Mint (issue 4) May/June 2015

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# 4 • may/june 2015

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Sammy Owen Blues Band fi rst formed as a rotating line up of musicians from Fitzroy’s Brunswick Street and performed weekly at some of the streets most frequented venues and now brings his own blues blend to Sunday Soultrain at Davey’s on Sunday 7 June for the Queen’s Birthday Long Weekend.

Owens, lead guitarist and vocalist, is a left-handed electric guitarist who focuses on writing original songs with the band who create their own contemporary, funky, energetic blues sound. The band is mainly infl uenced by 90s and modern blues like Tommy Castro, The Boneshakers, Little Jimmy King, Buddy Guy and Bobby Rush and played their fi rst festival at Wangaratta Jazz and Blues Fest in November last year.

Sammy Owen Blues Band has the electricity, intensity and a ‘give everything’ approach when entertaining a live crowd, whether it’s a room full of regular fans or blues fans alike.

Catch Sammy Owen Blues Band in their Sunday Soultrain debut at Davey’s hotel in Frankston on Sunday 7 June from 3pm.

SAM’S THE MANBy Simon Mills

MINT Magazine May/June 2015 bayside & mornington peninsula 4

mint magazineA music, arts, events & entertainment magazine for the

Peninsula & Bayside.

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POKEY HITS OUR SHORESBy Terri Lee Fatouros

The Caravan Music Club in Oakleigh recently played host to US seven-piece Pokey LaFarge along with his support act, Luke Wilson King. LaFarge did a run of East Coast gigs which saw his ragtime, string band jazz, western swing, old country blues, and various other subgenres of American folk and roots music packing out venues everywhere he went.

The St. Louis based singer, songwriter and multi-instrumentalist is greatly inspired by deep-rooted American music traditions, particularly old Mississippi roots era. As well as stamping his own musical blend into the mix, LaFarge seems hell-bent on creating timeless compositions that cannot be confi ned into one particular genre.

With the latest release of his 7th album, Something In The Water, coinciding with his debut Australian tour, LaFarge’s innovative brilliance

stood out with originals like Wanna Be Your Man, the glitzy and jazzy Underground, along with his crooning vocals on Cairo, Illinois.

This tight-knit polished ensemble of professionals really knew how to work the crowd, revving them up with exceptionally fast riffs on all instruments including trumpet and double bass. It was a spectacular performance to watch.

Throughout, LaFarge kept a solid constant beat on his guitar with a well-practiced right hand incorporating a simple technique of thumb, index, and middle fi nger fast plucking riffs.

His confi dence shone through in his demeanour and music and he’s wasn’t afraid to tell you so either.

His lamenting yet comedic songs told stories of bygone days, about work, scurrilous tales of scoundrels and life experiences.

In fact, some even compare him to a modern day Emmett Miller, a blackfaced Vaudeville star of the 20s and 30s who greatly infl uenced the likes of Hank Williams and Jimmie Rodgers to name a few.

His support act, Luke Winslow King, was really good and got everyone’s attention with his infectious personality, crooning vocals and awesome guitarmanship. He sang a few songs off his album, The Coming Tide, which saw him feature the fabulous voice of Esther Rose who accompanied him on stage.

There is no doubt that LaFarge is making it all sound fresh and new again.

His dynamic, charismatic personality and his eclectic yet brilliant revamp on American folk, old country blues and roots music, sees his music well sought after for modern day palates of said genre.

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BRITISH INDIA: THE LAST GANG

IN TOWNS


QUIETLY, just quietly, British India have become one of Australia’s best bands. While they haven’t fully crossed over into the main-stream yet, relentless touring in far-fl ung cit-ies and towns and the subsequent good word of mouth has earned British India a well-de-served decade-long career and counting.

Many bands may pay lip service about work-ing hard to win fans but even a quick glance at British India’s full-on tour schedule shows they mean it, man.

They’ll play venues anywhere, even if it’s “not a big college town” as Polymer Records pro-moter extraordinaire Artie Fufkin once put it.

More often than not, the four-piece from Mentone – singer and guitarist Declan Melia, guitarist Nic Wilson, bassist Will Drummond and drummer Matt O’Gorman - is out there playing live somewhere because they genu-inely love it.

O’Gorman told Mint Magazine it’s actually British India’s lack of mainstream success which has made the band determined to work harder than ever, even after ten years on the road.

“We still like getting out of the house and touring. Speaking to a lot of bands … they say it would be good to tour less but we’ve still got the desire and the hunger.

“We still feel like we’ve got a bit to prove, going out and playing. We’ve never really had that big hit. We’ve done really well and can’t complain about anything [but] we’re all still very ambitious and we’re always wanting to get to the next level.”

Latest album Nothing Touches Me, their fi fth, builds on the momentum of 2013’s Control-ler which saw songs such as Summer Forgive Me and I Can Make You Love Me playlisted by Triple M.

The ‘alternative nation’ at Triple J has always supported British India since their debut sin-gle Outside 109 way back in 2005 but Triple M’s backing is a new development.

Tracks on Nothing Touches Me such as the opening Spider Chords, Suddenly and Jay Walker show – music journalism cliché alert – ‘a newfound maturity’ in British India’s sound with a mellower tone in contrast to earlier thrashier punk-like efforts.

All four band members write the songs and O’Gorman doesn’t reckon the band deliber-ately set out to make a “mellower” album. He said British India have their own studio “which is an old milk bar” and had 70 to 80 songs to pick from for Nothing Touches Me and some that didn’t make the fi nal cut “are punk and grunge”.

“When it came to picking the songs [for the album], I don’t think it was our intention to be mellower but we picked the best songs we think we had.”

As for the rise in the band’s public profi le,

evident in the crossing over from ‘The Js to The Ms’, O’Gorman gives credit to Mushroom Records and its staff’s promotional legwork.

British India released their fi rst three albums independently on Shock Records but suffered a major blow when that label went into re-ceivership owing the band money.

“We were kind of in limbo … we recorded some demos and sent them out. Mushroom heard them and was keen to get on board.

“Since we’ve been dealing with Mushroom, it’s been amazing for a band like us to have ‘the Mushroom machine’ on board for the last two albums and that’s defi nitely been a big reason [for more success].”

The band hasn’t suffered a ‘I prefer their ear-ly stuff’ backlash from the hardcore British India faithful, according to O’Gorman.

“The older fans have stuck by us which we’re quite lucky about and thankful for,” he says.

“It almost feels like we have two sets of fans. We have the fi rst three albums fans and then the Controller and Nothing Touches Me fans. Sometimes we’ll play a couple of old songs and no-one will know them and then other times we’ll play Run The Red Light [from 2007’s Guillotine debut album] and people will go nuts.”

O’Gorman says British India are still com-mitted to the album as a concept, even with the dawn of the music streaming era with listeners able to easily cherry pick individual

songs to listen to.

“It’s weird how it’s all changing. We still feel pretty strongly about albums. It’s a lot differ-ent now even to when we started. You can put out a single rather than having to put out an EP. You can just literally write and record a song, send it off, get the OK from everybody and it’s out three weeks later.”

Royalties from music streaming services have become a bugbear for some major artists. Radiohead’s Thom Yorke, for example, has heavily criticised the lack of money fl owing into bands’ coffers.

How does a band at the level of British India feel about this?

“It’s not really about the royalties. The thing about Spotify is, it’s cheap and you can listen to whatever you want but it’s also great exposure to a lot of people that wouldn’t have heard your music. Bands like us, we don’t really make any money off CDs any more … live gigs are kind of our bread and butter.

“If someone can get on to us through Spotify and come to a show then that’s exposure we wouldn’t have had before. It’s kind of swings and roundabouts in that you really don’t make a lot of money off it but you get exposure from it.”

From royalties to rock royalty is quite a trip.

Last year, the band met The Rolling Stones when they supported The Stones at NSW’s Hunter Valley.

“We got there about 3pm and were sitting in our small dressing room which was a little portable and everything around us is huge – the stage is massive, their backstage area is massive. We heard them soundchecking and thought ‘how good would it be to get out there and watch them?’”.

They “snuck out” and watched The Stones up close from the front row.

“It was a surreal moment - ‘Oh my god, we’re watching The Rolling Stones soundcheck right now’.”

O’Morgan had heard previous bands who’d supported The Stones hadn’t had a chance to meet the legends so British India were “stoked” when The Stones stopped to say “hello” on their way to the stage on the night of the big gig.

It’s been a long road on tours over the past ten years to get to where British India are at now, Stones gigs and all, and many of their early Australia music scene peers including The Vines and Jet have either fractured or fallen by the wayside. O’Gorman puts the secret of their relative longevity down to being school mates before the band existed.

“The fact it’s been the same four guys really does have a lot to do with it. You hear about bands that as soon as they lose a member … things can often go a bit pear-shaped and I think our kind of dynamic works because we all write. Everything is split four ways.”

And if any of the four decided to quit?

“I think everyone would call it stumps … we’re all great friends. We’ve never really had an argument before so we’re quite lucky with that as well.”

UK music journalist David Hepworth has a theory that the drummer is in fact the most important member of any band and things are never as good for a group if the drummer leaves.

Departures can be voluntary – think Reni of The Stone Roses or Bill Berry of REM – or involuntary - The Who’s Keith Moon and Led Zeppelin’s John Bonham spring to mind – but somehow the magic that binds a group togeth-er is gone.

When this is put to O’Gorman he is reluctant to give his opinion but does declare “that’s what I’ve been saying for years”.

“It’s in your hands … when the band reads the article they may look at me and think ‘Yeah, he’s alright – we can’t lose this guy. We should give him a raise’.”

*British India’s latest album Nothing Touches Me is available now. The band will play live at the Pelly Bar at the Pier Hotel, 508 Nepean Hwy, Frankston on Friday 5 June, doors open 8pm, tickets from $27. See pierlive.com.au or call 03 9783 9800.

By Neil Walker


Of all the unholy acts to desecrate the ears of an unsuspecting public, this must surely be the worst. Maybe they’re proud of themselves. Perhaps they think it’s clever to pervert the last remaining vestige of dignity left to a man who is unable to defend himself. Were I to ask them, they’d surely tell me that they’re simply seeking to draw attention to their competitively priced groceries, but at what cost? This is not okay. It is, instead, tantamount to a declaration of war and the fi rst casualty in this skirmish is good taste.

