Pairing wine with cheese happens so naturally that you've probably found yourself pouring a glass, then reaching for a cheese knife, without even thinking — and you've likely done so more than once. This dynamic duo is also a festival favourite, because event organisers know the same truth as the rest of us: this combo just never gets old. The latest excuse to head out of the house, sip vino and tuck into slivers of dairy: The Sound Garden's wine and cheese festival. Given the venue, this event also adds live music to the mix, all from 12pm on Sunday, September 12. Tambourine Cheese and Little White Goat will be among the stalls serving up cheese, cheese and more cheese — including freeze-dried goat feta — while wineries on drinks duty include Craggy Range, Mountadam, Yangarra, AIX and Taittinger Champagne. Entry is free and, from there, you can plan your eating and drinking however you like. A single wine token will cost you $10, or you can get five for $50 — or opt for cheese and vino bundles from $55–65. Tambourine Cheese is also hosting a masterclass, if you'd like to learn something amid the fun.
Before 2020 hit, anyone who found themselves in the Brisbane CBD on a Friday was bound to have plenty of company. But after a year of lockdowns, social-distancing measures and modifying routines in response to the pandemic, the city centre isn't the thriving hub of activity it once was when the working week comes to an end. To bring more folks back into the city — and to get them to spend more money to support the CBD's businesses while they're there — the Property Council of Australia has unveiled a new initiative. Called Fridays in the City, it kicks off today, Friday, May 21, and runs through until Friday, June 25. And if you're a nine-to-five worker, it means that you can get excited about free coffees, cheap lunches, rooftop exercise classes and more. Different activities and offers are available in different parts of the inner city, so you're likely to find something that appeals to you. If spending as little cash on a meal or drinks as possible tempts your tastebuds (and your wallet), the Myer Centre is doing $2 deals from 12–3pm, while Vapiano is slinging a $15 special that includes either a pasta bake or pizza foldover and a soft drink until 5pm. Aquila Caffe Bar is dishing up $30 pizza and jug combos, and Grape Therapy is serving up free olives and chips with every drink purchase between 4–5pm. Fancy a free coffee? Nespresso will be handing them out in the Wintergarden, but only one specific Friday — between 12–4pm on Friday, May 28. But, because office buildings are also taking part in the initiative, workers at some CBD addresses will be able to score free cuppas and snacks onsite every week — at 40 Tank Street, 85 George Street, 343 Albert Street, 61 Mary Street, Brisbane Square, 69 Ann Street, 275 George Street, 32 Turbot Street and 175 Eagle Street. A heap of other specific buildings are hosting various giveaways and events in their lobbies, too, including Waterfront Place and Eagle Street Pier. At 100 Creek Street and Central Plaza, there'll be games and live music — and at 111 Eagle Street and Riverside Centre, free gelato and popcorn will be available on certain dates in June. Some of the Fridays in the City deals and freebies are only on offer to workers in those buildings, so you might turn up and find a surprise. Other events are open to everyone, such as Goodlife's free 11.30am and 12.30pm fitness classes in Post Office Square, plus Glowing Yoga's rooftop class atop the Wintergarden on June 18. For the full list, head to the initiative's website. [caption id="attachment_812924" align="aligncenter" width="1920"] Kgbo via Wikimedia Commons[/caption] Announcing the campaign, Property Council Queensland Deputy Executive Director Jen Williams said that it's all about helping boost foot traffic on "the best day of the working week". She continued: "People are more relaxed, and workers are more likely to go shopping, knock off early for a drink, or meet up with friends for dinner at a restaurant after work. However, since the pandemic Fridays haven't been the same. According to the Property Council's office occupancy data, people tend to opt to work from home on Mondays and Fridays, meaning the CBD is noticeably quieter than during the middle of the week." The Property Council launched a similar initiative in Melbourne earlier this month, called FOMO Fridays. Fridays in the City runs each Friday between May 21–June 25. For further details, head to the initiative's website. Top image: Kgbo via Wikimedia Commons.
If you've been dreaming overseas holidays lately (and doing so a little bit more than normal), there's a good reason for that. Every February, the annual BrisAsia Festival takes over Brisbane, showering the city in Asian food and culture — and making us all wish we had a getaway in our future. The month-long fest is comprised of heaps of smaller events and mini festivals, and one of them is particularly tasty. Head along to the BrisAsia Food Festival to tuck into everything from dumplings to curries, plus Chinese dishes and Filipino cuisine as well. Rather than just happening in one place on Saturday, February 20–Sunday, February 21, this festival will see you jumping between participating venues across the two days and enjoying their specials. So, you could start off with a snack at 8848 Momo House, then have lunch at Chu the Phat, and later pop into Kubo's Bar and Grill for dinner. Curry 'n' Cask, Golden Palace Chinese Restaurant in Fortitude Valley and Fat Dumpling Bar are all taking part, too, as are Madame Wu, Super Bowl, and Indian Brothers in Taringa and Annerley.
Gelato Messina first introduced its cookie pies to the world in 2020, and tastebuds across Australia thanked them. Then, it kept bringing the OTT dessert back when we all needed an extra dose of sweetness across the year. In fact, the dessert fiends have been serving them up for more than 12 months now. Messina celebrated that one-year milestone back in April; however, it isn't done with cookie pies yet. The chain has proven that a few times already over the past couple of months. And, it's committing to the concept in a big way in its stores going forward. Melburnians and Brisbanites, get ready to head into the Fitzroy and South Brisbane venues, then walk out with a single-serve cookie pie. Yes, this cookie pie really is just for one person — and not just because you're not willing to share. The smaller-sized desserts come ready to eat as well. They're also topped with a scoop of gelato, because of course they are. Hang on, cookie pie? Yes, it's a pie, but a pie made of cookie dough. If you're new to the concept, that's all you really need to know. To pick up one of these single-serve desserts, you'll need to head to the Fitzroy and South Brisbane stores from 6pm on Monday and Tuesday evenings. That's the only time they're available, so marking your calendars is perfectly sensible. Don't worry about pre-ordering, though, as that isn't required. Expect to pay $12 with a scoop, or $10 if somehow you don't want gelato on top. And if you're a Sydneysider reading this, the pies were trialled at Rosebery pre-lockdown, but are on hold while the city is under stay-at-home conditions. Gelato Messina's single-serve choc chip cookie pies are available on Monday and Tuesday nights from 6pm at its Fitzroy and South Brisbane stores.
Summer in most places means making the most of the great outdoors, with live tunes, street food and pop-up bars tempting everyone outside. Of course, that's the deal all year round in sunny, sultry, rarely cold Brisbane. So, on Saturday, July 15, Coorparoo Square is making the most of the River City and Sunshine State capital's glorious winter weather by ticking through that list: music, bites, brews and fresh air. From 3–8pm, the first Grooves on the Green will take place. Providing the tunes: Jess Irvine, The Colliflowers, Beth Foad Jazz Quartet and Mr Sax Australia. Food-wise, smoked pulled meat will come courtesy of Beyond the Pale — who'll also be on drinks duty — while wings and barbecue skewers will hail from Kubos Bar & Grill. Naturally, Burrito Bar will remain true to its name. Tickets to head along cost $10, and also help a good cause, with proceeds going to Coorparoo charity Stepping Stone Clubhouse.
If you're the kind of traveller who books their hotels based on their spa facilities, then we foresee a stay at JW Marriott Gold Coast in your future. The Surfers Paradise spot is about to become home to Spa by JW, where soaking, steaming, sipping and staring at scenic views will all be on the menu in the relaxing venue's hefty 2500-square-metre wellness space. The new spa joins the hotel as part of its $35-million transformation, and will open its doors on Wednesday, July 12. Inside, everyone chasing their bliss can expect the sounds of the ocean, a vantage over the hinterland, both tea and wine service, and a sizeable list of treatment options and spa packages. Fancy a massage solely designed to help you sleep? An aromatherapy facial? Hopping in the bath with your date or best mate? They're all on offer. Upon arrival, guests will first be greeted at Spa by JW's curator's desk, then hang out in a living room-style lounge setup before diving in. From there, six different rooms will unleash the venue's treatments, including one just for couples that comes with its own private lounge, ensuite stone bath and twin showers. Also onsite: saunas, steam experience showers, pods for relaxing and an outdoor area dedicated to exactly that as well. For those making a group hang out of their spa experience, Spa by JW features a space for private groups, too, that's intimate but still in view of the wider lounge. And, if you're keen to eat and drink while you're there, the tea service is all about local inspiration, the food menu is curated by the hotel's Executive Chef Paul Smart and vino is an option. This is the first Spa by JW in the Australia and New Zealand region, with Australian design studio DBI taking care of its look. As the building's original architects and interior designers, it has a history with the site, and has gone with a coastal Queensland vibe for the wellness space. Think: curves aplenty, translucent walls, natural materials and textures, and neutral hues, plus lighting to suit the mood. "As we've watched the world re-open from the challenges of the past few years, it is an exciting time for us at JW Marriott Gold Coast Resort & Spa to finally reveal this long-awaited chapter of our renovation and welcome back both locals, domestic and international travellers to relax, unwind and rejuvenate at Spa by JW," said Ravinder Dhesi, the hotel's General Manager. Spa by JW opens at JW Marriott Gold Coast, 158 Ferny Avenue, Surfers Paradise on Wednesday, July 12 — operating 9am–6pm Monday–Saturday and 10am–5pm on Sundays.
Savvy sartorial shoppers, rejoice — Metre Market is doubling its fun. If you went along to any of its previous events over the years, dropped by its Christmas get-together or moseyed along to its Coorparoo market, you'll know the drill. Fashion is this outfit's main domain, but you'll also find music, food, arts, homewares, bespoke jewellery and other design pieces among their stalls. In fact, with giving Brisbanites an opportunity to sell their pre-loved clothes the main reason that the market originally came to fruition, you can even get in on the action by applying for a metre or two of space. And if all you want to do is browse and buy, there's plenty of that on offer too. Now making a regular thing of it at a second location at Carindale PCYC on every third Sunday of the month, the next market will take place from 10am–2pm on Sunday, May 19. Not only is Carindale Markets by Metre Market free to attend, but it features the best things money can buy from local up-and-coming designers, artists and makers. As always, there'll also be a rack sale — aka folks selling their own old outfits. Image: Metre Market.
