Everyone has a favourite holiday, venues included — and it looks like Brisbane Quarter's might just be Easter. The precinct itself is welcoming in towering glowing bunnies, while W Brisbane is putting on decadent high teas themed to fit the occasion. So if you like peering at luminous rabbits, then tucking into tiny bites to eat and sipping spritzes, you'd best add a trip to this CBD spot to your must-do list. For the food and drinks, you'll be moseying on over to W Brisbane's Living Room for its Hopping Good Easter High Tea. On the menu: 'paint your own' Valrhona white chocolate easter eggs, hot cross scones, raspberry chocolate squares and mocha crème brulee tarts, as well as confit duck pie, lobster tarts and creamy truffle eggs with blue scampi caviar. But you'll probably get most excited about the boozy side of things — including bottomless Chandon Garden Spritzes. Yes, it's time to chose your pals best in need of a treat, then make a date — with these high teas kicking off from 11am–3pm on Friday, April 1 and running from Friday–Sunday each week until Sunday, April 24. If you're keen, you have two price options. Pay $65 each, and you'll feast your way through the food, accompanied as much tea and coffee as you can drink. Opt for the $109 option, however, you can add those aforementioned free-flowing spritzes.
With Baby Driver, writer/director/music lover Edgar Wright takes a guy, a girl, gangsters, guns and getaway cars, and sends audiences on quite the ride. The filmmaker behind Shaun of the Dead, Hot Fuzz and Scott Pilgrim vs. The World doesn't exactly seek to sell audiences on the high-stakes, heist-pulling lifestyle. In fact, his protagonist Baby (Ansel Elgort) desperately wants to drive away from crime. But there's one thing that brightens up this speedster's obligation to underworld boss Doc (Kevin Spacey), and it's something we can all relate to: that fantastic feeling of hearing the right song at the right time, boosting your mood and changing how you see the world around you. Whether he's hurtling through the streets or sitting in a booth at a diner, one of Baby's ever-present old school iPods always has the goods to improve any situation. His personal soundtrack makes dealing with bank-robbing thugs like Griff (Jon Bernthal), Bats (Jamie Foxx), and lovers Buddy (Jon Hamm) and Darling (Eiza González) bearable. It also makes meeting waitress Debora (Lily James), who enters his orbit literally crooning his name, all the more special. Baby is turning a routine into a dream with the right MP3s, and Wright wants viewers to lap up every second of it. Cue Queen, The Jon Spencer Blues Explosion and the kind of deep cuts the term 'deep cuts' was coined to describe. With Wright stylishly weaving his music choices into the fabric of both the film and its title character, there's barely a minute that passes by without the right audio accompaniment. There's singing and dancing and in-sync editing and cinematography — although Baby Driver isn't a musical. Rather, it's a playlist paired with glossy, kinetic pictures that delivers its story in video clip-length doses. Unsurprisingly, the film was actually inspired by Wright's music video for Mint Royale's 'Blue Song', which makes a blink-or-you'll-miss-it appearance here. And yet, while Baby himself might avoid lulls in his flow of sounds (at one point, we even see him time the start of a job to a specific ditty) even the liveliest of mixtapes can run out of steam. Perhaps that's why Baby Driver entertains in the moment yet can't quite maintain momentum, and why a sense of repetition eventually sets in. Recognisable refrains begin to echo across scenes, while nods to similar flicks about heists, souped-up vehicles and lovers-against-the world — including Drive, The Driver, Point Break, Wild at Heart and A Life Less Ordinary — grow increasingly obvious. Still, as you watch the cast revel in Wright's music-filled world, it's easy to enjoy much of the drive. Baby Driver's rush of attitude doesn't just ooze through its lovingly selected tunes. It's also present in Elgort and James' clear chemistry, and in the way Spacey, Hamm and González's embrace their shady supporting players. Baby's story gets dark and bloody at various points, but the film remains a light and playful dose of high-octane crime-romance hijinks. Think of it as the movie equivalent of a disposable toe-tapping pop song: mostly pumping, thumping fun, but it just can't play on forever. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FT7xtCrhwD0
As well as having a catchy name, Kangaroo Point's One Fish Two Fish always serves up a decent catch. And if you're fond of shellfish, you'll particularly agree with that statement this autumn. Throughout March, the seafood eatery is focusing on crab and crayfish. It's plating up its fancy feast for dinner on Wednesdays–Fridays and lunch on Fridays–Sundays, in fact — so get ready to treat yo'self with a five-course meal. This year's Crab and Cray Cray costs $95 per person. Tempting your tastebuds: Fraser Isle crab bruschetta (with fennel, lemon, caviar, olive oil and dill), mornay pastry triangles with crab and crayfish (served with house-made chilli jam), and grilled baby whiting stuffed with sand crab (plus pan-fried potatoes, pancetta and caramelised onion). There's also a palette cleanser of granita with blueberries and lemon between the pastries and whiting — and, for dessert warm chocolate fondant served with orange sorbet is on the menu. No, those two courses don't include crayfish or crab. Bookings are essential by contacting the venue — and drinks will cost you extra.
Over the past couple of decades, Brisbanites have become accustomed to seeing Ben Ely in the city's live music venues — either as part of Regurgitator, or with one of his many other projects. An artist of the visual as well as musical kind, he's also becoming a fixture of Brissie gallery spaces. In fact, just months after bringing his Everything Must Go exhibition to Brisbane Powerhouse, he's back again. Where his last creative showcase focused on the business of selling courtesy of promotional material for a few fictitious items, Ely is focusing on something that's been part and parcel of his on-stage efforts this time around. You can't be a rock star without walking up to the mic, picking up an instrument and putting on one hell of a performance — yep, as the exhibition's title exclaims, it's SHOWTIME! All types of performance, spanning punk rock, circus, burlesque, dance, theatre and comedy, and including everything from behind-the-scenes preparations to post-show antics, fall into this colourful, character-filled display. Gracing the Powerhouse's walls from November 7 to December 3 as part of the venue's Wonderland festival, it's also a chance for fans to snap up a piece for their walls at home, with Ely's artwork also for sale.
The bourbon maestros at Woodford Reserve are inviting Aussies to raise their glass to a cocktail classic as Old Fashioned Week returns with a generous twist this November (and we're not talking about the garnish). Extending the celebrations from seven days to an entire month, Woodford Reserve is offering complimentary cocktails at its participating bars nationwide so lovers of Kentucky's finest dram can enjoy an expertly crafted drink without worrying about their wallet. Brisbanites should head to Fortitude Valley's Savile Row or luxe diner The Arsonist, where they can enjoy their first round of Old Fashioneds on the house, courtesy of Woodford Reserve. The celebrations don't stop with a quick cocktail. Woodford Reserve will be bringing in international expertise in the form of Master Distiller Elizabeth McCall. During her visit, she will lead a series of bourbon masterclasses, offering bartenders and enthusiasts alike the chance to learn from her insights on the art of distilling and how Woodford Reserve has been crafted to be the perfect bourbon for an Old Fashioned. "We're thrilled to be bringing Old Fashioned Week back to Australia once again this year," says Richard Dredge, Woodford Reserve Senior Brand Manager at Brown-Forman. "And this time, we're making it even bigger and better than ever."
If you've got a penchant for parchment, Pepe's Paperie is the perfect place to indulge in all your stationery needs. Pens, notebooks, journals, leather goods, and decadent gift wrap are in abundance in the Paddington store. Inspired by a love of fine Italian stationary, Pepe's Paperie prides itself on the quality, luxury and stylish nature of the products sourced and stocked from Australia and around the world. The Paddington store is housed in an old Queenslander, that oozes charm and inspires letter-sending.
When Dr Jane Goodall volunteered to live among chimpanzees in Tanzania's Gombe Stream National Park, newspaper headlines were dismissive. Nearly 60 years later, the pioneering primatologist is world-renowned for her groundbreaking research — highlighting how closely connected humans are to our closest living relatives. Having dedicated the past six decades to her ongoing study, animal welfare in general and conservation, Goodall has lived a vastly fascinating life, which she'll be chatting about when she comes to Australia in May 2019. Goodall will appear at Jane Goodall: Rewind The Future event, which heads to the Sydney ICC on Thursday, May 8 and the Melbourne Convention and Exhibition Centre on Saturday, May 11. The session will feature a 40-minute lecture by Goodall about her work, followed by a conversation between Goodall and a host for the same duration. Topics certain to get a mention include just how revolutionary her findings were at the time — and the impact they still have now — as well as her connection with the resident primates of Gombe. You can also expect Goodall to discuss her subsequent efforts to fight against threats to African chimpanzee populations, such as deforestation, illegal trade and unethical mining operations. Indeed, wildlife and environmental conservation is the main aim of the Jane Goodall Institute, which she founded in 1977. The Jane Goodall Institute Australia and Think Inc. are behind her 2019 Aussie trip. Catch Jane Goodall: Rewind The Future at the Sydney ICC on Thursday, May 8 and the Melbourne Convention and Exhibition Centre on Saturday, May 11, with tickets on sale now.
Brisbanites, if catching a train is on your Saturday agenda — and catching one to get to or through the inner-city in a hurry in particularly — you might want to start making other plans. Every line that runs through the Brisbane CBD has been suspended this morning, Saturday, July 25, due to an incident requiring emergency services, with every single stop between Roma Street to Bowen Hills impacted. All services on all lines that run through the CBD are affected, which spans a lengthy list, including the Airport, Gold Coast and Sunshine Coast services. Also impacted: the Beenleigh, Caboolture, Ipswich/Rosewood, Springfield, Cleveland, Doomben, Ferny Grove, Shorncliffe and Redcliffe Peninsula lines, too. https://twitter.com/TransLinkSEQ/status/1286800112300294147 Buses have been brought in to replace trains through the CBD at present, running between Albion, Milton and South Brisbane train stations. That said, Translink still advises that passengers should expect to add an extra hour onto their travel time for the time being. For further details about the rail delays, head to the Translink website — or keep an eye on the Translink Twitter feed.
