What's on in Byron Bay

Febuary 2010 01/02/2010 - February 2010 Jai Uttal Date: 11th February 2010 Venue: Byron Community Centre Contact: www.byroncentre.com.au Grammy nominee, World music pioneer & kirtan master. A pioneer in the world music community Jai Uttal has lead kirtans (traditional Hindu chants) worldwide for more than 30 years. His music is a genuine fusion that distills the essence and creates an incredible musical and cultural union of East and West. In his late teens Uttal began regular pilgrimages to India, singing with kirtan wallahs in the temples of his guru Neem Karoli Baba, and studying with master teacher Ustad Ali Akbar Khan. Upon returning to the USA, he formed the Pagan Love Orchestra, which gained international prominence with the release of several critically acclaimed albums, including Footprints, Beggars and Saints, and Shiva Station. Uttal's subsequent recordings continue to be prolific and widely praised. They include the Grammy-nominated Mondo Rama and the newly released Thunder Love. Jai musically produced 2 of Ali Akbar Khan's albums, and the first recording of Krishna Das. He constantly tours the world leading kirtan workshops, retreats, performing his inspirational music, and recording. "His music transforms the hearts of all who listen." Jack Kornfield `Jai Uttal could be called what Karl Jung termed a Gnostic intermediary, an ambassador between the two cultures." Ram Das "Jai is a shaman with wings big enough to carry all of us to ecstasy" Gabrielle Roth Thursday 11 February 2010 @ 8pm Tickets $35 www.jaiuttal.com & www.oneentertainment.com.au & www.findyoga.com.au Media/Info: Amir Paiss 0408 572 982 amir@oneentertainment.com Wil Anderson Date: 20th and 21st February Venue: Byron Services Club Tickets on sale at the Byron Services Club Phone (02) 6685 6878 Wil Anderson is offering comedy lovers a rare opportunity - to see a comic prepare his material from the ground up The Necks Date: 21st February 2010 Venue: Byron Community Centre www.byroncentre.com.au Legendary Australian improvisers The Necks are going from strength to strength. In the last couple of years, they have completed several tours of Australia, Europe and the US, performed at the Nick Cave-curated All Tomorrow's Parties, collaborated in an acclaimed foray into theatre with Back to Back Theatre's Food Court, performed with legend Brian Eno in a series of three huge sold-out concerts at the Sydney Opera House, and released their fifteenth album, 2009's Silverwater. Truly they are one of Australia's most highly regarded musical ensembles, and critical acclaim worldwide reflects a growing realization that these three Australians have created a way of making music unlike anything else. Highly respected music writer Richard Williams, in his recent book The Blue Moment: Miles Davis' Kind of Blue and the Remaking of Modern Music starts his discussion of The Necks by saying "the new music I would find it hardest to do without, fifty years after Kind of Blue, is that produced by The Necks." Fortunately for Australian fans, The Necks undertake annual tours of their homeland, and it is with great pride that they announce their upcoming run of dates for February - March 2010. Highlights of the tour include a reprise of The Necks' legendary presentations at Sydney's Metro and the Brisbane Powerhouse, return visits to favoured haunts such as Melbourne's Corner Hotel, Byron Bay's Community Centre and Perth's Charles Hotel, and a season at the Adelaide Festival with Back to Back Theatre's Food Court. See below for full dates. Long-term fans of this unique band come back time after time for their annual fix, as The Necks slowly conjure their sound mountains out of thin air, but if you haven't heard them before, come along and check them out. You've never known two hours to pass so quickly. The entire Necks catalogue is available online at www.thenecks.com For more info on The Necks, press quotes, photos etc, please go to www.thenecks.com Sunday 21 February @ 7.30pm Tickets $25/$20 concession Cinemas and Movies Date: New movies every month Venue: Various, see website links below Contact Details: http://www.dendy.com.au/ http://www.artsfactory.com.au/publish/loungeCinema.php http://www.mullumflicks.com/ Temple Byron Date: Various dates, check website for details Venue: 46 Melaleuca Drive, Byron Bay http://www.templebyron.com/ The Byron Shire Echo Gig Guide Date: Ongoing - check website for details Venue: Various locations around Byron and surrounding areas http://www.echo.net.au/archives/ Go to the website, choose "Gig Guide" from the drop down menu Byron Community & Cultural Centre Date: Ongoing events - check website for details Venue: Byrn Community and Cultural Centre http://www.byroncentre.com.au/index.cfm?p=2934 Dendy Byron Bay Cinemas - Metropolitan Opera and National Theatre Productions Date: From October 2009-May 2010 Venue: Byron Bay Dendy Cinemas October 2009-May 2010. Theatre and opera aficionados are in for a treat or ten over the coming months when Dendy Byron Bay launches its season of operas from New York's Metropolitan Opera Company, beginning with screenings of Puccini's Tosca on October 24, 25 and 29. The 2009/10 season features nine thrilling, world class operas, captured live and screened in high definition with state of the art digital sound. Tickets are on sale now at Dendy Byron Bay Cinemas for $25, or $23 for seniors and concession holders, children and club Dendy members $22 and $21. For more information phone the cinema on 6680 8555, or check out the website: www.dendy.com.au.