The Haze Magazine #14 - Winter 2018

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SOLSTICE GUIDE

ART FOR WINTER

MAGICK PREATURES

INS-PAW-RATION

MAKING A MESA

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

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1 SEP 7.30PM

B2M: MAMANTA PUMPING TIWI ISLANDS RNB

Australia’s answer to the Backstreet Boys, B2M, will transport you to their Tiwi Island homeland with a pumping R’n’B performance, blending dance, chants and song.

TICKETS | SUBSCRIBE & SAVE! STANDARD $45 | CONCESSION $40 | UNDER 30s $30 4723 7600 | www.thejoan.com.au JOAN SUTHERLAND PERFORMING ARTS CENTRE, 597 HIGH STREET, PENRITH NSW 2750

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WHAT’S ON

My Friend the Chocolate Cake make Winter Revival

Classic Australian pop noir group My Friend The Chocolate Cake take to the road for a series of concerts this June and July performing songs from their highly acclaimed 2017 album, The Revival Meeting, alongside some old favourites from their extensive back catalogue.

The iconic sextet bring their baroque-pop world and ambient styles on Friday 22 June to Blue Mountains Theatre, Springwood.

Custom Guitar Becomes Star

Kaki King (USA) brings her mindblowing show all the way to Springwood in August. Provocative and moving, surprising and beautiful, The Neck Is A Bridge To The Body is Kaki King at her visionary best: deconstructing and redefining the role of solo instrumental artist through virtuoso technique, insatiable imagination, and boundless humanity. This multi-media performance uses projection mapping to present the guitar as an ontological tabula rasa in a creation myth unlike any other, where luminous visions of genesis and death, textures and skins, are cast onto an Ovation Acoustic guitar customised specifically for this production. “More than anything the process of creating this music has proven to me once again that the guitar really does the speaking, and I'm just the interpreter," says Kaki King. The tour debuted at Brooklyn’s BRIC Theater in New York City in 2014, and is touring extensively worldwide, including the Blue Mountains on 18 August at Blue Mountains Theatre.

Winning the Barter

While we still gather ourselves from the excitement of The Preatures announcing a 40-date regional tour, the realisation of having Ali Barter on the Penrith and Katoomba lineup has knocked our girlie socks off! You may know her from 2016's massive hit Girlie Bits or her Like a Version of 'Cause I'm a Man'. Jun 28 at Roxy Room Katoomba and 30th at Penrith Tattersalls.

Kate Bush Day is Back at Woodford

Time to dust off your red dress and dancing shoes and gather on the misty moors of the Woodford Reserve 14 July for The Most Wuthering Heights Day Ever, an homage to 1970’S British pop sensation Kate Bush and her '78 hit Wuthering Heights. Originating at the 2013 Brighton Fringe Festival 300 ‘Kates’ performed Bush’s ethereal dance from the original clip.

The Haze Magazine  Froma Lane, Katoomba  team@thehazemag.com.au   @thehazemag  0468 477 468 Editorial: Mark Alston, Samantha Alston, Willem Hendriksen, Corin Shearston, Jack Bowden, Patrick Coomey, Elissa Jamieson, Roger Kidd, Marco Grilli, Paul Young Design: Designheroes.com.au, Mark Alston, Daniel Jackson Online News: Elissa Jamieson Photos: Pat Bowden, Brigitte Grant, Lona Logan, Aiden Jaros Grilli, Brad Diedrich Film: Mathew Currey, Caleb Marshall, Tom Hutchinson Contributors & Distributors: Charity Mirow, Meg Benson, Chris Cannell, David Alston Published by: DesignHeroes.com.au

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© Copyright 2018 Design Heroes

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WHAT’S ON

Angel's Voice for Penrith

Australian – Dutch soprano Mirusia, acclaimed as the Angel of Australia, will perform From the Heart for one night only at The Joan. Mirusia’s touring concert, From the Heart, has received outstanding reviews, touching the hearts of many audiences. Best known as Andre Rieu’s star soprano, Mirusia is sure to wow audiences in Penrith at The Joan Saturday 30 June. Pic: Karl Neilson

Big Band Bring the Swing!

Join Bird Yard Big Band for an evening of rocket-fuelled swing music, featuring tunes from jazz giants Frank Sinatra, Count Basie and Dean Martin. Dance the night away or simply sit back and enjoy Bird Yard’s big sound as they transform the town of Springwood into ‘Swingwood’!

All proceeds from this concert will

go to Music 43, a not-for-profit organisation that provides low cost instrument hire and performance opportunities for music students throughout Western Sydney and the Blue Mountains. Enter the raffle to win some incredible prizes.

It's all happening 7 July at Blue Mountains Theatre.

Humour & History of Angry Old Men

No Uber in Tijuana!

Glenn A Baker presents Tijuana Taxi: a tribute to the music of Herb Alpert and the Tijuana Brass on 27 July at Blue Mountains Theatre. Acclaimed Sydney band Tijuana Taxi is a dapper eight piece ensemble that evokes the mood and music of the swinging sixties, faithfully recreating 21 classics of this unique, upbeat, melodic group.

The Songs and Tales of Angry Old Men features more than 20 iconic songs interwoven with tales that reveal surprising and unknown stories behind some of the world’s most legendary performers. Audiences can expect music from artists including:

Bob Dylan, Leonard Cohen, Tom Waits, Neil Young, Jim Morrison, Nick Cave, Willie Nelson, Tom Petty, Johnny Cash, John Mellencamp and many more. From the writer and producer of Pearl – The Janis Joplin Story, this punchy show delivers some of the greatest music ever made by the singers and songwriters who will never be forgotten.

The Songs and Tales of Angry Old Men is led by Jeremy Edwards and Matt Ross performing vocals and guitar; with Wayne Kellett, Di Solomon and George Brugmans. On Saturday 4 August, at Blue Mountains Theatre.

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Ready, Rocksteady, Go!

Get the dynamic cardio workout you never wanted with an evening of ska, rocksteady and reggae in Katoomba. With 22 performers across just 3 bands you know there's bound to be a horny backline to move your shoes to.

Bands are OzSkas (pictured), the dynamic group deliver an explosive mix of original Ska material and jiving interpretations of classic oldies, Papa Gonzo - a mighty 10 piece band influenced by the Skatelites, Sound dimension, Desmond Dekker and the Specials – and local 90s kids SKA’d 4 Life, a seven-piece Ska/rock band who’s influences include Reel Big Fish, Cat Empire and Streetlight Manifesto. The party happens at the Roxy all night on 7 July.

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GLENN A. BAKER PRESENTS

Tijuana Taxi

The Songs & Tales of Angry Men

Friday 27 July 8pm

Acclaimed 8-piece ensemble evoke the mood & music of the sixties - A tribute to Herb Alpert & The Tijuana Brass.

