Issue 1506 by X-Press Magazine

EDUCATION, TRAINING & CAREERS

FESTIVE

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ALEXIS DUBUS: A BLOODY BRIEF HISTORY OF SWEARING UK comedian Alexis Dubus’ hit show A Bloody Brief History Of Swearing will be making its WA debut at Fringe World. The show will run January 22, 23, 27–30 at 9.20 pm at the Noodle Palace. Sunday, February 7, 8.30pm at the Sunset Veranda, and Thursday-Saturday, February 18-20, 9pm at Midlandia. This show is one man’s attempt to uncover why some four-letter words still have the power to simultaneously shock and amuse. This uncovering will include an ancestry of our favourite swears, the science of it, and why we $%^*!ing do it in the first place.

SEASON’S GREETINGS

Alexis Dubus

All of us and ours at X-Press Magazine would love to wish all of you and yours a very Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year. We’ll be rolling out our digital App Editions on Wednesday, Dcember 30, and Wednesday, January 6, and will return in print for 2016 on Wednesday, January 13. Be kind and safe and remember that the gift of giving is the gift that keeps on giving.

BEATS ‘N’ EATS BY THE BEACH Beginning on Sunday, January 31, Beach BBQ will be amping up Sunday Sessions at Bathers Beach, Fremantle, with an internationally inspired street smorgasbord, from 12-9pm. Along with a range of foods such as Ragin Cajun, Southern BBQ, and gourmet hot dogs, there will be a range of the finest locally crafted wines and brews, and summer inspired cocktails. The kick-off will feature GENGA, Troy Division, MICAH and the RTR Ambient Zone DJs providing a musical backdrop to the mouthwatering food and stunning beach view. Every week will feature new artists. GENGA

CLEESE & IDLE ACROSS AUSTRALIA UK comedic icons and founders of Monty Python, John Cleese and Eric Idle, have announced their new Australian tour and must-see show, John Cleese and Eric Idle: Together Again At Last...For The Very First Time. The WA show will be held at the Riverside Theatre on Wednesday, March 9. “Eric and I had huge fun touring in the States in October and now we can bring our show to the friendliest people on the planet. No one show will be the same and all will annoy the politically correct,” assures Cleese. Tickets on sale now, head to abpresents.com.au. John Cleese and Eric Idle

MR PERCIVAL! Continuing their succession of popular screenings, Revelation Film Festival has announced their newest addition: an all time Australian classic, Storm Boy. Storm Boy tells the story of Mike who lives on the isolated South Australian Coast with his reclusive father. After a pelican is shot, Mike rears the bird’s chicks and develops a special bond with one named Mr Percival. There will be a restored version for its 40th year of this heartwarming story suitable for the whole family. Storm Boy will screen at The Backlot Perth on Monday, January 18, from 2pm. Tickets are $15 and available from trybooking.com/JWEZ. Storm Boy

CONTENTS 4 6 8 10

Newsdesk Win Flesh Music Bloc Party, Dub Pistols, The Rumjacks Disclosure, Sleater-Kinney, Kate Miller-Heidke New Noise

Culture Hub Cover: Star Wars: The Force Awakens The Hitlist, Lifestyle, Yirra Yaakin 2016, Arts Listing Daisy Ridley, Dark Horse, Tale Of Tales, The Belier Family Feature: What’s On Festive Edition

Scene Cover: Leftfield Local: Graphic Fiction Heroes Live: Wonderland, Floating Points, Spinning Top Presents, A Not So Silent Night

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X-Press Guide ETC Education & Training

RUBY BOOTS ANNOUNCES TOUR SUNSETS MUSIC FESTIVAL ANNOUNCES SPECIAL GUEST One of Australia’s hottest acts, producer and DJ talent Alison Wonderland, will be making an appearance at the Sunsets Music Festival at South Beach Park in Fremantle on Saturday, January 16. Alison Wonderland has amassed a huge following – selling out venues during her Warehouse tour in 2014 and headlining at major festivals such as Coachella. Other guests include Flight Facilities, Juno Mars, Nina Las Vegas, George Maple, The Ocean Party, Pearls, Crooked Colours, Hayden James, Basenji, Generik, Mike Metro, and Ace Basik. Tickets are on sale now. For more information, check out moshtix.com.au. Alison Wonderland captured at last weekend’s Wonderland Pic: Mathieu Marunczyn 4

Australia’s favourite Americana starlet Ruby Boots has announced an upcoming national tour hitting the Astor Theatre in Perth on Sunday, April 3, with blues great, Taj Mahal. Ruby Boots has captured the attention of both the local and international music scene following the immense acclaim accorded her debut album, Solitude, and has performed at coveted festivals such as Dashville Skyline, Out On The Weekend, AWME and most recently at Disconnect. Next April she heads to the US for a 13-date tour. For more details head to Ruby Boots WWW. XP RE SS MAG.COM. AU

Front Cover: Disclosure make their way to Southbound, happening at Sir Stewart Bovell Park, Busselton, from Friday-Sunday, January 8-10. Scene Cover: UK electronic outfit Leftfield perform at the Chevron Festival Gardens as part of the Perth International Arts Festival on Tuesday, February 23.

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BUS 657 A desperate father tries to rob a casino to pay for his daughter’s medical bills, but when things go awry he must hijack a city bus. Features a stellar cast including Robert De Niro, Jeffrey Dean Morgan, Dave Bautista, Kate Bosworth and Gina Carano. We have five DVD copes to give away. Bus 657

NWA & EAZY-E: KINGS OF COMPTON This unforgettable documentary takes a unique look at the life and death of controversial rapper Eazy-E and the rise of Ice Cube, Dr Dre and NWA - the most influential rap group in history. We have five DVD copies to give away. NWA & Eazy-E: Kings Of Compton

THE DIABOLICAL Available on DVD, Blu-Ray and digital from Wednesday, December 30, The Diabolical stars Ali Larter (Final Destination, Heroes) as a single mother with two young children who are tormented by an increasingly strange and malevolent presence in their home. If you’re a horror junkie, we can you help you get ya fix! We’ve got five DVD copies of The Diabolical to give away.

PRINT & DIGITAL EDITIONS Publisher/Manager Joe Cipriani EDITORIAL - 9213 2888 MANAGING EDITOR Bob Gordon: editor@xpressmag.com.au GIG & EVENT GUIDES CO-ORDINATOR guide@xpressmag.com.au COMPETITIONS win@xpressmag.com.au For band gigs & launches: plugyourgig@xpressmag.com.au ADVERTISING - 9213 2888 LIFESTYLE STRATEGY MANAGER – AGENCY / DIRECT Jennifer Groves: advertising@xpressmag.com.au ENTERTAINMENT STRATEGY MANAGER ENTERTAINMENT / VENUES / LIVE AND DANCE MUSIC PROMOTERS / RECORD LABELS Zac Nichols: entertainment@xpressmag.com.au CLASSIFIEDS LINAGE classifieds@xpressmag.com.au PRODUCTION DEPARTMENT - 9213 2854 ART & CONTENT COORDINATOR Anthony Jackson: art@xpressmag.com.au DESIGN & PRODUCTION Anthony Jackson, Andy Quilty PRINTING Rural Press Printing Mandurah DISTRIBUTION - 9213 2853: distribution@xpressmag.com.au ADMIN / ACCOUNTS - 9213 2888 Lillian Buckley: accounts@xpressmag.com.au EDITORIAL DEADLINES General: Friday 5pm, Eye4 Arts: Thursday 10am, WIN: Friday 5pm, Salt Clubs: Monday 5pm , Local Scene: Monday Noon, Gig Guide: Monday 5pm

PRETTY LIGHTS Pretty Lights is the musical vision of the ultraversatile Colorado-based producer, Derek Vincent Smith. Pretty Lights offers electro organic and cutting-edge party rocking beats that fill venues with energy and emotion and send dance floors into frenzies. Pretty Lights is easily one of the most talked about and talented electronic artists today. We have a double pass to give away to his show at Villa on Monday, January 25. 6

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ADVERTISING DEADLINES Cancellations: Monday 5pm, Ads to be set: Monday Noon Supplied Bookings / Copy: Tuesday 12 Noon, Classifieds: Monday 4pm Published by: Columbia Press Pty.Ltd. A.C.N. 066 570 803 Registered by Australia Post. Publication No PP600110.00006 Suite 55/102 Railway Street, City West Business Centre, West Perth, WA 6005 Locked Bag 31, West Perth, WA 6872 Phone: (08) 9213 2888 Fax: (08) 9213 2882 Website: http://www.xpressmag.com.au WARRANTY AND INDEMNITY Advertisers and/or their agents by lodging an advertisment shall indemnify the publisher, and its agents, against all liability claims or proceedings whatsoever arising from the publication. Advertisers and/or their representatives indemnify the publisher in relation to defamation, slander, breach of copyright, infringement of trademarks of name of publication titles, unfair competition or trade practices, royalties or violation of rights or privacy and warrant that the material complies with revelant laws and regulations and that its publication will not give rise to any rights against or liabilities in the publisher, its servants or agents. Any material supplied to X-Press is at the contributor’s risk.

33,560 OCTOBER 2012 MARCH 2013 - AUSTRALIA’S HIGHEST CIRCULATING STREET PRESS

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CORONA BRINGS SUNSETS TO FREMANTLE Corona presents the inaugural SunSets Music Festival at Fremantle’s iconic South Beach on Saturday, January 26, 2016. Featuring the likes of Flight Facilities performing live with Owl Eyes, Nina Las Vegas, George Maple, The Ocean Party, Pearls, Crooked Colours, Hayden James, Basenji, Generik, Dr Packer, Mike Metro and more, this is sure to go off. Early bird tickets are available now via Moshtix.com.au.

NYE FIESTA Jebediah are set to headline the Rosemount Hotel’s annual New Year’s Eve Fiesta on Thursday, December 31, having enjoyed a stellar 20th anniversary year. Joining them in the mainroom will be 2015 goalkickers Tired Lion, Mt Mountain, FOAM, The Tommyhawks and Ursula. Over in Four5Nine you’ll get The Decline, Suburban & Coke, The Sperts, Verge Collection, Catbrush and The Limbs. The backyard will see the oneand-only Bob Log III, with DJs Shannon Fox, Rok Riley, Joanne Lettenmaier and Hamjam’s Hamish Rahn. Main room AAA tickets are $59 (plus booking fee) while the Backyard ticket gains ticket holder access to Backyard and Four5Nine which are $20 (plus booking fee). Both ticket options are available from

Austin, Texas, heavy metal rockers The Sword will be making their highly anticipated return to Australia in February 2016. Hot off their critically acclaimed fifth album, High Country, The Sword are riding higher than ever. They’ve previously toured here in support of Metallica in 2010 and have played at Soundwave in 2011 and 2013, so this marks their first headline tour in Australia. The Sword will perform at the Rosemount Hotel on Friday, February 19. Tickets via oztix.com.au.

Jebediah

The Sword

CROSSING SWORD

BUCKCHERRYBABY

SASKWATCH ANNOUNCE NATIONAL TOUR Melbourne soul outfit Saskwatch have announced a 30-date national tour, hitting WA on Thursday, February 4, at Settlers Tavern, Margaret River; Friday, February 5, at Clancy’s Fish Pub, Dunsborough; Saturday, February 6, at Summerset Arts Festival, Carine Open Space, and Sunday, February 7, at Mojos in Fremantle. Saskwatch are expected to perform a slew of new material from their recent album, Sorry I Let It Come Between Us, including singles, I’ll Be Fine and Everyone’s Giving Up alongside previous favourites from Nose Dive to Leave It All Behind. Tickets via oztix.com.au. Saskwatch

JUMPCLIMB CLIMBS THE MUST-SEE LIST The team at JumpClimb Events have been a key part of the FringeWorld fun since its inception, and 2016 is no exception, with the team putting on three excellent activations. Not only are the award-winning venues Noodle Palace and Midlandia returning, we’re also getting treated to a pop-up hedge maze experience. Presented in conjunction with Dot Comedy, the Get Lost Maze is a 300 square metre populated by a variety of odd characters that punters find and interact with - a scenario more than a little reminiscent of classic Bowie-bulge film Labyrinth. For more info and tickets, shoot over to fringeworld.com.au. Get Lost Maze

Californian rockers Buckcherry have announced an Australian tour with a WA stop at Metropolis Fremantle on Saturday, March 19. Since their formation in 1995, Buckcherry have unleashed seven albums of pure rock’n’roll and hell, their latest album is called Rock’n’Roll. These guys bring swagger, pulse pounding energy and primal chops to every one of their live shows.

GOOD PEOPLE NYE! Mojos Bar presents a Good People NYE on Thursday, December 31, with Red Engine Caves, Gunns, Kitchen People, Regular Boys, Galloping Foxleys, Jacob Diamond, Leafy Suburbs and solo sets from Benjamin Witt and Brod. $15 presale tickets are on sale via . Door entry is $20 from 7pm. Red Engine Caves

PULL THE TRIGGER OF THE POPGUN! Egomaniac Music together with Sweet Mate and the Bassendean Hotel are proud to present Popgun! on New Year’s Eve, Thursday, December 31. It is truly a Perth guitar pop spectacular featuring the finest sounds of the Jangle Band, DM3, High Horse (Timothy Nelson’s ‘other’ band) and The Surf Mist (featuring burlesque dancer, Tiffi Longstockings). DJ Moogy will be power-popping it between sets, making it a non-stop-pop experience. Tickets available via oztix.com.au. The Jangle Band

YEO IS HE In support of the release of his full-length album, Ganburu, Yeo has announced a national tour, with his WA stops being at Settlers Tavern, Margaret River, on Friday, March 18, and Jack Rabbit Slims on Saturday, March March 19. Yeo’s track, Quiet Achiever, enjoyed heavy triple j rotation and over 270,000 Spotify streams and he also spent 2015 playing at festivals such as NYE On The Hill and Panacea as well as supporting superstar, Sam Smith. Ganbaru will be available digitally and on vinyl from Tuesday, February 9. For more details, head to head to snackswithyeo.com. Yeo

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BLOC PARTY

“In the past, art and religion were completely intertwined. Where did that disconnect come from?”

around him. For the fifth Bloc Party album, Hymns, Okereke chose to make votive art. Stripped back and plaintive, it is a Kele Okereke of Bloc Party was deeply vulnerable exploration of the sacred raised a Catholic, but does not and divine. “I wanted to refer to the forces consider himself religious. He that I found moving. That’s speaks to SIMONE UBALDI about why there are so many finding the spirituality in music and references to nature and art in the lead up to Southbound at bodies of water, to the Sir Stewart Bovell Park, Busselton, ground beneath our feet, to on Friday - Sunday, January 8 - 10. light. “If you call a Kele Okereke went to see Hanif Kureishi talk record Hymns there will about punk rock, and left filled with thoughts always be someone who will of religious devotion. think that you’re a raving The author of My Beautiful Christian or something. Laundrette and The Buddha Of Suburbia, who I’ve been very clear that Okereke has long admired, made an offhand I’m not, but I don’t mind if comment about the death of evangelical art people think that I am. This in the postmodern era. record has come from a “He said that any mention of a very different place than all religious dimension to art is somehow looked of our previous records. It’s at with complete suspicion these days. In come from a very personal the past, art and religion were completely place and it’s a record that intertwined. Where did that disconnect come I felt, as an artist, that I from?” needed to make,” Okereke Okereke was raised Catholic but explains. does not consider himself religious. Music is On Hymns, his religion, it just happens that his earliest songs about love, sex and experience of music was singing hymns as his heartbreak are laced with Judeo-Christian Catholic primary school. “That’s when I first imagery — metaphors that could play heard my own voice,” he says. He had no idea awkwardly to an indie-rock crowd. “I’m not what the words signified, but he felt a sense really concerned with how it’s going to be of fellowship and community with the people received,” the singer shrugs. “There will

Hymns from Him

THE DUB PISTOLS In The Blood The Dub Pistols play at the Chevron Festival Gardens as part of the Perth International Arts Festival on Wednesday, February 17. TIM MAYNE catches up with lead singer and founding member, Barry Ashworth, to find out what Perth fans can expect. The Dub Pistols are currently finishing their UK tour with their last live show before Christmas ahead of a well-earned rest until they head overseas in February to start touring. Barry Ashworth says it’s been a very busy, but also successful year for the UK electronic big beat act. “We are touring Greece and have written a new album so we are playing a lot of that in our current live shows,” Barry Ashworth says from his UK home base. “Our live shows are sometimes two hours long, but we really do go across the spectrum and you get the best of the six albums. If I had to describe our live shows... they are full on, in your fucking face. We go into overdrive and go for it!” Barry says The Dub Pistols are essentially a live act and the group has inspired 10

some big names to get back into the music business after a hiatus. “For a band like The Specials saying that playing with us got them back into the spirit of doing it, and they reformed, just amazes me. Neville Staple has written on the new album and I find it strange that my heroes growing up come around to my house and are jamming with us, it’s mental! It is easy to see why the band is so honoured to team up with some of the music industry’s biggest names when Ashworth sites his early influences as The Specials, The Clash and The Jam among other groups. “They were my early influences and they had a reggae influence and got me into researching and into Dub music. I then went and listened to more historical acts like Gregory Isaacs and your life force changes and your taste changes.

