Wrestling might focus on grabbing, grappling and general clashes of strength, but there's more to the combat sport that that. It has given us the hulking ball of charm that is The Rock, as well as unlikely Trainwreck and Sisters star John Cena, for example. And then there's the masked style of lucha libre, as made popular in Mexico. Now, the Brightside is getting in on the action, courtesy of five matches that span a tag team event and a battle for a goon belt. Of course, that's not all the Valley venue is offering. Trust them to pair the in-ring mayhem with their usual focus on rockin' tunes. Yep, it's a rock and roll wrestling night, with Darkc3ll, Holistic and Terror Parade taking care of the music side of things and the Australian Wrestling Alliance serving up the latter. And yes, here, wrestling rocks in more ways than one.
You have to hand it to Brisbane Arts Theatre — they know how to kick off their 2016 season. The Petrie Terrace-based organisation obviously wants the laughs to flow freely, and the contemporary commentary too. Christopher Durang's Baby with the Bathwater is their first cab off the rank for the year, and it promises plenty of both. It tells the comedic tale of parents so unprepared for their new task — and so determined to be polite about it, even to their newborn — that they refuse to discover the gender of their child. All things farcical and satirical ensue in a play that also throws an anti-Mary Poppins into the mix. If you're still not convinced, then perhaps The New Yorker can change your mind. When Baby with the Bathwater first premiered in 1983, the prestigious publication was so impressed that they called Durang "one of the funniest dramatists alive", after all.
So, you've always wanted to be a writer, but you don't know where to start. The Queensland Writers Centre should be every aspiring wordsmith's first port of call. Don't just take our word for it — check them out for yourselves. In fact, they're throwing an open day so that the next generation of budding literary stars can do just that. Where else will you get to listen to Queensland authors such as Samantha Wheeler, Anna Campbell and Kari Gislason talk about crafting content for younger readers, writing up a romantic storm or combining their fondness for text with a travel itinerary? Or take an excursion through the state's pulpy crime, adventure and speculative fiction output? It's the perfect way to commemorate QWC's 25 years of operation, with everything from casual discussions to celebratory cake all part of the lineup. No one is going to say no to the latter; however with so much interesting chatter to listen to, it's really the icing on a jam-packed event.
If you like your entertainment of the pulpy variety, then Leah Shelton has the show for you. She's embracing all the things the term conjures in her combination of live art happening and cabaret. Pulp mags, film noir, Ozploitation movies like Wolf Creek, and Quentin Tarantino flicks should be at the front of your mind, as they're at the forefront of her performance. In Shelton's comic, physical and burlesque-oriented vision of a sunburnt country, cars rule, hitchhiking kills and dingoes eat babies. It's the stuff genre-loving pop culture aficionado's dreams are made of, as told with jewel-encrusted gore, lip-synch, pole dancing and black comedy. Yes, really. Image: StillsbyHill
Always wanted to brush up on The Bard, but never progressed past watching Romeo + Juliet and 10 Things I Hate About You? You’re not alone. Fear not, your years of thinking you’ll get around to it can come to an easy end. Well, kind of. See one theatre performance, and enjoy a comedic crash course in England’s most famous poet and playwright. The Complete Works of William Shakespeare (Abridged) condenses all 37 of his stage scribblings into one show, from the ghostly tragedy of Hamlet and the regal bloodbath of Macbeth, to the fairies and follies of A Midsummer Night’s Dream and the mischievous matchmaking of Much Ado About Nothing. If it all sounds a bit silly and Python-esque, that’s the point, and you’re encouraged to be part of the fun. Audience participation ensures that no two performances are the same. Head along, join in, and you’ll be a Shakespeare pro in no time.
The art of the Bentinck Island and the Torres Straight is some of this country’s most admired. Coming from the likes of the Gab Titui and Badu Art initiatives of Torres Straight, the art of these areas depicts great stories, history and time. Now, QAGOMA presents the work of some of our country's greatest artists in Island Currents. Set to be displayed in Queensland Art Gallery’s Watermall, Island Currents is a North Queensland celebration of land, sky and sea. In pieces monumental in both size and intricacy, Island Currents brings together all manner of vibrancy and style.
As much as I love to pretend I hate the abundance of budding graphic designers and artists these days, I have to say that Semi-Permanent is a seriously awesome design conference making its way around the world. Despite the fact I would want to throat-punch all the so called “creative minded” and “artistically awake” twats that would make up a good 50% of the attendees to the conference, it would really be a brilliant experience. However, if you haven’t already got a ticket I unfortunately have to inform you that there are none remaining and you’re going to have to settle for the We Buy Your Kids exhibition. Their John Carpenter exhibition is the equally exciting official after party to the conference, and will be held at Nine Lives. Let’s be honest, there can never be too many after parties; I think even birthday parties should have after parties. But this isn’t your average lets-get-drunk-at-Lambda after party - the exhibition by the Sydney duo will showcase a diverse array of their recent impressive works, spanning from band posters (Ty Segall, Best Coast, Les Savy Fav – to name a few!) to film and anything else Sonny Day and Biddy Maroney can get their hands on.
November is simultaneously the best and worst month of the year for uni students – why? One word: exams. Oh, and: assessment. It’s the rush to the finish line that sees students freaking out and drinking so many energy drinks that funny (read: unhealthy) things happen to their pee. But once it’s over it’s pretty sweet and you either have holidays til the next semester or you graduate (or you decide uni isn’t for you and you drop out, but we’re not talking about those types this time around). And if you’re an arts graduate, this means an exhibition! It’s not just QCA and QUT with a stake in the grad exhibition circuit – the Southbank Institute of Technology’s visual arts students are opening Breaking Heads this Thursday, with over thirty students of varying disciplines exhibiting. These kids have been given wings and it shows in their work, so if you’re exhibiti-hopping this Thursday, make sure you give SIT a visit too.
