BUT, Schoolies planning for 2011 are booking now! Yep, to secure schoolie accommodation in Byron Bay, schoolies book 16 months in advance.

I can tell you that Cheryl, Melody & Chris are very busy taking calls and bookings over at Byron Schoolies.

I can also tell you I just published the 2011 Byron Bay Schoolie Accommodation guide on www.byronbay.com.

Plus, I should let you know that there are still some places available for Schoolies 2010. Visit the 2010 Byron Bay Schoolie Accommodation guide on www.byronbay.com.

Good things come in twos at the Byron Theatre, including the wildest and juiciest conversations.

On Friday 6 August at 7pm, New York Times best selling author Bret Easton Ellis goes head to head with ABC Radio National’s Ramona Koval, followed by your chance to get Easton Ellis books signed by the man himself. This is the American literary brat packer who burst on to the scene with Less than Zero in the 80’s and rocked the reading world with American Psycho in 1991, a book that remains an extraordinarily powerful and savage depiction of New York society, as startling now as it was when published. The eponymously named movie gained similar cult classic status and Festival organisers are over the moon at the chance to present this brilliant and acclaimed writer in an intimate theatre setting. Ramona Koval is renowned as presenter of The Book Show and will delve between the covers of Easton Ellis’ just released novel, Imperial Bedrooms. It is a gigantic coup for the Byron Bay Writers Festival to have captured this writer at this stage of a brilliant career.

The opportunity will never be repeated and places are strictly limited. Less than Zero, The Rules of Attraction, American Psycho, The Informers, Glamorama, Lunar Park, now Imperial Bedrooms: Bret Easton Ellis defined a generation. BEE there!

This event is separately ticketed.

You can see Bret at the Byron Bay Writers Festival;

Friday 6th of August: 7.00pm - 8.00pm, Byron Theatre Meet Bret Easton Ellis
Saturday 7th of August: 3.00pm - 4.00pm, MACQUARIE MARQUEE Fit to be seen: adaptation for film
Sunday 8th of August: 10.30am - 11.30am, MACQUARIE MARQUEE Imperial Bedrooms

For further information visit; www.byronbaywritersfestival.com.au

Now in its third year, Retrospect Galleries’ annual urban art show is its most risqué and has also been its most controversial.

In its first year the show prompted complaints and a visit from police to review content that one or two members of the public had found offensive.

But Retrospect Galleries Director Bree Delian says that apart from a couple of instances, the show has always appealed to a broad audience, and has become a favourite for many local people.

In the past couple of years Revolution of Art has showcased diverse works from young artists around the world, exploring themes such as consumerism, greed, poverty, homelessness, fear, conformity, uniformity and boredom, through diverse media including pop art, street art, stencil, drawing, painting, printing and mixed media.

Highlights of this year’s event include paintings by Indian artist Jenny Bhatt, critiquing urban consumer culture and exploring the concept of MokshaShotsTM (or a taste of the sublime), through a series of works based around the theme of ‘Liberation through Consumption’. And a stunning series of prints combining traditional woodcut relief with a fine dry crystal etching technique, by Spanish artist Vilchez, in which the tribal cultures of Latino Maras gangs is compared to that of Japanese Yakuza warriors, depicted as tattoos on the gangster’s bodies.

Revolution of Art opens at Retrospect Galleries, Byron Bay 6pm Friday July 16, with a live tattooing demo in the Gallery. Featuring works by Trent Whitehead, Donna Malone, Kareem Rizk, Nikky Morgan-Smith, Nathaniel Kiwi, Jenny Bhatt, Karlee Mackie, Apeseven, Kitty Horton, Nate, Freya Tripp, Vexta, Sam Smith, Caitlin Rigby, Gimiks Born, Makatron, James Flynn, Alberto Sanchez and Millie Zavattaro.

Visit; www.retrospectgalleries.com, or the gallery at 52 Jonson St Byron Bay.

An exhibition of environmental sculpture situated within the beautiful beachside parklands in the heart of Byron Bay. A free 16 day outdoor sculpture event, artsCape promotes the visual arts and cultural development in the Northern Rivers region of Australia.

Professional sculptors from the region, across Australia and overseas will create sculptures which convey messages about the environment and sustainability. Through humour, beauty, mystery and surprise, they will explore themes such as flora and fauna, ecology, marine conservation, water, air quality, the land and indigenous culture. Sculptures will vary in scale from the intimate to dramatic large scale statements framed by the back drop of Byron’s most famous beach.

For further information visit; www.artscapebiennial.org

Both Sydney & Melbourne made the top 25, making Australia with 3 destinations the most popular. USA & New Zealand each had 2 destinations in the top 25.

