Blank Gold Coast issue #38 - October 2016

October'16

issue #038

MUSIC

ART + CULTURE

ENVIRO

Sticky Fingers SAFIA Fuzz Fest Nattali Rize Idiio

The Edit Suite 19Karen + Terri Lew Ruby Rubberlegs Bonjour SWELL winners

Take 3 for the sea House plants Renewable power Go native 15,000 trees

FOOD Up Cups Sparrow Eating House Local & Co Frankie Espresso Show us Ya Cups

MUSIC Kenta Hayashi Waxhead Cry for Cthuthu Rock City Studios

FREE

EVENT

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E T A K S .

N O I H .

S A .

F T F A R .

E C F I C L I .

S E U G A M L D L I N V A L L S O I O N H O C R S .

CHEV. RKSHOPS CIRCUS FOOD WO Sunday 9 October, 10am to 4pm Thomas Drive, Chevron Island Visit cityofgoldcoast.com/celebrate Featuring

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#038 OCT 2016

Currumbin RSL’s Saturday acoustics by the creek

Editor: Samantha Morris

Currumbin RSL continues its creekside acoustic action this month with something a little different thrown in the mix. They’ve jumped on board to showcase some of the talent at Buskers by the Creek. On Saturday 15 October you can catch Luke Houselander from midday and Joshy Dredz from 2.30pm.

But the talent doesn’t stop there. From 3.00 – 5.00pm on 1 October you can catch flamenco ninja Felicity Lawless, on 22 October Tay Oskee and on 29 October Ella Fence.

Culture + Lifestyle Editor: Natalie O’Driscoll Design: Chloe Popa Advertising: Amanda Gorman Music Coordinator: Mella Lahina Money Coordinator: Phillippa Wright Sub editor: Cody McConnell Photographer: Leisen Standen, Lamp Photography Contributors: Samantha Morris, Natalie O’Driscoll, Marj Osborne, Leisen Standen, Anthony Gebhardt, Pip Andreas, Mella Lahina, Jake Wilton, Gina Martin, Nev Pearce, Catherine Coburn, Dan Maynard, Kylie Cobb, Erin Bourne, Tiffany Mitchell, Aaron Chapman, Hudson Tesoriero, Shani Ishigaki, Petra Salo, Sarah Loughlin, Nae Kurth 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 probono 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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showcases the Josh Dowdle’s intelligent production and Amy Dowdle’s vocal prowess.

They’ve also scored some sweet summer festival shows, so keep your eyes and ears peeled, especially over the coming year where they’re expected to do amazing things!

Lastlings are at Miami Marketta, 20 October supporting Emma Louise.

Lane x Ike score TechN9ne support

Yes Sir Noceur turn to fire with new single

City Over Sand’s Good Grief City Over Sand have released their muchanticipated debut album, an 11-track altpop-rock offering more than two years in the making. Good Grief is the product of Jules Keshan (drums) and Brad Hosking (guitar / piano) rallying around songwriter and guitarist Dan Carroll following the loss of his father to cancer. Carroll has said the album is about family, friends and asking questions that will never be answered and it’s fitting that it was launched around those closest to the band right on the lawn at Blind Boy Studios where it was recorded. And if the live renditions are anything to go by, this record will be a favourite for years to come. And yes, it actually is a record. Good Grief is available on vinyl as well as CD and digital formats.

City Over Sand are at Miami Marketta 7 October and NightQuarter 28 October and you can order the album at cityoversand. bandcamp.com.

Lastlings: new music, new deal Their 2015 single Chills has ticked over 1.5 million spotify streams and they effortlessly wooed BIGSOUND audiences at BIGSOUND and now Gold Coast siblings Lastlings have new music and a new deal.

With a berth in the Triple J Unearthed High competition to their name, their signing to Select Music sees them join a roster which includes RUFUS, Tkay Maidza and The Preatures and their new single Time

an impressive roster of talent that includes Slayer, Mastodon, Ghost, Gojira and We Came as Romans. The band is currently in the studio working on new material for their upcoming EP due for release in early 2017.We cannot wait.

Gold Coast four piece Yes Sir Noceur don’t like to be pigeonholed, but there’s no doubt they’re finding a solid place for themselves as leader of the pack when it comes to psychedelic voodoo surf. Their new track Turn To Fire showcases the group’s commitment to their craft with rolling drums, whirring guitars and explosive psych vocals but it also features something a little different – the enchanting vocal licks of dynamic Gold Coast chanteuse Aquila Young. The new single is a teaser from the yet to be named EP due before the end of the year. Listen to Turn To Fire via Soundcloud and keep your ears peeled for whispers of an EP release date.

Evol Walks go global with new management deal One of Gold Coast’s hard-hitting exports, five-piece Evol Walks have announced a new worldwide management deal from their new hometown of Los Angeles. The signing with Rick Sales and Adam Mott of Rick Sales entertainment signals a big step forward for the band, led by fiery Gold Coaster Leah Martin-Brown. A performance in the Viper Room, West Hollywood was the one that caught the attention of Rick Sales who boasts

Changing the face of rap, Land Harry x Ike Campbell work hard. Prolific artists that constantly record, tweak, learn and release, the duo have announced that they’ve scored a coveted support slot for Tech N9ne in Brisbane next month. Tech N9ne is the biggest selling independent hip-hop artist of all time with music featured in film, TV and video games and legions of fans across the globe. He’s at Eaton Hill Hotel 11 November and so are Lane Harry x Ike Campbell.

The Green Room Experience Battle of the Bands Expressive Grounds at Tallebudgera is on the search for Gold Coast’s best talent with a killer prize pool available for those who make the cut. The Green Room Battle of the Bands runs over two heats (7 and 14 October) with a final on 28 October. Prizes are next-level and include mentoring and support packages from WHO Agencies and Account Me In as well as $1000 marketing package from Blank GC. Bands need to join Expressive Ground to enter, which costs $25. Register at expressiveground.com.au.

Mitch King’s big NFL win Hard working Mitch King has had a US win with his song Coming Back being used to promote season opening for the Green Bay Packers NFL team. Being exposed to millions of viewers can’t be a bad thing with a brand new single out. Everything Shines is the new track, consolidating Mitch’s position as a oneman band to be reckoned with. He’s currently on tour nationally, taking in NSW and Victoria and he’ll be back in our neck of the woods for Ballina Prawn Festival in November.

15 OCTOBER

2 OCTOBER

Coomera TAFE open day Careers in creative industries, business and IT will be on show at 198 Foxwell Road from 9.30am. Guided tours, live music, interactive gaming, light and sound demonstrations, green screen and broadcasts, fighter pilot simulation, interior design and graphic design exhibits and more.

Artyzan Fair

A new Artists, craftspeople, sculptors, potters, weavers, glass and textile artists, photographers and more will exhibit their wares at OneArts, Isle of Capri.

16 OCTOBER Biggest Tree Planting 15,000 trees must be planted to finalise a wetland restoration project and leave you feeling all warm and fuzzy inside. Taking place at Country Paradise Parklands the event is hosted by Nerang Riverkeepers and includes music by Leopold’s Treat, Will Miller and The Altais. More at goldcoastcatchments.org.

7 OCTOBER Big Blue Sky

15 - 16 OCTOBER Buskers by the Creek

A floating half-pipe, contortionist, some of the best music on the Gold Coast, 250+ other emerging acts, circus, feats of strength and daring and so much more.

Buskers by the Creek is a must! Right along the bank of Currumbin Creek at Winders Park – you do not want to miss this year’s event.

21 OCTOBER

Future thinkers, entrepreneurs, city leaders and artists will converge to shoot for the moon at Sofitel Broadbeach for this two-day conference.

Harry Manx, Soundlounge Salmonella Dub + Switchkraft, NightQuarter

Women Like Us, Currumbin RSL Mandy Nolan and Ellen Briggs are self confessed ‘hornbags’ who have a story to tell. Or three hundred!

Join them at Currumbin RSL.

22 OCTOBER

24 ways to say I’m gay, The Arts Centre Gold Coast

Waxhead + IVEY + Idiio + GDFRNDS DJs at Miami Shark Bar Hussy Hicks + Leopold’s Treat at NightQuarter

As part of Glitter Festival, eight actors playing 55 characters, in no less than 17 short plays, provide an honest, stimulating and perceptive look at what it means to be gay. Runs 7 – 8 October.

Glitter Festival runs 6 - 9 October.

23 OCTOBER

8 OCTOBER

Claude Hay, Advancetown Tavern

19Karen exhibition opening Three new exhibitions open at 19Karen. Ariel Katzir and [S T A M P] (pictured), Jason Bryant (USA) and For Your Viewing Pleasure (a series of hyper-realistic Hollywood icons) and Monique Van Steen and her series titled Inner Beauty.

Exhibitions run until 19 November.

SAFIA at NightQuarter Following the release of their highly-anticipated debut album in September, SAFIA make the trek to Helensvale this month for a special NightQuarter set. Kicks off at 4.00pm so get there early.

9 OCTOBER Celebrate Gold Coast

The Beautiful Girls headline a stunning spring celebration of all that is great about the Gold Coast. With Hot Potato Band and IVEY on the lineup as well as craft, food, skate, circus and more, Chevron Island will come alive with much more than just awesome village life.

29 OCTOBER Fuzz Fest at Currumbin Creek Tavern

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FOR MORE EVENTS & GIGS VISIT BLANKGC.COM.AU www.blankgc.com.au

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town centre drive, helensvale

“

I'VE ALWAYS LOVED COMING THERE FOR THE WAVES AND THE VIBES. IT STILL HAS THAT PUNKY ENERGY TO IT WHICH I REALLY LIKE.

”

A BEAUTIFUL CELEBRATION

T

It’s fitting Mat’s headlining an event that celebrates the Gold Coast. Mat is quite obviously fond of the city. He tours he regularly and says if nothing else if feels like a “real” surfing town.

“The Gold Coast was one of the first places The Beautiful Girls started making a name for themselves,” he reminisces.

“I've always loved coming there for the waves and the vibes.

It still has that punky energy to it which I really like.”

“Our music always seems to make sense there, everyone that is part of that culture understands,” Mat said.

he Beautiful Girls will help the city kicktart the summer festival season as the headlining act for Celebrate Gold Coast. Known for heart-on-the-sleeve songs and the voice of Mat McHugh, The Beautiful Girls pioneered the surf-roots-reggae sounds of Australia.

“I've been touring like that the last year,” he says of the twopiece format.

After an apprenticeship playing in ‘a million weird little noisy garage band combinations’ forming The Beautiful Girls (named to irk all their ‘punk rocker tough guy friends’) would become the perfect vehicle for McHugh’s musical musings. The ride that would help his ‘heart to escape out into the world’. His chance to become a creative voice. For people, finally, to hear his songs.

Mat is back on the touring circuit after being forced to take a break from an injury. Quite a dramatic one.

“Actually my only plan is to be happy and healthy,” he said.

“The rest is a mystery.”

“I wasn't looking after myself mentally and physically and I broke,” he told Blank GC.

“At the moment my focus on releasing music and touring it under my own name, but The Beautiful Girls will always be around as a live act.”

While the band only plays a limited number of festival shows each year, this is where the depth of the songs, the interaction with the audience and the “spooky, dubby, digital dancehall tinged, rootsy, punky, reggae” music of The Beautiful Girls is at its best.

It’s a sound The Beautiful Girls invented, and none do it better.

Mat has two projects essentially. The Beautiful Girls is one of them, and the other is Mat McHugh. He performs solo or with backing musicians. Last time he was on the Gold Coast he was a two-piece at the Soundlounge.

“I like switching it up so I don't get bored and that the music stays fresh.”

“Having a broken neck impacted my whole life and the way I see it.”

“Now I feel like things are in a better perspective and whenever anything feels like it's getting too much I am better at pulling back and taking it easy,” he said. Quite the contrast from the two albums he made least year – one as The Beautiful Girls and one as Mat McHugh.

“I used to be in a rush, too many songs in my brain, not enough time to get them out.”

“Now I feel like taking my time.”

So after a forced hiatus yet such a large back-catalogue, if everything went according to plan, what would the next ten years hold for Mat McHugh and The Beautiful Girls?

“Ten more albums,” he laughs.

The Beautiful Girls was super lucky to have shared a lot of history and good times.”

“A lot of those songs connect with people and there's a lot of emotion and memories in there.”

“I feel like it's a celebration of that whenever we get together to play a show.”

And a celebration is exactly what’s going to go down for Celebrate Gold Coast. It takes place Sunday 9 October at Chevron Island with IVEY and Hot Potato Band also on the lineup.

As well as live music there’ll also be hands-on craft, circus school, skate and BMX demos, suitcase rummage and food and drinks by Chevron Island traders.

Samantha Morris

MORE DETAILS AT CITYOFGOLDCOAST. COM.AU/CELEBRATE

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GLITTER & THE SLUMS Coming off the success of their critically acclaimed sophomore album Land Of Pleasure – Sticky Fingers have had an impressive few years. The lads, Dylan Frost (vocals/guitar), Paddy Cornwall (bass/vocals), Seamus Coyle (lead guitar), Beaker Best (drums/percussion), Freddy Crabs (keys/synth) spent most of 2015 and early 2016 abroad as well as selling out second and third dates on their national tours time and time again.

They kicked off this year with a four-week working holiday, recording their new album Westway (Glitter & The Slums), which is out 30 September in Asia, but when Samantha Morris talks to Seamus (lead guitar) he’s in his home town of Sydney.

“I’m actually sitting at my mum’s house at the moment, cooking some chips. McCain, beer-battered,” he said. “Fuck yeah, I love my mum.”

We didn’t want to stop, but needed to have a break,” he said.

And in true StiFi style, it wasn’t all work.

And that’s just as well, because between the album release and their upcoming Australian tour they’re headed to Europe.

“We had two or three days off here or there. It was pretty chilled, big pool, we’d go off on little scooter rides.”

“It’s going to be our fourth or fifth time in Europe,” Seamus said.

“It’s growing and growing over there. It’s really fun, we love it.”

Seamus said the month in Thailand was very different to the month they spent recording their last album in Byron.

“It was good to get away from the ahh, other lifestyle distractions,” he explained.

The new album, he says is a natural progression forward.

“There’s no things like that over there. We’re in a little fishing village. We all bought these full white linen outfits and got a bit culty – like there’s these full white traditional Thai outfits, all linen and we all just bought that, and wore them for a month.”

“It’s still just us writing about what we know, which is life as we see it, the band has a pretty interesting time last year – broke up at one point, missed a tour, couple of people in and out of rehab, so a couple of songs have a darker side to ‘em.”

“But we’re not all brooding artists, we’re still happy boys, there’s lots of happy good songs in there as well.”

They’ve had gig festivals, sold-out tours, massive radio pickup of tracks, ARIA charting songs, it just seems like Sticky Fingers can’t put a foot wrong when it comes to music. Did Seamus ever imagine this?

“It’s a bit more raw. The first half of album is us in a room bashing it out – then we do kind of delve into the production side of things because we can’t help ourselves. All up, I’m fucking stoked, can’t wait to get it out there and start playing it all.”

“Yeah, definitely. That’s what I wanted to happen. That’s what we all wanted to happen.”

So after such a successful few years are there any goals left to tick off the list for Sticky Fingers?

“There’s nothing else we could do with our lives. It’s nice that it happened.

“Not really. I don’t think you can. If I ever got somethin’ I really wanted to do and then did it, then I’d be done. I’d grow older real fast and die or something.”

You can’t be certain of anything. But we’ve been doing it for eight years now,” he said before speaking about tour life.

“Ahhhh, yes. It depends on the band. It depends on the people on the bus. But yes, we give it a fair nudge,” he laughed.

“It’s what you make of it,” Seamus said. “Yeah, fuck I love it. I fucking love it. I feel more at home on the road.”

“World domination, how about that? It’s a big world.”

STICKY FINGERS’ DEBUT AT NIGHTQUARTER SOLD OUT IN LESS THAN AN HOUR. IT’S ON SATURDAY 5 NOVEMBER. AND THEIR NEW ALBUM WESTWAY (GLITTER & THE SLUMS) IS OUT NOW.

I asked Seamus about their month in Thailand – what it was like to go away and work in such a cool spot.

“Yeah, what a place to go and do a record, with a bit of a villa vibe going on.”

“We spent a lot of money I’m sure doing it, but it was very nice, we needed it after all that touring.

“

WORLD DOMINATION, HOW ABOUT THAT? IT’S A BIG WORLD.

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TAKE THREE WITH SATURN FORMULA Saturn Formula formed in 2003, originally from Melbourne working as a hip cocktail bar band. Daniel Sommariva (drums and programming) and Ben Ganly (piano), now on the Gold Coast share a love and passion for the connection and groove found in music and have been friends for 13 years. With a sound inspired by the acid jazz and lounge movement of the 60s, fused with Latin rhythms, jazz, soul, funk and electro, their chemistry dazzles audiences and delivers a sophisticated retro sound.

What are your thoughts on the GC music scene?

There are many musicians and a lot of music happening, which is good, but there seems to be a shortage on originality / contemporary artists. Obviously the tourism and multicultural nature of the GC are big factors, but it would be really positive to see more venues getting behind artists that dare to be different. The cover band phenomenon makes it harder for upcoming local and interstate original artists to get recognised or even show interest in performing here, so the scene is different. Perhaps a change will come eventually, or live music will become more superfluous. In a world where Pokemon can entertain the masses, anything's possible.

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

We all draw our influences from somewhere, take it and interpret it in your own style, push boundaries, listen to everything, keep an open mind, be original, play from the heart, respect those beneath you, work hard on yourself and never stop dreaming. Don't take the easy road.

What's the biggest challenge to up and coming Australian artists?

I believe this challenge is global. With all the technology available, the ever growing population, the capitalistic nature of the industry, the narcissism... The greatest challenge is to be heard. To stand out. To contribute to an already profoundly saturated market. To keep your spirit up and justify all the work, time and money you put into your art.

Mella Lahina

SATURN FORMULA ARE AT MANDALA ORGANIC ARTS CAFÉ, MONDAY 3 OCTOBER. MORE AT SATURNFORMULA. BANDCAMP.COM. 10

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CRY FOR CTHULHU

LOOP PEDAL NINJA

Melodic metal four-piece Cry for Cthulhu kick around the Darling Downs but gig throughout southeast Queensland. Their bio reads like a mysterious inscription unearthed from times past. “These are tales from prophets and the elder god Cthulhu,” says their bio. “This is the Cry for Cthulhu.” We had to find out more so we spoke to Joel Holtham (rhythm guitar) and Chris Atkins (bass).

Loop pedal ninja Kenta Hayashi makes the trek from Japan to Gold Coast for Buskers by the Creek. We wanted to know why.

Tell me about the music scene out Dalby / darling downs way?

Chris: Music scene? Ha. Unfortunately, the smaller communities in the drier reaches of this land mass are just not ready for the raw power and awe offered by the gifts of the Old Ones. Music is severely limited to unenlightened individuals publicising their futile attempts at mating.

You label yourself as melodic death metal and GC has a pretty healthy metal scene. Do you have favourite Gold Coast bands?

Joel: Gold Coast has an amazing metal scene, many vessels gather at our rituals to help summon the dark lord. We've played alongside some great bands such as Kaosphere, Alice Lost Her Way, and Upon A Falling Empire, all of whom’s mastery of metal would make Cthulhu proud, even if they are just puny humans.

Tell me a bit about yourself and your background in music?

I started with rock. After I moved to California, I was very into funk and blues. Now I'm very into electronic music. I mix all the genres and flavors I've been experiencing with my loop pedal live as a one-man band sound.

There’s a big difference between playing club shows and busking. What do you have in mind for your Buskers by the Creek show next month?

I've busked in Europe, U.S, Japan, Asia and Australia. Yes it's very different, however I think every single show is different. So I'm very excited to feel and enjoy Buskers by the Creek and do a musical adventure with you!

This Australian visit is part of a world tour. You’ve been to Europe and UK, Asia and Australia - How do people outside of Japan react to your music?

Usually I get more responses outside of Japan. I think the reason is that I lived in California for eight years and my music taste is way different from regular Japanese. So I love playing overseas!

What the hell does the name mean?

What’s been your favourite show to date?

Joel: You mortals are so oblivious, but we shall inform you nevertheless. Cthulhu is a great ancient cosmic being who has been locked away in eternal slumber in the deepest and darkest depths of our seas for centuries. In 1928, he first invaded the dreams of a mortal author by the name H.P. Lovecraft and although he gained a cult following, it wasn't enough to summon the beast. Cthulhu has promised to rise again, so we use the power of heavy metal to make people cry for Cthulhu to awaken him to fulfill his prophecies.

It's hard to pick one, but I'd say playing at FUJI ROCK FESTIVAL in Japan with my many favorite bands like Red Hot Chili Peppers, Beck, James Blake, Kamasi Washington was awesome! But I enjoy all the shows I play.

