Whether in collectives or as individuals, a ton of artists are leaving their mark on canvas and walls all around Brisbane. Two such visual magicians are Vlada and Jaimee. You may recognise them a few ways. They comprise one half of rising musical stars Major Leagues, but they also go by separate artistic pseudonyms. Allow me to introduce Junky (Vlada) and Kool Thing (Jaimee) — two of the most interesting artists in town. Junky's detailed illustrations are a sight to behold, while Kool Thing's beloved Pet Portraits have made her hot property to animal lovers everywhere. These pals have been decorating walls across Brisbane for some time, and now they are joining forces for a collaborative exhibition at Jamie's Espresso this Thursday. We decided to have a chat to both artists to find out what makes them tick. Jaimee, in a quick sentence, tell us about your art style! J: My direction might be associated with a street art and/or comic art style. Jaimee, Where did you come up with the idea for Pet Portraits? J: My amazing mother placed that seed in my mind. Thanks mum. How has the response been since you started producing them? J: Dog lovers from all over the country are so encouraging toward this endeavour. It's on its way to becoming a legitimate small business, yippy! Vlada, your illustrations are incredibly detailed! What sort of illustrations do you enjoy drawing the most? V: When I first started drawing I pretty much just drew thousands of pictures of Gambit from X-Men (really focusing on the six pack), so I think doing graphic novel style drawing will always be my favourite thing to do. However Jaimee and I have done a few big murals around the place and they have always been crazy fun. We have been lucky that the lovely people that have let us massacre their walls have just let us have free reign over the space and we get to draw pictures of laser squids and intergalactic bunny rabbits and all kinds of fun things. What/where do you draw your influences from? J: I sway toward anything with intentional and detailed line work. Traditional Japanese prints from old favourites like Hokusai or modern Israeli street artist like UNGA, have surly been an encouragement in the way my work polishes out. V: The artists I follow and fawn over are a huge influence on my work. After I finish something I spend a significant amount of time making sure I haven't plagiarised. I have a little spongy baby brain. Same goes for comic books and whatever I'm reading at the time. Oh and pretty much everything I eat. I'm way too inspired by food. What can you tell us about your upcoming exhibition? What can we expect? J: Vlada and I will each have four to five pieces on display, consisting of our latest inspirations. It will probably look a lot like our Tumblr feed, because us gals don't get out much. V: For this particular exhibition all the works will be fairly new. I never intended on having a theme; however, as I finished everything they all ended up being black-and-white inked pictures. For anyone that has seen any of Jaimee's work she has a solid style that has this incredible ability to adapt and change but maintains its integrity, which is something I really respect about her work. Generally it'll be a collection of new stuff and hopefully will be visually delicious! You are quite active amongst the Brisbane cultural scene; what do you like about Brisbane culturally at this point in time? J: Brisbane has many integral components that make our cultural hub beautiful, including our music and street art. I have recently been city hopping on a national tour with Vlada and our band mates in Major Leagues and we were blown away by the amount of gorgeous street art from the main cities we travelled to. I only hope we will have more tolerance for artistic speech on our streets because I feel that there is a lack of it within our Brisbane culture. I'm super excited for progression in Brisbane's cultural hub. There is much to look forward to. V: Brisbane is wonderful. There are always great bands playing, exhibitions to see, beers to drink and burritos to consume. Brisbane will just keep on growing creatively as well. There are some great minds in this bustling metropolis of ours. Oh yes, and hanging out at Kodak Beach of course. Who are some artists or musicians that you would recommend to someone looking to immerse themselves in Brisbane culture? J: Sam McKenzie (Illustrator) Jesse Olsen (illustrator/tattoo artist), Theresa Fryer (cinematographer) As for musicians, Babaganouj, ROKU MUSIC, Cub Sport and The Good Sports. V: I know for a fact that Jaimee's list and mine are incredibly similar so refer to Jaimee Fryer's list. Ha. But my addition to the artist list would have to be Phoebe Paradise. Where are your favourite places to eat / drink / party around town? J: I go to The Tiller in Alderley for coffee every day; The Scratch bar for my beer needs and The Underdog is a swinging place I'd like to party down at more often. V: Well you can't go wrong with drinking beers on a deck — if you have a deck that is. We have a deck and it is popular past time in our home. Food wise, Vietnamese pork rolls from my bakery in East Brisbane are a solid lunchtime treat and fun dancing times at Black Bear Lodge on the weekends are brilliant, especially if it's a No Diggity night. Ooooh Damn. Kool Thing and Junky will be hosting an exhibition at Jamie's Espresso this Thursday. Check out their work from 6pm.
By this stage, there's every chance you've forgotten what a dance floor even looks like. But the folks at Untitled Group — the same minds behind Beyond the Valley, Pitch Music & Arts and Ability Fest — are here to get you reacquainted. They've just revealed a huge all-Aussie lineup for the 2021 edition of their live music series For The Love, which is headed to Perth, Melbourne and the Gold Coast in March and April. Across three dates, legendary acts including electronic duo Flight Facilities, dance floor darlings Cosmo's Midnight and Brisbane rapper Mallrat will help you dust off the cobwebs and rediscover that groove. The party kicks off at Perth's McCallum Park on Saturday, March 13, before heading to Birrarung Marr in Melbourne on Saturday, April 3. Doug Jennings Park on the Gold Coast plays host to the final event on Saturday, April 17. These three waterfront venues are set to be transformed into blissful dance destinations, heaving to live sounds from favourites like singer-songwriter Running Touch and brother-sister duo Lastlings, along with London Topaz, Boo Seeka, George Maple and Elizabeth Cambage. Punters will also have the opportunity to kick back in style in one of For The Love's VIP lounges, presented by Aussie streetwear label Nana Judy. If an evening spent cutting shapes by the water sounds like a much-needed addition to your calendar, you can now register for presale until 3pm on Wednesday, December 9. Presale tickets go on sale from 5pm that same day, with general public tickets up for grabs from noon on Thursday, December 10. For The Love 2021 hits Perth on March 13, Melbourne on April 3 and the Gold Coast on April 17. Head to the website to register for presale.
A sudden Nutella shortage has gripped the nation, leaving our pancakes dry and Melbourne is to blame. The supply of industrial-sized tubs used to fuel the Melbourne Nutella industry has dried up, forcing cafes to buy smaller tubs directly from supermarket shelves, leaving no Nutella for the little guys (the rest of Nutella-less Australia). Ferrero Australia has stated they will not be receiving new shipments from until August 7. That's like, a whole week. So this is it. All the years we’ve spent wondering how the end would come and here it is. Doooooooom. Listen Melbourne, we get it (FYI this is coming from a Nutellaless Brisbanite). You love Nutella. You slap that thick, creamy hazelnut spread on everything you can get your grubby little mitts on, from waffles to doughnuts to pizza. We know the second your sculpting classes pay off, you’re going to create a lifelike human form out of Nutella and live happily together for the rest of your life. We really have no problem with this; we wholeheartedly endorse your hazelnut love. But there’s one teeny issue: there’s no Nutella left for the rest of us. Yeah, so maybe we’re being a little dramatic. But for the time being you’ll have to get your Nutella fix from one of the many, many establishments that serve Nutella-themed treats. Desperate Sydneysiders, get your starved bodies down to Brewtown in Newtown for a Nutella cruffin (muffin-croissant, FYI). For Melburnians, try Peko Peko in Fitzroy and grab a Nutella dumpling; and Brisbane-based Nutella freaks can pick up a Nutella pavlova or Nutella lasagne at the Chester Street Bakery. Once you have your sweet hazelnut treat, take it home, lock all the doors and window, and savour every last morsel. Via Good Food. Image: ninacoco.
Launching the Open Frame Festival for 2012, Syncretism is a tempting double-bill that’ll tease and titillate the ears, heart and body. Peter Swanson, ex-member of Yellow Swans, is best known for his massive sound. His latest solo album is a rippling journey through a world of ridiculously accomplished musicianship, a world rich in densely-packed layers of rhythmic fury. Described by Pitchfork as being “like a caffeine-infused heartbeat, pumping blood into a mix of bussing tones, rising waves, and cutting noise” the LP is truly intense, a mind-rendering bag of sonic, pounding rhythm and cacophonic intensity. Joining Swanson on the Syncretism line-up, and making their Australian debut as a duo, Tujiko Noriko and her beat-master partner Tyme recently released their LP, Gyu, an inventive explosion of all things J-pop that goes well beyond the confines of the genre, and mixes things up in a blender of provocation and rhythmic ridiculousness.
Add another impressive name to the long list of shows, plays and musicals alike, that've been treading the boards across Australia in recent years. That roster has spanned everything from The Book of Mormon, Hamilton and Moulin Rouge! The Musical through to Come From Away, SIX the Musical and The Mousetrap — but only Choir Boy hails from the Oscar-winning writer of the famously not-La La Land drama Moonlight. Tarell Alvin McCraney's other queer coming-of-age play premiered in London in 2012, then did the rounds of the US before opening on Broadway in 2018. It might've taken more than a decade since its stage debut for the show to make its way Down Under, but fans of Moonlight are in for a tale about sexuality, race, hope and gospel music, all focused around a young gay man finding his voice, that's certain to prove worth the wait. Story-wise, Choir Boy follows Pharus Young, who is determined to be the best choir leader that the Charles R Drew Prep School for Boys has ever seen in its 50-year history. That's easier said than done, though, given the rituals that've long been a part of the school, and the masculine expectations as well. Filled with a cappella gospel tunes, Choir Boy scored four Tony Award nominations back in 2019, including for Best Play and Best Performance by an Actor in a Leading Role in a Play — and won Best Sound Design of a Play, while also nabbing music director Jason Michael Webb a Special Tony Award. In Australia, it finally premieres Down Under as part of Sydney WorldPride, with four stops on its agenda from Tuesday, February 14: a month-long stint at Riverside Theatres Parramatta, then short stays in Brisbane, Canberra and Wollongong. Leading the cast is international musical theatre performer Darron Hayes, joined by Tony Sheldon (Priscilla, Queen of the Desert), Robert Harrell (The Shield), Zarif (Lonesome), Quinton Rofail Rich (Godspell), Theo Williams (Passing Strange), and debutants Gareth Dutlow, Abu Kebe and Tawanda Muzenda, while Dino Dimitriadis (Overflow, Cleansed) and Zindzi Okenyo (seven methods of killing kylie jenner, Orange Thrower) direct. CHOIR BOY AUSTRALIAN DATES: Tuesday, February 14–Saturday, March 11 — Riverside Theatres Parramatta Wednesday, March 15–Saturday, March 18 — QPAC, Brisbane Wednesday, March 22—Saturday, March 25 — Wollongong Town Hall Wednesday, March 29–Sunday, April 2 — Canberra Theatre Centre Choir Boy starts its Australian run from Tuesday, February 14 at Riverside Theatres Parramatta — head to the various venue websites above for further details and tickets.
