Haze 12 - Summer 2017

Quarterly in Print + Daily Online at www.thehazemag.com.au • Issue 12 Summer 2017

record nd new E sign u o r a z E z Big Bu mba’s RED B el o b as Kato elbourne La to M

NEW YEARS REVELRY

HOT SUMMER TOURS

HIP HOP HOORAY

SPILLING THE BEANS

BLUE MTNS SK8 VID

Blue Mountains • Penrith • Bathurst • Hawkesbury – FREE MAGAZINE, PICK ME UP!

SUBSCRIBE & SAVE | 4723 7600 | www.thejoan.com.au JOAN SUTHERLAND PERFORMING ARTS CENTRE 597 HIGH STREET, PENRITH NSW 2750

¬ WHAT’S SHAKIN’

Kate’s back for 23rd Music Fest

Square Table Strikes Chord With Muso’s

Local member Trish Doyle (along with Macquarie’s Susan Templeman, Labour’s John Graham and BMCC’s Don McGregor) hosted a round-table in Wenty to discuss the state of music in the Blue Mountains, ‘city of the arts’. Attendees included promoters, venue owners, media, teachers as well as musicians brainstorming issues and ideas to strengthen the cohesion and sustainability of music in the region, and to take onboard for legislation. Watch this space!

WIN

A

Dave and Clare are just too hip, babe

Against the Graney

Dave Graney and Clare Moore will be playing material from across their vast and splendid songbook at The Metropole Guesthouse in Katoomba, and thanks to Fusion Boutique Presents we have a double pass to give away. Performing songs from over 30 albums, film and tv scores including their work from The Moodists, Coral Snakes and The mistLY, it’s bound to be a hip night!

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Jazz Trio on the Boil

Jazz continues at The Hydro as Trish Delaney-Brown, Tim Bruer & Brett Hirst perform in December for Live @ The Boiler House, an intimate night of jazz with three contemporary jazz heavy-weights. Trish is one of Australia’s top jazz vocalists and can ‘scat’ like no other (and a founding member of The Idea of North), and with Tim and Brett providing the tune, promoter Chris Cannell says you are “guaranteed a special performance”.

Chris has also secured The Vampires, Lulo Reinhardt and gypsy band Baltic Bar Mitzvah for early in the year. www.musicinthemountains.com.au

The Necks Best Thing

After one of their busiest years yet in 2017 - which featured the release of their acclaimed double LP Unfold; opening for Nick Cave and the Bad Seeds on their Australian tour; a successful tour of the US; three European tours and a huge feature article in the New York Times; The Necks, Australia’s legendary artists-in-resonance, return in March to perform in Springwood at the Blue Mountains Theatre.

Cocktail Party with Horns

ass Double P

e: Enter onlin .au ag.com thehazem

Katoomba’s folk, roots and blues takeover turns a whopping 23 as the Blue Mountains Music Festival treats the town to an influx of talent including Missy Higgins, Kate Miller-Heidke, Archie Roach Band, Vikki Thorne, Harry Max, Lior, All our Exes Live in Texas over three days across seven stages, with over a hundred performances in March. bmff.org.au

Champagne Charlies Cocktail Jam is a weekly Thursday funk party at the Carrington featuring bands like the Ktown Funky Horns, weekly cocktails and wine, plus local producers platters so you can sample the region’s best food and wine and get a wee bit tipsy and sway to the best jazz katz in Katoomba.  Froma Lane, Katoomba  team@thehazemag.com.au  @thehazemag The Team: Mark Alston, Samantha Alston, Willem Hendriksen, Corin Shearston, Pat Bowden, Elissa Jamieson, Brigitte Grant, Aiden Jaros Grilli, Marco Grilli, Caleb Marshall, Mathew Currey, Kay Nightingale, Roger Kidd, Jack Bowden, Charity Mirow, Meg Benson, Lona Logan, David Tobin, Laura Booth, EZ Coops. Cover Pic: Patographics / Pat Bowden Designed & Published: DesignHeroes.com.au

© Copyright 2017 Design Heroes

www.thehazemag.com.au Issue 12 - Summer 2017

¬ WHAT’S SHAKIN’

The Joan Unveils 2018 Season Locals get Vocal for Christmas Bash

Vocal Locals Night is the latest from Retro Rehash showcasing our amazing local talent where the music will be a hearty mix of funky skate punk, psychedelic love-pub rock and stella local singer-songwriters.

On Dec 22 at big supporters Station Bar, it’s time to get out the Christmas stockings and dress up in your favorite santa suit or just drink til your nose glows red, with Young Henrys doing a tap takeover. Bands include Madam Fatale, Stone Free and Acton Wickens for this free event.

From Julius Caesar to Lindy Chamberlain, The Joan presents stories with global and national resonance. From Tiwi R’n’B to Carole King’s Tapestry (pictured), it’s bringing music that reflects and uplifts generations. And with fresh work, young guns and artistic icons, there’s diversity in abundance across a season of contemporary and classical music, brand new and centuries old theatre; comedy, dance and storytelling at The Joan in 2018.

Full of treats and treasures, The Joan’s 2018 High Street Subscription Season features some of Australia’s greatest artists. Turning up the star power is new talent Isaiah Firebrace, while showbiz legends Nancye Hayes and Todd McKenney will sparkle in Bosom Buddies. In 2018 the stories traverse legends, rumours, treachery

and justice; they’re global, local and personal. And some of them are funny! Western Sydney audiences are known to have a great sense of humour so The Joan puts comedy front and centre with The Wharf Revue, the Melbourne International Comedy Festival Roadshow, and an unexpectedly hilarious take on a journey through cancer survival in The Orchid & The Crow.

Subscriptions to the High Street Season are available in three sizes and subscribers receive 20% off single ticket purchases for Summit Fine Music and Playground Kids & Families shows. Great incentives to max out your calendar in 2018.

Crooked Fiddles VS Looped Cellos

Possibly the most anticipated Blue Mountains release this year, cinematic post rock outfit Sonori will be releasing their highly anticipated debut self titled EP on the 20th of November and have their Blue Mountains launch for the album on Sat 16th December where they will join the Crooked Fiddle Band at Hotel Gearin as part of another epic Fusion Boutique event. The band started as an instrumental three piece made of up looped cellos, drum machines, guitars and keys. Eventually, they were joined by vocalist Lulu, who added an ethereal edge and pop sensibility to their music. On the night The Crooked Fiddle Band will be showcasing some of their new material ahead of recording for their next album. Discount pre-sale tickets are available through Katoomba Music or online at www.fusionboutique.com.au

Live & Local seeking Blue Mtns Performers

Katoomba Live and Local and Blue Mountains City Council are seeking musicians to participate in the Katoomba Live & Local event April 7, 2018 to further promote live music performance in local businesses and venues, as well as to increase the cultural and economic vibrancy of Katoomba. Performers Expressions of Interest are now open until 25 January.

Successful applicants will be announced on 30th January.

BMCC were successful in their bid to the Western Sydney Live and Local Strategic Initiative to host a live and local event in Katoomba and have engaged local business Music Hunter as event manager and curator. As a result, Katoomba will host this new event in the CBD including venues near the Civic Centre such as Big Beet and Platform Gallery among many more. Festival entry will be free, with all welcome to attend. Organisers are looking for musicians from a broad section of our community, including youth, multicultural, aboriginal and also seniors to perform. All bands/ performers must reside as a local to our LGA or have a min of 50% of their members as residents.

Jump online to apply at katoombaliveandlocal.com.au

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www.thehazemag.com.au Issue 12 - Summer 2017

AWARD WINNING FUSION BOUTIQUE PRESENTS

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¬ WHAT’S SHAKIN’

Rachel Baiman Draws Bow

Americana songwriter & multi-Instrumentalist Rachel Baiman is set to tour her stunning new record Shame described by Folk Alley as “A rootsy wake-up call”.

In many ways for Rachel, Shame is an exploration of growing up female in America. Despite the serious subject matter, the overall tenor of the album remains light while the arrangements depart from her stripped-down work with progressive folk duo 10 String Symphony. Shame is lush and varied aided by the production and recording talents of Mandolin Orange’s Andrew Marlin. Musically inspired in equal parts by John Hartford and Courtney Barnett, Baiman’s influences are myriad, however years spent playing traditional music shine through in the album’s firmly rooted sound.

Over the album’s ten tracks, Baiman commands attention with songwriting prowess and a depth of presence well beyond her 27 years. Local support is folk bluegrass duo Piccolo Bear whose sound blends dark and sweet harmonies with banjo, ukulele and guitar.

This one is another limited ticket show upstairs at Metro Social in Katoomba so grab tickets early to avoid missing out, from fusionboutique.com.au

New Disc for Ukulele Crooner Ahead of Festival

Ahead of the Ukulele Festival on Feb 9-11 at Carrington Hotel Katoomba, Adelaide’s Anthony Priwer has just released his second album The Photographer, the title track was inspired by a real-life encounter with an old photographer. Anthony will be the closing performer on the Old City Bank stage on Sat night at 8pm. He says, “When I was living in Sydney, some of my first-ever performances were the open mics at Penrith Panthers Club and the Blue Mountains Ukulele Festival. Though I’m now back in my hometown of Adelaide, I’m excited to again be heading to lovely Katoomba as part of the uke festival’s official program.” @bluemountainsukefest

Iconic Hotel Gearin Up for Re-launch

New life: Hotel Gearin is being renovated internally for live music

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A new day is dawning for an iconic live music venue in the Blue Mountains. The classic bandroom at the historic Hotel Gearin, situated on the Great Western Highway at the gateway to Katoomba, is set to receive a long overdue facelift, bringing the venue roaring into the 21st century.

Events promoter Adrian Hastings says “The Gearin has long been an integral part of the music scene in the Blue Mountains, hosting amazing artists from all over the globe, as well as helping launch the careers of many successful local artists. But the time has come for some big changes, injecting new life and energy into the venue.”

“Over the new year period, from late December to early January, the bandroom will be receiving a major overhaul and refurbishment, from the paint on the walls to the name on the door, a lot of changes are taking place.”

There will be a new lighting and projection system installed, updating the quality of the venue’s events by light years, whilst the painting and renovation will be in keeping with the venue’s classic art deco architecture, updated for the 21st century. The bandroom will be renamed and re-energised, and focusing on providing top quality band and club nights, including a major push to get Katoomba back on the national touring calendar, bringing many top-billing artists to the upper Mountains. Keep an eye on the Facebook for teasers!

