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CBD Live at Club Southport RSL
CBD Live is kicking off the new year with a handful of its popular tribute and multi-act evenings. Fogerty - The Ultimate Creedence & John Fogerty Revival with Petty's Heartbreakers will hit the stage on 13 Feb. Paradise City Guns n Roses Tribute on 27 March is a brand new authentic two hour tribute to “the most dangerous band in the world”. 3 April sees disco make a comeback with Australia’s biggest disco dance part of 2021: DISCO 54! Featuring ABBALIVE, Uk Beegees, Discomania and Sensational 70s, and 17 April sees Women of Rock take over, with tributes to Gwen Stefani, Pink, Gaga & Chrissy Amphlett. All tickets and information available at cbdlive. sales.ticketsearch.com/sales.
Reflections sought for a new work as part of Solid Gold
Gold Coast artist Samuel LeightonDore is seeking reflections from the public for his latest work, to be featured at the first ever exhibition in the HOTA Gallery: Solid Gold – Artists from Paradise. Samuel is creating a new work for Solid Gold called Cloud-Drive; a large scale immersive and interactive ceramic-based artwork that implements Augmented Reality commenting on the tension between the personal and the public. When Samuel’s ceramic clouds are viewed through the CloudDrive app, each cloud will come to life with a message from the public – visitors will experience intimate oneon-one moments “little celebrations of connection and vulnerability through their iPhone screens with total strangers”. Visit https://hota.com.au/ stories/reflections-sought-for-a-newwork-by-samuel-leighton-dore/ to leave your reflection and be a part of the artwork!
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Wallaby Hotel live music lineup
Wallaby Hotel has hopped straight back into its pumping live music schedule following its recent renovations with February and March lineups set to get every live music lovers’ toes a-tapping. Australia’s favourite bogan Shannon Noll will win everyone’s hearts once more on Valentine’s Day, while legendary Russell Morris will take to the stage on 20 Feb. Baby Animals are all set to rock til they drop on 26 Feb, while Sarah McLeod’s ‘One Electric Lady’ show will hit The Wallaby on 7 March. And let’s not forget Mudgeeraba Blues Rock from 12.30pm on 27 Feb. This all day extravaganza of music, brews, friends and food has FREE entry and will feature sets by 8 Ball Aitken Band, Angela Fabian Band, Soul'd, Matty Rogers Band, Crescent City Players, Andrew Baxter Band, Mescalito Blues, The Rectifiers, James Street Preachers, Lecia Louise, and Darren Scott. Tickets for everything are available at OzTix.
Bye Bye Birdie at Little Theatre
Little Theatre in Southport is taking on the popular rock musical comedy Bye Bye Birdie from now until 27 February. Teen heartthrob Conrad Birdie has been drafted, so he chooses all-American girl Kim MacAfee for a very public farewell kiss. Featuring a high-energy score and a hilarious script, Bye Bye Birdie is a loving sendup of 1960s, teenagers and rock’n’roll. Tickets are available at gclt.com.au/ bye-bye-birdie.
New Brewery Surfs into Paradise
BOBs Beer in Elkhorn Avenue, Surfers Paradise’s first brewery, has opened its doors to reveal an operational 12-hectolitre craft brewery with stylish fit out, seasonal menu and chilled vibes. The brewpub will serve the best craft beers from Australia and New Zealand with 16 taps in total: eight reserved for BOBs Beers, and eight featuring a rotating selection of guest beers from other top-notch independent breweries. Accompanying the bevy of brews is a creative cocktail menu and sophisticated food menu which goes against the grain of usual ‘pub fare.’
Rational Identity at The Walls
Arts in the Alley
Cavill Lane Surfers Paradise is aligning with the community to bring the Gold Coast to the heart of the city, in order to showcase our local arts industry. Arts in the Alley is a fun, family-friendly arts, music and cultural event taking place from 12 to 20 March. Come and experience exhibits, live artists and DJs while you explore a hidden alley and find something beautiful to take home.
RATIONAL IDENTITY is an upcoming exhibition at The Walls that delves into the familial knowledge and histories intrinsic to each artists’ practice and dissects what it means to be people of colour working in an Australian context. Contextualizing the artists experiences as ratios within a broader national population, this exhibition presents five microcosms of identity, deconstructing and reconciling personal narratives from complex cultural perspectives and features work by KEEMON WILLIAMS, RUAA AL-RIKABI, RHANJELL VILLANUEVA, LUCY NGUYỄN-HUNT, and REINA TAKEUCHI. Opens Saturday 6 February. More info at thewalls.org.au.
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Mamma Mia! announces new season dates
Following its COVID-generated postponement, Matt Ward Entertainment’s much-anticipated Mamma Mia! production has recently announced its new dates for 2021. The show will go on, from 19 June to 11 July 2021 at The Star Gold Coast.
FEBRUARY 13 NATURALLY GC / ZOOM LIVE – CREATE A NATIVE SHADE GARDEN 10am – 11am Online Zoom session with well known local and native plat enthusiast Kate Heffernan. Learn what to plant to create cooling shade in home gardens. Suitable for adult learning.
MARCH 13 - 20 SOMERSET STORYFEST, Somerset College
ADULT LEARN TO SWIM / Wednesday 9.30 am
ADULT SQUADS / Wednesday This annual event will be held 13 10 am to 20 March. Mudgeerabaaquticcentre.com. A series of literary experiences au or phone 5530 5288 along with workshops, masterclasses and featured TUESDAYS authors. Delivering a series of ACTIVE & HEALTHY – literary experiences along with ARCHERY workshops, masterclasses and Pacific Bowman Archery Club, Eventbrite/NaturallyGC or phone featured authors, Storyfest 86 Gemvale Road, Reedy Creek 5667 5972. nurtures emerging writers and The age-old art of archery is provides opportunities for fascinating and a great way to FEBRUARY 27 readers and writers alike. challenger yourself. The team at ACTIVE & HEALTHY With over 130 events offered Pacific Bowman can teach you SKATEBOARD WORKSHOP to the wider community across the skills you need. Firth Park, Somerset Drive, the Gold Coast throughout Mudgeeraba 4pm- 5.30pm / FREE the Festival and all year long, Learn new skills for great there is sure to be something E: paulspajic@hotmail.com / or coaches. Skateboards and for everyone. Check out the full call 0432 845 205 helmets provided for up to 15 program. participants. FREE storyfest.com.au. ACTIVE & HEALTHY Gold Coast Skateboard I CAN BE RESILIENT – New Coaching (Jay Hetherington) Active & Healthy Lifestyle MUDGEERABA AQUATIC CENTRE 0407 910 240 Professional instructors provide Program out now. quality instructing to motivate The 2020/21 Active & Healthy MARCH 6 and inspire you to achieve your Lifestyle Program is out now NATURALLY GC / BRINGING fitness goals. and offers a range of affordable BACK THE RICHMOND activities delivered by qualified AQUA AEROBICS / Monday BIRDWING BUTTERFLY and supportive professionals. @ 10.30am, Tuesday @ 11am, 9.30am – 11.30am Activities happening in Division Thursday @ 9.30am, Friday @ 9 include women’s and men’s Come and learn all about this 10.30am fitness group, new free toddlers magnificent butterfly including DEEP WATER RUNNING gym class, tai chi, yoga, aqua its lifecycle, current threats, / Wednesday @ 9.15am, fitness and a range of senior and how you can help. Further Thursday @ 5.45pm, Saturday strength and fitness classes. details upon registration. @ 7.30am To find an activity near you visit Eventbrite/NaturallyGC or phone WATER BOXING / Friday 11.15 am /activehealthy 5667 5972.
MUDGEERABA COUNTRY MARKET MUDGEERABA SHOWGROUNDS
MUDGEERABA PARKRUN d’Arcy Doyle Park, Somerset Drive, Mudgeeraba
Every 2nd and 4th Sunday of the month
7am Saturdays
7am – 12pm Community market, local stall holders, creatives & producers, food vendors & live entertainment. Free car parking and dog friendly. facebook.com/ MudgeerabaCountryMarket
This FREE weekly 5km event is for participants of all standards and ages. Participants are encouraged or run, jog or walk together. A COVID Safe Plan is in place and you must bring along your printed barcode. A QR code will be available to scan. Registration essential. Parkrun.com.au/register
JVMIE gets Hollywood nod When 2020 took a downward turn, Gold Coast born and bred electronic musician and this month’s cover artist, Jamie Lee Wilson - aka JVMIE - was living in Los Angeles. LA became a ghost town and she made the difficult decision to leave. While in hotel quarantine JVMIE began collaborating remotely with LA-based, French film composer Lionel Cohen, fusing elements of electronic music with cinematic textures. And out of the chaos, a unique collaboration was born.
Words by Natalie O’Driscoll
JVMIE is the only Gold Coast artist to feature twice in Blank’s ‘Top 20 of 2020’ new music releases (visit blankgc. com.au to check out the list, and grab the playlist from Spotify), with singles ‘You Don’t Even Know That I’m Alive’ and ‘In The Deep End’ getting the nod from New Music columnist Zac Fahey and Blank’s Managing Editor Natalie O’Driscoll, respectively.
“I was honoured to make it into Blanks Top 20 for 2020 list... BUT blown away to get a double mention! Thanks for appreciating our contributions to this crazy year,” JVMIE shared. Likened to artists like Massive Attack, Bjork and Portishead, JVMIE and Lionel have created an entire album which they will continue to release throughout this year, single by single. And in further wins for the pair, what began in a hotel room between Brisbane and LA has just received an official nomination in The Hollywood Music In Media Awards™ (HMMA) Downbeat/Downtempo and Producer/ Production categories.
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“I woke up to a message from Lionel that we’d been nominated and I was absolutely blown away! I’ve been following the HMMAs for years and I’m so honoured to be up for an award,” exclaims Jamie.
“This pretty much sums up how all of us are feeling at this time…it sounds like a masterpiece, a marvelous track where we can get lost time and time again,” said José Baptista Coelho from Where the Music Meets.
The HMMA nominations have historically been representative of the nominees of key awards shows that are announced months later.
Despite the upheaval, the award nominated songwriting duo continue to go from strength to strength. In addition to their accolades, JVMIE and Lionel were recently commissioned to compose a song for an upcoming film, which actually brought the director to tears.
The HMMA main event will take place in Hollywood in January 2021 and will feature live music performances, celebrity presenters, tributes to music industry icons, awards for composers, songwriters and artists and this year will honour Kenny Loggins with a Career Achievement Award. Names in contention range from Taylor Swift, Haim, Travis Scott and Janelle Monae. JVMIE and Lionel’s frankly titled ‘F**k This Mess’ is nominated. With the Gold Coast singer-songwriter trapped at home, and the French film composer facing a humanitarian crisis in LA, the two merged those feelings of isolation and social privation into a track composed at distance. The track relates to the mental state of someone in extended isolation, and it’s already receiving tonnes of positive industry feedback.
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Said track ‘I’d Do It All Again’, set for release on 31 January, features JVMIE’s signature emotive vocals set against a swelling tapestry of electronic sounds and acoustic strings that culminates into a tempestuous crescendo. Gold Coasters can soon hear this collection of skyrocketing singles live, as JVMIE will be performing a special downtempo set at HOTA on Friday 12 March for Fridays On The Lawn. She also currently holds a weekly residency performing at Brisbane’s new The Prince Consort Hotel every Friday. Her new album ‘Over My Head’ comes out in February 2021 on A List Music via Universal Music. The HMMAs will be announced on 28 January, Australian time. Results were not known at the time of writing, but you can jump over to hmmawards.com for the winners, and follow JVMIE at fb.com/iamjvmie and Insta @iamjvmie for more releases and updates.
