Since late 2016, the One Day crew has been hitting the road, bringing their famous daytime block parties to live music venues around Australia. Now it's time for another round, with DJs from the beloved Sydney hip hop collective bouncing back to Brisbane for a One Day Sundays session on April 30. Taking its cue from the group's massive monthly blowouts in Sydney, One Day Sundays will see the One Day crew team up with local DJs and artists as they roll through Ric's in Fortitude Valley. Expect food and booze, live graffiti and a whole bunch of hip hop. This time around, catch Joyride, Lupi, Damelia, Finehouse and DJ Dzyr. And, in even better news, there'll be more where this came from. That's right, One Day Sundays will become a regular Brissie event in 2017. Keep your eyes peeled for future dates.
Tibet is the type of place everyone wants to visit — and the kind of destination few of us will actually make it to. Don't worry, the Festival of Tibet offers up the next best thing. It'll either help ease the pain of not jumping on a plane, or make you book a ticket overseas as soon as you can. Learning how to practice meditation, paint, cook, use singing bowls and unfurl fancy letters with calligraphy, all Tibetan-style, will do that of course. And there's more where that came from. For the ninth year running, the event celebrates the resilience and optimism of a people and culture under threat through a showcase of the country's way of life. That includes the panel Our Tibet Story, which asks three young Tibetan activists to tell their tales, plus a Songs of Freedom concert. We'd recommend the festival exhibition as well. Nothing will help you understand the plight of the Tibetan people like witnessing artworks from some of the most prominent contemporary Tibetan artists from around the world.
After shining a spotlight on films that engage with social justice and human rights issues for the past decade, the Human Rights Arts and Film Festival is back for another packed lineup of topical titles for 2017. Screening in Melbourne before bringing a selection of highlights to Brisbane from June 1–3, HRAFF's tenth anniversary program boasts four features and a selection of shorts. HRAFF 2017 will open with The Opposition, the debut effort from Australian filmmaker Hollie Fifer — and a film tackling content so controversial that legal disputes and injunctions have attempted to block its release. Also screening at the Sydney Film Festival after its HRAFF berth, the documentary steps through the struggles of Papua New Guinea's Paga Hill community. In 2012, their homes were bulldozed by developers to make way for a luxury resort, sparking a battle of David vs Goliath proportions. Other films showing include The Freedom to Marry, a doco that follows the landmark US Supreme Court ruling for marriage equality and Quest, which heads to HRAFF from Sundance to chronicle the efforts of the Rainey family to create a musical sanctuary for their North Philadelphia community.
There's something oh-so-relaxing about staring at the sea; however, despite our glorious sunshine most the of year around, Brisbane isn't really a coastal city. Forget the fact that we have rivers, pools and man-made beaches instead by heading to the Ocean Film Festival Australia. From April 10 to 12, it'll unleash a cinematic feast of water-focused wonders onto the big screen at the riverside Brisbane Powerhouse. Viewers will spend time both above and below the ocean's surface thanks to a compilation of seven short films from the UK, the US, Mexico, France and New Zealand. Chase migrating humpback whales with scientists, tag along on a 13,000 kilometres from the Pacific to Patagonia via Antarctica, find out what it's like to love surfing in Iceland, and watch freedivers plunge the depths of a shipwreck — and they're just some of the sea adventures on offer. Together, the program is united by a love of the ocean, an appreciation of the creatures who dwell in its waters and a curiosity to explore the substance that comprises more than two-thirds of the earth. It's the next best thing to diving in, all without getting wet.
With the horrors of war never far from cinema screens, audiences could be forgiven for thinking they've seen every combat tale there is to tell. Thankfully, while that might feel true when it comes to the emotional journey at the heart of Land of Mine, the film's real-life details evoke plenty of intrigue. Come for the usual mix of cruelty, camaraderie and emotional revelations. Stay for something you probably haven't come across before: a literally explosive story of post-World War II efforts to clear landmines from Denmark's coast. Indeed, when the global conflict came to an end in 1945, life didn't just go back to normal. Not in a country recovering from Nazi occupation, with a landscape still peppered with more than 1.5 million buried bombs. Under the supervision of Danish Sergeant Carl Rasmussen (Roland Møller), it's left to a group of German POWs to rifle through the sand. Most are little more than teenagers — including twin brothers Ernst and Werner (Emil and Oskar Belton), as well as the gang's self-appointed leader Sebastian (Louis Hofmann). But the fiery Rasmussen shows them little sympathy, despite their difficult and dangerous task. It's not hard to guess that Rasmussen will eventually warm to his charges. However, even when Land of Mine charts a predictable path, it remains gripping from start to finish. If there's one thing that the best foreign-language Oscar-nominated film perfects, it's the tension and suspense surrounding the scouring, searching and defusing of the deadly explosives at the centre of its story. Every time a character handles a mine, the fear that they're feeling oozes from the screen. And when tragedy occurs, as you know it inevitably will, it's delivered with quiet devastation. Along with the underlying historical reality, part of the reason that the film's atmosphere of unease hits home so strongly is just how picturesque everything appears. Even when they're littered with weapons capable of killing thousands, beaches tend to catch the eye, a fact that sets up many of the movie's thematic contrasts. Something that appears beautiful soon proves otherwise, just as people who act one way can harbour hidden depths. It's not Land of Mine's most subtle comparison, but courtesy of Camilla Hjelm's lingering cinematography, it works. Directing only his third feature film, writer-director Martin Zandvliet also wins big with his cast. If the quietly ominous terrain that fills the film's frames stresses the impact of war, then the growing creases on the actors' faces help convey the personal costs. It's Møller who has the trickiest role and provides Land of Mine's standout performance as a result. It's one thing to predict ahead of time what's going to happen with his character. It's quite another to believe it when it happens. Thanks first and foremost to his phenomenal work, you'll find yourself captivated by everything Land of Mine has to offer. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GWnwiqIWI0I
Acrobatic tricks, displays of skill and daring, impressively choreographed routines, and the kinds of stunts no one should try at home: yep, that's what you'd expect to get at the circus. Outfits such as Cirque du Soleil might've changed the way we think about stepping into the big top, but extraordinary feats remain a circus constant. Mixing them with the myths of modern Australia isn't quite as usual, though. At Model Citizens at QPAC's Playhouse from April 12 to 15, Australia's 39-year-old Circus Oz will blend all of the above into a show that'll make you exclaim with wonder, and make you think at the same time. Prepare to ponder just what it means to fit the performance's title in this fine country of ours today, all while you're watching a display of eye-popping, sometimes absurd theatricality. On the stage, Model Citizens takes place within a model kit world which has been designed to challenge perspective, scale and normality. Yep, you can see what they're doing here. Prepare to look at everyday objects in a new light, as well as the concepts Circus Oz will be exploring — complete with a 6-metre safety pin.