Mention the name Weird Al Yankovic and a pop parody song likely slips into your head. Maybe you're now humming 'Eat It' to yourself, or 'My Bologna' — or perhaps 'Like a Surgeon', 'Another One Rides the Bus', 'Smells Like Nirvana' and 'Amish Paradise' are echoing in your brain. They're some of the musical-comedy tunes the singer is famous for, but they won't be getting a workout on his just-announced 2023 tour. First, the exciting news: Weird Al is heading to Australia in March, hitting up Melbourne, Adelaide, Sydney, Perth and Brisbane on a five-show whirl around the country. Next, the possibly surprising news: The Unfortunate Return of the Ridiculously Self-Indulgent, Ill-Advised Vanity Tour, as it's called, isn't about playing Yankovic's satires of other well-known songs. Instead, the musician is swapping his usual parodies for his other musical-comedy standouts across his 14-album catalogue. Clearly, he has plenty of tracks to choose from — and they'll all be played with his original band of four decades in an intimate, stripped-down show. Don't go expecting costumes, props or video screens, either. AUSTRALIA, here I come!!! #TheUnfortunateReturnOfTheRidiculouslySelfIndulgentIllAdvisedVanityTour comes to Melbourne, Adelaide, Sydney, Perth and Brisbane in March 2023! https://t.co/o0riivPZ37 — Al Yankovic (@alyankovic) November 27, 2022 This deep cut-focused tour follows Yankovic's successful 2018 and 2022 North American Vanity Tours, which featured sold-out performances at The Kennedy Centre and Carnegie Hall. In Australia, he'll be joined by comedian Emo Philips, his The Vidiot From UHF co-star, at gigs at the Palais Theatre, Norwood Concert Hall, Enmore Theatre, Perth's Astor Theatre and QPAC. "I don't very often get an opportunity to tour outside of North America, so it's a huge thrill for me to come back to Australia and play a bunch of songs that most people would rather not hear." Al said, announcing the tour. His trip Down Under follows the release of comic biopic Weird: The Al Yankovic Story, which isn't currently available in Australia — but Yankovic has thoughts on how to see it. WEIRD AL YANKOVIC'S THE UNFORTUNATE RETURN OF THE RIDICULOUSLY SELF-INDULGENT, ILL-ADVISED VANITY TOUR 2023: Friday, March 10 — Palais Theatre, Melbourne Monday, March 13 — Norwood Concert Hall, Adelaide Wednesday, March 15 — Enmore Theatre, Sydney Saturday, March 18 — Astor Theatre, Perth Monday, March 20 – QPAC, Brisbane Weird Al Yankovic is touring Australia in March 2023. Tickets go on sale at 11am local time on Friday, December 2 — head to the tour website for further details.
Enjoying a glass of wine might come with plenty of medical benefits, but having a tipple isn't typically an exercise-heavy pastime. You sit. You drink. You get up, top up your beverage and repeat. You usually don't walk particularly far, let alone run. Then came the Grapest 5K run, a series of wine-tasting fun runs that kicked off around Australia in 2017. Asking participants to put in the hard yards before getting some boozy rewards, it was such a hit that it's coming back for yet another round in 2019. How does it work? Grapest consists of two sections. First, you sprint, jog or set forth at whatever pace suits you best, making your way through scenic vineyard surroundings. Then, you walk another kilometre — yes, in addition to the first five, or ten if you're feeling extra energetic — while stopping at tasting stations along the way and sampling the good stuff. The latter part, they're calling a "wine waddle". Don't worry, if you're not up to the active stuff and you're simply keen on wandering and sipping, that's an option (although it does defeat the idea of combining fitness with throwing back drinks). 2019's event is scheduled for May 18 at The Overflow Estate 1885 near Brisbane.
For Queenslanders, cricket is as synonymous with summer as beaches and barbeques are. Equally so, rugby league is a clear indicator that winter has well and truly arrived. And although regular fixtures keep many enthralled, it can be said with 95% authority that the annual State of Origin games have a special place in most maroon hearts. For ‘grown ups’ who enjoy the game however, finding sophisticated ways to enjoy a primarily rough and tumble game can be hard. This year, Cloudland has made the hunt easy, playing host to those who enjoy their sport on large screens with good company, cocktails and shared antipasto as accompaniment. This year’s final game is set to be a tough decider, but choosing where to view it is not.
He's been hailed as the king of documentaries, known for his fearless deep dives into the boldest of subjects, from sex trafficking to religious extremists and just about everything in between. And now, Louis Theroux is stepping out from in front of the camera and onto the stage, venturing Down Under for his second Aussie speaking tour this summer. In January, the intrepid BBC filmmaker will hit Brisbane for his new show Louis Theroux Without Limits. In three shows over two days, the fearless journalist will be joined by local media personality Julia Zemiro for a two-hour on-stage adventure, dropping insights into his extraordinary life and behind-the-scenes secrets from his impressive catalogue of work. With more than two decades of filmmaking experience and multiple awards under his belt, Theroux has a knack for digging deep and getting people to spill the beans, telling it exactly how it is. From the opioid epidemic and the San Fernando Valley porn industry to the Church of Scientology, his work has given him countless fascinating stories to dish up on this latest speaking tour. "Australians are obviously connoisseurs of the weird side of life," Theroux said in a statement. "I look forward to coming back to share even more memorable moments and extraordinary stories from the people I have encountered in my films." He was last here in 2016, when he took his (sell-out) speaking tour to Sydney, Melbourne, Adelaide, Brisbane and Perth. While you wait for Louis to head Down Under, you can catch his new series of documentaries on BBC Knowledge from Thursday, June 27. You can check out a teaser for the new show Louis Theroux Without Limits here.
UPDATE, MARCH 25, 2020: Due to cinema closures and other concerns around COVID-19, In the Heights will no longer release on its initially scheduled date of Thursday, June 25, 2020. At present, a new release date has not been announced — we'll update you when one has been revealed. To find out more about the status of COVID-19 in Australia and how to protect yourself, head to the Australian Government Department of Health's website. Over the past five years, Hamilton has become a cultural phenomenon — and, thanks to its fame and acclaim, so has the hip hop musical's creator Lin-Manuel Miranda. But that's not the only stellar stage show to the multi-talented composer, actor, singer and playwright's name. Before he took on US history (and before he helped bring Bring It On to the theatre, too), Miranda turned life in Manhattan's Washington Heights into four-time Tony-winner In the Heights. While every Hamilton fan dreams of the day that it's turned into a movie, In the Heights is actually making the leap to the big screen first — in 2020, with a stacked cast, with Crazy Rich Asians director Jon M Chu behind the lens, and via a film primarily shot on location in its titular spot. Quiara Alegría Hudes, who wrote the text for the stage version, has also written the feature's screenplay. And Lin-Manuel Miranda is involved, naturally, producing the movie, overseeing the music and popping up on-screen as well. On Broadway from 2008–11, Miranda played the lead role of bodega owner Usnavi de la Vega. In the film, that honour goes to Anthony Ramos — an alumnus of the original production of Hamilton who has also featured in Patti Cake$, A Star Is Born and Godzilla: King of the Monsters. Usnavi works hard, saves everything he earns and strives for a better life. He also sits at the centre of a vibrant community just beyond the 181st Street subway stop, with In the Heights charting the lives, loves and dreams of the Latinx neighbourhood through colourful, energetic and — as seen in the just-dropped trailer — exquisitely choreographed song and dance numbers. Joining Ramos and Miranda (who plays Piragua Guy, the owner of a shaved ice dessert stand) are Corey Hawkins (Straight Outta Compton), singer Leslie Grace, Melissa Barrera (Vida), Dascha Polanco (Orange is the New Black), Marc Anthony and Jimmy Smits — plus original In the Heights stage star Olga Merediz, Rent's Daphne Rubin-Vega and Matilda the Musical's Gregory Diaz IV. Brooklyn Nine-Nine's Stephanie Beatriz also features, after Miranda made an appearance on the hit sitcom earlier this year. Check out the full trailer below: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=U0CL-ZSuCrQ In the Heights was due to open in Australian cinemas on June 25, 2020; however it'll now release on a yet-to-be-revealed date — we'll update you when one is announced.
Middle-earth is about to sprawl across your TV screen — or whichever other screen you use to access your streaming queue. And, after five years of talking about it, Amazon has finally given Lord of the Rings fans what they've been waiting for: a first look at its new JRR Tolkien-inspired fantasy series The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power. Elves, dwarves, epic cities, leafy landscapes — yes, 2022's new Lord of the Rings streaming series ticks all of those expected boxes so far in its just-dropped first teaser trailer. A young Galadriel (Morfydd Clark, Saint Maud) climbs ice, and a young Elrond (Robert Aramayo, The King's Man) features as well. Also packed into the 61-second clip: elves catching arrows, humans stuck on rafts on stormy seas, cave trolls, raging fires and orc battles. If you're new to The Rings of Power, Amazon first announced the show back in 2017, gave it the official go-ahead in mid-2018 and set a premiere date of Friday, September 2, 2022 back in 2021. In-between, it confirmed that it wouldn't just remake Peter Jackson's movies. Rather, the series will spend time in Middle-earth's Second Age, bringing that era from the LOTR realm to the screen for the very first time. According to show's official synopsis, it'll follow "the heroic legends of the fabled Second Age of Middle-earth's history," with the action set thousands of years before the novels and movies we've all read and watched. The series will also "take viewers back to an era in which great powers were forged, kingdoms rose to glory and fell to ruin, unlikely heroes were tested, hope hung by the finest of threads, and the greatest villain that ever flowed from Tolkien's pen threatened to cover all the world in darkness." If you're a little rusty on your LOTR lore, the Second Age lasted for 3441 years, and saw the initial rise and fall of Sauron, as well as a spate of wars over the coveted rings. Elves feature prominently, and there's plenty to cover, even if Tolkien's works didn't spend that much time on the period — largely outlining the main events in an appendix to the popular trilogy. Naturally, you can expect Sauron to feature in the new show, and to give its main figures some trouble. "Beginning in a time of relative peace, the series follows an ensemble cast of characters, both familiar and new, as they confront the long-feared re-emergence of evil to Middle-earth," the official synopsis continues. "From the darkest depths of the Misty Mountains, to the majestic forests of the elf-capital of Lindon, to the breathtaking island kingdom of Númenor, to the furthest reaches of the map, these kingdoms and characters will carve out legacies that live on long after they are gone," it also advises. In terms of stars, The Rings of Power will feature an unsurprisingly large cast — and some impressive talent behind the scenes. Among the other actors traversing Middle-earth are Ismael Cruz Córdova (The Undoing) as Arondir, Nazanin Boniadi (Bombshell) as Bronwyn, Owain Arthur (A Confession) as Prince Durin IV, Charlie Vickers (Palm Beach) as Halbrand and Sophia Nomvete (The Tempest) as Princess Disa. There's also Tom Budge (Judy & Punch), Joseph Mawle (Game of Thrones), Cynthia Addai-Robinson (The Accountant), Maxim Baldry (Years and Years), Peter Mullan (Westworld), Benjamin Walker (The Underground Railroad) and comedian Lenny Henry. And, the series is being overseen by showrunners and executive producers JD Payne and Patrick McKay, while filmmaker JA Bayona (A Monster Calls, Jurassic World: Fallen Kingdom) directs the first two episodes. Check out the first teaser trailer for The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power below: The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power will be available to stream via Amazon Prime Video from Friday, September 2, 2022.
Children Collide are a hard working band. Mere weeks after releasing their third studio album, Monument, the band are embarking on a massive 19 date national tour taking in all capital cities and numerous regional centres. The year has been a turbulent one for the band, with drummer Ryan Ceasar saying farewell to the band earlier this year, and with lead singer Johnny Mackay’s imminent departure for a New York lifestyle, who knows what the future will hold for the band. One thing is certain; Children Collide will be rocking as hard as ever and are still dedicated to putting on a good show. The Monument tour is certainly shaping up to be monumental in its own right, so be sure to grab a ticket and get to The Zoo for what is bound to be a great show.
Dig out the Thai fisherman pants from the back of your closet, Woodford Folk Festival is back for another year. If you've never been, Woodford is the perfect place to disconnect from the daily grind, become one with nature (read: mud) and check out some of Australians best musicians with a chilled and festive vibe. This year's offering is no exception; the lineup has 'best summer ever' written all over it. Festival mainstays like The Cat Empire and Lior will be back once again. They will also be joined by an A-list crowd of Australian ladies like Kate Miller-Heidke, Bertie Blackman, and Mia Dyson. But the real crowdpleaser will come from The Violent Femmes. Who wouldn't want to listen to 'Blister in the Sun' while dancing in the wilderness in the height of summer? Bliss. Though The Violent Femmes may be a little past their prime, there will also be a bunch of up and coming musicians on stage. Husky and Hiatus Kaiyote will be representing Melbourne talent and The Cairos will be playing to what's basically a home crowd. With over 400 acts jammed into the full program, Woodford is all about discovering new sounds. As well as music, the festival covers visual arts, circus, comedy, vaudeville and dance. Set up camp, let your hair get knotty, and roam the makeshift tarpaulin towns of this super chilled festival. It's time to channel your inner hippy. WOODFORD FOLK FESTIVAL 2014 LINEUP: Archie Roach Bertie Blackman The Cairos The Cat Empire Christine Anu Darren Middleton (ex-Powderfinger) Del Barber The East Pointers Hiatus Kiayote Husky Jeff Lang Jenn Grant John Smith Kate Miller-Heidke Lau Led Kaapana Lior Matt Anderson Mia Dyson Nahko and Medicine for the People Shooglenifty Sticky Fingers Tiny Ruins The Topp Twins Violent Femmes We Two Thieves Woodford Folk Festival is on from December 27 - January 1. Tickets are on sale now.
