In 2024, Doja Cat topped the Triple J Hottest 100 of songs from 2023 and added Coachella headliner to her list of achievements. This year, she's notching up a first touring-wise: the superstar's debut arena gigs in Australia and New Zealand. Come November and December 2025, the 'Say So', 'Kiss Me More' and 'Vegas' talent will hit Auckland in Aotearoa, then head to Perth, Melbourne, Brisbane and Sydney on her Aussie stops. The five-city trip Down Under kicks off on Tuesday, November 18 at Spark Arena. In Australia, Doja Cat has a date with Perth's RAC Arena on Saturday, November 22, followed by Rod Laver Arena in Melbourne on Tuesday, November 25. Next comes Brisbane Entertainment Centre on Saturday, November 29 before wrapping up on Monday, December 1 at Qudos Bank Arena. The Aussie and NZ shows are part of the rapper's Ma Vie world tour, which also has international stints in Manila, Singapore, Seoul, Tokyo, Bangkok and Kaohsiung locked in for December. The run of dates takes its name from Doja Cat's upcoming fifth album Vie, which releases on Friday, September 26. Jack Antonoff- and Y2K-produced single 'Jealous Type' is out now, with new tune first debuted live at San Francisco's Outside Lands Music Festival at the beginning of August. [caption id="attachment_1018452" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Jacob Webster[/caption] Vie follows 2018's Amala, 2019's Hot Pink, Planet Her from 2021 and 2023's Scarlet on the Grammy-winner's discography. It's the latter that delivered 'Paint the Town Red' — 2023's Hottest 100 number one, which marked the first time that a female rapper and woman of colour topped the poll. The tune also sat at number one on the Billboard Hot 100 chart for three weeks, was the first rap song to reach those heights in 2023 and topped the Billboard Global 200 chart for four weeks in a row, too. [caption id="attachment_950216" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Clay Junell via Flickr.[/caption] Doja Cat Ma Vie World Tour Australian and New Zealand 2025 Tuesday, November 18 — Spark Arena, Auckland Saturday, November 22 — RAC Arena, Perth Tuesday, November 25 — Rod Laver Arena, Melbourne Saturday, November 29 — Brisbane Entertainment Centre, Brisbane Monday, December 1 — Qudos Bank Arena, Sydney Doja Cat is touring Australia and New Zealand in November and December 2025, with ticket resales from Monday, August 25 at 10am local time and general sales from Thursday, August 28 at 11am. Head to Doja Cat's website for more details. Top image: Dana Jacobs/WireImage.
Spent too much time staring at your same old furniture this winter? Wish you were relaxing somewhere coastal? Digging the desert oasis vibe? Here's one solution to all of the above: Kmart's latest homewares range. The department store's furniture drops have picked up cult followings, perhaps even more so in these steep cost-of-living times. Taking its cues from sandy locales, the August 2023 collection will only fuel that trend. When it comes to decking out your house with impressive but affordable items, Kmart has been giving IKEA a run for its money in recent years. Indeed, if you're already a convert, you probably know just how popular the department store gets whenever it drops a new range — or, you've likely seen everyone else's Instagram snaps that prove it. The current collection arrives on Thursday, July 27 with a mix of neutral tones and bursts of colour, cues taken from seashell and palm silhouettes, a heap of contrasting textures, and even coastal- and desert-themed items for pets. Expect it to fly off the shelves as always. With prices starting at $1.75 — for dinnerware, should the contents of your kitchen cupboards need a revamp — the August Living range in Australian and New Zealand stores is also about mixing and matching trends and styles. Yes, you can deck out your place like it's the beach and somewhere peppered with cacti all at once. Yes, you can do just that without stretching your budget as well. Covering items for the living, bedroom, bathroom and dining room, Kmart's current drop spans everything from oh-so-soft throws and salted caramel-scented candles through to globe-shaped lamps, timber bathroom furniture and several options for four-legged friends. The next time that your cat gets the urge to sharpen their claws, as all felines do, don't get them scratching on any old post. Direct your mouser towards a cactus-shaped version. And when your dog wants to get comfy, perhaps they'll sleep more soundly on a lush green bed. For humans, towels, crockery, wavy glasses, palm-print cushions, forest-hued quilt covers and shell-shaped bath mats are just some of the other items featured. You know how they say that change is as good as a holiday? It isn't, obviously, but swapping your home decor to the kinds of items that you might find on a getaway to the sea or desert should help lift the vibe at least. The August living range goes on sale online, in-store and via Kmart's app from Thursday, July 27 while stocks last. Kmart's August Living range goes on sale in Australia and New Zealand online, in-store and via the brand's app from Thursday, July 27 while stocks last.
Yoga, bars, markets, bed and breakfast-style wizarding schools, parties — if you're a muggle looking for more Harry Potter magic in your life, there's no shortage of options. Add this new New York pasta restaurant to the list. At Pasta Wiz, you'll be slurping spaghetti as you're spying a sorting hat out of the corner of your eye, all while sitting in a HP-inspired enchanted lair. Think chandeliers and candles too, in what's hoped will be the first venue in a potential chain if there's enough interest. Given that the book and film side of things doesn't really seem to be slowing down (we have four more Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them movies to watch, remember; and, 2017 marks 20 years since Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone was first published), you'd think locals and tourists alike will be dropping in. It's not just the decor that's designed to make customers feel bewitched, though; or dishes with names like Magic Meatballs, Dragon's Blood (a mango, raspberry and strawberry smoothie) and the Dark Lord (a liquid mix of avocado, cacao, cashews and agave), plus four types of potions (aka juice blends). It's also the speed of the service. According to the Pasta Wiz website, their meals only require three minutes to make, on average. Perhaps the chefs have a time-turner? https://www.instagram.com/p/BO6YL37AI56/?taken-by=pastawiz Via Gothamist.
If all you want for Christmas is a trip to a part of Australia like no other, then there's no need to ask Santa for tickets in your stocking. You can, of course, but for five days from Thursday, December 8—Monday, December 12, discounted fares to the Northern Territory are on offer as part of Jetstar's big pre-Christmas flight sale. Treat yo'self to an early festive holiday booking and get a jump on your 2023 vacation planning all at once, with $89 flights to Uluru up for grabs. That's how much it'll cost to get to the Red Centre from Melbourne, but you'll also only pay $109 one-way from either Sydney or Brisbane. [caption id="attachment_840264" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Tourism NT[/caption] For NT visitors keen on scoping out Darwin instead, all fares are under $150, with prices varying depending on the departure point. For Brisbanites, the starting price is $109, while Adelaide residents can get $129 fares, and Sydneysiders and Melburnians can book $149 flights. If it feels like these kinds of sales pop up often, that's because they have been lately. 'Tis the season after Black Friday and Cyber Monday, after all. That said, no travel aficionado will ever complain about too many opportunities to nab cheap flights. The usual Jetstar caveats apply: all sale fares are one-way, and they don't include checked baggage — so you'll need to travel super light or pay extra to take a suitcase. [caption id="attachment_813586" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Darwin Festival, Elise Derwin[/caption] And if you're wondering what to do when you're there, fares are on sale for trips between May and September 2023, which means checking out Darwin's BASSINTHEGRASS music festival headlined by Tones and I, Baker Boy, Amy Shark and Ocean Alley — or enjoying the Darwin Aboriginal Art Fair, Country to Couture, the Telstra National Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Awards, the National Indigenous Music Awards and Darwin Festival. Or, obviously, there's Uluru itself, all of the tours and experiences around the sacred spot, and Bruce Munro's dazzling Field of Light. [caption id="attachment_847444" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Tourism Central Australia[/caption] Jetstar's 'post-Chrissy recovery' sale runs from 12am AEDT on Thursday, December 8 till 11.59pm AEDT on Monday, December 12 — or until sold out, if snapped up earlier. Feeling inspired to book a getaway? You can now book your next dream holiday through Concrete Playground Trips with deals on flights, stays and experiences at destinations all around the world.
Circus stunts never fail to look astonishing, but how do they sound? At Undertone, the performers use live triggering to create soundscapes from the show itself. That means that you'll never see or hear the same show twice. Instead, you'll grab more than a peek at traditional circus disciplines, which have been given a few modern twists and stunts dressed up in shiny new choreography. You'll also listen to a performance that reacts to everything going on around it, meaning that your reaction — whether you're holding your breath, laughing at the hilarity or exclaiming in awe — is all part of the production. This event is part of this year's Wonderland festival.
Spend less time in the air and more on the snow: that's the thinking behind the new route that Qantas is launching at the end of 2025. When winter arrives in Japan, travellers flock in to hit their skis and snowboards, with the island of Hokkaido a popular destination. To get visitors there faster, the airline will start flying direct from Australia to Sapporo. From Monday, December 15, 2025, Qantas flights will run non-stop from Sydney to Sapporo, providing the only direct service between the two cities. Of course, this means that Aussies elsewhere at home will need to get to the Harbour City first, but the leg from Sydney will shorten travel time. Qantas advises that the route, which will fly seasonally — its first season will last until Saturday, March 28, 2026 — will cut several hours off the usual duration to get to Japan's northernmost island. Travelling there, you'll leave Sydney in the morning and arrive at Sapporo's New Chitose Airport by early evening. Coming home, you can enjoy the snow in the morning, then depart at night. When it kicks off just in time for the peak of the 2025–26 snow season, the new journey will fly three times a week on an Airbus A330-200 aircraft. In total, over 20,000 seats will be on offer across the three-and-a-half months. This is all great news if you're keen for a getaway at the Niseko, Furano, Rusutsu and Kiroro ski resorts; to hit the hot springs in Noboribetsu and Jozankei; and to attend the Sapporo Snow Festival. When the Sydney–Sapporo leg takes to the skies, Qantas will boast four direct-to-Japan routes, alongside its Tokyo services from Sydney, Melbourne and Brisbane — from Sydney–Haneda and Melbourne and Brisbane to Narita. And no, it's not too early to start planning your end-of-year — or beginning of 2026 — getaway. Qantas' Sydney–Sapporo route will launch on Monday, December 15, 2025 and run seasonally, with the first season flying until Saturday, March 28, 2026. Head to the Qantas website for more details.
With the news finally confirmed that Aussies can begin visiting New Zealand shores once again, you're likely to be more than ready to book that holiday to our easterly neighbour. Home to some of the best slopes that the southern hemisphere has to offer, New Zealand is a no-brainer when it comes to choosing a winter vacay destination. No matter which stunning ski region you choose, there's just as much to do off the slopes as there is on them. Between world-class eateries, jaw-dropping hotel views and walks to remember, you're going to want to wring as much out of each place as you can. Together with Ski NZ, we've put together this guide on where to eat, play and stay in New Zealand's best ski regions across both the North Island and South Island. QUEENSTOWN/WANAKA [caption id="attachment_846406" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Little Aosta, Arrowtown[/caption] EAT Queenstown is known for its world-class food and cocktail offering. Yes, you're there for the serious business of skiing but it would be a crime not to indulge. If you're staying in the heart of Queenstown, fuel up early for a day on the slopes with strong coffee and delicious cabinet goods from Vudu Larder — the carrot cake is a particular standout (and a breakfast food, in our opinion). At the end of the day, travel 20 minutes down the road to the charming historic village of Arrowtown to try authentic Italian family-style fare at Ben Bayly's recently opened Little Aosta. Après-ski cocktail hour around the fire starts at 3pm here, so get your spot early. For fancier fine dining, you can't go past Rātā, celebrity chef Josh Emmett's main Queenstown fort, for a taste of the best Aotearoa has to offer in a deconstructed degustation. [caption id="attachment_806669" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Coronet Peak[/caption] PLAY You're down south? You're in luck, because Queenstown and Wanaka are home to some of the best ski fields in the country — even the world. If you're looking for a reliably good run, Cardrona is just a short drive from either side of the valley. For experienced skiers wanting a challenge, ski and snowboard hotspot Treble Cone features the South Island's "biggest vert" (you're going to want to say that to feel like part of the in-crowd) — AKA the longest vertical drop in the region. Queenstown's closest ski field, Coronet Peak, is located an easy 20-minute drive from the town centre, while the unbelievable views from atop the family-friendly slopes of The Remarkables make it worth the slightly longer 40-minute roadie (or just hop on one of the regular shuttles from the city's centre). And if you're in town at the time, don't miss alpine music festival Snow Machine in September, set to turn the slopes into the dance floor of your sub-zero dreams. The following day, reward yourself for all that hard work with a day in the vines: Amisfield and Akarua are our top winery picks. Don't miss a day up the Queenstown gondola for the best views you can imagine — and a thrilling luge ride on the way down, of course. And if you want to restore your body after a day on the slopes, Align, Queenstown's first reformer pilates studio, offers dynamic classes of equal strength and stretch to help get you back in shape for the next day's skiing. [caption id="attachment_846407" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Mahu Whenua[/caption] STAY If you're planning on waking up with the sunrise to make the most of your day on the slopes, you're going to need million-dollar views to make it easier. Luckily, you'd be hard-pressed to find a bad view in this corner of the world. For a wake-up as good as it gets, Eichardt's Private Hotel boasts one of the best lakefront positions in Queenstown. If you prefer cosy intimacy and a bold print, notoriously quirky hotel chain Naumi's The Dairy Private Hotel transformed Queenstown's original 1920s corner store into colourful boutique accommodation with a bottomless happy hour between 5pm and 6pm. For an eco-friendly stay without sacrificing on luxury, rest your weary head at Mahu Whenua luxury eco-accommodation. Any of the rustic suites at this luxury lodge will make you feel like the king or queen of the castle, worlds away from the hustle and bustle of Wanaka township (rather than a mere 25 minutes). CANTERBURY [caption id="attachment_846515" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Inati, Christchurch[/caption] EAT Thanks to Canterbury's spot in the central South Island, meat-eaters and vegetarians alike will be in paradise with locally-sourced meats and produce at many a farm-to-table spot. Keen to splurge? Head to Inati for a degustation from head chef Simon Levy who trained under a pretty well-known chef named Gordon Ramsay — you may have heard of him. With a menu split into earth, land and sea, Inati directly translates from Te Reo to mean "to share a portion of food or to be exceptional and exciting". Either sound good to us. If only a giant steak will do, hit up the city's classic steakhouse Bloody Mary's and follow it with a post-dinner cocktail to die for at speakeasy-style bar OGB in Christchurch's stunning old government building (get the name?). Thanks to giant heaters and overhead cover, you can sit out in the courtyard overlooking Cathedral Square year-round, with a few negronis to beat the winter chill. [caption id="attachment_852204" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Mount Hutt[/caption] PLAY For an easy day ski trip just outside of the city, head to two of the closest mountains to central Christchurch: Mount Hutt, Canterbury's premier ski field, or Mount Cheeseman. Both are sun-soaked (even in winter), family-friendly and set up for a fun day on the slopes. If you feel like journeying a little further afield, Mount Dobson is just two hours from Christchurch and an underrated jewel with sensational views across Lake Pukaki and Tekapo towards New Zealand's highest peaks, Mount Cook and Mount Tasman. After a day on the slopes, soak the aching muscles away in Methven's brand new Ōpuke hot pools at the base of Mount Hutt. This new wellness destination has adults-only 'tranquillity pools' and family-friendly 'discovery pools', with a swim-up bar that will make you feel like you're in the islands, despite being surrounded by a mountain range. They'll even bring you a cocktail right to your spot in the pool — no slapping around in wet swimwear required. For those staying closer to the city, the He Puna Taimoana hot pools in New Brighton offer views over the beach and can be booked in time slots so you'll never feel crowded. If the weather is playing ball and you want a little greenery after all of that snow, Christchurch's Botanic Gardens are stunning year-round thanks to the hot greenhouse, Wintergarden, which will warm your bones no matter the weather. [caption id="attachment_846409" align="alignnone" width="1920"] The Britten Stables[/caption] STAY For stunning boutique accommodation in the heart of Christchurch, Britten Stables is a key piece of Christchurch history that has been lovingly restored into luxe accommodation with an indoor plunge pool, hot tub, billiards room and spacious gardens. For accommodation closer to the slopes, Terrace Downs resort was recently purchased by luxe hotel chain Fable and offers villas nestled below the Southern Alps, only a 45-minute drive to the ski