Cultural dissent

GLW Issue 22

Fools for thought

By Ulrike Erhardt Rosencrantz and Guildenstern are dead A film by Tom Stoppard Starring Gary Oldman, Tim Roth and Richard Dreyfuss Reviewed by Ulrike Erhardt Rosencrantz and Guildenstern are dead and nobody cares. But Shakespeare couldn't have

Passion, wit and platitudes

By Phil Shannon New World New Mind: Changing The Way We Think To Save Our Future By Robert Ornstein and Paul Ehrlich Paladin Grafton Books/Collins. 302 pp. $15.95 (pb) Reviewed by Phil Shannon When humanity was a young and hairy species just

Pacific book wins grant

Pacific book wins grant AUCKLAND — A book about peace and social, environmental and political issues in the South Pacific is one of the projects awarded grants by the Rainbow Warrior trust fund. Auckland-based Asia Pacific Network was awarded

Finding 'poetry' in pollution

By Phil Shannon Biospheres: Metamorphosis of Planet Earth By Dorion Sagan Arkana/Penguin. $18.95 (pb) Reviewed by Phil Shannon "It would be difficult to wax poetic about medical waste, CFCs and carbon dioxide. Yet ... " this is what Dorion

Terra Australis

Terra Australis em = By John Queripel [In last week's issue, we accidentally omitted the last line of John Queripel's poem. This is the full text.] It's a bloody big land this Australia With its great wide brown barren plains. For hour after

a city at war with itself

a city at war with itself em = By Phil McManus lights on the hill above the river; even the Romans couldn't site a city this well. neon signs between stone and darkness are like colours in an oil spill. there is beauty hidden in the

In print

In print Amnesty International's summer catalogue is now out. Offering a range of progressive apparel from board shorts to T-shirts to sarongs, it also includes a range of other items including cards, kettles, rugs, hammocks and recycled paper

GLW Issue 23

The exploding world of Ed Kuepper

By Pete Malatesta Kuepper's gig at Sydney's Annandale hotel on August 2 was an eagerly awaited show. The hotel filled early giving, the support act a good audience. Juliet Ward played acoustic guitar and sang, accompanied by the plaintive guitar

Resources

Resources The Banana Republic: A left analysis of Australia's economic problems, is a set of 10 audio cassettes featuring discussions with Ted Wheelwright, Tricia Caswell, Frank Stillwell, Sue McCreadie, Evan Jones, Jack Mundey, Rhonda Sharp and

Cuban images in Melbourne

By Vannessa Hearman MELBOURNE — The Australia-Cuba Friendship Society here presented a series of documentaries, "Images of Cuba", on July 27 at Carringbush Library in Richmond. The Australian premiere of these Cuban documentaries was part of the

Rebel with many causes

By Frank Noakes PERTH — What have unionism, opera, internationalism and local government in common? Answer: Australian Railways Union (WA) assistant state secretary Tony Costa. Tony is a colourful character, always ready with a witty quip or

The war not yet won

By Melanie Sjoberg As The Mirror Burns A film by Christina Pozzan and Di Bretherton Exclusive season Aug 23 to Sept 1 at the State Film Theatre, Melbourne Sept 6-21, AFI Cinema, Paddington Reviewed by Melanie Sjoberg "I was deeply shocked

Think of Those Who Have Died

Think of Those Who Have Died em = By Ernesto Cardenal Translated by Allen Jennings When you receive the nomination, the prize, the promotion, think of those who have died. When you are in the reception, the delegation, or the commission, think

Enticing flavours of the Nile

By Susan Mackie SYDNEY — Tahir Hussan comes from the Darfour area of western Sudan. A rich cattle growing area on the banks of the Nile it is the home to the delicious cuisine served at his new cafe, Taste of the Nile, just off Oxford Street at

GLW Issue 24

Poetry of a social activist

By Tracy Sorenson Poetry of a social activist In Times of Pestilence By Kevin Baker Five Islands Press. 64 pp. $9.95 Reviewed by Tracy Sorensen War, famine, ecological destruction: the global village is facing the abyss. Illawarra poet

Freedom is Paradise

Mindless entertainment for the boys in the reformatory school choir in Freedom is Paradise, another offering from the Soviet film festival.

the new clerks

the new clerks em = By Phil McManus having sworn their silent allegiance to maintain that which exists, there is a future of freeway parking lots at peak hour, a caffeine-fix at the office, cafeteria lunch, a drive to the suburbs and four