Flight sales have been a big part of 2020, ever since domestic travel started opening back up in Australia (and even with borders closing and opening with frequency). Indeed, when Jetstar offered up a heap of discounted tickets in mid-June, it sold 70,000 seats in just five hours, with Aussies keen to travel when and where they can in this pandemic-afflicted year. The airline has launched several other sales since and, until Saturday, December 19, it's hosting its big Christmas affair. So, get your clickers ready. The Jetstar Christmas sale is already running, with discounted flights on offer until 11.59pm AEDT on Saturday — if it doesn't sell out prior. In the sale, you'll find cheap flights all around the country, starting at $29. That'll get you from Adelaide to the Avalon airport in Melbourne. For $59, a Brisbanite can get to Sydney and for $99, a Sydneysider can get to Cairns, too. Other deals include Brisbane to The Whitsundays for $55, and to Darwin or Uluru for $89; Sydney to the Sunshine Coast for $59, to Hamilton Island for $99 and to Launceston for $49; and Melbourne to the Gold Coast for $69, to Ballina for $97 and to Margaret River for $99. Yes, the list goes on. Tickets are for one-way fares, for trips between January–June 2021, with exact dates varying in each region. So, if you're keen to get away, book some now and start planning. This time, before you get booking, you don't need to do as much work researching the status of interstate borders — because most of the country is now open. At present, only Western Australia has any restrictions in place, with folks from South Australia needing to quarantine for 14 days. Of course, this can change quickly depending on any new COVID-19 cases and clusters, as we've all become accustomed to seeing this year. Jetstar's Christmas sale runs until 11.59pm AEDT on Saturday, December 19, or until sold out.
I’m sure the thought has crossed your mind. Your love affair with beer is momentous, and beer has never let you down, yelled at you in public or asked you to take the bins out. Beer encourages you to play the field and see other people, and doesn’t complain if you’re out too late. While marrying beer is not a reality, the next best thing is coming to Brewsvegas. Brisbane Brewing Co and Ekim Brewing invite all to join a day of merriment as they commemorate a special brewnion with fancy brews, food, prizes, wedding singers, hilarious speeches and more.
Think there's just one Hottest 100 in January? Think again. Indeed, the second important countdown of the month goes rather well with the music poll that just proclaimed Flume's 'Never Be Like You' the nation's best track of 2016. In the GABS Hottest 100 Aussie Craft Beers list, great brews are in the spotlight — and once again, Stone & Wood's Pacific Ale has come out on top. It's the second year that the Byron Bay brewery has been dubbed the country's best yeasty tipple, and their third win overall. With 1600 different beers in the running, winning is no easy feat. Run by GABS — or the annual brew fest also known as the 'Great Australian Beer SpecTAPular', the 'people's choice' poll is decided by booze-lovers around the country, and received its most amount of votes ever in 2016. In massive news for new bevs, 21 brews that first wet lips in the past year were included in the GABS Hottest 100, including the American Pale Ale made by Gold Coast-based, Mick Fanning-co-owned Balter Brewing. And recognising the strength of Australia's indie beer scene, a whopping 80% of drinks hailed from independent brewers. If you're thinking, "less background, more beer", here's what you've been waiting for: the rundown of the best beverages from the past year that just keep tempting tastebuds. Working your way through them isn't just a great way to show your appreciation for locally made brews — consider it research for the 2017 countdown. GABS HOTTEST 100 AUSSIE CRAFT BEERS OF 2016 1. Pacific Ale - Australian Pale Ale - Stone and Wood Brewing Co 2. IIPA - Double IPA - Pirate Life Brewing 3. Hop Hog - American Pale Ale - Feral Brewing Company 4. XPA - American Pale Ale - Balter - NEW 5. IPA - American IPA - Pirate Life Brewing 6. Little Dove - American Pale Ale - Gage Roads Brewing Co - NEW 7. Pale Ale - American Pale Ale - Pirate Life Brewing 8. Crankshaft - American IPA - BentSpoke Brewery 9. Former Tenant - American IPA - Modus Operandi Brewing Co 10. Pale Ale - American Pale Ale - 4 Pines Brewing Co 11. IPA - American IPA - Fixation Brewing Co. 12. War Hog - American IPA - Feral Brewing Company 13. Beechworth Pale Ale - American Pale Ale - Bridge Road Brewers 14. 150 Lashes - Australian Pale Ale - James Squire 15. Pale Ale - American Pale Ale - Little Creatures 16. Newtowner - Australian Pale Ale - Young Henrys Brewing Company 17. Indian Summer Ale - Australian Pale Ale - 4 Pines Brewing Co 18. Kolsch - Kölsch - 4 Pines Brewing Co 19. Barley Griffin - Australian Pale Ale - BentSpoke Brewery 20. Throwback IPA - IPA (Specialty) - Pirate Life Brewing 21. Sonic Prayer - American IPA - Modus Operandi Brewing Co 22. Taco - Specialty Beer - Two Birds Brewing 23. India Red Ale - American IPA - Prancing Pony Brewery 24. Golden Stout Time - Sweet Stout - Big Shed Brewing 25. Korben D. - Double IPA - Akasha Brewing Co 26. Single Fin - British Golden Ale - Gage Roads Brewing Co 27. Three Sheets - Australian Pale Ale - Lord Nelson Brewery Hotel 28. Cloud Catcher - Australian Pale Ale - Stone and Wood Brewing Co 29. Karma Citra - IPA (Specialty) - Feral Brewing Company 30. Atomic - American Pale Ale - Gage Roads Brewing Co 31. Coffee Ramjet 2016 - Wood-Aged Beer - Boatrocker Brewing Co - NEW 32. Tusk – Nov 2016 - IPA (Specialty) - Feral Brewing Company - NEW 33. Nail Red - American Amber Ale - Nail Brewing 34. Ramjet 2016 - Wood-Aged Beer - Boatrocker Brewing Co - NEW 35. Dark - Dark Mild - White Rabbit Brewery 36. Summer Ale - Blonde Ale - Mountain Goat Beer 37. Wild Yak - Australian Pale Ale - Yak Ales - NEW 38. Steam Ale - California Common - Mountain Goat Beer 39. Kosciuszko Pale Ale - Australian Pale Ale - Kosciuszko Brewing Company 40. Grizz - American Amber Ale - 2 Brothers Brewery 41. Small Ale - IPA (Specialty) - Colonial Brewing Company 42. Dog Days - American Wheat - Little Creatures 43. Footscray Ale - American Pale Ale - West City Brewing 44. Spearhead - Australian Pale Ale - Cricketers Arms 45. Vanilla Milk Stout - Sweet Stout - Thirsty Crow 46. Modus Pale - American Pale Ale - Modus Operandi Brewing Co 47. Furphy Refreshing Ale - Kölsch - Little Creatures 48. American Amber Ale - American Amber Ale - 4 Pines Brewing Co 49. Nail VPA - American Pale Ale - Nail Brewing 50. Californicator - American IPA - Big Shed Brewing 51. Freshie Salt & Pepper - Gose - Nomad Brewing Co 52. Mt Tennent Pale Ale - American Pale Ale - Pact Beer Co 53. Fat Yak - American Pale Ale - Yak Ales 54. Kung Foo - Pale Lager - 2 Brothers Brewery 55. KRUSH! - American Pale Ale - KAIJU! Beer - NEW 56. Windjammer - American IPA - Green Beacon Brewing Co 57. Reginald - American IPA - Blackman's Brewery 58. Pale Ale - American Pale Ale - Hawkers Beer 59. Session Ale - Australian Pale Ale - Mismatch Brewing Company 60. Calypso - Pale Ale (American-style) - Odyssey Craft Brewing Co. 61. 8BiT - American IPA - Stockade Brew Co - NEW 62. Hop Thief 8 - American Pale Ale - James Squire - NEW 63. The Chop - American IPA - Hop Nation Brewing Co - NEW 64. Sunset Ale - American Amber Ale - Two Birds Brewing 65. IPA - American IPA - Little Creatures 66. Rogers' Beer - American Amber Ale - Little Creatures 67. Watermelon Warhead - Berliner Weisse - Feral Brewing Company 68. Hop Culture - American IPA - Mornington Peninsula Brewery - NEW 69. Miss Pinky - Soured Fruit Beer - Boatrocker Brewing Co 70. Bright Ale - Blonde Ale - Little Creatures 71. Sly Fox - American Pale Ale - Feral Brewing Company 72. Hop Thief 7 - American Pale Ale - James Squire 73. Praline - Belgian Specialty Ale - La Sirène Brewing 74. Copy Cat - American IPA - Mash Brewing 75. Elsie The Milk Stout - Sweet Stout - Batch Brewing Co 76. Fancy Pants - American Amber Ale - Mountain Goat Beer 77. The Fox - Vienna-style Lager - Rabbit & Spaghetti Brewing Co. 78. Growler - American Brown Ale - 2 Brothers Brewery 79. IPA - American IPA - Hawkers Beer 80. Peanut Brittle Gose - Gose - Bacchus Brewing Co 81. Rare Breed: Pulped Fiction Blood Orange IPA - Double IPA - Mountain Goat Beer - NEW 82. Yenda Pale Ale - Australian Pale Ale - Australian Beer Co 83. Garden Ale - Australian Pale Ale - Stone and Wood Brewing Co 84. Hazelnut Brown - Brown Ale (UK-style) - Bad Shepherd 85. Bling Bling - Double IPA - Bridge Road Brewers 86. Beach Ale - Blonde Ale - Odyssey Craft Brewing Co. - NEW 87. Mornington Pale - American Pale Ale - Mornington Peninsula Brewery 88. Fred - IPA (American-style) - Murray's Craft Brewing Co 89. Imperial IPA - IPA (Specialty) - 4 Pines Brewing Co - NEW 90. F-Yeah - American Pale Ale - Big Shed Brewing 91. Session IPA - American IPA - Modus Operandi Brewing Co - NEW 92. Bling - American IPA - Bridge Road Brewers 93. Project #22: Bert (The Royal Albert Collab) - Australian Pale Ale - Colonial Brewing Company - NEW 94. Sourpuss - Berliner Weisse - Wayward Brewing Company 95. B.F.H. (Barrel Fermented Hog) - American IPA - Feral Brewing Company 96. 28 - American Pale Ale - Burleigh Brewing Company 97. Thanks Captain Obvious - American IPA - BrewCult 98. ALT Brown - American Brown Ale - Balter - NEW 99. The Chancer - Blonde Ale - James Squire 100. Hopsmith - American IPA - Akasha Brewing Co NEW — First brewed in 2016.
Who says cosplay is just for conventions? Not Brisbane Powerhouse and Supanova, that’s for sure. For everyone who has wanted to break out their favourite pop culture costume on the biggest night of the year, the city’s coolest riverside venue and the country’s number one fan event combine to throw a different kind of New Year’s Eve party. A cosplay prom is the clear centerpiece, swapping fancy frocks for fun outfits inspired by TV, film, game, anime and comics. There’s plenty more to the geek celebration, however. Expect live music, DJs, trivia, retro arcade games, and film screenings in what everyone can only hope is the first of many such end-of-year gatherings.