$33/ C$30

Issue 14 - Winter 2018

www.thehazemag.com.au

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WHAT’S ON

Pony Face are a beloved band in the Melbourne music scene, with mesmerising and immersive songs creating layers of sonic electric guitar textures around deep driving bass grooves, with echoes from the Badlands. With the recent addition of ARIA awarding winning guitarist/producer Shane O'Mara, the band has a dazzling energy that captivates both intimate rooms and festival stages. These four unhurried explorers of sound look for light in the dark, quiet corners of song.

Performing with special guests Lazy Colts and Sarah Humphreys at Roxy Room 4 August.

Föllakzoid here for Dark Mofo Australian audiences will finally get a to experience the breathing vibrating space that Chile band Föllakzoid create, when Domingo, Diego and Camilo make their first ever foray to our shores to hypnotise audiences across Sydney, Melbourne, Katoomba, plus one very special performance at Hobart's world-famous winter solstice festival, Dark Mofo.

Heavily informed by the heritage of the ancient music of the Andes, the band has learned to integrate this influence with contemporary sounds of their times, creating a

rich yet minimalist atmosphere. On the books, they are a mono-tonal band; experienced live, they are travellers of the mind, and said to create musical enlightenment everywhere they play.

Föllakzoid have released three albums with acclaimed US label Sacred Bones Records, to raving reviews. Their latest LP – III – was created in collaboration with Atom TM and Jason Spaceman.

Make them welcome to our shores on 21 June at Roxy Room (Hotel Gearin) with local support Jon Flood.

Folk Pickers & Fables A gig celebrating the first edition of a new Neo Folk Guitar Fanzine called Clawhammer hits Blackheath on 25 August.

First edition will be celebrating 'Local Fables and Folk Pickers', featuring artists from the show, who are: Darren Cross (Jep and Dep / Gerling, pictured), Tim Evans (Sea Scouts), Jon Flood, Jack Elias and Max S. Porter. All artists play folk and fingerpicking styles in the bucket of John Fahey, Nick Drake, Neil Young but do something completely their own. Boozey rollicking and rambling for freak folk fans.

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B2M - Bathurst To Melville

With a pumping RNB performance, Tiwi Islands style, B2M are building on their international touring acclaim. This seven-piece band are from the Tiwi Islands and showcase their new album with its rich blend of contemporary and traditional sound. Mamanta – meaning ‘friend’ in Tiwi – Mamanta is a vibrant cultural experience told through a mix of dance, chants and song. In an historic show of support from the Tiwi Elders, B2M have gained permission to use traditional Tiwi chants and blend them with modern musical elements. On at The Joan in Penrith 1 September.

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WHAT’S ON

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New Tangents

Festival for Mental Health Resilience

A charity music festival raising awareness for mental health and suicide prevention, Resilience Festival will donate funds back into the community. Huge announcement of lineup now online for this event at Lithgow Showgrounds in October.

After an eventful year of touring throughout their native Australia – including runs with labelmates MONO and like-minded pioneers Tortoise – and featuring alongside the work of artist David Hockney at the National Gallery of Victoria, Tangents return with their new album New Bodies, another stylistic detour that continues their rummage through countless varieties of electronics, rock, dub, noise and jazz that defines the group’s acclaimed aesthetic. Performing with special guest Broken Chip for 'Metro Social' at the Metropole Guesthouse, Katoomba.

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Luck of the Irish

Fusion Boutique is bringing a Traditional Irish Music Concert featuring Brid Harper & Dermot Byrne (IRE) plus local guests Witches Leap in Concert at The Metropole Guesthouse Katoomba on 16 June 2018.

This duo will be visiting Australia for the first time. Bríd Harper is hailed as one of the leading exponents of traditional fiddle playing of our time.

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They Might be Poets "Often we'd see a band live and go wow we should try and write music like that," says Jimmy from Oxford Poet. "And the result ends up being this sound that's vaguely familiar but different at the same time."

With influences like Holy Holy, DMA’s, Harts, Gang of Youths, Catfish & the Bottleman the band's best gig to date was actually out at Glenorie RSL "which to our surprise brought in a sizeable crowd! Loved the local vibe and live music scene which looks to be rebuilding out West."

"The EP is pretty much finished!

Mastering is all we need to do it now to add that final touch. It's a collection of the first five songs that we wrote as a band, and although we've written around 10 in total."

"We Recorded at Mad Picnic Studios in Surry Hills and Arthur Street Studios in Homebush with producer Ben Hayward. "

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Mic Conway's National Junk Band head to Katoomba 17 August, bringing their Jug band blues, political satire and lunatic on-stage antics. Hailed as a newvaudevillian comedy cabaret, audiences know Mic Conway’s tongue-in-cheek style from “Captain Matchbox Whoopee Band” and “Circus Oz”. From Byron Bay Bluesfest to Port Fairy and Adelaide Cabaret Festival… the National Junk Band have become festival favourites for their unique collision of fire, illusion, passion, irreverent satire, magic, singing saws, flying chooks, musical mayhem and some very funny songs.

Expect the unexpected as these “virtuosos of the bizarre” create a live stage experience that must be seen and heard to be believed. Wielding National guitars, ukuleles, a sousaphone, a phono-fiddle, actual garbage cans and metal sinks, there really is nothing like them in Australia today.

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AWARD WINNING FUSION BOUTIQUE PRESENTS

Quality entertainment & unique events for your enjoyment + MORE TO COME!

PERCH CREEK (MELB)

+ JUMPIN JACK WILLIAM ‘METRO SOCIAL’ METROPOLE HOTEL

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DANIEL CHAMPAGNE

‘METRO SOCIAL’ METROPOLE HOTEL

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$ 20 PRE/ $ 25 DOOR

HELLO TUT TUT (MELB)

PONY FACE (MELB)

+ DEVIL ON THE ROOFTOP ‘METRO SOCIAL’ METROPOLE HOTEL

FRI 06/07

$ 20 PRE/ $ 25 DOOR

TONY McMANUS

& JULIA TOASPERN (SCOTLAND) + SPECIAL GUEST MARTIN FOOTE

‘METRO SOCIAL’ METROPOLE HOTEL

FRI 24/08

$ 20 PRE/ $ 25 DOOR

TRADITIONAL IRISH MUSIC

(NASHVILLE) + KARL-CHRISTOPH BRID HARPER & DERMOT BYRNE

+ LAZY COLTS + SARAH HUMPHREYS HOTEL GEARIN, KATOOMBA

(IRELAND) + WITCHES LEAP

‘METRO SOCIAL’ METROPOLE HOTEL

SAT 16/06

$ 20 PRE/ $ 25 DOOR

MIC CONWAY’S NATIONAL JUNK BAND ‘METRO SOCIAL’ METROPOLE HOTEL

FRI 17/08

SAT 04/08

$ 25 PRE/ $ 30 DOOR

TANGENTS

SCOTTISH FOLK MUSIC

SAT 01/09

‘METRO SOCIAL’ METROPOLE HOTEL

$ 20 PRE/ $ 25 DOOR

ALAN REID (ex-Battlefield Band) & ‘METRO SOCIAL’ METROPOLE HOTEL ROB van SANTE + WOMBATS CROSSING + SPECIAL GUEST BROKEN CHIP

$ 20 PRE/ $ 25 DOOR

+ EVEN MORE TO BE ANNOUNCED!