Rockin’ Robin is more than a mere pop ditty. First released in 1958 by Bobby Day, the song is something of a musical Everest; a colossus that looms over lesser artists, casting its imposing shadow. If you really fancy yourself as a musician, you eventually need to strap on the hiking boots, Facebook-stalk Tenzing Norgay and set out from base camp. The Hollies, Paul Anka and Dr. Teeth and the Electric Mayhem have all staked their claim. But the greatest version of them all was, without doubt, by Michael Jackson.

It’s an enduring image of innocence: a teenage Michael jiving his way through Rockin’ Robin. Never mind that the song came from an album that wasn’t so much an artistic statement as it was a fi nancial one, there’s some unimpeachably sweet about it. Released as a single in 1972, it peaked at a lofty number two on the American hit parade. Still to come were the mega-charting successes that were Off The Wall and Thriller. But all that would be HIStory later.

In many respects, it was all downhill after Rockin’ Robin. Nothing could ever sound so sweet again. Although his later releases sold

by the truckload, it took a terrible toll. Over time, Michael Jackson looked less and less like himself until it all became too much. It was, of course, a tragedy. But at least we had the past to console ourselves. With Rockin’ Robin we could remember a time when the sheer force of his talent was undeniable. That is, until now.

Advertising is something of a dark art, as anyone who remembers the ‘Spamburger’ advertorials of the early nineties will gladly attest. I appreciate that in order to shift some product, you’ve got to debase yourself from time to time. But there are limits. Or, if there aren’t, there ought to be. Perhaps it’s time

that the Geneva Convention was amended to include a special section ‘advertising jingles’. If an ad man wants to craft an annoying little tune and put some cheesy words to it, he’s only exercising a basic human right of free expression. But if you take a classic piece of music and ruin it forever by stripping it of every morsel of its dignity as you substitute the original lyrics for some you banged out on the back of serviette at a so-called ‘brainstorming session’ where all the attendees turned up empty handed, you deserve to go to hell.

It’s a nasty trick. Take a tune that’s lodged in the collective subconscious and ruin it forever.

The music of Creedence Clearwater Revival does not need new words extolling the virtues of a family SUV. John Fogerty was right when he left that stuff out the fi rst time around. And Brian Wilson wrote about a lot of things, but I’m reasonably sure that discounted white goods weren’t one of them.

And so it is with Rockin’ Robin. I was shopping when I fi rst heard it. I’m not sure what reaction the advertisers were hoping to elicit but personally, it made me want to rip off my own ears. It’s not so much the sound of great value shopping as it is the sound of someone moonwalking in his grave. Appalling. Just appalling.

DESTROYING ROCKIN’ ROBIN WOOLWORTHS STYLE

By Stuart McCullough

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Dandenong Ranges-based folk and roots artist Jed Rowe has made a name for himself amongst the blues and roots crowd over recent years with his passionate storytelling, stirring vocals and outstanding slide guitar playing.

In recent years he has found a friend, ally and collaborator is legendary Australian blues guitarist Jeff Lang, who produced Jed’s breakthrough 2012 album The Ember and The Afterglow.

That record caught the attention of critics and punters alike, earning Jed a string of stellar reviews and a spot at events such as The Port Fairy Folk Festival, Thredbo Blues Festival and the Tamworth Country Music Festival.

Travel and hard work is all part

of the game for Jed, who late last year made his fi rst overseas tour – a grueling 25 show epic across Europe (completed in just 24 days).

Now back in Victoria, the father of three is set to release a new record, again with Lang in the production role, but this time ably assisted by Cat Canteri and Justin Burnasconi of local band The Stillsons.

The new record, titled The Last Day of Winter, again showcases Jed’s fi ne songwriting and musicianship, but features a contemporary, percussive production approach and a live feel which elevates it above its predecessor in this writer’s opinion.

The Last Day of Winter will be available in all good record stores from Friday 29 May.

JED ROWEBy Terri Lee Fatouros


The HouseWreckers defi nitely live up to their namesake but in a good solid way. Just imagine a hard rockin’ party with everyone just shaking it out dancing, with the music so worthy that you don’t give a **** as the house shakes apart with the heartbeat of music gone wild.

Come on… what do you expect when you have guys like Greg Trennery legendary bass player from Phil Para band and Andy Phillips Cadillac Walk, Alex Pavlis formally of The Vague Sensations on guitar and vocals and the incredible Venom, former drummer of Electric Mary and Phil Para rolled into the mix? Freakin’ awesome, that’s what.

The HouseWreckers is a new band recently formed and literally shakes any venue with a great blend of blues and rock. Trennery had a vision of putting together a great versatile outfi t that could rock as hard as any and also play the blues in their own way. It seems they are doing just that, because as three distinct individuals, they’re certainly morphing into their groove of being The HouseWreckers.

Pavlis is the song writer who gets his inspiration from everyday things but keeps it simply; it’s nothing too deep and meaningful, well not yet anyway.

Venom plays like his namesake and does so ‘cause he just likes it. He claims he pulled his name out of the hat because Elvis was already taken. Trennery has a rider wherever he plays, a brother within two hundred metres and a hair straightener for his long black hair. So you get the picture don’t you? A bunch of bloody good musos, albeit larrikinish somewhat, who have a blast gigging together.

I managed to have a chat to the boys before their gig at On Top Bar in Ormond recently and

here is what they had to say.

“I’m really rapt playing with these two guys as I used to watch Greg and Venom play with Phil Para at the Espy most Saturday nights, and never dreamed I’d end up forming a band with these dudes,” says Pavlis.

Venom chips in saying there is always two sides of every story and claims that he and Greg can’t actually believe they are playing with Alex Pavlis. Laughter ensues.

The subject got around to full time jobs and Trennery claimed he digs graves for a living and Venom said he worked with him. In fact, Trennery actually drives a vamped up black hearse called Gor that’s been decked out and looks truly scary but ever so cool.Their business is called Grave Diggers … so they said!

More absurd and funny chat continued until Venom cut in and reckons he measures the dead for length and if people are interested then they can contact them at Fawkner Crematorium. But it’s only for people under 5ft 10.

So with this mind set underway amid much laughter, nonsense, and fun, we continued.

“It’s the chip board coffi ns that makes it affordable,” says Venom. “And a team of robots that make the coffi ns which by the way, we are training to dig graves at the moment.”

“Bloody robots,” quips Trennery, “They are starting to get a bit of a trade union going and Venom here doesn’t think it’s going to end well.”

“Well it’s probably because we aren’t paying them so they kinda arced up. So our grave

digging might be going through a hiatus. But we are in negotiations with the teamsters at the moment,” laughs Venom.

To this Trennery quipped in by claiming they either fi nish with grave digging or hit pay dirt or train them to sing and play guitar.

“Come on guys, don’t go on strike as we need you, it’s give and take,” Venom pleads.

Trennery jokes: “We put you together by a nut and a bolt at a time. We need to fi nd the softer side of robots…”

Just then the manager walks past, sees me fi lming Trennery, and shouts “oh yearh” into his ear, scaring the crap out of him leaving him fi nishing his words in a higher octave… “and yet they have done this to us,” concludes Trennery cracking up with laughter.

Venom continues, stating they are uprising because they are running them on AC when in fact they wanna be on DC.

The penny drops and all guys realize their mistake. The robots want to convert and get it straight from the source, it’s a power struggle!!

The guys were a bunch of fun with not much straight talking going down. They had me in stitches. What could you expect when you have these guys together in a band, in a small room just before a gig; pumped up adrenalin, that’s what.

Finally the one thing agreed by all band members to convey to the rebellious robots was: HOUSE WRECKERS DON’T WRECK THE HOUSE.

Catch the guys gigging at the Espy in St. Kilda, On Top Bar, and venues on the peninsula.

Facebook: HouseWreckers Melbourne.

Email: [email protected]

HOUSEWRECKERSUP CLOSE & UNPLUGGED

By Terri Lee Fatouros

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Before beards besmirched rock, Melbourne trio The Casanovas dispatched it with such vigour that Britain’s NME crowned them “Like Jet on Viagra… only better”.

Getting back to rock ‘n’ roll, The Casanovas have launched their pledge music campaign, working towards the release of their highly anticipated third album Terra Casanova.

Tracked to tape at Sing Sing Studios with producer Jimi Maroudas (Tim Rogers, The Living End, Kimbra), Terra Casanova summons their world: one where humour, life circumstance, and albums by the MC5, Blue Oyster Cult, KISS, Cheap Trick, Free, Thin Lizzy and The Stooges are appreciated.

Terra Casanova retains the core of The Casanovas’ visceral, riff driven sound, while their exploration of rock fused with pop elements, elevated by their maturity as a band, makes it their most varied release yet.

Rolling Stone called it “Refreshing, hooky

and powered by the triad’s muscle, Terra Casanova is 10 tracks of crafted hard rock bliss.”

To help facilitate the release, The Casanovas are putting the call out to new and old fans alike to pledge their support and nab some pretty awesome exclusives while they’re at it.

On offer is access to the new album download, exclusive updates, archive rarities, vintage merch, Terra Casanovas Europe pressed vinyl, album launch show access, guitar lessons and personal drawings from front man Tommy Boyce and even a full band house concert.

To access any or all of these special offers go to pledgemusic.com/projects/thecasanovas

Many doomsayers are writing rock’s obituary in 2015. But if you think rock is dead, ready yourself for the debut album from Melbourne’s Palace Of The King. Titled White Bird/Burn The Sky, this is rock and roll that leaves a trail of denim-clad soldiers and converted non-believers in its wake.

On 19 June, it’s time for the White Bird to take fl ight. From three minute funk-infused rockers through to seven minute Sabbath-esque crushers, Palace Of The King has seized the opportunity to explore every intricate corner of their infl uences and craft a debut album that captures a band at a point where ‘scratching the surface’ isn’t nearly enough. White Bird/Burn The Sky tears apart the 100-year history of the blues, adds a distinctly modern edge and smothers a ‘no holds barred’ attitude across 44 minutes worth of riff-a-minute, hook-laden rock and roll.

Formed in late 2012, Palace Of The King - nameless at that point - quickly recorded a three-track demo and developed the vision of a six-piece blues-infused rock and roll band. Far from a grave-robbing retro trip, Palace Of The King has just as much in common with Rival Sons, Graveyard and Jack White as they

do Led Zeppelin, Black Sabbath and Deep Purple.

