Easter in Sydney doesn't just mean chocolate, hot cross buns and whatever other sweet treats the city's eateries happen to come up with at this time of year — it also means the Sydney Royal Easter Show. And, while you won't find the latter at El Camino Cantina's Tex-Mex joints in Brisbane, of course, the chain is getting into the spirit of the event nationwide with its returning limited-edition margarita menu, which it has dubbed 'the Royal Rita Show'. For its latest batch of creative flavours, El Camino Cantina is serving up Jelly Belly, Warhead, Chupa Chup and Rainbow Nerd margs. There are Trolli Lolli and fairy floss versions, too. Basically, it's the candy and booze combination you obviously didn't know you'd someday want when you were a kid. These lolly-flavoured ritas are on offer from Monday, April 3–Sunday, April 30, in both 15-oz and 24-oz glasses. And if you'd like to pair them with tacos, you'll find a Royal Rita Show food menu on offer as well; think tacos with popcorn chicken, chorizo and potato hash, slow-cooked barbecue brisket, and prawns with bacon. In southeast Queensland, you'll find both the margs and tacos tempting your tastebuds at El Camino in Bowen Hills, South Bank and Chermside in Brisbane; Robina and Surfers Paradise on the Gold Coast; and Sunshine Plaza on the Sunshine Coast.
Add another date into your doggo's diary — the NewBARKet Festival is upon us for another year. On Sunday, July 14, Newmarket Village is going to the dogs again, but in a good way, with the adorable event taking over the inner-north shopping centre. First, take your pupper along at 10.30am for a morning at the movies. Reading Newmarket will let your pooch catch a flick — the apt animated film 200% Wolf — as long as your good boy or girl sits on the floor on a pillow or a blanket. Then, from 12–4pm, the festival gets into full swing across the rest of the centre with plenty of treats and pats on offer, and also a dog playground. The bone bar will be back, as will the main attraction: stalls selling all kinds of goodies for your four-legged friend. Expect dog food, accessories, threads and grooming, and usually dog desserts as well (dog ice cream and pupcakes have also been on offer in past years). For attendees of the two-legged variety (no, your clever canine standing on their two back legs doesn't count), there'll also be food for humans, plus live tunes. And if you're sadly lacking in the pooch department, don't worry — everyone else will have you covered, so you'll be in for a top day of dog-watching.
If sparkling wine puts some extra fizz into your life, then you'll want to drink your way through this Brisbane event. Across Friday, May 10–Saturday, May 11, 2024, the Bubbles Festival is coming to town to celebrate the most effervescent boozy beverages there are. You'll sip, you'll chat, and you'll meet the folks who make and distribute the tipples in question as well. You'll also eat canapes — no one wants to down champagne, prosecco and other sparkling drinks on an empty stomach — while you're sampling and tasting across two hours. At least ten different wines will be on offer, and your $109 ticket also includes a champagne tasting glass to take home with you. The venue: the Port Office Hotel in the CBD. You can take your pick of three sessions: from 6–8pm on Friday, and at either 12–2pm or 3–5pm on Saturday. If you're feeling like really treating your sparkling-loving self, you can pay an extra $75 for a VIP ticket, which gets you access to a special cuvée tasting before the regular doors open — and two tasting glasses, rather than one.
Next time that you slurp down some oysters, you needn't solely opt for natural molluscs served with lemon and Tabasco. There's nothing wrong with that old favourite; however, it has company among the oyster dishes at One Fish Two Fish's returning Oyster Frenzy. Between Friday, January 26–Sunday, January 28, the Kangaroo Point eatery is serving up 2024's six-course oyster feast, taking seafood lovers through six different flavours. Start with the tried, tested and aforementioned combination, then move onto oysters with creamed spinach and breadcrumbs, served with baked artichokes, and paired with native pepper berry and oak-aged chardonnay mignonette You'll also be snacking on a cheesy barbecue mornay variety, plus oysters with lychee popping pearls. A sitting will cost you $95 per person. Because oysters are always popular, bookings are essential — with Oyster Frenzy running at 6.30pm Friday–Saturday for dinner, plus 1.30pm for lunch on all three days. You can also add some booze via oyster shooters for $10 a pop, choosing from bloody mary, gin and tonic, and dirty martini options.
If you like piña coladas, then sipping your favourite drink doesn't usually involve drinking margaritas as well. The key word: usually. From Monday, January 8–Sunday, February 11 at El Camino Cantina, the two cocktails are joining forces in a range of margarita-piña colada hybrids. Meet the Tex-Mex chain's ritacoladas, which are exactly what they sound like — and keep levelling up the brand's approach to margs. As Gelato Messina does with frozen desserts, El Camino Cantina takes inspiration far and wide from other beloved foodstuffs. In the past, candy-flavoured 'ritas, Long Island iced tea-flavoured margs, soft drink-influenced tipples and Vodka Cruiser versions have all been on the menu. Curious? On offer at the chain's Queensland venues at South Bank, Bowen Hills, Chermside, Robina, Surfers Paradise and Sunshine Plaza: nine flavours of ritacoladas in 15-ounce ($24) and 24-ounce ($28) servings. Because pairing two cocktails in one beverage isn't enough, each drink also combines two flavours, keeping coconut a staple in every option. So, you can go for blueberry and coconut, peach and coconut, watermelon and coconut, and grape and coconut — or green apple, lychee, passionfruit, mango and strawberry with coconut as well. The different varieties will be on rotation, but you'll always have at least six to choose from across the five weeks.
On Saturday, October 25, 2003, Brisbane scored a new place to see art, items and exhibitions that highlight this town of ours. That's when Museum of Brisbane opened its doors, with the City Hall gallery spending two decades since celebrating all things Brissie — including showcases dedicated to music, fashion, jewellery, getting playful, how Brisbane has been immortalised on canvas, storytelling and more. Over that time, the space has hosted more than 170 exhibitions, in fact. And, over 5,199,797 folks have wandered around inside. On Saturday, October 21, 2023, the venue wants to up that number — so it's throwing a big (and free) 20th birthday celebration. [caption id="attachment_848139" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Making Place, Josh Woning[/caption] From 10am–5pm, hitting up MoB involves free cupcakes, Indigenous cultural performances, getting weaving, and hearing from MoB's CEO and Director Zoe Graham — plus other staff working in curatorial and collections roles. There's also three tours on offer: MoB highlights, exploring City Hall and going up to the Clock Tower. The shindig also coincides with the Clay: Collected Ceramics exhibition's final hurrah, so you can check out its wares and take part in an Impossible Pots workshop as well.
In the past few years, Pinocchio has rarely been far from screens. Disney added the tale to its live-action remakes, a fantastical Italian movie also stuck with actors and, in animation, Guillermo del Toro's Pinocchio won an Oscar. Next, the classic story is hitting the Brisbane stage; however, The Making of Pinocchio isn't just a simple adaptation of Carlo Collodi 1883 novel The Adventures of Pinocchio. Making its Australian premiere at Brisbane Festival 2023 — in an Australian exclusive, too — this theatre production comes with international acclaim and a personal account of gender transition. Hailing from artists Rosana Cade and Ivor MacAskill, who are also partners, the show sees the pair explore their relationship, plus truth and creativity, through Pinocchio. [caption id="attachment_918156" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Yousef Iskandar[/caption] Again, when it comes to the famous wooden puppet with dreams of becoming a real boy, this isn't the kind of riff that you see every day. The imaginative queer piece takes to Brisbane Powerhouse's stage across Wednesday, September 13–Saturday, September 16. First debuting at the London International Festival of Theatre, The Making of Pinocchio takes place in a fictional film studio, in a production that its guiding hands have been working on since 2018. [caption id="attachment_918157" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Yousef Iskandar[/caption]
If playing a musical instrument in public is on your bucket list, and breaking a world record as well, then Brisbane Festival 2023's closing event has you covered. 10,000 Kazoos is exactly what it sounds like, amassing 10,000 Brisbanites to get humming and hopefully go down in history. Never played a kazoo before? That doesn't matter. This kazoo orchestra will unleash its tunes from 3.30pm on Saturday, September 23, on the last day of this year's Bris Fest, taking over Victoria Park / Barrambin. The greenery will indeed be alive with the sound of music, in a huge mass-participation that just might make the record books. [caption id="attachment_902496" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Michael Pham[/caption] If you're keen to help, registrations to take part are now open. And no, you don't even need your own kazoo. Biodegradable versions of the buzzing musical instrument will be provided to everyone on the day. Once you have one, you'll just pop it in your mouth and start humming, which is what makes the membrane of the kazoo vibrate.
The Gold Coast might be known for its sandy beaches, sizeable array of shopping strips and more than a couple of theme parks, but beyond all that lurks plenty of interesting and architecturally significant buildings. Luxe houses, sky-high residential buildings, cute seaside chapels, a towering art gallery — the list goes on. It's a side of the Goldie that many never ponder, and it's on display for two days across Saturday, October 7–Sunday, October 9. That's when Open House hits the sunny tourist spot for 2023, and welcomes in anyone who'd like to take a sticky beak. Public buildings, sites and structures opening their doors include HOTA, Home of the Arts, plus the Broadbeach Cultural Precinct, Gold Coast Airport Southern Terminal expansion, Southport Town Hall and Gold Coast Hinterland Heritage Museum. Fancy peering inside homes and apartments? That's where Kingfisher House, the canal-front PALA and Cypreś all come in. Remember your childhood dreams of getting to run rampant in a department store after hours? Or your grown-up version, involving IKEA? Think of this as a more realistic version. And, it's also a way to satisfy your architectural and design curiosity. The 2023 lineup also includes talks on Surfers Paradise's 60s and 70s apartment towers, small living and housing affordability, and a Varsity Lakes walking tour.
