Music

A report into the economic benefit of Bluesfest to the Northern Rivers region and the state has revealed the music festival, which is in jeopardy of not continuing beyond 2025, contributed $148 million to the region and $235 million to the NSW economy this year. Lawrence Consulting were contracted to prepare a report into the economic impact of Bluesfest which reveals significant economic contributions at a crucial time as the festival prepares for it’s final 2025 event…

Jenny Pollard. A madcap romp filled with stunning vocals, incredible music and eye-catching costumes drew loud applause from the large crowd which attended the Lyster Opera performance of "The Italian Girl in Algiers" at The Rex last Saturday afternoon. The Charlton production kicked off the company tour which is headed across regional Victoria as well as a number of Melbourne locations.

J Lowe. There are rare humans who… may lack the neural apparatus for appreciating tones or melodies. But for virtually all of us, music has great power, whether or not we seek it out or think of ourselves as particularly ‘musical’. This propensity to music – this ‘musicophilia’- shows itself in infancy, is manifest and central in every culture, and probably goes back to the very beginnings of our species…

The biannual cluBarham Rock by the River Rock ‘n’ Roll Festival attracted 250 attendees from local and interstate to enjoy four days of live music and dancing ... The four days of entertainment were complemented by dancing lessons and the opportunity to buy the perfect attire or pair of swanky shoes to complement one’s moves on the dance floor.

After more than 50 years performing and releasing 22 hit albums that have sold more than 2.6 million copies, Australian music royalty, Marcia Hines is bringing her renowned stage presence to Grafton’s Saraton Theatre on her ‘Still Shining’ concert tour. Last week, Marcia spoke to the CV Independent about her upcoming performance in Grafton and her life in music.

One of Australia’s longest running and most prestigious music festivals, the iconic Byron Bay Bluesfest will have its final curtain call at the 2025 festival. Since the first East Coast Annual Blues Festival in 1990, which was headlined by American performers Charlie Musselwhite and Canned Heat at the Byron Bay Arts Factory, Bluesfest has been held every year at Easter in the Byron Bay area, except for 2 years during the Covid pandemic.

From Mozart to Katy Perry, Icelandic hymns to Aussie rock anthems, it’s a musical adventure like you’ve never heard before. The string quartet will perform intimate shows in Kangaroo Island, Robe and Lameroo. Each show will be unique to the venue with the repertoire – spanning multiple genres from classical, folk, pop and new music - curated by the local community presenter group.

Patricia Gill. The Orenda Trio says a house concert is their favourite performance venue to share musical experience and communicate with the audience. As flautist Michael Howell told the audience gathered at a Weedon Hill home... an audience through interaction with the performers, plays a big role in how music is interpreted.

Sebastian Calderon. Creativity was united with a great community environment for an iconic annual event held last Sunday at Loxton. Arts on Terrace beautified Loxton’s East Terrace … with more than 20 local shops exhibiting artwork … The Live Mural painting performed by Jarred Loxton and Scott Rathman gave attendees the opportunity to see the artists transform a blank canvas.

Little heroes are encouraged to prepare for the adventure of a lifetime when PAW Patrol makes their way to the Lockyer Valley! Heroic pups Chase and Marshall, together with their fearless leader Ryder will visit this year’s Laidley Spring Festival come September and remember, no job is too big, no pup is too small for these heroes!

For those who rock, we salute you! Medieval to Metal: The Art & Evolution of the Guitar  hits Ballarat this October.  Exclusive to the Art Gallery of Ballarat, the exhibition features  40  iconic  guitars on loan from the National Guitar Museum (USA) alongside  an awe-inspiring assemblage of photographs, paintings, drawings,  illustrative designs, and  objects.  

Locals and visitors in town experienced an exciting long weekend filled with festivities during the annual Desert Harmony Festival. The four-day event featured a diverse range of activities that catered to everyone, from Drag Storytime with Constantina Bush for the little ones to captivating musical performances by talented Barkly artists throughout the weekend.

An event that provides an opportunity to acknowledge those whose lives have been lost in our community will be held in Corryong next week. The third annual ‘Corryong Spirit’ event will shine a light into the darkness of grief and the guest speakers include former AFL footballer Justin Koschitzke and Rev Tim Costello, one of Australia’s most respected community leaders.

On Sunday July 21, lucky music fans from near and far were fortunate to attend Jazz in July featuring The Martini Set, at the Charlton Park Multipurpose Complex. Hosting the event for the fourth time, the Charlton Arts committee was pleased with the number in attendance, although less than previous years.

Cairns-born and raised opera singer Cassandra Wright will return home from Europe next month to perform with acclaimed concert pianist Harry Rylance in a one-night-only recital at  St. Monica’s Cathedral ... Night Songs, An Evening of Song and Opera  will be an absolute treat, featuring the accomplished international pairing showcasing pieces from their debut album,  In the Twilight.  

A well-known Wollongong musician who acquired a traumatic brain injury after a freak accident is embarking on a new career thanks to TAFE NSW ... “I still have a deep love of music, so now I am gaining new practical skills and knowledge to start a career as a composer. I’ve just released my debut compositions onto Apple Music and Spotify, which is really satisfying": Joel Moir.

Nhill College celebrated ‘World Music Day’ on Friday with over 60 students performing. The Year 7 Bucket Drumming Group welcomed our concert goers with a series of traditional and not so traditional patterns they have been working on in class. This was followed by the Junior Voices singing, ‘I Am The Earth’, written by Glyn Lehmann in 2008.

The piano is often considered the ‘King of Instruments’ as no other instrument covers all 88 notes of the frequency range and its number of available octaves is unparalleled.   Its versatility of sound is also beyond compare as it can create sounds as soft as a whisper or as loud and rumbling as a thunderstorm. When pianist and composer Adam Cook sits down to play this most revered of instruments something quite magical happens.

Cambooya Hall will play host to the Festival of Small Halls on Wednesday, 24 July. ECMA award winning Quote the Raven, formed by Jordan Coaker and Kirsten Rodden-Clarke ... Hailey Calvert ... Festival of Small Halls is a series of tours that takes the best folk and contemporary acoustic artists ...

Gemma Purcell. When your father is a physicist it’s hard to avoid experiments and well known Narrandera artist, performer, musician, teacher and conductor Lizzie Walsh happily confesses to being an experiment. "Dad wanted a classical musician in the family, so when my parents were expecting me, he was forever steering Mum’s belly toward the Mozart or Beethoven on the record player. I think it worked!"