The Vengabus is coming! How long I have waited to actually be able to say that and it be true is quite embarrassing. Perennial party-ers the Vengaboys rose to fame when I was just a small child, and now they are bizarrely making a comeback – much to the delight of, well, everybody! Let me take you back to 1998, when questionable European pop bands were all the rage and lycra was an acceptable and supported fabric. It was a time when music was infected by repetition and the closest thing to indie rock was...nothing. Nothing at all. Looking back now, these songs make 1. absolutely no sense 2. are in awful in every way 3. would never make it into the mainstream nowadays. 2010's subtly named 'Rocket to Uranus' consists of a cameo by celeb gossip blogger Perez Hilton and contains such masterful lyrics as “We're almost there. Uranus is so pretty! It feels like home”. Surely they must've made that song for a laugh? Or maybe not, they are Dutch after all. I may have been 8 years old, but goddamnit did I want to go to Ibiza. Relive the late 90s how you remember them – on board the Vengabus. If you like to party, c'mon and move your body, happiness is just around the corner!
Have you ever made a New Years resolution and broke it? Of course you have. The chance of keeping any sort of promise you make on January 1st is slim to none, unless of course you have a real passion and drive. My New Years resolution is usually to stop biting my nails, but I lack the motivation – what do I get out of it? This promise breaking and selfishness needs to end right now, I say! If you're looking for a real resolution that offers results and benefits immediately, including a feel good boost, then you should really look no further than Resolution Run. It's an annual fun run held to raise money and awareness for a variety of charities, and this year the Cancer Council is the featured charity, although there are a number of other ones to choose from. The idea is that you raise money for your chosen charity and on the day any money collected will go directly where you want it to. You can start preparing for Resolution Run before the day, and will need to register online at http://www.active8change.com.au to participate. For every $50 you raise, you get an entry into the draw to win a prize pack. You can also win prizes for placing, too! Help yourself, but most importantly help others and make 2012 your year for a positive change.
There are quite a few big-name exhibitions on at the Queensland Art Gallery and Gallery of Modern Art over summer in celebration of GoMA’s fifth birthday. While you are there seeing Matisse and Yayoi Kusama, be sure not to miss the gem of an exhibition occurring in the Level 2 Media Gallery. The exhibition includes works from all around the world, including Montien Boonma (Thailand), Harun Farocki (Czech Republic/Germany), Mona Hatoum (Lebanon/England), Mathew Jones (Australia), Rei Naito (Japan/USA), Christodoulos Panayiotou (Republic of Cyprus), Michael Parekowhai (New Zealand), Natee Utarit (Thailand), Liu Wei (China), Nawurapu Wunungmurra (Dhalwangu people, Australia), William Yang (Australia), Yang Zhenzhong (China), Yao Jui-Chung (Taiwan). The video, photography, drawing and sculpture works featured in The Hand, The Eye and The Heart reflect on the public dimension of private experience, surveying a range of approaches used by artists to record private and personal aspects of human experience.
QUT is shining the innovative light again this month with Remoteness. Comprising series of works, Remoteness showcases artists who draw upon the social emotional and physical solitariness that has come to define our modern-day environment. Thanks to the digital age our world has never been more connected, but how deep do these connections go? Despite technologies bringing us together, some have never felt more isolated. It's these modern issues and evocative questions that are addressed and explored in Remoteness. French-Canadian roboticd artist Louise Philippe Demers makes a noteable contribution to the project in the form of The Prayer Drums. The fascinating work can ultimately be described as a complex musical instrument based on Buddhist prayer drums, operated by a series of motion-detecting cameras and sensors. Another work worth noting is Hello World! Or: How I Learned to Stop Listening and Love the Noise by American artist Christopher Baker which is made up of an awe-inspiring amount of of personal vlogs. Remoteness is on display from 4-21 May at The Block, on QUT’s Kelvin Grove campus. It features these and more immersive installations, animations and video/screen art at The Block and on the massive outdoor projection screens.
Just for kicks (and in good taste), Fortitude Valley’s modest hideaway Kerbside has decided to celebrate music legends via a very public party. Not that I’m complaining, who doesn’t love a good bash? And this month the bar is set to raise its glass and pay homage to the memory of the ‘Prince of Soul’, Marvin Gaye. Rolling Stone ranked him number 6 on its list of The Greatest Singers of All Time. If that wasn’t enough, Gaye has also been inducted in the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame and has his very own Hollywood Walk of Fame star. Gaye will always be known as a soul god; a motown machine; the very man who revolutionized the soul music industry. Let’s face it. The man’s a legend. Kerbside will transform their humble bar and café into a happening retro affair in Gaye’s honour. Patrons are encouraged to appear in 60s vintage cocktail costumes, those best dressed will win bar voucher prizes (ka-chiiing! Having won Best Bartender around, I know Kerbside makes some mean punch). There will also be a variety of retro cocktails and canapés that will be served to the tunes of DJs Rolandee and Ben Reeve. Be there, you wouldn’t wanna miss out on this one. Rest assured, there will be some Sexual Healing for some of the lovers out there.
Struggling to pay the rent is just part in parcel to the life of a 20 something. Many of us may whinge and complain about it, but very few break out into song. For the eight creative spirits in the musical Rent, the weekly board fee (amongst other life blows) in New York's lower east side is much to sing and dance about. The iconic musical based on Giacomo Puccini's opera La boheme will be showing in Brisbane for the next few weeks at UQ's Schonell Theatre with an all Australian cast featuring James Gauci and Emma Taviani. If you're yet to bare witness to Jonathan Larson's Pulitzer Prize and Tony Award winning musical then a heads up is in order. Rent isn't a musical with classic chorus lines and spirit fingers. It's a very unapologetically loud rock opera. Expect to hear electric guitar solos and up-beat harmonies. Expect to see unconventional love stories and controversial subject matters. There is no time for twee humour and puns in this free-spirited musical. The Australian cast of the show have already flash mobbed Brisbane's Pancake Manor with an impromptu table dancing performance with notable applause, and that was only a taste of what's to come. Perhaps struggling with the rent isn't so bad after all? Concession prices are $35, Adults are $42.
I have a question for you. When you see my face – is it like sunlight drippin? Because it is for Jack Glass and Chris Stracey. Apart from being able to make a girl blush with their swooning lyrics, these two boys are the mix masters behind dance music trio Bag Raiders, and their about to come mix some sunlight trippin music our way. They've been remixing tracks for years now, budding up with electro bands like Cut Copy, Midnight Juggernauts and DJ troup Bang Gang, adding their magic touch here and there. But it wasn't until they released the summer anthem 'Shooting Stars' last year that the boys started getting international recognition. For those that didn't get to listen to a radio throughout 2010's entirety, this is what all the fuss is about. https://youtube.com/watch?v=feA64wXhbjo Now the duo are set to take they're highly danceable tracks to the UK, but before they do they will be mixing up a storm at The Monastery on ANZAC Day. The DJ set will be supported by a slew of local talent including Danny T, Noy, Alex terrel, Killafornia and Rhys Dunmall. Prepare to dance, sweat and sing at the top of your lungs.
