If the past few years have you craving something more than the usual — something outside of your house, for starters, and events that don't just feel like the same old thing again and again, too — then prepare to spend some time in a secret Fraser Coast spot. First, you'll be heading north from Brisbane. Next, you'll be venturing slightly inland to Gootchie. Voila, that's where Jungle Love Music & Arts Festival will unleash its 2022 program. Yes, one of southeast Queensland's favourite smaller, more specialised, boutique and meticulously curated fests is returning, which is great news for your Labour Day long weekend plans. Since 2014 — with pandemic delays, like all events — Jungle Love has been a smorgasbord of creative activities, and that isn't changing this time around. Instead of ridiculous queues and heaving crowds clamouring for space in an ordinary city showground, here you'll find a laidback vibe, a campground surrounded by luscious greenery, and the chance to go for a swim in the creek while you watch a gig. Oh, and did we mention that it's a BYO festival as well (though no glass is allowed)? [caption id="attachment_843590" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Lauren Crabbe[/caption] The 2022 event will take place between Friday, April 29–Sunday, May 1 at a yet-to-be-revealed secret Gootchie location. If you've been in previous years, the fest is heading to a new site this year, so get excited. Yes, swimming will still be part of the program; however, the new venue will also allow Jungle Love to add some other additional aspects to its lineup. First-release tickets have already been snapped up, with final release tix now on sale. Camping is included in the price, and you can level up to glamping packages — in bell tents that sleep up to five people — as well. And, in terms of what you'll be enjoying while you're there, the program includes visual arts displays, what's aiming to be one of the world's longest jams, circus, cabaret, theatre, workshops, knocking back those BYO beverages and plenty of tunes. [caption id="attachment_843589" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Bajj Holloway[/caption] JUNGLE LOVE MUSIC & ARTS FESTIVAL LINEUP 2022: Battlesnake Bud Rokesky Budjerah Cash Savage and the Last Drinks CityPiss Dizzy Doolan Hope D Viey JB Patterson Jem Cassar-Daley K+Lab Kid Heron King Stingray Lastlings Life On Earth Mou Mr Maps Nonsemble Pink Matter Pirra Radium Dolls Rhythm Hunters RVG Sahara Beck SCARES Shugorei Teen Jesus and the Jean Teasers The Lachy Doley Group The Lazy Eyes Thunder Fox Tjaka Torpid Vetta Borne 8 Mile Yacht Club Boom Boom Soundsystem Renegade Playground Fem Fale Shandy Jungle Love Music & Arts Festival takes place from Friday, April 29–Sunday, May 1 at a secret location in Gootchie, Queensland. For more information and to buy tickets, head to the festival's website. Top images: Savannah van der Niet.
Who is Kanye Lens? Well, he sure as cuss isn't an egomaniac rapper. In fact, Kane 'Kanye Lens' Hibberd may be one of the greatest music festival photographers in Australia, and his latest publication 'Kanye Lens vs. Soundwave' is your first point of evidence. In 450 pages and with over 600 images this book archives everything amazing from Soundwave you missed, either because you were a touch intoxicated, or busy trying to work out how old the chick on that guy’s shoulders was. Admittedly, even if you were sober and concentrating, there was a lot going on at Soundwave, from the incredible live bands, to the assortment of characters who passed through the gates. Len's quirky and over-exposed photography is the all access pass to this festival from the shutter-view of a genius. In this month of April get yourself down to Lust for Life Tattoo and indulge in some tasty shots of the ins and outs of this great festival. And the best thing about this exhibit – there won't be a Karadashian in sight.
Isn't it lovely to see big companies doing their bit for the social good. In Google's case, it's not just about donating huge sums of money. Rather, they make essential communications technology accessible to those who promote positive change. Google's recent launch of Google for nonprofits brings together an extensive toolkit for non-profit organisations, including AdWords, special YouTube privileges, Apps and more. Currently, the tools are only available to Google Grant recipients who receive thousands in in-kind advertising from Google. The company realised that gifting the use of AdWords and the like wasn't enough: Goolge also needed to teach non-profits how to maximise the potential of such tools. Instructional videos and the Make-A-Change section will show users how to make the most of the tools to communicate their message; while the Marketplace will connect non-profits with service providers offering free or discounted rates. Google offers grants to approved non-profits in the US only, but the marketing manager of Google for nonprofits Kirsten Olsen Cahill hopes to expand to other nations soon. [Via Mashable]
Cafe by day, bar by night — when it comes to eating and drinking, it's our favourite combination. The French Food Shop isn't content with its two-for-one set-up, though. Befitting its Brunswick Street location, it's also a takeaway French fries joint. Basically, whether you're after a substantial brekkie or lunch, an evening tipple or a serving of potato products, the new Fortitude Valley joint has you covered. The fact that the dimly lit hangout does it best to make you feel like you're far, far away from Brisbane, complete with imported wallpaper and photos of the French countryside? Well, that's an added bonus. Not that you need another incentive to mosey on in for a cheesy croque monsieur or jam-packed baguette when the sun is shining, or stacked fries with grilled sausage as the evening gets late. Or one of 50 wines, a champagne cocktail or a French whiskey, too. Actually, if you haven't tried the latter, that should all the reason you need to drop by.
With the rise of the mp3 and the gathering of the cloud, the concept of physically owning your music has gradually begun to disappear. Yet for many music lovers, the tactile nature of analogue media still holds a powerful nostalgia. How else do you explain last year's record-breaking vinyl sales? But while the record may have experienced a bit of a resurgence as of late, what about the humble audio cassette? Well, it turns out there may be a market for that too. Inspired by the success of Record Store Day, Cassette Store Day is a celebration of all things magnetic tape and plastic. Its third iteration is set for October 17 — and for the first time, the southern hemisphere is getting in on the action. Australian label Rice Is Nice and New Zealanders Arch Hill Recordings will join Germany’s Mansions & Millions, America’s Burger Records and original UK founders Suplex Cassettes, Kissability, and Sexbeat in organising the 2015 edition, an international party marked by a slew of events, sales and releases. Last year saw such big name artists as Karen O and There Might Be Giants drop tapes for the occasion, among more than 300 others. Of course, not everyone is so enamoured with these chunky slabs of plastic. Last year Tone Deaf penned an article titled ‘Why International Cassette Store Day is Stupid’, arguing that the event is simply nostalgia taken too far. And look, the killjoys may have a point. Although vinyl fans insist that records sound ‘warmer,’ it’s a lot harder to make that argument for the compact cassette. Still, anything that gets people supporting local music stores is okay by us. Besides, who doesn’t secretly want an actual mixtape from their crush? CASSETTE STORE DAY AUSTRALIAN RELEASES Courtney Barnett — Sometimes I Sit And Think And Sometimes I Just Sit Summer Flake — Time Rolls By EP Bloods — Work It Out Ocean Party — Light Weight Step-Panther — Strange But Nice Dollar Bar — Paddington Workers Club Dollar Bar — Hot Ones Red Riders — Drown In Colour Demos The Finks — Lucklaster Fraser A. Gorman — Slow Gum Ouch My Face — Bunyip Raindrop — Crowded Brain EP Rice Is Nice Records — Vol. 3 Mixtape (various artists) Ft. Blank Realm (unreleased), Black Zeros, Tired Lion, Lowtide, The Living Eyes, Pearls, Love of Diagrams, Day Ravies, Us The Band, Zeahorse, White Dog, Weak Boys Wonrowe Vision — Triple Cassette Mortification — Scrolls Of The Megaloth Double Cassette Barrow-man — Dog Tales Betty & Oswald — King Of Bohemia Tutu and the Bodyrockets — The Ballad of Bonnie Bigfish Hills Hoist / Piqué — Cool Change / Kitty Australian labels and store owners that want to be part of this year’s Cassette Store Day can apply via Rice Is Nice starting from July 11. Image: Dollar Photo Club.
A restaurant that takes bookings basically has unicorn status these days. Not that we're fully against this walk-ins only business — it's been known to work in our favour — but sometimes you just want to be confident you'll be able to take your Dad to dinner without a grumpy one-hour wait. For those times, you'll need to find a restaurant you can book. Helping out with that conundrum will soon be San Fransisco-based restaurant booking service OpenTable, which will be launching in Australia later this month. OpenTable has been around since 1998, and while it's an international service — they're present in Canada, Germany, Ireland, Japan, Mexico and the UK — they take up the most space in the North American market, where it supposedly facilitates 52% of restaurant reservations through its mobile app. The app is something of a cross between restaurant finder Zomato and reservation site Dimmi, which was bought out by TripAdvisor earlier this year. The OpenTable desktop site and mobile app lets you search restaurants with available tables, view the restaurant's menu, user reviews, and any other restaurants nearby you might be interested in. And while it isn't all too different to Dimmi in terms of functionality, it certainly looks a lot nicer and has some handy integrations for the hospitality industry, such as the Guest Centre booking management app for front-of-house staff. "Whether it’s at a cafe, neighbourhood bistro or hatted restaurant, Aussies love to dine out and we're committed to empowering what that experience means for people," says APAC VP and Managing Director Adam Clarke. "OpenTable's growth has been driven by our ability to develop products that cater for the changing needs of restaurants and diners. Here in Australia, we will continue to innovate by providing insight into dining trends and behaviours, and building on all we have learned over the past two decades." The OpenTable app is set to go live mid-December, and will allow you to make bookings at restaurants including Rockpool and MoVida. Of course, this service only works if your restaurant of choice doesn't work on a no-bookings system — no one can help you there, I'm afraid.
For fans of Adam Driver, 2019 was a movie-watching delight. When he wasn't tackling zombies in Jim Jarmusch's The Dead Don't Die, he was investigating CIA-sanctioned torture in The Report. He scored an Oscar nomination for his relationship struggles with Scarlett Johansson in Marriage Story, and fought the force in Star Wars: Episode IX — The Rise of Skywalker, too. Alas, after that welcome onslaught of Driver-starring flicks in such short succession — The Man Who Killed Don Quixote also released Down Under the same year, in fact — he didn't appear on our screens in 2020. But this year, he'll be back in cinemas in one of his most-anticipated films yet. In the works for half a decade — and reportedly initially delayed in part due to Driver's busy schedule — Annette tells the tale of stand-up comedian Henry (Driver) and his soprano opera singer wife Ann (Marion Cotillard). He's funny, she's famous, and their lives are happy and glamorous; however, when their daughter Annette is born, they're changed forever. Few other narrative details have been revealed, but their story plays out in a musical — and if the just-dropped first trailer gives any indication, viewers can expect a brooding, dreamy, sweeping and immensely gorgeous film to dance across the screen. Actually, movie buffs can expect all of the above simply based on Annette's director. It has now been nine years since Leos Carax's Holy Motors hit cinema screens, becoming one of the most memorable films of both the decade and the 21st century in the process, so his next project has been eagerly awaited for quite some time. Annette will also mark the French filmmaker's English-language debut. And, after being shot late in 2019 and initially expected in 2020, it'll open this year's Cannes Film Festival in July. Exactly when viewers elsewhere will get to see the film hasn't been announced, but whenever it surfaces locally, it'll be a certain big-screen event. Every director wishes that they made movies that no one else could even dream of, but Carax is genuinely one of those filmmakers. Here's hoping that we soon get to see what Carax's inventive mind has put together next. Check out the trailer below: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=068aFF8fOIA&feature=emb_logo Annette will open the Cannes Film Festival on July 6. Details for the film's release Down Under are yet to be revealed — we'll update you with further details when they're announced.
Big pop-culture titles, big stunts: from a Stranger Things rift and Squid Game's creepy Red Light, Green Light doll to an Everything Everywhere All At Once-style multidimensional laundromat and a massive Timothée Chalamet mural for Dune, new TV shows and movies sure do love launching with a pop-up in Australia. The latest doing just that: Aquaman and the Lost Kingdom, the sequel to 2018's Aquaman. For four days, the film is making its presence known in Sydney with a huge seven-metre gold trident. To see the towering, gleaming object, you'll need to head to Watermans Cove in Barangaroo from Thursday, December 14–Sunday, December 17. On display: the Trident of Neptune that gives Aquaman's namesake the power to rule the sea. It's being used to break ground of the boardwalk, and will be paired with a giant wall of water measuring nine metres high and 12 metres wide on the Friday night only. Seeing the trident is free, and you can just head along whenever suits you across the four days. If you want to catch a glimpse of the wall of water as well — which will have footage from the film projected onto it — you'll need to drop by from 7.45–10pm on Friday, December 15. As for the movie itself, it features Jason Momoa swapping the Fast and Furious franchise's roads for the ocean in that other big-budget saga he's been known to glisten through: DC's flicks. It's been five years since the first solo cinema swim for Arthur Curry arrived, with Aquaman marking just the sixth entry in the DC Extended Universe. Now the series hits 15 instalments with sequel Aquaman and the Lost Kingdom, bringing back DC's wettest superhero — plus Yahya Abdul-Mateen II (Ambulance) as Black Manta as well. Hitting cinemas on Boxing Day as the fourth DC feature of 2023 after Shazam! Fury of the Gods, The Flash and Blue Beetle, Aquaman and the Lost Kingdom also hails from Australian director James Wan (Malignant), as the first film did — and sees Patrick Wilson (Insidious: The Red Door), Amber Heard (The Stand), Nicole Kidman (Special Ops: Lioness) and Temuera Morrison (The Book of Boba Fett) return alongside Momoa and Abdul-Mateen II. Dolph Lundgren (Minions: The Rise of Gru) and Randall Park (Strays) are back as well, all in another movie that dives into the sea, heads down to Atlantis and paddles about trying to save the world. The story this time: Black Manta is still after vengeance, but now has the Black Trident and its powers to help. So, as well as being a father and the new King of Atlantis, Aquaman has to seek his own assistance. That's how Wilson's Orm, Curry's half brother, ends up fighting by his side instead of being his imprisoned enemy. Check out the trailer for Aquaman and the Lost Kingdom below: The Aquaman and the Lost Kingdom trident will be on display at Watermans Cove, Barangaroo, Sydney from Thursday, December 14–Sunday, December 17. Aquaman and the Lost Kingdom opens in Australian cinemas on Tuesday, December 26.
If you like scary movies, then you've likely watched a Scream film or five over the past quarter of a century. And, across that period — ever since the OG flick became a box-office smash in 1996, then delivered 1997's Scream 2, 2000's Scream 3, 2011's Scream 4 and 2022's Scream, plus TV spinoff Scream: The TV Series — you've seen the saga's mask-wearing killer Ghostface slash his way through the fictional Californian town of Woodsboro multiple times, as well as a college in Ohio and then Hollywood. Until now, viewers haven't witnessed the series' villain follow in The Muppets' footsteps, though. But thanks to Scream VI, which arrives in cinemas in March 2023 and just dropped its first teaser trailer, that's changing. This time around, Ghostface is getting slashy while taking — and terrorising — Manhattan. No, everyone's favourite felt characters didn't quite do that, but they did galavant across the New York City borough first. When the first Scream VI trailer begins, it's clearly Halloween, and costumes abound on a NYC subway. Among all that spooky attire: more than one black-clad person in a Ghostface mask, making passengers and franchise returnees Sam Carpenter (Melissa Barrera, In the Heights), her sister Tara (Jenna Ortega, Wednesday) and their film-obsessed pal Mindy (Jasmin Savoy Brown, Yellowjackets) more than a little distressed. Scream VI's trailer doesn't provide any other story detail, but it does still love scary movies, riffing on Alien's famous "in space, no one can hear you scream" tagline. It's also set to bring a few other familiar Scream faces back — sadly not Neve Campbell, after the actor turned down a reappearance after a salary dispute, but seeing Courteney Cox (Shining Vale) return as TV reporter Gale Weathers, Mason Gooding (Fall) pop up again after the last flick and Hayden Panettiere (Nashville) rejoin the fold following Scream 4. Will this make Panettiere's Kirby Reed the killer this time around, because this franchise does love links when it comes to Ghostface's identity? At this stage, we can only guess. What anyone who has even just heard of the Scream flicks does know, of course, is that stabbing murders and horror movie fandom will combine no matter who's wielding the knife. Ready or Not's Matt Bettinelli-Olpin and Tyler Gillett return to helm Scream VI, as they did with 2021's Scream. And yes, why the franchise's titles have gone from Scream to Scream 2, Scream 3 and Scream 4, then back to Scream, and now to Scream VI, makes about as much sense as running up the stairs when someone should be heading out the front door. Also set to feature in Scream VI: She-Hulk: Attorney at Law and The Other Two's Josh Segarra, Servant and The Grand Budapest Hotel's Tony Revolori, and Australian Nine Perfect Strangers and Ready or Not star Samara Weaving, plus Dermot Mulroney (Umma) and Henry Czerny (another Ready or Not alum). Check out the first Scream VI teaser trailer below: Scream VI releases in cinemas Down Under on March 9, 2023.