When projectors start rolling at the Brisbane International Film Festival for 2024, the annual showcase of cinema will kick off with a journey behind the scenes of a TV premiere that changed comedy history. When the movie-worshipping event comes to an end for another year, it'll do so with a portrait of a tennis star. In-between, get ready for everything from Selena Gomez's latest big-screen role to a music biopic made with Lego — and pioneering Australian animation, First Nations' horror, Cate Blanchett navigating a global crisis and more. Yes, the full BIFF lineup is here. The River City's major film fest has been unveiling its titles for a few weeks, so Saturday Night launching the fest and Unbreakable: The Jelena Dokic Story closing it aren't new news. Also already known: that the program includes Anora, the latest feature from Tangerine, The Florida Project and Red Rocket filmmaker Sean Baker, which won the Palme d'Or at the 2024 Cannes Film Festival; the Amy Adams (Dear Evan Hansen)-starring Nightbitch; Riley Keough (Daisy Jones & the Six) and Jesse Eisenberg (Fleishman Is in Trouble) playing a sasquatch family in Sasquatch Sunset; Aussie horror The Red, which is quite the kangaroo story; and the female Iranian judo athlete-focused Tatami. Even just days before the complete lineup dropped, the festival revealed that it's showing Venice Golden Lion-winner The Room Next Door, aka the newest movie from Spanish auteur Pedro Almodóvar (Parallel Mothers, Pain and Glory) and his English-language feature debut, with Tilda Swinton (Fantasmas), Julianne Moore (May December) and John Turturro (Mr & Mrs Smith) starring. And, it advised that it's screening Venice's Silver Lion-winner The Brutalist, which picked up the Italian fest's Best Director prize and hails from actor-turned-filmmaker Brady Corbet (The Childhood of a Leader, Vox Lux), as well. Now comes everything else that'll get eight Brisbane venues in the BIFF mood, and audiences with them, across Thursday, October 24–Sunday, November 3. The places to head to: Palace Barracks, Dendy Coorparoo, Reading Newmarket, Five Star Cinemas New Farm, Angelika Film Centre, Dendy Powerhouse and Dendy Portside, as well as taking the festival to the city's western suburbs at Reading Jindalee. Gomez (Only Murders in the Building) joins the BIFF lineup via Emilia Pérez, the musical crime comedy from Jacques Audiard (A Prophet, Rust and Bone) that also stars Karla Sofia Gascón (Harina) and Zoe Saldaña (Special Ops: Lioness), and won all its ensemble cast Cannes' Best Actress prize this year. Plastic bricks are on the bill courtesy of Piece by Piece, which gives Pharrell Williams the on-screen bio treatment, but not in the usual way. Blanchett (Borderlands) features in Rumours, which boasts the The Green Fog's inimitable trio Guy Maddin, Evan Johnson and Galen Johnson behind the lens. And as also mentioned above, BIFF has the world premiere of homegrown animation The Lost Tiger, the first such Aussie flick written and directed by an Indigenous woman, on the bill as well — and also Sundance-debuting horror The Moogai. Other newly unveiled highlights include Malcolm Washington's feature directorial debut The Piano Lesson, which has his brother John David Washington (The Creator), as well as Samuel L Jackson (Fight Night) and Danielle Deadwyler (Till), among the cast; dreamy Buffy-inspired sensation I Saw the TV Glow from We're All Going to the World's Fair's Jane Schoenbrun; and Hunter Schafer (Euphoria)- and Dan Stevens (Abigail)-starring thriller Cuckoo. There's also Sundance Audience Award-winner Sujo, about the son of a cartel gunman; Audrey, as led by Jackie van Beek (Nude Tuesday) as a mother who steals the identity of her teenage daughter, who is in a coma; and restaurant-set dramedy La Cocina featuring Rooney Mara (Women Talking). BIFF attendees can look forward to Inside, too, with the prison drama starring Guy Pearce (The Clearing), Cosmo Jarvis (Shōgun) and Toby Wallace (The Bikeriders) — and directed by Charles Williams, who won the 2018 short film Palme d'Or for All These Creatures. The Seed of the Sacred Fig is the latest film from Mohammad Rasoulf (There Is No Evil), with the movie's place on this year's Cannes lineup seeing him forced to flee Iran after being sentenced to flogging and imprisonment. And All We Imagine as Light was the first Indian film to play in Cannes' competition in three decades. Elsewhere, In Vitro is an Ashley Zukerman (Succession)-led Australian sci-fi thriller about a couple doing biotech experiments, the Ilana Glazer (The Afterparty)-led mom-com Babes is helmed by Pamela Adlon from Better Things, and Carnage for Christmas brings Yuletide mayhem courtesy of a tale about a true-crime podcaster in the sights of a psychotic killer. And for a piece of inspiration, the Osher Günsberg-narrated 150 follows Erchana Murray-Bartlett's attempt to run 150 marathons over 150 days. In total, 52 features grace BIFF's 2024 roster, meaning there's plenty more joining all of the aforementioned flicks — and plenty of excuses for Brisbane movie lovers to spend 11 days doing nothing but watching festival films in cinemas. [caption id="attachment_974225" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Courtesy of Focus Features / © 2024 FOCUS FEATURES LLC[/caption] [caption id="attachment_974224" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Elise Lockwood[/caption] The 2o24 Brisbane International Film Festival runs between Thursday, October 24–Sunday, November 3 at Palace Barracks, Dendy Coorparoo, Dendy Powerhouse, Reading Newmarket, Five Star Cinemas New Farm and Angelika Film Centre. For further information, or to buy tickets, head to the festival website.
In a case of common sense prevailing — and, a cinema realising that charging more during peak times wasn't going to lure movie-goers in — Village Cinemas has cancelled their surge pricing trial on movie tickets. The theatre chain issued news.com.au with a statement, advising "we were running pricing variation trials over the summer period which we appreciate may have caused angst and concern to our customers." The company continues, "we can now confirm that all pricing variation trials have been stopped effective immediately... Our goal is to ensure movie going remains as an affordable entertainment choice for our guests." As first reported on Reddit, Village had been increasing ticket costs after 5pm on Fridays and Saturdays, to the tune of between 50 cents and $1 more per movie — and ramping up candy bar prices by between 30 cents and $1 per item as well. Yes, it's the same concept that Uber users hate during busy periods, on trial at multiplexes including Crown, Fountain Gate, Doncaster, Jam Factory, Southland and Werribee during the summer school holidays. While the idea of variable movie ticket prices isn't new — student discounts, cheap Tuesdays and the like — charging more during peak cinema-going slots was never going to be well-received given that Aussie ticket costs rose 31 percent in the decade to 2016. And though Village Cinemas was ramping up the cost in popular periods, it wasn't decreasing them for slow sessions and times. Via news.com.au
It's a shopper's dream: walk into a store, browse the racks, and then pay whatever you think is best. Trust those vintage fiends at Vinnies to put the idea into practice, and to keep raising money for charity in the process. Vinnies Myer Centre Pop-Up is a first for both the organisation and the CBD shopping centre, trading up until Christmas eve. Expect the usual array of clothing, accessories and other items to grace their racks, not that there's anything usual about trawling for secondhand treasure. Not knowing what you'll find is all part of the experience. And if the idea of choosing how much you want to pay is a bit daunting, don't worry, there's indicative price points on display as well. Still, where else can you decide how much cash you'll fork out — or how much of a difference you can make to those in need? Vinnies merchandise and Christmas decorations will also be on sale. Image: Onur Bahcivancilar.
What starts with a 6am First Nations ceremony on the beach, sending smoke spiralling into the sky as the sun rises? What fills 11 days from there with everything from free opera in the Gold Coast Regional Botanic Gardens and thousands of cardboard boxes on North Burleigh's Esplanade to Kate Miller-Heidke singing while you picnic and eavesdropping on phone calls? That'd be the Gold Coast's Bleach* Festival, which is returning from Thursday, August 11–Sunday, August 21 after a pandemic-affected couple of years — with a huge lineup, naturally. In 2022, this arts fest will feature 233 artists, 94 performances and 36 events — which is plenty of reasons to head along. Whether you're a Goldie local ready for a beachside celebration of culture, or you're a Brisbanite keen to make the trip down the highway to liven up your winter, there's a hefty array of drawcards to choose from. Bleach* focuses its program around four hubs: North Burleigh, for events by the beach; the Gold Coast Regional Botanic Gardens, which means that grassy shows await; Miami, with its hefty lineup of hospitality venues, including Miami Marketta; and Mudgeeraba, bringing the hinterland into the fun. But they're not the only places that the festival is headed — with HOTA, Home of the Arts and Burleigh Brewing also welcoming in the the event's program. [caption id="attachment_838774" align="alignnone" width="1920"] The Nightline, Sarah Walker[/caption] Among the events that North Burleigh will be hosting, there's First Light, that opening kickoff event; interactive virtual reality experience VOLO: Dreams of Flight, which is inspired by Leonardo da Vinci's flying machines; all the cardboard thanks to the aforementioned We Built This City; and The Nightline, which seats you at an old telephone to listen to switchboard calls. Or, there's Feast at Bleach*, featuring a three-course meal heroing native flavours by Quandamooka chef Kieron Anderson — and Unsettle, which sees Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander young people respond to the cultural landscape via public art, film, theatre, visual art, music and dance. Over at the gardens, Opera Queensland's Home Grown Opera will echo among the greenery for three nights, while Miller-Heidke will do the honours on one afternoon. Miami will host Mi Amor Miami, with the suburb's bars, breweries and distilleries pairing live performances with drinks; Roller Coaster, which includes strapping on your own stakes and taking part; and Bliss, a blend of performance art and electronic music. The list goes on — and, over at Burleigh Brewing, Back to Back Theatre's Radial will mix video art, dance, music and fashion. [caption id="attachment_859849" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Home Grown Opera, Art Work Agency[/caption] As for Mudgeeraba, that's where Acoustic Life of Sheds will set up — in four different sheds. Four artists will set up in one location each, and attendees will travel between them to head vocals by Christine Johnston, Karl S Williams on piano, percussion by Michael Askill and Loni Fitzpatrick on the harp. Back at North Burleigh, Bleach* will also feature six groups of artists-in-residence both prior to and during the fest: Lenine Bourke and Nathan Stoneham, Lawrence English, Rising Tide Artists, Liesel Zink, Lisa Smith and Emily Grace Taylor. They'll premiere new works during the event's second week — and you can watch them in action beforehand, too. [caption id="attachment_859850" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Radial, Jorge Serra[/caption] Bleach* runs from Thursday, August 11–Sunday, August 21 at various locations around the Gold Coast. For further information, head to the festival website. Top image: Scott Belzner.
Do you live in a dog-friendly house? Do you have some spare time on your hands? Do you fantasise about hanging around at dog parks with an actual dog? If the answer to any of these questions is yes — and especially if the answer to all of them is yes — then the good folks at Vision Australia's Seeing Eye Dogs need you. As part of the organisation's dog-training program, they have puppies running around the place quite often, and they're in need of volunteers to raise them. In other words, they're giving away puppies — although you will need to give them back. If you put up your hand to become a puppy carer, you'll get a puppy for about a year — from around its eight-week birthday to when it turns turns between 12–15 months old. During that time, you'll be responsible for introducing the sights, sounds and smells it'll meet when it starts working as a seeing eye dog (and giving your new friend heaps of cuddles). Of course, it's not all just fun, games and cuteness. You'll have to be responsible enough to take care of regular grooming, house training and exercise, and be available for regular visits. A fenced-in backyard is mandatory, too. In return, the organisation provides a strong support network, and all food, training equipment and vet care. You'll also need to be home most of the time — so you won't be leaving the puppy alone for more than three hours a day, sat in front of Dog TV — and to be able to put effort into training and socialising the pup. Seeing Eye Dogs Australia is looking for people across the majority of local government areas across metropolitan Melbourne, as well as Geelong, Mornington Peninsula, Bendigo and Ballarat. In Queensland, Brisbane's north and Sunshine Coast areas are the current priorities. Once the pups reach 12-15 months old, they'll return to Vision Australia — and complete their journey to become four-legged companions for people who are blind or have low vision. Keen to help? You can apply online right now. If you're eager but can't commit to the full year, there's also a six-month caring option. Or, for workplaces, there's corporate caring, too — which has just reopened. For more information about Seeing Eye Dogs Australia's puppy carers, and to apply for the volunteer roles, head to the organisation's website. Top image: Nicola Cotton.
Spending more time at home is much easier to stomach with a hefty rage of desserts on hand, or at least that seems to be Gelato Messina's pandemic motto. Over the past few months, the gelato fiends have served up plenty of tasty specials, including cookie pies in choc chip, red velvet, choc-hazelnut, and peanut butter and jelly varieties, as well as 40 of its best gelato flavours. Up next: a gelato version of everyone's childhood-favourite biscuit. If you've been baking your own coconut-topped Iced VoVos at home since Arnott's released the recipe a few months back, consider your tastebuds primed for this frosty, creamy version. Messina initially whipped it up in collaboration with Sydney eatery Firedoor and, unsurprisingly, it proved mighty popular. So the gelato chain is now making tubs of the flavour available at all its stores for a limited period. Wondering what exactly Iced VoVo gelato entails? It combines toasted coconut gelato with pieces of shortbread biscuit, then tops it with marshmallow, raspberry puree and desiccated coconut. And yes, the end result looks like the bikkies you know and love — but in a scoopable form. Available as part of Messina's new 'Hot Tub' series, the Iced VoVo gelato can only be ordered online on Monday, July 20, with a one-litre tub setting you back $30. You can then go into your chosen Messina store to pick up your tub between Friday, July 24–Sunday July 26. Gelato Messina's Iced VoVo gelato tubs will be available to order on Monday, July 20, for pick up between Friday, July 24–Sunday July 26 — keep an eye on the Messina website for further details. If and when you do decide to head out to pick up food, remember to follow the Australian Government Department of Health's social distancing guidelines.
Last summer, Queensland Museum was overrun with spiders. Now that the weather is getting warmer again this year, it's letting a different category of formidable creatures take over the place. Just when you thought it was safe to go looking at fossils from millions of years ago, the South Bank site has unleashed Sea Monsters: Prehistoric Ocean Predators — which runs until Monday, May 3. You won't need a bigger boat to get through the exhibition, but you will see a huge array of exhibits related to hefty ancient creatures from the deep. That includes giant animal replicas, complete with life-sized casts made from real specimens. Look out for a 1.4 metre kronosauras jaw, which comes from a marine reptile that would've spanned least nine metres — and for replicas of a 13-metre-long elasmosaur and 9-metre-long prognathodon. There are also hands-on interactive multimedia elements on offer, such as a 180-degree video that'll make you feel like you're surrounded by the critters. Obviously, if you're not fond of the kind of monstrous ancient marine creatures that would put the Jaws' shark to shame, then this won't be for you. Images: Kate Pentecost/Andrew Frollows via ANMM.
