When Fortitude Valley restaurant Agnes hosted bakery pop-ups during Brisbane's lockdowns, it quickly became one of the city's favourite pastry spots. The sole problem: it only served up its baked goods while we were all stuck at home. Yes, that's why there was often a line stretching around the block. Making stay-at-home stints brighter — and tastier — is a worthy cause, which Agnes Bakery has championed multiple times. Giving Brisbanites all the pastries they're hankering for all-year-round is just as great an aim, though. So, Agnes is now spinning out its bakery to its own site on the corner of James and Harcourt streets in Fortitude Valley, with the doors opening back in 2021. Making its home in a heritage-listed cottage, Agnes Bakery serves up a range of different sourdoughs and other pastries, spanning both sweet and savoury options. And, it has also brought over a few dishes from Agnes restaurant — so diners can enjoy them in a far more casual setting. Here, the Agnes team is keen is to keep exploring the art of cooking with fire — and how that specifically applies when you're working with grains. Coffee is also be on the menu, with Agnes Bakery operating from 7am–3pm every day of the week.
Brisbanites venturing outdoors for the next two days could find the whole breathing thing a little less fun than usual — as you may have noticed, it's pretty smoky out there. As the result of bushfires burning across both Queensland and New South Wales, a layer of smoke has made its way across the city and is expected to stick around for at least 48 hours. Needless to say, it's affecting air quality, with the Queensland Government Department of Environment and Science's air quality monitor labelling the Brisbane CBD, as well as areas in the city's east, south and west, as "very poor" on the afternoon of Monday, November 11. South Brisbane, Woolloongabba, Cannon Hill, Lytton, Rocklea, Wynnum, Wynnum West and Springwood are among the regions affected — so, a big chunk of the city. So is Flinders View, where Ipswich's readings are taken, and Southport, where the Gold Coast's levels are measured. Also in southeast Queensland, Mountain Creek at Buderim — where the Sunshine Coast's readings are taken — is listed as "poor". Only Deception Bay is marked as "good", while Mutdapilly between Ipswich and the Scenic Rim region ranks as "fair", as does North Maclean, where Logan's levels are measured. https://twitter.com/qldhealthnews/status/1193745571154018305 With air quality levels dropping overnight, Queensland Health has upgraded its warnings to Brisbane, Gold Coast and Ipswich residents. The government body suggests that everyone cut back on strenuous outdoor activities, as well as going outside in general — if you can. Those with chronic respiratory or heart conditions are especially advised to avoid all outdoor physical activity and stay indoors where possible. It's also recommended that you carry your inhaler, follow your Asthma Action Plan, and keep your other medication with you for all breathing-related conditions. If you start experiencing symptoms, even if you're otherwise fit and healthy, seek medical advice. For those staying indoors, Queensland Health also suggests turning your air conditioner on — if you have one — and using it on recirculate mode. With Brisbane firmly in the grip of warm end-of-year weather, and temperatures expected to reach 34 on Tuesday and 35 on Wednesday, residents are also advised to be wary of the heat, as well as its combination with the hazy air. Drinking plenty of fluids, taking cool showers to keep your temperature down, soaking your feet in water and draping a wet cloth around your neck are also recommended. https://twitter.com/QldFES/status/1193597589360275461 With a State of Fire Emergency declared across 42 Local Government Areas in Queensland, including Brisbane — and with the Queensland Rural Fire Service continuing to battle numerous blazes across the state — this situation isn't likely to change quickly. Queensland FES expects that bushfire conditions will increase on Tuesday, and linger through until at least this coming weekend. It should go without saying, but as part of the State of Fire Emergency, the lighting of all types of outdoor fires is banned. At the time of writing, the service has 56 current bushfire incidents listed in Queensland. It has also given southeast Queensland from Wide Bay and Burnett down to the NSW border a fire danger rating of at least "very high" until Thursday, November 14 — jumping up to "severe" on Wednesday, November 13. You can keep an eye on the fires burning across the state at the Queensland Rural Fire Service website. For more tips on staying safe during smoky conditions, head to the Queensland Health website. Top image: Air quality in Woolloongabba via Darren Ward.
UPDATE: APRIL 1, 2020 — Wild Life Sydney Zoo has announced it'll live stream its kangaroos Dot and Dusk on Thursday, April 2 at 2pm AEDT. The below article has been updated to reflect this. To help brighten up your newsfeed a little, Sydney's Sea Life Aquarium and Wild Life Zoo are live streaming playtime and feeding time with some of their cutest and scariest animals. We've previously met Pig the dugong and Rocky the 365-kilogram saltwater crocodile and, next up, are penguins and quokkas. At 11.30am AEDT on Thursday, March 26, you can watch the gentoo and king penguins slide around their icy home and gobble many fish via Sea Life Aquarium's Facebook page. You'll also have a chance to chat to their keeper Amy about all things sub-Antarctic penguin. It'll also be hosting Seahorse Week, which will kick off with a live-streaming of baby seahorses at 11.30am (AEDT) on Tuesday, March 31. To watch, head here. On Wild Life Zoo's Facebook page you'll get to hang out with Davey the quokka at 3pm AEDT on Friday, March 27. Then, at 2pm AEDT on Thursday, April 2, you'll catch its two kangas from Kangaroo Island, Dot and Dusk, enjoy playtime with their keepers Shania and Caroline. Thankfully, these aren't the only live-streams the zoo and aquarium are planning. Keep an eye on future cute (and maybe slightly scary) content, including possible shark feedings, penguin hangs and tropical fish tours. [caption id="attachment_765633" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Pig the Dugong[/caption]
Sydney's home of perfect-for-every-occasion artisanal gifts Sorry Thanks I Love You (STILY) has been hosting free in-store yoga classes for the past four years. Now, with the closure of gyms across the country and increased social distancing, it's bringing them online. And, yes, they'll still be free. Running every Monday night at 6pm AEDT (for the foreseeable future), the Instagram live classes will be streamed on STILY's Instagram page and hosted by Misch Gomez. They'll run for an hour and give you a chance to wind down and get out of that Twitter hole (at least temporarily). If you don't have a mat, you can even roll out a towel — and get ready to get bendy. A benefit of doing the class at home, as STILY has pointed out, is that there's "no one noticing if you pause to take a sip of your gin and tonic". Well, except your cat, dog or green baby. [caption id="attachment_739127" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Joey Clark[/caption] Top image: Rita Ince
Despite the scale of Australia, Aussies love to walk. There's loads of scenery, our cities are optimised for walking, and we have some beautiful tracks nationwide that are worth the lengthy trips to get there. With thick jungles, red deserts and stunning coastlines, we're spoilt for choice. One of the most spectacular is the mighty Three Capes Track. The 48km trail, found in far southeast Tasmania, takes you through the spectacular wilderness of Tassie and along the highest sea cliffs in the country. If you want to level up an already stunning experience, you can book with the Tasmanian Walking Company to sleep in a private eco-lodge and campsite along the track (rather than the public huts) to rest and recover in style between walking stretches. Now the good part: you can win two spots on the Three Capes Adventure with the Tasmanian Walking Company. This adventure includes experienced guides, lightweight packs, private accommodation, chef-curated meals, plus local beer and wine throughout the adventure. We're also throwing in a $1000 flight voucher to get you there and home, so all you need to worry about are the awesome views. To enter the giveaway, complete the form below. [competition]895873[/competition]
The game is ending. That the deadly contest at the heart of Squid Game just keeps going, continuing to pit new batches of 456 players against each other in a battle to the death to win 45.6 billion won, sits at the heart of the award-winning Netflix hit — but the show itself is wrapping up. That the series will say goodbye with its third season was announced in 2024, as was the fact that its final run will arrive in 2025. The streaming platform has now confirmed exactly when: Friday, June 27. Mark your diaries — and get ready to see what happens next in Seong Gi-hun's (Lee Jung-jae, The Acolyte) quest to bring down those responsible for the killer contest. If you've watched season two, which dropped on Boxing Day 2024, then you'll know that Player 456 went back in the game with new fellow competitors for company, and also found himself closer to the person pulling the strings than he knew. Season three will see Gi-hun keep at his pursuit to stop the game. It'll also feature more of his nemesis Front Man's (Lee Byung-hun, The Magnificent Seven) attempts to thwart his plan. However their respective efforts pan out, the show's last run is also set to feature a finale written and directed by series creator Hwang Dong-hyuk. Squid Game is now Netflix's most-popular non-English show of all time; in fact, it holds both the first and second spots on the list, for its first and second seasons respectively. Money Heist season four is third, Lupin season one is fourth, while La Palma, Who Killed Sara? and Berlin are also in the top ten. That Squid Game is a smash isn't new news, of course. It proved such a huge success in its first season that Netflix was quick to confirm that more was on the way — even if season two arrived after a three-year gap. In the show's second season, Gong Yoo (Train to Busan) returned as the man in the suit who got Gi-hun into the game in the first place, as did Wi Ha-joon (Little Women) as detective Hwang Jun-ho, but a series about a deadly contest comes with a hefty bodycount. Accordingly, new faces were always going to be essential — which is where Yim Si-wan (Emergency Declaration), Kang Ha-neul (Insider), Park Sung-hoon (The Glory) and Yang Dong-geun (Yaksha: Ruthless Operations) all came in. If you've somehow missed all things Squid Game until now, even after it became bigger than everything from Stranger Things to Bridgerton, the Golden Globe- and Emmy-winning series serves up a puzzle-like storyline and unflinching savagery, which unsurprisingly makes quite the combination. It also steps into societal divides within South Korea, a topic that wasn't invented by Parasite, Bong Joon-ho's excellent Oscar-winning 2019 thriller, but has been given a boost after that stellar flick's success. As a result, it's easy to see thematic and narrative parallels between Parasite and Squid Game, although Netflix's highly addictive series goes with a Battle Royale and Hunger Games-style setup. Netflix turned the show's whole premise into an IRL competition series as well, which debuted in 2023 — without any murders, of course. Squid Game: The Challenge has already been picked up for a second season. There's no dedicated trailer for Squid Game season three yet, but you can watch a teaser Netflix's big returning 2025 shows below — and revisit the trailer from Squid Game season two: Squid Game season three streams via Netflix from Friday, June 27, 2025. Season one and two are available to stream now. Images: Netflix.
Brisbane has a new golf hub: South Bank, with Hey Caddy and X-Golf opening on Grey Street. One gets you putting around a mini-golf course, the other will test your swing via a golf simulator. They're both indoors, sharing the same space — and however you like your golf fix, there's also a bar. This is Hey Caddy's second location in Brisbane, after the brand opened its doors in North Lakes in 2022. The putt-putt spot is an offshoot of X-Golf, so they're no strangers to each other. This is also Hey Caddy's third venue in Queensland and tenth nationally — and for X-Golf, its third in the city after North Lakes and Enoggera, eighth in the Sunshine State and 26th in the country. Patrons can now tap, tap, tap their way around 12 holes, then give their swing a try at five simulators. Hitting up the bar, hanging out in the games area, grabbing a bite from the in-house kitchen and watching screens showing sports: that's all offered by the site, too, in what's been badged an "indoor golf-entertainment hybrid". The aim is to cater to all levels of golfing interest, whether you're only interested in having fun with your short game, you'd like to take lessons from PGA-certified coaches or X-Golf's X-League competition — which feeds into venue, state and national championships — gets you excited. Other than playing mini golf, you can hone or show off your skills on virtual greens, of course. While gone are the days when Brisbanites had to head to the Gold Coast to partake in a round of mini golf, Hey Caddy's angle is its themed holes — including nodding to Spain's running of the bulls, busy New York streetscapes, tropical holidays in Bora Bora and the like. When the North Lakes venue opened, it did so with Coachella, Area 51 in Nevada, Miami,, Egypt, Melbourne and Mars all getting a nod. Hey Caddy also themes its cocktails to its courses, which you can enjoy in the al fresco dining area. The hybrid venue features party rooms as well, if that's your ideal way to gather the gang to commemorate an occasion. Find Hey Caddy and X-Golf at 275 Grey Street, South Brisbane — open from 10am–10pm Monday–Thursday, 10am–11pm Friday–Saturday and 10am–7pm Sunday. Head to the Hey Caddy and X-Golf websites for further details. Images: Jacki Gibson.
If running a successful startup business is a feat, running 11 successful businesses is a modern-day miracle. But that's what Julien Moussi does. If you're a Melbourne food lover, you've probably eaten at one of Julien's establishments (including Temperance Society in Hughesdale, Penta in Elsternwick, Tinker in Northcote and most recently, Bentwood in Fitzroy) and enjoyed the fruits of his entrepreneurial labours without even realising it. We teamed up with MYOB to get to know the people who are doing business right and had a yarn with Julien to learn how his venues manage to thrive in a city so inundated with hospitality talent. Turns out, it's a healthy mix of hard work, trust and not sweating the small stuff. And, whether it's your first startup or your eleventh, it doesn't get easier, but you do learn a heck of a lot along the way. Julien gave us a rundown of his best tips for small business owners. RUNNING A BUSINESS IS LIKE RAISING A CHILD "You have to put all your time into it. Forget about your usual sleeping patterns, hobbies or routines," Julien says. The first few years can be tough as you learn the ropes of running a business. You'll make mistakes and more importantly, you'll have to make sacrifices (forget everything you knew about work/life balance — you're a business owner now). If you ever doubt yourself, remember it's not forever. When your little business baby ages out of the terrible toddler years, you'll both be stronger for it. "Those sacrifices have paid dividends," Julien says. "I get to travel a lot overseas and have a very flexible schedule. I can also catch up in the middle of the day with my mum, dad and friends for a coffee — things that just weren't possible in the first three years." YOUR PEOPLE ARE YOUR MOST VALUABLE ASSET If your business is a baby, then choosing who to co-parent with is the most important decision you'll make. It's scary but important — sharing the load is the only way to prevent burnout and actually have some fun with it. "Nothing can really prepare you for business. I had no social life for at least the first two or three years and did nothing but work," Julien says. "[My] mentality was 'if it is to be, it's up to me', but then finding fantastic people to work with is key. Staff are the most important part of any business. Now, I'm happy for us to make mistakes in order to give people experience and growth." BE DIFFERENT OR PERISH There's a lot of sameness and copy-cattery happening in the Melbourne cafe scene, but there's still always demand. It's crucially important, no matter what your business does, to put your own spin on things. Carve out a niche for yourself however you can and make sure that niche is incomparable. "[With Bentwood] our aim was to make a space that was very different to the typical Melbourne cafe scene," Julien explains. "We wanted an environment that was sophisticated but not over-designed, so the interior has grand but honest and raw finishes. The biggest statement is the steel boxed ceiling which was very challenging to get sign-off from structural engineers." The bottom line? Don't scrimp on standing out. DO YOUR HOMEWORK In the early years, many small business owners end up wearing a lot of hats. You become the accountant, the operations manager, the social media intern — you try to do it all, and it's a double-edged sword. Getting involved in every aspect of the business in the early days is a great way to understand what makes it tick, but it's probably not a sustainable reality. "Understand your model," Julien says. "Measuring benchmarks and reviewing your financials weekly is the reason we grew so quickly...MYOB helps us get a quick snapshot of where the business is at any given time, whether it be daily, weekly, monthly or quarterly...I knew what everything cost, how much profit we were making and what I needed to do to keep evolving and growing. I always looked ahead and wanted more." If trying to do it all sounds intimidating, Julien's final piece of advice might help: ask questions, no matter how dumb they sound; never stop questioning and learning. "That's what's helped me grow my skill set which has made our business more powerful." Planning to open your own business? Whether it's the first or eleventh, consider MYOB to help sort out all your accounting needs.
