Blank - issue 88 - July 2021 by Blank Street Press

SARAH BLASKO BARES HER SOUL FOR BLEACH*

Blank - issue #88 - July 2021

FULL PROGRAM AND TICKETS AVAILABLE AT

BLEACHFESTIVAL.COM.AU

12—22 AUGUST

Blank - issue #88 - July 2021

JUNE 23 – JULY 4 D’ARCY DOYLE ART AWARDS AND EXHIBITION 2021, MUDGEERABA MEMORIAL HALL The Awards and Exhibition celebrate community and creativity and showcase the best of Australian art from professionals and emerging artists. With the event closing 4 July, there is still time to visit the historic village of Mudgeeraba to see this amazing exhibition. All artwork is available for purchase and visitors are encouraged to support their favourite artist by casting a vote for the ‘People’s Choice Award’. For more information visit: darcydoyleartawards.com.au

ACTIVE & HEALTHY WINTER HOLIDAY PROGRAM OUT NOW For information on activities near you go the Active and Healthy Winter Holiday Program Some Division 9 events include: JULY 6 ACTIVE BODIES FOR ACIVE MINDS, SOUTHERN SKIES PARK, REEDY CREEK Minifit have crafted a fun interactive session to help kids build foundations for a healthy future. 10.30am – 12.00pm / FREE minifit.com.au/qld

JULY 7 ACTIVE & HEALTHY – TIE-DYE AND PARK GAMES, FIRTH PARK, MUDGEERABA Aspiral Design and Sparky Do Dah are teaming up to offer a relaxed, fun-filled and creative morning learning how to add a pop of colour of tie-dye to your wardrobe. 9.00am – 12.00pm / suitable for all ages / bookings essential www.aspiraldesign.com JULY 7 CHILDREN’S BIKE SKILLS, FIRTH PARK NETBALL COURTS, MUDGEERABA Presented by City of Gold Coast Active Travel Program, this course will teach children bikehandling skills plus road awareness. For children 6+ (must have their own bike and be accompanied by a parent or guardian). 10.15am – 11.15am / FREE / registration essential, limited numbers eventbrite.com.au

learn how to make a large group mandala using interesting objects borrowed from nature (eg seeds, feathers, pebbles, plant matter, bark, grasses). Suitable for children 5-12 years. Adults and children must have a booking. 9.30 – 10.30am / FREE JULY 8 WHO LIVES IN A HOLLOW This workshop focusses on the importance of tree hollows for many native wildlife species. For ages 5-12 / FREE allevents.in/mudgeeraba/ naturallygc JULY 17 – JULY 18 GOLD COAST KOKODA CHALLENGE, HINTERLAND REGIONAL PARK, MUDGEERABA 96km Challenge! Raising funds for Aussie kids who participate in Youth Programs run by the Kokoda Youth Foundation. All ages. eventfinda.com.au / search for Kokoda Challenge Mudgeeraba

NATURALLYGC SCHOOL HOLIDAY ACTIVITIES JULY 8 MANDALA NATURE CRAFT (KIDS WORKSHOP) Presented by Green Heroes,

JULY 18 HINTERLAND DISTRICT NETBALL, FIRTH PARK, MUDGEERABA Junior Carnival (11-17 years) / 8.00am

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hinterland.qld.netball.com.au

monster trucks, FMX stunts & fireworks.

JULY 25 THE ORIGINAL GOLD COAST SWAP MEET, MUDGEERABA SHOWGROUNDS Organised by the Gold Coast Antique Auto Club, this event is getting bigger and better each year. Includes Veteran, Vintage, Classic Car & Parts, Automobilia, Memoribilia, Model Cars, Collectables, Australiana.

SUNDAY: everything on Wheels Show Cars, Bikes, Trucks, Caravans & more! goldcoastcarshow.com.au MUDGEERABA PARKRUN D’ARCY DOYLE PARK, SOMERSET DRIVE, MUDGEERABA 7.00am Saturdays

This FREE weekly 5km event is for participants of all standards 6.00am – 12.00pm and ages. Participants are gcaac.com.au/gold-coast/swap/ encouraged or run, jog or walk together. Overnight camping available.

AUGUST 14 -15 GOLD COAST CAR SHOW, MUDGEERABA SHOWGROUNDS A huge display of cars, bikes, trucks and retro caravans. Market stalls both days. SATURDAY: Rev-it-Up Family Retro Day with Cars & Caravans from 50’s to 70’s bands,

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. Every week runners grab a post parkrun coffee in the Lucky 7 Tallai, 1 Tallai Road. parkrun.com.au/register

KHALID CHVRCHES • DENZEL CURRY • DUKE DUMONT • TASH SULTANA MASKED WOLF • RUSS MILLIONS • BAND OF HORSES • PHOEBE BRIDGERS LITTLE SIMZ • VIOLENT SOHO • AURORA • DUNE RATS • PINK SWEAT$ VERA BLUE • CLIENT LIAISON • GRIFF • POND • TAYLA PARX • METHYL ETHEL • THE CHATS • TRIPLE ONE CAT & CALMELL • KING STINGRAY • THE SOUTHERN RIVER BAND

THE KILLERS CHARLI XCX • VANCE JOY • GRIMES METAVERSE (SUPER BETA) THE AVALANCHES • OF MONSTERS AND MEN • KAYTRANADA JUNGLE • BLACK PUMAS • WHAT SO NOT • HOT DUB TIME MACHINE MILLENNIUM PARADE • THE JUNGLE GIANTS • OCEAN ALLEY • KING GIZZARD & THE LIZARD WIZARD • SINÉAD HARNETT • HOLLY HUMBERSTONE • SPACEY JANE CROOKED COLOURS • • • • • AMYL AND THE SNIFFERS WAFIA AVIVA THE SNUTS BAND-MAID ZIGGY RAMO • GRETTA RAY

2 DAYS • 3 STAGES • TIPI FOREST • GLOBAL VILLAGE • COMEDY • THE FORUM • LITTLE SPLENDOUR

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Your local stories Hey Blankers, 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 Graphic Designer: Heidi Glasson Distribution: Swingin' Safari Crew Contributors (print and online): Natalie O’Driscoll, Anthony Gebhardt, Zac Fahey, Marj Osborne, Samantha Morris, Pip Andreas, Anne Janelle, Nikki Archer, Simone Gorman-Clark. Cover: Sarah Blasko 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

Fun times! Gold Coast’s cultural and musical calendar is certainly heating up, with lots of announcements hitting our desks over the last couple of months. Bluesfest fans would’ve seen the shift to October by now, Splendour is hosting world first digital concert experience Splendour XR with a lineup that has us screaming at our screens, Bleach* Festival has a gargantuan program lined up (make sure to check out our interview with the epically talented Sarah Blasko in this edition), SWELL – now in its nineteenth year if you can believe it - has dropped some wicked program teasers and of course we’ve got brand new festival Springtime hitting the street of Surfers in September, which we’re pretty damn excited about. Our very own Gold Coast Music Awards has announced that it will be partnering with Springtime and running on the Saturday of the event, and we can also exclusively reveal right now that this year’s awards ceremony will be livestreamed for those who miss out on tickets to the physical event. Said livestream will be hosted by none other than triple j breakfast presenter and DJ extraordinaire Ebony Boadu, so it’s set to be a loungeroom party for the ages. We’ll have more on Ebony and the Gold Coast Music Awards in the next edition. On the arts and culture side of things, we had a sweet little chat with the hilarious

Gigs: gigs@blankstreetpress.com.au Follow us: Facebook/Instagram@blankstreetpress

DECADENT DEGUSTATIONS. Five-course artistry makes for a mouth-watering culinary journey. Enjoy an ocean and paddock to plate menu, focusing on locally sourced produce and fresh ingredients, paired with matching wines by Robert Oatley Wines. 6pm to 8pm - Fourth Wednesday of each month. From $99 per person Advance reservations required via goldcoasttickets.com.au / 07 5592 9800

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and irreverent Christian Hull ahead of his appearance at Byron Writers Festival, and also chatted to Indigenous artist Brad Turner about his amazing path to becoming a professional artist ahead of Art Lovers’ NAIDOC exhibition. While things certainly aren’t back to B.C. (Before COVID) normal, it’s still heartening and something of a relief to watch events ramp up around the city. Feels like time to get venues back to full capacity, eh? Until next month, stay well and take care of each other. Yours, Natalie O’Driscoll Managing Editor

ran by highly experienced drama tutors, will include theatre games and exercises with a focus on improvisation. Your child will have fun whilst developing their confidence, collaboration and fundamental performance skills. Locations in Helensvale, Burleigh, Coomera and Ashmore. Register now at zigzagtheatre.com | 0477 843 134 | info@zigzagtheatre.com.

essential. 7am Saturdays, at d’Arcy Doyle Park on Somerset Drive. Parkrun.com.au/register

Carmen comes to HOTA HOTA and Opera Australia invite you to experience the thrilling Spanish colour and rhythms of Bizet’s vibrant score with Opera Australia’s singers, a live chamber orchestra and a children’s chorus drawn from the local communities. This new production includes gorgeous sets and vintage-inspired costumes. Three shows over 16 and 17 July. Tickets at hota.com.au.

Stan Grant in Conversation with Kerry O’Brien

Local ambient artist up for international award

The Sea Can Heal Us

Local ambient / electronic artist Jim Ottaway is at it again, with two of his albums nominated for the 17th Annual Zone Music Reporter Awards, being held at the end of July. ‘When Eternity Touches Time’ is up for Album of the Year and Best Electronic Album, and ‘Beautiful Desolation’ is up for Best Ambient Album. Best of luck, Jim!

Gold Coast artist Larmor is hosting his debut solo exhibition ‘The Sea Can Heal Us’, curated by Dion Parker, at Mint Art House in Burleigh from 17 to 24 July 2021, with opening night kicking off at 6pm on 17 July. All are welcome. Check out our chat with Larmor in this edition for more deets.

THE ORIGINAL GOLD COAST SWAP MEET

NAIDOC WEEK 2021

MUDGEERABA PARKRUN After some running buddies? This FREE weekly 5km event is for participants of all standards and ages. Participants are encouraged to 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

Australian television news and political journalist, analyst, author, television presenter and proud Wiradjuri man Stan Grant will chat with Kerry O’Brien, one of Australia’s best interviewers, about his latest book ‘With The Falling of The Dusk’ on 30 July at HOTA. Tix at hota.com.au.

The NAIDOC 2021 theme – Heal Country! – calls for all of us to continue to seek greater protections for our lands, our waters, our sacred sites and our cultural heritage from exploitation, desecration, and destruction. NAIDOC 2021 invites the nation to embrace First Nations’ cultural knowledge and understanding of Country as part of Australia's national heritage and equally respect the culture and values of Aboriginal peoples and Torres Strait Islanders as they do the cultures and values of all Australians. NAIDOC Week runs 4 to 11 July 2021. Visit naidoc.org.au for more.

SALT & STEEL TO PLAY LGBTQI+ EVENT AT MO’S Bring your friends, fans and fam along to Mo’s Desert Clubhouse for a gay old time full of love, laughs, music and bonding with the Gold Coast’s most colourful community! Rock out to a set of bluesinfused soul sounds by powerhouse festival favourites Salt & Steel, and then tear up the dancefloor to iconic pop and dance tunes by your fave divas and queer artists, including Madonna, Gaga, Kylie, George Michael and more. Thursday 15 July. Tix are $17, available at mosdesertclubhouse.com.

Organised by the Gold Coast Antique Auto Club, this event is getting bigger and better each year. Includes veteran, vintage, classic car & parts, automobilia, memorabilia, model cars, collectables, Australiana, all happening at the Mudgeeraba Showgrounds with overnight camping available. 6am – 12pm on 25 July. Visit gcaac.com.au/goldcoast/swap for more.

Help kids in care this Pyjama Day

FREE drama classes for kids! ZigZag Theatre are running FREE drama classes for ages 3 - 18 years for the first three weeks of term three. These classes,

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This July 23, National Pyjama Day is giving the community the opportunity to be part of this effort to change the life trajectory of children in care. The community is invited to register their school or workplace for the day, spread awareness about its significance, celebrate in their snuggliest pyjamas and raise vital funds to help support the Foundation's life-changing Program. Visit nationalpyjamaday.com.

I hope to change that, as creativity is often solely attributed to the young and fancy free, which I think is a real shame.” Between bubs and COVID restrictions, Sarah has managed to squeeze in some filming, a week-long residency and a couple of shows in Sydney at the end of last year “just to check I still had what it takes,” she laughs. But of course all of those events were just a practice run for her appearance at this year’s Bleach* Festival where she will be performing, in full, her third studio album ‘As Day Follows Night’, as well as other crowd favourites, in concert with musicians from the Queensland Conservatorium Griffith University. It’s set to be a night to remember, with Sarah’s uncommon ability to infuse every note with emotion guaranteed to produce goosebumps among the crowd.

“I’m a pretty emotional person, so it’s not difficult for me to tap into that side of myself on stage,” she admits. “Music has always been a release of emotions for me, so I hope what’s entertaining is just watching someone fully absorbed in the music and drawing you into that space with me.” ‘As Day Follows Night’ was adored around the world, peaking at No. 5 on the ARIA Albums Chart and appearing in the Top 100 on European albums charts in Belgium, France, Sweden, and Switzerland. In October 2010 it was listed at No. 19 in the book ‘100 Best Australian Albums’, and is considered by many to be a masterpiece. I am curious about whether Sarah feels she has written her magnum opus. “I don’t feel I have yet,” she muses. “But I think that if I did feel that way I probably wouldn’t continue.

