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Dec 2016 #8 Nov+ Lithgow • Penrith ntains Blue Mou
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MUSIC NEWS
Flying High with Wallis Bird
A musical magpie whose mature, self-affirming songs display an unusual emotional breadth, Irish songbird Wallis is artist who has paid her dues, shredding her fingers and breaking string after string from the sheer force of playing on stages small and large across Europe. Wallis Bird flies to Australia soon launching her new album at Woodford, Cygnet and Illawarra Folk Festivals, with a Blue Mountains show included in her run. Sun 18 Dec for ‘Metro Social’ at The Metropole Guesthouse, Katoomba.
Satisfaction is Guaranteed
Following the sold-out success of Life On Mars: A celebration of the music of David Bowie and Beatlefest 2016, the organisers of those unforgettable tribute nights are proud to bring you Get Yer Ya-Ya’s Out - A Celebration of the Music of The Rolling Stones on Saturday 19 November at the Hotel Gearin in Katoomba. The show will feature a lick of artists from the Blue Mountains such as Dave Warren, Linda Mizzi, David Godbold, Eddie Patton & Simon Cooper, Ian Tanner, The Molotovs, Chris Foss, Wayne Tritton, Jack Perry & Lucia Neville, Dan Silk, Steve Brady, Gillian & Eliot Reynolds, Jason Thornton, Stephen Gunning, Peter Long, Mark Bradridge, Grahame Andrews, Ian Willis, Steve Waters and more. Organisers say “Get in early and be prepared to get your ya-ya’s out!”
Very Suitable Music
“See us because we’re super hot and our harmonies are like having an orgasm on a mountain top,” says Campeau of The Green Mohair Suits. Their inspired musicianship has seen them compile a collection of quality original tunes – a solid mix of heartbreak and hangover, humour and humility. Occupying a broad musical landscape between influences like Beck, Fleet Foxes, Hank Williams, Tom Waits, Portishead & Gram Parsons. Campeau labels their music “Garage-grass”, adding fans should “expect sad songs and waltzes.” Catch their album launch on 26 Nov at Hotel Gearin, Katoomba.
The electronic lion had wings at Lithgow Halloween as mixup maestro Leotrix fed his fancy dressed fans’ ears with a frenzy of tricks and treats and boundless beats. He tells us it had a “really cool atmosphere to the whole event. Was so happy to see people dancing and just playing some cool tunes to them.”
Hunting for Steve
Did somebody say bass solo? Jazz bass legend Steve Hunter returns with his trio to Hotel Blue 18 Dec.
Treat Your Eyeballs
In a lighthearted fashion, Sonori’s latest vid is a Friends takeoff, Sevsons have relaunched their Nebulous clip, and there’s a lovely Leura Festival wrap-up a clip featuring Andie & Oli.
Contributors: Willem Hendriksen, Brigitte Grant, Charity Mirow, Meg Benson, David Tobin, Fiona Simpson, Pat Bowden, Lockie D, Ruby Rain, Chris Carrapetta, Stephanie Roper, Retro Rehash 89.1 Cheers to all who helped out! Published by: Mark & Samantha Alston Printed by: Blue Mountains Printing
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The Haze Magazine music | entertainment | arts | lifestyle
MUSIC NEWS The Laurels’ brand new single Reentry was written and recorded whilst camped out on a friend’s lounge room floor during the Blue Mountains bush fires of 2013. Forced to leave behind all valuables except for instruments and with the sky glowing red as they loaded up the car, The Laurels aimed to cause
some explosions of their own when they reentered the city. The guys are bringing the new Sonicology Album Launch Tour to us on Nov 25, with special guests Zeahorse, Imperial Broads plus Broken Chip DJ at Hotel Gearin, Katoomba. @theelaurels
Rockers Without Borders
Springwood Acoustic Club is hosting a special event to raise money for Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF) / Doctors Without Borders on Nov 26. An impressive line-up of local Blue Mountains talent will donate their time to perform at the concert, including Ben Scott & the Flash Coves (pictured), Snez with Stewart Peters, Chris Okunbur, Anne Ridgway, U4RIA, Stuart Hale, Willem Roorda and many more. And in case that stellar line-up isn’t reward enough, there’s even a lucky door prize and raffle. @springwoodacousticclub
Laurels Firing Up Pigs Escape the Pen
Go Loco with Lolo
Local guests Belle Jar will be opening for Lolo Lovina on 10 Dec they launch their ‘Romantics’ Album at Hotel Gearin, Katoomba. Translated as ‘red Beer’ Lolo Lovina are “an intoxicating, cosmopolitan virtuosic brew infused with Unza, Swing and Balkan Gypsy beats.” The only ethnic Romani band in Australia, fronted by Hungarian Romani-Gypsy singer Sarah Bedak. @ LoloLovina88
As seen on Spicks and Specks and Australia’s Got Talent! The Pigs are comin’ back to the Mountains “With some Mount’n music!” Unashamed bluegrass sinners, The Pigs have been spreading their supercharged hillbilly pop around Australia and the world for over 12 years. Their ability to turn hit pop songs into downright foot-stompers is legendary and their kooky original anthems like Macho Moisturiser and Hey Christina are sung and flung from Berlin to Bendigo. www.thepigs.com.au
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Win!!
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MUSIC NEWS
Mountain Toppers
Never wanting to be too far from coloured hills, traditional old-time and country musicians The Whitetop Mountaineers are from the Blue Ridge Mountains of Virginia, are climbing to Katoomba in January.
BMMA Celebrating the Spring Season Legendary 60s rockers The Troggs are celebrating their Wild Thing 50th Anniversary Australian Tour with a stopover in Springwood, in case you hadn’t seen the abundance of pole posters plastered up the Highway. Catch all their greatest hits live in concert at the Blue Mountains Theatre 17 November.
Celebrate the Season is a quarterly event with bands, musical and other performers from the Mountains and beyond. The set up of the room is always in style to the time of the year and the audience is invited to dress the part – prize for best dressed is one full term of free tuition! The Blue Mountains Music Academy (BMMA) aims to create an atmosphere that will bring people of different ages, ways of life, styles and interests together to ‘Celebrate the Season’, organisers make the point that the “Blue Mountains do actually have distinct seasons – let’s enjoy the culture and hurray life in the Mountains”. ‘Celebrate the Season – Spring’ will be held in the Baroque Room at Carrington Hotel on Thursday 10 November at 7:30pm. The line-up includes the BMMA Drumcorps, Snail, Paperhill, Feast of Fools, and will be hosted by Tracey Yarad who may even give a surprise Spring inspired performance.