Sometimes, enjoying the music festival experience involves gumboots, picking the best outfit with the most pockets and dancing in huge crowds. At other times, it spans making shapes at home while pretending you're at the real thing. Yes, the latter has become familiar during the pandemic, but it's also been a way to live the Coachella life without heading to Indio, California for a decade now. And, with the fest returning in 2022, so is its YouTube livestream. Boasting a lineup headlined by Harry Styles, Billie Eilish and Swedish House Mafia with The Weeknd — as announced back in January, albeit with the latter pair now taking over Ye's slot — Coachella is finally back for its first fest since 2019. It'll unleash its impressive bill over the weekends of April 15–17 and April 22–24, which is Saturday, April 16–Monday, April 18 and Saturday, April 23–Monday, April 25 Down Under. So, if you haven't been fortunate enough to make the trip to America, that's your long weekend sorted for two weeks in a row. Wondering who to watch when? Coachella has just dropped its setlists if you're wondering which acts will be hitting the livestream on which days. Styles headlines the first day, Eilish does the second and Swedish House Mafia with The Weeknd are now leading the charge on the third — on both weekends. View this post on Instagram A post shared by Coachella (@coachella) And, they're joined by a bonafide metric fucktonne of squealworthy acts, including Australia's own Flume, The Avalanches and King Gizzard and the Lizard Wizard, plus Phoebe Bridgers, Megan Thee Stallion, Doja Cat, Jamie xx, Run the Jewels, Fatboy Slim, Finneas and Joji, just to name a few. Also, when it dropped its set times overnight, Coachella just casually added Arcade Fire to the lineup. Of course, livestreaming music fests is no longer a novelty in these pandemic times but, given the calibre of Coachella's roster, it's still a mighty fine way to spend a weekend or two. And, YouTube will be adding live chats and artist interviews, aka the kinds of experiences that you wouldn't get if you were at the fest IRL. Coachella's return is a 'nature is healing' moment for the music industry, after a tough few years for festivals in general — and this one in particular. Coachella's 2020 event was postponed less than a month out, and later cancelled completely. And, plans to make a comeback in 2021 unsurprisingly didn't happen either. Coachella runs from April 15–17 and April 22–24 at the Empire Polo Club in Indio, California. To watch the livestream, head to YouTube from 9am AEST / 11am NZST on Saturday, April 16 and Saturday, April 23. Top image: Roger Ho.
Ah, the bottom end of Australia – 'tis the land of many a trail to be traversed by ferry, car, foot….or mouth. It turns out Tasmania, especially, is the place to head if you wish to eat and drink your way around the land. We at Concrete Playground know this, having teamed up with Spirit of Tasmania to curate a smorgasbord of cellar doors, breweries, wineries and markets to more than wet your whistle if you're having a spell off the mainland, via our foodie road trips in Tasmania's east, northwest and northeast. Now, we're offering you the chance to get amongst all of the goodness of the latter. We're giving away a bonanza of tastings, accommodation and lunch, all for two people – so word your friend or partner up and enter. Up for grabs is a return sailing for two (and your car) on Spirit of Tasmania in your own personal cabin, a Premium Arras tasting for two (including a bottle of sparkling) at Bay of Fires Wines, one night's accommodation at The Trig — in a fancy solar-powered studio, with an outdoor bath overlooking the rolling valleys and farms — organic brekky at the hotel and lunch for two at Christmas Hills Raspberry Farm Cafe. Basically prime fodder for the most romantic mini-getaway of your life (what says "romance" more than sailing the seas and cheersing your glasses of bubbly?), this is one you're going to be crossing your fingers and toes to get on – plus, the whole escapade is valued at over $1500. And it's not just for Melbourne folk either, if you live up in the lands of the north you could road trip down via this route – what's wrong with a little more indulging on the way? To enter, see details below. [competition]667967[/competition]
The latest effort from RoboCop, Showgirls and Starship Troopers director Paul Verhoeven, Elle is a rape-revenge film — or a rape-anti-revenge film, perhaps. It's also a movie calculated to conjure some laughter, as surprising as that may seem given the topic at hand. The narrative's focus on a sexual assault victim's behaviour after her attack, and the incredulous reaction audiences may have thanks to more than a few awkwardly comedic moments, are closely linked. Bringing the aptly named novel Oh... to the screen, Verhoeven not only unpacks unpleasant experiences, but makes viewers confront the urges such experiences can awaken, and the instant, often inappropriate responses that come with them. It's an ambitious aim, particularly in a thriller steeped in sexual exploits both forceful and consensual, not to mention one heavily reliant upon perfecting the right mood and tone. Peppered with the kind of chuckles that sometimes spring from nerves and discomfort, it's one that the movie achieves on an intellectual rather than an emotional level. Elle will get you thinking and reacting, but not always feeling. And while that might be fitting given the psychological realm the movie willingly plays in, it's also unintentionally distancing. The film's title refers to Michèle (Isabelle Huppert), an executive at a video game company readying a new erotically violent release. After an intruder forces himself upon her and then flees, Michèle goes about the rest of her day. When the subject of her attack comes up, she steadfastly, matter-of-factly refuses to go to the police. Being plunged into the depths of physical assault, however, leaves her intrigued and even somewhat emboldened as she embarks on a mission to track down the perpetrator. While Elle isn't as violently or sexually excessive as some of Verhoeven's earlier efforts — and definitely proves more restrained in its visual style — the Dutch filmmaker has sly fun with subverting the expected in his first French-language feature. From the moment the movie opens with heated grunts that could just stem from energetic lovemaking (though they don't), he toys with content, with convention and with his audience. It's not quite a case of nothing being as it seems. Instead, everything that happens inspires many, many questions. That includes Michèle's behaviour and backstory, the several other complicated relationships involving her friends, her son and her ex-husband, and Verhoeven's ability to combine nuance in some moments with a sledgehammer lack of subtlety in others. Huppert clearly relishes the loaded territory she's playing in, and proves the real reason Elle demands attention. Although the film itself often lets its interesting perspective do the heavy lifting, its star is an absolute revelation. Or she would be, were it not for the five decade's worth of incredible performances in her ledger already. Still, operating at her absolute best, she's the complex, commanding core of a movie that's purposefully challenging in a number of senses — sometimes successful, sometimes not.
In Westeros, and in books and TV shows that head to the fictional location, some things are simply inevitable. People saying "winter is coming" is one of them. Creepy relationships, whether because of gross age differences or blood ties, is another. Flowing long blonde hair is yet another certainty. People stabbing each other in the back for the Iron Throne ranks right up there, too. Indeed, there are so many predictable eventualities, you could make a drinking game out of watching new Game of Thrones prequel House of the Dragon — and we did. Here's something we should've included but didn't, though: House of the Dragon proving such a hit straight away that HBO has already renewed it for a second season. If you already been enjoying the show's jump back into House Targaryen's history, to 172 years before the birth of Daenerys and her whole dragon-flying, nephew-dating, power-seeking story, then rejoice — like winter, more is coming. Again, the news is hardly surprising, especially given that House of the Dragon's debut episode, which arrived on Monday, August 22, gave the US cable network its largest American audience for any new original series in the history of HBO. Yes, House of the Dragon is basically a case of new show, same squabbles, as it was easy to foresee it would be. Yes, it's pretty much Game of Thrones with different faces bearing now well-known surnames — and more dragons. And yes, this latest adaptation of George RR Martin's popular fantasy books is bound to continue on for more than just two seasons, but that's all that's confirmed for the moment. If you haven't yet caught up with the series, it dives into the battle for the Iron Throne before the one we all watched between 2011–19. Paddy Considine (The Third Day) plays King Viserys — and it's exactly who should be his heir that sparks all the Succession-style fuss. The words "succession" and "successor" (and "heir" as well) get bandied around constantly, naturally. The king has a daughter, Princess Rhaenyra Targaryen (played by Upright's Milly Alcock, then Mothering Sunday's Emma D'Arcy), who is also his first-born child. But because putting a woman on the throne isn't the done thing, the King's younger brother Prince Daemon Targaryen (Matt Smith, Morbius) considers that spiky iron chair his birthright. And, this wouldn't be Westeros if plenty of other people didn't have an opinion, including Ser Otto Hightower (Rhys Ifans, The King's Man), the Hand of the King; his own daughter Alicent (The Lost Girls' Emily Carey, then Slow Horses' Olivia Cooke); and Lord Corlys Velaryon (Steve Toussaint, It's a Sin), who is married to Princess Rhaenys Velaryon (Eve Best, Nurse Jackie), who had a better claim to the throne when Viserys was named king instead. All that feuding over the realm's spiky metal seat will continue across House of the Dragon's ten-episode first season, of course, before returning for a second go-around. HBO hasn't announced a date for the show's second patch of episodes, but you could bet all the wine in King's Landing on it arriving around this time in 2023. House of the Dragon is the culmination of years of planning to extend the GoT franchise by HBO. Firstly, the American cable network announced that it was considering five different prequel ideas. It then green-lit one to pilot stage, scrapped it and later picked a contender to run withL House of the Dragon. It has also opted to give novella series Tales of Dunk and Egg the TV treatment, too, and to work on an animated GoT show. And, it's been reported that another three prequels are also under consideration — plus a Jon Snow-focused sequel series. Check out the full House of the Dragon trailer below: House of the Dragon streams Down Under via Foxtel and Binge in Australia and SoHo, Sky Go and Neon in New Zealand. Read our full review of season one. Images: Ollie Upton/HBO.
In the film that brought her global acclaim, Australian filmmaker Jennifer Peedom climbed up in the world — and she hasn't looked back. Sherpa explored tense times on Mount Everest, while her next documentary Mountain pondered the world's highest peaks, their beauty and their allure. With River after that, Peedom didn't stare at towering land masses. But she does peer from great heights at waterways that snake across continents. And, she once again teamed up with none other than Willem Dafoe (Poor Things), who narrates this poetic musing on just how rivers shape the planet. Watching River itself is a meditative experience, because looking at absolutely stunning sights shot in 39 countries, listening to lyrical narration, and hearing a stirring score featuring Bach, Ravel, Jonny Greenwood, Radiohead and more has that effect. Making the movie even better is River Live in Concert with the Australian Chamber Orchestra, which returns for another nationwide tour in 2024, this time with Indigenous Australian didgeridoo player and vocalist William Barton joining in. The ACO and Barton will play the film's soundtrack right there in front of you as you watch. Brisbanites can get in on the action on Monday, February 12 at QPAC's Concert Hall. Event images: Nick Walker.
"You ever dance with the devil in the pale moonlight?" Jack Nicholson's (How Do You Know) version of the Joker asked in 1989's Batman, just because he liked the sound of it. Here's another question: have you ever seen the Tim Burton (Wednesday)-helmed, Michael Keaton (The Flash)-starring classic caped-crusader movie on the big screen with a live orchestra playing its score? Whatever your answer to the first query, you can soon respond to the second with a hearty yes. To celebrate 35 years since the superhero classic initially reached cinemas, Batman is making a silver-screen comeback Down Under to see out 2024 and start 2025 — and in each of its six stops, beginning in Melbourne then heading to Adelaide, Perth, Brisbane, Hobart and Sydney, it's giving the film's tunes the symphonic treatment. It's Batman in concert, with the movie playing, plus John Foreman's Australian Pops Orchestra, Southern Cross Symphony, Perth Symphony Orchestra, Tasmanian Symphony Orchestra and The Metropolitan Orchestra picking up their instruments as the flick screens. They'll be busting out Danny Elfman's Grammy-nominated score, which is just one of the feature's music highlights. The other: songs by the one and only Prince. As well as marking three-and-a-half decades since the picture debuted, these concert screenings also commemorate 85 years of the character on the page — and have been announced just as Burton and Keaton reteam again for Beetlejuice Beetlejuice. For the Batman Live in Concert sessions, audiences can follow the bat signal to Melbourne's Regent Theatre across Thursday, October 24–Saturday, October 26; AEC Arena in Adelaide across Wednesday, November 13–Thursday, November 14; Perth's PCEC Riverside Theatre on Friday, November 29–Saturday, November 30; the BCEC Great Hall in Brisbane from Tuesday December, 3–Wednesday, December 4; MyState Bank Arena in Hobart over Friday December, 13–Saturday, December 14; and ICC Sydney Theatre on Friday, January 10. Keaton's stint in Bruce Wayne's slick suits by day and Batman's cape by night kicked off a big-screen four-movie series that ran from 1989–1997, and also saw Val Kilmer (Top Gun: Maverick) and George Clooney (IF) inhabit the role — a character played elsewhere by everyone from Adam West and Christian Bale (Amsterdam) to Ben Affleck (Air) and Robert Pattinson (The Batman). As part of a global tour of events, only Batman going the concert route so far, not Batman Returns, Batman Forever or Batman and Robin. If you're keen to dress up to attend, that's encouraged — and there'll also be merchandise on sale. Batman Live in Concert Dates: Thursday, October 24–Saturday, October 26, 2024 — Regent Theatre, Melbourne with John Foreman's Australian Pops Orchestra Wednesday, November 13–Thursday, November 14, 2024 — AEC Arena, Adelaide with Southern Cross Symphony Friday, November 29–Saturday, November 30, 2024 — PCEC Riverside Theatre, Perth with Perth Symphony Orchestra Tuesday December, 3–Wednesday, December 4, 2024 — BCEC Great Hall, Brisbane with The Metropolitan Orchestra Friday December, 13–Saturday, December 14, 2024 — MyState Bank Arena, Hobart with Tasmanian Symphony Orchestra Friday, January 10, 2025 — ICC Sydney Theatre, Sydney with The Metropolitan Orchestra Batman Live in Concert is touring Australia from October 2024–January 2025. Head to the event website for tickets and further details.