Having spent their formative years storming stages in every corner of Australia - alongside bands as varied as Airbourne and The

Tea Party - and priming themselves for an international assault, the time has come for Palace Of The King to take their brand of rock n’ roll abroad. White Bird/Burn The Sky will be released in Europe on 12 June

through Listenable Records, with the band’s European tour following in October, presented by Teenage Head Music.

“Palace Of The King is literally like a huge ground shaking Palace of riffs, soul and rock ’n’ roll,” comments Joel O’Keeffe, lead singer and guitarist of Airbourne.

“With more hooks and lines than a hard working Bering Sea fi shing fl eet they are guaranteed to tangle you up, reel you in and blow you away with their unique six-stringing, soul singing, sexy stomping rock ’n’ roll! They are the real deal and I can’t wait to see them setting fi re to Europe soon! Crank up POTK!”

The ‘freight train’ metaphor may be overused and stale. But you’d be hard-pressed to fi nd one that is better suited to a band that has played over 200 shows and released a mountain of music at such a prolifi c rate, all within two years of striking their fi rst chord as a band.

Turn it on, turn it up and strap yourself in for the ride – Palace of The King’s White Bird/Burn The Sky - Australian album release on Friday 19 June. See facebook.com/palaceofthekingmusic

THE CASANOVAS ARE BACK

PALACE OF THE KING

By Cameron McCullough

By Cameron McCullough


Imagine delicious cakes and pastries, and the aroma of freshly baked pies like grandma used to make wafting from the kitchen, and you will have an idea of what’s in store at Bethy’s Café at the Bazaar. Bethy’s café opened in September 2013 when owner and pastry chef, Elizabeth Steer, fulfi lled her lifelong dream of owning her own café.

“When I took it over it was an existing café but I have made lots of changes and renovations along the way,” says Elizabeth who knew at the age of 13 she wanted to have her own café. “I started my apprenticeship as a pastry cook and baker at 15 after spending lots of time baking with my mum and nan while I was growing up.”

When Elizabeth and her partner moved down to the peninsula for a lifestyle change, she had been researching cafes for a decade and came across the perfect café in Rosebud.

“When I walked in here, I had been researching cafes for years but hadn’t bought anything because I didn’t feel like I was ready yet. I kept driving past the bazaar and then I saw the café and it was wonderful. We redid all the benches and the fi tout and rearranged it all, putting in couches and a long breakfast bar for people to read their papers on. We turned the place into exactly what we wanted it to feel like and, in conjunction with the

adjoining art gallery, we display local artists paintings,” says Elizabeth.

At Bethy’s Café everything is made on the premises.

“A lot of the recipes are from my grandmas who taught me how I can use my creativity through my cooking. My favourite thing to do is wedding cakes and fantasy cakes, putting those together, but get a lot of enjoyment out of doing our high teas as well,” says Elizabeth, who understands that food is very much an emotional part of people’s lives and loves being a part of that celebration.

“It’s great when we have groups of four or more coming together to enjoy the atmosphere and I love knowing that I’ve helped create a special time for those people, particularly with our high teas,” she says.

When you sit down to one of Bethy’s Cafes famous high teas, you will be blown away by the sautéed mushrooms and caramelised onion fetta tartlet with sour cream pastry, min petit fours, lavender scones, little rare roast beef rolls, and of course cucumber sandwiches.

Bethy’s Café at the Bazaar is at 1017 Point Nepean Road, Rosebud. Call 5986 7997.

SWEETS FOR MY SWEETBy Melissa Walsh

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Wes Carr was one of the most unlikely winners of the Australian Idol series, his gruff, countrifi ed vocal and guitar style winning over judges and punters in 2008 ahead of a slew of far more glamorous opponents.

While his career hasn’t reached the mainstream heights of early winner Guy Sebastian (hey, who would have thought winning a game show wouldn’t guarantee a successful career?!), Carr has done what few other reality show contestants can lay claim to – he’s produced thoughtful, credible music – most recently as an independent artist.

Carr’s latest project is Here Comes The Sun - an onstage tribute to the legendary guitarist and songwriter George Harrison – and there are few better equipped to bring out the sunny, jangly beauty of Harrison’s heartfelt and understated lyrics and guitar lines. The show is described as a “spiritual journey” – with Carr using both the music itself and a number of anecdotes to bring Harrison back and warm the audience’s hearts for a few hours. It’s a must for fans of The Beatles, Harrison’s solo career or simply Wes Carr himself!

Carr will perform Here Comes The Sun at Elsternwick’s Flying Saucer Club on Friday 12 June at 8pm.

Tickets are available at fl yingsaucerclub.com.au

WES CARRBy Lachlan Bryan

Diddy Reyes of The Blues Maniacs fame held an Easter bash at his recently, and his boys and others jammed the night away. His long-term friend Janet Roach, gorgeous star of Real Housewives of Melbourne reality TV series was there and sparkled the night away. It was great to catch up with her lovely self too. And guess what, Diddy is an excellent cook. He dished up a yummy muscle concoction that had every mouth watering.

All agrees that it looks as though Diddy might just be nominated to compete on

Master Chef.

Speaking of cooking, a new place has recently opened in Carrum on NPH called Café Moto. It used to be known as The Green Chair. I met Peter the owner and was singing the praises of Mint Magazine to him. He said when he gets his liquor license he plans to engage bands and make it a cool hang out for muso’s, dudes into bikes due to it being a café fi lled with real bikes and bike memorabilia and a place to simple chill. He’s already created a beer garden out back and plans to really

go for it during summer. He told me he’ll get word out regarding bands and stuff when he’s fully up and running so keep a look out for info in future Mint issues. There will be heaps of bands playing, Sunday arvo acoustic and all interesting stuff on bikes. Look out for their opening party too.

Oh, where does the cooking bit come in? Well he has yummy home made pies, fresh salads, and bloody good coffee.

Remember to check out Mint Magazine’s

online gig guide to keep abreast as to

where all the cool music is happening.

To contact me relating anything music or

events please email me on:

[email protected]

Check out my YouTube channel too. Search

for ‘Terri Rew’.

TIDBITS & TALES By Terri Lee Fatouros

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Direct from the US comes the encore Australian tour of Songs In The Key Of Motown, a spectacular live concert production that takes you on a musical journey through Motown.

Songs In The Key Of Motown features Spectrum, a fi rst-class vocal quartet that draws upon the talent of four radiant voices and diverse personalities. They have spent six stellar years recreating the sound and style of the Four Tops in Las Vegas’ multi-million dollar production shows American Superstars and Legends In Concert, the group has developed the versatility to credibly cover the music of groups from the Platters to the Temptations to Boyz 2 Men. It is this versatility that has propelled them to the status of headlining their own shows in which they perform stirring renditions of the all the best cover tunes.

They have teamed up with Radiance, a talented vocal quartet formed specifi cally to pay tribute to the Disco and Motown era paying tribute to the music of The Supremes,

Martha & The Vandellas, The Marvelettes and other female artists from that amazing musical era. Together they have created Songs In The Key Of Motown, a spectacular show transporting audiences back to an era of music that formed a major cornerstone in American music of the 60s and 70s. The costuming, the choreography, the harmonies, the energy and excitement are second to none.

Together they provide an array of talent that is the best in entertainment that leaves audiences wanting more!

Songs In The Key Of Motown will play at the Frankston Arts Centre on Thursday 4 June. Call 9784 1060 for tickets.

SONGS IN THE KEY OF MOTOWN

Thursday 4th JuneFRANKSTON PERFORMING ARTS CENTRE


Direct from Las Vegas and following a sold out tour of the US and the UK, ‘The Rat Pack’ will be making their way to Australia in June. ‘Frank’ (David deCosta), ‘Dean’ (Johnny Edwards) and ‘Sammy’ (Nicholas Brooks) are back in town and will be lighting up stages across the country as they bring back the grand old days of those classic crooner hits that we all know and love.

Johnny Edwards brings the magic and charm of Dean Martin back to the stage. With that chiselled smile, charming ways and funny lines, Dean Martin is remembered as the King of Cool and America’s favourite leading man of the 50s. Expect to hear some of his great songs including Volare, Everybody Loves Somebody and That’s Amore.

David deCosta encapsulates the enigmatic Frank Sinatra. As the all-American iconic performer, Frank Sinatra, David brings to life some of the biggest songs ever recorded and forever linked to the memory of Frankie – including My Way, New York New York, Come Fly With Me and so many more.

Nicholas Brooks is the suave Sammy Davis Jr. Fondly remembered for his humour and impressions, Sammy Davis Jr was fi rst and foremost a dancer and performer and had a long and envious career in clubs and theatres in Vegas and New York. Expect to hear some of Sammy’s big hits including Mr Candy Man, That Old Black Magic and Mr Bojangles.

Together they come together on stage as The Rat Pack. Delivering the timeless songs that we all love and sharing some funny stories and gags, this is one show that should not be missed.

Don’t miss The Rat Pack as they tour across Australia.

The Rat Pack will play at the Frankston Arts Centre on Thursday 25 June. Call 9784 1060 for tickets.

See abstractentertainment.net/rat-pack

THE RAT PACK ARE HEADING TO AUSTRALIA

THURSDAY 25TH JUNEFRANKSTON PERFORMING ARTS CENTRE

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VEGAS CONCERTS WITH THEIR OWN SEVEN-PIECE SWING BAND!


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Set on 2 acres of garden space in a 1930’s house, the Heritage Tavern embodies the ambience of a gentler era.

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Of all the young singer-songwriters to emerge in recent years, few have made anywhere near the impression of Melody Pool. The 23 year-old from the tiny town of Kurri Kurri in NSW burst onto the scene in 2013, winning the Telstra Road to Discovery Talent Competition, landing a record deal with Michael Gudinski’s Liberation label and a publishing deal with Mushroom Music Publishing.

But as is so often the case, Pool’s is far from an overnight success story. Born the only child of legendary Western Australian country singer Alby Pool, Melody began attending festivals all around Australia as a child. By her early teens, she was playing guitar and singing in her Dad’s band – harmonising on old classic country songs and building a broad knowledge and understanding of songwriting.

Inevitably, she began writing her own songs, releasing two EPs before crowd-funding her debut album, which she recorded in Nashville

with the help of noted American artist and producer Jace Everett. That outstanding debut, titled The Hurting Scene, is fi lled with heart-on-sleeve confessional songwriting infl uenced by the likes of legendary writers like Joni Mitchell and well as relatively new faces such as the UK’s Laura Marling. Initially released independently, The Hurting Scene was re-released by Liberation to much critical acclaim.

