Blank Gold Coast issue #41 - February 2017

February 17

issue #041

MUSIC

CULTURE

MUSIC

Moreland & Arbuckle Sunnyboys Azreal Th'Fika GCMA nominations now open

Blanc de Blanc Signs of the Time GC Film Festival Look Mum, No Hands Bleach* preview

Essie Thomas Kellie Knight Woodford review Azmosphere Bluesfest

FOOD Taqueria review Sandbar Portside Coffee Meraki Taverna

LIFE Yoga for the Reef Brett Hanson Wellness in Sri Lanka Cupid's Undie Run Leeton Lee

St rut & Fret a n d B l eac h* Fe st iva l p re se nt

BLEACH* FESTIVAL • SPIEGELTENT GOLD COAST • 29 MAR - 16 APR S I M P LY MIND-BLOWING

IF BAZ LUHRMANN MADE A NIGHTCLUB, THIS WOULD BE IT

ME T RO (UK )

T I ME OUT SYDNEY

êêêêê AN ABSOLUTE MUST SEE WE ST E ND WI LMA ( U K)

THE HIGHLIGHT O F T H E F E S T I VA L W EE KE N D NOTE S

PRE-LAUNCH SPECIAL OFFER FOR BLANK GC READERS G E T 10 % OF F GE N E RAL ADM I S S I ON T I C KE TS TO BL ANC DE BL ANC BE FO RE THE 1ST O F FE BRUARY. AT CHECKOU T, J U S T U S E T H E P ROM O C ODE: B L AN K

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#041 FEB 2017

Masters of the unexpected, Tijuana Cartel deliver something like a genetic graft of The Chemical Brothers with that flamenco guitarist you once saw killing it in the streets of Seville. Their east meets west wonderland for those seeking sensory overload, euphoria, fat beats and heavy, bass-fuelled electronica will take over the Soundlounge for one night only.

Editor in Chief: Samantha Morris

Azreal also host a pre-USA tour fundraiser at Currumbin Pub.

CulturalEditor: Natalie O’Driscoll Design: Chloe Popa Advertising: Amanda Gorman Music Coordinator: Mella Lahina Money Coordinator: Phillippa Wright Sub editor: Cody McConnell

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Cover photo: Dan Maynard Photography

The Sunnyboys at NightQuarter

House Photographer: Leisen Standen, Lamp Photography

Synonymous with garage channelling power pop par excellence, The Sunnyboys burned brightly in the early 80s. On this tour, they’ll perform their eponymous debut album from 1981 in its entirety. We’re pretty excited about that.

Contributors: Natalie O'Driscoll, Marj Osborne, Trevor Jackson, Anthony Gebhardt, Samantha Morris, Catherin Coburn, Jake Wilton, Mella Lahina, Pip Andreas, Terry "Tappa" Teece, Glenn Tozer, Tiffany Mitchell, Erin Bourne, Richard Scott, Nae Kurth, Emma Whines, Kylie Mitchell-Smith, Kylie Cobb.

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.

16 FEBRUARY Twelve Foot Ninja, Miami Tavern.

Twelve Foot Ninja, Miami Tavern. To understand how Twelve Foot Ninja developed a fervent underground following and garnered international attention, you have to see them live. Lucky for you, they’re stopping in at the Gold Coast as part of their 14-date tour.

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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17 FEBRUARY 5 FEBRUARY Hayley Grace, Southport Sharks

Hayley’s live sets dish up a beautiful concoction of looping guitar and soulful vocals as well as beat boxing and self-produced percussion. She’s in Cabana Bar & Lounge from 1.00pm.

Signs of the Time exhibition preview night at The Arts Centre Gold Coast.

Your chance to lay eyes on a Banksy and a heap of other incredible street art by local and international artists. Live music and food. From 6.00 – 8.00pm.

Free entry, cash bar.

17 - 20 FEBRUARY Earth Frequency Festival

Earth Frequency Festival, Ivory Rock started as a tree planting doof for 300 people. Ten times that audience is expected at this year’s event – a four-day gathering with live and electronic music, artists, healers, visionaries and intellectuals.

18 FEBRUARY Sarah Archer, Deck Acoustics, Currumbin RSL.

Sarah’s had serious radio play and TV coverage, particularly for her 2011 debut EP Waking Up Tomorrow. She was also a finalist in the 2011-12 APRA PDA Songwriter Awards. With a heap of experience on the global stage, she’s at Currumbin just for you.

24 FEBRUARY Choirboys, Parkwood Tavern performing AC/DC’s High Voltage & Highway to Hell albums live. $10 off your ticket when you use promo code: CHOIRGCSM.

24 FEBRUARY Moreland & Arbuckle at Soundlounge Currumbin Moreland & Arbuckle have been playing the blues for well over a decade but a new deal with one of America’s pedigree blues labels and a swag of impressive reviews for their latest album Promised Land Or Bust could easily win them a legion of appreciative new fans when they hit Australia for the first time this month.

25 FEBRUARY Skate videography workshop with Chris ‘Middsy’ Middlebrook and Stoke Skate as part of Signs of the Time at The Arts Centre Gold Coast. Runs two days (25 and 26 February Unleash your (inner) social media extrovert workshop, 10.00am – 1.00pm with the PowerUp Series ladies. Bookings essential at thepowerupseries.com.

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Mental as anything lead second Surfers Paradise LIVE lineup announcement Mental As Anything, Pseudo Echo, 1927, Eskimo Joe and Taxiride will join headline act and pop goddesses The Veronicas for three days and nights of free live music with iconic Surfers Paradise beach as the gig backdrop. An initiative of the Surfers Paradise Alliance, the big names spearhead a diverse array of artists performing at LIVE, which will transform the heart of Surfers Paradise into a multi-stage music festival. “As the Gold Coast’s original live music venue, Surfers Paradise continues to provide the ideal backdrop for live music, whether it’s legends of the industry or emerging artists,” Mike Winlaw, CEO Surfers Paradise Alliance said. A host of blossoming Gold Coast artists are also set to showcase their musical talents alongside big-name acts during the festival.

Surfers Paradise Alliance has also partnered with the Gold Coast Music Awards, which will see the annual awards ceremony take place on Surfers Paradise beach on the eve of the festival, Thursday 27 April. As well as LIVE’s spectacular outdoor concerts, there will be smaller and more intimate gigs in live music venues throughout Surfers Paradise.

Surfers Paradise LIVE runs 28 – 30 April.

$100,000 in grants for composers A pool of $100,000 in funding is available for art composers to create new commissioned work thanks to the APRA AMCOS Art Music Fund. Liza Lim, Sandy Evans, Cat Hope, Erkki Veltheim and DanThorpe are amongst 12 Australian composers previously receiving grants. The funding is available for the creation of commissioned work that is innovative, displays professional compositional craft and represents a benchmark of excellence in its field and the work must have committed partners to ensure it is presented multiple times, and it is expected that composers will collaborate with ensembles, orchestras, producers, record companies, broadcasters, festivals and other parties to propose the writing of the work. Applications close 21 February. More at apraamcos.com.au/artmusicfund.

Lagerstein’s Suns Out Rums Out 14-date tour of Australia kicks off on the Gold Coast this month. Joining the rum-swilling pirates on tour are Keggin and (for select dates), brutal popsters Osaka Punch as well as Valhalore.

Lagerstein hit Miami Shark Bar on 11 February.

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Seaside Sounds for southern ‘burbs Kirra and Coolangatta will host new music in the park activations over February and March.

Running over seven weeks, the series will include street food, face painting and a jumping castle. Kirra hosts Chocolate Strings, Hussy Hicks, The Lyrical, Benny D Williams, Micka Scene and Dave Taylor over three Saturdays commencing 4 February. And Cooly hosts Essie Thomas, Bobby Alu, Satisvibe, The Long Johns, Mrs Miyai, Foxfires, Kimmy and Crew and Katia Demeester on four Sundays from 26 February. Details in the gig guide.

Katie Who unleashes Wolves Music for Milk hits Tugun Raising funds for the incredibly important Mothers Milk Bank, Music For Milk’s February event is an interactive live music event for families who like to have fun together. Designed to engage children and music-lovers of all ages in a celebration of creative music making and story telling, this event takes audience participation to the next level. Bring instruments or grab something from the costume box. No pressure to perform, just space and support to experience at whatever level you like. The event takes place 4 February from 10.00am and entry is $20 per family. Funds raised to towards a new pasteurizer for breastmilk located in their new premises at Gold Coast Airport Central.

Gold Coast Music Awards nominations now open

Lagerstein kick off national tour on the Gold Coast

Is there a bustle in your hedgerow? The 70s will hit Broadbeach with a vengeance for the 70s Music Fest, to be held Saturday 4 March from 5.00pm at Albert Waterways Community Centre. With live music from Owl Valley Bluegrass and Jealous Monks plus 70s trivia with Folkwit, you can expect a heap of the best of last-century. It’s presented by Gold Coast Folk Festival Association. More at goldcoastfolkfestival.com.au.

melodies. Casey will be fresh from Tamworth Country Music Festival when he plays NightQuarter on Friday 17 February with full band.

DiskoDisco throws back to 80s Otherwise known as Chris Lamaro, DiskoDisco has rolled out debut single Syntax Error. Driving home with a heavy bassline, Syntax Error is a brutal return to retro, Hollywood Hills-inspired synthwave. Syntax Error, with its synths and drum machines, will have you wearing your cut-off sleeve Santa Cruz shirt and thinking you’re watching a bad 80s moving you just can’t look away from – and that’s a compliment. He’s at the OzFest afterparty with Yes Sir Noceur and Idiio on Saturday 28 January.

NEW GOLD COAST MUSIC

Amy Shark makes APRA Song of the Year shortlist Songwriter and publisher members of APRA have voted a bunch of Queensland acts in their top 20 shortlist for the 2017 Song of the Year, including Amy Shark, for her song Adore. For 25 years, the APRA Song of the Year has remained an authentic recognition of outstanding local songwriting talent, and this year's shortlist reflects the diversity and creativity in Australian music. Other Queenslanders Dami Im and Violent Soho also made the top 20. A voting academy which includes Chris Cheney, Katie Noonan, Paul Mac and Mia Dyson (amongst others) will now determine the nominees and winner from the top 20. The awards are held Monday 3 April in Sydney.

70s make a comeback, but only for a day

Nominations for seven categories are now open for the 2017 Gold Coats Music Awards, with a new category Album of the Year added to the mix. Nominations are judged by an independent panel based on set criteria available on the website. Nominations close 10 March and finalists are announced 30 March. The awards ceremony will take place on the beach at Surfers Paradise on Thursday 27 April. Get everything you need to nominate at gcmusicawards.com.au.

It seems Katie Who continues to tweak her sound and her playmates. Now performing as a five-piece alongside Winston Charriot, Ryan Grantham, Kurt Hayward and Anton Rize, new single The Wolves is her first release for 2017. Recorded with ARIA award winining producer Govinda Doyle and cowritten wth Winston Charriott, the original song was more than five minutes long but was re-written by the pair just months before Katie jetted off to her Canadian showcases.

Winson is also collaborating with Katie on her new EP which is currently in demo phase. “We hope to release it within six months,” she told Blank GC. Katie Who Band are at Currumbin Pub on 11 February.

New banger for Benny D “It had been way too long since I’d released some studio material and I thought it would be cool to kick off the new year with a productive beginning,” says Benny D Williams. Less than six months after releasing his album Digital Caveman, Benny D has a fresh single, Blue, delving right into the psychedelic-trip-hop feel he’s perfected at hundreds of live shows across the Gold Coast.

Just Like Magic a winner for Casey Casey Barnes is again turning heads with his latest single Just Like Magic, lifted from Casey’s 2016 ARIA top 10 album Live As One. The track saw Casey work with producers Michael Paynter and Michael Delorenzis and the result is an anthemic summer crossover track with ear-worm

The Vernons Fresh off the back of a return run of shows, Gold Coast blues rockers The Vernons have unveiled the video for pensive new single She's Not Mine. First hitting stages in 2012 and quickly notching up a well deserved 2014 Big Day Out slot, The Vernons have since supported the likes of Hoodoo Gurus, Wolfmother, Stonefield, The Rubens, Gang of Youths and more. With three EP's under their belt that include the Queensland Music Award winning track To The Sky and sizzling single White Wine (which is now set to crack 300,000 YouTube views), The Vernons are crafting a genuine catalogue that offers up classic feeling modern blues. She’s Not Mine is out via digital retailers and the band is expected to storm into 2017 with their most focused material to date. Bring it on lads.

New album and single for Byron’s Valhalla Lights Having spent the last 12 months releasing a stunning new track and video each month picking up airplay around Australia and in the USA, Byron alt/rockers Valhalla Lights have released the final single Beautiful from their slow release album My Gracious Highway. Two new film clips have also been released in the past month. One for new single Beautiful and the other for Escape To Silence, with videos from the album ticking over 25000 views so far. Both videos are available on Youtube.

COURTNEY BARNETT ADDED TO BLUESFEST LINEUP + PATTI SMITH ANNOUNCES LAST EVER AUSTRALIAN SHOW Patti Smith and her band have announced that Bluesfest 2017 will be their last Australian festival performances. The announcement comes just days after Bluesfest Touring added a final concert to Patti Smith’s Australian tour with her special guest as Courtney Barnett.

And the news doesn’t stop there. Festival organisers have also announced that Courtney Barnett will play Bluesfest too.

Image: Edward Mapplethorpe

No stranger to Blank Gold Coast readers, Barnett is a Melbourne-based singer, guitarist and songwriter who has built a growing legion of devotees through a series of DIY releases on her own label Milk! Records. She sold out her most recent tours to rapturous audiences in the UK and USA and her special guest spot on Patti Smith’s tour and her Bluesfest set are Barnett’s only scheduled shows for 2017.

Courtney joins a commanding list of female performers at the festival this year including Patti Smith and Her Band’s final Australian shows, Mary J. Blige, Bonnie Raitt, Mavis Staples, Rickie Lee Jones, Corinne Bailey Rae, Beth Hart, Laura Mvula, Rhiannon Giddens, Nikki Hill, Joan Osborne, Melody Angel and Irish Mythen.

The five day Easter extravaganza that is Bluesfest will be held once again at its lush 120 hectare home, just outside Byron Bay and there are still more artist announcements to come.

Peter Noble OAM, Bluesfest Festival Director said that Patti personally requested Courtney Barnett to be her special guest in her final ever show in Australia at Melbourne’s Festival Hall.

“Courtney, who has said that Patti Smith is amongst her greatest influences, kindly

agreed to Patti Smith’s request, and oh boy, are we excited to be bringing you this announcement,” Peter said.

“Bluesfest is a handmade event, crafted slowly and lovingly. We take our time and take great pride in what we bring to our stages.”

“We are not finished yet.... and you will be hearing more from us soon,” he said. “It will ALWAYS be about the music. ALWAYS.” Bluesfest takes place 13 – 17 April near Byron Bay and as well as the incredible lineup of ladies listed above includes Santana, Jimmy Buffett and the Coral Reefers, Zac Brown Band, Mary J. Blige, The Lumineers, Buddy Guy, The Doobie Brothers, Madness, Billy Bragg and Joe Henry, Sir Rosevelt, Jethro Tull and Miles Electric Band.

THE

• LIVE IN THE SHARK BAR •

THUR 16 FEB

TICKETS AVAILABLE AT THE VENUE, MOSHTIX OR TWELVEFOOTNINJA.COM

TICKETS AVAILABLE AT THE VENUE OR MOSHTIX - DOORS 8PM

Miami Tavern 2043-2047 Gold Coast Hwy, Miami • 5535 1644 • miamitavern.com.au

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GET INTO THE MOOD WITH AZMOSPHERE

90S REBORN: THE BODY ELECTRIC AT DUST TEMPLE

Emerging two-piece Gold Coast outfit Azmosphere have released the first single Squalor Syndrome. With both members passionate guitar players, the sound they have created is a mix of moody melodies with flamenco guitar against an electronica backdrop. Lead singer / guitarist Astrid Ernholm hung five with Blank’s Mella Lahina.

The Body Electric were one of the definitive Melbourne bands of the 1990s. Full of dark passion and intense, soulful energy they featured the songwriting skills of one of Australia’s finest - Charlie Marshall - along with an all star cast including Jim White and Warren Ellis from the Dirty Three, Brian Hooper of Beasts of Bourbon and Darren Seltmann of The Avalanches.

What do you love most about living on the GC? The beach. I love the fact we have this strip of coastline that runs for kilometres.

I love the wonderment I experience when hearing and observing the ocean. It summons a feeling of connectedness to something outside the ego.

What’s the one piece of advice you’d give an aspiring musician?

When you write, make sure it's from the heart. Don't write to please anyone else, it'll lack raw emotion and sound forced. I see music as a tool to express feelings of happiness, sadness, intense love, anger. It can't be fabricated.

What brought you to this focus right now?

My life has always revolved around music, I grew up in a musical family of four sisters plus two older brothers who played guitar and wrote so there was always a guitar, microphone or keyboard in the house. I started writing from a young age but never treated it seriously until I met my lead guitarist, Dan. He really dug my songs so we had a few jams.

He added these amazing flamenco sounding leads that bring life to the songs.

What’s your most vivid musical memory?

Most of my musical memories are quite emotional. I've spent a lot of time alone, in my room, pen in hand writing poetry and lyrics or strumming my guitar. These are my most vivid memories. There have been a lot of tears and very confronting moments.