FRI 28/09

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THE SCENE

Doug Parkinson at Springwood Hub

By Paul Young This was the last concert in the Doug Parkinson Honours Joe Cocker tour which commenced in early 2017. The gig was well attended, with over 300 people turning up for the show. He, as part of the 8-piece band, played two sets, for a total of two hours on the stage.

The first set consisted of Doug’s interpretations of a whole range of material, from B.B King, Chuck Berry and the Spinners to the Animals, and so many more. The Joe Cocker tribute comprised the entire second set. Doug shared several intriguing, often humorous personal anecdotes, augmented by some delightfully irksome Dad jokes.

At the age of 71, Doug’s voice is as big as it was half a century ago, when he wowed the Australian public with his number 5 hit cover of ‘Dear Prudence’.

His version of this on the night brought the house down.

A combined audience of more than 900 people were left in awe at three concerts by Ubuntu in late May and early June. The concerts at Katoomba High School, Springwood High School and Wycliffe Christian School in Warrimoo featured stunning harmonies, high-energy dances and touching true stories of how the performers have overcome hardship with the help of the African Children’s Choir. The concerts raised more than $20,000 for education in Africa.

Photo: Sudharmo Kossew

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Hotel Gearin, Katoomba, 21 April

By Corin Shearston / Pics: Mellen Burns Confirming that heavy culture still blooms in our mountains, the live return of local legends Red Bee also built a following for their latest LP, Silent Enemy, due for release on May 4. Honouring a relatively nofrills approach with two very different duos before Red Bee, the audience were kept on their toes as the night evolved. The projections, smoke and hooded cloaks of Quoll took the crowd into dark progressive territory, with percussive assault of Isaac Beggs on drums behind Ash on vocals, synth and 8-string guitar. Later, Paperhill’s massive hard-rock grooves proved allegiance from the floor as Oli ‘Big Bird’ Sattler and drummer Frankie Jesus powered through a familiar set of crowd pleasers. Newer tracks ‘Fidget Spinner’ and ‘Hit The Ground’ threw punters into frenzy with their deep and punchy rhythms, before we limbered up for the final destruction of the night. Debuting new tracks such as ‘Dead Inside’ in the first public performance of this recent material, Red Bee looked ecstatic and thus sounded so, too, the energy of these musicians palpable through the crushing tones of guitars and drums. Easily carving through the unique grooves and technical intricacies of their particular style, Dan, Jim and Ian were well and truly back in action. Reviving the “lose your fucking shit part” for one track toward the night’s end, the Roxy Room was again transformed into a flailing and bouncing army of people, united for a singular vision of Rock… Just a typical Saturday night then?

4 Locals went crazy for the Thundamentals back on home turf at Katoomba's Hotel Gearin in the Roxy Room. With three nights sold out, the boys seemed chuffed to play some of their new and a bunch of old tunes, always preaching the peace. Willem snapped this pic with Jeswon holding a recent Haze magazine featuring the trio on the cover.

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THE SCENE

Andy Isalie with Danger Baby at Aunty Jack's Katoomba, By Brigitte Grant Photography

5The Maes at The Metropole presented by Charity of Fusion Boutique! Brigitte Grant Photography 3The Retro Rehash Funky Punky Party at Roxy Room mixed music including Radiators' Brian Nichol alongside local punk kids Madam Fatale. Pics by Lona Logan

5Guy Strazz, Craig Scott, Dave Goodman and Matt McMahon at Boiler House presented by Chris of Music in The Mountains. Brigitte Grant Photography

5Reg Mombassa and the Pinks on a balmy Autumn evening in Springwood performing at a fundraiser for the local member for Macquarie Susan Templeman. By Janie Burry

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MC Shaun O'Keeffe opening the inaugural Blue Shorts Film Festival held at Mount Vic Flicks recently. With our own film reporter Mathew Currey as one of the judges, he says the best doco, best edit, best story & family collaboration were standouts. "And the fact the festival was bookedout to which we had to turn people away, sad to say, but it was good that many people came!"

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THE SCENE

5 Fusion Boutique brought The Good Lovelies all the way from Canada to Metro Social for the release of their album Shapeshifters, pic by Mountain Life

5 Daniel Weltlinger Quartet charmed the Clarendon the night of Live & Local in Katoomba, keeping organiser Meg Benson very busy! Pics: Lona Logan

FRESH DIRECTIONS, OLD CONNECTIONS

5 Ten Strings and a Goatskin was another sold out in Katoomba at the Metropole Hotel presented by Fusion Boutique, pics by Mountain Life

5Performing in Katoomba recently, Greedy Smith from Mental as Anything has Hazy memories of the night rocking the Roxy, flick forward to our 'Classics' page for details! Pic courtesy Retro Rehash.

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by Corin Shearston, pics: Pat Bowden On April 6 in Katoomba, a fresh cultural experience took place at Hotel Gearin’s recently revamped Roxy Room. A unique showcase of modern alternative hip-hop from The Proxy, Rapaport and Butterfingers got fans thinking about new possibilities for the classic genre, as Haze discovered.

Topping the bill, rap-rockers Butterfingers were welcomed back from Brisbane, having also performed at the venues opening earlier this year. Getting the packed room bouncing with on-stage participation and sing-alongs, emcee Evil Eddie and his gang stormed the stage, fuelled by whiskey and adrenaline. A wide-spanning set of raw spy-funk and thrashing punk tracks led to a live inclusion of the more recent ‘Bullet In The Head’; the namesake of Butterfinger’s latest single and tour. The reputation of these fan-favourites was tirelessly proved again, but not before Big Village record label chief Rapaport took listeners down a vibrant path with his intricate and introspective art rap.

Endearingly appearing as a true oddity to those uninitiated with his style, the musicianship, dynamics, rhythms and sheer multi-tasking ability of the Rapaport duo was staggering. Including simultaneous guitar playing and rapping alongside Finn, a stunning jazz drummer, busy group minimalism provided a fascinating set for music lovers and musicians alike.