When in West End, you really don't need an excuse to have a bit of a boogie, but it sure doesn't hurt to have one. The Bearded Lady has been making waves on Brisbane's south side since they opened 12 months ago, and now they're putting together a bit of a shindig to celebrate their first birthday. Like all good parties, you can expect the music to be off the hook. Brisbane locals Some Jerks, Moonshine and DJ Black Amex will keep the beats flowing, while the guys behind the bar will be doing the same with drinks. Expect wild cocktails, drink specials and some tasty surprises from 666 Vodka and Angostura. There might even be a birthday cake — we have no evidence to support this, but wishful thinking never hurts.
If we had a dollar for every time we heard someone say "it's the humidity that gets you," we'd probably have quite a nice bit of pocket money. Summer in Brisbane is no doubt a doozy but we are also lucky enough to be prepared for it here with plenty of cool, outdoor spots that are ideal for the steamy weather. We've teamed up with White Claw Hard Seltzer to help you stay refreshed and show you just how many ways you can take full advantage of those outdoor spaces all summer long with riverside dining, park hangs and even a few festivals to bring on the party. All venue trading hours and events are subject to change based on COVID-19 developments. Check with the venue for the latest details, and stay up to date with current COVID-19 restrictions by visiting Queensland Health. TAKE YOUR MEAL AL FRESCO There's nothing like stuffing yourself silly while simultaneously getting your required dose of vitamin D. Brisbane has many, many great outdoor dining options — here are just a handful of the best. Popolo, South Bank If it's an Italian summer vibe you're craving, look no further than Popolo. Dine in on pasta, pizzas and piatti piccoli (small plates) with spritzes, beer and local and Italian wine on offer. Or, order a picnic basket to takeaway to River Quay park on the restaurant's front doorstep. The picnic feeds two and includes antipasto, arancini, fries and a pizza to share. Will & Flow, Brisbane City In late 2020, the brown snake finally received the overwater hangout it deserves. Will & Flow is a cafe, restaurant and bar dishing up seafood, woodfired pizzas and bar snacks to hungry city-dwellers. If you're thirsty, there's wine, beer, cocktails and four different flavours of spritzes to choose from. Sip and snack your way through the menu during a breezy afternoon in the city. Yoko, Brisbane City Wine and dine riverside to keep cool this summer with cocktails and izakaya-style eats at Yoko Dining. Owned by Jonathan Barthelmess, the easy-going but well-executed service and food of this restaurant — along with its killer location in the middle of the action — makes it one of the best options at Howard Smith Wharves. Stop in for edamame, miso-glazed eggplant and a yuzu slushie or stay a while for an all-out Japanese-inspired feast by the water. The Gardens Club, Brisbane City It may come as no surprise to you the Brisbane City Botanic Gardens is home to a cute, leafy cafe. Explore the gardens on a sunny day — or if La Niña gets in the way, a wet one for rainforest vibes — and pop in to The Gardens Club for coffee, brekkie or lunch on the terrace. The heritage-listed cottage looks out onto the gardens with a shaded patio out front, and is an excellent choice for a chilled morning among the trees. SIP SELTZERS IN A BUZZING BEER GARDEN Getting cosy in a dimly lit bar is for the cooler months. Right now, you need to take advantage of the sunshine and long afternoons that stretch into stellar sunsets. If you're finding a beer or wine too heavy-going, then you'll be pleased to know the spots listed below stock White Claw in all manner of tasty flavours. X Cargo, Fortitude Valley As far as day venues in the Valley go, X Cargo is up there with the best. This openair bar and pub is a multi-level party hub that boasts live DJs, food — like duck spring rolls, chicken karaage toasties and tempura prawn buns — and cocktails aplenty. Sundays are ideal for swinging by to sip White Claws in the beer garden with mates. Riverland, Brisbane City Take in amazing Story Bridge views, without having to worry about any summer storms rolling in, while undercover at Riverland. Here, you'll find a rotating selection of street food vendors that have set up shop inside the venue serving everything from smoked barbecue meats to Himalayan-style dumplings. The drinks list is a bit more consistent and always fun, with cocktails, 16 tap beers and ciders, and a large range of bottled and canned bevs, including White Claw. To pair with those top-notch eats and drinks, expect live tunes from 6pm on Thursdays and retro beats every Friday night. Osbourne Hotel, Fortitude Valley If the thought of an ice-cold White Claw and a pizza in a light- and plant-filled pub makes you weak at the knees, The Osbourne might be just the place for you. But sunlight and plants don't automatically mean al fresco — this place has all the charm of an outdoor space with the comfort of being indoors. The Ann Street watering hole is a haven for office lunch-goers, sports fans and big groups alike. Head there on Sunday arvos for live acoustic tunes from local musos. The Prince Consort, Fortitude Valley Leafy green hanging plants, colourful pastels and crisp white picnic tables — The Prince Consort's garden bar is made for summer sessions. Grab a few mates to while away the steamy nights with trivia on Tuesdays, drag bingo, big sports games on the big screen and house music every Sunday till 3am. If you're feeling peckish, enjoy classic pub grub, like fries, woodfired pizza and inventive burgers and wash it down with a White Claw. HAVE A BOOGIE AT AN OUTDOOR GIG It almost seems too good to be true, but yes, they're back. After a pretty grim past two years, festival season upon us again, and it's time to make up for all those lost moments. Check out our recommendations for where to head for the outdoor party season. The Long Sunset As festivals finally come roaring back into summer, new events are popping up everywhere, too. The Long Sunset is one of the most recent to be announced. With the backdrop of Canungra at which to marvel, the festival is set to showcase the Scenic Rim in all its glory and some knockout local acts to boot. Catch Angus and Julia Stone, Ball Park Music, Babe Rainbow and Hatchie on February 12, 2022. For the Love Music and lifestyle festival For the Love is heading back to the Gold Coast on February 26 to bring the likes of Crooked Colours, Dom Dolla, Mallrat and Running Touch to the stage. The one-day event is being held at the breezy seaside location of Doug Jennings Park in Southport and will see beats pumping, drinks flowing and, no doubt, a lot of dancing. This That It's hard to believe they'll be able to fit all of the acts playing at This That Festival into one day. The lineup is stacked, to say the least: Client Liaison, Hayden James, Polish Club, San Cisco, Spacey Jane and The Presets (to name a few) are all on the bill. Taking place at Sandstone Point Hotel on March 5, it's the perfect way to extend summer in Brissie. Sunday Social on the Green This free South Bank ritual makes for a chilled afternoon with friends, family or a date. Pack a picnic of food and your drink of choice (BYO seltzers) and nab a spot in the shade or the sunshine as local musicians serenade you at River Quay Green. The lineup for January is looking pretty top-notch, with the likes of The New Black and Birdman Randy set to perform. [caption id="attachment_793757" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Brisbane City Flickr[/caption] ROLL OUT YOUR PICNIC BLANKET There are few things better than a summer park sesh, whether you're taking the dog for a walk, flying your drone or catching up with mates after a hard day's work. There's something so laconically inviting about a cheeky bev in the neighbourhood park, and Brisbane has some cracking spots where you can make that happen. Grab a few White Claws and enjoy the sunshine in our faves. New Farm Park Heaps of different spaces to choose from, gorgeous scenery and good airflow from the neighbouring river — New Farm Park is a classic for a reason. The inner-city institution is a go-to for locals and visitors alike for celebrations, catch-ups and long afternoons lounging on a picnic blanket. BYO booze, cheese, dogs and a frisbee for a day which can be as laidback or as lavish as you want it to be. Roma Street Parkland Roma Street Parkland takes up 16 hectares of prime city land, so you're bound to find a quiet spot among the greenery without having to wander too far in the summer heat. All you need to make the most of your time here is good friends, good food and good drinks to match. Pro tip: a fresh cheese like burrata or feta with a splash of vinegar and tomatoes will go swimmingly with a natural lime- or watermelon-flavoured White Claw. For more information on White Claw, head to the website. Top image: This That, Jordan Munns
Slowly, Australia is starting to emerge from COVID-19 lockdown, which includes bars, pubs and venues — but life isn't back to normal just yet. That means that Isolation Trivia is still going strong and, on Saturday, June 13, going green as well. Yep, it's hosting a session dedicated to animated favourite Shrek. If you know why it really isn't easy being an ogre, you've watched the vibrant CGI animation more times than you can remember, and you've memorised the voices of Mike Myers, Eddie Murphy and Cameron Diaz, well, this is for you. And, as no one who has ever seen Shrek before can manage to forget, a whole lot of Smashmouth — aka 'All Star' and their version of 'I'm a Believer' — will also likely feature prominently. No bookings or registrations are required — all you need to do it hit up the event Facebook page at 6.25pm. And if you're wondering exactly which parts of the Shrek franchise you'll be quizzed on, this trivia night will focus on the 2001 movie that started it all, plus 2004's Shrek 2. So, no need to worry about Shrek the Third, Shrek Forever After, Puss in Boots, or all the Shrek short films, TV shows and TV specials. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CwXOrWvPBPk
Think music festivals are dying out? Think again. Sure, plenty of bigger events have called it a day — but as the old guard finish up, they're giving a swathe of smaller, more specialised, boutique, curated fests the chance to carve out their own niche. Since 2014, the two-day Jungle Love Music & Arts Festival has been one such smorgasbord of creative activities. Instead of ridiculous queues and heaving crowds clamouring for space in an ordinary city showground, you'll find a laidback vibe, a campground surrounded by luscious greenery, and the chance to go for a swim in the creek while you watch a gig. Oh, and did we mention that it's a BYO festival as well (though no glass is allowed)? The 2018 event will take place between Friday, November 29 and Sunday, August 1, at a yet-to-be-revealed secret Sunshine Coast location. If you've been in previous years, the fest is heading to a new site in 2018, so get excited. And, it has revealed its first acts, with more than half of the program featuring Queenslanders. Remember that visual arts displays are also part of the Jungle Love experience, as well as panels, workshops, laughing yoga, water aerobics and floating down a waterway while knocking back beverages. First-release tickets have already been snapped up, with the second batch on sale from Thursday, August 9. In the interim, here's what you're here for — the initial lineup: POND OPIUO Approachable Members of Your Local Community The Brains Trust Baskervillain China Bowls CHURCH Demon Days Department of Music FeelsClub FELIVAND First Beige Full Flower Moon Band Gabriella Cohen Golden Sound HRBRT Jungle Love Allstars: Live Tribute to Justice Kenta Hayashi L. Flora Mad Professor Mildlife Mufaro & the Barehouse Nonsemble Omegachild Oolluu Polygon Woods RACKETT Simi Lacroix Thando Image: Aimee Catt.
