Byron Bay

The Nimbin Mardi Grass is set for a HUGE year this year, celebrating their 20th anniversary! Entry into Plantem Park and the Nimbin Hall where most MardiGrass events are held costs $50 for a weekend pass including Friday night, or $30 for a one day pass. With three nights camping a full ticket costs $100. Armbands are available at the Nimbin Hall and the Hemp Embassy. Camping sites and tickets can be booked online at www.nimbinmardigrass.com The 21st annual Cannabis law reform rally and gathering begins at midday on Wednesday May 1st when we march from Lismore Court House to the Police Station (Next Door), then to the office of our local Federal MP Janelle Saffin, and on to the [...]

INITIAL RESPONSE FROM THE SCHOOLIES HUB COORDINATOR, NICQUI YAZDI, TO THE NEWS OF BYRON SHIRE COUNCIL REMOVING FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE TO THE BYRON SCHOOLIES SAFETY RESPONSE HUB in 2013 – “With all of the current high profile alcohol issues in Byron, it comes as a serious blow to the community that Byron Shire Council have essentially pulled all of their support for the Byron Schoolies Safety Response HUB this year. For the last four years, the HUB has provided much needed assistance during this high traffic time, not only to the visiting schoolies, but also to the local community, in making sure that the safety issues of having 10,000 extra young visitors here, are attended to. To clarify for the community [...]

For the youth of Byron!! Hey it’s YOUTH WEEK this week and there’s some special events coming up at the YAC – the first of which is the Youth Week Youth Forum – “Things are getting dire * have your say about the Shire” – happening from 6-8pm at the Byron YAC on Thursday 11th April… The adults of Byron have been having their fair share of ‘community forums’ of late… now it’s time to hear from the young people!! Free yummy food too!! Get along and tell us what you think about the state of affairs in Byron these days!!

BOOMERANG FESTIVAL FOR BYRON IN 2013 Launched at Bluesfest 2013, Festival Director Peter Noble in partnership with leading Cultural Creative Rhoda Roberts, a Bundjalung women and Boomerang’s Festival Director & Curator announced details of an exciting new cultural event titled Boomerang Festival. To be staged annually over the October Labour Day long weekend at the Bluesfest site and featuring an eclectic line up of artists from around the globe, Boomerang Festival will be a unique world cultural exchange where audiences will experience living cultures through traditional and contemporary music. Featuring some of the world’s oldest instruments, dance and rituals along with traditional arts practices and workshops with a focus on mother tongues and first instruments. This multi-arts event is the [...]

THE BYRON BAY INTERNATIONAL FILM FESTIVAL MARCH 1-10, 2013 In 2013, the Byron Bay International Film Festival (BBFF) celebrates its seventh year. The festival continues to grow, this year screening over 200 films from more than 30 countries with a program comprised of feature films, documentaries, animation and short films that support and celebrate local and international cinema. A large array of films and activities make up the 7th Byron Bay International Film Festival. Workshops, panels, parties and premieres form the backdrop for 55 public sessions in 4 venues across the Northern Rivers Region. In addition to our Festival HQ – The Byron Community Centre BBFF has partnered with what we consider to be some of the best and most [...]

Positive Change For Marine Life’s ‘Movie Under The Plastic Stars‘ is an evening of local and international music, delicious vegetarian/vegan food, a screening of the critically acclaimed ‘Bag It’ film, art installations and special presentations as we launch Phase II of our ‘Honour the Ocean’ marine debris campaign. Since May of 2012 we’ve collected over 100,000 pieces of trash from Main and Seven Mile beaches in the Byron Shire! Through sorting the trash and collating our data we’ve found that the majority of litter on Main Beach is a result of direct dumping and storm water outlets. This event will unveil our plans to make Byron Bay Australia’s most ‘ocean friendly’ tourism town and outline how we are turning this [...]

The Politics of Pleasure was released on Amazon this week. ‘The Politics of Pleasure’ is an imaginative thriller that explores new boundaries of the genre. This is the first novel from former Byron Bay man Mark Russell. Amazon are touting this book as a ‘designer drug thriller’… and it is! Jay Goldman is a civilian chemist working at an army chemical center in Maryland, USA. Goldman discovers his late father was secretly assassinated by General Turner, a maverick Director of the Defense Intelligence Agency (DIA). Turner learns that Goldman has physical evidence which implicates the general’s hand in the murder. With his political career on the rise, General Turner dispatches a team of mercenaries to kill Goldman. The chemist escapes, [...]

