Blank Gold Coast issue #65 - March 2019 by Blank Street Press

MAR 2019 / #065

GOLD COAST FILM FESTIVAL'S LUCY FISHER fierce, funny & fabulous

free music festival FRI 3 MAY THE LIVING END JEBEDIAH REECE MASTIN

THE EVENT KICKS OFF BY HOSTING

SUN 5 MAY

2019 GOLD COAST MUSIC AWARDS

THE SCREAMING JETS

THURS 2 MAY

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SAT 2 FRI ELEVATION

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RNR 6.00pm

The Great American Classic Rock Show

Tayla Doyle

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8.30pm

SAT 23

Andy Jans-Brown & Cozmic ALTERNATIVE

FRI 15

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*Entertainment subject to change at any time.

FRI 29

6.00pm

Benny Hanna 8.30pm

Devils Kiosk 6.00pm

Rachel Smith

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Rolling Stones Experience

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UK Classic Rock Show

60S, 70S, 80S, 90S

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H O TA . CO M . A U

Photo by OGA Creative Agency

NOITASREVNOC VAC KCIN HTIW RATS-LLA

SNOITASREVNOC EVAC KCIN HTIW 2 Marâ&#x20AC;&#x201C;Sun SRSat AT S-LLA28 Apr KROFree Y WEExhibition N(

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AUSTRALIAN MOVIE PORTRAITS Be the first to view iconic Australian movie portraits. Join us for a fun day of tours, industry insights and art making on Sat 2 Mar.

Image credit: Portia De Rossi, Elle Macpherson and Kate Fischer as Giddy, Sheela and Pru by Robert McFarlane, Sirens, 1993 (detail), Courtesy Sue Milliken and Samson Productions Pty Ltd. This exhibition is supported by the National Collecting Institutions Touring and Outreach Program, an Australian Government program aiming to improve access to the national collections for all Australians.

National Collecting Institutions Touring & Outreach Program

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THIS YEAR AT THE SPIEGELTENT

LIMBO UNHINGED

TOM GLEESON

CARLOTTA

JOAN AS POLICE WOMAN

ELIXIR FT KATIE NOONAN

JOHN SAFRAN

17 APR – 12 MAY 2019

DAMNED DEVOTION 1 MAY 2019

JOY 26 APR 2019

GRATITUDE & GRIEF 18 APR 2019

QUEEN OF THE CROSS 12 MAY 2019

JEW DETECTIVE – SARCASM IS NOT A CRIME 3 MAY 2019

ALL THIS AND SO MUCH MORE AT THE SPIEGELTENTGOLDCOAST.COM

PRESENTED BY STRUT & FRET PRODUCTION HOUSE

LANO & WOODLEY FLY 27 – 28 APR 2019

TOMMY LITTLE

SELF-DIAGNOSED GENIUS 11 MAY 2019

SUPPORTERS

FREE CONCERT

Managing Editor: Natalie O’Driscoll Creative Director: Kylie Cobb Senior Writer: Samantha Morris Partnerships Manager: Amanda Gorman Partnerships: Simone Gorman-Clark

Contributors (print and online): Natalie O’Driscoll, Samantha Morris, Marj Osborne, Leisen Standen, Glenn Tozer, Terry ‘Tappa’ Teece, Erin Bourne, Eden Tokatly, Pip Andreas, Amy Gould, Kylie MitchellSmith, Simone Gorman-Clark, Dan Maynard, Marlena Katene, Nicole Browne, Prudence Clark, Marjorie Skea, Jodi Bellchambers, Brendan Shanahan.

Editorial: news@blankgc.com.au Advertising: advertising@blankgc.com.au Gigs: gigs@blankgc.com.au Cover image: Gold Coast Film Festival Director Lucy Fisher Photographed by Leisen Standen, Lamp Photography

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.

GOLD COAST MUSIC AWARDS

SURFERS PARADISE

gcmusicawards.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.

Land Meets Sea by Owlet

ELLA FENCE SELECTED FOR WOMEN IN MUSIC MENTORSHIP QMusic has announced eight women selected as participants in a program designed to foster equality in the Queensland music industry. Gold Coast singersongwriter Ella Fence is one of those women chosen to participate. The program has a $16,000 pool for professional development as well as a mentoring program which sees participants mentored by established women in music businesses. More at qmusic.com.au/ women-in-music.

ALL FEMALE ARTISTS EXHIBIT AT COOLANGATTA'S LEVEL UP STUDIO + GALLERY Level Up Studio + Gallery will showcase the spirit of Australia with the upcoming group exhibition, ‘Under the Milky Way’. Featuring the work of four female artists from the Gold Coast, Owlet (aka Cara Sanders), Rebecca Cunningham, Aimee Moy and Natalie Popovski, the exhibition will run until 31 March, 2019. Using distinct styles and techniques in painting and illustration, each artist responds to their sense of connection to the Australian land, capturing the essence of our country through depictions of landscape, native birds, iconic brands and architecture.

YOUTH-LED ACADEMY PREPARES FOR NATIONWIDE TOUR

NOT TOO LATE TO SIGN UP TO ECOEXPLORERS KID’S CLUB

EcoExplorer’s Kid’s Club has kicked off again on Friday afternoons after school from 3.30pm till 5.30m, with a different focus each week. Kids go out into the field to learn about native plants and animals, while games, stories, and competitions will all reinforce the topic of the week. It’s a great opportunity to connect children with nature, and to teach them how to look after the environment. You can still sign up for the remainder of the term. Bookings are essential via gecko.org.au.

Youth Leadership Academy Australia is hosting the State Youth Leadership Conference on the Gold Coast on 28 March. The event is designed to inspire the youth of today, so they become confident leaders tomorrow. The event comprises talks by a star-studded list of guest speakers, which includes internationally recognised personalities. There will also be engaging in team activities that focus on enhancing key qualities including leadership, teamwork, communication, and entrepreneurship. Visit Eventbrite for tix.

Our Song is a program for Queensland singer-songwriters which offers six songwriting and performing experiences with award-winning musician Jack Carty as well as products to help hone participant’s craft. More details at qmf.org.au/on-song. 10

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Brighten up your Sunday morning with the colour and movement of India, when HOTA’s Dancing on the Green returns to the HOTA Outdoor Stage on Sunday 3 March with a Bollywood session by Dance Masala. Start early with a Yoga session followed by dance and drumming displays and Bollywood dance workshops from Dance Masala. Dancing on the Green is a free, fun social dance with a different theme each month. After you’ve checked out the farmers market, wander round to the outdoor stage and learn some dance moves before trying them out to live music.

Image of Andy Scott, Arabesque by Paul Ewart

SAVE THE DATE FOR SWELL

ELSKA HITS ADELAIDE FRINGE & NATIONAL FOLK FESTIVAL MENTORING OPPORTUNITY FOR SINGER-SONGWRITERS

DANCING ON THE GREEN NOW ON SUNDAY MORNINGS

She’s redefined the humble heart and broken the mould when it comes to pop artists, and now Gold Coast’s Elska is taking her unique show to Adelaide, for the Fringe Festival no less. The festival boasts an audience of 2.7 million people, so we’ve no doubt Elska will be performing to some of her biggest audiences to date. She's also been announced for National Folk Festival in Canberra this Easter, showing just how diverse folk is. And we hear there’s a new single in the wings too, so 2019 will be big for this one woman band.

And that’s it, folks. Artist submissions have officially closed for Queensland's largest outdoor sculpture exhibition SWELL 2019, which means very soon we’ll be getting some tantalising glimpses at what is going to be on offer for this year’s event. Previous entries have included a giant barbed wire teddy bear, a tower made from pool noodles, a giant crab, gargantuan deck chairs, a urinating dog and a bus stop, so if one thing is for certain, it's that the pieces are limited only by the artists' imaginations. SWELL Sculpture Festival has been running for 16 years and has grown into a beloved celebration of all things innovative, gobsmacking, heartwrenching and downright strange, offering national media coverage and a major award of $15,000, with a further $11,500 on offer for the smaller awards and up to $25,000 in artist subsidies. Visit swellsculpture.com.au for updates. SWELL will connect people, art and place at Currumbin Beach from 13 to 22 September.

ENTRIES NOW OPEN FOR AUSTRALIAN WEARABLE ART FESTIVAL

In a collision of art, fashion and costumery, the 2019 Australian Wearable Art Festival is now calling all artists and fashion designers to submit an Expression of Interest to be a part of this year’s event on Friday 24 May in Eumundi on Queensland’s Sunshine Coast. A visually spectacular parade will showcase over 60 wearable works of art and event curator, Wendy Roe said that festival organisers and judges are looking forward to seeing how artist’s imaginations translate into this year’s creations. Finalists’ wearable pieces of art will be presented on the catwalk in Eumundi under the stars on Friday 24 May, 2019. To find out more visit australianwearableart.com.au.

CIRCUS PARADISE TAKES OVER BROADWATER THIS MONTH Oh boy, have we been waiting for this. Lazy autumn days, seaside, with more than 35 of the most carefully curated acts combining electronic dance, DJs and local live sets. Yep. It’s Circus Paradise time. The circus rolls into Broadwater Parklands on Sunday 10 March from 12 noon and the lineup is insane. Headed up by the world’s number one female DJ, Belgian techno giant Charlotte de Witte, the event also sees Hot Dub Time Machine perform alongside Sydney’s powerhouse Bag Raiders as well as ARIA chart-topper Dom Dolla, veteran German techno producer Oliver Huntemann plus Motez, Leftfield, Gavin Rayna Rumssom (LCD Soundsystem) and electronic wondergirl Banoffee. Too much fun for just one afternoon, but we’ll find a way to cope. Limited tickets still available at bit.ly/CircusGC.

HOME MADE MUSIC ON GC COMMUNITY RADIO 101.3FM community radio, here on the Gold Coast, will broadcast a new local music program focussed on Australian tunes and they’re calling on artists to submit their material for consideration. Songwriters, musicians and bands from all genres are welcome to submit ‘radio-ready’ audio and video files for radio play as well as social media and online platforms. The ‘Home Made Music’ show will be broadcast Monday nights from 7.00 – 8.30pm with the signal taking in all of the Gold Coast as well as Tweed and Murwillumbah. The same program will be streamed on Thursdays from 7.00 – 8.30pm at memphismayhemradio. com. Submit songs and EPKs to homemademusic.songs@gmail.com.

WAX LYRICAL MOVES TO GROUND N SOUND Australian Songwriters Association has found a new home for its open mic songwriter sessions with the event now taking place at Ground N Sound in Chirn Park. The monthly event sees songwriters at all levels perform three songs with their peers providing constructive feedback. It’s the perfect fit for Ground N Sound with the awesome venue already holding weekly Sunday open mic nights and live music on Friday and Saturday evenings. Wax Lyrical takes place on the first Thursday of every month from 7.00 – 10.00pm.

TOMATO / TOMATO LAND THIS MONTH Tickets are now on sale for award-winning Canadian artists Tomato / Tomato who will tour Australia in March 2019. They’re bringing an eclectic mix of folk and country and celebrating new album ‘Canary in a Coalmine’ and they land at Soundlounge on 20 March with a songwriting workshop taking place immediately prior. Tickets for the gig and workshop sold separately and available at soundlounge.com.au/events/.

MULTICULTURAL RADIO PROGRAM ON DEMAND The Multicultural Communities Council Gold Coast is inviting music lovers to tune into a one hour radio show focussed on multicultural SEQ. Hosted by Kevin Dando on Radio 4EB Global every Friday afternoon from 4.30pm, the show is available on your wireless and on demand. The show features musical talent from around the world.

SIENNA VAN ROSSUM AT TWEED REGIONAL GALLERY

Tweed artist Sienna van Rossum looks at common objects from an unusual perspective in her solo exhibition ‘Dis/ closures’, which is open now until Sunday 19 May 2019. Featuring a series of new and recent paintings, ‘Dis/closures’ utilises worn and loved objects from around Sienna’s home, attentively rendering these objects with a mix of both meticulous realism and effacing abstraction. All are welcome to attend the official opening celebrations on Friday 15 March at 6pm with guest speaker Alisa Green, who is a friend of the artist.

Image by Danzel Baker

BOOMERANG LINEUP DROPS, AND IT’S EPIC We’re talking Yothu Yindi & The Treat Project as well as Young Australian of the Year Baker Boy, who’ll perform at a dedicated First Nation’s stage at Bluesfest Byron Bay. Mojo Juju, Mission Songs, Benny Walker, Archie Roach, Malu Kiai Mura Buai, Tenzin Choegyal and Bundjalung Weavers are also on the bill. Boomerang Festival takes place within Bluesfest Byron Bay from 19 – 21 April.

