ISSUE #524 MAY/JUNE 2022
BANDS / MUSIC / ARTS
BMAMAG.COM
FREE
OVER 200 EVENTS LISTED
RECONCILIATION DAY EVE CONCERT STRONG VOICES IN THE COUNTRY UNITE
INSIDE
Jem Cassar-Daley • QL2 Presents: Terra Firma • Holy Holy Twenty Minutes With The Devil • Hilary Geddes + Claire Cross • Rueben Solo • Glitoris The SunBears • Krafty Kuts • Plump DJs • Original short fiction by Craig Cormick
PAGE 2
@bmamag
facebook.com/bmamagazine
PAGE 3
PAGE 4
@bmamag
facebook.com/bmamagazine
PAGE 5
PAGE 6
@bmamag
facebook.com/bmamagazine
PAGE 7
PAGE 8
@bmamag
facebook.com/bmamagazine
PAGE 9
[CONTENTS]
[Canberra’s
#524
Entertainment Guide] may/june 2022
GEM CASSAR-DALEY @ RECONCILIATION DAY EVE CONCERT
p. 18
Mail: 36/97 Eastern Valley Way Belconnen, ACT 2617 Publisher ABN 76 097 301 730 Pty Ltd General Manager Allan Sko E: advertising@bmamag.com Editor Allan Sko E: allan@bmamag.com Accounts Manager Ashish Doshi E: accounts@bmamag.com Cover Design Juliette Dudley
GLITORIS
p. 15
THE SUNBEARS
p. 16
Cover image Artist Philly (he/him) aka Braincloud Article Design Juliette Dudley, except for Twenty Minutes With The Devil designed by Marty Baker Entertainment Guide Editor Allan Sko Social Media Manager Allan Sko & Ruth O’Brien Columnists Ruth O’Brien, Josh Nixon, Chris Marlton, Allan Sko Contributors Josh Eckersley, Anthony Plevey, Vince Leigh, Craig Cormick, Allan Sko
p. 20
HOLY HOLY
REUBEN SOLO
p. 27
NEXT ISSUE #525 OUT Thursday, 23 June EDITORIAL DEADLINE Friday, 10 June ADVERTISING DEADLINE Wednesday, 15 June ABN 76 097 301 730 BMA Magazine is independently owned and published. Opinions expressed in BMA Magazine are not necessarily those of the editor, publisher or staff.
CRAIG CORMICK STORY p. 28
QL2 TERRA FIRMA
p. 30
TWENTY MINUTES... p. 32
PLUMP DJS + KRAFTY KUTS
p. 40
GIG/EVENTS GUIDE @bmamagp. 42
TIM FERGUSON
ES 199 T 2 PAGE 10
HILARY GEDDES + CLAIRE CROSS
p. 33
every pocket twice as many times. The old gentlemen eventually emerged and I ducked, suspiciously quickly, into the stall. Nothing. Back outside. Another 5-point pocket and 1-thorough-bag-purging check later. Still nothing. Where were the bastard things? I had them literally a minute ago!
FROM THE BOSSMAN BY ALLAN SKO [ALLAN@BMAMAG.COM]
The purpose of this month’s column is to demonstrate to you, gentle reader, just how much of a catch I am. I shall achieve this by regaling you with A Tale of Two Folkies. The scene is the 2022 National Folk Festival at Exhibition Park, and we find our hero in a ball of nerves. Y’see, his partner - the incomparable singer-songwriter Ruth O’Brien - is performing across the long weekend. It’s her first performance in years, with brand new material, and a sleek, sexy, new band. Brilliant though they may all be, this is the composite’s first performance on a live stage together. As such, I am suffering from a severe case of empathetic nerves. Now, these band shows went brilliantly. Despite hearing Ruth practise (and practise and practise) the songs from another room, all whilst I tried to navigate a particularly irksome Elden Ring boss, this was the first time experiencing them with full band. And the songs truly came alive. Tabitha Hart’s sultry cello, Viktor Rufus’ emboldening guitar, Matt Nightingale’s enthusiastic doublebass playing (with cheeky bearded face to match) and, of course, Ruth’s hair-spiking vocals, all meshed together triumphantly. But now, we were onto the final performance; Ruth was part of a dedication set to Aussie folk legend Judy Small, featuring the best and brightest female singer-songwriters the country has to offer: Georgia Mooney of All Our Exes Live in Texas, Katie Noonan, Ruth Hazleton, Jo Davie, Andrea Kirwin, Maggie Carty, Kim Yang and, of course, the mighty Judy Small herself.
Back into the toilet for the third time; check the floor; check the toilet paper rack, check the top of the cistern. Nada. I even tailed the earlier old gent, my addled brain thinking that perhaps he’d picked them up and was in the process of kindly handing them in. My bootleg gumshoe work yielded no results. It was at this stage I return toilet-ward for the fourth time, convinced I must have somehow disposed of the charge case in the bin after drying my hands. In short, while my Ruthie was preparing for the gig of a lifetime, maximising her minutes in sharing the stage with the country’s great singer-songwriters, I was feverishly pawing through the bathroom bins like some ambitious raccoon, lurking around the toilets looking as if I was cruising for some hot OAP action. The story has a happy conclusion. I found them; or more accurately, they found me. No, they weren’t in the bin. Nor were they sequestered away in some far flung corner of my bag, or forgotten pocket. As I was rushing toward Lost Property, now only 10 minutes before the performance, I felt something against my ankle and heard the clattering of hard plastic on concrete. There, spilling out from my trouser cuff, was my beloved headphone case. I had rested them on my disrobed underpants, and had absent-minded hoiked them into the snug embrace of my groin, where they stayed for a fun-filled half-an-hour before eventually peek-a-booing their way to freedom. Like I say; what a catch I am. Ruth doesn’t know how lucky she is. ALLAN SKO - allan@bmamag.com
It was a heck of an ask; a real once-in-a-lifetime opportunity. And I was bricking it on Ruth’s behalf. Now, it is here that our narrative splits into two distinctly different Folkie experiences. An hour before the show, Ruth was rubbing shoulders with musical royalty, preparing on one of the festival’s big main stages for the performance of a career. This, by comparison, was what I was doing. In need of a nervvy toilet, I popped to what was one of the quietest cubicles known to humankind. The dropping of a pin would sound like a jackhammer. You could hear God whispering. So, of course, into this silence, as one was perched in a vulnerable position ready to announce my ablutions, someone walked in. Headphones time, thought I. Retrieving from pocket and popping in ears allowed a soothing comedy podcast to, errrrr, pass the time. Pants up, unlock door, thorough wash of hands (“Happy Birthday to me…”), towel dry, and I’m out. Time for Ruth’s moment to shine. As I strode boldly to the arena to save a good spot, I fished the earphone from ear and went to pop it back in its snug charge case. Only, the charge case wasn’t there. I immediately 180’d and returned to the scene of the crime, just in time to see an old gentlemen enter the cubicle from whence I came. Dammit. These headphones are my everything. They’re how I eventually fall asleep. They are a sonic oasis for the untapped electrical arcing of my undiagnosed ADHD brain. What followed was an intensive 20-minute OCD-channelling frantic search party of one. Whilst surreptitiously waiting, I turned out the contents of my bag three times over. I checked facebook.com/bmamagazine
PAGE 11
[HOT TIX]
Alive In The Park / All ages music + arts festival / Sat, 21 May / Riverbank Park, Yass Alive in the Park is a free all-ages live music and arts festival, featuring a packed line-up of exciting acts – Lucy Sugerman, ARCHIE, Flowermarket, The Sun Fishers, Jack Phemister, Kirks & Company, Timothy James Bowen, Siobhan McGrath, Ben Gillard and Jess Keating, all performing on the amazing pink Soul Defender stage. Get set to groove out at Riverbank Park in Yass, with food trucks, markets, roaming performers, hangout tents, dance troupe, jumping castle, and more. This awesome line-up of young bands and performers is a mustdo on your calendar! 11am, free entry
Elton Out Of The Closet / Mid-’70s Elton covered / Fri, 27 May / National Arboretum Elton Out Of The Closet is an exciting and authentic portrayal of the mid-’70s, top-of-his-game Elton we all remember: athletic, fantastic vocal range, magnificent costumes, and consistently iconic songs. Starring the incomparable and world-renowned Jason Paris, Elton Out Of The Closet has been commended by Queen’s Brian May and Elton’s partner David Hentschel. Expect a two-hour, Vegas-style entertainment spectacular that brings the voice, the character, flamboyant costumes, back-stories, iconic instruments, and young Elton himself. 7pm - 10pm, $55 via stickytickets.com.au
Bakers Eddy / Album launch w/ Sputnik Sweetheart / Fri, 17 June / UC Hub Bakers Eddy’s Love Boredom Bicycles is an exuberant debut album from the endearing and revered New Zealand band. A delightful melding of boisterous and unhindered youthful energy, the LP is an unabashed expression of prevalence in the ‘coming of age’ journey, exploring the tension between the terror of self-discovery and resounding hope in their trademark humorous tone. As if that weren’t enough, they’re joined at their launch by good mates, and Canberra treasures, Sputnik Sweetheart! 8pm, $23.18 via Moshtix PAGE PAGE12 12
UPCOMING LIVE MUSIC EVENTS
Tim Bevitt / Love in a Backpack album launch / Sun, 21 May / Smith’s Alternative Well known for his children’s rock music as Mr Tim, Tim Bevitt now explores his personal journeys around the world and takes you through his insights of love, people, travel, and the adventure of Life. Tim’s music is for people who love a story, with influences from glam rock, musical theatre, classical music, trad jazz, and funk. With heartfelt ballads, funk grooves, cabaret styles, and singer-songwriter explorations, he is a true entertainer who dives in and captures all the human emotions. 4pm, tix $10/$15 via smithsalternative.com
Liars + Bree van Reyk / Abstract electronic rock Sat, 28 May / Ainslie Arts Centre - Main Hall Liars is back with The Apple Drop, a mix of live studio instruments with solo tinkering. It’s an album that moves between archetypal band structure and experimental electronics. “Momentum and revolution were themes I wanted to explore; to feel like being transported through a wormhole,” Angus from Liars explains. Bree van Reyk is a percussionist, composer, sound artist, and maker of unkempt musical instruments. She’s played and recorded with artists including Gurrumul, Emma Donovan, Paul Kelly, Holly Throsby, and Mike Patton. 6:30pm to 9pm, $20/$30 via Humanitix
SoundOut Festival / Experimental Music + Film + Arts Festival / 17 - 19 June / Drill Hall Gallery It’s the 13th year of the annual SoundOut festival, continuing the incredible exploration of sound, film, and visual arts. The Improvisational and Experimental Music + Film + Arts festival aims to uplift tired ears and eyes, explore the unknown, see within the fabric of sound, unravel the threads of normative musical praxis, and question sonic hegemonies. The (many, many) artists will combine, mix, cross-fertilise, and move sound mountains to inspire enquiring ears and eyes. Tix range from $32.74 – $127.69 via Eventbrite @bmamag
facebook.com/bmamagazine
PAGE 13 PAGE PAGE23 13
LOCALITY
[THE WORD ON LOCAL MUSIC] WITH RUTH O’BRIEN. SEND YOUR GIGS AND INFO TO: [RUTH@BMAMAG.COM]
Righto, racing through May already; what the actual hell. I dunno about you, but this Time thing is a bloody mystery to me. One minute you’re sittin’ on your ass for two years and the next, these things called “gigs” that were thought long-gone are all of a sudden back **Stares into space for several minutes**. This week, I went to three seperate events across three different nights. I KNOW! Look at me being all social. Felt weird, but you know... good-weird. Anyway, must stop gas bagging. On with the column! The wonderful young things that make up the band THYME will be taking the stage at the Canberra Irish Club on Friday, 27 May at 8pm. THYME are a 5-piece alternative rock band and mix things up with each and every tune they play. Sprinkling a variety of genres throughout their tunes - from blues licks to jazz keys and crunchy synth sounds - this gig is a great way to get your fill of amazing live and local music for the week. You’re bound to love the enthusiasm of these amazing Canberra locals. And it’s a free gig, so just rock up! There’s loads happening in the first weekend of June. Starting off on Friday, 3 June, there are a couple of gigs which are sure to be great end-of-week entertainment choices.
Each month, 6-8 contestants present a live performance that explodes from the heart and onto the stage. Brought to you by Smith’s and Little Dove Theatre Art, this series of events is likely to highlight and uncover some of Canberra’s best performance artists. If you’d like to get involved, and can put together a piece that fits into the category of Live Art, Performance Art, Music, Film or a 5-minute Lecture, get in touch with Chenoeh Miller at chenoeh@gmail.com. Get cracking! On Saturday, 4 June the best of local and interstate dub and ska will be taking over The Basement for the Reggae Sessions. This event features King Tide (from Sydney) as well as Canberra locals Shadow Ministers, Skandal Mongers, Sheldon Keys + DJ Paulius (vinyl only). These nights have sold out four times previously and with good cause! Reggae, roots, ska, and dub galore with performances by some of Canberra’s best musos. You can’t go wrong. Tickets are $30/$24.50 including booking fee. To purchase, head to thebasementcanberra.oztix.com.au On Saturday, 11 June, Tijuana Cartel will be playing at The Basement and will be supported by Canberra songstress, NeonHoney. This gig is part of an extensive tour of their new album, Acid Pony, which they recorded during lockdown. The album draws on years of Paul and Carey’s experience in crafting music, and is mixed nicely with percussion by Sheila Finke and various brass instruments added by Joshua Sinclair and Eamon Dilworth. Tickets are $34.95 (incl bf) and can be purchased from bit.ly/AcidPonyCanberra If you not only like attending gigs but are also interested in the general industry, culture, and community of the Canberra music scene, including how it all fits together, come along to State of the Territory on Sunday, 22 May at Transit Bar.
