Each year, the Berlin International Film Festival premieres a treasure trove of flicks that movie buffs will be talking about for months to come, and longer, including when said titles make their way to Australia. It also understandably goes big on new German cinema, which often heads Down Under via the German Film Festival — and that touring event now has the 2023 program to prove it. At Brisbane's Palace James St and Palace Barracks from Wednesday, May 3–Wednesday, May 24, film lovers can look forward to five Berlinale-debuting picks, starting with The Teacher's Lounge with Babylon Berlin's Leonie Benesch, which follows a teacher struggling over a series of thefts at her school; Sisi, the latest take on Empress Elisabeth of Austria-Hungary after Corsage, this time featuring Toni Erdmann's Sandra Hüller as her lady-in-waiting; and Ingeborg Bachmann — Journey into the Desert, as led by Corsage star Vicky Krieps as the titular writer. And, there's also the 1990-set Someday We'll Tell Each Other Everything, which stems from the page — plus crime-thriller Till the End of the Night, which won actor Thea Ehre Berlinale's Silver Bear for Best Supporting Performance. The German Film Festival kicks off with A Thousand Lines, hailing from Balloon filmmaker Michael Herbig, and diving into the IRL 2018 fake news scandal involving a journalist disgraced from Der Spiegel. At the other end, it'll close with Over & Out, Germany's addition to the spate of flicks about women reuniting with their old pals years later (see also: Off the Rails). Another hefty highlight: big focuses on the glorious city that is Berlin and also music, both via retrospective picks. So, add Christiane F, which follows the eponymous 14-year-old through 70s-era West Berlin and features David Bowie as himself, to your must-see list on the big screen. Add Wim Wenders' stunning Wings of Desire, about angels observing daily life but unable to interact with it, too. And, B-Movie: List & Sound in West Berlin 1979–1989 belongs in the same category with its archival footage and interviews, complete with Nick Cave, Joy Division and '99 Luftballons' band Nena. Other standouts include In a Land That No Longer Exists, as based on director Aelrun Goette's experiences in the 80s; documentary Merkel, about Germany's first female chancellor; crime comedy The Peacock; and body swapping in sci-fi Skin Deep.
Annie Leibovitz once famously stated that "there are still so many places on our planet that remain unexplored. I'd love to one day peel back the mystery and understand them". It is in this spirit that National Geographic presents its Photo of the Year winners. In an effort to uncover the "unexplored" and clandestine wonders of the world, National Geographic's annual competition provides a fascinating glimpse into the incredible beauty and complexity of the natural world, the places that define it, and the people that inhabit it. In 2012 a whopping 22,000 photographs from over 150 countries were submitted, with an expert panel of judges whittling this number down to a winner in each of the three categories (people, places, and nature) and the $10,000 Grand Prize Winner. Based on its remarkable creativity and visual flair, this year's "nature" winner and overall champion was Ashley Vincent's image of Busaba, the Indochinese tigress from Thailand's Khao Kheow Open Zoo (above). Have a look below to see the rest of the winners along with the National Geographic readers' favourites and some other honorable mentions. Winner - Places The Matterhorn in Zermatt, Switzerland. By Nenad Saljic. Winner - People Workers in Kenya's Dandora Municipal Dump Site, the only dumping site for waste in Nairobi, East Africa's most populous city. By Micah Albert. Viewers Choice - Nature Female cheetah Malaika and her cub in Masai mara National Reserve, Kenya. By Sanjeev Bhor. Viewers Choice - Places An iceberg frozen in place in Pond Inlet, Nunavut, Canada. By Adam Coish. Viewers' Choice - People Explorers follow a race route over 100km of the Hardangervidda Mountainplateu, Norway to cross Greenland. By Kai-Otto Melau. Honorable Mention - Nature Thousands of fish moving in synchrony in Komodo, Indonesia. By Fransisca Harlijanto. Honorable Mention - People The traditional Chinese entertainment Dragon boating is a water sport, in Yanbu Town, Foshan City, Guangdong Province, China. By ? ??. Honorable Mention - Places The Eiffel tower in Paris on a grey day. By Indra Swari Wonowidjojo. Honorable Mention - Nature A red fox goes after a mouse hidden under 2 feet of snow in Squaw Creek, Park Country, Wyoming. By Micheal Eastman. Honorable Mention - People Stilt fishing in Midigama, Sri Lanka. By Ulrich Lambert.
When it comes to showcasing up-and-coming Australian musical talents, and also celebrating the country's music industry in general, Brisbane's BIGSOUND has never held back. Going big is right there in its name, after all. So, with the event finally making its in-person return after a pandemic-afflicted couple of years — and also marking its 21st birthday — it should come as no surprise that it's set to host its biggest lineup ever. Back in April, BIGSOUND confirmed its comeback details for 2022, including dates and basic numbers — a four-day event including the conference side of things, running from Tuesday, September 6–Friday, September 9, and popping up in 21 different venues, to be precise. It also promised that more than 150 bands and artists would take to its stages, too. Now that the full bill is here, that figure has gone up to a whopping 182. [caption id="attachment_861893" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Jess Gleeson[/caption] That's 38 artists more than the last in-person event, in 2019, boasted — and they'll take to 23 stages at those 21 Fortitude Valley venues over three nights. Leading the charge: Adrian Dzvuke, Budjerah, flowerkid, Dallas Woods, Mia Wray and Teenage Joans, as well as Dulcie, Ghost Care, Ashwarya, Birdz, Jem Cassar-Daley, Concrete Surfers and VOIID. The list goes on, and also includes the event's first BIGSOUND Country lineup, spanning country The Buckleys, Hinterland, DARLINGHURST, Loren Ryan, Melanie Dyer, Taylor Moss and The Wolfe Brothers. A contingent from New Zealand will head over as well, with JessB, Soaked Oats, Troy Kingi, TE KAAHU, Church & AP, MELODOWNZ and Jenny Mitchell making the trip. [caption id="attachment_861894" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Lachlan Douglas[/caption] Wondering which venues will be doing the honours? The list features everywhere from Black Bear Lodge and both inside and outdoors at The Brightside through to The Wickham and The Zoo. If you're a BIGSOUND regular, you'll know what all of this entails: jumping between as many spaces as possible, all teeming with as many bands, industry folks and music-loving punters as possible, and enjoying the latest and greatest tunes and talent that's on offer. Expect 2022's iteration to be no different to usual — well, the pre-pandemic usual — although the vibe is set to jump up a few notches given that there's so much to celebrate. [caption id="attachment_851420" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Bianca Holderness[/caption] Past events have showcased everyone from Gang of Youths, Flume, Tash Sultana and Courtney Barnett to San Cisco, Violent Soho, Methyl Ethel and The Jungle Giants, making the BIGSOUND program a very reliable bellwether of current and up-and-coming musos. This year's fest will also include 300 artist showcases and more than 20 parties, while the conference side of things will welcome in 150-plus speakers over 55 sessions (and more than 1500 delegates as well). Leading the conference bill so far: 'Friday' singer Rebecca Black; activist, author and #MeToo movement founder Tarana Burke; Mushroom Group CEO Matt Gudinski; and Jaguar Jonze and Example. BIGSOUND's return to the Valley's streets follows a virtual event in 2020, and comes after 2021's fest was originally slated to go ahead in-person, but had to cancel due to COVID-19. [caption id="attachment_851423" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Lachlan Douglas[/caption] BIGSOUND 2022 FESTIVAL LINEUP: Adam Newling Adrian Dzvuke AGUNG MANGO Alter Boy Andrew Gurruwiwi Band Andrew Swift Andy Golledge Anesu Aodhan Asha Jefferies Ashwarya Ayesha Madon Baby Cool Banjo Lucia Beckah Amani BIG SKEEZ BIG WETT Birdz BLOODMOON Blusher Bones and Jones BOY SODA Brekky Boy Bud Rokesky Budjerah Bumpy C.O.F.F.I.N Caroline & Claude Chanel Loren Chloe Dadd Church & AP CLOE TERARE Club Angel Cody Jon COLLAR CONCRETE SURFERS cookii Dallas Woods dameeeela Daniel Shaw DARLINGHURST Dean Brady Death by Denim Diimpa Dulcie Eastbound Buzz EGOISM Eilish Gilligan Eliza Hull Eluize Enclave ENOLA Evie Irie Fash Five Island Drive flowerkid FLY BOY JACK Folk Bitch Trio Forest Claudette FOURA Franko Gonzo Full Flower Moon Band Future Static Germein Ghost Care Girl and Girl Gold Fang Grace Cummings and Her Band Grand Pine Great Sage Greatest Hits grentperez Greta Stanley Grievous Bodily Calm Hallie HANNI Hauskey Hinterland Holliday Howe Hope D ISUA JACOTÉNE JELLY OSHEN Jem Cassar-Daley Jenny Mitchell Jerome Farah Jess Day JessB June Jones KANADA THE LOOP Kee'ahn KEYAN Kid Pharaoh Kutcha Edwards LÂLKA Lee Sugar LION Liyah Knight Loren Ryan LOSER MALi JO$E Melaleuca Melanie Dyer MELODOWNZ Memphis LK merci, mercy Mia Wray Mitch Santiago Molly Millington Monnie Moonboy Moss MOUNTAIN WIZARD DEATH CULT Mr Rhodes Mulalo MUNGMUNG Mvlholland Newport Nick Griffith Nick Ward Noah Dillon OK HOTEL Old Mervs Phoebe Go Pink Matter Platonic Sex Queen P RinRin Romero Roy Bing Ruby Gill Ryan Fennis & Voidhood Saint Ergo Sam Windley San Joseph Sappho Sarah Wolfe SayGrace Selfish Sons Selve Shanae (FKA MADAM3EMPRESS) Shannen James Siobhan Cotchin Skeleten Soaked Oats SOPHIYA South Summit Srirachi Stevan Suzi Talk Heavy Tasman Keith Taylor Moss TE KAAHU Teenage Dads Teenage Joans Teether & Kuya Neil Tentendo The Atomic Beau Project The Buckleys The Last Martyr The Rions THE RIOT The Terrys The Wolfe Brothers To Octavia Toby Hobart Troy Kingi Tulliah VOIID VOLI K Waxflower WIIGZ Wildheart Woodes Yb. Yen Strange yergurl YNG Martyr Zeolite ZPLUTO BIGSOUND 2022 VENUES: Black Bear Lodge Blute's Bar The Brightside The Brightside Outdoors EC Venue Ivory Tusk King Lear's Throne La La Land O'Skulligans The Outpost Press Club The Prince Consort Hotel Prohibition Ric's Bar + Backyard Stranded Bar Summa House Tomcat The Warehouse The Wickham Woolly Mammoth Mane Stage The Zoo BIGSOUND 2022 will take place between Tuesday, September 6–Friday, September 9 in Fortitude Valley, Brisbane. For more information, or to buy tickets, visit bigsound.org.au. Top image: Bianca Holderness.
