Katoomba Live and Local

02/03/2026

Exciting new Competition for creatives. ENTRY IS FREE! Barbara Lepani will be on Robyn Catchlove's Breakfast program tomorrow at 7am!

GREATER BLUE MOUNTAINS CREATIVES —LITHGOW TO NEPEAN
THIS IS YOUR CHANCE
A new creative call for entries has landed…
REGENESIS 2026 COMPETITION is now open for entries
FOR 12 - 18yrs OR 18yrs and over

Add your unique creative voice exploring ‘Our Kinship with Nature’
Through poetry, short story, visual art, lyric, or 2-4 min video
INFO SESSION 22 MARCH
ENTRIES CLOSE 30 JUNE 2026
WINNERS ANNOUNCED 18 OCTOBER

Start here:�https://enlivenment.network/2026-regenesis-call-out/
Make a submission via email
Submissions close on 30 June 2026
Q&A Info Session 22 March 2-4pm Junction 142, Katoomba
Submissions: Entries are free - limited to one entry per category, by email with attachments
Completed submission form + works
text as word docs
images as png/jpg
music as mp3
video as mp4 - best method is to place your entry on your own YouTube channel as an unlisted video and then send us the link. Winning entries will be included in a playlist on our YouTube channel.
to: [email protected]

For event details or to submit via an online form:�https://resilientbluemountains.org/event/regenesis/

Begin now. Follow the thread of your idea. Let it evolve.
Tag a local creative who should be part of this. Let’s reimagine the future — together.

12/02/2026

... and now THE PODCAST!
Blue Mountains Live – Podcast Episode
https://bluemountainslive.com.au/podcasts/

On this week’s episode of Blue Mountains Live, The Professor brings together two remarkable artists whose creative journeys have carried them far beyond the Mountains — yet remain deeply connected to home.

First, he speaks with Tracey Yarad — Australian-born, New York-based singer, songwriter and storyteller — about her internationally acclaimed one-woman show All These Pretty Things. Tracey shares the story behind the show’s creation: from early chart success in the ’90s and years performing in Japan, to building a thriving music school in Katoomba, and ultimately reinventing herself in New York after a life-changing personal chapter. She reflects on turning heartbreak into theatre, the vulnerability of solo performance, touring Edinburgh Fringe and London, and what it means to bring this deeply personal work to the Blue Mountains Theatre stage.

In the second half, The Professor catches up with Andie, the fiercely independent Blue Mountains singer-songwriter who has just returned from nearly two years in Glasgow. They dive into her brand-new self-produced album The Eye of the Storm — a 14-track work born from introspection, resilience and creative freedom. Andie discusses writing without compromise, producing and performing every instrument herself, reconnecting with Tracey overseas, and preparing for her first band launch in years.

It’s a conversation about reinvention, artistic courage, creative community and the long road home.

Settle in for music, honesty and two powerful stories of transformation.

TraceyYarad is appearing at The Blue Mountains Theatre and Community Hub on Friday 29th Feb

https://www.bluemountainstheatre.com.au/what-s-on/season-2026/all-these-pretty-things-tracey-yarad/

Andie is appearing at the Little Lost Bookshop in Katoomba on the 21st Feb.

https://bluemountainslive.com.au/podcasts/

12/02/2026

Blue Mountains Live – This Week at 7pm

This week on Blue Mountains Live, The Professor brings you two powerful conversations with artists whose creative journeys began right here in the Mountains — and have since taken them across the world.

At 7pm – Tracey Yarad

First up, The Professor speaks with Australian-born, New York-based singer, songwriter and storyteller Tracey Yarad, who returns home to perform her acclaimed one-woman musical memoir All These Pretty Things at the Blue Mountains Theatre on Friday February 20.

Tracey reflects on her extraordinary path — from scoring a Top 40 single in the ’90s, to seven years performing six nights a week in Hilton hotels across Japan, to building a thriving music school in Katoomba with more than 200 students. After a deeply personal turning point, she relocated to New York, where the city’s creative intensity helped shape her music into something new: a fully realised theatre work blending song, story, heartbreak and humour.

