Ethel Carrick and Emmanual Phillips Fox’s marriage in 1905 was the beautiful beginning of Australian’s most prominent relationship in the art world. They spent their early years travelling the world and interpreting the sights into impressionist paintings. Now, for the first time both artist’s works will be presented together at the Queensland Art Gallery as the exhibition Art, Love and Life: Ethel Carrick and E. Phillips Fox. QAG has collected over 100 paintings, works on paper and related paraphernalia from their lives that will be on display from April 16 to August 7. The couple’s work is noted for its reflections on culture at the beginning of the last century, depicting what life was like at that time. Several prominent paintings were completed during their time overseas and heavily feature North Africa, as well as Italy, France, England and Spain. This collection is truly worthwhile and a loving tribute to a couple that had equal dedication to each other, their work and the art industry. Even if art isn’t your thing normally, love should be, and this collection is a wonderful celebration of two lives and their shared passions.
When May hits, the Gold Coast will boast yet another attraction — and it doesn't involve sun, surf, sand or theme park rides. Southeast Queensland's popular tourist destination will open its new $60.5 million, six-level art gallery, which'll become the country's largest art gallery outside of a capital city. If the news sounds familiar, that's because it was first announced back in 2018, with an early 2021 opening date set at the time. And yes, it's sticking to that timeframe. While the pandemic has delayed more than a few things over the past year, the new addition to HOTA, Home of the Arts at Surfers Paradise's isn't among them. It'll launch on Saturday, May 8. Art lovers can get excited about a multi-floor gallery with more than 2000 square metres of exhibition space, including a main area that'll be used for touring exhibitions, plus a permanent collection space across three levels, a children's gallery and an area for storing works that aren't on display. Simply called the HOTA Gallery, it has been built at the top of the site's concert lawn, and overlooks HOTA's outdoor stage. View-wise, there'll be much to look at if you're keen on gazing at creative pieces. That includes two sculptural installations that'll be placed outside, as created by Queensland Waanyi artist Judy Watson and Sri-Lankan born, Sydney based artist Ramesh Mario Nithiyendran. Watson's artwork will hero Indigenous native plants, plus a pathway that forms a topographical map of Nerang prior to European settlement. Piccabeen basket and dilly bag sculptures designed with Quandamooka artists Libby Harward and Elisa Jane Carmichael will also feature, as will a two-metre-tall feather canopy and snippets of local language sandblasted onto the bleachers. As for Nithiyendran, he has crafted a six-metre-high, double-sided sculpture made out of bronze, concrete, neon and fibreglass that's designed to reflect the vibrancy of the new building. Visitors will also be able to peer at something other than the art gracing the walls, with the building featuring a rooftop bar and restaurant. Called The Exhibitionist Bar, it'll take over 233 square metres, and pair panoramic views with tapas, share plates, cocktails, wine, beer and house-made sodas. And, it's also opening in May. Both indoor and outdoor terrace seating will feature, and you'll get a vantage that sprawls over the Goldie's waterways, Surfers' Paradise skyline and the hinterland. Plus, in terms of decor, the venue is taking its cues from rainforests — as does the building itself, which is inspired by William Robinson's 'The Rainforest'. HOTA Gallery and The Exhibitionist Bar are both set to open at HOTA, Home of the Arts, 135 Bundall Road, Surfers Paradise on Saturday, May 8. For more information, visit the HOTA website. Top images: Scott Chrisman, Pixeltape Media
Sydneysiders, don't throw away your shot to see the biggest thing in musical theatre this century — again. Lin-Manuel Miranda's game-changing, award-winning, rightly raved-about Hamilton is returning to the Sydney Lyric Theatre after its lockdown-induced shutdown. You'll only have a few months to be in the room where it happens, however, before Melburnians will get their turn. In Sydney, the hit show will return to the stage on Tuesday, October 19 — a day before fellow big-name musical Come From Away will also resume its local season. Hamilton's Lyric Theatre run is now set to last until Sunday, February 27, with the production already slated to kick off its Melbourne shows at Her Majesty's Theatre from Wednesday, March 16. Like much about life after lockdown, there'll be a few rules in place for Sydneysiders eager to take an all-singing, all-dancing trip through US history, with updated conditions of entry set to come into effect. While Come From Away has already announced that it'll only be welcoming in fully vaccinated audiences, the requirements to see Hamilton haven't yet been revealed, other than noting that the show will operate "in line with the relevant NSW Government Public Health Order when it is available." All current ticketholders will be contacted by the Sydney Lyric Theatre with the updated guidelines, while all new customers will be need to accept the conditions of entry when they buy their tickets. The Broadway blockbuster finally made its way to Australia earlier this year, opening in March with a cast that includes Jason Arrow as Alexander Hamilton, Chloé Zuel as Eliza Hamilton, Lyndon Watts as Aaron Burr, Akina Edmonds as Angelica Schuyler, Matu Ngaropo as George Washington, and Victory Ndukwe as Marquis de Lafayette and Thomas Jefferson. Also featuring in this lively exploration of 18th-century American politics in song: Shaka Cook as Hercules Mulligan and James Madison, Marty Alix as John Laurens and Philip Hamilton, Elandrah Eramiha as Peggy Schuyler and Maria Reynolds, and Brent Hill as King George III. Haven't become a Hamilton obsessive yet? Not quite sure why it has been the most-talked about theatre show of the past six years? The critically acclaimed hip hop musical, for which Miranda wrote the music, lyrics and the book, is about the life of Founding Father Alexander Hamilton, as well as inclusion and politics in current-day America. In addition to its swag of Tony Awards — 11 in fact, which includes Best Musical — it has nabbed a Grammy Award and even a Pulitzer Prize. The filmed version of its Broadway production also just won an Emmy. Over the past few months — and before March this year — Australians eager to see the show had to be content with watching that stage-to-streaming recording, which hit Disney+ in 2020 (and yes, it's as phenomenal as you've heard). Tickets for Sydney shows are back on sale, with seats for dates between Tuesday, December 21–Sunday, February 27 set to release on Friday, October 1. Melbourne tickets are currently on sale now, too — and Brisbanites, start crossing your fingers that Hamilton plans a move up north after its Melbourne run. Hamilton will return to the Sydney Lyric Theatre from Tuesday, October 19–Sunday, February 27, with tickets on sale now. It'll then kick off its Melbourne season at Her Majesty's Theatre from Wednesday, March 16. Head to the musical's website for further details. Images: Daniel Boud.
Months before any athletes take to the track, field, pool and court, everyone's talking about the Gold Coast Commonwealth Games. With the event coming to Queensland for the first time since 1982, it definitely won't just be business as usual — shops will be able to operate around the clock, an arts festival will take place across southeast Queensland and now Brisbane's trains will be thrown into disarray. Unsurprisingly, in order to get folks around the Goldie — and, between Brisbane and the coast too — a large number of trains will be needed. The State Government have just released the relevant travel information for the Games, which includes trains operating 24-hours a day, tripling the number of daily services on the Gold Coast, and running trains every 10 minutes, on average. But, as they've put it, it also features "some adjustments to heavy rail services across the wider SEQ network... due to the unprecedented demand of this world class event." For Brisbanites, that means services changes not only during the Games period of April 4 to 15, but from March 30 to April 20. Yes, that period runs over both Easter and the school holidays. Most lines will have their services cut to half-hourly in off-peak periods, and hourly on weekends and public holidays, as anyone riding the Caboolture, Cleveland, Doomben, Ferny Grove, Ipswich, Redcliffe, Shorncliffe and Springfield lines will experience. Those headed to and from the Sunshine Coast might find themselves dreaming of the proposed high-speed option that's been floated — but won't be operational yet — with services running every 90 minutes in off-peak times and every two hours on weekends and public holidays. And everyone along the Beenleigh line won't have trains at all from April 5 to 15, with buses operating instead. Queensland's railways aren't known for responding well to heavy demand, as anyone who has ever waited for a train that just hasn't shown up or been packed into a carriage on the Gold Coast line well and truly knows. And while the Goldie is certainly going to need all of the trains it can get if the usual crowded services are anything to go by, everyone in Brisbane just going about their regular, non-Games-attending business is going to be in for a significant wait for most of the month. Image: Ash Kyd via Flickr.
How many times can you listen to Toto's 'Africa' in one sitting? Not sure? Well, you're about to find out — again. For the fifth year in a row, drums will echo and quiet conversation will be whispered at Black Bear Lodge's entire evening dedicated to appreciating the almost four-decade-old song. And yes, the rains will be blessed. It's gonna take a lot to take anyone away from a whole night focused on Toto's finest moment, even though the American band actually had some other catchy tracks. You'd expect that you won't be hearing 'Rosanna', which is commonly assumed to refer to actress Rosanna Arquette. Or 'Hold the Line', the tune that first put them on the map. Instead, it's 'Africa' all the way from 7pm on Wednesday, March 24. There's nothing that a hundred men or more could ever do to stop the song repeating over and over — and if you think you might find some long forgotten words or ancient melodies, think again. But, as sure as Kilimanjaro rises like Olympus above the Serengeti, we're betting that somewhere there'll be a screen playing the music video as well. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FTQbiNvZqaY
Some film festivals celebrate the latest and greatest movies a particular part of the world has to offer. Others go broad and new, amassing hundreds of the freshest titles wowing the international circuit. Or, a cinema showcase might focus on a particular theme, such as human-rights issues. The Melbourne-based Human Rights Arts and Film Festival clearly takes the latter approach, and has been doing so more than a decade — including in its 2023 program. Exactly how this annual fest explores its subject matter, what it covers and where it screens has varied over the years. Past iterations have included stints around the country, and some fests have solely remained in the Victorian capital. Across Thursday, May 4–Tuesday, May 9, 2023's lineup is only hitting cinemas in-person in Melbourne, but has a date with viewers elsewhere thanks to its online component. In its physical form, HRAFF opens with Kash Kash — Without Feathers We Can't Live, a documentary from first-time filmmaker Lea Najjar about her hometown of Beirut. For folks elsewhere, or for those who can't make it along on the night, it's one of the movies on the event's digital bill as well. From a lineup that includes work from Iran, Brazil, Ireland, Lebanon, Venezuela, South Sudan, Mexico, the US, Canada and more, Melburnians can also look forward to North Circular, which highlights the importance of music in culture in Ireland; Dark Days, telling the tale of a community living in New York City's underground train tunnels in the 90s; and Uýra: The Rising Forest, about trans non-binary Indigenous artist Uýra. From Venice 2022, Alice Diop's Saint Omer is an absolute must-see, with the documentarian drawing from true events to craft a drama about a young Parisian journalist and novelist attending murder trial, then wading through the complexities it surfaces within her own family history. In The Last Daughter, Wiradjuri woman Brenda Matthews charts her experience being taken from her family as a toddler, growing up with a white foster family, then being returned to her parents. And in closing night's Fashion Reimagined, designer Amy Powney's efforts to create a sustainable collection are in the spotlight. Viewers watching on from home can also enjoy The Endangered Generation?, which boasts narration by Laura Dern (Jurassic World Dominion) as it explores the fight against climate change — plus the world-premiere of We Eatin' Good, which sees Matisse Laida and Nisha Hunter get recipes for food and life alike from members of Melbourne's queer community. To take care of the 'arts' part of its name, HRAFF is hosting two exhibitions as well: Real Job, which ponders how the labour of visual artists is so often neglected; and A Wholesome Gang, a storytelling photo series by South Sudanese Dinka woman Awak Rech Kongor (and shot and edited by artist Joshua Sims). The Human Rights Arts and Film Festival runs from Thursday, May 4–Tuesday, May 9 at various venues around Melbourne and online. For more information or to buy tickets, head to the festival's website. Top image: Nick Prendeville.
