No matter which city you live in, it's easy to walk around town and barely notice the buildings that you're passing by day in and day out. Whether we're buried in own phones or thoughts, we all do it. Once a year in Brisbane, Open House offers up the antidote: the chance to wander into and snoop your way through some of the spots that make the Queensland capital what it is. It's a dream for architecture fans, nosy parkers and everyone keen to sneak a behind-the-scenes peek at the Queensland capital's spaces alike. 2024's Brisbane Open House will take place across two days in July, with the doors at everywhere from the Merthyr Croquet Club and Centenary Pool to New Farm Cinemas and Newstead House being thrown open across Saturday, July 13–Sunday, July 14. While this is a citywide celebration, this year's program is focusing on inner-city Brissie in particular, with hubs at Brisbane Powerhouse and Queensland Ballet's Thomas Dixon Centre. Brisbane Open House is also showing New Farm some extra love as its chosen village of Brisbane this time around; if you notice a heap of venues on the list from the riverside suburb, that's why. The New Farm and Districts Historical Society has been enlisted to assist, in what doubles as celebration of the organisation's 30th anniversary. For those eager to get peering, heading along is as simple as choosing where you'd like to explore, and reserving your attendance in advance in some cases. A few always-popular spots have already booked out, such as Brisbane Arcade, Miss Midgley's in New Farm, the Spring Hill Windmill Tower and Service Reservoirs, State Library of Queensland and The Moreton Club; however, given that there's 54 locations taking part, there's still plenty of addresses to hit up. Other highlights include the Spring Hill Baths, ABC Brisbane, Anzac Square, Brisbane City Hall (including the Shingle Inn), Museum of Brisbane and BVN — The Annex on Eagle Street. Or, make a date with Parliament House, Old Government House, Roma Street Fire Station and St John's Cathedral. From the Fish Lane Town Square, Merthyr Village, Port Office at the Port of Brisbane and Patrick Brisbane Autostrad terminal through to QPAC, Wolston Farmhouse and the Svitzer Brisbane Tug Base, the list of places to mosey through goes on. Guided tours are also on the program, giving you expert guidance while you poke around. Talks on subjects such as the past, present and future of New Farm, designing for the future and how to celebrate Earth Day all year feature as well. And on the workshop roster, you can choose between sundown meditations on the Thomas Dixon Centre's rooftop terrace, learning more about the in-the-works Kangaroo Point Green Bridge and building a map of New Farm based on the community's favourite spaces. Brisbane Open House 2024 runs across Saturday, July 13–Sunday, July 14 at a variety of places around Brisbane. For the full program, head to the event's website. Images: courtesy of the venues and Brisbane Open House.
Hey Dad! Steve! Over here! Two of your favourites are playing Bluesfest this year! Let's go! Bluesfest Byron Bay's 2017 lineup came from somewhere back in our long ago, with two big mum and dad-friendly superstars being added to the lineup this morning: The Doobie Brothers and Santana. One of Australia's best festivals, the five-day Easter long weekend event has played to its core audience with their latest lineup additions. First up, the legend himself, groundbreaking, Grammy-nabbing, Afro-Latin-blues-rock fusion king, nay, sultan Santana is coming to melt faces and throw down elongated solos like the melodic monarch he is. Expect 'Black Magic Woman'. Then, takin' it to the streets of Tyagarah Tea Tree Farm, California's harmonising head honchos The Doobie Brothers will make their triumphant return to Bluesfest. The Doobies have some serious fans at Bluesfest — do not try and push in front of them. This big ol' announcement comes just a week after Bluesfest added superstar Mary J. Blige to already heaving lineup. THE THIRD 2017 BLUESFEST ARTIST ANNOUNCEMENT: Santana The Doobie Brothers 2017 ARTISTS ALREADY ANNOUNCED: Zac Brown Band Patti Smith and her band perform Horses Mary J. Blige The Lumineers Buddy Guy (exclusive) Bonnie Raitt Mavis Staples (exclusive) Billy Bragg Jethro Tull Trombone Shorty and Orleans Avenue Rickie Lee Jones Gregory Porter Snarky Puppy St. Paul and the Broken Bones Corinne Bailey Rae Michael Kiwanuka Nahko and Medicene for the People Gallant Beth Hart (exclusive) Laura Mvula Andrew Bird Booker T. presents The Stax Records Review Roy Ayers Joan Osborne Turin Brakes The Strumbellas Jake Shimabukuro Dumpstaphunk The Suffers Nikki Hill Irish Mythen Bluesfest returns to Tyagarah Tea Tree Farm just outside of Byron Bay over the Easter long weekend (April 13-17, 2017). More info on the Bluesfest website. Image: Andy Fraser.
As the Pineapple Hotel has been in business since 1864, it's fair to say they know what they're doing, and do it damn well. And while its heritage bones have been retained, the interior has been stylishly refurbed — an old classic with a slick new twist. The Glasshouse beer garden catches the rays, while Helsby Ale House pours independent brews in dapper, gentlemanly surrounds. The Park Bar has 15 beers on tap, lunch specials and an all-day menu including salt and pepper calamari, woodfired pizzas and pub grub, while the 5th Quarter Bar is the old-school beer-and-snacks sports joint. The restaurant, recently revamped, is a proper sit-down steakhouse, with a 400-gram rib on the bone from Kimberley Station and a tender 350-gram Grandchester black Angus from Darling Downs. All steaks are served with fries and your choice of sauce. Other meals include a slow cooked lamb shank and sticky barbecue pork ribs. The Pineapple Hotel is always buzzing, with live music each Saturday and monthly trivia sessions. Bright, cheerful and family friendly — with Gabba proximity — it's a smart-casual setting for a cold one on a warm day, a pre-game lunch or a full night out.
One of the most perpetually praised coastal towns in Australia, Byron Bay is home to breathtaking beaches, mountains, rivers and rainforests, as well as a diverse, often experimental, grassroots foodie scene. This North Coast town is more than worth the ten-hour road trip up from Sydney, the easy two hours' flight from Melbourne or a two-hour drive from Brisbane and perfect for a summer adventure with your mates. This is, after all, a town that's best enjoyed together. To help you start planning your trip to Byron, we've teamed up with Jim Beam and mapped out some of the top spots to go to. Take note of the spots you want to hit, so you can detour from your regular routine and inject a little adventure into your life. Here's how to spend your days in Byron Shire — what to eat, drink and do in Byron Bay. STAY One of the best things about staying in Byron is its proximity to the beach. So, you'll want to stay as close to it as possible. Of course, beachside accommodation can get pricey, but luckily there are a few affordable options available close by, including Byron Bay YHA. Located in the centre of town and less than a ten-minute walk to Main Beach, this is not your average backpacker hostel. The facilities include private ensuite rooms, a lush pool courtyard and custom murals by Sydney artist Mulga and renowned artist Robert Moore. Spend the day out biking, surfing or boogie-boarding (which can all be hired from the hostel) and once you've enjoyed that sunset on Main Beach, head back for one of the nightly barbecues. Upstairs, you'll find the kitchen and two sprawling decks overlooking the pool where you can meet fellow travellers, and downstairs, there's a games and reading room where you can book swap and catch up on some holiday reading. Embracing the community vibes of the Byron area, the hostel also offers pancake breakfasts during the week and its large deck is an excellent spot for some BYO sundowner sessions. EAT AND DRINK Byron's serious food scene is plentiful and diverse, offering up everything from casual eateries to fine dining with a sincere focus on sustainable eating. Our favourite shop in town is Orgasmic Food, which hands down offers the best falafel we've ever had. This little Middle Eastern eatery provides some serious bang-for-your-buck eating, with the naked balls only 70 cents a pop and the half pita pocket just $7.50. If you'd prefer some meaty protein, the menu has plenty of Middle Eastern favourites like beef kofta and lamb skewers, too. For another budget option, head to the nearby town of Mullumbimby where Milk and Honey slings artisanal wood-fired pizzas like charred onion, gruyere and rosemary or wood-roasted pork sausage with tomato and mozzarella. Aussie wines and craft brews round out the offering here. If you're looking for some superfoods to start your day, Folk is the way to go — the adorable hut-like cafe focuses on organic, ethical and plant-based dishes that will get your engine going. And of course, there's The Farm, a must-visit spot sitting just outside of town. From the Three Blue Ducks crew, this agricultural playground is dedicated to ethical, collaborative and authentic practices, functioning as an eatery, bakery, shop and, of course, a farm. Take a seat on the terrace and order off the seasonal menu featuring dishes crafted from ingredients fresh from your surrounds. Dig in while breads by The Bread Social are kneaded and baked just next to you and some of the farm animals like chooks and pooches make cameo appearances. After your meal, digest with a walk around the farm and through the on-site macadamia farm. [caption id="attachment_606776" align="alignnone" width="1280"] Cape Byron Distillery.[/caption] A must visit at dinnertime is The Roadhouse. The menu changes daily and the dishes use fresh, locally sourced and sustainably grown produce. Think a pulled pork open sandwich on wood-fired flatbread or organic sweet potato tacos with drinks like house-made kombucha and signature negronis. They also boast the biggest whisky collection on the North Coast, if that's your libation of choice. If beer is more your thing, a trip to Byron isn't complete without a visit to Stone and Wood brewery, one of our ten New South Wales breweries worthy of a road trip. The born-and-bred Byron Bay owners love the region and are a friendly, welcoming bunch. The demand for Stone & Wood led to the 2014 opening of their nearby Murwillumbah brewery, making the Byron shed a place for limited release and experimental batches. For those more into spirits, get a designated driver and head out to Cape Byron Distillery where you can savour Brookie's gin, infused with the flavours of neighbouring rainforest. Order a cocktail and take a seat outside overlooking the tropical rainforest preserved by owners Pam and Martin Brook. DO If you're staying in Byron, a morning trek around the Cape Byron Walking Track is a must-do. The 3.7-kilometre loop takes you through rainforest gullies and cliffs, complete with beach vistas and views of the Byron Bay Lighthouse — which Byron Bay YHA offers guided tours of. It's an ideal walk for spotting whales and dolphins. And on your way back down from the lighthouse, you'll pass by the launch point for Byron Airwaves Hang Gliding. Book in for a tandem flight that'll take you soaring above the Cape Byron Headland cliffs and down to Tallow Beach below. If staying firmly on solid ground is more your thing, watching the take offs is (almost) just as exhilarating. Another outdoorsy experience worth exploring is Tyagarah Nature Reserve. The seven kilometres of protected coastline offer swimming, sunbathing, fishing and birdwatching with not a car in site. Visitors can relax in the picnic area or hike along the bush trails studded with banksias, midgen berries, wallabies and bush turkeys. For those who prefer to skinny dip, the nearby Tyagarah Beach is clothing-optional. Another way to enjoy Byron from the water is on a sea kayaking tour with Cape Byron Kayaks. The three-hour trips will get you up-close-and-personal with bottlenose dolphins, humpback whales and various species of sea turtles. Your guide will also delve into a bit of Byron Bay's history, most notably its Indigenous heritage. The group will pause to refuel mid-tour, too, with snacks and refreshments on the beach. If you prefer to do your own thing, the golden shores and crystal-clear waters of Clarkes Beach and Main Beach are just a stone's throw away from town centre. Plus, Main Beach is an ideal spot to watch the sunset soundtracked by free local music from the talented buskers who frequent the beach. Like Jim Beam, surfing and other outdoor adventures are all about bringing people together, so get out there this summer and find your tribe in the great outdoors.