In this candid conversation, Tracey shares how sitting at the piano became “better than therapy,” how a hardcover book of songs and artwork by Blue Mountains artists evolved into a structured stage show, and what it was like performing 79+ shows across Edinburgh Fringe, London, Adelaide and New York. She also speaks about collaboration, creative reinvention, and why coming back to the Blue Mountains feels like coming home.

Expect laughter, honesty — and yes, maybe bring tissues.

We’ll also play tracks from All These Pretty Things, including the beautifully fitting “Home.”

Then – Andie

In the second half of the show, The Professor catches up with Blue Mountains expat Andie — singer-songwriter, multi-instrumentalist and fiercely independent producer — fresh from nearly two years living and creating in Glasgow.

Andie returns with a brand-new 14-track album, The Eye of the Storm, released on February 14. Written during a period of heartbreak and introspection, the album was entirely self-produced — every instrument played, arranged and mixed by Andie herself (with a touch of sax from a friend. She talks about artistic integrity versus commercial accessibility, long-form songwriting, and why sometimes an album isn’t a “career move” but an emotional necessity.

We also explore her reconnection with Tracey at Edinburgh Fringe, the creative cross-pollination between Mountains artists overseas, and her upcoming album launch at the Little Lost Bookshop on February 21 — her first band show in nearly seven years.

And yes… we’ll spin her brilliantly titled track “Google Heart.”

Two artists. Two journeys through heartbreak and reinvention. One deep creative thread that still leads back to the Blue Mountains.

Tune in at 7pm for a night of story, song and inspiration on Blue Mountains Live.
Listen on RBM 89.1FM or stream at rbm.org.au.

05/02/2026

Talking ArtZ: The Professor in Conversation with Wyn Jones
Tonight after 6pm on rbm.org.au.

On this episode of Talking ArtZ, The Professor is joined by Wyn Jones — ecologist, artist, poet and long-time advocate for the natural landscapes of the Blue Mountains — for a rich and deeply reflective conversation about art, ecology and the origins of Australia’s conservation movement.

Broadcast in the context of Wyn’s current exhibition, Cradle of Conservation – Hands on Heritage, showing at Gang Gang Gallery, Lithgow, the discussion traces the story of environmental care from Indigenous knowledge systems through to the saving of Blue Gum Forest in 1932, and on to today’s World Heritage–listed Greater Blue Mountains.

Wyn speaks warmly about a lifetime connection to the bush — from his earliest childhood visits to the mountains, to decades spent working as an ecologist and documenting place through photography, poetry and participatory art. He reflects on how art becomes a bridge to understanding nature through all the senses, opening doors that data and science alone sometimes cannot.

Central to the conversation are the exhibition’s hand-printed conservation banners and hands-on elements, where visitors — including children — are invited to sign, paint and participate. Wyn describes these works as a way of “passing the baton,” embedding shared responsibility for country across generations.

The interview also explores Wyn’s belief that artists act as channels for the natural world, helping people reconnect, find solace, and rediscover their place within the living landscape. As the conversation unfolds, it becomes clear that Cradle of Conservation is not just an exhibition, but a living, evolving act of community care and cultural memory.

The episode closes with Wyn’s musical choice, Dave Brubeck’s “Strange Meadowlark,” a fitting soundscape to accompany reflections on birdsong, landscape and the quiet symphony of the Blue Mountains.

ON NOW AT GANG GANG GALLERY | LITHGOW
CRADLE OF CONSERVATION – Hands on Heritage
January 23 – March 28

04/02/2026

BLUE MOUNTAINS LIVE

This week on Blue Mountains Live, the Professor sits down with Adalita to talk all things Bleak Squad — the new noir-rock supergroup featuring Adalita (Magic Dirt), Mick Harvey (Nick Cave & the Bad Seeds), Mick Turner (Dirty Three), and Marty Brown (Art of Fighting).

Born from a simple invitation to “have a jam,” Bleak Squad quickly revealed a rare and easy chemistry. What began as loose ideas and instrumental sketches evolved into a fully realised debut album, Strange Love — a slow-burning, cinematic record steeped in atmosphere, restraint, and emotional weight. As Adalita explains, the project felt so natural that it demanded to be pursued properly: a band name, a release, and a tour.