What happens when a touring showcase of music throughout Queensland joins forces with an annual citywide celebration of arts and culture in Brisbane? Sweet Relief!, the latest event from both Qld Music Trails and Brisbane Festival. A collaboration between both fests, but taking place in Brissie in September, this one-day-only excuse to get dancing will make its debut in 2023 with a helluva electronic-focused lineup, starting with Groove Armada, The Avalanches and Ladyhawke. Sweet Relief! also involves the folks at Untitled Group, the team behind festivals such as Beyond The Valley, Grapevine Gathering and Wildlands — and they've helped bring in quite the names. Groove Armada and The Avalanches will both play Australian-exclusive gigs, in fact, with the former doing a DJ set and the latter performing live. [caption id="attachment_907867" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Grant Spanier[/caption] We see you, festival-loving babies. The day to block out in your diary: Saturday, September 16. The place to head: the Maritime Green at Northshore Brisbane. As well as New Zealander Ladyhawke, the bill also spans Cut Copy doing a DJ set, plus Nina Las Vegas, Latifa Tee and YO! Mafia. Poof Doof Pride Patrol featuring Jimi the Kween is on the lineup as well, and additional Brisbane acts are still to be announced. [caption id="attachment_907869" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Kath Gould[/caption] "We're so excited to be heading up to Brisbane to play at Maritime Green at Northshore Brisbane. It's such a cool looking spot — we've got a feeling it's gonna be a very special one," said The Avalanches. "Brisbane's history is littered with iconic festival moments such as Livid, Boundary Street Festival and Valley Fiesta that gave the Brisbane community an opportunity to bring their weirdest and wildest selves out to create an electric atmosphere of togetherness, diversity and inclusion," added Joel Edmondson, CEO of Qld Music Trails, announcing Sweet Relief!. "We hope that Sweet Relief! can establish itself as a place where people travel from around the country to experience Brisbane's local flavour and global appeal." SWEET RELIEF! 2023 LINEUP: Groove Armada (DJ set) The Avalanches (live) Ladyhawke Cut Copy (DJ set) Nina Las Vegas Latifa Tee YO! Mafia Poof Doof Pride Patrol featuring Jimi the Kween + more Brisbane acts to be announced Sweet Relief! will take over the Maritime Green, Northshore Brisbane, on Saturday, September 16. For more information and images — and to register for ticket presales from 6pm on Wednesday, July 5, with general sales from 12pm on Thursday, July 6 — head to the event website.
A collection of Australia and beyond’s finest DJs descend upon The Family Club for a night of progressive, pumping and electro house. The Potbellee DJs, Jonny Sonic and Blue MC, are back where they belong, ripping dance halls and dance floors apart, having just emerged from the studio where they’ve been writing their second album, Destination Now. Benibee comes to each gig with a flexible feel for the music he creates, breaking each layer down into a separate, deconstructable piece. Beautifully arranged with shades of big room, progressive and electro house his sound has seen this British artist win a host of awards. You’ll see why. Jeremy Iliev creates an atmosphere that taps into the real music that lies beneath all the tracks he plays. With a sound that somehow comes across as a blend of strictly danceable chunky and jackin’, quirky electro, big room and club vibes Jeremy’s sound carries influence from artists like Dirty South, Micky Slim and Paolo Mojo. Other DJs on the bill include Fid Frantic and Tim Plunkett.
Back at the beginning of 2020, Jet Black Cat Music marked its ninth birthday — and, to celebrate, the West End store hopped over to the other side of the inner city and threw a huge block party. That festival, Nine Lives, clearly has to keep coming back. Yes, that includes in 2023. Once again, the River City's music lovers will need to head to The Tivoli, with Fortitude Valley's Costin Street set to overflow with tunes and food on Saturday, March 4. Thanks to the pandemic, this marks the third edition of the festival, after also going ahead in 2022. Here's hoping that there's at least six more to come. Leading the bill in 2023: Angel Olsen, Crumb, Drugdealer and Mdou Moctar, giving Nine Lives an impressive lineup of overseas headliners. They'll be joined by 1TBSP, Baby Cool, Bones & Jones, Felivand and Folk Bitch Trio, as well as Girl and Girl, Loose Fit Mylee Grace, No Zu and Platonic Sex. The tunes will take over two stages — and festival-goers also hit up the array of food trucks serving bites to eat, and go trawling the crates for records. NINE LIVES 2023 LINEUP: Angel Olsen Crumb Drugdealer Mdou Moctar 1TBSP Baby Cool Bones & Jones Felivand Folk Bitch Trio Girl and Girl Loose Fit Mylee Grace No Zu Platonic Sex
What's a conference without some late night hijinks? Boring, that's what — so thank goodness for Brisbane based independent record label Dew Process and their annual BIGSOUND party. After the first day of proceedings, stay up until just before midnight rolls around for a few live sets by Eves The Behavior and LK McKay, plus a bar tab and snacks. It's the only place to be, other than perhaps getting some sleep for the next few days of activities — but who'd want to do something sensible like that? This event is one of our top five picks of BIGSOUND. Check out the other four here.
Virtual assistants in our homes, facial recognition technology everywhere, drones throughout the skies — it's no secret that we're being watched and listened to more than ever before. None of us want our data used for nefarious purposes, but what is the true price of living in such a state of surveillance? The Ethics Centre director Dr Simon Longstaff is chairing a panel — which features AI researcher Toby Walsh, former national human rights commissioner Edward Santow and journalist and filmmaker Yaara Bou Melhem — that will attempt to answer some of the modern world's most urgent questions. Join these luminaries in The Great Hall at UTS as they share their ideas and concerns.
When is a Friday night market more than just a market? When it includes all the food, drinks and stalls you'd expect, and live music as well, but also pairs them with fire twirlers, stilt walkers and fortune tellers — and a neon forest and a jumping castle. That's all on the bill at Brisbane's latest way to farewell the working week, Westoria. As the name makes plain, not to mention the list of highlights, it's about to become West End's new after-work go-to. The vibe: weird, wild and wonderful, plus night market-meets-playground as well. Well, that's the mood and attitude that organisers are pushing before the first weekly event on Friday, October 7, which will run from 4–10pm on Jane Street next to the regular West End Markets site. For Westoria, the idea is for different sights, sounds and smells to await at every turn, whether you're keen for a bite to eat, something to sip or to take in the roving performances — or, ideally, all of the above. If it's the culinary side of the markets that has you excited, the food lineup will include Gnocchi Gnocchi Brothers, Wagyu Blacks, Roll It Ice Cream Co and others. Drinks-wise, beer and wine will be on offer, alongside a signature cocktail called Stardust. Entry costs $4, and the event hails from Goodwill Projects, which has a hefty list of other markets around town to its name, including West End's aforementioned usual markets. If you've ever hit up the weekly Reddacliffe Place Markets in the CBD, too, or the Milton Markets, Nundah Farmers Markets and Carseldine Farmers and Artisan Markets, then you've been to its events.
For the past two years, Semi-Pro Brewing Co has been whipping up beers in East Brisbane. For the same amount of time, it has also been hosting just the kind of events that go down extra well with a cold one — such as puppies and pints sessions, bricks and beer nights, and Halloween parties. To mark its big milestone, the Manilla Street venue is celebrating, obviously. And it's doing so in its typical style. There'll be beer. There'll be bites to eat. And there'll also be a petting zoo. Head by from 10am on Saturday, March 14, and you can sink brews with one hand while petting an adorable critter with the other. Cute shenanigans are what second birthday parties are all about, after all — but this one also involves beer. Brews-wise, you'll be able to knock back pints of a special concoction made just for the occasion. As for what kind of beer it'll be, well, that's part of the surprise. If you're extra keen to take part — and you're happy to get there at 7am, and pay $75 — you can also nab one of 20 tickets to help brew the birthday beverage. Otherwise, entry is free, with the shenanigans turning into a block party. Notorious EAT will be on food duties — and, because March in Brisbane is all about beer, the event also forms part of Brewsvegas. Images: Semi-Pro Brewing Co.
It's bright, lively, neon-lit, and wholly unapologetic about blending colour, cocktails and Tex-Mex cuisine — and soon, the fast-growing El Camino Cantina will double its Brisbane footprint. After setting up shop in Bowen Hills last year, the chain will launch a second joint in Westfield Chermside on Friday, October 11. It's the latest expansion for the brand, which also operates in Sydney and Melbourne, all under the guidance of Rockpool Dining Group (Sake, Burger Project and, of course, Rockpool Bar & Grill). For its first venue in Brissie's north, El Camino's new site will seat 220, taking over the space formerly inhabited by Hermosa. If you've already been to the existing local eatery, then you'll know this casual dining venue takes its vibe seriously. Think loud and over-the-top, complete with giant margaritas, rock 'n' roll jukeboxes, fluorescent signage and a heap of Tex-Mex staples. Menu-wise, all of the chain's favourites will make the jump to the new spot. Slushie machines will serve up brain freezes in margarita form, with El Camino's coming in multiple sizes and many renditions, including a tropical Red Bull flavour. Other options span a host of beers from near and far, and a sizeable collection of mezcals and tequilas. The food lineup remains fun and casual, like the drinks. Think fiery buffalo wings, sizzling fajitas, plump burritos, soft shell tacos loaded with punchy flavour combinations, and unlimited complimentary corn chips and salsas. The brand's Bowen Hills specials will be available at Chermside, too — including $2 tacos on Tuesdays, ten-cent wings on Wednesdays and half-price fajitas on Thursdays. El Camino Cantina will open at Westfield Chermside, Gympie Road, Chermside, on Friday, October 11. Top images: El Camino Cantino Manly, Tom Ferguson/El Camino Cantino The Rocks, Kei Leishman/El Camino Cantino Fitzroy. Updated October 9.
