What’s On In Newcastle? The Bennies, Newcastle City Night Markets, Flurolink Run & Ocean Film Festival

by kirsty on March 13, 2014

Thursday 13th March

The Bondi Cigars @ Lizottes

Sharing Hits From ‘The Bondi Cigars, The Hippo’s, The Foreday Riders, & The Nervous Investors” A night of Legendary Australian Rhythm & Blues – Not to be missed

Set 1: The Lez Karski Trio Set 2: The Shane Pacey Blues Trio Set 3: A combined set featuring Bondi Cigars, Hippos and Foreday Riders classics and more …

Although Lez Karski left The Bondi Cigars in 1993, there are many who still fondly remember the fiery combination of Lez and Shane’s guitar and vocals in full flight. And while Karski and Pacey have crossed musical paths occasionally over the ensuing years, this will be their first dedicated tour since those heady days 20 years ago. Both Lez and Shane will perform sets with their respective trios before combining forces for a final set of their well-known Cigars and Hippos material and much more besides.

The Lez Karski Trio

Lez Karski  has been the unique soul/blues guitar and vocal style of The Foreday Riders, The Hippos, Bondi Cigars, Donkeys, and Nervous Investors. He’s also the preferred sideman for visiting US Blues artists. The late great Johnny Johnson, Chris Cain, Kenny “Blues Boss” Wayne, Barbara Blue and Kyla Brox have all chosen Lez as guitar man for their Australian tours. A regular at the Bridgetown and Narooma Blues festivals, Lez played at the Byron Bay Festival with the Bondi Cigars and later with Johnny Johnson. He also represented Australia at Polands “Thanks Jimi guitar festival while touring Europe with The Nervous Investors. “Dog Holiday” screened on ABC TV’s “Live at the Basement” and featured Lez’s songs performed with former Sydney band mates (including Shane). Lez relocated from WA where he was a founder of the Albany Blues Club. Now based in Lismore, he performs with his own trio, which features Dirk Dubois (Chain) and Pete Wilkins (Blue King Brown).

The Shane Pacey Blues Trio

The Shane Pacey Blues Trio is that rare thing, a dedicated blues band, rather than a solo star with supporting musicians. Although Shane’s other band, The Bondi Cigars is still very much a going concern, Shane felt the urge to revisit the music that turned him on when he first started playing, such as the guitar playing and singing of Peter Green and the short sharp style coming out of Chess Records in the 50’s and 60s. His trio, featuring Trudy Mackenzie on bass and vocals and Dave Fester on drums, takes a no-nonsense trip through blues’ back pages, all played with Shane’s customary attack and passion. All musicians on stage for a blast of their amazing back catalogues’ This is a unique chance to see what these two redoubtable veterans are up to individually, and to see them perform what Keith Richards calls “The ancient art of weaving….with a final massive set featuring all the hits (and all the musos) to end the night on a high.

Tickets: Lizottes 

Michael Gorham @ The Great Northern Hotel

Michael Gorham and Joel Sulman National Tour takes a stopover in Newcastle for one night only!

Tickets: Free event

Friday 14th March

The Bennies @ The Hamilton Station Hotel

Melbourne’s kings of stoner party jams, The Bennies have returned from Asia re-energised, re-invigorated and ready to embark on their second national tour in just six months. Reluctant to pause for breath, the four-piece will take brief respite over Christmas before charging into 2014 to hand-deliver their summer party vibes to regional and metro audiences. They’ll also be dropping in on two of Australia’s biggest summer festival dates, Push Over and Soundwave.

The Bennies recently returned from China and Japan where they paid visit to their exuberant and substantial fanbase, and obliterated cultural and language barriers by way of reggae-infused punk rock delivered with all the subtlety of a sideboob in a selfie.

Their second album Rainbows In Space received a totally raucous reception upon release in November. The Music was quick to deem the album “one of the best Aussie releases of 2013”, while SF Media urged its readers to board “an amazing trip through the barriers of genres”. triple j threw lead single HighRider on high rotation, and Blunt Magazine administered their tick of approval, suggesting “Anybody who says ‘Winners don’t do drugs’ hasn’t heard of The Bennies”.