Say hello to Brisbane's newest festival, and prepare to heartily embrace its truly excellent aim. Live Large brings together the usual elements — food! music! markets! Brissie sunshine! — in an effort to offer a couple of great days out, as well as something more. Here, accessibility and showcasing folks of all abilities are in the spotlight. Live Large has dubbed itself "Australia's first truly accessible festival", and it's endeavouring to back that up in two ways. Firstly, it wants to get people thinking about what it really means to live large and celebrate diversity. Secondly, ensuring the layout and facilities have been optimised to provide the best accessibility possible is 100% on the agenda. Taking place at the South Bank Cultural Forecourt on April 15 and 16, the festival will feature tasty fare from Ze Pickle, Carolina Kitchen, The Bun Mobile, Dumpling Envy and How We Rolls , as well as performances by The Three Handed Beat Bandits, DefWill, William Barton, Rudely Interrupted, Sousltice, Inside Outside Dance Ensemble and Screech Theatre. Eat, be entertained, and then wander through markets selling candles, sweets, and other bits and pieces.
There's no shortage of ice cream in Brisbane (especially with Messina just opening their doors), but there's only one annually-available frosty delight that everyone wishes they could eat all year-round. You know exactly which pink-coloured dessert we're talking about — it's hands-down the best thing about the Ekka. Get excited, strawberry sundae lovers — the revamped King Street precinct will be giving the city an early treat at a one-night-only pop-up. From 5.45pm on Wednesday, April 12, the intersection of Bowen Hills' King Street and Gregory Terrace will become a strawberry sundae wonderland. Folks, there'll be 250 ice creams on offer, and they'll all be free. The only catch is you have to win tickets to head along, so keep your eyes fixed on King Street's social media. Attendees can also get their strawberry fix at King Street's permanent eateries, with the likes of Sushi & Nori, Il Verde, Super Combo and The Lamb Shop whipping up themed dishes and drinks for the occasion. The pop-up is timed to coincide with the unveiling of an installation celebrating the iconic dessert, which was created by students Aimee Watt, Annabelle Cridland, Alexandra Lucey and Bridget Cassidy from Queensland University of Technology's Creative Industries faculty. Sitting at the end of the precinct's old Dairy Hall, their sign will provide "a way for everyone to relive their experience with the strawberry sundae all year around", said project director for the Brisbane Showgrounds, Andrew Hay.
Like cakes? Don't like animal products? Baked treat-eating vegans of Brisbane, rejoice — the Worldwide Vegan Bake Sale is upon us. The initiative takes place around the globe over the second half of April, and come the 22nd of the month, it's Brissie's turn. From 10am, West End's The Cruelty Free Shop will be selling an array of vegan cakes, cupcakes and just generally tasty baked goodies out the front of their Melbourne Street store. It'll be run by Coast To Coast Animal Friends, who'll receive all of the profits from your purchases. Yes, indulging your sweet tooth will help animals in need. If you needed any extra motivation, you've got it. Attendees are encouraged to bring their own container with them so that they can take their wares home, and you're encouraged to arrive early too — while the sale is due to run until 5pm, it'll close before then if all of those mouth-watering morsels have sold out.
If you were to tell Rick Sanchez that he'd be the subject of an art appreciation show, his answer wouldn't be pleasant. As Rick and Morty fans know, his cantankerous attitude is just one of the things that makes the eccentric, alcohol-loving scientific genius so great. In fact, he'd probably take his 14-year-old grandson Morty Smith and hop on over to another part of the multiverse. Or, he'd sit and flip endlessly through interdimensional cable channels. Still following us, animation aficionados? If so, the aforementioned Rick and Morty-focused exhibition is well and truly for you. The Scratch has asked a heap of fans to show their love for a duo that definitely aren't Doc Brown and Marty McFly by whipping up something painted, sketched or similar, and now they're asking you to come along from 6pm on March 22. Expect at least one piece to feature the phrase "wubba lubba dub-dub!" — or make you utter it. There'll also be beer, of course. Rick definitely wouldn't approve if there wasn't any booze. There'll also be ample chances to watch and chat about the show in the spotlight. And that's the way the news goes.
Who does a non-profit group of fashionable folks turn to when they want to enjoy the one night of the year that has become synonymous with dressing up? Leigh Bowery, that's who — and The Stitchery Collective get-together that bears the iconic figure's name isn't really a Halloween party. Instead, it's a costumed gathering that's all about taking its cues from an Australian-born, London-based performance artist, club promoter and designer who blazed his own way and created his own style until his death in 1994. That means extreme outfits aplenty. Your wardrobe won't know what hit it, and neither will East Brisbane Bowls Club on October 29. For those wondering what the Bowery Bowl is all about, it's simple: celebrating inclusivity, throwing on creative threads, and the pure, unifying delight of self expression through fashion. Over the years, Bowery has influenced everyone from Alexander McQueen, Vivienne Westwood and John Galliano to Boy George, Lady Gaga and the Scissor Sisters. Now, he can inspire you too.
What does the world around us look like? Where does our geographic region end? How far will it grow? These questions can be taken a number of ways; however, given that Nicholas Mangan's first survey exhibition is called Limits to Growth, just what the artist is thinking about is evident. Displaying at the Institute of Modern Art from October 29 to December 18, the showcase brings together five major projects made between 2009 and 2016 that all tell a tale about the global economy, resource extraction, and the ultimate power of the sun. In fact, each relays its own story, while also feeding in to a bigger, broader whole. The socio-political conditions of energy extraction in Nauru, indigenous activism in Papua New Guinea, large stone coins from the Micronesian island of Yap — they all spring and slide into countless narratives. Indeed, viewing the immersive moving-image installations in Limits to Growth is like viewing the Asia Pacific in a different, specific, revealing and probing light, as guided by an artist who has exhibited everywhere from Brazil to Dublin. Image: Nicholas Mangan, Matter over Mined 2012 C-type print on cotton paper. Courtesy the artist; Sutton Gallery, Melbourne; Hopkinson Mossman, Auckland; and LABOR, Mexico City, D.F.