In Encanto, the Madrigal family might not talk about Bruno, but they sure do sing about him — and, thanks to that earworm of a Lin-Manuel Miranda-composed track, everyone watching soon does, too. Just try to catch the Golden Globe-winning, Oscar nominated animated hit without getting that song stuck in your head for weeks. No matter what you do, it's impossible. In fact, even mentioning the tune in this very paragraph will cause the same result. Yes, we know that everyone reading this now has 'We Don't Talk About Bruno' burrowed into their brains again — and there's absolutely nothing that we can do about it. But when a ditty takes up residence inside your skull and won't leave, you may as well lean in. And, over at Disney+, you can stream a sing-along version of Encanto that'll get you crooning with the movie from your couch. No longer solely the domain of special cinema screenings, Disney's sing-along takes on its famous musicals are heading to its streaming service. It was always bound to happen, and the Mouse House has started with the movie of the moment. As you watch, lyrics will dance across your TV screen when it's time to belt out ballads — so if you don't know all the words yet (or if you're viewing with someone who thinks they do, but inserts their own mistaken lyrics), they'll all be there for you. While Encanto is the first flick to get the sing-along Disney+ treatment among the company's popular musicals — and it hit the service back on Friday, March 18, so it's there to watch and warble along to now — it obviously won't be the last. The Mouse House has plenty of other tune-filled movies to its name, after all, and it's planning to build up a catalogue of them on its streaming service. Accordingly, before 2022 is out, Frozen, Frozen 2, and both the animated and live-action versions of Beauty and the Beast are all set to make their way to the platform. Exact dates haven't yet been revealed, but at least you now know there'll be other chances to get different Disney tunes stuck in your head — or 'We Don't Talk About Bruno' will just have 'Let It Go' and 'Be Our Guest' for company. The sing-along version of Encanto is available to stream via Disney+ now, with Frozen, Frozen 2, and both the animated and live-action versions of Beauty and the Beast set to hit the platform throughout 2022.
In any given month in Brisbane, finding an excuse to eat, drink, dance, listen to live tunes and party on a rooftop isn't hard. But only February — and, in 2023, a few select dates in January — heralds the annual BrisAsia Festival, where all of those events focus on celebrating the city's ties with Asia, the many cultures that originated from the continent and Lunar New Year. If you live in the Queensland capital, then you've heard all about the Brisbane's connections northwards; we're the home of the Asia Pacific Triennial of Contemporary Art and we've also hosted the Asia Pacific Screen Awards, after all. Since 2013, the BrisAsia Festival has been on that list as well, giving the city a three-week fest that spreads far and wide around town. In 2o23, that'll include 27 events across 12 suburbs, and feature 400-plus artists Running from Wednesday, February 1–Sunday, February 19 — with events also on January 13, 14 and 22 — the 2023 program boasts old favourites, new additions, and the fest's trademark mix of traditional and contemporary Asian arts. It all begins with those festivities before the official kickoff, with the TET Festival marking Vietnam's Hội chợ Tết across two days, then Fortitude Valley going all in for Lunar New Year on Sunday, January 22. From there, last year's laneway tea festival is back, this time in Burnett Lane in the CBD, and so is the Southside by Night event that combines street food with a car meet (yes, think Fast and Furious vibes). Pre-pandemic, the Lunar New Year Rooftop Party at Sunnybank Plaza was always a highlight, complete with traditional lanterns and fireworks — and the 2023 lineup builds from there. Fortitude Music Hall will host the launch party, which'll feature lion dancers, martial arts displays, Sydney-based DJ Nick Kim and local drag star Crimson Coco; Soul Gazing: A Journey through the Cosmic Skydome will take over the Mt Coot-tha Observatory; the BrisAsia Beats sessions return as well; and a big summer party will pop up at the South Bank Piazza. Elsewhere, you can check out an intercultural creative residency at Brisbane Powerhouse, dance in the Queen Street Mall for BrisAsia Dance Day, break out your K-pop moves and listen to stories about Brisbane's cultural evolution. Plus, Brissie's Asian Australian comedians will also take to the stage for a night of standup comedy, and the Mt Coot-tha Botanic Gardens will host a night of love songs from around the globe in the lead up to Valentine's Day. After debuting in 2022, digital storytelling initiative Mother's Table is also back to showcase another round of local restaurant owners, all chatting about their eateries and signature dishes. BrisAsia 2023 runs from Wednesday, February 1–Sunday, February 19, with events also on January 13, 14 and 22. For further details, head to the Brisbane City Council website.
From The Crucible and The Craft to Sabrina the Teenage Witch and Suspiria, witches just keep working their magic on popular culture. Now they're casting a spell on the Brisbane art world too, all thanks to the UQ Art Museum. The venue's next big exhibition delves into the world of witches, sorcery, rituals and magic — and given the topic, there's plenty to examine. This showcase will feature bewitching historic etchings, enchanting modern-day works that ponder intuition and incantations, and new commissions of the dark and otherworldly kind. Displaying from Friday, March 1 to Saturday, June 29, Second Sight: Witchcraft, Ritual, Power aims to not only explore all things witchy, but to understand why witches continue to conjure up a reaction — be it fascination or fear. Expect pieces that ruminate on everything from collective happenings to the usual elements to peripheral activity, all while challenging prevailing stereotypes. Witches have been known to have second sight, and here you'll give them a second look. The four-month exhibition features works by 11 artists, and entry is free. Image: Naomi Blacklock, Padma. 2018. Performance documentation from NETHERWORLDS exhibition, Spring Hill Reservoir, Brisbane, 9 June 2018. Photo: Charlie Hillhouse. Courtesy of the artist.
Stakes at the ready: more than three decades after Buffy the Vampire Slayer first hit the big screen, and nearing the same span since the undead-vanquishing character first made the leap to television, another TV series looks set to continue the story. Into every generation a new slayer is born, after all. And if this new small-screen effort comes to fruition, it will indeed focus on a new character — but Sarah Michelle Gellar (Dexter: Original Sin) is also set to co-star. As per both Variety and The Hollywood Reporter, a sequel series to Buffy the Vampire Slayer is expected to receive a pilot order from US streamer Hulu, with Gellar in talks to reprise her performance as the Sunnydale resident who spent her nights dispensing with bloodsuckers. Narrative-wise, details from there are scarce, but a fresh face will take the spotlight, with Gellar featured in a recurring role. Behind the scenes, another big name is attached to the new Buffy: Oscar-winning Nomadland director Chloé Zhao, who is set to helm the pilot if it gets the greenlight, and also executive produce. If you're choosing not to get too excited until everything is official, however, that's understandable. Into every few years, reports of a Buffy the Vampire Slayer comeback are born, too. Back in 2018, a Buffy spinoff was in the works, for instance. Alas, like vamps and making daytime plans, nothing happened. Thanks to Audible, though, Slayers: A Buffyverse Story did continue the tale with a heap of the show's original cast, focusing on bleached-blonde vampire Spike (James Marsters, Isla Monstro). Until confirmation that Buffy really is rising again like the creatures its namesake has spent so long battling, it's time to start hoping that other cast members will return to the TV sequel. Among the show's lineup of talent during its 1997–2003 run, and spinoff Angel's span from 1999–2004: everyone from Alyson Hannigan (Office Race), David Boreanaz (SEAL Team), Michelle Trachtenberg (Gossip Girl) and Alexis Denisof (How I Met Your Father) to Charisma Carpenter (Going Home), Anthony Head (Ted Lasso), Juliet Landau (Claws), Emma Caulfield Ford (Agatha All Along) and Amber Benson (I Saw the TV Glow). If it goes ahead, the new Buffy will boast Nora Zuckerman and Lila Zuckerman (Poker Face) as writers, showrunners and executive producers, while Gellar would executive produce as well. There's obviously no trailer for the latest take on Buffy yet, but you can get a blast from the past with trailers from the OG TV series below: The new Buffy the Vampire Slayer doesn't yet have a release date — we'll update you with more details when they're announced. Via Variety / The Hollywood Reporter.
There are few film festival experiences as fun as spending four days camped out at Marrickville's Factory Theatre during the Sydney Underground Film Festival. Attending this fest in-person involves hopping in and out of its makeshift cinemas, watching all manner of out-there and indie movies you won't see elsewhere, and spending plenty of time at the bar chatting about what you've just seen — and, whether you're a diehard cinephile and festival devotee, you're just sick of watching mainstream fare or it purely sounds like a great way to spend a weekend, it's a total and utter delight. SUFF isn't playing out quite like this at the moment, however, for obvious reasons. Moving online for the second year in a row, it's hosting its 2021 edition virtually. Thankfully, while no one can enjoy the physical side of the fest between Thursday, September 9–Sunday, September 26, SUFF has brought its usual anarchic vibe to its 30-film program — all of which is now available to stream, and nationally as well. Get ready for affectionate documentaries, weird and wild features that just keep getting weirder and more wonderful, and pretty much everything in-between, all while getting cosy on your own couch. And if you've not sure where to start, we've watched, picked and reviewed seven highlights from SUFF's 15th annual program. There's your viewing sorted for the next fortnight or so. POLY STYRENE: I AM A CLICHÉ Add Poly Styrene: I Am a Cliché to the list of exceptional music documentaries — and yes, that observation can end there and prove 100-percent accurate. That said, this excellent film also belongs among the ranks of standout docos about famous musicians that serve multiple purposes. For existing fans of Marianne Elliott-Said, the punk singer who fronted late-70s band X-Ray Spex, this is an unflinching love letter that dives into every facet of her life. Covered here: her rise to stardom at a pivotal time in music history, the way she was treated as a British Somali woman, her efforts to subvert every standard that applied to women and public figures, and the toll it all took. As co-written, co-directed and guided on-screen by her daughter Celeste Bell — as an act of embracing everything her mother was and stood for — the film also demonstrates again and again why its title couldn't be further from the reality. For newcomers to the woman best known under her stage name Poly Styrene (which she picked from the phone book), this loving feature acts as an entry point, too. Like fellow outstanding music doco The Sparks Brothers, it'll give some of its audience a new obsession. Via voice snippets rather than talking heads, the likes of Bikini Kill's Kathleen Hanna and Sonic Youth's Thurston Moore also offer their memories of and insights into all things Poly, but Bell and her co-helmer Paul Sng (Sleaford Mods: Invisible Britain) understandably push their bold, rebellious and inimitable central figure to the fore at all times — including via riveting archival footage, as well as potent and emotional snippets from her diaries and poems. WONDERFUL PARADISE No one will finish Wonderful Paradise wondering what writer/director Masashi Yamamoto (The Voice of Water) and co-screenwriter Suzuyuki Kaneko might've left out of their script. The pair throw everything they can into this absurdist Japanese comedy, and it shows — because this is the type of movie where giant coffee beans get ravenous, children segue from projectile vomiting to transforming into branches, pregnancies last around 20 minutes, and parties become funerals, then turn into big song-and-dance numbers. The premise: at a house in suburban Tokyo, Akane (Mayu Ozawa, The Happy Prisoner), her father (Seikô Itô, We Are Little Zombies) and her brother (Soran Tamoto, I Turn) are packing up their belongings. For financial reasons that involve big debts and shady figures who are keen to collect, they're moving out of the sprawling abode. But Akane decides to host one last party and, after she tweets out the details, friends, relatives and strangers alike — including her estranged mother Akiko (Kaho Minami, Oh Lucy!) — all start popping up. From there, anything that can happen does. Indeed, sharing the same kind of manic energy that also made fellow low-budget Japanese flick One Cut of the Dead a delight, this plays like a hallucinatory mind trip more than a movie. That isn't a criticism of Wonderful Paradise; this is just a film that sweeps you along for a strange and surreal ride, satirises everything it can while also making plenty of savvy statements, careens off in weird and wonderful directions, and also makes you adore every minute. LORELEI Following an ex-felon who has just been released from a 15-year prison stint, as well as his former teenage sweetheart, Lorelei isn't in a rush to unfurl its dramas and dive to its deepest depths. Marking the feature debut of Sabrina Doyle, it's the type of film that needs that space and 111-minute running time to grow and breathe, and to build up to its surprises — and to earn the emotional journey that its standout lead performances slowly but commandingly convey at every moment. Orange Is the New Black's Pablo Schreiber plays Waylan, a small-town biker who didn't snitch when he was sent up for armed robbery. Keeping quiet cost him not only a decade and a half of his life, but his romance with Dolores (Jena Malone, Antebellum). His incarceration has saw their shared dreams dissolve, too, and led Dolores to have three children with other men since. The pair reunite after Waylan is released, crossing paths purely in passing. Quickly, staring into each other's eyes brings back old feelings, and also conjures up new regrets about the existence they always thought they'd lead together. Doyle is as concerned about the precarious situation that Dolores and her children Dodger (first-timer Chancellor Perry), Periwinkle (fellow newcomer Amelia Borgerding) and Denim (debutant Parker Pascoe-Sheppard) have endured over the years as she is with Waylan's route forward, and much of Lorelei thoughtfully dwells on the stark realities facing all of its characters. Indeed, there's not just empathy but a sense of rawness here — including when the film endeavours to leap into sunnier waters. ALIEN ON STAGE It's one of the greatest science fiction movies ever made, and always will be. It spawned three sequels and two prequels over the course of four decades and, while many of those have been stellar themselves, it still remains the best film there is with xenomorphs at its centre. It made Sigourney Weaver not just a star but a legend, too — and, thanks to an amateur stage version of the iconic flick that was initially staged in Dorset, then hit London's West End, it gave a group of British bus drivers their time in the spotlight as well. The movie in question: Alien. It mightn't seem suited to the theatre, but that didn't stop Dave Mitchell and his friends. When they decided to turn the film into a stage production, they put their hearts and souls into it, and Alien On Stage tells their story. The show turns out exactly as you'd expect with a non-professional cast and crew at the helm, and with homemade props recreating the Nostromo and its unwanted stowaway. The same description applies to his loving documentary — because this is a movie made by fans, about a stage show made by fans, and the end result leans into all of those layers of affection. Back in 1979, Ridley Scott mightn't have ever imagined that his sci-fi/horror film could spawn this level of devotion, or give this much happiness to folks trying to follow in his footsteps — and to a room full of immensely entertained Leicester Square Theatre attendees, too. That's just one of the things that Alien has spawned, and everyone can hear this movie's screams of joy. SWEETIE, YOU WON'T BELIEVE IT When Arman (Azamat Marklenov) and Murat (Erlan Primbetov) pick up Dastan (Daniar Alshinov, A Dark, Dark Man) for a day of fishing in Sweetie, You Won't Believe It, they're just trying to gift him one last moment away from his responsibilities. His girlfriend Zhanna (Asel Kaliyeva, The Secret of a Leader) is about to give birth to his first child, and this film subscribes to the idea that parenthood means kissing goodbye your old self. But, the trio have never cast a line into the water before. That's the excuse they've used to head away, though, so they decide to stick with it. They're soon fashioning a boat out of blow-up sex toys, but that's far from the worst that their day trip to regional Kazakhstan has in store. As they're floating and not really fishing, they witness gun-slinging gangsters (Alamat Sakatov, Yerkubulan Daiyrov and Rustem Zhaniyamanov) attempting to squeeze information out of another man in a violent fashion — and, soon, Dastan and his pals find themselves being pursued by the ruthless criminals as well. Then, complicating matters even further, a one-eyed, jaw-ripping psychopath (Dulgya Akmolda) on a quest for vengeance starts targeting everyone in sight. Sweetie, You Won't Believe It doesn't take any of its various parts seriously, thankfully. It's one part buddy getaway comedy, one part western slapstick, one part secluded horror and one part gory gangster flick, and it loves seesawing back and forth between all four. It also has ample fun satirising prevailing ideas of masculinity amidst the blood, guts and over-the-top silliness. CANNON ARM AND THE ARCADE QUEST When The King of Kong: A Fistful of Quarters chronicled Steve Wiebe's attempt to earn Donkey Kong's highest score ever — and oust Billy Mitchell from retaining that title in the process — it turned a slice of the gaming world into one of the must-see documentaries of the early 2000s. Well over a decade later, Cannon Arm and the Arcade Quest mashes similar buttons, this time focusing on the eponymous Danish Gyruss devotee and his dream of clocking up 100 consecutive hours playing the 80s game. If successful, Kim aka Cannon Arm won't just claim the world record for his favourite shoot-'em-up title. Standing in an arcade for more than four days straight (with some canny plans around how to eat, nap and go to the bathroom, if you're wondering how that all works), he'd smash the existing feat by a whopping 41 hours. Sporting a greying mullet and noted for his lack of conversation, Kim himself approaches the possibility with few words; however, his friends and fellow games are eager to do anything they can to assist his quest. As this doco charts, achieving this kind of milestone isn't straightforward. Yes, Kim's health is considered in detail as first-time feature filmmaker Mads Hedegaard — who narrates as well — explains. All that gaming isn't the only focus of the documentary, though, with Cannon Arm and the Arcade Quest smartly diving into what draws Kim and his Bip Bip Bar mates to their preferred pastime, what else they're fascinated with in their lives, and how gaming both parallels their other interests and provides a respite from their daily lives. DANNY. LEGEND. GOD. If there's one thing that Bulgarian councillor Danny (Dimo Alexiev, A Hidden Life) isn't lacking, it's confidence. He isn't short on arrogance, either, or on the impulses needed to take the most corrupt, abhorrent, self-serving option at any possible juncture — and he's extremely unpleasant to be around even in small bursts. Danny is also the titular figure in mockumentary Danny. Legend. God., so he demonstrates his worst traits over and over, and for an extended period. First-time filmmaker Yavor Petkov wants viewers to feel uncomfortable, in fact, because that's the natural reaction to seeing someone who's little more than a crook throw their weight about in a position of power, care only about themselves and have zero regard for the long-term repercussions for everyone in their orbit. In other words, this is a film that proves particularly piercing given the current global political climate. It's darkly humorous, but in a savage, biting, only-two-degrees-removed-from-reality way. And if you're wondering why Danny is in the spotlight — and why Alexiev puts in quite the committed performance in the part — that's because the film revolves around a news crew visiting the character's home town to capture and ideally expose his wrongdoing. What starts out as an attempt to make a documentary about money laundering soon gets hijacked by their subject, though, as Danny demands that his freewheeling life is captured exactly how he wants it — no matter what he's doing, or snorting, or the cost of his actions. The 2021 Sydney Underground Film Festival runs from Thursday, September 9–Sunday, September 26. For further details, or to watch online, head to the festival's website.
