Blank Gold Coast issue 20 - April 2015 by Blank Street Press

April â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;15

free

RIZING UP FOR WEST PAPUA, FOR PLANET, AND FOR PEOPLE issue #020

MUSIC

Bluesfest Ella Fence Redstarborn Wallapalooza

FOOD + DRINK Easy Street Diner Cucina Vivo Red Ginger Black Hops Brewing

MUSIC

Indienow Buskers by the Creek Eilish Ellen Xavier Rudd

ART + CULTURE Supanova Surfers Paradise Festival Shaun Gladwell Cosentino

FILM

GC Film Festival Flickerfest Frackman premiers

Whatâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s your

release strategy?

Helping independent artists build sustainable careers

Professional Music Career Development Program 2015 Six release-ready Gold Coast artists will be offered a place in the 6-month program commencing June 2015 The program will support the artists in releasing their product effectively

Applications open

March 30th More info at

www.indienow.com.au Facebook.com/indienowmusic

www.blankgc.com.au

#020 APRIL 2015 Editor: Samantha Morris Design: Chloe Popa, Blunt Pencil Studio Advertising: Amanda Gorman Music Coordinator: Mella Bunker Cultural Editor: Natalie O’Driscoll Money Coordinator: Phillippa Wright Environment Editor: Mic Smith Gig Guide: Emily Norman Cover story: Natalie O’Driscoll Artful Dodger images: Lamp Photography Contributors: Eden Tokatly, Iain Wright, Kyle Butcher, Nicole Madigan, Emma Ballard, Nev Pearce, Sarah McEwan, Jake Wilton, Tiffany Mitchell, David Simmons, Elizabeth Ansley Sheehan, Terry “Tappa” Teece, James Wills, Christie Ots, Catherine Coburn, Marj Osborne, Lana Miele, Kirra Smith, Andrew Scott, Natalie O’Driscoll, Anna Itkonen, Pip Andreas, Emily Russell, Nathan James, Mic Smith, Chloe Pickard, Leisen Standen, Samantha Morris.

Acknowledgement of Country We show our respect and sincerely acknowledge the Traditional Custodians of this Land and their Elders past and present. Editorial: news@blankgc.com.au Advertising: advertising@blankgc.com.au Blank GC is an independently owned and published magazine, with all of our writers contributing their time pro-bono to boosting the cultural scene on the Gold Coast. Founded in 2013 with the goal of busting those boring stereotypes which have surrounded the Gold Coast for decades, we rely on advertising to keep us in the fray. Opinions expressed herein, are not necessarily those of the Editor, Publishers or of the writing team.

www.blankgc.com.au

point blank

My Friend The Chocolate Cake

My Friend the Chocolate Cake hit the GC With ARIA Awards, sold-out Edinburgh Festival dates and a very devoted audience, My Friend the Chocolate Cake have carved for themselves a 15 year, five album career. They’re bringing their hell-raising instrumental shenanigans and kitchen sink piano tales to the Gold Coast on Friday 27 March when they play The Soundlounge. Their Back to Back, Track for Track national tour will see MFTCC perform their first two albums My Friend the Chocolate Cake (1991) and Brood (1994) back to back. David Bridie says “we’ve seen other bands play a particular landmark album in its entirety and in order. We think it’s a grand idea. So in the spirit of the magpie we are pilfering this idea and making it our own.” Tickets at soundlounge. com.au. MFTCC also hit Brisbane’s Powerhouse on Saturday 28 March. Funkoars

Funkoars announce national tour Eighties street justice is back in fashion in the form of The Funkoars’ just released album In Case of Emergency. It’s their fifth full length album and we’re stoked. Mostly because it means they’re hitting the road, and including the GC on their tour list. They hit The Cooly on Saturday 9 May with DJ Total Eclipse, MC Mathas and Eloji in support. Tickets from oztix.com.au. Cheap Fakes say 2015 biggest year yet Brisbane based six-piece Cheap Fakes say 2015 will be their biggest yet. With a brand new single Just in Case just released off upcoming third album Modern Vintage, they’ve just announced a headline tour. The album was recorded with Grammy nominated producer John Merchant, best known for his work with Michael Jackson and Lenny Kravitz and is due for release in July. With

www.blankgc.com.au

two critically acclaimed albums to their credit and countless national support slots, Cheap Fakes are a force to be reckoned with and 2015 is shaping up to be the band’s biggest year yet. They hit the Soundlounge as part of their tour, supported by Chocolate Strings on Friday 17 April. Tickets and more at soundlounge.com.au.

forget to eat. As well as his visual art, Andrew can often be seen at Dusk Temple reciting poetry with his self-published Anthology of Fatz due for release soon. The exhibition takes place on Wednesday 8 April from 5.00 – 7.00pm at One Arts Gold Coast, cnr Verona and Via Roma Streets, Isle of Capri. Phone 0400 139 889 for more information.

Dark3ll

Lou Bradley

Hard Rock spreads the darkn3ss Industrial rock anarchists Darkc3ll will release their third album next month. The dark quartet has built a solid reputation as one of the country’s fastest rising acts with a strong following dubbed the army of darkn3ss. Visually and musically, Darkc3ll continue to prove themselves a worldclass outfit and with a third album on the way, there are no signs of slowing just yet. The lads launch their brand new release Devolve & Destroy, supported by Mofo is Dead on Friday 1 May at Hard Rock Café, Surfers Paradise and entry is free. Doors open 10.00pm and the event is strictly 18+. Get more at hardrock.com/cafes/surfersparadise/. Mason Rack crowdfunds new album One of the Gold Coast’s hardest working bands is seeking $10,000 to record a new album. “We have the studio ready, the songs are ready, the players are ready, but we need the funds,” Mason says in his crowdfunding pitch. The band recently returned from their sixth Canadian tour, which was sold out and they’ve been recently added to the raft of bands managed by European touring managers Muddy Lives. We have a special love of their work here at Blank GC, as before we had even launched and were crowdfunding $10,000 ourselves, Mason let us use one of their tracks on our promotional videos without even knowing who we were. We are eternally grateful and we’d love it if you could throw your weight behind this hard-working band’s appeal for cash. There are lots of rewards on offer. Head to kickstarter.com and search for Mason Rack and the appeal will appear. Support local music. Let’s make this happen. Art as therapy: journeys into mental illness Art knows no boundaries – that’s the battle cry of Andrew Diggins, an artist who has dealt with both chronic drug use and schizophrenia. It’s also the motivation behind One Arts supporting an exhibition of Andrew’s which explores how art and creativity can be both therapeutic and helpful to overcoming illness. Squares, hexagons, lines and more lines all feature in Andrew’s work – he never forgets a phone number, but will often

Lou Bradley teams up with father of alt-country For the first time, Bill Chambers – the legendary father of alt country music in Australia and ARIA nominated Mullumbimby hillbilly Lou Bradly will team up for a one show only double bill – The Moonshine Sessions. With an ARIA nomination and a swag of credits and a ccolades that have helped to fuel her journey so far, Lou is launching her fourth album Moonshine, which was produced by Bill Chambers. The pair take to the Court House Hotel Mullumbimby on Thursday 9 April and tickets are available at kupromotions.com.au. Victoria Tennant

de Monte Carlo, based on the life of her famous ballerina mother. Hollywood-based Tennant is known for her elegance and stylish restraint in performances as diverse as The Winds of War, The Handmaid’s Tale, L.A Story and All of Me, the latter two co-starring with her then husband, Steve Martin. On this special evening, it is Tennant’s mother who takes centre stage, the late Irina Baronova, prima ballerina of the Ballets Russes de Monte Carlo. The event takes place with Tennant in conversation and signing books on Tuesday 31 March and tickets are available at theartscentregc.com.au. Urban brings big names to Caboolture It’s got our vote as one of the best value for money events in the country. Held over the weekend of 1 – 3 May, the Urban Country Music Festival is definitely punching above its weight with Lee Kernaghan, Cloud Control, British India, Delta Riggs, Augie March, Women In Docs, 8 Ball Aitken, The Beards, Carl Wockner, Casey Barnes, Bree De Rome and a bucketload more making up the bill. A weekend pass costs just $75 and there are both powered and unpowered camping sites available as well. Get all the details at urbancountry.com.au. Blank has a double pass to give away – so stay tuned to our website for all the details. Smoking Martha announced as support for Uriah Heep Local rockers Smoking Martha have been announced as the support act for British rock legends Uriah Heep on their upcoming Brisbane tour. Smoking Martha are a great fit with the heavy rock pioneers, as they follow the same formula – not chasing trends, just playing killer rock ‘n’ roll. Uriah Heep and Smoking Marth hit Eatons Hill Hotel on Thursday 26 March, and if you miss them there you can catch them at the Cooly with Redstarborn, Love Hate Rebellion and Kip Casper on Sunday 29 March. Ruby Montey

Actor Victoria Tennant launches book at Arts Centre Actor Victoria Tennant is visiting the Gold Coast to talk about her recently-released book, Irina Baronova and the Ballets Russes

Ruby Montey in the cabana Local Ruby Montey’s live performances are a testament to her talent, passion and pure gift. The 18-year-old grew up on the Gold Coast, spending most of her time playing guitar, singing and writing songs. She won the ACMF National Song-writing Competition in 2013 with her song Animals

and now has a number of beautifully composed originals on SoundCloud. Although Ruby is in the midst of preparing an EP, she continues to grow her exposure through gigs and busking, bringing a relaxed yet upbeat vibe to her shows and a distinct, powerful voice. Her live performances truly express the passion she has for the art of music. See for yourself when Ruby plays Cabana Bar & Lounge from 1.00pm on 12 April and 17 May. The Cabana Bar & Lounge is located cnr Mugrave and Olsen Avenues, Southport. Find out more at cabanabarandlounge.com.au. Motown comes to our town Can You Feel It is a Motown stage show and it’s coming to the Gold Coast for two nights. The show brings together the most talented vocalists and musicians that the GC has to offer – many of them working professionally in the industry for more than 25 years. Lead by the incredibly soulful voice of Kevin Keepa, Can You Feel It will take you on a journey back through time as you reminisce over hits from your childhood. The show was hugely successful at Jupiter’s Casino last year, with audiences, young and old, dancing along to the soulful rhythms and uptown beats of the classic Motown era. It runs Thursday 2 and Saturday 4 April and you can find more at theartscentregc.com.au. Music in the park announces 2015 season City of Gold Coast is hosting a series of ten free events that will run from March to June, to bring people into local parks and support local music. Australia’s Got Talent grand finalist David De Vito, The Voice Australia Finalists Candice Skjnnomand, Jacob Lee and Jenna Dearness Dark, TV personality come councillor for Division 8, Bob La Castra, grand finalist on Filipino Idol, Stephanie Lazaro, Starmaker grand finalist Cory Hargreaves, Nationally acclaimed comedian, now Gold Coast Breakfast show host on Juice FM, Michael O’Connell, NIDA Graduate Matt Ward are but a few local Gold Coast acts included in the program. The events kick off Sunday 29 March at Laguna Park, Palm Beach then ever Sunday through the following months ending on Sunday 28 June at Maudsland and all events run 12 noon to 4.00pm.

GC’s biggest tree planting is back Building on consecutive years a total of 8000 native plants will be planted on Sunday 29 March to help restore a wetland in Nerang. There will be free wildlife shows, live music, stalls and food stands and it’s all part of the Gold Coast’s Biggest Tree

Planting Day. More than 500 people are needed to get all those plants in the ground and their efforts complement those of the volunteers who work at Nerang Riverkeepers every day for months to prepare the site ready for such an event. The GC’s Biggest Tree Planting happens Sunday 29 March from 8.00am – 12 noon at Country Paradise Parklands in Nerang. Frenzal Rhomb include GC on national tour They’re one of the country’s favourite punk outfits. Playing live gigs for more than 20 years, they’re well accustomed to putting on a show and commanding crowds at events big and small. And we’re thrilled they’ve included the Gold Coast on their upcoming national tour. They have a reputation as a must-see live act, so we reckon you must see ‘em. Their tour promo says “your life is about to get that much easier thanks to these five Frenzal Rhomb shows!” They hit The Cooly on Friday 17 April and ticket are available now through oztix.com.au. Blues on Broadbeach | 21 – 24 May Charlie Parr and Andrew Strong (The Commitments) lead an incredible lineup for this year’s Blues on Broadbeach, which happens 21 – 24 May through the streets and venues of Broadbeach. The free event has gone from strength to strength in recent years and it may just be me, but this year’s lineup is pretty damn special. The full lineup is too big to list here, but some of our favourites are Jeff Lang, Tijuana Cartel, Hat Fitz and Cara, Frazer Goodman, Asa Broomhall, Juzzie Smith, Jimmy the Saint and the Sinners, Mason Rack, Kevin Borich, James Morrison, The Black Sorrows and Gray Mule (USA). Get the full lineup and playing times at bluesonbroadbeach.com.

Moscow Ballet La Classique brings fairy tale spectacular to the Gold Coast Sleeping Beauty is coming to the Arts Centre. Yay! It’s one of the world’s mostloved fairy tales and it’s being performed by the highly-acclaimed Moscow Ballet La Classique established in 1990 by Artistic Director Elik Melikov. The illustrious Moscow-based company will take Gold Coast audiences on a mystical jouney to the fairy tale world of Pincess Aurora, the Sleeping Beauty. The two-act performance will capture imagination and magic – a dance spectacular for ballet lovers of all ages on Saturday 18 April. More online at theartscentregc.com.au.

FREET EVEN

Gallipoli history to be shared through War and Peace Gold Coast City Gallery will host War and Peace, an exhibition organised by local collective Australian Creative Exchange to create a dialogue between artists from Turkey, New Zealand and Australia. The exhibition is timed to coincide with centenary commemorations of the ANZAC landing in Gallipoli and offers the opportunity to reflect on personal connections and family histories associated with war. A ceramic workshop will also take place on Thursday 16 April from 10.00am – 1.00pm in line with the exhibition with the theme of ‘peace’. The exhibition runs until 19 April at the GC City Gallery and entry is free. Neighbour Day at The Arts Centre Gold Coast Neighbour Day is a national celebration of community held every year on the last Sunday in March. It’s all about bringing the community together and connecting with the people who make up your neighbourhood. The Gold Coast is out in force to mark the occasion as well. Arts Centre GC is hosting a Neighbour Day at its Evandale Parklands which will run Sunday 29 March from 8.00am – 10.00am. Pastries, coffee and good old conversation are on offer, as are back of house tours of the Centre at either 9.00am or 9.20am. Other events take place at Boonooroo Park Carrara from 12 noon; Crocker Park Mermaid Waters from 10.00am ; Swan Lane Mudgeeraba from 10.00am; Laguna Park Palm Beach from 12 noon; Gold Coast Regional Botanic Gardens at Benowa from 2.00pm; GC Permaculture at Market Street Carrara at 10.00am; Coomera’s Red Edge Community Centre from 9.30am; Nathanvale Drive Park at Mount Nathan from 10.30am; Country Paradise Parklands at 8.00am; Tugun Park from 12 noon; Upper Coomera Community Centre from 2.00pm and Varsity Lakes Community Resource Centre from 1.00pm.

ANDREW

STRONG

'THE COMMITMENTS TOUR' (IRELAND)

JAMES MORRISON THE BLACK SORROWS CHARLIE PARR (USA) JEFF LANG . BACKSLIDERS TIJUANA CARTEL

FIONA BOYES . RAY BEADLE . BLUE SHADDY AND MANY MORE

D wnload our free app bluesonbroadbeach.com

send your news to news@blankgc.com.au

www.blankgc.com.au

has played some of those same festivals. Nattali is excited about the Sierra Nevada World Music Festival in particular. “It has a strong reggae focus,” she said. “It’s one of the foundation reggae festivals on the west coast of the US – where there is a lot of support for reggae.” But never fear, she’s still on board the Blue King Brown train and says that technology helps stay connected to multiple projects wherever she is. “If you have a laptop and an internet connection, you can be working on numerous projects on the planet at any given time,” Nattali said. “We just released our new album Born Free and that’s something we’re really proud of. We worked with some Jamaican artists on that album as well and it came together at this time while we’re here in Jamaica.” “With this new album we have to get back on the road and share this stage show,” Nattali said. And by the sounds of it, people are crying out for just that. The video for single All Nations has had incredible support on YouTube and social media with combined views hovering around 200,000.

RIZING UP FOR WEST PAPUA, FOR PLANET, AND FOR PEOPLE “Enuff corporate noise in the ears of the youth. Time to spread the truth.” They are the words that greet you when you enter Nattali Rize’s website. Best known as front woman of Blue King Brown, she uses her voice and her music to support those fighting the exploitation of people and the planet. Along with being a vocal opponent to the invasion of West Papua by Indonesia, she’s also thrown her weight behind campaigns protesting the expansion of coal seam gas extraction as well as Aboriginal deaths in custody. She spent most of 2014 living in Jamaica, writing and recording and laying down new tracks with Jamaican outfit NOTIS and she’s about to return to Australia with Blue King Brown for Bluesfest Byron Bay. Samantha Morris spoke to Nattali from Jamaica. It’s obvious within moments of speaking with Nattali that she’s passionate about everything she does. She spent more than six months in Jamaica last year working with a production team called Notis and they’re getting ready to take that project on the road after launching their first single Rebel Love, its video and doing their first live performance to a home crowd.

www.blankgc.com.au

The first thing I noticed when watching the clip was the flag of Vanuatu. It turns out the clip was filmed there and features many West Papuans. “We were doing a music exchange in Vanuatu,” Nattali explains, “working with local musicians and people from around the world. We travel with West Papuan musicians from Australia. We had the idea that we should do a film clip and we squeezed it in, you know, on the go… in a village in the middle of Vanuatu. You just get the people together and make it happen.” “And of course, Vanuatu people being Melanesian are very supportive of their Melanesian brothers and sisters in West Papua. Everyone involved in that video clip genuinely support the struggle. They are all freedom fighters,” she said. She also mentions that there are many Indigenous groups around the world linking with the video and sharing it. “It’s tapping in to other Indigenous resistance movements,” she said. “They can see in other parts of the world struggles are ongoing and that people are determined. At this time, Indigenous people are starting to shake the foundations of the capitalist system. I like that, and honour their sharing of the music that we make.” Nattali’s bio mentions her Native American and Samoan roots but she’s always quick to mention that she’s a global citizen. I’m curious as to whether there’s been a particular culture or a particular country that’s inspired her musically. She says musicians and artists are constantly evolving and drawing inspiration from experience.

“We’ve been all this time writing music and building some energy and sound and vibe towards the project: Nattali Rize and Notis,” She said. “And we’re getting that project ready for the live arena.”

“I was lucky enough to grow up with a really diverse musical soundtrack. My mum had great taste in music – Santana, Bob Marley, Louis Armstrong, Aretha Franklin.”

Nattali reels off a string of summer festivals in the USA where the team is headed as a first stop. Blue King Brown

“Then I got into playing drums and I got into all the drums of the world – classical Indian drumming and African drumming and all the melodic music that goes into that. I’ve

“there has been a long and brutal campaign of genocide against the West Papuan people” been pulled towards reggae for most of my life too and now I’m in Jamaica and inspired and motivated by that.” “I think Island music is something that I do have a connection with – music from many islands. Everyone sings. The harmonies, the spirit in the music, maybe it’s got to do with the ocean and the proximity to it,” she ponders. We move on to talking about West Papua. It’s the single issue Nattali has been most vocal about – both through her music and in her role as a public figure. For those who need a brief history lesson, Nattali explains. “Indonesia invaded West Papua in 1961 as the Dutch colonisers were setting West Papua up for independence. They literally came in with para-troopers out of the sky and took over the country. Since then, there has been a long and brutal campaign of genocide against the West Papuan people.” She goes on to explain the Act of Free Choice which saw a UN administered referendum engage only 1200 West Papuan elders rather than the entire population and evidence those men were under duress to vote a certain way. As it turns out 100% of the vote was for integration with Indonesia. Some campaigners say that 500,000 West Papuans have been slaughtered at the hands of the Indonesian military. Others put that figure at around 100,000. But one thing is for certain: while the Indonesian government has, in the past, been successful at stopping information reaching International media, the tables are slowly turning and social media is playing a critical role in the spread of information. “I’ve heard stories,” she said … her voice sounds shaky now and I’m worried I’ll have tears before the conversation is over. “People were threatened to have their tongues cut off. When we talk about Indonesian military brutality we are not just talking about shooting people. It is the most horrific and gruesome violence possible,” she said.

West Papua is just a few hundred kilometres from Australian waters and you may not be surprised to know that it is a country rich in natural resources. “You follow where the oil or where the gold is – where the resources are – and that’s where there’s going to be international interest going on,” she said. “Disenfranchising Indigenous people. West Papua has some of the largest mines in the world.” “There is a distinct lack of information coming out from the media,” she said. “This is not just musicians, it’s not just us. There’s International Lawyers for West Papua and community groups as far as Spain and the Netherlands.” “West Papua is very close. Very very close to Australia,” Nattali said. I let the silence settle after Nattali’s words. The concern she has for the West Papuan people is so evident I’m not really sure how to end the conversation. So we speak very briefly, again, about Bluesfest. “The Born Free BKB stage show will be on in full force,” she said. “Bluesfest is like a hometown for us: Byron Bay and the Byron Shire. We always come knowing that the energy from the crowd is like the energy we have on stage. We can’t wait to reconnect with our Bluesfest family.” Blue King Brown plays Bluesfest on Sunday 5 April at 9.00pm at the Jambalaya stage and on Monday 6 April at 8.45pm at the Delta stage.

OPEN MIC NIGHT See the best local talent

To register call

0433 738 620

LET’S GET TOGETHER HARD ROCK SOCIAL CLUB DAILY 4-6PM

Join us at the Globe Bar enjoy the daily entrée & beverage specials 4-6pm

WEEKENDS & PUBLIC HOLIDAYS

You should visit freewestpapua.com.au for an overview of the situation there and for information on Australia’s role. You can also donate at that site.

“You just wouldn’t be able to imagine that one human being would be capable of doing that to another human being. It makes you physically ill.” “West Papuans are becoming a minority in their own country,” she said. “It’s a serious issue that’s happening right on Australia’s doorstep. Many Australians haven’t even heard of West Papua. We want people to know.”

2015

www.blankgc.com.au

APRIL Friday 27 March Cadence + Josh Lovegrove + Natasha Smith | The Loft Chevron Island, 8.00pm Sarah Frank | Mandala Organic Arts Café Mermaid, 7.00pm Saturday 28 March Sarah Frank | Greenhouse Factory Coolangatta, 7.00pm Sunday 29 March Sarah Frank | The Outcider Coolangatta, 3.00pm Sunday 19 April Ella Fence | Cambus Wallace Nobby Beach Friday 24 April Sarah Frank | Mandala Organic Arts Café Mermaid, 7.00pm Sunday 26 April Ella Fence | The Triffid Brisbane

This month's gig guide includes past and present students from the Queensland Conservatorium's Bachelor of Popular Music. This is just a taste of the amazing artists that come out of the degree. Look out for the best of "The Con's" emerging popular music artists in the annual Seed album release and concert series.

ELLA FENCE LAUNCHES UNKNOWN WATERS AT WELL KNOWN WATERING HOLE Jetsetter Ella Fence is back in town and gearing up to launch her debut single, recorded in the UK last year.

human and the venue itself has a really creative vibe about it. I’m so excited.”

The track comes off an EP due for release later in the year. The first four tracks off that EP were recorded at Brighton Electric Studios in the UK with producer Dan Swift and her B-side track was recorded in Paris with none other than Ken Stringfellow of The Posies and REM fame.

Ella says the single transcends cultural parameters and that she wrote the track pursuing a love interest.

It’s fitting that after travelling half way across the world to produce her debut EP, the single Unknown Water will be launched in one of the grooviest rum bars the GC has ever known: the Cambus Wallace.

www.blankgc.com.au

“Last year was a massive year of travelling, creating and recording and I can’t wait to be able to share the outcome,” she said. “I feel very grateful.”

