Usually, it's the early bird that gets gourmet bites to eat, farm-fresh produce to line the cupboards, and an enjoyable stint of browsing and shopping at Milton Markets. If you'd like to head along later in the day, you normally need to wait until Christmas. But this westside market also hosts seasonal shindigs whenever the weather changes, and it's giving everyone a sleep in at its spring event. When Seasonal Flavours returns to Cribb Street on Saturday, September 11, it'll be doing so at twilight. As otherwise happens on a Sunday morning, more than 150 stalls will descend upon the corner of Cribb and Little Cribb streets to sell tasty wares and other assorted products. From 4–10pm , you can wander through massive fig trees to join them. You can listen to live music and sip sangria and ginger beer at pop-up bars as well. If fresh seasonal fruit gets your stomach grumbling, you can stock up here. If vegan eats do as well, you'll be in luck again. And if you're fond of flowers, expect to find more than a few of those as well. Entry costs $2, as does parking — and if you're wondering why the event has jumped to an afternoon and evening time slot, that's because Milton Markets Christmas in July event was affected by Brisbane's last lockdown.
Does your Friday afternoon ritual involve enjoying a few hard-earned drinks to welcome in the weekend? Are you desperately yearning for a holiday somewhere much further away than this sprawling country of ours? And, one more question for you: are you happy to sip a few tequila cocktails and trick your tastebuds into thinking they've really gone on a getaway? That's what Cloudland's Take Flight Friday sessions are all about. The destination: Mexico. Each Friday night from Friday, August 20–Friday, September 27, it's whisking cocktail lovers away with its range of tequila concoctions, with tickets costing $30 per person. You have two options — because even a faux vacation should come with choices. Head along on August 20, September 3 or September 10, and you'll score a guided tour experience. That just means you'll start with a guided tasting of four tequilas, and then you'll be treated to two mini beverages that go heavy on blue agave spirit. Or, make a night of it on August 27, September 17 or September 24 and you'll be on the self-discovery tour. You'll get four mini cocktails this time around, and it's up to you when you sip them.
When Friday, August 27 rolls around, it won't just be another day on the calendar. If you like oysters, it'll be a day full of them. There's no actual special occasion — it isn't Oyster Day, which is a real thing that does actually exist — but you can still spend your lunchtime slurping down more than a few molluscs. From 12–4pm, Alchemy will be serving up plenty of oysters in its riverside Eagle Street digs. Even better: it'll be offering up $1.50 oysters. There's no missing numeral in the price, either, so gather your spare change for a feast of Australia's finest. What you decide to pair them with, drinks-wise, is up to you, although there will be spiced mai tais, Toblerone martinis and Alchemy's signature London mules on offer. The special's timing means that you can pop by for lunch or a mid-afternoon snack; however, this deal will only last until sold out.
This spring, you won't be jetting over to the Italian riviera. You can still eat and drink like you are, though. Fortitude Valley's La Costa Restaurant and Bar takes its cues from that sunny and scenic part of the globe all year round, and it's carrying that vibe over to its new Sunday Seafood and Spritz specials. Kicking off just before the flowers start blooming again for this year — on Sunday, August 29, with a second session planned for Sunday, September 18, too — these two-hour sessions pair bottomless spritzes with a tower of seafood. You'll sip orange-hued cocktails, or wine and beer if you'd prefer. Food-wise, you'll feast your way through scallops, oysters and prawns, as well as calamari, ceviche and the grilled catch of the day. Two sittings are being held each day, from 12–2pm and 2.30–4.30pm. So, you just need to decide how early you want to get out of bed — and whether you'll be paying $59 per person for a midday seafood feast or a late-afternoon session.
Eight years goes mighty fast when it's filled with food, markets and a great riverside vantage, as Eat Street Northshore now knows. After opening its doors back in 2013, the Hamilton spot is celebrating another year of doing what it does best — that is, letting Brisbanites wander through its alleyways and feast on its spoils. Across the weekend of Friday, November 5–Sunday, November 7, Eat Street's eighth birthday shindig will well and truly commemorate the occasion with a heap of performances, food and fireworks. Whichever day you decide to stop by, you'll find a packed agenda of entertainment. You'll also find plenty to eat, of course. The three-day shenanigans run during Eat Street Northshore's usual weekend trading hours, so head along between 4–10pm on Friday and Saturday, and 4–9pm on Sunday. The usual entry price of $5 also applies, but bring your wallet for whatever you'll be consuming. [caption id="attachment_696389" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Eat Street Northshore.[/caption] Top image: Misaochan2 via Wikimedia Commons.