What can people expect from your live show?

Chris: These mindless puppets can expect to be driven to the realms of madness by the sheer awesomeness we channel.

Samantha Morris

CRY FOR CTHULHU HAVE RELEASED THEIR OWN SCRIPTURES AVAILABLE VIA CRYFORCTHULHU.BANDCAMP.COM AND YOU CAN WITNESS THEIR MINDEXPANDING METAL ON 30 SEPTEMBER AT LONESTAR TAVERN WITH FRAGMENTS, MIDDLE-EARTH AND UNCLE BUCK.

You’ve been to Australia before. What do you love most about performing here?

Oh everything! The energy from the audience is great. The energy comes up from the beautiful landscape. I always discover something new while I'm touring in Australia which is very important as an artist.

Where can people buy / listen to your music?

The best way is, come enjoy my show and get one or more!

Otherwise my videos on YouTube, music on all kinds of websites like iTunes and Spotify.

Samantha Morris

15 – 16 OCTOBER, BUSKERS BY THE CREEK 18 OCTOBER, CAMBUS WALLACE 23 OCTOBER, ITOSHIN (RESTAURANT)

Mudgeeraba Scout Den Family Fun Day (FREE) 1 October Piallingo Street, Mudgeeraba f: Mudgeerabascouts Gold Coast Muso’s Jam 6 October Wallaby Hotel, Railway Street, Mudgeeraba f: Gold Coast Muso’s Jam Netfest 2016 6 – 9 October Firth Park, Somerset Drive, Mudgeeraba w: netfest.com.au Jazz/Swing with Paul Hayman Band 9 October Advancetown Hotel, Nerang Murwillimbah Road, Advancetown f: Advancetownhotel Mudgeeraba Horsemanship Clinic with Mark Langley 15-16 October Mudgeeraba Showgrounds, Mudgeeraba Road, Mudgeeraba f: EquineAbility

Villa ge to the

Hinterland

Advancetown Hotel Presents

claude hay

Hellfire Hustle - 16 October Down Hill Running Race from Hellfire to Beechmont to Clagariba w: superfest.com.au Claude Hay’s Roller Coaster Tour - 23 October Advancetown Hotel, Nerang Murwillimbah Road, Advancetown f: Advancetownhotel Mudgeeraba Sunset Markets Friday weekly Swan Lane, Mudgeeraba f: Mudgeeraba Sunset Markets Mudgeeraba Organic Fruit and Vegie Market Friday & Saturday Weekly Mudgeeraba Market Shopping Centre, Mudgeeraba w: mudgeerabamarketshoppingcentre.com.au

sunday 1pm october 23rd @advancetownhotel

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NATHAN’S NIGHT OF ABILITIES RETURNS “Hello, my name is Nathan. I am 24 years of age. My biggest dream is to host a night, a night where my friends and myself show you that a disability is not a deficit.

I would like to show the community just how much ability we have.”

FILMING A CLIP IN A HEMP PLANTATION? WELCOME TO WAXHEAD. Surf-stoner-rockers Waxhead have gone where no other band has gone before. Right to the middle of a hemp plantation to film a video.

We caught up with lead singer Froggy.

Tell me about your video with Afends and Surf Stitch?

We took the red eye flight from Tokyo to the Goldy cleared customs and drove straight west for hours to somewhere past Toowoomba where no green things grow and its just grey dust and cattle as far as the eye can see. All of a sudden a spot of green was seen in the distance growing gradually as the minutes passed, the whole time we were thinking 'nah it couldn't be' even as we were pulling in we were in disbelief until we were driving straight over six foot hemp plants with the most mouth watering fruity fragrance a stoner band ever did smell and we all knew we had finally arrived, this must be heaven.

Now that you’ve ticked ‘recording a video clip in a field of marijuana’ off your bucket list, what’s next?

Umm I still don't know how that even happened let alone how to top it. Maybe if we could convince NASA to pick up the tab we could be the first band to play a show on the moon? I've always wanted to go to space, we would have to time it with a crescent earth that would make a pretty sweet background. Apparently there is a new rocket called the SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket and its only $5,167 per KG to send stuff to space, so four dudes, three amps, one drum kit and a nice generator and PA should be under 10 million according to my dodgy google calculations. It's a bloody bargain, they would be stupid not to do it.

Samantha Morris

WAXHEAD JOIN THEIR GD FRNDS STABLE-MATES, IDIIO AND IVEY FOR ONE HELL OF A HOEDOWN AT SHARK BAR, SATURDAY 22 OCTOBER. IT’S WAXHEAD’S FINAL LIVE PERFORMANCE FOR THE YEAR, SO YOU MIGHT WANNA MAKE A DIARY NOTE NOW.

That’s what Nathan told us last year when he emailed for the first time. His story was inspirational. We put him on our cover. He sold out his incredible Night of Abilities and now he’s back for another year.

Night of Abilities is just that. It’s a celebration of people of all abilities having a crack on the big stage. At least year’s events there were dancers, singers, musicians, bands and a tonne of laughs (and tears… of joy).

“The best thing is hosting this night and seeing all the people having great fun,” Nathan told Blank GC when we asked about last year’s event but he’s excited for two week’s time.

“This year it’s going to be EPIC,” he said. “We have new performers and a bigger venue. So big now.”

Each year the Night of Abilities will raise funds for a charity and this year Nathan has chosen a Tweed group who have been supporting children with disabilities and chronic illness since 1982.

“I’m wanting to achieve and raise money for Kids in Need Inc and for people to be really excited,” Nathan said.

Nathan will again be joined by Greg Ritchie for MC duties and will also join the lineup of entertainment, which this year includes artistic dancers, keyboardist, interpreter, singer, guitarists and other musicians.

OCTOBER

Friday 7 Oct / 8pm / $10 Entry Aralunar Beagle + Peach Fur + Nice Biscuit Saturday 8 Oct / 8pm / $10 Presale - $15 Door Rockin' For West Papua - The Poor + Wartooth + Paging Jimi

“What I’m doing is going to be so fun and entertaining,” he said. “I will be opening with a Vanessa Amarosi song Absolutely Everybody. Then closing with a favourite of mine Footloose.”

Friday 14th Oct / 7pm / Free Entry “Battle of the Buskers” Featuring the 2016 singer songwriter finalists of Buskers by the Creek with special guest judge Adam Brand

“Oh and in between I will be rockin’ it out with US the band.”

Saturday 15th Oct / 7pm / Buskers Night

Full lineup: Jyi Phillips (Welcome to Country) + Nathan Johnston (singer) Vicki White (interpreter) + Renee McAlpin (singer / songwriter) + Mikky Whalan (singer / guitarist) + Shenae Howe (solo artistic dancer) + Patrick Scott (solo drummer / keyboard player) + US the Band featuring Emma, Robert, James, Jess, Jai, Patrick and Nathan supported and mentored by Lifebridge Support Workers Jannah and Dave.

Friday 21 Oct/ 8pm / $10 Entry Evil Eye + Knights + Strategies + Fragments

Samantha Morris

Saturday 22 Oct / 8pm / $10 Entry Breaking Point (Syd) + Upon a Falling Empire + Lavidious + Novus Friday 28 Oct / 8pm / $10 Entry James D'Khan + Daneel & the Feel + Wayward Suns + Luke Houselander Saturday 29 Oct / 3pm-12am / $10 Presale $15 Door / FUZZ FEST - Gold Coast

NIGHT OF ABILITIES TAKES PLACE SATURDAY 15 OCTOBER AT 6.00PM AT SOUTH TWEED SPORTS CLUB. TICKETS ESSENTIAL VIA NIGHTOFABILITIES@ GMAIL.COM OR 0456 097 943.

Restaurant + Bar + Gaming Serving tapas until 10pm Courtesy bus available – 5534 2322 www.currumbincreektavern.com.au

www.blankgc.com.au

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AT

Image: NJA Photography

BIGSOUND

Briggs on the A.B. Original album Reclaim Australia due for release later this year.

2016

“Live streaming technology increases the FOMO factor which means more ticket sales overall.”

City of Gold Coast Councillor Glenn Tozer reports on technology conversations with Coachella as an example at BIGSOUND

“I just read the new Harry Potter book and it was pretty weird. I mean, Harry is just working at the Ministry of Magic and he's just like, a public servant now.”

Gab Strum AKA Japanese Wallpaper

“Every level in the music business women have to deal with sexism. Being in a band is almost more sheltered in a certain way. I didn’t have any experience being sexually harassed by a record company executive, but it did go on. I did write a song about it, called Swimsuit Issue.”

“It’s expensive, cumbersome, impractical and flies in the face of all that is digital. Only a few years ago the format was on life support. Vinyl just doesn’t make sense, yet it is surviving and indeed thriving, although it was a near death experience.”

“It’s just a lot more organic than a show because people aren’t expecting to see you there and they don’t have any expectations of you.”

Tash Sultana on busking and why she pines for it.

Kim Gordon, co-founder of Sonic Youth on sexism in the music industry.

BIGSOUND live images: NJA Photography

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www.blankgc.com.au

“When you question the Australian way, white Australians get their nose severely out of joint. And that’s the nature of this record.”

Trevor Jackson sits in on a conversation about the great vinyl revival

TAFE Queensland Gold Coast

OPEN DAY Coomera

Sat 15 Oct 9.30am – 2.30pm | 198 Foxwell Rd, Coomera

Experience a career in creative industries, business and IT Join us for a day of interactive activities at our state-of-the-art facilities, meet teachers and students and learn about our course offerings.

Radio Metro live broadcast by Bilsy between 11am – 1pm WHAT’S ON THE PROGRAM? › Guided campus tours – including film editing suites, sound recording studios, black box theatre and more

› Live music

› Information on TAFE Queensland bachelor degrees

› Light and sound demonstrations

› Learn more about studying health, hospitality, events, trades, engineering and more › Exhibits by interior design, graphic design and building design students

› Interactive gaming stations

› Green screen and broadcast demonstrations › Fighter pilot simulator from Gilmour Space Technologies › Competitions and prizes to be won

For more information visit: tafegoldcoast.edu.au RTO: 0083 | CRICOS 03037G 16-0355_BlankMagAdsHED_CoomeraOpenDay_Version9_16d

www.blankgc.com.au

15

NATTALI RIZES UP FOR YOUTH MENTORSHIP GIG

IDIIO-SYNCRATIC Raised in Christchurch, New Zealand and now residing on the Gold Coast, Idiio are known for their passion towards music. They strive to create emotion through music. After receiving a roaring reception with breakout singles, Sway and Home, Idiio's new track Holding Me Back was released recently and they’re about to play a GDFRNDS show at Shark Bar, so it was time for a chat with singer / guitarist Tyler Vivian.

You were born and raised in Christchurch NZ, what drew you go the Gold Coast?

The weather, the lifestyle, and the opportunities. We see the Gold Coast as a great starting point in our journey. Its not too big city life which is good. Everyone seems to be super chill and nice. We come from the country in Canterbury so we didn't want to throw ourselves in the deep end by moving straight into a huge city like Melbourne or Sydney. Eventually we would like to travel around and see what the rest of Australia has to offer.

You all moved to the GC together?

Scotty moved here about 4 years ago. I’ve only been here for one year. We were flying back and forth to do music stuff and it was a bit of a pain so I saved up to jump the ditch.

Any reflections on the GC music scene over the three years you’ve been here?

SURF ROCK. So much surf rock and everyone that plays it does it so well. Seeing all these bands doing there thing over here has fuelled the fire for us even more to keep doing something different.

We want to give the GC something new and hopefully refreshing.

Your new single has this loungetronica thing going on for me. How do you describe your music to other people who ask?

This is always the hardest question. The whole time we have been a band we haven't been able to categorise it. When we started I wanted to just have the freedom to write whatever came to mind and see how it evolves as a song. That’s why it is hard to describe, every song could be put into its own category. We have a wide variety of different sounds from dark, soulful tones to jazzy funk to hip-hop, trap. You name it we have probably tried it. Loungetronica, thats a new one. I get that.

You’ve got your live debut coming up this month. What can people expect?

Something different. We have been working hard to make our live set artistic and new. Just like having the freedom to be creative in a song we want that to rub off on the way we play live so it stays in people’s heads like a movie or a book.

So, new single, live debut, partnering with our friends at GDFRNDS, what’s on the horizon for Idiio in 2017?

To be honest I have no idea. But I do have a positively warming feeling about the future and what’s to come for Idiio. Hopefully we will be flying around in our space cars in 2017 communicating with aliens.

Samantha Morris

IDIIO JOIN WAXHEAD, IVEY AND GDFRNDS DJS AT MIAMI SHARK BAR, 22 OCTOBER FOR THEIR LIVE DEBUT. 16

www.blankgc.com.au

Mullum Music Festival continues to punch above its weight – not just musically either. The festival is committed to leaving a long-lasting legacy for the community and artists residing within it.

Growing talent at the grassroots is what MMF is all about and one of the organisations the event does this is through its Youth Mentorship, now in its seventh year. Previous winners include TORA, Gabe & Cecilia and Squeak Lemaire and there’s a bunch of categories to choose from: band, singer / songwriter, vocal, under 15 and for the first time, a wild card will be chosen for 2016.

Nattali Rize of Blue King Brown fame has just been announced as mentor for the band category. From the streets of Byron to the hearts of the world, she’s the voice Rolling Stone dubbed one of the nation’s most refreshing.

ROCKING THE CITY FROM COOMERA Paul Burridge runs Rock City Studios at Upper Coomera but it was his brother’s discovery of Dead Kennedys and Suicidal Tendencies, in the wilds of 1988’s Western Sydney that catalysed a lifetime love of music.

“After watching The Sex Pistols on video with school friends and then Nirvana and 1991 hit, the first of many bands were formed,” Paul said.

He started drumming, switched to guitar, morphed into a band called Vocabularinist and played his first gig at the infamous Sando in Newtown supporting Gerling in 1996. The band split, “life happened,” he says. Then he moved to Queensland.

“15 years later I’ve gone full circle and now drum for The Molotov,” he said. “The guitar itch is strong though and a new band is in the works.”

We asked her why it’s so important for young people to have mentors in the music industry.

When his friend was selling Rock City Studios in 2012 Paul decided to buy it.

“It’s like all industries where having insight into the inner workings help prepare you for the reality of working within it, or journeying through it,” she said.

“In Sydney in the 90s, Troy Horse Studios (which recently closed) was like a community hub for most inner city bands,” Paul told Blank GC. “Gigs, friendships, new bands, businesses, relationships were all spawned from there.”

“When we start out as artists we are primarily focused on the actual art, which is right, the more we get into the performance and promotion of our art, the more we start to realise we need to also be business savvy,” she said. “I think it’s more important than ever for young artists and musicians to become involved in the evolution of the music industry and be a part of shaping it in a way that serves them and their art first.”

Nattali said she herself grows with every tour, every meeting, every relationshps and she hopes to be able to inspire younger artists to forge their own path.

“For me one of the most important elements of being in the music industry is the relationships you create and build,” Nattali told Blank GC. “There is nothing more powerful than a united team with a united vision.”

“Also take the industry to the test,” she said, “question their ‘norms’ don’t just accept things because ‘that’s just the way it is’… be a creator of your own reality and make the industry serve that.”

“My aim is to do the best I can to replicate that here. Bands that jam here are welcome to sell CDs or shirts in the upstairs shop for free,” he says as an example.

Paul has worked with an incredible range of acts who record or rehearse in his studios.

“If the music has artistic merit, I'm happy to work with any style,” he said.

He’s met or had passing through bands such as AZREAL, Sunnyboys and Evol Walks. There’s been reggae bands such as Jahkaya and Judah as well as solo rappers. The Black Swamp, Kobrakai and Baltimore Gun Club are also regulars.

“Employed from within, Rian Cavaye (Shifting the Paradigm) is our Sound Engineer,” Paul said. “He’s very open minded, precise, and will get the player playing to the best of their ability.”

And it’s a busy space.

“Loud Goes Bang are about to release their CD, and Bitter Lungs are in this weekend, The Molotov shortly after that,” he said.

Nattali has achieved an incredible amount over recent years. Not just maintaining her indepdence as an outspoken and articulate advocate for social justice and Indigenous rights but also growing her musical career and honing her performance skills. Is there a lesson there for both emerging and established artists?

“I think it's cool that bands and musos up here [on the Gold Coast] seem to get behind and support each other irrespective of style.”

“The lesson is to do the greatest good with the gifts you have,” Nattali says simply.

“Fuzz Fest is the Brainchild of Psymon Psymons from Baltimore Gun Club,” Paul said. “I have helped in the past as a minor sponsor of Wallapalooza, and am looking forward to something more hands on this time.”

As well as joining the youth mentor program, Nattli performs at Mullum Music Festival which runs 17 - 20 November with her new project, a five-piece powerhouse Jamaican-Australian band. They’re fresh from an international tour which took in USA, Europe and Japan.

Samantha Morris

ENTER MULLUM MUSIC FESTIVAL’S YOUTH MENTORSHIP PROGRAM AT MULLUMMUSICFESTIVAL.COM.

As well as supporting a heap of Gold Coast bands, Rock City Studios is also on board as a presenting partner for the inaugural Fuzz Fest being held at Currumbin Creek Tavern this month.

Samantha Morris

ROCK CITY STUDIOS IS SPOKEN VERY HIGHLY ABOUT BY THE BANDS WHO USE ITS FACILITIES. YOU CAN MEET PAUL AND CHECK OUT THE FACILITIES AT UNIT 27, 3 DALTON STREET, UPPER COOMERA.

And when you look at the lineup, there’s no denying it’s a bonanza of fuzzy talent.

FUZZ FEST A FEAST FOR STONER ROCK LOVERS Psymon Psymon, as well as being guitarist for Baltimore Gun Club, can add another feather to his cap this month: Creative Director for a new mini-fest.

Fuzz Fest, which takes place 29 October at Currumbin Creek Tavern is Psymon’s first foray into curating a festival. As its name suggests, the lineup focuses heavily on grunge and stoner rock, shining a spotlight on some of the best Gold Coast bands in this genre.

As well as 11 bands there’ll be video DJ (VJ), art stalls and merchandise stalls spread over nine hours.

“I wanted to create a unique event for the Gold Coast focusing on all things fuzzy,” Psymon told Blank GC. “A day devoted to all things rock, grunge, fuzz and stoner, the likes of which has not been seen on the Gold Coast before.”

“So I put the feelers out and asked a few of my favourite bands if they'd be interested in joining such a line up - the response was overwhelming.”

Psymon says as it’s the first event he’s created he’s learning a lot on the way but there’s no doubt it will be “a kick-ass day.”

Kobrakai, Goatzilla, Fly Agaric, Antechinus, Monster Fodder, Stone Witches, Deja Vudu, Baltimore Gun Club, Cornerstone and Payments in Gold will all perform on the day.

Psymon says this is just a taste of things to come.

“I'm looking at taking Fuzz Fest to Brisbane in 2017 and hopefully this will be the first of many for the Gold Coast,” he said.

Bands like Baltimore Gun Club and Kobrakai are leading the charge for growth in the fuzz and stoner genres here on the Gold Coast and Psymon says Rock City studios is partly to thank for that.

“Pauly (Rock City) was keen to jump on board, offering the use of backline instruments and providing the massive event banner,” Psymon said.

“A lot of bands, past and present, have cut their teeth in the rehearsal rooms at Rock City Studios and Uncle Pauly is always keen to see local bands reaching their full potential.”

Samantha Morris

FUZZ FEST IS AT CURRUMBIN CREEK TAVERN ON SATURDAY 29 OCTOBER FROM 3.00PM – MIDNIGHT. PRESALE TICKETS AT FUZZFEST.EVENTBRITE.COM.

Drop i n , we’re j u st d own th e ro ad ...

The way it should be

TUGUN’S HIDDEN TREASURE great tapas, cocktails & live entertainment Thursday - Sunday from 4pm 455 Golden Four Drive Tugan (behind Groove Cafe) /hiddenatgroove

In this part of the world people enjoy having a beer after catching a wave, a band at the pub or just catching up with friends.

As the local brewer, we brew beers for times like these...

DROP IN FOR A TOUR AND A TASTING PADDLE...

Monday Open 10am–5pm Tours 11am, 3pm Tuesday Open 10am–5pm No Tours Wednesday Open 10am–5pm Tours 11am, 3pm Thursday Open 10am–5pm Tours 11am, 3pm Friday Open 10am–5pm Tours 11am, 3pm Saturday Open 12–6pm Tours 2pm, 4pm Sunday Open 12–6pm Tours 2pm, 4pm To book, head to our website – stoneandwood.com.au/byron-brewery

STONE & WOOD BREWERY 4 BORONIA PLACE, BYRON BAY

www.blankgc.com.au

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www.blankgc.com.au

Tuesday 1st Nov 11am - 3pm

RSL CLUB SOUTHPORT PROUDLY PRESENTS

GUARANTEED TRADING HOURS 10.00am - 2.30am Friday & Saturday 10.00am - 1.30am Sunday to Thursday

ALL DAY DINING

2 for 1 Tuesday Dinner

BUBBLES ON ARRIVAL 2 COURSE MEAL RAFFLES & SWEEPS ENTERTAINMENT BY STEVE CUMMINS & BANKXY BEST DRESSED COMPETITIONS, PLUS LUCKY DOOR PRIZES & ALL THE RACES LIVE ON THE THE BIG SCREEN!