field — or a five-minute helicopter to the top of the slopes. You can recover the next morning with a round of golf right outside your room. RUAPEHU [caption id="attachment_757144" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Pinnacles Restaurant[/caption] EAT For lunch with an out-of-this-world view above the dual UNESCO World Heritage-listed Tongariro National Park, ride the Sky Waka gondola up Mount Ruapehu to the award-winning Knoll Ridge Chalet — which, sitting 2020 metres above sea level, is NZ's highest dining experience. With breathtaking views of the Pinnacles, as well as skiers and boarders hooning down the slopes, visitors can choose from a delicious and varied menu that shines with high-quality, locally sourced produce. On your return to town, once you've had a hot shower and dropped off your gear, head to Osteria, a cosy family-run Italian restaurant in the heart of Ohakune. The lasagne al forno and a large glass of red is the perfect pairing to warm the bones after a day on the field. [caption id="attachment_852205" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Mt Ruapehu[/caption] PLAY Part of the UNESCO Dual World Heritage Tongariro National Park, Mt Ruapehu has some of the North Island's most rugged terrain, formed by solidified lava. On its flanks, Whakapapa and Tūroa ski areas boast the country's most exhilarating ski runs, as well as world-class beginner slopes and lessons for those just venturing out, across its combined 1050 hectares — no intimidating vibes here. Feel like working your legs even more? Have a crack at one of the area's incredible walks. The 20-kilometre Tongariro Crossing offers views previously only seen in Lord of the Rings, or, if you're nursing sore legs from skiing, the six-kilometre loop of the Taranaki Falls is equally stunning (but takes a quarter of the time). If you've still got the energy for a boogie after nightfall, head to the famous Powderkeg Bar which hosts a series of gigs throughout the winter months, including Ohakune Mardi Gras, the George FM Snowball and a host of others. [caption id="attachment_846413" align="alignnone" width="1920"] The Powderhorn Chateau[/caption] STAY Knowing where to look is key to booking luxe accommodation around Ruapehu. For an intimate stay offering jaw-dropping views of the stars, Night Sky Cottage is a five-star, fully self-contained cottage in Ohakune with two baths perfectly positioned to gaze at the celestial wonders above. For an authentic alpine hotel experience, you'll be hard-pressed to beat the iconic Powderhorn Chateau when it comes to both location and winter ambience. The room's wooden interiors will give you Fargo vibes (in the best possible way) — and as a bonus, each room has a drying closet for your ski gear. To start planning your trip to New Zealand's top ski regions, visit the website. Top images: Coronet Peak, Little Aosta, Eichardt's Private Hotel
When it comes to sharing movies that've recently premiered at Cannes with Australian audiences, timing is kind to Sydney Film Festival. One fest is in May, the other is in June — and SFF makes the most of it. Indeed, in 2025, its main program announcement was packed with 15 films that would hit Cannes, then Sydney. Next, Eddington joined the lineup, doing the same. The event's closing-night pick Splitsville falls into that category as well. Now comes a late drop of nine additional Australian-premiere titles that'll get the Harbour City's projectors whirring, most of which have also only recently debuted in France. Both Sentimental Value and Sîrat are heading to Sydney after collecting prizes in Cannes. The first nabbed the Cannes Grand Prix for filmmaker Joachim Trier, who reunites with his The Worst Person in the World lead Renate Reinsve (Presumed Innocent), and also has Stellan Skarsgård (Andor) and Elle Fanning (A Complete Unknown) in his cast. The Morocco-set second film picked up a Cannes Jury Prize, and boasts Pedro Almodóvar (The Room Next Door) as a producer. Both are playing SFF as special presentations. Or, audiences can look forward to the Dardenne brothers' (Tori and Lokita) Young Mothers, which collected Cannes' Screenplay Prize — and Cannes Queer Palme and Best Actress-recipient The Little Sister. Plus, joining Reinsve, Skarsgård and Fanning among the big-name stars on Sydney Film Festival's expanded program: Gael García Bernal (Holland) and Joel Edgerton (Dark Matter). In Magellan, which is directed by Filipino great Lav Diaz (Phantosmia), Bernal plays the title character. As for Edgerton, the Australian actor pops up in The Plague, where peer pressure at a summer camp drives the narrative. SFF has also added Two Prosecutors and Eagles of the Republic, each of which screened in competition at Cannes. Sergei Loznitsa (The Invasion) is behind Two Prosecutors, which takes place in 1937 under Stalin's rule. Tarik Saleh (Cairo Conspiracy) helms Eagles of the Republic, another of Sydney Film Festival's movies set in a complicated political climate — this time as part of a satirical thriller about an Egyptian film star. It's Never Over, Jeff Buckley debuted at Sundance 2025, not Cannes, but is also an eagerly anticipated newcomer on the lineup. That's what happens when documentarian Amy Berg (Janis: Little Boy Blue, West of Memphis) turns her attention to the late, great singer almost three decades after his tragic passing. "The festival starts in just two days, but we think its never too late to add the most-exciting new films to the festival, fresh from their international premieres," said SFF Festival Director Nashen Moodley. "From sweeping historical epics and urgent political dramas to intimate portraits and unforgettable performances, these films continue our commitment to showcasing the most exciting cinema from around the world." Sydney Film Festival 2025 takes place from Wednesday, June 4–Sunday, June 15 at various cinemas and venues around Sydney. For more information and tickets, head to the festival's website.
Change is coming to Brisbane's inner east, including a big demolition, temporarily relocated sports teams and a brand-new stadium at the end of it. When the the Brisbane Cricket Ground is torn down and rebuilt for the 2032 Brisbane Olympics, it'll also become part of a new Woolloongabba precinct that the Queensland Government hopes that folks will enjoy regardless of whether there's a game on. Brisbane Lions fans, 2020 AFL grand final attendees, cricket aficionados, anyone who has ever seen a gig at the the Gabba: the spot that you know and love is being flattened, with a new venue taking its place. Brisbanites in general, this part of town will also look a whole lot different. There'll be more dining and retail options, plus open spaces to hang out in. And, the name East Bank has been floated. Knocking down the Gabba was first floated back in 2021, but with a huge caveat given that it was contingent upon the River City scoring the Olympic Games hosting gig. That was locked in that same year, and then earlier in 2023 Queensland Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk and Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese confirmed the Gabba plans would go ahead. Now, today, Friday, November 24, Deputy Premier Steven Miles has unveiled more details — including what'll be in the stadium, and what the urban renewal project around it will comprise. The venue will become the main stadium for both the Olympic and Paralympic Games in 2032, and will be rebuilt with that in mind. But it's obviously also a year-round site for other sports events — Aussie rules and cricket use it for an average of 40 weeks a year — so supporting the stadium's long-term professional sports requirements remains a priority. The rebuild will also ensure it still functions as a top-notch entertainment venue, too. Gabba attendees can look forward to better viewing angles, bigger entries to get in, larger concourses as well, and three new pedestrian bridges outside — two across Main Street, avoiding the traffic lights and linking to the Cross River Rail station, and one over Stanley Street. Capacity will be increased from the current 42,000 to 50,000 seated and over 70,000 for concerts, while the internal merchandise stores will get a boost, as will dining venues, casual food and beverage outlets, and spaces for members. And, if you've ever tried to find the lifts in the stadium rather than take the stairs, they'll be installed with accessibility in mind. Escalators will also feature. For athletes and teams, all of the facilities will obviously be shiny and new, including for administration, operations and event-day functions. The Gabba 2.0 will also boast "cutting-edge technology and lighting", the government has announced, so ideally there'll be no more blackouts that disrupt games. Aiming for a six-star green-star rating is another key focus, including via connecting to the broader precinct and its green space. Surrounding the stadium, Woolloongabba will gain more shops on the streets around the Gabba, plus more places to eat and hang out. With the Gabba as its anchor, the existing Woolloongabba Priority Development Area now spans 106 hectares of the inner-city suburb — and, as it is revamped, the development will also provide more social and affordable housing. Building a new Gabba was chosen after assessing four options, including a refurbishment of the existing stadium, plus just tearing down and rebuilding part of the Gabba. To make space for the larger stadium, East Brisbane State School next door will be relocated within two kilometres from December 2025. That said, the heritage buildings within the school won't be torn down — rather, they'll be refurbished and repurposed into the new Gabba. "The Gabba's 128-year history makes it iconic for Queensland, this redevelopment will ensure a lasting legacy to be enjoyed for another 128 years and beyond. This isn't just about a stadium upgrade. This is about anchoring an urban renewal project that will see Woolloongabba transformed like South Bank was transformed for Expo 88," said the Deputy Premier. "The Woolloongabba redevelopment, along with Cross River Rail and the Brisbane Metro, will anchor a major redevelopment of Woolloongabba to maximise the benefit of public investment, and deliver more housing including social and affordable housing, more jobs, and better connectivity." "We could see another 880 or more apartments delivered in the precinct alone, as well as retail and dining. Plus, with at least 50 percent of the precinct set to be open space and a walkable spine from the Gabba to Roma Street via South Bank, there will be more for locals and visitors to enjoy." If you're an AFL or cricket fiend wondering how long it'll take, the whole Gabba revamp is expected to run over four years, starting in 2026 and welcoming in sports fans again in 2030. Brisbane Lions games and cricket matches will need to move elsewhere, obviously, while the site is out of action. No announcements have been made yet about the other grounds that two sports will use during that time. The Gabba has been a permanent cricket ground since 1895, and has undergone several revamps over its lifespan to-date, including the refurbishment of its entrances and amenities in 2020. For more information about the plans for the Gabba, head to the Queensland Government website.
Here's one for all you Tolkien fans out there. A go-getting housing company are now selling prefabricated homes that wouldn't look out of place in The Shire. Made from fibre-reinforced polymer shells that are then covered in soil, Green Magic Homes are the closest thing you'll get to living in an actual hobbit-hole. Now hand us the pipe-weed. Constructed from pre-made vaulted panels, the dome-like residences are designed to be eco-friendly and energy efficient, and can be easily assembled by just about anyone. Pre-made components can be screwed together based on the desired shape and size of the home under construction, with a three bedroom house requiring only five to six days and three people to build. Once the house has been put together, it's completely covered in soil, stabilising the structure and providing natural insulation, as well as giving it that classic Hobbiton circa the end of the Third Age feel. You can plant a garden, or even trees, atop your hillside homestead — just watch out for wandering roots. According to the Magic Green Homes website, the modules are fully waterproof, suitable for hot and cold climates, are earthquake and hurricane resistant, and can be expected to last several lifetime of use. As long as the Sackville-Bagginses don't get their greedy hands on it. For more information about Green Magic Homes, check out the delightfully cheesy promo video, below. Via Inhabitat.
"If nothing came, we just hadn't looked properly." Partway through The Velvet Queen, writer Sylvain Tesson utters these lyrical words about a specific and patient quest; however, they echo far further than the task at hand. This absorbing documentary tracks his efforts with wildlife photographer Vincent Munier to see a snow leopard — one of the most rare and elusive big cats there is — but much in the entrancing film relates to life in general. Indeed, while the animals that roam the Tibetan plateau earns this flick's focus, as does the sweeping landscape itself, Munier and his fellow co-director and feature first-timer Marie Amiguet have made a movie about existence first and foremost. When you peer at nature, you should see the world, as well as humanity's place in it. You should feel the planet's history, and the impact that's being made on its future, too. Sensing exactly that with this engrossing picture comes easily — and so does playing a ravishing big-screen game of Where's Wally?. No one wears red-and-white striped jumpers within The Velvet Queen's frames, of course. The Consolations of the Forest author Tesson and world-renowned shutterbug Munier dress to blend in, trying to camouflage into their sometimes-dusty, sometimes-snowy, always-rocky surroundings, but they aren't the ones that the film endeavours to spy. The creatures that inhabit Tibet's craggy peaks have evolved to blend in, so attempting to see many of them is an act of persistence and deep observation — and locking eyes on the snow leopard takes that experience to another level. Sometimes, pure movement gives away a critter's presence. On one occasion, looking back through images of a perched falcon offers unexpected rewards. As lensed by Amiguet (La vallée des loups), Munier and assistant director Léo-Pol Jacquot, The Velvet Queen draws upon hidden cameras, too, but so much of Tesson and Munier's mission is about sitting, watching and accepting that everything happens in its own time. Letting what comes come — and acknowledging that some things simply won't ever occur at all — isn't an easy truth to grapple with. Nonetheless, it's also one of this contemplative feature's achievements, even though it's a type of detective story through and through. Tesson and Munier follow clues to search for the snow leopard, moving positions and setting up blinds wherever they think will score them their sought-after footage. In the process, they learn a lesson as all sleuths do. As they face the possibility that they might not be successful, which Tesson's perceptively navel-gazing narration explains, The Velvet Queen becomes a mindfulness course in filmic form. It has something astonishing that all the Calm, Headspace and similar apps in the world don't, though: the film's on-the-ground recordings (well, 5000-metres-up recordings), which show why finding peace with life's ebbs and flows is all that we can really hope for. Accompanied by a stirring score from Australian icons and lifelong bandmates Warren Ellis and Nick Cave — their latest contribution to cinema on a resume that includes The Proposition, The Road, Hell or High Water and Wind River before it — it's no wonder that The Velvet Queen's philosophising voiceover also notes that "waiting was a prayer". It's similarly unsurprising that Tesson penned a book, The Art of Patience: Seeking the Snow Leopard in Tibet, based on the trip captured in the documentary. In fact, if you're the kind of person who keeps their peepers peeled for feline life in any new neighbourhood you visit, or even if you're just strolling around your own, this feature firmly understands. More than that, it one-ups you, while also connecting with the act of scouring and seeking as much as the potential joys of getting what you wish for. To stress the point, poetic missives about being content with what you have are peppered through as well. Think: Werner Herzog (The Fire Within: Requiem for Katia and Maurice Krafft) meets Terrence Malick (A Hidden Life), complete with the penchant for whispering that's such an established part of the latter's work. Keeping a hushed vocal tone is wholly justified when you're trying not to disturb nature, however, which is also key among The Velvet Queen's goals. It may not boast the descriptive and scientific run-through of a David Attenborough (Prehistoric Planet)-hosted nature doco, but this film is committed to taking in its worshipped namesake and the plateau's other residents in all their innate and inherent glory. Most of the narration is precisely deployed as a result, letting the movie's visuals do the bulk of the work — but helping, emphasising and augmenting what's already a ruminative mood. What majestic and magnificent imagery it is, too, especially when Amiguet, Munier and Jacquot are standing back, taking in the land as far and wide as the lens can see, and letting the audience do the spotting along with them. A sense of distance radiates throughout the movie, visibly showing the remove that Munier and Tesson remain at for their safety, and to increase their chances of seeing a snow leopard — and also underscoring that chasm between humanity and nature that Tesson talks about. When The Velvet Queen does zoom closer during its 92-minute duration, the end product is similarly breathtaking. Scenes of a Pallas' cat in pounce mode give off a mischievous vibe — again, the connections with everyday life are plain to see; anyone with a cat in their lives will recognise the links — and a sequence of portrait-like telephoto-lens closeups belongs on gallery walls. Add The Velvet Queen to the ranks of meditative and transportive cinema, alongside films such as Jennifer Peedom's River and Mountain, for instance — features that know the power of communing with our environment and its vast array of other inhabitants. Add it to the list of such movies that look on in spellbinding awe but never with simplicity, including when surveying the complexities of making this very documentary. Add it, as well, to the always-needed reminders about interacting with the tangible over the digital, knowing how existence's cycles affect us all, finding serenity where and how you can, and accepting life's unshakeable certainties. The Velvet Queen doesn't always need lines as flowery as "prehistory wept, and each tear was a yak" or "for me, a dream; for him, a rendezvous" to go with it, but it's always a film of beauty, feeling, insight and inspiration.
