WE DANCE FESTIVAL

Unleash Your Inner Rhythm at We Dance Festival!

We Dance Festival is a celebration of movement, connection, and community. Join us for a weekend filled with electrifying performances, inspiring workshops, and a vibrant atmosphere.

What awaits you:

• Captivating Performances: Witness a diverse lineup of dance styles from Hip-Hop to Salsa to Tap by renowned artists and up-and-coming talents.
• Interactive Workshops: Learn from the best! Participate in workshops led by experienced instructors and elevate your own dancing skills.
• Unforgettable Experience: Immerse yourself in a vibrant community of dance enthusiasts. Make new connections, share your passion, and create lasting memories.

Full Festival Pass:

Immerse yourself in the entire We Dance Festival experience!

This pass grants access to Friday night’s immersion event, all-day workshops on Saturday, and the electrifying Saturday night party.

What’s included:

• Friday Night Immersion: Kick off your festival journey – access to the exclusive Friday night event filled with exciting performances and community interaction.
• Saturday Workshops and Carnival: Access to all Saturday workshops led by experienced dance instructors followed by our carnival celebration and dance party.

Venues:

• Byron Community Centre: workshops and carnival – all day Saturday
• Otherworld, Byron: Friday night immersive, Saturday night afterparty, Sunday workshops

Don’t miss out! Secure your tickets today for the We Dance Festival. Limited Early Bird discounts are available until July 15 or are sold out!

EVENT DETAILS:

• When: 6th – 8th of September
• Where: Byron Bay
• Price: $165+ BF
• Tickets: Available here.

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WATTY THOMPSON & HIS TOTAL FIRE BAND

Indie bush bard Watty Thompson is hitting the road in support of his brand-new single ‘Rock & Roll’, a clarion call for his fellow artists doing it tough.

After his Australian Music Prize nominated 2023 debut album scored a direct hit into the hearts of fans and critics alike, winning praise, accolades, and airplay, it announced the arrival of a newpositive voice in Australian music.

Since then, Watty has been taking stock, quietly working toward his next message of hope. The bush born empath gathered up the multi-limbed talents of his Total Fire Band and headed into the studio to capture some more of his patented heart on sleeve messages to self-belief. The first fruit of those efforts is the rollicking affirmation “Rock & Roll”.

In a country where it’s somewhat engrained to keep our hopes and dreams to ourselves through fear of getting cut down, “Rock & Roll” seeks to encourage other artists to follow their calling, regardless of what society might suggest is a safer path.

“It can take guts to follow your true calling”, Watty admits. “All kinds of things can make you second guess yourself, but if you know in your heart that you’re meant to be doing something, give it your all if you’re able to do so.”

At a time when the Australian music industry is doing it tough, “Rock & Roll” seeks to edify fellow artists a to hang on and keep fighting for their art.

As ever Watty is trying to live by example suggesting, “it’s a long road sure, but I’ll be striving hard until the day that I die, even if it means forever digging ditches in between to make it possible.”

Voted Music Victoria’s Regional Artist of the Year in 2023, Watty and his Total Fire Band have connected with a growing number of believers through stellar showings at festivals including Dashville Skyline, Riverboats, Out On The Weekend, OK Motels and of course their life-affirming set at Meredith Music Festival. These new tour dates will visit some new places and faces as Watty looks to spread his message across the country.

He says, the world needs art and as artists, I reckon we’ll reach the end of this life with a full heart regardless of how full or empty our pockets are. We’ll be fulfilled and content knowing we did what we were supposed to do.”

Watty and his Total Fire Band will be joined by special guests Brodie Buttons and J. Kagan & The Government Beers.

EVENT DETAILS:

• When: Sunday 8th September @3pm
• Where: Eltham Hotel
• Price: From $33
• Tickets: Available here.

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Stomping good time coming to the Northern Rivers

By Samantha Elley

When Patricia Amphlett entered a talent contest back in 1963, she had no dreams whatsoever of becoming a professional singer.

“I was quite nerdy and I loved school,” she said.

“I wanted to go to uni and study medicine.”

What became the medical world’s loss, however, was one of the Australian 60s music scene’s greatest gains as “Little Pattie”, as she became known, went on to record hits such as “He’s my Blonde Headed Stompie Wompie Real Gone Surfer Boy” and “Stompin’ at Maroubra”.

And now, over 60 years later, Little Pattie continues to bring that same energy on stage, with no plans to slow down or stop.

“As long as I retain my good health and as long as people want to hear my music, I will keep going,” she said.

And that is exactly what she is doing with fellow performers Dinah Lee, Jade Hurley OAM, Lucky Starr and Digger Revell, all voices from the same era of rock and roll.

The show, appropriately named ‘The Good Old Days of Rock ‘n’ Roll’, will relive all the fabulous original hits by the hitmakers themselves.

“We might be old in some people’s eyes, but we are in good health, we still do our jobs well and we love performing,” said Little Pattie.

“We travel together and we arrive at a venue and we get such a thrill.

“The minute we are in a dressing room, so the fun begins.”

And so the fun will begin for the audiences who come to see these timeless performers do what they do best – entertain.

“We have a wonderful time as we care about each other,” said Little Pattie.

“There are no jealousies or rivalries. We are an old family on the old road and loving every minute of it still.”

It was a visit to Vietnam in 1966, that created a life-changing moment for the young singer when she was only 17 years old.

“At 17 when I went to Vietnam, I was the youngest performer to ever go,” she said.

“It was every emotion you could think of.

“It was eye-opening, emotional, happy, sad.

“I experienced the best of people in our soldiers and military people.”

On the final day, Little Pattie and Col Joye and the Joy Boys had performed three concerts when the noise of a nearby battle, taking place in the rubber plantations around the Nui Dat Task Force, meant the performers needed to be evacuated.

That skirmish would soon be known as The Battle of Long Tan, Australia’s most costly battle in Vietnam.

To this day, Little Pattie continues to support Vietnam veterans.

“I am very enriched by the friendships I still have with Vietnam veterans,” she said.

The Good Old Days of Rock ‘n’ Roll’

To grab your seats for The Good Old Days Of Rock ’n’ Roll, check out the dates below:

• Saturday 14th September, 2024 – THE SARATON THEATRE, GRAFTON NSW – 2.00pm – Bookings: (02) 6642 1633
• Sunday 15th September, 2024 – TWIN TOWNS SERVICES CLUB, TWEED HEADS NSW – 2.30pm – Bookings: 1800 014 014
• Saturday 12th October, 2024 – EMPIRE THEATRE, TOOWOOMBA QLD – 2.00pm – Bookings: 1300 655 299

“I am making a promise that everyone who comes to our show will leave feeling very good and with a smile on their face,” said Little Pattie.

“It will be a trip down memory lane and I know they will have a good time as I see them having a good time, and we have a good time as well.”

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