Opening funk-rappers The Proxy, also booked for the next day’s Live & Local festival, got things hyped to start the night. Again, a simple two-piece of drums and guitar backed-up both a lead MC and singer, with rude funk breaks shifting into melodic and expansive rock choruses, plus a free-spirited cover of Goanna’s ‘Solid Rock’.

A fiercely different and uncompromising night of music, demonstrating inspiring new directions for hiphop, a style born way back in 1973.

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THE SCENE

MATT ARTHUR - On Their Shoulders

After 30 years of playing live in Sydney and in later years around the Central West, Matt Arthur has laid down his first long player. On Their Shoulders is a collection of tunes by artists that have inspired him, from childhood days to those as a discerning guitarist.

The album has an energetic live feel that comes from the straight forward arrangements of two acoustics and a voice. This works well as you would expect on the acoustic blues tracks, Old Love and Before You Accuse Me from Clapton’s unplugged session and Robert Cray’s I Guess I Showed Her. There are also some interesting choices like Sting's Perfect Love Gone Wrong and a sparse funky version of Talking Heads Slippery People. Recorded at Rolling Wheel studios in Orange, producer Pat O’Donnell and Matt Arthur have crafted an album that works well with each track taking you on a journey through the ups and downs that come with the blues, from the inviting opener of Keb Mo’s France right through to the closing celebration of Jose Feliciano’s version of High Heel Sneakers. This is an album you’ll find yourself listening to on repeat, it makes for a great travelling companion in the car. Patrick Coomey

DIAMOND DUCK - Diamond Duck EP

After being formed two years ago as a localised ‘supergroup’ side-project of Jimmy Daley (The Morrisons, Sanctuary Band) and Brian Campeau (The Green Mohair Suits, solo career), neo-folk duo Diamond Duck now have a sublime EP to their name. As a string-based work, Diamond Duck enchants listeners with a soft cascade of picking, plucking and bowing; the pairing of orchestral strings with guitar and mandolin a luscious detail. This release is an end-product of the rich infusions of widely varied influences, including Bach-era classical on the brief ‘Two Part Invention No.4 in D Minor’ and Chinese instrumentation, with the use of the mandolin-like Zhongruan on ‘Fine Island’. Song topics range from an interpretation on xenophobia in modern Australia (Fine Island) to the work of Richard Dawkins (Enemies of Reason).

As the music weaves neatly with ornate delicacy, the wide yet intimate vocals of Daley and Campeau warm up the surrounding atmosphere. Expert interplay and soft voices providing soulful peace. Corin Shearston

RED BEE - Silent Enemy

After a few months spent igniting stages for local and international acts and nabbing a Haze cover feature two issue ago, Red Bee’s second full-length LP, Silent Enemy, lives up to the hype in spades. Coming from a truly unique presence in the Australian metal scene, Silent Enemy is a throughly enjoyable and dynamic album, crammed with surprising twists, superb musicianship and the powerful, broadly Australian vocals of Dan Silk. Whilst not a release for the faint of heart, Red Bee balances beauty with their immense chaos through a heartfelt feel for uplifting rock choruses and ambient clean passages. Standout tracks include ‘Autumn Blood Horizon’, a masterclass in sheer heaviness, lead single ‘Dead Inside’ and the title track, all proving enjoyable for prog, djent and hard rock listeners. Genres aside, if one is simply keen to experience the power of a cutting-edge group of local performers, The Haze Mag strongly recommends this album. Horns up! Corin Shearston

GAVIN BOWLES - King of Nothing EP

Gavin Bowles of Picture Perfect fame has released one hell of a beast on this solo release. Opening track King of Nothing is really something with his silky Chris Cheney vocals, sonically awesome Pearl Jam guitar and seamlessly walking into strut-worthy blues guitars. Like the rest o fthe EP, his lyrics convey a sophistication of a modern day hybrid of Paul Kelly and Elvis Costello. It's hard to believe that this home/bathroom recording provides such a musically sparse and immersive experience. Congratulations Gavin, you really deserve the crown. Willem Hendriksen

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THE SCENE

Isaac Beggs, born on top of the Blue Mountains in Mount Victoria, knew from an early age on that he wanted to become a professional musician.

Studying at the Newtown Academy of Performing Arts and achieving a degree in Music at the University of New England in Armidale provided him with tools and knowledge but did not help him make a buck.

To earn himself a reliable income he became a chef. The time in the kitchen still left him with enough energy to further improve his skills and gave him the means to study in Havana/ Cuba under Ruy Lopez Nussa (who toured with Buena Vista Social Club). Isaac plays a wide variety of styles and has also

Issue 14 - Winter 2018

“Teaching is great...

It also gives you a new insight into everything you ever learned" developed a unique style of high energy, syncopated drumming with a blend of exotic Cuban rhythms.

He is now a part of many musical projects, playing with the K-Town Funky Horns, Andie Isalie, Quoll, Syndicate, Feast of Fools and Peter Kinch to name a few. He also teaches drums at the Blue Mountains Music Academy, and conducts the BMMA Drum Corps. Finally making a living from his drumming skills.

“Teaching is great, not only to balance the insecurity that can come with gigging”, Isaac says, “It also gives you a new insight into everything you ever learned. And when student X is finally improvising, student Y is getting the knack of the Purdie Shuffle, it makes me feel like I’ve just earned a reward.”

Isaac plays live with Peter Kinch 22/6 and 23/6, Syndicate on 6/7 and Papa Gonzo at Skatoomba 5/7.

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COVER STORY Try to imagine a musical performance that has around 20 instruments on stage, but only two guys to play them... then imagine those two racing to recreate the magic of Mike Oldfield's 1973 hit Tubular Bells...

Maintaining a style of performance as seen at the Edinburgh Fringe and Sydney Fringe Festivals, this unique reinterpretation of Mike Oldfield’s groundbreaking 1973 debut will be performed live with only four limbs to spare, as opposed to the original personnel’s 16! Promoting TBFT’s debut Edinburgh Fringe show on the Virgin website, the ensemble is endorsed by company CEO Richard Branson himself. A fitting achievement, considering Branson released Tubular Bells as the first launch for his label in 1973.

Current touring members are Danny Holdsworth and new-comer Tom Banford, who’s filling in for creative director Aidan Roberts. As Danny told Haze, “The show’s just crazy. It’s an almost impossible task for us to perform it, almost like a circus act.”

In 2009, the project was founded in Bathurst for a debut performance at The Clarendon in Katoomba after nine months of rehearsals. Aidan and Danny didn’t think the piece would see a second performance, instead intending the show to be a one-off.

The pair also had to balance time between their respective bands, Belles Will Ring, and The Maple Trail.

Thanks to the purchase of a loop pedal and a fun lounge room session playing along to the album one night, the viable stage appeal of their concept was realised. Danny explains how the performance came to life.