She said the Cambus Wallace was the ideal location as many of her “mentoring” sessions had been over a drink there. (I’ve had “mentoring sessions there too, but I think we might be talking different types of “mentoring”.)

The EP will be available in June, but for now you can set your sights on the single launch, Sunday 19 April at Cambus Wallace.

“In the lead up to recording the EP, all my overseas music travels and now the launch, a lot of the meetings I’ve had with my mentors at Who Agencies have been over a cider at Cambus Wallace,” she said.

Ella Fence launches Unknown Water on Sunday 19 April, Cambus Wallace Gold Coast. She also hits Blue Owl Café at the Tweed on 2 May and Pizza Paradiso in Byron on 3 May.

“Having the launch at that venue really resonates with me. Dave (the owner) is such a beautiful 8

“The Unknown Water single for me is an anthem for embracing change, being brave and following your path, so it really feels right to have it as the debut.”

Samantha Morris

LINEUP ANNOUNCED FOR GOLD COAST FOLK FESTIVAL It’s still six months away but organisers of the Gold Coast Folk Festival have announced a lineup worthy of setting dates aside for right now. Some thirty bands, including visitors from out of town make up the bill for an event that will showcase three stages at the foothills of our glorious hinterland. And if you get a weekend pass online now, you will go into the draw to win a brand new guitar from Guitar World. And those tickets are only $22. The bands who make up the lineup include Perch Creek, Women in Docs, Felicity Lawless, Thrillbilly Stomp, Gypsy Jazz with Ewan Mackenzie, Skiffle with Toni Pollard, Owl Valley Bluegrass, Red Crow, Ash Perrow, Pitt Family Circus, Kiara Jack and the Jills, Franke, Fred Miller, Out of Abingdon, Fuglissimo, Quatro, Sonia Serin, Andrew Cousins, Erwin Zerbe, Peter van Herk, Red Crow, Mat Brooker, Sarah Frank, Barkers Vale Brothers, Black Rabbit George, Guy Kachel and The Rockin Seed Gold Coast Folk Festival runs 19 – 20 September at Country Paradise Parklands. Tickets available now through trybooking.com. Children under 15 are free.

Ash Perrow

WHAT’S ON APRIL Fri 27 March / 7.30pm / $10 Entry Just Monday + The Vultures + United States of Oz + The Snatchettes + The Goldhearts Sat 28 March / 7.30pm / $10 Entry / $7+bf Oztix BRAD BUTCHER "Believer Tour" + Lou Bradley + Jack Paterson + Steve Grady Fri 10 April / 7.30pm / $10 Entry EDDIE BOYD & THE PHATAPILLARS "EP Launch Tour" + The Badlands + Kenny Slide + The Dons Sat 11 April / 8.00pm / $25 Entry / $20+bf Oztix UNCLE JED "National Farewell Tour" Thu 16 April / 8.00pm / $10 Entry Tempest Rising + Red Bee + Let the Number be X Fri 17 April / 7.30pm / $10 Entry The Flame Fields + TrashQueen + Homeless Yellow + Former Angels + Tokyo Beef Sat 18 April / “Vasse Felix Wine Dinner” 5 wines with 5 courses / $60 / 7.00pm start Bookings essential ph 5534 2322 Fri 24 April / 7.30pm / $10 Entry THE ELLIOTTS (Melb) + Alone Alaska + Paging Jimi + Sorry Not Sorry Mention this ad at the door for your chance to win a $50 Currumbin Creek Tavern voucher. Courtesy bus available – 5534 2322

April THU 2 APR

Bustamento FRI 17 APR

Cheap Fakes + Chocolate Strings May FRI 1 MAY

British India

with special guests Grenadiers

FRI 15 MAY

Josh Wade FRI 22 MAY

Paul Dempsey Tickets at soundlounge.com.au

www.currumbincreektavern.com.au

www.blankgc.com.au

INTRODUCING EDEN TOKATLY Eden Tokatly is one of Blank’s newest writers. She’s a Gold Coast girl with Israeli heritage and is an aspiring writer, photographer and artist.

OF SHADOWS AND TULIPS Eilish “Ellen” Senyard is a 17 year old emerging Gold Coast artist bringing a fresh sound to the local scene. She’s been writing from a young age and in 2014, amid a frantic artistic and academic final year of high school she recorded her debut album Shadows. It’s an eclectic mix of contrasting styles and sounds. Eden Tokatly recently had the chance to talk to this down-to-earth teen about her album, music and travels. I started by asking Eilish about the message behind her single Tulips and she says the song is cryptically written. “It’s actually about being the person you want to be and the person that’s right for you,” she said. “The message throughout the song is that a rose represents who you are supposed to be and love but the song is leaning towards the idea of being a tulip, be something a little bit different and show your own sort of beauty. The message is just to be yourself and people will love you for who you are.” It took over two years for the album to be written and recorded. Eilish says it was a slow process. “I was going through high school and never in my life did I think it was going to happen so quickly,” she said. “All of a sudden this opportunity was in front of me, so I smashed it out as quickly as possible and it worked out really well for me.” Eilish released her album Shadows at Mandala Organic Arts Café and soon after had a guest slot on Sea FM. She told me everyone was funny and kind. “It was really cool having people ring in and win the album,” she said. “I walked outside and a women on the street actually stopped me and said, ‘Were you just on the radio?’ and I said, ‘yeah that was me! Things like that are my favorite part of those experiences, getting to know people” I ask Eilish what her recent trip to Japan was like. “It is such a beautiful culture over there and I was really stunned with how different it is from Australia,” she said. “They have an amazing music culture over there too, it’s incredible.” This year brings more travel: to Italy and Greece and as we chat I learn that as well as being a rising singer/songwriter, she’s also a rising humanitarian. She will be working in America as a youth camp leader and then on to Cambodia volunteering at elephant rehabilitation camps. Eilish laughs, “Its going to be a busy year.” She’s young, but she’s already achieved much. I wonder if Eilish has any advice for other aspiring musicians and she says “keep going.” “Just put your head down, be you, be happy and don’t let it ever stress you so much to the point where you don’t want it anymore.” “I think that music is something you’ve got to work hard for and you’ve got to make sure that you’re being you and that you have a love and heart for music; that’s got to be there from the get go to the very end.” Eilish’s album launch is expected in mid-May in Brisbane. Eilish Ellen’s album Shadows is available now from the iTunes store. 10

www.blankgc.com.au

Volunteering at events like Bleach and Kirra Kite Festival, she likes to get involved in every opportunity she’s given. Eden is also part of the Youth United Nations assembly and was named the 2012 and 2013 Young Historian of the Year. Her music taste is a mix of old and new: the Violent Femmes, Fleetwood Mac and Hozier. Eden has witnessed greats like Santana, Ben Harper and Rodriguez perform live and she loves learning about other cultures and has already traveled to twelve countries at fifteen. Eden is a bright-eyed and bushy-tailed teen ready to share her perspective with the readers of Blank GC.

MUDGEERABA MARKS EARTH HOUR EARLY The live music bonanza continues this month in Mudgeeraba. Following a successful string of Friday night shows as part of Summertime Sessions in the Village and the Picnic in Your Patch for Bleach, the town is now playing host to the Gold Coast’s earliest Earth Hour event for 2015. Presented by Summertime Sessions in the Village and Bendigo Bank Mudgeeraba, the event will be held in the Village Green on Railway Street and will feature live music, DJ, flowercrown making, face painting and the ambience Mudgeeraba is fast becoming known for. The Lyrical, Nige and DJ Sebi will provide musical magic for the evening and candles will be sold to raise money for charity. 6.30pm – 7.30pm will see the event unplug for Earth Hour Mudgeeraba’s Earth Hour celebration takes place Friday 28 March. More information about Earth Hour (which is held Saturday 29 March) is available at earthhour.org.au.

BUSKERS BY THE CREEK CALLS FOR TALENT More than 10,000 people cruised Currumbin Creek in October last year, enjoying the most incredible diversity of talent assembled from locals and visitors, ever displayed here on the GC. It was Buskers by the Creek’s first go at pulling together amateur GC talent and this year they’re promising to be bigger and bolder than before with a call for talent some six months out from the event. Organiser Cindy Jensen said the support for the event’s first year was overwhelming. “I’d be lying if I said I didn’t worry about being the only one standing at the main stage on kickoff,” she said. “Did I expect over 10,000 people in the first year? Definitely not!” “I’ll never forget the time on Sunday afternoon when I turned around and saw nothing but a sea of smiles. The park was packed and I burst into tears….overwhelmed is an understatement!” This year, the event will take place 17 and 18 October, again, along the banks of Currumbin Creek at Winders Park and Cindy says she has some new ideas for growing the event. “The talent applying this year is phenomenal and dare I say the number of performers will far exceed the 142 we showcased in 2014,” she said. “I have a number of exciting new additions but want to keep the same element of surprise, so let’s just say Elvis’ steel body will be a spectacle! “ “There were also loads of requests to include more stalls this year, so we’re also on the hunt for creators to fill our new Buskers Bazaars.” “We plan on bringing Gold Coast’s garage creatives to the

great outdoors,” Cindy said. There will also be an international menu with well-known local restaurants dishing up festival flair and Battle of the Buskers will return to Currumbin Creek Tavern. Singer/songwriter Sarah Bird travelled from Sydney to be involved last year and took out one of the People’s Choice cash prizes. She says the event opens up many opportunities for performers. “Last year’s festival was incredible. Many opportunities come from busking and I’m so excited to have landed a five week, all expenses paid residency on Hamilton Island as a result,” said Sarah. I asked Organiser Cindy Jensen what the weirdest act was on the event lineup. You can imagine the incredible array of performances she was privy to, while sorting out who made the cut and who did not. “Skateboarding mice are definitely not something you see every day,” Cindy said. “But there was this eccentric guitar wielding wanna-be busker who turned up unsigned begging for a spot.” “We gave him the chance and he gave us his all, but it was his colourful character and out of tune tone that demanded everyone’s attention! Weird but wonderful,” Cindy said. Cindy, right now, is seeking talent for her 2015 event and she says she’s hoping to deliver something bigger, bolder and even more mind-blowing than last year. So if you can dance, sing, swallow swords, hula hoop, make a rabbit disappear or have an unusual act that will wow the crowds, it’s time to throw your hat in the ring.

Contact talent@buskersbythecreek.com.au to nominate or visit buskersbythecreek.com.au for more information. Buskers by the Creek hits Winders Park, Currumbin 17 – 18 October, 2015

www.blankgc.com.au

TEN YEARS OF STOMPIN’ FOR MESCALITO BLUES Gavin Doniger is celebrating ten years of the Mesalito Blues next month. For such a prolific touring artist and hardworking guitarist, it’s a major milestone to be ticking off. Over those ten years he’s collaborated with a heap of people but his current partner in crime is Dale “Herbie” Walker who accompanies Gavin on lead guitar. Gavin proudly rattles off a long list of artists he’s either played with of supported over the years. That list includes the likes of Suzie Quatro, Mason Rack Band, The Delta Riggs, Butterfly Effect, The Vultures, Troy Casser-Daly and many, many more. “The first gig Mescalito Blues did was Blues on Broadbeach in 2005,” Gavin said. “I played there in 2005, 2006 and 2007.” But while he started with humble roots at a homegrown festival, he’s spread his wings far and wide during that ten years. He’s toured USA and Europe countless times and has found himself with adoring fans in Sweden. He recounts a gig there that didn’t quite go according to plan. “Turned up in Sweden last year after 54 hours in transit,” he said. “I thought I was the support for this band, but it turns out they are MY backing band. We’d never played together before and I’d only just met them.” “Anyway, I got up thinking this can go either way – good or bad. But it ended up being awesome. These guys are such good players – it was a killer. And the best thing is, I’ll be performing with them this September in Sweden. Gavin Doniger and the Swedish Kangaroos is what we call ourselves.” Like many musicians, Doniger has a “real” job which helps underwrite his creative projects. Truth be told he’s done all sorts of things to fund his music. “I’m a screen printer by trade,” he said. “I worked in a junk yard in LA for two weeks once. I’ve cleared profile bays full of surfboard foam, worked on Beast Master as a stand-in for one of the main actors, I’ve dressed up as Jack Sparrow and charged people five dollars for a photo and I’ve worked in shitty bars.” “The worst was working in retail stores though,” Doniger said. He’s excited about his ten year anniversary and in particular the live anniversary show which will happen at The Dust Temple this month. He says it’s a celebration of ten years of stompin’. It happens Saturday 28 March and is an all-ages show. We wrap up thinking about days gone by and I ask Gavin the one piece of advice he’d give his 18 year old self. 12

www.blankgc.com.au

“Stay true to your art,” Gavin said. “Stay true to yourself and things will happen.” Mescalito Blues, Dust Temple, Curumbin Creek Road Saturday 28 March, 8.00pm

GC MUSICIANS GET SET TO QUIT THEIR DAY JOBS Six lucky Gold Coast musicians are about to get the career-boost of a lifetime. Thanks to funding from Council’s Regional Arts Development Fund and Indie Now, those six artists will receive the tools they need to create a viable business and quit their day jobs once and for all. Indie Now is a professional development program designed to assist musicians to develop sustainable businesses. It is the brainchild of Emily Holler and Karen Andrews Latter – passionate advocates of the local music industry. But the program also draws on the expertise and resources of Griffith University, Blank GC, Pollination Music, J Music Australia, Miami Marketta and others. Together they will offer training, mentoring and professional development tools so artists can sustain a viable career in the music industry. Themes will include marketing, finance, bookings administration, branding and most importantly— releasing products effectively. Applications open 30 March and close 30 April and you can get all the details at facebook.com/indienowmusic. For more information, you can also call Emily Holler on 0415 047 096. Visit indienow.com.au for further information.

As a long time Megadeth fan, I was excited to hear David Ellefson was doing a spoken word tour and not just a bass clinic as many musicians are doing these days - although he did mention that the tour will incorporate that aspect. ‘I am bringing the bass with me,” Ellefson said. “Just because I think the bass helps tell the story.” “I think some fans are probably going to probably ask questions about certain things so part of me thought: well, if I bring the bass with me, at least I know I can always sit and play, and have that there ready to demonstrate something, or even have it be a little bit of a background to a period of time.” “Part of the spoken word thing is going through the anthology of my life,” Ellefson said. The spoken word tour will promote his autobiography My Life With Deth and Ellefson said he is looking forward to the chance to tell some stories that didn’t make the final print and that he will go into detail about others that feature in the book. ‘I think when you’re writing a book you have to keep the narrative in place but when you’re doing spoken word you can detail certain things, and probably go into stories that are easier to verbalise,” he said. “I think when you’re face to face with an audience, there’s a sincerity that comes across: I just always find it’s easier to do when you’re just right there live in person talking about it.”

LIFE WITH DETH Megadeth is one of the biggest metal bands in the world, known for being one of the pioneers of the 80’s Bay Area thrash movement. While the band has seen many members come and go, the core has always been mastermind Dave Mustaine and his right hand man. That right hand man is bass player David Ellefson. And Nev Pearce caught up with him about his first spoken word tour, his working relationship with Mustaine and the future of Megadeth.

2013 and they are currently working behind the scenes on the much anticipated and yet to be titled follow up. “This tour is falling at a good time, because by the time I get home from the tour from Australia, I’m going to pretty much go straight into recording of the new Megadeth record. It’s good, there’s a good energy about it,” he said. Megadeth were set to visit down under for Soundwave 2014 but were forced to cancel after a falling out with the promoter but Ellefson is confident that the band will return to our shores in the near future. “I definitely think so. The one thing about a Megadeth; an album sets in motion usually a whole world tour. As much as it was unfortunate we weren’t able to be there last year, I would like to think and hope that we will get back there sometime on this next album cycle,” Ellefson said. “For me personally, that’s one of the things I’m really looking forward to: getting back down there, being face to face with the fans again. I’m excited about it,” he said. My Life with Deth: Discovering Meaning in a Life of Rock & Roll is available now. And David Ellefson brings his spoken word tour to Queensland, at the HiFi Brisbane on 28 March. Details at metropolistouring.com.

At only 50 years, David Ellefson has lived an extraordinary life but it hasn’t been without its trials and tribulations. As he explains, getting clean from drugs and alcohol helped his creativity. “I still feel 15,” he explains. “I think that’s the good thing about music: it is an expression of your spirit and your essence.” “The real trick with it is to be able to unlock that and keep that spirit flowing. I think that’s a big part of the story, looking at those periods in my life when I was my most free and expressive, and then there was a period when it got blocked up with drugs and alcohol, and then it was unlocked once I got cleaned up again,” Ellefson said. Even though David was with Megadeth from the very beginning, he left the band in 2002 and rejoined in 2010. Ellefson said he felt like he never left and his working relationship with Mustaine is stronger than ever. “From the beginning I really understood Dave’s music, I understood the musicianship behind it and his vision. Dave is a great leader, and great groups need great leaders.” ‘Megadeth is a group where I have my role, and that role was carved out pretty much from the beginning. I’m also musically active in things outside of Megadeth, which I think are good things, because they always remind me of how special the role inside Megadeth is.’ Megadeth’s most recent album Super Collider was released in www.blankgc.com.au

album reviews

JESSWAR

CIRCA WAVES

ERRORS

PAUL FRENCH

19 year old MC Jesswar Koroi comes in swingin’ with opening track Acid Fantasy, hitting hard and raw, with a first impression that says “I’m not holding back for nobody!”

You may already be familiar with Californiadreaming Englishmen Circa Waves. Their puckish indie rock tunes have found considerable airplay on our national broadcaster, they played a rollicking set at Splendour In The Grass last year, and they supported fellow Brits The 1975 on their recent tour of the country.

There’s something intrinsically animalistic about acoustic instruments. Just hearing a congo drum sweeps the mind up and dumps it on a fantastic island in the middle of the pacific. The beat, beat, beat, beat, slams into your ears and takes over your heart. That feeling is a pretty wonderful one, and it’s a feeling that Errors absolutely own on their fourth album, Lease of Life.

Smooth singer song writer Paul French tells it how it is in his 5 track debut EP titled Fun.

Peachy

Young Chasers

She’s quick to show another side though with her relationship anthem Jelly, a more up beat guitar and horn driven track featuring soulful guest vocals from Sarah Frank on the hook. It’s Jesswar’s ability to seamlessly maneuver through a variety of styles that keeps the EP fresh, from hard hitting trap beats like Lips (featuring old friend and local MC Lane Harry) to bouncy party tracks like Green Out, that will have you laughing out loud and reminiscing on times you may have indulged in too much of the herbal remedy. There are moments you cant help but feel like her rhymes are coming from a male perspective, which is common in the female rap world, but the authentic delivery and attitude have Jesswar holding her own in the highly competitive sport that is hip-hop. It’s lyrically fun and contains strong themes of partying as well as her commitment to music, professing “I work ‘til the day I tour Japan / Fatty in my hand with a bag fulla Xan(ex).” The production is solid, which is no surprise considering it’s overseen by one of the GC’s busiest producers, Guy Cooper, who’s been with her since her early days in the band Sneaky Picnic. There are times when you feel the Slim Shady influence running strong, but you’re slapped in the face with confirmation of that when she borrows a direct quote from Em’s early work on Role Model. The “take you on Jerry Springer and beat your ass legally” line is tucked in to the EP’s closing track Bitchy, a name dropper that calls out stars ranging from Jonah Hill to Taylor Swift. Peachy tastes more like a big night out than it does peaches, but that is the very essence of the EP. It’s ironic, sarcastic, crude and clever – it’s hip-hop! James Wills

Stuck In My Teeth, a track so bubbly it’d make easy work of the most stubborn champagne cork was previously named Hottest Track in the World by universal tastemaker, BBC1‘s Zane Lowe. Though Lowe has now left the world of radio behind, the weight of his recommendation still stands. Their debut album Young Chasers, to be released 27 March, deals with the cyclical defiance that’s part of human nature when we age. The most base way to describe the ideas it contains would be to call it an exploration of a quarter life crisis. That phrase usually implies a sense of entitlement and pretentiousness, and Circa Waves are nothing if not charmingly honest and selfaware. Yes, Young Chasers follows a loose narrative of claustrophobia, grass-is-greener tinged nostalgia and a reckless, boyish rejection of the trappings of growing older. But it does comes full circle into acceptance, and it does it all with a wry smile and a hand reached out to you, beckoning you to dance. The album’s title track is the absolute epitome of the high-stakes, heart on your sleeve transparency that frontman and songwriter Kieran Shudall is a master of conveying. It’s a sugar rush of a song, racing itself to get to the end, bursting with brightness, longing and carefree “Woo-ooh”s. T-Shirt Weather, the most recent single from Young Chasers, sees Circa Waves at their most retrospective – but it’s Best Years that provides the most disarmingly frank exploration of agerelated panic, wrapped loosely in a too-cool package: “”I’ve got nothing good on my mind/I’m 27 trying not to care”. Elizabeth Ansley Sheehan

www.blankgc.com.au

Lease of Life

Fun

This animalism runs through Lease of Life and distinguishes the album entirely from the massive body of work that is indie-pop. It’s no surprise though, that these tropical instruments have worked their way into the core of the album; it was formulated entirely on the Hebredian Island called Jura. Colossal Estates, the opening track, sets the scene for Lease of Life and instantly you are there, vibing out with the band on the beach. But this is no exercise of meditative breathing music. No, Errors want to party with you. They play thudding bass beats meant for the stomper clubs of Berlin in concert with a heavenly sitar on the track called Lease of Life. They force traditional indie-pop down your throat, gently lubricated by steel drums and xylophones on Slow Rotor. And even take you to a futuristic version of Jura on Dull Care, where synthesisers playing second fiddle to bongos and pan-pipes. The only place Lease of Life falls down is the overindulgent 14-minute progressive track Through the Knowledge of Those Who Observe Us. Unlike the tasty 3-4 minute tracks that populate the rest of the album, this closer struggles to really grab your ears long enough to allow proper appreciation of the intricate layers and delightfully quiet synthesisers that fill the track. In all, the album succeeds where many other bands of Errors’ genre fail. Errors try new instruments and new sounds. Though some tracks sound like variations of a track by Black Cab or Hot Chip, Errors do succeed with Lease of Life. Book me the next flight to Jura, because I want what Errors are having. David Simmons

Released late last year, Fun is a mixture of slightly 90’s pop hooks, clubby dance beats and a hint of R’n’B for broad appeal. Local lad Paul French writes solo, plays a variety of instruments and I can’t help but compare his punchy versatile vocal style to that of Sam Sparro. French who put his finance degree on hold to follow his passion for song writing released his first single Summer Loving in February 2014. The first track on the EP Fun I thought had massive teenage appeal. It’s totally suggestive with seductive promises of New York and lyrics like;-“Can I have a bit of fun with you?” I was thinking in my prudishness “Absolutely not, you cheeky monkey”. The next track Smooth Talk sounds like a perfect night club track, easy to dance to and has a sweet groove I really liked. The only thing missing was a cocktail in my hand. The next thought provoking track Walking Dead is about a girl who has “Monsters in her head when you thrill her in bed” was dead catchy and got me thinking about monsters in my own head. My favourite track on the EP Summer Loving took me straight into the open top car of DJ Jazzy Jeff and the Fresh Prince driving down LA’s sunset strip in their Summertime video with a warm breeze in our hair. The pop hooks and production of the song are both really great. The last track Sunset City is also energetic and catchy with a summery pop vibe which seems to be French’s signature stamp throughout the EP. Overall Fun is just that. French brings energy, charisma and sunshine to every track and I was impressed with the incredibly polished production. The songs are light, breezy, catchy, easy listening, commercial and would sit snugly in any nightclub or beach party mix. Paul French is planning an Australian East Coast tour and a City of Angels tour where his music is sure to be well received. Emma Ballard

PSYCHED

MAXIMO

If you were a grommet in the 1980s you would have grown up watching surf videos. Not only was it the great surfing action that had you psyched to get out there in the line-up as soon as you could, but you had those tunes flowing in your brain, and they lasted almost the whole surf through. So out you went into the ocean trying to do all the moves you saw in those videos.