The Dub Pistols

“I grew up on everything from hip hop, to punk and ska and got into the club scene and then it was more like anything goes and then into house music - music is a continual journey. “I don’t understand people who get stuck in a time warp and wear the same clothes and like the same music all the time! (laughs).”

always be someone who’s not going to get it, or people who will want to misconstrue things, but I’ve learned to shut those voices out and focus on the people that do get it. “The most magical thing about being an artist is being able to share what you’ve created and having your work touch people in ways you could never have imagined. I’m just grateful I have a platform to share my words and work with people.” That platform almost ceased to exist, as Bloc Party went on indefinite hiatus

He needs a direction or a focus, and that allows him to shift whatever is in his way to get there. He’ll move mountains,” Okereke says. Lissack’s flexibility has enabled the spiritual shift in Bloc Party’s sound, though he is not a spiritual person. “He’s like a total atheist!” Okereke laughs. He sent Lissack gospel music and Indian spiritual music to give his bandmate some direction for Hymns, but they never discuss the quasi-religious leitmotifs. For Okereke, their working relationship is sacred Bloc Party Pic: Rachael Wright

in 2013 and lost two of its original members shortly afterwards. Only Russell Lissack remains from the original line-up, although he and Okereke were always the core players. “I think our relationship is symbiotic.

enough. “Every time we sit down to write music, I hear something that I couldn’t have imagined. That’s a really incredible feeling — to have that sense of wonder every time we play together.”

THE RUMJACKS

European summer’s worth of gigs under their collective belt. The Rumjacks are ready to hit some of their more familiar Australian stages and things are certainly looking up for the band, which is an achievement in itself. Their ascension was suddenly halted when, in 2012, McLaughlin was sent to prison on a domestic violence-related charge. But after recently aligning themselves with anti-domestic violence campaign #notON at (Brisbane Music Conference) BIGSOUND, it’s clear McLaughlin and his band are on a path of redemption. “We had some good discussions with (the promoters of #notON) ahead of our BIGSOUND show, and we’ll continue to discuss back and forth with them opportunities to help out in a tangible way.” So as they hit the road, playing shows across the of the country, The Rumjacks will continue doing what they do best: putting on a hell of a show. It might involve an early morning or two, but

That’s Entertainment Following a triumphant return from Europe, The Rumjacks’ frontman Frankie McLaughlin chats to DYLAN STEWART ahead of their WA shows on Thursday, January 14, at Four 5 Nine and Friday, January 15, at The Odd Fellow. It’s been a big year for The Rumjacks. 2015 saw the band’s first major European tour: close to 40 shows crammed in with barely a night off. “It really let us know what we could and couldn’t do,” says vocalist, Frankie McLaughlin. “It also happened to be the hottest summer in recent record, so it was a nightly assault on the system.” The band combined a few festival slots with a swag of sweaty pub gigs, playing to packed rooms that helped validate their trajectory. “When you get dropped in a place that you didn’t even know existed until you got there, it’s hard to know what to expect. We were received incredibly, and what’s more, the fans were singing along to every word of every song. They were wearing our t-shirts that they’d had for three years that aren’t even in stock any more, and we were thinking, ‘Gee, they’ve been following us for quite a while’.” Now, armed to the teeth with their latest album, Sober & Godless, and with a

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The Rumjacks

McLaughlin says, “I think when you’ve got people who are that ready to be entertained, it’s easy to be an entertainer. For a while we would just get on stage, hammer through as many songs as possible, and walk off. Now we’re doing more than that; we’re connecting with our audience, and having a lot of fun in the process.”

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NEW NOISE

BARONESS

CAGE THE ELEPHANT

ERYKAH BADU

BEAT HAPPENING

Purple Abraxan Hymns

Tell Me I’m Pretty Sony

But You Caint Use My Phone Mowtown

Look Around Domino

On Purple Savannah, Georgia outfit Baroness have gone back to basics. Opener, Morningstar, arrives abruptly with a killer riff to signal the band’s intent. In fact you have to wait until mid-album and Fugue/ Chlorine & Wine for any trace of the ethereal vibe that marked Yellow & Green. Although frontman John Baizley remains the only original member, this band could quite easily have recorded the Blue Record. The likes of Shock Me and Kerosene grab you ‘round the neck in all their fuzzed out glory and refuse to let go. Catchy as hell, yet packing a dirty rhythmic punch, Purple is evidence that Baroness has transcended the turmoil surrounding them and settled in for the long haul.

Steady output is a good quality in a good band — and quality output is even better. Bluesy, funk-pop-rock sons Cage The Elephant must have still been riding the touring highs of 2013’s Melophobia when Tell Me I’m Pretty was just a twinkle in the eye, and clearly the same dandy, psychedelic fuzz that ran rife on its predecessor still floats their boats. Mess Around is one of the album’s flagbearers for its rampant, brassy rock, Too Late To Say Goodbye’s sombre noodling envelopes, Cold Cold Cold dons retro threads with tambourine and organ galore, and Matthew Schultz’s Kentucky twang is never better than on blissed-out chiller, Trouble.

The Queen of Neo-Soul’s latest album will probably mostly be known for its Hotline Bling cover, although thankfully it’s much more than that. From the incredible production of the opening suite and its myriad of intertextual references, it’s apparent that But You Caint Use My Phone is an album dedicated to the exploration of ideas both on the page and in the listener’s ears. Lyrically, Badu’s revamp of Todd Rundgren’s hit, Hello It’s Me, featuring ex-partner André 3000 is the ultimate highlight of the album, while Mr Telephone Man and Cel U Lar Device drift by with a jazzy levity rarely achieved.

CARLEY HALL

Formed in Olympia Washington in the early ‘80s, Beat Happening were one of the leaders of DIY and lo-fi music. Look Around is a career retrospective for a band that don’t get the widespread listenership that they deserve. Calvin Johnson’s deep and sometimes tuneless baritone is the most striking element of the band, who shared a disregard for proficiency in favour of creating tunes that are a combination of coy childlike charm and punk rock spirit. The much-covered Indian Summer is not only the high point of the Beat Happening catalogue, it is one of the finest tunes of its era. Cast A Shadow again highlights the melodic smarts that have influenced bands such as Yo La Tengo and Teenage Fanclub.

ROSHAN CLERKE

MARK HEBBLEWHITE

CHRIS HAVERCROFT

DISCLOSURE

was a good bass player. And Guy said that he hadn’t heard the end of it since. We’re pretty sure Howard would like to tell the story so hand him the conch. “Oh, that was Sting In The Tale an excellent day,” he enthuses. Absolutely! It doesn’t get much better than that. “Well, Disclosure make their way to it does actually,” he begs to differ, “the Soundbound at Sir Stewart Bovell story does get better. We were playing a big Park, Busselton, hitting up the show in New York — we were doing Terminal mainstage on Sunday, January 10, 5 where we had three, big, sold-out shows, at 9pm. BRYGET CHRISFIELD reports. which was amazing — and we brought out

with Mary kind of hanging out and then, all of a sudden, DJ Premier turned up and was like, ‘Hey, guys, nice to meet you.’ And so that for me was one of the best things ever ‘cause he’s definitely one of our favourite hip hop producers ever — so that was a big deal. So we were there with Mary and DJ Premier, kind of a bit starstruck, and then Sting walks in and DJ Premier is like, ‘Holy fuck, it’s Sting!’ “So we’re starstruck by DJ Premier, he’s starstruck by Sting and so he goes up

When we catch up with the younger Disclosure brother, Howard Lawrence, he’s been back home in London for about a week. “I’ve had some time to spend with my dog, which is good,” he admits. Lawrence lives with his “two best mates” who look after his “naughty” beagle puppy while he’s on tour. He turned 21 in May of this year, so how did Lawrence mark the occasion? “Um, where was I? I think I was in Ibiza,” he contemplates. “I mean, I’m pretty sure we were working but we definitely had some fun, too.” Last time Disclosure played in Ibiza they had a residency at Space and Lawrence admits he prefers to go to the clubs “where it’s how everything used to be and people are there to dance rather than to take selfies.” This scribe’s last Disclosure interview was with the elder Lawrence brother, Guy, and he mentioned during the chat that Sting told Howard he

to Sting and he’s like, ‘Dude, you can play the shit out of a bass!’ and Sting just sits there, like, really, really cool and just goes, ‘Yes, yes

Mary J Blige to do our song together (F For You) and a guest appearance kinda thing, which was really cool. But we were backstage

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I can’, which was really funny. Um, so then I managed to get a photo with all three of them, which I was really happy with. And then we played the show and Sting told me I was a good bass player! So it made my life complete; I was happy.” Lawrence says he still reminds Guy about Sting’s high praise “quite frequently. If I make a bum note in the show, I’ll just be like, ‘It wasn’t a bum note. Sting said I was a good bass player, it must’ve been the right note,’” he chuckles. Disclosure have come up against “a very small minority” of haters. “We used to get quite a lot of sceptics being like, ‘Why are you guys making this music? You weren’t there when house music was a thing in the ‘80s and ‘90s — you weren’t there, like, why? You have no business in house music, why are you doing it?’ And, for one: I mean, all the guys that made all those original tunes like our music, you know? (laughs) They’ve come to us and told us how much they like the tunes, which means more to us than anything that anyone could say. The sceptics can think whatever they want, I’m happy knowing that some of my dance-producer heroes like the music.”

and using art and music as a means of finding community and a sense of belonging and a feeling of embodiment. The band was a better container for that story than, say, something like Portlandia. But, yeah, to me it doesn’t read like a regular rock memoir, and that wasn’t really my inspiration for it.” Hunger The Hunger Makes Me A Modern Girl is absorbing, incisive, Ahead of Sleater-Kinney’s performance at the Chevron Festival ruminative, poignant, wry and, yes, exquisitely Gardens on Wednesday, March 2, written. 2016, CYCLONE chats to vocalist/ Sleater-Kinney guitarist Carrie Brownstein about formed in Olympia, hew recently released book, Hunger Washington in 1994 Makes Me A Modern Girl. — with Brownstein, a sociolinguistics student, Carrie Brownstein has led a brilliant career as as main guitarist and guitarist in the iconic indie-rock band SleaterCorin Tucker as lead Kinney and then as co-creator and star of the vocalist. The two enduring alt sketch comedy, Portlandia. (briefly) romanced, Now the Seattle native has published and Sleater-Kinney’s a memoir, Hunger Makes Me A Modern eponymous debut was Girl, its title riffing off the lyrics to Sleatercut in Melbourne during Kinney’s Modern Girl. Kim Gordon loves it. a random Australian Many musicians are ambivalent “adventure”. Later, they about penning autobiographies -some are recruited Janet Weiss superstitious, others wary of disclosure and as their permanent scrutiny. But Brownstein approached Hunger drummer. Makes Me A Modern Girl, which focusses on the Sleater-Kinney, associated with Sleater-Kinney years, as a discursive creative the Pacific Northwest’s riot grrrl movement, endeavour - not a history or even catharsis. became cult and critical faves. Nevertheless, “I don’t really think my book falls into after 2005’s bold seventh LP, The Woods, they the world of a rock memoir -it doesn’t really dispersed. Brownstein, long battling anxiety, had adhere to the tropes of that,” Brownstein says, suffered a nervous breakdown on tour. She’d en route to London’s Heathrow airport. “It’s go on to take regular jobs. She explored culture more of a story about a journey into creativity journalism. Most significantly, Brownstein threw

herself into sketch comedy with Saturday Night Live’s Fred Armisen, developing the hipster satire Portlandia, otherwise little featured

SLEATERKINNEY

in Hunger Makes Me A Modern Girl. “A lot of the ideas for Portlandia exist in the subtext of this book,” Brownstein offers. Brownstein grew up in middle-class surrounds, her father a corporate lawyer. However, her family disconnected. Brownstein chronicles her mother’s struggle with anorexia, and ensuing departure, as well as her father’s closeted sexuality. Amid it all, their pet dog

KATE MILLERHEIDKE

MillerHeidke is also gearing up for an Australian tour from mid-February. While all this work would seem daunting to most, she’s had enough experience to know how much Full Steam Ahead she can take on over a period of time. “It Kate-Miller Heidke is always giving to the world of performing depends on what people ask me to arts. With a show coming up do when it comes at the J-Shed (Bathers Beach, to theatre projects Fremantle) on Friday, March 4, and stuff like that. 2016, she has a chat to KANE But with my own SUTTON about balancing her stuff, I guess I have busy schedule and her new control over my own innuendo-laden Christmas jingle. schedule, and at times, you know, like Kate Miller-Heidke seemingly never slows now I’m feeling this down. After releasing her most recent album, way; a deep need to O Vertigo! in 2014, she travelled around the play my own songs world, stopping in New York City to perform and go on tour and in The Metropolitan Opera’s The Death Of write more songs Klinghoffer. again, so I’ve had to Earlier this year, she helped bring deliberately carve the world premiere of The Rabbits to Perth out more time for – an opera in which she is billed as the that because it’s composer and narrator. Just days before important.” this interview took place, the premiere Being of The Divorce aired on ABC, which saw involved in a number Miller-Heidke making her television debut. of different projects Understandably, she’s very excited about it. also plays a big part “It was pretty thrilling, actually!” she begins. in Miller-Heidke’s “There’s something about television, I guess personal and creative it’s just the access it has into people’s houses development. “I’ve found it difficult in the and the huge audiences it gets. And also it’s past, but lately I’ve felt like the experience of the first time that I’ve seen the whole show. doing such diverse stuff has actually given me So it’s exciting on that level as well, and more confidence than I’ve had before. And slightly terrifying,” she chuckles. it’s been really inspiring, actually; the whole

was distressingly neglected. Hunger Makes Me A Modern Girl is punk raw. “It’s a story about family and ways that we seek substitutions for a lack thereof and so, if there were instances that helped shape that idea, then I included those,” Brownstein says. For this innate performer, music signified liberation, and validation. In an early Sleater-Kinney profile, Spin uncovered Brownstein’s union with Tucker, outing, and “labelling”, her (today she identifies as bisexual). “People look for aspects of identity to explain phenomena or to pinpoint a reason behind somebody’s motivation or somebody’s creativity, and I think that’s just one way that people seem to have a way in. But, in general, there’s kind of a voracious desire to know everything and a sense of entitlement about what we’re allowed to know.” In Hunger Makes Me A Modern Girl Brownstein also analyses the media’s sexist commentary on the band — which she attributes to “a lack of sophistication” and “linguistic deficits.” Contemporary artists such as St Vincent and CHVRCHES’ Lauren Mayberry laud Sleater-Kinney. And pop acts are embracing feminism, with even Miley Cyrus espousing gender fluidity, although Cyrus’ corporeal politics have exposed a generational schism, Sinead O’Connor lambasting her “prostitution”. Says Brownstein, “I think one crucial component to feminism is rejecting this kind of universality, the very notion of the universal, that there’s one brand of feminism that can suit the needs of women. One thing that is great is that there are some varying and sometimes contradictory versions of feminism that intersect. That’s okay. I think to criticise someone for their take on feminism is very counterproductive.”