Most films feature performances; however few movies, long or short, really try to probe just what that means. How does cinema deconstruct the process of acting? How do performances really play out on screen? Metro Arts' Performing Cinema attempts to answer those questions — or to start a conversation along those lines, at least. Curated by Simone Hine and Kyle Weise, the one-night-only showcase will screen works by Christopher Köller, Elizabeth Presa, Tim Woodward, Scott Morrison, Jacqui Shelton, Laresa Kosloff, Norie Newmark, Maria Miranda and Melanie Jayne Taylor that fit their chosen artistic yet investigative topic. Basically, it's an alternative to a documentary — or to a compilation of pieces from well-known works. Instead, Performing Cinema uses a range of recent pieces to ponder film history and today's reality as far as getting talent to portray others on camera for the viewing pleasure of an audience. Image: Jacqui Shelton. Framing everyday negotiations: never confuse movement with action, 2013. Video Still
A whole day of hip-swinging music. Food trucks and stalls selling traditional Brazilian fare. One of the biggest sertanejo duos in the world at the moment. Add all three together, and you have the Navala Brazilian Music Festival. You also have an ace day out at Roma Street Parklands, aka Brissie's unofficial home of cultural fiestas. It's pretty safe to say that you could wander through the inner-city greenery on any given weekend and come across something fun — and this time it's a Brazilian-style shindig. As well as hanging out and soaking in the splendour of all things Brazil, that means authentic meals that'll get your stomach rumbling, plus music from Malagueta Band (with special guest Lucia Hodge from Coisa Linda), and Som de Calcada (with special guest Rodrigo Ferraz from Zambaben). And, it also means headliners Bruninho e Davi, and the chance to find out why the double act is so popular in their homeland.
We see through it, drink out of it, wear it as jewellery, make part of our houses of it, rub our fingers against it all day on our phones, and place interesting items made from it around our homes. We're talking about glass, the often transfixing, often transparent substance that combines art, design and architecture. Hey, that'd be a good name for an exhibition dedicated to it, wouldn't it? Taking over the QUT Art Museum from November 19 to March 5, GLASS: art design architecture combines the work of practitioners in each field to demonstrate the many different uses for this versatile material. If you've ever wondered about current creative practices in the glass arena, or contemplated humanity's relationship to it, this showcase of 23 projects will indulge those thoughts and ponderings. And, to be honest, finding yourself thinking about glass is perfectly understandable. We're not only surrounded by it in our 21st century lives, but archaeologists have found evidence that volcanic glass was used by early humans to make spear tips, and other data shows that we've been working with it since 3,500 BC. Image: Wendy Fairclough, Tribute 2014, cast lead crystal, wooden ironing board. Photo: Grant Hancock.
When you give a bar the same name as everyone's aunt, plenty of shenanigans unfold. Yes, everyone has a relative called Barbara. And yes, everyone has fun telling their friends that they're heading to Barb's for the night. Plus, in a stroke of fortuitous timing, there's also the Stranger Things connection. Every part of that is worth celebrating — and so is the fact that Barbara has been operating for a year now. To mark the occasion, they're ramping up the revelry for three days of booze, music and the laidback atmosphere the Valley hangout really does do best. On November 3, Emerson Snowe and Reud Mood will perform live to get things started. Then, on November 4 and 5, Barbara's resident DJs will strut — or spin — their stuff. Plus, Barbara's Birthday bash is just one of a heap of such events taking place in Brisbane this weekend. Make it an all-round birthday crawl by also stopping by the New Globe Theatre and the Triffid's versions as well.
Imagine a place where everyone takes a day off to drink while watching horses run around a track, regardless of whether it's actually a public holiday where they're living. Imagine a place where guzzling the cheapest of cheap plonks from a foil bag — and then using it as a pillow once it said shiny, squishy container empty — is a rite of passage. You don't need to imagine either, really. You already live there. And it's this, the comedic side of the Aussie identity, that Leah Shelton parodies in her blackly comic cabaret Terror Australis. Quite simply: you haven't seen our sunburnt nation quite like this. Wearing thongs, rocking up in a ute and being all-too-aware of just how brutal our landscape can be is recommended given that Shelton unravels a sweltering pulp film mash-up of Australiana. So is having a sense of humour about what makes the country both great and entertaining.
A popular Christmas song that you're about to get stuck in your head claims that the festive season is the most wonderful time of the year; however October has to give it a run for its money. Not only are all things spooky and scary on the agenda as the end of the month nears, but all things beverage-related every October day beforehand. Yes, that means one thing: Oktoberfest. And at Green Beacon on October 23, they're showing just how to celebrate this adopted occasion the only way they know how. That's right, they're throwing their annual party. For the fourth time, you'll eat, drink and... well, actually, that's all there is to it. German-style beers such as Kolsch, Pilsner, Gose and a single keg special release beer will be on offer, and Brat Haus will be on site all day serving up German sausages with all the trimmings. Who needs Christmas?
A futuristic story set in Brisbane? Now there's something that you won't come across every day. In Digi Youth Arts' latest production, the city as we know it is long gone. The year is 2044, and one suburb has been cut off from the rest of Brissie. So, what happens next? That's something you'll only discover by attending Dislocated, which follows a group of youth who must return to the city in order to survive. Of course, the fact that they've never known their intended destination is certain to throw a few obstacles in their way. Before bringing the play to Brisbane Powerhouse from October 20 to 22, Digi Youth Arts also staged Glad Tomorrow and In-dij-uh-nus at the New Farm venue in 2013 and 2015, ensuring that their latest effort is eagerly anticipated. And, as they stage their newest foray into the theatre, the not-for-profit arts organisation also continues to support Indigenous young people, and provide opportunities to tell their stories through their words and in their own ways.