If you're starting to feel like a new season hasn't truly started until Finders Keepers has come to town, you're not alone. The ever-expanding art and design market has been bringing us face-to-face with some of the country's most quirky and creative designers for over a decade now — and it's set to do it all over again when it returns this November. The focus remains, as ever, on helping you discover and connect with the next wave of independent and emerging artisans. Expect to find debut collections from the likes of Brisbane-based jewellery maker Sinead Buckney, Sticks + Stones, The Label's sustainable fashion and hand painted canvas bags from McKenzie HOUSE. The Finders Keepers Artist Program, an initiative that was introduced last year to support emerging artists, will highlight the spring/summer recipient Mosey Me's bright, abstract designs across all market collateral for the season. Many of the market's seasoned vendors will also return — so, if you've been kicking yourself since last round that you didn't pick up a Posie candle, some Eco Intimates lingerie or one of Bridget Bodenham's mugs, you're in luck. As usual, there'll be live music and other entertainment scattered across the weekend to keep the good vibes going. And you're covered when the inevitable shopping-induced hunger strikes, with everything from empanadas to gelato on offer. Tickets are $5, available at the door and valid for the entire weekend. So, if you can't stop thinking about that one thing you didn't buy, you can make a return visit. Start creating your shopping list now and head to the Finders Keepers directory to see the full scope of vendors. Finders Keepers Spring/Summer Brisbane will run from November 8–10 at 12pm–9pm on Friday and 9am–5pm on both Saturday and Sunday. Images: Samee Lapham.
Benito Antonio Martínez Ocasio has won three Grammys and 11 Latin Grammys, starred in Bullet Train and hosted Saturday Night Live, among plenty of other achievements, but he hasn't hit the stage in Australia — yet. By the time that summer 2025–26 is out, Bad Bunny will tick a trip Down Under off of his list, after announcing that his new DeBÍ TiRAR MáS FOToS world tour includes a visit to Sydney. Locking in dates in the Dominican Republic, Costa Rica, Colombia, Mexico, Peru, Chile, Argentina, Brazil, Japan, Spain, Portugal, Germany, Netherlands, United Kingdom, France, Sweden, Poland, Italy and Belgium, too, Bad Bunny has confirmed 23 shows between November 2025–July 2026 so far. Named for his latest album, which released in January this year and spent three weeks in a row atop the Billboard 200 chart, the tour will see him become the first Latin act to headline stadiums globally. Only one stop on Bad Bunny's jaunt around the planet is Australia, however: at ENGIE Stadium in the Harbour City on Saturday, February 28. He's playing the New South Wales capital in-between dates in Brazil and Japan, two other countries where the 'Mia', 'Callaíta', 'Qué Pretendes' and 'Vete' singer will perform live for the first time ever. The Puerto Rican superstar's global jaunt will follow his upcoming No Me Quiero Ir de Aquí gigs, a 30-date residency at José Miguel Agrelot Coliseum in his homeland. Before that, he toured North America in 2024, and both North and Latin America in 2022. His DeBÍ TiRAR MáS FOToS shows will take him to Europe for the first time since his 2019 X 100pre tour. On the charts, DeBÍ TiRAR MáS FOToS, his sixth album, has kept garnering love — also sitting in the Billboard 200 top ten for 13 weeks, taking the number-one slot on Billboard's Latin Albums chart for 16 consecutive weeks and helping him become the first-ever Latin artist with 100 Billboard Hot 100 entries. Before both his No Me Quiero Ir de Aquí residency and DeBÍ TiRAR MáS FOToS world tour, Bad Bunny also has another date with SNL, this time as the musical guest on the season 50 finale that's being hosted by Scarlett Johansson (Fly Me to the Moon). Bad Bunny DeBÍ TiRAR MáS FOToS World Tour 2026 Australian Date Saturday, February 28 — ENGIE Stadium, Sydney Bad Bunny is playing ENGIE Stadium in Sydney on Saturday, February 28, 2026, with presales from 10am on Thursday, May 8, 2025 and general sales from 11am on Friday, May 9. Head to the tour website for more details.
Some Saturday nights, all you want to do is put on your dancing shoes, head to a darkened room and show off your fanciest footwork to a selection of songs from times gone by. Black Bear Lodge understands this, which is why they've devoted this Saturday night to doing just that. At Watch Your Step, hitting the dance floor and strutting your stuff to '50s and '60s tracks is the only thing on the agenda. Actually, there's one more thing of importance at this rock and soul night. The music isn't the only thing jumping back decades, with the format kickin' it old school as well. Yep, these toe-tapping tunes will all be played off of vinyl, with the UK's DJ Phil Istine giving the turntables a rather thorough workout. His record collection is your ultimate party soundtrack, and it'll be paired with a light show of psychedelic projections. Now that's how you step back in time.
Over the course of seven episodes, during one of the most-watched Netflix series of 2020, Beth Harmon (Anya Taylor-Joy) did many things. As a child (as played by Isla Johnston), she discovered an affinity for chess. As a teenager, she savvily turned that talent into a career, hopped around America and the world showing off her skills in fierce tournaments, exceeded everyone's expectations in a male-dominated arena, and battled with her personal struggles along the way. As Beth moved pawns, studied strategies and enjoyed more than a few drinks, she didn't sing about her feelings, though. Soon, in theatres, that'll change. Yes, following in the footsteps of everything from Heathers and Moulin Rouge! to Charlie and the Chocolate Factory and Shrek, The Queen's Gambit is set to make the leap from the screen to the stage. Just announced by US production company Level Forward, The Queen's Gambit musical is slated to become a reality, with the organisation obtaining the rights to turn the novel behind the show — as penned by Walter Tevis and first printed in 1983 — into a theatre performance. It'll join the Alanis Morissette-inspired Jagged Little Pill and the 2019 Broadway revival of Oklahoma! on Level Forward's resume; however, specific details about what the chess-fuelled song-and-dance show will entail remain scarce at this early stage. https://twitter.com/queensgambitbwy/status/1369014644560588806 So, just who'll star in the musical, which creatives will be behind it, how closely it'll resemble the Golden Globe-winning streaming series, which songs will feature, and when and where it'll premiere are all yet to be revealed. So is any news on whether it'll make the trip Down Under — although folks in Melbourne, Brisbane, Perth and Adelaide can look forward to the 2021 season of completely unrelated Chess the Musical in the interim. In a statement, Level Forward CEO Adrienne Becker and producer Julia Dunetz said "it is a privilege for Level Forward to lead the charge of bringing The Queen's Gambit to the stage through the beloved and enduring craft of musical theatre," reports Variety. "Told through a brave and fresh point of view, audiences are already sharing in the friendship and fortitude of the story's inspiring women who energise and sustain Beth Harmon's journey and ultimate triumph. The story is a siren call amidst our contemporary struggles for gender and racial equity, and we're looking forward to moving the project forward." Obviously, a musical version of The Queen's Gambit will need to include singing and dancing chess pieces moving around on the ceiling. That just goes with the territory. If you need a reminder why — or, if you haven't seen the series, a few clues about why the program has become such a hit — check out the Netflix miniseries trailer below: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CDrieqwSdgI The Queen's Gambit musical doesn't yet have a premiere date — we'll update you with further details when they're announced. Via Variety. Top image: Netflix.
The awkwardness and clumsiness when two incongruous elements come together — that's The Danish Girl in a nutshell. The film tells the true tale of Lili Elbe, previously Einar Wegener, the transgender woman who became one of the first identified recipients of gender reassignment surgery, and is brought to the screen by The King's Speech and Les Misérables director Tom Hooper. Unfortunately, the importance of the former is overpowered by the prestige film sensibilities of the latter. That's not to say that Hooper doesn't realise the weight of the tale he's telling, nor that writer Lucinda Coxon's screenplay — based upon David Ebershoff's fictionalised novel of the same name — doesn't endeavour to do justice to Lili's story. The tone is always earnest, with the film looking lovingly and acceptingly at its central figure. Alas, any good intentions come across as laboured and overdone, packaged up a little too nicely and neatly in order to fit the Hollywood mould. The Danish Girl opts for a restrained approach, designed to carefully bring rarely seen subject matter into mainstream cinema. That's immediately apparent in the slow and stately narrative that charts Lili's (Eddie Redmayne) journey, beginning in Copenhagen in 1926. A raft of childhood feelings are reawakened when renowned landscape artist Einar Wegener dons women's stockings to pose for his portrait painter wife Gerda (Alicia Vikander). Soon after, Lili emerges. As Lili struggles with her identity, Gerda tries to remain supportive, even as their marriage is tested. Both find solace in the friendship of others, with Lili courted by the kindly Henrik (Ben Whishaw), and Gerda seeking out Einar's hometown pal Hans Axgil (Matthias Schoenaerts). He might've won an Oscar just last year for his work in The Theory of Everything, but here Redmayne proves as problematic as Hooper. The fragility he brought to his award-winning role is on display again — and indeed, that's what his performance leans heaviest upon. Yet for all his furtive looks and heavy breathing, he never really delves beneath the surface of an obviously complicated character. Thankfully, where Redmayne grates, Vikander soars, continuing her stellar run of roles and her ascent to certain stardom. There's no mistaking that her character is as much the woman of the film's title as Lili is, just as there's no mistaking that her nuanced yet open portrayal leaves the far greater impression. Vikander isn't The Danish Girl's only strength, courtesy of elegant, handsome imagery filled with intricate costumes and picturesque scenery. In fact, from the painted scenes that start the film to the many shots of Lili trying to find her femininity while looking in a mirror, Hooper crafts the feature to resemble a painting. At the same time, that mindset is also arguably the movie's biggest issue. While The Danish Girl might tell a tale that's vital, and touch upon a topic that's timely, it always does so from a distance, like it's glancing at something that's just too delicate to examine up close.