When Zach Braff announced he was making a follow-up to Garden State, there were mixed reactions. While the 2004 film was a landmark for quirky coming of age stories, the manic pixie dream girl and alternative tweens "finding themselves", time has not been kind to it. Yelling into the infinite abyss inevitably seems a bit more heavy-handed than meaningful these days, and yes, Natalie Portman, everyone has heard of The Shins now. Regardless, the (sort of) sequel is happening and its first inevitably twee trailer is here. Wish I Was Here tells the tale of a struggling thirtysomething actor who homeschools his two children out of financial necessity. You won't squeeze more plot than that out of the trailer, but what we can conclude is that the film will feature meaningful slow motion frontal shots, people looking impossibly magical underwater, another infinite abyss and more music from The Shins. Braff has constantly pointed out that the film isn't a direct sequel to Garden State, but more a continuation in theme and tone — a fact made pretty evident from the cringeworthy first line: "You can pick whatever [wig] you want. Just as long as it's unique and amazing... like you." The trailer comes just under a year after the controversial Kickstarter campaign that funded the film. Instead of teaming up with willing production companies, Braff opted to try his hand at crowdfunding. Though the project was wildly successful — garnering over $3 million — the filmmaker came under harsh scrutiny for taking advantage of his loyal fans. Despite the backlash, Braff claimed it was a necessary measure to retain creative control over his sophomore endeavour. Time will tell if those millions were worth it. Reviews from Wish I Was Here's Sundance premiere were less than kind, but the film won't see a general release in the US until July 18. At the very least, Braff will enjoy a ticket sale from each ex-Garden State devotee. Myself included.
The United Colors of Benetton is at the centre of controversy after the company's new 'Unhate' campaign showed some of the world's leading political figures locking lips. Benetton's advertising campaign addressed some of the most vital conflicts in global politics and turned them on their head in six striking, amusing images. These include North Korea's Kim-Jong Il kissing South Korean president Lee Myung-bak in a passionate embrace, while President Obama gets cosy with Venezualan president, Hugo Chavez. A statement from the brand said that they 'seek to contribute to the creation of a new culture of tolerance, to combat hatred, building on Benetton’s underpinning values. It is another important step in the group’s social responsibility strategy: not a cosmetic exercise, but a contribution that will have a real impact on the international community.' Not surprisingly, the campaign has been widely condemned and been labelled as disrespectful. The Vatican formally requested that images of the Pope be removed, and even threatened legal action against the brand. Benetton has since complied with their requests and taken down the image of the Pope sharing the love with Sheik Ahmed el-Tayeb, an Egyptian Imam. Have Benetton overstepped the line here? Conservative homophobes across the globe seem to think so. However, if a handful of photoshopped images of world-famous leaders are enough to cause such a reaction, we really should applaud this well-executed advertising campaign and its clear message of acceptance and tolerance. [Via PSFK]
The Queensland Youngblood organisation brings together media, marketing and advertising professionals and aspiring professionals together in a series of networking events throughout the year. These events help students meet high-profile industry professionals, gain contacts, learn about their craft and have a little bit of cheeky fun as well. The Blood Transfusion is the jewel in the Youngbloods crown. This is a Gruen Transfer style event that features a panel of marketing and advertising experts from Queensland’s top agencies discussing and dissecting current trends and campaigns, as well as providing advice to up-and-comers. Now in its third year, Blood Transfusion will surely be a great opportunity for young marketing professionals and also a great night out for anyone interested in marketing or advertising fields.
Yarra Valley winemaker Innocent Bystander might have temporarily closed to visitors, but there's now a virtual version of its cellar door that should help fill the void. The team's taking to Facebook to host a series of weekly wine-sipping sessions you can enjoy from the comfort of home. The Live Tasting Bar is set to grace screens from 5pm AEST over the next three Fridays, April 17–May 1, led by Innocent Bystander's own sommelier Margaret. Get comfy and tune in each week for a relaxed wine tasting experience, complete with tasting notes, food pairing tips and general wine-related chat. Each session will be themed around a different variety — from this Friday's Sipping Syrah to Chatting Chardonnay on May 1 — so you can line up a bottle of the same to sip while you watch. As an added bonus for those that want to stock up in preparation, the winery's offering a neat 20-percent-off all drops in its online store, along with free shipping.
After revealing its December programming last month, Moonlight Cinema has unveiled the next part of its 2021–22 program. As always, one piece of advice bears repeating: pack your picnic basket and get ready to watch a heap of flicks under the summer evening sky. While the outdoor cinema runs until different dates in different parts of the country — till mid-January in Adelaide, the end of January in western Sydney, late February in Brisbane, the end of March in Melbourne and Perth, and early April in Sydney — it's latest announcement focuses on its January films. So if you're keen to catch a movie under the stars over the break, take note. As always, plenty of recent favourites and new movies are on the bill — including No Time to Die, Dune, Spider-Man: No Way Home and West Side Story, as well as King Richard, Ghostbusters: Afterlife, House of Gucci and The Matrix Resurrections. Depending on your city, there's also the new Scream, The French Dispatch, Kristen Stewart playing Princess Diana in Spencer, sing-along sessions of Bohemian Rhapsody and A Star Is Born, and late-90s classic 10 Things I Hate About You. It's also worth remembering that every city is BYO except Brisbane — but, wherever you're settling in for an outdoor cinema session, there'll be food, snacks, a bar and (if you'd like to pay for them) bean bags as well. And, in great news for movie-loving pooches, you can bring them along to all venues except Perth, too. MOONLIGHT CINEMA 2021–22 DATES Adelaide: Friday, November 26–Sunday, January 16 (Rymill Park) Brisbane: Friday, November 26–Sunday, February 20 (Roma Street Parkland) Melbourne: Thursday, December 2–Sunday, March 27 (Royal Botanic Gardens) Perth: Thursday, December 2–Sunday, March 27 (Kings Park and Botanic Garden) Sydney: Thursday, December 9–Sunday, April 3 (Centennial Park) Western Sydney: Thursday, November 16–Sunday, January 30 (Western Sydney Parklands) Moonlight Cinema runs through until April 2022. For more information and to buy tickets, visit the cinema's website.
The COVID-19 pandemic has taught us many things, and reminded us of plenty of advice that we've all heard for years. We're all now well and truly aware that any situation can change quickly, for instance. In the latest example to prove those words accurate, the Australian Government has moved forward its vaccine rollout plans — just a day after announcing its last fast-tracked inoculation schedule. Yesterday, Wednesday, January 6, Minister for Health Greg Hunt said that COVID-19 vaccinations would begin at the beginning of March, which was earlier than the previous date of late March (which, in turn, had been brought forward from the second quarter of 2021). Then today, Thursday, January 7, Prime Minister Scott Morrison announced in a press conference that the timeline for kicking off vaccinations has now been shifted to February. First in the queue when jabs start being administered mid-to-late next month (with an exact date yet to be revealed): frontline workers — particularly those working at hotel quarantine sites and international border checkpoints — as well as health workers and residential aged care facility residents. They'll comprise the first of five priority groups, with elderly Aussies aged over 70, Indigenous Australians over the age of 55, other health care workers, younger adults with an underlying medical condition, and other critical and high-risk workers falling into the second group. From there, adults aged 50–69, Indigenous Australians over 18 and the next tranche of critical and high-risk workers will receive the vaccination, followed by the balance of the adult population. Department of Health Secretary and former Chief Health Officer Brendan Murphy noted that children will fall into the last group. The Prime Minister also advised that that the rollout will begin with a target of giving 80,000 vaccinations per week, starting with the Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine. By the end of March, it's expected that four million Australians will have been vaccinated — with capacity ramping up once the University of Oxford-AstraZeneca vaccine is approved. Several vaccines have not only been created over the past year — much faster than the usual timeline — but have started being used in countries around the world. The latter is happening in places such as the UK and the US, where coronavirus case numbers have remained at enormous levels. In Australia, where the situation thankfully hasn't reached the same scale, the federal government has decided on a different approach. Vaccines need to be evaluated and approved locally by the Therapeutic Goods Administration before they can be rolled out anyway, and that process is currently underway for multiple different vaccines, including from Pfizer-BioNTech and University of Oxford-AstraZeneca. As the Prime Minister announced in mid-2020, vaccines will be provided to every Aussie for free when they are available. Australia currently has agreements to receive ten million doses of the Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine, which will be manufactured overseas, and 53.8 million doses of the University of Oxford-AstraZeneca vaccine, with production of the latter already starting locally. Both require two doses per person to be effective — and you have to get two doses of the same vaccine (so you can't mix and match them). If you're wondering how it'll all work logistics-wise, there'll be specific hubs to deliver the Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine — at 30–50 hospitals around the country — first up. After that, when the University of Oxford-AstraZeneca vaccine becomes available, vaccinations will be available at other sites, such as GPs and respiratory clinics. Obviously, it's expected that specific details about sites and dates will be revealed before vaccinations start in February. For more information about the status of COVID-19 in Australia, visit the Australian Government Department of Health website.
The Brisbane and Australian music scene have completely exploded in the last little while, with incredible tunes coming out at all angles. No stranger to the limelight is local band Last Dinosaurs, who have had more than their fair share of Triple J airplay, with a feature album recently on the airwaves that broadcasted their unique and raw rock sound to all corners of the nation. They’ve just released their debut album, ‘In a Million Years’ and have a sweet record international record deal under their belt. What’s more is that they’re embarking on a national tour to display their critically acclaimed talents, before once again bearing us witness to them at this year’s Splendour in the Grass. After that point, who knows, they may never come back after they are inevitably snapped up by the marketing sharks and music execs overseas. Even co-Splendour artists Bloc Party have had something to say about the Last Dinosaurs, tweeting about how catchy their debut is and that the guitar work is the best they’ve heard in a long time. With that kind of kudos, there’s no surprise the Brisbane group have had so much demand they’ve had to announce another show. As if that wasn’t enough, the generous dudes are streaming their album on their Facebook page and have a competition to win a Fender Stratocaster. What are you doing? Go buy a ticket, now.