The Australian Centre for the Moving Image has announced its latest filmmaker retrospective — and in good news for cinephiles living in other cities, it won't just be screening at ACMI in Melbourne. Setting their sights on the movie classics crafted by Roman Polanski, they've teamed up with Palace Cinemas to take the eleven-film lineup around the country, with it stopping in Brisbane from December 1-7. ROMAN: 10 X Polanski will feature ten of the Franco-Polish director's features, ranging from his Polish New Wave debut, Knife in the Water, to his 2010 political thriller, The Ghost Writer. In between, the showcase will also give audiences a chance to see masterpieces such as the film noir-infused Chinatown and supernatural horror Rosemary's Baby on the big screen, which is no mean feat. Plus, it'll step through the British-made likes of Repulsion and Cul-de-sac, as well as the European-set The Tenant, Frantic and Bitter Moon — and present his co-starring role, alongside his late second wife Sharon Tate, in undead spoof The Fearless Vampire Killers. As for that eleventh title we mentioned, it comes in the form of Roman Polanski: Wanted and Desired, which is clearly the retrospective's way of addressing the director's infamy beyond his helming career. Any celebration of Polanski's work can't ignore his well-publicised flight from the United States in 1978 after being charged with sexually assaulting a minor, aka the main topic of Marina Zenovich's 2008 documentary. Polanski has still worked steadily and even won an Oscar for 2002's The Pianist in the nearly four decades since; however championing his filmmaking prowess is bound to cause some discomfort, even if the touring season does try to put the movies, rather than the man behind them, front and centre.
There's a film festival for everything these days — and now, there's an event not only dedicated to the shorter side of the medium, but to the field of video art. That's exactly what'll be showing at Jugglers Art Space on October 8, when the venue throws open its screens to the best in local sound and vision. Prepare to be glued to the tube as a whole heap of folks share their efforts with eager viewers. Of course, watching the AV wonders whipped up by Aden Sargeant, Billie Bailey, El Telon, Elizabeth Witt, Grace Hermann, Guy Lobwein, Jade Courtney, John Skillington, Kirsty Lee, Rabin Sherchan, Roman Pereira, Samara Semple, Sophie Reid-Singer, Stephen Denham and Tayla Hyndman is only part of the fun. First, audiences will be entertained by their short films and video art pieces. Then, they'll vote for their favourites, with the top three picks winning the opportunity to be seen at Dendy Portside. And, while they do so, they'll gorge on popcorn, baked goods and drinks. It is a night at the movies, after all. Image: Jonas Bengtsson.
What would Harper Lee's To Kill A Mockingbird look like if it was transported to a remote Australian town? How relevant are the original text's themes of racial prejudice and the perversion of justice in modern times? Trust shake & stir theatre co to ask those questions, and to answer them. They've previously taken on Dracula, 1984 and Animal Farm, after all. Actually, they've also previously taken on this, with Tequila Mockingbird getting another run after its initial 2013 staging. Under the direction of company veteran Michael Futcher, the original cast of Ross Balbuziente, Shannon Haegler, Nelle Lee, Barbara Lowing, Bryan Probets and Nick Skubij reunite to explore the story of a young Indian doctor who has recently relocated to the area. As well as seeing a different take on the American classic everyone had to read in school, audiences can discover just why the powerful theatre piece was nominated for six 2014 Matilda Awards — winning Best Mainstage Production — the first time around.
Tim Burton is back — and, regardless of how you feel about the filmmaker's output of late, that's a good thing. While indulging his love of all things weird and wonderful has seen the likes of Charlie and the Chocolate Factory, Alice in Wonderland and Dark Shadows annoy rather than endear, the director is still capable of crafting enchanting efforts when he finds just the right level of quirkiness. Sure, they were made decades ago, but Beetlejuice, Edward Scissorhands, Ed Wood and his two Batman movies all remain classics for a reason. Miss Peregrine's Home for Peculiar Children mightn't quite take Burton back to his strange, spirited heights, however it shares much more in common with his earlier work than his more recent fare. Of course it helps that the source material couldn't be a better fit. Boasting a title that champions its oddness, a story filled with outsider characters embracing their individual traits, and an unusual journey through both dark and delightful territory, the first book in the three-strong young adult series by author Ransom Riggs feels like it was destined to end up in Burton's hands. 16-year-old Jake (Asa Butterfield) has heard about Miss Peregrine (Eva Green) and her unusual abode from his doting grandfather Abe (Terence Stamp) ever since he can remember — although as he grew up, he stopped believing that the fantastical tales were true. Then tragedy strikes, leaving Jake with many questions — which a trip to Wales to seek out the house from his childhood stories just might be able to answer. There, with the help of the lighter-than-air Emma (Ella Purnell), the fire-starting Olive (Lauren McCrostie), the necromantic Enoch (Finlay MacMillan) and many more, Jake discovers the other side of his reality. What would happen if Burton made a mashup of X-Men, Harry Potter and The Matrix? Miss Peregrine's Home for Peculiar Children, that's what. In fact, screenwriter Jane Goldman worked on X-Men: First Class and X-Men: Days of Future Past, as well as Kingsman: The Secret Service. Once the 127-minute-long movie moves past its dragging, world-building first half, the director and scribe prove a well-matched pair, blending both eccentricity and adventure to mostly charming effect. And while the film follows a very familiar path and ponders recognisable themes, it does so with an ideal dose of Burton's distinctive sensibilities. Think visions of reanimated critters, gas mask-wearing kids, sunken ships and stalking monsters – to name but a few of the movie's more memorable sights. Crucially, however, the striking imagery doesn't overpower the narrative. Instead, it helps add depth and texture, and immerses viewers in the story. Cast-wise, the youthful talent proves uniformly up to the task, although if there's ever an actor that can convey Burton's bewitching brand, it's Green. Move over, Johnny Depp, there's a new muse in town.