There is an inherent understanding that a kimono is rich in beauty, history, and craftsmanship. The last thing that most would think of is to take it apart, but fifteen local artists have done just that, taking two vintage kimonos and reinventing them for a worthy cause. The Reincarnated Kimono Project is a collaborative initiative between local Brisbane artists and fashion designers, with a sum of the exhibition’s proceeds being donated to aid Red Cross Japan in light of the recent tsunami disaster. These artists’ works have either been produced using or inspired by fabric from the original kimonos. Each of the fifteen honour the Japanese classic by respectfully reinterpreting and repurposing the fabric into innovative mixed media artworks, jewellery, fashion, and fabric origami. Curated by Melanie Augustin, the architect behind Kimono Reincarnate, The Reincarnated Kimono Project Exhibition will feature the likes of Deanne Mayocchi of Maiocchi, Nicole Lacey of Hot Toffee, and Stephanie Morris of Wimcee amongst others. Visit the exhibition to both support the relief cause and to open yourself to a world where the modern gets a curiously insatiable taste of the orient without needing to buy a plane ticket. Pictured work by Robyn Dixon
Roller derby isn't as sweet as it sounds. It's less poodle skirts and more mouth gaurds, fishnets and knee pads. It's less for the faint hearted and more for those who like it rough. Girls who don't mind teaming shades of red lipstick with shades of blue bruises need only apply. It's fast, its fearless and its thrilling to watch. Since the movie Whip It, a new breed of girls have taken to their skates in the name of roller derby glory. Involving two teams, the general aim of the game is for one member of a team to pass through their opponents pack. They do this by being very quick and managing to stay on their feet despite the shoves, knocks and blocks they may receive from their rival team. In the end it usually results in a girl-on-girl speed skating scrum – no wonder its such a popular spectator sport. After bumping and grinding to sold out stadium shows last year, Brisbane's Roller Derby craze is set to continue with an all star line up of rolling queens. Skating in front of a raucous crowd at Brisbane's Convention Centre, The Northern Brisbane Rollers are set to clash again with the Toowoomba City Rollers for season two, while the Diner Might Dolls compete against the exciting new team The UntouchaBelles. We recommend booking now as these shows sell out fast.
Renegade cinema Tribal Theatre are once again turning their back on Jennifer Aniston's latest rom-com and instead bringing us some so-bad-its-good eighties horror movies. The nostalgic zombies and vampires night will begin at 6.30pm with classic horror film The Evil Dead. Released in 1981, the film was controversial for its time due to the graphic depiction of violence and gore. In fact The Evil Dead was so disturbing that it was initially turned down by almost all U.S film distributors until it was bought by a European company at the Cannes Film Festival. The film was the first and last movie to ever be released at the cinemas and on VHS at exactly the same time. Evil Dead has since become a cult classic having been adapted into a comic book, stage musical and even a claymation. Then, if your pants are still clean and your nails are still intact, at 8.15pm a screening of 1985 horror film Fright Night will commence. The vampire found in Fright Night isn't like the dreamy crush-worthy ones found in the Twilight saga. Rather than falling in love with you he'd prefer to kill you. Or at the very least scare the living daylights out of you – in an eighties sort of way.
You know what people in Brisbane like? They like markets - Valley Markets, Suitcase Rummage, West End Markets, Marky Markets, so on and so forth. You know what else they like? They like drinking - cocktails, beer, rum, wine and so on. Therefore the logical equation to bring these simple joys together would be markets + drinking = Kerbside Markets. For those not so mathematically inclined, the Kerbside Markets will be a monthly Sunday afternoon laneway market held at the eclectic Constance St bar. It’s the only market where you can grab a boutique beer and filter through the miscellaneous paraphernalia sold by the likes of Little Bird, Pannikin, Restless, Calabash, Silver Tooth Vintage and more. And unlike other markets around town, there’ll be fewer crowds and fewer crap – no bulk imported goods here! And once you’ve tapped out from a hard day’s foraging through the marketplace, you can slump into a seat, couch or rocking chair and compliment your booze and buys with a snag from the Kerbside sausage sizzle (vegetarian and gluten-free friendly sausages available too!). The best part is that entry to the Kerbside Markets is free. Consuming does cost a little extra though.
We all know a wallflower. You know, the person at the party who blends into the background? The friend you can't bring anywhere because they drag the fun down? Well sistah/bruvva, you were wrong. The wallflowers are fighting for their right to be seen and talked to in the corridors of your best friend's parents' house. No longer will they be criticised for choosing to sit on the couch nursing the same vodka and lemonade all night, nor will they stop luring an unsuspecting drunk into a D&M about the universe. All the wallflowers of last weekend have a team of artists behind them, rooting for their integral place in our young event-going lives. While the term 'Wallflower' is sometimes seen as a negative thing, on Friday, it'll be like topsy turvy land. The wallflowers will be celebrated and the other party favourites will fade into the background. Ken Smith, Maddy Young and Zoe Hughes + others will be at Bleeding Heart gallery launching their Wallflowers group art exhibition. There's a licensed bar and the show will run til the 19th. Get your awkwardness on and show your support for local art and a pretty cool idea. Image credit: Holly Leonardson Art
It's actually a surprise when you meet an Emma and their middle name ISN'T Louise. Hell, it's my middle name too. That said, there isn't anything common about the Emma Louise I'm talking about, you know, the Brisbane singer/songwriter making waves all over the country? This little wonder has been a bit like her moniker of late; very very popular. She has toured with Washington, just finished up gigging with Boy and Bear and has been announced as the support for Josh Pyke's national tour AND Bigsound Live. With a schedule this busy, you should consider yourself lucky that this charmer is back in town for her own headline show! I'd say she sounds a bit like Sarah Blasko, but really, she's in a league of her own. Her debut EP Full Hearts and Empty Rooms has been garnering some very respectable reviews, as are her recent support shows; people are getting in early to see her, and not just because they want to get a prime position for the headliner. With all this love for my namesake, I have faith that Emma Louises can be more than just a fumbled response at the hospital... we are pretty unique. See one of the best Emmy Lou's out there this Saturday at the Visy Theatre, and make your appreciation for our species known!