Lookout, Gigs About
Working For It
Trogg ‘n’ Roll
The Lookout at Echo Point is not only one of the best views for a milkshake and cake, there’s also some ear-candy on Saturday and Sundays including upcoming delights Orchard Boat, Snez, Jack and Chi, Dirtbag Explodes and Glenn Skarrat. The Echo Sessions are afternoon and family friendly. Be a tourist in your own town for a day and stroll to the Three Sisters on a full tummy.
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Lithgow is a nightlife mecca, there’s no better main street for live music. And just across the tracks Lithgow Workies keeps on bringing free live music and events in the lounge, specialising in their country flavoured artists including Courtney Clark, Natasha Duarte, Beccy Cole, Rag n Bone, Paul Crowder and more. And just for an offbeat treat Rodney Rude will be in Lithgow Live December 16.
Royal Roundup
Springwood has your weekends sorted for cover bands as every Friday and Saturday night you can wander in without cover charge and enjoy your favourite tunes. Coming up in November and December are local legends including The Fabulous Shappelles, Touchwood, Johnny Habitual, The Molotovs (explosive kids pictured) and of course the Usual Suspects.
The Haze Magazine music | entertainment | arts | lifestyle
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MUSIC NEWS
Boutique Recognition
OMG! Christmas Gift Ideas & Discount Since opening their doors in Blaxland in March 2014, OMG (Oz Music Gear) has enjoyed the support of the Blue Mountains musical community “who have wholeheartedly embraced the advantage and convenience of a music store in the Lower Mountains,” says Ana. “We offer service and support to not only individuals, but to many schools in the area as well.” In addition to sales, repair and hire services, OMG has expanded their services to now include tuition for all ages. Owner and drummer Farzin says “We provide guitar, bass, piano, drums, and folk lessons at competitive rates. With highly experienced and qualified music teachers, we offer an outstanding standard of tuition which is second to none!” “We’re now celebrating One Year since the move into our new location on the Great Western Highway,” he says. To celebrate, and just in time for those Christmas purchases, we’re offering The Haze readers an extra 5% off already reduced prices on any purchase in store. Simply mention this article, or better yet, show it to us! “We’d like to take this opportunity to thank all our valued customers for their support thus far and we endeavour to continue to provide customers with superior service at an affordable price!”
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Attendees at The Blue Mountains Business Awards this year struggled to hear anything from the stage as the Creative Industries table constantly roared for its nominees. Local artypants including Falls Productions, Purple Sky Productions, The Haze Magazine, BMMA and RBM were all up for a golden gong. The tipsiest table gave a standing ovation as hardworking music and events promoters Charity Mirow and Tim Mahony from Fusion Boutique took the platinum podium. Special mention also went to visual vendors IlluminArt. The rest of the night is a blur but I do recall as Mayor
Pic: Brigitte Grant Photography Mark Greenhill’s train finally pulled in he jumped to the stage and congratulated all small business for their efforts this year. It’s a tough gig running one, and the arts sector is definitely a labour of love for many.
The Taste Awaits On tour worldwide, traditional Irish band FourWinds will blow into town for Metro Social 21 Jan at The Metropole Guesthouse, Katoomba.
It’s been a few years between drinks for locals Egg Malt. Their latest serving has been brewing for a while. This summer you will taste the fruits of their labour with their long awaited EP titled Dirty Power.
Duck worship, drug-free trance states and rhythms more infectious than Zika. They’re all in a night’s work for Samba Trombada, the Blue Mountains’ very own high priests of Carnaval spirit. Fresh from a rebrand and sporting the most outrageous hot-pink/ lime-green t-shirts in town, the Trombadistas are on the march again: smashing out a spooky soundtrack for Lithgow’s Halloween parade, lining up gigs up and down the Mountains, and preparing to wipe the floor with all comers at Sydney’s hypercompetitive Samba Encontro.
If you’ve ever dreamed of strapping on a big bass drum and booming away Rio-style, weekly drumming classes are open to anyone who can walk and count to two at the same time – with plenty of opportunity for more experienced drummers to stretch out into the rich world of Brazilian rhythm. With a squad ranging from tightlydrilled teen snare players to groovy grandparents, Samba Trombada promise funk for all the family. Samba is also great cheap therapy, reckons David Stott. “You can have an absolute shit of a day, but as soon as you strap on a surdo and lock into the groove it all burns off.” Classes run every Monday night during school term. Follow the rumble to the Blue Mountains Steiner School, Clearview Parade, Hazelbrook. 6.30-8pm @sambatrombada
The Haze Magazine music | entertainment | arts | lifestyle
REVIEWS + SOCIAL
Take Me With You!
Is the best part about buying a CD perhaps the connection to the artist? Here’s a pic taken by Lawson Folk organiser David Tobin during Andie Isalie’s headline show. David says ”Andie hand-decorated her CDs for sale! It was great having her as our October Feature Act. Thanks to all who came along!” Lawson Folk is on every month at Blue Mountain Hotel. @andieisalie
Letting off some
S team
Lower Mountains beard bards Picture Perfect are no strangers to making video clips, launching a newie for their latest single One Desire. “The song is about the appeal of monogamy,” explains singer and guitarist Gavin Bowles. “I feel that currently our airwaves are saturated with songs of lust and indulgence, but have a loose grip on reality and even promote infidelity. So in contrast, One Desire is a song about being in an honest relationship and how it’s not all peaches and cream - but it’s still exciting.” And I totally get him, you should always iron out your problems... “Things like the ironing board scene, just kind of happen. Cameron just did it and we thought it was funny, so we put it in. The clip was a lot of fun to make - they always are!“ pictureperfecttheband
PAPERHILL - GIVEN (independent)
It’s always a good sign when listening to an album for the first time, to find yourself singing along straight away. This is what I found while listening to the debut solo EP, Given by Blue Mountains band Paperhill. Not that the album was predictable, but it felt comfortable immediately. From the laid back first track, Suffer through to the epic, heavy rock sounds of the last No One Home, this album moves effortlessly through, bringing you on an emotional journey. Intelligent and mature lyrics coupled with good, honest music, I loved the chilled out
vibes throughout. With the changing weather we’ve had lately, I find that every time the sun comes out, so does this album. I’d love to hear these guys doing a Sunday session in a beer garden. It has that kind of feel to it. The stand out track for me was Something About Her. The changing mood of the song against the fast paced tempo was really appealing to the air drummer in me. All in all a highly enjoyable album that you will want to see played live while enjoying a sneaky Sunday Session. Review By Lockie D
CLAUDE HAY – ROLLERCOASTER (independent)
ALSO On the Office Stereo this
month:
lex, Chris O, Julia Jacklin, Swell Trip el Innamech, Lime and Ste
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Claude Hay has a lot going on under his hat, which he’s whole heartedly thrown into the ring with the release of Rollercoaster. The rockier parts of the album hook you like Jack White with space between notes that hit as hard as the riffs themselves. Aside from the upbeat tunes like What it Takes and Roller Coaster, Claude’s six-stringed third arm also knows how to slow it down, and take you to porch-town with some beautiful blues. His lyrics pang of protest, and having seen these songs live in Katoomba with full band recently I realise the slick production is no hocus pocus - this is actually just a super-tight band. Get on board, Claude’s fun fair is a trip worth taking - surpassing blues, rock or 90s grooves, he’s a DIY guy with a genre unto himself.