It gets to a certain point in winter when it doesn't matter which Brisbane bar is trendiest or which has the cheapest drinks. There's a far more important question afoot — which has a fireplace? While most Brisbane venues are more interesting in appealing to the summer crowd (we're looking at you and your rooftop pool, Limes) there are some seriously winter-friendly gems with snug interiors and natural, log-fire heating that make leaving the house an easy feat. Here's our top eight bars in Brisbane boasting a solid fireplace — aka places where you can find yourself with a belly full of pale ale and the warmest tootsies in town. AT SIXES AND SEVENS James Street's go-to bar has style, substance and a fireplace to boot. At Sixes and Sevens is housed in a heritage-listed cottage on the corner of James and Arthur Streets, a bustling pub where you can find the likes of James Squire One Fifty Lashes and White Rabbit Dark Ale on tap and snuggle into a leather armchair at the end of the day. While the building interior has received a bit of modern makeover, the homely feel and exposed brick interiors have been well preserved — that includes the fireplace. While they're a little hesitant to stoke it up, Sixes are not ones to say never — we bet by August it'll be burning 24/7. 67 James Street, Fortitude Valley THE GRESHAM There's only one thing better than a fireplace and that's a heritage-listed one. As Brisbane's only heritage-listed bar, The Gresham fireplace is the kind you'd imagine Branson from Downton Abbey stoking while thinking of his late Lady Sybil, his socialist Irish roots and his rumbling feelings of attraction for the local school teacher. Not that we watch that show. Anyhow, if you're stuck in the CBD with ice cold fingers and the hankering for a brewski, the Gresham is your spot. 308 Queen Street, Brisbane THE CHALET BAR The Chalet Bar is reason alone to be optimistic about the cooler months. Brisbane's first après ski bar is prime grounds to kick back and warm up like you've just had a busy day on the ski field. In case you have to engage in some intense ski talk around the fireplace, we recommend watching Vertical Limit or Snow Dogs before coming here. Other than that, expect a roaring fireplace surrounded by candles, chesterfield lounges and antique ski paraphernalia at this snug little bar. 320 Boundary Street, Spring Hill ALFRED AND CONSTANCE A busy, but a good one. If you can find a path through the hoards of Ralph Lauren shirts and venture inside one of Alfred and Constance's many rooms, you'll find a cracking fireplace and some comfy leather seats to match. To improve an already idyllic winter setting, lash out and order a warm, oozy pudding. That'll be pair nicely with a Nine Tails Amber Ale and a fleece blanket. Corner Alfred and Constance Streets, Fortitude Valley COWCH If you've ever said it's impossible to eat ice cream in winter, then wash your mouth out. South Bank's dessert bar Cowch can satisfy a whole range of cravings, especially one for a warm fireplace. Their super modern, spruced-up fireplace is the kind that would make Grand Designs Kevin McCloud green with envy. Make sure you get in early if you want a seat fireside — Cowch gets busy on the weekends and the easiest way to lose an ice cream appetite is outdoor seating. 2/179 Grey Street, South Brisbane HUNDRED ACRE BAR Hillstone St Lucia's Hundred Acre Bar is as warm and cosy as Piglet's tree cottage. Open for breakfast, lunch and dinner this bar is perfectly suited to Brisbane's cooler months with it's homestyle cooking, multi-page wine list and huge fireplace that sits elegantly on the dining room wall. Hundred Acre Bar has only just been renovated so this fireplace is a newy — consider this winter a long, long housewarming. Indooroopilly and Carawa Streets, St Lucia TORO BRAVO Fortitude Valley's Toro Bravo specialises in three things: wine, tapas and keeping its patrons nice and warm. With its Old World Spanish wine, beer and Latin cocktails menu, this bar is perfect for everything from a lively night out to a cosy, food-filled one by the fire. There's also plenty of smoking and charring going on here, which is really just a fireplace meets fresh meat. Yeah, we're counting it. 455 Brunswick Street, Fortitude Valley CAN YOU KEEP A SECRET Okay, so it might be an ornamental fireplace, but sometimes the placebo effect extends to heating. Woolloongabba's Can You Keep A Secret is so warm and jolly that its fireplace doesn't really need to be lit. This vintage store-meets-bar is fitted out like Granny's house with an old piano, humble chandeliers and antique landscape paintings. Grab a warm drink, rub your hands together and play a serious game of pretendsies in front of this antique fireplace. 619 Stanley Street, Woolloongabba
Sick of being turfed out of rentals, but no idea how you'll ever afford your own home in Sydney? Let Big World Homes architect Alexander Symes come to your rescue — he's created Australia's first flat-packed 'tiny home' that's entirely off-grid. You heard us. Flat-packed homes. And they're going for a cheeky $65K each. Big World Homes are self-described as "a transitional housing product that offers a solution to people currently unable to get into home ownership" — that means most of us living in Australia's capital cities. To check out this highly unique housing solution for yourself, get along to the 2016 Sydney Architecture Festival. On Thursday, September 29, Symes and a bunch of vollies will put the house together in just 2.5 hours, using only a hammer and a drill. Then, they'll drive it to the Festival Hub in Central Park, where it'll stay on display until October 3. Never been in a tiny home? You'll be able to explore the structure's many mod cons, including running water, electricity, a bathroom with plumbing, a living room and a comfy bed. Power comes from solar panels, while water is sourced via inbuilt rainwater tanks. "Big World Homes seeks to bridge the gap between renting and home ownership, offering a transitional housing product that is affordable and also rethinks the way people live," said Symes. "We're excited to be launching at the Sydney Architecture Festival one of the most progressive, socially oriented, community driven housing projects that Australia has ever seen. This comes at a time when the need for new options in affordable housing has never been greater." You can buy your very own tiny home for $65,000, which is a significant improvement on the cost of a studio apartment in Sydney right now. Get together with a group of mates and start your own, eco-friendly community. For more small house inspiration, take a wander over here. Check out Big World Homes at the Sydney Architecture Festival Hub at Central Park, Chippendale from September 29 to October 3.
Proving that causing the internet to lose its mind by delivering adorable puppies to offices around Australia is simply not enough for them, Uber has moved yet another step closer to total world domination. The ridesharing service will launch UberEATS in Melbourne today, Tuesday, April 19 at 11am. Because who needs multiple apps when you can use one for just about everything? Melbourne is the first city in Australia to be bestowed the food delivery platform, and only the third in the world. It basically allows restaurants to get their food delivered to customers between 11am and 10pm by a wide access of ever-available drivers — much like (and in direct competition to) other food delivery apps like Foodora/Suppertime, Deliveroo and Menulog. The list of Melbourne restaurants exceeds 80, including the likes of Supernormal, Gazi, Pidapipo and Jimmy Grants. Oh, and delivery will be free for the launch. So you only have to pay the cost of your Jimmy Grants feta-covered oregano chips, and not a cent more. UberEATS launched in select US cities last year, allowing users to order lunch or dinner from an ever-shifting menu that includes options from a number of different restaurants. UberX is still technically illegal in Victoria, although that hasn't stopped the service's meteoric success. Assuming UberEATS proves a hit in Melbourne, it's safe to assume it may expand to further cities in the future. You can download the UberEATS app here from 11am. For all the details, visit ubereats.com/melbourne. Updated: April 19, 2016.