Not all that long ago, the idea of getting cosy on your couch, clicking a few buttons, and having thousands of films and television shows at your fingertips seemed like something out of science fiction. Now, it's just an ordinary night — whether you're virtually gathering the gang to text along, cuddling up to your significant other or shutting the world out for some much needed me-time. Of course, given the wealth of options to choose from, there's nothing ordinary about making a date with your chosen streaming platform. The question isn't "should I watch something?" — it's "what on earth should I choose?". Hundreds of titles are added to Australia's online viewing services each and every month, all vying for a spot on your must-see list. And, so you don't spend 45 minutes scrolling and then being too tired to actually commit to anything, we're here to help. We've spent plenty of couch time watching our way through this month's latest batch — and, from the latest and greatest through to old and recent favourites, here are our picks for your streaming queue in March. BRAND NEW STUFF YOU CAN WATCH IN FULL NOW SWARM Becky with the good hair gets a shoutout in Swarm. Facial bites do as well, complete with a Love & Basketball reference when the culprit flees. This seven-part series about a global pop sensation and her buzzing fans and stans also has its music icon unexpectedly drop a stunner of a visual album, ride a white horse, be married to a well-known rapper, become a mum to twins and see said husband fight with her sister in an elevator. Her sibling is also a singer, and plenty of folks contend she's the more interesting of the two. Still, Swarm's object of fascination — protagonist Dre's (Dominique Fishback, Judas and the Black Messiah) undying obsession — sells out tours, breaks Ticketmaster and headlines one of the biggest music festivals there is. And, while they call themselves the titular term rather than a hive, her devotees are zealous and then some, especially humming around on social media. Donald Glover and Janine Nabers, the show's creators and past colleagues on Glover's exceptional, now-finished Atlanta — Nabers also worked on Watchmen, too — couldn't be more upfront about who they're referring to. No one says Beyoncé's name, however, but Swarm's Houston-born music megastar is the former Destiny's Child singer in everything except moniker. In case anyone watching thinks that this series is trading in coincidences and déjà vu, or just failing to be subtle when it comes to Ni'Jah (Nirine S Brown, Ruthless), the Prime Video newcomer keeps making an overt opening declaration. "This is not a work of fiction. Any similarity to actual persons, living or dead, or events, is intentional," it announces before each episode. From there, it dives into Dre's journey as a twentysomething in 2016 who still adores her childhood idol with the same passion she did as a teen and, instalment by instalment, shows how far she's willing to go to prove it. Swarm streams via Prime Video. Read our full review. TETRIS The greatest game in the world can't make the leap to screens like most of its counterparts, whether they involve mashing buttons, playing campaigns or attempting to sink ships. A literal adaptation of Tetris would just involve four-piece bricks falling and falling — and while that's a tense and riveting sight when you're in charge of deciding where they land, and endeavouring to fill lines to make them disappear, it's hardly riveting movie viewing. As a film, Tetris is still gripping, however, all while telling the tale behind the puzzle video game that's been a phenomenon since the 80s. Did you have your first Tetris experience on an early Game Boy? This is the story of how that happened. Starring Taron Egerton (Black Bird) as Henk Rogers, the man who secured the rights to the Russian-born title for distribution on video game consoles worldwide, it's largely a dramatised account of the fraught negotiations when the west started to realise what a hit Tetris was, Nintendo got involved, but Soviet software engineer Alexey Pajitnov had no power over what happened to his creation because that was life in the USSR. Egerton is perfectly cast as the resourceful, charming and determined Rogers, a Dutch-born, American-raised, Japan-residing game designer who stumbles across Tetris at a tech conference while trying to sell a version of Chinese strategy game Go. First, his assistant can't stop playing it. Soon, he's seeing blocks in his dreams, as everyone does after playing (and then forever). Director Jon S Baird (Stan & Ollie) and screenwriter Noah Pink (Genius) have a games licensing battle to unpack from there, something that mightn't have been as thrilling as it proves — and certainly is no certainty on paper — in other hands. Stacking up this real-life situation's pieces involves becoming a savvy takedown of shady business deals, a compelling Russia-set spy flick and an exploration of daily existence in Soviet times, plus an upstart underdog story. And, Tetris does all that while gleefully and playfully bringing in the game's aesthetic, and blasting an appropriately synth-heavy soundtrack. Tetris streams via Apple TV+ from Friday, March 31. WEIRD: THE AL YANKOVIC STORY If you've seen one music biopic, or some of the flicks that've earned actors Oscars or nominations in recent years for playing well-known rock stars — think: Bohemian Rhapsody and Elvis — then you know how this genre usually plays out. So does Weird Al Yankovic, who is strongly involved in Weird: The Al Yankovic Story, co-writing, producing and even popping up on-screen. He doesn't give himself a solemn screen tribute, though. For decades, he's found pop music rife for satirising, and now his career spent spoofing hit songs gets sent up as well. The soundtrack is already hilarious, filled as it is with everything from 'My Bologna', 'I Love Rocky Road' and 'Another One Rides the Bus' to 'Eat It', 'Like a Surgeon' and 'Amish Paradise'. The casting is brilliantly hilarious as it is hilariously brilliant, too, with Daniel Radcliffe (The Lost City) sporting a mop of curls, grasping an accordion and wearing Yankovic's Hawaiian shirts like he was born to. Silly, happily self-mocking, not serious for a second: that's this joke-packed flick, which isn't quite as stuffed with gags as a typical Weird Al song, but is still filled with laughs — and still immensely funny. Unsurprisingly, much of Weird: The Al Yankovic Story plays like a collection of skits and sketches, whether visiting his childhood, showing how he scored his big break or charting his fame (which is Westworld's Evan Rachel Wood as a comical Madonna comes in), but it works. Yankovic co-writes with director Eric Appel, a parody veteran thanks to NTSF:SD:SUV, and they're joyfully on the same goofy, go-for-broke wavelength. So is Radcliffe, who keeps demonstrating that he's at his best when a certain Boy Who Lived is relegated to the past, and when he's getting as ridiculous as he possibly can. Forget the wizarding franchise — he's magical when he's at his most comic, as Miracle Workers keeps proving, and now this as well. Weird: The Al Yankovic Story streams via Paramount+. BOSTON STRANGLER When it comes to films about reporters trying to track down serial killers, every movie made since 2007 will always stand in Zodiac's shadow. Still, while Boston Strangler isn't directed by David Fincher, it too is incredibly well-cast — Keira Knightley, Carrie Coon, Chris Cooper, Alessandro Nivola and David Dastmalchian lead the bill — and both quickly and deeply involving. It's also a dimly lit, grimly toned procedural-based drama about good old-fashioned hard work by smart people doing their utmost to stop a spate of horrendous killings, this time the murders terrorising Greater Boston in the 60s. Spotlight comes to mind, too, thanks to the focus on journalists cracking a case. While Boston Strangler won't win the Oscar for Best Picture, it smartly ponders something crucial in this true crime-heavy era: that bleak tales such as these, like all tales, change and evolve. Indeed, while the film focuses on reporting when the killings were happening, this case still had new developments as recently as ten years ago. Loretta McLaughlin (Knightley, Misbehaviour) is a lifestyle writer saddled with reviewing toasters and pleading with her editor Jack MacLaine (Cooper, Irresistible) for meaty work when she notices a pattern among a series of Boston deaths. On her own time, she investigates, realising that multiple women murdered by strangulation might be the work of a serial killer — and Boston Record American, her paper, breaks the story. With the more-experienced Jean Cole (Coon, The Nest), they keep covering the mounting deaths, and earning the ire of local cops even though lead detective Conley (Nivola, Amsterdam) is helpful. Suspicion settles on Albert DeSalvo (Dastmalchian, Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania), but nothing is straightforward in this case. Boston Strangler, too, dives into the struggles of reporting on crimes so shocking, doing so as women often used by their publication as a readership stunt, trying to balance professional and personal commitments and, of course, battling to get to the truth — and to hold those responsible, as well as those meant to finding the culprit, to account. Boston Strangler streams via Disney+. DAISY JONES AND THE SIX Before it was a ten-part Prime Video series, Daisy Jones & The Six was a book. And before Taylor Jenkins Reid's 2019 novel jumped back to the 70s rock scene with its melodramatic tale of sex, drugs and rock 'n' roll, Fleetwood Mac lived through, stunned and shaped the era. No matter where or when an adaptation popped up, or who took to the microphone and guitar in it, bringing Daisy Jones & The Six to the screen was always going to involve leaning into Mick Fleetwood, Stevie Nicks, John McVie, Christine McVie and company's story. Reid has said that she took loose inspiration from the band; "it's a Fleetwood Mac vibe," she's also noted. Those parallels are as obvious as a killer lyric in Daisy Jones & The Six's TV guise, in a series that's heightened, impressively cast, and well-versed in what it's tinkering with and recreating — and a show that also isn't afraid of romance and tragedy, or of characters going all-in for what and who they're passionate about. On the page, this was an oral history. On streaming, it's framed by two-decades-later documentary interviews where key figures — Daisy Jones (Riley Keough, Zola), co-lead singer Billy Dunne (Sam Claflin, Book of Love), guitarist Eddie Roundtree (Josh Whitehouse, Valley Girl), drummer Warren Rojas (Sebastian Chacon, Emergency), bassist Chuck Loving (Jack Romano, Mank) and British keyboardist Karen Sirko (Suki Waterhouse, The Broken Hearts Gallery), plus other pivotal folks in their careers — share memories to-camera. The eponymous musicians burned bright but flamed out fast together, opening text on-screen informs the audience before anyone gets talking. A huge stadium gig at Chicago's Soldier Field late in 1977 was their last, coming at the height of their popularity after releasing hit Rumours-esque record Aurora. Viewers immediately know the ending, then, but not what leads to that fate. Daisy Jones & The Six streams via Prime Video. Read our full review. WELLMANIA When Australian-in-New York Liv (Celeste Barber, Seriously Red) heads home for her best friend Amy's (JJ Fong, Creamerie) 40th birthday, it's meant to be a flying Sydney visit. A food writer loving life in the Big Apple, she has a career-defining big break to get back to: being a judge on a new culinary contest TV show. But thanks to a stolen handbag, a missing green card and just the all-round chaos that is her existence, that Harbour City stay gets prolonged. With no paperwork, Liv has to jump through the American government's bureaucratic hoops again. And, her wellbeing isn't great, which means getting fit to show that she won't be a burden on the US health care system when she returns. Her mother Lorraine (Genevieve Mooy, Never Too Late) is thrilled, and her personal-trainer brother Gaz (Lachlan Buchanan, Dynasty) is about to get married to real-estate agent Dalbert (Remy Hii, Blaze) so the timing comes in handy — but Liv would rather be anywhere else and doing anything else but looking after herself. Wellmania hits the screen from the page, adapting author and journalist Brigid Delaney's book Wellmania: Misadventures in the Search for Wellness into an eight-part dramedy — with Delaney behind the show, too, alongside The Family Law's Benjamin Law. Getting your health in order is a messy business when you've spend decades drinking, partying and never saying no to a good time; getting your life sorted, which comes with Liv's desperate quest to get back to NYC, is just as much of a shambles. There's a Fleabag-but-Australian vibe to this quickly addictive series, which might've played more like a copy of other shows even with its focus on radical wellness techniques and copious Sydney harbour shots if Barber wasn't so perfectly cast. This is a firm case of a star's online fame linking in with their on-screen work savvily, given how well-known Wellmania's lead is for satirising Instagram-inspired quests for aesthetic perfection. That's only the show's starting point, though, and Barber is just as adept at anchoring a series about discovering who you are when you're definitely no longer coming of age, and realising what's important amid all the hustle and bustle. Wellmania streams via Netflix. NEW AND RETURNING SHOWS TO CHECK OUT WEEK BY WEEK TED LASSO It wasn't simply debuting during the pandemic's first year, in a life-changing period when everyone was doing it tough, that made Ted Lasso's first season a hit in 2020. It wasn't just the Apple TV+ sitcom's unshakeable warmth, giving its characters and viewers alike a big warm hug episode after episode, either. Both play a key part, however, because this Jason Sudeikis (Saturday Night Live)-starring soccer series is about everyone pitching in and playing a part. It's a team endeavour that champions team endeavours — hailing from a quartet of creators (Sudeikis, co-star Brendan Hunt, Detroiters' Joe Kelly and Scrubs' Bill Lawrence), boasting a killer cast in both major and supporting roles, and understanding how important it is to support one another on- and off-screen (plus in the fictional world that the show has created, and while making that realm so beloved with audiences). Ted Lasso has always believed in the individual players as well as the team they're in, though. It is named after its eponymous American football coach-turned-inexperienced soccer manager, after all. But in building an entire sitcom around a character that started as a sketch in two popular US television ads for NBC's Premier League coverage — around two characters, because Hunt's (Bless This Mess) laconic Coach Beard began in those commercials as well — Ted Lasso has always understood that everyone is only a fraction of who they can be when they're alone. That's an idea that keeps gathering momentum in the show's long-awaited third season, which has much to engagingly dive into. It starts with Ted left solo when he desperately doesn't want to be, with AFC Richmond owner Rebecca Welton (Hannah Waddingham, Hocus Pocus 2) desperate to beat her ex Rupert Mannion (Buffy the Vampire Slayer's Anthony Stewart Head) new team, and with the Greyhounds' former assistant Nathan 'Nate' Shelley (Nick Mohammed, Intelligence) now coaching said opposition — and with changes galore around the club. Ted Lasso streams via Apple TV+. Read our full review. YELLOWJACKETS For Shauna (Melanie Lynskey, The Last of Us), Natalie (Juliette Lewis, Welcome to Chippendales), Taissa (Tawny Cypress, Billions), Misty (Christina Ricci, Wednesday), Lottie (Simone Kessell, Muru) and Van (Lauren Ambrose, Servant), 1996 will always be the year that their plane plunged into the Canadian wilderness, stranding them for 19 tough months — as season one of 2021–2022 standout Yellowjackets grippingly established. As teenagers (as played by The Kid Detective's Sophie Nélisse, The Book of Boba Fett's Sophie Thatcher, Scream VI's Jasmin Savoy, Shameless' Samantha Hanratty, Mad Max: Fury Road's Courtney Eaton and Santa Clarita Diet's Liv Hewson), they were members of the show's titular high-school soccer squad, travelling from their New Jersey home town to Seattle for a national tournament, when the worst eventuated. Cue Lost-meets-Lord of the Flies with an Alive twist, as that first season was understandably pegged. All isn't always what it seems as Shauna and company endeavour to endure in the elements. Also, tearing into each other occurs more than just metaphorically. Plus, literally sinking one's teeth in has been teased and flirted with since episode one, too. But Yellowjackets will always be about what it means to face something so difficult that it forever colours and changes who you are — and constantly leaves a reminder of who you might've been. So, when Yellowjackets ended its first season, it was with as many questions as answers. Naturally, it starts season two in the same way. In the present, mere days have elapsed — and Shauna and her husband Jeff (Warren Kole, Shades of Blue) are trying to avoid drawing any attention over the disappearance of Shauna's artist lover Adam (Peter Gadiot, Queen of the South). Tai has been elected as a state senator, but her nocturnal activities have seen her wife Simone (Rukiya Bernard, Van Helsing) move out with their son Sammy (Aiden Stoxx, Supergirl). Thanks to purple-wearing kidnappers, Nat has been spirited off, leaving Misty desperate to find her — even enlisting fellow citizen detective Walter (Elijah Wood, Come to Daddy) to help. And, in the past, winter is setting in, making searching for food and staying warm an immense feat. Yellowjackets streams via Paramount+. Read our full review. SUCCESSION Endings have always been a part of Succession. Since it premiered in 2018, the bulk of the HBO drama's feuding figures have been waiting for a big farewell. The reason is right there in the title, because for any of the Roy clan's adult children to scale the family company's greatest heights and remain there — be it initial heir apparent Kendall (Jeremy Strong, Armageddon Time), his inappropriate photo-sending brother Roman (Kieran Culkin, No Sudden Move), their political-fixer sister Siobhan (Sarah Snook, Pieces of a Woman), or eldest sibling and now-presidential candidate Connor (Alan Ruck, The Dropout) — their father Logan's (Brian Cox, Remember Me) tenure must wrap up. He's stubborn. He's proud, too, of what he's achieved and the power it's brought. Whenever Logan has seemed nearly ready to leave the business behind, he's held on. And if he's challenged or threatened, as three seasons of the Emmy-winning series have done again and again, he shows no signs of ever letting go. Succession has