The Haze Magazine music | entertainment | arts | lifestyle
REVIEWS + SOCIAL
3 Hi! Just snuck into a
Birds of Tokyo secret
gig at Carriageworks where the band perform songs from their new disc Brace, bringing a heavier 90s sound to the party, and some eye-splitting lighting and stage production. Jezebels singer Hayley Mary even struts the stage for a quick song just to remind us how close to heaven we really are! Pic by Stephanie Roper 3Katoomba Brewery leaks the smell of hops and history as our onlookers marvel at the recent PechaKucha night. The format is 20 images shown for 20 seconds as each speaker presents their topic. The last PechaKucha night for this year is on Saturday 10th December. Pic by Brigitte Grant Photography. 3The Metropolitan Orchestra have played the first two of their Hydro Majestic performances already, with the 3rd and final concert upcoming in November. Brigitte Grant snapped this shot and says “it was a pretty amazing concert!” For those adventuring to Medlow Bath for the next event you can expect some Mendelssohn, Kats-Chernin and of course a bit of Beethoven. 3With a flurry of modern flamenco fingers on guitar and the stomping nature of the dance, Bandaluzia captivate an awe-struck audience in the Kindlehill performance space at Wentworth Falls. They don’t just give out those ‘best dancer’ awards to your niece’s ballet class – people snap legs for them – and so when you find out Jessica Statham (captured here by Lona Logan’s lens) has taken out two recent dance awards you realise just how honoured we are to be visited by world music acts such as this. If you’ve not yet ventured to Kindlehill performance space, the acoustics and viewing are beautiful and the rounded room with cushions and chai always makes for a comfy chilled-out night.
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5Oli fronting his band Paperhill at Katoomba’s Station Bar to a full house for the Given album launch, drawing the crowd in close - even to their knees at one point!
5Best Instrument Award goes to Bobby Singh and Sangeet Mishra who performed a concert of Hindustani Classical music in Wentworth Falls. Runner up was Bukhu’s throat as he mentored the room in Mongolian Throat singing at another explorative Music Hunter gig. Pic by Lona Logan
Crazy for Haze: Barry Morgan with his twin brother Willem ;)
The Haze Magazine music | entertainment | arts | lifestyle
LIFESTYLE
ON THE GRID Fiona Simpson gets a taste for V8s in Bathurst Let me set the record straight, I am not a car racing enthusiast. Well, I wasn’t until recently. I am a Plus Fitness 24/7 Franchisee and involved in the three clubs we have in the Blue Mountains. As we have the closest clubs to Bathurst, I was recently invited to arrange the promotions team and grid girls working for Plus Fitness Racing at the iconic Bathurst 1000. As a group, Plus Fitness sponsor car number #3 in the Virgin Australia Supercar Championship driven by Aaren Russell and André Heimgartner.
Initially, entering the legendary Mount Panorama track on day 1, I felt as out of place as a penguin in Africa. I have absolutely no clue about car racing or cars. There was something about the sounds of all the V8 engines, though, that was thrilling. We were led to Pit Lane and set ourselves up in a garage where we remained for 3 practice days and the main race on Sunday. I was fascinated by the amount of people in the team working in the Pit, from Engineers, to mechanics and team managers. I always thought car racing was just about how good the car is and how skillful the driver is. I soon discovered that motorsport is an exciting mix of many more factors than this. The Race Engineer initially caught my eye, watching screen after screen of
statistics and data. I enquired what he was looking at and he analyses each practice lap looking at the lap time and segments of the tracks where the car performs faster and slower compared to other teams. The car roars into the pit after a test lap. Then the discussions start between the drivers, the Race Engineer, the manager and the mechanics. They make minor adjustments to wheel angle, suspension, tyre type, and adjust the fuel load to change the car weight, over and over again for three days. All these minor adjustments each lap optimise the cars performance that little bit more to gain an advantage to qualify as far up the grid as possible ready for the big race on Sunday. Going back in to pit lane, my grid girls and I had an absolute ball with the general public. Everyone was happy and in good spirits and we even took lots of our gym members on tours of the Pit.
when just like that, Mount Panorama took its toll and the Bathurst 2016 dream is over for the Plus Fitness Supercar with gearbox issues forcing us out of the race. I must say, I am now a converted V8 fan and a car racing enthusiast, although seemingly an unlikely one. There is nothing like hearing the sounds, smelling the fuel and absorbing the atmosphere that is the Bathurst 1000, and I have personally volunteered for all future events! Story and photos: Fiona Simpson
A Day at the Races Race day arrives, and we were lucky enough to do the grid walk before the start of the race. What an exciting experience. The cars took their positions to start the race and an F18 Jet Fighter roared overhead. We wished our drivers good luck and took our positions to watch the race. The race started and the atmosphere was exhilarating. Our car was travelling really well on target for a top 10 finish until the 114th lap of the 116 lap race
music | entertainment | arts | lifestyle
The Haze Magazine
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Pumped up Kicks
Homecoming
d at Springwoo “I found them oes. sh l ca lo ’re Salvo’s! They to a Vegas I was going day as a rth bi ed em th ught these bo I so ee tir re stume and co y m r fo s shoe wearing up d de en I then ” e! tim e th l them al
Queen
Old School
Leadlight was filmed back at Julia’s familiar High School in Winmalee
Julia Jacklin’s debut record may be taking her places but she’s definitely not leaving the Mountains behind She has barely stepped off the plane from America and already emerging indie-folk artist Julia Jacklin is finding reasons to head back to her original home. “I’m shooting a video in the main street of Springwood this weekend,” she tells me with unabashed excitement about a quick trip up to the Mountains. In her earlier years she was in a high school band, “we were called Anonymous and we played at Springwood Presbyterian Church band comp. I did Musical Society and musicals at High School, but I wasn’t really in bands because I couldn’t play an instrument.” Downplaying her classically trained vocal skills, Julia’s journey took her to university and away from our hazy hills.