Danny Harley, the alternative electronic producer and performer better known as The Kite String Tangle, has just released his debut EP Vessel, which debuted at #8 on the ARIA charts and #2 on the iTunes charts. That's not a bad effort for your first solo release, not bad at all. TKST rampaged onto the Australian music scene last year with 'Given The Chance', which landed an impressive place at #19 on last year's Hottest 100. Second single 'Arcadia' — a tale of a relationship that is trying to go back to 'the way things were' with little success — was met with an overwhelmingly positive response. With his ethereal electronic sound and subtle but emotional lyrics, Harley creates a world that we're more than happy to get lost in. As of this week, Harley embarks on a massive national tour; with most of his shows sold out already. We had a chat with the super talented young man about songwriting, his musical influences and his favourite track from Vessel. Your music bas been described as emotionally-driven pop music. What comes first, the lyrics or the beats? Definitely the beats. I guess people wouldn't really expect that but it feels so natural to me to write beats and melodies on synths before writing lyrics. Lyrics almost always come last, which is kind of strange. You have been touring incessantly this year, where do you write music? At home or on the road? Pretty much wherever I can really. I try to write as often as I can on my laptop, which is obviously pretty portable so you can write in hotel rooms or at soundchecks. Whenever I get a big stint at home I try to translate those to the studio and fill them out a bit. That's probably another reason why I write beats first. Your EP debuted at #2 on the iTunes charts, and #8 on the ARIA charts, congrats! How do you feel? It's pretty awesome! I didn't really know what to expect, I haven't had a release like this. I had done one song and it gradually built over six months, so for this it was more like 'Today's the day!' I mean, it's just absurd; I didn't know that could happen. Before now you were in the band Pigeon, but before that, how did you get your start in music? I started playing bass in a band when I was twelve and we lived in the UK. We did Green Day covers and played songs, just generally being rad. I've pretty much been trying to do music ever since. https://youtube.com/watch?v=oMP-X1USOFE 'Given the Chance' was a hugely popular debut, was that reaffirming for you and your musical direction? Yes and no. I didn't exactly know what it was about it that people liked. I troubled myself with that for a little while, then I decided that I don't need to know that; I should just write music I like — if they like it, they like it. It's one of those weird things, it's unpredictable. Previously I had been in high energy bands, and then this one was my chill zone musically. Everything I write is more chilled out down-tempo stuff. In that respect, then yeah, for sure it was reaffirming that it was the right direction. Vessel is an extremely strong, considered EP. Any tracks that you are particularly fond/proud of? There's a track called 'What If' — it's actually one that I did start off with the melody and lyrics first, which I never do. Three months later I translated it into a song that was more stylistically appropriate for the project. It's one that has stuck with me and I still like it now, which usually means it has a bit of longevity. I'm waiting to see what other people think. It's probably more like what the album will sound like as well. Wait, have you already started working on your album? You just released your EP! I know! (laughs). I kind of finished the EP two months ago. I figured the sooner I get started on the album the more songs I'll have to choose from and it can be the best that it can possibly be. You're the triple threat, singer, songwriter and producer. Any plans for collaboration in the future? Yeah for sure, I love collaborating. I think it's really cool because you end up with something you wouldn't have if you were doing it on your own, even if you tried really hard. I'm always open to writing with other artists if it's the right fit, and I'm definitely teeing up a few right now, I want to approach it like 'If it's good, it's good.' Then we'll work out what we'll use it for. You do some cracking remixes, How do you chose what to remix? One or two that I've done I chose the song, and then I've done three or four because people approached me asking if I'll do it. I said 'Hells yeah. I'll do it!' I haven't done a remix in a while and I'm trying to make it more of a thing that I do, but I'll balance it with my original output. I don't want to release too many and I want to choose the right people to work with and to remix. You did a fantastic playlist for Indie Shuffle 'Music for people with feelings'. Would you include those artists as musical influences? Yes, all of those people are hugely influential on my music. I'm a big fan of all of them. For that playlist I tried to throw in a few Australian ones as well. I'm definitely influenced by the beatsy kind of dudes like Bonobo, Jamie XX, Four Tet and John Hopkins. Then from a songwriting point of view I love The xx, London Grammar, James Blake, SBTRKT; they're very song-based, less beatsy and have a really strong foundation of a song — good lyrics, good melody. Finally you're about to embark on a huge national tour next week, what are you plans for the rest of the year? At the end of the tour, which wraps up around September 20, we're just locking in USA tour dates and then hopefully UK tour dates shortly after that. Around mid-November I'll come back here; I have a DJ set in Fiji, then it's writing album time after that. The Kite String Tangle Tour Dates: Sep 6 — The Corner Hotel, Melbourne (SOLD OUT) Sep 7 —The Corner Hotel, Melbourne (SOLD OUT) Sep 12 —Manning Bar, Sydney (SOLD OUT) Sep 17 — Telstra Spiegeltent, Brisbane (SOLD OUT) Sep 18 —Telstra Spiegeltent, Brisbane (SOLD OUT)
For the past few years, the unnerving Séance installation has been popping up around southeast Queensland and spooking the region out. From Thursday, October 3—Sunday, December 8, 2024, it's back again — because when better than the lead up to Halloween? This time around, it's setting up its big, white container at South Bank's Maritime Museum alongside fellow pop-ups Maho Magic Bar and Flight. Unlike most shipping containers around the place, this one isn't being used to transport furniture. And, given that the word 'séance' is written on the side in black, it's definitely more than a little ominous. Participants will be able to take a seat inside, and then put on a headset. You'll next be told to put both hands on the table. The lights go out, leaving the place in absolute darkness — and, for 20 uneasy minutes, you'll be taken on an immersive journey led only by touch and sounds. Expect to feel confused, repulsed and struck with temporary claustrophobia. According to organisers, numerous participants have bailed halfway through sittings in the past. You're probably thinking that there's something dark or supernatural about the whole thing — and going by the name, we don't blame you. But the installation's organiser says that 'séance' is simply a French word meaning 'session' or 'sitting'. And so Séance is a sensory experience that looks at the psychology of both sensory deprivation and the dynamics of a group sitting together. It's a scary indicator of how easy it is for confusion, disorientation and information overload to affect our judgement. (We're serious when we say Séance is not recommended for the claustrophobic, the easily frightened or those afraid of the dark.) Artists David Rosenberg and Glen Neath of Darkfield (who have collaborated in other sensory deprivation projects before) are the creative masterminds behind the project, which has been described as 'disorienting' and 'deeply unsettling'. And if need more of an idea of what you're in for, you might've listened to Darkfield's at-home experiences in the past few years, too — such as Double, Visitors, Eternal and Knot — and experienced a few bumps and jumps.
No one needs an excuse to welcome in their Sunday with a boozy brunch, but Fiume Bar atop the Crystalbrook Vincent just came up with a new one anyway. Pairing your meal and drinks with a killer view is always reason enough to get up, and get eating and sipping — and the vantage from Howard Smith Wharves' resident rooftop bar sure is mighty spectacular. Wherever you find yourself at this inner-city precinct, you'll be staring at the Brisbane River. You may as well take a gander while you're enjoying a three-course brunch, though, and knocking back champagne cocktails, beers and wine. That's what's on the menu at Fiume's new Brisbane Brunch, which run every Sunday at 10.30am from Sunday, May 29. Your $110 ticket will nab you a platter filled with oak-smoked apple and tonka crumble, lychee and coconut panna cotta, danishes, pressed watermelon with sparkling rose, and a yoghurt piklet with riberry jam — and that's just for starters. From there, you'll be tucking into hibiscus flower with basil seed-cured salmon and burnt corn doughnuts, then going sweet with vanilla brioche French toast. Drinks-wise, you'll be saying cheers for two hours, including with mimosas, peach bellinis, prosecco, wine and beers. Pay an extra $30 and you'll sip Taittinger Brut Réserve Champagne, too. Images: Markus Ravik.
Hola, Mexico. Mexico, my friend, you’re more than just the country that sits underneath the United States. You’re more than scrumptious food, food so ridiculously good that I think it’s in our city’s constitution to have at least four Mexican restaurants per square kilometre by the end of 2012 or we’re just going to scrap Brisbane altogether. You’re more than tequila. You’re more than Selena Gomez. You know what you are, Mexico? You’re a great place for films. You’re so great that a festival dedicated to Mexican film is back in Brisbane for its sixth year. This year there’ll be comedies, dramas, documentaries… and Mexican food. This year, the festival is sponsored by Mad Mex, the Strongbads of tacos in the Valley. Why thank you, Mexico! You’re providing us Sunny State-ers with the opportunity to feast with our mouths and eyes! You’re the best amigo ever. And, if you’re lucky, you could probably feast for free, because we’re giving away 25 double passes for the festival. For more information, just click on this link.
The kind of place where 18 degrees is considered freezing, Brisbane is hardly a snowman's natural habitat. But that's changed now that Queensland Art Gallery has welcomed in its very own icy figure — and, yes, it's made out of real snow. If this sounds familiar, that's because Peter Fischli and David Weiss' Snowman first went on display in Brissie in the summer of 2019–20, thanks to the Gallery of Modern Art's eye-catching Water exhibition. Now, it's made a permanent home at Queensland Art Gallery, GOMA's sibling venue, so you can check it out all-year-round — yes, even in summer — in QAG's sculpture courtyard. [caption id="attachment_743010" align="aligncenter" width="1920"] Peter Fischli and David Weiss, Snowman (1987/2017-19). Copyright: Peter Fischli David Weiss, Zurich 2019. Courtesy Spruth Magers, Matthew Marks New York and Los Angeles, Galerie Eva Presenhuber, Zurich.[/caption] Quite the frosty sight to behold, the piece dates back to 1987. First conceived as part of a site-specific work at a German thermic power plant, the fairly typical-looking snowman is made from three balls of snow, with the top one boasting hand-drawn eyes and a mouth. What's not typical of this well-travelled snowman, however, is its ability to survive even Brisbane's subtropical climate. It sits encased in a glass and metal industrial freezer — so, while QAG visitors can definitely see the frosty sculpture, you absolutely can't touch it. [caption id="attachment_755192" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Peter Fischli. Switzerland, b.1952. David Weiss. Switzerland, 1946-2012. Snowman 1987/2019 (installation view, GOMA). © Peter Fischli and David Weiss, Zürich 2019. Courtesy: Sprüth Magers, Berlin/London/Los Angeles; Matthew Marks, New York/Los Angeles; Galerie Eva Presenhuber, Zürich. Photograph: Natasha Harth, QAGOMA.[/caption] That said, lucky gallery staff members have been given the task of retracing its eyes and smile every few days — so this snowman always has a face. As a result, you can expect to see the artwork's enigmatic expression shift subtly over time from happy to quizzical to maybe even diabolical. When Snowman first brought its literal chill to Brissie in 2019, it marked the piece's first-ever visit to the Southern Hemisphere. Only four versions of the work exist worldwide and, understandably, it's usually exhibited in locations where it's much, much colder — including at New York's Museum of Modern Art. Snowman is now permanently at Queensland Art Gallery, Stanley Place, South Brisbane. For more information, head to the QAG website. Top image: Peter Fischli. Switzerland, b.1952. David Weiss. Switzerland, 1946-2012. Snowman 1987/2019 (installation view, GOMA). © Peter Fischli and David Weiss, Zürich 2019. Courtesy: Sprüth Magers, Berlin/London/Los Angeles; Matthew Marks, New York/Los Angeles; Galerie Eva Presenhuber, Zürich. Photograph: QAGOMA.