always been waiting for Logan's last stint at global media outfit Waystar RoyCo, but it's never been about finales quite the way it is in its fourth season. This time, there's a ticking clock not just for the show's characters, but for the stellar series itself. In late February, in an interview with The New Yorker a month out from season four's premiere, Succession's creator and showrunner Jesse Armstrong advised that this is its last go-around. Nothing can last forever, not even widely acclaimed hit shows that are a rarity in today's TV climate: genuine appointment-viewing. So, this one is going out at the height of its greatness — yes, its final batch of episodes begins out that strongly, complete with unhappy birthday parties, big business deals, plenty of scheming and backstabbing, and both Shiv's husband Tom Wambsgans (Matthew Macfadyen, Operation Mincemeat) and family cousin Greg (Nicholas Braun, Zola) in vintage form — which is how Logan should've always wanted to as well. Succession streams via Binge. Read our full review. RAIN DOGS In 2019's Skint Estate, Cash Carraway told all; A memoir of poverty, motherhood and survival completes the book's full title. Penned about working-class Britain from within working-class Britain, Carraway's written jaunt through her own life steps through the reality of being a single mum without a permanent place to live, of struggling to get by at every second, and of being around the system since she was a teenager. It examines alcoholism, loneliness, mental illness and domestic violence, too, plus refuges, working at peep shows, getting groceries from food banks and hopping between whatever temporary accommodation is available. Rain Dogs isn't a direct adaptation. It doesn't purport to bring Carraway's experiences to the screen exactly as they happened, or with slavish fidelity to the specific details. But this HBO and BBC eight-parter remains not only raw, rich, honest and authentic but lived in, as it tells the same story with candour, humour, warmth and poignancy. Slipping into Carraway's fictionalised shoes is Daisy May Cooper — and she's outstanding. Her on-screen resume includes Avenue 5 and Am I Being Unreasonable?, as well as being a team captain on the latest iteration of Britain's Spicks and Specks-inspiring Never Mind the Buzzcocks, but she's a force to be reckoned with as aspiring writer and mum (to Iris, played by debutant Fleur Tashjian) Costello Jones. When Rain Dogs begins, it's with an eviction. Cooper lives and breathes determination as Costello then scrambles to find somewhere for her and Iris to stay next. But this isn't just their tale, with the pair's lives intersecting with the privileged but self-destructive Selby (Jack Farthing, Spencer), who completes their unconventional and dysfunctional family but tussles with his mental health. Including Costello's best friend Gloria (Ronke Adekoluejo, Alex Rider), plus ailing artist Lenny (The Young Ones legend Adrian Edmondson), this is a clear-eyed look at chasing a place to belong — and it's stunning. Rain Dogs streams via Binge. Read our full review. LUCKY HANK When Better Call Saul finished its six-season run in 2022, it was the end of an era. Not only did one of the absolute best TV shows of the past decade and the whole 21st century so far wrap up, but the Breaking Bad universe with it for now. And, it meant that the wonderful Bob Odenkirk was no longer on our screens regularly. Thankfully, with the arrival of Lucky Hank, the latter was only a short-lived state of affairs. This dramedy — because everything is a dramedy at the moment — hails from The Office actor/co-writer Paul Lieberstein, adapts Richard Russo's 1997 novel Straight Man, and casts its Undone and Nobody star as a Pennsylvanian college professor. The eponymous Hank Devereaux Jr inhabits a whirlwind of chaos, including underfunding at his university in general, unhappy colleagues in the English department he chairs, students challenging him, a wife that's tiring of academic life and the fact that he's only penned one book thanks to a hefty bout of writers' block. If some of the above sounds familiar, that's because The Chair flicked through similar territory in 2021 — also engagingly, and with Sandra Oh at its centre. Like that series, Lucky Hank thrives through its excellent lead casting, with watching Odenkirk still one of the easiest things in the world no matter what he's in. He has excellent company, including Lieberstein's The Office co-star Oscar Nuñez as Railton College dean, Mireille Enos (Hanna) as his wife, and Diedrich Bader (Shazam! Fury of the Gods) as a friend and co-worker. As a guest star, one and only Twin Peaks legend Kyle MacLachlan is also among the cast. Odenkirk wears middle-aged malaise so devastatingly well, though, which made Better Call Saul one of the best tragedies there is, and helps Lucky Hank prove as thoughtful as it is charming. There's depth to Hank's experiences, too, with Russo's tome based on his own time teaching at several colleges. Lucky Hank streams via Stan. A RECENT CLASSIC MOVIE YOU NEED TO CATCH UP WITH BODIES BODIES BODIES The internet couldn't have stacked Bodies Bodies Bodies better if it tried, not that that's how the slasher-whodunnit-comedy came about. Pete Davidson (The Suicide Squad) waves a machete around, and his big dick energy, while literally boasting about how he looks like he fucks. Borat Subsequent Moviefilm: Delivery of Prodigious Bribe to American Regime for Make Benefit Once Glorious Nation of Kazakhstan Oscar-nominee Maria Bakalova plays the cautious outsider among rich-kid college grads, who plan to ride out a big storm with drinks and drugs (and drama) in one of their parents' mansions. The Hunger Games and The Hate U Give alum Amandla Stenberg leads the show as the gang's black sheep, turning up unannounced to zero fanfare from her supposed besties, while the rest of the cast spans Shiva Baby's Rachel Sennott, Generation's Chase Sui Wonders and Industry's Myha'la Herrold, plus Pushing Daisies and The Hobbit favourite Lee Pace as a two-decades-older interloper. And the Agatha Christie-but-Gen Z screenplay? It's drawn from a spec script by Kristen Roupenian, the writer of 2017 viral New Yorker short story Cat Person. All of the above is a lot. Bodies Bodies Bodies is a lot — 100-percent on purpose. It's a puzzle about a party game, as savage a hangout film as they come, and a satire about Gen Z, for starters. It carves into toxic friendships, ignored class clashes, self-obsessed obliviousness, passive aggression and playing the victim. It skewers today's always-online world and the fact that everyone has a podcast — and lets psychological warfare and paranoia simmer, fester and explode. Want more? It serves up another reminder after The Resort, Palm Springs and co that kicking back isn't always cocktails and carefree days. It's an eat-the-rich affair alongside Squid Game and The White Lotus. Swirling that all together like its characters' self-medicating diets, this wildly entertaining horror flick is a phenomenal calling card for debut screenwriter Sarah DeLappe and Dutch filmmaker Halina Reijn (Instinct), too — and it's hilarious, ridiculous, brutal and satisfying. Forgetting how it ends is also utterly impossible. Bodies Bodies Bodies is available to stream via Prime Video. Read our full review. Need a few more streaming recommendations? Check out our picks from January, February, March, April, May, June, July, August, September, October, November and December 2022, and January and February 2023. You can also check out our list of standout must-stream 2022 shows as well — and our best 15 new shows of last year, top 15 returning shows over the same period, 15 shows you might've missed and best 15 straight-to-streaming movies of 2022.
Many museums say they're taking you 'travelling in time', but New York's adventurous New Museum has found an unusual way to displace you by 20 years. Their new project titled Recalling 1993 is transforming 5000 of the city's pay phones into time machines where people can escape reality and make calls 20 years into NYC's past. Until May 26, city dwellers and visitors can easily pick up any pay phone, dial 1-855-FOR-1993 and hear a recording about what was happening 20 years ago in that specific location. The installation was proposed by ad agency Droga5 and was inspired by the museum's exhibition NYC 1993 Experimental Jet, Set, Trash and No Star, which encapsulates the year in art. They describe it as "a pivotal year that began to shape the New York we know today". The stories on these geolocated time machines are told by New Yorkers to New Yorkers, including WNYC's Brian Lehrer, the Village Voice's Michael Musto, renowned chef Mario Batali, iconic trash TV presenter Robin Byrd and many others. You can hear a few select samples at the Recalling 1993 website. It's always great to see initiatives that take museum-goers beyond the building and into the streets. But this project's single masterstroke must be the way it revives the near-obsolete pay phone for one last hurrah. We'd be so bemused to pick up the receiver of one these days, it seems right there'd be a voice from the past waiting inside to connect. Via Inhabitat.
UPDATE, October 7, 2021: Due to lockdowns in Sydney and Melbourne in 2021, Pinot Palooza has postponed its 2021 event until 2022. This article has been updated to reflect that change. Master sommelier Madeline Triffon describes pinot noir as 'sex in a glass'. Winemaker Randy Ullom calls it 'the ultimate nirvana'. Broadway wannabe Titus Andromedon loved it so much he compares it to 'caviar, Myanmar, mid-size car' (see below). No wonder the good folk at Revel — who've also brought Malbec Day and Mould our way — are coming back to town with Pinot Palooza, an epic travelling wine festival celebrating all things peeeno noir. For just two days, Brisbane wine connoisseurs will have the chance to sample more than 100 drops, direct from Australia and New Zealand's best producers. Whether you're a newbie who wants to start with something light and inviting, or a pinot pro ready for the biggest, most complex mouthful on the menu, there'll be an abundance of selections at either end — and plenty along the spectrum, too. If, at any point, you need to take a pause in your tasting adventures, you'll be catered for. Pinot Palooza will hit the John Reid Pavilion at Brisbane Showgrounds on Friday, May 20 (from 4.30–8.30pm) and Saturday, May 21 (from 11am–3pm and 4–8pm). Tickets are $65, and include all tastings and a take-home wine glass. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=A6yttOfIvOw
For those nights when you just want to belt out a song, tuck into Japanese bites and drink like you're in Tokyo, Goros Brisbane is now your go-to. On offer here: karaoke, karaage and cocktails, all in a sprawling izakaya-style bar. From Friday, February 21, 2025, you'll find the venue on Warner Street in Fortitude Valley, adding a new stop to your next big evening out. This isn't just a slice of Tokyo in Brisbane, but also a slice of Sydney. In the Harbour City, Goros is a favourite if you want to party like you're in Japan without the plane fare. As initially announced in late 2024, that's equally the setup in the River City, complete with yakitori, sake and Japanese spirits as well. Gyoza, bao, sashimi, matcha soft serve, boozy boba, whisky highballs: they're all on the menu, too, at the chain's second venue Australia-wide and first in Queensland. For its arrival in the Sunshine State, Goros has gone big. Taking over the space that was previously home to Kickons, the bar spreads over multiple levels and can cater to 500 people. And yes, that means that group occasions are on the itinerary if you need a new spot to celebrate your next birthday, or anything else worth commemorating, with sake bombs, prawn crackers, squid karaage and skewers fresh off the robata grill. Goros' inspiration isn't merely Japan in general or even Tokyo as a whole — it's the latter's street bar culture and nightlife scene. Whether you're keen to pick up a microphone or are happy sipping cocktails while others sing, neon lighting features heavily across the venue's decor. The bar also boasts a dance floor, because karaoke isn't the only way to enjoy tunes here, and is set to host games nights and ping-pong tournaments. If you just want to drop by for an after-work sip or dinner, though, that's also an option. "I wanted this to be a fully immersive experience — from the glow of neon lights to the aroma of yakitori sizzling over an open flame, and the thrill of stumbling upon an unexpected experience that brings the night to life," said Solotel CEO Elliot Solomon. "At its heart, the concept draws inspiration from a Japanese izakaya, while incorporating the very best elements of Japan into one venue." The culinary lineup for Goros Brisbane also spans everything from UFO beef burgers and share buckets of Japanese fried chicken to saltbush tempura with chilli miso mayo. Matcha piña coladas, Midori sours, sake spritzes, four different types of frozen cocktails (one alcohol-free), Asahi on tap: they're among the drinks picks. For fun while you eat and imbibe, Goros Brisbane's roster of regular events also includes DJs spinning tunes every Friday and Saturday, Tuesday-night watch parties, sake bomb bingo for an hour on Fridays and monthly Goros twists on Takeshi's Castle. Find Goros Brisbane at 6 Warner Street, Fortitude Valley from Friday, February 21, 2025 — open from 4pm–12am Tuesday–Wednesday and 4pm–3am Thursday–Saturday. Head to the venue's website for more details. Images: Alana Dimou / Markus Ravik.
If you're in the midst of a mid-life crisis, you might want to skip over this news: it's been 20 years since Placebo released their debut album. Yep, 'Nancy Boy' has been around since 1996. The album Without You I'm Nothing (which included 'Every Me and Every You') was released in 1998, and even 'Running Up That Hill' is almost 15 years old now. It's been so long since these songs were released that fans band of the UK band probably never expected to hear them live again. But this morning Placebo has announced they will bring their 20 Years of Placebo tour to Australia this September. And yes, they'll be playing old stuff. The worldwide tour kicked off this late last year — the band is currently touring Mexico and will head to Europe before coming to Australia in September. As well as Melbourne, Sydney and Brisbane, they'll make stops in Perth, Adelaide, Newcastle and Canberra too. It will be their first Australian appearance since Soundwave in 2014. 20 years is a long time and the band has a huge discography (seven albums) to pull bangers from — and they've promised to play all those songs you listened to on repeat as a teenager. "Let's just say there will be songs in the set that I've sworn never to play again," said frontman Brian Molko. "I think it's time that we purposefully acknowledged what a lot of Placebo fans really want to hear. They've been very patient with us since we rarely play our most commercially successful material. A 20 year anniversary tour seems like the right time to do so. That's our intention. This tour is very much for the fans and a chance for us to revisit a lot of our early material." Tickets will go on sale at noon on Monday, May 29 through Ticketek. Or, if you're a Telstra customer, they have a pre-sale happening this week. 20 YEARS OF PLACEBO TOUR DATES Monday, September 4 — Perth Arena Wednesday, September 6 — Adelaide Entertainment Centre Theatre Friday, September 8 — Margaret Court Arena, Melbourne Saturday, September 9 — Qudos Bank Arena, Sydney Monday, September 11 — Brisbane Convention Centre Tuesday, September 12 — Newcastle Entertainment Centre Thursday, September 14 — AIS Arena, Canberra
When it rolls around each year, Eat Local Week serves up a massive incentive to wander through southeast Queensland's Scenic Rim, showcasing the absolute best in food and drink — and related experiences — that the region has to offer. Can't manage to fit in a trip south across its usual nine-day run? Always wanted to head along, but the end-of-June dates haven't worked? In 2023, there's a solution: expanding the festival to take place over a whole month. Goodbye Eat Local Week, hello Eat Local Month — which'll run from Thursday, June 1–Sunday, July 2. That actually means that it'll span across a huge 32 days this year. The festival turns 12 in 2023, and taking over an entire month is an ace way to mark the occasion. [caption id="attachment_852790" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Glenn Hunt[/caption] "In its 12th year and from now on, Australia's most authentic paddock-to-plate, food and farming experience in Eat Local Week will become Eat Local Month, which means more time to shine the light on the farmers, growers, producers, artisans, chefs and creators in our region, and on our spectacular local and seasonal produce," said Scenic Rim Regional Council Mayor Greg Christensen. "This expansion reflects the success and hard work of our entire community, and of the support of visitors from across the country," the Mayor continued. "Eat Local Week is a significant economic driver for the region, with the event pumping $2 million into the region, and playing an important role in placing farmers, growers and producers centre stage. We can't wait to celebrate for a full month in 2023." While it's too early to announce this year's Eat Local Month lineup, which'll drop in April, it'll still involve exploring, eating and drinking — all while showcasing Scenic Rim produce and the people behind it. 2022's bill spanned more than 125 events at 42 locations, in a region that was named one of the best places to visit in 2022. On offer last year: a winter harvest festival, street food festival and a carrot festival; picnics with alpacas among the vines and cocktails with camels; plus brewery brunches, jam sessions amid lambs and more. Expect an even bigger feast of festivities in 2023, from a fest that kicked off in 2011 with ten events attended by a few hundred people, then evolved to host 80 events with 15,000 attendees in 2014, before notching up almost 40,000 folks heading along in 2022. While 2023's lineup is still to come, Eat Local Month does already have the support of some impressive food names thanks to its ambassador chefs. Alison Alexander, Ash Martin, Brenda Fawdon (Picnic Real Food Bar), Cameron Matthews (Mapleton Public House), Caroline Jones (Three Girls Skipping), Glen Barratt (Wild Canary), Javier Codina (Moda), Josh Lopez (Monstera Group), Kate Raymont (Scenic Rim Farm Shop Café) and Richard Ousby (Ousby Food) are on the list so far, with more to be added this year. Scenic Rim Eat Local Month 2023 will runs from Thursday, June 1–Sunday, July 2 at various locations in the Scenic Rim. We'll update you with program details when they're announced in April. For more information in the interim, visit the festival's website.
