonic plague” during its recording, they somehow pulled through to deliver some seriously scintillating (and catchy) rock. One half of the band (ie.

Antii and Rachit) shared some thoughts with Samantha Morris.

How would I describe the music of The Dollar Bill Murrays to my mother?

“Hey mum, there's this really cool band called The Dollar Bill Murrays and I'm going to buy all their music and go to all their shows.”

Haha, we get compared to such a wide variety of bands (from Led Zep to Arctic Monkeys to Nirvana), so the best summary is probably to say we're pretty high-energy rock but also dynamic in our song structures.

Bar, the Sharky Sundays are always a good time! We may be coming down for a Sunday sesh real soon...

Why are you all crouched under a plane for your press photo?

Brisbane has always seemed super musically diverse, but there are definitely almost subcultures that appear. In our case, we find ourselves teetering precariously between the “heavier” crowds and the lighter, more indie-oriented scene. It’s awesome because every show is a totally different vibe with totally different bands, and we love getting to experience such diverse energy from the audiences that come with them.

We found the theme of always pursuing “more” in what our latest releases are building towards, so when we stumbled upon the photo from NASA that wound up on our release artwork, we thought nothing could express that pursuit better: A pair of pilots looking disaffected beside one of the most over-thetop engineering achievements of the cold war - the SR71 Blackbird. An aircraft built for such extreme conditions that it would slowly “bleed” oil and fuel through its skin until it reached the speeds and altitudes in which it was designed to operate. We decided that QANTAS’ first hangar in Archerfield would be a great place to tie in our press photography, so we had a great time traipsing about the concrete and steel that is a small part of that history of aviation.

You recorded I Want Everything here on the Gold Coast. Do you get down here much?

Any favourite hangs?

You’re pretty tight-lipped about what’s on the radar for The Dollar Bill Murrays, but surely we deserve a few hints?

We spent five days at Studio Circuit which was a beautiful space with really nice acoustics and some awesome gear available to us. It was nice to spend what little down-time we had during the recording process exploring the area. While we don’t get down as much as we’d like, the Burleigh area is a fave of ours as it’s a little quieter and has a nice vibe. Shout out to ESPL coffee in Surfers though, they kept us powered through the recording session. Oh and we love seeing shows at the Miami Shark

We’re dropping a group of songs pretty soon, and a few shows to celebrate said songs. Let’s just say new music is Always On the horizon...

Tell me about the Brisbane music scene and where you fit?

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YOU CAN LISTEN TO I WANT EVERYTHING ON SOUNDCLOUD, BANDCAMP, TRIPLE J UNEARTHED AND SPOTIFY.

SING TO ME, SWEET SUNNY SCRIMS Authentic, rootsy, bluegrass and swing. Previously known as The Scrimshaw Four, The Scrims are a high-energy folk-bluegrass band, sometimes dubbed gypsy doof with stomp-box, violin, guitars, banjo and double bass keeping you on your feet for their entire set. They made a name for themselves locally when they took out the 2015 Battle of the Buskers and returned to Buskers by the Creek as one of the headliners. Part of their Battle of the Buskers prize was a recording package with Lovestreet studios. They’re just to release that debut album titled Sing To Me Sweet Sunny One. So we figured it was time to see what they’ve been up to.

You won the battle of the buskers in 2015, tell me what impact that had on you guys?

We came up to the Gold Coast from Melbourne and we were met with such a warm reception! It was amazing to be a part of the Buskers by the Creek festival and we couldn’t believe it when we won the Battle of the Buskers. It was a huge leg up for an up and coming band like us to receive the prize, and gave us a lot momentum to progress further with our music.

You recorded this album, your debut fulllength release with Scott French at Lovestreet Studios. What was it like working with Scotty?

Scotty was a delight to work with, he has a beautiful little studio and really guided us well on the production of the songs. He is very laid back and relaxed but also has strong ideas about making our music come together better in the studio. We had many laughs with Scotty and got to create some fun and exciting music with him.

You formed as a busking band. Was it hard to make the transition into a studio? How do you capture that bombastic pace and rollicking attitude in a studio?

The studio environment is very different from playing live out on the street, when we went into the studio we tracked everything live in the same room, so we just kept doing takes until we had one we were happy with. The only parts we layered afterwards were the vocals to make sure we got a good performance in each song. It was a fine line between playing carefully and playing with a good energy to keep our upbeat fun style.

Will you be touring it? If so, when will we see you pass through the Gold Coast again?

Plans to tour will come later this year as the weather gets warmer! Us Scrims like to hibernate in the winter time so we will be back up around September-October. We love coming up north, writing music, swimming and camping so we will definitely be back for Buskers by the Creek, along with some of our own shows around the beaches of the Gold Coast! Look out!

THE SCRIMS DEBUT ALBUM SING TO ME SWEET SUNNY ONE IS OUT 7 APRIL AND AVAILABLE ON BANDCAMP, ITUNES, SPOTIFY AND GOOGLE PLAY.

“

I THINK PLAYING IN A HANDFUL OF BANDS WAS WHAT I HAD TO DO IN LIFE TO GET ME WHERE I AM.

”

CHRIS DENNIS BANGS THE DRUM FOR AZREAL, TESLA COILS AND VEAL Local drummer Chris Dennis is one of the Gold Coasts hardest working musicians, having had stints in more bands than you’d be willing to count. As a musician though, he’s only getting started. Chris and his band Azreal have just returned from a 23-date sprint across the United States, opening for Devildriver’s Bound By The Road tour.

Chris has been playing since he turned 13 when his parents bought him a second hand Tempa kit, “a heap of shit” as he describes it, His first band, Lethal Dosage was more or less an average Limp Bizkit cover band.

As the guitarist of said band, Dan Maynard confirms its mediocrity. However, he soon helped to form heavy rock outfit Elk which would see him play his first live shows.

Chris has since played in countless bands and moved freely between genres. From rock to metal to blues to horror shock to the thrash he now plays in Azreal and the electro-space-rock he plays with Tesla Coils.

On top of that he’s also in a straight up rock band (and once a year live affair) Veal.

Chris said the tour with Azreal was something they’d all wanted at some point in their musical lives and that it feels good to finally have it done. How did it all come together?

“A lot of skyping with our manager overseas, double the amount of jamming, being positive about the ups and downs you will get along the way,” he said.

And it seems Azreal made a tonne of new fans while in America.

“After the show we would have people coming up saying kind words about the band and how they enjoyed the show. It really makes you feel like we did a good job.

We would hang with them and they always would want to know about Australia and our culture but its really funny they seem to be very scared to come over because of our dangerous animals,” Chris said, adding they also sold a heap of merch.

Repping Australian metal in the United States is a big enough claim to fame for a Gold Coast metal band. But getting a look-in as a support for Devil Driver made the tour all the more sweet. Chris said it didn’t kick in until he saw the bands and crew loading in and setting up for the first venue – The Observatory at Santa Ana. “The shows we did in Dayton, Ohio and Portland, Oregon the crowds were insane, giving us a massive circle pit and making us feel welcome.”

“Playing our songs and hearing the response between songs makes you feel the hard work really paid off. That alone is well worth the trip.”

Of course, it wasn’t all work for Azreal. But 23 dates across the USA is a hard slog in anyone’s book.

“We got into a groove really easy,” Chris said.

“As much as you are repeating an everyday

thing like driving to the venue, load in, set up, warm up, play. It’s not really like that because every venue you play is fresh to the eye and there are always new faces for you to preform for.”

Chris says one of the benefits of playing so many shows in a short period of time means great musicianship from the band.

“Once I got my groove and did my warm ups every day it progressed greatly,” he said of his own performance.

“We were a solid unit before we left but every show made us stronger - not just in performance but mentally and physically.”

“You have to have a lot of confidence and trust with one another as you just never know what could happen throughout the set,” he said. “The boys are my family, we have been through ups and downs, the good times, the bad times, but that is what will make you grow strong as a band.”

With so many bands listed on his resume, what makes Azreal stand out from the rest, then?

“I think playing in a handful of bands was what I had to do in life to get me where I am. And that has lead me to where I am in Azreal.”

“Once I joined there was a strong chemistry between us all in our personalities and writing music which I never felt with any

other band. It shows in our live performances and recordings,” Chris said.

The band hopped straight off the tour bus and straight into the studio. Well, kind of.

Chris says they’re already half way through recording the next album now and that it’s sounding “good” with lashings of fast metal and old-school feels.

And if that’s not mad enough, Chris did literally hop off the plane and straight into a tour with his space-rock outfit Tesla Coils.

He laughs when we ask if he’s certifiably insane.

“Tesla Coils keeps me drumming,” he said.

“Plus how could you not want to play songs about dinosaurs flying in space?”

Dan Maynard

Tesla Coils is a finalist for Breakout Artist of the Year and Song of the Year at the Gold Coast Music Awards. Winners announced 27 April on the beach at Surfers Paradise.

Keep an eye on our gig guide for Azreal and Veal gigs and keep your eyes peeled for new material from Azreal in coming months. www.blankgc.com.au

29

HANGING FIVE WITH SPACE-GAZE MERCHANT, DAILY HOLLA Daily Holla is a fusion of electronic beats with spacey guitar and recorded samples. Tell me how the project came about?

I started at the beginning of 2015. I have been making music since I was about 12, and this has been my first venture as a solo artist. I was in a band in high school in Adelaide, and we played that indie/pop “cutesy” stuff. I wanted to broaden my horizon from being a guitar player and felt the electronic music world had so much to offer. I had just moved from Adelaide to the Gold Coast. I didn’t know anyone up here who made music so I was somewhat forced into doing things on my own.

Waves is getting lots of interest online - where and from whom?

I was so caught up in getting it out there, that I didn’t really set up any expectations. It has been getting quite a few plays on Soundcloud, and Spotify especially. It’s been featured in a few Spotify playlists and viral Australia charts, which was so crazy, as it was just chilling there with Lorde and the Chainsmokers. Quite a few blogs, such as Pilerats, Acid Stag, Indie Shuffle and Earmilk have all written amazing pieces on the track. It still makes me smile so much when I see people writing such positive reviews! I even saw Duke Dumont liked it on Soundcloud and I was like ‘Wow! I saw you at Splendour In The Grass, and now you’re liking my tune?’

What’s it like being 21yo producer in the music industry in this city?

It’s really fun! I had no connection to the Gold Coast before moving up here for uni, so it was really fresh starting again and making new friends and seeing where all the cool places are. I live in Burleigh Heads and every morning I wake up and see people surfing. It’s so cool, writing music while sitting by the ocean and watching people do their thing. I’ve been able to meet other young, like minded creatives, both in music and film.

You made this single with friends from uni. What are you all studying and where?

SURFERS PARADISE LIVE DELIVERS ECLECTIC LINEUP OF WORLD-CLASS MUSIC

BLUES ON BROADBEACH ADDS A HEAP OF LOCAL TALENT TO ITS LINEUP

Surfers Paradise LIVE, held over three days, transforms the entertainment precinct into a musical oasis with some of Australia’s most-loved Australian acts taking to the stage alongside Gold Coast’s best musicians.

UK superstar Bonnie Tyler, Australian legend Ian Moss and rockabilly king Slim Jim Phantom Trio have already been announced on the 2017 Blues on Broadbeach lineup and organisers have also announced a big list of local and international artists who will join them.

Partnering with Gold Coast Music Awards this year, the festival features Gold Coast Music Award finalists Jacob Lee, Felicity Lawless and Ella Fence, alongside previous winners and finalists IVEY, Aquila Young and Hanlon Brothers.

They’re supporting a lineup of international and Australian superstars. We’re talking The Veronicas, Mental As Anything and Eskimo Joe to name but a few.

Some of the artists will be available for signings after their sets, with some merchandise available onsite and venues throughout the precinct are jumping on board with their own live music offerings.

The Beach Hut (a big marquee on the beach), which will house the Gold Coast Music Awards the night before Surfers Paradise LIVE will also be open for patrons as a licensed space during the festival.

And if all that’s not enough to get you to venture into Surfers Paradise in April, the Gold Coast Music Awards provides a live curtain-raiser for the festival this year. As well as presenting the Awards themselves in the Beach Hut, organisers have curated a live lineup on Thursday 27 April. Amy Shark will headline that event, with Hanlon Brothers, Aquila Young and Yes Sir Noceur opening the stage. The event is also free and runs 6.00 – 10.00pm with an after-party at Surfers Paradise Beergarden.

The full lineup of events is as follows:

I’m just about to graduate from Bond University, where I have studied Film and Television. Everyone involved on the production were all friends from uni, which made the whole process so fun and rewarding.

Thursday 27 April: Gold Coast Music Awards presentations featuring AGWA (Beach Hut) and Gold Coast Music Awards Live (beach stage) featuring Amy Shark + Hanlon Brothers + Aquila Young + Yes Sir Noceur

What do you have in the pipeline from a music point of view?

Friday 28 April: Surfers Paradise LIVE with The Veronicas + Tigertown + IVEY + Jacob Lee + Lily Papas

I have lots of music just sitting on my laptop ready to go! The next release will be my EP the HYPERCOLOUR collection. It’s a six track EP. There will be lots of sweet visual pieces, some of which are in pre-production right now. I’m so keen for the year ahead!

Saturday 29 April: Surfers Paradise LIVE with Mental As Anything + Pseudo Echo + Felicity Lawless + 1927 + Aquila Young + Yes Sir Noceur + Hot Potato Band + Sunset City + Crown The Humble + Joza

Samantha Morris

GET YOUR EARS AROUND DAILY HOLLA AND HIS TRACK WAVES AT SOUNDCLOUD.COM/DAILYHOLLA. 30

www.blankgc.com.au

Sunday 30 April: Eskimo Joe + Taxiride + Hot Potato Band + Hanlon Brothers + Ella Fence + Aaron West & The Custodians + Leopold’s Treat + The Waves + Jackson James Smith

Celebrating 16 years this year, the multi-award winning festival is one of the largest free music events in Australia with 70 acts across 20 stages and some 160,000 visitors over its four days.

Gold Coast’s Louie Shelton has been added to the burgeoning lineup. He’s an inductee into the Musicians’ Hall of Fame and Museum and has worked with The Monkees, The Jackson 5, Marvin Gaye, Simon and Garfunkel, Stevie Wonder, Neil Diamond, John Lennon and Barbara Streisand. He also played the guitar solo on Lionel Richie’s hit Hello. Louie will be at Blues on Broadbeach with Louie Shelton Bluesland.

Other locals (or those here regularly enough to be dubbed so) include , Juzzie Smith, Aaron West & The Custodians, Benny D Williams, Phil Barlow & The Wolf, Devils Kiosk, Mitch King, Kenny Slide, The James Street Preachers, Mescalito Blues and Jason Delphin. They join Hussy Hicks and Cheap Fakes already on the lineup.