When it comes to imbibing gin at home, your go-to may be the classic G&T, or perhaps you shake up a crisp martini from time-to-time. You may also be ready to mix things up with a whole new botanical bev. Whatever your status with gin, Greenall's has given us a few trusty recipes to help you perfect your favourite gin drink at home — whether that be by mastering the perfect proportions for the classics or learning to make an entirely new cocktail. These guys have been at the gin game since 1761, so you can rest assured you're in good hands with their literal centuries of experience, heritage and passion for what they do — whether that's creating new and innovative recipes, or handing over their favourite gin cocktail recipes to make at your gaff. LIME TWIST MARTINI It's the drink that makes you feel like all the laundry has been done, folded neatly away and that Nina Simone is serenading you from an old record. Sit down and have a rest — you've earned it. — 50ml Greenall's Original London Dry Gin — 10ml dry vermouth — Lime twist Place a solid handful of ice into a metal cocktail shaker, add gin and vermouth and set your dominant hand to stir moderately for at least ten blinks. Next, strain into a chilled martini glass. If you're lacking said shapely vessel, Greenall's recommends any other fancy — but equally as chilled — glass. Twist and squeeze the oil from the lime peel into the glass, and leave the curly little citrus in there for garnish. WILD BERRY AND LEMONADE If Bernard Black of Black Books had to choose a summer drink for his summer girl, this would be it. — 50ml Greenall's Wild Berry Gin — 100ml lemonade (or quality tonic water) — Berries to garnish Find your tallest glass, fill it with ice and pour in gin. Top up with — no, not wine Bernard, it's for your girl remember, so opt for the lemonade. Yes, tonic will work, too. Garnish with one berry, two berry, three berry or more. BASIL SMASH Conversation running dry? Then it's time to Natalie Imbruglia the heck out of those basil leaves you've been growing all summer. — 50ml Greenall's London Dry Gin — 25ml fresh lemon juice — 12.5ml sugar syrup — 8 freshly torn basil leaves Add basil to the base of the cocktail shaker and muddle gently. Next, pour in gin, your heart, soul and the remaining ingredients. Shake over ice and strain over an ice-filled tumbler glass, and start (re)memorising the rest of the lyrics to Torn. Head out for a night of 90s karaoke hits. WILD BERRY FLORA DORA When the 'yes' vote came through and all Australian lovebirds got the right to get hitched, this is the drink everyone should have had in hand to celebrate. With a marrying together of gin, ginger beer, lime and raspberry, it's the refreshing drink we all deserve. — 40ml Greenall's Wild Berry Gin — 20ml fresh lime juice — 10ml raspberry syrup — Ginger beer Your Tetris skills will be invaluable here. Your job: build all ingredients in a highball glass over ice. Stir, stir, stir. Serve and play again. GIN AND TONIC Free pouring is for fools. What we're after is a taste sensation that rides the palate of perfection. And Greenall's has given us its easy-peasy, limey-squeezy take on the classic G&T. — 50ml Greenall's London Dry Gin — 100ml tonic water (again, go for quality) — 2 lime wedges Fill a tall glass with ice — that's right, enough to sink a duck. Squeeze in one of the lime wedges. Pour in gin. Top with tonic. Yes, all in that order. Garnish with your second lime wedge. Hold glass high for several seconds in appreciation, and then wink as you hand-deliver to your mate. Make 'em all and find (or re-confirm) a favourite drink to pour your Greenall's into at home.
In the wake of last weekend's Defqon 1 dance festival tragedy, where two punters died and more were injured as a result of suspected drug overdoses, NSW Premier Gladys Berejiklian has tabled a 'solution'. She's pulled together an expert panel to advise on how to make our festivals safer, which includes Chief Medical Officer Dr Kerry Chant, Police Commissioner Mick Fuller and Chair of the Independent Liquor and Gaming Authority Philip Crawford. Ms Berejiklian announced the decision via social media, saying that the panel would provide advice on how music festivals and promoters can improve safety at their events, the efficacy of increased drug education, and whether new offences or harsher penalties are required. While many are calling for the introduction of pill testing, Ms Berejiklian has rejected the suggestion, saying the NSW Government does not support pill testing. "Pill testing doesn't guarantee the safety of a drug and what might be safe for one person may not be safe for another person," she told the SMH. "The last thing we would want to see is people getting a false sense of security." However, her comments have received much backlash online from the public and other politicians. https://twitter.com/RichardDiNatale/status/1041883391837126656 https://twitter.com/johannhari101/status/1041469528578908161 Australia's first and only pill testing trial took place at Canberra's Groovin The Moo festival earlier this year, allowing punters to have their drugs analysed for unknown and potentially lethal additives. Eighty-five substances were tested and a bunch of lethal ingredients were found. While no further pill testing trials have yet been announced, the advocacy group behind the Groovin The Moo trial, Harm Reduction Australia, is currently attempting to raise $100K to introduce pill testing throughout Australia. If they do succeed in raising the amount, however, they'll still need to gain the approval of the state governments. Ms Berejiklian has asked her expert panel to provide their advice within four weeks, following close consultation with the likes of the local government and those in the music industry. Image: Big Sound, Bec Taylor
The year 2000 seems appropriate for the release of an iconic Australian record: it was the year Daniel Johns promised he'd make it up to us; we'd recently learned Madison Avenue was not our baby; and we'd narrowly avoided death by computers crashing. It was time to celebrate a new millennium. Having sold more than a million copies, Since I Left You had fans pleading for a follow-up album from day one. But 14 years later, The Avalanches are still yet to deliver. Though a second album is expected at any moment, Vivid Sydney is keeping us satisfied in the meantime. Fronted by South Africa-born, Sydney-raised eclectic electronic whiz kid Jonti along with alt-pop local favourite Rainbow Chan and management buds Astral People, Vivid LIVE's celebration of The Avalanches will see as many as 17 performers reinterpret and rearrange some of the 3,500 samples included in Since I Left You. Between rehearsals and resting his voice, Jonti took time to chat with us about Saturday's Opera House performance, his love for The Avalanches and what to expect from the future. ON VIVID LIVE Originally produced for OutsideIn Festival last year, the Since I Left You tribute set was created to "show our own profuse love for The Avalanches," according to Jonti (who'll no doubt be blissing out himself throughout the show). If you've been a little baffled by what to expect from the Saturday May 24 performance, Jonti makes it plain. "It's a recreation of the album. We're basically just trying to bring it to life, cover every sound and play it in the same order as when you listen to the album, but back-the-front," he says. Of the whopping 18 songs making up Since I Left You — and the 3,500 samples included in it — 'Electricity' is Jonti's favourite of their reinterpretations (although it wasn't an easy task to pick just one). "I just think it ends with a lot of soul and the strings sound really beautiful. It just kind of explodes and everyone's really on their A game and it's all kind of 'game over' sounding. I've really liked the way we've been doing that one." https://youtube.com/watch?v=VfAuFAgHpzc ON HIS LOVE FOR THE AVALANCHES To have a bunch of young, celebrated musos recreating their album at the Opera House 14 years after its release must feel pretty damn great for The Avalanches. But of course, it's equally satisfying for Jonti, who's adored the Melbourne band since their first release. "There's copious amounts of love in their album and I feel that's what makes it kind of transcend over the years. "When I moved to Australia from South Africa, I wasn't really sure of my identity. I had to find myself and I think the album helped me with that; it helped me choose a path. And even last year, I was very stuck and went through a breakup, then we did the Since I Left You [OutsideIn] show and it just resparked a love of music. It's the album that keeps giving," Jonti laughs. The Avalanches have kept us on their toes with rumours of a second album since Since I Left You's release. But it finally seems likely that we'll hear more from the Melbourne legends any day soon, with Jonti recently collaborating on the forthcoming anticipated (and rather mysterious) release. Despite his undying love for their first album, it seems even Jonti thinks a second could be better. "I think it's possible. When I got back from the studio I was kind of blushing like a school girl. It definitely has the same power." But rethinking his answer, Jonti reckons it might not be his favourite. "Only because I'm on their album. I don't think I could say that's my favourite album and be on it," he laughs. "That would sound weird." https://youtube.com/watch?v=_MJNjRAkRfE PREDICTING THE FUTURE Orchestrating a 17-person show at the Opera House has become Jonti's pet project for the past year. But requiring a huge amount of effort, stress and thought, it'll all be over after Saturday night. "There'll definitely be withdrawals. We were talking about it this morning, like, 'what are we going to do?' But we have ideas. And you just don't know what's around the corner so we'll probably just keep the gang together one way or another. "We definitely want to do a show in Melbourne, because that's where they're [The Avalanches] from. But it all depends on whatever we can make feasible. It's just hard enough getting us all in the one room to rehearse!" But between rehearsals, Jonti's also been recording a solo album that's probably "40 per cent" completed. "We'll see where that leads to." Jonti will perform as part of Vivid LIVE in Since I Left You - A Celebration of The Avalanches on Saturday 24 May. More details over here.
Gin and sunshine go together like cheese and crackers, a pairing so perfect that nobody is really sure where it came from. We just know it works. It makes sense to celebrate all things gin as we approach the warmer season, hence why Four Pillars Gin is celebrating a brand new ready-to-drink flavour across a huge series of live music events. For Brisbane, the riverside eatery Byblós has been chosen to bring the vibe to the River City. Taking place across October, Gin Tins & Tunes is putting tins in hands and smiles on faces across the country. The events will serve up weekly offerings of the Navy Strength Gin & Ginger RTD alongside performances from local music talent and venue-specific ways to get your very own Four Pillars bucket hat (it's as stylish as it is sun-safe). The Queensland outpost of Gin Tins & Tunes is taking place at none other than Byblós Bar + Restaurant in riverside Hamilton. It's a standout choice for fine, waterfront dining in Brisbane's east with or without a special occasion, and it will now host these vibey Sunday sessions every Sunday from October 8 to October 29, 3pm to 7pm. Gins Tins & Tunes runs weekly from Sunday, October 1 to October 22. For more information or to make a booking, visit the website.
In late March, Prime Minister Scott Morrison announced the national cabinet had agreed to a six-month moratorium on evictions for both residential and commercial tenancies financially impacted by COVID-19. Like many coronavirus regulations, though, the moratorium then had to be implemented by individual states and territories. And on Wednesday, April 22, the Queensland Government did just that. As part of a package of special COVID-19 protections that has just been legislated in the Residential Tenancies and Rooming Accommodation (COVID-19 Emergency Response) Regulation 2020 and explained in the Residential Tenancies Practice Guide, the government has introduced a six-month ban on evicting people financially impacted by COVID-19 — one that's backdated to apply from Sunday, March 29 until Wednesday, September 30. The eviction moratorium also applies to tenants whose lease expires during the next six months, with property owners required to offer an extension until at least Wednesday, September 30. The government hopes this pause on evictions will allow time for financial support (such as Centrelink and the new Jobkeeper payments) to reach tenants, and will "ensure people do not have to face the prospect of homelessness" during the pandemic, as stated on the state's new COVID-19 Residential Rental Hub. As always, there's some fine print — so we've broken it down. First up, what is a moratorium? Simply, it's a temporary ban or suspension of an activity. And an evictions moratorium? A temporary ban on evictions. In Queensland, the evictions moratorium is for six months, backdated to apply from Sunday, March 29 until Wednesday, September 30 — and applies only to renters who have been financially disadvantaged by COVID-19. More on that below. During this period, landlords are not able to issue a notice to leave to renters who have been financially disadvantaged by COVID-19. Now and in the past, landlords must issue a notice to leave if they wish to evict a tenant and, in more serious circumstances, an order, which must obtained through QCAT. Then, only with a warrant, can a police officer physically remove you from the premises. What happens when these six months are up? The government did not legislate what will happen after the six-month eviction moratorium period ends if you do not pay your rent during the period — that is, whether you can then be evicted for not paying rent. That said, you are encouraged to start negotiations with your landlord if you are having trouble paying rent during this six-month period, and to apply for mandatory conciliation through the Residential Tenancies Authority (RTA) if you can not come to an arrangement. More on that below. If you negotiate a tenancy variation agreement for a new, lesser rent amount for the six-month period — a rent reduction — you will not have to pay the shortfall after the period is up as you are no longer liable for the larger amount during the agreed period. For example, if your landlord agrees to reduce your rent by $100 per week for the six-month period, you will not need to make up that extra $100 per week at a later date. When the period is up, you will need to resume paying your full rent amount, however. That said, your landlord may ask that you negotiate a tenancy variation agreement that includes a payment plan for unpaid rent. So, does that mean I don't have to pay rent? If you have been financially impacted by COVID–19 and you cannot pay rent during this six-month period, you cannot be evicted due to rental arrears (missed rent payments) during the six-month period — but you are encouraged to start negotiations with your landlord for a longer-term rent reduction if needed. You're also advised to "keep paying what you think is reasonable", which the Qld Government specifies is 30 percent of your income. Once a new rent has been agreed on, a Tenancy Variation Form (RTA form 18d) must be submitted. What's important to note is that you're only protected from evictions if you've been put in position of excessive hardship due to the COVID-19 emergency, because one or more rent-paying members of your household has: been afflicted by COVID-19, or been subject to a public health direction to stay at a place, or are self-isolating because either they're vulnerable to COVID-19, a member of their household is vulnerable to COVID-19, or a someone they are a primary carer for is vulnerable to COVID-19, or had to stop working or reduce their ours because a public health direction has closed their place employment or restricted their employer's trade or business, or been unable to work because of a travel restriction, or been prevented from returning to Australia. In addition to falling into one of the above categories, to demonstrate excessive hardship due to the COVID-19 emergency, one or more rent-paying members of your household must: have suffered a loss of income of 25 percent or more, or now be faced with paying rent that represents more than 30 percent of their income. If you and your landlord cannot come to a new arrangement, you must apply for conciliation through the RTA. This is mandatory. As part of the conciliation process, you will be required to provide the RTA with information to show your loss of income due to the COVID-19 pandemic, to substantiate the hardship you're experiencing, and to demonstrate that you're either receiving income support payments or you've taken steps towards getting income support. If you do not meet the above eligibility, you're expected to honour your agreement and pay all rent and charges in full. What about if I've lost my job? Or had my shifts cut? As outlined above, if you have been financially impacted by COVID–19 due to losing your job or having your shifts cut, and you cannot pay rent during this six-month period, you cannot be evicted due to rental arrears — but you are encouraged to start negotiations with your landlord for a longer-term rent reduction if needed, and will be required to work through RTA conciliation if that is not successful. If you have lost your job, don't have access to any other financial assistance and haven't been able to negotiate a reduction in your rent, the government has implemented a COVID-19 Rental Grant. It is only available to Queensland tenants who have lost their job, have applied to Centrelink for income support, are waiting for their application with Centrelink to be approved, do not have more than $10,000 in cash and savings, and can provide evidence of their efforts to negotiate a payment plan with their landlord — and have exhausted all other options. Designed to bridge the gap until Centrelink payments start, it provides a one-off payment of up to four weeks rent (up to a maximum of $2000), and is paid directly to your landlord. Applications close at 5pm, on Monday, April 27, 2020. Do I have to pay it later? If you do not pay any rent and do not make an arrangement with your landlord, your unpaid rent will accrue as arrears during this period. Whether or not you'll have to pay this rent after the six months needs to be negotiated with your landlord. As outlined above, if you negotiate a new, lesser rent amount for the six-month period, you will not have to pay the shortfall after the period is up as you are no longer liable for the larger amount during the agreed period. For example, if your rent drops by $100 per week, you will not need to make up that extra $100 per week. When the period is up, you will need to resume paying your full rent amount, however. And if I can't, I won't be evicted — right? During the six-month moratorium, no — you cannot be evicted for not paying rent if you or your household has been financially impacted by COVID-19, as explained above. What happens after that period ends, though, hasn't been legislated by the government. To clarify, this moratorium primarily protects you from evictions for not paying rent if you have been financially impacted by COVID-19. That said, it also applies to tenants who reach the end of their lease during the six-month freeze period — that is, before Wednesday, September 30. If your lease expires within moratorium period and you don't want to move, your landlord must offer you an extension on your existing lease until at least Wednesday, September 30, unless you specifically request a shorter term. The moratorium does not apply if you breach your rental agreement. In that case, your landlord can still evict you — with timeframes varying depending on the reason. You can also still be issued with a notice to leave if the property is being sold, or the owner is preparing the property for sale. If I receive a phone call or email from my landlord about being evicted what should I do? If your landlord is unaware of the moratorium, you can direct them to the COVID-19 Residential Rental Hub and the RTA website. At the latter, you'll also find forms for varying your rental agreement due to COVID-19. If you visit the Tenants Queensland website, you can also access template and example letters to use when approaching your landlord about rent reduction. You can also contact Tenants Queensland by phone to obtain free tenancy advice. And, you can receive free financial advice from professionals by calling the National Debt Hotline on 1800 007 007. Am I allowed to break my lease and move out early if I need? You can, but you must be experiencing extreme financial hardship due to COVID-19. Your household must have lost 75 percent of more of your income, and have less than $5000 in savings — and you must be able to prove this. If you're in a fixed-term agreement, you might need to pay a break free; however that will be capped at the equivalent of one week's rent for the duration of the COVID-19 pandemic. You'll also still need to pay any rental arrears you owe prior to advising your landlord that you need to break the lease. If you're having difficulty advising your landlord that you're breaking the lease — they're refusing to discuss the matter with you, or they can't be contacted — you'll need to go through the aforementioned RTA conciliation process. Have more questions? There's a heap of FAQs on the COVID-19 Residential Rental Hub, as well further details in the Residential Tenancies Practice Guide and an outline of the special COVID-19 protections for residential tenants on the RTA website. The Tenants Queensland website features fact sheets, forms and other useful links — and if you're still unsure you can get free tenancy advice by contacting its Queensland Statewide Tenant Advice Referral Service by phone.