What are your thoughts on the GC music scene?

There are soooo many amazing musicians, but not quite enough live music venues to showcase them all. It's definitely improving though. I think there's a strong network of very talented and supportive people and that's what really counts.

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These other bands went on to global success, but that meant The Body Electric never received the exposure they deserved, remaining something of a Melbourne secret.

Charlie formed another legendary Melbourne band in the 1980s, the blues punk powerhouse Harem Scarem. With The Body Electric in the 90s he combined this bluesy, soulful, rock rhythmic sense with a songwriting craft inspired by the likes of Brian Wilson, J Mascis and Jimmy Webb and vocal style somewhere between Dylan, Iggy and Leonard Cohen to create a unique sound.

2016 saw the release of the Body Electric retrospective LP Won’t Give Up and after an extended break from music, Charlie has returned to the live scene with renewed energy and vigour and a band featuring former Body Electric members Bryan Colechin (Hugo Race True Spirit) on bass and Brett Poliness (Siver Ray, Hugo Race) on drums.

This show will feature classic Body Electric songs as well as Charlie’s new works, inspired by his passion for science and love of nature. With these, he may have created a new musical genre – poetic, scientific, ecological, political rock – and a new album ‘Sublime’ is due for release in early 2017.

Special guests for this event are The Antibodies from Nimbin with their sharp, spiky punk pop aesthetic and Gold Coast’s Caresse Cranwell delivering powerful, ecophilosophical poetry.

Samantha Morris

CHARLIE MARSHALL AND THE BODY ELECTRIC BRING SONGS OF SCIENCE, ECOLOGY AND LOVE TO DUST TEMPLE ON THURSDAY 26 JANUARY. EVENT DETAILS AT FACEBOOK.COM/CHARLIEMARSHALLMUSIC/.

CURRUMBIN’S DECK ACOUSTICS ADD SATURDAY SESSIONS

Nothing signals summer like a cool drink, creekside, with awesome local music providing the soundtrack. And if that sounds like summer to you, then Currumbin RSL delivers in spades this month.

The venue’s Deck Acoustic gigs have been chilled waterside affairs, but the format has changed to incorporate a Friday session which runs from 5.00pm and a Saturday session which runs from 3.00pm.

While the space is open seven days a week for everything from a caffeine fix to lazy lunches and dinners, Friday and Saturday afternoons allow you to satisfy your music addiction by the water’s edge as well as support local talent.

Saturday 18 February sees Sarah Archer perform. A creative and respected singer songwriter, Sarah has more than 15 years experience in and out of the studio. Her 2011 debut EP Waking Up Tomorrow scored airplay on ABC Radio as well as coverage by TV channels. She was a finalist in the 201112 APRA PDA Songwriter Awards and has experience on a global stage, including signing with EMI Music Publishing.

Sam Buckingham is in the hotseat on Friday 10 February. Her powerful folk sensibilities and strength as a singer songwriter have seen her tour with much-loved artists like Katie Noonan, Angie Hart and Lior. She’s showcased at the International Folk Alliance in Canada and made her US debut at the infamous Bluebird Café in Nashville.

Australia’s premiere female reggae artist and Gold Coast darling, CC The Cat brings her acoustic set to the Deck Sessions on Friday 3 February, featuring acoustic versions of her anthemic reggae anthems, sexy soul numbers and feline funk.

Samantha Morris

FEBRUARY LINEUP: Fri 3 February | CC The Cat (5pm) Sat 4 February | Jerome Williams (3pm) Fri 10 February | Sam Buckingham (5pm) Sat 11 February | Luke Bennett (3pm) Fri 17 February | Bill Jacobi (5pm) Sat 18 February | Sarah Archer (3pm) Fri 24 February | Michael Eotvos (5pm) Sat 25 February | Nicky Convine (3pm)

GOLD COAST

2017 GOLD COAST MUSIC AWARDS

MUSIC AWARDS

2017

WITH THANKS TO OUR SPONSORS

“

MY MOTIVE IS TO DO A JOB THAT I ENJOY DOING AND BE CREATIVE AND IF IT RESONATES WITH PEOPLE, GREAT.

”

She pauses, then barks a short laugh.

“Maaaybe it was about someone?” (It definitely was). She laughs again. I love that even this long afterwards, she won’t say his name, but I can’t help but push a little harder.

“I wrote that when I was living in London and it was… well… people can probably figure it out if they want but I think songs start about someone but then they take on their own life.”

By now adept at interviews, she changes the subject.

“You know it was never my favourite song and it ended up being our biggest single and I never wanted it on the album?” she asks.

“I said ‘This song is not doing it for me. I’m not into it please can we not put it on the album?’

SUZE DE MARCHI RETURNS WITH THE NOT-SO-BABY ANIMALS “Hi, you’ve called Suze. I can’t take your call right now, leave a message and I’ll call you back.”

back in the direction of her home country Australia after 16 years in Los Angeles.

BEEP.

Suze appears to be a pragmatist, but above all retains a sense of anticipation over preoccupation, an attitude which has clearly sustained her in times of trouble.

I sit, bemused, for what feels like a minute but was probably closer to a second and a half before blurting out some kind of garbled callback request.

It’s not that my interview subject hasn’t answered the phone at our designated interview time. That happens All. The. Time. It’s just that the sweet, feminine pre-recorded voice was at complete and utter odds to the throaty, rock-chick growl I expected to hear from Suze De Marchi. I mean, come on man. It’s Suze De Marchi. Lead singer of the Baby Animals. Aussie rock icon. Hot voiced and coolly coiffed diva owning the stage in head-to-toe black. How dare she sound so… normal?

As it turns out, this impression was to characterise the remainder of the interview. Rock goddess extraordinaire, loving mother, good Catholic girl (and sometimes not so good). Suze may be all of these things, but she’s also just really, really nice.

I start by congratulating her on the 25 year anniversary of the Baby Animals’ self-titled debut album and recordbreaking single, One Word, released in 1991. I lament the speedy passage of time since then, and Suze agrees.

“I know it doesn’t feel like 25 years… it sorta does sometimes, when you’re tired and you feel it in your bones!”

The last 25 years certainly hasn’t been smooth sailing, either for the Baby Animals or Suze herself. A marriage breakup (with Extreme guitarist Nuno Bettencourt) left her reeling

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“I don’t tend to look back too much,” she asserts.

“I tend to think I get more excited about what’s coming in.”

Label issues and inner-band turmoil had torn the Baby Animals apart by the mid-nineties, making it 2007 before a reformation was possible. Unfortunately, conflicts again sent the members their separate ways, resulting in lineup changes. The current band consists of two original members and is the lineup under which the Baby Animals are touring the 25 year celebration. Suze discusses what she has learned from the whole experience.

“You have to choose to surround yourself with people who understand you and know what your goal is to be able to make that happen with you. It’s not ever done your own.”

And who are those people for her?

“Dave my guitar player. One of my best friends Mary, she’s been my best friend for 28 years. Always a good ear and always good advice. My first manager John Woodruff, super instrumental in the Baby Animals’ beginnings. There are a few people and they know who they are. I’m always grateful.”

Of course, particularly in the case of artists, people who have a negative impact in our lives can often provide inspiration.

In the case of One Word, I ask if Suze wrote it about someone who disappeared on her.

“They’re the moments you thank god for it being on a label and with people who actually know what they’re doing.

Which is rare.”

Now residing in Sydney – closer to her home town of Perth, but still a decent flight away - Suze has a heartfelt connection with the concept of home, as evidenced by her solo album of the same name. She left her home at the age of 17 and has been basically travelling since. I wonder if she will ever settle anywhere.

“I don’t know,” she answers simply.

“I never feel settled. I don’t ever feel like I’m ever in the right place. I feel at home in Perth but I don’t know if it’s the right place for me to live. I feel at home in Sydney with my kids, but I don’t know if it’s where I want to be. I don’t think you should ever give up, that’s wanderlust.”

Perhaps the Baby Animals are home, I wonder?

“Yeah definitely!” she exclaims.

“It is the best thing I’ve ever done musically and we have so much fun and I feel like we really achieved what we set out to achieve and more, and I never expected to the band to do as well as it did.

“My motive is to do a job that I enjoy doing and be creative and if it resonates with people, great.

“I really like the idea of getting older - you can’t tell me when I can stop doing it. That’s a really empowering thing to do now in my career and there are not an awful lot of people who can continue to do it so I feel lucky and grateful.

“I’ve got more of an attitude about the strength to be able continue doing what I’m doing as an older woman rather than just being a young deer in the headlights. I’m a lot more aware of how lucky I am.”

Natalie O'Driscoll

CATCH THE BABY ANIMALS AT TWIN TOWNS ON SATURDAY 18 MARCH.

AZREAL ARE USA-BOUND FOR DEVILDRIVER SUPPORT Gold Coast’s own thrash-groove-metal masters AZREAL are about to hit the road for a tour of epic proportions. They’ve nabbed a support slot, joining DevilDriver for a 19-date tour of the USA and Canada in February.

AZREAL join Death Angel, Winds of Plague and The Agonist as support bands for the tour which kicks off in Santa Ana, California and ends in Seattle. It’s the band’s first tour of north America so you can imagine their excitement.

Samantha Morris spoke to frontman Luke Hosking about the gig and he said his reaction was one of “complete elation” when they nabbed the DevilDriver support slot.

“We have been working on getting over to the US to tour for a little while now and weren't sure what we were going to be able to achieve in terms of getting on a solid line up and carting ourselves around such a large country,” Luke told Blank Gold Coast.

“We are absolutely pumped and ready to hit it as hard as we can.”

“Death Angel are Bay Area thrash royalty. They were formed in the 80s with the likes of Slayer, Megadeth, Metallica, Testament and basically all that is holy in thrash metal so we are big fans,” Luke said, raving about the rest of the lineup.

“Winds Of Plague and The Agonist are also hugely influential in their own right, and in the metal scene as a whole.”

It’s a big deal for AZREAL to hit the big ol’ U S of A. They’ve never toured north America before and Luke is hoping the trip will have a big impact on the band’s future.

“We hope to do a lot more international touring so we will keep pushing as hard as we can to get as far as we can as a band.”

The tour is also likely to be the catalyst for some new releases. It’s been a while. As well as preparing for the tour, the band is a long way into writing a new album and will be hitting the studio as soon as they return.

“Writing and recording albums is right up there with playing and touring for us and we take it seriously. But we also immensely enjoy the process together so we are all looking forward to hammering another one out,” Luke said.

“We are prepared to push as hard as we can to play the best shows we can for this tour,” Luke said.

“We’ll get home and record a new album and hit the road again later in the year. 2017 is a big year for us and we intend to make it count so there is a lot to come for Azreal.”

The band is crowdfunding to support their US tour and have raised half of their target of $10,000.

“We’d like to thank everyone from the Gold Coast and beyond that has come to our shows, bought our merchandise and supported us over the years,” Luke said.

“We couldn't hae done it without the support of everyone who has helped out along the way. You know who you are and we use your ongoing support to fuel the fire of this next chapter.”

Samantha Morris

“The exposure alone should help us along in our future endeavors,” he said.

GIVE TO AZREAL’S US TOUR FUND AT TINYURL.COM/AZREALTOUR. THEY’RE ON TOUR WITH DEVILDRIVER FROM 8 FEBRUARY – 5 MARCH. BUT YOU CAN CATCH THEM AT A SPECIAL PRE-TOUR FUNDRAISER ON SATURDAY 28 JANUARY AT THE CURRUMBIN PUB.

Beardyman • The Herd Ace Ventura • Opiuo Desert Dwellers • JFB Nobody Home • Sixis Alex Stein • Spoonbill Marvel Years • Gaudi Kingfisha • Spoonbill Marcus Henriksson

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15

SUNNYBOYS: THE POWER AND THE PASSION Much loved Aussie guitar band Sunnyboys have been merrily making hay over the past few years of their second renaissance.

Synonymous with garage channelling power pop par excellence, the band burned brightly in the early 80s. Then front man Jeremy Oxleys' well-chronicled mental health battles saw them splutter out into oblivion, prior to their unexpected and triumphant return to stages in 2012.

With the band about to embark on a tour that will see them perform their eponymous debut album from 1981 in its entirety, I took some time to chat with founding bass player (and Jeremy's brother) Peter Oxley.

I ask Peter if the rapturous response from fans to their original 2012 reunion show (where they played as part of the Hoodoo Gurus curated Dig It Up festival) and the subsequent shows that followed, took them by surprise.

"I was amazed. I was totally nervous, we all were, about whether people still liked our music enough to want to come and see us play again. And people did, much to our joy. Because of Jeremy's illness we weren't able to play for over 30 years. So for us to be able to play these shows now to our fans is amazing,” Peter said.

“We feel really privileged when we play now.

I think we still have the energy and the power and it's just really exciting. If we didn't sound any good or weren't playing well, we wouldn't be doing these shows, we'd let it go."

These days a Sunnyboys gig brings original fans together with younger disciples who've cottoned onto the band more recently, often via their parents’ record collection! Peter is understandably chuffed the band's appeal is able to cut across generations.

"That's quite lovely actually. Sometimes original fans will even bring along their twenty-something or late teen kids to the shows. Last time we played The Enmore Theatre in Sydney, there were around 20 young people right in front of Jeremy, dancing and singing along to all the words.

And we were like "wow, how great is that!"

It's a thrill to know that our music is still getting through to people, regardless of how old we are haha!"

The topic of Jeremy and his wellchronicled mental health battles arises. The documentary The Sunnyboy, which charts the story of the band via Jeremy's 'phoenix from the ashes' resurrection, is a must see, regardless of whether you're familiar with the band or not.

"Jeremy still suffers for his mental wellness.

So we really do think carefully about where and when we play. We're really mindful of Jeremy's wellbeing, and that he's 16

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feeling comfortable in all the situations we encounter on tour. It's totally incredible though, when he walks on stage he's a different person really. He gathers this sort of amazing energy and power. As soon as we start rehearsing even, it all starts happening, it's pretty special. He puts his heart into it, and I reckon he's playing really deadly guitar again now."

For their NightQuarter show on 3 February, Sunnyboys will be sharing the stage with fellow Aussie luminaries The Celibate Rifles and Ed Keupper. I ask Peter if he'd crossed paths often with these acts of similar vintage.

"I played shows with Ed for about 5 or 6 years, ‘til about 2010. He's an old friend actually, and we had a little three-piece going, under Ed's name, with myself on bass. We played a show at the Currumbin Soundlounge awhile back. And it'll be great to share the stage with the 'surfie' Celibate Rifles too!"

I asked Peter what the future looks like for the band as far as touring and the potential of recording any new material.

"At the moment we just play the shows as they come. But we have started recording demos of new stuff, which is quite fun. If we end up putting those tracks out, we'll have to think carefully about what we do. We don't want to do the whole fanfare around having to promote a new release. So if we do end up recording the songs properly we'll probably just end up sneaking it out to fans nice and quietly, where they'll be able to pick it up at the shows."

Peter has fond memories of the Gold Coast from their early 80's heydey.

"We were at The Playroom all the time! It was wild, it was quite a low ceiling in there, and it was so hot. There was also The Jet Club down in Coolangatta."

Sunnyboys dust off their self-titled debut record in its entirety at NightQuarter in Helensvale on Friday 3 February.

The record is acknowledged as being one of the true classics in the Oz music pantheon, featuring the well-loved radio hits Alone With You and Happy Man, as well as solid fan faves such as Trouble In My Brain, Tunnel Of Love and I'm Shakin'. Throw legendary original Saints guitarist (and much-respected solo artist) Ed Keupper into the mix, as well as the evergreen and ever awesome Celibate Rifles, and you've got the makings of one of the gigs of the year.

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ESSIE THOMAS MAKES PILGRIMAGE BACK TO EARTH FREQUENCY Felicity Lawless who is one of my biggest motivators and inspirations. Not just knowing her personally, but also watching her music grow. Acts like Spacegeish and Formidable Vegetable Sound System - there are countless musicians I respect so highly in this industry. It is nice when you open that page in the program and see all your favourite musicians – and I’m there too, it’s a great feeling.

You’ve been singing and performing since you were eleven. Being a musician has been a big part of your life, what concert can you remember attending where you realised music was going to be your thing?

Essie Thomas is no newcomer to Australia’s popular folk festivals, having played at Heywood, Victoria’s Wine and Rose Festival, Far North Queensland’s Bush Week and Kuranda Roots Festivals. In February Essie will be welcomed back to Ivory Rock’s massive outdoor cultural gathering - Earth Frequency Festival. Blank’s Tiffany Mitchell spoke to Essie about her festival experiences, her music inspirations, and her ‘mixed tape’ selection encapsulating her life so far.

You have been invited back to Ivory Rock’s Earth Frequency Festival this February, what ‘star struck’ moments did you have last year?

It is a festival I have applied to a countless number of times before. To be on the line-up last year was a real treat and then to be on the program this year - it should be a great show. I was star struck the whole time. Being on the line-up with artists like

Well early days it was mainly the Wiggles and the touring Spice Girls! I was a nineties child! But I started performing at eleven, writing my own music and there was a little gap where I didn’t do a lot of performing. I didn’t think too seriously about it, other than I play music and write songs. Then I went to Falls Festival when I was thirteen. John Butler was on the line-up and I was in the mosh pit, thirteen years old, all day, I got so sun burnt! Being in that situation as a young person, being a punter at a festival like that and watching how people react to music, made me almost ache for that. It pushed me to start getting a little more serious about sharing my music and growing the product.