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Gold Coast Film Festival's

LUCY FISHER

...fierce, funny and fabulous

hether delivering a film festival, wearing fantastic frocks, fighting for feminism or even just writing her last name, fierce, funny and fabulous Gold Coast Film Festival director Lucy Fisher does it all with a capital F. “You need to aim high,” she tells us when we sit down to ask about whether or not she’s going to outdo herself again at this year’s event. It might as well be her personal mantra. Gold Coast Film Festival has been running for 17 years, with Lucy at the helm since 2015. “I’m pretty proud of where I’ve taken it,” she tells us. She pauses then laughs her full-throated, characteristic chuckle. “It was a lot more hard work than I thought it was going to be!” With 178 individual events on this year’s program, hard work doesn’t even begin to cover it. Lucy, Festival Programmer Rich Haridy, Festival Coordinator Issy Schoonenberg and Industry Event Producer Sam Weingott together form the GCFF’s engine room, and the four of them will be presenting a range of exciting national and international films, panels, workshops, Q+As, awards, tours, kids’ activities and other events over 12 days in April. They each bring their personal knowledge and skill set to the role. “Rich Haridy is an incredible curator,” says Lucy. “He has an indepth knowledge of world cinema, different genres and how to put together a program that’s going to entertain and challenge.” That program includes Australian premieres of ‘Under The Silver Lake,’ a US mystery starring

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Image by LAMP Photography

Andrew Garfield, and English-French tragicomedy ‘Happy New Year, Colin Burstead’, as well as a range of fascinating documentaries, including ‘That Sugar Film’ director Damon Gameau’s new work ‘2040’, and ‘Breaking Habits’ – a doco about The Sisters of the Valley, a group of feminist activists who present themselves as non-affiliated nuns that grow and sell medical marijuana products to ill patients. The GCFF has also managed to nab a few World premieres, including Australian dramedy ‘Maybe Tomorrow’, and Australian thriller ‘Locusts’. Another Australian thriller ‘The Furies’ will be played on a pop-up outdoor cinema in spooktacular Springfield for Horror In The Hinterland, which will also be showing 2012 nightmare ‘Cabin In The Woods’, for those brave enough to venture into the woods for a night of cinematic immersion. “It’s been great engaging with the community to create a low impact event for Springbrook, that’s exciting for us,” says Lucy. Closing night sees another World premiere; war drama ‘Escape and Evasion’, a film with significant ties to the Gold Coast. “It was shot in Currumbin Valley,” explains Lucy. “The producer Blake Northfield is in Northern New South Wales, but we claim him,” she laughs again. “Obviously being shot on the Gold Coast, the crew and the people who were there for it are Gold Coasters, which is terrific.” Diversity is key to the Festival.

“It’s our job to put together a program that has depth, that has variety,” Lucy says. “And it’s made up of really good new release films that often you can’t see anywhere else. There will be films I don’t like, totally, but they’re in there for a reason and there will be some people who love them.” “I think healthy debate around film is great, you can talk about it, what landed and what didn’t. That’s one of the best parts of film.” As always, the Festival will produce a robust program of industry-related events, including perennial favourites Movie & Music Trivia, Women In Film Lunch, Gold Coast Superhero Weekend: Movies in the Mall, Movie Locations

Tours, REELLife Screen Industry Panels, Virtual Reality and Floating Cinema.

and her team also put in the work to ensure that the festival is as inclusive as possible across the board.

First time events this year include Horror in the Hinterland, the inaugural Screen Industry Gala Awards, and Blind Cinema, a fascinating new addition that Lucy is pretty excited about.

“It’s about questioning every decision in the festival,” she explains. “Have we considered the diversity of this panel? Are we doing the right thing here? This year we have a panel on accessibility for people in the film industry with a disability.”

“It’s a specially made 30 minute film by German artist Britt Hatzius,” Lucy explains. “It has no dialogue in it, but you can hear some sounds and footsteps. Adults sit blindfolded and children sitting behind them narrate what they can see on screen, and it’s such a beautiful shared experience. It forces you to concentrate - in a way that modern daily life doesn’t on using your imagination.” Gold Coast Film Festival wouldn’t be a Lucy Fisher-run event if there wasn’t significant attention paid to the participation of women within it. Although she calls herself a “feminist in progress”, Lucy has certainly progressed further than most, as evidenced by the inclusion of a Bechdel Test indicator in the program, a 50/50 gender parity policy for speakers, and of course, the free crèche, an initiative started by the GCFF back in 2016, which is now being adopted by other national festivals. “Probably the most significant change I’ve seen in Australia is at the end of last year Adelaide Film Festival and a big screen conference called Screen Forever both put on childcare, and so that’s now probably going to start being seen as something that is best practice,” says Lucy.

“Generally cinema audiences are skewing older and women are going to the cinema more (68% of GCFF’s audience is women). I think some film festivals might attempt to be very cool and underground but we try and make our program legible, it’s not tiny print, and we do some seniors’ morning teas as well, so we try and engage with all sorts of audience members.”

While these policies are welcomed by appreciative audiences, the approach has taken some getting used to for some of the old guard. “I think you can create a visitor event that still remains true to its values, even if it’s really hard,” says Lucy. Image by Lamp Photography

“There were things I was questioned about at first, like ‘how long is this women’s stuff going to continue for?’ and I think it’s about standing up and supporting what you believe in, and know that it’s making a difference. It might make your event harder to put on but it’ll make your event better in other ways, and it’s helped us grow a wider national profile.” We told you she was fierce. Natalie O’Driscoll Gold Coast Film Festival hits the Gold Coast from 3 – 14 April. You should be able to pick up a copy of the program where you’ve picked up this copy of Blank. You can also check it out online at gcfilmfestival.com.

Blind Cinema at Gold Coast Film Festival

“Women in Film and Television (WIFT) have been campaigning for it and so I think it’s a really great outcome for us, that our little old Gold Coast Film Festival started it and put it out there in 2016, and since then WIFT has been able to use it as a case study to show other festivals and events that it’s possible.” “We have also partnered with Dame Changer along with Screen Queensland to do a four hour workshop for women focussing on pitching skills so that’s another great development.” While there is still a long way to go in terms of correcting the gender imbalance within the film industry (only 16% of directors, 34% of producers and 22% of writers working in feature films are women), it’s national programs such as Gender Matters and individual film industry event leaders like Lucy who are driving the progress from the top down and the ground up. It’s not just about gender, however. Lucy

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A snapshot of the Gold Coast’s very best new music, curated by Samantha Morris STUNNING DEBUT FROM COOPERR.

Graduating Griffith’s Bachelor Popular Music in 2016, Gold Coast’s Cooperr. has released an impressive debut in the form of EP ‘Running Wild’. We first heard lead single ‘When Will I Learn’ earlier in February and it’s a beautifully produced piece of neo pop. Just a weeks later, she’s now dropped the full EP and it’s another slick offering perfectly capturing the young artist’s catchy melodies, powerful lyrics and vocals. Cooperr. is definitely one to watch – especially given she’s been honing her songwriting skills since the age of eight. You can listen to ‘Running Wild’ on all the usual platforms.

WILD HEARTED BRING ORIGINAL FLAVOUR TO ROCK ‘N’ ROLL With their classic surf guitar sound, it’s no wonder Wild Hearted have had their music included in surf clips. They’ve also been included in the soundtrack for the documentary about Gold Coast surf legend and former pro Guy Ormerod. Having years of experience in the live music scene, they’re passionate about building an audience for their original flavour of classic rock. There’s nothing delicate about Wild Hearted; it’s shameless, unabashed, punky-blues surf rock. With Shane Gillard on vocals alongside Shane Taylor (guitar), Andy Shrimpton (bass) and Peter Nicholas (drums), you can check out the band’s original song ‘Revival’ at their website wildheartedband.com and see them live at local venues like BBQ Bazaar. Keep your ears peeled for new music, too.

BOY FROM MARS OUT FOR SAINT BARAE Riding the momentum of 2018 release ‘Remains’, Saint Barae has returned with another contribution to the world of synthpop with ‘Boy from Mars’. This new track has the artist make a leap from bedroom producer to self-proclaimed intergalactic pop-star. And he’s done OK moving in that direction too. ‘Boy from Mars’ sees an element of synth-funk-fusion combine with soulful disco of otherworldly proportions. It’s a happy and lighthearted vibe that will appeal to anyone wanting to shoot into the stratosphere on a technicolour rocket. Keep your ears peeled for ‘Boy From Mars’ when it launches into space on 5 March.

LICY BE RETURNS WITH GROWN Teaming up with Anaru and Isaac Sherwood, Gold Coast rapper, poet and motivational speaker Licy Be has kicked off 2019 with new single ‘Grown’. In this track Licy highlights the issues around comparing yourself to others on social media. Licy has had a stellar couple of years, accruing more than 100,000 spins of her online videos and performing at the Opera House as a finalist in the Australian Poetry Slam. This new track is an electro-pop-rap number that sees Licy’s spoken word and rap layered over keys, punctuated with lazy beats and vocals provided by her collaborators. Listen now via Soundcloud and Spotify.

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WHEN IT COMES TO BEING JANE LANE, LESS IS MORE Being Jane Lane is an all-female punk band from Gold Coast / Brisbane. Having recently returned from an Australian tour with the VB Hard Yards competition, the ladies have unleashed second single ‘Less Is More’ off their much-anticipated debut album (it’s true, we’re very very eager to hear it) ‘Savage Sunday’. The sub-two-minute track takes no prisoners, with hard-driving and punchy riffs and a metallic tinge complemented by infectious punk-groan stylings. It’s fast and furious, perfectly capturing the five-piece’s existential angst and all-girl attitude. They’re fresh from supporting acts such as Alex Lahey, Waax, Raave Tapes and Tired Lion, so we’re expecting 2019 to be rather large for Being Jane Lane. ‘Less Is More’ is available to stream now.

PHIL BARLOW IS WAITING FOR YOU Our bluesman-turned-troubadour has released a new single ‘Waiting for You’. The track has more than just a tinge of blues underlying its lovelorn lyrics and really sees Phil find his voice as a solo artist. You can watch the video on YouTube and listen to the song on Spotify. Image by Heidi Flumm

SYCLONER ARE LOST AND FOUND WITH NEW EP It’s their second EP, yet the first time they’ve come across our radar. Hailing from Brisbane and Gold Coast, Sycloner is a collab between Peter Greasley (vocals) and Daniel Cunnington (guitar). Originally meeting as members of the band Dream Circle (BMG), Daniel and Peter reconnected in 2018 to develop sycloner’s indie-pop sound. You can hear the classical influence that Daniel brings to the duo in the first track on this EP and while the pair describe themselves as indiepop, there’s all kinds of crazy (but wonderful) things going on in the following three tracks. There’s fuzzy indie with a driving beat as well as dreamy pop that showcases Peter’s focus on consistently producing electro-pop releases. It’s not often you hear something so unique and beautifully produced, and listening to this EP had me on the hunt for their first (which you can listen to via Bandcamp). You can also listen to ‘Lost and Found’ on Bandcamp, or via Spotify.

INTRODUCING MALINE CLAIRE This voice won’t be completely unfamiliar to regular Blank readers. Previously recording under the moniker Emily Jane, the artist is now making music with a new sound and a new name. Maline Claire’s debut ‘Darling’ is a delicate pop number with soaring yet minimalist synths and atmospheric vulnerability. You can listen to ‘Darling’ now on Spotify.

BETTER DAYS FOR CASEY BARNES

BLACK RABBIT GEORGE DEBUTS CHARLES

BE YOUR OWN BEAUTIFUL BY EMMAGEN RAIN Emerging country star, Emmagen Rain, who hails from northern NSW, has released her debut track ‘Be Your Own Beautiful’. Written and recorded in Nashville, the song’s release comes on the back of Emmagen’s appearances at Buskers by the Creek and Gympie Muster. It’s the first important step in Emmagen’s recording journey and sees her merge country and pop in the youthful number. She’s already graced some of the biggest stages in the country, having won Nightquarter’s The Voice competition, Mullum Music Festival’s under 15s comp, and Tamworth Country Music Festival’s busking championship (aged just ten). It’s clear Emmagen has a long way to go. For now, you can check out her debut offering in all the usual places.

NEW COLLAB FROM BROOK CHIVELL AND NATALIE PEARSON Gold Coast’s Brook Chivell has teamed up with powerhouse country vocalist Natalie Pearson for a completely feel-good and summery country-pop number ‘I Wonder What You Kiss Like’. After touring together in 2017 it makes complete sense for Chivell and Pearson to work together on the track, penned by country faves Kaylee Bell and The Wolfe Brothers. The track is already making waves, debuting at #2 on the iTunes Country Music Charts and #31 on the overall charts. Both artists are unequivocal rising stars in the Australian country music scene and if you want to see them perform together you can do so at Southport RSL on 3 March at 5.00pm and 14 April at 1.00pm.

The enigmatic Black Rabbit George (AKA Paul George) has released his debut album ‘Charles’. The album was created over several years while Paul was busy travelling with other projects with much of the music recorded in odd places – airbnbs, mate’s lounges, in vans and only occasionally in a studio. The album is a true reflection of Black Rabbit George’s transience as a perpetual traveller, with each song – some purely instrumental – bringing a slightly new direction, depth or tale to the musical table. The occasional synth and drum loop make an appearance as does Paul’s tinkering with the tracks. “In previous work I’ve shied away from anything too computerised,” he said, “but this time I had fun toying with the tracks.” ‘Charles’ is out now.

EMPH N TREATS DELIVER MESSAGE IN THE SKY Gold Coast hip-hop duo Emph N Treats locked themselves away after their national tour last year and the result is shiny new track ‘Message in the Sky’. The only GC hip-hop act invited to perform at Shakafest alongside Bliss n Eso, Frenzal Rhomb and Last Dinosaurs, they’re passionate about putting Gold Coast hip-hop on the map and have been making waves in the underground Australian scene for years. Their new track ‘Message in the Sky’ is a catchy summer anthem with a feelgood vibe full of cooling energy perfect for countering this sweltering season. The song was produced by local producer Reeceponse and it’s out now on all the usual platforms.

He’s announced a USA tour, nabbed the headliner spot for this year’s Gold Coast Music Awards LIVE show and has a new single to boot. ‘Better Day’s launches Casey Barnes into 2019 in a big way. It’s not a great deviation from Casey’s earlier work, full of Casey’s now signature catchy hooks and anthemic melodies, with plenty of live footage accompanying the song captured from live shows across the past year. The song is taken from Casey’s career defining album ‘The Good Life’ which has been streamed more than 2 million times on Spotify. Although, ever humble, Casey says the best is yet to come. Casey’s USA tour ‘Unleash the Beast’ sees him perform at major arena events in Kansas City, Missiouri and Sioux Falls in South Dakota. During that trip he’ll also return to Nashville and LA to begin the process of writing and recording his fourth studio album. If you want to see Casey locally between those international and big stage engagements, pop into Seagulls on Saturday 2 March, RSL Club Southport on 20 April, or on the main stage for Gold Coast Music Awards LIVE on Thursday 2 May.