After debuting in 2023 with Solange and Sampa The Great taking to its stages, the Art Gallery of New South Wales' Volume music series is going big again for its 2024 return. André 3000 making an Australian-exclusive stop with the Outkast rapper's experimental jazz project André 3000 New Blue Sun LIVE, Sonic Youth's Kim Gordon, Ghanaian Australian talent Genesis Owusu and Zimbabwean Australian singer-songwriter Tkay Maidza: they all lead a lineup that shouldn't just get Sydneysiders excited, but is worth travelling from the rest of the country for. Volume's main names will each play their own dates between Friday, July 5–Sunday, July 21 at The Tank, a Second World War oil tank that's been turned into a performance and art venue. It's located inside Naala Badu, AGNSW's $344-million extension that opened in late 2022 — and this is quite the way to check it out if you haven't had the chance before. [caption id="attachment_954053" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Dexter Navy[/caption] Genesis Owusu will kick off Volume across Friday, July 5–Saturday, July 6 with a visual arts-inspired show. Audiences will hear tunes from his records Smiling with No Teeth and STRUGGLER, with The Black Dog Band — aka Kirin J Callinan, Touch Sensitive and Tim Commandeur — doing the backing honours. The next weekend, on Saturday, July 13, Tkay Maidza will play her first Aussie headline show in 2024 — and she has Sweet Justice, her second album, to showcase. This is a one-night-only return to Australia for the LA-based rapper, because she's also playing Chicago's Pitchfork Music Festival in June. Kim Gordon's Aussie tour — which is also stopping at Illuminate Adelaide, as well as in Brisbane and Melbourne — will bring her to Volume on Thursday, July 18–Friday, July 19. The main focus: The Collective, her latest solo record. And on Saturday, July 20–Sunday, July 21, André 3000 New Blue Sun LIVE will wrap up the AGNSW lineup. The performance takes its name from André 3000's debut solo album, which released in 2023 — and will also feature percussionist and multi-instrumentalist Carlos Niño, and guitarist and guitar synthesist Nate Mercereau, alongside Surya Botofasina playing the keyboards, plus Deantoni Parks on synthesiser and drums. This is André 3000's first trip Down Under in ten years, with Outkast's headlining slot at 2014's Splendour in the Grass his latest live gig in Australia. [caption id="attachment_954055" align="alignnone" width="1920"] @trippydana[/caption] "We are thrilled to be inviting some of the most innovative and bold local and international musicians to The Tank to create unique music experiences that will make audiences think, feel and move. We look forward to seeing how each artist responds to this remarkable space," said Art Gallery of New South Wales Director Michael Brand. There's still more details to come for Volume, which will pair its headliners with a lineup of free events that's still to be announced. If it sounds huge, that's because it is — and both AGNSW buildings, aka north building Naala Badu and south building Naala Nura, will play host. [caption id="attachment_954056" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Bec Parsons[/caption] Volume 2024 Headliners and Dates: Friday, July 5–Saturday, July 6 — Genesis Owusu Saturday, July 13 — Tkay Maidza Thursday, July 18–Friday, July 19 — Kim Gordon Saturday, July 20–Sunday, July 21 — André 3000 New Blue Sun LIVE [caption id="attachment_880681" align="alignnone" width="1920"] The Tank space in the Art Gallery of New South Wales' new SANAA - designed building, 2022, photo © Art Gallery of New South Wales, Jenni Carter[/caption] Volume 2024 runs from Friday, July 5–Sunday, July 21 at the Art Gallery of New South Wales, with ticket presales from 11am on Tuesday, May 21 and general sales from 11am on Wednesday, May 22 — head to the festival website for further details. Top image: Sven Mandel via Wikimedia Commons.
If you've been hangin' out down the street again, getting a huge blast from the past from That '90s Show in two ways — as a sequel series to That '70s Show and as a jump back to its titular decade — then you've been enjoying one of 2023's most easy-to-binge new shows so far. And, you can now make a future date to do the same old thing you did over the past few weeks. This follow-up is keeping on keeping on itself, with Netflix renewing That '90s Show for season two. "Going to Point Place last season was a real treat for all of us. We're thrilled to return," said co-creator and executive producer Lindsey Turner to Netflix's Tudum website. "We here in Point Place are thrilled that we're doing a second season," added co-creators and executive producers Bonnie and Terry Turner, who were also behind That '70s Show (and, fitting the multigenerational theme of the ongoing franchise, are Lindsey Turner's parents). "We'd like to thank all of the fans old and new for tuning in. We're truly grateful," they continued. That '90s Show's first season hit Netflix in mid-January, arriving 17 years after its predecessor wrapped up after running from 1998–2006 — and bringing a new take on That '70s Show's Cheap Trick-sung opening theme tune along with it. This time, teenager Leia Forman (Callie Haverda, The Lost Husband) and her friends are the focus, after she decides to spend the summer of 1995 saying "hello Wisconsin!" at her grandparents Kitty (Debra Jo Rupp, WandaVision) and Red's (Kurtwood Smith, The Dropout) house. Accustomed to feeling like she doesn't fit in back in Chicago, Leia — the daughter of Eric Forman (Topher Grace, Home Economics) and Donna Pinciotti (Laura Prepon, Orange Is the New Black) — finds a much-needed connection during her Point Place stay. That's where the elder Formans' neighbours Gwen (Ashley Aufderheide, Four Kids and It) and Nate (Maxwell Acee Donovan, Gabby Duran & The Unsittables) come in, as well as Michael Kelso (Ashton Kutcher, Vengeance) and Jackie Burkhart's (Mila Kunis, Luckiest Girl Alive) son Jay (Mace Coronel, Colin in Black & White), plus the witty Ozzie (Reyn Doi, Barb and Star Go to Vista Del Mar) and Nate's super-smart girlfriend Nikki (Sam Morelos, Forgetting Nobody). While Rupp and Smith are main cast members again in That '90s Show, the bulk of the OG crew — including Wilmer Valderrama (NCIS) and Tommy Chong (Color Out of Space) — only make brief appearances. That '90s Show's overall formula is the same, but it's firmly devoted the new group of high schoolers making the most of the Forman family basement. Netflix hasn't announced when That '90s Show will return for season two but, when it does, the series will be set during the next summer. "We can't wait to return to Point Place for another summer of laughs and surprises. Hello, 1996!," said co-creator, executive producer and showrunner Gregg Mettler. Check out the trailer for That '90s Show below: That '90s Show streams via Netflix. Read our full review of season one. Images: Patrick Wymore/Netflix © 2022.
Everyone's 2022 streaming obsession is mere months away from making our comeback, bringing all those beef sandwich cravings along with it. After proving one of the best new shows of 2022, and also increasing the amount of times that "yes chef!" is yelled by approximately 75,000 percent, The Bear will return this winter. To whet appetites, it has just served up its first teaser trailer for its second season, too. When season two arrives, don't expect to slide back into The Bear's kitchen chaos like no time has passed, though. As this debut sneak peek shows, things have changed at the show's central sandwich shop. That won't come as a surprise if you've watched season one, of course — and where the Golden Globe-winning series is going from here hasn't yet been revealed. The Bear was renewed for season two before the show even made its way Down Under, after debuting in the US last June, then reaching Australia and New Zealand via Disney+ at the end of August. Given that it's now a huge hit, here's hoping that audiences here won't experience a delay again this time around when it hits the US in June again. This go-around will span ten episodes, giving viewers two extra servings of chaos surrounding Carmen 'Carmy' Berzatto (Jeremy Allen White, Shameless) and his culinary endeavours. While season one already saddled him more than his fair share of troubles and struggles, there's no way that season two is going to a cruisy dream for the kitchen ace. If you missed the first season, it jumped into the mayhem after Carmy took over The Original Beef of Chicagoland, his family's business, after his brother Mikey's (Jon Bernthal, We Own This City) suicide. Before returning home, the chef's resume spanned Noma and The French Laundry, as well as awards and acclaim. Accordingly, trying to bring that fine-dining level of meticulous to a neighbourhood sandwich shop didn't go smoothly. That's just the beginning of the story, in a series that truly conveyed what it's like to work in the hospitality industry — including navigating a restaurant kitchen's non-stop intensity. Yes, the mood is anxious from the outset, with The Bear's creator Christopher Storer (who also has Ramy, Dickinson and Bo Burnham: Make Happy on his resume) starting the series as he definitely meant to go on, but still expertly managing to balance drama and comedy. Also a crucial part of the show: the rest of the impressive cast, such as Ebon Moss-Bachrach (The Dropout) as Richie, aka Cousin, aka Carmy's brother's best friend; Ayo Edebiri (Dickinson) as new sous chef Sydney; Abby Elliott (Indebted) as Carmy's sister Natalie, aka Sugar; and Lionel Boyce (Hap and Leonard), Liza Colón-Zayas (In Treatment) and Edwin Lee Gibson (Fargo) among the other Original Beef staff. Check out the first teaser trailer for The Bear season two below: The Bear streams via Disney+, with season two set to return in June — we'll update you with an exact season two release date when one is announced. Read our full review of season one. Top image: Matt Dinerstein/FX.
This July, it's time to deck your halls with boughs of whichever greenery you'd like. Yes, we know it's not Christmas yet. Winter in Australia means pretending 'tis the season — but early — and VEND's Virginia marketplace is doing just that with a huge Christmas in July Twilight Market. There'll be more than just succulents, cacti and indoor-friendly plants on offer; however, given that the northside spot is home to its own indoor greenhouse — aptly called the Greenhouse, naturally — that's definitely a big drawcard. Between 4–9pm on Saturday, July 22, you'll also be able to get festive at VEND's 130-plus shops, and at the array of pop-up stalls that it's setting up outside. Food trucks will keep your stomach satisfied, and there'll be a pop-up cocktail bar serving boozy beverages. Christmas dinner will be on the menu as well. Also, VEND is also doggo-friendly — should you want to bring your four-legged pal with you for a stint of Christmas in July fun. There's also a competition for dressing the part, with a $100 voucher up for grabs. That's a good enough reason to bust out your jolliest outfit — whether it's a red-and-green number or a festive costume. And yes, getting your Christmas shopping early is also a huge motivator. Just think how smug/good you'll feel come December, when everyone else is rushing about. Images: VEND Marketplace.
We are a musical city, it’s undeniable. We have a lot of talent; there are so many musicians who are creating great music in our city – many of whom go unheard. Brisbane City Council is trying to rectify this by hosting free live music in Queen Street Mall on Sunday the 24th, Monday the 25th and Tuesday the 26th. If you are just out and about for lunch, doing a bit of shopping or are just curious to hear what Brisbane has to offer music wise, you should stop by one of three locations to catch a song or two. Mixtape Weekend will feature some great local and interstate musical acts such as Tiger And Me, Dave Di Marco, Free Like Me and Brisbane Concert Orchestra to name a few. If you want to know more, you should head on over to BNE City to see the full list of participants, locations and times.
To those in the fashionable know, it’s commonly identified that The Outpost and Blonde Venus are intrinsically linked via their shared owners. To those in the artistic know, it’s a duh fact that The Outpost and Nine Lives Gallery are run and curated by the same guy. To those in the cultural know, it’s obvious that Nine Lives is always ahead of the game and scoring quality artists. So connecting those dots, the fact that Blonde Venus are about to play host to an exhibit means that it will be amazing - fashion, art and talent together as they should be. Laura Brown is an emerging artist based in our fine town, with her aptitude lying in fine line drawings on her preferred medium of paper. From afar you can tell her work is intricately complicated and up close it is no different, with the images pulling the viewer into the world of Ms Brown. Her first solo exhibit Viscous will be on display at Blonde Venus cost free for the next month so head into the Valley soon. And really, now you have a foolproof alibi to visit (and do your summer shopping in) that fabled store.
The future of wearable technology is like thinking about the universe: the possibilities of what could be discovered are endless. But it's annoying enough to integrate an Apple Watch or a Fitbit into your life, let alone walk around wearing weird spy cam glasses all the time, ala Google Glass. Seriously, no one want to be that guy. But what if you could simply attach this technology to your skin with, say, a small temporary tattoo? Well, that sound pretty good to us, and Austin-based mobile development company, Chaotic Moon, are trying to make it happen. The technology, dubbed Tech Tats, are temporary electronic tattoos that would live on top of the wearer's skin, and use the skin as an interface. The tattoo holds an ATiny85 microcontroller, which stores and receives data from temperature sensors via electroconductive paint to interact with your body. "Everyone has this idea of the future as this guy with Google Glass and the Apple Watch and five Fitbits," EricSchneider, Chaotic Moon's Creative Technologist says. "But the goal is really wearable technology that you can’t even see." As well as tracking your movements and fitness, and storing your credit card details and so on, the tats would also be able to monitor your vital signs an send that data to your phone — or even your doctor. The technology is just a prototype at the moment, but it isn't too hard see this coming to life sooner rather than later. Chaotic Moon have said — if the product gets to the public — they want to keep the price point accessible, perhaps even selling the Tech Tats in packages, like Band-Aids. It seems like a happy medium between clunky, wearable technology and getting microchips implanted under the skin — we don't want to go full robot just yet. Via Motherboard.