FLICKERFEST CONTINUES TODAY AND TOMORROW! Saturday 26th Jan – 3 Sessions as follows 2.30pm – ‘FlickerLab‘ Concept to Market: presented by SAE Come and join us for an interesting and enlightening workshop on distributing your short form content across various platforms to audiences far and wide. Panellists include Damian Walshe-Howling, who will share his experiences of the prestigious Locarno Film Festival where Suspended screened in Official Competition, ABC Open Producer Catherine Marciniak and Flickerfest Director Bronwyn Kidd. A must do for all keen film makers out there ! $10/8 conc (free entry for SAE students) 4.30pm – Byron All Shorts programme: Northern Rivers Short Film Competition supported by Southern Cross Credit Union & SAE Byron Bay; Sit back relax and [...]

PUBLIC FORUM IN BYRON TONIGHT!! Strange Bedfellows-Making the tourist/resident Marriage Work. Byron Bay Community Centre from 5.30pm – In response to the public outcry in relation to the impacts of tourism on the local community over peak holiday periods, a community forum has been organised to discuss how the community can benefit from the industry and how they may be able to address the inherent challenges. Presented by Byron Shire Council in conjunction with The Echo, Byron Shire News and Bay FM, the Public Forum will be conducted in the style of Q&A with former ABC journalist Mick O’Regan as moderator. Panel Members include Jan Barham – NSW Legislative Council, Don Page – NSW Minister for Local Government and local [...]

BYRON ARTS CLASSIC OPENING NIGHT IS TONIGHT! The Byron Arts Classic Awards Night is all about the celebration of local artists and their work. The Byron Theatre becomes the three tiered Dawkins Gallery with a floor to gantry central sculpture garden surrounded by paintings, photographs and works on paper. This extends to the upper level where many of the smaller works are intimately displayed. Upstairs and down the foyers and other gallery spaces are filled with artworks from emerging  visual artists sitting side by side established artists. On opening night 11 awards are announced to an audience of friends and families, local art lovers, sponsors and supporters from the community. Throughout the event the Community Table Cafe & Bar is [...]

On Saturday January 12 the YAC Amphitheatre is set to come alive with with the sounds of 20 young hardcore and metal bands in the first festival of it’s kind, the Which Way Festival. It will feature many of the bands who have played at the YACROCKCAFE at the Byron Youth Activities Centre on Friday nights throughout 2012. The Which Way Festival on Saturday January 12 was the brainchild of James Heath, member of local young hardcore band Like Cannons. James wanted to do a fundraiser to help to purchase more equipment for the bands to use on Friday nights. His idea spread like wildfire, with nearly 20 bands signing up to play the festival within a week! Currently the [...]

The YACROCKCAFE will tonight host a Hardcore Party for the launch of Cringe The Binge – National Weekend Of Action! The YACROCKCAFE is a music based drop-in for high school and uni aged young people which happens every Friday night at the Byron Youth Activities Centre (YAC). Since it kicked off in March this year, the YACROCKCAFE has seen young bands from as far away as Launceston & Melbourne hit the stage each week, with many of the bands coming from Byron Shire, the Gold Coast and Brisbane. On average, each week, four bands play between 7 & 10pm. The YACROCKCAFE is supported by BUDDI (Byron Underage Drinking & Drug Initiative – Community Drug Action Team), Byron Youth Service and [...]

YOUNG PEOPLE URGED TO PLAY IT SAFE DURING SCHOOLIES WEEK 2012 -  AUSTRALIAN MEDICAL ASSOCIATION AMA President, Dr Steve Hambleton, said today that school leavers could enjoy their much-deserved fun and relaxation during Schoolies Week 2012 without resorting to binge drinking, which can often lead to other unhealthy or unsafe behaviour. The Schoolies Week season commences from 17 November in NSW and Queensland, with other States to follow in coming weeks. In the lead-up to Schoolies Week, Dr Hambleton will tomorrow officially open the Cringe the Binge National Weekend of Action in Byron Bay, one of the most popular destinations for school leavers looking to unwind after their exams. Cringe the Binge is a community-wide Byron Bay movement that is [...]