The Bennies bandwagon is shrouded in smoke, streamers and LED lights and it’s slowly leaving the station. Jump on board now or forever be ‘that guy’.

Doors: 9:00PM

Tickets: Oztix

Rattle & Hum, The U2 Tribute @ Lizottes

Rattle and Hum take their audiences on a musical journey through the entire history of U2 and hits from their many number one albums. From the humble beginnings with hits like - Gloria - I will Follow - Sunday Bloody Sunday - New Years Day to powerful classic anthems - Where the Streets Have No Name - Pride - With or without you - Beautiful Day - One right up to the most recent releases from the world wide smash hit album Vertigo and the latest collaboration with Green day, The saints are coming. “Bonox” who plays Bono in the show is blessed with an amazing vocal similarity to Bono that is almost indistinguishable. Bonox becomes bono both vocally and visually with equally charismatic stage presence and costume changes that depict the shifting era of the supergroup. The show has also appeared on nearly every TV show in Australia such as Sunrise, The Today Show, Spicks and Specks, The Chaser and Mornings with Kerri Ann.

Tickets: Lizottes 

Head down to Hunter Street Mall for a great night with wonderful interesting food, beautiful eclectic products and free entertainment. A number of local business, restaurants, winebars and cafes will be open as well! The night markets are on the 2nd and 4th Friday night of every month.

King Street and the old DJ’s car park will be open until late so off street parking is available.

Time: 6:00PM - 10:00PM

Saturday 15th March

Flurolink Run @ Newcastle Jockey Club

Flurolink Run is an exciting team-based, fluro-themed, fun-run designed to bring out the best in you, and is coming to Newcastle on the 15th of March 2014!

In this unique team experience participants choose who they want on their team. Teams and couples can run, walk or dance through the 5km fluro course. Teams are built of two to six participants and are linked together with the fluro-link, a specially designed bungee belt that ensures all teams: Start Together. Finish Together.

There are five fun-stations to stimulate the mind and body and challenge all flurolink teams. However it‘s not the fun-stations that provide the real challenge, the greatest challenge is being connected to your team or mates! Your partner or team becomes your best support and your biggest challenger in finishing the 5km course.

Flurolink Run is a colourful, fun, team-bonding event for friends, colleagues, and sports and training teams. It’s about fun, laughter, and teams and couples taking it on together. There’s a lot to discover about yourself and others in running 5km’s through colourful, fun stations, connected at the hip with your mate or team!

Importantly, fluro outfits are a must! There are prizes for the most colourful fluro outfit!

Registrations are open for FLUROLINK RUN Newcastle at Newcastle Jockey Club on the 15th of March, this is your opportunity to shine together! Check out what to expect and register at www.flurolink.com.au

Time: 10:30AM start

Hunt & Gather Markets @ Pacific Park

Organisers and sisters Gemma Slattery and Karla Cowper will host their fifth boutique designer market on Saturday, promising a celebration of art, design and fashion at an event that also encourages visitors to enjoy a bite and sprawl on the rugs provided at Pacific Park, Newcastle East.

Time: 9:00-2:00PM

Designed to mesmerise and enthral, the Ocean Film Festival Australia showcases more than two hours of sublime footage taken above and below the water’s surface. The films document the beauty and power of the ocean, and celebrate the divers, surfers, swimmers and oceanographers who live for the sea’s salt spray; who chase the crests of waves; and who marvel at the mysteries of the big blue.

The films feature captivating cinematography, complete with awe-inspiring underwater scenes and fast-paced wave sequences that have been captured from unbelievable vantage points. Mesmerising images of schooling fish, colourful coral gardens and jellyfish blooms are complemented with up-close footage of curious marine creatures such as seals, dolphins, whale sharks and eels.

Heart-stopping shots of surfers riding wild waves and adrenalin-inducing scenes of divers swimming with white sharks will leave audiences on the edges of their seats. Viewers will gasp for breath as they follow world champion free diver Guillaume Néry deep below the surface on his quest to be at one with water.