Get yo groove on! Next in line for Kerbside’s monthly music legend birthday parties is the sex symbol of funk – Prince, or the artist formerly known as The Artist Formerly Known as Prince. Ow! Undeniably one of the best and most hard-working musicians alive today, Prince is a one-man funk behemoth, having produced ten platinum albums and thirty top 40 singles during his career to date. His flamboyant moves on stage were so high-energy he was told he needed a hip replacement in 2006 – can you honestly get any more funk than that? I doubt it. Kerbside is paying homage to The Artist, who turned the superfunkycalifragisexy age of 53 this month. Slick up your quiff and gyrate down to Constance Street (but don’t gyrate too enthusiastically – we wanna keep hips intact here), where you can order a Kerbside-patented Purple Rain cocktail while nibbling on a Cream Cupcake. Make your Mama happy and dress up, too - there’s a prize if u got the look. If you’re a Prince fan, a funk aficionado, or just a regular sexy M.F. – Prince’s Birthday Party is where it’s at.
2011 Archibald Prize-winning artist Ben Quilty will be gracing the Valley’s James Street this Thursday for a live art installation as part of the Art on James initiative. Watch Quilty work his magic on the blank canvas with aerosols – an interesting contrast to his usual thick impasto style. As part of the live art performance, audience members are encouraged to interact with the artist – listen, learn and converse with Quilty while he paints – or you can simply sit back and absorb what’s going on in front of you. Quilty will be joined by performance curator Alison Kubler for an ‘in conversation’ prior to the live art. And if watching Quilty work makes you hungry, drop in to Press for eco-friendly foods and bevs! It’s going to be a great start to the week-long Art on James event.
All my life I've struggled to get my business-minded parents to understand my creative talents. They would usually pat me on the head and leave me alone with my paints or pen and paper and just let me do whatever I wanted. I guess you can imagine the jealousy I feel reading that siblings Cecilia, Maryann and Patrick Hine were born into a very creative family (their parents had 11 kids!) and henceforth have become artists, sharing their unique talents in a collaborative exhibition, hinesight. Each sibling has a different branch of artistic flair; Maryann is a graphic designer and visual artist who for over 20 years has produced sculptures, paintings, multi-media works – you name it; Cecilia is an award-winning painter whose oil work is inspired by Greek mythology; and Patrick, an acclaimed independent filmmaker. In hinesight (geddit?), you will be able to view pieces from the relatives: Maryann's paintings inspired by Trees by Kilmer, Cecilia's surrealist furniture that involve ceramic antiques and mosaic, and Patrick's photographs from his travels in Prague and Moscow. Blood may be thicker than water, but that doesn't mean the trio haven't let outsiders intrude on their intimate show – there'll be entertainment from related cellist Camilla Tafra and classical guitarist Steven Tafra, plus finger food and drinks. You won't want to miss seeing this unique display, and if you do, in hinesight you will know you should have.
I don't know about you, but if I took photos of people from my local area, it would not be pretty. Thankfully, Emma Thomson has done her town justice in her new exhibition Made in the Shire. Inspired by the 1981 Australian film Puberty Blues, which was an insight into two sixteen-year-old girls from New South Wales’ Sutherland Shire, Made in the Shire is a collection of photographs of the people that make up this diverse community. Thomson searched for models via her local newspaper and the results were pretty great. Respondents ranged from desperate romantics, high school sweethearts to attention seekers and odd couples. The National Art School graduate's work is on display at the Queensland Centre for Photography, so do the attention seekers a favour and burn their image into your memory, or simply admire Emma's bravery. I know I couldn't do it!
Oh, what most of us would give to have lived in the sixties. The freedom! The music! Woodstock! It may have been an eon before any of us were born, but the swingin’ sixties have made a massive comeback of late. Mad Men is a ode to the lives of business men and women in those changing times, and in celebration of the buzz the TV show has generated, The Marriott are premiering their first sixties-inspired cocktail party and fashion parade. Most of us have watched Mad Men, or heard about it from our cooler friends, so chances are you're familiar with the premise of the show. Essentially, Don Draper is this mysterious and sexy ad-agency exec who spends the majority of his time being elusive and cheating on his wife. Mad Men knowledge aside, we all know what we were missing back then. Luckily, so does The Marriott, and on their Mad Martini night, you can expect swinging beats, canapés, a fashion parade, photographs from QueensPlaza's recent Mad Men exhibition, and of course, lots and lots of martinis. Channel your inner Don or Betty Draper this Friday and relive what was some of the best times we never had.
Fancy a journey without the actual need to travel? Then venture to the Old Museum where The Middle East will be performing as part of their national tour to promote their latest album release, I Want That You Are Always Happy. Co-mixed, produced and recorded by Mark Myers, the album debuted and peaked at number 11 on the Australian Album Charts. The Middle East was initially formed in Townsville in 2005. For a band with such humble beginnings, they have since gone on to play on national radio (Triple J) and at major musical festivals (Splendour, Big Dry Out, Big Sound and the Woodford Folk Festival included), and have also toured internationally. But now they’re back after working on their latest album and a brief band split. Their show at Sydney’s The Metro is already sold out and tickets to the Old Museum are going fast. They’ll be backed up on their tour by support acts, Leader Cheetah and Grand Salvo. We’re just happy they’re back together and playing some sweet music again. Catch The Middle East in Brisbane for one night only. Oh, and keep an ear out for Jesus Came To My Birthday. You’ll recognise it once you hear it. It’s going to be your new favourite song.