Pride Month at The Polo starts at 7pm and features heaps of cool acts, including The Lost Larrikan, Qbensis, nonbinarycode, Sorrento & The Deliquents, and Subway to Venus. This show is brought to you by The Polo and Milestone Entertainment and is ALL AGES with prizes for Best Dressed! Tickets are $15/$25 + bf via TryBooking. Not to pitch events against each other, but more to show you the breadth and variety of talent we have in this amazing city, She’s On The Bill also has a show on Friday, 3 June at 7pm. Happening at Transit Bar, this event features an all-female line-up including AYA YVES, Hope Wilkins, Lucy Sugerman, Groovy Daughter, Sam Sly, and Fin Geach. All profits from the show are being donated to the Northern Rivers Flood Relief Fund. Tickets can be bought from $28.55 + bf from Moshtix. And after you’ve toddled along to either of the gigs just mentioned, head over to Smith’s Alternative for the Revel Revel Awards at 9pm. Revel Revel will run six rounds followed by a shortlist round, and a final awards round. PAGE 14
I’ll be on one of the panel discussions (would be great to meet you!) and MusicACT has a full program of chats for everyone. Come along for a drink and a snack, and meet some fellow fine people in the music community here in Canberra. That’s it from me! Hope you’ve had a good read. Now get out there and support some local live music :) Ruth O’Brien - Singer | Songwriter | Writer | Lover of all things artsy and creative - email: ruth@bmamag.com @bmamag
BMA BAND PROFILE
Malcolm: Timothy Robert from RATM, Pixies, Mr Bungle, Red Hot Chili Peppers, ‘90s alt rock. I’ve recently been listening to Mark Sandman from Morphine which has led to making a 2-string slide bass. Mickey: My first drum lesson was a VHS of Neil Peart. I was raised on Gospel music but idolise Tool for fucking with time signatures, and if I could ever play like Joey Jordison I’d literally die of happiness. What are some of the most memorable experiences you’ve had as a band?
The all-female 4-piece powerhouse mishmash of glam punk rock, metal, and pop that is Glitoris return for a rollicking gig at The Basement. As it’s been awhile between proverbial drinks, BMA decided to catch up with the band to see what’s what. There’s future plans, an awkward encounter with a beloved Aussie band, and even a near death experience to learn about... Group members: Keven 007, Andrew, Malcolm, Mickey. Where did the band name come from? A sparkling nod to female empowerment, and the fact we were adorned by only glitter back in the day (it soon became a logistical nightmare). How did you form? We formed for a one-off gig at You Are Here Festival in 2014. People seemed to like it. So did we. Describe your sound: A compelling mishmash of glam punk rock, metal, and pop. What key tracks should people immediately check out? Head over to glitoris.bandcamp.com and check out The Slut Power Sessions - Live at The Basement for some tasty live versions of The Policy, Slut Power and Pole (look you might as well listen to the whole thing). What are your influences, musical and/or otherwise? Kev: Really weird shit like AM radio, Arthouse Cinema, and Frankenfurter. Andrew will likely say Sparks. Andrew: Sparks. Baarka. SOAD. Queen Adreena. We’ve channeled Crazy Frog and Happy Tree Friends on this next record. facebook.com/bmamagazine
When we accosted Regurgitator in their car to give them vegan brownies in a heart shaped box. It was the most cringe fangirl moment of our lives. What is it that you love about the scene? Your genre’s scene? The buzz. The power of the music. The people are real. We all support each other and have a bit of a larf. Tell us about one of your proudest moments? When we didn’t die on Macquarie Pass at night, on our way back from a Wollongong show with a ute full of gear. We were lost and Malcolm was driving. ”I’ll just pull over” she said, steering the ute towards a cliff edge… We lived to tell the tale. What are your plans for the future? We’re recording our sophomore album later this year, and will then make up for lost touring time in a big way! What makes you laugh? Keven makes everyone laugh. Malcolm and Andrew on band camp after one-too-many gins. Mickey’s ‘inside voice’. What pisses you off? The myriad ways that violence against women is perpetuated all over the world. The politicising of - and cruelty towards - Trans people and children. The wealth gap. Prisons. Government inaction on climate change, Indigenous health, and selfdetermination, and DV. Anything else you’d like to add? Malcolm is pretty cute. Where can people check you out? At The Basement on Friday, 27 May with Lulu and the Tantrums and Raising Ravens. https://tickets.oztix.com.au/outlet/event/edf664ea-cde94757-ae01-f7d3770fb799 PAGE15 15 PAGE
BMA BAND PROFILE
The high-energy modern blues 3-piece The SunBears are beaming. Now proud custodians of back-to-back AMRAP #1s, the band are celebrating this fact with a show at The Polo on 21 May.
What are some of your most memorable experiences?
Without further ado, let’s find out a l’il bit more about the trio.
We couldn’t all agree upon the one thing, but they were all different live shows. So I guess just playing is the best thing, regardless of situation.
Group members:
What is it that you love about the scene? Your genre’s scene?
CC Hall - Gtr/Vox Dylan Harding - Drums Craig Marshalsey - Bass
We almost always really like the other musos in our circuit. It just attracts really cool people. Also, the punters are really open and give us great instant feedback whether through dance or applause or both.
Where did the band name come from? On a zoo tour we learnt that the most fierce animal was not the lion or tiger but the sun bear. They are extremely smart, strong, agile, and have really long tongues! We thought YES! That is exactly who we are as a band (well... maybe not clever...) How did you form? We were part of indie-pop group The Chesterfield Band and while touring Europe on our off days we played some amazing blues shows. When we returned from O/S The Chesterfield Band decided to take a break and The SunBears took off from there. Describe your sound: We are a high energy contemporary original blues band focused on playing a show that makes you feel like you are immersed in the experience and not just watching from the sideline. What key tracks should people immediately check out? Naughty Boy, Devil Smile, and Set Fire To My Heart. What are your influences, musical and/or otherwise? We all have a really eclectic mix of influences from hip hop to country to blues. We’ve certainly developed a whole heap of patience on the road listening to each others’ fav music! One band we all love is Jon Cleary and The Absolute Monster Gentleman.
PAGE 16
Tell us about one of your proudest moments? #1 twice in a row has been a really great feeling. What are your plans for the future? The game plan is to play every single show we can and love every single second of it. We’re certainly keen to tour internationally. What makes you laugh? We spend a lot of time, when driving together, listening to all sorts of comedians that we love. But what makes us laugh the most is each other. We love hanging out and having a bloody great time. There is always heaps of laughter, even in hard times. What pisses you off? Bad food on the road always becomes a problem for us and our general vibe. Another real problem for us is bad drivers. Anything else you’d like to add? Be sure to check us out whenever you can but most importantly SATURDAY, 21 MAY at THE POLO!! Where can people check you out? Spotify, thesunbears.com, facebook.com/thesunbearsband/, and instgram.com/thesunbears
facebook.com/bmamagazine
PAGE 17
A Sparkling Gem “
I think as a nation, we still have a long way to go. But I think by having such a poignant event of storytelling, and these sorts of things, it’s really important, and it brings it into the forefront of everyone’s mind.
By Allan Sko
”
“It’s very special. Honestly when the offer came through, I was just so honoured to be a part of it, especially with a line-up of artists that I have have looked up to for so many years. Their music has genuinely raised me.” So says Gem Cassar-Daley on being invited to play at the Reconciliation Day Eve Concert, where the 21-year-old will see herself share the stage with fellow luminaries Briggs, Christine Anu, Electric Fields, Caiti Baker, and Pheno. The timing couldn’t be better for Gem. This career highlight synchronises with another; namely the release of her first EP. As well as a mature, stripped back affair, the record is a profoundly personal collection of songs deeply rooted in family. “It’s really exciting for me to finally be able to share it,” the delightful Gem enthuses. “There are songs that I wrote during the peak of lockdown when I was thinking about Stradbroke Island; songs that go to super personal spaces. It’s a very personal project that my family has heavily inspired; the cover art is actually my grandma’s home, and she’s done a little pastel drawing of it. “As a teen, I would often go to Stradbroke Island with my family and friends,” Gem continues. “In this EP, there are songs about those experiences, of growing up, and the sadness of going through the first heartbreaks. I also had a lot of fun working on this project, and working on stripping it back as well. Dad helped me produce it. We did it all at home, actually.” Ah ha, yes. Dad. The beloved, long-standing music star Troy Cassar-Daley, no less. A famous family member - particularly one that successfully operates in your field - can have perils as well as perks. Not so, says Gem. “I’m deeply fortunate to have parents who inspired and motivated me to pursue anything musical,” Gem says. “I’m very lucky to have that wisdom and advice from Dad and Mum. PAGE 18
“I don’t ever see it as trying to carve my own name or anything,” she continues, “Dad’s like, ‘just run your own race, do your own stuff, and just release what you want to release’. He said, ‘y’know, you can put off the uni degree for a little while if you want to go on the road with me’. And that’s what I ended up doing. They really nurture what I want to do.”
“I think as a nation, we still have a long way to go,” she says. “But I think by having such a poignant event of storytelling, and these sorts of things, it’s really important and it brings it into the forefront of everyone’s mind.
Further enquiry into any specific nuggets of wisdom from Papa Troy gave an insight in a heartwarming family life.
Does Gem feel much has changed in her comparatively short lifetime?
“There’s so, so much,” Gem reveals. “He inspires me in everything that I do. He never tries to draw comparisons to what he was doing at my age, or anything like that. The funniest thing he does; whenever I’m preparing for a gig, I’ll write a little list of what to bring - amp, piano, stand and he’ll always write some funny random stuff on the end of the note, like ‘bring talent’. “He inspires me to keep things simple; to think about what’s at the core of each song.” These songs will be on full display at the upcoming Reconcilation Day Eve concert. Gem can’t understate its importance. “Seeing Electric Fields on there; they’re both such lovely people,” she says. “And Christine Anu has been such an inspiration for me. I sang her songs when I was four years old! So that’s just such a special experience for me. There’s gonna be lots of beautiful stories. And just having so many wonderful First Nations artists all in one place in one big show is going to be so cool.” Of course, Reconciliation in the key word, and I respectfully ask Gem for her viewpoint on this.
“We still have progress to make. But I’m really looking forward to sharing this experience with some incredible artists.”
“I’m 21, so I haven’t been around long, but I have known progress in my lifetime,” she says. “With social media, I’m fortunate to be able to connect with other First Nations artists. That’s been a great aspect of social media is sharing stories, and being able to have that element of connection with artists all around Australia.” And in the further spirit of reconciliation, Gem’s advice for allyship on this occasion, much like her music, is stripped back, beautifully simple, and honest. For First Nations artists, if there’s any events or gigs coming up, just come along and support! Enjoy some stories. Music is such a great tool for storytelling and for sharing what people have gone through. It has such a powerful ability to bring people together as well. Gem Cassar-Daley will be playing at the Reconciliation Day Eve Concert alongside Briggs, Christine Anu, Electric Fields, Caiti Baker, and Pheno. It happens at Canberra Theatre on Sunday, 29 May. Tickets are $75 + bf via canberratheatrecentre.com.au
@bmamag
facebook.com/bmamagazine
PAGE 19
Hello My Beautiful World! By Joshua Eckersley
The visionary band, Holy Holy, has reached new levels of pop perfection with their latest release, Hello My Beautiful World. We caught up with them as they start their national tour in support of their ground-breaking album, to find out what makes them tick. By Josh Eckersley
Since first emerging in 2015 with their debut release When The Storms Would Come, Holy Holy have always pushed the boundaries to create ambitious and innovative music. Comprising of core members Timothy Carrol (vocals, guitar), and Oscar Dawson (guitar), and joined by Ryan Strathie (drums), Graham Richie (bass) and Matt Redlich (keyboards), they bring together impeccable elements and exciting blends of music to create truly unique material. In the space of one record their sound can move effortlessly from emotive post-Britpop rock (think Doves meets David Gray) to uplifting, life-affirming electronica (think The Presets meets Empire of The Sun). Hello My Beautiful World is their fourth top20 studio album in an astonishingly short six-years, and is their greatest achievement thus far, having reached number 4 on the ARIA Albums Charts upon its release mid-last year. The overall vibe of the record is that of energised exuberance for all that this world can offer us. “The unifying theme is the idea that the world is beautiful, even if we are not perfect, and we have done lots to make the world worse,” Oscar informs us. “In particular, we like the interplay of the themes of nature and the themes of our own digital or modern lives.” The band wrote, produced, and mixed the album in a series of modest studios and spare PAGE 20
rooms across Tasmania and Victoria (amidst a very distracting and all-encompassing global pandemic, no less). They have combined pulsating synths, soaring vocals, and some highly danceable beats to construct a beautifully detailed collection of songs. “We were given all the freedom in the world to do whatever we wanted, and this is what we did,” says Timothy. “It’s a work we’re proud of. Some of the songs are really different for us, however, at the same time, I feel really connected to this album.” Given the imposing nature of the pandemic, the boys are yet to fully road-test the new album, but that is all about to change as they hit the road in 2022 on their national tour. The Hello My Beautiful World tour officially kicked off last month in Gosford, and the boys are being coy, and somewhat modestly confident, that they will absolutely bring the house down with the new material. Oscar tells us: “The reception for the album seems to be good so far, but it’s always hard to say. We haven’t been able to play many shows because of that nasty, nasty cough, but now that we’re finally getting out there, people seem to be really digging it.” Holy Holy are bringing an outstanding mix of support acts on the road with them for
this tour, adding an extra level of excitement and buzz to an already overloaded level of excitement and buzz. Sydney-based rock band Clews, and South Sudanese-Australian rapper Queen P are coming along for the ride, which is convenient, given both artists guest-feature on the album. It seems likely they will not only be the supporting acts, but also partake in some thrilling on-stage collaborations with the headliners. As Oscar puts it: “We love working with people and love the sounds of other people’s voices. Some of our guests are old friends, like Clews, and new friends, like Queen P and her team. It’s just more fun to do things with heaps of different personalities and sounds.” He continues, “In terms of emerging Australian talent, there is a continuous flow of people making lots of great music, and there doesn’t seem to be any shortage of it. We are very lucky to have such a vibrant and talented music world in our little country.” Be sure to grab tickets for Holy Holy before they’re all sold out. It is going to be epic. WHAT: Holy Holy performing their Hello My Beautiful World national tour WHEN: Thursday, 2 June, 8pm WHERE: UC Refectory TIX: Visit www.holyholymusic.com for more info, and Moshtix for tix @bmamag
PAGE 21
METALISE [THE WORD ON METAL] WITH JOSH NIXON [DOOMTILDEATH@HOTMAIL.COM]
OK... so it’s election time, COVID is on the rise, and petrol is getting to the point where gangs will seize the highway for an all out Mad Max situation. Fortunately, riffs are in an abundance, with our local riff houses overflowing with opportunities for you to shake the cobwebs out of your ears.