Nearly 30 years on from their breakout 1994 record CrazySexyCool, TLC's music continues to radiate a timeless quality. "It's just real-life stuff," Rozonda Thomas, aka Chilli of the group, tells Concrete Playground. "When you have lyrics like that, it can be 100 years later and people can still connect with those lyrics." TLC remain the best-selling American girl group of all time, having sold over 85 million records worldwide while earning four number-one singles on the Billboard Hot 100: 'Creep', 'Waterfalls', 'No Scrubs' and 'Unpretty'. Following the tragic passing of member Lisa 'Left Eye' Lopes in 2002, the group went on hiatus before reuniting in the 2010s to bring their hits back to the stage, and releasing a self-titled comeback album in 2017. Chilli and her TLC partner-in-crime Tionne 'T-Boz' Watkins are currently Down Under as part of the Fridayz Live tour in Australia and Friday Jams in New Zealand, alongside a nostalgia-packed lineup featuring the likes of Akon, Craig David, Macklemore, Shaggy and Ashanti. They're also set to perform in Melbourne on Tuesday, November 8 at the Palais Theatre for a headline show billed as An Exclusive Evening with TLC. On a bill filled with hitmakers of the last 30 years, TLC stands out as a group who have not only stayed relevant, but who've only grown in critical acclaim and industry praise over the years. So, we took the time to chat to Chilli about the band's influence and staying power in the worlds of music and fashion, as well as the best advice that she's ever received. How do you approach a festival show, compared to if you're doing a solo headline show? "I personally kinda like that middle slot. I think that's the best slot. Most artists are like 'oh, I want to headline', but especially when it's a lot of acts, you don't want to do that. People are tired! They're probably drunk off the devil's juice — they don't know what's happening. They're kinda just there. And so, I like the middle because you get all that good energy from everyone." When you're pulling together and performing your hits, are there any songs from your career that have had more staying power than you had ever thought or that still get a bigger reaction from the crowd than you would have expected? "It's funny because people love 'Diggin' On You'. They really, really, really, really, really like that song a lot. I mean, it gets a really big reaction. Because, you know, it's not like a tonne of energy or anything like that. It's just one of those feel-good records. It always makes me smile a bit more, because it's not one of those hype songs where we're doing signature dances or anything like that. So I'd have to say it's 'Diggin' On You'." Another timeless quality of your music is the appreciation from other artists as it's been either sampled, covered, remixed or interpolated so many times — from Pharrell to Avicii, and even Ed Sheeran. How do you feel when an artist reimagines one of your songs? "It's an honour. It really is. It is an honour. It kinda lets you know our body of work is still beloved and respected by so many — and up-and-coming artists. Even artists that are just y'know, been around for a long time. They do covers of our songs when they're in concert and things like that. Like Hanson. They do. Taylor Swift has. And it's amazing to me. I just love it." Is there any artist who hasn't sampled, covered or remixed your songs that you hope will one day? "Well not even necessarily a sample or anything, but we would love to work with Bruno Mars. I just think that Bruno Mars and TLC goes together. This needs to happen at some point in time. So I'm really hoping, because, just the way he performs and all of that. I just love him as an artist, period. So I really hope that we get a chance to grace the stage together." TLC have always been fashion icons — still are to this day — but your style from the 90s is really popular right now. How does that feel to see Gen Z revisiting the fashion trends that you pioneered? "Well, I think everything kind of circles back. Just like with the 70s. I think right now, fashion from even the 70s is in. Everything is kind of in right now and it's been like that for the past decade, maybe. I think that, the time that we first came out, with the bright colours, I haven't seen that so much. Or like, with girls wearing baggy clothes, like for real, I haven't really seen that. And I'm sure it's going to come back around, because I tell you, it's way more comfortable." I feel like it's bubbling, even with pop stars like Billie Eilish who's really into bright baggy clothes at the moment. "Yeah she is! She sure is. So you have artists here and there. And to me, I just think that it's more fun. Very colourful and, again, very comfortable. That's always been our thing. I mean to this day, look at my outfit." Chilli then stands up to reveal her all-white matching Paul Frank tracksuit set. "I'm cute! I'm casually cute." Are there any trends from that era that you don't want to see come back? "When you sag too much. And we did touch on that because we'd run through the airport holding up our pants because they were falling down. So, we need a little happy medium there. You can sag a little bit. I don't want to see your underwear, period." What's the best advice you've ever been given? "To never take anything personal. In this business, it's business, it's not personal. No matter how many times people say 'I love you', because if you have to report something and do your job, it's business, right. It took me a while to get there because I'm such a love bug, and 'we said we love each other, and how could you…'. I could get all in my feels and have my feelings all hurt. So once I was able to get there, then it was like 'ok'." Do you remember who gave you that advice? "Well, you know what, I think it was [MC] Hammer. Hammer has given me so much advice, like in the beginning. He is definitely someone that I looked up to then, and still to this day is an amazing person. Just a great human being, y'know, besides a great artist. He really schooled us on a lot of things." Catch TLC performing at Fridayz Live as it makes its way to Adelaide, Brisbane, Melbourne, Perth and Sydney in November, or at An Exclusive Evening with TLC at Palais Theatre in Melbourne on Tuesday, November 8. In New Zealand, TLC play Friday Jams at at Western Springs Stadium in Auckland on Sunday, November 13.
It's impossible to think about Christmas without also thinking about ornament-adorned trees; however, the traditional towering variety isn't always practical. Perhaps you don't have space in your apartment. Maybe you're keen on the real thing, but just can't make it to market, farm or nursery to get one. Or, you could have a four-legged friend (or several) that's fond of scaling anything that reaches up into the sky. Even if you've found a place for the same old plastic tree that you trot out every year, you're probably still wishing that you could gaze up at the real thing — which is where Floraly comes in. The Australian plant delivery service focuses on sustainable blooms and even offers monthly subscriptions, and it introduced a Christmas offering in 2019. Because it's that time again, it's getting festive once more in 2021, too. The big drawcard: living trees. If you're happy with a pint-sized version, then this tiny plant is about to make your festive dreams come true. 'Tis the season to order a 50–60-centimetre-tall tiny tree that comes with decorations and a pop-up pot, wait for it to be delivered, then feel mighty jolly. Sourced from farms in Victoria and New South Wales, and able to be sent Australia-wide, Floraly's trees also arrive with soil, fairy lights, baubles and a tree-topper — so they really do look like miniature versions of your ideal Christmas centrepiece. There are two versions available, so you can opt for red baubles and a gold star for the top, or go with white decorations and a silver star In line with Floraly's eco-conscious mindset, its trees still have their root system intact. That means that once Christmas is over, you can replant them, keep them for some year-round merriment and then enjoy their splendour next year. The trees also come in fully recyclable packaging, further reducing their environmental impact. If you're keen, you can order a small bundle of greenery from the Floraly website for $79–85. Fancy sending a tiny tree as a gift? You can do that too, including as part of packs with wine, beer, candles, skin care products, champagne and chocolate. Floraly's tiny Christmas trees are available to order now by visiting the service's website.
My yoga studio has a basketball court below it. During a calming session of yoga, it is not uncommon to hear the piercing screech of a whistle, frequent cheering and the intermittent shrieks of "Great shot Mike!". One time, I kid you not, there was a marching band procession going down, and the instructor had to calmly try and talk over the incessant drumming. Quite un-zen. Flow Silent Disco Yoga seeks to give yoga enthusiasts the exact opposite experience. How exactly does one silent disco yoga? Quite easily with the introduction of wireless headphones. These bad boys give participants a one-on-one with instructor, Flow Athletic co-founder Kate Kendall, while simultaneously pumping out beats from Sydney DJ James Mack. Also, they're neon. This one-off, 90-minute Vinyasa yoga session will see yogis come together at W Brisbane. It's probably your best (possibly only) chance to show off your best warrior pose while simultaneously jiving to some seriously smooth music. Silently. Also on offer: healthy bites and drinks as part of your $55 ticket price, plus a few other treats.
From the Lumiere brothers to Christopher Nolan, cinema has always been more than just benign entertainment for our Saturday nights. It has reflected the ages we live in, not just in costumes and settings but in representing the pure zeitgeist. As we head off to the Sydney Film Festival and the Human Rights Arts and Film Festival, where films break barriers and open eyes, we’re thinking about those films that have changed how we see that crazy little thing called love. Mixed-race couples in love Even now it's still unusual to see mixed-race couples on film and television. Take Glee: the Asian girl has to end up with the Asian guy. It seems like a particularly persistent blindness given all the inter-species lovin' outlined below. But go back a few years and you will find a few films that did manage to break down this particular barrier. Most famous is 1967's Guess Who's Coming to Dinner where Katharine Hepburn and Spencer Tracy's daughter brings home a black fiance, the barrier-breaker himself, Sidney Poitier. This film paved the way for a series of bad dance films where white ballerinas hook up with street dancers, a la Save the Last Dance. Awesome. Monsters and humans in love Move over Twilight; if you think this was the first film that depicted the forbidden love between a human and a monster, you need to catch up on some movies. It wasn't even the brilliant Joss Whedon who was first in with Buffy. You have to go right back to the first monster movies, and King Kong. Okay, so in the 1933 version love was a little-one sided on the monkey side, but in Peter Jackson's 2005 remake Ann Darrow (Naomi Watts) shows a tender affection for the giant ape. The Mummy (1999) also depicted an everlasting love between a monster and a human, with the mummy rising only with the intention of bringing his love back to life through a human host. Unwed couples in love Cinema is polluted with unwed couples; the only thing is they're usually the ones copping all the flak. Take any disaster or horror movie you know: the first people that are going to get it are the ones that are enjoying a bit of out-of-wedlock nookie. Most movies, in Hollywood at least, focus on the couple's progression towards an inevitable marriage. Even today it's unusual for a Hollywood romance not to end in marriage. The spectacular The Princess Bride is one classic film that, ironically due to the title, doesn't end in a wedding. In fact, it ends with breaking up the marriage that was to be, so the true lovers can be together. More recently, the successful comedy Knocked Up shows us that it's possible to not only be in love but to have a baby out of wedlock and still be relatively happy. Other films catching up to the multitude of ways in which start families include the upcoming Friends with Kids, where friends have kids. Teenagers in love Early cinema often turned to literature's classics for inspiration, which means cinema's first teenage couple in love was that famous star-crossed duo Romeo and Juliet. They were the ones breaking barriers down between two warring families, but were they breaking cinematic barriers? Teenage films really came into their own in the '60s with the likes of cheesy, safe comedies like Beach Blanket Bingo (1965), where the teenage actors were well into their twenties. That trend continued into Grease (1978), surely one of the greatest teen love stories of all time, but it was John Hughes and the Brat Pack in the '80s that really examined what it meant to be a teenager in love. The '90s brought us another round of teens in love with 10 Things I Hate About You being a personal favourite (vale Heath Ledger). If a teenage boy can get over a girl's obsession with Sylvia Plath to buy her a Fender Strat, that's got to be love. Gay couples in love One of the earliest scenes in moving pictures shows two be-suited men dancing together, perhaps cinema's first gay couple. In fact, this scene is from an experimental sound picture now known as Dickson Experimental Sound Film, one of the first examples of an attempt to synch sound and picture. One early German film, Madchen in Uniform, is reputedly the first film with a pro-lesbian storyline, and in 1931, that’s quite an achievement. References to gay characters have permeated cinema throughout the years - for the best breakdown on queer cinema see the brilliant, though slightly old, doco The Celluloid Closet - but it's only been in recent years that we've seen true love, not jaded by other motivations. While we enjoyed the comedic love between the fathers in The Birdcage (1996), it was with the excellent The Kids Are All Right (2010) where we first had a gay couple, truly in love, whose 'gayness' wasn't an issue to be exaggerated; in fact, wasn't part of the main storyline at all. How could it be, when the parents could just as easily have been heterosexual? The Sydney Film Festival is on from June 6-17 and the Human Rights Arts and Film Festival is on from May 29 to June 1. The New Zealand Film Festival kicks off in Auckland on July 19 2012. Friends with Kids releases nationally on June 7. Main image from the film Attenberg.
In Stay of the Week, we explore some of the world's best and most unique accommodations — giving you a little inspiration for your next trip. In this instalment, we go to Novotel Wollongong Northbeach, where we are putting up guests who book one of our epic For The Love VIP packages. WHAT'S SO SPECIAL? This four-and-a-half-star hotel looks out over the picturesque North Wollongong Beach and lighthouse. It's one of the very best places to stay in the area, giving you easy access to local walking trails and swim spots as well as the thriving night life. THE ROOMS The rooms themselves aren't super flash, but they don't really need to be when you have sea views like this. In the morning, grab a seat on your private balcony, breathe in some sea air and watch Wollongong wake up — with the long stretch of coastline your backdrop. Gorge. Each of the 209 spacious rooms have all the necessities too. Air conditioning (a must for summer), a flat screen television, free wifi, a large desk (if you need to work) and a mini bar on demand. Just be aware that not all rooms have those stunning sea views — you'll need to choose one when booking. FOOD AND DRINK Novotel Wollongong Northbeach knows how to entertain. It has four separate bars, each with its own unique menu and level of formality. The Adrift Pool Bar consists of several white wooden booths and a few cute rattan tables set up around the heated pool. The best bit? Fresh seafood and classic cocktails are served out here. Hang out with some locals and fellow travellers at the public Pepe's on the Beach — where you can hire out your own cabana for the day. Or go for something a little more refined at North Bar. An impressive selection of wines adorn this drinks list, alongside a few specialty cocktails and top-shelf spirits. And when the sun goes down, American-style The Frisky Flamingo is the place to be — dress up and start your night out at this glam drinking den. THE LOCAL AREA Yes, you have so many places to eat and drink at Novotel Wollongong Northbeach, but you'd be a fool to spend all your time wining and dining. Either walk down to the beach or seaside pool for an ideal summer jaunt or head to some of the nearby walking trails along the coast to see even more of this gorgeous coastline. Boutique stores, local restaurants and all other town centre necessities are only a short walk away — with a free bus available right outside the hotel for those who want to have a chill one. If you're about to spend a day partying at For The Love, the bus is for you. [caption id="attachment_882178" align="alignnone" width="1920"] North Bar[/caption] Feeling inspired to book a truly unique getaway? Head to Concrete Playground Trips to explore a range of holidays curated by our editorial team. We've teamed up with all the best providers of flights, stays and experiences to bring you a series of unforgettable trips in destinations all over the world.
Around mid-December each year, something important happens: summer solstice, or the day with the longest span of daylight and shortest stretch of night for the current 12-month period. Since ancient times, it has been a time of celebration — and that's what Northey Street City Farm is doing at its Summer Solstice Night Market. At the Windsor spot on Friday, December 16, a waste-free organic street food market will serve up locally sourced bites to eat and sips to drink, including a whole heap of vegan and gluten-free options. Think falafel, Italian cuisine, burgers, juices, smoothies, beer, cider and kombucha on tap. Everything will be served on crockery, with wash stations set up so you can help clean up. Also on the bill is live music, drumming, circus, talks and workshops — plus fire twirling and dancing. And, if you're keen to learn more about sustainable living, Mia Swainson is launching her book on the topic at the market. As well as food, you'll be able to pick up ethical gifts, too, helping take care of your last-minute Christmas shopping. The fun kicks off from 6pm, and entry costs $27.19 for adults. Images: Northey Street Organic Farmers Market.