If you had to create a ‘mixed tape’ of ten influential songs that tell a story from your life what would they be - and please add some of your own songs!

Let’s see … Brushfire Fairy Tales – Jack Johnson, Jagged Little Pill – Alanis Morissette, Special Two – Missy Higgins, Letting the Telephone Ring – Ani Difranco, What He Wrote – Laura Marling, Kaki King’s Cargo Cult, Pushing For Change the title track off my first album and Don’t Look Down, from my Hearts on the table album. Blue by Joni Mitchell … and Special Ones by George.

That last song got me through my teen years, my 16 year old self had that on repeat! I’m actually a big fan of the ‘mixed tape’.

CATCH THE ESSIE THOMAS ENSEMBLE AT EARTH FREQUENCY FESTIVAL AT IVORY’S ROCK – 1720 FEBRUARY AND AT COOLANGATTA SEASIDE SOUNDS 26 FEBRUARY. DOWNLOAD 2016 STUDIO ALBUM, HEARTS ON THE TABLE AT ESSIETHOMAS.COM.

GRITTY BLUES AND ROOTS ROCK FROM THE HEARTLAND Did you grow up listening to the blues?

I grew up in the heartland of rural Kansas and the stuff that I heard mostly as a kid was classic rock - the music that my mom had on in the car. I didn’t hear authentic blues until I was about 14 – my first introduction was B.B. King and as far as I’m concerned he was the greatest, he’s irreplaceable. But my discovery of the blues really happened through bands like Led Zeppelin when I started working my way back to their influences and finding the original blues artists that way.

Moreland & Arbuckle have been playing the blues and paying their dues for well over a decade, but a new deal with one of America’s pedigree blues labels and a swag of impressive reviews for their latest album Promised Land Or Bust could easily win them a legion of appreciative new fans. A three piece, named after two band members (drummer Kendall Newby “takes no offence”), their brand of the blues is a raw and brutal fusion caught somewhere between the Mississippi Delta and a sweat drenched bar in the backstreets of Chicago. Trevor Jackson spoke to guitarist Aaron Moreland on the eve of their first Australian tour.

With yourself on guitar and Dustin Arbuckle on vocals and harp is there no room for a bass player?

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It was all pretty organic, I just ended up covering bass, lead and rhythm. Dustin does play bass on a handful of numbers, it’s not his first instrument, but it does free me up to play lead exclusively on a few tunes.

You’ve served your apprenticeship with half a dozen albums under your belt before this signing to Alligator Records. How significant is the signing?

Oh it’s huge. Bruce Iglauer (Alligator president) runs a tight ship. He knows the business well and he only chooses high quality acts so signing with Alligator was a game changer.

Your sound is rooted in traditional blues but has everything from southern swamp boogie to rock ‘n’ roll thrown into the musical melting pot. Has that sound evolved significantly since you first got together?

Yes it has. If you listen back to the stuff that we recorded over a decade ago you can still

tell it’s us, but Dustin’s singing has improved remarkably over that time and I’m certainly a much better guitarist now. The thing that’s changed the most though is our songwriting, we get lots of accolades for our song writing now that we never got in the early days and rightly so – we really had to work hard to become better songwriters.

You now have a deal with a major blues label and with it a whole new legion of fans are discovering your music. In some ways it’s like going back to the start… working to build your audience. In Australia’s case that means your first tour here. It’s a long, hard road isn’t it?

You know making music is really only about 5% of what you do as a musician. It’s the part we love the most and yet it takes up the smallest portion of what you do in your career. It’s a weird juxtaposition when you think about the amount of time you spend travelling on a tour versus the time you actually spend on stage. You’ve got to take the good with the bad in this business - if you don’t you won’t survive.

MORELAND AND ARBUCKLE PLAY THE SOUNDLOUNGE ON FRIDAY 24 FEBRUARY.

Image: Lamp Photography

Summertime Sessions in the Village 3 February – 17 March Cuddihy Park, Swan Lane, Mudgeeraba (5.30pm-7.30pm) f: SummertimeSessions Movies under the Stars – The Jungle Book 4 February Worongary State School, Delta Cove Drive, Worongary (Movie commences 7pm) w: goldcoast.qld.gov.au Lisa Hunt Music 5 February Advancetown Hotel, Nerang Murwillimbah Road, Advancetown (1pm-4:30pm) f: Advancetownhotel

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Ben Clements Music 19 February Wallaby Hotel, Railway Street, Mudgeeraba (1pm-4pm) w: wallabyhotel.com.au Jazz & Blues with Nicole Parker-Brown and The Late Show 26 February Advancetown Hotel, Nerang Murwillimbah Road, Advancetown (1pm-4:30pm) f: advancetownhotel Jake Whittaker – Captain Good Vibes 26 February Wallaby Hotel, Railway Street, Mudgeeraba (1pm-4pm) w: wallabyhotel.com.au Mudgeeraba Sunset Markets Friday weekly Swan Lane & Railway Street, Mudgeeraba (5pm-8pm) f: Mudgeeraba Sunset Markets Parkrun Mudgeeraba Saturday weekly Darcy Doyle Park, Somerset Drive, Mudgeeraba w: parkrun.com.au/mudgeeraba

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GOLD COAST SHINES AT WOODFORD (AGAIN) They tell me over 132,000 visited the Woodford Folk Festival this year, which was the biggest number ever. The festival’s growth as a mecca for lovers of music, arts and culture between Christmas and New Year might be no surprise to those who have ventured two hours north into the Sunshine Coast Hinterland and enjoyed the vibrant and welcoming atmosphere of Woodford for the event. The “mega-village” of Woodfordia really does evolve out of a quiet farm property and its planned layout, separating sleeping areas from noisy areas, and encouraging a bit of physical activity between venues increases the chances of accidental rendezvous and community engagement. If you haven’t been yet, I encourage a visit.

If the lovely setting wasn’t enough, there are a bunch of Gold Coasters who make the trek each year, and this year was no exception. The 2016 lineup featured a bunch of artistic gems with close links to the Gold Coast. Bobby Alu and his Palm Royale opened my schedule this year, and at 11.00am on the opening Thursday had the Tropic stage pumping with his chilled island music and rhythmic drumming. He packed every venue and hosted a “tropical” New Years Eve party that was raved about.

Karl S Williams, who resided in sleepy Austinville in the Gold Coast Hinterland before his current Melbourne stint, impressed the crowd with some new material and some familiar stuff and reminded everyone how sad they should be before they headed to the bar to drown their sorrow. Josh Lovegrove, who made his name as a vocal looping guru across the Gold Coast at various beach cafes while studying at Uni, hosted workshops with Mr Percival.

This was Lovegrove’s eighth Woodford and he released his newest single to some impress merch sales and interested fans. The ladies from Swell Sculpture Festival fitted out Bill’s Bar again and profiled our unique beachside arts event held in Currumbin every year.

The Gold Coast highlight for me was a newcomer, Emily Wurramara, who identifies with her indigenous Groote Eylandt lineage and homeland and has spent significant time recently within our city limits. Woodford punters raved about Wurramara, along with Yirrmal’s energy and enthusiasm, and it was announced she would play the February 2017 Folk Alliance International event in Kansas City (USA) in the Aussie contingent. This is great news for this young artist and another example of Woodford’s capacity to shape careers for aspiring young musicians from the Gold Coast.

Glenn Tozer Images: Jude Kalman, Fotomedia

Image: Hannah Hervall

When it comes to media coverage, your mug shots matter. A bangin’ photograph purposed specifically for the press can be the difference between scoring a feature article and a mere mention. Pretty powerful huh?

Rod Yates, editor of Rolling Stone Magazine said, “If they don’t have a photo that has at least some aesthetic qualities, we’re not going to run it very big.”

So what makes a feature-worthy press picture?

F

The perfect combination of clarity and character - the reader has to be able to see you, as well as your unique brand and aesthetic.

Yates said, “Out of focus/blurry shots/shots where the artists are entirely obscured is my number one peeve.”

F

Professionalism - hiring a photographer can pay dividends. A half page ad costs anywhere between $500-$2000+. You can get a lot of bang for five hundred bucks on decent press shots that can be used over and over.

F

Full colour - when was the last time you stopped scrolling Facebook for a black and white photo? There are exceptions to every rule, but stick with colour for stand out press shots.

F

Format - nothing pisses off an editor quicker than a 75kb file. They are all but unusable online, and if it’s for print, you can forget it.

Provide high resolution images with correct colour settings.

F

Flexibility- can the editor crop it tight, use empty space to place headlines on, cut out an organic shape (see below right) or use it in a horizontal or vertical format?

Tone Deaf editor, Brandon John said, “Last year’s winner for me was HABITS [pictured at right by Willow Darling].

Their matching bright orange hair popped against the stark white, and the pose and expressions just put it over the edge.”

“Some bands will show up time and time again in feature images because not only do we love their music, but also they have a great press shot.”

Brisbane-based Lachlan Douglas, somefx, said it’s important to be on the same page as your photographer.

“I need to hear how you want to represent yourselves - happy, introspective, serious, really serious, we want to eat you!

“We need to come up with a press shot that is original, eye catching, appeals to the right crowd, then helps you to stand out in that crowd.

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“A good photographer will help you with this, but we both need to have a concept and a clear understanding of how the images will be used ahead of the shoot,” Douglas said.

A picture speaks a thousand words, and nowadays, it’s worth a thousand clicks too. As is the magazine cover to sales. An attention-grabbing picture is crucial to gain cutthrough in our visually saturated landscape. And that, is what editors are looking for in your press shots.

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JANUARY

Satisvibes + The Bredda Brothers| Ultra Lounge Bar & Dining, Surfers Paradise

WEDNESDAY 25 JANUARY

Phil Barlow | Palm Beach Markets (7.00am)

British India | Hotel Brunswick

GOLD COAST GIG GUIDE

Scott Dayvee | Swannies Southport

THURSDAY 26 JANUARY Bone Lazy & Greg Bankx (12.00pm) | RSL Club Southport The Bredda Brothers + DJs | Burleigh Heads Hotel Cover Shot Open Mic Night / Jam Session | Commercial Hotel, Nerang Vicky O’Keefe (1.00pm) | De Vito Waterfront Amanda King | Swannies Southport Charlie Marshall & The Body Electric + The Antibodies | Dust Temple

FRIDAY 27 JANUARY Loud Goes Bang album launch + The Lost Cause + Johns Not Mad + Up The Anti | Currumbin Pub Transvaal Diamond Syndicate | Miami Marketta INEXCESS Tribute | Southport Sharks Tijuana Cartel | Brunswick Hotel Matrix Duo | RSL Club Southport The Bredda Brothers + Satisvibes | Ultra Lounge Bar & Dining, Surfers Paradise Drop Legs + Doolie | NightQuarter The Wet Fish | Hard Rock Cafe Surfers Paradise Tijuana Cartel | Hotel Brunswick Clare Nella | Chevron Renaissance (6.00pm)

The Hot Rod Band | Hotel Brunswick Azreal US Tour Pre-Party + Massic + Emily Clark | Currumbin Pub George Ferguson Trio | Swannies Southport OzFest Afterparty w/ Yes Sir Noceur, Idiio & GD FRNDS DJ's | Miami Shark Bar

SUNDAY 29 JANUARY Jason McGregor (9.00pm – 1.00am) | The Avenue Greg Bankx (1.00pm) | RSL Club Southport Kimmy and Crew + Banks of the Beautiful at Palmy Sunday Funday | Pirate Park, Palm Beach Marshall Okell Band | Hotel Brunswick Unplugged Acoustic Jam Session (1.30pm) | Burleigh Waters Tavern Brother Norton (4.00pm) | Pottsville Beach Sports Club Jason McGregor (2.00pm) | Swannies Southport

MONDAY 30 JANUARY Steve Hill (11.00am) | RSL Club Southport New Waker | Swannies Southport

FEBRUARY

Sunnyboys + The Celibate Rifles + Ed Kuepper with Mark Dawson | NightQuarter

MONDAY 6 FEBRUARY

Mrs Miyagi + Captain Dreamboat at Summertime Sessions In The Village | Cuddihy Park, Mudgeeraba

Waitangi Day Celebrations: Brown Suga | Southport Sharks

Du’East | Hotel Brunswick

Biggy P | The Rails, Byron

Captain Wow (Covers) | Southport Sharks CC The Cat | Currumbin RSL Brad Butcher (3.30pm) | Burleigh Brewing Co The Floating Bridges | Miami Marketta Wally & The Gators (Covers) | RSL Club Southport Pirates of the Tempest | Hard Rock Cafe Kimmy & Crew | The Rails, Byron

SATURDAY 4 FEBRUARY The Gooch Palms | Miami Shark Bar Bella Marie (2.00pm) and Sonic Delusion + Jesse Morris (7.00pm) | Sheoak Shack, Fingal Dirty Channel Duo | Hotel Brunswick Waitangi Day: House of Shem + Hanlon Brothers | NightQuarter Waitangi Day: Sovereign | Southport Sharks Chocolate Strings + Mickascene at Seaside Sounds | Musgrave St Foreshore, Kirra Jerome Williams (3.00pm) | Currumbin RSL Andrea Kirwin Band + Shukuru Chapman | Miami Marketta

WEDNESDAY 8 FEBRUARY Jason Delphin Duo | The Rails, Byron

THURSDAY 9 FEBRUARY Zookeepers (Covers) | Southport Sharks Gypsy Swing | The Rails, Byron

FRIDAY 10 FEBRUARY Taylor + Foxfires at Summertime Sessions In The Village | Cuddihy Park, Mudgeeraba The Firetree | Hotel Brunswick Paul Dempsey + Tia Gostelow + Jess Locke | NightQuarter BB Factory | Southport Sharks Sam Buckingham | Currumbin RSL Phil and Tilley (3.30pm) | Burleigh Brewing Co The Vaudeville Smash + Scott Dalton | Miami Marketta Rockks (Covers) | RSL Club Southport Kwerkshoppe | Hard Rock Cafe

SATURDAY 11 FEBRUARY

SUNDAY 5 FEBRUARY

Katie Who + Dogtags + David Aurora + Anonymous Club | Currumbin Pub

SATURDAY 28 JANUARY

WEDNESDAY 1 FEBRUARY

OzFest: Ball Park Music, British India, Urthboy, Bleach Girls, Hockey Dad, Luke Million, Bec Sandridge | Miami Tavern

Stephen Lovelight Duo | The Rails, Byron

The Rumjacks + Cactus Dill-Dos + Drop Ins (4.00pm) | Currumbin Pub

Route 66 | RSL Club Southport

Gregg Peterson | The Rails, Byron

Devils Kiosk | The Rails, Byron

Satisvibes + Judah at Palmy Sunday Funday | Pirate Park, Palm Beach

Michael Eotvos (3.00pm) | Currumbin RSL

TUESDAY 7 FEBRUARY

Tennyson King | Dust Temple

Josh Boyd | Swannies Southport

Thirsty Merc + Chelsea Rockwells | Parkwood Tavern

Tommy Memphis (Covers) | RSL Club Southport

Atmosphere (Covers) | RSL Club Southport

TUESDAY 31 JANUARY

Dezzie D & The Stingrayz | Miami Marketta

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Chris Flaskas (2.00pm) + Felicity Lawless (7.00pm) | Sheoak Shack, Fingal

Katie Who Band | Currumbin Pub

Paul Atkins (4.00pm) + Taish Tari Duo (7.30pm) | Swannies Southport

Tijuana Cartel | Soundlounge Currumbin

24

Clairy Browne + CC The Cat | NightQuarter

FRIDAY 3 FEBRUARY

Manalion (4.00pm) | Hotel Brunswick

The Good Oil | Hotel Brunswick Adam Brand + Gemma Kirby + Matt Cornell | NightQuarter Zookeepers (Covers) | Southport Sharks

THURSDAY 2 FEBRUARY

Hayley Grace (1.00pm) | Southport Sharks

The Hussy Hicks + Dave Taylor at Seaside Sounds | Musgrave St Foreshore, Kirra

Zookeepers (Covers) | Southport Sharks

Bare Foot Friday (4.00pm) | Burleigh Brewing Co

Luke Bennett (3.00pm) | Currumbin RSL

Bohemian Cowboys Duo | The Rails, Byron

Benno’s Big Sing (1.00pm) (Covers) | RSL Club Southport

Devils Kiosk | Miami Marketta

Broadfoot | The Rails, Byron Lisa Hunt (1.00pm) | Advancetown Hotel

Bill Jacobi | Sheoak Shack, Fingal Buddy Love & The Tremors (Covers) | RSL Club Southport Dave Orr Band | The Rails, Byron

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Largerstein | The Shark Bar, Miami

SUNDAY 12 FEBRUARY

The Long Johns + Mattie Rogers at Palmy Sunday Funday | Pirate Park, Palm Beach Devils Kiosk (4.00pm) | Hotel Brunswick Simon Meola (1.00pm) | Southport Sharks Spav Doniger (4.00pm) | Burleigh Brewing Co Benny D Williams (3.00pm) | The Avenue Chi Chi Duo (Covers) (1.00pm) | RSL Club Southport