Fresh from producer/musician Maximo is his new single Hesitate.

The Soundtrack To Your Surfing Life

Surfing movies have become the soundtrack not only for the road trip part of a surf trip, but sometimes turn into the soundtrack of your ownlife. Many fellow surfer friends of mine have been turned onto bands via surf movies. And now Gold Coast man, Graham Ashton has put together an album featuring some fabulous tracks from surf movies from the 1980s to now: suitably named, Psyched! – The Soundtrack to Your Surfing Life. Some of the movies these songs are gleaned from include; Momentum, Sons of Fun, Kong’s Island, The Performers, Kerazy, and Doped Youth just to name a few. From 1980s underground, to house music of the modern millennium, this album covers music that will get you up and ready for a surf session. Stooges, Nick Cave, Grinspoon, Midnight Oil, Modest Mouse, Eddy Current Suppression Ring and Pennywise are just some of the bands from a wide spectrum of music. Play this one before you hit the water and you will be ready to charge and throw everything at that wave, with the tunes revolving in your head. Kelly Slater recently said he always has a tune in his head when he is surfing, at the moment it is rock ballads of the 1980s. There’s none of that here. I really do not need Hall and Oates or Bon Jovi in my head when I go surfing. Terry “Tappa” Teece

Hesitate (single)

An introspective track with an intriguing beat, Hesitate mixes an old school R’n’B vibe with modern sounds to create something that manages to feel new and leave a feeling of nostalgia at the same time. Hesitate is the newest single from Maximo since his 2013 album Next Level and shows how well he has fine-tuned his sound in the last two years. The song also showcases Maximo’s work as a producer not only a musician. With his smooth melodies flowing through the track we are excited to see what else this Gold Coast artist has planned for 2015. Christie Ots

AL BUCHAN 1963 (single)

What a happy soul he is, and what’s wrong with singing like that? Buchan the Gold Coast based fRETfEST founder has released the single 1963 - a rollicking road trip of a song. Tagged by his press release as “country rock” – Buchan’s single is more influenced by the lowdown guitars of the Coloured Girls pub rock era, and the familiar yet simple lyrics of experiences actually lived. The only country dialect detected was the reference point to the Darling Downs. “You only get what we deserve.” True to these lyrics, Buchan has spent decades assisting young musicians developing their own careers and ironically this year competed in one of Tamworth Country Music Festival’s talent quests, winning first prize against 25 other eager entrants. Buchan who provided Pete Murray with his earliest gigs released 1963 in February. It is now available on itunes. Tiffany Mitchell

GOLD COAST

MUSIC AWARDS

2015 APRIL : N E ULY S OP TION ONY: 22 J A N I M NOM CERE D R A AW

gcmusicawards.com www.blankgc.com.au

BACK TO THE FUTURE For exuberant creative control and almost evasive inspiration from the sunny revelations of California, Miami Horror strip a whole smorgasbord of colourful idealism from the west coast of America for their new long-player All Possible Futures. Talking to Jake Wilton on one of autumn’s most vengeful trips into summer’s heat, Benjamin Plant chats about the band’s arrival into California, the side projects that formed and his vision of a possible future. When Miami Horror’s first singles started appearing on the Internet in 2010, the group branded themselves as “West Coast Dreams.” A title one may see carelessly star wiped across a lacklustre tourist video to Hollywood Hills. Yet ever since those hazy summer festival days with I Look to You or Holidays playing in muffled backdrop by the crisp summer atmosphere, the Miami Horror lads have been meticulously crafting the powerfully funky pop maelstrom to follow 2010’s Illuminations. Almost five years in the making, to Ben, All Possible Future is more than a second entry on their Wikipedia page, it’s a realisation of his altruistic desires. The feeling that he and his fellow Melbourne-born bandmates had to explore every possible avenue and potential throwaway idea in the studio in order to create the brash new pop record rivalling those of Michael Jackson and Fleetwood Mac. What made those artists so successful? “We really focussed on learning a lot about chord progressions, what a chorus, a pre-chorus and bridge is. We really wanted to learn the rules so that we could eventually break them in a good way,” he said. Disobeying the Guide to Music 101 is a regular thing on All Possible Futures with pop music flipped and distorted into a feature-rich optimism-enhancer filled with more than enough hooks than Taylor Swift could shake her perpetually bad dance moves at. Ben revealed that two thirds of the album was written, recorded and produced in Los Angeles, with the remaining third being polished and mastered in Melbourne. Without the band’s departure to LA, though, All Possible Futures’ major key sanguinity couldn’t have been achieved.

the duo further progressed these universally dysfunctional iPhone Voice Memo recordings into a full-fledged music-art project with a side order of worldwide club shows. Formulaic to the Miami Horror process, though, was the stream of guest vocalists appearing on the record. One of the band’s first singles featured New Zealand pop masterclasser Kimbra. Snagging her just before her career took a massive spike in the charts, the band this time grabbed Cleopold – a Melbourne based artist who’s debut single is set to drop in a matter of months. Cleopold features on both first album single, Love Like Mine, and Colours in the Sky. “He’s very clever with his take on modern, down-tempo R’n’B. When an unknown artist is thrown into the thick of it, and gets a lot of word of mouth quickly, just like Kimbra, they’ll blow up fast. Out of everyone featured on the record, he has the most potential,” Ben said. All Possible Futures struck out to me as a rather peculiar album title. Before asking Ben about the real meaning behind it, I interpreted the title to be somewhat of an opportunistic approach to the world’s impending prospects. No one, especially Ben, knows what the future will hold, therefore we must be open and willing to view all possible directions to appear sustainable in all matters of life. When I questioned Ben on the topic, he somewhat agreed with my take on the album title yet he finds solace in knowing that the current generation of humans have lived in a time of conservation. “[In the next twenty years] I think we’ll start to integrate technology more into nature. We’ve been somewhat pushing against it for quite a while. It’s great to see the younger generation being taught to respect the Earth a little more.”

“I think LA carried a lot of the mood on the album. [Majority] of albums that come out of there are dreamy and quite summery.”

At a smaller scale, Ben views the album title as something of a motivator toward making better pop music and being able to accept that not everything can be perfect.

“The people, the culture, the vibe was the main reason we went to Los Angeles. We just wanted to experience that. It’s like where the freaks of America come together to meet. That was what we found interesting about it and we wanted a bit of that quirkiness to our music,” Ben said.

“It’s more philosophical. I think about all possible directions, all possible futures, all possible paths and then I choose the one that leads to the best outcome. Every relationship you have, every step you take is leading to one of those possible futures. So with the album, ironically, it’s basically all the possible directions we could have gone in one big collection.”

In addition to the new Miami Horror LP, Ben and Aaron from the group struck up ideas of a more psychedelic transitional project called Wunder Wunder who, last year, released a surprise debut album. The initial Miami Horror demo recordings were far too experimental sugar-pop to be branded with the illustrious Miami Horror title. Therefore 16

www.blankgc.com.au

All Possible Futures, the second album from Miami Horror, is released in Australia on 24 April via Remote Control Records.

HANGING’ FIVE WITH CHEAP FAKES Six-piece Cheap Fakes are ready to unleash their ska-inspired, brassfuelled funk to audiences across the country. With Valley Fiesta, Caloundra Music Festival, Big Pineapple Festival, Island Vibe and Golden Days all under their belt, their live show has been honed to perfection. We hung five with Hayden Andrews (lead singer), ahead of their GC show. Tell us about the best gig you’ve ever played? A massive highlight for me was when we supported Cody Chesnutt. He has been one of my favourite artists since I was a teenager and getting to meet him and watch him perform just blew my mind. I turned into a giddy fan and he was such a nice guy! What’s the one piece of advice you’d give an aspiring musician? Do it your way, don’t look at what everyone else is doing; create your own scene. Bands these days really have to be in it for the love of music and the experiences that performing live bring. There isn’t a lot of money in music but there are a lot of good times to be had: get amongst it, and lose your inhibitions! If you could take 5 people on a roadtrip around Australia, who would you choose? Neil Finn- he can be playing acoustic guitar and singing in the back Doctor Karl - he can be informing us of interesting facts between Neil Finn songs Ricky Gervais - he’d be telling jokes and laughing insanely when Neil needs a sleep John Lennon - John and Neil could go song for song and harmonise with each other Paul McCartney - We might as well make it a three part harmony. John was definitely better with Paul by his side and vice versa. The most under-rated musicians right now? Cheap Fakes - those guys are awesome (insert smiley face). What’s your most vivid musical memory? Sitting at my dad’s record player as a small kid with an assortment of classics - Led Zep, The Beatles, Deep Purple, Rolling Stones, Lynyrd Skynyrd and using those records to make ‘cool scratching noises’. Let’s just say the wooden spoon got good use that day. Cheap Fakes + Chocolate Strings Friday 17 April, Soundlounge Currumbin

HANGIN’ 5 WITH HOLLYWOOD HEARTACHE Local band Hollywood Heartache have been causing quite a commotion in the local scene with their latest brand of pop. They are currently touring through the Gold Coast’s high schools playing a mix of originals and covers, which has been going down a treat with audiences. Kyle Butcher caught up with the guys to see what makes them tick, both on stage and behind the scenes.

You have one song you can listen to for the rest of the decade. What song would it be? Kevin (Guitar, Vocals): All Time Low – Kids In The Dark. Sam (Guitar, Vocals): John Mayer – Bold As Love. Josh (Drums, Vocals): Eminem – Stan (‘Cause I’m a Gangsta, duh). Will (Bass, Vocals): What Does The Fox Say? by Ylvis, purely for the fact that I could run around on the street and annoy people with it! You get to swap voices with anyone, fictional or otherwise. Who would it be? S: Yami Yugi/The Pharaoh from the original series of Yu-Gi-Oh! K: Luke Hemmings or Alex Gaskarth. W: Stewie Griffin, would love to sing my parts in his accent! J: Anyone with a cool American accent. Favourite local band and song? W: Endworld – Ground War. K: Scarlet Kill - L Bomb. S: Either Double Lined Minority – Hanging, or Josh Lovegrove – Mona Lisa Smile. J: I’m gonna have to go with Sam, I love me some Double Lined Minority. Stop Me and Voodoo are rad. Craziest/best moment with HH so far? S: Honestly our first show was incredible. After the release of Sarah Says, and the months of preparation leading up to it - We managed to play a sold out venue with Double Lined Minority and Sam Harrow. The audience was WAY into it, it was insane. K: Today actually. Played an awesome school show and some

kid crowd surfed. W: We went to get in my car to go for a drive and Kevin wanted to sit in the front passenger seat, but much to his distress, there was a massive Grasshopper holding onto the roof on the inside of the car. He went to open the door, noticed the Grasshopper, and then Sam screamed like a girl and ran away! Kevin went to run as well but he fell over! That was so damn funny. J: Aside from what the guys said, being asked for photos in public is a crazy thing. You can tour to one city tomorrow to play to a packed out crowd. Where do you choose? J: I’d love to sell out Suncorp Stadium or Brisbane Entertainment Centre. I think that would make my family proud and they could all come and watch us act like we think we are good. That would be great. W: New York, Madison Square Garden. K: Wembley Stadium, Wembley Park, London, England. S: Kev already said Wembley… And London’s at the top of my bucket list. But next in line is New York! Hollywood Heartache’s latest single, School’s Out, is being released in April.

TWEED MUSIC CO-OP WILL HONOUR ABORIGINAL MAN’S MEMORY When Aboriginal elder Jeffrey Smith passed away unexpectedly last month, he was in the process of creating an inclusive, not for profit music and arts cooperative in the Tweed Region. He was a passionate community activist and founding member of local band Fat Albert. Now, a group of Tweed music lovers is working to honour his life and continue with the project.

Tweed Valley community as a community function.”

Soul Sessions Entertainment is one of the businesses throwing their weight behind the concept, with a focus on giving local bands a platform to showcase their talent in a positive and nurturing environment.

Ivey will be releasing their debut EP Cascade on the night.

“His enthusiasm was contagious,” said Benji Guerrero, speaking about Jeff Smith, “and other members of the Co-op have vowed to continue in his honour.” Their aim is to create something sustainable for the community and mak sure that the collection of quality musical instruments and production equipment Jeff Smith had gathered over the years are put to good use. “The intention is that the Co-op will offer workshops, mentoring and align itself with accredited programs and will be completely community focused, the purpose being to train and support those with a passion for music who may otherwise have never had the means to pursue this interest,” Benji said. “The aim is to embed the culture of music back into the

www.blankgc.com.au

And it seems that the Co-op is hitting the ground running with its first event taking place on Saturday 28 March as a showcase of local music. The all-ages event will showcase the talent of Ivey, a teenage indie pop four-piece and The High Grade, an energetic eight-piece reggae hip-hop fusion band.

“There will be a dedication to Jeff on the night, and names will be gathered of those interested in participating in the co-op or interested in seeing how they can contribute their skills,” Benji said. Already, interest in the concept is extremely high, with both Indigenous and non-Indigenous musicians, dancers, teachers, trainers, youth workers, producers and artists expressing eagerness to offer their time and skills to help those who struggle to fit into the mainstream education system.” “With support from NGOs and potential grants, the possibilities are endless,” said Benji. He also said the next step was to find a permanent venue. “Jeff ’s friends and family hope to share his vision with the local community to create positive social change in an area that has somewhat become associated with social issues such as youth gangs, violence and lower socio-economic status,” Benji said.

The Lyrical

The High Grade + Ivey at Sunhouse Coolangatta | Saturday 28 March More information at facebook.com/SoulSessionsEntertainment Samantha Morris

BORN TO TAKE MODERN ROCK TO THE NEXT LEVEL Gold Coasters Redstarborn say they formed for a sacred purpose: that of creating and performing intense and inspiring music. With each of the four members passionate about different musical genres, they share an instinct for great song writing. The band enjoyed underground swell in their first two years and received industry acknowledgement for being high energy and creative. But still, they’re just a bunch of 30-something dudes with a drive to make cool tunes and rock it hard. And our Editor Samantha Morris fired off some questions to get to know two of the members of Redstarborn just a bit better.

production team spent another 40 hours or something stupid piecing it all together. We love how intense it is – really serves the song well. How important is it to have strong visuals these days? Dan: Great question. It’s important on a couple of levels. Youtube is the first place most new listeners will go to check out your music, so not having clips is gonna limit your exposure. Also, the sensual feast of a good song and a good video should intensify our initial connection with not only the song, but the artist. That said, I reckon there comes a point in our progressive relationship with a piece of music where the visuals become a distraction from letting the music do its deeper work. Turn off your iPad kids! Go listen to a record in the dark. Tell me a bit about the bands you’re sharing the stage with at the Cooly? Dan: We’ve got Brissy alt rockers Love Hate Rebellion: sick grooves and big, big melodies. Local legends Kip Casper probably need no introduction to Blank GC readers – fusiony pop-rock bliss. Actually our main goal for the night is to replace the damned catchy KC tune that they will put in your head, with one of ours. And of course, the indomitable Smoking Martha. Smokin’ hot n heavy hard rock. You can see why we’re pumped for this.

Tell me a bit about yourself and how you got into music? Matt Skea (drums): As an 8yo, mum put me through keyboard lessons. By the time I turned 10 it was obvious that I was meant for something louder, so dad bought me a hand drum kit. Both my dad and my brother play guitar, so I guess I was always destined to be a drummer. RSB is actually the first GC band I’ve been in. I’d done some session drumming over the years, but then in early 2014 I heard that Redstarborn were going to be auditioning for a new drummer. Three months later after a couple jams with the boys, I got the call telling me I was in.

Dan Newton (guitar / vocals): Everyone’s got their little spot in the group dynamic. Shane is the deep, emotional one – the overthinker. Whereas Donny, well, he’s definitely the under-thinker. I think I’m the angry pragmatist of the group. I’m not delighted about that but somebody’s gotta do it. This new guy seems ok. In fact, he’s probably the nicest, happiest person I know. Which of course, is how people on TV interviews describe their serial killer neighbour. So far so good, but let’s just say we don’t have any band camping trips planned at this stage. Matt: Aw come on. I know this great spot. You’ll love it.

Tell me about the rest of the band? Matt: Shane’s a tradie, I’m in event production – or that’s what I tell everyone, Dan’s a finance officer, and Donny’s a fireman! We’re yet to determine which of these skills is most useful in a rock band.

The film clip for Electricity is really powerful and well produced - tell me about that process? Dan: Yeah, full credit to director Tai Chan from V1 Studio and his crew – we’re stoked we were in such capable hands. We filmed over two exhausting days and I think the

What are your thoughts about the GC music scene? Matt: There is so much amazing musical talent out there and it’s on display all over the Gold Coast. You just have to go out and see it and it’s not that hard to find. When I used to commute to Brisbane for work, there was this one guy who played guitar in the pedestrian tunnel near Post Office Square. He was stupidly talented. And he played to thousands of people every day. But they all had their headphones on, totally oblivious to the amazing talent that was sitting right there as they walked by. Dan: It’s the same all across the country, not just the Goldy. Sure, attendance is down, live music venues are closing or being castrated into pokie farms by ridiculous licensing demands and no one’s making any money, but you know what, the music scene is still there – staunch as ever. Because there are always gonna be people - artists, promoters and punters who just live and breathe this stuff. So they find a way to just keep doing their thing, and everyone else can get stuffed. The net result is a rich and diverse music scene made up of incredibly talented and passionate people. Redstarborn is Shane Seale (vocals), Dan Newton (guitar / vocals), Shane ‘Donny’ Morse (bass) and Matt Skea (drums) Redstarborn + Smoking Martha + Love Hate Rebellion + Kip Casper Sunday 29 March, Cooly Hotel

www.blankgc.com.au

GC FESTIVAL WALLAPALOOZA GOES NATIONAL One of the Gold Coast’s most popular independent festivals Wallapalooza, will go from Mudgeeraba to five east coast locations this year. Since launching five years ago it has become one of the most successful and long-running events in Southeast Queensland and in 2015 drew a crowd in excess of 1000 people. In Mudgeeraba, might I add. It started with the humble goal of promoting Gold Coast artists to a broader audience but the lineup has grown over time to first include artists from northern NSW, then Brisbane and now the nation. Festival organiser Andy Clark said pressure from other cities was the driving force behind taking the event on the road. “I think it was a natural evolution with the overwhelming popularity of the gold coast event to take it into other musical communities,” Andy said. “The artists we have performing are each outstanding in their own right, let alone all on one line up.” “It was important for me to share their talent with as many people as possible,” Andy said. The festival will hit Byron Bay, Brisbane, Gold Coast, Sydney and Melbourne although the lineup will change based on a series of themes developed specifically for the event and Clarke says each event will feature talent local to that area.

“Dare to be different,” he said. “We are a multi genre event. Variety is the spice of life and people tend to appreciate the change in pace and style rather than one genre or sub-genre being rammed down their throat.” As with all new initiatives, finance is an issue for Wallapalooza’s new format. “Going on the road has its costs and the Gold Coast has fantastic support through our major sponsor Jim Beam,” Andy explaind. “We are hoping to expand this relationship to a national level, and we are also looking to develop similar relationships with others to help support the growth and development of Wallapalooza along the East Coast.” While the Brisbane and Gold Coast shows have some acts playing both locations, there is also a bunch of bands exclusive to each. Only the Melbourne lineup has been announced as we go to print, but dates and venues have been confirmed. “I’d also like to thank everyone for supporting Wallapalooza over the last five years,” Andy said. “I look forward to your continued support in our growth and promotion of original music in Australia. Rock on.” Samantha Morris

The themes are sirens, dungeons, pirates and dragons. Andy said one of the secrets to the event’s success is variety. “I’m the eternal optimist so everything in my life is positive,” he said. “Life is beautiful.” After just a few minutes of conversation, it was an easy conclusion to draw - Sayer exudes positivity and a zeal for life of someone half his age.

Fortunately for the rest of us, what Sayer likes to do is write and record good music – something he’s been doing for more than four decades, recently celebrating the 40th anniversary of Silverbird, his debut record. He’s since released another 18 albums and had a string of top ten hits in UK, Australia and the USA. Even so, Sayer says he’s still waiting to hit the big time. That’s what singer/songwriter Leo Sayer believes will be written on his gravestone, when the unfortunate eventuality comes to pass. 20

www.blankgc.com.au

Saturday 6 June | New Globe Theatre Brisbane, dungeons theme featuring more than 20 acts over three stages. Featuring Walken, Rude Mood, Thundergod of the Multiverse, These Four Walls, Smoking Martha, Red Hook, Azreal, The Black Swamp, Gimpus, Redstarborn, Hail Mary, Mass Sky Raid, Flanellettes, The Royal Artillery, Rogue Scholars, The Molatovs, Swamp Gully Howlers, Andrew Baxter, Andrew Cousins. Tickets $20 + booking fee available at ticketbooth.com.au. VIP tickets available. Buy tickets through bands for 10% discount. Sunday 7 June | Wallaby Hotel Gold Coast, pirates theme with 30 bands over three stages plus free entry.

Sunday 14 June | Frankies by the Slice Sydney, sirens theme with a five band showcase.

“Boredom, what is that? I don’t think I’ve ever had that. I’ve been self-employed since I was 19 years old. People have tried to tell me what to do but it doesn’t work. I do what I like.”

He’s the guy who had a good time, all the time.

Friday 5 June | Great Northern Byron Bay, sirens theme featuring five band showcase

Friday 12 June | Espy Hotel Melbourne, dragons theme with a six band showcase in the iconic Front Bar. Featuring Fuck the Fitzroy Doom Scene, Hailmary, RedHook, These Four Walls, Smoking Martha and Flannelette.

“Each show will have a different theme,” Andy said. “The themes will incorporate difference creative media and props and FX makeup by the team at Killer FX.”

ONE MAN BAND: LEO SAYER

WALLAPALOOZA 2015

“At 66 I’m still pushing to build a career,” says Sayer, only half in jest. “Eventually I’ll be successful.” Most famous for songs such as One Man Band, romance

ballad When I Need You and disco classic You Make Me Feel Like Dancing, Sayer’s jovial nature and big personality might lead the uninitiated to believe he’s nothing more than a 70s hit maker who can sing a catchy tune. Not so. Leo Sayer is a musician of remarkable talent with an extensive catalogue of songs and a fascinating “hybrid of styles”, according to Rock historian Glenn A Baker. Nicole Madigan Leo Sayer performed at The Tivoli on Thursday 19 March. You can read our full interview at blankgc.com.au.

APPEARING AT BLUESFEST 2015...

HANGIN’ FIVE WITH FRANKENREITER

FROM CATHOLIC CHOIR TO DARK CHILD

Musician, surfer, film maker and all round hirsute hero, Donavon Frankenreiter hits Miami Shark Bar in early April as part of a run of shows to introduce us to his latest album Start Livin. Blank’s own funnyhairyman Iain Wright caught up with him for a quick (very quick) chat.

At just 24, Marlon Williams has a voice that could only have been a gift from the angels. He’s refreshingly unique, captivating and gracious. Originally from a small town just outside Christchurch, New Zealand, Marlon now resides in Melbourne. With his enchanting voice he delivers a fresh modern and somehow really old country sound like no other and could be dubbed a modern day Elvis. Emma Ballard spoke to Marlon ahead of his Bluesfest appearance.

Between making music, touring, running a record label, surfing, surf movies, a wife, raising two young boys and extensive moustache grooming you’re an extremely busy man. How do you prioritise each aspect of your life and give them all the attention they deserve especially your family?? I just focus on my wife and kids and everything falls into place They’re my inspiration for my music and what I do in my life. Any chance of a peanut butter and jam reunion tour?? No, I don’t think that will ever happen. I don’t even know where those guys are anymore’ If you could put together your ultimate backing band with any musicians (dead or alive) who would make the cut and why? Hendrix, Elvis, Prince, Dylan, The Beatles. It would be fun to jam with all of them. The transition from your “break out role” as the mad transvestite scientist in the rocky horror picture show to surfer / musician was a big career shift. Why the change and can we expect any stockings and suspenders on stage? No stockings or suspenders on stage.