A Night by the Fire returns this April to raise awareness of the national Recognise campaign and the fight for recognition of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples in the Australian Constitution. Set in the State Libary's Kuril Dhagun, the Indigenous Knowledge Centre tucked around the back near the elephant statue, this series of talks will take place over four evenings (7, 21 April and 5, 19 May). At each fortnightly event, the speaker will voice what they consider to be key issues surrounding the 1967 referendum and the Recognise campaign. What benefits will come from change to the Constitution? Will constitutional recognition negate a treaty or Indigenous sovereignty? Who is championing the cause, for or against? You don't have to be entirely 'in the loop' about what the Recognise campaign entails, but for some background reading, the campaign website provides a pretty good overview. These talks are educational ones, with the sole objective of bringing together unique voices at this critical time for the movement. The first three sessions are free, with the final forum on May 19 priced at $10. Each will kick of at 6.30pm, finishing up around 7.30pm. The schedule: Tue 7 Apr – Anti-recognise with Bogaine 'Boe' Spearim Tue 21 Apr – Supporter of all with Alethea Beetson Tue 5 May – Pro-recognition with Mark Yettica-Paulson Tue 19 May – Forum
In an idyllic celebration of the revered art, the Queensland Ballet will piece together a night of performances with excerpts from some of the most loved and prestigious works in the classical and romantic repertoire. To showcase the ethereal beauty, rich tradition, disciplined technique and heartfelt emotion, A Classical Celebration will showcase pieces from The Nutcracker, Swan Lake and La Sylphide, among others. Immediately following the performance will be a celebration in honour of Artistic Director François Klaus, also presented by Queensland Ballet. Accompanied by the Queensland Symphony Orchestra, the famous and familiar music will be a treat for the ears and the Queensland Ballet will dazzle the eyes, coming together for what is sure to be an unforgettable experience.
Internationally acclaimed circus ensemble Company 2 return to the Judith Wright Centre this season for the premiere of Sediment. Inspired by Fyodor Dostoevsky’s Notes From the Underground, Sediment is a comic and dreamlike production that pushes the most talented of performers to their very limits. In a blend of circus, dance and live music, daring feats of physical incredibility merge with a frightening soundscape to produce a scene that’s as dark and confronting as Dostoevsky’s underground man. Company 2 are the people behind incredibly successful productions such as Scotch and Soda, She Would Walk the Sky and Cantina. They have a reputation for their bold approach to performance art and securing some of the best theatre talent in this country. In this work, they team up with theatre hot shots David Carberry, Chelsea McGuffin (Cantina) and renowned percussionist and composer Ben Walsh (Scotch and Soda).
Getting engaged isn't meant to be bloody, but that's how Fair Play starts: with joy, love, passion and bodily fluids. What is and isn't supposed to happen is a frequent theme in writer/director Chloe Domont's feature debut, an erotic thriller set both within the heady relationship between Emily (Phoebe Dynevor, Bridgerton) and Luke (Alden Ehrenreich, Oppenheimer), and also in the slick, fast-paced, high-stakes world of New York finance — familiar territory for its Billions alum filmmaker, who also has Suits and Ballers on her resume. The blood arrives via a bathroom tryst at Luke's brother's (Buck Braithwaite, Flowers in the Attic: The Origin) wedding. He pops under her dress, she has her period, he drops the ring that he was going to propose with, she says yes, and next they're betrothed and fleeing out the window to go home. Staged to feel woozily, authentically romantic, the occasion seems perfect to this head-over-heels pair anyway, even if it leaves their clothes stained. Yes, Domont is playing with symbolism from the outset. Lust isn't a problem for Emily and Luke, clearly, but they've become experts at keeping everything about being together away from work out of necessity. The duo each chases big dreams at the same hedge fund, which has a firm no-dating policy for its employees. So, when they wake up, dress and step out the door the next day, they go their separate ways to end up at the one place — and Emily's finger is glaringly bare. Then something that they've both been hoping would happen does: a portfolio manager sitting above their analyst positions is fired. Next comes a development that they've each felt was meant to occur, too, with the word spreading around the office that's led by the icy Campbell (Eddie Marsan, Operation Fortune: Ruse de Guerre) and his yes-man flunkey Paul (Rich Sommer, Minx) that Luke is in line for a promotion to fill the new vacancy. Domont and cinematographer Menno Mans (Forever Rich) want viewers to watch Dynevor and Ehrenreich closely within Fair Play's glossy, steely frames, with the film taking on the cold and corporate hues of its main office setting, and also peering at its leads slowly and carefully. This isn't a strict two-hander, but frequently plays that way — and observing Emily and Luke's every reaction is crucial. One case in point: when Emily receives a 2am phone call from her higher-up Rory (Sebastian De Souza, Pixie), has no choice but to agree to his command that she meet him at a bar, but finds a life-changing conversation with Campbell over a whisky awaiting instead. Here's another: Luke's reaction when she returns home with stunning news for her, but a revelation that he visibly thinks wasn't meant to happen. That climb up that ladder is hers, not his, and he'll be working beneath her. Dynevor and Ehrenreich each possess a savvy talent for cycling through a storm of clashing emotions in mere seconds — and making the swift change feel not just understandable but believable — as Fair Play captures unblinkingly in its pivotal moments. She can go from dutiful to determined, caring to calculating, and cautious to confident; him from loving to withdrawn, supportive to passive-aggressive, and charming to menacing. Emily and Luke's relationship changes just as swiftly, its steamy days fading into sexless territory all thanks to that coveted job. Resentment seeps from Ehrenreich's pores, and exasperation from Dynevor's. Fair Play doesn't neatly box either Emily or Luke into easy categories, however. When everything shifts in an instant, the film's excellently cast stars ensure that viewers see every iota of complexity. At each point from popping the question onwards, the same proves true, and not just frame to frame and scene to scene. Domont's Sundance-premiering feature — Sundance bidding war-sparking picture, too, selling to Netflix for $20 million after getting the film festival buzzing — soon becomes an erotic thriller without that much physical slipping between the sheets. While the look is pure now and Donna Summer's 70s classic 'Love to Love You Baby' gets the soundtrack started, there's an 80s and 90s air to the movie, recalling the genre's heyday. That said, this isn't Fatal Attraction (which was just remade as a TV series, and reframed) or Disclosure meets Wall Street. Rather, the entire flick thrums with the heat and charge between its two protagonists, knowing that its psychological duel is all the more knotty because sex, intimacy and love are involved, while also pulsating with the pressure and stress of its high-rolling realm. The tension is palpable and unrelenting, as aided by Brian McOmber's (Hail Satan?) nervy score. Fair Play doesn't pretend that gender power imbalances don't exist in workplaces otherwise, beyond couples mixing the professional and personal in a cut-throat world and keeping it clandestine. Indeed, it shows that fact, too, and in grim detail. It's there in the salacious whispering by the other male analysts about how Emily got the job from, the strip club drinks and flat-out calling her a "dumb fucking bitch". This isn't a film that's afraid of getting uncomfortable. Fair Play also effortlessly carves into this wealth-chasing field's general soullessness, including with golf clubs being swung around in anger, public dressing-downs and humiliating begging. Still, it never escapes notice that square at the picture's centre sits the type of guy that's doting, encouraging and a dream until he doesn't think that he's on top. There's no one that's perfect in Fair Play's gaze, as its main performances superbly portray — the ever-reliable Marsan is also chillingly effective — but how men react to women doing well earns extra attention. Seeking power, losing it, trying to retain or reclaim it, forcing it back in the absolute worst way possible: this all bubbles up as well, and viciously. As the gripping film unpacks sexual politics in the workplace, it lays bare insecurities, jealousies and infuriatingly age-old rumours. Domont's movie is sharp, even when it's obvious. It's assured from its libidinous start to its increasingly lurid end, and riveting — even if it's never as gleefully OTT as its genre was famously known for back when Michael Douglas (and only Michael Douglas) would've been playing Ehrenreich's part. Fair Play screens in select cinemas from Thursday, September 28, and streams via Netflix from Friday, October 6.