Sarah Blasko bares her soul for Bleach* Words by Natalie O’Driscoll

The sublime Sarah Blasko is heading to the Gold Coast this August for a one-off performance as part of Bleach* Festival 2021 Sarah Blasko is an artist from head to toe. Inarguably one of the most influential figures in Australian indie pop, Sarah has spent two decades forging a career that is wholly her own, within an industry that still likes to throw up barriers for women. But it’s her haunting vocals and searingly honest lyrics that have resonated with audiences around the world since she burst onto the airwaves and into our collective consciousness with 2002’s ‘Your Way’.

COVID has obviously put the brakes on the entertainment industry, which is still in the very nascent stages of clawing its way back to some semblance of normality. But timingwise, a slow down was on the cards for Sarah anyway, with her second child arriving in May 2020.

Critically acclaimed, lauded by peers and beloved by her fans, including Sir Elton John, who counts himself among that number, it might seem like Sarah’s talent has carved her a relatively smooth path to success. But of course, things are rarely that simple. Long struggles with depression, intrusive media and misogyny within the industry have all forced Sarah to apply a fair whack of grit and determination along the way, in order to keep persevering with her music career. And aren’t we all grateful that she has?

“But, at least I’ve felt less pressure to be doing things this time around, as I remember when my eldest son was really young I felt the pressure to get back into things, whereas this time there’s hardly been anything to get back into!”

“The first year of having a baby is definitely challenging in terms of finding any time for yourself to be creative,” says Sarah when we catch up.

Although time poor, Sarah definitely feels artistically inspired by parenthood, a message she is keen to spread. “Anything that gargantuan cannot help but shift your songwriting perspective! But to be totally honest, I reckon people aren’t that interested in hearing this perspective and Blank - issue #88 - July 2021

“I think I’m the most proud of ‘I Awake’ [fourth studio album, released 2012] but it’s because I produced it myself and it was a huge risk to work with an orchestra and a nerve-wracking challenge. “I love Nick Wales’ orchestral arrangements on that album and he poured himself into it with me so I have really fond memories of that time. Living in Stockholm then travelling to Bulgaria to record the orchestra was very, very exciting.” Also very, very exciting is that Sarah casually dropped into our conversation the fact that she’s in the process of writing a new album, right now. For fans who’ve been dying for new material since 2017’s acclaimed ‘Depth of Field’, it’s welcome news. Sarah outlines her writing process for us. “I usually always write the music first and then the lyrics slowly form. The melody and the music seem to come fairly easily and then the lyrics can be painstaking to finish. “Lyrically I’ve always drawn inspiration from what I see around me and where I’m at in my life, so it’s the same at the moment. I’m currently inspired to make an album that is very stripped back and centred around my voice, and trying to be as honest as possible.” Says one of the most honest artists in Australian music. Catch Sarah Blasko in concert under the stars at the Gold Coast Regional Botanic Gardens on 14 August 2021, presented as part of Bleach* Festival 2021. Tickets at bleachfestival.com.au.

BIGSOUND ANNOUNCES TARANA BURKE AND HENRY ROLLINS

The Southern Hemisphere’s biggest music industry gathering is making big moves 7-9 September, with a program set to change the future of the music industry for the better of all. Celebrating its 20th anniversary this September, BIGSOUND 2021 will not only retain its position as the biggest industry event and celebration of new music this side of the equator but will once again dive headfirst into the most pressing issues affecting music today. Never one to shy away from the important, taboo, and at times difficult subjects that impact the music industry at large, BIGSOUND is inviting powerful voices to deliver compelling keynote speeches, including inspirational #MeToo founder, Tarana Burke, and punk rock icon, spoken word poet, actor, author and DJ, Henry Rollins, with more to be announced soon. “I’m looking forward to sharing my story at BIGSOUND in what has been a 25-year journey laying the groundwork for a movement that amplifies the voices of millions of survivors and addresses issues of respect, dignity, and power dynamics in schools, workplaces, communities, and politics,” said Tarana, named TIME's 2017 Person of the Year and 100 Most Influential People of 2018. Delivering the unique keynotes live from the USA, BIGSOUND guests will have the exclusive opportunity to delve into the minds of these deeply respected figures, asking their burning questions and collaboratively weighing in on the matters at hand. 2021 also welcomes an exciting First Nations-led edition of BIGSOUND’s biennial youth conference, this year named Little BLAKSOUND, presented by Digi Youth Arts (DYA), Queensland’s only Indigenous youth arts organisation, and QMusic.

CORE FUNDERS

M A J O R PA RT N E R S

Early-bird conference passes are now on sale. With limited tickets on offer due to COVID capacity, secure your seat as soon as possible to discover, change and be part of the future of Australian music at bigsound.org.au. Blank - issue #88 - July 2021

STUDENT PROJECT HITS #3 ON AUSTRALIAN iTunes MUSIC CHARTS When local Gold Coast radio personality Christo was challenged by country music star Casey Barnes to produce a country song in just three minutes, he turned to TAFE Queensland for help. The 102.9 Hot Tomato breakfast show host collaborated with music and sound production students from TAFE Queensland’s Coomera campus to record the vocals, play instruments, and input creative direction to produce a high-quality track in one of the campus' recording studios. Within weeks of it being officially released, the song titled ‘I don’t care (I want my dog back)’ hit #3 on the Australian iTunes country music charts behind world-class artists Keith Urban and Dolly Parton.

“When I heard the final song for the first time I was so proud of what we’d achieved as a team and how well it all came together,” said Nathan.

Eighteen-year-old music student, Taylia Puna contributed to the project with backing vocals and presented ideas for instruments to give the track a more country sound.

“Having this experience so early on in the course was a massive learning curve and very inspirational for the entire class, we’re still talking about it weeks later.”

“It was such an amazing experience to see how a song can come together in such a short timeframe and it was rewarding to be part of a project from the very start to hearing the final track,” said Taylia.

Nathan said having a song that he worked on aired on radio and in the charts, all before graduating, is a massive achievement and a testament to how well TAFE Queensland delivers training.

“Before this experience I’d never seen behind the scenes of how a song is mixed, so it was eye-opening to comprehend how much effort is required to produce a song.”

“I'm so proud that my portfolio of experience is so diversified just by being a part of this course,” he said.

The Maudsland teen, who is accessing the State Government's JobTrainer funding to study the Diploma of Music Industry (CUA50815) said the experience was inspiring and unexpected. “I was surprised to get such an interactive real-world experience this early on in my studies. We were only a couple of weeks into the course but it really helped me understand more about the production side of music and taught me different tricks to help develop my skills,” she said.

“My experience so far has exceeded all expectations. It's been one of the best decisions of my entire life — I should have started this course a long time ago!” After the success of the track, Christo returned to the Coomera campus to collaborate with TAFE Queensland’s screen and media students to produce the music video. The two-day shoot took place at Warner Bros. Movie World with students provided access to costumes and locations around the park to use for the production.

Meanwhile, sound production student Nathan Bruen said he got so much out of the experience just from observing his teacher manage the project.

Together with their teacher the students produced a three minute 40 second clip and Christo was blown away with the end result.

“I loved how Ben, our teacher and head producer for the project, included every student, listened to everyone’s ideas and trialled them. The way he nurtured Christo’s nerves on his vocal work while still teaching a class was absolutely incredible,” said Nathan.

“It has gone way past what I thought might be possible,” said Christo.

“A good producer is so important and that was a huge lesson from this exercise, as it was up to the production team to mould and shape the original idea into a country song that reached its full potential.” The 38-year-old from Helensvale contributed backing vocals and some production ideas with guitars and said he was honoured to be part of it all.

“The clip is just great. For such a polished outcome you wouldn’t think the students only just started their screen and media course in January.” For more information about TAFE Queensland’s music and sound production courses or to apply visit tafeqld.edu. au or call 1300 308 233 and see where TAFE can take you. TAFE Queensland is a proud sponsor of the 2021 Gold Coast Music Awards.

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E D I U G G I G The Wayward Suns | Yeah Nah

JULY 2021

S MONTH MUSIC THI SHARKS! FREE, LIVE T R UTHPO AT THE SO

SWAUSSYFIRE 2 JULY

SLIDING DOORS 3 JULY

THE VALIANTS 9 JULY

Words by Anthony Gebhardt

As well as being one of ‘those’ phrases of the current zeitgeist, ‘Yeah Nah’ is also the name of the splendid new single from cosmically-inclined Gold Coast groove collective The Wayward Suns. Since their impressive debut album ‘Paradigm’ (which saw the band nominated in the prestigious ‘Album of the year’ category at the 2018 Gold Coast Music Awards), the band have consistently delivered the goods with their genre-straddling, conscious hip hop vibes, and ‘Yeah Nah’ more than lives up to form.

CHARLIE BRAVO BAND 10 JULY

EPIC 16 JULY

CREEDANCE TRIBUTE 17 JULY

MIGHTY RHYTHM 23 JULY

WILD RUMOURS 30 JULY

LIVING IN THE 70'S 31 JULY

The track cruises out of the blocks on a bedrock of sweet scratching, sampled sound bites and an organic, bouncy, blues inflected lope. Righteous, uplifting, hiphop delivered verses lead to a super catchy, rousing gangchant of a chorus before the band bring things home with a guitar/organ break, the track lingering on the ‘Yeah Nah’ singalong refrain that drives the track deep into one’s musical consciousness. ‘Yeah Nah’ is a chest swelling, uplifting trip which lives up to the band’s mantra of ‘everybody love everybody’ and given its prime singalong status, it will no doubt be a set highlight of the band’s upcoming live performances. Yeah Nah - Hell Yeah! ‘Yeah Nah’, is out on 16 July via all major streaming platforms. And keep an eye out for the upcoming translucent red 7 inch vinyl release, which will be available from 17 July (coinciding with the second drop of Record Store Day 2021) via the bands website and at Beatniks Records in Broadbeach. 17 July will also see the single launch show including GC Youth Choir at Miami Marketta, one not to be missed. Be sure to also check out our in-depth feature chat with Wayward lynchpin Kane Fogarty (aka Instinct The Lyricist) in this edition of the magazine.

southportsharks.com.au Corner Olsen & Musgrave Aves, Southport QLD | 5532 1155 *Entertainment subject to change at any time.

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Botanical Bazaar blooms once more Beloved gardening festival Botanical Bazaar has announced its 2021 return, amidst an explosion in horticultural activity amongst Gold Coast residents. Words by Natalie O’Driscoll

Gold Coast’s premier gardening and sustainability festival, Botanical Bazaar, is the place where urban gardeners and nature lovers connect; a truly community driven day, with all profits raised being directed to community causes such as domestic violence, homelessness, youth development and The Gold Coast Regional Botanic Gardens. Excitingly, the popular event will now run over two days, extended by organisers due to the cancellation of the 2020 festival and the proliferation of backyard and balcony gardeners on the Gold Coast during the last 18 months. Hosted as always at the stunning Country Paradise Parklands in Nerang, the event will be held on Saturday 31 July and Sunday 1 August and will cater to the needs of nature enthusiasts all over the Gold Coast. According to Gold Coast Rotary Event organiser, David Baguley, the decision to increase the down-to-earth event to two days was inspired by the recent surge in sales of gardening commodities across the country, with Australian nurseries struggling to keep up with the blossoming demand for both edible and ornamental plants. “We feel there really is no better time to host a gardening event on the Gold Coast and keep community connections thriving,” David said. “Not only does gardening keep you physically fit, but it also gets you outdoors and allows you to appreciate the farming process of paddock to plate. Plus, you get the benefits of digging your hands into the earth and connecting with nature, which makes you feel alive!” This year the event will host ABC Gardening Australia's Sophie Thomson, Jerry Coleby-Williams, and the muchloved friend of the festival, Costa Georgiadis, with more speakers to be announced soon. There will be over 80 green-inspired exhibitors, plus celebrity gardener’s talks, demonstrations, hands-on workshops, guided bush tucker walks, botanical art, community groups and plenty of kids’ nature activities. SATURDAY

Garden & Sustainability Festival

SUNDAY

JUL AUG

31 01 11:30-17:30

09:00-16:00

Visitors can explore plant nurseries and landscape designers, shop for garden materials and tools, organic beauty products and even botanical homewares. Keen to get cracking but don’t know how? Learn how to grow your own food, set up urban and small space gardening, how to create a habitat garden, how to live offgrid, composting, and more sustainable living concepts. If growing edibles is your passion, then join in on a show and tell of exotic plants that are easy to grow, harvest and create surprising dishes. There will be lots of food and drink vendors to keep you fed and watered – and speaking of water, you’ll need to bring your own refillable water bottle, as the event is plastic-free. As always, live entertainment forms a huge part of the festival’s appeal. On Saturday crowds will welcome The Vegetable Plot – an ARIA Award nominee using the power of music and storytelling to help kids fall in love with veggies, with earthy, “soilful” music that appeals to adults just as much as kids. Sunday sees the welcome return of favourite local music artist Kate Leopold (& Treats). There will also be buskers, stilt walkers and street entertainers. The Kid’s Hub is back as well this year, with a bunch of nature-inspired arts and crafts, magic pony rides and The Tiny Animal Farm. Expect surprise visits from Captain Plastic, Little Bee’s Secret Garden and a visit from the chicken dancing Costa the Garden Gnome. Tickets are on sale now, with concession and family tickets also available. Purchase before 7 July to go into the draw to win a $100 Bunnings Voucher. Due to Covid restrictions, there are limited tickets available, and they must be pre-purchased online from botanicalbazaargc.com.au. Botanical Bazaar is once again proudly presented by Rotary Gold Coast and Division 5 Councillor Peter Young.

Country Paradise Parklands, Nerang TICKETS ON SALE NOW!

This years’ Botanical Bazaar has grown to 2 days full of activities! The festival showcases everything green from urban gardening, sustainable living and botanical ‘must-haves’. Grow your mind, knowledge and garden – there will be workshops, speakers – including the incredible Gardening Australia trio of Costa, Sophie and Jerry, plant markets, kids’ hub, botanical home wares, garden supplies, community groups and plenty of food, music and entertainment.