THIS WEEKEND SEES THE LAUNCH OF A NATIONAL CAMPAIGN TO HAVE ALL AUSTRALIANS RETHINK THEIR BINGE DRINKING HABITS AND DONATE TO AN INITIATIVE THAT IS SET TO EDUCATE YOUNG PEOPLE ABOUT THE ISSUES OF BINGE DRINKING. Cringe The Binge is the brainchild of Byron Youth Service, leaders in the field of providing essential youth programs and initiatives in Byron Shire for over 25 years. Following on from their massive success with Project U-Turn over the last few years, Byron Youth Service are launching Cringe The Binge – National Weekend of Action from November 9-11, which will be an annual weekend asking all Australians to Cringe The Binge and donate funds that will go towards developing education programs for young people, [...]

Third Artist Announcement Bluesfest 2013: It’s A Bluesfest Dream Come True Today Bluesfest, Australia’s multi award winning Festival, held annually over the long Easter Weekend (March 28 to April 1) announced its 3rd sensational Line-Up for 2013! Headlining this announcement is ROBERT PLANT, the legendary front man of the band Led Zeppelin, presenting Sensational Shape Shifters. Led Zeppelin came to Australia in 1972 and a Robert Plant Tour of Australia has been long awaited by his Australian fans.  He last toured in 1996 with Jimmy Page. Plant was voted in the Rolling Stone Readers Pick in 2011, ‘The Best Lead Singer of All Time’. Even greater is the news that he has been performing 8 Led Zeppelin songs on stage [...]

Australian documentary maker David Bradbury was detained by police late yesterday in Tamil Nadu while investigating the Indian nuclear industry. Greens nuclear policy spokesperson Senator Scott Ludlam said the arrest was only the latest in a series of moves to suppress criticism of India’s notorious nuclear sector. “Mr Bradbury was approaching Idinthakarai, a village that has been subjected to severe police repression in response to anti-nuclear protests, when he was detained and taken to Radhapuram Police Station. He has since been released. I will be raising the matter with the Indian Ambassador today. “On October 12 an ‘All India Fact Finding’ team of about 12 people was intercepted on route to Idinthakarai, interrogated and remanded in Tirunelveli Jail. This is [...]

New initiative from Byron Youth Service – Cringe The Binge – was launched nationally last Friday, with hundreds of people turning up to the official media launch in Apex Park in Byron Bay. Pictured here is BYTE member (Byron Youth Theatre in Education), Lily Jo Smith with posters for the RISE event, happening as part of the Cringe The Binge National Weekend of Action from November 9-11 What is Cringe the Binge? Cringe the Binge is a grass roots initiative that aims to reverse youth binge drinking by supporting individual and community action. It is time for all of us to work together – families, communities, young people and government agencies to change the culture of binge d inking in [...]

Reclaim the Night is a global women’s protest against men’s sexual violence held, on the last Friday in October each year. The date for 2012 is October 26. The philosophy of Reclaim The Night encourages grass roots participation in the organisation of events by as many women as possible. In this way Reclaim The Night is able to draw together women from diverse backgrounds and experiences to work together in addressing issues of men’s sexual violence against women and children. With the tragic death of Jill Meagher in Melbourne recently, the timing for Reclaim The Night has never been more important. This year’s Reclaim the Night will have a special focus on young women. We would encourage all mothers to [...]

BYRON BREAST CANCER AWARENESS DAY AND MINIFIELD OF WOMEN Sunday 14th Oct 10 am Silent Walk from Railway Pk to Denning Pk, Mini Field of Women & Labyrinth, Ceremony and Picnic. Everyone is welcome to join in ·  10am gather at Railway Park in readiness for  silent walk to Denning Park with 100 pink women silhouettes ·  10.30 leave Railway park on footpath in silent pink walk  Denning Park (next to Surf Club) ·  11.00 am to 12  Denning Park; pink Labyrinth walk with placing of silhouettes and moment of silence. ·  12.00 – 2pm  picnic in Denning Park to Celebrate Life ·  Pink info table and raffle available Hosted by the Byron Breast Cancer Support Group byronbcs@gmail.com   66808893 & [...]