When Jennifer Kent's The Babadook creeped its way across screens in 2014, it became an Australian horror classic. Now, five years later, the Aussie filmmaker is back with a completely different type of unsettling film. Prepare to feel just as uncomfortable in The Nightingale, which steps back to Tasmania circa 1825 to follow a young Irish convict (Aisling Franciosi) seeking revenge on a cruel British officer (Sam Claflin) — with assistance on her trek from an Aboriginal tracker named Billy (Baykali Ganambarr). Premiering at the Venice Film Festival last year, the movie made an instant splash, winning a special jury prize for Kent and nabbing the best young actor award for Ganambarr — a dancer from Arnhem Land who had never appeared on screen before. The Nightingale then screened at the Adelaide Film Festival, as well as at Sundance; however the bulk of Australia has been waiting for the film to finally hit cinemas. And, to even catch a glimpse of just what's in store. The just-released first trailer for The Nightingale takes care of the latter problem. "You don't want trouble, but sometimes trouble wants you," Claflin's character snarls menacingly in a particularly chilling moment, with the Hunger Games star definitely playing against type. As for when it'll release locally, the film is set to play this year's Sydney Film Festival before rolling out in cinemas around the country at the end of August. Unpacking Australia's colonial history, as well as its treatment of both women and the country's Indigenous population, it's an absolutely essential and shattering masterpiece — something we say from experience. The vengeance-fuelled film is also far from easy to watch, filled as it is with trauma, darkness, visceral shocks and deep-seated pain. Inspiring walkouts at the movie's sessions in Adelaide, Kent can't be accused of holding back. Check out the trailer below: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nfPxmnMAyZw The Nightingale releases in Australian cinemas on August 29, 2019.
War-holy crap. The Art Gallery of New South Wales has just announced one of its most ambitious and extensive projects. Ever. On November 1, 2014, they'll open the doors on Pop to popism — the largest pop art exhibition in Australian history. More than 200 works by 70 artists, including Andy Warhol, Roy Lichtenstein, Ed Ruscha, Martin Sharp and Brett Whiteley will have an entire floor to themselves. In the biggest pop art escapade the AGNSW has ever undertaken, 35 collectors from all corners of the earth will be lending their works. The selection covers both classic pop art as well as the '70s and '80s new wave. Squealworthy inclusions count Andy Warhol’s Triple Elvis (1963) among the ranks, as well as David Hockney’s Portrait of an artist (1972), Robert Indiana’s Love cross (1968), Lichtenstein’s In the car (1963) and Howard Arkley’s Triple fronted (1987). "This will be the most comprehensive survey of pop art to be seen in Australia and reflects the decisive role played by pop in the development of contemporary art," said AGNSW director Dr Michael Brand. "The exhibition will present Australian pop artists alongside their international peers from the United States, the United Kingdom and Europe, and extends beyond the period of classic pop art into the eighties, giving audiences an insight into pop’s enduring legacy both here and abroad." Pop to popism, which will be on display until March 1, 2015, makes up one half of the sixth incarnation of the annual Sydney International Art Series, managed by Destination NSW. The exhibition will run in conjunction with Chuck Close prints: Process and collaboration, which will show at the Museum of Contemporary Art between November 19, 2014 and March 9, 2015. Pop to popism runs 1 Nov 2014 — 1 Mar 2015 at the AGNSW.
Clocking in at two hours and 40 minutes, Quentin Tarantino's Once Upon a Time in Hollywood isn't a short movie. Like the bulk of the acclaimed writer/director's films, however, it's one that viewers would be be happy to spend even longer with. Since the hit flick premiered at the Cannes Film Festival last year, Tarantino has even talked about returning to its world, revealing that he has written the scripts for five episodes of the Rick Dalton (Leonardo DiCaprio)-starring fictional TV western Bounty Law — and that he plans to make and direct them all. It might take some time for that to come to fruition, though, so a new, free documentary that peeks behind the scenes of Once Upon a Time in Hollywood will just have to do in the meantime. Called Once Upon a Time in Hollywood — A Love Letter to Making Movies, the half-hour doco lives up to its title. Not only does it step through the making of Tarantino's feature, but it explores how the filmmaker's obsessive love of cinema informed everything about the movie. QT's fondness for the medium he works in isn't new news. Neither is his tendency to fill his films with references to his inspiration, or his dedicated attention to detail. But if you want to hear more about how that all plays out on this specific 19169-set flick — a movie that's, among other things, a love letter to Hollywood's heyday just as it was fading — then here's your chance. Currently available to watch on Youtube, Once Upon a Time in Hollywood — A Love Letter to Making Movies features plenty of the movie's heavy-hitters, so expect to-camera chats from Tarantino — obviously — as well as DiCaprio, Brad Pitt, Margot Robbie, Kurt Russell, Timothy Olyphant and the late Luke Perry. With the film industry's annual awards season currently in full swing, and with Once Upon a Time in Hollywood not only vying for ten Oscars, but hotly tipped to nab the coveted Best Picture prize —if Parasite or 1917 doesn't beat it, that is — the documentary's release is obviously extremely well-timed. Check out Once Upon a Time in Hollywood — A Love Letter to Making Movies below: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8AxkaueDxYM Top image: © 2018 CTMG, Inc. All Rights Reserved.
Ice cream fiends don't need any extra excuse to tuck into their favourite frosty treat, especially when the weather is warming up — but if you can lick your way through a scoop or two and help a great cause, your dessert just might taste extra sweet. That's what's on the menu at Ben & Jerry's, which has launched a new flavour in solidarity with Torres Strait Islanders battling the climate crisis. And, for one day only, it's giving out free ice creams for supporting climate change action, too. The brand isn't shy about making products that make a statement. When it wanted to call for action on the same topic in 2018, it stuck to its strengths, releasing a new ice cream flavour to draw attention to the subject. When it wanted to specifically target the Australian Government's support for fossil fuels in 2020, it did the same as well. And, back in 2021, it released a choc-chip cookie dough beer to support renewable energy. So, new limited-edition non-dairy flavour 'This Is Our Whirled' joins a lengthy history, but also hit shelves in collaboration with Our Islands Our Home. That campaign is spearheaded by the Traditional Owners of the Torres Strait, and is urging the Australian Federal Government to take stronger action on climate change. In September this year, as part of the push, eight Torres Strait Islanders won a ruling from the United Nations Human Rights Committee — which stated that the Australian Government had violated Torres Strait Islanders' human rights by failing to act on global warming. The ice cream itself is a vegan dessert made with sunflower butter — and we hope you like chocolate, because it's filled with chocolate chip cookies, chocolate sandwich cookies and chocolate cookie swirls. You'll find the tubs at Woolworths, Metcash and Ben & Jerry's scoop stores Australia-wide, including for free at the latter from 5–9pm on Friday, October 14. To nab a pint of 'This Is Our Whirled' ice cream without paying a cent, you will need to sign Ben & Jerry's petition calling on stronger climate action and climate justice for Torres Strait Islanders. You can do so online via the Ben & Jerry's website, then you'll need to take a screenshot to prove it — and show that at your nearest scoop shop to score your free tub. There's a limit of one per customer, and the giveaway will only run while stocks last during the four-hour window. Still, anyone who nabs a freebie will be gain a pint with artwork from Torres Strait Islander and art activist Dylan Mooney, which is designed to celebrate Torres Strait Islanders' resilience. If you're buying a pint some other time instead, a portion of profits from every sale of the flavour are going to Our Islands Our Home to support its ongoing climate justice efforts. Ben & Jerry's has scoop stores at Newtown, Bondi Beach, Manly and Hoyts Broadway in Sydney; Flinders Lane, St Kilda, at Hoyts at Melbourne Central, Docklands, Highpoint and Chadstone in Melbourne; and South Bank and Hoyts Sunnybank in Brisbane. Ben & Jerry's 'This Is Our Whirled' ice cream is available at Woolworths, Metcash and Ben & Jerry's scoop stores Australia-wide. The chain is giving away free tubs at its scoop stores from 5–9pm on Friday, October 14. For more information, head to the Ben & Jerry's website.
Everyone that's ever bought a piece of furniture knows the usual IKEA experience. You block out as much time as possible, wander through its cavernous halls, dream about everything you'd like to do to your house or apartment, spend too long filling a bag or trolley, then go home with plenty of new things to find places for (and a hefty wishlist for next time). But the Swedish retailer has been shaking up that routine in 2022, courtesy of a few new initiatives — including its just-announced Australian-first Sustainable Living Shops. Already this year, IKEA has started an online marketplace for ex-display, pre-loved and discontinued products in Australia, and also launched its first Australian Plan and Order Point location in Melbourne — a concept store at Highpoint Shopping Centre where you can chat to someone one-on-one about kitchen makeovers and wardrobe organisation, then order right there. The Sustainable Living Shops will take you back to the brand's usual locations, though, offering a store-within-a-store setup that's all about helping customers make eco-friendly choices. Inside, shoppers will find products to assist with reducing your climate footprint at home — so things that'll aid you in using less energy and creating less waste. LED lightbulbs that last 25,000 hours, energy-saving light control systems, rechargeable batteries, blinds that trap heat, cooling pads, mattress protectors that help control the temperature while you sleep: they're all on the shelves here. So are energy-efficient induction cooktops, home solar systems and water-saving showerheads. IKEA clearly wants to do the environment a solid, and do its part to help its customers to — and it's positioning the new sections as a cost-of-living boost, too. Plenty of the products in the Sustainable Living Shops are designed to bring about savings, like not having to buy lightbulbs as often, or batteries, or run heating and cooling systems. In total, the brand is setting up ten locations within its existing stores, with IKEA's Rhodes, Marsden Park, Canberra, Springvale and Perth sites already home to their own Sustainable Living Shops. Next comes Adelaide by December 4, then Tempe by December 18 and Logan by December 25. Then, Richmond will join the list sometime in January 2023, followed by North Lakes in April 2023. IKEA's Sustainable Living Shops have started to open around Australia, including at the chain's Rhodes, Marsden Park, Canberra, Springvale and Perth stores already, with further sites to come by April 2023. Keep an eye on the IKEA website for further details.
It's been 12 years since the Red Hot Chili Peppers last made a headline tour of Australia. And they're finally on their way back down under. In February and March 2019, the LA-based rockers will play all over the country, including a one-off A Day on the Green and their first-ever show in Tassie. To catch them on the Green, get yourself to Mt Duneed Estate, Geelong, on Saturday, March 2. You can expect to hear tunes from the Peppers' new (and eleventh) studio album, The Getaway, as well as old hits, like 'Californication', 'By The Way' and 'Under The Bridge'. Since making their first release — a self-titled EP — in 1984, the band has sold more than 60 million albums, won five Grammys and entered the Rock 'n' Roll Hall of Fame. Outside of its one-off A Day on the Green appearance — an Aussie-wide festival that is also playing host to our own Kyle Minogue — the Peppers will also be playing headline shows in Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane and Perth and a smaller show out on Hope Estate in the Hunter Valley. If you fancy a trip down south, or are maybe hanging around after Mona Foma, the Peppers are heading to Tasmania for the first time ever, to perform at a rare intimate show — with a capacity of just 1290. Supports acts for all shows will be announced soon. RED HOT CHILI PEPPERS 2019 DATES Tasmania — Derwent Entertainment Centre, February 17 Sydney — Qudos Bank Arena, February 19 Hunter Valley — Hope Estate, February 23 Brisbane — Brisbane Entertainment Centre, February 25 Melbourne — Rod Laver Arena, February 28 Geelong — A Day on the Green, Mt Duneed Estate, March 2 Perth — NIB Stadium, March 5 Pre-sale tickets for A Day on the Green will be released at 10am on Wednesday, November 22, with all other Live Nation pre-sales going live at midday on Thursday, November 23. All shows go on sale to the public at midday on Monday, November 26. Image: Steve Keros.
If you're looking to send a little something to a loved one (for Valentine's Day, perhaps) or yourself (always appropriate) but don't want to do the same old, you're in luck — LVLY is here. The same-day gift delivery service has expanded its operations from Melbourne and Sydney to offer its cheeky selection to Brisbanites. LVLY wants to buck cliches with its floral gift range featuring seasonal posies in their trademark 'You LVLY F*cker' floral jars (with non-sweary options available for Mum-bound gifts). There's also succulents to combat a drab desk or body care items like the Soft Hands Strong Hearts hand cream if self-gifting is your thing — which it absolutely should be. Things get a bit saucy in the chocolate section thanks to Tall Dark and Handsome and Dreamy and Creamy dark chocolate. Gifts often sneak in a life affirming message — take the You Da Bomb ginger cookie or You LVLY Hottie canvas beauty bag, for example. LVLY also packages gifts in bundles, as seen in the Day Maker (with flowers, chocolate and hand cream), the Desk (with flowers, a candle and a notebook), and the espresso martini-laden Pick-Me Up. And, making a great service even better, they often partner with local businesses for limited-edition gifts — Melbourne was treated to a Short Stop Donuts collaboration, so keep your fingers crossed for Brisbane-based goodies. Originally housemates, co-founders Hannah Spilva and Verity Tuck are excited to bring the service home after growing its base out of their kitchen in Melbourne. Hannah says the gifts are designed help you celebrate the good days, bad days and everything in between. Gifts start at $39, and you can select same day delivery if ordering before 1pm (it'll get to its recipient by 6pm) or pre-order for a future date. The delivery zone spans from Chermside to Sunnybank to Cleveland and beyond. Delivery prices differ based on suburb so plug in your postcode to check what's what, with shipping free for orders over $99. To send a delivery or for more info, head to lvly.com.au.