When Splendour in the Grass made a comeback in 2022 after two pandemic-affected years, it was hugely anticipated. Due to wet weather and flooding, however, the event's big return sadly turned into Splendour in the Mud — Splendour in the Pool, too. That didn't work out well for the festival's 20th birthday, but organisers are hoping its 21st will be better, locking in July dates for its 2023 run. Pop Friday, July 21–Sunday, July 23 in your calendar, and start searching for your gumboots now — while hopefully this year's fest won't be as boggy, sturdy footwear is always a Splendour must. As usual, the fest is returning to North Byron Bay Parklands for its latest big birthday party. If you're wondering who'll be on the bill, though, that hasn't yet been revealed. [caption id="attachment_891058" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Dave Kan[/caption] Pre-COVID-19, Splendour's lineups would start dropping between February and April, so expect further details soon. So far, the fest crew has advised that 2023's event will feature "the world's most prolific artists and national music treasures" if you want to start speculating. Splendour's confirmed 2023 dates arrive a week after the festival crew issued an apology for 2022's event, stating that "Splendour in the Grass 2022 was, without a doubt the most challenging and difficult year ever... it was not what any of us wanted". [caption id="attachment_891057" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Claudia Ciapocha[/caption] "While we can't control the weather, we can manage how we respond and for that we are deeply sorry. We thank all of you who took the time to complete our survey and share your experience at Splendour 2022," the festival team continued. "We want you to know we have listened to your feedback and we have acted from all that we learned. We continue to work furiously behind the scenes to make #SITG23 the sweetest, most comfortable and exciting music festival to date with the best experience possible for you, the local community and all who participate in the event." [caption id="attachment_891055" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Charlie Hardy[/caption] Ahead of the 2023 lineup announcement, Splendour Member applications are now open for guaranteed tickets in a dedicated presale. To qualify, you need to have purchased tickets and attended Splendour five times or more. And, if approved, you can buy up to four tickets. If that's you, you've got until 5pm AEDT on Friday, March 10 to register. [caption id="attachment_891054" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Ian Laidlaw[/caption] Splendour in the Grass will take over North Byron Bay Parklands from Friday, July 21–Sunday, July 23, 2023. We'll update you with the lineup details when they're announced. For more information in the interim, head to the festival website. Top image: Jess Gleeson.
With the recent mammoth announcement for this year's Splendour in The Grass, there's no doubt that some punters are already planning their list of must-sees and bathing in anxiety over possible timetable clashes. With this being said, we at Concrete Playground have compiled our list of the five most essential acts to catch at this year's Splendour instalment. Keeping in mind that there's a tonne of bands on the line-up, and we only have space for five, so don't be upset if we haven't included your most respected idols. However, feel free to hurl abuse and/or musical knowledge in the comments section. Have a look at our picks below. Who knows, you might find your new favourite artist. 1. AT THE DRIVE-IN While The Mars Volta and Sparta both have their dedicated fanbases, neither group comes close to matching the sheer power of post-hardcore powerhouse At The Drive-In. Minds were blown when the group reformed and appeared on the line-up for this year's Coachella festival, and now Australian fans will also be treated to the live experience. With an abundance of afros, quirky dance moves and furious convulsion-inducing tracks, this will be nothing short of epic. Please, for the love of God, see this band. 2. SMASHING PUMPKINS If you're still fond of the dreary teenage years that you spent smoking cigarettes and hating "the man," then Smashing Pumpkins will be right up your alley. As one of the biggest alternative bands to hit the nineties, their appearance will undoubtedly draw alot of older, angrier people to Splendour this year. Even if you hate their music, you should go along, stand in the front row and yell multiple quotes from the Simpsons episode that they featured in. 3. THE SHINS Having appeared on The OC and the roster of the highly-regarded Sup Pop Records, The Shins have become a staple in every hipsters iTunes library. Crafting indie tunes with youthful pop appeal, the sheer catchiness of their catalogue will resonate well with audiences at Splendour. Having just released their fourth album Port of Morrow earlier this year, fans can expect a slice of fresh material as well as old favourites. 4. AZEALIA BANKS Azealia Banks comes straight outta New York - the same city that produced vicious female emcees like Lil' Kim, Remy Ma and Foxy Brown. Banks has been one of the most hyped artists of 2012, having collaborated with production heroes Major Lazer and gaining recognition on BBC and NME. If you ever need proof that females can spit a verse, catch Banks in her element at Splendour. Alternatively, you could go see Nicki Minaj when she visits in May - but I don't think that's as acceptable. 5. SEEKAE This electronica trio have been causing significant waves over the past few years, and their inclusion on this year's line-up is indicative of their rising popularity. From their humble beginnings in Sydney's indie scene, they've grown to even be featured on an advertisement for Hyundai. With sounds that are mellow yet strikingly powerful, catch these guys getting real ambient in Byron Bay. Will appeal to chilled fans of instrumental hip-hop and dubstep (whatever that term even means anymore).
It's been three long, chaotic, pandemic-interrupted years since the Australian music festival scene welcomed Festival X, which debuted back in 2019 with Calvin Harris leading the bill. We all know why the event hasn't been able to return since, but it's remedying that absence this November and December — with Harris as one of its headliners again. That's fantastic news if you're a fan of the Scottish DJ. If you're keen for a hot girl summer — or the days leading up to summer in some cities — Festival X's comeback has something for you, too. Also topping the lineup is Megan Thee Stallion, who'll be heading to Australia for the first time ever. Festival X has five stops in its sights between Saturday, November 26–Sunday, December 4, all huge outdoor gigs — playing Flemington Racecourse in Melbourne, Alabaster Sports Fields on the Gold Coast, Bonython Park in Adelaide, Sydney Showground and Perth's Burswood Park. Also hitting the stage: Don Toliver, Boys Noize, Green Velvet, John Summit, Luude and MaRLo — and, yes, the list goes on. Festival X hails from quite the list of industry big guns, with Onelove (Stereosonic), Live Nation (Splendour in the Grass, Falls Festival) and Hardware (Piknic Electronik, Babylon) behind the touring event. It's the latest massive fest to lock in plans for the end of 2022, following Grapevine Gathering, Falls Festival, Lost Paradise, Spilt Milk, Summer Camp, Beyond the Valley, Listen Out and Woodford Folk Festival. Festival-goers, it's going to be a busy summer. If you're keen, Festival X tickets go on sale from 12pm AEST on Thursday, June 2, with a LatitudePay presale from 12pm AEST on Monday, May 30 and a festival presale from 12pm AEST on Wednesday, June 1. FESTIVAL X 2022 LINEUP: Calvin Harris Megan Thee Stallion Don Toliver Boys Noize Green Velvet John Summit Luude MaRLo Nina Kraviz Sub Focus DJ Set & ID Tchami Wilkinson DJ Anna Lunoe Babyface Mal Badrapper Blastoyz Choomba Cosmic Gate Franky Rizardo Haliene Key4050 Feat John O'Callaghan & Bryan Kearney Laura King Nifra Nora En Pure Prospa Solardo Sunset Bros Taglo Tyson Obrien FESTIVAL X 2022 DATES: Saturday, November 26 — Flemington Racecourse, Melbourne Sunday, November 27 — Alabaster Sports Fields, Gold Coast Friday, December 2 — Bonython Park, Adelaide Saturday, December 3 — Sydney Showground, Sydney Sunday, December 4 — Burswood Park, Perth Festival X 2022 tours the country from Saturday, November 26–Sunday, December 4. For more information or to buy tickets — from 12pm AEST on Thursday, June 2, with a LatitudePay presale from 12pm AEST on Monday, May 30 and a festival presale from 12pm AEST on Wednesday, June 1 — head to the festival website.
We love it when art takes over the city, and the Biennale of Sydney does it better than anyone else. Perhaps Australia's best-known contemporary art event, the Sydney Biennale will take place for the 21st time in 2018 with 70 leading local and international artists presenting work across seven of Sydney's top-notch galleries, museums and unconventional spaces. A free exhibition, the Biennale of Sydney is held from Friday, March 16 until Monday, June 11. As per the first announcement, provocative Chinese artist Ai Weiwei is the headline act, which comes off the back of his 2016 double-bill exhibition alongside the works of Andy Warhol at the National Gallery of Victoria — the highest selling event in the gallery's history. At the Sydney Opera House, Weiwei will screen his new feature-length cinematic documentary Human Flow, which explores the global refugee crisis across 23 countries in a single year. He'll also install a 60-metre-long inflatable boat on Cockatoo Island, which will be made from the same materials as the boats used by asylum seekers crossing the Aegean Sea. Meanwhile, there's French multimedia artist Laurent Grasso, whose art considers science and the supernatural; the sculptural works of South Korean artist Haegue Yang who transforms space with found and forged objects; British artist Oliver Beer uses the human voice to take over the Opera House for his acclaimed Resonance Project; and Sydney's own Yasmin Smith takes to Cockatoo Island to create a ceramics studio, an open-air kiln and a new installation that's finished in a hand-made wood ash glaze. The first biennale under the leadership of recently appointed artistic director Mami Kataoka, 2018's event is based around the idea of 'superposition', a quantum mechanics term that refers to often-paradoxical and overlapping events. While it's a tad hard to explain, Kataoka says the 2018 biennale's artists have been chosen for their work's power to "offer a panoramic view of how opposing interpretations can come together in a state of equilibrium". With three months to check out the work of so many great artists, there's no reason why you can't spend autumn cramming in as much art as you can handle. And if you're not a Sydneysider, the event is a good catalyst for a Sydney trip. The Biennale is free to attend. The 21st Biennale of Sydney will run from March 16 till June 11, 2018. For more information, visit biennaleofsydney.com.au.