You've gotta love a street party. No, seriously — given the number of them that happen around Brisbane each year, it's impossible not to. Everyone has always had a soft spot for Bulimba Festival, though. It's a reason to head to the inner-east's best-known roadway and eat, drink, listen to music and just hangout, after all. Bulimba Festival also offers up a guessing game, of the "what's it going to be like this year?" variety. In 2013, it was a one-day affair, while 2015's shindig spread out the celebrations over a week. For 2016's event, it's back in short but sweet — or condensed and crammed with oh-so-much goodness — territory. Tunes-wise, that includes Asta, Mallrat, Northeast Party House, The Badloves and The Delta Riggs, aka that phrase we all know and love: "something for everyone". Elsewhere, expect over 100 food trucks and markets in addition to the bricks-and-mortar stores already lining the street, with the bulk of the fun taking place around Barcadia and Oxford 152. That's what happens when two of the local pubs spearhead proceedings.
Ben Affleck plays an accountant in his latest film, and now UQ Art Museum is hosting an exhibition all about the figures-based field. Yep, it's a good time to be in the business of crunching numbers. The latter isn't quite what you might think, though. In a nutshell, you'll see more than just calculators. Adding machines of all shapes and sizes are part of Creative Accounting, which is good news if you're into retro technology; however so is everything from alternative currencies and banking archives to pop culture and contemporary art. If it has something to do with money, odds are you'll find it here from November 11, 2016 until February 26, 2017. That includes pieces by Conrad Bakker, Ian Burns, Penelope Cain, Joachim Froese, Melanie Gilligan, Fiona Hall, Andrew Hurle, Yves Marchand & Romain Meffre, Daniel McKewen, Christine McMillan, Kenzee Patterson, Ryan Presley, David Shapiro and Abdullah MI Syed, as well as others that will make you contemplate currency, economic systems and historical quirks. They're all topics you probably don't ponder that much these days, what with cash something many of us don't actually touch all that often.
Can you solve a good mystery? Or spark one? Channel your inner Professor Plum, Colonel Mustard or Mrs Peacock, roam around a paddlewheeler looking for the conservatory, cellar and billiard room, and be wary of candlesticks, lead pipes and spanners. That's what Cluedo! The Interactive Game is all about when it sets sail during the 2017 Anywhere Theatre Festival, and we mean that literally. The whole affair takes place on the Kookaburra Queen, which will double as a lavish 1930s cocktail party complete with hidden rooms, grand staircases, enigmatic guests and plenty of secrets. Ahoy folks, this crime is taking to the sea. In a theatrical reimagining of the ace board game, you'll solve puzzles, find clues and try to work out who did the deed while you're cruising the Brisbane river. The May 5 show was so popular that they've put on a second on May 19. And, it's one of two Cluedo-themed shows in the ATF program. Attendees will catch a killer, while the entire fest has clearly caught murder mystery board game fever.
What would cinema be without a talent like Werner Herzog lurking in the dark? Yes, we're paraphrasing the great German filmmaker, and yes, you should be reading that in his inimitable voice. Expect to have his distinctive tones echoing through your head rather frequently between June 2 and August 19, with the Gallery of Modern Art throwing open their Australian Cinematheque to a survey of his work. No one makes movies like Herzog. No one makes us gaze into the abyss or think about crocodiles in quite the same way. No one voices documentarians in Penguins of Madagascar, plays a villain opposite Tom Cruise in Jack Reacher or sells a perfectly creepy house in Parks and Recreation like him either. GOMA's The Wrath and Reveries of Werner Herzog program doesn't include those on-screen appearances, but that's perfectly acceptable. With 35 films that he either directed, wrote or played a significant part in on the lineup, there'll be plenty of Werner to go around. Kicking off with his 2016 documentary Lo and Behold, Reveries of of the Connected World — aka his thoughts on the internet, which are as eclectic as you'd expect — is an ideal start, with the rest of the selection featuring everything from rebelling dwarves (Even Dwarfs Started Small), Spanish soldiers (Aguirre, the Wrath of God) and bear enthusiasts (Grizzly Man) to volcanoes (Into the Inferno), deserts (Fata Morgana) and bloodsuckers (Nosferatu the Vampyre). From his earliest efforts to his Hollywood fare, and including his sweeping docos as well as his intimate character pieces, this jam-packed cinephile dream of a bill has it all.
How many hours have you spent playing the best karting game ever made? Too many? We'll throw a shell at that idea — when it comes to Mario Kart, there's no such thing as too much. In fact, you should race on out of the house and down to Netherworld to play more at their very own speedway. Between midday and 4pm on June 4, the Fortitude Valley bar will become a haven for everyone that knows just when to sling a ghost at their opponents, and just how to press buttons in the right order to get an early boost. The Mario Kart-obsessed afternoon has two components: bring your Switch along and play with other aficionados, or feel the need for speed at the venue's Rainbow Road retrospective. At the latter, they'll be making the most of their own consoles, and letting you do your best on SNES, N64 and Gamecube. We're assuming that there won't be any banana peels to throw around the place, but maybe watch where you're walking anyway.
If smooth, often improvised sounds get your toes tapping, then the Brisbane International Jazz Festival probably gets your heart racing. Where else can you celebrate experimental melodies and witness some of the best musicians in the world? Or move and groove to what just might be one-off performances. That's the joy of jazz: no show is ever the same. There's so much in the festival's fifth-year program that you probably won't get to test that — but you will get to enjoy the talents of an impressive array of performers from around the country, plus a few international guests. Local hotshots including the Mal Wood Bowery Hot Five, the Jo David Quartet and the Wild Silk Strings Project are certain to be a highlight, as are a dose of global sounds courtesy of the USA's Kenny Barron Trio and Tigran Hamasyan from Armenia.
Another week, another chance to revel in the joys of the '90s — not that you'll hear us complaining. This time, it's a double feature of film favourites that'll get your nostalgic senses tingling. And, if you like comedies from two decades ago, your funny bone as well. First up is the flick that showed the world Heath Ledger's talents, set the bar for everyone who has ever dreamed of being serenaded in public, and proved one of the best teen-focused Shakespeare adaptations that there is. We're talking about 10 Things I Hate About You, which kicks off the evening at 6.30pm. Afterwards, prepare for the ultimate blast from the past with Romy & Michelle High School Reunion at 8.15pm. Now, we know we said it was a double, and, it is when it comes to '90s fare; however there's also another movie at 10pm. If you're willing to venture to the year 2000, High Fidelity will cap off the evening. Given that the Nick Hornby book it is based on was written in 1995, we're still counting it as part of the retro fun.