Turning an unloved patch of the inner city into Brisbane's newest riverside precinct, Howard Smith Wharves has quickly made its presence known. Breweries, overwater bars, Greek tavernas, Japanese joints, gelato — you'll find them all here. Come Tuesday, December 31, you'll also find plenty of ways to party. Getting into the NYE spirit to cap off its first full year of operation, HSW is throwing a heap of shindigs to see out 2019. It's a choose-your-own-adventure kind of deal, with something on offer for all price ranges — and both laidback and luxe options as well. Of course, there's one thing they all share: a mighty fine view of the fireworks. Want to get the celebrations started early? Head to Felons' free shenanigans from 11am, where you'll find brews aplenty, obviously. Fancy a picnic on the lawn? That's free to attend too, with plenty of food and drinks on offer to purchase. Those in the mood for some kidulting fun will also be catered for, with a family-friendly fun fair running from 6pm. Your $59 ticket gets you a meal, a boozy drink, some gelato, and access to a whole heap of arcade and video games. You can also splash out of a $299 Champagne-fuelled party in Bougainvillea House, which includes five hours of drinks and canapés — or go Italian at Ciao Papi's family-style soiree for $199.
A few years back, VEND Marketplace added a new space dedicated to plants. Its mission: to help you fill your home with all types of greenery. And to help you do just that, it's hosting another of its regular — and huge — sales. Welcome to the Greenhouse, as the area is aptly known. The place where gardeners' dreams come true, it's upping the ante from 8am–4pm on Saturday, December 17. That's when the 250-square-metre indoor garden will be slinging its green babies at a special one-day Life Is Plantastic! event — and yes, there'll be succulents, cacti and indoor-friendly plants, plus pots as well. Thanks to the onsite cafe, there'll also be juice, smoothies, tea, coffee, beer and wine to drink — and meals to eat if all that shopping through stalls and 100-plus businesses gets your stomach rumbling. VEND is also doggo-friendly, should you want to bring your four-legged pal with you. And getting in quickly is recommended, because these plant specials are on offer on a first in, first served basis. It's VEND's last plant sale of 2022, and also timed nicely if you'd like to give greenery for Christmas. Images: VEND Marketplace.
Among the many things we've all been missing over the past year or so, big events and venturing far and wide both rank high on the list. Large-scale music festivals have only just started making a comeback around the country, and being allowed to leave the country to holiday in New Zealand is still a relatively new development. But if you'd like to an excuse to explore Queensland — and to enjoy a heap of live tunes while you're doing so — Queensland Music Trails is here to take you on a statewide road trip. A new event from the team at QMF (formerly Queensland Music Festival), Queensland Music Trails is hosting an array of gigs and shows across the state, all as part of set trails. Kicking off on Friday, June 25, it's heading to the state's southern outback region first up. Until Thursday, July 8, everywhere from Jimbour to Charleville — and Quilpie, Windorah and Birdsville, too — will host different parts of the program, spanning opera shows in a homestead, chamber music under the stars, a blend of puppetry and tunes against a scenic backdrop, and more. If Opera at Jimbour sounds familiar, that's because it has happened before. This time, Jimbour House in the Western Downs will host two galas — and camping over four nights, if you want to turn your visit into a proper getaway. Or, for those keen on a stint of peering at the sky, you'll be able to do just that at Music for Stargazing at the Charleville Cosmos Centre — with Kate Miller-Heidke and William Barton leading the lineup. At Baldy Top in Quilpie the southwest, Topology and Dead Puppet Society are joining forces to pair the former's sounds and the latter's visual theatre — and in Rabig Park in Windorah, blues, roots and acoustic artists such as Karl S Williams, Emily Wurramara and Hussy Hicks will treat your ears. Also on the bill is Birdsville's Big Red Bash; however, it has already sold out. [caption id="attachment_814672" align="aligncenter" width="1920"] Tourism and Events Queensland[/caption] If you can't make the outback trip this winter, future trails are planned for the far north, southeast and east coast (spanning from Mackay to the Sunshine Coast). You'll also be able to head to the cape (from Townsville to Bamaga) and gemfields (Emerald to Middlemount) regions, and go coast to coast from Yarrabah to Burketown. Just when those other trails will pop up is yet to be revealed, with the touring festival planning to gradually ramp up its operations over the next five years. Eventually, it's hoped that Queensland Music Trails will run across the state year-round. Queensland Music Trails' Outback Trail runs between Friday, June 25–Thursday, July 8. For further details, head to the event's website.
Any time that you step inside West End's Chu the Phat, you can order up a banquet, get cosy and comfortable, and eat your way through multiple dishes. On Sundays, however, you have an extra reason to say cheers to this hefty feast — and that'd be the two hours of drinks that come with the package. Running from 12–9pm each week, Chu the Phat's Super Sundays promise to keep your stomach satisfied and ensure that you don't go thirsty. It's a gather-the-gang type of special, because that's what the last day of the weekend is all about, and it'll cost you $50 a person. While you're tucking into the eatery's banquet, you'll be munching on steamed duck buns, vegetable spring rolls, chilli chicken and braised beef, as well as vegetable crackers, stir-fried pork and steamed greens. Beverage-wise, you can choose between spritzes, selected beers and wine, and a range of non-boozy tipples.
For locals and tourists alike, Mt Coot-tha is one of Brisbane's must-see spots, particularly if you like peering down on cities a great height. From next year, visitors won't just drive up to the lookout to enjoy the view, walk along its trails or picnic in its parklands, however — they'll also be able to glide through the treetops and soar down from the summit via a zipline. Approved by the Brisbane City Council in 2017, set to start construction later in 2018 and due to be fully operational by 2020, the Mt Coot-tha zipline will consist of three parts, each of which will open in stages. Actual ziplines comprise two of the components, and yes, there'll be more than one, with nearly three kilometres of zipline included in the entire project. Firstly, a treetop canopy tour will span 1.5 kilometres between multiple platforms, starting at the west of the summit and finishing to the west of JC Slaughter Falls. As its name suggests, it'll zip through the trees to take riders on a tour of the site's flora, fauna and indigenous cultural heritage. It'll be the first to open to the public, from sometime in 2019. In 2020, it'll be joined by a two stage 'megazip' tour that features six parallel lines between the summit and the Mt Coot-tha botanic gardens. As well as that 1.1-kilometre stretch — all in a single span, without any platforms along the way, and with users reaching speeds of around 60 kilometres per hour — there'll also be a second 340-metre run within the gardens, taking patrons zooming over the Melaleuca Lake. The final section of the project will involve a guided indigenous experience across a new 335-metre suspension bridge that'll be built above JC Slaughter Falls, connecting to the treetop canopy tour and the new arrival centre on Sir Samuel Griffith Drive. And, so that everyone can get between destinations other than via zipline, there'll also be a shuttle bus linking various points. Brisbane City Council will put $1 million towards the zipline, which will be built by Zipline Australia — and, once it's finished, it'll be the longest zipline in the country. The project has also attracted criticism, including worries about its environmental impact throughout the vegetation-heavy area. In response to concerns, "extensive independent expert studies have been undertaken as part of the project to ensure the Mt Coot-tha zipline design is sensitive to the environment, including the natural habitat and Botanic Gardens," Brisbane Lord Mayor Graham Quirk advised The Courier-Mail. Images: Brisbane City Council.
In 2013, 300 people danced to Kate Bush's 'Wuthering Heights' in a field — and in 2023, the idea is back and bigger than ever. Yes, The Most Wuthering Heights Day Ever is happening in Brisbane again from 2pm on Saturday, July 29. Yes, everyone should be dressed as Kate Bush, complete with a red dress, red stockings and black belt (men, that means you as well). On the day, a clowder (that's the collective noun for Kate Bushes, just FYI) will descend upon Milton and copy Bush's swaying, kicky dance in unison just for the pure joy of it. Support for this weird and wonderful outing has been widespread, and Kate Bush fans from around the world have been inspired to create events in their home cities. So get your gear together (dressmakers are usually flooded with orders for the day) and ready yourself to roll and fall in green, out on the wily, windy moors of Frew Park. If you need an incentive — other than the event itself, of course — it's now 45 years since the song was first released. Also, this year's celebration of all things Kate Bush is taking place on the British musician's birthday. Running up that hill beforehand (whichever hill you like) isn't compulsory, but it feels fitting. And yes, when it comes to Kate Bush worship, she sang it best herself: don't give up.
Movies about Deloreans, phone booths and hot tubs might all claim otherwise, but travelling through time isn't currently a possibility. But if you'd like a Doctor Who-meets-Midnight in Paris experience — with Ernest Hemingway chatting to Joan of Arc included, too — this immersive Brisbane show lets you definitely pretend otherwise. Taking over Woolloongabba's Mr Badgers, The Time Travel Cafe is actually a big theatre party. You'll sit, you'll talk with your fellow attendees and you'll feel like you've leapt back to 1920s Paris. Oh, and because Bill and Ted really are pioneers when it comes to messing with all things temporal, you'll also chat with travellers from throughout history. It's not how you'd usually spend an hour at a bar, but that's a big part of the attraction between Wednesday–Sunday from Thursday, May 26–Sunday, June 26 (with sessions at 6.15pm, 7.30pm and 8.45pm nightly). Tickets cost $65, and you're encouraged to dress up in either formal or surreal attire — and, if you're wondering what the latter entails, you can be the judge. Updated June 8.