Read the full story at blankgc.com.au.

People describe you as the impossible love child of Elvis, Roy Orbison and Townes Van Zandt. I’m a huge fan of all three artists, they’re amazing and so it’s extremely flattering to be compared to them. I listened to a lot of Elvis growing up and Roy Orbison as well. My dad introduced me to Townes Van Zandt when I was about 14 or 15 and I got really into his music. They were all influences on me really. Other influences were The Beatles and traditional modern music. As a teenager I was into all the usual bands. How and when did your musical journey begin and when did you start writing songs? When I was ten I joined a choir and found I could pick out harmonies and things like that, so that’s where the journey began. Then I joined a choir at High School and started writing my own songs. I was in the Catholic Cathedral Choir for five years.

XAVIER UNITES NATIONS Favourite Bluesfest artist, Xavier Rudd has created roots and reggae super group United Nations, launched new album Nanna and released single Come People as a taste of what we’ve got to look forward to. Sarah McEwan chatted with Xavier ahead of Bluesfest. You’ve been busy working on Nanna with The United Nations. They’re a bunch of amazing artists including Gold Coaster Bobby Alu. How did it all come about? It was almost like our Ancestors were having a cup of tea, as soon as I put it out to the universe, people just sort of appeared, it’s a really powerful gang with people from every tribe. Everyone’s got their own unique style of music. What can we expect from Nanna that’s different from previous albums? United Nations is a reggae band, All my other records are pretty minimal and acoustically based. Ss this record is a big band, it’s a rootsy reggae sounding record: Bobby Alu said to me in the studio that it’s still a Xavier Rudd record, it’s still got the flavour of what I do but it’s a lot bigger sound and it’s groovy. It’s boogie time and people won’t be able to stand still. You’re back at Bluesfest and so many people are stoked. I remember seeing you a few years ago when you jumped on stage with Ben Harper and performed I Shall not Walk Alone together. And then last year you performed with Nahko and the Medicine People. Any collaborations this year? Ben Harper is on after me, and he’s playing with The Innocent Criminals and we’re with United Nations so that’s two pretty powerful bands. So yeah I’m sure there will be some type of collaboration, and this band that we have created are banging. I really think people are going to dig it. It’s going to be a big dance party, people are going to boogying.

Read the full story at blankgc.com.au. Read the full story at blankgc.com.au

www.blankgc.com.au

Food & Drink BAMBI DELUXE

CUCINA VIVO

18 Stuart Street, Coolangatta

Jupiters Gold Coast, Broadbeach Island, Broadbeach

Away from Coolangatta’s tourist strip, but close enough for the local surfers to stop by for a post-surf brew, Bambi Deluxe has been caffeinating the locals and coffee savvy tourists for the past five years leading to a huge following on social media. With a surprisingly quiet setting being so close to the hustle of Coolangatta, the sunny café is consistently rated as one of the top five cafes on Beanhunter, with locals and tourists being drawn to the offerings of a dark or light roasted bean blend from which to have their coffee made. With the majority of seating being outside where patrons can bask in the sun, the interior of the café is inviting with a big red Ruggero coffee machine front and centre as you walk in, facing the board that details the origins of the beans that contribute to each blend. Owner Mike McCarthy grew up on the Gold Coast and worked in the hospitality industry all over the world before coming back home to open Bambi Deluxe. When he opened no one else was offering a choice in regards to bean blends. He quickly found that his patron’s palates differed greatly, favouring one roast over the other and, often enough, he has even found that couples will order their coffees in one of each as their tastes are frequently so different. Bambi Deluxe’s beans are sourced from an independent roaster in Melbourne with the blends having remained the same for the past five years with only minor tweaks occurring depending on availability. Blend number one, the light roast, is comprised of beans sourced from Indonesian, Columbia, PNG and Ethiopia. An espresso of the light blend is sharp and whets the appetite with a potent flavour laced with tannins. A long black, where you control the amount of water added, smooths out the flavour and reveals notes of candy, and juicy fruits. Blend two, the dark roast of beans from Columbia, PNG, Sumatra and India, has a fragrant espresso with a dark chocolate flavour and an aroma reminiscent of a hot summer day. The piccolo of this blend was the favourite of the day, with a beautiful colour and caramel aroma, the taste is initially subtle until the strong caramel flavours kick in before smoothing out luxuriously. Bambi Deluxe follows NSW times and is open from 630am to 3pm Monday to Friday, 7.30am to around 1 or 2pm Saturdays, and is closed Sundays. Catherine Coburn

Bambi Deluxe @ Coolangatta 22

www.blankgc.com.au

Like most gourmands, I’ve got a food bucket list. As a book it would be titled “1001 Restaurants You Must Experience Before You Die”, but someone else got in first! My list would include Noma, Tetsuya’s and, of course, Ristorante Grotta Palazzese in Italy, clinging path-like around the edge of a cliff overlooking the ocean. It’s the cliff-top restaurants along the Amalfi Coast that provided the inspiration for Cucina Vivo. Jupiters Gold Coast’s latest restaurant is also their first outdoor venue, the stunning terrace facing away from the gaming tables to overlook the newly renovated pool and city lights. Fresh and bright, there’s a distinct seaside feel to the spacious venue, a breath of fresh air with a flood of natural light. Seating 250 people in a variety of areas with contrasting aspects, Cucino Viva will soon extend its culinary reach to provide room service to the hotel. We’re dining by invitation at Cucina Vivo, ‘Kitchen of Life’, at a Sunday lunch. Greeted at the door, we’re ushered past the Bezzera Eagle, a grand and beautiful brass coffee machine pulled straight out of Steam Punk heaven. At a purchase price which could buy a small car, we know our Vittoria Oro blend will be in good hands! But it’s the huge pizza oven which forms the centrepiece of the décor, action and cuisine of this kitchen; the restaurant’s fiery, beating heart. It’s the tool which cooks not only the pizzas but also the seafood and meat for the restaurant’s dishes, leaving in its wake the lingering textured flavours of wood smoke. A wide bench skirts around the oven, dotted with herbs, eggs, lemons and olive oil. No pretence! This is a working kitchen, with high tables overlooking the action, much like a chef ’s bar. We watch as our meals are prepared, the pizza bases thrown perilously into the air, topped, before being carefully tended in the brooding coals. Maurizio is a pizzaiola from Naples (the home of pizza) who, with Roberto, makes the pizza as well as all the pasta served in house. He tells us in detail the secrets of his great pizza dough, even available in gluten-free. “Simple!” he says, as my eyes glaze over. Oh yeah! Having dried homemade pasta on washing lines strewn throughout the house, we’re more than happy to leave the work to the experts.

Cucina Vivo @ Broadbeach

The dishes roll out in a neat procession: a generous Antipasti del Salumiere (salami, provola and giardiniera) freshly sliced and beautifully arranged on a wood platter (20); Cozze al Forno – a pot of black mussels given a healthy kick of surprise with minced pork sausage, garlic, tomato and white wine (18); Pizza Proscuitto e Argula Pizza, dotted with prosciutto San Daniele, rocket and parmigiano cheese (23) and Tagliolini Marinara, the ribbons of pasta dotted with seafood still smoky from the pizza oven. They’re rustic dishes to share, hands in, chins dripping, deliciously similar to the way they’ve been cooked for generations. I’m enjoying a glass of Prosecco with the meal. With citrus fruit and overtones of apple and pear, the delicate acidity of this lightly sparkling wine suits the food really well. It’s fairly low alcohol, but ripe for a party - the sort of bubbly you could drink for hours! Surprisingly, it’s not an Italian-made wine at all, but Brown Brothers ‘Limited Release’, grown in the cool climate of Victoria’s King Valley. At dinner time there’s a more extensive menu. Pizzas, pastas, Dal Forno (15 – 29) and Piatti Forti (Mains 28 – 45) emerge from the oven, licked by the flames; modern takes on classic dishes such as Oven-Braised Wagyu Beef Meatballs and Lasagna di Carne with layers of home-made pasta, bolognese, béchamel, parmigiano and mozzarella. Dessert is still to come. We’d heard a rumour and it’s true. The king is dead! Michele Ferrero, ‘the richest candyman on the planet’ according to Forbes magazine, had died on Valentine’s Day. A billionaire whose company makes Ferrero Rocher, Tic Tacs and Kinder, Ferrero is best known for inventing Nutella to beat the cocoa rations of World War II, adding vegetable oil to ‘Gianduja’, a chocolate and hazelnut paste. Ever since, Nutella has been a key player in the family fortune. Cucina Vivo boasts a Ferrero tribute pizza with nutella, caramelised chocolate buttons, fresh strawberries and hazelnuts spread over an airy, light base. Of course we must pay homage to the king! The pizza’s simply delicious – a treat to share. The chefs at Cucino Viva are Italian. So, it’s ironic that their kitchen backs on to that of Kiyomi. We chuckle even thinking about the behind the scenes cultural interface, exuberance and precision meeting like branches of a river! “We’re always busy. Sometimes there’s pressure, but it’s compensated by the fact that we have the passion,” the gentlemanly Sous Chef Matteo tells us. It’s the passion handed

down through childhood memories and recipes from generation to generation. The passion shows! There’s attention to detail, smiling faces and genuine interest in customers. Italian bonhomie flows out into the restaurant mingling with the aromas of delicious cuisine. An animated conversation breaks out in Italian at the next table as one of the staff members jokes with a customer. Inevitably, we’re drawn into the laughter, the invisible barriers between our tables falling away. We realise that as we’ve eased into lunch and interacted with staff, our meal has taken on meaning. More than just a meal, it’s become an experience. Life is good! This year we may not get to many places on our bucket list; certainly not to Ristorante Grotta Palazzese. Even though the outlook over a hotel pool will never compare to the rugged views of an Italian cliff face, until we get there, lunch at Cucina Vivo is a whole lot of fun! Marj was a guest of Jupiters Gold Coast. Cucina Vivo starts offering lunch with live music from Friday 27 March. Marj Osborne Read more of Marj’s reviews at foodgoldcoast.com.au

DAILY SQUEEZE CAFÉ Shop 6, 37 Musgrave Avenue (Cnr Turpin St), Chirn Park “Oh look! The café is named after me!” The Main Squeeze is jubilant. So am I when we take a look inside! Daily Squeeze is the first café for owner Kim Stuart and partner Peter Combe, who designed and renovated the premises themselves. The counter and bench seats have been crafted from recycled timber from the Old Tweed River Wharf. The wood gives a warm glow to the ‘Country Life’-styled homey café; it’s welcoming and comfy but not imposing. “We wanted to create a very visual place where food is on display and people feel comfortable and relaxed; where they can sit down and talk to friends,” Peter says. The café’s geared to the customer: download the 365 cup app and you can order food and coffee to be ready when you arrive, ask for a dish to be altered and the staff will do their

Daily Squeeze @ Chirn Park

best; it’s all in the attitude of service.

persona; this is a place for us!

With Single Origin Fair Trade coffee from local roasters Premiato Coffee served with a choice of a number of organic milks, organic and herbal teas, and lots of menu options for gluten-free, dairy-free, vegetarian and vegan diners, Daily Squeeze is squarely aimed at the health-conscious.

North facing to the winter sun, family friendly and full of homey goodness, the Daily Squeeze Café is a breath of fresh air to Chirn Park’s daytime dining. No wonder it’s already a hit with locals!

“We’re surprised at the demand for food intolerant menu items – far more than we expected! So we’ve listened to the market and changed the menu to meet the clientele’s demands. At the same time, we’ve created dishes that everyone can enjoy,” Kim says. ‘Simple, honest to goodness real food’. Daily Squeeze offers cold pressed juices, smoothies, and homestyle dishes made from mostly organic produce (including organic coffee and tea), organic free range eggs, raw local honey and organic coconut products, which you can also buy in the store. It’s good healthy food at a reasonable price to dine in or take away, chosen from a simple yet accessible menu. Breakfast ranges from $4 to $13.50 with a choice of ‘Fresh’ (Açai or Granola bowls, Yoghurt and fresh fruit salad) or ‘Hot’ (various egg dishes including a Benedict, Moroccan spicy beans and a Corn fritter stack). When we enjoyed a weekend breakfast, the café was pleasantly full, with diners spilling out around the side verandah to the front of the shop. Herbs adorned every table and we were warmly greeted when we ordered at the counter. Our corn stack served with avo and chutney ($12.50) was one of the best we’ve tasted. Freshly made by Elle in the kitchen, despite being gluten-free, they were light, fluffy and full of flavour. The OMG yoghurt (this Queensland yoghurt has been awarded Best in the world) and fresh fruit bowl was a generous serve for $6.50. Our Summer Quench juice of cold pressed watermelon, pineapple and mango juice was also outstanding.

Marj Osborne Read more of Marj’s reviews at foodgoldcoast.com.au

EASY STREET DINER 2563 Gold Coast Highway, Mermaid Beach Like many Gold Coasters the Christmas break was painful. Our beloved NOLA @ Blackboard had served its last po’boy with promises of new beginnings coming in February. Instagram was our only avenue to monitor the situation as we all hung out for the news we were waiting for: that Easy Street Diner was finally open for business. Situated on the highway at Mermaid Beach the sign says it all: Cold Beers and Burgers, Fried Chicken and Good Times. Entering into the modern space owners Lucas and Erin have added their own quirky touches peppering the walls with unique artwork including the diner favourite: the Van Gough selfie. Erin is happiness personified greeting all customers with an infectious smile and an enthusiasm for the menu that knows no bounds. “You have to try the chicken and waffles” she informs me nodding appreciatively, “with bacon, in fact everybody should add bacon to everything!” How could you not love that encouragement!

Several of the brekkie options carry over to the lunch menu, which adds several extra dishes. You can also choose from a cabinet of wraps and freshly baked goods and sweets, many gluten and dairy free: lasagne, roast vegetable tarts, cakes and slices, all beautifully displayed.

The succulent Southern fried chicken and waffles ($18), with bacon of course ($3), comes with whipped butter and maple syrup, which I dubiously pour all over the meal before gingerly taking my first bite…and absolutely loving it! It’s the perfect combination of salty and sweet, crunchy and soft, and I am immediately transported to America via my tastebuds. The bacon in question is smoked and air dried, locally sourced along with all other produce used in the Easy Street kitchen.

One of the most child-friendly cafés we’ve seen, there’s a Kids’ menu packed with tiny versions of the adult menu at a lower price. Fruit salad, toast fingers, eggs, pancakes, juices and smoothies are some of the offerings with no chips and nuggets in sight! It’s a menu feature that’s been highly praised and, on the day we dined, there were lots of family groups enjoying a morning out.

Lucas and Erin started their journey at Miami Marketta with the humble po’boy, a Louisiana-born sandwich crammed full of meat and slaw. From the Marketta to NOLA and now Easy Street the po’boy remains a crowd pleaser. Generous amounts of meat are served on a brioche bun with the sweet and succulent pork belly and crispy Cajun fried chicken being particularly awesome ($15).

‘Get fresh with the locals!’ is the café’s motto: cheeky but straight to the point. No pretence, no ‘see and be seen’

Easy Street already has a huge base of hard core fans that come in many times a week to dine on the comforting home-

Easy Street Diner @ Mermaid Beach www.blankgc.com.au

Food & Drink style food. Chicken Wings are a crowd pleaser coming in a five ($8) or 10 piece ($15) served three different ways: Southern fried with Ranch, Sticky BBQ and Hot & Spicy. Great to share when dining with a group or I encourage you to be entirely selfish and have a basket all to yourself. Last, but not least, we need to talk about the burgers. The Royale with Cheese ($12) is a generous sized, hand pressed burger served with salad and pickle that will cause you to feel you are dining in the Deep South as it tastes so damn authentic. For the chicken lovers out there you will need to bring your appetite when eating the Chicken Deluxe burger as it is mightily generous and will leave you rubbing your full tummy with contentment ($15). With all sides being $6 most diners grab a few to share. A favourite of mine is the Dirty Corn smothered in chipotle sauce, cheese and crisp onion. In fact you know what? All the sides are delicious with the cheesy fries and onion rings being the big pleasers with my dining group.

BAZAAR SUNDAY LUNCH EXPERIENCE THE FAMED BAZAAR MARKETPLACE RESTAURANT FOR A LONG, LAZY SUNDAY LUNCH. Your plate is your passport as the Bazaar kitchen serves up cuisines from all around the globe.

Drinks wise Easy Street has a range of craft beers on tap as well as a few of America’s favourite brews. Their cocktails are on point with the Easy Street Tonic made from whiskey and fresh apple juice making for a great accompaniment to the food. So what does the future hold for Easy Street? Erin is hoping that they will eventually open for a New Orleans style long boozy lunch and branch out to American style breakfasts so stay tuned to their Instagram for all the important updates. Easy Street Diner is open Wednesday to Monday from 5pm with the kitchen closing at 9pm and the bar at 10pm. For authentic American goodness, and comfort food at its best, you simply must treat yo’self to a trip down Easy Street. Catherine Coburn

RED GINGER Byron Bay As if Byron Bay needed any more reasons to visit. Beaches and cafes, pubs and restaurants, live music and massages can all comfortably fill a weekend – except that there’s one more item fast becoming a Must Do. The steamed Yum Cha at iconic Asian emporium Red Ginger down the cinema end of town might just become your new Byron addiction…

Fresh seafood, wood fired pizzas, Asian dumplings steamed to order, exotic salads, an array of hot dishes, decadent desserts and the popular ice cream station! Adults $59, Kids under 12 years $29, Kids under 4 years eat free.

Bookings essential. Call 07 5584 1200 or book online at qtgoldcoast.com.au

QT Gold Coast 7 Staghorn Avenue Surfers Paradise Queensland

www.blankgc.com.au

Red Ginger @ Byron Bay

Those puffy little mouthfuls of silky savoury lusciousness have, for over twelve years, been seducing people through the door. Hand-made to restaurant quality exclusively for Red Ginger, they are kept warm and fragrant in a glass cabinet by the entrance. Soothing ambient music, sandalwood incense, aromas of fish sauce and shrimp paste, wooden shelves cluttered with crockery and candles and Chinese tin toys, lanterns and bird cages overhead, herbs and spices and teas and soaps: this vibrant narrow space is a wonderland of so many enchanting things – and that’s before you have settled down on the comfortable daybed up the back, poured yourself a complimentary green tea and preceded to feast on an array of buns and dumplings. Spicy Chinese BBQ pork inside puffy fluffy yeasty buns; delicate soybean skins encasing seaweed and vegetables; bok choy and shitakes in velvety gyozas; sweet plump prawn and spinach dumplings: all of it fresh and fullflavoured and fabulous. New Zealand-born owner Leslie Ford, an ex-voice coach and drama teacher, is by her own admission, a person unafraid to jump into doing something different – she ran a gym in WA’s Port Hedland before this. When she and her then-partner arrived in Byron Bay in 2002 the question was: “What does Byron need that we can do?” A rundown Asian grocery store provided the answer – that coupled with the fact Leslie’s ex-partner was PortugueseChinese from Macau. They started up Red Ginger in smaller premises, selling several dumplings from a small steamer, but it wasn’t long before demand required both bigger store and bigger steamer. Since then there’s been another Red Ginger established in nearby Bangalow, and the popularity of the steamed Yum Cha growing beyond expectation. Of course locals have loved them for years: children request ‘Red Ginger’ as shorthand for an after-school dumpling snack; surfers post-surf wolf them down in place of – or perhaps alongside – the mandatory meat pie and burger; busy mothers take home frozen packs for future easy dinners. Regular visitors flock to Red Ginger too for their dumpling fix – and the hungover kids at music festivals have already worked out that the Yum Cha there is one of the best cures around. And they’re healthy! Steamed not fried, bursting with protein and vegetables, substantial without weighing you down, and available in gluten-free vegan varieties as well. Before you know it, you’ll be a Red Ginger convert too. Lana Miele

WHAT’S ON THE BEST SOCIAL

NIGHT IN TOWN

BLACK HOPS BREWERS GET CRAFTY Six months ago, three local lads were sitting at the pub having a few beers when the conversation turned to brewing. One of those gents had an idea to brew an Eggnog Stout but he didn’t have the brewing experience to get it off the ground. As luck would have it, another had just set up a three-vessel home brew system that he was yet to use. The third dude was just there for a beer. And that’s how Black Hops Brewing started. “We made our first brew, the Eggnog Stout and it tasted even better than we hoped, so we handed it out to friends and others in the industry for feedback,” Eddie Oldfield, one of those three tells me. “We also spent a bit of extra time on some nice labels, a good brand name and a website. That extra effort helped us stand out, and before we knew it, people were asking when the commercial release would be ready,” Eddie said. So they kept the momentum going and brewed a 800L commercial batch. Samantha Morris posed a few questions to the team behind Black Hops Brewing. Tell me about your team Michael McGovern is our brewer. Brewing has been his full-time job for seven years. He started at Pickled Pig, then moved to Burleigh Brewing and now Fortitude Brewing. He has brewed four out of the current top seven Queensland craft beers. He’s also a beer lover, keen surfer and a new dad! Dan Norris is a serial entrepreneur and online marketing expert. His current business offers small 30 minute WordPress fixes for a monthly subscription. The jobs are managed by a team of 40+ people in 7 countries, servicing over 850 clients in 14 countries. He loves to write, surf, and drink beer. Eddie is the relationship and sales guy that every brewery needs. An all round good bloke, friend to lots in the craft beer industry, and a real beer aficionado. He too, also loves to surf as much as possible. When did you all first fall in love with craft beer? For all of us, the first proper taste of craft beer was probably the good local stuff a few years ago at Burleigh Brewing, the full range was a real eye opener. But I guess the foundation was laid a little earlier for us all with beers like Little Creatures Pale Ale and Coopers. Eddie used to take Tooheys Old to high school parties as no one would ever steal them. As far as mainstream beer goes, that had and still has some flavour at least.

And what drove you to start making your own? I think it just felt right from the start. We got together and started making beer quite often and talking a lot of shit, but that shit all of a sudden didn’t sound so stupid, and that beer we were making was tasting pretty damn good! We are a mixed bag, but the skills we all bring are quite unique. How different is making a batch of homebrew to brewing a craft beer for sale? It’s quite similar, the process is identical, for example the time it takes to brew 20L is the same as it takes to brew 1000L. We brew on a three vessel all grain system at home, which is somewhat equivalent to a large commercial setup, just a lot smaller. Scaling up the recipe is probably the biggest challenge, making sure ingredients remain in proportion, that’s Govs’ job though and he’s been doing that on a commercial scale, for a long time. Where do you hope this will go – do you want to quit your real jobs to become beer makers? Definitely. We think craft beer is going to explode in Australia and the Gold Coast is the perfect destination for it. Our plan is to find ourselves a home in a Gold Coast industrial area and build Queensland’s third largest independently owned brewery with a cellar door to create a place for locals to grab worldclass beer at their doorstep. What’s the craft beer scene like on the Gold Coast The craft beer scene here is in its infancy. There are promising signs but realistically we are a long way behind other major cities in Australia. We are really keen to help build a d change that. In a city that is so passionate about locally sourced produce (which is a good thing!), there seems to be a very big misconception about who owns beer, where that money goes and what’s actually in it.

8.30PM - LATE

| LIVE BANDS | FREEENTRY

LIVE LAUGHS BROUGHT TO YOU BY THE SIT DOWN COMEDY CLUB

ENTRY

8PM TIL LATE

TRIVIA NIGHT ......................

FROM 8PM

......................

Free entry, great prizes!

