Blank Gold Coast issue #31 – March 16

March ‘16

BEN LEE

LET'S CONNECT AT BLEACH* BUMPER EDITION issue #031

MUSIC

PEOPLE

FOOD

MUSIC

LIFESTYLE

Ninth Chapter Palmy extended Lecia Louise Little Georgia Bluesfest

Anthony Pieters Sarah Huston Louise Bezzina Leonie Rhodes Mandy Nolan

Cambus Wallace Steak Good Bean Daniel Stuart Africa!!!

Qld Music Awards Saskwatch Big Daddy Wilson Osaka Punch City Over Sand

Coombabah Wetlands Sound Healing Luludu DIY Yoga Tweed Cruising

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10 11 12 13

MARCH 7

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10 11 12 13

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TICKET INFO

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TIME

Fifth Avenue, Palm Beach

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10 11 12 13

MARCH

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6 10 11 12 13

MARCH

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VISUAL ART

FREE

GOLD COAST CITY GALLERY PRESENTS MADE IN QLD: ODE TO THE SOUVENIR

9.00am – 5.00pm

TIME

The Strand, Coolangatta

8

9

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10 11 12 13

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LOCATION

TICKET INFO

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6 10 11 12 13

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MUSIC

MARCH

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BLEACH* FESTIVAL AND CITY OF GOLD COAST - DIVISION 6 PRESENT BLEACH* IN THE CITY

5

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10 11 12 13

4

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LOCATION

14 15 16 17 18 19 20

7

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LITERATURE

MARCH

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TICKET

SOMERSET COLLEGE PRESENTS - SOMERSET CELEBRATION OF LITERATURE

www.bleachfestival.com.au

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7

8

9

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4

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5

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6 10 11 12 13

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MUSIC

MARCH

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TICKET

BLEACH* FESTIVAL AND ROBINA TOWN CENTRE PRESENT - THE SEVEN UPS SOUL FEST

TICKET INFO

www.bleachfestival.com.au

9.00am – 3.00pm

TIME

TICKET INFO

8

9

F

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5

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6

10 11 12 13

4

BLEACH* JNR

LOCATION

14 15 16 17 18 19 20

7

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9

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5

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6 10 11 12 13

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TIME

3.00pm – 5.15pm

LOCATION

Bond University, Faculty of Health Sciences and Medicine Building

14 15 16 17 18 19 20

7

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VISUAL ART

MARCH

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FREE

BOND UNIVERSITY PRESENTS - THE NINTH CHAPTER

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6 10 11 12 13

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FILM

MARCH

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FREE

SUPER SHORTS FILM WORKSHOP

TIME

6.30pm – 9.00pm

LOCATION

Broadbeach Mall, Broadbeach

14 15 16 17 18 19 20

7

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VISUAL ART

MARCH

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FREE

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7

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6 10 11 12 13

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THEATRE

MARCH

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FREE

BLEACH* FESTIVAL AND ROBINA TOWN CENTRE PRESENT - THE MAGIC GARDEN

#BLEACHFESTIVAL2016

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6 10 11 12 13

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THEATRE

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MUSIC

MARCH

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TICKET

QT GOLD COAST AND GRIFFITH UNIVERSITY PRESENT - AN AFTERNOON WITH BEN LEE

TIME

3.00pm – 6.00pm

LOCATION The Strand, Coolangatta

14 15 16 17 18 19 20

7

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MUSIC

MARCH

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FREE

BLEACH* FESTIVAL AND THE STRAND PRESENT - THE STRAND TO THE SAND

TIME

7.00pm (site opens 6.30pm)

LOCATION

Surfers Paradise Beach (Trickett St)

14 15 16 17 18 19 20

7

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DANCE

MARCH

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FREE

BLEACH* FESTIVAL, THE FARM AND SURFERS PARADISE ALLIANCE PRESENT - THE LAST BLAST

WWW.BLEACHFESTIVAL.COM.AU

4–20 MARCH

BLEACH* FESTIVAL, QUEENSLAND GOVERNMENT, CURRUMBIN VALLEY STATE SCHOOL AND BROADBEACH ALLIANCE PRESENT - HELLO FUTURE!

6.00pm and 8.00pm

TIME

TIME

www.bleachfestival.com.au

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TIME

Somerset College, Mudgeeraba

4.00pm – 5.00pm

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DANCE

MARCH

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FREE

BLEACH* FESTIVAL, BROADBEACH ALLIANCE, MANTRA AND CITY OF GOLD COAST - DIVISION 10 PRESENT - FORKLIFT

10.00am – 5.00pm

Broadbeach Mall, Broadbeach

12.00pm – 3.00pm

6

S

10 11 12 13

Old Post Office Building, 55 Railway St, Mudgeeraba

The Space, The Arts Centre Gold Coast, 135 Bundall Road, Surfers Paradise

LOCATION

10 11 12 13

M

LOCATION

9

S

6

CIRCUS

14 15 16 17 18 19 20

8

MARCH

S

5

F

4

FREE

14 15 16 17 18 19 20

7

T

W

T

7

4

F

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MARCH

T

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LOCATION

10 11 12 13

6

LOCATION

9

S

5

14 15 16 17 18 19 20

8

F

4

FILM

TICKET

14 15 16 17 18 19 20

7

T

MUSIC

MARCH

M

FREE

BLEACH* FESTIVAL AND CITY OF GOLD COAST - DIVISION 13 PRESENT FEAST FIESTA

www.bleachfestival.com.au

BLEACH* FESTIVAL AND THE ARTS CENTRE GOLD COAST PRESENT - NO PHYSICAL ACCOUNT

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9

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TIME

BLEACH* FESTIVAL, THE STRAND AND GOLD COAST CITY GALLERY PRESENT - THE CULTURE SHOP VISUAL ART

8

F

14 15 16 17 18 19 20

7

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TIME

10.00am and 1.00pm

4.00pm – 9.00pm

FREE

W

Elanora Skate Park, Elanora

ADVENTURE REELS PRESENTS - OCEAN FILM FESTIVAL

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SKATE

MARCH

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FREE

BOWLZILLA

Meet in the foyer of Gold Coast University Hospital

Accessible 24 hours

TIME

The Village Green, Cnr Railway Street and Swan Lane, Mudgeeraba

LOCATION

14 15 16 17 18 19 20

7

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MUSIC

MARCH

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FREE

BLEACH* FESTIVAL AND CITY OF GOLD COAST - DIVISION 9 PRESENT OPEN SONG

4.30pm and 7.30pm

TIME

Robina Town Centre, Lakeside on the Promenade, Robina

14 15 16 17 18 19 20

6

W

BLEACH* JNR

LOCATION

5

T

THEATRE

14 15 16 17 18 19 20

4

M

TICKET

BLEACH* FESTIVAL, SEEING PLACE PRODUCTIONS, G:LINK, SOMERSET COLLEGE, GRIFFITH UNIVERSITY AND CITY OF GOLD COAST DIVISION 6 PRESENT ALL ABOARD

LOCATION

9

3

8

10 11 12 13

S

7

S

MARCH

F

T

T

THEATRE W

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FREE

BLEACH* FESTIVAL AND ROBINA TOWN CENTRE PRESENT - THE BUBBLE EFFECT

T

W

8

9

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4

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5

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6

10 11 12 13

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MUSIC

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8

9

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10 11 12 13

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MUSIC

8

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10 11 12 13

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Saturday: 9.00am – 4.00pm Sunday: 12.00pm – 4.00pm

TIME

Helensvale Community and Cultural Centre

LOCATION

14 15 16 17 18 19 20

7

MARCH

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VISUAL ART

FREE

BLEACH* FESTIVAL AND GC MEDIA LAB PRESENT - OPEN LAB

www.bleachfestival.com.au

TICKET INFO

6.00pm and 8.30pm

TIME

Chinatown, Southport

LOCATION

14 15 16 17 18 19 20

7

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THEATRE

MARCH

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TICKET

BLEACH* FESTIVAL AND CITY OF GOLD COAST - DIVISION 6 PRESENT SALTWATER

www.bleachfestival.com.au or www.theartscentregc.com.au

TICKET INFO

Performance commences at 6.00pm

TIME

Evandale Lake, Next to The Arts Centre Gold Coast

LOCATION

14 15 16 17 18 19 20

7

MARCH

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CIRCUS T

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10 11 12 13

MARCH

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TIME

T

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10 11 12 13

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DANCE

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10 11 12 13

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SURF

10 11 12 13

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MUSIC

MARCH

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FREE

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THEATRE

MARCH

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FREE

BLEACH* FESTIVAL, ARTS QUEENSLAND, CONNECTING SOUTHERN GOLD COAST, BOND UNIVERSITY, QB LAB, SUPPERIOR JETTIES AND GOLD COAST WATERWAYS AUTHORITY PRESENT SHIFTING SANDS

TIME

5.45pm (site opens 5.00pm)

TIME TIME

6.00pm – 8.00pm

Currumbin Estuary, enter from the Palm Beach Parklands

Dust Temple, Currumbin

LOCATION

8

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4

TICKET INFO

www.bleachfesitval.com.au

LOCATION

7

T

VISUAL ART

MARCH

M

FREE

YEAH GIRL

FROM 6.30pm

TIME

Griffith University, Parklands Drive, Southport

TIME

TIME

Hinterland Regional Park, Mudgeeraba

Eco Challenge 12.00pm – 4.00pm Toolona Street Festival 4.00pm – 9.00pm

Toolona St, Tugun

Currumbin Wildlife Sanctuary, Currumbin 5.00pm – 7.30pm (door opens 4.00pm)

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8

9

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5

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6 10 11 12 13

4

www.bleachfestival.com.au

TICKET INFO

TIME

10.00am – 1.00pm

LOCATION

Helensvale Community and Cultural Centre

14 15 16 17 18 19 20

7

T

MUSIC

MARCH

M

FREE

BLEACH* FESTIVAL AND GRIFFITH UNIVERSITY PRESENT SONGWRITING WITH BEN LEE

www.bleachfestival.com.au

TICKET INFO

TIME

3.00pm – 5.00pm

T

W

8

9

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4

S

5

S

6 10 11 12 13

T

TIME

1.30pm – 5.30pm

LOCATION

Goodwin Terrace, Burleigh Heads

14 15 16 17 18 19 20

7

MARCH

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BLEACH* FESTIVAL, CITY OF GOLD COAST - DIVISION 12, BURLEIGH BREWING, BOND UNIVERSITY AND TELSTRA PRESENT - BLEACH* AT BURLEIGH FREE MUSIC

BLEACH* FESTIVAL, CONNECTING SOUTHERN GOLD COAST AND CITY OF GOLD COAST - DIVISION 14 PRESENT - TOOLONA ST FESTIVAL

TIME

FROM 5:30pm

LOCATION

Village Bike, Gold Coast

Along Marine Parade to Greenmount, Coolangatta

The Walls Art Sapce, Miami

3.00pm – 7.00pm

9

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5

LOCATION

8

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DANCE

8

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4

14 15 16 17 18 19 20

7

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LOCATION

7

MARCH

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MUSIC

W

LOCATION

10 11 12 13

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TICKET

BLEACH* FESTIVAL AND NATIONAL TRUST CURRUMBIN WILDLIFE SANCTUARY PRESENT OPERA SELVAGGIO

TIME

6.00pm – 9.30pm

LOCATION

Hinterland Regional Park, Mudgeeraba

LOCATION

10 11 12 13

6

S

6

10 11 12 13

T

MARCH

M

14 15 16 17 18 19 20

9

S

5

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6

DANCE

14 15 16 17 18 19 20

8

F

4

9

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5

TICKET

BLEACH* FESTIVAL PRESENTS - THE CLOSET ACTIVIST

14 15 16 17 18 19 20

7

T

8

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4

14 15 16 17 18 19 20

7

T

14 15 16 17 18 19 20

9

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5

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14 15 16 17 18 19 20

8

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VISUAL ART

MARCH

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FREE

BLEACH* FESTIVAL, GOLD COAST BULLETIN AND GRIFFITH UNIVERSITY PRESENT LUMINARIES

T

MUSIC

MARCH

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FREE

BLEACH* FESTIVAL AND CITY OF GOLD COAST - DIVISION 9 PRESENT - BLEACH* AT MUDGEERABA

www.bleachfestival.com.au

TICKET INFO

4.30pm and 7.30pm

TIME

12.00pm – 3.00pm

TIME

LOCATION

QT Hotel, 7 Staghorn Ave, Surfers Paradise

LOCATION

Robina Town Centre, Lakeside on the Promenade, Robina

LOCATION

Old Post Office Building, 55 Railway St, Mudgeeraba

14 15 16 17 18 19 20

14 15 16 17 18 19 20

14 15 16 17 18 19 20

14 15 16 17 18 19 20

7

T

VISUAL ART

MARCH

M

FREE

BLEACH* FESTIVAL AND THE WALLS PRESENT BANANA SUNDAY

2.00pm – 8.00pm

TIME

The Esplanade, Paradise Point

LOCATION

14 15 16 17 18 19 20

7

T

MUSIC

MARCH

M

FREE

BLEACH* FESTIVAL AND CITY OF GOLD COAST - DIVISION 3 PRESENT THE ESPLANADE

10.00am – 11.00am

TIME

2.00pm – 6.00pm

Bond University, Faculty of Health Sciences and Medicine Building

The Deck, Currumbin RSL, Currumbin

LOCATION

10 11 12 13

6

VISUAL ART

LOCATION

9

S

5

FREE

14 15 16 17 18 19 20

8

F

4

DANCE

14 15 16 17 18 19 20

7

T

MUSIC

MARCH

M

FREE

BOND UNIVERSITY PRESENTS - CORRIGAN WALK INDIGENOUS ART TOUR

BLEACH* FESTIVAL, CURRUMBIN RSL, THE FARM AND SEED PRESENT - OUT OF THE WOODS

BLEACH* FESTIVAL AND THE ARTS CENTRE GOLD COAST PRESENT HORIZON WITH ANGELS TICKET

4.30pm and 7.30pm

TIME

Robina Town Centre, Lakeside on the Promenade, Robina

LOCATION

14 15 16 17 18 19 20

4.00pm – 9.30pm

TIME

Junction of Young and Davenport Streets, Southport

LOCATION

14 15 16 17 18 19 20

Monday to Friday: 10.00am – 5.00pm Weekends: 11.00am – 5.00pm

TIME

Gold Coast City Gallery, The Arts Centre Gold Coast

LOCATION

14 15 16 17 18 19 20

point

blank

Drawn regularly to Alabama over the past ten years, it’s no surprise they’ve captured both their Gold Coast roots and that southern US sound. Lucky Joe’s Wine (and other tales from Dog River) is a completely new direction for the Hussies and you’ve got absolutely no reason to not listen to it. The album is free to download via hussyhicks.bandcamp.com. You can also catch them at Bluesfest Byron Bay on 25 an 27 March. We’ll review their album next edition.

#031 MAR 2016

The busking vibes at Bluesfest run throughout the entire festival with a stage dedicated to the talent unearthed through the competition. Applications for the Bluesfest Busking Competition close 29 February. A panel reviews submissions to select 40 artists who’ll more through to semi-finals which will be held at Beach Hotel, Byron Bay on 21 and 22 March. Six finalists will then play at a finals’ event on 25 March before also being given the opportunity to play on the Busking Stage. More at bluesfest.com.au.

Editor: Samantha Morris

Culture + Lifestyle Editor: Natalie O’Driscoll Editorial Intern: Doris Prodanovic & Claudia McCristal Design: Chloe Popa, Blunt Pencil Studio Advertising: Amanda Gorman Money Coordinator: Phillippa Wright Photographer: Leisen Standen, Lamp Photography Contributors: Doris Prodanovic, Jodie Bellchambers, Natalie O’Driscoll, Gina Martin, Christie Ots, Samantha Morris, Rick Hollis, Tiffany Mitchell, Terry “Tappa” Teece, Sarah McEwan, Jake Wilton, Ashleigh Wadman, Anna Itkonen, Lisa Smith, Amanda Gorman, Claudia McCristal, Sarah Loughlin, Erin Bourne, Yanina Benavidez, Damian Papworth, Marj Osborne, Catherine Coburn, Nathan James, Pip Andreas, Leisen Standen

New deck the place for local original tunes

Bleach* brings live music goods Bleach* has been a long-time supporter of local music, of Blank and of our side project the Gold Coast Music Awards and their live music program for 2016 is testament to that. As well as engaging Ben Lee as the event’s feature artist – and helping make him available for meet and greets and workshops while here – there’s also a tonne of events which feature local, original artists as well as visiting acts. Hanlon Brothers, Ella Fence, Cheap Fakes, Electrik Lemonade, The Bella Fontes, Aquila Young, Zed Butel, The Vernons, Donny Love, Grace Hughes, Jake Whittaker, Amela, The Reversals, Robbie Miller, Ivey and Black Rabbit George are amongst the epic lineup of local, original talent included in Bleach* Festival 2016.

Check our gig guide or the Bleach* program for all the details.

Evol Walks, Without Me Evol Walks is the band of Gold Coaster Leah Martin-Brown, who shares her time between Australia and the USA. They’ve just released their new single Without Me produced by Canadian producer Brian Howes in LA – an intensely raw and powerful ballad, “a farewell song to someone you used to care about but have now fallen out of love with,” Leah says. The five-piece have been turning heads all over the world and 2016 looks like just adding to the experiences the band has recently notched up – including haing one of the top four releases to commercial radio (The Music Network) and being named one of the Top 4 Best Up and Coming Bands in Australia (Triple M). Not to mention the whole Polish Woodstock main stage gig.

Without Me is a cracker of a song. You can purchase via iTunes and it’s out now.

Acknowledgement of Country We show our respect and sincerely acknowledge the Traditional Owners of this land and their elders past, present and emerging.

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

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www.blankgc.com.au

Mojo roadshow hits Surfers Mojo Burning is bringing one of its killer sideshows to the Gold Coast. The Surfers Paradise Tavern & Beergarden, known for it's hot damn loose band nights, will play host to The Ugly Kings, Guthrie, Love Hate Rebellion, Yes Sir Noceur and Jackson Dunn for a TOTALLY FREE Rock'n'Roll experience on 11 March. It’s all killer and no filler.

Details in our gig guide.

Hussy’s new album and tour It’s finally here. Blank favourites, the Hussy Hicks have dropped their new album Lucky Joe’s Wine (and other tales from Dog River).

Released mid February, the album reflects Julz Parker and Leesa Gentz’ incredible talent as well as their wandering ways – it’s the most complementary mix of surf guitar combined with deep Dixie feels you could imagine.

The newly licensed Deck at Currumbin RSL offers a cool place to soak up what the Gold Coast is all about. While the area is open seven days a week offering a caffeine fix early to lazy lunches and dinner, the Club is offering local artists the opportunity to showcase their talents every Sunday afternoon. The talent is diverse with artists performing originals. It perfectly complements the venue’s upstairs offerings through Soundlounge.

Deck Acoustic sessions will see Steve Lane and The Autocrats perform on Sunday 13 March, Amela on Sunday 20 March and Michael David Thomas on Sunday 27 March.

All Sunday sessions run from 2.00pm. The quality has not diminished in anyway at the Soundlounge either with Saskwatch (13 March), Big Daddy Wilson (18 March) and Shane Howard and David Gunning (22 March) all having shows this month too. More at currumbinrsl.com.au.

Bluesman Sultana brings solo single to GC Sydney bluesman, Frank Sultana is back with a new solo single, Six Foot in the Ground, taken from his fifth release, and forthcoming EP Abstract in Blue Volume 1. A murder ballad of sorts, Six Foot in the Ground is the latest instalment in what is becoming an impressive catalogue of modern urban blues which has its roots firmly planted in the pre WW2 Mississippi delta sound. Coinciding with this, Frank is set to hit the road for an extensive run of solo shows. Special guest support for the tour will be Sydney’s Lucas Road. They’ll hit Treehouse Belongil on Thursday 3 March, Hinge Gallery Currumbin on Saturday 5 March and Nimbin Hotel on Sunday 6 March.

GC Music Industry soiree Bluesfest Busking Competition closes soon Throw your hat in the ring and join local talent for Bluesfest’s busking competition.

Coordinated by Anita Colenbrander, the Bluesfest Busking Comp has become a highly sought after national event, which sees Byron come alive with incredible talent just one week prior to Bluesfest. The competition gives artists an opportunity to showcase their music to an otherwise unattainable audience.

This year, prizes include the opportunity to Open Delta Stage at Bluesfest 2016 as well as recording packages and more.

Blank GC and the Gold Coast Music Awards are joining forces with Swingin’ Safari and The Avalon, Miami to bring together the Gold Coast’s music industry for a networking session. The event will take place on Wednesday 23 March from 5.30pm at The Avalon, 7 Avalon Parade, Miami. For details RSVP: info@gcmusicawards.com.au.

Courtney Barnett includes GC on national tour Milk! Records has announced its national Good For You tour as well as a digital release.

The tour will see Courtney Barnett, Jen Cloher, Fraser A Gorman, The Finks, East

Brunswick All Girls Choir and Ouch My Face hit the road for a massive run of dates, including Gold Coast’s Miami Marketta.

The tour supports the second Milk! Records compilation album Good For You. The label won Best Independent Label at the 2015 AIR Awards for good reason – this tour will give you just six of the reasons why. The Milk! Records tour comes to Marketta on 20 March.

Sunday sessions at Jupiters’ new garden Gold Coast’s freshest new venue Garden Kitchen & Bar is turning things up in March with the launch of Sunday Sessions on the deck taking place from 2.00pm – 6.00pm every week. Lush location, spacious deck, lawn and sweet melodies provided by the region’s most acclaimed musicians sounds like a winning recipe to us. People have been raving about the menu and the vibe. Sunday 6 March sees Ella Fence kick the month off.

Dallas James, Reece Freeman and one of our favourite all-time buskers Mitch King see out the month. Get all the gigs in our gig guide, or just head along for a rather unique dining and live music experience.

Hard rock turns up the volume Gigs are back at Hardrock. That’s what the email said. And they weren’t wrong. Jethro Andrews, CC The Cat, Titanix, Gavin Doniger and a heap of others all have shows locked in throughout March. Check our gig guide for all the details.

What the freak?

The stages of NightQuarter will shock and mesmerise audiences like never before, as the venue adds a fun-filled spectacle of the bizarre to its programme for the first time this April. Presented by Buskers by the Creek, Freaks and Beats will bring some of Autsralia’s most celebrated sideshow performers to Helensvale. They’re already sharpening their angle grinders and swords in preparation for the freaky first!

NightQuarter’s Marketing Manager, Alice Conway said it will be a kaleidoscope of colour and movement “with everything from Indian pow wow drumming and sword swallowing, to elite circus skills and knife balancing….on teeth.” Trust us – when Buskers by the Creek take their show on the

road, it can only mean one thing: bizarre beats and freaky feats. Freaks and Beats hits NightQuarter on 2 April. Tickets $15 (includes NightQuarter entry), kids free.

Perform in Ibiza, win $50k, thanks to Hard Rock Rising Hard Rock, in partnership with ReverbNation, is turning up the volume for its sixth annual global music competition, Hard Rock Rising.

On Wednesday 1 June up-and-coming local artists will have a chance to rise to international stardom by performing in the world’s largest, one-day music showcase taking place at participating Hard Rock Cafes around the world. Register by Friday 11 March for a chance to win $50,000 USD, a professionally-produced music video, a Fender Instruments prize pack and an allexpenses-paid trip to perform at Hard Rock Hotel Ibiza. Gold Coasters will be stoked to know that Surfers Paradise Hard Rock Café is one of the participating outlets. Visit hardrockrising.com for more details.

SUMME RTIM E IN THE VILL AGE

60 second film competition: I love live music A new film competition combines music and film with a heap of awesome prizes on offer. The inaugural I LOVE LIVE MUSIC 60 second film competition is a new national initiative which focuses on the importance of Australian contemporary live music. Entries close 1 April, 2016 with a heap of cool prizes on offer for filmmakers and musicians.

The I LOVE LIVE MUSIC 60 second film competition calls for filmmakers across Australia to collaborate with local home town musicians to make a 60 second film in any genre and any style that addresses at least one of the following themes: Imagine life without live Australian music, What I love about live Australian music and What live Australian music means to me. Entry is free.

Get more at amin.org.au.

#SSitV # Mudgeeraba #creativegold

music art event s

Gold Coast abc.net.au/goldcoast

Two Lucky Stars follows 7 albums Basketball prodigy, scholarship rower, mental illness survivor, blistering live performer and gentle giant. Mike Elrington is also gifted with a songwriter’s creativity, incredible guitar skills, a fierce work ethic, a focused resolve and admirable strength of character.

He’s just released Two Lucky Stars – his first completely acoustic LP after seven other albums and more than 1000 shows across the globe. The big man of Australian blues music has crammed a stack into his 30 plus years so far, but the best surely lies on the horizon for this likeable and talented singer/songwriter and terrific performer. See him at The Loft, Chevron Island on Thursday 3 March.

* CORRECTION - Aquila Young's debut album, as featured in issue #30 of Blank GC, is named Distance Echoes.

www.blankgc.com.au

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BEN LEE: LET'S CONNECT AT BLEACH* Ben Lee is picking his step-daughter up from her play rehearsal when I speak to him on the telephone. She’s appearing in Shakespeare’s The Winter’s Tale. His other daughter Goldie is currently in a play too. She’s in Annie.

What Ben describes as a “real little fun production” of it.

I ask him whether he’s surprised that both of his daughters are drawn to the stage. Both Ben and his wife started working at a very young age.