Kids Eat FREE all weekend

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

*MEALS ARE ALTERNATE DROP.

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

FUNCTION VENUE

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Celebrations, weddings, birthdays, corporate events, seminars. Catering from 20 - 800 guests.

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

GETTING INTERNAL WITH SAFIA

It may not actually have been three years in the making but the debut album from Safia has definitely been highly anticipated for that long.

On 9 September Safia finally make the leap from releasing singles to launching the Canberra and London produced Internal. Erin Bourne speaks with Ben Woolner (vocals / producer)

Why did it take so long to bring out an album?

We were independent up until the fifth single so could financially only do one song at a time. Plus we really wanted to build a strong fan base before we did a whole album. We were still learning with each song, writing on the side and finally the time just felt right.

Why was some of it produced in London?

We had a few weeks in London during our recent UK and Europe tour. We had time in the studio and we were not

necessarily working on stuff for the album, but some of the sessions turned out really good so that ended up on the album.

The album starts off with an instrumental song, Zion and it sounds like you’ve brought nature and almost tribal sounds into the mix, was that intentional?

Zion is a good example of bringing in different sounds. It was inspired by a documentary Samsara which is just shots of the natural world with music and no dialogue. Then it moves through civilisation and into modern cities with sounds to match, there is a fascinating juxtaposition and we wanted to do that in song form.

What is the writing process like, do you all write the songs?

It’s a collaborative effort with the writing.

We kind of all complement each other in the way we write. I am more song writer focused, and Michael is a songwriter but more so production. I can have a more slow kind of soul song and take it to Michael and end up with an addictive dance thing, but still have the soul beneath it. Songs start in many different ways, but it definitely comes together as a collaborative process. Whatever sparks an idea, we have no rules and everything is fair game.

GET YOUR DANCING SHOES READY AS SAFIA HIT THE NIGHTQUARTER IN HELENSVALE ON SATURDAY 8 OF OCTOBER. THE GOOD TIMES BEGIN AT 4PM SO GET IN EARLY. TICKETS VIA NIGHTQUARTER.COM.AU.

What else inspires the writing?

Songs come together from anything. We don’t listen to another artist and think lets’ do something like that, if anything it’s the other way of trying not to do something similar. Most inspiration for this record came from visual things like film, or film scores.

Particularly the aesthetic in the Sherlock Holmes movie which has this cool wonky sound track and originally inspired the first incarnation of the song Bye Bye. We tweak it and play with it until it becomes this weird mish mash of ideas that somehow works.

Full interview at blankgc.com.au.

CLAUDE HAY: RIDIN’ THE ROLLERCOASTER The brand new fourth studio album by celebrated independent blues rocker Claude Hay shows that he knows his way around a hook. Roller Coaster highlights Hay’s writing just as much as his unique guitar and vocal approach. His just-kicked-off album tour sees him hitting the Gold Coast in mid-October, and, like previous tours, will end with one lucky fan winning one of his handmade guitars. Natalie O'Driscoll chatted to with the multi-talented muso himself just before he hit the road.

In what ways does Roller Coaster express an evolution of your musical or lyrical style?

It’s the first album I've done as a band, I thought it was time to move on from the stomp loop thing for an album and not be restricted by having to stay in repeating chord progressions as often faced with when using a loop pedal. It was so refreshing for me to just let loose.

What came first for you - making the music or making the instruments?

I wrote a lot of the songs on the road over the past year or so just simply singing into my phone. I love writing whilst driving, I find it very therapeutic.

Also I built a new guitar for this album called Jeri which is made from a Jerry can and has similar tones to a steel body resonator but a little different. So that did definitely influence a lot of the 20

www.blankgc.com.au

CLAUDE HAY’S ROLLER COASTER TOUR COMES TO THE KINGSCLIFF BEACH HOTEL ON FRIDAY 21 OCTOBER AND ADVANCETOWN HOTEL ON SUNDAY 23 OCTOBER. VISIT CLAUDEHAY.COM. AU FOR FULL TOUR DATES AND INFORMATION ON HOW TO WIN HIS GUITAR.

writing as well. I'm actually making another Jerry can guitar to give away at the end of the tour, to enter just go to website and fill out the form for free and you could win my Frankenstein...

How does the relationship between you and a self made instrument differ to that of one you have bought?

I definitely feel more attached to the one's that I make, but the main reason why I build them is to have a guitar exactly the way I want them, I put a lot of switches on them that really suit the one man band thing, I can go from a bass to a guitar to a piano at the flick of a switch. Plus it’s so much fun and extremely rewarding.

They both have their benefits for sure. Solo you can change the key of the song on the spot, put different accents in on the fly and play it as long or short as you want. All the decisions are yours and touring is a hell of a lot easier. Band is fun because you're a part of something, making decisions, hanging out with a good bunch of people is always a good thing. Musically there's no limitations and more ideas can come about when you click with other musos.

What do you prefer about playing solo, and what do you prefer about playing with a band?

If someone hadn't heard your music, how would you describe your style to them and what artists would you use as comparisons?

Blues/rock/groove/funk hillbilly disco....

Influences Ben Harper, Queens of the Stone Age, Parliament P Funk, Sly, CCR. Where are some of your favourite places to tour?

Netherlands, cause the gigs and people are always great. In Poland the people are extremely friendly and it's such an interesting place. East coast of Oz as well, it's so beautiful, backing up the motor home at some quiet not known beach after a show and then waking up in the morning looking out to the ocean cooking a good breakfast is one of life best things...

THE PAIR PUTTING POWER INTO THE HANDS OF GOLD COAST CREATIVES

Blank GC is proudly presenting a series of powerful workshops created by two of South-East Queensland’s most innovative marketing and communications specialists, Samantha Morris and Kylie Cobb. We thought it timely ahead of their upcoming “Boot-Camp” to grill them.

What exactly is The Power-Up Series?

KC: They are a series of media and marketing workshops we’ve developed especially for people working in the creative industries.

What is different about them?

So, are you going to tell us what the 5 Pillars are, or will you have to kill us?

SM: Haha we’re happy to share. In fact that is a huge part of what we’re doing here - unleashing a whole bunch of strategies and info often reserved in the music

Musicians, photographers, label managers attend the sold-out workshop at The Avalon, Miami. industry for the “big guns”, so that people starting out can have a bit of a leg up and start working on the important stuff now.

SM: If you do that, your fan base and income will grow and before you know it, more awesome opportunities will start coming your way too.

KC: The Five Pillars we talk about show creatives how to get their mugs in the media, how to brand the sh*t out of their stuff, nail social media, harness the powers of superfans and how to secure powerful partnerships.

Who are you and where have you been all our creative lives?

SM: Well, together we have decades of experience in media, marketing and communications across a range of sectors - corporate, government and environmental. We’ve found when working with artists, we bring a unique perspective to the creative industries. So with an understanding of what creatives need to know, and how they like to hear it, we see our workshop participants kicking goals all over the place.

KC: In other words, we know artists. We know our stuff. And we’ll kick your creative butts into the world of media and marketing AND you’ll thank us for it!

We have heard some great things from people who’ve attended the workshop.

What have been your favourite wins?

for creatives!

GOLD COAST RLY BIRD A 11 OCT E

BRISBANE 29 SEPT

n today’s musical landscape of streaming and playlists as a major mode of music discovery, is seeking community radio airplay still a relevant and worthwhile pursuit?

In the scope of building a grass-roots music industry profile - I say hell yes. Emerging artists earning airplay on community radio is still a critical component to any emergent music release strategy because:

SM: We kick things off with a 2.5hr ‘bootcamp’ style workshop which looks at 5 pillars of creating a bangin’ profile. We then have other workshops that dig deeper into each of the five pillars.

KC: We have a lot of fun in a very casual, relaxed atmosphere. Sam wears her docs and I make lots of inappropriate jokes.

But, they are powerful, punchy and very practical.

I

REGISTER NOW AT THEPOWERUPSERIES.COM

KC: The most exciting part for me is when people come up afterwards saying how relieved they are that FINALLY someone has made media and marketing not so scary and something they can actually do afterall .

SM: It’s awesome seeing our “Power-Up Leaguers” kicking cool goals, big and small. Whether it’s simply posting more confidently and strategically on social media or scoring a prime-time television interview - they’re all winners.

THE NEXT POWER-UP SERIES MARKETING & MEDIA BOOT-CAMP IS ON 11 OCTOBER, 10AM-12:30PM • BOOK AT THEPOWERUPSERIES.COM

F Almost 5 million Australians listen to community radio every week - that’s a lot of new ears and new fans who are specifically seeking new, local music.

F Airplay statistics, especially charting, provides powerful, profile-raising credibility for your press kit.

F Interviews provide awesome opportunities for your audience to engage and connect with you. And, it’s perfect practice for nailing future, high profile media opportunities.

I’m no radio plugger, which is why I sat with the AMRAP Airit team, the Australian Music Catalogue and Distribution Service, at BIGSOUND early this month to find out exactly how you score more community radio airplay and better still, how you crack the AMRAP community radio charts.

1. Apply for a free AMPRAP Airit account and add up to 3 tracks, which stations can preview, order for airplay and add to their station’s library.

2. Use AMRAP’s physical distribution service (for a small fee). They’ll send it to the stations most likely play your stuff.

3. Use your AMRAP report to see which stations have ordered your music. Note, this does not mean they have played it, which is why you should email each one to say thank you and follow their socials!

4. And, here is the BIG ONE...As with much of my advice around publicity and raising your industry profile, it’s all about building authentic relationships with the people who support your music.

Use the Airplay Search on the AMRAP website regularly, it gives you everything you need to: F Send an email to say thank you F Follow them on all socials as your official music page F Promote their show/ station F Engage with their posts on an ongoing basis (not just when they play you) BANG baby! If the music is great and your relationships greater, you’ll be charting and building your bangin’ profile in no time. Thank you community radio and thank you AMRAP! Kylie Cobb

album reviews

DEBORAH CONWAY AND WILLY ZYGIER

CARAVANA SUN Guerilla Club

Caravana Sun's third studio album, Guerrilla Club is an inspirational Australian soundtrack full of lush, smooth grooves rounding out their distinctive surf-rock ska vibes that make their live shows so dynamic and explosive.

The Sydney five-piece shacked up for a month at Wasteland Studios in Western Australia to team up with Eskimo Jo guitarist, Joel Quatermain, who encouraged them to look beyond representing the live show on this album and to incorporate more vocals by bass player, Ant Beard.

The result is eleven heavenly tracks that make your whole body vibrate with joy, sadness and an irresistible urge to move.

Caravana Sun have brilliantly combined instrumentals, vocals and lyrics to seamlessly communicate the album's strong connection to home and land, of loss and longing.

From Australia's Indigenous people on title track Guerrilla Club and dance/dub track, Open Up, to personal longing for home in lead single Eye of the Storm, Days Like These and The Tourist, to the plight of whales in the haunting and soulful Whale Song.

Regulars on the European festival circuit, Caravana Sun have spent much time away from home, as well as time in indigenous communities and actively supporting Sea Shepherd. All of which can be heard loudly on this sonically addictive album.

Guerilla Club is the perfect mix of surf, ska and dub makes this an album that's going places. And without a doubt one of my favorite releases this year.

Kylie Cobb

Everybody’s Begging

JACK WHITE

Acoustic Recordings 1998 - 2016

On a recent week night in Byron Bay, the couple played to a sold out venue full of fans – with a large portion no doubt seeing Conway thirty years prior at the Piggery across the railway tracks - but this time sitting sedately in tiered seating without the sweaty dance moves and Tooheys spillage.

It feels odd to be reviewing a compilation record with Jack White’s name emblazoned on its sleeve. A man with a collective songbook as vast as his should absolutely be commended in this fashion - a record spanning his eighteen-year career as a professional musician. It’s perplexing putting the needle down on this record because White has been so anti-greatest hits throughout his career. From the stadium roaring riffs of The White Stripes to the more blues-rock revivalism of his solo moniker, this collection portrays White’s more humbling song writing abilities rather than his guitar god stature.

Having purchased the Conway/Zygier collaborative catalogue over the years; Stories of Ghosts, Summertown, Half man half woman, My third husband – we are given another musical treat just by glancing at the quality of musicians and production within the album sleeve.

In execution, the album’s track listing, and its ordering, is presented chronologically with 80% of its tracks being pulled directly from the source material while the balance coming from acoustic remixes, bootleg demos and even one previously unreleased The White Stripes song.

Like the concert, the album transports you from your daily grind to a creative and thought provoking place.

City Lights, the “new” White Stripes song, was ripped from the Get Behind Me Satan sessions. Sprawling and simple, City Lights is arguably the record’s centrepiece and a powerful testament to White’s guitar playing finesse and innate ability to tell a charming story.

The mesmerising singer-songwriter Deborah Conway and her husband, guitarist Willy Zygier are travelling north again from their Melbourne base launching their new album, Everybody’s begging.

With Vika and Linda Bull, plus Syd, Alma and Hettie Zygier on vocals, Zygier on steel and acoustic guitar and Conway’s huge howling voice, you are shaken straight up with the album’s title song Everybody’s begging; “... nothing like an earthly hell/to bring out all the self-styled angels/but the ones who spell it out can’t spell/ you give them something and they want something else.”

Each lyric is mindfully mastered – of note the track Blessed, with tongue firmly in cheek this is a compilation of self-messianic Leonard Cohen lyrics.

Deborah Conway is an iconic singer, playing with a musician who can make a one stringed instrument sound like a mandolin, a banjo, a country steel guitar, with a band selected from the hallowed Melbourne jazz club Bennett’s Lane.

Songs; As Sweet as Battles Won, Life’s a Curse and This Song Has Got Me, subtly stand out due to the clarity and groove of double bassist Simon Starr, the super fine jazz style drumming of Niko Schauble and piano dramatist Hue Blanes.

Tiffany Mitchell

With his sound expanding, thanks to an ever-rotating group of hand-plucked and equally talented Nashville musicians, White’s two solo records - Blunderbuss and Lazaretto - receive a solid chime in.

Hip (Eponymous) Poor Boy is a nostalgic reinterpretation on the American dream, “Let the stripes unfurl”. Commonly misconstrued as a reference to his former The White Stripes bandmate and wife, Meg White, the record, without looking at the liner notes, makes little effort to mention Meg’s involvement in the music.

The saddest day in my personal rock history was the announcement of The White Stripes’ breakup. Admittedly, I was selfish.

This band meant so much to me, why did they have to stop? However, Acoustic Recordings is a self-sufficient piece of song writing memorabilia for a musician who’s forever been ahead of curve while forcefully, through his art, trying to stay behind it.

Jake Wilton

GEMMA RAY The Exodus Suite

The Exodus Suite is British songstress Gemma Ray's seventh foray into her unique musical worldview, a sound which has variously seen her described as pop-noir, gothic folk and sideways blues. Her 2009 covers album It's A Shame About Gemma Ray (Lemonheads fans will be smiling knowingly right about now) saw her channel songs with influences as diverse as The Gun Club, Etta James, Lee Hazlewood and Mudhoney.

Her latest album was recorded in just seven days in Berlin at Candy Bomber Studios, which used to be an airport and housed 8000 Syrian refugees in an old hangar beneath the studio during the album's gestation. Many of the tracks were recorded organically and largely live, giving the record an unpretentious ambience thankfully lacking in overly polished gloss.

The album plays out as an evenly paced set of noir'ish torch songs, dark lullabies and stark confessionals embellished with washes of tasteful psychedelia, moody organ sounds and hazy, twangy guitar flourishes.

A dreamlike gothic haze washes over much of its 52 minutes, allowing Ray's expressively stark vocals to feature prominently. While many of the tracks don't break out of a canter tempo wise, there's plenty of ebbs and flows going on within, with understated flourishes and slow burning crescendos colouring the album many shades of technicolour.

Individual highlights are hard to spot straight up. We Are All Wandering is a spooky, psychedelic tinged delight. The Switch is a stripped back confessional that invokes a wistful longing. There Must Be More Than This raises the record's tempo just slightly, locking into a loping, darkly poly-rythmic groove infused with piano.

And Ifs & Buts is an insistently memorable, Latin-psych workout that never outstays its six plus minutes.

The Exodus Suite is one of those records whose entirety plays out as superior to the individual sum of its parts. It's a listening experience best enjoyed in one uninterrupted sitting, the soundtrack to an imaginary late night silent movie with just one's own thoughts, and the moving muse of Miss Gemma Ray, for company.

Anthony Gebhardt

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throwback to her folkier days, Heart Shaped Face comes in at exactly the right time.

TROY CASSAR-DALEY THE BLACK SWAMP Things I Carry Around

I am

Master storyteller Troy Cassar-Daley’s latest album reads as fifteen musical chapters, telling tales of life on the road and family, accompanied by multidimensional country instrumentals. Just as his lyrics tell snippets of his life – his compositions allow us to turn each page to find music with changes in tempo and style to emote his story.

It's been two years since Queensland’s own metal titans The Black Swamp released their EP Foulness and since then the band had an incredible run including supports for Sebastian Bach and Zack Wylde’s Black Label Society on top of their own successful tour and local shows.

Down the road is a rambling hand-waving gospel number with a Wurlitzer piano resonating hallelujah style, along with a tinge of saloon piano sounds and electric guitar. Similarly reflective, If my heart was a town, pulls on the heartstrings with a lonesome steel guitar.

An interesting intermission are two instrumental preludes; A cold walk home and The river is my soul - the latter a creation of just 55 seconds of banjo instrumental with the subtle sounds of Aboriginal clapping sticks, hinting of Cassar-Daley’s proud Bundjalung heritage.

My Gumbaynggirr Skies is the ballad dedicated to his grandparents, in particular remembering his childhood with his Aboriginal grandmother’s family. “Go south of the river to my grandmother’s land/ she met and married a railway man …”

Brighter Day is the acoustic guitar ballad written by O great one, Paul Kelly, who coolly brushes away the country music stigma and finds gems in such country music stars as Cassar-Daley and Kasey Chambers. The title song and most heartfelt and radio friendly; Things I carry around, sings of pocketfuls of good times and regrets, and this is the reason such a long list of songs never grow tiresome, simply because they all have different light, shades, tales, melodies and instrumental arrangements - a sure sign giveaway for an everlasting musical career boasting ten studio albums.

The potential of this album is to morph into a musical A to Z show of Cassar-Daley’s life, particularly as it has been fleshed out in his newly released book of the same title.

Acquire this album for your next road trip – any long journey will be sweeter for it as it transports you to another time.

Tiffany Mitchell

The EP was well received by fans and critics and left everyone wondering what they could do to top such a solid release?

In 2015 the band locked themselves away in the Gold Coast’s Core Studios to work on what would become a full length follow up to Foulness. Entitled I Am the result is a mind blowing work of art.

The album is as diverse as it is heavy, kicking off with Kin, the dark tone is set. It is during these early moments that vocalist Stewart Wren shows that he can deliver haunting melodies with insightful lyrics that lure the listener in before slaying them with some of the most intense vocal deliveries I have heard in some time.

That said, the album is definitely not mellow.

The majority is heavy as hell, drawing influence from everything from sludge/rock to straight-up heavy metal with songwriting strong enough to stand alongside the classic albums in your collection and keep you returning for more many times in the future.

The album is consistently great from start to finish and is one hell of a ride!

I Am is an album that will make you want to drink, party and drive fast.

Do yourself a favour and get it as soon as it drops as it is definitely one of the stand out releases of the year and a sure classic for many to come.

I Am is available on vinyl as well as standard formats via theblackswamp.bandcamp.com.

Neville Pearce

ANGEL OLSEN My Woman

After her 2014 breakthrough sophomore album, Burn Your Fire for No Witness, Olsen had solidified herself as a powerful songstress – no longer a fragile folk singer.

On My Woman, Olsen explores the ideas of loneliness and longing and her songs are, at times, dark and moody, yet she maintains this magic light about her.

My Woman kicks off with Intern. The only song like it on the album, Intern is a synth heavy dream space. There is no musical intro or hook, just Olsen’s melancholy vocals against the minimal, gradual synth. I explores the idea of self-discovery in a very real, relatable sense, crooning ‘It doesn’t matter who you are or what you’ve done/ Still got to wake up and be someone’. She speaks of pain and frustration in a bitterly sweet way that is akin to her earlier work. She croons about love, desire and longing in the heartbreaking second track, Never Be Mine.