A major protest and concert at Murwillumbah to kick off the Lock the Gate Alliance “National Week of Action” against coal and coal seam gas in the Northern Rivers. Come and join with other Northern Rivers residents to send a strong, clear message to local, state and federal governments that the Northern Rivers Community says “Lock the Gate” to coal and coal seam gas. Gates open at 9.30am for a 10am start. March through the Murwillumbah CBD from 12 noon. Concert starts at 1pm back at the Showgrounds. Please wear yellow.

JINGI WALLA! Join us for a celebration of native culture, language, music, art and food as we gather to support the Indigenous Elders of the Rainbow Region. The first in a monthly series, Bunjala Day is being established to create ongoing opportunities for the people of Byron Bay and the Northern Rivers to gain a deeper understanding of Indigenous Culture while directly supporting their communities in need. Entry is BY DONATION with all funds going directly to the Elders SUNDAY OCTOBER 7th PROGRAM 2pm: Meet the Elders / Kids Arts and Crafts 3pm: Storytelling with Pop Harry Walker 4pm: Indigenous Language Class 5pm: Traditional Song and Dance 6pm: Family Dinner – Kangaroo Stew + Vegetarian Options 7pm: Concert for the [...]

Last year, the inaugural Sample Food Festival welcomed a massive 10,000 visitors through the gates at Bangalow Show Grounds. This year is set to top that! Restaurants and food producers from the Northern Rivers will showcase their culinary delights at this today’s Sample Food Festival in Bangalow. Stall holders will offer $5 and $10 tasting plates. When: Saturday October 6th, 2012 Time: 8am to 8pm Where: Bangalow Show Ground Program- cooking stage 8.30am Brookfarm: Bircher Launch 9.00am Ben O’Donoghue & Donna Harper: Farmers Market Breakfast 10.00am Belinda Jeffery: Book Launch/Signing 10.30am Clayton Donovan & Gavin Hughes: Cooking with Kids 11.30am Garden to Kitchen Show: Cooking with Macadamias 12.15pm Madura Tea: Tea Tasting 12.30pm Steven Snow : ‘Chilli as Anything’ 1.30pm [...]

FULL DAY OF CREATIVE WORKSHOPS! SPECIAL GUEST TEACHERS! DANCE (Hip Hop, Contemporary, African) CIRCUS (Tumbling, Acro Balance, Aerials, clowning) SONGWRITING (singing, rapping, beat production) PERFORMANCE There will be food and drinks available all day. and a SHOWCASE at the end of the day for participants that want to perform! bookings essential – please contact them through FB https://www.facebook.com/creativepeoplescollective or email: connect@thecpc.org.au or call: 66802273 $40 for the whole day you can book for individual workshops as well. Family and Group discount options. DONT MISS OUT – BOOK EARLY!

THE BYRON SCHOOLIES SAFETY RESPONSE ARE LOOKING FOR SCHOOLIES HUB VOLUNTEERS FOR 2012. THERE IS A SIGN-ON AND REUNION AT THE OWL & PUSSYCAT ON SUNDAY 9TH SEPT 4-6PM Schoolies is fast approaching again. This year the Byron Schoolies Safety Response is once again recruiting volunteers for the Schoolies HUB in order to help make the young visitors welcome and ensure that they enjoy a safe celebration. The HUB will be open 24/7 for the duration of School Leavers Celebrations from November 16 til December 3. Volunteers are rostered on for shifts of 4 hours around the clock. This year the aim is to find 100 local volunteers who would like to give some of their time to the HUB. [...]

PCYC TO CALL THE BYRON REGIONAL SPORT AND CULTURAL COMPLEX ‘HOME’ The Police Citizens Youth Clubs (PCYC) will soon take up residence at Byron Shire Council’s sport and cultural complex. Mayor Jan Barham said the Council decision to agree to the PCYC’s expression of interest to operate from the new facility would see a memorandum of understanding (MOU) initiated. The MOU will then trigger a lease and participation agreement to be drafted. “The draft lease agreement will be reported to the new Council in October, forwarded to the PCYC for signing and hopefully the PCYC will be in the building soon afterwards,” she said. Mayor Barham said the PCYC operates 57 clubs in NSW and is a leading youth organisation [...]