The year was 1997. For the first time, Fortitude Valley's music scene came together to celebrate. Around the inner-city suburb, Valley Fiesta was born. A quarter century later and the event is still going strong, albeit after running in plenty of different formats over the years — and it's back in 2022 to celebrate its 25th birthday with 45-plus acts hitting stages across 13 venues. 2022's Valley Fiesta will run from Friday, November 25–Sunday, November 27, showering Fortitude Valley with live tunes, and giving Brisbanites a helluva way to spend the last weekend of spring. On the lineup: a whole heap of musicians to see, events dedicated to jazz and art, a carpark party, a laneway fest within the fest and even a food fiesta. Leading the music bill: Holy Holy, Gordi, Kian, WIIGZ and Alter Boy, all as part of an entirely free program. They're joined by Jess Day, Safety Club, Scraps, Radium Dolls, Dulcie and more, in venues spanning The Sound Garden, Fortitude Music Hall, outdoors at The Brightside, Woolly Mammoth, Ric's Backyard, Kickons and 4ZZZ. The jazz afternoon will showcase both existing and up-and-coming talent, while the arts session will be filled with creative workshops. Bringing the fun to the Winn, Bakery and California laneways is the returning Hidden Lanes Festival, running as a pop-up event, while King Street will host the King Street Food Fiesta on the Friday night to get this year's Valley Fiesta started. The program also includes a night of voice, circus, burlesque and drag artists; Quivr DJs doing their thing multiple times; a cultural celebration of People of Colour; and the return of 4ZZZ's legendary carpark party. "This year's Valley Fiesta hits upon all of the elements that make Fortitude Valley so unique — from the food experiences on Friday night, to family events in the Laneways; massive music gigs on the Saturday night through to independent community events on the Sunday. It's every reason we love the Valley!" said QMusic CEO Kris Stewart, announcing the program. Now, block out your diary. [caption id="attachment_875909" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Dave Kan[/caption] VALLEY FIESTA 2022 LINEUP Holy Holy Gordi WIIGZ Jess Day Safety Club Scraps Radium Dolls KIAN Dulcie Cloe Terare Dean Brady Ash Lune Dulcie DANCINGWATER Andy Martin Moss I Was Eros Arig Guppy Doggie Heaven Valley Fiesta 2022 takes place from Friday, November 25–Sunday, November 27. For further information and to buy tickets, head to the festival's website. Images: Dave Kan.
If summer always leaves you reminiscing about the balmy school holidays of your youth, you're going to be all about the latest line of frosty creations from Gelatissimo. The gelato chain is throwing back hard and digging up plenty of fond memories with its newly launched Aussie Favourites range — a trio of flavours that includes chocolate crackle, fairy bread and Weet-Bix with honey and banana. They're scooping now at all Gelatissimo stores nationwide, up for grabs until the end of January 2020. Sure to transport you straight back to some childhood birthday party, the fairy bread flavour pays homage to a true Aussie icon. Expect buttery vanilla gelato — made with real butter, mind you — scattered with 100s and 1000s, and crunchy pieces of lightly toasted fairy bread. Cleverly blurring that line between breakfast and dessert, the Weet-Bix concoction is another riff on a favourite, though one you're probably less inclined to scoff a bowl of before netball practice. It teams real Weet-Bix chunks with creamy banana gelato and a splash of Australian wildflower honey. And the nostalgia runs extra deep with the chocolate crackle creation, a sweet tribute to one of the most recognisable party treats in all of Australian history. It boasts rich chocolate gelato infused with chunks of real chocolate crackle, crafted just like Mum used to make, with rice puffs, cocoa powder, desiccated coconut and plenty of chocolate sauce. Of course, Gelatissimo's no stranger to dreaming up wild and innovative new creations. In the past year alone, the brand's launched a dog-friendly peanut butter gelato, a boozy frosé sorbet and even a frozen take on the iconic Bundaberg Ginger Beer. Gelatissimo's Aussie Favourites range is available from all stores nationwide, from Friday, November 29, until the end of January.
It's been 12 years since Superbad released in cinemas, made stars out of Jonah Hill and Emma Stone, and earned a spot in the teen party genre. Over that period, every coming-of-age flick about outsiders trying to enjoy high school life to the fullest has been compared to the 2007 hit. Now, two more are joining the fold. Premiering at SXSW over the past week, Booksmart and Good Boys have a few things in common with their thematic predecessor, and not just because they both feature protagonists who can't wait to experience a proper party. In the former, Hill's sister and Lady Bird actor Beanie Feldstein leads the charge alongside Beautiful Boy's Kaitlyn Dever, giving the idea a female-centric spin. In the latter, Seth Rogen co-produces — as he did with Superbad — with the movie following a group of 12-year-olds. Focusing on graduating pals Molly (Feldstein) and Amy (Dever) as they put away their studies and try to show everyone that they're fun, Booksmart marks the directorial debut of actress Olivia Wilde, and it's been getting rave reviews. Cast-wise, it also features Jessica Williams, Will Forte, Lisa Kudrow and Jason Sudeikis. As for Good Boys, it's the first stint behind the camera for The Office and Hello Ladies writer Gene Stupnitsky — and centres on three kids played by Room's Jacob Tremblay, Last Man on Earth's Keith L. Williams and Boardwalk Empire's Brady Noon. The likes of Will Forte (again), Retta and Lil Rel Howery help round out the cast. Check out the trailers below: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JkrY-jboiqA https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WeeyM8cRinI Booksmart opens in Australian cinemas on July 11, and Good Boys opens on August 15. Good Boys image: Universal Pictures.
Much has happened in the world of Marvel this year. Black Panther started things off on a high, Spider-Man is about to return to its animated roots, and the man who started it all, Stan Lee, sadly passed away. Oh, and the Marvel Cinematic Universe completely changed the game with the snap of a few fingers. We know that you know what we're talking about — Avengers: Infinity War sits atop the box office Down Under for 2018. Of course, ever since the third Avengers movie hit screens, excitement for its follow-up has been feverish to say the least. Now, the first look at Avengers: Endgame has finally arrived — and yes, that's the film's brand new title. It all starts with a despondent Tony Stark (Robert Downey Jr.), before giving a taste of how the remaining heroes are facing their new predicament. Check out the trailer below — and start counting down the days until Avengers: Endgame makes its way to cinemas on April 25: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hA6hldpSTF8 Plus, if you need a bit more excitement, Marvel also dropped the next Captain Marvel trailer earlier this week — with the first film featuring Brie Larson's superhero arriving prior to Avengers: Endgame, on March 7. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0LHxvxdRnYc
Something delightful has been happening in cinemas in some parts of the country. After numerous periods spent empty during the pandemic, with projectors silent, theatres bare and the smell of popcorn fading, picture palaces in many Australian regions are back in business — including both big chains and smaller independent sites in Sydney, Melbourne and Brisbane. During COVID-19 lockdowns, no one was short on things to watch, of course. In fact, you probably feel like you've streamed every movie ever made, including new releases, Studio Ghibli's animated fare and Nicolas Cage-starring flicks. But, even if you've spent all your time of late glued to your small screen, we're betting you just can't wait to sit in a darkened room and soak up the splendour of the bigger version. Thankfully, plenty of new films are hitting cinemas so that you can do just that — and we've rounded up, watched and reviewed everything on offer this week. X When the Scream franchise posed the question it'll forever be known for, it skipped over a key word. Ghostface is clearly asking "do you like watching scary movies?", given the entire point of frightening flicks is seeing their thrills and chills, and being creeped out, entertained or both. We all know that's what the mask-wearing killer means, of course, but the act of viewing is such a crucial part of the horror-film equation that it's always worth overtly mentioning. Enter new slasher standout X, which splashes its buckets of viscera and gore across the screen with as much nodding and winking as the Scream pictures — without ever uttering that iconic phrase, though, and thankfully in a far less smug fashion than 2022's fifth instalment in that series — and firmly thrusts cinema's voyeuristic tendencies to the fore. That name, X, doesn't simply mark a spot; it isn't by accident that the film takes its moniker from the classification given to the most violent and pornographic movies made. This is a horror flick set amid a porn shoot, after all, and it heartily embraces the fact that people like to watch from the get-go. Swaggering producer Wayne (Martin Henderson, The Gloaming), aspiring starlet Maxine Minx (Mia Goth, Emma), old-pro fellow actors Bobby-Lynne (Brittany Snow, Pitch Perfect 3) and Jackson Hole (Scott Mescudi, Don't Look Up), and arty director RJ (Owen Campbell, The Miseducation of Cameron Post) and his girlfriend/sound recorder Lorraine (Jenna Ortega, doing triple horror duty in 2022 so far in Scream, Studio 666 and now this) are counting on that truth to catapult themselves to fame. Hailing from Houston and aroused at the idea of repeating Debbie Does Dallas' success, they're heading out on the road to quieter climes to make the skin flick they're staking their futures on, and they desperately hope there's an audience. X is set in the 70s, as both the home-entertainment pornography market and big-screen slashers were beginning to blossom. As a result, it's similarly well aware that sex and death are cinema's traditional taboos, and that they'll always be linked. That's art imitating life, because sex begets life and life begets death, but rare is the recent horror movie that stresses the connection so explicitly yet playfully. Making those links is Ti West, the writer/director responsible for several indie horror gems over the past decade or so — see: cult favourites The House of the Devil and The Innkeepers — and thrusting a smart, savage and salacious delight towards his viewers here. Yes, he could've gone with The Texas Porn-Shoot Massacre for the feature's title, but he isn't remaking the obvious seminal piece of genre inspiration. In this blood-splattered throwback, which looks like it could've been unearthed from its chosen decade in every frame (and was actually filmed in New Zealand rather than Texas), West pays homage to a time when flicks like this did pop up with frequency — while slyly commenting on what's changed to shift that scenario. He also explores the process of filmmaking, of putting both sex and death on-screen, and the conversation around both, all while his characters decamp to a quiet guesthouse on a remote property where they start making the film-within-the-film that is The Farmer's Daughter. Upon arrival, gun-toting, televangelist-watching, pitchfork-wielding owner Howard (Stephen Ure, Mortal Engines) is instantly unfriendly. Wayne hasn't told him why they're really there, but he's soon snooping around to see for himself. Also keen on watching the bumping 'n' grinding is Howard's ailing wife Pearl, who he warns his guests to stay away from, but is drawn to the flesh on show. Read our full review. RIVER Some actors possess voices that could narrate almost anything, and Willem Dafoe is one of them. Move over Morgan Freeman: when Dafoe speaks, his dulcet vocals echoing atop gorgeous imagery of the world's waterways as happens in River, being entranced by the sound is the only natural response. He's tasked with uttering quite the elegiac prose in this striking documentary, and he gives all that musing about tributaries and creeks — the planet's arteries, he calls them at one point — a particularly resonant and enthralling tone. Australian filmmaker Jennifer Peedom (Sherpa) knew he would, of course. She enlisted his talents on her last documentary, Mountain, as well. Both films pick one of the earth's crucial natural features, lens them in all their glory at multiple spots around the globe, and wax lyrical about their importance. Both make for quite the beguiling viewing experience. Thanks to writer Robert Macfarlane, Dafoe has been given much to opine in River — and what he's asked to say is obviously even more crucial than the fact that it's the Spider-Man: No Way Home, The Card Counter, The French Dispatch and Nightmare Alley star expressing it. The subject is right there in the title, but the film's aims are as big and broad as an ocean, covering the history of these snaking streams from the planet's creation up until today. "Humans have long loved rivers," Dafoe announces, which seems like a self-evident statement; however, not one to trade in generalisations without evidence, River then unpacks exactly what that means. It also uses that idea as a foundation, but paired with another, which Dafoe also gives voice to — this time as a question: "as we have learned to harness their power, have we also forgotten to revere them?". The answer is blatant, lapping away at the souls of everyone who lives in a river city and passes their