EVERY FRIDAY

COME & TRY

‘THE DESSURGER’ FOR ONLY $8.50

FREE LIVE MUSIC

Burleigh Brewing have obviously paved the way on the Coast, and we also have Fortitude Brewing up on Mt Tamborine, as have the bars that support local/Australian owned craft brewers. Places like Ze Pickle, Easy Street Diner, Cambus Wallace, Pigs ‘n’ Pints, Black Coffee Lyrics and Bine. So where can we try this magical brew? At the moment, we’ve been brewing small batches for specific events around the country. We have 4 events coming up for Brewsvegas, we will have a beer at the Great Australian Beer Spectapular in Melbourne and Good Beer Week in Melbourne. We keep our website, blackhops.com.au updated with all of the details. Samantha Morris

BURGERS | 5.308.30 PMPM -

FROM THE HOTTEST

BANDS IN TOWN

9PM TIL LATE Must be over 18 years old to attend Tuesday Social, Live Laughs, Trivia Night and Live Music.Subject to availability, change or cancellation. Offers not available in conjunction with any other offer or discount. Jupiters Hotel & Casino practises the responsible service of alcohol.

www.blankgc.com.au

GOLD COAST MARCH Two questions: Who’s playing? What’s pouring?

Wednesday 25 March Amanda King | One50 Public House, 5.00 – 9.00pm Open Mic Night | The Loft Chevron Island, 8.00pm Trinity Roots + Karl S Williams | Brunswick Hotel Open Mic Night | Byron Bay Brewery Thursday 26 March Mat Stokes | One50 Public House, 5.00 – 9.00pm DJ Nige + The Lyrical | Summertime Sessions, Mudgeeraba, 5.30pm Louie & Patrick | Treehouse Belongil, 7.30pm Rhythm & Blues Night with Frazer Goodman & Friends | The Loft Chevron Island, 8.00pm The Arno Show | Elsewhere Surfers Paradise BigFellaLinc | Kitty O’Shea’s Surfers Paradise, 8.00 11.00pm Zookeepers | Southport Sharks, 8.30pm Friday 27 March Nicky Convine | One50 Public House, 5.00 – 9.00pm Sarah Frank | Mandala Organic Arts Café Mermaid, 7.00pm Just Monday + The Vultures + United States of Oz + The Snachettes + The Goldhearts | Currumbin Creek Tavern, 7.30pm Timo | Byron Bay Brewery, 7.30pm Sundancers | Treehouse Belongil, 7.30pm Cadence + Josh Lovegrove + Natasha Smith | The Loft Chevron Island, 8.00pm Light Year EP Launch | Elsewhere Surfers Paradise The Polaroids | Burleigh Brewery My Friend the Chocolate Cake | Soundlounge, Currumbin House of Shem Harmony Tour + Jahkaya | Parkwood Tavern Saturday 28 March The High Grade + Ivey | Sunhouse Coolangatta, 4.30pm Dean Gray | One50 Public House, 5.00 – 9.00pm Benny D Williams | The Mill on Constance Brisbane, 7.00 – 9.00pm Mescalito Blues (10 year anniversary show) | The Dust Temple, 7.00pm The Underscore Orkestra | Sheoak Shack, 7.00pm Brad Butcher Believer Tour +Lou Bradley + Jack Paterson + Steve Grady | Currumbin Creek Tavern, 7.30pm Sarah Frank | Greenhouse Factory Coolangatta, 7.00pm Fiona Franklin | Treehouse Belongil, 7.30pm

www.blankgc.com.au

Saturday 28 March (cont.) Faleepo Fransisco | Byron Bay Brewery (Beer Garden), 7.30pm Ashley Lopez + Underscore Orkestra | Byron Bay Brewery (Band Room), 8.00pm The Ten Sopranos | Twin Towns Tweed, 8.00pm The Porkers + The Meaniacs + Loud Goes Bang | Coolangatta Hotel, 8.00pm The Meerdogs + Tom Sun + Daneel | The Loft Chevron Island, 8.00pm Virtuosity | Southport Sharks, 8.30pm Giv + James Francis | Elsewhere Surfers Paradise Sunday 29 March Music in the Park | Laguna Park Palm Beach, 12.00 4.00pm Chris Hutchinson | One50 Public House, 1.00 – 5.00pm Hayley Grace | Southport Sharks, 1.00pm The Green Sinatras | Nobbys Beach SLSC, 2pm – 6pm Sunday Funday DJs | Treehouse Belongil, 2.30pm – late Peter McFarlane and the Sidewinders | Pottsville Sports Club, 2.30pm Sarah Frank | The Outcider Coolangatta, 3.00pm Benny D Williams | Bambu Bar Palm Beach, 4.00 – 7.00pm Catfish & The Dee Jays | Southport Sharks, 7.00pm Red Star Born + Love Hat Rebellion + Smoking Martha + Kip Casper | Coolangatta Hotel, 8.00pm BigFellaLinc | Kitty O’Shea’s Surfers Paradise, 8.00 11.00pm Royale + Sessionkatz + Stretch | Elsewhere Surfers Paradise Tha Maslows + Alone Alaska + Wayward Smith | The Bearded Lady Brisbane Monday 30 March Lloyd Saniel | Southport Sharks, 6.00pm Tuesday 31 March Jackie Love | Twin Towns Tweed, 10.30am

APRIL Wednesday 1 April Felicity Lawless | Coolangatta Hotel, 6.30pm Open Mic Night | The Loft Chevron Island, 8.00pm Hanlon Brothers | Alto Cucina Broadbeach, 8.00pm - late

Thursday 2 April Smooth Groove | Chevron Renaissance, 6.00 Donavon Frankenreiter | Miami Tavern, 7.00 Local Musos Showcase | The Loft Chevron Is 8.00pm Can You Feel It Local Artist Lineup | Gold C Centre, 8.00pm BigFellaLinc | Kitty O’Shea’s Surfers Paradise 11.00pm Arno Allstars | Elsewhere SUrfers Paradise, 8 12.00am Open Mic Night | Hard Rock Cafe Surfers Pa Bustamento | Soundlounge Currumbin

Friday 3 April Felicity Lawless | Bambu Bar Palm Beach, 4.0 Skin Deep | Chevron Renaissance, 6.00 - 9.00 Earthcore + Juno Reactor + Grouch | Elsewh Surfers Paradise Blues Corp | Miami Marketta

Sunday 5 April Music in the Park | Laguna Park Palm Beach 4.00pm Mescalito Blues | Sunhouse Coolangatta, 4.0 Clare Nella | Chevron Renaissance, 6.00 - 9.0 BigFellaLinc | Kitty O’Shea’s Surfers Paradise 11.00pm Gipsy Kings featuring Nicolas Reyes + Tonin Baliardo | Jupiters Theatre Nautic Giants + Cut Snake + Yes Sir Noceur Psylis | Fisherman’s Wharf Tavern Main Bea Nautic Giants Afterparty & Special Guests | E Surfers Paradise

Wednesay 8 April Felicity Lawless | Bread N Butter Coolangatt Open Mic Night | The Loft Chevron Island, 8 Hanlon Brothers | Alto Cucina Broadbeach, - late

Thursday 9 April Rhythm & Blues Night with Frazer Goodma Friends | The Loft Chevron Island, 8.00pm

DESIGNED & COLLATE

T GIG GUIDE

0 - 9.00pm 0pm sland,

Coast Arts

e, 8.00 -

aradise

00pm 0pm here

00pm oast Arts

n Towns

h, 12.00 -

00pm 00pm e, 8.00 -

+ Might ach Elsewhere

ta, 6.00pm 8.00pm 8.00pm

an &

Friday 10 April Eleea Navarro | Chevron Renaissance, 6.00 - 9.00pm Benny D Williams | Cudgen SLSC, 6.00 - 10.00pm Mescalito Blues | Kingscliff Hotel, 7.30pm Eddie Boyd & The Phatapillars EP Launch Tour + The Badlands + Kenny Slide + The Dons | Currumbin Creek Tavern, 7.30pm Finkler + BigFellaLinc + Luke Houselander | The Loft Chevron Island, 8.00pm The Murlocs + Salvadarlings + The Brian Emo | Elsewhere Surfers Paradise Kooii | Miami Marketta Hans Solo | Burleigh Brewery Saturday 11 April Benny D Williams | Coolangatta Hotel, 5.30 – 9.30pm Hot Jazz & Swing Kings | Chevron Renaissance, 6.00 - 9.00pm BigFellaLinc (Finkler Duo) | Envy Hotel Broadbeach, 6.00 - 10.00pm Uncle Jed National Farewell Tour | Currumbin Creek Tavern, 8.00pm Kit Lightning + Davina + Nina Ward | The Loft Chevron Island, 8.00pm Giv & Guests | Elsewhere Surfers Paradise IZANIA | Miami Marketta Mr Speaker | Sheoak Shack Sunday 12 April Music in the Park | Laguna Park Palm Beach, 12.00 4.00pm Ruby Montey | Cabana Bar & Lounge Southport, 1.00pm Gavin Doniger | Suffolk Park Hotel, 4.00pm Felicity Lawless | Bluff Cafe Burleigh, 5.00pm Rockin Bodgies | Southport Sharks, 7.00pm BigFellaLinc | Kitty O’Shea’s Surfers Paradise, 8.00 11.00pm Torren Foot | Elsewhere Surfers Paradise Wednesday 15 April BigFellaLinc | Griffith UniBar, 12.00 - 3.00pm Felicity Lawless | Coolangatta Hotel, 6.30pm Open Mic Night | The Loft CHevron Island, 8.00pm Hanlon Brothers | Alto Cucina Broadbeach, 8.00pm - late

ED BY EMILY NORMAN

Wednesday 15 April (cont.) Akova | The Beach Hotel Byron Bay Thursday 16 April Local Musos Showcase | The Loft Chevron Island, 8.00pm Tempest Rising + Red Bee + Let the Number be X | Currumbin Creek Tavern, 8.00pm BigFellaLinc | Kitty O’Shea’s Surfers Paradise, 8.00 11.00pm Open Mic Night | Hard Rock Cafe Surfers Paradise The Arno Show | Elsewhere Surfers Paradise Friday 17 April BigFellaLinc (Finkler Duo) | Envy Hotel Broadbeach, 6.00 - 10.00pm Benny D Williams | Miami Marketta, 6.30 – 9.30pm Gavin Doniger | Bambu Bar Palm Beach, 6.30pm The Flame Fields + TrashQueen + Homeless Yellow + Former Angels + Tokyo Beef | Currumbin Creek Tavern, 7.30pm Frenzal Rhomb | Coolangatta Hotel, 8.00pm Cadence & Friends | The Loft Chevron Island, 8.00pm Dr Lips | Burleigh Brewery Cheap Fakes Just In Case Tour + Chocolate Strings | Soundlounge Currumbin Nicky Night Time | Elsewhere Surfers Paradise Saturday 18 April Benny D Williams | One50 Public House, 5.00 – 9.00pm Mescalito Blues | Carbarita Beach Sports Club, 7.30pm The Dawn Chorus | Broadbeach Tavern The Goldhearts + Hot Teas + Ellie Hopley | The Loft Chevron Island, 8.00pm Katie Who Album Release | Dust Temple Currumbin Giv & Guests | Elsewhere Surfers Paadise Mr Speaker & The Party People | Miami Marketta Sunday 19 April Benny D Williams | Genki Café Palm Beach, 11.30 – 1.30pm Music in the Park | Laguna Park Palm Beach, 12.00 4.00pm Benny D Williams | Sunhouse Coolangatta, 4.00 – 6.00 Gavin Doniger | Lennox Hotel, 5pm Jesswar | East Broadbeach, 8.00pm BigFellaLinc | Kitty O’Shea’s Surfers Paradise, 8.00 11.00pm Ella Fence | Cambus Wallace Nobby Beach Royale + Sesionkatz + Stretch | Elsewhere Surfers Paradise

Wednesday 22 April Felicity Lawless | Coolangatta Hotel, 6.30pm Open Mic Night | The Loft Chevron Island, 8.00pm Hanlon Brothers | Alto Cucina Broadbeach, 8.00pm - late Thursday 23 April BigFellaLinc | Kitty O’Shea’s Surfers Paradise, 8.00 11.00pm Rhythm & Blues Night with Frazer Goodman & Friends | The Loft Chevron Island, 8.00pm Gavin Doniger | Nimbin Hotel Open Mic Night | Hard Rock Cafe Surfers Paradise Friday 24 April Sarah Frank | Mandala Organic Arts Café Mermaid, 7.00pm The Elliots + Alone Alaska + Paging Jimi + Sorry Not Sorry | Currumbin Creek Tavern, 7.30pm Benny D Williams | Currumbin SLSC, 7.45 – 11.45pm Mescalito Blues | Billinudgel Hotel, 8.00pm CuzN + Danae Partice + Christian Andrew | The Loft Chevron Island, 8.00pm Resonance | Burleigh Brewery Karl S Williams | Miami Marketta Saturday 25 April Felicity Lawless | Bluff Cafe Burleigh, 5.00pm The Celibate Rifles | Coolangatta Hotel, 8.00pm Taso + Dear Willow + Mark Alpen | The Loft Chevron Island, 8.00pm Betty Oswald | Miami Marketta Sunday 26 April Music in the Park | Laguna Park Palm Beach, 12.00 4.00pm Mescalito Blues | Bearded Dragon Tambourine, 1.00pm Dugald (covers) | Main Beach SLSC, 3.00 – 7.00pm BigFellaLinc | Kitty O’Shea’s Surfers Paradise, 8.00 11.00pm Ella Fence | The Triffid Brisbane Wednesday 29 April Felicity Lawless | Coolangatta Hotel, 6.30pm Hanlon Brothers | Alto Cucina Broadbeach, 8.00pm - late Thursday 30 April Mescalito Blues | The Rails Byron Bay, 7.00pm BigFellaLinc | Kitty O’Shea’s Surfers Paradise, 8.00 11.00pm Open Mic Night | Hard Rock Cafe Surfers Paradise

www.blankgc.com.au

8.00pm -

Thursday 9 April (cont.) BigFellaLinc | Kitty O’Shea’s Surfers Paradise, 8.00 11.00pm Open Mic Night | Hard Rock Cafe Surfers Paradise Bill Chambers + Lou Bradley | Court House Hotel Mullimbimby The Arno Show | Elsewhere Surfers Paradise

www.blankgc.com.au

Film REVIEW: Ocean Film Festival, 2015

The longest short film, Devocean featured South African born, Bruno, a patron of last years Ocean Film Festival. After attending the screening, Bruno became inspired to tell his emotionally charged tale of survival and the human condition to never give up.

Bringing you news and behind the scenes information about Gold Coast restaurants and providores www.foodgoldcoast.com.au www.facebook.com/GoodFoodGoldCoast twitter.com/FoodGoldCoast instagram.com/foodgoldcoast pinterest.com/marjoz/restaurants-food-gold-coast/ With summer drawing to its sad and inevitable conclusion and colder seasons beginning to loom, I found myself warmed to the very center of my being as I spent an exceptional evening celebrating what I enjoy most of all on the Gold Coast… The ocean. In its second year running, Ocean Film Festival has graced our shores with a spectacular collage of short films spanning the globe in all its watery glory.

Once a wild surfer and seaworthy ship captain, Bruno’s world came brutally crashing down the night he was violently carjacked. The incident left him paraplegic, with no will to live, since his beloved ocean was completely out of his depth… Or so he thought. “You either have to find your humour, or find your passion.” Bruno wisely stated. His story challenged me to look at life from a completely different angle, no longer making assumptions about people just because they’re a little different. He is an inspiration to all, and epitomizes the very spirit of what Ocean Film Festival is all about.

The night began with a tale of four mad watermen exploring the Arctic Circle with nothing more than 7mm wetsuits and a waterproof camera. How could I possibly complain about our warm Aussie winter when these guys are out shredding eight foot frozen frothers!

With far too many films to list, the night wrapped up almost directly where it started – in Nordland, just south of the frozen Arctic Circle. The aptly titled The Fox of Bloody Woman Island was the perfect touch of frosting on a delectable evening of movie morsels. As bizarre as the title suggests, we weren’t disappointed when introduced to Ulf, a Nordic Viking of sorts, who makes his humble living building traditional timber boats by hand, using old traditional methods. Ulf ’s love of the sea and eccentric way of living sincerely encapsulated the human heart and what it means to be a steward of our watery planet.

Fortunately the night grew a little warmer from there on in, with a couple of short films featured right here on the sunny Australian coast.

No matter how great the distance, or varied the culture, there will always be one thing connecting mankind as a global community – the ocean.

Whether it was Mark Matthews dropping 20-foot monsters at Shipsterns, or his fearless 17-year-old underling, Russell Bierke stalling deep into cavernous barrels at The Right, we as an audience were entranced. Nothing simulates the enormity of that kind of surf quite like watching it in a giant

Be sure to keep an eye out for Ocean Film Festival 2016 when it comes surging into town next year. Truly an unforgettable evening not to be missed! Nathan James

I was truly inspired to see how united we are as a human race, exploring all the wonderments the salty sea has to offer, in all its crazy conditions!

GC FILM FESTIVAL 2015: April 9 – 19

Our film writer, Nathan James, pored over the Gold Coast Film Festival Program. This is what’s on his radar. But check it out for yourself at gcfilmfestival.com. • • • • •

www.blankgc.com.au

One particular highlight was the inspirational story of Gold Coast surfer & skater, Quincy “The Flying Squirrel” Symonds, who at the ripe old age of six is dropping bombs and grinding rails most could only dream of. Battling medical conditions that would stop almost anybody in their tracks, Quincy is a little Aussie battler determined to make it big on the world stage. With legendary support from Mum and Dad in tow, there is nothing stopping this little 4-foot dynamo from casting giant shadows far greater than her height suggests. Go get ‘em Quincy!

Independent food reviews of the Gold Coast

theatre packed with heart pounding spectators!

Locally produced thriller, Fear of Darkness (Saturday April 11) Skin Trade written by and starring legendary action star Dolph Lungdren, who will be attending the screening on Sunday April 19. Australian film Infini, starring Luke Hemsworth and Daniel Macpherson will also screen at the festival with a filmmaker Q&A, ahead of its Australian release. Rudderless, William H Macy’s directorial debut. Broadbeach Park where a special 30th anniversary

•

• •

screening of Back to the Future will be held on Saturday April 18. Documentary: Frackman, which tells the story of accidental activist Dayne Pratzky and his struggle against international gas companies as they prepare to sink 30,000 ‘fracked’ wells in Queensland. Shorts in Paradise – 6:30pm Short film screening with an emphasis on local talent. REELLIFE seminar at the Queensland Writers Centre on 10 April.

For filmmakers and students, the Gold Coast Film Festival runs free seminars and workshops with local and international filmmakers and screen professionals alongside special event Q&A sessions with distinguished cast and crew open to all audiences.

Get the full program at gcfilmfestival.com

SHORT FILMS, LICENSED TO THRILL Flickerfest is coming to the Gold Coast for its third year, offering a smorgasbord of short films handpicked for audiences. Short Films Licensed to Thrill is the theme of Flickerfest – Australia’s leading short film festival. It will offer audiences the first look at the hottest short films from around the country. A highlight of this year’s programming is Beth Armstrong’s You Cut I Choose: a comedy drama following the relationship of a brother and sister spanning four decades. Beth moved to the Gold Coast at 12 and went to Benowa State High. She undertook a diploma in Theatre at the University of Southern Queensland before moving to Brisbane and working with the Queensland Theatre Company as an actor. Beth now lives in Sydney but will be on the Gold Coast to present the film. You Cut I Choose stars Josh Mc Conville who starred in The Infinite Man (2014) and The Killing Field (2014). Josh is another proud Gold Coaster, who grew up in Coomera. Also screening before the program will be a local ABC open film Supports ‘Sisters’. Flickerfest 2015 screens at The Arts Centre Gold Coast on Friday 27 March from 7.00pm. Pre-screening wine tasting and Aussie BBQ are available prior. Tickets $13.50 from the venue or at theartscentregc.com.au. Flickerfest is Australia’s largest touring film festival, visiting 50 locations around the country and is supported on the Gold Coast by touring partners Screen Queensland and Screen Australia. HIGHLIGHTS FROM BEST OF AUSTRALIAN SHORTS PROGRAMME INCLUDE: The witty Bush Mechanics tells the story of four young Warlpiri men on a journey to visit a powerful elder living at a remote outstation. As they drive across the red dirt roads of the central Australian desert they must overcome mechanical mishaps and the trickery of a mischievous Munga Munga spirit. It will take all of their bush ingenuity to keep their car running and themselves alive. Winner: Yoram Gross Award Best Australian Short Animation Flickerfest 2015 Don’t miss the hilarious Florence has left the Building where it’s the annual Christmas Eve concert at the Marigold House Assisted Living Facility. All her friends are dying and Florence wants out. When the facility double books two rival Elvis impersonators, Florence takes the opportunity for one last hurrah. Starring a very unrecognisable Jacki Weaver. And enjoy the moving and insightful Grey Bull, about Martin, a South Sudanese refugee who happens upon a bull who he believes is his spiritual totem. Deciding to rescue it from the abattoir he works in, Martin is torn between his ancient cultural identity and his family’s new life in Australia. Winner: Virgin Australia Award Best Australian Short Film Flickerfest 2015

www.blankgc.com.au

Environment FRACKMAN PREMIERS ON THE GOLD COAST Coal seam gas has brought together the most unlikely of allies. Die hard greenies and right-wing talk show hosts have literally linked arms and stood side-by-side to rally against the unfettered expansion of coal seam gas across Australia. One of the unlikely figureheads of the anti coal seam gas movement is a humble construction worker who went to school here on the Gold Coast. Dayne Pratzky is the star of Frackman which will have its Queensland premier at the Gold Coast Film Festival on 12 April. It’s a documentary which explores the intrusion of coal seam gas on Dayne’s life and his journey to dig below the surface to find out why the industry is flourishing in the face of such voracious public opposition. Samantha Morris spoke to Dayne between insane media commitments, TV appearances and election campaigning to end the practice. Dayne’s journey into activism was accidental – and he still won’t call himself an activist.

The film Frackman has been a long time coming. Five years, to be exact. And it started with very humble beginnings.

“I’m a realist. I’m going about reality – I’m not going about saying “let’s end fossil fuels”. This is a reality. This is what we have to do. If every scientist is saying we have to do it, it makes sense,” Dayne said.

“I saw the film Gasland,” Dayne told me, “and I saw the shaky footage and I thought, I can do that. So I buy a camera and go out to be a film maker. But I’m a dreamer. I have no idea what I was doing.”

He doesn’t live at Tara anymore, instead calling Forster NSW home. He says he originally moved to Tara to develop and sell a block of land and then get back to the coast.

“Then I met Richard Todd who was already thinking about being in that space. He sent a cameraman to film a rally in Sydney and I met that guy and got his details. We went to ABC and got some development money.”

“I had a three year plan and obviously it didn’t quite work out that way,” he said. “I got injured at work in an industrial accident in the Lane Cove Tunnel. Instead of just laying down – instead of just giving up, I bought a block of land.” Dayne said he was initially embarrassed when he started learning more about coal seam gas and its impact on people and communities. “There was so much going on and I was so devoid from caring about things that are important to this world and this country,” he said. “But I still don’t call myself an activist.” “We cannot continue to dig big holes in the ground. We cannot continue to sink gas wells in our aquifers. The days of cheap energy are finished. The days of easy accessible energy are finished.” “The only thing that’s ever going to change is us,” Dayne said. “I’m just somebody who sees things with a bit of common sense,” he said. “The problem with pigeonholing the activist space, is that people assume we all eat tofu and wear sandals.” Don’t get me wrong, I love tofu,” Dayne said, “wrapped in bacon.”

www.blankgc.com.au

But the real gold happened when producers Simon Nasht and Trish Lake came onto the scene. “They’re some of Australia’s best producers,” Dayne said. “Very well known. They saw the product and what we had. They didn’t care about CSG, they’re film makers.” “So we ended up with a huge budget and a feature length film that’s playing in cinemas.” “If you’d asked me, I would have bet you ever possession I ever owned that I’d never be in this situation,” he said. “I was on the front page of the paper when I was eight because I picked up a new billy cart and the wheel broke. And then the next time I went out, I was on 60 minutes. It escalated pretty quickly,” he laughed. “The whole thing was accidental. Now I think a lot about how I can continue on the journey and continue to make a difference. I just think bigger and bigger and bigger.” Since premiering in NSW, nearly every single screening has been a sell-out. I asked Dayne why he thought people were so compelled to come and watch and he says simply, that it’s because it’s a really good film.

