The main paddling events begin at Heritage Park in Mullumbimby and conclude at the Terrace in Brunswick Heads, where live music, free paddle clinics, a duck race, raffle, BBQs and other fun entertain the crowds throughout the day in a festival atmosphere.

The Mullum2Bruns Paddle offers divisions for recreational and competitive paddlers of all ages and abilities.

For more information, visit; www.mullum2brunspaddle.com.au

To All my Music Loving friends

My new album “A Glorious Uncertainty” was recorded on the 30th May 2011 in Brooklyn, New York. The musicians are Mark Helias Bass, Producer, Tony Malaby Tenor Saxophone, Gerald Cleaver Drums and myself on Alto Saxophone.

I decided to record the album in NY because I have had a long relationship with the city and also my Father lived there until his death in 2009 and my Sister and her family live there.

Mark, Tony and Gerald are among my favorite players in the world today. I was very lucky to not only have them all at home at the same time and available but also have them embrace the moment and give of themselves so generously to my music.

The album is dedicated to my Father, Joe Ades, the legendary street trader of New York who captured the imagination of an entire city with his huge character and amazing ability. If you want to find out more about him there is a fantastic 5-page article in a 2005 issue of Vanity Fair as well as many profiles and articles written in The New York Times, also, features on American story with Bob Dodson (all available online)

The album is available through Vitamin Records and I Tunes and will also be sold at gigs around the country. I have launched the album with a different band in each city. I have loved hearing how all my favourite Australian musicians approach the music differently. For the performance on the 17th of May at the Bangalow Bowling Club I will be joined by Cameron Undy on Bass from Sydney, David Goodman on drums also from Sydney and the great Zac Hurren ( Katie Noonans hubby) on Tenor saxophone

This is my first album under my own name for a good long while and I have put my heart and soul into it. I hope you enjoy it.

Visit; www.davidadesmusic.com

You know the drill! Everybody is welcome, as long as you’re over 18 (yes, that means no kiddies in the Cantina). Sorry, no photos allowed during performances or modelling. Doors open at 6.00pm, and the show runs from about 6.30pm to 9.30pm with 2 intermissions. Get there early if you want a great seat. You need $15 to get in, and you should bring your own art materials, sombreros and wrestling masks! There’s fabulous food and drinks available at the bar all night!

“Like Ry Cooder, Harry Manx is a guitar player’s guitar player, known for his chops, wide musical vocabulary and restraint.” Medleyville Quick Spins

“Watching Harry play tonight I feel like I learned something new.” Bruce Springsteen, International Guitar Festival, New York City

“Canada’s most versatile and expressive blues player” Billboard Magazine

The legendary Canadian multi-instrumentalist, and singer songwriter HARRY MANX, last here in 2010, returns to our shores with a massive national tour to almost 40 locations!

Harry Manx has spent years fusing eastern musical traditions with the blues, switching effortlessly between conventional guitars, harmonica, and banjo and the decidedly different Mohan veena, a 20-stringed instrument invented by Manx’ Indian mentor Vishwa Mohan Bhatt. Manx is often referred to as the “Mysticssippi” Blues Man, because of his expertise in melding both East and West music together and therefore, “creating musical short stories that wed the Blues with the depth of classical Indian ragas”. The result is a uniquely beautiful genre that has mesmerized music lovers all over the world.

Over the last 10 years, Harry Manx released 11 Albums and has garnered a room full of awards including, “seven Maple Blues Awards, six Juno nominations, the Canadian Folk Award in 2005 for Best Solo Artist and won CBC Radio’s “Great Canadian Blues Award” in 2007. This year Harry was awarded ‘CD of the Year’ by CKUA radio in Canada, nominated for ‘Blues Artist of the Year’, ‘Songwriter of the Year,’ and ‘CD of the Year’ from the Maple Blues Awards. The Independent Music Awards nominated Kevin Breit and Harry for ‘Duo of the Year’. 2011 Was spent touring and recording with American folk legend Richie Havens, plus touring in a duo with David Lindley (Jackson Browne, Crosby, Stills & Nash), and recording Stricktly Whatever with Kevin Briet (ex Nora Jones, now with Hugh Laurie).