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175+ FILMS, PANELS, PARTIES & EVENTS 3-14 APRIL 2019 HORROR IN THE HINTERLAND

FLOATING CINEMA: 50 FIRST DATES

MOVIE & MUSIC TRIVIA

Saturday 13 April, 7pm Secret Springbrook Location

Wednesday 10 April, 6pm Departs Surfers Paradise Price includes complimentary popcorn and nachos $35

Thursday 11 April, 6.45pm QT Gold Coast

$35

Up a winding mountain road, on a dark Springbrook street, a night of horror awaits. This spine tingling outdoor event begins with the Australian Premiere screening of THE FURIES, a new bloody Australian survival thriller, followed by a screening of the twisted slasher flick CABIN IN THE WOODS. This is a one-night only event that will be full of surprises! Are you brave enough?

It’s the ultimate date night… Sit back, under the stars on the top of the luxe Spirit of Elston riverboat and watch the adorable rom-com about falling in love every day, 50 FIRST DATES. The night begins with cruising the waterways and soaking up the views of the Gold Coast skyline, then settle in with a Hawaiian-themed cocktail to enjoy the film.

Do you sit on the edge of your seat to live tweet the Oscars? Do you know every song on the A Star Is Born soundtrack? Or do you just love a good night out with friends talking all things movies and music? We’re on a mission to crown Gold Coast’s ultimate film and music trivia champions and want to have a lot of fun along the way. In partnership with our friends Gold Coast Music Awards.

EXPLORE THE PROGRAM AT www.gcfilmfestival.com MAJOR PARTNERS

$14

EVENT PARTNERS

TAMI NEILSON devil in a dress

he world-class vocalist will bring some serious sass to the Blues on Broadbeach stages this May.

Red-hot honky-tonker Tami Neilson is no stranger to the stage or to the music industry, having toured with her family band since the age of ten. “I had a very unusual dynamic growing up,” she explains. “I was kind of in this protective bubble because I was with my family all the time, but I also had this front row seat to the music industry that most kids of that age are not exposed to. The highs and lows, the corruption, the glamour - I was very aware of what the industry was, but at the same time very sheltered from it.” This unique upbringing has raised someone who lives and breathes music. Particularly the music of her parents’ era. “I do tend to gravitate naturally to the music of the fifties, sixties and seventies, and music I grew up on. Rather than being influenced by my peers I was directly influenced by my parent’s taste, so I kind of skipped this generation. “Mavis Staples is my ultimate shero but of course she has spanned every decade since

the fifties, so when I say I’ve got this great album from Mavis Staples, it’s still new music!” These influences can be clearly heard in Tami’s sound, as she channels some serious soul diva through an impressive set of pipes. Long may have been her musical journey so far, but you can’t help but feel she’s at the top of her game right this second. Although oftdescribed as a country singer, she personally rejects that label. “I think it’s funny how other people categorise your music. All my music touches on elements of country, rockabilly, soul, gospel, blues and I always tend to say that I sing an era of music more than a genre. That golden age of music in the 50s and 60s didn’t really have distinct lines.

Image by Mrs Jones

MATT CORBY

The album is layered with so many instruments and sounds, and yet they all work in such harmony, particularly in ‘No Ordinary Life’. Corby tears away at this veneer of beautiful mayhem.

The name ‘Rainbow Valley’ comes from the secluded Northern NSW property where Matt lives some of the time, and where the record was made. “Rainbow Valley itself is the place where I really got to knuckle down, day in day out”, Matt explains. “It was this ability to freely experiment that is the reason this record exists now.”

But bass is where the heart lies for him, stating that he would drop anything to play it.

“It’s a simple combination of staple piano and drums, mellotron and marimbas” and, like any good artist, “a bit of random shit.”

Blank was lucky enough to not only talk with Matt, but his newborn son Hugh, who came along for the ride. He didn’t have much to comment on the album, only the faintest chirps of ‘da-da' clearly demonstrating he already knows how to deal with the press. A large portion of the album was written preempting fatherhood, and it was finished just as Hugh was born. “A lot of it was written knowing my whole life was about to be flipped,” says Matt.

“When I found out he was on his way I stopped caring about the trivial shit and the ego that comes with music. I wanted to boil it down to what I really love about writing and clear out the insignificant things that hindered me from making music happen.” In regards to the tour, Corby says we will be in for “lots of fun, a few extra voices on deck and mega harmonies.” Before the Australian leg of the tour he will be playing across Europe; Glasgow, Paris and Amsterdam to name a few. However, rather than the basking in the rays of the European coast or venturing to the alps, Corby is most excited to visit the small town of Christiania in Copenhagen. When asked why he trots out a quick-witted response, “to have a beer on the street, can’t do that here.” An Aussie icon. If your new year’s resolution is to have a boogie and a beer, visit mattcorby.com or livenation.com.au for tickets to the Rainbow Valley tour. Note: Due to the closure of the NightQuarter, the Gold Coast show scheduled for Sat 6 April will now be held at Miami Marketta on Sun 7 April. You can read the full interview at blankgc.com.au. Eden Tokatly

www.blankgc.com.au

a beehive, tongue in cheek. It’s almost a rebellion.” Natalie O’Driscoll You can catch the rebellion in all its redlipped glory when Tami Neilson hits the stages at the Blues on Broadbeach Festival being held 16 to 19 May 2019. Other headliners include Canned Heat, Eric Bibb and Harts. Visit bluesonbroadbeach.com for more.

Image by Claire Dalton

Her most recent release ‘SASSAFRASS!’ definitely paints in shades of red and pink, with a sassy soul-rockabilly vibe and ultimate 60s glamour combined with a distinctly contemporary and often-feminist commentary, particularly in tracks ‘Devil In A Dress’ and ‘Stay Out Of My Business’.

or a decade, multi platinumselling musician Matt Corby has been stepping outside the shelter of his comfort zone and embracing a journey of self-discovery that’s seen him stare down his share of demons. We now see a new chapter in Corby’s life in the release of his much anticipated second album ‘Rainbow Valley’, which can only be described as dreamlike.

In terms of moving on from his previous album ‘Telluric’, he intended to simplify it and make it all a bit tighter. There was also a focus on injecting some sixties and seventies nostalgia, which is evident in ‘Monday’ and ‘Light My Dart Up’ with subtle tones of Marvin Gaye and Charles Bradley.

“My album, the lyrics and the content, I think it makes even more of an impact you’re getting to say the things that women of that era didn’t get to voice and you’re doing it with a smile on your face and sporting

“I guess I tend to say that I paint with the same palate, but some pictures that you paint you use more blue and some more red.”

escape to Rainbow Valley with

"A reason I really love being in that aesthetic is because it’s like an act of subversion, to be presenting myself in this way,” she explains about her striking look.

GABY MORENO

jazzes up Dust Temple for new musical series

old Coast jazz lovers will undoubtedly be all a-tingle at the news that southern arts and music hub Dust Temple Currumbin is hosting a monthly Jazz Series, featuring some of the country’s (and the world’s) finest contemporary jazz and concert musicians in a string of intimate shows.

With a few gigs under their belt already, the buzz is steadily growing as world music fans everywhere gravitate towards these exclusive performances. Excitingly, the March session sees Emmy Nominee and Latin Grammy winner Gaby Moreno make a stop on the GC as part of her upcoming Australian tour, and when we chatted to her from LA, I asked the eclectic Guatemalan singer-songwriter about her thoughts on coming to our city for the first time.

“It’s very exciting to me! The first time I was in Australia a few years ago, I was touring with Hugh Laurie and The Copper Bottom Band and we visited

a lot of different cities but not the Gold Coast. I’m always looking forward to seeing new places. Hopefully I will have some time off to hit the beach.” Our stop is one of many on her Australian tour, with a diverse and quirky range of venues on the menu; a fitting kind of tour for such a versatile performer. “I’m happy to play in all different kinds of venues,” she says. “In about a week I’m going to the east coast in the US to play Lincoln Center in NY and Kennedy Center in Washington, DC, but also at a small jazz club in Boston. The size or capacity of the venues don’t matter to me as long as they can create an intimate atmosphere and people feel connected with the music.” Renowned for her sublime vocals and genre-bending songwriting, Gaby refuses to be pigeonholed, aligning herself with jazz, Spanish folk, soul and more. “At home, I have a pretty extensive vinyl collection and I love listening to everything

from old jazz and soul to Bossa Nova and African music,” she tells us. “I think have a pretty eclectic taste in music. As much as I love those old records, I also try to keep up with all this great new music that’s coming out. I particularly love Juana Molina, a wonderful and imaginative artist from Argentina. She’s been around for a little while. Some people call her the Latin Bjork. I agree!” Gaby’s even putting out an orchestral album later in the year, her first release since 2017’s award-winning ‘Ilusión’. But for now, fans can catch her delivering what will undoubtedly be a memorable night of music when she hits Dust Temple for the March Jazz Series. Natalie O’Driscoll The series is hosted by promoter Artemus Events, the passion project of local musician Kacey Patrick, who hopes to reestablish the Gold Coast and Dust Temple in particular as a “must-do” stop for touring jazz, art and world music artists. Gaby Moreno performs at Dust Temple on 15 March, and tickets can be sourced at artemus.com.au, as well as dates and details for future events.

getting savage with

BEING JANE LANE

eing Jane Lane are on fire right now. The all-female Gold Coast-Brisbane punk crew have just returned from an Australian tour with VB Hard Yards comp, played the MOJO x Girls Rock! Stage at Brisbane Laneway Festival alongside Courtney Barnett and Alex the Astronaut, scored a nomination in the 2019 Queensland Music Awards, took out the #20 spot on 4ZZZ’s top 100 and have released a short, explosive single ‘Less Is More’, with another one set to come out in March. Despite the fact that they never stop working, we did manage to nab a few minutes with vocalist Teigan Le Plastrier.

I think it’s hilarious that ‘Less Is More’ is such a perfect representation of its own title. How has the reaction been? Yeah, ‘tis quite a fitting title considering it’s so short, but we thought if you want more you can listen to it twice! We’ve had a really positive response to the single which is nice. People seem to dig it.

and volunteers. It’s a really cool idea and we all wish it existed when we were young enough to be campers. We were asked to play the ‘Girls Rock’ stage at Laneway and we were absolutely stoked about it. It’s important to encourage these young ones to follow their dreams and not be afraid to go out there and get amongst it.

Can you tell us a bit about ‘Girls Rock’, and your involvement in it?

We hear a rumour about new music, ‘Be Okay’. What’s the release date, what’s it about, and what can fans expect?

‘Girls Rock’ is a camp for young aspiring female and non-binary rockers to experience forming a band, writing songs and playing instruments, mentored by local musicians

Truth, we are releasing a third single midMarch. It’s a song about forgetting the shitty things happening in your life with

an understanding that all things pass and everything will ultimately be okay. All this new music coming out… is there an album in the works? Yes, we are currently making the final touches on our very first album ‘Savage Sunday’, which has taken us some time to prepare, but if all goes to plan we should be releasing it mid-year. How will you celebrate International Women’s Day? There are a few cool gigs around town on the day which would be good to attend. But in all

honesty we will probably be at work. Which I suppose is relevant anyway seeing as women didn’t always have that right. Natalie O’Driscoll Being Jane Lane are off on an east coast tour to promote their new single in March and April. Locals can catch them at Vinnie’s Dive Bar on 6 April and The Foundry in Brisbane on 13 April. Head to beingjanelane.com to check out more from the band. You can also pop over to triple j unearthed and give them some love.

www.blankgc.com.au

MARCH FRIDAY 1 MARCH

The Long Johns | BBQ Bazaar

TUESDAY 5 MARCH

SATURDAY 9 MARCH

Sally Sa | The Scottish Prince

Bloom | Soundlounge (Ticketed)

Chavez Cartel | Vinnie’s Dive

The Beasts | The Northern, Byron Bay (Ticketed)

Dance On | Southport Sharks

Vi & Reggae Night | The Cambus Wallace

The Angels Midnight Oil & Divinyls show (Covers) | RSL Club Southport (Ticketed)

Benny D Williams (3.30pm) | The Avenue

Auntie Leo & The Backstabbers + SAVV + Echowave | Miami Shark Bar Velvet Underground | Seagulls Bare Bones Songwriters Showcase: Calan Mai + Wildflower + Mitch Lancaster + Liv Heyer + Ethan Hill | Currumbin Pub (Ticketed) Mescalito Blues | Pottsville Sports Club Great Gable | Elsewhere Bar (Ticketed) Summertime Sessions in the Village: The Twine + Ashleigh Mannix | Cuddihy Park, Mudgeeraba Maddy Thompson + Elevation Band | Southport Sharks Wally & The Gators (Covers) | RSL Club Southport Herbie Walker | The Cambus Wallace Sali Bracewell | Cafe Catalina Cherry Bomb | BBQ Bazaar Daryl James | Eddie’s Grub House Mescalito Blues | Pottsville Sports Club, Pottsville