“That’s not the ideal situation,” he says of his own experience.

“As far as honing the craft – that’s a wonderful thing to start doing as young as you want. But there’s a different quality from learning and experiencing something to doing it in a professional capacity.”

Next month Ben travels to Australia, something he’s able to do once or twice a year and while he’s proud to say he’s Australian-born, he doesn’t consider any real attachment.

Not just to Australia, but to anywhere in particular.

“I love my friends and family in Australia and I’m always happy to see them but I’ve always made blue-collar decisions and have gone where the work is and where the opportunities are.”

“I’ve just never been geographically minded in the sense that I’ve missed places or been excited particularly about places,” he said, when I asked him if he ever misses Australia. “My interest has always been more in the psychological realm.”

Ben’s interest in the psychological sphere is well documented and he’s always been quick to speak openly about his own internal thought process. He spoke last year about his maturing ego and the changes that have come with age.

Neither are any surprise when you consider Ben started his recording career (with his teenage punk band Noise Addict) at just 14.

“I began my career in the music industry hungry for fame, attention and validation,” Ben’s biography says. “With time, effort, failure and success, I gradually lost interest in these goals, and I now continue for different reasons.”

Ben tells me about how he has evolved as a person over the course of his 24-year career.

“I think there’s a couple of factors. One is what happens to us. And the other is what we do with that,” he said.

“There’s external impressions that are created – through experiences, success and failures. And then there’s the internal processing of that.”

“My life and career and romantic relationships took me to extreme places and I came to feel that that was not ideal.

In a sense it limited what I could offer my audience. I think when I was younger, I bought into a model of creativity and success that was based on a 1960's paradigm of what rock and roll is like.”

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“As I’ve gotten older, I’ve come to think that equilibrium is necessary for us to think clearly. If we can’t think clearly, how do we offer something of value?”

“I sort of wish I’d just called it Welcome to the Work,” he said.

“Naming the record after a plant medicine, I might have cut some people off listening to it.”

“The whole world is out of balance and the artist is someone who can offer something that is a light in that dark time.”

“I believe the plants truly do have spirit within them and that plant, that spirit didn’t want to be discussed so publicly,” Ben said. “But I got caught up in the fashion, everyone was being caught up in the discussion.”

“For me, it was a mixture. Life happened. But what I did with that was put in some real effort to change the course I was headed on.”

Ben’s exploration into the world of Ayahuasca is also well documented.

And the album which was born out of that period, Ayahuasca: Welcome to the Work took many music critics by surprise, gaining positive reviews from all quarters.

Released in 2013, Ben himself described the album as dynamic and joyful, meditative and tender, playful and experimental.”

Three years down the track and Ben says he’s matured and he tells Blank GC “that there was sort of an indiscretion with that album.”

“It isn’t a devaluing of the record.”

“But I do believe that all of these various skills to do with meditation and prayer and breath and plant medicine are all options and they all create states of amplified consciousness and if you find a path – there’s no one path to fit everybody – if you find a path that resonates with you – it’s like a door opens and it’s necessary to catapult yourself down that road and not to worry about sort of your fears in a sense.”

“Meditation brings up a lot of fear for people – if someone feels called to that path, their inner being is crying out to take a journey and it’s important that they take that journey.”

Since the 2013 release of Ayahuasca ben has released Love Is The Great Rebellion (June, 2015) and he says he’s been working a lot – and not all of that work is music related.

“I’ve become very consumed with this Qollari essentials project– connected to awakening people to the possibilities of entrepreneurship and philanthropy.”

“All of my work is related to awakening people. Even my earliest music was as a 14yo saying “it’s possible”, why be an ordinary teenager? In a sense, that’s always been my calling.

This Qollari project with business and philanthropy is an interesting project I’ve become passionate about.”

Ben said he’s also working on a kids’ music project but he doesn’t want to “divulge too much about it.”

“A lot of conflicts in the world are based on literalism in religion as well as fanaticism,” Ben said. “This project is based on helping children early on learn about the symbolic aspects of religion – that there’s truly just one path that’s discussed in many ways.”

When Ben comes to the Gold Coast next month for Bleach* Festival he’ll be performing on a main festival stage as well as running a song-writing workshop at Helensvale. He’ll also be appearing at a special luncheon at QT Hotel where he’ll be in conversation with Blank’s editor.

“I suppose this Bleach* festival is very exciting for me because I’m getting to share in a lot of different ways,” he said. “I’d say to people who are interested in what I have to say, come out to these different events.”

“Whether it’s the music or the talk or the song writing workshop - let’s connect.”

Samantha Morris

Ben Lee at Bleach* Festival 2016 An afternoon with Ben Lee, Saturday 19 March, 3.00pm – 5.00pm, thanks to QT and Griffith University. Tickets $45 + BF, bleachfestival.com.au.

Songwriting with Ben Lee, Sunday 20 March, 10.00am – 1.00pm, presented by Griffith University at Helensvale Community and Cultural Centre. Tickets bleachfestival.com.au.

Bleach* at Burleigh, Ben Lee + Black Rabbit George + Sahara Beck, 1.30pm – 5.30pm, Goodwin Terrace, Burleigh Heads.

OPEN TUESDAY - SUNDAY. 5PM - MIDNIGHT

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ATHENA JOY

MEET GOLD COAST’S QUEENSLAND Category: pop Song: Golden Fleece Artist: Amy Shark This is Amy’s third time repping the Gold Coast as a finalist in the Queensland Music Awards. “One day I’ll actually bring it home,” she laughs. “Though I’m not too confident this time.”

HANNAH MCLEOD

CANDICE DIANNA

MOSAIC

“It’s getting a bit exciting, where I’m probably going to go over there later this year and meet with them. So, I’ve decided to just go back and this EP will be released under the Amy Shark title.”

The EP she’s referring to, which will include Golden Fleece will be out in April and M-Phazes (Meg Mac, Thelma Plum, Eminem) is producing Amy’s next single. For the track which sees her as a finalist at the Queensland Music Awards, Golden Fleece she worked with Brad Hosking (Blind Boy Studios).

“Brad and I have a really awesome friendship and working relationship,” she said. “I’ll go in there anytime I have an idea for a song. I’ll write all the lyrics and melody and Brad is just a mastermind with the different beats and sounds – he’s just got a way of making it sound so lush and smooth. He sort of puts all the final finishes on it to bring it to a complete different level.”

AMY SHARK

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Category: electronic Song: Animal Artist: Mosaic (feat. Ashlee Minto) Nick Byng is Mosaic but his song Animal, which is a finalist in the electornic music category at this year’s Queensland Music Awards is a collaboration between him and school-friend Ashlee Minto.

“We’ve been at school the last few years and have done other tracks,” Nick said. “I’ve just graduated.”

Nick is just 17 years old – turning 18 in the middle of the year.

He’s a graduate from the Music Industry College (responsible for a lot of QMA finalists, so it seems) and is now studying a Diploma of Sound Production at Coomera TAFE.

As if being a finalist at the awards isn’t enough, Brad and Amy have also scored a coveted live performance slot at the awards ceremony which takes place Monday 21 March.

“I’m not too sure about the direction I’ll take after (study), but either way, it’s going to be in music,” he told Blank GC. “It’s good to have that studio experience.”

“That’s massive for me,” Amy told Blank. “I’ve never played at the actual QMAs, so to be able to play in front of big wigs in the music industry for Queensland is huge. And not even just Queensland – there’s so many radio presenters and labels and everything, so it’s good to able to be on that platform.”

Of course, being just 17, Nick doesn’t get to explore the Gold Coast’s club scene and he’s only ever played gigs at his school – he does hit concerts and festivals where he can.

Category: pop Song: Blue Artist: Athena Joy Hannah Luke is a busy lady. As well as studying Griffith University’s Bachelor of Popular Music and working on campus in a bookshop, she’s also making rad music under the moniker Athena Joy. “I really inspired by Lorde,” she says of how that name came about, “and how she just had this big presence just by her name.

My real name … it’s very hard once you do gigs with a name like that…. Joy is my middle name.”

The 20 year old, originally from Coffs Harbour has been gigging around the Gold Coast since moving here, predominantly at places like The Loft, Chevron Island, but it was her dad she first called when she got the news of her Queensland Music Award nomination.

“I was oh, so excited. I couldn’t wait to tell someone – I rang my dad who was at work – and he was like ‘oh, that’s pretty cool’ –he’s such a chilled person.”

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Now completing her final year of study, Hannah raves about the course at Griffith. “Oh my God, it’s so awesome,” she said. “It’s definitely been so much fun. When I went to school, I think we had three people in my music class. It’s nice to be surrounded by people who are interested in the same things I am. It’s really awesome.”

She’s particularly excited to be listed amongst artists she’s seen perform live. “I’m still starting out,” she said. “I’m so early in what I’m doing. It’s really nice that they like the songs.”

“I couldn’t imagine my music like dance music in a club,” he said.

“My music is pretty chilled – but I want it to be big. I just make and if people like it, that’s good.”

Nick said he was “so happy” to find out he was a finalist. “But I didn’t check the email until my principal from my old school messaged me about it.”

Category: schools Song: Young Artist: Hannah McLeod Hannah McLeod is another 16 year old doing her final years of high school at Music Industry College. Following a stint at Aquinas where she completed the first semester of grade 11, Hannah knew that music was what she wanted to do.

“No-one around me really had the same goals,” she said. “So I moved schools, specifically to study music.”

Living on the Gold Coast hinterland means a bit of a mission to commute to Brisbane everyday, but much to our surprise, Hannah isn’t doing that alone. “There’s about ten of us who do the journey,” she said.

Hannah raved about the program at Music Industry College. She said she does three classes a day – in a range of different subjects but they all bring a perspective related music. “In maths we learn about how to collect tax payments as a musician and in business we look at how to book gigs,” she tells me, as an example.

MUSIC AWARD FINALISTS Hannah’s track Young which is a finalist in the school category for the Queensland Music Award isn’t the only song she’s written, but it’s the only one she’s recorded.

Home is announced as a finalist for the Queensland Music Awards children’s category.

And while she travels a lot, home is absolutely the Gold Coast.

And in terms of being a finalist in the QMAs and its impact on her career?

Previously going by her own name, she recently changed her stage name to Candice Dianna. “Finally, we’re moving again,” she said. “My last name was so hard.”

“Why would you want to be anywhere else, to be honest. “

“I guess just kind of, not only getting my name out there but to say my song has done this,” she said. “And I’ll get to meet some other musicians and stuff. “

Born and raised here on the Gold Coast and completing high school at Trinity, Candice says the song wasn’t even written as a kids’ song.

Category: children’s Song: Mamma’s Coming Home Artist: Candice Dianna “This is a massive, massive breakthrough for me,” Candice Skjonnemand says, the day after her song Mamma’s Coming

“It just happened like that,” she said. “When I released my EP people said kids wouldn’t stop listening to it in the car or ipads and I listened to it again and yeah, it sounds like a song you’d see on a Disney movie.”

Samantha Morris

The Queensland Music Awards will be announced at a special event on Monday 21 March. More at queenslandmusicawards.com.au.

Candice, who would be known to some people for her appearance on The Voice is just about to commence the Bachelor of Popular Music program at Griffith University.

COOLANGATTA HOTEL thecoolyhotel.com.au

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with guests

VON VILLAINS

JIMMY DOWLING & ILONA HARKER

KELLIE NIGHT & THE DAZE

THE KELLY FAMILY BAND

26TH MARCH (EASTER SATURDAY) | $10 TICKETS + BF WWW.NIGHTQUARTER.COM.AU

THE NINTH CHAPTER: LIVE AT BOND

BIG DADDY WILSON BRINGS BIG SOULFUL VIBES

A seven-piece funk band? What’s not to like. The Ninth Chapter are no strangers to festival stages, having been included in some of the biggest festival lineups in Australia. And now they’re bringing that raw funk and festival groove to Bond University.

The Ninth Chapter will feature in the first of Bond University’s Live at Bond series, with the support slot more than ably filled by Aquila Young.

We fired off a few questions to vocalist Jaz Munro who tells Samantha Morris that they last played here six years ago at the now defunct Prince Albert bar at Jupiters.

Big Daddy Wilson calls Germany home. It’s where he first discovered the blues. Which is odd seeing he originally hails from North Carolina where he listened to gospel and country music.

“I didn’t know what the blues was before,” he says. He ended up in Germany following a stint in the USA Army and soon after found himself on stage jamming all over the country and making a strong impression with his warm and soulful voice. And now he’s Australia-bound, with not one, but two shows on the Gold Coast.

Samantha Morris fired off a few sneaky questions ahead of his southern sojourn.

You’ve worked with some legendary blues artists – Eric Bibb producing your latest album Time is a case in point. What’s it like to collaborate with that level of talent and experience?

It's really, really a great experience. Eric is one of my blues heroes. And to be able to work with him is like a dream come true. I had so much fun and learned so much.

Your bio says you grew up in North Carolina and grew up to the sounds of church and local country radio but that you didn’t discover the blues until you relocated to Germany? Tell me about that discovery of the blues?

Yes, that's true. I discover the blues in a small, smoky club in north Germany. I didn't know what the blues was, but it was talking to me that night. I knew right away that this was my music, this was my calling and I been singing the blues ever since that night.

What took you so long to get to Australia?

I love music and that's why I sing the blues. I would love to tell my story and sing my songs all over the world, but it just don't work as simple as that. You need the support of your musicians, your fans and you need a good team to organise a good tour. That's the business part of it. Now I have that support, but it took some time. But now I'm on my way to Australia.

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Hope to see all of you guys out there at the shows. Love is the key.

If there’s one thing you want your Australian audiences to say after your show, what would it be?

I just wrote a song that will be on my new album. It's called I Just Need a Smile and that's what I want from my Australian audience… “just a little smile.”

What was the one question you were hoping I’d ask you?

I would like to say a word about "Mr Staffan Astner" who co-produced the Time CD, who played many different instruments on the CD , who is a musical genius and a good friend.

Big Daddy Wilson hits Currumbin Soundlounge on Friday 18 March and then Blues on Broadbeach which takes place 19 – 22 May. Get Soundlounge tickets at soundlounge.com.au.

It must be a nightmare to get seven people together to rehearse and book gigs.

Yes it is challenging but after almost five years with the current seven piece line up we have managed to find a mutual groove in regards to gig frequency and rehearsals with the latter being more of a rarity. We find this keeps our shows spontaneous and more enjoyable for us, which I think the crowds appreciate.

It’s been a couple of years since you released Mogadishu. What’s been happening with The Ninth Chapter since then.

We most recently released a new EP titled EP3o (late 2015). This was recorded with Dave Atkins (Resin Dogs) at Mullumbimby and we will be showcasing this during the Bond Uni show. Since its release we have played in Brisbane, Melbourne, Byron Bay, Bellingen, Graftona and Mt Hotham.

You’ve played at some of Australia’s best festivals. Do you have a personal favourite?

Woodford Folk Festival would have to be our favourite. For those that have been no explanation is needed but to those who haven't I highly recommend it. Five days in the bush with loads of amazing artists. We have been lucky enough to play there twice including a special two hour new years eve slot a few years ago.

It’s hard to capture a “live” vibe when you record in-studio. Do you think you’ve found the secret?

Yes we feel we have. It’s as simple as playing live in the studio firstly with the engine room and then adding horns, lead guitars, vocals and percussion afterwards. This has been our method for a while now. We feel it brings the feeling of playing live on disc.

What’s the one question you were hoping I’d ask?

Our biggest influence would be Skunkhour.

90's Australian funk at its best...

The Ninth Chapter + Aquila Young kick off the Live At Bond series on Sunday 13 March from 3.00pm.

OSAKA PUNCH ABOVE THEIR WEIGHT Brisbane-based five piece Osaka Punch certainly pull no punches when it comes to their music, particularly their live shows. Bordering on virtuosic and with high-energy performances, critics have drawn comparisons to Frank Zappa and Mr Bungle. And if that’s not enough to make you want to see them live you need to step away from this story and have emergency ear-replacement surgery.

With new single Stonk as the catalyst, Osaka Punch are hitting the road for an east coast tour and first stop is Gold Coast. Chrispy (guitar) caught up with Samantha Morris ahead of their 25 February show at Studio 56.

Osaka Punch have been compared to a lot of things, but top of the list in terms of impressive comparisons is Frank Zappa and Mr Bungle. So perhaps not surprisingly, Chrispy says both those artists had a role in his musical upbringing.

“I think we all cut our teeth on Faith No More which by default led to Mr Bungle. The first Bungle album blew us all away. Disco Volante is a masterpiece and California seals the deal,” Chrispy said. “We're all big fans of anything Mike Patton and I personally love Zappa. I is a killer album and his live stuff from A Token of His Extreme is something I could never get sick of.”

I think they really enjoyed how different we are and the energy we put into the live show,” he said. “Clint Boge is just a downright nice guy and we got chatting to him after opening for his band Thousand Needles in Red a few years back.”

From Zappa to Cog, it’s no wonder it’s hard to pigeonhole Osaka Punch when it comes to genre. Chrispy probably does it best himself.

“Zappa meets Faith No More, cooked in a James Brown soup,” he said. “We like to refer to our music as brutal pop.”

“We have smooth pop melodies with big riffs and dank heavy grooves.

People like Clint Boge (The Butterfly Effect) and Luke Gower (Cog) have said rad things about Osaka Punch. Chrispy says it’s pretty special to get that kind of acknowledgement from bands of that caliber.

“We've played a few times on the Gold Coast over the years, do you remember The Chop House?” he asked. Ummm yes, I remember the Chop House. Barely.

“That place was awesome!”

“We supported COG in Sydney for one of their last shows before they split and

“We played at the Miami Shark bar with Twelve Foot Ninja in 2012 also.”

“We played the Cooly a few years back, a night when Jack our singer jumped off the stage to run around in the crowd and nearly broke his ankle when he hit the deck!”

And his favourite GC band then, seeing he has so many tales of long nights (and even longer mornings)?

“Helm,” he said. “Sadly they called it a day not too long ago.”

So, with a long string of great Gold Coast music venues to their name, it’s time to add one more. Osaka Punch will bring their incredible live performance to Studio 56, Thursday 25 February. In the meantime you can check out single Stonk via Birdsrobe Records.

Please note: Osaka Punch gig scheduled for Thursday 25 February at Studio 56, Miami Marketta has been cancelled.

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After a successful run of summer dates, the Palmy Sunday Fun Days have been extended with five more sessions approved. Polly Snowden, who’s been managing the events struggles to contain her excitement at the best of times. This is no different.

“We have a killer new lineup and some acts that didn’t get to play last time,” she said. “Bobby Alu and the Hanlon Brothers are coming to Palmy, baby.”

Polly says the Sunday afternoon event has been extremely popular.

Image: Polly Snowden

PALMY FUNDAYS EXTENDED It’s hard to imagine something more family-friendly than live music, face painting, food trucks and picnics right near the beach and pirate park playground. And when you throw into the mix the fact that all of that music is local and original, you absolutely have a recipe for not just cultural economic development but also cultural community happiness.

“The community love it and Council sees the importance of having events such as these,” she said. “The response has been overwhelming. Everyone that lives here on the Gold Coast loves to hang out in parks with family and friends… so we’ve just brought the music to the people. And they are loving it.”

Polly recently won a City of Gold Cost Australia Day Award for her cultural development work and she says events like this help to bring people together but also help drive economic development.

Bobby Alu, enjoying his homebase between world tours, agrees.

“It builds culture,” he says of these types of events. “It encourages an exchange, lets artists have a voice and the community a chance to get out doors and off the screens... for a moment.”

He’s back in town for a while and has swapped massive international arenas and festival stages for suburban family events like this one and local cafes.

“It feels amazing,” he said, adding that the more he travels, the more he appreciates family, friends and community.

“Lately I've really appreciated familiar faces. I really feel it’s important to do these kinds of shows. Strip away the fluff, back to basics, back to the whole reason why you started playing music in the first place.”

Bobby Alu has a small run of Australian shows with his band The Palm Royale before heading to South America, South Africa and then Europe. He hits Palmy Sunday Fun Day on Sunday 28 February.

Samantha Morris

Palmy Sunday Fun Day runs from 4.00 – 6.30pm at the Pirate Park, Palm Beach Parklands 21 Feb | Benny D Williams + Dan Hannaford 28 Feb | Nicky Convine + Bobby Alu 6 Mar | Katia Demeester + The Hanlon Brothers 20 Mar | Matthew Armitage + Mattie Barker

Singer, songwriter, actor, TV presenter, politician, father, writer, philanthropist. You name it, Gary 'Angry' Anderson has probably done it, and almost certainly done it with an explosion of energy and a dash of controversy. One of Australia's most recognisable faces (and voices), Angry Anderson and his throaty growl have been shaking floors and ruffling feathers since the seventies. Showing no signs of stopping at 68 years of age, Angry will return to the Gold Coast with a stellar line up of Aussie rock stalwarts uncluding The Angels and the Choirboys in the Oz Rock Roadshow, which hits Jupiters on Saturday 19th March.

Natalie O'Driscoll chatted with him in the lead up to the show.

Tell us about some of the musical projects you've been working on lately!

I’m always working, mainly weekends, musically speaking, these days I'm doing pubs, corporates and the odd extravaganza eg. OZ Rock Show and the bonus is that I’m doing a lot of these with good mates.

Are you still heavily involved in children's charities?

I’ll always be involved in contributing, wherever I can, so yes I’m still involved in a number of charities, eg. I am an Ambassador for the ‘Save our Sons Foundation', raising monies for research into finding a cure for Dechene Muscular Dystrophy.

Go Back To Where You Came From seems to be a bit of a life changing experience for many of its participants.

What are some of the longer term attitudes you have carried with you as a result of the show?

There has to be solutions to these problems that are as free from politics as is possible, if that is at all possible; and that the sovereignty of our borders is paramount to our internal national security.

You have been brutally honest about some of the horrors of your upbringing. Do you think that having those experiences has made you a better parent?

ANGRY ABOUT THE LEGENDS OF AUSSIE ROCK 14

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I am the person I am because of all my life experiences, good and bad or not so good, pain is our greatest teacher and our constant companion.

I can't even imagine what it has been like to lose five band mates to cancer over the years. Has it changed your approach to health at all?

The birth of our daughter changed my lifestyle and attitude towards my own health, I gave up my addiction to drugs and

alcohol to be a better father for her. The deaths of those so close to me only supported that decision; at the end of the day we are who we want to be, in every sense.

What's next for you in the political arena, if anything?

I’m done with politics as far as running in an election for a seat goes. My short lived experience as a candidate taught me a lot; I wanted to enter politics to serve my country and my fellow Australians but I can do that in other ways.

If you could pick any musical experience that you haven't had yet, what would be?

To record an album of love songs.

I have to admit my favourite project of yours was, believe it or not, as Herod in the 1992 Aussie JC Superstar. It was the first “concert” I was allowed to go to as a young impressionable teenager, and it's always stayed with me.

In your long and diverse career, can you pick a couple of highlights?

Reading Festival when after our performance we were told that we had won the crowd so convincingly that we were now accepted by the English Heavy Rock audience; another high light was playing Iron Bar in Mad Max Beyond Thunderdome. Touring America with ZZ Top and then Areosmith is right up there too.. oh and to have Guns and Roses cover one of our songs felt good too.

Your can catch Choirboys, Rose Tattoo, Stars, Ted Mulry Gang, The Angels, Billy Thorpe Band and Matt Finish at Jupiters on Saturday 19 March 2016. Tickets at jupitersgoldcoast.com. au/whats-on.

SUNDAYS IN THE GARDEN Enjoy live music on the deck from 2pm – 6pm Visit jupitersgoldcoast.com.au for more information and the line-up. #INTHEGARDENGC

Wayne Donnelly GUARANTEED TRADING HOURS With the emphasis on fun, audiences can expect to become involved in the show, but not to be embarrassed.

Saturday 19th March

10.00am - 2.30am Friday & Saturday 10.00am - 1.30am Sunday to Thursday

ALL DAY DINING

$10 for $10 Weekday Lunches 2 for 1 Tuesday Dinner Kids Eat FREE all weekend

FREE LIVE MUSIC Friday & Saturday nights from 7.30pm Sundays from 1.00pm

CRAFT BEER Now serving premium local craft beers bottled and on tap.

FUNCTION VENUE Celebrations, weddings, birthdays, corporate events, seminars. Catering from 20 - 650 guests.

GET SOCIAL Find us on Facebook, Instagram & Twitter.

36 Scarborough Street, Southport QLD 4215 P: 5552 4200 www.rslclubsouthport.com.au

Pic: Hanna Hervall Photography

ILLY TOPS UP THE SWEAR JAR Image: Cybele Malinowski It’s been two years since Australians held tickets to his albumtitled Cinematic Tour, and for the next month Illy is set to travel across the country for the Swear Jar Tour.

“I’m still alive,” he joked, “I still have new music coming.”

The Melbournian rapper is a proud resident of the Australian hip-hop scene – he has watched, he has wandered and he has spent the past decade experiencing all the changes of 21st century hip-hop.

“There’s definitely new, younger people coming up now which are taking their influences from all over the shop, not necessarily just hip hop or just Australian music,” he said.

“It’s been good in a way because people are gaining new influences and pushing the sound forward but I do think the community and supporting one another is kind of fading a little out of Aussie hip hop.”

But this 29-year-old isn’t one to follow the trend. Fellow rappers Dylan Joel and Citizen Kay will join Illy on tour and he said he is looking forward to having them as part of the line up.

“I always think that artists should support each other because in the end, competiveness is cool but someone succeeding doesn’t mean you can’t succeed yourself.”