‘Frackman’ (Dayne Pratzky) beside Coal Seam Gas infrastructure in his town of Tara, Queensland. Image courtesy of Andrew Quilty, Oculi. “It’s not just a documentary. People really enjoy it. They come out of there moved. That comes from experience in film making.” “I wanted this facts and figures documentary – then the producer came up and turned it 180 degrees around and said it’s going to be a film about you and the thing is, that the industry can’t attack me personally. I don’t make any claims.” “That’s why they’re really struggling.” And struggling they are too. Dayne has a shadow that basically follows him everywhere he goes. He’s had Australian mining companies appear during overseas trips that he’s made and one man in particular Steve Wright from the Energy Resource Information Centre appears everywhere Dayne does. “He follows me around everywhere – it’s hilarious. It’s great. I’m good with them spending their money chasing me around. I don’t feel bad about that at all,” Dayne laughed. “The way the industry is trying to combat me is a powerful sign. They don’t want their side of the story told. Most people in this country – we want a fair go for everyone – it’s what the country’s built on. And these people aren’t like that. When people find out they’re not being fair, they get angry.” “They’ve tried to personally attack me via Twitter and social media and on Lateline – you should have seen the advertising campaign going on from all the energy companies. There were sponsored tweets – they were everywhere on social media.” “It’s great – they’re throwing me more food – spending hundreds of thousands of dollars – I feed off that. I’m good with that. The more you attack me, the more you mention my name, the more you put me in the AFR, the more people go to watch the film,” Dayne said.

A child at anti-Coal Seam Gas protests in Tara, Queensland. Image courtesy of Andrew Quilty, Oculi.

Tara local/anti-CSG activist Scott Collins at an anti-Coal Seam Gas protest in Tara, Queensland. Image courtesy of Andrew Quilty, Oculi.

“We are winning hands down and they don’t know what to do about it.”

that if a snap election hadn’t been called in Queensland they would have aimed for the same here.

profitable), we can make the changes that we want in this country and this world.”

I asked Dayne what his end goal is. Is it to end coal seam gas exploration altogether? End our reliance on fossil fuels? What’s the point where he says “yes, we did it!” He says it’s actually much more than that now.

“We can see the Government now cancelling licenses,” he said. “Do we have a lot to do with that? I think we do: them watching the film and the sellout crowds, I think they’re saying “oh, hang on, this is a problem”.

“I was a roo shooting, pig hunting kind of bloke. I’m the most unlikely environmentalist in the world,” Dayne said. “But when they force their way onto your land and destroy your community, you have no choice but to fight back.”

“It’s actually to fix the broken political system,” he said, “the way we live and the way we conduct ourselves.”

“It’s something that was a very strategic move that seems to be working. And if it weren’t working I wouldn’t have been on Lateline, Sunrise, the Project,” he said.

“It’s not someone else’s problem. It’s our problem. We are part of the problem and we are 100% the solution.”

“I think what we’re all achieving is amazing,” he said, speaking about the entire movement to stop coal seam gas. “We’re only able to function because of everybody else. If we all think outside that box a little bit and continue to have passion and to fight for what’s right (and that doesn’t mean

The Gold Coast hosts an exclusive screening of this explosive new documentary, Frackman, as part of the Gold Coast Film Festival at The Arts Centre from 6:00pm, 12 April.   More at frackmanthemovie.com/screenings

“For me, I’ve been on a huge journey from being a homophobic racist to caring about Indigenous issues – caring about everybody. The refugee situation? I never gave it a second though. I’m embarrassed about that. But I’m not too proud to say it” “This has turned me into a better person – to grow personally and to act in such a strong way for people who don’t get a fair go. Indigenous, refugees, the gay community – they don’t get a fair go,” he said. “The downtrodden don’t get a fair go when the top end of town don’t pay tax and people who own a second property get tax breaks,” Dayne said. Dayne mentions a few times in our conversation about being courted by politicians and others trying to find ways to use his profile. He also comments regularly about the political process and the NSW election – just days away. I asked him whether a move into politics is on the cards. “I’m not saying no,” he said. “People are definitely approaching me and I’m not ruling out anything.” It’s no accident that Frackman premiered in NSW and has many screenings in regional towns in the lead up to that State’s election. And Dayne believes the film is already having a political impact. “We had to actually work hard to get this ready for rollout in the month before the NSW election,” he said and notes

www.blankgc.com.au

Environment

KOALA’S FUTURE IN PEOPLE’S HANDS attacks, habitat destruction and chlamydia.” Mr Murray thinks it may be too late for the Pottsville koalas, making it crucial to ensure the still-viable Elanora-Currumbin koala population doesn’t go down (or try to cross) the same road. Currumbin Wildlife Hospital senior vet Michael Pyne said the number of koalas brought into the hospital, which treats injured wildlife, has increased dramatically from previous years. Last year 250 koalas entered the hospital due mainly, he said, to chlamydia and koala retrovirus. “These diseases are passed genetically, and suppress the immune system leading to skin ulcers, severe gingivitis, anaemia and bone marrow suppression.” Stress from habitat destruction is a disease contributing factor. He hopes clinical trials of a chlamydia vaccine will produce one that could be used in the future. Dr Pyne doesn’t think the rise in his hospital’s koala admissions is all due to the rise in injuries, as there is a growing number of locals who are prepared to assist distressed animals. “People are starting to recognise what a sick koala looks like and wanting to help more,” he said. As the Australian Koala Foundation (AKF) pushes for Australia’s first Koala Protection Act, the foundation’s chief ecologist Dr Douglas Kerlin will speak publically to encourage residents to help.

going to start to campaign for it. She said Tony Abbott’s and Campbell Newman’s election had watered down the protection offered by the koala’s 2012 ‘vulnerable’ listing to make development simpler.

The increasing public interest may be a positive factor to come up with viable solutions because experts say the current solutions put forward by councils aren’t doing anything to save koalas.

If a Federal Act eventuates it may be too late for koalas in some Gold Coast and Tweed Coast areas, but other local populations could be rescued. For instance, new laws and initiatives could help the 200 or so koalas that live in the Currumbin/Elanora area.

She advised that Doug Kerlin’s talk at Gecko this month would be about how Gecko and other Gold Coasters can help make the legislation happen.

Richard Murray said, “The general plan is too leave them wild until they die out. They should be providing a sanctuary.”

Pottsville koalas, however, were hit hard by a fire last Christmas that wiped out an estimated 40 per cent of the population. On top of the fire their breeding habitat around Black Rock sports grounds is under pressure from human disturbance. Pottsville is growing so the koalas are in the wrong place at the wrong time, making them very vulnerable. AKF Chief Executive Officer Director Deborah Tabart said in a Tweet in February that “Govt. listing Koalas as “vulnerable” in 2012 changed nothing. The laws for protecting our environment are powerless. #KoalaProtectionAct.” “Koalas are Aussie ambassadors but what will it take for the government to realise they are in trouble”, she continued. “AKF has tried to give advice to govt on this for years, to no avail. We need a #KoalaProtectionAct”. According to Ms Tabart, the Federal Koala Protection Act would be a first and this month is the month they are 32

www.blankgc.com.au

“I’m not going to be content until there’s federal legislation that can’t be watered down,” she said. Deborah Tabart is the architect of the Koala Habitat Atlas, a multimillion dollar peer reviewed project to identify and rank koala habitat. By clicking on the map residents can check their own properties for koala potential. “I don’t believe that our politicians are interested in good science,” said the koala campaigner of over two decades. The online Koala Habitat Atlas shows an Australia-wide map of populations and suitable habitats in the Gold Coast and Tweed. Tweed Heads Environment Group Chairman Richard Murray said the Pottsville koalas were an example of a population fragmented by highways. “There’s a decline of five to 10 per cent per year [normally], and not enough koalas cross the road safely to make the population viable,” he said. “The four major causes [of koala death] are car strikes, dog

“The koala’s future is in our hands. It’s only a matter of time,” he said. Australian Koala Foundation Dr Doug Kerlin will be discussing the case for national koala protection legislation at a speaking event hosted by Gecko on Wednesday 25 March. If you see a sick or injured koala, you can contact Wildcare, the Currumbin Animal Hospital or the Gold Coast City Council. Dr Pyne advises people to stay with the koala if possible to make sure it doesn’t move before the rescue team arrives. Chloe Pickard and Mic Smith Image above: When they are on the ground koalas don’t recognise threats like dogs and cars. The Gold Coast and Tweed can expect to lose some remnant pockets of koalas due to development. Photo by Mic Smith.

THE KOALA: A POLITICAL ANIMAL Douglas Kerlin is Chief Ecologist at the Australian Koala Foundation. On Wednesday 25 March he is Gecko’s guest speaker and will discuss the AKF’s work, including the Koala Habitat Atlas project. Samantha Morris asked him a few questions ahead of his visit to the Gold Coast. What is the biggest threat to Gold Coast and hinterland’s koala populations The biggest threats to koalas in the Gold Coast region (and indeed across much of Australia) is habitat loss, and the associated threats of cars and dogs. Habitat loss is primarily being driven by urban expansion, but also forestry, mining and infrastructure development. Studies in Redland City and Logan to the north have shown a 68% decline in koala numbers from 1996 to 2010, and the AKF is confident these numbers would be matched by koalas on the Gold Coast. How will climate change affect koalas in SEQ Climate Change will have its greatest impact on western koala populations. Increased temperatures and drought are already causing a contraction of the koala’s range towards the coast. Climate change is also likely to effect the leaf chemistry of eucalypts, leading to less palatable food for Koalas, and increase the likelihood of fires, which could have a catastrophic impact on a local scale. The AKF has produced a Koala Tree Planting List, that can be used by the public to try and minimise the impacts of climate change east of the Dividing Range (https://www.savethekoala.com/ about-koalas/trees-koalas). The koala is just one species under threat from urban development, mining, forestry and land clearing. What is the koala’s role in bringing attention to the plight of other species? The koala is a national icon, a highly charismatic and popular animal, and a significant driver of tourism in

Australia. The koala is the only species that has the political clout to bring about real protection for Australia’s environment - and real protection for the range of other species that share koala habitat. Approximately 1000 of Australia’s 1700 threatened species live in koala habitat; if we can protect koalas, we can also protect all those other species. Why should people attend your presentation? The koala has taught the AKF how bad things are in the bush. Those concerned should hear first hand and hopefully be inspired to bring about change for the environment. The Australian Koala Foundation is determined to see a Koala Protection Act legislated by the Federal Government. To achieve this, we need the support of the Australian public. If people want better protection for the Koala, and Australia’s unique wildlife, they can hear more information and perhaps join the Koala Army by coming along. The Australian Koala Foundation is the principal non-profit, non-government organisation dedicated to the conservation and effective management of the wild koala and its habitat. To find out more or to support the AKF, visit savethekoala. com. Douglas Kerlin will speak at Currumbin RSL on Wednesday 25 March from 7.00pm. Contact Gecko to RSVP or for more details.

RIP MACA It is with a heavy heart many of the Gold Coast surfing community heard the news of the sudden passing of 2 times Australian Longboarding Champion, Mark “Maca” McNamara. Mark was tutoring a fellow surfer at Kirra Point on Sunday, and after getting a great wave, ran back to paddle out again, when he suffered a massive heart attack as he made his way back out into the line up. Mark was a great longboard surfer, amazing noserider, and an excellent surf coach, and most of all a top bloke. There are many people of all ages who credit Mark with teaching them how to surf, and passing on the surfing “bug”. He had an infectious smile and wanted everyone to join in on the fun. He would often try to get me on a longboard and join him in the state titles, even though I never have ridden one. I said no, but that did not stop him trying again: “You don’t know what you’re missing brother!” His love for life and surfing was so strong, he was like the eternal grommet, and wanted everyone to be in on the fun. He lived in the water, and spread his joy and love to all he knew him. One consolation is that he died doing what he loved the most. Smooth clean Kirra on a Sunday afternoon, spreading the stoke of surfing to a fellow friend. Ride on in heaven brother…… Terry ‘Tappa’ Teece www.blankgc.com.au

Lifestyle & Culture AUSTRALIAN LONGBOARD SURFING OPENS AT KINGSCLIFF It will be surf city from this Wednesday with the Australian Longboard Surfing Open, and the Longboard Surfing Festival of the Asia Pacific, taking place 25-29 March at Kingscliff. The Festival and contest honours the history of longboard surfing with live music, surf vehicle display, Miss Beach Girl competition, surf films, yoga, art and lifestyle stalls. Over the years it has been an excuse for longboarders to get together with other like-minded surfers from around Australia, Asia, New Zealand, Europe and the USA. It attracts the current crop of professional longboard surfing superstars including world champions Harley Ingleby and the Tweed Coast’s own, Chelsea Williams. Together they rub shoulders with stars from the early years like the world’s first ever surfing champion, Phyllis O’Donnell, surf mogul Doug Warbrick and the Godfather of soul surfing Ray Gleave. The third event of the 2015 ASP Longboard Qualifying

Series, the Australian Longboard Surfing Open returns to Kingscliff in March 2015. This event is known for regularly attracting various world rated surfers and international world champions like Taylor Jensen and Jen Smith along with many of Australia’s hottest young competitors like Australian U18 Title holders Josh Skinner and Lily Ellis. Together they gather with a sprinkling of international competitors, SUP surfers and log riders, to share their skills and stories with other surfers. The Australian Longboard Surfing Open pays homage to the history and the lifestyle of longboard surfing with a number of amateur surfing divisions, Old Mal and Retro divisions, a Noserider, SUP surfing and races. On the land there will be plenty to do, and plenty to watch in the water. Kingscliff will be the place to be!! Terry ‘Tappa’ Teece

DEATH AND TAXES AND STUFF Before this article has taken shape I already fear it shall veer off course. I intend to bring a positive and enlightening perspective to the two most clichéd and most inevitable elements of the human experience. Two elements which have gained a rather sour reputation… death and taxes. I don’t recall ever participating in a conversation where somebody declared warmly “I am so stoked that I paid all my tax this year. On time and everything. Not to mention the privilege of paying the GST which has been subtracted from basically every transaction I have ever made. Wow. How fucking cool is that!” Nor have I ever sat with a group who discussed openly how excited they were for the inevitable day in which they would be pinched from reality. Is it because death and taxes are tragic and horrible only? Or is it because through many passing generations we have come to learn that death is awful and paying tax is a burden? Or is there perhaps an evil corporation who is responsible for us being so frightened by these two most inevitable elements in this lifetime. Conspiring to rob us of the joy we can potentially achieve day to day thus buying stuff in the meantime so they get richer? Or maybe I should put down the magic mushroom milkshake and get back to work? I have heard the word resistance used by many other individuals who I have rubbed shoulders with along the path to seeking a higher quality of life. Not to resist your current life circumstances or outcome of any events but to dance with them instead. It seems a common theme in many spiritual teachings. For example, are you single and pining over the cute couple holding hands as they stroll down the beach? Perhaps you can embrace the freedom of not having to be considerate of another’s needs and lay back on the couch watching cheerleader videos online. Ever wished you could bite into a hot slice of pizza but all you had available was a shitty nutritious apple? Resisting the reality of “what is” can cause tremendous amounts of un-necessary suffering if you remain unaware. This is not

www.blankgc.com.au

a supporting argument to finding a ‘silver lining’ but rather a simple acknowledgment that there is no need to further heap misery on top of an already uncomfortable circumstance. Wish you had a better car? Do you spend countless hours stressing that you may never be wealthy enough to race around in an upgrade? Or perhaps you move quickly into a solution attitude and start shifting your priorities so that you may perhaps one day indulge in this luxury? Is our cultural attitude toward death and taxes hurting us unnecessarily? Is it possible to lovingly embrace tax? To see it as a privilege to contribute to the community which provides a range of residential dwellings to choose from amidst a host of public services such as education and health. Which by the way, you inherited just by being born here? Or maybe death is no longer something you dread because just having been given a window to dance the human experience is enough of a gift. So though you grieve for the passing of a loved one, you take time also to acknowledge the beauty in experiencing sadness. Revel in the warmth of recalling the intimacy of your relationship with the departed. These philosophical ponderings are not merely random heavings from my busy mind. They have come to my personal contemplation in recent times. Let me set the scene… I was walking through the supermarket of a Saturday morning. I felt tired and distracted. There was heaviness in my chest but I was not sure why. Rather than resist or attempt to avoid this discomfort I breathed it in confidently. Soon enough it become very obvious. I was sad. Very sad. Not for a specific event which had taken place recently or in the past. Just fucking sad. Like some days when you’re just fucking happy. Luckily, under the guidance from mental health professionals in recent years, I have been encouraged to recognise and process feelings which are usually labelled as bad, wrong or unpleasant. So here was my opportunity. Sadness was with me and after clumsy practise in recent times I felt confident to participate in

a ritual to set the sadness free. It involves salinated water flowing from ducts around the eyes. Can you guess what happened? After my ritual, I felt strong and secure. More comfortable as a young man than I ever had in years previous to being able to grieve. I allowed reflection of past tragedies and accumulated pains of reality to be physically digested. It was fucking awesome! I believe that I am of a privileged minority of young men who have ever found the tools to participate in such rituals maturely and free of fear or judgement. So WTF does this have to do with death and taxes? I only learned this process of handling the taboo male emotions: I didn’t figure it out. I was guided by professionals and am now confident to move forward without the burden of grief that drags down so many great men. I feel I am ready to look at death objectively, without judgement and perhaps encourage others who have been so brutally wounded by its injustice. I am excited by a future where the cultural expectations of men to “suck it up” are addressed maturely and with pride. Peace. Andrew Scott

MINI MEDITATORS In parks, on beaches and perhaps even in office cubicles around the Gold Coast you may notice chilled-out, cross-legged folks with eyes closed blissfully, faces turned toward the sky breathing deeply and slowly and with an undeniable sense of calm surrounding them. They are the meditators among us and probably the most relaxed and happy people we know. Meditation is an ancient practice devoted to the increased health and wellbeing of those who learn it. Practiced in many forms throughout the world, meditation promotes relaxation and stillness within both the mind and the body allowing people to experience a clearer mind and increased physical and emotional health. Meditation has become increasingly popular in Australia over the last 20 years and more recently, with a spike in health and wellness bloggers across the country, has become a mainstream practice for dealing with our fast-paced, stress-filled daily lives. Corinna Hancock, Owner and Studio Director of Burleigh Pilates Boutique, says, “Meditation is like keeping yourself topped up so you are able to cope day to day with life and all that it throws your way. Since starting a meditation practice I’m much more patient and find that I am so much more aware of my surroundings.” “I truly believe we don’t check in enough with how we truly feel and most people have no clue what they need to do to feel well and nurture themselves.” Corinna opened Burleigh Pilates Boutique five years ago with the vision to create a space that incorporated the mind, body and spirit, having never previously experienced a studio that encompassed a holistic view of health. The studio teaches Pilates for strengthening the body as well as meditation classes and wellness events for strengthening and stilling the mind. Most recently, Corinna has added meditation classes for children to her repertoire, some of the first of their kind on the Gold Coast. Children in the 21st century are more active and mentally strained than ever before. They attend school six hours a day and then afterward are expected to complete homework and many also attend an after school activity such as sports training, music practice or further learning of some kind. It is a lot to ask of our future generation especially when, in general, children aren’t taught any stress release or relaxation methods and often spend their down time in front of a screen of some kind or another. Enter Corinna. She says, “Children are exposed to so much nowadays compared to when I was a growing up. I think if I had better coping skills when I was younger I may not have carried so many anxieties and fears with me through my adult years. I have three nieces and a nephew who are my world and just seeing them navigate life and all that gets thrown at them made me realise they need skills too.”

According to Corinna, children should be taught meditation to be able to identify what makes them sad, or scared or happy and to teach them to focus their attention on the good rather than the bad. Meditation makes them be more aware of what they are feeling, and gives them ownership of those feelings. Being able to just sit, and enjoy the stillness and not be bombarded with technology in this world we live in is vital.

Murwillumbah Returned Services League sub branch President Derek Sims at the Murwillumbah cenotaph

She says, “I would love to run weekly classes in schools and see it become part of the curriculum. I’m also writing a workshop for parents to teach them how to incorporate it into their life on a daily basis. Everyone needs to do it – parents included, so a calm relaxed home only benefits everyone – not just the kiddies. I’m also planning on holding weekly classes at the studio.” Corinna is one of many practitioners on the Gold Coast with resources on offer to both parents and children who are curious about or wish to start practicing meditation and for those who wish to bring a little more stillness and understanding into their busy lives. Kirra Smith

SEARCHING FOR TWEED’S GALLIPOLI CONNECTIONS The search is on for Murwillumbah residents who have relatives involved in the Gallipoli landing for a special centenary commemoration on ANZAC Day. Murwillubah’s Regurned Services League sub branch will mark the 100th anniversary of the landing by creating white crosses with the names of Tweed soldiers, sailers and nursers who served in the Gallipoli campaign. The crosses will be placed around the Murwillumbah memorial. Sub branch members, assisted by Murwillumbah High School students, have compiled an honour role of World War I veterans from the Tweed and have put out a call for community support to add to the list. “We are not restricting the names to only those who came from the Tweed, they only have to be connected to anyone currently residing in the Tweed,” sub branch President Derek Sims said. “The display of crosses to mark this event is in keeping with a tradition we have in Murwillumbah on Remembrance Day.” People who think they know of someone who served in the Gallipoli campaign, or anyone interested in finding out if they might, can visit the National Archives of Australia website, naa.gov.au or the Australian Imperial Force website, aif.adfa.edu.au. Details should be provided to the sub branch by 10 April and should include name, rank, any decorations and whether the person was wounded or killed at Gallipoli, or died of wounds received there. Tweed Regional Museum and Murwillumbah RSL will also host a Bring Your Memorabilia open day at the Murwillumbah Museum on Saturday 2 May. The open day will offer people an opportunity to learn more about researching war records and caring for memorabilia. For more information email tsc@tweed.nsw.gov.au. www.blankgc.com.au

Lifestyle & Culture STREET PERFORMANCE A FEATURE OF SURFERS PARADISE FESTIVAL Music, food, art and culture are all on the menu for the 2015 Surfers Paradise Festival which runs 3 – 18 April. It’s the sixth annual Festival, run by Surfers Paradise Alliance and incorporates a bunch of groovy events: the Australian Street Entertainment Championships, Shorts In Paradise Film Festival (SIPFest) and SeaFire – one of the country’s biggest and best fireworks challenges. The Festival this year will run over four beachfront zones along the Surfers foreshore. The Australian Street Entertainment Championships will run over the Easter long weekend and will see Australian and International street performers take to the streets to compete in delighting enthusiastic crowds. Rhett Morrow is one of those competing in the championships. He’s 22 years old but he’s been busking since he was 12. He lives at Burleigh and says his shtick is part comedy, part juggling, part acrobatics. “I get kids up and do handstands over them, flip over them,” he said. “It’s a bit slapstick.”

It’s not Rhett’s first time competing. He and his sister have done this before, but he tells me she’s more focussed on aerial acrobatics now. Rhett says events like this are important for career development. “We don’t know who’s out in the audience,” he said. “You’re basically spruiking yourself.” “I have to say, with street performance, it’s good to test out new skills and new lines and patter and scripts. If you can make it good on the street, you can pretty much put it into theatre or a birthday party. Street is a really good foundation to practice your skills,” Rhett said. The Australian Street Entertainment Championship is just one event on the program of activities for the Surfers Paradise Festival which runs 3 – 18 April. Taking place throughout the Surfers Paradise precinct, including the iconic foreshore, the Festival is expected to attract more than 135,000 people over two weeks and three weekends. A full schedule of events for the 2015 Surfers Paradise Festival is available at surfersparadise.com.

Many 22 year olds are still finding their feet when it comes to career and education, but Rhett works as a performer full-time and has been involved in circus ever since he was a kid. He’s even spent eight months in Beijing honing his craft.

Friday 3 – 6 April: Australian Street Entertainment Championships will see street performers competing for cash prizes. There will be music, circus, acrobatics, juggling, dance, magic and more.