It’s been really inspiring and helpful for my headspace when it comes to writing my own songs again. “The times in the past when I have felt creatively stagnant is when I’ve been on tour for too long or I’ve been doing the same thing for too long, felt like I was trapped writing the same kinds of songs for too long. It’s good to sort of blast that out of the water.” With the holiday season in full swing, Miller-Heidke has, naturally, got into the spirit of things by teaming up with The Beards’ vocalist Johann Beardraven to create an unusual Christmas jingle for charity. Naturally, the song is titled I’m Growing A Beard Downstairs For Christmas. “Somebody on Twitter just tweeted both of us and suggested we do a Christmas duet, and it just felt like fate! The title came to mind instantly, of course, and the whole thing happened really quickly. The Beards are good friends of mine and they’re all really great musicians.” Things aren’t slowing down after tour either – Miller-Heidke has plenty to look forward to. “...I’m also currently due to give birth to a baby. So that’s happening in May, so that will be fairly time consuming, I imagine. But I’m also kind of thinking about my next theatre project post The Rabbits. I’m really looking forward to sinking my teeth into whatever comes next in that world.”

experience of The Rabbits, the opera that I composed for - getting to write for other voices; getting to put music into the mouths of male opera singers playing 18th century rabbits – the whole thing is sort of putting my whole ego and my own brain aside.

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Directed by J.J. Abrams Starring Harrison Ford, Daisy Ridley, Adam Driver, John Boyega.

sequences from the original trilogy remind us of its roots, but it is also its own beast. In this way it changes those sequences often flipping substantial outcome or intent. Most successfully of all it creates a number of characters that we would be willing to follow across a set of films. Importantly they mesh well with the classic characters, melding the series into a cohesive whole that bodes well for the future. Abrams does everything you would hope for here, creating a universe true to the original Star Wars but 30 years on. If that means that the tale cleaves a little too close to the original series, then this is a price worth paying. There’s a fair bit that could use explaining here, but instead of being bogged down in the geopolitical landscape of The Republic, he just hand waves it (leaving it for a score of books and comics to come) and concentrates on the important factors – spaceships, robots and aliens. He also manages to hit all the emotional and action beats to the that we could want. We cheer as starfighters begin their attack run and gasp as lightsabers clash in a climactic duel. It is all the pulp the audience has come to demand of the brand. A solid start to the new trilogy. There has been an awakening.

After a divisive set of prequels and a move to Disney, Star Wars is finally back with episode VII. This time we see J.J. Abrams at the helm of the first new film of one of the biggest and most beloved franchises of all time. It’s 30 years after the destruction of the second Death Star, and The Republic is once again threatened by internal strife. The remnants of The Empire form the new faction of The First Order, yearning for the order and discipline that The Emperor brought. In response a Resistance has risen. With both sides seeking the last remaining Jedi, a clue to Luke Skywalker’s whereabouts triggers a conflict between the two factions. Finn (John Boyega), a stormtrooper who has recently broken his conditioning, finds himself teamed with Rey (Daisy Ridley), a scavenger from the desert world of Jakku, to return the important information contained within the BB-8 astromech back to the Resistance - perhaps with the help of a familiar scruffylooking scoundrel and his walking carpet sidekick along the way. Cleaving close to the original series The Force Awakens does everything necessary to reinvigorate the Star Wars world. Its riffs on

DAVID O’CONNELL

STAR WARS: THE FORCE AWAKENS The Force Is Strong In This One

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Every week we bring you the best in fashion, food, shopping and lifestyle.

BLUE ROOM THEATRE Summer Nights In case you live under a rock and haven’t noticed advertising or the massive program booklets sitting around your favourite cafes, Fringe World 2016’s arrival is imminent.

BETTY AND DAVE’S Recently setting up shop on the corner of Beaufort Street and Central Ave, this quirky cafe is fast becoming a firm favourite amonh Inglewood breakfast aficionados.

Opening on Friday, January 22, you can count on an even bigger still Fringe to turn just about every corner of Perth into a festival hot-spot, even the spots that aren’t quite finished yet… we’re looking at you, Elizabeth Quay. But there’s one spot that knows how to heat up the Cultural Centre during Fringe like no other: The Blue Room Theatre. In conjunction with their friendly neighbour PICA, The Blue Room Summer Nights

BIB & TUCKER This Fremantle eatery boasts exquisite ocean views and an excellent kitchen, making it an ideal destination for lazy summer afternoon lunches.

17 Border Crossings

program has been a hotbed of experimental performance work from local and international artists for several years running, and 2016 is no exception. Boasting a massive 35-show line-up (and more if you break down 600 Seconds into its 10-minute components, and include all the activities on offer in the Grr Nights yurt), The Blue Room and PICA are your one-stop shop for top-notch cutting-edge performance at Fringe World. Producer Susannah Day has made sure to bring in work from all around the world so that Perth audiences get exposed to cutting-edge independent theatre from the UK, NZ and the US and Colombia. She put feelers out at other fringe festivals, enlisting friends and colleagues to keep an eye out for shows that would easily slot in to Summer Nights, such as Labels from the UK, which is a one-man, interactive show about mixed heritage. Day says, “The show that we’re really excited about and gunning for is 17 Border Crossings,

which is a show by a Colombian artist called Thaddeus Phillips,” who is also in the Netflix series, Narcos. “It’s a really exciting, funny and relevant show for what’s going on right now in the political arena with immigration and migration around the world.” There are plenty of works coming over from the UK, such as Blue Cow by Alice Cooper (no, not that Alice Cooper) about people living on contaminated sites, and from interstate such as Laura Davis’s GHOST MACHINE, which walks the fine line between stand-up comedy and theatre. And of course there are scores of works created right here in our own backyard. Summer Nights also has three family shows on offer, as well as cabaret, The Lounge Room Confabulators

contemporary dance, storytelling and circus. Oh, and you can also grab 10 of your friends and have The Lounge Room Confabulators Stuart Bowden and Wil Greenway come into your lounge room to entertain you for a couple of hours. For a full program listing, visit The Blue Room or Fringe World websites and start planning your summer nights. CICELY BINFORD

Laura Davis, Ghost Machine

THE NEXT DAY (And The One After...) For many, holiday season is hangover season.

THE CHOPHOUSE Vegetarians need not apply at this St George’s Terrace fleshfest, where perfectly prepared meat is the order of the day. Do not miss the bone marrow and melted onion bread and butter pudding.

HALFORD BAR A 1950s lounge bar in the hear of Perth. Head for Hay Street and Cathedral Avenue for a well measured does of laid back style, sophistication and intoxicants. 18

While Sydney is soon to score a hangover clinic, no such luck for West Aussies, who have to deal with the downside of last night’s fun the old-fashioned way. Everyone has a fave pick-me-up Spare a thought for the host, who they swear by after a night of drinking. also has a clean-up to face. Luckily they can Electrolyte products are one, Gatorade and now call in the Hangover Helpers, a Perth Powerade being the popular go-to’s because company who clean the post-party chaos they’re easily accessible, and sculling them and bring breakfast - options are greasy or makes you feel sporty rather than seedy, like green. Check out the pain could be due hangoverhelpers. Babooshka’s Milo And Maple Syrup Milkshake to a marathon and com.au for details. not martinis. Fans of the Hitting up greasy brekky, or the local chemist for brunch - depending pick-me-ups given on when you crawl to kids with gastro out of bed, hell is another sworn it might even be classic. Especially dinner - should the frozen options: think beyond the chewing on icy bits is traditional bacon and a lot more refreshing eggs. Lots of other than trying to down cultures have foods thick liquid. they consider postAll hangover perfect, about the sugar? not all greasy, so be Babooshka’s in sure to ask around. Northbridge’s new (Surprising how often pickled foods make Pancake, Milo And Maple Syrup Milkshake, the cut.) will pep you up. (For those wondering, the When it comes to attempts to pancakes are on the straw, not in the drink! juice away the pain, the internet is drunk on Lush). WWW. XP RE SS MAG.COM. AU

Hangover Helpers

hangover cures - excuse the pun. Google, and expect to be inundated with endless smoothie suggestions. Sources of Vitamin C appear on a lot of ingredient lists, as do bananas. Sunglasses are a must, close to the bed as possible. As a kid I thought only cool people got hangovers, mostly because they were the ones wearing dark-lensed eyewear indoors. ‘Hair of the dog’ is a term used to describe combatting a hangover with more alcohol. Reports of its success seem dubious, but the approach remains popular. If you’re wondering where the hell such a weird term came from, it’s because dog hair used to be put in bite wounds, or in a drink, to combat a bite from a dog with rabies way back when (couldn’t make this stuff up). In a pre-emptive strike, make sure you eat before you go out. Alcohol on an empty stomach is an amateur move! If on the go, and no time for a meal, at least order finger foods with that booze. GILLIAN O’MEAGHER

YIRRA YAAKIN 2016 Revealed The end of the year is in many ways the most exciting time of the year across the theatre community - the previous season’s shows are for the most part done and dusted, and all that’s left before closing up shop for the holidays is to launch the next year’s season to expectant followers. Yirra Yaakin recently announced their 2016 season and Artistic Director Kyle Morrison has some exciting insights about the projects underway for next year. First up in January is Hobo, an independent work supported by Yirra Yaakin

writer/performer Maitland Schnaars, who is one of our most unique and collaborative artists. It’s Corazon de Vaca’s second work collaboration with Yirra Yaakin and I’ll be associate director and dramaturg on it.” Black Ants will open in November. Just prior in October, Yirra Yaakin will open the third installment of its Kaatijin series for families and younger audiences called Boodjar Kaatijin, meaning “understanding the Earth and country.” Development will be led by Shakara Walley and Ian Wilkes (who have worked on the previous two installments of the series), “working with elders and community to create a production that really is in keeping with the old Noongar storytelling style,” says Morrison, though he adds, “we can’t replicate it because to tell one of our old stories really authentically, you’d have to go to the country where the story’s about, at the right time, with the right knowledge.” And last but certainly not least, Yirra Yaakin’s biggest 2016 show, So Long Suckers, is first off the rank in May/June. So Long Suckers will be directed by Morrison, Maitland Schnaars previews Black Ants at the Yirra Yaakin 2016 launch

Idle will be bringing their brand new stage show to eager Australian audiences in 2016, and that includes Perth. Featuring Titanic The Exhibition: Perth Convention & scripted skits, improv, storytelling, Exhibition Centre musical numbers, exclusive footage and Titanic The Exhibition, which tells the audience Q&As, with no two shows being most recognisable story of maritime the same. The Britcom elders hit the accomplishment and disaster, arrives for Riverside Theatre on Wednesday, March the first time ever in Australia at the Perth 9 - book via ticketek.com.au. Convention & Exhibition Centre. Open for a limited engagement through to February Tommy Tiernan - Out Of The Whirlwind: 2016, the story of Titanic’s first and final Riverside Theatre voyage is told through dramatic room Irish comedian Tommy Tiernan has re-creations and 100-year-old artefacts. announced his Out Of The Whirlwind tour, Tickets from ticketek.com.au. coming to Australia, April 2016. Tiernan rounds out the visit at Riverside Theatre Treasure Ships - Art In The Age Of Spices: on Monday, April 25. The satirist remains The Art Gallery Of Western Australia as edgy, seductively malevolent, and A collaboration between AGWA and breathlessly funny as his debut in 1992, the Art Gallery Of South Australia, this being praised for bringing “his vision to exhibition features the spectacular and life with empathic comic power.” For more exotic art produced for global markets details, check out tommytiernan.com. from the 1500s to the early 1800s. Included are a selection of artifacts retrieved from the wrecks of John Cleese and Eric Idle the Batavia and the Gilt Dragon. The exhibition runs until Sunday, January 31, 2016. Go to artgallery. wa.gov.au for full details.

VISUAL ARTS

THEATRE/DANCE/ PERFORMANCE Nicole Lloyd - SoundBirth Workshops: Yoga Hub A Perth musician, Nicole Lloyd, is leading the way in using sound therapy during childbirth. Her SoundBirth workshops teach the scientific theory behind using sound to support the body’s ability to manage the pain and exhaustion of childbirth. For more information head to one of the workshops, Sunday, January 17, at Yogahub Mt Hawthorn.

as part of The Blue Room Theatre’s Summer Nights program. Hobo is written by emerging WAAPA Aboriginal Theatre-trained artist James Taylor, who featured earlier this year at The Blue Room in Songbird, another independent theatre initiative supported by Yirra Yaakin. “It’s part of Yirra Yaakin’s ongoing commitment to develop and encourage the next generation get the skills and the experience they need,” says Morrison. “It’s part of the Next Step program funded by Woodside. We’re very lucky to be able to support our growing indigenous independent sector within Perth. Hobo will also have the very rare opportunity of having a return season at The Blue Room for NAIDOC week celebrations in July.” Following on from Hobo, Yirra Yaakin will go into development of Black Ants, which Morrison describes as “a copresentation of a work from the Spanish/ Aboriginal theatre company Corazon de Vaca, who are creating a new work in collaboration with award-winning Spanish director, Julian Fuentes Reta.” “Black Ants is a collaborative work based on poetry, verse and prose from

with movement and choreography by Marrugeku’s Dalisa Pigram and “is a first time cross-cultural, cross-artform collaboration between Yirra Yaakin & Bunuba Cultural Enterprises (Jandamarra) from Broome. The show “explores the destructive effects of alcoholism on Indigenous and Non-indigenous communities.” It will tie together the stories of the Three Wise Men, three men from different cultures, and the memories of Yagan, Ned Kelly & Jandamarra. Overall, Yirra Yaakin is presenting an exciting and ambitious package for 2016, expanding their collaborative scope and bringing on emerging Indigenous talent to take on major creative positions in each production. Morrison says, “The capacity of the company is really coming along. We have shows that are going to be directed by four different people next year, and that’s kind of new for the company, so we’re really growing in that regard.” CICELY BINFORD

Tina Arena - One Night Only Tour: Perth Concert Hall Australian icon and ARIA Hall of Famer Tina Arena, has announced a one night only tour in Sydney, Perth, Melbourne and the Gold Coast. The tour will hit the Perth Concert Hall on Friday, February 26, 2016. Her latest album, Eleven, garnered widespread critical acclaim and proves she is as relevant now as she was on her debut in 1988. Eleven is a collection of eclectic influences, ranging from EDM to jazz – and is tinged with ethereal elusiveness.