Gold Coast fans won’t need to make the trek up to Brisbane to have the full Australian hip-hop experience as he stops over at Coolangatta Hotel on 27 February.

“We haven’t had a huge song and dance about the tour... so it’s mainly for the real fans not just the ones who hear something on the radio and rock up,” he said.

“I really think it’s going to be great for us to get back out there and I think the people are really going to enjoy hearing the old songs and the new stuff.”

Doris Prodanovic

Read Doris Prodanovic’s full interview with Illy online at blankgc.com.au and catch him Saturday 27 February at The Cooly.

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WHAT’S COME BETWEEN US, SASKWATCH? They’ve not only changed their lineup, but changed pace as well. They farewelled four band members to come back as a six-piece band and slide between guitar-driven pop to soulful ballads. And a new album offers an emotionally assertive voice matched equally in musical intricacies. What’s even more awesome is that Saskwatch are coming back to the Gold Coast (yes, again) with a killer set planned for Soundlounge this month.

Jodie Bellchambers exchanged emails with Nkechi Anele ahead of their 30-date national tour.

Sorry I Let It Come Between Us has received glowing media praise, how have the audiences responded to the album played in a live setting?

So far we’ve had a really great response. We were in WA last weekend and we had a really great time in all the places we have played.

Obviously this album is not as ‘party’ as our previous albums but we have had a great response to it. For the most part we’ve had a lot support from people who were already aware of our music and also a good response from new audiences discovering us - the first time Saskwatch listeners.

You’re now a six-piece band after having parted ways with four members. Have you settled into your current line-up?

Yes we have Sam Raines now on drums, he replaced Ed Crocker and our four-piece horn section is now a one-piece. I think last year when we made the move to the smaller band it was really nerve racking playing our first few gigs. We went straight into playing Groovin’ The Moo after the change but we found from last year that we had a lot of time to work on songs and rediscover them as a six piece. Then being on tour with The Reubens really helped us set our new sound in stone. We got to play a lot of big venues on that tour that we hadn’t played before and were introduced to different audiences which enabled us to develop ourselves for this tour How would you describe your music with the new line-up?

I guess we would be more rock pop than soul with still some elements of soul in there from past influences.

How do you as a band complement one another in the creative process of song writing?

I think it works from just knowing each other for such a long time. It becomes second nature to know who is going to make the most suggestions or who will make the most contributions to a song in the band, or explore changing a song completely or just nailing the song as it is. That comes from the relationship

we have outside of music together as well, we have all known each for at least eight years since university days.

FREE EVENT

Do you think the live music scene - both small venues and festivals - in Australia is thriving at the moment?

Yes I think that it goes through waves in Australian music through avenues like mainstream radio play. Melbourne has always had a very strong and supportive creative arts scene whether it is music or something else. But I do feel like Australian artists are definitely very open to creating their own sounds and voice so this helps create an exciting scene.

15th Annual

You’re on tour with Brisbane pop indie outfit Cub Sport in support. Tell me about them?

When we started to tour we listened to a lot of local acts from different states and we found them through a suggestion, so we had a listen to their music and we really liked them.

May 19-22, 2016

Saskwatch are playing the Currumbin Soundlounge on Sunday March 13.

www.blankgc.com.au

19

BOOTLEG: TAPE, VINYL AND LITTLE GEORGIA REPETITION Little Georgia epitomises true friendship. Gold Coaster Ashleigh Mannix and Victoria-based Justin Carter spent years touring together, exploring song-writing and hitting up festivals in places as diverse as Nashville and Tamworth, they finally recorded some music together.

Eight-track Bootleg is part Americana, part country and part roots and Ashleigh Mannix is very, very excited about its release.

“I was playing solo for ten years, and while it’s fantastic, it can get a bit lonely up there on your own. I’ve known Jus for a long time so it was a smooth transition. We’re really close friends. It wasn’t rocky in any way.”

Speaking to Blank GC after just finishing her shift at a Gold Coast child care centre, Ashleigh said the album was released in January at Tamworth Country Music Festival.

“We released it physically on vinyl,” she said.

“We recorded it to tape. Justin especially is extremely passionate when it comes to sound quality and recording and it’s something we both really believe in. We have a great passion for vintage style recording, I guess you could say.”

The pair released the first single off the album Bootleg late last year, just 12 months after formally kicking off Little Georgia – which they also did at Tamworth Country Festival.

“We’ve been playing together as solo artists and often did a set at the end together. We’ve been touring for a year, mucking around with songs,” Ashleigh said. “We kind of flogged ourselves just touring for six months straight after that. Then we went to Justin’s farm (Portland, Victoria) in the winter to record the album. The cover shot of the album is his farm porch.”

Jimmy Straayer (LA) also collaborated on the album providing harmony and a third guitar. He travels to Australia occasionally to perform live.

Ashleigh is a country music star in the making. Country stay by night and daycare worker by day, I ask? “Yeah, definitely got

the bills to pay,” she laughed. And country music? Is that where she places their sound?

“Yeah, I have no problem calling it country music – there is definitely an element of country music there - but roots and folk and Americana are thrown in a bit as well.”

Ashleigh explains that Tamworth Country Music Festival is a new experience for her.

“We’d never been before last year,” she said.

“We both spent years playing different genres… he – rock, me – roots and blues… then when we started playing together and this twang came out it was really cool. We both have a love for that real country music and I said ‘screw it, let’s go to Tamworth, let’s do the busking comp’.”

“I didn’t know what to expect. But I reckon I’ll be going back every year. It’s such a cool festival.”

Little Georgia has just finished the first leg of their Bootleg tour which included a show at Miami Marketta. And soon they’re headed to Snowy Mountains Music Festival, Urban Country Music Festival (Caboolture) and Tweed Valley Country Roots Festival (October).

“But between now and then we have shows in Sydney, Melbourne, Adelaide,” she said, “hopefully we’ll get up here to the Gold Coast too.”

Samantha Morris

More at littlegeorgiamusic.com.

TIM GUY 'PACIFICAN' Melbourne-based Tim Guy describes himself as a Pacifican. With stints in PNG as a child and New Zealand more recently his connection to the Pacific is undeniable. With five albums under his belt as well as a massive European and UK tour plus a feature artist slot at WOMAD NZ, he has honed his performance over more than ten years. His 2015 album Chords has been described as “stunning” (Tone Deaf) and “brimming with excitement” (Rolling Stone Australia).

And now he is Gold Coast bound.

Tell me how you ended up in Melbourne?

I was living in Auckland for awhile, where I made a couple of albums and I felt the urge to move back.. I don't know why, it felt like the right thing go do. That was 2010.

What's your connection to the Gold Coast?

My grandparents on dad's side moved to the coast in the mid-late 70s and had a block on the hill in Mudgereeba. All the family slowly followed up from the south. I did a few stints living here and playing in bands from '95 - '01.

The majority of my family are still on the coast.

Chords is your fifth album. How has your music evolved over the past 11 or 12 years?

I still approach it the same way as I always have done. Somewhere in between 'not too much thought' and 'always being ready'.

My first band, when I lived in Papua New Guinea, only did Chuck Berry songs mainly Johnny B Goode - but as far as my albums go, I just try and make each one better than the last.

Chords has had great reviews from the likes of Tone Deaf and Rolling Stone Australia.

When you released your first music in 2004 did you ever think you’d be getting reviews from outlets like that?

I didn't think so, no… but like every music fan, I grew up with Rolling Stone like a Bible - buying it each month and stacking up

20

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each issue. I really like music journalism, so anytime anyone writes about my songs it is satisfying.

You collaborated with some very talented people on that album – Gus Franklin (Architecture in Helsinki), Shags Chamberlain (Ariel Pink), Greg Walker (Machine Translations), Lukas Glickman (Pond) and Andy Stewart (Paul Kelly, Gotye). Tell me about working with a team like that?

Looking at that list, it certainly is impressive - I got lucky for sure. They are a really great bunch of guys, and it took a bit of time to get all that together. But when it clicks like it did, it really elevates the music, which is what everyone is looking for.

Tell me something else about the album?

The Rambler (track three) follows the story of my grandfather as a young man. He passed during the making of this album. It's a particular favourite of mine...

Samantha Morris

Tim Guy is at NightQuarter, 19 March

CHICKS WHO ROCK. AND ROLL. We’re marking International Women’s Day the only way we know how. With music. We asked some of the most connected music-lovers we know, about the albums they love, by women. This is what they came back with…

Hole – Celebrity Skin Macy Gray – On How Life Is The Staple Singers – Be Altitude Flip Grater – While I’m Awake I’m at War The Sugarcubes – Lifes Too Good

Sam Brown - Stop Jill Scott - Experience: Jill Scott 826+ Kristy Lee - Lifescapes k.d. lang - A Truly Western Experience

PJ Harvey – Stories from the City – Stories from the Sea

Samantha Morris, Owner at Blank GC

Joel Edmonson, Executive at Q Music

Karen Dalton – In My Own Time Tune-Yards - WhoKill Missy Elliot – Under Construction Cocteau Twins – Blue Bell Knoll Lisa Gerrard - The Silver Tree Sharon Van Etten – Are We There Tori Amos – Little Earthquakes Grouper – Dragging a Dead Deer Up A Hill Tracey Chapman – Tracey Chapman Grimes - Visions

The Breeders – The Last Splash Sonic Youth - Dirty Suzanne Vega – self-titled Pretenders - Pretenders

Cindy Jensen, Creative Director at Buskers by the Creek Bjork – Holidays in Europe Sarah Blasko – I Awake

Stevie Nicks, Fleetwood Mac - Greatest Hits, 2014 Amy Lee, Evanescence – Fallen Joni Mitchell - Blue Courtney Love, Hole – Nobody’s Daughter Lucy Gallant (BBTC Festival Find) – Free Like Me Suze Demarchi, Baby Animals– Shaved and Dangerous Janis Joplin– In Concert Lady Gaga – The Fame

Leesa Gentz, Chief Hussy at Hussy Hicks Graham Ashton, Director at Footstomp Courtney Barnett – Sometimes I Sit and Think and Sometimes I just Sit Patti Smith – Radio Ethiopia Lucinda Williams – Essence Kasey Chambers – Barricades and Brickwalls 22

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Edie Brickell & New Bohemians - Shooting Rubberbands at the Stars Bjork – Post Hole – Celebrity Skin L7 – Bricks Are Heavy Kate Miller-Heidke - Telegram Shirley Bassey – Greatest Hits (1997)

Mavis Staples - We'll never turn back Liz Stringer - Warm in the darkness

Indigo Girls - Playlist (thank god they have a 'best of ' otherwise I could never pick a favourite) Etta James - Her best Krystle Warren - Circles Me'shell Ndegeocello - Comfort Woman

Louise Bezzina, Creative Director at Bleach* Festival Kate Bush – Hounds of Love Florence & the Machine - Ceremonials No Doubt – Tragic Kingdom

Cranberries – Everybody Else is Doing It so Why Can’t I? Alanis Morissette – Jagged Little Pill Camille O’Sullivan – A Little Yearning björk - Post Martha Wainwright – Come Home to Mumma Goldfrapp – Black Cherry Roxette – Joyride

Glenn Tozer, Councillor at City of Gold Coast Ani diFranco - Knuckle Down

Clare Bowditch & the Feeding Set - Autumn Bone Fiona Apple - Tidal George - Polyserena

Jennifer Knapp - Lay it Down Lauryn Hill - MTV Unplugged 2.0 Sarah Blasko - The Overture and the Underscore Laura Marling - I speak because I can Laique - The Last Bend Florence & the Machine - Lungs

The Pretty Reckless – Going to Hell Heart – Dreamboat Annie Jefferson Airplane – Surrealistic Pillow Meg Myers – Sorry Fleetwood Mac – Rumours Missy Higgins – The Sound of White

Image: Lamp Photography

Honourable mention, Felicity Lawless – Ouroboros

Polly Snowden, Creative Director at Pollination Music

Anthony Gebhardt, Senior Music Writer at Blank GC

PJ Harvey: To Bring You My Love Pretenders: Pretenders X Ray Spex: Germ Free Adolescents Broadcast: Tender Buttons Sibylle Baier: Colour Green Alice Coltrane: Journey In Satchidananda Liz Phair: Exile in Guyville Gillian Welch: Time (The Revelator) Holly Golightly: Truly She Is None Other The Breeders: Pod With honourable mentions to: Selda: Selda

Mamakin - Magicians Daughter Valentina Brave - Debut EP Tinpan Orange - everything Ngaiire - everything Felicity Lawless - Ouroboros Hussy Hicks - everything Carol King - everything Janis Joplin - everything Aretha Franklin - everything BEYONCE! - everything

Vashti Bunyan: Some Things Just Stick In Your Mind

Leah Martin-Brown, Frontwoman at EVOL Walks Dead Sarah – Pleasure to Meet You Janis Joplin – Pearl (Legacy Edition) Evanescence – Fallen Lana del Ray – Born to Die

Perhaps better known as one half of duo Lani and Lecia and fresh from a break playing guitar due to injury, Lecia Louise is back.

2014-15 saw Lecia tour through UK, Europe, Hong Kong and Australia and her single Individual reached #1 on Triple J Unearthed charts in 2015. Now she has a new single and EP Per Te, to share with local audiences.

Samantha Morris asked Lecia to share her musical history in just a few words.

“I finished the Bachelor of Popular Music eleven years ago, performed overseas – Dubai, America, Hong Kong, other places, released an EP, ablum and a couple of singles, and now I have a new EP,” she said. “I’ve also been teaching private guitar and bass lessons and sometimes music in schools as well.”

“I also recorded an EP and DVD with Lani as well,” she said adding that Lani needed a break after such an intense time of touring. “Next month we’re playing at Heron Island together.

That’s the first time in over a year.”

Magic Dirt: What Are Rock Stars Doing Today Patti Smith Group: Radio Ethiopia The Eurythmics: Sweet Dreams (Are Made of This) Grouper: Dragging A Dead Deer Up A Hill The Runaways: The Runaways Siouxie and the Banshees: Juju The Detroit Cobras: Life, Love and Leaving Bikini Kill: Reject All American

SHOCK ME, LECIA LOUISE

Chloe Popa, Owner at Blank GC

Lecia started writing her new single Shock Me when she lived here on the Gold Coast and when we spoke, she’d just finished shooting the clip in Brisbane. Gold Coast features in the video as well.

Florence & the Machine - Lungs The Grates - Gravity Won't Get You High Hole – Celebrity Skin Spiderbait - Ivy and the Big Apples Roxette - Joyride Salt-n-Peppa - Very Necessary

“The lyrics are about a man who gets rid of his current girlfriend for a younger, updated model,” Lecia told Blank GC. “But I wanted it to be drivey and rocky and wanted the guitar solo to be longer than pop solo. Then I finished recording it with Geoff Lovejoy in Brisbane. He’s worked with Powderfinger amongst others.”

Sneaky Sound System - Sneaky Sound System The Superjeus - Jet Age No Doubt - Tragic Kingdom Yeah Yeah Yeahs - It's Blitz!

Lecia stopped playing music for years as a result of RSI in both arms. That meant that this EP was eight years in the making – it was put on hold until she could manage. “I finished the

songs in pain,” she explained. “I couldn’t brush my teeth, put pants on… for a long time.”

“Nothing fixed it overnight. I changed my setup from recording stuff and had a break. I had a lot of injections – blood injections, 80 sessions of acupuncture, years of physio, other specialists, other strange doctors.”

“But after a while, I wanted to get back to playing music even though I was in pain. I had great musicians around me who I didn’t want to miss out on playing with… and the duo with Lani was a great segue to picking up guitar again.”

During Lecia’s recovery, she made good use of time playing fulltime in a world band in London and performing in Hong Kong and Italy as well as scoring teaching gigs along the way. In Spain she also took the opportunity to take some guitar lessons.

Lecia launches Shock Me on the Gold Coast this weekend (27 February) at La Piazza and also has a show at Morrison Hotel, Brisbane on 5 March. More info on where to get the track and EP can be found at lecialouise.com www.blankgc.com.au

23

album reviews

SUNNYBOYS

BIG FELLA LINC

DZ DEATHRAYS

RHIANNON GIDDENS

Best Seat in the House

self-titled

Blood on My Leather (single)

Tomorrow is My Turn

The last Sunnyboys live album was Real (Live) released back in 1984 just before they disappeared from the scene for almost 30 years. Fast forward to 2016 and Kingsciff’s favourite sons have their latest and 2nd live album Best Seat in the House due for release (27 February).

Lincoln Hillard is six-foot five, so it’s no wonder he’s adopted the moniker Big Fella Linc. That’s also the name he’s given he’s debut album, which follows from earlier EP Bury My Heart.

There are those bands that have a chemical conversion over your body. The bands that make you air drum on a packed bus. The bands that make you lose two wristwatches on two separate occasions, respectively, in the mosh pit. The bands that make you cede all control of your body, ripping off your shirt, and giving in to the music. DZ Deathrays are that band (and I speak from personal experience).

In Bluesfest-land it is a prerequisite to decide before the five days of fun begins what shoes to wear. Not only because of the random Easter weather or to express your sartorial style, but also for watching your desired music genre. Such as your blues stompin’ Blundstones, praise the rain gospel gumboots, folk mountain mama hiking lace-ups or your Cuban heeled cowboy boots stitched with ‘tude. However if you are heading to see first-time Bluesfest performer Rhiannon Giddens - you’ll be hard pressed to select the best tread as she showcases her recent solo album Tomorrow is My Turn - a selection of songs from the American landscape made famous by feminine legends of gospel, jazz, folk, blues and country.

As Individual 118 of the Sunnyboys’ Fanclub, I have got a pre-release copy, and man, if you are a Sunnyboys fan, you will not be disappointed. Some 30 years on, there is no way these guys should sound so good. It was recorded at the Enmore Theatre in March 2015, where I was there to witness their comeback gig the year before when they performed as Kids in Dust, and what a venue the Enmore is - with sound and acoustics that cannot be faulted.

The track listing reads like a favourite mix tape of mine from the 1980’s, rarities and crowd favourites being played live. A sides, B sides, and rocking favourites. Alone with You is there, Happy Man, but what I am stoked with is that crowd favourite from their very first release Seeker is there as well. And I am a little jealous as I am yet to see the lads play that one since screaming like crazy for them to play it at the Playroom and the Jet Club…..

Jeremy Oxley is in top form, making his guitar sing, his voice is still powerful and amazing, the rhythm section of Bill Bilson and Peter Oxley is a well-oiled awesome machine, and Richard Burgman is attacking his axe with as much fury as ever.

They have still got it and it comes through on the album.

This is real, they are back, and if you have a ticket for Day on the Green on 6 March, you can see and hear it all for yourself. That will be the Best Seat in the House!

Lincoln was a member of well know Gold Coast duo Finkler, and has now branched out with his own style and music.

Put together over many years of writing, it is almost a journey as you listen, and most pleasing on the ears, with a diversity of tunes and moods captured in song. He whittled down 60 songs to 12, and I think he has made some great choices.

Soul to rock, to I’m not sure what, I listened eagerly to hear what surprises the next track would bring. A self-proclaimed guitar toting surfer-dude, you can hear the ocean and almost smell the sea salt in Lincoln’s songs and the Gold Coast features prominently in his tracks.

Everybody always asks what does it sound like? What band, what singer? People like comparisons. Well Big Fella Linc sounds like all sorts of things. With the acoustic overtones, I was surrounded with familiar, but different sounds, a laidback style and vocals reminiscent of the Cruel Sea, and then bumping soaring tones of Ed Keupper and the Laughing Clowns. Even a touch of Go Betweens, but then another track is very much in blues and soul mode.

Big Fella Linc is a collection of different songs and different moods which is a great listen. With ebbs and flows and words that have meaning and feel, love won, love lost, Lincoln sings and writes from the heart. Burleigh as a left is a real love song.

Go have a listen - deadest you won’t be disappointed.

Terry “Tappa” Teece

Terry “Tappa” Teece

Never ones to shy away from the live stage, DZ Deathrays have remained active throughout the off-record-cycle from 2014’s Black Rat by playing the odd club show or spinning some records – DJ Deathrays, anyone? Now with a new record currently being chipped away at, the band have kindly dropped its first teaser, Blood on My Leather.

A new addition to the DZ formula is the introduction of a guest vocalist for some backing vocals coming in the form of Bloods’ domineering frontwoman, Sweetie Zamora. Sweetie provides some well received oohs and aahs and something the band may be testing the waters with – much like how Northern Lights was the shoegaze vibed gateway drug to the group’s more dynamic sophomore release.

Some people have all the talent and Giddens has it in shovels - she’s not only a classically trained singer but also a multiinstrumentalist (fiddle, banjo) with enough “profound talent” as quoted by her super producer T Bone Burnett to capture these vocal genres and to present such timeless ballads in a way you’d think were only written yesterday. The songs on Tomorrow have been re-interpreted and arranged by Giddens, and performed by T Bone’s select ‘musicians’ musicians,’ providing light instrumentation to ballads made famous

by Dolly Parton (Don’t let it trouble your mind), Sister Rosetta Tharpe (Up above my head), Nina Simone (Black is the colour/ Tomorrow is my turn), Odetta (Waterboy) and Patsy Cline (She’s got you). Angel City is the sole fully composed song by Giddens and like the great songs written on the album before her, it’s about gathering the artistic life angst and experiences that she can rightfully now celebrate as determination and strength. The aptly named album title says it all.

Blood on My Leather is ultimate comfort food. It’s familiar and harmless yet appetising and forever pleasurable. Even the band nods to its proverbial nature by stating in an interview the song’s original track name, Meth Rays, “From there we had to change the name," they joked. "It's a bit of a party jam: a little bit about the war on drugs, a bit tonguein-cheek too. Classic DZ."

Giddens who also fronts the Grammywinning Carolina Chocolate Drops brings them to Bluesfest as her touring band; Hubby J Jenkins (banjo, guitar, mandolin), cellist Malcolm Parson and brass multiinstrumentalist Rowan Corbett. Fans of soul, folk, blues, country and everything in-between are headed for an immense treat of musical skills and styles. That said please leave your good shoes at home.

Personally, I’m not sure what else I expect from a DZ Deathrays song. This track wastes no time in marking its territory by piledriving its earthquake-inspired kick drum beat toned off with Shane Parsons’ slivery, electric guitar riff. The track’s self-referential, cavalier approach to being another heavy disco party anthem is actually the song’s biggest stride. So simple in design but hardly the watered down DZ procedure.

Jake Wilton 24

www.blankgc.com.au

Rhiannon Giddens plays Bluesfest Thursday 24 and Friday 25 March.

Tiffany Mitchell

RUFUS Bloom Sydney Trio, Rufus return with their second album Bloom after releasing two massive singles You Were Right and Like An Animal. The wait for this album felt like forever but it was well worth it when I finally got to hear this masterpiece.

Rufus’ sound is a sweet combination of deep dub and oozy electronica; imagine drinking a crisp beer on a really hot day, yeah well Bloom makes you feel those feels.

Most electronic or dance albums are constantly dropping dirty beats, but Rufus really take you on a journey throughout Bloom, wich each track floatint into the next so effortlessly.

Making you dance to your heart’s content, tracks like Say A Prayer For Me and You Were Right really balance out the more mellow dance tracks like Innerbloom and Hypnotised.

Bloom creates a lot of figurative imagery within the lyrics produced by the group, alluding a lot to nature and dreams which is perfectly combined with the time of year the album is released. Long sunny afternoons with only just a glimpse of the holidays past. Something I really love about this album is that it is classified as dance or electronic music but you could just as easily be sitting at home, or taking a stroll while listening to Bloom, it’s just such warm and fuzzy goodness, right for any occasion.

Sarah McEwan

CITY OVER SAND Look For Me (single) From the outset of the ambient soundscape setting the tone for the rest of the song, the vulnerability in singer Dan Carroll's delivery is believable. He invites the listener to come look for him in the band's first offering from forthcoming album Good Grief titled Look For Me. Carroll’s smokey vocals and acoustic guitar are perfectly complemented by bassist/ multi instrumentalist Brad Hosking’s melodic basslines and subliminal organ playing. Drummer Jules Keshan does more than hold down the beat with an understanding of playing the right part at the right time that only comes with experience.

The laid back vibe of the track recalls some of Radiohead’s gentler moments and could be considered more the soundtrack to a broken heart than a pick me up/let’s go dancing kind of affair.

Look For Me and the full length player it is taken from were recorded at Mr Hosking’s Blind Boy Studios in Nerang and is a self produced effort by the band with Brad overseeing the engineering and mixing and local mainstay Paul Blakey handling the mastering. It’s a world-class product produced right here in our back yard.

Look For Me is available to buy as a digital download on bandcamp.com and on the iTunes store while the album Good Grief will also be available on CD, digital download and as part of a limited edition vinyl release in May 2016.

Rick Hollis

LECIA LOUISE Shock Me (single) A quick look at Gold Coast musician Lecia Louise's Facebook page reveals that she is quite the jet setting musician.

Having spent much of the last year performing abroad with a diverse range of musicians as a travelling sideperson across Spain and Italy, recent weeks have seen Lecia take to the stage in Tamworth during the country music festival and several other festival shows as front woman for her band showcasing her own original music.

Somehow among all this, she has found time to record a six-track EP titled Per Te with Brisbane Producer Jeff Lovejoy at the helm. It’s this EP from which new single Shock Me, is taken.

Shock Me is a catchy little pop rock number driven by a hooky chorus and featuring Lecia's handy guitar work.