Fans of Roald Dahl who find themselves in London are in for a gloriumptious surprise. To mark the release of Steven Spielberg's adaptation of The BFG, giant six foot dream jars are popping up around the city, filled with the hopes and aspirations of famous human beans. The jars will appear at iconic landmarks around the British capital, from Trafalgar Square to St. Paul's Cathedral to the Tower of London. Inside, you'll find the childhood dreams of prominent artists and celebrities, including director Steven Spielberg, paralympian David Weir, Game of Thrones star Maisie Williams and The BFG illustrator Quentin Blake. The jars will be on display from July 8 until August 31, after which time they'll be sold at auction. Proceeds from the sale will go to Save the Children and Roald Dahl's Marvellous Children's Charity, which provides specialist nurses to seriously ill children. "I'm excited to join The BFG Dream Jar Trail so we can all share our dreams together," said Spielberg. "The best part of this project is its support of the valuable work that Save the Children does in giving kids across the world their own chances to dream big." For more information about The BFG Dream Jar Trail, go here. The BFG hits cinemas on June 30. https://youtu.be/VG5MtenlP-A
We're looking to learn more about our readers — what do you do? Where do you go? What do you like? How much cheese coverage is too much cheese coverage? We would say there isn't such thing, but just to make sure, we've developed a little survey we'd like you to take. A Concrete Playground census, if you will. Now, we know the whole 2016 #censusfail was a bit of a bummer, but we've made this one fun. First of all, we won't invade your privacy — we just want to know about the stuff you love. And if you stick around till the end, you'll go in the running to win a table for yourself and a mate at Messina's Creative Department pop-up for their very first Brisbane degustation. The degustation serves up seven delectable courses — bordering the realm of dessert yet incorporating savoury flavours — for a culinary experience that tempts and challenges your palate. Bet you never thought you'd have an entire multi-course meal dedicated to ice cream. Here's the gist: let us get to know you, fill out the full survey and potentially win an epic dinner for you and a mate. We have two double passes to give away for the night of Wednesday, September 6, so you may want to start figuring out which lucky someone you'll take to dinner. Help us out and tell us a bit about yourself. Take the Concrete Playground 2017 survey here.
If you see one film over the next few months, make it Berlin Syndrome. Based on a novel of the same name, the film follows Australian photojournalist Clare (played by Teresa Palmer) as she embarks on her first solo trip to Berlin. While travelling, she meets and begins a passionate romance with charismatic local man Andi. Their relationship soon takes an unexpected and sinister turn—she wakes one morning to discover that Andi has left for work and locked her inside his apartment, with no intention of ever letting her leave. Filmed on location in Berlin and Melbourne, the film is a thoughtful, psychological thriller directed by Australian Cate Shortland (who also directed the critically acclaimed Somersault). It examines tough topics such as emotional manipulation, gaslighting and Stockholm syndrome in a provocative fashion, leaving the audience with a new outlook on the relationship that can occur between captor and captive. The film is released nationally on April 20. To celebrate, we're hosting an advanced screening of Berlin Syndrome at Palace Centro in Brisbane on Thursday, April 13 at 6.30pm. Register your details below to go into the draw to win one of 80 double passes, and subscribe to Palace Cinemas if you're keen to receive session times in your inbox. [competition]616347[/competition]
Whether you have a permanent sweet tooth, or just an occasional hankering for a rich, creamy treat, the opening of a new chocolate store is always cause for celebration. And when one of the city's favourite internet choccie shops makes the jump into a bricks-and-mortar establishment — and boosts their range with a few new additions, while also adding tea and coffee to their repertoire — well, we're pretty psyched. 31 Degrees is the chocolate haven in question, with owner Kaitlyn Fitzpatrick embarking upon the next step in her chocolate-focused adventure. After starting out in the online realm, popping up at markets and festivals, and cooking up a storm at Wandering Cooks, she'll soon be making and selling her artisan, handmade truffles and pralines in the new Eden Lane precinct in Woolloongabba. You'll find all of the above at 4 Hubert Street come June 30, to be exact, which is where and when 31 Degrees will throw open its doors. You'll also find all their old favourites, such as dark, milk and white chocolate bites flavoured with coffee, strawberry, raspberry, passionfruit, baileys, whiskey, Nutella, port, caramel, mint and peanut butter — plus salted caramel bars, honeycomb and dark chocolate rocky road. Yum. Of course, as everyone who has read Roald Dahl's Charlie and the Chocolate Factory or seen either the 1971 or 2005 film adaptations knows, eating the end products isn't the only great part about visiting a chocolate store — seeing how the mouth-watering morsels are made is all part of the fun, too. Chocoholics will also be able to do that at 31 Degrees, thanks to a window from the shop into the kitchen. It's not quite the same as a magic ticket, but we'll take it (and salivate over European-style delights in the process). Find 31 Degrees at Eden Lane, 4 Hubert Street, Woolloongabba from June 30. Check out their website or Facebook page for further info.
James Street's number one food-focused bookshop, Scrumptious Reads, has never been content with simply selling printed volumes about delicious meals. Adding to their frequent lineup of gourmet events, they’re taking their love of all things tasty a step further with the opening of Sinmei Tea Room. Owned and run by the lovely lady that gives the space its name, the petite cafe tucked within the tiny store celebrates its titular beverage. It couldn't be in better hands, given that Sinmei Cheung is no stranger to the tea game. The tea artist started her first tea house in London six years ago, then branched out to Hong Kong and Shanghai. Serving up long cool summer drinks and warm winter beverages is Sinmei's speciality — and serving up matcha, too. The finely ground powdered green tea has been a staple of Japanese tea ceremonies for centuries, and forms the basis of much of Sinmei's classic-meets-fusion food and drink menu. The tea room's green-tinged selection includes a non-alcoholic matcha mojito, a matcha yin yang with coffee, plus matcha twists on everything from lamingtons and brownies to molten cake and chocolate fondant. Traditional Chinese and herbal teas are also available, as are sandwiches and rice paper rolls; however the magic of matcha is what everyone will be clamouring for. Find Sinmei Tea Room at Scrumptious Reads, Shop 5 & 6, 19 James St, Fortitude Valley, or visit their Facebook page for more information. Image: Dollar Photo Club.
Ever had a hankering for a burger, but couldn't decide which joint to visit? Thanks to Brisbane's hefty array of burg-slinging places, we've been there, and often. Trust The Triffid to come up with a solution, courtesy of a day-long dedicated celebration. From 11am on Saturday, August 17, the Newstead music venue is once again shutting down Stratton Street and serving up the Brisbane festival we had to have. Plenty of food festivals have come and gone, but Brisbane Burger Fest was always going to be back for another helping — behaviour that you'll likely copy on the day. For those wondering about the festival's burger credentials, Miss Kay's, 5 Boroughs, Lucky Egg, MooFree Burgers, Ben's Burgers, Ze Pickle and The Triffid's own burgers will all be on offer, with each eatery whipping up their usual favourites and coming up with a special Burger Fest creation as well. There'll also be an official burger-eating competition as part of the festivities (of course there will be). If you don't think you can handle taking part, that's okay — everyone at Burger Fest will be seeing how many burgs they can eat in their own way, after all. Making a burger street party even better, The Triffid's beer garden will be showcasing live music all day, a beer pong arena is on the agenda, and so are live art installations and a food hall. Drinks-wise, Stone & Wood and Green Beacon Brewing Co will be taking care of the brews. Tickets cost $5 — and they're expected to get snapped up quickly. Image: 5 Boroughs.
Think you're great at pushing buttons? Okay, not just mashing and smashing them, but timing your touches so perfectly that you manoeuvre pinball flippers like a wizard, and send shiny chrome balls rolling, roaming and sprawling around the machine of your choice? Think your talents could stand up to scrutiny? Want to find out? Fortitude Valley arcade game bar Netherworld wants you to find out too, which is why it's putting on a Xmas Arcade Frenzy . And it's not just limited to pinball as previous events have been. This time, arcade games are part of the action. Here how it works: book in advance, pay $20, arrive at 8.30am, and then prepare to strut your stuff until 12pm. Competitors will be paired up at random, vie for supremacy, and then move on to the next opponent and machine. The games will be fast, but they'll also be fun — and all players of all skill levels are welcome. [caption id="attachment_622335" align="aligncenter" width="1920"] Sarah Ward[/caption] An added bonus: even though this is a Saturday morning affair happening on December 21, your ticket price also includes your first drink. Top image: Cole Bennetts.
Feel a hankering for some chortles at this year's Brisbane Comedy Festival, but don't have the funds to fork out for any of the event's international acts? Trying to squeeze in as many laughs as possible into your life in general? Keen to finish your working week with some laughs? All of the above situations are catered for at BCF's Knockoff in the City, — aka Brisbane Powerhouse's regular free Friday night comedy gigs, but souped up for the fest and held in a different location. This free Friday night comedy show runs from 6pm each week between February 22–March 22, and will play host to some of the biggest up-and-comers in comedy, as well as live music. Just head on down to Brisbane City Hall and prepare to get your funny bone tickled.
First, the bad news: Brewsvegas, Brisbane's annual celebration of beverages, doesn't take place until March. Now, the good news: once again, the festival is getting into the early swing of things. Say hello to the Great Brewsvegas Pool Party, aka the ideal summer event for those who like to cool off with both a beer and a swim. Taking place from 6pm on Saturday, February 9, it's also the get-together that'll amp up your excitement for this year's beer celebration not once, but twice. The festival's 2019 lineup has already been revealed, but there's plenty to celebrate — and descending upon Ithaca Pool ready for an evening of splashing about is certain to get you pumped as well. Tickets to the pre-fest shindig cost $10, which includes a glass of the official Slipstream Brewing Co Brewsvegas beer for the year. For added merriment, surf rock band The Wet Fish will crank out the on-theme tunes, there'll be an onsite food truck serving up festive eats and extra brews will be on tap.