Thanks to the pandemic, it's felt like years and years since Australia scored itself a huge new music festival featuring overseas headliners that took its lineup around the country. Thankfully, that big gap is about to come to an end via Summer Camp, the country's newest pride festival — and only touring pride fest, in fact. And yes, the fact that Years & Years will lead the bill really couldn't be more fitting. Years & Years, aka British singer and actor Olly Alexander (It's a Sin), will headline the new fest's stopovers in Sydney, Melbourne and Perth in late February and early March next year, all as part of Summer Camp's four-city tour of the country. The event will also head to Darwin, where the lineup will be led by New Orleans' Big Freedia — who'll play every stop of the tour, in fact. Also on the bill: The Veronicas, Cub Sport and Confidence Man from the local contingent, plus Ladyhawke and Jess B from New Zealand. More acts are set to be announced; however, Kinder, Sycco, The Merindas, Halfqueen, Jawbreakers, Yo Mafia and Art Simone will also be taking to the stage. Summer Camp will tick a lot of firsts: not only is it Australia's first touring pride festival and the first fest in the southern hemisphere to welcome back international headliners, but it'll be the biggest ticketed LGBTQIA+ music festival in the southern hemisphere as well. In addition to live tunes from all of the above across two stages, the festival will feature dance, performance art and art installations, as well as food and beverage offerings. More than 200 artists will be involved all up, including over 150 DJs, drag queens, dancers and performance artists in each city. Given the name, it's clear what kind of vibe that festival founders Kat Dopper (creator of Heaps Gay) and Grant Gillies and David Gillett (creators of Red Mgmt, and former Sydney Mardi Gras marketing and international talent managers) are going for. So, expect a cruisy summer camp-meets-arts and music playground-type atmosphere that's also all about inclusivity and supporting young diverse artists. SUMMER CAMP FESTIVAL 2022 AUSTRALIAN DATES: Saturday, February 26 — Darwin Showgrounds Sunday, February 27 — Centennial Parklands, Sydney Sunday, March 6 — Reunion Park, Melbourne Monday, March 7 — The Ice Cream Factory, Perth SUMMER CAMP FESTIVAL 2022 LINEUP — FIRST ANNOUNCEMENT: Years & Years (Sydney, Melbourne and Perth only) Big Freedia The Veronicas Cub Sport Ladyhawke Confidence Man Jess B Kinder Sycco The Merindas Halfqueen Jawbreakers Yo Mafia Art Simone Summer Camp will tour Australia in February and March 2022. Pre-sale tickets are on sale from 9.40am on Tuesday, November 9, with general public on-sale starting at 10am on Tuesday, November 16. For further details or to nab tickets, head to the festival's website. Top image: Theatrepeople via Wikimedia Commons.
Well, we don't know what kind of high-flying career goals you're reaching for this year, but here's one you might want to pop on your list. Domino's is offering one hard-working food-lover the chance to come on board as its new Chief Garlic Bread Taste Tester. Now there's a gem for the ol' resume, if ever we saw one. While the thought of being paid to scoff hot, buttery, garlic-infused carbs sounds like some sort of fantasy, Domino's ain't joking. The company has posted a real-deal job listing for the role on Linked In and is already taking applications. So what's involved in this dream gig, you ask? Unfortunately, it's just a one-day role, but the lucky employee will spend a tasty 7.5-hour work day at Domino's Brisbane HQ, sampling the company's various garlic breads and other products, scoring a sneak peek at future menu items and offering feedback to the team. Here's one of the garlicky dishes you could be getting paid to eat: https://www.facebook.com/DominosAustralia/photos/a.220268216411/10157998133836412/?type=3&theater You'll earn a tidy $30 an hour for your efforts, too. And return domestic flights will be provided if you live outside of Brisbane, as will one night's accommodation if a same day return flight isn't available. A lunchtime pizza feast is also included, so leave the packed lunch at home. Domino's has thrown down a few key qualifications you'll want to have if you're applying for the job, including "a detailed understanding of the pizza and garlic bread relationship", "a history of reviewing other people's food choices" and "working tastebuds". It's also after someone with at least five years' experience in garlic bread consumption — which is peanuts compared to what most of you seasoned garlic bread fiends would have under your belts. If you're ticking all of Domino's boxes for the gig, you'll probably want to have some degree of carb obsession and a solid grasp of the perfect 'crunch to softness' ratio. Oh, and vampire-identifying folk need not apply. To apply for the Chief Garlic Bread Taste Taster role, you'll need to complete the Domino's survey and apply via a 30-second video or 200-word essay, before Monday, October 7.
If you're the type of traveller who doesn't just plan where you'll be staying and what sights you'll be seeing, but also what you'll be drinking while you're there, then add Australia's latest accommodation option to your dream holiday list. A collaboration between caravan rental site Camplify and The Botanist Gin, Salty the Van is the country's latest gin-themed caravan — after the pair first teamed up to bring some juniper spirits to your getaways in late 2020. Yes, a bottle of gin will be waiting for you when you get there; however, that's not all that this holiday spot on wheels has to offer. Firstly, it has made its base in completely a different location — and different state — so you can add it to your list if a Gold Coast vacation is in your future. Painted in beachy blue and white hues, the vintage Viscount caravan comes with an outdoor table and chairs, and an awning, but it's the lineup from The Botanist that'll make you thirsty. During your stay, you'll be sipping from a complimentary 700-millilitre bottle of The Botanist gin and a four-pack of Fever Tree tonic waters. So, you just need to get mixing, sipping and sitting wherever you decide to park the caravan — which'll need to be within 50 kilometres of Tugun. If this sounds like your kind of getaway, the new Botanist Van is available to book from Friday, April 9 through until the end of June from $100 per night. It sleeps four people, and there's a three-night minimum stay during off-peak times and a five-night minimum in peak and school holiday periods. You will need to get cosy over a weekend to receive the gin pack, though, as it comes with Friday–Sunday bookings. To book The Botanist's new van — with prices from $100 per day, and rentals available within 50 kilometres of Tugun in Queensland until February 30, 2021 — visit the Camplify website.
The silly season is for cooking, decorating and creating napkin swans for Aunt Julie, who insists on tradition even though it is 40 degrees outside and everyone is already in a punch coma. Yes, DIY Christmases are where it's at. Join those who actually know what they are doing (and buy some gifts with the same amount of love) at this year's QAGOMA Store Christmas Design Market. Find jewellery, ceramics, textiles and pre-loved fashions for some of your favourite humans (or perhaps as a self-gift, because you're worth it) among the more stalls. The annual market always compiles a bunch of well-known names in the creative gifts department — and taking the time to peruse the GOMA collection of books and art is always recommended, as is checking out the edible delights to keep you going. The 2023 QAGOMA Store Christmas Design Market runs from 9am–4pm on Saturday, December 9–Sunday, December 10 on the GOMA forecourt. Expect more than 80 stalls — so, also expect to be spoiled for choice. Merry shopping!
When a huge global pride festival is heading Down Under for the first time — making its debut in the southern hemisphere, in fact — how do you celebrate? For Sydney WorldPride, there's a dazzling list of options. The LGBTQIA+ fest will hit town from February 17–March 5 with 300-plus events, and it's dropping its full lineup on Wednesday, November 9. It's also setting up a giant rainbow sand sculpture to help kick off the fun. On that very day, to add something else stunning to the program launch — other than the program itself, that is — a giant Sydney WorldPride rainbow sand sculpture will grace the Bondi Pavilion forecourt. The festival team are making a big deal of the occasion because it deserves it, and because it'll also be 100 days until the event itself kicks off, with this sandy rainbow taking up residence just from sunrise to sunset on the Wednesday. Head on down and you won't miss it. Expect it to feature in your social feeds heavily, too. The sculpture will measure 2.4 metres in height and 4.5 metres in width, and is apparently the largest rainbow sculpture of its kind. Spectacular sights and Bondi Beach naturally go hand in hand, of course. The famed Sydney stretch of sand is also known to host extra eye-catching attractions — a statue of Borat and a Stranger Things rift have all graced the spot in the past. Also, Sydneysiders have had plenty of rainbows to enjoy recently, all celebrating the LGBTQIA+ community. Darlinghurst is famously home to a rainbow crossing — and in Surry Hills, the City of Sydney implemented a lengthy path in Prince Alfred Park decked out in the same multicoloured stripes. Also, Coogee also has its own cheerfully hued monument, turning part of the suburb's beachfront into a rainbow walkway. Sydney WorldPride's one-day-only rainbow sand sculpture is the first in a whole heap of rainbow art and installations coming to the Harbour City, and Greater Sydney as well, courtesy of around 45 free public artworks spanning everywhere from the Royal Botanic Garden Sydney to the Scenic Skyway in Katoomba. Before the full lineup is announced, the fest has already unveiled big-name events like the Sydney Gay and Lesbian Mardi Gras Parade to Oxford Street, Kylie Minogue headlining the opening concert, plus MUNA and G Flip doing the same at the closing gig. Find the Sydney WorldPride at the Bondi Pavilion forecourt from sunrise to sunset on Wednesday, November 9. Sydney WorldPride will run from February 17–March 5, 2023. For more information, head to the event's website. Images: Destination NSW. Thinking about Sydney WorldPride's big opening gig, Live and Proud: Sydney WorldPride Opening Concert, too? General admission tickets have sold out, with only Sydney WorldPride's affordability option left — but you can still head along thanks to Concrete Playground Trips. The Sydney WorldPride package includes tickets to the Domain Dance Party and Live and Proud: Opening Concert, plus three nights at the PARKROYAL Darling Harbour Sydney.
