REGGAETOWN WORLD MUSIC FESTIVAL

The Roots Music Agency & triple j’s Roots ‘n All present:

REGGAETOWN WORLD MUSIC FESTIVAL

2 Day Festival in Cairns – Sep 10^th & 11^th

With a new look, a new feel and new timing…Australia’s premier Island, World, Roots & Reggae Festival Reggaetown, set in lush tropical Far North Queensland a few kilometres north of Cairns, is back for 2010. For the first time, taking place over 2 days — Friday 10^th & Saturday 11^th of September — in our idyllic location at Tjapukai Aboriginal Cultural Park.

Fans from across Australia and the globe will make their way to Cairns, for yet another stellar Reggaetown line-up. In 2010 we are proud to present a special performance by the JOHN BUTLER TRIO. With their new album 'April Uprising' wooing crowds around the globe the trio will return from international touring to take part in the festival.

Reggaetown will feature another Australian band who have gained incredible momentum on the international touring circuit, Ska, Jazz & Latin kings The Cat Empire. Alongside festival favourites Blue King Brown and Tiki Taane (Salmonella Dub) who with DJ Samobora (Shapeshifter) will be doing a DJ/ACCOUSTIC/MC set. Plus Dancehall/Reggae band Nea Combo Diffuzion, direct from New Caledonia!

Also gracing this killer line up are Katchafire, Walli Pazzi, Ladi 6, Ykson, Sista Itations, Zennith, Kingfisha, Mama Kin, Clairy Baby Browne and The Bangin’ Rackettes, Ancient Instinct, The Nicky Bomba ReggaeTown Allstars and many more acts still to be announced.

Reggaetown World Music Festival has become an important and anticipated part of the region’s cultural landscape, as well as an iconic festival on Australia’s national calendar. Community spirit and participation has been a core attribute for the festival since its humble beginnings in 1995.

Reggaetown has been listed alongside WOMADelaide and the Byron Bay Bluesfest as one of Australia’s premier festivals. In 2010, with the support of the community, government and media partners Triple J, the festival is set to be bigger than ever.

Reggaetown not only showcases an eclectic mix of music, bands, DJs and sound systems, but also roving performers, kids activities, workshops in music and dance, plus cafes, garden bars and market stalls. Tickets will sell fast for this dynamic formula of soulful music, relaxing tropical surroundings and delicious food!

Reggaetown World Music Festival is an all ages licensed event. ID is required to enter bars. Under 18s require supervision. Under 13s only get FREE ENTRY when accompanied by an adult.

TICKETS AVAILABLE

PRE-SOLD PRICES (plus booking fee)

·         Friday concession $50, Friday Adult $60

·         Saturday concession $75, Saturday Adult $85

·         2-day pass concession $110, 2-day pass adults $125 - All tix cost more at the door- these are pre-sold prices

PURCHASE FROM

·         ONLINE @ www.reggaetown.com.au

·         In person from Brothers Cairns, Kuranda Video, Shiva Moon, Ticketlink & Tasty Records in Cairns

·         On the ph from Brothers Cairns 07 4053 1053 or Ticketlink 1300 855 835, with credit card details

www.reggaetown.com.au

www.myspace.com/reggaetownfestivalaustralia

Also visit: www.ozreggae.com + facebook.com

GLOBAL ARTISTS CALL CAIRNS HOME

Cairns Festival Announces New Artist Residency Program to Provide Creative Hub for Australian and International Artists and their New Works

Cairns, 11 August, 2010, An eclectic bunch of creative people touched down in the Tropical North last week as participants of Cairns Festival’s first ever Artist Residency.

According to Cairns Festival producer, Eric Holowacz, the initiative, sponsored by Cairns Regional Council and its Tanks Arts Centre, is a pioneering effort to bring significant cultural producers to the Tropical North and offer them a platform to develop new projects. While being hosted in Cairns, visiting artists will collaborate with local people and organisations, be given a chance to depart from their usual surroundings, and draw inspiration from the region.