SATURDAY 2 MARCH Butterfingers | Miami Marketta (Ticketed) Mantlepeace (2.00pm) | Sheoak Shack Missy Higgins | Gold Coast Convention & Exhibition Centre (Ticketed) Casey Barnes | Seagulls Mescalito Blues | Royal Mail Hotel, Goodna Hey Baby + Ivey + Rattus Rattus + Syrup Go On + Die for Mushies | Mo’s Desert Clubhouse Mantlepeace (2.00pm) + Felicity Lawless | Sheoak Shack

SUNDAY 3 MARCH Ziggy Alberts | Byron Bay Brewery (Ticketed) Gavin Doniger + Guests | Tupe Aloha, Coolangatta Sea Gypsies + Mapstone | Mo’s Desert Clubhouse (Ticketed)

THURSDAY 7 MARCH Free the Genie | The Cambus Wallace James Street Preachers | The Scottish Prince

Felicity Lawless | BBQ Bazaar Vanilla Gorilla + Mild West + Peach Fur | The Northern, Byron Bay (Ticketed)

Kiara Jack (3.00pm) | Lennox Point Hotel, Lennox Head Rick Barron | Eddie’s Grub House

MONDAY 11 MARCH Michael Whitmore (Covers) (11.00am) | RSL Club Southport

TUESDAY 12 MARCH

J Mascis | Miami Marketta (Ticketed)

Stephen Lovelight | The Scottish Prince

Red Cherries | Seagulls From The Well + Awake In Time + Verum + Toxic Jungle | Currumbin Pub (Ticketed) Benny D Williams | BBQ Bazaar Summertime Sessions in the Village: Hussy Hicks + Minnie Marks| Cuddihy Park, Mudgeeraba

Gemini Duo (Covers) | RSL Club Southport The Angels, Midnight Oil & Divinyls Show (Tribute) | RSL Club Southport (Ticketed)

Free the Genie | The Cambus Wallace

Stuart Salang Sang | Harrigan’s

SUNDAY 10 MARCH

Millencolin + Goldfinger | Sounglounge (Ticketed)

Awake in Time | Currumbin Pub

Big Bros Kiwi Day Out | BBQ Bazaar (Ticketed)

Matthew Armitage | Eddie’s Grub House Mescalito Blues | Miami Marketta

James Street Preachers | The Cambus Wallace

Gregg Peterson | House of Brews

Benno & Scoot (Covers) | RSL Club Southport

MONDAY 4 MARCH

WEDNESDAY 13 MARCH The Yams | The Scottish Prince

Tayla Doyle + Andy Jans-Brown & Cozmic | Southport Sharks

Emily Brieger | Cafe Catalina

Gavin Doniger | The Cambus Wallace

Benny D Williams (1.00pm) | Alive n Well community event, Jacobs Well Park

Circus Paradise Music Festival: Charlotte De White + Oliver Huntemann + Motez + Total Giovanni + Lettfield + MORE | Broadwater Parklands (Ticketed)

Gavin Doniger | Tupe Aloha, Kirra

Tommy Memphis (Covers) (11.00am) | RSL Club Southport

Andy Jans Brown (2.00pm) + Mojo Native | Sheoak Shack

BENJAM | Fishermans Wharf Tavern

Captain WOW (Covers) | Southport Sharks

Herbie Walker | The Cambus Wallace

Nigel McTrusty | Eddie’s Grub House

WWII Blitz Party | Mo’s Desert Clubhouse (Ticketed)

Isaac Frankham | Cafe Catalina

FRIDAY 8 MARCH Hanson | The Star Gold Coast (Ticketed)

We Love Australia: Hoten + Loopbass + Roger Grassi + Jimmy D | Fishermans Wharf Tavern

Mescalito Blues | Miami Marketta

Benny D Williams (3.00pm) | Mill on Constance

Montana Duo (Covers) (5.00pm) | RSL Club Southport

Luke Yeaman | Cafe Catalina

Bongo Boys | Seagulls

Red Hot Summer Tour: Suzie Quatro + The Angels + The Baby Animals + The Screaming Jets + Jon Stevens + Moving Pictures + Chocolate Starfish | Harrigan’s (Ticketed)

Rabbits Eat Lettuce | Byron Bay Brewery (Ticketed)

Mark Thompson | Aviary Rooftop Bar

McKenzie Trio | Harrigan’s

Wedgehead Events 5th Birthday: Stoker + Beddy Rays and more | Miami Shark Bar

Jack Casey | House of Brews

Izaeah March | House of Brews

Belinda Carlisle | Twin Towns (Ticketed)

Seriel Killer Dinner Party + Baltimore Gun Club + No Quarter + Swamp Gully Howlers + The Glycereens + Fire Away + John Scott | Burleigh Town Tavern

Peking Duk | 90.9 Sea FM SO GC Party

Jessica Odgers | Aviary Rooftop Bar

THURSDAY 14 MARCH

Gavin Doniger | Middle Pub, Mullimbimby

FRIDAY 15 MARCH Twelve Foot Ninja | Miami Shark Bar Mickey & D.Nasty | Coolangatta Hotel (Ticketed) Tropical F*ck Storm | The Northern, Byron Bay (Ticketed) Tangle Duo | Seagulls

Street Cafe (Covers)(5.00pm) | RSL Club Southport

Filthy Minds + Cheeki + Bligh + Clawmachine | Currumbin Pub (Ticketed)

Mel Scarlett | The Cambus Wallace

Gavin Doniger | North Kirra SLSC

Summertime Sessions in the Village: Leopold’s Treat + Obi | Cuddihy Park, Mudgeeraba The Paper Kites | Miami Marketta (Ticketed) Sealife By Cakes | Vinnie’s Dive Rachel Smith + Rolling Stones Experience (Covers) | Southport Sharks Surf Report Duo (Covers) | RSL Club Southport Gaby Moreno | Dust Temple James Street Preachers | The Scottish Prince Mistram | BBQ Bazaar Funk Dancing For Self Defence + Tragic Me + Lunchtime + Atticus Chimps | Milk Factory (Ticketed) Nicole Brophy | Eddie’s Grub House

Free the Genie | Sawtell Hotel, Sawtell Night Butter (3.30pm) | Balter Taproom

MONDAY 18 MARCH Greg Bankx (Covers) (11.00am) | RSL Club Southport

TUESDAY 19 MARCH

The Wayward Suns | BBQ Bazaar

Lily Budiasa | The Cambus Wallace

House of Shem | Parkwood Tavern (Ticketed)

Zedekai Harris | The Scottish Prince

O’Leary & The Munster Bucks | Southport Sharks

WEDNESDAY 20 MARCH

Shotgun Duo (Covers) | RSL Club Southport

Tomato Tomato + Hussy Hicks + Black Rabbit George | Soundlounge (Ticketed)

American Hall of Fame Icons show (Tribute) | RSL Club Southport (Ticketed)

John McLaggan: Songwriting Workshop (5.00pm) | Soundlounge (Ticketed)

Rob Bostock | Harrigan’s

Divinyls | Coolangatta Hotel (Ticketed)

Music in the Park Saturday Sessions: Sarah Stando (3.30pm) | Rowan Robinson Park, Kingscliff

James Street Preachers | The Cambus Wallace The Yams | The Scottish Prince

THURSDAY 21 MARCH

Angelo Pash | The Cambus Wallace

Free the Genie | The Cambus Wallace

Matt Armitage | The Scottish Prince

James Street Preachers | The Scottish Prince

Benny D Williams (3.30pm) | The Avenue

Dusty Rich | Eddie’s Grub House

Tangle Duo | Harrigan’s

FRIDAY 22 MARCH

Alannah Stone | Cafe Catalina

Sweet Mixjah | Seagulls

West 1 | Fishermans Wharf Tavern

Dawn Of Dusk + Paging Jimi + Second Circle + Commonside | Currumbin Pub (Ticketed)

Herbie Walker | Eddie’s Grub House

MONDAY 25 MARCH Doubleshot (Covers)(11.00am) | RSL Club Southport

The Wayward Suns | Pacific Hotel, Yamba

SATURDAY 30 MARCH Brett Healy Project featuring Jimmy Dee | Seagulls Jesse Morris Band (2.00pm) + Peter Hunt | Sheoak Shack

Matt Armitage | The Cambus Wallace

Club Briefs Variety Show | Miami Marketta (Ticketed)

WEDNESDAY 27 MARCH

Tony Hawk’s Pro Skater Tribute Party | Vinnie’s Dive

James Street Preachers | The Cambus Wallace The Yams | The Scottish Prince

THURSDAY 28 MARCH Peking Duk | The Northern, Byron Bay Club Briefs Variety Show | Miami Marketta (Ticketed) BRCKS | The Cambus Wallace James Street Preachers | The Scottish Prince

SUNDAY 24 MARCH

JJ & The Soul Man | Seagulls

California Kings Red Hot Chilli Peppers Tribute | BBQ Bazaar

Luca Brasi | Miami Shark Bar

Blues Arcadia | Mo’s Desert Clubhouse

The Polar Bears | BBQ Bazaar

Cheap Fakes | Brunswick Hotel, Brunswick Heads

Club Briefs Variety Show | Miami Marketta (Ticketed)

Brown Suga Duo (Covers) (5.00pm) | RSL Club Southport

Free the Genie | Nimbin Hotel, Nimbin

Babash Carribbean Reggae | BBQ Bazaar

FRIDAY 29 MARCH

Hayley Grace | Aviary Rooftop Bar

The Waxfinz + Nullum Void + Girl & Girl + Persons Unknown | Currumbin Pub (Ticketed)

TUESDAY 26 MARCH

B Daddy & The Double D’s | BBQ Bazaar

Bloody Beetroots | Byron Bay Brewery

Genini Duo (Covers) | RSL Club Southport

Voiid + Crocodylus + A Swayze And The Ghosts | The Northern, Byron Bay Benny Hanna + Devils Kiosk (Covers) | Southport Sharks

One night only...

Image by Prudence Upton

FLICKERFEST

Desert Dash

ustralia’s leading Academy-accredited and BAFTA recognised short film festival is returning to the Gold Coast this month and it’s bringing with it a stellar lineup of A-list short films recognised amongst the best in the world.

It’s Flickerfest’s 28th anniversary this year, so if anyone knows a good short film, it’s these guys. The ‘Best of Australian Shorts’ program will hit HOTA on 14 March with films hand-picked from the festival’s 2,700 entries, giving Gold Coast audiences a first look at some of the hottest new shorts in the world. There’s a special reason to celebrate for this year’s event too. ‘Shots Fired’, which had its world premiere at Flickerfest in Sydney, is directed by Manon Lewis who grew up here on the Gold Coast, a graduate of Somerset College. Manon’s film tells the story of a precocious 13-year-old girl who, whilst on a hunting trip in the Australian bush, helps her dad and his two friends navigate their quarter life crises. The Best of Australian Shorts program also includes ‘All These Creatures’ which won the Palme d’Or at Cannes in 2018 as well as the Best Editing in an Australian Short Film award at Flickerfest 2019. Fantastical animation ‘Della Mortika: Carousel of Shame’, directed by Marisa Martin, which won the Best Animation award at Flickerfest will also screen alongside ‘Ghostbear’, a beautifully crafted and haunting animation by comedian and actor Paul McDermott, and ‘Home’ which sees Jack Thompson appear in an adaptation of Maurice Maeterlinck’s 1984 one-act play ‘Interieur’ directed by Peter Gurbiel. ‘An Act of Love’ directed by Lucy Knox, ‘Calling’ directed by Miley Tunnecliffe, ‘Lil Bois’ directed by Grant Thompson, ‘Desert Dash’ directed by Gracie Otto and ‘Judas Collar’ directed by Alison James will also screen. Samantha Morris You can see all of these amazing short films in one night when Flickerfest rolls into town for one night only on 14 March. And tickets are just $16/$14. Visit flickerfest.com. au.

Gold Coast gets unhinged... S trut & Fret return to the Gold Coast this April and May with award-nominated circus cabaret sensation, LIMBO Unhinged.

Bleach* The Gold Coast Festival 2019 has collaborated with the creators of sassy sensation Blanc de Blanc to bring Gold Coast audiences yet another edge-of-your-seat spectacle featuring an international cast of performers who are all set to dazzle the Spiegeltent crowds with their curious talents. We were lucky enough to grab a few minutes with hand-to-hand expert Charlotte O’Sullivan in the middle of a hectic rehearsal schedule. Your specialties include hand-to-hand, banquine, and singing. First of all, for the uninitiated, can tell us what handto-hand and banquine are, and do you have a favourite skill to perform? Despite not coming from an acrobatic gymnastics background, a sport in which the gymnasts perform two man balancing and acrobatic stunts together... I later learned how to do all of that in my six years of circus school in Montreal. My partner Nico and I created a more emotional piece by fusing the concept with dance in a more “so you think you can dance” contemporary style acrobatic dance. For those who want to get a better idea of what I do, you could maybe imagine a figure skating duo without ice or skates where the man throws the girl around in the most seemingly impossible ways, haha! I don’t think I have a favourite trick... although we certainly have a repertoire together for doing some very original moves such as our spinning sequences standing with my feet in his hands and where he turns me in multiple twists landing back perfectly in his hands or gracefully to my feet on the floor. We have some other crowd pleasers such as multiple moves where I drop into a catch upside down with my head inches away from the floor! And of

course the audience loves when they see me doing a one arm handstand on Nico’s head. Have you experienced any injuries during your career? I have had some minor bumps and bruises along the way - knock on wood - but I do my best to listen to my body, strengthen my weak points and stretch out the stiff areas. So I’ve been pretty good! What drew you from gymnastics to circus? Definitely the performance aspect to start. It wasn’t about the cookie cutter moves for me in gym, it was all about the dance and expression. I figured out at a young age I wasn’t gonna be the best, but it showed at competitions that I was always winning special awards for best presentation on floor even if I wasn’t bringing home medals towards the end. The other girls at the club used to get excited when I ran my routine, they liked to sit and watch because of the way I moved, it wasn’t like a typical gymnast so I knew I needed a different kind of stagelittle did I know I’d spontaneously audition for a circus school a few years later. The rest of the international cast features Coney Island's sword swallower and vintage beauty, Heather Holliday (USA), gravity-defying Chinese Pole and beatboxing master Mikael Bres (FRA), hand balancing extraordinaire Antonio Montiel (SPA), dancing sensation Hilton Denis (AUS), aerial sensation Marco Motta (BRA), hand to hand experts Nicolas Jelmoni (MCO), alongside the acrobatic expertise of Rémi Martin Lenz (GER). Prolific Sydney musician Mick Stuart (AUS) will lead the live ensemble, performing haunting ethereal melodies, irreverent electro-acoustic noise and playfully, sexy beats, composed exclusively by New York's Jank maestro Sxip Shirey (USA). LIMBO Unhinged will run in the Spiegeltent Broadbeach from 17 April to 12 May. Tickets are on sale now from spiegeltentgoldcoast.com. Keep an eye on Blank GC’s social media channels towards the end of March for your chance to win one of a heap of double passes to the show. Natalie O’Driscoll

www.blankgc.com.au

here is no shortage of impressive high profile women on the Gold Coast. This year, we thought we’d have a chat with some of the talented and hardworking women of the Gold Coast that you may not have seen before in the media, and give them a bunch of interesting questions to choose from. Here’s our International Women’s Day tribute to ten of the GC’s kick-arse chicks… that you’ve probably never heard of.