Don McLean - American Troubadour Tour: Riverside Theatre Don McLean the man responsible for the 1971 hit, American Pie, and whose voice Roy Orbison described as ‘one of the great instruments of 20th century America’ will be stopping by in Perth on Wednesday, March 30, as part of his American Troubadour Tour. The celebrated artist has had over 40 gold and platinum records worldwide as well as being inducted into the Grammy Hall of Fame with ‘American Pie’. For further information and ticketing head to Ticketek.com.au.

FESTIVALS

Alliance Francaise French Film Festival Luna Palace Cinemas Once again a fantastic sampler of contemporary French cinema comes our way courtesy of Luna Palace Cinemas and Alliance Francaise. Titles this year Mary Black - The Last Call: Astor Theatre include A Perfect Man, Love At First Child, Irish folk singer Mary Black has announced Marguerite, Mon Roi, First Growth, Taj her next Australian tour will be her last. Mahal, Un Plus Une and Valley Of Love. The tour will begin at the Astor Theatre on Also, for the first time the festival will Sunday, March 6, 2016. Black has remained be screening the first two episodes of a prolific artist for over 25 years, with 11 some of France’s most popular television of her studio albums becoming platinum shows, including Baron Noir, Un Village hits. She’s shared the stage with some of Francais, The the most revered Un Village Francais, screening at Bureau and Call the Alliance Francaise performers of all time, My Agent!. It French Film Festival and has been credited runs at Cinema for an ever growing Paradiso, Windsor global appreciation for Cinema and Irish music. For more Luna on SX from information, check out: Wednesday, March theticketgroup.com.au 16 - Thursday, April 7, 2016. For John Cleese And Eric full details, go to Idle - Together Again lunapalace.com.au. At Last... For The Very First Time: Riverside Theatre Monty Python founding members John Cleese and Eric

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DAISY RIDLEY A Star Is Born Up until recently, British actor Daisy Ridley was a relatively unknown quantity: she had a few television credits under her belt, but her film career was decidedly lacklustre (her appearance in The Inbetweeners 2 didn’t make the final cut). All that changed when, after an exhaustive casting process, she was cast as Rey, the desert scavenger at the heart of Star Wars Episode VII: The Force Awakens. All of a sudden, Ridley found herself a crucial part of arguably the most beloved film franchise of all time. “I knew it was a big part,” she recalls of the secretive audition. “But I didn’t know that it would be in the whole thing. I didn’t know what Rey’s journey would be and where she would end up. It was only when I read the script that I realized the enormity of, not only her, but her place in the whole thing.” “My last audition was really amazing,” Ridley says. “A few days later, I knew I’d hear from J.J. (Abrams, director and co-writer), and my phone was broken. I didn’t get the call. I didn’t know what was going on. I finally got through to him and he told me I’d be starring in Star Wars. “I was outside a theater where my friend was in a show, of which I missed

the first half while all this was going on. I remember kicking a bottle on the ground like everything had changed. But it was all the same. And then I had to watch the rest of the show. My phone died. I couldn’t call anyone. I sat on the tube going home thinking, oh my God. Not able to tell anyone for an hour. Then, finally, I could tell my mom and sister. But, it didn’t really kick in for months.”

DARK HORSE: THE STORY OF DREAM ALLIANCE Dream A Little Dream

which launched the syndicate. Her husband, Brian, a former bouncer and rag ‘n’ bone man, who knows horses. Howard Davies’ background in accounting puts him in charge of the finances. Then there is Tony. The saying “there’s always one in every group”, probably best applies to Tony here. That is why Dark Horse is so engaging. In amongst the vast amount of different elements that this story has, front and centre is the issue of class. Seeing working class people from a struggling former mining town, raise a horse in an allotment

Directed by Louise Osmond Starring Jan Vokes, Brian Vokes, Howard Davies, Tony Kerby

During that time, Ridley was contractually obliged to keep quiet, only being allowed to tell her immediate family. The extremely covert nature of the production - par for the course for J.J. “Mystery Box” Abrams - meant that Ridley couldn’t even brag about her plum role at her own birthday party. It also meant that the enormity of the undertaking didn’t take long to sink in. “When J.J. Abrams told me I got the part, he said that my life was going to change. I could imagine it, but I couldn’t feel it, until it began to happen. The people who have done it before are coming back and it’s like a family. It’s like people revisiting things. So, I feel honored that I’ve been allowed to continue the journey with my part as well as part of the team.”

When Jan Vokes gets the idea to breed a prize racing horse, she starts to pursue it with an almost unearthly fervour. After all, her dad bred budgies, how hard cold it really be? Never accepting no for an answer, her vision takes a group from a small Welsh coal mining town all the way to the most prestigious race in British racing calendar. Dark Horse is the sort of documentary that doesn’t need to do too much to maintain the viewers’ attention. Blessed with a wealth of entertaining characters and a story that is hard to believe but absolutely true, Osmond wisely takes a step back from the documentary and lets the tale speak for itself. The talking heads provide numerous laugh-out-loud moments, as the local inhabitants of a small Welsh pub are just a wonderful mix of people, each with their own particular way. Jan is the driving force and the glue for the group, as it was her initial insane idea

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and go into the sport of kings, is priceless. In an industry dependant on bloodlines and vast amounts of capital is a very proletariat middle finger raised against the system, and there is something universally appealing about that. DAVID O’CONNELL

Dark Horse screens at UWA’s Somerville Auditorium from December 28 - January 3 and ECU Joondalup Pines from January 5 - January 10 as part of the Perth International Arts Festival’s Lotterywest Festival Films season.

TALE OF TALES Storybook Love Directed by Mattero Garrone Starring Salma Hayek, Vincent Cassel, Toby Jones Pentamerone by Italian poet Giambattista Basile represents one of the earliest collection of fairy tales and inspired the Brothers Grimm. Tale Of Tales brings three of these stories to life in a vivid dreamlike fashion for director Mattero Garrone’s English language debut. In the kingdom of Longtrellis, the Queen (Salma Hayek) must eat the heart of a sea monster to fall pregnant. In the realm of Strongcliff, the lecherous King (Vincent Cassel) is smitten by a lovely singing voice, never dreaming of the crone that it belongs to. For the King of Highhills (Toby Jones), an unusual pet may spell heartache and despair for his beloved daughter (Bebe Cave). As the tales grow the strange magic of the world is revealed - which may spell doom for some. A visually stunning storybook world, Tale Of Tales brings elements of baroque texture into the films. There is a strange melding of otherworldly and historical detail at play here; this is a world where monsters may dwell at the bottom of a lake, and ogres exist in the mountains. For all the beauty created in this world Tale Of Tales falls a little flat. In part this is due to the linking device not really

working. The thematic thread of examining woman at differing stages of life may be tentatively present, but seems too weakly represented to stretch through the entire film. Add that these older tales work on a more capricious moral framework than more modern fairy tales, and there is much that seems random about the world. A minor infraction is as likely to be harshly punished as it is to be forgotten or rewarded. It’s a world where you can be blessed with youth, or murdered by an ogre; purity of intent is no guarantee of safety.

A visually strong anthology that is just dripping in lush fantasy imagery. Tale Of Tales puts audiences in mind of Gilliam’s The Adventures Of Barron Munchausen, Fellini’s Satyricon or Jordan’s Company Of Wolves. Where it might fail in comparison due to its lack of a strong narrative, these are at least lofty heights to fall from, and well worth experiencing. DAVID O’CONNELL

Tale Of Tales screens at UWA’s Somerville Auditorium from January 4 - 10 and ECU Joondalup Pines from January 12 - January 17 as part of the Perth International Arts Festival’s Lotterywest Festival Films season.

THE BELIER FAMILY Sound And Silence Directed by Eric Laritigau Starring Louane Emera, Karin Viard, Francois Damiens Living with her deaf parents has meant that Paula (Louane Emra) has become central to the way the family functions, from negotiating with suppliers, to acting as a translator at their market stall. When her music teacher (Eric Elmonsnino) discovers that she has a talent for singing, Paula’s life is thrown into confusion as she realises she may have to leave her family and forge a life for herself away from their farm. Central to the film is the concept of sound. It’s woven throughout the narrative in various forms, setting the opposition between the congenital deafness of the Belier family, and the vocal talent of Paula. At various stages director Eric Lartigau makes brilliant choices in the staging of a scene to make the audience acutely aware of it, from the very first breakfast sequence where the din of cutlery seems deafening in contrast to the verbal silence around the table. There is still communication in this scene as the family discusses the various issues, but that lack of verbal noise and the increase in diagetic noise is confronting. Ultimately that is what it comes down to, communication. Whether it is in sign, song, verbal sarcasm, or political image, this is a film about communicating

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your ideas, desires, hopes and dreams across barriers. For the Beliers deafness is not an obstacle; they are happy and functional in the world they have created. Their obstacle is in understanding their daughter’s obsession, and the steps taken on both sides to convey this are heart-warming. Louane Emera, apparently a former contestant on the French version of The Voice, certainly brings a lot of charisma to her screen debut. As Paula she is shy but certainly not retiring, giving the character

enough force of personality to make a stand if needed. It must be said, a lot of that comes with her voice, and it is stunning to hear her sing. Karin Viard and Francois Damiens as her parents provide a lot of levity but also have a couple of genuinely affecting moments where they get to stretch their dramatic legs. Eric Elmosnino nails it as the singing teacher that feels trapped by the small rural school. He drips in sarcasm, but also acts as a voice of reason in his mentor role. A feel good movie with enough depth and intelligence to really burrow under its audiences skin. A little bit smarter than the rather fluffy tone would suggest, and really just brings it home with the final song choice, landing an emotional body blow. DAVID O’CONNELL

FESTIVE

THE PERTH CUP Ascot’s biggest racing day is almost upon us once more - the G1X.com.au Perth Cup. Taking place on Saturday, January 2, 2016, the Perth Cup is a luxurious and glamorous affair, featuring live performances from Mashdi N Kutcher and the Stafford Brothers, plus all the excitement of the Sport Of Kings! General admission tickets start at $25, with a plethora of group and VIP options also available. For more info, shoot over to perthracing.com.au.

Stanton Warriors

The Stafford Brothers

YOUTH BUSKING IN SUBIACO

Tomas Ford

CRAP MUSIC RAVE PARTY Tomas Ford is the worst DJ in the world. The party-starting showman is notorious for his crates of records that your dad would probably like. Starting from humble beginnings from the tiny PICA bar into a world-conquering spectacle, Tomas has just returned from a month of sold-out parties at Edinburgh Fringe, Brighton, Prague, Adelaide and Melbourne. He plays nothing but the worst music, and is inviting you to join him on Boxing Day for his biggest rave ever, at the Astor Theatre. Tickets available from astorperth.com.

Busking in the City of Subiaco is free in four of the city’s designated locations with a street entertainment permit. The City of Subiaco is proud to support the artistic growth and skill development of young people aged 14 to 25 by providing outlets to show off their unearthed talent. For more information about the designated locations and times, and applications head to Subiaco.wa.gov.au/youth.

BREAKFEST The deliciously named annual break beat festival is on again this Boxing Day! With big names such as Stanton Warriors, Danny Byrd, A Skillz, DJ Marky, Deekline, Mafia Kiss, Wuki, Dub Physix , Sticky Buds and oh so many more, it’s a day not to miss. Tickets are selling fast, so head to ticketmaster.com to secure yours!

SUMMERSET ARTS FESTIVAL Summerset Arts Festival is back with some great featured events. Hypnolicious! A Comedy Hypnosis Treat, presented by Matt Hale, is an award winning hypno-comedy show on at the Scarborough Beach Reserve on Friday, January 22. You have to see it to believe it! Skinny Dip at Scarborough is a lucky dip show for the measly cost of $5, it could be comedy, cabaret, music or circus? Head on down to find out. Skinny Dip will also be on Friday, January 22 at the pop-up Sunset Veranda. An all-ages concert featuring Saskwatch and Little May will be on Saturday, February 6 at the Carine Regional Open Space. Uncorked Comedy, a wine tasting with a comedian, will be happening on Saturday, January 24, at the Sunset Veranda. For more info on all of these wonderful events and more, head to summersetsartsfestival.com.au

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Missy Higgins

SUNSET SOUNDS @ THE J-SHED Sunset Events is pleased to announce the launch of its brand new instalment of intimate summer concerts, Sunset Sounds, at recently announced venue & arts space J-SHED located at the stunning Bathers Beach. Missy Higgins will be the first to grace the virgin stage on Friday, February 26, followed by Kate Miller-Heidke on Friday, March 4, and San Cisco on Saturday, March 19, in support of their brilliant album, Gracetown, For more information and ticketing info head to jshed.com.au

CHOCOLATE JESUS PRESENTS... Oh, you have a jacuzzi? Yes, Chocolate Jesus presents the Boxing Day Laneway Jacuzzi Party at the Good Shepherd laneway in Leederville this Boxing Day. This postChristmas rager boasts a huge line up including Mickey Juice (Melb), Garbage VS Fungle Club (2 hour sunset set), Benji, Josh Grainger, Yon Jovi, Ca$hius.Clvy and Gala DJs. Food will be provided from the good people at Hood Burger, and Fresh Young Coconut & Spiced Rum will be available all day. The first 50 people through the doors will receive a free psychical copy of Benji’s best of mixtape, Def Cult.

SOUTH WEST CRAFT BEER FESTIVAL 2016 Come wet ya beak with WA’s finest craft beers at the South West Craft Beer Festival. Celebrate the region’s finest award winning craft beers, with many brewing up a special one-time brew just for the festival! The festival’s recommended must-tries of 2016 include Rockin Pale Ale, Raging Bull Dark Ale, Grapefruit Kristallweizen and Eagle Bay Brewing Co’s Summer Ale. For tickets and information head to swbeerfest.com.au

LITTLE CREATURES Come on a New Year’s Eve safari at Little Creatures Freo, where the staff will be dressed to the nines in junglethemed finery and DJ Paul Gamblin will be providing the soundtrack. No booking necessary - come one, come all! Or hit Creatures Next Door from 7pm for live music from Frenzy, a glass of sangria on arrival, and tasty canapes through the night. Tickets are $40 from Ticketek.

