QLD Conservatorium’s Dr Kim Cunio (world instruments) and Dr Nicholas Ng (erhu | zhonghu) join forces with Heather Lee (soprano), Samjjana: Maia & Sahayak (flutes | hang), André Bonetti (percussion), Rebecca Frith (narration) and Philip Tyrer (animation) in this exploration of the Big Dipper in the spirituality and folklore of various old world cultures.

To open the concert, QLD Conservatorium connects with Brisbane Multicultural Arts Centre (BeMAC) in a scintillating program of folk and classical music from Iraq and Turkey featuring Nawres Al-Freh (jozeh) and the dynamic Tulip Garden: Bilge Özgün (voice), Bill Anderson (ud), Kelly Dowall (ney | clarinet), Jordan Stamos (percussion).

DATE Wed 1 September 2010

TIME 6.30pm – 8pm

PLACE Ian Hanger Recital Hall, Queensland Conservatorium Griffith University, 140 Grey St, South Brisbane

COST $15/$10

CONTACT Dr Nicholas Ng, Queensland Conservatorium Griffith University

E n.ng@griffith.edu.au | M 0411 318 696 | W 07 3735 6239 | F 07 3735 6262 W

www.myspace.com/nicholasngmusic

Workshop 1 (7 – 8pm) – Raqs Baladi min Misr (Baladi Dance from Egypt)

*women only (no prior experience required)
A session for women that will explore the improvised expressive and sensuous art that is Raqs Baladi (translates to ‘Dance of my country or Dance of the salt of the earth’). This is purely an Egyptian urban dance with strong folkloric roots that encapsulates an important connection one has to their land as well as experiences of love, loss, detachment and transition when moving from village to city life. Movements are internally expressive and isolated, reflecting the melodic and rhythmic motifs unique to Baladi style. Dress in comfortable clothes that allow for extended arm and leg movement.

Workshop 2 (8 – 9pm) – Raqs Dabke min Filistine (Dabke dance from Palestine)

*open to all ages, genders and abilities
Dabke (which literally means ‘to stomp’) is an urban folkloric dance and music genre native to Palestine and Lebanon. There are also many regional variations of Dabke in surrounding Arab speaking countries that possess there own unique styles. Amber will be demonstrating the fundamental steps authentic to Palestinian style, improvised and choreographed, passed onto her by friends based in the UK (Al Zaytouna) as well as from members of popular dance group ‘El Funoun’ based near Ramallah, West Bank, Palestine. It is performed as a group so bring a friend or meet some new ones. Dress in comfortable clothes that allow for extended arm and leg movement. Trainers or strong soled shoes required.

Get ready as Australia is about to be captivated by guerrilla Sydney-based filmmaker Maria Tran who is revving up for her reality documentary Quest for Jackie Chan! to hit Perth for one day only!

Quest for Jackie Chan! is Australia’s first transmedia explosion that follows the trials and tribulations of young filmmaker Maria Tran, who after finishing grassroot Kung Fu movie Maximum Choppage: Round 2 and ABC/ TV micro-series Downtown Rumble, her next project is in one of global collaboration and a response to the explosion of young filmmakers and their DIY guerrilla attitude of You Tube and Facebook generation.

After launching in Sydney featuring special guest, Hong Kong Action director Antony Szeto, she will be making her way around Australia, with Brisbane as her first destination.
In partnership with Brisbane Multicultural Arts Centre (BEMAC), she will run a workshop session on the new revolution of D.I.Y guerrilla filmmaking, how to engage global audiences, reveal marketing strategies, the art of pitching and ways to get your project off the ground.
And for those who are Jackie Chan fans and action film fanatics, this is your once in a lifetime chance to send your personal video messages to him!

Quest for Jackie Chan!  Ideas to Realities Workshop will be held at Brisbane Multicultural Arts Centre, 120 Main St, Kangaroo Point, Brisbane on Saturday 4th September at 9am-12pm. Spaces for this event is strictly limited so to be sure not to miss out, please RSVP to BEMAC on (07) 3391 4433 or email admin@bemac.org.au.

Then she will nation trot Adelaide, Hobart, Melbourne & Canberra. By mid-November she intends to hit Jackie Chan’s Hong Kong office in the bid to score a one-on-one meet.

Quest for Jackie Chan! offers people from all walks of life from Australia’s major capital cities of Australia to showcase their self-initiated projects and groups and how that relates to Jackie Chan.

Quest for Jackie Chan! Ideas to Realities workshop has been proudly supported by Information and Cultural Exchange (ICE), Fairfield City Council and Brisbane Multicultural Arts Centre.

Check out the trailer at www.questforjackiechan.com

Special thanks to the current Quest for Jackie Chan! Fundbreak Supporters.  Thank you to Ilaria Vanni, Warren Coulton, Rick Chen, Dr Tseen Khoo, Alan Crabbe & Elizabeth Vu.