SYDNEY KIDS
“It wasn’t until I moved to Sydney and I started hanging out with people from the Blue Mountains in Sydney that I started a band with them.” Julia went to university to pursue Social Work, and tells us “I gave myself a couple of years to pursue my music, and I’m still in those couple of years and it seems to be going alright right now...”
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She understates it, but ‘alright’ is currently a trophy wall with medals from Triple J Unearthed, feature album ribbons on every indie radio station and record reviews that are piling up beside her Reeboks. But she hasn’t earned the growing and glowing accolades without merit, her debut Don’t Let The Kids Win is a cruiser that will sit in record crates and collections forever. “I just wanted the songs to stand out, and it not to be drenched with production. I wanted the lyrics to just kinda punch through the production, and I wanted it to be quite lo-fi and simple, and I think that’s why it can sound quite old fashioned I guess,” Julia says of her era-crossing sound. “For my first record I wanted these songs that I’d written in a two year period to have the best chance they could to breathe on a record.“The lyrics are personal, you can at times feel like she’s just telling you what happened to her as a friend might after a breakup, she draws you in and her mild melancholy rubs onto you. “I try and open my lyrics up to people around me. Being in your mid-twenties can be quite confusing, because it’s that time in your life when suddenly your high school aspirations
When:
Dec 16 at
mba Baroque Room, Katoo
smack into the reality of how hard it is to actually become the person you want to become. I was having an experience where you wonder if you are doing the right thing.”
FILM SCHOOL
With two more Mountains guys in her band, Julia’s made it a point to shoot her videos here, she’s directed both of them and is shooting the next one in Springwood soon. “I try and include my roots and where I first started singing,” she talks about filming Leadlight at her High School assembly hall. “When you are at school you think that’s where I’ve got to sit through boring assemblies or exams so it was nice to go back and see it was actually a cool room.” So how does an artist from windy Winmalee end up on a worldwide tour and with a Triple J feature album? “For me, a big part of it is utilising your online presence, being strong with how you want to present yourself as an artist, and creating interesting content. People are fascinated by the Blue Mountains – they straight away want to listen to what you have to say, so use that and incorporate that in your art.”
The Haze Magazine music | entertainment | arts | lifestyle
ARTS + LIFESTYLE
Artist Centrefold:
Ruby Rain “My work is largely influenced by the local social scene and the beauty of urban Katoomba,” says Mountains based artist Ruby Rain. “Images of buildings and social spaces, as well as figures and objects such as bottles, glasses, vessels, etc, are of great interest to me.” “These images are my everyday life,” explains Ruby. “And therefore appear in my drawings and paintings quite frequently. My works are studies of my surroundings.“ The artwork featured on pages 16 & 17 was originally commissioned on large panels for a music and art event called Super Safari Strut Off in Katoomba. Ruby Rain is also known for her work on local album covers and posters including POTNSLAM, Paperhill and Innamech, and you’ve likely eyeballed her dazzling drawings on Station Bar’s windows on a hazy Katoomba evening. @rubyrain.foepah This month’s Artist Centrefold is brought to you by Katoomba Music store and Retro Rehash on 89.1fm, bringing you the heart of the art in the Blue Mountains & surrounds.
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Sweet Sixteen Music Hunter has a reputation for challenging us to encounter new music, avant garde, always high quality and leading us into unchartered territory. The reward for the adventurous music hunter is exciting discoveries and extraordinary experiences alongside a broad minded community of culture lovers. On Sunday 4 Dec Sixteen Alleluias an innovative duo – Adam Simmons (saxophonist) and Nick Tsiavos (double bassist) will descend on Kindlehill Performance Space at Wentworth Falls to perform a set of traditional Greek Orthodox Alleluias. The duet are “formal, stately and profoundly affecting. The music has a cumulative effect that could well see you
inclined to levitate towards the end,” according to an enlightened SMH writer. The Kindlehill space is an indoor amphitheatre in an eco-built architecturally designed space where everyone has an excellent view. Chai, cake and savouries are always served by Daz Procter of Blissbeat Curry. www.musichunterprojects.com
Spring Brings Joy Blue Mountains Organic Community Gardens hosted the Festival of Joy last month and as promised it was chilled out with beautiful sunlight streaming through onto those enjoying the view, walks, and bountiful garden. With music supplied by Sonori and more, many took the chance to enjoy some yoga in the garden or spend the time just soaking up the relaxed atmosphere before having a drum and dance.