NYE New Orleans Mardi Gras

NYE NEW ORLEANS MARDI GRAS On Thursday, December 31, Leederville transforms into the Mississippi Delta with a massive Mardi Gras themed NYE blowout that sprawls across four venues. The Garden, Bill’s Bar And Bites, Babushka and The Blue flamingo all come alive with fabulous drinks, roving entertainment, street food, live music, DJs and more. Your ticket gives you entry to all venues, with the action kicking off at 7pm. Book via oztix.com.au WWW. XP RE SS MAG.COM. AU

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FESTIVE

ALL MY FRIENDS All My Friends is back to help you kickstart 2016 at Salt On The Beach in North Fremantle. Now in it’s second year All My Friends is the only party in Perth that celebrates the new year on the beach, with a complimentary champagne brunch from 12 noon til 2pm, followed by a wealthy squad of talent consisting of Berlin-based Defected resident Oliver Dollar, Nu-Disco and House music legends Crazy P joined by Perth’s very own Dr Packer, Ben UFO, and many more. With such a diverse group of DJs, an eclectic mix of genres, tasty food all day and drinks to quench any 2016-sized thirst, All My Friends is a place you’d rather be.

Inglewood Hotel

Oliver Dollar

INGLEWOOD HOTEL Head to the Inglewood this New Year’s Eve for a fantastic Hawaiian-themed Endless Summer Beach Party. The team in the kitchen will be whipping up massive Hawaiian barbecue with all the trimmings, mixed drinks and cocktails at the bar, giant Jenga in the beer garden and party tunes all night long. For info and bookings, call (08) 9370 5511 or email functions@inglewoodhotel.com.au

Lyrics Born

The Sunshine Brothers

CUBAN CLUB Perth’s premier NYD Party celebrates its 10th birthday! Boasting a line up consisting of Lyrics Born & FDEL, DJ Yoda, Indian Summer, Sambalicious, Boston Switch, 3Stripes, Lukas Wimmler, Stone, Some Like It Yacht, Ozradecks, Henton and many more. Lunch and Dinner delights provided by La Cholita and Pleased to Meet You to name a couple, and a premium drinks selection from Tanqueray, Corona, Kirin Ciders and more. Food and drink are complimentary with ticket, from Ticketmaster.com.au/

FREMANTLE ARTS CENTRE NEW YEARS DAY CONCERT

Print Hall

For the eighth time running, the beautiful Fremantle Arts Centre is hosting a fantastic New Year’s Day party, featuring great music, food stalls, icy cold beverages, and more. Join The Sunshine Brothers, Grace Barbe Afro Kreol, The Weapon Is Sound, 56 Hope Road, plus DJ Butter Chicken and Friends on the decks. It’s all going down Friday, January 1, from 5pm - book tickets via fac.oztix.com.au

Bathers Beach House Photo by Tony Bowers

BATHERS BEACH HOUSE Come to where the sand meets this surf this New Year’s Eve! Bathers Beach House is offering a range of options this year. The downstairs restaurant is offering two dinner seatings, early evening and late evening, while the upstairs area will be a bar/function room with sharing options available, plus DJ entertainment. For dinner bookings, call (08) 9335 2911 or hit up bathersbeachhouse.com.au

NYE AT THE PRINT HALL Print Hall is pleased to host an elegant night of James Bond themed New Year celebrations, complete with a DJ, gambling tables, projections and photo booths to capture all the evening’s excess. This is sure to be one killer party. Group bookings of 10 or more will receive a free magnum of champagne. $80 per person with access to the rooftop bar, under the stars. Bob’s Bar is also excited to share their NYE rager with NYE – Powers On The Roof. Spend your night under the stars at the fabulous rooftop venue, complete with $15 cocktails, $10 pints, DJ, photo booth, drink on entry and canapés throughout the night. WWW. XP RE SS MAG.COM. AU

CORONA SUNSETS FESTIVAL Just when you though a summer session couldn’t get any better, old mates at Corona have announced the Corona SunSets Music Festival featuring summer’s biggest festival line up yet. The massive line up include Flight Facilities, Alison Wonderland, Juno Mars (Jagwar Ma), Nina Las Vegas, George Maple, Hayden James and many more! There will also be a fine selection of tasty treats from the regions finest foodies and market stalls. The festival will be located at South Beach, Fremantle on January, 16. Tickets are on sale via moshtix.com

Flight Facilities

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“A lot of the best electronic music I like is coming out of Bristol,” he says. “We call it Broken Beats - I really like Hodge at the moment.” Barnes says he and the other members of Leftfield, Adam Wren and Sebastian Beresford, were not sure how well their third album, Alternative Light Source, would be received. The group’s two previous albums Leftism and Rhythm And Stealth went gold and platinum with Q magazine readers voting Leftism as the 18th greatest album of all time. “The new album has been getting really good reviews, particularly in Europe and had good reviews in the UK - but music lasts about 10 minutes these days. “After so many years coming back, it’s done better than I thought it would. People understand it and relate it to the old Leftfield - and realise this is a new chapter,” he says. “The process of making tracks probably hasn’t changed and it was made without Paul Daley, who left the band, and so that was a different process because the creative decisions I had to make by myself and it helped that I worked with Adam Wren on the album. But the process is still very similar, even though there is a lot more technology around.”

It has taken 16 years, but UK electronic outfit Leftfield released their long-awaited third album, Alternative Light Source, in March this year to a rousing reception. TIM MAYNE speaks to Leftfield founder, Neil Barnes, ahead of their Chevron Festival Gardens appearance as part of the Perth International Arts Festival on Tuesday, February 23, 2016. After disbanding in 2002 and then reforming in 2010, Leftfield’s Neil Barnes says the last few years, and this year in particular, have been a busy period for the electronic music trio. “I most recently played at The Manchester Warehouse Projects in an old car park and there were about 2,000 people there on each other’s shoulders and a bit of a mosh pit going on - a great old school rave!” her says. “There were about eight DJs and two rooms and it was open until 5.30am, the kind of venue you don’t get anymore. It was the last gig of the year before we come to Oz.” Speaking from his London home, with a bad case of the flu, Barnes still finds much to be inspired by.

continues on page 34...

LEFTFIELD Back To The Source

Neil Barnes, Leftfield

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...from page 33

understands that when it hits it can be very corrosive and destructive. If you read Ruby Wax’s book, Sane New World, it makes you Barnes says the group has plans for another realise that you are not alone.” album and they hope to start working on a Leftfield also have a reputation as new Leftfield album in January before they being one of the loudest electronic acts in tour Australia. He says there is a possibility of more of the collaborations with other artists as the world, a notorious reputation that Barnes happened on previous albums with John Lydon, prides himself on and hints that Australian audiences can expect the same. Toni Halliday and Earl 16 among others. “When you work with other artists, you don’t really don’t know where a track is going to go and when you bring someone in they are not used to working like you do and that can mean something magical can happen and it always does! “It makes you think about what you are doing. I like to “Festivals are different and have use their strengths and these people are really strict sound rules that we have no control very good in their areas and I allow them a over, but quality is more important and lot of freedom in the studio. I suggest how Australian audiences can expect that. to make it better or extend it, but I never tell “That said, we will be pumping it up people what to do.” as much as we can and that is a promise, but Barnes has publicly admitted that we may also bend the rules!” Barnes chuckles. he has battled with depression and anxiety, “Our shows are an adventure into which he says is something he has had to sound, a journey through the history of factor into his career as a musician. Leftfield and we don’t take prisoners and “It is something you learn to live there is no compromise. with it and it is just a part of the person that “There will be long tracks and both I am and it sometimes can stop you from heavy and ambient moments all mixed into a working, but a lot of performers have to live continuous flow, including vocals, so every gig with it. we do will be a full on show.” “I think there isn’t an easy way through it. Anyone who has suffered from it

WONDERLAND accompanied by visual mash-ups via turntable scratching. You’d never think a set with Rage Saturday, December 19, 2015 Against The Machine and Daft Punk would work, but it does. Curated and run by the team at Pilerats, Wonderland 2015 was a showcase of artists at At sunset, The Kite String Tangle played a set composed of tracks from last year’s Vessel EP the forefront of Australian music as well as a and a number of new songs from the album few imports peppered in-between. he’s been working on for the latter half of Kicking things off at the sole stage at the this year. Carrying the crowd into the night, festival (a surprisingly appreciated move Kiwi brother-sister duo, BROODS cemented according to a number of patrons), Pilerat’s their position at the pinnacle of indie-pop, own Koi Child delivered their unique blend of jazz and hip-hop to a slowly filling Langley with 21-year-old vocalist Georgia Nott’s stage presence unmatched by any other artist Park. Following the Fremantle locals, L.A. on the bill. And as based Sweater Beats a fitting finale to Sweater Beats | Pic: Matsu Photography was able to amass Wonderland 2015, a crowd of early Alison Wonderland dancers within a played a powerful matter of minutes. hour-long set, all the Although maybe a while maintaining little bit heavy for intimacy with the 2.30pm, the crowd crowd through a relished in the trap microphone. artist’s set and it set In addition to the mood for the rest the main stage, of the day. Wonderland also brought the noise (or lack The infamous Dune Rats followed. Amidst thereof) with a three-channel silent disco all the mayhem, crowd surfing and moves boasting some of the hottest local DJ talent that would put Angus Young to shame, courtesy of DSB, EMAS and Father. You could the band knocked it out of the park with also find yourself a locally designed bargain their performance (despite admitting to in the Teepee Village, or lose yourself in fair being heinously hung-over). Drawing closer rides, but the most impressive facet aside to sunset, electro-pop three-piece, Safia’s from the music was its recycling initiative. For set was a beautifully thought out live every empty can you turned in, you would performance and a nice change of pace from the frenzy that preceded it, allowing for much receive a $1 drink token for use at the bar, needed down-time in the crowd. Up next was resulting in hundreds if not thousands of free the four-year-old project of DJ Tom Loud, Hot beverages for those in attendance. Langley Park

Dub Time Machine. With a relatively selfexplanatory title, the DJ took the crowd on a chronological journey from 1954 to 2015 30

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JAI CHOUHAN

GRAPHIC FICTION HEROES

You’ll be playing with old mate Gareth Hughes for the launch. How did that come about? How did he fit back in with the current group configuration? Gareth actually has a writing credit on this song from the earlier writing sessions. When he left Perth to live in the UK, he was ably replaced by Joe Southwell, who has been in the band since the earlier album launch. Joe played all of the bass on the new recordings, but is currently contracted

Pleasingly Circular Graphic Fiction Heroes launch their new single, Vicious Valentine, with help from Ragdoll, Nevsky Prospekt and Midnight Boulevard at the Astor Lounge on Friday, January 8. Vocalist/guitarist, Chris Gibbs, elaborates. Vicious Valentine is a lot more rockoriented than your last release. Why the shift in tone? I think it’s more of a shift in production style than a conscious shift in writing style. This song was actually originally sketched out as part of the last record, we didn’t end up needing extra songs so it sat unfinished for a while. When it became time to commence writing for the new EP, Vicious Valentine was a frontrunner as it was pretty much formed. It certainly is one of my more rockier ideas and as a result it was recorded with a different energy in mind, Rob Agostini at Soundbaker and Simon Struthers at Forensic Audio both picked up on that and ran with it. What was the writing process like? What inspired the song? When we write as a band, it is always in a relaxed setting with acoustic guitars, which I’m a big fan of. I think that getting away from the band’s actual format of guitar, bass, and drums allows the writing process to be a little more pure and less driven by actual playing styles.

MUSIC AT THE MARITIME MUSEUM RTRFM and the Western Australian Museum are teaming up to bring us Harbour Sundays, a five week season of live music at Fremantle’s Maritime Museum beginning on Sunday, January 31, 2016. Featuring the likes of Datura4, Eduardo Cossio Trio, Catherine Traicos, Lucy Peach, Old Blood and more, each session kicks off at 5pm and is absolutely free! For more info , head to rtrfm.com.au.

to play overseas. So coincidentally Gareth had scheduled a visit back to Perth and we jumped at the chance of fitting the launch in around his stay. It’s pleasingly circular: Joe played at the launch for Gareth’s original recordings, now Gareth is playing at the launch for Joe’s. What does 2016 hold in store, both for GFH and yourself? GFH will launch the new song in January, then there might be another digital single later in the year before the physical EP release. I’m writing new songs for Chris Gibbs & The Transmission, the band will commence demos early in the year for a full-length album.

NICOLA MILAN GETS OBSESSED Perth jazz-pop singer Nicola Milan describes her new single, Things I Do To Get To You, as being about “...stalking, obsession and Grand Theft Auto.” A collaboration with Sydney producer Michael Carpenter, the track brings a little dark trip-hop to Milan’s usual sound, reminiscent of Portishead and Massive Attack. Check it out at nicolamilan.bandcamp.com. Nicola Milan

SANDTRAX Rodney’s Bait n Tackle has now been at sea for three months and they’re well prepped for their New Year Eve’s bash Sandtrax. Playing at the bow of the Maevon will be multi-WAM Guitarist of The Year winner Luke Dux and his ramshackle garage blues band Atomic Lunchbox, Mister & Sunbird bring their swing, blues and latin flavoured sounds, along with gypsy jazz trio Vipers Dream and DJ Blind Tiger. Doors open 6pm. Tickets $25 ticketbooth.com.au or from the bar. Includes free drink on arrival. 7/1 Simon Kelly & The Big Bamboo Album Launch @ Mojos Bar

Simon Kelly & The Big Bamboo

8/1 Graphic Fiction Heroes Digital Single Launch @ Velvet Lounge 10/1 Gold Suns Single Launch @ Mojos 3/2 Pool Boy Video Launch @ The Bird

CONTACT MUSICSERVICES@XPRESSMAG.COM.AU

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MOODYMANN FLOATING POINTS, tINI, Villa Friday, December 18, 2015 In a real coup, Habitat and MOVE secured both Moodymann and Floating Points for the same gig. One a veteran of the scene, one a new young gun - both talented producers are highly respected, versatile and musical. Originally set to be at the Urban Orchard, for some reason, the City of Perth decided to enforce tougher sound and time restrictions – a decision also affecting a NYE party and the Fringe Festival. As a result the promoters made the decision to move the event, rather than compromise on sound and quality. Villa came to save the day as the venue, and the tINI gig planned for Geisha was also combined. It was a good call as it was a chilly, windy night the warmer confines of the club provided a nice respite, and the sound was superb. Perth’s own Henry Maxwell started the night in fine fashion, getting the early crowd on the dancefloor. It’s been a big year for Sam Shepherd – the multi-talented man known as Floating Points is a classically trained musician, has completed a PhD in neuroscience, released his debut LP this year to much acclaim and become an in-demand DJ. Those who’ve heard the downtempo, ambient Elaenia, or his earlier dancefloor oriented tunes may have been surprised to hear him kick off with the straight-up funk of Why Can’t People Be Colors Too by The