central watercourse daily without giving it a second thought. Indeed, that plain-as-day response ripples with even more force to anyone who has been struck by the waterways' power when natural disasters strike, a fact that hits close to home after Australia's disastrously flooded summer across Queensland and New South Wales — timing that the movie isn't overtly trying to capitalise upon, given it first started doing the rounds of film festivals in 2021, and has had its March 2022 date with Aussie cinemas booked in for months. A documentary doesn't have to tell viewers something wholly new to evoke wonder, though. Conveying well-known truths in unforgettable and affecting ways has always been one of cinema's key skills, whether working in fact or fiction. River's sentiments won't come as a surprise, but it still feels like a fresh splash of water upon a parched face. Dafoe's narration and the film in general hone in on the importance of rivers to human civilisation since its very beginnings, starting with the unshakeable reality that rivers have made much in our evolution possible. Also just as pivotal: the devastation we've wrought in response since we learned to harness all that water for our own purposes, irrigate the land far and wide, and take an abundance of H2O for granted, which River doesn't ebb away from. The prose is flowery, but never overdone; its eager quest for potent poetry, or to be mentioned in the same breath as Terrence Malick's The Tree of Life, always feels attuned to the awe it holds for its eponymous streams. It's also on par with Dafoe, Peedom and Macfarlane's work back in 2017 on Mountain, which was similarly hypnotic — and became the highest-grossing non-IMAX Australian documentary ever made, a claim to fame it still holds today. Read our full review. NOWHERE SPECIAL If the way that cinema depicts cancer was plotted out on a scale, Babyteeth and Me and Earl and the Dying Girl could easily demonstrate its extremes. One sees its protagonist as a person first and a patient last; the other uses terminal illness as a catalyst for other people's sorrows and struggles (the "dying girl" part of its moniker, right there at the end, is oh-so-telling about how it regards someone with cancer as little but an afterthought). Nowhere Special thankfully sits at the Babyteeth end of the spectrum. That said, its premise screams weepie, and being moved by its story happens easily. But there's an enormous difference between earning that response through an intimate and delicate story about a person's plight — and, here, their quest to provide for the person dearest to them after they're gone — and merely treating their life-and-death tussle as easy grist for the tear-jerking mill. Nowhere Special follows a 35-year-old single father in Belfast, John (James Norton, Little Women), who needs to find an adoptive family for his four-year-old boy (first-timer Daniel Lamont). His cancer has progressed, and now the doting dad and window cleaner's days are numbered, so he's determined to save his son Michael from more sorrow than his absence will naturally bring — in a situation that's pure emotion-courting fodder, but never manipulatively treated as such. Indeed, writer/director Uberto Pasolini opts for understatement and realism, including over overtly endeavouring to incite the kind of non-stop waterworks that most movies with this premise would eagerly turn on. The filmmaker's last feature, 2013's Still Life, was also just as beautifully measured and tender without mawkishness. Although the gap between his two latest pictures is sizeable time-wise, Pasolini hasn't lost his touch for making sensitive and affecting cinema. Suffering an illness that's turned fatal, and possessing little energy to get through everything that comes with being a single father, John's own fate isn't his primary concern. Nowhere Special takes time to dwell in the routine that marks its protagonist's remaining days — washing panes of glass, making the most of the time he has left with Michael, trying to secure his son new parents, feeling exhausted by all of it but still soldiering on while he can — which seems both mundane and extraordinary in tandem. The always-unspoken fact that life goes on even when it doesn't lingers throughout the film, as stark as a freshly cleaned, newly gleaming window, and contributes to the prevailing bittersweet mood. That's Nowhere Special's baseline. As it charts John's efforts to get Michael the best future he possibly can without himself in it, it soaks in the ups and downs of the pair's life together, recognising that it's both ordinary and remarkable — because all lives are. The search at hand is a difficult one, even when pursued with the best of intentions — by John and with the help of social worker Shona (Eileen O'Higgins, Misbehaviour). Unsurprisingly, finding the right people, or person, to entrust your child to forever is a heartbreaking job, and the weight of what John grapples with never fades from the film's emotional landscape. Features that treat ailing characters so considerately may be uncommon, and they are; however, pictures that willingly face the complicated questions, worries and fears that come with knowing your existence is about to end are rarer still. It might come as little surprise that Pasolini found his tale in reality, reportedly after reading a newspaper article about a man in the same circumstances as John, but how gracefully, attentively and still unflinchingly Nowhere Special fleshes out its story never fails to astonish. Read our full review. RRR The letters in RRR's title are short for Rise Roar Revolt. They could also stand for riveting, rollicking and relentless. They link in with the Indian action movie's three main forces, too — writer/director SS Rajamouli (Baahubali: The Beginning), plus stars NT Rama Rao Jr (Aravinda Sametha Veera Raghava) and Ram Charan (Vinaya Vidheya Rama) — and could describe the sound of some of its standout moments. What noise echoes when a motorcycle is used in a bridge-jumping rescue plot, as aided by a horse and the Indian flag, amid a crashing train? Or when a truck full of wild animals is driven into a decadent British colonialist shindig and its caged menagerie unleashed? What racket resounds when a motorbike figures again, this time tossed around by hand (yes, really) to knock out those imperialists, and then an arrow is kicked through a tree into someone's head? Or, when the movie's two leads fight, shoot, leap over walls and get acrobatic, all while one is sat on the other's shoulders? RRR isn't subtle. Instead, it's big, bright, boisterous, boldly energetic, and brazenly unapologetic about how OTT and hyperactive it is. The 187-minute Tollywood action epic — complete with huge musical numbers, of course — is also a vastly captivating pleasure to watch. Narrative-wise, it follows the impact of the British Raj (aka England's rule over the subcontinent between 1858–1947), especially upon two men. In the 1920s, Bheem (Jr NTR, as Rao is known) is determined to rescue young fellow villager Malli (first-timer Twinkle Sharma), after she's forcibly taken by Governor Scott Buxton (Ray Stevenson, Vikings) and his wife Catherine (Alison Doody, Beaver Falls) for no reason but they're powerful and they can. Officer Raju (Charan) is tasked by the crown with making sure Bheem doesn't succeed in rescuing the girl, and also keeping India's population in their place because their oppressors couldn't be more prejudiced. There's more to both men's stories because there's so much more to RRR's story; to fill the movie's lengthy running time, Rajamouli hasn't skimped on plot. Indeed, there's such a wealth of things going on that the film is at once a kidnapping melodrama, a staunch missive against colonialism, a political drama, a rom-com and a culture-clash comedy — involving Bheem's affection for the sole kindly Brit, Jenny (Olivia Morris, Hotel Portofino) — and a war movie. It's a buddy comedy as well, starting when Bheem and Raja join forces for that aforementioned bridge rescue, yet don't realise they're on opposite sides in the battle over Malli. It's also as spectacular an action flick as has graced cinema screens, and as gleefully overblown. Plus, it's an infectiously mesmerising musical. One dazzling dance-off centrepiece doubles as a rebuff against British rule, racism and classism, in fact, and it's also nothing short of phenomenal to look at, too. Spectacle is emphatically the word for RRR — not quite from its scene-setting opening, where Malli is ripped from her family, but from the second that Raju shows how well he can handle himself. That involves taking on a hefty horde of protesters single-handedly with just a stick as a weapon, because extravagance and excess is baked into every second of the feature. Super-sized is another term that clearly fits, because little holds back even for a second. And a third word, if the film bumped up its moniker to the next letter in the alphabet? That'd be sincere. An enormous reason that everything that's larger than life about RRR — which is absolutely everything — works, even when it's also often silly and cheesy, is because it's so earnest about how determined it is to entertain. You don't use that amount of slow-motion shots if you don't know you're being corny at times, unashamedly so. Read our full review. If you're wondering what else is currently screening in Australian cinemas — or has been lately — check out our rundown of new films released in Australia on November 4, November 11, November 18 and November 25; December 2, December 9, December 16 and December 26; January 1, January 6, January 13, January 20 and January 27; February 3, February 10, February 17 and February 24; and March 3, March 10 and March 17. You can also read our full reviews of a heap of recent movies, such as Eternals, The Many Saints of Newark, Julia, No Time to Die, The Power of the Dog, Tick, Tick... Boom!, Zola, Last Night in Soho, Blue Bayou, The Rescue, Titane, Venom: Let There Be Carnage, Bad Luck Banging or Loony Porn, Dune, Encanto, The Card Counter, The Lost Leonardo, The French Dispatch, Don't Look Up, Dear Evan Hansen, Spider-Man: No Way Home, The Lost Daughter, The Scary of Sixty-First, West Side Story, Licorice Pizza, The Matrix Resurrections, The Tragedy of Macbeth, The Worst Person in the World, Ghostbusters: Afterlife, House of Gucci, The King's Man, Red Rocket, Scream, The 355, Gold, King Richard, Limbo, Spencer, Nightmare Alley, Belle, Parallel Mothers, The Eyes of Tammy Faye, Belfast, Here Out West, Jackass Forever, Benedetta, Drive My Car, Death on the Nile, C'mon C'mon, Flee, Uncharted, Quo Vadis, Aida?, Cyrano, Hive, Studio 666, The Batman, Blind Ambition, Bergman Island, Wash My Soul in the River's Flow, The Souvenir: Part II, Dog and Anonymous Club.
Australia's music festivals are doing it tough, with 2024 seeing both Groovin the Moo and Splendour in the Grass cancelling after announcing their lineups. The best way to cope as a punter, and to lend your support to the country's music scene and performers, is to make a date with live gigs. Brisbanites mightn't be able to travel north or south to get muddy, then, but you can hit up Open Season, The Tivoli and The Princess Theatre's annual roster of shows. The two venues share the same owners — and, from Monday, May 20–Thursday, August 1 in 2024, will share this program of gigs and performances. Open Season first unveiled its talents for this year back in March, but it wasn't done nabbing impressive acts to take to The Tiv and The Princess' stages. Cue another lineup drop, this time with Dirty Three, Ladyhawke, Pond and Cosmo's Midnight. [caption id="attachment_950706" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Kath Gould[/caption] Dirty Three, aka Warren Ellis, Mick Turner and Jim White, are playing their first Brisbane show in 12 years. Ladyhawke is celebrating the 15th anniversary of her self-titled debut album, Cosmo's Midnight have a new record dropping in May and Pond are doing the rounds after recently touring with Queens of the Stone Age. All four join an Open Season bill that already boasts Explosions in the Sky, Sky Ferreira, INIKO, Regurgitator and more. First Nations festival Blak Day Out is also a highlight, featuring Emma Donovan, 3% — which includes Dallas Woods, Nooky and Angus Field — plus BADASSMUTHA and The Ancient Bloods. So is a dance party in Winn Lane with help from QUIVR DJs. This year's Open Season is putting record label Elefant Traks in the spotlight, too, at a 25th-anniversary gig that doubles as a farewell with Hermitude, The Herd, Horrorshow, Urthboy and The Last Kinection all on the bill. The show will both celebrate history and make it, marking Elefant Traks' last-ever event. Similarly on the roster for now: Yves Tumor's Aussie debut, Blonde Redhead's first Australian trip in 13 years, plus everyone from Marlon Williams and Mildlife to The Paper Kites and SLUMBERJACK — alongside BAYNK, Two Another, DICE and the initial Brisbane outing for Queer PowerPoint. Open Season 2024 Lineup: Explosions in the Sky INIKO Dirty Three Sky Ferreira Yves Tumor Marlon Williams Blonde Redhead Ladyhawke BAYNK The Paper Kites Cosmo's Midnight Regurgitator Pond SLUMBERJACK Mildlife Forest Claudette Two Another DICE Queer PowerPoint Bunny Racket – Rock 'n' Roll for Kids Blak Day Out featuring: Emma Donovan 3% The Ancient Bloods BADASSMUTHA and more Elefant Traks 25th Anniversary — The Finale: Hermitude The Herd Horrorshow Urthboy The Last Kinection and more QUIVR Laneway Parties Brisbane Street Art Festival: David Lee Pereira Damien Mitchell Open Season run from Monday, May 20–Thursday, August 1, 2024. For further details and tickets, head to the event's website. Dirty Three image: Ben Searcy. Open Season images: Will Johnstone, Curdin and Lachlan Douglas.