Kellie Knight & The Daze | Miami Marketta

Jax Haze | The Rails, Byron

Adam Brown & The Dirty Channel | The Rails, Byron

The Jive Cats (Covers) | RSL Club Southport

THURSDAY 23 FEBRUARY

Nicole Parker-Brown and The Late Show (1.00pm) | Advancetown Hotel

Luke Houselander | Hard Rock Cafe Soulshakers | The Rails, Byron

The Propellers | The Rails, Byron

Jake Whittaker (1.00pm) | Wallaby Hotel

17 – 20 FEBRUARY

FRIDAY 24 FEBRUARY

MONDAY 27 FEBRUARY

Choirboys | Parkwood Tavern

Marco (Covers) | Southport Sharks

Earth Frequency Festival

SATURDAY 18 FEBRUARY Mickascene + Hotel Brunswick

Bunya | The Rails, Byron

Winterbourne + Floating Bridges + Jason Temple | NightQuarter

MONDAY 13 FEBRUARY

Zoophonic Blonde (Covers) | Southport Sharks

Lloyd Saniel (Covers) | Southport Sharks Michael Whitemore (Covers) (11.00am) | RSL Club Southport Gavin Doniger | The Rails, Byron

TUESDAY 14 FEBRUARY Tennyson King | The Cambus Wallace Mat Stokes (Covers) | RSL Club Southport Chris Aronsten | The Rails, Byron

WEDNESDAY 15 FEBRUARY Skyscraper Stan | The Cambus Wallace Mick Daley & The Wayshegoes | The Rails, Byron

THURSDAY 16 FEBRUARY Twelve Foot Ninja | Miami Shark Bar Zookeepers (Covers) | Southport Sharks Mescalito Blues | The Rails, Byron

FRIDAY 17 FEBRUARY

The Lyrical + Benny D Williams at Seaside Sounds | Musgrave St Foreshore, Kirra

Bare Bones + Kirsty Abrahams at Summertime Sessions In The Village | Cuddihy Park, Mudgeeraba OKA | Hotel Brunswick Bearfoot + Dosed + Josh Lovegrove | NightQuarter

Nick Cunningham (3.30pm) | Burleigh Brewing Co Jack Tully + Sean Fitzgerald | Miami Marketta

Alvin & d’Band Jahbutu + Sean Fitzgerald | Miami Marketta

Benny D Williams | Hard Rock Cafe

Tommy Castles (2.00pm) + Chris Flaskas (7.00pm) | Sheoak Shack, Fingal

Matrix Duo (Covers) | RSL Club Southport

Route 66 (Covers) | RSL Club Southport Burning Hands | The Rails, Byron

SUNDAY 19 FEBRUARY The Lyrical + Mickascene at Palmy Sunday Funday | Pirate Park, Palm Beach Barely Standing (4.00pm) | Hotel Brunswick Josh Lee Hamilton (4.00pm) | Burleigh Brewing Co Benny D Williams (2.00pm) | The Boatshed, Currumbin Street Cafe (Covers) (1.00pm) | RSL Club Southport Eureka Funk | The Rails, Byron Ben Clements (1.00pm) | Wallaby Hotel

MONDAY 20 FEBRUARY

Coastal Lights + Catchpole + Salt & Steel + Jade Peterson | Currumbin Pub

Craig Shaw (11.00am) (Covers) | RSL Club Southport

Lloyd Saniel (Covers) | Southport Sharks

Two Rivers Duo | The Rails, Byron

Ragga Jump | The Rails, Byron Moreland & Arbuckle | Soundlounge Currumbin

SATURDAY 25 FEBRUARY Vertigo | Hotel Brunswick Hussy Hicks + Christie Lenée | NightQuarter Miss T & The Anchormen (Covers) | Southport Sharks AKoVA + Shukuru Chapman | Miami Marketta Michael Eotvos | Currumbin RSL

TUESDAY 28 FEBRUARY Rob Moir| The Rails, Byron

MARCH FRIDAY 3 MARCH Satisvibe + Andrea Kirwin Trio at Summertime Sessions In The Village | Cuddihy Park, Mudgeeraba Darkc3ll | Hard Rock Cafe

SATURDAY 4 MARCH The New Savages | Sheoak Shack, Fingal 70s Music Fest | Albert Waterways Community Centre, Broadbeach (from 5.00pm)

SUNDAY 5 MARCH

Long Gone Daddy’s Duo (Covers) | RSL Club Southport

Bobby Alu + Mrs Miyagi at Seaside Sounds | Queen Elizabeth Park, Cooly

Willy McElroy & The Immigrants | The Rails, Byron

SUNDAY 26 FEBRUARY Bearfoot Reggae (4.00pm) | Hotel Brunswick Nik Conomos (Covers) (1.00pm) | Southport Sharks The Long Johns + Essie Thomas at Seaside Sounds | Queen Elizabeth Park, Cooly

TUESDAY 21 FEBRUARY

Viva Coldplay Tribute | Southport Sharks

Leigh James | The Rails, Byron

Nicky Convine (3.00pm) | Currumbin RSL

Bill Jacobi | Currumbin RSL

WEDNESDAY 22 FEBRUARY

Phil and Tilley (4.00pm) | Burleigh Brewing Co

AKoVA | Beach Hotel, Byron

Jamie Ashforth | The Rails, Byron

Nicole Brophy (2.00pm) + Peter Hunt (7.00pm) | Sheoak Shack, Fingal

Casey Barnes + Innocent Eve + Harry J Hart | NightQuarter

Matty Rogers (3.30pm) | Burleigh Brewing Co

Craig Shaw (11.00am) ( Covers) | RSL Club Southport

Dirty Channel w/ Adam Brown | Southport Sharks

Sarah Archer (3.00pm) | Currumbin RSL

Marshall Okell + The Long Johns at Summertime Sessions In The Village | Cuddihy Park, Mudgeeraba

Chris Flaskas | Hotel Brunswick

Zookeepers (Covers) | Southport Sharks

Greg Bankx (1.00pm) (Covers) | RSL Club Southport

FRIDAY 10 MARCH Mickascene + Phil and Tilley at Summertime Sessions In The Village | Cuddihy Park, Mudgeeraba Ann Vriend + Black Rabbit George | NightQuarter The Byzantines + Mary Handsome + The Goldhearts + Atticus Chimps | Currumbin Pub

* Catch these SEED artists playing at a venue near you

WWW.SEEDSERIES.BANDCAMP.COM

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25

KELLIE BRINGS NEO-SOUL DAZE TO MARKETTA Kellie Knight and her seven-piece jazz / funk ensemble are totally owning the neo-soul genre. Their 2015 debut EP Twisted won awards for three of its five tracks at the Dolphin Awards and they’ve won over audiences at events like Bluesfest, Woodford Folk Festival and the Adelaide Fringe.

Miami Marketta is next and a new single is due for release in June.

Samantha Morris caught up with Kellie Knight herself with the first question being ‘what the hell is neo-soul?’

“It’s derived from old-school soul music from the 50s-60s like the Motown label but with the added flavours of jazz, funk, pop, electronic,” Kellie explained, adding artists like D’Angelo, Erykah Badu, Lauryn Hill and Hiatus Kyote to the list of descriptors.

It seems Kellie is pretty passionate about the genre. Taking that passion from the stage to the screen as the brains behind the portal neosoul.com.au. She says she saw a need for a place where people could find out about venues, festivals, bands and radio stations that support the growing genre.

“I put my research into one website to help other musos and fans alike,” she said. “It’s a work in progress, but if anyone would like to contribute hit me up.”

Kellie studied at the Northern Rivers Conservatorium of Music and was approached, alongside Nattali Rize (Blue King Brown) to be the face of the Conservatorium’s silver jubilee campaign.

She speaks highly of the conservatorium.

“It was a fantastic musical experience for me to learn about jazz, play with talented musicians and hang out in the beautiful historic buildings they reside in,” she said.

“They had dance and drama too, so it was like entering into the set of FAME. As soon as I landed here from Melbourne I knew I belonged.”

Kellie’s connection to the northern rivers was further bolstered when her last EP won Dolphin awards for best jazz song, best urban / funk song and best world / reggae song.

Northern River’s Dolphin Awards have grown into an important program of awards for northern NSW over the past 25 years.

Kellie says there’s a hotspot of talent between Tweed and Grafton and thousands of musicians enter each year.

“It’s such an honour to be a finalist or win one of these awards. It's also almost a relief to attend because you get to catch up with other musicians and Industry people you haven't seen because we are all busy gigging, and talk to peers about how they are going, what their inspirations, ups and downs have been during the year. It's really encouraging.”

“This year we were finalists in best production too (Govinda Doyle, Producer),” she said, adding that the Awards also used her song Everything is One in their television campaign.

Travelling beyond our shores has had a big impact on Kellie’s music. She’s stood in amongst a whole town in the Carribean singing along to Bob Marley tunes on his birthday, had vocal lessons in India and been visited by famous composers reciting their compositions for the first time.

“I’ve taken death defying bus rides in Barbados where the calypso reggae is pumping from the sound system and I’ve met all walks of musicians and shared in their music,” she said. “They are all in my head and heart and imbue my inspiration for writing like a collective global muse.”

Her band, which comprises Matt Day (guitar), Angus Graham (Bass), Carl George (Drums), Dan Brown (Keys), Rebecca Ireland (Backing vocal) and Mark Heazlett (Backing Vocal) will be joining here when she hits Miami Marketta next month. She’ll also have special guest Wil Sargisson on keys and she’s got a new single due in June.

“I have an album in me,” Kellie said. “This single is called Refugee, I could tell you more, but I would have to kill you, haha. Stay tuned in June 2017.”

Samantha Morris

KELLIE KNIGHT IS PLAYING MIAMI MARKETTA ON 17 FEB.

SUN 5 FEB c h o p p e r ’s

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YOU CANT HANDLE THE YOUTH

TH’FIKA TH’FIKA (pronounced ‘The Fi-Ka) is a Gold Coast band that has built its existence on short Swedish coffee breaks. It’s a rare and oddly specific time to start a band but it has seemed to work out well for them with the release of debut EP Home and touring up and down the East Coast of Australia most of last year. Emma Whines caught up with vocalist Lily Budiasa.

Lily and Michael Cameron, the masterminds behind TH’FIKA, studied a music degree together, but fell out of touch due to the daily rhythm of life. Luckily, they reconnected when they were offered to play music six nights a week for four months in Japan, an offer no sane musician would turn down.

“When we arrived we started out playing solo in different venues but after a duo set on NYE we ended up playing the

Image: Yes Sir Noceur by Lamp Photography

“After gigging for a while together we started to write our own music acoustically and decided to start a band when we came back to Australia.”

Their songwriting process is just as interesting as their name.

They have a well planned out, step by step process that they told me about. The steps (obviously) start at number one, which is “get in the zone,” This involves “a mad jam spot, cool lighting, heaps of reverb, snacks and drinks.”

After some casual jamming taking up the slot of step two, step three is “mumble some words and hopefully come up with a sweet melody”. I mean, it may not be the most heartfelt approach to making music, but the end result is exactly that. Heartfelt and filled with steady emotion.

With Triple J host Linda Magnolia offering up that "the female vocalist of TH'FIKA is what I imagine the love child of Florence Welch and Lana Del Rey would sound like…" it’s hard not to say that these guys are going places.

EXCLUSIVE PREVIEW: LOCAL MUSIC IN BLEACH* PROGRAM Bleach heads to NightQuarter for the first time in 2017 as part of a continued effort to extend the event’s reach across the City.

BLANK GOLD COAST IS A PROUD MEDIA PARTNER FOR BLEACH* FESTIVAL WHICH RUNS 31 MARCH – 16 APRIL. MORE AT BLEACHFESTIVAL. COM.AU.

rest of the four months together every night with the most beautiful backdrop of snow filled mountains. It’s not often you just gel with another musician and pick up on each other’s vibes straight away,” Lily said.

The Helensvale event, which features The Samba-Blisstass (and a headliner yet to be announced) on Saturday 15 April, is just one in a massive program of performing arts and music that will take place throughout the Gold Coast for Bleach* in 2017. We can exclusively reveal some of the other music highlights.

Varsity Lakes will host The Ruiins, Th’Fika and Austen on 31 March. Bobby Alu will kickstart the Live At Bond series for 2017 on Sunday 2 April and Palm Beach will host the Coolangatta Ukulele Players, Jackson James Smith, Wet Fish and Yes Sir Noceur on Saturday 8 April.

Canada’s The East Pointers also make a special trip to the Gold Coast for Bleach*. They’ll be at Mudgeeraba on Sunday 9 April and Benny D Williams and Slip-on Stereo will get things started for the beachfront gig on Burleigh Headland on Sunday 16 April (with a headliner yet to be announced).

And one of the grooviest lineups we’ve seen for a long time is coming to Coolangatta on Saturday 1 April, but you’re going to have to wait until the full Bleach* program announcement for that.

Bleach* Creative Director Louise Bezzina said her team was dedicated to boosting the profile of Gold Coast artists within the festival program.

“We’ll always bring major touring artists to the City,” she said, “but we work hard to support local artists to reach new audiences and play big stages and 2017 is no exception.”

“We work closely with the Gold Coast Music Awards team to support emerging artists which includes those making waves nationally as well as those with a big Gold Coast fan base.”

“The best thing about these music events is that they’re all free, and they’re all family friendly. Gold Coast loves outdoor music events. And these ones give people a chance to discover their new favourite band.”

Samantha Morris

album reviews

SONGS WE LOVE ASTA | Shine (single) Tasmanian singer/songwriter Asta is more firmly establishing herself in the pop world with latest single, Shine. Since taking out Triple J’s Unearthed High in 2012 Asta has sounded more polished with each release and this new song is no exception. Tempo changes and sweet lyrics make Shine a killer track – Erin Bourne

ASHA JEFFERIES | On The Inside (single) If you’ve been following Triple J Unearthed artists through 2016, you would know the name Asha Jefferies. First coming to our attention with Kiss My Ass - a snappy jive filled with teenage angst and then blowing us away even more with her creative project of the Solstice Series that started with her winter solstice offering in the impeccably delicate song Honey, Save Me From My Falsehoods. Her newest installment is the summer end of her solstice series called On The Inside. The song exudes curiosity and eeriness that demands attention from its listener and the full band offers strength to her voice like you’ve never heard it before. A sort of truth escape the song with the steady rhythm of her rootsy acoustic guitar in the background driving the song as well as a melancholy electric guitar setting the tone at the front of the song. It’s a great listen even if you aren’t into the roots and boots genres - Emma Whines

Thee End Less | Thee End Less (EP) Gold Coast locals The End Less have created a sound and an EP that simply cannot escape comparison to The Doors. Songwriter Nigel Maunder’s influences are abundantly clear on the self titled EP, from the psychedelic opening track Unknown to track six Drop, it feels like a modern twist on classic 60s vibes. In particular, the track Eat Her Alive is an epic (over seven minutes long) homage to the keys, jangling guitar and the ducking and weaving through tempo and style of many The doors songs. EP closer Cruisin’ is exactly that, a cruisy Summer afternoon song that eases you out of Thee End Less experience gently.

From Doors psychedelic sounds to dirty bluesy guitar riffs (Troubled City), the EP is definitely a fun and eclectic journey. The End Less are proof the Gold Coast music scene is still alive, still inspiring and producing serious style – Erin Bourne

Tokyo Beef | Idiot Box (single) Tokyo Beef have just released their latest single Idiot Box and once again are not holding back with the fast paced arse-kicking rock ‘n’ roll.

The song is like Bruce Springsteen’s 57 Channels choca-bloc full of the go piills, with the accelerator placed to the floor. Lead singer Graeme Trenor’s sarcastic tones are strikingly like Damien Lovelock, and the tempo is very much in the style of the Celibate Rifles, Astro Wally, yet a completely different song, reminiscent of the hardcore skate punk of the 1990s. It’s hard not to sing along with the chorus. Get some beef into ya Terry Tappa Teece 28

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SPURTS!

MATT HENRY

Punk is a beast with many heads – a Hydra, if you will – cut one off and two more grow in its place. So attempting to condense more than 40 years of punk and post-punk history into just four compact discs is a seemingly Herculean task.

If there’s a reason for Matt Henry not releasing an album until now, it’s that in the wrong hands, his music may have silently slipped away unnoticed.

But noticed this is. Henry has been invited to Late Night Alt – within one of the longest running music festivals in Australia, Tamworth, to release his debut album Love Without Co-dependency. Shane Nicholson the musician turned sought after producer, has helped craft an album that is not confined to just country, but visits Americana and blues – safely in a large alt-country space.

Punk & Post-Punk from the 70s & Beyond

We start at the big bang of punk (England, 1976) with the explosive introduction of The Damned’s New Rose, fittingly the first British punk single released, before working our way through The Buzzcocks, Generation X and Brisbane’s The Saints, via a few others from that period you might not even consider “punk” (The Jam, The Stranglers, Wire). Bizarrely, there’s no Sex Pistols, nor Clash, but plenty more Aussie, in the form of Radio Birdman, Teenage Radio Stars and The Boys Next Door.

Next, we pop across the pond to CBGB-era New York with old favourites Ramones, Patti Smith and Richard Hell and the Voidoids – whose Love Comes In Spurts lends its name to this compilation – while delving into some “pre-punk” trailblazers (The Stooges, MC5, Velvet Underground) along the way.

Disc three is a delightfully oddball trip into the murky waters of postpunk. You’ll find the usual suspects (Joy Division, Gang of Four, The Cure) rubbing shoulders with newwave pop (The Human League, The Flying Lizards, Talking Heads) and the downright strange (see Warm Leatherette by The Normal).