Behold, the event that'll separate the pinball wizards from the pinball muggles, and those talented as mashing buttons from the folks that are happy when they get flipping lucky. That's what happens when Netherworld closes its doors to everyone except the devoted few — those eager to play pinball for 24 hours straight. No wonder they've called the arcade marathon Death by Pinball. No sleep till pinball also would've worked. Those brave enough to attend will battle it out in matches over many rounds, fit in a few fun games from the bar's array of machines in-between, and get a prize if they survive the night. Taking place from 9am on Saturday, April 20 until 9am on Sunday, April 21, tickets cost $120, which includes all the pinball fun you can handle, a limited edition pin and t-shirt, three meals and three drinks. The bar will also be serving booze until 3am, and you can BYO snacks. Image: Cole Bennetts.
The World Press Photo Foundation is a global platform connecting professionals and audiences through raw visual journalism and storytelling. The organisation was founded in 1955, when a group of Dutch photographers organised a contest to expose their work to an international audience. Since then the contest has grown into the world's most prestigious photography competition and global travelling exhibition. The 62nd edition of the World Press Photo Exhibition will touch down in Brisbane this year and will be on display at the Brisbane Powerhouse from Friday, July 12 until Sunday, August 4. The winners from this year's contest were chosen by an independent jury that reviewed more than 78,000 photographs by 4738 photographers from 129 countries. The one that took top honours for 2019 is John Moore's Crying Girl on the Border. The image, which also won first prize in the spot news category, shows Honduran toddler Yanela Sanchez crying as her mother is taken into custody at the US border. This will be on display alongside other finalists, including Pieter Ten Hoopen's series which documents a migrant caravan who were fleeing violence and harsh economic conditions, Nadia Shira Cohen's shot of beekeepers tending their hives in Yucatán, Mexico, and Enayat Asadi's striking image of an Afghan refugee comforting his companion. Further categories on show will include contemporary issues, environment, general news, long-term projects, nature, people, sports and spot news. Image: John Moore, Getty Images, 'Crying Girl on the Border' (cropped).
Things are getting frostier in Brisbane — well, as frosty as Brisbane gets — so the team at Welcome to Bowen Hills is hosting one of their most intuitive event ideas to help warm your winter. On the agenda: a mini festival dedicated to mulled wine and hot cheese. The party takes over the King Street truck park from noon, Saturday, June 30 through until close, Sunday, July 1, pulling together a selection of hot, gooey creations from some of the city's favourite cheese-slinging vendors. This is where all your cheesiest dreams come true, chowing down on lush cheese dishes from Bunya Cheese, Mr Burger, Cheeselane, Salts Meats Cheese, Spud the Food Truck, Greek St Kantina and more. Down at WtBH's sister site in Melbourne, events have served up mulled wine doughnuts and raclette burgers, so expect more than a few creative dishes. Of course, you won't find a better drink match to all that rich, melty dairy than some hot, spiced booze, so the bar will be rounding out its usual offerings with mulled wine aplenty. A variety of different flavours will be available, served up all day long.
Sydney bass-boy and nationally-recognised cool guy Hayden James is bringing his massively popular techno musings to venues all over Australia. James only appeared on the scene in 2013, cropping up like most modern beat artists on exclusively online mediums like Soundcloud and YouTube, however it wasn't very long before he garnered quite the hefty fanbase. International touring schedules ensued, landing his precise, near-minimalistic take on hard hitting beats, summery harmonies and techno bass in front of thousands of dancing fans. James has spent the formative portion of the last few months touring the US and Europe, and following a brief stop over in Singapore, Seoul, Hong Kong, Jakarta and Bali will be bringing his Just a Lover tour to Aussie shores. Starting at Brisbane's Triffid on August 26, then onto Max Watts in Melbourne for August 27, he'll spend September 2 at Perth's Villa Nightclub, September 10 at the Fat Controller in Adelaide, before a final blowout in his hometown Sydney, at the Metro Theatre. Supported by Dena Amy.
Fancy some new threads adorned with specifically Queensland-happy illustrations? Phoebe Paradise has you covered. Since 2014, the brand has been brightening up wardrobes with colourful, fun prints that nod to this state we call home, spanning the grimy, the naturally beautiful and everything in between. Indeed, the label's Hot Mess collection draws upon Brisbane's balmy evenings and the region's sporting dreams. 'Tis the season and all that. It's inspired by a truly Brisbane summer — according to designer Phoebe Sheehy's schpiel, "We can enjoy what it means to be a humid-heatstroked-Alex-Mack-puddle-of-goo, to prove that you can look hot while being hot, as long as you embrace being a HOT MESS." If Phoebe Paradise's range sounds like the kind of printed textiles you'd like to both wear and gaze at, why not do both at their Junky Comics pop-up? On March 25 and 26, they'll be taking over the West End store. Check out the accompanying painted mural and art installations, and don't forget to nab yourself some ashtray socks.
Sleater-Kinney recorded their first album in Australia. The year was 1994, and the fledgling band from Olympia, Washington knocked out their debut effort in a single day. They've been back several times since, but their latest visit feels extra special. Given that the indie-punk trio went on an indefinite hiatus in 2007, it very well might never have happened. Thankfully, Corin Tucker, Janet Weiss and Carrie Brownstein — yes, Portlandia's Carrie Brownstein — are back for another round of blistering rock tracks infused with the spirit of the riot grrrl movement. Reunions might happen all the time, but this is no ordinary group or return. If you've listened to any of Sleater-Kinney's albums from their Aussie-made 22-minute, self-titled initial outing to their latest release, 2015's No Cities to Love, then no doubt you agree. And if you haven't, don't just take our word for it. TIME called them “America’s best rock band”, and Rolling Stone hailed them as “America’s best punk band ever", after all.
Georgia O'Keeffe, the artist often described as the mother of American Modernism, along with her Australian contemporaries Margaret Preston and Grace Cossington Smith, will be the subject of a four-month exhibition at the Queensland Art Gallery. Running from Saturday, March 11 through to June 11 at the gallery in Stanley Place, O'Keeffe, Preston, Cossington Smith: Making Modernism has been curated by the team at Queensland Art Gallery along with Santa Fe's Georgia O'Keeffe Museum, Melbourne's Heide, and the Art Gallery of New South Wales, and will feature more than 30 works by each of the three women created across the length of their respective careers. In doing so, it will showcase both the distinctive styles developed by the artists, as well as the similarities in their subject matter, technique and the ways in which they viewed the world.
Come July, Brisbanites can knock back cocktails at a gin-soaked high tea, taste creations from the city's next breed of culinary wizards, and dine under the stars at Eagle Street Pier, all thanks to one event. That's right, Good Food Month is back, and it's bigger than ever. Gird your stomachs, and prepare to go gaga over gastronomy. Topping the list of must-do activities is the Tanqueray G & Tea Rooftop Garden, a tea party for grown-ups that not even the Mad Hatter could've conjured up. On top of the Fox, you'll consume traditional high tea fare of cupcakes and sandwiches with a gin twist, and pretend you're Alice in your very own wonderland. Elsewhere, you can check out the cooking skills of the kitchen stars of tomorrow is on offer at the Young Chef's Dinner, and enjoy an evening eating experience al fresco at Dine Under the Stars. Or, learn the secrets of Australian cuisine from culinary maestros such as respected Melbourne master Ben Shewry (whose Attica was just named number 32 on the World's 50 Best Restaurants list), and brush up on your blogging at the tastiest Food Writing 101 workshop you'll ever attend. Yes, there really is something in the Good Food Month program for everyone. Of course, everyone's favourite Night Noodle Markets will return, complete with yum cha weekend trading hours to meet the demand. The busiest event of 2014 now boasts more chances to enjoy the hawker-style outdoor market experience, featuring 30 different stalls over 12 days and nights. Is simple dining more your thing, rather than rushing to specific outings and activities? Then you're in luck, because that's what Good Food Month is really all about. Their list of venues spruiking meal deals for breakfast, lunch, dinner and drinks is the kind of thing foodies fantasise about. That includes concoctions crafted from seasonal delights, cheap eats that won't punish your wallet, tours of the best international cuisine Brisbane has to offer, and a showcase of mouth-watering pub fare. One thing is for certain: with all these tasty treats on offer, you'll have no excuse to be hungry at this month-long food fiesta. Good Food Month runs from July 9 to August 9, 2015. Visit the website for more information.
It's hard to believe that it's only been six months since George Maple (aka Jessica Higgs) released her debut single. At the time, Higgs had been living in London for eighteen months, so the slinky 'Talk Talk', from her Vacant Space EP, first hit airwaves on Annie Mac's show on BBC Radio 1. Meanwhile, the New York Times had dibs on unveiling the video clip. Since then, Higgs, who's from Sydney originally, has played CMJ, SXSW, Annie Mac's AMP Collected in London and a couple of headline shows in Australia, including the Museum of Contemporary Art and Future Classic’s Christmas Weekend. So she's in prime position for taking on her first proper national tour. Three gigs are already sold out — Sydney's Oxford Art Factory on April 24 and 30, and Melbourne's The Howler on 25 April. There's still time, however, to grab tickets to the Black Bear Lodge in Brisbane on April 23, The Bakery in Perth on May 1 and The Rocket Bar in Adelaide on May 2. Meanwhile, Higgs's new tune, 'Where You End And I Begin', recorded with Philadelphian rapper Grande Marshall, is starting to rack up hits. Where You End And I Begin feat. Grande Marshall by George Maple, Grande Marshall
After closing Vivid Sydney at the Sydney Opera House, art-rock legends TV on the Radio are heading to our fine city, ready to smash out a huge concert at the Tivoli. Since forming in Brooklyn 14 years ago, the four-piece has created six albums. These shows will cover the entire songbook, from Staring at the Sun (2004) to Seeds (2014). Chronologically, theses releases cover a decade, but the music represents hundreds of years of history; drawing together gospel, post-punk and everything in between.