From riverbeds and snowmen to watering holes surrounded by animals and sculptures made out of bubbles, water is everywhere at the Gallery of Modern Art at present. The South Bank spot is hosting a huge exhibition with that very name, and throwing a couple of after-hours art parties on the theme — and, from Friday, January 17–Sunday, March, 8, it's also running a free cinema retrospective that'll be filled with seafaring, ocean-dwelling and otherwise H2O-related films. You're gonna need a bigger boat for this movie season, which is called The Noise of Waters — or a big tolerance for sitting in a darkened room at the very least. Highlights include the beachside terror of Jaws, the quirky marine comedy of Wes Anderson's The Life Aquatic with Steve Zissou, and the Hollywood-set musical glory of Singin' in the Rain. Catch not one, or two, but three Studio Ghibli flicks, all courtesy of Spirited Away, Ponyo and the studio's co-produced The Red Turtle. The submarine drama of German classic Das Boot and the weird island-set wonders of recent surreal French flick The Wild Boys are on the bill as well, as are Apocalypse Now: Final Cut and dreamlike Aussie apocalyptic effort The Last Wave. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YIhxgIZJSbk Cinephiles can also watch the Amazon-set Embrace of the Serpent, splash around with erotic psychological drama Stranger by the Lake, revisit 2019 anime hits Weathering with You and Children of the Sea, and journey through Werner Herzog's Aguirre, the Wrath of God. If you're interested in pondering the factual side of the topic, look out for visually stunning doco Aquarela and three episodes of oceanography TV series The Undersea World of Jacques Cousteau. Films screen on Wednesday and Friday evenings, as well as during the day on Saturdays and Sundays. And while the bulk of the program won't cost you a thing, you can spend $15 for two film and music sessions, featuring Buster Keaton's silent 1928 delight Steamboat Bill, Jr and Jean Grémillon's 1929 movie The Lighthouse Keepers — one with a live organ soundtrack, the other with a new contemporary score by Corporate Vibes.
Inward reflection, as opposed to guidance by outward factors, is the true way for an individual to gain best understanding of themselves as an identity and a physical being. Once we are at peace with ourselves, we can better foster relationships with others, even encouraging others to take the time to reflect in the same way. Brisbane-based artist Leena Riethmuller takes a critical look at societal constructs of self. The way a person presents themselves is often to fulfil a role laid out before them, often as a result of others as well as the media. To examine, even dismantle these expectations. Riethmuller has, in the past, created workshops designed to emphasise self-reflection; in a way, she uses her media of art to go against the grain of mainstream media. Her latest exhibition, More Or Less Human, gives participants an opportunity to examine the way we engage with our bodies as well as a chance to further connect with our own selves more than we might normally. Participate, or observe and reflect, Riethmuller will help you bring to the fore inner peace to help find peace as you travel through life.
Hey! You! You're a Brisbane writer, aren't you? Or do you just really, really love books? In any case, our city's flagship writing event needs to be written into your diary/notebook or onto your hand stat. The Brisbane Writers Festival has been drawing audiences since most of us were learning to write. The whole event's cause is to celebrate Queensland's great scribes, educate aspiring writers and please the readers, all at the same time. There's a hell of a lot of events on the exhaustive program, so you should check it out and get in ASAP to ensure you get the pen...ultimate seat. I recommend you catch one of Brisbane's best imports (from Iceland, no less), Kari Gislason, comedian Corinne Grant as she talks about odd people, and hilarious children's author Andy Griffith (The Day My Bum Went Psycho, anyone?). Also visiting our fair town is comedian Wendy Harmer, former Triple J presenter and all-round lovely lady, Marieke Hardy and the man made of forty-eight shades of brown, Nick Earls. Writers under pressure are, at present, tense, so take a break and make sure the Brisbane Writers Festival punctuates your week.
On screen, she followed the yellow brick road. Off screen, her life was littered with tragedy. Judy Garland's story is one filled with as many highs as lows, and littered with both darkness and rainbows — and now she's going to tell it. Well, Bernadette Meenach is, in the guise of Ms Garland. In Judy Strikes Back, the deceased performer has written her memoirs in the afterlife, and wants to share them with the masses. So begins a show that breathes new life into the Garland legend. Nothing is off limits, as she comes clean about those nasty rumours and Hollywood hallucinations, and spills the beans on everything from making The Wizard of Oz to mothering Liza Minnelli — we hope. Reuniting with her musical director Mort Lindsey means that she'll be belting out many a tune, too. Expect a few favourite songs, as well as some new numbers she’s been working on from beyond the grave, in this all-singing, all-dancing comic tribute. Image by Dylan Evans Photography.
An immensely popular part of Brisbane Powerhouse, Bar Alto has long been a riverside go-to — somewhere to head if you're hungry, thirsty and want to soak in a watery view regardless of whether you're about to see a show or not. And, post COVID-19 lockdowns, it's back in business. Yes, that means that all of the above is on the menu once again. Also on offer: $10 pizzas. Tuck into Bar Alto's margherita with fresh buffalo mozzarella and basil, or opt for the potato, pear, rosemary and taleggio — with other pizzas featuring Italian sausage with fior di latte, pepperoni, and zucchini flowers and macadamias, the list goes on. If you're looking for a tasty way to wrap up your working week or while away a weekend afternoon (and who isn't always looking for pizza?), the $10 special is available from 2.30–5pm Friday–Sunday until Sunday, August 30. And, in case you're worried about the river breeze during these colder months, you can also scope out a seat by the external heaters on the deck. [caption id="attachment_777388" align="aligncenter" width="1920"] Bar Alto[/caption] Bar Alto's $10 pizzas are available from 2.30–5pm Friday–Sunday until Sunday, August 30.
There's no doubting who Bob Marley: One Love is about, but the Reinaldo Marcus Green (King Richard)-directed biopic also brings two other big-screen portraits of music superstars to mind. There's always a dance through a legend's history flickering somewhere, or close to it, with the initial dramatised look at the reggae icon arriving after Bohemian Rhapsody and Elvis both proved major hits in recent years. Where the first, which focused on Freddie Mercury, had Live Aid, Bob Marley: One Love has the One Love Peace Concert. Both are gigs to build a movie around, and both features have done just that. Baz Luhrmann's portrait of the king of rock 'n' roll wanted its audience to understand what it was like to watch its namesake, be in his presence and feel entranced by every hip thrust — and, obviously without the gyrating pelvis, Bob Marley: One Love also opts for that approach. Enter Kingsley Ben-Adir as Bob Marley, in a vital piece of casting. Although it may not earn him an Oscar as Bohemian Rhapsody did Rami Malek (Oppenheimer), or even a nomination as Elvis scored for Austin Butler (Masters of the Air), the British actor turns in a phenomenal performance. He's worlds away from being a Ken in Barbie. He isn't in wholly new territory seeing that he played Malcolm X in One Night in Miami and Barack Obama in TV series The Comey Rule. He's also magnetic and mesmerising — and, in the process, expresses how and why Marley was magnetic and mesmerising. Ben-Adir's vocals are blended with Marley's. Accordingly, you're largely listening to the singer himself. But there's a presence about Ben-Adir in the part, perfecting Jamaican patois, getting kinetic and uninhibited in his movement while he's behind the microphone, radiating charisma, but also conveying purpose and self-possession. It's a portrayal that's as entrancing and alive as the music that's always echoing alongside it; with Marley's discography, that's saying something. Ben-Adir shares the part with Quan-Dajai Henriques, the acting debutant who gives the movie its younger version of Marley. That comes via sporadic flashbacks, which means that Lashana Lynch (The Marvels) also shares her role as Bob's wife and backup singer Rita with Nia Ashi (another feature first-timer) as the teen version. Green and his co-scribes Terence Winter (an Academy Award-nominee for The Wolf of Wall Street), Frank E Flowers (LeBron James biopic Shooting Stars) and Zach Baylin (Gran Turismo: Based on a True Story, and returning from King Richard) ground their picture in the elder Marley's life, though — not that, because he died at the age of 36, he could ever truly be deemed elder. The bulk of the feature is set between 1976–78, and between two Kingston concerts. Both were designed to help address Jamaica's political unrest, with two parties clashing and the impact of British colonialism still felt. Not only that peace and freedom were instrumental in Marley's message, but why, is a core element of the film. "Do you believe music can end the violence?" Marley is asked in Bob Marley: One Love's opening, where he's fronting the press days out from 1976's Smile Jamaica show. Green signals one of the movie's fundamental musings at the outset, then, as well as his intent to unpack how his subject aimed to counter not just political but human turmoil through his music and Rastafarian beliefs (his initial embrace of the religion, as well as his early courtship with Rita, fuels most of the film's jumps backwards). Marley is also queried about whether he harbours any fears about putting on the gig. He says no and soon demonstrates it, after an attempt is made on his life at his home studio two days out from the concert. Rita was among the victims shot, and survived. The show goes on, then Marley goes into exile in London, while Rita takes the kids to the US. To get to Bob Marley: One Love's second big Jamaican performance involves charting the defining aspect of Marley's career during that period: 1977 album Exodus. Recorded in the UK, and home to not just its own titular track but the flick's (and also 'Jamming', 'Turn Your Lights Down Low' and 'Three Little Birds'), it's as influential as albums get — and, again, unfurling the trains of thought driving it is one of the feature's motivations. There's few surprises in how Green brings this to the screen, complete with recording sessions, producer Chris Blackwell's (James Norton, Happy Valley) fingerprints and montages of the finished product flying off shelves, plus the rapturous response as it's toured. That there's several established templates in giving a star's story the filmic treatment reverberates through Bob Marley: One Love, in fact, even as it avoids the dutiful birth-to-death timeline. But the movie always has Ben-Adir imparting energy and vibrancy, and Lynch as well — and a determination to make this Rita's tale, stepping into the complications in their marriage, as well as Bob's. Notably unrelated to One Love: The Bob Marley Musical, the stage production about the legend — even if it uses plenty of the same Bob Marley and The Wailers songs, such as 'Get Up, Stand Up', 'War', 'Redemption Song', 'No Woman, No Cry', 'Is This Love' and 'I Shot the Sheriff' — Bob Marley: One Love unavoidably hits familiar beats. Enlivening those predictable moves are its tunes, compelling story and powerhouse central performances. This is a deeply respectful effort: Rita is among the producers, alongside her and Bob's children Ziggy and Cedella; Stephen, their third-born, is the music supervisor. Love was always going to shine through. The tunes were always going to resound with power and affection. The tale itself was always certain to prove inherently absorbing. Its casting couldn't be more important, however. After a lengthy search to find its Bob, Ben-Adir is a force of warmth, calm and potency — gifting the picture the kind of portrayal that it couldn't live without — while Lynch is formidably fierce as Rita. For a movie about someone so revolutionary, Bob Marley: One Love mightn't earn that description itself, but it does deliver the tribute it's striving for, celebrate Marley's message as much as his music and contextualise one helluva record. Indeed, where Bohemian Rhapsody was the silver-screen equivalent of a greatest-hits album and Elvis took its cues from concert spectaculars, Bob Marley: One Love is a jam-session type of flick. When it briefly recreates live shows, it does so with verve, as aided by cinematographer Robert Elswit (also back from King Richard). And yet, while Smile Jamaica and the One Love Peace Concert are pivotal — including structurally to the narrative — they aren't the primary way that the film lets its audience experience Marley's impact. When Bob Marley: One Love dives into Bob's creativity and just enjoys being in the moment with its take on the singer, it cuts deeper; no one is merely jamming in making this movie, but it hopes its viewers like jamming with Marley, too.