But, of course, there’s no way of pleasing every punk listening. The last CD, for instance, takes us from 80s US hardcore into present day, but realistically, after The Dead Kennedys and Misfits, it won’t be getting much of a spin in my house: Offspring, NOFX, Pennywise, 28 Days? Thanks but no thanks.

Largely, though, this is a solid encyclopaedic monster of a boxset.

Slightly disjointed, sure, but that only goes to show just how diverse and divergent the old punk beast can be.

Richard Scott

Love without co-dependency

The eleven tracks are littered with violin intros, harmonica prose, haunting lap steel and lightly touched piano – instrumental lyricists to Matt Henry’s carefully written-witha-twist songs. Producer Nicholson has musically boosted the album to traverse a potentially broader listener base. Of note are the last four tracks - fragile instrumental numbers played oh so carefully, matching each delicate lyrical phrase. The ditty, Little Dead Bird gives a glint of Henry’s black humour – this is what listeners want to hear in songs; personality, originality – lyrics that produce a chuckle or make you want to deconstruct or de-code them. I Died On A Beautiful Day follows with a Nick Cave-style piano ballad, barely there brushed snare drum with a steel string resonating in the background - just to remind us of Henry’s honed musical style. Way back home is a traveller’s reflection, complete with sermonic steel string creating its own conversation with Henry’s lyrics; “there’s a boy with an open heart/he and I found our way back home.”

The last song Half Moon Bay sings of “metaphors without a source,” further affirming that this album with its seriously beautiful instrumentals, poetic-with-a-poke lyrics, and Henry’s warm vocals, is refreshingly out of the ordinary and not dependent to any particular style.

Tiffany Mitchell

JAPANDROIDS

Near to the Wild Heart of Life Imagine yourself driving down the highway, leather jacket on, headlights blaring to push away the 11.00pm darkness and with a heavy mind. If this new Japandroids album, Near to the Wild Heart of Life, isn’t pulsing through the speakers, then you’re not listening to this record correctly.

It’s an album, the Canadian duo’s third, that seemingly never should have come to fruition due to the overbearing global touring commitments on the back of Celebration Rock. Exhausted recounting the same songs every night in sweaty clubs, with Near to the Wild Heart of Life, Japandroids now recreate their present lives into forceful rock ballads.

Japandroids’ definition of intensity takes a new meaning for their third studio effort. The group take a more calculated and driving vigour to their power, giving them the ability to experiment and evolve. Acoustic guitars, synths and near naturalistic shoegaze elements, this is Japandroids 2.0.

True Love And A Free Life Of Free Will sees the band stepping away from their lamentation of past records and, instead, embracing the comfort of the present. No Known Drink Or Drug peels back the ethics of how to write a Springsteen-esque rock ballad in a beautiful, anthemic fashion. The centrpiece of the record comes from Arc of Bar - think Post Nothing’s fuzzy verse building of I Quit Girls mixed with DZ Deathrays’ Blood on My Leather’s raucous give-and-take vocal feedback with added synths. It’s psychdisco-power-rock that demands your attention.

An intelligent and thoughtful progression is present on Near to the Wild Heart of Life, which probably wasn’t needed thanks to their impeccable track record. Even with the added instruments and density to the music, still don’t expect Japandroids to be buying waters instead of beers at the bar.

Jake Wilton

AMBER ISLES

KID CUDI

I remember sitting on the cold concrete stairs of a bank in Melbourne city with my father and listening intently to a duo busking. We'd been heading back to the hotel after a visit to the southern capital for a basketball game. I couldn't walk past these guys. Even with the trams and traffic, they'd captured a keen crowd enjoying their chilled vibes, subtle harmonies, and casual Sunday meandering. I bought the self-titled EP of Amber Isles' duo incarnation that day, using it regularly since in the comfort of my car to settle busy days or after restless sleeps.

After a brief and universally panned stint in a rock band, Kid Cudi is back on familiar hip hop ground with new album Passion, Pain and Demon Slaying. Passion is a bit of an epic album, 19 songs totalling almost an hour and a half and boasts features from big artists such as Andre 3000, Pharrell Williams and Willow Smith.

Running

Passion, Pain and Demon Slaying

The opening track, Frequency, hooked me at the start with a low smooth beat and then the lyrics kicked in. It became just another hip hop party lifestyle song, so disappointing for this fresh album to bring such tired themes. This is the trend of the album, great production, intriguing beats and instrumentals with average lyrical style. There are odd moments of interest with By Design and The Guide, and random well-penned lines, you just have to wade through the rest to get to them.

Just in time for Christmas, Amber Isles released what they're calling their debut LP, Running, after recording it DIY out of suburban Melbourne and having it mastered out of frontman Max Fotheringham's homeland in Brussels, Belgium. Now a fivepiece, the band deliver atmospheric guitar-driven post-rock. The occasionally instrumental offering is perfect for relaxing time, mixing catchy melodies with Fotheringham's earthy baritone vocals that feel like they're exhaled rather than sung.

The way it should be

Passion is an album that will please loyal Kid Cudi fans, it is a style reminiscent of 2010’s Man On The Moon II: The Legend of Mr Rager. There is a dark ambience that suggests depth and importance yet it doesn’t quite deliver. For me it was musically smooth and coherent, but lacking in substance and still nice to have playing in the background.

Breathe in. Pause. Breathe out slowly.

Running is primarily driven by that ambient rhythmic guitar, but flirts interestingly with keys here and there as well as a rare female vocal from time to time, a bit of horn on a few tracks, and a cool Hammond sound in On The Scene which is a highlight track.

Erin Bourne

Amber Isles new offering is well worth the listen, particularly for holiday relaxing times. It's available on bandcamp now.

Glenn Tozer

NOMINATIONS NOW OPEN FOR 2017 GOLD COAST MUSIC AWARDS The Gold Coast Music Awards shine a spotlight on the local music scene by rewarding the exceptional talent that calls the city home.

Since the awards launched in 2015, Gold Coast’s music scene has grown – both in actual size and in the eyes of the national music industry. With new venues opening, a draft Live Music strategy underway and a focus on arts and culture at local and state government levels, the awards have been a catalyst for plenty of action in the City’s music space.

2017 sees the Awards move to a new home and co-founder Chloe Popa said a new partnership with Surfers Paradise Alliance has obvious benefits.

“Surfers Paradise is the true heart of the city,” Chloe said.

“Especially when it comes to music and live entertainment.”

“Talk to any long-time resident and they’ll rave about live music experiences there, venues past and present and general goodtimes,” she said.

The partnership with Surfers Paradise Alliance sees the awards move from Burleigh Brewing Co. to the beach. A festival-sized stage will host four local acts and a VIP marquee adjacent will host the actual awards ceremony with a live feed between the two.

“Surfers Paradise has always been the beating heart of the City’s music scene, so it makes sense that we’d jump behind the awards as presenting partner for the next three years,” said

Surfers Paradise Alliance CEO Mike Winlaw.

“As well as supporting the awards ceremony itself, we’re working with Gold Coast Music Awards to present four big local acts on the awards night. Plus, there’ll be a bigger local component within the Surfers Paradise LIVE programming too,” Mike said.

“There’s so much talent on the Gold Coast. Surfers Paradise LIVE will be the perfect mix of local artists and visiting headliners to make sure we have the biggest audiences possible.”

As well as a new home, the awards also launch a new category – Album of the Year. There are seven categories in total: •

Artist of the Year

•

Breakout Artist of the Year (formerly Emerging Artist), sponsored by Griffith University Queensland Conservatorium

•

Song of the Year, sponsored by NightQuarter

•

Video of the Year, sponsored by QT Hotel

•

Album of the Year, sponsored by ALH

•

Live Music Venue of the Year

•

Live Music Event of the Year, sponsored by TAFE Queensland Gold Coast

Hanlon Brothers won Emerging Artist of the Year in 2015 and competition for the new Breakout Artist of the Year category this year is expected to be fierce.

Saia Hanlon said winning Emerging Artist of the Year was a big honour for the band.

“After so many years of hard work to build a local following, the awards really helped open doors locally and further afield,” he said.

"These awards are all about recognising and rewarding local talent and 2016 was a big year for Gold Coast music. I can't wait to see who takes out each of the awards this year.”

Each category is judged by an independent panel comprising music and associated industry leaders. The Awards ceremony will take place on Thursday 27 April on the beach at Surfers Paradise and tickets are on sale 1 February.

NOMINATIONS ARE OPEN NOW AND CLOSE 10 MARCH. FINALISTS ANNOUNCED 30 MARCH. CITY OF GOLD COAST HAS BEEN A PREMIER PARTNER FOR THE GOLD COAST MUSIC AWARDS SINCE LAUNCHING IN 2015. www.blankgc.com.au

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Image: Hannah Hervall

When it comes to media coverage, your mug shots matter. A bangin’ photograph purposed specifically for the press can be the difference between scoring a feature article and a mere mention. Pretty powerful huh?

Rod Yates, editor of Rolling Stone Magazine said, “If they don’t have a photo that has at least some aesthetic qualities, we’re not going to run it very big.”

Pictured: Marshall OKell

So what makes a feature-worthy press picture?

F

The perfect combination of clarity and character - the reader has to be able to see you, as well as your unique brand and aesthetic.

Yates said, “Out of focus/blurry shots/shots where the artists are entirely obscured is my number one peeve.”

SUMMERTIME SESSIONS SUMMER LINEUP Summertime Sessions In The Village at Mudgeeraba is the brainchild of the district’s active community Councillor and fellow Blank contributor Glenn Tozer, one sunny Mudgeeraba day Glenn met with Polly Snowden, and two discussed the community and how to bring it back to life. They concluded that music is what moved them and brought them closer to others around them, so they went on a quest to share this with a wider community. Summertime Sessions In The village was born. It’s been a creative partnership that has lasted two seasons with creative plans continuing to grow.

Glenn has built a great reputation across the Gold Coast community and is well known throughout the Mudgeeraba district, the man is not shy to a microphone, backyard barbecues, house concerts or a dance off. His smile is seen throughout the suburb cruising local businesses and actively connecting with the community, his passion for arts and community growth ensured he would serve the district another term at the last election.

One of the many reasons Glenn was re-appointed in his role was the success and community vibe that resulted as part of the success of Summertime Sessions in the Village. The community event which sees some of Gold Coast’s best rising stars take to the stage in front of dozens of groups of young people, families of all ages, children, teens and the community elders, has reunited and rekindled one of the Gold Coast’s first established towns and turned its Friday afternoons into a bustling vibrant menagerie of locals, out-of towners and ex pats, all gathered on their picnic rugs, sharing food and drink, while children run in groups giggling together with painted faces and hand made flower crowns.

25 FEB. 10AM-1PM BOOK YOUR SPOT NOW AT THEPOWERUPSERIES.COM

30

www.blankgc.com.au

Mudgeeraba markets has also moved from the Showgrounds to join the cultural momentum.

Summertime Sessions has been a series that has catapulted the town back into its truest form, a community village rich and alive with culture, arts, spirit and opportunity.

Summertime Sessions launches for 2017can on pay Friday 3 F Professionalism - hiring a photographer dividends.

A half page ad costs anywhereuntil between $500-$2000+.

You acan February and continues 17 March.

We shared fewget a lot of with bang for five to hundred bucks onhim decent pressseries. shots He that can be words Glenn congratulate on the used over and over. said there had always been three purposes to Summertime F Full in colour - when was the last time you stopped scrolling Sessions the Village.

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every but stick withpark colour forgive stand out press “ One - torule, activate a local and people an shots. opportunity to enjoy time with their neighbours (this builds F Format - nothing pisses off an editor quicker than a 75kb file. They community resilience trust, ” he said. to can activate are all but unusable and online, and if it’s for “Two print, -you forget it.

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Yanina Benavidez + Samantha Morris

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SSITV 2017 LINEUP: good photographer will help you 3“A Feb Mrs Miyagi Captain Dreamboat with this,|but we both need to+ have a concept and a clear understanding 10 Feb | Taylor + Foxfires of how the images will be used ahead of the shoot, Douglas said. OKell + The Long Johns 17 Feb |” Marshall A picture a thousand words, 24 Feb speaks | Bare Bones + Kirsty Abrahams and nowadays, it’s worth a thousand too. As |is Satisvibe the magazine cover 3clicks March + Andrea Kirwin Trio to sales. An attention-grabbing 10 March | Micka Scene picture is crucial to gain cut- + Phil and Tilley through in our visually saturated 17 March | OFA + Jah Butu landscape. And that, is what editors are looking for in your press shots.

Kylie Cobb

SANDBAR

53 The Esplanade, Surfers Paradise

Change is in the air in Surfers, nowhere more evident at the Sandbar. With uninterrupted sea views and the widest offerings of beer on the coast, Sandbar is iconic. An institution.

But even ‘institutions’ need to move with the times.

After operating the restaurant for almost twenty years since its time as the Boardwalk Café & Bar, Greg and Jo Short have let their son Jake step in to rebuild Sandbar to his vision.

TAQUERIA PAUL WILSON Mexican cuisine is one of the fastest growing and most progressive parts of the modern food scene. The food truck craze sweeping Australia, can be attributed in part to the popularity of Mexican food trucks in the southern states of the USA (California included). It’s a versatile yet inventive option.

Taqueria is a celebration of the vibrancy of Mexican taco culturel. Written by Chef Paul Wilson – regarded as Australia’s foremost expert on Latin-American food culture - the book dives into the art and craft of Mexico’s greatest culinary export.

But it comes with a twist.

The book is more an interpretation of Mexican food culture. It includes a creative lineup of tacos, sides (encompassing salads, salsas and pickles) as well as cocktails. And there’s a healthy dose of new-age ingredients too. Think chia-crusted mackerel with pomegranate mojo, prawn and quinoa quesadillas, nectarine and sweet potato salad and duck breast tacos.

On the cocktail front the book makes use of Australian ingredients (hello frozen finger lime margarita) as well as dishing up twists on old favourites. There’s recipies for coffee margarita, mango and chilli margarita and a smoky cold medina.

“I grew up in Surfers Paradise. It was the place to come to, but then it gained a bit of a stigma. Now, we want to change the vibe of the suburb, to try to bring cool beach clubs here – places where you can come for an afternoon drink and stay for dinner,” he tells us.

Despite his age, Jake knows what he’s talking about. He has spent much of the past seven years in Bali, helping mates to open venues such as Single Fin, Mexicola, Salty Seagull and Helter Skelter. Returning to Australia, he noticed huge changes to our dining scene.

Inspired by the beach clubs seen in his travels to the French Riviera and Bali, Surfers Sandbar, rebranded as Sandbar, has undergone a major refit and facelift, indicative of its new direction. Striped blue and white beach umbrellas, teak furniture and hanging plants give a fresh take to the venue’s new nautical theme.

In its new menu, valuing quality over quantity, the dishes are fresher, brighter, more vibrant; right on trend.

“There’s been a mixed reaction from seasonal visitors,” says Jake, acknowledging that some tourists are not happy with the demise of all-you-can-eat dining, “but regulars love it.

Our biggest challenge is to change the public perception of the venue,” he adds.

From the citrusy notes of the yucatan Peninsula to the rich, earthy sauces of Oaxaca, Paul’s book demonstrates that there’s so much more to Mexican food than the ubiquitous lime and jalapeno.

The three menus that cover all day dining have been devised

by Maxie Hill, a former Head Chef at Rick Stein’s Bannisters in Mollymook, New South Wales. Highly regarded as a chef and food consultant in Bali, Maxie brings to Sandbar’s lunch and dinner menus a rich palate of Asian and Pacific flavours.

Taqueria will undoubtedly appeal to foodies and home cooks, but it’s also a visually appeal guide to the highlights of Mexican food, with stunning photography. Reading the recipes provides inspiration for tweaking your own favourite Mexican recipes with local and exotic ingredients.

Breakfast features modern Australian cuisine: eggs on dough or in skillets, and rainbows of fruit topping whole grains.

Dishes such as Crispy corn fritters, Ricotta vanilla pancakes, Sautéed chorizo eggs, and the Lean and green salad brekkie provide lots of diversity.

Taqueria is out now via Hardie Grant Books.

Smoothie bowls cross over from brekkie to 4.00pm, adding to a lunch menu of buns (The Pastry Emporium’s famous milk buns packed with tempura soft-shell crab teamed with a mango chilli salad, Korean-style crispy chicken, hand-

Samantha Morris

pressed Wagyu or crispy pork belly); Hawaiian poke bowls of tuna, snapper or kingfish sashimi on edamame salad with black sesame topped avo and quinoa; and a Rick Stein-styled fresh fish and triple cooked chips (for the asking). Seafood dominant, it’s a perfect Pacific Rim seaside menu.

From 6.00pm, the menu steps up another notch to plates of smart casual share dining, again with local seafood a feature: Hervey Bay scallops, Snapper ceviche, Char-grilled octopus with sweet corn purée and crispy polenta, and King prawns with smoked chilli jam.

Meat lovers are not left stranded on a wave though, with the latest menu item, Beef ribs, packing a mighty punch of flavour. Pre-cooked in the sous vide, the meat is then wood chip smoked, finished with a smoky chilli sambal, and served with a cranberry, coriander and candied pistachio slaw. Lip-smackingly delicious, it’s a rich jammy dish! Are these the best ribs in town?

Finish with a shared Rhubarb roulade with salted caramel, peach and blueberries; a delicious reworking of a retro classic!