Something delightful has been happening in cinemas in some parts of the country. After numerous periods spent empty during the pandemic, with projectors silent, theatres bare and the smell of popcorn fading, picture palaces in many Australian regions are back in business — including both big chains and smaller independent sites in Sydney, Melbourne and Brisbane. During COVID-19 lockdowns, no one was short on things to watch, of course. In fact, you probably feel like you've streamed every movie ever made, including new releases, Studio Ghibli's animated fare and Nicolas Cage-starring flicks. But, even if you've spent all your time of late glued to your small screen, we're betting you just can't wait to sit in a darkened room and soak up the splendour of the bigger version. Thankfully, plenty of new films are hitting cinemas so that you can do just that — and we've rounded up, watched and reviewed everything on offer this week. BULLET TRAIN Buy the ticket, take the ride, strap in for an onslaught of frenetic locomotive-bound fights: that's high-octane action-comedy Bullet Train on- and off-screen. Set on a shinkansen hurtling from Tokyo to Kyoto, in as stylised a vision of Japan that anyone not named Quentin Tarantino has ever thought of, this neon-lit adaptation of Kōtarō Isaka's 2010 page-turner Maria Beetle couldn't be more onboard with its central concept. That premise isn't snakes on a plane, but rather assassins on a train — plus one snake, one of nature's hitmen, actually. Cramming all those killers onto a single engine sparks mayhem, banter and bodies, not to mention chaotic frays in the quiet car and almost every other space. And when it works, with John Wick and Atomic Blonde's David Leitch steering the show, Tarantino and Guy Ritchie alum Brad Pitt as his main passenger, and a lifetime's worth of references to Thomas the Tank Engine slotted in, Bullet Train is as OTT and entertaining as it overtly wants to be. It doesn't always completely work, however; every journey, zipping along on a high-speed train or not, has its dips. Still, there are plenty of moving parts trying to keep the movie in motion — and plenty of plot, for better and for worse in both instances. In his second 2022 action-comedy after The Lost City, Pitt plays Ladybug, who is back riding the hired-gun rails after a zen break packed with new-age self-help platitudes. That's what he spouts to his handler (Sandra Bullock, The Unforgivable) by phone, in-between rueing his bad luck, as he tries to carry out what's supposed to be an easy job. All that Ladybug needs to do is take a briefcase, then disembark at the next station. But that piece of luggage is being transported by British assassin double-act Tangerine (Aaron Taylor-Johnson, The King's Man) and Lemon (Brian Tyree Henry, Atlanta), as they escort a Russian mobster's son (Logan Lerman, Hunters) home. To up the hitman ante, the shinkansen is also carrying The Prince (Joey King, The Princess) and Kimura (Andrew Koji, Snake Eyes: GI Joe Origins), who have their own beef, as well as the revenge-seeking Wolf (Benito A Martínez Ocasio aka Bad Bunny, Fast and Furious 9). As is always the case whenever anyone asks "are we there yet?" IRL, there's more: more twists and turns to the narrative, more bickering, more familiar names facing each other down, and a mass of flashbacks to events minutes, hours, days and months earlier, most of which make the leap from the page via Zak Olkewicz's (Fear Street: Part Two — 1978) screenplay. Wondering if the scribe and Leitch have seen Kill Bill, or the Pitt-starring Snatch, or the 90s attention-grabbers that were Reservoir Dogs, Pulp Fiction and Lock, Stock and Two Smoking Barrels as they bring Isaka's novel to the screen is thoroughly pointless. But, after The Gray Man, Bullet Train is the second big, star-studded, midyear action flick that's pieced together from familiar components, only to boast the cast and visual spectacle to carry it off more often than not. What a treat Pitt is, and has been for more than three decades — because that's how long it's been since Thelma & Louise thrust him to fame. Bullet Train draws upon his Ocean's Eleven brand of chattering, casual, happy-go-lucky charisma, even with Ladybug grappling with an existential crisis over his chosen profession. Pitt is comic, but never reaches Burn After Reading's goofiness. Amid the navel-gazing and bromides, he's still calm, collected and supremely capable at holding his own, but never to a Once Upon a Time in Hollywood extent. Although Leitch doesn't give Pitt his own John Wick or Atomic Blonde, it's as crucial a piece of casting. Neither of those two flicks would be the gems they are without their specific stars, and Bullet Train similarly wouldn't have hit the marks it does without its bucket hat-wearing biggest name and his detailed performance. Read our full review. If you're wondering what else is currently screening in Australian cinemas — or has been lately — check out our rundown of new films released in Australia on May 5, May 12, May 19 and May 26; June 2, June 9, June 16, June 23 and June 30; and July 7, July 14, July 21 and July 28. You can also read our full reviews of a heap of recent movies, such as Petite Maman, The Drover's Wife The Legend of Molly Johnson, Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness, Firestarter, Operation Mincemeat, To Chiara, This Much I Know to Be True, The Innocents, Top Gun: Maverick, The Bob's Burgers Movie, Ablaze, Hatching, Mothering Sunday, Jurassic World Dominion, A Hero, Benediction, Lightyear, Men, Elvis, Lost Illusions, Nude Tuesday, Ali & Ava, Thor: Love and Thunder, Compartment No. 6, Sundown, The Gray Man, The Phantom of the Open, The Black Phone, Where the Crawdads Sing, Official Competition, The Forgiven, Full Time and Murder Party.
Whether you share your life with a tail-wagging puppy, a cat that sleeps all day, a vocal parrot or a colourful little fish, if you're a pet owner, you can show your love for your chosen companion in a variety of ways. You can attend a boozy art class and paint a picture of them. Firmly fitting in with the times, you can get their photo plastered across a mask. And, in another pitch-perfect 2020 option, you can also buy a jigsaw puzzle emblazoned with their cute little face. Smoochy Poochy is the Australian company helping you piece together a portrait of Fido, Fluffy, Polly or Nemo — and, while you can obviously opt for whatever kind of personalised puzzle you like, why wouldn't you want one of your pet? Think of it this way: you've already spent so long gazing at them because they're just so adorable, and you've well and truly committed their face to your memory in the process, so this should be the easiest jigsaw that you've ever done. A number of sizes are available, which means that you can decide just how much of a challenge you're after. If you're eager to go big, you can opt for a 1000-piece puzzle that measures 50.2 centimetres by 76 centimetres, which is the largest size. Otherwise, you can pick between 12, 30, 35, 60, 88, 100, 120, 180, 200, 300 or 500 pieces. Prices range from $28.95 for the smallest puzzle, up to $59.95 for the largest. And if you'd like to provide more than one photo for a single puzzle — as uploaded via the company's website — you can. Smoochy Poochy will even create the collage for you, for free if it uses four or fewer photos, and at an extra price for five or more pictures. Smoochy Poochy's personalised pet puzzles are available to order via the company's website.
UPDATE WEDNESDAY, JUNE 7: To celebrate their grand opening on Saturday, June 10, Little Miss Kay's in Woolloongabba will be doing half-price 'grab and go' cheeseburgers from 10.30am till 9.30pm. If you want one, you'll have to fill out this form in advance and present it to staff on the day. Visit their Facebook page for more details. Not content with giving the Brisbane CBD and Mitchelton a taste of American diner-style fare, Miss Kay's is expanding their burger empire. Southside residents, it's your turn, with the joint headed to Woolloongabba. The new Logan Road location will be called Little Miss Kay's, and is due to open its doors on Saturday, June 10. As the name gives away, it won't be quite the same Miss Kay's regulars know and love. Forget hanging around in pop culture-themed digs, watching Space Jam on TV and hearing old school tunes blast throughout the store — in a departure from its other greasy spoons, their new venture is a takeaway and delivery only establishment. Serving lunch and dinner seven days a week, it'll still boast the exact same burger menu, but grabbing and going — or ordering from home and waiting for UberEATS to get to your door — is on offer. Yes, that means eating Mac Daddy burgers filled with mac 'n' cheese at home; however their shake selection won't be on offer at this food-focused outlet. Expect the rest of their burgs, sides and other delicious bites to make the jump though, including the Austin Flowers spiced tempura cauliflower burger, the Ludakrisp crispy fried chicken concoction, and those tasty fried wings. Find Little Miss Kay's 159 Logan Rd, Woolloongabba from June 10. Keep an eye on their website and Facebook page for more information.
A Chinese fine diner in a former bank. A futuristic eatery decked out with Prince-themed crockery inside a hotel. An inventive Indian restaurant from a Michelin-starred chef. These are just three of the boundary-pushing restaurants that have opened their doors this year. Brisbane's restaurant scene has had an impressive year with both big-name chefs opening new outposts, and smaller, but equally talented, chefs opening their first eateries. And the restaurants that have opened are as diverse in their cuisines as they are in their decors — Indian, French, Chinese and Greek; pastels, velvet purple banquettes, communal benches and revamped 1920s-era buildings. At Concrete Playground we encourage exploration and showcase innovation in our city every day, so we thought it fitting to reward those most talented whippersnappers pushing Brisbane to be a better, braver city. And so, these six new restaurants were nominated for Best New Restaurant in Concrete Playground's Best of 2018 Awards.
If you ever wanted to run away and join the circus and/or had an identity crisis when you were younger, you were everyone. If you actually had any conviction, and decided to express yourself through performance, you were Flipside Circus. And on the 15th year of this innovative circus's well-accomplished life, it too faces the all-too-common, pubescent identity crisis that comes hand-in-hand with this turbulent age. Their newest show, Identité, presents a contemporary circus piece that explores identity, innocence and youth through tumbles, tricks and trapeze. In a show suitable for all ages, this group of 9- to 18-year-olds perform and present an awe-inspiring masterpiece on self-discovery and what it is to grow up. This cast of only 14 presents an unmissable experience, tying the challenges of ageing with those of intricate performance and showpiece. Identité is more than just a circus; it's a contemporary piece of art, riddled with emotion. https://youtube.com/watch?v=U27JaIr7Q2Q
Always on the lookout for your next photo op? Wanting a fun way to escape your reality? Make sure to have your cameras at the ready because Honey House is about to hit King George Square (and have Brisbane feeling a little topsy-turvy — in a good way). Courtesy of Honey Insurance, the bold building is here to help you up your know-how on protecting that home of yours with seven interactive rooms (think mirrored illusions, misplaced furniture in candy-bright hues and photo spots aplenty). Want to know the best part? The part-photo-studio-part-art-installation is completely free for everyone to enjoy. Once you're in, you'll have plenty of time to explore, play and get the perfect shot — check out the Honey Instagram for a sneak peek. Running from Monday, May 16 until Tuesday, May 24, this surreal experience is not one to miss. Reserve your tickets in advance, because it's sure to draw some serious crowds. Head to the website to reserve your spot. Top images: Scott Ehler
It's hard to come by actual hidden gems in your city these days. Chances are you've heard about the latest hidden/vegan/swimming/rooftop hotspot via social media — and so have the masses, and they've beaten you there. Most, save the truly intrepid city wanderers among us, often miss the boat on undiscovered goldmines. But hey, it's more than okay to jump on a bandwagon if something is truly good. But how about those little nuggets of gold in the city you've forgotten, or never got around to visiting in the first place? This summer just might be the perfect time to back-up a little bit, consult the notes app in your iPhone and see what you had scribbled down as a to-do. Not sure where to start? We've partnered with Henkell, purveyors of quality bubbly, to pull together a hit list of some (kinda) hidden gems to dig up around Brisbane on your summer break. They'll all bring a little sparkle to your day and remind you that Brisbane is pretty darn great. WANDER AN ARTISANAL FOOD AND DRINK MECCA This might be one of those places you've heard about but haven't managed to get to yet, or perhaps can't find? Well, this summer's your chance to discover (or re-discover) this old warehouse-turned-community culinary clubhouse on the cusp of West End. Wandering Cooks is an excellent spot for hangs with the group breakfast, lunch or dinner. It has 101 food vendors on rotation, so make sure you check out the website for who is serving up what and when. Oh, and still not sure where to find it? Simply walk all the way to the end of Fish Lane and there you'll find it. And if you're keen to catch some rays by the water, grab some artisanal treats to take away and head to Riverside Green down the road for a gourmet picnic — complete with a bottle of Henkell Blanc de Blancs. [caption id="attachment_551045" align="alignnone" width="960"] Pizzeria Violetta.[/caption] HEAD TO THE 'BURBS FOR SOME CULINARY GEMS Northwest Brisbane's barbecue belt, and home to some solid architectural splendour of the 70s, Kenmore has become more and more popular among the city's epicures. Move over Oxford and James streets — this is the place to head if you want to experience a 'suburban dining hub' at its best. Located just off Marshall Lane, Wongabel Street houses three fantastic restaurants owned by Brisbane restaurateur Renata Roberts: Stavros the Greek, Sichuan Bang Bang and Pizzeria Violetta. Plus, you'll find a pretty ace Thai restaurant and espresso bar at the top of the street. Not sure where to head first? Look to Sichuan Bang Bang for its spicy dishes of Sichuan bean curd with minced pork, classic Sichuan Ma La dry pot with beef or chicken or the sizzling Singapore chilli prawns. The eatery also welcomes BYO so you can take your meal up a notch with a nice bottle of bubbly. VENTURE TO A CITY OASIS Just a hop, skip and jump from inner-city Brisbane (about 25 minutes), you'll find this perfect oasis of a swimming spot. Enoggera Dam is a shady freshwater dam that offers something for the laziest and most active among us. Float the morning away alongside waterlilies or jump on a paddleboard or kayak, then head to the lush grassy lawn for a picnic and maybe a glass of Henkell Trocken in the sun. You'll also find bushwalking tracks along the perimeter of the dam. It can get busy, but a morning or afternoon dip here will make anyone's summer brighter. FIND A HIDDEN HUB OF CHEESE AND LIVE MUSIC Junk by name, but certainly not by nature; this trash is Brisbane's treasure. An oldie, but perpetually a goodie, Ashgrove's Junk Bar is a self-proclaimed 'hidden' bar that's half the fun to find. You'd be forgiven if you've walked straight past its un-signed and curtained entrance on Ashgrove Avenue. Step inside, out of the hot, hot sun and you've got a spot where you can catch local live music over a cheese board. It's pretty chill here — they don't even mind if you BYO your own food — so it really is one of the best spots to unwind and recalibrate after a hectic festive season. Summer is here and it's time to pop the bubbly. Pick up a bottle of Henkell Blanc de Blancs or Henkell Trocken for your next sparkling occasion.