Managing Editor: Natalie O’Driscoll Creative Director: Chloe Popa Advertising & Partnerships Manager: Amanda Gorman Content Coordinator & Photography: Simone Gorman-Clark TeamWriters: Anthony Gebhardt & Zac Fahey Distribution: Swingin' Safari Crew Contributors (print and online): Natalie O’Driscoll, Anthony Gebhardt, Zac Fahey, Marj Osborne, Anna Itkonen, Glenn Tozer, Prudence Clark, Amy Gould, Courtney Thomas. Cover: Gold Coast musician Jamie Lee Wilson - aka JVMIE Acknowledgement of Country: We genuinely respect and acknowledge the Traditional Owners of the land on which we work and play. We honour their elders past, present and emerging as well as the rich contribution that continues to be made to society through art, story and music. About us: Blank is independently owned and published by Samantha Morris, Chloe Popa, Amanda Gorman and Natalie O'Driscoll. Founded in 2013 we are an independent voice for local music, arts and lifestyle and we rely on advertising as well as our generous contributors to keep us ticking. Opinions expressed herein are not necessarily those of the editor, publishers or the writing team. Editorial: news@blankstreetpress.com.au Advertising: advertising@blankstreetpress.com.au Gigs: gigs@blankstreetpress.com.au Follow us: Facebook/Instagram @blankstreetpress
Teenage Kicks! Words by Natalie O’Driscoll
The team behind Best Night Ever have pulled a bunch of rad bands together for a mid-summer Sunday Session mini-fest for the young and young at heart. Teenage Kicks will hit Burleigh Bazaar with a bang on Sunday 7 February. Spending 2020 slow-cooking a flavoursome psych-rock stew, Brisbane’s Nice Biscuit return to the Goldy with their new single and EP. Electrifying and cinematic, this DIY psych-garage collective will bring a colourful sonic and visual show featuring out-of-this-world costumes and a genre-bending repertoire of songs. Joining them on the drive down the M1 from Brisvegas are Concrete Surfers and their unique blend of garage-rock and pop. Their distinctive sound and energetic live performance have created a fast-moving trajectory for the group of four and 2021 is set to be no different. Hailing from the nation’s capital (to make their first-ever Gold Coast appearance!) is Teen Jesus & the Jean Teasers, a band of four nineteen-year-old gals with a penchant for plaid and a knack for crafting gritty, nostalgic grunge pop. Since Teenage Joans first burst onto the scene a year ago, they have left every room they play full of brand new and soon-to-be longtime fans. Last year the triumphant indie/pop-punk two-piece took home the crown as triple j Unearthed High winners of 2020 and aren’t planning on slowing down anytime soon. Cahli and Tahlia have a lot to say and they are going to say it, you are going to listen, and nobody is going to stand in their way. Coming in hot from Jervis Bay, NSW, Debbies are a two-piece rock band with a sound that combines those summery slacker vibes with upbeat hard-hitting rock melodies. The band have fast become one of the most buzzed-about new names in Australian rock music after being named one of the five triple j Unearthed High finalists for 2019. Looking for all-female, all punk rock, all the time? You can’t go past the five-piece powerhouse of Being Jane Lane. Dropping catchy punk rock tunes with attitude, if you haven’t yet jumped on the Being Jane Lane bandwagon, now is a damn good time to do so. Gold Coast local Lily Papas will also be joining the fabulous lineup. This local singer-songwriter has been known with her introspective indie pop, noting musical influencers from Florence & The Machine, Lana Del Rey, London Grammar and David Bowie, completing what is certain to be an eclectic and exciting day of tunes. This is a 16+ event. Tickets are now on sale via Oztix.
Geniie Boy is out of the bottle Geniie Boy is a local collaboration two years in the making, melding the talents of renowned multi-instrumentalist and producer Scott French (Cheap Fakes, French Butler Called Smith, Felicity Lawless, Thee Endless) and sassy indiepop singer song writer Alisha Todd (who we most recently featured in the October issue of the magazine discussing her current single, ‘Rabbit Hole’.) Words by Anthony Gebhardt
This particular collaboration has an extra element of pizzazz due to the fact that Alisha and Scott are also partners in life as well as music. The first fruits of their melding of art and heart takes the form of a debut single entitled, ‘Fools Play’, which is released on 9 February and showcases their talent for harmony-laden, danceable indie-pop framed within Alisha’s warm and distinctly Antipodean vocal stylings. The track was produced by Scott at his Love Street Studios and serves as a precursor to their upcoming debut EP slated for later in the year. We recently delved deeper to unleash the genie, chatting with Scott and Alisha about the project. You both already have busy musical schedules outside of your Geniie Boy collaboration. Did you find it easy to make the time to make music together? Scott: The idea of Geniie Boy was conceived during early COVID days, so our schedules luckily weren't too hectic during the early creation period. Alisha foresaw that we'd need to be knuckling down to get all the songs imagined and recorded and she was quick to book in any days I had free in the studio. The more we recorded, the more exciting it became and making time for it wasn't really something we needed to think about. It also helps that I own my own studio, so I can be in there whenever I want, or whenever I don't have a session with another muso. How exactly do you go about the process of writing music together - do each of you take designated roles when it comes to lyrics, song writing and the music itself? And do you approach things from a structured perspective (eg setting aside studio time to jam) or is it more of a fun/random inspiration type scenario? Scott: We play to our strengths in the song writing process, which seems to be working so far. Alisha wrote the majority of the songs on the EP in a week in bare-bones format of electric guitar, vocal melody and lyrics. Then we'd go into the studio and spend the whole day on one song, where I'll add all the other musical elements. That's the fun part; nerding out together on synth sounds, guitarmonies and drum grooves, deciding on which electric bass should we use... Sometimes the songs become totally different, like 'All Over The World', which started in a 3/4 time signature (like a waltz) then morphed into a 12/8 Dorothy Masuka-esque African inspired groove.
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We get by with a little help from our friends too! A good friend lent us a 12-string electric guitar and fretless P-Bass which were used a lot and another good friend, Tim Bennett from Adelaide, laid some epic bass down on one of the tracks. Being that you come from different musical backgrounds have there been many challenges or barriers in regards to collaborating musically? Alisha: One of the things that Scott is best at is being supportive and positive in the studio. We're also really comfortable with each other so it feels like a safe space to throw ideas around, both good ones and horribly bad ones. Admittedly I was surprised that Scott didn't turn his nose up at the Indie Pop style because he's such a fan of Tool and Rage Against The Machine and other heavier bands. For me it was really important that he shone through in the songs - he's a humble guy, so we made sure there were some ridiculous drum moments and guitar solos. You're working towards putting out an EP this year. How's it coming along, and is your first single, 'Fool's Play', indicative of its vibe or do you have a few rabbits that you'll be pulling out of your hats musically, so to speak!? Our debut EP 'If You Have Something To Say' is coming out mid 2021! It's almost finished, though we might be adding a song to make it a 6 track guy. The first single 'Fool's Play' will set the scene, with the Indie Pop vibe coming through strong, but there is definitely some natural sway throughout the EP towards other genres without fully stepping off the Indie Pop train. We've been told by someone from our secret listening party that one song actually resembles a Tool song, with its wacky time signatures and groove changes, and we dip our toes in the Indie Rock pool momentarily for one song. I think with our love of all types of music, listeners will need to expect and welcome some metamorphosis throughout this project. Any plans to take Geniie Boy on the road and play some live dates in 2021 (COVID allowing)? We would love to take our live trio show on the road! It is all COVID depending, but please invite us to play at your place by all means! Scott and Alisha will be officially unbottling their inner Geniie Boy on February 9 with the release of their debut single, ‘Fools Play’, followed by an EP later in 2021.
The Kombumerri People: The Original Custodians of the Gold Coast
Words by Prudence Clark
Although we all love the Gold Coast for the stunning coastline, abundant marine life and incredible national park areas, there’s a good chance the majority of us are unaware of the rich Indigenous history and traditional ownership of the area. Given that 26 January has recently passed, it seemed fitting to honour the original custodians of the region, as well as learn more regarding the proposed cultural centre at The Spit that will aim to lessen the gap and leave a long-lasting legacy.
Dating back more than 20,000 years, the Kombumerri, or the ‘Salt Water’ people, are the traditional custodians of the Gold Coast region and their tribal boundaries extend north to the Coomera River, south to the Tweed River and west to the foothills of Mount Tambourine. In fact, there are numerous places of significance across the Gold Coast, such as the 1,200 year-old burial ground in Broadbeach, the Bora Ring at Burleigh Heads along the Gold Coast Highway and the sacred dreaming mountain, Jellurgal, more commonly known as Burleigh Mountain.
preservation, a sugarbag-bee festival, as well as corroboree performances and projects that will enhance our spiritual connection with the sea, which is something we’d like to share with everyone.
When speaking with the effervescent Maxwell Dillon, Project Officer for the Moondarewa Native Bee Program, his passion for both the Gold Coast and his culture is undeniable. In addition, his desire to see the two merge through both the current Moondarewa projects and the proposed Performing Arts and Cultural centre, is something that will lead to these ideals becoming a reality.
“The legacy we wish to leave behind will be the Kombumerri future having a home and a base at long last. At present, we do not own or even lease a building on our own country- therefore, a cultural centre will be the legacy and home for our people, bringing a sense of justice for us as well.
Offering a range of services, such as Welcome to Country didgeridoo performances, Dreamtime story retellings, private tours of Jellurgal Sacred Mountain and educational collaborations with schools and Universities, Moondarewa provides both a sense of authenticity and connection, one that Max wants to further at the proposed Cultural and Performing Arts centre, part of the Queensland Government’s Master Plan development for the Spit.
“In our culture, When a visitor comes to the border of our territory, we welcome them, yet ask that they respect this land. As the original custodians of the Gold Coast, we believe we have something great to offer and together, we know that we can continue to make the Gold Coast a great place to visit,” Max continued.
"It’s all about authenticity and getting the right local people to share their knowledge -having local people tell their stories is important and unfortunately, at the
moment, this is a vital ingredient Gold Coast tourism is missing.” So next time you are at the beach, take a moment to remember and pay your respects to the Kombumerri people, whose history and stories we need not only to continue telling, but also preserve. Pictured below left: Statue of Dreaming God Jabreen who made the Gold Coast country, located at Griffith University Gold Coast campus. The statue contains live stingless bees, entering and leaving the hive from his mouth. The first food enjoyed on Kombumerri Country was sugarbag honey. Jabreen's final resting place is Jellugal Burleigh Mountian.
“The cultural centre is a way for us to heal from the past and maintain some of the things that would be lost if we didn’t have this opportunity- it’s a way we will be able to showcase to the rest of the Gold Coast aspects of our culture and traditions that people may have never seen or been aware of,” Max said. “Although the completion of this project is still a couple of years away, we have some great ideas and collaborations that we can’t wait to put into action, including a proposed shell midden restoration and Blank - issue #83 - February 2021
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ZING brings live music to the fore
ZING heralds the first chapter of exciting new programming in 2021 for HOTA, and is a rich and diverse program inviting audiences to make new memories, splash around, revisit familiar favourites, and celebrate great art. While the program has and will continue to showcase a vast range of events and experiences at the cultural precinct, (see the HOTA website for full deets), it’s the live music factor we are keen to explore here. Check out some of the live tunes that will be hitting HOTA during ZING:
FRIDAYS ON THE LAWN
With the smooth sounds from local musicians floating in the background, free entry, and a selection of your favourite drinks available for purchase from the Lawn Bar, all you need to do is bring a comfy blanket to sit on (or pull up a chair in the Lawn Bar) and some good vibes. Catch Trichotomy on 29 Jan and Ella Fence on 5 February. Fridays on the Lawn takes place 4-7pm, with music from 4.30-6.30pm.
BASEMENT LIVE
JUSTINE CLARKE SINGS
Sign up on the HOTA website to be the first to know what’s happening in Basement Live.