Samantha Morris

BLUES ON BROADBEACH 2017 RUNS 18 – 21 MAY THROUGH THE STREETS AND VENUES OF BROADBEACH. THE FULL LINEUP AND PLAYING TIMES ARE AVAILABLE AT BLUESONBROADBEACH.COM.

AUSTRALIAN MUSIC WEEK OPENS APPLICATIONS TO SHOWCASE, ANNOUNCES 2017 DATES Australian Music Week today announced its conference and festival dates, a new presenting partner and the opening of artist applications.

Positioning itself as an event “to watch” on the global music industry stage, Australian Music Week is one part music conference and one part music festival in the most awesome of locations – Cronulla Beach in Sydney.

Taking place from 1 – 5 November and this year presented

by Oztix, the event brings together industry peeps, artists and music lovers from all over Australia who network, learn and celebrate music of all genres. And the 2017 edition will have a new focus on electronica so they really do mean “all” genres.

Conference manager Jon Howell said that last year’s success has inspired the team to grow the event.

“We’re starting to see results for artists as a direct result of their involvement in the conference, and have received feedback from artists and industry that they find AMW a great place to meet new people and get business done,” Jon said.

We can attest to that. Australian Music Week was a productive, relaxing, mind-expanding music experience where we saw some of our new favourite bands, but also drilled deep on topics like Using a Booking Agent and How to Make the Most of International Music Showcases. The ocean pools along Cronulla Beach were an added bonus.

Maybe Kylie Cobb summed the event when she said “If someone told you that for a hundred bucks you could learn from and connect with over 100 of the industry’s movers and shakers, meet your future booking agent, publicist, record label, festival director or headline tour support in Canada, you’d be mad not to go right?”

Organisers have also opened applications to showcase at Australian Music Week with submissions closing 17 July. A new partnership with Gold Coast Music Awards will also be announced in coming weeks. Conference tickets go on sale Tuesday 2 May. Samantha Morris

AUSTRALIAN MUSIC WEEK RUNS 1 – 3 NOVEMBER AND THE FESTIVAL RUNS 4 – 5 NOVEMBER. BLANK GOLD COAST IS A PROUD MEDIA PARTNER OF AUSTRALIAN MUSIC WEEK. GET ALL THE DETAILS AT AUSTRALIANMUSICWEEK.COM.

BUSKERS APPLICATIONS OPEN FOR FOURTH ANNUAL EVENT Gold Coast’s award-winning festival Buskers by the Creek has opened applications for its fourth annual event.

Musicians, magicians, mimes and mystics are invited to join jugglers, contortionists, daredevils and dancers for this year’s festival, which takes place along the banks of Currumbin Creek from 14 – 15 October.

Attracting record crowds last year with Australia’s first ever floating half-pipe, a 285-strong roll call of award-winning musicians, world-renowned entertainers and stunts galore, this free, family-friendly event firmly reinforced itself as a world-leading busking festival.

Twelve-times Golden Guitar winner and Gold Coaster Adam Brand headlined the 2016 event and said Buskers by the Creek could very well be the launching pad for Australia’s next superstar.

“Buskers by the Creek is one of the most exciting and freshest events in the Australian music calendar,” Brand said.

“It was a real eye opener for me.”

Cindy Jensen is the founder of Buskers by the Creek which has tripled in size in just three years. She says she’s excited to see what surprises and new discoveries this year’s event will unearth.

“In true Buskers By The Creek style, 2017 will see even more incredible entertainment from award-winning performers, talented teens, jaw-dropping tricks, daring world record attempts and more waterborne magic,” Cindy said.

As well as calling for artists, Cindy has also announced a new partnership with Airlie Beach Festival of Music which will see the winner of the Battle of the Buskers walk away with an all expenses paid performance slot at the magical Whitsundays event. The Airlie Beach prize is in addition to a secured place in the Bluesfest Busking competition, cash, recording, publicity and advertising packages that the Battle of the Buskers currently provides to winners and place-getters.

Samantha Morris

RETURNING FOR ITS FOURTH YEAR, BUSKERS BY THE CREEK IS READY TO HEAR FROM PERFORMERS WHO WILL SURPRISE, DELIGHT AND ENTERTAIN AT WINDERS PARK 14 AND 15 OCTOBER 2017. MORE AT BUSKERSBYTHECREEK.COM.AU/BUSKERS.

MAKING FOLK MUSIC SEXY If you think folk music constitutes sitting in a circle singing Kumbaya think again. Irish Mythen’s performances have the power to pin you to the back wall with her honesty, wit and emotional intelligence. Her recent tours to Australia have left audiences stunned through the power of her performances. Trevor Jackson spoke to her just after she touched down for her latest tour, including a series of shows at Bluesfest.

I downloaded your self titled album and iTunes categorised it as alternative folk. I laughed to myself and thought: “what the hell is alternative folk”? Alternative to what? You’re an artist singing songs about what it is to be human over stripped back musical arrangements as folk artists have done for eons. How is that alternative?

I really don’t know, I think it’s all nonsense. It really depends on where you are – if you’re in Europe they’ll say “oh great I love old sea shanties”, or they’ll recoil and say “I can’t stand old men in straw hats waving their hankies”. So in Europe I specify that it’s contemporary folk, like a singer-songwriter, but in North America it’s roots-folk. It’s weird but people do have their misconceptions about what I do.

Why do you think folk is sexy again now, what’s changed?

Politically and economically people have been feeling the squeeze and so there’s been a tendency to go back to music that actually says something. I think one of the greatest protest singers at the moment is Kendrick Lamar. I don’t own a lot of hip hop or rap records, but I could listen to him every day of the week. I think his success is largely because people are searcher for something deeper with more lyrical meaning. Sometimes our perceptions close us off to what’s really going on, we think that rap music is all “bitches and ho’s” and the reality is so far from that.

READ THE FULL INTERVIEW AT BLANKGC. COM.AU. READ MORE OF TREVOR’S WRITING AT SOUNDDISTRACTIONS.COM. IRISH MYTHEN IS AT BLUESFEST, 13 – 17 APRIL.

31 MAR – 16 APR The Gold Coast’s signature arts and cultural festival 17 DAYS | 23 LOCATIONS

TICKET

31 MARCH – 1 APRIL —

FRANK ENSTEIN

— THE ARTS CENTRE GOLD COAST

8 APRIL —

FREE

FUN RUN

— SURFERS PARADISE

PRESENTING PARTNER

STRATEGIC PARTNERS

FREE

31 MARCH – 16 APRIL —

HERE I AM!

— ROBINA TOWN CENTRE

FREE

7 – 8 APRIL —

SNAKE SESSIONS

— PIZZEY PARK, MIAMI

FOUNDATION PARTNER

TICKET

29 MARCH – 16 APRIL —

BLANC DE BLANC

— COOLANGATTA

8 APRIL —

SURF SAFARI FEAST

— PALM BEACH

1 APRIL —

SALTWATER SESSIONS

— BROADBEACH

FREE

FREE

TICKET

THE EAST POINTERS

— MUDGEERABA

9 APRIL —

FREE

1 – 2 APRIL —

CHURAKI HILL

WIRED AT PARADISE POINT

— PARADISE POINT

31 MARCH —

VARSITY DAZE

— GREENMOUNT HILL

FREE

FREE

FREE

HIGHLY SPRUNG

— BROADBEACH

31 MARCH & 6 – 8 APRIL —

THE FORWARDS

— VARSITY LAKES

9 APRIL —

FREE

— GRIFFITH UNIVERSITY & BROADBEACH

15 – 16 APRIL —

FREE

15 – 16 APRIL —

SABOR Y CONTROL

— NIGHTQUARTER & BURLEIGH HEADS

FREE

2 APRIL —

LIVE AT BOND

— BOND UNIVERSITY

FREE

16 APRIL —

BLEACH* AT BURLEIGH

— BURLEIGH HEADS

VISIT BLEACHFESTIVAL.COM.AU FOR FULL EVENT DETAILS

FRIDAY 31 MARCH Jacob Lee + Shag Rock + Luke Morris | NightQuarter Kimmy & Crew | Miami Marketta Commonside EP Launch Party + Skore + ZabicaMusica + DJ Funky D | Currumbin Pub

GOLD COAST GIG GUIDE

Benny D Williams (3.00pm) | Burleigh Brewing Co. Sam Buckingham at Deck Acoustics (5.00pm) | Currumbin RSL Paris Lane | Cabana Bar & Lounge, Southport Sharks The Lyrical and DJ Yaki for Stone & Wood launch party | Brunswick Hotel

James Higgins (2.00pm) | North Burleigh SLSC Hayley Grace (1.00pm) | Cabana Bar & Lounge, Southport Sharks The Vanns + Lotus Ship + CREO + Eliza & The Delusionals | Miami Shark Bar Rick Barron | House of Brews Hanlon Brothers (3.00pm) + Taylah Made (11.00am) | The Kitchens, Robina

The East Pointers (Canada) as part of Bleach* Festival 2017 | Mudgeeraba Memorial Hall

Mescalito Blues | Riverview Hotel, Murwillumbah

Josh Boyd (1.00pm) | Cabana Bar & Lounge, Southport Sharks

The Rekindlers + Dave Is a Spy + Ra Ra Ruby + Fight Ibis | Currumbin Pub

Brother Fox (2.00pm) | North Burleigh SLSC

Kingswood + WAAX + Maddy Jane | The Triffid Steele Syndicate + Skyeater | NightQuarter Apes + Yes Sir Noceur + Kazual Tea| Rattlesnake Bar The Mason Rack Band | Southport Sharks

Wayward Suns | House of Brews Kate Wighton + The Alohas | The Kitchens, Robina Sarah Archer (2.00pm) | Garden Kitchen & Bar, Jupiters FOAM + DRAGGS + Rugged Coast | Miami Shark Bar Kiara Jack (2.00pm) | Burleigh Brewing Co

Livvia + James Brine | The Kitchens, Robina

Mescalito Blues | Billinudgel Hotel

Michael Eotvos (2.00pm) | Garden Kitchen & Bar, Jupiters

Benny Hanna + Russ Walker | J Bar, Jupiters

Violent Femmes | Twin Towns

Josh Lee Hamilton (2.00pm) | Burleigh Brewing Co

Josh Lovegrove | Currumbin RSL

Michael Asma (covers) | Southport RSL

The Ruiins | Hotel Brunswick

Clint White | Nonna’s, Harbourtown

Jonny Sonnic | Fisherman’s Wharf Tavern

Hell & Whiskey | Burleigh Brewing Co

MONDAY 10 APRIL

AKoVA | Beats and Eats, Logan

The Ruiins + Austen + Th’Fika as part of Bleach* Festival 2017 | Varsity Parade, Varsity Lakes

Matrix Duo (Covers) | RSL Club Southport

SATURDAY 1 APRIL Old Man Fridays + Ondre Davis | Miami Marketta The Angels, Midnight Oil & Divinyls Tribute Show | RSL Club Southport Icehouse | Harrigan’s Drift Inn Round Mountain Girls + Sarah Frank | NightQuarter Things of Stone and Wood | Soundlounge Currumbin Mescalito Blues | Hotel Brunswick Dope Lemon (Angus Stone) + Ash Grunwald + Tia Gostelow + Emily Wurramara as part of Bleach* Festival 2017 | Coolangatta Foreshore Pink Tribute | Southport Sharks Wayward Suns | House of Brews Tiahn Berg + Zed Butel + Tiarni Nichols | The Kitchens, Robina Jason Delphin | J Bar, Jupiters Matt Day (3.00pm) | Currumbin RSL Bee Gee’s Tribute Show | Arundel Tavern Barefoot Friday | North Burleigh SLSC

Benno’s Big Sing (covers) | Southport RSL

MONDAY 3 APRIL Lloyd Saniel (Covers) | Southport Sharks Tommy Memphis (covers) | Southport RSL (11.00am)

WEDNESDAY 5 APRIL Shapeshifter | Parkwood Tavern The James Street Preachers | The Cambus Wallace Mescalito Blues | Sonny’s House of Blues, Brisbane The Waifs | Bangalow Hall

THURSDAY 6 APRIL Kingswood + WAAX + Maddy Jane (ticketed event) | Miami Marketta Mescalito Blues | The Rails, Byron Bay The Waifs | Tivoli Theatre, Brisbane Hanlon Brothers | QT Gold Coast Stingray Lounge The Zookeepers (Covers) | Southport Sharks Kristie Roberts | House of Brews

Mason Rack Band + Stingin Rodgers + Ben Amor | Currumbin Pub

Ahn Do | Jupiters Hotel & Casino

Atmosphere (covers) | Southport RSL

David Liebe Hart + Th’Mole + Spacecowboy4005 + David Theron | The Nimbin Bush Theatre

SUNDAY 2 APRIL Bobby Alu and the Palm Royale at LIVE AT BOND as part of Bleach* Festival 2017 | Bond University Amphitheatre (3.00pm) www.blankgc.com.au

Ash Grunwald Jam Session as part of Bleach* Festival 2017 | Coolangatta Hotel

Twelve Past Midnight + KB Theory + Crowded Penguins | Milk Factory, Brisbane

Earthcore 2017 launch party | elsewhere, Surfers Paradise

Devils Kiosk (Covers) | Southport Sharks

34

Johan Danno | The Cambus Wallace

Dan Hill | Nonna’s, Harbourtown

FRIDAY 7 APRIL

Dan Irwin | Cabana Bar & Lounge, Southport Sharks Local Revolution | Miami Marketta Ino Pio | Hotel Brunswick Brett Hammond | Hard Rock Cafe Wally & The Gators (covers) | Southport RSL

SATURDAY 8 APRIL The Waifs | NightQuarter

The Lyrical | Hotel Brunswick Steven Lovelight (1.00pm) | Figherman’s Wharf Tavern

Greg Bankx (covers) | Southport RSL

TUESDAY 11 APRIL Jessica Mauboy | Jupiters Hotel & Casino

THURSDAY 13 APRIL Think Pink Tribute Show | RSL Club Southport High Distinction presents Truancy | elsewhere, Surfers Paradise

Sarah Grant | North Burleigh SLSC

Kate McKay | House of Brews

Yes Sir Nocuer + Wet Fish + Jackson James Smith + Coolangatta Ukulele Players as part of Bleach* Festival 2017| 5th Ave Palm Beach

Clint White | Nonna’s, Harbourtown

Kolombo (Belgium) | elsewhere, Surfers Paradise

Hanlon Brothers | QT Gold Coast Stingray Lounge Sweet Fusion + Josh King | The Kitchens, Robina Town Centre

Wally & The Gators (Covers) | Southport Sharks Atticus Chimps | Miami Shark Bar Legends of Rock | House of Brews Jordan Pineda + Mark Ridout + Danny Dyson | The Kitchens, Robina