King Parrot make a long overdue return to town at Transit Bar on Friday, 20 May as a part of their 9-date Regional Rampage Tour. Hot off the press, the supports have just been announced with Wretch, 12 Gauge Rampage and Outnumbered to join in the madness. It’s always a completely mental night out, do not miss the show election eve. Tickets through Oztix. Sunburn 3 was a hoot a few weeks ago, with some great performances from a bunch of known entities that only reinforced the health of the stoner doom community in this country.
As is the way with these sort of events, it’s the surprises from new friends that open up fresh thrash-portunities. These arrived in the form of Atolah, Hydranaut, Ghostsmoker, Mourners, and a frankly mind bending performance from Frankston-riffs terrorists Goat Shaman. The latter melted my face off with an attack that bought to mind Distopia, Sunlight Studios guitar tones, and mid period Carcass harmonies, all filtered through a unique doom lens of young guys playing 7-string guitars. Really cool to see them move those instruments away from breakdown territory. Another killer, killer performance was from Religious Observance. This Melbourne 6-piece combined hypnosisinducing riffs with noise elements and two contrasting vocal styles that absolutely floored me. RELIGIOUS OBSERVANCE
And the good news for those who missed the show; the band return in support of fellow Melbourners Class Traitor, with outstanding local support from the incomparable Ploughshare and Facecutter. Class Traitor bill themselves as “desperation sludge” which can only blend well with the considered doom of Religious Observance and the manic onslaught of the Canberra contingent. That’s on Sunday, 12 June at The Basement. Melbourne metalcore proponents Void of Vision are stopping by The Basement on Tuesday, 24 May on their national Into the Dark Tour with the UK’s Holding Absence. The show also features sets from Bloom and Inertia and you can get your tickets via Oztix. Glitoris broke bones in support of the Hard-Ons a few weeks back with their new drummer proving to all in attendance that these women are not here to muck around. You should go see for yourself on Friday, 27 May at The Basement with Lulu and the Tantrums and Raising Ravens. Tix through The Basement oztix site. Friday, 3 June sees the national Dead Elysium tour land in Canberra from the Melbourne prog metal geniuses Vanishing Point.
Dr Colossus, Whitehorse, Holy Serpent, Lucifungus, Burn the Hostages, Hekate, Astrodeath, Futility and Yanomamo were firing on all cylinders and it felt great to throw a few new Pod People tunes into the air too. PAGE 22
YOUR VANISHING POINT NEEDS YOU!
The tour is named after the band’s 2020 release which, for obvious reasons, was not toured. Thankfully, VP didn’t forget Canberra and The Basement will host the guys along with Immorium and Beast Impalor. If the progressive sounds aren’t your cup of tea, the back room on the same night hosts a killer 4-band bill with Defiant Dawn, Tundrel, Scigod & Axiomatic Theory. Absolutely no excuse to not get to Belco on 3 June. Slovenia’s Within Destruction are undertaking a countrywide tour of Oz in June and, for fans of slamming deathcore, there can be no other place for you than The Basement on Monday, 13 June for the Yōkai tour with Signs of the Swarm and Teeth. Grab your tickets through The Basement Facebook/Oztix. For some old-school riffs, Sydney’s Aftermath return to Canberra for the first time since 1994! The death metal veterans will be joined by Wretch, The Plague, and Anoxia on Saturday, 18 June with tickets at the Baso facey/Oztix.
also includes stoner punk rockers Hyrdanaut, B.C. and Grand Duke with plenty of fire pits to keep the fingers warm in between acts. For HARD OUT! sustenance, Smoke Masters BBQ will keep the masses fed and, as long as you get an adult to accompany you, all ages are welcome. The show tickets are available now through Moshtix.
New Zealand metallers Stalker have been trying to get this tour done for what feels like five years in a land before Covid existed. The in-your-face ’80s aware Kiwis will finally hit The Basement on 26 June with tickets available via Oztix.
Canberra Metal Fest were not quite as troubled with Covid impacts, but the 6-month delay has meant a few scratchings with Witchskull, Reaper, Holy Serpent and Outcest bowing out this time around. There are some big announcements for replacements for the riffs fest slated for 30 June – 2 July at The Basement and we shall endeavour to keep you abreast of developments as always. ‘skull fans needn’t fret thanks to The Greenroom crew. On Saturday, 30 July the team present HARD OUT! at Rose Cottage. Headlined by Witchskull, the bill at the moment PAGE 23
[SPOTLIGHT]
UPCOMING ARTS EVENTS
Erasers + Low Flung/ Ainslie Salon / Sat, 21 May / Ainslie Arts Centre - Main Hall
Become The One / Award-winning romcom play / 26 & 27 May / Belconnen Arts Centre
Perth-based Erasers (Rebecca Orchard + Rupert Thomas) create hypnotic compositions of synth, guitar, and voice, evoking the vast expanse of their native landscape and the shrouded emotions beneath. Their live shows are a trance masterclass, weaving organ drones and snaking guitar/synth interplay with Orchard’s towering incantations, gliding between psychedelic minimalism and defined pop-structures. Supported by former Canberran Danny Wild aka Low Flung, who’s influenced by dub’s sense of space and the expanse of the Aussie landscape. 6:30pm to 9pm, $20/$30 via Humanitix
This award-winning romantic comedy featuring two vibrant, lovable characters explores why a footballer would choose to remain closeted, and why their openly gay partner would choose to accept it. When Noah captures the attention of Tom, a celebrated AFL player at the end of his career, sparks fly. But as the season progresses, and their relationship grows, questions around identity, agency, and our devotion to hyper-masculinity begin to surface. Weaving a clever tapestry of comedy, drama, and romance, the play repositions the typical“ closeted sportsman” narrative. 7:30pm, $40/$45 via venue
Arsenic & Old Lace / Won’t you join us in the cellar? / 9 - 25 June / Canberra Repertory Mortimer Brewster—a theatre critic who hates theatre—has a problem: how to introduce his unconventional family to his pious fiancé. His aunts Abby and Martha seem ‘the sweetest ladies’, but have been murdering lonely old men for years, with eccentric brother Bobby burying them in the cellar. Now elder brother Jonathan—a homicidal maniac with a personal plastic surgeon—has returned, and intends to carry on the “family business” from home. Arsenic & Old Lace burst onto Broadway in 1941 and has been in production somewhere in the world ever since. 8pm + 2pm Sat matinees, $38 - $49 via venue
Finucane & Smith’s Dance Hall / Shindig of the year / 1 - 4 June / Tuggeranong Arts Centre From the creators of the World’s Most Provocative Variety shows, and Australia’s longest touring avant garde burlesque spectacle Caravan Burlesque, comes a brand new whole-of-community party. Inspired by the rich history of Australia’s country dances and dance halls, Finucane & Smith’s Dance Hall is the shindig of the year. An unmissable night out, Dance Hall mixes up local talent with international stars in an extravaganza of song and dance, all decked out in satin and velvet drapes, glowing lanterns, and disco dazzle! 7:30pm - 9pm, $45 - $55 + bf via Humanitix PAGE 24
The Acacia Quartet/ Play Borodin, Shostakovich, Wells / Sun, 22 May / Tuggeranong Arts Centre The Acacia Quartet is one of the most respected and highestprofile chamber ensembles in Australia. They have won particular acclaim for their original programming and interpretations, with performances that are widely heard by audiences across Australia and around the world. After a sellout 2020 Canberra show, they finally return with two vastly different string quartets by Russian composers Borodin and Shostakovich, with composer Jessica Wells managing to find a common link with her new work written especially for this program. 4pm - 5:30pm, $35 + bf via Humanitix
Michaela Burger: A Migrant’s Son / Story through music / 17 & 18 June / Tuggeranong Arts Centre Igniting memories of a story that millions of Australians can relate to, Michaela Burger pays tribute to her Greek migrant family and her hard-working, fun-loving, odds-defying larrikin father Luke. Described by Australia’s leading lady of cabaret, Kate Ceberano, as an “asset to the cabaret community”, come join Michaela for an evening of song and laughter, memories, and time dwelt on the love of family. The critically acclaimed work of original music is performed by Burger alongside a local community choir. 7:30pm - 9pm, $45 $55 + bf via Humanitix
Exhibitionist | Comedy in the ACT will cost $285, and the flagship model Heavidem Ultra (14kg approx.) will set you back $1,249.90. Available at David Jones, JeansWest, and EB Games from October 2024. Handkerchief HD - 4K For your Knose! We’re becoming oblivious to all the screens around us these days, but that doesn’t mean we can’t add more.
Go Go Gadget Future: 5 New Tech Tools To Wow Chris Marlton takes you for a traipse through time, providing a detailed overview of the must-have gadgets being released over the next few years. Heavidem - Wearable Workout Weights Designed in Stockholm by a team of aerospace engineers (and one former Naval Barista), Heavidem—a portmanteau of heavy and denim—is a pair of normal looking blue denim jeans with a difference. Wait for it… weight for it. These jeans weigh so damn much! The average pair of jeans hang with a mere 300g to 500g. Heavidem’s standard entry-level jeans weigh 4.7kg; over ten times the average. Who said looking good was easy? If you find out who said it, feel free to call them a liar, because it is now, and has always been, quite difficult. Owner and founder of Heavidem, Professor Daniella Startleturtle, claims that wearing a pair of the girthy jeans to the supermarket for a standard shopping trip is the equivalent of a 10km run. “We designed these jeans to look amazing, and feel heavy. You’re never felt jeans this heavy before. Feel them.” Heavidem Regular (4.7kg approx.) will retail for $395.50, Heavidem Lite (3.2kg approx.) PAGE 26
The new Handkerchief HD is a hanky you keep in your pocket, but is also a bluetooth, wi-fi, and 5G enabled smart-screen. Never miss a minute of the big game, your favourite reality-marriage show, or the latest global invasion again! “Sneeze and you’ll miss it…” can go into the bin. But Handkerchief HD certainly shouldn’t. This mucous covered TV is machine-cleanable via washing machine, dishwasher, or even in the shower for quick-and-easy unloading. Cleaning the Handkerchief HD is THAT EASY! The 18-inch diameter screen can be hung on the wall in a camping tent, on the back of a toilet door during a boring dinner date, or even on your partner’s back (while waiting in line for your next vaccination, of course). Handkerchief HD is being launched in November 2022, just in time for Christmas. It will be available from Kmart, Target, and selected Coles Service Stations. Zap-&-Commit Ever wondered what your betrothed is getting up to while working late at night, or taking long-weekend lunches with their mystery friend? Take away all your anxiety with the new Zap-&-Commit wedding-ring insert that reads the mind of the wearer, giving them an electric-shock whenever they think an adulterous thought. Zap-&-Commit is less than a millimetre thick, and offers precise ring-adjustment, as well as installation, included in the purchase price. The levels of freedom, and power of shock, are remotely app-controlled by the jealous and paranoid partner. Not available until mid-2025, these violent expressions of jealous obsession will retail for $14,000, and will be sold at Jeep, Chrysler, and Mercedes car dealerships.
Showershock - Ground-Up Cleanliness All of us have been running late in the morning, unable to find time to make a good cup of coffee while still having a long, hot, luscious shower. Now you can combine these two A.M. pleasures with the Showershock. The Showershock is a coffee machine that is built into your shower-head. At the press of a button, the water in your shower will become coffee, and you can literally (and finally) DRINK THE SHOWER WATER! Ranging from entry-level models ($890) that require the showeree to grind the beans and pour the milk into the showermilk-receptacle (SMR), to the advanced model ($4,500) that has an inbuilt cold-box in the shower wall that keeps milk fresh for weeks on end and grinds the beans itself; there is a Showershock model for everyone. Massunglasses - Relief for your eyes and relief for your eyes When Helen Bleech invented the Massunglasses for her sister, she never knew they would become a global invention success. Helen simply wanted to help cure her sister Ursula’s migraines. “I knew Ursula loved a good massage around her eyes and temples, but also couldn’t handle bright lights. “I managed to solve both problems in one go, with these miraculous, massaging sunglasses.” Previous versions of Massunglasses were pulled from the market early when they lost calibration and caused over 10,000 cases of blindness, one of those number being her sister. “We’ve solved the problem of the massage bolts puncturing the eyeballs, and definitely won’t be having any more of those issues moving forward,” said Helen, “which is especially important now that we’re finally launching the product in the west.” Massunglasses will be available this September, just in time for summer and of course, to be end of year stockingstuffers. They are available online only at www.keepyoursanity.com.au for $720 each, or $999 for a pair. Chris Marlton is a comedian, writer, painter, and film-maker. Tickets to upcoming comedy shows are available at www.linktree/ChrisMarlton. Follow @chris.marlton on Instagram and @ ChrisMarltonComedy on Facebook.
“
I was very fortunate that I stumbled upon a path where I’ve been able to cultivate an audience outside of traditional stand up, that I can bring with me.