“At the International Circus School in Beijing I worked with Chinese poles, pot juggling and acrobatics,” Rhett told me. I know from his bio that he first took to the stage when he was five – moving through dancing and gymnastics before settling on circus arts, but I’m curious how someone so young becomes so focussed on this style of performance.

Thursday 9 – 18 April: Festival Pavilion serves up ten days of entertainment including comedy, dance, the Chefs of Surfers Paradise, theatre, fashion parades, acrobatics, kids’ shows and workshops. It’s located at the beach volleyball courts.

“I was born in Adelaide and started circus classes and youth circus. Then when we moved uphere I tried other things and we found Flipside Circus. I started in their performance troupe but branched away and did birthday parties and then got along with some agents who gave me corporate events,” Rhett said. And this was all while Rhett was at school. The Championships Rhett’s competing in see invited street performers battle it out for cash prizes. Music, dance, magic and comedy are on the menu, but there will also be youth, semi-professional and amateur performers.

Sunday 12 April: Shorts in Paradise, or SIPFest as it’s otherwise known will showcase some of the most talented filmmakers in the country. Ten films of not more than ten minutes each will compete for cash prizes and submissions close Friday 17 March. Saturday 18 April: Seafire will offer a night of hypnotic fire performance and fireworks about Surfers Paradise Beach with teams of Australia’s greatest pyrotechnicians going head-tohead in the skies above the foreshore. Samantha Morris

MELBOURNE INTERNATIONAL COMEDY FESTIVAL COMES TO GOLD COAST Laughs aplenty are on the menu when Melbourne International Comedy Festival hits the road in May. Organisers say fans of all things funny should be ready for a colossal night of hilarity. Featuring some of the best home-grown local talent and international superstars from the Melbourne International Comedy Festival, the Roadshow heads to more than 75 destinations across Australia – all packaged up and delivered to your door for an unforgettable night of untamed hilarity. And of course, Gold Coast is on the itinerary. Comedians including Adam Rozenbachs (MC), Anne Edmonds, DeAnne Smith (Canada), Ivan Aristeguieta and Nath Valvo will take to the stage. Tickets are on sale now for the one night event, which hits the GC on Friday 15 May. The show starts at 8.00pm but there will be live entertainment at the Arts Centre Terrace from 6.00pm. Melbourne International Comedy Festival Roadshow, Friday 15 May AT The Arts Centre Gold Coast. Get all the details at theartscentregc.com.au.

www.blankgc.com.au

LOSE YOURSELF: MOVIE MUSIC + QUEENSLAND SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA Sometimes a movie’s soundtrack is so subtle you don’t even notice the work that it’s doing. And sometimes it’s in your face. Any time a director wants to really tug at your heart strings, they’ll use music to accompany the visuals on-screen.

CLARE ON THE COUCH Clare Bowditch’s events tend to sell out very quickly, so when she does a free event, the venue reaches capacity pretty fast. Clare on the Couch at Dust Temple, Currumbin was no exception, and despite the lack of an open window for fresh air and only one fan in the room on the humid, rainy night, any discomfort was soon forgotten. The informal chat between Bleach* Festival’s Artist in Residence Clare and Robyn Archer, AO, was a mesmerising, bones laid bare conversation between two brilliant, funny, honest and - needless to say - talented women. A simple answer to the question “What do you do?” would be songwriter and sometime social commentator, but Bowditch also states that she’s in the business of curiosity, and tries to tell the truth. She is an artist who is here to uplift and entertain, and help communicate dealing with love and loss. That, and she drinks Campari and soda. Bowditch became a songwriter, she says, to make sense of the world. When she was three years old her sister became ill and Clare made tapes for her while she was in hospital to help her sister be happy where she was. Her sister died when Clare was five. The idea of fame came when she was 10 years old. She had become overweight and her mother took her to a doctor who put her on a diet. By the time she reached grade 5, Bowditch was virtually unrecognisably thin. Suddenly she became popular and realised the disturbing notion of celebrity; that worth is based on how you look. She questioned “Who was I before?”. She regained the weight and the shame that came with it. It wasn’t until Bowditch was 26 that she decided she could have a career based on her worth, not how she looked. However, she does acknowledge that performers can be hero one day, villain the next. Robyn Archer, who is, amongst other roles, ambassador for the Adelaide Crows AFL team, contrasts that attitude with sport. In the arts, if you have one bad concert, people can turn against you. That doesn’t happen in sport. Bowditch says that we now live in a time where we have the right of reply through social media. She cites the recent media drubbing of Belle Gibson’s The Whole Pantry, and states that Gibson’s mistake is that she didn’t reply. Archer states she never replies to negative media because that is her era.

Dealing with social media, traditional media and all business aspects of being an artist is Clare Bowditch’s ‘love project’ Big Hearted Business. It’s a project to help creative people learn about business through a member’s library, directory, workshops, retreats and (un)conferences. Networking is an integral part of it. Archer also stresses the importance of networking, and says on the Gold Coast there are artists who have been living here for 20 years and haven’t met up until recently. Curiosity, according to Archer, is essential to life. She says she can date her father’s dementia from the time he lost his curiosity. There is hope in music, however. Archer recalls the time when her mother was 91 years old and in a nursing home with dementia. Archer took in her ukelele (her favourite instrument) and played Blue Christmas Without You for her mother. For that short song, her usually unresponsive mother was clapping and had tears running down her face. Oliver Sacks, the famous neurologist, states music “gives people an identity for a moment”. Bowditch says that when you become an adult / parent / partner you can lose your edge as an artist. The tension doesn’t dry up if we find the buzz in work, our bodies, everywhere we find identities. On the topic of self-doubt, Bowditch says “if I’d listened to the voice in my head, I would never have done anything”. Not that she doesn’t have self-doubt. Even in the company of her husband and “soulmate” Marty at the dinner table one night, the lyrics of a song about another woman came to her within seconds as he sat there grinning at a text message. The text was from his mate Guy Pearce who he’s touring Australia with in Pearce’s band. Bowditch says that if you know someone who doesn’t have any self-doubt they’re a little bit weird. Robyn Archer calls them Prime Ministers. For the rest of us Archer quotes Bertold Brecht: “Of all sure things, the surest is doubt”.

So expressive, so vital to the meaning of the movie, is it any wonder that concert composers have always been drawn to writing with stopwatch in hand and silent rushes on the screen before them? Net result? Melodies so sublime, and orchestral showpieces so exhilarating, that they define the music of our times. Let the state’s largest performing arts company, the QSO, draw you into the world of the cinema with music from your favourite movies of all time at a special family-friendly event at The Arts Centre. Bring the whole family for this school holiday special event, sit back, relax and share the magic of classical music from the big screen. “We’re thrilled to bring the QSO to the Gold Coast to present a luscious program of great film soundtrack highlights,” Richard Wenn said. He’s QSO’s Director of Artistic Planning. “For me whenever I hear the soundtrack from Lawrence of Arabia I’m instantly transported to the desert and huge vistas of Peter O’Toole on his camel, there is a sense of freedom, grandeur and majesty in this music that really summarises the cinematography of David Lean.” The two-hour event takes place Friday 10 April at The Arts Theatre and ticket prices start at $30.00 for students. Movie Masterpieces is presented by The Arts Centre Gold Coast as well as the Gold Coast Film Festival.

Tickets and more information at theartscentregc.com.au. Samantha Morris

“If we’re all princesses who’s gonna be the Queen?” The line from Clare Bowditch’s 2010 song Modern Day Addiction is easily answered; Clare Bowditch. It may have taken until the age of 26 for Bowditch to reject the notion of celebrity based on looks, but she is very much now the ruler of her own destiny. Pip Andreas www.blankgc.com.au

Lifestyle & Culture

She also spoke about Jack’s heroin addiction and her own thoughts on addiction and society. “He was a heroin addict for 35 years,” she said. “While maintaining his film and stage career.” “Jack is open about his story and it walks with him. The view I have about addiction is that drugs become a tool for survival and they form a survival framework for people that we’re still lucky to have in the world,” Leonie said. Leonie said that although she has never experienced addiction herself she is extremely passionate about how society views and treats addiction and recovery. Leonie’s sculpture of Uncle Jack Charles is small. Most of her work is small. And she tells me about her upcoming entry in Swell Sculpture Festival, which will be the first year she’s not been an ‘emerging artist’. “I’ve been acquired by Council and I’ve won an award. I’m a professional artist now,” she said. “I’m excited about the upcoming Swell because I’ll be showing my first coloured bronze,” she said. “I’m going to be working on bronzes which look like my original pieces.” And yes, they’ll be small too. Though she says people have expectations that she’ll eventually graduate to making larger sculptures.

UNCLE JACK CHARLES SCULPTURE WINS ART PRIZE PEOPLE’S CHOICE AWARD The Gold Coast Art Prize is a national prize, open to artists from across Australia. For the 2014 prize, awarded earlier this year, there were eight local entries amongst the 43 that were selected. While the main prize was awarded to Melbournebased artists Sonia Leber and David Chesworth for their work We Are Printers Too (2013), the People’s Choice Award went to local artist Leonie Rhodes for her piece Uncle JC. Leonie tells me that winning an award like the GC Art Prize People’s Choice Award is extremely significant. “For me, particularly so. I put so much time and energy into my sculpture and the way I work is unusual in the way that I’m capturing every tiny detail. So it can be challenging to survive while you’re working at that pace,” she said. Leonie also acknowledged the psychological challenge of not being acknowledged when you’re putting so much into your work. She says the subject of her winning piece himself conjured a dedication to accuracy she couldn’t ignore. “Because of my passion for him and what he’s been through as a survivor of the stolen generation, addiction and homophobia, sculpting this piece was the most focus I’ve ever had in my career. The time and energy put in was amplified.” “To have that acknowledged was really important. To be honest, I thought if I didn’t win this, I couldn’t win anything. It’s given me enough impetus to go back into my studio and to carry on. To have so many people acknowledge my work is massive encouragement to continue.” The subject she speaks so passionately about is Uncle Jack Charles – described as both an indomitable survivor and the 38

www.blankgc.com.au

grandfather of Indigenous theatre. He’s an Aboriginal elder, actor, musician and potter. He’s also a recovering heroin addict and well-known jailbird. He later became addicted to methadone. Born at Cummeragunja Mission on the Murray River, he was a member of the Stolen Generation and grew up in a boys’ home in Melbourne where he was the only Indigenous child and subjected to abuse. Her sculpture is the culmination of literally hundreds and hundreds of hours of work: through the process of photographing Jack, the actual sculpting and then making the bronze. Leonie says it was Swell Sculpture Festival Director Natasha Edwards who suggested she sculpt Jack. “I met Jack at Woodford Folk Festival,” Leonie said. “But it was Natasha who suggested that I make a piece of Jack. Then we became friends and I began to research more. Then Natasha funded a trip to Sydney for myself and film maker Lynsey Allett to go Sydney so we could meet Jack and get the images I need to work from.” More than 40,000 people viewed the art works entered in the Gold Coast Art Prize and I asked Leonie whether she would have preferred to win the main award. She said the People’s Choice Award is the one she’s happy to lay claim to. “That’s what matters to me,” she said. “I like making art work for the people, about the people, rather than art work for the scene itself and I think that’s also the case with Jack himself. He’s a real people’s man,” Leonie said.

“I used to work in steel when I was in London. It’s very much a choice to be working at this scale and my work is about trying to create a shift in perspective for the viewer,” she said. Leonie says when the eye moves from a large piece of work to a small piece, the shift in perspective is similar to what happens during meditation. “When you shift down to that smaller detail, it brings you closer to focusing on what’s within,” she said. “I like the intimacy that is created between the viewer and the piece. It’s almost psychedelic in the way that it affects your brain. It also amplifies your environment – the environment seems much larger and richer when you pull away from the piece.” “To put so much energy into this tiny thing may seem pointless to some people – but to me it’s meditative and that kind of magic is transferred to the viewer,” she said. When I first met Leonie a week before our interview she was lamenting the fact that such a significant piece as her prizewinning bronze of Uncle Jack Charles was yet to be acquired. I ask her what she plans to do with it. “A private collector actually acquired it just last night,” she said. But that’s not the end of the story. Leonie explains that because it’s a bronze she can make more and that she wants one to be place publicly. And that it makes sense for that piece to be placed in Collingwood. “That’s where Jack is from,” Leonie said. “That’s his ‘hood. He was there when he was using and he still lives there now that he’s clean.” “I’d be willing to sell the piece at cost if it could be installed,” she said. Read more about Leonie’s work at http://leonierhodes.com and learn more about Uncle Jack Charles online. Or watch this video of the moment Jack meets Jack for the very first time: vimeo.com/77392118. Samantha Morris

THE SUPERNATURALIST

SPOTLIGHT ON…MIYUKI LOTZ

Cosentino, the brilliant magician Australia is proud to call our own, is about to hit the road again around Australia with a mind-boggling show that he has expertly choreographed over the past 12 months. I managed to catch Cosentino after an intense practice session in Melbourne.

Can you please tell us a little about your performance background - how / when did you discover your love and talent for acting? Originally I came from a ballet background. I was dedicated to that for about 17 years of my life before switching to acting. I’ve had a passion for acting since I was three, but I was naturally talented at ballet. I thought I’d pursue the ballet until I was 25, then retire and study acting at a training center…I just retired at 20 instead.

The fact that Cosentino has put more than a year into the show is impressive. I was interested to find out what a regular day was like for a professional, world class, Merlin-Award-winning magician, and he was more than happy to reveal this secret about his training regime. “People always ask how a show takes a year to put together, and the reality is that 90 minutes is a show length, and each illusion and effect is about 3 minutes which takes about 3 months of prepping. So that is coming up with an idea, visually creating it, architecturally checking it and then meeting with the aluminium guys, the electrician and the welder then you bring it back, look at it, redesign it and finish it. That’s a month and a half. Now you have to choreograph the pattern and lighting you are going to put to it, and then you redo it because it doesn’t work!” “A rehearsal day typically starts off with a particular prop or apparatus to make sure that it is working. We all individually rehearse our piece, and then we just rehearse it together over and over again. There’s no such thing as a typical day, you could be running around Bunnings looking for a particular item or working with a graphic designer, or being on the ground practicing!” Cosentino’s large group of supporters consists of a range of different people including his brothers, who assist in the process of creating the shows. With the extensive range of performances Cosentino puts on - from illusions to death defying escapes there is no doubt that some are risky to practice more than a few times in rehearsal.

Read the full story at blankgc.com.au.

What was your first professional performance? In ballet, it was being a clown in the second act of Coppelia when Swanhilde and her friends run havoc in Dr Coppelius’ workroom (1990). In acting, it was my end of year acting showcase in my first year at QUT (2005). Were you born and raised on the Gold Coast, if not, when did you come to live here? I was actually born in Cape Town, South Africa. My family and I migrated over to Australia in 1989. We lived in Tasmania before settling up here on the Gold Coast. I’ve been residing on-and-off the Gold Coast for the past 20 years. Do you have a favourite actor, if so, who is it and what is it about them you love so much? At the moment, I’ve got a massive girl-crush on Shaileen Woodley. She’s incredibly engaging and irreverent on screen. I’m hanging to see Insurgent just to see her in something new! However, I’ll always have a deep love for my greats like Meryl Streep, Diane Keaton, Shirley McLaine, Goldie Hawn and Cate Blanchett, of course. They’ll always be my true leading ladies. They’ve managed to maintain longevity in a industry that’s renowned for being fickle...*slow clap*

CONTEMPORARY ART SUPERSTAR, SURFER, SKATER Gold Coast City Gallery is enjoying the quintessential Australian leisure activity at the moment. Cutback: Surfing Through Art is an exhibition of seven contemporary Australian artists exploring the art of surfing and the alternative aspects of the culture surrounding it. One of these seven artists is Shaun Gladwell. He is the winner of last year’s Josephine Ulrick and Win Schubert Photography Award and - rumour has it - his winning piece was the driving force behind this exhibition. Shaun Gladwell’s The Flying Dutchman in Blue (Coogee 2) is the winning piece of the photography award and this March Gladwell came back to the Art Centre to talk about his work, this piece and life in general. This is part of the Centre’s wonderful tradition of bringing back the winner the following year and offering us a chance to hear a bit more and see what has been happening since. For those of you whom Shaun Gladwell is a new acquaintance, he is an Australia-born, London-based artist working with video and photography amongst other mediums and uses such themes as surfing, skateboarding, breakdancing and BMX riding in his work. Gladwell has studied in Australia and London and has undertaken numerous international residencies and commissions. In addition to various solo and group exhibition around the globe, Gladwell has also represented Australia at the 53rd Venice Biennale and travelled to Afghanistan as the official Australian War Artist in 2009. Many in Europe, UK and also here on his home soil consider Gladwell to be one of the leading contemporary artists in Australia. A bit of an international superstar of Australian art one might say. The Flying Dutchman in Blue (Coogee 2) is a re-visioning of his video work commissioned for Wagner’s opera The Flying Dutchman. Gladwell describes his piece.

Read the full story at blankgc.com.au. Read the full story at blankgc.com.au.

www.blankgc.com.au

Lifestyle & Culture TAKE A WALK TO DSICOVER MURWILLUMBAH’S HERITAGE Guided walks of Murwillumbah are now available thanks to Tweed Regional Museum and Murwillumbah Historical Society. The walks, which explore the town’s cultural and historical heritage add to existing opportunities to get your head around the district. The town also launched its Murals Guided Walks last year. Tweed Regional Museum Director Judy Kean said it was the perfect opportunity for people to learn about the town’s history. “We’re delighted these walks complement each other and take in a large slice of the history and culture of Murwillumbah,” she said. “Contemporary Murwillumbah owes a lot to a rich past and visitors can also enjoy a great deal more of this story on a visit to the Museum.” Judy Kean is anticipating a good turnout. Murwillumbah Murals Walks are guided by Caldera Arts, first Saturday of each month at 8.30am starting in the Murwillumbah Visitor Information Centre, Budd Park. More at calderaart.org.au Murwillumbah Town Centre Heritage Walks are guided by the Murwillumbah Historical Society first Saturday of each month at 1.00pm starting at the Tweed Regional Museum, Queensland Road.

More at murwillumbahhistoricalsociety.org.au.

LACE UP THE RUNNERS READY, SET, MARATHON AND HIT THE PAVEMENT If you’ve caught any part of the Gold Coast Airport Marathon in the past you’ll know how striking the event is. Not just for the fact that it is now the nation’s fastest race, after Kenyan Silah Limo broke the record last year at 2:09:14, but also for the stunning backdrop the Gold Coast offers for a race of this calibre. 2015 sees the event tick over its 37th year and runners often comment on the fact that it’s a memorable running experience. It was the first marathon in the country to be awarded IAAF Road Race Gold Label status and more than 27,000 runners from 65 countries compete in one of the eight races on offer. The Marathon’s reputation is bolstered by its location – there is no doubt. Blessed with mild winter conditions and sunshine, golden beaches, a flat course, the beautiful Broadwater, restaurants and cafes, on-course entertainment and a gradstand finish, it’s no wonder it’s become one of the city’s most significant events. The 37th annual Gold Coast Airport Marathon takes place Saturday 4 and Sunday 5 July and a three day sport and leisure expo will take place in the days prior. You can enter now or get more info at goldcoastmarathon.com.au.

Pat Carroll is a four-time winner of the Gold Coast Airport Marathon (1983, 1984, 1988 and 1997) and is one of the event’s ambassador. He is also the Australian half marathon all-comers record holder (1:01:11) and three-time Commonwealth Games Australian marathon representative. The retired athlete resides in Brisbane where he operates his business Pat Carroll Online and Onland. Pat offers people of all ages and abilities specialised training programs across all distances. Wanna know what he reckons you need for a successful marathon finish? 1.

Set realistic goals | lock in realistic goals that are current to your fitness level and time-frame to prepare. 2. Get buy-in from your partner, friends and family | make sure your loved ones are aware of your goals and training regimen. This will help with the support factor and accountability 3. Put your goals on the fridge | this is to remind yourself and everyone in your house of the end goal and what you want to achieve so you have a visual, it stays top of mind and acts as a countdown to the event. 4. Get a running kit | make sure you have comfortable clothes and shoes that you like. When you look good, you feel good too. 5. Find someone to train with | this will help you stay motivated and will mean you are less likely to forgo your training. 6. Set a realistic training program | make sure this is suitable for you, your fitness level and age. It’s not a one-size-fits-all approach. 7. Run somewhere enjoyable | train in an area that you like, even if it means jumping in the car and driving for 20 minutes to get there. 8. Run in the morning | get it out of the way so you can get on with the rest of your day. Afternoon or evening training tends not to happen after a long and busy day. 9. Lock in the same day for training | have set days that you train; three to four times a week at the same time. 10. Be prepared for wet or cold weather | have a plan so you stick to your training. Get wet-weather clothes or gear for when it’s cold so you can still train. Read more about Pat Carroll and his work at patcarroll.com.au

www.blankgc.com.au

N MARATHO N HO T A R A M F L HA 10KM RUNE LENG L A H C M K 5.7 SH JUNIOR DA

om.au

arathon.c goldcoastm

THON ING MARA

’S LEAD AUSTRALIA

BLANK PAGE COCO CHANEL: THREE WEEKS OF STYLE & GRACE

GIRL IN A BAND

THE GIRL ON THE TRAIN

Douglas Kirkland

Kim Gordon

Paula Hawkins

‘They make an unlikely couple: innocence and experience’ is how Judith Thurman explains the pairing of photographer Douglas Kirkland and the one and only Coco Chanel in the foreword. This is exactly the feeling you get when you delve into Kirkland’s book Coco Chanel: Three Weeks/1962. Featuring stunning photographs of Coco in her home and elsewhere, the book traverses the three weeks that Kirkland spent with someone he describes as ‘a very tiny woman who acted tall and gave of an aura of authority and certainty’. Kirkland speaks of how he was initially hired to interview Mademoiselle (as she insisted on being called) by Picture magazine when the American press realised Chanel was a fashion brand and not just a perfume; and his accompanying photographs of the first time he saw her almost foreshadow current media, containing an edge of stalking. Required to shoot fashion photographs to gain Mademoiselle Chanel’s trust, Kirkland peppers his photographs with anecdotes or biographical information. The photographs themselves are stunning, a mixture of candid and posed moments. In each photograph of the iconic designer she is shown hands on, in the middle of work with a cigarette dangling from her mouth – classic suit pressed to perfection. The one photograph that stands out for me is a brief moment where Mademoiselle is sitting on the stairs, reposed with a model, as she watches one of her fashion shows through a series of mirrors – a quick glimpse into the woman behind the label. In the images Kirkland shot at Mademoiselle Chanel’s home show a playful side of a powerful woman. With a beaming smile that echoes the beauty she was and always will be Kirkland quotes Coco herself, ‘You can be gorgeous at twenty, charming at forty, and irresistible for the rest of your life’. This book perfectly encapsulates that, with the small glimpses of flashing smile and memories of a time when one small lady ruled a very large world. I think we can all agree, three weeks was not enough. Christie Ots