From the city's big stars to its everyday faces, everyone earns at place at the Brisbane Portrait Prize. The initiative kicked off in 2019, showcasing the folks that make this town of ours great — and the talented Brisbane artists who've committed their likeness to canvas. Indeed, subject-wise, these pieces always read like a who's who of Brissie each year. And if you're keen to see 2021's crop, select pieces are on display at Metro Arts from Friday, November 5–Sunday, November 14. With a big focus on emerging artists, this free exhibition includes works by Martin Edge, Monica Rohan, Kailum Graves, Elliot Brown, Liam Nunan and Tammy Law — spanning subjects such as Steven Oliver, Benjamin Law and artist Numpty (aka Gabriel Denham). Think of a trip to the exhibition as the people-watching you do when you're not actually staring at flesh-and-blood people. You'll it on display each Friday–Sunday from 11am–4pm.
This Christmas, it's time to deck your halls with boughs of whichever greenery you'd like — and to give plenty of plants as gifts, too. That's on the agenda at VEND Marketplace, which is hosting a huge Christmas Twilight Market. There'll be more than just succulents, cacti and indoor-friendly plants on offer; however, given that the northside spot is home to its own indoor greenhouse — aptly called the Greenhouse, naturally — that's definitely a big drawcard. Between 5–9pm on Saturday, November 27, you'll also be able to get festive at VEND's 100-plus shops, and at the array of pop-up stalls that it's setting up outside. Food trucks will keep your stomach satisfied while you're picking gifts — including for yourself — and the VEND cafe will also be serving boozy beverages and Christmas dinner specials. Also, VEND is also doggo-friendly — should you want to bring your four-legged pal with you for a stint of seasonal fun. Images: VEND Marketplace.
Yeerongpilly's Plant Empire sells greenery every day of the week, helping folks with green thumbs — and those who wish they had them, too — fill their homes with leafy babies. But on Sunday, December 5, it's doing something more than that. You can still browse the store's shelves for plants, of course; however you can also head round back to check out the pop-up Christmas market. As well as plants, you'll be able to peruse a range of pots. If you're going to buy one of your loved ones some greenery, you'll want something to put it in, obviously. Also on offer: ceramics, jewellery and other handmade crafts. And if you happen to arrive hungry — Sunday mornings can do that to even the most satisfied stomach — there'll be food and coffee available as well, all while you listen to live tunes. Just drop by the Station Road spot between 9am–1pm, when the morning-long market and its 60-plus stalls will be in full swing. The usual advice applies here, as it does to all plant markets: yes, more greenery is always a good thing. Images: Plant Empire.
This spring and summer, the Regatta is using the balmy weather as an excuse to give its courtyard a makeover. That's what In Full Bloom is all about — hanging out in the Toowong pub's openair space, eating, drinking and making the most of this time of year, all while surrounded by flowers aplenty (and while drinking plenty of spritzes, too). Every day right up until the end of summer, kicking off at 11.30am daily, the Toowong pub is serving up mushroom sliders, peking duck shanks, fried cauliflower popcorn, loaded mini hotdogs and fried prawn tacos — all in its new floral-heavy setup. Drinks-wise, it's pouring spritzes, including from a pop-up spritz cart. It'll be on the premises between 12–5pm on Sundays each week, and you'll be able to not only pick your beverages, but also your garnishes. Live music will soundtrack your Sunday sessions, too — if you need another excuse to head along.
If you like beer and you live in Brisbane, then you've probably noticed a trend in recent years. In fact, you've probably been making the most of it. That's to be expected when a certain patch of turf starts welcoming new drinking spots with frequency. Thanks to Ballistic Beer Co in Salisbury, as well as Helios Brewing Company and Slipstream Brewing Company in Yeerongpilly, there's no shortage of breweries to have a beer at on the southside — and while you've likely been hopping between them all anyway, Beermuda Triangle gives the area's boozy crawl an official spin. Head to any of the trio between 1–7pm on Saturday, October 30, get sipping, then catch a courtesy bus to the other two — and drink more frothy ales at each, obviously. Entry is free, more than 50 brews will be on offer, and there'll also be food trucks and live music at each brewery. Plus, you'll be able to just generally soak in the boozy Salisbury and Yeerongpilly vibes. Also, because this edition of Beermuda Triangle is being held just a day before Halloween, each brewery will also be whipping up a special spooky-themed beer for the day. And, wearing costumes is highly recommended. Basically, think of this brewery crawl as a beer-drinking version of trick-or-treating.