Justine Clarke Sings! encourages young audiences to engage their imagination through words, song and movement. The show features familiar songs that kids know and love from all of Justine’s albums, including the 2013 Aria Award winning A Little Day Out.
The bar’s open, the lights have dimmed, and the talent is ready to go. Every second Friday, head on down to the Basement and discover your new favourite bands and singer-songwriters (with a few familiar faces and surprise guests in the mix).
THE BEATLES VS THE ROLLING STONES Featuring The Good Band and The Honey Sliders
For one night only, join The Good Band and The Honey Sliders as they battle it out live on HOTA’s Outdoor Stage in this music-fuelled slugfest between Britain’s biggest musical powerhouses. Representing The Beatles in the blue corner is The Good Band. Following on from the success of their ‘Hot August Night’ show at our very own Outdoor Stage, these boys will be bringing their flavour to ensure they ‘Come Together’ to come out on top!
SUPPER CLUB
And for The Rolling Stones in the red corner, local legends and makers of the ‘Easy Rider’ Soundtrack show, The Honey Sliders will be ‘Painting it Black’ with the epic riffs we all know and love.
Enjoy Saturday nights in our Lakeside Room with tickets including the performance and great food – it’s an easy, relaxed evening out with performers you won’t want to miss.
The boys next door or the bad boys of rock? The Beatles or The Stones? Whose side are you on? Saturday 13 March.
Nattali Rize will hot the stage on 27 March, while Karin Schaupp and Orava Quartet will delight on 24 April.
5 SECONDS OF SUMMER
Supper Club is your chance to see big-name artists in a smaller, more intimate performances – and to kick off 2021, we’ve got a diverse line up that packs a punch.
THE SECRET LIFE OF THE LOVE SONG, featuring The Brothers Calling Feel the Love on Valentine’s Day as the Brothers Calling take you on a ride to explore the Secret Life of the Love Song. This is the day to celebrate love and music and in all its different variations from the greatest love songs ever told. You can expect to be singing your heart out to Bob Marley, INXS, Hot Chocolate and The Romantics just to name a few. This special Valentine’s sunset concert will warm your heart and bring the joy of music live from HOTA’s Outdoor Stage, 14 February.
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The Sydney-raised band who have conquered the world since releasing their eponymous 2014 debut will bring their No Shame 2020 Tour to the Gold Coast in March. ‘No Shame’ is the current single lifted from the forthcoming fourth studio album by 5 Seconds of Summer, ‘CALM’, following 2014’s self-titled debut, 2015’s ‘Sounds Good Feels Good’ and 2018’s ‘Youngblood’ – all of which debuted at #1 on the both the ARIA Album Chart and Billboard 200. 5 Seconds of Summer will hit the Outdoor Stage at HOTA on 26 March.
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Justine Clarke is a best-selling children’s singer, accomplished children’s author, acclaimed film and TV star, seasoned stage actor and a much-loved, reassuring presence on TV institution, Play School.
Catch Justine on 18 April.
ECHOES OF THE JAZZ AGE With John Bell and Simon Tedeschi, and Special Guest Blazey Best
The 1920s, or the Jazz Age, was one of the most thrilling decades in history. And nowhere is the decade’s remarkable aura more brilliantly evoked than in John Bell and Simon Tedeschi’s performance of the same title, in words and music. Centered around Fitzgerald’s famous essay on the roaring twenties, with sizzling quotes from Mae West, Groucho Marx, and Dorothy Parker, and poetry by T.S Eliot, the performance features the irresistible piano music of Scott Joplin, Louis Armstrong and James P Johnson, and songs by George Gershwin, Ray Henderson and Fats Waller. Revered actor and director John Bell and renowned pianist Simon Tedeschi are two of Australia’s best-loved artists. Accompanied by special guest actress and singer Blazey Best, this third remarkable collaboration, will be a magical, entertaining show, taking audiences back to all the brilliance and bedazzlement of the Jazz Age. Go back in time on 27 April. To get the full program details for ZING, and book tix to your favourite events, visit hota.com.au/zing/.
Words by Natalie O’Driscoll
Spotlight on Logan’s creative arts Just a short trip down the road lies a cultural hub that many Gold Coasters may not even be aware of. The City of Logan is home to many talented artists who enrich the community. Logan City Council’s vision is for a community that celebrates its creativity and diversity through arts, culture and heritage. The city is home to a number of venues offering the community access to a range of creative arts, including the Logan Art Gallery and the Logan Entertainment Centre. Council’s City Lifestyle Committee Chairperson Councillor Laurie Koranski said the gallery offered a place to discover ever-changing exhibitions by the City of Logan’s best local artists. “These artists highlight the city’s cultural, social and environmental diversity in imaginative ways through a diverse range of art forms,” Cr Koranski said. “Our award-winning gallery regularly showcases artworks by local artists of all nationalities as well as touring exhibitions on loan from major galleries.” The first exhibition round for 2021 opened on 22 January and will run until 27 February.
It will feature artists Helena Jackson-Lloyd, Lei Xu, Ronelle Reid, Richard Connor and Chloe Wigg.
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Helena created a series of large abstract paintings during an artist-in-residency at Curtin Springs Cattle Station in the Northern Territory. Her exhibition, ‘Of the desert’, showcases natural materials found in the area. Woodridge artist Lei Xu has produced a new series of oil paintings for this exhibition. ‘The smell of memory’ focuses on people enjoying food, sharing meals and happy times around the dinner table. Bookings for all sessions is essential and can be made online at logan.qld.gov.au/artgallery This exhibition round also includes: •
‘Elements’ by Edens Landing artist Richard Connors, whose abstract paintings explore the four basic elements of earth, fire, water and air.
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‘Urban menagerie’ by Ronelle Reid from Cedar Vale. The exhibition of oil, ink and gouache paintings highlights images captured during a week-long artistic residency at the Currumbin Wildlife Sanctuary late last year. Ronelle’s quirky compositions pair species that don’t coexist in nature. Chloe Wigg from Rochedale South turned to art therapy after she was injured and medically retired from work. Her works in the ‘Natural resilience: inner feelings, outward reflections’ exhibition draw on her own experience of living with an invisible disability.
The 2021 program can be accessed online at logan.qld.gov.au/downloads/file/2925/2021exhibition-program Follow @loganartgallery on Instagram for more updates throughout the year on exhibitions and displays. The Logan Entertainment Centre is the City of Logan’s premier entertainment venue.
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“It is a wonderful venue which hosts a variety of events ranging from theatre shows and concerts to exhibitions, school productions and award dinners,” Cr Koranski said. Coming up at the LEC on 21 March is the new musical comedy ‘Margaret Fulton: The Musical’ based on her bestselling autobiography ‘I Sang for My Supper’. Book a cabaret seat or table for a two-course lunch before the show with the classic recipes that made Margaret Fulton a household name then sit back and enjoy this heartwarming musical. To book your tickets or discover more great LEC entertainment visit loganentertainmentcentre.com.au. LEC’s services and facilities include an experienced events team and production specialists, full bar, and kiosk, audio-visual and lighting equipment, computerised on-site ticketing system and free off-street parking as well as disabled access. Pictured above L-R: 'The Anarchist' by Ronelle Reid and Margaret Fulton musical.
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Art Lovers Australia opens a gallery in Southport
Gold Coast Activate Grants open for applications The City of Gold Coast Activate Arts, Activate Music and Activate Small Grants current rounds are now open, with some applications closing in March. Gold Coast-based online art gallery and art community, Art Lovers Australia, opened a gallery space in Southport this January. Art Lovers Australia has been bringing artists and art lovers together digitally since June 2016, and 2021 has already seen that virtual gathering place take a physical form as well. Words by Anna Itkonen
“Last year saw many galleries and art spaces working on their online presence,” said Art Lovers Australia CEO and Founder, Nancy Donaldson-Knight. “We did it the other way around, and after years of cementing our position online and finetuning our operations in the digital environment, we were ready to recreate that space out bricks and mortar too.” “In just a few short years, we have kicked so many goals, including being the key art supplier on The Block TV series and working with Shaynna Blaze’s Selling Houses interior design team. We have also launched an Augmented Reality Hoverlay app to view art virtually on the walls of your own home,” Nancy continued. “It is exciting to add to these achievements with the opening of a gallery space. We represent over 700 artists online and showcase more than 24,700 artworks in our online gallery. The obvious next step was to create a physical space to reflect that online hub and community.” “Many artists struggle for ten, twenty years to get their art into galleries so what do they do in the meanwhile,” Jarrod Knight, Art Lovers Australia’s Artistic Director explained.
“We want to work in that space and offer services and support to those artists who are developing their skills, increasing their visibility.” The opening exhibition of the gallery, Home, showcases some of Art Lovers Australia’s long-term artists and “best sellers”; Petra Meikle de Vlas and Kathleen Rhee together with Aylee Kim, Michelle Keighley, Sam Suttie, Grace Brown and Kate Constantin.
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Home explores the emotional and physical landscapes, precious objects and architecture, and the deeply spiritual connection all of us have to home. “We have the emotional and physical landscapes of Kathleen Rhee and Petra Meikle de Vlas, the still-lives of Sam Suttie, and the spiritual connection of the indigenous artists Kate Constantine and Grace Brown, to mention a few,” Nancy described the exhibition. “Every artist responds to the same topic in a very diverse way and this is the way we wish to move forward in the future as well. We look to build our exhibitions around themes which then again allows us to showcase multiple artists simultaneously.” “Our feature artists in this gallery are predominantly Gold Coast, Queensland and Northern New South Wales artists. Of course, artists from other parts of Australia are invited to participate as well but realistically the logistical and financial aspects do play a part too. If we can get the model working here on the Gold Coast, we would like to open physical galleries in other states next.” True to their diverse ways of supporting Australian artists, Art Lovers Australia gallery offers an impressive program to the art-loving community too. The gallery has the next two years of exhibitions planned, Art Lovers Australia book launches scheduled in, social media workshops for creatives and interior design nights lined up. Not to forget an array of visual art workshops by accomplished artists from Art Lovers Australia including Rachel Favelle and Amica Whincop. HOME exhibition opens 30 January. On Saturday 20 February Art Lovers Australia will be running a Social Media for Creatives Workshop from 2 to 4pm, for just $40. Bookings at 1800 278 568. Blank - issue #83 - February 2021
Words by Natalie O’Driscoll
Now more than ever, funding for cultural, arts and music endeavours is critical. City of Gold Coast has long supported the community through its annual activate grants, and this 2021 round is set to support more projects than ever. The Regional Arts Development Fund (RADF) is a competitively assessed grants program supporting arts and cultural projects of all kinds, and artists and arts and cultural workers at all career stages. RADF is delivered by City of Gold Coast in partnership with Arts Queensland. There are three RADF funding categories: •
Activate Small Grants: supports individuals, organisations and collectives seeking smaller levels of funding (up to $5,000) for arts and culture-based activity. Apply anytime. Note your application must be received at least eight weeks prior to your activity start date.
•
Activate Music - Round 2: supports the Gold Coast contemporary music sector to create new music, develop new audiences and tour. Applications close 8 March 2021. Note your project must start after 16 May 2021.
•
Activate Arts - Round 2: supports arts and culturebased activities in all artforms and artists at all stages of career to deliver projects/activities that have a clear connection to the Gold Coast and deliver artistic excellence, community benefit, collaboration, sustainability and innovation (apply for up to $15,000). Applications close 8 March 2021. Note your project must start after 16 May 2021.
Applicants are encouraged to contact the Arts and Culture team to discuss the project before applying - contact the RADF Liaison Officer on 07 5581 6075 or email radf@ goldcoast.qld.gov.au. The Regional Arts Development Fund is a partnership between the Queensland Government and City of Gold Coast Council to support local arts and culture in regional Queensland. Get more information and apply at bit.ly/3bOLOXd.