The 18th WOW (World of Women) Film Festival screens as two sessions from 11am to 4pm with a lunch break. This unique festival gives us glimpses of the world as seen through the eyes of women comprising the year’s best 17 short films primarily produced by women. Plus the very special screening of the two winning films from local female film-makes (under 18 & adult) in the Byron Breast Cancer Support Group ‘Women’s Short Film Making Competition’ Sunday 26 August Screenings: 11am & 1.30pm Tickets on the door: Day Pass (2 sessions) $15 / $5 student 1 session (11am OR 1.30pm) $10 Session 1 ★ 11am Slashed (11 mins) (Comedy) Graham Gates/Rogan Brown – Producer, Rebecca Thomson – Director, Claire [...]

THERE ARE NO EXCUSES FOR BORED TEENS IN BYRON BAY ON FRIDAY NIGHTS! THE YACROCKCAFE IS GOING OFF! The YACROCKCAFE is a music cafe for high school and uni aged young people, at the Byron Youth Activities Centre. Open every Friday night, music teachers and mentors are available in the Loud Room from 5-7pm some Fridays, followed by jam sessions and performance opportunities for young bands and musicians on the YAC stage from 7-10pm… There are also special gig nights with special guest artists… The Byron S.A.E. provide sound engineering students on work-placement to manage the sound for these events and a full PA is set up onstage every week for performing artists to use. Young bands and musicians can [...]

FREE entry – book here Battle For Byron (52 minutes) Friday 10 August from 6pm to 7.30pm Byron Bay Community Centre Gold coin donations welcome at the door THE BATTLE FOR BYRON Back in the mid 90s for most Byron Shire residents it seemed that the arts and eco minded surfing Shire they lived in was about to become the next Gold Coast, or at least Noosa. A huge tourist complex, Club Med, was about to be built and the Council was overwhelmingly pro-development. Helicopters regularly flew overhead as developers looked for the next great site. And then something happened. David Bradbury’s classic 52 minute 1996 documentary tells the story of a community lead campaign that shaped the Byron Shire we enjoy today. Despite our many differences and unresolved issues we remain a model for planned sustainable development for many lin Australia. For its Byron Bay [...]

On your marks…Get set…Go! The writers are flying in, the workshops are running, the school students have meet their idols. The week of the Byron Bay Writers’ Festival has arrived, the weather is superb and the festivities are underway. Take a break from the Olympics and head down Jonson Street – you may well see your favourite author wandering the town and getting acclimatised. There’s still time to join in. Tickets for the festival are available online at www.byronbaywritersfestival.com.au or you can buy day passes on site at North Byron Events (Bayshore Drive, Byron Bay) on any of the three festival days, starting Friday 3 August. While some feature events have sold out, there are still seats available for the [...]

Award winning documentary I AM ELEVEN is coming to Byron Bay! Come to the special ‘Meet the filmmaker’ screenings and Q&A sessions this Sunday July 22 at 3.30pm and 6pm Pighouse Flicks 1 Skinners Shoot Road, Byron Bay. Ticketing times and information click here or call (02) 6685 5828. Please note this film has been selling out all over Australia so we suggest you purchase tickets early to avoid disappointment. The cinema has limited seating. The film will play select sessions over the coming week so check the Pighouse Flicks website for details Or visit www.iameleven.com for more details and the trailer! Australian filmmaker Genevieve Bailey set off around the world to produce this documentary feature film and online project. [...]

Since it started on March 9, the YACROCKCAFE at the Byron Youth Activities Centre, has seen over 100 young musicians and bands take to the stage. For many, it has been their first public appearances. The YACROCKCAFE is a music-based safe-socialising weekly drop-in program for teenagers, that happens on Friday nights from 5-10pm. The YAC stage is set up each Friday with a full PA system, which is managed by sound engineering students from the SAE, on work placement. The idea of these nights is to encourage young bands and musicians to get together and play music to a live audience in a drug and alcohol-free youth-friendly space. There have been a number of special party nights, including workshops from [...]

