The Channon Craft Market

We look forward to entertaining you and raising money for local charities as soon as we are able to safely resume The Channon Markets.

Broken Levee Brass Band is a good time dance band. Wether you want to sashay to the grooves of New Orleans second line or sing along to some your favourite tunes they are gonna bring it! Featuring more horns than a stretch of congested downtown traffic with driving drums and mercurial vocals, the Levee's repertoire consists of quirky arrangements of your favourite pop songs (a la bras band) and originals. Hailing form the Northern Rivers and formed after the devastating 2017 Lismore flood (from whence we got the name) their mission is to generously generate genuine good groove whilst encouraging audience participation in the form of dancing (some people find their pelvis moves involuntary at Levee gigs) or singing along (you will know the lyrics!).

Long time Lismore duo Chris Fisher and Marcelle Townsend–Cross, AKA Monkey & the Fish, create a special vocal harmony & presence. Joined by the rhythm section of Johnny Shaw (drums) and George Urbaszek (bass), the Monkey & the Fish Band delivers tight grooves and emotive arrangements.

Performing songs from their recently released album ‘A Place Of Hope’ plus material from previous studio albums, Monkey & the Fish present a unique repertoire with folk, roots and reggae influences. Their latest release won NCEIA Dolphin Awards for 'Album of The Year' and 'Production' in 2017. Their earlier release also received accolades including 'Song Of The Year' for the collaborative work: 'Bundjalung'.

Engaging and evocative lyrics resonate themes of love and respect for family & the natural world and connect with audiences. Two songs from the new album, ‘Change Is Good’ and ‘Hand In Hand’ were directly inspired through the Bentley Blockade and community opposition to CSG and the fossil fuel industry.

A truly great example of top local musicianship and homegrown creativity. Monkey & the Fish are an articulate and solid sound in the growing chorus for change.

The Romaniacs have built a strong following playing at north coast venues and festivals for 19 years. The members Phil Levy (Guitars, Mandolin Banjo & vocals), Leo Glass (Guitars and Bouzouki and Vocals) and Guy Madigan (Darabuka, Cajon & percussion) and Steve Gilbert (Harmonica and Vocals) and Michael Turner (Bass and Baritone Guitar)

They are all uniquely talented and internationally travelled award-winning musicians. Their music is inspired by Folk, Blues, Latin, Celtic, Spanish and Eastern Roots Their original compositions are strongly influenced by the magic of the Northern Rivers region where they live.

West African performer, dancer and teacher Gabriel Otu fronts this energetic five-piece band.

Growing up on the beaches of Ghana's South Coast, Gabriel started traditional African dance at the ripe young age of 7 and pursued in continuing his Fathers footsteps in playing percussion, singing and carving djembes.

TODAY Gabriel is based in the Northern Rivers of NSW teaching weekly drum and dance lessons in Mullumbimby, at local craft markets, schools, weddings and performing at festivals such as Splendour in the Grass, Woodford Folk Festival with his, 6 piece band. Afotey.(happuafrica); grooving traditional melodies into afro-beats.

GABRIEL'S passion for music and dance shines through in his ability to teach, perform and engage with his crowd.

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..."an unforgettable cultural experience"

In the tradition of cross-pollination that gave rise to Palm Wine music, The Palm Wine Ambassadors draw their musical inspiration from continents and archipelagos worldwide and bring it home. 

About 20 years ago Jason Burns returned to Australia after a decade and a half first driving Peogeot 404s across the Sahara and selling them to become taxis, then toiling as a subsistence farmer and raising two children while studying under kora masters in West Africa. Once back in Australia, he began meeting with friends to play music and drink Palm Wine. 

Bringing instruments and musical styles from afar and blending them with home culture is reminiscent of the cross-pollination that occurred during the slave trade and gave rise to ‘Palm Wine Music’ in West Africa many years ago. This loose knit group of Aussie musician mates became known as the Palm Wine Ambassadors. 

The Palm Wine Ambassadors draw musical inspiration from personal experience in many parts of the world. Despite their broad palette of influences there is no pretence to play anything other than Australian music.