First, South Bank's Gallery of Modern Art filled its walls with European masterpieces. Next, a multi-sensory art experience that turns Vincent van Gogh's paintings into walk-through installations is setting up shop in Hamilton. So yes, 2021 has been a great year for looking at exceptional and iconic art in Brisbane — so much so that an exhibition that recreates Michelangelo's Sistine Chapel frescos has now popped up West End's West Village. On display from Wednesday, October 27–Wednesday, January 5, Michelangelo's Sistine Chapel: The Exhibition is filled with life-sized versions of all the stunning art that has long made the Vatican cathedral a must-visit destination. The showcase's 34 pieces have all been created using a printing technique that emulates the look and feel — and detail, colours and brushstrokes — of the original paintings, so it really is the next best thing to seeing the real thing on the other side of the globe. Michelangelo's Sistine Chapel: The Exhibition hits Brisbane after sold-out stops in Chicago, London and San Francisco, and takes between 60–90 minutes to peruse. Of course, you can still view the OG pieces digitally via the Vatican's online tour — but this'll let you take in the immense detail beyond your computer screen. These artworks have glistened for more than five centuries and, as absolutely everyone knows, they comprise quite the sight.
BIGSOUND, the huge music industry conference and festival that usually takes over Brisbane each year, isn't happening in 2021. Newcomer BLAKSOUND is definitely forging ahead, however. And, due to the pandemic, the 100-percent First Nations youth-led music conference is rolling out virtually — so you can watch a heap of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander talents share their thoughts about the music and arts industries all from the comfort of your couch. This three-day fest not only celebrates First Nations artists, but champions their voices and viewpoints about all things creative. The online conference a bit like a series of TEDx talks crossed with Sydney Opera House's Antidote Festival, and it's jam-packed with engaging folks. You'll hear veterans and up-and-comers alike dive into issues that affect First Nations communities, and also chat about how to push the next generation of Indigenous talents to the fore. Between Monday, September 6–Wednesday, September 8, BLAKSOUND is streaming speeches and workshops featuring everyone from Christine Anu and Ziggy Ramo to Baker Boy and both Troy and Jem Cassar-Daley. Also on the bill: GLVES, Kobie Dee, Alice Skye and Marlene Cummins, as well as journalist Rachael Hocking and broadcaster Rhianna Patrick. Broadcast from Meeanjin (Brisbane), BLAKSOUND is free to watch, too — or you can make a donation if you're able.
Every Brisbanite has caught a CityCat at some point. Since picnic boats started motoring up and down the river, you might've eaten lunch while sailing through the city with your mates, too. And, you could've also pedalled a floating bike along the waterway — because, when it comes to making the most of this River City, there's no shortage of options. The next way to cruise down the Brown Snake comes courtesy of Museum of Brisbane, with the CBD venue launching its own boat tours. Obviously, you won't be hopping onboard at its usual address. Instead, you'll mosey down to the City Botanic Gardens, then spend three hours floating past historic landmarks. Kicking off on Wednesday, November 3, and running every Wednesday and Sunday through till Sunday, December 19, the Tides of Brisbane boat tours will dive deep into Brissie history — verbally, not literally, of course. So, you'll hear about important sites, convict-built structures and more, all while soaking in quite the view. The latter is one of the reasons that new ways to hop on the river keep popping up, after all. This is Museum of Brisbane's first-ever series of boat tours, following its popular walking options — such as its new public art tour that launched earlier in 2021. Twenty people can hop onboard at once, and each $120 tour includes a stop at Sea Legs Brewing Co in Kangaroo Point; however, you will need to pay extra for food and drink.