Whatnauts, but he’s known for his eclectic sets and obsessive record collecting. Spinning a super-smooth all-vinyl set, he took us on a whirlwind tour through many flavours of soul, disco and afro-funk. Classic 45s rubbed shoulders with more modern grooves like Herbert’s I Hadn’t Known, with a fat bottom-end that would’ve been lost outside. There was a great vibe in the club and a top crowd. Floating Points Pic: Renee Stamatis

SPINNING TOP PRESENTS... Gunns/Nicholas Allbrook/GUM Mojo’s Friday, December 18, 2015

Tame Impala’s huge breakthrough over the past year or two has had rippling repercussions for pretty much any artist who’s shared a durry with the front man. So, it was no surprised to see the Spinning After a break, the enigmatic, elusive Top showcase, held at the esteemed Mojos Bar, sell out so Moodymann stepped up, not that you could quickly this year to be exposed see him on the dark stage, but he let the to many good sounds that music do the talking, giving everyone what Gunns, Nicholas Allbrook and they wanted and stepping it up a notch with some harder, darker, techier sounds – cutting GUM. Gunns were up first the bass, before slamming it back in. In an age of so much homogeneity in dance music, the showcasing their delightful and vibrant surf rock, with Detroit legend is a true original – playing a tendencies borrowed from shoegaze and set simply no one else would or could! psychedelic pop, and killed it. It evades me as Finishing off the night, tINI had a tough task. On any other night, the German’s to why this group isn’t more popular, they are set would have been a highlight, but it wasn’t surely one of the tightest bands in Perth now with a killer sound and some really infectious your average night. Still, she provided a nice harmonies. The group will be touring with change in mood and tempo with a more Albert Hammond Jr. of The Strokes next year, upfront mix of deep house and tech sounds so if you’re going to see him, make sure to that kept people moving til dawn, as she get there early from Gunns. bobbed away behind the decks, her mass of Nicholas Allbrook casually took the blond curls bouncing. stage next, wielding nothing but a guitar, a ALFRED GORMAN laptop and a flute. This man is a complete

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kook, and his live show has always been a divisive one, however this time around the Pond frontman showed the crowd what he’s really got in that brilliant mess of a brain. Weird beats, heavy riffs, spoken word and flute flutters ensued to a warm response. GUM filled the stage next this time around comprising of Jay Watson and Jennifer Aslett of Gunns and in Watson’s words on the night proceeded in ‘shredding over karaoke’, which actually worked incredibly Jennifer Aslett, Gunns File Pic: Rachael Barrett

well concerning the new material off his brilliant second album under the moniker Glamorous Damage. Watson put on his best Prince impression and indeed shredded over an unassuming backing track. The crowd gave a warm and wealthy response to a very grateful GUM, good vibes all around on another very successful Spinning Top showcase. JAMES ENDERBY

A NOT SO SILENT NIGHT Rosemount Hotel/Four5Nine Bar Saturday, December 19, 2015 T’was the season for cheer Saturday night when a multitude of local rock outfits banded

guitar smashing storytelling set. Closing with Morning Birds Get Fucked Mayhem left nothing behind as the crowd slowly began to build for the long night ahead. Three smooth Santas in the form of The Drools hit up the stage next with their unpredictable blend of rock, grooving through popping builds and heavy payoffs. Their efforts were greatly appreciated to a quickly growing audience who had half of the newly renovated venue filled. Over on the Rosemount Hotel main stage, in-your-face punk rock had taken over in the form of Pat Chow. With body-trembling The Love Junkies | Pic: Rachael Barrett

together for a packed out double stage show full of Christmas spirit. At Four5Nine Bar soloist Benny Mayhem kicked off the night with a very slow attendance but made the most of his time showing enthusiasm and hilarity throughout his

bangers, on point solos from vocalist Ben Protasiewicz and a plentiful of uncontrollable yells from bassist Andrew Meredith; the group had the packed out dance floor rocking out as they belted out a flurry of older and newer

tracks intertwined with a few Christmas-themed tunes. Drummer Jamie Gallacher was unfazed throughout his entire set as double duty loomed soon after. As usual recent single, Bad Thoughts, carried a unanimous appreciative response from Chow fans around the building. The night would quickly continue for Gallacher as Rag N Bone hit the stage to showcase their darker rock side with vocalist Kiera Owen rounding off soaring vocals within an emotive and engaging performance, pulling the crowd closer and closer between each song. Debut single, Wood & Wire, was built up with a grace sending fans into a craze, whilst guitarist Axel Carrington continued his run of unpredictable and eyecatchingly eccentric performances. Back at Four5Nine, stoner rock three-piece Puck were making waves as their eerie doom sound flooded a now jam-packed room with the stage swamped by moshers and headbangers. Drummer and vocalist Liam Young never missed a beat throughout the chaotic set that delivered the usual antics of slow tempos with heavy riffage. As the clock ticked over midnight, dozens of eager fans had stuck around to fill out the Rosemount Hotel main stage room

for grunge-rock headliners The Love Junkies. In a set full of crowd surfing, endless hooks and resounding melodies, the Junkies were impeccable at delivering hit after hit for the crowd to sing along all whilst maintaining their Turnstyle | Pic: Rachael Barrett

relatable personas. With the mainstage room rocking out and celebrating the successful night - and the added awesome of Turnstyle launching their new album, Time$ Equals Function - nothing could top the atmosphere provided at the annual A Not So Silent Night with every act putting on their best effort with a good deal of Christmas cheer. AARON BRYANS

CLASSIFIEDS EMPLOYMENT & TRAINING CASTLEROCK MUSIC COLLEGE Enrol now for Cert 2, 3 and 4 in music performance and technical/sound production. Phone: 9529 2021 www.castlerock.net.au. SOR PRODUCTION SERVICES CD & DVD MANUFACTURE Check out our latest CD & DVD specials online at www. procopy.com.au 9375 3902 MATRIX PRODUCTIONS AUSTRALIA L i g h t i n g , s t ag i n g , s o u n d sy s t e m s , smoke machines, night club FX, intelligent lighting, strobes & mirror balls, crowd barriers, video projectors. 9371 1551

GOLDDUST Production Mixing, recording and composition. Leederville $80 p/h. 0408 097 407 RECORDING MIXING MASTERING PRODUCING Fremantle location. Call Pete Kitchen Cooked Records. Ph 0407 363 764 / 9336 3764 REVOLVER SOUND STUDIO Ph 9272 7505. www.revolverstudio.com.au REHEARSAL STUDIOS BIBRA LAKE REHEARSAL STUDIO Air Conditioned Room. Great Facilities. Superior sound to hear yourself and your band. 10 mins from Freo. Phone Nick: 0410 485 588. TUITION

***GUITAR LESSONS*** Christmas gift RECORDING STUDIOS vouchers available. All styles, all levels. Beg to A L A N D A W S O N ’ S W I T Z E N D adv. AMEB and WAAPA accreditation.Online R E C O R D I N G S T U D I O bookings. Cliff Lynton Guitar Institute. Mt Prof quality albums or demos, large live Lawley 9342 3484/ www.clifflynton.com room, experienced engineer, analog to digital transfers, mastering. Alan 0407 989 128 www.witzendstudios.com ANALOG MASTERING VINTAGE TAPE, TUBES & TRANSFORMERS with the latest state of the art digital converters. Clients include: Melody’s Echo Chamber, Pond, Gossling, Knife Party, Felicity Groom, The Floors, Jeff Martin & The Panics. World class facility, World class results. www.poonshead.com. 9339 4791 ANDY’S STUDIO International multi award winning songwriter / producer. No band required. Broadcast quality. A songwriter’s paradise. Ph 9364 3178 WWW. XP RE SS MAG.COM. AU

X-press JEBEDIAH, DECEMBER 31 @ ROSEMOUNT HOTEL

TO UR S DECEMBER 2015 BREAKFEST 2015 ft. STANTON WARRIORS, DANNY BYRD, STICKYBUDS, SPENDA C, HYDRAULIX & more 26 Belvoir Amphitheatre ORIGIN NYE ft. PUSHA T, ANDY C, MAC MILLER, SABLE, KOVE, SKEPTA & more 31 Claremont Showgrounds NEW YEAR’S EVE FIESTA ft. JEBEDIAH 31 Rosemount Hotel JANUARY 2016 AGENT ORANGE 1 Amplifier NECK DEEP & STATE CHAMPS 6 YMCA HQ & Rosemount Hotel COURTNEY BARNETT 7 Astor Theatre 8 Southbound ICEHOUSE 8 Castelli Estate, Denmark 10 Hotel Rottnest SOUTHBOUND ft. ALPINE, BIRDS OF TOKYO, BLOC PARTY, GARY CLARK JR., HILLTOP HOODS, JARRYD JAMES, SETH SENTRY, MEG MAC & more 8-10 Sir Stewart Bovell Park TROYE SIVAN 11 Astor Theatre LOU DOILLON 12 Rosemount Hotel THE RUMJACKS 14 Four5Nine Bar 15 The Odd Fellow NIGHTWISH 15 Metropolis Fremantle ALISON WONDERLAND 16 South Beach, Fremantle SHORT STACK 16 Astor Theatre THE FRANKLIN ELECTRIC 19 Fly By Night 20 Indi Bar 21 Rosemount Hotel WALK THE MOON 21 Astor Theatre HOLY HOLY 21 Rosemount Hotel FAT BOY SLIM 22 Red Hill Auditorium THE BEAUTIFUL GIRLS 22 Northside Tavern 23 Rosemount Hotel 24 Dunsborough Tavern 25 Railway Hotel JOHN BUTLER TRIO 22 Belvoir Amphitheatre 23 Leeuwin Estate 24 Quindanning Tavern THE 1975 23 HBF Stadium THE OH SEES 23 Mojo’s Bar THE WAIFS 24 Fremantle Arts Centre OPIUO 25 Villa SKREAM & ARTWORK 25 Geisha HOODIE ALLEN 28 Rosemount Hotel BOY & BEAR 30 Red Hill Auditorium JAMES BAY 30 Fremantle Arts Centre LOU BARLOW 30 Mojo’s Bar FEBRUARY 2016 NICK OFFERMAN 2 & 3 Astor Theatre SOILWORK 2 Rosemount Hotel KEVIN HART 3 Perth Arena 34

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IRISH MYTHEN 3 Prince of Wales 4 Four5Nine Bar 5 The Oddfellow 7 Redcliffe on the Murray JIMMY CARR 3 Riverside Theatre JOHN MELLENCAMP with JEWEL 6 Sandalford Estate TEX PERKINS 6 Fremantle Prison NATHAN HAWES 7 Astor Lounge SIMPLY RED with NATALIE IMBRUGLIA 9 & 10 Kings Park & Botanic Garden SOILWORK 10 Rosemount Hotel MAXI PRIEST 10 Astor Theatre WELCOME TO NIGHT VALE 11 Octagon Theatre, UWA NIGHTMARES ON WAX 11 Chevron Festival Gardens JOSE GONZALEZ 12 Chevron Festival Gardens SPIDERBAIT 12 Metropolis Fremantle DIANA KRALL 13 Kings Park & Botanic Garden ILLY 13 Capitol FAT FREDDY’S DROP 13 Red Hill Auditorium 14 Clancy’s Dunsborough THIEVERY CORPORATION 13 Chevron Festival Gardens LANEWAY FESTIVAL ft. THE SMITH STREET BAND, GRIMES, HERMITUDE, FLUME, CHVRCHES, DIIV & more 14 Esplanade Reserve, Fremantle WILLIAM FITZSIMMONS 14 Chevron Festival Gardens THE TRIFFIDS 15 Chevron Festival Gardens WAXAHATCHEE 16 Chevron Festival Gardens HIGH ON FIRE 17 Rosemount Hotel DUB PISTOLS 17 Chevron Festival Gardens KEV CARMODY 18 Chevron Festival Gardens BANANARAMA with WANG CHUNG 19 Astor Theatre BAND OF BROTHERS 19 & 20 Chevron Festival Gardens THE SWORD 19 Rosemount Hotel DIESEL 20 Rosemount Hotel JOSE JAMES 20 Chevron Festival Gardens JOSH PYKE 20 Astor Theatre VIN GARBUTT 20 Fly by Night GORDAN BREGOVIC 21 Chevron Festival Gardens DARK MIRROR WHITE NOISE 22 Chevron Festival Gardens THE CHAOS RAIDS 23 Amplifier LEFTFIELD 23 Chevron Festival Gardens GBH 24 Rosemount Hotel THE NECKS &

guide

ALPINE, JANUARY 9 @ SOUTHBOUND 2016

HAUSCHKA 24 Chevron Festival Gardens MARU TARANG 25 Chevron Festival Gardens BETWEEN THE BURIED & ME 25 Rosemount Hotel TINA ARENA 26 Perth Concert Hall LITTLE SIMZ 26 Chevron Festival Gardens EFFIE 26 & 27 Astor Theatre OCEAN COLOUR SCENE 27 Capitol TIM ROGERS & THE BAMBOOS 27 Chevron Festival Gardens A$AP ROCKY 28 Metro City MARLON WILLIAMS & THE YARRA BENDERS 28 Chevron Festival Gardens JOHANN JOHANNSSON 29 Chevron Festival Gardens MARCH 2016 BELINDA CARLISLE with PSEUDO ECHO 1 Astor Theatre NATALIE PRASS 1 Chevron Festival Gardens DAWN FRENCH 1, 2, 3, 4 & 5 Riverside Theatre SUFJAN STEVENS 2 Red Hill Auditorium SLEATER-KINNEY 2 Chevron Festival Gardens ROB THOMAS with PETE MURRAY 2 Kings Park & Botanic Gardens WE THE KINGS 3 Rosemount Hotel SEUN KUTI & EGYPT 80 3 Chevron Festival Gardens THE CAT EMPIRE 4 Fremantle Arts Centre 5 Three Oceans Winery 6 Castelli Estate Winery IBEYI 4 Chevron Festival Gardens NEIL MURRAY 4 Fly by Night JHENE AIKO 5 Metro City G-EAZY 5 Villa HOUSE GOSPEL CHOIR 5 & 6 Chevron Festival Gardens ADAM BRAND & THE OUTLAWS 6 Ravenswood Hotel CARL COX 6 Red Hill Auditorium ACTION BRONSON 7 Villa BEN HARPER & THE INNOCENT CRIMINALS 8 Kings Park & Botanic Gardens SONGHOY BLUES 9 Astor Theatre THE BEARDS 11 Bar Indigo 12 Rosemount Hotel 13 Wintersun Hotel STEVE EARLE & THE DUKES 11 Astor Theatre PALMS 12 Jack Rabbit Slim’s TOM JONES 13 Kings Park & Botanic Gardens SEVENDUST 13 Capitol CALEXICO 16 Fremantle Arts Centre THE CHARLATANS 16 Capitol YEO 18 Settlers Tavern 19 Jack Rabbit Slim’s