“This section at the end of Side 1 has this bass-line that keeps repeating over and over again while this guy announces all the instruments; ‘grand piano’ [theme gets played on the piano], ‘reed and pipe organ’ ect. It just keeps going through until the tubular bells. We’d set up in Aidan’s

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COVER STORY lounge room, we got the loop pedal and the bass-line going, and we called out the instruments. Then, he and I just ran around and played them, thinking, ‘wouldn’t it be fun to do this on stage one night.’”

BACK ON TOUR Now, nine years later, TBFT are embarking on another national tour, including their Penrith performance and a triumphant return to Melbourne’s Arts Centre, the first cross-state venue to invite the duo for a show. As they’re the first professional theatre that took the risk of booking the group, Danny is excited to be welcomed back.

The two factors attributing to the ensemble’s widespread success is the significance of the original album and an intense performance element. As Mike Oldfield’s debut can be viewed as a pioneering work in what would arguably become ‘progressive rock’, the appeal is broad for listeners of different genres, such as folk, metal and prog fans. In the year of its release, hype for the album was given a significant boost by incorporating Oldfield’s first passage into the soundtrack of The Exorcist.

Danny ruminates on the horror-link of Tubular Bells, stating that the public stereotype of being a dark and scary work is an unfair one. “There’s so many different styles that come through. It’s theatrical in many ways, in the way we perform it, but also in the way the music’s written and that journey you go on to experience it as a whole.”

Tubular Mikeplayed Oldfield DannyBells has -now this show overBOX 500HERE times since 2009.

FACT Mike Oldfield was just 19 when he made the original record in 1973, and only performed it live once with many performers recreating the sound on stage.

Danny also plays in Darks Common Underground as heard at Katoomba Social Club, releasing new music soon.

Issue 14 - Winter 2018

Keeping up: with so many instruments on stage, it's a race against the metronome and new member Tom has had a steep learning curve!

A vast variety of instruments are crucial to conveying the atmosphere and tone of the original work. At last count, Danny remembers having about 22 onstage, ranging from the common to the unconventional.

In the original creation of the piece, Oldfield himself played 16 instruments, including ‘guitars sounding like bagpipes’ and ‘taped motor drive amplifier organ chord’.

For a performance incorporating large and obscure instruments, the hardest to play has ironically been the tin whistle, or flageolet. The use of kazoos is also notable. “There’s a guitar line we can’t physically play, so we just put some kazoos through a distortion pedal. We had to do a lot of problem solving, like strumming chords and then hitting chords on the piano when one of us is playing the drums.” As many creative types know however, imposing limitations on art fortunately encourages innovation.

This grit and determination of TBFT led The Scotsman to describe them as ‘the musical equivalent of the triathlon’; signifying the impressiveness of their showmanship.

Two contrasting elements are at play during all performances. On one side, there is the excitement of having to stay on the ball through a solid 50 minutes of intense multi-tasking and musical intricacy, mirroring the

focused adrenaline of a sports match.

At the same time, steady levels of pace and calm have to be maintained, for enhancing the depth of the music.

For playing tranquil sections that exist in the original recording, the duo are in the strange headspace of being incredibly stressed but having the composure to perform with delicacy, fighting the risk of the music sounding wrong. Therefore it’s a relief that the duo found such a confident replacement for Aidan in Tom Banford.

“It was a big step-up for him, to rise to the occasion. The show’s been going for nearly ten years, so he’s brought a new energy and life to it, in its cycle.”

After championing their Blue Mountains and regional heritage with curious fans on international tours, a welcome return to home turf is due for Tubular Bells For Two. Summing up with words from Danny, “You say the Blue Mountains, and as people don’t usually know where that is, it sounds like some mysterious magical place; ‘ooh that’s fascinating, the Blue Mountains’ - Well it is. A magical place.”

Tubular Bells For Two will be returning to The Joan in Penrith on 29 June, tickets on sale now.

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ON TOUR THE

bring their live Winter Magick

Already at the edge of explosion, Sydney rockers The Preatures are are on a 40-date tour of regional Australia which includes a couple of stops in Penrith and Katoomba to promote their Magick single remix And while the four-piece are no strangers to over-exposure, nothing really prepared them for the recent support slot with Harry Styles.

The Preatures guitarist, producer and songwriter Jack Moffit chats to Haze about the upcoming shows, and how he felt in front of 15 thousand screaming fans in sold out arenas.

“When they’re all screaming, you definitely notice how many people there are,” he jokes. “I think we’re a band that grew up playing clubs in small venues, and that’s one of the things that I think translates to some of those bigger shows, that thing that you have to take into smaller rooms where you can literally reach out and put your hand into the face of the person in front of you, makes you play really different. It makes the group tougher. It makes the energy feel like a contained explosion.“ “We haven’t done club shows in such a long time that I’m almost nervous. Maybe we haven’t got it anymore?” he says.

Taking us on a quick tour through time, Jack recalls when his musical spark ignited.

“Apparently my family always used to say I was sitting in the back of the car driving anywhere from a young age just singing along to things with reasonable pitch. You can never distill what your mum tells you from fact and fiction, but apparently I was a pretty good singer from a young age,” says Jack, who eventually picked up his mum’s neglected guitar.

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“She used to make these mix tapes, so I had David Bowie Changes on one side, and Hotel California on the other side, and I used to listen to them and pretend to make radio shows, or record myself playing these terrible songs and trying to learn Beatles tunes off the hi-fi. And I think after that, I always knew that I was going to be a musician. I just didn’t tell anybody...”

Fast forward to 2010 when The Preatures banded together, not long after were signed to a label and releasing EPs. It was in 2013 that we saw the second EP smash the Triple J airwaves and take out #9 in the Hottest 100. And eight years in Jack finds time to reflect on some of the work that’s enabled to admit to himself that he is really a musician, that the bubble hasn’t burst.

“I’ve done a lot of mixes for the band, and I’ve produced nearly everything, and engineered a very large percentage of it. I guess to begin it was just out of necessity when we were getting started, and it cost a lot of money to make records.

Ambitions get foiled by the very stark reality of having zero money when you’re a teenager, and you just have to rely on your ingenuity,” he explains.

“Magick is not so much of a remix as the mix that we were living with before we went over to Los Angeles to work with Bob Clearmountain who mixed the whole album. He’s famous for mixing Bruce Springsteen and David Bowie, Roxy Music and all these great bands that cut out the stylistic majority of the music from the ‘80s.”

The mix is more Jack's style, he calls it "Magick without posh shoes on".

"I’m much more immediate and I like the weirdness of things, and I think sometimes I get a bit lost inside the fantastical space of black magic, and that’s probably why we decided to put that one out, we lived with it like that for so long and wanted to share it with people.”