Loving skivvies, winning Triple J's Hottest 100, performing at the 2022 Sydney Gay and Lesbian Mardi Gras Parade: all three of these yummy yummy things now apply to Australian national treasures The Wiggles. And yes, as fans young and old have seen for more than three decades now, the children's music group clearly already has the outfits for it. The Wiggles' rainbow-hued threads will grace the Sydney Cricket Ground (SCG) when Mardi Gras' famed signature event returns on Saturday, March 5. The parade is being held at the stadium due to the pandemic, as it was in 2021, too — so, sorry, you won't see a big red car drive down Oxford Street. This year's Hottest 100 victors have promised to bring "their Wiggly friends" to the SCG with them, however — all to take part in Sydney's huge LGBTQIA+ celebration for the very first time. On the parade's lineup, they'll be joined by Savage Garden's Darren Hayes, who'll headline and do his first Australian performance in a decade; Vanessa Amorosi, for some more late 90s/early 00s nostalgia; plus Mo'Ju, Timothy Springs and Prinnie Stevens, as well as local DJs KILIMI, Charlie Villas and Division 4. And, the parade will host 40,000 spectators to watch 5800 marchers across 161 parade entries as well, celebrating the 2022 theme 'united we shine'. [caption id="attachment_828658" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Anna Kucera[/caption] This year's fest is ticketed, and there are still some available; however, if you can't head along for some fruit salad, hot potatoes and cold spaghetti in person — and perhaps the Hottest 100-winning 'Elephant' cover — in person, you'll be able to tune into the parade in a number of ways. So, whether you're a Sydneysider who'll be at home or you live elsewhere around the nation, you can watch on ABC iview from 6.30pm AEDT, ABC TV from 7.30pm AEDT, and listen via Triple J (including the Triple J and ABC listen apps) and ABC Local Radio Evenings from 7pm AEDT. The 2022 Sydney Gay and Lesbian Mardi Gras Parade takes place at the Sydney Cricket Ground on Saturday, March 5. For more information or to buy tickets, head to the Mardi Gras website.
There's something about exercising with a view that gives even the most avid fitness devotee an extra boost. (No, bending and stretching in your living room while watching TV doesn't count.) At Brisbane's latest regular exercise sessions, you'll be in prime surroundings and score a mighty fine vantage — because attending a yoga class on a rooftop will do that. These sessions take place at Cielo Rooftop in Fortitude Valley, so you have a reason to stop by other than cocktails and a bite to eat. And, you have multiple options to get in a workout, too. Start your day with an early-morning stint, or head by after work to de-stress. For sunrise yoga, you'll need to block out Wednesday and Sunday mornings from 6–7am. Sunset classes take place on Monday and Wednesday 5.45pm–6.45pm. Whichever you opt for, it'll cost you $20 a session, and you'll need to bring your own yoga mat. Updated October 11.
Dry July hasn't turned out how many Australians would've liked, thanks to lockdowns in Greater Sydney, Victoria and South Australia. But whether you were trying to take a break from booze for a spell, you've been cutting down on your drinking in general or you don't touch the hard stuff anyway, gin brand Gordon's has released a new tipple you'll want to sip even when ditching alcohol isn't the centre of attention for an entire month. The popular gin label has unveiled its own booze-free version, Gordon's 0.0% — and yes, that moniker makes its alcohol content clear. It still heroes the usual juniper flavour, and is still distilled using the same botanicals, but pairs it with zero booze. Two options are now available in bottle shops: Gordon's 0.0% in 700-millilitre bottles, so you can mix your own alcohol-free G&Ts and other cocktails; and 330-millilitre ready-to-drink gin-and-tonic mixes that come in four-packs. Whichever you choose, one thing is certain: however much you drink, you won't have a hangover the next day. Whether you're new to cutting out the sauce or you've always preferred your beverages sans booze, the alcohol-free drinks industry has been expanding in a big way over the past few years. Melbourne has its own booze-free gin joint, Sydney has a bottle-o dedicated to the concept, and actually decent mocktails are available on plenty of bar menus around the country now. The range of wines and beers with low or no alcohol has also been growing, too, so having a drink but skipping the headache — and not just sipping orange juice, sparkling water or soda — has never been easier. Gordon's 0.0% is now available in Australian bottle shops — in 700-millilitre bottles (RRP$34.99) and 330-millilitre ready-to-drink gin-and-tonic mixes (RRP$14.99 for a four-pack).
Nineties kids, Disney fans and everyone who's ever cried over a lion cub that just couldn't wait to be king, it's time to climb onto a rock and yell your lungs out. The circle of life has struck again, and The Lion King is back. It's in live-action form this time around, and the first teaser trailer for the new movie has just dropped. Releasing in mid-2019, the film will once again tell the tale of Simba, who's set to take over the pride from his father Mufasa, only for his malicious uncle Scar to get in the way. You know where it goes from there — and while you're watching extremely life-like lions prowl around Africa, you'll be hearing the voices of Donald Glover as Simba, none other than Beyoncé Knowles-Carter as his childhood pal Nala, and James Earl Jones as his dad. Yes, the latter is reprising his role from the original film. Other big names attached include Chiwetel Ejiofor as Scar, John Oliver as Zazu, and Billy Eichner and Seth Rogen as Timon and Pumbaa. Elton John is back working on the soundtrack with Tim Rice, as they both did on the first film. They'll reportedly have some help from Beyoncé, naturally, while The Jungle Book's Jon Favreau is in the director's chair for the entire production. If you're anxious about how it might turn out, it's worth taking Timon and Pumbaa's advice at this early stage — although this initial look should help get rid of your worries for the rest of your days. The Lion King hits Australian cinemas on July 18, 2019. Feel the love for the first trailer below: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aJbI5f3z3Po&feature=youtu.be
Since the first-ever Valley Fiesta back in 1997, one of Brisbane's favourite events has popped up in all shapes and sizes. Its suburb remains the same, obviously, but how many days it runs for, exactly where in Fortitude Valley that it sets up its stages, who is on the bill and whether there's more than just tunes involved can change from year to year. Accordingly, whenever the program drops, Valley Fiesta's surprises span more than just the lineup. In 2024, this massive street party is returning as a one-day affair — and heading along is free. From 1.30–10pm on Saturday, October 26, the all-ages event will take over Brunswick Street, Winn Lane and Bakery Lane, setting up four stages featuring 20 local and national acts. On headlining duties: Meg Mac, May-a and The Buoys. Attendees will find the QMusic-produced roster of talent's key trio on the main stage in the Brunswick Street Mall, joined by Daste, Velvet Trip, Porpoise Spit, Deafcult and 01 Thurman. Valley Fiesta's primary location will also feature a DJ stage, with Zed Mero, Danyon, Eve and Eljae on the decks. Or, Brisbanites can hit the laneways to enjoy tracks spun by a QUIVR lineup of Patricia, DJ EmGem, Kodos, First Beige DJs, Sophie McAlister and Andras in Winn Lane. Bakery Lane isn't missing out on the action, either, thanks to a DJ stage with Luke Brazier and Jimmy Ellis. Valley Fiesta 2024 Lineup Brunswick Street Main Stage: Meg Mac May-A The Buoys Daste Velvet Trip Porpoise Spit Deafcult 01 Thurman Brunswick Street DJ Stage: Zed Mero Danyon Eve Eljae Winn Lane QUIVR Stage: Patricia DJ EmGem Kodos First Beige DJs Sophie McAlister Andras Bakery Lane DJ Stage: Luke Brazier Jimmy Ellis Select images: Dave Kan, Tom Sue Yek.
Is there anything Sam Simmons hasn’t done? He used to routinely perplex Triple J listeners with his shitty trivia, he got married in an Elvis Chapel in Vegas and invited everyone to go along or watch online, and he’s appeared on Conan O’Brien’s talk show. Simmons is also known for delivering show after show of crazy comedy gold centred around all the things that annoy him, and his new stand-up set is unlikely to be any different. Returning to Australia from LA, where he is now based, he’s certain to have a fresh batch of comic grievances to air, songs to sing and strangeness to share.
Twice a year, the Sydney-based Queer Screen team puts together a film festival — because condensing the year's best LGBTIQ+ into just one event is a tricky feat. The first, the Mardi Gras Film Festival, happened earlier in 2020. Now, in this new pandemic-afflicted world, the crew's second fest for the year is heading to your screens. That'd be Queer Screen Film Fest, which runs from Thursday, September 17–Sunday, September 27 — and, adapting to this chaotic year, will largely be held virtually. If you're located outside of Sydney, that's particularly excellent news, as the festival is going national in 2020, too. On the bill: more than 40 feature films, documentaries and shorts, with the majority streaming to your chosen device during the fest period. That means that you can curl up on the couch and watch everything from queer German coming-of-age film Cocoon and Japan-set drama Moonlit Winter to New Zealand rom-com Same But Different: A True New Zealand Love Story — plus cross-cultural romance Breaking Fast, documentary Steelers: The World's First Gay Rugby Club and a heap of shorts as well. For Sydneysiders keen for a night out, that is still an option — at the Skyline Drive-In and the Chauvel Cinema. Hop in your car to see the Jacki Weaver-starring Stage Mother or Aussie classic The Adventures of Priscilla, Queen of the Desert under the stars, or get cosy in the theatre to check out acclaimed doco Welcome to Chechnya. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8N0bzQ-qzCg The 2020 Queer Screen Film Fest runs from Thursday, September 17–Sunday, September 27 , with most of its program available online nationally. It's also hosting physical events on Saturday, September 19 and Sunday, September 20 at the Chauvel Cinema, and on Saturday, September 26 at the Skyline Drive-In.