A bill of rights for South African culture

South African artists must consolidate the gains made through the liberation struggle by means of a Bill of Rights, according to African National Congress constitutional lawyer Albie Sachs. At the recent Grahamstown National Arts Festival, Sachs

Black comedy about Perestroika's decay

By Norm Dixon The Fountain Directed by Yuri Mamin Screenplay by Vladimir Vardunis Produced by Lenfilms, USSR, 1988 With Asankul Kuttubayev, Sergi Dreiden, Zhana Karimtayeve and Victor Mikhailov Soon at the Academy Twin Cinema, Paddington,

Humour lock

By Steve Painter Humour-lock Gridlock By Ben Elton Macdonald. $29.95 (hb) Reviewed by Steve Painter At its best, Gridlock is a very funny novel about the ultimate traffic jam, which ties up London for three days, creating the political

A meltdown of more than Chernobyl

By Tracy Sorenson Raspad Directed by Mikhail Belikov Showing at the second festival of new cinema from the Soviet Union At the Academy Twin and Walker cinemas, Sydney Until August 29 Reviewed by Tracy Sorensen "Raspad" translates as

Working people in paint

Working people in paint SYDNEY — A unique exhibition of 35 painters who either identified with working people or depicted their living and working conditions is showing at the Campbelltown City Art Gallery until August 25. The exhibition

McHugh launches new uranium booklet

SYDNEY — Federal Labor MP Jeanette McHugh on August 17 launched a new edition of the popular resource booklet Uranium Mining in Australia. McHugh said the booklet, first published in 1984 by the Movement Against Uranium Mining (MAUM), is

Reincarnation has no appeal

By Ulrike Erhadt Defending Your Life Written and directed by Albert Brooks Starring Albert Brooks, Meryl Streep, Rip Torn, Lee Grant and Buck Henry Reviewed by Ulrike Erhadt Don't bother Defending Your Life because Judgment City , somewhere

GLW Issue 25

In favour of forgetting

By Phil Shannon Vietnam Days: Australia and the Impact of Vietnam Peter Pierce, Jeffrey Grey, Jeff Doyle (eds) Penguin, 1991. 323 pp. $19.95 Reviewed by Phil Shannon "The struggle of people [against power]", wrote the Czech author Milan

Viennese housing

Viennese housing By Pete Malatesta SYDNEY — Brought to Australia by the Austrian Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the City of Vienna, "New Housing in Vienna" is an exhibition of Viennese housing since the 1920s showing at the Tin Sheds Gallery,

Resources

The first issue of At Ease, a new alternative journal for men and women in the Australian military forces, appears this week. It is available from PO Box 167 North Carlton Vic 3054. The publishers aim to produce an eight-page magazine every two

Feminist book fortnight

Feminist Book Fortnight SYDNEY — The second Australian Feminist Book Fortnight will be taking place from September 6 to 22 and will present a national program of activities to celebrate women as writers and readers. An important part of the

What is post-modernism; does it really matter?

By Phil McManus Everyone has heard of it, but who knows what it really means? Are the debates about postmodernism relevant only in the world of academia, or do they have an impact on the green, left, feminist and other movements for social change?

Those who pay the price

By Susannah Begg and Vannessa Hearman Black Rain Directed by Shohei Imamura Reviewed by Susannah Begg and Vannessa Hearman It was a hot, still day on August 6, 1945, when the A-bomb descended from the sky over Hiroshima. Imamura's masterful

GLW Issue 26

Women composers, past and present

By Catherine Gough-Brady A jam-packed festival of female composers' works will be performed September 20-22 in Adelaide. The Composing Women Festival has been instigated by composer activist Becky Llewellyn. Composition of art music is one of

Sun and styrofoam snow

By Tracy Sorenson Speaking with the sun New stories by Australian and New Zealand writers Edited by Stephanie Dowrick and Jane Parkin Allen and Unwin, 1991. 223 pp. $16.95 Reviewed by Tracy Sorensen The overarching presence of sky and sea

A song for Pinochet's victims

Story and photo by Peter Boyle When Brett Melke was a law student at Melbourne University, he worked part time as a hospital orderly. This is how he met Dr Eduardo Aranda, the brother of a Chilean union leader who was imprisoned under General

The world's longest video clip

By Janet Fraser I spent Friday night glued to my television. Gone With the Wind? 9.5BIJ243>155BIJ0>/.5BI>255BI> Weeks? No, Handel's oratorio Messiah. Yes, even Handel has a video clip. At 175 minutes, it's arguably the world's longest, but a video