”
When it comes to comedy, Reuben Solo is a very Good Boy By Joshua Eckersley
Up-and-coming comedian Reuben Solo is bringing his debut stand-up comedy show, Good Boy, to The Street Theatre on 17 June. Good Boy is Reuben’s first national tour and promises to be a comedic deep-dive on moral relativism, the nature of the universe, and whether or not he’s run out of pasta. They say comedy is all about timing, and this is certainly true in Reuben’s case. Born and raised in Melbourne, Reuben studied film and television at university before becoming disillusioned with the industry, and pivoting to the world of comedy in early 2020. “I knew I liked writing comedy and eventually worked up the courage to give stand-up a go at the start of 2020, and we all know how 2020 went”, Reuben laments. It was obviously not a great year to be kick-starting a career in live performing of any kind. Luckily, his time spent studying film and television would not go to waste, though, as it equipped Reuben with the tools required to break into the world of online sketch comedy. Reuben recall: “Around that time I started doing sketch comedy; on a whim, really. I started posting on YouTube, and the lock downs gave me time to pump out sketches.” With the city of Melbourne in a seemingly perpetual state of lockdown throughout that time, Reuben wrote, produced, and starred in dozens of short, sharp, comedy clips. Often performing multiple (if not
all) characters, the clips featured his trademark caustic humour and irascible wit that is also present in his Good Boy stand-up show. The clips have netted Reuben a wealth of online streams, and have given his comedy career a major shot in the arm, both in Australia and overseas. He explains: “I was very fortunate that I stumbled upon a path where I’ve been able to cultivate an audience outside of traditional stand-up, that I can bring with me. I’ve been doing shows in Melbourne and it seems about 80% of the crowd have just found me on TikTok or Instagram, so it’s very cool.” The Good Boy show promises to be a hilarious look at some pretty heavy topics, with Reuben dissecting the subject of morality, or more accurately, the subject of immorality. The idea for the show came about when Reuben noticed that most of his material unintentionally deals with the topic in one way or another, given the nature of the characters he concocts to convey his humour. “Along with my persona and the way I talk about things on stage, I’m often the bad guy or the villain, or some immoral character, and I will feign moral
superiority. So, the title of show is a reference about me trying to convince myself that I am a good boy.” Reuben further explains: “I have a joke about texting and driving, and it’s all made up of course, but I try and convince the audience that what I am doing is right. The gist of the joke is that it’s fine for me to do because I’m good at it. So, it is clear that it is not pro-texting and driving, it is just a character. Hopefully nobody is confused about the moral messaging.” The moral ambiguity that Reuben plays with so adeptly could be dangerous in the wrong hands, but it all turns to comedy gold thanks to his unique voice and timing. It is evident in his skits that the jokes are finely tuned and crafted, often taking surprise left-turns and twists that the audience doesn’t see coming. Although still early in his career, Reuben’s on the right path to becoming a big star. More importantly, though, he is certainly on the path to becoming a very good boy. Reuben Solo’s Good Boy Tour is at The Street Theatre on Friday, 17 June, 8pm. For further information and tickets, visit thestreet.org.au PAGE 27
The Putin Rock and Roll An original story by Craig Cormick The first thing Aleksandr Bossmanovich knew of the trouble was seeing all the soldiers in Red Square. He was on his way to work at the Kremlin where he was tasked with writing propaganda about the War of Patriotic Liberation against the Nazi Threat in the Ukraine, when all the trucks arrived. Young soldiers jumped out and began rounding up all the citizens and shepherding them towards the trucks. Not protesters with placards. Not Pussy Riot Fans. Just citizens who had come to queue for an hour or more to see the pasty wax-like corpse of Comrade Lenin in his mausoleum. Emboldened by his Kremlin pass Aleksandr approached one of the soldiers who was manhandling two old grandmothers, and asked, ‘What is going on?’ ‘Nothing to see here,’ said the soldier. ‘Move along.’ But one of the two elderly women turned her head towards him, eyes rolling like a panicked animal on its way to the slaughterhouse, and called. ‘He moved. We saw him move. He’s alive.’ ‘She is mad,’ said the soldier and kept pushing the two women to the truck. Aleksandr looked at him with disdain. He had little time for the fervent idealism of the young Russians. Those with no memory of those years of promise after the Soviet Union had fallen over 30 years ago, before they’d fallen back into dictatorship. The lad had more pimples than bravado. He’d be lucky not to wake up tomorrow and be loaded into a truck himself, and shipped off to the Ukraine. He turned and headed off to work, knowing that somebody in his office would be bound to know what was happening here. The story was running around the place by mid-morning. Visitors to Lenin’s tomb had seen his corpse moving inside his glass sarcophagus. Dozens of them. Far too many to dismiss as crazed hysteria. There were even videos of it being passed around on social media. One of his colleagues was given the job of reporting that it was in PAGE 28
fake news being propagated by the West to undermine confidence in the Russian State. The joke around the office was, ‘Do you think anybody actually believes this shit?’ With the response, ‘They’d better if they know what is good for them.’ But too many did. Whatever outrageous claim the Kremlin made, millions of patriotic Russians believed it. Idiots. In the Soviet days everyone pretended to believe the lies being pedalled by the Politburo, but in their hearts knew it was all lies. He missed the certainty of those days. So another day passed inflating the numbers of casualties inflicted on the enemy and downplaying Russian casualties, while his colleagues doctored photos of smashed Russian tanks to look like smashed Ukrainian tanks, or removing dead Russian soldiers from footage from the war.
“
True, Russia had a poor track record of passing from one despot to another, but there would come a time when the Russian people wanted the truth of things.
”
This job was his punishment for publishing an underground music magazine that had been deemed subversive. His choice was to work in the Kremlin’s propaganda department or work on a farm in Siberia. Some days he thought the farm might have been the better option. There was another joke that no one told anymore about the two main Soviet newspapers – Pravda and Izvestya. Pravda meant Truth and Izvestya meant news. The joke was: “V Pravde nyet izvestiy, v Izvestiyakh nyet pravdy”. There’s no news in the Truth, and there’s no truth in the News. These days there were multiple versions of the truth, that kept changing. And too many of the populace were too willing to accept whatever lies were put
forward as the latest truth, replacing last month’s lies. It was all like a set of Matryoshka dolls. They had glossy and smiling outer shells, that could be opened up to find a different older truth hidden beneath it, and an even more different older truth beneath that. And right at the very centre, where that last solid doll was, were Aleksandr Bossmanovich’s memories. And he had a long memory. He stored up facts and stories that he knew to be real. The real impacts of Western sanctions. Actual falling production rates. Food shortages. Accounts of Government theft and corruption. And, of course, the lyrics of Pussy Riot songs. For these times would pass. Putin and his Oligarch cronies could not stay in power forever. True, Russia had a poor track record of passing from one despot to another, but there would come a time when the Russian people wanted the truth of things. Like they did in the early days of glasnost and perestroika. And whether he’d tell the truths through another underground magazine or through writing on walls, or lyrics of songs, it didn’t matter. He would hold onto the memories and wait for that time. Not just facts and figures. But the voices of the people who had to queue up for hours for meat. Those who had never flown to Paris to go shopping and clubbing. Those who had sent their sons off to fight in the Ukraine and never even had the opportunity to see their bodies sealed in metal coffins – as their deaths were denied. Leaving work late that evening he walked past the Kremlin Wall Necropolis, where many of the great Soviet heroes were buried under busts of their likenesses. As ever there was a small group of elderly men and women around the grave of Comrade Stalin. They came as if to a holy relic – praying to him – looking back on the old evil days as if they were better times. To them, sure Lenin was there in the nice mausoleum – but Stalin was the man who would put Russia back on the right track. It was like those true believers had lost all @bmamag
memory of the purges and the fear and the oppression and dark cars arriving outside apartment blocks at two in the morning to steal somebody away. Like they had invented their own lies to follow. Was that the human condition, he wondered? To follow the lies that seemed more palatable than truths?
and peered through the people to see the ground had been disturbed over the grave. No, it was being disturbed. Something was happening under the ground there.
Even Stalin’s name was a lie. He was born Iosif Vissarionovich Dzhugashvili. Was a Georgian thug and bank robber. Re-invented himself as the Man of Steel – Stalin.
‘He is arisen! Look. He is coming back to save us all from Putin’s follies.’
Then he noticed the small group at Stalin’s grave were waving their arms around in excitement, as if something great was happening. He walked closer facebook.com/bmamagazine
One of the elder men, wearing medals of the Great Patriotic War, grasped him by the lapels and said:
Aleksandr stepped back from the man. That was the type of talk that would get you arrested pretty damn quickly. And sure enough, a truck load of soldiers was rushing across the square towards them. Aleksandr walked away quickly as the truck drew to a halt and more soldiers
jumped down to bustle away the crowd and set up barricades around the grave. Aleksandr knew what story they’d be working on in his office overnight. Denial that anything had happened. Claims that anti-patriotic vandals had desecrated the sacred soil. Not one mention that, like Lenin, Stalin might also be turning over in his grave. But Aleksandr Bossmanovich would remember. Hell, he might even write a song about it. Craig Cormick is an award-winning Canberra author with over 25 books of fiction and non-fiction. Check him out at www.craigcormick.com PAGE 29
ON
TERRA FIRMA By Anthony Plevey / Photos by Lorna Sim Canberra’s award winning youth dance company QL2 is presenting Terra Firma, a triple bill of newly commissioned works in its upcoming Quantum Leap season at Canberra Theatre Centre’s Playhouse, on 26 - 28 May. Billed as three perspectives, exploring the diverse ways we perceive our changing world, QL2 Artistic Director (AD) Ruth Osbourne says she and the choreographers have collaboratively evolved these new works around the theme “Terra Firma”. QL2 Associate Artist Melanie Lane’s Metal Park explores the relationship between body, objects, and our built environment, and contemplates how we have become a part of the material world in which we operate and questions our desire for material necessity. Traversing through a choreography of meditation, resistance, and collision, Metal Park unfolds the ways in which we both harness and negotiate our constructed habitat.
Shifting Ground by Cadi McCarthy, founder of Newcastle’s Catapult Dance, which will incorporate four visiting dancers from Catapult’s Flipside youth ensemble, explores the physicality of solid versus shifting ground as concepts, embodying the strength and connection that holds us to our world in these uncertain times. Canberra’s own Steve & Lilah Gow (Synergy Styles) through their work Tides of Time, investigates our relationship with time, past, present and future, in an era of constant change; how we project ourselves in the future or live in the past, exploring ways to remain in the present, onto solid ground, to fulfil our lives. “The idea of solid ground emerged, even though these are very different pieces from three different choreographers,” says Osbourne. “It is something we saw as relevant to young people today, which is particularly important for these productions.” Challenged on the vein of uncertainty, and a perception of negativity embedded in these works, AD Osbourne responded spiritedly. “Melanie’s abstracted materialism, Cadi’s very physically connected tectonic plates and
PAGE 30
@bmamag
emotional shifts, Steve and Lilah’s questions of then, now, when? Understanding the reality of things is not doom and gloom at all. The only way that the performers will be able to deal with what is facing them now and in the future is not to ignore what’s going on but actually think it through,” she says. “This is very much central to the QL2 process which is not just about making nice dance movement,” Osbourne continues. “The choreographers and the QL2 team work out how to deliver the ideas and concepts, and develop tasks which allow the young dancers to engage and have input. “We build the bigger picture of the works, engaging the dancers in ‘What is dance practice?’ and what it is to be contemporary dancers, not just in terms of technique but as contemporary thinkers, who are looking more broadly at the world as well as listening to each other.” QL2’s Quantum Leap troupe for 2022 is made up of 21 local and regional performers, aged from 14 to 23, who commit to an artistic development program over almost 300 hours, including intensive 9am - 5pm workshops in school holidays, and Sundays. “This is an expression of the resilience and determination they need; 9-5 intensive development days, in masks, in January heat with COVID swirling, it’s very physical work,” Osbourne comments. “Development of a sense of artistic professionalism is crucial, whether they go on in dance or not. Being exposed to different choreographers, different ways of working, and different ideas, as well as being respected as artists, young artists but artists, not just kids dancing and putting on a nice show.” To set examples of working to the highest expectations, QL2 surrounds these young artists with respected professions and technicians who believe in the project, including commissioned composers who collaborate with the choreographers to develop the music/soundscapes for their works, professional sound and
facebook.com/bmamagazine
lighting technicians, Wild Bear’s video production crew, and the front of house teams “From the Artistic Director’s point of view,” Ruth continues, “QL2 strives for audience engagement, entertainment value, and motivating theatre, where you can feel the commitment coming out into the audience, balanced with artistic attributes which emphasise quality of movement, communicative execution of dance, and the realisation of the choreographer’s vision. “Beyond these production values of the actual show, QL2 has broader educative goals for the young artists which are also important, whether it be their first or last QL2 project. “This includes nurturing individual performers, building artistic discipline and a sense of collaborative professionalism, as well as equipping them to meet the emotional and intellectual challenges of contemporary dance practice. “Professional dance companies are, or can be, expected to really push the edge in contemporary expression,” Osbourne continues. “Materialism, the amount of stuff we accumulate; whether to push forward into the future, are active questions. “Definitely not doom and gloom. We want our dancers to really look into the realities of things and what they are dealing with and how they are dealing with it. “And how they will come out the other side. “I hope and believe what you see on the stage will be a very positive response,” she concludes. “And from a dancer’s point of view, I want them to get all the positivity that can come back to them after the amazing amount of work that they have put in.” QL2’s Terra Firma is on at The Playhouse, Canberra Theatre Centre from 26 - 28 May. Tickets are $15 - $35 + bf via the venue.
PAGE 31
the room. With El Chapo handcuffed to a bed in a locked room with no way out, I thought it was a great idea. So, we’ve worked steadily, workshopping, and it’s been developed from that glimmer of an idea.” The writers, real-life law professors Desmond Manderson and Louis Gomez Ramiro, being of Mexican and Australian backgrounds, combine their talents to bring a cross-cultural mix that informs this work of true crime-inspired fiction. Their unique insight into the mysterious events of that day, along with their thorough understanding of all things law and order, makes up the perfect preparation for delving into the mind of a crime syndicate kingpin.
Twenty
Minutes With The
Devil
by Joshua Eckersley The long wait is finally over. Succumbing to pandemic-forced rescheduling, Twenty Minutes With The Devil has arrived. We spoke to Caroline Stacey, Artistic Director of The Street Theatre, about the upcoming original production. This thrilling, black comedy is inspired by the real-life capture of the notorious Mexican drug lord, El Chapo, and taps into the basic fears and anxieties we all possess when faced with immeasurable uncertainty and ever-present danger. Twenty Minutes With The Devil is a speculatory examination of the unknown aspects of the most recent El Chapo arrest where, by chance, two highway patrol officers apprehend, and are subsequently ordered to hunker down in a hotel room and watch over, the most dangerous man in the world. As forces on both sides scramble to gain control of the situation, the police officers have to make choices that will save their lives or seal their fate, whilst all along not knowing who is coming for them. The inhabitants of that room suffer through the excruciating emergency of their situation where any outcome is possible, and life and death hangs in the balance for them all.