Sister absolutely overwhelms me. Not so much a song about desire in the obvious sense, but a much more subtle one. Olsen was adopted at age three. I empathise with people out there who have never known or may never know their heritage or where they come from. To me, Sister is a song of longing for that sense of identity that comes from knowing your family. She sings ‘I want to know you/I want to show you/I want to be there/I want to see her’ and it just breaks me. She speaks of a different kind of love, one that she has never known and only dreamed. The build to the close of this song is epic. Olsen almost chants ‘All my life I thought I’d change’ as she leads into the guitar break. Her emotive vocals are a reflection of that longing and the song closes with a final ‘All my life I thought I’d change’.

As My Woman comes to a close, Pops is the only song on the album that features only a piano and Olsen’s ethereal voice. It’s haunting and beautiful and closes off the album perfectly, singing ‘you can go home now you got what you need/Take my heart and put it up on your sleeve’ before leaving us with the bitter sweet line ‘I’ll be the thing that’s left in the dream when it’s gone’.

Gina Martin

The short, direct and fast lyrical phrasing on Shut Up Kiss Me is the first taste we get of urgency on the album. With lines like ‘Stop pretending I’m not there/When it’s clear I’m not going anywhere’ and the chorus ‘Shut up/Kiss me/Hold me tight’ Olsen shows vulnerability and a desperation for understanding and reciprocation.

Not Gonna Kill You is one of my favourite tracks on the record. Its chaotic, swirling, low-fi vocals are so intense. The story in the song progresses from one of hopeless, crippling love that you know will come close to killing you to one of inspiration and pure strength. Before closing out the tune with a series of ‘Let the shine in’, Olsen somewhat matter-of-factly tells us ‘It’s not gonna kill you, it’s not gonna kill you/It’s not gonna break you, it’s just gonna shake you/Shake you alive.’

Moving through to the second part of the album, Olsen grounds us again with that goose-bump inducing voice of hers. A fresh www.blankgc.com.au

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FRIDAY 30 SEPTEMBER Radolescent + Planet + The Strays + Rachel Gilligan | Currumbin Creek Tavern Brett Hammond | Hard Rock Cafe The Bootleg Flyers | The Avenue

GOLD COAST GIG GUIDE

The Gig Cartel | Currumbin SLSC Fozzy Bear | Hotel Brunswick Nicole Brophy Band | Miami Marketta

The Black Seeds + Tijuana Cartel (Ticketed) | Miami Marketta

The Stained Daisies | The Rails, Byron

QBR16 + Horowitz + Jimmy D + Grivs | elsewhere

City Over Sand | Miami Marketta

Kimmy Crew + DJ Stevie Z + DJ Glazier + DJ Sash | Broadbeach Tavern Hayley Grace (1.00pm) | Southport Sharks The Swamps | One50 Public House

Chastity Belt + Donny Love + Wren Klauf + Tim Fuchs + Audun | elsewhere

MONDAY 3 OCTOBER

Dubmarine + Scott Dalton | NightQuarter Cry for Cthulhu + Fragments + Middle-Earth + Uncle Buck | Lonestar Tavern

Sarah Stando (12.30pm) | Phoenix Rising Cafe, Nimbin The Titanix | The Avenue Push | Hotel Brunswick

Dave Barbara (12.30pm) | Phoenix Rising Cafe, Nimbin Open mic night | The Avenue Jax Haze | The Rails, Byron Lloyd Saniel | Southport Sharks (Covers) Saturn Formula | Mandala Organic Arts Cafe

TUESDAY 4 OCTOBER Chris Aronsten | The Rails, Byron

Benny D Williams | The Arts Centre Gold Coast

Devil's Kiosk | Southport Sharks

Jason Delphin | The Rails, Byron

T for Trubbs + Middle Ground | The Avalon

SATURDAY 8 OCTOBER

THURSDAY 13 OCTOBER The Wilson Pickers + Abbie Cardwell | Soundlounge Currumbin

Rockin' for West Papua: The Poor + Wartooth + Paging Jimi | Currumbin Creek Tavern

Fat Albert | The Avenue

SUNDAY 2 OCTOBER

Lay of the Land + Six Shooter + Cleaver + Kinloch | elsewhere

Jason McGregor | Café Catalina Unplugged Jam Session (1.00pm) | Burleigh Waters Tavern Wil Massey (12.3opm) + Sonic Bliss (10.00am) | Phoenix Rising Cafe, Nimbin Hanlon Brothers (4.00pm) | Hotel Brunswick Planet + Radolescent + Wild Honey + Vanilla Gorilla | Shark Bar, Miami Tavern Devils Kiosk (9.00pm) + Benjamin Jansz (2.30pm) | The Avenue Adam Harpaz (3.30pm) | Burleigh Brewing Co Benny D Williams (2.00pm) | Boatshed Currumbin

Transvaal Diamond Syndicate | The Rails, Byron

Zookeepers | Southport Sharks (Covers) The Elliots | Beach Hotel, Byron Gold Coast Musos Jam | Wallaby Hotel

FRIDAY 7 OCTOBER Aralunar Beagle + Peach Fur + Nice Biscuit | Currumbin Creek Tavern Krush | The Avenue Benny D Williams | Burleigh Brewing Co The Gig Cartel | Currumbin Beach Vikings (Covers)

Cover Shot Jam Sessions + Open Mic | Commercial Hotel, Nerang

Avenue LIVE | The Avenue

The Titanix | The Avenue

Oktoberfest | Currumbin RSL

Dan England | The Rails, Byron

Leah Grant (12.30pm) | Phoenix Rising Cafe, Nimbin

Disaster Denim + special guests | elsewhere

Bossy Big Heart | The Rails, Byron

Zookeepers | Southport Sharks (Covers)

Set Mo+ Giv + Noah | elsewhere

Funk N Wagnells | Southport Sharks (Covers)

Sarah Grant Duo | The Rails, Byron

Nicole Brophy ( 7.00pm) + Raku (2.00pm) | Sheoak Shack

Jamie Ashforth | The Rails, Byron

Latour + Giv | elsewhere

WEDNESDAY 12 OCTOBER

SAFIA (Ticketed) + SET MO + Running Touch | NightQuarter

Felicity Lawless (3.00pm) | Currumbin RSL

Cover Shot Jam Sessions + Open Mic | Commercial Hotel, Nerang

Lloyd Saniel | Southport Sharks (Covers)

Luke Houselander | Hard Rock Cafe

WEDNESDAY 5 OCTOBER

Devil's Kiosk | The Rails, Byron

Burning Hands | The Rails, Byron

TUESDAY 11 OCTOBER

The Hanlon Brothers | Miami Marketta

THURSDAY 6 OCTOBER

Open mic night | The Avenue

The Boogie Show + Audun + Will D. Ness + Lockhart | elsewhere

Josh Rennie Hynes | Miami Marketta

Dallas James + Tom Roberts | NightQuarter

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Patrick James + Bella Maree + Obi Sun | NightQuarter

Pinsta & Swaussyfire | Southport Sharks

SATURDAY 1 OCTOBER

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Andy Janz Brown | The Rails, Byron

Regurgitator | The Northern, Byron

FRIDAY 14 OCTOBER SUNDAY 9 OCTOBER Nyssa Berger | Café Catalina Unplugged Jam Session (1.00pm) | Burleigh Waters Tavern Radolescent + Endless + Big Dead + Twin Haus | Shark Bar, Miami Tavern

Sean Fitzgerald | Currumbin Creek Tavern The Hodads | The Avenue Matty Rogers | Burleigh Brewing Co The Gig Cartel | Currumbin Beach Vikings (Covers)

Stevenson Street (9.00pm) + Dan Hannaford (2.30pm) | The Avenue

Superfest Start Your Engines Launch Party: Sunset City + Josh Lovegrove | NightQuarter

Brad Butcher (3.30pm) | Burleigh Brewing Co

Benny D Williams | Miami Marketta

The Accidents (4.00pm) | Currumbin Beach Vikings (Covers)

Willy McElroy and the Immigrants | The Rails, Byron

Sonic Bliss (10.00am) + Cruise Brothers Jazz (12.30pm) | Phoenix Rising Cafe, Nimbin

The Belligerents + Wild Honey + Alex L'Estrange + Audun + Flex Cop | elsewhere

The High Grade | The Rails, Byron

Solent | Hard Rock Cafe

Royale + Jimmy D + Grivs + Spacie | elsewhere

Dirty Channel | Southport Sharks (Covers)

Nik Conomos (1.00pm) | Southport Sharks Paul Hayman Band | Advancetown Hotel

15-16 OCTOBER Buskers by the Creek | Winders Park, Currumbin

MONDAY 10 OCTOBER

DISCOVER GOLD COAST'S BEST NEW MUSIC

SATURDAY 15 OCTOBER

The Pinup Girls | The Avenue

Pineapple Lazar | Sheoak Shack

WEDNESDAY 19 OCTOBER

Tay Oskee (3.00pm) | Currumbin RSL

Pink Zinc | The Avenue

Bohemian Cowboys Duo | the Rails, Byron

Hussy Hicks + Kate Leopold | NightQuarter

Oktoberfest: Oz Oompah Band | NightQuarter Sunset DJ Sessions (4.30pm) + Joe O'Keefe (12.30pm) | Phoenix Rising Cafe, Nimbin Big Fat Guy | The Rails, Byron Velvet Martini | Miami Marketta Giv + Latour | elsewhere Captain Wow | Southport Sharks (Covers)

SUNDAY 16 OCTOBER Leopold’s Treat | Gold Coast’s Biggest Tree Planting Day Unplugged Jam Session (1.00pm) | Burleigh Waters Tavern Radolescent + Stained Daisies + Donny Love + Peter Bibby | Shark Bar, Miami Tavern Sean Fitzgerald (9.00am) | Iron & Resin Garage The Pin Up Girls (9.00pm) + James Bennett (2.30pm) | The Avenue Jock Barnes (3.30pm) | Burleigh Brewing Co Sex & Chocolate (4.00pm) | Currumbin Beach Vikings (Covers) Benny D Williams (10.30am) | Genki Cafe Benny D Williams | Open Air Cinema Broadbeach Dinkum Bohos (12.30pm) + Sonic Bliss (10.00am) | Phoenix Rising Cafe, Nimbin Kimmy & Crew | The Rails, Byron Torren Foot + Jimmy D + Grivs | elsewhere Clayton Lambert (1.00pm) | Southport Sharks

MONDAY 17 OCTOBER Open mic night | The Avenue

THURSDAY 20 OCTOBER Cover Shot Jam Sessions + Open Mic | Commercial Hotel, Nerang Trace | The Avenue Kylie Auldist | Soundlounge Currumbin Jay Hoad | the Rails, Byron Lay of the Land + Six Shooter + Cleaver + Kinloch | elsewhere Zookeepers | Southport Sharks (Covers)

FRIDAY 21 OCTOBER Harry Manx | Soundlounge Currumbin Evil Eye + Knights + Strategies + Fragments | Currumbin Creek Tavern Salmonella Dub + The Mighty Asterix + Switchkraft (Ticketed) | NightQuarter The Moonlight Society + Dave + Pals + Psychoibis + Tee Cee dj | Shark Bar, Miami Tavern Krush | The Avenue Sean Fitzgerald | Burleigh Brewing Co The Gig Cartel | Currumbin Beach Vikings (Covers) Salmonella Dub + Switchkraft (Ticketed) | NightQuarter Benny D Williams | Hard Rock Cafe Wallflower Meadows | The Rails, Byron Caravana Sun | Miami Marketta Good Boy + Killer Trunk Hunks + Audun + Rhys Bynon | elsewhere La Boum | Southport Sharks (Covers)

Matt Armitage | The Rails, Byron

Claude Hay | Kingscliff Beach Hotel

Lloyd Saniel | Southport Sharks (Covers)

SATURDAY 22 OCTOBER

TUESDAY 18 OCTOBER

Waxhead + IVEY + Idiio + GD FRNDS | Shark Bar, Miami Tavern

Bernard Fanning | The Basement Kenta Hiyashi | The Cambus Wallace Leigh James | The Rails, Byron

Rosie Mischief Band | Sheoak Shack Breaking Point + Upon a Falling Empire + Lavidious + Novus | Currumbin Creek Tavern

Sons of the East | Soundlounge Currumbin Sunset DJ Session (4.30pm) + Neil Pike (12.30pm) | Phoenix Rising Cafe, Nimbin

Harry Nichols Trio | The Rails, Byron

THURSDAY 27 OCTOBER Cover Shot Jam Sessions + Open Mic | Commercial Hotel, Nerang Agent 77 | The Avenue Dan Hannaford | The Rails, Byron

The Chris Cook Band | The Rails, Byron

Lay of the Land + Six Shooter + Samin + Cleaver | elsewhere

The Weather Man | Miami Marketta

Zookeepers | Southport Sharks (Covers)

Giv + Six Shooter | elsewhere Red Fusion | Southport Sharks (Covers)

FRIDAY 28 OCTOBER

SUNDAY 23 OCTOBER

Rolling Stoned (Tribute) | RSL Club Southport

Unplugged Jam Session (1.00pm) | Burleigh Waters Tavern Claude Hay | Advancetown Hotel Sean Fitzgerald (7.00am) | Bundall Farmers Market Vertigo (9.00pm) + Avenue LIVE (2.30pm) | The Avenue Nick Cunningham (3.30pm) | Burleigh Brewing Co The Accidents (4.00pm) | Currumbin Beach Vikings (Covers) Benny D Williams (2.00pm) | Boatshed Currumbin Minus One (12.30pm) + Sonic Bliss (10.00am) | Phoenix Rising Cafe, Nimbin Ragga Jump | The Rails, Byron Emma Louise + Lastlings + Fractures (Ticketed) | Miami Marketta Royale + Grivs + Jimmy D | elsewhere

The Lamplights | Soundlounge Currumbin

James D'Khan + Daneel & the Feel + Wayward Suns + Luke Houselander | Currumbin Creek Tavern Stevenson Street | The Avenue Josh Lee Hamilton | Burleigh Brewing Co The Gig Cartel | Currumbin Beach Vikings (Covers) Amy Shark + City Over Sand + Marshall Okell | NightQuarter Benny D Williams | Kingscliff Beach Hotel Bohemian Cowboys | The Rails, Byron Luke Morris Band | Miami Marketta

Ned Walker (1.00pm) | Southport Sharks

Lastlings + special guests + Audun + Will D. Ness | elsewhere

Kenta Hayashi | Itoshin

Marshall Okell | Southport Sharks

MONDAY 24 OCTOBER

The Screaming Jets | Parkwood Tavern

Open mic night | The Avenue Sam Buckingham | The Rails, Byron Marco | Southport Sharks (Covers)

TUESDAY 25 OCTOBER

* Catch these SEED artists playing at a venue near you

Chris Aronsten | The Rails, Byron

WEDNESDAY 26 OCTOBER

WWW.SEEDSERIES.BANDCAMP.COM

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Environment For the first two weeks of October, Gold Coasters can grab a coffee for just two bucks! Blank GC talks to producer and film-maker, Andrew Scott about the Show Us Ya Cups initiative and why we should ALL participate.

Show Us Ya Cups is a documentary-inthe-making set to tickle our sustainability funny bones, while changing our morning coffee routines for the betterment of our environment.

SHOW US YA CUPS GOLD COAST

From 1 - 14 October, patrons who present their own or purchase a reusable cup at participating cafes can save up to three bucks on their coffee, and more importantly, save the environment from the ever growing piles of harmful, disposable coffee cups hitting landfill every day.

“Australians use 1 billion disposable cups per year,” said Andrew, “re-engineering our cultural attachment to these cups is where a very real and substantial reduction in environmental harm can be made.”

The series follows the prickly, yet wellintentioned and humorous efforts of

sustainability-conscious "bogan" Uncle Bruce, who has taken great offense to our highly disposable coffee-cup culture.

“The Show Us Ya Cups series provides provocative, funny entertainment that encourages us to adopt reusable coffee cups for our daily takeaways and incidentally addresses social stuff that really matters, like mental health and sustainable living,” said 35-year-old Andrew.

The creator and filmmaker is for the first time sharing his personal experiences with mental health issues through Uncle Bruce’s cheeky, larrikin humour to inspire real, behavioural change in others.

Following a number of heartbreaking family tragedies, the first at just 14 when his mum died suddenly on Mothers’ Day, Andrew's life descended into a debilitating cycle of grief, stress, depression, substance abuse and domestic disturbances.

“Mine is unfortunately a story with a lot of tragedy, but it is balanced equally in love and luck,” he said, “I have become very interested in mental health, especially the issues that face young men in Australia today. I want to be an active part of the solution.”

“Five years ago I was on my way to an early grave. Now I am the proud owner of an exciting entertainment media company creating something that will hopefully make a positive impact on the world,” he said.

“But my most significant accomplishments are invisible. They are the strategies and amazing support networks I have in place to manage the complex mental health challenges I face daily to keep being a positive contributor to the world.

“So, let's drink coffee (in a sustainable, reusable cup of course) and let’s eat cake with Uncle Bruce!”

GRAB A $2 COFFEE WHEN YOU SHOW US YA CUPS AT PARTICIPATING GOLD COAST CAFES FROM 1 - 14 OCTOBER. HEAD TO SHOWUSYACUPS. COM FOR THE FULL LIST OF PARTICIPATING COFFEE SHOPS IN BRISBANE, IPSWICH AND GOLD COAST.

THE RENEWABLE POWER IS IN OUR HANDS Q

ueensland households and businesses are energising our use of electricity by attaching intelligent batteries to their renewable energy sources.

Politicians and major energy providers alike have peddled coal as fundamental to powering up the economy, Australian homes and businesses since the industrial revolution’s inception. The fossil fuel industries, however, face massive disruption with new technology aspiring to capitalise on the renewable energy sector. Australia maintains its strong relationship with coal, but a report from the Energy Supply Association of Australia confirms our leading role in the number of household solar panel installations worldwide.

Contrary to the polarising opinions of our policy makers, communities in the sunshine state are embracing batteries and software by attaching it to their solar panels, conserving their own energy off the grid.

During the sunlit hours of the day, and at peak hour when the sun goes down, your “smart” miniature power station learns your

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daily energy patterns to make decisions on whether to store or discharge your electricity.

The Australian Greens are encouraging the take up of battery storage and are calling for the federal government to grow the industry by subsidising households and businesses.

Green’s deputy leader Larissa Waters outlined her commitment to a clean energy future that makes economic sense. The initiative proposes a 50 per cent refundable tax credit for households with a Low Income Storage Grant (LISG) to be administered by the Australian Renewable Energy Agency (ARENA). The party is also advocating installations for businesses to be depreciated over a period of three years as opposed to 15 years in a bid to drive the interest of going off-grid.

“We want to make sure nobody’s priced out of the market, because energy costs are a huge problem for everyone – particularly low income households,” Senator Waters said.

“Of course that costs a little bit for government, but it saves an awful lot in

not needing to then tend to the electricity network which has become really costly in years gone by. What a great way to stimulate the economy in a positive way for the environment, that also then helps those communities with the transition,” she said.

As the global demand for coal drops, many Queenslanders are already losing their jobs in the coal sector.

“Those people need work, and they need a plan for the future, and clean energy production could be happening right across the state and we know it actually employs more people for the product than does mining. What better place than Australia with some of the best sunshine in the world to really capture that and to empower households to do their bit and keep their bills down at the same time.”

Australia’s biggest electricity retailer Origin Energy also says the future of energy lies “beyond” the grid.

An Origin spokesperson says the company aspires to be Australia’s largest renewables

company with its commitments to help combat climate change, including the introduction of batteries.

“We are one of Australia’s largest rooftop solar retailers with 411,000 customers with solar installed and have innovative products and services to encourage more customers to benefit from solar, including Solar as a Service – where solar can be installed at no upfront cost – and the launch of the Tesla Powerwall battery last year.”

“We are committed to growing our interests in renewable energy, with plans to add between 1,000 and 1,500 megawatts of utility scale solar and wind energy to our generation portfolio between now and 2020.”

After years of lacking momentum within the worldwide consensus of embracing a clean energy future, Australia could finally lead the world with this new technology. As the major electricity oligopolies prepare for this renewable revolution, so too should the fossil fuel industries whose groundwork is at stake.

Shani Ishigaki

WARDROBE CRISIS: HOW WE WENT FROM SUNDAY BEST TO FAST FASHION CLARE PRESS Thank you for writing this book Clare Press. The madness of throw-away, fast-fashion gluttony is rapidly destroying the environment, the clothing industry as a whole, artisanship in fashion and appreciation of quality, exploits workers (mostly women) in developing countries, and is causing the air and waterways in China to become toxic. The devastating collapse of the Rana Plaza complex in Bangladesh in 2013 that killed 1,133 garment workers due to the poorly built, poorly maintained factories shone an ugly light on the shocking conditions that garment workers in Third World countries endure in order that we may buy cheap clothes and toss them out after one or two wears.