ASH 19 Rosemount Hotel BUCKCHERRY 19 Metropolis Fremantle IAN MOSS 19 Astor Theatre A DAY ON THE GREEN ft. HOODOO GURUS, SUNNYBOYS, VIOLENT FEMMES, DIED PRETTY & RATCAT 19 Kings Park & Botanic Garden COLD WAR KIDS 20 Metropolis Fremantle THE WAILERS 21 Astor Theare BRYAN ADAMS 21 Kings Park & Botanic Gardens LUKA BLOOM 22 Fly by Night THE SELECTOR 22 Rosemount Hotel WILEY 22 Capitol BUZZCOCKS 23 Rosemount Hotel DON MCLEAN 30 Riverside Theatre APRIL 2016 NOEL GALLAGHER’S HIGH FLYING BIRDS 1 Crown Theatre TAJ MAHAL 3 Astor Theatre GRAHAM BONNET 6 Amplifier SARAH MILLICAN 6 Octagon Theatre BRIAN WILSON 7 Riverside Theatre JAMIE LAWSON 9 Astor Theatre JIM JEFFERIES 9 Perth Arena NICO & VINZ 13 Villa ASKING ALEXANDRIA 13 Astor Theatre BLACK SABBATH with FIVE FINGER DEATH PUNCH 15 Perth Arena DAMIEN LEITH 15 Astor Theatre GANG OF YOUTHS 16 Astor Theatre THE STRANGLERS 23 Metropolis Fremantle TOMMY TIERNAN 25 Riverside Theatre SARAH BLASKO 30 Astor Theatre HILLTOP HOODS 30 Perth Arena MAY 2016 IRON MAIDEN 14 Perth Arena ELUVEITIE 17 Capitol JUNE 2016 CHERIE CURRIE 1 Rosemount Hotel WES CARR 30 Albany Entertainment Centre JULY 2016 WES CARR 2 Heath Ledger Theatre RUSSELL HOWARD 15 Riverside Theatre SEPTEMBER 2016 FROM THE JAM 17 Capitol OCTOBER 2016 LEVELLERS 12 Capitol

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SHIT NARNIA, WEDNESDAY 23

WE E K LY WEDNESDAY 23/12 BABUSHKA Bex’s Open Mic ft. Sophie Hopes THE BIRD Fundraiser for Dallas ft. Shit Narnia Mining Tax Pool Boy Reeks The Fruity Whites CLUB KAHUNA CHEEK Summer Raft Up Series ELLINGTON JAZZ CLUB Libby Hammer’s Kids’ Xmas Cushion Concert FLY BY NIGHT Gaslight Club THE FLYING SCOTSMAN Sound Tracks ft. DJ Charlie Bucket GEISHA ATTIC – Bad Christmas INDI BAR Club Acoustica ft. Trouvaille Benny Mayhem Benji Meredith THE LANEWAY LOUNGE Joyce Mathers Quartet METROPOLIS FREMANTLE NextGen MOJO’S BAR Warren St. Crisis Fundraiser ft. Old Blood Edie Green Sevac The Southern River Band Avon Yonder Weapon Is Sound Shontay Snow THE MOON CAFE Luke Dux Salisbury Home MUSTANG BAR Kickstart DJ Giles THE NEWPORT HOTEL Full Moon Party ft. Samuel Spencer PRINCE OF WALES Vulture Culture Comedy ft. James Masters & guests RODNEY’S BAIT & TACKLE Manhattan Hot Swing 459 ROSEMOUNT HOTEL The Kramers Pink Goldfish Mug Dahl Villanova ROSEMOUNT HOTEL Available At The Counter Ready To Fire Small Town Heroes Travis Aron ROSEMOUNT HOTEL (BEER GARDEN) Student Night ft. DJ Anton Maz SETTLERS TAVERN Open Mic UNIVERSAL BAR What’s The Fuss THURSDAY 24/12 AIR Night Before Christmas ARCADE Asylum x Arcade Xmas Special THE BIRD Mo’ Selectah Xmas Eve ELLINGTON JAZZ CLUB Libby Hammer CC & KC’s Soul Festivus Party

TOMAS FORD, SATURDAY 26

GILKISONS DANCE STUDIO Gilkisons Christmas Eve Dance THE GOOD SHEPHERD Xmas Eve Laneway Party ft. Tiger Bao INDI BAR Open Mic LANEWAY LOUNGE Adam Hall & The Velvet Playboys THE LEFT BANK Xmas Eve ft. Hayden James Stacie Todd Mind Electric Boston Switch Black & Blunt Mishtee & more MALT SUPPER CLUB Bad Santa Party MOJO’S BAR Abbe May Joni Hogan Odette Mercy Morgan Bain Elli Schoen MUSTANG BAR Thumpin’ Thursday ft. Blue Gene DJ Giles PRINCE OF WALES Jetpack RODNEY’S BAIT & TACKLE Rod’s White Xmas Extravaganza 459 ROSEMOUNT HOTEL Mayor Dadi Pussy Juice Gem Bones Noah Skape SKYE BAR Red Party UNIVERSAL BAR Off The Record WHITE STAR HOTEL Blue Stuka X-WRAY CAFE Rupert Guenther FRIDAY 25/12 BELMONT TAVERN The Organ Grinders CAPITOL I Love 80s90s00s GROOVE BAR Hi-NRG LOBBY LOUNGE (CROWN) Hans Fiance MARKET & CO. Driven By People RENDEZVOUS HOTEL Domenic Zurzolo SATURDAY 26/12 AIR Black & Gold AMBAR Breakfest Official After Party AMPLIFIER The Boxing Day Massacre ft. Statues Ratking & guests ASTOR THEATRE Tomas Ford’s Crap Music Rave Party THE AVIARY NDorse Zel CLANCY’S CANNING BRIDGE Steve Hensby CLANCY’S CITY BEACH Danny Moss Jr. COCONUT CLUB Coconut Club

THE COURT The Pineapple Club ft. Indian Summer Young Franco FLYRITE Father Boxing Day ft. Diskord (UK) GOLD BAR HUSH Candyshop INDI BAR Rick Steele Band & guests JACK RABBIT SLIM’S Coconut Club Takeover MOJO’S BAR Apache The Drools Apollo’s Son Foxton Kings John Martyr’s Ghost MUSTANG BAR The Vibrolators DJ Holly Doll Peta Lee Milhouse RODNEY’S BAIT & TACKLE Thomas Mitchell ROSEMOUNT HOTEL Totes Boxing Day ft. DJ Defs Worth It DJ Dingy Fever DJ Jaden Smith DJ Wesley Goldtouch DJ Lindsay Slohand ROSEMOUNT HOTEL (BEER GARDEN) Jo Lettenmaier Andrew Sinclair SETTLERS TAVERN Tony Lane Electric SKYE BAR Boxing Day Party UNIVERSAL BAR Soul Corporation THE VELVET LOUNGE Viva La Velvet ft. Junkadelic The Witches Shimmergloom Archer & Light The Limbs Tooth & Claw Pussy Juice WHITE STAR HOTEL Soulfood ft. Ngati SUNDAY 27/12 THE AVIARY NDorse Genga CLANCY’S CITY BEACH Limelights Jazz DJ Boogie The Salt Shaker Selectors CLANCY’S FREMANTLE Old Blood ELLINGTON JAZZ CLUB Jodie Tes FLYRITE MVMNT - End of Year b2b Party FREMANTLE ARTS CENTRE Sunday Music ft. Amani Consort INDI BAR Latin Summer Fiesta ft. Orquestra Yambeque JIMMY’S DEN The Last Stand MOJO’S BAR Papa Flava Reggae River 1.0 ft. DJ Kritikal DJ Veeness Ben Madz Drummi Papa Flava & the Salvation Band

MORGAN BAIN, THURSDAY 31

MUSTANG BAR Tailgate Sundays ft. Johnny Law & the Pistol Packin’ Daddies Bang Bang Betty & The H-Bombs Damien Cripps Allstars DJ Holly Doll DJ James Mac RODNEY’S BAIT & TACKLE Shontay Snow Stella Donelly 459 ROSEMOUNT HOTEL Big Orange Sidewalk Diamonds These Winter Nights Kat Wilson ROSEMOUNT HOTEL Freqshow Confusious Skinny Samantics Team AC ROSEMOUNT HOTEL (BEER GARDEN) Get Down ft. Aslan Klean Kicks Pawl Good Company DJs Sleepyhead Beni Chill Jo Lettenmaier Tim King SETTLERS TAVERN Chief Monkey The Acitones SKYE BAR Tropical Vibes Party THE STABLES BAR Habitat Garden Party ft. Doorly Finnebassen Dom Dolla TORCH BAR Sneaky Sundayz ft. El Capitan BuZZ DC Chiari Niko UNIVERSAL BAR Off The Record WHITE STAR HOTEL Carla Geneve Jordan Welshman Leanna Soveller Thunderwave MONDAY 28/12 CLANCY’S CANNING BRIDGE Quiz Night MOJO’S BAR Wide Open Mic RODNEY’S BAIT & TACKLE Simon Kelly TUESDAY 29/12 CLANCY’S FREMANTLE Quiz Night ELLINGTON JAZZ CLUB Pretzel Logic INDI BAR Poker Night MOJO’S BAR Collections ft. Ah Trees Eteana Late Night Hysterics Psychedelic Porn crumpets Interstellar6666 Joshua Ellard Garner Tory Billy-Cypher Stockley Emily Garlick Jeremy Segal PERTH BLUES CLUB New Year’s Eve Party ft. The Desert Sonnes Journey with the King RODNEY’S BAIT & TACKLE Odette Mercy ROSEMOUNT HOTEL David Craft

THE WEAPON IS SOUND, FRIDAY 1

X-WRAY CAFE Racoo Charles & the Moke Folk WEDNESDAY 30/12 BABUSHKA Bex’s Open Mic CLANCY’S FREMANTLE Kallidad Elli Schoen ELLINGTON JAZZ CLUB FIRE POWER INDI BAR Club Acoustica “Who’s Ya Daddy?” Showcase ft. Shake ‘Em Down Roosta & Son Moody Alice METROPOLIS FREMANTLE NextGen MOJO’S BAR New Years Pres ft. POW Negro The Durongs The Long Lost Brothers THE MOON CAFE Eduardo Cossio Fabian Rojas MUSTANG BAR Kickstart DJ Giles RODNEY’S BAIT & TACKLE Calm Before The Storm ROSEMOUNT HOTEL Rock ’n Roll Karaoke with Magnus Danger Magnus ROSEMOUNT HOTEL (BEER GARDEN) Student Night ft. DJ Anton Maz SETTLERS TAVERN Open Mic UNIVERSAL BAR What’s The Fuss THURSDAY 31/12 AIR Turbulence NYE AMBAR Ambar NYE AMPLIFIER Last Night - NYE Party ft. Emberville Cupidfalls Ready to Fire ARCADE NYE Doomsday THE AVIARY NYE on the Rooftop ft. Elizabeth Rose DJ NDorse BABUSHKA New Orleans Mardi Gras NYE ft. Grace Barbe Candela & guests BASSENDEAN HOTEL Popgun NYE Party ft. DM3 The Jangle Band High Horse The Surf Mist DJ Moogy BLANCHE BAR, KARRATHA Tomas Ford’s Crap Music Rave Party BOB’S BAR (PRINT HALL) NYE – Powers on the Roof BRASS MONKEY New Years Eve Frat Party ft. Vandalism CAPITOL Capitol NYE ft. Command Q Death Disco Casuel vs. Naysu Axen Yattaman CLANCY’S DUNSBOROUGH NYE Sugar Skull Fiesta ft. Kallidad Old Blood Katie J. White & more

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CLANCY’S FREMANTLE New Year’s Eve Fiesta ft. Boys! Boys! Boys! Tom Fisher DJ Jiminy Kickit THE COURT Glitter Fu*k ft. DJ Don Migi DJ Wasteland TimBee Sir Clancelot P. Lilly DEFECTORS BAR New Years Eve 2015 Star Wars ft. DJ Tyranny DUNSBOROUGH TAVERN New Years Eve 2015 ft. Ruby Boots Stillwater Giants The Stingrays Howlin’ Bones Jones DJ Eddie Electric ELLINGTON JAZZ CLUB New Year’s Eve Party ft. Adam Hall & the Velvet Playboys THE GAME SPORTS BAR Cancun Spring Break Fiesta NYE INDI BAR Indi Bar NYE Party ft. Morgan Bain Tom Fisher & The Layabouts Teischa INGLEWOOD HOTEL NYE Endless Summer Beach Party ft. Cherry Lips LEISURE INN New Years Eve Motown Party ft. 6ix Jukebox LIBRARY NIGHTCLUB New Year’s Eve - Pirate Island ft. DJ Riki DJ Ricktor MALT SUPPER CLUB NYE Carnival Party METRO CITY New Years Eve ft. DJ Jam MINT Club Retro vs. Poplife NYE MOJO’S BAR Good People NYE ft. Red Engine Caves Gunns Kitchen People Regular boys Galloping Foxleys Jacob Diamond Leafy Suburbs Benjamin Witt MUSTANG BAR NYE Hawaiian Party ft. Milhouse Johnny Law & the Pistol Packin’ Daddies DJ James Mac DJ Holly Doll THE NEWPORT HOTEL Sparkle NYE Party ft. Boston Switch Worst Critic Melotyx PRINT HALL NYE – James Bond RODNEY’S BAIT & TACKLE Sandtrax NYE Party ROSEMOUNT HOTEL New Years Eve Fiesta ft. Jebediah Tired Lion Mt. Mountain FOAM The Tommyhawks Ursula The Decline Suburban & Coke The Sperts Verge Collection Catbrush & more SETTLERS TAVERN NYE 2015 ft. 43 Cambridge V12 Cadillacs

THE ATLAS MOUNTAINS, SUNDAY 3

SKYE BAR NYE Garden Party TORCH BAR Paul Madelt UNIVERSAL BAR Soul Corporation WHALE & ALE New Years Eve ft. Leah G. Trio WHITE STAR HOTEL Maddcatz FRIDAY 1/01 AMPLIFIER Agent Orange Leeches Bloody Hollys Blindspot THE AVIARY Durra ELLINGTON JAZZ CLUB New Year’s R ‘n B Party FREMANTLE ARTS CENTRE New Year’s Day Concert ft. Sunshine Brothers Grace Barbe Weapon is Sound 56 Hope Road INDI BAR Vdelli MOJO’S BAR Fisherman Style #114 ft. Earthlink Sound Killa Elite SETTLERS TAVERN Cera Kymarni General Justice Mumma Trees SKYE BAR NYD Hangover Party UNIVERSAL BAR Nightmoves WHITE STAR HOTEL One Drop YMCA HQ Sweet Oblivion ft. Cloning The Mammoth Belgrade Sorry About Your Vinyl & more SATURDAY 2/01 AMBAR Japan 4 ft. Parakord Blend Bezwun Invoker Miss Demeanour AMPLIFIER New Year Kick On ft. Fine Court Villain Apollo’s Son Segue Safari Saga ASCOT RACECOURSE Perth Cup ft. Mashd N Kutcher Stafford Brothers BABUSHKA Pussy Juice Discordians Magic Chicken Fudgetoe Hip Priest & more CLANCY’S FREMANTLE Michael Triscari Ricky Green & The NBC COCONUT CLUB Coconut Club CONSERVATORY ROOFTOP BAR YOUSEF & guests ELLINGTON JAZZ CLUB Orquestra Yambeque METRO CITY Dash Berlin DJ Isaac MOJO’S BAR Bob Log III King of the Travellers The Sperts MUSTANG BAR The Vibrolators Frenzy

