Ukitopia Arts Collective

Songwriters on the Songline:Young Musicians Night Sat Feb 4th 2012

ukitopia — Mon, 23 Jan 2012 08:40:41 +0000

Ukitopia Arts Collective’s first ‘Songwriters on the Songlines’ for 2012 is a Young Musicians Night at Uki Holy Trinity Church on Saturday 4th February at 7pm.

Its an exciting moment when young artists gain the confidence to start attracting an audience. Witness the talent of four of our next generation of Tweed Shire musicians as they showcase their abilities in a very special environment.

Jerome Williams is supported by Poppii Gee, Indigo Collins-Cook and Kalyani.

Jerome has been described by jazz musician Wayne Jones as “a unique, amazingly talented, emerging musician, one that will definitely be known worldwide…..” His style is influenced by John Butler, Newton Falkner, Andy McKee and a touch of Rodrigo y Gabriella; in other words melodic, percussive, funky roots…with a touch of jazz…make sense? You just have to see him play. This guy is awe inspiring!

15 year old Poppii started playing piano when she was in Year 5 but didn’t become inspired to take playing seriously until the end of Year 8 when she started songwriting and performing. Since then she has performed at: Cabaret 360 in 2009 and 2010, Arts Week at Murwillumbah High School in 2010 and 2011, The Tyalgum Classical Music Festival, Ukitopia and The Red Piano Bar in 2011. Poppii plays, learns and listens to classical and alternative styles of music which has influenced the music she writes. She says “I love music and can’t live life without it”.

Indigo is 14 and has been playing guitar since he was 8. His solo debut was at the Ukitopia Festival in 2010. He was invited to play at the Tyalgum Music Festival’s Spring Fair after he won the Kate Carter Award for Most Promising Tweed Valley Competitor at the Murwillumbah Festival of Performing Arts in 2011. This year Indigo has been invited to support renowned guitarist, Michael Fix, at a concert at Bond University. His forte is exploring alternative guitar tunings and percussive forms of playing and composing his own songs. This past year he has been writing lyrics too but has to wait until his voice stops breaking before he can sing them!

Born locally but raised internationally, 15 year old Kalyani is a third-generation songwriter and she has been writing songs and poetry since early childhood. Her voice is mesmerising and melodic, and her inspirational lyrics tell stories, transporting the listener on a journey around the world. Kalyani will be performing from her portfolio of songs and accompanying herself on keyboard.

Doors open at 7pm, chai and refreshments will be available during the intermission, and the “congregation” for the evening will be welcomed as usual to the hallowed and atmospheric environs of the Uki Church by Reverend John Tyman. Advance tickets are just $10 for Ukitopia members, $10 for Youths and $15 for non members from the Uki Café and limited to 80.

Songwriters on the Songline February 4

ukitopia — Thu, 12 Jan 2012 21:44:04 +0000

more info soon…stay tuned!

Best wishes!

ukitopia — Wed, 21 Dec 2011 23:34:39 +0000

Ukitopia events dates for 2012

ukitopia — Wed, 21 Dec 2011 23:28:12 +0000

February 4 Songwriters on the Songline

April 15 Honour Our Elders Day

June 15-17 Cabaret 360 : A Feast of Performance

July 15 Honour our Youth Day

Sept 15 S.P.A.W.N.

Nov 16-18 Ukitopia Festival: A Celebration of Uki Life Arts and Culture

More delightful pictures: The faces and places of the Ukitopia Festival.

ukitopia — Sun, 04 Dec 2011 01:32:18 +0000

Ukitopia Festival 2011 the images and the story.

ukitopia — Thu, 24 Nov 2011 08:51:17 +0000

Images by Vibrant Imaging

Ukitopia Festival 2011 an amazing community success.

Walking in to this festival this year, organiser Natascha Wernick was nervous. “ This year we did not received any out side funding, other than a couple of grand from the council, as opposed to last year where we produced the festival with an extra $18,000! We cut back the costs, spread the load through out the village involving more venues and more businesses. It was a calculated risk and it worked. With $18500 in inkind sponsorship, $3600 in cash sponsorship we walked in to the free festival needing to raise $5,500 through donations, memberships, cash sales of art work and merchandise.

“As the money came in”, Natascha Explained, “the nerves changed to feeling s of pride and delight as I realised that we, the Ukitopia Arts Collective’s organising committee and our Uki Community had done it. We had truly created 3 days of community joy for our community! Totally funded by and created by our community. “

Every year the festival changes form. This year we welcomed the Uki Public school who housed the Images of Uki art exhibition and Words of Wollumbin. A colourful mosaic of Uki Creative expression.

