It's coming direct from east coast America, represents a true vintage style and is ridiculously unique.

LA Vintage is bringing the best of American vintage clothing direct to Brisbane as part of Butter Beats infamous $2 Record Fair for a one-off sale. If it's vintage, American and clothing, expect to see it at the sale.

Get exited for items including varsity jackets, trucker hats, western cowboy shirts, Mexican folk dresses, ‘70s and ‘80s leather boots, Mickey Mouse jumpers, Magnum style surf shorts and shirts, pop culture tees, wind breakers and an assortment of awesome rock tees.

Jennifer Theis had the tough job of touring parts of America to source Brisbane with a style scarcely seen by the city before.

“All items were handpicked. The college jackets in particular are unique as they are the real-deal authentic; not some Jay Jays sweat shop knock-offs,” Jennifer says.

“I think most of the pieces have a timeless look to them. Heading towards autumn and winter, the college jackets could be a popular choice. We hope Brisbanities will enjoy the finds and pick up a piece or two.”

LA Vintage takes place at Butter Beats $2 Record Sale, to be held at 174 Boundary St, West End, Sunday May 20.

Based on the true story of 16-year-old’s Kristjan Teraud’s drug-related death: the production of ‘April’s Fool’, directed by David Burton, is set to stir the stages of the Judith Wright Centre.

The Toowoomba teenager fell victim to a lethal cocktail of drugs and alcohol in April 2009, just weeks before his 19th birthday. Burton saw the incident as means of displaying the power of drugs on communities through the stage.

The lead role is played by USQ Theatre Arts graduate Sam Clark, who says the production is one of the most powerful experiences he’s ever had on stage. “It’s not intended to be didactic and not trying to slap people around the head and say ‘this is bad’ or ‘this is good’. It’s a story about family and communities. Anybody that has been in contact with somebody that has died can really get something out of this,” says Clark.

‘April’s Fool’ has received international praise by teenagers, parents, teachers, youth workers and theatre critics alike for its raw, meaningful content and ability to connect with audiences.

Themes of love, loss, friendship, family, community and choices are explored as a five-strong cast cope with Kristjan’s death. “It’s ultimately about how the family and community deal with the death of a particularly charismatic young person who had lots of friends,” says Clark.

“We use the device of individual actors playing multiple characters so the audience can disconnect it from an ordinary realism play and use it in their own lives. We worked really hard, disconnected from our usual lives, so we could really concentrate on it.
“It’s heartbreaking when you’re performing it sometimes, but you just have to remember that these are real people and it’s a real story. It brings a kind of task to it as an actor.”

Burton spent over 24 hours interviewing Kristjan’s community in the lead-up to the play’s production. “I became extremely aware of the fragile web of a community and how easily it can be disturbed,” he says. 

Clark says the production has benefited from a realistic approach. “You’ve got to keep in mind it’s a real person and a real story; David hasn’t made anything up. Whenever you watch someone dealing with a trauma or a death it helps you to understand how to deal with that in your own life. You can empathically live through them, and deal with those things yourself,” he says.

“You can see how people around Kristjan came together. His friends from high school, who knew all about one side of him, his family and his grandparents, the nurses and the doctors. They all came together and when something like this happens, it creates a commonality.

“I remember the opening night was for Kristjan’s friends and family. At the end they all got on their feet and there was a standing ovation, but it was for the play, the subject matter and celebrating who this person really was, and also them (Kristjan’s friends and family) feeling themselves reflected on stage. It really drove home how important this production really is.

“During the first season, we got a really strong reaction from the audiences. I think you can feel it because these are real people’s words that somehow really connect with the audience.”

The production portrays issues that many youth can relate to. “It’s about communication and a disconnect between generations. People, including parents, don’t understand that they can actually talk about things. I hope that people, especially students and youth, can walk away from the play feeling like they can talk about anything.”

‘April’s Fool’ will be performed at the Judith Wright Centre April 20 - 21.

Iconic Gold Coast record store Sunflower Music is looking at changing their not-so-sunny circumstances as the otherwise successful business faces some wilting issues.

A recent article in The Gold Coast Bulletin described the store to be suffering financial crisis and, as a result, pending closure. Upon contact with co-owner Judy Young, Scene discovered the store's profitability was suffering only as much as any other.

“The centre (Pacific Fair) isn't what it used to be. Food shops are going from being top performers to bottom. It's run down and has empty shops. Profit centre-wide has been falling every month for the past three years but rent prices have maintained as if it's still a profitable centre. Shops are closing down,” Young said.

“The opening of Robina Town Centre had an impact on Pacific Fair, as did the Global Financial Crisis. Local Gold Coast customers now shop at Robina and those who still come to Pacific Fair don't have the disposable income they used to. The GFC also affected tourism, which Gold Cost businesses rely on. Any retail is tough.”

The record store is among a minority; one the last of its kind on the Gold Coast. Having opened more than 30 years ago, the current owners (for the last six years) are looking to move on.

“We're not one hundred percent committed to the energy levels of the store. We're looking at having somebody else take the next step for the business; to have their input and a fresh approach. Everybody has different ideas.”

Having developed into a local music industry icon, Sunflower Music is seen as a hot-spot for musicians and otherwise.

“We still have a place in the local music industry, whereas other independent music stores have fallen like dominos. It's an important store. The store is faced with three options; to sell, to relocate or to close the doors.”