In the year or two since its release, Melody Pool has toured Europe with The Milk Carton Kids and even opened for The Eagles here in Australia. On Friday 5 June she will perform at MOTH (Music on the Hill) in Red Hill.

See musiconthehill.com.au

By Lachlan Bryan

MELODY POOL


In a much-anticipated return to live music Davey’s welcomes Rob & Tarquin back to the stage where it all began for a new look Friday night format in Frankston.

Rob and Tarquin have held pole position on many of our local stages for almost two decades, maintaining residencies at some of the biggest local venues and fi lling them to capacity. Pioneers of using live recorded bass and drums to create a full band sound, they maintain the highest energy rooms and create the biggest all in singalong sessions complete with DJs and full show-band style audio and lighting.

Still performing to capacity crowds at Mornington’s Bay Hotel on Saturdays, Rob & Tarquin built the entertainment culture around many of today’s larger local venues in earlier years including Davey’s, performing there six years after launching as the fi rst Davey’s live act to a base crowd of 20 and building it to capacity over the years to come.

In a return to the Davey’s stage as part of the regular Friday 28’s format you can expect to

hear all those big singalong songs and tasty faves that Rob & Tarquin built the Davey’s reign on during the 2000s plus all the big fl oor anthems from an exciting new roster of DJs playing all your favourite hits.

Rob & Tarquin return to Davey’s from Friday 22 May at 9pm. For further details and news on up and coming events at Davey’s see daveys.com.au

THE BOYS ARE BACK IN TOWN

By Simon Mills

JAZZ PARTY A GRAND EVENT By Kim Rowe

Hitting centre stage at The Grand Hotel this Winter Jazz Festival is Melbourne band Jazz Party. Made for the bar room not the ballroom, Jazz Party is a loose collective of jazzbos with a reputation for their sporadic take-over residences in unassuming rooms across Melbourne.

Known as the coolest, most elusive members of Melbourne’s jazz elite, they are usually found in dark, smoky rooms around town, late at night, giving impromptu performances for those lucky enough to be hanging around when they decided to play. Until now...

Think The Night Cat meets Main Street Mornington as Jazz Party take over the upstairs of The Grand Hotel converting all who enter into swinging, styling, jazz hooligans.

Thrilling audiences with a spontaneous organic celebration of New Orleans style music, the musicians and singers invite the audience to dance around them creating

an exciting party vibe like the smoky bars of 1950’s downtown USA.

The band comprises of some of Melbourne’s hottest young jazz cats playing a slippery mix of jump blues, honkey tonk boogie and rhythm ‘n’ blues á la New Orleans. No shhh-ing, awkward table settings or polite clapping allowed, we invite all kinds of crazy to come and dance while the Jazz Party get rowdy.

Featuring a special visit from the one and only George WashingMachine in Feel The Manouche who will get the night rolling from 8.30pm, this party is one to get off the couch for!

Jazz Party will be slinking into the Grand Hotel Mornington on Friday 5th June this Queens Birthday Long Weekend as part of the Mornington Winter Jazz Festival. Doors open at 8pm for an 8.30pm show, tickets, $15, are available online at www.morningtonjazz.com.au or on the door.


STIBBO AND GREENHATCHBy Terri Lee Fatouros

New blues duo Stibbo and Greenhatch AKA Chris Hanger and Luke Greenhatch have been cutting their teeth with solid performances around the burbs of late since their formation a few months back. Together they bring years of experience from other bands to play up-tempo Chicago, Jump, and Mississippi 30s, 40s, and 50s blues.

Hanger’s dry yet rich, mellow vocals makes good contrast to Greenhatch’s soul infused, strong pitched voice, and when merged creates a rather unique decent sounding blues harmony. You could compare it to good coffee and chocolate combined; you want to hear more.

Greenhatch plays a Gibson Archtop semi acoustic guitar, which according to him is primarily a Jazz guitar that gives a rockabilly, jazz feel to a song. Combine this with Stibbo’s Hohner special 20s harp and you start to get a feel for the blend of music going on, especially when hearing Greenhatch’s originals played in the mix.

The guys never rehearse and play organically which suits their tone well as it’s a different vibe, a different gig and different energy each time they claim.

During their set they pumped out classics from Howlin Wolf and Jimmy Reed, with particular mention going to Baby What You Want Me To Do, a Reed song but sung in the way Etta James did it, giving it more of a Chicago feel.

A crowd favourite was a Lloyd Price song called Stagger Lee, which is based on a true story about a guy killing his best mate over his Stetson hat after he lost it to him in gambling. A lot of blues songs have strong overtones of greed, guilt, loss and murder peppered throughout and

sometimes it’s good to listen to the lyrics to catch the deeper meaning.

In fact if you closed your eyes while listening to the guys, you could almost imagine standing on a street corner at

dusk back in the day in Louisiana or Mississippi, feeling the cooler evening breeze gently blowing the steamy heat of the day away as your body swayed to the rich rhythms and your feet tapped to the rockin’ tunes of blues being played.

Stibbo and Greenhatch are gigging regularly at Humdinger Bar at 101 Young Street, Frankston. Call 9783 1382.

Keep a look out for them there and elsewhere around the ‘burbs.

mintmagazine.com.aumintmagazine.com.au


KING WILLIE’S BLOWOUTBy Simon Mills

Well known to many Australians as the resident talking saxophone player on the widely popular television show Hey Hey It’s Saturday, Wilbur Wilde has been one of Australia’s most celebrated musicians, media celebrity and all-round entertainers for decades. King Willie’s back in town for two great shows this month including a return to Mornington Jazz Festival and a his debut at Davey’s Sunday Soultrain.

Wilbur Wilde became a household name during his 15-year run as member of the house band opposite Red Symons on Hey Hey It’s Saturday from 1984 through until the last episode in 1999. He has made many other TV appearances including on Countdown, The Paul Hogan Show, Blankety Blanks, Sale of the Century, Getaway, Spicks and Specks and The Russell Gilbert Show.

Wilbur Wilde fi rst rose to prominence as saxophonist with the bands Ol’ 55 and Jo Jo Zep and the Falcons. Over the years, he has performed with some of the biggest names in music including Skyhooks, Tom Jones, Split Enz, Roy Orbison, Cold Chisel, Dire Straits, the Angels and Paul Kelly.

From 1992 to 1999, Wilbur toured with The New Rocky Horror Show, contributing to more than 750 performances along the way. His CV also boasts a string of movie credits including Mad Max, Coolangatta Gold, Jenny Kissed Me, Dead End Drive-In, Cool Change, The Bit Part and Star Struck.

Wilbur has also enjoyed an enduring

career as a radio announcer with Melbourne stations 3XY, 3UZ, Gold 104 and Vega 91.5. His media experience extends to that of producer, writer, event and tour manager and music producer/director. In 2007, he was inducted into the ARIA Hall of Fame.

During the same year Wilbur had the honour of being an Australia Day Ambassador. He is also a past deputy chair of the Helpmann Awards Contemporary Music Panel. Wilbur Wilde has a large amount of media experience and is an unshakable master of ceremonies and keynote speaker.

Wilbur performs regularly with a number of bands including The Good Rockin’ Daddies, Jo Jo Zep and the Falcons, and his own outfi t, Wilbur Wilde’s Blowout.

Catch Wilbur Wilde and his band for some blues, soul and rock ’n’ roll as part of the Mornington Winter Jazz Festival at the Bay Hotel on Sunday June 7 followed by an encore performance for Sunday Soultrain at Davey’s Hotel in Frankston on Sunday 21 June. Both shows start at 3pm and entry is free.

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ROSCO G COMES OF AGEBy Terri Lee Fatouros

Rossco G has been gigging on the peninsula for well over 30 years now and his passion for his craft shines through. Imbuing genres of hill country, northern Mississippi, Louisiana south-land blues, swampy east meets west type of feel makes RG’s music stand out. In his words it’s a Harry Manx type feel where you get a lot of India Ragas and try and blend it all in.

Although he writes originals it’s his altered twist on favourites he does that makes people really listen to his music.

There are songs of love, of women, and family, especially about his mum who sadly passed away three years ago, and life’s experiences. In fact his mum introduced music into his life at the early age of six. A guitar was lying around so she taught him to play Little Brown Jug, a three chord wonder, and he had no idea it was about boot leg whiskey until much older. Then it made sense to him as he recalls seeing his mum have the occasional ole nip of whiskey. He laughs.

He had a normal childhood growing up in Noble Park where everyone was into music, bands such as Madder Lake, Masters Apprentices and Zoot. In those days, there weren’t skate parks or the internet so you had loads of live music.

Rosco is a solo artist who enjoys getting others gigging with him, depending on the size of the venue.

His best mate Shawnee is a drummer and Rossco claims he’s got charisma bigger than most of the venues down here and usually buzzes out the show.

Often he uses jazz orientated percussionist, Grant Miller but the day I caught up with him at beach 162, he had Peter Thorpe as his wing-man, a laid back yet animated and impromptu harp player whose musical accompaniment was notable.

Classics from Black Sabbath, Tom Petty, Deep Purple, Slayer, Stevie Wonder, System of a Down and even Sepultura were performed with such an incredible inventive twist that it wasn’t until halfway through the song, you clicked it was a cover. Peeps were having a ball at guessing. In fact the guys were so bloody good that everyone begged them to stay and ended gigging an extra 45 minutes overtime.

Over the years Rosco has had the opportunity to gig in Tasmania, New Zealand, Bali and Fraz-er Island, his favourite.

His band Swamp Box is currently having a six-month sabbatical allowing him and the other members time to pursue solo careers.

“When you got a big jungle going on with a lot of people, there’s a lot of hard work, lots of arrangements, and it can get a bit cluttered so I like to just keep it simple.”

“I suppose I come up with a riff, a tune or some-thing and think that’s sweet. So I’m always writing down these quotations and have bags of little bits of yellow paper. I drag them out and read them and think ‘yeah, that’s what happened, and OMG yeah that will fi t’ and it triggers a guitar riff or a set of tunes in my head.”

Rosco G is one of those unassuming talents whose been quietly shinning, but in reality should be blazing out there because the dude has really got something special going on.

This is one performer you best keep an eye out for. Rossco G and Peter Thorpe gig regularly around the ‘burbs and will be back at beach 162 in June. Check out Rosco G’s Facebook page.

beach 162 is located at 162 Beach St, Frank-ston. Call 9783 7109.