The Haze Magazine music | entertainment | arts | lifestyle
0 FOLK N’ BLUES In the middle of a 9 hour gig at the Bunker in Springwood, bluesman Willem Sherlock Roorda rests his fingers for five to talk about his momentum in music
Momentum Blue s w i t h
Pic: Danielle Roorda
“I started on piano, but my teacher would only teach me hymns and after three years I went as far away as possible – and started listening to Jimi Hendrix,” explains blues wunderkid Willem Roorda. That was five years ago, and in a short space of time Willem has pushed himself to the pace of playing strings of shows every week. But, why the blues? “My dad has a great love of blues, that was always playing in the background as I was growing up. It’s connective music, it’s communicating raw emotion,” he says. About 18 months ago Willem hit the red button on a jazz album, only to realise he didn’t know a thing about jazz. “I recorded it, then decided I’d better take myself away and actually learn a little bit about this shit! So 18 months on I decided to record it all again, and it’s a lot better!” To satisfy his perverse sense of irony, because it’s been such a bloody long time in the making,
WSR’s Guitars
• A Mini Maton – called Anna • A Gibson Les Paul, 1999 honey burst – called Hoppy • Fender Stratocaster 1956 Vintage re-issue in blonde – Doesn’t have a name yet! he’s titled the record Momentum.” Willem’s music has taken him to Europe where he busked for six weeks earlier this year. “It was very cold, but it was awesome. The most receptive audience for the blues were in Germany and Holland,” says Willem. Back in his home town, he last month hosted the backyard festival. “We’ve got a lot of really cool musicians here in Springwood - this is the third Compound Sessions, I feel it has the potential to get quite large quite quickly,“ he says. Momentum is launching at ‘Friday Night Jazz’ - 18 Nov at Hotel Blue Katoomba
0 FOLK N’ BLUES
Having a
Wail of a time
3The first of a new quarterly Folk night started in the ‘Attic’ at Hotel Blue last month, featuring the Flash Coves fronted by Ben Scott (Guitar/ Vocals) and accompanied by the very talented Phillipa Freitag (violin), Leigh Birkett (Guitar/Mandolin) and Paddy Connor (Banjo, Uilleann Pipes & Whistles). The night featured a solid set from the Flash Coves covering mostly material from the CD Your Letter Just To Hand, their most recent release telling tales of the lives of Australia’s early settlers with melodious folk tunes that draw on Australian & Irish influences. It was the first time I had seen Ben plus band since his CD launch in 2014, and was impressed with the standard of musicianship and vocal harmonies from all on stage. The night also included supports from Francesca Sidoti & Tony Eardley. For a quiet Sunday night in the Mountains it was lovely evening of great music. Words & Pic By Chris Carrapetta 3All Our Exes Live In Texas (centre) didn’t take long to sell out the Metropole in Katoomba last month. The quirky quartet’s folky sound and haunting harmonies filled the venue with songs from their debut When We Fall. With supports from Miss Eileen & King Lear, captured here by Brigitte Grant Photography.
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Chris O is bringing bygones back with her new blues record
“The songs on Wailin’ & Raggin’ the Blues continue my dedication to acoustic old-skool blues,” says Chris O of her brand new disc. “Even with the five new compositions I followed the path of re-writing ‘the tradition’. Some of the covers such as Write me a few lines (McDowell) and Need Your Love So Bad (Mertis) have been favorites for decades, I never tire of listening to the originals.” Most of the tracks were recorded in her home using a single Rode condenser mic, Steinberg USB Interface and Cubase, occasionally using the mixing expertise of Eliot from SongCave Studios in Hazelbrook, or Iwan Gronert in the Netherlands. “It takes me ages to record at home, because I’m still working at a very basic level, but it does allow me to capture the absolute sound, energy and arrangements I have in mind, which is satisfying,” she admits. Chris has a very active online presence, she says “before Soundcloud I mostly played live, did very few recordings, and was a bit nervous and unsure of my music. The Cloud opened up a whole new world, and I began to develop my songwriting and musical performance very quickly.” She is lucky enough to meet up and perform with many of her Soundcloud musical buddies when touring in Europe and the USA. “Strangely, I find it much quicker and simpler to rehearse and record with others via cyberspace than face to face these days!” www.chrisokunbor.net
O.S. TOURING TIPS BY
CHRIS O
learn to drive • Travel super-light, ” of the road! side ong “wr on the gested by • Play at venues sug the globe, musical friends around there for choose places that are sic (rather a deep love of live mu $$) big sing cha n tha for some • Develop the stamina smoky very very late nights and venues!
The Haze Magazine music | entertainment | arts | lifestyle
Darkest Duo to Headline Festival
Katoomba’s annual Blue Mountains Music Festival (BMMF) returns in 2017 for its 22nd year on March 17, 18 & 19, with Paul Kelly and Charlie Owen headlining, joined by The Waifs, Dog Trumpet, Eddi Reader, Folk Uke and so many others. Earlybird weekend tickets go on sale via the bmff.org.au website only, from Nov 1-Dec 15. The international contingent will feature an amazing variety of acts from Ireland, Scotland, Canada, The Netherlands, The US, India, Japan and Ethiopia. There’s three days of music over seven stages around town (totalling over a hundred concerts!), as well as the usual songwriters’ and instrumental circles, and roaming performers. www.bmff.org.au
There Can Be Only One Rhythm
With mixed emotions Rhythm Underground in Jenolan Caves has been cancelled for 2016 whilst some environmental studies are undertaken. “We look forward to returning to Jenolan Caves in 2017,” says ringleader Lou Sawilejskij who announces her dynamite group of drum and dance demons will instead present One Rhythm. The events will take place on 18th November in Bondi Junction, and 19th November in Katoomba. Rhythm Hunters are bringing their infectious dance grooves back to the Mountains for a special show at Katoomba Leura Community Centre. Joining them on stage as a special guest will be Si Mullumby of Wild Marmalade fame, and local folk trio Snail. For the uninitiated, Rhythm Hunters bring cutting edge physical percussion, western horns, Asian flute, deep grooves and electro beats, making them one of Australia’s most exciting and indemand festival acts, well known for visiting the Mountains. Contemporary didgeridoo player Si Mullumby has pushed the boundaries of what can be done with Australia’s iconic instrument. As a solo act, Si reveals his hidden multi-instrumental self. Combining flamenco guitar, spanish cajon and drums, he creates a world music framework to support his unique didgeridoo sound. Musically influenced from 20 years of travelling throughout the globe, Si delivers a unique experience born from choosing to walk the road less travelled. Snail is a trio of three pals. Holding their dear collection of special stringed instruments in their hands, this band weave influences of RnB, hip hop, soul and a little bit of jazz. www.therhythmhunters.com Ticket Giveaway Page 5! music | entertainment | arts | lifestyle
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INSIGHTS
The Haze Magazine was delighted to get a mention at the recent APRA conference held in Katoomba, highlighting at one point the importance of a street-press to promote and connect local artists. The songwriter’s evening was held to give Blue Mountains musicians an insight into how they can expand their careers through performance, grants and promotion. Former resident Heidi from Cloud Control is pictured above beside Tuka from Thundamentals, who both preached the importance of the support for performance spaces for underaged bands. Tuka reminisced about venues such as Katoomba’s TrisElies, an important landmark for his early development as then-owner Pixie would let him in to perform on stage.