Before moving to Brisbane, he began his career in Dublin singing in Keith Walker’s (Power Of Dreams) Tapestry in the early nineties, performing at Eamonn Doran’s and the legendary White Horse and then as a solo artist at venues like the International Bar and Vicar Street supporting the late Herb Dade. He spent an entire winter busking on Dublin’s Grafton Street, earning cigarettes from students, abuse from junkies and a tenner from Bono (once). While living in Italy, he has played on stages in Rome, Venice, and at the Festa Della Musica in Florence.

In 2005 Alan débuted a five-track EP called Shallow Heart, partly recorded in a single session at Pulse Studios Dublin, augmented by beautifully austere home-recordings with the bare bones of each song poking through.

His 2009-released EP, Oxygen came together over two sticky Brisbane summers with producer Andrew Kennedy and stellar local musicians including Emma Dean and Shannon Booyens and has had tracks respectively nominated in the Vanda and Young Songwriting Competition shortlisting and for a QSong Award, where Alan was also selected as the recipient of the Billy Thorpe Scholarship Award as chosen by Arts Queensland and the Thorpe family.

Oxygen is a dense and emotive work, drawing on a rich celtic music heritage, incisive lyricism and a unique vocal style that is warm, worn, jagged and intimate. Lush strings and stabbing brass arrangements interwoven with chiming guitars and beautifully stratified bass frame a voice that very much wears it’s fiery heart on it’s sleeve.

Returning to his home country at the end of last year to undertake his first national Irish tour, Alan shared a stage with indie-folk darling Fionn Regan and performed live to an astounding 290,000 listeners on RTE Radio 1’s Today show. 2010 sees Al pushing further on with national and European touring, Australian festival appearances and preparations to record his debut album.

For music and further information please visit:

www.myspace.com/alanboyle

www.sonicbids.com/alanboyle

Email: boyle.alan@gmail.com

Ph: +61 (0)404 14 2082

Reviews for Oxygen:

“Alan Boyle is a rare talent. A gifted songwriter and singer and entertainer. This EP Oxygen is a fine example of his raw energy, charisma and undoubted potential”

DAN RENNIE, Broadcaster 98.9fm

“The songs on Oxygen are written with great attention to detail and are well orchestrated with violin and trumpet adding texture to duelling guitars and a subtle rhythm section. Boyle’s voice is the standout element on the EP, and acts as a pivot around which all other facets move, and it truly is captivating”

RAVE Magazine Issue #915

“Six songs of a beautiful musical journey fused with folk roots and heart-felt passionate lyrics…. ****** 6 out of 6.”

MUSIC REVIEW UNSIGNED Oct 2009

“Alan is an outstanding performer in every right and has the potential to be a huge success.”

JAMIE MACDONALD, National Radio Broadcaster, Macquarie Southern Cross Media

email: malindijane@yahoo.com

website: http://www.myspace.com/thetransbalkanexpress

Kooii’s compelling and distinctive fusion of jazz, African and reggae music has a timeless quality and familiarity that instantly resonates with music lovers of all genres and ages. The band’s magical sounds weave through cities, hills and oceans.

It is rare for bands to make a serious impact on the Australian music scene as soon as they are born, but then Brisbane’s Kooii is anything but your average outfit … Kooii has been fine-tuning its music for more than seven years now. Songwriter, lead vocalist and trumpeter, Peter Hunt provides the seeds of the songs that the group then helps to grow. Joining Peter are guitarists Lachlan Mitchell (Laneous and the Family Yah, Kafka) and Conan Griffiths (Ruby Blue), bass guitarist Tom Hinchliffe (Laneous and the Family Yah, Kafka), percussionist Charles Wall (Oka), drummer Dom Hede (Kafka) and saxophonist Darcy McNulty (Kafka). This collective of extremely talented and experienced musicians creates a unique groove that instantly becomes a favourite, catching ‘the rhythm of the listener’s step’ and reflecting their deep and honest appreciation of their craft.

The band began 2010 with a successful tour of New Zealand, where their uniquely Australian brand of reggae was a huge hit at venues and festivals across the country, including a main-stage performance at the Parihaka International Peace Festival. They continue a big year with the spring release of their highly anticipated second album, In this Life. Their debut album Beads on a String, which was produced by Paul Bromley (Beautiful Girls, George), was met with exceptional reviews and gathered a strong following for the band both at home and overseas.

Kooii’s songs have twice made the finals of the Q Song Awards and their music has been included in two releases of the Island Vibe Festival compilation albums. The band also featured in the March 2007 edition of Rolling Stone magazine, which acknowledged their contribution to Australian contemporary music alongside other prominent Australian artists who have participated in the JB Seed program.

Contact: Conan Griffiths (M) +61 401 531 645
Email: kooiimusic@gmail.com

Website (including upcoming gigs): www.myspace.com/kooii

His first stage performance was at the age of nine and in 1989 Rahim migrated to Australia.

In 2001, Rahim met up with classical music maestro Ustad Ghulam Sadiq Khan, Senior Lecturer in Vocal Music at Delhi University. Rahim was invited to Delhi University to further develop his classical music training. Rahim still receives guidance in singing and teaching advice from Ustad Ghulam Sadiq Khan. He established the SaReGaMa School of Indian Music in 2003.He has released four CDs.

