Join powerfunk pioneers The NEO for the funked up finale of Wordstorm 2012.

Layilayi Burarrwanga was born at Galiwin’ku, Elcho Island in North East Anhemland and he still lives and works in his community. He is a member of the Gumatj clan and comes from a big family of talented musicians.  His father is a highly respected traditional musician and his older brother, who passed away in 2007, was the lead singer of Warumpi Band.

Layilayi’s music is influenced by reggae but is strongly grounded in Yolngu music and knowledge traditions to create a unique style. Most of the songs are written in Yolngu languages to encourage Yolngu of all ages to value their culture and history, to strengthen their spirit and identity and help them become stronger in the future. The songs share the wisdom of the musicians’ elders and ancestors with future generations, creating understanding and healing, not just for Yolngu but for everyone.

BLACK CAN CLAN is a 7 and a half piece band from Darwin. Their music is a cross cultural amalgam of Folk, Blues, Roots, Reggae and Soul.  The band consists of Eddie Obara (Vox), David Wise (Lead/Rhythm Guitar), Nektar Xanthis (Rhythm/Lead Guitar), Steve-o Lees (Bass), Angus Lachlan Robson (Accordion), Buff Coehn (Percussion) & Chris Ganambarr (Drums).

They were formed in 2011 by Lead Singer Eddie Obara to accommodate the upcoming release of his first album ‘Delusions of Grandeur – Limited Edition – 2011’ which he wrote, recorded and mastered by himself with the help of a few friends on different instruments in a couple of the songs and some sound advice on the overall recording and mastering techniques from his music lecturers Cal Williams and Lewis Parsons.  The album was released on the 5^th of November 2011. The Genre of the album is described by Lead Singer Eddie Obara as “Easy Listening with an edge” & “Troppolitical” because we’re all a little bit Troppo and it’s a little bit political.

2012 looks to be a big year for the up and coming band with a number of local Darwin gigs and Festivals already booked and a plan to record a live album. The band also hopes to leave their Darwin nest to do some touring around the Northern Territory and our Region if not the Universe.

June Mills of course needs no introduction.  As a member of the Mills family and the group the Mills Sisters as well as a solo artist she has been performing for decades, both in the NT and around the country.

JOELISTICS GREW UP IN SYDNEY, THE OFFSPRING OF A CHINESE-AUSTRALIAN FATHER AND AN ANGLO-AUSTRALIAN MOTHER, PLAYING DRUMS IN PUNK AND FUNK GROUPS, BUT DRAWN TO HIP HOP WITH ITS OUTSPOKEN POLITICS AND AD HOC SONIC CANNIBALISM.

At the beginning of the new millennium, Joelistics took the first of a series of ‘voyages’ around Australia, working as a fruit picker, visiting hippie festivals and hitch hiking across the country, eventually settling in Melbourne where he discovered a city going through a creative boom.

In 2002 he founded TZU alongside Count Bounce, Yeroc and Pasobionic, signing to Liberation records the same year. Earning their stripes on the live circuit, TZU built a solid reputation on the back of their up-beat party rhymes, joining acts like The Herd, Hilltop Hoods and Bliss n Eso, as a vanguard of the second generation of Australian hiphop forging an identity both artistically and commercially.

After three ambitious records, multiple award (AMP, J Award) nominations, countless festivals and tours, TZU decided to take a breather. Joel embarked upon another voyage, living in Shanghai and Beijing; travelling through Mongolia; and eventually settling in Paris for six months. In between writing for online travel sites and teaching English, he began work on his debut solo album, Voyager.

Armed with a laptop, he wrote all the music on old headphones whilst riding the Trans Mongolian railway, transiting through airports; and a winter in a one bedroom flat in the Montmartre district of Paris.

In 2010 he returned to Australia and moved between Sydney and Melbourne putting the final touches on the album, inking a deal with Elefant Traks in early 2011.