Karaoke has the power to change even the most lacklustre of personalities into momentary legends. All you need is a strong microphone grip, a few measly bucks and the confidence to stand in front of a crowd of drunks and sing your little heart out. Karaoke can turn boys into Men at Work, girls into Scissor Sisters and the rest of us into Laupers, Twains or Springsteens. So sit down, read up, and find out where, when and for how much your X Factor dreams can come true. CASABLANCA Casablanca holds the throne as Karaoke King of Brisbane. If you’re clever you won’t have to pay a cent to jump on stage and belt out a tune — just manoeuvre the crowds, head to the karaoke curators at the side of the bar and pick the perfect song to win over your audience. With Suncorp-quality lighting and a modest platform that instils both nerves and notoriety, karaoke at Casablanca is a public affair where your talents (or lack thereof ) can't possibly go unnoticed. Beware by-products of the Caxton Hotel and indulging your nastier taste buds with a succession of vodka Cruisers. But most importantly, don’t go accidentally falling into the crowd of perspiring women laced in 'Bride to Be', 'Birthday Girl' and generic 'Princess' sashes, heading down the steps to Aussie Thunder. 52 Petrie Terrace, Brisbane; (07) 3369 6969; Mon-Sun from 9.30pm; www.casablanca.com.au BRUNSWICK HOTEL One for the picky song-choosers. The Brunswick has the best karaoke song list in Brisbane, with all your Farnhams and Newton-Johns as well as newer chart toppers for the serious karaokers. Luckily the Brunswick crowd happily accepts everything from Led Zeppelin's entire back catalogue to Avicii hoedowns, Beatlemania to One Direction squeal-inducers. And if all that crowd work makes you peckish, there’s a solid selection of nibbles on offer; with a range of cocktails that will have you confusing this humble abode for The Viper Room. 569 Brunswick St, New Farm; (07) 3850 0000; Thursday and Saturday from 9pm; www.thebrunswickhotel.com.au CYBER CITY 2002 The myths surrounding Cyber City 2002 have been passed down from generation to generation, growing thicker with time. Do the Yakuza really own it? Does it really have some of the best karaoke in Brisbane? And is it the largest hub of MSG in all of Australia? We can tell you one of these myths is indeed fact. The karaoke at Cyber City 2002 is real bang for your buck — Fortitude Valley location, rooms that could fit The Brady Bunch and a dinner menu that's the kind of greasy, questionable Chinese that pairs well with drunk ballads. It's worth getting a group together to pay for a room — prices aren't steep, but they aren't cheap either — and the karaoke corridors can be confusing in any state of mind, so make a point of remembering your room number if you have to duck out. If you need a moment to rest your voice box, don't bother trying your luck on one of the claw toy vending machines. Thirty dollars later and no stuffed elephant, I shouldn't have to explain. 206 Wickham Street, Fortitude Valley; (07) 3229 7031; Mon-Sun till late. FAT LOUIE'S The beauty of Fat Louie's is its central location, perfect for spontaneous post-drinks karaoke decisions. But with pool tables in abundance, a seemingly strict dress code of black on black and drinks cheaper than you deserve, Fat Louie’s has everything you want — on a rather doable budget. Louie's Tokyo-style karaoke rooms are decked out with laser lights, modular lounges and hip hop-inspired electronics that will have performing like you've got a main-stage slot at Stereosonic. Karaoke rooms book out fairly quickly on a Friday and Saturday, so calling ahead always helps. And if you karaoke before 5pm, rooms are half price — that's something worth singing about! 1/124 Albert St, Brisbane; (07) 3229 7031; Mon-Sun till late; www.fatlouies.com.au
Date night can't be all loud bars, fancy dinners and fast times. There's a point in the evening where the two of you just want to slow down, maybe take in a bit of scenery, even some stargazing if you know the right spot. We've rounded up some of Brisbane's most gorgeous vistas, lamplit walks and secluded night haunts for you and your date to keep the good times going. City skylines, river reflections, hilltop panoramas and illuminated parkland wanders — when it comes to aesthetic night-time experiences, the River City has it all. And if you want to snap some mementos of your romantic evening, the Samsung Galaxy S22 Series has a Nightography mode that'll capture those night lights perfectly. Don't let the beautiful nocturnal photo ops of this fine city go to waste. WHEEL OF BRISBANE Quite literally made for views, the Wheel of Brisbane can get you high enough (60 metres high, to be precise) for 360-degree panoramic vistas of the skyline. Since 2008, these floating gondolas have been raising tourists and locals alike into the air to see the city (and beyond) from a whole new angle. There's also an audio guide that narrates the history of everything you're looking at, from the Botanical Gardens just across the water to Mount Coot-tha in the distance. The wheel is a night-time photo op in itself, so don't forget to take a snap of the towering structure against the night sky when you get back to the bottom. KURILPA BRIDGE This was built as the world's largest hybrid tensegrity bridge. Don't know what that means? Don't worry — all you need to know is that it's one of Brisbane's pedestrian bridges that make this such a walkable city. Spanning from QAGOMA to the inner-north pocket of the CBD, this beautiful bridge gives you a view all the way down the curves of the river and the entire span of South Bank. Turn around, and on the other side you'll catch the William Jolly Bridge and the twinkling lights of the inner 'burbs. The Kurilpa Bridge is also one of Brisbane's more visually fascinating man-made structures (and worthy of a photo or two of its own) — especially when it's lit up in vibrant colours at night, its illuminated poles slashing the sky in a very aesthetic feat of engineering. MOUNT GRAVATT LOOKOUT This one almost goes without saying. Drive up to the highest point at Mt Gravatt Lookout Reserve — it's not even 20 minutes' drive from the CBD — and park near the lookout. Your reward? A soaring panoramic view of Brisbane, Moreton Bay and beyond, framed by native trees and bushland. Look out over the columns of city light glowing in the distance and the constellation of suburbs stretching out beneath the moon and stars and broad, sweeping sky. It's the perfect occasion to put that low-light Nightography to work. Surrounded by only the sounds of nature, with the rest of the world so far away, makes for a very, very romantic little sojourn. KANGAROO POINT CLIFFS Finished up your dinner date in the city? Take a ferry over to Kangaroo Point. Not only do you get all the fun of a nocturnal boat trip, you'll be treated to a view of the illuminated cliffs rising in the night as you approach the parkland. Wander along the green or beneath the craggy stone cliff faces, catch sight (or a crystal-clear snap) of night creatures scurrying through the park, walk out to the wooden jetty, or just sit together on a bench and look back on the towers of the city beneath the starry sky — and wonder whether now's the time to hold their hand. SOUTH BANK PARKLANDS If you've spent any time in Brisbane, you probably already know all about the views and night-time meanderings of South Bank. Maybe you've just been a daytripper to the precinct's sun-drenched bars and perfect picnic lawns. But there's a reason this is the spot for light shows and night markets. When you walk the parkland paths at night, it's an entirely different world. The noises of nocturnal creatures in the gardens, the perfume of the tropical plants, the twisting bougainvillea trellises, the city skyline reflected in the water, the wash of the great Brown Snake against the waterline and ferry jetties — even the towering blocks of QPAC have their own romance. The perfect spot, in other words, for a date-night stroll. NEW FARM RIVERWALK If you've finished your date at Howard Smith Wharves and you fancy a scenic diversion before hitting the bars of New Farm and the Valley, take a stroll along the New Farm Riverwalk. This raised, 870-metre-long walkway zigzags with the curves of the river and ends at Riverview Court — a decent there-and-back stretch that makes for a tranquil night-time wander. Make your way along the lamplit route and see the clifftop homes of New Farm nearby and the CBD vista behind as the gentle current of river laps beneath your feet, and take in the twinkling lights of the towering Story Bridge shedding its glow over the mangroves and dark waters below. HIGHGATE HILL PARK If you've been kicking it in West End all evening, you don't need to head to South Bank for views — just walk uphill. Highgate Hill Park is secluded and suburban, but offers a unique vantage point from 62 metres above sea level that provides clear, close-up vistas of the city below. As you take in the expansive views down to the river and the suburban sprawl beyond, this peaceful hilltop will seem like a world away. You're not likely to be bothered with crowds or foot traffic here, so the two of you can just relax in the gazebo or lie back on the grass on a warm summer's night and watch the stars come out. Make your nighttime epic again with a Samsung Galaxy S22 series device. For more info, head to the website.
After Melbourne's Mana Bar (the world's first ever video game cocktail bar) folded in August last year, it seemed the market for geek bars — not Timezones with bars attached, real D&D-encouraging nerd hubs — just wasn't there. Unlike successful models in Japan and the US, even the Aussie gaming community wasn't biting. But according to Gizmodo, Australian nerds are crying out for a space — and are about to get three new video game bars. "Lets face it... Most bars suck for people like us," says Melbourne's Power Up geek bar developer Edmund Mundlay. "We sit there with loud obnoxious music blaring in our ears while keeping a watchful eye on the bogans at the next table just hoping they don't start a fight. We want a bar for us. We want to build the hub of Melbourne's geek community." A motley crew of former Hobart EB employees and Melbourne hospitality workers have launched a Pozible campaign to raise $10,000 toward their dream bar, Power Up, “an open-source bar for geeks”. The group saw the closure of Melbourne's Mana Bar (and the alternate success of the Brisbane branch) as having more impact than people originally thought, seeing a hole in the market left by the venue's departure. Making a furious push to providing a safe, fun hub for geeks to socialise, the Power Up team realised gamers just wanted the main thing they're often accused of rejecting: a social life. "So many people would come and just hang out with us at EB, they just wanted to talk to like minded people," says Mundlay. "I wanted to build that home, a place where geeks and nerds citywide could just come and hangout, talk about games or anime, sci-fi or technology... With such a huge community of geeks, nerds, gamers and pop-culture fanatics doesn't it just make sense that there should be a centre for this community?" Punters will be encouraged to bring their weekly D&D meetings to the bar, participate in cosplay competitions and e-sports tournaments and make a whole bunch of buddies over beers and movie screenings. So what of the Mana Bar crew? The Melbourne alumni are currently working on a CBD geek bar to called BetaBar. This new space will hope to function as Melbourne's top spot for the indie game developer community to test out their newest adventures on the target market. Sydney geeks aren't left out either, Spawn Point Small Bar is currently getting ready to open on Clarence Street in the CBD. Choosing to set their sights a little wider than the hardcore gaming community, Spawn Point are hooking up retro consoles for Sydney nostalgics — we're talking NES, SNES, N64, PS1, PS2, MegaDrive and MasterSystem consoles. Furious Mario Kart and GoldenEye tournaments will inevitably ensue. The three bars will (hopefully) all open within the coming months, with one proviso to rule them all: No jocks, douchebags or teasing jerks. There's enough to deal with in Skyrim without dragons constantly roasting your backside. Via Gizmodo. Top image by Ben Andrews.
Mona has never shirked attention. Tasmania's Museum of Old and New Art has welcomed it, in fact, whether it's bringing in 80 tonnes of sand, is allowing music fans listen to the sole copy of Wu-Tang Clan's Once Upon a Time in Shaolin or is part of a TV show about potentially eating Australia's invasive animal species — and that's just in the past year. Also part of the venue's story over the past 12 months or so: the legal proceedings around Ladies Lounge, the feminist installation created by artist and curator Kirsha Kaechele, which was taken to court due to an anti-discrimination complaint. Two big developments impacted Ladies Lounge in 2024: first, in April, the Tasmanian Civil and Administrative Tribunal ruled that it must start letting men enter; then, a September decision by the state's Supreme Court upheld Mona's appeal, permitting it to reopen for women only to continue to make its statement about the lack of opportunity historically offered to ladies by such spaces. Kaechele did indeed relaunch the installation, but only briefly, while flagging that it could go on tour. So, after ending its run at its original home in January 2025, Ladies Lounge is now headed to the Gold Coast. Each year, the coastal Sunshine State spot turns over much of the city to Bleach*, its annual arts festival. This year, Ladies Lounge is on its lineup. This is the first time that it will pop up beyond Mona, and therefore also beyond Tasmania, with the Gold Coast's HOTA, Home of the Arts playing host to the feminist space. "Yes, some boys may be allowed in for domestic arts lessons and reparations," the fest advises. Bleach* 2025 runs from Thursday, July 31–Sunday, August 10, also covering music, opera, drama, food and more, all at festival hubs a HOTA, Kurrawa Park and Emerald Lakes. It has more big art names attached, too. Australian visual artist Michael Zavros is the festival's guest Artistic Director for the year, curating a program that spans 100-plus events. Among them, Patricia Piccinini's Skywhale and Skywhalepapa are on the lineup, and will float through the Gold Coast's skies. That's how Bleach* will kick off at sunrise on its first 2025 day. Among the festival's three world premieres of works created on the Gold Coast, plus five Queensland premieres and plenty of other must-sees, other highlights include opera, classical music and dancing horses taking over Kurrawa Beach; artist Jeff Koons getting chatting at an exclusive in-conversation event; and Selve's new album Breaking Into Heaven performed in full with lasers, Karul Projects dancers and the Australian Session Orchestra outdoors at HOTA. Or, there's also Drum As You Are, a family-friendly Nirvana tribute — one of the iconic band's albums is called Bleach, after all — that'll feature both professional and community drummers. Unsurprisingly given that he's steering this year's festival, you can also see Zavros' Drowned Mercedes, the sculpture that was first unveiled in Brisbane in 2023 and, yes, features a 1990s Mercedes-Benz SL convertible filled with water. Zavros is also taking part in life-drawing sessions, Melissa Spratt and Tal Fitzpatrick are teaming up to showcase how textiles can be comforting in public space, and Josh Cohen's Radiohead for Solo Piano II will be in the spotlight.
When your last festival screened 48 films to 168,000 people around Australia, what comes next? It's a problem many events wish they had, however, in their 28th year, the Alliance Française French Film Festival is on the case. With the massive celebration of Gallic cinema continuing to draw huge crowds, the beloved annual festival is offering up more of the same. The lineup has changed, of course, but the eclectic nature audiences have come to expect of the event is back. Kicking off on March 7 in Sydney before touring to Melbourne, Canberra, Perth, Brisbane, Adelaide, Hobart, Parramatta and Casula until April 9, the 2017 program begins and ends with a bang — or, with two very different journeys. In pole position at the start of the fest sits The Odyssey, an adventure-filled biopic focused on famous oceanographer Jacques Cousteau, and co-starring Audrey Tautou as Cousteau's wife Simone. Then, after running through the bulk of its 45-film selection, the fest comes to a close with maternal comedy A Bun in the Oven, featuring The Bélier Family's Karin Viard as an unexpectedly expectant 49-year old. In between, the AFFFF delivers on two fronts: stars and a vibrant array of big screen stories. There's plenty of both. The former includes 2017 Oscar-nominees Isabelle Huppert and Natalie Portman, with Huppert showing up twice — playing a woman with a secret past in the rom-com Souvenir, and a philosophy professor in Things to Come — and Portman joining forces with Lily-Rose Depp (yes, Johnny's daughter) in Planetarium. Depp also stars with French singer-actress Soko in The Dancer, while Marion Cotillard does double duty too in romance From the Land of the Moon and the Xavier Dolan-directed family drama It's Only the End of the World. Inglourious Basterds actress Mélanie Laurent co-directs environmental doco Tomorrow, the great Gérard Depardieu takes a road trip in Saint Amour, and one of the last roles played by Amour's Emmanuelle Riva, as an elderly aunt in Lost in Paris, also features. Elsewhere, the 2017 fest tells the tale of the first popular Afro-Cuban artist of the French stage in Monsieur Chocolate starring The Intouchables' Omar Sy opposite James Thierrée (aka Charlie Chaplin's grandson), examines the real-life circumstances surrounding a pregnant nun in The Innocents, dives into coming-of-age affections with Being 17 and gets ghostly with the haunting Daguerrotype. Or, viewers can catch Juliette Binoche at her most slapstick in farcical detective effort Slack Bay, and enjoy the kind of moral dilemmas the Dardenne brothers explore so well in The Unknown Girl. Looking back as well as forwards, a two-movie retrospective steps into the court of Versailles courtesy of the Marie Antoinette-centric Farewell, My Queen and music drama Mozart's Sister. Plus, if all of the above isn't enough for the most eager film buffs, dedicated cinephiles can take A Journey Through French Cinema for 191 minutes of movie history. The Alliance Française French Film Festival screens at Brisbane's Palace Barracks and Palace Centro from March 16 to April 9.
Brisbane, prepare to say ciao to Italian cinema throughout September and October, because the annual showcase of films from or about the European nation is back for another round. The Lavazza Italian Film Festival is back for its 17th year — and if the program is anything to go by, it's going to be another good one. Not only will the 2016 fest kick off with Italian box office hit Perfect Strangers and close with the digital restoration of the Audrey Hepburn-starring classic Roman Holiday, but it also boasts a world premiere. Local audiences will be the first on the planet to see the first-ever Australian-Italian feature co-production, The Space Between. Charting the intersection of an Italian ex-chef and a spirited Aussie in the scenic Friuli-Venezia Giulia region, it has been described as "a celebration of the Italian spirit of la dolce vita". All up, the program boasts 30 films. Because you probably won't have time to see them all, check out our list of the five must-see films of this year's Italian Film Festival. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8sYLibWZrRs THE SPACE BETWEEN The feature filmmaking debut of Melbourne director Ruth Borgobello, The Space Between marks the first ever co-production between Italy and Australia — and will fittingly make its world premiere at this year's Lavazza Italian Film Festival. A romantic drama, the film follows an ex-chef, Marco (Flavio Parenti) who falls for an Australian woman named Olivia (Maeve Dermody) after a chance encounter in the picturesque town of Udine in Northern Italy. Dermody and Borgobello are guests of the festival, and will take part in Q&A sessions following selection screenings in Sydney and Melbourne. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XBpVt7SiLVM FIORE Straight from the Directors' Fortnight section at the prestigious Cannes Film Festival back in May, the third feature effort from Claudio Giovannesi shapes up as one of the most intriguing titles in this year's IFF program. Fiore concerns a young woman, played by newcomer Daphne Scoccia, who must adjust to life in juvenile prison after being convicted of robbery. Giovannesi cast a number of non-professional actors, including several who had previously served time behind bars. The decision clear paid off, with the film — and Scoccia's performance in particular — scoring strong reviews from critics. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Tg9avYV3FPs ONE KISS Best known for penning the Tilda Swinton vehicle I Am Love, writer-director Ivan Cotroneo here adapts his own novel, about a trio of unlikely friends living in a small Italian town. High school students Blu, Lorenzo and Antonio might not have much in common, but their shared outsider status soon brings them together. A coming of age drama, One Kiss scored a gong for Best Screenwriting at Italy's annual film awards, and is described in the festival program as a story about "friendship, the limits of imagination, and the consequence of honesty". https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=t3al1PBx09A WHERE AM I GOING? The new comedy from Gennaro Nunziante broke box office records in Italy, to the point that it even gave Star Wars: The Force Awakens a serious run for its money. Where Am I Going? stars Luca Medici as Checco Zalone, a lazy, middle-aged bureaucrat willing to go to enormous lengths to keep his cushy government job and benefits package. A scathing critique of the Italian public service, the film also reportedly thumbs its nose of the concept of political correctness. Whether its sense of humour will be embraced by Australian audiences, we'll have to wait and see. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=twi3lQIDkiU ROMAN HOLIDAY Of course, we had to include at least one retro title on this list — and, honestly, who could look past this Audrey Hepburn classic? William Wyler's 1953 romantic comedy, one of the greatest and most iconic of all time, has recently undergone a brand new digital restoration, and will no doubt look amazing when it lights up the big screen on closing night. Join Hepburn and Gregory Peck on a Vespa ride around the Italian capital and fall in love with the city all over again. The Italian Film Festival will run from September 28 until October 19 at Brisbane's Palace Barracks. See the full program at italianfilmfestival.com.au.