Places & Spaces: Hotel Blue
Blues with a side of bacon? Christopher Cannell reveals the recipe for Hotel Blue in Katoomba’s live music success... When did you start?
I would never recommend anyone start organising live music - it’s risky and too inconsistent . . . but you sorta catch the bug. One day a local jazz musician walked in to the hotel and said she would love to play at the Hotel - I of course laughed at her as we are a 94-year-old guesthouse, not a music venue. However a couple of weeks later, another jazz musician walked in - I laughed again but it made me think. We waited for the right opportunity (The Roaring 20s Festival) and we gave it a go. From that we grew our live music slowly, to the point where we are now the most active live music venue in the Mountains and certainly one of the most active in NSW.
What do people love?
Music to Express Life
You’ve probably seen Tracey Yarad on stage performing locally with big names like The Church (pictured), but when she’s not in the limelight she is busy teaching others at the Blue Mountains Music Academy. The school offers private tutoring in a wide range of instrument and styles, and all teachers are professional musicians. The school offers also an early childhood program and has a drumcorps. “We are at the moment also in the process of establishing a partnership with the Music Collective in NYC,” reveals Tracey. bluemountainsmusicacademy.com
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Our main business at Hotel Blue is actually accommodation, meaning that our live music is always on at a reasonable hour to ensure our hotel customers get a good night’s sleep. A happy byproduct of this is that we tend to attract customers that genuinely love to listen to music. This isn’t a pub - no pokie machines, theres no TAB, and there is no drunk sitting at the bar. People come along and devout their full attention to the musicians! Its magic!!!
Your biggest challenge?
Our biggest challenge is that we are promoting between six to nine events every week which means that there is just sooooo much going on that its easy for people to miss some spectacular gigs.
When to attend?
We have music on almost every Thursday, Friday, Saturday and Sunday between 6:30-8:30pm, however if you want a seat, we recommend you arrive early. Saturday and Sunday times vary as we are now doing some ‘dinner & shows’ and we change the times to suit. For something a little bit different, we do live music every Sunday morning over breakfast. That might sound a little quirky however once you have had some bacon and eggs - you are alert and ready to soak in some tunes.
Advice for others?
If you are going to put on live music find your own niche and support local musicians! In a musical ecosystem, musicians themselves will be your best supporters. By finding your musical niche (we are the home of jazz and blues), you will find that its easy to get along with other venues and promoters, and fans of your niche will know what you are all about. Being friends with other bookers and sharing information can be the most beneficial thing you can do!
Your favourite local spot?
We at Hotel Blue are avid bush walkers! In fact, 3 of us who work front of house recently did the Six Foot Track together. When we’re not listening to music, we’re exploring old mining trails and looking for old walking routes that people aren’t walking anymore. We are extremely blessed to be living in the Blue Mountains! www.hotelblue.com.au www.loungesessions.com.au
The Haze Magazine music | entertainment | arts | lifestyle
INSIGHTS
Give me
Shelter
Leaving Town Innamech’s Bordertown release coincides with a band member Sammy leaving, says Jimmi Carr “My first serious band was Tang,” explains Jimmi Carr, mastermind behind mid-Mountains electropsyche-rock group Innamech. “It was a funk/metal three-piece, with Chris and Dan Wheatley. We started out playing youth gigs up here and got a lot of practice playing at the Bent St Jam Nights at the Gearin while we were still underage. It was a golden time for music.” Jimmi’s journey then took him North, only to be drawn out from his off-grid recluse years later. “When I came back to the Mountains in the early 2000s Triselies had opened and I started doing some solo gigs there. My records have been stylistically inconsistent, so I went to uni to try to find a different appreciation for music, and it worked. I got heavily into sound-tech stuff and electronic performance, met Sammy and started Innamech,” he says. “I describe Innamech as Progrocktronica, I’m probably more proud of this record than anything else I’ve done musically. Sammy’s contribution to the record is great and I think it’s a pretty special document of the band. Thematically it’s pretty dark, deals with all the usual fun stuff – addiction, fear, sadness, but some of the tracks are also about resilience in the face of that stuff.” Jimmi says of Sammy leaving: “I won’t find a replacement as such, but potentially putting together an expanded lineup to reflect the new record. I had already started work on new material and I think I’ll proceed with that, whether it comes out under Innamech or something else.” Bordertown is out soon via Bandcamp and Soundcloud.
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Andrew Bailey walks us through Katoomba’s hub of musical creativity - the Shelter Studio The Shelter Studio is located in Katoomba, and is a 120 sq metre space set up with creativity in mind. Bailey says, “The facilities include three sound proof rooms for rehearsal and recording, a master control room housing the audio control and video editing suite plus a lounge area complete with espresso coffee machine and mini kitchen.” LOCAL BANDS ARE BUSY “As summer approaches, many of our local favourite bands have been busy preparing for their new albums,” reveals Bailey. “These include the highly anticipated album from Red Bee, The Honey Stompers debut album, Cameron Kinsey music videos, Feast Of Fools second album. Plus Egg Malt, Voodoo Brew, Ghost Train, Magma One and Jackal Or Tiger are busy playing shows this summer.“ NEW ROOM FOR TEACHING The Studio is open from 9am to 9pm and has been a hub for local music for many years. The guys are very excited to announce that they have a third sound proof room now available. Andrew informs us that this room has “a Kawai Piano, it’s the perfect student-learning atmosphere. The space can be hired to suitable qualified professional music teachers. Discounts apply for Cooperative members. If you are looking for a new affordable local space to teach your students – give us a call.”
SOUND ENGINEER CAREERS “Andrew Gelao & Paul Handel, co-owners of The Shelter Studios are always encouraging the next generation to enjoy a hands on experience, learning the fundamentals how to record in a studio setting,” says Andrew. “The Shelter is space where you can start recording and mixing your own studio sessions! This studio is a sanctuary, community musician hub, allowing MTNS MADE music to breathe new life every day and night!”