Some colours only exist in nature, as much as paints, dyes and pixels attempt to pretend otherwise. The raging reds, blazing oranges and burning yellows seen in A Fire Inside's bushfire footage are some such hues — and, away from the safety of a cinema screen, no one should ever want to spy these specific searing tones. They're haunting enough as it is to look at in a movie. Taking up entire frames of on-the-ground footage shot during the summer of 2019–20, they're scorching in their brightness and intensity. This documentary about the national natural disaster just two years ago, when swathes of Australia burned for months, deploys those apocalyptic colours and the imagery containing them sparingly, notably; however, even when they only flicker briefly, those shades aren't easily forgotten. After everything the pandemic has delivered since the beginning of 2020, just as the 'Black Summer' bushfires were cooling, that chapter of history might seem far longer ago than just a couple of years. A Fire Inside is also an act of remembrance, though. Directors Justin Krook (Machine, I'll Sleep When I'm Dead) and Luke Mazzaferro (a producer on Girls Can't Surf and The Meddler) firmly look backwards, pushing these events back to the top of viewers' memories. That said, they also survey the situation since, as the rebuilding effort has been complicated and elongated by COVID-19. This approach also enables them to survey the lingering aftermath, including the homes that still haven't been rebuilt, the people still residing in makeshift setups, and the emotional and mental toll that's set to dwell for much longer still. Accordingly, what could've merely been a record of a catastrophe becomes a portrait of both survival and resilience. Unsurprisingly, interviews drive this Australian doco, focusing on people in two camps: the afflicted and the volunteers. Folks in each group chat about their experiences, and the lines between them frequently blur. Firefighter Nathan Barnden provides the first and clearest instance; the film's key early subject, he saved seven strangers and retained his own life in an inferno on the very first night that the fires reached New South Wales' far south coast, but also lost his cousin and uncle to the blazes the same evening. Barnden claims Krook and Mazzaferro's attention for multiple reasons, including his initial youthful eagerness to pick up a hose — following his father, who had done the same — as well as his candour about his distress in the months and now years afterwards. Often overlooked in tales of such events, that kind of emotion sears itself onto the screen with unshakeable power, too. A Fire Inside spends time with others affected, residents and volunteers alike. RFS captain Brendan O'Connor saved his community, alongside his crew, but suffered in his personal life — and his is just one of the film's stories. Krook and Mazzaferro don't loiter on the same kinds of details over and over again, but whether talking to food bank staff, backpackers helping with re-fencing damaged farms or locals who saw everything they belonged succumb to the flames, the duelling sensations of both endurance and loss remain throughout their doco. The mood: careful, caring, sensitive and poignant. This is a movie that conjures up every sentiment expected, but also one that earns every reaction. Heartbreak and hope seesaw, and recognising that back-and-forth ride is one of the film's canny touches. Just as astute, and as important, is the question simmering at A Fire Inside's core: why? That query isn't directed at the fires, with their cause naturally receiving oxygen during the movie's discussions, but is instead aimed at everyone who chose to help then and since — no matter on what scale. The answers are complex, which the documentary acknowledges in its format, structure and editing. It lets its lineup of chats all sit side by side, weaving them together and jumping between them, and the effect resembles a filmic mosaic. In interview after interview, the movie doesn't seek to come up with a definitive reason, but to present the range of responses, covering the impulses, thoughts and feelings, as well as the realities behind them. Tributes to bushfire volunteers and victims have taken many forms since 2019, such as concerts raising money and faces plastered across the Sydney Opera House sails. But A Fire Inside takes those gestures of appreciation to another level — and, as it dives so heartily into the ramifications of assisting during the fires and since, it ensures that all of that gratitude goes hand in hand with recognition. Saluting such selfless acts inherently involves noting them, of course. Still, realising that the toll keeps persisting, that the shock and trauma doesn't instantly subside when the flames are extinguished, and that volunteering is also an act of emotional labour isn't always as innate. A Fire Inside sees that as clearly as it perceives those red, orange and yellow hues, and as acutely as it finds as both grief and inspiration in the ashes.