San Mei gets into the machine Following a feverish run of singles and the release of her EP ‘Cry’ in 2020, San Mei has dived headfirst into 2021 with the release of the first single of her latest body of work – ‘In The Machine’. Words by Natalie O’Driscoll
‘In The Machine’, produced by San Mei (Emily Hamilton) and long-time studio drummer and collaborator Michael McCartney, is like a lost track from the Batman Forever soundtrack. Gnarly guitars, gritty synth and industrial drum programming pulse away in clever contrast to San Mei’s ethereal vocals. Hamilton explains, “I took a bit of a different sonic approach with this song and I thought that using some industrial sounds and having a bit of a mechanical feel would really suit it, which I think we achieved with a lot of the drum patterns and sounds. “I still wanted to make sure it felt a bit surreal and dreamy at the same time, so the verb’ed-out vocals and wash of synths were important to include in the track”. The production is an outstanding representation of Hamilton’s focus and inspiration in 2021, building on her skills as a talented musician, writer, performer and now, producer. For Hamilton, the song’s lyrics are a reminder not to get stuck in the motions of everyday life and be operating on auto pilot, but to keep striving and be who you want to be. She says, “Once I stepped back, I realised I wasn’t happy with the person I was becoming and that I needed to remember who I was and the goals I had for myself.
“Growth is really important to me, and sometimes life can wear us down until we’re just operating on autopilot, so this song is me telling myself to wake up and get moving”. With COVID becoming an everyday disruptor, San Mei has adapted and overcome a number of hurdles that have come with the pandemic. Shifting her attention to an increased social media presence, the Gold Coast artist has been able to connect with a growing online audience in the US – replacing her intentions to tour there in 2020 (including six booked-then-cancelled shows at SXSW). The result of her 2020 hunker down has been more airplay, more international fans, and more songwriting. “Last year was kooky, but it gave me the chance to get lost down some rabbit holes and find some fresh inspo,” Emily says. ‘In The Machine’ is available to stream and download via all the usual channels. Blank - issue #83 - February 2021
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Clovendoe: No alcohol? No problems. Queensland distilling company Clovendoe Distilling Co is bringing its zero proof and low alcoholic spirits to our shores.
Words by Natalie O’Driscoll
Catie Fry and Sarah Bendy are the founding team at Clovendoe Distilling Co, which is not only one of the few all-female distilling companies in the world, but is also the only no and low alcohol niche distiller in Australia. Distiller Catie uses 21 unique botanicals, ethically sourced or procured locally, distilling them in small batches in a one-of-a-kind traditional copper pot still. With an increasing move to reduce alcohol consumption, this means sober curious people can still enjoy a ‘grown up’ drink while socialising. Catie is no stranger to the distilling space, running the award-winning gin and rum distillery, Saleyards Distillery, with her husband in Rockhampton. This distillery, now rebranded to Capricorn Distilling Co, will also be heading our way. We shot Catie a few questions ahead of the March move. Why did you choose the GC to set up shop? Why would you not move to the Gold Coast?! Why did it take us so long? ;) Originally, we wanted to establish the Saleyards Distillery on the Gold Coast, but the universe had other ideas and pulled us further north to ‘rum country’. We always wanted to end up back down here on the coast for the chilled lifestyle and gorgeous beaches. There’s also a strong ‘paddock to bottle’ scene here and it’s great seeing both the locals and tourists getting behind the craft breweries and distilleries popping up. I think people around here are enjoying the thrill of the flavour profiles coming out of our Australian products. Tell us about the unique combination of flavours you are using in your three products. Are they new? Tried and tested? Inspired by real life experiences? We work with 21 unique botanicals between the three products, all of which are ethically sourced or procured locally. In fact, I even forage for a few of them myself for every batch. We prepare all the botanicals with our very own hands and distill them small batch in our one-of-akind traditional copper pot still. They are crafted similar to that of a gin, sans the predominant juniper that a standard gin requires. Instead, I have intentionally made each blend bold and incredibly distinctive from one another in their flavour profile. One of the blends (Sprout) does contain a light balance of Juniper berries but it is not the most prominent flavour note, you could very much argue whether this is a gin or botanical vodka. Gin… Botanical Vodka…Godka…Vin…Whatever you want to call it… Who cares…it bloody tastes good! For categorical ease, they are botanical low-and no-alcohol spirits. Clovendoe SEED is inspired by the familiar essence of the Australian garden/back yard. We are talking your old
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faithfuls like lavender and rosemary springing up from the garden beds of your nana’s backyard dancing alongside the tangy, sweet notes of Australian native lemon myrtle. Clovendoe SPROUT is inspired by the alluring aromas of the Spice Trail of the Middle East. Think aniseed and chai spices with a hint of turkish delight flavours and a sprinkle of juniper berries. Clovendoe Stem is inspired by the fresh and exotic flavours of South East Asia. Just imagine the scents and tastes you may experience as you swing on a hammock under a leafy tree on that much needed Thai island getaway (we wish! Fuck you COVID)… Talking kaffir lime leaf, lemongrass and galangal. Why do you think people are being drawn to non alcoholic spirits right now, instead of having say, just a soda and lime? Those days are well and truly over aren't they? Mindful drinking is on the rise and more and more people are choosing to reduce their intake or abstain from the booze all together, so consumers want options, they want flavour, they want adventure, sophistication and most importantly, they no longer wish to hang out in FOMO land. Pairing a refined, well crafted zero-proof spirit with soda water, tonic or a delicate mixer, finished with a fresh garnish in a fancy glass and you can smugly sip away at the bar looking and feeling like a sophisticated adult. All I can say is, thank god we have arrived! So what is the actual alcohol content of your LOW alcohol range? A typical vodka contains about 40 percent ABV. Clovendoe 24 contains 24 % ABV. Half the alcohol, half the calories but all the flavour and complexities of a full strength. Can you tell us a bit about the process to remove alcohol from spirits? Is it complex? For both the low and no alcoholic spirits, the complexity of the process is mostly in the preparation and balance of the botanicals. This is also the most time consuming part, as we put so much attention on what we choose to leave out and what we choose to keep in of each botanical- But the payoff is worth it. Producing the zero-proof is more laborious than the low alcoholic spirits, as even though there is no alcohol in the final product, it is actually more expensive and time consuming to make. The non alcoholic products require larger amounts of botanicals for each batch and more time is spent nurturing the botanicals through the maceration process before the actual distillation. Watch this space for news of the new distillery opening in March.
Crafting a region, one beer at a time Anyone visiting the emerging creative district at the Burleigh end of Christine Avenue will have noticed Precinct Brewing, prominently positioned in line of sight to the Gold Coast Highway. Perhaps described as a simple beer hall, with whitewashed walls surrounded by metallic tanks, Precinct is one of a growing number of breweries popping up on the Gold Coast and Northern Rivers, stimulating both the regions food and beverage manufacturing sector and the dining sector. Words by Glenn Tozer - Photograph supplied by Nijskens family
Local writer dives into water safety with new children’s book Words by Natalie O’Driscoll
Craft Beer Reviewer reports that from 2015 to 2020, the number of craft breweries in Australia grew from 346 to 740. And in Queensland the number has grown from 36 to 111. And that doesn’t include home brewers commercialising recipes via “gypsy brewing”, which is where an existing brewer’s facilities are rented by “freelance brewers” to produce small experimental production runs. So what is going on? Why is the Gold Coast positioned so perfectly to take advantage of this significant growth in creative beverage manufacturing across Australia? We talked to a few locals you’ve heard of, and a few you may not have, to explore just that. Jamie Cook started Stone & Wood with two mates more than a decade ago in the Northern Rivers region and this coming year they expect to produce 16 million litres of beer and cider. Cook reflects on starting out, describing the creation of Pacific Ale. “The music industry is pretty similar [to brewing]. A songwriter will play around writing lots of songs and all of a sudden jag one that's highly successful and then they have to play it for the rest of their life. With every gig they ever play, they have to play it. “So very similar to brewing, you might brew a whole portfolio of beers and then one becomes very successful and you've got to be very comfortable with making a lot of that. Day in, day out.”
You might think that apparent monotony of success sucks all the creativity and innovation out of the brewing business but most breweries, including Stone & Wood, actually make it their business to innovate in response to the changing tastes of customers, hoped to motivate paying the few extra dollars per crafted schooner or can. Black Hops Brewing have evolved this into an art and Michael McGovern, brewmaster and co-founder, expanded on this commitment to their customers. “Last year, we said, we want to do 52 unique beers. And we did.... And then in January, this year, what did we say? We'd said, let's do a hundred this year... it’s always like, how do we keep pushing ourselves to grow? And how do we keep delivering more and staying ahead of the game and not getting complacent?” Two Belgian immigrants based in Helensvale opened up their home garage to queues in 2019, motivated to advocate for the unique traditions of brewing in Belgium (in 2016, Belgian beer culture was inscribed by UNESCO on their list of intangible cultural heritage of humanity). Anneleis and Jimmy, in spite of their Madocke Brewing operation producing just under 5000 litres, now plan to open a brewery and taphouse in Molendinar in 2021. They intend to not only deliver some 50,000 litres of Belgian beers to Gold Coasters each year but also promote the rich cultural history of Belgium as part of their brewery decor and
fit-out. You’ll hear more from Reynard the Fox very soon, I’m told. It is examples of this sort of creativity and culture that has made brewing an artistic act itself in the Gold Coast and Northern Rivers over past years. Whether it’s the can art on a new brew, the uniqueness of a recipe incorporating local ingredients, or the storytelling leveraged to attain competitive advantage in the marketplace, craft brewing on the Gold Coast is evolving as a major player in the cultural sector. What is common to each of these breweries is a focus on people, both the customer but also the employee, positively shaping the region one beer at a time. Peta Fielding, whose popular Burleigh Brewing has a reputation as an exceptional employer as well as a community contributor, sums it up aptly.
“Our people; customers and staff; are critical to us because we love where we live. We learnt early on that we can't expect the community to support us if we're not willing to support the community. That’s why we do what we do.”
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Nerang local Margaret Purcell has splashed a little fun onto the critical subject of water safety with her children’s book ‘Millie and Minkie Learn to Swim’, a delightful picture book about two young mice who live next door to each other, and like all good best friends, do everything together -including learning to swim. Margaret, originally from Brisbane, ended up teaching dance in Canberra with her husband, before retiring to the Gold Coast six years ago. But writing has always been a beloved pursuit on the side. “I have been writing verse for some time, entering local competitions with varying success, and featuring in several anthologies writing on both serious and amusing subjects,” she tells us. Along her writing journey, Margaret discovered a particularly abiding passion for writing verse for kids. “Rhyming verse is always popular with young children and can assist with learning and memory skills,” says Margaret. “And they are always interested in small animals!” Water safety is an inescapable feature of the tale, with Millie and Minkie’s adventures inspired by some of Margaret’s real life experiences. “I wrote [the book] after attending my young Grandchildren's swimming lessons and I saw how important it is to learn water safety, especially in Queensland,” she tells us. Indeed. ‘Millie and Minkie Learn to Swim’ is published by Austin Macauley and is available at Amazon and eBay.