Life in the alienated lane

By Kim Spurway Visiting Hours Written by Felix Mitterer Directed by David Ritchie With Gertrude Ingeborg and Barry Jones Belvoir Theatre, Sydney, to September 15 Reviewed by Kim Spurway Visiting Hours is a funny and compassionate look at

Power to the consumers

by Stuart Wax Shopping for a Better World Council on Economic Priorities 350 pp. US$6.45 Reviewed By Stuart Wax When we buy a product at a supermarket, we not only purchase an item, but we also support the company that produced it. If you

CAA Aboriginal study tour

CAA Aboriginal study tour SYDNEY — Community Aid Abroad here is to host a unique tour of discovery to explore the history and culture of Aboriginal communities in far western New South Wales. The two-week tour will include meetings with local

Waiting-but not for Godot

By Ulrike Erhardt Waiting Written and directed by Jackie McKimmie With Jackie McKimmie, Noni Hazelhurst, Deborra-Lee Furness, Frank Whitten, Helen Jones, Denis Moore, Fiona Press and Ray Barrett Reviewed by Ulrike Erhadt It's amazing what

GLW Issue 27

An overnight gift for Newtown

Story and photo by Kim Shipton SYDNEY — Over two nights in August, a team of six graffiti artists created and dedicated a huge mural to the people of Newtown. The mural features planet earth, US civil rights campaigner Martin Luther King and a

Thelma and Louise

Thelma and Louise Directed by Ridley Scott Screenplay by Callie Khouri With Susan Sarandon and Geena Davis Reviewed by Rose McCann The fact that a film like Thelma and Louise can excite such controversy and critical comment (including being

Jimmy Chi's magical musical

By Peter Boyle Bran Nue Dae A documentary film by Tom Zubrycki State Film Theatre, Melbourne Reviewed by Peter Boyle I wish I hadn't missed the stage musical performance of Bran Nue Dae in Sydney last year — especially after seeing

Everyone an artist, moving sideways

By Steven Giese Perspecta Art Gallery of NSW until September 15 Reviewed by Steven Giese This year's Perspecta was an understandably Greinerised affair, chopped back a bit (they couldn't afford the two dimensional artists), privatised to the

All Star Madness

By Fiona Fort The Edinburgh Years Directed by Cameron P. Mellor Reviewed by Fiona Fort The Doug Anthony Allstars, middle-class Canberra boys and musical comedy group the world loves to hate, wreak havoc once more in their new feature-length

Much more than biography

By Noel McGuire Patrick White — A life By David Marr Random House. 727 pp. $49.95 hardback Reviewed by Noel McGuire After he won the Nobel prize, Patrick White became a Living National Treasure. The fact that, to a large extent, his work

GLW Issue 28

The seven day song cycle

The seven day song cycle Two: Sheila em = By Tony Smith Sheila, eyes yellowed from grief, looked into mine, glassy with shame "I love you", she said "I love you, you know." Her uncle squatting propped against the tree beside her smiled his

Milestone for Aboriginal theatre

By Leon Harrison Milestone for Aboriginal theatre Munjong By Richard Walley State Theatre Company The Hole in The Wall Theatre Subiaco, Perth Reviewed by Leon Harrison Like the Jimmy Chi musical Bran Nue Dae, Munjong is a milestone for

Funny work from feminists

Funny work from feminists Melbourne can enjoy an exhibition by feminist cartoonists until September 22. The "Out of Line" exhibitors include Hermoine the Modern Girl's creator Kaz Cooke, and others. (Why not mention them all? Jane Carafella, Trudy

High tech lays Kevin low

High tech lays Kevin low Because of a printer cartridge with a mind of its own, Kevin Healy was unable to send The Week That Was this week. The weekly Week That Was will return next week (technology permitting).

A blow against fairytales

Phil Shannon The Gulf Between Us: The Gulf War And Beyond Edited by Victoria Brittain London: Virago. 1991. 186 pp., $17.95 (pb) Reviewed by Phil Shannon The English Guardian is the voice of liberal politics, that blend of "responsible"

Unadulterated electric boogie blues

By Norm Dixon It amazes and frustrates me how commercial radio play lists and record sales charts have for decades been dominated by legions of mediocre, cardboard cut-out "rock" bands and "superstars" while little credit and fewer rewards find

Trading in death and destruction

Trading in death and destruction "Australians Trading in Death and Destruction" is the slogan used by the Renegade Activists in their campaign against the military equipment exhibition AIDEX 91. This arms bazaar is to be held in Canberra in