The US alone produces 11 million tonnes of textile waste per year. Most of this ends up in landfill in the US or is dumped in Third World countries, and can take 200 years to decompose all the while emitting toxic greenhouse gases. Australia is second only to the US in its per capita consumption of clothing, so a book that holds a mirror to our own selfindulgent, self-destructive wastefulness is timely.

Clare Press is fashion editor-at-large for Australian Marie Clare so she holds a bit of clout in the Aussie fashion industry. While Lucy Siegle's book To Die For: Is Fashion Wearing Out the World? and excellent documentary The True Cost brilliantly and horrifically expose the consequences of the rise of clothing hyper-consumerism worldwide in the last two decades, Australians can always retreat into our delusional cocoons thinking we only have a small population so we can't be doing much harm, can we? Yes we can.

Wardrobe Crisis brilliantly dissects every aspect of the fashion industry from the history of Haute Couture in Paris to the environmental and human brutality in modern day supply chains behind fast fashion behemoths such as Zara and H & M. It sounds like a pretty intense read, but thanks to Press' offbeat sense of humour and skillful storytelling, Wardrobe Crisis is a page-turner.

READ THE FULL REVIEW BY PIP ANDREAS FROM THINK LOVE LIVE AT BLANKGC.COM.AU.

GOLD COAST TO GO NATIVE THIS OCTOBER Gold Coast Catchment Association hosts two free community events this month.

The Gold Coast Landcare Forum: Go Native is an opportunity to connect with like-minded people, share ideas and hear from the experts and takes place Saturday 8 October at Robina Community Centre.

Featuring keynote presentations by Professor Tor Hundloe on Gold Coast’s transformation from environmental wilderness to urban ecosystem as well as Professor Catherine Pickering on embracing technology for conservation, the program also includes workshops, panels and displays.

“We recognise the challenge of local environmental issues, especially the impact of weeds, pest animals, litter, urban development and climate change” said Wal Mayr, President Gold Coast Catchment Association.

“As a network organisation for local community groups and individuals who voluntarily restore and protect the local environment, we need to ensure we continually widen our call to action to encourage everyone to go native”.

The following weekend, a green army of tree planters is needed for Gold Coast’s Biggest Tree Planting to help establish 15,000 native trees and shrubs at Country Paradise Parklands in Nerang.

Award winning Landcare group Nerang Riverkeepers has been working hard behind the scenes digging 15,000 holes and nurturing 15,000 plants to ensure only fun is experienced at this year’s event, which takes place Sunday 16 October.

Gold Coast Music Awards 2016 Emerging Artist of the Year Leopold’s Treat will be supporting the event, along with local musicians, Will Miller and The Altais. Environmental workshops and children activities will also add to the free entertainment while people tree plant.

Event organiser, Jesse Kenny, from the Gold Coast Catchment Association, said that this year’s event is important as the event will complete a wetland restoration project.

CLEAN BEACHES EASY AS 1, 2, 3 I will never forget the day I came out of the surf, peeled my wetsuit off and found a dirty cigarette butt stuck to me. I don’t smoke - it had made its way into my wetsuit from the ocean and it seriously, grossed me out. The thought still makes me want to dip myself in sanitiser!

Take 3 For The Sea is a not-for profit organisation that asks you to do exactly that, take three 3 pieces of rubbish off the beach or out of the ocean every time you go. Amanda Marechal, co-founder of Take 3 was kind enough to tell me more about how we can all get involved.

Where did the idea come from?

It basically started with a surf trip in Hawaii. While I was there I was looking for good images of jellyfish, I found one that was great and then realised it was actually a plastic bag.

What does Take 3 look like now?

In 2011 we won a $50,000 Inaugural Taronga Conservation Green Grant that gave us the ability to really kick-start a lot of programs. We have programs for raising awareness in schools, surf clubs and communities too. That is really our focus, the children. These are the people who will be going into business and making the big decisions. If we teach them now they will be making more educated and conscious decisions. We also work with students studying to be teachers at the University of Newcastle.

Take 3 recently worked on Project Green Sea Turtle with 24 primary schools, a leadership program with an Aboriginal perspective.

How big is the marine plastic pollution problem?

Studies show there are 4000 pieces of rubbish per square kilometre of Australian coastline… 8 million tonnes of rubbish going into oceans each year!! The debris causes death by choking, drowning, organ laceration and starvation. In some cases plastic waste is so dense it reduces sun exposure to phytoplankton, lowering their numbers and impacting creatures further up the food chain.

“We have been dreaming up event all year and it’s incredible to think that this year’s event will take the total tree planting quota for this initiative to over 42,000 plants,” he said.

What is the ultimate goal for Take 3?

TO REGISTER FOR THESE EVENTS, GO TO GOLDCOASTCATCHMENTS.ORG.

READ ERIN BOURNE’S FULL INTERVIEW AT BLANKGC.COM.AU.

To be redundant!

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Lifestyle THE TRAVELLING YOGI

W

ho doesn’t love a good holiday? We may want to take a break from a lot of things but what if we want to keep up our yoga practice? It is really helpful to do a bit of yoga while you’re on the road to unwind the kinks in the body from all of that sitting in planes, trains and automobiles.

Having just come back from a trip, I thought I’d give a few insights into how you can practice while on the road.

Let go of how much you think you’re going to do yoga, unless you are going on a yoga retreat. I told myself it would be every day while I was away! After all, I would have all the time in the world right? Wrong. Between late finishes and some early starts there were days when in it really just wasn’t going to happen, and that’s ok.

If you are not confident with teaching yourself, or your memory is not so great, then download a few of your favourite classes. I do mean download too. So many places have really bad internet service, you would never get the class to run smoothly by trying to stream.

Take a mat with you, for a couple of reasons. The chances of finding one on the road, depending on where you are, are slim. Also, if you’re like me, if you take something with you then you will use it just to prove it was worth bringing it!

Scope the room, foyer, gym and grounds of the place you are staying for potential space. I was sharing a room with a non-yogi friend so the room was out of the question to roll out the mat. I used an empty space to the edge of the restaurant in one hotel, a little extra balcony of communal space, the deck of the restaurant and space in the gym during my time away. Get creative with it; sometimes you also score an epic view while you practice too!

Do whatever you feel you need and whatever you have time for as you go. Have a great, bendy holiday.

Erin Bourne

MEET THE MOJOCO: GOLD COAST’S TASTEFUL ADULT SHOP WITH WOMEN FRONT AND CENTRE When you think about adult stores you probably conjure the same images as me. Hidden entrances, garishly-coloured toys and lots of middle-aged and older men lurking in corners. Well Jack and Sally Barnett are here to blow that notion out of the water. OK, maybe blow’s not the best term to use here, but I think you get the idea.

They moved to the Gold Coast three years ago and they’re beautiful people. Beautiful in the contemporary sense of good looks and beautiful to listen to when they talk about sensuality and sex.

At the time of writing, their online sex shop has been operating just three months. Sally says they had an initial flurry, particularly through Facebook connections – one private group in particular called ‘likeminded bitches who drink wine’. But selling sex toys on Facebook is hard - you can’t boost a post related to sex toys.

Sally explains why they’re so much more than a sex shop.

“Basically what we want to do is make it about the females,” Sally said. “If the female feels good then she wants to have sex.”

There’s nothing intense about their products or about the brand itself. It’s all very subtle. Candles, organic lube with sustainable packaging, delicious oils, cleaners for sex toys.

So I have to know about the toys. Tell me about the toys, damnit. Jack and Sally laugh.

“Were not just stocking sex toys. We’re stocking manufactured cotton robes, silks, candles, oils and soaps.

We’re trying to sell an overall picture, give people an education.”

“We like to think that in time it’ll be a great gift for mothers day, anniversaries, Christmas, we might give all our family sex toys for Christmas,” Sally said.

“So whenever we send something off, we feel good about it.”

There are significant hurdles to overcome, of course. Most significantly, Jack says is the cultural taboo.

“We like to start from a place of understanding yourself and your own sexual identity,” Jack said. “A lot of the books [we stock] focus on individuals as well as couples.”

“Even when we send out a big alert within our friendship group – some people are not even sure if they can like it,” he said. “Some people PM me, not sure they can like it because they don’t want their boss to see.”

“One of our earliest blogs was about female anatomy,” Sally added. “So many of my girlfriends said ‘I did not know where that was’, ‘I didn’t know they were the trigger points’,” she said.

He says like most businesses they rely on word of mouth, yet people need to feel comfortable within their social group before they’ll make a recommendation about something like sex toys and lube.

Sally pulls a robe out of a beautifully packaged box. It’s 100% cotton and made in Brisbane. The silk ones are hand-made in Bali. Then she shows me a hand-printed sarong. The products feel amazing against my bare arm. (Although I’m distracted thinking about what else is in the box).

They’ve also been trying to have their products included in the services / products available to guests staying in upmarket hotels. But there’s been some resistance.

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”

“And good,” Sally adds.

“We don’t stock anything that we haven’t tried and think is great,” they tell me.

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BASICALLY WHAT WE WANT TO DO IS MAKE IT ABOUT THE FEMALES

“Well, they have to be rechargeable, 100% water-proof and body-safe,” Jack said.

“We describe it as sexual wellbeing,” she told Blank GC. “There is a link between sexual wellness and overall happiness and well-being.”

Jack and Sally come at Mojoco from a female and couple’s well-being focus.

“

“Weekend Away is one of our pre-selected packs available online,” Jack said. “There’s some great reading, travel candles and oil and a couple’s toy.”

“It’s a bit too confronting for the hotels though,” he said. “Yet they have porn.”

Jack and Sally have also literally put their bodies on the line to put a face to the brand.

“We decided to model ourselves for the website,” Sally said, citing two reasons. Firstly, it was cheaper than paying professional models. Secondly, they felt they had to be willing to own the whole concept, including putting their faces to the brand.

“I’m sure there are people we know who are shocked, judgmental of it all,” she said.

“I felt nervous and sick in the tummy – I’m telling the whole world and here I am in my underwear with my husband. But the response has been really positive.”

Samantha Morris

GET YOUR MOJO ON AT MOJOCO.COM.AU

Lifestyle WHY I DIDN’T QUIT SUGAR: A CALL FOR BALANCE IN A RESTRICTION FILLED SOCIETY

R

ecently, the word sugar has become comparable to a swearword. Give us agave syrup, maple syrup, rice malt syrup, even coconut sugar, but for heaven’s sake, not plain old sugar. Sugar is blamed for all kinds of ill health symptoms from feelings of sluggishness to skin issues to problems with our digestive system. The recent fanaticism surrounding the avoidance of sugar has become normality for many of us, even though being hooked on avoidance of it can almost be compared to an addiction in itself.

Is this the way to go though in order to eat and live healthily and happily?

Sugar, scientifically, refers to any simple carbohydrates; mono- and disaccharides that occur naturally in milk, milk products, fruit, and vegetables. Sugars can also be added to food, most commonly to sweeten the product. Carbohydrates, in general, together with proteins and fats, are the three energy supplying macronutrients our bodies need daily for optimal health. Following digestion and absorption into our bodies, all carbohydrates are converted to glucose, an essential fuel for our muscles. These vital components of the body cannot function without glucose, and although our bodies can make glucose out of protein and fats when in starvation, this doesn’t happen without risks and side effects. Therefore, carbohydrates are our body’s preferred source of glucose.

It is true that if we consume too much sugar in the long term, it’s not great for our health.

It is also true, that if we constantly consume excessive amounts of sugar, especially in the forms of soft drinks, we may end up gaining weight. Similarly, it is also a fact, that if we continuously consume too much sugar on a daily basis, we probably have an unbalanced diet that leaves us feeling unwell with symptoms far from desirable, most likely as a result of being deficient in minerals, vitamins, fibre or other nutrients.

However, the same principle applies if we consume too much of anything.

Indeed, if we eat too much of any kind of carbohydrates, we may not be eating enough of one of the other two energy supplying

macronutrients: fats or proteins. Similarly, if we are having too many fats, or proteins, we may not be getting enough of the other two.

The truth is that we should be consuming only a small amount of added sugars, those that do not occur in our food naturally. But is it worth cutting out all sugars religiously and feeling bad if we do not succeed? If we cut out fruit, which is sweet due to the sugar fructose, we will also be cutting out an enormous amount of wonderful vitamins and minerals, and the marvellous fibre that will help us shield from many chronic diseases such as cancers, diabetes and cardiovascular diseases.

It is recommended by the Australian Dietary Guidelines that we do obtain most of our daily carbohydrates from complex carbohydrates. These are generally whole grain, unprocessed carbohydrate sources.

Evidence shows that there is no difference between a gram of a simple sugar or a complex carbohydrate in terms of their contribution to weight gain or loss. Even the fashionably avoided simple carbohydrate fructose, has been shown to only contribute to weight gain if eaten in excessive quantities. According to science, it has nothing to do with the way it is metabolised in our body, but solely to with do with the fact that if we keep eating it to the extent that our calorie intake is higher than what we burn, we will put on weight, as with any other types of food. More information on studies on this can be found at www.ncbi. nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/23321486.

Fundamentally, our bodies and minds need a balance of nutrients and this means eating a range of all kinds of food. It is not a small amount of sugar that needs removing from our diet but the guilt associated with it. We need to remove restricted diets that demonise specific food groups. It is okay to enjoy the celebratory chocolate cake or an occasional ice cream cone without guilt when you know it’s not a part of your daily diet. Balance is the key, and what we should all be calling and aiming for in a bid to be healthy and well.

Petra Salo

STATION ELEVEN EMILY ST. JOHN MANDEL

With a smorgasbord of survival tales at our fingertips, Station Eleven has already been compared to the likes of The Walking Dead.

But St. John Mandel’s post-post-apocalyptic offering is as familiar as it is enthralling.

Jeevan Chaudhary, a paramedic-in-training, is watching King Lear in the Elgin Theatre when famed actor, Arthur Leander, suffers a heart attack on stage. Jeevan leaps to the boards to perform CPR, and the story breaks into a jog.

But that medical emergency is a speck in what is to come: people are falling ill, and Jeevan receives a tense phone call from best friend and medic, Hua, who foreshadows catastrophe and begs Jeevan to flee town.

The stakes are high, we care about Jeevan, and are riveted.

Then St. John Mandel takes an epic risk and pitches us twenty years into the future, well beyond the fall-out of the pandemic. (Which feels akin to writing: ‘Luke, I am your father.

And one day you’ll kiss your sister—Dude.’)

Not only are we robbed of seeing the sweeping annihilation of civilisation, but we grieve the loss of Jeevan, whom she places on the backburner.

Persistent readers will be rewarded, because St. John Mandel is a boss at stitching characters and clues over space and time. A trained dancer herself, the tale is told from the perspective of five narrators—two of whom are actors—and a wandering band of entertainers known as The Symphony.

Shakespeare, performed in stolen costumes with toothless grins, to wiped-out villages overrun by gangs and sociopathic leaders, adds fun and amplifies the tension.

Station Eleven’s greatest accomplishment, however, is the intimacy with which we are invited to confront loss a generation after loss (you will seize at the memory of electricity and then you will seize at how much you just seized).

A haunting solitude echoes through the narrators, even when they are surrounded by lovers, family, and friends. Station Eleven hits us with a brick of existentialism: we are alone, always. Sometimes that is our weakness. It can also be our strength.

Nae Kurth

HOUSE PLANTS: HOW TO LOOK AFTER YOUR INDOOR PLANTS ISABELLE PALMER There’s nothing like spring to motivate two things. A massive de-clutter and cleaning frenzy and some weird biological urge to grow things. Enter House Plants.

This absolutely stunning book is a gardening guide for the modern (and artistic) gardener.

The 144 page, full-colour book will be as much at home on your coffee table as your garden shed though and the author has included sections on choosing containers, decorative toppings, pruning, terrariums, aquatic plants, bathrooms, succulents, herbs, cutting fresh flowers, bonsai hanging gardens.

Isabelle Palmer has made a name for herself as a balcony gardening expert, but this book shows her flair for indoor gardening and styling as well. Her coverage of unusual planting ideas is on point and quirky. She uses old lightbulbs as planters, grows plants in hanging bottles and has a whole section on growing moss indoors.

House Plants: How to look after your Indoor Plants contains more than 60 innovative and stylish ideas for creating indoor plant displays.

It’s a beautiful book that will appeal to those seeking hands-on advice, but also those simply looking for visual stimulation for their indoor gardening efforts.

It’s available from 1 October 2016 via Hardie Grant Books and retails for $39.95. You can read more about Isabelle and her work at thebalconygardener.com.

Samantha Morris www.blankgc.com.au

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Lifestyle

VEGAN SOUP FOR THE SOUL

N

aomi Boscoe had an idea in the back of her mind for many years. Bothered by seeing Gold Coast locals sleeping rough in the streets, and knowing how much fresh produce is discarded from supermarkets each day, she was keen to do something about it. But it was a magazine article about a 12-year-old girl who set up her own soup kitchen that galvanised Naomi into action: giving rise to Soul Soup, a predominantly vegan soup kitchen in Labrador.

Now in its seventh week, Soul Soup is beginning to gain some traction in the community.

“Each week, as the word spreads, we get a few more guests come down to share a meal, and a few new people just wanting to lend a hand,” Naomi explains.

TOP THREE SECRET BBQ SPOTS ON THE GOLD COAST! each week, he hadn't had a home-cooked meal in years.

We have another gentleman who has been out of work for a couple of years, and through word of mouth and social media, we have a couple of potential employers that may give him a chance.”

At the end of the night, the volunteers pack up any leftovers into takeaway containers and deliver them to the local boarding houses and refuges, or to people sleeping on the streets. The team works full-time as well as running the kitchen, so more volunteers are always welcome.

Natalie O'Driscoll

Now the weather is warming up again it's time to pack up those eskies and head to the beach! The only problem is that everyone else has had the exact same idea! Popular spots for a Saturday afternoon BBQ can get snapped up early in the day, leaving the unorganised or spontaneous amongst us with no where to go!

This summer avoid the crowds at these three well-hidden BBQ spots on the coast!

1. KIRRA LOOKOUT Although it doesn't always get the sun, and you have to trek/ drive up a hill, once you reach the top this spot has amazing panoramic views out over Greenmount beach in the South, and all the way up to Surfers Paradise in the North. Head up there in the next few months and you can watch the whales splash about while you cook up a storm on the barbie!!

“Some are homeless, some facing financial hardship and some are just socially isolated and enjoy the company.”

2. DBAR BEACH

Soul Soup serves hot meals, which are comprised of donated produce from Second Bite, a program that distributes excess stock from supermarkets, which would otherwise go to landfill.

As well as being one of the best surf spots on the coast, DBar has a great BBQ/ pick nick area just to the left of the beach. A much quieter alternative to the ever more popular Rainbow Bay BBQ’s, plus you won’t struggle to find a park! Nestled under the headland, it can be a great place to go if the wind picks up.

In addition there is a table of donations collected from locals where guests can help themselves to clothing, toiletries, packaged foods and personal care items. When available, a hairdresser comes along and offers complimentary haircuts to anyone who would like one, and a local musician sings and plays. Naomi herself is keen to see all guests be as comfortable as possible.

“We know all our guests by name, and sit down and share a meal and a chat with them, and look forward to hearing their stories of what's happened throughout the week,” she says. “[One] of our regulars told me that it's the highlight of his week. He lives alone, and doesn't have any contact with his family, and told us that until he started joining us for dinner 30

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SOUL SOUP IS LOCATION AT THE BACK OF THE LABRADOR COMMUNITY HUB, IN THE BADEN ROBIN AND ARTHUR DOWNES PARK ON THURSDAY EVENINGS FROM 5.00-6.00PM. ALL ARE WELCOME TO POP DOWN, HAVE A MEAL OR DROP OFF DONATIONS. TO KEEP UP TO DATE WITH NEWS OR CONTACT NAOMI, VISIT THE SOUL SOUP FACEBOOK PAGE.

3. MERMAID BEACH SURF CLUB Out side the surf club is a small park with BBQs, a kids playground and volleyball nets. With plenty of parking and access straight onto the deserted stretch of Gold Coast Beach.

This spot is always much quieter than the larger park in its northern neighbor Broadbeach, you are sure to find a nice clean BBQ at Mermaid to realise your culinary genius! Plus if it goes horribly wrong you can always nip in to the surf club for a Parmy instead!

Sarah Loughlin To see more from Sarah visit itsonlyaplanerideaway.com

LOCAL & CO Shop 6, 20 – 22 Tedder Avenue, Main Beach

“The combination of our location, Fernanda and Matt's incredible food, coffee from local provider Social Espresso [Yatala] and our passion for creating a café that stands out from the rest will hopefully help us generate some very satisfied and regular customers,” said Sam.