In a wide-ranging and generous conversation, Adalita reflects on the joy of starting a “baby band” after decades on the scene, the pleasure of letting songs breathe, and the appeal of playing seated theatres instead of sticky-carpet pubs. The Professor shares his own late-’80s Sydney memories, noting how Bleak Squad’s sound taps into a lineage of deep, ballad-heavy Australian alternative music — and why it feels so good to hear it again.

Bleak Squad play Saturday night at the Blue Mountains Theatre and Community Hub, Springwood, performing the full Strange Love album, plus encore tracks from their new 7-inch vinyl release. Support comes from The Melodrones.

Tune in from 7pm on Radio Blue Mountains 89.1FM to hear the full interview, along with the title track from "Strange Love" and the EP track “Black and White.”

An intimate conversation with one of Australia’s most distinctive voices, ahead of a very special Blue Mountains show.
Listen on 89.1FM or stream at https:rbm.org.au.

Bleak Squad appear at the Blue Mountains Theatre and Community Hub
Saturday 7 February
Tickets $64.50 | on sale at
https://bluemountainstheatre.com.au

31/01/2026

Wyn Jones will be on Talking ArtZ next Thursday!

ON NOW AT GANG GANG GALLERY | LITHGOW

CRADLE OF CONSERVATION – Hands on Heritage
January 23 – March 28

Step into a powerful local story of people, place and protection at Gang Gang Gallery, with Cradle of Conservation – Hands on Heritage, an exhibition that traces the deep roots of environmental care in the Blue Mountains.
This exhibition celebrates the long road from a small community of bush people in the early 20th century to the landmark saving of Blue Gum Forest in 1932—a pivotal moment in Australia’s conservation history. From those early acts of care, a movement grew, evolving over decades into the vast National Parks and World Heritage landscapes we know today.
At the heart of the exhibition are the Gum Trees themselves—home to more than 100 species and providing shelter for tens of thousands of interconnected life forms. Through photography, banners and participatory art, the exhibition highlights how art becomes a magnet for connection: between people and nature, between generations, and between personal experience and collective responsibility.
The hand-printed and signed Conservation Banners are a central feature—created and signed by people of all ages over many years. They carry stories, shared values and a clear message: to care for country and protect what matters. These banners also commemorate the World Heritage listing of the Greater Blue Mountains, symbolising both celebration and ongoing commitment.
This weekend at the Gallery
Visitors are invited to:
View a stunning collection of photography capturing local landscapes
Sign a banner and add your voice to the growing movement to protect our World Heritage areas
Encourage children to paint a native leaf onto a stone—planting the seeds of care and stewardship in the next generation
The banners will be displayed in the gallery before being relocated to prominent lookouts, where they will stand as visible markers of community connection and environmental commitment.
🌱 Curated by Wyn Jones — Ecologist, Artist, Poet and Humanitarian.
Wyn will be present in the gallery again this weekend and would love to welcome visitors to sign one of the banners on display.
Gang Gang Gallery, Lithgow
Friday – Sunday | 10:30am – 4:30pm
This exhibition proudly supports World Heritage locations in and around Lithgow and the Blue Mountains.
A meaningful, hands-on experience for all ages—and a reminder that caring for place begins with people.

16/01/2026

https://bluemountainslive.com.au/podcasts/ /

Blue Mountains Live — Podcast Edition�Broadcast Thursday 15 January on Radio Blue Mountains
In this episode of Blue Mountains Live, The Professor is joined by two very different but equally compelling voices from the Australian music landscape.
The first half of the program features an in-depth conversation with one of Australia’s most loved and enduring songwriters, Josh Pyke, ahead of his upcoming intimate performance at the Hydro Majestic on Thursday 6 February. Spanning more than two decades, Josh’s career includes multiple ARIA Top 10 albums and songs that have become deeply woven into the lives of listeners across generations.
Josh reflects on revisiting his breakthrough mini-album Feeding the Wolves, which he’ll be performing in full on this tour, alongside fan favourites and new material. He talks about his long connection to the Blue Mountains — including filming the video for There’s a Line around Lithgow — and shares memories of staying at the Hydro Majestic as a child, describing its “Gormenghast-like” atmosphere.
The conversation ranges widely, touching on Josh’s evolving songwriting process, the importance of authenticity, and why some songs continue to resonate decades after they’re written. He also discusses his work beyond the stage, including children’s books, storytelling, artist advocacy, literacy initiatives, and the powerful connections audiences share with him after live shows. Music featured includes Middle of the Hill and Private Education, recorded live with the Adelaide Symphony Orchestra.
Special bonus: keeping the “Josh” theme going, The Professor also chats with Madame Fatale, the Blue Mountains punk outfit, about their new album Happy Smiling Friends, their place in the local music scene, and the energy and attitude behind their sound.
A wide-ranging episode that moves from reflective songwriting to raw local punk — full of stories, insight, and connection.
Josh Pyke live at the Hydro Majestic — Thursday 6 February�📻 Originally broadcast Thursday 15 January on Radio Blue Mountains�Now available as a podcast