Enjoying a night out in Brisbane isn't a simple affair, and hasn't been for some time. Sure, knowing where you're heading is straightforward enough — or, maybe you like to see where the evening takes you — but thanks to Queensland's ever-changing lockout laws, knowing when you can enter and re-enter, when last drinks will be served and when curfews kick into effect isn't always as easy as it should be. And now that July 1 has arrived, a new factor comes into play: ID scanning. In January, the Queensland Government announced that they wouldn't be going ahead with 1am curfews, the second component of their most recent lockout plan. Instead, they embraced the idea of ID scanners to record and store the details of all patrons entering venues in the state's 15 entertainment precincts — or Safe Night Precincts. In order to trade past midnight and serve drinks until 3am, nightclubs and other watering holes in the designated areas now have capture the IDs of every customer that stops by after 10pm. Here's how the mandatory system works: when your ID is captured by the venue's networked scanners, they make record of your name, date of birth and photo, and cross-check it against a broader database. If you've been banned by another place, the courts or the police, you'll be refused entry — and the system will also notify other bars, pubs and clubs in the Safe Night Precincts. ID scanning covers patrons both entering and re-entering after the cutoff, so if you're inside a bar, go outside for some fresh air and then try to get back in, your ID will scanned again. And if you refuse or fail to produce photo identification, you'll be barred from entering. The laws apply every night of the week — not just the weekends — and absolutely everyone endeavouring to step inside a venue in the Safe Night Precincts has to comply, regardless of how old they are. If you thought your days of whipping out your ID were long behind you, think again. In fact, everyone who likes a night out best get used to flashing their chosen form of identification around much, much more often. The areas in question cover 238 licensed venues across the state, such as the Brisbane CBD, Fortitude Valley and inner west Brisbane (including Caxton Street); the Ipswich CBD; the Surfers Paradise and Broadbeach CBDs on the Gold Coast; and the Sunshine Coast including Caloundra, Maroochydore and Mooloolaba. Further afield, the CBDs in Airlie Beach, Bundaberg, Cairns, Gladstone, Mackay, Rockhampton, Toowoomba and Townsville are also impacted. Unsurprisingly, the new scheme isn't popular with venues. Indeed, some — such as Gambaros, Brewski and Fritzenberger on Caxton Street — are surrendering their late-night licenses and winding back their trading hours to midnight to avoid abiding by the ID scanning requirements, The Courier-Mail reports. Earlier in the week, Brisbane Times noted that six places had refused to sign up, while the ABC found that trial runs have unearthed a number of problems.
Sherwood Road’s Mariosarti Ristorante Italiano is a long established restaurant, having served local residents for almost 20 years. Though the area surrounding Toowong Tower is crammed with eateries, many of them are of the cafe or takeaway shop variety, so Mariosarti seems to fill what could otherwise be a bit of a gap in the neighbourhood's culinary makeup. The popularity is proven as the place overflows with patrons, even on weeknights. Mariosarti's atmosphere is warmer and comfier than you might expect if walking past on the street. Staff are professional, and they do a pretty good job of getting you in and out, without being too overt about the fact that they need your table cleared and ready for the next round of diners. By their own account, Mariosarti has changed tack somewhat since their inception in 1995, shifting from traditional regional style Italian to a more modern take on the cuisine. The food, however, remains fairly uncomplicated. Dishes look and taste more or less as you would expect from their descriptions on the menu. The pappardelle con anatra e funghi pocini (confit duck, shallots, portabello mushrooms and fresh herbs finished in a light mushroom stock with truffle pesto and reggiano, $31.9) is a prime example. Each separate ingredient is easily distinguishable, and no element overpowers the rest. The menu is quite lengthy, and fans of Italian food will easily be able to pick out a few dishes. The scarmorza (wood smoked white mozzarella lightly grilled and served with smoked sea salt and fresh lemon, $15) should whet the appetite, ready for Mariosarti’s signature dish – pancetta di Maiale arrostito con tartuffo e porcini funghi (crispy skin pork belly served with a pumpkin and sage puree, smashed green peas finished with a truffle infused porcini jus – $21.9 as an entrée, or $35.9 for a main course). The dessert list has just about all the best loved dolci, but the biscotti e crema pannacotta with blood orange curd holds the most intrigue. Though Mariosarti has its own wine list (with drops from Italy, France, Australia and New Zealand) BYO is available for tables of 8 or less. Be warned, however, that the corkage fee is very steep at $25 per bottle.
Over the past few years, the Victoria Park Putt Putt Course has given itself a themed makeover on several occasions. The best way to celebrate Christmas, Halloween and Valentine's Day here? Tap, tap, tapping through a temporary revamp to suit the date. Easter is no different, much to the delight of mini golf-loving Brisbanites — and in autumn 2023, the venue's Candyland setup is making its return. Fancy getting into the Easter spirit by hitting a few balls around a candy-themed course? That'll be on offer from Friday, March 24–Monday, May 1. The Herston site will sport greens with names like 'Candy Corner', 'Ice Cream Court', 'Bakery Bunker, 'Fairy Floss Fairway', 'Gumball Green' and 'Bunny Hop'. In past years, rabbits have featured heavily — plus giant ice creams, Easter eggs, lollipops and other sweet treats. This year's fun will also feature gummy bears, candy necklaces, lifesavers, cupcakes, doughnuts, gum balls and Easter eggs — and that Ice Cream Court is all about sundaes and their toppings. Basically, if it's sweet and can somehow be worked into a themed mini golf course, you'll find it here. Bookings are essential, with the course open from 6am–10pm Sunday–Thursday and public holidays — because there's more than a few of those during its run — 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. It's a family-friendly affair, so you'll likely have plenty of company. Tickets cost $23 per adult. Images: Stephanie Adams Photography.
When museums come to mind, so do two things typically found within their walls. Dinosaurs tend to feature across their halls of knowledge. Digging into humanity's past as well, so do ancient artefacts. Accordingly, it should come as little surprise that Brisbane's Queensland Museum started off 2024 embracing prehistoric creatures — albeit in Lego form — and that it will now end it with a big showcase of objects spanning 3000 years of Egyptian history. Hailing from the Dutch National Museum of Antiquities, and already featuring at the Western Australian Museum in 2023, then the National Museum of Australia in Canberra since late the same year, Discovering Ancient Egypt now has a date with southeast Queensland. When it opens on Friday, October 25, the showcase will be filled with highlights, especially if you're interested in how ancient Egyptians approached the afterlife. Among its 200-plus items, five sarcophaguses will be on display, as will painted funerary coffins and papyrus sheets from the Egyptian Book of the Dead. Discovering Ancient Egypt isn't just concerned with rituals and beliefs around dying, however, with the daily lives of ancient Egyptians, as well as their innovations, also a focus. When it arrives in Brisbane, complete with carved statues from the Saqqara necropolis as well, Queensland Museum expects the exhibition to be a hit — because diving into Egypt's history always is for the institution. In fact, this type of blast from the past has proven among the ten most-popular exhibitions at the venue. Another highlight that'll display alongside Discovering Ancient Egypt: 34 pottery vessels from Queensland Museum's antiquities collection that hail from necropolis of Esna, as unearthed by British archaeologist John Garstang. "Whether you're an avid history fan, a curious explorer, or simply seeking an unforgettable cultural experience, we're delighted to host Discovering Ancient Egypt before it returns to the Netherlands," said Queensland Museum CEO Dr Jim Thompson. "It has been inspiring to see the dedication, passion and enthusiasm that our Australian colleagues have brought to transforming this exhibition into something truly unique and exemplary," added Dr Wim Weijland, Director of the Dutch National Museum of Antiquities. Discovering Ancient Egypt displays at Queensland Museum Kurilpa, corner of Grey and Melbourne streets, South Bank, South Brisbane, from Friday, October 25, 2024. Head to the venue's website for more information and to join the ticket waitlist.
Every year, when Brisbane Festival rolls around, two things happen. Firstly, the city explodes with an array of arts, culture and music performances. Secondly, it explodes with colour and light thanks to a big riverside light show. In 2019, the latter is called River of Light — and if you saw the vivid display last year, you'll want to return for a new luminous combination of awe-inspiring combination of water fountains, lights and lasers. A free 10-minute show taking place at 6.15pm, 8pm and 9pm each night between September 6–28, it's designed to spin another traditional story over Brisbane's brown snake of a waterway. And, to make it happen, Yuggera and Toorbal man Shannon Ruska will once again team up with Oracle Liquid. Catch it from the Arcadia precinct, on the South Bank Cultural Forecourt, over a few beverages.
You've tried every burger place in town, heaped mac 'n' cheese on everything and worked your way through Brisbane's newest restaurants. Feeling like you've eaten every single Brissie meal there is? That's understandable, but the city's eateries still have more than a few inventive dishes on their menus. With MasterChef Australia turning every food fiend into a gourmand over the show's decade-long run, Brisbane's restaurants have stepped up, serving up different takes on old favourites, creative options you'd never expect and everything in between. Rest assured, you can eat your way around town and never feel like you're eating the same old thing. We can't promise that Matt Preston, Gary Mehigan and George Calombaris have tried our top ten unexpected finds, but we're pretty certain they'd like the sound of bug dumplings, black garlic bread and mulled wine ice cream — and more. GERMAN PORK KNUCKLE, THE GERMAN CLUB Brisbane might be experiencing a German pub bonanza, with two opening around the city in just the last two months, but the city's original slice of Deutschland still reigns supreme. If you want a piece of pork that'll make you feel like you've stepped on a plane to Europe — or sent your tastebuds across the world, at the very least — then you'll find it here. There's a reason that the pork knuckle is one of the restaurant's signature dishes, all one whopping kilogram of it. Keeping every mouthful of the meal authentic, it comes with juicy fried potatoes, a hefty helping of sauerkraut and a big splash of smoked beer gravy. WATERMELON SOFT SERVE, DOUBLE GOOD Hankering for a sweet treat, but feel like you should be opting for fruit rather than ice cream? Why not combine both? Eat Street's Double Good doesn't just serve up fruit-flavoured ice cream or even ice cream with fruit chunks mixed in — rather, it swirls its soft serve directly into a slice of watermelon. Extremely delicious and incredibly photogenic, it's the ultimate dessert for Brisbane's year-round warm climate. You can also opt for soft serve dished up in a coconut or a pineapple (or, let's face it, you can head back three times and try them all). CHEESEBURGER SPRING ROLLS, HEYA BAR Usually, when you order a serving of spring rolls, the resulting crisp cylinders come filled with vegetables and meat. There's nothing usual about Heya Bar's spring rolls, however — unless cheeseburger spring rolls sounds ordinary to you. It's the food mash-up that you didn't know you needed. Best of all, it goes well with everything else on the Brunswick Street bar's menu. You can pair them with a plate of fries — and complete the North American fast-food meal — or travel down the Asian street food path with bao, karaage and edamame. BREAKFAST CARBONARA, MORNING AFTER Pizza for breakfast is a hungover person's dream. Carbonara for breakfast — that's something that can be enjoyed by everyone. Forget whatever you thought you should be eating to break the fast, and make Morning After's famous dish your go-to brekkie. Whether you're recovering from a big night or just feel like some creamy carbs, this blend of pappardelle, field mushrooms, smoked pancetta and manchego hits the spot. It's also topped with a 63-degree eggs and is available until 4pm seven days a week. KENTUCKY FRIED DUCK, DETOUR The brainchild of chef Damon Amos, Kentucky Fried Duck (or, KFD) has been a Brisbane favourite for quite a few years now, and you probably even tried it over at Public — where Amos used to work as head chef. But when he moved to Detour in Woolloongabba, he took his famous dish with him. There, in the shadow of the Gabba, it's served with jalapeño cornbread and sour cream, which make for a rather stellar combo. And, if you're feeling like a feast, it's just one of the inventive dishes on the menu — alongside emu tartare, master stock salmon with black ants and fossilised carrots. MORETON BAY BUG DUMPLINGS, MADAME WU Located in Eagle Street's Riparian Plaza, Madame Wu has no less than four creative dumplings on its menu, including pan-fried scallops with verjus butter, pork with corn puree and lamb with eggplant. There's one type that's worth booking a table for alone, however: the Moreton Bay bug dumplings. If you're a seafood-lover, then you're probably accustomed to automatically selecting the bug option on every menu, and your instincts won't steer you wrong here. Served in plates of four, the tasty parcels arrive with XO sauce and lime. PEKING DUCK TACOS, RED HOOK Peking duck tastes great however it's served — whether it's stuffed in savoury pancakes, turned into san choy bow or eaten one succulent sliver at a time. Or, at Red Hook, you can devour it in tacos for the ultimate mix of Asian and Mexican staples. The tacos also arrive stuffed with slaw, fried shallots and hoisin sauce, which really bring out the flavour of the duck. If you're eager for another mash-up while you're there, wash it down with a pickled cheeseburger martini — while it doesn't feature any minced beef, it does mix together vodka, pickle brine, mustard and a strip of bacon. BLACK GARLIC BREAD, GAUGE If you're cooking garlic bread at home and it adopts a darkened shade, that's not a good sign. But this is not the case at Gauge. Here, black garlic bread doesn't mean that the chef got distracted — it's exactly how it is supposed to look and taste. The restaurant's best-known dish since it opened in 2015, the black piece of fermented bread is made from ash, vanilla pods and treacle, and served with burnt butter and burnt vanilla. Even better — it can accompany both savoury and sweet meals, and it's available all day. DRY-AGED BEEF TARTARE, WALTER'S STEAKHOUSE One of Brisbane's newest steak joints, Walter's isn't your standard steak, potatoes and salad kind of eatery — not that there's anything wrong with that, of course. Here, opposite the Brisbane City Botanic Gardens on Alice Street in the CBD, you'll sit on red leather seats, get comfy amidst other retro-style furnishings and tuck into dry-aged slaps of meat. Or, you can feast on our pick, a dry-aged beef tartare. Made from raw, ground steak, it comes with cornichons, eschallots, mustard and cured egg yolk, and pairs particularly well with a heavy glass of red. MULLED WINE ICE CREAM, DEER DUCK BISTRO Everything can be turned into ice cream, as many a gelateria and ice creamery have demonstrated in recent years. To the delight of booze-loving dessert fiends, that also includes alcohol. But you won't find this standout boozy dessert at any old gelateria. This mulled wine ice cream is one of the sweet highlights at Auchenflower degustation favourite Deer Duck Bistro, and it's accompanied by chocolate rose ice cream and seasonal berries. Love wine? Love mulled wine? Love ice cream? Of course you do, and this blend of all of the above won't disappoint. Catch the latest season of MasterChef Australia from Sunday to Thursday at 7.30pm on Channel Ten.
Almost four years after officially launching its streaming platform in Australia, Amazon Prime Video has expanded its range of viewing options — by bringing the company's online video store Down Under, too. Now, cinephiles can rent or buy a movie via the service's video-on-demand shop. And, you can access its lineup without signing up for a subscription membership. If you're eager to rent the likes of A Quiet Place, Mamma Mia! Here We Go Again, Bohemian Rhapsody, Sonic the Hedgehog, The Lion King, Avengers: Infinity War and Avengers: Endgame, you'll find them all available — with a focus on recent release and blockbuster titles. That means that next time you're looking to check out a new-ish flick, you can add Amazon to the list of places to watch it digitally on a pay-per-title basis, alongside Google Play, YouTube and iTunes. Amazon's VOD selection spans films from big studios such as Disney, Warner Bros, NBCUniversal, Sony, Paramount and Lionsgate, as well as Australian distributors Transmission and Madman. Accordingly, if you're not in the mood for Jurassic World: Fallen Kingdom, you can go local and check out Mystify: Michael Hutchence instead. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JRIFR3hkIpo Rentals start from $3.99, and remain valid for 30 days — although you'll only have 48 hours to watch once you press play. As for purchases, they start from $12.99. Australia joins France, Italy, Spain and Canada in receiving the VOD service, with Amazon's online video store already up and running in US, UK, Germany and Japan. Viewers can access the Prime Video Store via the service's website, or through the Prime Video app on televisions, Android mobile devices and game consoles. If you're eager to check out Amazon's original movies and TV series, though — such as Hunters, The Boys, The Marvelous Mrs Maisel and Tales from the Loop — you'll still need to subscribe to the streaming platform. To rent or buy a film via Amazon Prime Video, visit the Prime Video Store website.