With a new motto ‘Good times all the time’, Sandbar’s new wine menu hold loads of promise: a bucket of beachside cocktails such as our Blood orange margarita, 120 varieties of beer including 20 on tap, a smart interesting wine list, including the organic Hochkirch Blanc from the Grampians; that is if you can pass over the cold-pressed juice mocktails and smoothies on offer.

If you were worried that Sandbar had lost a little of its surf club feel, the Short family’s commitment to the North End Board Riders’ Club has not been abandoned. Jake says the yet-to-be-completed function room at the rear of the venue will soon be unveiled, featuring club memorabilia as part of its décor.

For us, there’s plenty of reason to visit a revitalised Sandbar, let alone as a place to bring visitors.

Life in Surfers is all about the beach, the surf, and the Sandbar. It’s one of the coolest eateries in town, the beach and Lifeguard Tower #35 are just across the street, and a cool, crisp change has arrived with the ocean breeze. Iconic!

NOTE: On one occasion, Marj dined as a guest of Sandbar.

Marj Osborne Read more of Marj’s reviews on Good Food Gold Coast foodgoldcoast.com.au

www.blankgc.com.au

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Food & Drink

MERAKI WHOLE FOOD KITCHEN 55 Brooke Avenue, Chirn Park

PORTSIDE COFFEE Shop 4A, 42 Currumbin Creek Road, Currumbin ‘Move nourish believe.’

It’s the mantra of success, in so many ways, especially when followed by another word: Act. After a lifetime working in and owning cafes, Evelyn Ellis, with the help of her husband and daughter, decided to follow her dream and open a wholefood café.

“My dream for this café was inspired two years ago when I was making up my 10 year plan with a motivator,” Evelyn told us. “I moved to the Gold Coast in 2006 and, after owning cafés in the industrial areas of Yatala and Ormeau, trying to convert truckies to a healthier lifestyle, I decided that I wanted to open a healthy café in Chirn Park.”

It was the beginning of a journey.

Deciding on the name ‘Meraki’ for the cafe, from the Greek verb ‘to do something with soul, creativity, or love’, Evelyn’s dream slowly took shape with the help of her daughter Ashley Lane, a fitness instructor, and social media personality Nicole Joy. The gutting and transformation of the former mechanical workshop on the corner of Brooke Avenue in Chirn Park provided the perfect location for a daytime café, sheltered from the bright summer sun by its west-facing position, and warm in winter.

Stepping away from the favoured beachy feel of so many new eateries, Meraki features two huge murals, offset by charcoal and white to tie in with the garage theme.

The mural on the back wall of the café, painted by artist ‘Matty Bro’, features a girl bathing in a glass of fresh fruit.

The connotations of soaking up fresh healthy food are obvious. The irony is not lost, however, that it’s a cocktail glass she sits in, nor that her lips are plumped with Botox.

Pre-transformation she may be, but the story is attentiongrabbing and thought provoking.

Nicole Joy, author of ‘Eat dessert for breakfast’ and ‘Life’s too short for diets’, has devised the menu for Meraki. It features many of her own recipes, such as the Asian-style salad, one 32

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of two salads we enjoy for lunch, as well as many raw treats.

Burgers also feature for lunch, made on brioche buns with sweet potato chips as sides.

“We focus on raw clean eating,” Evelyn tells us. “We make everything on the premises – cashew cream hollandaise, sauces and dressings, as well as the raw cakes.”

For breakfast, beside the Brekkie super salad, there are ‘big but healthy’ Eggs bene (their way GF and DF), Apple and cinnamon ricotta hot cakes, and the Big Brekkie to keep hungry eaters satisfied.

There are also plenty of ‘naughties’ to enjoy at Meraki, many on the breakfast menu. Chocolate granola with orange, cinnamon and cardamom, chocolate peanut butter smoothie bowl, chocolate protein pancakes…as well as raw treats and bliss balls housed in the ‘naughty corner’ glass cabinet at the front counter.

Gluten and dairy free and wholefood-based these dishes may be, but they are nutritionally dense foods packed with coconut fat and… if it tastes sweet it still is, albeit in a more natural form!

To help you with your meal choices, each menu item has a breakdown of calories, carbs, protein listed beside it – a godsend to informed diners.

Call it having a bet either way or just catering to the market, Meraki boasts that ‘Our menu will cater to every type of eater - whether you are gluten free, dairy free, paleo, vegan and of course, let's not forget about husband approved meals.’

Good on them. Being none of the above, we still enjoyed our salads. They were both a treat for our tastebuds and a healthy nutritious lunch.

Marj Osborne Read more of Marj’s reviews on Good Food Gold Coast foodgoldcoast.com.au

With the mercury rising higher every day, Portside Coffee is a caffeinated oasis on a hot summer day. Tucked away in the industrial area of Currumbin and sheltered away from the road, the large garden-rimmed courtyard provides the perfect spot to enjoy your favourite brew. As it was over 35 degrees on the day we visited the conclusion was quickly made that there truly isn’t anything better than a cold drip and an iced coffee to both perk you up and cool you down.

It’s understandable if you find owner Jeremy Lawnikanas familiar, as having worked in the industry for 12 years at some of the most popular venues on the Gold Coast, you are bound to have crossed paths with him somewhere along your foodie travels. It was after these many years of experience that Jeremy felt it was time to branch out and open up his own cafe where the coffee is the star.

After spending some time in Scandinavia exploring the foodie scene and coffee roasteries, Jeremy drew inspiration from the area’s coveted design features when fitting out Portside, with a nautical touch that ties the venue back to its Gold Coast base.

As the only Gold Coast café to use Sensory Lab coffee, Portside gains an edge as a point of difference for the coffee devotees of the Coast. Utilising the Steadfast as their house blend, in an espresso there is a bold dark chocolate flavour with a hint of savoury undertones and a cherry acidity finish to the cup. With the addition of milk in a piccolo the more caramel flavours develop making for a sweet little drink.

With weekly to fortnightly rotations of single origin beans on offer, these are used in the cold drip as the lengthier brew time assists to build the flavours of the coffee allowing a greater appreciation of the coffee’s profile. The Guatemalan cold drip I sampled had beautiful citrus and stone fruit flavours with hints of chocolate weaving through each mouthful.

Open from 6.00am to 2.00pm Monday to Friday, 6.00am to 12.00pm on Saturday and closed on Sunday, Portside Coffee truly is a caffeine lovers dream, and on these hot summer days you can’t go wrong with one of their cold drips and a house made pink lemonade.

Catherine Coburn

TAVERNA 22 Marine Parade, Kingscliff

Every town has its iconic places, including Kingscliff. The sleepy little coastal village, so loved by many, has such a place: a simple cottage overlooking the beach. For forty years, it housed restaurants, such as Tracey’s Garden Restaurant, where families would dine while on holidays.

Jones has a deft hand with flavour combinations and balance: Grilled white fish is seated on cauli skordalia, Grilled stone fruit laid over soft jersey cream and meringue garnished with sesame praline and, unexpectedly, dill fronds.

For many, including present owners Mark Wilson and Lia Mason, the single-storey building evoked memories and dreams; a place the couple had coveted as the site of their new restaurant, Taverna. Together with Lee Middendorf, they have restored the building to whitewashed glory, complete with a kitchen garden of herbs and citrus trees, overlooking the sea.

In a brilliant twist on the ubiquitous salt and pepper calamari, Fried local squid is served with crisp sheets of salty seaweed, bringing the sea itself back to the squid, while black and white sesame dukkah give a crunch of ‘crusty sand’ underfoot to the soft waves of rich flavour. Pink peppercorn mayo and lime balance the palate. The dish is a stroke of genius!

“We’ve had our eye on this place for some time,” Mark tells us. “Ten years, in fact! It reminds us of Santorini, where we got married,” he says, reminiscing about the idyllic island in Greece, home to Lia’s grandmother, its exquisite picture perfect views bringing a wide smile to his face.

But then everything about Taverna shows such confidence.

Taverna is situated on the pretty southern end of Kingscliff beach; the tranquil end, we decide as we dine at a window table, gazing out on grassed dunes dotted with twisted pandanus, across wide water to the nature reserve of Cook Island.

Taverna’s menu is simple enough – one page of smaller and larger plates to share, sides and sweet things. No fancy terminology requiring interpretation. Simple dishes pairing flavours.

Given the standard of the trio’s other ventures, (the recently sold Spice Den and Osteria), we’re expecting high quality Greek food at Taverna.

Of course, it delivers! Plus some.

Head Chef Ben Jones sends us out a procession of modern Greek classics; dishes that transcend culture with innovation and surprise: Haloumi drizzled with bush honey and rosemary; Char-grilled octopus with organic fava bean paste and yellow beets, and 48 hour slow-cooked New England lamb shoulder with jus, roast garlic and oregano (the most expensive dish on the menu at $34).

As always, differences are subtle but worth noting, such as pastel green accents in place of predictable sky blue, linen cloths and napkins, and hand thrown tableware from local potter Grit Ceramics.

The nuances of flavour, colour, tone and texture are achieved by a crew with depth and breadth of experience under their belt: professional attire and attitude, knowledgeable service and an ability to recommend dishes and give wine and food pairing advice; unstuffy, attentive service that places napkins, refills water and notes time lapses between courses. Little things add up to big totals.

Seeking the perfect wine to accompany our lunch, Mark steers us towards a glass of Jim Barry Assyrtiko 2016. For us, it’s an unknown choice on a wine list brimming with organic, sustainable talent, however it’s the perfect choice.

Jim Barry’s holdings of Assyrtiko were grown from two cuttings that second-generation winemaker Peter Barry sourced while on holidays in Santorini, home to some of the world’s oldest vines. It was the first (and at this point the only) Assyrtiko to be grown in Australia.

Pale straw in colour, the wine carries the minerality of Santorini’s volcanic soil, even in Australia, its complex lemon and pear tones carrying a hint of salt that perfectly complements Taverna’s food.

How fitting, too, that our first taste of Assyrtiko should be here, in a taverna so close to our own caldera. It’s a finishing touch on our Greek-inspired lunch, a wine we could sit with and discover as it slowly unfolds.

Distinctly Greek, definitely modern, New World.

There are lots of reasons to return to Kingscliff for a weekend lunch. Rejuvenated with the re-opening of the bridge on its southern edge, it’s just the place to rekindle your love of Greek food.

Relax over lunch, let the salty sea breeze seep into your bones, and allow Taverna to help create new memories and dreams to treasure. It’s well worth the trip.

NOTE: Booking is essential. Marj dined as a guest of Taverna.

Marj Osborne Read more of Marj’s reviews on Good Food Gold Coast foodgoldcoast.com.au

ALLEN IS SHOWING AT THE SPACE FROM 16 – 18 JUNE 2016. TICKETS AT THEARTSCENTREGC.COM.AU

“It was like nothing I’d ever tried before,” Barry said later of his first taste of Assyrtiko in 2007. “There’s something special about a wine when you clearly remember exactly when, where and with whom you tasted it.” www.blankgc.com.au

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Lifestyle SAVE THE REEF WITH YOGA

Coast of Australia. It is one of the natural wonders of the world, and the world’s largest living organism. It is sacred country to our Indigenous population.

This Carmichael Mega Mine is a direct threat to the Great Barrier Reef. If this mine goes ahead, not only will the carbon emissions from burning the coal cook our climate but the dredging, the mining process for coal, the thousands of ships passing through and next to World Heritage Sites will destroy our Reef.

The government wants to give Adani a $1 billion loan to develop a rail link. What is the problem with this rail link as you see it?

If this rail line goes ahead, it opens up opportunities for other mines in and around the Galillee basin to move forward in their projects. It also is a big green light for the Carmichael Mega Mine to get started. Without funding, Adani will struggle to move forward with the project.

The Queensland Government supports the mine because of the jobs it will provide. What alternative jobs to the mining industry would you like to see the government investing in?

Mollie Cox is a yoga teacher and activist who is fighting the development of the largest coal mine in the world on the edge of the Great Barrier Reef. Pip Andreas caught up with Mollie to find out more about her nationwide yoga events that are raising funds to help stop the Carmichael Mega Mine.

Why have you become so passionate about stopping Adani's Carmichael coal mine expansion?

Aside from being one of my favourite places in the whole world, the Barrier Reef is the lungs of the ocean on the East

SPOTLIGHT ON...

JAMIE DUKE

Jobs are crucial for our economy, yes. But coal is not the future. It is an industry that is dying, economically speaking.

The whole world is taking steps toward renewable energy.

The Australian Government, rather than ignorantly moving forward with fossil fuel, should read the ever increasing scientific data on the effect it is having on climate change and act responsibly. We have an abundance of sunshine and land. We should be setting up solar panels and wind farms.

You are donating money raised to the Mackay Conservation Group, Environmental Defenders Organisation, and the Wangan and Jagalingou Family Council. Why have you chosen these particular groups?

These groups are the most active when it comes to taking on Adani and the QLD Government in Court, and yet they issues, substance misuse, trauma and young people with challenging behaviours ways to cope through fitness based activities,” explains Jamie.

DUKE’s Youth and Fitness works with young people from as young as 12 up to 25 years of age, with many of Jamie’s clients being referred by Child Safety and Youth Justice.

She believes that the program offers more than just physical fitness to its participants.

“Young people also learn how to challenge themselves physically and mentally in and outside of the gym and how to reach their full potential through positive role modelling and mentoring,” says Jamie.

Jamie was inspired to make a career change after being bullied at work. Suffering from mental health concerns following the traumatic experience, she struggled to cope with everyday life. It was during this period that she came up with the idea to combine her passions into one business.

There is a widely accepted link between regular physical activity and improved mental health. Even moderate exercise can release chemicals such as endorphins and serotonin which help to improve mood. Conversely, a lack of physical activity brought on by mental illnesses such as depression can exacerbate an existing issue. This is where Southport fitness trainer Jamie Duke saw an opening for her particular set of skills, and DUKE’s Youth and Fitness Program was formed.

“My programs are fitness based and are implemented to help young people who are recovering from mental health 34

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“I have always been passionate about helping people especially young people who are less fortunate due to family breakdown or lack of positive role models,” says Jamie.

“I am extremely passionate about my job and find it very rewarding watching young people succeeding in and outside of the gym.”

Jamie is currently running an intense program in conjunction with a mental health organisation. It is designed to foster mental toughness, goal setting and how to use physical activity to manage depression and anxiety. She is now looking at employing one of the participants as a personal trainer. I wonder at any other positive outcomes she might have to share.

are largely reliant on donations from good people like you and me. At this stage, the battles in court are the things prolonging the start of this project, so it is important to support them in whatever way we can.

You mentioned at your Yoga for the Reef Fundraiser emailing relevant State and Federal Government offices is not as effective as writing physical letters. Why is this so?

Politicians are not reading emails, nor are they sending personalised emails in return anymore. Hand written letters are read with more interest, as it shows that there has been thought put into what has been said. The Australian Marine Conservation Society also mentioned that in Queensland the politicians are legally obligated to read handwritten letters.

Where should interested individuals send their letters?

The QLD Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk, the Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull. The biggest issue revolving around these projects is funding. Even contacting the banks still loaning money to fossil fuel companies - ANZ, Commonwealth Bank and NAB - and asking them to divest from these destructive companies.

When is the next event?

30th April 2017. We are going to hold these events around the country every three months until our Reef is safe from industrialisation. It is crucial to keep up the momentum with this issue to hold our politicians accountable for their decisions regarding our Reef.

FOR MORE INFORMATION ABOUT EVENT LOCATIONS AUSTRALIA WIDE GO TO: JALAYOGA.CO

“I have been working with a young person for 7 months, she had drug induced psychosis and has made permanent long lasting lifestyle changes through my program and with support of other local agencies,” enthuses Jamie.

“This young person has lost weight, now trains 5-6 days a week, secured employment, halved her medication, no longer drinks or does drugs, is confident, [has a] positive attitude, has an amazing glow and is a fantastic role model for other young people. Her journey and recovering has been very rewarding to watch.”

To Jamie, positive attitude is key. It’s a big part of what helped her overcome her own mental health issues and is what continues to keep her inspired to working towards the mental health of youth in the community. Or, as she puts it: “I believe that every crappy situation brings something positive!”

Natalie O'Driscoll

IF YOU OR ANYONE YOU KNOW IS SUFFERING FROM MENTAL HEALTH CONCERNS, PLEASE TALK TO A GP OR HEALTH PROFESSIONAL. ALTERNATIVELY, YOU CAN CONTACT KIDS HELPLINE ON 1800 55 1800 WWW.KIDSHELPLINE.COM. AU OR HEADSPACE 1800 650 890 WWW. HEADSPACE.ORG.AU

CUPID’S UNDIE RUN A FUN DAY IN THE SUN

ALL IS WELLNESS IN SRI LANKA Having spent a large part of my working life researching wellness retreats and products, I decided it was time to venture further afield from the usual spots like Byron and Bali and head to the land of serendipity - Sri Lanka.

designed buildings with guest houses, aptly named painters room and textile house.

With an emerging hype and whispers of unique retreats, I decide to visit before the scene explodes.

We swim in private waterfalls at the bottom of a lush gully and can’t help wonder if the steep, long walk back to our abode is all an intentional part of the daily wellness regime.

I arrive in Poya on a super moon public holiday and head straight for Colombo, an intriguing, fast-paced city with a fusion of cultures from the Middle East to Europe. With its foot firmly placed between Dutch and English colonial style architecture, we head to the Colombian marina towards the best example of this style, the Galle Face Hotel, oldest hotel in the east.