If this isn't a golden ticket to a great night on the couch, then we don't know what is: the delightful Willy Wonka prequel starring Timothée Chalamet (Bones and All) and directed by the Paddington films' Paul King is now spreading its sweetness to your couch. Although it's still playing in cinemas after opening in mid-December 2023, Wonka has been fast-tracked to digital so that you can get chocolate cravings at home. And you will be have a hankering for desserts as Chalamet sings, twirls around an umbrella, and talks about making weird and wonderful treats — and as a childhood favourite gets a prequel. Our tip: choose your movie-watching snacks accordingly. Otherwise, your stomach will start grumbling amid the songs, dancing and Hugh Grant (Dungeons & Dragons: Honour Among Thieves) stealing scenes as an Oompa-Loompa. Wonka hitting digital helps add to any pre-Dune: Part Two Timmy C marathons that you might be planning before the latter film reaches the big screen at the end of February. With King writing and directing, the first with co-scribe Simon Farnaby, this new stint with Roald Dahl's chocolatier gives the character an origin story starring the actor who has had his heart broken during a lusty Italian summer, romanced Saoirse Ronan in a Greta Gerwig film not once but twice, spiced up his life in a sci-fi saga and sported a taste for human flesh. Here, Chalamet croons his way through a whimsical world of sugar and pure imagination. First gracing the page almost six decades back, in 1964 when Charlie and the Chocolate Factory initially hit print, Willy Wonka has made the leap to cinemas before with Gene Wilder playing the part in 1971, then Johnny Depp in 2005. The difference this time: not just Chalamet, but a film that swirls in the details of Wonka's life before the events that've already been laid out in books and filled those two movies. The picture's main man has a dream — and, after spending the past seven years travelling the world perfect his craft, he's willing to get inventive to make it come true. Starting a chocolate business isn't easy, especially when the chocolate cartel doesn't take kindly to newcomers, selling choccies at an affordable price and sharing their wares with the masses. From there, brainwaves, optimism, determination, Wonka inventions and life-changing choices all spring, plus big vats of chocolate, chocolate that makes you fly and Willy's dedication to making the greatest chocolate shop the world has ever seen. Beyond Chalamet and Grant, Wonka's cast is as jam-packed as a lolly bag, with the pair joined by Farnaby (The Phantom of the Open), as well as Olivia Colman (Heartstopper), Sally Hawkins (The Lost King), Keegan-Michael Key (The Super Mario Bros Movie), Rowan Atkinson (Man vs Bee), Jim Carter (Downton Abbey: A New Era) and Natasha Rothwell (Sonic the Hedgehog 2). And the magical tone sprinkled throughout Wonka doesn't just fit the tale — it's exactly what King and Farnaby spun when they were celebrating a marmalade-loving bear. King helmed and penned both Paddington movies, while Farnaby also did the latter on the second (and acted in each). The duo worked together on wonderful and underseen 2009 film Bunny and the Bull as well, and on The Mighty Boosh, of which King directed 20 episodes. Check out the trailer for Wonka below: Wonka is available to stream via platforms such as YouTube Movies, iTunes and Prime Video. It's also still showing in cinemas Down Under. Read our review.
Returning for its sixth year, Brisbane Powerhouse's Wonderland festival promises a treasure trove of fun — especially if you're a fan of weird and wonderful entertainment. 2019's event features 28 shows between Thursday, November 21 to Sunday, December 1, so yes, it's going to be a busy nine days. Adults-only circus, 1960s swing parties and and a tribute to Nina Simone are all on the bill, because this is an eclectic lineup. So are electrifying vocals and eye-popping acrobatics, all across a huge feast of weird and wonderful theatre, art, music, magic, burlesque, circus, cabaret and comedy. Feeling spoiled for choice? We're here to help — thanks to our five must-see picks.
UPDATE, MARCH 18: Due to concerns around COVID-19, Spiral: From the Book of Saw will no longer release on its initially scheduled date of Thursday, May 14, 2020. At present, a new release date has not been announced — we'll update you when one has been revealed. To find out more about the status of COVID-19 in Australia and how to protect yourself, head to the Australian Government Department of Health's website. In 2003, James Wan and Leigh Whannell made a short film that completely changed the Australian duo's careers. These days Wan is known for directing everything from Fast and Furious 7 to Aquaman, while Whannell has jumped behind the lens on Upgrade and the upcoming The Invisible Man — but none of that might have happened if it wasn't for the Saw franchise. Running for just under ten minutes, the original Saw short was designed to help the Aussie filmmakers secure funding to make a feature — a horror flick of the same name, in fact. Not only did it achieve that aim, but it sparked a long-running big-screen series about the twisted Jigsaw Killer. And this unnerving saga just keeps spawning sequels. Spiral: From the Book of Saw is the latest Saw instalment, marking the franchise's ninth outing. Whenever a horror movie series starts approaching double digits, it can prove a case of diminishing returns; however Spiral has a few aces up its sleeves. Wan and Whannell have long since stepped back from leading the charge, instead taking on roles as executive producers — but the newest flick to spring from their gruesome short film stars Chris Rock and Samuel L Jackson. As the just-dropped first Spiral trailer shows, Rock plays Detective Ezekiel 'Zeke' Banks. With his rookie partner William Schenk (Max Minghella), he's soon investigating a spate of gory murders. For seasoned Saw fans, these killings should look more than a little familiar. Naturally, because that's how this series works, it doesn't take long for Banks to get caught up in a game with the perpetrator. The fact that Spiral is directed by Saw II, Saw III and Saw IV's Darren Lynn Bousman might temper your curiosity a little. Indeed, the last few Saw films mightn't inspire much confidence either — including 2017's Jigsaw, as directed by fellow Aussies Michael and Peter Spierig (Winchester). But seeing Rock and Jackson step into this franchise is intriguing at the very least. In case you were wondering, Jackson plays another police veteran with ties to the case, busting out his usual swaggering, swearing on-screen persona in the process. Check out the Spiral trailer below: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4gaWj_c0-wM&feature=youtu.be Spiral was due to open in Australian cinemas on May 14, 2020; however it'll now release on a yet-to-be-revealed date — we'll update you when one is announced.
Trust Black Bear Lodge to come up with a Christmas event that recognises what the majority of Australians would rather be doing on December 25. Most of us can't head to the beach for a spot of surfing and splashing about — no matter how much we'd like to — but we can do our best to pretend otherwise at Surfmas. Yes, the Brunswick Street venue is throwing everyone's favourite end-of-year party again, much to the delight of anyone of anyone who wants to get tropical. Los Huevos, Teen Sensations, The Plastic Fangs and The Wet Fish will help set the mood, and cocktails with pineapple in them will as well. We're sure they'll all do the job.
One moment Dominika Egorova (Jennifer Lawrence) is the pride of Russia. The next, she's being bundled off to "whore school". They're her words, all but spat at the shady uncle (Matthias Schoenaerts) responsible, and they say plenty about Red Sparrow. She's a Bolshoi prima ballerina cut down in her prime by envious colleagues, he's a high-ranking honcho with one of the country's intelligence agencies, and their entire relationship consists of him exerting power over her with a lecherous glint in his eye and no qualms about resorting to violence. Unfortunately, this muddled and murky film is all too happy to follow his lead. With her dancing dreams dashed and the her mother's (Joely Richardson) health insurance under threat, Dominika has little choice but to take her uncle's career advice. After agreeing to meet a suspected traitor and bearing witness to his assassination, her only option is to become a 'Sparrow' — a highly trained spy enlisted to seduce and manipulate using everything at her disposal. When she's subsequently put into the field to procure the name of a Russian mole from an American CIA agent (Joel Edgerton), our heroine is quickly forced to give her new skills a workout. Thanks to Lawrence's typically committed and uncompromising performance, Dominika possesses an indefatigable air and quite the formidable stare. But Red Sparrow isn't an ass-kicking female-driven flick in the vein of Atomic Blonde, Haywire or La Femme Nikita, or even the action spin on Black Swan that it nods to in its name. Nor is it a pulpy revenge story, an icy espionage thriller or a rousing tale of a victimised woman using her feminine wiles not only to survive, but to bring down the system that's stacked against her. Based on a novel by retired CIA operative Jason Matthews and directed by three-time Hunger Games helmer Francis Lawrence (no relation), the film is simply a routine array of predictable twists packaged with a particularly problematic approach. Specifically, there's nothing empowering or entertaining about a movie that constantly wears its heroine down just because it can. Red Sparrow tries to frame its treatment of its protagonist as an example of an entire country's corruption ("your body belongs to the State!" Dominika is told in one of the film's more blatant moments), but that rationalisation fails to convince. At the same time, the screenplay touches briefly on themes ranging from toxic sexual politics to the treatment of women in the workplace, but that social commentary falls flat as well. It's hard to take seriously any statement on the objectification and exploitation of women when your female protagonist spends most of the movie being raped, beaten, pushed around and bled dry, often while naked or close to it. Frequently, it feels like Red Sparrow is putting Lawrence in the same situation as Dominika, using her for the audience's gratification. Still, Red Sparrow does have some saving graces — all of which come courtesy of the film's stacked supporting cast. There's Charlotte Rampling as Dominika's no-nonsense trainer, Jeremy Irons as a slippery Russian general and Mary-Louise Parker doing some excellent drunk acting. A better movie could be made about any of their characters, and mightn't need to include cringeworthy dialogue like "the West has gone weak, drunk on shopping and social media!" As we see demonstrated again and again, that kind of overcooked writing really does speak volumes about this troublesome film. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FFpJAIy-cow
Last year saw warmer and drier weather conditions than normal, kicking off with a record-breaking summer, followed by a hotter-than-standard autumn, a warmer-than-usual winter and a sweltering spring. 2019 was also a year severe water restrictions, then the summer of soaring temperatures — and devastating bushfires only a few months ago. We're currently in drought, with particular concerns in regional NSW and subsequent water restrictions enforced in Sydney. To say Australia needs some rain is a gross understatement. And this winter the country may get it, with the Bureau of Meteorology reporting a wetter than average few months to come. As it does every quarter, the Bureau of Meteorology has released its climate outlook for the May to July period, and the forecast favours one word we're all too familiar with: warm. But it also predicts rain, with this winter looking likely to break our dry spell. Finally, some good news in 2020. For the first time in years, the Darling River has met the Murray, meaning some encouraging signs for drought-stricken areas in Australia's southeast. And, recently, we've seen above average soil moisture conditions, which are a good primer for runoff and catchment when further rain comes. That said, it will take a lot of heavy rain fall to replenish many of the catchment stores to how they were a few years ago, which is unlikely to be achieved in one (albeit wet) season. The predicted heavier rainfall is due to warmer than average eastern Indian Ocean — which is currently the main influence on Australia's climate — increasing the moisture that feeds into weather systems as they move across the country. Overall, there's mostly a 60–75-percent chance for more rain in Australia over the next few months, with a greater than 75-percent chance for central Australia and WA. But, for much of northern Australia and the east coast, including Tasmania, the likelihood of a wetter or drier period from May through July is roughly equal at this stage. There's also a very good chance that you'll experience winter temperatures that are warmer than average. Of course, the period in BOM's new outlook does cover winter, so weather across the country won't be balmy — but it's likely to be hotter than the median. Nights are expected to be toastier than average, with a more than 80-percent chance for most regions and a slightly lower one (70–89-percent) for southwest and southeast Australia. In Sydney, that means the mercury will be above a 11.6- degree minimum in May, higher than 9.3 in June and 8.1 in July, while Melbourne can expect temps above 8.7, 6.9 and 6 in the same months. In Brisbane, the standard minimums range between 9.5–13.3 and in Perth it spans 7.9–10.5. Above average daytime temperatures are expected along the east coast and extending to northeast Tasmania, as well as across northern parts of Australia, too. Elsewhere, average daytime temperatures are just as likely to be warmer or cooler than average. While rising temperatures are becoming a familiar story, the prospect of rain is something we haven't heard in a while. So, let's hope the weatherman is right.