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THE WEEPING WILLOWSBy Lachlan Bryan

Local duo The Weeping Willows AKA Laura Coates and Andrew Wrigglesworth have been entertaining peninsula audiences for the past three years with regular performances at T’Gallant Winery, Pier 10, Baha Tacos, The Caravan Music Club and a whole host of city venues. They’re possibly the hardest working pair on the Melbourne Music scene.

In 2012 they released their debut album, Till The North Wind Blows, which was well received by fans and critics alike. This year they are taking things a step further and recording a follow-up album in Los Angeles, California with four time Grammy Winning producer Ryan Freeland, whose credits include Bonnie Rait, Ray

LaMontagne and Justin Townes Earle.

To raise money for their American recording adventure, The Weeping Willows are playing a series of shows through Victoria – including a special show opening for the world-renowned Iris Dement at The Thornbury Theatre. They are also running a crowd-funding campaign via pozible.com to give fans the chance to pre-order the album and special souvenir packages – all of which will help the project get over the line.

To fi nd out more about contributing, or to see where The Weeping Willows are playing next, see theweepingwillows.com.au or facebook.com/theweepingwillows

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MORNINGTON MORNINGTON HIT WITH A HIT WITH A JAZZ WAVEJAZZ WAVE


Getting home at 1.30 in the morning is part of the deal when you live the life of a jazz mu-sician, so that’s when I interviewed Australian export, New York based Adrian Cunningham.

With a reputation as one of the fi nest multi-in-strumentalists in jazz, Cunningham will perform as part of The Mornington Jazz Festival on Friday 5 June.

“I just got home from playing a gig at the Iguana with a wonderful 1920s style orchestra, Vince and the Nighthawks,” says Cunningham from his New York residence.

“I moved to New York in 2008, just wanting to soak up the city. America is the home of jazz, the best musicians in the world are here, and they have a lineage and a history that plays out in the music. It goes beyond technique and notes and becomes what you bring through your expression.”

Since moving to New York City, Cunningham has performed at some of the Big Apple’s fi nest clubs – Blue Note, Smalls, Birdland, 55 Bar, Apollo Theatre, Fat Cat, Dizzy’s Club (Lincoln Centre) and even a private event at the hal-lowed Village Vanguard; with such luminaries as Lew Soloff, Wycliffe Gordon, George Coleman Jr and Bucky Pizzarelli, and Chris Potter, and Renee Marie.

In 2014, he became the leader of the saxo-phone section of the Grammy-winning Vince Giordano and the Nighthawks, a NYC based 1920s swing orchestra; responsible for the soundtracks for TV show Boardwalk Empire and movies such as The Aviator.“One of my most memorable moments was playing at the Montreux Jazz Festival in Switzer-land, with a blues singer from New York called Sweet Georgia Brown. She has a presence that comes from diversity, and I learnt a lot from just seeing how she performs and connects with people,” says Cunningham.

“When I hear the great masters, there’s some-thing very deep, the passion for the music is there and the drive is there to be a part of that,” says Cunningham, whose love of playing music started when his mum bought an old piano when he was 11.

“My mum bought this piano out of the trading post, it was painted white and full of termite holes, but when I started tinkling on it, I loved it. The love for jazz came from my dad, who loved Fats Waller and Louis Armstrong. He played it around the house all the time. His friends would come round and they would have parties and we would mime along with the band.”

At the age of 16 he discovered a saxophone and clarinet laying around his school, picked them up and started playing. “It was then I made the connection with these instruments and my dad’s music. I would put his records on and play the clarinet to them.”

These days Cunningham is known for his ability to swap seamlessly between alto saxophone,

tenor saxophone, clarinet and fl ute. As well as playing all over the country with his own band, The Adrian Cunningham Quartet, he has also risen to be one of the most in demand freelance musicians in the country having played with numerous ensembles and celebrity artists from across the musical spectrum.

Cunningham says to be successful in the music industry takes strong faith and deter-mination.

“You have to believe it’s going to work out. I started a psychology degree and lasted six months because I knew I wanted to do music. Overall you have to be a little stubborn, make

the decision and just do it.”

A far cry from the days when he fi rst played piano at the local bowling club for $25 and a roast at the tender age of 16, Cunningham has set the stage on fi re with his performanc-es over the years, with rave reviews and sellout shows.

This will be Cunningham’s fi rst visit to the peninsula, although he tries to get back to Australia every year in March-April to tour.

He will be playing with the quartet at the Mornington Jazz Festival.

“This quartet gig will have two wonderful mu-sicians from Melbourne and a drummer from Sydney. We’ll be doing a lot of the traditional

jazz like the music of Louis Armstrong.

“There’s something beautiful about jazz, it’s the magic of its spontaneity, playing in a live jazz set you have four or fi ve guys playing at the same time, like a musical conversation.”

This year the people of the peninsula will get to experience the great talent of Adrian Cunningham, a gifted saxophonist, clarinet-tist, fl autist, pianist and composer, at our very own Mornington Winter Jazz Festival.

Adrian Cunningham and the quartet will be performing at The Rocks Mornington, Friday 5 June at 7pm. Tickets are $89 for a dinner and show.

See morningtonjazz.com.au/tickets

By Melissa Walsh


ROCKAPALOOZA – A TRIBUTE TO PEARL JAM, CHILLI PEPPERS & FAITH NO MORE

By Simon Mills

The Hallam Hotel explodes on Queen’s Birthday with a Rockapalooza triple bill bringing together the music of the 90s most infl uential hard rocking acts Pearl Jam, Red Hot Chilli Peppers and Faith No More. Australia’s boldest tribute bands rearviewmirror, Funky Monks and the Australian Faith No More Show come together in one super concert at one of Melbourne’s most iconic live music venues… The Hallam.

Pearl Jam is arguably one of the most infl uential rock bands in music history. A pioneer of the Seattle sound that defi ned rock music in the 90s, taking grunge to the masses and shaping rock history in the process. Australia’s number one Pearl Jam tribute show, rearviewmirror, nail the essence of the era that spawned their idols. With a pedigree more than 15 years playing the Melbourne live band circuit, rearviewmirror are now bringing their Pearl Jam experience to the fans nationwide.

Funky Monks - Australian Red Hot Chili Peppers Tribute pays homage to the ultimate funk rock quartet, the Red Hot Chili Peppers. A band who has transcended over three decades of chart topping success as well as having one of the largest cult followings in the world. With a set list spanning the history of the band including all of the chart topping smash hits, crowd favourites and cult classics, Funky Monks perform with a sound capturing the album recordings but still maintaining the energy of a RHCP live show.

Rounding out this show stopping grunge triple bill is the Australian Faith No More Show performing a faithful musical tribute covering all the familiar radio hits and the tracks that the true fans expect to hear at a FNM show.

It’s a night of non-stop 90s grunge featuring three big bands at one of Melbourne’s greatest live music venues. Funky Monks, rearviewmirror and The Australian Faith No More Show for Rockapalooza at Hallam Hotel on Sunday 7 June, 8.30pm.

Tickets available from The Hallam Hotel or Moshtix at moshtix.com.au

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This month I have the pleasure of composing my column here in Austin, Texas. I’ll be back before it goes to print of course, but it’s still a great thrill to refl ect on the music scene at home from the vantage point of one of the world’s greatest music towns, the home of South by Southwest.

Of course, Austin is famous also for being the hometown of Willie Nelson – grandfather of the outlaw country movement that inspired much of the music I cover for Mint. Whilst it seems all musicians are heroes in Texas, Willie is defi nitely king – his presence is everywhere from the Graffi ti on the sides of buildings to statues in town and portraits on the walls of bars, restaurants and even in hotel lobbies. He really started something – and took country music in a

direction it needed to go, particularly with his pivotal albums Shotgun Willie and The Red Headed Stranger. The outlaw aesthetic – a combination of redneck and hillbilly – is alive and kicking here in Australia, and one band of merry outlaws is making its way to Elsternwick’s Flying Saucer Club.

The Pigs, as they affectionately call themselves, have been blowing audiences away at country and folk festivals in Australia and Europe for over a decade. They’re a high energy roots/country act with a penchant for unusual covers, comedy songs and fi ne guitar and banjo picking. They’re playing the above-mentioned Flying Saucer Club show on Saturday 30 May, with tickets on sale now from the venue from $20.

Not so much an outlaw, but undoubtedly

spellbinding is Maitland born and bred singer-songwriter Melody Pool, who will be visiting our region for a show at Music on the Hill (MOTH) at the Red Hill Pavilion on Friday 5 June. I myself will be joining Melody for this show, and I’m looking forward to performing with her for the fi rst time in a couple of years. Tickets for the show are available from musiconthehill.com.au and you can read more about her in this very issue.

Finally for this month, it would be remiss of me not to make mention of the various upcoming shows worth seeing at The Caravan Club in Oakleigh, so often home to the best alt-country and Americana going round. It’s pretty hard to go past Anne McCue, who’s launching her new album Blue Sky Thinkin’ at the venue on Saturday 6 June.

Anne has lived in the USA for quite some time, but is an Aussie girl at heart, thoroughly deserving of our local support.

Whilst Anne’s the most country of The Caravan’s upcoming acts, I still recommend you check out caravanmusic.com.au for upcoming shows from the likes of Russell Morris, Mojo Juju, Chris Wilson and Shane O’Mara amongst many other fi ne acts.

Lachlan Bryan is primarily a singer-songwriter. His third album Black Coffee is out now. He also moonlights as a gifted observer and music journalist, writing monthly for Mint Magazine on all things folk/country/bluegrass. If you’ve got a new release, upcoming show or you’d like to get in touch with Lachlan, drop him a line at [email protected]

HIP TO BE COUNTRYBy Lachlan Bryan

162 beach street frankston ph: (03) 9783 7109w: beach162.com.au e: [email protected]

opens 7 days for breakfast lunch dinner

PRIZES FOR

BEST COSTUME

70’s & 80’s night with

“ripple effect”when: June 20th

at 6:30pmPrice: Price $35pp

(includes food) bookings essential

beach162


CROWDS of 8000 and up fl ocked to Roy Dore Reserve, Carrum, on the weekend to enjoy a taste of country at the City of Kingston’s annual Harvest Festival.

The ninth annual festival has its roots in the celebration of the autumn harvest dating back to British-Saxon times. This was a time when the success of a crop governed the lives of whole communities.