When the working week is done, what do you want to do? We know girls just wanna have fun, but we’re pretty sure everyone wants to kick back, enjoy a few drinks, and get into some serious snacks. Well, we know we do. So does Wandering Cooks’ Ben Devlin, general chef about town and their Snack Maker-in-Residence. Every Friday, he'll be serving up a storm of drinks sourced from artisan fermenters, brewers and winemakers, as well as interesting bites to eat. And we do mean interesting. Each week, two culinary themes do battle, and not the usual kinds. First up, Devlin pits samurai-style food against the type of mini-meals Vikings might’ve eaten. In reality, that’s Japanese versus Danish street food, but that doesn’t sound anywhere near as cool. Snackers pay $4 per token to exchange for tasty treats. Then it's time to vote for your favourite, which will play on for another week. But let's be honest here, whichever themed snacks emerge victorious, the real winner is your taste buds.
This week has more Australian '80s-style synth pop, unforgettable dance moves and enviable hairstylin' than usual, with Sydney duo Client Liaison rolling into town for their national Pretty Lovers tour. Renowned for their infectious '80s synth and '90s pop influences, this pair continues to pack a punch with the release of their debut EP, Queen, last year. If their sold-out Spiegeltent shows at Sydney Festival this year, or their recent confetti cannon-finale at Secret Garden Festival are anything to go by, Black Bear Lodge better fortify their floorboards — furious dancing is mandatory. Extravagant and over-the-top in every way, Harvey Miller and Monte Morgan are well worth checking out, revisiting or continuing your straight-up superfandom for. If a high-energy midweek dance party sounds like your jam, check out Client Liaison on March 4 and 5 (SOLD OUT) at Black Bear Lodge, supported by Retiree and Wrooks. Words by Lucinda Starr and Shannon Connellan.
Meet Iris Apfel, the kind of stylish, straight-talking, bespectacled nonagenarian everyone wishes was their grandmother. The New York cult figure has stood out from the crowd across decades of trends, and dabbled in everything from art to interior design. If she sounds much cooler than most people a quarter of her age, well, that's because she is. The 93-year-old's resume speaks for itself, given that she has spent over 75 years in fashion traversing everything from working at Women's Wear Daily to setting up her own textile design firm with her husband to still lecturing about style today; however, it is her personality and outlook, rather than her achievements, that shine brightest. That she says she was probably the first woman to wear jeans speaks to her pioneering spirit. That she notes that she's more excited about dressing up for parties than actually going to parties does as well. Indeed, the ever-flamboyant Apfel remains an individual at a time when such a term has started to lose its meaning, as she herself observes when musing over the common correlation between black attire and fashion. Always decked out in rows of couture costume jewellery and never seen in an outfit that could be classed as boring or bland, she advises that she approaches dressing a bit like jazz — with a little bit of this and a little bit of that. It shows. So bounces forward a loving portrait of blazing your own path — and never compromising for or caring about the opinions of others — as given perhaps the strongest living example. From the moment Apfel graces the screen and thrusts her oversized pearls of wisdom upon the audience, it is immediately apparent why she's the subject of the documentary that shares her name. From the moment the film displays its frame, the affection, energy and insight filmmaker Albert Maysles channels is also evident, as is his making of the movie in the style befitting his subject. Alas, there is a lone sad note to the engaging ode, despite the slight but sweet exploration that comprises the documentary's running time. The joy and vivacity that Apfel exudes on screen, fierce and frank until the last moment, is balanced by the knowledge of the film's director. The great Maysles, noted for crafting the iconic Grey Gardens and Gimme Shelter, passed away at the age of 88 in early 2015, with this his penultimate effort. Accordingly, Iris actually pays tribute to two great trailblazers and showcases what both do best: pave their own way and create their own stories through their chosen mediums of fashion and film.
Psych Night has long been the pillar of Brisbane's psychedelic music scene. Now they're hanging up their hat and calling it quits, but not before throwing together a hell of showcase. Psych Night - Finale will take place in Serafini Chains, a warehouse in Bowen Hills that's only a stone's throw from the Valley. As per usual, Psych Night is more of a warehouse party than gig. It's BYO, super noisy and there's a fair chance you'll be immersed in a spectrum of psychedelic flavours from 4pm till early the next morning. So who's on the bill? Expect some Brisbane's best psych-bands including: Acid on Andy Baskervillain Dreamtime House of Giants In Void Magenta Voyeur Omegachild Reud Moo Sacred Shrines This Old Sunn Twin Haus Windrest Tickets are $30, and don't forget to bring your own drinks. The end of Psych Night is a major hit for the Brisbane music scene, so make sure to head along and give them a heartfelt goodbye, psych-style.
If you've ever been to South Brisbane's Hoo Ha Bar, knocked back a coffee or beer and thought "this joint needs more food", you're in luck. The folks behind the happening Tribune Street spot share your line of thinking, and are parlaying it into a new venue on the other side of the inner city: Gaslight Bistro. Making its home in a renovated old Queenslander in New Farm, Gaslight Bistro will be all about fresh ingredients and flavourful meals. The name gives away its focus on eating rather than drinking, though thanks to a curated beverage list of craft brews, local wines and cocktail concoctions, the latter is certain to be a feature, too. Casual but tasty dining is its niche — aka the kind of informal place where you can drop in for a delicious bite and hang around for some good times if that's what takes your fancy. The full menu is yet to be revealed, but will focus on seasonal delights. Given its winter launch, that means the likes of slow cooked ham hock and beef shank for breakfast, wagyu pastrami and pickles for a snack, and braised octopus for dinner, first up. Come the end of the month, you can sample their wares for yourself — and then probably add it to your list of favourite hangouts, based on their previous endeavours. Doors open on June 26, and if you want to be one of their first customers, we suggest you get in quick. This new addition to Brunswick Street is certain to be popular. Find Gaslight Bistro at 726 Brunswick St, New Farm from June 26, or visit their website for more information.
Ice cream fans of Brisbane: whatever you're doing between 11am and 3pm today, you'd best make a visit to the Wintergarden part of your plans. For one day only, the inner-city shopping centre will play host to epic combinations of flavoured soft serve topped with everything from fairy floss to popcorn to toasted marshmallows. Yep, Aqua S popping up in the centre — and they're handing out free sweet treats to mark the occasion. We'll let that sink in for a minute, because scoring a free ice cream as delectable as this (and as Instagrammable) isn't the kind of thing that happens every day. And if you haven't visited Aqua S in Sydney and Melbourne — and therefore don't know why you should be salivating at the thought of it, or why there's usually a line way out the door at their stores — then let us enlighten you. Aqua S keeps things simple but scrumptious, with sea salt-flavoured, bright aqua-coloured frozen confectionery inspired by the famous ice creams of Okinawa their staple offering. They also serve up two other varieties each fortnight from a rotating range. Down south, strawberry and maple syrup are the current choices, with rose and English breakfast tea flavours available before that. And if that's not enough, why not add a few of the aforementioned toppings? We know, we know — you're headed out the door right now to treat yo'self to this frosty goodness, and all without spending a cent for such a delicious pleasure. The pop-up is part of the Wintergarden's Shop the City event, which showcases everything on offer within the centre's walls. Here's hoping it's the first step towards Aqua S bringing their creative creations to Brissie on a more regular, or even permanent basis. Grab a free Aqua S ice cream in the Wintergarden, Queen Street, Brisbane, between 11am to 3pm on September 1. Visit the Shop the City website for more information.
Like spending your nights having a drink with your mates or watching live bands in Brisbane's bars? Keen to kick on into the early hours and be able to move between venues? Come July 1, heading out for an evening of fun is about to get a whole lot tougher. You've probably been dreading the date for months — but there's at least something you can do about it. The folks at Keep Queensland Open have organised one last rally to protest the new lockout laws that the State Government are particularly keen to see implemented. From 2pm on Sunday, June 26 at Reddacliff Place in the CBD, you can join in the chorus of dissent. And yes, you'll be doing so in the cement space adjacent to the Treasury Casino for a reason. While stopping re-entry at 1pm, serving last drinks at 2am (or 3am in designated entertainment precincts), banning shots after midnight and making new bottle shops close at 10pm were never going to be popular moves, the furore surrounding the new rules doesn't just focus on when everyone can consume alcohol. Sydney's lockout laws have seen almost half the revenue from live music venues in the designated zones disappear. Half. The question of where the laws apply is also controversial, with casinos across Queensland exempt from the new restrictions (the same situation Sydney's in). Given that the legislation is designed to curb anti-social behaviour following too many violent, late-night altercations in these areas, that's certainly a questionable move — and something worth joining fellow revellers to shout about. The Keep Queensland Open Rally starts at 2pm on Sunday. June 26 at Reddacliff Place in the CBD. For more information, visit the event's Facebook page.