Dinerpour Deux | Miami Marketta Garrett Kato | Hotel Brunswick

FRIDAY 14 APRIL

CC The Cat | Burleigh Brewing Co Paul Costa + Gemma Kirby | NightQuarter

Jason Delphin | J Bar, Jupiters

Russ Walker | J Bar, Jupiters

Bill Jacobi (3.00pm) | Currumbin RSL

Squeak Lemaire | Hotel Brunswick

Dugald Allen | Nonna’s, Harbourtown Blues Corp + Sean Fitzgerald | Miami Marketta Salt Tree | Hotel Brunswick Brother Norton | Twin Towns Stoneage Romeos (covers) | Southport RSL

SUNDAY 9 APRIL

Jethro Andrews | Hard Rock Cafe

SATURDAY 15 APRIL Salt and Steel | Nimbin Hotel (NSW) Gavin Doniger solo | Hidden, Tugun Corey’s Jam: Jeff Martin and Jeff Burrows (The Tea Party) + Sarah McLeod (The Superjesus) + Mick Skelton (The Baby Animals) | Coolangatta Hotel

DISCOVER GOLD COAST'S BEST NEW MUSIC

Jock Barns | North Burleigh SLSC Sabor y Control (Peru) + Rio Rhythmics as part of Bleach* Festival 2017 | NightQuarter Wayward Suns | House of Brews Viva Las Vegas | Jupiters Hotel & Casino Chris Hutchinson | J Bar, Jupiters Fraser Goodman Band | Southport Sharks Jerome Williams (3.00pm) | Currumbin RSL James Diamond (11.00am) | The Kitchens, Robina Town Centre Dugald Allen | Nonna’s, Harbourtown Sunny Coast Rude Boys + Free The Genie | Miami Marketta Dirty Channel Duo | Hotel Brunswick McKenzie Band | Fisherman’s Wharf Tavern Long Gone Daddy’s (covers) | Southport RSL

SUNDAY 16 APRIL Mescalito Blues at the Bloozed and Roited festival | Billinudgel Hotel (from midday) Sabor y Control (Peru) + Slip-On Stereo + Benny D Williams as part of Bleach* Festival 2017 | Burleigh Heads Beach James Higgins (2.00pm) | North Burleigh SLSC Clint White | House of Brews Jake Meyes (11.00am) | The Kitchens, Robina Town Centre Dean Grey (2.00pm) | Garden Kitchen & Bar, Jupiters Hayley Grace (2.00pm) | Burleigh Brewing Co The All Seeing Hand + The Antibodies | The Nimbin Bush Theatre Andy Jans Brown + Cosmic | Hotel Brunswick Goldilicious (1.00pm) | Fisherman’s Wharf Tavern Angry Anderson | Advancetown Hotel Shotgun Duo (covers) | Southport RSL

MONDAY 17 APRIL

Adrenaline Kids (5.00pm) | The Kitchens, Robina Town Centre

Chris Hutchison (2.00pm) | Garden Kitchen & Bar, Jupiters

Josh Lee Hamilton | Burleigh Brewing Co

Kristie Roberts | House of Brews

Lizzie & Jean | Nonna’s, Harbourtown

Eleea + Pinksta & Swuassy Fire | Cabana Bar & Lounge, Southport Sharks

Dan Hill | Nonna’s, Harbourtown

FRIDAY 21 APRIL Tommy Fleming | Soundlounge Currumbin Cactus Dill-Dos + Secondhand Toothbrush + Drop Ins + Two Pot Screamer | Currumbin Pub Blond:ish (Canada) | elsewhere, Surfers Paradise Jax Haze + Phoebe Sinclair | The Kitchens, Robina Honey Remixed + Bella Marie as part of Zombie Walk | NightQuarter Chris Hutchison + Russ Walker | J Bar, Jupiters Bon Jovi Vs Bryan Adams (Tribute) | Southport Sharks Nicky Convine | Currumbin RSL

Andy Penney (2.00pm) | North Burleigh SLSC Mini Skirt + Heavy Lids + Kimono Drag Queens | Miami Shark Bar

Ricky Tate | Fisherman’s Wharf Tavern

Sean Fitzgerald (2.00pm) | Burleigh Brewing Co

Pauly Punk | Hard Rock Cafe

AKoVA | Beach Burritos, Coolangatta The Round Mountain Girls | Hotel Brunswick Chris Bent | Fisherman’s Wharf Tavern Deana Peher (11.00am, covers) | Southport RSL

Buddy Love & The Tremors (covers) | Southport RSL

SATURDAY 22 APRIL Tommy Fleming | Soundlounge Currumbin Nina Ward + Will Anderson + Jonathan Buckland | The Kitchens, Robina The Seven Ups + Colin Lillie + Felicity Lawless | NightQuarter The Lyrical | North Burleigh SLSC Dean Grey | J Bar, Jupiters Slique Duo (covers) | Southport RSL Sarah Grant (3.00pm) | Currumbin RSL Clint White | Nonna’s, Harbourtown Taylor + Ondre Davis | Miami Marketta

THURSDAY 27 APRIL

The Black Swamp single launch + Flaming Wreckage album launch + Bitter Lungs + Evil Eye | Currumbin Pub Gavin Doniger solo | Sheoak Shack, Fingal

Wayward Suns | House of Brews

Route 66 (c0vers) | Southport RSL

High Distinction presents Prom Night | elsewhere, Surfers Paradise Clint White | Nonna’s, Harbourtown Kaitlyn Martin (5.00pm) | The Kitchens, Robina Town Centre The Tommyhawks + Essie Thomas Band | The Nimbin Bush Theatre Bootleg Rascal | Miami Marketta

FRIDAY 28 APRIL Surfers Paradise LIVE: The Veronicas + Tigertown + Jacob Lee + IVEY + Lily Papas, Surfers Paradise The Mae Trio | NightQuarter

Cath Simes Band | Hotel Brunswick

THURSDAY 20 APRIL

SUNDAY 23 APRIL

Mescalito Blues | Kingscliff Bowls Club

Client Liaison (ticketed event) | Miami Marketta

Rick Barron | House of Brews

CC The Cat | Miami Marketta

Jam Session with Coolangatta Ukulele Players + Jordn Pineda | The Kitchens, Robina

Dan Hill | Nonna’s, Harbourtown

Hanlon Brothers | QT Gold Coast Stingray Lounge

Matrix Duo | Southport RSL

AMY SHARK + Hanlon Brothers + Aquila Young + Yes Sir Noceur + Agwa | Gold Coast Music Awards, presented by Surfers Paradise Alliance and supported by City of Gold Coast. Live performances are free to the public from 6.00 – 10.00pm. Awards presentation is ticketed in a marquee adjacent.

Tickets bit.ly/gcma17.

Dada Ono + Aralunar Beagle + Wootton Major + Dreams of Indigo | Currumbin Pub

Craig Shaw (covers, 11.00am) | Southport RSL

Josh Lovegrove | Currumbin RSL

Surfers Paradise LIVE: Mental as Anything + Pseudo Echo + Felicity Lawless + 1927 + Aquila Young + Yes Sir Noceur + Hot Potato Band + Sunset City + Crown The Humble + Joza

Angelo Pash | House of Brews

Chelsea Rockwells +The Blackwater Fever + Paging Jimi | Hard Rock Cafe

Michael Eotvos + Russ Walker | J Bar, Jupiters

Rockks + Gemini Duo (covers) | Southport RSL

WEDNESDAY 26 APRIL

Dale Buchan | Hotel Brunswick

Hot Potato Band + The Mae Trio | NightQuarter

SATURDAY 29 APRIL

Kenny Slide | Burleigh Brewing Co

Micka Scene | Miami Marketta

Tommy Sheehan + Dan Duggan | The Kitchens, Robina

TUESDAY 25 APRIL

Dugald Allen | Nonna’s, Harbourtown Jacob Lee | Cabana Bar & Lounge, Southport Sharks

Bootleg Rascal | Hotel Brunswick

Pinskta & Swaussyfire | Southport Sharks

Andy Penney | North Burleigh SLSC Angus Oastler | The Kitchens, Robina Town Centre Benny D Williams | House of Brews

Athena Joy + Angus Oastler + Brother Norton | The Kitchens, Robina Kingfisha + Will Anderson | NightQuarter The Beatles Orchestrated | Jupiters Hotel & Casino Benny Hanna | J Bar, Jupiters Candice Dianna (3.00pm) | Currumbin RSL Dugald Allen | Nonna’s, Harbourtown The Weather Man + Sean Fitzgerald | Miami Marketta Fozzy Bear | Hotel Brunswick Psychedelic Porn Crumpets + Stone Witches + Kazual Tea | Miami Shark Bar Brother Norton | The Kitchens, Robina Long Gone Daddys | Southport Sharks

WWW.SEEDSERIES.BANDCAMP.COM

www.blankgc.com.au

35

music reviews

AMELA

CHELSEA ROCKWELLS CONOR OBERST Eleven Vol 1

Salutations

DRAKE

Releasing a debut album is always a nail biting experience and it makes some of the most capable and well rounded musicians crack under the pressure but young Gold Coast woman Amela has taken all the twists and turns in her stride. Somewhere in Between is a beautiful indie-pop debut that has her fans and even some of Australia’s top critics taking note.

Chelsea Rockwells are quickly making a name for themselves and rightfully so. They’ve been beavering away, laying claim to support slots for the likes of Thirsty Merc and The Screaming Jets and even making their way to the the Hard Rock Rising finale. Eleven Vol 1 is their debut album. And now they're set to release their debut EP Eleven - Vol 1 in March.

Conor Oberst’s 2005 track under the pseudonym Bright Eyes, famously known as When the President talks to God, is etched in my memory and must be the most memorable hook in a song I’ve never bought beyond the classic annual Happy Birthday. It is a stark reminder of the cultural criticism hypocrisy faces in a political environment. A decade of identifying Oberst almost exclusively with that song made me hopeful of a new perspective with new album Salutations.

It was the talk of the Twitter-sphere when Drake dropped his newest 22 track Album, or playlist as he likes to call it, More Life.

The playlist idea, which I admittedly scoffed at to start with, does have merit as many of the songs feature more than Drake himself.

This makes the compilation more a showcase of Drake collaborating with his favourite artists. For example 4422 features UK rapper Sampha but Drake never features on the song, and when looking at the writing credits, he doesn’t feature there either. So why does the song appear on a Drake album when Drake had pretty much noting to do with it? Maybe Sampha owed Drake a solid or maybe he was just honoured to be a part of a body of work with Drake’s name written on it?

Somewhere in Between

The album Somewhere In Between showcases a range of folk/pop tunes written around the subject of heartbreak and lost love. Her first single, Push & Pull, is a great start showcasing what you’re in for as the rest of the album unfolds. The song starts with simple but catchy guitar riffs and chords overlapping each other until you hear Amela’s sweet voice take you on a ride with the melody. Fall is another great offering which demonstrates Amela's brilliant songwriting skills complete with an addictive melody and mature, but relevant lyrics. Softly sounds like an old folk tune that’s been sung for decades and Amela’s voice takes on a sensuality in this song that oozes emotion.

The album as a whole is a great debut that offers variety and puts Amela on the map for future releases. She’s just wrapped up an Australian tour but you can keep up to date with where she's playing next on her Facebook page: @ameladmusicpage.

Emma Whines

Opening track Halos breaks the ice and breaks it real hard. Halos drives it straight into your face and retains that energy level right through to the very end.

I listen to tracks like Stone and Aztec and can't help but notice the production quality. It's a beautiful thing when the clarity of a guitar tone can be pushed through the mix like this, standing out yet not taking away from the rest of the instruments, all while not pushing the gain on the amp to its fullest. (This obviously excludes that one time a band pushed it to 11). Each instrument is mixed and levelled superbly and the EP has been mastered flawlessly.

Chelsea Rockwells’ debut reminds me of a time when your typical rock music was something else; melodic yet up beat, somehow still punching you in the face with a fist full of cement. As a whole, it is incredibly well written and doesn't feel forced, which is not to say they’ve hit the limits of their abilities.

Nothing seems out of place. Everything has its moment and each moment shines perfectly across the EP, which ends perfectly with loud grungey vocals and wailing guitars that will send shivers down your spine.

Eleven - Vol 1 is out 31 March and Chelsea Rockwells play Crow Bar on 20 April and Hard Rock Café on 21 April.

Dan Maynard

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Oberst’s intonation and unique folk singing sensibility are easily recognisable in his new work. Instantly, I could tell I was in for a bit of preaching to. Napalm and Mamah Borthwick (A Sketch) were highlights for me.

The songs seemed conversational. Like advice delivered through stories about one’s life to a dear friend, Oberst’s lyrics seem to bring authenticity and raw emotion, which you’d be bloody hoping for being a folk singer.

I loved the prolific use of the harmonica and occasional fiddle augmenting Oberst’s heartfelt words. Tachycardia is a heart rate that exceeds the normal resting rate. It’s also the name of track ten and when I got to it I realised the album was 17 songs long. 17 songs? My heart rate increased significantly.

Overall, Salutations was a thoughtful folk album requiring quite a lot of attention. I reckon it’d be most enjoyed on a lazy Sunday afternoon with an intellectual friend when you both had the time to digest the lyric and explore the resulting philosophical dialogue, no doubt inevitable.

Glenn Tozer

More Life

The rest of the album is undeniably great with features from American music legends Kanye West and Travis Scott to UK hit makers Skepta and Giggs. It’s both reflective and current and lets fans delve a little further into Drake’s world whether that be through his lyricism or his choice in features.

Another great thing about a Drake album, and something that has carried on from his earlier work into More Life is the variety in his music choices. Now while he does keep his classic rapping style, and an underlying hip-hop beat, he also introduces different layers of EDM, Jazz, reggae, and even pop which is evident in Get It Together and his single Fake Love. Some fans have also suggested a lot of the variety in this particular album was influenced by his extended stay In the UK. So while it isn’t exactly the album, or the playlist, that every fan was hoping for, it is an ode to Drake’s peers and his love for music. What more could you want from artist?

Emma Whines

APRIL

HE IS LEGEND

KASEY CHAMBERS

RHIANNON GIDDENS

North Carolina quartet He Is Legend are set to release their fifth full length album Few worldwide come April 28.

Late last year in tinsel Twin Towns Kasey Chambers test drove five songs from her Ain’t No Little Girl, EP. Thinking it would be a showcase of hit songs and authentic banter, (as no-one does humble and talent pie more than Chambers), the two-plus-hour gig surpassed all expectations – the audience had just witnessed a musical kaleidoscope of stories, songs and styles. Welcome to the new world of Kasey Chambers – now in the form of double album Dragonfly.

If the success of debut album Tomorrow is my turn gave multi-instrumentalist Rhiannon Giddens a solo career away from her Grammy award winning band the Carolina Chocolate Drops, second album Freedom Highway confirms we have a new musical genius for our generation.

More Life

Dragonfly

Opening track Air Raid encapsulates everything and anything that is considered He Is Legend perfectly. This could very well be the most defining He Is Legend song, pulling in all the emotions of their previous albums.