As well as having a catchy name, Kangaroo Point's One Fish Two Fish always serves up a decent catch. And if you're fond of shellfish, you'll particularly agree with that statement this winter. From Friday, June 24–Sunday, June 26, the seafood eatery is focusing on crab and crayfish. It's plating up its fancy feast for lunch, in fact — so get ready to treat yo'self with a four-course midday meal. This year's Crab and Cray Cray includes both food and booze, all for $79 per person. Tempting your tastebuds: Fraser Isle crab bruschetta (with picked Queensland crab, fennel, lemon, caviar, olive oil and dill), painted cray salad nicoise (with painted crayfish, cherry tomatoes, red onion, roasted red peppers, steamed green beans, olives, kipfler potatoes, white anchovies and a six-minute egg) and sand crab lasagne. For dessert, lemon cream tiramisu is on the menu — as made with Limoncello, mascarpone and savoiardi — and yes, that's the one course that doesn't include crayfish or crab. Bookings are essential by contacting the venue, with sittings from 12–2pm and 2.30–4.30pm.
There is something about Troy Emery’s works that place them distinctly in the ‘specimen’ basket rather than the ‘sculpture’ one. Perhaps it is the bizarrely life-like quality they adopt, as these animals, within their tasseled, decorative outerwear, are frozen in time – mid-step, poised, vulnerable - as if in their natural surroundings. Emery is a Sydney-based artist who works with taxidermy and brightly coloured textiles to create experimental sculptural pieces, usually in the form of fictional, alien-like animal species. The sculptures are generally created through the use of hobby taxidermy materials and easily sourced craft textiles such as tassels and pom-poms. On one level, the works are sensational, tactile, visually appealing; these invented creatures are viewed in the same way that exotic animals in a natural history museum would be – with eagerness and wonderment. Yet on another level the works themselves, and indeed the response they elicit in their viewers, present a reflection on our cultural and historical understanding of animals, as we position them as objects in our homes, museums, and fashions.
New Year's Eve is almost upon us, and it's time to set your plans in motion. Gather your crew, pick your venue, sit back for the fireworks and party your way into 2024. You deserve it. We're here to help you get the ball rolling with suggestions for venues around Brisbane with an epic New Year's offering to light the candle of celebration. The choice is yours, but don't delay; time is running out to secure your tickets. THE REGATTA HOTEL First up, a Brisbane cornerstone, The Regatta Hotel. This institution is synonymous with riverside dining in Brisbane, thanks mainly to a history going way back to 1874 through fires, floods, protests, renovations and more. Riverside is the perfect spot to enjoy the New Year's celebrations, so The Regatta is going all out for 2024 with a Midnight Masquerade-themed night. Running from 8pm to 12am, the night is available through general admission or VIP tickets — both options have a cocktail dress code, and masks are optional. GA guests will enjoy a four-hour beverage package and live music, while VIP guests will head to the second level for beverages and a four-course set dinner before the fireworks. Tickets from $165. FRIDAYS Another tried and true choice for partying by the river is Fridays, the buzzing rooftop bar that has taken a starring role in Brisbane's nightlife. An epic New Year's is all but assured at Fridays. Anyone who's partaken in a vibey riverside bevvy or a sun-soaked work lunch can attest to that. The offering here is one of a late night (obviously), open views of the fireworks, live music, DJs and entertainment and food and drink to fuel the revelry. The package is inclusive, with bottomless house wines, tap beers and even spirits. The food? Canapés, but not party pies and spring rolls — think filet-o-prawn sliders and smoked brisket cottage pies. Tickets from $165pp. RIVERLAND Just next door is another great choice: Riverland (riverside is the place to be for New Year's, let's face it). Time is short, as third-release tickets are already 50% sold out — we told you not to hesitate. Riverland is newly renovated and intends to let the party flow across all three levels of the space. For a New Year's party at Riverland, views are epic and the benefits are inclusive. Expect three hours of roaming canapés, four hours of bottomless bevvies, live music and celebrations to be shared with your loved ones. Tickets from $169pp. THE WICKHAM For our last stop we're heading inland slightly to another institution. The Wickham may have been part of Fortitude Valley since the 19th century, but this pub's attitude is anything but outdated. To send off 2023 and welcome 2024, The Wickham is hosting a heaven-and-hell-themed evening of celebrations and killer live entertainment. Beyond the fireworks, the evening's entertainment will be hosted by RuPaul's Drag Race's Art Simone and Karen from Finance. Other performers pencilled in are Shanny T-Bone, Asphyxia, Chocolate Boxx, Abril Latrene and Ivyy Monroe, and they'll be backed by a live DJ. Dress up accordingly with the heavenly hellish theme, and you stand a chance of winning a best-dressed prize. Tickets from $25pp. For more information and to make bookings for venues and events operated by Australian Venue Co, visit the website.
Arguably the biggest pop sensation to emerge in the last six years, Billie Eilish is touring Australia throughout September 2022. The tour marks the first time Eilish has headed Down Under since 2019. Since her last visit, Eilish has released her latest chart-topping album Happier Than Ever, a documentary and visual book; taken out the Hottest 100; and swept the Grammys — including taking home all four of the major categories at the 2020 ceremony. And, earlier in 2022, she became the youngest-ever performer to headline the UK's Glastonbury Festival. The Happier Than Ever Tour plays the Brisbane Entertainment Centre from Saturday, September 17–Sunday, September 19, on its second stop in Australia, with Sampa The Great in support. Expect all the hits — from the tour's titular track and 'bad guy', naturally, as well as 'bury a friend', 'all the good girls go to hell', 'everything I wanted', 'Therefore I Am' and more. Expect to have plenty of company, too. There's a reason that Eilish is playing three shows at Boondall.
If you can't choose between hitting up a music festival on any given weekend or exploring the Sunshine State, then Queensland Music Trails likely became your favourite event when it first held a trial run back in 2021. This statewide festival turns heading to see live music into a massive road trip, with different legs sprawling through different parts of the state — and it'll be back in 2023. The fest's big return this year was announced back in 2022, which was already excellent news. Now, event organisers are getting to the even better stuff, aka lineup details. Among the first contingent: Lime Cordiale, CW Stoneking & His Primitive Horn Orchestra, Hatchie, Emma Donovan & The Putbacks and Sycco. [caption id="attachment_814672" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Tourism and Events Queensland[/caption] Queensland Music Trails' bill so far covers trails in the outback, Scenic Rim and southern Queensland, including stops everywhere from St George and Charleville to Canungra and Jimbour. While the full details for each leg haven't yet been unveiled, each route varies in length — the outback trail running for nine days from Thursday, April 13–Friday, April 21; Scenic Rim's for three days across Friday, April 28–Sunday, April 30; and the southern leg for three days from Friday, May 5–Sunday, May 7. Keen on heading out west? Then you can choose between Hussy Hicks, Karl S Williams and Jem Cassar-Daley at Oasis Afternoon in St George — or Emma Donavan & the Putbacks and Alice Skye at the Outback River Lights Festival in Cunnamulla. There's also C.W. Stoneking & His Primitive Horn Orchestra, Everybody NOW! and The Pacific Belles at The Big Base Party in Charleville; Harry James Angus and The Barleyshakes Duo at The Sundowner in Tambo; and a whole on-the-road series of gigs with The Barleyshakes Duo, too. So far, the Scenic Rim trail will welcome back The Long Sunset for a second year, hitting up Canungra on Saturday, April 29 with Lime Cordiale, Hatchie, Sycco and Tia Gostelow — and more to be announced. And, on the southern trail, there's the also-returning Opera at Jimbour for three days, featuring talent from Opera Queensland, Ensemble Q and the Griffith University Conservatorium of Music Orchestra. Still on opera, an entire festival dedicated to it — the Festival of Outback Opera, in fact — returns from Tuesday, May 16–Monday, May 22. At present, it features a long lunch and dark-sky serenade in Winton, plus an evening of singing and an opera ball in Longreach. This fest within the fest hasn't been put in a specific trail, but journeying to Winton and Longreach (and between them) works as its own route. More details, acts and events are still to be announced, as part of a fest that was initially slated to cover huge music gigs and festivals held at 25 locations around Queensland — also heading to Quilpie, Toowoomba, Roma and Blackall, Longreach and Winton. Now expected to arrive further down the road, with no further specifics so far, are trails in the far north, along the reef, in Brisbane, and through both the Gold and Sunshine Coasts. If 2022's plans stick, the first will span Paronella Park, Yarrabah, Cairns, Barron Gorge, Kuranda and Mossman/Port Douglas, while the second will hit up Mackay, Proserpine, Airlie Beach, Hamilton Island, Bowen and Townsville. And, the Brisbane, Gold Coast and Sunshine Coast trails are obviously self-explanatory. [caption id="attachment_857800" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Mitch Lowe[/caption] An initiative of QMF (Queensland Music Festival), Queensland Music Trails is returning thanks to a $20-million investment by the Queensland Government over the first three years. "The Queensland Music Trails are a key step to building Queensland's cultural events so we are ready to host the world in 2032 for the Brisbane 2032 Olympic and Paralympic Games," said Queensland Tourism Minister Stirling Hinchliffe. "It's exciting to see QMF partner with key Queensland artists and arts organisations to collaborate on signature cultural events that will be integrated into Qld Music Trails, including a visual arts tour with Arts Queensland funded Flying Arts Alliance, and Festival of Outback Opera and Opera at Jimbour with Opera Queensland who are also supported through the arts portfolio," added Minister for the Arts Leeanne Enoch. [caption id="attachment_887098" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Big Red Bash[/caption] Queensland Music Trails return for 2023 from April — head to the event's website for more information. Images: Katrina Lehmann / Mitch Lowe.