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Saturday 13 February
Saturday 20 February
Steven Michael - Currumbin RSL
Mark Bono - The Coolangatta Hotel
Grant Carruthers - Currumbin RSL
Montana Duo (Covers) - RSL Club Southport
Elevation Duo - Currumbin RSL Matty Rogers - Currumbin RSL
Dance On - Southport Sharks Dicklord + BLUSSH+ RASH Vinnies Dive Bar
Stephen Green - The Coolangatta Hotel
The Gin Buggs - Kingscliff Beach Hotel
Disco Disciples - Southport Sharks
Alivan Blu - Currumbin RSL
Living In The 70s - Southport Sharks
Leigh James - Kingscliff Beach Hotel
Christian Argenti (Covers) - RSL Club Southport
Violent Femmes + Special Guests Miami Marketta
Mono - Currumbin RSL
Fogerty - The Ultimate Creedance - CBD Live
Steve Tyson (3pm) + Tin Parlour (7pm) - Sheoak Shack
Liami Kirk - Currumbin RSL
Classic Duo (Covers) - RSL Club Southport
The Green Sinatras (Covers) - RSL Club Southport
Rock Salt (1.00pm) Advancetown Hotel Motel
Jason Delphin (3pm) + Nathan Kaye (7pm) - Sheoak Shack
Monday 1 February
Sunday 7 February
Tommy Memphis (Covers) - RSL Club Southport
Mood Swing + Chevy Bass - Mo's Desert Clubhouse Naomi Connell - Currumbin RSL
Tuesday 2 February
Sweet Thunder Jazz Orchestra - HOTA, Home of the Arts
Thursday 4 February Simon Meola - The Coolangatta Hotel
Lisa Hunt - The Coolangatta Hotel
Teenage Kicks: Nice Biscuit + Concrete Surfers + Being Jane Lane + More - Burleigh Bazaar
Phil & Tilley - Currumbin RSL
Friday 5 February
Benno & Kesh - Currumbin RSL Captain Wow - Southport Sharks Mike Edwards - The Coolangatta Hotel
Monday 8 February Michael Whitmore (Covers) - RSL Club Southport
Luke Pauley - Currumbin RSL Michael Geeves - Kingscliff Beach Hotel Toadus + Zooid + Takaicardia + The Hunkz - Vinnies Dive Bar
Thursday 11 February From the Well + Chavez Cartel + Wild Hearted - Vinnies Dive Bar
Street Café (Covers) - RSL Club Southport
From Crisis To Collapse + Diskust + Awake in Time - Mo's Desert Clubhouse
Saturday 6 February
Jason Delphin - The Coolangatta Hotel
Mark Sheils - The Coolangatta Hotel The Smashed Crabs - Currumbin RSL
Marcus Hartung - Kingscliff Beach Hotel
Zac Hubbard - Currumbin RSL
Resonance - Currumbin RSL
Steve Blaik - The Coolangatta Hotel South Wall - Kingscliff Beach Hotel
The Smashed Crabs - The Coolangatta Hotel Animal Ventura - Currumbin RSL The Silencio + Harry J Hart + Yonder - Vinnies Dive Bar The Secret Life of the Love Song HOTA, Home of the Arts The Influence (Covers) - RSL Club Southport Sex & Chocolate (1pm) Advancetown Hotel Motel
Monday 15 February Friday 12 February
Tim Conlon - Currumbin RSL The Funksters - Southport Sharks
Sunday 14 February
Plastik Reality + Eyethewild + Vagabones + Da'vaim - Vinnies Dive Bar
Mike Winkworth (Covers) - RSL Club Southport
Friday 19 February Luke Pauley - Currumbin RSL Jack Botts + Felipe Baldomir + Dusty Boots - Miami Marketta
James Bondage & the Safewords + The Fat Bastards + Verum + Collins Class - Vinnies Dive Bar
Luke Morris - Miami Marketta The Feramones - Southport Sharks
Matthew Clarke - Kingscliff Beach Hotel
Dual Frequency (Covers) - RSL Club Southport
Locky - The Coolangatta Hotel
MID CITY - Vinnies Dive Bar
Ben Amor - Currumbin RSL
Mike Edwards - The Coolangatta Hotel
Mantlepeace (3pm) + Skyeater (7pm) - Sheoak Shack Orange Sunshine Tour: Drop Legs + Kurilpa Reach + Lemaire Burleigh Bazaar
Casey Fogg - The Coolangatta Hotel Big Bad (Covers) - RSL Club Southport Kid Fly + Wetlands + Swimsuit Issue - Burleigh Bazaar
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Sunday 21 February Devilskin + Shepherd Reign + These Four Walls + Bad Moon Born - The Coolangatta Hotel Bunny Racket - Mo's Desert Clubhouse Dicklord Masochist + Hell & Whiskey - Vinnies Dive Bar
James D'Khan - Currumbin RSL Jon J Bradley - Kingscliff Beach Hotel Deborah Conway & Willy Zygier HOTA, Home of the Arts Street Café (Covers) - RSL Club Southport Jay Hoad (3pm + 7pm) - Sheoak Shack
Luke Pauley - Currumbin RSL Living In The 70s - The Coolangatta Hotel Greg J Bryant - Currumbin RSL The Floor Burners (Covers) - RSL Club Southport
Sunday 28 February Brooke Supple - Currumbin RSL Felicity Lawless - Currumbin RSL
Gin Buggs (1.00pm) Advancetown Hotel Motel
Scott Whatman (Covers) - RSL Club Southport
Devilskin + Shepherds Reign Coolangatta Hotel
Off the Grid (1.00pm) Advancetown Hotel Motel
Felix - Burleigh Bazaar
Midnight Oil & First Nations Collaborators - Sirromet Wines
Monday 22 February Jeff Camiliri (Covers) - RSL Club Southport
Thursday 25 February Late For Woodstock - The Coolangatta Hotel Rob Rhodes - The Coolangatta Hotel
Strictly Acoustic - Currumbin RSL
Friday 26 February
Sunset City - Southport Sharks
Biggy P - Kingscliff Beach Hotel
Benno & Kesh (Covers) - RSL Club Southport
Radio Star - Southport Sharks
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Saturday 27 February
Matt Collins - Currumbin RSL
La Isla Bonita Music Festival Couran Cove Resort
Gig Guide brought to you in partnership with Gigl. To list your gig visit gigl.com.au OR email gigs@blankstreetpress. com.au
CLEAN UP AUSTRALIA DAY Words by Natalie O’Driscoll
Contemporary Music degree applications closing for 2021 Southern Cross University music students are spoilt for choice when it comes to peer connection and live performance opportunities. And it’s certainly hard to top the real world experience brought by their staff, particularly ARIA award-winning local musician Brad Hosking. Words by Natalie O’Driscoll
Among other things, Brad is a music director, producer and musician who has worked with countless local artists, and who has played in and toured with Amy Shark’s band. As you would know, Amy Shark catapulted the international fame in 2016 with her hit single ‘Adore’ and has continued from strength to strength. Amy and her band recently won the 2020 ARIA Award for the ‘Best Live Act of the Year’. Brad talks about these experiences. “I’ve been working with Amy since 2011, and this was such an incredible award to win where everyone in the wider team is able to take something out of it, from the band onstage to the lighting crew, audio crew, the monitor engineers, stage technicians and everything that goes into putting on the huge live show – and it’s the award Amy and her immediate team were really hoping for,” he says. Brad teaches the specialist songwriting and production units in the Bachelor of Contemporary Music degree at Southern Cross University, working with students on crafting and recording their songs.
Brad said Southern Cross has seen a massive increase in the number of students looking to pursue the Bachelor of Contemporary Music in 2021, with many talented musicians and aspiring songwriters and producers already auditioning and interviewing successfully. He said Coomera Creative Campus would host its final round of online auditions in the last week of January with Lismore Campus auditions wrapping up on 8 February ahead of Session 1 in 2021. “There are so many benefits these students gain from studying this course,” explains Brad. “One of the biggest things is all of the staff they’re learning from are industry professionals including technical staff, who are going on tour, playing at and producing events such as Bluesfest, and the things they’re going to be learning are all immediately industry current which is a real positive thing.”
And when he’s not touring with Amy Shark as her guitar/bass/synth player and musical director for the three-piece band, Brad has a commercial recording studio, Blind Boy Studios, where he works with artists perfecting their original songs, then recording and producing them. He is honoured to be producing one of Amy’s songs set to be released in 2021.
“The facilities are also world-class, with Lismore’s iconic Studio One29, concert performance hall, dedicated bass, drum, vocals and ensemble studios for solo and ensemble tuition, and full live audio and video streaming and recording for concerts, seminars and guest artist workshops. Coomera campus boasts a 200-seat lecture theatre, an 80-seat 80 black box auditorium for teaching and performance, two large recording studios, and five other recording studios with rehearsal rooms and isolation booths, dedicated music computer labs and edit suites.”
Southern Cross University offers the Bachelor of Contemporary Music at its flagship Lismore campus close to Byron Bay, and Coomera Creative Campus on the Gold Coast.
For more information about studying the Bachelor of Contemporary Music in 2021 visit scu.edu.au/study-atscu/music-and-creative-arts/ before this year’s applications close. Blank - issue #83 - February 2021
Clean Up Australia inspires and empowers communities to clean up, fix up and conserve our environment. What was started thirty years ago, by an "average Australian bloke" who had a simple idea to make a difference in his own backyard has now become the nation's largest community-based environmental event. Of course, Australia's waste challenges can't be solved in just one day, so over the past three decades, Clean Up Australia has evolved into an organisation that works with community, government and businesses to provide practical solutions to help us all live more sustainably every day of the year. Today the focus is as much on preventing rubbish entering our environment as it is removing what has already accumulated. Gecko and City of Gold Coast are hosting Clean Up Australia Day on the Gold Coast again in 2021. Here’s everything you need to know, in order to get involved. •
School Clean Up – Friday, 5 March February
•
Community Clean Up – Sunday, 7 March
•
Deadline to register for council CUAD rubbish collection – Sunday 21 February (done during online registration or by contacting Gecko)
HOW TO GET INVOLVED? 1.
Register a Clean Up site. - cleanupaustraliaday.org. au - Clean Up team at gecko is happy to help with site identification in your area, site registration and additional clean up materials.
2.
Register as a volunteer in an existing site. cleanupaustraliaday.org.au - Clean Up Team at Gecko will help you find the best existing site for you to join in.
3.
Register a litter hotspots on the Gold Coast. This will get promoted as a priority clean up site for registrations. – Contact cuad@gecko.org.au / 07 5534 1412 – Registering a litter hotspot doesn’t only help during Clean Up Australia Day, it helps us know what the problem areas are on the Gold Coast!
#CleanUpAustralia #StepUpToCleanUp
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On Fire: Climate and Crisis Words by Natalie O'Driscoll
More turtle sightings lead to community conservation program A newly launched citizen science program invites Gold Coasters to engage in the protection of our beloved sea turtles. One year on from the devastating 2019-20 Black Summer bushfires, Brisbane’s Institute of Modern Art unveils a new contemporary art exhibition confronting this period of significant ecological change. ‘On Fire: Climate and Crisis’ features work by 15 Queensland artists and interrogates the state’s image as a subtropical paradise by considering the themes of global warming and climate threat. At IMA from now until 20 March 2021, ‘On Fire’ spans painting, sculpture, immersive installation and video, including eight new commissions, in a timely examination of the past, present and future of the planet’s precarious situation. ‘On Fire’ considers the damaging legacies of colonialism, how artists visualise experiences of environmental connection and disconnection and fire’s capacity for rejuvenation, foregrounding First Nations voices and addressing the burgeoning Indigenous cultural fire movement. Collectively, the works explore the emergence of a new environmental age described by fire historian Stephen Pyne as the Pyrocene: the fire equivalent of an ice age with Australia a major epicentre. Exhibition curator and art historian Tim Riley Walsh said ‘On Fire’ was filled with moments of awe and alarm that would shake complacency from visitors and disrupt the narrative around their engagement with the natural world. “This exhibition reflects a feeling common to many Australians after the devastating Black Summer bushfires; a stark recognition of the fragility of our environment and a building sense of the overlapping threats presented by global warming which seem to grow only more complex,” he said. “Through the work of these exhibiting artists, I hope visitors will gain insight and perspective into how visual culture helps us to comprehend and even challenge these threats.” The below featured pieces will be available for viewing during the exhibition:
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Jemima Wyman’s Haze (PICTURED)… is a large-scale digital collage printed on chiffon that collects images of smoke from recent global protests.The powerful tapestry of activist struggle includes plumes from flares released during Black Lives Matter rallies across the US, tear gas clouds released at pro-democracy demonstrations in Hong Kong and ceremonial smoke following the destruction of Western Australia’s Juukan Gorge by Rio Tinto. Dale Harding’s new two-channel video documents the slow-burning and charring of Moreton Bay Ash trees, creating an abstract reflection on the important, embedded presence of fire within Australian flora and landscapes more broadly. Michael Candy’s Azimuth is a kinetic sculpture that uses UV-C light, a sanitising technology that fights COVID-19. While it can be harmful to humans, gallery visitors will safely view the work from behind a protective screen. Other artists featured in the exhibition are Gordon Bennett, Naomi Blacklock, Paul Bong, Hannah Brontë, Michael Candy, Kinly Grey, Dale Harding, Tracey Moffatt with Gary Hillberg, Erika Scott, Madonna Staunton, Anne Wallace, Judy Watson, Warraba Weatherall, Tintin Wulia and Jemima Wyman.