Where naturally wild, urban gardening and nature lovers of all ages connect

www.botanicalbazaargc.com.au or scan the barcode to find out more

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Thirteen Lives: Location Location

Springtime set to take over Surfers

Words by Natalie O’Driscoll

Words by Natalie O’Driscoll - Photography by Cole Bennetts

Ron Howard’s feature film ‘Thirteen Lives’, based on the Thai caves rescue, was the latest in a string of international projects to shoot on the Gold Coast.

From 3 to 5 September, the inaugural Springtime Festival will turn the streets, venues and beachfront of Surfers Paradise into one massive three day musical celebration.

In 2018, Thai families, the government, and a community of farmers and neighbours came together alongside volunteers from around the world in the rescue of 12 young boys and their soccer coach from the Tham Luang Nang Non cave system in Thailand. The harrowing 18-day ordeal made headlines around the world. ‘Thirteen Lives’ chronicles their story. The production set up a handful of locations throughout the region, with the lush sub-tropical surrounds of Mudgeeraba, Numinbah Valley, Canungra and other locations across on the Gold Coast set to feature heavily in the film. ‘Thirteen Lives’ Supervising Location Manager Nick Smith is a proud Gold Coast resident who has worked on ‘The Starter Wife’, ‘Mortified’ and ‘Scooby Doo’, just to name a few. We caught up with Nick and asked him what kind of things have to be taken into consideration when scouting for locations, visual aspects aside.

It’s an epic lineup, with names including Ball Park Music, Hermitude, Sneaky Sound System, Psychedelic Porn Crumpets, Sycco, Ali Barter and Ruel sitting comfortably alongside a who’s who of local talent like Budjerah, Ivey, Peach Fur and Saint Lane.

“Safe and easy access is important. Able to get cast, crew and extras into a location easily and safely, with close parking for film trucks and cars,” he explains. “Affordability is also important. Productions of all sizes have a location budget they, like any business budgets, need to adhere to. Finally, we need the Location owner to say yes! It is also good if the neighbours and community supports filming.”

“The Gold Coast Music Awards is all about celebrating local creatives, so it’s exciting to be a part of a festival that sees some of our incredible homegrown artists perform alongside some of the hottest names in Australian music.

Fortunately, the Gold Coast takes great pride in its reputation for world-class filming locations, crew and support, something Nick is incredibly proud of.

“There’s going to be a definite buzz in the air come Springtime!”

“The Gold Coast offers cityscapes, beaches, rainforests, bush, jungle, farming, creeks, waterfalls, sugarcane, restaurants, shopping centres and a diverse architectural range of housing and commercial buildings. “We also receive tremendous assistance from the Mayor, local Councillors, the City of Gold Coast and residents. The industry is so grateful to be able to replicate many parts of the world in this beautiful part of the world.”

SUSTAINABLE DURABLE

Every act appearing on the current lineup announcement will be playing the festival’s free outdoor stages, leaving plenty of cash in the wallet for dinner and drinks or even a weekend getaway with friends. Ticketed acts are still to be announced. Excitingly, the 2021 Gold Coast Music Awards (GCMAs) will also be a major part of the Springtime festival, with the glittering affair taking place on Saturday 4 September. GCMA Director Chloe Popa says the team is stoked to be partnering with the brand new event.

“A diverse range of locations, as well as local government and resident support, makes the Gold Coast a wonderful place for film makers,” he tells us.

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Springtime will run from Friday 3 to Sunday 5 September 2021 across Surfers Paradise. The first lineup announcement is below. You can visit springtimegc.com.au to RSVP. Ball Park Music - Psychedelic Porn Crumpets - Ali Barter - Radolescent - Vices - Hermitude - Sneaky Sound System - Gold Coast Music Awards - JK-47 - Ninajiraci - Mia Rodriguez - Ebony Boadu - Mollie - Rose - Garrett Kato - Lili Papas – Daste - Gratis Minds – Akurei - Jake Carmody - Strex - Happy Hour Live with Lucy & Nikki - Ruel - Sycco - May-A - Budjerah – Ivey - Peach Fur - DVNA - Saint Lane - Pink Matter – Kye - Pure Milk - Tom West – Chutney - Sh#t Shirt Disco - Nina Sinclair – Veople. Blank - issue #88 - July 2021

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Awards presented at HOTA from 11.45am Live stream of awards ceremony from 1.00pm scan for event details and updates

inGrained Foundation 2021 grant recipients announced

SCU students take a crack at cybercrime

Words by Natalie O’Driscoll

Stone & Wood’s inGrained Foundation recently announced six local not-forprofits as recipients of their Northern Rivers Large Grant, with a total of $115,180 being divided between the organisations. After receiving a strong pool of outstanding applications from many people doing great work in the community, the six successful grant recipients are: Agape Outreach: Agape Outreach Inc is a street-level organisation actively working to alleviate poverty and homelessness in the Tweed Heads area and beyond. Since COVID, they have seen a 468% increase in client numbers needing support. Agape will be putting their grant towards ongoing support and outreach services for people in need. Bangalow Koalas: Steadily building the koala, wildlife and reforestation corridor around Bangalow, Bangalow Koalas are looking to plant over 4000 trees in the area by August 2024 regenerating land and protecting the local wildlife for years to come. Their grant sees a key section of the wildlife corridor progressing within the next 12 months. Byron Community Centre: The Byron Community Centre are at the forefront of the region’s homelessness crisis. Currently renovating the Fletcher Street Cottage to reopen late this year, BCC will be using their grant to help provide the homeless and disadvantaged community with shelter and support in extreme weather events. Community Owned Renewable Energy Mullumbimby (COREM): COREM installs solar systems on community organisations for free, which is then

paid back by the savings made on the electricity bills. The solar systems are provided interest-free and when paid back, the funding is re-purposed for the next installation. COREM’s grant is going towards a model of delivery that allows them to sustain this great work. Green Heroes: Recently rescuing three loggerhead turtle nests from the Fingal and Pottsville areas, Green Heroes built a makeshift incubator and successfully hatched and released over 150 baby turtles with a 96% hatch rate. Their inGrained funding will help them to build a proper and permanent incubator to continue to revive these endangered sea creatures for many turtle hatchings in the years ahead. Human Nature Adventure Therapy: Through their Activ8 Outdoor Youth Mentoring program, Human Nature Adventure Therapy offer immersive outdoor counselling services for teens in need in our community. Their inGrained grant will support the delivery of many more one-onone outdoor counselling sessions building mental health and resilience. inGrained’s work in the community continues throughout the year with the help of Byron locals and visitors to Stone & Wood’s Byron Brewery. For every beer sold over the bar, $1 goes towards supporting additional local grassroots charities. Founded as a separate not-for-profit by Stone & Wood in 2018, the inGrained Foundation works to attract, generate and direct donations to grassroots charities. Visit ingrainedfoundation.com.au for more.

A team of Southern Cross University students has been crowned joint winner of the inaugural NSW Police Cybercrime Think Tank, with an idea to prevent cybercrime that will be deployed by NSW Police. The team presented their unique solution to a review panel of senior figures within NSW Police Force and industry heavyweights at Police Headquarters in Sydney.

our award they said they’d like to invite us back to Cyber Command to discuss how they can implement our ideas which is really exciting,” Cindy said.

Coming from a mixed background of law, accounting and IT, the students’ solution aims to increase resilience and awareness of everyday people who are victims of cyber attacks, by tapping into one of the most highly used services in the State, the Service NSW app.

Guiding the team was Southern Cross University Associate Professor in Cyber Security Ben Scott, who said that what the students had come up with was going to make a big impact.

“We wanted something simple and accessible. So, we decided to go with something that people were already using, turning to the Service NSW app. It’s a great platform to provide some extra tools to help people make themselves more cyber resilient,” Southern Cross University IT graduate Cindy Kennedy explained. Their concept was described as a ‘masterstroke’ by former CEO of Facebook for Australia and New Zealand, Stephen Scheeler, who sat on the panel alongside NSW Deputy Police Commissioner David Hudson, and the head of the NSW Cybercrime Squad. Following the delivery of their winning pitch, the students were invited to discuss how to put their idea into practice. “We just thought we would do our presentation and that would be it. But with

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“It actually dawned on the team that what they have come up with is going to be put into practice. You’re going to be seeing it on your phones and your mobile devices and they could say, ‘I actually did that.’ It’s quite profound that what they’ve come up with will make a positive impact on potentially millions of people’s lives.” Check out Southern Cross University’s ‘SCU Buzz’ student-run podcast where host Suzie Fawcett chats to Associate Professor Ben Scott and IT graduate Cindy Kennedy about cracking the cybercrime challenge and careers in cybersecurity. Just search for Southern Cross University on Spotify, Apple Podcasts or SoundCloud.

Pictured: Southern Cross University students Tara Moore, Cindy Kennedy, Janelle Mason and Veronica Stephens at the inaugural Cybercrime Think Tank. Not pictured: IT student and team member Robert Hollis.

HERITAGE GOLD COAST PART 3: SPRINGBROOK In this series, we take a closer look at some of Gold Coast’s favourite heritage-listed areas. Words and Photography by Nikki Archer

As the mercury drops, we venture deeper into the cooler climes of the Gold Coast hinterland. Traversing into the ‘green behind the gold’ has never been a mean feat and still presents challenges today. Contemporary visitors to Springbrook have different motivations to the explorers of the past. Timbergetters' bullock teams cut the first scars into this ancient rainforest to retrieve valuable “red gold” or Red Cedar (Toona ciliata) in the 1910s. We follow those same tracks to appreciate spectacular vistas and rich environmental biodiversity of this World Heritage Area. Springbrook Road and its infrastructure traverses waterways and the steep crumbling terrain of the volcanic caldera. Local and state heritage listings note technological aspects and its economic role. Building the road presented phenomenal challenges that still exist in its maintenance today. Starting at the base of Springbrook Road, the first natural hurdle for colonial settlers was the site of Old Mudgeeraba Creek Bridge. Local residents would use the old

‘Dip Crossing’ but flooding would make it impassable. A timber bridge was built in 1936 to alleviate these difficulties. This opened up the route of MudgeerabaSpringbrook Road. Explore Laver Park to find the humble remnants of the bridge. You can also find the remains of two Persimmon (Diospyros kaki) trees planted over a century ago by pioneer, William Laver. During The Depression of the 1930s, many Queenslanders lost their jobs and homes. Queensland was rich in natural resources in undeveloped land. The government aimed to resolve economic and social woes by taking on major infrastructure projects. In exchange for social housing at the Upper Mudgeeraba Intermittent Relief Camp, tenants continued the construction of Springbrook Rd to open an inaccessible 7000 acres. In addition to road construction, successful applicants were granted land lots for banana farming. As Springbrook Road steeply inclines and winds into ancient Gondwanaland, glimpse previews of stunning natural drawcards. The enormity of the road's construction becomes apparent. Heritage

listed hand-built timber bridges - a small one over Little Nerang Creek and two that curve further along – demonstrate engineering skills and plain 'hard yakka' of their time. Wunburra Info Centre offers maps and advice to visitors. Take a look back down from the mountain to the shimmering city of Gold Coast at Wunburra Lookout. Purling Brook Falls puts on a formidable display. There are walking trails of various distances. An old Queensland Forest Service sign displays indigenous names and meanings. In the township, Springbrook Community Hall (built 1947), is adorned with a large rainforest-themed mural. Best of All Lookout is at the peak of the area. A lush walking trail bursts with twisting vines, gnarled trees and curious boulders. Listed with the National Trust of Australia, 2000 year-old Antarctic Beech (Nothofagus moorei) here play host to micro ecosystems of moss and ferns. The namesake of the lookout is no exaggeration.

My final stop is The Canyon Lookout. Here stands a plaque dedicated to the service (1919-1953) of the Forestry Department Secretary, Clarence Trist. It reads: “His ideal was to preserve as nearly as possible in their primeval condition some fragments of the original Australia and to keep them unspoilt and untouched not only for our environment but for that of our children for all time” Springbrook National Park facilities give visitors fantastic insight to our world class heritage. Pack a picnic and take warm clothes. Stop and admire the different elements of the Springbrook Rd heritage trail. Tread lightly and enjoy what those before have left for us. Download the MyRanger app to get maps and guided tours with local (virtual) Rangers. You can plan ahead or, if internet service allows in some spots, find places and things to do from your current location.

Queensland’s plastic ban made easy for grassroots groups Words by Samantha Morris

While it’s exciting news for consumers, Queensland’s single-use plastic ban will present a challenge to community organisations. The ban, which comes into effect from 1 September will include plastic straws, stirrers, cutlery, plates, bowls and expanded polystyrene cups and containers. Many community groups provide takeaway food and drink as part of their

community and fundraising activities, so the ban may impact grassroots operations. But, The Boomerang Alliance, who took the lead on lobbying for this important change, is about to roll out a series of forums across the state to help community groups (and others) adapt. The forums – which comprise a 30min presentation followed by Q&A, will cover what items are included in the band, what alternative products can be used, and

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how organisations can comply. As well as getting the low-down, participants will also get a take home brief on the ban as well as a procurement guide. There are workshops across the entire state and Gold Coast has two: 12 August at Currumbin and 18 August at Nerang. Both run 5.30 – 6.30pm and you can register at: bit.ly/GCplasticban.