With restrictions easing across the state, and summer well and truly upon us, it feels like the perfect time to get out and enjoy live music performances once again. You don't need to book in advance to see smaller, more intimate gigs across the city — and you don't have to wait till the weekend, either. Together with Jim Beam, we've compiled a list of where to find live music in Brisbane from Monday to Sunday, from within hidden bars to big outdoor beer gardens. BROOKLYN STANDARD Whoever said Mondays are boring has obviously never been to Brooklyn Standard on the first day of the week. Enter through the secret door located on Eagle Lane and you'll find yourself in a dimly lit grunge-style cellar where there's always live tunes to enjoy from Monday to Saturday. With acts ranging in genre from funk to mariachi, there is truly something for everyone. The cocktail list is almost as impressive as the music lineup. You won't go hungry either; it offers an extensive American-style menu of philly cheesesteaks, pulled pork burgers and New York-style hot dogs. THE BEARDED LADY Known as the 'Beardo' by hardcore West End live music fanatics, The Bearded Lady is a community bar that is weird and wonderful. It's buzzing every night of the week with bands playing originals and covers throughout the evening. The set up has a personality all its own with exposed beams and eccentric carpets. Of course, the experience wouldn't be complete without a stiff drink. You'll find creatively named cocktails and cheeky pints on tap, alongside comforting eats from salt and pepper tofu to vegan pies. THE TRIFFID Beat those hump day blues by heading out to The Triffid for a fix of local live music every Wednesday. Its vintage-inspired bear garden is just a 15-minute walk from Fortitude Valley Station. Acoustic Wednesdays are a crowd favourite and are pup- and family-friendly, too. Beer on tap comes from from Teneriffe-based brewery Green Beacon Brewing Co. For food, keep it under $20 with the classic Triffid Burger for $17 or the Wednesday rump for just $12. [caption id="attachment_794007" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Creative Commons[/caption] THE WALRUS CLUB Hidden away in the iconic Regatta Hotel is an underground den known as The Walrus Club. The 1920s speakeasy-style bar is the place to be on a Thursday evening for premium rum (you can choose from more than 150 different blends) and some top-notch live jazz from 8pm. In true prohibition style, The Walrus Club can be entered through a secret staircase from two unassuming entry points by the main bar. Its jazz performances are among the finest in Brisbane. With the City Cat Ferry Terminal just across the road, it's also super convenient on a Thursday night. THE JUNK BAR See out the weekend in style at The Junk Bar in Ashgrove. Its Sunday sessions have live music in the Skukum Lounge and its vinyl collection playing elsewhere in the venue. Enter the bar through the red velvet curtains and you'll come across vintage decor and edgy vibes. Recent acts have included Kings and Castles with their dynamic harmonies and acoustic charm. The cocktail menu has classics plus more decadent options like chilli chocolate martinis. And, as the City Glider service takes you practically straight to its door, so you can enjoy your cocktails knowing that getting home is sorted. Top image: Brooklyn Standard
Crime thrillers set against the Australian landscape. A monstrous figure terrorising a woman and her son. The return of a famed action franchise. An outback western as blistering as it is beautiful. They all rank among the best homegrown films of the past few years — but what'll join them in 2019? Perhaps it'll be one of these ten must-sees. The year ahead promises another diverse array of Aussie cinema, spanning local outlaws, dystopian sci-fi worlds and Northern Territory-set romantic comedies — and, of course, plenty in-between. Some, we've seen. Others, we can't wait to feast our eyes on. Either way, we have your Australian watch-list covered for the next twelve months. THE NIGHTINGALE Jennifer Kent's second feature is a film of darkness, visceral shocks and deep-seated pain. It's a movie that, from the moment its probing images start flickering across the screen, is impossible to forget. And yet, The Nightingale couldn't be more different from Kent's directorial debut, The Babadook. Set in 19th-century Tasmania and charting an Irish convict's (Aisling Franciosi) mission of revenge against a British soldier (an astonishing against-type Sam Claflin) — as well as the perilous trek, guided by an Aboriginal tracker (Baykali Ganambarr), to fulfil her furious task — Kent's exceptional sophomore film is a stunning statement about gender and race that hits hard, and often. Finally set to release in 2019, if the movie sounds familiar, that's because it made our 2018 list as well. Australian release date TBC. TOP END WEDDING After The Sapphires proved such an enormous success back in 2012, filmmaker Wayne Blair is once again joining forces with radiant star Miranda Tapsell — and this time, the latter's also co-writing the script. Premiering at Sundance this year before hitting local screens at a yet-to-be-revealed date, Top End Wedding follows couple Lauren (Tapsell) and Ned (Bohemian Rhapsody's Gwilym Lee), who are just ten days out from tying the knot. The hitch? They have to find Lauren's mother in the Northern Territory first, in this upbeat comedy set against a striking, sunny backdrop. In Australian cinemas May 2, 2019. I AM MOTHER Also headed to Sundance is dystopian sci-fi thriller I Am Mother, a film that seems familiar, story-wise, but definitely finds its own niche. Set to make a star out of its Danish lead Clara Rugaard, Grant Sputore's movie introduces viewers to a girl who has been raised in a high-tech underground bunker by a supremely intelligent robot she calls Mother (voiced by Rose Byrne). Then a stranger (Hilary Swank) arrives, and an already bleak and twisty effort delves further into its premise. I Am Mother screened as a work in progress at the 2018 Adelaide Film Festival to packed cinemas — and it's certain to garner more attention when it properly reaches Aussie theatres. Australian release date TBC. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ygfTbGmKRd0 HOTEL MUMBAI Primarily shot in Adelaide, and featuring an all-star cast of Dev Patel, Armie Hammer, Jason Isaacs, Tilda Cobham-Hervey and Homeland's Nazanin Boniadi, Hotel Mumbai recreates the terrifying reality of Mumbai's 2008 terrorist attacks. Largely focusing on the plight of those inside the Taj Mahal Palace Hotel — guests, employees and assailants alike — it's an understandably tense experience. Anthony Maras' effort should also ring a few bells and not just from real-life events, with the film another holdover from our 2018 list. After premiering at the Toronto International Film Festival in September, it's set to play at Australian theatres in March. In Australian cinemas March 14, 2019. RIDE LIKE A GIRL For her first feature as a director, Rachel Griffiths takes on a sport that the country has very mixed feelings about: horse racing. But while movies about galloping around tracks aren't that uncommon in Aussie film industry, Ride Like a Girl's focus is all there in its name. Starring Berlin Syndrome's Teresa Palmer, the movie tells the tale of Michelle Payne, the first female jockey to win the Melbourne Cup. With Sam Neill and Sullivan Stapleton also among the cast, Griffiths hasn't wasted any time bringing the story to the screen, given that Payne emerged victorious in the race that stops the nation in 2015. Australian release date TBC. EMU RUNNER A small film with a big heart, Emu Runner steps into the world of nine-year-old Gem Daniels (Rhae-Kye Waites), whose quiet but happy life is torn apart by tragedy. To both her father (Wayne Blair) and the local social worker's (Georgia Blizzard) dismay, the girl starts skipping school and wandering around town — and, as often as she can, spending time in the presence of a wild emu that's forever linked to memories of her mother. Lovingly canvassing the outback landscape, writer-director Imogen Thomas crafts an affectionate film about a child trying to find her place in the world. But the film makes a sharp statement too, interrogating the clash between white and Indigenous Australian cultures, as well as the stereotypes perpetuated by the former towards the later. Australian release date TBC. [caption id="attachment_559597" align="aligncenter" width="1280"] Goldstone[/caption] LOVELAND With Mystery Road and Goldstone, Ivan Sen gave Australia two fantastic outback crime thrillers. With Loveland, however, he's plunging into vastly different territory. Shooting in Hong Kong and starring Hugo Weaving and Ryan Kwanten (and, we hope, Aaron Pedersen in there somewhere), Sen's new effort is a sci-fi romance set in a futuristic Chinese mega-city. The details are sparse from there, but given the writer/director/producer/editor/cinematographer/composer's track record — including a barely seen 2009 film about UFO hunting called Dreamland — there's plenty of cause for excitement. Australian release date TBC. [caption id="attachment_702900" align="aligncenter" width="1920"] For Those in Peril[/caption] THE TRUE HISTORY OF THE KELLY GANG Two out of three is a fantastic hit rate for a filmmaker who has only been making features since 2011. And while the less said about Assassin's Creed, the better, here's hoping that Justin Kurzel's The True History of the Kelly Gang lines up alongside the simply stunning duo that is Snowtown and Macbeth. Working with Peter Carey's novel of the same name, the Aussie director has certainly assembled a stellar cast to help relay this bushranger tale. English talent George MacKay (11.22.63, Pride, For Those in Peril) plays infamous outlaw Ned Kelly, while he's joined by fellow Brits Charlie Hunnam and Nicholas Hoult, Leave No Trace's Thomasin McKenzie, and local standouts Claudia Karvan, Essie Davis and Russell Crowe. Australian release date TBC. [caption id="attachment_702905" align="aligncenter" width="1920"] Puzzle[/caption] DIRT MUSIC Another year, another Tim Winton adaptation. After the success of Breath, 2019 sees fellow Miles Franklin Award-winner Dirt Music make its way to cinemas. Unsurprisingly, a small town and the sea both play a part, with the narrative exploring a woman's (Kelly Macdonald) strained relationship with a fisherman (David Wenham), as well as the stranger (Garrett Hedlund) that she starts an affair with. Gregor Jordan — aka the last Aussie director to take on Ned Kelly — sits in the director's chair, while Aaron Pedersen and Julia Stone (yes, that Julia Stone) also feature among the cast. Australian release date TBC. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8BwO2I3-mRA&feature=youtu.be 2040 What will the world look like in just over two decades time? Let That Sugar Film's Damon Gameau inform you. He ate unhealthily for his last documentary, and now he's pondering the future in a film that's part doco, part visual letter. While the actor-turned-filmmaker hasn't picked up psychic abilities from all of that sugar, he has enlisted experts in climate, economics, technology, civil society, agriculture and sustainability to help with 2040. As with his last effort, it's a movie not only focused on telling a tale and educating the public, but also on making a difference. Australian release date TBC.
The music business might look like one big party but at the business end of it, well, it is a business. And it's not an easy one to be in - haven't you heard that thing about most small businesses failing in their first year? One company that doesn't look like it's going to fail any time soon is Rare Finds – a boutique management and publicity company in the Valley that works with the likes of The Belligerents, Millions, Founds and more. It's an impressive bevy of names to be working with, one that looks like it would take years to establish, right? Wrong. This Saturday is Rare Finds' first anniversary. Rare Finds director Andrew Stone says, "I was working in a similar field (management and PR) for a few years, but starting Rare Finds was when I started to take things more seriously, and work with bands other than just ones I was in. "The best bits [of the business] is that we can work with who we like - and when we like - and it's working with music and musicians; the worst bits are that we sometimes have to say no to bands if they aren't quite ready, and that we have to work with music and musicians. " To celebrate their fledgling year in business, the guys and girls at Rare Finds are throwing a party, putting on a festival showcasing the bands of Rare Finds, taking over The Zoo and Winn Lane this Saturday. It's expected to be an annual event – "if the world doesn't end in 2012…" Andrew says. The lineup is massive, with YesYou playing their first headlining show. What's the cost of a good party? Why, only $30 (plus booking fee), which also gets you a fourteen-track sampler of all the bands to enjoy after the party's over. Buy your tickets here. We've got two double passes to give away to the 2011 Rare Finds festival. To go into the running to win, simply email brisbane@concreteplayground.com.au with your full name. Good luck! Rare Finds lineup: YesYou (first ever headline show) The Belligerents Founds The Dead Leaves (Vic) Tin Can Radio Gung Ho Teleprompter Hey Geronimo New Manic Spree Kate Martin The Trouble With Templeton Kate & Max Cub Scouts Tinian's Boy + special guests
Brisbanites, your winter plans can now include dancing to underground electronic tunes beneath a bridge and celebrating First Nations women in music, alongside hopping around town to see as many other gigs as you can. When the coldest season of the year arrives in the River City, so does midyear music series Open Season. For 2025, it kicked off on Sunday, May 25 and has shows on its lineup until the end of July — but it just got bigger. When this event unveiled its first program details for this year, that was just the beginning. Now, South System joined the roster — which is where that DJ-soundtracked openair party comes in. Free to attend and taking place under the bridge in Fish Lane, it'll see Moktar hit the decks, plus Fukhed, C.Frim, Claire O'Brien and Nikitasilly. Blak Day Out's return was already locked in, with the First Nations fest-within-the-fest taking over The Princess Theatre and forming part of QPAC's Clancestry. Also known before now: that Christine Anu is joining the party, alongside Thelma Plum and Miss Kaninna. Open Season has just confirmed that Blak Day Out's 2025 lineup is an all-female affair, however, with Stiff Gins, GLVES, Dameeeela and Kritty joining in. Elsewhere between now and the end of July, Kita Alexander and The Dreggs are both now doing headline shows as part of Open Season. Skegss has added a second gig, while Juno Mamba, Montetna, Lunar Dirt, Asha Jefferies and Platonic Sex are among the acts that are now part of the bill as supports at various shows. [caption id="attachment_1006558" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Jason Star[/caption] First launched in 2020, this Brisbane festival is all about getting everyone out and about enjoying the Queensland capital's live music scene, and celebrates its fifth birthday in 2025. Not only is it playing The Tivoli and The Princess Theatre, the venues behind the series from the outset — and Winn Lane, where it expanded to in 2024 — but it is making the Queensland Performing Arts Centre one of its homes. Open Season's lineup also spans Iceland's Kiasmos, the Afro Cuban sounds of Ezra Collective, Grammy-nominee Kamasi Washington, Soccer Mommy, Killing Heidi playing their debut album Reflector to celebrate its 25th anniversary, DIIV touring on the back of their latest record Frog in Boiling Water and Cloud Control reuniting for the first time in over ten years. Or, you can catch Jessica Pratt, Mount Kimbie, Surprise Chef, MonoNeon, The Preatures, Skegss, Maxwell Byrne (aka Golden Vessel), Sahara Beck, Pruient, SHOUSE and The Gin Club, plus Handsome and Emma Volard at Quivr's Quiet on Set program. Open Season 2025 Lineup 1tbsp Accomplice Collective Blak Day Out featuring Christine Anu, Thelma Plum, Miss Kaninna, Stiff Gins, GLVES, dameeeela and Kritty Cloud Control DIIV Emma Volard Ezra Collective Handsome Jessica Pratt Kamasi Washington Kiasmos Killing Heidi Kita Alexander MonoNeon Mount Kimbie Pale Jay Purient Ravyn Lenae Sahara Beck Shouse Sigur Rós with the Brisbane Philharmonic Orchestra Skegss Soccer Mommy South System at Fish Lane featuring Moktar, Fukhed, C.FRIM, Claire O'Brien &and Nikitasilly Surprise Chef The Dreggs The Gin Club The Preatures Open Season 2025 runs from May–July. For further details, head to the event's website. Open Season images: Chris Love, Darcy Goss, Kelsey Doyle and Lachlan Douglas.