Harry’s newest album ISLE of MANX- the Desert Island Collection, is a collection of 15 songs, chosen by Harry that reflect his musical journey. It will be available at the concert. World music multi-instrumentalist YESHE, just back from a Canadian tour, will open the show with songs from his highly acclaimed newest CD Roots and Wings.

Sunday, May 13th – Mullumbimby Civic Hall, 8pm sharp showtime, 7pm doors open for Open Table delicious dinner & refreshments

All Tickets: $45 + bf @ oztix.com.au and at the door if not sold out. (Harry’s last show at this hall was sold out, so don’t delay.)

Registrations are now closed. If you need to make changes to your entry this will need to be done on the day – please allow enough time at registration for these changes.

Prior warning: come prepared for delays in Byron!

Traffic diversions will be in place as of Saturday morning and this will create delays on the access roads into Byron. Please leave yourself plenty of time to get into Byron and find a parking space. Race Day Parking is available at the Butler Street Reserve – please click here for a map and further details about parking.

Registration will be open from 8.00am (possibly earlier) on Saturday 12th with transition open from 9am until 11am. Race Briefing is at 11.30am, marshalling from 11.45am and the first wave at 12pm.

This is the third time they are trying – previously it was overwhelmingly opposed… in fact just 1.25% of submissions were for the Events Policy when Council last tried to get it through in July last year.

Now – they are trying again… they call it ‘Amendment 151′

If you are part of the 1% that believe the changes will benefit Byron – then you are free to make a submission to Council.

If you are part of the 99% against this policy, you can eaily have your voice heard. Visit www.kill-amendment-151.com and follow the instructions.

www.byronbayandbeyond.com

The Northern Rivers covers the east cost of NSW from Tweed Heads in the north, to Grafton in the south & Kyoglle in the west.

The new website offers travel information including accommodation, things to see and do, attractions, upcoming events and travel information for visitors travelling for a holiday, business, conference, event education or to visit friends and relatives. They’ve put together a short video;

So, when you are next visiting our region – visit www.byronbayandbeyond.com for a great overview.

Menopause The Musical® IN CONCERT crystallises all of the magic, the entire script, songs, laughter and tears of the original stage show, slips it into a cocktail dress, and pours it into an evening of fun and elegance in equal measure. This is a cabaret event both dazzling and intimate.

Imagine if Marlene Dietrich came from Dubbo, had borrowed Mae West’s sense of humour, and decided to share her experience of ‘The Change’ in Rick’s Cafe (Casablanca). If you can, you are close to the collusion of stylish cabaret, comedy, and musical genius that is Menopause The Musical® IN CONCERT.

For further information, visit www.byroncentre.com.au

Stupa construction day – Thursday March 29th, 9 am – 4pm

The stupa construction is now at the half-way point with the Gyuto Monks continuing to create their extraordinary sacred art. On Thursday March 29th, there will be a full day of construction that will see most of the main section completed in just one amazing day. The public is invited to come and witness the first stupa in the world ever to be constructed in this innovative way. Enjoy short ceremonies from the monks as the day progresses, become a part of history and help bring peace to our world. In a thousand years, people may be asking ‘who was here when this monument was created and what were they dreaming?’. Progress may continue on the following day. Free entry both days until 10 am.

Meditating with the Monks – Thurs March 29th – Sunday April 1st

The Gyuto Monks will also be running their usual, wonderful program of morning chanting, children’s activities, lunchtime meditation sessions and talks from Thursday March 29th – Sunday April 1st.

Harmonic Chanting Performance- Give Peace a Chance -
a fundraising evening event – Saturday March 31st, 6 pm.