There are no excuses. I am sick to death of hearing people say, “Oh, I have no money for Splendour”, maaate I have been down to my last dollar at least 6 times this year. I managed to scrape together the measly $500 (now $390!) for a ticket and I have my bags packed for 3 days time when such acts as Kanye West, Coldplay, Jane's Addiction, The Hives, Kaiser Chiefs and Modest Mouse grace the Woodfordia site. I'm pleading a case that up until this year has sold itself; Splendour is notorious for selling out lightning fast, but for some reason, this year's tickets are still available at a discounted price. It's confusing because it's potentially the best line-up the festival has seen in years (please don't hurt me). The Woodfordia site is equipped with everything...it's like a mini hippy community. If you squint your eyes and are slightly inebriated, it might even feel like you are at Woodstock circa 1969. If the self-sufficient drawcard isn't enough to wipe your diary at the end of the week, maybe the appearance of Wikileak's ostracised founder Julian Assange via satellite will spark your interest? Or what about the possibility of a Kanye dummy spit? C'mon, you know you want to. Beg your mum/dad/partner/friend with benefits (monetary, of course!) for a few hundy and get to Splendour for 3 days of terrific music and events. You can bet you're bottom dollar that you won't be wasting a cent.
Keeping the Australian rock dream alive for the Queensland sector is Black Mustang, who have been working their way up the ranks since 2004, playing venues in every corner of the country, kicking ass and taking names along the way. Since the band was conceived they’ve also opened for other Australian big guns such as The Angels, Six Ft Hick, Tame Impala and British India; recorded a 6-track self-titled EP, which was quickly followed by their debut long-player, Between the Devil and the Deep Blue Sea. Now, with a freshly rejuvenated lineup, Black Mustang return with their second full-length album Loaded Gun. To celebrate the latest and greatest with Black Mustang, the lads are set for yet another tour, starting in the latest and greatest venue in their motherland, Woodland Bar. The Stang’ll be joined by The Black Stars and Ghost Audio, and to sweeten the deal further, they’re giving away copies of Loaded Gun to the first hundred punters. Stop clutching onto your worn-out Acca Dacca CD, there’s more where that came from. Find it down Coniston Lane this Saturday.
Theatre shows, as a whole, are pretty impersonal. Sure, you might feel like you connect with a character’s personality or laugh at their lines, but when it comes down to it, you’re an outsider. There’s a barrier between you and them, and while you can see into their world, you don’t get the chance to experience it first hand. Lloyd Beckmann, Beekeeper is a show that turns the classical concept of theatre on its head. The show is performed to only forty audience members at a time, each member invited on stage to enter Lloyd’s world – his bedsit – and to experience what Lloyd experiences first hand. The story – a tale of a Queensland battler as told through his grandson’s eyes – is based on a true story, written and performed by Green Room award-winning actor Tim Stitz. Lloyd Beckmann, Beekeeper is an innovative production, which draws the audience in to the story with its powerful narrative but unlike other productions, doesn’t feel like you’re watching something play out on screen – you are drawn inside, to become a part of Lloyd’s world.
When I took Introduction to Anthropology at uni, I learnt that by nature, humans are social animals. Since being introduced to Eddie Perfect’s Misanthropology, I have also learnt that humans are stupid animals. This isn't a stab at the intelligence of Mr Perfect, it's simply a commentary on his commentary of social activities in 2011 Australia - shown through musical theatre, no less. Leaving no stone unturned, Perfect investigates breast implants, football and obvious choice, Kerri-Ann Kennerley. Mr Perfect might just be the man who's been right in front of you this whole time; he's famous for his dead-ringer impression of Shane Warne (you better believe he did a Warney musical) and his stage show Keating! The Musical. If the name is still not ringing a bell, then perhaps you’ve seen him as a guest on Spicks and Specks or Talkin’ Bout Your Generation? Or if you're a middle-aged housewife, you may know him as Mick Holland on TV's Offspring! Watching Offspring may be your idea of a 'Perfect' way to spend your Wednesday, but Eddie's screen time is so low, you'll need your extra hit. This musical lecture on Misanthropology with Professor Eddie Perfect is sure to re-instill your fears that the human behaviour ain't what it used to be. Oh and don't worry, there's no test afterwards.
Finding new music usually requires raiding your cool friend’s music collection or trawling internet forums for anything vaguely decent. In the worldwide music scene, we know it’s hard to feel newness when we hear practically anything these days - someone always sounds like something else we’ve heard. I guess that’s why it’s so hard to put the artists in The Zoo’s Un-Boxed... in a box. With 4 different performances, I can almost guarantee even your most nostalgic Rockinghorsin’ pals won’t have got their paws on these Brisbane newcomers. On Sunday night, you will be enlightened by the folk stylings of Clare Quinn and posse, the acoustic jams of The Local Residents, the talented Steven Turner-Jones’ unique sounds and bluesy Tim Brennan’s country rhythms. Try to squeeze them into square receptacles, and they won’t budge (mainly because these peeps haven’t had an album release, but that’s not the point!). Have one over your JB Hi-Fi indie flicking chums and get into music you know will be like no other. The Zoo is waiting to cage you in.
Have you heard about what's happening at West End’s Boundary Hotel every Wednesday evening? Super electric, beer fueled, pizza filled, ping-pong tournaments that's what. The trouble makers behind Fans and Lambda club night are spicing up our Wednesdays with some pseudo-sport-excuse-for-drinking fun with Single Malt Sports, and they need your help to get the ball rolling. For the first few weeks the games held will be a free-for-all. Simply rock up, grab some pizza and a paddle and get started. Match ups will be organised along with a table that runs team challenges with the winning team taking home a carton of beer. If winning a carton of beer has got your competitive juices flowing, then you might like to set your sights on the Charlie Sheen Cup. To win, Single Malt Sports will run a series of matches played over a few weeks. If your team would like to register, email them here to be in the running, or make that 'winning.' signing up to our weekly newsletter to find out what's the go with leagues, tournaments and other such fun times.