For the second year in a row — and only the second time in the more than three decades that the country's professional Aussie Rules competition has called itself the Australian Football League — the AFL grand final might be hosted outside of Melbourne. AFL CEO Gillon McLachlan has announced that the code will shift the biggest game of the 2021 season to Perth's Optus Stadium if the Victorian capital is still under lockdown, or if the Melbourne Cricket Ground is unable to welcome in spectators. In 2020, the AFL made the move to the Brisbane Cricket Ground, aka the Gabba, due to Melbourne's lengthy stint of stay-at-home conditions. Now, a year later, the city is currently under lockdown for the sixth time during the pandemic, which is set to remain in place at this stage until Thursday, September 2. Whether the stay-at-home rules will ease then as planned is yet to be seen, with Victoria's new locally acquired COVID-19 case numbers hovering between 40–71 since Thursday, August 19. And, if lockdown does end before the scheduled grand final date on Saturday, September 25, whether Melbourne's stadiums will be permitted to host crowds under post-lockdown restrictions is similarly unknown. Announcing the news on Wednesday, August 25, AFL CEO Gillon McLachlan said that "if we're unable to play at the MCG, the Grand Final will be at Optus Stadium... The capacity available at Optus Stadium is 100 percent and that's pretty compelling to have as many people as we can see the biggest and best sporting event in the country," he continued. Optus Stadium can 60,000 people, and the AFL is expected to make a final decision sometime during the week beginning Monday, August 30. That's the same week that the lockdown not just in Melbourne but also in all of Victoria is currently set to end — and that the city's and state's residents will learn if it's being extended. Perth will host the 2021 Toyota AFL Grand Final, if the MCG cannot hold the event in front of crowds. — AFL (@AFL) August 25, 2021 In 2020, the AFL also nominated a backup stadium in the event that cases surged in Brisbane. If the game is held in Perth, it's likely either Adelaide Oval or the Gabba could be named as backups. Moving the game to Perth also means that 2020's night grand final won't be repeated due to the time difference between Australia's west and east coasts. McLachlan said that the AFL would be looking at an afternoon or twilight time slot. A Perth grand final won't feature any Western Australian AFL teams, however, with both the West Coast Eagles and the Fremantle Dockers failing to make the code's finals season. Just like last year, it really shouldn't have taken three decades for a competition that's not only named after the entire country, but that changed its moniker in 1990 to reflect the fact that it was no longer just about Victoria, to host its deciders in other cities. Before 2020, the grand final had actually been played at venues other than the MCG before — but still in Melbourne. The MCG remains contracted to host the grand final for a significant period moving forward, however, with its contact originally running through until 2057, then extended until 2058 as part of the agreement to allow the game to be played at the Gabba in 2020. If the move to Perth happens this year, it wouldn't be surprising if the arrangement with the MCG will be extended again. If you're a Victorian — whether you've been missing the footy over the past month, or you're not fussed about the sport at all — you might be wondering about the usual pre-grand final public holiday. Last year, even with the game being played in Brisbane, the holiday still went ahead. What'll happen this year hasn't been revealed as yet. The 2021 AFL Grand Final will take place on Saturday, September 25 — at the MCG if it is able to host a crowd, or at Optus Stadium in Perth otherwise. A final decision is expected during the week beginning Monday, August 30, and you can read more about the current details on the AFL website. Top image: Optus Stadium, Government of Western Australia.
Anyone with even a passing interest in gaming will be familiar with the concept of the ‘boss arena’. Be it Mario or Mass Effect, there’s an intuitive moment experienced by every player when their character suddenly strolls into a vast open space surrounded by high, insurmountable walls and they're gripped by an immediate, unnerving sense that things are about to get a whole lot worse. Whether or not this idea directly informed the production team of The Hunger Games: Mockingjay Part II, the same unsettling sensation rears its head throughout the franchise’s final installment and will leave audiences scrambling for their invisible 'save buttons' time and time again. An abandoned city square, a deserted mall and a sewer system all play host to these phenomenally tense and terrifying sequences (so much so in that last sequence that parents were taking their children out of the screening). Indeed, this is a fittingly bleak and violent conclusion to a franchise where anything less would have represented a disappointing commercial concession. To end on a positive note would have offered an incompatibly upbeat finale to this tale of dystopian bloodsport in which children are forced to kill for entertainment and political intimidation. Even the satirical pomp of characters like Elizabeth Banks’s Effie and Stanley Tucci’s Caesar has been stripped bare, so much so that you could almost be forgiven for thinking Mockingjay II was filmed in greyscale. Gone, too (thankfully) is the teenage angst that mired much of the previous film in near unceasing dullness. In fact, everything here is kept mercifully simple: Katniss (Jennifer Lawrence) intends to kill President Snow (Donald Sutherland), but to do so she and her team must first navigate the perils of the Capital minefield. That’s it. That’s all that’s going on here. And the film is much stronger for it. The problem, of course, with such a dark and joyless approach is that portrayals of gritty, hardened soldiers can easily be mistaken for bored or lacklustre performances, and Mockingjay II is no exception. Sutherland, in fact, appears to be the only one enjoying himself, both as a character and a performer. His wry smile and pointed barbs earn almost every one of the sparse laughs throughout, leaving everyone else to move from scene to scene as if in a communal drunken daze. On the rare occasions where emotion does surface, it’s invariably from one of the supporting roles. To its credit, Mockingjay II doesn’t hold back in its depiction of war crimes, and its final stages boast a moment that is genuinely shocking, both narratively and visually. None of the films that have followed the original have been able to match it – either in terms of story or performance – but the finale is not far behind. A fittingly bleak and violent conclusion to a compelling if overlong young adult franchise. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=n-7K_OjsDCQ
Stones Corner and shopping go hand in hand; however come April 24, shopaholics will have an extra reason to head to the area. Yep, it's market time again, complete with all the arts, crafts, homewares and food stalls you can dream of. Plus, a very special occasion is on the agenda. ANZAC Day might be the main thing on everyone's minds this weekend, but another event is just around the corner. If you're fond of the lovely lady who brought you into this world, then you'll want to get browsing and buying at the Stones Corner Mother's Day Street Market. Nothing says 'I love you mum' like grabbing a gift early.
Brisbane already boasts a 'beach' right next to the riverbank, but when it comes to getting wet and wild in the city's main body of water, it seems that we can do better. Move over South Bank, because everyone might soon be heading to Teneriffe — and to Brissie's new floating pool in the middle of the river. As reported by Quest Newspapers and ABC News, a group of developers revamping the land at 17 Skyring Terrace plan to transform an existing wharf into a public riverside park, complete with a marina, public aquatic area and a 25-metre pool. And, as part of an idea presented to the Brisbane City Council, the latter would actually be located on a barge in the river. Don't worry — if the local and state levels of government agree to help move some powerlines underground, meaning that the plan can go ahead, you won't actually be swimming in the city's questionable river water (phew). Basically, it's the best of both worlds: everyone would get to splash around in the river without actually getting into the river itself. When it comes to man-made swimming spots within natural waterways, it seems that everybody's doing it, with a similar concept floated in Melbourne earlier this year. And we get it. Why wouldn't every city be jumping on the mid-river pool bandwagon, really? We're all for this idea, and we'll keep you posted on any updates. Via Quest / ABC News. Image: Emily Davies.