There was a time in the ‘90s when Tedder Avenue, Main Beach, was the ‘eat street’ of the Gold Coast – the locale with the trendiest bars and the best hatted restaurants.

“Our menu is unique and although we offer a vast menu that covers most dietary requirements, we are more than happy to adapt meals if required,” he says.

But with rent skyrocketing out of control, young restaurateurs took their chances opening elsewhere, minimising their risk by opening casual dining establishments in cheaper rent suburbs. Their strategy of moving closer to diners paid off, with several other suburbs developing new dining hubs. The GFC put the nail in the coffin for Main Beach and closures became more the norm than openings.

There’s an ‘all day’ breakfast featuring organic free-range eggs, fruit, açai bowls and brekkie bruschetta, followed by a lunch menu of salads, burgers, pastas and assorted small plates – plenty for paleo, vegetarian, and gluten and dairy free diners, all at a keen price point.

With the opening of Local & Co this week and a number of new venues to follow, we hope it’s the beginning of a rejuvenation for the strip, bringing it back onto the radar for Gold Coast diners.

Cocktails will please locals, priced to go at $13 - $16. There’s even a hand of friendship extended to diners with BYO wine allowed in the fully licensed venue.

Local & Co Espresso Bar is the latest addition to the stable of Marco De Vincentiis (Co-Owner of Cicchetti Gold Coast, owner of Cicchetti Byron Bay and previously Raw Kitchen & Espresso) and Sam Mustafa (previous partner of MLK Broadbeach).

We dine at lunch, choosing a delicious Beef ragu pasta and Superfood salad strewn with almond flakes and flowers, a bowl of goodness as pretty to the eye as it is to the palate. My freshly squeezed juice, ‘Go Green’ with mint, apple, kale and lime, is absolutely refreshing! Coffee lovers will be pleased with the Social Espresso blend with its edge of darkness on the palate.

“It’s been a while, but I’m very excited to be back in Main Beach," Sam says, all smiles. “This is such a cool street, and I’ve wanted to come back here for a while. It’s awesome!”

For Sam, who ran Blue Grotto for six years in its heyday, it’s a return to his old stomping ground, and already his smile is drawing in Main Beach’s young diners who are revelling in Local’s vibrant fresh food.

With Fernanda Otelinger (previously from MLK) and Matthew Cashmere (previously Head Chef from Raw Kitchen & Espresso, Sanctuary Cove) on board, the menu is a breath of fresh air for those wanting healthy choices. Yes, you’ll find your familiar favourites, but with a modern, fresh twist. Smashed avo comes on a croissant; smoothies and freshly squeezed juices in jam jars, the Vegie burger with a side of chips.

FRANKIE ESPRESSO Inside California Tacos, 1718 Gold Coast Highway, Burleigh Heads

With Nutella waffles on offer for breakfast, raw cakes in the cabinet and wicked ‘explosion’ shakes coming out of the kitchen, ‘cheat day’ is also covered.

We’ll be back for the Grilled prawns with jalapeno mayo and the Turmeric latte – two favourites we spotted on the menu.

The venue has been through a refurb, but most of all it’s fabulous to see an injection of healthy food and positive attitude into Tedder Avenue. As warmer weather approaches, there are plans for the café to open for dinner five nights a week from October onwards.

“It’s all about being here for locals, and about rejuvenating the locale,” Sam says.

We could not agree more!

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

With Spring finally here, it’s time for us all to very begrudgingly get out of our trackies, roll off the couch and go outside again. You will definitely be needing some coffee if that’s going to happen, so let us introduce you to a little hidden gem right smack bang in the middle of the action in Burleigh: Frankie Espresso.

Nestled inside California Tacos on the highway at Burleigh Heads, Frankie Espresso opened 18 months ago and quickly became a coveted local favourite. The first to open at 5.00am, Frankie Espresso is frequented by early risers headed to the beach for a walk or surf. In a great spot for commuters, it’s easy to pull up off the Gold Coast highway and catch a brew on your way to the daily grind.

Owner Mel Henry loves the shared space concept with Frankie Espresso taking over California Tacos from early in the morning until lunch time when the famed tacos start flying out of the kitchen.

Frankie’s house coffee is the Brass blend care of Botero in MacLean, which is lovingly made on a La Marzocco Linea machine and served in earthenware sourced from the local Op Shops. The double espresso I sampled had a wonderful sharpness, with the kind of acidity that makes you smack your lips together. With a flurry of berries and citrus, the espresso has a smooth chocolate finish. Serving the long black in one of the beautiful Op Shop sourced mugs elevates the sweet and juicy flavour of the coffee, with earthy notes that complement the mug that holds it. The warm spices of the Brass blend take hold in the piccolo, which has a delicious sweet condensed milk scent and flavour that is warming with big chocolate notes. A new coffee on the menu and a total indulgence is Frankie’s Nutella mocha and OMG does it have the 'wow' factor! The Nutella coffee combo is a match made in heaven and is a must try for all you Nutellaholics.

For the non-coffee drinkers out there, Frankie’s got you covered with freshly ground decaf, their popular turmeric latte and other healing drinks such as dandelion root.

Open from 5.00am weekdays and 6.30am Saturday, come grab a high table and enjoy your coffee looking overlooking the beach and maybe, if you time your visit just right, you can enjoy a sneaky taco too.

Catherine Coburn www.blankgc.com.au

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Food & Drink

LITTLE BITES

SPARROW EATING HOUSE 2/32 Lavarack Road, Nobby Beach

TASTE OF TWEED SET TO TANTALISE Tweed cafes, restaurants and chefs will come together to showcase their individual style of cuisine heroing fresh local produce when Destination Tweed, in partnership with Tweed Foodie Fest, present Taste the Tweed. This inspiring series of culinary and paddock-to-plate experiences commences on 30 September in Murwillumbah. Taste the Tweed in Murwillumbah will highlight the local food scene, as well as providing an entertainment line up of local and national performers. Visit tweedfoodiefest.com.au.

DELIVEROO LAUNCHES ON THE GOLD COAST Deliveroo, the on-demand food delivery service, has launched on to the Gold Coast. Deliveroo will initially be available in Surfers Paradise and Broadbeach with plans to extend across Gold Coast and surrounding areas. At launch, the company has 40+ restaurant partners on board, including notable restaurants Hatch & Co, Hideaway Kitchen and Bar, Mecca Bah and Boom Boom Burgers.

WHO’S COOKING IN THE KITCHENS? Robina Town Centre announced the first of the 55 new retailers who are set to join the urban marketplace when it opens in late 2016. George Calombaris will be opening his souvlaki bar Jimmy Grants. Byron Bay's Naked Treaties will excite Gold Coast foodies. The Raw Bar will hold its own. Fish Lab by William Wu - a unique seafood experience joins Honey Eater Kitchen, a 120 seat restaurant by Trent Scarr. Elixiba, Lavezzi, Crafted Coffee Co, Eshai Teahouse and Mr Pigs Bakehouse are among the rest. The Kitchens will welcome 55 new fresh food retailers, restaurants, cafes and bars when it opens in late 2016, creating an inspiring new food destination.

SEADUCTION ANNOUNCES NEW EXECUTIVE CHEF Seaduction Restaurant + Bar, located at Peppers Soul Surfers Paradise, has appointed celebrated chef James Fiske, formerly of Michelin starred establishments across the UK and Europe and the Gold Coast's Vanitas at Palazzo Versace, as Executive Chef. James brings more than 20 years of experience to the role, said achieving Executive Chef at the premier, hatted Seaduction Restaurant + Bar is a career highlight and one which has enabled him to create a bespoke menu that celebrates his international culinary practices.

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“Where should we dine on the Gold Coast?”

Restaurant names given in answer to that question often fall into two camps: chefs and restaurateurs (and sometimes the two in combination)!

Young, dynamic and visionary, there’s a clutch of restaurateurs who are defining what could be termed ‘Gold Coast style’: often single-concept eateries, which are ideally suited to the lifestyle preferences of coastal diners.

Andrew Whiting is one of the small, but influential, group of forerunners in eatery culture. Using the core values they’d already established in their previous cafes (Vintage Espresso and Elk), Andrew and his wife Jodie knew they would be concentrating on seasonal fresh local produce and a selective well-chosen list of boutique small producer Australian wines and beers.

But they wanted more. Looking closely at their demographic and prevailing food trends, they decided on one central theme: sharing. Sparrow’s core concept is clearly outlined on the top of the menu: “Our menu has been created so that it may be shared. Enjoy your food journey!”

While we’d found the previous seasonal menus both creative and interesting, the new spring menu from Chef Jeremy McBain has been tweeked to take it up a notch. Drawing from a world palette of colour and flavour, it’s brimming with innovative combinations of on trend ingredients, while maintaining a balance of flavours.

Beautifully plated, each dish is a balance of known ingredients and the surprise of a new combination: the best Tempura zucchini flowers we’ve tasted, stuffed with truffled ricotta and the sweet tang of ginger-spiced honeyed pumpkin; seared Beef tataki served with whipped horseradish and truffle-infused butter, and our dish of the night – the unassuming Sticky ginger quail served with peppered ricotta and the crunch of a broad bean watermelon salad.

While many of the smaller plates are lighter for summer, they are augmented by four larger plates: Lamb rump, Duck breast with grapes and celeriac, Crispy skinned salmon with a sweet fennel and cranberry remoulade, and Slow-cooked pork shoulder topped with its crisp crackling – a delicious hearty meal to share.

“Every plate that comes out represents us,” Andrew tells us.

It’s a menu to savour; clever with unexpected combinations.

In fact, we find it difficult to choose what to miss! Too many taste sensations, each one unique in its own way; the problem can only be solved by successive dining ventures.

Some options are to dine with a group ‘Banquet’ ($39) or the ‘Chef ’s Banquet’ (a selection of the restaurant’s favourite dishes for $55 per head), which you can choose to pair with cocktails and/or wines to match.

A truly affordable option is to dine on Wednesday nights when four dishes can be ordered for $50 per couple. An assortment of dishes can be ordered gluten-free.

It’s well worth leaving room for shared dessert at Sparrow: Cheesecake croquette with the bite of mandarin curd and caramelised white chocolate, or the amazing puff pastry Banoffee jaffle served with salted caramel sauce and cream.

Our favourite is the Misty chocolate terrarium, the dessert that Jarryd Hayne made famous! In a dramatic unveiling, the chocolate cake appears from under a cloche, then Callabaut Belgian chocolate ganache is poured into its flower-ringer centre. Such a showy, decadent treat!

Sipping a glass of Riposte Pinot Noir, we realise that Sparrow’s success does not rest solely on its food or its boutique wine list, though both are absolute standouts.

We look around and take in the little things that count at Sparrow: the warm, genuine greeting as we entered the restaurant, water glasses constantly refilled, fresh orchids on each table, microherbs and edible flowers used in presentation, beautiful plates on luxe copper tabletops in a spotless venue… There’s also dining flexibility, the inclusion of single diners sitting at the bar being entertained by the barman’s repartee, function catering on and off site for weddings and celebrations, even their notorious ‘Wow’ cake, which is an absolute hit.

“It’s the extra 10% that counts: staff training, consistency, product and service, all need to offer more to the customer,” Andrew tells us. “It’s about establishing trust. Then people will come back and bring their friends.”

There’s nothing accidental about the Whitings’ success.

Dining at Sparrow is a celebration of innovative cuisine, well-chosen fine wine, exceptional service and our unique Gold Coast dining culture.

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

UP CUPS COFFEE LOUNGE 1 Yaun Street, Coomera

If you want a sure bet on a place for a coffee and quick bite to eat in Coomera, go to Up Cups. For first time café owners Serena and Tim Polley, who had always wanted to own a café, Up Cups is a dream in the making.

“We lived in Yaun Street, and we drove past every morning, but there was nothing here,” Tim, a bricklayer, tells us. “I’d look at the corner store and think ‘I’d take that shop and turn it into a café!’ So I told the real estate agent to ring me if it ever became available. One day the phone call came. We took the leap of faith and signed up.”

We’ve dropped into Up Cups on the way through, pleasantly surprised to see that the funky little black shop has popped up in an area without readily available food. With lots of young families living in Coomera, a new casual eatery is eagerly received!

The Polleys moved up from Tasmania eight years ago for the opportunities the Gold Coast provides. Serena worked for a café in Brisbane, gaining experience and looking for her own business where lifestyle could fit around young children.

Sigh!

With two kids to juggle (a two year-old and seven year-old) as well as two businesses to run, fitting out and making adjustments to run the café has been a mammoth task for the pair. Tim built the brick servery and funky fitout café, converting the space next door to an office for his bricklaying business so he could play tag team with Serena in the eatery to make things work, all to make her dreams come true.

Independent food reviews of the Gold Coast

“We’re a gourmet café without gourmet prices,” Tim tells us.

Bringing you news and behind the scenes information about Gold Coast restaurants and providores

They’re got Chef Aaron Harper in the kitchen making fresh café style food from great ingredients: crisp, fresh veg, no additives or hormones in the meat, and free range eggs.

There’s ‘food to go’ in a cabinet for those in a rush, including cakes, some baked in house, the rest sourced locally.

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With breakfasts between $8 - $15, prices too are a pleasant change! Brekkie burgers are a steal at $10, even with the love that’s put into them, Eggs bene $13 - $15 depending on your choice, and even the Main Squeeze’s Big brekkie is only $15 (or with added steak and chips it’s $20)! I like the sound of the Portuguese chicken, the Corn Fritters or the Gym junkie – two poached eggs, 200g chicken breast, avo, spinach and garlic mushrooms… You’d need a workout before and after that one! And definitely a milkshake or Segafredo coffee to wash your food down.

“Up Cups? So it’s a toast, I suppose?” I ask Tim. “It’s the name of our family horse which has won four cups in a row in Tassie,” Tim tells us, pointing proudly to the photos on the wall. “It has to be good luck!”

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

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Arts & Culture

RUCKUS AND RABIES: GETTING PERSONAL WITH JOSH DONELLAN Josh Donellan is a writer (under J.M Donellan), musician, slam poet, radio DJ and teacher. He was almost devoured by a tiger in the jungles of Malaysia, nearly died of a lung collapse in the Nepalese Himalayas, fended off a pack of rabid dogs with a guitar in the mountains of India and was sexually harassed by a half-naked man whilst standing next to Oscar Wilde’s grave in Paris. If that wasn’t enough excitement, he also won the inaugural Gold Coast Poetry Slam this year. Our cultural editor, Natalie O'Driscoll, shot him a few get-to-know-you questions in order to satiate our curiosity.

I have to hear more about this wild dog attack! Most importantly, was the guitar hurt?

I was travelling around India with a friend getting into mishaps and misadventures mishap that would form the basis of my first novel, A Beginner’s Guide to Dying in India. We were attempting to leave the Himalayan city of Leh via an epic and somewhat perilous two-day bus trip through the mountains.

We approached the bus stop just before dawn, lugging our backpacks up a steep mountain path. We were nearly there when we turned a corner to find ourselves facing a dozen mangy, red-eyed dogs who were not happy to have been disturbed. The closest one to us barked and woke up all the others and we did this awkward backwards run, trying not to trip down the mountain as I unslung my skinny little travel guitar and screamed at the dogs to get back. Luckily we made it to the bus and they left us alone. It’s not a good idea to get rabies when you’re days away from the nearest hospital. Probably not a good idea to get rabies at all, come to think of it.

Why poetry? How did you get on the path, what about it speaks to you so deeply, and who were your mentors along the way?

I was playing in various bands that kept breaking up because someone would move overseas or get a serious job at the local potato factory or study applied business necromancy or whatever. For a while I focused on writing novels and that was great, but I missed the rush of performance. Poetry for me is the perfect blend of wordcraft and stagecraft. I love seeing the audience smile or nod or cry or boo. I once had some drunk guy get on stage and snatch the mic from my hand and then mumble incoherently until I grabbed it back and politely pushed him off the stage. You’re just not going to get those kinds of shenanigans when you’re quietly writing a novel in the local coffee shop. In terms of mentors, in Brisbane the Ruckus Crew have done heaps to foster new voices, I owe them a lot.

David Stavanger and Annie Te Whi are also doing huge things with the Queensland Poetry Festival. It’s an exciting time to be a person who yells things into microphones.

Many people take spiritual pathways that draw them through India. Why do you think that is?

I think it’s a range of things, for me personally it was the natural landscapes. When you’re standing a few thousand metres above sea level, there’s no sign of human life in any direction and some of the mountains are purple and green from the mineral deposits you get this incomparable feeling of awe and gratitude. A lot of people are drawn to the ashrams and such. That’s fine if it’s what you’re into, but I like sleeping in and swapping stories – preferably with beer.

Early mornings and silent meditation isn’t my scene.

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“

WE’RE ALL A LITTLE BIT DELUDED, BUT ONLY A FEW OF US HAVE THE RESOURCES TO SURROUND OURSELVES WITH EMPIRES OF YES-MEN AND SYCOPHANTS.

”

Tell us little bit more about your latest novel Killing Adonis, because the blurb sounds fascinating. Are there themes throughout, a message, inspirations, or is it a purely fictional romp?

It’s supposed to be entertaining first and foremost, but it’s also a satirical critique of the way some of the ultra-rich insulate themselves from the realities of the world. I describe it as a journey into kingdoms of delusion. We’re all a little bit deluded, but only a few of us have the resources to surround ourselves with empires of yes-men and sycophants.

The main character (an outsider to that world) is an amalgamation of a few of my close friends, people who are brilliant, funny and confident and yet continually make terrible life choices. It’s coming out in the US in a few months. It’ll be interesting to see what they make of it over there, Trump is exactly the kind of person I satirise in Killing Adonis.

Can you tell me who some of your favourite authors are and what you love about them so much?

My favourite authors switch between forms and formats and have a sense of humour as well as something significant to say, people like Margaret Atwood, Tom Robbins, Salman Rushdie, Jennifer Egan etc. A Little Life is definitely the best novel released in the last couple of years. I also adore The Great Indian Novel

by Shashi Tharoor. He somehow managed to write it whilst working as a senior member of the UN. I don’t understand how it’s even possible to be that productive. I am literally writing this right now in my underwear with an empty packet of biscotti next to me.

If you could only either speak, or write, for the rest of your life, which would you choose?

That is a fantastic and terrifying question! Probably write, provided I could use a Stephen Hawking style speech to text tool. Perhaps I could give my voice some serious gravitas, like Morgan Freeman or David Attenborough. Or maybe I could get myself a handsome proxy a la Cyrano de Begerac…

VISIT JMDONELLAN.COM FOR MORE.

Image: Brenton De Rooy

BONJOUR!

T

his November sees the third Sunshine Renault Bonjour French Festival, which brings the best of France and French Culture to the Gold Coast. Celebrated over two days and two nights in Broadbeach, the program includes music, French markets, live entertainment, history and a French Film night.

Festival organiser Audrey Mates-Bills remembers how it all started.

“The festival was created by Julia Baber and myself over a meeting in Broadbeach. I wanted to organise a French market with entertainment in Emerald Lakes and she had this idea of a festival in July. After a few conversations we decided that a festival will be great, but in November. For the first edition it took us 18 months to put it together. A festival is a big machine she takes a while before she can move forward!”

BLANK & BLUE

C

ulture. As a young country, we’re pretty new to it.

Australia hasn’t undergone any significant eras, no Renaissance or Revolution. No Great Pyramid, Sistine Chapel or leaning towers line the Gold Coast Highway. But to tourists from other cultures, the Gold Coast is far more appealing than their Madison and Lombard Avenues. When was the last time we had our portraits taken beneath the golden arch of Surfers Paradise? When was the last time we gazed over our city from the Observation Deck of Q1? It’s the joy of being a tourist, of experiencing something new.

We must be desensitised to the beauty of our own town.

Perhaps locale and architecture, the backdrop to our lives and artistic practices, play as important a role in culture as the artists do. The Gold Coast art scene is burgeoning and Veople’s Jay Jermyn and I wanted to contribute with a locally based project. We chose Southport as our subject, the Gold Coast CBD. We walked the streets looking for that one building that represented Southport through traditional architectural design. A building or space that people could recognise. What we found in Southport was a blank canvas.

White walls around every corner. A narrative down every alley. This project, Blank and Blue, is about finding new ways to look at our city. To photograph in a minimalistic style, sites that bear the potential markings of future street art. To find the otherwise mundane, to relocate and recapture it in a different light.

Not Tonight, a bar on Southport-Nerang Rd has a large and colourful Shida piece plastered across it. In the next alley, a Banksy style stencil on a white wall that’s been painted over in grey. It’s a rarely frequented alley and the only art it had has been covered, and in doing so has made the wall look more decrepit. Jay and I aren’t condoning graffiti or vandalism. We’re condoning looking at these blank spaces with fresh perspectives. And with our photography and Jay’s overlay of abstract art and graphics, the Blank and Blue project presents a society where the integration of art and business is possible. The Southport CBD, a place where art could be woven into its narrative. You may recognise these walls. They may not be iconic, but they could be. They’re white and lost against the blue. They belong to the Coast.