A teenager runs away with her best friend. Her distraught parents search for her. A retired detective lends a hand — and the situation he uncovers is both quite ordinary and a little bit odd. If there's one thing that Looking for Grace recognises, it's that daily life can be equally routine and strange. A tense scenario can have a lighter side. Stress can turn to laughter. In dramatic circumstances, people don't always know how to behave. No one — not the eponymous Grace (Odessa Young), her pal Sappho (Kenya Pearson), mother Denise (Radha Mitchell), father Dan (Richard Roxburgh) or former cop Tom (Terry Norris) — really knows what they're doing, particularly after the girls and a secret stash of cash goes missing. Trekking across Western Australia to attend a concert, Grace is happy flirting with a charismatic traveller (Harry Richardson), though Sappho is less content being the third wheel. At home, Denise tries to remain calm, while Dan is distracted by the affair he's been trying but failing to have with an employee (Tasma Walton). Their individual tales are offered up in chapters, splitting the broader narrative into separate but interlocking strands. Some details are revealed early, with Grace's section served up first, while other inclusions — the brief segment focusing on truck driver Bruce (Myles Pollard), for example — only become significant once all the pieces have been put together. Such fragmentation may help extend an otherwise slight effort, but it proves the least convincing aspect of the film. Thankfully, the feature's structure also highlights its strengths: the characters, the multitude of realistic reactions to their various predicaments, and the fine-tuned performances of the actors who play them. Indeed, Looking for Grace works best both as a series of character studies and as a showcase for the talents of its key cast. Writer/director Sue Brooks fleshes out the former more than the slender story might seem to indicate, and benefits from the latter, especially where the trio of Young, Roxburgh and Mitchell are involved. Young sells a crucial mix of confidence and restlessness, while Roxburgh ensures his troubled everyman never comes across as pathetic, even when Looking for Grace veers into suburban parody. Often caught between the two, the pitch-perfect Mitchell proves the feature's standout player, as well as a weathervane for its mood and fortunes. When she's hitting the mark, so is the film. Elsewhere, Brooks continues the love affair with the Australian landscape she started in 1997's Road to Nhill and furthered in 2003's Japanese Story. In fact, cinematographer Katie Milwright's dusty visuals provide the perfect counterpoint to the helmer's fondness for stylisation, with Looking for Grace also an exercise in contrasts. Brooks frequently layers conflicting elements over the top of each other, such as jaunty music over sparse images, to ensure the clash of the usual and the not so is always apparent. The movie veers in tone as a result, sometimes jarringly so — but just like life, it works much more often than it doesn't.
During COVID-19, there have been reports across the globe of animals taking over cities while humans are in lockdown. Mountain goats have run amok in Wales, wild boar have strolled through the streets of Barcelona and deer have reclaimed a now quiet corner of East London. Down here in Australia, we're playing right into the stereotypes. Yep, old mate Skippy has been videoed hopping through the streets of Adelaide. In footage posted to South Australia Police's Twitter account, you can see a kangaroo casually bouncing through the CBD's quiet streets. The post is captioned with the local police saying "a suspect wearing a grey fur coat... was last seen on foot heading into the West Parklands". There's no word yet on whether the suspect was breaching any of the government's stay-at-home restrictions, however. If you've been trying to convince your American mates that you do indeed ride 'roos to work Down Under, this may finally be the proof you need. https://twitter.com/SAPoliceNews/status/1251721467189813250 While the above stories are true, if you've been hanging out on Twitter of late, you would have seen many fake images of animals returning to cities as part of the viral 'Nature is Healing' meme. There have been reports of dolphins swimming through the canals of Venice and elephants getting drunk in Chinese tea fields, but as National Geographic has pointed out, they are indeed fake. Regardless, some are quite clever and may elicit a bit of a chuckle. So, we'll leave you with a few of our favourites: https://twitter.com/TPZanetic/status/1249116743555002368 https://twitter.com/Julian_Epp/status/1243992034324746240 https://twitter.com/roobeekeane/status/1244320113958019073 https://twitter.com/willjennings80/status/1241497390735069184
It's been three years since the space at 224 Given Terrace became home to Nota, which took over fine diner Montrachet's old Paddington digs after the beloved French eatery moved shop, and also started serving up a more affordable European spread. With its exposed brick walls and mirrors aplenty, too, it fast became an inner-west favourite — and it'll be giving Brisbanites twice as many reasons to stop by in the near future. Prepare to spend time at Nota Restaurant & Wine Bar, with the revamped name signalling the venue's broadened focus. Actually, owners Kevin Docherty and Sebastiaan de Kort (ex-Moda) are opening up a neighbourhood wine bar in the shop next door, with Nota expanding both its remit and its floorspace. When it relaunches in the coming months, the two-in-one spot will become a 90-seater, and will knock down the adjoining wall between the two spaces so that patrons can mosey between them. On the bar side, it'll still sit amid exposed brick walls, of course — and feature a five-metre wall of wines, wines and more wines. Warm lighting will set the mood, a bar snack menu will keep your stomach from rumbling, and the full Nota menu will also be available. Whatever you opt to eat, be it a calzone, some focaccia or cappellaci, new Italian-born, French-trained Head Chef Matteo Pisanu will be taking care of the kitchen. He'll be focusing on simple-seeming dishes that prove anything but, and that use seasonal produce picked up on weekly market runs. "Simple is sometimes much harder, there's nothing to hide behind," Pisanu notes. As for all that vino, restaurant manager Yanika Sittisuntorn has already grown Nota's range from 12 bottles upon opening to 90-plus now, and is particularly fond of lesser-known and experimental varieties. So, when Nota 2.0 starts welcoming folks into its bigger space, expect to have a whole heap of wine options. Find Nota at 224 Given Terrace, Paddington — with the revamped Nota Restaurant & Wine Bar set to launch in the coming months.
What are the two things every fun Sunday needs? If your stomach was grumbling and your toes were tapping as you read that sentence, then you know the answer. So does Bites & Vibes, as its name suggests. You'd expect nothing less from the combo that is Foodora and The Brightside, after all. Yep, the former is letting loose on the latter to bring a whole heap of tastiness to Warner Street on October 23, and some great tunes too. Music-wise, Blair Jackson, Alexandra, Hailey Calvert and Josh Lovegrove will keep your ears happy; however the main attraction really is the food. With Tara Thai Brisbane, Dumpling Republic Brisbane, Tuckeria Fresh Mexican, The Boroughs of New York Pizza, District 1., Super Bowl Chinese Restaurant & Noodle Bar, La Macelleria, Ouzeri, Paddington Curry House and Fusion Cafe all serving their tasty dishes, you'll understand just why the culinary lineup is in the spotlight. And yes, it wouldn't be a party at good ol' Brighty without Lucky Egg pumping out some fry fry chicky chick as well. You'd best wear something stretchy and comfy.
It's a scenario that many Australians can relate to: it's summer, the temperature has reached scorching levels and you can hear the sounds of someone splashing around in a cool, refreshing pool. Sadly, those noises aren't emanating from your own swimming spot — because you don't have one — and you don't know your neighbours well enough to just pop by for a dip. And, maybe your local waterhole is too far away, you don't live near the beach or the nearest public pool is closed for the day. Combine all of the above, and you're stuck trying to chill out in the bath or under the fan in the sweltering heat. Enter Swimply, a service that's like Airbnb, but for pools. Already operational in the US and Canada, and finally launching in Australia on Tuesday, November 26 — in Sydney, Melbourne and Brisbane so far — it's a fairly typical sharing economy-style platform. One person rents out something they have and don't use all the time, while another person with a short-term need reaps the benefits. In this case, Swimply lets folks with pools lease out their backyard swimming spots when they're not in use, and helps people without pools find a place for a splash, all via an iOS and Android app. If you fall into the latter category, you can hire a spot by the hour. You can also look for pools with specific facilities and inclusions — such as chairs, lounges, towels, wifi, a changing area, access to a bathroom, a barbecue, a shady spot to sit under, night lighting, pool toys and heated waters. Some allow pets, while others are fine with parties and alcohol. Before booking, you can also scope out just how many guests you can bring (and whether kids are allowed), as well as how private the pool is from the neighbours. That said, prices aren't particularly cheap. Splashing around for 60 minutes hovers around the $40 mark, with some pools as low as $20 and others topping out at $50 per hour — all depending on the cost set by the owner. Of course, if you're planning a dip with your pals and can split the price, it's much more affordable. So far, just a small range of pools are available in Australia, with three in Sydney, five in Melbourne and five in Brisbane. Still, if you're keen to hop in one of them, Swimply is offering first-time users a 20 percent discount until December 31, 2019 — just use the code 'SWIMDOWNUNDER'. And if you're wondering about safety, pools are vetted before being added to the platform, in conjunction with pool and spa maintenance company Poolwerx — and checked to ensure compliance with Australian health and safety standards. Swimply is now available to download on iOS and Android.
Wander into Swill, and there's only one drink worth ordering — in more than 115 varieties. At this new gin joint in Bowen Hills, juniper spirits are the beverage of choice. And, on the last Thursday night of each monthly 28, the bar is getting almost academic about its favourite tipple. To be specific, it's welcoming fellow gin lovers to a regular Gin Club, showcasing different styles of gin and getting everyone talking. If there's one thing that everyone wants to study, it's this. No, there's no test at the end. Rather, drop by from 6pm for two hours of tastings, nibbles and a cocktail, all included in the $15 on-the-door entry price. A range of different tipples will be wetting your whistle, and you'll be an expert in all of them in no time. Contacting the bar in advance to book your spot is highly recommended. Updated November 21.
Break out the pink and don't even dream of wearing sweatpants: it's Mean Girls brunch time. Come April, themed mid-morning meals dedicated to the 2004 teen classic will be popping up in yet-to-be-disclosed locations in Sydney and Melbourne. Yes, like Gretchen's devotion to the word "fetch", someone is trying to make this happen. On offer is a get-together filled with prosecco, cocktails and something edible, plus the flick itself playing in the background. It's the latest in what's proving a growing trend, given the enormous popularity of the already sold-out Harry Potter-themed Wizard's Brunch. If the Plastics were to give their opinion on it, however, we're not certain it'd get the Regina George stamp of approval. Other than the pink-hued outfits and just generally gossiping about the Tina Fey-written, Lindsay Lohan and Rachel McAdams-starring movie, there's not that much else to really throw into the mix. Will attendees eat in a school cafeteria-like setting? Will it feature an all-carb menu to go with Regina's all-carb diet? Will tables be split into cliques like "actual human beings" and "desperate wannabes"? Will Kalteen bars feature? Perhaps a Spring Fling King and Queen will be crowned, which is what's happening at London's version of the event. Also on the agenda is immersive entertainment, although just what that'll be hasn't been revealed. The Mean Girls Brunch will take place at locations in Sydney and Melbourne later this year. We'll let you know when you can buy tickets, and you can sign up for updates here.
Queensland is known for more than a few things. Endlessly warm weather, fearsome footy, particularly wild wildlife and a bustling arts and culture scene to name a few. But it's also home to a long legacy of scientific discovery. This history — and that of the science community the world over — is celebrated annually at World Science Festival Brisbane, which is returning this March for its 2023 edition. Taking over several venues citywide over its five-day run, World Science Festival Brisbane is here to both delight and educate across a range of scientific fields. Just like last year, the event is coinciding with Curiocity Brisbane, which runs until Saturday, April 22 — so you're guaranteed a double dose of thought-provoking attractions. If you plan on seeing it all, you're in for a jam-packed five days. Head to QPAC for one or all of Professor Brian Greene's four conversation sessions, which are set to cover astrology, neurology, history and more. For a good laugh, visit QPAC on Saturday, March 25 for the live comedy quiz show Night of the Nerds, or Sunday, March 26 for a live recording of A Rational Fear, the award-winning podcast series that explores – and manages to laugh at – all the ways the world could end. Fascinated by the oceanic realm? Artistically inclined? Head to Brisbane Planetarium between Thursday, March 23 and Sunday, March 26 to catch a screening of the award-winning short film CORAL: Rekindling Venus. And, excitingly, Curiocity's city walk returns. From Wednesday, March 22 till Saturday, April 22, your stroll through South Bank will be dotted with 14 immersive artworks and displays that explore everything from cat-babysitting AI to T-Rex farts. Beyond all of that science-fuelled fun, the loggerback turtle hatchery is returning to Queensland Museum (a true fan fave), interactive experiments are popping up across Brisbane, there's the chance to picnic amongst prehistoric animals at the South Bank Piazza and more. For more information and to nab your tickets to World Science Festival Brisbane, visit the website.