At the 2021 Emmys, The Crown won every acting award it could, with the regal series collecting shiny trophies for Olivia Colman's performance as the Queen, Josh O'Connor's portrayal of Prince Charles, Tobias Menzies' work as Prince Philip and Gillian Anderson's efforts as Margaret Thatcher. One star who didn't get a gong: Emma Corrin for playing Princess Diana. But her version of the people's princess is just one of several hitting screens — and not simply because Tenet's Elizabeth Debicki will take over the role when season five of The Crown arrives. When that new season of the show premieres in 2022, it'll continue to explore a part of royal history that's been talked about for decades, aka the difficult marriage between Princess Diana and Prince Charles. But on the big screen, the Kristen Stewart-starring Spencer will get there first. This isn't quite a twin films situation — where two movies about the same or similar topics appear around the same time, like Armageddon and Deep Impact in the 90s, Finding Nemo and Shark Tale in the animation space, and the two Fyre Festival documentaries in 2019 — but only because The Crown is a TV show and Spencer is a feature. Otherwise, there will indeed be two different takes on the tale hitting screens small and large in short succession. In Spencer's case, it hails from Pablo Larraín, the Chilean filmmaker who has never made a bad film — see: his recent masterpiece Ema — and also directed Natalie Portman to an Oscar nomination in Jackie. In both of these movies, he's honed in on complex women in difficult situations, one fictional and one factual, and shown a stunning eye for emotion and detail. And, based on the the initial sneak peek and the just-dropped full trailer for Spencer, that isn't going away in his next feature. After last appearing in films as varied as Underwater, Charlie's Angels, Seberg and Happiest Season, Stewart plays Diana in 1991, at a time where her relationship with Prince Charles (Jack Farthing, Official Secrets) is struggling, but the royal family has gathered together for Christmas. Spencer focuses on a few specific days, as rumours swirl about affairs and divorce, and Diana attempts to navigate the obviously complicated situation. She isn't handling it well, and she certainly isn't willing to just plaster on a smile and carry on because she's married into royalty — as this new trailer delves into. Timothy Spall (The Party), Sally Hawkins (The Shape of Water) and Sean Harris (Mission: Impossible — Fallout) also feature, but Stewart is obviously the star of the show — and looks to be settling into Princess Di's wardrobe, bobbed hairstyle and simmering yearning with aplomb. Spencer premiered at the Venice Film Festival earlier in September, ahead of its US release in November and Australian debut on January 26, 2022. Check out the full Spencer trailer below: Spencer releases in Australian cinemas on January 26, 2022.
Over the past few years, Gelatissimo has whipped up a number of creative flavours, including frosé sorbet, gelato for dogs, and ginger beer, Weet-Bix, fairy bread, hot cross bun, cinnamon scroll, chocolate fudge and bubble tea gelato. Earlier this year, it made its own spin on Caramilk gelato, too. For its latest offering, the Australian dessert chain is getting festive, all while still turning something that everyone loves into gelato. The new source of inspiration: gingerbread — and it's mixing it with choc chip cookie dough. Can't choose between tucking into gingerbread or licking your way through a few scoops of choc chip cookie dough ice cream? Why not do both, because Gelatissimo now has the short-term solution. That very combination is on the menu all throughout December. 'Tis the season and all that. Whether you opt for a cone or a cup, you'll be tucking into gelato made with choc chip cookie dough, a ginger cookie crumble, ginger creme and ginger caramel. That ginger hails from Buderim Ginger on the Sunshine Coast — and apparently the limited-edition flavour goes mighty well with Christmas pudding. If your stomach is now rumbling, you can get gingerbread cookie dough gelato in stores Australia-wide. Or, Gelatissimo also delivers take-home packs via services such as Uber Eats, Deliveroo, Menulog and Doordash. Gelatissimo's gingerbread cookie dough gelato is available from all stores nationwide throughout December.
Four months after announcing that the Australian Aboriginal flag will get a permanent berth atop the country's most famous man-made structure — the Sydney Harbour Bridge — the New South Wales Government has committed to making that promise a reality by the end of 2022. A third flagpole will be added to the structure, giving the Aboriginal flag its own place to fly every single day of the year — instead of the current situation, where it is only on display for 19 days annually, for Australia Day, Sorry Day, Reconciliation Week and NAIDOC Week. The NSW Government will commit $25 million in the 2022–23 NSW budget to installing the third Harbour Bridge flagpole, and will do so before the year is out. The bridge's flagpoles stand around 20 metres high — the same height as a six-storey building — while the flags themselves measure around nine metres by four-and-a-half metres, which means they need a strong attachment that's able to hold in all weather conditions. "Our Indigenous history should be celebrated and acknowledged so young Australians understand the rich and enduring culture that we have here with our past," said NSW Premier Dominic Perrottet in a statement. "Installing the Aboriginal flag permanently on the Sydney Harbour Bridge will do just that and is a continuation of the healing process as part of the broader move towards reconciliation." [caption id="attachment_841961" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Mary and Andrew via Flickr.[/caption] Back in February, when the Premier first revealed that a third flagpole would be erected, he advised that it'd happen "as soon as possible". On exactly what date before 2022 is out that'll become a reality hasn't been announced, however, but there's now a concrete timeframe. The Sydney Harbour Bridge currently has two flag poles, with one flying the Australian flag and, when the Aboriginal flag isn't on display on its allocated days, the other flying the NSW state flag. The move to fly the Aboriginal flag permanently follows a five-year-long campaign by Kamilaroi woman Cheree Toka, who also launched a Change.org campaign in 2020 to continue to call on the NSW government to make this exact move. "The Aboriginal flag is a reminder that the country has a history before European arrival," Toka said two years ago. "I think it's really important to have a symbolic gesture on the bridge that identifies the true history of Australia, which is a starting point for conversation around greater issues affecting the Indigenous population." After the first three years of Toka's campaign, she had amassed more than 157,000 digital signatures and the required 10,000 paper-based signatures to bring the issue to NSW parliament. However, when it was debated in the final NSW parliamentary session of 2019, the result then was that it would cost too much to construct a third flagpole to see the Aboriginal flag flying daily — which was what sparked her crowdfunding campaign to raise the $300,000 quoted by the government to 'fund the flag'. Also in Aboriginal flag news this year, the Australian Government unveiled a copyright deal at the end of January with Luritja artist Harold Thomas, who designed the symbol, to make it freely available for public use. The Aboriginal flag will start flying permanently on the Sydney Harbour Bridge by the end of 2022 — we'll update you when further details are announced. Top image: Boyd159 via Wikimedia Commons.
Dancing in your lounge room: everyone's doing it, and it seems that almost every musician around is happy to provide the soundtrack. Hot on the heels of virtual dance party Room 2 Radio and Aussie live-streamed music festival Isol-Aid comes Courtney Barnett and Lucius & Friends — and it comes with quite the lineup. Clearly, both Courtney Barnett and Lucius will be playing sets — and, like everyone involved, will be doing so live from their own respective lounge rooms. Joining them is a lengthy list of musos, including Nathaniel Rateliff, Lukas Nelson, Fred Armisen, Sheryl Crow, Sharon Van Etten, Emily King, Bedouine and Jonathan Wilson, with more set to pop up on the day. Live-streaming on Monday, March 23 Down Under — at 8am AEST, 9am AEDT and 11am NZDT — the online gig aims to raise money for Oxfam's COVID-19 Relief Fund. https://www.instagram.com/p/B9-o8PWBFn6/ To watch along, head to Lucius' Instagram Live feed. Top image: Bruce via Wikimedia Commons
Lucinda Wolber has created a wonderful line-up of great local talent for the second annual Low Brow Art Exhibition. Last years event was reportedly a great success, so why not put together another stunning group of artists and do it all again? This year sees a collection of lowbrow work including illustration, comic/cartoons, kitsch, skate- and tattooing-based work. The exhibition celebrates the humorous side of lowbrow creation, where the rough, off the cuff, crude and irregular styling’s are appreciated more than the contemporary norms. The full list of artists is as follows: Ellie Anderson Caitlyn Sheedy Alex Winters Josh Rufford Maddy Young Liam Bhats Plump Oyster Danish Quapoor Rachael Bartram Cathryn Rhule Ella Mobbs Gabriele Lee Nick Drake Dave Collinson Sam McKenzie Lucinda Wolber The exhibition opens on the 10th of July, but a special opening night celebration will take place on the night of the 12th at 6pm.
If you haven't yet forked out the krónas to head to Iceland, you might have only hypothesised about that mystical phenomena known as the Northern Lights (or Aurora Borealis) through Philip Pullman's pageturner. But after this little gem of a new project, you'll be booking flights before you can spell Reykjavík. Created by three independent filmmakers from Reykjavík and a web developer from Azambuja, Portugal, and co-produced by Design Studio Borgarmynd and TrailerPark Studios, Iceland Aurora takes timelapse next level. There's been a fair few amateur timelapse videos cranked out featuring the Northern Lights, like this and this, but this new project is just out of control. Scored by Pétur Jónsson, the non-narrative film was shot in more than 50 different locations around Iceland and put together from over 100.000 individual RAW High Res images. Turning Iceland into Hogwarts meets The Riddler's weird mindreading machine from Batman Forever, the Northern Lights get a whole new round of applause in this stunning new film. Iceland Aurora will be available in full HD and 4K resolution, on DVD and digital download in July 2014. Via Fubiz. Images by Iceland Aurora.
You've worked all week. You've earned your thirst. And this Sunday you will be rewarded with a big cold beer. Make tracks to your local pub this weekend because Victoria Bitter is shouting a round all across Australia. The free beer giveaway will go down at over 280 venues around the country this Sunday, May 26 from 2–4pm, including 50 venues across New South Wales, over 80 venues across Victoria and a whopping 120 Queensland venues. A few things you should know: the free brews will be limited to one per person and only while supplies last, so you can't count on a completely free afternoon out. The pub will decide the size of the beer, so it could be a pint, pot or schooey — you'll just have to rock up and see. If you're in Sydney, you can head to the New Brighton in Manly, Pyrmont's Harlequin Inn, and the Crows Nest, Kirribilli and Greenacre hotels — and a heap more locations up north and out west. In Melbourne, punters can go along to Young and Jacksons in the CBD, Elsternwick Hotel, Brunswick's Moreland Hotel, the Royal Oak in Richmond and Essendon's Royal Hotel. Up in Brisbane, the CBD's Victory Hotel is slinging the freebies, as is the Valley's Brunswick Hotel, and the Newmarket, the Breakfast Creek, the Stones Corner and Sunnybank hotels. VB's Our Shout giveaway will run from 2–4pm on Sunday, May 26 at venues across the country. Check NSW, Victoria, Tasmania, SA and ACT venues here, and Queensland and WA venues here.
What would you get if you plucked a handful of our nation’s favourite artists from the streets and studios, bundled them together in an exhibition space with the work of other renown artists and told them to re-create it? The answer: Etcc. Running throughout August as a Semi Permanent side show, Etcc will be in Brisbane for its second exhibition its series, featuring new works that explore the realities of copyright in the visual arts. Now for the important stuff: whose work will be there? Etcc is showcasing a broad range of works from a varied selection of artists including Shida, Georg, Kasino, Anthony Lister, Angus Whelan, Benjamin Reeve, Cezary Stulgis, Elana Mullaly, Jon Dowding, Ken Smith, Rachel Bartram, Rinzen, Rod Bunter, Sebastian Moody, Warren Handley with still more to be announced! These artists have remixed the works of artists Beastman, Bec Winnel, Numskull, Phibs, Ben Frost, MiniGraff, Rena Littleson and Maricor Maricar. The uniquely intriguing concept attracted many the first time round and will no doubt acquire an assembly of fans again for the second. Don’t be the one to miss out! Get down to Shooting Gallery this Friday for opening night. Keep your eyes peeled – those with a keen eye might get to meet the artists themselves.
