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 »

The Grates are visiting Byron Bay as part of their record launch tour. I’ve enjoyed them each time I’ve seen them at Splendour, my kids are fans - so their CD is on high rotation in our car.

If you’ve seen them before - I’m sure you’ll try and catch their show at the Northern on October 5.

Here’s what their press release had to say;

The Grates’ live shows have now become stuff of legend. Patience’s dancing style has its own patent, Alana’s smile is always infectious and John is the captain of their musician-ship. You never know quite what to expect, as Winter Wonderlands, party balloons and colourful capers fill the stage. Their recent Surprise Parties where the unusual locations weren’t revealed until 48 hours before the show are testimony to the fact that The Grates never stick to the norm!

With their upcoming new album “Teeth Lost, Hearts Won” already getting young hearts a flutter ahead of its early August release, The Grates get ready to give fans a coronary with the announce of a major national tour throughout October.

rick :: Sep.24.2008 :: Activity, Byron Bay, Byron Bay News, Entertainment :: No Comments »

I had a blast again this year - got a big kick from seeing DEVO. The rest of my family enjoyed The Grates, The Panics, Band of Horses, Operator Please, etc. The weather was warm & dry, the food was great… all up an excellent festival. Read the official Splendour wrap up and we’ll do it all again next year.

Here’s what the organisers had to say…

What a weekend! In what has been described as the biggest, best Splendour in the Grass ever, over 17,500 music fans congregated over the weekend in Byron Bay to celebrate a musical and cultural extravaganza featuring the very cream of international and Australia music artists, art, theatre, markets, food and culture.

Byron locals The Black Stars kicked off musical proceedings on Saturday and the vibe and the energy never stopped. At the Big Top stage, a cranked up crowd saw Gold Coast teen superstars Operator Please give us a glimpse of our musical future. Leeds funksters The Music and Scottish melody makers The Fratellis, and the world’s hottest new band US-based The Cold War Kids showed exactly why we should believe the hype, while rock gods Gyroscope and The Galvatrons performed storming sets that kept the Aussie flag flying against the bright blue skies. The Living End capped a comeback year with a set of epic proportions before Devo came, saw and conquered with a set featuring their old hits - complete with yellow jumpsuits and flowerpot heads, as if the eighties were reborn.

Over at the Grant McLennan Stage, indie favourites The Drones, powerhouse chanteuse Claire Bowditch and US bearded wonders The Band of Horses sang songs of breath taking beauty and depth. The Polyphonic Spree with their choir of 18, completed the evening with a hands in the air, hands on your heart spiritual experience.

Over at the Mix Up Tent, our socks were rockin’, our buns were shakin’ and our feet never stopped movin’. NZ’s Scribe and Bliss N Eso played music with a message, while Australia’s Pnau, complete with dancing fruit showed us why Elton John had recently become enamoured with their music. The enigma that is Tricky took the crowd on a dark and light musical journey to finish off the night.

On Sunday, the great vibe and brilliant weather continued. At the Big Top, Melbourne’s British India showed why they are Australia’s band to watch, US band Vampire Weekend had the crowd jumping with their afro beat while Liverpool UK’s The Wombats stormed home with a set which made them the most talked about band this weekend. Iceland’s Sigur Ros, whose epic tunes and soaring melodies lifted the audience to a higher place while Wolfmother, held their status as Australia’s top rock band.

At The Mix Up Tent, Katalyst lived up to his reputation of rocking the house right, while other highlights were the UK’s New Young Pony Club, and The Presets, who complete with pink tuxes and bowties showed why they are one of the biggest bands in Australia, with a cranking set.

The GW McLennan Tent continued to showcase the world’s best songwriters. The crowd gave it up for former Go-Between Robert Forster and home grown favourites The Panics, while Mr Ben Lee, with his quirky charm rounded off the night with a beautiful soulful set of soaring beauty.