It's goodbye (and really, good riddance) to the Mustang Bar; a new venue is soon to take its place in Brisbane's Fortitude Valley. After months of refurbishment, The Woolly Mammoth Alehouse will be opening at the end of September. The long wait has been worth it. Owner Lachlan Bird (also of West End's Lock 'n' Load) designed the bar in the hopes of creating the first contemporary beer hall in the Valley precinct. “We wanted to change the pace of the Valley, taking locals and varied visitors on a journey of quality craft beer, rustic food off-the-bone and some of the best entertainment in Brisbane,” Bird says. The Woolly Mammoth is divided into three separate areas: The Alehouse, Garden Bar and Mane Stage. The Alehouse is a legit beer hall — we're talking "grazing tables" for the hearty food that we both know you are going to chow down like a crazy person, and 31 (!) craft beer taps. Food will be served well into the night, saving you from having to go hunting for late-night munchies. The Garden Bar is quirky to say at the least. By quirky we mean there's a giant Jenga game and Astro-turf for indoor bocce. Because why the hell not? The Mane Stage is designed for live music and entertainment and will be decked out with state-of-the-art PA and production equipment. The Mane Stage will host comedy and burlesque as well as live music. The architect behind this creation is Alexander Lotersztain of Derlot Design, who was also behind Alfred & Constance. “In an effort to respect the original integrity of the building we have highlighted the existing exposed brick and cobblestone pillars coupled with a sleek design combining hard lumber and striking artwork,” he says. Just in time for Oktoberfest, The Woolly Mammoth will officially open its doors at the end of September at 633 Ann Street, Brisbane. The Mane Stage will get an earlier outing at this year's BIGSOUND festival (September 9-11), showcasing the festival's headlining acts, including Alison Wonderland, Safia, Indian Summer, Oisima, Sampology.
Next time you slather your hands with sanitiser, you could be covering them with your favourite booze as well. With alcohol a crucial ingredient in the now-essential product — especially sanitiser that's effective against COVID-19 — distilleries and breweries are doing their part to help boost supplies. To the delight of coffee liqueur lovers, that now includes Australia's much-loved Mr Black. While gin aficionados can splash their digits with Manly Spirits Co's gin-infused hand sanitiser and fans of distilled and fermented sugercane can disinfect with hand sanitiser from Queensland's Bundaberg and Beenleigh rum distilleries — and plenty of other boozy outfits are jumping on the trend, too — fans of caffeinated booze can look forward to freshening their fingers with their preferred tipple. Mr Black has whipped up its own sanitiser and is shipping it around the country. It's also donated a heap of bottles of its A-class sani to a bunch of charities, medical centres and COVID-19 testing clinics. You can grab a maximum of two 500 millilitre bottles, for $19.95 each, plus a $10 flat-rate national shipping fee. The hand sanitiser is made using a World Health Organisation recipe with 80 percent ethanol, and as bottles don't come with a pump they're designed to be used as refills. If you decide to invest in some actual coffee liqueur while you're on the site — the OG ($60), single-origin ($75) and amaro ($80) versions are all for sale, as is the most adorable 50-millilitre bottle ($5.99) — or some sweet merch, and spend over $100, you'll get free shipping. We think this hand sanitiser is going to sell out super fast, so head over to the website and order yourself a bottle quick smart if you're keen. Mr Black hand sanitiser is available for $19.95 per 500 millilitre bottle, maximum of two per person.
Maybe you're always on the hunt for new experiences. Perhaps you can't go past a meal with a view. You could be keen to indulge your adrenaline-junkie side any way that you can. Or, you just might want to see Brisbane from a different perspective. All of the above is on the menu at Vertigo, as is dinner. Sure, a great bite to eat should satisfy your tastebuds and your stomach; however, this one will also get your blood pumping and pulse racing. Serving sky-high diners Thursday–Sunday weekly, Vertigo is part of the River City's iconic Brisbane Powerhouse. The twist: it isn't just located on top of the riverside New Farm venue, but hangs off of the site's industrial facade. Forget just living on the edge — this is dining on the edge, and literally. Obviously, the views are spectacular. Given that patrons climb out to their seats while donning a safety harness, then eat four stories (and 17 metres) up, so are the thrills. An Australian-first vertical dining experience, Vertigo's levelled-up dinners welcome in tables of two to peer out over Brisbane. It comes with a big caveat, however, with the restaurant at the mercy of the weather. That'll certainly play a factor over Brissie's stormy summers, but the night's sitting will still go ahead if it's only lightly raining. Once you're seated, Brisbane Powerhouse's Bar Alto downstairs provides Vertigo's food across its eight tables — and each reservation's two-hour sitting — with the two-course menu featuring local ingredients to go with what's certain to become a local attraction. Unsurprisingly, a visit here doesn't come cheap, costing $250 per person. Another caveat: you can't head up if you've been drinking, with everyone breathalysed first and required to return a 0.00-percent blood alcohol reading. That said, while you need to be sober to climb over the edge, a matched glass of wine will be served with dinner. You'll also get a post-descent champagne, beer or soft drink. If you're not fond of heights, this won't be for you. But if you're fine with towering not just atop but over the side of an old power station-turned-arts precinct that dates back to the 1920s — whether you're a Brisbane local or a tourist — you'll be in for quite the unique experience. To make the evening even more dramatic, diners can also choose to come back to earth post-meal via dropline down the facade. Or, if that's too much adventure for you — especially after eating — you can just head back to the ground through the venue.
As first announced back in 2018, Melbourne's Australian Centre for the Moving Image will soon look rather different, with the screen culture-focused Federation Square site currently undergoing extensive $40 million renovations. When it reopens in 2021, visitors can expect revamped exhibition spaces, new immersive experiences and added interactive activations, including a permanent ode to Mad Max. Also part of the huge makeover: increasing the ways that everyone can engage with ACMI digitally, both when heading by in-person and from home. As revealed back in October, ACMI will usher in a heap of new ways for folks to interact with its exhibitions. That includes giving visitors a handheld device made out of compressed cardboard, which they'll be able to while they're wandering around the place — and when they go home as well. ACMI's fresh additions also span online exhibition space Gallery 5, which is up and running already, and its own video-on-demand service called Cinema 3. Of course, 2020 has already seen a very lengthy list of new streaming and VOD options hit the market, all competing for film and TV fans' eyeballs in a year that's seen us all spend more time on the couch — such as horror streamer Shudder, architecture and design-focused platform Shelter, short-form platform Quibi (which'll actually call it quits in December), female-focused service Femflix, and platforms from cinemas such as Palace and Golden Age, plus the team behind Sydney's Ritz and Melbourne's Lido, Classic and Cameo venues. Accordingly, ACMI joins a very busy space, but it's doing so with a tightly curated range of classics and new movies that's selected by its Director of Film Programs Kristy Matheson, and is updated fortnightly. Available since Thursday, November 19, Cinema 3 currently features a digital restoration of Claire Denis' 1999 standout Beau Travail, plus 2019's acclaimed Romanian flick The Whistlers — neither of which you can currently watch in Australian cinemas. In the classic camp, it has grouped a number of movies into themes. So, you can check out 'fine films for grown-up tastes' such as The Two Faces of January, Our Little Sister, The Deep Blue Sea and The Third Wife, or opt to delve into cinema history via Berberian Sound Studio, Be Natural: The Untold Story of Alice Guy-Blaché, Last Man in Aleppo and Parasite. Cinema 3 also presently features an Aussie-focused section as well, showing Noise, The Darkside, and documentaries Jill Billcock: Dancing the Invisible and Defiant Lives. The idea is that each area of the service acts as a shelf — for you to peruse and pick from at your leisure, depending on what piques your interest. Films are available on a pay-per-view rental basis, with the current titles ranging from $4.99 to $14. To check out ACMI's Cinema 3 video-on-demand service, head to the platform's website.
They're acting icons with four decades of work to their names. They also each played a part in the delightful Paddington movies — but in different films. We're talking about Nicole Kidman and Hugh Grant, who finally share the screen in six-part mini-series The Undoing. As married couple Grace and Jonathan Fraser, a renowned psychotherapist and a celebrated children's oncologist respectively, they seem to have the perfect New York City life. The drama's title tells you that change is coming, though. When a woman connected to the ultra-expensive school attended by their teenage son Henry (Noah Jupe) turns up dead, the Frasers' existence begins to unravel. Or, as Big Little Lies writer David E Kelley and The Night Manager director Susanne Bier make clear, perhaps it was already unfurling but Grace and Jonathan just didn't realise. Also starring Donald Sutherland as Grace's father and Edgar Ramirez as the police detective with many a suspicion about the Frasers, The Undoing serves up twist after twist as it investigates not only a crime and a marriage, but the lives of the wealthy and privileged.
One of the many casualties of last year's pandemic fallout was Melbourne Museum's much-anticipated Treasures of the Natural World exhibition, which is set to feature a monumental collection of rare, ancient and fascinating artefacts curated by London's iconic Natural History Museum. The blockbuster installation was originally slated to make its debut Down Under in May 2020, but was instead postponed as COVID-19 restrictions swept in. Now, the wait is almost over, with news of a new opening date — Saturday, June 12. Come winter, Melbourne Museum will finally play host to this Australia exclusive, showcasing more than 200 groundbreaking items that have each helped change the course of scientific history. The exhibition is once-in-a-lifetime stuff, packed full of artworks, specimens and other objects that give insight into the mysteries of the natural world, and also mark the biggest moments in human discovery. Visitors will have the chance to see the 400,000-year-old hand axe that was discovered next to the bones of a woolly mammoth, check out the 200 million-year-old Ichthyosaurus fossil that Mary Anning unearthed at the tender age of eleven (as mentioned in the recent film Ammonite), and even explore some of the pieces from Charles Darwin's personal collection that were seminal to informing his theory of evolution. Among its many stories, the exhibition also has a strong focus on sharing First Peoples' narratives from across the globe, taking an important deep dive into the histories and relationships that Indigenous people have with the natural world. London's Natural History Museum is one of the world's top five most visited museums, and is renowned as a global leader in the areas of taxonomy and biodiversity. This is your chance to get up close and personal with some of its coolest scientific finds — all without having to wait for those international borders to reopen. Tickets that were purchased for the original dates of the Treasures of the Natural World exhibition automatically remain valid for the new run — you'll just need to show them at the Museum's ticketing desk. Treasures of the Natural World will launch at Melbourne Museum, 11 Nicholson Street, Carlton, from Saturday, June 12. To find out more and grab tickets, check out the website. Images: Queen Alexandra's Birdwing Butterfly, the Latrobe Nugget and the Cursed-Amethyst — all via Trustees of the Natural History Museum, London.
After playing more than his fair share of stoners, Seth Rogen co-writes and lends his voice to a film that was probably thought up in a pot-toking, munchies-craving state. What if our food was sentient, aware of everything around it, and had feelings, thoughts, hopes and dreams? What if each edible item interacted with others, and their exchanges mimicked humanity's issues with sex, religion, race and class? That's the world Sausage Party brings to the cinema, from its opening sing-a-long to its climatic display of a very different kind of food porn. As far as Rogen and co-writers Evan Goldberg, Kyle Hunter and Ariel Shaffir are concerned, talking grocery products just want to get laid. Otherwise, they're generally happy conforming to cultural stereotypes and being kept in their place via a placating ideology. Turns out food isn't so different from the people who eat it. In case it's not clear, this film is for adults only, with directors Conrad Vernon and Greg Tiernan — best known for helming Madagascar 3 and episodes of Thomas & Friends, respectively — operating in much ruder, cruder territory than they're used to. A sausage by the name of Frank (Rogen) serves as the film's protagonist, whose primary goal in life is to consummate his relationship with his hot dog bun girlfriend Brenda (Kristen Wiig). As the Fourth of July approaches, they're both eager to leave the Shopwell's store they call home and move into the utopia of The Great Beyond. But things change after a jar of Honey Mustard (Danny McBride) returns from the supposed paradise outside, screaming that everything they thought they knew is a lie. Working his way around a shop also inhabited by a Jewish bagel (Edward Norton), an Arabic flatbread (David Krumholtz), an affectionate taco (Salma Hayek) and more, Frank sets out to discover the truth — all while an obnoxious, juiced-up douche (Nick Kroll) stalks the aisles. In waxing philosophical about the nature of belief systems, Sausage Party's premise proves surprisingly smart and thoughtful, with its characters forced to face the fact that their ultimate fate involves being eaten by the humans they consider gods. Unfortunately, the anti-Pixar flick also feels decidedly over-stuffed, bogged down by everything from endless food puns and hit-and-miss gags propped up by Scorsese-level swearing, to an over-reliance on bodily functions, drug use and pop-culture references to generate a laugh. Thankfully, a stacked cast of Rogen's male regulars, including Jonah Hill, Michael Cera, Paul Rudd and James Franco, helps keep Sausage Party bouncing merrily along. Everyone's clearly having fun spouting their inappropriate dialogue, even if their glee isn't always contagious. In that way, the film quickly becomes the movie equivalent of a tripped-out dinner party, one that boasts plenty of quality ingredients, but can't quite deliver a satisfying meal.
After two years of cancellations, Brisbane Showgrounds will give the city a big winter taste of normality come August. Yes, the Royal Queensland Show, aka the Ekka, is finally set to make a comeback after its 2020 and 2021 events were scrapped due to the pandemic. Get ready for rides, show bags, giant vegetables, cute animals and Brissie's favourite dessert: those coveted strawberry sundaes. If you're feeling a bit rusty about the Ekka after the event's hiatus, there's a reason that it comes with its own midweek public holiday. Brisbanites are set free from work to rush to the Royal Queensland Show, fill themselves up with fried and sugary goodness, then brave the rides and gaze at the fireworks. While this year's day off falls on Wednesday, August 10, the Ekka still runs for its usual nine days between Saturday, August 6–Sunday, August 14. That means plenty of time to enjoy sideshows, animal competitions, cooking demonstrations, live music and more — patting pigs, crashing dodgems, throwing balls in a clown's mouth for a prize and taking home all the Bertie Beetles you can eat all included. More than 400 different types of show bags will be up for grabs, ranging in price from $2–125 each, and the evening Ekka Nites lineup will provide live performances when the sun goes down. One big change for this year: you can only buy tickets online, and you have to nominate the day you'll be attending when you purchase. This helps the RNA manage capacity, for obvious reasons. [caption id="attachment_861552" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Rommel Carlos Photography[/caption]
The Icelandic Government ushered in the new year with a legal first when, on January 1, it became the first nation in the world to outlaw unequal pay for women. Any company or government agency that employs 25 people or more must prove their equal pay policies through government certification or face hefty fines. "[They] evaluate every job that's being done, and then they get a certification after they confirm the process if they are paying men and women equally," Dagny Osk Aradottir Pind, a board member of the Icelandic Women's Rights Association, told Aljazeera. Even before the passing of the law, which was announced on International Women's Day 2017, Iceland was ranked number one in the world for gender equality according to the World Economic Forum's Global Gender Gap Report 2017. (In case you're wondering, Australia came in at 35, while New Zealand took out 9th spot). Iceland's current leader, Katrin Jakobsdóttir, who was elected in November 2017, is the nation's second female Prime Minister — and since 2016, women have held 48% of parliamentary positions. "I think that now people are starting to realise that this is a systematic problem that we have to tackle with new methods," said Aradottir Pind. "Women have been talking about this for decades and I really feel that we have managed to raise awareness, and we have managed to get to the point that people realise that the legislation we have had in place is not working, and we need to do something more." The Icelandic Government is hopeful that the gender pay gap won't exist beyond 2020. Here's hoping other countries around the world start to follow their lead.
By this stage, there's every chance you've forgotten what a dance floor even looks like. But the folks at Untitled Group — the same minds behind Beyond the Valley, Pitch Music & Arts and Ability Fest — are here to get you reacquainted. They've just revealed a huge all-Aussie lineup for the 2021 edition of their live music series For The Love, which is headed to Perth, Melbourne and the Gold Coast in March and April. Across three dates, legendary acts including electronic duo Flight Facilities, dance floor darlings Cosmo's Midnight and Brisbane rapper Mallrat will help you dust off the cobwebs and rediscover that groove. The party kicks off at Perth's McCallum Park on Saturday, March 13, before heading to Birrarung Marr in Melbourne on Saturday, April 3. Doug Jennings Park on the Gold Coast plays host to the final event on Saturday, April 17. These three waterfront venues are set to be transformed into blissful dance destinations, heaving to live sounds from favourites like singer-songwriter Running Touch and brother-sister duo Lastlings, along with London Topaz, Boo Seeka, George Maple and Elizabeth Cambage. Punters will also have the opportunity to kick back in style in one of For The Love's VIP lounges, presented by Aussie streetwear label Nana Judy. If an evening spent cutting shapes by the water sounds like a much-needed addition to your calendar, you can now register for presale until 3pm on Wednesday, December 9. Presale tickets go on sale from 5pm that same day, with general public tickets up for grabs from noon on Thursday, December 10. For The Love 2021 hits Perth on March 13, Melbourne on April 3 and the Gold Coast on April 17. Head to the website to register for presale.
