Byron Bay Blog

International media correspondents from prestigious dive magazine Scuba Diver Australasia are flying out a team from Singapore to cover the 2009 Byron Underwater Festival to be held in Byron Bay from Monday 27th April to Sunday 3rd May.

With nearly $25,000 in prizes up for grabs, the Byron Underwater Photo and Video Shoot-Out is now the richest event of it’s type in Australia and offers one of the richest prize pools internationally.

This year’s Underwater Shoot-out promises to be the best yet as organisers extend the festival by adding an extra 2 days. Tim Hochgrebe, event organiser, says “Extending the festival in 2009, has allowed us to provide underwater photographers and videographers greater flexibility and time to capture that elusive award winning shot and video footage.” Tim also added “To help contestants in the 2009 shoot-out, once again we are bringing back to Australia renowned international underwater photographer Mr. Matthieu Meur to conduct beginners and advanced photo clinics early during the festival. This will allow photographers the opportunity to utilise their newly acquired skills during the competition.” Mr. Meur is a co-author of 2 books - An Essential Guide to Digital Underwater Photography and An Advanced Guide to Digital Underwater Photography and has his own underwater photography bible on the verge of being published in early 2009. Pre-release copies will be available at the festival.

Inductee to the International Scuba Diving Hall of Fame, Neville Coleman of Queensland, has also confirmed a third appearance at the 2009 Underwater Festival. Organisers of the festival are proud to have Neville Coleman back next year. Neville is the author of over 50 books - his latest the massive Nudibranchs Encyclopedia - and well known for his passion for the underwater world and the small and unusual critters it contains. As an Honorary Fellow of the Australian Institute of Professional Photography, Neville has once again been invited as a guest judge in the 2009 Underwater Photo and Video Shoot-out and he will also be conducting a full Underwater Naturalist course over the first two days of the festival.

We all know, Byron Bay is one of Australia’s most popular holiday destinations and everyone knows about its beautiful beaches, the great surf and famous festivals. However, not many realise what beauty lies beneath the water’s surface or that Julian Rocks, located only 3 kms off the beach, and is one of Australia’s top 10 dive sites. This is where tropical and temperate currents meet, resulting in a unique mixture and incredible abundance of marine life including 3 species of turtles various rays, friendly sharks and over 500 other species of fish. Macro life is abundant with nudibranchs, crabs and snails, various coral and sponge species as well as sea stars, feather stars and urchins. In May water temperatures are still up (21 to 24C) and it is a quieter time of the year in Byron Bay, a great time to visit!

The Byron Underwater Festival is aimed at everyone wanting to experience, for themselves, the wonderful marine environment of Cape Byron Marine Park - whether it be to learn more about it, dive it, snorkel it, kayak it, photograph it … or even paint it.

Other activities and events include marine wildlife presentations by a number of reputable speakers, snorkeling, introductory dives, kayaking with dolphins and an Underwater Art competition. The Marine Visions art competition & exhibition, held in association with Retrospect Galleries, is a celebrated forum open to photographers, painters and sculptures of all ages. This is a fantastic opportunity to display and sell their work over the course of the festival and be in the running to win over $5000 of great prizes including cash, a full PADI Open Water Course, framing and printing and much more.

There will be something for everyone and fun for the whole family with many FREE events and activities.

For more info and bookings go to http://www.underwaterfestival.com.au

Planula :: Jan.18.2009 :: Activity, Byron Bay, Culture, Entertainment, Environment :: No Comments »

Dates and venue confirmed, no announced lineup as yet but tickets are on sale now.

The 20th Annual Bluesfest
Easter Weekend 2009 - April 9-13
Belongil Fields, Byron Bay, NSW

Plenty of people come to Byron each year for the Blues Festival - some come for the first time.

Here’s my ‘early bird’ tips;

1. The Easter long weekend (the Bluesfest weekend) dates fall in the school holidays - this will result in making it harder to find accommodation.

2. The Blues Festival week is a peak season period for Byron Bay, accommodation will be expensive. For budget options, look at camp sites &/or nearby towns & villages (Lennox Head, Ballina to the south / Brunswick Heads up to Kingscliff to the north).

We recommend you visit www.byronbay.com if you want to book direct or www.byronstyle.com.au if you want to use a booking service.

3. As tickets are usually available for months after they go one sale, the order of priority for you if planning to come to the festival should be;

i) Get your group together.
ii) Start looking at accommodation options - secure suitable accom.
iii) Sort out your transportation to Byron
iv) purchase tickets

If you leave this too long you will end up having to do it all at once.