Hoping for something cold, creamy and scrumptious this Christmas? Well, you're in luck. While Gelato Messina's bricks-and-mortar Brisbane store is now slated to open in early 2017 rather than late this year, they do have a gift for the city's ice cream lovers: a two-day festive pop-up. Messina is coming to town as part of the Milton Markets' yuletide shindig, aka Christmas on Cribb. On December 15 and 16, they'll be dishing out scoops of salted caramel and white chocolate, milk chocolate peanut fudge, and salted coconut and mango frosty goodness, plus a few other yet-to-be-confirmed flavours. We've got our fingers crossed they'll roll out their Mincing Tart (brandy custard gelato with Messina fruit mince tarts), Hansel He's So Hot Right Now (gingerbread gelato smashed with gingerbread cake) and their pavlova concoction. Christmas on Cribb will also feature pop-up bars, other guest stalls, all the seasonal foods you can dream of, artisan gifts and two stages of live entertainment, in case you need something to keep you occupied between servings of ice cream. A tip: don't forget that Messina also sell take-home packs. If you can manage to stop yourself from eating a whole tub full of their chilly deliciousness for ten days, you'll go down in Christmas dessert history. Find Gelato Messina at Christmas on Cribb, Cribb Street, Milton on December 15 and 16. Visit the event's Facebook page for more information.
Last-minute shopping, over-indulging at celebratory shindigs, and pretending not to be annoyed about receiving another pair of socks: they’re each part of every Christmas. For kids and adults alike, so is many a seasonal-themed movie. If it has Santa or Christmas in the title, it is optimal viewing at this time of year. The folks at South Bank certainly think so, and have thrown together a Christmas Cinema Series brimming with festive spirit. These free films aren’t just for families. Any Yuletide movie held under Brisbane’s starry skies and on the shores of Streets Beach at this summery time of the season is perfect for, well, everyone. Pack a picnic, bring your beach towel, and enjoy everything from Jingle All the Way’s ‘90s stylings to the classic treat that is Miracle on 34th Street. That’s not all, with The Muppets Christmas Carol, Elf, The Nightmare Before Christmas, Home Alone and more among a positively jovial and jolly selection of childhood classics gracing the waterside big screen.
Every season has its fashions and fads. This past summer, there was only one thing we spotted more in our favourite bar haunts than hot dogs: cider. While a glass of sweet, delicious cider is undoubtedly on trend, we suspect that it will last a little longer than most. Concrete Playground speaks to Rich Coombes of Batlow Premium Cider, Brittany Kinter from Moonshine, Hotel Steyne's dedicated cider and rum bar, and Michael Capaldo from Schwartz Brewery, the creator of Sydney Cider, to find out why cider is here to stay. Why has it taken Sydney so long to catch on to cider? Why is the cider revolution only hitting now? RC: There was really a lack of quality cider widely available, but now we're seeing an abundance of quality ciders in a range of styles. The category was re-invigorated in the UK recently through a significant increase in marketing activities by major brands, and that had a positive knock-on effect into other markets like Australia. Consumers are also seeking out more from their drinking and dining experiences; they appear to be looking for alternatives to their regular beer or wine selections, and cider provides a versatile option. Michael, Schwartz Brewery has had the beers under the belt for a while, but what prompted you to move into cider? MC: Our marketing manager Richard actually came up with the brand years ago. Richard presented the idea of making a cider for Sydneysiders to Dr. Schwartz and the brewing team, and we loved it. Did you have much experience with cider before embarking on Sydney Cider? MC: I had made a few batches at home and had produced a range of ciders with my previous employer. Saying that, cider is a very different beast to beer. From a technical point of view it behaves much more like a wine than a beer, so it is a whole new world for us brewers to get used to. Rich, we all know Batlow Apples but how did Batlow Cider come about? RC: It was the product of great timing. Batlow Apples were looking at ways of realising value for fruit that may not make the grade for the supermarket shelf and had previously made cider. So when we (my brother Sam and I) approached Batlow Apples looking for a source of top quality apples to make cider, it was complementary to their own plans. Sam and I had spent a fair amount of time in the UK drinking cider, and we realised there was an opportunity to make a locally-made, premium cider using the best cider-making practices. When we shared our cider plans with Batlow Apples, they liked the idea of partnering up and launching a Batlow-branded cider collaboratively. We were on the same page from day one about what we wanted to create and the rest is history. Can you take us through your processes of making cider? What's the story behind the bottle? RC: Our cider begins with the apples – and we only use Batlow apples. Through some experimenting, we came up with a varietal mix to give the best balance in terms of acidity and sweetness. We grow, pick and press apples in Batlow and then, the same day, transport the juice to our cidery. There, we ferment, clean filter and bottle. No concentrates, no added sugar, no artificial preservatives and no pasteurisation of the bottle. Our 'minimal intervention' approach means we retain as much of the goodness of the apples as possible and ensures there are about three and a half Batlow apples in each bottle. MC: We decided that if we were going to make a cider, it had to be refreshing and all natural. We have a fantastic juice supplier who grows cold climate apples, which are perfect for a crisp cider. We use a very unusual yeast imported from France that is actually a champagne yeast. As yeast is the only living ingredient in cider, every strain will produce different flavours. In the case of our yeast, you can certainly assimilate it with the citrusy, tart flavours found in champagne. We then soften up the cider with more fresh apple juice and are left with a beautiful balance of medium sweet fruit on the nose and pallet, which is counterbalanced by subtle acidity. Rich, for those who are yet to partake, what's the appeal of Batlow Cider? RC: Our cider has the freshness of a crunchy Batlow apple. The flavour gives a complex mix of green and red apples, with a hint of earthiness. It's crisp, clean and has just the right amount of sweetness. We only press apples as we make the cider, which ensures that we retain as much of the natural aromas and flavours of the Batlow apples as possible. We don't add any sugar, concentrates or flavourings like some other ciders on the market, and it's also gluten free for our coeliac friends. Continuing with the education, what qualities make a great cider? RC: Great ciders are judged on their aroma and taste. Great cider will produce a delightful aroma of apples – depending on the style of cider, this may be fresh apples or even over-ripe apples. A great cider will offer depth of flavour and complexity, like a wine, offering a fine balance of apple sweetness and acidity. More traditional styles of cider will also display good tannin structure, given cider apples are relatively high in tannin content compared to eating apples. Striking the right balance of sweetness, acidity and tannin is the art to great cider-making. While Batlow obviously focuses on apple cider, what different kinds of cider are available? RC: There are now many styles of cider available: from very sweet to very dry, carbonated to still. By definition, cider is made from the fermentation of apple or pear juice and, whilst there are an increasing amount of flavour twists hitting the shelves, the purists would argue these are really getting away from true 'cider'. That said, different regions of the world produce very different ciders. It's worth seeking out some foreign styles, such as French ciders, which offer a completely different drinking experience to more commonly consumed ciders. How would you describe your cider, Michael? What makes it stand out from the pack? MC: It certainly sits in the medium sweet category. This means that it has pronounced apple flavours, but their sweetness is balanced by the acidity produced from the yeast. I think in terms of drinkability and versatility, it is one of the best ciders going around. It drinks best neat, and we try to discourage people from drinking it with ice as this can mask the beautiful natural flavours. While you're obviously a lover of beer as well, what does cider offer that beer doesn't? MC: From a technical point of view cider has a much lower pH than beer, around 3.3 as opposed to 4, which means its flavours are generally sharper and bitier. I think cider suits the Australian palate very well as we like dry, highly carbonated drinks that refresh on a hot day. Britt, putting a bar specialising in cider (and rum) in Hotel Steyne – a classic 'pub' pub – is a bit of a brave move. How did this come about? BK: The cider bar concept originated from our publican Ged. Since he married an Irish girl, he's become familiar with the explosion of cider in Europe, particularly in Celtic countries. With sixty six beer taps downstairs, Ged saw the cider bar as a strategic point of difference for the hotel. He believes that the Australian climate is made for cider. Plus, the 'alco pop' tax is making cider more accessible and affordable. What is the concept behind Moonshine? Could you describe the look and feel of this bar? BK: The bar is themed 'seaside grit', with reused old dockside timber bars and weather leather chesterfield booths. It's a seaside, shanty shack atmosphere. There's images of old school, sea man tattoos, bottles from nights passed, and retired seafaring craft from the years gone by. Plus the associated ocean smells and sounds provided naturally and free from the coast just beyond the doors! The bar should see you through the whole weekend, with a hundred rums to try and a folk rock gig to see on a Thursday, to a reggae gig on a Sunday afternoon, whilst sipping on one of the sixteen ciders on tap. Tell us a bit about the ciders you're serving up. What's your pick? BK: Our ciders range from sugary sweet to bittersweet, and mildly dry to a smoky dry. My personal fav. at the moment is the Batlow cider. The high quality, delicious taste and attractive branding has captured my attention, along with that of our patrons. What has the reaction from punters been? Have people taken you up on the offer? BK: Positive, that's for sure. Young people are looking for the experience and variety that cider has to offer. We constantly get visits from strictly beer drinkers who have yet to jump on the cider wagon but do want to see what all the buzz is about. Before you know it, these 'strict beer drinkers' are frequenting the bar and have a favourite cider. Plus, we're finding that Australians are returning home after time abroad with a liking for cider that they developed on their travels. Here in Manly, we witness the multicultural mix of people firsthand, so there's also nostalgic travellers frequenting the pub in search of recognisable beverages from their home countries. And finally, to end on a controversial note, what does cider have over the great Australian favourite, beer? RC: The advantage of cider is that it offers a completely different drinking experience to beer. Some people choose cider because it's a lighter more refreshing alternative to beer or even because it's gluten free. Increasingly we are seeing cider matched with foods in place of craft beer or wine, so it's really quite versatile. We're still a beer-drinking nation, but it's nice to see an ever-growing appreciation of quality cider. BK: Sydney has the perfect climate for the cider market. There's just something about sitting on the deck, lounging in the sun with your mates, with a cool refreshing cider in hand.
Brisbanites, prepare to start feeling a big dose of deja vu. In response to the new local cluster of COVID-19 cases in Brisbane, Queensland Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk has announced that the entire Greater Brisbane region — spanning the Brisbane, Logan, Ipswich, Moreton and Redlands local government areas — is going into lockdown again for three days. The shutdown will start at 5pm on Monday, March 29 and run through until 5pm on Thursday, April 1. "We now have significant community transmission and significant numbers of venues of concern all through Brisbane," the Premier said at her daily press conference today, Monday, March 29. "And we know that people have moved from Brisbane out into the broader community, which is why I have advised that we need to ask people who live in greater Brisbane — those five local government areas that make up greater Brisbane — to stay home for the next three days until we can work out how much community transmission there has been and we can contact all of the contacts who have been in these many, many venues. That's critical," she continued. The Greater Brisbane region will return to the rules in place during January's lockdown, and also in March 2020. So, that means you're only allowed to leave the house for four reasons — to head out for work or education if you can't do that at home, for essential shopping, for exercise in your local area, and for health care or to provide support for a vulnerable person. The lockdown comes as a result of four more people being diagnosed with local cases of COVID-19, joining the two men who have already been diagnosed since Friday, March 26. Two of the cases have also travelled to Byron Bay during their infectious period, and one was in Gladstone for three days from March 26–28. https://twitter.com/AnnastaciaMP/status/1376311897624956929 "This is a protective measure but it's absolutely the right thing to do based on the health advice," the Premier said. "We do not take these measures lightly. These are very, very difficult decisions, but they are done to keep Queenslanders safe. They are done to protect everybody and to make sure that we stop the spread of this UK variant." As part of the lockdown, there is a limit of two visitors in homes. Masks are also compulsory for the three days of lockdown, and are required to be worn everywhere in Greater Brisbane's local government areas, other than if you're at your own home. Cinemas, entertainment and recreation venues will all close, as will places of worship, while cafes, pubs and restaurants are only allowed to open for takeaway service. https://twitter.com/AnnastaciaMP/status/1376303010880479237 Also, folks who decide to come to the Greater Brisbane region during the lockdown will be bound by the same restrictions, although travel is discouraged — and no one should leave Greater Brisbane during this period. The government strongly encourages non-residents currently in Greater Brisbane to remain until the end of the lockdown. And, if you've been in the Greater Brisbane area since March 20 but you're now elsewhere, you still must quarantine wherever you are. You'll also need to wear a mask when you leave your home — for one of the permitted reasons. Queensland Health is maintaining an active register of locations that have been visited by positive COVID-19 cases, which you can check out on its website. Extra testing clinics have been set up, and you can find a rundown of clinic locations online as well. The Greater Brisbane area will go into lockdown from 5pm on Monday, March 29 until 5pm on Thursday, April 1. For more information about the status of COVID-19 in Queensland, head to the QLD COVID-19 hub and the Queensland Health website. More details about the lockdown and associated restrictions can also be found on the Queensland Health website.