“There’s a crystal for healing and a crystal for, oh, life, and I thought is there a crystal that would radiate, like, fuck off. There wasn’t so I started making one out of resin and I blurted a Tik Tok. I sold 17,000 in six months. I thought there’s something in this so I started a shop online called ‘The Fuck Off Shop’ and I’ve been selling things with Fuck Off on them. I also made a fragrance called Farqovsky.” The move to Brisbane happened after travelling around Australia and discovering he hated the cold in Melbourne, he loved the audiences in Brisbane and that real estate was cheaper in Brisbane. When Christian was living in Adelaide he had to contend with his nemesis the bogong moth. Now in Brisbane it’s geckos and cockroaches. “There is a different calibre of bug in Queensland,” he says. “There’s geckos everywhere and they make weird, scary noises. But they eat the moths, so I have to love the geckos. I’ve got a beautiful garden that’s covered in caterpillars, and the caterpillars turn into huge moths and the geckos eat the moths. The cockroaches up here are so disgusting. Their legs are about three times longer than a normal cockroach and they take off and fly. It’s made me keep a really clean house.” There’s a postscript in ‘Leave Me Alone’ where fans have sent in questions to the

LEAVE CHRISTIAN HULL ALONE The hilarious and irreverent Christian Hull is set to make an appearance at this year’s Byron Writers Festival. Words by Pip Andreas

If you never thought that an unshaven gay man wearing ill-fitting wigs would become a successful comedian - think again. Christian Hull has become a social media sensation since he appeared as his alter-ego Trish on YouTube in 2015. Now the man who admits he has never set goals in his life has written a book ‘Leave Me Alone: A Memoir of Me, Myself and Trish’ and is appearing at this year’s Byron Writers Festival. Blank had a chat with Christian about goal-setting, insects in Brisbane, Caramilk (of course), and Fuckoff crystals. “You’re wasting your time” laughs Christian referring to the goal-setters. “I think it’s great to have things to look forward to, but you set yourself up for disappointment if you don’t achieve the goal. “I’ve never really set goals, and the goals I have set never really came true, like wanting to be successful in radio. I’ve just started a business and I have staff. They

were like ‘Christian, you have to have goals in this business. We don’t know what we’re working towards.’ and I was like, fuck, having goals in that instance is really important. So I started to set them more so to create direction for other people. “But personal goals, that’s a really tough question. I started writing the book not having the goal in mind but more for therapy reasons. I just started making the videos, I didn’t necessarily want to become viral.” The business Christian is referring to is his shop which he opened a year ago thanks to COVID. “I was going to do the Melbourne Comedy Festival and that was cancelled. I was really relying on that money. I’d just bought a place and just moved to Brisbane. I started making some shitty resin jewellery and I had a gimmick behind it which was about crystals. Blank - issue #88 - July 2021

author. Some are X-rated and refer mostly to Christian’s escapades on Grindr, and some are ‘Stupid’ (the book’s word not mine). Inevitably the stupid questions come around to Caramilk. So would Caramilk be so popular if Christian hadn’t spruiked its deliciousness so much on social media? “I think it would. It’s so delicious. That’s why I made such a big deal out of it. I’d love to take credit, but it’s such a popular chocolate already in New Zealand.” While Christian has put Trish to bed for the moment (“she’s still there sitting on a foam head on the shelf”), he wants to do some more touring as well as a book tour later in the year. At the Byron Writers Festival he’ll be on a panel discussion with Kitty Flanagan and Judith Lucy. “What am I going to offer? I’m terrified,” he confides. “They are just two of my favourite women in the world. I’m going to be absolutely shitting myself.” Christian Hull will be appearing at Byron Writers Festival 6-8 August alongside a recently released guest list of luminaries including Julia Baird, Malcolm Turnbull, Archie Roach, Bryan Brown, Kate Grenville, The Betoota Advocate and many more. For more information and tickets go to byronwritersfestival.com.

Bleach* presents: Acoustic life of sheds Words by Natalie O’Driscoll - Photography by ArtWork Agency

Larmor premieres ocean inspired exhibition Words by Anthony Gebhardt

In July the Mint Art House on Burleigh Heads will play host to the inaugural exhibition of Gold Coast artist Larmor. Going by the name ‘The Sea Can Heal Us’, it will showcase an array of Larmor’s striking artworks, curated by fellow Gold Coast artist Dion Parker, with a common theme of being inspired by the ocean. We had a chat with the artist (Ez Larmor) to gain an insight into his background, his oceanic inspirations and the recent rediscovery of his other creative passion. Can you fill us in on your creative background and the style of art that typifies your work? I have been a creative person ever since I can remember. Art and music have been infused in my bones since early childhood, from bashing pots and pans and air guitar to drawing and painting Star Wars fighters. I moved up to the Coast from Sydney whilst on tour with a heavy metal band and basically didn't go home. Growing up around the beauty that is La Perouse on the peninsula of the Eastern suburbs of Sydney allowed me to be inspired by the ocean and coastline of that area.

My work is a mixture of line art illustrations and abstract cubist shapes that are my interpretation of the landscapes and wave forms that inspire me. You’ll shortly be premiering your solo art exhibition (‘The Sea Can Heal Us’) at the Mint Art House. What inspired you to put together your own exhibition and how long has it taken you to bring it to fruition? I have been thinking about a solo show for quite a while. It’s my first in fact. It’s taken a fair bit of energy to put my work out there. I’m excited and nervous at the same time.

I think on a personal level it’s a challenge I set myself a couple of years ago when I made the decision to leave the security of an amazing job in the surf industry to invest more time into my practice. What is it about surfing and the ocean that connects with you on such a deep and spiritual level? For me surfing is such an amazing gift we all have the opportunity of experiencing. I know for me, after some difficult years, surfing really did heal me. I started surfing late but have always had a special connection with the ocean. From my early days as a kid growing up around some of the best beaches and landscapes to living at Burleigh Heads. To think you have a chance to surf a wave at the end of its long journey before it ends has always intrigued me. There’s something spiritual in that surely? Sitting out the back in the water as the sun comes up is a meditative process for me. Do you still pursue your interest in music in any way these days? Music grabbed me back in High School in Sydney and I played professionally on the Gold Coast for many years. To be honest I poured everything I had into it and left the industry after losing my passion for it until recently finding that urge for guitar again. It’s been around 20 years since I picked up a guitar with any seriousness! Hard to believe sometimes. But I’m stoked to have found that connection with playing again. Sometimes in life we get lost and lose some of who we are, the great joy is its never completely lost and when the timing is right the path shows itself again. Larmor’s debut exhibition, ‘The Sea Shall Heal Us’, featuring original works inspired by the ocean, is premiering at the Mint Art House in Burleigh Heads on Saturday, 17 July from 6:30pm – 9:00pm, and will run until the following Saturday. Mint Art House is situated at 87 West Burleigh Road. Blank - issue #88 - July 2021

Audiences are invited to take a tour into the hinterland for a day of deep listening to four distinctly different performances in four iconic rural sheds. Big hART’s Acoustic Life of Sheds invites leading composers, musicians and artists to celebrate the architectural embodiments of rural culture as sound-shells by reimagining them for audiences in the landscape. The finished pieces are presented in a series of promenade concerts over a 20-kilometre journey along Gold Coast Springbrook Road. Hear four virtuosic artists across the four-hour tour perform new site-specific works, set among the lush, green foothills of the mountains, and experience another side of the Gold Coast. The featured artists in this unique 2021 event are:

MZAZA

Two-time Queensland Music Award winners MZAZA are committed to delivering BalkanFrench inspired compositions to music lovers around the world.

MICHAEL ASKILL

Dr Michael Askill (PhD – University of Queensland), is a percussionist, composer, musical director, musical ambassador and educator - an icon of Australian music, known and admired for his enduring contribution to the Australian contemporary music landscape and his original blending of Asian and Western sounds.

ANDREW TUTTLE

A well-kept secret of the Australian underground scene, the instrumental music of composer, improviser and collaborator Andrew Tuttle floats between ambient, cosmic country and folk, inhabiting a place all its own.

CHRISTINE JOHNSTON

Christine Johnston combines vocal performance and music with her visual arts background in creating stand out work. Known for her particular bent on humour, dramatic visual style and bird-calls, she has created a diverse range of works nationally and internationally. Acoustic life of sheds runs throughout various locations in Mudgeeraba on 22 August as part of Bleach* Festival 2021. Picnic boxes are available to pre-order with your ticket and can be purchased at bleachfestival.com.au.

Art Lovers Celebrates NAIDOC Week

SWELL springs onto the Gold Coast

Words by Natalie O’Driscoll

Words by Natalie O’Driscoll - Photography by Clyde Yee

SWELL Sculpture Festival (SWELL) is rolling onto the shores of Currumbin Beach and popping-up across the City of Gold Coast this Spring. SWELL is Queensland’s largest outdoor sculpture festival. In 2021 the flagship event will present up to 70 Australian and international sculptural artworks created by over 145 artists to captivate the hearts and minds of a large and diverse audience of visitors set between two iconic rock formations along the Gold Coast's Currumbin Beach. This free and family-friendly outdoor gallery has provided Gold Coast residents and visitors with a spectacular and thought-provoking visual feast for the last 18 years, and this, its nineteenth year, is set to be bigger and better than ever. In 2021, the main Currumbin exhibition will be complemented by SWELL Kids Elements, an interactive sculpture park for families to enjoy, plus performance art, outdoor cinema, sculpture workshops and masterclasses, outdoor kids’ library, guided sculpture walks, artists talks and panels, private soirees and more. It’s not just Currumbin Beach that will reap the cultural benefits, either. Across the City of Gold Coast, SWELL will connect people, art and place by poppingup exhibitions, installations and activations in public places and existing creative spaces include SWELL Fringe and Smalls Gallery at Dust Temple, westerlySWELL at Mudgeeraba, easterlySWELL at Chevron Island and northerlySWELL at Helensvale, as well as an exquisite masterclass at The Valley Estate.

SWELL Sculpture Festival Executive Director Dee Steinfort encourages everyone to come and see for themselves; to explore their own unique experience at the festival. “Visitors are encouraged to engage with sculptural works that tell stories and make statements concerning the past, present and future – inspiring ideas and commentary while challenging and stimulating the imagination,” she says. “To allow wonderment, critique and a full range of opinions – evoking conversations between strangers, friends and family – the festival is a feast for the senses.” All established and emerging artists in the main exhibition along Currumbin Beach will vie for awards totalling over $26,500 with a coveted major award of $15,000 cash. In addition to the awards, SWELL offers artists unparalleled opportunities such as media profiles, the chance to establish new industry contacts, professional development, and the potential to sell and commission works. In 2021 SWELL is proud to support artists with over $75,000 worth of artist subsidies. Gold Coast artists will shine a bright light throughout the exhibition, with 18 of the 70 sculptures created by 29 Gold Coast artists. SWELL comes to the Gold Coast this Spring, with the FREE outdoor gallery at Currumbin Beach, running from 10 to 19 September, and the popup exhibitions and other exciting programming running across the City of Gold Coast from 1 to 19 September 2021. Visit swellsculpture.com.au for more.

A month-long exhibition of Indigenous Art will impress, educate and inspire, when Art Lovers Australia throws open its doors to welcome ‘NAIDOC - Heal Country’, a show comprised of the stunning works of artists Brad Tucker, Bianca Gardiner, Grace Brown, Kate Constantine, Lionel Phillips, Jason Passfield and Cara Shields. The NAIDOC 2021 theme ‘Heal Country’, calls for all of us to continue to seek greater protections for our lands, our waters, our sacred sites and our cultural heritage from exploitation, desecration, and destruction, and the works of the artists in the show are all inspired by this theme. Brad Tucker has taken a fascinating pathway to traditional Indigenous painting. A lifelong artist, Brad grew up drawing with his grandfather. 18 months ago, his now-11 year old daughter came home from school wanting to know about the traditional symbols and painting styles of her ancestors. Brad picked up a paintbrush to show her and has never looked back, quickly becoming a full time professional painter. “As soon as I painted something, someone would buy it,” Brad laughs in disbelief. “I feel grateful that I can paint and our whole country loves it, they just receive it, they want it in their house - our culture - I feel really passionate about that. “And really it’s all of our culture, it’s not just mine. I want everyone to embrace that as one, not just as a separate identity. I feel that’s a big part of healing and going forward.” Brad is working on a swathe of originals for the exhibition, which will only be available through Art Lovers Australia. He says his style is informed by his own personal connection to country rather than ancestral stories, so it should definitely

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resonate with people who are as passionate as he is about the unique and breathtaking landscapes of our Bundjalung country. “How I think about our country is how I paint, so I try not to even read into stories from the past and paint those, that’s not my thing. I like to paint about the landscape and sand and shells, and places like Mount Warning.” In addition to the ‘NAIDOC – Heal Country’ exhibition, Art Lovers Australia will also be running a special Yugambeh Weaving workshop on 17 July. Run by traditional custodian Erica Eurell, the workshop will invite participants to step into Indigenous culture and have yarn, connect with one another and country, all while creating a unique woven basket utilising traditional techniques. “I have a passion for connecting with community so my knowledge in culture has grown and thus I help others within the wider community develop an increased understanding and respect for the culture,” says Erica. “I hope to create a space where the Indigenous Arts of all types can be put on show to the world.” NAIDOC 2021 invites Australians to embrace First Nations’ cultural knowledge and understanding of Country as part of Australia's national heritage and equally respect the culture and values of Aboriginal peoples and Torres Strait Islanders as they do the cultures and values of all Australians. ‘NAIDOC – Heal Country’ opens on Saturday 10 July at 6pm, and the Yugambeh Weaving workshop takes place on Saturday 17 July. Places for both are limited. Visit Eventbrite to book your tickets. More art can be found at artloversaustralia.com.au.

