Blacktown City Council - Media Releaae - You Can’t Beat The Bites

MEDIA RELEASE

                                                                                                                  10 October, 2017

For the rest of October, Wednesdays in Blacktown lunchtimes won’t be the same as the Beats and Bites festival fills the streets with good food and excellent music.

“Blacktown has a rich diversity of cultures and Beats and Bites highlights just how varied Blacktown can be,” the Mayor of Blacktown City, Councillor Stephen Bali said.

“You can bring your lunch and visit the Arts Centre Courtyard to see the Contemporary Filipino-Australian Art Exhibition and music of Balik Bayan.

“Or get your heart racing at the ‘Something About Africa’ stage while feasting on traditional Ethiopian Cuisine at Blacktown’s famous Abyssinia restaurant and newly opened Gursha Ethiopian restaurant and Café,” Mayor Bali said.

Performers include local artist Michael David, a finalist on THE VOICE, who is performing in his Jazz Quartet on the Big Sounds stage in the Village Green and on the mix stage at Oregano and Oil as a solo artist.

Shohrat Tursun of Traditional East Turkistan, now modern day China, will be performing on the Simply Strings stage, showcasing the ancient stringed instrument, the dutar.

He will also be performing in front of the Main Street Medical Centre and the Coffee Time Café, with a violin, cello, a harp and flute duet, as well as oud and kanun throughout the month long program.

“The festival has something for everyone, depending on what mood you are in, each Wednesday lunchtime caters to a different music and food experience,” Mayor Bali said.

Funded by the Live Music Office and CREATE NSW, Blacktown City Council were successful in receiving funding for this initiative through the Blacktown Arts Centre and Live and Local Western Sydney Music Strategy.

Performance Locations

Village Green – BIG SOUNDS  (bands, ensembles)

·        Renee’s Pizza

·        Food truck

Visitors Information Centre – WOMEN OF THE WEST (female choirs, singer/songwriters)

Enjoy food at:

·        El Jannah

·        Happy Chicken

·        Curry Paste (Indian)

·        Pasteur (Vietnamese restaurant)

Oregano and Oil - THE MIX (DJ’s, contemporary music)

Main St Family Medical Centre – SIMPLY STRINGS (cross cultures).

Enjoy food at:

·        Coffee Time

·        Chef’s Coffee Lounge

·        Simply Kebabs

Galaxy Food Market (Nuts and Coffee House) – SOMETHING ABOUT AFRICA (music from Africa)

·        Abyssinia Ethiopian Restaurant

·        Gursha – Ethiopian Restaurant and Café

·        Galaxy Food Market (nuts and coffee house).

·        Blacktown Arts Centre – BALIK BAYAN, CONTEMPORARY AUSTRALIAN- FILIPINO ART EXHIBITION  & MUSIC

·        Bring your own lunch  and sit in the courtyard beneath the recycled art installation