Sometimes, the name says it all. That's certainly the case with Series Mania. This television festival's moniker sounds like humanity's reaction each and every time a new season of a TV show arrives on a streaming platform — and also aptly describes how we've all been spending the 18 months or so. After first hitting Melbourne back in 2017 and making two repeat visits before the pandemic, Series Mania is returning again in 2021 from Thursday, October 14–Sunday, October 17. This time, like many things at the moment, it's jumping online. You've been streaming your way through much of your life lately, and now you can do the same with the only Australian leg of the world's biggest TV festival. On the bill this year: four days of free sessions all dedicated to new and exciting television shows, including returning favourites and upcoming must-sees. Eleven series will have episodes available to stream via ACMI's digital platform Cinema 3, including the second season of Deborah Mailman and Rachel Griffiths-starring drama Total Control; Netflix's Hellbound, the first live-action series from South Korean Train to Busan and Peninsula director Yeon Sang-ho; L'Opera, which is set in a Parisian ballet company and stars The Lobster's Ariane Labed; and Aussie doomsday prepper comedy Preppers, as starring and co-written by Nakkiah Lui. Watching along won't cost you a cent, but you do need to book in for each session in advance.
After revealing the first four titles from this year's program back in mid-September, the Brisbane International Film Festival has just unveiled its entire 103-film 2021 lineup. Brissie cinephiles, get ready to spend 11 days in the city's cinemas watching everything from Edgar Wright's latest, an Oscar Isaac-starring gambling drama and this year's Berlinale Golden Bear winner, through to flicks based on Twitter threads, new works from acclaimed directors and Nicolas Cage's latest OTT effort (yes, another one). Those aforementioned highlights include Last Night in Soho, which sees Shaun of the Dead filmmaker Wright embrace psychological thrills; The Card Counter, starring not only Isaac but Tiffany Haddish (Girls Trip); and Bad Luck Banging or Loony Porn, owner of the best movie title you're likely to see anytime soon. And, it also covers Zola, the wild drama based on that viral 148-tweet thread; Vortex, the latest film from Love's Gaspar Noe; Memoria, which sees Thai filmmaker Apichatpong Weerasethakul (Cemetery of Splendour) team up with Tilda Swinton for his English-language debut (and for BIFF's closing night slot) — and Prisoners of the Ghostland, where Cage joins forces with inimitable Japanese director Sion Sono (Why Don't You Play in Hell?, Tokyo Tribe). In total 81 features and 22 shorts are on the revamped BIFF's bill, screening at New Farm Cinemas, The Elizabeth Picture Theatre, Reading Newmarket, Dendy Coorparoo, Palace James Street and GOMA's Australian Cinémathèque between Thursday, October 21–Sunday, October 31. Still sticking with numbers, that includes four world premieres and 26 Australian premieres among the feature lineup — and, across both full-length and short films, 150 sessions in total. Other must-sees: the already-announced The Drover's Wife The Legend of Molly Johnson, with the Leah Purcell-starring and -directed film kicking off this year's festival; Petite Maman, the eagerly anticipated new film from Portrait of a Lady on Fire's Céline Sciamma; and The Worst Person in the World, the Norwegian comedy-drama that picked the Best Actress prize at this year's Cannes Film Festival. From the just-revealed newcomers to the lineup, Australian documentary River, Hugo Weaving and Tilda Cobham-Hervey-starring Aussie thriller Lone Wolf, and eagerly awaited drama Bergman Island from Mia Hansen-Løve (Things to Come) all sit alongside Andrea Arnold's (American Honey) documentary Cow, Ryûsuke Hamaguchi's Japanese duo of Drive My Car and Wheel of Fortune and Fantasy, and sublime German fantasy-drama Undine. Plus, Viggo Mortensen jumps both behind and in front of the lens with Falling, Alicia Vikander leads immigration drama Blue Bayou, Wyrmwood: Apocalypse serves up an Aussie horror sequel and the original version of The Witches is getting a retro screening.
UPDATE, October 5, 2021: The Espresso Martini Festival will no longer take place on Friday, October 8, and has been moved to Saturday, November 13. This article has been updated to reflect that change. Fancy giving your weekend a buzz? Prefer your cocktails caffeinated? Never say no to an espresso martini? Then you'll want to get sipping at Brisbane's latest boozy festival. This city has welcomed espresso martini fests before, and it no doubt will again — but this one comes not only with the OG concoction, but also with a double choc chip variety and a Golden Gaytime version. Clearly, this event has a motto: why just drink one liquor-fuelled mashup when you can keep layering in other faves? So, you'll be able to knock back all three flavours from 9pm on Saturday, November 13, all at The Triffid. You'll pay $20 for a ticket, then $12 for each cocktail — and you'll be pairing them with 90s and early 00s bangers. Yes, this festival is a bit of a hybrid itself, combining a boozy celebration of espresso martinis in creative flavours with an old school club night. The No Scrubs DJs will be on the deck, so expect to be dancing to everything from TLC (obviously) and Britney Spears to Backstreet Boys and Outkast.