Come August 20, craft, beverage and music lovers won't just be easy like Sunday morning — they'll be easy like Sunday afternoon as well. In the type of end-of-weekend session designed to combine creativity with chilling out, The New Globe Theatre is hosting a musical crafternoon. It's a simple affair, but bound to be an enjoyable one. That's what easy Sunday arvos are all about, after all. Here, crafty types can head along to the Valley venue, either whip out their own projects or help make a few daisy coasters, and soak in some live tunes and cold brews. Or, as the New Globe puts it, "crocheting to a crotchety man playing some cool roots music" is well and truly on the agenda.
Children of the '90s, rejoice — and prepare to step back in time. You once stayed up late to watch the decade's finest rockers and pop stars strut their stuff on Rage, and now you can revisit the fun at The Globe's 90's Alt Rock Video Marathon. If you've suddenly been swamped by memories of your childhood, that's understandable. Expect more where they came from. The Fortitude Valley venue will blasting clips covering everything from grunge to britpop on their big screen for five hours come August 15. If that's not enough, they'll even be decking out the place like a '90s teenager's bedroom. The Tuesday night shindig falls on the night before the Ekka holiday, so getting your music video fix won't leave you bleary-eyed the following day. And, it wouldn't be a nostalgic event without a costume component, with prizes on offer for the best '90s rocker get-up.
If riverside parklands mountaintop lookouts are your idea of bliss, then finding a relaxing spot of Brisbane isn't difficult. You're unlikely to head anywhere near the exhibition grounds, however, unless once-a-year dagwood dogs and sideshow rides help you chill out — or unless you're heading to the annual Yoga Fest. Held at The Old Museum at Bowen Hills on November 5, Yoga Fest is perhaps the only day-long festival that'll give you a workout and ensure you're blissed out all at the same time. First started back in 2007, it puts bending and stretching in the spotlight in three large halls, including indoor and outdoor spaces, and throws everything from massage to meditation to music in for extra fun. Eating, drinking and browsing for yoga-related goodies are also on the agenda — and while the full 2017 lineup is still being finalised, last year's festival included sessions on breathing, building energy and finding inner balance, and for beginners as well. Early bird tickets are now on sale for what promises to be a one-day patch of peacefulness.
If the end of times means endless kegs of beer, then count us in. We're certainly willing to pretend the former is the case if the latter is the reward — and so are the folks at Archive Beer Boutique. That's why they call their signature annual event Armakeggon after all, though you, the tasty brews and the bar will all be around long after the 2017 shindig is over. Well, that and it's a catchy name to describe a day that features more than 50 extra special, often one-off beverages poured through the West End establishment's taps until their beer-loving hearts are content. For those after more than an out-of-the-ordinary drop of the yeasty good stuff, the affordable price of admission — $10 before August 31, and $20 afterwards — includes food, brewery stalls, live music and maybe even some surprise guests. Oh, and there'll also be carnival games and beer workshops on site, too, because the only thing better than spending the day drinking is winning prizes and learning something new while you're doing it.
Put down your croquet mallet, plaster on your best game show host smile and grab a slushie: it's Heathers' dance party time. The fun-loving folks at Black Bear Lodge are celebrating one of the most very films of the '80s, and the whole decade in general. Big hair, blazers with shoulder pads and giant red scrunchies are a must. Complaining about everyone you know called Heather — that's optional. Whether you channel your inner Veronica or JD, or broaden your remit to other cult flicks of the era, you certainly won't lack in fashion inspiration in what will definitely be a night of big fun. DJs Sophie Luna and Mumgenes won't lack in ace retro tracks to spin, either. Whatever will be, will be, after all. So, what's the event's damage? It's free, it hits the Brunswick Street bar from 11pm on May 27, and drinking blue beverages isn't recommended. Be there, or be a pillowcase — or be jealous much.
So, you've tried to pull a few heists, built an aquarium and sailed the seas in matching outfits. Or, maybe you've caught a train across India, ran away from camp and became a lobby boy. Perhaps you just have a chaotic family. Or you could just really like symmetrical images. Whichever category you call into, The Royal TenenBarbaras is the party for you. From 9pm on May 12, Fortitude Valley Barbara is getting swept up in Wes Anderson fever — and no, they're not just asking everyone to dress up as their favourite Bill Murray or Jason Schwartzman character, but that's definitely welcome. In fact, donning red tracksuits, blue sneakers or a concierge's outfit is heartily encouraged. So is being as fantastic as Mr Fox, or bringing along a beagle named Buckley. Whichever Anderson flick is your favourite, you can pay tribute to it here. And, Barbara will be screening his best movies on their projector all night long. They'll also get their DJs to give his soundtracks a whirl, which means you'll be listening to The Kinks, The Beatles, Seu Jorge's Portuguese-language covers of David Bowie, The Rolling Stones, Indian film scores and more. All you need now is a martini, three cheeseburgers and some French fries.
Once a year, for one night, a New Farm street transforms into a fashion party. And back in March, it tried to, but a cyclone had other plans. So, James Street is doing what it does best again — and, given that the stretch of road boasts plenty of boutique selling designer threads, you know that they can how to put on a sartorial celebration. That's what James St marie claire Up Late is all about: exploring the precinct's many outlets, stocking up your wardrobe, getting tempted by specials and browsing the latest collections. A number of designers will be on hand to chat about their wares as well, including Adrian Norris and Edwina Robinson of Aje, Lucy Folk at Camargue, Louise Olsen at Dinosaur Designs, Daniel Oliver at Assembly Label, Gail Sorronda and Natasha Chipman of Natasha Schweitzer Jewellery. marie claire will be giving out gift bags to 1000 lucky attendees, so arriving early is recommended. Entertainment will be part of the proceedings, so make sure you wear your best partying outfit. Given that James Street is also known for its restaurants and bars, dropping by each one to enjoy a themed cocktail and hop between after parties is also on the agenda.