This year Splendour upgraded their medical response team by using Queensland’s largest provider of first aid services, Emergency First Aid Services, to provide a comprehensive care package for patrons.

Stephen Barnes (Emergency First Aid Services Representative) said, “Most treatments were for minor complaints, such as blisters, cuts and abrasions. A doctor was on hand to care for a few pre-existing medical conditions that presented throughout the weekend, and thanks to this, transports to hospital were well down on last year’s event.”

So as the sun sets on Splendour’s final year at Belongil Fields before we move on to our new home at Yelgun for 2009, we say goodbye to another year of amazing music, incredible vibes and the most fun you can cram into a weekend.

See you next year & thanks for the memories!

Splendour in the Grass Team

rick :: Aug.05.2008 :: Byron Bay, Byron Bay News, Entertainment :: No Comments »

The fourth East Coast ‘Movers & Shakers’ Backgammon Tournament will be held at the Bangalow Bowling Club on 18 and 19 October 2008.

The Backgammon Tournament is the idea of local backgammon players; Hamish Whetstone, Jake Rozenthal and Neil Young, and like last year, they hope to attract interest from interstate backgammon players but they also hope to bring together all the backgammon players living locally in the shire. “There are many backgammon tournaments played over the internet, but we felt like a real competition between real players sitting opposite each other would be a lot more fun” said Hamish from his Mullumbimby home, where he plays backgammon every week with a group of friends “We hope it will bring together the local backgammon community like it has for the last two years”.

The tournament costs $70 to enter with all entry fees returned as prize money once costs are covered – this is a not for profit event. There will be two days of backgammon competition. Day one is a ‘Swiss Qualifier’ where everyone plays six opponents and then the 16 players with the most wins qualify for a Knockout Final on day two (this is a double-elimination final, which means you are not knocked out until you have lost twice). There will be a state representative competition and on day two there will be a consolation competition for those that didn’t quality and plenty of blitz rounds (small round robin competitions) for those that are knocked out or can only attend for one day.

Contact bbblot@hotmail.com for more information or phone Hamish on 0413 564 838

As Tim from PLANULA Bed & Breakfast Retreat in Byron Bay is a keen Backgammon player and part of the tournament, PLANULA offers 10% off accommodation for tournament participants for any stay including the tournament dates - and if you beat Tim during the tournament (in Backgammon that is) you will get another 10% off - now that’s confidence. But better be quick …

Planula :: Jul.14.2008 :: Activity, Byron Bay, Community, Entertainment :: 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

The dates and venue for the 2008 Splendour Festival have just been announced: 2 & 3 August at Belongil Fields, Byron Bay.

Here’s the press release;

OK music lovers. It’s time to dust off your dancing shoes and put these key dates in your calendar for the much-anticipated SPLENDOUR IN THE GRASS event for 2008.

SPLENDOUR IN THE GRASS will return this winter, Saturday August 2nd and Sunday August 3rd, to be staged in the beautiful sub tropics of Northern NSW’s Byron Bay.

And despite efforts to stage the forthcoming event at the proposed new site of North Byron Shire Parklands, organisers can confirm that SPLENDOUR IN THE GRASS will for this year be held at Belongil Fields in Byron Bay, where it has been staged successfully for the past 7 years.

Now in its 8th year, SPLENDOUR IN THE GRASS will continue to deliver performances by some of the finest music acts in Australia and around the world.

Tickets for the 2008 SPLENDOUR IN THE GRASS will be on sale in May with first artists on the line-up to be announced late April. Watch this space for all this and more.