Megan Hayes is the STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Maths) teacher we all wish we had. Her commitment to student engagement at Mudgeeraba Creek State School has seen her earn outstanding accolades at regional, state and national levels including the Peter Doherty Award for Outstanding Teacher of STEM, the McIlwain Science Teacher of the Year, and a nomination by STAQ (the Science Teachers of QLD) for the National BHP Billiton Science Teacher of the Year 2017.

You can have one high profile woman over for dinner either past or present. Who is she and why? Katherine Coleman Goble Johnson - the woman whom the film “Hidden Figures” is based around - is a mathematician whose calculations of orbital mechanics as a NASA employee were critical to the success of the first and subsequent U.S. manned spaceflights. At the time, women were expected to quietly do their work and not ask questions. Katherine’s inquisitive disposition and brilliance in math earned her a spot on the team. Her calculations were responsible for determining the trajectory of the first landing in 1969. It would be so inspirational to hear stories from such an amazing woman!

The Oogars are a band consisting of four fabulous babes, who got together in 2018 after all separately dedicating the year to music. Emily, Tanisha, Gemma and Daniella have been playing together for the last 11 months, and have been gigging hard, building up a loyal following without releasing a single song (keep an ear to the ground, though).

You have ultimate global political power for one day. What is the first thing you change and why? World hunger and climate change would definitely be at the forefront. World hunger is more than just shortage of food. Even in countries where food is abundant or can be easily grown, challenges like racial and political conflict, poverty and natural disasters prevent people from accessing it. So I guess we’d do our best to put a boss team together and globally address and resolve world hunger for good.

Isabella began working with the Gold Coast Film Festival as part of a Bond University internship in 2016 and returned as Festival Coordinator in 2017 after graduating Bond University with a Bachelor of Communications. In 2018, she became Festival Coordinator full-time year-round, allowing the Gold Coast Film Festival to present screenings and industry events throughout the year.

Can you recall one clear sliding doors moment in your past without which you wouldn't be where you are in life right now?

I had just started my second year of uni and the ad popped up for a marketing internship with the Gold Coast Film Festival. The position caught my eye but at the time I was only really interested in going into Public Relations and knew absolutely nothing about film! It was actually my mum who pushed me to apply and give it a go because it might turn out to be something I really enjoy. So I went to put my application in and it turns out I’d missed the deadline. Thankfully, the Bond University career development team kindly slipped in my application late and I got an interview, then the internship and three years on I'm still at the festival!

Kate is a performer and choreographer and key member of Gold Coast's award winning dance company The Farm. With the company she has created the works Cockfight, The Ninth Wave, and TIDE amongst others. Kate trained at QUT and has also worked as a collaborator and performer with La Boite Theatre Company, Dancenorth, PVCtanz (Germany), KLARA theatre (Switzerland), David Pledger and Ochre Dance Company. Her works have been presented nationally and internationally.

You have ultimate global political power for one day. What is the first thing you change and why?

I would do whatever I could in one day to protect mother earth. For example in this country I would make it compulsory to have solar power fitted to every building and street light. If small villages in Germany manage to live off solar when they have a quarter of the sun we do, then I'm sure we can try it too. Taking care of our planet and making effective long lasting change is our biggest priority. We are all doing our bit but there needs to be change from the top or we are going nowhere. Oh and more money for the arts.

Dana Lowrey - aka DVNA – is quite fresh to the Gold Coast music scene. Although she’s been singing and songwriting her entire life, it was only about two years ago she started to take production seriously. YouTube tutorials, patience and persistence gave her the basic skills to construct a beat, and a sound production course at TAFE allowed gave her access to industry professionals. Since starting out she’s gained the support of triple j and Unearthed, been streamed over 420K times on Spotify alone and peaked at #3 on the Swedish electronic Music charts.

Do have a major long-term life goal that you're on your way to achieving right now?

Yes! I’m absolutely crazy about music so I will work my butt off until it is my full time. For every big goal, I’ve got a thousand little goals. Definitely a lot of ‘goal’ festivals/ performances to tick off the list. Collaborations, accolades I’d even just like to be considered for. Maybe even some acting later down the track.

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Mel is both the Music Director of popular southern hub Miami Marketta and an artist manager, via her agency Cult Club. She’s been helping to promote the Gold Coast as a live music destination for touring acts and supporting local musicians behind the scenes for years already, and intends to continue growing the live music scene on the Gold Coast for years to come.

You can have one high profile woman over for dinner either, past or present. Who is she and why?

The first lady of song – Ella Fitzgerald. As a female, and especially of a woman of colour living through the civil rights movement, she has broken through many barriers. She has won 13 Grammys, and recorded over 200 albums. This woman IS the definition of powerhouse in my eyes. I would love to spend an evening talking about the time in which she grew up making music. There is so much tradition and romance about the music of 1950s that I just LOVE.

Twenty-four year old Caitlin Francis was a project coordinator for less than a year at Currumbin RSL before being snapped up to manage beloved live music venue Soundlounge. She’s been kicking goals there for just over a year now.

Is there one particular person in your life without whom you wouldn't be where you are in life right now?

My mother Vanessa – she is the emotional backbone to our family! Sounds like a cliché but the boundaries she gave me (and my family) growing up gave me discipline to get me to where I am today. She taught me the importance of being the best domesticated self I can be as a functioning adult. Mumma V (as my siblings and I refer to her as) is much more than my mother, she is a confidante, the most selfless human and - I wouldn’t admit it before - but a best friend!

Gold Coast singer and songwriting sensation Lara Frew is chipping away at the global market of music making with her hooky tunes and international contacts. Having collaborated with acts from the UK, Canada, Sweden, Dubai, Netherlands, Germany, New Zealand, France and Peru, Frew is introducing GC artists to the rest of the world.

Can you recall one clear sliding doors moment in your past without which you wouldn't be where you are in life right now?

When I didn’t get a songwriting scholarship to the US during University. My extra classes were songwriting based and I already had international collaborations up my sleeve. After a very long pity party, I released if I wanted this as much as I said I did, I couldn’t let rejection be the thing to prevent me from doing it. I also learnt to work hard without expecting anything in return and when there aren’t opportunities, make them.

Ruth Della was a Creative Director of SWELL Sculpture Festival, where for 11 years she produced large scale outdoor exhibitions, a range of public artworks and art programs. Most notably, she was instrumental in growing SWELL as Queensland’s largest outdoor exhibition attracting a significant audience and broadening the understanding of sculpture and artists’ practices. Currently she is the Curator of Gallery DownTown in Murwillumbah, an annexe to the Tweed Regional Gallery.

You can have one high profile woman over for dinner, past or present. Who is she amd why? I would invite Dorothea Lange to dinner. As a new mum, studying photography and in particular Dorothea Lange and her compelling image ‘Migrant Mother’ taken in 1936, Dorothea struck me as a courageous and determined woman. She was strong, physically and emotionally, and ambitious when women weren’t supposed to be. She felt no bounds of a stereotypical role and worked toward her chosen career. At the time, I was looking to switch toward a career that was creatively rewarding and I found Dorothea’s story a source of inspiration.

Nicole Klein has been the Marketing and Communications Manager of Bleach* The Gold Coast Festival since July 2017, and delivered the marketing strategy and campaign which brought Bleach* at Festival 2018 to the world through the Commonwealth Games.

Is there one particular person in your life without whom you wouldn't be where you are in life right now? I couldn’t not mention my Mum for obvious reasons, but without her I wouldn’t be able to achieve what I’m currently doing given my husband works long hours. I’m very fortunate enough to have my immediate family living on the Gold Coast which allows for a great support network. www.blankgc.com.au

There’s no forgetting

SUNSET CITY

old Coast trio Sunset City have had an impressive 18 months, culminating recently in the release of their new track ‘Forget it All’, a collaboration with ARIA Award-winner Samantha Jade. We caught up with Parker, Rob and Scully about the track and their rise to prominence.

“We all grew up on the Gold Coast, although Scully was raised in Papua New Guinea, and we all met 5 years ago through mutual friends. We started to jam and one of us just said, ‘Let’s make this thing a band,” Parker tells us. So how did this collaboration with an ARIA Award winner come about? It kicked off with a track they recorded, shuffled around record company execs in a few different cities, Parker explains. “We just wanted to create a really fun track on this single, and I feel like we did a really good job. We like the track a lot.” “We were down in Melbourne with a few producers who also liked it, and through our label we made a few connections. All of that got back to Sam somehow who said she was interested, and ultimately it ended up with a producer in Sydney who was working with Sam that day, and we got sent the work the next day. It all happened so fast but that’s the business sometimes.” Playing at Suncorp Stadium, in the pre-game show for the Brisbane Broncos, was their biggest performance in their short career so far. Rob reflects on the opportunity. “That was a highlight. We got to drop three tracks for the crowd. Kinda like the SuperBowl but on a smaller scale. It was fun!” The band closes philosophically as they’re asked about what it’s been like growing their reputation in Queensland and abroad. “The last 18 months has been lots of waiting. That’s what people don’t realise. You fool around with a few tracks and have some meetings, we’re all working or studying, and there’s just a lot of waiting. Then all of a sudden it happens and your song is being played everywhere.” You can take a listen to ‘Forget It All’ through all the usual channels. Glenn Tozer 28

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TRANSFORM YOUR PASSION FOR POPULAR MUSIC INTO A CAREER The Bachelor of Music (Popular Music) taught at the Queensland Conservatorium’s South Bank campus in Brisbane, will nurture your unique musical style within a thriving, supportive and creative environment. For more information, visit: griffith.edu.au/music

BE REMARKABLE

LOOK! THERE’S A NEW GALLERY IN MURWILLUMBAH

GHENOA GELA

... a force of nature

ho is Ghenoa Gela? This question will be answered and then some when Bleach* The Gold Coast Festival 2019 brings the awardwinning multi-disciplinary artist to the Gold Coast for three performances of her show ‘My Urrwai’ this April. Little sister, daughter, granddaughter, comic, teacher, fighter, gold medallist, air guitarist, charmer, TV star, Torres Strait mainlander and walking political statement Ghenoa has been garnering rave reviews around the country for ‘My Urrwai’, an autobiographical show weaving together spoken story and movement. With no direct English word that translates its meaning, Urrwai is a combination of “my spirit, my style, my essence” in the Kala Lagaw Ya language, indigenous to the Torres Strait. In what is a departure from her earlier works, Ghenoa invites audiences in to the deeply personal aspects of her life, and asks them to understand the complex political, social, colonial and cultural expectations she navigates every day.

Showcasing works from the collection and artists from the region, Gallery DownTown is the annexe of one of NSW’s most recognised regional galleries, Tweed Regional Gallery & Margaret Olley Art Centre, all housed within the creative hub of Murwillumbah’s vibrant M-Arts Precinct.