The broodiness, the ambiance that sits behind a ballsy chugging riff, Crooms mellow voice transitioning into a very recognisable gritty tone when everything comes crashing to the table. If I wanted to show someone any He Is Legend track for their first listen, I believe I would turn to Air Raid.

There is no holding back when second track Sand introduces itself with four short hits of the drums followed by a plethora of galloping guitars, distorted and raging. We find Croom this time touching in on some more personal issues he has been dealing with in his life and the emotion shows through out the track.

The rest of the album follows suit. The band know how to blend so generously together, working like clockwork, accenting each other in the most quintessential of ways. They know how to lay out an album. And if there is anything He Is Legend are great at, it's ending an album on a high. All their albums tend to end on what is usually one of the best tracks on the album. The Gardener is nothing short of this. Starting out about as Sabbath as it gets; the most intense, doomy and brooding riff.

Melodically it pulls you to the exit as the song fades out perfectly. You're left with silence and the overwhelming feeling to wind back to Air Raid and start all over again.

The bands' last two albums It Hates You and Heavy Fruit undoubtedly saw the band tighten and define their sound to a more uniformed and mature level. But when you hear Few for the first time you can't deny what this album is, the perfect combination of their best work.

Dan Maynard

Warming up with hits; Pony, The Captain, and Not pretty enough, and introducing Dragonfly co-writer Harry Hookey’s own set of poetic songs, Chambers then delivered the surprises; Vika and Linda Bull stepping out from the darkness to sing harmonies on No ordinary man and Down on the Jetty - a song Paul Kelly wrote and recorded with Linda Bull on his Merri Soul Sessions.

Mid-show we were introduced to Chamber’s new band, Grizzlee Train. Plucked from Central Coast club obscurity, the two then teenaged talents were discovered by Chambers, and the grunge swampy sounds of Grizzlee Train were soon accompanying her to the next gig – supporting The Eagles and performing at the 2016 Americana Festival in Nashville. The Dragonfly album namedrops other music collaborators; Romeo and Juliet with Foy Vance, Hey with Paul Kelly, Ed Sheeran singing harmonies on Satellite, and country popstar Keith Urban’s vocals on If we had a child.

Ain't no little girl, the first song written on the album is Chamber’s ‘see what I can do now post throat surgery/Shane Nicholson vocal belter’. The power number shows her extended range and rawness of her singing. It’s a mix of Bonnie Tyler angst, meets Stevie Nicks vibrato alto. Brilliance. Even if the top note wasn’t struck in concert – as Chambers is the ultimate professional it didn’t matter - listen to the song on the album and you will hear a new Kasey Chamber’s anthem. Dragonfly’s ‘Sing Sing Sessions’ were produced by Paul Kelly and brother Nash produced the ‘Foggy Mountain Sessions,’ both showcasing a protagonist who has lived to tell many a tale.

Tiffany Mitchell

Freedom Highway

Freedom Highway’s lyrics were inspired by shards of slave narratives, collected histories in print and prose, yet personal stories that are a huge part of Giddens’ soul… compositions that are sung with Gidden’s distinctly rich vocals, tints of grassroots genres and instrumental deviance to die for.

Birmingham Sunday’s Wurlitzer organ, loping bluegrass banjo and earnest vocals are echoed with the gospel chorus, “… and the choirs kept on singing of freedom.” Come love come projects a swampy Louisiana setting, accompanied with a muddy blues inspired banjo. You may think banjo is strictly bluegrass, not when it is played by Giddens, who, having been classically trained picks her banjo as if she’s channelling the great John Lee Hooker, boom boom.

A cheeky honky tonk trumpet, layered with a rhythmic kettle-drum sounding banjo riff in Hey Be`be` shows off Giddens’ jazz prowess.

Jazz fusion is also heard with the let-your-hairdown heart puller, The Love We Almost Had. The sparkling instrumental; Follow the north star, showcases the soul of Giddens’ playing, no words need be sung, just roving riffs and dynamic hued notes.

It is exciting to have Rhiannon Giddens again on the Bluesfest bill this year - whilst filling dates at American fixtures such as the Chicago Jazz Festival, New Orleans Jazz Festival and the Rocky Mountain Folks Festival. There should be no excuses to miss this mesmerising musician just down the highway this Easter.

Rhiannon Giddens plays Bluesfest - Thursday 13, Friday 14 and Sunday 16 April.

SAT 01 BAREFOOT FRIDAYS SUN 02 JAMES HIGGINS SAT 08 SARAH GRANT SUN 09 BROTHER FOX SAT 15 JOCK BARNES SUN 16 JAMES HIGGINS SAT 22 THE LYRICAL SUN 23 ANDY PENNEY SAT 29 ANDY PENNEY SUN 30 GIG CARTEL

SATURDAYS 7-10PM & SUNDAYS IN THE BEER GARDEN 2-5PM

Tiffany Mitchell

for more info www.surfclubaustralia.com www.blankgc.com.au

37

KICKING GOALS ON THE GOLD COAST AND BEYOND

Football, one is donated in turn to a deserving community, school, organisation or child.

And despite its relatively short existence, the social enterprise is already making waves with its unique blend of sport and charity.

Good Football has recently allied with Australian sports charity Fair Game as a distribution partner, a move which Primrose says has allowed the social enterprise to make a palpable difference to rural communities across Australia.

"Teaming up with Fair Game makes anything possible for us, because they have access to a huge number of isolated communities,” says Primrose.

Images: Lamp Photography

“They generally collect used sporting goods to use in their health and fitness education programs, so we were delighted to be able to help out.

THESE WILD HOUSES

“This partnership is an incredible way to maximise the good we can do in the wider community."

OMAR SAKR

In conjunction with Fair Game, Good Football has already donated over $6000 worth of footballs to remote communities in Western Australia and New South Wales, something which Fair Game spokesperson Nathan Stone believes has had a tangible impact.

I know you’re probably sick of reading collections of gorgeous, heart-wrenching poetry by bisexual Sydney-born Arab Australian Muslims, but… perhaps you’d like to try Omar Sakr’s These Wild Houses, anyway? Your answer to this might be, “But how is this one different to all the others I own?”

“So far, we’ve worked with Good Football to distribute balls to underprivileged kids in the Kimberley and the Pilbara, as well as Claymore and Jarjum in New South Wales,” says Stone.

“These donations really do go a long way towards tackling issues like fitness, mental health and low living standards.

“It also means that we can deliver Christmas presents to some of the less fortunate kids, which really makes a difference.”

The Australian footballing community has responded to this sentiment in kind, with players from both grassroots and professional levels throwing their support behind Good Football.

The encouraging response has already seen Good Football partner with local clubs Palm Beach and Burleigh to provide footballs and apparel, with plans in place to collaborate with more teams in the region.

“

SPORT HAS THE POWER TO CHANGE THE WORLD. IT HAS THE POWER TO UNITE PEOPLE IN A WAY THAT LITTLE ELSE DOES. SPORT CAN AWAKEN HOPE WHERE PREVIOUSLY THERE WAS ONLY DESPAIR.

W

”

hen asked why they donate footballs, and not food or medical supplies, Shane Primrose and Adam Harrison proffered this Nelson Mandela quote. For the co-founders of Good Football, it is, essentially, the underlying justification for the way they do business. The very idea that sport can change lives underpins the existence of Good Football, the local social enterprise beginning to kick goals in all the right places.

Good Football was born out of the friendship of Primrose and Harrison, Gold Coast locals with a shared love for the beautiful game. Long-time participants in the local football scene, the two manage the venture out of their base in Burleigh. In their words, Good Football exists to deliver happiness and freedom through the joys of sport.

The formula is simple; for every ball purchased from Good

Meanwhile, the company has seen high profile players from both the A-League and W-League purchase products and spread the word across social media platforms, something which Primrose hopes will allow Good Football to attract positive attention and break into new markets.

“The response from W-League players in particular has been amazing, because football is such a growing market among young girls in Australia,” says Primrose.

“We’ve also had some fantastic responses from professional players who have been really generous with their time and are keen to get involved and help out however they can.”

For Good Football, then, the future looks bright. With an ever widening scope of distribution and growing support from both players and punters alike, the social enterprise is seemingly going from strength to strength. For Shane Primrose and Adam Harrison, this means one thing; the opportunity to make as much difference to as many people as possible. The power of sport, for Primrose, continues to drive Good Football’s philanthropy.

“For me, football has always been a means to leave those problems behind. Stepping over the white line meant stepping into 90 minutes of freedom where nothing else would matter.

As long as we have footballs at our feet we are free.”

Lachlan McConnell

I’m glad you asked. Here, have some reasons: 1.

These Wild Houses is about splintering families, boyhood trauma, identity, arresting grief, and so much more.

2.

Omar will crack open your chest and perform precarious heart surgery on you, before you’ve even opened the book. (See the cover prose, taken from Dear Mama.)

3.

The first poem, Door Open, sets the scene: what do our minds and bodies house, what do our houses house, and where and when will we find the lock and key?

There are other stand-outs. Not So Wild¬ grips us in that tense prison, between community violence and social silence when your own house is not okay. Here Is The Poem You Demand demanded so much of me, and I’m glad it did; I read it again and again. Election Day will make you laugh-despair at the final line. The H Word tells of hiding when you’re collecting oppressed identities and brings new meaning to the cover picture.

In case you’re undecided, I’ll leave you with the following stanza from Not So Wild, which scored runner up for the Overland 2015 Judith Wright Poetry award: ‘Some days you came out of the house crackling with storming boyhood, furious without cause, cursing every leaf and branch and stone – why are we here, why do this now?

Small wonder, I never knew what to say, cupped wriggling worms in a small pool of mud to distract you instead, to lead away from your abrasions, the screaming matches everyone heard but chose to swallow, knowing our own houses were tinderboxes and the roar of their flaming would come sure as the sun.’

These Wild Houses is available from Australian small press, Cordite Books. To order a copy, visit www.corditebooks.org.au.

Nae Nurth

www.blankgc.com.au

39

Lifestyle

KIRSTY'S TIME TO SHINE

FEMME HEROINE

D

escribed as “a unique online space for boss bitch women in their twenties”, Femme Heroine aims to deliver forward thinking women with informed, opinionated, knowledgeable and relatable content by strong female voices. Its creator, Bond graduate Lily Hoffman, spoke to us about her fabulous concept.

“I was inspired by a bunch of floating tits, if I am to be honest,” says Lily.

“I was swimming nude with a bunch of other female travel writing interns in Bali, discussing everything from orgasms to Trump, and the idea kind of just dawned on me. I think my creative juices had been flowing, just from travelling and writing all the time anyway.”

In a world where it is still often considered an insult to call a woman “opinionated”, Lily hopes to bring attention to the thought and views of young women, their sexuality the unique issues that affect this demographic.

“Some random section of society is still fighting against women having a voice,” she says.

“Being heard and having a voice, however, are two different things. To have a voice in the conversation is to not only be heard, but to be considered, to be valued. I think having an opinion ties in with having a voice. It's like, people are all for equality until a woman shouts her opinion across the void and it isn't met with the same level of acceptance as a man.

“People still feel uncomfortable in 2017 when women are crass, talk dirty or make dirty jokes, when women swear or speak passionately. But men act that way at a footy match and it’s the norm. I still get odd looks when I voice my opinion on politics or gay

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rights or abortion, like people just can't believe I would rock the boat.”

This imbalance of course is something which feminism often seeks to address. I am curious how Lily feels about identity politics and in particular, feminism.

“For me, it's not a question of 'if I identify as a feminist,' but rather 'do I not identify as a feminist.' I personally feel that in 2017 identifying is no longer enough, it now needs to become an 'opt out' system.

Everyone should be a feminist. If you care about the woman who gave you life, your sisters, your grandma, your girlfriend, even the lady who drives your local bus - if you care about half of the population you are by default a feminist.

“A feminist to me is just someone who wants basic and equal rights for all genders, not just women. If you don't want that, then you should have to suffer the shame of opting out of it. Everyone is a feminist until they choose to mark themselves as otherwise. I personally feel the same way about organ donation and being homosexual, but that's a controversial conversation for another time.”

Controversial conversations are likely to abound on Femme Heroine.

“Our tone, our style of writing, our vision; it is very ‘no bullshit.’ We are upfront, crass, sassy, outspoken and call it how we see it, and so do our writers.”

Natalie O'Driscoll

THE WEBSITE LAUNCHED ON 20 MARCH, AND PITCHES ARE WELCOME. VISIT FEMMEHEROINE.COM

W

hen your mum is an Olympic Silver Medallist for Butterfly, it would seem natural for the daughter with a similar talent and affinity for water to follow in her footsteps. Kirsty Higgison did take up her mother Karen's (nee Phillips) sport for a while when she was young. Trouble was, she didn't like it.

Instead she was drawn to Surf Lifesaving at her local Surf Lifesaving Club, NowraCulburra on the South Coast of NSW, where she discovered several Ironwoman competitors with the name Kirsty. It seemed fate that she join them in the sport.

to come down to the Gold Coast to train at the club and have a look around, with no pressure to enter events.

"I kind of wish I had kept up swimming training for a while longer" said Kirsty ahead of the Australian Surf Lifesaving Championships (The Aussies) to be held this year at North Kirra. "Swimming strength definitely gives you an advantage in Ironwoman events".

"I think it's because until relatively recently, Ironman was a male-only sport" says Higgison. "The Coolangatta Gold, for example, only allowed women to compete in the long course four or five years ago".

She needn't worry. Higgison has a dogged determination to win. She moved to the Sunshine Coast four years ago because Queensland had so much more to offer.

"I feel I did well because I really appreciate how great the facilities and coaches are here compared to NSW. Plus I am training alongside all these champions!" she says.

It paid off. Last year she came runner-up in her first campaign in the professional series for her then club Noosa.

"I was so happy, but I had all these people telling me I should have won. So instead of resting my body like I should have, I kept training hard. I ended up with pneumonia and felt depressed. I couldn't get my motivation back. Then Trevor Hendy called out of the blue".

Hendy had recently become president of Surfers Paradise SLSC, and asked Higgison

"I loved Surfers. It reminded me of my old club on the South Coast; a non-competitive, inclusive, welcoming, family atmosphere".

There is also more support for female competitors than any other club. Hendy's vision is for Surfers to have the most female competitors of any SLSC in the country.

A big hurdle is gaining sponsorship for women.

Higgison hopes to be able to go into schools with other club members at Surfers SLSC to talk to girls about the sport.

"I want to target the 15 to 17 year age group because that's the time girls are most likely to drop out of sport. So much emphasis is placed on how women and girls look in sport. Anyone can play sport; young, old, big, small, disabled, it doesn't matter.

Sports like mine help you be in the moment instead of thinking about all the negativity out there".

Pip Andreas thinklovelive.com

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7:30pm April 28, 29 | May 4, 5, 6 Matinee 1:30pm April 30

Helensvale Cultural Centre, Cnr Lindfield Road and Sir John Overall Drive, Helensvale

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Lifestyle Image: Lamp Photography

back home that he received a diagnosis of spinocerebellar ataxia, a rare degenerative illness.