Between May 24 and June 14, wandering around West End is about to get a whole lot better. We're not dissing its usual eclectic vibe, or its bustling array of bars, shops and eateries — but when an art exhibition takes over an entire suburb, we're going to get excited. A biennial event, TRACE returns for 2017 with a fresh showcase of creative pieces popping up in unexpected places. Expect the 4101 postcode to be showered with artworks by Vernon Ah Kee, Richard Bell, Gordon Bennett, Anna Carey, Megan Cope, Fiona Foley, Joe Furlonger, Noel McKenna, Tyza Stewart and Judy Watson. Their paintings, drawings and the like will grace Avid Reader, Ralph's Garage, West End Bakery, Junky Comics, Hong Lan Vietnamese Grocer, Jet Black Cat Records and more. Quite a few of those artists should sound familiar, as many of them have strong ties to West End. Taking a stroll through the streets, ducking into local establishments and scoping out their work is just one way that you can support their love of the area, however. As well as the exhibition, TRACE features a silent auction, with some of the funds going back to the creatives, and the rest helping out community development organisation Community Plus+. To snatch up something for your own walls, just view the featured artworks online between May 24 and June 16, place your bid, and watch and wait. Beats getting mass-produced stock pics from IKEA, hands down. Image: Noel McKenna, A great Origin moment (C) 2013. Ink on paper 41x58.5cm, Courtesy the artist and Heiser Gallery.
Feel like getting a dose of da funk this Friday afternoon, losing yourself to dance and getting lucky? Of course you do. You'll be burnin' up the floor, getting derezzed and giving life back to music in no time at The Brightside from 5pm on March 10 — and if you do so harder, better, faster and stronger, you'll be doin' it right indeed. If you haven't guessed just who is in the spotlight at this end-of-week shindig, then you probably need to take your helmet off and prepare to give some of the best albums of the past two decades a spin one more time. There'll be robot rock, plenty of digital love and you might even think you've been around the world while you're throwing shapes. Yep, indulging your instant crush on the electronic duo best known as Daft Punk is easy as the Brighty works their way through the French headpiece fans' discography. Cocktail specials and Lucky Egg chicken will also be on the menu for anyone looking to make an arvo or a night of it.
In every generation, there is a chosen one. On screen, in Buffy the Vampire Slayer, she alone will stand against the vampires, the demons, and the forces of darkness. Off screen, for fans of Joss Whedon's cult TV series, the show itself fulfilled that role. In the late '90s, it thoroughly dispatched with other teen-centric competition to become a beacon of hope for television watchers. Because time flies when you're staking (or smooching) vamps, or repeatedly revisiting a program about just that, it has been 20 years since Buffy the Vampire Slayer made its TV debut. While it will always be immortal in our hearts, that's an occasion worth celebrating. At Junky Comics, they're paying tribute to one of the great pieces of late 20th century pop culture art by enlisting the creative talents of a whole lot of Buffy aficionados, then decking the walls with their efforts from March 10 to 31. In fact, 19 artists will unveil their homages to Ms Summers, the town of Sunnydale, the Scooby gang and all of the demons the hellmouth spit out at them at the aptly titled Welcome to Sunnydale: A Buffy 20th Anniversary Art Show. Heading along on opening night is recommended, and not just because there'll be beer and wine among the fun. Dedicated Buffy buffs won't need reminding that March 10 was the date the first episode ever aired on US TV back in 1997. Images: Cassandra Urquhart via Welcome to Sunnydale: A Buffy 20th Anniversary Art Show.
Nothing lasts forever, as life, songs and books all have a way of reminding us. Is that necessarily a bad thing, though? Whatever look you were rocking when you were 14 years old — it's a good thing that has been and gone. The same applies to every pop culture obsession you've ever had that hasn't stood the test of time. What about art? To be specific, what about public art? No, we're not talking about the giant statues and sculptures that stand outside many a building — we're talking about pop-ups, short-term works, and projects that are much more dynamic, flexible and engaging. Discussing their role and value is Now You See It, Now You Don't's aim, as is getting the scoop from the creative folks responsible for crafting such pieces. In the first in a planned series of talks, four case studies will help unpack the topic of limited-lifespan artistic endeavours. Join Jenna Green, Marisa Georgiou, Caitlin Franzmann and the bright minds behind arts initiative people+artist+place for an insight into a field that might be fleeting, but remains oh-so-memorable. Image: 9000 Minutes, Field Theory, Victoria Market, 2016.
Forget about every dog having its day; on June 4, every dog in Brisbane can have their own festival. Redlands is putting out the welcome mat for peppy pooches and their loving owners thanks to their new event, DogFest. Has anything ever had a more appropriate title? Between 10am and 3pm, Capalaba Regional Park will become a canine wonderland, complete with food trucks, coffee carts, live music and market stalls. Two arenas of fun will boast everything from dog competitions (including categories for best dressed, best trick and waggiest tale) to demos about cooking doggy meals to training demos. Promoting the latter is actually the aim of the whole day, should you literally be looking to teach your four-legged best friend some new tricks. Indeed, it's a great time to have a cute pupper in tow in Brisbane, with DogFest the city's latest pooch-centric event. With the Pets at the Gabba markets and The Brightside's Barks & Brews sessions happening regularly, your doggo could have quite the social calendar.
"Dogs are the best people," Aussie band The Fauves sang back in 1996 — and as well as proving a catchy lyric and song title, it's a statement of fact. In the art world, those creatively inclined clearly agree. They've been not only sharing their spaces with their four-legged pals for centuries, but taking inspiration from them. Why do you think Dogs Playing Poker exists? Okay, so you won't find canines pretending that they're people at Dog Days at Jan Murphy Gallery, but you will find plenty of other examples of pooches in painted form. From February 25 to March 25, the Brunswick Street gallery is giving itself over to the pups that have spent time in artist studios, just doing general dog stuff — and getting immortalised in portrait form in the process. Jason Benjamin, Lucy Culliton, Jason Fitzgerald, James Guppy, Claudia Greathead, Linde Ivimey, Rhys Lee, Adam Lester, William Mackinnon, Robert Malherbe, Guy Maestri, Leith Maguire, Ben Quilty, Monica Rohan, Martin Smith, Marina Strocchi, Deborah Williams and Heidi Yardley all show their love for humanity's best friends, and give art lovers a great gift. Everyone knows that the next best thing to spending time with a dog is looking at how cute they are, which this exhibition well and truly facilitiates. Image: Lucy Cullliton, Five studio dogs (Hepzibah, Reddy, May Day, Super Zippy and Tessa) 2016.