HOTA goes underground in July Music, theatre, art, film, and even a dance party or two – HOTA UNDERGROUND is all about big ideas, brave artists, shared moments and spaces in-between, from 15-17 July. Words by Natalie O’Driscoll

Image by Shiya Lu

HOTA’s UNDERGROUND is the City’s newest art festival, featuring three nights of performance in the precinct’s most intimate venues including the newly re-invented Old Gallery spaces (Studio 1 and Studio 2), the Basement, Theatre 2, HOTA Central Foyer and of course, a few moments of surprise throughout our public spaces. And making the most of HOTA’s nooks and crannies, you’ll be able to stop by the UNDERGROUND Pop-Up Bar in the heart of HOTA Central during the three nights – your space to socialise with friends, artists, and enjoy a glass of wine, or a classic craft beer. The best part? You can curate your own Festival itinerary. Buy your first ticket to any UNDERGROUND event for $20. Then add on any further events for just $10 each. Here’s what’s on offer during the event:

HOVER | By Shaun Parker & Company

Epic outdoor Hoverboard performances inspired by street dance, circus, and classic boy band hits. Free event.

In the Arms of Morpheus | By ARC Circus

Hopeful and high energy, where acrobatics, dance, magic and comedy tell the story of one person’s experience with isolation, loneliness, and the impacts of an endless news cycle.

MUTHAMUDUSA | By Theatre of Thunder

A new immersive performanceinstallation work specially created for HOTA by the Theatre of

Thunder, featuring a delirious palpating body, ruptured costumes and devastating sonic atmospherics.

colours and textures are pulled out of thin air with hypnotic pulsing beats.

TEETERING | From The Edge to The Underground

Fempress Love Bubble | Curated By Hannah Brontë

An artpunk travel guide through a lens of activism and protest, these are short films that pack a punch, curated by Gold Coast Film Festival. Free for UNDERGROUND ticket holders.

White Rabbit Red Rabbit | By Nassim Soleimanpour

No rehearsals. No director. A solo actor. A sealed script. This is a theatrical experiment you won’t want to miss – we’re all in this together. Stellar cast to be announced.

Alter Ego | Presented by Arcadia

Arcadia, South-East Queensland’s beloved festival blending visual art and electronica, presents a sonic extension of their program showcasing two stellar acts – Squidgenini and Veople.

Leave Me Alone: In Conversation with Christian Hull & Emmylou MacCarthy

In this intimate conversation, comedian, writer, podcaster and content creator Christian Hull will expand on his hilarious no-filter memoir to discuss life working in radio, his chaotic family life, and how he built his ‘F*** Off ’ empire – and he’ll share stories that he wasn’t allowed to publish, just for HOTA audiences.

Trigger Happy ‘Visualised’ | By Alon Ilsar

A vivid ride through an audiovisual wonderland, where shapes,

Part dance club, part installation, all celebration. We’re all about the love so dance, sweat, laugh and feel good to the heavy basslines of hip hop and music. Featuring Beckah Amani, DJ Black Amex and LVL.

Private Lives | Curated by Supercell: Festival of Contemporary Dance

Seven dancers. Seven confessions. Seven private moments shared with strangers, scored by a live DJ in the re-invented Gallery space at HOTA Central, now known as Studio 2.

DISRUPTORS IN RESIDENCE 2021: A Space Odyssey | The Farm’s Greenhouse

Nine teenagers challenge and disrupt HOTA’s shared spaces as we all (literally and metaphorically) try to navigate a way forward together. More than just a bag of hormones, The Greenhousers are getting a name for themselves as a creative agitative force, having previously been engaged as HOTA’s Disruptors in Residence in 2019. Keep an eye out – the Disruptors in Residence may appear at any time throughout the evening. HOTA UNDERGROUND runs over three nights, from 15 to 17 July. Times and bookings are over at hota.com.au. Blank - issue #88 - July 2021

SPLENDOUR XR: World First Immersive Virtual Music Festival Words by Natalie O’Driscoll

Splendour in the Grass has just blown the country’s collective mind with the announcement of Splendour XR, a bold and world first extended reality edition of the Aussie festival favourite. It’s online, priced to be affordable and it’s definitely unreal. Always the innovators, when Covid pulled the plug on live music around the world, team Splendour set to work and is now preparing to flick the switch on a world first online experience, unlike anything you’ve seen to date, that will take Splendour in the Grass to audiences around the globe.

boundaries into the unknown will perform across Splendour XR’s stages alongside the hottest Australian acts of the moment. Khalid, The Killers, Chvrches, Charli XCX, Denzel Curry, Vance Joy, Duke Dumont and Tash Sultana are just a tiny handful of the superstars who will be crossing the virtual stage for this unique event. Forget avatars, Splendour XR is bringing you the real deal, your favourite artists performing never-before-seen live sets that have been created especially for this global online event.

Splendour XR combines technology, art and over 50 of your favourite music artists, in a true virtual Splendour in the Grass festival experience rolled out over two days.

Punters can dive into Splendour XR from around the $20 mark on the comfort of their couch and watch with family and friends from across the globe or purchase an XR Party Pack and create their own Splendour XR house party.

Indie rock royalty, critically acclaimed and genre defying singer-songwriters, viral pop sensations, hip-hop heroes and sought after collaborators, pioneering dance producers and artists who push way beyond

Splendour XR will hit your screen of choice over Saturday 24 and Sunday 25 July, and is available on mobile, tablet, browser, desktop and VR. Visit splendourxr.com for full lineup and tix.

Gold Coast gets a Women’s Surf Festival Brand new event the Women’s Surf Festival will celebrate surf, lifestyle and sustainability on the Gold Coast this July. Words by Natalie O’Driscoll

This first-of-its-kind-on-theGold-Coast event will include a full programme that brings the wider surfing community under one umbrella for the first time, and will feature some of Australia’s leading surfing women and specialists bought together to share, inspire and entertain at Queen Elizabeth Park in Coolangatta. With a surfeit of names in women’s surfing on board including Kirra Molnar, Rachel Tilly, Belen FullerKimble, Lauren Hill, Lucy Small, Robyn Harvey and more, the Women’s Surf Festival will present a range of speakers and events to inspire over the course of the two day celebration. Festival Director Selena Morgan gave us the lowdown ahead of the exciting new festival. “The Womens Surf Festival is all about celebrating women who love to surf and the lifestyle it provides,” she explains. “I have seen and attended many surf competitions, but there wasn’t an event that provided women the opportunity to learn, share and be inspired through a festival experience. “For those who are relatively new to the surfing world, events where big names dominate the programme and only half of the vocabulary is familiar can feel intimidating and exclusive. However, underpinning everything at the WSF is the value of community. “Simply, we’re bringing an amazing community of girls and women together to celebrate a lifestyle and sport in a positive and supportive environment. The vibe of the festival is welcoming

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and inclusive, bringing the Gold Coast community together regardless of experience or knowledge. As the first Women’s Surf Festival, we see this as a platform that will only grow.” The response so far has been enthusiastic, says Selena. “We’ve had such as a positive response from local surfing specialists and women surfing legends who have said it’s fantastic for someone to finally provide a platform and environment to bring everyone together to celebrate women’s surfing.” Organisers say the majority of attendees at the previous festivals have been representative of all age groups and experience levels, and have been excited with the opportunity to connect with professionals to improve their surfing technique, learn specifics around nutrition, business, training and mindset, as well as being entertained by the stories from women who have experienced the world of competitive surfing and more. “In addition, from a lifestyle perspective, ocean photography, art and literature are also covered, with a number of local sustainable surf brands also excited to join in the festivities,” Selena tells us. Sustainability is also a strong feature of the event. “We all have a part to play in sustainability and preserving ocean life, and we want to share some of the ways we can learn, get involved and make better decisions with the products we buy and use,” Selena shares. “Sustainability underlies the foundation of the festival, from

the brands and products that will be featured at the festival, including leading surf wear brands Inner Relm and Salt Gypsy, our instructors who will share their views for conservation, through to joining up with Gold Coast Beaches Programme who will be running a dune planting session.” Professional surfer Rachel Tilly is looking forward to her appearance at the event. “The Womens Surf Festival will be a great weekend that has all these influential women of the surf industry together in one place! It’s going to be a weekend of celebrating and learning a lot,” she says. “I’ll be talking on a panel alongside Belén Fuller, Kirra Molnar and Lucy Small on Saturday morning, then staying of the weekend to listen to everyone else, with a few surfs in between. I’m excited to meet new people and be included in an event that supports and progresses women’s surfing.” Surfing workshops and speaker series will include surfing etiquette, performance, wellness, nutrition, and lifestyle; Surfing lessons covering ocean safety, confidence, technical moves, and getting competition ready; Beach yoga, beach clean-ups and dune planting; Surf wear, surfboards and lifestyle market place (local brands all with a sustainable focus). Tickets are now available, with limited spaces at each event. The Women’s Surf Festival will take place on 10-11 July 2021 at Queen Elizabeth Park, Coolangatta, Gold Coast. Visit womenssurffestival.com for tickets and program.

Som Tam Gai

Bun Lee Bar

2375 Gold Coast Highway, Mermaid Beach | Ph: 0434 034 627

2/ 26 James Street, Burleigh Heads | Ph: 0401426574

Words and photograph by Marj Osborne - follow Marj @foodgoldcoast

If you have travelled through Asia, the eponymous Som Tam Gai (named after Green Papaya Salad with chicken) will bring back fond memories of Asian street food. During COVID, founder Dasche Goodwin returned home to the Gold Coast from his job at a fine dining Thai restaurant in Finland to find that jobs were nonexistent. Instead, he decided to open his own restaurant, engaging business partners/ chefs Garry Velez and Carlos De Valence to join him. To Som Tam Gai, Dasche has brought the philosophy and skills he gained during his time with Tomi Björck (Finland’s most celebrated chef) at Farang, Helsinki. From their travels through Asia, Garry and Carlos were both really interested in the concept of a casual restaurant focussing on Southeast Asian street food. Opening Som Tam Gai on one side of the yurt-like building in front of Poke Poke, Mermaid Beach, the trio of chefs spend long hours each day preparing food from scratch in the kitchen. It’s a very casual restaurant, diners spread around the small dining space and out into an alfresco area that’s perfect at lunchtime and during warmer months. But the focus really is the food. Som Tam Gai’s dishes all bring the bold, authentic flavours of Thailand, Vietnam, Malaysia and Indonesia to the table. It’s food made to be shared, a great idea anyway as you will not want to miss out on anything. Like true street food, the dishes are inexpensive ($30 or less, with

many plates in the teens). Skewers, snacks, curries and wok-flashed, we begin by choosing a few dishes and go from there. Alternatively, a short or long banquet will bring you a feast of the chefs’ choice ($49 - $59pp). Our skewers of Crying Tiger beef pack a punch, especially with the addition of the side of chilli paste. Wrapping the beef in baby cos leaves adds opposing textures, so favoured in street food dishes. Turmeric tiger prawns laced with turmeric, grilled pineapple and herbs boast freshness and flavour. We find it impossible not to lick our fingers as we eat, not wanting to waste a drop of sauce. Asian greens never tasted as good as this, topped with a hat of crispy enoki for balance and crunch. But it’s the Thai red duck curry with lychees that’s an epiphany. After years of settling for less, this is the depth of flavour we long for, the texture of the curry speaking of seeds and spices ground to paste by hand, and enough punch to bring the full explosion of Thai street flavour to our palates. Superb! So, what drinks would we pair with this food? Beer of course, and though good wine is available, a Lychee Martini would go well with curry, or maybe even a Chilli Margarita. We may not be sweating it out in hot Thai nights right now, but Som Tam Gai is the closest we’ve come to the real flavours of Asian street food in a long time, all without going far or busting out too many bucks. What a treasure! We can’t wait to go back and dine there again.

Can you remember when the epitome of a great healthy lunch was a salad sandwich? It was made to order from the deli bar of corner stores, where stainless steel containers of lettuce, tomato, cucumber and beetroot sat waiting in readiness for the next order. How dining times have changed! Our lunch choices now include a plethora of world flavours. In an arena where options need to cater for a variety of food preferences, though, the salad sandwich bar concept is still a sound one. It’s a thought that struck Lindsay Green. After 12 years in the organic food industry, she made the decision to open up her own takeaway shop in her ‘favourite street in the country’, James Street, Burleigh Heads. Reminiscing about her ‘salad sandwich bar’ experiences, why not give diners a similar choice of ingredients in Vietnamese food, particularly banh mi, she thought. With pastel-coloured banquettes as pretty as an ice cream shop, the Bun Lee Bar opened, bringing the flavours of Vietnam out of a traditional linoleum-lined shop into the modern age, the first modern banh mi ‘bar’ to hit our shores. Employing Vietnamese chef Linda to max out on flavour authenticity, the menu is centred around banh mi, the pâté, pork and veg-filled rolls prolific throughout Vietnam. While Bun Lee Bar’s baguette rolls are not quite crisp enough to pierce the roof of your mouth, there are other advantages to their product.

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Firstly, there is no compunction to go traditional (although their traditional version is a mighty tasty one!) Instead, the modern diner is well catered for. Along with the freshest salad, herbs and tasty sauces, you can have a choice of fillings including pâté, pork (of course), crispy pork belly, chicken, beef, tofu (which is vegan), and gluten-free bread, making Bun Lee probably the only place in Australia where Fodmap and vegan diners can enjoy banh mi. Other menu choices include bao, rice paper rolls – both regular and low carb, and vermicelli salad (bun). The cold pressed juices and Nitro cold brew on tap are great options to wash down that crunchy roll. Talking authentic, for decades travel has been a rite of passage. Generations set off to discover Europe and Asia, Vietnam being high on the list of ‘must do’ locations to visit. Yet here we are with a generation of youth who have not yet travelled due to Covid. It’s likely that, in the very near future, they will not see steaming pots of pho boiling on sidewalk stalls in Hanoi, not encounter markets where meals are sold in three-cornered plastic bags, nor experience vendors selling their wares from boats in the Mekong Delta. Their closest experience to Vietnam during the next few years may well be at Bun Lee Bar. Here, their lunch on the run will be fast, fresh, affordable, sustainable, clean, healthy and tasty. As it turns out, that’s not such a bad alternative at all!