Much about the past couple of years has felt dystopian, but that isn't stopping one West End spot from indulging in an annual tradition. That'd be Archive Beer Boutique's signature event, Armakeggon, which returns on Saturday, November 6. Obviously, the bar will still be around long after the shindig is over. It isn't the end times on Boundary Street. Head along, though, and you'll find 45 extra-special beverages being poured through the establishment's taps until your beer-loving heart is content. Expect both new and rare brews, plus old favourites, too. For those after more than an out-of-the-ordinary drop of the yeasty good stuff, there'll also be games throughout the day, live music and masterclasses — the latter taking place in Archive's sibling venue Loft. Entry is free from 11.30am, or you can nab a $25 VIP ticket to head in early at 10am and get sipping before the event opens to the general public. The paid option also includes a tasting paddle with four brews, plus a bacon and egg roll to line your stomach. Images: Archive Beer Boutique.
Since May this year, W Brisbane's Living Room Bar has been giving the city a world-best experience. For the past six months, it's been teaming up with Spain's Paradiso to serve up the Barcelona watering hole's top-notch tipples — drinks from a venue that, after placing third in 2021, has just taken out top spot on the World's 50 Best Bars list for 2022. Yes, these literally are the planet's best cocktails. As well as sipping them, which Brisbanites can still do, you can also now learn how to make them. At three two-hour sessions over two days — at 5pm on Thursday, October 27, and then at 11.30am and 5pm on Sunday, October 30; take your pick — the Paradiso x W Brisbane masterclass will teach you everything you need to know to whip up quite the impressive beverages. Paradiso's expert mixologist Gianluca Bosso is heading to Brisbane for the sessions, which'll show attendees how to make three of Paradiso's signature cocktails step by step. That spans finding out about the unique ingredients used and the techniques that go into each drink — making edible foam cloud included. These classes will cost you a pretty penny, aka $259 per person, but you'll also be mixing up drinks in W Brisbane's level-33 penthouse suite (the Extreme WOW Suite), which comes with killer views. After that, the session moseys down to Living Room Bar, where you'll tuck into a degustation menu and taste a bespoke Paradiso x W Brisbane cocktail, too. And, you won't go home empty-handed thanks to a cocktail recipe card and a Woodford Reserve Bourbon gift set to keep.
Some films are long, slow and serious. Others are brief, quick and fun. There's a place for the former, of course; however, Radical Reels champions the latter category, combining the most action-packed mountain movies it can find into a compilation of high-octane shorts. Radical Reels is the adrenaline-loving little brother of the Banff Mountain Film Festival, the prestigious international film competition and annual presentation of short films and documentaries about mountain culture, sports, and environment. From the most recent festival's batch of submissions, a subset of daring displays have been singled out for not just one evening at the cinema, but three at Brisbane Powerhouse. Between Wednesday, October 19–Friday, October 21, Radical Reels will approach the very edge of action sports and natural highs: the wild rides, long lines, steep jumps, and skilled stunts, as well as the rugged playgrounds thrill-seekers explore on their mountain bikes, paddles, ropes, skis, snowboards and wingsuits. 2022 highlights include ski flick Maneuvers; Always Higher, about high diving; Arves-En-Ciel, focusing on walking between two rock towers on a slackline; and the wingsuit flying-centric Trustfall. Expect the world's best extreme athletes getting fast and furious — and expect quite the thrilling ride from the comfort of your cushy cinema seat, too. Top image: Arves-En-Ciel.