While the song is built around Lecia’s vocals, it is the Santana meets Van Halen inspired guitar solo that reveals the prowess Lecia has on the guitar and it complements her singing well.

The single launch is on Saturday 27 February at La Piazza in Labrador at 8.00pm. The $20 cover charge includes a copy of Per Te and you can grab the single Shock Me now through iTunes and bandcamp.com.

Rick Hollis

www.blankgc.com.au

25

FEBRUARY

GOLD COAST GIG GUIDE

THURSDAY 25 FEBRUARY *cancelled* Osaka Punch + Electrik Lemonade + Jackson Dunn | Studio 56 at Miami Marketta Lay of the Land ft. Cleaver, Kinloch, Six Shooter & more | elsewhere, Surfers Paradise Zookeepers | Southport Sharks (covers)

FRIDAY 26 FEBRUARY Ginger and the Ghost + Benny D Williams | Summertime Sessions in the Village, Cuddihy Park Mudgeeraba from 5.30pm

Benny D Williams | Cooly Hotel (downstairs) Aquila Young | Stone & Wood Brewery, Byron Bay Scott Dalton | The Yard Cafe, Nobby Beach (2.00pm) Upon a Falling Ember + Of Divinity + The Sign of Four + Diamond Construct + Soul Solitude | Currumbin Creek Tavern Dave Davies | Phoenix Rising Cafe, Nimbin (1.00pm) Matt Armitage | Cafe Dbar (5.30 – 8.30pm)

Eilish Ellen | Cafe Dbar (5.30 – 8.30pm) Banff | NightQuarter, Helensvale Homeshake (live) + special guests | elsewhere Surfers Paradise Velvet Martini | Miami Marketta Akova | The Cardigan Bar James D’khan + Lamb Boulevard + Julie Hayes + Brooke Lambert | Currumbin Creek Tavern (upstairs) Chris Hutchison + Russ Walker | J Bar, Jupiters Hotel & Casino

Mescalito Blues | Miami Marketta Mark Bono + Mick Danby | J Bar, Jupiters Hotel & Casino

Casey Barnes (with full band) | NightQuarter, Helensvale Baskervillian + others (Mountain Goat Valley Crawl from 5.00pm) | The Zoo + The Brightside + The Foundry + Black Bear Lodge

www.blankgc.com.au

Katia Demester + Phil Barlow | Summertime Sessions in the Village, Cuddihy Park Mudgeeraba from 5.30pm

SUNDAY 28 FEBRUARY Under Davis | Garden Kitchen & Bar, Jupiters Hotel & Casino (2.00 – 6.00pm)

Tangerine + Peach Fur + Trapdoor + Scott Dalton | Currumbin Creek Tavern

Danyak | Institution Ale House, Surfers Paradise

Andy Penney | Hard Rock Cafe, Surfers Paradise

Sonic Bliss (10.00am) + Monkey & The Fish (1.00pm) | Phoenix Rising Cafe, Nimbin

Akova (6.30pm) | Three Blue Ducks, The Farm, Byron Bay

Felicity Lawless | Snobbys Restaurant, Nobby Beach Matthew Armitage | The Yard Cafe, Nobby Beach (2.00pm) Jake Fox + Jennifer Sjaan | Currumbin Creek Tavern (downstairs, free entry, 1.00 – 4.00pm) Royale Sundays ft. BoyBlewe, Jimmy D & Stretch | elsewhere Surfers Paradise Monkey & the Fish (1.00pm) | Phoenix Rising Cafe

Lamb Boulevard | Byron Bay Brewery TRAILS | The Milk Factory, Brisbane

Hugh Jones and Peter Hunt (2.00pm) + Mapstone (7.00pm) | Sheoak Shack, Fingal

SUNDAY 6 MARCH Out of the Woods, presented by Bleach* and SEED: Aquila Young + LUATE + Tommy Sheehan + Radius (2.00pm) | The Deck, Currumbin RSL The Esplanade – Paradise Point (Bleach*): Flamenco Fire, featuring Andrew Vievers on guitar + Inigo (from 2.00pm) | The Esplanade, Paradise Point Beetle Juice (1.00pm) | Phoenix Rising Cafe, Nimbin Benny D Williams (5.00pm) | Sunhouse Coolangatta Candice Dianna (3.00pm) | Q1 Skypoint Seventy7 Ella Fence (2.00pm – 6.00pm) | Jupiters, Garden Kitchen & Bar

THURSDAY 10 MARCH Seven Ups Soul Fest at Bleach*: The Seven Ups + Ella Fence + Grace Hughes + Steve Lane and the Autocrats + Zed Butel + Nadia Sunde Tropicale Carnivale Dance Party DJ set (4.30pm) | Robina Town Centre

FRIDAY 11 MARCH SATURDAY 5 MARCH Feast Fiesta at Bleach*: Cheap Fakes + The Bella Fontes + Hanlon Brothers + The Unusual Suspects (from 4.00pm) | Fifth Avenue, Palm Beach Bleach* in the City: The Vernons + Donny Love + Columbia Buffet (from 4.00pm) | Southport CBD Bullhorn + Scott Dalton + Rob Demasi + Nyssa Berger + Salt & Steel | NightQuarter, Helensvale Stav and the Dark + Tokyo Beef + Cornerstone + The Stouts | Currumbin Creek Tavern

Illy + Citizen Kay | Coolangatta Hotel

Frank Sultana (6.00pm) | Hinge Gallery, Dust Temple

Wendybird | Sheoak Shack, Fingal

Frazer Goodman Band | Southport Sharks

Labjacket + Locus + Devonian | Lonestar Tavern

26

Belinda Carlisle | Jupiters Casino

Lime Cordiale + Von Villains + The Moonlight Society + Jackson James Smith + Sarah Frank + A Tribe Called Frank | Nightquarter, Helensvale

Ben Hanna | Cabana Bar & Lounge

SATURDAY 27 FEBRUARY

Karl S Williams + Benny D Willaims (private VIP opening function) | Burleigh Brewing Co

Kolombo (Belgium) | elsewhere

Akova | Slater & Waldorf

Trapdoor + El Bravo + The Ruiins + Keelan Mark + Mr Biggles (DJ set) | Southport Sharks

FRIDAY 4 MARCH

Cassian 6 year anniversary + Giv | elsewhere, Surfers Paradise

Matlock, Phantom and Slick: Glen Matlock (Sex Pistols) + Slim Jim (Stray Cats) | Surfers Beergarden

Jethro Andrews | Hard Rock Cafe, Surfers Paradise

Mike Elrington | The Loft, Chevron Island

Athena Joy (Queensland Music Awards finalist), single launch + Radius + LUNA LUX + Josh King | The Loft, Chevron Island

The Jive Cats | Southport Sharks

Peach Fur + Merging Roots + Nina Ward + Sera + DJ Dereck | Miami Shark Bar

THURSDAY 3 MARCH

Wild Marmalade + Hayden Hack Infusion + Wil Massey | Nimbin Bush Theatre

Osaka Punch + Antimata + A Little Province | Great Northern, Byron Bay

Napoleonic Wars | Griffith Drama Theatre (all-ages)

Felicity Lawless | Beaches on Kirra

MARCH

The Sakrewski-Symonds Ultra-Jazz Quintet (1.00pm) | Phoenix Rising Cafe, Nimbin

Benny D Williams (6.00pm) | Beaches on Kirra

Nicole Brophy + BigfellaLinc | Summertime Sessions in the Village, Cuddihy Park Mudgeeraba from 5.30pm Abbit Cardwell + Michael Baranov + Kellie Night and the Daze + Rob Demasi + Heartworn Highway + Haystack Mountain Hermits | NightQuarter, Helensvale Mojo Burning Sideshow: The Ugly Kings + Guthrie + Love Hate Rebellion + Yes Sir Noceur + Jackson Dunn | Surfers Paradise Beergarden Felicity Lawless Band | Southport Sharks Seven Ups Soul Fest at Bleach*: The Seven Ups + Ella Fence + race Hughes + Steve Lane and the Autocrats + Zed Butel + Nadia Sunde Tropicale Carnivale Dance Party DJ set (4.30pm) | Robina Town Centre

World Champion (live) | elsewhere

WEDNESDAY 16 MARCH

Tokyo Beef (Tracks magazine party) | Quiksilver Pro

Sevendust + Darkc3ll + Azreal | Cooly Hotel

Fox and Fiasco + WLVS + Mistram + Livvia | Currumbin Creek Tavern

FRIDAY 18 MARCH

Jethro Andrews | Hard Rock Cafe, Surfers Paradise

Palms + Babaganouj + Adolescent | Miami Shark Bar

Saskwatch + Cub Sport | Beach Hotel, Byron Bay

Matthew Armitage + Gas Grooves | Summertime Sessions in the Village, Cuddihy Park Mudgeeraba from 5.30pm

SATURDAY 12 MARCH Hanlon Brothers | Southport Sharks Seven Ups Soul Fest at Bleach*: The Seven Ups + Ella Fence + race Hughes + Steve Lane and the Autocrats + Zed Butel + Nadia Sunde Tropicale Carnivale Dance Party DJ set (4.30pm) | Robina Town Centre Upon a Falling Empire + Twin City Riot + Dirty Brew + Noose for a Neck Tie | Currumbin Creek Tavern

Phoebe Sinclair + Claire Anne Taylor + Dubarray + Rob Demasi + Salt & Steel | NightQuarter, Helensvale Lancelot | elsewhere Smoking Martha + Versus Fate + Chelsea Rockwells + Napoleonic Wars | Currumbin Creek Tavern Big Daddy Wilson | Soundlounge Currumbin CC The Cat (4.00pm) + Titanix (covers, from 8.00pm) | Hard Rock Cafe, Surfers Paradise

Groove Terminator (w/ resident GIV) | elsewhere

With or Without U2 (tribute show) | Southport Sharks

Benny D Williams (+ Jon Jon Florence movie launch, from 3.00pm) | Beaches on Kirra

SATURDAY 19 MARCH

Bill Jacobi (7.00pm) | Sheoak Shack, Fingal

SUNDAY 13 MARCH LIVE AT BOND: The Ninth Chapter + Aquila Young (3.00pm) | ADCO Amphitheatre, Bond University Saskwatch + Cub Sport | Soundlounge Currumbin Johnny Dunstow (5.00pm) | Sunhouse Coolangatta Seven Ups Soul Fest at Bleach*: The Seven Ups + Ella Fence + race Hughes + Steve Lane and the Autocrats + Zed Butel + Nadia Sunde Tropicale Carnivale Dance Party DJ set (4.30pm) | Robina Town Centre Bleach* at Mudgeeraba: Casey Barnes + Craig Walsh + Deena (6.00pm) | Hinterland Regional Park, Mudgeeraba Benny D Wiliams (10.30am) | Genki Cafe, Palm Beach Steve Lane and The Autocrats (2.00pm) | Deck Acoustics, Currumbin RSL Dallas James (2.00pm – 6.00pm) | Jupiters, Garden Kitchen & Bar

Satisvibes + Tim Guy + Free Soul Collective + Scott Dalton + Jackson James Smith + Liam Griffin | NightQuarter, Helensvale The Strand to the Sand (Bleach*): The Reversals + Jake Whittaker + Amela (3.00pm) | The Strand, Coolangatta Toolona Street Festival + Eco Challenge (Bleach*): Electrik Lemonade + Robbie Miller + Ivey (4.00pm) | Tugun Tokyo Beef | Benowa Tavern Kiara Jack (2.00pm) + Dubarray (7.00pm) | Sheoak Shack, Fingal The Bean Project (1.00pm) | Phoenix Rising Cafe, Nimbin The Four Horseman (7.00pm) | Hard Rock Cafe, Surfers Paradise

SUNDAY 20 MARCH Ben Lee + Black Rabbit George + Sahara Beck + We All Want To (1.30pm – 5.30pm) | Bleach* at Burleigh, Goodwin Terrace, Burleigh Heads.

Courtney Barnett + Jen Cloher + Fraser A. Gorman + The Finks + East Brunswick All Girls Choir + Ouch My Face | Miami Marketta

Nicole Brophy (5.00pm) | Sunhouse Coolangatta Reece Freeman (2.00pm – 6.00pm) | Jupiters, Garden Kitchen & Bar Benny D Williams + more (Sounds of Sunday, from 7.00pm) | Broadbeach Tavern Liars Bar Amela (2.00pm) | Deck Acoustics, Currumbin RSL Candice Dianna (3.00pm) | Q1 Skypoint Seventy7

TUESDAY 22 MARCH Shane Howard and Dave Gunning | Soundlounge Currumbin

WEDNESDAY 23 MARCH Scarlett Kill single launch + New Age Notion + We Are Servants + Napoleonic Wars | Expressive Ground, Tallebudgera *all ages*

FRIDAY 25 MARCH Gavin Doniger | Hard Rock Cafe, Surfers Paradise

SATURDAY 26 MARCH Astro Travellers + Izaeah Marsh + Rob DeMasi + Salt & Steel + Haystack Mountain Hermits | NightQuarter, Helensvale Greg Lyon and The Hip Operation | Southport Sharks Bill Jacobi (1.00pm) | Phoenix Rising Cafe, Nimbin

SUNDAY 27 MARCH Michael David Thomas (2.00pm) | Deck Acoustics, Currumbin RSL Nick Cunningham (5.00pm) | Sunhouse Coolangatta Mitch King (2.00pm – 6.00pm) | Jupiters, Garden Kitchen & Bar

APRIL FRIDAY 1 APRIL Candice Dianna | Murwillumbah Services Club

SATURDAY 2 APRIL The Jake Fox Band album launch + Wren Klauf + Pirates of the Tempest + Audsox | Currumbin Creek Tavern Buskers by the Creek presents Freaks and Beats (tickets $15 + bf includes entry into markets, children free) | NightQuarter, Helensvale Benny D Williams (6.00pm) | Beaches on Kirra The Bean Project (2.00pm) + Andrea Kirwan (7.00pm) | Sheoak Shack, Fingal

SUNDAY 3 APRIL Benny D Williams (5.00pm) | Sunhouse Coolangatta FRIDAY 8 APRIL Redstarborn + Veal + UverseU + Lotus Ship | Currumbin Creek Tavern Ben Salter | Soundlounge, Currumbin

SUNDAY 10 APRIL Benny D Williams (2.00pm) | House of Brews, Surfers Paradise

SATURDAY 16 APRIL Felicity Lawless + Julia Rose | NightQuarter, Helensvale Johnny Cash tribute show | RSL Southport

FRIDAY 22 APRIL Twelve Past Midnight + Josh King + Wayward Suns + Daneel | Currumbin Creek Tavern

* Catch these SEED artist playing at a venue near you

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27

THE THE WALLS WALLS AND AND *BLEACH *BLEACH FESTIVAL FESTIVAL PRESENT PRESENT

BANANA SUNDAY ECO DISCO

FREE FREE ++ ALL ALL AGES AGES EVENT EVENT VISUAL, VISUAL, SOUND SOUND AND AND PERFORMING PERFORMING ART ART DATE DATE ++ TIME TIME 33 -- 7pm 7pm Sunday Sunday 66 March, March, 2016 2016

LOCATION LOCATION The The Walls Walls Art Art Space Space 4/18 4/18 Mountain Mountain View View Avenue Avenue MIAMI MIAMI 4220 4220 GOLD GOLD COAST COAST FEATURING FEATURING Ross Ross Manning, Manning, Cherie Cherie Noble, Noble, Alicia Alicia Harvie, Harvie, Michael Michael Donnelly Donnelly www.thewalls.org.au www.thewalls.org.au

THE WALLS ART SPACE

THURSDAY 25 FEBRUARY

WEDNESDAY 9 MARCH

COMEDY: John Cleese and Eric Idle | Together Again at last for the very first time | Jupiters Theatre

WORDS | Bigger than Poetry with special guest Shai Shriki | Miami Marketta’s Studio 56 | 6.30pm

SATURDAY 27 FEBRUARY

THURSDAY 10 MARCH

MARKETS | Isle of Capri Markets | Surfers Paradise State School | 8.00am

ART | Tic Taco Exhibition | Beach Burrito Company, Coolangatta

WORDS | Book launch and signing for Mark of the Leopard by Gold Coast author Kathy Stewart | REaD Café, Surfers Paradise | 2.00pm

FRIDAY 11 MARCH

MONDAY 29 FEBRUARY

ART | Yeah Girl Photographic Exhibition | Dust Temple | Runs to 28 March

DANCE | Lights Out And Dance | Burleigh Heads State School | 7.00pm

COMEDY | Aboriginal Comedy Allstars Showcase | The Arts Centre Gold Coast | 8.00pm

TUESDAY 1 MARCH

SATURDAY 12 MARCH

ART | Stephen Buntrock Exhibition | Hillier and Skuse Gallery | Runs to 31 March

WORDS | Battle of the Words Theatresports | Dust Temple | 6.00pm

COMEDY | Tim Hewitt | The Cecil Hotel | 7.30pm

ACTION | BOWLZILLA | Pines Lane, Elanora

THURSDAY 3 MARCH

FILM | Super Shorts Film Making Workshop at Bleach* | midday | Old Post Office Building, Mudgeeraba

ART | Life Drawing | Dust Temple | 6.30pm MUSIC | Fiesta De La Musica: A Celtic Journey | The Arts Centre Gold Coast | 1.00pm LEARN | Parents and P Platers and Motoring Safety | Grand Motors Toyota Showroom, Southport

FRIDAY 4 MARCH EAT | A Taste Of Africa | Citrique | Runs to 13 March PERFORMANCE | Horizon with Angels opens Bleach* | Evandale Lake, The Arts Centre Gold Coast

SUNDAY 6 MARCH Opera Selvaggio - Naomi Price

COMEDY | Cameron Duggan | Palm Beach Hotel | 7.30pm ART | Banana Sundays (eco disco) | The Walls, Mountain View Avenue, Miami | 3.00pm MARKETS | The Village Markets | Burleigh Heads State School | 8.30am ACTION | Yeah Girl presents all-girls skate lesson | Tugun Skate Park | 9.00am | register at yeahgirl.com.au

MONDAY 7 MARCH ART | Womenhood Exhibition | ONE Arts COMEDY | Laura Davis | Broadbeach Tavern | 7.30pm

OPERA: Opera Selvaggio (Bleach*), featuring Naomi Price and Rosa Guitar Trio | Currumbin Wildlife Sanctuary, Village Green | Tickets $49 | 5.00pm MARKETS | Burleigh Good Vibes Market | First Avenue, Burleigh Heads | 9.00am – 2.00pm

SUNDAY 13 MARCH PERFORMANCE | Advanced Women = Advanced Society | ONE Arts COMEDY | Angus Gordon | Palm Beach Hotel | 7.30pm

MONDAY 14 MARCH COMEDY | Angus Gordon | Broadbeach Tavern | 7.30pm DANCE | Lights Out And Dance | Burleigh Heads State School | 7.00pm

TUESDAY 15 MARCH COMEDY | Angus Gordon | The Cecil Hotel | 7.30pm

THURSDAY 17 MARCH

ART | Life Drawing Sessions | Dust Temple | 6.30pm

FRIDAY 18 MARCH

COMEDY | Chris Wainhouse | Pacific Pines Tavern | 8.00pm COMEDY | Wayne Donnelly Comedy Hypnotist | Southport RSL EVENT | Eco Challenge (and Tooloona Street Festival) at Bleach* | Toolona Street, Tugun | midday ART + DANCE | Anthony Pieters | Robina Community Centre, 7.00pm | tickets $10 on the door

SUNDAY 20 MARCH COMEDY | Chris Wainhouse | Palm Beach Hotel | 7.30pm MARKETS | The Village Markets | Burleigh Heads State School | 8.30am LEARN | Song writing with Ben Lee (Bleach*) | Helensvale Community and Cultural Centre | 10.00am

MONDAY 21 MARCH COMEDY | Pete Booth | Broadbeach Tavern | 7.30pm DANCE | Lights Out And Dance | Burleigh Heads State School | 7.00pm

TUESDAY 22 MARCH COMEDY | Chris Wainhouse | The Cecil Hotel | 7.30pm THEATRE | Quartet | The Arts Theatre | Runs to 23 March

SATURDAY 26 MARCH FILM + ART | How to Make A Monster (runs until 12 June) | Gold Coast City Gallery

SUNDAY 27 MARCH MARKETS | The Village Markets | Paradise Point Park | 8.00am

MONDAY 28 MARCH COMEDY | Jacob Lingard | Broadbeach Tavern | 7.30pm DANCE | Lights Out And Dance | Burleigh Heads State School | 7.00pm

THURSDAY 31 MARCH WORDS | Alternator Poetry Jam | Dust Temple | 7.00pm FILM | Opening night, Gold Coast Film Festival | The Arts Centre Gold Coast | 6.00pm red carpet for 6.45pm screening

DANCE | Lights Out And Dance | Burleigh Heads State School | 7.00pm

COMEDY | Danny Bhoy – Please Untick This Box | The Arts Centre Gold Coast | 8.00pm

COMEDY FILM

TUESDAY 8 MARCH

SATURDAY 19 MARCH

ART

DANCE/THEATRE

COMEDY | Cameron Duggan | The Cecil Hotel | 7.30pm

ART | Janine Daddo Exhibition + Marina Gonzalez Eme Exhibition + Roy Wilkins Exhibition | 19KAREN, Mermaid Beach | Runs to 30 April

WORDS

LEARN

ACTION/EVENT EAT

FILM | Ocean Film Festival | The Arts Centre Gold Coast

MARKETS MUSIC

Two questions: Who’s playing?

What’s pouring?

UNDER THE RADAR AT BLUESFEST It’s their third year covering Bluesfest for Blank GC, so we asked Christie Ots and Gina Martin to tell us what might slip under the radar for Bluesfest newbies. And joining them in those recommendations is Jodie Bellchambers.

No stranger to Bluesfest (she’s been to every single one), but certainly a stranger to the back-of-house media tents, she’ll be joining Gina and Christie to bring our readers all of the Bluesfest action. Of course, our editor Samantha Morris and her big mouth had to have her say too.

Pierce Brothers

Tweedy

Having caught the captivating Pierce Brothers in the act previously, they cannot come with a higher recommendation! Not only is their folksy blues music packing a rock punch, the duo is entertaining as hell. The combination is intoxicating, and it doesn’t hurt that they are easy on the eyes to boot! They incorporate a range of instruments into their set, including an impressive display with the didgeridoo, and their quick-witted banter keeps the set flowing fast. They are lightning caught in a musical act on stage, with their stomp box beating out a steady beat as guitars duel and harmonies ring out across the crowd.

Saturday 26 March – Juke Joint Monday 28 March – Crossroads

What started as a solo project for Wilco frontman Jeff Tweedy has become a fatherson duo with his drummer son, Spencer. The debut record, 2014’s Sukirae, directly followed the Mavis Staples sessions that Jeff produced and Spencer drummed on, making this the second project they have worked on together.

Sukirae definitely has that signature Jeff Tweedy sound – raw, almost uncertain vocals and that sweet blend of alternate country/ rock. The drum phrasing is phenomenal and you can see a Wilco influence in Spencer’s playing, which is to be expected. Easily one of the most exciting acts for me this year!

Thursday March 24 - Crossroads Friday March 25 - Crossroads

Kaleo Kaleo, a four piece Icelandic indie pop rock group will showcase their impressive vocal ranges and amazing rock and roll guitars at Bluesfest. They’ve had five number one singles in Iceland and their 2014 track All The Pretty Girls has led to global attention including a record deal with Atlantic Records and a relocation to Austin, Texas. They’ve supported Vance Joy and were featured on the FIFA16 soundtrack. What strikes me about Kaleo is that they don’t really sound Icelandic. Maybe it’s their classic rock influences? Whatever it is, go see them, try and work it out for yourself.

Thursday 24 March, Delta Friday 25 March, Mojo

Shakey Graves

Harts Steve Smyth Steve Smyth is one of those rare and beautiful musicians who can switch between grunty blues and elegant folk within a beat. He stands in a spotlight generated from his own heat, as he musically mourns the rollercoaster of love one moment and stomps out a hip shaking beat the next. Having spent 2015 touring Australia to promote his album Exits, Smyth knows how to have the crowd in raucous uproar one moment, and standing in a silent hush the next as he slides from songs like Get On to Paris.

Thursday 24 March – Juke Joint Saturday 26 March – Delta

With a unique blend of blues, disco, funk and shredding guitar, Darren Hart or Harts is definitely an act not to miss this year at Bluesfest. Harts’ debut full-length album 2014’s Daydreamer was completely written, produced and recorded in his Melbourne bedroom studio. Although he is not the bluesiest artist on this year’s lineup, don’t hesitate for one second! He will have you on your feet and grooving to funky tunes quick smart. Don’t just take it from me – take it from the growing list of top musicians worldwide raving about his shows: Prince, Quincy Jones and Questlove just to name a few.

Thursday 24 March, Crossroads Saturday 26 March, Mojo

Also out of Austin, Texas is 28 year old multi-instrumentalist Alejandro RoseGarcia, otherwise known as Shakey Graves.

Shakey is so well loved, that the city of Austin proclaimed 9 February Shakey Graves’ day.

An excellent musician, he writes dreamy heartfelt songs with vocals both strained and angelic and his talent for guitar picking is immense. Four albums, three EPs and a live album make up his discography and his sound is kind of alternative country/folk- foot stomping rock and roll with his live shows, by all reports are not to be missed.

Sunday 27 March, Jambalaya Monday 28 March, Jambalaya

Hussy Hicks Hailing from the sandy shores of the Gold Coast, but spending much time in the swampy delta of southern USA, Hussy Hicks are a powerful combination of soaring vocals and deft guitar work like you’ve never heard.