Are you a Bacardi, lime and sugar fan? We're betting that you are, although you might not know it. They're the three ingredients an American engineer by the name of Jennings Stockton Cox mixed together back in 1898 while he was working in the Cuban mining town of Daiquiri. As you've probably guessed by now, cocktail history was made, with his drink soon spreading to Santiago and then the US. That's both a toastworthy story and an icy beverage worth celebrating, which is what rum pioneers Bacardi have dedicated July 19 to doing. During the 31-day-long festival of cocktail culture that is Bacardi Rum Month, the family-owned liquor brand will be championing the concoction everyone knows and loves — and four of Brisbane's best daiquiri joints will be joining in. Over the years, the daiquiri been bastardised by slushy machines and TGI Fridays into pink, icy mush, but there are some noble bartenders, like these Brisbanites, taking this misunderstood cocktail classic back to its traditional form. THE MANHATTAN LINE It must be the sophistication of the daiquiri that lends itself to Big Apple-themed establishments — revelling in the look and feel of a cool city calls for a cool drink, after all. You'll find atmosphere, beverages and Bacardi, lime and sugar a-plenty at the Manhattan Line, Little Stanley Street's fun and funky hot dog and liquor dispensary. Check out 'the Runner Up' for a winter twist on the cocktail of the moment, complete with homemade apple and cinnamon (aka Christmas) syrup. Their regular menu also boasts the original brew, as made from scratch and served fresh, for those who prefer the tried-and-tested route. 3A Little Stanley Street, South Bank COBBLER Tucked up along Browning Street in West End, Cobbler is one of the city's premier whisky bars — but they've proven themselves mighty capable and creative when it comes to other spirits too. That includes Barcadi-based beverages given a special twist (or several), such as a daiquiri designed to be extra fragrant and fruity. You won't find machine-squeezed flavours here, but rather black poached pear glaze and fresh pink grapefruit, mixed with white pepper fino sherry, layered over the oak and vanilla notes of Bacardi 8. 7 Browning Street, West End JAHH TIGER Jamaica and rum go hand-in-hand — and we know you're currently fantasising about knocking back drinks in the Caribbean as you're reading this. That's what Jahh Tiger wants to help you to imagine, be it through their jerk-shack decorating scheme or their sizeable cocktail menu. And of course, what better beverage to picture yourself enjoying on the beach than a daiquiri? The bartenders even shake the Bacardi, pressed lime juice and castor sugar together by hand, keeping things as old-school and original as possible. Any embellishment is left to your daydreams. 3/1 Park Road, Milton THE BOWERY For 12 years now, the Bowery has been enticing punters through the door on the strength of two things: their cocktails and their jazzy, bluesy vibe. The latter is as eclectic as a slice of downtown New York in Fortitude Valley should be, while the former overflows with liquored-up sensations that start a party on your taste buds. Take their rum month daiquiri, for instance, which aims to combine fresh, grassy notes with a hint of sweet spice through the combination of unripened banana, sour malic and sugary oleo-saccharum oil. You've never had a daiquiri like this. 676 Ann Street, Brisbane Top image: Dollar Photo Club.
Need an escape from the the winter weather? Then escape from the chill to a warm, dark cinema, where you can watch movies from places even colder than here. Returning to Palace Cinemas in Sydney, Melbourne, Canberra, Adelaide, Brisbane, Perth and Hobart, the Volvo Scandinavian Film Festival will once again showcase the best of Swedish, Danish, Finnish, Norwegian and Icelandic cinema, from award-winning dramas to esoteric comedies and the very best of Nordic Noir. While the 2017 program is yet to be announced, to give you an idea of what to expect, one of the big highlights from last year's program was the Golden Globe-nominated The Fencer, a Finnish-German-Estonian co-production — dubbed by Finland Today as "the best Finnish film in a decade" — about a fencing instructor hiding from Soviet forces in Estonia in the years after the war. This played alongside oddball Icelandic rom-com The Together Project which took home a screenplay prize at Cannes, and the excruciatingly tense Danish drama Land of Mine.
Handpicking some of the globe's best new artists for yet another glorious year (their seventh, to be exact), Sugar Mountain has one heck of a lineup this year, with UK rapper Joey Bada$$, experimental Berlin-based producer Laurel Halo and Australia's Cut Copy headlining. Returning to Melbourne's Victorian College of the Arts on Saturday, January 20, Sugar Mountain has again balanced international drawcards with local talent this year, from Melbourne's all-female five-piece Beaches to UK producer Actress. Other Aussies converging on Mebourne for the fest include Body Type, Stella Donnelly and Indigenous collective Kardajala Kirridarra. As always though, music isn't the only thing on the menu for Sugar Mountain. There'll also be a load artists on the bill, including a collaboration between American artist and dancer Khalif Diouf and Bangarra Dance Theatre's dancer and choreographer Waangenga Blanco and work by Amrita Hepi and Japanese artists Hiroyasu Tsuri and Jun Inoue. The nosh is yet to be announced, but here's hoping Sugar Mountain's immersive on-site restaurant Sensory will be back. Enough chatskies, here's that lineup you're after. SUGAR MOUNTAIN 2018 LINEUP Actress (UK) Ara Koufax Beaches Body Type Cut Copy Dan Shake (UK) Eclair Fifi (UK) Fantastic Man Gerd Janson (GER) Honey Dijon (USA) J Hus (UK) Jamila Woods (USA) Joey Bada$$ (USA) Kardajala Kirridarra Laurel Halo (USA) Love Deluxe Project Pablo (CAN) Sevdaliza (NED) Shanti Celeste (UK) Stella Donnelly ARTISTS VIA ALICE featuring Waangenga Blanco x Khalif Diouf (USA) Amrita Hepi x Pasefika Victoria Choir Justin Shoulder x CORIN x Tristan Jalleh Hiroyasu Tsuri (JPN) x Jun Inoue (JPN) Marcus Whale x Athena Thebus
Eeeep. Looks like Spotify playlisters for Splendour in the Grass jumped the gun, and it appears that the 2015 Splendour lineup has been leaked as a result. Set to be announced by Matt and Alex on triple j next Wednesday as usual, the Splendour lineup could possibly have been revealed by a playlist called 'Splendour 2015 Line-up' which appeared earlier today. Noticed by eagle-eyed Geelong Advertiser reporter Paddy Naughtin, the now-deleted playlist contained some huge, we-hope-it's-real names. We're talking Blur, Mark Ronson, Florence + The Machine, Death Cab For Cutie, The Wombats, Tame Impala and Of Monsters And Men, alongside Pond, Royal Blood and the Dandy Warhols. WAHOOLIE. Here's the screengrab posted by Naughtin on Twitter — he also posted on Splendour's Facebook page to confirm and they deleted the post. So there's a little confirmation for you. Yeesh. Probably going to be some stern words between Splendour and triple j. Here's hoping it's the real thing. Via triple j.
Won't be rolling in the grass this July? Missed out on yesterday's ticket blitz? Never fear, there's plenty of Splendour in the Grass shindiggery to be had in your own city. Splendour has announced its official 2015 sideshows this morning (as have many unofficial venues). From Blur's epic arena shows to the rowdy British garage pop team-up of The Vaccines and Palma Violets, to more niche hypecard gigs like MØ and Elliphant or Years and Years, here's your rundown of the official Splendour sideshows. Exclusive Secret Sounds presale tickets are on sale 10am local time on Tuesday, April 28, while general public tickets on sale 10am local time, Wednesday, April 29. But if you're keen to nab tickets to the Blur sideshows, tickets are on sale 10am local venue time on Friday, May 1. Visit secret-sounds.com.au for more details. SPLENDOUR IN THE GRASS OFFICIAL 2015 SIDESHOWS: BLUR With Jamie T Presented by Secret Sounds, supported by Spotify, Rolling Stone, The Music, Fasterlouder All tickets on sale 10am local venue time, Friday May 1 Sat 25 Jul — Qantas Credit Union Arena, Sydney Sun 26 Jul — Splendour In the Grass (SOLD OUT), Byron Bay Tue 28 Jul — Rod Laver Arena, Melbourne Thu 30 Jul — Perth Arena, Perth THE WOMBATS With Circa Waves *exc Perth Presented by triple J, The Music, Channel [V], Spotify Thu Jul 23 — Metro City*, Perth Mon Jul 27 — Enmore Theatre, Sydney Tue Jul 28 — Palais Theatre, Melbourne Thu Jul 30 — Thebarton Theatre, Adelaide (*Circa Waves not supporting in Perth) THE VACCINES With Palma Violets Presented by Tone Deaf, The Music, Spotify Mon Jul 27 — Corner Hotel, Melbourne Tue Jul 28 — Metro Theatre, Sydney PORTER ROBINSON [live] With Wave Racer and Cosmo's Midnight Presented by triple j, Channel [V], inthemix, Spotify Wed 22 July — Enmore Theatre, Sydney Thu 23 July — The Forum, Melbourne AZEALIA BANKS Presented by Channel [V], Music Feeds, Beat & Brag, Spotify Fri 24 July — Metro Theatre, Sydney Sun 26 July — Prince Bandroom, Melbourne EVERYTHING EVERYTHING With Urban Cone Presented by triple j, Channel [V], Fasterlouder, The Music, Spotify Thu 23 July — Metro Theatre, Sydney Sat 25 July — The Corner, Melbourne KITTY DAISY & LEWIS Presented by Fasterlouder, The Music, Spotify Sat 1 Aug — Metro Theatre, Sydney Sun 2 Aug — 170 Russell, Melbourne Tue 4 Aug — Governor Hotel, Adelaide Wed 5 Aug — Rosemount Hotel, Perth MØ & ELLIPHANT Presented by triple j, Channel [V], Oyster, Spotify Tue 28 July — The Corner, Melbourne Wed 29 July — Oxford Art Factory, Sydney MARMOZETS Presented by Musicfeeds, Blunt Magazine, Beat, Brag, Spotify Thu 23 July — Newtown Social Club, Sydney Sat 25 July — Ding Dong Lounge, Melbourne MS MR Presented by triple j, Channel [V], Spotify, Pages Digital Wed Jul 22 — 170 Russell, Melbourne Sat Jul 25 — Metro Theatre, Sydney YEARS & YEARS Presented by Channel [V], The Brag, Beat, Spotify, Pages Digital Sun Jul 26 — Oxford Art Factory, Sydney Thu Jul 30 — Howler, Melbourne WOLF ALICE Presented by triple j, Tone Deaf, The Brag, Beat, Spotify Thu Jul 23 — Corner Hotel, Melbourne Fri Jul 24 — Oxford Art Factory, Sydney THE DISTRICTS Presented by Music Feeds, Spotify, The Music Mon Jul 27 — Northcote Social Club, Melbourne Tue Jul 28 — Newtown Social Club, Sydney Visit Secret Sounds for more details. Image: Linda Brownlee.