Nearly two decades after it transformed from an unloved patch of Fortitude Valley into the suburb's upmarket precinct, James Street is in makeover mode once again — and it'll soon welcome a Michelin-starred chef to the area. Chef Alan Wise will return to Australia from New York to open Beaux Rumble, which'll fittingly take its design cues from Grand Central Station. Food-wise, the restaurant will focus on woodfired Australian cuisine — heroing seafood and plant-based dishes — when it opens in Ada Lane beside the newly opened The Calile Hotel this November. An all-day eatery, Beaux Rumble will sprawl across 400 square metres over two levels in the newest part of James Street. While Wise is keeping quiet on menu specifics for now, diners can expect a full New York-style brunch from the open kitchen, which'll feature a sizeable custom grill. Also on the agenda are cocktails, dinner and everything in-between. [caption id="attachment_694716" align="alignnone" width="1920"] The Calile Hotel by Sean Fennessy[/caption] You'll be able to enjoy all this on a dining terrace overlooking Ada Lane, in a ground-floor main dining room or in one of the two private dining room upstairs. If you're wondering just how Beaux Rumble's various spaces will nod to Grand Central Station, they'll take inspiration from the 1913-built transit hub's Beaux-Arts architecture. Think ornate vaulted metal, marble benches and tiles, brass fittings and oak flooring, as well as archways, domed ceilings and intricate Art Deco touches. Designed by s.t.udio's Sally Taylor, the restaurant's fit-out favours materials that won't just stand the test of time, but will also age appropriately. As for the Victorian-born Wise, his arrival in Brisbane marks the latest stop in a global career that started in London in the 90s, includes stints in regional Victoria, Vancouver and Dublin, and saw him work through top restaurants such as Picholine, Juni, Public and Rouge Tomate Chelsea. It was during his sting as executive chef at the latter in 2017 that Wise earned his Michelin star. Beaux Rumble is set to open in Ada Lane, James Street, Fortitude Valley from November. We'll keep you updated with an exact opening date once it is announced. Top image: Alan Wise
The problem is, with technology these days, all your friends are ‘photographers’ because they can afford cameras, or at least iPhones. But that’s like saying all your friends are ‘guitarists’ just cause they can play Wonderwall. The point is, neither of these two artforms should be archived away because lots of people are trying their best to ruin them. Long story short, amongst scrums of Instagramers there are still some very talented photographers out there, and some of them are emerging out of their dark rooms to show off during the Brisbane Festival's GOA Billboards Exhibition. The location to splurge on this talent is the Judith Wright Centre’s Shopfront, a more than fitting space to pay homage to some of Brisbane's brightest photographers and their art. In this context, those to be splurged on are a bunch of incredibly talented highschool students who were challenged to capture Brisbane’s beauty from as many fun angles with as much flare as possible under the theme Brisbane Parks: Garden Cities and Urban Jungles. Curator Henri Van Noordenburg picked the best ones and put them in a room, the afore mentioned Judith Wright Centre. You've the freedom to enter this room from 10am to 4pm from the 17th to 28th of September. And it's free!
There's perhaps an unintentional double-meaning in the title of Pixar's new film Brave. Thematically, bravery naturally forms the substance of the lead character's development, but the name's also an interesting take on the company's creative direction. Not only is this Pixar's first film to centre around a female protagonist, it's also the first with a female director (Brenda Chapman). At least... it was until Chapman was replaced by Mark Andrews halfway through. So, 'Brave-ish' perhaps? But then you recall Andrews co-wrote and worked as second unit director on John Carter, which takes us back to plain old Brave (or possibly insane). Of course replacing directors is almost a tradition at Pixar, with this now the fifth time it's happened, and usually the contradictory approach somehow works. On this occasion, however, it's not quite as effective since the competing visions fail to marry quite so seamlessly. The story follows Merida (voiced by Kelly Macdonald of Trainspotting and Boardwalk Empire fame) as a princess in training, though her attention and discipline run as wild as her Rebekah Brooks locks. She favours riding over reading, archery over tapestry and mischief over miss congeniality - all to the amusement of her father King Fergus (Billy Connolly) and the chagrin of her Queen mother Elinor (Emma Thompson). Tensions come to a head when it's announced three eligible clansmen will be competing for her hand in marriage, and in defiance of her mother she shuns tradition and sends the kingdom into turmoil. It's no surprise the 'animatography' in Brave is exquisite. Pixar's ability to imbue its characters with rich emotions, even when they're inanimate, is as impressive as it is now assumed, and the opening shots of the highland vistas are so photorealistic they could easily be mistaken for the opening shots of Prometheus. Ultimately Brave is probably Pixar's worst film to date. However, anything by Pixar will still be better than most of the other films that have (or will) come out this year. That's because the teams at its San Francisco-based headquarters know their story structure, character arcs and emotional triggers better than most, as well as how to make an audience laugh. And laugh you most certainly will. https://youtube.com/watch?v=TEHWDA_6e3M
Get your running shoes on and break open that piggy bank, it’s time for another Sass and Bide Warehouse Sale! Our favourite Aussie label is giving Brisbane fashionistas a chance to fill their wardrobes with some amazing designs with 50%-70% off everything. Worn by the likes of fashion royalty such as Sarah Jessica Parker, Rosie Huntington-Whiteley, Kate Bosworth, Madonna, Beyonce and Kate Moss, designers Sarah-Jane Clarke and Heidi Middleton have come a long way since meeting at high school in Brisbane. The talented duo began their design career selling customised jeans at Portobello Road Markets in London before coming home to launch their debut collection at Mercedes Benz Fashion Week in 2001. The often quirky but always fabulous label cemented its place in the hearts of ladies around the world with their revolutionary denim and continue to amaze and inspire with their ever evolving aesthetic. Get in quick, it’s sure to be first in best dressed - literally! Cash, eftpos & most major credit cards will be accepted.
Vaudeville, as a genre of entertainment, is not quite as prominent as it once was. Every show featured a bill of comedians, dancers, magicians, trained animals, acrobats, and minstrels, to say the least! Though the essence and influence of vaudeville can still be seen today, its original form has faded. Underground Productions’ second mainhouse show of 2012, Goodbye Vaudeville Charlie Mudd, explores the end of an era. Dancing on the edge of wartime, a troupe of vaudevillian performers are suspended in the year 1914. Lead by Charlie Mudd, the haphazard crew gathers together to perform to nobody, save perhaps the odd passer-by who happens to stumble across the eerie ensemble. Newcomer Violet is one such unfortunate, who joins the gang of misfits, only to become trapped in limbo as the performers descend into violent parody. As the fictitious realm of the vaudeville house becomes dangerously intertwined with reality, Violet embarks on a journey to solve the mystery and free the actors from themselves. The play was written by Melbourne-based playwright Lally Katz in collaboration with original director Chris Kohn. They were commissioned by Malthouse Theatre Company to come up with a brilliant idea, and voila! Don’t miss the Brisbane premier of Goodbye Vaudville Charlie Mudd!