In I Am Mother's vision of the future, humanity has almost become extinct, the earth is a wasteland and the only known person alive is a teenager (Clara Rugaard) born, raised and living in an underground facility. Known only as Daughter, the adolescent has been brought up by a robot that she calls Mother (voiced by Rose Byrne) — but when a woman (Hilary Swank) comes knocking on their door, the girl begins to doubt everything she knows, including her android protector's motives. So far, so familiar, especially if you're a fan of sci-fi thrillers and dystopian tales. Australia has made a few, including the hugely successful Mad Max franchise; however this homegrown sci-fi thriller definitely finds its own niche. Shot in Adelaide, screening as a work in progress at the 2018 Adelaide Film Festival, premiering internationally at this year's Sundance and also slated for this year's Sydney Film Festival, it's now heading to Netflix from June 7 as well. Get ready for a bleak, tense and twisty effort that makes the most of its premise, nods to both the Alien and Terminator sagas, features immersive production design, and should bring its stellar young Danish lead Rugaard to further attention. It's also the debut feature from Australian filmmaker Grant Sputore, who directs and co-penned the underlying story with fellow big-screen first-timer Michael Lloyd Green. Check out the trailer below: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=N5BKctcZxrM I Am Mother drops on Netflix on June 7.
A frazzled mother, a bride to be, a cactus-loving wife, a widow, a teenage wannabe star, and a fading singer. If you've ever had a sister, wife, girlfriend, mother or daughter, chances are you know one of these women. If you've ever blitzed through the morning rush of a school day, suffered the loss of a loved one or felt the nervous excitement of 'the big day', chances are you are one of these women. They are theatrical characters drawn from the everyday of modern life. Queensland Theatre Company's Bombshells presents six monologues about women on the brink of falling apart. The play was written by Joanna Murray-Smith, one of Australia's most prominent female writers. Having plays performed on both local and international stages, her honest and truthful words always find a receptive audience. The play features the strikingly talented Christen O'Leary gracing us with her cheeky and vivacious presence on the Cremorne Theatre stage. This production marks O'Leary's brilliant return to QTC since 2006, and Wesley Enoch's first directed work for QTC since becoming its Artistic Director in late 2010. Bombshells is insightful and salacious entertainment and should not be missed.
New festival alert: adding to Brisbane's always-busy cultural calendar, the River City will soon be home to Melt OPEN. From spring 2024, this fringe-style event will celebrate LGBTQIA+ art and performance everywhere from Fortitude Valley to Woolloongabba, showcasing queer work, talents, legends and allies. Brisbanites should already know that Brisbane Powerhouse has hosted Melt Festival for seven years and counting, with that event considered a predecessor to this newcomer. As its name makes plain, Melt OPEN is broadening its scope by building upon Melt's success — spreading beyond the Powerhouse, featuring more artists and venues, and operating as an open access-style shindig. Basically, Melt fans, rejoice: the OG festival is still occurring, but Melt OPEN will also expand upon it from 2024. That means more excuses to revel in LGBTQIA+-led lineups as Brisbane ramps up to hosting the 2032 Olympic and Paralympic Games. While exactly what'll be on the bill is yet to be revealed, "prepare to be enthralled by captivating events that engage the city and boundary-pushing art that challenges norms," advises Brisbane Powerhouse CEO and Artistic Director Kate Gould. "Expect mass community participation events that celebrate the rich diversity of Queensland's LGBTQIA+ communities and their allies." When Melt OPEN takes over Newstead, New Farm, the Brisbane CBD and West End, too, Powerhouse, the Queensland Government and Brisbane City Council all expect it to be a tourist drawcard, attracting more than 4000 people to Brissie each year. "Anticipated to generate more than $8 million for the visitor economy, Melt OPEN is terrific news for the city's accommodation, hospitality, transport and tourism operators and Queensland jobs," said Queensland Tourism Minister Stirling Hinchliffe. [caption id="attachment_716453" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Dylan Evans[/caption] "We're proud to support homegrown Brisbane events like this that celebrate our diverse community and culture, while supporting the city's world-class creative industry," noted Brisbane Lord Mayor Adrian Schrinner. "Melt OPEN is an incredible addition to the city's jam-packed major events calendar, that will not only attract thousands of visitors to Brisbane but showcase and support our thriving cultural precincts." Melt OPEN will debut across October–November 2024 at various venues around Brisbane, with specific dates, locations and other further details yet to be announced. Head to the Brisbane Powerhouse website for additional information in the interim — and to submit expressions of interest to be a part of the fest. Top image: Laura Lewis.
Rhys Lee is a colourful artist in the most exciting way. Planes and shapes leap from the canvas, lines engage the eyes and the mind. Ethereal, transcendental subjects are mysterious yet familiar, abstract in appearance yet welcoming in a way no other artist can achieve. The works of Lee are very much to do with psychology than you might realise. They trick, refocus and absorb within the mind, forcing a second look upon subjects that are usually considered outside the societal norms yet are key components of the human condition. For Lee’s works, the significance lies not in the subject that is constructed on the plane but the process of construction itself. He lets his instincts and whims guide him; what you see is by chance, an unveiled image that was somehow guided from subconscious to physical expression. Whether his art is an attempt to cover darker meaning, or is an intriguing invitation to the deeper unknown, that is for you to decide.
This Christmas, all you need is love — plus a festive little cabaret that showcases all of the hit tunes from Love Actually. It's the way to celebrate the season when you're not just leaving the seasonal favourite flick on repeat at home. Yep, that's Christmas Actually. Created by the folks behind Rumour Has It and Lady Beatle, and starring Naomi Price (Ladies in Black, Beautiful: The Carole King Musical), Christmas Actually features all of the tracks that've become synonymous with this merry time of year — including Mariah Carey's 'All I Want for Christmas Is You', naturally. Songs by Joni Mitchell, Norah Jones, Eva Cassidy, The Beach Boys and The Beatles are all on the bill as well — and, to help belt them out, Price will be joined by Mik Easterman, Irena Lysiuk, Luke Kennedy, Michael Manikus, OJ Newcomb, Stephan Ward and Tom Oliver. There'll even be more than one nativity lobster, plus a jolly mood and a whole room full of festive cheer. That room is Fortitude Music Hall, where Christmas Actually plays from Wednesday, December 14–Saturday, December 17. Get excited by revisiting Love Actually's trailer below. 'Tis the season, after all.
Once, Ned Kelly and Mark "Chopper" Read called it home. Soon, a microbrewery, pub, 15-screen cinema and apartments will do just that instead. Yes, the times are certainly a-changin' at Coburg's Pentridge Prison, with 2017 marking 20 years since the site stopped its incarceration operations — and also marking the first time they're throwing a two-day festival. What was formerly Victoria's longest running gaol will host an all-ages fest filled live music, market stalls and food trucks on April 8 and 9, in what is hoped will become a yearly event. Attendees keen to get a dose of the facility's past can break up the eating and tunes with hourly tours of the prison's B Division, exercise yards and solitary confinement cells. Music-wise, the lineup features local acts such as Big Words, Cumbia Massive, Billy Davis and Funkalleros, while meals on wheels will be served up by Mr Burger, Beatbox Kitchen, Pasta Face, White Guy Cooks Thai and Billy Van Creamy, among others. Indeed, the fest has lured the likes of Zero 95 and Fancy Hanks to turn into food truck vendors for the event, treating visitors to their tasty fare beyond their usual four walls. It wouldn't be an outdoor food festival without picnic rugs aplenty — with everyone in the vicinity encouraged to hang out on the grass in the Pentridge piazza — or a beer garden bringing some booze to the celebration. Best of all, the event is free. Unlike the site's residents from times gone by, you won't want to leave. Pentridge Festival takes place at Pentridge Prison, Coburg on April 8 and 9. For more information, visit pentridgecoburg.com.au.
Show a little R-E-S-P-E-C-T and head to the one-night-only Aretha — Love Letter to the Queen of Soul at QPAC's Concert Hall this winter. On Tuesday, June 20, there'll be one big show packed full of the extraordinary star's powerful hits. This special event will showcase Aretha Franklin's wide-ranging vocal talents and her timeless anthems. A diverse multigenerational cast will perform 32 of the Queen's songs, and is guaranteed to have you dancing in your seat and singing along to iconic tunes like 'Respect' and '(You Make Me Feel Like) A Natural Woman'. The stellar cast includes Montaigne, the ARIA-nominated Emma Donovan, Thndo, Thandi Phoenix and Ursula Yovich. The show is both narrated and directed by Jada Alberts, who weaves in the stories of the artist's public success and personal struggles — which ultimately paved the way for other female and soul artists to make their own mark on the world. This event is a spectacular opportunity to hear of the beginning of Franklin's life. It'll take you from her gospel roots and rising fame all the way to reaching worldwide recognition. Her talents earned her many accolades, including 18 Grammy Awards and the title of Rolling Stone's 'Greatest Singer of All Time'. She's also sold over 75-million records. Images: Cybele Malinowski.
Spend a night in Fortitude Valley listening to bands, help Brisbane recover from the past week's devastating weather: that's on the agenda at The Zoo on Friday, March 4. To support the city, plus flood-affected regions in Queensland and New South Wales in general, the Ann Street venue has quickly thrown together a big fundraiser gig that it has dubbed Float On — and if you head along, you'll pay your way in by making a donation. The show is only doing tickets at the door, and only selling them via donation — with a $5 minimum entry fee. But the more you spend to get in, the more you'll be giving to a hugely worthy cause, with all ticket sales donated to GIVIT's campaign in partnership with the Queensland Government to help those affected by the current storms and flooding. On the bill: acoustic performances from The Dreggs, Peach Fur, Young Lions, Brixton Alley, Mozza, Cooper Riley from Bad Neighbour and The Dandy's, with doors opening at 6.30pm. Everyone involved, including the artists, organisers and the venue, have all donated their time — so 100-percent of the cash raised is going to those in need. The Zoo is also donating a portion of the proceeds from every Young Henry's schooner and Zoopreme Pizzeria pizza sold to GIVIT, too, so your brews and bites to eat will help out as well. Plus, you can also enter a flood-relief raffle on the night, with prizes donated by Ball Park Music, The Jungle Giants, Bugs, Hope D and more up for grabs. View this post on Instagram A post shared by The Zoo (@thezoo.bne) And if you want to dedicate your weekend to events that double as good deeds, you can also head back to the Valley on Saturday for Oche's flood appeal karma keg, too. Float On takes place at The Zoo, 711 Ann Street, Brisbane on Friday, March 4, with doors from 6.30pm. Tickets are only available at the door, via donation, starting at $5.
It's just been named one of the best places in the world to visit in 2022, and it's about to give you another reason to stop by. That'd be southeast Queensland's Scenic Rim region, which will play host to the state's newest music event early next year: The Long Sunset. On Saturday, February 12, the music and camping festival will sprawl across Elysian Fields in Canungra — and it'll make the most of its almost 500-acre location. Listening to live tunes may be the main drawcard, as well as bunking down for the night afterwards, but this fest will also fill its sprawling venue with other highlights. Think: cocktail bars, pop-up art galleries celebrating local artists and artisans, and a range of homegrown food highlights. The full event rundown hasn't been revealed as yet, but one key thing has been announced: The Long Sunset's headliners. Angus and Julia Stone will do their first Queensland gig together since 2018, with Brisbane's own Ball Park Music also taking to the stage. Fellow locals Hatchie and Byron Bay's Babe Rainbow are on the bill as well, and more acts are set to be announced. The fest will be an all-ages affair — organisers have used the word "wholesome" to describe it — and it's also aiming to entice visitors to check out the rest of the Scenic Rim while they're there. Combining live music with seeing Queensland's sights was the aim of this year's Queensland Music Trails, too — and The Long Sunset hails from the same team. In fact, it's aimed that the new fest will become an annual event, and form part of the Queensland Music Trails in years to come. And yes, as the name suggests, you can expect quite the dazzling display as day turns to night — with sunset at Elysian Fields seeing beams of light flicker over from the region's surrounding mountain ranges. The Long Sunset will take over Elysian Fields in Canungra, in the Scenic Rim, on Saturday, February 12. Ticket pre-sales will be available from 8am on Monday, November 8, before general sales start at 9am on Tuesday, November 9.