“The two writers were thinking about the problem of justice in the modern world, and they thought that this real-life capture of El Chapo provided an amazing canvas. Somebody that has escaped from the FBI and would have gotten away but was pulled over in the middle of the night, and they were just told to sit tight”, Caroline tells us. “Their question was - what did they talk about, these two lowly cops with the most wanted man in the world? What did he offer them? What did he do to threaten them? How did he charm them, and in a place that is so corrupt, why did these two nobodies stay put?” Breathing life into these characters is the incredibly gifted actors, PJ Williams, Joanna Richards, and Raoul Craemer. Williams, who has a long history of performance in Canberra theatre, will be unleashing a deluge of menace and darkness as the crime lord El Ticho. He was last seen at The Street Theatre in Diary of a Madman, for which he received the Critics’ Award for best performance. He has also acted in a swag of other Street Theatre productions such as A Doll’s House Part 2, The Faithful Servant, The Chain Bridge, Breathing Corpses, and The Give and Take. Richards and Craemer star as Officers Angela and Romulo, the unlikely duo who apprehend El Ticho, and use every tool in the shed to keep control of the situation in their tenuous grasp. As partners, they embody the well-known ‘odd couple’ dynamic and, as Caroline puts it: “All those TV series that have cop duos, it draws upon that idiom. From Starsky & Hutch to CHiPS, to every single TV program you can name where there are two cops working together. One of them is, of course, a complete shambles, and the other is all business. So, it’s playing around with a lot of those tropes that we all know”. For fans of crime fiction, this production will have you captivated from beginning to end and keep you guessing with every twist and turn. And in case you’re still not convinced, the final word from Caroline is: “It’s very funny, gritty, and dark. There are big emotions, and it is incredibly suspenseful. You do not know what is going to happen next, and none of us want to be locked in a room with a drug lord.” Twenty Minutes With The Devil runs at The Street Theatre from 17 - 25 June. Tix are $35 - $45 and are available via the venue - thestreet.org.au
Talking to Director Caroline Stacey she sets the scene for us: “If you like Fargo, Narcos and those type of series, Twenty Minutes With The Devil will be right up your alley. It draws on that type of popular culture and examines some really important issues. “The basic premise of the work is, it’s set in the locked room of the modern world, and how do we get out? How do we make the right choice before time runs out? When crisis comes, what would you do? No help, no witnesses. What do you do?” Caroline continues. “The writers came to me about three and a half years ago and pitched the idea. It was immediately interesting in terms of the characters and all of them being under pressure and not being able to leave PAGE 32
PAGE 32
Photos by Creswick Collective
@bmamag
The Light and Sound of Jazz By Joshua Eckersley Ken Behrens are in for a real treat this month, as The Street Theatre hosts a huge jazz double-header event, featuring Hilary Geddes and Claire Cross. They are two virtuosic artists that you need on your radar and, for one night only, they are combining their immense talents in a mix of atmospheric and expressive jazz stylings that simply cannot be missed. As one half of the show, up-and-coming Sydney-based jazz guitarist, Hilary Geddes and her quartet will be promoting their stellar 2021 album Parkside. After winning the prestigious 2019 Jann Rutherford Memorial Award for outstanding young female jazz musician, Hilary tells us the idea for Parkside was ignited, with the award affording her the opportunity to pull the quartet together and embark on her writing and recording journey.
Hilary Geddes. Photo: Perce Woodbury
“The award prompted me to think quite hard about what I wanted to write about, and the Parkside album is effectively all about the different places that have shaped me over time,” says Hilary. “A lot of the music is about growing up in the Riverina area, in Griffith, Wagga, and the farming township of Binya. There are also pieces about living in Germany in 2016-17.” The title track, Parkside, references the innercity apartment block where Hilary currently resides which, as the title suggests, is located right alongside a large park. The song is a buoyant, ethereal trip that ambles between musical and natural soundscapes, thanks to the band’s ability to mimic real-world sounds on their instruments. Hilary tells us:
“
You’re not usually playing the melody, so you have to find the music with great bass lines that are like melodies, and that is what can draw people in.
“When you’re in this park, you get a little respite; some solace from the hustle and bustle of the city. Parkside is about capturing that feeling of being still and calm.” This will be Hilary’s first time performing at The Street Theatre and she is enthusiastic to be doing it alongside her musical-peer, jazz bassist, Claire Cross. “I’m a massive fan of Claire’s music, and I’m a little bit starstruck, actually. She played in Sydney in February, and I am pretty excited to be sharing a bill with her now.” Melbourne bassist, Claire Cross, another shining star on the modern jazz scene, will be bringing her brand-new album Into Light to The Street Theatre for the second half of the show. Claire studied jazz at Monash University, finding inspiration from world-class bassists such as Skúli Sverrisson and Chris Hale. Prior to that, it was the genius of David Bowie that started her enduring fascination with bass guitar. “I remember being in high school and listening to a lot of ‘80s music, which is cool now, but wasn’t cool back then. I really liked David Bowie tracks and specifically listening to the bass lines”, Claire tells us. She further explains, “Bass is a hard instrument for young people to gravitate to because it is a foundational instrument. You’re not usually playing the melody, so you have to find the music with great bass lines that are like melodies, and that is what can draw people in.” Her debut album, Into Light, released on 13 May, is a suite of music written in 2019 as part of the Melbourne International Jazz Festival program, Take Note, which addresses gender inequality in the jazz world. Claire tells us the ambitious piece of work, facebook.com/bmamagazine
”
Claire Cross. Photo: Kevin Peterson
which premiered at the festival that year, symbolises the blend of complexity that is life, and the struggles we go through, where good and bad things can sometimes happen simultaneously. “Into Light is a hopeful title. It is an exploration of what it takes to be vulnerable, to expose yourself, and take risks, and all of the highs and lows that can come with that. A lot of mental health issues flow into that as well, with so many musicians dealing with anxiety and depression. There is a real through-line for me, with the light and shade of hope and struggle.” Claire is equally excited to be headlining with Hilary Geddes Quartet, telling us: “I’ve heard so many amazing things about her, and I’ve loved checking out her new music. When the opportunity to double-bill with her came up, I took it immediately, because I think she is incredible. I am very excited.” The dynamic double bill of Hilary Geddes’ Parkside + Claire Cross’ Into Light is at The Street Theatre on Saturday, 4 June at 7pm. Tix are $30 - $35 via the venue - thestreet.org.au PAGE 33
[GIG REVIEW] family, parenting, and place as strong elements in his writing, without being overly indulgent. Steve Fitzgerald moved from his well-tempered drumming to the vibraphone to provide a decided shift for Lonely Road, for which Shaw acknowledged composer Allyson Newman’s assistance in orchestration. This tune, both on the album and live, delivers a more sophisticated feel with enhanced production values. Lonely Road maintains the folkloric links through Shaw’s tuneful whistled introduction but hints at his potential to cross beyond the folk idiom, and his success in the classroom, to appeal to a wider contemporary adult audience. CJ Shaw All Sorts album launch — Belconnen Arts Centre — Saturday, 2 April 2022 — review by Anthony Plevey Like many artists, CJ Shaw has been affected by the disruptions of COVID since 2019 — when rapidly rising YouTube hits for his tune Anzac Biscuits earned him an Aria nomination for 2020 Music Teacher of the Year. Launching his new album All Sorts at Belconnen Arts Centre, he bookended the tracks from his album with anecdotes that gave context and engaged the audience in the processes embedded in their creation and production. Performing to an intimate audience, and accompanied by percussionist Steve Fitzgerald and Matt Nightingale on bass and Craig Greening on mandolin, Shaw (himself on guitar and harmonica) showed his musicianship in the ease with which he navigated across the broad canvas of songs from the All Sorts album.
All Sorts, billed as a family gig, takes the listener on a pleasant musical journey that shows Shaw’s capability and versatility. With a style clearly based on his confident musicianship and experience in the classroom, where engagement is essential to success, CJ Shaw is able to entertain using a mixture of colours and textures, genre crossing, mingling nostalgia, classroom frivolity, and contemporary folk, drawing his audience into a shared experience of the music. Whether Shaw, who has already experienced the profileraising impact of the number of listens, can sustain this “box of chocolates” approach, or needs to find and inhabit a more defined musical niche, will be an important question for his longer-term success. For more of Shaw head to cjshawmusic.com
All Sorts, titled for its variations, initially feels like a sampler but resolves into something more, combining the artist’s personal/emotional journey with historical/ educational tunes with a tinge of classroom kitsch to reflect Shaw’s background as music educator, contemporary musician, and family man. Drawing on folk style, Shaw brings story to the fore with songs like the acclaimed Anzac Biscuits, which features Greening on mandolin, and Ain’t Many Like Lenny which, topically in this 90th anniversary year, relates the tale of a youngster riding his horse from Leongatha Victoria to Sydney in 1932 to witness the opening of the Sydney Harbour Bridge. Shaw blended more-contemporary tunes such as Werewolves, which has a dobro feel, and Full on Heart (performed with Hannah Czaban on the album), with the straight-from-the-classroom Terminator Shades and the boppy, eco-focused Choose to Chew, all whilst maintaining the core singer–songwriter relationship with his audience. Three songs — Adelaide, Great Lyneham Divide, and One + One — highlight another vein in Shaw’s work, anchoring PAGE 34
@bmamag
facebook.com/bmamagazine
PAGE 35
[BEST OF CANBERRA MUSIC] MOOD. BAD AT THIS
Mood.’s new release bad at this is the Canberra artist’s eleventh single and explores similar [ ] stylistic territory to his last three tracks, Blind Eye (2021), Hung Up On You (2021) and home alone type (2022). The songs tend to veer from contemporary pop fused R&B to more laid back, self-confessional balladeering. If Mood.’s consistent output reveals anything about his work, it’s that there lies a plethora of variation within his adopted stylistic realm. The new one is from the more robust side of Mood.’s writing and production palette, utilising a kick-busy hip hop-like central groove, a four-chord progression, and the usual array of vocal and melodic surges, flutters, and reiterations. There is the expected intro section, an acoustic guitar part that
Canberra music artist Jenny Spear has released her debut EP, Galaxies. It was recorded [ ] by Jenny Spear and Duncan Lowe, with musicians John Coates (bass), Liam Johnson (drums) and Juanita Du Plessis (violin). A classically trained guitarist, Jenny has performed widely in Australia and overseas, both solo, and alongside prominent artists.
JENNY SPEAR GALAXIES
Her single Always the River earned her a place as a finalist in the Best Outlaw Song category of the World Songwriting Awards, and a Commended award in the 2020 UK Songwriting Competition. And it’s that track that kicks off proceedings here, merging a light, languid groove with an accessible series of melodies and a bare accompaniment, which seems to serve Jenny’s vocal performance and tone; reflective, conjuring a sort of dark ethereality that one finds across many of the tracks here. Ravens Cry is another example. A Perfect Shade of Red reveals more of the instrumentation, with the last half particularly robust, creating a dynamic, a brooding sort that echoes many of the other tracks. The acoustic guitar and Jenny’s vocal are the focal points, with the supporting sounds, the electrics, the violin, and ukulele providing a consistent backdrop, in tandem with the peaks and valleys of the song’s narratives. PAGE 36
becomes the central musical motif, one around which Mood.’s swirling voice hovers; a suitable accompaniment to his performative approach. The arrangement is a curious one; despite the obligatory dynamics, the beat dropdowns, the highs and lows of the vocal, the textures and background vocal teases, there is an attempt to circumvent the standard layout of sections and, for the most part, this works. The verses run into the chorus with typical, easy compliance, and Mood.’s vocal work effortlessly leads us into the main thoroughfare. The variegated sections within the chorus might not be immediately apparent, and aside from echoing the chord structure, there are four not-so distinct zones of melody visited, though with the last featuring a repetitive, pop nugget which is perhaps one of the strongest elements of bad at this. Mood.’s self-appraisal that titles the song contains a circuitous nature that reflects this sombre verdict which ultimately begins to sound like a strange sort of incantation—but a hooky one. This latest track is a solid addition to Mood.’s expanding armoury of material and will undoubtedly continue to help him collect many new followers. VINCE LEIGH
Ravens Cry, perhaps more than the other tracks, is nestled inside a dramatic soundscape, a sense of foreboding issuing from the combination of drawn-out notes, the guitar picking, the reverbs, and reminiscent of House of the Rising Sun—of course, this song’s blues roots not insignificant as far this EP is concerned—yet echoing across a territory that is eerily intense and dramatic. The most distinctly buoyant track here is Stay in the Rain, with the band’s extended wares on display. The style, and Jenny’s approach, take on some of the more refined characteristics of alt-country. Although the cohesiveness of the EP rests on Jenny’s voice and production and, to a lesser extent, the writing, there is also an underlying divergence within the confines of the alt, folk, and indie genres. With Galaxies, we experience this to its most literal point. It is a strange blend of light jazz-fuelled Americana fused with Latin overtones, evident in the rhythmic choices and the associated chord progressions. It does make for a colourful addition as an intersecting piece but also goes on to reinforce the more sprawling and intimate intonations of the other tracks. VINCE LEIGH @bmamag
ALBUM IN
FOCUS
and Girl Sports. All three new additions to the band’s recording output traverse the same postpunk grunge-pop ground and are performed with the same authoritative resolve, featuring as much pure-hearted dynamic muscle as is typical of the band.
encapsulation, and an elaboration, of what’s at stake. This is more than just about a level playing field. This is about recalibrating and re-educating. It’s about destroying age-old prejudices— the disruption—and creating a new norm.
The new tracks have distinguishing elements; Up To Summit with its sweet melodic interlude bookended by an accelerated rock groove; Bull Dragon and its galvanic gang chant that forms the thematic heart of the track.
As the band says: “Now we are at the stage where we don’t get caught up in those details, we aren’t worried about anyone’s expectations of us.”