Summer mightn't be here just yet but, thanks to Brisbane's sunny climate, pool party season is. Indeed, it's kicking off with one big splash at W Brisbane, with the opulent hotel nudging everyone into the water with a huge shindig in their fourth-level rooftop pool and wet deck area. At the first of the venue's Summer Crush Pool Parties — aptly named Fire Starter — you'll take a dip, sip drinks and dance the night away, all with a massive view over the river towards Mt Coot-tha. And, given that the event takes place on Saturday, September 28 to coincide with Brisbane Festival's Riverfire, you'll be making full use of that gorgeous vantage. When you're not looking up or plunging into the pool, you'll listen to tunes by Young Franco, Rosie Kate and Little Fritter (who also happens to be W Brisbane's music curator Kane Dignum). You'll also knock back Moët Ice Imperial Champagne and refreshing cocktails while feasting on a summer barbecue spread. If it sounds like a luxe affair, that's because it is, with tickets coming in at $179 per person. The fun starts at 4.30pm, runs through until late evening, and bringing your togs is obviously essential.
This year, the AICE (Australia Israel Cultural Exchange) Israeli Film Festival, the only country-wide event to focus on Israeli film, celebrates ten years of bringing assumption-shattering documentaries and controversial features to Australian audiences. Opening night will see the national premiere of The Ballad of the Weeping Spring, nominee for nine Israeli Academy Awards and winner of four. Stylistically influenced by both spaghetti Westerns and samurai epics, it explores the often blurred lines between life and art in its portrayal of the emotional reunion of a once legendary band torn apart by tragedy. Other highlights of the fortnight-long festival include The Gatekeepers, an Oscar-nominated documentary in which six ex-leaders of the Shin Bet (Israel's internal secret service) discuss their success and failures in "overseeing Israel's war on terror"; Good Garbage, winner of Best Documentary at Shanghai's Magnolia Film Festival, which depicts the hardships of 200 Palestinian families who depend upon the Hebron Hills garbage dump for survival; and Zaytoun, a drama about the development of an unusual friendship between a Palestinian orphan and an Israeli fighter pilot. "The festival continues to highlight not only the breadth and strength of the Israeli film industry, but also presents the broad spectrum of Israeli society and everyday issues," explains co-curator Keith Lawrence. "A common thread in many of the films this year is that of the concerns of young adults — social, sexual and political — whether Jewish, Christian or Muslim."
First dates are like trying your first ever macaroons — they can be surprisingly delightful, a little bit disappointing, or just a huge messy waste of your time. The one feeling most synonymous with first dates is anxiety so it's important for you to pick a place where you feel comfortable. You need somewhere where you can start out with a drink and have the option to bail for more, or somewhere where you can share the food, in hope of a Lady and the Tramp moment. You also need somewhere with a great atmosphere, and possibly a bit of mood lighting. To help, Concrete Playground has rounded up our five favourite places to take your newly beloved. The Lark If you want a bit of flexibility, you’ve got it here. Your options are a) sidewalk seating for a bottle of wine and people watching b) getting cosy on the couches upstairs with a cocktail and some gorgonzola-soaked chips and c) enjoying the courtyard atmosphere with some hearty clam chowder and cinnamon apple donuts for dessert. Located in Paddington, The Lark's art deco design makes the place feel homely and comfortable. The staff and owner Perry Scott are drinks experts, and with an ever-evolving wine list they are more than happy to give you informed recommendations. May we recommend the Strummer if you’re partial to a cocktail. 1/267 Given Terrace, Paddington; 07 3369 1299; www.thelark.com.au Sling Lounge Swing on in to Sling for some cocktails and tapas. The first thing you might notice when you step in off Boundary St is the raucous behaviour. And this is just the bar staff. Sling’s thing is its cocktails and the folks behind the bar are certainly good at mixing them. Happy to discuss your wants, dreams and desires in a drink, the staff (most likely one of the owners) are enthusiastic connoisseurs in this area. Fun to engage with, they’ll make the start of your date relaxing from the get-go. Once you take a seat either out the back in the lush courtyard or down on the street, you can choose a selection of tapas offerings and enjoy the relaxed vibe. 153 Boundary St, West End; 07 3255 3522; www.slinglounge.com Garuva Restaurant and Bar Well-known for its propensity for romance, Garuva in Fortitude Valley is the perfect location for those after a more intimate experience. If you don’t want to jump right into the slightly suggestive curtained dining area, you can start out at the bar. Garuva’s is all about sitting on the floor (on soft cushions) so if you have a bad back, or can’t control yourself from groaning loudly every time you get up off the floor, then it may not be for you. But if you are a lithe young thing then pull up a cushion and enjoy the tunes, usually a male and female duo creating a fun and chilled out atmosphere. If your date wants some more floor-sitting action then move on in to the restaurant where your low-set table will be curtained off for privacy while you enjoy delicious Asian-fusion food and maybe even a bit of hand-holding. 324 Wickham Street, Fortitude Valley; 07 32160124; www.garuva.com.au Libertine Bar and Restaurant This is where mood lighting and food sharing tactics come into play. Located at the heritage Barracks building in Paddington, Libertine is visually beautiful with antique chandeliers creating a warm glow over the dark timber, golden and bright red colour palette. Stepping into Libertine is like stepping into an older, more romantic world. The French-Vietnamese menu offers ‘street food’ to start, including delicious pork spring rolls with green chilli sauce you want to drink (but won’t…unless you’re feeling very comfortable). You can follow this with a couple of the fantastically flavourful share plates and a bottle of French wine off their extensive list. No. 5 The Barracks, 61 Petrie Terrace, Paddington; 07 3367 3353; www.libertine.net.au Watt Restaurant + Bar We couldn’t have a list of top first date venues without incorporating the beloved Brisbane River. And if you thrive in the daytime then Watt is the place for you. Right on the river at the Powerhouse in New Farm, you will have the quintessential Brisbane experience of soaking in the sun and enjoying the outdoors. With a seafood-focused menu, you and your date can enjoy a long lunch, and with the submerged ‘flood’ sculpture out the front you’ve already got one conversation started. If you go on a Sunday you can enjoy live music from 3.30pm and free comedy at the Powerhouse afterwards from 6.30pm. 119 Lamington Street, New Farm; 07 3358 5464; www.trippaswhitegroup.com.au
Pairing wine with cheese happens so naturally that you've probably found yourself pouring a glass, then reaching for a cheese knife, without even thinking — and you've likely done so more than once. This dynamic duo is also a festival favourite, because event organisers know the same truth as the rest of us: this combo just never gets old. The latest excuse to head out of the house, sip vino and tuck into slivers of dairy: The Sound Garden's wine and cheese festival. Given the venue, this event also adds live music to the mix, all from 12pm on Sunday, September 12. Tambourine Cheese and Little White Goat will be among the stalls serving up cheese, cheese and more cheese — including freeze-dried goat feta — while wineries on drinks duty include Craggy Range, Mountadam, Yangarra, AIX and Taittinger Champagne. Entry is free and, from there, you can plan your eating and drinking however you like. A single wine token will cost you $10, or you can get five for $50 — or opt for cheese and vino bundles from $55–65. Tambourine Cheese is also hosting a masterclass, if you'd like to learn something amid the fun.
Before 2020 hit, anyone who found themselves in the Brisbane CBD on a Friday was bound to have plenty of company. But after a year of lockdowns, social-distancing measures and modifying routines in response to the pandemic, the city centre isn't the thriving hub of activity it once was when the working week comes to an end. To bring more folks back into the city — and to get them to spend more money to support the CBD's businesses while they're there — the Property Council of Australia has unveiled a new initiative. Called Fridays in the City, it kicks off today, Friday, May 21, and runs through until Friday, June 25. And if you're a nine-to-five worker, it means that you can get excited about free coffees, cheap lunches, rooftop exercise classes and more. Different activities and offers are available in different parts of the inner city, so you're likely to find something that appeals to you. If spending as little cash on a meal or drinks as possible tempts your tastebuds (and your wallet), the Myer Centre is doing $2 deals from 12–3pm, while Vapiano is slinging a $15 special that includes either a pasta bake or pizza foldover and a soft drink until 5pm. Aquila Caffe Bar is dishing up $30 pizza and jug combos, and Grape Therapy is serving up free olives and chips with every drink purchase between 4–5pm. Fancy a free coffee? Nespresso will be handing them out in the Wintergarden, but only one specific Friday — between 12–4pm on Friday, May 28. But, because office buildings are also taking part in the initiative, workers at some CBD addresses will be able to score free cuppas and snacks onsite every week — at 40 Tank Street, 85 George Street, 343 Albert Street, 61 Mary Street, Brisbane Square, 69 Ann Street, 275 George Street, 32 Turbot Street and 175 Eagle Street. A heap of other specific buildings are hosting various giveaways and events in their lobbies, too, including Waterfront Place and Eagle Street Pier. At 100 Creek Street and Central Plaza, there'll be games and live music — and at 111 Eagle Street and Riverside Centre, free gelato and popcorn will be available on certain dates in June. Some of the Fridays in the City deals and freebies are only on offer to workers in those buildings, so you might turn up and find a surprise. Other events are open to everyone, such as Goodlife's free 11.30am and 12.30pm fitness classes in Post Office Square, plus Glowing Yoga's rooftop class atop the Wintergarden on June 18. For the full list, head to the initiative's website. [caption id="attachment_812924" align="aligncenter" width="1920"] Kgbo via Wikimedia Commons[/caption] Announcing the campaign, Property Council Queensland Deputy Executive Director Jen Williams said that it's all about helping boost foot traffic on "the best day of the working week". She continued: "People are more relaxed, and workers are more likely to go shopping, knock off early for a drink, or meet up with friends for dinner at a restaurant after work. However, since the pandemic Fridays haven't been the same. According to the Property Council's office occupancy data, people tend to opt to work from home on Mondays and Fridays, meaning the CBD is noticeably quieter than during the middle of the week." The Property Council launched a similar initiative in Melbourne earlier this month, called FOMO Fridays. Fridays in the City runs each Friday between May 21–June 25. For further details, head to the initiative's website. Top image: Kgbo via Wikimedia Commons.