There are few film festival experiences as fun as spending four days camped out at Marrickville's Factory Theatre during the Sydney Underground Film Festival. Attending this fest in-person involves hopping in and out of its makeshift cinemas, watching all manner of out-there and indie movies you won't see elsewhere, and spending plenty of time at the bar chatting about what you've just seen — and, whether you're a diehard cinephile and festival devotee, you're just sick of watching mainstream fare or it purely sounds like a great way to spend a weekend, it's a total and utter delight. SUFF isn't playing out quite like this at the moment, however, for obvious reasons. Moving online for the second year in a row, it's hosting its 2021 edition virtually. Thankfully, while no one can enjoy the physical side of the fest between Thursday, September 9–Sunday, September 26, SUFF has brought its usual anarchic vibe to its 30-film program — all of which is now available to stream, and nationally as well. Get ready for affectionate documentaries, weird and wild features that just keep getting weirder and more wonderful, and pretty much everything in-between, all while getting cosy on your own couch. And if you've not sure where to start, we've watched, picked and reviewed seven highlights from SUFF's 15th annual program. There's your viewing sorted for the next fortnight or so. POLY STYRENE: I AM A CLICHÉ Add Poly Styrene: I Am a Cliché to the list of exceptional music documentaries — and yes, that observation can end there and prove 100-percent accurate. That said, this excellent film also belongs among the ranks of standout docos about famous musicians that serve multiple purposes. For existing fans of Marianne Elliott-Said, the punk singer who fronted late-70s band X-Ray Spex, this is an unflinching love letter that dives into every facet of her life. Covered here: her rise to stardom at a pivotal time in music history, the way she was treated as a British Somali woman, her efforts to subvert every standard that applied to women and public figures, and the toll it all took. As co-written, co-directed and guided on-screen by her daughter Celeste Bell — as an act of embracing everything her mother was and stood for — the film also demonstrates again and again why its title couldn't be further from the reality. For newcomers to the woman best known under her stage name Poly Styrene (which she picked from the phone book), this loving feature acts as an entry point, too. Like fellow outstanding music doco The Sparks Brothers, it'll give some of its audience a new obsession. Via voice snippets rather than talking heads, the likes of Bikini Kill's Kathleen Hanna and Sonic Youth's Thurston Moore also offer their memories of and insights into all things Poly, but Bell and her co-helmer Paul Sng (Sleaford Mods: Invisible Britain) understandably push their bold, rebellious and inimitable central figure to the fore at all times — including via riveting archival footage, as well as potent and emotional snippets from her diaries and poems. WONDERFUL PARADISE No one will finish Wonderful Paradise wondering what writer/director Masashi Yamamoto (The Voice of Water) and co-screenwriter Suzuyuki Kaneko might've left out of their script. The pair throw everything they can into this absurdist Japanese comedy, and it shows — because this is the type of movie where giant coffee beans get ravenous, children segue from projectile vomiting to transforming into branches, pregnancies last around 20 minutes, and parties become funerals, then turn into big song-and-dance numbers. The premise: at a house in suburban Tokyo, Akane (Mayu Ozawa, The Happy Prisoner), her father (Seikô Itô, We Are Little Zombies) and her brother (Soran Tamoto, I Turn) are packing up their belongings. For financial reasons that involve big debts and shady figures who are keen to collect, they're moving out of the sprawling abode. But Akane decides to host one last party and, after she tweets out the details, friends, relatives and strangers alike — including her estranged mother Akiko (Kaho Minami, Oh Lucy!) — all start popping up. From there, anything that can happen does. Indeed, sharing the same kind of manic energy that also made fellow low-budget Japanese flick One Cut of the Dead a delight, this plays like a hallucinatory mind trip more than a movie. That isn't a criticism of Wonderful Paradise; this is just a film that sweeps you along for a strange and surreal ride, satirises everything it can while also making plenty of savvy statements, careens off in weird and wonderful directions, and also makes you adore every minute. LORELEI Following an ex-felon who has just been released from a 15-year prison stint, as well as his former teenage sweetheart, Lorelei isn't in a rush to unfurl its dramas and dive to its deepest depths. Marking the feature debut of Sabrina Doyle, it's the type of film that needs that space and 111-minute running time to grow and breathe, and to build up to its surprises — and to earn the emotional journey that its standout lead performances slowly but commandingly convey at every moment. Orange Is the New Black's Pablo Schreiber plays Waylan, a small-town biker who didn't snitch when he was sent up for armed robbery. Keeping quiet cost him not only a decade and a half of his life, but his romance with Dolores (Jena Malone, Antebellum). His incarceration has saw their shared dreams dissolve, too, and led Dolores to have three children with other men since. The pair reunite after Waylan is released, crossing paths purely in passing. Quickly, staring into each other's eyes brings back old feelings, and also conjures up new regrets about the existence they always thought they'd lead together. Doyle is as concerned about the precarious situation that Dolores and her children Dodger (first-timer Chancellor Perry), Periwinkle (fellow newcomer Amelia Borgerding) and Denim (debutant Parker Pascoe-Sheppard) have endured over the years as she is with Waylan's route forward, and much of Lorelei thoughtfully dwells on the stark realities facing all of its characters. Indeed, there's not just empathy but a sense of rawness here — including when the film endeavours to leap into sunnier waters. ALIEN ON STAGE It's one of the greatest science fiction movies ever made, and always will be. It spawned three sequels and two prequels over the course of four decades and, while many of those have been stellar themselves, it still remains the best film there is with xenomorphs at its centre. It made Sigourney Weaver not just a star but a legend, too — and, thanks to an amateur stage version of the iconic flick that was initially staged in Dorset, then hit London's West End, it gave a group of British bus drivers their time in the spotlight as well. The movie in question: Alien. It mightn't seem suited to the theatre, but that didn't stop Dave Mitchell and his friends. When they decided to turn the film into a stage production, they put their hearts and souls into it, and Alien On Stage tells their story. The show turns out exactly as you'd expect with a non-professional cast and crew at the helm, and with homemade props recreating the Nostromo and its unwanted stowaway. The same description applies to his loving documentary — because this is a movie made by fans, about a stage show made by fans, and the end result leans into all of those layers of affection. Back in 1979, Ridley Scott mightn't have ever imagined that his sci-fi/horror film could spawn this level of devotion, or give this much happiness to folks trying to follow in his footsteps — and to a room full of immensely entertained Leicester Square Theatre attendees, too. That's just one of the things that Alien has spawned, and everyone can hear this movie's screams of joy. SWEETIE, YOU WON'T BELIEVE IT When Arman (Azamat Marklenov) and Murat (Erlan Primbetov) pick up Dastan (Daniar Alshinov, A Dark, Dark Man) for a day of fishing in Sweetie, You Won't Believe It, they're just trying to gift him one last moment away from his responsibilities. His girlfriend Zhanna (Asel Kaliyeva, The Secret of a Leader) is about to give birth to his first child, and this film subscribes to the idea that parenthood means kissing goodbye your old self. But, the trio have never cast a line into the water before. That's the excuse they've used to head away, though, so they decide to stick with it. They're soon fashioning a boat out of blow-up sex toys, but that's far from the worst that their day trip to regional Kazakhstan has in store. As they're floating and not really fishing, they witness gun-slinging gangsters (Alamat Sakatov, Yerkubulan Daiyrov and Rustem Zhaniyamanov) attempting to squeeze information out of another man in a violent fashion — and, soon, Dastan and his pals find themselves being pursued by the ruthless criminals as well. Then, complicating matters even further, a one-eyed, jaw-ripping psychopath (Dulgya Akmolda) on a quest for vengeance starts targeting everyone in sight. Sweetie, You Won't Believe It doesn't take any of its various parts seriously, thankfully. It's one part buddy getaway comedy, one part western slapstick, one part secluded horror and one part gory gangster flick, and it loves seesawing back and forth between all four. It also has ample fun satirising prevailing ideas of masculinity amidst the blood, guts and over-the-top silliness. CANNON ARM AND THE ARCADE QUEST When The King of Kong: A Fistful of Quarters chronicled Steve Wiebe's attempt to earn Donkey Kong's highest score ever — and oust Billy Mitchell from retaining that title in the process — it turned a slice of the gaming world into one of the must-see documentaries of the early 2000s. Well over a decade later, Cannon Arm and the Arcade Quest mashes similar buttons, this time focusing on the eponymous Danish Gyruss devotee and his dream of clocking up 100 consecutive hours playing the 80s game. If successful, Kim aka Cannon Arm won't just claim the world record for his favourite shoot-'em-up title. Standing in an arcade for more than four days straight (with some canny plans around how to eat, nap and go to the bathroom, if you're wondering how that all works), he'd smash the existing feat by a whopping 41 hours. Sporting a greying mullet and noted for his lack of conversation, Kim himself approaches the possibility with few words; however, his friends and fellow games are eager to do anything they can to assist his quest. As this doco charts, achieving this kind of milestone isn't straightforward. Yes, Kim's health is considered in detail as first-time feature filmmaker Mads Hedegaard — who narrates as well — explains. All that gaming isn't the only focus of the documentary, though, with Cannon Arm and the Arcade Quest smartly diving into what draws Kim and his Bip Bip Bar mates to their preferred pastime, what else they're fascinated with in their lives, and how gaming both parallels their other interests and provides a respite from their daily lives. DANNY. LEGEND. GOD. If there's one thing that Bulgarian councillor Danny (Dimo Alexiev, A Hidden Life) isn't lacking, it's confidence. He isn't short on arrogance, either, or on the impulses needed to take the most corrupt, abhorrent, self-serving option at any possible juncture — and he's extremely unpleasant to be around even in small bursts. Danny is also the titular figure in mockumentary Danny. Legend. God., so he demonstrates his worst traits over and over, and for an extended period. First-time filmmaker Yavor Petkov wants viewers to feel uncomfortable, in fact, because that's the natural reaction to seeing someone who's little more than a crook throw their weight about in a position of power, care only about themselves and have zero regard for the long-term repercussions for everyone in their orbit. In other words, this is a film that proves particularly piercing given the current global political climate. It's darkly humorous, but in a savage, biting, only-two-degrees-removed-from-reality way. And if you're wondering why Danny is in the spotlight — and why Alexiev puts in quite the committed performance in the part — that's because the film revolves around a news crew visiting the character's home town to capture and ideally expose his wrongdoing. What starts out as an attempt to make a documentary about money laundering soon gets hijacked by their subject, though, as Danny demands that his freewheeling life is captured exactly how he wants it — no matter what he's doing, or snorting, or the cost of his actions. The 2021 Sydney Underground Film Festival runs from Thursday, September 9–Sunday, September 26. For further details, or to watch online, head to the festival's website.
After two years of cancellations, Brisbane Showgrounds will give the city a big winter taste of normality come August. Yes, the Royal Queensland Show, aka the Ekka, is finally set to make a comeback after its 2020 and 2021 events were scrapped due to the pandemic. Get ready for rides, show bags, giant vegetables, cute animals and Brissie's favourite dessert: those coveted strawberry sundaes. Since last year's Ekka was ditched due to restrictions and lockdowns, this year's has always been in the works, stretching across Saturday, August 6–Sunday, August 14. But that's now just weeks away, and Queensland Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk has noted that even with COVID-19 cases rising in Queensland, it's still set to proceed. "I can't see why it can't go ahead if people follow the same thing about wearing masks indoors," said the Premier on Saturday, July 16, after advising that it is now strongly encouraged that Queenslanders wear masks indoors. If you're feeling a bit rusty about the Ekka after the event's hiatus, there's a reason that it comes with its own midweek public holiday. Brisbanites are set free from work to rush to the Royal Queensland Show, fill themselves up with fried and sugary goodness, then brave the rides and gaze at the fireworks. While this year's day off falls on Wednesday, August 10, the Ekka still runs for its usual nine days. That means plenty of time to enjoy sideshows, animal competitions, cooking demonstrations, live music and more — patting pigs, crashing dodgems, throwing balls in a clown's mouth for a prize and taking home all the Bertie Beetles you can eat all included. More than 400 different types of show bags will be up for grabs, ranging in price from $2–125 each, and the evening Ekka Nites lineup will provide live performances when the sun goes down. One big change for this year: you can only buy tickets online, and you have to nominate the day you'll be attending when you purchase. This helps the RNA manage capacity, for obvious reasons. First held in 1876, the Ekka has been held every year since except on four occasions: in 1919 due to the Spanish Flu, in 1942 courtesy of World War 11, and in 2020 and 2021 due to COVID-19. The 2022 Ekka is set to run between Saturday, August 6–Sunday, August 14. For more information, visit the show's website.
There's one mass gathering that's immune to the disruptions of COVID-19 and that's the nightly parade of Phillip Island's famed little penguins. And while the feathered friends have been continuing their daily pilgrimage from ocean to burrow without the usual audience, they'll soon be waddling back into our hearts thanks to a new live stream series. From Tuesday, August 25, you can catch the penguins' ritual sunset parade in real time from the comfort of your couch, as it's streamed for free via the Phillip Island Nature Parks Facebook page and YouTube channel. At 6pm (NZT 8pm) each night, tune in for half an hour to see the birds make their familiar journey from the water, across the dunes and back to their homes to cosy up for the evening. Not only will you get to spy those adorable penguins in action without having to brave the cold, but Phillip Island's rangers will be on hand providing some expert commentary to match. Score a daily dose of cuteness, learn a few fun penguin facts and even ask some questions of your own. Top image: Tourism Australia
There's an international day for everything these days, but regardless of this saturation of the market, we're still pretty damn happy there's an International Hummus Day. And seeing as it's today, we thought there was no better time to dig into a mass bowl of the stuff. But before you go to Woolies to buy a tub of hummus and a packet of corn chips, just hang on for a seccy. We've convinced the guys from Thievery to slip us their burnt butter paprika hummus recipe. If you've had this at their Glebe restaurant, you'll know it's about as out of this world as hummus could possibly be. So before your mates come over for a few glasses of plonk tonight, whip this baby up — you'll just need a blender, a packet of chickpeas and a few other basic ingredients. While you're at it, you might want to make their baba ghanoush too. Thievery's Burnt Butter Paprika Hummus 1kg dry chickpeas 1500ml water 16g fine sea salt 80ml fresh lemon juice 80ml extra virgin olive oil 4g crushed garlic 120g tahini For the paprika burnt butter 100g butter 10g paprika Method Soak the chickpeas in water overnight and cook until soft and tender. This will take about two to three hours. In the morning, strain the chickpeas and then blend until the consistency is relatively smooth. Reserve some of the liquid to add back into the mixture (about one cup will be enough). Blend the chickpea puree with the oil, salt, lemon juice and garlic. If the mixture is too stiff, add a little of the liquid to ensure the hummus comes out with a smooth and silky consistency. In a bowl, whisk together the tahini and any extra salt to taste. For the burnt butter, melt the butter over a low heat until the milk solids separate. Leave it until the butter turns a golden brown (this usually happens at about 150 degrees celsius). Whisk in the paprika. Pour the burnt butter paprika mixture over the hummus. Then get stuck in. Image: Nikki To.
What do you get the person who has drunk everything? Or someone who is partial to a sip of gin, but also likes vodka and whiskey? Just in time for the festive season, Archie Rose has launched its solution to this common Christmas dilemma: a pocket-sized collection featuring three of its most popular spirits. Now available to pre-order (with shipments despatched from Thursday, November 29), the Archie Rose 200ml Tasting Set includes mini bottles of the distillery's signature dry gin, original vodka and white rye. If you're new to the company's tipples, they're all award-winners. The gin boasts tastes of native Australian botanicals, such as blood lime, Dorrigo pepperleaf, lemon myrtle and river mint; the vodka comes with apple and mint notes; and the rye is made from rare malted rye and barley, and has a buttery, smokey flavour. Whether you're buying someone else a present — or buying one for yourself, because everyone deserves to get themselves something nice when the end of the year hits — all three come in a gift box for $89. And, they help resolve another frequent boozy problem: when you feel like a gin and tonic, followed by a martini and then a whiskey cocktail, but you don't want to buy three big bottles. To pre-order the Archie Rose 200ml Tasting Set, visit the Archie Rose website.
In the manner of "why not both?" believers everywhere, Sydney's craft beer darlings Young Henrys have teamed up with Irish whiskey-giant Jameson to bring fans of both libations an extra special taste of each. Now through to August 31, 49 Australia-wide venues are serving up high-end collaboration boilermakers. The appropriately nicknamed Boilermates will bring craft beer and whiskey lovers under one roof, where they most likely were already. This special boilermaker — which, for the uninitiated, is a glass of beer paired with a nip of whisky — isn't the trashy kind where punters drop a shot into a beer and skull. No, this partnership is a classy one, consisting of Jameson Caskmates, served neat or on the rocks, paired with a Young Henrys beer of choice. The Caskmates whiskey — dreamt up by Jameson's head distiller and the head brewer of Cork's Franciscan Well Brewery — is aged in stout-seasoned whiskey casks and triple-distilled for a super smooth finish. In short, it is not for shooting. Venues across NSW, ACT, WA and Queensland will be participating, including Brisbane's Lefty's Music Hall, Sydney's iconic craft beer haunts Mojo Record Bar and The Little Guy, as well as venues including The Unicorn, Mary's, The Lord Gladstone and The Hazy Rose. It should come as no surprise that these two beverage behemoths hatched this spectacular plan over a few drinks at Great Australian Beer SpecTAPular (GABS). The festival is known as a beacon for craft beer creativity and innovation. The group felt that, while beer and whiskey lovers are aplenty in Australia, the boilermaker isn't nearly as represented in bars and pubs as it should be. They've launched Boilermates with the hope that, come end of August, the two libations will remain close cousins in the eyes of Australians everywhere. Together may not always better, but it sure is when it comes to craft beer and whiskey. Check out Young Henrys website for a list of all venues serving Boilermates.