Exploring the sprawling, popular metropolises of Tokyo and Osaka undoubtedly makes for a great holiday, but your visit to Japan isn't complete until you escape the crowds and experience the countryside. The stunning vistas are the perfect antidote to the hectic buzz of the major cities, and give you the chance to explore sacred mountaintops, luminous lakes and soaring waterfalls. Located just a couple of hours north of Tokyo via shinkansen (bullet train), the region of Tohoku — which literally means 'northeast' — is an ideal escape for your next visit to Japan. It makes for a special destination all year round with some of the nation's most striking landscapes dotted throughout six prefectures: Aomori, Akita, Fukushima, Iwate, Miyagi and Yamagata. So, to provide you with some inspiration, we've picked out five unbeatable nature trails that won't have you missing the city anytime soon. GOSHIKI-NUMA It might come as a surprise to learn that a place as beautiful as Goshiki-numa can be just 100 years old. Also known as the Five Coloured Lakes, they sprung to life in 1888 when the nearby Mount Bandai erupted, spewing aluminium and silicon into the water and resulting in the clear, turquoise lakes that are a a major attraction for locals and tourists today. A four-kilometre path that links the lakes is a relaxing walk, with plenty of elevated viewing platforms to snap some great shots. There's also the chance to rent a rowboat and live our your Studio Ghibli dreams as you push across Bishamon-numa, the largest of the lakes on offer. LAKE INAWASHIRO In the shadow of Mount Bandai, Lake Inawashiro is another picturesque spot that offers visitors some incredible outdoorsy opportunities. Throughout the warmer months of the year, the lake is a popular spot for locals to carve up the water on a jet ski, while winter brings a raft of snow sports enthusiasts out of the woodwork. If the weather's nice and clear, take the 3.6-kilometre path on the north side of the lake for some of the best views of Mount Bandai. And, once you've taken a dip in the pristine waters and dried off on the sandy lake beach, your next stop has to be the nearby Morohashi Museum of Modern Art. It has the third largest collection of Salvador Dali artworks in the world, with around 330 of his pieces on display. TATSUZAWA FUDO FALLS As you explore Tohoku, you'll quickly realise that the region is home to many of Japan's most epic waterfalls. Located deep in the forests east of Lake Inawashiro, the Tatsuzawa Fudo Falls provide a tranquil pit stop during your trip. The short walk to the falls is surrounded by steep hillsides with trees clinging to the side, and, as you make your way to the end of the trail, you'll be welcomed by a free-flowing stream coming over the rocks from high above. These hidden falls are particularly special to visit during the warmer months, as the thick treetops provide a great escape from the humidity of the countryside. MOUNT HAGURO Considered one of the most sacred mountains in the region, Mount Haguro is one of the must-do hikes in Tohoku. The walk starts at the Zuishinmon Gate — from there, you'll delve into this ancient forest of cedar trees and climb up 2446 stone steps that have been designated a Japanese national treasure. Along the serene two-kilometre path that winds its way through the forest, there are some fascinating sights to explore. But the Five-Storey Pagoda is certainly the most impressive. Constructed in the iconic Kokerabuki-style over 600 years ago, it's especially notable due to its earthquake-proof design, which features an ingenious wooden pendulum that counterbalances the structure as it sways. [caption id="attachment_751830" align="alignnone" width="1920"] ChiefHira via Wikimedia Commons[/caption] MOUNT GASSAN For more than a thousand years, pilgrims have climbed to Mt. Gassan's 1984-metre summit. The tallest of the Dewa Sanzan, Yamagata's three sacred mountains, it's not uncommon to catch the Yamabushi mountain monks scaling its hillsides to this day. While Gassan might be the toughest climb in the region, it's well worth the effort once you witness the views from the top. While there are loads of ways to get to the peak, the four most popular routes range from nine to 15 kilometres, making for a very achieveable sunny day out on the mountainside. Note that it's only opened from July to September due to the weather. Need more reasons to visit Japan's stunning Tohoku region? For more travel inspiration and to start planning your adventure, head this way.
Blue Bayou isn't Justin Chon's first film as an actor, writer, director or producer, but it's a fantastic showcase for his many talents nonetheless. It's also a deeply moving feature about a topical subject: America's immigration laws, which are complicated at best and draconian at worst. Worlds away from his time in all five Twilight flicks — because Kristen Stewart, Robert Pattinson and Anna Kendrick aren't the franchise's only breakout stars — Chon plays Antonio LeBlanc. While the Korean American tattoo artist has lived in Louisiana since being adopted as child, the name he was given upon his arrival in the US still sparks cognitive dissonance, as the job interview that opens the movie illustrates. It also doesn't stop both the casual and overt racism frequently directed his way, or the deportation proceedings that spring after he's accosted in a supermarket by New Orleans police officers. Helming and scripting as well as starring, Chon layers Antonio's situation with complexity from the outset. He's getting by, just, but his criminal record makes it difficult to secure more work — which he needs given his wife Kathy (Alicia Vikander, The Green Knight) is pregnant. He's a doting stepdad to her daughter Jessie (Sydney Kowalske, Doom Patrol), but her birth father Ace (Mark O'Brien, Marriage Story) is one of those aforementioned cops. Also, Ace has a bigoted partner, Denny (Emory Cohen, Flashback), who makes antagonising Antonio his daily mission. And, after that grocery store run-in, the latter discovers that his adoptive parents didn't ever complete the paperwork required to naturalise him as a US citizen. His life, his wife, his kids, that he has no ties to Korea: sadly, it all means nothing to the immigration system. Based on the plot description, it'd be simple to accuse Blue Bayou of throwing too much at its protagonist, dialling up his hardships and wallowing in his misery, all to tug at heartstrings. The film inspires a strong emotional reaction; however, this isn't just a case of calculating narrative machinations manipulating viewers to feel everything — or even something. There's a sense of inevitability to Chon's feature, his fourth after Man Up, Gook and Ms Purple, and it's all by design. The path that Antonio's life is forced down isn't surprising, complete with tough truths and heartbreaking realities, but it's filled with authenticity. Piling on misfortune after misfortune isn't merely a ploy when all of Blue Bayou's dramas can easily accumulate as they do here, and when no one's struggles are ever limited to just one or two troubles. There's no contrivance in sight, but rather a firm understanding of snowballing sorrows and their overwhelming impact. Still, Chon walks a delicate tightrope. He could've veered into tear-wringing movie of the week-style melodrama, clogged it up with cliches and failed to evoke even a single genuine feeling — or, alternatively, he could've deployed too much restraint and crafted a clinical, procedural film that saw Antonio as a mere cog in a system. The space he's carved out in-between is both masterful and organically messy; finding the right balance is a mammoth task, and embracing the whirlwind that sweeps along Antonio, Kathy and Jessie is inherently chaotic. The result is a stirring and empathetic film that's also precise and intricate, especially when it comes to the emotional deluge weathered by its central trio. At every turn, Blue Bayou plunges viewers into their turbulent existence, sees their plight with clear eyes and acknowledges all that that encompasses. That's true not just in the story's ups and downs, but in every shimmering sight lensed by cinematographers Ante Cheng (Death of Nintendo) and Matthew Chuang (My First Summer). Blue Bayou looks both gritty and romantic at once, finding the immensely tricky midpoint between staying in the moment with all its bleak developments, and also savouring the details, including the small joys and wins, as one does when recalling memories. The movie's urgent, bustling pacing falls into the first category as well, while the second camp spans a fondness not just for water and water lilies — its most heavy-handed piece of symbolism — but also for lingering close-ups of Chon, Kowalske and Vikander. The time spent with Chon and Kowalske alone is revelatory, in fact, soaking in their bond as if it's the most meaningful thing in the world. There's an openness and genuineness to these scenes — an in-the-moment earnestness — that marks Blue Bayou at its finest. The whole film takes the same approach as it shows not only what Antonio is battling against, but what he's fighting to retain; however, these tiny slivers of connection are its crowning glories. Chon is terrific on-screen and -off throughout, but he's exceptionally sincere and full-hearted when he's lapping up oh-so-fleeting seconds with scene-stealer Kowalske. That said, he brings the same resonance to Antonio's well-intentioned but self-destructive choices, especially in the film's midsection. His rapport with the also-excellent Vikander resounds with the kind of hard-fought love that's learned to survive and thrive against the odds, too. Visually, thematically and thanks to potent performances, Blue Bayou would make a stellar double with Monsoon — another big-hearted yet small-in-scale gem that's also about immigration, identity and the interpersonal flotsam that washes up when the pair collide. Scenes where Antonio befriends Vietnamese refugee Parker (Linh-Dan Pham, Mytho), who has similarly lived in the US since childhood and invites him to her family gatherings, particularly bind the two films. They're different in a plethora of ways but, crucially, both pictures recognise the importance of atmosphere in conveying an emotional state, putting audiences in the thick of it with their characters, and peering into minds and hearts. That's where Blue Bayou echoes, whether or not it's playing the Roy Orbison-penned song that gives it its name. This is a movie about migration, discrimination, resilience and endurance in an uncaring world, and about oppressive bureaucracies, engrained prejudice and a supposed land of the free that rarely lives up to that ideal, but it's always a film about people first and foremost.
This time last year, everyone was watching one thing — and talking about it too. Now, twelve months since Netflix's '80s-set sci-fi/horror series Stranger Things became everyone's favourite new show, the streaming platform has released the full-length trailer for its second season. In the words of Hawkins police chief Jim Hopper (David Harbour), "nothing is going to go back to the way it was." Managing to dose up on even more nostalgia and find a clever way to work the ultimate '80s horror-themed track into the mix — yes, we're talking about Michael Jackson's 'Thriller', complete with Vincent Price's iconic voiceover — the trailer shows that the Upside Down isn't done with this band of bike-riding kids yet. Will Byers (Noah Schnapp) can't stop seeing all things creepy, everyone is definitely on edge, and Eleven (Millie Bobby Brown) is reaching out to find her way home. Throw in some '80s arcade games, the expected unsettling vibe, that instant-classic theme tune and Winona Ryder, of course, and the scene is set for quite the second run. The trailer premiered as part of San Diego Comic Con's current explosion of pop culture, with the full series due to drop on Netflix on October 27 — just in time for Halloween, naturally. Watch it and try not to get goosebumps.
Following yesterday's indefinite, effective ban on all international travel, in a bid to slow the spread of COVID-19 across Australia, Qantas and Jetstar have announced they will suspend all scheduled international flights from late March until the end of May 2020. As a result, the airlines will temporarily step down two-thirds of their 30,000-person staff until at least the end of May. In a statement, the Qantas Group says the decision was made "in order to preserve as many jobs as possible longer term". Employees will be able to draw on "annual and long service leave" and additional support will be introduced, including leave at half pay and early access to long service leave. Qantas says it is also talking to Woolworths about temporary jobs for its stood-down staff. The decision comes after Qantas and Jetstar earlier this week announced they'd be cutting back international flights by 90 percent and domestic flights by 60 percent. For now, domestic flights will continue running at a 40 percent capacity, with Prime Minister Scott Morrison saying "domestic air travel is low risk". We could see domestic flights cut further in the near future, however, with Tasmanian Premier Peter Gutwein this morning announcing that from midnight this Friday, March 20 only essential travellers will be allowed into Tasmania without quarantine. Non-essential travellers, including Tasmanian residents returning to the island from mainland Australia, will be required to self-isolate for 14 days. Essential travellers include health care workers, emergency workers, defence personnel and air and ship crew. These measures are similar to those currently in place for international travellers arriving into Australia, which mandates compulsory 14-day isolation periods for everyone arriving from overseas. Virgin Australia will also suspend all international flights from March 30, and will cut domestic flights by 50 percent, too. For further details about Qantas and Jetstar's plans, visit the company's website. For more information about Virgin Australia's reductions, visit its website. To find out more about the status of COVID-19 in Australia and how to protect yourself, head to the Australian Government Department of Health's website.
Since its founding in 1989, the story of Bangarra Dance Theatre has been the story of First Nations culture and tales leaping, spinning, swirling and twirling across the stage via some of the best dance works that Australia has ever produced. Sometimes, including in the films Spear and Firestarter — The Story of Bangarra, those stories and that unparalleled artistry has also swayed across the screen. Wherever Bangarra's talents have spread, the end results have always proven a must-see. In the organisation's 35-year history so far, however, it hasn't ever put together a show like Horizon before. Playing the QPAC Playhouse in Meanjin from Thursday, August 8–Saturday, August 17, this is the iconic Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander performing arts company's first mainstage cross-cultural collaboration, expanding its focus to include tales from across Oceania. Joining forces: Māori choreographer and Arts Laureate Moss Te Ururangi Patterson, a veteran of Atamira Dance Company who is now the Chief Executive and Artistic Director at The New Zealand Dance Company; and Deborah Brown, a Helpmann Award-winning senior Bangarra dancer for 13 years with Torres Strait and Scottish heritage. In a production that takes its name to heart by pondering the space where the sky and sea meet, Patterson and Brown's The Light Inside pays tribute to the duo's respective countries while musing on what it means when we peer at the horizon looking for guidance and the way home. Beforehand, audiences are also treated to Sani Townson's Kulka, with an expanded form from its 2023 debut at Dance Clan opening Horizon. Images: Daniel Boud.
Question: When is a German restaurant more than just a German restaurant? Answer: When it's named Heisenberg Haus and takes inspiration from a celebrated television show. Breaking Bad fans will know what we're talking about. Yep, the proprietors of Ipswich's first German eatery have embraced both aspects of their moniker — that is, its country of origin and the alter ego of school science teacher-turned-drug kingpin Walter White. It's a stroke of pop culture genius, and the perfect way to shout out to a beloved TV series without distancing the three people on the planet who still haven't gotten around to watching it. While traditional German cuisine — think classics like chicken schnitzel, pork knuckle and apple strudel — is the main attraction, references to Breaking Bad aren't hard to spot. No, you're not going to find Los Pollos Hermanos fried chicken here (though Gustavo Fring's fast food joint still could become a reality). Instead, as well as the type of subtle decorative flourishes that are best discovered for yourself, you'll find a whole host of themed cocktails. They include tasty German beer tipples, such as the Fruity Marie and the Badger and Skinny Pete, as well we the more classic kind of concoctions. Who can pass up the chance to knock back a Walt's All-Nighter Espresso Martini, the G&T twist that is the Strawberry Pinkman, or a the creamy chocolate goodness of the Goodnight Hank? And then there's the well-named combo of vodka, blue curacao, pineapple and pop rocks that is the Blue Crystal Surprise. Now that's sure to give you a buzz. Find Heisenberg Haus at 164 Brisbane Street, Ipswich, or visit their Facebook page for more information.
The Gin Club, Evil Eddie, Powderfinger's Ian Haug - these are names you most likely know. But one name you mightn't know, but should, is that of Danny Widdicombe. Most musicians tour and write songs while they have a clean bill of health, but unbeknownst to Danny, leukaemia was wreaking havoc on his body while he was away doing gigs in Berlin. His health may have been as its lowest but his spirit and drive to complete his latest, and possibly last, album never faltered. In a completely courageous act, Danny started to compile 'Find Someone' while he underwent chemotherapy, and was helped by some of Australia's best songwriters and musicians. What a great way to take your mind off grueling cancer treatment by focusing your mind on something wonderful and heartfelt. This Friday The Zoo is specially hosting a benefit concert in honour and support of Danny Widdicombe's amazing plight and story. The Gin Club will be headlining the night, and will be joined by Evil Eddie, The Wilson Pickers, Guy Webster, Tylea, with video performances as well as a head shaving event, all MC'd by Ian Haug. If you need any reason to come and support an amazing man, let it be because 'Find Someone' is actually a quality record and there's some fantastic bands supporting this worthy cause.
Taking control of a party iPod without permission is one of the biggest breaches of trusts known to man. Unless you're going to put on some vintage All Saints or Go West, the simple rule is, stay away from the speakers. Though, if there's one band in Brisbane we might trust to do the ol' iPod switcheroo, it's Screamfeeder — they know what's best to dance to, and they've been proving it for years. Now, in conjunction with new Brisbane music venue The Triffid, these iconic grunge rockers are throwing a G20 public holiday party for the ages. Kicking off at 4pm this Friday, Dance to Guitars will feature local bands such as Babaganouj, Sounds like Sunset, Tape/Off, The Cathars, and of course Screamfeeder. If you're drawing a blank on that name, they're one of Brisbane's most iconic grunge bands who've been compared to The Who, The Jam and Huska Ru. They've even toured with Sonic Youth, Rollins Band and Pavement. Take advantage of the public holiday, and have a well deserved dance! Grab your tickets here.
