Jason Delphin, one of the acts on at The Rails.

The Rails Gigs

These are strange days indeed but you can still have a beer and a tune, as you have always done, at Byron’s iconic Railway Hotel, aka The Rails. You still can’t dance, but you can have a boogie in your seat with Matt Armitage on Thursday, sway to the reflective tunes of singer-songwriter Jamie Ashforth on Friday and jiggle your jubblies with Devil’s Kiosk on Saturday. Sunday’s player is still to be announced, but Jax Haze plays on Monday, Tuesday is Jason Delphin, and Wednesday is Simon Meola.

Dark Science is on again at The Quad in Lismore

What’s On at the Quad

Dark Science returns to The Quad this August. Last year Dark Science burst out of the blocks offering a packed weekend of arts and science experiences throughout the Quad. In 2020, owing to COVID-19, Dark Science will be more stealth-like in its activities, existing online and with some limited public events that will require registration if you would like to attend. The event will be focusing on Indigenous Astronomy, night-time critters, deep-sea marine life and plant regeneration strategies around our region.

Current Exhibitions include Ross Manning’s Dissonant Rhythms until 16 August, and Paulette Hayes’ powerful installation Control. Abuse. Kill. She’ll Be Right, Mate! addressing the normalisation of domestic violence through the dominant culture of toxic masculinity.

Her show runs until 23 August. For more info go to lismorequad.org.au

Check out the work of Bianca Pintan at her open ceramics studio, opposite 5 Evans Street Byron Bay.

Meet the Maker: Beautiful Ceramics

Bianca Pintan opens her ceramics studio in Byron Bay with original creations available for purchase at wholesale prices. Bianca is inspired by the imperfections inherent in nature and the materials available within the realm of her immediate landscape.

Bianca uses the power of uncomplicated simplicity. Some pieces are created to be purely decorative sculptures – others to be vessels of functionality. It is a raw and organic hand shaped ceramics collection, created to anchor us in the here and now. Vases, platters, plates, wine cups (as seen in Luna Wine Store), coffee cups, jewellery bowls, fruit bowls, salad bowls, and more…

Bianca’s studio is opposite 5 Evans Street, Byron Bay (a short walk from The Topshop).

Find her on Instagram: @beceramicsart    | www.beceramicsart.com/open-studio

Jacques Barrett headlines Comedy at the Beachy, at the Beach Hotel on Wednesday 19 August at 7pm.

Comedy at the Beach Hotel

It seems 2020 has redefined how we see the world. The world we once lived in was BC – ‘Before COVID’. We are currently DC ‘During COVID’ – and that being so, things have changed, and a lot of us are trying to adjust the way we live and the way we work to beat this stupid virus. One thing we need to do is look after our mental health; laughter has never been more important – and guess what? No one can dance to comedy, so a comedy show, with one solo comic up at a time, totally meets the social distancing guidelines! And beats the blues too!

Last year Mandy Nolan worked with the Beach Hotel to bring free comedy to the stage. It was a huge success, with hundreds of long-time locals coming out for a laugh. The Beach Hotel are keen to reinstate some hug-free humour with a double feature of local legend Mandy Nolan and Sydney-based comedian, Jacques Barrett.

Mandy is loved for her ability to work topical humour into her routine. Nolan should have been at Edinburgh Festival now, and while she’s disappointed, she’s over the moon about being back in front of a live crowd again.

Jacques Barrett has spent the last two years honing his stagecraft on the world stage with a tour of South East Asia, South Africa, Romania, Prague, Switzerland, Estonia, Finland and a full 12 months on the tough UK comedy circuit. He’s come back a bona fide international headliner with a reputation as the guy who flies and never dies. His defining strength is his ability to adapt to the crowd and throw consistently sharp, relentless comedy blows. Jacques weaves character renditions into social commentary, with strong performance skills and well-written material for some poignant hilarity that leaves crowds laughing long after the curtains have closed. His apprenticeship is complete, he’s a Jedi now, and he’s not to be missed.

This is a free show at the Beachy, on the big stage, on Wednesday 19 August 7–9pm. Be there early to get your seat.

Drop by and support local arts!

The Mullumbimby Clayworkers Gallery has reopened

Freshly curated with an updated collection of members’ work that includes both functional and sculptural ceramics.

Located in the Drill Hall complex, the gallery is currently opening Fridays and Saturdays 10am–2pm. Drop by and support local arts!