By this stage, most of us have come to terms with the fact that jetting off to USA or Europe is a seriously long slog, made worse by unavoidable (sometimes long, always painful) stopovers. But that European or American trip looks set to become a whole lot more bearable — including for Brisbane travellers. Last year, Qantas announced that it was exploring non-stop routes from Sydney and Melbourne to London and New York. Earlier this year, CEO Alan Joyce told Bloomberg that the plan — called Project Sunrise — looks set to become a reality. Now Brisbane Times is reporting that direct flights from Brisbane are under consideration too. Sure, only stopping in Sydney on the way to London sounds much better than spending hours in Singapore, Dubai or somewhere else, but not stopping at all sounds even better. As it has always been, the key factor is the most obvious one: planes that can handle the trip. The extra distance involved with flights from the east coast capitals to London and New York is something that none of today's planes can manage, so the airline put out a call to Airbus and Boeing, the world's biggest aircraft manufacturers, to make an aircraft that can go the distance. Joyce said in September that "we're now comfortable that we think we have vehicles that could do it". Looking to start taking off from late 2022 or sometime in 2023, the planes will need to be able to handle around 20 hours to London and 18 hours to New York. The airline has done its homework, analysing a decade's worth of wind and weather data to confirm the routes are actually possible — but it needs the planes to fly it. Those planes could come equipped with extra facilities — such as bunks and workout spaces — to help combat the lengthy time travellers will spend in the air in one stint. And, if and when the new routes are up and running, Qantas will look at direct connections between Australia and other places around the globe, with spots in the Americas, Europe and Africa on the company's list. Qantas already added the hefty 17-hour Perth to London route to its capabilities this year, so it's clearly in the long-haul game for, well, the long haul. Right now, the world's longest direct flight clocks in at over 19 hours, with Singapore Airlines flying 15,322-kilometres along its Singapore-to-New York route. Previously, the journey from Doha and Auckland earned that mantle, taking around 18 hours to travel 14,529 kilometres. Via Brisbane Times.
I think Bansky put it best when he said ‘some people become cops because they want to make the world a better place. Some people become vandals because they want to make the world a better looking place.’ Where would we be without our vandals? Looking at boring city walls and buildings all day? No way, they have better ideas. You don’t have to travel around Brisbane to see the work of our graffiti greats though. A few of them have been working on some art that’s a little more law abiding. To coincide with the National Gallery of Australia’s Space Invaders exhibition at The University of Queensland art Museum, The Edwina Corlette Gallery gives us Super Heroes. The exhibition features recognisable favorites including Anthony Lister, Georg Whelan, Nails, HaHa, Vexta and more, all who have migrated from the streets to canvas in order to make your personal space a better looking place. A great opportunity to invest in some iconic street art and support local artists.
Google's just made life a whole lot easier for people across the world, this week launching a new wheelchair-friendly transit feature for its Maps app. While Google Maps has been helping users get around their cities on public transport for years, a lack of information about important things like wheelchair accessible trains and elevator locations has made the app way less user-friendly for those with limited mobility. But that's set to change, with Google Maps in Sydney, Tokyo, New York, London, Boston and Mexico City now featuring wheelchair accessible route options. When getting directions for public transport, users in these cities can simply hit 'options' and select 'wheelchair accessible' under 'routes' to access a list of suggested courses that take mobility needs into consideration. It's not only a huge (and overdue) win for travellers with physical disabilities, but it's also useful for those getting around on crutches or pushing prams. Google's been enlisting the help of people across the globe to improve this part of its services, gathering accessibility information from individuals and groups of Local Guides for over 12 million places. Plenty more cities are expected to add these wheelchair accessible routes in the coming months — let's hope Melbourne and Brisbane are among them.
Imagine if Ferris Bueller's Day Off was a horror movie, with the eponymous truant skipping class, flitting around Chicago and narrowly avoiding hordes of zombies that start shuffling around on the same day. Or, maybe Dirty Dancing could get the spooky treatment. No one puts Baby in the corner unless they need to help her combat a demon conjured up by the repressive reaction to all that fancy footwork, perhaps? We should probably stop listing these ideas, because Blumhouse Productions might end up making them a reality. Already, the film company has turned Groundhog Day into a horror flick via Happy Death Day and Happy Death Day 2U. It gave 70s TV series Fantasy Island an unsettling makeover, too, to downright awful results. Now, it's Freaky Friday's turn. Body-swap movies span far beyond films starring Jodie Foster (in 1976) and Lindsay Lohan (in 2003), but given that Freaky sets the bulk of its action on a Friday, it's clearly nodding in the obvious direction. The movie begins with a prelude on Wednesday the 11th (yes, not only will most of the chaos go down on a Friday, but it'll happen on Friday the 13th). In the opening scene, four small-town high schoolers do what teens do in the first moments of slasher flicks: talk, party and make out in an empty old mansion, then get killed by a mask-wearing psychopath. Before the quartet meets that fate, its members explain who is responsible. The Blissfield Butcher (Vince Vaughn) is known to have terrorised the area but, due to a lack of recent murders, the serial killer has mostly become an urban legend of late. Writer/director Christopher Landon (Happy Death Day and its sequel) and his co-scribe Michael Kennedy (Bordertown) know that they're sticking to a formula here, and that any viewer who has seen any number of other frightening franchises knows it as well. They're being playful, though, a trait they try to keep up for the rest of the film. Not only is the Butcher real, but he steals a cursed Aztec dagger that lets him swap bodies with his next victim. So, when Millie (Kathryn Newton, Big Little Lies) crosses his path, she wakes up in his very tall and very male guise the next morning — and vice versa. For the Butcher, who instantly kits out Millie's petite frame in an uncharacteristic red leather jacket and tight jeans, it's a dream. He's already known for offing adolescents, and now he can blend in as one of them. For Millie, it takes some explaining to get her besties (The Goldfinch's Misha Osherovich and Selah and the Spades' Celeste O'Connor) not to scream at her new manly form. And, with the entire town is on the lookout for the Butcher, she's forced to run and hide while she's trying to track down her actual body. Shy, bullied and still mourning the death of her father a year ago, Millie also notices the changes that come with her masculine appearance. She can impose her might on her tormenters (although the Butcher has them in his sights, too), and comments on feeling strong and commanding. As Millie explains this strangely empowering sensation — after gags about what's now in her pants, expectedly — Freaky adds some depth to its high-concept horror-comedy idea. It calls out society's accepted notions of male power, and makes it plain that women are never seen in the same forceful fashion. Later, Millie shares a tender exchange with her also grief-stricken, often wine-drinking mother (Katie Finneran, Why Women Kill), showing how it's often easier to unburden your problems upon strangers than loved ones. These are astute and accurate observations, as paired with savvy moments. In a far more lived-in way than fellow recent release The Craft: Legacy, the film eagerly inhabits a progressive and accepting world. But not every aspect lands as intended. Another sequence that sees Millie connect with her crush (Uriah Shelton, Girl Meets World) while also still stuck in the Butcher's body too overtly tries to evoke laughs when they kiss, for example. That patchwork outcome — sometimes things fall into place entertainingly, sometimes they don't — applies to Freaky overall. Given that it sports a big twist right there in its premise, no one should expect a surprise-laden narrative. Still, even though Landon and Kennedy wink and nod as they borrow from other body swap and slasher fare, a movie can be aware of what it's doing, deliver standout moments and elements, and flit between fun and average as well. Freaky is glossily shot, swiftly paced and boasts a memorable graphic match, segueing from a head being slammed by a toilet seat to two teens getting intimate. It's particularly engaging when it ramps up either the gore-splattered horror or the over-the-top comedy. But it also swaps a heap of competing pieces into one package, then appears mostly content to play by the numbers when it comes to relentless serial killers plucking off teens and folks ending up in each other's bodies alike. Oh, and it's mighty keen to make its franchise aspirations well and truly known, too. As a result, Freaky always feels heavily indebted to its lead casting choices, both of which are top-notch. Without either Vaughn or Newton, the film might've resembled The Hot Chick meets the worst Nightmare on Elm Street sequels rather than Freaky Friday meets Friday the 13th. Vaughn gets the showier role, and demonstrates how shrewdly he's considered what it's like to be a teenage girl, with his version of Millie occasionally proving more fleshed out than the real thing. Newton embraces her fierce and fearsome side as the Butcher and, consequently, it's easy to see why Millie herself is a little impressed by her confidence. Both actors do more than just stick to the movie's clearcut concept, crucially — but Freaky itself could've taken their lead more often, and taken note of its titular term far more as well. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=W-M4qEmF268
Since a US remake of Jemaine Clement and Taika Waititi's vampire sharehouse mockumentary What We Do in the Shadow was first hinted to back in 2017 — then confirmed in May the following year — three brief teasers have dropped. Now, finally, us mere mortals have been blessed with a full two-minute trailer. The ten-episode American version is set to air in the US this March, and has been written by Clement and directed by Waititi. It follows three vampire flatmates living in New York City. Despite being written and directed by Clement and Waititi, the duo won't be starring in the new-look series (but may make guest appearances — we hope), instead it'll feature Toast of London's Matt Berry, Four Lions' Kayvan Novak, British stand-up comedian Natasia Demetriou, The Magicians' Harvey Guillen and The Office's Mark Proksch. Unfortunately for Aussie fans, an offical release date has not yet been announced — but it's looking like we will get to see the series. According to ads aired frequently during Foxtel's Golden Globes broadcast, the show is headed to the pay TV network's Fox Showcase channel at a yet-to-be-revealed date. In New Zealand, the ten-episode mockumentary will air on Sky TV's SoHo2 in March. Here's the first full What We Do in the Shadows trailer in all its glory: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VWUiU3t5udM The US remake is just the latest addition to the What We Do in the Shadows universe, too. A follow-up, We're Wolves, is in the works, focusing on the undead bloodsuckers' Rhys Darby-led lycanthrope enemies. And television spinoff Wellington Paranormal, following the movie's cops (Mike Minogue and Karen O'Leary) as they keep investigating the supernatural, debuted its first season last year and has a second season in the works. What We Do in the Shadows will debut in America on FX on Wednesday, March 27, with a New Zealand screening scheduled on SoHo2. We'll update you as soon as further release dates have been announced.
The omnipresence of satellite imaging, thanks particularly to our friends at Google, has meant we have become increasingly desensitised by the awesomeness that is mankind's ability to take detailed photographs of our neighbour's backyard from thousands of kilometres up into space. However, every so often we stumble upon images that reignite our wonder in our seemingly endless technological capacity and the epic majesty that is the natural world. These satellite photographs from John Nelson, a mapping manager at data visualisation company IDV Solutions, capture hurricanes, earthquakes and wildfires across the globe using colour coding and cutting edge data visualisation technology to beautifully and innovatively map some of the most devastating storms throughout history. 11 Years of Major US Fires After devastating fires blazed across Utah and Colorado earlier this year, Nelson gathered satellite imagery from NASA to visually map the spread and intensity of wildfire across the US over the last 11 years. The differing colours represent the intensity of the fire as compared to the average output of a nuclear power plant during Summer. The bright yellow spots, spread primarily across the West Coast, represent fires burning at a heat and intensity of roughly three or more nuclear power plants, with the hottest recorded at approximately 14 nuclear power plants in June, 2005. Every Hurricane and Tropical Storm Over the Last 150 Years With the help of a plethora of data from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration including wind speeds, dates and names, Nelson was able to map every hurricane and tropical storm over the last 150 years. Using this data along with some educated predictions about the movements of 19th Century storms, Nelson "slapped it on a polar projection" and added some colour coding depicting storm intensity to create these incredible images. The maps however serve much more than an artistic purpose, with Nelson creating them in the wake of Hurricane Isaac in order to assist meteorologists in analysing storm trends and even allowing us to detect storms before they have occurred. The World's Earthquakes Since 1898 This map provides an awe-inspiring view of the tectonic boundaries of the Earth's surface. The yellow and green glow represents every earthquake over the last century that measured 4.0 or over on the richter scale, with the more luminous the glow the higher the magnitude of the earthquake.