Like a monkey with a miniature cymbal, get ready to dance over and over and over and over and over. This January, Hot Chip's adding to their Sugar Mountain appearance with headline shows in Sydney, Melbourne, Perth and Brisbane. Since their second album The Warning ignited floors worldwide in 2006, the British electropop five-piece have delivered one killer LP after another. In 2008 came the velvety Made in the Dark; then, in 2010, One Life Stand brought us yet more flawlessly smooth anthems, followed up by the more-ecstatic-than-Pharrell In Our Heads. When are these guys ever going to mess up? Keep waitin'. True career artists to the end (as opposed to the wave after wave of 'next big things' often flooding our radio stations), Hot Chip don't release till they're ready. So, Why Make Sense (currently out via Domino) is another cracker, with its blend of funk, punk and bittersweet lyrics.
Brisbane bar lovers, things are looking up — and we mean that literally. If you're standing in the CBD, you'll be craning your neck to see the city's new lounge bar. And if you're enjoying a drink at what's certain to be the next big hotspot, you'll be looking down on the world. Meet Sazerac, Brisbane's new sky-high watering hole and the place that's about to make Four Points by Sheraton Hotel at 99 Mary Street the topic of conversation for this month and next, and probably several more after that too. When it opens on April 13, patrons will climb 30 storeys above street level to sip cocktails, including the New Orleans-originated combination of cognac, absinthe, Peychaud's Bitters and sugar it's named for. Now, calling a hotel bar after a specific beverage might seem unusual, but cocktails — and the evolution of cocktails, specifically — will be Sazerac's main focus. Whiskey, wine and beer will also feature; however when you're in a place that boasts the likes of a salted caramel martini and peach mint julep, as well as head bartenders from Melbourne's Candela Nuevo and the Gold Coast's Stingray bar at QT Surfers Paradise mixing them up, you're going to want to try one. They'll go down nicely with panoramic city skyline views, and with the share plate-heavy food menu by executive chef Ambrose Andrews. With all that to indulge in, you'll quickly forget the 120-150 seat site's former life. Before the space became the bar everyone's going to be busting to go to, it was a gym. Find Sazerac at Four Points by Sheraton Hotel at 99 Mary Street, Brisbane from April 13. For more information, keep an eye on the hotel's website. Image: Dollar Photo Club.
Brisbanites, prepare to spend September immersed in arts, entertainment and culture. Other than fireworks, that's what the city's annual Brisbane Festival always brings, but this year is bigger than ever. Under new artistic director David Berthold, the festival will host a whopping 456 shows. For an event that runs for just three weeks from September 5 to 26, that's quite a significant number — and it also boasts seven world and 13 Australian premieres, including four new works specifically commissioned for the festival. You won't be able to say you don't have anything to do that month. In fact, whether dance, theatre, circus, cabaret, opera, hip hop, film or visual arts piques your interest, there's something in the program for you. The same goes for topics and countries, with Berthold contemplating everything from politics to sexuality to violence, and spanning everywhere from the Democratic Republic of Congo to Singapore, as well as touching upon homegrown stories and issues, too. The jam-packed slate includes a South African retelling of Macbeth, an all-male version of The Importance of Being Earnest, a take on Shakespeare’s Richard II inspired in part by the Rudd/Gillard years, and a documentary theatre production looking at the 2004 death of Mulrunji Doomadgee while in police custody. Flexn already looks like a standout, musing on the state of race relations in America in a piece that's part protest, part dance party, part collective autobiography. Music-wise, Martha Wainwright joins a group of local artists paying tribute to the brilliant yet complicated lives of rock legends Tim and Jeff Buckley, while Bernard Fanning and Katie Noonan join forces with Tim Winton and Jessica Watson for a multimedia celebration of the Great Barrier Reef. The beloved Spiegeltent returns, of course, complete with a busy program that includes Megan Washington and Spanish surf rock band Los Coronas, among others. Because more movies is never a bad thing, cinephiles can also join in the fun. Backyard Cinema turns homes across the city into a film festival, live-streaming a yet-to-be-selected movie for everyone to enjoy. For those keen on venturing to an actual cinema, The Female Gaze collates a collection of indie female-focused features that explore the nuances of film through female eyes. Of course, it wouldn't be Brisbane Festival a bright, free, public display of colourful, flashing illuminations. That comes in the form of Treasury Lights, from the folks behind Vivid Sydney — so you know it is going to be something special and entirely Instagramable. Apart from seeing as many shows and staring at as many pretty lights as you possibly can, a huge part of Brisbane Festival is soaking up the atmosphere. The event knows this, which is why a new festival village is also part of the 2015 lineup. A space named Arcadia will take over South Bank, occupying a site five times the size of previous years, and featuring two performance tents, four bars, food options, games, 3D chalk installations and more. For three weeks only, think of it as the ultimate hangout spot. Brisbane Festival runs from September 5 – 26 across Brisbane. For more the full 2015 program, or to book tickets, visit the festival website.
At the rate burger joints keep popping up across Brisbane, the meat-and-bun combo really should be the city's official meal. Hello Harry is the latest place keeping the dream alive, but they're not just another greasy spoon. If their name sounds familiar, that might because you've already visited their Maroochydore or Caloundra stores. From the end of March, Brisbanites can head to Forest Lake to get their fix. Additional outlets in Milton and at Portside will open in May — and if all goes well, more will follow. That might sound like an ambitious plan for a chain selling the city's favourite dish, but if anyone knows how to capitalize upon a food frenzy, it's Hello Harry's Tony Kelly and Scott Hoskins. They're the folks that also brought Donut Boyz down south, and that's worked out pretty well. With a menu bursting with pulled pork, chickpea, barramundi and brisket burgers — plus Nutella, strawberry and salted caramel shakes — working their magic outside of the Sunshine Coast shouldn't be too hard. Here's hoping that the Fat Harry also pops up, because who doesn't want to feast on a maple-glazed doughnut filled with wagyu beef, American cheese, mayonnaise, tomato jam and pickles? For more information about Hello Harry, head to their website and Facebook page.
If you love doughnuts (who doesn't?), but you're wary of just how bad they are for you, you're probably a fan of a certain Brisbane business. And if you're not already a Nododonuts enthusiast, you'll soon have more chances to try their tasty wares and convert to their healthy (well, let's say healthier), organic, gluten-free, baked ways. Yes, the makers of the world's friendliest doughnuts — even if they do say so themselves — are opening their own cafe. In the best Halloween news you're likely to hear this year, Newstead's Ella Street will become the home of the snack can feel less guilty about consuming, from October 31. Their brand new bakery will offer up all the flavours they've been serving at selected markets and cafes across the city, plus a big batch of new concoctions. Given that their existing lines include banana bread and blueberry cheesecake varieties, as well as mouthwatering fresh raspberry, triple coconut and dark chocolate, you're allowed to get excited about what's to come. Given that Nodo has taken the fatty, sugary, deep-fried snack we all know and revamped it as baked, organic, gluten-free gourmet fare, you're allowed to overindulge a little as well. The idea of doughnuts that are actually good for you might sound like a fantasy, but in the two years since Nodo launched, they've tried their best to make things a little less artery-clogging for dessert lovers. At a time when you can find doughnut stores of the not-so-good-for-you variety on almost every corner, it's no wonder that they've found their way into the hearts and stomachs of everyone who can't resist what has become Brisbane's favourite sweet treat. Find Nododonuts at 1 Ella Street, Newstead from October 31. Visit their website and Facebook page for more information.