Brisbane rock fans will be squeezing into their leather pants and teasing up their hair this Friday to catch British glam rock masters, The Darkness. The British Award winners are dropping Down Under on their second ever Australian tour before they jet off to support the one and only Lady Gaga on her upcoming European tour. After skyrocketing up the charts in 2003 with their hit single ‘I Believe in a Thing Called Love’, The Darkness enjoyed short lived stardom before singer Justin Hawkins checked out of the band and into rehab in 2006. Now back with their original line-up and a new album in the pipeline scheduled for later this year, the band are hitting our shores as part of their aptly titled Nothing’s Gonna Stop Us reunion tour. Supported by young Gold Coast up and comers Nine Sons of Dan, The Darkness will be blowing the roof of the sparkling new Eatons Hill Hotel with their (in)famous stage show rep' this Friday night.
If you want to get properly warmed up before jumping into fresh rainforest water this summer, take the track through Behana Gorge to discover the impressive swimming spot that is Clamshell Falls. Situated 30 minutes drive south of Cairns, the track winds its way alongside a babbling creek for 3.5 kilometres before opening up to a dreamy dip destination. The waterfall itself acts as an active backdrop to the gentler swimming hole that sits below. The incline of the walk can be challenging in parts which means it's likely there won't be too many people around. Just make sure you take all your essential items with you as there are no amenities when you're this deep into the jungle.
If poetry is something that makes you groan, question your intelligence, and bang your head against a wall, then you’ve been stuck in a highschool mindset for too long. In 2014 poetry isn’t all Keats, Lawson, “shall i compare thee to a summers day” and toupes– this is a time of rich and radical free verse. And there’s no better way to celebrate poetry than to sport your favourite black turtle neck and head along to the final of the 2014 Riverbend Poetry Series as launch for the Queensland Poetry Festival program. This evening will kick of at 6pm, and showcase some of the finest poetic voices of our time. Long time activist, post-surrealist writer and poet Lionel Fogarty is the sure highlight of the night. With words that have reformulated the understanding of poetic discourse and its roles in both black and white communities, he’s a master of the written word, and a leader in politically aware poetry. He’ll be joined by The Bell Divers, winner of the 2013 Queensland Literary Award for Emerging Author Rebecca Jessen, local poets Vanessa Page and John Koenig, and Zenobia Frost. Poetry is something Brisbane should always be proud of. We’re the city that bred David Malouf, Graham Nunn and The Brisbane Bard, and have a blossoming generation of up and comers ready to sport their quills and show of some a-grade verse. Buy a ticket to the Riverbend Poetry Series final, and show a little support.
Bunnings Warehouse is supercharging its usual sausage sizzle, to support a community of Aussies doing it pretty tough. Next Friday, August 10, all of the hardware giant's Queensland stores will host a special pre-weekend edition of their legendary snag sessions, raising coin for the Buy A Bale initiative, supporting drought-affected farmers. The initiative, part of the charity Rural Aid, lets you buy essentials — such as, yes, hay, as well as water, diesel and hampers — for farmers doing it rough. Which a lot of farmers are. Some areas of the country have been struggling with a years-long drought, and, more recently, farmers have been dealt an "unforgivingly dry winter". All of the day's sausage profits will go towards helping struggling farming families across Australia, at a time when bushfires, a lack of rain and changes to live exports have made life on the land seriously hard. Grab a snag in bread and show them some love. Buy a Bale sausage sizzles will run from 9am–4pm across all Bunnings Warehouses in Qld.
Our city is bubbling with creative talent, if you know where and when to find it. It can be an issue for Brisbane artists, musicians and writers to make contact with the wider public, so, that's where the Papergirl Project comes in. This ingenious community project involves everyone in Brisbane in the aim of spreading the incredible and inspiring pieces Brissie locals have created. The talented team behind this project gather art and writing from the local creative community, exhibit the fruits of their labour and then distribute art and writing to random passers-by. If you wish to help spread colour and creativity across Brisbane, all you need is a bicycle and a bag to carry the rolled up artworks. The Papergirl Project exhibition will be held on March 15 and the brilliant bike army will be heading out in full force on March 16. It's not about giving the artwork to the 'right' people; it's about sharing wonderful works with people who are in the right place at the right time.
It's hard to find sculptures that focus just as much on the internal as they do the exterior. The work of Sophie Bottomley does just this however, with pieces that explore their own guts while showing off visually seductive frames. With lush, repetitive surfaces, alluding to the artists hand, Bottomley places her attention on what lies underneath, in and around her pieces - check some out here. Now you can see Sophie Bottomley's work for yourself at Spiro Grace Art Room for her exhibition The Shape of the Mouth. The pieces on show will be transformed everyday materials that investigate the relationship between interior and exterior, form, scale, colour, light and surface, and do so in a way that invokes a strong corporeal and visceral response. The opening night for The Shape of the Mouth will be Thursday August 7, kicking off at 6pm, and the exhibition will run until August 30.
Feeling kind of basic today? Feel like you’d be better off in a High Fidelity scene, channelling John Cusack, Jack Black or just your run-of-the-mill rock snob? Then head to QAGOMA and get a healthy dose of pop culture, art and multimedia crossovers at their latest exhibition, Seen + Heard. The exhibition draws on major artworks, installations and multiples from the gallery’s collection which address the intersections, clashes and marriages of pop culture, music, sound and visual art. It’s like a super-dooper Venn diagram expressed by physical representations, rare records and art work that will have you crackling. Seen + Heard will draw on the work of sculptural sound pioneer Nam Jun Paik, publisher Francesco Cons, Philip Corner, Emmett Williams and Milan Knizak. It will also feature musical score, performance and sound installations, including Candice Breitz’s King, a portrait of Michael Jackson. Plus, a bundle of fancy LPs that will have you swooning and sulking with jealousy all at once. So whether you’re a creative type of not, head to QAGOMA and learn that pop culture isn’t all Andy Warhol and Simpsons references. Supposedly.