Certainly not in these parts, anyway. Julz Parker and Leesa Gentz and their band are regulars on the Gold Coast gigging circuit but are possibly better known for their regular inclusion on European festival bills.

They’ve previously won a Bluesfest busking competition and have graced the Bluesfest stage performing with other artists, but never before in their own right. If you like foot-stomping blues, mixed with angelic but powerful vocals and catchy melodies, or even if you just love women kicking arse on big festival stages, you will love Hussy Hicks.

Friday 25 March, Juke Joint Sunday 27 March, Delta

East Journey Hailing from NE Arnhem Land but with global tendrils already emerging, East Journey are what you might call a Northern Territory desert rock super-group. Their ten-track The Genesis Project saw material they’d previously created rewritten and rearranged by original Yothu Yindi members Ben Hakalitz, Buruka Tau and Stu Kellaway and they’ve been invited to perform as far afield as Los Angeles. Their sound could be described as contemporary rock, but with obvious Indigenous elements and they often sing in traditional Yolgnu language. Their 2012 album Guwak, which is named after their totem, the nightbird received five monimations at the National Indigenous Music Awards and Rolling Stone magazine has described their live performance as “explosive.” (Immediately after East Journey perform, you can catch one of Australia’s most awarded and celebrated Indigenous musicians when Archie Roach takes the stage).

Friday 25 March, Crossroads

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31

Food & Drink

STEAKING THE JOINT! Every second person has an opinion on how to cook steak.

Yet we’re surprised how many stuff it up. Then again, every other person has a preference as to how they like their steak cooked! So, a seemingly simple task of cooking a steak for dinner can be fraught with possible disaster.

‘Learn from the expert,’ the adage says, so we ask Aaron Smith, owner/chef of The Glenelg Public House for some tips and advice about cooking steak.

can be cooked on the BBQ and finished in the oven, single steaks on either the BBQ or a decent pan. Find out about different cuts and the provenance of your beef from your butcher: grass fed is fresh-tasting, grainfed richer, as a rule of thumb.

3.

A Queenslander by birth, Aaron worked in Brisbane and the Gold Coast at the start of his career before completing his ‘rite of passage’ time as a chef at Clos Maggorie, Covent Garden, London. Returning to Australia, Aaron’s steak knowledge progressed even further at Aria, Sydney, working with Blackmore wagyu, Australia’s best beef.

Having cooked the best, and now running a steak restaurant of his own, Aaron had a few handy tips to ensure steak cooking success: 1.

2.

Choose your equipment to match your skill. You’ll need either a really good BBQ or a heavy cast iron pan large enough to cook the number of steaks you want.

Both of them will retain the heat. Forget about glasstopped stoves or aluminium pans for cooking steaks, he says. They just don’t cut it!

Buy the best steak you can according to your budget.

Talk to your butcher, tell him what you want, and buy a cut which will suit the way you want to cook it and the taste you want. Of course that partly depends on how many people you’re catering for and your own preferences! A rack of beef, whole sirloin or rump cap

CAMBUS WALLACE 4/2237 Gold Coast Highway, Nobby Beach The Cambus Wallace opened in late 2012, inspired by history the history of a ship run aground and a nation whose currency was ‘rum’.

“We wanted to fill in the blank spot that we thought was missing in Gold Coast venues,” owner/manager Dave Ferry tells us, referring to the random idea of a bunch of friends that turned into a much-loved restaurant bar. “The nautical theme came first, then we learned about the Cambus Wallace. It matched perfectly.”

Well, almost! The Cambus Wallace, a ship which foundered off the Gold Coast in 1894, was carrying a load of whiskey, beer and explosives.

“Almost in sight of the port, after voyaging half-way round the world, Cambus Wallace has become a total 32 the barque www.blankgc.com.au

4.

Preparation. To age your steak in the fridge for two or three days, place it on a cake rack so that the air can circulate around it, slightly dehydrating it to concentrate the flavour. Take it out of the fridge, and season it approximately 40 minutes before placing in the pan. In this way, moisture extracted will be brought back into the steak. It also helps to tenderise the meat.

Bringing the meat to room temperature lowers the cooking time (ensuring less dehydration from the grill) and helps the steak to cook more evenly, resulting in an improved steak overall.

Cook. Heat your pan to a medium-hot temperature, put a small amount of oil on the steak (not in the pan), season with sea salt if you haven’t already and put it into the pan. You can turn the steak multiple times (to help it cook more evenly), but don’t overcook it! There should be a deep golden exterior and preferably some charring. There’s no set time to cook steaks because the cooking time will depend on the thickness of the steak and even the fat content of the steak. (Fat insulates, so higher fat content meat is more resistant to heat.

Beware of cooking high fat content meat on the BBQ, as it will cause the BBQ to flare and char, blackening and spoiling the steak.) Cook to your liking. (He gives me a quick rundown on the thumbpad rule, which I think is a really useful guide – see note.) Large cuts can be finished in the oven at 180 degrees.

wreck, involving the loss of six lives…the vessel went ashore on Stradbroke Island and within twelve hours practically went to pieces,” the newspaper reported.

There’s lots of whiskey on the menu, but it’s the range of rum that takes my eye.

“Whiskey’s all the rage interstate,” Dave acknowledges, “but we also wanted a great cocktail menu to please the ladies. Rum’s a far better cocktail base than whiskey. Plus, it was the drink of choice for many of us.”

Eleven great-looking blokes, I’m thinking; multi-talented too!

Dave runs the bar, the other partners chipping in, each one with different skills. There’s more than cocktails here to keep the ladies amused! And the venue’s so sexy.

The Cambus Wallace is a very classy nautically-themed bar decked out in timeless wood, replete with nets, boating paraphernalia and even Long John Silver’s parrot. Along one wall Dylan Quirk’s moody mural of a frigate at war with a stormy sea reminds us that the sea is a cruel mistress indeed. After she’d taken her toll on the ship, explosives from the wrecked Cambus Wallace were piled together and detonated. Storm and tides compounded their damage eroding the narrow spit of land. By 1896 the tides had divided Stradbroke Island in two, changing Gold Coast topography forever.

The Cambus Wallace too has changed. The drinks list has matured

5.

Rest for 5 – 10 minutes (depending on the thickness of the steak), in a warm place with foil lightly over the top.

When ready to serve, brush the top of the steak with some fresh butter and sprinkle with sea salt. Then touch lightly on the BBQ to bring heat back to the outside of the cut before serving. Remember that any secondary cuts with obvious grains should always be cut across the grain.

6.

Enjoy!

Thanks heaps Aaron! In case you were wondering how I cook steak, I was a vegetarian, remember? I don’t cook steak.

I leave it to the guys!

Better still, we go visit Aaron at The Glenelg for a Master Kobe’s Rump Cap MB9+. It’s a whole lot better than we could ever cook, no matter how great the instructions!

Marj Osborne Read more of Marj’s reviews on Good Food Gold Coast www. foodgoldcoast.com.au Note: Pash A 2007, ‘Determine the doneness of a steak with your palm’, Lifehacker.com, Accessed 31 Jan 2016, http://lifehacker.com/267250/ determine-the-doneness-of-a-steak

The Glenelg Public House, 2454-2460 Gold Coast Hwy, Mermaid Beach

enough to have its own menu, including a potted history of its namesake ship.

Over the past three years, there’s been some real progression in the menu. Early days saw share platters and breads with a few blackboard specials. One of the first restaurants on the Gold Coast to trial a fortnightly popup ‘restaurant within a restaurant’, injecting added interest into the menu, along with specials nights (Wednesday’s $15 ribs, with live blues on Wednesday and Thursday) it value adds to a one-page menu of accessible gourmet delights.

While ‘Walk the Plank’ and ‘The Captain’s Table’ share platters remain, we couldn’t go past some of the other main courses: Moules Marinières ($18), the quintessential French holiday dish - a rustic pot of mussels cooked with leek, shallots, white wine and crème fraiche, and a Riverland Sirloin à l’Ancienne ($22), a delish NZ Hereford/ Angus steak served with rich truffled porcini, jus and Café de Paris butter. Heaven! Truffle and butter wins the show! OK, so we had a Pickled beetroot and haloumi salad too to lighten the load.

It’s fabulous, great value dining from Chef Vitor Ditlef (well known for his vegan popups), trumped only by the drinks list.

The Main Squeeze sports a glass of craft beer, one of several on tap. I’m on the loose, checking out the cocktail talent: a Rhubarb Daiquiri made on Angostura rum, Sailor jerry, Aperol, rhubarb bitters… the list goes on, but who cares! It’s serious territory

DANIEL STUART FINE FOOD 1 Lawson Street, Southport

Sometimes the stayers get overlooked.

I’m thinking that as we sit having breakfast at Daniel Stuart’s.

A family owned and operated business, Daniel Stuart Fine Food was the first tenancy in the newly built Southport Central and, over ten years later, the only original food outlet remaining.

Tucked around one corner of Southport Central opposite the RSL, Daniel Stuart is a hidden secret to those who live elsewhere on the coast, and the café of choice for many Southport residents and workers.

It’s a stayer for a reason. It’s fairly rare for a café to advertise their mission statement, but there it is, lit up in bold letters underneath the menu: “It’s our mission…to show our passion for food, provide quality coffee and friendly service in a relaxed comfortable environment.”

Daniel Stuart is all of those things when we visit. We are greeted warmly by the chef, (owner Daniel Campbell, we later learn) who’s working happily away, chatting to anyone who approaches the open kitchen. A lot of people come and go, talking to Daniel while their takeaway coffee is made, sitting solo to read the papers or in pairs for a chat or meeting, or families dining out for breakfast together.

A look over the menu shows us lots of favourites – generous serves at keen prices: House muesli with berry compote and honey yoghurt $9, Standard brekkie (2 x XL free range eggs on Turkish) $6, Gourmet omelette $14.50 and Eggs bene $13.50 - $16.50.

When our Bacon and eggs ($9.50) arrives, the eggs are perfectly poached, the bacon crispy, the wedges of Turkish

toasted on the grill carrying the scent of rosemary oil. My sweet corn fritters are light and airy (made by someone who knows the tricks), served with bacon and poached eggs, avo and baby spinach topped with house tomato relish.

Accompanying breakfast is a mug of creamy Genovese coffee, a Melbourne brew which the café has used since the beginning.

It’s full-bodied, smooth and milky without being bitter.

It’s an impressive first visit. Nothing showy, but really solid, and we can feel something special happening here. The café is obviously loved, and, with their 10th anniversary taking place, we took the time to make another visit to talk to Daniel and his mother Myra.

Cooking and catering is Daniel’s passion, but what does it take to endure in an industry which claims victims every year?

He admits that survival has at times been tough. While the café has garnished many awards (Gold Coast People’s Choice Café for years running as well as inclusion in the Good Food & Wine Guide), obstacles piled on top of each other in the café’s middle years: first the GFC, with Southport Central being the first development to go into receivership, and then the light rail. With the Q:Link development taking up Scarborough Street (the road traversing Southport’s retail area) for over two years, it was understandable that some customers stayed away for the duration. Many businesses closed through lack of custom, but Daniel Stuart’s kept its head above water.

It’s regulars that Daniel and Myra thank for their success.

But there’s far more to it than that, we think. It’s about consistency, being adaptable to change and customer needs (“All needs and all age groups,” says Daniel. GF, DF and V are clearly marked on the menu), providing high quality

falling squarely into my ‘I’m a grownup girl so don’t sweeten me up’ territory. Superb!

“The wind that blows the ship that goes, And the loss that loved a sailor!”

If you do like sweet, try a liquid dessert like the Banana Triangle. Think Banana cream pie in a glass with hints of raw honey and nutmeg. Kiss Kiss!

It’s too early in the night to be melancholy for lost loves, but it’s not hard to get into the mood of this place, dark and dusky as it is, to imagine the stormy seas not far from here which took the lives of five sailors on the Cambus Wallace.

As we dine, the bar slowly fills, some punters staying to settle in, while others are obviously meeting friends for a drink before moving on.

And there’s a lot to choose from...(drinks as well)!

Looking further through the drinks menu there’s a who’s who of some of the world’s best rum, (over twenty in total), many from the Caribbean and Central Americas, as well as our own locals from Beenleigh and Mount Tamborine Distilleries), as well as single malt whiskies (hats off to the Cambus Wallace). Take the Rum Tasting Flight if you’re adventurous, 3 x 15ml glasses of heavenly spirits, but I have a one track mind tonight…

In the moody half light I stare into my Pussers British Navy rum, served in a cute tin cup and read the inscription:

food at affordable prices, staying current and on trend without stepping out too far, establishing ‘must have’ dishes (“We never take the Chicken Parmi off the menu!”) as well as daily specials to mix it up for locals. (Daniel Stuart’s also runs $10 blackboard specials on Monday and Tuesday lunch, plus a daily $9 Brekkie Roll and coffee deal).

However, the critical factor in every café’s success, we believe, is the creation of a welcoming atmosphere where people feel valued.

“Some people eat here five days a week for breakfast, lunch or coffee. Others bring clients in. Mum’s the person on the till.

She’s almost a counsellor sometimes,” Daniel jokes. “Many chefs don’t interact with customers. When they do say hello and have a bit of a chat, they create a family vibe in a café. This is a family business, run by a family that actually cares.”

Great food, quality coffee and friendly service. They’re what every customer comes back to experience or, put another way, the 3-pronged legged chair that every great café sits on.

Certainly Daniel Stuart’s does!

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

Note: Carbone L 2013, ‘When it comes to customer experience, unleashing the power of the unconscious mind changes everything’, Smartblogs, Accessed 24 January 2016, http://smartblogs.com/foodand-beverage/2013/05/31/when-it-comes-to-customer-experienceunleashing-the-power-of-the-unconscious-mind-changes-everything/

Leaving before I’m washed up on the shores of regret, I look back and ponder...

Yey, me hearties, behind these doors lies history...

Marj Osborne Read more of Marj’s reviews on Good Food Gold Coast www.foodgoldcoast.com.au Disclaimer: On one occasion we dined as guests of The Cambus Wallace.

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33

Environment

MAKING WAVES AROUND THE WORLD

Five years ago at just nine years of age, a starry-eyed Pacha Light was handed her very first surfboard by Australian pro surfer Laura Enever. This moment in time kicked off a passion that would see Pacha go from keen beginner to Queensland's top-ranked Under 16s female surfer in just 5 short years. Last year she undertook a marathon paddle to raise awareness for the campaign to have the Gold Coast to become the eights Wirld Surfing Reserve, a bid which was ultimately successful. Now with years of world travel most adults can only dream of, success on the circuit and and an ambassadorship with the Surfrider Foundation under her belt, this passionate environmentalist is all set to take on the planet at the World Surfing Games in Portugal.

Natalie O'Driscoll recently gained an insight into the person behind the growing list of stellar achievements.

You must have been ecstatic when Burleigh to Snapper was named as the eighth World Surfing Reserve, given your campaign to raise awareness for it. Why is this title so important to our beaches?

Yeah - we could hardly believe it - to see everyone come on board in the last moments! The title helps protect this beautiful place for generations to come - it's one more symbolic barrier to destruction and shortsighted development.

Have you surfed any other of the World Surfing Reserve breaks? If so, which ones, and how do they compare?

Not yet, but I hope to surf in them all! I'm looking forward to surfing in Manly for the Oz Open of surfing grom comp later this month!

What's the next cause you would like to champion and raise awareness about?

We have to clean up the ocean and we have to stop dumping rubbish in it in the first

place! If people realise we are part of the ocean maybe we'll stop polluting it!

brumby named Ollie - he's our family therapist!

How do you juggle preparations for the World Surfing Games, pro junior circuit, your ambassador duties and schoolwork?

Do you have strategies or rules in place about how to spend your time?

Where do you see yourself in ten years?

So far everything's been pretty smooth.

I get most of my school work done at school - I've got great teachers and the technology makes it easy to study anywhere anytime. I usually surf every morning before school, and at school (I'm in the PBC surf excellence program). The years to come may be bit more stressful, but staying positive, having great family and sponsors support makes it all seem doable.

Do you have any other interests or hobbies that people might not know about?

It's my dream to be in the world tour travelling the world meeting new people in new places and trying to do some good for the world!

Of all the travel experiences you have had, which one or ones have stood out?

Travelling and living in 'third world' countries has changed the way I see the world. And visitjng places like the Amazon and Borneo jungle have shown me just how amazing this planet is. But meeting the nomadic Penan tribal people probably had the biggest impact - they still know how to live peacefully and in harmony with the forest.

We're a pretty creative household, so there's always singing, dancing and drawing going on! we have various musical instruments instead of a tv! Our family pet is a wild

IT IS A SOLAR-POWERED CHALLENGE AND A PLASTIC-FREE STREET PARTY FOR TUGUN The third Surfrider Foundation Eco Challenge on the Gold Coast will be held in Tugun on Saturday 19 March and this year it is teaming up with one of Bleach* festival's all time favourites: Toolona Street Festival. The day at the Tugun beachside kicks off at noon with Eco Challenge; a family friendly, sustainable, solar powered, plastic free, community event. And if that list wasn’t long enough, you can add surfing and the surrounding lifestyle into it. Once all the surfing is done, you can feast on local delicacies at the beach end of Toolona street followed by dancing the evening away.

Eco Challenge will include wooden surfboard demonstrations, anything and everything to do with a sustainable lifestyle and - of course - surfing. There is a Team Challenge on Alaia (big, finless wooden surfboards to those who are not on top of their surfing trivia) surfboards for 6 prebooked teams and an Expression Session in the middle for all those individuals who want show off their talents.

And when it is time to sit down for dinner, everyone is welcome to do so at the long, communal dinner tables of Toolona Street. Strolling beneath the lantern lights under the branches of the 90-year old fig tree while listening to the sounds of Electrik Lemonade, Robbie Miller and Ivey might be just the way to wrap your day in Tugun.

But in all seriousness, there is much more to these events that meets the eye. It is not just about surfing or

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raising awareness of sustainability. It is not just about an atmospheric dinner under a fig tree. It is about doing the right thing and taking the right steps towards the future of events and event management.

Eco Challenge, true to its name, is all about ecological sustainability and has been practicing what it preaches ever since it started 4 years ago. Toolona Street Festival then again has made the commitment to go plastic-free in 2016. This is not an easy task by any means for an event that has food and drinks at its heart but if anyone is up to the challenge, it is this festival. Greg Howell, director of Climatewave Enterprises and coordinator of Eco Challenge, has lent his considerable knowledge and passion to make this happen.

Under Greg’s watchful eye and guidance, the street festival will ask its food vendors to use only compostable catering products, will not sell bottled water and will introduce new waste management methods. This doesn’t change much for the hungry and thirsty festival folk though; your food will simply be served on something that won’t be left behind for decades, you will be asked to bring your own reusable drink bottle and fill it up at the hydration station and when you go and discard your waste, just follow the instructions and pay a little bit of extra attention. And how is this for a fact of the day; if a recycle bin; commercial, private or at an event, is contaminated with non-recyclable items above the level of

15%, all the content of the bin has to go to landfill and the purpose has been defeated.

So pack your natural sunscreen and your reusable drink bottle, put your beeswax on your wooden surfboard, bring your appetite, your thirst, your family and friends and get amongst it at Tugun beachfront. Toolona Street Festival and Eco Challenge are part of Bleach* Festival so for further information visit bleachfestival.com.au Anna Itkonen

LITTLE BITES A TASTE OF AFRICA Experience a Taste of Africa this March 4th to 13th in Citrique Restaurant at Surfers Paradise Marriott Resort & Spa. Our creative chefs will culturally enhance the classic seafood buffet offering to include famous African dishes ranging from North to South Africa such as; Lamb Tajine, Chermoula Prawns, Ethiopian Injera, Harira Soup, Senegalese Jollof Rice and much more!

A NEW TEAM FOR VANITAS PARADOX Not sure where to do dinner tonight? Paradox Kitchen & Bar is now open Thursday, Friday and Saturday nights for delicious dinners, scrumptious cocktails and decadent desserts.

By day Paradox is a chic modern warehouse suitable for a catch up meeting or business lunch. Then from Thursday to Saturday nights, the venue oozes mystique as Paradox Kitchen & Bar; the dusky sister you should seek to find beyond the surrounding flashes of bright neon. There's a choice of seating in cosy booths, at secluded tables beyond the bar, or crowd watching at the high bench on the outside verandah.

For Dennis Duncanson's (ex Jamie Oliver) loyal followers, you'll find many of his trademark dishes on the night menu: Free range Byron Bay pork meatballs, Coffee-crusted 12 hour cooked Darling Downs beef ribs, char-grilled prawns for seafood lovers, Soft shell crab sliders, Sticky wings, and his signature Polenta chips served with grated parmesan and 'angry' sauce. Get onto it tonight!

GOOD BEAN COFFEE 32 Nerang St, Southport QLD 4215 Southport has been experiencing a renewal of late into a seemingly new suburb that I like to call SoPo, a gentrification afficionado's dream filled with new shops, green spaces, infrastructure and eateries, with just enough of the old quirkiness to keep the suburbs charm in check. Good Bean Coffee is the perfect embodiment of the new SoPo as it combines modern interiors and coffee amongst the character of classic Southport.

An established brand from the Sunshine Coast, Good Bean Coffee in Southport is owned by Scott and Paul, career bankers who were looking for a change and came across Shane Hepburn’s original café on the Sunshine Coast and decided to open a franchise on the GC. Scott and Paul love the location of the café, which sits at the Northern entrance to Australia Fair on Nerang Street.

Having a large outside dining area, they are in the process of

Palazzo Versace's Vanitas is sporting a brand new luxury look. With a new chef, Dayan Hartill-Law from Quay Sydney and Dinner by Heston Blumenthal at the Mandarin Oriental Hotel in London, diners are in for a treat. Dayan brings his signature styles of whimsical techniques and often playful cooking to the table, focusing on a seasonal menu using the freshest quality local produce. Newly appointed Restaurant Manager Nigel McDowell (ex-Manager of Moo Moo The Wine Bar & Grill and Rock Salt in Broadbeach) and Sommelier Megan Cox complete the new Vanitas team.

GOLD COAST RESTAURANTS IN TOP 500 Congratulations to our Gold Coast restaurants which made the Australian Financial Review's Top 500. They are featured among the trendiest eateries in Australia in the only national restaurant awards program of its kind to be decided by the votes of their peers.

Our Top 500 featured restaurants are: Etsu Izakaya, The Fish House, Hellenika, Kiyomi, Moo Moo, Ristorante Fellini, Salt grill, Seaduction, Social Eating House, Ten Japanese, Vanitas and Verve.

The beverages will include beautiful South African wines such as Kanonkop Kadette Pinotage Blend, Zonnebloem Sauvignon Blanc, Cider, Kenyan Beer and Amarula. The featured African mocktail is Jus de Bissap and will be made with infused dried red hibiscus flower, mint, vanilla and ginger.

Bookings are highly recommended for this festival period.

Standard Citrique Restaurant buffet pricing and Club Marriott discounts do apply. call Citrique on 07 5592 9772 to make your reservation today or email citrique.reservations@marriott.com.

FOODIES!!!

Thinking of a holiday with a difference? Then why not consider the Ubud Food Festival to be held in Bali during May 2016.....

After bringing together over 6,500 foodies from across Indonesia and the globe for its inaugural event in 2015, the Ubud Food Festival (UFF) has announced its return to Bali's culinary capital from 27-29 May this year.

Showcasing the deliciousness and diversity of the Indonesian archipelago, the three-day event will span high energy cooking demonstrations, hands-on workshops and master-classes, special events across some of Ubud's most celebrated culinary establishments, in-depth food forums and much, much more.

The full program and line-up is set to be released via the UFF website early April when tickets go on sale. Visit ubudfoodfestival.com

obtaining a liquor licence, which will allow for a great place for a few drinks on a Friday afternoon for all the workers who currently frequent the café.

The spacious café currently offers quick grab and go bites, but is looking to expand their menu, hopefully to soon offer leisurely breakfasts on the weekend and more on-the-run meals for their professional customers.

The coffee is unique to the Good Bean stores being sourced and roasted by Tim Adams who chooses the right combination of beans to form the house blend, of which we tried an espresso and a piccolo. The espresso had a rich, oaky, caramel flavour, with a balanced acidity that made for easy drinking. The piccolo had an interesting liquorice scent and a sweet caramel flavour. Good Bean offers single origin coffee that changes fortnightly and is the basis for their cold drip, a great option when you are out and about in the warm weather. On my visit the beans were from Costa Rica, with an espresso having a beautiful banana scent, a strong acidity and a meaty flavour with bursts of sun dried tomato adding a bit of sweetness.

Catherine Coburn

Good Bean is open 7am to 5.30pm weekdays and 7.30am to 3.30pm weekends and is a necessary stop on your next trip to SoPo.

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Arts & Culture

FILM FESTIVAL HIGHLIGHTS (THAT AREN’T EVEN FILMS) Claudia McCristal gets a sneak peak at the Gold Coast Film Festival Program ahead of its launch.

This year’s Festival, which runs 31 March – 10 April is shaping up to be one of the most inspiring, captivating and action-filled programs since the Festival’s inception.

Genuinely catering to all ages and with events from Coolangatta to Helensvale, the event absolutely has something for everyone.

And I’m not just talking about the quality films being showcased.

The essence of Gold Coast Film Festival is to celebrate the wonderful world of film, and the incredibly talented filmmakers and screen professionals, which is just what these other-than-film-events included in the program do.