Ginuwine's 90s banger 'Pony' is about to get another workout — because Magic Mike, the Channing Tatum-starring franchise about male strippers chasing the American dream one shirtless dance at a time, is heading back to screens. That's great news for Ginuwine's royalties, and even better news for fans of the savvy — and sweaty, and scantily-clad — movie saga, which has also spawned its own Tatum-produced live show. And, yes, Tatum will be returning in Magic Mike's Last Dance as the eponymous Mike Lane. Well world, looks like Mike Lane's tapping back in. @hbomax pic.twitter.com/V9Ce62n710 — Channing Tatum (@channingtatum) November 29, 2021 If you somehow missed the 2012 hit, it saw Tatum turn his own background as a stripper in Tampa, Florida into one of that year's most perceptive flicks. The Matthew McConaughey, Matt Bomer, Joe Manganiello and Alex Pettyfer-starring film unsurprisingly became a box-office hit, too, with its combination of blue collar struggles and gyrating on-stage antics striking a chord to the tune of $167.2 million in takings. It was then followed by 2015's Magic Mike XXL, which did indeed manage to live up to its name — not merely by doubling down on what made the first movie such a success, but by also shrewdly recognising the power of the female gaze. Filmmaker Steven Soderbergh (Logan Lucky, Unsane) directed, shot and edited the initial movie, then just shot and edited the second; however, he's sitting back in the helmer's chair for Magic Mike's Last Dance. Also returning is screenwriter Reid Carolin, who has done the honours all the entire franchise so far. As for what it's about, Tatum's tweet announcing the movie didn't provide any details other than the fact that Mike is tapping back in — and, thanks to the film's title, that this is his final outing. Exactly when you'll be able to see the feature hasn't yet been revealed either, but it's heading to HBO Max, the cable network's streaming platform, in the US when it does surface. There's no word yet on where and when the bumping and grinding will appear Down Under. Also, there's clearly no sneak peek for Magic Mike's Last Dance so far, either, but here's the original film's trailer to get you in the mood: Exactly when Magic Mike's Last Dance will release — and where it'll be available Down Under — hasn't yet been revealed. We'll update you with more details when they come to hand.
In response to Melbourne's growing Holiday Inn COVID-19 cluster, the entire state of Victoria will enter a five-day lockdown from 11.59pm on Friday, February 12 until the same time on Wednesday, February 17. That means that stage four restrictions will be back in effect, and you'll only be able to leave your house for the now-familiar four reasons. The lockdown is happening in the middle of one of Melbourne's biggest annual sporting events, too: the Australian Open. It's running from Monday, February 8–Sunday, February 21, with big-name stars including Serena Williams, Naomi Osaka and Rafael Nadal flying in (and quarantining) for the event. The good news is that the Australian Open will go ahead during the five-day lockdown. The bad: no spectators will be allowed to attend. https://twitter.com/AustralianOpen/status/1360069954800807938 Under the new stage four restriction rules, professional athletes are considered 'essential workers', so they are allowed to leave their homes and their five-kilometre radius to go to work. This means, not only can the Australian Open games go ahead — but so can the AFLW games that are scheduled for this weekend. Once again, without crowds. It does mean, however, that you can't head out in person to cheer on Ashleigh Barty, Carlton or North Melbourne, but you can order in a feast for you and your housemates (or intimate partner) and yell as loud as you want from the comfort of your house. In regards to tonight's matches, in particular the much-hyped 7pm game between Nick Kyrgios and Dominic Thiem, the AO has said "sessions today and tonight will continue as planned with COVIDSafe protocols in place". But, do remember that stage four restrictions begin at 11.59pm. All of Victoria will revert back to stage four restrictions from 11.59pm on Friday, February 12 to 11.59pm on Wednesday, February 17. For more information about the rules, head to the Victorian Department of Health website. Top image: Australian Open 2020 by Rob Keating via Wikimedia Commons
UPDATE, March 7, 2022: World Science Festival Brisbane has cancelled its in-person program due to Brisbane's floods, and will now host a virtual program instead. This article has been updated to reflect that change. Brisbane isn't quite the centre of the universe, but it was supposed to feel that way this March. For five days from Wednesday, March 9–Sunday, March 13, all things science and technology were set to take over the city as part of the only Asia-Pacific offshoot of New York's World Science Festival, which Brissie has hosted since 2016. Think: talks, panels, workshops and films, all about science and technology, as well as both science and art installations. But, then the weather intervened. Accordingly, this year's in-person festival has been cancelled — including everything from its movie program at the Gallery of Modern Art to its stargazing night and sustainability market. Installation-focused art, science and technology offshoot Curiocity Brisbane has been postponed, too, with new dates for later in the year set to be announced. That's the bad news. In better news, World Science Festival Brisbane has pivoted to an online-only program, which'll run across the same festival dates. The smaller lineup of livestreamed events and talks includes chats about Einstein and quantum entanglement, a step into the space race and an exploration of humanity's fascination with Mars. Also, there's a session on a very apt topic: the weather. The digital lineup still features an impressive range of talent, spanning leading scientists, musicians, journalists and academics from around Australia and the world — such as World Science Festival co-founder Professor Brian Green, space archaeologist Dr Alice Gorman, Queensland Chief Scientist Professor Hugh Possingham and Torres Strait Islander human rights lawyer Sasha Purcell. Also streaming: a selection of pre-recorded past conversations on the scientific search for a fountain of youth, cybercrime, the darkness of the universe, the rights of nature and coral.
One thing sure to rip a pet owner's heart out: leaving your pup behind whenever you're on holiday. Luckily, to celebrate International Dog Day, QT Hotels & Resorts is launching dog-friendly stays for your better half, so you never have to leave them again. Pup Yeah! is an Australia-wide add-on that can complement any QT Hotel stay. It includes pet-appointed rooms filled with luxury treats from the mini-bar, belly rubs and butler service. Then, for a dog dinner that's truly Michelin-star worthy, pups can enjoy steak tartare and bacon ice cream. For the best sleep a pooch can get, each Pup Yeah! room is fitted with a CUB bed, featuring orthopedic memory foam. Not to mention, each QT destination has a 'Strut Your Pup' digital map with the best local walks, dog-friendly parks and cafés. If at any point you need some human time, some QT Hotels also offer dog-walkers (known as Directors of Chaos) to take your pups on a little adventure. You'll also go home with some dog grooming essentials like, smith&burton soothing cologne and waterless foam shampoo. Pup Yeah! rooms start from an additional $120 for three nights. You can book a Pup Yeah! room from August 26, so get your pups ready for a pawfect hotel experience.
While the live music patrons in Sydney and Melbourne are a bit down in the dumps, with many long standing music venues closing due to economic downturns, up here in Brisbane we prefer to look on the bright side of life. This is particularly funny when you find out that our latest music venue to open is actually called The Brightside. Taking over the Electric Playground premesis, The Brightside is being touted as a new hub of live music in Fortitude Valley. A joint venture by Destroy All Lines and The Fans Group, The Brightside will be a multipurpose venue for alternative music. One of the first big nights on The Brightside's calendar is the Bedroom Suck Showcase which features some amazing Brisbane and interstate talent, all of which feature on the BSR roster. Melbourne’s Full Ugly (pictured) and South Australia’s Rites Wild will be playing alongside Brisbane-ites Thigh Master and Martyr Privates, which in my opinion, is a killer line-up. Entry is $15 but is well worth double that just to be a part of the next chapter in Brisbane music, one where the future is bright.
Think you can't go on an Easter egg hunt in a bar? Think again. Think you can't go on an Easter egg hunt in a bar while drinking chocolate cocktails and listening to surf rock? Think again, again. When Los Huevos take to the Junk Bar stage from 8pm on April 13, they'll be leading the charge when it comes to tunes and chocolate — and making you feel like you should really be at the beach. If all that isn't enough, apparently the evening's special boozy beverage will taste like hot cross buns. Yum.
Usually, when a new Pixar film hits screens — typically cinemas, but occasionally being fast-tracked to streaming as well — it unleashes a whole heap of emotions. Getting viewers to ponder their feelings is a big part of the animation company's formula, after all, and it's been working well for them for a quarter-century. See: everything from Wall-E and Ratatouille to Inside Out and Soul. When the next Pixar flick arrives in June, it'll tap into a very specific sensation that's been bubbling up since early 2020. And, it's one that we're all familiar with. Are you craving a vacation? Do you feel a strong yearning to travel the globe and see somewhere other than your own backyard, city, state or country? Have you been dreaming of beaches far, far away every night for 12 months? Then the fact that Luca is set in the Italian Riviera and follows two teenagers over summer is certain to stoke your wanderlust. If the just-dropped first trailer for the film is anything to go by, first-time feature director Enrico Casarosa (Pixar short La Luna) and his team seem to have crafted a gorgeous-looking movie that'll have you wishing you're on the other side of the globe. Against those striking animated backdrops, two teens eat gelato, devour pasta, ride scooters, explore caves and splash around in the gleaming blue ocean. Oh, and they try to hide the fact that they're actually sea monsters — which becomes obvious whenever they get wet — too. As this tale unfurls, viewers will hear Jacob Tremblay (Room, Good Boys) as the eponymous 13-year-old Luca Paguro, while Jack Dylan Grazer (Shazam!, We Are Who We Are) voices his pal Alberto Scorfano. Also among the cast: debutant Emma Berman, Maya Rudolph (The Good Place), Marco Barricelli (The Book of Daniel) and Jim Gaffigan (Tesla). Check out the trailer for Luca below: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0i1fgoMyoG8&feature=youtu.be Luca is set to release in Australian cinemas on June 17. Images: © 2020 Disney/Pixar.
Brisbane cinephiles have become accustomed to disruption, especially when it comes to the city's major cinema showcase. Over the past decade, the Brisbane International Film Festival has changed its spot on the calendar four times, been cancelled and replaced, seen its replacement cancelled too, and then been resurrected not once but twice. But, in 2020, it's actually progressing as usual. In its third year at the Gallery of Modern Art — with the fest both hosted and run by the South Bank venue — BIFF will take place as a physical event from Thursday, October 1–Sunday, October 11. In a normal year, that'd just be expected; however we all know that this isn't a normal year. Indeed, the Sydney Film Festival and Melbourne International Film Festival both scrapped their in-person fests in favour of virtual editions due to COVID-19. Just what'll be screening at BIFF hasn't yet been revealed — but movie buffs will be watching the festival's flicks in a cinema. Just where, other than GOMA, BIFF will screen hasn't been revealed either. The festival will provide details of not just its program and locations, but about its COVID-19 safe screening plans, closer to BIFF's October date. For now, though, get excited about heading out of the house, sitting in a darkened room with other film lovers, and feasting on a lineup of new local, Australian and international movies. [caption id="attachment_774218" align="aligncenter" width="1920"] Brisbane International Film Festival[/caption] The 2020 Brisbane International Film Festival will take place between Thursday, October 1–Sunday, October 11. Top image: Gallery of Modern Art, exterior south and east face, James Turrell artwork.