Words by Amy Gould
Turtles are more frequently observed nesting along Gold Coast beaches. In March 2020, hatchlings were found stranded in sand dunes, and the public’s quick response ensured they were rehabilitated and released back into the ocean. This triggered Watergum and Sea World to partner up and bring us TurtleWatch, a fun and educational volunteer opportunity, akin to other citizen science programs like PlatypusWatch and the Humpbacks and Highrises whale research program. Lauren Morgan, Watergum’s Turtlewatch Officer, tells us “the TurtleWatch Gold Coast program aims to close the gap in data deficiency regarding turtle nesting activities in their southern ranges and raise community awareness of turtle conservation.” Citizen science programs are recognised as an effective method of marine and coastal conservation. TurtleWatch volunteers will collect valuable information such as species of turtle, nesting locations and frequency, and emergence success of clutches. Data is uploaded to the Queensland turtle research database and is used to make management decisions at state level for this iconic species. “It is important we establish a baseline now for numbers and frequency of nesting turtles as we may start to see the nesting population start to migrate into the southern ranges as sea turtles start to adapt to the changing climate” says Siobhan Houlihan, Sea Turtle Specialist at Sea World.
‘On Fire’ will be accompanied by a new, illustrated publication, designed by Brisbane’s Studio Bland and launching in March 2021, with commissioned texts from Amelia Barikin, Shannon Brett, Chari Larsson, Kevin O’Brien, Rachel O’Reilly and Tim Riley Walsh.
The Gold Coast is fortunate to be home to six out of seven of the world’s marine turtle species; Green, Loggerhead, Hawksbill, Flatback, Olive Ridley and Leatherback turtles are all frequently spotted cruising in the Gold Coast Bay. Yet turtles face many anthropogenic threats, such as plastic pollution, boat strike and fishing entanglement.
The Institute of Modern Art, Judith Wright Arts Centre is situated at 420 Brunswick St, Fortitude Valley and is open from Tuesday to Saturday.
“We hope, as part of the TurtleWatch program, we can create change through education and monitoring” says Siobhan.
Pictured above: 'Haze' by Jemima Wyman Blank - issue #83 - February 2021
TurtleWatch will run during the turtle nesting season in summer, from November to March. Training will occur monthly, so follow the Watergum and Seaworld Facebook pages to find out when registration opens.
Clay Cantina
Barbecue This! By Luke Hines
Words and photograph by Marj Osborne - follow Marj @foodgoldcoast
Words and photograph by Marj Osborne - follow Marj @foodgoldcoast
Sometimes you visit a country that you feel could be your second home. You feel a pull of the heart when you leave, intertwined with the knowledge that you will soon return. That’s how Kristal Smith feels about Mexico. Having spent a great deal of time there over the past 12-13 years, Kristal is fascinated by Latin America’s colours and cuisine, engaging with locals, visiting markets, learning about Mexican culture and cuisine from local farmers and families. Since her return to Australia, Kristal has shared her knowledge of Mexican cooking through Pop Taco, the taqueria and catering business she opened in 2013, later cofounding Palm Beach restaurant Goodness Gracias, opened in 2015. With her recent establishment of Clay Cantina, Kristal continues to share her passion for Mexican food and culture, not only giving joy to others through the robust flavours, but also building expertise and using food as a conduit to share experience. Held in Cloud Nine, the atmospheric upper level of Currumbin Valley’s Dust Temple, Kristal’s classes teach Gold Coast locals to prepare Mexican cuisine the way it would be prepared in the family homes and small town cantinas of regional Mexico. Working with traditional authentic ingredients, each class focuses on the flavours and specialty dishes of a particular region of Mexico. There are two different levels of class: the five hour ‘masterclass’ and the more relaxed three hour ‘Cooking Social’ class. From Mayan cuisine to Plant-based Mexican, there are classes to suit your desires.
It’s the social class that I attend, three hours of cooking, eating and drinking on a Thursday night, the theme being ceviche and tacos. In clusters, we prepare ingredients for the night’s dinner: classic Guacamole with totopos (corn chips) alongside Mexican Ceviche (cured fish with pico de gallo), followed by Baja Fish Tacos with a simple slaw, and Chargrilled Fish Alpastor with pineapple pico de gallo. This is where we come to the ‘clay’ comes in. Instead of a blender or food processor, Kristal uses pre-Hispanic ‘molcajetes’, the Mexican equivalent of a mortar and pestle which brings out the true flavours of the food, keeping a texture that’s impossible to achieve with an electrical implement. Apart from gas and charcoal cookers, all of the plates, bowls and tools we cook with have been handmade by Kristal, a further mark of authenticity. While the main aim of the class is to teach skills and to impart knowledge, as with any class, it’s the asides that make the experience worthwhile. Kristal tells us about her experiences in Mexico, how the food is eaten there, pointing out differences between types of chillies, where to purchase ingredients and finer points of Mexican cuisine. Finally, the meal prepared, we sit down and dine together. This is, after all, a social experience, with dining around a table eating food we have prepared together the ultimate conduit to making new friends. Hola! NOTE: Marj Osborne attended a Clay Cantina class at Dust Temple as a guest of Clay Cantina.
Luke Hines recently launched his sixth cookbook, ‘Barbecue This!’ Known for his appearance on ‘My Kitchen Rules’ in 2013, Luke’s passion for health and wellness is reflected in this gorgeous cookbook of highly accessible recipes. Barbecuing is a great Australian pastime. Cooking with fire is elemental, an easy, quick and fun method of cooking especially useful in the climate we enjoy on the Gold Coast. In recent years, we’ve come to expect far more from our barbecues than snags and steaks, which is where the inspirational ‘Barbecue This!’ comes in handy. Printed on good matte paper with a sturdy soft cover, each one of the highly achievable 80 recipes is placed opposite its photograph. Pictured on the BBQ or plate, there’s no overstyling here. The dishes look real! As Luke says in the introduction, “…from day one my mission has been clear: celebrate real food in a way that respects your health and retains the integrity of every ingredient you use.” Following an introductory section about BBQ basics, the Contents divides recipes into seven sections: Veg, Seafood, Chook, Pork, Lamb, Beef, Salads and Sides. There is a full index at the back as well as another list of dressings, butters, marinades, salsas, salads, sauces and dips and spice rubs near the front of the book. Symbols are used throughout the book to denote cooking method or part of the BBQ to use: Flat plate, Grill or Lid on, including an explanation of why this is so. So, how could you use this cookbook and why? Besides cooking whole recipes from start to finish, you could mix and match sauces and proteins according to your dietary
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preferences. Don’t eat pork? Then make the Phuket Pork recipe with beef, chicken or tempeh instead. Most recipes contain several parts: the protein or veg, then the sauce or accompaniment. For example, Epic eggplant is accompanied by Green ganoush and Pistachio dukkah. It’s a great dish, however the sauce and dukkah could also go well with grilled chicken. The avocado-based Green satay sauce accompanying the Spicy Thai chicken recipe could also be a topper for vegetable patties, and so on. In our house, we eat simply but well. Cooking is a two-person activity, The Main Squeeze outside dealing with fire (mainly fish and white meat cooked on the BBQ and smoker), while I’m inside making salad, veg and accompaniments. Together, we could cook up a feast using this cookbook ready to eat with our culinary diverse family. What Luke has prepared is a BBQ cookbook for the modern era. While gluten-free, vegan and low-carb are not specifically mentioned, recipes include many easy swaps for health and diet: tamari rather than soy, coconut cream instead of cream, almond meal rather than flour as well as low sugar hints. I’m starting with what’s in season, a Cheat’s peach salad with smashed raspberry dressing with Crispy skin salmon with buttery pea smash, with lots of other recipes bookmarked for future meals. So what are you barbequing for dinner tonight? Barbecue This! By Luke Hines ISBN 9781760981532 Pan Macmillan Paperback
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Mitch King is second artist signed to Reclusive Gold Coast singer-songwriter Mitch King has recently become the second artist signed to Michael Gudinski’s newest label Reclusive Records, joining label mate Scott Darlow.
The Vultures: Swooping Back Into Orbit Following a five-year creative hiatus, local rock duo The Vultures have swooped back into orbit in the form of a swaggering new rock single, ‘Every Night’ (which our New Music columnist Zac Fahey reviews in this month’s issue). Words by Anthony Gebhardt - Photography by Jacinta Keefe
The band, consisting of vocalist and guitarist Liam Bowditch and drummer Joe MacPhail, have been making music together since childhood, originally forming the band back in 2012 and building up a loyal local following, culminating in a ‘song of the year’ nomination at the 2015 Gold Coast Music Awards. Following their sabbatical, the duo resurrected the project in 2019, rediscovering their mojo while spending time in Berlin and Melbourne, their bond and musical telepathy on full display on their new number, backed by the equally impressive ‘Uncomfortable Unknown’. Liam and Joe recently took time out to join the dots on their return as The Vultures and their time spent in Berlin, as well chatting about their involvement with recent Blank cover star Gav Doniger. Take it away Joe and Liam… Congratulations on your return as a musical entity. Can you fill us in on what you guys have been up to during your five-year hiatus? And what was the catalyst in getting the band back together again? We've both been busy over the last five years working on different musical projects. Liam spent time down in Melbourne gigging around the city non-stop and working on some studio projects while I was recording and touring with another band based up here on the coast. In early 2019 we both found ourselves looking for a change which came in the form of rekindling The Vultures and heading to Berlin. You’ve announced your return in the shape of a banging new single, ‘Every Night’. What was the inspiration behind it and how did the track come together? ‘Every Night’ arrived back at the end of 2017 and I recorded a demo of it. Then in 2019, Joe and I were living in Berlin, and we were listening to music we had written since the hiatus and ‘Every Night’ grabbed our attention. We started recording it in Berlin and then relocated to Melbourne to self-produce it. We captured the drums at Sunset Pig with Sam Swain (who later mixed it) and recorded the rest of the layers in our room in Carlton, except for the vocals, they're the Berlin takes!