The venue’s new identity is a closely kept secret at this point, with the grand re-opening will taking place on Saturday January 13. www.hotelgearin.com

www.thehazemag.com.au Issue 12 - Summer 2017

¬ WHAT’S SHAKIN’

Multi-award winning blues/soul troubadour Shaun Kirk has been labeled “One of the finest blues voices this country has ever heard” and “One of the most explosive solo acts this country has to offer”, having performed alongside names such as Joe Bonamassa, Beth Hart, Allen Stone; and appearances at renowned festivals Bluesfest, Woodford, Queenscliff and Port Fairy.

Shaun will own the evening of Sunday 4 March for his - ‘Howlin at the Moon’ Single Launch Tour at The Metropole Guesthouse (upstairs ‘Metro Social’ in the Lounge, Katoomba). fusionboutique.com.au

Bendigo Bank Boon

The Haze Magazine is run on a shoestring budget by a small dedicated team with big ambition!

With the assistance of a grant from Bendigo Bank Katoomba, the last 2 editions were able to be printed with more pages and copies to widen the distribution. Haze Magazine publisher Mark Alston recently spoke at the Bendigo AGM alongside other recipients including the BM Pipe Band and Greystanes who all testified to the opportunities opened by these generous community grants. Haze Magazine was also recently a finalist in the Blue Mountains Business Awards (pictured above). Ok, enough patting ourselves on the back...

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So Wrong it’s Right

Blue Mountains singer songwriter Chris Carapetta last month launched his album Getting It Wrong, wearing his with 70s folk rock influences on his rolled up sleeves. The good news is that the digital release has also inspired him to offer his earlier EP I’m Not A Stranger online as well.

A regular at Mountains acoustic jam nights, you can often catch Chris in the inner West as well, download his new as well as older tracks here: chriscarrapetta.bandcamp.com

Edgelarks soar from UK to Katoomba Edgelarks fly in on the tailwind of BBC award winning duo Phillip Henry and Hannah Martin. The new band name comes with a new project, taking the roots of their previous work – British traditional musics, Indian classical slide guitar, stomping roots beatbox harmonica party; adds a strong stem of original writing; and runs wilder with each gig.

The new album, also called Edgelarks, concerns the liminal: borders, crossroads, travellers, refugees, twilight, dawn. In large part written during their travels in Australia in 2016, the album takes inspiration from new horizons, new stories, spacious landscapes. A key song, Signposts, was directly written as a celebration of their time in Tasmania; a travellers anthem imbued with a touch of homesickness, but alight with the excitement of adventure, and the special connections music can make with others, even when you are a world away from home.

See Edgelarks in concert at The Metropole Guesthouse Upstairs for ‘Metro Social’ Katoomba Blue Mountains, WED 17th January 2018. fusionboutique.com.au

www.thehazemag.com.au Issue 12 - Summer 2017

WHAT’S SHAKIN’ ¬

Crowd Around for Xmas Folk at Lawson

Monthly Mid-Mountains folk night draws a local crowd but often features walk-up floor performers from far and wide, as well as a main performer.

December 14 Feast of Fools will treat the eager listeners (and sometimes dancers) to their mash-up of folk/punk/country revelry. Hailing from Katoomba, Feast of Fools recently released their new CD (see last issue for interview and CD review). Organisers Ian Tanner and David Tobin are also excited that local choir Crowd Around (who are directed by Kate Swadling) will be doing set on the night in what’s become a bit of a Christmas tradition. David says ”they normally slip a couple of gorgeous acapella arrangements of cool Christmas carols into their set, plus do a few other tunes they’ve been working on!” @bluemountainsfolk

Gypsy and all that Jazz with 5 Piece Act

Renowned Serbian Roma violinist – Branko Ristic and UK accordionist Faith Ristic are landing on your doorstep on Feb 23, performing with their extraordinarily talented international quintet at the Blue Mountains Theatre.

Audiences and critics alike have raved about Faith I Branko’s high energy live performances world-wide. Combining the accordion, violin, effects pedal and tabor pipe, Faith I Branko take the audience on a journey from melancholy Roma violin laments to storming Serbian Kolos, with explorations into jazz improvisation, swing, Gypsy Rumba, Turkish and Indian influenced violin solos. Step out on Feb 23. www.bluemountainstheatre.com

World-class entertainment, right on your doorstep in the Blue Mountains.

Our exciting line up for 2018 offers something for everyone:

S W FT ER O GI CH LE N U B VOAILA

2018 HIGHLIGHTS ON SALE NOW

AV

BLUE MOUNTAINS THEATRE

PASSION AND SPIRIT

Turn up the heat with charismatic chanteuses Baby et Lulu, fiery gypsy-jazz ensemble Faith I Branko, and the eclectic world fusion group ZenRasa.

UP CLOSE AND PERSONAL

Enjoy intimate, acoustic performances from Aussie rock legend James Reyne, Damien Leith and cabaret royalty Geraldine Turner.

JUST EXTRAORDINARY

Cult Australian experimental-minimalist jazz band The Necks return with their mesmerising soundscapes.

MOVERS AND SHAKERS

Rocking the house this year will be Jeff Duff and band with Bowie Unzipped, master of soul Doug Parkinson honouring Joe Cocker and The Eagles/Creedence Clearwater Revival tribute Kings of Country Rock.

MAGIC AND MISCHIEF

‘The Unusualist’ Raymond Crowe will delight and amaze the whole family.

RAYMOND CROWE

Visit www.BlueMountainsTheatre.com for full details of these and other upcoming shows.

TICKETS ARE AVAILABLE FROM

The Box Office, 106 Macquarie Road, Springwood or 4723 5050 or www.BlueMountainsTheatre.com Issue 12 - Summer 2017

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¬ WHAT’S SHAKIN’

Penrith Duo Set Sail

NYE Revelry as Jeff Martin Heads to Hawkesbury Jeff Martin is driving to the Airport from his Byron Bay studio. He’s Canada bound as the Tea Party are about to perform a 5-night stint at the legendary Horseshoe Tavern in Ontario. It’s only fair to give his home crowd some action after gratifying Australia with the 20 year Transmission Tour.

“When Jeff Burrows and I had our first band together I was ten years old and he was eleven. So, in theory, we’ve actually been a band longer than the Rolling Stones,” Jeff smugly lets us know that things are tight in the Tea Party camp. “That’s what makes the Tea Party very special; it’s because on stage, with our shows, in a beautiful way it’s very dangerous – you never know where the band is going to go, and how intense it’s going to get.”

With such a huge tour and string of shows and travel behind him, Jeff has planned the ultimate New Years Eve party locally.

“Well, normally the solo shows that I do are very intense, very emotional affairs, for the audience and for myself. I try to make sure there’s a certain degree of levity in the show, for me it’s a different animal than the Tea Party.

It’s meant to be a party.”

Two of Jeff’s personal favorite artists (that he also produces) will be sharing the stage, both having recently recorded at his Byron studio, Riverhouse, “which is a very, very magical place,” Jeff suggests with a sensual air in his voice. “It’s like a Shangri-La of rock and roll. And just the times that you have there, just the craziness that’s gone on is what we’re going to be reflecting upon, and it’s going to be a side, probably side to me that my audience has never seen, because more or less I’m letting my guard down. You know? And why not? It’s going to be a night of serious kick-ass rock and roll.”

And after singing Auld Lang Syne with half of the Hawkesbury, you’d be wondering what Jeff’s Resolutions might be. “Well, I think I have to give it a few more weeks. After I’ve done this Tea Party tour, I’m pretty sure I’m going to have some New Years resolutions here!” he admits.

See Jeff Martin, Lepers & Crooks, Matt Boylan-Smith and locals Lizard on NYE at the Hawkesbury Hotel, Windsor. @hawkesbury.hotel

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Penrith duo Demagé have been going all out in 2017 performing in and around Sydney and Penrith as well as some festivals and huge support slots. Demi says “in February this year we released our Debut EP ‘We Will Meet Again’ and performed at the Royal Easter Show as part of around 50 gigs this year”.

The pair also ran to Richmond to play at The World Polo Championships (which incidentally nicked the date of the Bluesfest - the cheek!). “Now to finish off the year Demagé are stepping aboard the cruiseliner P&O Pacific Dawn on a one month contract!” Demi tells Haze readers. @demagemusic

Bowie Gets Unzipped The show that has been captivating audiences everywhere comes to Blue Mountains Theatre when the critically acclaimed Jeff Duff presents his fascinating interpretation of the songs of David Bowie.

More than just a tribute show, Jeff’s extraordinary and powerful take on the David Bowie songbook has fans returning night after night.

The all-star band features guitarist Jak Housden from The Whitlams along with the brilliant keyboard player Glenn Rhodes and drummerpercussionist Jess Ciampa.

Feb 17 bluemountainstheatre.com

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 THE SCENE

Amazed at Aus Music

Talent was in every corner of Cronulla at this year’s Australian Music Week festival in November. The yearly town takeover showcases some of the best up-and-coming artists from around the nation as well as industry discussions around touring, grants, promoting a successful venue. Aus Music Week takes over the town for 3 days with venues The Brass Monkey, the Theatre, El Sol and even the church smashed by talent in what some called the SXSW of Sydney.

Every year artists can apply to showcase, as well as pop along to see what others are up to in the scene, and discussions The Haze had with artists, media and venue owners there all leant towards the value of the panels.

The event even has a strong Mountains connection with Warrimoo’s Rhythm Section Management playing a huge part in promoting the event. Pics: Aidan Jaros Grilli.

Inland Sea of Sound is Bathurst’s answer to the Splendour, hosting local and touring artists in a spectacular space at the top of Mt Panorama.

With beautiful respect to the original owners of the land including a smoking ceremony and traditional dancers, the event also hosts tasty food and drink carts, a VIP bar and camping area, plus 2 stages.

Bonniedoon (left) were a crowd fave, pictured also are headliners Dan Sultan, Meg Mac and Bernard Fanning.

Images by Aidan Jaros Grilli and Mark Alston

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 THE SCENE

5 When the rain set it over the weekend of the Mid Mountains Festival, it only enhanced the live performances in the hall and the Pub. If organisers Ian and David looked like part of the furniture it’s because they’ve been booking folk acts in the pub longer than they’d care to disclose! Highlights were trio Snail (pictured) as well as Willem Sherlock Roorda, Linda Mizzi, Annelope, Edith Grove and of course The Cat’s Whiskers and Los Goldfish. Pic: David Tobin

5Babalu, snapped by Lona Logan for the salsa party at Hotel Gearin presented by Music Hunter.