While Christmas is undoubtedly one of the best holidays of the year for most, pulling off said celebration ain’t the easiest of tasks. You’ve done the presents, sent the cards, but this year there’s 15 coming over, two are vegetarian and uncle James is big into wine. Like crazy big. The Solution? WineMarket has made playing sommelier easier than convincing yourself to pop the champers at 11am on Christmas morning, with a wide range of drops to match any menu and suit even the fussiest sniff and swillers. TURKEY:EVANS & TATE CLASSIC SEMILLON SAUVIGNON BLANC Leaving aside the vegetarians for a moment, ain't no one going to say no to some turkey. Similarly, a semillon sauvignon blanc blend is a people-pleaser. The perfect middle ground between semillon structure and weight, and the herbal, punchy fruit highlights of Sav Blanc, it's perfect with white meat and lighter condiments. Try the take on it from Margaret River's Evans & Tate. $150 for a case from www.winemarket.com.au. BBQ PRAWNS: TEMPUS TWO PROSECCO Nothing complements a juicy, flame-grilled prawn or yabby off the barbie like a glass of something cold and sparkling. Prosecco is your go-to here. Try the cool-climate, lemon-zesty Adelaide Hills Tempus Two variety to match seafood. Oh, and don’t forget this fresh and clean Italian-style bubbly makes the ideal pre-dinner tipple, so be sure to stock up. $89.94 for a six-pack from www.winemarket.com.au. CHRISTMAS HAM: BLEASDALE SPARKLING SHIRAZ Unless, of course, you’re super into pork, that hunk of scrumptious piggy steaming on the table usually only comes out once a year. So why not go with the flow and crack open a bottle of sparkling shiraz to give it that extra special-occasion kick? Aussie legends Bleasdale have a great sparkling shiraz (their drops regularly score 90+ points), but it’s not exactly surprising seeing as they’re Australia’s second oldest wine growing family. $135 for a six-pack from www.winemarket.com.au. TURDUCKEN: ALEXIA BY JANE COOPER PINOT NOIR A hybrid of turkey, duck and chicken, this big meaty beast is probably best suited to a slightly lighter bodied red (especially on a hot summer’s day). Jane Cooper's 'Alexia' Pinot Noir will suit game meats with its earthy, dark cherry flavours, plus a dozen of these babies comes in at just $11 a bottle. $132 for a case from www.winemarket.com.au VEGAN TURDUCKEN: GEMTREE GREEN JADE ORGANIC CHARDONNAY Anyone going for a vegetarian or vegan roast (yes, it’s a thing) should think about a chardonnay. We know this poor ol’ drop somewhat went out of fashion, but the pesticide-free, medium-bodied dry Gemtree Green Jade Organic Chardonnay, with a whole bunch of pure fruit flavours sans oak, will add delicious textures to the vego’s delight on your plate. $99 for a case from www.winemarket.com.au. POTATO SALAD: BALLAST POINT 'BIG EYE' INDIA PALE ALE Of course, sides shouldn’t be forgotten, and neither should beer. In the hotter months you’re gonna want something bitter and hoppy (and cold, obvs), and a frosty Ballest Point 'Big Eye' India pale ale has your name, and those creamy carbs, written all over it. $79.99 for a case from www.winemarket.com.au.
For six years and four seasons on Westworld so far, viewers have been asked to ponder humanity's potential future with robots and simulations. A key question driving the hit film-to-TV HBO series: how might the years to come unfurl if people use mechanics, artificial intelligence and elaborately fabricated worlds as playthings and playgrounds? In new streaming series The Peripheral, a similar query arises, also musing and hypothesising on what lies ahead — and how flesh, machines, the real and the digital might coexist. The latest question, in another twisty series, as fronted by Chloë Grace Moretz (Mother/Android)? What happens if robots and virtual reality become humanity's conduit through time? (Apologies, DeLoreans and phone booths.) Bringing Westworld to the small screen and now executive producing The Peripheral, Jonathan Nolan and Lisa Joy clearly have a niche. If you didn't know that the latter series comes to Prime Video via the same minds as the former — adapting a 2014 book of the same name by cyberpunk pioneer William Gibson, and with Scott B Smith (The Burnt Orange Heresy, A Simple Plan) as its showrunner — you'd easily guess. The pair don't just share comparable concepts, but also a near-matching look and feel. The two play like tech-, robot-, avatar- and dystopia-obsessed siblings prophesising about humanity's possible decisions and their repercussions, plus everything that the world of tomorrow might herald and mean, all in sleek, shiny, chilly and moody episodic packaging. (Staying in this terrain isn't new for the husband-and-wife duo either, with 2021 film Reminiscence also on their resumes. Joy wrote, directed and produced the Hugh Jackman-starring feature, while Nolan also did the latter. Its focus: reliving memories, and reuniting with the people in them, in another gadgetry-enhanced but devastated future.) When storytellers speculate on what the upcoming years might hold, they theorise about choices and ramifications. The Peripheral has many to ruminate upon. When it begins, 3D print shop worker Flynne Fisher (Moretz) simply decides to assist her military-veteran brother Burton (Jack Reynor, Midsommar) by slipping into his avatar to make cash in a VR game — which she's better at than him, but sexism in the industry still reigns supreme. Then, when he's tasked by a Colombian company with testing a new virtual-reality headset that looks lower-tech, doesn't come with a glasses-like screen but exceeds the competition in its realism, she does the honours again. Flynne hasn't just plugged into a better simulation, though. Via data transfer, her consciousness is time-travelling to the future and inhabiting a robot body (which is what gives the series its title). Get ready for two visions of the future for the price of one, both riffing on aspects of life circa 2022 that could easily evolve as predicted. In Flynne's daily reality, the year is 2032, the place is small-town North Carolina and almost everyone is struggling, so much so that cash bank withdrawals earn Homeland Security's attention. The vibe is straight out of Winter's Bone, complete with a shady figure, aka local drug kingpin Corbell Pickett (Louis Herthum, Hacks), throwing his weight around. Flynne and Burton's mother (Melinda Page Hamilton, Dirty John) has lost her sight and suffers from constant pain, while Burton has his own (and PTSD) courtesy of his stint in uniform. Accordingly, sourcing funds to buy meds is a daily worry — and a problem that donning a headset is meant to fix. But The Peripheral asks another question, unpacking class divides and the technology gaps they bring: is hurtling into the future really a choice when it's a matter of financial survival? The Peripheral contemplates such existential and societal queries — sometimes overtly, sometimes as subtext — as all science fiction should. That said, it also revels in as much sci-fi detail as it can, especially regarding Flynne's leaps onwards. There, it's 2099, in a London littered with new towering sculptures that double as buildings and yet also home to far emptier on the streets. The no-nonsense Aelita West (Charlotte Riley, Swimming with Men) is initially Flynne's guide, until the furtive, James Bond-esque industrial-espionage quest they're on ends badly, and with Flynne seeing something she shouldn't. Next, Wilf Netherton (Gary Carr, The Deuce) runs point, as funded by the wealthy Lev Zubov (JJ Feild, Lost in Space) — and finding the now-missing Aelita and remaining alive in both timelines are the new aims. There's no shortage of plot: as well as time travel, VR, simulations, robots and secret quests, The Peripheral spans apocalyptic conditions, invisible cars, woodland shootouts, contract killers, conspiracies defying the bounds of time, medical chaos, unrequited romance, lottery wins and multiple turf wars. At its heart, it's also still a tale of a family trying to survive in a world crumbling around them, no matter what the future does or doesn't hold. And, the series is a puzzle and a maze, traits it eagerly relishes across its first six episodes. The questions and twists keep dropping, alongside revelations that inspire more enquiries rather than provide answers. Getting lured in happens quickly, although Prime Video is doling out the pieces patiently — starting with two episodes, then releasing future instalments weekly. The more that The Peripheral goes on, the more its Westworld comparisons gain company, with Mary Shelley's Frankenstein, Tron, The Matrix franchise and Netflix's German-language gem Dark also proving influential. The series also unravels a noir-ish action detective story, asking not only whodunnit several times, but wondering when in time they hailed from like a period-hopping version of Cluedo. The layers of mystery helps keep viewers hooked — albeit with overt and forceful cliffhangers to end each episode — but The Peripheral doesn't slouch elsewhere. That includes its scheming villain, with Years and Years and The Haunting of Bly Manor's T'Nia Miller a devilish delight as the string-pulling Cherise Nuland, the head of the sinister Research Institute and a gloriously scenery-chewing nemesis for Flynne and company. 2022 marks 27 years since another Gibson adaptation spun a story about virtual data, the commodification of humans to service it, the power and control that comes with it, and the people and companies that'd kill for it all. Unlike Westworld and the rest of the aforementioned obvious touchpoints, bland Keanu Reeves movie Johnny Mnemonic mightn't come to mind while watching The Peripheral, though, apart from the shared overuse of tech jargon. What should stick here instead is a series filled with intrigue and ambition, vivid world-building and engaging performances, including from a particularly stellar Moretz. Plugging in is easy — as is staying connected. Check out the trailer for The Peripheral below: The Peripheral streams via Prime Video.
When late October rolls around in Australia, Monopoly will no longer just be a game: it'll be a theme park as well. Already open in Hong Kong, Monopoly Dreams is heading Down Under, setting up its second Monopoly attraction in Melbourne Central. On the agenda: feeling like you've just stepped into the board game IRL in a 1700-square-metre space filled with all things Monopoly. Expect to hear the word Monopoly a whole lot — right now while reading about this news, and in general at this Monopoly haven. Monopoly Dreams launching in the Victorian capital isn't a new development, but the official opening date is. If you're keen, mark Saturday, October 21 in your diary. Also, you can start buying tickets now, too. It's the game that's caused many a childhood dispute, and plenty more between adults as well. Thanks to its ever-growing range of themed versions, it has let players buy everything from Game of Thrones' King's Landing to AFC Richmond's Nelson Road Stadium from Ted Lasso. And, it's now going the IRL bricks-and-mortar route on Melbourne Central's lower ground level. If you're wondering what a Monopoly theme park entails, that's hardly surprising — and the answer isn't just a life-sized version of the game that everyone has played more than once. Rather, the venue is taking a chance on bringing Monopoly elements beyond the board, building a Monopoly city that includes water works, the electric company, the bank and Mr Monopoly's mansion. And yes, there's a jail. Presumably you don't go directly there upon entering, but you can get your mugshot taken within its walls. When you walk through the doors, you'll also find carnival games. It wouldn't be a theme park based on a board game if playing games wasn't a big part of the attraction, of course. Expect challenges as well — and, in the mansion, there'll also be a vault and gallery, alongside a 4D cinema screening a movie about Mr Monopoly and his dog Scottie touring Melbourne locations — plus the opportunity to create your own customised Monopoly title deed. [caption id="attachment_918250" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Tony Gough[/caption] For bites to eat, patrons can hit up the Monopoly cafe. And if all this Monopoly talk has you wanting to play Monopoly or buy Monopoly merchandise, Monopoly Dreams will also feature Australia's first and only dedicated Monopoly store. Catering for audiences of all ages — so, you'll have kids for company, but it's open for adults without children in tow — Monopoly Dreams will take visitors around 60–90 minutes to enjoy the full experience. "Our team has worked tirelessly to create an immersive experience that captures the essence of Monopoly and transports guests into a magical world of excitement and imagination," said Monopoly Dreams General Manager Mark Connolly. "We are thrilled to announce that tickets are now available, giving fans the opportunity to be a part of this extraordinary adventure." Monopoly Dreams will open on Saturday, October 21 at Melbourne Central, Lonsdale Street, Melbourne. Head to the venue's website for tickets and further details. Top image: Tony Gough.
Nothing about 2020 has played out as anyone expected at this time last year. But with summer, the festive season and the end of this tumultuous 12 months fast approaching, life in Queensland is slowly easing back to pre-COVID-19 normality — with the state revealing that it will further relax a number of its restrictions from 4pm on Tuesday, November 17. As announced by Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk yesterday, Friday, November 13, Queensland will change a heap of caps and limits on everyday activities mid-month. The eased restrictions cover everything from gathering at home and grabbing a beer at the pub to going to the movies and to watch live sport — and dancing as well. With almost 11 months of 2020 almost behind us, Queenslanders have cycled through quite a number of different at-home gathering restrictions this year — including lockdowns, a roadmap outlined in May that slowly started easing limits, the reintroduction of strict caps in August when cases started rising again and the unveiling of a second roadmap earlier in October. At present, Queenslanders can gather at home in groups of 40, which has been the case for the past month. That's increasing to groups of 50 — which was due to happen on Tuesday, December 1, but has been brought forward to Tuesday, November 17. Gatherings in public spaces will also increase to 50 on the same date, and a bunch of rules about specific places are also easing. Outdoor events with COVID-Safe checklists will be able to host 1500 attendees, up from 1000, which was also previously flagged. Openair stadiums will now be able to fill to 100-percent capacity, up from 75 percent, just in time for the third State of Origin match. And dancing will be permitted outdoors at music festivals and in beer gardens, and at weddings (but otherwise, the state will still resemble Footloose, just without Kevin Bacon). In the hospitality industry, big changes are coming, too — with all indoor premises able to move to one-person-per-two-square-metres capacity limits. That applies to restaurants, cafes, bars, pubs and clubs, as well as to entertainment venues such as museums, art galleries and convention centres. At seated and ticketed events within indoor entertainment venues, capacity limits will fall in line with openair stadiums — so cinemas, theatres and seated live music gigs be able to sell 100-percent of tickets. Queensland's Chief Health Officer Dr Jeannette Young recommends that folks wear masks on their way to and from the venues, and to and from their seats, however. https://twitter.com/AnnastaciaMP/status/1327078426457509888 As always, the usual rules regarding hygiene, social distancing and getting tested if you display any possible COVID-19 symptoms all still apply as restrictions keep easing. Announcing the current changes, Premier Palaszczuk noted that "this is the result of the hard work of Queenslanders. Other countries are experiencing third waves with increasing numbers of daily cases. Queenslanders are able to enjoy our Queensland way of life and we have to keep up the good work". For more information about southeast Queensland's COVID-19 gathering restrictions, or about the status of COVID-19 in the state, visit the Qld COVID-19 hub and the Queensland Health website.
There are many, many excellent and very familiar things to do in New South Wales — from climbing the Sydney Harbour Bridge to watching the sunset from the Cape Byron Lighthouse. But there are loads of other, more unusual possibilities, too. And some of them might never have crossed your mind. How about snorkelling with fur seals in the wild? Riding a camel along a beach? Crawling through an 1880s mine shaft? Get ready to throw out your old adventure playbook and re-write it. Here are seven things you didn't know you could do in Australia's most populated state. RIDE A CAMEL ON THE BEACH You might be aware that Australia has the biggest herd of wild camels in the world — there are over one million roaming around out there. But, did you know that, in New South Wales, you can ride one of the mighty humped beasts with waves crashing at your feet? This wondrous adventure is less than three hours away from Sydney. In Port Stephens, Oakfield Ranch leads camel rides along sweeping Stockton Beach. Should you be contemplating further escapades in the area, check out our weekender's guide to the area. SAND BOARD THE BIGGEST MOVING SAND DUNES IN THE SOUTHERN HEMISPHERE Just behind Stockton Beach are the Stockton Sand Dunes, the biggest moving sand dunes in the Southern Hemisphere. Once you're immersed, you'll feel as though you're in some far-off desert. That's one of the reasons why the first Mad Max film was shot here. Hands-down, the most fun way to experience them is with a sand board under your arm. After climbing your way to the top, slide back down head first (or, if your balance is good, standing) at epic speeds. You'll need to book with a local operator — or, to avoid enormous tour groups, go with the small, family-owned Sand Dune Safaris. SNORKEL WITH FUR SEALS IN THE WILD Around five hours south of Sydney is the coastal town of Narooma and, nine kilometres offshore, lies Barunguba (otherwise known as Montague Island). This pristine nature reserve is home to around 90 bird species, 12,000 little penguins and the biggest fur seal colony in New South Wales, which attracts 2500 seasonal residents — some of which you can snorkel with. Several tour operators are available and it's possible to add time exploring Montague Island. If you're keen to spend more time on the Far South Coast, our road tripper's guide might come in handy. GO HOT AIR BALLOONING ABOVE A 23 MILLION-YEAR-OLD VOLCANIC CRATER North and west of Byron Bay is the Tweed hinterland, a land of ancient rainforest, wild rivers and rugged mountain peaks. Twenty-three million years ago, a volcano erupted here, creating a caldera 40 kilometres wide and 1000 metres deep. To see it in all its lush beauty, wake up before sunrise and ride a hot air balloon with Byron Bay Ballooning. This dreamy escapade takes you way up into the air for an hour or so and, on landing, treats you to a champagne breakfast. EAT DOUBLE-HATTED FARE OVERLOOKING THE TASMAN SEA There's no shortage of delicious fare wherever you go in New South Wales, but there aren't many spots where you can feast on two-hatted dishes while gazing at the Tasman Sea. Paper Daisy Restaurant, within Halcyon House, near Cabarita Beach on the Tweed Coast, is one of them. Here, Executive Chef Jason Barratt (ex-Circa, The Prince, Attica) is in the kitchen whipping up ocean-inspired combinations. Start with lobster, white radish and granny smith apple, before moving onto kingfish baked in local kelp, sweet corn, smoked onion and dried prawn. Then, for dessert, pear with spiced date, almond and roasted fennel ice cream. CRAWL THROUGH AN 1880s COAL MINE On the road between Broken Hill and Silverton — around 1200 kilometres west of Sydney — lies Day Dream, one of Australia's first coal mines. Built in the 1880s, it's now a tourist attraction, where you can experience a day-in-the-life of a 19th century miner. Prepare for darkness, dust and lots of squeezing through teeny-tiny spaces — all 30 metres underground. Mining is still a dangerous business, but was way more terrifying back then. In fact, workers did it so tough that their bosses handed out opium to ease the pain. When that wore off, horehound beer, which caused temporary blindness, was the next refuge. You'll hear these and other tales on a 1.5-hour tour. Find more tips for exploring Broken Hill over here. VISIT THE (HUGE) TELESCOPE THAT HELPED BROADCAST MAN'S FIRST WALK ON THE MOON You might recognise this one from The Dish, the 2000 indie comedy by Australian writer-director Rob Sitch, who's also responsible for The Castle. Located around 360 kilometres west of Sydney near Parkes, the 64-metre-wide telescope helped broadcast man's first moonwalk and has since found more than half of the 2000 known pulsars. When you're finished marvelling at its architecture, feast on a beef and red wine pie in the on-site cafe and check out the memorabilia in the gift shop. Should you be travelling by vehicle, our road tripper's guide to Central NSW might help. Discover more adventures around NSW at visitnsw.com. All images: Destination NSW