If you've been dreaming overseas holidays lately (and doing so a little bit more than normal), there's a good reason for that. Every February, the annual BrisAsia Festival takes over Brisbane, showering the city in Asian food and culture — and making us all wish we had a getaway in our future. The month-long fest is comprised of heaps of smaller events and mini festivals, and one of them is particularly tasty. Head along to the BrisAsia Food Festival to tuck into everything from dumplings to curries, plus Chinese dishes and Filipino cuisine as well. Rather than just happening in one place on Saturday, February 20–Sunday, February 21, this festival will see you jumping between participating venues across the two days and enjoying their specials. So, you could start off with a snack at 8848 Momo House, then have lunch at Chu the Phat, and later pop into Kubo's Bar and Grill for dinner. Curry 'n' Cask, Golden Palace Chinese Restaurant in Fortitude Valley and Fat Dumpling Bar are all taking part, too, as are Madame Wu, Super Bowl, and Indian Brothers in Taringa and Annerley.
Savvy sartorial shoppers, rejoice — Metre Market is doubling its fun. If you went along to any of its previous events over the years, dropped by its Christmas get-together or moseyed along to its Coorparoo market, you'll know the drill. Fashion is this outfit's main domain, but you'll also find music, food, arts, homewares, bespoke jewellery and other design pieces among their stalls. In fact, with giving Brisbanites an opportunity to sell their pre-loved clothes the main reason that the market originally came to fruition, you can even get in on the action by applying for a metre or two of space. And if all you want to do is browse and buy, there's plenty of that on offer too. Now making a regular thing of it at a second location at Carindale PCYC on every third Sunday of the month, the next market will take place from 10am–2pm on Sunday, May 19. Not only is Carindale Markets by Metre Market free to attend, but it features the best things money can buy from local up-and-coming designers, artists and makers. As always, there'll also be a rack sale — aka folks selling their own old outfits. Image: Metre Market.
In a case of common sense prevailing — and, a cinema realising that charging more during peak times wasn't going to lure movie-goers in — Village Cinemas has cancelled their surge pricing trial on movie tickets. The theatre chain issued news.com.au with a statement, advising "we were running pricing variation trials over the summer period which we appreciate may have caused angst and concern to our customers." The company continues, "we can now confirm that all pricing variation trials have been stopped effective immediately... Our goal is to ensure movie going remains as an affordable entertainment choice for our guests." As first reported on Reddit, Village had been increasing ticket costs after 5pm on Fridays and Saturdays, to the tune of between 50 cents and $1 more per movie — and ramping up candy bar prices by between 30 cents and $1 per item as well. Yes, it's the same concept that Uber users hate during busy periods, on trial at multiplexes including Crown, Fountain Gate, Doncaster, Jam Factory, Southland and Werribee during the summer school holidays. While the idea of variable movie ticket prices isn't new — student discounts, cheap Tuesdays and the like — charging more during peak cinema-going slots was never going to be well-received given that Aussie ticket costs rose 31 percent in the decade to 2016. And though Village Cinemas was ramping up the cost in popular periods, it wasn't decreasing them for slow sessions and times. Via news.com.au
It's a shopper's dream: walk into a store, browse the racks, and then pay whatever you think is best. Trust those vintage fiends at Vinnies to put the idea into practice, and to keep raising money for charity in the process. Vinnies Myer Centre Pop-Up is a first for both the organisation and the CBD shopping centre, trading up until Christmas eve. Expect the usual array of clothing, accessories and other items to grace their racks, not that there's anything usual about trawling for secondhand treasure. Not knowing what you'll find is all part of the experience. And if the idea of choosing how much you want to pay is a bit daunting, don't worry, there's indicative price points on display as well. Still, where else can you decide how much cash you'll fork out — or how much of a difference you can make to those in need? Vinnies merchandise and Christmas decorations will also be on sale. Image: Onur Bahcivancilar.
What starts with a 6am First Nations ceremony on the beach, sending smoke spiralling into the sky as the sun rises? What fills 11 days from there with everything from free opera in the Gold Coast Regional Botanic Gardens and thousands of cardboard boxes on North Burleigh's Esplanade to Kate Miller-Heidke singing while you picnic and eavesdropping on phone calls? That'd be the Gold Coast's Bleach* Festival, which is returning from Thursday, August 11–Sunday, August 21 after a pandemic-affected couple of years — with a huge lineup, naturally. In 2022, this arts fest will feature 233 artists, 94 performances and 36 events — which is plenty of reasons to head along. Whether you're a Goldie local ready for a beachside celebration of culture, or you're a Brisbanite keen to make the trip down the highway to liven up your winter, there's a hefty array of drawcards to choose from. Bleach* focuses its program around four hubs: North Burleigh, for events by the beach; the Gold Coast Regional Botanic Gardens, which means that grassy shows await; Miami, with its hefty lineup of hospitality venues, including Miami Marketta; and Mudgeeraba, bringing the hinterland into the fun. But they're not the only places that the festival is headed — with HOTA, Home of the Arts and Burleigh Brewing also welcoming in the the event's program. [caption id="attachment_838774" align="alignnone" width="1920"] The Nightline, Sarah Walker[/caption] Among the events that North Burleigh will be hosting, there's First Light, that opening kickoff event; interactive virtual reality experience VOLO: Dreams of Flight, which is inspired by Leonardo da Vinci's flying machines; all the cardboard thanks to the aforementioned We Built This City; and The Nightline, which seats you at an old telephone to listen to switchboard calls. Or, there's Feast at Bleach*, featuring a three-course meal heroing native flavours by Quandamooka chef Kieron Anderson — and Unsettle, which sees Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander young people respond to the cultural landscape via public art, film, theatre, visual art, music and dance. Over at the gardens, Opera Queensland's Home Grown Opera will echo among the greenery for three nights, while Miller-Heidke will do the honours on one afternoon. Miami will host Mi Amor Miami, with the suburb's bars, breweries and distilleries pairing live performances with drinks; Roller Coaster, which includes strapping on your own stakes and taking part; and Bliss, a blend of performance art and electronic music. The list goes on — and, over at Burleigh Brewing, Back to Back Theatre's Radial will mix video art, dance, music and fashion. [caption id="attachment_859849" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Home Grown Opera, Art Work Agency[/caption] As for Mudgeeraba, that's where Acoustic Life of Sheds will set up — in four different sheds. Four artists will set up in one location each, and attendees will travel between them to head vocals by Christine Johnston, Karl S Williams on piano, percussion by Michael Askill and Loni Fitzpatrick on the harp. Back at North Burleigh, Bleach* will also feature six groups of artists-in-residence both prior to and during the fest: Lenine Bourke and Nathan Stoneham, Lawrence English, Rising Tide Artists, Liesel Zink, Lisa Smith and Emily Grace Taylor. They'll premiere new works during the event's second week — and you can watch them in action beforehand, too. [caption id="attachment_859850" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Radial, Jorge Serra[/caption] Bleach* runs from Thursday, August 11–Sunday, August 21 at various locations around the Gold Coast. For further information, head to the festival website. Top image: Scott Belzner.
Do you live in a dog-friendly house? Do you have some spare time on your hands? Do you fantasise about hanging around at dog parks with an actual dog? If the answer to any of these questions is yes — and especially if the answer to all of them is yes — then the good folks at Vision Australia's Seeing Eye Dogs need you. As part of the organisation's dog-training program, they have puppies running around the place quite often, and they're in need of volunteers to raise them. In other words, they're giving away puppies — although you will need to give them back. If you put up your hand to become a puppy carer, you'll get a puppy for about a year — from around its eight-week birthday to when it turns turns between 12–15 months old. During that time, you'll be responsible for introducing the sights, sounds and smells it'll meet when it starts working as a seeing eye dog (and giving your new friend heaps of cuddles). Of course, it's not all just fun, games and cuteness. You'll have to be responsible enough to take care of regular grooming, house training and exercise, and be available for regular visits. A fenced-in backyard is mandatory, too. In return, the organisation provides a strong support network, and all food, training equipment and vet care. You'll also need to be home most of the time — so you won't be leaving the puppy alone for more than three hours a day, sat in front of Dog TV — and to be able to put effort into training and socialising the pup. Seeing Eye Dogs Australia is looking for people across the majority of local government areas across metropolitan Melbourne, as well as Geelong, Mornington Peninsula, Bendigo and Ballarat. In Queensland, Brisbane's north and Sunshine Coast areas are the current priorities. Once the pups reach 12-15 months old, they'll return to Vision Australia — and complete their journey to become four-legged companions for people who are blind or have low vision. Keen to help? You can apply online right now. If you're eager but can't commit to the full year, there's also a six-month caring option. Or, for workplaces, there's corporate caring, too — which has just reopened. For more information about Seeing Eye Dogs Australia's puppy carers, and to apply for the volunteer roles, head to the organisation's website. Top image: Nicola Cotton.