On Thursday July 26, UKE MULLUM has been presenting the monthly UKE NIGHT at Mullum’s Courthouse Hotel for a whole year!!! Prepare yourselves for a UKE-TASTIC FIRST BIRTHDAY CELEBRATION with special guest performers:  MAE WILDE, THE THREE LITTLE SISTERS, STARBOARD CANNONS, JOEL SALOM, PLUS newcomer PETER HADDOCK and even more. Some of the songs for this month have been chosen by you in our poll. The most popular song was… you guessed it… You Are My Sunshine followed closely by Pumped Up Kicks and Lonley Boy by the Black Keys. (nice one peoples!) Download the July Song Book Here. Remember, Uke Mullum nights are on the last Thursday of every month at the Courthouse Hotel. Be sure to mark the [...]

“WILD FOOD FEAST” The Wild Food Feast is a collaboration of a million good things. A feast for your bellies, your hearts and your ears. Wild Foods are thriving all around us in our Urban setting and, under the enthusiastic guidance of Peter Hardwick, you’ll adopt the eyes to see them. Learn with him as he forages for, cooks up and devours the incredible edibles of our landscape. On another level, your attendance will mean your participation in a beautiful, youthful community initiative. You will be helping the Byron Youth Nature Consciousness raise funds for solar panels for the Mullum Civic Centre. They’re almost on target, come help them over the line… And, what’s more, the whole day through you’ll [...]

BLUESFEST CLAIM VICTORY IN COUNCIL ROW Organisers of the Byron Bay Bluesfest are claiming a “huge win” after the Director General of the NSW Government’s Planning and Infrastructure department advised Byron Shire Council to scrap a controversial “major events” clause. The latest development in an ongoing saga between Bluesfest, and its director Peter Noble, and the Byron Council, the dispute surrounds the Byron Events Policy and its restriction on events to be held in the region. The letter from Sam Haddad, Director General of Planning and Infrastructure, reads, “I have decided… that the Byron Shire proposed “Major Events’ Clause, should not proceed. “I have formed the opinion that the proposal is not in the public interest, I believe matters of [...]

This July Byron Youth Service is celebrating 25 years as the primary provider of youth services in the Byron Shire.  Yay!  We figure that’s reason enough to put on a few special events and activities to celebrate and acknowledge that “Young People Matter” in our community. As many adults would recall, the teenage years are often a time of great change and turbulence for young people.  Not only are their bodies and brains rapidly developing, but their social networks and views of the world are forming also.  They are making sense of a rapidly changing and often challenging world.  They are thinking about their future and their place in the community – what they might like to ‘do’ or ‘be’ [...]

This coming Friday 6th July in Byron, there is a special fundraiser to send Dr Helen Caldicott to Roxby Downs. Happening at the Mullum RSL from 6pm URANIUM BOOM NUCLEAR DOOM will showcase a huge line-up of performing artists including: Fyah Walk Ras Bin Sam & Lion I The Lucky Wonders MC Mandy Nolan Lewis Walker Nakula Tara Murphy DJ Sheik Yerbooty David Bradbury films and a live hookup with Fukishima This event is supporting Lizards Revenge www.lizardsrevenge.net Supported by Byron Neighbourhood Resource Centre Fukishima: Made in Australia! Stop Uranium Mining! LIZARDS REVENGE – 5 DAY FESTIVAL 14-18 JULY 2012 Lizards Revenge is excited to bring their 5 day festival to Roxby Downs, to protest at the door of potentially [...]

RIVERJAM IS A FREE EVENT! Happening today from 12-4pm at the Brunswick Sound Shell. CARNIVAL THEME WITH CLOWNS , BALLOONS, FACE PAINTING, CIRCUS, MAGIC , GAMES, PRIZES AND…. DJ Deep Fryer Jessamine B – performing songs from her upcoming album! Mid North Coast Collaboration – Hip Hop SistaGurl – All Female Hip Hop Crew Penny Skehan – singer/songwriter + Open Mic Dance/ clown and circus performances and Dance and Aerial Circus workshop. Free Food!