The sooner you start, the easier it will be.

rick :: Oct.30.2008 :: Australia, Byron Bay, Byron Bay News, Culture, Entertainment :: No Comments »

Following the overwhelming success of the inaugural reggae festival Raggamuffin, fans will be delighted to hear it’s happening all over again with Raggamuffin 2009.

Ziggy Marley, Eddy Grant, Ali Campbell, Shaggy, Arrested Development, Inner Circle and Bonjah will perform at six events nationally and one in New Zealand, kicking off on January 24 in Perth.

Raggamuffin played to more than 70,000 ecstatic fans through February this year, emphatically proving that reggae is alive and well! This year’s event again offers a six hour musical feast of the world’s best reggae artists, with a healthy dose of funk, dub, hip hop and soul. It will be the first ever visit to Australia by Eddy Grant.

So there you have it… seven great bands providing a veritable musical reggae feast, welcome to Raggamuffin 2009! Check out the website www.raggamuffin.com.au for all the details.

rick :: Oct.28.2008 :: Activity, Byron Bay, Culture, Entertainment :: No Comments »

An inspired paradise brimming with blissful music

Described by legendary Australian composer Peter Sculthorpe as “the most
exciting festival, outside a capital city…” the Bangalow Music
Festival combines world-class musicians with captivating programming,
delicious food and a festive atmosphere all surrounded by the
sub-tropical beauty of the heritage township of Bangalow, NSW.

Opening on Friday 29 August and running through until Sunday 31 August,
the program for the Festival comprises a colourful and dramatic range of
musical styles, from renaissance song, through the delights of Haydn,
Beethoven, Chopin and Schubert, to the drama and electricity of Hartmann
and contemporary Australian music by Brett Dean, James Ledger (Southern
Cross Soloists’ Composer in Focus for 2008) and Gerard Brophy.

The Festival welcomes several top performers making their debut at
Bangalow this year, including Ian Munro, piano; Graeme Jennings, violin;
Julian Smiles, cello; Kees Boersma, double bass; and young pianist,
Denny Liu, from New Zealand.

Also performing at the Festival for the first time will be Southern
Cross Soloists2, an initiative of Southern Cross Soloists and the
Queensland Conservatorium Griffith University. Students of the same
instrumentation as Southern Cross Soloists are auditioned to take part
in this mentoring program, creating a ‘mini-version’ of the existing
music ensemble, with the addition of a flautist.

Favourite Bangalow guests returning to the stage this year include
guitarist Slava Grigoryan, the renowned Grainger Quartet, violist
Patricia Pollett, the Queensland Choir and members of the Bangalow
Festival Chamber Orchestra.

BANGALOW MUSIC FESTIVAL 2008

Friday 29 to Sunday 31 August

Concert Venues:

Concerts 1 to 8: A&I Hall, Station Street, Bangalow, NSW,

Concert 9: St Kevin’s Church, Deacon Street, Bangalow, NSW

Seating is limited to 300. Tickets range from $45 (single ticket) to
$260 (single nine-concert subscription)

W: www.southernxsoloists.com

rick :: Jun.25.2008 :: Australia, Byron Bay, Culture :: No Comments »

May through August each year sees Byron Bay host a wide variety of events & festivals - something for everybody.

30 April - 4 May : Byron Underwater Festival, visit www.underwaterfestival.com.au.

4 May : Winter Whales Ocean Classic, 2.2km Ocean Swim, visit www.byronswimclassic.com.

10 May : Byron Bay Triathlon, Olympic Distance Triathlon, visit www.byronbaytri.com.

May 24 - June 1 : FEHVA, The festival for art lovers and artists, visit www.fehva.com.

25-27 July : Byron Bay Writers Festival, visit www.byronbaywritersfestival.com.au.

2 & 3 August : Splendour in the Grass, tickets on sale in May, visit www.splendourinthegrass.com.

So if you’re interested in the ocean, fitness, art &/or music - and looking for an excusse to visit Byron this winter, I suggest you start planning now.

rick :: Apr.09.2008 :: Activity, Australia, Byron Bay, Byron Bay News, Community, Culture, Entertainment :: Comments Off

“Rosella Jam” is a community a’cappella choir dedicated to creating an
opportunity for all people to experience the power of singing together.

It has only recently become common knowledge that the health benefits of
singing are outstanding, both physically and psychologically.

Rosella Jam hosts “SING OUT” Weekend Getaways which are open to the public
and are held at varying popular holiday locations throughout Northern N.S.W.
and S.E. Queensland.