3 House gigs were huge in 2017 for Katoomba, and perhaps one of the most memorable was Live at Lovel where local headband hero and Retro Rehash presenter Willem Hendriksen opened up his bedroom (just look at it!!) to a small crowd of appreciative music lovers. Performers included Piccolo Bear (top), 90s revival reverend Benjamin Sorenson (mid), Acton Wickens and BMMA director and singing legend Tracey Yarad (bottom).

Pics: Pat Bowden / Patographics 6 It’s been a year of dance in the Blue Mountains and exciting to see a few live performances activating the recently upgraded Lawson Mecanics Institute (the old hall hanging over the highway) including The Bakanics and Raduga Trio as captured below by Lona Logan.

5It was a bittersweet evening of music at Junction 142 for Lime & Steel’s final ever performance supported by Julien Joel Clement (Belle Jar) and Neill Duncan (3 Handed Beat Bandits), captured by the beanie bandit Pat Bowden

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www.thehazemag.com.au Issue 12 - Summer 2017

 THE SCENE

5Back in Time: Perfect weather shone for Back-To-Hartley Celebrating their 50th anniversary of NSW National Parks. A fun family day out with great music, dance entertainment, re-enactment, face painting, art show and a fashion parade with Gallery Serpentine and fabulous headwear by local milliner ‘Christines Millinery’. By Brigitte Grant Photography.

5The Blue Mountains Cultural Centre was transformed into a Cabaret Bar for the ‘Ah-Ha! night, A ‘Vaudevillian Variety & Wonder’ featuring Music, Comedy & Circus Performance. Next performance on Sat 24 Feb.

By Brigitte Grant Photography.

Jazz at the Boiler House

3Lithgow Halloween has really taken on the horror outfits, with some truly gruesome sights on the packed main streets this year!

There was plenty of free candy and live music, plus DJs (pictured) as well as rides for the kids, market stalls and a friendly street atmosphere. Pics: Brigitte Grant 6 It was misty and wet but it didn’t deter people coming to be part of and enjoy the day for Blackheath’s annual Rhododendron Festival By Brigitte Grant Photography.

5Get ready to kick up those heels and put your best 1920s frocks on for the Roaring 20s Festival And All that Jazz. Check the official website and Facebook page for upcoming do’s all around the Mountains. From the Great Art Deco Ball (3rd Feb 2018) to Challenge Charity at the Hydro majestic on Sat 24th February followed by the ever Fabulous Long Lunch to Gangster Casino night, it will be a very busy month so get ready for it! Captured

by Brigitte Grant Photography.

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www.thehazemag.com.au Issue 12 - Summer 2017

THE SCENE  3A packed room for the Foghorn Stringband (USA) who performed at the Metropole as part of Fusion Boutique’s ongoing ‘Metro Social’ series. “We launched the venue in May 2016 and have had consistent sold out shows since!” says promoter Charity.

4KTown Funky Horns have been blowing the roof off Champagne Charlies Cocktail Bar every Thursday eve, pic by Brigitte Grant

(@thehazemag) so we

can

Out & About?? TagReusview of an event or location! ce-

share your 1-Senten

BUSKER WATCH

Dan Isaac

“I’m a blues musician, I moved to the Mountains a few days ago with no money, and a hatchback full of my possessions. I play Missisippi Delta Blues, I call it Dharawal Country Blues. I think that the Mountains have a really great community for buskers. I feel like street performers are treated as a cultural asset opposed to a nuisance, as we are in other places. Some of the best musicians I have met have been playing on the side of the road, in fact, I was taught blues harp outside of a liquor store by an old blues pro who would sit there and just wail. If you support the guys on the street, you’ll end up breeding a music hub, of which are few and far between.” (www.vimeo.com/outofthebluemountains) @ DanIsaacBlues

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 MUSIC RELEASES

SONORI - SONORI

Coming just before summer in a year proving so fruitful for progressive Australian sounds, the Katoomba-based Sonori have now welcomed listeners with a hypnotic eponymous debut. Slowly leading one through vivid, ambient, tranquil spaces as vast as any Blue Mountains lookout, the Sonori EP floats and flows through heady layers of cosmic electronics, cello, bass and drum machines into the unknown. A rising dawn of new trance rock and pop has now been spurred on by this family-tied release whose personnel include singer Lulu Levins-Skehill, twin sister of space-pop styled Humumbra’s Gigi Ray. Sonori is a release also tied to work of Sonori bassist Andre Matkovic’s crushing Sydney-based band, Grün. Mastered by Grammy Award winning William Bowden, who did the mastering on Grün’s seismic Manyana LP earlier this year as well as works

by Gotye and Hermitude, Sonori is from this sonic pedigree of weight and clarity. Lulu’s soaring shape-shifting vocals pair with deeply pounding bass on second track ‘Time’ and weave nimbly amongst swooping synth on crowd favourite ‘I Wade’. A serenely surreal atmosphere resounds throughout the half hour EP, deftly peaking on ‘The Sky Was Pink’ amongst other pieces. With all songs having a 6 minute plus average, we can comfortably get lost on Sonori’s celestial plane for now, and we’re keen to see where this group take us next… Corin Shearston

SMITH & JONES - DARK GIVES WAY

Dark Gives Way is an album which trades heavily in memories. From the harmonic beauty of “Small Town Woman” and “Childless Mother” to the murderous Nick Caveian theatrics of “Mama Don’t Cry for Me”, Smith & Jones cast their lovely vocals backwards in nostalgia, hunting through past relationships for a glimmer of meaning. The music seems to traverse both time and space on its journey, winding through glorious pop choruses, bluesy murder ballads, and country Americana without rest. Elegant piano ballads “Wash Me Clean” and “Forever Weeping Willow Tree”, the album’s finest moments, synthesise years of musical history and cultural memory into snatches of melody and lyrics so simple, you’re left amazed no one has written these words before.

Of course, Smith & Jones are deeply indebted to the history of the country genre, with all the expected tropes and familiarity that brings; but they add to it something very human, deeply Australian, and truly wonderful. A sense of adventurousness through slide guitar solos and jazzy downbeats; a feeling of companionship and camaraderie in the face of loneliness.

Dark Gives Way is music imbued with the red dust and wanderlust of long road trips and crosscountry sojourns: the sights, smells and stories of small towns everywhere. Jack Bowden

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INDUSTRY INSIGHT 

Blue Sky, Green Studio Chris Gillespie, owner and engineer at the Mountains’ first carbon-neutral music recording studio based in Bullaburra, explains his love of sound and recording.

“I wanted a studio, but the solar thing kind of happened, it was the same amount of money to lay the cabling up to the studio as it was to put the solar in, so it was an easy decision!

The guy who installed the solar system actually recorded with us. It’s running off about 8 batteries, and with all the gear – and I have a lot – it’s very low draining. I reckon you could have it all on and it would run for 4 or 5 days without sun. Most of my clients are coming from Sydney and the city, and people are very impressed with the solar power, and I love the idea that the music made in there is carbon neutral. I’m the first studio in the Mountains to be off the grid.

The reason I started doing this? I just love to make great records. I’m a songwriter too, so to see poeple’s dreams come to life is fantastic.”

Chris’ Top Tips: “Listen critically to lots of different genres of music. Less is more in arrangement and space for music to breathe is vital. Feeling also beats performance. A Neumann U87 is an amazing mic to have.”

Hear the Blue Sky interview online at www.mixcloud.com/RetroRehash

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0 COVER STORY

Stingin

the Scene Four releases and five years on with local premier hard rock juggernaut Red Bee, Corin Shearston chats with trio Jim, Dan and Ian in Katoomba about a new LP and label as well as plans for the road; the exciting future of our heavy hometown heroes…

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UE for a release on Melbourne’s Dinner For Wolves label, (home of The Screaming Jets, Rifleman and Superheist), the industry-acclaimed act are elated to be signed and are expecting the public to see a big buzz for the group again next year, on the back of imminent long-player, Silent Enemy.

Overseen by the trio and helmed by producer Chris Blancato (Northlane, Bare Bones, DVSR), expect an adrenaline-charged LP of brutal musical tightness, intricate time signatures and lush atmospherics, as complex as it is cathartic. This is the kind of music that saw the band being picked as one of Soundwave Festival’s Local Showcase Bands and led to support gigs for King Parrot and Protest The Hero in previous years. In part, Silent Enemy is a thematic follow-up to 2015’s

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Chokehold/I, Alone EP that ushered in a more organic and expansive sound for the band, and thus maintains that aesthetic, whilst still delivering blistering technical chops and oftfrenzied song structures.

For the artistic statement of album lyrics, Red Bee are again taking a broad look at universal moral issues, now with new song topics arising from social media and technology.

“A lot of the time, [our lyrics] tell a fictional tale, relate to change, or focus on daily events from our lives”, singer/guitarist Dan Silk explains. “We don’t sing about wizards or warlocks”, confirms drummer Ian Dunn, “just life and its ups and downs.”

With Red Bee’s talented, honest approach gaining new label support from Melbourne, Dan states, “It’s a step up because before with [2012’s] Ictus LP, we had distribution that

made the record physically available across Australia and on iTunes, but actually being signed to a label is a lot more exciting.”

“I’ll push the hell out of it” – adds bassist/brother Jim Silk, who states, “The attractive thing about the label was that their roster wasn’t ginormous, so they’re quite personable. We weren’t getting lost in this sea of different acts, we’re right at the forefront of what they want to do.”

GREAT EXPECTATIONS

In the five years that have passed since Red Bee’s previous LP, our Australian heavy music scene has changed considerably with many emerging bands gaining positive momentum, despite a loss of exposure from the Soundwave and Big Day Out festivals folding. This

www.thehazemag.com.au Issue 12 - Summer 2017

COVER STORY 0

Getcha Buzz! current booming resurgence of locally emerging festivals, constant growing emphasis for heavy culture at venues like Sydney’s The Valve Bar, Bald Faced Stag and Melbourne’s The Tote, plus the recent announcement of Melbourne’s new Download Festival holds great expectations for bands and fans.

If you too are a fan of Red Bee’s live trademark crush, crunch and crystal cleans you can also thank Michael Taverner, long-time touring soundman and honorary 4th bee. The mighty musical muscle of Dan, Ian and Jim, combined with unique mixing methods, have garnered the band much acclaim from many fellow musicians and publications. Notable Red Bee fans and supporters include Rody Walker (Protest The Hero’s lead vocalist and proud wearer of the Red Bee t-shirt), Shaun Morgan (Seether’s lead vocalist & guitarist), MetalObsession. net, SF Media, and Soundwave Festival’s former director AJ Maddah.