https://bluemountainslive.com.au/podcasts/ /

16/01/2026

https://talkingartz.com.au/episodes/

Talking ArtZ – Lookout, Lookout: New Theatre, Film and Landscape from the Blue Mountains

In the first Talking ArtZ Interview of the year, the Professor is joined by two much-loved figures of the Blue Mountains arts community — theatre director and writer Maggie Davis and filmmaker and visual artist Sean O’Keeffe — to talk about their ambitious new project Lookout, Lookout.

Developed over several years and emerging from early COVID-era BMCC Arts funding, Lookout, Lookout explores themes of settling and unsettling in the Blue Mountains, drawing together Darug perspectives, settler histories, bushfire, family, landscape and memory. Originally conceived as a large-scale live theatre work, the project has evolved into three interlinked video works — Fences, Fire and Family — designed to be experienced as an immersive installation.

Maggie and Sean discuss the long creative journey behind the project, the collaborative ensemble of performers, musicians and artists involved, and the challenges and rewards of blending theatre, filmmaking, visual art and sound. The conversation ranges from Maggie’s extensive theatre career and local creative collaborations, to Sean’s approach to screen-based storytelling and immersive audience experience, all grounded in the unique landscapes of the Blue Mountains.

The episode also touches on works in progress, future plans for presenting Lookout, Lookout, and other creative projects currently underway — offering listeners a rare behind-the-scenes insight into how major local arts works are developed over time.

A thoughtful and wide-ranging conversation about place, collaboration and creative process, Lookout, Lookout is a powerful example of Blue Mountains artists working across disciplines to tell stories that matter.

https://talkingartz.com.au/episodes/

24/12/2025

CREATE OR REFRESH Your Website for Growth in 2026

Is your business website still feeling stuck in the past? In today’s online world, your website isn’t just a digital brochure — it’s your most powerful sales tool. A modern, responsive, user-friendly site builds trust, keeps customers engaged and helps you stand out from competitors. Updated content and current design also improve your Google rankings and help you reach more local and global customers.
It also needs to function as a tool to help your users get what they need from you fast and easily.

At BradDiedrich.com, we specialise in crafting tailored websites that work for your business or organisation here in the Blue Mountains, not just look pretty. Whether you need:
A full redesign
Mobile optimisation
Strategic content updates
Fresh photography & visuals
Social media integration
—we’ve got you covered.

You’ll get a site that tells your story clearly, converts visitors into customers, and grows alongside your business. Plus, we can help manage your social media presence, so your brand stays relevant and engaging across platforms. Brad also has a lot of connections into local directories, Social Media networks and Media Channels such as the local Community Radio Network.

Step into 2026 with confidence. Let’s build a digital presence that reflects your professionalism and drives real results.

Send us a message today to talk about your goals and get a customised plan that fits your business.
[email protected] | 0412 245 797

27/11/2025

BLUE MOUNTAINS LIVE – THIS THURSDAY ON RBM 89.1 tonight from 7pm straight after 'Talking ArtZ'.

BLUE MOUNTAINS LIVE – THIS THURSDAY ON RBM 89.1FM

Two feature interviews: Kellie Mar and Gavin Bowles

This week on Blue Mountains Live, Brad Diedrich brings you a strong double episode featuring two guests with exciting things happening in the Blue Mountains and beyond.

KELLIE MAR – What’s On at Blue Mountains Theatre + Community Hub This December

Brad speaks with Kellie Mar, Marketing Officer for the Blue Mountains Theatre + Community Hub, about the venue’s upcoming December program. Kellie walks us through the diverse lineup closing out the 2025 season, highlighting the range of performances and events on offer for local audiences.