When was the last time you had an English ale? Actually, would you know? Can you name any? In the beer stakes, we've given Britain the Aussie brew no one in Australia really drinks (aka Fosters), but their contribution to our drinks lists hasn't been quite as successful. Don't worry, there's plenty of great bevs from Old Blighty — you just need to know where to look. Try Brewski on February 18 for starters. In fact, think of their Lie Back and Drink of England session as a great kick off point for your excursion through British beers. Seven varieties from four different breweries will be on offer, some fruity, some heavy, some zesty. A pogo, passionfruit, orange and guava pale ale, anyone? You know the drill: grab a pint of whatever takes your fancy, or, if you can't choose, pony up for a flight. Just remember that we've talking about the array of drinks, and not a plane ticket — although, if you develop a taste for English brews, you might just want the latter as well.
The Golden Koala Chinese Film Festival is back for another year, showcasing an eclectic mix of big screen gems just in time for Chinese New Year. Held in Brisbane from February 15–17, this year's festival features a number of intriguing titles across a wide array of genres. Based on a novel by award-winning Chinese-American author Ha Jin, The Song of Cotton tells the story of a female caretaker hired to take care of a former boxer suffering from Alzheimer's disease. The film won big at the recent Shanghai International Film Festival, winning Best Film, Best Actress and Best New Director. Also scoring plaudits on the festival circuit was Dog, an experimental film that screened at the Los Angeles Asian Pacific Film Festival, and follows a stray dog as it journeys across the streets of Guangzhou. Other standout titles include dark crime comedy Roberry, and bittersweet queer rom-com Front Cover. For the full Golden Koala program, go here.
Back in September 2015, a group of talented gals rocked The Foundry, and Brisbabes was born. The female-focused music showcase has popped up plenty of times since then, but, sadly, all good things must come to an end After more than a year of achieving some very significant feats — aka shining a light on women in the Brissie music scene, inspiring female artists to take to the stage, sourcing some of the city's finest female-fronted acts, and just generally discrediting the idea that there's no female talent out there — Brisbabes is saying goodbye. It's a farewell for now kind of deal, but it's still an occasion worth marking in the only way possible. This time — this one last time —Pink Matter, Izadora, Jesswar and Tiana Khasi will be taking to the stage to let their talents loose, and show just why an event like this is so important. It wouldn't be a Brisbabes gig without a variety of kick-ass women doing what they do best, after all. Image: Todd O'Rourke.
You've probably heard the saying "the best laid schemes of mice and men often go awry," but do you know its history? It was coined by Scottish poet Robert Burns, and provides the name of a novella written by The Grapes of Wrath's John Steinbeck. That text has also been turned into several films and plays, which is why you probably keep coming across the titular phrase. So, quick primer over. Now, it's time to see just how those famous words come across on the stage. Brisbane Arts Theatre is kicking off their 2017 season with their take on the tale of farmer George and his pal Lennie, their depression-era dreams and the way their hopes don't always turn out as planned. Pondering friendship, kinship, kindness and more, Of Mice and Men runs from January 14 to February 18, with the cast treading the boards from Thursday to Sunday. The play itself has proven quite the hit since it first graced a New York stage in 1937 — it won best drama at the awards that preceded the Tonys, and the 2014 staging featured James Franco and Chris O'Dowd.
Think feeling nostalgic about epic songs is the only way to spend your evenings, Brisbanites? Think again. Given the trauma of 2016, showing your love for the artists we've lost is an urge we all just keep scratching. Combine it with a right royal goodbye and good riddance to the year in question, and you have the New Globe Theatre's latest event. The name RIP 2016 says all it needs to, really. In typical NG style, there'll be clips on the big screen, dancing in the aisles — and local music and cabaret talent celebrating their fallen heroes as well. That's how you farewell David Bowie, Prince, Leonard Cohen, George Michael, Alan Rickman, Carrie Fisher and more, en masse. Sadly, you know that the list of dearly departed pop culture figures that the night will honour doesn't stop there. Want more opportunities to pay tribute? Well, this is the weekend for it. RIP 2016 isn't the only shindig of its type on January 20, with a Leonard Cohen-focused evening happening over at The Brightside. Then, head to Bistrotheque on January 21 for a bit of David Bowie action.
Folks, there's a new trend in town. Just last week, Black Bear Lodge dedicated an evening to paying tribute to what just might be the greatest song of the '80s, Toto's 'Africa'. From 8pm on January 19, The Brightside are joining the fray by celebrating its '70s counterpart. Here's a hint: open your eyes, look up to the skies and see. Actually, prepare to see a little silhouetto of a man and do the Fandango, because the Queen song that just makes you want to sit in a car, sing along and bang your head back and forth (thanks Wayne's World!) is in the spotlight. Enjoying all that's great about the almost six-minute track that is 'Bohemian Rhapsody' will send shivers down your spine, but hopefully won't leave your body aching all the time. Yes, this is real life. No, it's not just a fantasy. But, you will be caught in a landslide of the song in question all night long, and there's no escape from that reality. Any way the wind blows, The Brighty promises to get their 'Bohemian Rhapsody' on at least once every 15 minutes, and only play power ballads in between. And if you want to dress up for the occasion, you can either take your cues from Freddie Mercury, Brian May and company, or Wayne Campbell and Garth Algar. Party on!
What does a world-renowned photographer snap when he's not shooting advertising campaigns for every big brand imaginable? That's the question at the heart of Time After, Maud Creative's latest exhibition, which shines a spotlight on the private works captured by Alex Buckingham. Even if you don't know Buckingham's name, you've probably seen his pieces somewhere given that he's been plying his trade since the 1970s. Smirnoff, Moet, Guinness, Tetley's, Strongbow, Carlsberg, Kelloggs, Cadbury and Nokia are just some of the companies that have used the award-winning photographer's images — and yes, the list goes on. You won't see any of that at Time After, though; instead, you'll spy intimate garden shots, still life and floral arrangements given a new look, polaroid transfers and a journey to Cuba. The exhibition first runs from November 28 to December 2, 2016, then returns for a second leg from January 25 to February 18, 2017. Image: Alex Buckingham.