“The mere sight of a monk is believed to be a blessing, but to hear the sound of their chanting is to be transformed” Maureen Fallon, Gyuto House Australia
 
The Gyuto Monks will offer a Harmonic Chanting performance on Saturday March 31st at 6pm at Crystal Castle. The performance is a fundraiser for the World Peace Stupa monument at Crystal Castle.
 
The event was originally planned for late January but delayed due to flooding.

Trained over many years, each monk has developed the extraordinary capacity to chant in three octaves at the same time. The deep, stirring sounds produced have been called the sounds of heaven and are reputed to have a transformative effect on the physical as well as the emotional body.
 
Snacks, cakes and vegetarian meals will be available from the Crystal Castle Lotus Cafe from 6pm with the chanting performance starting from 7.30pm.
 
The World Peace Stupa is being built at Crystal Castle to aid in restoring the balance of our Earth and re-establish peace and harmony in the local and worldwide community. All proceeds go to the Stupa, a project which has been blessed by his Holiness the Dalai Lama.
 
Harmonic Chanting Monks Performance
Saturday 31st March 6pm
Crystal Castle, Mullumbimby
Pre tickets: $25 On the door: $30
Available:
Online: http://shop.crystalcastle.com.au/products/Harmonic-Chanting-Performance.html
Phone: 02 6684 3111

The Necks return to Byron Bay for their only regional show on their sell-out Australian tour. World famous improvising legends The Necks have returned home for their much anticipated annual Australian tour in February and March.

Having begun as a private jamming project with no plans to perform publicly,The Necks are now getting calls from Brian Eno wanting to collaborate with them, or Nick Cave inviting them to perform at festivals. They are renowned globally for creating immersive, hypnotic concert experiences over two one-hour sets, with acoustic piano (Chris Abrahams), bass (Lloyd Swanton) and drums (Tony Buck) slowly conjuring sound mountains out of thin air and leaving audiences utterly mesmerized.

“There’s a state I reach while playing with The Necks of complete emptiness, where the music is flowing through you and you just have no sense of self at all,” says Swanton. “I think that’s probably a fantastic state for people to listen to you in. It’s certainly a great state to be in, because you’re almost floating.”

“Ever since the beginning, The Necks have had a concept that we walk out on stage and the music – and that’s not just sound, it’s a whole relationship that we have with each other – will take care of itself,” says pianist Chris Abrahams.

The unforced trajectory of The Necks career is also taking care of itself, with 2011 having been another huge year for The Necks. They released Mindset, their 16th album (and first on vinyl) to great acclaim, as well as touring Australia, North America and Europe. The latter being their most successful yet, a barnstorming 19-date workout with a string of sold out shows, including two in London and a highly acclaimed series of concerts with ambient legend Harold Budd.

The Necks are, simply, at the top of their game. Don’t miss them.

“The Necks are the masters” The Guardian (UK)

“A magic act masquerading as a piano trio, this Australian group delivers long-form improvisations that shift with such patient beauty that it casts a trance. You’ll seldom spend an hour that passes so quickly…and rewardingly” LOS ANGELES TIMES

“Like land passing below you from an aeroplane window. It’s so big and slow that it resists description” THE NEW YORK TIMES

“…somewhat suggesting how an early ‘70s Miles Davis band – minus Miles Davis – might sound if they reconvened to record for the Warp label.” UNCUT

“They produce a post-jazz, post-rock, post-everything sonic experience that has few parallels or rivals. They may teach us to listen in a new way, but they communicate a fierce energy and warmth at the same time. Their music is a thrilling, emotional journey into the unknown.” THE GUARDIAN (UK)

“(The Necks) draw your attention to the music instead of the means: you never get the idea that they’re playing for an hour to prove that they can do it, or to showcase a glut of ideas, but simply to give you the pleasure of focusing on music in extreme detail” PITCHFORK

“Tonal, accessible, and yet profoundly challenging… The Necks are singular… Yielding things no one else does” THE WIRE

“A performance by The Necks is a kind of religious experience” THE AUSTRALIAN

www.thenecks.com