Having arriving last week, Cairns is now a creative home to New Zealand and Amsterdam based carnival and stilt-walking troupe, Empress Stiltdance. Artistic Director, Emily Buttle and her all female crew of eight are enjoying their residency that in coming weeks, will culminate in a free public performance of new aerial work, Kahuku: A Butterfly Romance featuring two aerial artists and three stilt-walking performers. From their site on the northern Esplanade, the public are invited to watch the open rehearsals and witness the work in progress and attend a free preview of the finished piece on 26 and 27 August.

Mr Holowacz says Cairns Regional Council’s artists- in-residence program will also host musician Michael Askill and emerging American playwright Dean Poynor and his new New York-based concern, The Salvage Company. “All will be researching, planning, or producing unique creative efforts while in residence.

"We consider this an innovative model for Festivals, using hospitality and the residency as a commissioning force," said Mr Holowacz. "The goal with each visiting artist or group is to connect creative people connect with our community, and generate new works that might make their way back to Cairns, or even find a larger audiences around the world."

"Following this experimental first season of residencies, we will be inviting and hosting artists throughout the year," Mr Holowacz says.

Artist residency programs exist around the world, with notable examples in Australia being Gertrude Contemporary Art Space and Montsalvat in Melbourne, IAKSA in Perth, Salamanca Arts Centre in Hobart, Casula Powerhouse, and Bundanon.

As in Cairns, most residency programs provide living accommodation and a work space. They also offer valuable respite, a change of scenery, and fresh inspiration. Very few are operated by local government, and even fewer are linked to festival programming and new cultural production.

Mayor of Cairns Regional Council Val Schier was excited about the prospect of welcoming talented creative figures from other states and countries.

"Cairns has the right ingredients, great venues, a sense of independence and fearlessness, and an extraordinary local creative community to support visiting people and their ideas," Cr Schier says.

“The Cairns Festival Artist Residency will also provide important new Queensland influences for choreographers, sculptors, film-makers, and others involved in cultural production around the world.”

More about the Artists-in-Residence

Founded in 1996 under the direction of Emily Buttle, Empress Stiltdance now boasts worldwide troupes giving hundreds of performances each year. Appearing from Istanbul to Hong Kong to Melbourne, the company is known for its innovative costuming, magical choreography, and simple storytelling. Buttle’s experimentation with outdoor aerials led her to Cairns Festival with a vision of developing a new work in the Far North.

Renowned Australian percussionist and composer, Michael Askill, will also do a stint as Festival artist-in-residence. Askill is a noted player of mallet instruments, like vibes and marimba, as well as hand percussion from around the world. His creativity has inspired dozens of composers to write works especially for him. In his solo career and in his longstanding percussion quartet, Askill seeks to create music that crosses cultural boundaries. While in residence in Cairns, Askill will begin developing a new collaborative project, Aqua Sonic, for possible inclusion in the 2011 Cairns Festival.

The final group of artists-in-residence for 2010 Cairns Festival is American playwright Dean Poynor and his emerging New York-based troupe, The Salvage Company. They will spend two weeks in Cairns developing and presenting a new stage work, Homo apocalyptus. Based on a grim post-apocalyptic future where zombie life forms run rampant, Poynor and company will collaborate with local theatre practitioners to bring this play to life at popular Cairns nightclub, The Attic.

SHOW US YOUR BADGES!

Dragonflies were flitting around town yesterday affixing Cairns Festival partner transfers to participating businesses offering discounts and special benefits to badge wearers – including Badge Partner, Ever After cafe in Lake Street is offering Cairns Festival badge wearers a free slice of cake with every coffee purchased.

From today Cairns Festival is giving away 1,000 Festival badges that provide a wealth of new benefits to anyone wearing the colourful emblem between now and the end of the Festival on 5 September. Participating businesses include restaurants, tour operators, boutiques, and cafes. Each is offering a special discount or incentive -- but only to people wearing the official Cairns Festival badge.
"Over two dozen local badge partners have signed on, with more being added each day," says Festival Producer Eric Holowacz.

"Besides celebrating the Cairns Festival season, people now have a reason to sport our badge and support local businesses at the same time," he said.

Cairns Festival badges are now available at no cost at the Festival Headquarters in City Place, the lobby of Cairns Civic Theatre, the reception desk of Cairns Regional Council in Spence Street, and the SeaFM reception at 68 Abbott Street.
For a detailed overview of badge benefits, visit Cairns Festival website: www.cairnsfest.com.au