With Australia's craft beer scene going gangbusters and innovative new local drops hitting the shelves every week, it can be hard to keep track of what's worth buying. But if you fancy scouting out some winners, The Independent Beer Awards, affectionately known as The Indies, is a decent place to start. The Aussie awards just announced its top beer picks for 2019, after a team of judges drank their way through a record-breaking 1017 beers from 147 Australian breweries. The scoreless competition awards gold, silver, bronze and no medal across a range of categories, rather than the usual numerical quantification or points system. And what better than this expertly chosen lineup of winners to inform your springtime beer hit-list? The triple dry-hopped double Red Eye Rye imperial red ale from Carrum Downs' Dainton Brewery took out top honours, claiming the coveted title of Champion Australian Independent Beer. Better get that one in your fridge, stat. Meanwhile, the most celebrated venues included Victoria's 3 Ravens, named Champion Independent Australian Brewery in the small/medium category; Fixation Brewing Co, taking out the large category counterpart; and All Hands Brewing House at Sydney's King Street Wharf, which was bestowed the title of Champion Australian Independent Brewpub. State brewery winners included SA's Mismatch Brewing Co, the ACT's Bentspoke, Gage Roads from WA, 3 Ravens in Vic and Sydney's All Hands Brewing House. The Gold Coast's Balter Brewing Company was named Queensland State Champion, after its XPA took out top honours at GABS Hottest 100 Aussie Craft Beers list earlier this year for the second time in a row. Among The Indies' list of top brews in each style, you'll find a beer for just about every palate. There's the spring-perfect Surry Hills Pils from Sydney Brewery, which claimed the title of Champion Lager; Modus Operandi's big, bold Former Tenant as Champion IPA; and named Champion Session Beer, the Piss-Weak Sauce by Marrickville's Sauce Brewing Co. Also on the list are the Champion Porter/Stout — the Bunker by Collingwood's Stomping Ground — the Champion Pale Ale from Mismatch and the Champion European-Style Ale, claimed by Bright Brewery's Razor Witbier. You can check out the full list of The Indies' 2019 winners over at the website.
UPDATE, February 15, 2024: Supernormal Brisbane is now set to open in 2024. Head to the Supernormal website for further details. Big culinary names making a move to southeast Queensland: now that's a trend that Sunshine State residents love to see. In just the past couple of months, Guy Grossi has announced plans to open an Amalfi-inspired restaurant in Brisbane, and Hong Kong's Michelin-starred cantonese restaurant T'ang Court just launched on the Gold Coast. The latest eatery that's set to join them: Melbourne's famed Supernormal. Acclaimed chef Andrew McConnell has revealed that Supernormal will launch a second location in 443 Queen Street, Brisbane, in a new residential tower that's due to open in late 2023. It'll sit on the riverfront, and boast views of the Brisbane River and the Story Bridge — and also be perched between the Queen Street Mall and Howard Smith Wharves. "There is a special combination of relationship, location, environment and architecture at 443 Queen Street that we are seriously excited to be a part of," said McConnell, announcing the news via Trader House — the collective that spans his restaurants, specialty retail stores and events. "For the past seven years, we've welcomed many interstate and international guests to Supernormal in Melbourne. Now, we look forward to contributing to Brisbane's already growing and vibrant food scene." "There's also a bounty of some of the country's best produce available. What a thrill to be able to explore this as we refine our offering," McConnell continued. Supernormal Brisbane marks Trader House's first venue beyond its Melbourne base, and will seat around 120 diners both inside and out — including in a private dining setup. While it's obviously too early to reveal the menu, the Brisbane restaurant will feature a hefty focus on Queensland produce and seafood, while plating up contemporary Australian dishes that also take inspiration from McConnell's time in both Hong Kong and Shanghai. Fingers crossed that Melbourne's marinated claims, New England lobster rolls, Hunan-style beef tartare and whole roasted flounder make the jump. On architectural and interior design duties: Vince Alafaci and Caroline Choker of Sydney's ACME, with the agency also working on the design of Melbourne's Gimlet at Cavendish House — the only Australian venue to make the longlist in 2022 for The World's 50 Best Restaurants, coming in in 84th position. Brisbanites can expect Supernormal Brisbane to link in with the Brisbane Riverwalk precinct — 'tis the location for it — and operate seven days a week, including offering an all-day dining menu. The new venue will start welcoming in patrons 22 years after McConnell opened his first restaurant, Dining Room 211, in Melbourne in 2001. And, it folds into a career that's spanned plenty of other notable Victorian sites, including Cutler & Co, Cumulus Inc, Marion, Builders Arms Hotel, Meatsmith and Morning Market. Supernormal Brisbane is set to open at 443 Queen Street, Brisbane in late 2023 — we'll update you with an exact launch date when one is announced. For more information about Supernormal Melbourne, head to the restaurant's website. Images: Supernormal Melbourne, Nikki To / Jo McGann / Kristoffer Paulsen.
When Disney+ made its way into the world back in 2019, it gave viewers — including folks in Australia and New Zealand — access to a huge range of Disney, Marvel, Pixar, Star Wars and National Geographic movies and shows. What it didn't do is bring Hulu, which the Mouse House owns the majority stake in, to audiences Down Under. And, with Disney+ focused on family-friendly fare, it didn't deliver the kinds of series and films that Hulu screens, either. Hulu still isn't heading our way. But, on Tuesday, February 23, Disney+ expanded to include a new section that's basically an international equivalent of Hulu. It's called Star and, when it was first announced late in 2020, film and TV fans were advised that it'd screen "an additional 1000 unique titles... in the first year". Wondering exactly what that includes? Well, more than 150 TV shows and 450–plus flicks have been added so far, and there are plenty of highlights among the bunch. From the pile of television programs, four fall into the 'Star Originals' category at the moment, meaning that they're brand new to viewers Down Under. Three of the four newbies are Hulu shows, too, so if you've been wanting to watch Love, Victor (the spinoff from 2018 movie Love, Simon), Helstrom (which forms part of the Marvel Cinematic Universe) or Solar Opposites (an animated sitcom co-created by Rick and Morty's Justin Roiland), now you're be able to. Plus, by the end of the year, Disney+ will release at least 30 more TV series that haven't made their way to Aussie or NZ viewers before. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XKeugS4qjag Also the television front, you can binge your way through every episode of Alias, 24, Felicity, Futurama and Glee — or opt for New Girl, Prison Break, Scandal and The X-Files instead. You can also check out ten seasons of Bob's Burgers, too. The list goes on and, like the existing Disney+ range, you'll find a hefty focus on older shows over new titles. From Star's big list of classics, plenty of titles stand out. Among the film selection, you'll find the Alien, Planet of the Apes, Die Hard and Omen franchises, plus the Predator and Taken flicks as well. And, you can also pick between older movies like Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid, The Fly, Never Been Kissed, Office Space, Pretty Woman, Romeo + Juliet and Moulin Rouge!, or more recent fare such as Black Swan, Eddie the Eagle, Logan, The Favourite and Jojo Rabbit. A heap of Wes Anderson films, including Rushmore, The Royal Tenenbaums, The Grand Budapest Hotel and The Life Aquatic with Steve Zissou, are also featured. Star draws upon Disney's studios, such as Disney Television Studios, FX, 20th Century Studios, 20th Television and Touchstone. And it doesn't everything that Hulu does, because plenty of Hulu's series and films pop up elsewhere Down Under — like The Handmaid's Tale, for instance. That said, it's safe to expect that some of the rights deals that deliver Hulu content to other networks and streaming platforms in Australia and might change after Star's hits, moving where you can catch certain flicks and programs in the process. As you might've already guessed, Disney+'s expansion to include Star comes with a price increase. Australian subscriptions have gone up to AU$11.99 per month or AU$119.99 per year, while New Zealand subscriptions are now NZ$12.99 per month and $129.99 per year. If you're already a subscriber, the new price won't kick in for six months, though — so whenever your next renewal hits after August 22. Star joined Disney+ in Australia and New Zealand on Tuesday, February 23, with Disney+ subscriptions costing AU$11.99 and NZ$12.99 per month or AU$119.99 and NZ$129.99 per year from now on.
After 2019's One Night Stand, music lovers in regional Australia waited till 2024 for the event to return. Thankfully, there's no five-year delay between festivals this time. The Triple J initiative is back in 2025, returning this autumn and boasting Spacey Jane as its headliner. You'll have to hang out a little bit longer to find out where it's taking place, however. As well as Spacey Jane, 2025's lineup includes LUUDE, Ruby Fields, 3%, Blusher and Velvet Trip. There'll also be a Triple J Unearthed winner, although exactly who is still to be announced. Whichever talent rounds out the bill, the full roster of acts is taking to the stage somewhere in Australia on Saturday, May 24. [caption id="attachment_996056" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Cole Barash[/caption] With that May date, One Night Stand is returning just over eight months since 2024's festival, which took place in the Victorian town of Warrnambool in September with G Flip, Ruel, What So Not and Thelma Plum leading the lineup. The Aussie location doing the honours this time will be revealed on Thursday, March 27. While Victoria hosted the most-recent One Night Stand and also the first — 21 years ago, Triple J gave the town of Natimuk a day to remember when the spot 300 kilometres out of Melbourne welcomed its very own major music fest — it has been known to spread the love around destination-wise. When the ABC radio station put on the festival every year between 2004–2014, then again from 2016–2019, it hopped around states. Ayr, Dalby and Mt Isa in Queensland; Port Pirie, Tumby Bay and Lucindale in South Australia; Cowra and Dubbo in New South Wales; Collie and Geraldton in Western Australia; Sale and Mildura back in Victoria; Alice Springs in the Northern Territory; and St Helens in Tasmania: they've all enjoyed the One Night Stand experience. There's no prizes for guessing why One Night Stand pressed pause from 2020–23. It was true in 2024 and it remains the case in 2025: the all-ages event is returning at time when the Australian live music scene has been suffering, and after a spate of festivals have been cancelling or saying farewell forever, including both Splendour in the Grass and Groovin the Moo sitting out 2024 and 2025. Tickets for 2025's One Night Stand will cost $15 plus booking fee, and all proceeds will be donated to charity. One Night Stand Lineup 2025 Spacey Jane LUUDE Ruby Fields 3% Blusher Velvet Trip Triple J Unearthed winner to be announced [caption id="attachment_996060" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Savitri Wendt[/caption] 2025's triple j One Night Stand will take place on Saturday, May 24, 2025, with the town playing host set to be announced from 3.30pm AEDT on Thursday, March 27, 2025. Tickets will go on sale from 5pm AEDT on Thursday, March 27, 2025. For more information, head to the radio station's website. Top image: Mitch Lowe.
When one contemplates their memories involving the fine and noble art of knitting (a.k.a making wonderful things out of nothing), invariably those thoughts include a fine Grandmother or Great Aunt. Someone who would wile away afternoons knitting you a fresh woollen jumper for winter, offer you chocolate biscuits, and share sage advice about how different the world is today. Although those memoirs are indeed ones to treasure, one mustn’t put every knitter, weaver or fibre artist into one little arts and crafts box. Celebrating the diviersity that does occur among their ranks, the Queensland Spinners Weavers and Fibre Artists will be having their annual Open Day next Sunday. Offering up a chance for you to reminisce about the good times spent with wise and talented family members, whilst also inviting you into the eclectic world that still exists and is thriving, the day includes as many facets as a rainbow scarf. With a wide selection of market stalls stocked to the brim with high quality arts and crafts made by QSWFA club members, you can be assured you will find something worthy of placement on a coffee table or bed. Also happening on the day is a Fashion Parade showcasing the fabulous handmade wares of club members and simultaneously making you jealous of their talent.
While it feels like it was only yesterday that we were last eating boozy Christmas pud with nan, it's somehow already December (again) — which means, yes, we're almost at the end of 2022. And, over the past 12 months, Brisbane's bar scene has continued to grow at an impressive rate. Not only have new drinking holes popped up across the city — opening everywhere from old aircraft hangars to heritage-listed buildings — but plenty of these libation stations are multi-faceted, doubling as breweries, distilleries. So, here are our favourite ten bars to throw open their doors in 2022. Add them to your list. Tick them off. Just as Santa's doing now.
It's always summer somewhere, right? Not exactly, but that's long been the idea behind swapping Australia's winters for a midyear trip to Europe. And if that's on the cards for you at the moment — or you're thinking about it given how genuinely cold the last month has been already Down Under — then you can now hop on one of Qantas' new direct flights to Rome. To truly get the non-stop experience, you'll need to live in Perth. If you hail from another part of the country, you will have to make your way to the Western Australian capital first. But, either way, that flight from Perth to Rome won't make a layover — getting you from Down Under to continental Europe faster, and without switching planes, worrying about connecting legs and navigating other airports. The direct-to-Rome routes were first announced back in late 2021, but they've just started taking to the air since Saturday, June 25. They follow the airline's direct flights from Perth to London, and will make the trip three times a week between now and October. And yes, that timing is 100-percent aimed at letting Australians take full advantage of European summer holidays. As well as being the only flights that connect Australia to continental Europe, the new Rome trips are speedier than other routes to the Italian city — more than three hours faster than the current quickest travel time from Australia to Rome. That means fewer hours spent in transit, and more to actually soak in Italy. It also means spending a big unbroken block of time in the air, which still sounds a bit like science fiction after so long without international travel. If you're keen to head elsewhere on the continent, you can use Rome as a connection point to fly to 16 other European destinations, including Athens, Barcelona, Frankfurt, Nice, Madrid and Paris. You can also venture to 15 other spots in Italy, Milan and Venice among them. Also, if you fancy flying into Rome but coming home from London, or vice versa, Qantas will let you combine the two direct routes on the one return ticket. The airline has also added a few Italian-inspired food and drink items, including negronis, to its lounge and inflight menus — and it's screening films that link in with Italy, too, such as Rome, Open City and Life Is Beautiful. And if you're wondering about the possibility of travelling non-stop to Europe from Sydney, Melbourne and Brisbane, which Qantas has been looking into for a few years now, the carrier has locked in direct Sydney-to-London flights (and direct Sydney-to-New York routes as well) to start in late 2025. Qantas' new Australia–Rome direct flights are flying three times a week from Perth until October. For more information, or to book tickets, head to the airline's website.
Put Shannon Martinez in charge of a menu and plant-based delights will await. Neon Dreams, a just-announced addition to Vivid Sydney 2025, is the latest example of that statement proving true. Popping up at Darling Harbour — transforming the Pier Street underpass, in fact — this event is an ode to American diners of the 1950s. Expect Happy Days flashbacks, and also Martinez's takes on burgers, mac 'n' cheese, milkshakes and jelly doughnuts. Expect a roller rink for a pre- or post-meal skate, too. "We all know and love the classic American diner menu, and what we have planned for Neon Dreams will be even more delicious. You won't even notice it's completely plant-based," advises the acclaimed chef. "All this with a retro aviation fitout and some roller-skating — let's just say Vivid Sydney hasn't seen anything like this before." [caption id="attachment_999006" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Kristoffer Paulsen[/caption] As Martinez notes, the decor will fit the seven-decades-back theme, but also have another skew. If you've ever wanted to see a mail plane turned into a DJ booth — where the tunes spun will set the mood for hitting the rink — that's also on offer. For those having a skate, the venue will be fully accessible, including for wheelchairs and mobility aids. Back to the menu, you'll also be able to sip low-waste cocktails made with foraged and native ingredients — think: lemon myrtle margaritas and Illawarra plum sours — when Neon Dreams runs across Vivid's dates of Friday, May 23–Saturday, June 14. The overall festival isn't done expanding its food lineup yet, just days after it also added Martha Stewart chatting about her career and her lifestyle empire to the program — and with Nigella Lawson's touch on its culinary side part of 2025's event since the program first dropped. So, alongside Neon Dreams, the festival will also boast Hollywood Dreaming, a 23-night roster of events in the Hollywood Quarter in Surry Hills. There'll be bites to eat, and also films, music and performances — and, thanks to shindigs called Hollywood Dreaming: A Taste of HQ and Hollywood Dreaming: Foy Lane Lights Up, there'll be two huge free street parties. Accordingly, you can head by during Vivid's full run to hit up The Food Trail, where exclusive menus will be on offer at the precinct's restaurants and bars; The Neon Trail, which is where iconic movies come in; and The Gig Trail, aka live tunes and shows at Hollywood Hotel, Paramount House Hotel Rooftop and Butter. Or, make a date with A Taste of HQ on Saturday, May 31 and Foy Lane Lights Up on Saturday, June 14. The first will shut Foster Street to traffic and focus on al fresco dining, aided by Firedoor, Nomad, Gildas, Nel, Kiln, Poly, Brooklyn Boy Bagels, Alberto's Lounge, Tio's Cerveceria and Butter. The second, produced by Ace Hotel, will feature a curated digital art show, plus live tunes and pop-up snack options. "In 2025, Vivid Food offers a range of experiences for all tastes and price points. Neon Dreams and the Hollywood Dreaming program are perfect examples of Vivid Sydney constantly innovating and providing visitors with new and financially accessible experiences," explains Vivid Sydney Festival Director Gill Minervini. "Darling Harbour will be the place for family friendly fun, with Neon Dreams surrounded by captivating light installations and free live music. Shannon Martinez is an absolute rock star in the culinary world, and we're excited for visitors to experience it for themselves. "After dark, Surry Hills will come alive throughout the entire festival for Hollywood Dreaming, where you can dine, drink and dance your way through the Hollywood Quarter." Vivid Sydney 2025 runs from Friday, May 23–Saturday, June 14 across Sydney. Head to the festival website for further information.