With plenty of options available, the informative and fascinating events will capture the importance of films and inspiring people in film, as well as appraise their contribution to the industry.

WOMEN IN FILM LUNCHEON

MOVIE TRIVIA NIGHT Hosted by ABC Gold Coast’s Bern Young, a fun-filled night for movie buffs of all ages to participate in engaging and humorous film trivia. Lucky door prizes, food and drink will be available.

When: Thursday 7 April, 6:30pm Where: Stingray Bar & Lounge at QT Hotel Gold Coast How much: $12 booked online with complimentary food platters. Minimum two and maximum five people per team.

THE CHAUVEL AWARD The Chauvel Award is presented to someone who has made a notable contribution to Australian cinema. Highly respected film personality, David Stratton will be in conversation with the winner of The Chauvel Award at this evening function.

The Women in Film Luncheon celebrates the presence of female talent in the film industry. Distinguished film professionals and anyone else in support of the cause is invited to hear from highly regarded guest speakers and enjoy a delicious lunch, mixing and mingling.

When: Saturday 9 April, 6.30pm

When: Friday 1 April, 12pm – 3pm

REELLIFE SEMINARS AND PANELS

Where: Bazaar at QT Hotel How much: $95 available from 1 March at gcfilmfestival.com/tickets

Where: The Arts Centre Gold Coast How much: $49 available from 1 March at gcfilmfestival.com/tickets

These seminars, workshops and panels led by film professionals will see people speaking of their inspiring experiences in the industry,

and answering questions to help develop film makers of all experience levels. For details on the panellists and their bios, visit gcfilmfestival.com/reellife.

When: Starting Friday 2 April – Saturday 9 April Where: The Arts Centre Gold Coast – The Basement How much: FREE – booking required on gcfilmfestival.com from 1 March (space limited)

MONSTER ZOO As part of Gold Coast Film Festival’s YScreen program, an augmented reality filmmaking workshop for kids ages 6-12 is coming to the Gold Coast. Incorporating filmmaking and games, Monster Zoo is a 1.5 hour augmented reality adventure reality scavenger hunt where kids create a documentary about their search for invisible endangered monsters.

Children are instructed on how to build, film and edit the screening of their documentary for friends and family.

When: Friday 8 April. 6-8 year olds at 10.00am – 11.30am and 9-12 year olds at 1.00pm – 2.30pm.

Location: Robina Community Centre

Gold Coast Film Festivals is one of our favourite cultural events on the Gold Coast.

With a strong focus on diversity and gender, the non-film events just add to the strength of the Festival’s film programming. Be sure not to miss out. Reserve places in advance as soon as tickets become available on Tuesday 1 March.

And keep your eyes peeled for Film Festival programs at all the cool outlets that stock Blank GC. Disclaimer: Claudia McCristal is a shared intern between Blank GC and Gold Coast Film Festival. Blank’s editor Samantha Morris is also consulting to GC Film Festival, specifically on social media advertising.

Tickets: FREE – booking required on gcfilmfestival.com from 1 March

HOW TO MAKE A MONSTER

Babe, (the 1995 animated family movie), Looney Tunes characters in Movieworld, the colourful koala sculptures all over the Gold Coast and all three floors of Gold Coast City Gallery this March have something in common. The common denominator is John Cox, Gold Coast based animatronics wizard, who has dazzled the movie industry and audiences alike with his lifelike monsters and characters for years.

Animatronics is the art of using a robotic device to bring lifelike characteristics to an otherwise inanimate object; humans, animals, plants, mythical creatures or even monsters.

It is a multi-disciplinary field, which integrates anatomy, robots, mechatronics and puppetry resulting in a lifelike animation. The international master of animatronics, John Cox, brings you the art of making monster in his touring workshop How to Make a Monster – the art and technology of animatronics and the last chance to see this workshop will be at the Gold Coast City Gallery this autumn.

John Cox and his Creature Workshop have created some of the most memorable 36

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creatures and characters in TV and cinema such as Nana, the St Bernhard dog in the film Peter Pan, the crocodilian that put crocodile into Crocodile Dundee and the whole farm yard full of pigs, sheep, cows and the sheep dogs in the 1995 movie Babe. By the way, his work in Babe won him the Visual Effects Academy Award in the same year.

But John Cox isn’t just an animatronics genius. He is also a sculptor with public artworks installed across the Gold Coast streetscape and a regular exhibitor in sculpture exhibitions such as the Swell Sculpture Festival. One of his biggest public art projects on the Gold Coast has been Animals with Attitude - Gold Coast sculpture trail - where he has designed koala sculptures and various other artists have painted them. And if you are interested in seeing some of these sculptures, head to the newly refurbished Broadwater Parklands and find his piece from last year’s Swell Sculpture Festival, Blue Perspective, permanently installed in the northern end.

In

the How to Make a Monster exhibition John Cox will take you into a journey from designing the monsters and creatures to story-boards and maquettes. And of course he will show how the actual pieces are sculpted, moulded and finalised. You will get a backstage view on how the animatronic mechanisms are designed and installed to create the bones and muscles that bring monsters to life.

Anna Itkonen

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

few tips to help you maintain a practice when the studio is out of reach.

1. First understand that you use the time you have, your home practice doesn’t necessarily have to be an hour or the same length as your usual studio class. It’s ok to do less if you don’t have the time, just do something. If you have 15 minutes you can still move your body, focus on your breath for that time and give yourself many of the benefits of a yoga practice.

DIY YOGA

Sometimes life gets way too busy and finding the time to get to to yoga class seems impossible. This doesn’t have to mean your practice stops, and actually when you are that busy you need yoga even more. What it means is developing a home practice. If this sounds a bit hard and a bit scary here are a

2. Clear a space in your home, office or garden. You don’t need much more space than the yoga mat itself. If you can’t permanently keep the space clear, make it easy and quick to do so. The harder it is to roll out the mat, the harder it will be to stay motivated. If you can make it an attractive or appealing space that’s even better.

3. Plan for it. Put your practice time into your diary or phone reminders. Make this time your time. Be realistic about when you place it in your day so you can make it nonnegotiable.

4. Find a method that works for you. Find a great YouTube channel, subscribe to online yoga, have DVDs, voice recordings of classes or put your own sequence together.

Whatever resonates with you, it is after all your practice.

Lifestyle

5. Remember how good you feel after class. We all get distracted, tired and lazy at times, it’s easy to say ‘I’ll do it tomorrow’. When this mood comes over you just remember how much better the body feels, how much clearer the mind is and how much calmer you are after class. Think of your practice as a reward rather than a chore, or worse. As a teacher of mine says, ‘love yourself enough to do this’.

6. Enlist a friend. If you can coordinate schedules with a like-minded friend then do the practice together, nothing like a little accountability to help you stay motivated.

It may or may not be easy but it is more accessible than ever before to maintain your practice when life overtakes you. No it wont be the same as the studio class but it will be better than giving up completely. You will definitely thank yourself after each practice, high five yourself for making the effort too.

Erin Bourne

For more yoga hints and info find Erin at aloka.com.au

SERIYA'S SOUND HEALING I’m a pretty busy business professional. Sometimes, like in the first week of February, I have a bit of a disaster which causes all kinds of stress. I tend to hold onto stress too, bottling it up in my chest, causing shallow breathing, furious paced thoughts and sleepless nights. You get the idea - a pretty standard week in today’s corporate style of life.

I was discussing the challenges I was facing at the desk during this particular week with a friend, Seriya of Akshaya Healing and she mentioned I should try one of her sound healing sessions. Designed to quieten even the busiest mind and help the person who finds it most difficult to meditate, I found myself compelled to give it a try. It’s interesting too that the meditation techniques used are quite simple, making them easy to replicate back at home. So I agreed to try it, lay down on her yoga mat and this was my journey.

The healing started with Seriya playing the Tambura, a traditional Indian drone instrument, and chanting an ancient, powerful Sanskrit gayatri mantra. Once my mind started to stop being curious and noticing how cool it all was, I pretty quickly started relaxing. Perfect timing too as this is when Seriya’s guided meditation began.

The guided meditation element of the session took me to a state of body relaxation, checking through all my body parts, feeling where I am tense and letting it go. Breathing…

Letting go… As always when I do this type of release exercise, I was really surprised at how much tension I was holding in my jaw, breath… let it go… and how nice it felt to relax, once I had released it all.

As I drifted down to that wonderful place just between sleep and wakefulness, the crystal bowls started to sing. It didn’t seem like I was listening to the song of the bowls though, rather I was feeling their vibrations, they were vibrating right in the centre of my mind, vibrating with their beautiful sounds out from my mind through my ears rather than the other way. Sometimes the vibrations see-sawed from left to

right, reverberating from one side to the other, at other times they were just vibrating strongly throughout my entire mind.

As the music of the singing bowls continued I went deeper into a meditative trance. I noticed in the back of my mind how heavy my arms were, immovable just like the branches of a large tree. My entire body then seemed to attune into the vibrations of the crystal singing bowls, matching their pitch. Then for a short time the vibrations seemed to extend beyond my body, tuning in with something larger, something beyond my understanding… a vision of a tree connecting to the earth’s vibrations through its roots.

I start coming back out of this deep meditation as the crystal singing bowls transitioned into the music from tibetan bowls, a native american flute and a koshi element chime.

Coming out of the meditation and finishing and then back to the office, I found myself walking lighter. That’s the only way I can explain it. The higher vibrations of the session stayed with me at least for the rest of the day. Work, then back home to three young, noisy children - it all just floated by all as on a mild breeze.

I’m sure there is so much more to this type of meditation than I understand. I’ll definitely be going back again when the opportunity presents. Seriya offers these sessions through her website www.akshayahealing.com and also runs group sound healing each full moon on the Gold Coast at Nobby’s point. I think I’ll attend that one too - if I can get the kids to bed early enough.

Damian Papworth

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Arts & Culture

SPOTLIGHT ON...

NIGHTQUARTER FASHION PRECINCT THE GYPSY AND THE OFFICER Who wears your label?

It might sound like a cliche but we literally have women aged 18-80 buying our clothing. Some like the one off pieces and others like the more classic look. Either way we try to provide pieces of style and not follow the paths of fashion which allows everyone to pinpoint a piece they love!!! I have to say our new line is very bohemian with lots of prints and tassels and long lines and that is because at heart both Bron and I are true gypsy souls!!

What is the must-have item this summer?

ALWAYS ON THE RUN Tell us about Always on the Run and the Motivation behind your label:

The bralette for younger women. I say dare to bare for those that feel they want to be proud of your body!!! For those like myself who would prefer not to bare all - I would definitely go with one of our lace maxi dresses or beach kaftans. Loose, comfortable and you can pretend you are on a permanent cruise.

Always on the Run has been in my head since ever I can remember. The idea of the name and at the same time the motto of this brand comes from my character and the life that I live. I skate, snowboard and travel the world. First of all I wanted it to be AUTHENTIC and UNIQUE, so I learned how to screen print with a big help from a local screen printer Kenny from Toxic Industries. He would teach me how to do it in his after hours :) I did know how to sew because I was brought up by two beautiful women - my Mum and my Grandma. So It all kind of came together.

EACH and EVERY tee is hand printed or sewn by me here in Australia. I know others claim that their shirts are hand printed. Ok, maybe they are but mostly they are “hand” printed in factories by some people who have nothing to do with the brand. I print each one myself and put all my heart, passion and sweat into each one of them. I design, then I prepare the screens , then I print it. Afterwards I sew in all the labels myself. (It takes ages) But I love it! I won't mention how much time it takes to sew a shirt.. haha

Melinda first fell in love with Doris when she saw Calamity Jane.

“My first experience of Doris must have been Calamity Jane.

I loved that she was playing a tomboy, and it’s probably the first real makeover show! The western theme of the film is a nice link to my love of country music, too.”

Melinda said she was surprised to find out that behind the sunny smile, Doris had had quite a turbulent personal life, including abusive relationships, much sadness and general bad luck with men, some of which, Melinda said, she’s had her own personal experience with.

“We’ve got quite a few things in common – we’ve both had bad relationships, bad luck with men. And we both love dogs” she added with a giggle.

But when I asked what it was Melinda loves about performing Doris’s much loved hits, she spoke affectionately of the opportunity the show provides as a departure from her own song writing – and the naval gazing and inward focus that writing her award winning country songs commands.

We are fans of the up-cycle, reuse, re-invent style trend at Blank , What is your take on this?

We love this too at TPT. With my fashion teaching job during the week, I am always on the look out for how to improve this for our market here in Brisbane & Gold Coast.

I'm looking out for Australian grown & made fabrics. Very exciting. I have a collection of clothing patterns in store for budding designers to surround themselves in idea. My husband Noel, is also very creative in this area. He up-cycles a lot of our hand made furniture pieces at TPT. We have a lovely collection of antique & vintages pieces of furniture and collectables from UK and Australia. I'm currently conducting shoe making workshops at the Ormeau Community Centre and potentially at NQ. Encouraging people to learn the skills to develop their own style and reuse things they have home.

Amanda Gorman

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Many of you will be familiar with Melinda Schneider from her successful country music career and her appearances on 2010’s season of Dancing with the Stars. But the show that brings her back to Gold Coast shores in March is one that pays homage to one of her own idols: the much loved Doris Day. Lisa Smith caught up with Melinda for a chat about bringing her concert style show Melinda Does Doris to Twin Towns in March.

But it seems the similarities don’t end there. Melinda discovered there was much the two have in common when researching and creating her sell-out stage show DORIS, from which the music for this concert-style show is taken.

THE PORCELAIN TREE

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MELINDA DOES DORIS

“I was looking forward to a break from writing about myself, my own life and emotions.”

Melinda said she loves singing Doris’ much loved hits, and particularly enjoys it when the audience inevitably start to sing along.

“I love the audience singalong that always happens – everyone knows and loves these songs... That’s what you want!”

As Doris is about to enjoy her 92nd birthday, and no longer performs publicly herself, she must be delighted that someone like Melinda is joyfully carrying on her legacy, inviting audiences to join her on what is sure to be a wonderful evening and - as the song says - a Sentimental Journey.

Lisa Smith

Catch Melinda does Doris on Friday March 11 at Twin Towns Services Club, Tweed Heads, NSW www.twintowns.com.au.

BOOK REVIEW

CONSCIOUS CAPITALISM JOHN MACKEY AND RAJ SISODIA

The term Conscious Capitalism may sound like an oxymoron to those of us who profess to be left-leaning greenies. People like us believe that business and capitalism foster greed, selfishness and exploitation, right? Well, those were the beliefs of John Mackey when he co-founded the company Whole Foods Market in the US in 1978. He soon found out that everything he had believed about business was wrong. The Conscious Capitalism movement was then born in the form of Conscious Capitalism Inc., co-founded with Raj Sisodia, a professor of Global Business at Babson College, Massachusetts.

Conscious Capitalism refers to businesses that serve the interests of all major stakeholders—customers, employees, investors, communities, suppliers, and the environment.

Conscious businesses have a higher purpose and leaders that align with that purpose. The book contrasts this with Crony Capitalism, which restricts competition by favoring politically well connected businesses. Mackey argues that Crony Capitalism is what has given capitalism a bad name.

There are four tenets of Conscious Capitalism described in the book; Higher purpose and core values, stakeholder integration, conscious culture and management, and conscious leadership. There is great detail in the book about giving consideration to stakeholders, and how traditional business modus operandi are not needed in this model. For example, by seeing employees as stakeholders, employees chose not belong to unions at Whole Foods Market. While investors are seen as stakeholders, they are paid last along with the owners. In traditional companies, these two are paid first. The model as a whole ensures that conscious businesses are always profitable and will therefore, deliver returns to investors.

While the book rightly slams unfair, burdensome taxation of business, it does mention several corporations , described as Conscious businesses, that are well known for tax evasion and are under current investigation, as well as some that are knowingly underpaying employees. To be fair, this book was published in 2014, and the allegations against these companies are more recent.

Conscious leadership is clearly necessary for these types of businesses to run according to their core values. This does require what the book describes as emotional, spiritual and systems integration intelligence. Most CEO's we hear of these days have none of these attributes. The book slams the culture of greed that has evolved since the economist Milton Friedman extolled the virtues of shareholder return as the sole purpose of business. The purpose of business, according to Conscious Capitalism, is look after the stakeholders.

The book has several appendices, but most interestingly is the differentiation between the fashionable 'B' (benefit) Corporations and Conscious Capitalism. In B Corporations management has far more control legally than the owners, regardless of financial performance. The opposite is true in Conscious businesses.

There are extensive notes and indexing at the end of this book suggesting it is intended for academic reading.

However, Conscious Capitalism is a must read for anyone starting a business regardless of size.

Pip Andreas

SANKOFA: FROM VISION TO REALITY Sankofa is a new Afro-contemporary dance work by Asanti Dance Theatre. Described as a stunning fusion of modern discipline and raw rhythmic energy, this visceral and uplifting work was crafted by Australia’s leading African dancer/ choreographer and is directed by Sidney Myer Fellow Appiah Annan of Asanti Dance Theatre.

The piece features international guest artists from Ghana with some of Australia’s most talented afro-contemporary performers. With the show heading to the Gold Coast for one night only on April 2nd, director Appiah Annan discusses what audiences can expect.

Appiah can you tell us a little about the show?

Sankofa is my first full length afro-contemporary work. It explores the traditional Adinkra symbol which teaches us that before you can move forward you must look back to the past. When I was beginning my research for the show I know that this was an important part of our culture and that it is a theme that people can identify with no matter where they have come from. The more I looked into it the more I realized that this was a really important story to tell.

What was the creative process like?

Some of it was easy and some of it was really hard. When you are working in two worlds and trying to create a new dance vocabulary it can be difficult to get the other creative on the project to trust your vision and just go with it. Most of the time this was fine but there were times when other people working on the project were challenged by the work and didn’t want to do the things that I was asking of them because it was different to what they know. That part was difficult because its not just about being an artistic director but also being able to manage a whole lot of people who come from different backgrounds and that have different beliefs about how dance and music should be made and played. I know that for some of the artists involved in the project I was asking a lot of them and I am very thankful that they worked through it and trusted me to guide the creative process.

What made you want to step away from traditional dance and into a contemporary format?

I love my traditional dances and have learnt a lot from my predecessors but even in Ghana I was trying to explore new boundaries. In coming to Australia I thought that all of my dreams would come true and that I could make anything possible. I realized quickly when I got here that actually it’s not that easy and I have had to work hard to get to where I am now. I found myself performing in the cultural dance scene here in Melbourne and while I enjoy presenting my culture to other people at festivals and parties and that sort of thing I was feeling like my work as an artist was not being able to grow. I slowly began exploring afro-contemporary dance and putting short dances into our festival sets. The audiences loved the contemporary movement and the more I explored it the more I realized that this was a new area of interest for me.

What’s next for Asanti Dance Theatre?

At the moment we are the company in residence at the Knox Community Arts Centre. We are developing a new afro – contemporary dance work called Culture Shock and is also working on a kid’s show that draws on traditional Ghanaian stories told through theatre, dance, music and acrobatics.

The main focus for me at the moment is to continue to refine my afro – contemporary dance vocabulary. I have discovered a rich afro – contemporary dance scene throughout Africa and Europe and want to keep researching what is out there and exploring my own way of moving and creating work.

Natalie O'Driscoll

Sankofa is at The Arts Centre Gold Coast on Saturday 2 April at 7.30pm Ticket can be purchased from theartscentregc. com.au

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ALL ABOARD!

Meet the time travelling Minister of Transport, Tabitha Treddel. She used to be a train conductor. These days she travels through time making sure anything that goes choo choo, beep beep or ding ding is in tiptop condition... and now she has found herself on the Gold Coast! The only problem is her timepiece, her watch, has stopped and if she doesn’t get it working again the city’s transport will grind to a halt! Can you help Tabitha solve the clues and get her watch working again before you get to the end of the line?

Tabitha’s story will take everyone aboard to her childhood and the early days of public transportation. You will meet her family, you will learn about the early inventors of transport and the journey will guide you all the way to the modern day Gold Coast and its sites. This journey is a celebration of travelling but also a story of what happens when things change, how you adjust and how life goes on.

“I think this a wonderful melding of site and place for people with story and history. We got some interesting real facts about the Gold Coast and interesting real facts about the inventors of transport of the past woven into a beautiful adventure story,” Kate Shearer describes.

This is not the first site-specific performance by Seeing Place Productions. Theatre-maker, educator and director of Seeing Place Productions, Kate Shearer has done this professionally for years.

“I love to take the arts out of a beautiful black box theatre, put it into spaces that people won’t expect and invite them to come along to rediscover a site they might know already.”

All Aboard! is written by Elise Greig, co-written and directed

by Kate Shearer and the role of Tabitha is brought to life by Louise Brehmer.

All Aboard! was created by a local performing art production company Seeing Place Productions.

All Aboard! is a part of Bleach* festival’s junior program for this year.

“All Aboard! is a roaming theatre performance for families where children will listen to an audio work as they travel on a guided performance on board the tram.” Kate Shearer from Seeing Place Productions explains.

“A big part of Bleach* festival is commissioning works that are site-specific so that communities and audiences on the Gold Coast can experience art and culture in really immersive ways.” Says Kate McDonald from Bleach* festival.

“The children can listen to the audio story and be a part of a whole theatrical adventure while the Light Railway will go about its daily routine without even knowing that Tabitha and the kids are aboard.”

The journey starts at the Gold Coast University Hospital and will take the children all the way to Main Beach and back. There are scenes on the way where the children are invited to solve the puzzles and help Tabitha mend her watch again. The families will hop off the light rail to solve the clues; at the council chambers, at the croquet club, at Queen Street. Afterwards they simply catch the next train and press play again.

SALTWATER: SOUL FOOD

Anna Itkonen

You can get aboard the tram with Tabitha on Saturday 5, Sunday 6, Saturday 12 and Sunday 13 March but places are limited so make sure you get your train ticket well in advance. For tickets and further information go to the festival website bleachfestival.com.au. Choo, choo!

While the audience is certainly present and central to the evening, Jamie clarifies: “You are not in the spotlight. But you are present, and so will be called to remember. And you can share or speak if you choose to.”

This style of theatre, if we are to categorise the evening, is perhaps something relatively new to many Gold Coasters.

This is not a sit-in-the-dark-and-watch experience, but something visceral, interactive and beautifully nuanced.

Jamie creates a safe space where the audience (or perhaps more appropriately, dinner guests) can outwardly share as much or as little as they wish to as she acts as guide and curator for an evening of exchange.

Local restaurant Mingsanity are playing venue for the duration of the experience during Bleach* Festival and are launching a new menu just in time for it. They are excited to be co-hosting this wonderful event.

When Jamie Lewis came to Australia from Singapore in 2010 to study at the Victorian College of Arts, she intended to stay only one year. Little did she know that she was about to fulfil a prediction her mother had made when she was young – that she would not stay in Singapore: that she would meet and marry a foreigner, and that he would be an older man.

A few years down the line, now graduated and indeed married and living happily in Melbourne, Jamie, a self described ‘maker-performer-writer’, found herself becoming curious about her relationship with food – about its centrality in her life and identity, its role in culture, its part in her domestic life as a wife, and the strong link food has to Singapore and her family there.

Jamie spoke of a craving - something that was beyond simple sustenance - a craving for place, for the food her mother would prepare for her.

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“I found myself in the role of teacher and instructor with my husband and friends when demonstrating how to prepare the food I desired”, she said.

This curiosity, over time, led to the creation a new work for performance: Saltwater, that invites audiences into an evening of storytelling, conversations and food.

Jamie describes the evening as an opportunity to share more that a meal.

Saltwater is a theatre-meets-dinner-party-at-a-friend’s-house type show that offers moving, honest accounts of Jamie’s experiences of marriage, migration and the relationship food can play in our lives.

Somewhere within the stories and the sharing, Jamie says that audiences find “recognition in the experience” and, it seems, will be drawn into something quite unique and incredibly special. I for one will not be missing it.

Lisa Smith

“Saltwater is a vehicle in which an exchange can happen,- an exchange of stories, of memories.”

“The sharing of food, and indeed the food itself, underscores the stories that I tell: the food itself is a visual, textural way for the story to be personified”.

Saltwater will be presented by Bleach* Festival at Mingsanity : 52A Nerang St, Southport QLD 4215 on March 4,5 & 6. Strictly limited tickets available at www.bleachfestival.com.au

Savage

GOLD COAST FILM FESTIVAL: FOCUS ON YOUTH

Landfill Harmonic

Families will be spoilt for choice at the 2016 Gold Coast Film Festival, which will see more than 75 film and film related events take place over nine different locations across the city.

The 10-day Gold Coast Film Festival has given special attention to children and teens with the debut of Y Screen in this year’s program. With the goal of encouraging young audiences to become active viewers, as well as to stimulate critical discussion in classrooms, Y Screen will also give young people an insight into other cultures, with film as the catalyst.

Little Big Shots, Australia’s annual travelling children short film festival, will also appear for the first time in Queensland at the Gold Coast Film Festival. The children film festival features the best in local and international children’s shorts, animation, documentaries and child-produced films.

NOW OPEN

Tickets for all films and events go on sale Tuesday 1 March, coinciding with a full program of film and activities announcement.

We stock a great variety of organic, healthy, eco friendly and biodegradable products for your day to day needs.

QPOW! Movies in the Park will screen Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone on Friday 8 April at 6.00pm and E.T. and Ghostbusters on Saturday 9 April. It’s free at Victoria Park, Broadbeach.

Monster Zoo - Augmented Reality for Kids has workshops on Friday 8 April at Robina Community Centre. Bookings via gcfilmfestival.com.au from 1 March.