GLOBAL GUYS

With Red Bee’s new label wholeheartedly supporting the trio’s creative approach and unique style, balls are now rolling for lengthy nation-wide touring and plans for overseas shows. As Dan tells Haze, “Europe would be really great, I reckon”, Jim adds, “I think we’d go down well in Japan, that would be good...New Zealand too.” Drummer Ian hints at a national tour, following on from band appearances at Brisbane’s massive Dead Of Winter Festival in July with the likes of The Porkers and The Meanies (“6 stages, 40 bands, 6000+ punters”), August 10th’s Factory Theatre gig with American cinematic rockers Starset and most recently, October 28th’s Halloween gig at Singleton’s Criterion Hotel with local grunge-groovers the Jimmi Carr Band. On the Red Bee radar for now however; a third appearance as fan-favourites at Wagga’s 10th annual Dimeday Festival from December 2nd to 3rd, celebrating the life of Pantera’s immortal axe-man Darrell ‘Dimebag’ Abbott, whose career was cut tragically short in 2004 at the hands of gunman Nathan Gale.

“We’ve been pretty sporadic with gigs”, Ian states. “We’ve probably turned down more gigs than we’ve taken in the last two years, in sake of writing and recording the album.” Typical for the band, Red Bee experienced a typically different writing and recording process with new producer Chris Blancato aboard;

Issue 12 - Summer 2017

following up from the recording of Ictus with Clayton Segelov (Lamb Of God, The Angels). For a band dwelling on the fringes of metal, prog and hard-rock, deliberately having no set formula for group creativity promises a unique and varied range of tracks on Silent Enemy.

As Red Bee now have a newly completed LP to release, unleash and tour, big things are coming for the new year and beyond.

“We’ll spend most of 2018 on the road, even 2019 as well!” Dan reveals.

“It’ll be crazy”.  redbeemusic

Pictured: Red Bee live – snapped by Nico Kea Photography and MickG Photography.

Main & cover photo: Pat Bowden / Patographics

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 ARTS

Grounding Works for Up in the Sky

On the 20th anniversary of Tracey Moffatt’s work Up in the Sky, Penrith Regional Gallery will exhibit this seminal series in its Lewers House Gallery.

Produced in 1997, this photographic series may be read as black and white film stills, set in an iconic outback Australian landscape. Moffatt’s landscape is peopled, with an open-ended narrative that is provocative of questions of personal, cultural and political histories, both remarkably Australian and global.

Headlining the Gallery’s Summer Exhibition Suite, in the Main Gallery, a curated exhibition – Landing

Points – will, along with commissioned essays, look to Moffatt’s work as a starting point in consideration of the last 20 years of race, place and identity in Australia. Eleven artists (established and early career) will produce new works for the show, across the mediums of painting, performance, photography, film, installation and blogging.

The artists will respond to the cultural complexities layered in the Australian landscape and our relation to it.

Image: Cigdem Aydemir. The Ride, 2017 (detail) Proximity Festival, Perth.

Feature Artist brought to you by Day Fine Art

Dagni Cadiogan In 2012 Dagni completed a Diploma of Fine Arts at Kingswood TAFE. The diploma provided a setting in which Dagni could explore and refine her artistic practice, determining the appropriate mediums allowing her to effectively communicate her personal philosophy and ideas. Finding voice in oil painting and truth in ink, she began her journey as a self-directed artist.

You may glimpse Dagni’s work down an alleyway; come face to face with one around a street corner or pasted on brick walls of empty carports or abandoned buildings.

Dagni portrays her cultural heritage through her subjects

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“A common theme throughout all her works is the truth of a line.”

evoking contrast within this post-industrial globalised setting.

Born in the Mountain Province of Sagada in the Philippines, her indigenous heritage echo’s a tribe of people documented for their past practices of head hunting and their past and continued rituals around family life. A common theme throughout all her works is the truth of a line.

Dagni’s work Dagni currently has artworks “solemn” permemnt on display at the Elephant ink on cloth Bean Café, and the Savoy 200cm/100cm.

Café in Katoomba. She is A paste up piece currently working towards a is featured as solo exhibition at Day Fine Art centrefold this month in Blackheath in 2018.  dagnic

By Hayley Kemp

www.thehazemag.com.au Issue 12 - Summer 2017

 ARTS

Gang Gang Art Gallery Opens in Lithgow There have been a few exciting new stores pop up in Litghow recently, and the town is ticking all the boxes as an art gallery space is added to the list.

According to organisers, the opening of Lithgow’s Gang Gang Gallery in October was a “huge success” with attending artists and guests from Lithgow, Blue Mountains and Sydney areas.

The gallery offers: • Artist studio for specialised workshops • Art exhibitions of emerging and established artists • Gallery shop to purchase unique art items • Space available for catered corporate or private events The gallery’s prime location opposite the Queen Elizabeth Park offers a beautiful space in the historic early 1900’s building which has been sympathetically renovated to showcase regional and national artists’ work.

Open Friday to Sunday 10am4pm and Monday 10am - 3pm at 206 Main St Lithgow, head in for a look next time you are travelling through. www.gggallery.com.au

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Awards winning: Selena Seifert with painting ‘Vile Bodies’

Wild Valley a Winner

Taking top spot in the recent Blue Mountains Business ‘Creative Industries’ Award, Wild Valley Art Park is a place for artists to run wild

Wild Valley Art Park is a self- sufficient eco arts centre located on 17 inspiring acres in Wentworth Falls in the Blue Mountains. It features a gallery, yoga and art classes, artist studios and sculpture gardens complete with lake and wetlands. Visitors to Wild Valley can see artists and experience working in a variety of mediums including, Garry Shead’s painting class at Wild painting, textiles, mosaics, pottery Valley Autum Workshops and sculpture. Wild Valley also hosts exhibitions, adult and children’s art art residency program. Students parties and has facilities for conference may develop or continue their hire and special events. artistic journey in various workshops, Selena Seifert is a practicing artist and specialty tutorials and events.

Wild Valley also offers birthday Director of the multi-award winning Wild Valley Art Park. Selena works as an and bridal art parties, weekend art workshops and themed dinners, artist art educator and as multi-disciplinary residencies and weekly yoga. artist creating mosaics, paintings, sculptures, and public artworks.

The bushland setting is dotted with mosaics and sculptures created with “I began Wild Valley five years ago recycled materials. Special weekend under the inspiration to blend art and events and workshops feature the environment together and create acclaimed artists including Garry Australia’s first environmental art Shead, Adam Rish, David Fairbain, centre,” says Selina. “Wild valley is set in bushland complete with lake and run Suzanne Archer and Michelle Snowdown and Selena Seifert. sustainably with solar panels and its own water and resources.”

Wild Valley Gallery is open as part of the upper Mountains artist studio It provides the ideal setting for trail or by appointment. established artists to reconnect and build on their creativity through the wildvalley.com.au

www.thehazemag.com.au Issue 12 - Summer 2017

ARTS  A Very Civic Christmas

Inside two of Katoomba’s newest retail spaces - Platform Gallery and Odd Mountain, two little elves teamed up to take the stress and turmoil out of Christmas shopping.

They warmed Katoomba’s tinselheart by activating Civic Place with a range of late-night shopping goods, music and festivities including local busker Dan Isaac.

“As neighbours and newcomers to retail, we decided to pool our efforts to create a welcoming, fun and stress-free late-night shopping experience in the heart of Katoomba Street,” says Meredith Rowe, owner of Odd Mountain.

Owner of Platform Gallery, Kelly Heylen, adds “our shops opened a week apart back in May, and since then we have been looking for ways to collaborate. After these shops sat empty for so many years, it’s exciting to be part of the activation and renewal of both Civic Place and Katoomba in general.” @PlatformGallery.co

PREMIUM food distributor open to the public for a few hours only!

a variety of artisan foods at clear out prices....some remnants, some short dated, some damaged packaging....all AWESOME

Fri 15th Dec 4pm-6pm Sat 16th Dec 10am-1pm at the Gershgoods Warehouse Unit 2, 118 Somers St Lawson (off Livingstone St)

Yarn Bling Becoming a Thing!

Fibres in the Mist are hoping to create a new festival in 2018 for all fibre artists. The idea is to involve any craft related to kintting, crochet, weaving, spinning, sewing, patchwork and felting and then to cover as many inanimate objects in the main street of Katoomba as possible. These age old crafts involve all ages, all genders and all skill levels. @fibresinthemist

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 COMMUNITY

All hands on deck

Anthony Marr is not only the host of two shows at Radio Blue Mountains, operating his own massage business on the side, but he manages all of this without vision, guided by his hands

Thanks to recent upgrades at Radio Blue Mountains 89.1fm, Anthony Marr is now able to operate the sound desk with his guide dog by his side. He’s overcome challenges and learned the desk by memory and feel.

“I did a show with Harrison Storm performing live in the studio and it was a lot of learning to do; using different buttons on the board including compression and gain that I’d not yet memorised. The rest of the board is marked with braille and sticky dots,” says Anthony.

Anthony originally met co-host Josh after running into his wife Chloe on the streets of Katoomba. On air (2-5pm Wed) they discuss music and stir each other up, Dory and the Devil is the other show talking about community activities, disability, some politics, sharing the things they do and the sevices they use for their disabilities.

Hands on approach Aside from the radio shows, Anthony also runs his own blind massage business with the help of his wife Chloe.

“I like to be able to help people and make them feel good, especially if they have autoimmune diseases and things like that and make their pain just that little bit more

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Anthony Marr (right) with his companion guide dog and co-presenter Josh manageable, and just help people relax,” he says.

Chloe, who is being massaged during the interview laughingly says “It gives a better quality of life to me as well!”

Anthony says “It’s another method without using drugs, which doctors prescribe quite regularly and you know there’s better ways than always going to the drugs first.”

Massage for Pain Relief Chloe says “Its pain relief for me, I have rheumatoid arthritis, so I have a lot of pain. I mean I have to be bed ridden a lot of the time, so any massage really helps relieve some of my pain and it might mean I’d have to take one extra pain medication, so in the long run it’s better for my health, if I can have a massage rather than taking a pill” Rheumatoid arthritis is an autoimmune disease that basically,

what it does is - most people have a standard immune system that will fight colds and all that sort of thing.

My wife’s autoimmune system has basically flipped itself on its head and is attacking its own body.”

Chloe says “I didn’t get diagnosed for like 8 years and didn’t have any medications, so my condition progressed and deteriorated very quickly and so I’m very grateful for massage.”