Sometimes I think we know on some level the person we’re going to be in our life, that if we pay attention, we can piece out that information. I find it strange when people don’t know what they want to do in life. A revered insight into identity is what this first half, if not the entire book, gives you. Foolishly I thought Girl in a Band was Gordon’s first book, although was disproven early on with a detailed look at her eccentric and charismatic life in the arts. So many attributes in Gordon’s life lead her to find her true identity – be it her relationship with Danny Elfman, the man behind the infamous Simpsons theme song, her moves to Hawaii, Hong Kong and California or Sonic Youth’s placement in New York’s infamous No Wave scene. Many will pick up this memoir as hardcore to casual fans of Sonic Youth, or perhaps Thurston Moore enthusiasts. Either way you come out of the book feeling a great amount of appreciation for Sonic Youth’s music. Perhaps the most touchy subject of the book is Kim and Thurston’s divorce. For years these two were placed on a pedestal as being the power couple in the indie music world. Their pre-empted divorce has always had an air of mystery to it, so it is fantastic to be finally able to read the captivating tale of two people you thought could stick it out. At specific chapters, it may seem to be Gordon’s rather intensive hatred for Moore that overpowers the story’s balance. It’s later in the book where Kim acknowledges that she would be nothing without if not for her life with Thurston. Don’t be fooled into thinking this is an entire recollection of Sonic Youth trivia. The first one hundred-odd pages are of Kim’s adolescence, her mangled relationship with her schizophrenic brother Keller and her acclaimed ascent into the world of art, pre-Sonic Youth. The later chapters dive into Kim’s music life post-Sonic Youth, investigating her current project Body/Head with fellow New York noise guitarist Bill Nace. In reflection, it was extremely thrilling to be able to unfold Kim Gordon’s life page by page and see how her early life choices and motives both formed and ended one of the world’s most renowned alternative music rock bands of our generation as well as one of the world’s most cherished music relationships. Jake Wilton

After the huge success of Gone Girl, dark psychological thrillers about broken marriages seem to be trending right now. Published in January 2015, The Girl on the Train has already been optioned for film by Dreamworks but it is markedly different to Gillian Flynn’s blockbuster novel and well worth the journey. Every day, on the 54 minute train ride from Ashbury to Euston, Rachel sits in the same carriage and gazes out the window, looking out for a particular house, number 15, where a picture perfect couple live. Sometimes Rachel sees them there, having coffee on the terrace or sitting in the sun. After losing her job, her marriage, and losing herself to drink, Rachel’s world has shrunk to these train rides, looking out for the couple who she has named Jess and Jason. If she doesn’t see them, she imagines them inside, cooking breakfast, reading the paper, or lying in bed. But then one day her perfect illusion is shattered. From her vantage point on the train, Rachel sees Jess with another man. Unable to stay away from number 15, Rachel becomes entangled in Jess and Jason’s lives. Rachel narrates most of the story, but she proves to be an untrustworthy storyteller. As an alcoholic, she is prone to blackouts, large gaps of time filled with irretrievable memories. She is also mentally unstable, unable to move on from her marriage breakdown and obsessed with her ex-husband’s new family who she constantly calls while drunk. Rachel herself admits that she has a wild imagination,”I catch sight of these discarded scraps, a dirty T-shirt or a lonesome shoe, and all I can think of is the other shoe, and the feet that fitted into them.” The author, former journalist Paula Hawkins, builds characters and suspense well. As a reader, it’s easy to feel Rachel’s cringing shame as she wakes up after yet another drinking session, desperately going over the events from the previous night. At least what she can remember. At it’s core the story is about memory and intuition. All too often we ignore warning signs when it comes to somebody we love. We become distrustful of our own memories and intuition, sometimes until it’s too late. The book deals with another important issue. Heavy drinking among women in their 30s and 40s is on the rise. Many drinkers drink to relax and unwind, however, a character like Rachel drinks to escape. She uses alcohol to delay dealing with her problems. The Girl on the Train is compulsive reading. As the mystery builds, and the story twists into unpredictable corners it’s hard to put down. Readers will find themselves itching to get to the end of the story to unravel the mystery with Rachel. Emily Russell

www.blankgc.com.au

OPEN FOR LUNCH FRIDAY TO SUNDAY AND DINNER SEVEN DAYS LIVE MUSIC ON THE BALCONY EVERY FRIDAY TO SUNDAY

Lifestyle & Culture for that, I was also pretty excited about going to Finland! I took it seriously this time and it paid off. Were there any differences in your preparation between national and international contest? No, only that I spent whole days mentally, physically and vocally preparing rather than a few hours. Do you have a coach / teacher / mentor you would like to talk about? My vocal coach Sharon Rowntree from Vocal Success is an INCREDIBLE pop vocal coach! I started working with her after the World Championships however. We began working together late 2013 and she has increased my vocal range by 6 sometimes 7 semitones by introducing me to a technique called mixing. She’s also increased my show endurance from 2 hours to almost 10 hours using speech level training. Just incredible. My earlier singing coach Jennifer Williams had trained me in copious amounts of Classical techniques which means I can reach the very high notes in my soprano voice, my phrasing, confidence, posture. Two incredible women. I’ve done some experience with David Jaanz in Melbourne city as well after The Voice, David is more of a spiritual artist coach. He takes your already trained voice and teaches you to let go and feel the music, to find your identity, your originality! He’s incredible! A blessing to work with.

TEAM CANDICE In 2012, a then 24-year-old singer / songwriter and music producer named Candice Skjonnemand from the Gold Coast won the Australian finals of the Karaoke World Championships and then jetted off to Finland for the international finals, where she placed a very close second in the world. Since then Candice has featured in the 2014 season of The Voice Australia as a member of Team Kylie. During her time on the hit show, Candice’s performance of Katy Perry’s Unconditional won the loyalty of thousands of fans not only in Australia but across the world. Buoyed by her success, she has recently started her own record label, Pentagon Records under her company Pentagon Music Group. With the national World Karaoke Championships again heading to our shores in search of more local talent, Natalie O’Driscoll asked Candice a few questions about her experience. Can you tell us a little about your vocal and performance background? I started singing in the family home and Church as a child for the love and passion, which then grew into something more in my early years of primary school once my music teacher Mrs Williams picked up on my voice during choir. Later in primary school as my singing experience grew I began to learn piano and this helped me to begin writing songs at the age of 12. My whole family has always been very musical, dad could improvise a song out of any situation haha. Do you remember the first time you ever sang karaoke? I sang at Karaoke the first time when I was probably 15. My older sister Vanessa took me to a venue one day. It was a lot of fun! That’s what I loved about Karaoke, people were having fun with music and not taking it so seriously. 44

www.blankgc.com.au

How did you hear about the Karaoke World Championships and what prompted you to enter? My sister Vanessa again! She left a flyer on the refrigerator. I decided to enter because I love a challenge it helps me to grow and at that point in my life I needed to test myself. Was the year you won the Australian Finals your first year of entering the contest? If not, how many times had you entered before? NO! I had entered twice before, the first time I got to the state finals and didn’t even place, but I wasn’t taking it seriously that was the problem. The second time I also made it to States but I forgot my ID and the venue would not let me in! Can you tell us about the experience of winning nationals? It was a huge relief to feel that I had grown and been rewarded

Who are your favourite artists to cover on karaoke and why? Celine Dion, Whitney Houston and some Mariah Carey. I love to wow people, to really give them a show and make them feel something. These artist have those special songs that can do that. I also just love to sing them, they feel good, make me happy.. they’re passionate and beautiful. Has anyone ever told you that you sound like someone famous? I’ve had a few different ones, Rihanna, Whitney Houston, Eva Cassidy.. it depends on the song I’m singing, the person’s opinion. My favourite is to be told I have a unique voice, or I sound like Whitney Houston. I’m happy with either of those! What did winning national and placing at international in the KWC mean to you personally, and what has it done for your career? Winning at Nationals was incredible, and runner up at Internationals was out of this world! The incredibly talented women I was up against, to place second was bewildering! I had finally begun to believe in myself again. What is the next step for you? At the moment I’m in the middle of putting a show together, organising a tour next year, album launch (I’m currently recording my album with BigNote Productions.. incredible studio in Burleigh), and doing the usual live gigs to keep me entertained and fund my recording career adventures! I’m really looking forward to touring the Country, meeting new people and hopefully giving them a night they will remember. The Karaoke World Championship heats take place across Australia in April in more than 80 venues and the Australian grand final is here on the Gold Coast in September. More at kwcaustralia.com.au.

UN aptured CATCH A BUNNY, A BAND OR A brilliant STREET ARTIST THESE EASTER HOLIDAYS

HEVRON FEASTER MARCH 30 - APRIL 12

WIN*

Join the Chevron Feaster celebrations at Chevron Renaissance these holidays. Catch the Easter Bunny, loads of live music, street art, fun competitions and prizes and a host of other Easter festivities.

SPEND $10 OR MORE AT ANY SPECIALTY STORE FOR YOUR CHANCE TO WIN A MYSTERY PRIZE *

CHEVRON RENAISSANCE & 40/40 CREATIVE PRESENTS

april 13 - 18

AT SURFERS PARADISE FESTIVAL

As part of the Surfers Paradise Festival, Chevron Renaissance will be hosting Chevron; Illustrated, a live celebration of street art installations and Surfers Paradise culture.

+ LIVE STREET ART INSTALLATIONS + LIVE MUSIC + FORTY SUPPLY CO. POP UP STORE + PLUS LOTS MORE! Full program details available online. TAG US IN YOUR PICS #CHEVRONILLUSTRATED

the renaissance is here. Surfersâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; urban hub. #unfollowthecrowd A shopping and dining experience like no other, open 7 days til late. Cnr Surfers Paradise Blvd and Elkhorn Ave | chevronrenaissancecentre.com 2 HOURS FREE PARKING

*Terms and Conditions apply.

www.blankgc.com.au

Lifestyle & Culture A FEAST FOR ALL SENSES AT CHEVRON Chevron Renaissance has had somewhat of a renaissance recently and if you haven’t noticed the street art around the complex, you need to get down there. Easter would be a great time to do that, because the crew is bringing together a bunch of artists to celebrate Feaster. Chevron Feaster will run 30 March to 12 April. Live music from the likes of Eleea Naarro, Smooth Groove, Leigh James Acoustic and Clare Nella will feature every weekend from 6.00 – 9.00pm and kids can see the Easter bunny on Thursday 2 and Saturday 4 April. There are also a heap of prizes up for grabs with Easter-themed selfie competitions. The complex recently underwent a $5M facelift and is focussing on developing a unique urban feel. Chevron Feaster: music lineup (6.00 – 9.00pm) Thursday 2 April – Smooth Groove Friday 3 April – Skin Deep Saturday 4 April – Gentle Jazz Sunday 5 April – Clare Nella Friday 10 April – Eleea Navarro Saturday 11 April – Hot Jazz & Swing Kings

CHEVRON; ILLUSTRATED

In support of the Surfers Paradise Festival, the Chevron Renaissance will also breathe life into its urban space with art and creativity on the menu. Through Chevron; illustrated which will run Monday 13 to Saturday 18 April, four artists will paint four walls around the complex with a Forty Supply Co. store also popping up. We take a quick look at the four artists for you: Buttons: is an Australian artist and illustrator with a style that is heavily influenced by Japanese street fashion instagram.com/cheriebuttonss John Kaye: is most commonly recognised for his exterior spray paint work and his detailed ink drawings. instagram.com/johnkayeart/ Ciane Brewster: is an art teacher and graphic designer but also works on her own art, specialising in black and white portraits with amazing line work. instagram.com/cbrewster_art Dusc: Steve Nowland is an artist, designer and illustrator who combines a variety of organic and digital mediums, borrowing inspiration from art, typography, music, film and photography. instagram.com/sn_dusc Read more about Chevron; illustrated at chevronrenaissancecentre.com

SUPA DICICCO Jessica DiCicco has been involved in projects that would make most voice actors green with envy, from Disney channel mega-hit Emperor’s New School to the funniest scene of Dreamworks film Over the Hedge. Her flirtation with popular culture extends far beyond these two releases, and her fanbase is partially made up of Adventure Time fans since The Flame Princess, (her character in the series) appeared in the third season’s last episode. Kyle Butcher had a chat with her about her expansive list of roles and the upcoming Supanova tour to GC and Melbourne. “I was involved in Modern Family, which was fun. When Lily [Mitchell & Cameron’s adopted daughter] said her first word, she said ‘mummy’... and that was actually me! I’ve played random parts, like a crying baby on a couple shows, so you’d never even know. I was in parts of Kung Fu Panda...It’s funny, you do a job and then you forget about it, and you don’t hear about it again until someone mentions it at a convention and then it suddenly all comes back to you! I feel so lucky to have all those parts, because all of the larger parts go to celebrities straight away, and it feels like a major accomplishment to get a role in those major productions.”

on the public Q&A sessions, along with paid experiences. You would be hard pressed to attend the exhibition without seeing at least one example of the stars living it up and truly enjoying the tour.

Jessica’s role in Adventure Time became central in fan fiction after the internet became enthralled with her character. She now truly understands how dedicated the pop culture fans are - from attending conventions to writing fanfiction about their favourite series.

“I’m very excited because a few years back I was nominated for an Emmy in the same category as Christopher Lloyd, and now he’s going to be a guest at this Supanova tour as well, so I’m excited to say hi again.”

“The fanfiction actually began to seep into the show. The ‘Bubbline’ relationship between Marceline and Princess Bubblegum was never intended, but because it was a fan favourite, they’re focusing on it a little bit. It’s an incredible, exciting and exhilarating experience every time I work on the show. Each day I’m in a room with the cast, and there’s always a guest star like Maria Bamford and all these underground comedians!” The conversation quickly turns to touring with conventions like Supanova and its equivalent events overseas. DiCicco jumped in headfirst when it came to the convention culture, and was happy to report that she loves it. “I’ve been doing conventions for 2 years now, and it all started after Flame Princess episodes started airing. When Finn and Flame Princess’ relationship started heating up, that’s when the invitations for the conventions came in. I didn’t even know the convention scene existed, and then I had this whole body of work to support the Adventure Time character.” “I love going to conventions, meeting people and talking about shows that I’m on and not on. I was down in Australia last year for Supanova in Perth and Sydney, and I’m so looking forward to coming back and exploring Melbourne and the Gold Coast.” The guests at Supanova always seem to be having a great time when you go to get your signatures and photos. The organizers always try to make it a personable experience when you sit in

www.blankgc.com.au

“I LOVE hanging out and meeting the other guests at the conventions. I made friends with Grant from Mythbusters on the last Supanova tour, and my dad was an actor in the 80’s, so when I go to conventions I run into a lot of co-stars and friends of his. I just love going up to them, introducing myself and seeing the resulting reactions.”

I mentioned that I was gutted to not be able to attend Gold Coast Supanova this year, but that I would be at the Studio Ghibli Museum in Japan, a film company that DiCicco is a massive fan of. She was so excited talking about the studio, and you could hear the passion in her voice when it came to her job. The insanely popular Japanese filmmakers are even more special for her, for one major reason. “I did work on a Studio Ghibli film recently and I can’t say much about it, but it was a dream come true, and I’m so excited about it.” With the studio now closed, the final releases are definitely something fans are looking forward to. Now that we are armed with the knowledge that Jessica DiCicco is involved, it’s safe to say that I am now looking forward to it that much more, and I’m sure you are too. While I couldn’t catch any more news about it, you will have a chance to chat to her about it at Gold Coast Supanova! Supanova runs 17 – 19 April at the Gold Coast Convention Centre and fans from all genres will unite for the Supanova Cosplay Parade on Sunday 19 April through Broadbeach. The parade starts at Pratten Park at 9.00am and winds its way through the Broadbeach Mall and Surf Parade before ending at the Convention Centre at 10.00am. Get all the details at broadbeachgc.com.

2015 JOSEPHINE ULRICK AND WIN SCHUBERT PHOTOGRAPHY AWARD FINALISTS ANNOUNCED Gold Coast City Gallery has announced that 58 works have been selected for the 2015 Josephine Ulrick and Win Schubert Photography Award. The works were judged by Melbourne-based curator, writer and former inaugural Director of Utopia@Asialink, University of Melbourne, Natalie King, who had the challenging job of narrowing down the selection from more than 330 entries. Gallery Manager John Wash said the selected works capture the evolving nature of photographic art practice in Australia: “Photographers are increasingly joining forces to produce collaborative works, this year we have seven works that are the result of partnerships between artists,” he said. “It is very pleasing to see many past winners represented in this year’s show including our inaugural winner David Stephenson recognised for his collaborative work with Martin Walch. Other past winners selected in 2015 are Helen Pynor, Darren Sylvester, Justine Varga and Polxeni Pappetrou, who is the single artist most represented in the Award throughout its history,” Mr Walsh said.

The Immigrant, Papapetrou Polixeni

collaboration with Abdullah Syeed, and another Cutback artist Chris Bennie is a finalist again in 2015 for a work from a recent series which reflects on man-made and natural disasters, developed from time spent in Rockhampton and Fukushima. Renowned photographer and portrait artist Greg Weight has been recognised for his contemplative desert landscape Solitude 1 with a star-filled night sky that invites us to ponder the enormity and beauty of the universe. Senior Curator, Virginia Rigney said that this year will be a particularly special one for the Award. “This year we will launch a new publication Prizing Diversity, published by Thames & Hudson, that will document the history of the Photography Award,” she said. To be launched in May, the book will also document the two other cultural prizes that the Josephine Ulrick and Win Schubert Foundation has supported - for poetry and literature - which are now administered and supported by Griffith University.

“This year’s exhibition also sees an increase in performance based work being captured in photography, such as the work by collaborators Clark Beaumont exploring the notion that love is a predominantly selfish act.” Mr Walsh said.

“The texts and photography will be brought together in this unique and beautiful publication, enabling us to consider their overall character and legacy of the generous and visionary support of the Foundation,” Ms Rigney said.

Artist Ben Rak, featured in our current Cutback: Surfing Through Art exhibition, has been recognised for his

Ms Rigney said the timing of the publication is significant and comes just as the announcement has been made for the

Gallery to expand to new premises as part of Stage One of the Gold Coast Cultural Precinct which will open in late 2017. “Photography is going to be central to our programming and this publication highlights the growing depth of our collection and, thanks to the support of the Josephine Ulrick and Win Schubert Foundation for the Arts, our ongoing commitment to this important medium represented in our City Collection and exhibition program.” Ms Rigney said. The 2015 Josephine Ulrick and Win Schubert Photography Award will be on display at Gold Coast City Gallery from 28 March – 31 May. The winner will be announced at the opening event and will receive $20,000 in prize money and their work will be acquired for the City Collection.

The Arts Centre Gold Coast and The Follies Company in association with Mackay Entertainment and Convention Centre present

LEEROY BILNEY and ERNIE DINGO in

Featuring ROBYN ARCHER Written by Leeroy Bilney Marcus Corowa and S.L. Helper Directed by Mr. Helper DATE Wed 13 May, 7.30pm. Thu 14 May, 7.30pm VENUE Arts Theatre, The Arts Centre Gold Coast COST Adult $49.00 Pensioner / Senior $43.00, Student $28.00, Student Group Tickets $22.00pp, Adult Group Tickets $41.00pp BOOK www.theartscentregc.com.au | (07) 5588 4000

This event is part of our Indigenous Program, proudly presented by

www.blankgc.com.au

Lifestyle & Culture clothing brand, and she’s very cool and is pretty much paid to go overseas and go to conventions and make her own costumes. She’s in Sydney. There are heaps of people, especially in the states, where Cosplay is really big. Jessica Nigri is a really well known Cosplay model. A lot of women’s Cosplay seems to be tied up with the whole fantasy female figure thing… Oh that’s definitely a part of it. Not for me – I’m not very well endowed! (Laughs). For me I don’t put it all out there I like to focus on how well the costume made - sometimes it can detract from that. Have you travelled with this hobby? I was supposed to go to New York last year but it fell through, so for now I’m just travelling interstate. I go to conventions in Sydney and Melbourne. I don’t have the money right now to go overseas so I’m kind of waiting for a big break. My lifelong dream is to go to San Diego Comic Con. That would be unbelievable because there are tens of thousands of people who go to these things and it’s a whole other level. These people spend months and months creating their costumes.

Artful Dodger images courtesy of Lamp Photography

FANTASY WITH A TWIST Broadbeach will be transformed into the ultimate world of fantasy and play from April 17-19 with QPoW on Broadbeach featuring special free movie in the park on throughout the weekend and the Supanova Cosplay Parade in conjunction with the Gold Coast Film Festival and Supanova Pop Culture Expo. In the lead up, Natalie O’Driscoll caught up with Gold Coast Cosplay model Isobel Murray – aka The Artful Dodger, to have a chat about all things Cosplay and her plans for the festival. For the uninitiated, what is Cosplay? The official definition is “costume role play” it’s the art of dressing up as a character from a tv show, movie, game, comic book or any pop culture thing. Cosplay is like escapism for me, because real life is actually pretty boring and when you put on a different costume you kind of become a different person.

cloak thing and there are all these really horrible pictures of me trying to be Frodo when I was about ten.

Have you ever done any acting? I’ve acted in a couple of plays and things but nothing serious, I’ve never been on tv or anything. Cosplay is a lot like acting though, because you don’t feel like you anymore, you feel like you’re out of the comic book and it’s an amazing feeling. Especially when you dress up as a Disney character, and the kids come up to you at conventions, it’s so magical because they really think that you are the character.

Do you make everything yourself? I try to as much as possible because while I have nothing against people who buy their own costumes but I really like to learn new skills. Since doing Cosplay I’ve learnt how to sew, I’m just learning to work with leather which is really hard, I can make sewn armour and prop weapons out of wood, it’s an amazing skill set to have. Makeup skills are in there as well, it plays a big part. If I can’t make something myself then I will commission it, but I try to make stuff as much as I can. The only time I don’t do my own makeup is for fashion shoots. I’ve been modelling for a year and I’ve been paid about three times, and I’d love to ditch my regular job and do cosplay full time.

Have you always loved dressing up? Oh yeah. I’ve been big into Lord of the Rings and the Tolkien universe since I was 8, and when the movies came out I immediately got the one ring and got my mum to make me a

So it is possible to make a living from it? Yes! I know quite a few who have actually. One of the bigger ones is Eve Beauregard, she’s quite well known, and I met her a couple of years ago and have shot with her for Living Dead

www.blankgc.com.au

And how long do you spend making your costumes? It really depends. Recently I did a casual funny one with one of my girlfriends from [film] The Road to El Dorado. We were doing girl versions of the two main characters – big hoop skirts and corsets and really simple stuff to make, and sometimes those are the most fun ones as you don’t take it too seriously. Some can take three or four months to complete and some of them are really expensive, like ones that use leather, and I can’t just go and buy it all at once. I think the longest I ever spent was four months, and that was on Athena Borderlands (pictured). I’d never worked with foam before and it was quite complicated. Tell me about the people who participate in Cosplay. Most of the friends I have at the moment I met early last year. You do get a lot of different people in the Cosplay world, for instance the people who are really into anime tend to make the most elaborate costumes and they all kind of stick together. I hang out with gaming and movie Cosplay people, no one takes anything too seriously and it’s always a lot of fun. Most of the time at conventions we spend outside shooting with photographers! Tell me about Supanova, have you been to it before? Supanova is the main convention that I go to, it’s actually the first one I went to in 2011. The atmosphere is a lot different to some of the other conventions out there, it’s very well organised, and the people are fantastic. Some of my good friends are volunteers, it’s an awesome bunch of people. Who is your favourite character that you’ve already done? Selene from Underworld. I never got to shoot with that one properly but I would love to do it one more time and give it a real go. I just love badass ladies with weapons. I generally choose chicks that have weapons. Who would you like to do in the future? Artemisia from the second 300 movie (Rise of an Empire). I love her because she has jewelled swords, and an amazing leather breast plate with spikes up the back like a dinosaur. I love her fierceness and… well… her bloodlust I guess! (laughs). I’m about halfway through and I’ve done the breastplate and I’ve finished the weapons which frankly I’m bloody happy with because they’re made from wood which I’ve never tried before, and I’m really happy with how they came out.

Need to sharpen your look?

MOSCOW BALLET

Sleeping

‘LA CLASSIQUE’

Beauty

M PETIPA P TCHAIKOVSKY

BALLET’S MOST LOVED FAIRYTALE

SAT 18 APRIL | THE ARTS CENTRE graphic design and creative comunication chloe@bluntpencilstudio.com.au | 0447 306 331

www.theartscentregc.com.au | (07) 5588 4000

WWW.GRAND-CONCERTS.COM

www.blankgc.com.au

AN INITIATIVE OF

www.blankgc.com.au

MAJOR EVENT PARTNERS

www.blankgc.com.au

life

*taking a closer look at life on the GC

free Issue #20 APRIL 2015

FANTASY WITH A TWIST Cosplay comes to the coast