YScreen presented by Bond University, targeted at schools, takes place 11 and 12 April at The Arts Centre Gold Coast. $8.00 per student, teachers free. YScreen films include Mustang, Landfill Harmonic, Boy & The World and Labyrinthus and will screen at special school-excursion screenings accompanied by study guides created by the Australian Teachers of Media. Screenings will be followed by film criticism workshops conducted by industry professionals.

Get tickets and details at theartscentregc.com.au.

Shop 1, 2364 Gold Coast Hwy Mermaid Beach gcessentialorganics

Future Filmmakers is designed to inspire year 11 and 12 students to become the next generation of creative talent.

High profile industry guests including directors, producers and actors gather to discuss their journey into the industry and career opportunities. Australian film critics Richard Hariday and Sarah Ward will join an extensive list of guest speakers. Future Filmmakers takes place Monday 11 April from 10.00am – 2.00pm. Tickets via gcfilmfestival.com.au. www.blankgc.com.au

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BLEACH* ON THE HORIZON For the last four years, Bleach* Festival has connected the Gold Coast community with the arts in unique and ambitious ways. Utilising the Gold Coast’s world famous natural landscapes as unconventional venues, Bleach* Festival has been a platform for expression, curated to encourage community ownership and participation and ultimately play a role amongst the world’s leading arts sector festivals. A dedicated team of hardworking professionals share the enormous task of pulling together the multiple disciplines, artists and venues involved into a cohesive event. The tone of Bleach* is set by the vision of its artistic director, Louise Bezzina, who took time out from her crazy schedule to catch up with Natalie O'Driscoll on the eve of the festival's fifth outing.

I wonder if the stress levels of the team have reached critical mass yet.

“I think everybody's good actually,” Louise is cheerful but calm.

“Yeah we're not quite at that point yet and hopefully that won't hit for a little bit longer. Whilst the program is bigger and more ambitious every year it should get easier every year, as we become more practiced.”

At its inaugural outing in 2012, Bleach* Festival featured one world premiere – a play entitled The Surfer and the Mermaid, adapted from a book by Tim Baker. The play received excellent reviews and ended up on a successful tour after the festival.

“We took it to Sydney for two week and it was quite amazing, it sold out.” Louise recalls.

This year, the festival will contain no fewer than eight world premieres - an exciting feat.

One of the exclusively commissioned world premieres is Horizons with Angels – a blend of circus, dance and song – created by Preposterous, a division of Circa, long time collaborators of the Bleach* Festival team. This spectacular around Evandale Lake is set to open the festival with a bang.

want to do that because these locations are popular and the local community have such a fondness for them. They are also protective of some of the locations and we have to be sensitive to those things.”

“We're celebrating the location so you need to be respectful to the local community who use it. It's a partnership that you enter into, an unspoken one about respect, and the more open and transparent you are the better the result.”

With a long career in festival management and program curation around Queensland, Louise - like most festival organisers - is no stranger to moving around for her work. I am curious as to whether or not she sees herself moving on from Bleach* and seeking different challenges any time in the near future.

“I think it's a great question... the key thing is to not outstay your welcome. With Bleach* it's a bit different because having been the first person to run the festival it's been my baby, so I'm certainly not ready to let go of it yet. But there will absolutely come a time in the next few years where it is the right thing artistically to have a new sense of energy.

Right now I've got too many big ideas and I love living here and our family is really happy here.”

She ponders for a moment. “It's quite a condundrum because what do you do?”

“It's a really nice moment in time for all of us given that Circa have been appointed as the creative lead for the Commonwealth Games and Evandale Lake will see huge changes over the next few years with the building of the cultural precinct,” explains Louise.

With festivals the size and scope of Bleach*, the planning starts a long time in advance. I suspect that the planning for future festivals has already commenced.

“Oh, absolutely,” declares Louise.

Horizon with Angels is the unmissable opener to Bleach* Festival, running over two nights on the 4th and 5th March. Tickets start at $14.60 and can be purchased from bleachfestival.com.au or theartscentregc.com.au.

“The work itself is really a stunning piece of performance that I think really highlights and illuminates that space. It's quite interesting because the outlook is really quite beautiful, the way it outlines the Surfers Paradise skyline in the background.”

“There's so much happening over the next few years we even have to be thinking beyond 2019 to be honest. You know in 2018 the games will come and go and we're going to be kind of a hangover cure.”

Bleach* Festival runs from the 4th - 20th March 2016 at a variety of venues around the Gold Coast. For program information or to purchase tickets, visit bleachfestival.com.au.

Bleach* Festival is renowned for utilising the Gold Coast land and cityscapes as venues and backdrops in its performances, lending a unique character to all of its events.

However the use of open, public spaces comes its own set of issues including environmental impact, unpredictable weather, potential disruption to the public and of course, the issue of rehearsing without giving away the entire production before the event.

I ask if there is anything she can tell us about 2017, and the years to come.

“That's the case for a few of the projects in the festival,” acknowledges Louise.

“There will be dress rehearsals where people will get a sneak peek. Unless you completely lock down a site. We don't 42

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“Bleach* is aligned to coincide with the games 2018.

We'll just be working within the games program and also presenting some big new work.”

“I can tell you that it's going to be a very good entree to 2018. And that the city will really start! In saying that, the city's pumping now. There's so much happening. No one in the industry is sitting around waiting. It will be a great privilege to be a part of 2018 and take the program to another level.”

GETTING BACK TO NATURE

Find time to make the most of this amazing place we call home this summer, starting with a boat trip up the Tweed River...

I have come to the conclusion that dolphins like to show off. As I sit on the sun deck of the Golden Swan sipping my morning tea, a pod of them appear and swim alongside us.

Ducking, diving and playing in the water.

Making our way up-river, away from the coast, the scenery changes from sand dunes and high-rises to cane fields and forests. The Tweed River is bordered by subtropical rainforest, which is home to over 200 species of plant alone.

Mount Warning - the impressive center of the ancient Tweed Volcano - comes into view as we head towards our first stop, The Tumblegum Tavern. It was established in 1887, the Captain tells us, and full of fascinating local history.

The boat crew begins the morning bird feed, which on paper sounds as if small creatures will land gracefully on the boat and enjoy some seeds. Not on the Tweed. This bird feeding involved a large number of pelicans the size of small children

flying overhead. Various birds of prey join them and circle above us while the crew throw them scraps of meat. They will even let you give it a whirl if throwing meat to sea eagles takes your fancy! Despite the danger of adding bird-poo to my nautical themed ensemble, I love seeing them up close.

It is extraordinary the way those native birds hover in the air eyeing up their prey.

We stop off at the Tavern just long enough for a cheeky G'n'T on the terrace and to check out some of the local memorabilia on show before heading back to the boat for lunch. Our 4.5-hour tour of the river comes to an end as we tuck into our seafood lunch of local prawns, crab and oysters and enjoy the ride back down the river. Visit goldcoastcruising.com for more information.

Sarah Loughlin

To see more from Sarah visit itsonlyaplanerideaway.com.

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LEONIE RHODES: SCULPTING SOUVENIRS FOR BLEACH*

Image: Lamp Photography

Leonie Rhodes has travelled extensively, but she came to Australia in 2008 and never left.

An accomplished sculptor, Leonie has been chosen, amongst a heap of other Gold Coast artists to participate in Made In Queensland: Ode to the Souvenir.

Leonie’s pieces will be included in the pop-up souvenir shop associated with the exhibition. The Culture Shop will be a free-standing souvenir booth located in the foyer of The Strand, Coolangatta. As well as Leonie, Suzette Macgregor, Shannon Doyle, Byron Coathup, Leah Bartholomew, Nanda Ormond, Kymberley McElroy, Stephen Baxter, Dean Cogle, Claudio Kirac and Laura Strange are also involved in the project.

SARAH HUSTON | YEAH GIRL! When I first meet Gold Coast designer Sarah Huston, I’m struck by the fact that that she does not fit the stereotypical mould of a skatergirl, but then I’m terribly embarrassed that I even thought that.

“Well what is the mould for a typical skater?” She is quick to ask. “There are a lot of female skaters now.”

Sarah is curating an exhibition of skate photography, Yeah Girl, which takes place during Bleach* Festival at the Dust Temple.

It’s an exhibition of photos taken by female photographers of female skaters and it has a truly International flavour with seven photographers from across Europe, USA and Australia involved.

“I definitely did a lot of research as to who was out there shooting photos,” Sarah explained, adding that the photographers sent their images to Australia digitally before she had them printed and framed.

Sarah herself has been skating on and off since primary school but only started honing her photography skills in 2014.

The Benowa High School graduate says it was the challenge which drew her to skateboarding all those years ago.

“I guess that’s what drew me to it. And then, it was the friendship and community and lifestyle that made me stick with it,” she said.

“When I was a teenager it was mostly guys (who skated),” Sarah said. “I have one friend I went to school with, and she skated as well. I went to the skate park one day and saw her there and hadn’t realised she was a skateaboarder and we became friends and skated all the time.”

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“We’re still friends. We still skate together.

“I started shooting because I’d go out street skating with friends and end up at spots that I couldn’t skate – like a big set of stairs or a big ledge. So then I’d pick up a camera instead and document others skating.”

“With the girls it’s the same reasons, it’s just more about documenting my friends and life with them and also trying to give them extra exposure – because nobody else takes photos of the girls.”

“When I first came up with the idea for an exhibition I wanted to do just photos shot by females of just anybody skating. But I’m also an advocate for giving those girls exposure.”

“It’s a tough one because I don’t want to be exclusive and I don’t want to exclude anyone and I don’t want to segregate women’s skateboarding, but unless we do it ourselves, nobody else is going to do it,” Sarah said.

Sarah’s exhibition has been supported

by Council through Regional Arts Development Fund as well as a bunch of local businesses like 13 Digital, Darkside, Artwork Agency and Fastproof Press and will raise money for Skateistan.

Samantha Morris

Yeah Girl takes opens Friday 11 March from 6.00pm at Dust Temple, 54 Currumbin Creek Road.

The souvenirs that Leonie has made are created from pieces of the old fence line on the Queensland – NSW border. She tells me she’s making about 30 pieces which will be for sale at the pop-up shop as well as four markets during Bleach. They’ll retail for about $40 each.

“I’m delighted to be included in the Bleach* program,” Leonie said, as we look at some of her sculptures. “I haven’t been a part of the festival before – only an attendee.”

“I live right on the border,” Leonie said. “When the border changed, they changed the line of the fence. I like that – conceptually. And the wood is really beautiful. It’s got a lovely grain.”

“When I was little I was obsessed with pestles and mortars. And little figurines. So I would travel to a place and request those from my parents,” Leonie said.

The notion of buying mortars and pestles as souvenirs just goes to show the diversity of those items people consider souvenirs.

“I thought about why I am excited to live in this place –it’s the natural environment,” Leonie explained, when asked about the creative process.

“It’s the biological diversity and colour and smells and all of that incredible richness of environment so I felt that had to be what I described in my souvenirs. The colours are inspired by sunsets, sunrises, plants and animals,” she said.

“I wanted it to be simplistic but striking at the same time – much like the landscapes here.”

While Leonie is excited about her involvement with Made In Queensland she’s also planning for it to be her last festival for a while. “I’m trying to pull back slightly, I’m going into an intense working period on my figurative sculpture. I’m preparing for a gallery exhibition in maybe a year / year and a half.”

“My bronze teacher is very supportive and believes in my skill, he’s pushing me a lot – saying I shouldn’t have to work or be doing other kinds of work and that I should be able to auction,” Leonie explained, adding that her teacher (Phil Piperides) will support her by allowing her to work at his studio without charge.

“I need to take advantage of the time and take advantage of that opportunity,” Leonie said.

“I am so privileged, as an artist, living on the Gold Coast, to have access to that kind of support,” Leonie said. “He is a master of his trade and it’s a good working environment. Very fast-paced and intensive, which is good for me to learn from. My process is usually very slow.”

So, before Leonie takes some time to focus on her sculpture practice, go check out her pieces, made especially for Made In Queensland’s pop-up Culture Shop.

Samantha Morris

The Culture Shop opens 9.00am – 5.00pm in the foyer of The Strand between 4 – 20 March. Visit bleachfestival. com.au for full exhibition details.

ART, DANCE AND SPIRIT. MEET ANTHONY PIETERS. Anthony Pieters was running a few minutes late when we interviewed him. He’d just been auditioning for a busking permit. Just days before we went to print he messaged saying he got it. Yay! When we sit down, I ask Anthony about his schooling. He went to Helensvale State High so I’m curious about their art program. Was it good? “Well, it was memorable,” Anthony said. “Because it’s not about skill, it’s about theory – so you couldn’t just draw a good picture, you had to have a whole diary for why and what.”

So ten years on, does he now see the benefit of all that theory? “Yeah, I suppose. Whether I liked it or not, it made me think about why I do what I do. So now, it’s at the point where if someone asks me what it means I can tell them.

“There are times when it’s just completely organic and you don’t know what took over you,” Anthony says of his art. “But then there are other times when it’s more thought out or calculated.”

“With this show, everything has a meaning to it.”

Image: Lamp Photography

Anthony’s referring to his first ever selfcurated show, which comes at an interesting time in his life – he’s just quit his ‘day job’.

“Now I guess I can say I’m an artist,” he said.

If you haven’t seen Anthony perform, you need to know that his art is a unique combination of dance and visual art. With a background in graphic design, his work is striking, bold and very much about the show.

“When I was a kid I would be drawing all the time and I was raised with Michael Jackson’s music and videos– so that influenced me to dance like him,” Anthony said.

But he struggled with the mix of artistic talent. Art, which was about sitting in the one spot and drawing or painting; and dance, which was so physical.

“Then I came across a speed painter named David Garibaldi and I thought, hmmm maybe I could do something like that. So in 2013 I had my first like solo exhibition at a clothing store in Burleigh … and I decided I was going to give the live art a go. I did a 12 minute performance and did three artworks and the response was really good.”

Anthony has arranged his own performances at Miami Marketta as well as scoring a heap of wedding gigs – that is, capturing the bride and groom on their wedding day with his art.

Speaking of spirit isn’t that unusual for Anthony who says that in his late teen years he sought a spiritual connection and relationship with God.

“I love it because it’s very personal and I’m all about marriage,” he said, of the wedding work that he gets.

“I feel that most of the questions I've had about life at this stage have been answered, and that is to have faith and believe that the best has yet to come and that we all have a purpose in the world we are in.”

Anthony’s show at Robina will see him collaborate with a bunch of talented, artistic friends but because it’s his own gig, he says he’ll be able to express more of the real “Anthony Pieters” than he might otherwise.

“It allows me to be a lot more raw and to say things I probably couldn’t say in a public setting or in an event or something like that… to put my spirit into my work,” Anthony said.

Anthony moves on to telling me about his colleagues who’ll join him at his event in Robina. Claybon Lambert, Sigma Hip Hop Crew, Asphyxiate and Phenom are all on the bill.

Anthony Pieters live at Robina Community Centre, 7.00pm, 19 March. Tickets $10.00 on the door.

‘One of the most sparkling wits in the world’ THE MONTREAL GAZETTE

‘His routines have the mark of those which are quoted from, for years to come’ THE HERALD UK TOUR 2015

FRIDAY 18 MARCH THE ARTS CENTRE GOLD COAST BOOK AT THE ARTS CENTRE GOLD COAST BOX OFFICE 5588 4000 OR THEARTSCENTREGC.COM.AU ABPRESENTS.COM.AU | DANNYBHOY.COM

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Gayle Reichelt, Cherry Venture - Birth of the Ghost Ship 2015

THE LAST FLEET MAGIC STRIPPED BARE If you haven’t yet managed to drop into the Gold Coast City Gallery, I implore you to visit the immense body of work created by local artist Gayle Reichelt in her exhibition, The Last Fleet. This hang celebrates the majesty of shipwrecked objects and uses the encaustic medium in all its possibilities to explore their hidden beauty.

Despite a long career as an artist, Gayle only learnt the encaustic method in 2014, which marks The Last Fleet as her first series of paintings created in this way. Encaustic painting, also known as hot wax painting, involves using heated beeswax to which coloured pigments are added. The liquid or paste is then applied to a surface—usually prepared wood, though canvas and other materials are often used. A hardy medium, beeswax is an excellent choice to depict for posterity these slowly decaying hulks. As such each work is like a snapshot in time as past glory gives way to present decay.

Throughout the series Gayle uses a lovely application of encaustic, oil or powder pigments and shellac on marine board to bring her subjects to life. Her work is inspired by abandoned, weathered shipwrecks, which have visibly entropied over time. Shipwrecked ashore, these objects stand apart from their environment, yet slowly conform to its ravages. Among these rusted hulks are glimpses of the stunning scenery around them - a particularly beguiling beauty which Reichelt deftly explores.

There is a lot to explore in these works: colours, textures, history and memories. For example, local audience members may remember with fondness the times spent exploring the Cherry Venture, which ran aground on Teewah Beach in 1973 and was removed in 2007. So do yourself a favour and visit The Last Fleet before it too, disappears.

Ashleigh Wadman

Gayle Reichelt: The Last Fleet is showing at the Gold Coast City Gallery until 20 March 2016

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Described as R-Rated magic at its stunning best, The Naked Magicians is an evening of comedy, magic and – to put it bluntly – full frontal nudity.

Natalie O'Driscoll spoke with co-creator and costar Mike Tyler about the magical journey which led two humble professional magicians from happily performing for daytime TV and corporate gigs to strolling bare-arsed down the naughty path.

“Well we've both been magicians for eight or nine years each, and the night we met Chris(topher Wayne) came up and asked to see me doing some trickery,” explains Mike.

“I stole his watch and we became best mates after that. We did some fully clothed things together first. We created the show around what would Magic Mike be like if it had real magic in it. We wanted to appeal to an audience that wouldn't go see a 'normal' magic show.”

Appeal is something which neither magician is lacking, if their hordes of female fans are anything to go by. The decision to get naked in front of a crowd was probably made easier for Mike who, as a competitive swimmer, was used to getting his gear off in public.

“We're not strippers or exhibitionists but we are comfortable in our own skin and it's amazing what getting in front of an audience of hundreds can do for your confidence. Chris and myself firstly had to get together with a photographer, standing next to each other with the top hats and a [fake] rabbit covering our naked bits. It was a bit strange because we were mates and had never seen each like that before. We figured that since we'd be doing these shows we'd better get comfortable getting naked in front of each other!”

Natalie O'Driscoll

BRISBANE AIRPORT ARTIST-IN-RESIDENCE Brisbane Airport Corporation (BAC) have done something that no other Australian airport has done before; appointed its first ‘Artist-in-Residence’. Robert Brownhall is one of Australia’s most renowned realist painters and for 6 months he will be lending his skills, talent and artistic eye to recording life and moments at Brisbane Airport.

Brisbane Airport Corporation has a long-term commitment and relationship with the arts and the local artists.

“BAC invests heavily in Brisbane’s art scene as the city is rapidly becoming known as a cultural capital and we want to play a part in that. The role of the ‘Artist in Residence’ is to develop a suite of sketches and paintings depicting everyday events, people, architecture and changes at Brisbane Airport.” BAC CEO Julianne Alroe says.

Brisbane Airport has one of the country’s largest collections of public art displayed throughout the terminals and airport precinct. More than 100 pieces valued at over $10 million have been commissioned and acquired by the airport over the years. Mr Brownhall’s artwork will be displayed at an specific exhibition with one piece chosen as a permanent addition to BAC’s extensive public art collection.

Philip Bacon of Brisbane’s Philip Bacon Galleries expressed his views on the Artist-in-Residence program.

“The BAC's support for the arts in Brisbane is exemplary, and this inaugural ‘Artist in Residence’ program is further proof - if proof was required - of the importance they place on the role of the arts in defining a city, a state, and a nation. A visual artist such as Robert Brownhall is in a unique position to record an exciting time for Brisbane Airport, and for Brisbane generally.”

Robert Brownhall is a realist painter who, over the years, has developed a unique style and a birds-eye view of scenes, with strong connections to place, moody nocturnes, board sweep panoramas and gritty vignettes of urban life. He has captured urban cityscapes in and around Brisbane, including the Gold and Sunshine Coast, and all the way down to Sydney. Gold Coast has always played an important part for the artist.

Anna Itkonen

Read the full interview at blankgc.com.au and catch the Naked Magicians live at The Arts Centre Gold Coast, Friday 26 February. Visit theartscentregc.com.au for tickets.

Read Anna Itkonen’s full story at blankgc.com.au.

FILM REVIEW

POINT BREAK (1991) KEANU REEVES, PATRICK SWAYZE, GARY BUSEY If you want the ultimate, you’ve got to be willing to pay the ultimate price. It’s not tragic to die doing what you love – Bodhi Talk to any surfer in the world and ask them to give you a quote from Point Break; you’ll be hard pressed to find one who can’t! That’s because Point Break is a timeless classic, defying generational gaps as its relevance ultimately transcends time.

Creeping up to 25 years since the original dropped in to pop culture stardom, it’s with sad regret I emphasise Kathryn Bigelow’s film being the ‘original’, with Hollywood recently squeezing out an aqua-turd reboot of the same name...

Without dwelling on this latest reprisal stinking up cinemas nationwide, I will express heartfelt disdain for a film unwilling to stand alone, tarnishing the good name of one of surfing’s most monumental icons.

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How can one possibly improve on perfection? As the old saying goes – If it ain’t broke, don’t fix it.

Back to the original – Who didn’t want to imbibe Bodhi’s cool, calm, calculated approach to living life on the edge, defying the status quo with endless summers spent surfing, skydiving and maxing out the adrenalin meter day in day out?

Then of course there’s Johnny Utah – One radical son of a bitch, who held his own against the alpha male, earning his respect, winning the girl, and ultimately saving the day! All with the help of trusty partner, Angelo Pappas.

As a buddy-cop film to end all buddy-cop films, Point Break pulls hard at the ripcord of the heart, diving into the psyche of male camaraderie and mate-ship. The relationship development between Utah and Pappas is simply flawless, and the emotional entanglement viewers receive from every other character is testament to both the writers and the performers.

For enquiries contact 07 5584 1242 or stingray_goldcoast@qthotels.com.au qtgoldcoast.com.au/food-drink/stingray

Say what you want about the new Point Break, but there’s simply no competing with the original. To even try is a travesty. Instead, I recommend blowing the dust off your old DVD copy, giving it a shred for old times sake – The little hand says it’s time to rock and roll!

Nathan James www.blankgc.com.au

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WOMEN IN FILM: THE BECHDEL TEST The Gold Coast Film Festival (GCFF) is an annual 10 day festival celebrating and promoting all aspects of film and filmmaking from one of Australia’s leading filmmaking locations and holiday destinations – the Gold Coast.

Each year the festival grows and expands in its scope. In 2016, the 14th annual Gold Coast Film Festival will include in its programs an indication of whether or not the film in question passes the Bechel Test. For the uninitiated, the Bechdel Test is passed by a film which contains two name female characters who have a conversation about something other than a man. While it might seem like a fairly simple test to pass, once you actually begin consciously applying it the results can be surprising. Blank GC spoke with the festival's director Lucy Fisher about the test and why she felt it was important to implement.

“As a feminist I felt it was really important to expand the women in film offering at the festival so I was looking at ways that we could promote female filmmakers and make people aware of the gender bias that exists within films that are presented to them”, explains Lucy. “[The Bechdel Test is] one of those ways. It's not a perfect test. It doesn't tell you whether or not there's a fully female crew behind the film, it's about how women are written into the stories, if they're just an addition to the man's primary story; peripheral. I think it's something like 67% of the films didn't pass the test. So there's a lot to be done in the way that women's characters are portrayed in films.”

of Hollywood to the more grass roots industry. Lucy elaborates.

“I guess it's a hard industry to work in. 19% of films are directed by women. Of all the film schools in Australia, the graduates coming out are 50/50 men and women. They are graduating with the same qualifications and then after that it's dropping off and it's the male graduates that are getting films made and not the women. There is clearly an issue.”

It's not just the Gold Coast Film Festival which is raising awareness of this issue. Screen Australia (the Federal Government's primary agency for supporting Australian screen production) have introduced Gender Matters, a suite of initiatives that address the imbalance within the Australian screen industry.

“They are putting five million dollars into promoting female filmmakers and women-led stories so they're recognising that both things are important to change,” says Lucy.

“It's not an ideal measure, it's a conversation starter” Lucy continues.

“At the film festival what I can do in my small little sphere of influence is prioritise bringing female directed films to the festival. We have some really great ones.”

With the full program announcement due on the 1st March, Lucy is somewhat restricted in terms of discussing specific offerings. Ultimately, while the focus on women in film is important both to her personally and to the industry as a whole, she wants Gold Coasters to understand that, at its heart, the Gold Film Festival has something for everyone.

“I want people to attend it because it's good, not just because it's supporting women in film.”

It's not just man-made films that don't pass the Bechdel Test.

Lucy discusses the conundrum that is presented by a femaleled film conforming to the traditional characterisations.

The Gold Coast Film Festival runs from 31 March to the 10 April.

“They are going to be trying to get films made, and if the story doesn't pass the Bechdel Test is that a win? If they get to make their film?”

“We're not trying to just be for women,” clarifies Lucy.

Drama, one of the offerings for this year's festival, is a female written and directed film in which the director Sophie Mathisen insisted upon a 50/50 split for all behind the scenes crew roles on the film including set builders and lighting technicians which are usually male dominated roles.