For the past few years, the unnerving Séance installation has been popping up around southeast Queensland and spooking the region out. From Thursday, October 3—Sunday, December 8, 2024, it's back again — because when better than the lead up to Halloween? This time around, it's setting up its big, white container at South Bank's Maritime Museum alongside fellow pop-ups Maho Magic Bar and Flight. Unlike most shipping containers around the place, this one isn't being used to transport furniture. And, given that the word 'séance' is written on the side in black, it's definitely more than a little ominous. Participants will be able to take a seat inside, and then put on a headset. You'll next be told to put both hands on the table. The lights go out, leaving the place in absolute darkness — and, for 20 uneasy minutes, you'll be taken on an immersive journey led only by touch and sounds. Expect to feel confused, repulsed and struck with temporary claustrophobia. According to organisers, numerous participants have bailed halfway through sittings in the past. You're probably thinking that there's something dark or supernatural about the whole thing — and going by the name, we don't blame you. But the installation's organiser says that 'séance' is simply a French word meaning 'session' or 'sitting'. And so Séance is a sensory experience that looks at the psychology of both sensory deprivation and the dynamics of a group sitting together. It's a scary indicator of how easy it is for confusion, disorientation and information overload to affect our judgement. (We're serious when we say Séance is not recommended for the claustrophobic, the easily frightened or those afraid of the dark.) Artists David Rosenberg and Glen Neath of Darkfield (who have collaborated in other sensory deprivation projects before) are the creative masterminds behind the project, which has been described as 'disorienting' and 'deeply unsettling'. And if need more of an idea of what you're in for, you might've listened to Darkfield's at-home experiences in the past few years, too — such as Double, Visitors, Eternal and Knot — and experienced a few bumps and jumps.
The year was 1997. For the first time, Fortitude Valley's music scene came together to celebrate. Around the inner-city suburb, Valley Fiesta was born. A quarter century later and the event is still going strong, albeit after running in plenty of different formats over the years — and it's back in 2022 to celebrate its 25th birthday with 45-plus acts hitting stages across 13 venues. 2022's Valley Fiesta will run from Friday, November 25–Sunday, November 27, showering Fortitude Valley with live tunes, and giving Brisbanites a helluva way to spend the last weekend of spring. On the lineup: a whole heap of musicians to see, events dedicated to jazz and art, a carpark party, a laneway fest within the fest and even a food fiesta. Leading the music bill: Holy Holy, Gordi, Kian, WIIGZ and Alter Boy, all as part of an entirely free program. They're joined by Jess Day, Safety Club, Scraps, Radium Dolls, Dulcie and more, in venues spanning The Sound Garden, Fortitude Music Hall, outdoors at The Brightside, Woolly Mammoth, Ric's Backyard, Kickons and 4ZZZ. The jazz afternoon will showcase both existing and up-and-coming talent, while the arts session will be filled with creative workshops. Bringing the fun to the Winn, Bakery and California laneways is the returning Hidden Lanes Festival, running as a pop-up event, while King Street will host the King Street Food Fiesta on the Friday night to get this year's Valley Fiesta started. The program also includes a night of voice, circus, burlesque and drag artists; Quivr DJs doing their thing multiple times; a cultural celebration of People of Colour; and the return of 4ZZZ's legendary carpark party. "This year's Valley Fiesta hits upon all of the elements that make Fortitude Valley so unique — from the food experiences on Friday night, to family events in the Laneways; massive music gigs on the Saturday night through to independent community events on the Sunday. It's every reason we love the Valley!" said QMusic CEO Kris Stewart, announcing the program. Now, block out your diary. [caption id="attachment_875909" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Dave Kan[/caption] VALLEY FIESTA 2022 LINEUP Holy Holy Gordi WIIGZ Jess Day Safety Club Scraps Radium Dolls KIAN Dulcie Cloe Terare Dean Brady Ash Lune Dulcie DANCINGWATER Andy Martin Moss I Was Eros Arig Guppy Doggie Heaven Valley Fiesta 2022 takes place from Friday, November 25–Sunday, November 27. For further information and to buy tickets, head to the festival's website. Images: Dave Kan.
If summer always leaves you reminiscing about the balmy school holidays of your youth, you're going to be all about the latest line of frosty creations from Gelatissimo. The gelato chain is throwing back hard and digging up plenty of fond memories with its newly launched Aussie Favourites range — a trio of flavours that includes chocolate crackle, fairy bread and Weet-Bix with honey and banana. They're scooping now at all Gelatissimo stores nationwide, up for grabs until the end of January 2020. Sure to transport you straight back to some childhood birthday party, the fairy bread flavour pays homage to a true Aussie icon. Expect buttery vanilla gelato — made with real butter, mind you — scattered with 100s and 1000s, and crunchy pieces of lightly toasted fairy bread. Cleverly blurring that line between breakfast and dessert, the Weet-Bix concoction is another riff on a favourite, though one you're probably less inclined to scoff a bowl of before netball practice. It teams real Weet-Bix chunks with creamy banana gelato and a splash of Australian wildflower honey. And the nostalgia runs extra deep with the chocolate crackle creation, a sweet tribute to one of the most recognisable party treats in all of Australian history. It boasts rich chocolate gelato infused with chunks of real chocolate crackle, crafted just like Mum used to make, with rice puffs, cocoa powder, desiccated coconut and plenty of chocolate sauce. Of course, Gelatissimo's no stranger to dreaming up wild and innovative new creations. In the past year alone, the brand's launched a dog-friendly peanut butter gelato, a boozy frosé sorbet and even a frozen take on the iconic Bundaberg Ginger Beer. Gelatissimo's Aussie Favourites range is available from all stores nationwide, from Friday, November 29, until the end of January.
It's been 12 years since Superbad released in cinemas, made stars out of Jonah Hill and Emma Stone, and earned a spot in the teen party genre. Over that period, every coming-of-age flick about outsiders trying to enjoy high school life to the fullest has been compared to the 2007 hit. Now, two more are joining the fold. Premiering at SXSW over the past week, Booksmart and Good Boys have a few things in common with their thematic predecessor, and not just because they both feature protagonists who can't wait to experience a proper party. In the former, Hill's sister and Lady Bird actor Beanie Feldstein leads the charge alongside Beautiful Boy's Kaitlyn Dever, giving the idea a female-centric spin. In the latter, Seth Rogen co-produces — as he did with Superbad — with the movie following a group of 12-year-olds. Focusing on graduating pals Molly (Feldstein) and Amy (Dever) as they put away their studies and try to show everyone that they're fun, Booksmart marks the directorial debut of actress Olivia Wilde, and it's been getting rave reviews. Cast-wise, it also features Jessica Williams, Will Forte, Lisa Kudrow and Jason Sudeikis. As for Good Boys, it's the first stint behind the camera for The Office and Hello Ladies writer Gene Stupnitsky — and centres on three kids played by Room's Jacob Tremblay, Last Man on Earth's Keith L. Williams and Boardwalk Empire's Brady Noon. The likes of Will Forte (again), Retta and Lil Rel Howery help round out the cast. Check out the trailers below: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JkrY-jboiqA https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WeeyM8cRinI Booksmart opens in Australian cinemas on July 11, and Good Boys opens on August 15. Good Boys image: Universal Pictures.
Much has happened in the world of Marvel this year. Black Panther started things off on a high, Spider-Man is about to return to its animated roots, and the man who started it all, Stan Lee, sadly passed away. Oh, and the Marvel Cinematic Universe completely changed the game with the snap of a few fingers. We know that you know what we're talking about — Avengers: Infinity War sits atop the box office Down Under for 2018. Of course, ever since the third Avengers movie hit screens, excitement for its follow-up has been feverish to say the least. Now, the first look at Avengers: Endgame has finally arrived — and yes, that's the film's brand new title. It all starts with a despondent Tony Stark (Robert Downey Jr.), before giving a taste of how the remaining heroes are facing their new predicament. Check out the trailer below — and start counting down the days until Avengers: Endgame makes its way to cinemas on April 25: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hA6hldpSTF8 Plus, if you need a bit more excitement, Marvel also dropped the next Captain Marvel trailer earlier this week — with the first film featuring Brie Larson's superhero arriving prior to Avengers: Endgame, on March 7. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0LHxvxdRnYc
Australia's music festivals are doing it tough, with 2024 seeing both Groovin the Moo and Splendour in the Grass cancelling after announcing their lineups. The best way to cope as a punter, and to lend your support to the country's music scene and performers, is to make a date with live gigs. Brisbanites mightn't be able to travel north or south to get muddy, then, but you can hit up Open Season, The Tivoli and The Princess Theatre's annual roster of shows. The two venues share the same owners — and, from Monday, May 20–Thursday, August 1 in 2024, will share this program of gigs and performances. Open Season first unveiled its talents for this year back in March, but it wasn't done nabbing impressive acts to take to The Tiv and The Princess' stages. Cue another lineup drop, this time with Dirty Three, Ladyhawke, Pond and Cosmo's Midnight. [caption id="attachment_950706" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Kath Gould[/caption] Dirty Three, aka Warren Ellis, Mick Turner and Jim White, are playing their first Brisbane show in 12 years. Ladyhawke is celebrating the 15th anniversary of her self-titled debut album, Cosmo's Midnight have a new record dropping in May and Pond are doing the rounds after recently touring with Queens of the Stone Age. All four join an Open Season bill that already boasts Explosions in the Sky, Sky Ferreira, INIKO, Regurgitator and more. First Nations festival Blak Day Out is also a highlight, featuring Emma Donovan, 3% — which includes Dallas Woods, Nooky and Angus Field — plus BADASSMUTHA and The Ancient Bloods. So is a dance party in Winn Lane with help from QUIVR DJs. This year's Open Season is putting record label Elefant Traks in the spotlight, too, at a 25th-anniversary gig that doubles as a farewell with Hermitude, The Herd, Horrorshow, Urthboy and The Last Kinection all on the bill. The show will both celebrate history and make it, marking Elefant Traks' last-ever event. Similarly on the roster for now: Yves Tumor's Aussie debut, Blonde Redhead's first Australian trip in 13 years, plus everyone from Marlon Williams and Mildlife to The Paper Kites and SLUMBERJACK — alongside BAYNK, Two Another, DICE and the initial Brisbane outing for Queer PowerPoint. Open Season 2024 Lineup: Explosions in the Sky INIKO Dirty Three Sky Ferreira Yves Tumor Marlon Williams Blonde Redhead Ladyhawke BAYNK The Paper Kites Cosmo's Midnight Regurgitator Pond SLUMBERJACK Mildlife Forest Claudette Two Another DICE Queer PowerPoint Bunny Racket – Rock 'n' Roll for Kids Blak Day Out featuring: Emma Donovan 3% The Ancient Bloods BADASSMUTHA and more Elefant Traks 25th Anniversary — The Finale: Hermitude The Herd Horrorshow Urthboy The Last Kinection and more QUIVR Laneway Parties Brisbane Street Art Festival: David Lee Pereira Damien Mitchell Open Season run from Monday, May 20–Thursday, August 1, 2024. For further details and tickets, head to the event's website. Dirty Three image: Ben Searcy. Open Season images: Will Johnstone, Curdin and Lachlan Douglas.