A million miles from commerce

A million miles from commerce A million miles from commerce By Monesque BRISBANE — From out of the bush, or probably more accurately, out from the alternative set of Brisbane and neighbouring regions from Maleny to Nimbin, come two

Medical services slammed

Medical services slammed By Bill Mason BRISBANE — The Human Rights and Equal Opportunity Commission has criticised medical services for Aboriginal communities in north Queensland as "inadequate and culturally inappropriate", in a report tabled

A lot doing on the fringe

By Vanessa Hearman A lot doing on the fringe By Vannessa Hearman Photo by Bronwen Beechey MELBOURNE — The Fringe Arts Festival opened here on September 7 and runs until September 28. Fringe started in 1982, intended as a huge forum for

The end of the search

By Debra Wirth The Modern Girls are Strong Diary, 1992 (with Hermoine the Modern Girl) By Kaz Cooke Allen & Unwin. $19.95 Reviewed by Debra Wirth Do you get to January or February (even March) of a new year, then go frantically searching

Cold warriors look at Soviet policy

By Roderic Pitty Soviet Foreign Policy Today: Gorbachev and the new political thinking By Robert F. Miller Allen & Unwin. 1991. 210 pp. $24.95 (hc), $17.95 (pb) Reviewed by Roderic Pitty This is a superficial book by one of the many

South Africa's leading reggae star here soon

By Norm Dixon Audiences in three states will have the opportunity to see and hear South Africa's number one reggae and recording star, Lucky Dube, and his 13-piece band, when they tour in late September and early October. Lucky's performances

GLW Issue 29

Turning trauma into laughter

A Bit of a Post Script Written and performed by Sue-Anne Post Directed by Sue Ingleton Universal Theatre, Fitzroy, till September 27 Reviewed by Bronwen Beechey The great US writer James Baldwin was fond of joking that, as a black homosexual,

The sharp pen of our poet lorikeet

The sharp pen of our poet lorikeet The Bastard Who Squashed the Grapes in Me Bag 313 poems, songs and stories By Denis Kevans Left Book Club 128 pp. $10.00 Reviewed by Bruce Copping Denis Kevans is neither an academic's poet nor the

Ilbijerri means coming together

By Peter Boyle MELBOURNE — Making its debut at the Melbourne Fringe Arts Festival is the Ilbijerri Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Theatre Co-op, which is performing a new play, Up the Road, by Koori-Torres Strait Islander playwright John

Class as she is spoken in Australia

Class Analysis and Contemporary Australia Janeen Baxter, Michael Emmison and John Western (eds) Macmillan Australia, 1991 Reviewed by Jeremy Smith Australian studies of class have often been overshadowed by international efforts, notably those

GLW Issue 30

When love doesn't conquer all

When love doesn't conquer all Aya Written and directed by Solrun Hoaas Starring Eri Ishida, Nicholas Eadie, Chris Haywood, Christopher Parker and Jed Chedwiggen Kino Melbourne beginning October 18 Reviewed by Ulrike Erhardt This is a little

Great expectations, mixed results

Great expectations, mixed results Great Expectations With Phillip Gould, Megan Williams, Vincent Ball, Zoe Bertram. Limited season at the Seymour Centre, Sydney Reviewed by Richard Ingram. I confess that musicals are a long way from my

Staging the world back home

By Susan Mackie SYDNEY — Carnivale kicks off with a free opening celebration, including an open air World Music Concert on October 6 at Campbell's Cove, which features international acts Lucky Dube — who some refer to as Africa's Peter Tosh

Gun-running mothers and nuns in shorts

Walking On Sticks Written by Sara Cathcart and Andrea Lemon Performed by Sara Cathcart Anthill Theatre, South Melbourne Reviewed by Bronwen Beechey An Australian tourist arrives in Nicaragua to visit an old friend. Shortly after her arrival,

Success for long-awaited premieres

Success for long-awaited premieres By Catherine Gough-Brady ADELAIDE — The first Australian Composing Women Festival, held here September 20-22, heard works by Dulcie Holland, Miriam Hyde, Anne Carr-Boyd, Sarah Hopkins and many others. It

$5 a week and loving it

Death Dreams and Dancing in Nicaragua By Penny O'Donnell ABC Enterprises. 1991. 221 pp. $16.95 Reviewed by Pip Hinman Like thousands of other Westerners during the 1980s, Penny O'Donnell decided to see for herself what life in Sandinista

Bobby Radcliff: Blues guitar virtuoso

By Norm Dixon Genuine blues music comes from the heart. It originates from life experiences — sometimes the good ones, but more often the tough ones. Black Americans have always had it toughest in the United States, so it is little wonder that