In just a couple of years time, Brisbanites will have another way to cross from the CBD to Kangaroo Point, with a new bridge between the two locations set to join the city's growing collection of river crossings. This one will be a green bridge, so it'll be completely car-free. It'll also boast something that even its fellow pedestrian, bus and bicycle-only structures don't have: an overwater bar and restaurant. Brisbane Lord Mayor Adrian Schrinner has revealed that the Connect Brisbane consortium, led by BESIX Watpac, has been awarded the contract to design and construct the bridge — and that their vision for the structure includes places to stop for a drink and a bite to eat. While this town of ours has more than a few eateries and watering holes either perched over the river or next to it (including plenty adjacent to river crossings), the Kangaroo Point Green Bridge will mark a first for the city, because no other bridges have built-in bars and restaurants. "The final design of the city-shaping project showed not only would the bridge deliver a much-anticipated crossing for pedestrians and active transport users, but it would also offer recreational opportunities unique in Brisbane," said the Lord Mayor. "The Kangaroo Point Green Bridge will be more than an active travel bridge; it will become a must-visit destination for residents and visitors to our great city." Exactly what kind of restaurant and bar will call the structure home hasn't yet been revealed; however, the bridge's overwater area could also include an event space — and has a cafe in its plaza area, and other small food and beverage outlets all earmarked, too. Also part of the design: viewing platforms, so that you can stop and scope out the scenery while you're making the 460-metre walk across the river. Due to start construction this year, with a 2023 opening date targeted, the Kangaroo Point Green Bridge will stretch between the corner of Alice Street and Edward Street in the CBD over to Scott Street at Kangaroo Point. Dedicated cycle and pedestrian paths are a big feature, with the bridge spanning a minimum width of 6.8 metres — and the design features a single-mast cable stayed structure, if you're wondering what it'll look like. The Kangaroo Point Green Bridge is one of four that the Brisbane City Council currently has in the works — down from the five that were announced back in 2019. The other bridges still forging ahead include two in West End, linking to both Toowong and St Lucia, and one from Albion to Newstead at Breakfast Creek. A fifth crossing from Bellbowrie to Wacol has been scrapped following community feedback. And yes, Brisbane is clearly a city of bridges. Our governments can't get enough of them, it seems. In the CBD alone, we already have the Go Between Bridge, which caters for vehicles, cyclists and walkers between West End and Milton; the William Jolly Bridge that links Grey Street with North Quay; the foot traffic-only Kurilpa Bridge that runs from the Gallery of Modern Art over to Tank Street; the Victoria Bridge from QPAC to George Street; and the pedestrian-only Goodwill Bridge that spans from the southern end of South Bank over to the Queensland University of Technology. And, the Neville Bonner Bridge from the new Queen's Wharf precinct to the Cultural Centre Forecourt is currently under construction as well. Images: Brisbane City Council.
From six nominations, Sydney Theatre Company's Sarah Snook (Memoir of a Snail)-starring international production of The Picture of Dorian Gray is now the winner of two Tony awards. At American theatre's night of nights for 2025, the Broadway take of the show earned its leading lady another accolade, after she also won a 2024 Laurence Olivier Award for Best Actress for its London version. Also adding a Tony to her mantle alongside her past Olivier Award: Marg Horwell, who emerged victorious for Best Costume Design of a Play, just as she did for The Picture of Dorian Gray's London season. "This means so much for a little Australian girl to be here on Broadway," said Snook in her acceptance speech, as the Australian Succession star nabbed another huge accolade. On the small screen, her turn as Shiv Roy sparked an Emmy, two Golden Globes and a pair of Screen Actors Guild Awards. "It is billed as a one-person show, but I don't feel alone on any night that I do this show. There are so may people onstage making it work, and so many people behind the stage making it work — in particular, a huge thank you to Kip Williams, who is incredible to create this." When the Tony nominations were announced, The Picture of Dorian Gray already made history before the winners were revealed. Becoming the most-nominated solo production in the awards' history will do that. While Snook was the only actor from the production to earn recognition because she's the show's sole cast member, Horwell was also up for Best Scenic Design of a Play with David Bergman, while helmer Kip Williams was nominated for Best Direction of a Play, Nick Schlieper for Best Lighting Design of a Play and Clemence Williams for Best Sound Design of a Play. Before The Picture of Dorian Gray saw Snook score a Tony and make her Broadway debut playing all 26 of the play's parts, it was a smash in Australia with Eryn Jean Norvill (Love Me) in the lead. When it made the leap to the UK starring Snook, it became the talk of West End. It's also been picked up by Cate Blanchett's (Disclaimer) production company Dirty Films to get the film treatment. Not only does the show feature just one performer playing every single character but, to make that happen, it uses video to help. The work of writer/director Williams, it's groundbreaking, and it's been understandably earning audiences raves and winning accolades. On the page, The Picture of Dorian Gray is also exceptional, as well as astute and unnerving, as it follows the selling of its namesake's soul in order to keep indulging every corporeal whim, urge and desire. There's a reason that it just keeps getting adapted for the screen and in theatres, after all. But there's never been a version like Sydney Theatre Company's, which the Tonys clearly appreciate. "Sarah Snook's Tony Award win is a deeply deserved honour. Her performance has captivated audiences night after night, and this recognition is a celebration of her extraordinary artistry," said Michael Cassel, producer of both the West End and Broadway productions. "It is also a proud moment for our entire creative team, whose vision and talent have also been recognised tonight. From its beginnings in Sydney to standing ovations on the West End and Broadway, the journey of this show has been nothing short of phenomenal. This accolade is not only a testament to the brilliance of everyone involved, but also to the courage of Sydney Theatre Company and Kip Williams, whose creative genius, ambition and innovation made this groundbreaking piece of theatre possible. I am so proud to be a part of Australian theatre being shared on the global stage." Williams' Dracula is the next Sydney Theatre Company hit that's heading abroad, with 2025 Tony Awards host and Wicked Oscar-nominee Cynthia Erivo set to star when the also one-performer-show heads to London from early 2026. Check out the trailer for the Broadway season of The Picture of Dorian Gray below: The 78th Tony Awards took place on Monday, June 9, 2025 Australian time — head to the accolades' website for more details and winners. The Picture of Dorian Gray has been playing Broadway in New York since March 2025 — for more information and to join the waitlist for tickets, head to the play's website. Images: Marc Brenner.
Ponch Hawkes is not just a lady with a cool name; she’s also a Melbourne-based photographer with a show at the Brisbane Powerhouse this month, called More Seeing Is Not Understanding. It’s a series of photos that act as a permanent record for fleeting moments – moments that leave your periphery before they’ve truly entered. Hawkes calls this ‘the realm of glimpsing’, and for More Seeing she’s drawn on memories and reconstructed them in print. These aren’t grainy images captured on a hastily whipped out iPhone, but clear and rich in colour as if you were seeing the situations play out through your own eyes. There’s a wide range of situations to absorb – a man skipping rope at a drive-through bottle, a couple ballroom dancing in a deserted arcade. The pieces beg for an accompanying narrative – a who, when, where, why and how – but Hawkes prefers to keep the viewer guessing. In the fast-paced nature of urban sprawl, you don’t always get a second glance at the things happening around you. More Seeing is an opportunity to do just that.
This July, it's time to deck your halls with boughs of whichever greenery you'd like. Yes, we know it's not Christmas yet. Winter in Australia means pretending 'tis the season — but early — and VEND's Virginia marketplace is doing just that with a huge Christmas in July Twilight Market. There'll be more than just succulents, cacti and indoor-friendly plants on offer; however, given that the northside spot is home to its own indoor greenhouse — aptly called the Greenhouse, naturally — that's definitely a big drawcard. Between 4–9pm on Saturday, July 22, you'll also be able to get festive at VEND's 130-plus shops, and at the array of pop-up stalls that it's setting up outside. Food trucks will keep your stomach satisfied, and there'll be a pop-up cocktail bar serving boozy beverages. Christmas dinner will be on the menu as well. Also, VEND is also doggo-friendly — should you want to bring your four-legged pal with you for a stint of Christmas in July fun. There's also a competition for dressing the part, with a $100 voucher up for grabs. That's a good enough reason to bust out your jolliest outfit — whether it's a red-and-green number or a festive costume. And yes, getting your Christmas shopping early is also a huge motivator. Just think how smug/good you'll feel come December, when everyone else is rushing about. Images: VEND Marketplace.
The super-adorable Finders Keepers Markets have been home to Brisbane's most creative and quirky designers for more than six years. The independent hip-fest is returning to their home at The Old Museum in November for two days. The biannual, designer-centric, come-one-come-all mini-festival has managed to bridge the gap between local market and exclusive exhibition, creating a space for independent designers to engage with the wider community. You'll be able to nab some marvellous treats difficult to find anywhere else. From bespoke leather goods to bespoke stationary, upcycled journals to upcycled bicycle reflectors, every stall will be a unique shopping experience that combines innovative design with grassroots feel-goodery. As usual, there will be live music, a cafe, a bar and thousands of other Brisbanites celebrating independent art and design. Finder Keepers is open 9am-4pm on both days.
With intrastate travel now allowed in NSW, Victoria and Queensland, many of us are already planning (a long list of) road trips. Those without a car have probably also been comparing car rental companies — and, now, there's a new player in the game: Uber. The global ride-sharing company is branching out and trialling car rental in Australia as a world first. Rolling out in Brisbane today, then in the Gold Coast, Sydney, Melbourne, Perth and Adelaide next week, Uber Rent will only be available to 50 percent of app users in its initial phase. So, you'll need to cross your fingers you get it. If you do land in the lucky half of users, this is how it'll work: update your app to the latest version, select the 'Rentals' option and you'll be able to choose from a selection of cars from Cartrawler and punch in your pick up date and location. Cartrawler is a global company that's connected to a heap car rental suppliers, as well airline companies and online travel retailers, that does just what it says on the packet: trawls through the existing sites to bring you what's available at the times and locations you want it — so you don't have to spend too long doing your own comparisons. The connection to Uber helps make it a little more convenient, with the ability to book through the one app — and score Uber Rewards, if that's something you do. [caption id="attachment_583987" align="alignnone" width="1280"] Great Ocean Road[/caption] Cars start from around $40 a day (for a small car) and $76 for an SUV, with prices getting a little cheaper the longer you book. A Hyundai Accent, for example, will cost around $150 for seven days, with pick up and drop off at Melbourne Airport. If the trial is a success, it'll be rolled out nationally as a permanent option on the app. So, you can plan more trips to dog-friendly pubs, beaches and parks. And get to the vet a little easier (don't tell your cat). Need some inspo when planning your first (second or third) road trip? Have a look at these ten country towns near Brissie worthy of a day trip, these towns outside of Sydney or these wintry Victorian day trips. To find out more about Uber Rent, head to the Uber website.
For half a century now, The Rocky Horror Show has been astounding. And, with the Richard O'Brien-created production lasting that long, perhaps time really is fleeting. Either way, whenever this sci-fi/horror musical hits the stage — and wherever — a glorious kind of madness takes its toll. In 2023, Australian audiences will be able to listen closely — and watch Jason Donovan as Frank N Furter take a jump to the left, then a step to the right, too — when the famed musical heads around the country on a huge 50th-anniversary tour. The Rocky Horror Show's brand-new Aussie run will kick off at Theatre Royal Sydney in February, with other stops and dates yet to be announced. On offer: the tale that theatre audiences have loved for five decades — and movie-goers as well, thanks to 1975's iconic big-screen release The Rocky Horror Picture Show. For the uninitiated, the story involves college-aged couple Brad Majors and Janet Weiss getting a flat tyre, then wandering over to an old castle to ask for help. That's where they discover an extra-terrestrial mad scientist from the galaxy of Transylvania, plus his staff and his Frankenstein-style experiments — and, yes, doing 'The Time Warp' is essential. As well as Donovan slipping on Frank N Furter's fishnets (fresh from popping back up in Ramsay Street to farewell Neighbours), the new Australian tour will star Myf Warhurst as The Narrator. Also set to feature: Ellis Dolan (School of Rock) as Eddie/Dr Scott, Darcey Eagle (Cruel Intentions: The 90s Musical) as Columbia, Ethan Jones (9 to 5 The Musical) as Brad, Deirdre Khoo (Once) as Janet, Loredo Malcolm as Rocky (Hamilton) and Henry Rollo (Jagged Little Pill the Musical) as Riff Raff. Since first premiering in London in June 1973, The Rocky Horror Show has played in more than 30 countries — and over 30 million people have seen songs like 'Science Fiction/Double Feature', 'Dammit, Janet!', 'Sweet Transvestite', 'Over at the Frankenstein Place' and 'Touch-a, Touch-a, Touch-a, Touch Me'. If you haven't been before, this is your turn to join in. The Rocky Horror Show's 2023 Australian tour kicks off at Theatre Royal Sydney in February, with tickets on sale from 10am on Monday, October 17. Head to the production's website for further details. We'll update you with information on seasons in other cities when they're announced. Images: Richard Davenport, The Rocky Horror Show UK tour.
When a TV show or movie franchise returns years and years after its last instalment, there's no longer any point being surprised. It happens that often these days, with Veronica Mars, Twin Peaks, Star Wars and Jurassic Park just a few recent examples. The latest past pop culture hit set to make a comeback: Sex and the City. Thankfully, as anyone who sat through the terrible 2008 and 2010 movies of the same name will be hoping, the Sarah Jessica Parker-starring series is returning to the small screen this time around. This news was first announced back at the beginning of 2021 — and, ten months later, new HBO show And Just Like That... is now getting closer to reaching our eyeballs. Mark December in your diary and prepare to start sipping cosmopolitans over summer, as that's when this ten-episode spinoff will arrive. Parker is back, as are her initial co-stars Kristin Davis and Cynthia Nixon. But And Just Like That... is being badged as a "new chapter' in the Sex and the City story, rather than an additional season of the existing 1998–2004 program — and there's one clear reason for that. While the show will follow Carrie (Parker), Miranda (Nixon) and Charlotte (Davis) once more, the character of Samantha isn't part of the revival, and neither is actor Kim Cattrall, who played her. So, you'll be watching a trio of the original series' leading ladies as they navigate their lives — this time in their 50s. Although Parker, Nixon and Davis won't have Cattrall for company, the list of returning Sex and the City cast members includes Chris Noth, Mario Cantone, David Eigenberg, Evan Handler and the late Willie Garson. Yes, that's Big, Anthony, Steve, Harry and Stanford all accounted for. Also, Grey's Anatomy's Sara Ramírez will feature as well. Parker, Davis and Nixon are also named as producers on And Just Like That..., alongside Michael Patrick King, who worked as a writer, director and executive producer on the original (and on the two movies). In Australia, And Just Like That... is headed to Binge, Foxtel's stand-alone streaming service (and also home to Sex and the City's six seasons). A trailer for the new series hasn't been released yet, but HBO has dropped a date announcement video, which gives a few glimpses. Check it out below: And Just Like That... will start streaming in Australia via Binge sometime in December. We'll update you with an exact airdate once one is announced. Top image: HBO Max.
At some point in human history, some clever person found a way to improve eggs, bacon, waffles, pancakes, fruit platters and croissants. They're all breakfast go-tos, and they're all delicious. But they taste better when paired with a stiff drink — especially if it's a weekend morning (or let's be honest, even around midday or early afternoon), and you happen to be either recovering from the night before or starting your day as you mean to go on. Yes, we all owe whoever discovered boozy brunches a big debt. The person who decided that those beverages should keep flowing deserves all of our gratitude as well. Why pair your brekkie burger, sardines on toast or mid-morning yum cha with just one drink when you can keep the sipping going? If you're looking for somewhere in Brisbane to do just that, we've picked a few standout spots for a bottomless boozy brunch.