He's hung out in Nevada brothels, suburban swingers' clubs and high-security gaols in Miami. Does Louis Theroux have what it takes to survive Q and As across Australia? We'll find out when the fearless filmmaker, journo and social commentator heads our way this September for a national speaking tour. In his first visit to the Great Southern Land, Theroux will be joining ABC's Julia Zemiro for big chats in Sydney, Melbourne, Adelaide, Brisbane and Perth. You'll be hearing all about how he's survived dens of iniquity all over the planet without losing his sanity or moral sense. He'll also be reminiscing about time spent with a nasty neo-Nazi gang in the United States and recounting his brief stint as a rap god on New Orleans radio. "For me, making my programs is quite a private process," Theroux said. "They are about forging a human connection with people whose lives are at the outermost edge of what we as people experience: the most forbidden impulses, the most frightening lifestyles, the most traumatic turns of events. To get inside the lives of those people — criminals, sex workers, people with mental illness, ultra-committed religious believers — is a kind of high-wire act." Theroux is looking forward to sharing the ins and outs of the filmmaking process with his listeners, while telling all the bizarre stories that didn't make the cuts. In between talking, he'll be screening footage from Weird Weekends, his famous series of one-off investigations and encounters with various celebrities and power brokers. When he and Zemiro are done, you'll have loads of time to ask questions of your own. "In his documentaries, Louis Theroux finds the extraordinary in the ordinary," says Zemiro. "Through patience, stillness and rigour, he reveals so much about human nature. I'm delighted to be hosting this tour and intend to pick up as many tips as possible in the art of interviewing." Image: Carsen Windhorst.
Before it busts out licking lucky cats, K-pop-style Cardi B covers, cocaine enemas, threesome injuries and intimate tattoos, Joy Ride begins with a punch. For most of the movie, Audrey Sullivan (Ashley Park, Beef) and Lolo Chen (Sherry Cola, Good Trouble) are nearing 30, travelling in China and going on a wild journey in a gleefully raucous comedy. In the 1998-set prologue in White Falls, Washington, though, they're five-year-olds (debutants Lennon Yee and Milana Wan) first meeting, being taunted by a racist playground bully and responding with the outgoing Lolo's fist. Crazy Rich Asians and Raya and the Last Dragon screenwriter Adele Lim uses her directorial debut's opening scene not just to start a fast and firm friendship, but to establish the film's tone, sense of humour and, crucially, its willingness to fight. Joy Ride will ultimately get sentimental; however, this is a movie that beats up cultural prejudices and stereotypes by letting its four main female and non-binary Asian American characters grapple with them while being complicated and chaotic. Hollywood should be well past representation being such a noteworthy factor. That should've happened long before Bridesmaids and Bachelorette gave The Hangover's template a ladies-led spin more than a decade ago, and prior to Girls Trip spending time four Black women on a raucous weekend away six years back. Reality proves otherwise, sadly, so Joy Ride openly addresses the discrimination and pigeonholing slung Audrey, Lolo, and their pals Kat (Everything Everywhere All At Once Oscar-nominee Stephanie Hsu) and Deadeye's (comedian and movie first-timer Sabrina Wu) ways — and in Audrey's case, after being adopted as a baby by the white Sullivans (The Recruit's David Denman and Bridesmaids' co-writer Annie Mumolo), internalised. With its booze- and sex-fuelled antics, Lim's film could've simply been formulaically entertaining, just with Asian American characters in Asia. It certainly doesn't hold back with its raunchy setpieces. But it's a better and more thoughtful feature because it engages with the diasporic experience; "I'm just a garbage American who only speaks English," Audrey chides herself, which the picture she's in unpacks. The full Joy Ride equation, then, also treads in The Farewell and Everything Everywhere All At Once's impressive and rightly acclaimed footsteps. Tellingly, Lim and her co-screenwriters Cherry Chevapravatdumrong and Teresa Hsiao, both of whom boast Awkwafina Is Nora From Queens on their resumes, originally had Joy Fuck Club as their film's working title. Also revealing: that Seth Rogen and Evan Goldberg's production company Point Grey Pictures is behind the movie, after previously giving cinemas flicks like Bad Neighbours and its sequel, This Is the End, The Night Before, Sausage Party, Blockers, Long Shot and Good Boys. Getting culturally specific; dismantling Asian cliches; examining identity, belonging and displacement; being hilariously bawdy: Joy Ride always feels like the sum of these easily spotted parts, but it also always feels genuine. As children, Audrey and Lolo are thrust together due to their shared heritage — "are you Chinese?," the Sullivans ask the Chens (The Midnight Club's Kenneth Liu and Platonic's Debbie Fan) in that introductory sequence, which inspires a shared glance that says everything — but they're a chalk-and-cheese pair personality-wise. Before the young Lolo smacks their tormentor, Audrey is cowering. As adults, Lolo makes sex-positive art riffing on Chinese culture that hasn't yet brought her success, while Audrey is a fast-rising lawyer eyeing a promotion at a firm filled with white men (such as Don't Worry Darling's Timothy Simons). Lolo lives in Audrey's garage, is steeped in her culture and content being herself. Audrey names Mumford & Sons and The National as her favourite bands, and can list Succession characters instantly. As they head to China so that Audrey can close a big deal, with Lolo along for the ride as her personal translator, the latter is excited about seeing family, while the former is guilty of making wary assumptions about what the trip will be like. When Lolo's K-pop-obsessed cousin Deadeye joins them at the airport, it's the first surprise that's thrown Audrey's way. The bickering between Lolo and Kat, Audrey's college roommate-turned- Chinese soap-opera star, over who's truly her BFF — that she easily foresees. This wouldn't be a wild getaway comedy if there weren't more bolts out of the blue coming at Audrey, of course, kicking off with a drink-heavy night trying to get her client Chao (Ronny Chieng, M3GAN) to sign, which leads to a cross-country quest to find her birth mother. Drugs, sex, vomit, a faux band, 'WAP', a distracted basketball team, vagina-view camerawork: that all follows. So does a fateful train ride that's utter pandemonium in a completely different way to Mission: Impossible — Dead Reckoning Part One, and Kat trying to hide her between-the-sheets past from her very Christian fiancé (Desmond Chiam, The Falcon and the Winter Soldier). Lim weaves Audrey's journey of acceptance and discovery, embracing her background and realising the eager-to-please and assimilate part that she's unwittingly played since childhood, throughout a zippy and brightly shot madcap romp of a movie. And, she largely finds the right balance — including as Lolo refuses to be anyone but herself; the blunt, introverted but caring Deadeye yearns to be liked for being themself; and Kat struggles with knowing how to be true to her real self beyond the demure, polite and dutiful front that she's been putting on professionally and personally. Along the way, Joy Ride revels in a candy-coloured dance number, lets Asian men be ripped and lusted after, and, yes, gets mawkish when it comes time to tie everything up neatly. Sometimes it's sidesplittingly funny, sometimes it's only eagerly trying to be, but it's aptly never happy slipping into one easy category. At their best when Joy Ride is either at its most manic and outrageous, or its weightiest and intelligent, Park, Cola, Hsu and Wu are a dream cast. If the film wants to stick to The Hangover setup by sparking sequels, teaming its core quartet up again and again would be keenly welcomed after this first go-around. Park has the trickiest and straightest role, Cola the brassiest, Hsu the lewdest and Wu the most awkward — and each nails the task while giving the film a fleshed-out, multi-faceted, smart, striving, relatably imperfect crew, and actively dispelling the idea that to be Asian American is to be a monoculture. Indeed, their energy and authenticity, and Lim's behind the lens, sometimes eclipses Joy Ride's jokes — and that couldn't be a better problem to have.