She discusses:
• Key shows and performances coming to the Theatre in December
• Why this final month of the year is one of the most vibrant in the program
• How the Hub continues to support both touring and local artists
• What audiences can expect as the venue heads toward 2026

If you’re planning festive outings, family events, or a night of live performance, this preview gives you everything you need to know.

GAVIN BOWLES – New Album, New Tour, and Station Bar This Saturday

A returning friend of the show, Gavin Bowles joins Brad to talk about his new album Are We Having Fun Yet? and the tour that’s taken him and The Distractions across NSW and Melbourne.

In this interview, Gavin shares:
• How the album blends upbeat power-pop with more reflective material
• Why “Spooky” became the unplanned Halloween single
• Stories from the tour and the bands they’ve met along the way
• The making of tracks like Loser of the Year and Board of Education
• Why Station Bar in Katoomba is still one of their favourite venues to play

Catch the last show of the tour:
Gavin Bowles & The Distractions
This Saturday
Station Bar, Katoomba
9pm – two full sets mixing new album tracks, fan favourites, and a few surprises
Arrive early for food and settle in for a great night.

Tune in to Blue Mountains Live

Thursday 7–8pm
Radio Blue Mountains 89.1FM
Stream online at rbm.org.au

Two engaging interviews and another night of great local music, arts, and conversation. Tune in.

26/11/2025

Tonight at 6pm on 'Talking ArtZ, don't miss Susan Cocnrane talking about her book launch at Gang Gang Gallery!

THIS WEEK ON TALKING ARTZ
Thursday on Radio Blue Mountains 89.1FM

We’ve got a beautifully rich, art-filled program lined up this week on Talking ArtZ, featuring the final editions of two of our regular segments for the year — Jenny Ward’s In the Frame and Sebastiaan’s PSO conversations with David Abbott — plus a special interview with a leading voice in Pacific arts.

Jenny Ward’s Final In the Frame for 2025

Jenny signs off for the year with a wonderful final instalment of In the Frame.
She talks with Spencer Calverley, winner of the Kadumba $20,000 Drawing Award, about the childhood memories behind his winning work Rural Eclectic 3, inspired by the humble classroom chair.

Jenny also brings us a festive tour of what’s happening in Blue Mountains galleries right now:
David Rex Livingstone’s vibrant Christmas exhibition in Katoomba
Medley Magic, the colourful and curious works of David R. Hill
Gallery NWC’s joyful pre-Christmas show filled with ceramics, timber pieces, original artworks, plants, and perfect gift ideas

A great guide for anyone keen to support local artists this Christmas.

Susan Cochrane on Living Art Papua New Guinea

We’re honoured to feature author, curator, and PNG arts specialist Susan Cochrane, whose new book Living Art Papua New Guinea has just launched in time for PNG’s 50th Anniversary of Independence.

Spanning more than four decades of fieldwork and creative collaboration, the book brings together over 125 artists and 300 works. Susan shares insights into:
– her childhood and formative years in PNG
– the evolution of contemporary PNG art
– and the deep relationships that shaped this landmark publication

A fascinating conversation with a truly remarkable researcher and curator.

Final PSO Interview of the Year — Sebastiaan de Jonge & David Abbott

Sebastiaan closes out the year’s PSO interview series with David Abbott from the Penrith Symphony Orchestra.

They chat about the upcoming Family Christmas Concert on Sunday 7 December, featuring:
Tchaikovsky’s Nutcracker Suite
Festive favourites and carols
Dancers from Glenbrook Ballet Theatre
A visit from Santa — this time with a brand-new musical instrument!

David also offers a first look at the PSO’s 2026 Season, spanning Beethoven to Studio Ghibli, Puccini’s Tosca, and the return of Messiah. A perfect gift idea for your musical loved ones.

Tune in to Talking ArtZ
Thursday 6pm
6pm on Radio Blue Mountains 89.1FM
Stream online from anywhere rbm.org.au

This may be the final In the Frame and final PSO chat for the year — but Talking ArtZ continues throughout the season with more great conversations to come.

See you on the airwaves!