Pictured: The Whitlams are one of Australia’s favourite bands, and they make a welcome return to the Coolangatta Hotel on Friday January 9

Wouldn’t it be Luffley!
The Luffley Café on the corner of Wharf  & Commercial in Murwillumbah, have been supporting live music for some time. Monthly, Saturday nights they have live dance music and since July this year, every Friday night they have featured live jazz acts for  their dinner patrons. Two of the regular Friday night acts feature Kel Mcintosh on saxophone and his trio, and every other Friday Mohini Cox appears on keyboard and vocals.  Kel’s nights often feature Izzy Foreal and Pete Hurcombe from Hillbilly Blues. Although the jury is out about the name of this act, one thing is for sure, the public enjoy their mix of jazz, skiffle and blues music. If you are looking for an entertaining Friday night out with great food, easy stroll from parking to being seated, with fun entertainment, then book into Luffleys while you are thinking about it !  Kel’s Jazz Canaries play Luffley Cafe on Friday December 19 from 7pm, and as The Hillbilly Blues Bandits on Sunday Dec  28 at the Rails and Sunday January 4 at the Aussie Tavern in Murwillumbah.

Jessie James walks into town
Kiwi alt-country and folk duo Jessie James performs at Sphinx Rock Café, on Sunday December 21. Come along between 1pm and 4pm to catch this magic duo as they play together and when they  are accompanied by some local guests. The duo traveled all the way from Wellington, Aotearoa/New Zealand, through the outback that is Central Australia, to Darwin, and back down to northern New South Wales. With a few stories to tell, and songs to sing about peace and justice for all, you are sure to be entertained and informed. They are real outlaws mind you, always on the run. You never know where they’ll be next. So catch them while you can at their one and only gig in NSW at the Sphinx Rock Café!

Broadfoot Doubles
Having just had a weekend of performing like a proper touring band – four hours at The Shaws Bay on Saturday arvo, and a further four hours at Murwillumbah Hotel that night (with John Moodie from Purple Stone ably doubling for Q), and then cruising at The Victory in Mooball on the Sunday, Broadfoot toast the party season with a large double this weekend, featuring more human doubles in the band lineup. Friday December 19 at 8pm features the band in its trio format at Cabarita Sports Club with guest bassist Party Animal Kev, doubling for absentee Cliff.

Winton wonderland
Andrew Winton combines a range of unique lap slide guitars, including the Australian designed 7-string Wintonbeast, with infectious rhythms and melodic vocals. An engaging live presence on a journey through blues, roots and folk (with gospel and jazz influences), Andrew is known for his stunning slide, humour, quirky lyrics and storytelling. He has been compared to Ben Harper, Sting and Harry Manx, but has carved out his own unique fusion of genres. Known for his on-stage warmth and  charisma, this multi-award winning artist has a rapidly growing national and international reputation. He performs on Sunday December 21 at the Buddha Belly Cafe in Uki and Tuesday Dec 23 at the Rails.

I hope you Never
Long time friends and co-owners of ‘Bread and Butter’ vintage lounge Kirra, Darren Smith and John Micallef have just announced the opening of their new venture Neverland Cabaret Lounge in Mclean Street, Coolangatta. The funky New York style art house loft bar has replaced the old ‘Baha’. The boys kick off with ‘New Years Eve Block Party’ starting at 4pm and running till late. The DJs will scat with live musicians which can only be described as a ‘Spin Off’ bound to indulge all senses. The quasi music festival will showcase acts from the Gold Coast, including Gas and Surecut Kids and include Brisbane DJs Danny Cool and Sunday Project, plus a surprise guest. Tickets are $35 and available at both venues.

Liberace comes to Seagulls
Indulge in some Vegas-style fun at Seagulls with Vegas Salute to Liberace, live in the Stardust Room on Saturday December 20 from 8.30pm dst. Starring Jon Darsk as Liberace, multi-award winning vocalist Mark Kristian, multi-award winning entertainer Rick Allison and The Showgirls performing Vegas-style routines, this is a show the whole family can enjoy. Jon Darsk will tantalize audiences with his dazzling costumes and incredible talent, playing everything from Chopin to Chopsticks, 18th Century Vienna to 20th Century Hollywood. Tickets $5 members, $10 non-members.