Thinking locally, Jack has fond memories of Katoomba, having been up a few times and playing at the Clarendon Guest House in the past.

“We’re really keen. Every time we’ve played a gig in the Mountains we’ve had a stupidly good time, for the books. By that point in the tour we’ll probably be up to anything, and ready for everything!”

The Preatures bring Magick to Roxy Room at Gearin Hotel Katoomba on 28 June.

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Anna di Meza, The Doors of Perception, (acrylic on board)

Hazy Solstice Guide...

A Hazy Guide to the quirky culture of the Blue Mountains on Winter Solstice Weekend Please note, Winter Magic Festival is not on this year so it is highly advised to attend the following events only at your own risk... tread lightly and take care of the town!

Winter Luminous is an evening of music, dance and deep soul nourishment brought to you by tribal troupe and champions of the Solstice, Hands Heart & Feet. On Saturday from 5pm til late at Katoomba Primary School and featuring also Ghawazi Caravan, Samba Trombada, & Mystery DJ, plus Sid from Lushious selling delicious vegetarian food.

Also see HHF on The Carrington Steps from midday Saturday.

Pic: Brigitte Grant Photography

Ghawazi Caravan

Performing on The Carrington Steps and at Winter Luminous, Ghawazi are a local Tribal Bellydance group with stylistic influences from East India, North Africa, Flamenco dance and contemporary dance, the group have been performing since 2000.

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Public Drum Project

The Public Drum Project is the brainchild of local curator Sharon, where 100 drums hang from the room for all to enjoy and find your own rhythm. Based on her original event 2 years ago, this one runs Sat & Sun at the Carrington Brewery.

Samba Trombada

The Blue Mountains’ very own community samba group have been heating up Winter with red-hot Brazilian rhythms for more than a decade. If you can walk and count to 2, and if you can find them (hint: try Facebook), maybe you can join.

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HAZY SOLSTICE GUIDE Paperhill Pic

The Carrington Fireworks are always a highlight and transition period on Winter Solstice weekend, and this year sparks will fly as usual, though the late night music will be inside rather than out, to keep celebrators warm and happy.

Solstice Showdown with UV Artworks

Hosting the largest program of the Saturday, The Carrington Driveway begins at 11.30am with a welcome to country followed

by Hands Heart & Feet at midday.

With a lineup that continues on the the driveway including Ghawazi Caravan, Counterpoint, Blue MUGS and Samba Trombada before the

6pm Fireworks, you'll want to crowd around with a warm drink (hot cocktails and and food are available inside the venue). Neill Duncan also plays Old City Bank at 2pm where upstairs you can also buy food.

Carrington's other events include a Winter Masquerade Ball in the Grand Dining Room, K-Town Funky Horns in Ballroom, and the Harp & Fiddle Irish pub will be open all weekend.

The Super Solstice Showdown is the latest event from Retro Rehash taking over Baroque Room on June 23 after the fireworks from 7pm. "You will feel like you have stepped into a UV winter wonderland, with immersive UV active local art works and eclectic music," say organisers.

The dress-up theme is 'winterfest', with extra points for UV-active costumes. Bands include Malcura, Sonori, Paperhill (pictured), Jep and Dep plus Jimmi Carr solo set and DJ set by Idiot Proof. Local art instillations will be under UV lights and include works by Marco Grilli, Linda Seiffert, and Sophie Miller.

Feral Fest

Markets at 142

The Blue Bazaar

Allegra Dunning

Sonori

Cooking with Caustic

Friday night the 22 June, Junction 142 has a feral takeover by four local bands representing the young music scene of the Blue Mountains.

Bands including Penny Dreadful, The Durries, and more will showcase live originals and get the hall warmed up!

is a 10 year old singer songwriter from the Mountains and performs a mix of covers and originals. Her influences include Elvis, Radiohead, Nirvana, The Doors, Led Zeppelin, Pink Floyd, 21 Pilots, The Cranberries and artists from the 1950's.

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Junction 142 will be holding their usual Saturday Market, half way down the main street with antiques, oldwares, collectibles and more!

Usually running from 9am til 3pm, drop in and support the markets for a worthy cause.

You're favourite electronic quirk band Sonori is getting excited. The gang are gearing up for an epic return to the eclectic Baroque room, for a night of psychedelic indulgence. They're preparing something special, new and slightly preposterous.

The Blue Bazaar is an indoor market in the Mountains featuring creative, vintage, hand made, pre-loved and local items. Running on Sat from 12:00-4:00pm at The Bates & Phillips Halls, Blackheath, Cnr Great Western Highway & Gardiner Cres.

will be bringing you a night of toasty Winter Solstice beats at The Station Bar, Katoomba on June 23rd. Always a dope night of live organic hip hop and grooves. They’ll be joined by extended family Bomb Threat, Goro and DJ Codeks. Free entry!

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PROUDLY SUPPORTED BY

Photo by Sue Daley Photography

Sideshow Annie Headline Family Hotel

HAZY SOLSTICE GUIDE

Burralow, who will play at the Katoomba Solstice Celebration

Released after playing tours in places such as Australia, Spain and the US, Sideshow Annie's 4th album, Big Black Dog, is the long awaited follow up to 2012's Ghost Town. Stripping down their sound from Rag ’N’ Bone duo to a new male heavy lineup, James Roy now joins on bass, Matt Skelton joins on Drums and Wayne Edmunds on guitars. Main songwriters Gillian (lead vocal) and Eliot Reynolds took extended time create their superbly niche and uncompromising album. Though some tracks may have a wide appeal, this album is a deeply personal ‘inside job’; the mountain they had to climb.

Big Black Dog displays a diversity of genres from nostalgic rock and pop steam punk to bluegrass. Some solace is found in the heavy subject matter of the title track as with the track ‘My Warrior’, brought as a poem to the band by local indigenous artist Elly Chatfield. Esteemed didgeridoo player Charlie McMahon (Gondwanaland, touring artist with Midnight Oil) features on the song. The LP’s being debuted with a full live listening at Katoomba’s Family Hotel on June 23, at what’s being called a Sideshow Solstice Celebration. With local music from 2pm till 1am, dressing-up is encouraged, entry is free, and there’ll also be surprises and giveaways. A bonus hotel makeover should make this an unmissable event.

Katoomba Solstice Celebration

Love & Light Picnic

Roxy's Longest Night

Katoomba's pagan community come together for a celebration of Solstice in the historic Kingsford Smith Park.

With bands Rectoplasm, Katy Kaos, and Mad Cowboy Disease, bring a picnic blanket, an instrument and some candles.