First, it was a popular 80s comedy starring Dolly Parton, Jane Fonda and Lily Tomlin. Then, it became a five-season television sitcom led by Parton's real-life younger sister. In 2009, 9 to 5 made the leap to the stage too, because you just can't stop a good story about female empowerment in the workplace. Revived in the West End back in 2019, it's still a huge hit — and now, the stage production will head to Brisbane in March next year. Just by reading the show's title, we know that you already have Parton's catchy song of the same name stuck in your head. Pour yourself a cup of ambition, because that tune isn't going away anytime soon. Indeed, you'd best get ready to exclaim "what a way to make a living" more than once when 9 to 5 The Musical hits QPAC's Lyric Theatre from May 22, 2022. Ahead of its time when it first reached cinemas, this tale of three women who take on their sexist, egotistical and all-round despicable male boss is obviously still highly relevant today. Before #TimesUp and #MeToo, workmates Doralee, Violet and Judy decided to turn the tables by kidnapping their supervisor and reforming their office. Expect the same story in 9 to 5 The Musical, as penned by the original film's screenwriter Patricia Resnick — just with more songs. The Australian version will star Caroline O'Connor (a veteran of the movie version of Moulin Rouge!), as well as Eddie Perfect as the workplace's controlling boss. With Parton herself writing the score — and earning Tony and Grammy nominations for her efforts — expect plenty of feel-good music as well. Although she doesn't appear on stage, the famous country star is still involved with the show, and with bringing it to Australia. Images: Pamela Raith Photography.
There ain't no party like a backyard party — and, when the backyard in question is attached to an iconic Brisbane venue, things get a little more epic. Think of A Night at the Old Museum as the kind of home shindig you've always wanted to throw, but with Stone & Wood doing the work for you. A free-entry, outdoor party, A Night at the Old Museum will have beers and more beers on offer, including a special Brewsvegas tipple. S&W will be donating all the proceeds to OzHarvest, so consider having a brew a good deed. Ze Pickle, King of Wings, Cone Queen and Luigi Italian will also be on hand to fill your stomach, Sonic Sherpa will help stock your record collection, and yard games, live art from DRAPL and Your Mates DJs on the decks will cap off the fun. Come 9pm, step inside for a gig by The Belligerents, with the $20 ticket price once again going to OzHarvest.
If The Rise and Fall of Ziggy Stardust wasn't already MELT's number one must-see event, it certainly is now. What was first conceived as a celebration has become a tribute to the dearly departed icon, attempting to honour the man known as David Robert Jones, David Bowie, Aladdin Sane, the Thin White Duke and, of course, Ziggy Stardust. It's the latter that's in the spotlight here, with a who's who of Brisbane musicians performing in full the album that brought Bowie's glam-rock persona to the world. Yes, there'll be tears — but there'll also be the joy of timeless tracks such as 'Starman', 'Moonage Daydream', 'Suffragette City', 'Five Years' and 'Rock 'n' Roll Suicide'. Plus, 10% of all proceeds will be donated to the Australian Cancer Research Foundation.
If the arrival of August has you thinking about carnival rides, sideshow games, fairy floss, Bertie Beetles and strawberry sundaes, congrats — you clearly live in Brisbane. We've been well-conditioned that way, because this time of year heralds the Ekka's arrival, as well as the crucial annual return of its famed ice creams. 2022 is no different – in fact, it's a return to normal, with the Ekka making an in-person comeback after not one but two years of pandemic-related cancellations. And if you'd like to combine the Royal Queensland Show's beloved strawberry desserts with a brew or several, Stone and Wood has something extra special on offer. For the third year running, the brewery is bringing back its Ekka-inspired Strawberry Sundae Kisses beer. Yes, it's a boozy version of iconic dessert, and it tastes like strawberries and cream. Stone and Wood whip it up in the traditional Berliner Weisse style, using 60 kilograms of strawberries, with the brew also featuring lactose and vanilla — and it'll be available in two places around town. Your obvious port of call: the Ekka itself. For the first time given the events of the past two years, Strawberry Sundae Kisses will be served at the Royal Queensland Show, pouring through the event's taps between Saturday, August 6–Sunday, August 14. (Yes, that means that you can definitely eat a strawberry sundae immediately before or after sipping the beer the dish has inspired.) Your second destination: Stone and Wood's Brisbane brewery in Fortitude Valley, which is getting the drinks started early from Thursday, August 4. Originally, the brew came about as a way to help support charity The Common Good, which uses the sundaes as a fundraising effort for The Prince Charles Hospital Foundation. And, that's exactly where Stone and Wood is directing proceeds from the beer, too — so getting sipping will mean helping a great cause. One note: 2022's batch of Strawberry Sundae Kisses is around for a good time, not a long time, and will only be available at the brewery until sold out. In past years, it has lasted just three weeks, so getting in quickly is recommended. Stone and Wood's Strawberry Sundae Kisses beer will be available from its Brisbane brewery at 99 Bridge St, Fortitude Valley, from Thursday, August 4 — and from the Ekka at Brisbane Showgrounds, Bowen Hills, between Saturday, August 6–Sunday, August 14.
Among the many things we've all been missing over the past year or so, big events and venturing far and wide both rank high on the list. Large-scale music festivals have only just started making a comeback around the country, and being allowed to leave the country to holiday in New Zealand is still a relatively new development. But if you'd like to an excuse to explore Queensland — and to enjoy a heap of live tunes while you're doing so — Queensland Music Trails is here to take you on a statewide road trip. A new event from the team at QMF (formerly Queensland Music Festival), Queensland Music Trails is hosting an array of gigs and shows across the state, all as part of set trails. Kicking off on Friday, June 25, it's heading to the state's southern outback region first up. Until Thursday, July 8, everywhere from Jimbour to Charleville — and Quilpie, Windorah and Birdsville, too — will host different parts of the program, spanning opera shows in a homestead, chamber music under the stars, a blend of puppetry and tunes against a scenic backdrop, and more. If Opera at Jimbour sounds familiar, that's because it has happened before. This time, Jimbour House in the Western Downs will host two galas — and camping over four nights, if you want to turn your visit into a proper getaway. Or, for those keen on a stint of peering at the sky, you'll be able to do just that at Music for Stargazing at the Charleville Cosmos Centre — with Kate Miller-Heidke and William Barton leading the lineup. At Baldy Top in Quilpie the southwest, Topology and Dead Puppet Society are joining forces to pair the former's sounds and the latter's visual theatre — and in Rabig Park in Windorah, blues, roots and acoustic artists such as Karl S Williams, Emily Wurramara and Hussy Hicks will treat your ears. Also on the bill is Birdsville's Big Red Bash; however, it has already sold out. Images: Tourism and Events Queensland
Has your dog always wanted to sit on a 'Game of Bones'-style throne? More importantly, have you always wanted your four-legged sidekick to pretend that they're in Westeros — all so you can take the world's most adorable photo? If so, then you might just go barking mad for Australia's latest pop-up installation. It calls itself a museum, but it's really just an excuse for you to snap pics of your cute canine against extremely photogenic backdrops. Think Sugar Republic and Melbourne's Christmasland — but, instead of focusing on desserts and all things festive (and human), Pet Stars is all about those gorgeous little animal critters that we choose to spend our lives with. The name is a little misleading, because the pop-up is "encouraging dogs only", according to its website. That said, it is hosting VIP cats-only nights as well, should you have a Ser Pounce to take along. If you're the proud parent of a "larger animal, snake or scary creature", though, you'll definitely have to leave them at home. Debuting at the Gold Coast's Carrara Market Event Space on Thursday, November 28 ahead of planned 2020 seasons in both Sydney and Melbourne, Pet Stars will boast an array of themed spaces for puppers to frolic through. In addition to 'Game of Bones', there's a Kong dog ball pit, a room that's all about chewed shoes and a doggy high tea set-up. Or, maybe your furball needs a trip to the 'Doggy Style' grooming room or the glamour room? Given the season, of course there's a Christmas-focused room on the premises — there's your end-of-year pics taken care of. As well as more than 20 snap-happy scenes, Pet Stars will feature pet cosplay and a hall of fame room. You can also hang out in a park area with your pooch, and meet other dogs and dog owners. And, you can buy merchandise while you're there — but if you want to treat your doggo to some actual edible treats, you're encouraged to bring them with you. During its Queensland run, which spans three weekends until Sunday, December 15, Pet Stars will be donating $1 from each entry ticket to the Animal Welfare League of Queensland (and it's safe to assume it'll do something similar in New South Wales and Victoria, too). Don't have your own pet? You're still welcome to head along. In fact, if you stop by the Pet Rescue Area run by AWLQ, you might even find a dog and cat to adopt, take back through the installations, snap in heaps of pics and become your life-long best friend. Pet Stars will launch at the Carrara Market Event Space, on the corner of Gooding Drive and Manchester Road at Carrara on the Gold Coast, from Thursday, November 28–Sunday, December 15 — with tickets on sale now. It's open Thursday–Sunday during its run, welcoming dogs from 12–6pm on Thursdays, 12–8pm on Fridays, 10am–8pm on Saturdays and 10am–4pm on Sundays. Cat nights take place on Thursdays from 6–7pm.
Across MELT's 11-day program, the festival blends a whole heap of different art forms into one ace event. At Turbine, one performance combines music and dance styles into a queer fusion of ballet, classical music and electronic tunes, in what promises to be an intimate yet epic piece. Running from May 23 to 26, it's the work of Collusion, a music and dance ensemble that's getting personal with its latest effort. At the heart of the performance is a probing of freedoms and their price, as set to a score by composer Thomas Green, plus original music directed and performed by Collusion's Camille Barry and Benjamin Greaves.