Anthony was taught by Mark Trump who works at the Katoomba Aquatic Centre. His mentor, who spent more time with Anthony to show different ways from a vision impaired or blind perspective how he could feel muscles or ways of marking diagrams, even business advice which Anthony has been able to use.

Tune into RBM 89.1fm on Wed 2-5pm for Blast from the Past Back to the Future, Sat 2-4pm for Dory and the Devil @mahrsmassagetherapy

www.thehazemag.com.au Issue 12 - Summer 2017

PROSE PAGE 

Poets Were Spoken Four The room was dimly lit and the stage empty besides a spotlight on a microphone. There was a DJ from Brooklyn in the corner playing some relaxed beats and I sat down not knowing that 90 minutes later I would find myself totally blown away!

Hosted by 2015 Australian Poetry Slam Champion and two-time NSW Poetry Slam Champion, the hilarious Philip Wilcox, who was a master at lifting the energy in the room to a level that became intoxicating.

The poets were Texas-born, now Melbourne local, Arielle Cottingham, Melbourne based Sukhjit Kaur Khalsa, and Canadian spoken word artist Ian Keteku accompanied by a friend on ukulele.

The poems were mostly short and punchy with that great rhythm that slam poetry often has. Broaching topics such as feminism, inequality, race, world peace and the future, each of the artists was unique in their style, but all were amazingly talented.

The lights came on, but I wasn’t ready to go home just yet, so I headed downstairs to the bar and had a couple of drinks and a few laughs with the performers…the perfect ‘final act’.

Reviewed by Hayley Kemp at The Joan, Penrith

Gleebooks Blackheath hosted Charlotte Smith (of The Darnell Collection)’s book launch for One Enchanted Evening at the Carrington Hotel with Charlotte herself interviewed by ex-Vogue Editor Kirsty Clements. Words & Pics by Brigitte Grant Photography

A New Place for Words in Katoomba

WestWords and Gallery ONE88 have launched the newest hyroglyph haven, The Den 24/7. This is the third WestWords Writers’ Room in Western Sydney, alongside the Campbelltown Writer’s Retreat at Wedderburn and the Parramatta Writers’ Rooms.

The Den is housed at Gallery ONE88 in central Katoomba and will serve as a meeting point and workspace for writers from across the Blue Mountains.

For less than a cup of coffee a day (not that you were thinking of buying another latte, right?), Writers’ Room membership includes a glossary of features like 24/7 access, dedicated space to write, free wi-fi, discounted rates for showcase events with guest writers and open mic sessions, discounted rate for writing workshops (held every 6-8 weeks) and plenty of perks worth reading about.

The launch coincides with a call-out for writers interested in Writers’ Room membership and a limited time offering of half price membership for the first 2 months.

Rust and Timber

Aromatic warmth sings throughout the walls, landing upon metal and timber surfaces. The timber surfaces that await the continuous flow of rumps that nestle into their cleverly crafted curves and chatter about the day, the weather, the kids. These rumps guzzle bitter earthen liquid deep down into their bodies.

The liquid warmth distributing warmly. Faces activated by the hit, pleasure, and coherence emanating as gently as the beginnings of an emerging snow pea vine around an unsuspecting stake.

By Erin Veronica Issue 12 - Summer 2017

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Ink

 PROSE PAGE

TANK

Local comic book artist and author HAYDEN FRYER has been creating and producing comic and graphic novel work for well over a decade through his own boutique publishing company, Siberian Productions. By Mathew Currey

His current and most popular stories, “DARKEST NIGHT”; a tragic Shakespearian style character piece that deals with the harsh realities of collapsing interpersonal relationships, and “COBBER”; a contemporary western set in an outback opal mining town that follows the bloody escalation of a bitter feud between warring families, as well as Hayden’s most prominent earlier work, the cult fan favourite, “BILLY: DEMON SLAYER”.

What influenced you to take on writing and drawing comics?

In short, the possibilities! The comics and sequential art medium is one of the most easily accessible for telling any kind of story; all you essentially need is paper, pencil and an idea to run away with. While growing up in the Blue Mountains, I consumed as much creative content as I could get my hands on; from the various forms of comics, books, films and music. And when I was inevitability bit by the bug to create my own stories, it became obvious really quickly that the Comics medium was my first and foremost choice as a lifelong passion.

As an independent author, how do you balance out working on your books and work? Does it take a toll?

How do I balance it? Badly! But Coffee is my very, very close friend. During the midst of production, I’m essentially walking a pretty fine tightrope between the creative work itself, a token 9 to 5 full-time job to keep a roof over my head and reminding friends/family that I’m still alive. Over the years I like to think that I’ve learned how to compartmentalise each of those aspects and keep the creative work to a manageable schedule. But when you hit that downhill run in an intoxicating flow of creativity, well, it all tends to go quickly out the window.

Inevitably a burn out is also a pretty big issue during comic/graphic novel production, since the work itself

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can be very mentally and labour intensive. It’s especially so when I’m working on larger projects, like the current multi-year production period for, “COBBER”. I do try to plan ahead with blocks of down time around production deadlines and project milestones.

When you’re creating your stories, do find that you identify with your characters?

When I’m writing, I do try to find a particular character in the story to act as a vent or to reflect thematically through (I’ve found it’s an easy way of identifying individual character’s voices outside of your own). But I’m not a fan of the overly romanticised idea that the writer is the work, they are invariably separate creatures. And while I do take the occasional personality/vocal ticks from people I’ve known over the years, they’re typically more for textural brush strokes against the larger form of the character.

I’ve heard over the years of writers saying that the character’s end up speaking through them, but for me it’s always been more about having a full understanding of the character’s personality so that they act authentically in the world and events you’ve created in story. My small pro-tip would be to never title a series with an easily remembered name: I’ve lost track of the amount of times people have both genuinely and jokingly called me, “Billy” over the years (Billy being the lead character in, “BILLY: DEMON SLAYER”).

Does music play a big fact in your inspiration, as music is generally well known to help the creative juices flow?

It certainly does! When I’m in the early stages of writing and during the later stages drawing/post-production, I’ll tend to gravitate towards certain bands or genres which become like creative/emotional bookmarks for the project overall. One of the biggest things while I was working on Darkest Night especially, was having a set playlist to cycle through for inspiration whenever I struggled to find the character’s emotion, the story’s intent or a particular mood for individual scenes. I think that people in general when consuming creative content tend to underestimate how interconnected the various creative forms truly are when it comes to story, mood and theme. And while this is something that film does exceedingly well, it’s a thought that I’ve tried to incorporate a little throughout my works over the years by having key mid-story transitional scenes accented with lyrics from local musicians like; KimberleyIrene, Vanessa Heinitz and Meri Amber.

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PROSE PAGE 

How long does it take for you make your books?

Far too long! (laughs) It’s extremely varied, currently it can take roughly 6 months to produce a single issue of Cobber (From initial script breakdowns, drawing the art, digital work and finalising dialogue, through to the final printed comic). Previously it’s been anywhere from 12 months down to just a couple of months.

Since film and comics have been coinciding with each other for years and using storyboards/comic panels to outline a story to screen, what is imperative for you to find the best scene/most visually arresting to capture an audience?

I’ve always taken a “story first” approach to the illustrative work; working visually to tell the story as clearly as I can within the Comic frames and using the dialogue/ exposition to further contextualise narrative/story intents afterwards. Stylistically with the narrative flow of the comic art, I’m mainly influenced by cinematographic techniques and incorporating that within the sequential framing conventions of the Comics medium: Pushing and pulling frame sizes/focus over the visual staging, while keeping the characters moving both within and outside the frames (Sequential storytelling in Comics is as much about what you see in frame, as it is what your mind creates in between those frames).

Do you have any mentors? Be it in comic and film?

Creatively, I’m incredibly influenced by the works of James O’Barr, Raymond Briggs, Steve Dikto, Mike Mignola, Gustove Dore, Chuck Jones, Richard Matheson, Stephen King, Douglas Adams, RL Stine, Sergio Leone, Sam Raimi, Steven Speilberg, Joe Dante, John Ford, Akira Kurosawa, Katsuhiro Otomo, Hayao Miyazaki and many, many others.

Having attended the ‘Pop culture conventions’ in the early 2000’s, how has your experience there with more and more people becoming acquainted with comics attributed to you being a part of that culture?

One of the biggest things I’ve discovered over the last decade is that Comics have had this cyclic nature of, “boom and bust”. At the moment we’re riding a pretty big part of the Boom cycle and it’s been fantastic to see how much further the awareness of the local Comic scene has expanded. Comics themselves are an extremely diverse medium and while there’s always been local distribution and accessibility issues, having the larger Pop Culture events embrace and market the medium has been great for introducing more fans to local works. Coupled with the larger conventions has been the wider explosion of more groundswell Comic/Graphic Novel orientated events across the country, like; “Graphic” in Sydney, “Comic Gong” in Wollongong, “Comic Con-Versation” across many Sydney Libraries, “Australian Comics Arts Festival” in Canberra, “Indie Comic-Con” in Melbourne, “ZICS” in Brisbane, etc. siberianproductions.com

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 AROUND THE REGION

Blues

Dudes

Dave Wilkins & Peter Fricker - Sydney Blues & Roots Festival Promoters

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HE 9th Blues & Roots Festival didn’t come easy for Peter Fricker and Dave Wilkins, there were actually a few moments where the plug was nearly pulled, but following its massive success the boys are thrilled to have pushed through to produce this unbridled blues bash.

Pete explains “We had a lot of obstacles this year. The World Championship Polo put their event on our weekend. We got pushed into a corner of ‘Are we going to do it, or, are we not going to do it?’ All our punters that come all the time told us we’ve got to do it... So we looked around for a weekend where we’re not really going to affect any other festivals and the start of December was decided on.”

Filled with every kind of blues and roots act you can imagine, including a lot of locals, the festival draws its audience from around the country as the town of Windsor explodes with rockin’ blues cruises, breakfast blues, busking, and of course the main pubs Tates Hawkesbury Hotel and the Fitzroy in town. With all that dancing and walking between stages, it does a small toll on the feet.

“I come from a shoe family,” Pete says of his beginnings. “Actually, we had famous shoe stores all over Sydney. But when I left school I did a hotel and catering management

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course and was supposed to be running places like the Hilton, and I didn’t like that.”

So Pete went out into the pub circuit, he ran the Railway Hotel at Fairfield for a while and was the youngest licensee in New South Wales at the time at just 20-years-old.