If you've got it, flaunt it — and Claire Marshall certainly has it. The legendary Brisbane-based choreographer has showcased her smooth moves on the stage and screen for over a decade now. She's worked on sold-out productions, countless tours, and music videos for the likes of Darren Hayes, Kate Miller-Heidke, Megan Washington, Little Birdie, The Sleepy Jackson, John Butler Trio, Savage Garden and George Michael. Her latest show, Flaunt, explores female sexuality, representation and empowerment through a dazzling display of dance. Presented in the round with performers on perspex above the audience, Flaunt combines the smoky haze, glittering lights, myriad mirrors and thrilling soundtrack of a nightclub with contemporary, bold and gutsy dance. Flaunt is the second show supported by Brisbane Powerhouse's inaugural SWEET creative development program for independent performance-makers and companies. He Dreamed a Train played to much acclaim in October, and the debut season of De Profundis is scheduled for April 2015.
Every year, Brisbane plays host to the Asia Pacific Screen Awards, which hands out gongs to the year's best films from around the region. One of the categories that it recognises is animated features, focusing specifically on movies from the 70 countries and areas within its chosen remit — and yes, that means there's plenty of gems. In 2019, four films have scored nominations in the animated feature field. While the winner won't be announced until the ceremony on Thursday, November 21, APSAs is teaming up with the Gallery of Modern Art's Australian Cinematheque to screen the four nominees over the weekend of Saturday, November 16 and Sunday, November 17. Even better — they're all playing for free. So, if you'd like to spend two afternoons feasting your eyes on animated delights, you can do just that without spending a cent. On Saturday, colourful and adorable coming-of-age Japanese film Penguin Highway is up first, followed by South Korea's canine-focused Underdog. Then, head back on Sunday for New Zealand's Mosley, which features the voices of NZ legends Temuera Morrison and Lucy Lawless. Finally, the four-film program comes to an end with huge Japanese hit Weathering With You, the gorgeous and charming latest flick from Your Name director Makoto Shinkai. Films screen at 12pm and 2.30pm on both days. Each feature is also paired with an animated short that picked up a prize at the 2018 SIGGRAPH Asia Computer Animation Festival, so you'll be getting a double dose with every session.
Home may mean different things to different people but, in Monsoon, Vietnam doesn't mean home to Kit (Henry Golding). He was born there, in the aftermath of the war. He spent his earliest years in the Asian nation, with his parents caught up in the aftermath of the conflict. But when he was still a child, his family left for a refugee camp in Hong Kong and then moved permanently to London. Now, as an adult who has lived the bulk of his existence far away, he returns for the first time to bring back his mother's and father's ashes. He's instantly thrown off balance upon his arrival, whether he's driving through moped-filled streets or walking around crowded markets. Little of what he remembers is the same — his old house and his neighbourhood stomping grounds, particularly — and he doesn't recall as much as his childhood best friend Lee (David Tran), who stayed behind, would clearly like. Of what he does recollect, some crucial details clash with Lee's versions, too. As Kit roves around Saigon and then Hanoi — his place of birth and his parents' original home, respectively — he's searching for a connection. He'll make one, but not in the way he expects. Monsoon tells a noticeably slight tale, but Cambodian-born Chinese British writer/director Hong Khaou (Lilting) is keenly and overwhelmingly aware that a sense of belonging doesn't simply come with one's birth certificate. Kit wants to feel like he's where he's supposed to be. He wants to appreciate his homeland, and its significance to his mum and dad, as effortlessly as he appreciates his online dates. But it takes time, immersion and a true willingness to feel an affinity to the place he's supposed to call home. It takes falling in love with one of those online dates, American ex-pat Lewis (Parker Sawyers), too, and hearing about the object of his affection's complicated relationship with Vietnam as the son of a soldier who fought for the US during the war. Khaou is a minimalistic filmmaker, in a sense. He delves into straightforward scenarios, and knows that he needn't layer them with too many external complicating factors. In other words, he's cognisant that merely examining how a person copes — even in a very commonplace situation — can deliver several lifetimes worth of complexity without a wealth of other narrative roadblocks or setbacks. Here, that means tagging along as Kit flits around Saigon, sorts through his awkward baggage with Lee, and makes a pilgrimage to Hanoi in search of the perfect resting place for his parents. It also means watching as he befriends local art curator Linh (Molly Harris) and follows her home to join her relatives as they make lotus tea, and soaking in the neon-lit bar hues and misty seaside cafe views on Kit's dates with Lewis. Monsoon revels in these moments, and in what they reveal about its protagonist, all while showing how Kit himself recognises that he's changing and connecting with each experience and realisation. As a result, both Khaou and Monsoon ask a significant amount of Golding — more than his previous charisma-driven roles in Crazy Rich Asians, A Simple Favour and Last Christmas have combined. Viewers of those three films already know that he can radiate charm like few other actors currently appearing on-screen. Indeed, because he served up such a magnetic presence in that trio of flicks, it's easy to forget that he only has seven movies to his name to-date (six of which hail from the past three years, in fact). But Monsoon requires Golding's soulful best; at every moment, he's tasked with conveying the potent thoughts and jumbled emotions swelling inside Kit, and with doing so largely without dialogue. It's a quietly powerful performance, and it's one that the movie steadfastly needs. Actually, it's one that Monsoon depends upon. All of the film's key players are superb — including second-time actor Tran (Farewell, Berlin Wall), the also charismatic Sawyers (who played a young Barack Obama in Southside with You) and Harris (Artemis Fowl) as the pragmatic Linh — but Golding is its emotionally saturating core. While it might be light on talk, making its chatter count whenever it flows either freely or nervously, Monsoon is big on atmosphere. Alongside Khaou's delicately pared-back approach and Golding's tenderly gripping performance, that's one of the film's strongest assets. Even if you've never roamed far beyond the spot where you entered this world, everyone can relate to feeling like an outsider somewhere where they think they shouldn't — and Monsoon nails and expresses that sensation again and again. That's how Khaou and cinematographer Benjamin Kracun (Beats) approach the movie in their naturalistic visuals, too. Whether staring down at the daily hustle and bustle, or dwarfing Golding via his surroundings, it views Vietnam as someone might view a childhood memory that's slipping from their mind. Accordingly, Monsoon feels comfortable and intimate and eye-opening and new all at once, like it's seeing a familiar sight properly for the first time. Of course, that's Kit's journey, as it is for anyone embarking upon a homecoming that feels foreign — and it proves immensely affecting viewing. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ETK0fOKwJNQ
Lust for Life has a reputation of nabbing the work of Brisbane’s most interesting illustrators and placing it nicely on their walls, and their latest exhibition showcases the elaborate and skilful work of Tiffany Atkin. With Gyaru, she explores the concepts and representations of femininity within Japanese culture. Having openly admitted to being obsessed with Japan, Atkin describes this exhibition as “Japanfluenced pop illustration with bite.” Think big colours, delicate illustration and lines and patterns that make everything just pop. Atkin’s a bit of a local illustration superstar, and there’s a high chance you’ve already seen her work in action — she designed the logo for West End bar Bosc, does branding for Joyero Jewellry and has work show up every so often in various magazines.
Whatever is gracing the Gallery of Modern Art's walls at any given time, it's usually stunning. Air, the venue's huge summer 2022–23 exhibition, is no different. Until Sunday, April 23, this thoughtful showcase ruminates on the life-sustaining substance, pondering air's cultural, ecological and political dimensions — complete with floating mirrored spheres, glowing red globes, butterflies aplenty, leafy plants, industrial pipes and a smoky, darkened room you'll never want to leave. Brisbane art lovers know that GOMA's exhibitions aren't simply dazzling to look at. For just a couple of nights each, they usually backdrop fabulous after-dark parties surrounded by all of those creative works. And, in 2023, Air is getting the Up Late treatment from 6pm on Friday, March 17 and Saturday, March 18. [caption id="attachment_884340" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Tomás Saraceno / Argentina b.1973 / Drift: A cosmic web of thermodynamic rhythms (installation view) 2022 / 15 Aerocene spheres, transparent and metallic mylar, tape, pump with overpressure release, polyester rope, kinetic system, backpack, newspaper, pamphlets, booksand photographic prints on paper / Purchased 2022 with funds from the Neilson Foundation through the Queensland Art Gallery | Gallery of Modern Art Foundation / Collection: QAGOMA / © Tomás Saraceno / Photograph: Dario Lagana, Studio Tomás Saraceno.[/caption] Get ready to spend two autumn evenings seeing breathtaking installations, drinking, tapping your toes to DJs and listening to live music. A $42-per-night ticket gets you access to the exhibition, as well as the fun. On the lineup: Alice Skye and Clea doing the honours on the Friday evening, alongside DJ nejmere; and Camp Cope, Melaleuca and Special Features taking to the stage on the Saturday night, plus DJ Sonia Cougar. The live tunes will echo across the Maiwar Green, under a marquee, so you'll be hopping in and out of GOMA itself. Plus, there'll be multiple spots to grab a bite and drink around the place at the GOMA Bistro, Newstead Brewing Co Coastal Bar, River Room Bar and Bacchus Wine Room, so a tipple won't be hard to find. Expect live immersive art experiences and workshops, too — including a drop-in session inspired by Jemima Wyman's contribution to Air, which will get you suspending particles yourself by creating a cloud-like collage — and the kind of gallery visit you can't have via daylight. [caption id="attachment_884339" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Anthony McCall / United Kingdom / United States b.1946 / Crossing (installation view) 2016 / Two double video projections (20 minutes), haze machine and sound, ed. 1/3 / Commissioned to mark the tenth anniversary of the opening of the Gallery of Modern Art. Purchased 2016 with funds from Tim Fairfax AC through the Queensland Art Gallery | Gallery of Modern Art Foundation / Collection: QAGOMA / © Anthony McCall / Photograph: Chloë Callistemon © QAGOMA[/caption] Top image: Mona Hatoum / Lebanon/United Kingdom b.1952 / Hot Spot (installation view) 2006 / Stainless steel and neon tube / The David and Indrė Roberts Collection / Courtesy: The Roberts Institute of Art, London / © Mona Hatoum / Photograph: Claudia Baxter © QAGOMA. Updated February 3.