Next week is NAIDOC Week and there are a lot of events happening in Byron to celebrate. MONDAY  2nd July – Flag Raising Ceremony at the Byron Shire Council Chambers, Stations Street, Mullumbimby, with the Bigal Nali Dancers at 10am TUESDAY 3rd July- FAMILY FUN DAY – Mullumbimby Neightbourhood Centre from 11am -2pm~ Indingenous Arts Exhibition Opening; Dancers; Yarning Circle; Kids Activities; Art Workshops; Craft; BBQ and more… WEDNESDAY 4th July – ARAKAL WEBSITE LAUNCH – 4-5pm – Byron Cultural & Community Centre FILM SCREENING – 6.30-8pm – Byron Cultural & Community Centre-  $8/$6 conc. – Arakwal documentary “Walking With My Sisters” & premiere of experpt from new film “Back to Country” in celebration of 20 years of Mabo. THURSDAY [...]

SLUTWALK IN BYRON BAY TODAY! TODAY… June 23, the streets of Byron Bay will see its first SlutWalk.  The main idea of SlutWalk is that it is a protest against explaining or excusing rape by referring to any aspect of a woman’s appearance. On January 24th, 2011, a representative of the Toronto Police, during a lecture to college students, gave shocking insight into the Police Force’s view of sexual assault by stating: “women should avoid dressing like sluts in order not to be victimized.” The reaction to this statement has since started a world-wide grassroots movement challenging rape culture, victim-blaming and slut-shaming, and working to end sexual and domestic violence. Over the last 16 months, SlutWalks have taken place in [...]

The Human Rights Film Festival starts at the PigHouse Flicks in Byron tonight, with four sessions over four nights. The Island President – Tue 13 June, 7pm http://hraff.org.au/film-event/the-island-president-2 Australian Shorts – Wed 14 June, 7pm http://hraff.org.au/film-event/australian-shorts-home-grown International Shorts – Thu 15 June, 7pm http://hraff.org.au/film-event/international-mixtape Fantome Island – Fri 16 June, 7pm http://hraff.org.au/film-event/fantome-island Art is indeed a luminous language. When unbound by culture or borders, it becomes a powerful means of communication, transcending cultural, ethnic or linguistic differences. Harnessing such power, what sort of a world could be built when art is used to explore the difficult issues of human rights? This is the question that we at the Human Rights Art and Film Festival (HRAFF) 2012 seek to answer. In [...]

Judi Watts from Little Grey Station does an An Interview with Jennifer Gifford – Creator of the Byron Bay Bridal Showcase Since the announcement of Byron Bay Bridal Showcase just a little over a month ago, wedding vendors and soon-to-be brides from Noosa to Byron Bay and beyond have been frantic to find out as much information about the showcase. Well, I decided to go direct to the source and find our more about what we can expect at this glorious event. Brides get ready for a wonderful explosion of creativity and flare…. Jennifer Gifford from Jennifer Gifford Dress Designs is the empowering force behind this event, let’s hear a little about the showcase and why Jennifer felt it was necessary [...]

On June 23 the streets of Byron Bay will see it’s first SlutWalk.  The main idea of SlutWalk is that it is a protest against explaining or excusing rape by referring to any aspect of a woman’s appearance. On January 24th, 2011, a representative of the Toronto Police, during a lecture to college students, gave shocking insight into the Police Force’s view of sexual assault by stating: “women should avoid dressing like sluts in order not to be victimized.” The reaction to this statement has since started a world-wide grassroots movement challenging rape culture, victim-blaming and slut-shaming, and working to end sexual and domestic violence. Over the last 16 months, SlutWalks have taken place in almost every country in the [...]

VIBADELIX One Earth ~Arts Music & Environment Festival For the third year running Vibadelix Arts, Music and Environment Festival will be presented by Rock the YAC Productions at the Youth Activity Centre. Our theme this year is One Earth – Get ‘Fracking’ Aware! – We are fundraising to combat Coal Seam Gas mining in the region. We are calling out to all interested performers, musicians, visual and creative artists and environmentalists to perform, exhibit or speak at the festival and run creative and environmental workshops. Vibadelix will be a vibrant celebration of community spirit, raising awareness on environmental issues featuring an eclectic mix of music, bands, DJs, Singer/songwriters, circus, theatre performances, market stalls, an art exhibition and creative workshops on [...]

