Arts

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.

Overlockers and sewing machines, hot glue guns and paper mâché formations worked overtime last week to prepare costumes for the 2024 Book Week Parade at Barham’s Riverside Park. For those time-restricted or creatively impaired, it was a flying trip to costume shops to gather all the bibs and bobs needed to help bring book characters to life!

Divine intelligence creates peace and perfection in nature: An exhibition of bird peace by G.G. Jolliffe and pennie scott. “Can you allow mystery and logic to sit comfortably side by side in your hand?’ This sage question from Stuart Hill, Professor Emeritus, Founding Chair of social ecology in Australia, runs through the core of the exhibition.

The night sky in Kaniva has a new star attraction: a colour-changing windmill, the crowning achievement of a three-year community-driven lighting project that has transformed the town’s main street. From purple to blue, red, green, and gold, the windmill now lights up with subtle hues, adding a splash of color to the town’s nighttime landscape.

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.

Farmers and locals from Birchip and surrounding areas filled the Birchip Community Leisure Centre on Wednesday night to learn of the proposed mining projects and their impacts on agricultural production and the wider community. Andrew Lee addressed the crowd of 150, whose anticipation had been building as Facebook posts gained attention across the district, sparking a wave of community discussion and diverse opinions on the issue.

In his first photo story for Australian Rural & Regional News, professional photographer John Krutop features wood artisan Andrew McPherson at his gallery 'Ride the Wild Goat' in the picturesque Gippsland town of Fish Creek.

It’s a long way from the small town of Carnarvon in WA’s Gascoyne region to the picturesque Italian city of Venice. But that’s exactly where WA glass-artist Sabrina Dowling Guidici will be heading this September. Sabrina is the only Australian to be exhibiting at this year’s prestigious Venice Glass Week where she’ll showcase a unique glasswork collection titled ‘Saltwaters’ ... inspired by seagrasses found in WA’s World Heritage Site of Shark Bay ...

Members found the July topic "Silhouettes" harder than expected. The independent judge was Tryg Hellander who awarded "Honour" to two entries, Michelle’s "Man and Dog" and Glenda’s "Trumpeting in the Night". Michelle’s candid capture of "Man and Dog" was described by Tryg as "Razor sharp, clean, interesting, unmistakable and pretty much what a silhouette story looks like.

August has been an exceptional month for aurora-spotting and photographers have been sharing their extraordinary images online, making everyone else glance skyward with envy. With its elevated position and lack of light pollution, Mount Tarrengower has been a perfect place from which to capture these night rainbows, as Karen Cordell showed in this gorgeous photo that she took with her phone last week.

An innovative creativity workshop for young people is coming to Corryong next month. Parallel Wilds is an immersive a cutting-edge 3D creative writing platform for youth, empowering self-identity in the natural world and a speculative universe on the future of species and wilderness, set in the year 2050.

Working on the land, Moulamein farmer Nick McKindlay found farming gave him a great opportunity to explore his passion for birds. "As a farmer, I spend most of the workday outdoors, and my passion for birds has naturally woven itself into my daily activities," said Nick.

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.

Jimmy Willing. I was lucky enough to grow up with a couple of Neville Cayleys hanging in the family home. It has always amazed me that my father owned these treasures from another time but in the 20th Century they were not considered art, merely scientific drawings!

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.

Sculptor/artist Josie Dillon Lowerson is a former local who grew up on the farm at Narraport and attended school in both Wycheproof and Birchip. She is currently preparing a major exhibition of her artworks which have been transported 3,000 km from her studio on the Atherton Tablelands in far north Queensland, to Fortyfivedownstairs Gallery in Flinders Lane, Melbourne.

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!