"I hope it scares the shit out of you!" declared both Tom Cruise and Russell Crowe at the Sydney premiere of The Mummy, confirming that this was indeed to be a darker, more adult take on the successful movie franchise – a horror film harking back to the heady days of Val Lewton and the 1930s Gothic monster flicks that helped put Universal Studios on the map. Only...The Mummy is also peppered with comedic moments, meaning it's really better described as a horror comedy in the vein of Shaun of the Dead or Cabin in the Woods. However, its leading man Nick Morton (Cruise) is also a special forces recon soldier whose opening scene sees him dropping hellfire missiles on Iraqi insurgents. So really it's a horror comedy action film. Also, right after that opening scene we meet Cruise's on again off again love interest and globe-trotting archaeologist Jenny Halsey (Annabelle Wallis). Horror comedy action romance? Of course this all happens after we've already seen the Universal icon transform into the 'Dark Universe' logo, establishing The Mummy as the studio's opening salvo in the expansive, world-building game heretofore occupied by Marvel and DC. That makes this a horror comedy action romance franchise-founder. Ugh. No wonder it all gets a little lost in the details. In short, The Mummy is a movie guilty of overreach. Whether by studio interference or filmmaker miscalculation, it tries to achieve an impossible number of simultaneous feats, peppering you with character cameos (Crowe plays Dr Henry Jekyll and the other guy as well) and breadcrumbs for future franchise instalments (Bride of Frankenstein is next in line, followed by The Invisible Man, Dracula, The Wolfman and all the other Gothic-era classics). All this, while also trying to tell a story of its own. That it feels like it happens in that order of priority is perhaps the movie's biggest problem, because on its own the actual mummy stuff is pretty darn solid. In the title role we find this time a female mummy, Ahmanet, portrayed by the wonderful Sofia Boutella (Star Trek Beyond). After her assured reign over Egypt is suddenly wrenched from her by the birth of a baby brother, Ahmanet forms a pact with Set, the God of Death and embarks upon a killing spree before being entombed alive and erased from history. Erased, that is, until Cruise and his sidekick Chris (a clumsy, unnecessary turn by New Girl's Jake Johnson) stumble upon the sarcophagus and awaken the beast from her twenty centuries of stony sleep. From that moment on, The Mummy is a film with an identity crisis. Its mummy affairs are entertaining, action-packed and even occasionally scary, particularly through the employment of zombie henchmen reanimated by Ahmanet after she's sucked out their life force. The comedy doesn't really fit with Cruise's performance, and he has zero chemistry with Wallis, but at least the film delivers engaging set-pieces – more so than, say, Guardians of the Galaxy: Vol 2. Unfortunately, the Dark Universe stuff proves far more problematic. So much is mentioned yet left unexplored, and not in a way that can simply be excused as foreshadowing. As the Marvel superhero movies have repeatedly demonstrated, a single 10 second shot at the end of a film's credit sequence can capably tease all that is to come in future films without detracting from the story being told in the present. Left to its own devices, The Mummy might well have soared as a classic monster movie from a bygone era. Instead, it's a confused jumble of scenes and characters that undermine and trip each other up at every possible turn. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GzorZUuZqEI
Why head home from work for a single Wednesday night tipple when you could drop by the Paddo for more than 100? That might come pretty close to describing the inner-west mainstay's usual drinks menu; however, come August 23, the Paddington Tavern wants red wine lovers to taste as many as possible. You don't call a boozy shindig The Big Red Night without offering up a huge range of crimson vino, after all — and yes, there really will be more than 99 bottles of wine on offer (without the singalong, we're guessing). Taking over the downstairs Squeeze Club, the evening will see grape-based goodness flow freely for your sipping and tasting pleasure, plus finger food to help line your stomach. Attendees will also receive a Plumm glass to take home with them, which is included in the $42 ticket. You'll be a red wine connoisseur in no time, with the souvenir to prove it – and, likely, the tannin-stained lips.
Lambda is getting an American invasion, with an appearance from Baths in amongst his exciting world tour. He first made his music debut with Cerulean, a stunning record that gained much attention and praise after its release 3 years ago. Since then the expectations of this stunning singer have skyrocketed, with his second album Obsidian defying possibilities by outing his initial offering which only amplified the collective musical respect he demanded and deserved. Baths has just returned from a whirlwind tour through Europe and the United Kingdom, and he will be preparing for an extended visit to the United States; come and see him at his peak, riding the high of success and amongst his readying for some of the biggest shows of his career. He is joined by the highly rotated Tincture, the pair proving a complimentary match for your listening pleasure. Be sure to head to Oztix as soon as possible to secure your spot in the crowd that will stir jealousy amongst the avid music fan.
If you've ever wanted to see Mr Burns sing, here's your chance. Okay, so Harry Shearer probably won't actually belt out 'See My Vest' or 'We Do (The Stonecutter's Song)', however getting to witness the man who gives provides Springfield's most ruthless millionaire with his voice live and in the flesh is still worth the price of admission. The multitalented Shearer, who also starred in This is Spinal Tap, isn't the only attraction here. He's sharing the stage with his real-life partner Judith Owen, and tackling topics of fame, celebrity, politics, religion and relationships through song. In the words of a certain power plant owner: excellent. This is one of our five top picks from this year's Queensland Cabaret Festival. Read the full list.
Maybe you're looking for a way to celebrate Easter. Perhaps you've noticed that Albion's French-inspired restaurant and bar Hervé's has almost notched up a year of business. Whichever you'd like to mark — including if you're keen on both — Hervé's Laneway Session has the answer on Sunday, April 9. That date is Easter Sunday, which means that appropriate bites will be on offer at the Craft'd Grounds spot. Think: seafood, including oysters, baked Tasmania scallops and salt cod croquettes; lamb on a spit, served with either flatbread or cauliflower and tabbouleh; and custom chocolate desserts such as hot cross and choc cross buns, plus warm chocolate brownies. [caption id="attachment_896088" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Markus Ravik[/caption] You'll pay for what you eat; however, drinks-wise, there's a two-hour unlimited package, spanning wine, beer and Hervé's spritzes, for $59 from 12–2pm. Other beverages are available afterwards, of course. The shindig runs till late soundtracked by DJ-spun tunes, with dancing encouraged — and, yes, as the name suggests, it's all happening in the Craft'd Grounds laneway. [caption id="attachment_879387" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Full Stop Social Media[/caption] Top image: Full Stop Social Media.
If there's ever a time to stampede into the Elephant Hotel, it's a long weekend. For the folks at the Wickham Street mainstay, a state-approved break from the weekday grind is cause for much merriment — which is why they've perfected the public holiday eve block party. The English-style establishment held their first such shenanigans back in April, and it went down such a treat that they're breaking out the streamers and balloons for another go around. Okay, there might not be decorations, but there will be plenty of fun. Just add celebrating the Queen's Birthday to the list of things the Elephant does well, like pub food that doesn't taste like pub food, and bringing meat tray raffles into Fortitude Valley. They also excel when it comes to music, as all pub-based block parties should. Local legends the Medics have scored the headline spot alongside fellow Brisbanites Babaganoüj, with Good Oak, the Bacchanales, Good Boy and Walking Bird joining them in a jam-packed lineup. Now that's how you celebrate a public holiday. Image by Alex Bowler.
If you like your comedies black and brooding, you probably like the work of Martin McDonagh. On the big screen, he spent time In Bruges with Colin Farrell, then had him dally with Seven Psychopaths. On the stage, he has won numerous prestigious awards for his plays — including for The Pillowman. That the latter revolves around a writer, a collection of short stories that bear quite the resemblance to a spate of real-life crimes, and a police interrogation room in a totalitarian state gives an indication of why this is one of McDonagh's biggest hits. That it uses razor sharp, rapid-fire dialogue to explore themes such as oppression, control and censorship also fits. In fact, if ever there was an example of McDonagh at his best, this theatre production would be it. Come for the devilish laughs, stay for the absurdist smarts — and to see the entertaining efforts of one of the great modern playwrights.
The irony about The Wombats is that they are neither wombats, nor are they Australian. They've made two albums and sold plenty of records, and have an unexplained affinity with fat marsupials. Best give 'em a shot, yeah? The Wombats have been steadily growing a neat fan base here and abroad for the last few years, and have finally secured themselves a very respectable spot at the Riverstage, which has played host to the Foo Fighters and Kasabian in recent times, as well as Lily Allen and mega babe Jessie J. Like most bands from Liverpool, they have the sort of jangly pop that can get you moving and singing lyrics like Let's dance to Joy Division and celebrate the irony! and forcing you to make unexplained Facebook statuses about how you are “moving to New York 'cause I've got problems with my sleep”. Christmas has come early, and The Wombats are digging their claws into the Riverstage's epic hall of fame, so you should probably see them before they do a Kings of Leon and sell out the Entertainment Centre.
