After an overwhelming response to the inaugural Bondi Beach event in 2008, The Happening finally returns to Australia this March.

A celebration of surf culture and community and its reach beyond the waves into the world of music, art and film - The Happening 2010 will be held in Sydney, Brisbane and Melbourne, bringing together under one roof: Brushfire Records musicians Matt Costa, Zee Avi, Neil Halstead and Will Conner; film-makers George Greenough, Chris and Emmett Malloy – previews of 180° South and The White Stripes Under Great White Northern Lights – plus the exhibited works of contemporary artists from The Surf Gallery, Laguna Beach, California.

SYDNEY - BONDI PAVILION - FRIDAY MARCH 26

BRISBANE - THE ZOO - SUNDAY MARCH 28

MELBOURNE - THE ESPY - WEDNESDAY MARCH 31    

The history of The Happening harks back to 2002 when professional surfer and filmmaker Chris Malloy, his cousin, filmmaker and owner of Brushfire Records Emmett Malloy, and Will Pennartz of The Surf Gallery brought together three disconnected elements of beach culture – art, film and music – into a single event.

In 2008, the event extended its reach traveling to Sydney’s Bondi Beach Pavilion, Tokyo, London, Cornwall and Paris - spreading surf culture around the world.

MUSIC
    Heading up The Happening 2010 is MATT COSTA. Growing up in Huntington Beach, California, Costa began songwriting during an 18-month rehabilitation period following a serious leg injury that put pay to a promising skateboarding career.

On the strength of his debut release, the folky, beautiful Songs We Sing, Costa earned a rep as an L.A. buzz act, crisscrossed the U.S. in a van, and performed at all the major North American music festivals including Coachella, Lollapalooza, Sasquatch, Bonnaroo, and Austin City Limits among others. In 2007 Costa recorded the follow-up Unfamiliar Faces, again on Brushfire Records. He is currently working on new material.

Next up is NEIL HALSTEAD. Based in the English coastal town of Newquay, Halstead is one of Britain’s most respected songwriters. The singer and guitarist cut three albums fronting Slowdive, before forming 4AD favourites Mojave 3 in ‘95. Halstead made his solo debut in 2002 with Sleeping On Roads and a follow-up on Brushfire in 2008, Oh! Mighty Engine.

ZEE AVI was born on the island of Borneo, later moving to Kuala Lumpur, Avi learnt to play guitar at 17. Beginning to write and perform, she posted her songs on YouTube for a friend to hear. The viral buzz around her postings eventually resulting in the release of her 2009 self-titled debut album on Brushfire/Monotone Records.

Picking up the opening slot is local Byron talent WILL CONNER.  With a reputation for making music with a pure and unwavering sound, CONNER along with special guest 21st century soul surfer DAVE "RASTA" RASTOVICH, will open proceedings performing tracks from his new album Sailing, Love & Food.

FILM
    Woodshed Films will tour special extended previews of 180º SOUTH the latest film by CHRIS AND EMMETT MALLOY - and, THE WHITE STRIPES UNDER GREAT WHITE NORTHERN LIGHTS directed solely by EMMETT MALLOY, as well as short films by legendary surf cinematographer George Greenough.

180º SOUTH: In 2005 filmmaker Chris Malloy took a trip to Patagonia with Yvon Chouinard - one of the most unique and prolific environmentalists - and writer/filmmaker/producer Rick Ridgeway. It was then the idea for what would be come the film 180° South was officially hatched.

The film follows young American adventurer Jeff Johnson’s journey, following in the footsteps of Chouinard and best friend Doug Tompkins’ 1968 exploration of untouched mountain ranges and un-surfed coastline, on a 5000-mile expedition from California to deep Patagonia.