Jimmy Willing & The Real Gone Hick-Ups have a brand new album out called Horse Operas. Jimmy and his band will be performing it at The Channon Markets 43rd Birthday Party starting 10am Sunday 13th of October. Special guest act is The Von Tramp Family Puppet Show who are no newcomers to The Channon having been regular performers all through the 90's.

A little bit about the new album:

Horse Operas

Our friends and fans have been calling out for this one for years now and finally it's here, the long awaited 2nd album from Jimmy Willing & The Real Gone Hick-Ups, Horse Operas.

Horse Operas was a term coined by silent movie star William S Hart to describe his acting career in Westerns. I freely admit to being seduced by old Hollywood on this album; the iconography, the costumes, the sets, the songs and the narratives we have plundered them all and brought them back to life creating not Spaghetti, but Kangaroo Westerns.

Hollywood however is not the only thing we have ransacked. Napoleon's love letters to Josephine, Delacroix's great canvas Liberty Leads The People, my own love life, folk music, and history itself have all been boiled down and distilled to create what I hope is an intoxicating recording, one that you will return to again and again.
This is a recording rich with narrative, it tells tales and stories. At times it's confronting and irreverent, at others sexy and violent; but I started out in show business playing punk rock, so what do you expect.

We have done our very best to reach perfection but perfection often comes at the expense of expression so we have put expression first.The recording itself was done almost entirely in live takes, that is we all played together in one room like Elvis in the 50s. We have made a few concessions here and there but at it's heart this is an old school recording.

The band is Blues archivist Davey Bob Ramsey on guitars: tattooed man Clancy Robinson on drums; Kyogle mill worker Nirvana Glassey on double bass; the lass from Nyngan Gleny Rae Virus on piano accordion and fiddle; circus acrobat Gareth Bjlaand on banjo; grease monkey Captain Freedom on harmonica (Autry and Rogers); and Bertie Page and Lotus Jones on vocals (Ginger's Can Can).

There was a huge amount of musical knowledge in the room so we decided to self produce with everyone involved providing input. As such the ideas were diverse and lots of different styles went into the mix including Cabaret, Circus, Country, Folk, Blues and of course Rock & Roll.
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Horse Operas was recorded by Patti Bom at The Music Farm Mullumbimby and mixed by her at Marley Studios, Byron Bay. Additional Mixing and mastering by Michael Worthington at Soundworthy Ballina.

Potent, passionate & powerful Tuntable Creek singer/songwriter Mish Songsmith is playing for the first time with her new 5-piece band of fantastic local musicians; Mark Bromley on bass, Brent Calcutt on keys, Fionn Quinlan on drums & Jewel Musica on backing vocals and percussion. Mish’s music aligns with John Lennon's desire to connect people and create a peaceful world, yet on a more personal level, with universal anthems ‘Be Yourself’ and ‘You’ll Get There.’ Having won a load of song writing and performing awards, Mish's influences come from the likes of Tori Amos, Joni Mitchell, The Beatles, Sting, Missy Higgins and Rickie Lee Jones. The band will be playing a mix of Mish’s original songs, and popular covers that span half a century, weaving their way through soul, RnB, folk, jazz, pop & blues. They’re performing from 10am - 2pm at The Big Top Stage, so come for a dance!    

Local country blues powerhouse Smokestack Lightnin’ are sure to get you up and dancing. Their high energy flavour of blues is enjoyed by fans across the globe. Formed in the early nineties  and played the Byron Bay pub scene with Timmy Burrell on percussion, Kev Newton on guitar and vocals, Mike Hunt on contra bass and Pete Segrave also on guitar and vocals.

The band has performed at a number of blues festivals including  Broadbeach and Nambour.

All members are songwriters and arrangers and have airplay on radio in one hundred and twenty countries. Musical influences are sourced from Texas, Chicago, Louisiana and the fringes of jazz. Its gonna rock cause that's what they do !

There's been a last minute change! Watch this space for Sundays new band