When local mother Rachel Skelton gave birth to her beautiful daughter Bella, she didn’t expect to be told six weeks later Bella had a serious condition not only couldn’t be treated in Queensland, but one she’d never even heard of.

Neurofibromatosis (NF) is a genetic disease that causes tumours to grow in and on the body as a result of genetic mutation. It can also cause disfigurement, learning difficulties and an increased risk in the development of cancer, blindness, deafness or loss of limbs. Despite it being relatively common one in 3,000 babies receive the diagnosis - awareness of NF is low, and Queensland does not currently have a NF clinic or the specialists required to meet the needs of affected children.

In addition, there is currently no cure and a lack of effective treatments for the tumours which continue to grow throughout the lives of those affected.

Rachel is on a mission to change that, and this year she has volunteered to be the race director for Cupid’s Undie Run. Cupid’s Undie Run is a national 1.5km fun run which aims to raise money for the Children’s Tumour Foundation – a not-for-profit organisation and the only one in Australia to fund research and support families of children who have NF. Participants are encouraged to strip down to their knickers and feel a little bit uncomfortable as a show of solidarity for victims of the illness, who often grow tumours on the outside of their bodies.

Built in the late 1800s, the hotel has hosted many a dignitary and is best known for accommodating the writer Arthur C Clark. It’s truly a masterpiece of a building with decadent service and next level food. I struggle to leave.

Alas the Samadhi retreat is calling. We arrive in Kandy after a six-hour train ride from the mountains of Ella, which is spent gazing out the window at some of the most picturesque mountains and tea plantations this intrepid traveller has ever seen.

We bypass Kandy city centre and head straight for the retreat. A detour to a quirky old antique store to meet and greet Waruna, the owner of Samadhi, and the Tuk Tuk is on its way.

From the moment you step through the impressive rock face entrance and old carved wooden doors you are transported into a rustic wellness setting that feels deliciously authentic. A hidden sanctuary awaits.

The detail is immaculate. Antiquities adorn each corner of this magnificent property. Architecturally

Lifestyle

The welcome dinner is abundant in flavour, served buffet style and includes dahl, house made roti, coconut sambal, spicy mushroom soup, gotu kola with lemon and garlic and an array of traditional vegetarian and chicken curries.

Set up in traditional mud houses, the Ayurvedic treatments on offer include a shirodhara massage which gently pours hot oil through a copper funnel on your head to awaken your third eye and get your energy flowing.

There are options to suit all wellness needs in Sri Lanka, whether you practice yoga at the Prana Lounge in Colombo, head south to a surf retreat at Talalla beach or take one of the guided yoga retreats by ‘Step through the Door’ hosted by an Australian local, Helen Langston.

The majority of the population is Buddhist, and the country is a spiritual land with vast mountain ranges, clean surf beaches and an abundance of tea plantations. The time is now for wellness in Sri Lanka.

Kylie Mitchell-Smith

The event is partnered with Channel 9 and Bonds, and has high profile ambassadors including Libby Trickett, all of whom are aiming to raise both much-needed funds for the foundation and awareness of the illness.

Participants are welcome to wear their undies but are also encourage to dress up (the sillier the better). The day, which will include the run and a party, will be hosted by the Burleigh Surf Life Saving Club. Fantastic prizes will be on offer, including a Webber BBQ. This event will take place from 12.00pm on Sunday 19 February. Register at cupidsundierun.com.au Natalie O’Driscoll www.blankgc.com.au

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Arts & Culture him, listening, learning and developing story lines into paintings. I started making sense of my culture, my passion ignited and my work drew a following and demand.

Why is it important to you to revitalise Indigenous Culture and have it continue for future generations?

As I see it, it comes down to two things, identity and confidence for our people, young and old. People feel comfortable and confident when they can visibly see where they come from. They begin to understand and acknowledge their culture through story.

GAMES COLLABORATION A FEATHER IN THE HAT OF GOLD COAST ARTIST Gold Coast artist Leeton Lee is gaining recognition for his artworks and also, more recently, for his work connecting young people to their Indigenous culture. The Dunghutti / Bundjalung man recently collaborated with Jacaru Australia who will produce a leather outback hat of his design for the Gold Coast Commonwealth Games (GC2018). This collaboration is another feather in the hat of the Tamborine Mountain artist whose painting Bunya Nut Festival was recently exhibited in the NSW Parliament House as a finalist of the 2016 Max Solutions National Indigenous Art Competition. We spoke with Leeton prior to his week-long residency at Helensvale in February.

How did the Jacaru Partnership come about?

Marcus Dehring from Jacaroo Australia and I met at a “Meet the Buyer” meet up for the 2018 Commonwealth Games. Marcus was impressed with what I was doing and we decided to go to the next step and collaborate on a project for the Games.

What attracts you to Glow in the Dark and 3D paintings?

I wanted to find a point of difference, something that was not common in contemporary Indigenous artwork exhibited. I like the idea that my painting can be seen in the dark.

In pursuit of that point of difference I began to explore working in 3D as well and a technique evolved that works

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for me and 98% of people tell me that have never seen anything like. It takes my artwork to a whole new level.

Did someone instill that desire in you growing up or is this something that you have come to on your own?

I guess my spinal surgery created the space for reflection and enabled me to draw on some skills that had grown naturally in me from childhood. We moved around when I was young, I grew up moving between the city and the bush. In the bush our shelter was sheets of iron on log stumps, an old car battery provided electricity. I remember the freedom of running, playing and hunting in the bush with my siblings it felt natural and organic for me.

There were two pivotal points that I remember triggered a latent desire to find out more about my culture, our story.

Firstly I felt connected when I danced with an Indigenous dance group back in high school and, secondly, I had children which caused me to ask myself “What do I have to teach my children?”

Natalie O'Driscoll

What is your artistic background?

I don’t have an artistic background. I married my wife Cat in 2012 and we went to Stradbroke Island for our honeymoon.

We visited the local art gallery and loved the Indigenous Art we saw, but it was way beyond our price range so I thought why couldn’t I learn to do that myself… Later in that year I had to have spinal surgery which meant I would be lying idle for four to six months, and that didn’t sit well with me.

We still thought about the paintings in the Stradbroke Island Gallery, I saw this as an opportunity to paint so I asked a cousin if he could teach me. I spent about six months with

LEETON WILL BE HOLDING AN EXHIBITION AT HELENSVALE CULTURAL CENTRE FROM 13 – 17 FEBRUARY AND AT THE SCENIC RIM OPEN STUDIOS, TAMBORINE MOUNTAIN SHOWGROUNDS ON 6 AND 7 MAY. SEE MORE FROM LEETON AT LEETSDREAMING.COM

LOOK MUM… NO HANDS!!

GETS LEGLESS AT THE ARTS CENTRE After sell-out performances at Brisbane Powerhouse and Redland Performing Arts Centre, the Indelability Arts cast is set to bewilder and intrigue Gold Coast audiences for one night only with Look Mum...No Hands!! (The legless bar years).

If you're a fan of trivia, stand-up comedy, or karaoke, then the open-mic-night-style setting at the Legless Bar is a once-a-year event not to be missed. Filled with side-splitting antics, music, and heart-warming stories which stay with you long after the show, the Indelability cast ensure a wild night of entertainment.

Show producer Catarina Hebbard answered some questions in the lead up to the performance.

How did Look Mum...No Hands!! come to fruition?

In May 2015 we received funding through the Brisbane City Council Community Development and Capacity Building grant to go into creative development for our first work Look Mum...No Hands!! Through the show we wanted to explore the relationship between the artist and their craft and how as artists the imagination knows no bounds - anything is possible and if the opportunity is there and expectations aren't lowered then the sky is the limit. In November 2015 we had two showings of the material the team had developed.

Following on from those showings we called on our audience for their feedback and… we were showered with positive feedback and wonderful compliments as well as some incredibly useful constructive criticism.

What were audience reactions to the previous shows in Brisbane and Redland?

We sold out our show at RPAC - had to add extra seats - the show was a hit. The audiences were hooked in from the word go... standing ovations and then this was followed with a Q+A session led by the ensemble. We had 90% capacity at the Brisbane Powerhouse

with a couple of the shows selling out before we even set foot in the venue.

Audiences were on their feet again at the end of each show and fully engaged throughout the show.

You mentioned that audience perceptions were shattered upon seeing the show. How was this the case?

We had a number of patrons comment on the show not being what they expected... or they didn't know what to expect but were totally blown away by the performances and the whole show. Everyone loves that the team write their own music (and then perform it as part of the karaoke competition). I think what we hear most is that the work we do doesn't fit into any box. It's hard to say this is just a piece of

theatre because it is so much more than that - It's honest and raw and yet very polished and well rehearsed - but you don't see 'actors' on stage trying to make you think they are someone else. Somehow our ensemble manage to transcend that and the audience walk out feeling like they've had a great night of entertainment and also walk away feeling good, but also thinking... we make people think and we our shows get people talking and that is so great!

LOOK MUM… NO HANDS!!

IS SHOWING AT THE ARTS CENTRE GOLD COAST ON 18 FEBRUARY. TICKETS AT THEARTSCENTREGC.COM.AU

what’s ON

Fearless Creativity 26th Jan

Charlie Marshall and the Body Electric (Melbourne)

4th Feb

ANNA WARD – The Silenced Exhibition Opening

10th Feb

Tennyson King (Canada)

For more information find us on 54 Currumbin Creek Road, Currumbin Waters

www.blankgc.com.au

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EXCLUSIVE BLEACH* FESTIVAL TEASERS AHEAD OF BIG PROGRAM REVEAL

GOLD COAST FILM FESTIVAL CALLS FOR FEATURE AND SHORT FILM SUBMISSIONS

We’ve had a couple of teaser announcements for the 2017 Bleach* Festival, with both Frank Enstein and Blanc de Blanc looking to provide Bleach* Festival fans with the kind of wow factor that they’ve come to expect. We’ve got ants in our pants though, and 1 February and the full program announcement can’t come fast enough, as far as we’re concerned! We figured our Blank readers were feeling similarly impatient, so Natalie O'Driscoll twisted Festival Director Louise Bezzina’s arm (gently) to get a bit more insight about this year’s event.

And she caved! Well, sort of…

For the first time in the festival’s 15 year history, Gold Coast Film Festival is calling for submissions for Australian and international feature films to screen at the 2017 event.

Can you expand on the theme of this year's Bleach* Festival for us?

In 2017, we explore and interrogate the relationship between sport and art, and the playful moments of collaboration where these experiences collide, merge, interact, conflict and complement.

With much of the Gold Coast's daily life and identity closely related to the outdoors, active lifestyles, sport and recreation, these expressions already form strong associations for the people of the City.

In 2017, in the lead up to the 2018 Gold Coast Commonwealth Games, Bleach* Festival and many of our collaborating artists will take inspiration from these concepts, with a highly physical and highly visual program that encourages celebration and expression, as the city comes alive over three weeks.

Each year Bleach* seems to outdo itself; with content diversity, thrills, quality, world premieres. Is 2017 the best Bleach* yet and why? Is it your aim and the aim of the team to top the previous year, every time?

Thank you!! That is very nice to say. It is certainly our vision to go one better each year.

It is really important to continue to evolve and push ourselves, our audiences and our artists to go further. I really am super excited about the 2017 program and think there is 38

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something for everyone and it is a festival that is packed with energy. I can say that there are more 'spectacles' than ever before so stay tuned for the full program reveal.

What kind of hints can you drop for eager Gold Coasters about what to expect in the program announcement?

Frank Enstein and Blanc de Blanc have already been announced which we are really thrilled to be presenting as part of the 2017 Festival. I can say that the rest of the program features an ambitious collection of works across contemporary performance, dance, music, installation and spectacle. In true Bleach* style, the festival will enliven and animate public spaces and natural environments right across the Gold Coast.

The festival, with Lucy Fisher at its helm, is fast becoming one of Gold Coast’s leading cultural events and is certainly the City’s signature film event.

As well as putting women front and centre (and being quoted by the BBC in the process), last year the festival showed some of Australia’s best indie films.

Drama directed by Sophie Mathisen (which last month was at number 1 on the itunes download charts) had its Australian premiere at the festival and Girl Asleep directed by Rosemary Myers and starring Eamon Farren, Crushed directed by Megan Riakos and Broke directed by Heath Davis all had their Queensland premieres here.

Gold Coast Film Festival also screened the Queensland premiere of Australian thriller Observance, directed by Joseph SimsDennett and the world premiere of Hunter’s Club, which was shot on the Gold Coast and directed by Kit McDee.

“We strongly encourage Queensland filmmakers to submit,” Lucy said.

Submissions are open for both feature length and short films.

SIPFest is the Gold Coast’s biggest short film festival and is produced as a long-term collaboration between Surfers Paradise Alliance and Gold Coast Film Festival.

Submissions are open for films under ten minutes.

SIPFEST short films will be judged by a panel of film industry experts and 12 of the best shorts from across Australia will be screened on our very own Surfers Paradise beach on 23 and 24 April 2017 with $8000 in cash prizes up for grabs.

Blank Gold Coast is a proud media partner.

Lucy Fisher said the event is looking to bring new voices in Australian film to the Gold Coast.

“This represents the next step in our evolution for the Gold Coast Film Festival,” she told Blank Gold Coast.

1 FEBRUARY IS D DAY FOR THE FULL PROGRAM ANNOUNCEMENT. STAY TUNED TO BLEACHFESTIVAL.COM.AU AND BLANKGC.COM.AU FOR ALL YOUR FABULOUS UP TO DATE BLEACH* NEWS.

The festival is encourage indie filmmakers to submit and they’re committing to providing a festival where indie films won’t get lost.

Rather, they’re right in the spotlight.

“We were fortunate to help discover some exciting new Australian indie film makers in 2016 such as Sophie Mathison, Megan Riakos and Heath Davis.”

“And one of the world’s biggest websites mentioned the Gold Coast Film Festival in an opinion piece on how to make changes in the film industry,” she said. “Like, go Gold Coast.”

GOLD COAST FILM FESTIVAL, WHICH INCLUDES SIPFEST TAKES PLACE 19 – 30 APRIL AT VENUES ACROSS THE GOLD COAST. MORE AT GCFILMFESTIVAL.COM. SUBMISSIONS FOR BOTH FEATURE LENGTH AND SHORT FILMS CLOSE 18 FEBRUARY.

SWEET LARRIKINS OF THE PUPPET WORLD Obsessed with the work of Jim Henson on Sesame Street, The Muppets and Fraggle Rock since being a young child, Brett Hansen puppeteered his socks, handkerchiefs and tablecloths before his parents bought him his first puppets. He’d wear those puppets on his hands as he watched Muppet shows, obsessing over behind-the-scenes documentaries. Although his puppet collection grew as he got older, and he practiced performing at school and for his family, for most of his adult years, it was simply a hobby that had nowhere to go. Until 2012 when an opportunity came up that was too good to ignore. Samantha Morris fired off a few questions to the Brisbane-based puppet man who is on the Gold Coast every other week.

How did you get into puppetry?

What sort of work do you get?

I auditioned for a local production of Broadway puppet musical Avenue Q, which is a parody of Sesame Street. I scored a role co-puppeteering two characters and also training the entire cast of actors, as I was the only one with puppetry skills. At the end of that year, my first marriage ended and I was made redundant from my day job. So, through the New Enterprise Incentive Scheme (NEIS), an unemployment program for people wanting to become entrepreneurs, I picked up the pieces of my shattered life and started my own puppetry business.

I perform shows during the week at childcare centres, schools, and occasionally at libraries. On weekends, I perform at festivals, school fetes and birthday parties. I’ll get gigs at shopping centres, resorts, restaurants, play centres, hospitals, special schools, hotel function rooms, nursing homes and seniors clubs and I sometimes get asked to perform roving puppetry at street festivals and corporate events. And then there’s my puppet MC work. And at least once a year, I’m asked to perform puppetry for film or television.

You were a member of circus metal band Hardkase for twelve years. What skills did you take across from music to puppets?

New York is home to a massive community of puppeteers and enthusiasts. It’s where Sesame Street is filmed and puppeteers perform weekly in theatre and at festivals and there are regular training courses at venues like the Brooklyn Puppet Conspiracy and The Puppet Kitchen. You spent some time in New York City recently. Tell me about that?

I also played in a ska band, an experimental noise art band, and an ambient quintet. And for the last six years, I’ve performed piano for improv theatre shows by groups such as ImproMafia, Edge Improv and Youth Theatresports. For my puppet shows, I’ve written and recorded songs on the keyboard for the puppets to sing. For birthday party bookings, I ask the parents a series of questions about the birthday boy or girl, and then incorporate the information into some personalised songs, which seem to go down a treat.

It’s always a risk throwing yourself into a creative business.

What have some of the challenges been?

For a while I did have to go back to a full time job in a call centre, as puppet bookings had slowed down. But a few months into the job, I was starting to receive a lot of booking enquiries for weekday shows at childcare centres and schools. It didn’t make sense to have to turn down these bookings and it was looking like the call centre was on the verge of firing me anyway due to difficulties I was experiencing there. So my wife and I agreed that she would support me through the growth of the business, and that we’d take the financial risk together. And it’s paid off!

During my three months of professional development there, I immersed myself in that puppetry community, participated in absolutely everything I possibly could, attended every puppet show and workshop, and made a whole lot of friends in the process. I brought my whole puppet stage and puppets with me too, and performed at the Puppetry Arts Festival of Brooklyn - a festival dedicated to puppetry of every form.