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As a starting point for the process, Ghenoa wrote stories from various stages in her life. Dance was created to explain family lines and relationships, drawn from traditional Torres Strait Islander dance alongside new movement abstractions drawn from contemporary dance and hip hop. Her movement is used to articulate cultural influences playing with her various identities; from the kid sneakily learning 1990s dances from her brothers to physicalising a dark and furious part of herself. At the heart of it, Ghenoa brings together her multiple talents to tell a very black, very contemporary, unique story. Laughter and deep reflection go hand in hand in this unique and intimate story told through movement and words. A recipient of the renowned Keir Choreographic Award and the Deadly Funny Melbourne International Comedy Festival Award, Ghenoa’s energetic auto-biographical journey is funny, moving and, ultimately, enlightening. ‘My Urrwai’, supported by a stellar team, including director Rachael Maza and dramaturg Kate Champion, is a revealing reflection on and celebration of cultural and familial inheritance, and an unflinching comment on race relations in Australia. There are only three showings of ‘My Urrwai’ over 26 and 27 April, in The Space at HOTA. Visit bleachfestival.com. au for tickets and full programming of the whole event, running 17-28 April 2019. Natalie O’Driscoll

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NOITASREVNOC VAC KCIN HTIW RATS-LLA

ROY WEN(

BLACKBIRD BYRON shining a light on

KATURA HALLEDAY

hen Mudgeeraba throws a little street party in April to celebrate Queensland Youth Week, they’ll screen a short film about Tallai student Katura Halleday. Filmed by Jude Kalman (Fish Films), the short explores Katura’s work in Mozambique where she travelled to teach other kids art. Since then Katura’s been a finalist for a Gold Coast Young Citizen of the Year award and in October will have her art exhibited in a group show in Rochester, New York. Katura told me she was humbled to be nominated for the Young Citizen award. “It made me realise that people out there were in fact hearing my message,” she said, “but most importantly it gave me a stronger platform to be heard, and with that comes the ability to help more people.” Katura travelled to Mozambique in September-October 2018 to visit three girls she’s been sponsoring through Mission Educated. She visited the King of Kings School where she was able to connect with students through art and English lessons. Jude Kalman was travelling with her, hence the creation of a short film about her work. Katura tells me how the trip came about. “Last year I was runner up Miss Mudgeeraba Showgirl, I had to give a speech on my dream. I spoke about education, sanitation and medication for third world countries. Jude [Kalman] was in the audience, next thing I know I was heading off to Mozambique with her. Which is weird, because my mum is pretty protective, and I didn’t think she would let me go.” “I made several personal connections with students, including the three girls I am helping to put through school,” Katura said. “I truly thought that I was prepared for what I would encounter but the reality of hearing firsthand the stories of struggle, the death of parents and heartache and hopelessness from girls my own age, my peers, was very confronting.” Katura said she quickly had to come to terms with how different lives and opportunities were based purely on the location of someone’s birth.

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Image by FishFilms

The short film captures some of the darker side of life that is the reality for Katura’s new friends in Mozambique while also covering some of the more light-hearted moments. “My most touching moment was learning the story of one of the girls we are helping to educate, seeing her living conditions and meeting her family. To know what these people sacrifice for an education was humbling,” Katura said. And of course, the trip changed Katura as much as it changed the lives of those she supports in Mozambique. “It was not until I got home and watched the finished film that I suddenly realised that helping changes you too, not just the community you help.” Katura sends her art to New York once a year to be included in a fundraising exhibition there and this year, she’s decided to hold her own exhibition here in Australia to raise funds for the school in Mozambique. “I thought it would be a great way to unite the community through art,” she said, adding that in Mozambique it was art that helped bridge the language barrier. Local and interstate artists have already committed to support the November event by submitting a piece. “Mission Educate currently has 2000 students at the King of Kings school and the money raised this year will help to cover the costs of student education, teacher salaries and supplies. They are also expanding their educational initiatives and have started a Technical College and plans to construct a University,” Katura explained. With several fundraising events on the horizon, Katura is most excited about a partnership between her school and another: All Saints Anglican College and Somerset College. “The two schools are funding the cost of shipping a container to Mozambique. It will be filled with supplies donated by other schools and people connected with Mission Educate. My school has donated 100 laptop computers, a fridge, and loads of school supplies. I know I have done all I can to help, and have got so many lovely people in my community involved too, especially my amazing principal Patrick Wallas.” Celebrating Hinterland Youth is a Mudgeeraba Street Party that takes place during Queensland Week, 7 April 2019. Samantha Morris

scape the coastal crowds this summer and retreat to the Byron Hinterland.

Byron Bay has long been known as the multicultural mecca of the East Coast, with visitors flocking from all over for a touch of Byron hip. And now there’s there’s a new hype brewing beyond Byron, in the hinterland amongst the mountains and waterfalls of the vast national parks, reminiscent of a bygone era. Perched high above the township of Mullumbimby, with unsurpassed views back to Cape Byron, is the new Blackbird Byron, an uber-cool, rustic (but luxe) boutique retreat, complete with a magnesium mineral pool, chic décor, Moroccan tiled floors and contemporary open plan studios that frame the valley vistas. Palm Springs-meets-Mexico-meets Byron Bay, as you drive up the long winding road to find your destination perched on the side of the Koonyum National Park. There is a sense of comfort when you arrive. The welcoming party is owner James Hudson (ex-The Rum Diaries & White Revolver, Bondi) wife Stella, their two young children and chocolate Labrador. James’s hospitality is impeccable, offering French champagne on arrival, poured at the communal dining table that overlooks the infinity pool to the ocean and beyond. (You get the sense a lot of inspiring conversations will take place at this table). With a background in industrial design, James has an eye for detail and can turn recycled materials into gold. Wife Stella is an interior designer so everything is styled to suit at this stunning property. Blackbird is the ideal place to base yourself when venturing into Nightcap National Park and Minyon Falls, and the property also backs on to the lesser known Koonyum Ranges, for those wanting to chase their own waterfalls. After a short trip downtown to Mullumbimby, you can pamper yourself at the Bali-inspired Kiva Spa, grab a woodfired pizza at Milk and Honey or do a spot of vintage shopping at Silver Lining. With an array of world class festivals like Byron Bay Blues Festival, Splendor in the grass and Falls Festival, the Byron Hinterland is the ideal place to stay for those in-between rock ‘n’ roll moments, to soak up the natural surrounds of Northern NSW. Visit @thetravellingsenorita for more travel inspo. Kylie Mitchell-Smith

ANOTHER WOMAN GONE

oved to action by the staggering statistics that show more than one Australian woman a week is killed due to domestic violence, a group of local musicians have come together to shine a light on the epidemic of violence against women.

‘Another Woman Gone’ – a song and music video project – aims to raise awareness of violence against women and raise money for crisis relief for women escaping domestic violence. Project Coordinator and musician, Ilona Harker, has been involved with supporting women through DV since she was young, after growing up in a home affected by DV and then experiencing it herself as an adult. She says the project is a powerful plea for helping to address the consequences of violence in Australia.

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“Too many women are being killed. It’s time we all say ‘enough’ and work together to push for change,” says Harker, who spearheaded the project. “Incidences of DV in Australia are increasing and so I thought it was important to show how much DV affects our communities, as well as the family and loved ones of those involved.” The song is an adapted acapella version of Odetta’s ‘Another Man Done Gone’ and was recorded at the well-known Rocking Horse Studios in Northern NSW, with two local choirs ‘Northern Rivers Folk Choir' and 'Raise the Roof '. "In conjunction with Mullum Music Festival, we invited a few powerful and amazing women, including Ash Constance (Rambling Ash) Aine Tyrrell, Cara Robinson (Hat Fitz and Cara), Kodi Twiner (Ladyslug) and Sian Evans (Jayne Welch) to take part,” explains Ilona. “With the help of filmmaker Grace Holt, we shot a music clip and then, once again a whole bunch of Byron Bay locals stepped up honour the lives of the women who have been killed in Australia.” The song and clip have already generated some emotional responses.

PAUL

“One of the comments I hear most is that ‘Another Woman Gone’ made people cry. While our intention is not to upset people, we still want to move people enough to raise awareness of this growing issue and hopefully funds for escape services.”

ENROLLED NURSE

Another Woman Gone will donate all sales from the song to services for women escaping domestic violence throughout Australia under the auspice of the Byron Shire Women’s Resource Service. You can watch the video on YouTube.

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live lineups announced

GC MUSIC AWARDS & SURFERS PARADISE LIVE

urfers Paradise LIVE once again delivers four massive nights of music right on the beach in Surfers Paradise this May, and for the third year running, the Gold Coast Music Awards will kick things off.

and putting in the hard yards to build a fan base on the Gold Coast and further afield. With gigs supporting Tia Gostelow and sets at Mountain Goat Valley Crawl with Sunrose, IVEY, San Mei and Kallidad, these guys have also signed to an independent European management agency with big goals for 2019 and beyond.

Thursday 2 May sees Casey Barnes take to the stage for a free, all-ages show on the main stage in Surfers Paradise. A Golden Guitar finalist, Casey will be fresh from touring the USA with shows in Kansas City, Missouri and Sioux Falls in South Dakota so there’s no question he’ll be bringing the goods to Gold Coast’s country music fans.

For the rest of Surfers Paradise LIVE, Aussie rock superstars will descend on the Gold Coast. The Living End, Hoodoo Gurus and The Screaming Jets will all headline a night of the festival with support acts including Jebediah, Daryl Braithwaite, Chocolate Starfish, Bachelor Girl and tonnes more.

Also on the bill are emerging Gold Coast superstars San Mei and Peach Fur. San Mei have just racked up a Queensland Music Awards finalist berth for ‘Wonder’ in both the Rock and Regional Award categories, having wowed audiences at BIGSOUND, and are clocking up serious airtime with triple j radio play over the past 12 months. Peach Fur, who last year featured at the GC Music Awards after-party, turned serious heads with their seven-track 2018 release ‘Doreen Drive’. Since then, they’ve been playing stages at every single opportunity, sometimes many times in one weekend, honing their live show 34

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Best of all it’s FREE, and family friendly to boot! Held from Thursday 2 to Sunday 5 May, Surfers Paradise LIVE kicks off with Gold Coast Music Awards 2019 before launching into three more epic days and nights of music on the sparkling Surfers Paradise shores. Oh, and did we mention it’s totally, completely, 100% free? Get amongst it. More at surfersparadise.com and gcmusicawards.com. Samantha Morris

MILLENCOLIN

HILLTOP HOODS

SOS

The Great Expanse

wedish punks Millencolin have been going strong for 26 years and eight albums. Their soon-to-bereleased ninth album ‘SOS’ displays a distinct maturity in lyrics and instrumentation, while still retaining the trademark fast punk sound that fans so adore. New album, new social and political themes, but unmistakeably Millencolin.

Title and opening track ‘SOS’ gives listeners a fair warning of what’s to follow, introducing the band’s scathing commentary on the state of the world with a hectic pace and strong vocals. ‘Sour Days’ kicks off with grungier guitars while ‘Yanny & Laurel’ is fast, rocking and delightfully mosh-inspiring. ‘Trumpets & Poutine’ is a mixed tempo offering, working off the metaphor of humankind as band members who play different instruments; with a conductor who has lost all sense of melody. A deceptively slower start turns into the blistering look at the current phoneobsessed, disconnected life in ‘Do You Want War’. ‘Caveman’s Land’ is the completely onpoint track about nationalism and treatment of refugees and immigrants. It kicks straight in with vocals and doesn’t let up the intensity while calling out troglodytes. ‘SOS’, with polished musicians and lyrics calling for change and progression in society, is the perfect follow up album to 2015’s ‘True Brew’. Millencolin fans will be reassured there is no letting up from the band, and if you’ve missed tickets to the sold out Soundlounge gig in March you’ll be crying into your coffee. Erin Bourne

ighly anticipated new album 'The Great Expanse', is classic Hilltop Hoods. All the elements are there: a very Aussie sense of humour, catchy beats, world-class feature artists and lyrics that speak to the human experience. It’s therefore no surprise that lead single, ‘Clarke Griswold’ went Gold and has over 1 million YouTube hits. In addition, follow up single ‘Leave Me Lonely’ was the most added track on commercial radio and was headed for Platinum sales.

While the theme of the album seems to be the deep and serious idea of the Aussie hip hop legends trying to stay true to their values in a crazy world and way of life, the samples and dancefloor-filling beats provide a lighthearted listen. One of the stand out tracks ‘Exit Sign’ (featuring Illy and Ecca Vandal) is the perfect example of this, a nod to real life over celebrity party scene. ‘Be Yourself ’ brings some old school scratching grooves and the impeccable vocals of Ecca Vandal and Nyassa. ‘H is for ……’ adds some flair for the dramatic, classic hip hop bravado and a little nod to Aussie rock band Australian Crawl. I’ll let you figure out what the H might be for. 'The Great Expanse' is exactly what you would hope for from the Hilltop Hoods, a damn good time with an uplifting undertone. The album is available now. Erin Bourne

KOALA CONSERVATION KEY FOR THE CITY

id you know that in 2018, City of Gold Coast introduced Australia’s first $10.85 million Koala Conservation Plan? As urban expansion continues, koalas face ever-increasing threats to their survival. These include: Destruction and degradation of habitat (by far the greatest current threat facing koala populations), barriers to movement such as fences, roads and cleared land, road fatalities, dog attacks, fires and disease. The City supports some of the most important koala habitat and populations in South East Queensland. These populations occur over 32,000 hectares of habitat within City and State managed reserves. With national koala populations under threat, our City made headlines last year with its commitment to the protection and preservation of our iconic mammals, presenting a range of actions designed to conserve the city’s unique biodiversity. The 62 actions within the Koala Conservation Plan aim to conserve and restore habitat, manage threats from traffic, bushfire, dogs and feral animals, and generally support koala welfare, largely through the purchase of koala habitat. Landholders of large rural blocks can enter into an agreement with the City to conserve natural areas on their land, including habitat for koalas. In return, landholders can receive financial support and technical assistance. So while the Vulnerable Species Management Team implements the actions across the City, here are a few things that residents can do to help out: Report all koala sightings (whether healthy, injured, sick or deceased) to City of Gold Coast on 1300 GOLDCOAST (1300 465 326), by submitting a koala sighting online or completing a koala sighting form. Please also report sick or injured koalas directly to Wildcare Australia on 07 5527 2444. Be a responsible pet owner. Please ensure that pets are contained on your property, and are kept under control when walking in public. Most dog attacks on koalas occur between dusk and dawn when koalas are most active. Drive carefully. Please take extra care when driving on roads, particularly at night. Take note of road signs indicating areas where koalas are present or regularly cross. By being aware of potential koala habitat areas and taking heed of road signs, wildlife road kill and injury can be reduced.

Image credit: Amber Haines

17 – 28 April

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Natalie O’Driscoll www.blankgc.com.au

get a little starstruck

AT HOTA

Candy - Abbie Cornish as Candy and Heath Ledger as Dan on the Gravitron by Hugh Hartshorne

f you love movies, you’ll love Starstruck.