It's no secret that the majority of film directors are men, and this applies across the industry from the bright lights

Interestingly, Drama does not pass the Bechdel Test. This is why it is important to be aware of the test's limitations.

“Screen Queensland have followed with a real focus on promoting female filmmakers. It's starting to change; the development of films are there, scripts are getting funded, so we're not going to see the change for a little bit because all films have to go through the process and we're right at the start.”

The Film Festival aims to explore a range of genres and styles, and includes offerings from men, women and a dedicated program for children. Diversity is key.

“But putting a pass or fail Bechdel Test along with the ratings is just highlighting it or raising it for discussion.”

“Particularly for a low budget filmmaker that would have made her task even harder, it's hard enough getting a film made and she even made it harder for herself.”

Natalie O'Driscoll

From internationally acclaimed dramas, comedies and genre films, incredible Japanese anime, locally made indie gems and family features, the GCFF offers a culturally diverse, interactive and engaging program of film, events and special guests. Films will be shown at the Arts Centre Gold Coast and Birch Carroll & Coyle in Coolangatta.

“I've never heard of anyone doing it before!” exclaims Lucy.

Pictured: Lucy Fisher and Luke Hemsworth at Gold Coast Film Festival opening night 2015

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Mandy Nolan

Women Like Us

Whether it's through her stand up comedy, writing, comedy coaching or humour therapy, most folks hereabouts have heard of Mandy Nolan. You need a nap after reading her resume. Throw hard-working mother of five, devoted partner and passionate feminist into the mix and you have a picture of the person who for the last thirty years has been publicly speaking about the things that we all think, but some are too afraid to say. In her current show Women Like Us, Mandy and fellow comedian Ellen Briggs talk about the many roles of women and finding the funnies in what, for some, are our darkest moments and biggest pressures. We couldn't think of anyone better to have a chat to in the lead up to International Women's Day.

are women talking about'. It's the wiping down of the bench, the endless putting away where women spend hours like zombies walking around the house. It makes you crazy! And that's the joke I make; we start off really nice in relationships but we can't sustain it and we reach a tipping point and next thing our partners go 'Why are you so angry all the time?'.”

I first met Mandy at a writer's event where she was speaking about her book Boyfriends We've All Had (And Shouldn't Have), a hilarious tome which could have been extracted directly from my brain. She mentioned how during the press for the book's release, so many interviewers commented on her frankness, describing her as “brave” in that snarky, back-handed compliment kind of way. She was struck by how conservative it all seemed. I asked her to elaborate on that.

“It's why feminism is still so important. It's almost implicit in our homes, that the gender roles have pretty well remained the same. My husband is fantastic but the fact that I have to say he's fantastic is because he's still the exception.”

“It's like you end up thinking why are people shocked about how honest you are?” asks Mandy.

“We still have a long way to go. It's a big picture all around fair payment in the workplace and around our working, and managing small children in childcare. A lot of mums either feel or are made to feel guilty about putting their children into childcare so they can work. I don't think men go to work feeling guilty like women do about having their kids in childcare. Men are also not judged by other men for it.”

“I think 'Christ, how dishonest are people?' I generally assume that most things I'm going through probably otherpeople are experiencing, but we kind of pretend we don't. I think that's part of the conditioning of being a woman, particularly now.”

“We're mums, and our mothering time corresponds with the years we're supposed to be getting ahead in our careers, and we've got a huge amount of pressure now around our healthy and vitality but it's also around attractiveness and what our home looks alike and what we look like and we're not supposed to be ageing. The bar keeps getting higher and higher.”

“To admit you can't keep up is an admission of failure and incompetence and we don't want to do that and that's where I come in as a comedian because I admit failure and for women it's a real relief and its a unique appeal about my comedy.”

Feminism is a central theme to all that Mandy discusses.

In their show, Mandy and Ellen tell stories about women who generations ago were rendered invisible that now aren't, but still we aren't seeing their experiences reflected in any real way. An example would be a middle aged woman who has dedicated her life to her family. While in the current day and age there may be a world of options now open to her that previously weren't, you can still open any interiors magazine and see these beautiful botoxed middle aged women sitting on designer beds in stunning homes and it's too easy to feel like a failure. Much of Mandy's humour lies in the everyday struggles of ordinary women.

“I'm very much a feminist, not the way I started out which was as a really annoying academic feminist who was judgemental about other women's choices. Experience and maturity has changed that. I've lived with domestic violence in my early twenties, I've experienced things I never thought I would and it really opened me up to not judging other women's choices.”

“One of my things that is a joke but also not a joke, is that I'll talk about women in that we perform the tasks that no one else wants to do because their lives are far too important. The boring, repetitive, mundane, thankless tasks that keep everyone else's lives ticking along nicely. A lot of it we don't want to be doing but that's just what we do, and men look around like 'what

“I look around at my shows and I think about 10% of the women there have been Botoxed. I don't want to offend women who choose to get Botox, but I wonder how it

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became normalised without any public discussion around how safe is it? What are we frightened of? What's going to happen to us? Are old women invisible? I try and do it in a funny way to draw attention to the stuff I think about. Maybe there are women there thinking about whether or not they should go and get their first shots and I hope it creates a different way of thinking or at least a dialogue, where these women explore if they're doing it because they really just want to or if they are frightened of ageing in this society and because they feel like they're not enough the way they are.”

Mandy feels that the kind of societal pressures that make women feel like “not enough”; the pressures that drive women to inject themselves and undergo traumatic cosmetic surgeries, come from many different sources. Even some unexpected ones.

“Last night I was doing a show, a talk about violence against women, and this other woman did a talk. She was a yoni expert and according to her, women should be having 76 different types of female orgasm..

These are the kind of things that women have to deal with. I mean how are we supposed to fit that in now? 'Sorry honey mummy's busy she's going to be orgasming

all week'. It's like we have this liberation but it also creates a new set of oppression.”

“This kind of thing is very complicated when it comes to managing the kids.

There's a van that drives around advertising injectibles, you know? I worry that my 21 year old daughter has grown up around this.

She just says in casual conversations 'when I get my breasts done'. She wants to get them reduced, but it's all around not appreciating who you are.”

“Byron Bay is one of the worst places with cosmetic stuff and nobody talks about that because the people that do it also wouldn't eat anything that wasn't 100% organic, you know they really value health. It's a huge hypocrisy. But you know also I bleach my hair, I wear makeup and get a spray tan to hide the veins on my legs, I'm not sitting here in a pair of hemp trousers, knitting a kale bikini and steaming some quinoa.”

“I've almost wanted to do a facebook pledge page where we place our pledges not to get any surgery done. You know I've got four daughters, for me it's really all for them. My lack of enquiry and my generation's lack of enquiry are are affecting our daughters and our daughter's daughters and we are changing what they inherit.”

These are the kind of subjects that makes Mandy's comedy so incredibly appealing to women.

“Comedy is about men,” she states.

“It's a man's world and it's generally young.

No one's going to program middle aged women talking about their boring middle aged lives, and yet there's a bunch of middle aged women out there who are sick of listening to young guys talk about their cocks. We're not disappearing like our mothers did. We're staying visible and we're resentful, cranky, pissed off!”

“I think the audiences at our shows give a really interesting view of women, and the men that come along really love it because they really love women.”

“The male feedback has generally always been great, for some reason I'm always surprised how many men turn up to our shows, it's actually a relief to the men as well. Generally, they always get on board and enjoy it. That actually did suprise me, I underestimated how switched on a lot of men are, particularly when they've grown up with mothers and sisters and wives. My shows aren't man bashing thing, it's funny, and I love how much they like it. I've never had bad feedback from a man afterwards, not to my face anyway.”

Mandy loves the feedback she gets from the people in the crowd.

“A woman came to the show last night in Byron, she told me that seeing my show was like therapy for her. She said she was going through all this stuff around her age and not liking herself, but she came out feeling so much better.”

“Just being in a group of women who might be feeling oppressed by life and all hating ourselves, our shitty car, or our shitty kid, and knowing you're not alone and you're not perfect and that's okay, being able to have a laugh about it, I really love that I can help that happen.”

Natalie O'Driscoll

Folks who are interested in checking out Mandy Nolan and Ellen Briggs at Women Like Us had better do so quickly, as the first two shows at Currumbin RSL have sold out and a third has been booked for the 1st April. Tickets can be purchased at currumbinrsl.com.au. Mandy also has regular gigs all over the coast. You can keep up to date with her shows and writing at mandynolan.com.au

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Bowlzilla Gold Coast bowl competition takes place on Saturday 12 March at Elanora Skate Park and features a girls’ division. The best skate comps have always been about the gathering and that’s exactly the premise of Bowlzilla – keeping the competition fun, celebrating skate, music and art. The event will also attract some of the world’s most exciting transition skaters to the Gold Coast.

Elanora Skate Park is accessible from KP McGrath Drive and Pines Lane, Elanora.

transformations, special effects and mind blowing disappearances, Boyd's incredible production will surprise and delight. Tickets via ticketek.com.au.

Ocean Film Festival Australia goes global Born of a love of the ocean and a passion for film, the Ocean Film Festival Australia is now taking the world by storm. More than 80 screenings across Australia, the US, China, New Zealand, Belgium, Hong Kong and the United Kingdom are scheduled for 2016. The tour features eight of the world’s most captivating ocean-themed short films including six Australian Cinematic Premiers.

Now attracting more than 420 entries the annual film tour is growing the number of screenings and countries year on year.

Ocean Film Festival will screen here on the Gold Coast on Tuesday 8 March. Tickets at oceanfilmfestivalaustralia.com.au.

Motoring Safety for parents and P platers Year 11 and 12 students, new drivers and their parents will learn about vehicle maintenance as well as road safety thanks to a workshop and information session presented by Grand Motors Toyota. Guests will split into groups to listen, interact and be actively involved within 15-20 minute demonstrations and presentations from seven key speakers, including representatives from Queensland Police, Queensland Fire and Rescue, senior mechanics from Grand Motors Toyota, Rightway Driving School, Toyota Australia and Caltex Australia.

Parents and P-Platers takes place Thursday 3 March from 6.00pm at Grand Motors Toyota Showroom, 265 Ferry Road, Southport.

RSVP Katherine@grandmotors.com.au or visit grandmotorstoyota.com.au for details.

Fiesta de la Musica monthly delights Fiesta de la Musica returns in 2016 to delight Gold Coast music lovers after successfully building audiences over the past two seasons.

Celebrating the best of classical music from around the world, this year’s festival will take on a new form, offering a series of free lunchtime performances on the first Thursday of every month in the lead-up to the main festival. Celtic Journey is the first cab off the rank, taking place 3 March from 1.00pm, offering a journey through Scotland and Ireland with mezzo-soprano Kathleen More.

Mystique Comes to Jupiters Internationally acclaimed illusionist and Australia's Got Talent finalist Michael Boyd brings his spectacular illusion show Mystique to Jupiters for one night on Saturday 2 April. Featuring some of the world's most impressive illusions (designed and built by the same team that work alongside the famous David Copperfield), as well as jaw-dropping escapes, levitations,

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Danny Bhoy - Please Untick This Box Danny Bhoy brings his brand new show Please Untick This Box to Australia this month. Danny began his stand up career in 1998 and a year later he won the Daily Telegraph Open Mic Award in the UK. In 2001, he debuted his first solo show at the Edinburgh Festival to critical acclaim. Since then he has been a regular visitor to the Edinburgh Fringe packing the biggest venues at the festival. Since his first visit abroad to Australia in 2003, Danny has become one of the most globally successful and prolific comics working in the world today. He has built up a massive following in Australia and New Zealand where his tours have broken records in attendance. Danny’s unique brand of story-telling and razor sharp wit has been described as ‘effortlessly funny’ and ‘the stand up equivalent of Bill Bryson’. He’s at The Arts Centre Gold Coast on 18 March from 8.00pm.

Tickets $54.90 from theartscentregc.com.au.

Aboriginal Allstars at Arts Centre From the oldest culture on earth comes the freshest and funniest standup comedy around. It’s the all-original Aboriginal Comedy Allstars showcase - featuring four of the brightest comedy stars under the Milky Way. It doesn’t get more Aussie than this!

The Aboriginal Comedy Allstars is cheeky, playful, irreverent, and hilarious. An utterly unique comedy experience – great, big belly laughs from the heart of the wide, brown land. The Arts Centre Gold Coast plays host to this show on 11 March with doors at 6.30pm. Dinner and show $79 or single tickets $25. More at theartscentregc.com.au.

Bowlzilla brings music, art and skating to Bleach* With three events during Bleach*, Bowzilla will bring skateboarding, music and art to the Gold Coast as part of a national series from the Australian Skateboard Federation.

Girls get skatey Yeah Girl is presenting an all-girls’ skate lesson. It takes place on Sunday 6 March from 9.00am at Tugun Skate Park. To register visit yeahgirl.com.au.

The humble souvenir: made in Queensland Gold Coast City Gallery celebrates the humble souvenir with Made in QLD: Ode to the souvenir which runs until 16 March. From our theme parks and golden beaches and carefree lifestyle, Gold Coast is a tourist’s dream. And with tourism comes the souvenir. Made in QLD: Ode to the souvenir exhibition CoCurator’s Stephen Baxter and Emma Collerton have been inspired by the Gallery’s eclectic souvenir collection. “It has been a lot of fun going through the souvenir collection – seeing what was made and what has survived, icons past and present. Looking at the gems in the collection you can see how the Gold Coast has changed,” reflected Collerton. On show is the work of emerging artists Byron Coathup, Kymberley McElroy and Monique Montfroy, alongside established artists Dean Cogle, Tony Dowers, Fred Luddite and Michaela Kloeckner.

Banff Mountain Film Festival reaches new heights with Australian tour The world's most prestigious mountain film festival is coming back to Australia: the Banff Mountain Film Festival World Tour presents over 2 1/2 hours of the most enthralling mountain adventure films that will have

you on the edge of your seat. The tour is hot on the heels of the largest – and one of the most prestigious – mountain festivals in the world, the Banff Mountain Festival, which takes place every November in the mountain town of Banff, in Canada. More than 300 of the world’s best mountain sport, culture, environment, adventure, and exploration films are shown during the week-long event.

A selection of award winners and audience favourites then tours the globe, visiting 390 communities and 35 countries as part of the festival’s official world tour, which hits The Arts Centre Gold Coast on 26 April. More at banffaustralia.com.au.

A Taste of Africa in Surfers Paradise

FLOOD by Chris Isaacs What is the cost of protecting your friends?

It was supposed to be the trip of a lifetime.

Six close companions set off on a camping adventure across remote Australia, but an unexpected turn of events results in terrible, life changing consequences.Written by Chris Isaacs, co-creator of It’s Dark Outside (nominated for a 2013 Helpmann Award) and member of Black Swan’s Emerging Writers Group, FLOOD is the bold new work which explores how it is to live with the realities we choose to bury. It’s at The Arts Centre Gold Coast on Thursday 7 to Saturday 9 April. More at theartscentregc. com.au

Monty Python founders are Gold Coast bound Mullumbimby awakens for Byron Spirit Festival With a program focussed on heart and consciousness, Byron Spirit Festival this year celebrates its fourth event, to be held at Mullumbimby from 15 – 17 April. There’s yoga, music and dance, tantra, healing and Indigenous insight. There’ll be guided meditation, organic food and sound baths.

Tickets available now. More at spiritfestival. com.au.

Britain’s living legends of comedy, and the founders of Monty Python, John Cleese and Eric Idle, bring their must-see new show, John Cleese & Eric Idle: Together Again At Last...For The Very First Time to the Gold Coast this month. “Eric and I had huge fun touring the States in October and now we can bring our show to the friendliest people in the world” John Cleese said on the announcement of the Australian tour.

“No one show will be the same and all of them will annoy the Politically Correct.” The Australian tour kicks off right here on the Gold Coast with a Jupiters show on Thursday 25 February.

Citrique Restaurant at Surfers Paradise Marriot is bringing back its ethnically focused food offerings with a whole week dedicated to Africa this month. From 4 – 13 March, Taste of Africa will enhance the restaurant’s usual seafood buffet with a bunch of African dishes such as Lamb Tajine, Chermoula Prawns, Ethiopian Injera, Harira Soup, Senegalese Jollof Rice and more!

There’s also a heap of African wines, cide and beer as well as mocktail Jus de Bissap.

Make a reservation, 5592 9772 or citrique. reservations@marriott.com.

Kev Carmody inkahoots for Bleach In collaboration with revered Australian song-writer Kev Carmody, grade six Mudgeeraba school students, Brisbane hip hop group Tailor Made and Brisbane design studio Inkahoots have created the world's first user-generated, geolocated song. Anyone with a smart phone, tablet or other internet connected device can compose their own song by walking in Mudgeeraba's Village Green. Seamlessly tying in the history-laden surrounds with new technology, both young and old can listen, contribute and learn from the Bleach* Festival commissioned Open Song which takes place 4 – 20 March. Get more at bleachfestival.com.au.

to submit proposals to exhibit in the ten-day outdoor exhibition and to vie for awards worth more than $25,000. Entries close Monday 7 March. More at swellsculpture. com.au.

New Gold Coast City Gallery Director appointed Tracy Cooper-Lavery has been appointed the new Gallery Director at Gold Coast City Gallery. Coming from Rockahmpton Regional Gallery where she has triple audiences and increased sponsorship for the gallery program, Tracy actually started her career at the Gold Coast City Gallery. Since then she’s also worked in Bendigo – a shining example of regional galleries in Australia.

We’re so thrilled to have Tracy return to the Gold Coast. She takes up her new position from 4 April and we’ll be chatting to her in coming weeks.

Swell Submissions open Queensland’s premier outdoor art event, will once again showcase a diverse collection of works by more than 50 Australian and international artists to an estimated audience of more than 270,000. From 9 – 18 September 2016, Currumbin Beach comes alive (well, more alive than usual), thanks to SWELL Sculpture Festival. And now artists working across all mediums are being invited

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O C E A N F I L M F E S T I VA L A U S T R A L I A

Bringing you the world’s most amazing ocean films from above and below the surface.

VIEW THE TRAILER & BOOK TICKETS W W W. O C E A N F I L M F E S T I VA L . C O M . A U

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VISUAL ART

FREE

BLEACH* FESTIVAL AND GC MEDIA LAB PRESENT - OPEN LAB

www.bleachfestival.com.au

TICKET INFO

6.00pm and 8.30pm

TIME

Chinatown, Southport

T

W

S

W

9

TIME

TICKET INFO

T

W

8

9

F

S

5

S

6

10 11 12 13

4

T

W

8

9

5

S

6

S

10 11 12 13

4

F

DANCE

T

W

8

9

T

W

T

W

8

9

9

S

S

6 10 11 12 13

5

T

W

7

8

9

F

4

S

5

S

6 10 11 12 13

T

THEATRE

MARCH

M

FREE

TIME

5.45pm (site opens 5.00pm)

TIME TIME

6.00pm – 8.00pm

Currumbin Estuary, enter from the Palm Beach Parklands

Dust Temple, Currumbin

LOCATION

8

F

4

F

S

5

S

6 10 11 12 13

4

SURF

LOCATION

Eco Challenge 12.00pm – 4.00pm Toolona Street Festival 4.00pm – 9.00pm

BLEACH* FESTIVAL, ARTS QUEENSLAND, CONNECTING SOUTHERN GOLD COAST, BOND UNIVERSITY, QB LAB, SUPPERIOR JETTIES AND GOLD COAST WATERWAYS AUTHORITY PRESENT SHIFTING SANDS

LOCATION

7

T

VISUAL ART

MARCH

M

FREE

YEAH GIRL

TICKET INFO

S

6

14 15 16 17 18 19 20

7

T

MUSIC

MARCH

M

FREE

TIME

FROM 6.30pm

T

W

7

8

9

T

F

4

S

5

S

6

10 11 12 13

MARCH

M

T

W

8

9

F

S

5

S

6 10 11 12 13

4

www.bleachfestival.com.au

TICKET INFO

TIME

10.00am – 1.00pm

LOCATION

Helensvale Community and Cultural Centre

14 15 16 17 18 19 20

7

T

MUSIC

MARCH

M

FREE

BLEACH* FESTIVAL AND GRIFFITH UNIVERSITY PRESENT SONGWRITING WITH BEN LEE

www.bleachfestival.com.au

TICKET INFO

TIME

3.00pm – 5.00pm

QT Hotel, 7 Staghorn Ave, Surfers Paradise

T

W

8

9

F

4

S

5

S

6 10 11 12 13

T

TIME

1.30pm – 5.30pm

LOCATION

Goodwin Terrace, Burleigh Heads

14 15 16 17 18 19 20

7

MARCH

M

BLEACH* FESTIVAL, CITY OF GOLD COAST - DIVISION 12, BURLEIGH BREWING, BOND UNIVERSITY AND TELSTRA PRESENT - BLEACH* AT BURLEIGH FREE MUSIC

BLEACH* FESTIVAL, CONNECTING SOUTHERN GOLD COAST AND CITY OF GOLD COAST - DIVISION 14 PRESENT - TOOLONA ST FESTIVAL

TIME

FROM 5:30pm

LOCATION

Village Bike, Gold Coast

TIME

www.bleachfesitval.com.au

S

5

10 11 12 13

Hinterland Regional Park, Mudgeeraba

5.00pm – 7.30pm (door opens 4.00pm)

F

4

14 15 16 17 18 19 20

7

T

DANCE

MARCH

M

TICKET

BLEACH* FESTIVAL PRESENTS - THE CLOSET ACTIVIST

Toolona St, Tugun

LOCATION

14 15 16 17 18 19 20

7

T

MUSIC

MARCH

M

TICKET

BLEACH* FESTIVAL AND NATIONAL TRUST CURRUMBIN WILDLIFE SANCTUARY PRESENT OPERA SELVAGGIO

TIME

6.00pm – 9.30pm

LOCATION

Hinterland Regional Park, Mudgeeraba

14 15 16 17 18 19 20

7

T

MUSIC

MARCH

M

FREE

BLEACH* FESTIVAL AND CITY OF GOLD COAST - DIVISION 9 PRESENT - BLEACH* AT MUDGEERABA

www.bleachfestival.com.au

4.30pm and 7.30pm

TIME

12.00pm – 3.00pm

Robina Town Centre, Lakeside on the Promenade, Robina

Currumbin Wildlife Sanctuary, Currumbin

TIME

S

6

10 11 12 13

Along Marine Parade to Greenmount, Coolangatta

Griffith University, Parklands Drive, Southport

S

5

LOCATION

8

F

4

LOCATION

7

T

Old Post Office Building, 55 Railway St, Mudgeeraba

The Walls Art Sapce, Miami

3.00pm – 7.00pm

T

MARCH

M

LOCATION

10 11 12 13

LOCATION

10 11 12 13

6

S

6

14 15 16 17 18 19 20

9

S

5

14 15 16 17 18 19 20

8

F

4

14 15 16 17 18 19 20

7

T

14 15 16 17 18 19 20

9

S

5

W

14 15 16 17 18 19 20

8

F

4

T

MARCH

M

14 15 16 17 18 19 20

7

T

VISUAL ART

MARCH

M

FREE

BLEACH* FESTIVAL AND THE WALLS PRESENT BANANA SUNDAY

2.00pm – 8.00pm

TIME

The Esplanade, Paradise Point

14 15 16 17 18 19 20

8

F

DANCE

BLEACH* FESTIVAL, GOLD COAST BULLETIN AND GRIFFITH UNIVERSITY PRESENT LUMINARIES

LOCATION

7

T

MUSIC

MARCH

M

FREE

BLEACH* FESTIVAL AND CITY OF GOLD COAST - DIVISION 3 PRESENT THE ESPLANADE

10.00am – 11.00am

TIME

2.00pm – 6.00pm

Bond University, Faculty of Health Sciences and Medicine Building

The Deck, Currumbin RSL, Currumbin

LOCATION

10 11 12 13

LOCATION

Robina Town Centre, Lakeside on the Promenade, Robina

14 15 16 17 18 19 20

10 11 12 13

4

S

S

6

10 11 12 13

LOCATION

9

S

5

S

6

14 15 16 17 18 19 20

8

F

4

9

S

5

14 15 16 17 18 19 20

7

T

8

F

4

14 15 16 17 18 19 20

7

T

LOCATION

9

S

W

DANCE

W

14 15 16 17 18 19 20

8

F

MUSIC

T

MUSIC

MARCH

M

FREE

T

MARCH

M

LOCATION

7

T

THEATRE

MARCH

M

TICKET

BLEACH* FESTIVAL AND CITY OF GOLD COAST - DIVISION 6 PRESENT SALTWATER

www.bleachfestival.com.au or www.theartscentregc.com.au

TICKET INFO

Performance commences at 6.00pm

TIME

Evandale Lake, Next to The Arts Centre Gold Coast

LOCATION

14 15 16 17 18 19 20

7

MARCH

M

CIRCUS

BLEACH* FESTIVAL, CURRUMBIN RSL, THE FARM AND SEED PRESENT - OUT OF THE WOODS

BLEACH* FESTIVAL AND THE ARTS CENTRE GOLD COAST PRESENT HORIZON WITH ANGELS TICKET

4.00pm – 9.30pm

TIME

Junction of Young and Davenport Streets, Southport

LOCATION

14 15 16 17 18 19 20

7

MARCH

M

Monday to Friday: 10.00am – 5.00pm Weekends: 11.00am – 5.00pm

TIME

Gold Coast City Gallery, The Arts Centre Gold Coast

LOCATION

14 15 16 17 18 19 20

7

M

Issue #31 MARCH 2016

coffee food culture art theatre enviro life

BUMPER EDITION