GLW Issue 31

Radical in black and white

Scratch! A scrapbook of radical cartooning in Australia No. 2 Winter/Spring 1991 Subscriptions $10 for two issues Reviewed by Tracy Sorensen Green Left readers will immediately recognise the work of many of the contributors to this lively

Musical drama for New Theatre's 60th birthday

The Hired Man By Melvyn Bragg Music by Howard Goodall Directed by Marie Armstrong New Theatre, Sydney Reviewed by Deborah McCulloch Based on Melvyn Bragg's novel of the same name, The Hired Man is a tribute to his paternal grandfather, an

A modern African epic

Sarraounia Produced, written and directed by Med Hondo With Aï Keïta as Sarraounia and Jean-Roger Milo as Captain Voulet From the novel by Abdoulaye Mamani AFI Cinema, Paddington (Sydney) on October 22, 8.30 p.m. and at the State Film

Who is the happiest of them all?

35 Up Directed by Michael Apted Valhalla, Sydney and Melbourne Reviewed by Ulrike Erhardt 35 Up is not a drink commercial but a human interest saga which started in 1963 when Michael Apted joined a program called Seven Up — an attempt to

The art of housework

The art of housework Her Story: Images of Domestic Labour in Art S.H. Ervin Gallery, Observatory Hill, Sydney, until October 21 Reviewed by Kim Spurway "Her Story" is a unique exhibition of images of domestic labour in Australian art. It

'That stuff' is still with us

Radioactive Heaven and Earth International Physicians for Prevention of Nuclear War Zed Books. $20.99 Reviewed by Craig Cormick There is an anecdote that President Kennedy's science advisor, Jerome Wiesner, was explaining to him about the

Jewish films build on humanist tradition

Uncle Moses Directed by Sydney M. Goldin and Aubrey Scotto, 1932 Avanti Populo Directed by Rafi Bukaee, 1986 Cup Final Directed by Eran Riklis, 1991 Showing at the Festival of Jewish Film Academy Twin and Walker Cinemas, October 5-19 Reviewed

Contragate revisited

Out of Control: The Story of the Reagan Administration's Secret War in Nicaragua, the Illegal Arms Pipeline, and the Contra Drug Connection By Leslie Cockburn, Bloomsbury Publishing Ltd Reviewed by Mark Delmege Panamanian strong man Manuel

Compassion

Compassion em = By Pauline Quinn Hate filled eyes & gleeful smiles 8 pairs of hands pulling clothes Pulling hair and tearing flesh Pulling legs apart To search between Does my struggle add to your fun? My resistance give you pleasure? This

The monkey god meets American Express

Dancing Demons Director: Kai Tai Chan Dancers: Julie-Anne Long, Ni Nyoman Ratnadi Piniasih, I Wayan Purwanto, Kim Walker, Graeme Watson, A.A. Alit Winaya Script development: Sinan Leong & Kai Tai Chan One Extra Company — Carnivale Hyde Park

True tales of the white army

Defending the National Tuckshop By Michael Cathcart McPhee Gribble/Penguin. $14.99 pb Reviewed by Bob Scates Appropriately I finished reading Defending the National Tuckshop at the Wedderburn swimming pool in north-west Victoria; Cathcart's

GLW Issue 32

The English-language news in Vietnam

By Peter McGregor The Vietnam News Agency (VNA), based in Hanoi, has recently expanded its English-language publications. Previously it had been producing only the 16-page weekly bulletin, Vietnam Weekly. In mid-June, VNA began its

Drama at work

No Fear — Korkmak Yok Written by Patricia Cornelius and Vicki Reynolds Directed by Joan Murray Music by Irene Vela Performed by Kate Gillick, Senol Mat, Ijlal Olguner and Irene Vela A Melbourne Workers Theatre production Reviewed by Melanie

Louisiana Red meets Arnhem Land blues

Louisiana Red and Billy Branch with special guests, the didgeridoo players of Bathurst Island Paddington RSL, October 13 Reviewed by Norm Dixon After a solid weekend's work getting Green Left ready for the printers, to be able to knock off and

Reconciliation?

