“I’ve lived in Lismore for 14 years. Prior to that was Byron. I was born in Brisbane but have been in the Northern Rivers for 25 years now give or take. We had our first daughter Ariel in Lennox, moved to Lismore when Caitlin was pregnant with Franki and Vincent was born here.
We moved to Lismore in December 2003. The hottest Lismore week on record. The temperature was in the late 40’s and we bought a house in South Lismore. It had no fans and the windows had been painted shut. How the hell anyone could have ever lived there was beyond me. It had been like that for 90 years.
My whole life has been about food and music. I’ve been mucking around with bands since I was 14. I’ve also been cooking since I was 14. I used to say I cook all types of food but really it always comes back to Mediterranean. My family is Sicilian and when I cook Mediterranean it comes really naturally to me. It’s in my blood. My life has been working as a chef, travelling, playing music on the side. I spent time in Noosa, Townsville, Gold Coast, Sydney then back here.
I grew up in Bjelke Petersen Brisbane so my music from the beginning was angst ridden. Punk, even old fashioned country stuff but always angst ridden. That’s what we thought you had to do, rally against the establishment which we all did. I’ve played lots of styles but it always seems to go back to angsty punk. I’ve had heaps of bands over the years but in this area I had a band called The Vendors, another called Halcyon Days which was quite a prophetic name as we always look back to that time. I played in a punk band called Thunderbox and we came to Lismore for a gig. It was the second time I had been here and I discovered Lismore’s music scene. I was really attracted to Lismore because it was an awesome music scene. I had another band called Birdbrain and I played with The Re-mains for about 5 years. Playing with those guys really raised my musicianship. Another fun band was the Postmortemists. Currently I’m playing in a duo called Bridge and Button which is myself and Adam Button. He’s a lot of fun and such a nice guy.
At this point in history I’ve put on around a thousand gigs since I’ve been in Lismore. Maz had the Winsome back when there were 6 bands a week playing and I was the entertainment manager. I’ve also done the programming for the stages at The North Coast National for 6 years. I was the creator along with Lizette and SJ Loxton of the Lismore Songwriters Comp. I play on the Donnybrooks punk band. We are on the Mazstock lineup this year. It’s s collaboration of several bands in the area. Maz and I do Mazstock every year which is happening again on Saturday the 19th May (link below).
I’m cooking at Cappellos but I’m just about to start work at REDinc. I’ll stay managing the kitchen for a couple of days a week at Cappellos. Two years ago I trained to be a Counsellor which is going to be part of the next journey for me. That qualification will be useful in my new job. I’m going in there as a Counsellor, a Musician and a Chef. I’m really looking forward to it.
Food, music and raising kids, that’s about it. I love this area and I always gravitated back here once I found it. You know that little heart connection you get to the Northern Rivers. Once you open it you never really close it.”
We moved to Lismore in December 2003. The hottest Lismore week on record. The temperature was in the late 40’s and we bought a house in South Lismore. It had no fans and the windows had been painted shut. How the hell anyone could have ever lived there was beyond me. It had been like that for 90 years.
My whole life has been about food and music. I’ve been mucking around with bands since I was 14. I’ve also been cooking since I was 14. I used to say I cook all types of food but really it always comes back to Mediterranean. My family is Sicilian and when I cook Mediterranean it comes really naturally to me. It’s in my blood. My life has been working as a chef, travelling, playing music on the side. I spent time in Noosa, Townsville, Gold Coast, Sydney then back here.
I grew up in Bjelke Petersen Brisbane so my music from the beginning was angst ridden. Punk, even old fashioned country stuff but always angst ridden. That’s what we thought you had to do, rally against the establishment which we all did. I’ve played lots of styles but it always seems to go back to angsty punk. I’ve had heaps of bands over the years but in this area I had a band called The Vendors, another called Halcyon Days which was quite a prophetic name as we always look back to that time. I played in a punk band called Thunderbox and we came to Lismore for a gig. It was the second time I had been here and I discovered Lismore’s music scene. I was really attracted to Lismore because it was an awesome music scene. I had another band called Birdbrain and I played with The Re-mains for about 5 years. Playing with those guys really raised my musicianship. Another fun band was the Postmortemists. Currently I’m playing in a duo called Bridge and Button which is myself and Adam Button. He’s a lot of fun and such a nice guy.
At this point in history I’ve put on around a thousand gigs since I’ve been in Lismore. Maz had the Winsome back when there were 6 bands a week playing and I was the entertainment manager. I’ve also done the programming for the stages at The North Coast National for 6 years. I was the creator along with Lizette and SJ Loxton of the Lismore Songwriters Comp. I play on the Donnybrooks punk band. We are on the Mazstock lineup this year. It’s s collaboration of several bands in the area. Maz and I do Mazstock every year which is happening again on Saturday the 19th May (link below).
I’m cooking at Cappellos but I’m just about to start work at REDinc. I’ll stay managing the kitchen for a couple of days a week at Cappellos. Two years ago I trained to be a Counsellor which is going to be part of the next journey for me. That qualification will be useful in my new job. I’m going in there as a Counsellor, a Musician and a Chef. I’m really looking forward to it.
Food, music and raising kids, that’s about it. I love this area and I always gravitated back here once I found it. You know that little heart connection you get to the Northern Rivers. Once you open it you never really close it.”