“I got poached by a bloke over at the Round House at Revesby. He wanted to make it a music venue, so I got on board. Even as a kid I was booking bands for our local school, Blacktown Boys High. We used to have all the big name bands come through there, I remember we had Buffalo, which was probably Australia’s best ever heavy metal band, one of the guys went on to form Rose Tattoo.”

As the story goes, Pete ended up leaving the hotel game and settling down with his family. He got “stuck” in the shoe game for about 30 years.

“One day a mate of mine said, ‘Come down into Narooma. There’s a great blues festival down there.’ And I’d never heard of it but I went along.

“So, I got hooked up in it again – got caught up in the hype and everything. The mate that I went down there, Gary, and his brother Bob, mad bluesman, were sitting up at the Fitzroy Hotel in the mall in Windsor and having a few beers and talking. And I said, ‘Wouldn’t this

The two ‘dudes behind the blues’ have just reined in their 9th annual Sydney Blues & Roots Festival in the Hawkesbury. The Haze’s Willem Hendriksen chats with Peter Fricker on the festival’s – and his own – genesis place be good for a blues festival?’

And they both looked at each other and they said, ‘We’ve been talking about that for a couple years now.’

And both prominent businessmen in town and I said, ‘Let’s do it.’ And I gave them a kick up the ass and away we went into the Blues Festival!”

The festival apparently grew too big the first year – from one end of Windsor to the other end – and it’s a long street. Pete recalls they had about 12 venues but only 500 people turn up spread out amongst the venues. “It was pretty slim pickings for all the venues that year. It was really good on the Friday night though, we finished off at the Jolly Frog and the whole 500 people came to the Jolly Frog and the place was absolutely packed. And the same on the Saturday night. The Fitzroy, being a late night venue, it was the late night venue. Bondi Cigars playing, and we had the 500 people there in that venue.”

The festival pushes around 6,000 people these days, with six venues and the numbers seem to work.

Glenn A Baker has been the festival’s patron for the last 7 years.

Pete says “He does a great job!

He walks down the street and he gets harassed by people, everyone wanting to get photos with him.” sydneybluesandrootsfestival.com

www.thehazemag.com.au Issue 12 - Summer 2017

AROUND THE REGION 

Local Acts

With some massive headliners in town for Sydney Blues & Roots, we’re shining the spotlight on the locals who keep the Hawkesbury scene fresh and firey throughout the year!

ORCABAND

BELLA LUCHETTI

TERRY BATU

Orcaband is a 5 piece “grinding & gritty” blues, rock & boogie band.

Following the success of their first EP “Badass” they are currently in the studio recording their long awaited second EP with first single to be released at the Sydney Blues & Roots Festival 2017.

Isabella Luchetti is a 16 year old singer, songwriter and musician from the Blue Mountains. An accomplished vocalist and guitar player, she has also taught herself the keyboards to assist with the song writing process.

Her musical influences include Nina Simone, Bob Dylan and Jeff Buckley.

Terry Batu is described as blues acoustic rock with influences of Jimi Hendrix, Tommy Emmanuel, Carlos Santana and Chet Atkins. He has played the Australian Blues circuit for last 35 years and was also a member in the legendary band ‘Hush’ back in the ‘90’s.

LIZARD

PEARLS & SWINE

DOGGN IT

Lizard core is Matt Charnley on Vocals, Guitar & anything in between and Jason Dowse delivering some of the meanest funky bass lines you’ll see. Lizard drummers Roy Ruckman, Matt Reynolds and Brendan Maguire have shared the role throughout 2017 and all rock and deliver.

Pic: Murray Foote Photographer

Aren’t two of them dead?” I hear you ask…. No, but considering their combined age would make a piece of crap furniture sell for over a grand at any one of the 200 antique stores in Windsor, it’s only a matter of time! ! In fact, considering their newly recorded album: Encouraging Tourettes - is by far the heaviest and loudest music they’ve ever recorded.

Doggn it live performances take you on a journey through Australia’s past, and celebrate iconic Australian culture, with original songs about Timber getting, Whaling and the Hungry Mile at Millers Point, they will take you on a blues journey that bypasses thought and taps directly into the heart and soul.

Pic: Murray Foote photographer

DIVINIA Divinia Jean is a 16 year old local singer/songwriter who has spent most of her life creating and valuing music in its many forms. Teaching herself the ukulele as well as receiving over 6 years of vocal training from the impeccable late Aleda Johnsen has further deepened her appreciation for the art, she admires such performers as Florence Welch, Dodie Clark and Australian legend John Butler.

Photo: Geoff Jones (Hawkesbury Gazette) Issue 12 - Summer 2017

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Î CULTURE FEATURE

It has been said time and time again that the Blue Mountains produces an amazing amount of music. The phrase ‘something in the water’ is often used to remark at the diverse and eclectic artists that emerge from our live music scene. But there is one genre with a following so dedicated that it has been given its own name - ‘Blue Mountains Hip Hop’.

Words and pics: Pat Bowden

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OU might recognise big names such as Hermitude, Urthboy, Thundamentals, Dialectrix, and Down Under Beats as some of the artists to emerge from the Mountains scene. Hip hop heads would flock to TrisElies and the Gearins Hotel for their fix of live beats and raps, and from that small but dedicated scene in the moutains, we can often hear these artists mentioned on our radio and in mainstream media. These days the names have changed, venues have come and gone and the music has grown even more diverse, but the love for hip hop has stayed the same.

Cooking up a Storm Caustic Yoda (real name Tony) is the beatmaker and producer for funk / soul / hip hop collective Cooking with Caustic, the operator of CwC Studios in Wentworth Falls, and organiser of the monthly hip hop showcase Toasted Loops at the Gearins Hotel.

He has played in a countless and stillgrowing number of projects (Bomb

Caustic Yoda & DJ Platterpush 38

Threat, Two Toes, Otherside to name a few) and has seen artists such as Daily Meds, Reverse Polarities, and Backyard Lab through his studio for recording, mixing and mastering.

“The Blue Mountains hip hop scene has been growing for a long time and has had a growing local scene for the last 20 years. It’s an ever expanding diverse genre these days and always pushing new boundaries while keeping true to the fundamentals of the style.”

So with an extensive number and range of active artists, how did the Blue Mountains hip hop scene come about in the beginning? Tony attributes it to a certain venue just off Katoomba’s main street. “Explanetary are considered the first act that I can remember, but things didnt really take off in a big way until Down Under Beats crew started putting on nights at TrisElies, which was the venue that Blue Mountains hip hop begun at in many different forms.” Now the Station Bar, TrisElies was the hub of the growing hip hop scene, hosting artists such as Jumbledat, Rumpunch, Funk Injection and Down Under Beats on the regular. Nowadays hip hop gigs can be found in just about any of the venues in Katoomba, however the biggest one happens every month at the Gearins Hotel - Toasted Loops.

“Toasted Loops started in 2012 and took over from regular nights like The Hustle. The last two years have been massive, with almost monthly shows and at least ten new local acts joining the scene. It’s pretty much exploded up here with new talent after a couple of quieter years. Getting the new acts started and supporting our local hiphop heads is a big part of what Toasted Loops is about.”

Otherside EP launch Grass is Greener One of these acts is Otherside, who in their short time as a band have supported British supergroup The Four Owls in Sydney, packed out the Gearins Hotel for an EP launch, and built an incredible following of fans that will fill a room wherever they might be playing. Hammy and Wise built hype with early tracks on YouTube, followed by the Slurred Words mixtape in 2015, and the Grass is Greener EP a year later. Often seen collaborating with local groups The 3G Network and Ivy Mics Krew, Otherside have made a name for themselves off the back of a fierce live show and two solid releases.

More Creative Madame Wu and Elise Graham are another duo who have become a fixture in the local scene. Originally hailing from Campbelltown, the pair have produced two albums (at CwC Studios) and performed as part of Cooking with Caustic. With the combination of fiery and hard-hitting bars from Madame Wu against Elise’s soulful and bright vocals, it’s easy to see why punters come away amazed

www.thehazemag.com.au Issue 12 - Summer 2017

CULTURE

Madame WU & Elise Graham after watching a set of theirs.

Of the local scene, Elise says that “hip hop in the mountains has the confidence to be more creative, incorporate different instruments and musicians in the process. It’s an artsy area and I think local artists draw inspiration from other musicians across genres”. Madame Wu (real name Justine) agrees: “the people who come to gigs are a diverse crowd – a mix of hip hop heads and open minded people who appreciate good music. The hip hop heads are really supportive and proud of their local scene, there is consistently so much new talent in the mountains. I find the audience interaction is a lot more responsive in the mountains and that makes performing so much fun.”

Both agree that the setting of the mountains plays a part, if only small, in their creative work, and Elise tells me that “...for us, what we write about reflects our experiences, the places we have grown up in or spend time in. Although we are not from the mountains ourselves, we have spent a lot of time in the area whilst recording and performing. I’m often drawing from memories in these places, so they come across in our music.”

So is it a different experience for two women in a scene that, in the past has been traditionally dominated by male acts? Justine says “I am frequently told I am ‘one of the best girl rappers’ which can be hard because no matter how hard you work you’re not sure if it is your skill or your novelty that is appreciated. I’m often judged on my appearance, to the point where I’ve not been allowed in to soundcheck, or refused a mic in an open mic, because people don’t believe I’m an emcee.” And on the ways the hip hop scene, and wider

Issue 12 - Summer 2017

music scene in general can improve on this: “Don’t normalise and perpetuate sexism in your lyrics and in the way you treat women. Respect our boundaries, this could be as simple as when we step off stage, offer a respectful handshake, don’t grab us and assume we all want to be hugged. If you wouldn’t do it to a male performer, don’t do it to us.”

“Don’t assume when we speak up about sexism in our industry that it is a personal attack on you. We need to have a respectful conversation.

Enough judgements on our appearance, just listen to the music.”

Stretched too far You might call Stretchy MC an outcast on the scene, and he’d love every word of it. Drawing inspiration from any and Stretchy MC all genres of music, Stretchy treads where others fear to step - incorporating elements of American trap, British grime and electronic music into his unique and confronting brand of hip hop.

“I spent the first sixteen years of my life listening to mainly rock and metal and try to channel influence from the likes of Ian Kenny (Karnivool), Kim Benzie (Dead Letter Circus) and Maynard James Keenan (Tool). Hip hop influences range from politically fuelled Australian artists like P. Smurf, Horrorshow, and The Herd, U.K. boom bappers such as Jam Baxter and Dirty Dike, and various American rappers such as Watsky, Futuristic, NF and Hopsin”, he says on his influences.