Cigars are still smokin!
It’s been a while between drinks, but the Bondi Cigars are back and turning up the volume at the Coolangatta Hotel on Tuesday December 30. The Cigars have consistently delivered the goods; with recent effort Down In The Valley nominated in the 2003 ARIA awards for Best Blues & Roots Album, 1995’s After Closing Time awarded Best Blues Album at the 1996 Lithgow Blues Festival, and two of their songs, Lead Me Not Into Temptation and Intensive Care, chosen to feature on the popular ABC Seachange album. Showtime is 8.30pm and like air and love it’s free!

Turning the Key
The insanely talented Black Keys take to the stage at the Coolangatta Hotel on Saturday January 3. I saw them at the Blues Festival and can testify that these two strange boys who started out with a failed mowing business really know how to make some noise. It’s wild thumping energetic rock at its best. You’ll be duly impressed, but warning, don’t let them trim your hedges. Doors 8pm, and tix are $55. They are joined by Dr Dog, who I suspect is not a real doctor. Tix at the venue or through Oztix www.oztix.com.au

Whitlams are re-elected
The Whitlams are one of Australia’s favourite bands, and they make a welcome return to the Coolangatta Hotel on Friday January 9. Expect all your old favourites and some new stuff. The Whitlams have been around for long enough now to become the soundtrack to numerous relationships, with Mr Freedman showing his real artistry in navigating that curious and painful place called longing. Kings of unrequited love, find your true love at the gig.

Bushturkey murders and more!
Andy Burke has been living in Australia for 10 years now. He met his Aussie wife Michelle in Ireland.  Being from the cold rugged west coast of Ireland is a lot different to the sunny points breaks of Oz.  Ireland has a great Guiness though. Andy’s been playing solo and in bands for 20 years and plays blues,  slide, reggae, rock in his own way. He loves both electric  and accoustic and is keen guitar collector. His new album The Birds, was recorded in a cottage in West Ireland in between a few pints of Guiness. Andy plays the Kingscliff Tavern on Sunday December 28.

Show us ya penis
If you haven’t seen Puppetry of the Penis than you’ve never seen what a man can really do when put to the test.
After a ‘dickade’ touring the world with this unique and hilarious show, the boys are doing more contorting and re-shaping to delight audiences with A Decade of Dick! Puppetry of the Penis began in 1998 at the Melbourne International Comedy Festival – awarded the ‘Outright Best Show’. For the last decade, Puppetry has performed to sellout concerts around the world. Due to popular demand Simon and Friendy are bringing the penis to the people of Australia before jetting off to perform in Canada, USA, the UK and South Africa to share their very special love. Tickets $35 reserved seating. Friday January 9 at Seagulls. Oh, and it’s definitely an over 18’s show!

I can see cleary now
After two massive Australian tours in the last 18 months, and fresh from touring the Globe in support of his recent Live Album Mo Hippa, Jon Cleary returns to Australia for a new and very special solo tour with a performance at the Mullumbimby Civic Hall on Saturday January 10, 8pm.  Born in England, he is an adopted son of the Crescent City, a quick study, having recorded five soul-soaked R&B funk albums on his own. As a session man, he’s played with Taj Mahal, B.B. King, Van Morrison, Dr John, Ryan Adams, Eric Burdon and Bonnie Raitt. Catch him on the grand piano in a sensational one man show. Tickets are $26 and available at All Music & Vision stores in the region or www.mullummusicfestival.com.au

Kora, tabla and guitar
It’s the trinity of cultural exchange when Mamadou Diabate, Bobby Singh and Jeff Lang come together to play. They met back in 2008 and experienced an unexpected musical alchemy. A spontaneous day of recording lead to an astonishingly beautiful and suprisingly natural conversational and virtuosic style the three are renowned for. They play the Currumin Sound Lounge on Saturday January 3.