Kingston’s Harvest Festival entertained with non-stop music, fresh food and cooking demonstrations in the Harvest Kitchen, market stalls, locally produced food, licensed bar and amusements.

Crowds delighted to the sounds of country music as well as bluegrass and rockabilly artists on the Big Top stage. The line-up was headlined by Aussie rock legends Boom Crash Opera, alongside Jason Singh, Fiona Boyes and The Fortune Tellers and Lachlan Bryan and the Wildes.

Sustainable workshops in the Green Hub offered tips on home composting and worm farms, Eco-Mixpo displayed sustainable products, enthusiasts learned how to make recycled succulents, plant edible gardens, make mini-garden presents for mum, and blend their own smoothies.

Kids learned how to make their own billy carts in the Kids’ Marquee and wandering performers The Water Drops and Giant Scarecrows roamed the grounds.

Truck stage highlights included Dandy Man Circus and Comedy and Asking for Trouble theatre show.

“This year’s festival was a great event with one of the strongest turn-outs ever seen,” Kingston mayor Cr Geoff Gledhill said. “It wrapped up another successful Season of Festivals by the City of Kingston and was a chance for the community to come together

and enjoy some great music, food and entertainment.”

Harvest Festival was hosted by Kingston Council.

REAPING THE HARVESTKingston Harvest Festival

THE MAGIC WHIPBLUR(Parlophone)

Woo-hoo.

The fi rst album from Blur in 12 years means it’s been a long time between drinks since 2003’s Think Tank saw the band go on hiatus following the departure of guitarist Graham Coxon (although Coxon only played on one song on that album).

Think Tank was good but nowhere near peak Blur and it was a shame for Damon Albarn, Alex James and Dave Rowntree to go out without Coxon.

Happily the four are back together for eighth longplayer The Magic Whip, inspired by downtime in Hong Kong when festival dates were cancelled. Jams laid down during that time were rescued and put together by Coxon and regular Blur producer Stephen Street.

Albarn has always been the main man in Blur - moreso now he has solo success with Gorillaz, and despite his reluctance to record another Blur album, he was happy with Coxon’s and Street’s efforts.

(Blur have been playing ‘greatest hits’ sets globally for the past few years.)

There’s good news for fans who fear The Magic Whip will soil Blur’s legacy.

CHASING YESTERDAYNOEL GALLAGHER’S HIGH FLYING BIRDS(Sour Mash)

LORDY. Look at that album cover. It’s a bit drab. It’s everything critics of Noel Gallagher accuse him of being amid cries of “plodding dadrock”.

Thankfully no-one really cares much about album covers these days and thankfully Gallagher senior’s second album Chasing Yesterday is far, far better than the “a mate took a pic of me” cover.

In fact, Chasing Yesterday is a superior effort to Noel Gallagher’s High Flying Birds’ 2011 self-titled debut album in almost every way.

Noel notoriously scrapped an “experimental” album mixed by psychedelic dance producers Amorphous Androgynous – no longer The Future Sound of London – that was to be released alongside the more trad rock debut after he got cold feet about it.

Unlike its predecessor, Chasing Yesterday has fl ashes of experimentation but there’s nothing here that will scare the horses or hardcore Oasis fans.

Traditionalists will be satisfi ed with straightahead rockers such as You Know We Can’t Go Back and Lock All The Doors. A couple of songs from the aborted

It stands shoulder-to-shoulder with the likes of the critically-acclaimed 13 and Blur albums as a low-key but earworm laden set of songs.

(These fans are the same kind of fans who slammed the Pixies Indie Cindy comeback. Guess what? Surfer Rosa and Doolittle still sound great no matter what.)

Opener Lonesome Street is one of a couple of old school Blur ‘la la’ stompers - alongside Go Out and Ong Ong - but it’s the slower numbers such as Thought I Was A Spaceman and Pyongyang that linger longest in the listener’s mind.

Eight is the magic number.

NEIL WALKER

Amorphous Androgynous sessions have been rescued and are among the best stuff here – namely The Right Stuff and The Mexican.

And with the likes of former The Smiths guitar maestro Johnny Marr popping up on The Ballad of the Mighty I to add an extra spark, future Noel Gallagher moves should be interesting.

An Oasis reunion? Defi nitely maybe. It’s oh so easy to imagine little brother Liam’s sneer all over Lock All The Doors, for instance. Although that is a leftover from Oasis’ early days, apparently.

Liam’s Beady Eye band has split but Noel says he “can’t be arsed” to reform Oasis. Time will tell but Chasing Yesterday is here now.

NEIL WALKER


Mint Magazine, PO Box 588, Hastings, 3915Email: [email protected]

Dear Mint Magazine,Thank you for your letter dated 21st April 2015.

Your claim that you will use “rock vibes” to repel our attempts to disconnect your electricity was treated with great contempt by our disconnection department.

But, our attempts to disconnect your electricity remotely did not work.

We subsequently sent a technician for a site visit and he rang through to say you had wrapped the smart meter in what he described as “copious amounts of aluminium foil”.

Tampering with a smart meter is against the law and we must warn you against your actions.

Kind regards,

Combined Energy.

P.S. Can we please have our technician back?

Dear Mint Magazine,Imagine our surprise when we got off the P&O cruise ship at Mornington to be handed a fl ier to visit your “Rock Museum”.

We followed the address and found the “museum”.

Upon arrival we were confronted by someone who claimed to be a journalist.

He looked very spooked and his darting eyes were wide with fear.

He had what looked like a can of mace pointed at us, and the situation looked like getting ugly when someone who claimed to be a “doctor” rushed into the room and stood between us.

“The Doctor” then took us on the guided tour.

We were surprised and privileged to be

shown your “roadie fl ashlights through the ages” premier display, stretching from the Dolphin torch of the 1970s right through to the small but incredibly powerful LED vari-ants used today.

Probably the highlight was being shown was being shown the Thin Lizzy plectrum you have displayed under bullet-proof glass. It really was a once in a lifetime experience.

We have received an invoice in the mail for the tour. While $800 each seems a little high, we will endeavour to get your account paid as soon as possible.

Regards,

Barry Harminderstan

Dear Mint Magazine,We received your letter dated 23rd February 2015.

While it is not our policy here in North Korea to communicate with imperialist dog journal-ists and fuel their lying treachery, your letter did catch our eye.

Your request for a video hook-up was ac-commodated, and electricity was diverted from many apartment blocks in Pyongyang to power up the Commodore 64 in Glorious Leader Kim Jong Un’s offi ce.

While you submitted questions that were approved by the People’s Council, the ques-tions you asked were not on the approved list.

To ask the Supreme Leader of our country how long it took him to write Gangnam Style, and ask him to do the dance for you was the kind of disrespect that you will pay for with your lives.

Burn in hell, dogs of Satan,

Choi Kwang - Minister of People’s Armed Forces

YOUTUBE GEMSTHE BEST OF “NORTH KOREA’S GOT TALENT”

BRINGING PIANO ACCORDIAN BACKThese three girls signify the talent and star power that North Korea is fast becoming known for. Not only is it a hit in North Korea, but has become a number one single across the globe.

THE DIRECTION THAT ONE DIRECTION SHOULD HAVE TAKENIt is rumoured that this is the direction Zain wanted One Direction to go, creating the rift that saw him leave 1D. He knew the marketing potential that piano accordians would have.

JUST FOUR WORDS... JUSTIN BIEBER WATCH OUT!This guy makes JB look like a commercial failure. When it comes to superstars, nobody comes close to this guy. He is rumoured to have his own fashion line of baggy blue pants.

A HUGE HIT IN THE WESTNobody makes piano accordian as mainstream as this lady. She is reported on NK state TV to have sold out London’s Wembly Stadium for four straight years.

NORTH KOREA’S ANSWER TO NICKI MINAJThis lady shows Nicki Minaj a thing or two about music my doing her accordian interpretation of Anaconda. Hauntingly beautiful and mesmerising.


When Marcus Ward and Simon Burris combined their passion for craft beers and burgers with a dream to open a bar in Frankston, Humdinger was born.

Every corner of this pub with its old school hipster vibe has been lovingly crafted to create the perfect place for men, women and kids to sit, relax and enjoy the best burgers in town.

Marcus and Simon absolutely love Humdinger, and it shows, from the 50s style décor on the walls designed to feel like Grandma’s beachside holiday house, to the well thought out menu you eat with your fi ngers.

You won’t believe a burger could taste that

good until you try a Humdinger burger, with all fresh ingredients, wagyu beef, and in-house specialty sauces.

“When you sit down to one of our burgers you have to be prepared to get dirty,” says Simon. “And for beer lovers, our meals go perfectly with a beer, whether it’s one of the craft beers or a good old Carlton Draught on tap.”

Marcus agrees the best thing about the place is the casual atmosphere, where, like the name, it’s all just a bit of fun.

“It’s what a local pub is supposed to feel like, where you can walk in, have a beer and listen to some blues. There’s always something happening with trivia on Thursday nights that has become really popular, and

blues on Friday nights which is like a casual jam session with some blues greats,” says Marcus, who laughs about the amount of research he had to do on craft beers and pubs to get his project just right.

“It’s easy to create the perfect pub because we worked out what we like and went for it. This place is awesome, and was needed in Frankston. You have hipsters sitting enjoying a beer and burger, alongside families out for a meal. It just works,” he says.

Having been in hospitality for years, the boys felt the old Shakespeare’s Tavern was the perfect venue for their venture, and now the building with the well-known green door has a whole new look and feel.

“It took us six months to renovate the place, and now we have great indoor and outdoor eating areas, as well as a huge function and meeting room upstairs,” says Marcus, who has plans under wraps for stage three in the future.

Saturdays are Him vs Hum from midday till 2pm.

“Come in and do the burger challenge to see how long it will take you. So far the average is six minutes,” says Simon, of the triple stacked burger tower.

Humdinger is at 101 Young Street, Frankston.

Call 9783 1382.

See humdinger.com.au

BURGERS, BEERS AND BLUESBy Melissa Walsh


At the back of the Tavern, behind a hedge and a tall white gate, there is a quiet garden.In the garden are large shady trees. An oak holds centre stage but near it is an old palm tree, arbours of roses and scatterings of seasonal flowers.A brick pathway leads our brides to the centre of the garden. There, amongst family and friends couples

are married.This garden is a beautiful place to hold your wedding ceremony.