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Jep and Dep

The Marrickville duo Jep and Dep are Jessica Cassar and Darren Cross (of Gerling). Their sound harks back to the way songs were performed in the 60's – just a song, two singers and an acoustic guitar – lovers and fighters, complete harmony, black and white.

The Katoomba Solstice Celebration will be held on 23 June, 11am to 5pm. Up to 50 local musicians will perform at various locations along Katoomba Street. There will also be kids’ activities at the Town Centre forecourt including free face painting, henna art and a weaving workshop.

The family-friendly event will support local businesses and provide some entertainment for those who may travel to Katoomba, unaware the Winter Music Festival has been cancelled for 2018.

The Roxy Room at Hotel Gearin has a massive night lined up for punters, as Volumes and Bloom Present: 'The Longest Night'. Featuring live music from Big White and heaps more to be announced, this'll no doubt turn into the longest morning after.

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PROUDLY SUPPORTED BY

Family Hotel

Hotel Blue

Junction 142

The Carrington

Carrington Brewery

Cultural Centre

7pm Beatlefest 2018

11.30am "Welcome to country - Aunty Carol and the Wagana Dancers" 12pm Hands, Heart and Feet 12.45 Ghawazi Caravan 1.45 BMUGS 2.45 Counterpoint 3.45 Blue Mountains City Band 5.45 Samba Tromboda 6pm Fireworks 7pm Masquerade Ball

Kingsford Smith

 12-5pm Love & Light Picnic Mad Cowboy Disease, Rectoplasm, Katy Kaos & more

Winter Luminous

 5pm til late  Katoomba Primary School • Hands Heart & Feet • Ghawazi Caravan • Samba Trombada

Hotel Blue

6.30pm Linda Mizzi & Band

The Blue Cabaret

A fabulously naughty & very entertaining night of fun! Burlesque by prize winning performers plus some locals making their debuts.

Live music, cabaret and a fashion show with a twist showcasing award winning milliner Christine Thompson.

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6.30pm Peter Kinch Trio

 All Day The Public Drum Project

Junction 142

 9am - 3pm Markets

Aunty Jack's

1pm Allegra Dunning 2pm Aurora Li

Family Hotel  2pm til 1am • Sideshow Annie • Loretta D'Urso • Wayne Whiteclouds • Slightly Chilled • Martin Foote

• The Criks • Cranky Franky • House of Voodoo • Dingo Gringo

Station Bar

 9pm til late Cooking with Caustic

Station Bar

 Afternoon Acoustic Afternoon Music with pizza and drinks

Friday is Beatlefest

The annual Blue Mountains Beatlefest returns to the Family Hotel in Katoomba on Friday night 22 June, with scorching hot renditions of songs from the fab four to keep away the winter blues and those dreaded Blue Meanies!

7pm Feral Fest - Live local Bands

 10am - 3pm Markets 11am Lazy Byrd 1pm Piccolo Bear 4pm Family Movie Night

Blackheath at Phillips Hall 12 - 4pm Blue Bazaar Markets 7pm Blue Cabaret

Roxy Room

 7pm til late  Hotel Gearin The Longest Night feat. Big White

Baroque Room

7pm Idiot Proof DJ 8pm Jimmi Carr 9pm Jep & Dep 10pm Paperhill Malcura 11pm 12am Sonori

Carrington Brewery

 All Day The Public Drum Project's on, art installation meets music

Wollemi Market

The Blue Mountains Cultural Centre is home of the Wollemi Artisan Market Winter Edition with live music, gourmet food and stalls from local designers, artists and makers. A range of hand crafted gifts, homewares, and prints on sale.

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ARTS

Anna Di Mezza is a painter from the mid Blue Mountains. She has a background in the study of graphic design and has also worked in the television animation industry as an inbetweener for Walt Disney.

Her work has been featured globally in art magazines and well known art blogs. Her first exhibition was at the the Braemar Gallery in Springwood in 2017.

Her current body of work is Surrealistic in nature.

They are collage-like arrangements of chance encounters, old Hollywood lovers and anachronistic retellings of history. Her work displaces characters from their homes in vintage photographs, jettisoning them into cold-washed, mountainous landscapes or setting them in front of fresh hewn crystals, displacing them into Alice in Wonderland irregular proportions.

influenced Her work is greatly vid Lynch Da s ker ma film by the ose films wh ck, bri Ku y nel and Sta parallel a to y rne jou a are like theme she universe, which is a work. The aims for in her own is open aim of the paintings they seem to interpretation, as d. pointedly unresolve

Top: When the still sea conspires an armor (acrylic on board) Right: Blind Priviliege (acrylic on board) Bottom: The Door (acrylic on board) Previous Page 24: The Doors of Perception

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rested in Anna is currently inte missions and com ns, tio ora lab col exhibit more generally hopes to . ure in the fut Her website is: te.com/mysite xsi .wi annadimezza is: and her Instagram annadimezza_art

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ARTS

Jess Brings Big Swinging Ovaries to Katoomba

BLUMING AGAIN

London Artist Jess de Wahls at her embroidery exhibition at Platform Gallery in Katoomba this month. Photos by Mellen Burns “I use my work to explore societal ideas of what it means to be a woman," says artist Jess de Wahls, whose embroidery works are on exhibition in Katoomba throughout June.

Coming all the way from London for her Australian debut and a series of workshops at Platform, Jess de Wahls is known as the ‘enfant terrible of British textile arts’ for her boundarypushing, provocative artworks.

While she's here this month she's even running intensive, small class size contemporary embroidery workshops.

The exhibition Big Swinging Ovaries opened to a full house, and features Wahls’ signature embroideries, where her ovary motif is stylised into various maximalist patterns, including ovaries as cacti, rainbows, and Frida Kahlo (Kahlovaries).

“Since I first developed it for a solo exhibition in 2014, the Big Swinging Ovaries name and design has very much become a brand and a visual tool for expressing many of my creative, political and social thoughts as a woman, a feminist and a textile artist,” says Jess.

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“What matters to me is that people make up their own mind and interpret my art for themselves, no matter what I intended. What matters is whether or not the work speaks to you.”

Platform Gallery is in Civic Place, Katoomba.

The second issue of Blume Illustrated, an annual independent artsfocused magazine based in the Blue Mountains, launched on 23 May this year and is being distributed locally and around Australia free of charge, in digital and print editions.

Issue two of Blume Illustrated once again harnesses the mighty talents of the Blue Mountains’ many world-class illustrators, writers, designers and thinkers in a beautifully presented, free full-colour publication.

Blume creator, artist and illustrator Faye Wilson is passionate about art in print. Her vision was to produce a world-class publication that best showcases the unique spirit of the Blue Mountains and establishes it as a cultural destination – but is also still relevant and recognizably valuable in any part of the world. Blume Illustrated Magazine is only one part of the picture and the Blume project is set to grow with plans for youth mentorships, workshops, exhibitions and a second Blume Illustration festival in 2020.