They’re ours. They’re blank. And it’s time to look at them like tourists do.

The event has become one of the major events of the Gold Coast and prides itself to bring more diversity every year.

Thanks to the Academy of Design, the event will allow attendees to discover the variety of French-speaking countries around the world through a Body Art Parade, which will kick off the Veolia Rouge Night on Saturday night. It will be followed

by French Can-Can dancers and a 17-piece international Big Band from New Caledonia, Blue Blanc Blues.

In addition the event hosts a range of family friendly activities, with a special Bonjour Kids Corner, arts and crafts and educational activities for the littlies.

13 November 2016 will mark the first anniversary of the Paris attacks and the organisers have decided to hold an official memorial ceremony so together we can all stand for freedom and show the love that we have for one another.

Also following the most recent tragedy in Nice, the festival will have a condolences book at the information tent to pay tribute to the victims and their families.

From the first year doubling its expected attendee rate, the festival has grown into the biggest French celebration of the Gold Coast, attracting big names such as Sunshine Renault, Air Calin and Gold Coast City Council.

Audrey recalls the difference the event has made within the Gold Coast’s French community.

“Since at that time there wasn't much for the French community the festival became the French hub, the missing link to them. Once a year all the expats or long term residents / citizens born in France knew their culture would be celebrated and we think that is important. It brings them a sense of value and worth within their community.”

“We are now more than 5000 French living on the GC and it keeps growing.”

THE BONJOUR FRENCH FESTIVAL RUNS FROM 11 – 13 NOVEMBER 2016 IN KURRAWA PARK, BROADBEACH.

SEARCHING FOR THE BIG BLUE Global changemakers, provocative speakers and a focus on big blue visions is the order of the day when Big Blue Sky takes place for the second year in a row.

Running 7 – 8 October, the event sees community leaders and inspirational visitors co-create future ideas that matter to all of us. – like both financial and social innovation and the future of education.

Speakers include futurists, entrepreneurs and social change agents like Kaylene Langford, Director Start Up Creative, Nic and Luke who run Orange Sky Laundry – 2016 Young Australians of the Year and Dr Catherine Ball, an environmental scientist known as the Drone Queen. Representatives from GOLDOC, City of Gold Coast and Griffith University will also be in attendance alongside local artists Josh Holms, Ella Fence, Aluna Dreaming and Leeton Lee. Tickets cost around $330 and include attendance at both days with speakers, panels and workshops as well as catering.

The event takes place at Sofitel, Broadbeach.

MORE AT BIGBLUESKYEVENT.COM.

Aaron Chapman www.blankgc.com.au

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Arts & Culture

ODE TO COUNTRY AND CAVE Grafton McDonalds. You know – two-stories, looks like it’s on stilts. The love child of a futuristic flag-ship store and a dilapidated Queenslander. Stopping in to pollute my body on the way to Sydney. Eating a cheeseburger minus the meat-patty, like the shitty vegetarian I am. Staring out at the sunset, pink, orange, beautiful. The whole town surreal with the bloom of jacarandas. I think about Nick Cave.

Not too far from here, years ago, I got into his music. A camping trip with my dad and his two friends. The greatest hits of The Bad Seeds on my iPod. All-day beer drinking, trekking, swimming in the billabong, laying in the swag by the campfire listening. Nick, born and raised in Wangaratta, rural Victoria.

Surely not too different from where we camped.

Once Deanna got her twisted hooks in me there was no turning back. A light switched on. I knew I’d found one of the best things Australia had to offer. More abrasive than AC/ DC, darker than INXS, infinitely denser and more interesting than your later Silverchair or Powderfinger, and in some strange, subversive way undeniably more Aussie than Paul Kelly or Slim Dusty. Nick’s catalogue stands the test of time. Thick-skinned, hard-working and sarcastically self-destructive like much of our working class. Quick-witted and charminglycoarse like many of our great thinkers and artists. Nick Cave, the great intersection.

Australia’s emaciated national treasure and drugged-addicted prodigal son. Black hair-dye, warts and all. I remember sitting at the foot of some great tree, shedding its bark, roots bound to the ground like creeping IV coils. Younger, slimmer and handsomer then, I thought about my girlfriend. The prettiest one I’ve ever had.

Inspired by Nick’s great love songs I’d begun to mythologise her. Looking forward to returning to her, like Odysseus to Penelope, kissing her, running my hands through her hair – colour of the wine-dark sea sailors call home. I finish my meal and return to the car. Heading south on the motorway running like a vein between the ocean and trees.

Pictured: Author Hudson Tesoriero 36

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Bulahdelah National Park. Camping illegally in a borrowed tent. No mattress, just-laid tarp and a sleeping-bag. The grounds scattered with retired RV’s, bulky shadows in the dark. I drink a lukewarm can of VB and listen to the feed-back choir of crickets – nature’s whitenoise. More news from nowhere. Dig, Lazarus, Dig. She used to play it for me before I’d rise in the morning. Distant voices of family, a cat meowing somewhere, a cold breeze coming in through the sliding-door. Blanket pulled up to my chin, a woollen womb. I’ve always thought that was the best state to absorb music – halfasleep, half-numb, submissive. I won a vintage XL Bad Seeds shirt on eBay and had it re-sized to fit by a cheap seamstress in Ho Chi Minh City. Cars groaning past coughing blacksmoke. Side-stepping mopeds in a pair of tight

black jeans. In and out of stalls and markets looking for presents for her and wearing him.

Deaf to the street. Somnolent. Nick in my ear.

Disregarding leathery faces and hands caked with blood and dirt. Personality changing.

Nick – a vehicle to reimagine myself. A dark and romantic lens to see the world. To see her. I drink another beer and fall asleep as a southerly wind disrupts the midnight calm.

Morning. Time to pack up and drive.

Breakfast and coffee in Newcastle, the town atop of cliffs. The first time I visited was on tour with my band. A crude and primitive incarnation. Stopping in, like now, before Sydney. I thought Newcastle was amazing, the hills overlooking a sparkling blue expanse.

I pictured troped scenes – forlorn widows facing the ocean, waiting for husbands never returning. Skateboarding down empty avenues with a gang in uniform. Black jeans, black shirts, black shoes. Passing abandoned factories, the stubborn old and disenchanted young. A forgotten hot-spot, charming in its own way. I thought of another girl then too. She grew up here. I tried to imagine her younger – all fair-haired, cheeky and energetic. I eat my breakfast on the docks.

Smashed avocado on rye-bread and a longblack. The Good Son in my headphones. Nick’s twin son, Arthur, died in 2015. Fell off a cliff in Brighton. It’s hard to imagine the guilt attached. Nick was probably away a lot. I’m sure his son idolised him, the once maniacal scarecrow of Berlin. The whirling-dervish fuelled by speedballs and cutty-sark, spitting brutal biblical rhetoric and malevolent fantasy.

Arthur with a head full of acid. I wonder if he was trying to be like his father – perishing in his shadow. Nick, Australian diaspora, but inevitable Melbourne icon. Photographs of him in every second café and trendy hole-inthe-wall store. Nick’s town. The first time I visited was with her. Walking down freezing Brunswick and Chapel Street humming along to his songs and wearing his face on our shirts.

Fucking passionately. Perversions and appetite encouraged by Nick. Many of my friend’s mothers slept with him in the 80’s. A couple of bastard sons had in the process. A vampiric Genghis Khan. A pretty girl once told me that when her mother was young, she lived with a friend in Saint Kilda. Both were fans of The Birthday Party – Nick’s early music-venture / frenzied destruction-unit. One night the mum woke up in the early hours to use the toilet. Walking past the kitchen, she saw a spiky, unfamiliar silhouette. Frightened, she quickly flicked the light-switch to reveal Nick, sitting at the table eating a bowl of coco-pops.

Dressed in his signature skin-tight suit, he politely introduced himself before continuing to eat. Her roommate had brought him home, contracting herpes in the process. A bitter

reminder of the conquest. I laugh and finish my breakfast. Sydney awaits.

The rough-road in. The main-line parting old earth and rock – like some clandestine passage into another realm. I imagine the red-sea divided for Moses and the Israelites by an interventionist god. I keep driving, keep pushing, pushing the sky away. I saw Nick for the first time in Sydney, with her. There’s been multiple times since, but it all started there. Impatient. Waiting all day in the same crowd at Homebake Festival. Edging closer to the centre, to the front, to the barrier. Thin bodies against cold steel. Eventually Nick emerged from some dark backstage corridor with Grinderman in tow. Black hair-plugs glistening under stage lights. Writhing and undulating like a perverse kabuki-dancer. The band, a heaving storm of bludgeoning rhythm and whacked out guitars. Nick crooning, wailing and hissing over the music. Pointing damning fingers at the audience. Staring individuals down. Her and I included. The audience shaking and bouncing, a sweat-pit of adoration. Warren Ellis, Nick’s right hand man and sonic-alchemist, stomping on this, riffing on that, summoning and manipulating all manners of sound, incendiary and atmospheric. A balding, bearded, conduit of noise. Eyes glued to my skeletal deity.

He steps over the barrier in his marbled reptilian loafers and embraces us. Nick on my shoulders, grabbing at the longing outstretched hands of the audience. He sings about her. His her. Mine looking at him with an awe reserved for God. I’ve arrived. A bare room overlooking Pitt Street. I read Nick’s first book. Southern-gothic scenes, an ignorant and egregious humanity.

Kicking against the pricks. It’s always been his words, his story-telling that’s kept me. I told him this when author, MJ Hyland, got me in contact proxy of their friendship. His reply was polite and succinct without really answering any of the questions I’d asked. But to even get the reply was, in the words of Eddie Cochran, something else. To break down the wall. I stare out the window now, watching all the people following their mouse-trails. How many individuals have the courage to risk it all? To love. To let love in. Congested traffic honking and wheezing. The city hued grey and green and the water’s edge never too far away. I think about her. From her to eternity.

Hudson Tesoriero

WHEN NOT WRITING, HUDSON PERFORMS WITH HIS GOLD COAST BAND, WHITE LODGE, WHO WE DIG, LAZARARUS, DIG.

THE SWEET EDIT SUITE

Josh and Kara Hamilton launched Gold Coast photography, film and video production company The Edit Suite just last year and have already built quite a name for themselves creating everything from high-end TV commercials to lower-budget brand and promotional videos. They chatted to Samantha Morris about some of the weirder projects they’ve worked on as well as what makes a good music video.

Tell me about some of the stranger jobs you’ve worked on?

We recently finished some web videos for Virgin Mobile that were definitely random. One of the videos included a guy trying to do a testimonial on a rollercoaster at full speed while surrounded by seven drag queens... another included a 4x4m wide coloured ball pit of full with puppies and another guy trying to do a testimonial. Weird.

You don’t just work on the Gold Coast - tell me about some of the other places you’ve been?

We fly nationally all of the time. A few months back we headed to Perth for an Uber shoot then the next week we flew to Victoria for the Deakin Uni Student Association to create a video campaign petitioning to save Deakin University’s regional tertiary campus in Warrnambool. We love helping people share their stories in the most engaging way possible and being able to travel to all sorts of different places to do this really excites us. Of course our favorite place is the Goldy though!!

fans will see that and may judge them on that. Most people these days realise that a professional video is hard to create without preparation and experience so our industry is thriving more than ever.

THE EDIT SUITE IS BASED IN MIAMI. MORE AT THEEDITSUITE. COM.AU

What’s your advice to someone seeking professional video or photography services?

Get in touch with a company or person who's work you really love and that would suit your style or brand. Let that company know what sort of budget you have to work with and see what is realistic. Who knows, your idea might actually be quite straight forward and may not cost too much. It's the same with any profession when it comes to working for free though, everyone has bills to pay!

What makes for good video when it comes to music?

Most bands consist of at least a couple of crew that are creative in thinking up ideas. Anything goes when it comes to music videos. I still prefer music videos that in some way relate to the lyrics in a slightly obvious way but are still random enough to keep people guessing and wanting to watch it again to see if they pick anything else up. Some videos are even based around one line of a song which is cool.

You’re pretty passionate about supporting the local cultural scene and volunteered your time this year to film the Gold Coast Music Awards. What makes the cultural scene here so unique?

I think the Gold Coast has the best culture in Australia as well as some of the most talented musicians, sportspeople, creatives and more. It's amazing the talent that is bred here and it always blows me away. I think it's because we have such an amazing climate. The weather is so good all the time, so much that is keeps ya spirits up. The people that live here long-term are generally so chilled and always just want to be having a good time surfing, skating, playing music and hanging out. It's a pretty epic place to live really.

Who are some of your favourite GC bands?

I love listening to all types of music from punk, metal, rap to blues, folk or funk. I'm a drummer myself so have a big appreciation for everything.

When I saw Hanlon Brothers do their thing at the music awards that was pretty cool. The guys in the Lamplights are all amazing. Tokyo Beef! Descent are badass. There's so many good bands here though.

How do you balance wanting to support grassroots creative projects, but also the reality of a lot of those projects having zero budget for things like video?

We love to try and help people out wherever we can to reduce costs, but when it comes to budgets for video production or photography people just need to look at what they want to get out of their production. Video is so important for brands, companies and bands now more than ever and it always comes back to the saying that you have to spend money to make it. If people are not prepared to invest money in professional videographers or photographers then their clients or

b ank Gold Coast

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37 12/09/2016 4:10 PM

Arts & Culture Image: Lamp Photography

RUBBERLEGS BY THE CREEK BUSKERS’ PIPEDREAM Rani Huszar has captivated audiences for the last 13 years in over 20 countries with her unique and quirky physical theatre productions, performing most often as the aptly named contortionist Ruby Rubberlegs. This year she brings her very particular brand of astonishing physical comedy to our very own Buskers by the Creek. We shot her a few quick questions in the lead up.

You've been called the "Queen of Quirk". Do you think you are quirky in real life or do you save it all up for the stage?

Most of my friends describe me as pretty quirky, I guess if I think about it, I'd have to agree, I've lived a pretty strange and enjoyable life so far.

As many of us begin to be let down by our bodies as we get older, I can't help but wonder: does contorting become more difficult the more you do it, or easier as your body becomes more and more accustomed?

Some contortionists are born with elastic limbs and stretchy joints, and there are some people who train really hard to achieve it. I think If you are born flexible, the chances are it doesn't change too much as you get older.

What do you think you would be if you were not a contortionist / physical comedian?

I'd be a rapper, or a writer.

You've captivated audiences around the world for years. Are there any particular places / people or memories that stand out in your mind?

I love watching people, I find them really amusing. I love cultural differences and other cultures in general, I enjoy their quirks. I feel so lucky to have spent my life entertaining people when they are celebrating so I get to see how they like to enjoy themselves mostly, and that's entertaining.

Do you have any heroes?

I always think contortionists must be in pain - it makes me squirm. Are you, at all?

One of my heros is Leo Bassy - a political Italian clown.

I think you'd have to be crazy to do anything that hurts, but I do like to see people squirm, they hurt more than me.

Always, I still do!

Did you always love performing and making people laugh as a kid?

GOES EXTREME

A

floating half-pipe in Currumbin Creek?

Only Buskers By The Creek would dream of pulling this up. And it’s not in the name of performance art (a la Bleach*). This is a half-pipe, floating in the creek simply for BMX champion Chris James and fellow SPENT riders to show us their stuff When 20,000 people descend on the creek for one of Australia’s biggest busking festivals, riders will tear up the floating halfpipe with tricks and flips galore.

“A floating half pipe is something you daydream about rather than a reality,” 26-year-old BMX rider Chris James said, “There has only been a few times this has ever been pulled off, and it is always with huge companies and the best athletes in the world.”

“So to get the opportunity to do it is amazing.”

Chris has been riding since he was just eight and was snapped up by Spent Clothing in 2012.

His career has since accelerated at lightning speed. He’s ridden with some of the biggest names in the sport, double flipping a 30 ft jump and being nominated for the Dane Searle’s Biggest Effort Award.

2016 is Buskers by the Creek’s year of the Pipe Dream. Cindy Jensen said her vision for a floating half pipe led to people tell her she was dreaming.

“I am so excited to announce that we’re doing it,” she said.

Currumbin Creek provides the idyllic conditions to make this pipe dream a reality for Australian BMX and skateboard riders.

Paul Byrnes, Spent Clothing founder said, “It comes down to the weight distribution and stillness of the water. Along with access to the right ramp.”

The half-pipe alone weighs a hefty 2.5 tonnes.

“Making sure the ramp doesn’t have too much mobility will be critical for the riders, keeping in mind they will be 4 metres in the air when riding,” Paul said.

Fast becoming one of the world’s largest busking festivals, 2016 is set to be bigger and better than ever with more than 250 performers taking to the picturesque creekside location, including award-winning musicians, world-renowned contortionists and yet-to-be-discovered talents.

YOU CAN CATCH RUBY RUBBERLEGS & THE HALF-PIPE ACTION AT BUSKERS BY THE CREEK, WINDERS PARK CURRUMBIN ON SATURDAY 15 AND SUNDAY 16 OCTOBER 2016. MORE AT BUSKERSBYTHECREEK.COM.AU. 38

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Arts & Culture

24 WAYS TO SAY I’M GAY MAKES QUEENSLAND DEBUT AT GLITTER

JEWEL OF THE COAST

Jewellery, leather work, mixed media artwork, music. Paul McCormack has his hand in more than a couple of creative pies. In October he is putting together Metamorphosis, a celebration of a variety of his pieces created under the brand PJM Artisan. Blank's cultural editor Natalie O'Driscoll sent him a few questions before the exhibition.

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I WAS ALWAYS HAMMERING IN NAILS AND INTERESTED IN TOOLS OF ANY KIND AND HANGING OUT IN MY GRANDFATHER’S SHED MAKING THINGS.

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You're a real Renaissance man! Can you give us a little insight into your artistic journey?

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mong the many stunning performances heading to this year’s Glitter Festival is 24 Ways to Say I’m Gay; an honest, stimulating, occasionally funny and perceptive look at what it means to be gay. Adapted into an hourlong performance from the very successful 37 Ways to Say I’m Gay by award winning Sydney dramatist Wayne Tunks, 55 characters will provide an honest, stimulating and perceptive look at what it means to be gay.

The cast of 8 performers includes Mark Stanley, who, with over 20 years’ experience within the entertainment industry, will take on the role of Producer, Director, and Actor in the show. He was inspired to look at the project by his own father’s struggle with coming out.

“Having seen my Dad hide his own sexuality for over 40 years before finally having the strength to tell the world, I am looking forward to presenting this collection of stories to the Glitter Festival audiences,” says Mark.

“Although the play does not deal directly with my personal story of my father coming out when I was in my early 20's, it was a strong factor in the reason why I fell in love with the work and wanted to see it performed on the Gold Coast.”

The play joins 24 different Aussies as they come out to the world. A young gay man's suicide is covered up, an 'are they or aren't they' boy band, an AIDS patient clinging to life and a boy ready to confess his sexuality to the whole school. These are just a few of the stories in this heart-warming collection.

Mark was surprised at how relevant the content still is.

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“When I first looked at performing the work over two years ago I thought by the time it hits the stage most of its messages would no longer be relevant - I was so wrong. It appears that the current world climate, events, and closer to home, the Australian plebiscite into marriage equality gives the piece even more relevance now. It is an honest look at the highs and lows of being a part of the gay community throughout history.”

This work will be making its Queensland debut during Glitter Festival.

“I think our state has been missing out,” says Mark.

“The words on the page needed to be shared and brought to life. I am so proud and happy to have been able to achieve this.”

Natalie O'Driscoll

24 WAYS TO SAY I’M GAY PERFORMS AS PART OF THE GLITTER FESTIVAL 2016 IN THE SPACE AT THE ARTS CENTRE GOLD COAST ON 7 AND 8 OCTOBER. THE MATINEE PERFORMANCE ON SATURDAY 8 OCTOBER INCLUDES A Q+A SESSION ON THE PLAY WITH PLAYWRIGHT WAYNE TUNKS. FOR TICKETS VISIT THEARTSCENTREGC.COM.AU

Thank you. I've never been called a Renaissance man before. I remember I was 3 years old and I used to carry around an old hardcover exercise book that I used to draw cars and trucks in. So I guess this was the beginning of my creative journey.

Which medium was your first love, who were your mentors and how did the PJM Artisan brand come about?

I was always hammering in nails and interested in tools of any kind and hanging out in my Grandfather’s shed making things.

My Grandfather was a handyman who could make just about anything and I spent a lot of time under his guidance as a youngster. You could say my Grandfather was my mentor.

In high school at 13 years of age I did an art metal course in which we made artistic jewellery using brass, copper, nickel silver and resins. I continued this through out high school, along with a woodwork course.