459 ROSEMOUNT HOTEL Perth Ill Illuminati Nights Vol. II ft. Bear Down For Midterms Fuzz Toads The Methamphetaqueens The Terror Adaptors Palm Soma Black Sunlight ROSEMOUNT HOTEL Silvertongue DJ Silence Hyclass Cash Krzma Archie SETTLERS TAVERN Odette Mercy & Her Soul Atomics UNIVERSAL BAR Soul Corporation WHITE STAR HOTEL The Unit SUNDAY 3/01 THE AVIARY NDorse Bfix CLANCY’S FREMANTLE Orquesta Yambeque ELLINGTON JAZZ CLUB Third Time Round FLYRITE MVMNTa FREMANTLE ARTS CENTRE Sunday Music ft. Carus Thompson Mojopallooza ft. Catbrush & more THE MOON CAFE The Little Lord Street Band Sascha Seabourne ROSEMOUNT HOTEL Beer Battered Tunes #1 ft. The Wilds The Ghost Hotel The Atlas Mountains Steve Hensby Band Cubs ROSEMOUNT HOTEL (BEER GARDEN) Get Down ft. Aslan Klean Kicks Pawl Good Company DJs Sleepyhead Beni Chill Jo Lettenmaier Tim King SETTLERS TAVERN 8 Ball Aitken The Moonlight Era SKYE BAR Tropical Vibes ft. Boston Switch UNIVERSAL BAR Retrofit WHITE STAR HOTEL Odette Mercy & Her Soul Atomics MONDAY 4/01 CLANCY’S CANNING BRIDGE Quiz Night THE FLYING SCOTSMAN 50 First Jokes MOJO’S BAR 8 Ball Aitken May Street ROSEMOUNT HOTEL Quiz Night TUESDAY 5/01 CLANCY’S FREMANTLE Quiz Night PERTH BLUES CLUB Mindfreakz Steve Tallis & The Troublemakers 8Ball Aitken 35

CHOICES AND OPPORTUNITIES What Suits You? If there are any words of wisdom we can impart, it’s to always shop around! Three years of your life and a likely HECSHELP debt means you’re going to want to compare apples to apples and check out who’s lecturing, the course structures, the campus and its location – to work out the best option for you. Here’s a snapshot of the universities and institutes on offer.

MURDOCH UNIVERSITY Known For: Everything from vet science, marine biology courses and chiropractic care to indigenous communities, the awesome

degrees in medicine, law, finance and engineering. Boasts one of the most historic and beautiful campuses in Australia. FYI: They’ve got a bunch of residential colleges for those who want to live on Business School and Chancellery Building, ECU

CURTIN UNIVERSITY Known For: Its impeccable reputation for technical education, one helluva tavern, hands-on courses in architecture, fashion, design and more. FYI: Main campus is in Bentley but they do have campuses in Kalgoorlie, Margaret River, Northam, Singapore, Sydney and more. Study Options: Full time, part time, on campus, off campus. More Info: curtin.edu.au

sports science performance lab and law moot court. FYI: It has over 22,000 students and 2,000 EDITH COWAN staff from across 90 different countries. There UNIVERSITY are seven undergraduate degrees with over (ECU) CENTRAL INSTITUTE 80 majors, and around 100 postgraduate Known For: Excellent research, hands-on courses across a range of disciplines including Known For: Fashion courses, beauty teaching and breaking down barriers that law, veterinary science, teaching, psychology, therapy and massage therapy courses, restrict access to education. sport and education business and nursing. FYI: Better known as ECU, it has two courses, music industry skills courses. Study Options: Full time, part time, on campuses – Mt Lawley and Joondalup. The FYI: Campuses are centrally located. campus and off Joondalup campus has a multi-million dollar They’ve got apprenticeships, traineeships campus. Students and customised training programs on offer, sport and fitness centre and an outdoor also have access to cinema in the summer months. There’s also providing any number of alternatives to lecture recordings on campus accommodation. ECU has a great help students forge powerful careers. rep for the arts – WAAPA (Western Australian for most courses on Study Options: Full time, part time, a 24-hour basis. Academy Of Performing Arts) is located on flexible. More info: murdoch. their Mt Lawley campus. More Info: central.wa.edu.au edu.au. Study Options: Full time, part time, on or off campus. More Info: ecu.edu.au

campus. If you’re looking to do a specialist course (like medicine or law, for example) you’re going to have to do an undergraduate degree first. They’ve got four undergrad degrees in areas of sciences, arts, business and design which are available for mid-year entry. Check out their open day. Study Options: Full time, part time, off campus, on campus. Notre Dame University

CASTLEROCK INSTITUTE OF MUSIC School Of Rock And So Much More Rockingham’s Castlerock Institute Of Music is enjoying yet another year of success stories from students who have gained entrance into some of the state’s top universities to follow their dream professions in the music industry. Students from the highly successful private music college are currently working for an array of WA event companies, setting up for international concerts by touring acts such as Robbie Williams, Fleetwood Mac, AC/ DC and many more.

Past students have gained jobs with employers such as the Perth Crown Casino Theatre and Perth Audio & Visual, working on corporate and touring shows with sound and lighting. The college is run by a team of professional and highly experienced lecturers, who guide students through their academic studies, while giving them the opportunity of working for the college production company. Students can follow many different career paths including Radio Broadcasting, Sound Design, Music Performance, Song Writing, Sound Engineering and many more. For all course enquiries contact the school on (08) 9529 2021 or via castlerock. net.au.

Castlerock Institute Of Music

UNIVERSITY OF NOTRE DAME Known For: Having a cool campus down in Freo and being a Catholic higher education provider. FYI: Law, health science and nursing are popular courses chosen at Notre Dame. Notre Dame also has a number of partner universities overseas (Boston College in America is one of them) and in Broome and Sydney. Study Options: Full time, part time, on campus, off campus (Broome only). More Info: nd.edu.au

UNIVERSITY OF WESTERN AUSTRALIA (UWA) Known For: Being one of the world’s topranked universities, offering top notch

More Info: uwa.edu.au

WAAPA Known For: Being one of Australia’s most renowned arts schools (with illustrious alumni such as Hugh Jackman, Frances O’Connor and Tim Minchin) offering courses covering all aspects of performing arts costume design, acting, musical theatre, dance, music, broadcasting and arts management. FYI: Courses are rigorous and many require auditions and/or interviews as part of the application process. Teachers emphasise support, creativity and creating an environment conducive to both. WAAPA puts on over 300 public performances a year at a range of venues. Study Options: Full time. Hardcore. More Info: waapa.ecu.edu.au

Murdoch University

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EDITH COWAN UNIVERSITY Bringing The World To Campus

in its workshop. As the largest Nursing course in WA, ECU provides state-of-the-art demonstration wards that allow students to apply the theory learned in the classroom to real-life and emergency simulations. And when students need a break from all this hands-on activity, there’s the option to chill out in the ECU Library’s two sleep pods, which provide a quiet, private place to take a 20 minute power nap before being gently woken.

At Edith Cowan University, students have the chance to combine theory with hands-on experience using a variety of industry-standard equipment. For those seeking to make it in the media, students have access to the same professional television and radio broadcast equipment they’ll be using as reporters and producers. And the best way to learn is by doing, which is why students produce their own shows for Radio ECU and 89.7 Twin Cities FM, or online news via the ECU Daily website. Within ECU’s School Of Education, students are using immersive videos to improve their understanding of the classroom before they even step foot inside. 360 degree cameras, like those used by Google Streetview, record footage from inside three Perth school classrooms. The footage is analysed by students, who can pan around the room and see how each student in the class responded to instructions. Students in ECU’s Motorsport course design and build a race car from scratch each year, utilising an engine dynamometer, For more information about ECU’s facilities cylinder head flow bench, design software and courses, check out ecu.edu.au and a range of other industry-standard tools

ECU LAW

“As a child in New Delhi I was exposed to many third world country problems such as overpopulation, poor health and lack of financial stability,” she Student’s Volunteering says. “This opened my eyes to the hardship Spirit Recognised many suffer.” As part of her studies at ECU, Anu completed a unit in Community Growing up in India, Anu Kothapalli was encouraged by her Legal Practice at the Northern Suburbs Community Legal Centre, meeting with the grandfather to give back to her community by helping those less centre’s clients and working with their legal staff providing advice. fortunate than herself. School Of Law And Justice Head Professor Anne Wallace Anu Kothapalli, ECU Law student said Anu’s commitment to contributing to her community made her a deserving winner of the award. “ECU Law students have the opportunity to gain invaluable experience working with practising lawyers in a variety of ways. “The Northern Suburbs Community Legal Centre, on our Joondalup Campus, is a key partner in providing opportunities for our students to work on real cases, with real clients, as part of their studies.” For more information on studying Law and Justice at ECU visit reachyourpotential. com.au/law

That passion for social justice and her volunteering spirit has won the ECU law student the Magistrate’s Society Of WA’s Geoff Ajduk Memorial Prize.

STUDENT PROFILE

UNIVERSITY OF NOTRE DAME

Justine Ralph

World View

Currently studying a Bachelor of Laws / Bachelor of Arts, majoring in Social Justice, at The University of Notre Dame Australia’s Fremantle Campus, Justine Ralph has been tireless in her outreach endeavours and pursuit of social justice in local and international communities.

The University Of Notre Dame Australia (est. 1989) is a unique In 2013, she was part of the national Catholic university in the University delegation to World Youth Day heart of Fremantle’s historic West where she completed mission work in Peru End.

and Brazil. Justine has also worked with staff on the Fremantle Campus to find a placement for

Notre Dame is a university that is “in the world and for the world”, with students playing an active role in the local, national and international community. The University has a student population of more than 11,000 across its campuses in Fremantle, Broome and Sydney. Students are the heart of Notre Dame. They are seen as people, not numbers, and are supported every step of the way to develop their unique gifts and talents. With Notre Dame’s Justine Ralph, currently studying a Bachelor of Laws / Bachelor of Arts, majoring in Social Justice, at commitment to pastoral care Notre Dame’s Fremantle Campus and smaller lecture group sizes, students won’t get lost in the the unit ‘Social Justice, Service-learning and crowd. Community Engagement’ where she currently To register for Notre Dame’s ATAR teaches English to refugee students. Advice Day, please visit notredame.edu.au. “Notre Dame has developed the For more information, please call (08) 9433 way I think about the world. If you really take 0533. what you learn on, you can genuinely become a better version of yourself.”

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FUTURE STYLE

and exhaustion, as well as moments of intense clarity. The creative techniques and processes I have explored allow me to approach solace, and helps me to remember who I am, and how to be.

‘Grats To The Grads The recent fashion graduate events showcased WA’s bright new talents, including the following recipients of the X-Press Award. impact in my life as it expresses who I am. I love how much of an impact fashion can create to others. Trinities by Daphne Diting Wong, model Florence Fanataizsha | Pic: Aaron McPolin

What are your future plans? The immediate future is filled with exciting industry projects that encourage and

support the artistic play of textiles as not only visuals but also textures and forms inclusive. To be entering an industry in the incredible fruitful state of WA, where textiles design and production is not seen as the forefront of our skill set, urges me passionately to encourage and showcase the beauty and creativity this artful part of the world can offer.

MURDOCH UNIVERSITY Adapt With Real World Learning There’s a lot you need to consider before locking in your preferences by Wednesday, January 6.

Droom by Rena Hermon, model Taelah Bulley | Pic: Kayleigh Scott

RENA HERMON Droom ECU How would you describe your winning collection? I would describe it as a number of garments that work together to create a sense and communicate a universal experience of struggle with one’s internal, dark part of the self. The garments also express a process of transition from darkness to light or freedom. The collection communicates ideas of an internal darkness, which is reference to the personal space of the bedroom, bed, and nightlife within this space. This is where the darkness within one’s self can be seen to be reflected. What is it about fashion that inspires you? I am inspired by creativity and the ability to communicate through garment. Fashion is very much connected to people. I have a genuine interest in the welfare of people and encouraging others - whether it may be creating a form-fitting dress to show someone how beautiful they are or communicating ideas through textiles and garment about life, culture, and society.

DAPHNE DITING WONG Trinities Curtin How would you describe your winning collection? Trinities is a collection which reflects on the meaning of three cultural trinities - Spirit, Mind, Body; Past, Present, Future and Creation, Preservation, Destruction.

Your preferences are important because chances are, after you’ve spent some time absorbing knowledge from textbooks and lecturers, you’ll want to start applying it in the real world straight away. Murdoch University uses the latest learning environments like nursing simulation suites, an industry standard live engineering plant, and a globally connected moot court to provide practical, real-world learning experiences, where knowledge and skills can be put to the test in real scenarios. Real-world experiences at Murdoch range from working on real legal cases, to official government IT competitions, all the way to providing healthcare in developing countries. Alex, final year Law student, is one of many students who have made the most of these opportunities. “I‘ve studied Human Rights in Geneva, been on exchange to Sweden, competed in Singapore on the Mooting program and am a member of the Law Society,” he says. All of this comes with support from knowledgeable and experienced academic staff.

Murdoch University’s Moot Court And Law Centre

They place a strong focus on innovation in teaching, and are always working to ensure you get the best education. Murdoch’s approach is about more than preparing you for a career, it’s the combination of theory, world-class facilities and real-world experiences that will help you adapt to an ever-changing and increasingly competitive environment. For advice on making Murdoch your preference, visit guide.murdoch.edu.au or Murdoch’s Student Centre on campus from 8.30am-4:30pm December 23-24 and January 4 onwards. Or get the inside word from a real student on 1300 MURDOCH.

What inspires your creations? The design process of this collection is based on self-exploration into the application of the triangle in pattern making, and how it can create form and structure. It is to allow myself to be guided by mind and spirit in regards to how a design looks and how it should be on the body. Gathering past knowledge, new ideas have emerged in the present and informed future designs. Solace by Elle Campbell, models William Shields and Nicole LaBianca Pic: Skye Sobejko

Land Of India by Sakura Phan, model Pamola Hill | Pic: Meiji Nguyen

SAKURA PHAN Land Of India Polytechnic West How would you describe your winning collection? The collection expresses my interpretation of the culture and spirit of India. I was drawn into their everyday use of textile, colour and decoration, which is inspirational to me as I see it as adding a large amount of energy, positivity, and happiness to the world. The warm colour palette used in my collection was strongly influenced by the Holi festival, which is an annual spring festival celebrating colours and love. Has a career in fashion always been your goal? Yes, fashion has always had a big

ELLE CAMPBELL Solace Central Institute of Technology How would you describe your winning collection? Solace is an exploration of the relationship between extreme emotion and the creative process, treating each varying cloth as a canvas for hand-painted emotive techniques that express a unique and complex artistic language. This language communicates powerful reactions to grief, such as sadness WWW. XP RE SS MAG.COM. AU