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Entertainment and nightlife
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The weekly free community newspaper,
The Byron Shire Echo
, has a comprehensive gig guide. There's plenty of activity in summer:
New Year's Eve
is such a big event that the council has taken to closing the town off - so come early. The huge outdoor
Annual Byron Bay Arts and Music Festival
is normally held for three days in early January but may be moving to February; it takes over Belongil Fields with several stages, a rave field, an all-night cinema, a food fair, market stalls and workshops; to find out exact dates, call the tourist information centre (tel 02/6685 5980). Tickets can be bought in advance from independent record outlets around Australia.
Beach Hotel , cnr Jonson and Bay streets (tel 02/6685 6402). Owned by John Cornell, who played Paul Hogan's sidekick in a 1970s Australian comedy series, this big and smart pub is superbly sited right opposite Main Beach with a huge terrace beer garden, bistro and restaurant, and attracts a cross-section of locals. Live music (often free), including jazz sessions on Sunday afternoon. The Car Park , The Plaza, Jonson St (tel 02/6685 6170). Late-night dance club which also hosts laser shows and comedy. Open until 3am. Chincogan Tavern , Burringbar St, Mullumbimby (tel 02/6684 1550). Bands on Friday night. Great Northern Hotel , Jonson St (tel 02/6685 6454). Something for everyone: a front room with pool tables, a typically blokish public bar and The Backroom , a large stylish space that doubles as an Italian restaurant and a music venue with big-name Australian bands playing three or four times a week. Open till 1am nightly. La La Land , Lawson St. If the hair wraps and tie-dye brigade are making you ill, then try this Byron Bay branch of a Melbourne institution; a place for sipping cocktails and wearing black. Sushi, dips and pizza available for "grazing". Daily 7pm-1am.
Pighouse Flicks
, Old Piggery, Skinners Shoot Rd (tel 02/6685 5828). "The Byron Cinema Experience" shows a hand-picked bill of latest-release films with the emphasis on the quirky and the first-rate, with two to three films nightly and deck chairs or sofas for seating. The price is $10.50 per film with a discount if you eat first at their great vegetarian restaurant. Other useful information
for tourists (each section contains more specific sub-sections): |
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Australia,
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