But it is on Girl Sports where we engage with the political. Apparently inspired by a sexist dentist, this song offers an
They were referring to style here, but it could be applied to their ethos, too, and viewed as part of a developing hyper-charged, blisteringly pertinent manifesto. VINCE LEIGH
TEEN JESUS AND THE JEAN TEASERS PRETTY GOOD FOR A GIRL BAND Any attempt at establishing a distinction between politics and art is a precarious endeavour. All art could be deemed political, no matter how seemingly lightweight the work or the artist. Even in this age of instant self-expression, digression, and selfpromotion, there is the political in the vaguest of expressive acts. One not only informs the other, but it is the other. Yes, it might exist in varying degrees, or be partially obscured in some instances. But it’s there. Needless to say, this is a simplification of a larger idea. But at its core, art is knowledge, and sometimes it is of the disruptive kind. And there is no escaping this fact: rock ‘n’ roll (for lack of a more contemporary term, I will stick to this antiquated yet still robust appellation) is inherently political. Canberra’s Teen Jesus and The Jean Teasers know it. That’s why their EP is titled Pretty Good For A Girl Band. As the band’s promo material sets out: “[The title] is Teen Jesus proclaiming they are a force to be reckoned with no matter their gender identity.” Of course, audiences will ultimately decide this, and it seems they are. The new EP includes the band’s two previously released singles, AHHHH! (a million-plus Spotify streams and counting, as well storming the Triple J Hottest 200 chart) and Miss Your Birthday, as well as three new tracks, Up To Summit, Bull Dragon, facebook.com/bmamagazine
PAGE 37
FILM REVIEWS
OPERATION MINCEMEAT
YOU KEEP THE KIDS! [MAMÁ O PAPÁ]
[
[
]
]
Britain. World War II. 1943. The Allies are preparing to invade Europe through Sicily despite knowing that Hitler would expect exactly that. The question was whether he could be deceived into believing that the invasion would come through Greece.
Movies about divorce often highlight one or another style of selfishness that exacerbates tensions and accelerates a relationship’s decline, frequently accompanied by misuse of opportunities to damage the other parent’s relationship with any children of the marriage.
The focus of this film is the elaborate plan to thus deceive Hitler, codenamed Operation Mincemeat; in particular, the roles played by Ewen Montagu (Colin Firth), who was responsible for double agents and counter-espionage; MI5 officer Flight Lieutenant Charles Cholmondeley (Matthew Macfadyen); and MI5 clerk Jean Leslie (Kelly Macdonald).
This one is different.
It’s hard to conceive of the tremendous responsibility and fortitude that the many men and women involved in Operation Mincemeat must have had, of the utter secrecy they maintained in spite of the pressures they bore, and of the daring required of them. Impeccable in military detail, costuming, and set design, and with cinematography creating the deeply sober mood that surely reflects the wartime reality, Operation Mincemeat transports the viewer into wartime Britain and Spain to experience the military staff’s difficult decisions and meticulous spycraft amid the uncertainties of war and counter-intelligence. The film’s restrained acting powerfully evokes the sheer nerve of those involved, their commitment to secrecy, and their uncomplaining selflessness. The movie uses the character of Jean Leslie as a love interest, which I thought unnecessary. Skewing the story’s focus, it detracts from the truly remarkable story of Operation Mincemeat and from her role in its success. Nevertheless, Colin Firth as Montagu reveals a man you’d want on your side. He’s honourable, patriotic, and steadfast, putting the needs of his country above his own. Macfadyen brings Cholmondeley to life with subtlety and restraint, especially in his purported rivalry with Montagu. And Macdonald’s performance as Jean Leslie is commendable — although notwithstanding the romance sub-plot. A laudable testament to courage, imagination, and sheer determination, Operation Mincemeat is worth seeing.
In You Keep the Kids!, the eldest child, senior high-schooler Alexia (Sofía Oria), looks after her awkward younger sister, Sara (Laura Quirós), and little brother, Juan (Iván Renedo), and all three are sensible, because Flora (Miren Ibarguren) and Victor (Paco León) are both great parents. Knowing that their announcement of impending divorce will devastate their children, they postpone it while they can, and are entirely cooperative about sharing custody; neither wishes to obtain a custodial advantage over the other. All is calm, all is right. And then… career opportunities arise for both parents that entail moving overseas to different countries — without the children. Now there is a competition: to have the children choose the other parent to live with. It’s the outrageous lengths to which each parent will go in order to motivate the children to choose the other that makes this tale stand out. For whilst they are essentially good-hearted, both parents are capable of poor judgement. Following The Wedding Unplanner, director Dani de la Orden has made another wonderfully unrestrained comedy, one of implosive competitive self-demotion, and the result is a film filled with zany hilarity. It’s a train wreck, yes, but not as we know it; and though you’d never do the things these parents do, the result will make you laugh aloud rather than cringe. If you have a family of your own to bring along, watch the effect as they come to appreciate how lucky they are! —MICHELE E HAWKINS By Popular Demand encore screening at Palace on Friday, 20 May, 8:10pm.
—MICHELE E HAWKINS Screening at Palace. PAGE 38
@bmamag
THE LOST CITY [
]
LEMON AND POPPY SEED CAKE [PAN DE LIMÓN CON SEMILLAS DE AMAPOLA]
Trained from a young age as an ancient-language specialist, Loretta Sage (Sandra Bullock) has, in a more recent career, written a wildly successful series of romantic adventure novels whose hero, Dash, appears on the covers in the form of model Alan (Channing Tatum).
[
Having wrung herself dry to write her most recent book, Loretta is ready to throw in the towel. She need merely complete it… and face the gruelling book tour that her agent, Beth (Da’Vine Joy Randolph), has invested everything in — and do so with a smile, though at each book signing the attendees’ attention is not for the series’s author but for its cover model.
Soon after delivering a baby girl whose mother was too ill to survive, Marina receives word that she and her sister, Anna (Eva Martín), have inherited a bakery from somebody neither sister has ever heard of, obliging Marina to travel to the village of Valldemossa in Majorca to finalise the sale of the property. Marina will be seeing Anna for the first time in the fifteen years since their parents sent Marina away to boarding school, keeping Anna at home with them and estranging the sisters.
And if there’s one thing that Loretta can’t stand, it’s Alan in all his muscular glory. Unbeknownst to Loretta, treasure hunter Abigail Fairfax (Daniel Radcliffe) has other ideas as to how Loretta should spend her time, which don’t include her finishing her book tour. He sets out accordingly to assure her that his plan for her will be in her best interests to agree to. Alan doesn’t agree, and that’s where the adventure begins. Plenty of mayhem and highjinks follow as Alan, Beth, and Loretta seek to foil Fairfax’s nefarious plans, which, rather inconveniently for them, unfold in the middle of a jungle. Though the film lingers too long on moments that are a bit too silly, the plot hangs together well enough, and it nicely distinguishes the characters on both sides. And the evident incompatibilities and tensions between Bullock’s Sage, Tatum’s Alan, Radcliffe’s Fairfax, Da’Vine Joy Randolph’s Beth, and Brad Pitt in an understated role as hired help contribute to the unexpected.
]
Marina (Elia Galera) is an obstetrician and gynaecologist who for years has been working with the poor in Africa. She shares her life with fellow doctor Mathias (Tommy Schlesser), although their work often separates them.
When Marina arrives, the sisters visit the bakery, now run by Catalina (Claudia Faci). Catalina refuses to provide answers about the former owner or why she made the bequest. Marina begins to wonder about selling the bakery, wanting to know more before going ahead. But Anna’s husband, Armando (Pere Arquillué), wants a quick sale, no questions asked. Meanwhile, Marina has been befriended by Ursula (Marilú Marini), the owner of the hotel where she has put up, and with her wisdom and the support of Anna’s daughter, Anita (Mariona Pagès), is spurred to follow her heart and to discover secrets long hidden from her. Elia Galera as Marina conveys her character’s conflicting desires and frustrations with convincing subtlety; Eva Martin beautifully evinces Anna’s own fears and anxieties; and Marilú Marini’s Catalina’s intransigence is almost palpable in her determination to keep secrets safe.
—JOHN P HARVEY
As the five women embrace a combination of unconquerable optimism and a newfound desire to make the best of life, Lemon and Poppy Seed Cake movingly closes through a sequence of long-awaited revelations and resolutions that leave the viewer satisfied, if a little torn.
Screening at Palace, Dendy, and Hoyts cinemas.
—JOHN P HARVEY
Action is plentiful; special effects make it spectacular without going over the top; and the movie is a whole lot of fun throughout for anyone from about the age of ten.
By Popular Demand encore screening at Palace on Sunday, 22 May, 3:15pm.
facebook.com/bmamagazine
PAGE 39
header, let’s get to know the lads better; from twinkling beginnings to future plans, to their favourite tracks and artist recommendations, and much more in-between. Can you trace back to a pivotal moment in the past that, without it, you wouldn’t be the breakbeat baron you now are?
THE DROP [THE WORD ON EDM/DANCE MUSIC] WITH ALLAN SKO - ALLAN@BMAMAG.COM
Ladies & gentlemen & everyone in-between and beyond; it is with great pride and excitement that I welcome you to a very special edition of The Drop. I am joined at this time by two leading exponents of the UK breakbeat scene - Lee Rous and Martin Reeves - best known to the wider beat ‘n’ groove loving community as one half of the Plump DJs (with Andy Gardner) and Krafty Kuts respectively. It is with incredible pleasure that I learned that two of my favourite breaks merchants were not only touching down in Canberra, but playing on the same night (Sunday, 12 June at Assembly - The People’s Pub). Both Rous and Reeves have been plying their trade for decades now, and I’ve known them for about as long. Way back in the day, when I was but a humble Uni-dwelling scribe for this ‘ere rag, I would burst at the chance to interview either chap as they made their way down for the annual summer jaunt during the giddy halcyon days of early-mid 2000s. Reeves was good enough to sign my Wild In The Aisles vinyl after a 2005 gig at Manuka’s Club Habana. Rous was kind enough to get me and my then-girlfriend on the door, and subsequently past the velvet rope of the VIP area, of the mighty Fabric nightclub. I say this not to boast (weeeeeell… maybe a smidge) but to highlight that not only are these gentlemen p-funk powerhouses, they’re bloody lovely to boot. So in celebration of their imminent Canberra double-
LEE: There was a moment when the penny dropped, a moment of clarity. Every time I played breaks to people there was, to put it simply, ‘an energy lift’. And so I thought, I must do this more! The same thing was happening to many of our friends and DJs of the time, it was definitely a growing trend. So lucky to have had that realisation, hey. MARTIN: I remember things started to get really busy after I wrote Tricka Technology with A.Skillz. I felt I needed to go back to my breakbeat roots, and started writing the Freakshow LP in 2005-2006 which was a pivotal moment in my career. I said to my manager, and Finger Lickin Records label owner Abel Reynolds, that I need to mix some styles up with hip hop, mid-tempo & breaks all in one LP. I started collaborating with some amazing artists like Jungle Brothers, Dynamite MC, and Tim Deluxe, and things just started to fall into place. The LP got picked up by a big label in Australia, and in 2008 I did the Big Day Out with Dynamite MC. Massive crowds, amazing shows, and my music was being played on Triple J & George FM regularly. The Brisbane show was mind blowing. Everything just seemed to flow for the next few years, winning awards for my Freakshow LP and my DJing, playing at some of the best clubs in the world; it was an amazing time. Having presided over the scene for decades now, what are your thoughts and feelings on how it’s all developed? LEE: That’s a big question Allan, and a lovely one, though it may require me to write a book to answer it with just fullness. In short, breakbeat was one of the most popular genres in the world for over a decade. Then it self imploded and went back underground. Now, due to many factors, it’s come back to the world’s attention and is being enjoyed by millions. We feel exceptionally lucky to be part of the genre, and love playing and making new breaks records still. As always, we’re down at the Soho Studio three days a week trying to find new ways to make ‘em dance! MARTIN: The breakbeat scene has certainly had its ups and downs, that’s for sure. There was a period where it just lost its way and quite a few DJs moved on to other genres. This didn’t help move the scene forward and the sound became hard, heavy, and fast, and the music lost its origins. Over the last few years we have seen some of the biggest acts in electronic music use breakbeats in their tracks and this has helped put it back on the map once again. Plump DJs, Freestylers, Stanton Warriors, Deekline, Yo Speed, Guau, Keith Mackenzie, Franky Wah, Bicep, and myself have all been putting out good music, the quality is starting to come through, and the scene has definitely started to grow again. I have a full diary till October and I’m travelling the world once again. It feels good to see breakbeats doing the business. Has your approach to making, and mixing, music changed over the years? If so, in what way? LEE: The only thing that’s changed is that we now get creative from 10am to 4pm instead of 7pm to 11am. Also, we now utilise every conceivable modern production technique, as well as using all the good and graceful old analogue beasts that adorn laboratory de Plump.
PAGE40 40 PAGE
@bmamag
MARTIN: My approach has totally changed. I work with a guy, Alex Chambers, who is a wizard in the studio, and together we make so much music. I have to cater for my fans on Patreon, Bandcamp, and then there is the full releases on Beatport, Spotify, iTunes, Juno, and more. I feel at this moment I am writing by far my best music and working with some amazing vocalists to give my fans a great balance of the music I have written over the years. What would you pinpoint as one of the proudest moments of your career? LEE: I think having the good fortune to have been able to take our parents to Fabric Room One, when we were headlining at Eargasm back in the early 2000s. It was incredible that our folks got to meet each other and we all were able to share in the experience. They danced in the DJ booth and got caught up in the headphone cables. We stood on the balcony together afterwards and reflected on the hedonism and sincerity of the event. The Fabric team looked after all of us so well, even when things got naturally a bit wobbly. We all danced, we all sang. So much love. Enough said. MARTIN: I have had so many proud moments in my career I don’t really know where to start. Watching my twin boys dance to 10,000 people on stage at Field Day in Sydney was very special. Winning best LP & DJ at the Breakbeat Awards in London, and also Best International DJ in Australia, was mind blowing. Writing an LP with Chali 2Na from Jurassic 5 was a very proud moment in my life as it was something I could not have dreamed would happen. To be honest, I can’t single out a favourite moment as they were all so good. If you had to choose three of your tracks to send into space (or bury in a time capsule), which would you pick and why? LEE: I would say our War Galaxy Remix as it was so deeply from our disco heart and captured our best free-for-all creative flow. Our Electronaughts Bumper Remix is another, as it was one of our greatest achievements. It took six weeks to make, and somehow it’s still ahead of its time. The detail in that record is exquisite and I think Andy would also agree that we were a little crazy at the time and that helped us to push the boundaries. The third record would either be our recent Robert Owens Remix of Wishing Well, or our latest single Gotcha on Against the Grain records for which we landed the No 1 Beatport Breaks Chart position. MARTIN: Well, that is a great question, as I have written so many tunes over the years. I think my first one would be Bass Phenomenon as this was my first big club tune, and sonically it sounded so big on the system. I remember playing it in Brighton the day after I had made it with Tim Deluxe at my night Supercharged and was like, ‘Oh wow; this is a monster!’