An ideal summer arvo of sipping should be two things: refreshing and aesthetically pleasing. Whether it's a grassy backyard or sunshine-soaked dining room, lo-fi picnic or no-expense-spared soirée, there are more than a few ways to elevate your summer cocktail hour, be it for yourself or if you're inviting all your faves. Well versed in adding fizz and flavour to a party is CAPI, the family-owned and -run Victoria-based bev company that works creatively and passionately to deliver liquids that hit the mark on flavour with all natural ingredients and locally sourced water. Its latest release? Three summery cocktail mixers, bottled beautifully and only awaiting a few shots of your preferred liquor. With a ready-to-go cocktails in the fridge, your friends on the way (or the next chapter of your book at the ready) and some of these aesthetically pleasing recs locked down, your at-home cocktail hour will be a true summer delight. START WITH THE SIPS Your afternoon drinks menu is looking persuasive thanks to CAPI's new cocktail mixers. A charred pineapple daiquiri, perhaps? With the tropical sweetness balanced with slightly charred caramel notes and the cocktail's signature squeeze of lime, all there's room for is ice, rum and summer thirst. Can't go past a marg? We get it. But when you're leaning into an arvo with good company, you don't want to be hitting pause on the fun to shake your libation. This margarita mix is almost certainly lower in sugar than your local's pour, and combines Aussie limes, a lick of orange and the sweet kick of agave. Like it hot? The best people do. The spicy watermelon margarita mix beckons for your bottle of tequila, slices of the melon alongside and a chilli-salted rim. Each eight-serve bottle is a fully recyclable (like each and every item in CAPI's lineup of more than 20), but that's just the start of the brand's sustainability specs: bottles are freighted aboard mostly electric vehicles, are made from a minimum of 40% recycled glass (and are then 100% recyclable) and the company partners exclusively with freight providers who are committed to reducing carbon emissions — we're into it. SERVE UP WITH A SIDE OF COLOUR Don't think properly plating up changes the flavour of your food? Well, it certainly doesn't hurt. This is something the glassware gurus at Fazeek can attest to. Its range is bright, bold, architectural and a treat to look at (and dine off). For a lo-fi touch, pre-prepare your cocktail of choice and house it in the Vice Versa Carafe, then nab the Pearl Platter and pile it high with pickled veggies, a hunk of hard cheese and some rough-cut focaccia. Serve a salad in style and grab some of the delightfully different vessels — think rippled coupes or highballs — in differing shades. Expecting to host well into the night? Keep it bright with these striped candles and structured holders, and lean back to enjoy the golden glow of a balmy summer evening. [caption id="attachment_878061" align="alignnone" width="1918"] Javi Trapero[/caption] SNACK SENSIBLY We're calling it, it's going to be the summer of snacks: the salty and delicious gilda (pictured above) is finding its way onto many a menu, we're looking to long share-style meals that allow us to try it all and our tendency to finish a weekend with a pot-luck picnic is a nice tag-along to daylight savings. If you've got guests, ensure you're all fuelled by requesting they bring a plate of bite-sized morsels. Suggest the aforementioned gildas, a briny pintxo classic that sees an olive meet the salty hit of an anchovy and a pickled pepper. Or take the reins and grab your jarred goods, skewers and a funky plate, and lean in to the Mediterranean art of grazing away the daylight hours. Crusty bread alongside is a non-negotiable. [caption id="attachment_877977" align="alignnone" width="1920"] @handsshopau[/caption] ADORN YOUR TABLE Flirty and fruity — everything you want your cocktail arvo to be. After you get one of your five-a-day from your cocktail, get another from your table accessories. This woven pear placemat is an attention-demanding balance of on-trend and kitsch. Grab enough for all and set your table, or nab just one and use it at centrepiece. There are crabs and cakes, yellow pears and apples — all available from the cuter-than-cute Hands Shop, which brings the wares of local and international makers to Newtown's Australia Street. [caption id="attachment_878038" align="alignnone" width="1920"] @kane_lehanneur[/caption] CREATE SHADE No one has the time (or desire) for burnt skin, so ensure you've got pockets of shade while you while away your arvo. If you're outside, opt for an expertly, sturdily crafted — and delightfully artful — umbrella. This one sees Basil Bangs join forces with Kane Lehanneur, the Sydney-based multidisciplinary artist known for his fluid, large-scale floral works. Lehanneur created the print exclusively for the shade-slinging Northern Beaches brand, delivering an aesthetically pleasing way to dodge the rays with a cocktail in hand. CURATE SOME BOPS Last yet absolutely not least, you'll want to elevate the vibes of your summer sipping with a playlist chock-full of bouncy beats. If you're looking for a goodie, wrap your ears around funk-lords Groove Therapy's Mood Booster playlist. Or if you're after something slightly more ambient (with some dancy undertones), chuck on Spotify's Pollen playlist for guaranteed good vibes. Take your summer sips to the next level with CAPI cocktail mixers. Head to the website to have your bottles delivered, or find them in your nearest Dan Murphy's or Coles.
What'll start at the Melbourne Cricket Ground, then spread plenty of sports around Victoria? Every year, the AFL season does just that — but soon, the Commonwealth Games will as well. Just four years out from the event, and mere months away from 2022's games in Birmingham, England, regional Victoria has been named as the event's 2026 host. While the opening ceremony will take over the MCG — where else? — the games themselves will play out in Geelong, Bendigo, Ballarat and Gippsland. Each spot will operate as regional hub, scoring their own athletes' village and sports programs, and spreading the event around the state in the process. [caption id="attachment_831273" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Robert Blackburn, Visit Victoria[/caption] And, because the 2026 Commonwealth Games really are set to take advantage of as much of Victoria as they can, Shepparton will also host sporting and cultural events, too. If you're wondering exactly what'll be hosted where, it's been proposed that all of the aquatics events happen in Geelong, as well as hockey, gymnastics, table tennis, beach volleyball and the triathlon. Gippsland could host badminton and rugby, athletics and boxing has been earmarked for Ballarat, and Bendigo looks set to welcome weightlifting, lawn bowls and squash. The cycling program will likely take place from Gippsland to Bendigo, while Geelong, Bendigo, Ballarat and Gippsland would all host cricket. And, there'll be a para sport program as well, with para athletics, para swimming, para lawn bowls, para table tennis, para triathlon and para powerlifting already locked in. It's official: the 2026 Commonwealth Games will be the Regional Victoria games. — Dan Andrews (@DanielAndrewsMP) April 12, 2022 Announcing the news, Victorian Premier Daniel Andrews said that "it's a great honour to have Victoria chosen as the host venue for the 2026 Commonwealth Games — we can't wait to welcome the world to all of our state." It's estimated the 2026 games will give the Victorian economy a$3 billion boost, creating more than 600 full-time jobs before the event, as well as 3900 jobs while they're on and another 3000 afterwards. The Commonwealth Games will also feature cultural events spread across the state, and the Queen's Baton Relay will race through Victoria's various regions in the weeks leading up to the opening ceremony. And yes, Australia only recently held the games, back in 2018 on the Gold Coast. Also, this means that Australia will host two huge sporting events in the next decade, given that Brisbane has already been locked in as the site for the 2032 Olympic Games. The 2026 Commonwealth Games will take place in regional Victoria in 2026, with exact dates to be announced. For more information, head to the Commonwealth Games website and Victorian Government website. Top image: StephenK1997 via Flickr.
Those who go out on Thursday nights in the Valley can be called many things. But when the venue is Alhambra Lounge, the crowd is more than likely to be a combination of slightly alcoholic students who are dedicated to their music – or more specifically, local indie music. Fulfilling that brief and fronting this week’s Lambda will be Melbourne favourites World’s End Press. Performing their first headline gig for about a year, the quartet of attractive musicians are guaranteed to be very fresh and on game. Recent opening performances for Cut Copy and !!!, as well as jaunts to Splendour in the Grass and Laneway (amongst others), World's End Press are flush on talent. With their live shows renowned for electrifying music and infectious beats, this Thursday will be a good night for those looking to dance.
It seems just like yesterday that band Millions was a baby, born into this world ready to perform. Since then, the groups has achieved a lot in 18 months. Embarking on numerous Australia-wide tours and garnering plenty of love from Triple J, this group of guys exude hair, swag and talent. To add to that equation, Millions now have their very own EP, Nine Lives, Six Degrees. In celebration of this fact, they're headed off on their very own national headline tour to combine partying and press for the album. Hitting up Brisbane’s Alhambra Lounge almost a year after their first performance there, you can be sure the boys will be ready to celebrate all that the last year has given them.
When Bran Nue Dae started singing and dancing its way across Australia back in 1990, the production made history, becoming the world's first Aboriginal stage musical. In the years since, it has won awards, inspired a making-of documentary and been adapted into a film of the same name. Now, the show is returning to the country's stages for its 30th anniversary. In January 2020, a new production will open in Sydney, followed by seasons in Perth, Melbourne, Brisbane and Adelaide. While exact dates haven't been announced, the revival is being spearheaded by Australia's premier opera companies under the banner of Opera Conference — with Opera Australia, Opera Queensland, State Opera South Australia and the West Australian Opera all collaborating on the national tour. If you need a refresher on the story, Bran Nue Dae heads back to 60s-era Western Australia, with teenager Willie hitchhiking his way from his mission school back to Broome — all to reunite with the girl he loves. As written by Jimmy Chi and his band Knuckles, it also features two hippies, a wily Uncle and a German priest. While Chi sadly passed away in 2017, Knuckles will once again direct the musical component of the show. Original production director Andrew Ross is also returning, but just who he'll be gracing his stage hasn't been determined. Bran Nue Dae will feature a 15-performer cast, all except one of whom will be Indigenous, with auditions set to be held in Broome, Perth, Sydney and Melbourne. Check out the trailer for Rachel Perkins-helmed, Rocky McKenzie, Jessica Mauboy, Dan Sultan, Deborah Mailman and Ernie Dingo-starring 2009 movie version below: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qtLbLBi5Jyk Bran Nue Dae will play in Sydney from January 2020, then tour to Perth, Melbourne, Brisbane and Adelaide, with dates yet to be revealed. For more information and to join the ticket waitlist, visit the production's website. Image: Bran Nue Dae, the film adaptation.
Prepare to forget everything that's traditionally creepy and awkward about beauty pageants, and embrace the sequin-studded, sashaying side of things instead. That's the aim at the MELT Festival Beauty Pageant — which is about as close as Brisbane is ever going to get to having its own version of RuPaul's Drag Race. In a show of diversity and a celebration of drag queens, kings and trans beauties, competitors will battle it out to be crowned the city's most fashionable figure. Expect wigs, glitter and many a jaw-dropping outfit, courtesy of categories such as Graceful Glamourzons, Tremendous Talent and Condom Costume with a Message.
Putt putt fans of Brisbane — so, everyone in Brisbane — it's time to do the monster mash while you're tap, tap, tapping your way around a mini golf course. This city of ours is home to more than a few places to unleash your short game, but only one of them keeps busting out seasonal theming and giving you a reason to celebrate special occasions with a putter in your hand. At Christmas, the Victoria Park Putt Putt Course gives itself a festive revamp. Mini golf is more fun with reindeer, obviously. At Easter, a candy-themed course pops up — and over Valentine's Day, the venue went big on love. Next, from Friday, September 16–Monday, October 31, Victoria Park is getting into the Halloween spirit. The venue's greens will be getting a spooky makeover and, no, missing a hole in one won't be the most terrifying thing about your next stint on the course. Creepy clowns, zombies, witches, spiders, toxic waste barrels, bones, pumpkins — they're among the frightening things that'll be improving or scaring your short game. If a haunted house was to meet up with a mini golf course, this is what it'd look like. If you went along to last year's Halloween putt putt, you're in for an extra bonus — this year's will have a whole set of new and different decorations, so you won't just be hitting a ball around the same setup. Bookings are essential, with the course open from 6am–10pm Sunday–Thursday and 6am–11pm Friday–Saturday. Fancy a few holes before work? Want to add some fun to your lunch break? Need something to look forward to come quitting time? They're all options. Just remember that it's a family-friendly affair, so you'll likely have plenty of company — and tickets cost $23 per adult. Also, making a visit between Friday, October 28–Monday, October 31 is particularly recommended. That's when Victoria Park is hosting a Wicked Weekend, complete with Altos Tequila slushie margaritas or a non-alcoholic versions, plus added augmented-reality scares.
When a culinary figure branches out to a new city, one of two things tend to happen. They might take a concept and a name that's worked for them elsewhere, then expand it to another location. Or, they could conjure up something that's completely fresh that they haven't done before. If Andrew McConnell and Jo McGann pondered which path to take in Brisbane, "why not do both?" must've been the answer. Well-established Melbourne favourite Supernormal is on its way to the Queensland capital — but newcomer Bar Miette is already open. After revealing in 2022 that they were bringing their hospitality empire north with a Queensland outpost for Supernormal, McConnell and McGann announced in May 2024 that casual European-style haunt Bar Miette — a terrace cafe and a wine bar all in one, doing breakfast, lunch, cocktails, dinner and everything in-between — would beat it to launching. Supernormal Brisbane is now meant to open sometime before the middle of the year, after its sibling began welcoming in patrons to kick off July. Their shared Brissie address: 443 Queen Street in the River City CBD, perched between the Queen Street Mall and Howard Smith Wharves. While anyone who has visited Supernormal's OG site down south knows what's in store there — with the Brisbane outpost also plating up contemporary Australian dishes that also take inspiration from McConnell's time in both Hong Kong and Shanghai — Bar Miette is a new commodity. As McConnell explains, patrons can use it "as they wish and as the occasion dictates: for coffee and breakfast, lunch (early or late), snacks and dinner, a cocktail or a glass of wine". Letting customers enter via the riverside boardwalk as well as Queen Street, the location itself is a drawcard, hence the hospitality figure making the most of it by operating not one but two venues. Folks stopping by can enjoy views of the Brisbane River and the Story Bridge, with Bar Miette taking them in from street level, above Supernormal. On the menu seven days a week, from a range of dishes designed to hero local produce, are breakfast options such as tahini and cinnamon toasted granola, house-made spelt crumpets, croque monsieurs, a crispy bacon bap with gentleman's relish, and house-cured and -smoked trout to start off the morning. To wash all of the above down with, you can sip coffees, teas, tisanes, juices and sodas. Come lunch and dinner, anchovy gildas, raw Hervey Bay scallops, oysters and three types of caviar will start tempting your tastebuds. Or, dig into the marinated octopus with potato and aioli, wagyu bresaola, duck liver parfait, a mortadella stack on a milk bun, the charcuterie selection and crab mayonnaise on toast. And for dessert, créme caramel, affogatos, gelato and the cake of the day sit alongside four cheeses. If it's a cocktail that you're after, they join the lineup from 10am, starting with a bloody mary and milano fizz. The full range includes a signature martini, margarita frappé and tropical old fashioned among the highlights, as well as a number of aperitif picks, non-boozy concoctions, and five pages of wines from around Europe and Australia. Vince Alafaci and Caroline Choker of Sydney's ACME are on design duties for both Supernormal and Bar Miette, but are giving them each their own look and feel. For Bar Miette, that means skewing "classically European", McConnell explains. That said, the 86-seater — 16 at the curved bar, then 70 on the terrace — is also nodding to its place in Brisbane, gleaning inspiration from the city's Kangaroo Point and Howard Smith Wharves cliffs, and also the river. Find Bar Miette at 443 Queen Street, Brisbane from Monday, July 1, 2024 — open from 7am–10pm Monday–Friday and 8am–10pm Saturday–Sunday. For more information, head to the bar's website. Images: Josh Robenstone.