Four new venues were introduced, spreading the business throughout the village. The MT Warning Hotel : Rockin’ Sunday lead by Lil’Fi was packed from the opening act; The Red Piano Bar held the musos jam space though out the weekend; Lounge Lizard Café featured the Sunday morning chalkboard set and the Remarkable Aussie Oddities Emporium with the likes of The Nit Circus , Lorenzo and his Lionesses and the troll snot were all enjoyed thoroughly by a full house for each show.

The live music was brilliant, as always at Ukitopia events, with highlights such as standing ovations for Bill Jacobi, Loren and Murray Kyle at the Songwriters on the Songline on Friday night; a new act on the scene Blue Moon Gypo ; 13 year old guitarist Indigo Collins; youth band Lifeline, Andrea Soler and Mystic Beats, youth Band The Maples at the Rockin’ Sunday along side local legends with the James T and Dirk Dubois and finishing with Lil Fi and the Candy Apples.

Art installations were also a major feature at this year’ festival with Trashformers and youth artists Organix working together to create a Trojan horse full of Characters randomly entering the festival to take part in a quirky ceremony between two of the humanised trash installations. Costume, props and fun added to the playful vibe of the festival.

500 trees were distributed at the Festival to plant for regeneration. With numbers somewhere between 700 and 1000 spread over the 3 day festival the hot sunny weather seemed to keep only a few away.

Festival organisers are taking a break before contemplating what next year will have in stall for Ukitopia . A big thank you to the young men of Organix Jess, Bhima, Justin and Alex, who worked long hours and some 18 hour days to make it easier for so many people. And thanks again to the organising team, Sue and Jake, Lil Fi, Rich Bell, Michele and Gerold, Thomas and Michele, Deb, Tony Grumley, Rosie and Sonja, Katrina and Elenor, and Bruce Ray and all of course our many volunteers. Uki is truly an amazing place!

Aussie Oddities Emporium program

ukitopia — Thu, 17 Nov 2011 20:58:02 +0000

Ukitopia Festival Opening Ceremony Friday night 18th November 6:30 pm Uki Public School

ukitopia — Thu, 17 Nov 2011 11:00:53 +0000

Well the day has finally come and the fun begins!!!

You are invited and welcome to come to the opening ceremony of the Ukitopia Festival 2011 at the Uki Public School at 6:30 pm. The ceremony involves, a welcome to country by our aboriginal elder Uncle Harry, some aboriginal dancing, a beautiful children dance by The Uki school children or The Free Radical Earth Guardians and then the official opening by Mayor Barry Longland.

The doors to the Images of Uki art exhibition will then open and guests will be welcome to enjoy the talents of Uki.

After that..the journey follows to the Songwriters on the Songline at the Holy Trinity Church, (right next door) with the awesome sounds of Murray Kyle, Loren, and Bill Jacobi or to The Red Piano bar for a night of music.

Enjoy your evening and then take a deep breath and start again the next day. Remember your hat and I look forward to seeing you all there!

P>S> Avoid parking problems- plan to park in the parks outside of town and enjoy the five-minute walk to town centre.

Ukitopia Festival 2011 Souvenir program booklet out now!

ukitopia — Wed, 16 Nov 2011 02:04:15 +0000

Keep a look out for our special souvenir program booklet at the festival or in Uki outlets now.
You can also download your festival program here!

Festival Tradition Plants a Seed

ukitopia — Wed, 16 Nov 2011 00:08:19 +0000

Poppi and Jade hold the trees that will be given away at this year's festival. Image by Vibrant Imaging

Ukitopia Festival director Natascha Wernick’s wish for the spirit of
community and sustainability to grow from this year’s festival will
absolutely come true this year.

Each year the festival invites community members and festival goers to share
their wishes for themselves and the world on a piece of paper, and the
wishes are then incorporated into festival art installations and read out
during the wishing ceremony.

During this year’s Ukitopia Festival on 18–20 November, the wishes will be
tied to 1000 native trees, donated by Green Corps, for people attending the
festival to take home and plant in their gardens or community.

Ms Wernick said collecting and sharing wishes had become a significant and
powerful part of the three-day event.

“The wishes ceremony is a real point of difference for our festival and it
is all about creating good intentions and sending them out into the world
through the hearts and minds of festival goers – the wishes become a bit
like prayer flags,” Ms Wernick said.

“Whether it’s about wishing for a BMX or for world peace, when we read out
these wishes in front of hundreds of people, it really resonates with
everyone and gets them talking and thinking about what they’d like to change
in their own lives.”

“This year, with 1000 wish-laden free trees to give away, we feel we really
are sending people home with a powerful connection to their community – and
offsetting a little carbon along the way.”

The Ukitopia Festival is being held on 18,19 and 20 November in Uki. The
wishes ceremony will take place at 3:30pm on Saturday 19th November.