Working with my hands and being creative was what it was all about. I always thought I would end up being a builder, however during school I did work experience with a jewellery company and eventually secured an apprenticeship with the same company.

The PJM Artisan brand was born to be a collective where all of my creativity; jewellery, leather cuffs, mixed-media art work, book releases and band, The Sonic Circle, could all be housed under one banner.

I had a boutique jewellery store in Burleigh Heads, Mycenae Jewellery Creations. Most people knew me as a jeweller only, after finalising the store over 4 years ago, I was burnt out with chronic fatigue and turned to some of my other creative avenues to help

me through the next couple of years to heal myself from the fatigue. The brand has just grown from there.

Is there much call for bespoke and handcrafted works these days?

I find there is a big call for bespoke craftsmanship, as these days everything is so overly manufactured and mass produced, which tends to be quite soulless. The people that seek me out are looking for something individual that is theirs alone. This is what I specialise in, creating one-off pieces.

If I were to ask about the one piece you've ever created that has the strongest feeling behind it, which one would that be and why?

I crafted a diamond, ruby and blue zircon pendant for a client around 5-6 years ago, she bought in a series of family heirlooms that had been handed down to her. Some of these pieces were very old and it mostly looked like rubbish. I set about unsetting all the stones and having them re-cut or re-polished as some looked like pebbles from the garden.

Once I had the stones I then designed and crafted the piece, it was quite a time consuming project. Once it was completed I was actually quite surprised myself as I had no idea it would be such a magnificent piece. Sometimes the creative process just takes on it's own life and this was one of those occasions. When the client received the piece she gave me a hug, she was also quite emotional. This sort of experience is highly rewarding and one of the reasons I love being creative.

PJM ARTISAN PRESENTS METAMORPHOSIS AT CROWN STUDIOS IN BURLEIGH ON 22 OCTOBER. FOR DETAILS VSIT PJMARTISAN.COM

SWELL’S A WINNER FOR RAINFOREST REMNANTS

ueensland College of Art postgraduate Q student Alicia Lane has scooped the $15,000 top prize at SWELL Sculpture Festival.

Alicia, 43, took out the SWELL Sculpture Award sponsored by City of Gold Coast and judged by Tracy Cooper-Lavery, the Director of Gold Coast City Art Gallery with her work titled Rainforest Remnants, which was acquired by a private collector.

Taking out the festival’s major prize was no easy feat, with 55 entries in this year’s competition by Australian and international artists.

“It was completely unexpected - my head is still spinning,” Alicia said.

It has been a long, hard road for the artist, who didn’t finish high school and embarked on her studies as a mature age student while juggling two young children and part-time work.

SWELL Festival curator Natasha Edwards said the exhibition provided invaluable exposure for emerging artists.

“We are really launching sculptors and giving them a platform,” she said. “It’s important that they have a showcase for their work.”

Alicia’s installation wasn’t the only one to gain praise. Selected by Fran Cummings, an art consultant, Clayton Thompson’s Project Bread took out the Neumann Family Award worth $5000, the Artist Peer Award valued at $1000 as well as the Kids’ Choice Award, sponsored

by Currumbin RSL and valued at $3000.

2016 SWELL AWARD WINNERS Winner, $3000 ENVIRONMENTAL AWARENESS AWARD sponsored by Max Fabre Foundation and selected by Leanne

Sanderson & Katrina Brown, Greg Windsor for Lighfboat

Winner $3000 PEOPLE’S CHOICE AWARD sponsored by Currumbin Beach Vikings SLSC and chosen by popular vote, was ANTi-DOTE by Andrew Cullen and Kara Vaughan with Helensvale State High School students.

Winner, $1500 EMERGING ARTIST AWARD sponsored by Jennie Neumann OAM and selected by Jennie Neumann’s Family, Katie + Derek Hooper for their giant deck-chairs titled With You Winner, $500 SMALLS GALLERY AWARD sponsored by The Way of Design and voted by exhibition visitors, Nick Warfield for Warrior Woman Natalie O'Driscoll

Pictured: Alicia Lane's Rainforest Remnants Photo by Rowly Emmett, 2016

THE ARTS CENTRE GOLD COAST PRESENTS

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Fri 28 Oct BEN LOMAS

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point

blank Sing along to hits of the 80s Those crazy Helensvalians are at it again. This time singing along to 80s classics. It’s the ultimate singalong party – a chance to sing and dance to your favourite hits (or your least favourite) from one of the most memorable decades for Gen Xers everywhere. Classic hits by Madonna, Michael Jackson, Wham!, The B52s, New Order, INXS, Kylie and more will be belted out (and possibly butchered) all in the name of fun and fundraising. 100% of profits goes to Helensvale Joey Scouts, Rosies and Mahboba’s Promise.

Tickets for over 13s are $17.50 and available at stickytickets.com.au/34653.

with waiting lists of audience who still couldn’t get a seat. So the middle aged mamas of mirth are returning to Currumbin RSL on Friday 7 October. Tix are $30 online at currumbinrsl. com.au. Show is 18+.

Will Smith. The 19-year-old, who graduated from Bond University in 2015 after becoming the youngest student to be accepted into the Film & TV program, developed a concept for a new VR camera that could be worn around an actor's head, providing the world's first, true live-action, first-person experience.

Calling all aspiring young filmmakers Aspiring high school filmmakers from around Australia are encouraged to chase their dream of seeing their name up in lights by entering the Bond University Film and Television Awards (BUFTA). This short-film competition, aimed at providing a platform for young talent to showcase their work, is the only one of its kind in the country for Year 11 and 12 students. The winners will be announced at a Gala Award Ceremony at Bond University on November 26, hosted by James Mathison. Entries for the 2016 BUFTA competition close on 7 October. For further information on BUFTA, visit bufta.com.au and like BUFTA on Facebook.

Glitter Festival 2016 is here!

From Thursday 6 October through until Sunday 9 October, the 2016 Glitter Festival offers an incredible program comprising of events, music, theatre, film and visual arts. Glitter contains an equal mix of earthy, raw and thought provoking content, juxtaposed by performances and events of total fabulousness! There truly is something for everyone in 2016. Anthony Callea, Glitter Race Day, The Saturday Social and The Glitter Gallery and more will delight the sense. For full details and tickets visit theartscentregc.com.au/glitter.

Urban Oasis: G:link wrap commission Are you an artist that is passionate about transforming our public spaces? You can cover seven carriages on the Gold Coast’s light rail with your art. This is an opportunity to extend your practice as a Gold Coast based artist to a transport canvas. Expose your work to more than 21,000 commuters daily, and the general public, along the light rail corridor from South Broadbeach to Griffith University Hospital. Visit goldcoast. qld.gov.au for more information.

Othello tour stops in Gold Coast ENERGIES provides platform for student expression Body image, sexism, spirituality and depression are just some of the topics explored in the ENERGIES 2016 exhibition at Gold Coast City Gallery. More than 80 talented Gold Coast senior secondary school students will share their thoughts through art at this annual exhibition. For more than 20 years, ENERGIES has provided a platform for local senior secondary visual art student’s work to be exhibited to a broad audience in a large scale gallery setting. ENERGIES 2016 is a free exhibition on display at Gold Coast City Gallery from 23 September until 30 October 2016 in Gallery 2.

The Arty Party is back!

Indigenous photomedia travels around Australia The National Gallery of Australia's (NGA) travelling exhibition Resolution: new Indigenous photomedia celebrates work made by some of the most significant Indigenous photographers, multimedia artists in the last five years. Resolution brings together critically acclaimed artists with emerging talent reflecting the diversity and dynamism of contemporary practice. The exhibition will be on display at the Tweed Regional Gallery & Margaret Olley Art Centre from 16 September - 4 December 2016. Entry to the exhibition is free.

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The Arty Party, a free one-day arts festival event for children and families returns to Spinks Park in Lismore during the school holidays 11.00-4.00pm, on 6 October.

Explore and create art together with colourful performing characters, drawing games, cubbyhouse construction, dancing, percussion, chalk drawing on pavements, reading, dress ups, and crafts.

Women Like Us returns Mandy Nolan and Ellen Briggs are Women Like Us. Two middle aged mothers and wives, and self confessed ‘hornbags’ who have a story to tell. Or three hundred! Before they set off down south earlier this year they strutted their stuff at Currumbin RSL, selling out two shows

In a devastating exploration of the battle between love and jealousy, Peter Evans directs Shakespeare’s tragedy Othello which is touring nationally from July 2016. Othello is a saga that probes the human capacity for petty jealousies and revenge while revelling in the sheer wickedness of malicious manipulations.

Othello stops into The Arts Centre on Tuesday 11 October for two performances only. Visit the Arts Centre website for tickets.

Les Peterkin Prizes awarded to local school children This year's Les Peterkin Portrait Prize for local primary school students has broken records, with more than 3000 entries from 37 schools, four enthusiastic judges and 40 winners.

Students worked on the theme Me, Myself and I, sketching, collaging and painting artworks that capture their unique personality or a special characteristic through self-portraiture.

First prize winners from the three age categories: Ava Ziles (5-7 years) from Dungay Public School, Charlie Wappett (8-10 years) from Byron Community Primary School, and Delta Fox (11-13 years) from Chillingham Public School.

Bond graduates behind the scenes in Hollywood blockbuster A 2015 Bond University film and television graduate has made his mark on Hollywood after producing a world-first virtual reality (VR) experience for the new blockbuster film, Suicide Squad. Harrison Norris worked with fellow Bond alumna, Emily Tate, on the set of the new action film starring Margot Robbie and

Anthony Callea does George Michael for Glitter One of Australia’s most respected recording artists is making his way to the Gold Coast for a very unique show. Anthony Callea, whose sixth album Backbone just debuted at number one on the ARIA Albums Chart will get his Glitter on when he sings the songs of George Michael. Returning to the stage after sell-out shows in 2014, it’s a unique opportunity to see Callea’s live vocals, backed by a six piece live band. Calea’s album Ladies & Gentlemen, The Songs of George Michael debuted at Number 1 on the ARIA Music DVD Charts and his energetic show celebrates three decades of hits from one of the world’s most memorable music stars. Callea is at The Arts Centre Gold Coast for Saturday 8 October only.

Block Party for long weekend A brand new event taking place on the Queens Birdthday Long Weekend will have you salivating over low and slow BBQ, craft beers and kick-arse music. Gold Coast BBQ Block Party takes over One50 Public House with live music from The Swamps and DJ set from Cutloose, NRL grand final on the screens, Wiener Haus turning dogs and beers from Burleigh Brewing, Stone & Wood and Balter amongst others. Things get cooking on Saturday 2 October. More at one50.com.au.

REDISCOVERING HASTINGS POINT AND THE MOTHER OF ALL WATERPARKS

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nown as a hotspot for coastal biodiversity and less than an hour from Surfers Paradise, Hastings Point is a muchloved destination for Gold Coast day-trippers and visiting holiday-makers alike.

the picture. I already said this place was designed for families and I was not joking.

Most Gold Coasters would only make a day-trip to Hastings Point, but there’s plenty of reasons to stay for the weekend, not least of which is being front and centre for one of the best sunrises from the headland.

Villas aren’t your only option here though, with everything from tent spots through to slabs for your caravan and annex, traditional van park cabins and even apartments.

Right before the school holiday squeeze I did just that with my 3yo son and 83yo dad in tow. Normally wilderness campers, we choose Big 4 North Star for this short stay for a few reasons. Dad needed a real bed. I needed a real break.

And my son, apparently needed a waterslide. Which is where we spent a great part of the three days we were there.

Sammy’s Adventure Lagoon is a $1.3 million waterpark with slides, pools and shooting jets of water. It’s a very obvious hint that this caravan park is a haven for families. As well as the waterpark, there’s a fully supervised (and free) kids’ club, modern playground, weekend film screenings and a marine information centre.

For adults there’s an onsite coffee van and café as well as a leisure centre (for over 16s only) with three spas, a 25m lap pool and sauna.

We stayed in a two-level villa right at the edge of the waterpark. Naps were a nightmare as the waterslides were literally a stone’s throw away. The villa itself was big enough for two families to stay in. One room had four bunks! Three bathrooms. Two kitchens. Massive deck. Three TVs. You get

And if the thought of being tied to a waterpark all weekend isn’t appealing, fear not. The estuary at Cudgera Creek is just one block away and it’s a veritable seaside delight. The creek is warm (depending on which way the tide is flowing) with plenty of rocks and fish for exploring. The beaches to the north and south of the headland are sweet for surfing and SUPping and the tides running through the creek allow you to float upstream or downstream on your lilo of choice.

HASTINGS POINT IS 50KM SOUTH OF SURFERS PARADISE, BUT REALLY A WORLD AWAY. I STAYED AS A GUEST OF BIG4 NORTH STAR WHERE TENT SITES START AT $45 A NIGHT AND CABINS FROM $115 A NIGHT.

Chinderah, Kingscliff, Pottsville and Cabarita Beaches are just a short drive away. Fishing, boating, beach adventures and exploring neighbouring coastal villages will keep you busy, as will whale-watching, weekend markets and modern cafes with plenty of local produce on the menu.

Then again, there’s always the kids’ club and three adult-only spas to choose from.

Samantha Morris

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Pictured: Terri Lew with art by Ariel Katzir in the background

19KAREN + TERRI LEW “So the quantity of attendance was reduced, but the quality increased. People bought art.”

“And of course, as you are in the business longer and you persevere with it, people start taking notice of you a bit more.”

19Karen has been operating for eight years now and Terri is quite obviously proud of her work with international artists.

T

erri Lew is a striking woman. Not just in poise, but in the way she speaks about her work. With a long history in publishing and tourism on the Gold Coast, she switched careers in 2008, sold her business and opened an art gallery in a warehouse just off the highway at Mermaid Beach.

At the time it was an odd thing to do. People didn’t generally run galleries in warehouses back then. Terri also had no experience in the art scene.

Fast forward eight years and she’s learned a lot. Not just about running a gallery, but also about the local art community and the people who attend exhibitions and openings. And while she thought running a gallery would deal with any compulsion to own art, she was wrong.

“I thought if I had a gallery I wouldn’t need to, but I still collect art for my own collection, you see.”

It was a matter of timing that saw 19Karen first open its doors. Terri collaborated with a young, local emerging artist to establish the gallery and run its early exhibitions. The artist was looking for a space and Terri owned a warehouse.

“When the tenants moved out, I decided that now is the time and it worked out that I had sold the [publishing] business at the same time,” she said.

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“With accessing quite a lot of international artists, I have increased the profile of the gallery overseas,” she said.

That was 2008, right when the world’s economy took a massive dive.

“I’ve probably set some kind of standard for other galleries to follow,” she said, “we were the first one, probably in all of Australia, to turn a warehouse into an art gallery.”

“It was the wrong time to start up a gallery,” Terri said.

“When we opened, when we launched the gallery, this place was packed, swarmed with people.

“She was good at social media,” she said of her then business partner, “but they didn’t buy. They came to have a drink and a party – that went on for a year and a half. But we weren’t selling any artwork.”

When her partner moved on to other things, Terri decided to stick it out.

“I have this gallery, I’m not a quitter.”Some of those local artists stopped coming, the audience connected to her then partner dropped away and she started afresh, which she says isn’t a bad thing.

“From 2010 I had to re-energise the gallery, but I was learning on the job as well,” Terri said. “I was learning what I liked, what I didn’t like, what worked, what didn’t work.”

The major change during that period was 19Karen’s clientele.

“It was no longer the young hipsters who wanted to come and have a party,” Terri said.

“Now you see a lot of other galleries move from mainstream street frontage to back streets. They can afford to buy them, do them up, they’re bigger and they already have the clientele.”

The gallery also works with local artists, Filthy The Bear one of them. He says 19Karen is a “gallery for the artists.” Terri elaborates.

“It’s not a gallery you would want to get decorative art, although we have a few of the artists that do stuff like that.

We try to keep it more on the other side – it’s more cutting edge stuff that no other gallery would take a chance on.”

“Some of the artists that started with me have gone on to bigger and better things – and they’re still with me,” she said.

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I’VE PROBABLY SET SOME KIND OF STANDARD FOR OTHER GALLERIES TO FOLLOW,” SHE SAID, “WE WERE THE FIRST ONE, PROBABLY IN ALL OF AUSTRALIA TO TURN A WAREHOUSE INTO AN ART GALLERY.

”

“A lot of commercial galleries will not take an emerging artist who’s had no sales record or any exhibitions or art prize on their CV, it’s too risky,” Terri said. “They need to be able to sell work to pay the rent.”

“My benefit is I don’t have a landlord and I’m self-funded and don’t really rely on income from the gallery to support me.”

Terri’s switch from publishing to art came before the City’s current cultural explosion so she’s observed creative small businesses mushroom over that time.

“Young entrepreneurs took risks,” she said. “They’ll open up a bar, a café, a shop that sells creative things. There’s Miami Marketta, even yourself,” she says pointing to me and referring to Blank GC. “There’s this Start-up Creative group that come here once a year and puts on an event and talks about their successes.”

“You see a lot of that in the last few years and it feels like a bigger city now.”

19Karen is a stunning, open art space with plenty of natural light supporting an incredible diversity of artists. On the day I visit, as the new exhibition is being installed, there are sculptures, paintings, jewelry, glass figures and ceramics being exhibited and available for sale with prices starting around $100.

Terri says 19Karen is the best-kept secret on the Gold Coast and as I live only two blocks away and had never been here in all its eight year history, I can attest to that.

I ask Terri for any final thoughts and she says simply, “just come, and be blown away.”

19 KAREN’S TRIPLE-HEADER EXHIBITION FEATURING ARIEL KATZIR, MONIQUE VAN STEEN AND JASON BRYANT OPENS SATURDAY 8 OCTOBER FROM 6.00PM WITH FREE ENTRY AND ENTERTAINMENT BY JAMES STREET PREACHERS. THE GALLERY IS OPEN TUESDAY – SATURDAY FROM 10.00AM – 5.00PM. GET MORE DETAILS AT 19KAREN.COM.AU.

“We’ve got mostly everything that the bigger cities have got except the population – it’s not quite big enough to sustain this city and every business that exists here.”

When Terri talks about the exhibition highlights over recent years, it’s again the international artists that excite her.

“Where do I start? We’ve had some really exciting exhibitions. I was quite blown away that some of these artists would come all the way from overseas to a place like the Gold Coast to do shows.”

“I’ve had about seven different international artists and I’ve got another one coming this month.”

She’s referring to Monique Van Steen – one of three artists exhibiting at a special triple-header, which takes over the gallery from 8 October – 19 November.

Monique is Dutch, but lives in Barcelona and will travel to the Gold Coast for the exhibition opening.

Monique has created a new series of ‘beauties’ for the exhibition, which will be her debut solo show in Australia titled Inner Beauty. She uses a dripping technique that allows her to create loose, fluid lines which are a signature in her art.

Joining Monique for a concurrent exhibition is Jason Bryant from the USA. His hyper realistic paintings bring back romance and glamour as they celebrate Hollywood icons of a time long past. Titled For Your Viewing Pleasure his series will transport you from the modern day gallery to a forgotten world of elegance and glamour in both vibrant colours and striking black and white imagery.

Perth artist Ariel Katzir is also exhibiting with a body of 15 works titled [STAMP] which are causing quite a stir in the art world. Those works show off her fascination with uniform lines and geometry as well as the human form.

She’ll also be here for the opening.

And the exhibitions keep rolling around after this one wraps up. Terri has a husband and wife duo from Brasil who will exhibit in December and January and in March the gallery is collaborating with Beautiful Bizarre magazine to curate a group exhibition with more international artists.

Pictured: Some of Jason Bryant's work, prior to being hung

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★★★★★ ”HILARIOUS” SPEAKER TV “BIG LAUGHS, AN IMPRESSIVE SHOW” THE MUSIC ★★★★ “A RIOTOUS, RAUCOUS HOUR.” THE REVIEWS HUB (UK)

THE ARTS CENTRE GOLD COAST - 8PM 9 NOVEMBER TICKETS AVAILABLE: theartscentregc.com.au www.blankgc.com.au

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3 SOLO EXHIBITIONS NOW ON HEAD TO OUR WEBSITE FOR MORE INFORMATION www.19karen.com.au 19 Karen Contemporary Artspace, 19 Karen Avenue, Mermaid Beach QLD 4218 07 5554 5019 | info@19karen.com.au

SUNDAYloving BAZAAR Restaurant is serving up Sunday lunch every week from 12–3pm

SOAK UP THE WEEKEND VIBES AT BAZAAR RESTAURANT’S SUNDAY LUNCH. The perfect spot to catch up with friends and feast on Bazaar’s famous spit roasted meats, seafood straight from the trawler, salads plucked fresh from QT’s rooftop kitchen garden and the finest spread of sweet treats on the Coast.

$59 per adult | $29 per child Bookings essential. Book online at qtgoldcoast.com.au

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Issue #38 OCTOBER 2016

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