If the stones and shopfronts of Lygon Street could talk, they'd surely do so in Italian. Sometimes referred to as Melbourne's Little Italy, the iconic Carlton thoroughfare has played a major role in Australia's cultural and gastronomical development over the past 60 years, and it is now the subject of a new home-grown documentary: Lygon Street – Si parla Italiano. The story begins in the years following World War II, during which time millions of migrants left Europe in search of new beginnings. Of those that made the long journey to Australia, one in six were from Italy, many of whom came based on the promise of jobs that in reality didn't exist. At first, the government funnelled them into migrant centres (viewers are left to draw their own parallels to the treatment of asylum seekers today). The conditions were shabby and the means of entertainment scarce, but the biggest sticking point for the Italians was the terrible quality of the food. Soon, the migrants flooded out into the community in search of a place where they could call their own. As if by fate, they settled on a street named Lygon. Before long, the road was littered with restaurants, coffee bars, grocers and delicatessens, many of them with written signs in the window reading 'Si parla Italiano', meaning 'we speak Italian'. Locals were suspicious of the settlers at first, but were soon won over by the quality of their cooking. By the '80s, Lygon Street was one of the hottest night spots in the city, home to bars, clubs and theatres, not to mention, the scene of raucous celebration in the wake of Italy's 1986 World Cup victory. Silky narration by Anthony LaPaglia keeps the film from feeling too much like a history lesson. Directors Shannon Swan and Angelo Pricolo combine archival footage and traditional talking heads with a more flavoursome approach to storytelling by inviting some of the street's oldest pioneers — the owners of establishments like L'Alba and University Cafe — out for dinner. Over plates of pasta, the old friends recall stories from their past, laughing and shouting over the top of each other as they argue about which one owned the first espresso machine in Australia. It's an ingenious way of making viewers feel included — a Saturday night dinner in one of Lygon's bustling eateries. Admittedly, it's hard to imagine Si parla Italiano being as interesting to anyone from outside of certain areas of Melbourne (although the film has just scored a limited release nationwide). Locals will be thoroughly charmed, particularly when factoring in the rather surreal experience of exiting the theatre onto the boulevard they've just been watching. If nothing else, the doco is a savvy marketing tool for traders. No one's likely to walk out of the film not craving an Italian meal. https://youtube.com/watch?v=WOsIFtJTkiE
Ever fancied tucking into a po'boy and a pizza at the same restaurant? It's the stuff random food cravings are made of, and it's now a reality. Just follow your tastebuds to Creole Soul Kitchen, Brisbane's first Creole-Italian establishment. Based on a similar place run by owners Marc Lewis and Leena Monson in Vail, Colorado, Creole Soul Kitchen brings a spicy blend of Louisiana and Italian-style delights to Boundary Street in Spring Hill. Think sub-like sandwiches with fried oyster, soft shell crab or roast beef, and doughy bases topped with everything from meatballs to crocodile sausages. Waffle fries, gumbo and salad also feature on the menu, and in the coming weeks, you'll be able to build your own pasta dish — you can pick your choice of sauce, filling and pasta — too. Whichever kind of meal you're after, you'd best schedule your feasting for weekday lunch, because that's when you'll find the eatery's doors open at present. Dinnertime munching is on its way though, as is a selection of wines and beers on tap to complement its current bottled booze offerings.
Sometimes, celebrating a big occasion means gathering the gang. This Lunar New Year, marking the Year of the Dragon, Brisbane isn't short on spots to party — and eat and drink — in a crowd. But if you're after a tasty two-person feast to usher in the new lunar calendar, Luke Nguyen's Fat Noodle has you covered. The Treasury eatery is serving up banquets for couples — whether you're dining with a date or a mate — starting with scallop dumplings. You'll also tuck into green mango salad with peanuts, chicken fried rice and seafood sour soup, plus caramelised pork belly. And for dessert? Vietnamese coffee tiramisu. Running from Thursday, February 1–Thursday, February 29, Fat Noodle's Lunar New Year banquets cost $88. The feasts are just one part of the full Treasury shindig, which also includes a wishing tree, so you can place your hopes and dreams for the year ahead; red packets containing special treats, as long as you dine at either Fat Noodle or Mei Wei; and lion dances from 7.30pm on from Friday, February 9–Monday, February 12, and also Saturday, February 24. And, dragon-themed cocktails are also on offer at Fat Noodle, Mei Wei and Ryan's on the Park.
Five years ago — and plenty of years before that as well — South Bank spent a winter weekend each year doubling for France. From crepes and baguettes to mussels and champagne, if it treated your tastebuds to a Gallic feast, it was on offer here. At Le Festival, aka the Brisbane French Festival, so was saying bonjour to French culture without paying for an airfare. Then the pandemic hit, putting the event on hold for three years. When Le Festival returned in 2023, it made the move to Victoria Park / Barrambin for the first time. In 2024, the fest is shifting again, to return to South Bank for a three-day riverside French party across Friday, July 5–Sunday, July 7. If you regularly wish that you were on the other side of the world staring at the Eiffel Tower, sipping champers and living the Emily in Paris life, this is the closest that you'll get to a European summer without leaving Brisbane. Francophiles, get ready for an array of French staples — although the wine selection is always especially popular, as are the cheese display and macarons. While 2024's full details haven't yet been revealed, drinking French red and white wines, sparkling rosé, beer and non-alcoholic beverages is always on the menu, too. Thanks to Le Festival's market, attendees can also browse for homewares, gifts, fashion, books and magazines, with showcasing French and French-inspired products the key aim. Entertainment-wise, alongside live music, the fest typically features cabaret performances and can-can dancing. Masterclasses, including on French table art, will be on the lineup this year as well. Taking over the South Bank Cultural Forecourt and Parklands from 4–10pm on the Friday, 8am–10pm on the Saturday and 8am–5pm on the Sunday, Le Festival has something specific to celebrate in 2024: the Paris Olympics, which will follow Brisbane's embrace of France by three weeks. Images: Ange Costes.
You can't keep a good film festival down, and you can't snuff out a city's eagerness for an annual celebration of international cinema either. Four years after they declared it dead — and two months after its replacement, the Brisbane Asia Pacific Film Festival, was shut down as well — Screen Queensland has announced that they're bringing back the Brisbane International Film Festival. The resurrected fest, which has $250,000 in financial backing of the state funding agency as well as infrastructure support from Palace Cinemas, returns from August 17 to September 3. Taking place at Palace Barracks and Palace Centro, BIFF will screen approximately 60 films programmed by Melbourne-based curator Richard Sowada and former Asia Pacific Screen Awards and BAPFF film director Maxine Williamson. While the lineup won't be announced until early July, BIFF 2017 will include a collaboration with the APSAs, a Queensland Short Film Competition, and a free family event — plus guests, talks, panels and seminars. Showcasing a broad range of international features, rather than BAPFF's Asia-Pacific focus, is the aim of what the festival is calling a "reinvigorated screening program". For cinephiles, and the city in general, the return of the beloved, previously successful and unnecessarily canned event is clearly welcome news. When BAPFF was scrapped, the idea that Brisbane could've been forced to go without a major government-funded film festival was disappointing at best and insulting at worst. The Screen Queensland-run BIFF was a staple of the city's cultural calendar for 22 years until 2013, while BAPFF — which was organised by Brisbane Marketing, and aligned with the APSAs — endeavoured to take its place with a region-specific remit. BIFF as attendees knew and loved isn't quite back in its original form, however. The new festival marks a decrease from BAPFF's 80-plus feature program, and less than half of BIFF's 120-plus film lineup in its previous iterations. Sowada and Williamson have said that the 2017 festival is a forerunner for an event that will continue to build in the years to come. The 2017 Brisbane International Film Festival takes place from August 17 to September 3 at Palace Barracks and Palace Centro. For more information, keep an eye on their website and Facebook page.
There's a reason why Concrete Playground is Brisbane's down-to-earth, all-seeing guide who can be trusted with your precious weekend plans. We're here collecting and compiling the latest on festivals, events and restaurant and bar openings around our dynamic city and we pass this news right onto you. Brisbane's had so many glorious restaurants open up this year and it can really take some time (and money) to get through them all. But we don't want you to miss out altogether. So here's the deal: we'll alleviate this time/money tension and give you the chance to win a great night out at La Lune Wine Co, one of Brisbane's newest (and finest) restaurants. But we'd love your input to help us remain the trusted city guide that we are. Take our quick survey and you'll go in the running to win a $150 voucher to La Lune Wine Co. Just nine little questions stand between you and South Brisbane's latest Fish Lane addition.
Pubs, restaurants and cafes around the country have been forced to close, meaning the loss of many hospitality jobs — and it's all happened very, very quickly. According to website I Lost My Hospo Shift, at last count, 2585 Aussie hospo workers had lost their jobs and 13,195 shifts had been cut, which equates to over $2 million in lost wages this week alone. To help those impacted by the sudden changes — and those without access to Job Keeper, such as those on temporary worker visas — a bunch of top Aussie chefs, including Matt Moran (Aria, Chiswick, Barangaroo House), Luke Mangan (Luke's Kitchen, Glass Brasserie) and Neil Perry (Rockpool Bar & Grill, Rosetta, Spice Temple), are getting behind a new financial relief initiative: Help Out Hospo. Started by Sydney group Momento Hospitality, the 'by hospo, for hospo' program works on a donation basis, providing you with access to a bunch of how-to videos featuring culinary legends, so, you can take your cooking and cocktail game to the next level while you're stuck at home. In turn, your donation will go directly towards supporting bartenders, chefs and waitstaff in need. It's a win-win. Donations start from $10 per video course — a pretty small price to pay when you're learning how to master a roast porchetta, barbecue pulled pork, stir a mean negroni or dry martini, and whip up a big, comforting bowl of pasta that even nonna would approve. Taught by some A-class chef and bartenders, no less. So far, the initiative has raised over $35,000. While it was started by Momento, any venue can sign up, post a video and receive financial support, too. So if you're in the industry and would like to get involved, you can make an enquiry via support@helpouthospo.com.au. To check out the courses on Help Out Hospo and donate, head helpouthospo.com.au.
