We will be having a break from doing the Panda Room at Big Trev’s until the wet season subsides, but the good news is that the new owners of The Mountain View Hotel at Little Mulgrave have taken the live music bull by the horns and are planning on turning the venue into a live music mecca, a sentiment that warms the cockles of our jaded little hearts here at Panda Central. The Panda Room will be popping up at the Mountain View on a monthly basis under the guise of ‘Mountainfest’ and ENTRY IS FREE!
The first Mountainfest gig will be staged on Saturday 17th Feb, and then every month afterwards with different bands on each bill. There’s a bigger stage there than at Big Trevs and much more cover from bad weather, and the Panda Room sound system sounds phenomenal there on the riverside stage.
The first Mountainfest will feature Eddie Skiba playing an early solo set from 6.30. Eddie has earned himself a stellar reputation as a songwriter and live performer. The latest album is ‘Chasing Rainbows’, adding to previous highly acclaimed releases, ‘Blend on the Border’, ‘Bullet De Bloom’, and ‘Dig It’. Mitch Sullivan from NQ Music Press describes Skiba’s previous release as “explodes with upbeat tempos beautifully contrasted with thoughtful and hard-hitting lyrics that will have you taking notice from the first listen”. Eddie has played support gigs with esteemed artists such as Hoodoo Gurus, Diesel, Ian Moss, Jon Stevens, The Black Sorrows, The Break, Colin Hay, Mark Seymour, Nick Barker, Jim Mogine (Midnight Oil), Dragon, 10CC, Chocolate Starfish, Clint Boge, and Ed Kuepper. Get in early to catch Eddies set and grab a meal from the awesome kitchen at The Mountainview
Carinda Christie with full band in tow will be hitting the Mountain View stage from around 7.50pm. No stranger to NQ Festival stages, Carinda has supported some big name acts (Johnny Johnson, Dutch Tilders, Dave Ritter, Billy Thorpe, Kevin Borich, Hippos, Red Rivers, Ted Mulray, Pseudo Echo, Tina Cousins,Things of Stone and Wood, Grace Knight, Collective Soul, Wendy Matthews, Graeme Connors, and Christine Anu) Her repertoire of diverse energetic originals is a folk/pop/rock and blues combination and is guaranteed to get your feet stomping.
Defacto Panda Room House band The Brazilians will be playing 2 sets from 9.10pm until late. The Brazilians are currently in the studio getting some new recordings down and the new lineup with Ollie on drums and original Callum “Frullet” Williams back on guitar is sounding tighter than ever. The Brazilians were borne in the pubs nestled amongst the Mulgrave Delta cane fields of Gordonvale. The band got their start playing loud and proud, the twin guitar attack of Macalpine & Williams competing against the industrial din of the Gordonvale sugar mill pumping 24/7 across the road from their gigs. the band is currently working on their 3rd album.
“The Brazilians rock. Has a great tough swagger!!!!! Love it” – Ray Ahn, The Hard Ons
“Blending the lyrical wit and wisdom of Supersuckers and the musical chops of AC/DC getting their blues on” – Dave Franklin, Dancing About Architecture
“This is clearly one of those songs that needs to cranked to 11 to be truly appreciated” – Nkechie Anele JJJ Roots ‘N’ All (On Rise Up)
“World Class” – Irene Barrett, Rock & Blues Downunder radio show 89.1 Cairns FM
Mountainfest kicks off from 6.30pm Saturday the 17th of February. Entry is free, and a courtesy coach is available for transport to and from the venue if you are in Gordonvale or Edmondton, you are advised to pre book the Courtesy Coach on (07) 4056 1723
There is free camping available down by the Little Mulgrave River next to the pub.
And oh yeah.. ENTRY IS FREE! but as the venue is licensed (with an awesome selection of ice cold beers on tap including Copperlode and Hemmingways) there is Strictly NO BYO, so take note Panda Room regulars who are used to the BYO frendly Big Trevs (Did we mention entry is free though?).
Facebook Event:- https://www.facebook.com/events/696362762606983