Doors: 7:00PM

Tickets: Eventbrite

Mucho Sanar @ The Cambridge

Mucho Sonar is a Punk Rock band with members from Sydney and Newcastle. A collaboration of former members of Hell City Glamours, Vaudeville, Chinchen and Drop Saw.

Doors: 7:00PM

Tickets: Free Event

The Sidetracked Fiasco @ The Great Northern

The SideTracked Fiasco are a Sydney based band known for their original and infectious blend of funk, punk, hip-hop, reggae, ska, progressive and straight up heavy rock. Employing a strong emphasis on solid song writing, musical dexterity and energetic live performances, STF is guaranteed to get the party started with their groove laden funkcore stylings.

STF’s sound has been compared to the likes of Infectious Grooves, The Red Hot Chilli Peppers, Rage Against The Machine, Faith No More, Sublime, System of a Down and Mammal to name a few. The music contains the rhythm and feel found in early hip-hop and funk, the urgency and speed of punk, and the structuring and experimentation of progressive rock and has been described as having “enough bass to melt your face off”.

STF have performed at many iconic Sydney venues such as The Metro Theatre, The Annandale, The Excelsior, The Hopetoun Hotel and The Manly Boatshed as well as having played tours along the East Coast and have supported Front End Loader, The Art, Over-reactor, Poetikool Justice & Ink. The band has won an award for best bass player at the Emergenza band competition where they were finalists. They have played charitable events including Cocktober Fest at the Greenroom in Canberra (all funds raised were donated to help fight prostate cancer) and an all-ages show at The Fitz Café (for National Anti-Drug Week run by Kuring-Gai Council).

With more energy than a Red Bull, heavy-driving slap bass lines and contagious funk infused rock, The SideTracked Fiasco are a new breed of Australian rock band leaving a trail of converted fans everywhere they play. Be prepared to move!

Doors: 8:30PM

Tickets: Big Tix 

Sunday 16th March

Raid My Wardrobe @ Newcastle Basketball Stadium

Raid My Wardrobe is Newcastle only indoor women’s recycled fashion event where preloved clothing, shoes, handbags and accessories are bought and sold. Raid My Wardrobe celebrates women of all shapes and sizes with everything from chain store bargains to high-end designer wear and vintage treasures. Something ‘old’ is ‘new’ again at Raid My Wardrobe, where all women’s clothing, regardless of brand, are of value to a shopper.

Step inside the wardrobe of another and spend a few hours raiding their preloved wares. It’s a great day out; shopping locally, saving money and living more sustainably.