The Puppet Kitchen was like my second home. Puppeteers at every level attended ‘monitor puppetry’ nights to brush up on film and TV puppetry skills. I even puppeteered in a video web series called The Fuzzy Beard Show, and another called The Mo Show. We spent a week in Los Angeles where we spent some time with Henson puppeteers Grant Baciocco and Russ Walko and checked out the Jim Henson Company studio with its iconic Kermit the Frog statue out the front. Another week was spent in Denton doing the advanced, intensive "Beyond the Sock” puppetry workshop at University of North Texas.

GOLD COASTERS CAN BOOK THEIR OWN PUPPET SHOWS OR PUPPETRY WORKSHOPS VIA LARRIKINPUPPETS.COM.AU.

Arts & Culture

BANKSY IS COMING TO THE GOLD COAST FOR SIGNS OF THE TIME

Urban Art, Guerilla Art, Graffiti... whatever you call it, Street Art is a medium which allows artists to strip away the filters and middle men, and communicate directly with their intended audience.

One of street art's most successful and widely-known proponents is anonymous English artist Banksy, whose works have fetched hundreds of thousands of dollars at auction - but more importantly - who has provided a voice for the disenfranchised generations who have gathered in droves to check out his latest social commentaries. Now, in a huge coup for the Gold Coast City Gallery, artwork by Banksy will be on display for eager Gold Coast art lovers as part of upcoming exhibition, Signs of the Time.

Banksy’s works of political and social commentary have been featured on bridges, walls and streets of cities throughout the world. His identity is much-speculated on, but has never been confirmed. Although proficient in various forms of art, it is his stencils - often carrying anti-war, anti-capitalist or anti-establishment messages – for which he is best known.

Signs of the Time is a Gold Coast exclusive exhibition of world-renowned, national and local urban artists from the private collection of Ken McGregor and commissioned by Gold Coast City Gallery. The exhibition will feature works from urban art megastars including; Banksy’s Nola (White Rain); Bambi, Britain’s best-known female street artist, and her iconic Amy Winehouse portrait Amy Jade; the godfather of stencil art Blek Le Rat’s statement self-portrait The Man Who Walks Through Walls, French Flag, Iranian street artist A1One’s anti corporation work East Resist and Swoon’s social struggle artwork Street Sweeper.

In conjunction with the exhibition, the Gallery is taking art live to the streets with two commissions to artists being offered through the Shedload of Street Art project.

Applications closed 9 January and an announcement about the successful artist or artists is expected soon.

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Housed outdoors next to The Arts Centre Gold Coast are two corrugated iron storage work sheds, which the Gallery sees as two ‘blank canvasses’, awaiting transformation by those artists. The works will be completed in the week leading up to exhibition’s opening where visitors can view the finished results.

There will be a number of special events held across the Cultural Precinct during the exhibition where visitors can observe and engage with live art, urban artists and workshops and enjoy a festival atmosphere of skate demos, dance, food and music. A full program of events will be confirmed in January 2017.

Natalie O'Driscoll

SIGNS OF THE TIME IS A FREE EXHIBITION OPEN FROM 18 FEBRUARY TO 9 APRIL 2017, AT GOLD COAST CITY GALLERY, THE ARTS CENTRE GOLD COAST.

PROGRAMS & EVENTS

STREET ART DARK KNIGHTS INCLUDING A1one | Bambi | Banksy | Beastman Blek le Rat | Claudio Kirac | E.L.K HA HA | Johnny Romeo | Kiel Tillman Lister | Lorraine Abernethy Paul Parker | Shannon Doyle SK412 | Stewy | Swoon

18 FEB – 9 APR STREET ART | MUSIC | WORKSHOPS | DANCE | SKATE

The pop. The fizz. That lightheaded sensation. If you were to bottle the feeling of Blanc de Blanc, you’d end up with crystal glass of vintage champagne; a taste of glamour with a titillating edge.

Blanc de Blanc is a high end spectacle fusing cabaret, music and world-class acrobatic talent. With more than just a sip of sass in its design, the strictly adults-only show presents audacious aerial stunts, bawdy burlesque and charismatic choreography.

“

This year’s Bleach* Festival gives a nod to the 2018 Commonwealth Games by exploring the interface between sport and art, making the intensely physical and deliciously salacious Blanc de Blanc a fitting addition to the 2017 program. You’ve read it right: after wowing worldwide audiences for years, the Gold Coast is now getting its very own performances of Blanc de Blanc - Spiegeltent and all - courtesy of Bleach* Festival 2017.

ALTHOUGH BALLET IS A BEAUTIFUL ART FORM AND ALSO MY FIRST LOVE AS A PERFORMER, I FELT IT LIMITED ME FROM BEING ABLE TO FULLY EXPRESS MYSELF.

”

Russian ballet dancer Milena Straczynski’s love of dance drew her to the United States where she met her husband, aerialist Hampus Jansson. Milena and Hampus now perform as an aerial duo in the show, dazzling audiences with their breathtaking performances.

Milena tells us a bit about her professional progression.

“Although ballet is a beautiful art form and also my first love as a performer, I felt it limited me from being able to fully express myself.

“There are a lot of rules in ballet, technique and lines, and it is beautiful all the time. I discovered a lot of beauty in freedom of movement which I was able to find more in the contemporary style.

I progressed into burlesque because I feel in a lot of ways that I was born in the wrong era.

“Aerial used to just be a fantasy, but then became a necessity as it would be the only way that my husband and I could stay and work together. Now it's my main discipline and I just love it!”

Blanc de Blanc delights its audience members within a Spiegeltent, a near-critical environment for the show. A traditional Belgian design, Spiegeltents are constructed using wood and canvas and feature an abundance of mirrors and stained glass. The venue is a spectacle in and of itself, and lends a particularly apposite backdrop to the hedonistic world of Blanc de Blanc.

“I have always loved performing in a Spiegeltent,” Milena says.

“Although I do love a traditional theatre, I feel I belong in the world of cabaret.”

We have to agree. With her shock of bright red hair and a sultry look that channels femme fatales of a bygone era, the stunning Milena epitomises the seductive playfulness which characterises Blanc de Blanc.

“In a lot of ways I feel I could really be myself in this show,” she declares.

“And more importantly I get to share the stage with the love of my life as well as a pretty cool bundle of performers all unique in their own different way.”

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Speaking of the love of her life, I am curious how the experience of performing with her husband is different to that of working with other performers.

"When working with another performer it is usually in a form of dance or singing,” says Milena.

“It is experimental and playful and there is sometimes room to improvise and explore.

“When performing with my husband, it is a game of complete trust in one another, especially when in the air. Everything has to be as precise as possible. And although I do get a little nervous prior to our aerial act, I feel [a sense of] tranquillity as soon as we take our first flight.”

Far from the decadent façade of her stage persona, Milena likes to keep things simple on her limited downtime.

“I like to eat a piece of chocolate between the shows on double show days,” she reveals.

“In the daytime, before the shows, I like to explore the city on my kick scooter, and I absolutely must have bubble tea.”

Blanc de Blanc has won many Australian fans over the years in acclaimed runs during the Brisbane Festival and most recently the Sydney Opera House, and its performers are no strangers to our sunny shores. Milena and Hampus in particular have a special connection to Queensland.

“My favourite memory from my last trip to Australia was the day of our wedding ceremony in Brisbane,” Milena shares with us.

“We all had a double show the night before, the ceremony was an hour drive and early in the morning and spontaneously planned.

“We were happy that the cast as well as the director Scott were part of that special day. That evening, we had one of the funnest (sic) shows!”

From the tender age of six, Milena has idolised dancers.

“My first hero as a child was Ana Pavlova, she was the reason why I became a dancer,” she states.

“Pina Bausch and Vaslav Nijinsky are my biggest heroes. They both pushed the boundaries of ‘traditional’ dance.”

It would seem that even from a young age Milena was searching for something beyond perfect technique, an edge, a way to challenge well-worn creative paths. And that in itself is what lies at the heart of Bleach* Festival, where every year artists make leaps across the boundaries that separate good performances from ground-breaking ones; reflective art from radical.

Blanc de Blanc invites you to pop the cork, and drink straight from the bottle. There’s no room for manners here. You may just find yourself intoxicated by the heady top notes followed by rich textures, a smooth body, and an utterly unexpected finish.

Natalie O'Driscoll

BLANC DE BLANC RUNS FROM 29 MARCH TO 16 APRIL AT THE SPIEGELTENT IN VICTORIA PARK. BOOK TICKETS AT TICKETS. BLANCSHOW.COM. BLANK READERS GET 10% OFF ANY GENERAL ADMISSION TICKETS PURCHASED BEFORE 1 FEBRUARY WITH THE CODE BLANK.

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CEO appointed for new Cultural Precinct Criena Gehrke, who currently leads Council’s arts and culture unit has been appointed the CEO / Director of the Gold Coast Cultural Precinct. The announcement was made by the Board of The Arts Centre Gold Coast – which will soon become the board of the Gold Coast Cultural Precinct today. Criena was responsible for the City’s Culture Strategy and has been a catalyst for much of the cultural growth the city has experienced since the Strategy’s launch.

During her time at Council, Criena has had an open office for many of the City’s cultural organisations (including Blank Gold Coast and the Gold Coast Music Awards), so this new appointment is welcomed by many. Chair Robyn Archer AO said the panel was delighted with the enthusiasm of so many respected cultural leaders for the role. Criena starts in the new role 20 February 2017.

The Walls launches 2017 program Tucked into a creative corner in Miami’s industrial zone, The Walls is a contemporary art space with a difference. 2017 is shaping up to be a big year for the gallery – not least of which is because the Hanlon Brothers have opened their studio next door (in Prose HQ). Go Miami. The Walls launches its 2017 Program on Saturday 4 February and while they’ve been tight-lipped about what the program looks like, they have dropped a list of artists who’ll be attending on the night (hint hint…). That list includes Byron Coathup, Jaen Collective, Jason Haggerty, Madboots and Neona. And if swanning about a warehouse gallery space with some of the City’s best contemporary artists isn’t enough to get you there, Carlotta (yes darlings, that Carlotta) is also popping in.

Plus, there’ll be music and a screening of short films. The launch runs from 5.00pm and The Walls Art Space is located at 4/18 Mountain View Avenue.

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inflatable pool toys and good ol' fashioned fun! Coupled with Stingray's Calypso Sunday cocktails, seafood platters and live music, kicking off from 12 noon on Sunday 29 January. Entry is free. RSVP stingray_ qtgoldcoast@evt.com

Taking it to the streets: skate videography workshop Stoke Skateboarding and renowned cinematographer Chris “Middsy” Middlebrook” will teach you what it takes to shoot, edit, produce and deliver an online video as part of The Gold Coast City Gallery’s Signs of the Time exhibition.

The workshop takes place Saturday 25 and Sunday 26 February and is free. As well as learning how to make skate videos you’ll also be in with a shot to have your completed video showcased at The Arts Centre during Signs of the Time which runs 18 February – 9 April. More at theartscentregc.com.au.

Latte art smackdown Combining two of our favourite things coffee and art - is Raw Espresso Southport, who are holding a Latte Art Smackdown on 28 January. Forget your boring old hearts, we’re talking the real deal here. If you are prepared to pit your latte art skills against the best of ‘em, you’d better get in quick as there are only 20 places available. $10 entry fee.

Contact baristadrifter@gmail.com and Insta @ baristadrifter to register.

Silence speaks volumes

Fiesta de la Musica monthly delights Fiesta de la Musica returns in 2017 to delight Gold Coast music lovers after successfully building audiences over the past three seasons. Celebrating the best of classical music from around the world, the festival will continue to offer a series of free lunchtime performances on the first Thursday of every month. Commencing Thursday 2 February, the monthly performances will showcase a wonderful variety of local professional musicians and guest artists, including lectures and workshops presenting the highest calibre of live classical repertoire. For more info visit theartscentregc.com.au/fiesta.

Emerging talent at One Arts After a successful exhibition earlier this year, graduating photographic students at the Australian Institute of Creative Design are “emerging” at One Arts Gallery once again.

Aside from developing a great body of work, students get to showcase their first exhibition through the support and guidance of one Arts Co-ordinator Carol Collins, Maureen Trainor Head of Photography at Australian Institute of Creative Design and One Arts Gallery.

Emerge is happening on Friday 3 February.

Visit oneartsgoldcoast.com or aicd.edu.au for more information.

Seafreaks demo day Saturday 28 January is an all day watersports gear demo event being held at Len Fox Park, Marine Parade Southport. Seafreaks will be providing gear for participants to try out, and putting on fun activities for all the family. The morning is for SUP fans while the afternoon is dedicated to things kite.

There will be demonstrations and junior kits available. Anyone who completes a website survey they tried will receive $50 store credit.

Check out the Seafreaks Facebook page for further details.

Pin-Up Pool Party - Calypso Sundays at QT Gold Coast To celebrate Australia Day weekend, QT Gold Coast are taking their Calypso Sundays back in time to the 50's and 60's with guest appearances from The Lindy Charm School and her vintage beauties for the ultimate PinUp Pool Party. Kitsch bathers, pin-up curls,

The Silenced, a showcase of works by local artist and art therapist Anna Ward, brings together works selected by the artist following her experiential journey, 'Wounds that weep in silence: An exploration into using art to find your voice after trauma and health related issues'. Anna Ward is one of the Gold Coast's leading art therapists and works out of her own company, Art Therapy Gold Coast, she believes in a humanistic, person-centreed approach that empowers people as they move throughout their healing journey. The exhibit will be held 4 to 28 February 2017 at Dust Temple, Currumbin. The official launch will be held Saturday 4 February at 6pm.

The Spiegeltent is coming to the Gold Coast for Bleach* After sold-out seasons at the Sydney Opera House, Brisbane Festival and London's West End and an epic run of shows at the Adelaide Fringe, Blanc de Blanc's next stop is the Gold Coast. To be held in the majestic Magic Mirrors Spiegeltent - one of the biggest Spiegeltents ever built - the show will run from 30 March – 16 April as part of Bleach* Festival right in the middle of Broadbeach.

Blanc de Blanc has made a big name for itself with titillating acts that infatuate, illuminate and delight – so there's no surprise about it's inclusion in the Bleach* program. It brings the finest cabaret and acrobatic talent from around the world into a wild, shimmering night – with big moves, great tunes, lots of skin, and more than a few surprises. It's definitely an adults-only show. Many of the Gold Coast shows have already sold out with tickets only going on sale a week ago. If you want to snap one up before it's too late, we'd suggest you hustle. And that is not marketing spin. Blank readers get a 10% discount if purchasing before 1 Feb. Just use the promo code BLANK at checkout via blancshow.com.

Study with

ICED BEER AND OTHER TANTALISING TIPS FOR LIFE

Fee-free* training in 2017

LEE LIN CHIN AND CHRIS LEBEN If it’s been too long since you laughed so hard you injured yourself and the neighbours had to call an ambulance, then this book is for you.

Finished high school and wondering what to do next?

ELIGIBLE FEE-FREE COURSES ON OFFER AT TAFE QUEENSLAND GOLD COAST:

Peerless newsreader, fashion renegade, and Gold Logie nominee, Lee Lin Chin stormed into our radar two decades ago and became Australia’s most formidable icon before formidable was even a word (she coined the term, just so we could refer to her in this way).

TAFE Queensland Gold Coast can help you to get started in an apprenticeship or traineeship, continue on your path to Uni or upskill to assist in your career with fee-free* training.

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In Iced Beer she teams up with Twitter co-conspirator, Chris Leben, who—should trouble hit—is likely to be made legally responsible for Lee Lin’s tweets, such as: “I’m going to the Logies for the first time tonight, which one of the #HomeandAwayTV boys is most likely to put out?” Expect the book to contain much of the same.

Putting the ego back into alter ego, Lee Lin blazes through the pages, sharing her sexual domination and demanding she become the next Prime Chinister: you will vote for her in advance.

The book opens with the line “Dearest Peasants” and doesn’t let up from there, offering advice for a variety of life situations, such as: “How to get Paid and Laid”. The outcome is a fast, clean read, with sharp comedic timing. It’s best to whip through it in one sitting, to save the paramedics coming out a second time.

There is a seriousness beneath the narcissism, and I don’t think it’s about Trump (although he is mentioned) or about getting the LOLZ (although, clearly it is, too). Mostly, it’s about being bold and fearless, accepting your humanity and flaws, being true to yourself, and—

If you graduated Year 12 in Queensland last year, you could be eligible for fee-free* training under the Certificate 3 Guarantee program funded by the Queensland Government.

If eligible, this means you pay $0 for your qualification.

*Eligibility requirements apply, visit training.qld.gov.au/training/incentives/year12-fee-free

Okay. It’s about Trump.

The momentum halts at the end as the authors switch to genuine guidance. They needn’t have; every prior inflated claim tells us the same, but in a more entertaining fashion.

Iced Beer is the advice book you were looking for when you weren’t actually seeking advice—or a book.

For more information or to enrol 5581 8300 tafegoldcoast.edu.au/feefreetraining Information correct at time of printing 19. 01. 17 16-0520_Blank Mag Ad_January_01_17

Such is the power and persuasion of Lee Lin Chin.

TAFE Queensland trading as TAFE Queensland Gold Coast RTO No: 0083 CRICOS No: 03037G

Nae Kurth www.blankgc.com.au

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THE ARTS CENTRE GOLD COAST PRESENTS

Issue #41 FEBRUARY 2017