From 2 March to 28 April, Gallery at HOTA is hosting a new star-studded exhibition: Starstruck: Australian Movie Portraits. Presented by the National Portrait Gallery and the National Film and Sound Archive of Australia, Starstruck explores the striking portraits emerging from 100 years of Australian movies. It features famous Australian actors and iconic films, as well as highlighting the lesser-known early years of our film industry. Many items are available for the public to see for the very first time. Audiences will be treated to rare film posters, 1930s scrapbooks of aspiring actors, and original costumes from iconic movies such as ‘Picnic at Hanging Rock’, ‘My Brilliant Career’, and ‘The Adventures of Priscilla, Queen of the Desert’. Little ones are well taken care of, with a program of Little Artlabs that include paper costume making, Red Dog puppet and mask making, headshots with Aaron Chapman and star portraits. Australian film ‘Red Dog’ will have a free showing in the Basement on 7 April. A film that captivated cinema audiences across the nation and became an instant Aussie classic, ‘Red Dog’ is the incredible true story of the wandering, dust-covered Kelpie who hitched his way to the mining town of Dampier and into the hearts of each and every one of its residents. Legendary Australian classic ‘Sons of Matthew’ will celebrate its 70th anniversary with a showing on 13 March, presented by Gold Coast Film Festival. ’Sons of Matthew’ is arguably Charles Chauvel’s most personal and ambitious work and took 18 months to complete, with filming in Queensland affected by flooding and heavy rain. The film was shot in Springbrook in the Gold Coast hinterland and the story was based on books by Bernard O’Reilly – of Gold Coast hinterland’s well-known O’Reilly family. It was a huge success with local audiences when it opened in December 1949, and was also released in the UK and US (as ‘The Rugged O’Riordans’). It has been restored by The National Film and Sound Archive. For the full program of events and details of the exhibition, visit hota.com.au/starstruck. Natalie O’Driscoll

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THE COTTAGE AT ROSELLA COVE

I BUILT NO SCHOOLS IN KENYA

SANDIE DOCKER

KIRSTEN DRYSDALE

his second novel by Australian author Sandie Docker explores the lives of three damaged souls in a small town with a big heart.

When Nicole leaves her Sydney life for the sleepy town of Rosella Cove, she is hoping to be able to keep to herself. Like all best laid plans, it quickly unravels when a box of wartime love letters, a weighty renovation project, some curious and friendly locals and a cantankerous hermit named Charlie proceed to present an irresistible draw on her time and attention. ‘The Cottage at Rosella Cove’ is a lovingly drawn portrait of small town Australia and the characters who inhabit it. Docker does an excellent job of drip-feeding the backstories of newcomer Nicole, letter-writer Ivy and mysterious character Charlie through enticing flashbacks and heartbreaking revelations. The township is peppered with residents who light up the pages and remain completely likeable even while intruding upon Nicole’s solitude and getting involved (mostly without being asked) in her business. The gradual restoration of Ivy’s cottage at the hands of the inexperienced Nicole and her willing helpers creates a perfect, if unsubtle, metaphor for the gradual rebuilding of her peace and happiness following a situation gone horribly bad, and provides a setting so vividly written that it almost feels like you could reach out and touch the dust on the hearth. The Cottage, as indicated by its presence in the book’s title, is absolutely one of the main characters of the story. Docker’s pacing is excellent, with the flashbacks kept detailed enough to engage, vague enough to maintain tension, and short enough that they never truly halt the momentum of the present day storyline. A warning: If you are not a fan of incomplete details or unresolved storylines, there may be a moment or two of frustration at the end. It’s a story of love and loss, grief and hope, and the enduring power of friendship. An excellent second offering by this Sydney author. Natalie O’Driscoll

he Finnish word that describes homesickness for a place you’ve never been is kaukokaipuu. As an Australian brought up in Mackay, Queensland by her Zimbabwean parents, this is how Kirsten Drysdale describes her longing to visit Africa back in 2010 in her first book ‘I Built No Schools in Kenya’.

Despite having no nursing or carer background, Drysdale unwittingly accepts a job in Kenya having been coerced by her friend Alice to join her as part of a three woman team of round-the-clock carers for Walt, a wealthy British man with advanced dementia. Drysdale’s job as a researcher and presenter on the ABC show ‘Hungry Beast’ (she is now best known as a presenter on ABC’s ‘The Checkout’) had come to an end, and with scant knowledge of what was involved, including the pay, she heads off to Nairobi. Walt’s racist, sexist, classist values are still rooted in old British colonial era Kenya where he has spent most of his life. Walt and his second wife Marguerite divide their lives between the house and the ‘Club’, another remnant of colonial days. While Walt’s unpredictable behaviour is challenging enough, his London-based daughter Fiona, AKA Val, creates the most havoc. She is a devious, paranoid, manipulative control freak with questionable motives, and she visits the house in Kenya regularly. Drysdale does manage to get out to visit the real Kenya, and her experiences involve reporting on the East African body building scene, visiting a sanctuary for deformed animals with a Kenya Cowboy, and socialising with Australian Youth Ambassadors for Development; the types who really do build schools in Kenya. The title of the book would suggest Drysdale’s time in Nairobi was fruitless, and it is baffling at times as to why Drysdale not only stayed in an unpalatable situation, but returned a second time. However, her resultant book is an optimistic and refreshing look at contemporary Africa. The book definitely gives the impression that Kenyans have the tenacity to forge their own identity in a globalised world. Pip Andreas

ON A ROLL: TONES AND I

t’s been quite the ride so far for Byron Bay local Toni Watson - aka Tones And I.

Originally from the Mornington Peninsula, Watson took a trip to Byron in early 2018 and took a chance on busking. On the first day she had crowds spilling on to the street, so she quit her retail job and decided to make Byron Bay her new home. Since then, Tones And I has won Battle of the Buskers at Buskers By The Creek, and has been selling out local and interstate venues and pulling record crowds with lines around the block. Now finally, she has released her debut single ‘Johnny Run Away’, a melodic slice of Nordicinspired electro-pop that tells a very important story. We caught up with the enchanting chanteuse just after the song’s release on unearthed, where it’s been burning up the airwaves on triple j to instant acclaim. How are you feeling after seeing the epic response to ‘Johnny Run Away’? [It] was crazy, I was so caught off guard, I love the track so much but to see that others feel the same way is mind blowing out-of-thisworld shizz. I'm honestly just thankful, thankful to myself, thankful to my team and thankful to everyone and triple j and unearthed for really giving this track every opportunity to thrive. For someone who is so accustomed to performing live, how did you find the recording process of your debut? I find the recording process really interesting, I usually know exactly what I want as I have already played around at home with different options and won't go into a studio without being fully prepared. However, I have always been intrigued about experimenting with producers and I think having another musical mind involved has always proven to work really well.

Did it present any unexpected challenges? Recording my live demos was interesting, we recorded all the loops one by one and then recorded the vocals fully live in one take. Some songs have over 45 loops so it can really be very time consuming when we record them one by one. How was it working with Konstantin Kersting of The Belligerents? Kon’s a legend, he just 'gets it,' he sees what I see, we work very well together, he's such an easy guy to work with and always listens to what the artist wants. Can you give us a bit of a backstory behind ‘Johnny Run Away’? Johnny is about my best friend who was telling me the story of how he came out at a young age to a disapproving father. It’s his story, I wanted to relay to people that we spend so much time judging strangers for their own decisions that we forget that they are going through judgement and rejection within their own family, let alone the public. Why do you think it’s important to tell stories of people who face judgement and prejudice, through art? It’s a way to stand up for what is right, it’s my way of doing it, turning something horrible into a message that people can really think about. I have never written a song about love, every single one of my songs is about someone I have met in my life that has left a mark in my heart or something I honestly feel. That’s way more important to me. What does the rest of 2019 hold for you? Hopefully I get to spend my year playing as much music as possible, writing as much music as possible, playing basketball and just enjoying this crazy experience. You can listen to ‘Johnny Run Away’ on triple j unearthed, and it will be released through all the usual streaming services on 1 March. Natalie O’Driscoll

www.blankgc.com.au

BACARO

1 Brisbane St, Murwillumbah, NSW Ph: 0499146578

BKA VEGAN RESTAURANT & BAR 1/1837 Gold Coast Highway, Burleigh Heads Ph: 0490 457 223

KA Vegan has opened on the beachside of the Burleigh Highway, marking the beginning of a new era of prosperity for the strip with all leases now tenanted for 2019. Owned by Chef Ryan Jacobs and his partner Kylie Wood, BKA Vegan sets out lofty ideals (Be Kind Always) as it dips its toe into waters where others have floundered. “Someone recently called us food activists and it really rang true,” says Kylie. “We want to dispel the misconception that plant-based food is boring and only for vegans. We are all about taste, preparing quality delicious and innovative food with something for everyone.” The couple are starting with a great base. Coming from the business world, Kylie is focussed on excellent customer service, and Chef Ryan Jacobs has been in the industry for over 30 years, recently heading kitchens at Calavera, The Collective and Iron & Resin Garage before the couple began their own stall at the Sanctuary Markets, Currumbin, gathering a loyal following of both vegans and non-vegans. Taking over the space formerly occupied by Circul and The Local, the couple have embraced the industrial feel of the venue with its polished concrete floors, suspended timber sleepers and copper-topped bar.

Italians have always excelled at vegetarian dishes, so the Eggplant cannelloni ($22) and Tomato Caprese ($18) are no surprise, the difference being that all sauces and vegan ‘cheezes’ are made in house. (Ryan’s range of nut and tofu-based ‘cheezes’ is shown off best in the Grazing plate for two, where house mozzarella, caramelised onion cheddar and feta cheeze are presented with vegan pâtés, fig paste, dips and flatbread.) The Americas get a look in with Mac ‘N’ Cheese and Taco sliders. But, fittingly, it’s the Asian Archipelago, where Kylie lived for eight years, that provides the most interest: a deliciously spicy Mushroom satay ramen with peanut sauce and chilli oil ($22) and the dish that will draw us back, Nasi Campur Bali – nasi goreng with lawar, tempeh satay and tofu kecap ($24). Many dishes are gluten-free, and there are vegan desserts as well as a range of vegan beers, wines and cocktails to complement your meal. Worth the walk ‘across the road’, BKA Vegan gives a different take on vegan food that’s world-inspired and tasty. Most dishes, particularly those that are Asian-inspired, hold mainstream dining appeal. Priced to please, with both vegan and mainstream dining support, BKA has all the strengths it needs to last the test of time.

Somehow it fits with the menu: unfussy food with down-to-earth plant-provided goodness. Drawing from the palate of world flavours, Chef Ryan gives us a celebration of all things earthy, presented with the polish of an accomplished chef.

NOTE: For free undercover car parking, enter via the Esplanade under the Ambience building. Blank GC dined as a guest of BKA Vegan.

We’re invited in to taste a range of their delicious dishes. Mushrooms (often referred to as vegan’s meat) make several appearances: Spring rolls stuffed with wild mushrooms and veg to be dipped in a house-made dipping sauce ($14) and Mixed mushrooms with kale glass and mushroom jus served on a velvety cauli purée ($16).

Read more of Marj’s reviews on foodgoldcoast.com.au

www.blankgc.com.au

Marj Osborne

ife’s a feast at Bacaro.

Bacaro is an airy café in the emerging M-Arts precinct in Murwillumbah, the country town that has it all – a beautiful position on a hillside surrounded by verdant rolling pastures, abundant food from surrounding farmlands, the cutest retro cinema and a flourishing art community. Italian owners Giorgia (front of house) and Luca (the chef) stepped away from their positions at Mavis’s Kitchen and Tweed Art Gallery Café to open their own place, bringing with them a lot of goodwill from locals. Bacaro, the equivalent of a ‘trattoria’ in Venice, is a casual bar and eatery, open all day during the week, extending to dinner on Friday and Saturday nights. With tables running into the gallery alongside and out under the veranda, it’s a very pleasant place to enjoy breakfast, lunch, afternoon tea or anytime ‘grazing’ - Venetian-style food made with love to be shared. After all, why restrict your tastes to one dish! We start with an abundant antipasto board featuring Salumi Australia’s prosciutto and salami, Venetian Parma prosciutto, local crackers from ‘Sunrise Sourdough’, cheese from Tweed Valley Whey, olives from Luca’s tree, and Luca’s delicious ‘zucca in saor’ (traditional sweet and sour pickled pumpkin with onions), $18.90. Next comes my ‘dish of the day’, a typical Venetian Cansunziei: organic ravioli with beetroot, cooked in organic butter and poppy seed. Served with a rocket salad, the ravioli yields easily to the fork. Exquisite and unmissable! ($19) Scallops make an impressive entrance, baked on the shell with a perfectly balanced coating of fresh parsley, garlic and breadcrumbs ($17). Oh, so delicious! We also love the risotto with fresh asparagus, perfectly al dente as it should be, but seafood’s our love, so we’ll be back for Risotto

with squid and clams, a ‘must do’ at $23 for two!