The Haze Magazine music | entertainment | arts | lifestyle
ARTS & LIFESTYLE
Getting Keen for Gretel Killeen
When you host a reality TV series in the 2000s there won’t be many places you can go without being recognised for it. But shows about older siblings aside, Gretel Killeen has spent her career working in every nook and cranny of the media, the arts and entertainment. After dropping out of law studies her career started accidentally as a stand up comic. Since then she’s worked as one of the nation’s top voice artists, hosted commercial and ABC radio, starred in The Minister For Men, travelled to Namibia, Antarctica and Lebanon as a travel writer, worked as a journalist for Australia’s major publications, produced live theatre, written several best-selling books, and won a Mo
Don’t Fear the Beard Award for her TV presenting. Gretel is regularly seen on Sunrise and The Project and now she’s on her way to Katoomba for a show that will undoubtedly prove she really does have super powers... I mean how else could she possibly have had such an amazing career? metropolekatoomba.com.au
A family event full of colour and fun, this year’s Mid Mountains Festival is once again a hive of local musicians, arts and crafts, kids activities and a youth zone. The Beard & Mo Comp is back for those who know how to win with their chin, and the local chamber of commerce will officially open the bronze bust of Lawson’s namesake explorer. Did we mention there’s a Ghostbusters flash mob.... @mid-mountains-festival
On a roll: Ettin Con is the place for face-to-face. (Brigitte Grant Photography)
Let the Games Begin!
It’s time to dust off your dice this Summer as the fourth Ettin Con Games Convention rolls up to the Katoomba Community Centre in January. “We’re on a mission to bring people together to play games, face to face,” says one of the organisers, Matt. “Each Summer and Winter, we set out tables and chairs, and stock our shelves with games. People from Bathurst to Sydney, from Brisbane to Melbourne and even Hobart come to Katoomba to meet people who roll dice and deal cards not to risk their livelihood, but to explore and save imaginary worlds, to co-operate as much as compete, to laugh with each other, win or lose.” The range of games is diverse, as modern board games, card games, role-playing games and social video games will be represented, plus cosplay and prizes. Attendees are invited to bring their favourite games along or enjoy something different from Afternoonified’s library of over 300 titles. Matt trumps me when I ask about the relation of gaming to real life, saying “If living in Western Sydney were a game, it would be either Jenga or Trivial Pursuit. Sorry, I had Trouble answering that one, ended up taking a Risk...” @EttinCon
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Awash with Awards
“I’m feeling both excited and humbled,” says Yvonne Larkins of Livonne after being awarded the Blue Mountains City Council‘s Visual Arts Prize as well as the Blue Fringe Arts 2016 Highly Commended Photography prize at the Blue Fringe Art Exhibition. “I was honestly just thrilled to have my image exhibited in amongst such beautiful work and certainly didn’t expect to win. I was in awe of so many of the pieces of art on display so feel incredibly honoured to have had my image Wash Away the Day chosen. Thanks to everyone involved in the exhibition!” @ Livonnes
The Haze Magazine music | entertainment | arts | lifestyle
PROSE PAGE
TE A TAS OF
Happiness After publishing a cookbook with 150 vegan recipes, local culinary creatives Diipali & Amanda were hungry for more...
As the aroma of Sweet Potato and Ginger Dumplings fill her dining room, local author and keen kitchener Diipali Lilburne explains how she and long-time friend Amanda Quinn had always considered writing a cook book together. “We would always catch up over cups of tea and homemade cakes comparing and sharing recipes,” says Diipali. At the time she says there were a limited number of vegan recipe books available, of which most were from the US or UK. Many ingredients used weren’t available in Australia and also many recipes were from US or UK cultures and were hard to apply to their own tastes. “We decided that if we worked together we could come up with a really great collection of recipes that we would love to find in a cook book. I had a background in design, so over the next year we put it all together and self-published Vegan Cooking - Recipes for Health and Happiness,“ she reminisces. The book contains 150 recipes including delicious desserts, the cover includes some beautiful photography and inside you will find cutely sketched dishes to compliment the recipe chapters.
“We really wanted to get the book printed in Australia and use recycled paper so that it would be as ethical as possible. The sketches are just a bit of fun, Amanda and I both love drawing and it just added a personal touch,” she says.
Proof is in the Pudding
Diipali is proud when she often hears people comment that it’s the only cookbook they actually use. “It’s a real compliment, as there are a lot of good cookbooks around these days. Another comment which I have heard a couple of times is that the recipes are really inexpensive to make. Many people who have bought our book are not vegan or even vegetarian, it is so good for everyone to include more plantbased meals in their diet. And of course vegan food is delicious, the proof is in the pudding!” After the success of the first book the pudding-proud pair were so encouraged by readers and the local community that they wrote a second book; Vegan Cooking Recipes for a Peaceful World, a new collection of recipes. “Currently, we are both working in
other areas… although we still cook every day! The Blue Mountains is a really great community where you get so much support for all kinds of projects and endeavours,” Diipali admits before revealing the final chapter in her favourite foods list: “Hmmm.... My favourite dessert is the Pecan Pie!” In the Blue Mountains the book is available from the Turning Page bookshop in Springwood, Megalong Bookshop in Leura, the Food Co-op in Katoomba, and Gleebooks Blackheath.
LOWELL GETS TO THE POINT WITH SHARP BIOGRAPHY Katoomba author Lowell Tarling knew Martin Sharp – a 1960s Pop Art icon – better than most. Sharp’s work was magnified through his covers for OZ magazine in Sydney and London, his covers for Cream, and posters of Dylan, Hendrix and Donovan. His efforts at making The Yellow
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House and Luna Park cultural precincts, were aided by his screen prints and exhibitions to flaunt the work of others, especially the singer Tiny Tim. Lowell offers us a way into the enigmatic yet reclusive artist, through extensive interviews. www.gleebooks.com.au
The Haze Magazine music | entertainment | arts | lifestyle
Un de rg ro un d
CU LT UR E
Undoubtedly there is something in the air in the Mountains, something that brings about so many creatives, musicians and artists. Hermitude, Urthboy, Cloud Control, Innamech, Playjerise, and Thundamentals to name just a few acts with roots in the Mountains, the vibrant nightlife and creative energy is hard to miss. Words & Photos by Pat Bowden.
5Cooking with Caustic / Station Bar: Another shot with that late night Katoomba vibe (complete with rain outside). Cooking with Caustic blend funk, soul, jazz, and hip hop in their music, featuring a minimum of six members and often more in their live show. Saxophone, trombone, percussion and turntables feature often, with singers and rappers coming and going as the song dictates. Another band to be witnessed playing live, part of the undeniable Blue Mountains hip hop scene. Rhythm Hunters / Jenolan Caves 4 Every November, the Rhythm Hunters and an army of fans make their way to Jenolan Caves; an unlikely space for a concert on paper, but when witnessed live makes perfect sense. The massive shape of the Grand Arch contained the sound perfectly, with the crowd dancing or relaxing on rugs, and the band meshing sounds from Africa, Indonesia, Japan and Australia with flutes, drums, dancers and guitars to create a concert that could only happen in the Mountains.