Contemporary music ensemble “Kupka’s Piano” are taking their talents far and wide throughout 2013, in the search of exciting composers of younger generations worldwide. The Brisbane-based outfit will be exploring new developments and musical concepts while premiering the latest Australian works commissioned just for this series. Each of their concerts will showcase a selection of international works that are innovative and intriguing, and link to those that Australia have to offer. Taking its name from Bohemian painter František Kupka’s iconic 1909 painting “The Piano Keys”, the ensemble aims to entice audiences into hearing new sounds, new structures, new musical ideas. It fills a gap in Brisbane’s music scene where the members, all in their 20s, focus on the works of their contemporaries. The concerts will be hosted throughout the year, from March to September, and so subscription passes are available for those who wish to see all four at a discounted rate.
Frontmen rarely come as charismatic as Henry Wagons. A storytelling character and a half, the Melburnian native has returned from the dark desert highways of the US to bring Wagons' shiny new album to the townspeople. Seeing music as a joyous occasion rather than a moment to wallow in your sorrows, Wagons' shows are downright shindiggerous in their approach. "'Music is a public activity — the very birth of music was designed to be joined in on,'' Wagons told SMH. ''The first music was played at celebrations. The insular emo songwriter in the bedroom is this recent offshoot of what music is at its core. Music for me is for other people. I write it alone, but with the idea of playing it for other people.'' These "other people" make up the remaining five members of Wagons, one of Australia's best and most underrated live bands. Wagons have just released their latest single 'Beer Barrel Bar', taken from brand new, sixth studio album Acid Rain and Sugar Cane and nabbing a four-star rating from Rolling Stone. Landing feature album at 2ser and RTR, Wagons' new release heralds the end of a long period between drinks for the band — Henry Wagons released his own lovelorn ballad-filled solo album in 2013 and spent many months on the dusty highways of America touring his wares. With Mick Harvey (The Birthday Party/Nick Cave And The Bad Seeds) behind the mixing desk and Wagons himself bringing his US-inspired country stomping style to the plate, Acid Rain and Sugar Cane has quite the Nashville twang to it. Best enjoyed with a whiskey in hand and a soulmate far away, the LP is a natural evolution of Wagons' indie country blues into an Ameristralian tavern hootenanny. https://youtube.com/watch?v=WXoiX2bFPDY
Let’s clear one thing up immediately: SPECTRE isn't nearly as bad as some critics are making out. We’re mercifully far from the nightmarish hellscape of Die Another Day or the '…...............huh?' of Quantum of Solace. It's just that SPECTRE isn’t quite Skyfall, either. Firstly, though, to the good bits. This film is stunning. Cinematographer and man with a Bond name Hoyte van Hoytema (Interstellar, Her) has crafted something magnificent here, framing every shot to perfection regardless of scale. Credit, too, to director Sam Mendes, who again proves that his dramatic background in no way hampers his ability to shoot thrilling action sequences. On that front, the film’s best is also its first: a five minute ‘uninterrupted’ tracking of Bond through the streets of Mexico during the Día de los Muertos festival. In fact, the whole first half hour of SPECTRE is so tight, its trajectory puts it on track to rival (or even surpass) its predecessor, however it's at that point where unfortunately the cracks also begin to appear. The overall viewing experience of SPECTRE might best be described as one of déjà vu. The story, to its benefit, draws heavily upon the three previous films as both an explanation for Bond’s increasingly tortured temperament and as a through-line tying the whole ‘Craig era’ together. Where things get problematic, though, is when near-identical scenes pop up from those earlier movies. Bond being fitted with an implanted tracking device in his right arm comes straight out of Casino Royale. Bond joining his beautiful French companion in a train's dining car while they discuss why he does what he does — that's Casino too. M having to the defend the 00 program from accusations of redundancy and outdatedness formed much of Judi Dench’s screen time in Skyfall, and the villain’s desert base in SPECTRE looks remarkably like the one from Quantum with a different coat of paint. Even the score by Thomas Newman feels overly familiar, with some sections essentially cut-and-paste jobs from the Skyfall soundtrack (Jellyfish to Hinx, for example). SPECTRE’s strongest scenes are its original ones, and with a reported budget of well over $200 million it’s a crime they weren’t all that way. On the performance front, Craig is reliably stony as Bond, although ‘franchise fatigue' has visibly set in. His dispassionate characterisation often slips into languor in SPECTRE, relinquishing only when opposite Léa Seydoux as his love interest Madeleine. Seydoux is the clear standout, imbuing Madeleine with every ounce of intelligence and mystery the script could provide. As the villain, Christoph Waltz receives a disappointing amount of screen time, and his character lacks much of the menace conveyed by Javier Bardem in Skyfall. Regulars M, Q and Moneypenny all hold their own (played again by Ralph Fiennes, Ben Whishaw and Naomie Harris), while Andrew Scott of Sherlock fame puts in a nice turn as ‘C’ — the new head of MI5. Again, this is not a bad film. The confusing or absent motivations, plot holes and scene repetition notwithstanding, SPECTRE still offers up all the elements of a classic Bond. Its action scenes are gripping, its wit affords welcome chuckles and its opulence entices. Any film that came after Skyfall was always going to be like opening up birthday socks when you'd already unwrapped the new car: it was destined to disappoint. But if you can remind yourself that socks are still pretty neat too, especially $200 million dollar ones with gorgeous people, places and cars on them, then you’ll find more than enough to like about SPECTRE.
If you haven’t heard of Brisbane’s Shakewell Magazine yet, then you best be tuning in. They’re a new local print publication promoting our creative, street, urban and underground culture, and doing it with some serious style. And sure, a magazine like this tends to pop up once every month of two, fizzle out after a few editions, and become shelved amongst other literary flops, but there's high chances Shakewell may be the one that shoots off as a new culture staple. Why? Because they’re self-proclaimed incoherently immature, aggressively unfancy, foolishly honest and irrationally interesting. Now, with an already addictive website under the belt – check it – they’re about to launch their first tangible issue of Shakewell Magazine at Jamie’s Espresso. Expect cheap drinks, plenty of cheer, an unfathomably perfect music playlist, and even some give aways. They’ve wrangled the sponsorship of Doss Blockos, 7 Tate Crush City, STIL HORA and Phresh Ink, so expect this launch party to be oozing crafty art and many derivatives of 'cool'. The party kicks of this Friday at 6pm, and will probably last late into the eve. If you can’t make it, but still want to support this innovative venture, pre-order the first edition of Shakewell Magazine here, then laminate, because who know’s how much it’ll be worth 30 years from now.