Love a good dinner party? Well, this March, you can put on a feast that does a whole lot more than just impress your mates and sate your need to play host with the most. The Asylum Seeker Resource Centre's (ASRC) annual Feast for Freedom is back for its 2022 edition, giving Aussies the chance to put on a sumptuous banquet for an excellent cause. Now in its fourth year, the fundraising event invites locals to host their own dinner parties across one dedicated weekend, cooking to home-style recipes supplied by folks seeking asylum. By hosting a Feast for Freedom, you'll not only be celebrating Australia's cultural diversity but also helping to raise important funds for the not-for-profit ASRC, to assist with its work supporting and empowering refugees. The ASRC is Australia's largest human rights organisation providing support to people seeking asylum. You'll also get some cracking new recipes to add to your repertoire, each with a story behind it. And this year's lineup is a very tasty one, featuring dishes like Persian jewelled rice, parvardeh (olive dip), green chilli chicken, gheymeh bademjan (a lamb and eggplant stew) and sago pudding. Cooks who've shared their cuisines and recipes for this year's Feast include Iranian culinary instructor Mahshid and Malaysian-Indian chef Manel. A couple of familiar names will be joining the ASRC's efforts, too, with Darren Purchese (Burch and Purchese) and 2021 Masterchef alumni Kishwar Choudry in the role of ambassadors. Anyone who's keen to get involved can register to host a Feast for Freedom by signing up online. Participants will be sent a hosting kit complete with recipes and all the nitty-gritty fundraising details, before the official Feast for Freedom weekend sees dinner parties happening across the country from Friday, March 25 to Sunday, March 27. Feast for Freedom's 2022 fundraising will go towards supporting the ASRC's Foodbank and its many other services which assist people in the community seeking asylum. The ASRC's Feast for Freedom 2022 is open now for registrations — sign up at the website. The official dinner party weekend will then run from March 25–27, with donations open until April 30.
If dressing up in costume is your favourite part of Halloween, then your wardrobe is getting a workout right now. And, you clearly already know one of the ace (and related) standout things about this time of year: it's perfectly acceptable to wear those costumes anywhere and everywhere. On Friday, October 27 from 7.30pm, that includes kitting up to head to iconic Brisbane music venue The Zoo. The venue is marking Halloween by hosting the return of Creepshow — a one-night-only music fest that's all about live tunes and eerie vibes. Yes, dressing up is encouraged — heartily. There'll even be prizes, including for best solo costume and best group. So, either showing off your individual Halloween look or gathering the gang for a combined stint of scary style should be on the agenda. That said, whatever you're wearing, obviously the music is the real star of the show. Get ready to listen to These New South Whales, Concrete Surfers, Sophisticated Dingo, Sacred Hearts, Bean Magazine, Square and more. Images: The Zoo.
Just when you thought your smartphone might have reached it's multitasking limit, it’s about to take on a job usually left to the law enforcers: breathalysing. That’s right, soon it will be easier than ever for designated drivers to eliminate the risky guesswork involved in decided whether to knock back a sneaky last drink. The initial batch of the world’s first smartphone breathalyser, ‘Alcohoot’, has sold out, and will be ready for shipping in September this year. Keen socialisers can reserve one of the second lot for $75 and expect to have it in their hands by October. Compatible with iPhone, iPad and Android, Alcohoot is powered by a rechargeable lithium-ion battery, which means that the device can handle at least 150 tests. Not only can you use it on yourself, you can also pass it around among friends. The accuracy of the testing system, which is reliant on platinum grade fuel cell sensors, is similar to that of a breathalyser used by police. If you’re interested in developing a detailed understanding of how your body responds to alcohol consumption, you can track your blood alcohol level throughout the course of any given night. If it turns out that you’re over the limit, you can use the app to contact local cabbies, or to find details of nearby restaurants and cafes. [Via Lost at E Minor]
The idea behind theme parks is simple. If someone loves something enough — superhero movies, TV shows, video games, animation studios, a huge entertainment brand or Italian food, for example — they'll be willing to pay money to indulge that affection. And, they'll be particularly keen to roam around an entire site dedicated to their favourite thing, celebrating it all day long. With that in mind, if you're someone who simply can't get enough bubble tea, you'll want to head to Japan's latest theme park. There are no prizes for guessing what patrons will be drinking at Tokyo Tapioca Land; however, that's not all they'll be doing. Attendees will also be able to work their way around various tapioca-themed photo booths, and try different tapioca foods and beverages, including from some of the country's big brands. Based on sketches on the theme park site, as well as a report by Sora News 24, they may also be climb onto tapioca-themed rides. Just what most of above will entail is being kept rather vague — and yes, it sounds a more than a little like the incredibly Instagram-friendly food-focused sites that've been popping up around the place, such as Australia's Sugar Republic. Tellingly, Tokyo Tapioca Land is a temporary attraction, setting up shop outside of the station in Harajuku train station from August 13 to September 16. [caption id="attachment_707444" align="aligncenter" width="1920"] Gotcha Tea[/caption] If you're going to be in Tokyo at the time, pre-sales have already sold out, but there will be tickets available on the day for 1200 yen (around AU$16) — if you're willing to brave what'll likely be some significant queues. For those who don't have a trip to Japan on the cards, perhaps trying to drink away your envy by indulging in a bubble tea or several will help. Tokyo Tapioca Land will be open at jing, outside the Harajuku train station at 6-7 Jingumae Shibuya-ku, Tokyo, from August 13 to September 16. For further details, visit the website. Via PR Times / Sora News 24.
Brisbane’s favourite local duo are back with a new album and a new enhancement to their name, i.e. an imaginary deadly power beam. Yes, it’s DZ Deathrays. Same band, same sound, but with some additional letters of the alphabet. Extending the equations of their explosive punk rock sound, following on from their previous release DZ Ruined My Life, the DZ Deathrays newest EP edition Brutal Tapes is electric, aggressive and promises more strobes than ever. In celebration of their EP launch set for April 1, the DZ boys will begin their national tour locally at Woodland Brisbane. No, this is not a DZ comical April fools joke - I hope. Be sure to make some time amongst your pranking to catch DZ before they escape overseas for their international tour. You might have heard their new track ‘Rad Solar’ broadcasted over the radio waves but this is your chance to see and hear the electric new EP before any other. And, if you weren’t already aware, it is vital to observe DZ performing live to really capture the essence of their harsh punky, electric sound. Prepare you ears for an angry outburst of sound. Bring a bucket, it’s going to be sick.
If you've been perplexed, provoked or just plain pissed off by Shia LaBeouf's antics, you can now gain some insights. In an exclusive interview with Dazed, artists Luke Turner and Nastja Rönkkö open up about collaborating with the Nymphomaniac star on #IAMSORRY. "At its core, the most fascinating part of the performance was whether people would see Shia as a person, flesh and bones and soul, or as an object, a celebrity," says Nastja. "I also find it quite revealing that whereas in the past everyone wanted to become celebrities, today everyone wants to be an artist. For me, this opens up questions of whether our value systems are moving towards something more meaningful." Shia copped quite a bit of flak last year when Daniel Clowes fans made plagiarism accusations. As far they were concerned, LaBoeuf's new film Howard Cantour.com (2012) was far too close to Clowes' comic Justin M. Damiano (2007) for comfort. Previously, in an inflamed letter to Alec Baldwin, he'd passed off several paragraphs written by Tom Chiarella as his own. As if that wasn't attention enough — or perhaps because he sought to shift the focal point of the public eye — he turned up to the Berlin Film Festival wearing a paper bag bearing the statement, 'I am not famous anymore', quoted Eric Cantona at the Nymphomaniac press conference, and vanished. Some people were sympathetic; others expressed outrage. Either way, the stunt swamped arts headlines all over the globe. Then, like any good Matthew Arnold scholar, he sought refuge in art. For six days, a Los Angeles gallery hosted Shia's performance #IAMSORRY, which involved the either beleaguered or exceptionally publicity-hungry actor donning a tuxedo and paper bag and crying in public. Visitors reacted by losing their temper, taking selfies or offering congratulations. It was a multiplatform project that also played out on Shia's Twitter, in skywriting and a university seminar in which he read Guy Debord to students. In Nastja's view, Shia "made a genuine mistake during the process of trying to find his directorial feet" and has "undoubtedly regretted it deeply ever since". The actor approached the pair while the plagiarism controversy was going on. "Right from our very first meeting, I had been convinced of his commitment to his art and the trueness of his aim," Luke says. The artists both indicate that they intend to keep working with Shia, so expect to feel that vague annoyance towards him for some time yet. Read more about the history of Shia's new art form in our feature on ten crazy things done in the name of performance art.
Think of a way to group movies together — any way you like — and there's probably a film festival doing just that. Some celebrate features from a particular country or part of the world, and others revel in the weird and wonderful side of filmmaking. There's even film fests for dog flicks, and retrospectives focusing on filmmakers and genres have become as common as popcorn. But Brisbane's latest cinematic celebration, the Brisbane Only Rotoscoped Lightning Film Festival, just might've found itself a unique niche. Its focus: movies that feature hand-drawn lightning effects. Those distinctive visual touches have graced everything from David Lynch's OG big-screen adaptation of Dune through to the early-90s all-ages delights that are The Addams Family and Addams Family Values — which are on BORLFF's lineup, naturally. The fest will make its debut from Friday, July 29–Sunday, August 7, screening at New Farm Cinemas. And yes, that acronym does sound like the noise you might make when you see hand-drawn lightning effects and are so excited that you just have to exclaim something — anything — out loud. In total, 11 films will screen over the fest's ten-day run, with Lynch's Dune opening the program. While the recent Timothée Chalamet version is spectacular, that original, lightning effects and all, is also its own kind of cinematic treasure. Also on the bill: John Carpenter's Big Trouble in Little China, because every film fest needs a bit of Kurt Russell; martial arts comedy The Last Dragon; 1950s sci-fi wonder Fantastic Planet; early Marvel adaptation Howard the Duck; and the one and only Hellraiser. There's also Lifeforce, from The Texas Chain Saw Massacre director Tobe Hooper; Invasion of Astro-Monster, because every film fest needs a Godzilla flick as well; and 1993's Super Mario Bros, complete with Dennis Hopper as King Koopa. BORLFF stems from Netherworld, Two Bit Movie Club — the regular cult and classic movie event that often screens at the arcade bar — and New Farm Cinemas. It'll also feature an art show, via Feature Presentation, showcasing new interpretations of movie posters for the fest's films. They'll display at New Farm Cinemas during the festival, and you'll be able to buy prints of them, too. And yes, thanks to its Addams Family pinball machine, New Farm Cinemas is clearly the ideal venue for a fest like this.