5Sonori / Gearins Hotel: Local band Sonori supporting touring metal band We Lost the Sea. I picked this shot to try and encapsulate the feeling of a late night gig in Katoomba: usually cold or rainy outside, warm and toasty in the venue, friends and good company, hanging out late with the artists regardless of work the next morning.
SNAPSHOT 
PART 2
5Kuya Howler / loungeroom gig: This last shot was taken in a much more intimate and private venue: a friend’s loungeroom. There are a lot of feelings I tried to bring about here. The essence of a busker on Macquarie or Katoomba streets, an afternoon band practice in the garage of a house, the intangible musicality and creativity that exists in the Blue Mountains. Next issue: Part 3: History in Hiding
The Loca l Lens
SNAPSHOT
Kel / Watch Your Step
“The Blue Mountains inspire me! Honestly, we moved from Summer Hill to Wentworth Falls, then Katoomba, then Blackheath. We’re never, ever leaving! I want to jump into the bush everyday and explore. I also like to observe everyday life in the Mountains, try and find the beauty in everything – towels, weeds, dead insects, stormy mountains... to capture snippets that others might walk past. I use an iPhone5 and usually PIXLR for editing, I feel like using accessible equipment makes it more about the art of finding the shot rather than shooting it.”
s wys.bluemountain
Tomas McBride
“The laid back atmosphere of the Mountains does influence the way I work on set and how I like my set to run. I’m working on two feature films, one is called A Beautiful Life centred around five individuals and their lives and how they became the people who they are in the present by focusing on their pasts. The second is Held which is a love story and in a nutshell I guess you could call it Australia’s gay version of Gone With The Wind.”
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Emma Rowan-Kelly
“I love the music and the people are just a blast at these incredible events, costumes and spectacular decorations - what’s not to love? It is really fun, intense work and really rewarding. I have been photographing events for a long time and it’s all about the people and the energy. You have to be bold without being too intrusive and you often wish you could be in 3 places at once! There is always something happening. I prefer to let people know I am photographing them so I don’t run into any freakout moments and it makes for a more fun shot as most are pretty enthused to be a bit crazy when they are out to party. “ photography
lly emmarowanke
chrisosbourneadventures
Chris Osborne Adventures
“I was trying to walk and post a selfie to FB recently and I almost stepped on a black snake! It was bent and ready to strike, but I was less than a metre away so they are not out to kill you, that’s for sure. Over the last few years I have used a variety of cameras depending what activity I’m doing. They all have their pro’s and cons. It may be a surprise that most of my early films or kayak clips I use a Sony TX 20 waterproof which I got from JB HiFi for $166 and the others are filmed on a Sony Hx60v with 30x zoom - good for wildlife.”
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The Haze Magazine music | entertainment | arts | lifestyle
SNAPSHOT
Circle of Life
Elle Wickens has just returned to the Mountains from a birthday sojourn in Tasmania, a fitting time of year to ponder her new found passion for Birth Photography... The Mountains are a breeding ground for many photographers, there’s beauty in eyeshot wherever you care to look. Elle Wickens is a creative young woman finding her niche with a connection between mums, bubs and her lens. Known online by her business Earth Babes, Elle has come full circle with her creativity, admitting she’s “just done a wedding, and taken some pictures for some musician friends of mine, but that’s just not my passion”. “I love food photography, and I love birth photography. I love the freedom of creativity rather than the commercial side of taking pictures,” she realises as she tells me about her early life. Her fascination with photos came early on, “I was always interested in it when I was a kid, all my gifts used to be cameras!” “But it’s the classic story - one of my High School teachers, we had a fight or something and it turned me off photography for a long time. I went into painting and I went overseas for a while with festivals,” she remembers now with the perspective of distance. “I eventually ended up back at home, I didn’t really like the festivals and live music photography scene. But what I really like is being a
woman, and the birth photography kinda fell into place I guess,” she explains. “I saw other birth photographers on Instagram, and I’ve always sort of been hunting for something that, I think, positively adds to the world, and helps people,” she says. Knowing she was determined to give it a go, it just so happened that a girl at her work had a doula for a mother. “I had mentioned it, then all of a sudden her mum rang me, and said I’ve got one right now, do you wanna come? - And I was like, ‘yes, yes I do!’ It was the most amazing thing I’ve ever done!”
First contact: Elle loves to document the beauty of birth and those moments that are often forgotten
music | entertainment | arts | lifestyle
PUT DOWN YOUR CAMERA If you have ever been at a birth you will know there are often ups and downs. Elle says “If it gets hectic, get ready to put down your camera!” Her photos are taken up close and from a distance, and you can see that she is documenting a very special time in many people’s lives. There are beautiful photos of water and home births, of mothers seeing their baby for the first time, of fathers hugging bubs, umbilical cords flailing. It’s those very first few moments of life that, without documentation, are often forgotten - or never seen. “It’s a beautiful experience going through the pictures with the mums afterwards,” she says. Though not all people understand the beauty and bond of mama, bub and photographer. Even in today’s world the sacred birth is a blurred line for people in terms of where it should be seen in the online world. Earlier in the year Elle’s Instagram @Earth.Babes was taken offline. “I was very angry at Instagram at the start, but after speaking to a lot of other women - it’s not Insta, it’s people on it. If you get reported a number of times it automatically gets pulled down without a review.” “I posted a status on my personal page and Facebook page, it was pretty fiery, like ‘we won’t stand for this as women, why can’t we be shown this way’. Everyone shared it and I realised that people care about this. A couple of hours later it was back online,” she says, still with a spark in her voice about the incident. POWER OF SOCIAL MEDIA “I was excited that everyone wanted to help, it was a big rally to get this page back. Though I’ve pulled back a lot from Instagram these days, after the incident” she says. Elle has learnt the power of social media, with over 9000 followers she now curates her online existence very carefully. She shares images that have been authorised by the mamas to ensure respect and privacy for those who wish to keep the photographs only for themselves. @Earth.Babes
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