Image by Claire Dalton

We leave room for shared desserts, including a traditional delicate tiramisu (‘lift me up’) without added sugar and a moreish house limoncello to finish… and there are so many other dishes that demand a return visit: Gnocchi Zola e Formaggi, Aranchini with salsa verdi, Eggplant Parmigiana (just three of the vegetarian choices) or Nonna’s recipe for meatballs or polpette… and then we see that Luca’s parents are in the kitchen. Bacaro (taken from the name of Bacchus, the god of wine) is licensed, serving very wellpriced Australian wine, cocktails and beers (including from locals - Ink Gin, Brookies and Stone & Wood), and to our delight there’s a ‘Special Cellars’ list of Italian wines, two by the glass to serve as the ‘ombra’ or shadow behind the food. “In Venice you stole a kiss from me to tweak my heart,” the menu says, and after we have feasted at Bacaro we carry that heartfelt love with us, in no doubt that we’ll be back again soon. NOTE: On Fridays from 4 – 6pm, Bacaro has a ‘cocktail hour’ with free cicchetti or nibbles served with the purchase of cocktails, wine and beer. Marj Osborne Read more of Marj’s reviews on foodgoldcoast.com.au NOTE: Blank dined as a guest of Bacaro.

SAN CHURRO SURFERS PARADISE 47/48 Circle on Cavill, Surfers Paradise

f you’re looking for a chocolately catch up with your amigos, you need look no further than San Churro Surfers Paradise, a Spanish twist on a dessert café, replete with Willy Wonka-esque walls full of delicious take-home treats.

Our night-time visit takes us into the centre of Surfers Paradise after a rather hearty meal, so we initially plan to only taste an item or two from the San Churro menu. This idea quickly becomes laughable when we are greeted with the range of fondues, icecreams, shakes and dessert tapas on offer. Unable to choose between a salted caramel dip pot and crème catalana (think crème brulee with a citrus twist), we go with both as part of a 4 dish tapas ($22), and throw in a dish of Buñuelos (Spanish Doughnut Balls) and fresh strawberries for dipping. We also grab a ruby chocolate fondue with hot, fresh churros ($10). I had heard much about ruby chocolate but never tried it. It’s essentially like a pink-coloured white

chocolate with a unique fruity tang at the end, and it goes beautifully with the warm, crispy cinnamon-sugared Buñuelos, while the salty-sweet caramel is simply divine with the strawberries. We finish off the night with a Spanish latte, which is fresh espresso with condensed milk sitting in a sweet layer at the bottom. We probably didn’t need any more sugar, but when in Rome. (Or Spain). San Churro Surfers Paradise offers several vegan options, and gluten-free and lowgluten items also. If we’d been able to fit it in, we would have availed ourselves of one of the divine looking sundaes or shakes, piled high with whipped cream (or not, as per your preference), or one of the gorgeous layer cakes or colourful macarons on display in the dessert cabinet. But in the end, all we could manage to do was take home a few gourmet chocolates to nibble on later. The rest will just have to wait until our next visit. Natalie O’Dricoll

Gold Coast students

STRIKE FOR CLIMATE ACTION

ome of the city’s high school students are taking to the streets this month to demand action on climate change from our local politicians. They’re joining tens of thousands of students from across Australia and the world in a global day of action.

Narii and Tadhg Salmon, who both attend Miami High School, are two of the students leading the charge and they’re asking people of all ages to join them in solidarity. “Climate change will affect us all,” Tadhg said. “On 15 March we’re pushing for change across Australia and the world.” The students will strike from school on 15 March and rally at the offices of Karen Andrews MP, who is also the Federal Minister for Industry, Science and Technology. “We’ve already met with Minister Andrews to discuss these concerns. We don’t think she is taking her role as Science Minister seriously,” Narii said. “The science is real and technology already exists to help us transition urgently to renewable energies.”

Images by Adam Christie

“Climate change is a crisis. We want politicians to take our futures seriously,” Narii said.

And he has a stern word for anyone questioning their time off school. “Students skipping school is not ruining our planet. Climate change is.” Narii said being involved in the climate movement had helped him extend his classroom learning into real life situations. “The movement has helped me grow so much as a person. As someone who is shy, speaking to MPs and getting to know other adults and students who value the future of our planet as much as I do, helped me become confident, an effective leader and unafraid to speak up for what I think is right,” Narii said. “It’s an amazing feeling as a teenager or a child to know that adults are inspired by your actions and are taking the time to listen to what you have to say.” Collectively, students are calling for a transition to 100% renewable energy by 2030, no new coal or gas and for leaders to stop the Adani coal mine. The School Strike 4 Climate takes place Friday 15 March from 10.00am – 12 noon at Karen Andrews MP’s office, 47 Watts Drive, Varsity Lakes. Facebook event: bit.ly/StrikeClimate National website: schoolstrike4climate.com Samantha Morris

SOUTHPORT YACHT CLUB

- Eastern Lawn -

All Welcome

- BA R O PEN 3 PM CRA F T BEER & CO CK T A I LS

- F I RS T F RI D A Y OF THE MONTH

- LI VE EN T ERT A I N M EN T

- FOODS PE CI A LS

- W A T ERF RO N T DINING

1 Mac arth u r Parade, Main Beac h , QL D 4217 - 07 5591 3500 - W W W .SO UT H P O R T YA C H T C L UB .C O M.A U

www.blankgc.com.au

he only thing more refreshing than a cold brew coffee from your local is to see these cafes serving up their own blend of environmental activism. As consumers it’s so important we continue to support businesses like these so that low impact solutions remain viable and become commonplace. Amy Gould gives the low down on Gold Coast's conscious cafes.

events

artemus Tickets & info | artemus.com.au

MARCH 15th

Gaby Moreno

USA | Guatemala Australian Tour

OCEAN 4218

CAFFE REPUBLIC

Proudly plastic free, this little blue gem of a cafe only hands out single-use items derived from renewable sugar cane. This means all takeaway items are compostable. Owner Abi Nune is educating her customers about plastic pollution in her own upbeat way.

Ever asked a barista to wash your dirty reusable cup? (Many times.) Well now you don’t have to feel awkward about it. Caffe Republic run a ‘cup club’, where you buy in for $10 and get a reusable cup, to drink out of and bring back dirty for a new one, every time!

1A/2475 Gold Coast Hwy, Mermaid Beach

Ocean 4218 was born out of an experience Abi clearly recalls. “It was an actual specific moment at Great Barrier Reef when I saw a plastic spoon falling into the water… and swimming with turtles right next to me, something happened and I knew that I had to do something.” “All my staff know that I am always trying to find ways to use less energy, waste less water, reuse packaging and create magic!” That magic includes friendly surf vibes, VSCO coffee, and eco-cool initiatives like house made granola sold in glass jars, that when returned earn you a 10% refill discount.

Bronberg Plaza, 150 Slayter Ave, Bundall

Made from rice husks, the cups transform an agricultural waste product into reusable yet biodegradable products. Win-Win! Chef and owner Peter Dufty is also excited that their “coffee supplier is almost ready with 100% recyclable cups plus a bin for them that gets picked up every week.” Caffe Republic’s menu is nourishing, caters to all dietary types and their liquid concoctions are something else, with ingredients like house made turmeric paste packing a citrus punch in their Sunrise Smoothie.

Abi’s passion for the environment extends to running beach cleans with Plastic Free Gold Coast and she plans to write a children’s book soon, about turtles of course.

Mr Browns Tuckshop in Labrador encourages customers to BYO cups and they are looking into plastic alternatives, but want to ensure the costs aren’t passed onto customers. Blackboard Coffee in Varsity Lakes use biodegrabable plastics and they intend to eliminate paper dockets and move to a digital order system. Embrace the modern age we say! Little Mali in Rainbow Bay use compostable sugarcane, eco cutlery and recycled serviettes and menu paper - all small actions that make a big difference overall.

www.blankgc.com.au

With INGRID JAMES

MAY 3rd

The View From Madeleine's Couch With master percussionist MÁRCIO BAHIA

JUNE 13th

Lachlan McKenzie

AUGUST 9th AUGUST 10th

1/1837 Gold Coast Hwy, Burleigh Heads

Drool-worthy Instagram accounts and waste-defying ideas make these cafes up and down the coast worth checking out too.

Jazz Singers Jam Night

QUINTET

BKA VEGAN

HONOURABLE MENTIONS

APRIL 11th

This new kid on the block gets a special mention because as well as being single-use plastic free, their menu is entirely vegan. Owner Kylie Wood says a vegan lifestyle works in harmony with reducing plastics because both choices profoundly affect our environment. "The negative impact of excess waste by humans on our planet and the animals we share it with is phenomenal” she says. BKA have sought out plastic-free suppliers for their bar mixers and kombucha. They return all glass bottles to their juice supplier Sol Cleanse for sterilisation and re-use and instead of buying all new storage containers, they re-purpose plastic food tubs from neighbouring businesses. You can hit up BKA for a scrumptious late brekky, lunch or dinner and cocktails (made even classier by their metal straws), enjoy a house made vegan cheeseboard and so much more. Guilt free dining for us all.

Laurence Hobgood & Rhiannon USA | Hawaii Australian Tour

WORKSHOP MARCH 6th Tony Backhouse A Cappella Gospel

Jazz Series

AT DUST TEMPLE

54 Currumbin Creek Road

BALTIMORE GUN CLUB 2018 GOLD COAST MUSIC AWARD WINNERS BALTIMOREGUNCLUBOFFICIAL

The highly anticipated NEW ALBUM OUT APRIL 2019 Featuring the singles ‘My Days’ & ‘Archangel’ www.blankgc.com.au

FREE EVENT

MARCH 1 SUMMERTIME SESSIONS IN THE VILLAGE CUDDIHY PARK, MUDGEERABA 5.30pm – 7.30pm

MARCH 31 NEIGHBOURS DAY, WOODLANDS PARK, MUDGEERABA (MUDGEERABA 4 NEIGHBOURHOOD WATCH)

THE TWINE + ASHLEIGH MARCH 8 SUMMERTIME SESSIONS IN THE VILLAGE CUDDIHY PARK, MUDGEERABA 5.30pm – 7.30pm HUSSY HICKS + MINNIE MARKS MARCH 9 MASTERS OF ROCK, WALLABY HOTEL, MUDGEERABA Five big tributes, one show – Led Zeppelin, AC/DC, Guns N Rose, Deep Purple, The Doors

Email for details: division9@ goldcoast.qld.gov.au

APRIL 7 MUDGEERABA STREET PARTY, MUDGEERABA CBD 10.00am – 2.00pm

in the village CUDDIHY PARK | SWAN LANE FRI 1 FRI 8 FRI 15 FRI 22 FRI 1 FRI 8 FRI 15

feb TAY OSKEE + CLAIRE ANN E TAYLOR FEB TAYLOR + PHIL BARLOW FEB SEAN FITZGERALD + CHLOE FLANAGAN + BIG FELLA LINC FEB FELIPE BALDOMIR + ALISHA TODD MAR THE TWINE + ASHLEIGH MA NNIX MAR HUSSY HICKS + MINNIE MA RKS MAR LEOPOLD’S TREAT + OBI

#SSITV

Free Family Fun Day Held in Queensland Youth Week with the theme ‘Celebrating Hinterland Young People’. Enjoy live entertainment, market stalls, community displays, street parade, childrens’ activities. division9@goldcoast.qld.gov.au NATURALLY GOLD COAST IN MARCH

MARCH 15 MUSIC UNDER THE STARS, BOOMERANG FARM, 55 JOHNS RD, MUDGEERABA Enjoy local music groups playing live in an idyllic setting. Classical favourites, percussion and jazz. Bring your chairs/ picnic blanket. trybooking.com for tickets

MARCH 3 - Platypus Appreciation Day, Mudgeeraba Music Centre, Somerset Drive MARCH 3 - Polly’s to Pages Pinnacle: 12km bushwalk MARCH 16 – Nature Journalling Using Colour MARCH 24 – Fauna Forensics For details visit: Eventbrite/ NaturallyGC

| 5:30 - 7:30 PM | Mudgeera

C e le br ati n g e Y o u n g Pe o pl H i n t er la n d

RIL SUN 7 AP 2PM 1OAM -

MORE INFO: st.qld.gov.au ision9@goldcoa div | 84 76 thegc 07 5581 on nn gle m/ .co www.facebook

35 KITE CRESCENT MURWILLUMBAH

11AM - 5PM SATURDAY 30th MARCH 2019

BREWERY TOURS • FOOD TRUCKS LOCAL ART • MARKET STALLS LIVE MUSIC • MALT DISNEY (KIDS AREA) Bus transfers from: Murwillumbah, Tweed Coast & Byron provided by Mt Warning Tours Check out stoneandwood.com.au for more details

All funds raised will go to Wedgetail Retreat via the inGrained Foundation

MARCH 2019

LIVE GIGS AT FISHERMAN’S WHARF TAVERN Fishbowl lounge bar | events | dining | functions

F R R E

COU

TES YB

Live and FREE Entertainment 17

PRESENTS

FREE

COURTESY

MARCH

BUS

LIVE BAND – “JACK BE QUICK” FROM 2PM IRISH FARE FOOD SPECIALS GUINNESS & KILKENNY PRIZES FOR BEST DRESSED ST PADDY’S DAY OUTFIT M A R I N E R S C O V E M A I N B E A C H | P H O N E 0 7 5 5 7 1 0 5 6 6 | W W W. f i s h e r m a n s w h a r f tav e r n . c o m . a u

3 March from 5pm We love Australia party rd

10 March from 1pm Jam Sesh with BenJam th

17th March from 1pm St Paddy’s day celebrations

24th March West 1

7th April from 1pm Galapagus Duck

Jack be Quick

17 MARCH

LIVE ENTERTAINMENT “JACK BE QUICK” FROM 2PM IRISH FARE FOOD SPECIALS | GUINNESS & KILKENNY PRIZES FOR BEST DRESSED | ST PADDY’S DAY OUTFIT M A R I N E R S C O V E M A I N B E A C H | P H O N E 0 7 5 5 7 1 0 5 6 6 | W W W. f i s h e r m a n s w h a r f tav e r n . c o m . a u