Forget about tech-heavy toys and gizmos: kids can still have hours of fun bouncing up and down in a jumping castle. But this landmark pop-up is no ordinary experience, with The Big Bounce Australia featuring the world's largest jumping castle. Spanning a mind-boggling 1500 square metres, this sprawling inflatable contains slides, climbing walls, ball pits, basketball hoops and a central performance area with music and hosted activities. Plus, this huge blow-up runs alongside a 300-metre obstacle course, complete with over 50 challenges that'll test kids of all ages (not to mention adults). Leap into the galaxy-themed airSPACE zone, home to a five-lane slide, multiple elevated platforms and moon craters filled with balls. Meanwhile, the Sport Slam zone is jam-packed with goals, nets, hoops and balls so that everyone can bounce and compete at the same time. Touring nationally, The Big Bounce Australia is now at Flemington Racecourse in Melbourne until Sunday, January 11, before travelling to Canberra, Brisbane, Sydney, Adelaide and Perth over the next three months. With tickets starting from $40, three-hour sessions are held for toddlers, juniors and bigger kids. And for those aged 16 and older, adult-only sessions give you the chance to tackle this bouncy wonderland. "We are pleased to begin the tour in Melbourne, where there is strong demand for active, outdoor entertainment throughout summer," says Noa Overby, Tour Manager for Big Bounce Australia, "The Big Bounce offers a broad mix of activities that appeal to a wide range of ages and encourages people to get involved in something that is both social and physical."
Fish Lane's Town Square is putting its patch of pavement to good use, with markets now popping up in the South Brisbane spot. While bars and eateries line the laneway, and festivals have taken it over as well, Fish Lane only started hosting its own stalls back in 2021 — and in 2023, it's again giving you a chance to browse and buy locally made art, ceramics and other goods. Kicking off for the year on Sunday, April 16, the markets close down the road between Hope and Grey streets, and go big on showcasing local independent makers and designers. On offer: wares spanning everything from fashion, plants and jewellery to natural skincare and accessories for your dog as well. Obviously, you can also bring your four-legged friend with you as you browse the stalls. Food-wise, Fish Lane's existing cafes and eateries will keep you feed and caffeinated, so you can add a visit to Cups on Melbourne or Lune Croissanterie to your itinerary. For lunch, the likes of Julius, Southside, La Lune Wine Co, Chu The Phat, Big Roddy's and Grassfed will all be tempting your tastebuds The Fish Lane Markets run from 9am–1pm. If you haven't been to the precinct's Town Square yet, head for the rail bridge — you'll find it underneath.
If spotting a meal deal is as exciting to you as finding a twenty in last winter's coat pocket, then this list is for you. We've scoured Brisbane's bars, restaurants, breweries and pubs to find five great food and beverage pairing deals that you don't want to miss. Whether it's a schooey and a pizza, or tacos and bottomless margaritas, it's all here. Round up your tightest friends, crack open the piggy bank (or check those coat pockets) and get down to these local venues for some cheap thrills.
When the clock struck midnight on December 31, 2019, this year began in a familiar fashion. All around Australia, beverages were raised in cheers to the next 12 months. But as we all know by now, 2020 hasn't delivered what anyone hoped for. If there has been a silver lining to this tough year, however, it has been the renewed focus on supporting local businesses. As well as spending more time at home, shopping local, eating local and sipping local have all been on the agenda. And that has been essential for two Queensland drinks companies, Brisbane's Aether Brewing and Far North Queensland's Mt Uncle Distillery. They've been forging ahead and doing what they do best — and what their local fans love — even under the most trying of circumstances. Queenslanders have certainly shown them both affection, with Aether and Mt Uncle picked as the Sunshine State's favourite tipples during the BWS Local Luvvas initiative. Aether's brews and Mt Uncle's Botanic Australis Gin will now receive an extra helping hand with getting both products stocked in more BWS stores. And we've spoken to the masterminds behind the two drops about their dream jobs, their love of making top-notch drinks and the importance of homegrown support. WHEN YOUR PASSION BECOMES YOUR JOB With Mt Uncle Distillery based on a farm in the Atherton Tablelands, head distiller and director Mark Watkins doesn't just spend his days making the most of FNQ's sultry weather — he also makes drinks perfect for those tropical climes, too. Indeed, his love of the region's climate is one of the reasons he is doing what he does today. "Given the inability to grow grapes up here, I decided to put my wine science degree to use and make rum," he explains. Watkins started his distilling journey before his studies, as a teenager. "Needless to say, I was popular with my mates," he notes. But when he dived into the botany side of his degree, he "fell in love with Australian native plants, and had the drive to pursue the production of the quintessential Australian gin" — which is where the concept of Botanic Australis began. For Aether's Dave Ward, his move into brewing arose out of a completely different field — fly-in fly-out jobs building gas plants. Meeting and working alongside his now-former business partner, they both realised that "FIFO wasn't exactly the life we wanted to live forever, and the thought of owning a brewery really just fit with what we wanted," he advises. The fact that Ward already had a lifelong passion for brewing and beer helped, unsurprisingly. Ward credits that affection for yeasty beverages, and for making them, to his father. "It is one of my earliest memories as a child, brewing with dad and his friends — the exploding bottles in the laundry, the dodgy stouts from extract and some pretty awful beer," he explains. "Those memories have stuck with me my whole life, and fuelled my love of brewing and great beer. I home-brewed on and off for most of my adult life, and eventually I found my life in a position where I was able to live my dream." GETTING CREATIVE — AND LOCAL Obviously, it takes more than just a fondness for a frothy beverage to make it in the drinks industry. As Ward advises, "brewing for me is an expression of creativity". He's now at the point where, when he's "on the brew floor or designing new beers, it comes naturally" — but he admits that getting to that point required hard work. "The real challenge started when I started studying and I realised that I knew nothing about beer. The more I learnt, the more I wanted to know, and the more I realised that my lifetime wasn't going to be enough for me to learn everything I need to be the brewer I want to be," he says. Perhaps it shouldn't come as a surprise, then, that when asked to describe a great beer, Ward notes that it "isn't a style, or a flavour, or even a taste". Rather, he sees it as "the ability to make a beer for everyone". At Mt Uncle, Watkins has a firm view of what makes a standout spirit, too. For him — like much of his approach to his work — it reflects his location. While it'd be hard not to love distilling gin in such scenic, relaxed and leafy surroundings, Watkins can't separate his tipples from his home base. "A great spirit should reflect the environment that creates it," he tells us. In practical terms, that means that Mt Uncle sources or grows all of its ingredients locally. It's a great source of pride to the distillery, with everything in its products either stemming from around the distillery or from a stone's throw away. ADAPTING TO TOUGH TIMES WITH HOMEGROWN SUPPORT In Mt Uncle's case, you could say that what goes around comes around — in a positive manner, of course. "We are a very small business and times recently have been quite trying," Watkins says, referring to this pandemic-afflicted year. "Local support is essential and a massive part of our business' DNA. If it wasn't for our local fan base we would not be here." For Ward, the embrace of Brisbane's beer community has been just as pivotal. "Honestly, if it wasn't for the amazing support that locals gave — whether they are in our neighbourhood or we are stocked in theirs — we would more than likely have gone under when COVID-19 hit," he admits. "Over the past few years, we have seen a shift towards local; people want to know who makes their beer, food or products," Ward observes, "and the last 12 months have pushed this further into the spotlight". To find these or other Queensland drinks as part of the BWS Local Luvva's initiative, head to your nearest BWS store.
Cold drinks, frosty treats, coastal breezes and glimpses of the ocean — sounds like the perfect summer, right? That's exactly what's on the menu at Redcliffe's Mon Komo Hotel; however the northside watering hole is adding a little extra something to the mix, too. Two words: cocktail popsicles. If you like your boozy concoctions not just chilled, but frozen, then you're in luck. You'll be able to lick and sip several flavours, including pink gin with Cointreau and raspberries, an alcohol-fuelled passionfruit and pineapple variety, and one that combines peach, home-made lemonade and the hard stuff. The icy delights are available all summer long between 11am–2pm and 6–8pm, although the Mon Komo's new Cabana Bar + Kitchen + Garden is throwing a launch party across the weekend of Friday, December 14 and Saturday, December 15. Plus, there's another highlight worth looking out for: punch bowls with fairy floss, ice cream and chocolate straws.
Tropical North Queensland is so rich in natural beauty that it's easy to forget that the region also boasts an impressive art scene. Local and international artists flock to the tropics, finding inspiration in the stunning scenery throughout the area. From local theatres and art galleries, to beachside markets and concert venues, there are plenty of ways to get your culture fix while in the tropics.
'ZomRomComs'. That's what you get when you add zombies to romantic comedies. First came Shaun of the Dead, then Zombieland and now Warm Bodies, a delightful Romeo and Juliet meets Frankenstein tale, in that two star-crossed lovers must overcome deep-seeded family prejudices, and that Romeo is a monstrous zombie. That zombie is 'R' (Nicholas Hoult), and his Juliet is 'Julie' (played by Australian actress Teresa Palmer). R is just your everyday teenage boy, grappling with your everyday teenage problems: a changing body, crippling social isolation and a tendency to grunt instead of speak. He's also a zombie, but instead of being scary that's mostly just a source of embarrassment. R's charming and self-deprecating narration throughout the film provides a constant source of laughter, particularly with self-aware lines like: "……God we walk slowly!" It's a sublime mix of dark comedy and tender romance, centred on a familiar yet infinitely more appealing relationship than Twilight's Bella and Edward. For an adaptation that openly acknowledges its Shakespearean underpinnings, this has somehow still emerged as one of the most original stories of the year. Thanks to Icon Film, we have 10 double passes to give away to see Warm Bodies. To be in the running, subscribe to Concrete Playground (if you haven't already) then email us with your name and postal address at hello@concreteplayground.com.au. Warm Bodies opens nationally on April 11. Read our full review here. https://youtube.com/watch?v=07s-cNFffDM