When Interface asked Francois Chambard what kind of art he could devise from carpet tiles, these critters were his response. He and 29 other designers and architects put their carpeted creations up for auction, raising $16,000 for Design Industries Foundation Fighting AIDS (DIFFA). Interface organised the auction to mark the official opening of its new showroom in New York City, an 8,000 square foot space that looks over the Empire State Building. Other designers invited to contribute included David Ling, Harry Allen, Russell Groves, Joey Shimoda and D.B. Kim, and over 400 prominent industry members comprised the crowd. Peter Greene, the Vice President of marketing of Interface’s American arm, expressed the company’s enthusiasm. “The galvanizing impact that DIFFA brings to our design community is overwhelming, and Interface is excited it could join with the organization as we put out the welcome mat to our new Big Apple showroom . . . We’re delighted the proceeds of this event could help swell DIFFA’s coffers a bit more and at the same time let us welcome architects and designers into our new space with a fun occasion that also gives back in a meaningful way.” Interface is not only the world’s largest supplier of carpet tiles, but also one of the most socially conscious corporations on the stock exchange. Anyone who’s seen Canadian documentary The Corporation may remember the role played by then CEO Ray Anderson in representing the potential for an ethical approach to business. When Anderson passed away in August 2011, headlines proclaimed him ‘the greenest CEO in America’. Images: gBlog [Via boing boing]
For some bands fame, fortune, adoration and all the rest happens in the blink of an eye; for others it is a slow burn. This was the case for Melbourne band The Panics - after four EPs and two albums they released the album Cruel Guards in 2007, and things took off from there - They won Triple J’s coveted J Award and had a top 10 track in the Triple J Hottest 100 in the same year. Following the success of Cruel Guards, The Panics spent almost two years touring far and wide before finally settling down and basing themselves in the iconic music hub of Manchester to write a new album, then heading to New York City to record it. Finally in 2011 the fruit of this transnational music making process was released in the form of Rain on a Humming Wire and like the last album, this has received rave reviews. Once again the band are hitting the road to perform and share their new selection of beautiful music across the country - they’ll be in Brisbane for one night only. Brisbane fans need not panic, just get your butts down to the Hi-Fi and see this homegrown class act before they disappear off the Australian map again.
You know when you're trying to read on a train but you just can't tune out that other passenger's borezo conversation? Or when you're at a festival and you want to turn up the base? It's these times that you wish you could just flick a switch in your ear and change the levels, but laugh the thought away because we're humans, not robots, and we don't have switches anyway. Well that may be true, but a Silicon Valley start-up have developed wireless earbuds which, when placed in your ear, can give you control over what you hear — and what you don't. It's called the Here Active Listening system, and it's basically a fancy add-on to your actual, working ear. The earbuds are controlled by a smartphone app and, once in your ear, can be used to modify the sounds around you. What does this mean? Well it would allow you to eliminate sounds (say, a crying baby), increase the bass and amplify sounds, such the voice of the person you're talking to — which would be great in loud environments, like gigs and festivals. This last point is probably why creators Doppler Labs have decided to release the product at Coachella this year. Here will be fully integrated into the festival, and will give punters the opportunity to access exclusive 'listening experiences' and audio filters. There will even be presets optimised for each stage. It will be the first opportunity for people to purchase the earbuds since the project raised over $600,000 on Kickstarter last year. There's no set date on when the rest of the us not attending Coachella can try them out, but the price point is set to be around $200-300. Via Mashable.
He has filled the National Gallery of Victoria with silver bikes, thrown paint over his pals, had quite the public fight with Lego and set up a studio in Lesbos to draw attention to the refugee crisis. And, before he heads to Australia again for the 2018 Sydney Biennale, Ai Weiwei is continuing to contemplate and challenge the way that immigration and security are handled in his latest New York installation. It'll be his largest and most ambitious public exhibition to date, and he's asking for help to make it happen. Due to be unveiled in October, Ai Weiwei's next project is called Good Fences Make Good Neighbors, as presented by the city's Public Art Fund. To assist in the massive effort — which will feature site-specific pieces, plus 2D and 3D artwork, spanning more than 300 outdoor sites in all five boroughs — the Chinese artist has launched a Kickstarter campaign. At the time of writing, it has passed the halfway mark towards his US$80,000 goal. Given the exhibition's title, as well as Ai Weiwei's ongoing political activism, it's far from surprising that Good Fences Make Good Neighbors addresses the plight of migrants and refugees, immigration and border control policies, and the current global rise in nationalism. Drawing upon his own experience in detention, as well as his visits to refugee camps around the world, the project will adapt security fencing in a number of different ways, and in unexpected places, in order to make a statement about division and separation. New Yorkers can expect pieces at street level, on rooftops, between buildings, on lampposts, attached to frame bus shelters and elsewhere in the urban landscape, as well as site-specific installations in the likes of Central Park and Washington Square Park. With the project running through until February 2018, the artworks are designed to act "as powerful metaphors in a city that has long served as a gateway to the United States for millions of immigrants," according to the Public Art Fund website. For those unable to see the end result in person, it's not the only thing the always-busy Ai Weiwei has been cooking up of late. Human Flow, his new documentary about the global refugee crisis, has just premiered at the Venice Film Festival. It'll have its Aussie debut at the Adelaide Film Festival in October, before reaching cinemas around the country on December 7. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YP5F7-RwVgM Images: Ai Weiwei studio via Kickstarter.
Being The Drums means being one of the most hardworking bands around at the moment – since they skyrocketed in hype in 2009, The Drums haven't slowed down, incessantly touring and releasing two LPs in that time. They've visited antipodean shores before, working the festival circuit and are about to do it for the third time – this time around for St. Jerome's Laneway Festival in Australia. Singer Jonny Pierce took some time out to talk to Kirstie Sequitin about the rise and rise of the band, recording Portamento in their kitchen and getting lost in translation in Poland. Hi Jonny, how are you? Hey there, how you doin'? I'm good thank you, how's your day going? It's going pretty good, I'm down in Puerto Rico right now, just wrapping up my first real holiday since we started the band and heading back to wintery New York City tomorrow morning. It's a little fast to be leaving but I'm also ready for it – I'm having a really hard time actually relaxing. My mind is constantly reeling so I think it'll actually feel better to sort of, do something creative again. This is the first time, actually, that we've had time for a break… we've had just under a month off. That's the longest time that we've had off since we started three years ago. Because we've just been going going going, even a month feels like a very long time. I feel like we all feel somewhat refreshed and excited to come to Australia, which is a change from sort of the, the, how we were feeling a few months ago when we were wrapping up a very long three-year tour. So Australia will kind of be the first stop after your holidays then? It will, absolutely, yeah. It'll be nice to continue this warm weather, actually. I really didn't like warm weather as a child - I was always drawn towards the cold winters but uh, getting older, so, things change I suppose. You've been coming to Australia every year basically since you started – doing the festival circuit and your sideshows and tours and whatever – how do you feel about coming here so often? Do you like it here? Well, we've always had a really warm reception in Australia so it is a place that we look forward to going… and you know there are some places that we've gone a few times and every time it feels the same but there's always this… it feels like every time we've been to Australia there's been this mounting electricity in the air. It's that sort of thing that keeps you on the road. It seems that the fans there are a bit more rowdy than most of the places which really gets us through the show and makes us excited and makes us sort of play the best show possible. And it's nice to go somewhere where people speak English, to be quite honest (laughs). We spend a lot of time sort of, pointing at venues, and… a lot of sign language. So it's sort of nice to just be able to talk to people. Yeah. "We… like… being… here…" Yeah, exactly. Or like, memorising the words Thank You in every language. It seems that I think I know it and I walk up on stage confidently and it completely slips my mind. I end up asking my guitar player how to say thank you in Polish and he tells me – he gives me an answer that's almost right but just wrong enough to make me look foolish and for the entire set I'm saying thank you wrong… (laughs) Oh, that's awesome. Literally happens non-stop. You were saying before that you being in Puerto Rico is the first holiday that you've had since you guys have started – so how does it feel to be on the road for three years? Do you feel like you've enjoyed those three years or do you feel like it's a bit of a burden? Well, when we first started writing songs for this band and recording, we were living in the middle of nowhere in Florida and it was just Jacob and I – we wrote the Summertime EP and then we recorded most of the first album and that whole time we thought we'd be the only two people who would ever hear it. And out of nowhere, we were asked to play a show in New York City – you know, we had a MySpace page and that was it – so we went off to New York and played the show and the next day we were getting calls from record labels and managers and booking agents. Right from the very first show that we played it was a non-stop whirlwind up until a month ago. At the beginning everything is exotic and exciting and surreal and there's nowhere to really feel like you can put your feet down because the whole time it just felt like we were floating and being hyped up as we were. You don't even really feel anything: we didn't have time to feel excited, we didn't have time to feel angry, we didn't have time to feel anything which is just so, so wild. And then about a year into it, the dust starts to settle a little bit and our feet started touching the ground and you sort of have a clearer vision of what you are as a band and we realised where we had landed. It was really exciting, we felt really grateful for everything – and we still do – but, you know, the reality was… none of us were home, ever, and we were always all together and you don't think about those things when you start a band. You think, 'Oh, we'll play a couple of shows here and there, and I'll keep my bartending job and you'll keep your retail job and that will be enough…' you just jump into it because it's exciting. It's very simple - we just spent too much time together and things started to get a little bit ugly. To me, when things get dramatic and ugly, to me it's a really exciting time to be creative, because I think the best art comes through hardship, and that sort of anger and bitterness really gave Portamento a darker texture that I think we were hoping for. So I think, without really saying it, we were all welcoming the drama. Since then, when we finished Portamento and released it, I think we all felt something break… it was just a unifying experience and I think what we all really learned from the whole thing was to give each other space and to respect each other's opinions. Jacob, Connor and I are all really stubborn, bull-headed people and I don't think this band would exist or be able to survive if we weren't that way. I think it's those three dynamic, clashing heads all the time that… that's where the ideas come from. I'm grateful for all of that and I wouldn't want this to be easy and comfortable because I think that's the number one way to lose your creative spark. Yeah, definitely. (And then the line gets cut and Kirstie's heart breaks a little bit. But he calls her back!) Hello! I don't know what happened there. Alright, so I always read the fact that you guys produced Portamento in your kitchen – is that true? Mmhmm. Do you think that for your next efforts you'll go into the studio? Or do you think you'll continue this kind of, very DIY sensibility. Um, I don't know. We didn't do things DIY because we thought we should – we did things DIY because it was the only option when we started. We were completely broke – we didn't have cars, we didn't really have friends, we were living in this small apartment complex in Kissimmee, Florida, riding my bike to work, a 36-mile round trip every day, that sort of thing. We were really broke. So we just downloaded recording software illegally (laughs) and borrowed our friend's guitar and used an old synthesizer that Jacob's mum gave him and bought a $25 microphone from RadioShack and just recorded things that way. With Portamento we just decided that we were really happy with how the first album turned out. We were trying to record things as professionally as we possibly could but because we didn't have the right gear and the right know-how to do it, we sort of landed on a certain sound by accident but we really learned to love it and call it our own. For Portamento we didn't want to stray from that. We kept it the same way and didn't buy any new equipment or any new recording gear, we just decided to make another record how we made the first. And The Drums, I think so far our heart has been into doing it on our own, but that's just because that's sort of how it happened and I think however we go about the next album – whether we get a producer or we do it ourselves again, or we co-produce, I'm not really sure – whatever it is, you can bet that it's because that's what we want to do. That's the number one thing for us, to never look back and feel like we've made a long list of compromises. So if we work with a producer it's because we feel like we should for the next album and not because someone tells us we should. It's about feeling really natural about everything. Alright, I think that's all I've got for today – thank you so much for your time Jonny and thanks for calling me back after I dropped out there. No problem at all, thank you. Have a great time in Australia, et cetera et cetera. Oh, and have fun in Puerto Rico! Oh, thank you, I will - we have had a really nice time. I lied to this man and told him I had a boating license so I've been taking his boat out every day. So, so far you know that I've been downloading illegal software and lying to people in Puerto Rico – it's not all bad, I swear. The Drums will be playing at St. Jerome's Laneway Festival in Australia. This interview was originally conducted for Scene Magazine.