ELEEA Releases Moving New Single, I’d Beg Words by Anthony Gebhardt

Vibrant local indigenous songstress ELEEA has certainly not let the challenges of staying creative and productive in the midst of a pandemic reign in her momentum. Having released her Spanish inspired, sassy pop single, ‘Red Wine’ barely one month ago, she’s quickly followed it up with a heartfelt new number ‘I’d Beg’. Further showcasing her emotive storytelling and dynamic vocals, the new single has actually had somewhat of a lengthy gestation period, as ELEEA explains.

“I’d Beg is a song that has evolved with me over the years. I wrote it back in 2016 during a crazy, creative time, then almost forgot about it. It sounded a bit different then though, with a few lyrical variations that changed the meaning completely. “As I was flipping through my old songbooks during isolation last year, I came across it again and absentmindedly posted a short video on my Instagram. It’s quite tricky to play on the guitar, so I rarely ever played this song, but it got a surprisingly strong reaction online, which urged me to revisit it. “I sent my demo through to my producer, Brad Hosking (Amy Shark, Ella Fence), who also said he heard a lot of potential in it. Working with a new producer on a new project allowed me to play with my sound,

MEET GEORGIA GRAE

and I’m really excited about where we’ve landed with this single. “Thematically, ‘I’d Beg’ is a bit of a continuation from Red Wine, focusing on the very end of a relationship when one person has made their mind up and the other is powerless to change their mind or the situation.” Following on from the release of ‘I’d Beg’, ELEEA has got plenty to keep her busy for the remainder of 2021, as she explains. “I was lucky to receive a Regional Arts Development Fund grant at the beginning of the year, which has really propelled the recording of my next releases and the creation of all the visual assets, meaning the next 12 months is going to be very exciting! “This year has already seen my songs in the finals of the Queensland Music Awards and APRA Professional Development Awards (along with Jeremy Marou, Baker Boy and Robbie Miller), as well as included in AMRAP First Sounds, which sees Indigenous artists’ music featured on community radio stations all over Australia. “Coming up, I’m really looking forward to more band and festival performances, including headlining Brisbane’s Junk Bar for the launch show for I’d Beg on 30 July, followed by performances at Hidden Lanes Festival on 14 August, and some other festivals that are soon to be announced.” ELEEA’s moving new single, ‘I’d Beg’, is released on 2 July. For a more in indepth interview, where she discusses the challenges of realigning her musical trajectory in the face of the pandemic, head over to the Blank Street Press website.

Born in the small town of Copmanhurst in the Northern Rivers of NSW, Georgia is a talented 21-year-old singer and guitarist in her second year at Southern Cross University Lismore, studying a Bachelor of Contemporary Music. Unfortunately, she was a victim of having all her first gigs cancelled thanks to COVID but she didn’t let that stop her. A five-track EP is on the way which Garrett Kato – the vocal engineer behind Tones And I’s ‘Dance Monkey’ – helped produce. You can tell Georgia knows her stuff; when we asked what her favourite cover song is to perform, she steered away from the usual Tracy Chapman. Georgia’s favourite is ‘Into The Wild’ by Lucy Rose because it works beautifully with vocals and guitar. Here’s how the rest of our conversation went. How did it all start for you? My primary school teacher in Year Six got us all to play music, and at the end of the year I ended up buying a really cheap guitar off eBay. I sat the guitar in my room so I would force myself to play and then I never stopped. When did you know that you were made for the music industry? I actually had heaps of people from primary school tell me how terrible I was all the time... I feel like that’s just what people do when you’re young. Then when I got to high school, I was playing guitar in the school band and started singing a little bit and my friend said, “wow, your voice is so good!” I was like, wait whaaat?!

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How have your studies at Southern Cross University helped you advance in your career? I was really just guessing how it works before Southern Cross. It’s really good to know all the theory behind it and learn from my lecturers, who are all professionals in the industry and have some great contacts. Who is your musical inspiration? It’s funny, all of my favourite musicians I could go see tomorrow. They pretty much all live around Byron and are buskers. I LOVE Kim Churchill and Ziggy Alberts. Ah yes Ziggy Alberts! Your producer Garrett Kato has worked with him a lot. How did you manage to get in touch with Garrett? I emailed him years ago and didn’t hear back, and then later at Southern Cross University, I recorded some demos to make sure I had something to show. Once I sent an email with a demo, I got an email back from his manager that same week! The next month I was in the studio with him, it was very surreal! Southern Cross University is a proud sponsor of this year’s Gold Coast Music Awards. IMAGE: Georgia on stage in the Studio One29 performance space on Lismore campus.

The Wayward Suns Go Yeah Nah With Vibrant New Single Words by Anthony Gebhardt

Musical cosmic-ologists The Wayward Suns are one of the Gold Coasts’ most dynamic and inventive indie-roots outfits, concocting a uniquely vibrant rap-blues-soul amalgamation of intoxicating proportions. Case in point is their euphoric new number, ‘Yeah Nah’, an anthemic ear worm with a rousingly good-time gangchant of a chorus guaranteed to swell your heart and crack a smile on your dial. Be sure to check out our review of the track as part of the July edition of the magazine. To support the release of the single, the band will shortly be treading the boards for a run of live performances, including a sure to be rapturously received slot at the Miami Marketta on July 17, where they’ll be performing together with a 26-piece youth choir! To mark the occasion of their cracking new track and pending shows, we recently got the yeah-nah lowdown from Wayward-legend Kane Fogarty (aka Instinct The Lyricist, the band’s MC/DJ). Can you put us in the picture on the inspiration behind your killer new track, ‘Yeah Nah’ and how it came together? Thanks! It's been fun bringing this track to life. It started as a fireside chorus after a deep conversation surrounding a play on the words "Yeah nah", which often echoes throughout our community. The melody actually came on a workday after a labourer answered "yeah nah" to a question I'd asked. In the following days, after jamming with a couple of the boys, the structure fell into place around an acoustic freestyle we were having, which became the bones of the track that lays before us. Did we like it? Yeah over nah for sure haha!

Did you record any other new material at the same time that you were working on ‘Yeah Nah’? And can we expect to see a new album or EP on the horizon in 2021?

swiftly they jumped right on board and we're ready to hit the stage with 26 talented youth already singing multi layered harmonies like a bunch of little angels!

Yeah nah we did actually – haha sorry! The phrase is so versatile. At the same time as organising a film clip and recording ‘Yeah Nah’ we've been on the grind and also squeezed out another new track called ‘Mountain To Move’. It'll be released exclusively on the B side of a rare translucent coloured 7 inch vinyl as a double release, available for all the beautiful Wayward fans from 16 July. ‘Yeah Nah’ will also be released digitally on all forums.

Who else have you got onboard for these shows?

Your music displays a lot of depth and diversity and it can’t be easy bringing all of the elements of your sound together in a catchy and harmonious way. As a creative collective how do you go about channelling the multifaceted approach you display in your songcraft? Like I was told as a younger human, K. I. S. S. - Keep it simple stupid haha! You need a simple foundation to build off. Put down the bones, then add the muscles and nerves and bring it to life by following how it feels. More than just thinking about it, we feel it out. And if we feel it, chances are, hopefully most people will too. To support the new single you’ve also lined up a bunch of live dates taking in Queensland and NSW. And I see that you’ve got the Gold Coast Youth Choir onboard for the Marketta show! Was this undertaken to bring to life the rousing chorus of ‘Yeah Nah’? Yes! We can't wait for these shows coming up. Big shout out to Anthony and the amazingly talented youth of the Gold Coast Choir. It was just a simple reach out, and Blank - issue #88 - July 2021

For these shows we’ll have the humbling support of ‘East Ghoast’, a Gold Coast underground hip-hop group consisting of the members Scopes (Kale Driscoll), Elixir (Eli Erueti) and Slowth (Aaron Griffin). Their specialty is beaming ‘Conscious Rap’ to the collective, co-constructing tight tracks while delivering thought provoking and positive messages. Expect to be moved through their storytelling and intricate lyricism, as well as getting down and vibing to some catchy, coastal East Ghoast beats. Also supporting the Wayward fam is our beloved brother in artistry, The Lyrical, who’ll be joining our South East Queensland shows with his roots, reggae and hip-hop flavours and commanding vocal presence that will leave you wanting more every time. We’ve also got our newest Wayward addition, Jay, on second electric guitar, straight outta the Caribbean, with tasty complimentary feels and skills for dayz - it’s going to be epic! The Wayward Suns rousing new single, ‘Yeah Nah’, is out on 16 July via all major streaming platforms. And keep an eye out for the upcoming translucent red 7 inch vinyl release, which will be available from 17 July (coinciding with the second drop of Record Store Day 2021) via the bands website and at Beatniks Records in Broadbeach. Their upcoming local show at Miami Marketta is also happening on 17 July, where they’ll be supported by The Lyrical and East Ghoast and accompanied by the Gold Coast Youth Choir.

Faces of the Gold Coast Celebrating our people because people matter

New initiative defends the unburnt Words by Natalie O’Driscoll

Defending the Unburnt is a new flagship partnership between Environmental Defenders Office and WWFAustralia, designed to build legal defences for some of Australia’s most vulnerable ecosystems. The catalyst for the new project was the devastating 201920 bushfires, during which 14 million hectares were burned and an estimated three billion native animals were impacted. The full scale of the destruction was detailed in a pivotal new report from WWF, identifying six priority areas along Australia’s East Coast in need of immediate protection. These are the Unburnt Six – regions encompassing crucial ecosystems, habitats and safehavens for some of Australia’s most vulnerable wildlife. The Unburnt Six comprises of:

Border Ranges

Spanning the border between Queensland and New South Wales, this priority area includes threatened ecosystems such as the endangered Upland Wetlands of the new England Tablelands as well as critically endangered lowland rainforest regions.

eucalypt forest and woodland areas, and is a vital habitat for the grey-headed flying fox and the superb lyrebird.

South Coast

Meet René (@renelefeuvre), a 23-year-old musician with heart, giving his all. You know musical magic when you feel it right? We were lucky to get a sneak preview of his soon to be released single 'Euphoria' and it's amazing. Truly! He shared his story with us one late afternoon. ___

Gippsland-Eden

"I've been busking for a while but I'm now doing gigs all over the coast. I'm prepared to put in the creative hard work. It takes a lot of dedication but I'm up for it.

A diverse region spanning 400,000 hectares of coastline south of Sydney, this priority area is a key habitat for the spotted-tail quoll, the southern brown bandicoot and the giant burrowing frog. It contains almost 300,000 hectares of critically endangered ecosystems. The Gippsland-Eden priority area encompasses critically-endangered grassland, woodland and rainforest ecosystems, and is home to vulnerable species such as the platypus, the greater glider and the long-footed potoroo. Spearheaded by the EDO’s dedicated Biodiversity Team, in collaboration with WWF-Australia, Defending the Unburnt will deploy a range of legal strategies, tools and services to protect what remains. Through Defending the Unburnt, a team of Biodiversity law experts – led by Managing Lawyer Andrew Kwan and Senior Solicitor Cerin Loane – are using a full suite of legal tools to strengthen these critical ecosystems.

Nymboida

The project is pushing for greater legal protection for the Unburnt Six and their wildlife through new innovative approaches, by advocating for stronger laws, policies and processes that properly respond to the impact of the 2019-20 bushfires and with greater scrutiny of native forest operations.

North Coast

They are also working on-the-ground and online with local communities, giving them the legal support they need to protect these areas and the animals that call them home, and developing digital legal resources to empower Australians everywhere in the protection of the areas and wildlife they love.

Yengo-Wollemi

Visit the Environmental Defenders Office at edo.org.au to find out more about the Defending the Unburnt initiative and see how you can help.

The Nymboida priority area is situated in the Northern Rivers of New South Wales, including almost 5000 hectares of the critically endangered New England Peppermint Grassy Woodlands ecosystem. Surrounding Port Macquarie, The North Coast priority area is a crucial habitat for koalas and contains almost 250,000 hectares of the critically endangered lowland rainforest of subtropical Australia ecosystem. Almost 500,000 hectares of the Yengo-Wollemi priority area was burned over the course of the devastating 2019-2020 bushfire season. This region includes critically endangered

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Last year was tough when my car got stolen with all my music gear in the back. It was devastating. My friends blew me away by starting a go fund me page and Support Ac” gave me a grant so I was able to buy my first Fenech guitar. I was blown away by the support and have never looked back. I'm pretty proud of my new single. It was definitely the support of my friends who were the inspiration for this track. I just really value the power of lyrics. I love that I can put my experience into an art form and people can relate to that. Music is basically an emotion and so I create the notes and get a feel for its expression. The lyrics then tend to fall into place after that. It's capturing that emotion that's powerful for me, to be real and authentic".” ___ Thanks René. There's star quality determination behind those eyes and we sense the passion with every note. Creatives I admire you! Keep going. Let's keep capturing emotion. Keep crafting and designing and filming and writing and singing and painting and weaving and composing and dancing and photographing and storytelling. We need the beauty of creation. Let's keep collaborating. Let's add it altogether and feel the magic of connection in this town of ours. I genuinely hope we keep taking the risks. Words by Anne Janelle.