Marc Maron of WTF with Marc Maron, one of the most downloaded podcasts, is coming to Australia in October, and if you're not there then you are a fool, a foolish fool. For you see, while he is best known for his podcast, averaging 4 million downloads each month and interviewing guests including the POTUS himself, he's just as brilliant alone on a stage, mic in hand, practicing his original craft. If you're not much of a podcast listener (why not? Get on that, they're the best), then you may have caught Maron’s critically acclaimed half-hour scripted series Maron, created, written and produced by Maron himself, on ABC2. Or perhaps his latest special, Thinky Pain, on Netflix. The man is a machine of brilliant cultural output. Get stuck in.
Usually, when Jungle Collective hosts one of its huge sales in Brisbane, it fills a Coorparoo warehouse with indoor plants — and jungle vibes. But on Saturday, October 24 and Sunday, October 25, it's going virtual with its weird and wonderful pieces of greenery instead. Whether you're after a hanging pot plant, some palms for the garden or a giant Bird of Paradise, chances are you'll find it here. You'll just be doing your shopping online via the Jungle Collective website rather than heading in-store. Generally, more than 170 different species tend to be on offer in-person — so here's hoping that hefty range makes the virtual jump. While this is a 100-percent online event, tickets work in a similar way as Jungle Collective's physical sales. Due to expected demand, it'll be held in multiple sessions — with your ticket specifying when you'll need to hop online and start buying. Virtual shoppers will need to register for free tickets in advance from midday on Monday, October 19. As for deliveries, your plants will make their way to you over the following week from Sunday, October 31, with more details given when you make your purchase. Delivery costs $15–40 depending on your area, with orders within 25 kilometres driving distance nabbing free delivery if you spend $100 — and everyone living further away getting $15 off. Or, from its September sale onwards, Jungle Collective is also doing pick-ups as well. You'll just need to be able to head to its Coorparoo digs from 1–5pm on Tuesday, November 3.
No matter how hard you try to fight it, everyone has a soft spot for Mills and Boon. So give in to the passion and be swept away by the whirlwind romances that lie within the pages of these guilty pleasures. Twenty year old Nicholas K. Watson isn't afraid of a little romance. For some time now he has been consumed by the desire to read aloud the tales of heartbreak and uncontrollable lust that only Mills and Boon novels can portray. Join Nicholas once a month for his public reading at Room 60. Bring your friends, grab a drink and feel your heart flutter as you immerse yourself into a hot and steamy story. This will be a night of gushing and giggles!
Among the many things David Bowie taught the world, the idea of loving the alien was perhaps the most important. It wasn't just the name of one of his 1985 singles. Whether he was singing about 'Life on Mars', taking to the stage as the otherworldly Ziggy Stardust or playing an extra-terrestrial being in The Man Who Fell to Earth, Bowie knew that being different was something to embrace. It's this concept of otherness coupled with the typical pop culture renderings of space aliens that motivates THE ALIEN SHOW, FAKE Estate's latest one-night-only art affair. Charlie Donaldson, Loki Groves, Spencer Harvey and Sally Molloy both take inspiration from major uses of the intergalactic visitor motif within contemporary visual culture, and unpack its many meanings. Whether you're a Bowie fan, a sci-fi aficionado or have just had a passing interaction with either — and who hasn't? — then you'll know what they're talking about. We've all seen aliens depicted as cruel, terrifying, androgynous, amorphous, unwanted and antagonised; however this exhibition delves a little deeper in a fashion that's equal parts humorous and serious in tone.
Growing, changing, adapting and evolving are all a part of getting older, as The Triffid clearly knows. The Newstead venue has only just turned two, but it has seen plenty of change over the years, from a new deck area to additions to its local music-loving mural — and now, to its Sunday sessions. Over the summer of 2016-17, The Triff's beloved end-of-weekend hangouts will be switching up their blues and roots focus — or, reshaping it, to be exact. Prepare for a dose of good ol' Americana-style acoustics at the aptly re-named Americana Sessions. Every week from 2pm, a new dose of folk, country, rhythm and blues, just plain blues and old time rock 'n' roll will serenade your eardrums. With a lineup that features Catherine Britt, Harry Hookey, Heartworn Highways, Dana Gehrman, Josh Rennie-Hynes and Matt Henry, you can bet on one thing: having a chilled, guitar-twanging good time.
If you're one of the scores of Aussie teens who devoured smash-hit flick 10 Things I Hate About You when it first came out — and then about a million times on VHS since — prepare to feel positively elderly. This year, the 1999 movie celebrates its 20th anniversary. Yep, the modern day retelling of Shakespeare's The Taming of the Shrew that had us all swooning over Heath Ledger is a whole two decades old. And what better way to mark that occasion, than a special drive-in screening of the timeless high school tale? Yatala's movies-on-wheels site has added a special throwback showing of 10 Things I Hate About You to its schedule, set to grace its big screen on Saturday, May 25. Prepare to revisit all those late 90s feels, as you catch those classic movie moments, from the cheer-worthy smashing of Joey Donner's car to that pre-formal pregnancy suit. You can pack your own food for the session — Ms Perky would definitely recommend bratwurst — but BYO booze obviously isn't allowed. Otherwise, you can make the most of Yatala's 50s-style diner. Tickets cost $35 per carload, which covers up to six people.
The Milk Factory have a habit of booking bands yonks before they've made it big, and in a style that makes their performance nights more parties than gigs. There's no crowded mosh, token tall guy or lousy supports. This isn't the Tivoli. The Milk Factory just wants you to have a hell of a good time, and will provide the bands to ensure just that. On May 28 they've got some goodies. Kat, Joel and Cam make up Spirit Bunny. They're a local band who use synth, drum loops, '80s video games, Commodore 64s and Casio keyboards to make pretty hard-to-ignore music. They'll be joined by experimental muso Nana Vigilante and reckless rockers Gonzovillain. This is a lineup that promises to draw out some long-suppressed dance moves. There's two great things about this gig. The second is that no one is launching anything. There's no new album, single or EP you're morally obliged to grab. This is just three bands playing to a crowd, and it's up to you to dance along. The best thing is it's five bucks.
More than 60 people have been injured and 19 hospitalised after a stampede at Falls Festival's Lorne leg on Friday evening. The incident occurred after DMA's finished their set on the Grand Theatre Stage, when many in the crowd tried to make their way to see London Grammar on the Valley Stage. The Age reports that a number of patrons slipped and lost their footing during the move, resulting in leg, rib, hip, pelvic, head, facial and spinal injuries and fractures, as well as cuts and bruises. "It was quite a chaotic scene and required a major response," said Ambulance Victoria state health commander Paul Holman. Punters took to social media to post about the traumatic and chaotic experience, including reports of broken bones, panic attacks, people passing out, trampling and many fearing for their lives. "This was the most scariest thing ever! I will never forget what I saw last night," wrote one Falls attendee. "It's hectic and she said it was the worst thing she has ever experienced in her life," posted the sister of another. https://twitter.com/kewesting/status/814859083740102656 Festival organisers also took to social media to issue a statement, reflecting the fact that entertainment in the Grand Theatre was suspended for the remainder of the evening, but noting that normal programming will resume on Saturday. Many responses to their post have been rightfully critical of the setup that allowed the incident to occur in the first place — this isn't their first time hosting a popular event of this size, with a mass migration between stages and sets a common occurrence not just at Falls, but at every other music festival. The Lorne crowd crush occurs just days after a 21-year-old woman was struck and killed by a falling tree branch at the Lost Paradise festival on the NSW Central Coast. With plenty of festivals in full swing over New Year's — and the peak festival period upon us during summer — here's hoping for a safe rest of the season. If you're attending a fest, look after each other. Image: Falls Festival.
When you're a child it seems everyone is older than you: there's the nosey neighbour, the doting pseudo-grandma, the spiteful widow and the grumpy old man who sits on the patio, finger shaking erratically. Whether they like it or not each of them bear witness to your messy childhood: the bloody noses, the scraped knees and the broken windows. All the while your throwing arm gets stronger, your running strides get longer and your teeth, well they aren't really sure what they're doing. Fast-forward 20 years and look who you bump into. It's old Mr Shakes-his-finger: "Oh you haven't changed a bit,” he says. “You're still that scrappy little boy struggling to grow into his frames." You stare blankly, brow furrowed. Minutes later you’re rummaging through the old family albums only to realise the old bleeder is right. You're the spitting image of your former self. Just ask Buenos Aires artist Irina Werning whose ongoing photography series is all about going 'Back to the Future'. Through this modern-day venture Werning indulges her love for photos from the past by asking today's adult to recreate yesterday's child. The side-by-side visuals are an amazing insight into the magic of time, youth and the joys of trying to recapture it. Irina Werner
Catch one of Australia’s most revered songwriters, Gareth Liddiard, perform an intimate show in one of Brisbane’s most spectacular, limited-time venues. The face and voice behind The Drones, Gareth Liddiard is a cut above the rest. After branching out to solo ventures in 2010, he has been recognised for his own talents as a standalone act, one that should be a must-see act on any music fan’s bucket list. For fans of The Drones, you will be hard pressed to find another solo act as thought-provoking and restrained in Gareth Liddiard who provides a different perspective on life and art. His is a sound that is stripped back, raw, and just as great a treat to witness as bands such as The Drones, or at least as high a calibre. He is making a guest appearance at this year’s Brisbane Festival in the glorious Telstra Spiegeltent in South Bank’s Cultural Forecourt. The combination of talent and atmospheric wow-factor should be more than tempting.