Broadbeach has never really had to work too hard to convince people to visit. The laidback vibes, excellent dining scene and ample swimming spots that give the suburb its name do most of the heavy lifting. But if you are a little harder to impress, the good people at Tourism and Events Queensland are rising to the challenge and cordially inviting you to plan a long weekend away to the Gold Coast for the annual Blues on Broadbeach festival that runs from Thursday, May 18 to Sunday, May 21. With 22 years of experience under its belt, the 2023 incarnation of Blues on Broadbeach will be the pay-off of a well oiled machine. And, while the organisers have had some time to fine-tune their ability to put on a stellar music festival that showcases authentic rhythm and blues music, this year's program could very well be their best yet. As well as a lineup of national and international artists performing across the precinct's multiple stages, streets and parks, the four-day-long fest will fold in a massive selection of restaurants, cafes and bars, and a host of accommodation options. Meaning you can stay right in the heart of the festival and enjoy live music at your actual doorstep. Kind of worried about blowing the budget? Fear not, because Blues on Broadbeach is one of Australia's largest free music festivals and it's generally non-ticketed, so you can just rock up and play it by ear (pardon both bad music-related puns). So, if you're heading in from interstate, set your Google alert to track flight prices and round up some mates. Otherwise, if Broadbeach is closer to home for you, take your time and pop in and out as you please. Either way, whether its your first pilgrimage to Blues on Broadbeach, or your 22nd, we're going to call it now and say it probably won't be your last. Blues on Broadbeach is on from Thursday, May 18 to Sunday, May 21, 2023. For further details, head to the website.
Brisbanites, if you're ready to laugh this autumn, the River City has just the festival for it. Now taking place in late April and all throughout May each year, Brisbane Comedy Festival is the Sunshine State capital's excuse to get giggling. On the 2023 lineup: 350-plus gigs by more than 110 comedians across five weeks. BCF revealed a heap of its bill for this year late in 2022, but that was just the beginning of its roster of chuckle-inducing talent. Now, the full program has just dropped, complete with over 70 more comedians joining the fun from Friday, April 28 till Sunday, May 29, 2023. Across both announcements, the Brisbane Powerhouse-hosted event isn't short on big names, including returning favourites and first-timers alike. David O'Doherty, Danny Bhoy, Micky Bartlett, Ed Byrne, Ed Gamble, Sara Pascoe, Chris Parker and Ivan Aristeguieta sit on the bill alongside Ross Noble, Jason Manford, Jason Leong, Daniel Kitson and Alfie Brown. Fans of homegrown comedy talent can also look forward to Tripod, Nat's What I Reckon, Rhys Nicholson, Akmal, Mel Buttle, The Umbilical Brothers, Wil Anderson, Dave Hughes, Peter Helliar, Rove McManus, Anne Edmonds and Lloyd Langford, as well as Tom Ballard, Tommy Little, Michael Hing, Andrew Hansen, Dilruk Jayasinha, Claire Hooper and Geraldine Hickey. And these days, we basically count Irish comedian Jimeoin as a local, don't we? Other highlights include Karen From Finance, Reuben Kaye, Lizzy Hoo, the cabaret-style Dirty Fame Flash Candles Club, the Aboriginal Comedy Allstars, the Multicultural Comedy Gala and Queerstories. Or, there's the return of Two-Man Tarantino, the Sunday Roast and Shit-Faced Shakespeare — the latter doing Romeo and Juliet. BCF attendees can check out comedy cabaret Brisbaret, magic circus stunt show Flabbergasters!, free after-work Friday knockoff sessions and Agatha Christie-inspired improvised whodunnit Murder Village as well, plus James Schloeffel from The Shovel and Charles Firth from The Chaser teaming up for Wankernomics. 2023's Brisbane Comedy Festival comes after the event has enjoyed impressive growth over the past five years, its audience increasing by 25 percent since 2019, and also attracting more than 20,000 BCF first-timers. This year, those crowds will be heading to Brisbane Powerhouse, of course — including six stages in its main Powerhouse Theatre, Underground Theatre, The Studio, Rooftop Terrace, Park Mezzanine and Graffiti Room, and its new Pleasuredome deployed as an outdoor comedy club — and to Fortitude Music Hall for the opening gala, plus The Tivoli as a satellite festival hub. The 2023 Brisbane Comedy Festival will take place between Friday, April 28–Sunday, May 29. For further details and tickets, head to the festival's website. Top image: Atmosphere Photography.
Everyone is swiping right and searching their screens for love — or lust — including Felix. His fondness for finding fleeting companionship through an app has meant that connections of the old-fashioned type have become rare, and when he finds himself set for a regular date, he’s a bit flustered. Felix is the alter ego of writer and performer Gavin Roach, with Confessions of a Grindr Addict telling his comical tale. After seasons in Sydney, Melbourne, Newcastle, Edinburgh, Perth, Adelaide and Tasmania, the show finally makes its way to Queensland to provide an amusing, intimate and even awkward journey through the on- and offline trials and tribulations of modern gay dating. Confessions of a Grindr Addict is one of our top six picks of MELT Festival. See the other five here.
The distinction between American and Australian cop dramas is about as close to black and white as you can get before literally stripping them of colour. Thematically, the US genre is driven by 'heroism' — brave (and usually maverick) police officers who go above and beyond the line of duty to save anything, from a family member to an entire city. Not so in Australia. Here, it is 'corruption' that most frequently forms the basis of plot lines, reflecting either a sorry state of confidence in our law enforcement agencies, or acceptance that action films don't really work in Australia (ie: Mission Impossible II). The latest offering, Felony, takes place in Sydney's inner west and was written, produced and starred in by Joel Edgerton. Edgerton plays Malcolm Toohey, a hero cop whose near miss during a drug raid (he's shot by a fleeing suspect in the film's frantic opening scene) leads to a heavy night of drinking alongside the other officers involved. Later, as he drives home (narrowly avoiding an RBT arrest thanks to a 'cop to cop' password), he accidentally knocks a young boy off his bike and makes the split-second decision to lie about how he came to be first on scene. From that moment on Felony becomes a story about the toxicity of deception and its capacity for infecting all those who are touched by it. It's one of those films that almost immediately registers in that part of your brain where uncomfortable truths reside, refusing to let you dismiss the story as 'mere fiction'. It's all very real, and human and confronting in its simplicity. One lie builds upon another so quickly that you soon find yourself gasping for air on behalf of the characters, and you can never shake the feeling that it will all eventually come crashing down. Worse, you can't quite decide if you want it to. Edgerton managed to pull together an impressive cast to star alongside him, including Tom Wilkinson as the senior cop spearheading the coverup, Jai Courtney as Wilkinson's eager young partner and Melissa George as Edgerton's wife; however, it's Edgerton who most impresses. He neatly captures his character's confusion, fear, conflict and self-loathing without ever threatening to overplay any of it, and his performance is strong enough to rise above the occasional misteps in the script. The ending is unnecessarily symmetrical, certainly, and there's a subplot that goes confusingly AWOL somewhere in the third act, but overall it's a solid film with an excellent turn from its lead. https://youtube.com/watch?v=qjHvfnB8SRI
The tropics of North Queensland are a beautiful part of the world in themselves, but there's nothing wrong with amping up your experience to the nth degree – and the Pullman Palm Cove Sea Temple Resort & Spa is the right place to do just that. Especially after you've had a very long week/month/year at work, or when the dreary winter in Australia's major cities is dragging you down (that's dry season up here — i.e., the best time to visit). The resort stands in the beachside village of Palm Cove and is close to the Great Barrier Reef and the Daintree Rainforest, as well as Cairns (hint: crocodile adventures). You can head out onto the reef on one of the many snorkelling, scuba diving, sailing and seaplane tours that set off from here, or venture into the forest on horseback, 4WD, zipline or on your own two feet (the Daintree comes with a bounty of treks for all experience levels). Alternatively, stay in town and appreciate a slower pace of life. A walk along the palm tree-lined esplanade will not only make the reason for the town's name abundantly clear, it will bring you to cafes serving that perfect eggs and avocado breakfast you need to nourish you in the morning and restaurants with inventive tasting menus that transform dinner into an event. The hotel itself has accommodation from studio spa rooms ranging through to apartments with private rooftop spas and plunge pools. If you don't want to spring for your own private body of water, there are three more pools in the resort, and two spas – bring your bathers and goggles. Resident restaurant Temple of Tastes will serve up modern Australian cuisine with a bit of a South East Asian twist; or, if you're in full bathrobe and slippers mode from a day at the on-site Vie Spa you can order from the full in room dining menu.
When Netflix added DAHMER — Monster: The Jeffrey Dahmer Story to its catalogue in 2022, complete with WandaVision, Mare of Easttown and American Horror Story actor Evan Peters playing the titular IRL murderer, it popped another true-crime effort on its ever-growing pile. Whether Zac Efron is playing Ted Bundy in Extremely Wicked, Shockingly Evil and Vile, the sadly finished Mindhunter is tussling with real-life killers, or The Serpent, The Stranger and The Good Nurse are also dramatising reality, the streaming platform isn't short on movies and shows that bring grisly slices of history to its queue. Next up: the Menéndez brothers. When DAHMER — Monster: The Jeffrey Dahmer Story proved a hit, as it was predictably going to, Netflix made the next least-surprising move it could: it renewed Monster as an anthology series. At the time, the service revealed there'd be at least two more seasons— "two more instalments that will focus on other monstrous figures who have impacted society", in fact — but exactly who would be in the spotlight wasn't announced. Now, the platform has named Lyle and Erik Menendez as Monster's next subjects, and advised that Monsters: The Lyle and Erik Menéndez Story will arrive in 2024. There's still a shortage of details otherwise, including exactly when next year viewers will be streaming the show and who'll be starring in it — but this too is a well-known true-crime story that's earned plenty of media attention before now. In a teaser to announce the series, Monsters: The Lyle and Erik Menéndez Story plays the infamous 911 call featuring Lyle sobbing on the night that his parents died. For those new to the story, Lyle and his younger brother Erik were investigated, tried and convicted for the 1989 shootings of their parents José and Mary Louise 'Kitty' Menéndez, who were killed in their Beverly Hills home. Monster creator and prolific TV producer Ryan Murphy remains behind the series, adding another anthology effort to his resume after American Horror Story and American Crime Story. And whoever he gets to play the brothers, Monsters: The Lyle and Erik Menéndez Story isn't the only new dive into their tale that's heading to Netflix. The platform also announced that it's making a documentary feature about the case as well, aided by exclusive access to Lyle and Erik. Check out the teaser announcement video for Monsters: The Lyle and Erik Menéndez Story below: Monsters: The Lyle and Erik Menéndez Story will stream via Netflix in 2024. We'll update you with an exact release date when one is announced. DAHMER — Monster: The Jeffrey Dahmer Story is available to stream now via Netflix. Images: Netflix.