Reconciliation? em = By Duncan Richardson In fruit boxes on shelves the 'disappeared' lie jumbled mostly unnamed but labelled "Product of Argentina". Their children force adopted lost between names smile on screen hoping eyes, nose,

US stepping up economic war against Cuba

By Norm Dixon Cuba is facing its most serious threat since the revolution. The effects of the United States' 30-year economic embargo are being compounded by the disruption of Cuba's vital trade with the Soviet Union and Eastern Europe. Congress

Fan my fevered cliché

Fan my fevered cliché Jungle Fever A film by Spike Lee Reviewed by Melanie Sjoberg Jungle Fever left me feeling confused and uncertain about just what message Spike Lee is trying to convey. The boy-meets-girl scenario attempts to

A lucky country, for some

Inequality in Australia Slicing the Cake The Social Justice Collective William Heinemann Australia, 1991. 338 pp. $19.95 pb Reviewed by Stephen Robson Inequality in Australia has increased during the period of the Hawke Labor government. This

Women in prison

Inside Out By Sowaddayawant Women's Theatre Company and Patricia Cornelius Directed by Lisa Dombroski At the Anthill Theatre, South Melbourne, until October 27. Reviewed by Bronwen Beechey Sowaddayawant Women's Theatre Company began drama

Taking the sting out of ageing

Taking the sting out of ageing A Woman's Tale Directed and co-produced by Paul Cox Screenplay by Paul Cox and Barry Dickens Starring Sheila Florance, Gosia Dobrowolska, Norman Kaye, Chris Haywood Reviewed by Ulrike Erhardt Sheila Florance,

GLW Issue 33

honeycomb dawns

honeycomb dawns em = By Phil McManus below the eastern horizon, beyond the darkest hour that seems to last forever, the dawn of the glorious revolution is a yellow balloon chained by yesterday's ideas. there are many dawns like honeycomb,

Ode to the power of one

Terminator 2 Directed by James Cameron Starring Arnold Schwarzenegger, Linda Hamilton Reviewed by David Nerlich Okay, so we know Arnie is a Republican, which most readers of this paper might consider sufficient for him to burn in hell for ...

Historic and relevant

Historic and relevant Power in the Union Featuring Peter Hicks Supported by Taliesin, Doug Jenner and Judy Pinner $15.95 Reviewed by Kim Spurway Well I'm a union man I'm proud of what I am An' I don't get fooled By the bosses rules, Or

'Bury down apartheid!'

Prisoner Lucky Dube Available on CD and cassette Through SBS Music/BMG Records Reviewed by Norm Dixon Seeing Lucky Dube and his 13-piece band live is an exhausting experience. Just watching this dynamic two-hour non-stop performance centred on

You can have it both ways. Get into the festive season

You can have it both ways. Get into the festive season and refuse to give joy to the multi-million dollar commercial Christmas card industry. You've seen and enjoyed Judy Horacek and Rona Chadwick's work here in the pages of Green Left. Now you

Resources

Resources The first issue of the New Zealand journal greenstone includes a Third World critique of tourism, an interview with Jonathon Porrit, an article on bio-harmonic buildings and an analysis of the impact of GATT talks on the international

GLW Issue 34

Would Gramsci go to the footy?

No Pain, No Gain? Sport and Australian Culture By Dr Jim McKay Prentice Hall, 1991. 189 pp. $24.95 (pb) Reviewed by Phil Shannon Sport tells lies. According to Jim McKay, sport is a social prop to the domination of capitalist ideas and values.

By Norm Dixon

By Norm Dixon Australian audiences have another opportunity to enjoy the vibrant and liberating musical culture of South Africa from the 11 members of Mango Groove, now on tour. Like the other recent South African tourists, Lucky Dube and

Women's Circus leaps ahead

Women's Circus leaps ahead By Melanie Sjoberg MELBOURNE — The big top, straw, hard seats, clowns, lion tamers? No, the Women's Circus is very different from the traditional circus. Up to 70 women leap, tumble, juggle, fly and more —

Medicare Blues

Medicare Blues (with thanks to Elvis for the tune) em = By Phil Shannon Oh, people let's reform your costly Medicare Put a few co-payments in and watch it shred 'n' tear Oh let's reform your ... Medicare I don't want to be a Hewson 'cause

Roots music rules, OK!

Roots music rules, OK! By Norm Dixon Enthusiasts of roots music — blues, r&b, gospel soul, jazz, zydeco, cajun, Tex-Mex, Afro-Latin and music from Africa and the Caribbean — are getting organised. The OK Music Association has been formed

Women, Jazz, Today

Women, Jazz, Today SYDNEY — A two-day festival celebrating women composers, leaders and improvisers in contemporary jazz is to take place on November 14 and 15. It is being organised by the Sydney Improvised Music Association (SIMA) and