Anyway - if you want to see the full results, visit tripadvisor

The Festival is delighted to acknowledge the support of ABC3 as Marquee sponsors for the Festival for the very first time. “I am proud as punch to welcome this visionary new sponsor. The ABC3 Marquee will host the Saturday Kids Day on 7 August, and will also be the venue for many of the sessions featuring young writers or those writing for a youth market. The relationship seems a natural fit and we look forward to showcasing dynamic digital writers in future BBWF events. Some of the fab writers you’ll meet in the ABC3 Marquee this year are Singapore’s Shamini Flint, the wonderful Ursula Dubosarsky, riotous Terry Denton, and how about Matthew Reilly, Phillip Gwynne, Randa Abdel-Fattah and action man Jack Heath? It’s a fabulous line-up and a monster celebration of children and YA writing” said Jeni.

Adding to the growing list of Festival supporters are The Yalumba Wine Company and the progressive Avant Card organisation. “The more the merrier, when it comes to sponsors. We have an extraordinary diversity of supporters and the Festival is celebrating these new and precious relationships.”

Festival dates are 6-8 August and tickets for the Marquees and all features, workshops, breakfasts, lunches and dinners can be found at www.byronbaywritersfestival.com or by calling Jetset Byron Bay on 02 6685 6262.

You can now download the Byron Bay Writers Festival program.

What will you get with your 3 day pass? How about Fatima Bhutto in conversation with Kerry O’Brien? Clive Hamilton and Ian Lowe discussing the survival of the planet with Fran Kelly? Kathy Lette and Madam Lash on living it large? Bret Easton Ellis with Ross Grayson Bell (creative producer of Fight Club)? Plus the feast of literature, laughter and ideas that has made the Byron Bay Writers Festival the event authors clamour to attend.

For now, visit our website or call Jetset Byron Bay to lock away your 3 Day Pass. And remember, Kids Day Passes are also currently on sale at Early Bird rates. Grab your child and take a seat to enjoy Shamini Flint, Terry Denton, Matthew Reilly and a host of activities and surprises.

The wings are starting to beat: be a wise old owl and take advantage of the Early Bird before it flies the coop.

Order Tickets Online

The Classic
The Beach Hotel Ocean Swim Classic is 2.2 km swim from Watego’s Beach to Main Beach, Byron Bay. The swimmers swim a buoyed course from the start area, around The Pass, and across the Bay to Main Beach.

The Mini Classic
The Westpac Mini Classic, was designed for those swimmers who competent to swim the approximately 800m from Clark’s Beach to Main Beach. It is to encourage participants to put a toe in the water (so to speak) and draw in more swimmers who may not be as experienced or as confident as the 2.2 km swimmers. Unlike the Classic, which has an age limit of 12years and over, the Mini Swim takes entrants from 9 and up and is an ideal way to introduce the younger set to the joys of ocean swimming.

For further information visit; www.byronbayoceanswimclassic.com.au

The Mater Prize Home Lottery is a fundraising initiative of the Mater Foundation which raises funds for sick babies and children at the Mater Mothers’ and Mater Children’s Hospitals in Brisbane.

Running for the past 50 years, the Mater Prize Home Lottery offers supporters the chance to win a million dollar home in a luxury location six times a year.

We’re very excited to be introducing the first ever prize home in Byron Bay.

Mater Prize Home No.229 is a luxury apartment situated in the Butter Factory re-development at 140 Jonson Street. This million dollar, fully furnished home features:

Three bedrooms
Modern designer kitchen
Main bedroom includes ensuite and private courtyard
Polished timber floors in living areas
High raked ceilings to let in the glorious Byron Bay sunlight
Covered outdoor entertainment courtyard complete with stylish outdoor setting
Air-conditioned throughout
Access to a communal lap pool, barbeque area and artfully landscaped gardens in the Butter Factory complex

Valued at $1,003,404, you have the chance to win this home just by purchasing a ticket to win whilst supporting sick babies and children at the Mater Hospitals.

Secure your chance to win from as little as $2 by visiting the prize home at 14/140 Jonson Street OR FREE CALL 1800 067 066 OR visit our website at www.materprizehome.com.au.

Saturday 17 April, 10:30am-6pm (Gala Concert at 5), Ewingsdale Hall, Byron Bay,
Old Pacific Highway, Ewingsdale
Singer Participation (workshops + lunch + gala concert): $30
Gala Concert Admission: $10

As one of the Australia’s longest running music festivals performing exclusively Australian music, the TAV Festival has brought renowned guest composers such as such as Stephen Leek, Daniel Walker and Nigel Butterley to music lovers across Australia each year over the past 17 years.

TAV’s Artistic Director, Gordon Hamilton, who has lived and worked in Germany over the past five years, will be leading this internationally-acclaimed vocal ensemble, bringing the sound of Australia to Australians.

Gordon is also one of Australia’s youngest conductors.

The mission of The Australian Voices is to commission, perform, record and promote the music of Australian composers to the highest international artistic standards.

For further information visit; www.theaustralianvoices.com