Grab a copy at Eckersley’s art stores, Mountains Made, Blue Mountains Cultural Centre, Katoomba Library, Gallery One88, Rex Livingston Projects, Lost Bear Gallery, The Hattery, Carrington Hotel, Gleebooks Blackheath and many other locations. Find out more at www. blumeillustrated.com.au To help distribute or stock Blume Illustrated email info@blumeillustrated. com.au The cover of Blume Illustrated #2, designed by Faye Wilson and incorporating a detail from a black and white illustration by Christina Huynh. www.thehazemag.com.au

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THE SCENE

Katoomba Live and Local is a funded micro-festival that took over the heart of the town in April. Over 1500 people swamped the location which included art galleries, cafes, restaurants, and venues like Baroque and Junction 142.

Photos by Lona Logan, Brad Diedrich, Brigitte Grant Photography & Mark Alston

Tourist town: while people visit Katoomba for its natural beauty, they are often stunned by the local culture, which thrives on the back of hard work by locals, often on limited resources

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"Hosting live music in the gallery for Live and Local was an amazing experience - we had so many new faces through the doors, and it was exciting to see Civic Place activated and brought to life in such a communityoriented way. The gallery lends itself so well to music, and we hope to make live performances part of our regular offering in the future."

Kelly Helen Platform Gallery

Above and beyond: there were lots of organisers, workers and volunteers behind the scenes!

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THE SCENE

Baroque Room (left) offered some louder bands a space to really rock out. Cafe venues (above) bustled with bodies during the day and into early evening.

Food & Music - a perfect combination and solid proof that good culture can spike economy

were and nes!

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Cafes and art galleries worked well as venues, and adding an extra dimension to these already creative and flourishing Katoomba spaces

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THE CLASSICS

4Mental As Anything 4May18 2018 @ Roxy Room Re-injecting healthy amounts of quirky charm into venues around the coastline recently, 80s poprockers Mental As Anything ventured to Katoomba’s Hotel Gearin for a headlining show in May. As vocalist Greedy Smith told Haze, the longevity of Mental As Anything “was because we had different songwriters, so we liked everything…

1920s country and western even.”

Smith continues, “As long as anything had a bit of a rhythm or melody to it, or an idea we could sell to the punters, there we went.”

Audiences can expect a selection of Mentals’ classics, as well as some recent material from their latest release, 5 Track EP, written by original

THE LIFE OF A 'LA DE DA’ING PARTY BOY

Though born a Kiwi, you don’t get much more Aussie than guitar virtuoso Kevin Borich; an easy-going larrikin and founding member of the La De Da’s, The Party Boys and the Kevin Borich Express.

He’s performed with artists including Deep Purple’s Ritchie Blackmore, Santana, Bo Diddley, and Elton John. After cutting a first single at age 12, his first band, once-instrumental rock group the La De Da’s broke through in 1964.

Choosing rhythm guitarist Phil Key as vocalist, the La De Da’s scored five top-10 Kiwi hits and crossed

Greedy Smith from Metals at the Roxy Room with local fan Riley Saxton, who says Mentals are his go-to Karaoke tracks!! Pic: Willem Hendriksen members Smith and Martin Plaza. The current line-up joining Greedy Smith on stage includes Craig Gordon on guitar and vocals, Peter Gray on bass and vocals, Martin Cilia on guitar and Jacob Cook on drums and vocals. Since helping form Mental As Anything in 1976, Smith is pleased

the Tasman in 1967 to tackle the Australian marketplace, resulting in trips between each country. “As there were more people in Sydney than in New Zealand, it was time to go,” says Kev. “We’d run out of money, return to New Zealand, do a Welcome Home Tour and a Send-Off Tour”. After finally settling in Australia, the band went to play England in 1969, and recording a Beatles cover at Abbey Road Studios before coming home. An amicable split in 1972 saw a new La De Da’s continue until 1975. Forming rock trio Kevin Borich Express (KBE) in 1976, Kev became one of the founding members of successful Aussie supergroup The Party Boys

to see a happy younger generation attending more shows recently, this cross-generational attraction being mirrored in their induction into the ARIA Hall of Fame in 2009.

Smith explains, “one reason why more young people are so interested, a lot of them turning up recently, looking very happy, is because they’re parents made them listen to it. And it’s a form of child abuse.”

After 40 years of recording, touring, performing and still going strong, Katoomba is still going mental for them.

By Corin Shearston Crowds might remember popular hits like: ‘The Nips Are Getting Bigger’, ‘Live It Up’, and ‘If You Leave Me Can I Come Too?’ in 1982. Members included artists from The Angels, Status Quo, Rainbow, Swanee and Dragon; solo artists included Eric Burdon, Graham Bonnet, and Joe Walsh (The Eagles), who would even crash on his couch!

Forty-two years later, the KBE is still together, with Kev as the last original member alongside Jon Carson and Chris Gilbert. During a recent, well-received gig at Katoomba’s Baroque Room, they played both electric and acoustic sets. For some hard driving, yet sophisticated rock and roll, check out the site at www.kevinborich.com. au. By Paul Young

CHRIS FOSS - Eclectica

Elclectica - I don't know if it's a word, but this album does live up to its name! First stop you take is Borstal where Chris takes you off the couch and out onto the dancefloor with his Keith Richard-esque rhythms and Santana styled solos. Which perfectly sends you straight into Mexico for songs like Tijuana, blalacing Mariachical percussion and psychadelic guitars. With tracks like Take it or Leave it, Every Day and My Old Town your next trip will be to the 60s and 70s, channeling the likes of Crosbie Stills and Nash, Bob Dylan and Led Zeppelin.

Listen to the album the whole way through because you will not be disappointed with the last stop, Chris' magnus opus The Cross is a blissful soulful seven minute epic that is truly worthy of a life lesson last song. By Willem Hendriksen

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hind live The new face be the Roxy Room music events at ax Skilbeckin Katoomba, M his bloom to Porter is bringing the new room

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n' i m o o l B Heck

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SoundproofRehearsal RehearsalRooms Rooms Soundproof Soundproof Rehearsal Rooms ProfessionalRecording RecordingFacilities Facilities Professional Professional Recording Facilities Mixingand andMastering Mastering Mixing Mixing and Mastering BacklineHire Hire Backline Backline Hire FlatLoad Loadinin inand andHeaps Heapsofof ofParking Parking Flat Flat Load and Heaps Parking Locatedinin inKatoomba Katoomba Located Located Katoomba

0466719 719268 268 0466 0466 719 268 www.shelterstudio.com.au www.shelterstudio.com.au www.shelterstudio.com.au

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