Joelistics has always drawn on infl uences from a wide variety of sources. As a solo artist his sound is grounded in the boom bap of hip hop whilst keenly revisiting his love of beat poetry, shoe gazer electronica and folk to create an album that is both introspective and electrifying. Entirely self produced with few guests, Voyager concentrates on themes of travel, modern world paranoia and growing older. Self-described as the ‘come-down record of my late twenties’, his self-deprecating view allows the listener to discover for themselves the joyous optimism and redemption that co-pilots the album.

With local Darwin Hiphop artists DT3 and BSC!

Saturday, 14 April, 10pm, $10.

Monthly Happy Yess reggae madness starring Robbie Mills and the Collective with guest djs.

Friday, 13 April, 6:30pm, $5/$10.

Massive night of metal featuring Fema, AJM, Fragmenta, Crucible, At Breaking Point, Chasin’ Aces and King Bong.

All ages from 6:30 – 9:30 ($5), 18+ from 9:55 sharp ($10/$5 students).

The Happy Yess continues the tradition of being a space for people to share their thoughts with the second in the 2012 lecture series.

If you would like to deliver a lecture, please contact our manager (details on the contacts tab). Lectures can be up to half an hour long and can cover a range of subjects, including but not limited to musical ones.

Friday 20th April
Under 18′s: 7-9pm, No alcohol.
Over 18′s: 10pm-1am, Alcohol.

Your monthly dose of dubstep wobble mania plus a Junglist Revival!

Kris: ‘Jungle music changed my life the moment i heard it. Nothing sounded as radical, as noisy, so bass heavy, and so fun to dance to. It blew my mind (and a few sets of speakers), it got me into DJ’ing back in the 90s and it still sounds unbelievably fresh to this day. It’s time offer a dancefloor history lesson to anyone who wasn’t lucky enough to be around in jungle’s heyday, and link it to bass music circa 2012. This is like my dream night, I seriously can’t wait. We’re even bringing in an extra 2000 Watts of subbass amplification to rattle the place like never before. Please let your friends know and come and party! ‘

Saturday 21 April, 9:30pm, $10.

Dave Spry has a cracking band called the Moral High Ground who have been pleasing crowds in Darwin in recent times. Tonight he returns to the Happy Yess for a full set supported by Aaron Isaak and Jake Payne (USA).

A reflective and insightful singer/songwriter currently living in the N.T. Aaron Isaak brings together a diverse range of original raw acoustic songs that weave genuine observations into universal applicability. A mix of strummy, lyrical, acoustic, pop and melody.

Jake Payne is an indie singer songwriter from Sedona, AZ who plays solo acoustic folk music as well as fronting an electric rock band. He presents a diverse repertoire of poetic and dynamic songs ranging from soft moody lullabies to all out rock. Influences from 90’s grunge music soulfully mix with classic rock hooks, ripping lead guitar and swooping vocals to create a passionate and personal sonic playground.

In October of 2010, Payne self-released his first single, Moonshine, recorded at Goodrow Studios in Sedona, AZ. His second single, Melody, was released in 2011 on Sedona Performers Guild Compilation Volume One. He is currently recording his first EP. Payne’s music has been compared to Jeff Buckley, Ben Harper, and Ray LaMontagne.

Press Quotes:

“Payne’s fans are drawn to his emotional sincerity, lyrics and his prowess on the guitar.”
The Scene, AZ

“Payne’s development finds him continually sculpting an exquisitely crafted sound to support the meditative and wistfully observant lyrics of his songs.”
YabYam, AZ

“The music of Jake Payne is a welcome lift and gift to a world that is in dire need of deeper reflections and greater positive influences. Lightness and intensity are equally reflected in the melodies hung on Payne’s soaring vocals, which glide smoothly across four octaves. His music is a treasure, valued by those familiar with it and waiting to be discovered by those yet who are not.”
Kudos, AZ

Saturday, 7 April, 7pm, $10

Presented by Shamzine: “Erica is in the Two Other Rooms. Where are you?” A musical about music as performed by musicians with there instruments.

Staring: ‘Erica Owns the Sky’, ‘Emma Rowe and the Two Other guys’ and ‘Room 1.05′.

Doors open at 7pm-Late 18+ and bring a smile you are going to need it.