The diagnosis meant that Gavin was medically discharged from the army and is now suffering from gradually worsening communication between his brain and spinal cord, a condition which will eventually see him in a wheelchair.

How did he respond? By taking up rowing and going on to represent Australia at the Paralympics, of course. He competed in both the London and Rio games with his rowing partner Kathryn Ross, with whom he also won three gold medals at the World Championships.

Now retired, Gavin is interested in continuing with sport as both a personal and social form of therapy. Through Currumbin RSL and Soldier On he has connected with a group of veterans who surf together.

SYMBOLIC SLEEPOUT The Symbolic Sleep Out, held on the eve of ANZAC Day at Currumbin Wildlife Sanctuary, is designed to commemorate the centenary of ANZAC Day and give the civilian community an insight into returned veterans’ needs, as well as raising money for services to meet those needs. In the lead up to this year’s sleep out event, we caught up with one of the organisers Laura Prout, Marketing and Communications Manager at Currumbin RSL, and returned veteran Gavin Bellis.

“The hope was for people to really connect with this moment in history and get a glimpse into the sacrifices made on behalf of the freedom we appreciate today,” Laura explains.

Those sacrifices made by soldiers often come at significant personal cost, with many returning veterans requiring differing levels of care once they are home. Gavin highlights one of the major issues.

“The stats speak for themselves,” he states.

“There’s more people that have died through suicide since involvement in Iraq and Afghanistan than lives lost in the actual conflict itself.”

Another major concern for those returning is reintegration into civilian life. The Currumbin RSL's Veterans' Support Centre provides advice, counselling and referrals and now houses a part-time clinical psychologist who looks after contemporary veterans.

“When you leave the military, whether that be due to medical discharge or you’ve finished your career, it’s like anything,” says Gavin.

“People lose their sense of identity. To be connected to other veterans – people who can feel welcome and part of a group again, it’s a big thing.”

Gavin was serving in the Solomon Islands when he fell taking a run around an airfield. It wasn’t until he was sent 42

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“It’s another thing for a group of guys – that outlet, that interest. Water therapy is a great thing for anyone,” he says.

“Everyone in the community just wants to have their place – whatever that be. Through the RSL and these services, it gives you back that link, that feeling of community that you had in the military.”

The Symbolic Sleep Out is a family event.

“Currumbin RSL believes strongly in educating our youth,” says Laura.

“There is a more light-hearted side to Sleep Out with a 'Critters Craft' area where children can move away from the more formal part of the evening.

“There will also be a wondering wildlife experience occurring throughout the night where guests can get up close and personal with some of the sanctuary's wildlife.”

Currumbin Wildlife Sanctuary and Currumbin RSL work closely together to put on the event and staff volunteer their time. Many of the Club’s suppliers also donate bottles of water, fruit and snacks for the attendees to have when they wake up.

500 tickets are available for the sleep out, where guests will have access to the sanctuary from 12.00pm before experiencing a unique night under the stars, sleeping in swags. When they wake in the morning, will be just a stone's throw from the Currumbin RSL ANZAC Day Dawn Service at Elephant Rock.

All profits raised from ticket sales and from food sold at the sanctuary cafe will go directly to veterans' welfare.

Currumbin RSL would like to thank Bidvest & Nu Pure Water, Southern Cross Fruit & Veg Currumbin and PFD Foods who all donate to the event.

Tickets for the event are available at australiaremembers. com.au and include exclusive parking at the Sanctuary and access to a reserved area on the beach for the dawn service at Elephant Rock.

Interviews: Samantha Morris and Natalie O’Driscoll Story: Natalie O’Driscoll

SAHAJA YOGA COMING INTO THE LIGHT Sahaja Yoga is the state of self-realisation produced by kundalini awakening and is accompanied by the experience of thoughtless awareness or mental silence. Now Sahaja Yoga Mats, a local Gold Coast business, is donating a solar light to a family in Mozambique for every one of its eco-friendly non-toxic rubber mats that it sells. The business was born from its owner Judes Yang coming through extremely dark emotional times, and wanting to give light, literally in this case, to others. She bravely talked about those dark times to Pip Andreas.

"Before finding Sahaja, I was in a dark place," explains Judes.

"I was diagnosed in 2014 with PTSD that came from emotional and mental abuse. I unfortunately trusted in someone and gave away my power. The last few years I have battled with suicidal depression and learning to live with PTSD. "This isn't an easy aspect of my life to share, as I am putting myself out there, but I hope that sharing my experience that others can know that they aren't alone. That experiencing mental health issues, is actually ok. There is nothing to be ashamed about and unfortunately, to this day there is a large stigma around mental health when there shouldn't be, its an aspect of health, like physical health.

"I think its a gift to be able to take care of one's mind. The thing with abuse is that you don't know that is happening.

I didn't understand the cycle I was in, until I 'woke up' and was out of the situation. I believe the more we share our stories, the more we can support one another and inform the public on mental health and hopefully live in a future without the stigma."

TO READ THE FULL INTERVIEW, HEAD ON OVER TO BLANKGC.COM.AU

Arts & Culture

THE DRESSMAKER AND THE FILMMAKER Sue Maslin is one of Australia’s most successful film, television and digital content practitioners with a track record of creating award winning feature and documentary films. Her most recent is the smash hit The Dressmaker, starring Kate Winslet and Judy Davis. It grossed more than $20 million at the box office and garnered the highest number of nominations at the 2015 Australian Academy Awards, winning five including the coveted People’s Choice Award for Favourite Australian Film.

Sue is also a strong advocate for women in screen, and she took the time to speak with us prior to her attendance at the Women in Film lunch as part of the Gold Coast Film Festival.

Is this your first time at the GCFF? It is, I’ve been to the Gold Coast for a number of times for movie conventions, but I’ve never been to the film festival so I’m really looking forward to it.

Congratulations on the success of The Dressmaker. Adaptation I find is a really tricky medium, but it was incredibly done.

It’s an incredible challenge because you can’t put a book on the screen, for obvious reasons, it would probably run for 6 hours or audience witness, but what you are trying to do is that you’ve captured the spirit, the essence of what the book is about and of what people love about the book, and you hope that you’ve captured that essence in the film, and of course all gorgeous ‘cozies’.

Were any of the clothes kept?

Yeah, I’ve kept them all, in fact curated with Marion Boyce, the costume designer, has put together an exhibition, which is currently on tour. We have around 50 of the costumes together with props and the sewing machine going into national trust properties around Australia. It’s a 3-month exhibition so people can get up close to those costumes.

Did you keep any yourself?

I own them all, but I keep them as a collection. My plan ultimately is that they stay together as a collection, and that they’ll go into the national film and sound archive.

It appears in the past romantic comedy was the only content specifically designed for women for so long. It's strange that they don’t identify women as the target audience for other types of content.

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POST-FLÂNEURIE PHUNK: LEONIE RHODES AT SIGNS OF THE TIME

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he flâneurie was a literary type in 18th century France and essential to any notion of the Parisian streets. He would walk the streets and observe, meander – an urban explorer, a connoisseur of the street. Leonie Rhodes has used the concept of the flâneurie as central to her installation at Gold Coast City Gallery’s Signs of the Time exhibition and questions whether today’s graffiti artist is a modern-day flâneurie.

“The flâneurie is anti-capitalist and is rebellious because he thinks,” Leonie explained. “And then I bring that through into feminism – because the flâneurie is always a man of certain societal stature. At that time if women were to contemplate anything it wouldn’t have been taken seriously and they couldn’t walk the streets. If they did, they’d be considered prostitutes.”

“So my skater work is called the triple axis intersectional skater,” she explained.

That’s right and of course one of the things that were, even though we went pretty much after a female audience, we didn’t position it as a chick flick. It is a film that resonates with men as well and I’m really delighted that a lot of men have really enjoyed the film.

And it had such a positive response, top of the Australian box office, multi award winning, it must have been really gratifying to you to have all of that hard work and advocacy for this type of story come to fruition.

Well you never know that of course when you start 12 years ago, you never know how an audience may or may not respond, but I’m particularly proud of the fact that it gave Jocelyn Moorehouse the opportunity to get back in the directors chair, it had been 16 years since she had directed the film and I was convinced that Joselin was the one director for this film and she is a talented writer and director and she understands comedy drama, she did it beautifully with her first feature proof and I felt certain that she could do it again and she did. To be honest that is one of the most satisfying parts of the whole process, just seeing Jocelyn back in the director’s chair and doing it so beautifully.

Leonie’s work is an exploration of our modern understanding of urban art and its movement into a fine art context.

“I’m using a lot of ancient symbolism that’s usually used by corporations,” she explained.

“I’m talking about the street setting and the two types of lettering we have in that setting.

One is tagging and the other is advertising.

Both of which we don’t give consent for – one is legal and the other is frowned upon.”

“I’m interested in the use of symbolism by corporations and in taking back that symbolism for ourselves and our own empowerment.”

While being a fine art sculptor, Leonie has a long association with street art. Growing up in SE London saw her writing graffiti from the age of 11 or 12 and listening to drum and bass music that was completely integrated in that scene.

“Everyone’s signatures were somehow inspired by their tag,” Leonie said. “My friends all had aerosols, but from early on it was sculptures that inspired me, and always inspired by street art and external settings. It’s only been the last few years I’ve worked with materials hardy enough to survive those settings.”

What project is next for you, what are you working on?

Leonie’s thesis (she studied fine art) explored the nature of the urban environment in the imagination of the city dweller. She worked with large scale steel, industrial materials, aerosols.

Well I’m in development in a couple of feature projects, another one with Joselin Moorehouse, the variations, so that development takes a couple of years so I’m definitely involved in seeing those through.

“In that fine art setting, especially at that time, it’s not something you were encouraged to be part of,” she said. “It’s only been the last five or ten years really that fine art has accepted street art.”

Aimee Lindorff

And that’s what this piece is about. The movement of underground and outsider culture in a fine art context.

Image: Peter Wheeler Photography “It’s exciting for me to reconnect with my history and the playful side of my practice and have that recognised as fine art,” Leonie said. “And to combine that will skills and conceptual knowledge I’ve developed in my career. I’m really excited with the results and what it means for my work in the future.”

Like most Gold Coast artists who’ve been involved in the exhibition or just been to see it, Leonie is excited about what the exhibition signifies for street artists and for the local art scene.

“It’s definitely a sign of the time that an institution like this is recognising street art in a fine art context,” Leonie said. “It’ll be really interesting to see how the work is received.”

“For me, if you come and visit the show and read about my work, you’ll see what I’ve been trying to do with The Writer and the reason I’ve accentuated his clothing and the folds in his clothing is that I’ve tried to emulate the sculptural drapery of the past. In a way, I want to represent him, that which is our contemporary artist, as something other than an outsider.”

“Could we consider that the graffiti artist is in fact the artist of our time and that throughout history, very current artists have always been rejected by the mainstream?”

“The graffiti world represents a return to the appreciation of colour, making for making’s sake, expression and a more politicallyminded form of art-making which has been pushed out societally by art colleges and the establishment.”

Samantha Morris

LEONIE’S WORK IS INSTALLED AS PART OF THE SIGNS OF THE TIME EXHIBITION WHICH RUNS AT GOLD COAST CITY GALLERY UNTIL 9 APRIL.

Image: Lamp Photography

SELF DEFENCE WITH A DIFFERENCE

Lifestyle

AP8 Fierce Females is not your average self defence course. Created by women for women their range of self defence courses have female only instructors, teach the art of self confidence, independent thinking and community. Natalie O'Driscoll Why is it important to combine the learning of physical self defence with an understanding of the psychology behind it?

MINDFULNESS MINUS THE MEDITATION CUSHION We hear the word thrown around a lot, but what is mindfulness?

Mindfulness is the art of being fully present in the moment, the moment you are currently in. It is the heart of paying full attention to one thing at a time, no multitasking, just focus on one thing. It is an oasis of calm amongst the constant chatter of the mind, the rehashing of the past, or the anxiety for the future. It is a practice of holding our own attention and energy in this world of non-stop demand on it from stimulus and distraction.

Sound good to you? Here are a few ways you can practice, choose one that works best for you or use all of them.

Breathing Mindfulness This is the practice of staying focused on the breathing. It is a great practice as we all breathe, all the time, so we can do this anywhere, anytime! Become aware of the breath and as you breathe in say to yourself, ‘I know I’m breathing in’. As you breathe out say, ‘I know I’m breathing out’. Seems simple right? The mind will try to wander off, as you notice it wandering draw it back to watching the breath. It is a practice so be kind to yourself if it takes a while to be able to stay focussed.

Moving Mindfulness So you’re on the go, perhaps too much to stop and watch the breath, then what?

Moving mindfulness is your ticket. Simply paying attention as you do things like, I am walking, I am leaving my keys on the table, I am pouring a drink, and so on. Not only do you practice mindfulness, it is really helpful to remember certain things, like where you left your keys. Being aware of the movements we are making while we make them adds quality to the moment and the movement.

Violence follows a predictable cycle regarding frequency and severity. By understanding the cycle you can they make appropriate actions to ensure the cycle is broken or and the least minimised.

Having an understanding on why, how and when people become violent, you can negotiate situations differently. You can predict how and when a situation will turn violent, allowing us to either avoid it completely, de-escalate it to a point where physical violence is no longer a threat, or ensure it never escalates to a situation where violence is an option. The ultimate goal is to never have to use your physical defence skills, but that doesn't stop us from practicing, role playing and training our physical self defence skills and techniques.

What is the advantage to participants in having female instructors?

What "works" for the female body is very different to what works for a male body. As females we understand what it is like to face a stronger, heavier opponent that has longer reach. We know the emotions you will face during a physical altercation. Instead of sympathy you will receive empathy from our trainers, and a true understanding of what it feels like to be a woman in a physical altercation. We have trialled, failed and trialled again until we find techniques that actually "work" for us as women.

TO READ THE FULL INTERVIEW, GO TO BLANKGC.COM.AU. VISIT AP8FIERCEFEMALES.COM FOR MORE INFORMATION.

Task Mindfulness If you can, do this with plenty of tasks during the day, if you can’t then choose one task. Let’s use brushing your teeth as an example. While brushing your teeth pay close attention to every detail from the feel of the toothbrush in your hand, to the colour and texture of the toothpaste, how the tube feels when you squeeze it, the flavour of the toothpaste, the way you brush your teeth in a particular way and, how it feels in each part, each tooth.

We do so much on autopilot that so much slips by. Our minds are constantly elsewhere and busy, busy, busy. Mindfulness helps to take us out of that busyness and restore our attention where it needs to be or where we consciously choose to send it. With this practice we clear the mind a little, perform better and make wiser decisions.