His vocal music teachers were:

Dr D.V. Paketar – Varanasi, India

Dr B.K. Chatterji – Calcutta, India

Dr Minakshi Biswas – Mumbai, India

Ustad Ghulam Sadiq Khan – New Delhi, India

Swami Chatainya Swarup – Mumbai, India

Ustad Mehdi Hassan – Pakistan

Pandit Sunil Mukerjee, New Delhi

Performances – Solo concerts in various overseas countries including India, Singapore, Bangladesh and inter-state in Australia. He has also been invited to perform in USA and Canada. He has also performed in all major music and multicultural festivals in Queensland.

Rahim has had the pleasure of performing with the following international artists:

Huibe Schippers, Saikat Bhattacharya – classical vocal duets with sitar

Vinod Parsana – classical vocal duet with flute

Raka Mukerjee, Gauri Pathare and Pandit Vinayak Torvi – harmonium accompaniments

Sangeet Mishra – classical vocal with sarangi

Rahim was specially invited to perform devotional songs (bhajans) on a personal invitation of the Director of Yoga in Daily Life during the visit of His Holiness Vishwaguru Mahamandaleshwar Paramhans Swami Maheshwaranda of Rajastan, India.

As a concert organiser, some very well-known artists have performed in Brisbane under his banner, namely: Jagjit Singh, Penaaz Masani, Mehdi Hassan, Ghulam Ali, Talat Aziz, Gundecha Brothers, Ghulam Abbas, Ustad Ghulam Sadiq Khan, Pandit Vinayak Torvi, Swami Chaitanya Swarup and Gulfam Sabri.

Rahim is proud of the following students who are now successfully performing in Brisbane – Nisha Rao, Asad Basit, Peer Tareen, Rubina Smith, Sandra Kovac, Brian Dean, Francis Gilfeder (flute), Prashilta Naidu, Vivek Narotam, Sourab Naidu , Wahid Popil and Farzan Ehsan.

Rahim has been awarded many certificates of appreciation from various charity organisations, music festival organisers and councils.

For tuition or performances, please contact Rahim on 0414-988-907 or email rzullah@hotmail.com

He takes teaching classes in Annerley in Brisbane and at his home.

He is also able to assist with bringing in high quality musical instruments from India.

Muhanamwé: Guinean Drumming Workshop

Facilitators: Aliou Sylla and Mohamed Camara from Muhanamwe

Guinean master drummers Aliou Sylla and Mohamed Camara from Muhanamwé will lead this energetic and fun workshop in traditional West African drumming. Learn the basic techniques of djembe playing, as well as a traditional rhythm comprising both accompaniments and solos. BYO drum, no experience necessary!

Length of Workshop: 1 hour

Participants: Maximum 30, BYO drum, no experience necessary

(BEMAC have a limited number of drum available for hire @ $5)

Guinean and West African Dance Workshop

Facilitator: Aicha Keita, accompanied by Muhanamwe percussionists

Description: Guinean master dancer Aicha Keita will lead an exciting, energetic workshop in traditional West African dance. Learn the basic techniques and skills specific to this style of dance, as well as a full traditional dance from Guinea. Accompanied by live drumming! No experience necessary.

Length of Workshop: 1 hour

Participants: Maximum 30, no experience necessary

Cost: $15 for both

Venue: The Centre Room @ BEMAC, 120 Main Street, Kangaroo Point.

Free parking on-site

Phone: 3391 4433 mon-thurs to book.

One Africa: Body Percussion Workshop (dance and vocal)

Facilitators: King Marong and Lamine Sonko

Experience the high energy grooves and funky afro moves of One Africa in this fun and interactive workshop.  People of all levels of experience are welcome to participate in this workshop that includes variety of West African drumming styles, African songs and traditional and contemporary African dance.

Workshop length: 2 hours (1 hour drumming and one hour dancing)

Cost: $15

Participants: BYO drum and comfortable clothes for dancing, no experience necessary

(BEMAC has limited drums for hire @ $5 for the session)

Venue: The Centre Room @ BEMAC, 120 Main Street, Kangaroo Point.

Free parking on-site

Phone: 3391 4433 mon-thurs to book.

Join Brisbane’s fantastic Bellydance band “Muziz” and a sparkling array of beautiful Belly dancers on August 14th for the “Raqs the Kasbah” belly dance cabaret and dance party.

Featuring performances by: DrumDance (live drumming and tribal bellydance), Felicia, Belladonna and Tahlia and the Snakeweave troupe from Northern NSW, Tamara and featuring special guest drummer Karen Wray from Coffs Harbour. Plus, start the night with some shopping at the Souk and finish with Arabic beats from DJ Kahraman.
Doors open at 6.30 pm / Show starts at 7.30 pm.

Affordable meals and drinks are available (please come early if you wish to eat, the West End club is committed to improving the meals ordering system this time around, but it is best if you come at 6.30 to order your meal in time for the show).

Location: West End Club, 2 Vulture Street, West End 4101

Entry cost: $25.00/ $22.00 groups of 8 or more

Bookings: www.hipnoticbellydance.com (you can pay and book online) or phone Tamara 0416 270 107