UPDATE WEDNESDAY, JUNE 7: To celebrate their grand opening on Saturday, June 10, Little Miss Kay's in Woolloongabba will be doing half-price 'grab and go' cheeseburgers from 10.30am till 9.30pm. If you want one, you'll have to fill out this form in advance and present it to staff on the day. Visit their Facebook page for more details. Not content with giving the Brisbane CBD and Mitchelton a taste of American diner-style fare, Miss Kay's is expanding their burger empire. Southside residents, it's your turn, with the joint headed to Woolloongabba. The new Logan Road location will be called Little Miss Kay's, and is due to open its doors on Saturday, June 10. As the name gives away, it won't be quite the same Miss Kay's regulars know and love. Forget hanging around in pop culture-themed digs, watching Space Jam on TV and hearing old school tunes blast throughout the store — in a departure from its other greasy spoons, their new venture is a takeaway and delivery only establishment. Serving lunch and dinner seven days a week, it'll still boast the exact same burger menu, but grabbing and going — or ordering from home and waiting for UberEATS to get to your door — is on offer. Yes, that means eating Mac Daddy burgers filled with mac 'n' cheese at home; however their shake selection won't be on offer at this food-focused outlet. Expect the rest of their burgs, sides and other delicious bites to make the jump though, including the Austin Flowers spiced tempura cauliflower burger, the Ludakrisp crispy fried chicken concoction, and those tasty fried wings. Find Little Miss Kay's 159 Logan Rd, Woolloongabba from June 10. Keep an eye on their website and Facebook page for more information.
If you ever wanted to run away and join the circus and/or had an identity crisis when you were younger, you were everyone. If you actually had any conviction, and decided to express yourself through performance, you were Flipside Circus. And on the 15th year of this innovative circus's well-accomplished life, it too faces the all-too-common, pubescent identity crisis that comes hand-in-hand with this turbulent age. Their newest show, Identité, presents a contemporary circus piece that explores identity, innocence and youth through tumbles, tricks and trapeze. In a show suitable for all ages, this group of 9- to 18-year-olds perform and present an awe-inspiring masterpiece on self-discovery and what it is to grow up. This cast of only 14 presents an unmissable experience, tying the challenges of ageing with those of intricate performance and showpiece. Identité is more than just a circus; it's a contemporary piece of art, riddled with emotion. https://youtube.com/watch?v=U27JaIr7Q2Q
It's hard to come by actual hidden gems in your city these days. Chances are you've heard about the latest hidden/vegan/swimming/rooftop hotspot via social media — and so have the masses, and they've beaten you there. Most, save the truly intrepid city wanderers among us, often miss the boat on undiscovered goldmines. But hey, it's more than okay to jump on a bandwagon if something is truly good. But how about those little nuggets of gold in the city you've forgotten, or never got around to visiting in the first place? This summer just might be the perfect time to back-up a little bit, consult the notes app in your iPhone and see what you had scribbled down as a to-do. Not sure where to start? We've partnered with Henkell, purveyors of quality bubbly, to pull together a hit list of some (kinda) hidden gems to dig up around Brisbane on your summer break. They'll all bring a little sparkle to your day and remind you that Brisbane is pretty darn great. WANDER AN ARTISANAL FOOD AND DRINK MECCA This might be one of those places you've heard about but haven't managed to get to yet, or perhaps can't find? Well, this summer's your chance to discover (or re-discover) this old warehouse-turned-community culinary clubhouse on the cusp of West End. Wandering Cooks is an excellent spot for hangs with the group breakfast, lunch or dinner. It has 101 food vendors on rotation, so make sure you check out the website for who is serving up what and when. Oh, and still not sure where to find it? Simply walk all the way to the end of Fish Lane and there you'll find it. And if you're keen to catch some rays by the water, grab some artisanal treats to take away and head to Riverside Green down the road for a gourmet picnic — complete with a bottle of Henkell Blanc de Blancs. [caption id="attachment_551045" align="alignnone" width="960"] Pizzeria Violetta.[/caption] HEAD TO THE 'BURBS FOR SOME CULINARY GEMS Northwest Brisbane's barbecue belt, and home to some solid architectural splendour of the 70s, Kenmore has become more and more popular among the city's epicures. Move over Oxford and James streets — this is the place to head if you want to experience a 'suburban dining hub' at its best. Located just off Marshall Lane, Wongabel Street houses three fantastic restaurants owned by Brisbane restaurateur Renata Roberts: Stavros the Greek, Sichuan Bang Bang and Pizzeria Violetta. Plus, you'll find a pretty ace Thai restaurant and espresso bar at the top of the street. Not sure where to head first? Look to Sichuan Bang Bang for its spicy dishes of Sichuan bean curd with minced pork, classic Sichuan Ma La dry pot with beef or chicken or the sizzling Singapore chilli prawns. The eatery also welcomes BYO so you can take your meal up a notch with a nice bottle of bubbly. VENTURE TO A CITY OASIS Just a hop, skip and jump from inner-city Brisbane (about 25 minutes), you'll find this perfect oasis of a swimming spot. Enoggera Dam is a shady freshwater dam that offers something for the laziest and most active among us. Float the morning away alongside waterlilies or jump on a paddleboard or kayak, then head to the lush grassy lawn for a picnic and maybe a glass of Henkell Trocken in the sun. You'll also find bushwalking tracks along the perimeter of the dam. It can get busy, but a morning or afternoon dip here will make anyone's summer brighter. FIND A HIDDEN HUB OF CHEESE AND LIVE MUSIC Junk by name, but certainly not by nature; this trash is Brisbane's treasure. An oldie, but perpetually a goodie, Ashgrove's Junk Bar is a self-proclaimed 'hidden' bar that's half the fun to find. You'd be forgiven if you've walked straight past its un-signed and curtained entrance on Ashgrove Avenue. Step inside, out of the hot, hot sun and you've got a spot where you can catch local live music over a cheese board. It's pretty chill here — they don't even mind if you BYO your own food — so it really is one of the best spots to unwind and recalibrate after a hectic festive season. Summer is here and it's time to pop the bubbly. Pick up a bottle of Henkell Blanc de Blancs or Henkell Trocken for your next sparkling occasion.
A teenager runs away with her best friend. Her distraught parents search for her. A retired detective lends a hand — and the situation he uncovers is both quite ordinary and a little bit odd. If there's one thing that Looking for Grace recognises, it's that daily life can be equally routine and strange. A tense scenario can have a lighter side. Stress can turn to laughter. In dramatic circumstances, people don't always know how to behave. No one — not the eponymous Grace (Odessa Young), her pal Sappho (Kenya Pearson), mother Denise (Radha Mitchell), father Dan (Richard Roxburgh) or former cop Tom (Terry Norris) — really knows what they're doing, particularly after the girls and a secret stash of cash goes missing. Trekking across Western Australia to attend a concert, Grace is happy flirting with a charismatic traveller (Harry Richardson), though Sappho is less content being the third wheel. At home, Denise tries to remain calm, while Dan is distracted by the affair he's been trying but failing to have with an employee (Tasma Walton). Their individual tales are offered up in chapters, splitting the broader narrative into separate but interlocking strands. Some details are revealed early, with Grace's section served up first, while other inclusions — the brief segment focusing on truck driver Bruce (Myles Pollard), for example — only become significant once all the pieces have been put together. Such fragmentation may help extend an otherwise slight effort, but it proves the least convincing aspect of the film. Thankfully, the feature's structure also highlights its strengths: the characters, the multitude of realistic reactions to their various predicaments, and the fine-tuned performances of the actors who play them. Indeed, Looking for Grace works best both as a series of character studies and as a showcase for the talents of its key cast. Writer/director Sue Brooks fleshes out the former more than the slender story might seem to indicate, and benefits from the latter, especially where the trio of Young, Roxburgh and Mitchell are involved. Young sells a crucial mix of confidence and restlessness, while Roxburgh ensures his troubled everyman never comes across as pathetic, even when Looking for Grace veers into suburban parody. Often caught between the two, the pitch-perfect Mitchell proves the feature's standout player, as well as a weathervane for its mood and fortunes. When she's hitting the mark, so is the film. Elsewhere, Brooks continues the love affair with the Australian landscape she started in 1997's Road to Nhill and furthered in 2003's Japanese Story. In fact, cinematographer Katie Milwright's dusty visuals provide the perfect counterpoint to the helmer's fondness for stylisation, with Looking for Grace also an exercise in contrasts. Brooks frequently layers conflicting elements over the top of each other, such as jaunty music over sparse images, to ensure the clash of the usual and the not so is always apparent. The movie veers in tone as a result, sometimes jarringly so — but just like life, it works much more often than it doesn't.