Have fun with the practice, feel free to get in touch and let me know how you go. aloka.com.au Erin Bourne www.blankgc.com.au

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Arts & Culture

WELCOME TO THE UNDERCURRENT Regular GC Instragrammers would know that there’s a new kid on the block when it comes to blurring the lines between art, culture and fashion. The Undercurrent is a new line of apparel that connects tourists and locals to the city with a distinct nod to oceanside living. The Undercurrent’s founder Carla Snodgrass told Samantha Morris about the project, which is much more than just a new t-shirt range.

What’s the motivation behind The Undercurrent?

The Gold Coast is my home and I boast about how awesome it is to anyone who'll listen. When I travel, I always like to bring art home. But it can get quite expensive and difficult to transport. So I end up with a bunch of t-shirts that tell interesting stories. One example is when I went to New York and I found this cute little Japanese restaurant. The staff were wearing these t-shirts that had a hand drawn illustration on the front and a crazy scene of the restaurant on the back; chefs, sushi flying, patrons of the restaurant, the Statue of Liberty and noodles galore are all part of the design. The illustrations capture just a snippet of New York. Now every time I wear it, people ask me where it's from and I repeat the story, what I wanted for the Coast. I want people to see these t-shirts and create conversations about the Coast.

Who designed the apparel for you?

I have worked with five talented Gold Coasters on this first series (yes there are more to come). They are Sarah Beetson (who has designed Surfers Paradise), Claudio Kirac (Mermaid Beach), Eric Koo (Burleigh), Kiel Tillman (Currumbin) and Byron Coathup (Coolangatta). The first series is based on suburbs. All of the artists chose the suburbs they wished to work. It's really important to me that all the artists currently reside on the Gold Coast. It's really disappointing that there 46

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are not enough opportunities for artists on the Coast. There are so many talented people in all sorts of fields right here, let's utilise them! The shirts are also hand screen printed in Burleigh at Monstar Screenprinting. Keepin' it local. If there are any local artists out there who would like to work with us in the future, please email us at info@theundercurrent.com.au What are you hoping to achieve by having this very GC range out and about on people?

I want tourists to spread the word about the Gold Coast when they get home, locals to proudly wear their shirts with pride, the artists’ profiles to rise leading to further projects and for Surf Life Saving Queensland to earn some decent donations from us. We donate $2 from every shirt sale to SLSQ. Lifesavers are such an integral part of this city, whether you've crossed paths with them as a tourist at the beach or grew up here and trained as a nipper.

THE UNDERCURRENT’S FIRST SERIES LAUNCHES 1 APRIL AND THEY’LL BE AT THE VILLAGE MARKETS ON 2 APRIL. SELECT BOUTIQUES WILL ALSO STOCK THE RANGE. MORE AT THEUNDERCURRENT.COM.AU.

BITTER|SWEET

BY BEAUTIFUL.BIZARRE 19 Karen Contemporary Artspace is the setting for an exciting new international exhibition Bitter|Sweet. This exhibition showcases the work of 25 of the finest new contemporary artists from across Australia and around the world.

The exhibition is curated by beautiful. bizarre magazine Co-Founder and EditorIn-Chief, Danijela Krha Purssey and it brings the two and three dimensional art beautiful.bizarre curated, both online and in the quarterly art book, to life in a physical gallery space.

“I selected the artists from the beautiful. bizarre magazine family of artists – many of which have already been featured in our print and digital magazine and others that are on my radar for future issues,” Ms Krha Purssey said.

“I also curate to fit with the aesthetic of the gallery and to ensure there is a wide cross section of styles and mediums, which is in keeping with how we curate the magazine…

I am very honoured by the calibre of new/ original works created to fit with the Bitter | Sweet theme which I chose as a vehicle for the artists to explore and the mechanism to unite all the unique and diverse styles and mediums.”

“In this exhibition the artists have been asked to look at both the bitter and the sweet, the dark and the light, the love and the pain, and draw from their own life experiences to create emotive and expressive works in both two and three dimensional form. Works that make the viewer feel,” Ms Krha Purssey continued.

“In my Bitter|Sweet sculptures I wanted to create a relationship of harmony between

two sculptures of opposing emotions,“ Crystal Morey, an American artist described her artwork.

“I created a corresponding anthropomorphic figure, creating a predator and prey relationship between the two sculptures. The bear representing the aggressor and the deer, the prey. My bitter and my sweet figures are equally powerful and have an attraction towards each other leading to an endless cycle of upheaval, growth, entanglement, and destruction.

They are a symbol for the relationships humans have in our natural world, and the delicate dependencies we all share.”

Gold Coast has seen its share of new, innovative art through projects, exhibitions, commissions and art initiatives lately and if you think this is a sign of things to come, you are absolutely right. Ms Krha Purssey described the Gold Coast art market as being very progressive and cutting edge in many respect and as such a perfect surrounding for such exhibition. “[The Gold Coast] is not afraid to break the bounds of tradition and take risks on the new and emerging,” Ms Krha Purssey described and said that the Gold Coast exhibition would be followed by an exhibition in New York later this year.

Anna Itkonen

THE BITTER|SWEET EXHIBITION RUNS FROM 18 MARCH UNTIL 29 APRIL IN 19 KAREN CONTEMPORARY ARTSPACE, MERMAID BEACH.

ART • DRINKS • SOUNDS

Arts & Culture

LOVE HORROR? GOLD COAST FILM FESTIVAL HAS YOU COVERED

GOLD COAST WEB SERIES DUST TEMPLE PORTRAIT STAGE MUMS ALL SET PRIZE RETURNS WITH FOR SEASON THREE $4000 CASH PRIZE

Stage Mums is a comedy web series about two mothers who will do anything to make their quadrupley talented daughters famous. It's Dance Moms, Absolutely Fabulous and Kath & Kim all rolled into one! Stage Mums has grabbed the attention of seasoned professionals in the industry who have jumped on board to create Stage Mums season three which wrapped filming on the Gold Coast recently, and Natalie O'Driscoll caught up with creator Anna Waters-Massey.

What inspired the story of Stage Mums? Were there any real life influences?

I grew up in a family of performers and my children both acted in TV and film from a young age. My daughter danced for many years so eisteddfods, auditions and dealing with the industry and all it entails are something I am very familiar with. Throw into the mix the phenomenon of social media and the parents, who for various reasons want their children to succeed at all costs and Stage Mums came to life! Strangely, everyone wants to be famous these days, as if that is a sign of success. I decided to explore those ideas in a comedic way and drew on various experiences of my own and ones other parents and industry professionals shared with me.

Will there be a Season 4? What's next for the team?

We are currently editing season three and our producer Kris Maric is following up interest from various networks. The ultimate goal is to attract serious funding to make half hour episodes and air it on a network or streaming service.

The characters of Shaz and Trace have also taken on a life of their own and we have done various interviews and appearances in character as well as a live show in June this year. That is another aspect of Stage Mums which we will develop. Numerous cast members are also musicians and a two minute version of the theme song has been recorded.

The possibilities just keep on coming...

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Portraiture is a brave art-form. Not only is an artist exposing their own shortcomings in terms of artistic practice or technique or brush skills, they’re also exposing the person that’s being captured.

Which means a lot of people who enter their work into portrait competitions consider themselves to be skilled artists.

Dean Cogle is the founder of the Dust Temple Portrait Prize, which this year includes a $4000 cash first prize thanks to the support of the estate of the late Jeannine Neumann.

Dean says he was motivated by the general lack of portraiture prizes in Queensland in general.

“Portraiture is something that’s become quite popular again as an artform,” he told Blank Gold Coast. “And I think that comes from the whole trend of realism that people are doing again.”

Dust Temple first held a major portrait exhibition in 2015 but Dean says with renovations and resources spread thin, he took he took a break in 2016 before returning this year.

“Portraiture is a unique specialty,” Dean said. “There’s the human form, which is kind of a primary attraction, but there’s quite often a personal relationship with the person in the portrait. And there’s stories about those people.”

“Quite often some of those people may not even be alive anymore,” he said.

There’s no theme to this year’s portrait prize, but photography has been excluded and while the competition is open to all Australian residents over 18 years of age, some artists will also be invited to enter.

“I’m hoping to get a fairly diverse spread of mediums and styles,” Dean said. “I don’t want it to all be about realism. I really like doing portraits personally, even though I’m more known for architectural stuff.”

Dean is hoping the exhibition will become quite established over time, like other portrait exhibitions across the country.

“If we can get past the ten year mark we’ll be a regular on the Australian exhibition scene,” he said.

Entries for the 2017 Neumann Dust Temple Portrait Prize close Friday 28 April and the exhibition opens 10 June. More information and entry form from info@hingegallery.com.au.

Samantha Morris

Gold Coast Film Festival is deliver more than 100 events across 13 Gold Coast locations this month and if you’re a fan of horror, you’re in for a treat. The festival is dishing up four nights of horror including the world premier of Out of The Shadows and the Australian premiere of Cage Dive.

Cage Dive will screen for two nights of the festival. It’s an edge-of-your-seat boneshaker, tracking three American friends who travel to Australia to cage dive with a great white shark. But a freak wave capsizes their boat and the hapless trio gets far more up close and personal than they’d intended.

Writer / Director Gerald Rasionato will be at the festival for Q+A following the first screening of this minimalist, ‘foundfootage’ thriller. Cage Dive screens Wednesday 26 April at 7.15pm at The Arts Centre Gold Coast and on Thursday 27 April at BCC Coolangatta at 6.30pm.

XX is the first horror anthology film to be completely written and directed by female filmmakers. From a twisted take on motherhood to carnage on the camping ground, these four macabre stories swing from terrifying to hilarious. The anthology gathers together a gold mine of talent including the directorial debut of Annie Clark (aka popular musician St Vincent), a terrifying twist on Rosemary’s Baby from the legendary directorial talent of Karyn Kusama, and a cabin in the woods episode unlike any you have experienced. XX premiered at Sundance Film Festival and will screen on Friday 28 April at The Arts Centre Gold Coast at 8.30pm.

Rising Australian actress Kendal Rae (The Shannara Chronicles) is the star of Out of the Shadows, which introduces us to a young couple who’s new dream house holds some horrific secrets. Playing like a frightening Aussie mash up of Rosemary’s Baby and The Exorcist, this elegantly mounted thriller directed by veteran local filmmaker Dee McLachlan (The Jammed) features a gorgeously baroque score from award-winning composer Christopher Gordon and was filmed in the lush hinterland of the Tweed. It has its world premiere at Gold Coast Film Festival on Saturday 29 April at 8.30pm and the filmmakers will be at the event for Q&A following the screening.

Samantha Morris

GOLD COAST FILM FESTIVAL RUNS 19 – 30 APRIL. GET THE FULL PROGRAM AND BOOK TICKETS AT GCFILMFESTIVAL.COM.

S t r u t & Fr et a n d B l e a c h* Fe s t i va l p r e s e n t

B L E A C H * F E S T I VA L SPIEGELTENT GOLD COAST 29 MAR - 16 APR

êêêêê AN ABSOLUTE MUST SEE WEST END WI LMA (UK)

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Food & Drink

LUCKY BAO 6/90 Markeri St, Mermaid Waters

W

here were you when you had your first delicious, pillowy bite of bao? For me it was at Miami Marketta at Lucky Bao’s stall after a friend, who had raved for a solid month about them, finally took me there. “So, what do you think? They are good huh?!” she asked, hands clasped together with a look of joy on her face as I took that first soft, flavourful bite. I think I swore loudly and immediately bought seven more to eat. I was hooked.

As the love was passed on from friend to friend it became a weekly obsession for us as to whether Lucky Bao was going to be at Marketta that week. So many human emotions this obsession caused us from the giddiest joy when they posted on Instagram to confirm their upcoming appearance to the utter depths of despair when there was nothing for weeks.

Well the despair is no more as head chef and bao master Daud Kendall has answered all our bao-related dreams and opened up Lucky Bao in Mermaid Waters.

Although ‘bao’ is a term used to describe any sort of Asian bun which contains meat, the dish is very old indeed, originating in China over 2,000 years ago, even before the Terracotta Warriors. Emulated in many different countries of the world for its simplicity and flexibility, gua bao (literally meaning ‘çut bread’) is made from a steamed bread traditionally sandwiched around a filling of red pork belly, pickles, coriander and chopped peanuts. It was a dish that the Taiwanese took on as their own street food, a dish they called ‘tiger bites pig’, so popular that many refer to it as ‘the Taiwanese hamburger’.

First introduced to the West by David Chang in 2004, this street food gained popularity in 2009 when Bauhaus opened in New York, going viral in 2013 with the YouTube series Fresh Off the Boat. The Gold Coast’s debut was not far behind. Daud informs us he is inspired by David Chang and decided to make bao his thing because “It’s what I like to eat and there is nothing else like it on the Coast”.

The vibes in Lucky Bao are laid back and we are welcomed in there like old friends, invited to share some food with Daud, his restaurant manager wife Emmi and his “pickled cucumber aficionado” daughters Pearl and Issy as we discuss all things Lucky Bao. The journey began at the Hyatt in Dubai where Daud made some bao for a golfing event and realised he was onto something outstanding “I found that from all walks of life, people love the bao”. From Dubai to Sydney and then moving to the Gold Coast three years ago to start working at Social Eating House + Bar, Daud and Emmi decided to open the Lucky Bao stall at the Marketta to showcase the product, and it was a hit. “We found that people were coming from the far reaches of the Gold Coast with their own takeaway containers just to get their bao fix.”

Daud informs us. The obsession, clearly, was felt by everyone who tasted their wares. They grew from there with a pop-up

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inside Cambus Wallace once a month allowing them to “flex our muscles a bit” and try some new items.

$9 each. Well worth the money for handmade goods, served on the most gorgeous hand thrown plates.

‘But what makes these bao so good?’ we hear you ask.

Exploring the menu deeper reveals Daud’s culinary talents with fiery debates erupting with friends over what reigned supreme: the sashimi of Hiramasa kingfish or the beef tataki. Both are so delicate, so flavoursome it’s hard to pick a favourite, so you may as well get both! Other favourites include the Pan-Asian collection of wings with Korean chilli attitude, twice-cooked lamb ribs Sichuan style, dumplings, crispy eggplant and an Asian chicken slaw so delicious that it could become a daily ritual. They vary in size from a bowl of spiced chilli and caramel nuts to a sizzling lamb shoulder Asian style, with a side of bao to share.

Firstly, it’s the buns.

“The buns are a labour of love,” Emmi tells us, “a fourhour-long process that Daud begins at 6 every morning, and a temperamental one at that. You need to use a specific flour, and the bun consistency is dependent on temperature, humidity…you name it.”

But in the end the product screams difference. They’re softer, more pillow-like than any other buns we’ve tasted.

It is mesmerising watching Daud roll them out on the bench as we sit at the kitchen bar, chatting away to the chefs as they do their prep, bantering with one another. Food is serious business, but doesn’t mean you can’t have a seriously fun time with it.