What's better than a microbrewery that serves both food and brews? A venue that pumps out its own beers and offers patrons two distinctive dining and drinking spaces. That's what happened at The Charming Squire, with the South Bank venue splitting its floorplan to welcome a new woodfired grill and rotisserie restaurant. Having opened its doors in 2021, Embers at The Charming Squire is the fancier sibling to the existing Brewhouse. Where the latter skews casual, this relative newcomer is all about levelling up your lunch or dinner. And while it's definitely located inside The Charming Squire, this space-within-a-space has its own entrance, vibe, and wood-heavy decor. Able to seat 177, including in booths for five to ten people, at low tables and outdoors, Embers at The Charming Squire is filled with timber. Seasoned Charming Squire guests will recognise the layout, but the look has been tweaked — including via dashes of greenery. The look suits the culinary theme, given that it focuses on a fire-fuelled menu that heroes wood-roasted, smoked and grilled dishes and meals finished over ironbark coals. Standout options include dishes with lamb, given that a whole lamb is slow-cooked every weekend and then broken up into plates — such as the wood-roasted lamb with potatoes, peppers and pebre salsa. The grain-fed rib fillet is served with bearnaise sauce, carrots and jus, while the charcoal chicken comes with pickles, lemon and green beans. Other highlights span gnocchi with local mushrooms, truffle, stracciatella and sage butter from the vegetable-focused section of the menu, and grilled octopus with tomato, peppers, shallots and olives from among the seafood dishes. Or, there's Moreton Bay squid, mushroom and truffle arancini balls, and fresh natural or kilpatrick oysters — all from the small-plates range. If you're after something sweet following your meal, dessert options include pineapple souffle with coconut crumble, banoffee pie and an affogato with salted caramel ice cream. Drinks-wise, more than 100 bottles of wine will tempt your vino-loving tastebuds, with Australian reds comprising more than half the list. James Squire's beers obviously feature, including tipples brewed in-house. And the cocktail selection skews towards the classics, with the highly skilled bartenders willing to make you whatever you like, so long as they've got the ingredients at hand.
It has only been three months since Suki set up shop in South Bank, giving Brisbane its first specialty sushi burrito and poke bowl eatery. Everyone fond of eating a giant version of a Japanese staple quickly flocked to try its wares, as did Hawaiian salad lovers — and now they'll have a second site to visit. As rumoured at the time of the South Brisbane store's launch, Suki is opening another store in Bulimba. Bringing its make-your-own meals to Oxford Street, it'll offer up the same great foods in a new location from July 18. Expect the same difficulty choosing just what to eat as well. For those who haven't stopped by yet, don't be fooled by the mere two options on Suki's menu — that duo of dishes can be made many, many ways. Pick your choice of burrito or bowl, then keep working through the six-step process to select your base, hot or cold proteins, sauce, salad fillings and toppers. If that's too much variety, their favourite combos include The Fighter (kingfish, coriander, avocado, fresh chilli, orange, cucumber, suki sauce and wasabi peas), 3 Amigos (snapper, salmon, tuna, cabbage, cucumber, red onions, ponzu, sesame oil, surimi crab and fried shallots), and Angry Bird (katsu chicken, wasabi mayo, spinach, cabbage, coriander, pickled ginger and daikon, and soy egg). More Suki stores might just be in the works as well, with the chain currently offering franchise opportunities. Not limiting itself to Brisbane, they're also open to expanding interstate, bringing more of their blend of Hawaiian, Mexican and Japanese cuisines to more people. Find Suki at Shop 2, 161 Oxford Street, Bulimba from July 18. Check out their website and Facebook page for further information.
For Brisbanites fond of burying their nose in good books, September might as well be Christmas. That's when the annual Brisbane Writers Festival rolls around, brandishing literary love aplenty and bringing a plethora of writers and wordsmiths with it — and its 2017 program is no exception. More than 100 authors will descend upon the city for five days of word-based fun from September 6 to 10, with the bulk of BWF taking place at — where else? — the State Library of Queensland. This year's event kicks off with an opening address about writing and Indigenous knowledge creation from Aboriginal activist Alec Doomadgee, closes with a session on transcending standard world views thanks to Indian-Canadian novelist Anosh Irani. In between, you'll find an ode to gossip, a discussion about touching upon taboo topics and scribes telling stories in outrageous costumes — and that's just a taste. Indeed, the rest of the lineup features a large-scale interpretive artwork, Angel's Palace, to mark the tenth anniversary of Alexis Wright's Carpentaria; British journalist and documentary producer Adrian Levy giving behind-the-scenes accounts of covering Osama bin Laden and Al Qaeda, and a day dedicated to the superheroes, vampires, werewolves and more of Young Adult literature, just to name a few. Other highlights include John Safran chatting about the rise of extremism, Nakkiah Lui on writing for performance, Tracey Spicer throwing away outmoded expectations on how women should present themselves, and Benjamin Law helping dissect just why the news affects our psyche — and sharing his thoughts on humour as tool to reflect the world around him as well. It's an eclectic lineup, one designed to delight, challenge and inform in equal measure. As always, the festival will also be holding BWF satellite sessions in suburban libraries, helping word nerds get their fix closer to home. Whichever book nook you're headed to, BYO between-panel reading material. The Brisbane Writers Festival runs from September 6 to 10. To check out the full program and purchase tickets, check out the festival's website.
IT'S A GOOD DAY. A very good day. One of the world's most celebrated rappers, Kendrick Lamar, has been added to the Bluesfest lineup and has announced two huge performances in Melbourne and Sydney. Biaaaaaaatch, no way. Hitting Melbourne’s Rod Laver Arena on March 21 and Sydney’s Allphones Arena on March 23, Lamar will then join The National and Tom Jones to headline Bluesfest in Byron Bay on Thursday, March 24. More dates are expected to be announced, so keep those fingers crossed Brisbane. Lamar's quite the curveball for this year's Bluefest, with the festival already sporting quite the eclectic patchwork of a lineup — from Noel Gallagher to Tom Jones, Jackson Browne to City and Colour. This will be the first time Lamar has toured Australia since 2014's Rapture Festival, and since releasing his wildly critically-acclaimed album To Pimp a Butterfly, so expect tickets to go quicker than you can say 'Kunta'. KENDRICK LAMAR 2016 AUSTRALIAN DATES: MELBOURNE — March 21 (Rod Laver Arena) SYDNEY — March 23 (Allphones Arena) BYRON BAY — March 24 (Bluesfest) Tickets for Kendrick Lamar's Sydney and Melbourne shows will go on sale at 9am Monday, October 19. Telstra pre-sale from 10am Wednesday, October 14 until 10am Friday, October 16, those pre-sale tickets over here.
You have to hand it to the team at I Heart Brownies: they know that people love their mouth-watering chocolate treats, and they're keen to give everyone exactly what they want. Soon, that'll include selling their 100 percent gluten-free creations from their brand new kiosk in the CBD. Just head to the Wintergarden from August 8 to get your heart-shaped fix. You'll find a dozen flavours on offer, including double chocolate, jaffa, cherry, peanut butter, salted caramel and Turkish Delight. Opening first thing in the morning and operating until around 7pm to take care of both pre- and post-work brownie cravings, the kiosk will also serve up a selection of drinks, including drip-filter coffee and the pink lemonade that visitors to the business's Fortitude Valley location already know and love. This is just the beginning of the brownie empire's expansion plans. Next stop: the Gold Coast in early 2017. Basically, it's the best news we've heard since I Heart Brownies started delivering. And with their hand-made artisanal products boasting top quality ingredients, including Belgian black cocoa, couverture chocolate, free-range eggs, Queensland cane sugar and Australian butter, there's no need to feel quite so guilty about indulging in a few brownies...or a few more after that. Find the I Heart Brownies kiosk in the Wintergarden from August 8. Until then visit their website and Facebook page for more information and check out their bakery and cafe at Shop 7 Bakery Lane, 694 Ann Street, Fortitude Valley. Via The Courier-Mail.
Greek street food fans have reason to throw down a solid jig today, Sydney's Zeus Street Greek is opening a South Brisbane instalment. The souvlaki specialists will open at South Bank at the Chocolate Pavilion, scheduled to open on Saturday, June 20. Founded by a patriotic team of first-generation Hellenic Australians (a formidable collaboration between the team behind Crust Gourmet Pizza and Pony Dining Group), Zeus is modernising souvlaki for the contemporary Greek food lover. Armed with traditional recipes and cooking methods passed down through five generations, Zeus are set to serve up Mirool Creek lamb cooked ‘kontosouvli' — a traditional skewer-grilled Cypriot method resulting geared for a little tenderness. "The inspiration for Zeus was to give Sydneysiders an innovative food experience that incorporates the founders’ passion for Hellenic food, culture and tradition," say the Zeus team, who unveiled plans to expand to Brisbane last year. "Zeus pays homage to the 'God of hospitality' and the Greek custom of filoxenia or 'showing hospitality to all'. Renowned in Greek culture filoxenia translates to everyone being welcome in a Hellenic house where there is always food and wine to be shared whether it’s with old friends or new." Savoury street-style splendour at Zeus comes dine-in, takeaway or delivered to your doorstep. The eponymous house specialty, The Zeus, is set to be a Greek street food staple worth crossing the city for — slow-cooked lamb with Aegean slaw, smoked eggplant, onion and parsley in fresh pita. There's the Uncle 'Tzimmy' Classic, with chargrilled lamb, pork or chicken with tomato, tzatziki, onion, paprika in pita (with the all-important chips) and ancient grain salads and mezze dishes for vegetarians (think marinated olives, spanakopita and the salty, salty monarch of Greek food — halloumi). Then for dessert, smoosh your face into Zeus' fig and cinnamon rizogalo. Going hungry isn't an option at Zeus. "When a Greek family hosts you, you’re treated like a guest of honour whether they’ve known you your whole life or you’ve just met that day," says the Zeus team. "Greeks welcome everyone with open arms and make sure that you don’t go hungry while you’re a guest of theirs. It’s this feeling of being welcomed in to the extended family that is brought to life when people drop into Zeus." Find Zeus Street Greek at 13-14 Little Stanley Street, South Brisbane. Open daily 11.30am-9.30pm, (07) 3846 0200, zsg.com.au.