Other than yourselves, of course, who should discerning music lovers be checking out? LEE: Digital Bass & Andy Vibes, Pirate Jams, Rasco, Colombo, King of the Beats, Bicep, Acton Lane, Micah Black, Franky Wah, Bonobo, Van Basten & Dismantle, Guau, Mafia Kiss... so many heads!! MARTIN: Pirate Jams, Keith Mackenzie, Jimi Needles, Dr Fresch, Guau, Skool Of Thought, King Of The Beats, MK 11, Yo Speed, Crystal Method, Mxxwell, and A.Skillz for starters! Anything else you’d like to add? LEE: We are going crazy at the thought of seeing all of you magic ones again. Martin and I have arranged something super special for the trip, and I have all our classics cuts remastered to play alongside some more recent, inspiring breaks numbers. This year Andy (Gardner) & I are celebrating three new singles on release and the relaunch of the legendary Against the Grain records, which is now based in Australia. Plus our Replumped remastered classic breaks album. Sooooo much to enjoy. And that’s not forgetting the largest group hug ever following what’s been honestly the shitest time. It’s really time to start making good out of bad, and break out of the chains that have kept us down for far too long. We are only weeks away! Love with a capital ‘E’ ;-) MARTIN: Myself, Aston Freestylers, and Lee Plumps have formed a new act called King Of The Beats which is very exciting and we have some incredible shows lined up this summer. I have two new LPs coming out over the next year. I remixed The Adventures Of A Reluctant Superhero LP (Chali 2na) and started work on my next solo LP. I have relaunched Against The Grain with Lloyd aka Skool Of Thought (Oz) and we have a ton of great music coming out which we are both buzzing about. Myself and Lee are planning something very special for our forthcoming shows down under and we are super excited as it’s been a while so we’ll be bringing the monsters!
The next one has to be Gimme The Breaks with A.Skillz and Kurtis Blow. I always loved the original by Kurtis and to recreate this classic was not easy. But after a trip to New York we nailed it, and I think it still stands the test of time. We had an incredible moment playing this live with Kurtis at Field Day just after Groove Armada. It was emotional! Last but not least is Hands High with Chali 2na. I think this captures a great moment in my career where I got to work with such an iconic artist in Chali. It was such a fun record to make and it put us on the map as an act together. We played so many shows after writing this one song; it was incredible.
facebook.com/bmamagazine
You can catch Plump DJs’ Lee Rous and Krafty Kuts on Sunday, 12 June at Assembly - The People’s Pub for a special 2pm start. Tickets are $36.72 - $46.92 via Moshtix. Brought to you by Fiction Presents & Assembly.
PAGE PAGE 41
ENTERTAINMENT GUIDE
THURSDAY 19 MAY Pat Whitty & Wayne Kelly Live music in City Walk as part of the Lunchbox Acoustic series. From midday
CITY WALK, NEAR MERRY-GO-ROUND
Electric Mary & Shotgun Mistress Electric Mary are a classic rock band hailing from Melbourne, Australia. They have toured extensively including supporting Whitesnake, Judas Priest, Alice Cooper, Deep Purple, and Glenn Hughes. 7pm
THE BASEMENT
Miracles in The Age of Reason Early music specialist Benjamin Bayl conducts an enlightened program of Mozart, Rameau, Richard Meale, and CPE Bach’s virtuosic flute concerto, featuring leading flautist Emma Sholl. 7:30pm
LLEWELLYN HALL, ANU SCHOOL OF MUSIC Thursday Jams With Jeff & Deej 8pm
BLACKBIRD
FRIDAY 20 MAY Rebel - David Bowie Tribute Rebel is a live circus rock tribute to the original rebel, David Bowie. Get ready for a night of live music, glittering glam rock, phenomenal acrobatics, breathtaking aerials, and a spectacular heart-stopping sideshow. 8pm, $45/$55 via venue
BELCONNEN ARTS CENTRE
Calvin Orosa Live music in City Walk as part of the Lunchbox Acoustic series. From midday
CITY WALK, NEAR MERRY-GO-ROUND
The Knights Of Cydonia Muse Tribute Australia’s only Muse tribute show, this supermassive Muse experience captures both the music and the visuals with replica instruments, LED glasses, and an industry topping laser light extravaganza. 7pm, tickets via Oztix
THE BASEMENT PAGE 42
Trom Legacy 1 Year of Highland Light It’s been one year since Tom joined Highland Light - let’s celebrate Trom’s legacy together at The Basement for the 1st birthday! 7pm, tickets via Oztix
Jimeoin: Turn It Up! A brilliant evening of worldclass comedy from the Irishman, internationally celebrated as one of live stand-up’s true masters. 7:30pm, tix via venue
Bird’s Nest Presents: Lucy Sugerman 7pm
Alive In The Park A free all-ages live music and arts festival, featuring an exciting line-up of young bands performing on the amazing Soul Defender stage. With food trucks, markets, roaming performers, hangout tents, jumping castle and more! From 11am
THE BASEMENT
BLACKBIRD
Jimmy Plants and The Cashmere Pants Live at The Glen This is a fantastic show featuring Canberra’s own rock legend Matt Davis! The show presents all the best of Led Zeppelin with an opening set of classic rock covers to warm you up. 7pm
THE BURNS CLUB
Dreams - Fleetwood Mac & Stevie Nicks Tribute Show Dreams pays tribute to one of the worlds best selling bands of all time, Fleetwood Mac, and the solo career of their leading lady Stevie Nicks. 8pm
HARMONIE GERMAN CLUB
Drag Cabaret: Political Party The election looms - so IT’S TIME for a political party, cabaret style! 9:30pm, tickets via venue
SMITH’S ALTERNATIVE
Jack Phemister Join Jack Phemister and his new band for their debut Canberra performance, an evening of original music at Smith’s. 9:30pm, tix via venue
SMITH’S ALTERNATIVE
SATURDAY 21 MAY Rebel: Bringing David Bowie to Life Through Circus, Comedy and Song Rebel is a live circus rock tribute to the original rebel, David Bowie. Get ready for a night of live music, glittering glam rock, phenomenal acrobatics, breathtaking aerials, and a spectacular heart-stopping sideshow. 8pm, $45/$55 via venue
BELCONNEN ARTS CENTRE
CANBERRA THEATRE CENTRE
RIVERBANK PARK, YASS
Leo Joseph’s Blues Piano Sessions Free trip through the history of blues piano, 3rd Saturday each month. 12:30pm
SMITH’S ALTERNATIVE
Tim Bevitt Launching Love In a Backpack, an adventure of travel and discovery. Tim is an entertaining storyteller with folk rock and funk grooves that can make you laugh, dance, and cry - sometimes all at once. 4pm, tix via venue
SMITH’S ALTERNATIVE
‘90s Music Festival The ‘90s Music Festival is back, with 8 huge acts across 2 stages. Proudly presented by Shananigans Entertainment. From 6pm, tix via Oztix
THE BASEMENT
Blamey Street Big Band Celebrating 20 years of one of Canberra’s longest serving and finest community big bands, Blamey Street has been blowing audiences away since 2002. 6:30pm
HARMONIE GERMAN CLUB
Rick Price Soulville Tour Soulville is Rick’s 10th studio album and was released through Sony Music Entertainment in August 2021. His soulful renditions on this 12-track album are a ‘tip of the hat’ to his heroes and influences in music. 6:30pm, tix via venue
SMITH’S ALTERNATIVE
Erasers @ Ainslie Salon Perth-based Erasers (Rebecca Orchard and Rupert Thomas) create hypnotic compositions of synth, guitar, and voice, evoking the vast expanse of their native landscape and the shrouded emotions beneath. 7pm, tix via venue
MAIN HALL, AINSLIE ARTS CENTRE
The Piano Wizard Live at The Glen From Bach to The Beatles and beyond. Let the Piano Wizard Andrew Farrell take you on a musical journey through time as he sings, plays, and narrates the history of some of the greatest piano music & songwriters in the world. 7pm
THE BURNS CLUB
The SunBears Naughty Boy Launch The SunBears are unleashing their latest single Naughty Boy. Celebrate along with Greg Nunan & The General Jacksons, and James Southwell. 7:30pm
LIVE @ THE POLO, TURNER Blindsided @ The Alpine Hotel, Cooma Canberra rock covers band, playing a saucy mix of rock songs with a few classics in between, but with a bit of a twist on the original. 8:30pm
THE ALPINE HOTEL, COOMA
SUNDAY 22 MAY The Acacia Quartet One of the most respected and highest-profile chamber ensembles in Australia. They have won particular acclaim for their original programming and interpretations, with performances that are widely heard by audiences across Australia and around the world.4pm - 5:30pm, $35 + bf via Humanitix
TUGGERANONG ARTS CENTRE
World of Musicals Colourful, inspiring, and memorable musical classics, performed by an international star-studded cast, presenting the audience with nightly entertainment at the highest level. 6pm, tix via venue
CANBERRA THEATRE CENTRE
@bmamag
ENTERTAINMENT GUIDE Austrian Choir’s Autumn Concert One of Canberra’s highlyrespected choirs is bringing us on a journey through Austrian culture. 2pm
Void Of Vision Into The Dark Tour Destroy All Lines, New World Artists, Open Door Management & UNFD Present. 7pm, tix via Oztix
Donnelle Brookes Live at The Glen Armed with a sense of humour and an engaging and charming presence, Donnelle Brooks puts on a show with beautifully crafted and honest songs ranging from tender ballads to anthems of a woman scorned. From 3pm
Django Jam A monthly Django Reinhardt jazz jam hosted by The Gypsy Project. 5pm, tix via venue
MONDAY 23 MAY
CITY WALK, NEAR MERRY-GO-ROUND
HARMONIE GERMAN CLUB
THE BURNS CLUB
ANUCCME Live music in City Walk as part of the Lunchbox Acoustic series. From midday
CITY WALK, NEAR MERRY-GO-ROUND
TUESDAY 24 MAY Let It Be Live – 50th Anniversary ARC — Antipodean Rock Collective — is comprised of Kram, Darren Middleton, Mark Wilson, and Davey Lane, and they are self-confessed ‘Beatles tragics. As they did with Abbey Road Live, the band faithfully and lovingly bring another brilliant ‘Beatles creation to life on stage — Let It Be from start to finish — followed by a second set playing a selection of favourites spanning the breadth of The Beatles’ catalogue. 7:30pm, tix via venue
CANBERRA THEATRE CENTRE
Calum Stenning Live music in City Walk as part of the Lunchbox Acoustic series. From midday
CITY WALK, NEAR MERRY-GO-ROUND
Jazz on the Rocks feat. Tilt Trio Escape with Molly every Tuesday night for an evening of live jazz with your favourite tipple on the side. Canberra’s best local talent will treat you to smooth sounds custom-made for Molly. An evening of cool jazz awaits, live from 6:30pm
MOLLY
facebook.com/bmamagazine
THE BASEMENT
SMITH’S ALTERNATIVE
WEDNESDAY 25 MAY Jeff and Deej Trio Live music in City Walk as part of the Lunchbox Acoustic series. From midday
THURSDAY 26 MAY Become The One An award-winning romantic comedy featuring two vibrant, lovable characters at its heart, Become The One explores why a footballer would choose to remain closeted, and why their openly gay partner would choose to accept it. 7:30pm, $40/$45 via venue
BELCONNEN ARTS CENTRE
Mina-Siale Live music in City Walk as part of the Lunchbox Acoustic series. From midday
CITY WALK, NEAR MERRY-GO-ROUND Bird’s Nest Presents: Matt Katsis 8pm
BLACKBIRD
FRIDAY 27 MAY Become The One An award-winning romantic comedy featuring two vibrant, lovable characters at its heart, Become The One explores why a footballer would choose to remain closeted, and why their openly gay partner would choose to accept it. 7:30pm, $40/$45 via venue
BELCONNEN ARTS CENTRE
Monica Moore & The LCBs Live music in City Walk as part of the Lunchbox Acoustic series. From midday
CITY WALK, NEAR MERRY-GO-ROUND
PAGE 43
ENTERTAINMENT GUIDE Glitoris The Glitz are back with new material and new stage antics after being deposited in some other dimension for the past 18 months. 7pm, tix via Oztix
THE BASEMENT
Elton Out Of The Closet An exciting and authentic portrayal of the mid-’70s, top-of-his-game Elton we all remember: athletic, fantastic vocal range, magnificent costumes, and consistently iconic songs. 7pm, $55 via Stickytickets
NATIONAL ARBORETUM
South House If you’re a fan of the classic southern-rock sound of The Black Crowes or even newer bands like Blackberry Smoke or Whiskey Myers, this is your gig! 7pm, tix via Oztix
THE BASEMENT
Bird’s Nest Presents: Campbell’s Ramble 7pm
BLACKBIRD
Cassidy’s Ceili Live at The Glen Canberra’s finest cross over act play Celtic and contemp folk music with such energy and panache that you can’t resist partying along with them. From delicate ballads to full-on party, with everything from Danny Boy to The Pogues. 7pm
THE BURNS CLUB Morris A night of free jazz
GANG GANG CAFE Moondog
DICKSON TAPHOUSE Live DJ Spinning funk, soul, jazz, and more from 8pm
OLD CANBERRA INN
Thyme Fresh from the garden! Changing the sound with each tune they play. 8pm
CANBERRA IRISH CLUB
Feast - Jody Wisternoff Welcome to Feast, a new concept from Escape Ferocity pairing restaurants with electronic music artists. 8:30pm