Filling wise you are spoilt for choice: the semi-traditional confit pork belly ramped up with cucumber sesame pickle, Taiwanese fried chicken with slaw and chilli mayo, salt and pepper organic tofu (in the Bauhaus tradition), twice-cooked lamb rib, tempura soft shell crab and braised beef cheek, plus fillings and sauces, of course. There’s a ‘two for $15 lunch’ special from 11am – 3pm, normal price for a bao being $8 -

Make sure you don’t miss out on dessert. Even the deconstructed cheesecake which shows off Daud’s level of culinary expertise can’t beat the pandan panna cotta topped with sago and coconut ice cream. Dip in and share it if you must.

Of course, there’s a short list of wines, a mix of more appropriate beer and Asian cocktails on offer from the bar, but really it’s all about the bao. It’s a street food like no other, in this case made by a master and served in cute surroundings.

You don’t have to be big to be great. Bow down to bao!

Marj Osborne and Catherine Coburn

AUTUMN AT THE KITCHENS

FALL FOR OUR FLAVOURS Start your culinary adventure with a world of unique fresh food and dining experiences. Taste the difference this Autumn.

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Food & Drink

LITTLE BITES FOODIE ALERT: GOLD COAST FOOD AND WINE FESTIVAL RETURNS IN JUNE Foodies and err… winies alike, had better set aside the first weekend of June in their social calendar, because the Gold Coast Food and Wine Festival is back for its second year. The Gold Coast Food and Wine Festival is the city’s signature food and wine event, dedicated to showcasing the depth and diversity of local produce and food talent here on our very own shores. Natalie O'Driscoll shot a few questions about this year’s event to Food Focus’ Michelle Christoe, festival head honcho and co-founder of the NightQuarter.

Can you tell us how last year's experience has shaped this year's? What major changes have you made?

The 2017 Gold Coast Food and Wine Festival is a 'whole of Gold Coast' festival, from Beenleigh to Currumbin and everywhere in between, the festival will activate restaurants and dining spaces across the Coast.

The 2016 festival focused a lot on experiential dining, from the 'Edible Playground' collaboration with QT Gold Coast, to our Barbecue Wars event. In 2017, the experiential, discovery and collaboration will continue to take centre stage.

If you could create a three course meal that perfectly represents the Gold Coast's food and wine landscape, what would you choose?

It would be a dining experience. Guests would be blindfolded and then taken to a beach, or a secluded place in the hinterland rainforest. They would crack open fresh mud crabs or hear oysters being shucked, before savouring the flavours of the Gold Coast's fresh seafood. The waiter would serve juicy lamb, barbecued low and slow, rubbed with micro herbs grown on the Gold Coast, before breaking into operatic song at the table. Vintage cabaret dancers would serve over-the-top funnel cakes as dessert, with the crunchy texture of the waffle and the silky smoothness of the ice cream combining in a sensory overload. Each course would be paired with wine from Mount Tamborine or a beer from Burleigh. Each course would be a sensory journey of discovery of the flavours of the Gold Coast.

Why do you think foodie culture has seen such an explosion everywhere over the last several years?

Dining out is now a main event for many people, and restaurants have become destinations in their own right.

It has become inextricably linked with social connection.

Dining has become optimised for sharing, from share dishes, tapas plates and communal dining tables... to the share ability of dishes on social media.

There was a time when exciting cooking techniques and flavours were typically only available to those who could 52

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access five star restaurants, but now casual dining, food trucks and markets are allowing customers to discover a variety of tastes and flavours. Dining out is about the community coming together to share food experiences.

Some people may not realise what local produce is actually available on the Gold Coast. What are some of the best items to source locally?

While the Gold Coast is not well known as a region for produce, it does have many hidden treasures. From picking grapes from the vine in Mount Tamborine, to catching fresh prawns and crabs on trawlers on the Spit, to our micro-breweries and wineries... to our artisanal breads and cheeses... there is a lot to discover on the Gold Coast. With the Gold Coast Food and Wine Festival, we not only want to celebrate this produce, but the experiential aspects of the Gold Coast foodie scene that sets us apart.

For punters, mouth-watering gastronomic and sensory experiences await. Performance art and musical performances incorporated into the three day festival will complement the signature dining experiences. These will include food truck meet ups, barbecue wars, outdoor dining and unique experiences within renown Gold Coast restaurants. Ticketed and free events will delight locals and visitors alike.

The festival will run from 2-4 June at various locations across the Gold Coast. Organisers are currently accepting expressions of interest from Gold Coast based hospitality businesses, producers, chefs and venues to be a part of this year’s event.

Visit gcfoodandwine.com.au for more information.

TO READ THE FULL INTERVIEW, HEAD OVER TO BLANKGC.COM.AU

STEAMING INTO TOWN The nation's first authentic Steampunk-themed venue, Steampunk Surfers Paradise will open its doors on Surfers Paradise Boulevard on 7 April, with a VIP grand opening event on the Friday night and public welcome to join the party from 9pm onwards. The venue will bring us the age of machines, of retro-futuristic inventions, robotics and air travel, recreating a world of science fiction inspired by the steam-powered industrial period of Victorian England. Owner Grant Rodgers says the venue will reflect Steampunk's obsession with the functional and industrial while giving off an open, airy and contemporary vibe. With molecular cocktails and authentic pub food in a share-house style, Steampunk will also be home to function areas for special events. Mr Rodgers said the venue's dedicated live music stage would add to the laidback atmosphere of Steampunk Surfers Paradise. "We are keen to attract locals who have been waiting for a more chilled-out bar where they can experience live music and relax with friends in Surfers Paradise," he said.

ONE STOP TRUCK STOP Gold Coast Food Trucks is a brand new website for everything food trucks on the Gold Coast. Up until now if you needed a food truck for catering or even wanted to know where all your favourite food trucks were, you'd need to trawl through Google or each particular truck's social pages or website (if they had one). But goldcoastfoodtrucks.com.au puts all that information in one place. It profiles each truck, communicates their story over time, features links to their social media, menus and calendars and makes it easy for the Gold Coast to better use these incredible small businesses run by passionate locals. Your favourite trucks can now be contacted easily for catering and event bookings.

Food & Drink NECTAR ESPRESSO BRINGS CO-WORKING TO CURRUMBIN

Image: Lamp Photography

There are two Nectar Espressos on the Gold Coast. Sister coffee shops, if you will.

co-working space, with a touch of local artists and office space upstairs, soon to be the seasonal home of Buskers by the Creek.

One is right on the beach at North Burleigh in the bottom of the surf club.

The other, the younger sister, is located on a busy stretch of Currumbin Creek Road.

“For a little while it was used as a yoga studio but we found there was a real need for coworking spaces. A lot of customers pop in with laptops. We felt it was a unique position to put ourselves in with all the cafes on the streets.”

The Currumbin espresso bar has been operating since May in 2016, taking over a space previously used by Billy’s Beans. Carly Way, who manages both properties said it was just a matter of seeking diversity. Plus “it’s fun to do a startup.”

As well as a coffee shop out the front, and a heap of parking down the side, Nectar Espresso at Currumbin has a blissful (and air-conditioned)

So Carly engaged a bunch of local artists. Like Kiel Tillman, who created a stunning mural in monochrome and Ryan McDonald (KMD Surfboards) installed some racks and boards and soon, there’ll be other artistic products on display.

“We’re looking at partnering with local artists keen to display their works just on constant rotation,” Carly said, “stuff that’s local to Currumbin."

Amongst the artistic touches, there’s a big timber table with plenty of powerpoints, a heap of comfy couches, some café style seating and lots of lush green plants.

“There are such great people in Currumbin.

Burleigh has its thing, Palm Beach has its thing and Currumbin’s just slowly bubbling below the surface. With Balter Brewers around the corner there’s been a spotlight on this area and with all the creatives that go through Dust Temple, there’s a good undercurrent of fantastic creative locals.”

NECTAR ESPRESSO IS LOCATED AT 37 CURRUMBIN CREEK ROAD.

Of course, Currumbin is also home to SWELL Sculpture Festival, the Soundlounge and Currumbin RSL, Bleach* Festival and Buskers by the Creek. To say it’s bubbling below the surface isn’t exactly correct, Currumbin is just quiet about its achievements. Much like Nectar Espresso itself.

While Carly and I sit in the co-working space chatting, there are a heap of people who come and go. Carly says there are a lot of sales reps

who use the space as well as students making use of the free wifi and airconditioning.

“Sales reps are predominantly looking for spaces along their way,” Carly said. “And people sometimes feel uncomfortable just sitting in a conventional café. We encourage people to stay and get comfy. There’s pressure on what you need to order to “qualify” to use the space.”

“We liked what warehouse no5 were doing and felt there was a real market for this,” Carly said, noting that warehouse no5 are no longer offering a co-working space. “This is an industrial area and it’s a thoroughfare for a lot of people on the Gold Coast plus it’s close to the M1, and the Gold Coast Highway and beach.”

Carly says the vision for Nectar Espresso is to grow into an events space. To offer food truck-style events, Friday afternoon drinks in the garden and a smaller space for people who want to have a private party or run their own events and workshops.

The team are hoping to offer a DJ School for young people in coming months, as well as an art club and photography workshops. A real focus on hands-on creativity.

“Things that aren’t out of reach for people who are hobbyists rather than professionals or even amateurs,” Carly said. “People that really just want to learn for fun.”

On the café-side of things, Nectar is switching to Blackboard Coffee and they’re excited about partnering with a local roaster. And the menu is predominantly freshly assembled, toasts and food, done simply but well.

Carly laughs when I ask about the cake cabinet. “We offer a weird mix of ridiculously sugar-laden treats to raw foods and wholefoods. We’ve really got everyone covered.”

Samantha Morris

1/37 Currumbin Creek Rd

COFF EE

FRE S H GR A B & GO

R AW TR E AT S

A C A I & P I TAYA B OW L S

FUNCTIONS

S HARED WO RK S PACE

@ necta r_cu rr u mb in

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and signed my jacket, which Kat accidentally put through the washing machine years later. Adam Clayton from U2 came and cooked on my section with me for a couple of days.

But travelling the world with his supermodel wife, cooking for the stars and running high-pressure events, Adam and Katharina Dundas-Taylor decided, was not the life they wanted to live while raising a family.

“Fifteen was also a time where we created life time friendships. When we opened Fire Cue GC Nobby Beach, due to being away overseas for so long, we didn’t have the contacts that could have made the opening much smoother. The morning after a very tiring first two weeks, my wife walked into the bedroom with my phone, and said,

ot everyone can boast cooking for Beyonce, Andrew Lloyd Webber and the ParkerBowles family, running the company that catered for clients such as Ruinart champagne and Kate Moss, or co-owning Barbacoa, one of the most successful restaurants in Bali.

Coming back to the Gold Coast where Adam started his career, the couple have opened Fire Cue in Nobby Beach in the space once occupied by The Cave.

We spoke to Adam about his food journey so far: “After finishing high school, I moved to Melbourne to play Aussie Rules in the VFA. On my return, I started working as a kitchen hand at the Paradise Island Resort, before landing an apprenticeship with Group Training Australia,” Adam tells us.

“In 2000, I was offered the chance to complete my apprenticeship six months early. The criteria to do this was that I prepare a 5-course degustation at Griffith Uni, which was filmed and got great media coverage. This played a big role in landing my chef position at A Tavola in Main Beach. Even though there were only three of us in the kitchen, that year, at the restaurant awards, we won Gold Coast People’s Choice Award.

“At the time, I was modelling for Robert Veitch (haha) Looks Models. Robert was the big influence in sourcing the Sydney Agency for myself and two other male models, which facilitated my move to Bondi, Sydney. While I was there, I worked at Hugo’s, at Bondi Beach with Pete Evans as a chef, and Hugo’s Kings Cross as a barman for eighteen months before going to Europe.”

Jamie Oliver’s first Fifteen “In London, I heard that Jamie Oliver was starting a new restaurant called Fifteen, so I applied. Toby Puttock and Jamie chose thirty chefs from the 200 or so applicants as finalists. We had to take part in a 3-day cook off, each with a trainee, preparing lunch for around 100 people in three hours. From that thirty, Jamie chose six who would be the trainers of his ‘first fifteen’, as well as the start-up chefs to get Fifteen off the ground. I was sent home on the second day, being offered the job as one of the six.

This was filmed as a part of Jamie’s Kitchen series.

“Fifteen was an amazing experience. We were lucky enough not to have any budgets with food cost.

“

MY PROUDEST MOMENT WAS COOKING FOR ELTON JOHN’S WEDDING IN COUNTRY LONDON.

”

Images: Lamp Photography 54

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Scallops, diver-caught in Scotland that morning, were flown and then couriered to Fifteen restaurant in London, usually arriving just after lunch had started.

“We would hastily clean and prepare them. They were so fresh that they were still moving, similar to the live langoustine [or scampi] we would prepare and grill to order. We were lucky enough to break down half-cow carcases, pigs, game and amazing huge fish and exotic seafood. The menu changed every service, so that was a really difficult aspect: learning, keeping up with the changes, but there was so much passion!

Alice Cooper signed my jacket “During time at Fifteen, I personally met Oprah Winfrey. Once, Alice Cooper came into the kitchen

‘Jamie’s just sent you a Facebook message saying ‘G’day and congratulations on Fire Cue’.’

“That was the perk up I needed, and it came just at the right time.”

Playing with fire at Nobu “Next, I worked at Nobu in Mayfair, the mothership of all Nobu restaurants worldwide. (At the time, there was only 13 Nobu restaurants, and now there are 27, some co-owned by Robert de Niro).

It was the hardest job I’d had to that point in my career. I started on tempura, which was the deep fryer section. It was so busy and dangerous that we used to have our chef jacket arm sleeves rolled right down, and tea towels tied with cling film past the knuckles of our hands so we wouldn’t burn ourselves.

“Gradually I mastered all the hot kitchen sections.

In time, scalding oil no longer carried a fear factor; when I worked the tempura section, my sleeves were rolled up to show my biceps, I was so comfortable in that section. I was working 14+ hour shifts including a minimum of 10 hours of service, without time to even stop for a sip of water. It was another steep learning curve cooking for 1,000 people a day in a Michelin-starred restaurant. The food was amazing and the talented chefs I worked beside were just as amazing. Adam Lane from Kiyomi also worked at Nobu, and we have worked together at times.

“During my time at Nobu, the best-selling dish was the Miso Black Cod. The portion weight was 180-200g for an incredible UK£24, its sales topping over £1 million per year. The dish now is a whopping £37. No other version of this dish equals Nobu’s, as the only people who know how to cook this dish properly are the chefs who’ve made it at Nobu. (No cook book gives you the exact quantity of ingredients or the restaurant preparation and cooking method.)”

In love with a supermodel “The day I finished at Nobu, I met Kat [now his wife].