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How did you find the city of Berlin and its famed reputation as a bastion for freedom and unbridled creativity? We enjoyed our time over there. Rekindling the band and exploring Berlin was super inspiring. I (Liam) had many adventures cycling around as a food delivery driver for a few months. The tastiest döners are at 27 Döner Kebap made by our friend Mustafa. We busked acoustically at the U-Bahn with Bernie the Bongo. We were lucky to be there for the 30 years since the fall of the Berlin Wall too. You both recently collaborated with October Blank Street Press cover star Gav Doniger on his new rock record, ‘Renegade’. How did that come about and will you continue to be involved with the project? We first met Gav at one of the first ever Vultures shows in 2013 at The Loft in Chevron. We used to cover ‘Doom And Gloom’ by the Rolling Stones and when we started playing it that night we saw Gav light up at the back of the room. He introduced himself after our set and a few months later we started playing shows and recording music together as The Van Bams. Liam has played on a few of his records since then and with this new Doniger project taking flight we're more excited than ever to be playing together. There will definitely be some upcoming shows and more recordings! Where to next for The Vultures - are you working on more new material and are you looking at playing some shows around the Gold Coast in 2021 (COVID permitting)? We've been working on new material but we also have an archive of songs and ideas that have developed over the years, so right now we're connecting a lot of creative dots. As for the live shows we can't wait to get back into it. We've started rehearsing and working out the show that we want to put together for when we do return to the live scene, so fingers crossed that's real soon! The Vultures killer new single, ‘Every Night’, marking their return to action after a five year hiatus, is available via streaming services now. Blank - issue #83 - February 2021
Words by Natalie O’Driscoll
“To be selected by Michael Gudinski and have him believe in my music is a great honour,” says Mitch about the signing. “I’m really looking forward to releasing lots of new music this year. Thank you to Michael, Andrew Mackie, and the whole Mushroom team - I can’t wait to see what the future holds for our new partnership.” To accompany the signing, Mitch has dropped his latest single ‘Oil & Water’, co-written with Mark Lizotte – aka Diesel. ‘Oil & Water’ was born when Mitch and Mark Lizotte met for a writing session in Sydney. Mitch funnelled his personal experience into the track - “as much as you like to be with someone, sometimes the differences between two people are so vast, you realise you are like oil and water”. Born and raised on the Gold Coast, Mitch King spends his days travelling around Australia in his campervan, playing his music at the shows and festivals across the country. He first started playing guitar at the age of 14, spending hours in his bedroom playing music. His single ‘Coming Back’ reached new heights when it was picked by the US NFL team Green Bay Packers to promote their season opener. Mitch has graced festival stages at the likes of the Tamworth Country Music Festival and St Kilda Festival, and supported artists such as Tones And I, America The Band, and Supertramp’s Roger Hodgson. Mitch will be touring Queensland and New South Wales through February and March, including an appearance at Miami Marketta on 13 February. He is also hoping to release an EP in 2021, so watch this space. Grab tickets for the Marketta show here, and take a listen to ‘Oil & Water’ here.
Songwriter Trysts with Rae Leigh
Songwriter Trysts is a relatively new podcast series in which guests discuss the machinations around their love of song writing. It launched in August 2020 and is now well over 60 episodes old and counting. Words by Anthony Gebhardt
As with many new endeavours in the topsy-turvy world that was 2020, the idea was borne from necessity. Prior to the of advent COVID-19 in late March, podcast host Rae Leigh, a budding local singer songwriter, was set to step out and launch her own burgeoning music career. But when the pandemic hit she pivoted to the world of musical podcasts, giving birth to the ‘Songwriter Trysts’ concept. The aim of the podcast is to shine a light on the songwriting process behind the music, creating a safe haven for practitioners to share their stories, insights and accumulated wisdom around the noble art of writing a song. In the words of Rae; “With lots of spare time and with no shows or festivals going on, I wanted to create a space for songwriters to connect and share openly in a safe and fun space online. “This allows fans and other music industry professionals to get to know the artist, where they come from, what they are doing and why they are doing it. I insert teasers of their music into the conversation and love discussing the art and business of song writing in the hope of inspiring and encouraging others in this ancient and powerful art form.” We recently chatted with Rae to find out more about the series, a few of her most memorable guests and where she wants to take Songwriter Trysts in 2021. Can you tell us a bit about yourself and your musical/ creative background prior to launching the 'Songwriter Trysts' podcast series? I'm a young local mum and singer songwriter, building up the courage to finally share my story and music. In
January 2020 the plan was to work hard to perform at every open mic, venue and festival that would have me, along with recording and releasing my first singles and EP. These plans were turned upside down by the pandemic, along with everyone else. I started some online festivals, sharing and connecting with people and I also participated in the Gold Coast Music business course and the Logan Music Boost course, which were beneficial in learning the business of music. I've always been told I was good at talking, sometimes as a joke, but the reality is I have always loved getting to know other people and having a good yarn. Was it a challenging endeavour to get Songwriter Trysts off the ground, or did things fall into place relatively easily? I believe Songwriter Trysts has a life of its own. My husband came up with the word 'trysts', an old English word describing an intimate private meeting between lovers. I loved the cheeky, fun and intimate association to it and felt it was an amazing fit for how I wanted the feeling of the podcast to evolve and unfold. Once we had the name 'Songwriter Trysts' we asked a few local artists and international superstars in the song writing community if they would consider being a part of it. To our surprise every single person responded with a yes - that was when we knew it was meant to be and we got to work. Do you have any favourite guests or episodes that particularly spring to mind and what made them memorable?
Yes absolutely! Some of the best podcast interviews have succeeded purely on the wisdom of the people who have been writing songs for a very long time and have had lots of success in the music industry, such as Kevin Welch, Keppie Coutts, Jessica Lynn, Pat Pattison, Graham Ashton and Allan Caswell. Their willingness to be open, vulnerable and encouraging in their interviews was so energising. Jessica Lynn even brought me to tears when she opened up about her sad Christmas song she released in late 2020. I have had some of my most honest and rewarding conversations about life, humanity, emotions and song writing. I have enjoyed every guest and learnt something different from speaking with every single person. If you could choose any songwriters in the world to appear on the show, who would they be? I'd have to say John Mayer is high on the wish list as he has inspired me and many others in the craft of song writing. Dolly Parton would be like interviewing the queen of country and she has been such an inspiration to so many women especially, which is unfortunately still an issue, with the music industry being very male dominated. Then there’d be Paul McCartney, Stevie Wonder, Paul Simon, Bono and Bob Dylan... so many amazing people to choose from! The Songwriter Trysts podcast series can be found on a range of sites and apps, including Apple Podcasts, Spotify Podcasting apps, Podchaser and IMDb.
HOTA Gallery’s Solid Gold opener There are few Gold Coast events more highly anticipated than the official opening of the long-awaited HOTA Gallery in May 2021.
Words by Natalie O’Driscoll
The inaugural exhibition, ‘Solid Gold: Artists from Paradise’, is set to be a dazzling affair, flaunting as it will the creative talents of 19 of Gold Coast’s most exciting artists and their wholly original works. Bringing together such a spectacle is no mean feat, and the curatorial team at the HOTA gallery have been pulling out all the stops behind the scenes to ensure an opening that will be long and fondly remembered. We spoke with Bradley Vincent, who is leading the group of curators currently working on ‘Solid Gold’, and found out a little bit more about his professional journey, as well as a few more hints about what we can expect from the inaugural show of the country’s largest regional gallery. With all eyes on the gallery in the lead up to its opening, I firstly wonder if Bradley is feeling the pressure at all. “There’s nothing like 19 great artists making beautiful work to give you a sense of confidence,” he tells me. “I think pressure’s fine. It’s a big stage, but it’s one that’s been coming for a long time.” Bradley was born and raised on the Gold Coast, but spent a decade of his adulthood in Sydney, first studying and then working in the Arts on a range of projects. When he heard about the redevelopment of the HOTA precinct, he moved home to be on the ground floor of the project, landing a role as curator of Public Art and Outdoor Programming more than two years ago.
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“It was great to have that basis in the outdoors at HOTA to give me an idea of the precinct,” Bradley says. “But my background has largely been working inside gallery walls - it’s what I know the best - so when the opportunity for the curator role came up with the focus on indoor work, it was the role I’ve always wanted, and I was so thrilled to be given the opportunity.” So, where to start on a project of this significance to our city? Bradley said the team was determined to have the show be artist-led, a theme that has emerged time and time again since the precinct re-branding. “We are really proud to have done this first exhibition as an open call out to Gold Coast artists,” enthuses Bradley. “Rather than us sitting here and picking and choosing who to be in the show based on who we already know, we wanted to find out who is out there that we don’t know. “There are people of all generations making art across the city. We had over 300 people respond, and it just made us think ‘Wow, look at the diversity of practice in the city. Let’s commit to the show representing that diversity’.” And that’s just what they’ve done. In ‘Solid Gold’, artists in their twenties will display proudly against artists in their sixties. Some of the artists will be experiencing their first institutional showing, alongside artists with established international reputations. But one and all will be pushing the boundaries of their practice. “We asked the artists to be ambitious, and they really have been,” Bradley laughs. “Some works are more Blank - issue #83 - February 2021
straightforward than others, and some works - technically speaking - push the capabilities of us as curators and of the building itself. And that’s what we wanted to do. Contemporary art is a big and varied thing.” As for whether or not he has a favourite piece at this stage, Bradley gives the kind of diplomatic response you expect from someone experienced in dealing with creative sensibilities. “I’m so excited about how they will all look when they’re brought together into one room,” he enthuses. “When people see it I hope they understand, the way it’s designed is to say ‘look at all of these works, and how they’re all equal’. We talk a lot about the show being democratic, so to choose a favourite at this stage would be pretty wrong!” He laughs again. Of course, ‘Solid Gold’ is just the first in what promises to be an eclectic and exciting series of exhibitions and events at the shiny new HOTA Gallery, arguably the centrepiece of the coast’s colourful new cultural precinct. Bradley has high hopes for the space moving forward. “I feel like [the gallery] really is a game changer,” he declares. “An exhibition is sure about the artists, but at some point it becomes about the audience and what the experience can do for or to them. I think the opportunity to come and see world class exhibition-making in their own city is something for Gold Coasters to be really proud of.
NEW ARTIST SHOWCASE: Dani Teveluwe Follows Her Musical Calling “We see ourselves as an outdoors place - sport, surfing, bushwalking – all of that is part of our identity. And there’s long been this circle of artists here, and now this platform means that that part of the city can grow.” The HOTA team is determined to keep the entire precinct a space that contains something for everyone, Bradley assures us. “This gallery is for the Gold Coast,” he states. “It’s for ALL of the Gold Coast, and it’s really important to us that everyone feels at home in the building; that it’s not some ivory tower or some place for hushed veneration. It’s a place that could become a real social hub. “Galleries are so much more than just exhibitions. They’re places to come and see art, and have lunch and a have a drink with a friend and do workshops. And on this amazing site it’s also a place to go watch a movie, see a show and swim in the lake. It has something for a whole day out, and it’s for all of us to come and enjoy.” Until the space is officially opened to the public, we must turn to our calendars as they gradually count down to the 8 May opening of ‘Solid Gold’. Bradley is eager for Gold Coasters to finally experience the results of so much planning, talent and hard work. “I think they’ll find this first show is a real wonderland,” he declares. We can’t wait. HOTA will be throwing open the doors of its brand new gallery on 8 May 2021, with the opening of ‘Solid Gold: Artists from Paradise’, which will run until 4 July 2021. For more information on what’s going to be happening at the HOTA Gallery, visit hota.com.au.