CULTURE ZAAB PAGE 44
SATURDAY 28 MAY
SUNDAY 29 MAY
Canberra Mens Choir Concert A fun afternoon of music and song. 2pm
CHS present: John Talabot The mountain and the plants welcome headliner John Talabot (ESP). Label head, serial collaborator, and adept curator all. BYO event - no glass, Soul Defender stage + Big Sound. From 11am
HARMONIE GERMAN CLUB IL Bruto + Los Romeos Oxidados Los Romeos Oxidados join IL Bruto for a double header offering of Romeo’s roots, rockabilly, and country with Bruto’s garage rock ‘n’ roll. 3pm, tix via venue
SMITH’S ALTERNATIVE
Liars @ Ainslie Salon Liars are back with The Apple Drop. This mixing of raw, organic live instrumentation in the studio, along with solo tinkering, results in an album that blurs boundaries between the archetypal band structure and experimental electronics. 6:30pm
MAIN HALL, AINSLIE ARTS CENTRE
Harry’s House Album Launch Party Playing 5 HOURS of 100% Harry Styles & 1D. Best Harry Styles outfit wins a $100 prize. 7pm, tix via Oztix
THE BASEMENT
The Rivers The Rivers are a Sydney, all-female, vocally driven pop band who cover altcounty, blues, soul, and rock ‘n’ roll. The musicianship and experience within the band comes out in an atmospheric and powerful performance. 7pm, tix via venue
SMITH’S ALTERNATIVE
Guitar Case Troubadors Live at The Glen Original toe-tapping boogie, blues, and alt-country music from Canberra’s hardest working duo. 7pm
THE BURNS CLUB
Urzila Carlson: It’s Personal Carlson has become one of the biggest names in comedy in Australia and New Zealand. It’s Personal arrives hot on the heels of her last tour Token African, as well as her Netflix hour-long comedy special Overqualified Loser. 7:30pm, tix via venue
CANBERRA THEATRE CENTRE
BLACK MOUNTAIN PENINSULA
Kath & Ross Live at The Glen Popular covers act Kath and Ross play an eclectic selection of classic pop/rock and R&B tunes to relax or strut your stuff to. 3pm
THE BURNS CLUB
Custard Custard are on a staggering run of shows to promote their, now rather stale, 2020 album Respect All Lifeforms. 4pm, tix via Oztix
THE BASEMENT
Lazy Ghost Told Ya So Tour Following their triumphant return to Australia, Lazy Ghost announce their biggest national tour to date, in celebration of the release of their new single Told Ya So. 7pm, tix via Oztix
THE BASEMENT
TUESDAY 31 MAY Jazz on the Rocks feat. As Famous as the Moon Escape with Molly every Tuesday night for an evening of live jazz with your favourite tipple on the side. Canberra’s best local talent will treat you to smooth sounds custom-made for Molly. From 6:30pm
MOLLY
WEDNESDAY 1 JUNE Finucane & Smith’s Dance Hall Dance Hall mixes up local talent with international stars in an extravaganza of song and dance, all decked out in satin and velvet drapes, glowing lanterns, and disco dazzle. 1 - 4 June, 7:30pm, $45 - $55 + bf via Humanitix
TUGGERANONG ARTS CENTRE
MIC Night End of semester performances for CIT Music. 4 Bands, 4 decades, loads of free entertainment! 7pm, tix via Oztix
THE BASEMENT
THURSDAY 2 JUNE Holy Holy Album Tour Flick to page 20 for the full interview! 7pm, tix via Moshtix
UC REFECTORY
Capital PUNishment Capital PUNishment is back and sexier than ever, with the upcoming theme Kinks! Come see which Pundidates have the Sex-Factor in Canberra’s only competitive pun slam. 7pm, tix via venue
SMITH’S ALTERNATIVE
FRIDAY 3 JUNE Defiant Dawn The Abyss and Ellero proudly presents emerging Sydneysiders Defiant Dawn, a 5-piece metal band who will be supported by three local acts, Tundrel, Scigod, and Axiomatic Theory. 7pm, tix via Oztix
THE BASEMENT
Willie and The Correspondents Music that traverses folk, country, and rock to treat the listener to a great journey. 7pm, tix via venue
SMITH’S ALTERNATIVE
She’s On The Bill: Northern Rivers Flood Relief Concert An evening of femme-centric live music raising funds for the Northern Rivers Flood Relief Fund. 7pm, tix via Moshtix
TRANSIT BAR
Vanishing Point Dead Elysium Tour The Melbourne melodic metal veterans made a triumphant return after six long years away in August 2020 with incredible new album Dead Elysium. 7pm, tix via Oztix
THE BASEMENT
Pride Month Celebration An all-ages gig in celebration for the LGBTIQA+ community. Music, dancing, best dressed competition, and more! 7pm
LIVE AT THE POLO, TURNER @bmamag
ENTERTAINMENT GUIDE Los Chavos Latin, reggae, ska, cumbia, electronica, samba, tropical rock and more. 8pm
MONDAY 6 JUNE
Pacey King & Doley Three of our best local Australian musicians come together. 8pm
UC Music Society - End of Semester Performance Night Revenge on Seattle Unplugged along with Get Fake and other upcoming groups from the Canberra Music Society. 6pm, free entry
HARMONIE GERMAN CLUB
THE BASEMENT
SATURDAY 4 JUNE
TUESDAY 7 JUNE
Guess How Much I Love You Join the enchanting adventure of Little and Big Nutbrown Hare in a dazzling new stage adaptation of Sam McBratney’s beloved books. 10am, tix via venue
Jazz on the Rocks feat. Gypsy Jazz Project Escape with Molly every Tuesday night for an evening of live jazz with your favourite tipple on the side. Canberra’s best local talent will treat you to smooth sounds custommade for Molly. From 6:30pm
CANBERRA IRISH CLUB
CANBERRA THEATRE CENTRE
Hilary Geddes’ Parkside + Claire Cross’ Into Light Sound sculptors creating sonic worlds of their own they draw upon a wide range of artistic and musical influences. 7pm, tix via venue
THE STREET THEATRE
Wendy Rule Visionary songstress Wendy Rule returns to CBR for one night only. 7pm, tix via venue
SMITH’S ALTERNATIVE
Basement Reggae Sessions Another Roots + Reggae session of heavy bass and skanking brass! After 4 sold out sessions, don’t miss out. 7pm, tix via Oztix
THE BASEMENT
The Soul Movers by Murray Cook The Soul Movers’ musical recipe combines 1960s-style funky soul with a sprinkling of pop, all laid down with a classic rhythm and blues feel. 7pm
HARMONIE GERMAN CLUB
SUNDAY 5 JUNE Moondog Big Band Blues Review A truly unique experience awaits as Moondog collaborates with some of Canberra’s best musicians to bring you the Moondog Review debut! The line-up has to be seen to be believed. 4pm
MOLLY
Comedy @ The Basement Over the past decade Marty Bright has taken his unique, upbeat brand of physical and observational hybrid comedy across Australia, New Zealand, USA and Canada, performing at some of the top clubs. 7pm, tix via Oztix
THE BASEMENT
WEDNESDAY 8 JUNE GRG67 Flowing, joyful jazz improvisation. 7pm, tix via venue
SMITH’S ALTERNATIVE
Nirvana Tribute (UK) The UK’s Nirvana Tribute are coming back down under to perform the entire 1992 Australian tour set list, song for song, note for note, as well as a set of Nirvana classics and fan faves. 7pm, tix via Oztix
THE BASEMENT
THURSDAY 9 JUNE Arsenic & Old Lace Arsenic & Old Lace burst onto Broadway in 1941 and has been in production somewhere in the world ever since. Runs from 9 - 25 June, Sat matinees, tix via venue
CANBERRA REPERTORY
LIVE AT THE POLO, TURNER facebook.com/bmamagazine
PAGE 45
ENTERTAINMENT GUIDE
FRIDAY 10 JUNE
SATURDAY 11 JUNE
Shortis and Simpson In: American Pie Shortis and Simpson mark the 50th anniversary of American Pie with their original take. Shortis’s research and quirky interpretation combines with Simpson switching between the songs of Buddy Holly, Janis Joplin, Bob Dylan, The Beatles, The Byrds, The Stones, Roberta Flack, and much more. 7pm, $45 via venue
The Jezabels In late 2021, The Jezabels announced a national tour to celebrate the 10th Anniversary of their 2011 Australian Music Prize, ARIA & AIR Award Winning, Gold Album Prisoner. For the first time, the band will be playing their most successful record, in its entirety, live on stage.7pm, tix via Moshtix
BELCONNEN ARTS CENTRE Lachlan Coventry Trio A night of free jazz awaits
GANG GANG CAFE
Live DJ Spinning funk, soul, jazz, and more from 8pm
OLD CANBERRA INN
Vexation Dismembering Tour Melbourne’s resident death/ thrash metal titans Vexation hit the road in support of their highly anticipated album Trepidation Reigns. 7pm, tix via Oztix
THE BASEMENT
PAGE 46
UC REFECTORY
Shortis and Simpson In: American Pie Shortis and Simpson mark the 50th anniversary of American Pie with their original take. Shortis’s research and quirky interpretation combines with Simpson switching between the songs of Buddy Holly, Janis Joplin, Bob Dylan, The Beatles, The Byrds, The Stones, Roberta Flack, and much more. 7pm, $45 via venue
BELCONNEN ARTS CENTRE
Tijuana Cartel Acid Pony Tour Dishing up an east meets west wonderland for those seeking sensory overload, euphoria, fat beats and heavy, bass-fuelled electronica. 7pm, tickets via Moshtix
Minnie Marks Minnie Marks is not just some blazingly electrified guitar playing freak of nature. She’s a triple threat: singer, songwriter, and multi-instrumentalist. 4pm, tix via venue
Burn The Highway Weapon X Tour Sydney’s rising hard rock stars, Burn The Highway, are bringing their live show for the first time in 2022. 7pm, tix via Oztix
MONDAY 13 JUNE
THE BASEMENT
THE BASEMENT
SUNDAY 12 JUNE Religious Observance Morbid sludge team-up of Religious Observance and Class Traitor from Naarm/ Melbourne. Supported by the absolutely twisted, dark forms of Ploughshare, and blownout punk grindcore from Facecutter. From 3pm, tickets via Oztix
THE BASEMENT
SMITH’S ALTERNATIVE
Within Destruction Yōkai Tour Europe’s Within Destruction was established as one of the leading acts in the slamming deathcore community with the releases Void (2016) and Deathwish (2018). Now they’re back with new album Yōkai. 7pm, $40.20 via Oztix
THE BASEMENT
TUESDAY 14 JUNE Jazz on the Rocks feat. H Trio Escape with Molly every Tuesday for an eve of live jazz. Canberra’s best local talent will treat you to smooth sounds custom-made for Molly. From 6:30pm
MOLLY
@bmamag
ENTERTAINMENT GUIDE
WEDNESDAY 15 JUNE The Initiation A play about the horrors of the early teen experience and the scary things you feel you have to do to get through. 15 - 19 June, 7:30pm, tix via venue
CANBERRA THEATRE CENTRE
FRIDAY 17 JUNE SoundOut Festival - Day 1 It’s the 13th year of the annual SoundOut festival, continuing the incredible exploration of sound, film, and visual arts
DRILL HALL GALLERY
Michaela Burger: A Migrant’s Son Described by Australia’s leading lady of cabaret Kate Ceberano as an “asset to the cabaret community” come join Michaela for an evening of song and laughter, memories, and the love of family. 7:30pm - 9pm, $45 - $55 + bf via Humanitix
TUGGERANONG ARTS CENTRE
Reuben Solo: Good Boy “I took Ethics for a semester at uni and that makes me a good person. I’m sure of it.” Stand up, 8pm, tix via venue. Head to page 27 for a chat with the man!
THE STREET THEATRE
Bakers Eddy Bakers Eddy are setting out on an epic tour to celebrate their debut album Love Boredom Bicycles. 8pm, tix via Moshtix
UC REFECTORY
SATURDAY, 18 JUNE SoundOut Festival - Day 2 It’s the 13th year of the annual SoundOut festival, continuing the incredible exploration of sound, film, and visual arts
DRILL HALL GALLERY
Leo Joseph’s Blues Piano Sessions Free trip through the history of blues piano from 12:30pm
SMITH’S ALTERNATIVE
Twenty Minutes With The Devil by Luis Gómez Romero & Desmond Manderson Half an hour alone with your worst fears and wildest dreams. 7:30pm, tix via venue
Michaela Burger: A Migrant’s Son Described by Australia’s leading lady of cabaret Kate Ceberano as an “asset to the cabaret community” come join Michaela for an evening of song and laughter, memories, and the love of family. 7:30pm - 9pm, $45 - $55 + bf via Humanitix
TUGGERANONG ARTS CENTRE
Giants of Rock The Harmonie German Club presents Giants Of Rock, paying tribute to Bon Jovi and Kiss, two of the world’s biggest rock artists. 7pm
HARMONIE GERMAN CLUB
SUNDAY 19 JUNE SoundOut Festival - Day 3 It’s the 13th year of the annual SoundOut festival, continuing the incredible exploration of sound, film, and visual arts
DRILL HALL GALLERY
Twenty Minutes With The Devil by Luis Gómez Romero & Desmond Manderson Half an hour alone with your worst fears and wildest dreams. 4pm & 7:30pm, tickets via venue
THE STREET THEATRE
TUESDAY 21 JUNE Twenty Minutes With The Devil by Luis Gómez Romero & Desmond Manderson Half an hour alone with your worst fears and wildest dreams. 6:30pm, tix via venue
THE STREET THEATRE
WEDNESDAY 22 JUNE Adam Miller Internationally acclaimed guitar virtuoso, Adam Miller, is coming to town - not to be missed. 7pm, tix via venue
SMITH’S ALTERNATIVE
Twenty Minutes With The Devil by Luis Gómez Romero & Desmond Manderson Half an hour alone with your worst fears and wildest dreams. 6:30pm, tix via venue
THE STREET THEATRE
THE STREET THEATRE
facebook.com/bmamagazine
PAGE 47
PAGE 48
@bmamag