Laneway have been kicking goals all year. In 2012 alone, they have released a great album, embarked on a massive national tour and were also awarded the 2012 Grant McLennan Memorial Fellowship. Laneway’s newest album, Turn Your Love Up, which was released in August, is a remarkable display of musicianship. Harmonies, roomy compositions and gorgeous guitar work have made this album a success for the duo, who now have the chance to travel overseas to promote their music to international audiences. Before they move to Berlin and make it big, make sure you catch them at Black Bear Lodge as they wind down their national tour. Laneway will be supported by Ed Guglielmino and The Fingers Malone Ensemble.
If you're an iced coffee aficionado, you'll know it's very important to have one within arm's reach at all times — which can be tough on summer sojourns to beaches, parks and picnics. Well, New Zealand roastery (and firm Concrete Playground fave) Coffee Supreme has really come to the party with its latest release: a range of grab-and-go canned coffees (and one fancy-schmancy tea). The cans hit Australian cafes on Thursday, May 11 and come in three varietals: an iced long black, an iced oat latte and an iced Cascara fizz. The first two are fairly self-explanatory but if the fizz has spiked your interest, we've got the details. This coffee cherry-flavoured tea is made from the dried skins of coffee cherries and has a sweet, fruity taste with notes of rosehip, hibiscus and cherry. It's, of course, fizzy and a little lower on caffeine if you've already hit your coffee limit that day. The new cans are only available online and at your local Supreme-using cafe, so stock up on a few to pop in the fridge for caffeine emergencies this summer. We see them being crucial when en route to a morning gym class, packed into the chiller for a picnic, or perhaps necking back as you get ready for a big night out. If you want to get your hands on a free sample of the new range, Coffee Supreme's Abbotsford and Brookvale cafes, and Make My Day Brisbane are giving out 200 free cans from 9am on Friday, May 19. Plus, Coffee Supreme fridges are popping up across Sydney, Melbourne and Brisbane, offering more cans free of charge. From Monday, May 15–Sunday, May 21 you'll find the fridge at FluidForm Studio in Sydney, Up There Athletics in Melbourne and Double Double in Brisbane. The following week, across Monday, May 22–Sunday, May 28, you can grab a free iced coffee at Sydney's Deus ex Machina, Melbourne's MAAP or Brisbane's Range Brewing. And, rounding out the tour will be DRNKS in Sydney, Blackhearts & Sparrows in Melbourne and Your Local Film Lab in Brisbane from Monday, May 29–Sunday, June 4. Coffee Supreme's new range of canned iced coffee is available online and in cafes around Australia. Follow along with the freebies the brand is giving out at the Supreme Australia Instagram account.
If you can't remember a time before IKEA, that's understandable. In 2023, the Swedish giant celebrates 80 years of operation. The chain started by Ingvar Kamprad, aka the IK in IKEA's moniker, began in 1943 and moved into furniture in 1948. It then opened its first store in Sweden a decade later — and came to Australia in the 70s. Now, a task: imagine all of the different items that the brand has made and sold over the years. Also, think of the huge array of pieces that it has had customers make at home themselves. The list is lengthy, as anyone that's ever walked several kilometres through IKEA's warehouse-style shops knows — but some pieces stand out. To celebrate both the 80-year milestone and the retailer's top products over that period, IKEA is launching a new range that riffs on its past highlights. Available both in store and online from Thursday, June 29, the Nytillverkad collection showers love on everything from 50s side tables to 60s plant stands, and 70s stools and 80s quilt covers, too. Retro alert, clearly. "We know Australians love to mix vintage pieces in their homes, so it is exciting to be able to offer this retro take on Scandinavian modern, defined by bold and playful graphic expressions that celebrate some of our most famous designs from the past 80 years," said Christine Gough, Interior Design Expert at IKEA Australia, announcing the new pieces. "In new bright colours, timeless design and trademark simplicity, the Nytillverkad range is an array of carefully selected, reimagined IKEA classics ready to take on a new life in homes." IKEA is dropping its Nytillverkad pieces in stages, starting with the LÖVBACKEN side table that was first known as LOVET back in 1956, the KULTURSKOG plant stand that initially launched as BALJA in 1962, and the BONDSKÄRET hat and coat stand that was called SMED in the 1978 — and more. Items in the first release range start at $2, which covers two 30-piece paper napkin sets (HAVSKATT, using the ILEX print from 1983; and ROSTVINGE, from 1980's BLADHULT print). Also on offer: candle holders, cushion covers, trays and rugs. IKEA's Nytillverkad collection goes on sale across Australia, in store and online, from Thursday, June 29 — until stocks last. Head to the IKEA website from 9am on launch day for further details.
Pork katsu sandwiches, salmon tartare tacos, raw slices of kingfish paired with yuzu ponzu, and smoked eggplant chilli ramen with burnt nori — they're just some of the dishes on the menu at Fortitude Valley's Japanese restaurant Hôntô. While Brisbane boasts plenty of Japanese eateries, this addition to Alden Street adds its own twist to the country's culinary staples, as the above highlights demonstrate. Fancy white fish ceviche with yuzu and rice crackers, wagyu tartare, a karaage chicken burger or tamari-glazed beef brisket? They're all part of the lineup. Hôntô comes from a team known for trying something different, with the venue a sister site to Same Same, Bianca and Agnes. Basically, where Same Same gives classic Thai cuisine a twist, Hôntô does the same with an exclusively Japanese focus — and with a range of rare Japanese whiskeys and sake to wash it all down with. Indeed, in addition to the main dining room and raw dining bar, the restaurant features its own bar, ÔÔ. Like the rest of the place — which is accessed through a black door next to the loading dock for Matt Blatt Furniture — it's dark and moody, though it has quite the boozy range. As well as the types of tipples you'd expect to find in a particularly well-stocked Tokyo izakaya, there are more than 100 wines, plus cocktails, other spirits, liqueurs and craft beers. And, food-wise, if you're keen to settle in for the long haul in Hôntô's backstreet surroundings, you can also opt the banquet: a ten-dish feast for $84 per person. Banquet dining is also a requirement for groups of seven people or more. Images: Natalie Hoo and Sam Thies. Appears in: The Best Restaurants in Brisbane
Can a dream ever exist for more than a fleeting moment? That isn't just a question for oneirology, the field of psychology focused on studying the involuntary visions of our slumbers, but also applies whenever tales of motorcycle clubs rev across the screen. Stories of hitting the open road on two wheels, finding camaraderie and community in a group of likeminded outsiders, and perhaps discovering a purpose along the way are stories of chasing dreams — of freedom, of belonging, of mattering, of meaning in a world seemingly so devoid of it if you don't fit in the traditional sense. So it was in TV series Sons of Anarchy and in Australian film 1%, two titles set within the roar and rush of biker gangs in recent years. So it was in The Wild One, 1953's Marlon Brando-starring classic that immortalised the query "what are you rebelling against?" and the reply "whaddaya got?". Now, so it equally proves in The Bikeriders, about a 60s and 70s leather- and denim-wearing, motorbike-riding crew formed after infatuation got motors runnin' when founder Johnny (Tom Hardy, Venom: Let There Be Carnage) saw The Wild One on TV. A family man, Johnny has a dream for the Vandals MC out of America's midwest — and so does Benny (Austin Butler, Dune: Part Two), the closest thing that the club has to a spirit animal. The latter is introduced alone at a bar wearing his colours, refusing to take them off even when violence springs at the hands of unwelcoming patrons. He won't be tamed, the sixth feature from writer/director Jeff Nichols after Shotgun Stories, Take Shelter, Mud, Midnight Special and Loving establishes early. He won't be anyone but his smouldering, swaggering, rebel-without-a-cause self, either. Courtesy of the Vandals, he not only has the space to stand firm, but the assurance. He's a lone wolf-type, but knows that he has the devoted backing of the pack anyway. Johnny has fashioned the gang as a tribe and a place to call home for those who can't locate it elsewhere, and is open about how his fellow bikers need Benny — and how he does as well — to look up to. The Bikeriders is the story of Johnny and Benny, and also of the Illinois-accented Kathy (Jodie Comer, Killing Eve), whose outsider-upon-outsider perspective comprises the movie's narration (and gives it a Martin Scorsese-esque, Goodfellas-style angle). She's wary when on her debut encounter with the Vandals, also at a bar. Still, the way that Nichols and his regular cinematographer Adam Stone (Waco: American Apocalypse) shoot it, Kathy has no choice but to fall for the brooding Benny from the instant that she locks eyes on him at the pool table that night. Moments after she leaves the watering hole, she's clutching him close as they thunder off on his bike. Five weeks later, they're married. As she talks through the tumultuous and absorbing details to Danny (Mike Faist, Challengers) — Lyon, that is, the IRL photojournalist with the 1968 book that shares The Bikeriders' name, inspired the film and provides its basis sometimes on an image-by-image level — what springs from there is a love triangle of sorts, as Johnny and Kathy both see different routes for Benny, and for their respective dreams and futures. Making a much-appreciated return to filmmaking eight years after Loving — in-between, an Alien Nation remake didn't come to fruition, and he dropped out of helming A Quiet Place: Day One — Nichols fictionalises fact with The Bikeriders. Lyon snapped and spent time with Chicago's Outlaws Motorcycle Club. Its name doesn't remain in the feature, but the monikers of plenty of folks in its orbit, including Kathy, Benny and Johnny, plus other Vandals members Cal (Boyd Holbrook, Justified: City Primeval), Cockroach (Emory Cohen, Blue Bayou) and Zipco (Michael Shannon, The Flash), all do. The vibe as The Bikeriders hums is of a picture and the team bringing it to life each stepping into history, into photos that immortalised it and into a mood just as firmly, then spinning the results into a movie. That's a pivotal and purposeful sensation when the line between dreams and reality is being examined. While actuality rarely feels illusory when you're in it, the ultimate that anyone is ever pursuing — rebellion, authenticity and acceptance here, for example — so often proves ephemeral. Little in the way of surprises might fuel The Bikeriders' narrative, especially if you've watched past biker fare — Lyon's book predates Easy Rider by a year — but twists and turns are never the point. Instead, the anticipated cycles keep turning as Nichols prods whether the dream that he's capturing, as his photographer inspiration did before him, was ever destined for more than transience. Johnny's version of the club — and the solace that someone such as the scruffy Zipco, who gives voice to securing a niche he isn't otherwise afforded in a speech about being turned down for Vietnam enlistment, is seeking — withers as the Vandals grows. Rides and hangouts erupt in scuffles and fights over power. Attitudes among newcomers make the OG crew seem positively gentle. Benny struggles, too, caught between two sets of the last thing that he wants from anyone: expectations. As it gets the wind ruffling Butler's hair and the bouffant of Comer's locks defying gravity, Nichols has crafted a film that plays so eagerly like a throwback with such a lived-in atmosphere, but also with probing intentions pumping through every second. It presents. It unpacks. It motors along with the throbbing and the cruisiness alike of an engine letting rip on long Sunday-afternoon drive, digging into this slice of countercultural Americana and the hopes it stands for in the process. As its director did with Shotgun Stories almost two decades ago now, The Bikeriders also has tortured masculinity in its sights, another realm where visions of perfection are fated to crash. And as Nichols constantly returns to in his filmography, how desperately someone — everyone — attempts to hold onto what they love and dream about also slicks this intimate flick like oil. The longer that The Bikeriders goes on, the heartier that the initial Vandals tussle with their expanding roster, as more and more faces and agendas join its ranks. The feature itself has no such regrets, including when Norman Reedus (The Walking Dead: Daryl Dixon), Karl Glusman (Civil War), Toby Wallace (The Royal Hotel) and Damon Herriman (The Artful Dodger) help flesh out the cast. Mirroring the club with Benny, the movie benefits from having Butler at its heart, though. In a strong on-screen year to rival 2022's Elvis whirlwind, which nabbed him a BAFTA and a Golden Globe, plus an Oscar nomination, he follows Dune: Part Two and Masters of the Air with a magnetic, layered, revealing and committed performance while so frequently uttering little aloud. The also-exceptional Comer and ever-commanding Hardy aren't stuck in their co-star's shadow, as their characters happily are with Benny, but this film about the allure of the ideal knows how to make that exact notion its vista. Unlike everything that the Vandals aspires to encapsulate, however, Butler never falters.