“SING OUT” weekends provide a unique and valuable outlet for artistic
expression. They encompass singing, good food, excellent accommodation and
the opportunity to get away from it all for a couple of days.

The weekends are for people who wish to treat themselves, connect, have fun
and sing their hearts out while at the same time giving their immune system
a healthy boost.

ALL are welcome!

The next singing weekend will be held at the luxurious 4-star Peppers
Casuarina Lodge in the Byron Hinterland. The fun commences Friday night on
30th May at 7.00pm and finishes at 3pm on Sunday afternoon the 1st June.
This is an unbeatable value for money weekend.

Contact: Marsha Gusti 07 55982880 Email: mgusti@bigpond.net.au FOR MORE
INFO www.rosellajam.com

rick :: Feb.14.2008 :: Activity, Australia, Byron Bay, Byron Bay News, Culture :: No Comments »

The Byron Bay Safety Committee has again been formulating the program for a safe community event for this years new years eve in Byron Bay.

With the success of recent years low key, community based, alcohol free, new year event, the same formula is planned for this year to ensure a safe night. said Chair of the committee, Mayor Jan Barham.

Council has again resolved to provide a safe environment by the use of alcohol prohibition on the streets and parks in both Byron Bay and Brunswick. The format for NYE in Byron Bay will proceed as it was last year, focussing the event on the beachfront reserves and minimise the impact on local businesses.

The committee is also calling for stallholders to make an expression of interest to have food and craft stalls on the night and an opportunity for community groups to have free stalls to showcase their work and activities. Details of how to apply are available on Councils website and via advertisements

The event will commence at 3pm with childrens activities and market stalls at the beach front. The popular parade will feature again and there is a request to the community to join in by starting to prepare costumes and group presentations

This year the support of Byron United is welcomed and there is a strong spirit of cooperation to provide for a safe, community friendly NYE in Byron Bay. Licensed venues in Byron Bay will again provide exciting events but these are ticketed and size limited, so those wanting to celebrate the night will need to get in quick to ensure they get a ticket. Many restaurants in town will also be open and also require booking said Cr Barham.

The committee thanks those local performers who have offered their talents for the night and buskers are invited to apply to perform on the night. The Safety Committee also appreciates the generous donations from businesses for prizes for the parade and is hoping that there may be other support offered to assist in the provision of necessary infrastructure for the night.

If you are still looking for accommodation over New Years Eve, visit our Still Available for NYE Accommodation Guide.

rick :: Dec.04.2007 :: Activity, Australia, Byron Bay, Community, Culture, Entertainment :: No Comments »

The 19th annual East Coast Blues & Roots Music Festival (AKA Byron Bay Blues Festival) is on 20 - 24 March 2008.

The BIG NEWS is that the Blues Festival is moving (back) to Belongil Fields. A much bigger venue and the camping will be onsite.

However - like Splendour in the Grass has discovered, Belongil Fields is in the process of being re-zoned, so we can expect the move to be short lived.

With two great festivals in Byron each year- and Belongil Fields being re-zoned… a permanent festival site in Byron Shire has become an important issue.

The Splendour crew seem to be the most organised having purchased land at Yelgun and are in the process of consulting the community and lodging their DA. The Blues Festival organisers have bought land at Tyagarah, but as far as I know haven’t officially announced their intention to hold the Blues Festival on it.

rick :: Aug.13.2007 :: Australia, Byron Bay, Byron Bay News, Culture, Entertainment :: No Comments »

will take place Aug 31 - Sept 2nd, and Sept 8th, in Bangalow, NSW.

Please check the web site for the huge program of nonstop concerts, panels, workshops, exhibits, activities, resources and more!

Attached you’ll find the press release about the first event - the Fatherhood Concert on August 31st featuring LIOR & KEV CARMODY.

Keep your eye out for info on the special panel on September 8th featuring 2006 Father of the Year TERRY HICKS.

Visit: www.fatherhoodfestival.com for all ticket info and schedules.

rick :: Jul.20.2007 :: Australia, Byron Bay, Community, Culture, Entertainment :: No Comments »

It was a cold and stormy night… but still plenty of people turned out for the annual lantern parade and fiery finally in Lismore (Northern NSW, Australia) last Saturday night.

This Northern NSW festival started in 1994, it’s got a ton of community support - a great night out for the whole family.

rick :: Jun.25.2007 :: Activity, Byron Bay, Community, Culture, Entertainment, Video :: No Comments »