Stretchy (real name Tarren) describes the topics of his songs as “something about the ironic duality in being privileged but still depressed and ungrateful, and seemingly motivated by others misfortune or injustice”. He covers topics ranging from political and social affairs to more introspective and personal issues, often relating the two together in the space of one song. Track names like Catapults

Kadence

and Cannons, Villian, Menace and Revolt! Revolt! ensure for a unique and attention-grabbing listen, and Stretch’s long awaited second mixtape Stretched Too Far is due for release in the near future.

Hungry for Hip Hop One of the newest crews on the scene is Kadence. Kyle (KayC) and Hayden’s brand of hip hop effortlessly flips between dreamy soundscapes, slow jazzy breaks, and hard hitting boom bap beats that easily get a whole crowd nodding their heads. Kyle describes the scene here as “hungry... so many talented friends are blooming this amazing energy, that I’m so fortunate to be apart of. There is a great amount of unique styles, yet never confined, always different creations coming to the forefront, which keeps me always inspired to better my art and music.”

Kadence are making movements towards releasing their as yet untitled debut album, and their first show at Toasted Loops without releasing any tracks saw the room packed out, showing the crowd’s eagerness to hear something new, as well as to support the seasoned acts. “Toasted have given such an awesome and exciting platform for a whole bunch of amazing artists each month, and always showed love to upcoming artists [..] in the process making it a comfortable transition onto the stage” says Kyle.

However you like your Hip Hop, the small but remarkably dedicated scene in the Mountains covers all these bases. If the successes of earlier pioneers hailing from here is anything to go by, these artists are also destined for greatness; however it is the certain combination of a unique World Heritage area, the staunch loyalty of fans, musicians and creatives, and the ever expanding spirit and vitality of hip hop that creates something exceptional of our own: Blue Mountains Hip Hop.

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 EATS TASTY MORSELS

Little Coffee Co., Big Heart

Coffee drinkers in the Blue Mountains are self-confessed connoisseurs, and the new blend on the block from the small supplier is already warming hearts with its ethically sourced origins and perfectionist roasting techniques. Willem & Mark from Haze cut the cup with owner Darren Gersbach

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ALKING into The Little Coffee Co. in Lawson, immediately your senses are immediately aroused with the aroma of fresh beans and the sound of grinding machines. Artworks hang from the warehouse roof and hint at this small company’s blended back-story that travels the globe and lands in the heart of the Blue Mountains.

Owner Darren made his home in Lawson and is admittedly engrossed in the food and art intertwine, as he explains the new mural painted above his coffee machines. “It’s part of the experience, without arts food wouldn’t be around.”

“We started out as a home delivery business over 20 years ago in Erskineville out of an old warehouse. I met up with a guy called Toby Smith who started Toby’s Estate coffee and we started in his mum’s backyard. We’ve developed that retail range which Gershgoods still does today, but have since opened The Little Coffee Co.” Darren leads us inside the warehouse and up a steep ladder to the mezzanine level where we meet Darien, Steph and Chris who show us the process behind the scenes. Sacks of origin-sourced beans are broken open as Darien moves quickly about the glowing roasting equipment, guided by his hands and constantly checking the quality and process (see inset).

“Three years ago we started out developing the blend with a friend. We brought it in-house so we could tweak the flavour profiles and started improving on it. What you

are tasting now is a blend that took us nearly 18 months to get to, and it is worth the wait!”

FROM THE SOURCE

Darren, who makes the pilgrimage to meet farmers in locations like Ethiopia, Sumatra and Brazil, explains the many factors around a good tasting cup “We want to find what the essence of each bean is. The flavour profiles can be brought through from the area they are sourced, then you can enhance it through the process to bring out a lot of different flavour characteristics”.

“It’s all about meeting the supplier, meeting them at the source to see their farming processes and how they treat their staff. You’ve got to be face to face and meet the people, then the quality should be tasted in the cup. But you’ve also got to have that story to back it up,” he says.

Darren’s recent Sumatran trip was filmed and you will soon be able to view his original antics online. It’s obvious that these trips are about finding the most ethically sourced beans, but also that Darren enjoys the travel and his love of tasting, smelling and determining the best bean translates through to every part of this small local business.

Ask your local café for a cup of Little Coffee Co. and know you are supporting ethically sourced coffee, produced with love by the little guys with big hearts. @thelittlecoffeeco www.thelittlecoffeeco.com.au

Behind the Beans

It’s a joyous, meticulous process that draws on patience but the reward for the coffee lover is confirmed immediately by the otherworldly taste of the final blend. Rather than delving too deeply into the magic we’ll break it down for you into the following three easy spells…err steps:

Pics: Stephanie Mazure

1. Each single origin bean is worshipped then roasted to discover where the flavour is at its richest.

At the risk of alienating you with technical talk, this is referred to as the “Sweet spot.”

(And it’s truly a pretty sweet moment when we find it, often more singing ensues.)

2. Each roasted batch is now tasted for consistency of flavour.

Pic: Luke Walker

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Pic: Silversalt Photography

3. Finally, we blend all freshly roasted origins to create the ultimate, tongue-sighing profile.

www.thehazemag.com.au Issue 12 - Summer 2017

 TASTY MORSELS

TakingtoEtheats

Streets

Owner and chef of Katoomba restaurant 8 Things, Misha Laurent has always forged a fusion of his two true passions: funky music and fresh food, discovers Willem Hendriksen

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ORN in France, Misha grew up in Paris and Munich, where music directed his early life.

“The first passion I had was music but being young and not really seeing a career in it at that stage, I decided to go into a hotel apprenticeship in Munich,” Misha recalls. “I fell into a kitchen and resparked my passion for food which I had been given through my years of growing up with my dad, a very passionate foodie.”

“In the kitchen you can and being a creative person. I really needed that, to keep happy and satisfied... So I stayed in the kitchens and worked my way up to become a head chef.”

But the music was always there in the background, and Misha was always involved in the music scene, even at a young age he was working the clubs in Munich surrounded by DJ’s. Going on to travel the world, including South East Asia for two and a half years and Canada he developed a global approach to food, caressing his cooking career before heading to Australia in 2000.

“I started working in kitchens in Sydney, I did stints at the Bondi Trattoria, I worked in a place in Double Bay called the Blue Oyster, and worked at Portofino in Leichhardt,” Misha rattles off his impressive portfolio before admitting he then followed a girl to England.

His UK stint is where he really

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developed his record collection before returning to Byron Bay and starting up a record label with friends (Mighty Highness Records).

“I actually think we are the first new generation of funk vinyl pressing record label in Australia,” Misha says proudly.

“Then my best friend moved to the Mountains and he met this crew that wanted to open a restaurant in the old garage in Leura and they were looking for a chef. So, he contacted me in Byron. I came, I cooked - they liked it!”

Looking to start his own business for about 10 or 15 years, Misha looked to Katoomba which he says was at the edge of a burst of revival.

8 Things:

MISHA’S HIP HOP PICKS 1 Move the Crowd – Eric B and Rakim 2 Give the Drummer Some – Ultramagnetic MC’s 3 3 lil’ Putos – Cypress hill

4 The Boomin System – LL Cool J 5 Return of the “G” – Outkast 6 It’s Yourz – Wu Tang Clan

7 Kick in the Door – Notorious BIG 8 Whateva Will Be – A Tribe Called Quest

“I was cooking fried Rice at home and people raved about the Nasi Goreng that I make for them at home, and I ended up having array of food from around the world, but all these dishes had no connection apart from being from different countries.

“Over dinner one night, I explained my concept street food cause I love street food and there’s not street food around and somebody drops it, ‘oh, so basically you’re gonna have 8 things,’ and we all at the table understood, because we were looking for a name, it’s like 8 Things!

That is a great name and he’s like ‘oh yeah, yeah, yeah, that’s what I meant,’ but really, he meant ‘are you going to have eight things on the menu’.

“So, I ran with it, that was tying everything up. 8 Things on the menu, it can be anything and it’s a good brand, number 8 is a lucky number in China and you know, all these things just tied up really nicely.”

“The music also is involved in the 8 Things with the playlists that are played. It’s very much the type of music that I’m into, it’s very much different from whatever you’d listen to everywhere else – it’s underground and so obviously street food marries well with street vibes. So, it’s hip-hop, it’s funk, it’s soul, you know jazz and that marries as well. So, it’s the street and Katoomba is the streets.”

8 Things is on Katoomba Street 8things.com.au

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 PLACES & SPACES

Hidden

s e r u s a e r T “BLACK ANTIQUES IS LIKE THE LAST OF THE MOHICANS. Regularly described as an Aladdin’s cave of retro, vintage, industrial and antique objects. A regular dragon’s hoard. Some people come in and their minds are instantly blown, they might stay for hours, other people are just confused and can’t wait to get out of my wizard’s maze.”

Black Antiques has been years in the making and is a bizarre convergence of literally dozens of hoards! The owner, Rex Black and his assistant Mr Brown the loyal hound (seen posing on the grand piano) invite you to peruse their collections to your heart’s content.

“We hear the word ‘forage‘ and ‘rummage’ a lot in here,” says Rex. “It’s nice when people are just amazed by the quantity and diversity of my place. We have a lot of foragers and people who like to dig, but it’s also cool when people ask for something particular and I probably have it. I had a guy he was looking for an esoteric book for ten years and deigned to ask, I did have it and strangely I even knew where it was! He left with a first edition of ‘The Pheonix’ a very happy man.”

The place was named as a homage and reference to Black Books. “Seems shallow but it’s mine and everyone’s favourite show, but myself and the business and our ethics have little similarity really, well, maybe...” Rex admits.

“Strangest thing I ever sold? It would be impossible to say but to name a few maybe a painting by Rosaline Norton the ‘witch of kings cross’ complete with a curse inscribed in the back, pretty cool, I still have Elvis Presley’s autograph, dame Joan Sutherland’s travel trunk and an ocelot named Baboo.

It’s all good fun. I sell a lot of furniture but I prefer dealing in oriental stuff, art, swords and motorcycles – y’know, the really cool stuff.”

“I must go now dear friends for it is time for me to terrorise my customers by practising on my grand piano, find us on Facebook, stay tuned.” @BlackAntiquesKatoomba

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 FITNESS & LIFESTYLE

r Age No Batorfritie ness

73-year-old Max Sinclair is one of Plus Fitness Blaxland’s numerous “senior members” who have discovered the many benefits of regular exercise to help keep them active and enjoying life!