I was supposed to begin work in Spain as a private chef on a super-yacht, which I put off for 2 weeks, so we could spend time together. When I finally got to Spain I met Ex Rock Pool chef Aaron O’Brien Whitney, an amazing chef, and he offered me a job with him at Red Bar, which was owned by Julian Lennon. (He’d opened the bar with Benjamin Cross, the current Executive Chef of Ku De Ta). This was a really fun job, especially coming off the back of such high-pressure London restaurants. The restaurant received so many noise complaints from neighbours inside the restaurant, that Julian made a caravan-type kitchen and placed it in the back garden, so guests could dine al fresco! With this new job, I decided to stay on land so Kat and I could spend time together.

One of us would commute on my days off, from either Spain or London to see the other.”

Life on a super yacht “Eventually I was approached to replace the ill chef of Cd2 (a 43-metre 3-level super yacht) for 3 weeks, cooking for the yacht’s owners and ten of their family, friends and their twelve staff. We sailed from Greece through the Mediterranean, to Spain and the surrounding islands. Cd2 rents for hundreds of thousands of euros per month and was valued at over US$10m at the time. The experience was unbelievable, again with no budget. As the chef, I was one of the very few who could leave the boat to get supplies. I would be picked up by a local person on their motorbike and taken to the boats to buy seafood, to local markets for local meat, vegetables and amazing Spanish products. All of the sellers were so passionate about their food and produce that it was always exciting.

“While sailing through the Mediterranean, we experienced some very rough weather. On one occasion the waves were unusually large and lumpy.

Battling sea sickness, I cooked three courses for 12 guests in 12 minutes, one foot resting on the fridge door, one hand on the cupboard door, rotating cupboards as they flew open… … all while trying to cook, plate and send the food up to the next level via the dumbwaiter!

“We moved back to Bondi Beach, Sydney, and I become the chef consultant for Luna Park.

My role was to create menus and win tenders for international, national and state events as well as corporate events for banks, elite watch companies, car companies etc. and events such as The Australian Open, V8 super cars and Open Air Cinemas.”

High Flying in London “A year later, we moved back to London for Kat’s modelling. By this stage I had entered the world of catering and worked for London’s best catering company at the time called Rhubarb Food Design. I then moved across to Caprice Holdings who own some of the most famous London restaurants including The Ivy. It was

Food & Drink here that I joined with my former restaurant Fifteen start-up chefs, working alongside superstar chefs Mark Hix and Giorgio Locatelli. Our gala catering events catered for 600 to 2,000 guests with a core chef group of less than 10. Our other smaller catering events were for celebrity parties and weddings.

Andrew Lloyd Webber, Sotheby’s and Harry Potter, Roman Abramovich and Mikhail Gorbachev [launches] were among the clients.

“At one event, I met James Brown, and at another D&G event where Beyonce was performing, I remember cheeky Georgio Locatelli grabbing a table for Mark Hix, myself and a very amazing chef Ian Graham.

It happened to be right next to Leonardo Di Caprio’s table! It was the first time I’d actually sculled from a 3-litre bottle of champagne, a long way from our early cask wine indulgences on Surfers Paradise beach before a night of clubbing!

“Whilst in London, I formed my first company, called Red Sage. I began catering for such clients as Ruinart [the oldest established champagne house], Red Bull, Kate Moss, De Beers (diamonds) executives, Bloomberg, and the Parker Bowles family. I had some very wealthy Russian clients and somehow was introduced to the Queen’s personal butlers, who worked for me on these jobs. They were very switched on, keeping me right on my toes.”

Return home “Meanwhile, Kat was tiring of international travel, so we decided to return to Sydney where her agency, Vivien’s Models, was based.

“Right after the transition back to Australia, I became Executive Chef of ‘The Cuisine Group’, a gold licensed catering company for five years, a high-pressure job heading one of Sydney's premier catering organisations for events of up to 3,000 guests.

“It was then time to start Dundas-Taylor Catering, attaining my gold license in the first year of operation and gaining the trust of corporate clients such as Saatchi & Saatchi,

The Opening of Fire Cue “KPMG, and PWC, as well as many weddings and celebrations such as the 40th anniversary of the Australian version of the Rocky Horror Show. In 2012, Steve Marks, owner of Guzman Y Gomez, offered me the national chef role for his company, but instead we decided to move to Bali and build Barbacoa.”

Barbacoa breaks records “Whilst on our way back to Australia, we popped into Bali where I consulted with Ku De Ta in Seminyak, Bali. Later on, that would open the doors to the opportunity to become a founding partner of Barbacoa which opened in November 2013. It was an amazing success and by the end of its first year it was named Bali’s Best Restaurant 2014, Tatler Magazine Best Bali restaurant 2014, Now Magazine Best Mexican Restaurant 2014 and Bali’s Best Restaurant in Forbes Magazine 2015.

“After 3 years in Bali, two children later, Kat and I decided to return to Australia, settling on the Gold Coast.

My proudest moment was cooking for Elton John’s wedding in country London.

“My mother was a huge fan and I’m sure she would have been over the moon to know this.”

In relating his amazing journey, Adam has barely drawn breath. I’m the one feeling exhausted, just from listening!

In Fire Cue, I realise, we see influences from many of Adam’s previous culinary experiences: the flavours of Latin fusion-influenced cuisine, handmade tortillas, succulent ribs and anticoucho (skewers), smoky grilled seafood, the use of long slow fire and wood charcoal grilling to cook meat, including whole animals, also the Japanese influence of his ceviche using sake, miso and yuzu. In other words, it’s food we love to eat on the Gold Coast with an added twist of flavour from the asado grill.

Whether you stop in for $22 ribs on a Thursday night, take your date there for a glamorous night out or indulge in a Sunday session, you can go it alone at the bar or book upstairs for a party.

The second level bar area of Fire Cue opened recently, focusing on larger groups, no matter what the occasion. It’s bound to be a local favourite very quickly.

You never know who you’ll meet at Fire Cue: a well-connected world-travelled chef, a supermodel, or even some of their famous friends. Fire Cue is well worth a visit - a worldinfluenced grill and bar adding some ‘fire’ to Nobby’s dining landscape.

Marj Osborne

FIRE CUE: 1/2243 GOLD COAST HIGHWAY, NOBBY BEACH, QUEENSLAND 4218

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blank Banff Mountain Film Festival reaching new heights The world's most prestigious mountain film festival is coming back to Australia: the Banff Mountain Film Festival World Tour presents over 2 1/2 hours of the most enthralling mountain adventure films that will have you on the edge of your seat. This year audiences will recreate a world first with an adventurous trio of paddlers, take a long hike in the desert with Ace and his human companion, attempt heinous chossy, run out new climbing routes in Venezuela and take an impossible ride on a mountain bike with skill master Danny MacAskill. The festival tour comes to The Arts Centre Gold Coast on 23 May. Tickets available from theartscentregc.com.au

Creative Duo join forces at One Arts One Arts’ latest offering is a double exhibition by artists Diana White and Claire Beck. Featuring Raku pottery and contemporary art and sculpture, the exhibition is entitled Creative Duo Plus One. The artists explain why they chose to exhibit together instead of solo. “We know each other and our art complements each other even though we use different mediums.

The work in both the raku and paintings is textural and we share a love of colour.” The exhibition runs from 18 March to 30 April.

Holy Mountain comes to Burleigh Street art entrepreneur, Magnus McTavish, is set to take over the Burleigh Masonic Temple in a hyper graffiti first for the venue, Holy Mountain. A select showcase of abstract and avant-garde original works will be on display for a royal and loyal list of collectors, followers and invitees. McTavish is an established and independent street artist who has painted alongside well known global talents including Anthony Lister, Shepard Fairy and Shida. “The Masonic Temple is the perfect location as graffiti and street art is also a hidden secret society,” says Magnus.

The showcase is invite-only, but the after party will kick off at 9.30pm and is $10 at the door. 13 April.

The Electrifying Comedy of Dusty Rich Dusty Rich, the wild man of South African comedy; sharp, freewheeling and electrified.

Rich shot to fame for the off the wall style of his shows, for throwing the rehearsed, practised stand up format out the window and replacing it with the fire and ice, rollercoaster of continual spontaneous improvisation and crowd interaction. Now you can catch Dusty Rich at Kingy Comedy at Kingscliff Bowlo on 13 April. Doors open at 7:30 With MC Mandy Nolan and support

by Jazmine Fairburn. Kingy Comedy is a free monthly event.

The Arts Centre takes the party to the streets Live music, dynamic performers, a minimarket, street food and art workshops will be on offer when The Arts Centre Gold Coast celebrates the Signs of the Time exhibition close with The Sign Off - an eclectic, artistic street party on Saturday 1 April from 3.007.00pm. Inspired by all things street, The Sign Off will be a chance for visitors to catch a last look at the Signs of the Time exhibition, which has seen unprecedented attendance, and has brought the Gold Coast’s vibrant street art culture to the forefront. Hosted by Samantha Morris Editor of BlankGC, and broadcast live with independent radio station 4ZZZ, the local community event will have something for everyone and is free to attend.

Signs of the Time is on display in the Main Gallery until 9 April.

Pagliacci receives the Opera Gold Coast treatment Ruggero Leoncavallo’s Pagliacci is the intriguing new opera production from the talented local crew who brought a dynamic English translation of La Traviata to the stage in late 2015. Opera Gold Coast aims to reimagine the classic opera repertoire with intimate stagings and a live orchestra. This thrilling new production by director Doug Gerhke has been translated into English by Anthony Gee. The opera will run for five evening performances and a matinee at the Helensvale Cultural Centre between 29 April and 6 May. For all date options and to book tickets, visit trybooking.com/otfn or call 0473 508 429.

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Little activists to run for turtles at Gold Coast Marathon Green Heroes is excited to invite active little Green Heroes to run for endangered Sea Turtles at this year’s Gold Coast Marathon on 1 July. The theme 'Racing Extinction', will see team members gather together at the Ballina/Byron Sea turtle hospital for a party in the lead up to the event, as well as participate in weekly "turtley" activities to help them learn and better identify with their purpose in preparation for the main event. Join at goldcoastmarathon.com/enter and email info@greenheroes.com.au upon registration.

Cooly Rocks On revs up the good times Buckle up for the ride of your life at Cooly Rocks On™, Australia’s favourite celebration of 50s and 60s nostalgia, held at the beachside destinations of Coolangatta and Tweed Heads from 7-11 June 2017. Beaches, parklands, shops and cafes provide the perfect backdrop for around 1,300 custom and classic cars and hot rods, outdoor music stages, rock’n’roll and rockabilly bands, buskers, Miss Cooly Rocks On™ and Miss Rockabilly pageants, retro markets, and the much-loved Cooly Rocks On™ Street Parade.

For more information on entertainment and events during Cooly Rocks On™, visit coolyrockson.com

THE KITCHENS: CULTURE AND LIVE MUSIC FRONT AND CENTRE Through its partnership with Bleach* Festival, The Kitchens at Robina Town Centre continues to deliver an incredibly diverse (and talented) lineup of Gold Coast artists for its multi-sensory dining space. But it’s not just music that will have tantalise your taste-buds this month (although that is a good place to start).

Hanlon Brothers have a three-hour residency this Sunday 2 April with emerging artists James Brine, Zed Butel,, Will Anderson, Nina Ward, Tommy Sheehan and Dan Duggan also playing weekend sets throughout April. Gold Coast Music Awards finalists Phoebe Sinclair and Athena Joy also make appearances on Friday 21 and Saturday 29 April respectively.

On the busking front, The Kitchens hosts some of the Gold Coast’s soon to be discovered talent with the likes of artist Anthony Pieters and musicians Brother Norton and The Alohas performing in the centre’s dedicated busking spaces. For a full lineup of talent at The Kitchens, Robina Town Centre, check the Blank gig guide at blankgc.com.au/goldcoastgigguide.

Again, it’s not just music that has punters returning to The Kitchens time and time again. (And we haven’t even started on the food). This month, there will be live cooking activations with Sam Gowing on the Cooking Stage on 1, 6, 15, 20 – 22 and 27 April at 11.00am and 1.00pm. The Centre’s outdoor cinema will screen family favourite Ratatouille on Sunday 9 April at 7.00pm.

There’s sessions for kids in the kitchen with chocolate egg decorating from Monday 10 – Thursday 12 April (bookings essential via thekitchens.com.au) plus there’s a pop-up paint and sip session on Saturday 22 April from 3.00 – 6.00pm.

And to round out a big month of events, The Kitchens has partnered with Gold Coast Film Festival for a special screening of Barista on Friday 28 April at 7.00pm. Tickets to the event, dubbed ‘Brewed at The Kitchens’ include the film as well as your choice of an espresso martini or cold-pressed coffee.

Tickets are $15.

GET THE LOWDOWN ON THE KITCHENS’ COMINGS AND GOINGS AT THEKITCHENS.COM.AU.

THE GOLD COAST’S SIGNATURE FESTIVAL OF FOOD AND WINE

2ND-4TH JUNE

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@GCFOODANDWINE

UNTIL SUN 9 APR FRI 31 MAR – SAT 1 APR FRI 31 MAR – SUN 16 APR SAT 1 APR

FRANK ENSTEIN

DANCE + FAMILY

BLEACH* FESTIVAL

FESTIVAL

THE SIGN OFF STREET PARTY

EVENT COMEDY

LEWIS SPEARS: TRY AND STOP ME

SUN 2 APR MON 3 – FRI 7 APR THU 6 APR THU 6 – SAT 8 APR FRI 7 APR FRI 7 APR

JAZZ ON SUNDAYS: DC3

MUSIC

KIDS ON TOUR THE GABORI SISTERS

ART + KIDS

KAYELENE AND CO. IN CONCERT

MUSIC

BUMPY ANGELS

THEATRE

THE STAMP SESSIONS GOLD COAST JAZZ & BLUES CLUB STREET TAP & JAZZ WITH JACK CHAMBERS UNTAPPED WORKSHOP: HIP HOP & BODY BEATS

YOUTH MUSIC DANCE + WORKSHOP DANCE + WORKSHOP

FRI 7 & SAT 8 APR

UNTAPPED

DANCE

SAT 8 APR

ARTLAB: AEROSOUL WITH DELVE

WED 12 APR

LITTLE ARTLAB: COLOUR SCIENCE

FRI 7 APR

Proudly supported by

EXHIBITION

SAT 1 APR

THU 6 APR

This event is part of the 2017 Family Series, proudly supported by McGrath Estate Agents

SIGNS OF THE TIME

TUE 11 – WED 12 APR SAT 15 APR – SUN 21 MAY WED 19 – SUN 30 APR THU 20 APR THU 20 – FRI 21 APR WED 26 APR

ART + WORKSHOP ART + KIDS WORKSHOP

CARL BARRON: DRINKING WITH A FORK

COMEDY

HARD AND FAST: ABSTRACTION | POP | COLOUR FIELD

EXHIBITION

GOLD COAST FILM FESTIVAL 2017

FILM

GALLERY NIGHTS: PASSION AND POP

EVENT

CONSTELLATIONS

THEATRE

MOVIE REVIEW CLUB

FILM + EVENT

Issue #43 APRIL 2017