Yo ho ho: Mo’s host Lagerstein’s pirate metal mayhem Words by Samantha Morris

Lagerstein violinist and keytarist Joel Orford, AKA Mother Junkst is animated when we speak on the phone. The band’s just decided to expand their jam room and there’s a new mixing desk to play with as well as a hole in the wall with leads running through to the new office space next door. The award-winning pirate metal outfit has had its international touring wings clipped thanks to COVID and so more time at home means more jams and with seven people in the band that means more room is essential. Expanded office and jam space isn’t the only impact COVID has wrought on the band. Cancelled and postponed shows mean the band has had to innovate. “We’re trying to get creative,” Joel tells me. “I feel like the one thing we’ve learned this year is that the Company we built is reliant on live shows and touring. That is why we’re renovating the room,” he said, hinting at props and full sets aplenty, as you’d expect from a band that prioritises visual pleasure alongside sonic pleasantries. From jamming sea shanties in the Czech Republic to performing at festivals in front of tens of thousands of people, Lagerstein have played all over the world. Wacken in 2019 is a particular highlight. “It was the last one,” Joel said. “They had to cancel this year. It was special because it’d been a real dream and I’d been watching the festival since I was 16 so to get there

was great. But… it was very stressful. It was so big and there were so many people.” “We also played Aaargh Festival in Germany. It was more of a black metal kinda pagan event and we had this triple festival weekend and had to go Friday, Saturday, Sunday - three festivals in three countries.” “We got there in the afternoon, we were the last band after headliner and we didn’t know what that set would be like. The headliner was this intense grindcore band and it felt like we came on and got the headliner energy show. It was great. The owners came on stage and we had three encores.” “It’s weird because you rock up, have this huge party vibe and then just walk away.” And while the live music highlights are obviously significant, Joel says his personal highlights are more about the camaraderie. “Learning about music and the industry and being able to take control of an amazing adventure with our best friends and to create a Company together and to do festivals and create music from our hearts and have it all coming together with fans all over the world, and to be hungry every day to be better… that’s the real highlight,” he said. With three studio albums and a liverecorded album and DVD under their belt, Lagerstein are equal parts mischievous

and assiduous. And COVID hasn’t meant a battening down of hatches, but rather an exploration of new horizons. “In keeping in line with Lagerstein being pirates, we’re experimenting with how we’re going to release music in the future,” Joel said. “And step away from albums, focus on more content more often.” And for fans, that means more songs, more regularly.

“Now we’re thinking about how we can serve our fans. They want to hear from us more regularly and get more out of the songs.”

with the first ever on-stage shoey at a Gold Coast Music Awards event. “What I enjoyed so much about [the Gold Coast Music award] is that it’s a nice feeling to get a reminder that we’re appreciated at home. With Australian metal and the Lagerstein journey it’s like we have to prove ourselves overseas to get respect at home. Lots of Australians feel that. We’ve done so much work OS that the recognition is really nice, it’s something friends and family could connect with a bit more.” Which brings us to the band’s next live show which is the catalyst for this whole conversation. Lagerstein will hit Mo’s Desert Clubhouse with Virtues (BNE) and Dirty Brew (Gold Coast) in support.

“Lagerstein was born as a family band and I really feel like that’s what our fans are like. A big family and a community of people who you can count on, but who don’t mind being silly and laughing at themselves.”

“I’ve been watching Mo’s grow and it’s been a bit of a journey and it seems to have a big of magic about the place. I’m really looking forward to getting down and experience that ourselves.”

“We want to be the best band to be a fan of,” Joel said, explaining that it was written as a major goal and stuck on the wall in their band room.

And with 22 countries under their belts, you know that this 100-person show is going to be one for the books.

And it’s not just Lagerstein fans that appreciate their artistry. Last year, the Gold Coast music industry also lavished praise on the band, who took out the People’s Choice Award, and responded in kind

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Lagerstein + Virtues + Dirty Brew | Mo’s Desert Clubhouse | 8 August 2021. Doors 7.00pm. Tickets tinyurl.com/ ThirstyNightAtMos. To read the full interview, visit blankgc.com.au.

Saint Lane Is On Top Of His Game

We All Drive’s Riffy Retrospective

Bianca Power’s smooth new groove

Athena Joy’s Escapist Journey

Samskara Rad Keeps Things Weird

Local Safari Continue To Impress

Salt and Steel Step Outside The Box

Lo-Fi Fun With The Goldhearts

Jason McGregor’s Slick Country Co-write

Geniie Boy Live Up To The Hype

Local rap artist Saint Lane’s everevolving style and growing persona within the Australian music scene is a joy to watch. His latest single ‘Toothbrush’ is led by a charming guitar progression backed by lowfi beats and his signature freeflowing, direct vocal flow. Inspired by a story told by an Uber driver then penned directly after arriving at the studio, the track is oozing with the kind of confidence and creative energy typical of an artist who has mastered their craft.

Local Safari are continuing to impress us with yet another excellent single this month ‘Felicity’. Bringing more of the classic indie rock that band are known for, ’Felicity’ hits a little harder than previous releases featuring a driving rhythm section, glistening guitars and a banger of a chorus melody. Drawing influence from fellow Gold Coast bands, Local Safari mix the pop vocals of Ivey with the nostalgic rock vibes of Eliza and the Delusionals to create their own uniquely Gold Coast sound.

We All Drive are back this month with their huge sounding single ‘Girrawheen Street’. Clearly finding influence from modern rock lords Royal Blood, the band do a good job of putting their own flavour on the riff based guitar / drum duo template that we all know and love. First penned when the band first formed many years ago the track is a retrospective piece on childhood and the bands current place in life. ‘Girrawheen Street’ is best consumed at full volume.

Salt and Steel are keeping this month’s batch of new music releases nice and diverse with their foot stomping, head banging folk rock single ‘Mountain’. Inspired by Mother Earth and her formidable force, the track manages to seamlessly contrast mellow, percussive sections with heavy guitar riffs and meaty drums reflecting the beauty and power of the planet’s elements. One part John Butler one part Stonefield, Salt and Steel have stepped outside the box with this single and come out with something truly special.

Bianca Power has teamed up with Melbourne-based music collective ON3 Studio to release silky smooth RnB flavoured new single ‘Like You’. The groove-heavy, slow paced track showcases Bianca’s effortlessly cool vocals and knack for cleaver songwriting without the need for too much over production or musical layering. Working with ON3 Studio and Melbourne based animator Angus George during the height of COVID the team did well to create a beautiful accompanying video for this cracker of a song.

Vastly different from anything else you’ll hear coming out of the Gold Coast this month, ’Verona With a V’ is the latest offering from Gold Coast favourites The Goldhearts. Channeling the lowfi fun of bands like PJ Harvey and The Breeders, ’Verona With a V’ tells the tale of cruel and relentless bullying of a teenager named Corona by the mean girl Verona. Bright hooky guitar riffs, catchy melodies and thrashing drums come together for a truly enjoyable, fun loving romp of a track that gets the job done in under three minutes. Blank - issue #88 - July 2021

Athena Joy has given us a lot to wrap our ears around this month with the release of her brooding, darkpop EP ‘Into The Wild’. Opening in style with an extended version of the commanding single ‘The Weekend’, the EP takes the listener on a journey of imagination and escapism through Athena’s luscious soundscapes. Other highlights include the triumphant chorus of ‘Sailin’, the emotive title track and the stripped back closer ‘Take Me Away’. Yet another super impressive release from a Gold Coast artist at the top of their game.

Jason McGregor is flying the flag for country releases in this issue with his true blue Aussie anthem ‘That’s Why We’re Here’. Co-written while on tour with county legend Adam Brand, the track reflects on the reason why musicians get on the road and spread their music far and wide. Recorded with Scott French at Love Street Studios on the Gold Coast then given a pop/ country glaze with mixing and mastering by Luke Wooten in Nashville ‘That’s Why We’re Here’ stacks up against against any big country single doing the rounds in Australia right now. Super slick stuff here from Jason McGregor.

Prolific genre bender Samskara Rad has moved further into rap territory this month with the release of his new single ‘Nite Tide’. With a glitchy club-ready beat and auto tuned melodies Samskara Rad takes the modern rap/R&B formula and puts his own, off kilter, psychedelic mark on it. Accompanied by a truly unique video Samskara Rad ‘Nite Tide’ is an experience worth diving into head first.

When two of the Gold Coast’s finest musicians Alicia Todd and Scott French teamed to form Geniie Boy earlier this year expectations were understandably high. Now with the release of their second single ‘Bruises’ this month it’s safe to say that the duo have lived up to the hype. Taking a rockier approach than their debut, ‘Bruises’ is bursting with catchy melodies and seems to channel the winning formula of Aussie artists Alex Lahey and Alex The Astronaut. Written about finding your tribe it won’t be long until Geniie Boy has a tribe of their own.

Buttered Set Candice Dianna’s The Bar High Powerful Tribute

Buttered have isblown our Candice Dianna channeling minds with the release some serious RnB vibes ofontheir her absolute a single powerful gem new of single ‘Love ‘Love’ Peace. A grove Helpwonderfully The World’written, . Inspired by heavy track, ‘Love’ displays the the final words left by Candice’s band’s talentswho as tragically vocalists took and late nephew proficient his own lifeinstrumentalists. at the age of 17, The the songwriting duo teamed up with track was released on the one-year aanniversary full band to an equally of deliver his death to help impressive live version spread his message further.which Truly you can watch via from their Candice socials. stunning stuff here Easily Dianna.the strongest Gold Coast release this month.

Harry J Hart’s PopSyrup, Go On Refine Rock Belter Their Harry J Sound Hart has made a

huge After solidifying among statement with themselves the climatic first the Australian music scene in 2019 single from his forthcoming EP with fantastic full with bodied ‘Maketheir It Easy’ . Beginning just album syrup, go, on a guitar‘Last partLight’ and, Harry’s vocal, are another dreamy popa the back songwith quickly builds into offering 'Lavender Sky’ . Taking fully-fledged pop-rock belter with 2020 to refine their sound, the band the help of masterful production wrote entire second full length and an cleaver instrumentation. album scrapped completely ‘Make then It Easy’ has itpop at its before finding themselves core, channeling both thesatisfied singer with the new direction. songwriter sound Introducing of Dean more electronic elementsrock than Lewis and the anthemic of previous Sheppard. material, Impressive‘Last stuff Light’ here still the strong vocal fromleads Harrywith J Hart. performance and catchy guitar hooks that syrup, go, on are known for. Catch them performing live at Burleigh Bazaar on 3 July.

daste. Do No Wrong Jackson 50 LGE Can Authentic Lust Is InDunn’s The Air daste. are teasing us with yet Blues Belter It seemsRock that lust is in Vintage Rock another brilliant single from 50 LGE bring guitars to the the their forthcoming album with front with latest vintage laidback duettheir ‘holding on to you’. rock EP the ‘Loaded’ . The opening Featuring intimate guest vocal tracks ‘Coachella’ and ‘World’ of Brisbane artist Uhkirra and a offer straight up meat n’ potatoes subtle strings accompaniment the rock shows n’ rolltinges while the closing track of modern folk two mix things up a bit sounds channeling artists like with Bon the and instrumental surf vibes of Iver Harry Styles. Showcasing ‘Hooked’ the punk depth in and diversity andattitude more of ‘Raisingsongwriting Cain’. Without much masterful it seems of an online presence to speak like daste. can do no wrong. of and preferring to release their material on vinyl, 50 LGE are as authentic as they come.

Satisvibes Bring Tijuana Cartel Are The Summer Vibes Back In Action Satisvibes are holding onto

the Tijuana continuing their summerCartel vibesare with their reggaeresurgence with the release of ‘Acid fueled debut single ‘Beautiful Pony’ their around seventha classic full length Kaos’,. Based onealbum to date. Featuring drop reggae formula, the classic track Tijuana Cartelconfidently jams with with brilliant pushes along the guitar and horn worldly inspired help ofwork a tactful section and rhythm sections the record smooth dub production. The also first delves into atoforthcoming some straight up single from EP that electronica lowtokey club was put onwith holdthedue border banger ‘Over And Over’ and restrictions, ’Beautiful Kaos’ puts the euphoric Stuffing’ Satisvibes back‘Minimal on track, with a lot. Currently at for thefans beginning more in store in 2021. of a huge 20+ date national tour, Tijuana Cartel are well and truly back in action. You can catch them performing as a part of SPRINGTIME in Surfers Paradise on the first weekend in September.

the air Jackson Dunnwith has yet managed to this month another convert infectious live energy intimatehistrack here from local into a Doolie. belter of a new single favorite ‘Woke Up Feeling this month. offers ‘Feel My is a Dramatic’ the Lingo’ signature heavy hitting blues rock track downtempo R&B/electronica with a foot stomping beat, dirty production that has earned the guitar commanding, young sounds artist and national acclaim distorted vocals. With anover equally and millions of streams the energetic accompanying video past few years. Written about the featuring Jackson possibility shreddingwith on feeling of infinite a twin necked‘Woke guitarUp‘Feel My new lover, Feeling Lingo’ is theisfirstanother of a string of Dramatic’ strong upcoming releases for this onerelease set to build upon Doolie’s of-a-kind Gold Coast artist. growing profile.