As was the case for many people, the past twelve months was one of uncertainty and change for up-and-coming first nations singer/song writer Dani Teveluwe. The talented local threw herself in at the deep end by tossing in the safety of a pandemic proof teaching job to pursue her life passion for music and performance during the year that was. Whilst not an easy decision to make, it was one that aligned with her heart, as Dani explains. Words by Anthony Gebhardt - Photograph by Spill Photography
“At the time of my decision I had never played a solo gig, however I knew in my heart I had to make changes. I will always be very passionate about education, however my intuition was really guiding me towards this change. Teaching is a really meaningful career, where you have the opportunity to be a role model for our future generation and influence them in a positive way, however I came to a point where I knew if I didn’t leave full time school teaching and actually give my music career a red hot crack then I wasn’t living what I preach. “I still work in schools, just on a more casual basis now as a sub teacher, and you can now catch me playing regular gigs around the Gold Coast and beyond.” Her debut solo release, ‘Weight Off ’, released on 29 January, is an uplifting acoustic pop number of self-discovery and growth that touches upon themes of breaking free from toxicity, illuminated by her sassy and soulful vocal presence. Says Dani of its origins and metamorphosis; “I initially started writing it whilst I was travelling through Europe in 2019 and it started out all minor chords, sounding very melancholy. When I returned home I got an amazing opportunity to be part of Starting Grounds, a First Nations song writing workshop facilitated by APRA AMCOS. I collaborated with Ziggy Ramo, Luke Daniel Peacock and Sue Ray - all incredible musicians, and we pulled it together in one day, laying down a solid demo, recorded by Yanto Browning by the end of the workshop. “In 2020 I reached out to (producer) Tim Goodburn (of BigNote Studios on the Gold Coast) to get this track and some other songs I had written ready for release. Tim was playing around with the chords for ‘Weight Off ’ and I heard him play the catchy little riff that you hear in the intro and I knew that it had to be in the song. Blank - issue #83 - February 2021
“He’s a gun at production and really helped me bring the essence of the song to life. Once we found the vibe it came together really smoothly. Studio time is super fun and Tim is awesome to work with.” ‘Weight Off ’ is the first of four singles Dani plans to release this year, all recorded as part of the 2020 recording sessions with Tim Goodburn, for which she is understandably exuberant to be unveiling in the near future. “Yes, you will be hearing a lot of music from me this year. I recorded four tracks with Tim last year and we’ve recently been working on the finishing touches for two of the tracks. Whenever I decide to record and release a song, the most important thing for me is that we serve the song and honour the message it’s giving to the world. “Each track is unique in itself, but I feel the consistent theme of my songs is optimism. ‘Weight Off ’ is very fun and playful. ‘Let Go’ has coastal vibes and is a reminder to go with the flow in life, whilst ‘Movin’ On’ and ‘You’re Love’ get a little deeper emotionally.” Outside of music and education, Dani is also a dedicated practitioner and teacher of yoga and pilates, amongst other things. “I love spending time with my dog and my loved ones and you’ll catch me most weekends at the Burleigh Farmers Markets. I’m also a huge nerd - I adore reading, especially non-fiction and spiritual/yogic texts/philosophy and when I can you’ll find me bush walking in our hinterland.” Be sure to keep an eye out for Dani Teveluwe over the coming twelve months, as she continues to honour her musical calling. Her debut release, ‘Weight Off ’, is available now via the usual channels.
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ROAN’s Face Melter
Up and coming Gold Coast producer ROAN has just dropped a face melting electronic dance single ‘Always Knew’. Featuring the masterfully chopped vocal part of Paris Jeffrey, the track takes the listener on an unexpected sonic journey with rich, earthy sounding synths and complex interchanging drum patterns. With the complexity of a Hermitude track and the hardhitting club vibes of What So Not ROAN is beginning to find own sound within the dance genre.
Michael McCartney Tops The Class Again
Michael McCartney is at it again, continuing his run of fantastic new music with the release of his modern era Black Keys sounding single ‘Tangalooma’. Taken from his forthcoming third consecutive EP in under a year, the track is more classic blues than the modern psychedelic sounds of his more recent work, focusing on a rollicking drumbeat, distorted electric guitars and a deep swampy bass. Consistently toping the class for the best new local release of the month Michael McCartney’s ‘Tangalooma’ does not disappoint.
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Morris In Heaven
Luke Morris has been chipping away, relentlessly touring South East QLD and Northern NSW, and releasing beautifully emotive acoustic music for the past five years. His latest single ‘Love Shack’ is pure heaven, featuring acoustic guitar, simple instrumentation and effortless vocals accompanied by the angelic Angie Hudson. The perfect remedy for a stressful day, the track transports the listener to a simpler time on a romantic coastal getaway. You can catch Luke launching his EP at Miami Marketta on 12 February.
Heavy Wax Bring The Party
Heavy Wax gave us the gift of music on Christmas day with the release of their energetic track ‘Find a Way’. With a backbone rhythm of ska/reggae complete with blaring horn sections and vocal hooks that have you singing along after the first listen, ‘Find a Way’ is sure to get the party started whatever the occasion. And you can join the party in May when Heavy Wax performs at Blues On Broadbeach.
Bronte Eve My Kind Of Chaos Unmistakable Brilliance Calls Out Karen If you’ve ever heard Bronte Eve perform at one of her many shows across the Gold Coast you would remember it; her voice and stage presence are unmistakably brilliant. Her latest single and fist new offering in over two years ‘Mess I Made’ showcases Bronte’s impressive vocal range and heartfelt delivery capturing some of that live energy she’s renowned for. Written in one quick session about being overwhelmed after finishing high school ‘Mess I Made’ is raw and authentic and will leave you gasping for more.
After turning heads with their raucous debut album in 2020, My Kind Of Chaos have continued the wonderful debauchery into the new year with their latest offering ‘Calm Down Karen’. Reminding us all once again of everyone’s worst nightmare of a human (Karen) and introducing us to her even more troublesome partner Cam, the song is an extremely well crafted piece of work disguised as comical piss-take. Think Dune Rats meets Tenacious D and you’ll be somewhere close to where this lands.
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Lemaire Slides Into 2021
Honey Soaked Butter
The Lonesomes’ Brooding Rock Head Banger
San Mei Is In The Machine
Proven to be one of the leading forces among the Gold Coast’s growing hip hop scene, Lemaire is continuing his momentum into the new year with the release of the new single ’OneNotTwo (LEMAIRE x Namaste)’. Featuring Lemaire’s signature guitar work and smooth vocals over a 90’s RnB rhythm, the track slides along nicely, offering a perfect soundtrack to a relaxed summer day. You can catch Lemaire and his five-piece band performing live at BBQ Bazaar on 6 February.
After taking a years break from releasing material The Lonesomes have broken the fast with their brooding rock single ‘Dog Days’. Coming in at just under five minutes, the track is a real grower, slowly building upon a driving drum and bass rhythm transforming into a souring head banger. With musical similarities to epic rock bands like Foals and Muse The Lonesomes find their point of difference in the dark, commanding vocal.
The boys from Buttered gifted us with a new single over the festive season with their sultry, groove-heavy number ‘Electrify’. Channeling some serious Matt Corby vibes, the track features a beautiful Rhodes piano, in the pocket drums and honey soaked vocals rich with harmonies. Part of an EP complete with two previously released tracks ‘Electrify’ is the duo’s strongest release to date and is sure to elevate the bands growing profile even further.
Freshly inspired after capitalising on some down time during COVID, San Mei has put her stamp on 2021 with the impressive new single ‘In The Machine’. Once again giving us that rich wall of sound that we have come to love from San Mei, her latest offering draws influence from industrial rock and ‘90s grunge showcasing her commanding vocal and ability as a world-class songwriter. Aptly described as sounding like a lost track from the Batman Forever soundtrack ‘In The Machine’ is an exciting first step in what is expected to be another big year for San Mei.
Amy Elise Dreams Of Japan
At just 16 years of age with a string of releases already under her belt, Amy Elise seems to be settling into her sound nicely with her new single ‘Streets Of Japan’. As a part of a recent resurgence of female fronted alt/pop led by bands like Teenage Jones, Amy Elise is a voice of the next generation, telling stories of teenage angst and relationships behind a classic rock band backing. Impressive stuff here from a young Gold Coast artist to watch in 2021.
COTTA Finds her Niche
COTTA has followed up her 2020 debut single with the upbeat, catchy indie-electronic gem ‘Better’. Matching her inspiration from 80’s production with the modern sounds and songwriting styles of artists like Maggie Rodgers, COTTA has managed to find her niche within the popular genre. Written as an uplifting anthem about moving onto greater things, ‘Better’ is certainly an optimistic way to bring in the New Year. Single Out 5 Feb.
TINY Is One To Watch
Gold Coast songwriter / producer TINY is on a roll after coming off a lengthy hiatus just a few months ago with the release of her commanding new single ‘Never Met You’. Heavy hitting, industrial style electronic backing provides the perfect template for a scathing onslaught of lyrical content set towards a discarded former lover. With all three of her recent singles starting to gain traction on streaming platforms and radio TINY is yet another artist to watch in 2021.
1991
by Fauun
For those of us who grew up in and around the Gold Coast, fond memories of those dollar drinks at Beach Road Nightclub and the epic gigs, such as Nirvana and The Ramones that were once had at Fisherman’s Wharf and the Playroom, still resonate. ‘1991’, a recent debut novel from Fauun, a Gold Coast author, brings those nostalgic years of mayhem, surfing, sex and drugs to light in a book you won’t be able to put down. Combining ethereal magic, romance and themes, such as domestic violence, addiction and loss, ‘1991’ is an emotional tale that brings the author’s own memories and experiences to light. Following the tragic loss of her sister, Ash, the female protagonist, moves to the glittering Gold Coast in order to start afresh. Working as a swimwear model and on the verge of homelessness, she ends up meeting Jay, a local surfer, who lives in a dilapidated mansion on Monaco Street, a house which is also haunted by his missing ex-girlfriend, Nebraska. It’s one of those houses we have all probably experienced, or at least, set foot in, during our lifetime - run-down, dirty, various flat mates, drugs and alcohol. Yet, as squalid as it is, it becomes a place Ash finds herself unable to leave.
Good Start For Mitch King
Mitch King has celebrated some huge news to bring in the New Year, penning a record real with industry heavyweight Michael Gudinski’s new label Reclusive Records alongside the release of a powerful new single ‘Oil & Water’. Mitch first hit Gudinski’s radar after his track ‘Coming Back’ was embraced by a popular NFL team in the USA. The Reclusive Records team fell in love with the honesty in his songwriting and were compelled to bring him on board. You can catch Mitch King charming local fans on 13 February at Miami Marketta.
Before she knows it, Ash finds herself caught in an emotionally suffocating relationship that not only isolates her from the outside world, but also strips her of every iota of self-confidence and strength. However, when Tora, a fatherly figure to the wild Jay, returns to the chaotic household after a long absence, Ash is immediately captivated by his presence and so begins a dangerous love triangle that threatens to hurt her more than she ever thought.
Parker Rose Strips Things Back
Local favorite Parker Rose is known mostly for the sparkly pop sounds originating from his work with Sunset City and more recently under his own name. However, in this recent flurry of releases Rose is showcasing his diversity by stripping things right back, taking a more acoustic singer/songwriter approach. The first offering ’Glitter’ was a beautiful simplistic reflection of 2020, ‘Sunburnt’ adopted a Jack Johnson style while his latest ‘Felt’ ads a bit more depth, with a sound reminiscent of Passenger. Great chilled stuff that should fit nicely on your summer soundtrack here from Parker Rose.
‘1991’ is not only an exploration of the devastating transformation of Ash, but it also delves deeply into the promises, hope and resolutions of true love that keeps the living dead alive. Full of twists and turns, as well as magic realism through the enchanting Nebraska, whose presence in the story is both unsettling and comforting, Fauun cleverly intertwines concepts and memories of those much longed-after years. It’s also a novel that takes you back to the place the Gold Coast once was, a gritty, yet sun-drenched paradise that reeked of poverty, stale beer and a greedy lust for life that only waves and a surfboard satiated. ‘1991’ is a novel published in Paperback, Hardcover and Ebook format and is available for purchase through the publisher’s website (fauun. com) or through online book retailers such as Fishpond.com.au and Booktopia.com.au. Prudence Clark Blank - issue #83 - February 2021
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