During COVID-19, there have been reports across the globe of animals taking over cities while humans are in lockdown. Mountain goats have run amok in Wales, wild boar have strolled through the streets of Barcelona and deer have reclaimed a now quiet corner of East London. Down here in Australia, we're playing right into the stereotypes. Yep, old mate Skippy has been videoed hopping through the streets of Adelaide. In footage posted to South Australia Police's Twitter account, you can see a kangaroo casually bouncing through the CBD's quiet streets. The post is captioned with the local police saying "a suspect wearing a grey fur coat... was last seen on foot heading into the West Parklands". There's no word yet on whether the suspect was breaching any of the government's stay-at-home restrictions, however. If you've been trying to convince your American mates that you do indeed ride 'roos to work Down Under, this may finally be the proof you need. https://twitter.com/SAPoliceNews/status/1251721467189813250 While the above stories are true, if you've been hanging out on Twitter of late, you would have seen many fake images of animals returning to cities as part of the viral 'Nature is Healing' meme. There have been reports of dolphins swimming through the canals of Venice and elephants getting drunk in Chinese tea fields, but as National Geographic has pointed out, they are indeed fake. Regardless, some are quite clever and may elicit a bit of a chuckle. So, we'll leave you with a few of our favourites: https://twitter.com/TPZanetic/status/1249116743555002368 https://twitter.com/Julian_Epp/status/1243992034324746240 https://twitter.com/roobeekeane/status/1244320113958019073 https://twitter.com/willjennings80/status/1241497390735069184
It's been three years since the space at 224 Given Terrace became home to Nota, which took over fine diner Montrachet's old Paddington digs after the beloved French eatery moved shop, and also started serving up a more affordable European spread. With its exposed brick walls and mirrors aplenty, too, it fast became an inner-west favourite — and it'll be giving Brisbanites twice as many reasons to stop by in the near future. Prepare to spend time at Nota Restaurant & Wine Bar, with the revamped name signalling the venue's broadened focus. Actually, owners Kevin Docherty and Sebastiaan de Kort (ex-Moda) are opening up a neighbourhood wine bar in the shop next door, with Nota expanding both its remit and its floorspace. When it relaunches in the coming months, the two-in-one spot will become a 90-seater, and will knock down the adjoining wall between the two spaces so that patrons can mosey between them. On the bar side, it'll still sit amid exposed brick walls, of course — and feature a five-metre wall of wines, wines and more wines. Warm lighting will set the mood, a bar snack menu will keep your stomach from rumbling, and the full Nota menu will also be available. Whatever you opt to eat, be it a calzone, some focaccia or cappellaci, new Italian-born, French-trained Head Chef Matteo Pisanu will be taking care of the kitchen. He'll be focusing on simple-seeming dishes that prove anything but, and that use seasonal produce picked up on weekly market runs. "Simple is sometimes much harder, there's nothing to hide behind," Pisanu notes. As for all that vino, restaurant manager Yanika Sittisuntorn has already grown Nota's range from 12 bottles upon opening to 90-plus now, and is particularly fond of lesser-known and experimental varieties. So, when Nota 2.0 starts welcoming folks into its bigger space, expect to have a whole heap of wine options. Find Nota at 224 Given Terrace, Paddington — with the revamped Nota Restaurant & Wine Bar set to launch in the coming months.
What are the two things every fun Sunday needs? If your stomach was grumbling and your toes were tapping as you read that sentence, then you know the answer. So does Bites & Vibes, as its name suggests. You'd expect nothing less from the combo that is Foodora and The Brightside, after all. Yep, the former is letting loose on the latter to bring a whole heap of tastiness to Warner Street on October 23, and some great tunes too. Music-wise, Blair Jackson, Alexandra, Hailey Calvert and Josh Lovegrove will keep your ears happy; however the main attraction really is the food. With Tara Thai Brisbane, Dumpling Republic Brisbane, Tuckeria Fresh Mexican, The Boroughs of New York Pizza, District 1., Super Bowl Chinese Restaurant & Noodle Bar, La Macelleria, Ouzeri, Paddington Curry House and Fusion Cafe all serving their tasty dishes, you'll understand just why the culinary lineup is in the spotlight. And yes, it wouldn't be a party at good ol' Brighty without Lucky Egg pumping out some fry fry chicky chick as well. You'd best wear something stretchy and comfy.
Wander into Swill, and there's only one drink worth ordering — in more than 115 varieties. At this new gin joint in Bowen Hills, juniper spirits are the beverage of choice. And, on the last Thursday night of each monthly 28, the bar is getting almost academic about its favourite tipple. To be specific, it's welcoming fellow gin lovers to a regular Gin Club, showcasing different styles of gin and getting everyone talking. If there's one thing that everyone wants to study, it's this. No, there's no test at the end. Rather, drop by from 6pm for two hours of tastings, nibbles and a cocktail, all included in the $15 on-the-door entry price. A range of different tipples will be wetting your whistle, and you'll be an expert in all of them in no time. Contacting the bar in advance to book your spot is highly recommended. Updated November 21.
Break out the pink and don't even dream of wearing sweatpants: it's Mean Girls brunch time. Come April, themed mid-morning meals dedicated to the 2004 teen classic will be popping up in yet-to-be-disclosed locations in Sydney and Melbourne. Yes, like Gretchen's devotion to the word "fetch", someone is trying to make this happen. On offer is a get-together filled with prosecco, cocktails and something edible, plus the flick itself playing in the background. It's the latest in what's proving a growing trend, given the enormous popularity of the already sold-out Harry Potter-themed Wizard's Brunch. If the Plastics were to give their opinion on it, however, we're not certain it'd get the Regina George stamp of approval. Other than the pink-hued outfits and just generally gossiping about the Tina Fey-written, Lindsay Lohan and Rachel McAdams-starring movie, there's not that much else to really throw into the mix. Will attendees eat in a school cafeteria-like setting? Will it feature an all-carb menu to go with Regina's all-carb diet? Will tables be split into cliques like "actual human beings" and "desperate wannabes"? Will Kalteen bars feature? Perhaps a Spring Fling King and Queen will be crowned, which is what's happening at London's version of the event. Also on the agenda is immersive entertainment, although just what that'll be hasn't been revealed. The Mean Girls Brunch will take place at locations in Sydney and Melbourne later this year. We'll let you know when you can buy tickets, and you can sign up for updates here.
In I Am Mother's vision of the future, humanity has almost become extinct, the earth is a wasteland and the only known person alive is a teenager (Clara Rugaard) born, raised and living in an underground facility. Known only as Daughter, the adolescent has been brought up by a robot that she calls Mother (voiced by Rose Byrne) — but when a woman (Hilary Swank) comes knocking on their door, the girl begins to doubt everything she knows, including her android protector's motives. So far, so familiar, especially if you're a fan of sci-fi thrillers and dystopian tales. Australia has made a few, including the hugely successful Mad Max franchise; however this homegrown sci-fi thriller definitely finds its own niche. Shot in Adelaide, screening as a work in progress at the 2018 Adelaide Film Festival, premiering internationally at this year's Sundance and also slated for this year's Sydney Film Festival, it's now heading to Netflix from June 7 as well. Get ready for a bleak, tense and twisty effort that makes the most of its premise, nods to both the Alien and Terminator sagas, features immersive production design, and should bring its stellar young Danish lead Rugaard to further attention. It's also the debut feature from Australian filmmaker Grant Sputore, who directs and co-penned the underlying story with fellow big-screen first-timer Michael Lloyd Green. Check out the trailer below: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=N5BKctcZxrM I Am Mother drops on Netflix on June 7.
A frazzled mother, a bride to be, a cactus-loving wife, a widow, a teenage wannabe star, and a fading singer. If you've ever had a sister, wife, girlfriend, mother or daughter, chances are you know one of these women. If you've ever blitzed through the morning rush of a school day, suffered the loss of a loved one or felt the nervous excitement of 'the big day', chances are you are one of these women. They are theatrical characters drawn from the everyday of modern life. Queensland Theatre Company's Bombshells presents six monologues about women on the brink of falling apart. The play was written by Joanna Murray-Smith, one of Australia's most prominent female writers. Having plays performed on both local and international stages, her honest and truthful words always find a receptive audience. The play features the strikingly talented Christen O'Leary gracing us with her cheeky and vivacious presence on the Cremorne Theatre stage. This production marks O'Leary's brilliant return to QTC since 2006, and Wesley Enoch's first directed work for QTC since becoming its Artistic Director in late 2010. Bombshells is insightful and salacious entertainment and should not be missed.