Call Laura our Functions Manager on 5983 2597 and organise a visit.

www.heritage3059.com.au

HeritageTavern & Restaurant

3059 Frankston Flinders Rd, Phone: 5983 2597 (Balnarring 3918 opposite the Balnarring Shopping Centre)


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To celebrate Good Beer Week, join the Red Hill Brew Crew and Red Hill Riders for an awesome day of trail riding and brewery visiting.

When you’re obsessed with beer and mountain biking, it’s only natural to combine the two and that’s what the social ride day is all about.

On Sunday 24 May, go along and enjoy some of the best trail riding on the doorstep of the Red Hill Brewery.

Starting at 9am, there are two rides available, catering to different abilities, and non-riders are welcome.

After a three to four hour ride, the group will gather for lunch and brews to share their stories and adventures.

If you’re a non-rider, bring your walking shoes and take a free walk or run along the track to coffee, shops or wineries.

Recently the trails of Red Hill have become accessible to mountain biking due to the

hard work of the Red Hill Riders mountain bike club.

Ride the trails that have been planned and groomed by the club, and are now world class MTB terrain.

Head along and try some of the best downhill action in Australia, right on the doorstop of a brewery.

For information and bookings phone 5989 2959 or see redhillbrewery.com.au/events

BEER AND BIKESBy Melissa Walsh

RED HILL BREWERY NOW OPEN EVERY FRIDAY, SATURDAY AND SUNDAY

Serving light lunches on Fridays with Red Gum BBQ in residence on weekends with low n slow southern style BBQ.

Ride With The Brewers Sun 24th MayJoin the Red Hill Riders MTB club to discover the hidden trails of Red Hill with the Red Hill brew crew. 9am meet followed by social lunch and beers. Queen’s Birthday Long Weekend BBQ & BEER

Sat 6th – Mon 8th June Red Gum BBQ smoking up a storm, specialty dark beers to match.

Brewer’s Secret Stash Sat 18th & Sun 19th JulyGet your hands on the Brewer’s secret stash of rare beers, our annual beerfest.

STAY AND PLAY AT THE BREWERY BREWER’S COTTAGE ALSO AVAILABLE

11am-6pm, 88 Shoreham Rd, Red Hill South. 5989 2959 [email protected]

searoadferries



By Melissa Walsh

FRESH, FORAGING AND FULL OF FLAVOR

When you grow up with a Nona and mum that love to cook, it’s bound to rub off, or so says MasterChef Professionals starring Michael Demagistris.

With some of his fondest memories being around food and the aromas from the kitch-en, Michael soon pursued a career as a chef and hasn’t looked back.

These days Michael works on the Mornington Peninsula and is bringing his passion for food to an Italian Masterclass in Sorrento.

“We are running the Friday night masterclass for around 60 people to demonstrate cooking techniques and enjoy a great meal together,” says Michael.

“Many of the dishes are inspired by my Nona, doing a lot of the dishes she used to cook when I was a lot younger, so I am bringing those dishes back with a modern twist.”

Michael has created a delicious menu for masterclass guests, starting with a char-cuterie style board.

“We will be doing things like bresaola, beef that has been cured, a variety of different cuts of meat, and a vegetable terrine to start,” says Michael.

“This goes great with polenta with black olive salt and Nona’s relish. The share platters will make it more like a family meal where all the food comes out together to enjoy as a group.”

For the main course, Michael will be demon-strating how to make that famously diffi cult risotto.

“Everyone thinks risotto is the death dish

and that’s certainly how it is perceived on MasterChef but, if you follow the right steps and use the correct ingredients, it shouldn’t be,” says Michael, who loves to forage on the peninsula and will be using wild mushrooms from Red Hill and Main Ridge in his risotto.

“My style is based a lot on foraging and the peninsula is a great for that with so many fresh herbs and mushrooms, especially the pine mushrooms.”

Michael says that it’s important for people to understand that cooking is seasonal and the tastiest dishes come from fresh ingredients that you have grown or foraged for yourself.

“Recently I went foraging in Red Hill and found pine mushrooms and slippery jacks which made a delicious mushroom stock. I’ve started making some great jams and pre-serves from local fruits as well to sell at our Sunday market stall after the masterclass,” says Michael, who has created a sensational fi g and earl grey tea jam and cumquat and botrytis jam. “You can use old school ingredi-ents and give them a modern twist.”

Being a chef has taken Michael to some in-credible places, most recently being fourth on the 2013 MasterChef Professionals series.

“MasterChef Professionals was a lot of stress but very positive. When you’re playing for a big prize, the goal is to win as I have always had a dream of opening my own restaurant.

“It was an amazing experience, meeting chefs like Marco Pierre and Matt Preston, and their feedback about my dishes was encouraging and positive.”

Michael says when he fi nally got down to the top six he thought he had a good chance to take out the title.

“When you get that close you understand you are really in with a chance and I was confi -dent with the dishes I was putting up. Even though I didn’t win, it was a great experience and I left on a high with Marco saying some amazingly encouraging things, to be proud of who you are and don’t give up on your dream.”

Taste of Sorrento Italian Masterclass and Dinner is on Friday 29 May at 6.30pm.

Cost is $70 pp plus drinks at Buckleys Chance, 174 Ocean Beach Road, Sorrento.

Call 5984 2888.

See buckleyschance.com.au


THE IMPORTANCE OF BEING MIRIAM MARGOLYES

By Andrea Loiuse Thomas

British-Australian actress, Miriam Margolyes, OBE, is an internationally renowned star of stage, screen and voice over with a biogra-phy and CV so extensive it would require ten printed pages from Wikipedia to reel it all off. Younger audiences may remember her as Professor Sprout in the Harry Potter fi lms while older audiences might have seen her BAFTA Award winning portrayal of Mrs Min-gott in The Age of Innocence or her brilliant stage performances in Dickens’ Women or I’ll Eat You Last. A virtuoso of comedic and dramatic talents, Margolyes is also well known for her wonderful wit, unpredictable interview replies and unvarnished political opinions.

I caught up with Margolyes before she ar-rives for her fi nal touring performance of The Importance of Being Miriam at Frankston Arts Centre on Sunday 24 May.

MINT: Does your love of literature and literary fi gures stem from your days at Newnham College, Cambridge?

I think it does, but not only from Cambridge because I was already reading voraciously when I was at school. I think the original spur toward literature is a temperamental thing which comes from my love of words and then afterwards when I went to school I read and read and read… Then when I went to Cam-bridge, I was taught beautifully and brilliantly by the professors there. That cemented my love of literature.

MINT: Dickens, Shakespeare and Wilde are clearly authors you love and rightly so, but would you consider a ladies of literature show? If so, whom would you choose?

Oh I certainly would except that I’m never going to do another one-person show. I’ve had enough of that. It’s just lonely. I’m very lucky I’ve got John Martin who is singing and playing piano with me on stage. That makes it so much nicer. Not that I wouldn’t enjoy and relish women artists and their work and there are so many. Of course the famous ones are the ones that interest me: George Eliot, Jane Austen, and the letters… Dorothy Wordsworth…There is a vast number of woman writers who are fascinating. I would probably like Gertrude Stein, but she’s not incredibly transparent to say the least. What lead me to Dickens so ferociously was being fascinated by the personality of the man him-self as well as the glory of the work. I’m not sure… I would think the Brontes, Elizabeth

Barrett-Browning…these are all fascinating women. I don’t really see a sexual divide. Words don’t have gender for me. They are universal.

MINT: Who are some of the characters of stage or screen you have most enjoyed portraying?

Really whatever I’m doing at the time is the one I’m enjoying most. I would defi nitely say not Professor Sprout because people think that if you’re in a Harry Potter fi lm that is the acme of one’s ambition. I loved playing Miss Havisham in Dickens’ Women. I enjoyed play-ing Lady Wishfort in The Way of the World and I enjoyed Mrs Hardcastle in She Stoops to Conquer. I also very much enjoyed playing

Sister George in The Killing of Sister George.

MINT: What is the biggest buzz about acting? What drives you?

I really like people. I’ve always wanted to con-nect with people. It’s a temperamental thing. I’m not frightened of people. I want them to be with me and share in an experience and I think people can feel that and think; ‘oh this is a friendly person. I can sit and listen to her.’ I like people and I want to make people happy.

MINT: We are delighted to have you come to Frankston Arts Centre for your last stop in The Importance of Being Miriam. Can you tell us something about this show that isn’t in the press releases?

Yes. Frankston is the very last stop in this show. I will not be touring it or performing it again. If they don’t see me this time, well, they just won’t get to see me. I hope people will think; ‘I better see her before she conks out.’ Truthfully, I’m not sure what’s in the press releases, but let me see…there are some disturbing things in the show when I’m asking the audience to confront their moral choices towards the end of the show and it does provoke some strong responses on occasion.

See The Importance of Being Miriam at Frankston Arts Centre on Sunday 24 May at 4pm. Bookings on 9784 1060 or thefac.com.au


By Andrea Louise Thomas

ART OF BEYONDMornington Peninsula Regional Gallery is showing a trio of exhibitions that examine art beyond the second dimension exploring the esoteric, metaphysical, spiritual and unknown.

Windows to the Sacred: An Exploration of the Esoteric looks beyond everyday human experiences into the wider universe probing into man’s quest for hidden knowledge through alternative spiritual practices and the possibilities therein.

Jo Scicluna’s Where We Begin focuses her lens on the power of photography to transport viewers and to provoke thoughts of what lies outside the frame. Her evocative peninsula seascapes bend expectations as she grapple to fi nd her own place in a new landscape.

Beyond Belief: Works from the Permanent Collection showcases prints drawings and paintings specifi cally selected to complement Windows to the Sacred. Artists and works chosen provide intriguing insights into the esoteric, surreal and spiritual in ways that inspire or elicit reaction.

See all three exhibitions from Friday 15 May to Sunday 12 July at Mornington Peninsula Regional Gallery, Civic Reserve, Mornington. See mprg.mornpen.vic.gov.au or call 5975 4395.

Left: Transcience Bride – Thor EngelstadBelow: Lucifer and the Goat of Mendes – Rosaleen Norton


New Zealand sculptor Phil Price recently won Frankston City’s People’s Choice Award for his beautiful wind-activated kinetic sculpture, Chrysalid. Price’s popular Tree of Life sculpture is on Peninsula Link at Cranbourne Road. How does such a monumental sculpture begin? Often it starts life as a small-scale piece called a maquette. McClelland Sculpture Park and Gallery welcome two new exhibitions this month. One of them examines this very process.