Elsie Smith 14 from Yamba, Mali Dry 16 and Lily Smith 16 from Byron Bay, photographed just after they had won first place in the Open Hip Hop Choreography Competition at the CrankFest Xtreme Festival in Evans Head. Lily Smith, Mali Dry and Elsie Smith all met each other for the first time at the Beats N Roots National Hip Hop Summit and Youth Arts Leadership Conference in Lismore a few weeks ago. Although Lily and Mali both attend Byron Bay High School, they really didn’t get to know each other until they started dancing together at the Beats N Roots Summit. Elsie is from Yamba. But in just two days together, the threesome choreographed a hip hop dance routine [...]

MARDI GRASS… YOU KNOW WHERE… YOU KNOW WHAT FOR… THIS WEEKEND! For more information go to http://www.nimbinmardigrass.com/

@ ‘Stukelele’ aka Stu Eadie from ‘Uke Mullum’ and Steiner music teacher Tom Whitaker will be bringing a special free ukulele workshop to the YACROCKCAFE, followed by a whole night of funky young uke players taking to the stage! Ilona Harker is coming to play some tunes too!!! Cecilia Brandolini is also on the night’s line-up, fresh from taking off third place in the Tweed Battle of the Bands with her brother Gabe. Cecilia will be joined by her sisters Bridget and Monica, who also all performed in the Bluesfest Groms Buskers Comp this year and at the Bluesfest itself. Alexandra Dickson Matilda Dods, Leila Karni, Leah Garnett-Carol, Maya Duel, Giri, Billy, Lali Gill and more! are on the line-up [...]

BEATS N ROOTS HIP HOP SUMMIT AND CRANKFEST XTREME FINALE… Today marks day four of the Beats N Roots Hip Hop Summit and Youth Arts Leadership Conference, with a HUGE day planned at the Byron YAC today. Hundreds of young people have been involved in two days of dancing and making beats, keynote presentations, master classes, workshops and performances on Thursday and Friday at Multitask in Lismore, followed by CrankFest Xtreme in Evans Head yesterday. Sunday at the YAC 11am-2pm Special screening of Morganics Documentary with Q&A followed by a Hip Hop Community Worker Master class and artsworker round table forum in Byron Bay at the Byron YAC 2pm-5pm-Beats in the Bay Music Gig – featuring some of the best [...]

Crankfest Xtreme is the region’s largest celebration of youth arts and culture showcasing our young people’s talents and achievements gained as part of the National Youth Week Celebrations across the Northern Rivers. Running from 11am-5pm alongside the river in Evans Head the festival offers youth a chance to step up and shine at the Breakamove showcase stage, learn some hip hop moves or test your xtreme skills in the BMX or Skate competitions. If just kicking back and watching is more your style you can tune into the live sounds of youth bands at the Essential Energy Stage, funky deejays or enjoy the work of original songwriters and musicians. With creative workshops including tumbling, aerial circus and dance, heaps of [...]

Kevin cringes at binges Former prime minister Kevin Rudd has lent his weight and his 1.1 million online followers to back a Byron Youth Service (BYS) initiative to tackle binge drinking among the young. During a surprise visit to the BYS centre in Byron Bay on Friday to hear about its national project Cringe the Binge and how the federal government could help, Mr Rudd immediately offered to do an on-the-spot video clip to post on YouTube for his legions of fans to promote the campaign that day. Accompanied by Richmond MP Justine Elliot, Mr Rudd said the project aimed to raise consciousness that binge drinking ‘is a problem and can stuff your brain’. After watching a video presentation of [...]

UKE MULLUM special April gig at The Courthouse Hotel on Thursday 26 April. Sarah Grace Buckley From being mentored by Sara Tindley and performing at the opening night of The Mullum Music Festival 2011 to her recent appearance at the 2012 Bluesfest, at the ripe old age of 12 years old,Sarah Grace has been kicking goals in the past 12 months. Sarah, with her family (The Buckley Family), hosts the Alt-Country Music Club at the Billinudgel Pub every Friday Night. Uke Mullum is proud to have Sarah Grace as a guest vocalist this month. Look Who’s Back In Town – Joel Salom!!! To a lot of you local Mullumites, Joel Salom needs no introduction. He’s a mighty talented local who spends the best part [...]