Go on Brisbane, get dotty. When The Obliteration Room is on display, that's exactly what's on the agenda. Yayoi Kusama's famed interactive project doesn't just feature the circular shapes beloved by the iconic Japanese artist, as featuring in many of her pieces. Turning everyone who enters its space into a fellow contributor, this artwork is all about adding dots, more dots and then even more, all in sticker form, to completely fill every surface. Here's how it works: you step inside a room that has been painted white from floor to ceiling. All surfaces, fixtures, furniture and objects are white — every single one. It's then up to each and every visitor to add spots of colour via those stickers. Kusama calls the process "obliteration", hence the piece's name. Joining in is as fun and therapeutic as it sounds. [caption id="attachment_1008415" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Yayoi Kusama / Japan b.1929 / The Obliteration Room (installation view) 2002–present / Furniture, white paint, dot stickers / Dimensions variable / Collaboration between Yayoi Kusama and Queensland Art Gallery. Commissioned by the Queensland Art Gallery. Gift of the artist through the Queensland Art Gallery Foundation 2012 / Collection: QAGOMA, Brisbane / © Yayoi Kusama / Photograph: N Harth © QAGOMA[/caption] The Obliteration Room and Brisbane have been intertwined since Kusama first conceived of the work, because it was developed for the Queensland Art Gallery in 2002. Since then, the piece has toured the world, but keeps returning to the River City — with its next visit courtesy of the Gallery of Modern Art's huge new free Wonderstruck exhibition across Saturday, June 28–Monday, October 6, 2025. Initially announced at the beginning of the year as part of QAGOMA's massive 2025 program, this showcase features over 100 works hailing from 70-plus international and Australian artists. As its name makes plain, this collection from is all about awe and wonder. Expect playful pieces, imaginative creations, and works big and small. Expect extraordinary art and everyday objects morphed into marvels, too — as well as an all-ages experience, as The Obliteration Room has long provided. [caption id="attachment_1008416" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Patricia Piccinini / Australia b.1965 / The Observer (installation view) 2010 / Silicone, fibreglass, steel, human hair, clothing, chairs / 220 x 140 x 48cm / Purchased 2018. Queensland Art Gallery | Gallery of Modern Art Foundation / Collection: QAGOMA, Brisbane / © Patricia Piccinini / Photograph: N Harth © QAGOMA[/caption] Indeed, while The Obliteration Room has always been a feature of GOMA's Children's Art Centre, witnessing and participating in the transformative process is a delight for big kids as well. That theme carries across Wonderstruck as a whole, whether it's also displaying pieces by Patricia Piccinini, Ai Weiwei and American artist Nick Cave, or from Ah Xian, Monir Shahroudy Farmanfarmaian, Gordon Hookey, Madeleine Kelly, Yvonne Koolmatrie, Ron Mueck, Craig Koomeeta, Jemima Wyman, Rosemary Laing, Sandra Selig, Gemma Smith, Yuken Teruya, Brian Robinson, Judy Watson and Louise Weaver. "Wonder enters our world through play and imagination, and can be inspired by our interactions with nature and encounters with the intangible," explains Queensland Art Gallery | Gallery of Modern Art Director Chris Saines. "This exhibition, drawn from the gallery's collection and the rich catalogue of projects developed by QAGOMA's Children's Art Centre in collaboration with contemporary artists, also considers how wonder emerges from combinations of colour, pattern and visual illusion, and an appreciation of the extraordinary within the ordinary." [caption id="attachment_1008417" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Kohei Nawa / Japan b.1975 / PixCell-Double Deer#4 (installation view) 2010 / Mixed media / 224 x 200 x 160cm / Purchased 2010 with funds from the Josephine Ulrick and Win Schubert Diversity Foundation through the Queensland Art Gallery Foundation / Collection: Queensland Art Gallery | Gallery of Modern Art / © Kohei Nawa[/caption] Across its six chapters, other specific highlights span the wearable sculptures of HEARD from Cave; Piccinini's The Observer, featuring a child peering down from a stack of chairs; Ai Weiwei's Neolithic pottery painted in bright colours; vivid hues aplenty in Pip & Pop's Rainbow Bridge and Emily Floyd's Steiner Rainbow; Mueck's giant In Bed; and Connection from Slovenian artist Tobias Putrih, which turns cardboard boxes into an arch. Or, Isabel and Alfredo Aquilizan's contribution In Flight (Project: Another Country) will get you making sculptures fund materials to to the piece; Lightning for Neda by Monir Shahroudy Farmanfarmaian is a mirror mosaic; and Notice — Forest from Yuken Teruya refashions shopping bags. [caption id="attachment_1008418" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Ron Mueck / England b.1958 / In bed (installation view) 2005 / Mixed media / 161.9 x 649.9 x 395cm / Purchased 2008. Queensland Art Gallery Foundation / Collection: Queensland Art Gallery | Gallery of Modern Art / © Ron Mueck[/caption] As it frequently does given that it's home to the Australian Cinematheque, GOMA is pairing Wonderstruck with a free film program, too, exploring how the themes at the heart of the exhibition translate to the big screen. The medium's earliest days are covered via Georges Méliès' A Trip to the Moon — and so is Wes Anderson's fondness for pastel hues in The Royal Tenenbaums and The Grand Budapest Hotel. The buzzing hummingbirds of documentary Every Little Thing, Studio Ghibli's wonders via My Neighbour Totoro, Michel Gondry's imaginative approach via The Science of Sleep: they're among the sights set to flicker through the gallery's cinemas as well, all between Friday, June 27–Sunday, October 5, 2025. [caption id="attachment_1008419" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Yuken Teruya / Japan b.1973 / Notice - Forest 2006 / Paper and glue / Dimensions variable / Purchased 2007. The Queensland Government's Gallery of Modern Art Acquisitions Fund / Collection: Queensland Art Gallery | Gallery of Modern Art / © Yuken Teruya[/caption] [caption id="attachment_1008420" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Gemma Smith / Australia b.1978 / Boulder prototype #2 2008 / Laser-cut Perspex / 53 x 39 x 53cm (irreg., approx.) / Gift of Dr Morris Low through the Queensland Art Gallery Foundation 2011. Donated through the Australian Government's Cultural Gifts Program / Collection: QAGOMA, Brisbane / © Gemma Smith[/caption] [caption id="attachment_1008421" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Emily Floyd / Australia b.1972 / Steiner rainbow 2006 / Two-part epoxy paint on medium density fibreboard / Nine parts. Part a (dark blue): 54 x 131 x 60cm; part b (light blue): 82 x 160 x 60cm; part c (teal): 96 x 188 x 60cm; part d (dark green): 110 x 217 x 60cm; part e (light green): 124.5 x 245 x 60cm; part f (yellow): 139 x 275 x 60cm; part g (orange): 154 x 303 x 60cm; part h (light red): 166 x 334 x 60cm; part i (deep red): 180 x 362.5 x 60cm. / Gift of the artist through the Queensland Art Gallery Foundation 2011. Donated through the Australian Government's Cultural Gifts Program / Collection: Queensland Art Gallery | Gallery of Modern Art / © Emily Floyd/ Courtesy: The artist and Anna Schwartz Gallery[/caption] [caption id="attachment_1008422" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Alfredo Juan Aquilizan / Philippines/Australia b.1962 / Maria Isabel Gaudinez-Aquilizan / Philippines/Australia b.1965 / In-flight (Project: Another Country) (installation view) 2009 / Courtesy and © Isabel and Alfredo Aquilizan / Photograph: R Fulton © QAGOMA[/caption] [caption id="attachment_1008423" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Monir Shahroudy Farmanfarmaian / Iran 1924 - 2019 / Lightning for Neda (installation view) 2009 / Mirror mosaic, reverse-glass painting, plaster on wood / Six panels: 300 x 200 x 25cm (each); 300 x 1200 x 25cm (overall) / The artist dedicates this work to the loving memory of her late husband Dr Abolbashar Farmanfarmaian. Purchased 2009. Queensland Art Gallery Foundation / Collection: Queensland Art Gallery | Gallery of Modern Art / © Monir Shaharoudy Farmanfarmaian[/caption] [caption id="attachment_1008424" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Pip & Pop / Australia 2007–11 / Tanya Schultz / Australia b.1972 / Nicole Andrijevic / Australia b.1981 / 'Rainbow bridge' from 'we miss you magic land!' 2011 / Dioramas: Polystyrene, wax, fluorescent pigments, sugar, glue, glitter, synthetic polymer paint, plastic plants, plastic flowers, pipe-cleaners, modelling clay, paper, adhesive vinyl, pigment ink, beads in vitrine with internal electric lighting with Perspex inserts; installed with wallpaper: digital adhesive on paper (produced from digital file) / Four dioramas: 91 x 110 x 55cm (each); overall installed dimensions variable / Gift of the artists through the Queensland Art Gallery Foundation 2013 / Collection: QAGOMA, Brisbane / © The artists / Photograph: K Bennett © QAGOMA[/caption] Wonderstruck displays at the Gallery of Modern Art, Stanley Place, South Brisbane, between Saturday, June 28–Monday, October 6, 2025. Head to the venue's website for more information. Top image: Yayoi Kusama. The obliteration room 2002–present. Queensland Art Gallery | Gallery of Modern Art. © YAYOI KUSAMA
It has been a tough summer in Australia, with bushfires raging across the country and ongoing drought still taking its toll. In response to these disasters, it's been a summer filled with Aussie spirit, too — as the country rallies together to do whatever it can to support those affected, as well as the volunteer firefighters battling the blazes. Trust Australia's distillers to take the whole Aussie spirit concept literally, though. Making Aussie spirits is their job, so they're banding together to donate some of that local booze to a great cause. That's what the Aussie Spirit Auction is all about — selling off Australian-made gins, rums, vodkas, whiskies and whiskeys, moonshine and other liqueurs, and giving all the proceeds to Rural Aid's bushfire and drought relief efforts. More than 100 Aussie distilleries are taking part, including big names such as Four Pillars, Starward, Archie Rose and Brookie's Gin. Together, they've donated more than 200 bottles, including many that are rare, limited edition or simply can't be bought in stores. A number of experiences, such as distillery tours, are also on offer, as are fine art prints of distilleries if you need something for your wall. There are two ways to take part, stock up your liquor cabinet and help those in need: a physical auction and gala in Sydney on Friday, February 28, and an online auction that's currently underway online until the same date. For those thinking about attending in person, your $120 ticket will also be donated to Rural Aid, and you'll also eat your way through a three-course dinner, drink plenty of craft spirits and get the chance to bid on the auction's top 12 items. There'll also be a pop-up bar onsite showcasing distilleries from bushfire-affected regions, including WildBrumby, Karu, Reed & Co, Corowa, Craft Works and Joadja. [caption id="attachment_761560" align="aligncenter" width="1920"] 5Nines Distilling, Richard Lyons[/caption] Online, current bids range from reasonable to hefty, depending on the brand and the item on offer. And, if you're eager to help but aren't interested in the booze, you can also simply donate without bidding. Plus, you can bid on a brand new whisky that's being made especially for the occasion — called 'the Aussie Spirit', naturally. The Aussie Spirit Auction is currently underway online, with bids accepted until 10pm AEDT on Friday, February 28. The live auction and gala takes place in Sydney on the same date — at Dockside, 2 Wheat Road, Darling Harbour — with tickets on sale now. Top image: Archie Rose Distilling Co.
The Laneway Festival 2026 sideshows have landed, giving fans a chance to catch some of the lineup's biggest international names up close before and after the main event next February. Announced today, the official run includes headline shows from Alex G, Lucy Dacus, BENEE, Wet Leg, Cavetown, Geese, Gigi Perez, Jensen McRae, Malcolm Todd, Mt. Joy, Oklou and Wisp — spanning major venues in Sydney, Melbourne, Perth and Wellington. [caption id="attachment_974758" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Laneway Festival 2024 | Charlie Hardy[/caption] The sideshows arrive ahead of Laneway's 21st anniversary edition, which will bring a refreshed route across Australia and New Zealand and a lineup featuring Chappell Roan, PinkPantheress, Wolf Alice, Role Model and Teen Jesus and the Jean Teasers. Sydney and Melbourne dates sold out within an hour of going on sale, marking the second consecutive year the festival has hit capacity on day one. From long-awaited returns to debut Australian performances, the sideshows promise intimate sets from some of the most talked-about names in the 2026 lineup. [caption id="attachment_897686" align="alignnone" width="1920"] BENEE[/caption] You can find the full list of Laneway 2026 sideshows, dates and tickets via Ticketek. Images: Supplied
The summer of 2019 in the US was unofficially dubbed 'White Claw Summer'. The hard seltzer (an alcoholic carbonated water) was as popular as frosé was the summer before — and now it's set to make a splash Down Under when it launches here in October. So, Aussies, it's time to prepare for your own summer of sippin' Claws. Lion Australia has partnered up with Mark Anthony Brands International, the makers of White Claw, to import and distribute the sparkling beverage from mid-spring. To start, it'll be selling the company's three most popular flavours — mango, natural lime and ruby grapefruit — but expects to launch more of the expansive range over time. White Claw comes in white cans and is named after the supposed legend of the "white claw wave": when three perfect crests come together to create the perfect wave. As well as being a little like an alcoholic version of the already extremely popular La Croix drinks, White Claw gained popularity for its relatively low calories (100 a pop), low sugar content (two grams of carbohydrates a can) and catchy unofficial slogan: "Ain't no laws when you're drinking Claws". As American police departments were quick to point out, however, there are still in fact laws when you're drinking Claws. https://www.facebook.com/BathTownshipPolice/posts/2450523918365166 Australia's own police departments are known for publishing many tongue-in-cheek social posts, so expect plenty of Claw references when the drink lands here. White Claw isn't the only hard seltzer you'll find on bottle shop shelves this summer, either. Aussie-brewed Fellr and sugar-free Good Tides are both already available at BWS and Dan Murphy's, and Lion launched Quincy last year, which it dubbed the "first alcoholic seltzer in Australia". White Claw is set to hit Aussie bottle-o shelves this October. We'll let you know when more details are announced.
Transform your iPhone into the classic rangefinder camera of a photojournalist with the solid black Gizmon iCA Military Edition. This case will totally convert your iPhone, wrapping around it completely and creating an entirely new 'camera', complete with a viewfinder and a top-mounted shutter button. Choose from the available wide, macro, and fisheye lenses, and attach to create photographic effects unavailable in the iPhone itself. The iCA Military Edition comes with a detachable tripod mount, ideal for longer exposures, as well as a fabric bag to store and protect the durable polycarbonate pieces of your camera. The product site claims that the iCA "blurs the line between phone and camera by combining them both", and it's all yours for around $70. [via NOTCOT]
If your travel plans for 2025 include a Japanese or South Korean holiday, trips to both destinations just got cheaper. Jetstar is helping you lock in your vacations for this year by bringing back the airline's popular 'return for free' deal, this time focusing specifically on both Asian nations. Whether you're heading to Tokyo, Osaka or Seoul, a discount awaits. Whichever of the three cities that you decide to fly into, the Australian carrier's latest special will bring you home without making you spend a cent. One caveat: you've got just 72 hours to snap up tickets, with the sale running for three days from 12am AEDT on Wednesday, January 28, 2025–11.59pm AEDT on Friday, January 31, 2025, unless sold out earlier. This deal really is as straightforward as it sounds. No matter which flights you opt for as part of the sale — to Tokyo, Osaka or Seoul only, though, through Narita, Kansai and Incheon airports — you'll get the return fare for nothing. You do need to nab one of Jetstar's starter fares, and you'll then get a free return starter fare for zilch. Also, you'll have to fly in and out of the same arrival and departure port — so factor that in if you're planning to use either of the two Japanese cities or the South Korean destination as a starting point for heading to other places. Also, as is usually the case with Jetstar, checked baggage is not included. Still, expect the flights to get snapped up quickly when they go on sale. If you're a Club Jetstar member, you can get the jump on the special via access from 12pm AEDT on Tuesday, January 28 until midnight. Wondering when you'll be travelling? Dates vary per route, but the windows cover from early-May through to late-November 2025. Jetstar's Japan and South Korea 'return for free' sale runs from 12am AEDT on Wednesday, January 28, 2025–11.59pm AEDT on Friday, January 31, 2025 — unless it's sold out earlier. Feeling inspired to book a getaway? You can now book your next dream holiday through Concrete Playground Trips with deals on flights, stays and experiences at destinations all around the world.
If you were looking forward to diggin' on the best-selling American female group in history at their latest Australia and New Zealand live shows this February and March, we come bearing bad news: TLC's Down Under tour has been cancelled. After The Weeknd postponed his 2023 gigs, then The Kid LAROI did the same with his planned early 2024 concerts, it's been a chaotic time for big-name live music shows. TLC made the announcement via social media, advising that scrapping their trip came "due to unforeseen circumstances". Tionne 'T-Boz' Watkins and Rozonda 'Chilli' Thomas were heading this way to mark the 30th anniversary of their smash-hit second studio album CrazySexyCool, returning two years after headlining Fridayz Live in Australia (but dropping out of Friday Jams in Aotearoa due to a COVID-19 case among their touring party). And TLC weren't just coming alone, with Busta Rhymes and En Vogue slated to be on supporting duties. "To our incredible Australian and New Zealand fans, it is with heavy hearts that we announce the cancellation of our upcoming tour. We sincerely apologise for any disappointment to our fans," T-Boz and Chilli posted online. "Your support means everything, and we promise to make it up to you. We can't wait to be back in your beautiful countries soon. Thank you for your understanding and love," the statement continued. CrazySexyCool gave the world 'Creep', 'Waterfalls', 'Diggin' on You' and 'Red Light Special', among other tracks, but the 1994 diamond-certified album wasn't set to be the only source of songs for TLC's 2024 shows thanks to the likes of 'No Scrubs' and 'Unpretty'. And, each gig was going to be a 90s-themed party, with 90s fashion, fan interaction and a few surprises. TLC, Busta Rhymes and En Vogue were heading to Trusts Arena Auckland, Melbourne's Rod Laver Arena, Adelaide Entertainment Centre, Qudos Bank Arena in Sydney, Brisbane Entertainment Centre and RAC Arena in Perth. Ticketholders will receive automatic refunds via their payment method. TLC 30TH ANNIVERSARY OF 'CRAZYSEXYCOOL' AUSTRALIAN AND NEW ZEALAND TOUR 2024 DATES — ALL CANCELLED: Thursday, February 29 — Trusts Arena, Auckland — CANCELLED Saturday, March 2 — Rod Laver Arena, Melbourne — CANCELLED Sunday, March 3 — Adelaide Entertainment Centre, Adelaide — CANCELLED Tuesday, March 5 — Qudos Bank Arena, Sydney — CANCELLED Thursday, March 7 — Brisbane Entertainment Centre, Brisbane — CANCELLED Saturday, March 9 — RAC Arena, Perth — CANCELLED TLC's 30th-anniversary CrazySexyCool tour is no longer going ahead Down Under in February and March 2024. Ticketholders will receive automatic refunds via their payment method.
The Urban Country Music Festival has received one hell of a makeover for 2011. Spanning three nights and numerous venues, the town of Caboolture is set to be inundated by music fans of both the country and urban kind. Fans will be there to take in the laidback performances by country music legends as well as notable urban acts such as Amy Meredith, Evermore and Thirsty Merc. On the Friday night the festival will celebrate Urban Blaze, an event which that combines the sounds of the burbs and the music of bush. In typical laid back Aussie style the night's fee is a gold coin donation and you can bring your own booze to drink in 'the paddock' while enjoying the night's big bonfire and fire works. Saturday night is the festival's main night and will feature a range of different sections and stages including the Bush Poets Breakfast, Songwriters Cafe, Dance Workshop and the Next Generation Station. Closing the festival will be an exciting line up of more main stream artists which will end with The Potbelleez on the Sunday night.