Andrew Rogers: A Retrospective: Maquettes 1996-2015 shows the systematic development of his abstract sculptures from concept to completion. Rogers creates complex metal sculptures he imbues with spiritual meaning articulating the cycle of life and the rhythms of the human journey. Bold, energetic and organic, Rogers makes sculptures that unfurl.

Elemental is an exhibition drawn predominantly from McClelland’s permanent collection. It explores natural elements: earth, air, fi re and water in all their beauty and devastation. Whether Andrew Brown’s

abstract point of view paintings, John Gollings stark aerial photograph or Dorothy Napangardi’s mesmerizing dot paintings, the work of all the artists in this exhibition is emotive and thought provoking.

See Andrew Rogers: A Retrospective and Elemental, along with Chrysalid and all the outdoor works along the sculpture trail at McClelland Sculpture Park and Gallery, 390 McClelland Drive, Langwarrin. Entry by donation. Open Tuesday to Sunday 10am to 4.30pm. See mcclellandgallery.com or call 9789 1671.

MAQUETTE TO MONUMENTALBy Andrea Loiuse Thomas

Frankston Arts Centre is a Business Unitof Frankston City Council

Tuesday 26 May, 3.30pm & 6pm

Tickets: Member $24, All other tickets $26 Duration: 60 minutes, no interval

Experience a programme inspired

by creativity, passion andartistic expression – the

first event presented underthe leadership of the

School's new Director, Lisa Pavane:

from home far fromChoreography: Lucas Jervies

Invisible IconChoreography:

Margaret Wilson

RaymondaVariations

Choreography: George

Balanchine

The Australian Ballet School

Left: Andrew BROWNE, Periphery #1 (LB) 2010, oil on linen, 198.0 x 147.0 cm. Collection: McClelland Sculpture Park+Gallery. Photography: Andrew Browne Below: Dorothy NAPANGARDI, Untitled 2005, acrylic on canvas, 244.0 x 483.0 cm. Donated through the Australian Government’s Cultural Gifts Program by Christopher Simon, 2011. Photography: John Brash. Courtesy of the artist and FireWorks Gallery.



WORDS BY THE BAY


IMAGINE UNDERSTANDING THE INSIGHT OF AN AUTHOR

Bayside Literary Festival started in 2008 as a one-week event devised to promote Library Week. One year later it burst out of libraries into local cafés and civic venues. From 2010, it became a chock-a-block weeklong readers and writers festival. Write Up Festival (2013) expanded to three weeks of lectures, writing workshops and author readings. Even then, some complained they just couldn’t get to all the events over three weeks.

In response to popular demand, 2014 welcomed a new and improved Bayside Literary Series: Words By the Bay. Expanding across several months, it presented a wide range of author talks, writing workshops, ghost tour and a writing competition and Father Bob Maguire and John Safran talking words to wild women, it was a feast for the literary senses. This year it gets even better covering everything from cooking to crime.

Words By The Bay 2015 launches Library Week at Beaumaris Library on Sunday 24 May from 2-5 pm. Go see what’s on offer in this year’s Bayside Literary Series and fi nd out who has won the Bayside Writing Competition. Bookings free at www.trybooking/117656

Imagine the conversation if a fi ction writer, some memoirists, a debut science fi ction novelist, and a leading children’s book author, who also happens to be an expert on dreams, all got together at the same time wrangled into conversation by a poet. Imagine the insights as they discuss everything from the bloody regime of the Khmer Rouge to the birth and death of innocence. Delving into criminal minds and metaphysical concepts, these local

writers have covered the entire spectrum of human experience from cradle to grave and beyond.

Imagine being able to ask anything you ever wanted to know about writing and getting a fi rst-hand insight into the creative process itself. Imagine yourself as a writer. If this sounds good, don’t miss Meet the Local Authors on Tuesday 26 May at Frankston Library when local poet Andrea Louise Thomas chairs a panel discussion asking leading

questions to unravel the writerly mind.

Come celebrate Library Week, listen, learn and ask away at Meet the Local Authors, Tuesday 26 May at 6pm. Tickets are $10 and must be pre-purchased at either Frankston Library, 60 Playne Street, Frankston, 9784 1020 or Carrum Downs Library, 203 Lyrebird Drive, Carrum Downs, 8773 9539. Email [email protected] or see library.frankston.vic.gov.au


NED KELLY COMES TO FRANKSTONBy Andrea Louise Thomas

Kelly is a captivating new play by young Queensland playwright Mathew Ryan. Weaving fact with legend and exploring themes of brotherhood, mateship and masculinity, this mesmerizing performance covers the last 24 hours of Ned Kelly’s life.

A raked stage without walls and nothing but a cage for a jail, the play’s action lies in its dynamic dialogue, eerie soundscape and the phenomenal acting skills of three young Brisbane actors led by

Matilda Award winning Steven Rooke as Ned Kelly. The priest who visits to administer last rites turns out to be Dan Kelly who wants to ask one last thing of his brother, but Ned does not wish to comply. The Kelly brothers were said never to see eye to eye.

Experience this gripping tale fi rst hand at Frankston Arts Centre on Saturday 16 May at 8 pm.

Bookings 9784 1060 or thefac.com.au

ART INVIGORATES FLINDERSBy Andrea Louise Thomas

Every Queen’s Birthday weekend the annual Flinders Art Show celebrates art. Exhibiting the fi nest in drawing, painting and printmaking, this show is a feast for the eyes. It attracts the best exhibiting artists by offering a wide variety of prizes, while at the same time including emerging artists thereby maintaining its ethos of open entry.

Over 350 entries are judged by top

professionals in the Melbourne art world, giving patrons a chance to purchase award-winning art at affordable prices. Run entirely by volunteer art committee members with the generous assistance of local businesses and community organizations, all parties work diligently to promote art and artists while raising much need funds for Peninsula charities. Over the past six years alone, more than $160,000

has been donated to local charities.

Ever charming MC Neil Mitchell kicks off the proceedings on opening night, Friday 5 June from 7-10pm. Tickets available at the door for $30 including canapés, wine, beer and door prize. Show continues Saturday and Sunday from 10am to 4pm and Monday from 10am to 2pm. See fl indersartshow.com.au


The Australian Ballet School’s aim is to produce artistic, educated and outstanding dancers of international standard. Under its three individual and inspiring directors – Dame Margaret Scott AC DBE, Gailene Stock CBE AM, and Marilyn Rowe OBE – it has remained the national centre for elite vocational classical dance training, and continues to train dancers of the highest calibre for The Australian Ballet and professional companies in Australia and around the world.

Many of its graduates have gone on to pursue distinguished careers in dance, teaching, choreography and artistic direction.

In 2015 The Australian Ballet School is delighted to showcase the talents of its remarkable students.

Audiences will be thrilled to experience a programme inspired by creativity, passion and artistic expression, the fi rst event presented under the leadership of the School’s new Director Lisa Pavane.

Performance details: Tuesday 26 May at 3.30pm and 6pmPrices: Member $24, all other tickets $26Booking info: thefac.com.au or call 9784 1060.

Short fi lms make can make long lasting impressions. Mornington Peninsula Shire is presenting fi ve culturally diverse short fi lms with unique Australian stories. Appropriate for all ages, these fi lms look at the lives and cultures of Turkish, Vietnamese, Chinese, Italian and Sudanese-Australians.

See the Cultural Diversity Short Film Festival on Sunday 7 June from 2.10-3.30pm or 3.30-4.30pm (two sessions) at The Studio @ Peninsula Community Theatre, 91 Wilsons Road, Mornington. Entry by gold coin donation, but bookings essential at eventbrite.com.au

Venue is wheelchair accessible and raffl e prizes are up for grabs.

THE AUSTRALIAN BALLET SCHOOL

CULTURAL DIVERSITY ON FILM

Frankston Arts Centre


Poltergeist(21st May)Sam Rockwell, Jared Harris, Saxon Sharbino

San Andreas(28th May)Dwayne Johnson, Alexandra Daddario, Colton Haynes

Tomorrowland(28th May)George Clooney, Britt Robertson, Judy Greer

Aloha(4th June)Emma Stone, Rachel McAdams, John Krasinski

Entourage(4th June)Adrian Greiner, Kevin Connolly, Kevin Dillon, Jerry Ferrara and Jeremy Piven, Billy Bob Thornton, Haley Joel Osment

Madame Bovary(4th June)Mia Wasikowska, Ezra Miller, Paul Giamatti

Hot Pursuit(11th June)Sofi a Vergara, Reese Witherspoon

Jurassic World(11th June)Chris Pratt, Bryce Dallas Howard, Vincent D’Onofrio

Inside Out(18th June)Amy Poehler, Bill Hader, Mindy Kaling

Minions(18th June)Sandra Bullock, Jon Hamm, Chris Renaud

Tangerines(18th June)Lembit Ulfsak, Elmo Nuganen, Giorgi Nakashidze

The Nightingale(18th June)Baotian Li, Xiao Ran Li, Hao Qin

The Transporter Legacy(18th June)Loan Chabanol, Lenn Kudrjawizki, Radivoje Bukvic

Far From the Madding Crowd(25th June)Carey Mulligan, Tom Sturridge, Matthias Schoenaerts

Love & Mercy(25th June)John Cusack, Elizabeth Banks, Paul Dano, Paul Giamatti

Ted 2(25th June)Mark Wahlberg, Seth MacFarlane, Jessica Barth

The Mafi a Only Kills in Summer(11th June)Cristiana Capotondi, Pif, Alex Bisconti

Terminator: Genisys(1st July)Emilia Clarke, Arnold Schwarzenegger, Jai Courtney

MC BRIAN NANKERVISFROM

3 JUNE 2015 5PM UNTIL LATEMerchant Lane, 58 Main Street, MorningtonTIX $5 AT DOOR Details [email protected] or Ph 5950 1716

EVENT PARTNERS

5PM Refreshments & Networking Session6PM Panel Discussion with

PATRICK DONOVAN CEO Music VictoriaJOHN WARDLE Policy Director Live Music Office SydneyAPRA/AMCOSIAN PAV PavMusic producer mentor & activator MARTY NELSON WILLIAMS Musician Cousin Leonard & Peninsula Songriders

Documents

Mint (issue 4) May/June 2015