Send your music, press kit and a high res photo to newmusic@ blankstreetpress. com.au

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Blank -- issue issue #85 #88 -- April July 2021 Blank 2021

31 29

Kent Dustin - The Lucky Squire Sliding Doors Live - Southport Sharks

UNI SOCIAL - Pvcker Up, Dog Shot, Common Concept DJs - Mo's Desert Clubhouse

AGENT 77 - The Coolangatta Hotel

Kate Mckay - Nightjar

Maddy Breen - Precinct Brewing

Thursday 1 July

Maddy Breen- Bine Bar & Dining Ben Swissa Trio - Beach Hotel Kent Dustin - Nightcap Nobbys Yasmina Despot - Roosevelt Lounge Greer Sullivan - Nightjar

Tijuana Cartel - Miami Marketta Jordan Mac - Beach Hotel Ben Camden - Rodrigo Ferraz - Miami Marketta Andrea Soler - Sheoak Shack Gallery Cafe Nudge Nudge Wink Wink - DJ's: Kylie Rose, Reiflex, and our Residents Dale Stephen & Lord Sut - The Billinudgel Hotel DJ Jack Rabbit - Nightcap Nobbys

Friday 2 July

Harry Nicols - Beach Hotel Ryan Livings - Roosevelt Lounge Unlocking the Doors - Miami Marketta Zak Keenan - Precinct Brewing SwaussyFire - Southport Sharks Matt Musella - Bine Bar & Dining Mark Bono - The Coolangatta Hotel Guy Kachel - Hotel Brunswick Josh Hamilton - Kingscliff Beach Hotel Justin Jones - The Coolangatta Hotel Ella Belfanti Duo - Currumbin RSL Matty Rogers - Beach Hotel Marshall Okell - Eddie's Grub House Kate Mckay - Nightcap Nobbys Maddy Breen - Nightjar Dani Teveluwe - Currumbin RSL Ben Jansz - Beach Hotel

Sunday 3 July

Spacey Jane - Miami Marketta Matt Collins - Currumbin RSL Kate Mckay - Bine Bar & Dining Zak Keenan - Nightjar

Yasmina Despot - Roosevelt Lounge

Greer Sullivan - Bine Bar & Dining Ziggy Alberts - Currumbin RSL

Braiden Penwarn - Burleigh Brewing Co

Austin Mackay - Beach Hotel

Yasmina Despot - The Loose Moose Nick Waters - Precinct Brewing Kent Dustin - Bine Bar & Dining

Friday 9 July

Kevin & Nuz (Koi Boys) - Koi

Maddy Breen - Nightcap Nobbys

Confidence Man - Genesis Uwusu Miami Marketta

Kent Dustin - Choofas Smokehouse & Seafood

Red Like Fire - Frida Sol

Ryan Livings - Roosevelt Lounge

DJ Jack Rabbit - Nightjar

Dan Hannaford - Kingscliff Beach Hotel

Luke Morris - Currumbin RSL

Benny Whiskey - Eddie's Grub House

Frankenbok - Diskust, Beast Machine, Odius - Mo's Desert Clubhouse

Wear The Fox Hat - Hotel Brunswick Mass Sky Raid - Friends of Friends; Evil Twin - Mo's Desert Clubhouse

OKA - Hotel Brunswick

Tim Stokes - Beach Hotel

Matthew Armitage - Burleigh Brewing Co

Greer Sullivan - Nightjar

Yasmina Despot - The Loose Moose

The Smashed Crabs - Currumbin RSL

Greer Sullivan - Nightcap Nobbys

Kate Mckay - Precinct Brewing

Kent Dustin - The Henchman

Budjerah - Miami Marketta

Nuz & Kevin (Koi Boys) - Koi

The Valiants - Southport Sharks

Lima Mañu - Maggie Choo

Ferny Fairway - BBQ Bazaar

Kent Dustin - Mr P.P.'s Deli and Rooftop

Benny O'Dwyer - Bine Bar & Dining

Ben Whiting - Currumbin RSL

James D'Khan - Currumbin RSL

Fat Albert - The Coolangatta Hotel

Benny O'Dwyer - Nightcap Nobbys

Brooke Supple - Currumbin RSL Ryan Livings - Roosevelt Lounge

Tuesday 6 July

Casey Fogg - The Coolangatta Hotel

Jason Delphin - Beach Hotel

Benny D Williams - Kingscliff Beach Hotel

Ondre Davis - Burleigh Brewing Co Coast & Ocean - Currumbin RSL

Zak Keenan - Nightjar

Maddy Breen - Bine Bar & Dining

Benny O'Dwyer - Bine Bar & Dining

Ryan Livings - Roosevelt Lounge

Kate Mckay - Bine Bar & Dining EPIC - Southport Sharks Ooz - Kingscliff Beach Hotel Kent Dustin - Nightcap Nobbys Stephen Lovelight - Precinct Brewing HEAVY WAX - Hazel Mei - BBQ Bazaar Ben Amor - Currumbin RSL Kent Dustin - Nightcap Nobbys

Saturday 17 July

Ryan Livings - Roosevelt Lounge Mike Wilde and the Black Sheep - Sheoak Shack Gallery Cafe Kent Dustin - Choofas Smokehouse & Seafood

Kent Dustin - Bine Bar & Dining

Kate Mckay - Nightjar

Benny O'Dwyer - Nightcap Nobbys

Zak Keenan - Bine Bar & Dining Let there be AC/DC - The Coolangatta Hotel

Monday 12 July

Zak Keenan - Nightcap Nobbys

Tuesday 13 July

Butterfingers - Mo's Desert Clubhouse

Wednesday 14 July

Life is a Myth - Bine Bar & Dining

Ondre Davis - Currumbin RSL Matt Musella - Precinct Brewing Cadence - Hotel Brunswick Maddy Breen - Nightcap Nobbys CURIOUS - Sharks Lloyd ++ Soundlounge Creedence Tribute - Southport Sharks Megan Core - Burleigh Brewing Co Jorge Pereira - Kingscliff Beach Hotel

Thursday 15 July

Guy Kachel - Beach Hotel

Ole Falco - Beach Hotel

Kate Mckay - Nightjar

Cadence - Eddie's Grub House

Yasmina Despot - Roosevelt Lounge

Tahlia Matheson - Currumbin RSL Jack Biilmann - Beach Hotel

Push - Hotel Brunswick

Mono - Currumbin RSL

Matt Musella - Matt Musella

Monday 5 July Liami Kirk - Currumbin RSL

Sunday 11 July

Zak Keenan - Nightcap Nobbys

Strictly Acoustic - The Coolangatta Hotel

Maddy Breen - Nightjar Jason Delphin - The Coolangatta Hotel

Lima Mañu - Maggie Choo

Saturday 10 July Saturday 3 July

Charlie Bravo - Southport Sharks

Wednesday 7 July

Zak Keenan - Bine Bar & Dining

Thursday 8 July

Micka Scene - Beach Hotel

Bob Evans - Kingscliff Beach Hotel Benny O'Dwyer - Bine Bar & Dining

Kevin & Nuz (Koi Boys) - Koi

Kate Mckay - Nightcap Nobbys

Emily Brieger - Currumbin RSL Yasmina Despot - The Loose Moose Jesse Taylor Band - Burleigh Brewing Co

Blakboi - Tom Avery - Burleigh Brewing Co

Friday 16 July ARC - Twin Towns

South Wall - Hotel Brunswick

Big Music - Hotel Brunswick

Brett Gannon - Precinct Brewing

Ryan Livings - Roosevelt Lounge

Kate Mckay - Nightcap Nobbys

BUTTERED - Miami Marketta

Marshall Okell - Kingscliff Beach Hotel

McDermott and North Mo's Desert Clubhouse

Maddy Breen - Bine Bar & Dining Blank - issue #88 - July 2021

Greer Sullivan - Bine Bar & Dining

Greer Sullivan - Nightjar

Jay Hoad - Sheoak Shack Gallery Cafe

Greer Sullivan - Currumbin RSL

Sunday 18 July

Zac Hubbard - Currumbin RSL Lima Mañu - Maggie Choo Maddy Breen - Precinct Brewing Fat Picnic - Jordan Mac - Hotel Brunswick Benny O'Dwyer - Nightcap Nobbys

Wednesday 21 July

Kate Mckay - Bine Bar & Dining

Thursday 22 July

Sunday 25 July

Saturday 31 July

Kent Dustin - Mr P.P.'s Deli and Rooftop

Eliza & The Delusionals - Miami Marketta

Zak Keenan - Bine Bar & Dining

Gregg Peterson - Precinct Brewing

Brooke Supple - Kingscliff Beach Hotel

Maddy Breen - Bine Bar & Dining

Kate Mckay - Nightcap Nobbys

Lima Mañu - Maggie Choo

Kent Dustin - Nightjar

Yasmina Despot - The Loose Moose

Shaun Kirk - Mo's Desert Clubhouse

Kevin & Nuz (Koi Boys) - Koi

The Vegetable Plot - Botanical Bazaar Garden & Sustainability Festival

Greer Sullivan - Bine Bar & Dining

Naomi Connell - Currumbin RSL

Nathan Kaye - Sheoak Shack Gallery Cafe

Yasmina Despot - Roosevelt Lounge

Felicity Lawless - Currumbin RSL

Josh Lovegrove - Hotel Brunswick

Kent Dustin - Nightjar

DJ Jack Rabbit - Nightjar

Kate Mckay - Precinct Brewing

Kent Dustin - The Henchman

Kent Dustin - Nightjar

Late For Woodstock - The Coolangatta Hotel

DJ Jack Rabbit - Nightcap Nobbys

Ben Whiting - Kingscliff Beach Hotel

Lily Grace Live - James Blundell The Wallaby Hotel

Kent Dustin - Nightjar

Dean Haitani - Eddie's Grub House

Alby Damn - Burleigh Brewing Co

Friday 23 July

Mighty Rhythm - Southport Sharks

Stella McIvor - Currumbin RSL

James D'Khan - Burleigh Brewing Co Ryan Livings - Roosevelt Lounge Remedy Duo - The Coolangatta Hotel

Ryan Livings - Roosevelt Lounge Kate Mckay - Nightjar

Matt Collins - Currumbin RSL

Monday 26 July

Zak Keenan - Nightcap Nobbys

Living In The 70s - Southport Sharks Kent Dustin - The Henchman

Maddy Breen - Bine Bar & Dining Greer Sullivan - Nightcap Nobbys Matt Musella - Precinct Brewing

Wednesday 28 July

Maddy Breen - Bine Bar & Dining

daste. - elsewhere Electrik Lemonade - Miami Marketta

Thursday 29 July

Yasmina Despot - Roosevelt Lounge Kate Mckay - Bine Bar & Dining

Saturday 24 July

Ryan Livings - Roosevelt Lounge

Greer Sullivan - Nightcap Nobbys Benny O'Dwyer - Nightjar

Strictly Acoustic - Bine Bar & Dining

Blank Gig Guide brought to you in partnership with Gigl.

Jason Delphin - Kingscliff Beach Hotel Kent Dustin - Black Hops II Kent Dustin - Nightcap Nobbys Manoa - Hotel Brunswick Gregg Peterson - Burleigh Brewing Co

Friday 30 July

To list your gig visit gigl.com.au OR email gigs@blankstreetpress.com.au

Will Henderson - Currumbin RSL Kane Muir 'One Man Blues Band' Eddie's Grub House

Matty Rogers - Currumbin RSL

Wild Rumours - Southport Sharks

AGENT 77 - The Coolangatta Hotel

Tia Gostelow - Miami Marketta

Kent Dustin - Nightcap Nobbys

Dan Hannaford - Hotel Brunswick

Frenzal Rhomb - Miami Marketta

Maddy Breen - Nightjar

Zak Keenan - Nightjar

Will Henderson - Currumbin RSL

Jock Barnes - Currumbin RSL

Harry Nicols - Kingscliff Beach Hotel

Jordan Mac - Sheoak Shack Gallery Cafe

Benny O'Dwyer - Bine Bar & Dining

The recent 2021 Queensland Music Awards (QMAs) celebrated the achievements of a talented and diverse array of the state’s finest burgeoning musical acts and their support networks across the unprecedented pandemic related challenges of the past twelve months. One of this year’s most noteworthy winners was local hip-hop force of nature Jesswar. Regularly championed in the pages of Blank over the past few years, Jesswar took out the Hip Hop / Rap award for her explosive track ‘Venom’, the first female artist to take out the category since its inception four years ago. Having recently released her debut EP, ‘TROPIXX’, she also recently took time out from the studio to hit the North Queensland tropics to headline the ‘Grrrls To The North’ travelling regional tour in late June, where she played shows in Rockhampton, Mackay, Townsville and Cairns as part of an all-female hip hop line-up showcasing a remarkable mix of talent curated from each region. Jesswar recently took time out from her busy schedule to fill us in on her ground breaking win at the QMAs.

Ryan Livings - Roosevelt Lounge

Click Click Boom - Southport Sharks

Jesswar Scores At QMAs, Hits The Tropics

SCAN FOR GIG DETAILS.

Big congrats on your recent achievement at the QMAs. Can you describe what it was like when your name was announced as the winner - did you think you were in with a chance of taking out the category? THANK YOU!! I was unsure if I would win but all my crew, family and friends were telling me to prepare a speech because I was going to win. I didn't think I would so I didn't write anything down, plus I was placed right at the back of the room so I thought that if I was going to win I would be seated up front. It was a wild experience and the first thing I've ever won...

Kate Mckay - Nightcap Nobbys

Blank - issue #88 - July 2021

I was lost for words and in a bit of shock when I got up there! It all sunk in when I got off stage and all my people were calling me and messaging me telling me how proud they were. I feel pretty grateful to have experienced that! Do you feel that you can make a positive difference to other aspiring female rap artists by being the first female to win this category, especially in a genre that is often perceived as being very male dominated? One hundred per cent! I believe you got to see it to be it and representation is extremely important. We need to see ourselves in these spaces and there needs to be room for us. Can you put us in the picture on the inspiration for the track and how it came together? I wrote ‘Venom’ at a time in my life where I was feeling depleted in all aspects of my life. It was written at a time where I had to pull myself back up again. Writing the track helped me get through it. When I look back now, it gives me strength knowing I stood back up and gave my all. What’s on your musical agenda over the coming few months - I believe you may be in the studio recording at the moment? Yes, I'm in writing mode and looking forward to putting out some new music! I'm also focusing on looking after myself and going wild with self-care before I set back out on tour. Jesswar’s debut EP, ‘TROPIXX’ is available now on the usual streaming services. Words by Anthony Gebhardt

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Blank - issue #88 - July 2021

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