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HERE was no “eureka moment” for Max, he started going to the gym because his wife started going to the pool, “I just sort of got hooked” he said. Max who describes himself as “not a sporting person” gets to the gym around four times a week and has been a member for about four years. It’s quite a change from his career as a civilian technical officer in the Navy, which didn’t provide much exercise. Now he keeps training to be fit, strong and healthy, he also changed his diet pretty significantly to increase the benefit of the gym visits!

When asked about his fitness goals max replied with a smile “I want to be Arnie! but seriously just to have a healthy body that moves welI, I want to be as good as I can for long as I can, you’re never too young or old, if you start you will have benefits” The benefits for Max extend to his other passions which include ballroom dancing and flying model airplanes. Max has only been dancing for a couple

Fitness fiend: Max’s passion for the gym keeps his health and fitness in check! of years but says he may not have even started if he hadn’t gone to the gym and realised how much energy he actually has. Max has also found the group class he does creates another social aspect to his life.

Max who does have a hearing problem finds that his regular exercise improves his mental alertness, for him, this balances out what he can’t have control over with something he can. If you’re on the other side of 70 and struggling to find motivation - Max’s advice - go and visit someone in a nursing home! Max suspects there are some oldies who don’t do much but he finds it’s no great effort to come to the gym as it’s part of his life which wouldn’t seem the same without it! @plusfitness247blaxland

JUST DANCE, BLUE MOUNTAINS! Calling all bedroom ballroomers, lounge limboers and dining room discoers: a fresh new event

Entry is by donation, so the school hall can continue being booked. “We are strong believers of community, fun, connection and friendship. All

are welcome, families too, some find a space and loose themselves in meditative dance, some like to be silly”, says Daz.

has recently arrived at Katoomba Street’s St Canice’s Hall. Reinvigorating the start of each Katoomba workweek, a small team of local volunteers and friends have established a unique Mountains variation of the global Just Dance trend, as inspired by organiser Adrienne Kalmar.

“My sister told me about Just Dance in Newcastle and it sounded like an amazing idea. Kinda like what my family and friends do in the lounge room, but on a community level” Adrienne tells Haze. Hearing through work colleague Kasia Toppo that another friend was having the same idea, Kalmar got in contact with festival chai guy Daz Proco and joined forces, the growing team then locating a mutual DJ friend with a speaker system – Mark Carroll, AKA DJ Oldboy.

“We all met, fell into roles, and sorted things pretty quickly. At the moment we have Daz, Xanthe, Mark, Kasia and Words: Corin Shearston. Photo: Freya McCann. @Just Dance Blue Mountains myself”, says Adrienne.

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www.thehazemag.com.au Issue 12 - Summer 2017

Life’s a Beach Katoomba Surf Club

Haze chats with videographer Cameron Nicholls about Katoomba Surf Club’s new flick ‘Lifes a Beach’ - a skate video filmed at the edge of the world...

“Lifes a beach. Short, sweet and desperate for attention,” Cameron jokes. He moved to the Blue Mountains two years ago and spent the last 12 months filming the local skate club’s new video, released at a party at the Alexandra in Leura last month.

“The guys can get up to some mischief but nothing serious. The crew is pretty laid back and that was what I wanted to show. But a past friend of mine who got into some very serious trouble recently was identified as a skateboarder on the news. Which was completely irrelevant to the crimes. This is another reason why I wanted to show the public the fun, laid back community that most skateboarders are a part of,” he explains. “Sometimes you get asked to move along and we are pretty understanding as it’s usually someone doing their job and pack up then go to another spot.”

“There are practically no legit spots in the mountains. You just need to make do.

I never really was a park skater but I can definitely see for kids it is easier to post up at the park as the spots in the mountains are rugged, awkward and a pain in the ass to get to if you can’t drive. The best thing about doing that is you have your life with your friends archived and is great to look back on and have a laugh or two.”

Cameron has received some great feedback from the video, people saying how well it flows and that they really enjoyed it.

His tricks are quick cuts between tricks with plenty of lifestyle footage, and being ruthless on selection of tricks. “And make bloody sure you have a good soundtrack, no one will watch if they can’t stand listening!”

“Thanks for watching now get outside and do something,” he quips.

Get a healthy dose of Life’s a Beach (Katoomba Surf Club) online at youtu.be/npcccGGYHKs

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David Hill

m.au

www.deephill.co

Former newspaper photojournalist and long-time Blue Mountains resident David Hill captured the whole gamut of news reality for 30 years before switching to tourism, heritage and lifestyle photoshoots in 2012. When not capturing the visual stories of high-end clients, he traipses the countryside in a grubby hatchback in search of freelance feature stories, character profiles and travel yarns with journalist wife Ellen.

From behind the lens, he has frozen moments from within a Hercules, the top of a tree, a gutter, a toilet block, the back of a motorbike and a camel and still has the chemical stains to prove his time in the darkroom. Sometimes he even gets to allow his lens to swing inwards to focus on the weird and wonderful imaginings of the art.

Elissa Jamieson

“ What I love most about photography is how everyone sees through the lens differently. It’s always a rush when the elements align, and you get that gem shot you’ve always dreamed of.

The shot shown here was one of those moments for me.

While watching the sun trickle down the horizon, I noticed some locals enjoying a drink after work and couldn’t help including them in the shot.

Although I typically shoot landscapes, I love venturing into portrait, sport and studio work.

These days, I shoot Nikon with a 24-120mm & 50mm lens, ND filters and tripod.”

Elissa Jamieson

Matt Tuapola

“I use my Canon gear to create connections between people and places, and as connections are subjective I’m constantly being challenged by the client and purpose of the shoot. There are times when I have looked through the images I have shot and unexpectedly one jumps out at me and that’s why I chose this shot for The Haze. It’s of a vendor in Jaipur from a recent trip to India. Even through the language barrier I got an amazing portrait from a connection made on the side of the street. That said I’m also enjoying working from my new studio in Leura.” www.image1607.com

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www.thehazemag.com.au Issue 12 - Summer 2017

Film Reviews...

SCREEN TIME 

Murder on the Orient Express

Thor: Ragnarok

Blade Runner 2049

Released

2017

Released

2017

Released

RATING 

RATING 

RATING 

Review by Mathew Currey

Review by Caleb Marshall

Review by Mathew Currey

A remake of the movie based on the acclaimed novel by Agatha Christie sees her master detective, Hercules Poirot (Kenneth Branagh, Hamlet. 1996), investigating a murder whilst traveling on the famous orient express.

Caught up in the whirlwind of the unexpected crime are a colourful array of passengers whom include, a Widow (Michelle Pfeiffer), a Butler (Derek Jacobi), a Governess (Daisy Ridley), a Professor (Willem Dafoe) a Missionary (Penelopé Cruz), an Accountant (Josh Gad), a Princess (Judi Dench), a Doctor (Leslie Odim), a Maid (Olivia Coleman) and a Gangster (Johnny Depp), all of whom become a suspect.

Kenneth Branagh, whom also directs, has made an immaculate version of the classic book that the film sweeps the audience into the late 1930’s and keeps them there until the very end, although the fans of David Suchet’s depiction of Poirot on the long running TV series may have fans divided. His cast have done a superb job at emulating the roles and brea thing life into each one. What makes this film is the characters, the mystery unfolds elegantly through them and that is something truly remarkable to keep the audience glued to the screen.

Watch if you liked: Agatha Christie’s Poirot, Murder on the Orient Express (1974) Sherlock Holmes (2009), Agatha Christie’s Miss Marple Movies and TV series.

Thor: Ragnarok is the newest addition to the MARVEL cinematic universe and third movie to be centered around Thor the god of thunder.

Visually this film is fantastic, from golden city’s to Grandmaster’s clothes everything – whether it’s CGI or practical – is all spot on. I think my favorite part of this movie’s effects is the Grandmaster’s tower, the inside looks utterly stunning – I am fairly sure each room kept the same pattern while changing up the colours and I really liked that.

The film had an all-around great cast with a stand out being Jeff Goldblum’s character “Grandmaster”.

The villain Hela played by Cate Blanchett, unfortunately, suffers simply because she is a Marvel movie villain (if you have experience with MARVEL movies I’m sure you understand what I mean!)

I don’t really think the soundtrack was much to write home about, while it had some moments it never really elevated a scene past the fact that said scene needs a musical backing.

Overall this is a good movie, but not a great movie. It may just be that we’re getting tired of superhero movies and this film seems to cover no new ground. If you normally like Marvel films I can’t see any reason why you wouldn’t like this one, if you are just looking for something to watch then I see no reason why you shouldn’t. Seen at United Cinema, Katoomba

Los Angeles 2049, 30 years after the original, Nexus-9 replicants have been integrated into society to live amongst humans.

Officer K (Ryan Gosling, La La Land), a Blade Runner for the LAPD, is sent on a task by Lieutenant Joshi (Robin Wright, House of Cards) to track down a rogue Nexus-8 replicant Sapper Morton (Dave Bautista, Guardians of the Galaxy 1 & 2). As K delves into the investigation he unravels a long buried mystery and conspiracy which implicates the long missing and original Blade Runner, Rick Deckard (Harrison Ford), and attracts the unwanted attention of the Wallace Corporation, whom are the leading manufacturers of replicants and its nefarious CEO, Niander Wallace (Jared Leto, Suicide Squad).

After a 35-year gap, this follow up to Ridley Scott’s 1982 cult sci-fi/ neo-noir favourite is a beautifully made detective movie and visually breathtaking sequel that doesn’t tarnish the traits of the original.

Hampton Fancher returns as one the screenwriters, who has again done a wonderful job basing his adaption on Philip. K Dick’s work and with Ridley Scott returning as Executive Producer, the final product has shown that it was well and truly in the right hands of Denis Villeneuve (Arrival. 2016, Sicario. 2015 & Prisoners. 2013) as the new director.

Watch if you liked: Blade Runner (1982) Babylon A.D. (2008), Imposter (2002) and The Matrix (1999).

Trivia! Murder on the Orient Express: • The role of The Widow was originally sought for Angelina Jolie, then Charlize Theron until eventually Michelle Pfeiffer was cast.

• The portrait of Poirot’s wife Katharine is a photo of a young Emma Thompson who is Kenneth Branagh’s ex-wife and frequent collaborator.

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• In the original 1974 film, Vanessa Redgrave portrayed the Governess, the role Daisy Ridley is cast in. Vanessa Redgrave is the Mother-in-Law to Liam Neeson, who was in the Star Wars prequel saga (1999 – 2005), and in the continuation of the saga, Daisy Ridley is in the lead role. www.thehazemag.com.au

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