Eight days after going into lockdown in the latest attempt to stop the spread of COVID-19, 11 Local Government Areas in southeast Queensland will emerge from stay-at-home conditions at 4pm today, Sunday, August 8. Since the same time on Saturday, July 31, residents in the Brisbane City Council, Logan, Moreton Bay, Ipswich, Redlands, Sunshine Coast, Gold Coast, Noosa, Somerset, Lockyer Valley and Scenic Rim LGAs have only been permitted to leave their homes for the four reasons that were identified at the beginning of the pandemic. Initially, the lockdown was put in place for three days after new instances of the Delta variant were identified in Brisbane's western suburbs, but it was then extended for another five when new locally acquired COVID-19 case numbers remained high. "It will end at 4pm, but we are not out of the woods. I just want everyone to have a really good understanding that we are dealing with the Delta strain. It is highly, highly infectious," said Queensland Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk at Queensland's daily COVID-19 press conference. "I can tell you from my conversations in Tokyo, with people around the world, this strain is sweeping the world. So we need to make sure that we are making some extra precautions," the Premier continued. While ending the latest lockdown across southeast Queensland is obviously welcome news, restrictions will obviously still apply — as also happened after Brisbane's January, March and June lockdowns — until Sunday, August 22. So, Brisbanites will be able to leave their homes again once 4pm hits today — and for any reason. That said, new rules will limit what you can do, where and with how many people, as we've all become used to during the pandemic. https://twitter.com/AnnastaciaMP/status/1424160294612307971 A ten-person limit on at-home gatherings will be put in place, which includes people who live there. That cap will also apply to public gatherings outside of the house as well. And, weddings and funerals will only be able to have 20 people in attendance. Venues can reopen, including retail, gyms, convention centres, hairdressers, and beauty and personal care services; however, the one person per-four-square-metres rule will be in effect inside, and the one person per-two-square-metres outside — and dancing isn't allowed, except at weddings. Where there's ticketed and allocated seating, venues can fill to 50-percent capacity. Also, community sport isn't allowed to resume yet. In hospitality, you'll need to remain seated to drink or eat in cafes and restaurants. The aforementioned density requirements will also apply, but smaller venues up to 200 square metres can have one person per-two-square-metres — up to a maximum of 50 people. Masks remain mandatory whenever you're not at home — and you'll always have to have one with you as a result. So, they must be worn in all indoor spaces other than your own house, all indoor workplaces unless it is unsafe to do so, on public transport, in taxis and ride share vehicles, and outdoors, unless you're doing vigorous exercise. Folks in the 11 LGAs are also asked to reconsider their need to travel outside of these areas, and are asked not to do so. https://twitter.com/qldhealthnews/status/1424166253443252228 The usual requests regarding social distancing, hygiene and getting tested if you're feeling even the slightest possible COVID-19 symptoms all apply, too, as they have since March last year. In the past 24 hours, Queensland reported nine new locally acquired cases, with 148 cases currently active in the Sunshine State at the time of writing. The state is also implementing a three-day lockdown in Cairns and Yarrabah due to a new case out in the community in that northern region, with stay-at-home conditions coming into effect there at 4pm today, Sunday, August 8. Queensland Health is maintaining an active register of locations that have been visited by positive COVID-19 cases, which you can check out on its website. You can also check out this nifty map that uses Queensland Health's data. Eleven LGAs in the Greater Brisbane area will come out of lockdown at 4pm on Sunday, August 8. For more information about the status of COVID-19 in Queensland, head to the QLD COVID-19 hub and the Queensland Health website. More details about the lockdown and associated restrictions once it lifts can also be found on the Queensland Health website. Top image: Kgbo via Wikimedia Commons.
From the youthful rough and tumble of 1973's Mean Streets, to the bona fide masterpiece that is 1990's Goodfellas, to the Boston-set crime machinations of 2006's The Departed, Martin Scorsese's filmography is filled with gangster movies. Throw in 1996's Casino as well, and the acclaimed director has basically become synonymous with the genre. As a result, it should come as no surprise that his latest film once again steps into the mobster fold — or, given Scorsese's penchant for working with the same actors over and over again, that it tasks a heap of familiar faces with getting down and dirty in America's criminal underworld. In the pipeline for years (since back before 2013's The Wolf of Wall Street, in fact), The Irishman corrals Robert De Niro, Al Pacino, Joe Pesci and Harvey Keitel into quite the true tale — of organised crime in the US post-World War II, as experienced by union official and hitman Frank Sheeran. De Niro plays the main role, while Pacino plays notorious union boss Jimmy Hoffa, with the movie particularly interested in the ongoing mystery that is the latter's disappearance. If that's not exciting enough, there's also the fact that Pesci — who won an Oscar for Goodfellas — makes his first on-screen appearance in almost a decade. The rest of the cast features plenty of big names, too, including Ray Romano, Bobby Cannavale, Anna Paquin, Jack Huston and Jesse Plemons. And, because The Irishman's story spans decades, there's also the movie's use of 'de-ageing' special effects, with De Niro and Pacino playing their characters in both their younger and older versions. With the film releasing via Netflix sometime this spring, the fact that a filmmaker of Scorsese's calibre is making a huge, star-studded, potentially Oscar-worthy movie for the streaming platform is also notable, as well as a sign of the times. For those keen to see the great director's first flick since 2016's Silence on a big screen, watch this space (and probably cross your fingers, too). The Irishman will premiere at this year's New York Film Festival in September, and receive a limited theatrical release in the US; however, whether Netflix will pop it into cinemas Down Under has yet to be revealed. Check out The Irishman's first trailer below: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=S3hh68LpkWQ&feature=youtu.be The Irishman will hit Netflix sometime this spring — we'll update you with a release date when it's announced.
Once a year, Monster Fest treats cinemagoers to a weird and wonderful film festival filled with genre and cult movies — but that's obviously not often enough. So, behold Monster Fest Weekender, aka the fest that the Monster team hosts midyear when it's not rolling out the full shindig. Hitting Brisbane's Event Cinemas Myer Centre from Friday, May 13–Sunday, May 15, this three-day affair will screen the films you can't wait till later in the year to see — such as Sundance oddity Hatching, a body-horror flick about a girl nursing an egg: documentary The History of Metal and Horror, which spans everyone from Alice Cooper to John Carpenter; and monster- and OTT scientist-filled stop-motion effort Mad God. Other highlights: a 35th-anniversary session of Miami Connection, a cult martial arts movie that really has to be seen to be believed; a 4K restoration of 1985's Cat's Eye, a Stephen King adaptation starring a very young Drew Barrymore; and Pennywise: The Story of It, which takes a making-of look at the Tim Curry-starring TV miniseries that first brought the creepy clown to screens.
We see you, sweet human, hunched over your glowing screen, brow slightly furrowed. It's a warm day, isn't it? Probably lovely weather outside, too. And yet, lunch is fast approaching, and your fingers are already mentally tapping their way to another desk-delivered meal. Sigh, if only you could mobilise your troops and enjoy that lunch... outside? "No time," you insist. "Too hard," you scoff. "No Tupperware," you sulk. Well pack up that petulant pout, and get your picnic pants primed — we're going shopping. CHEESE, WOODBLOCK CHEESE Everyone (well, almost everyone) will tell you that cheese is the hero dish of any decent picnic. Don't listen to naysayers that insist a single wedge of cheap, supermarket cheese will suffice — it's just not true. Multiple cheese options must be available at any self-respecting picnic, and we have earmarked Woodblock Cheese (in Bardon) as our number one fromagerie. Got a low-key love of pungent cheese, but too scared to release the stink into your cramped office? Go wild, baby! The outdoors is nothing if not incredibly well-ventilated. BAKED GOODS, JOCELYN'S PROVISIONS Ughhhh we know… You were having a cute little fantasy where you effortlessly whipped up a jaunty picnic spread, weren't you? Something small, and chic, and vaguely French. Lots of artfully scattered produce. And then you snapped to your senses and realised that you didn't have any supplies. Total buzzkill, really. Well chin up, buttercup — Jocelyn's Provisions has you covered. These guys have been churning out butter cakes, brioche and brownies for more than twenty years. MEATS, CHEESES AND MORE, NEW FARM DELI Italian food has "picnic" stamped all over it. Delicious? Check. Transportable? Check. Cutlery-optional? Double check. So if you want to bang out a perfect picnic platter when you're stuck in a time crunch, New Farm Deli is a pretty solid bet. This Italian-style deli has a veritable smorgasbord of European treats to give your picnic some proper punch. Think endless varieties of cheese, meats, smallgoods, gourmet dressings, etc. Most importantly, they have a mind-boggling range of those famous Milanese panettone cakes that all your Italian friends rave about. Traditionally they are enjoyed around the festive season, but don't be scared to serve this sweet treat all year round. HEALTHY BITES, MISS BLISS WHOLE FOODS KITCHEN You're daydreaming about your picnic — all gooey cheese and luscious wines — when you remember that one of your potential picnic pals is currently going through a #CleanEating stage. You need to come up with some healthy options stat. Don't worry — Miss Bliss has you covered. It'll have you sorted with a bundle of sugar-free, additive-free lunch treats, faster than you can say "green juice". And it's much easier than having to unfriend Ashley, too. ALL-IN-ONE, POPOLO ITALIAN KITCHEN & BAR This one's for you, procrastinators of Brisbane. We see you. We know your ways. You've invited someone for a picnic at Southbank, haven't you? A lovely little romantic rendezvous right on the water. And that tidy lawn at River Quay Green? It's licensed until 8pm. But you haven't got any time to procure those picnic provisions, do you? You're in a bit of a (dare we say)… pickle? Fear not, Oh Panicked One. The team at Popolo will sort you out. Give them a bit of lead time, and they'll provide the entire picnic package: cured meats, cheese, bread, pizza, booze, baskets and blankets. EASY LUNCH, BOTANICA REAL FOOD Sometimes you just need to get away from your desk. Away from your laptop. Away from four walls and a roof and the constant whirring of the pedestal fan. Sometimes you just want to eat your lunch sitting outside on a park bench with your headphones on and not have to worry that your picnic isn't Pinterest-worthy. Because realistically, everything is totally negotiable, except for one key thing: the food must be good. You can eat it with a plastic fork, but it has to be freakin' delicious. We totally get it. So do the guys at Botanica Real Food. Their food is healthy and nourishing, and may be more tasty than that three-ingredient salad you packed for lunch.
You know the feeling. You’d like to relax with a beverage in hand, but the fridge is bare – and so is the liquor cabinet. Or maybe you've been mid-party when the unthinkable has happened, with every esky coming up empty, and all the nearby bottle shops closed. The folks behind Liquorun — former AFL teammates Joel MacDonald, James Strauss, and Rohan Bail — can certainly relate, and have come up with a solution. They'll bring alcohol to your door on demand within 60 minutes — a service already available in Melbourne and Sydney. Now Brisbane's joined the party. For the first time, Brisbanites can replenish their booze supplies at the touch of a button, and quickly. Sure, other bottle-os offer delivery, but they also make you wait much longer than an hour. And who wants to do that? The process is simple: head to the Liquorun website, select your preferred local liquor store and your tipple of choice, then expect a knock at the front door. It’s not just beer, wine and spirits on offer. You can even order food from local Brisbane eateries if you’re craving a delicious donut, hot pizza or juicy burger. They'll even solve the classic party facepalm — they'll bring that ice you forgot to buy. For those partying well into the night, it is worth remembering that this isn't a 24-hour service. A certain amount of forethought is required, with the service cutting off at 11pm — 10pm in Brisbane — due to licensing laws. For more information, visit the Liquorun website. Image: Walnut Studio.
A new glamping hideaway on the shores of New Zealand's Lake Hawea will let visitors cosy up in cocoon-like sleeping pods under the stars. Cross Hill Lodge & Domes is found in the high country setting of Glen Dene Station beneath the Southern Alps. The six geodesic Pacific Domes are said to be the first permanent structures of their kind in the country. The 40-square-metre domes feature their own centralised super king-size bed and bathroom unit, while floor to ceiling windows allow visitors to soak up light pollution-free night skies and picturesque views across the park-like surroundings. Each dome comes equipped with its own small kitchenette, contemporary bathroom, climate controlled gas fire and heat pump and private deck. Interior furnishings have been inspired by the local landscape and include plush sheepskins and woollen blankets. All guests have access to the main Cross Hill Lodge situated above the domes. The lodge serves as a gathering point to sit down for a meal, unwind with a massage or enjoy some quiet time in the outdoor wood-fired hot tub. Dinner and breakfast is provided with most of the packages and guests can choose from a range of meal options — including local paddock-to-plate cuisine and three-course degustation experiences with wines from the surrounding Central Otago region. Glen Dene Station has been owned and operated by the Burdon family since 1929. Cross Hill Lodge owners Richard and Sarah Burdon say the dome experience provides high country hospitality in an alpine lake-side environment, with mountains, forest trails and rivers right on your doorstep. The pair can advise and arrange activities for visitors to the area, including anything from private helicopter crayfishing excursions to farm tours and local e-bike tours. The family also owns The Camp, a holiday park experience that's been popular with campers and tourists since 1971. Cross Hill Lodge & Domes is open for bookings from May 9, 2021. Packages start from $375 per night for two people including cooked and continental breakfast. For more information, visit crosshill.co.nz. Images: b.remarkable media.