Time: 10:00AM - 1:00PM

Cost: $5 Entry

Jon Cleary & The Abosolute Monster Gentlemen @ Lizottes

It’s been six long years since Jon Cleary last brought his legendary band The Absolute Monster Gentlemen to Australia (despite a quick lap of the map with his trio and alongside Allen Toussaint and the Dirty Dozen Brass Band on the Legends Of New Orleans Australian Tour in 2011). Described by many as the funkiest band in the city that has the funkiest musicians in the world, Jon Cleary and The Absolute Monster Gentlemen are the gem in the New Orleans crown - a four piece riot of gospel harmonies and foundation rocking grooves - a southern soul band like no other. Running the full gamut from second line street beats to old school rhythm and blues, the party is propelled by Cleary’s vocals and dazzling piano chops, skills learned as a teenager in New Orleans directly from the old masters who invented the style. In the hallowed ranks of New Orleans ‘piano professors,’ Jon Cleary is on the tenure track. Born in England and bred in New Orleans, Jon Cleary is a triple threat, combining soulful vocals, masterful piano skills, and a knack for composing infectious grooves with melodic hooks and sharp lyrics. He balances a career performing on solo piano, playing with his power trio The Philthy Phew, and the aforementioned, and celebrated, funk band The Absolute Monster Gentlemen, with a career as a notorious hired gun for artists such as Bonnie Raitt and John Scofield (Cleary is featured on vocals and keyboards on Piety Street by John Scofield & The Piety Street Band.) Jon has toured with Bonnie Raitt since 1999, and has appeared on the albums Silver Lining and Souls Alike. On these recordings, Raitt covered the Cleary originals, ‘Fool’s Game,’ ‘Monkey Business,’ ‘Unnecessarily Mercenary,’ and ‘Love on One Condition.’ Wherever Jon Cleary and The Absolute Monster Gentlemen perform you can be sure a large percentage of the audience will be musicians themselves, although it’s a testament to their taste that the technical brilliance always takes second place to fun - pure and simple. Cleary explains, “Ultimately all New Orleans music is about making a joyful noise, even when burying their dead the folks in New Orleans will have a wild jazz band to celebrate the good life.” Back in the 1980s Cleary recruited guitarist Derwin ‘Big D’ Perkins and Cornell Williams from the gospel world and found drummer Jeffery ‘Jellybean’ Alexander playing late night gigs on Bourbon Street. They quickly developed a cult reputation and though these days individually busy in their busy respective schedules as session men they still find time to get together and do what they like doing best. With sessions currently taking place in Louisiana for Cleary’s new album, which promises to be his best yet, fans can look forward to enjoying both new material as well as favourites ‘When You Get Back’ and ‘Mo Hippa’ and forays into their New Orleans rhythm and blues roots. Cleary, described by Bonnie Raitt as ‘the ninth wonder of the world’ has been in high demand in recent years working alongside Taj Mahal, Doctor John and jazz man John Scofield but he still maintains that there’s no bigger thrill than the electricity generated when the Absolute Monster Gentlemen take the stage. Real music played real good by real musicians!

Tickets:Lizottes

Monday 17th March

Mrs Brown’s Boys @ The Newcastle Entertainment Centre

Brendan O’Carroll alias Agnes Brown of the Channel Seven smash hit television series Mrs Brown’s Boys proudly announce the entire Mrs Brown’s Boys cast will appear live on stage in Newcastle on 17,18 & 19 March 2014.

Speaking from her dressing room in her current UK sell-out live Stage tour Agnes Brown said:

“Yes I’m going to the other end of the world for a visit to all my Australian friends and I’m going to get myself a boomerang and I’m going to Feck it in the air. Yes I am and maybe it might be a stick it mightn’t be a boomerang. If it comes back it’s a boomerang if it doesn’t it’s a stick. I’m planning to go everywhere: Melbourne, Perth, Hobart, Canberra, Newcastle, Wollongong, Adelaide, Sydney, Brisbane - I might even get to see your Big Banana. I haven’t seen a big Banana down under in a long time. It’s live it’s dangerous it’s Me and I’m coming to Australia in 2014.”

The live Australian show includes Agnes and the entire Brown family in person performing on a specially constructed stage set with big screen projection. Mrs Brown’s Boys third television series commenced back on the Channel Seven on Thursday 11 April and is already smashing ratings.

The show has been a huge hit both on stage and on TV. The 2013 UK tour was announced at Christmas and within one week had sold 240,000 tickets. In the UK the TV series regularly captures 8 million viewers per episode. The double episode Christmas special kicked off the launch of series 3 with a record 15.3 million  UK viewers. The Mrs Brown phenomenon has over 2 million DVD sales worldwide with the show picking up multiple UK Television awards including Scottish, Irish and British BAFTAS and People’s Choice awards.

Doors: 7:30PM

Tickets: Ticketek 

Tuesday 18th March

Life Drawing The Nude @ Newcastle Art Gallery

In this three-part introductory series of casual drawing classes, Audience Programs Officer Jade Hull will demonstrate life drawing techniques and help participants extend their skills.

$20 per class, $50 for all three classes.

Includes wine, light finger food, and all drawing materials

Time: 5:30PM - 7:30PM

Tickets: Call 4974 5100 to book

Wednesday 19th March

Angel At My Table @ The Cambridge Hotel

Luxembourg band Angel At My Table play their Corals Under the Waves Australian Tour.  Supported by Dress To Riot and Eat Your Heart Out.

Tickets: Free entry

Doors: 8:00PM