To keep up to date with festival information visit www.splendourinthegrass.com

For a wide choice of available accommodation visit our Splendour Accommodation Guide

I can’t wait!

rick :: Mar.19.2008 :: Activity, Australia, Byron Bay, Byron Bay News, Entertainment :: 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 »

Ragga Muffin Show Added For Red Devil Park, Byron Bay

Sunday February 17 – RED DEVIL PARK, BYRON BAY, Corner Bangalow and Broken Head Roads (*subject to council approval)

Doors Open 4pm, music from 5pm. General Admission tickets $112.50

Put UB40, The Wailers, Maxi Priest and Arrested Development together and what do you get? Well, first up, six hours of fantastic music! And that’s exactly the musical feast on offer at Raggamuffin, an innovative new event showcasing the best in reggae music, with a healthy dose of funk, dub, hip hop and soul!

Feedback to the Australian and New Zealand tour dates for Raggamuffin has been fantastic, and now, by popular demand, an extra show has been added at Red Devil Park, Byron Bay on Sunday February 17 (*subject to council approval).

Known as the long-time home to the Blues and Roots Festival, the venue is the ideal home for Raggamuffin and this first class line-up of bands!

Promoter Andrew McManus said: “I’ve toured UB40 three times through Australia and New Zealand and they never cease to amaze me with just how good they are and how much their fans love them. That’s where the idea of Raggamuffin came from. Reggae lovers rarely get a chance to see the music they love and that’s really the driving force behind putting this event together. We hope we can do it annually.”

Headlining the very first Raggamuffin will be UB40, arguably the world’s most popular reggae band. Their combined single and album sales are in excess of 70 million, which puts them in that elite category populated by the likes of The Police & Robbie Williams. They’ve had a staggering 51 hit singles, which is more than ANY other British outfit apart from Status Quo (and, yes, that includes The Beatles, The Rolling Stones, U2 and everyone else); and they’ve had Number 1 smash hits in virtually every chart on the planet.

There’s no doubt the eight boyhood friends of English, Scottish, Irish, Yemeni and Jamaican parentage from the inner-city areas of Birmingham, have done as much to popularise reggae globally as Bob Marley himself.

UB40’s best-known songs – ‘One In Ten’, ‘Many Rivers To Cross’, ‘Cherry Oh Baby’, ‘I Got You Babe’, ‘Don’t Break My Heart’, ‘Rat In Mi Kitchen’, ‘Kingston Town’, ‘Red Red Wine’ – always have audiences in fine voice.

Their last album, the acclaimed ‘Who You Fighting For’ was nominated for a Grammy as 2006’s Best Reggae Album. The band are currently in the studio in the UK recording their new album, which will be out in time for the Australian tour.

UB40 are pleased to have the extraordinary THE WAILERS join them on the bill for Raggamuffin.

Famed for co-starring with Bob Marley on all of his hit records and stage shows, THE WAILERS are the most celebrated reggae outfit of all time. Their live show consists of classic hits like ‘Buffalo Soldier’, ‘I Shot the Sheriff’, ‘Is This Love’, ‘No Woman No Cry’, ‘Exodus’, ‘Jamming’, ‘One Love’, ‘Get Up Stand Up’ and the list goes on and on….

Raggamuffin is pleased to welcome veteran recording artist MAXI PRIEST to the line-up.

Born in Jamaica, and raised in the UK, Maxi first gained worldwide recognition with the release of ‘Maxi’ (1988). Recorded in Jamaica with legendary musicians Sly Dunbar, Robbie Shakespeare, and Willie Lindo, it contained the hit singles ‘Some Guys Have All the Luck’ and a cover of the Cat Steven’s classic ‘Wild World’.

ARRESTED DEVELOPMENT lit up audiences when they were last in Australia supporting INXS and Simple Minds in March this year. The two-time Grammy winners are back in action with a great new album ‘Since The Last Time’. The eight-piece band’s music shook the bootys, hearts and minds of listeners across the planet with hits like ‘Mr Wendal’, ‘Miracles’, ‘Everyday People’ and ‘Tennessee’ along the way to selling five million albums - it’s good to have them back!

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

rick :: Nov.30.2007 :: Activity, Australia, Byron Bay, Byron Bay News, Entertainment :: No Comments »