Not content with terrifying southeast Queenslanders with just one unsettling shipping container installation at a time, the folks at Realscape Productions have brought two of their disquieting Darkfield experiences to Movie World in the lead up to Halloween. The first, Séance, spells out how and why it gets eerie in its name. As for the second? The fact that it's called Flight also says plenty. Like its sibling, this immersive favourite involves stepping inside a 40-foot steel box, sitting in pitch darkness and listening to a particularly immersive soundscape while the production plays with your sense of reality. If you're not fond of flying or don't cope well with the possibility of things going awry in the air, you might want to stay away. If your nerves and stomach can handle all of the above, step onboard. You won't actually be jetting anywhere, of course; however you will be strapping yourself into a section of a real commercial airliner, then pondering the many possible outcomes if the cabin suddenly happened to lose pressure. Created by Glen Neath and David Rosenberg, Flight draws upon the many-worlds interpretation of quantum mechanics while taking attendees on a multi-sensory journey. If you're keen, Flight forms part of the theme park's October Fright Nights on Friday and Saturday evenings. That means that you do need to buy a ticket to the whole shindig, then nab a ticket to this on top; however, you will get to enjoy this particular experience, plus everything else that's on the Fright Nights agenda. On that list: spooky entertainment, creepy precincts, themed mazes (some of which also cost extra) and, of course, Movie World's rides. Buckle up, and prepare to have your head completely messed with — unless you're claustrophobic, pregnant, or suffer heart or back conditions, in which case you'll have to firmly stay on the ground. [caption id="attachment_852676" align="alignnone" width="1920"] by Alex Purcell[/caption] Image: Mihaela Bodlovic.
For the past few years, the unnerving Séance installation has been popping up around southeast Queensland and spooking the region out. In 2022, it's back again — because when better than the lead up to Halloween? This time around, however, it's setting up its big, white container at Movie World on the Gold Coast as part of the theme park's October Fright Nights on Friday and Saturday evenings. That means that you do need to buy a ticket to the whole shindig, then nab a Séance ticket on top; however, you will get to enjoy this particular experience, plus everything else that's on the Fright Nights agenda. On that list: spooky entertainment, creepy precincts, themed mazes (some of which also cost extra) and, of course, Movie World's rides. Unlike most shipping containers around the place, this one isn't being used to transport furniture. And, given that the word 'séance' is written on the side in black, it's definitely more than a little ominous. Participants will be able to take a seat inside, and then put on a headset. You'll next be told to put both hands on the table. The lights go out, leaving the place in absolute darkness — and, for 20 uneasy minutes, you'll be taken on an immersive journey led only by touch and sounds. Expect to feel confused, repulsed and struck with temporary claustrophobia. According to organisers, numerous participants have bailed halfway through sittings in the past. You're probably thinking that there's something dark or supernatural about the whole thing — and going by the name, we don't blame you. But the installation's organiser says that 'séance' is simply a French word meaning 'session' or 'sitting'. And so Séance is a sensory experience that looks at the psychology of both sensory deprivation and the dynamics of a group sitting together. It's a scary indicator of how easy it is for confusion, disorientation and information overload to affect our judgement. (We're serious when we say Séance is not recommended for the claustrophobic, the easily frightened or those afraid of the dark.) Artists David Rosenberg and Glen Neath of Darkfield (who have collaborated in other sensory deprivation projects before) are the creative masterminds behind the project, which has been described as 'disorienting' and 'deeply unsettling'. And if need more of an idea of what you're in for, you might've listened to Darkfield's at-home experiences in the past few years, too — such as Double, Visitors, Eternal and Knot — and experienced a few bumps and jumps. [caption id="attachment_804877" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Séance in Sydney in 2017[/caption]
El Camino Cantina is known for its colourful interiors, cheap Tuesday tacos and giant margaritas, including at its venues all around Brisbane. Those oversized drinks are a huge drawcard, and they're on offer every day — but every now and then, the lively Tex Mex chain throws in a few specials. Brisbanites, it's that time again. Until Monday, March 13, El Camino's local outposts are celebrating those easy-to-down slushie margs with a month-long ode to the frozen cocktail. In the spotlight: ten of the chain's favourite special flavours, including varieties like Skittle, marshmallow, fruit tingle, sour apple and 'rita colada. The lineup also includes classics like mango, strawberry and lychee — and a watermelon and chilli number as well. South Bank's venue is serving all ten for the entire month, as it the Surfers Paradise joint, with El Camino's other locations at Bowen Hills and Chermside in Brisbane, Robina on the Gold Coast and Sunshine Plaza on the Sunshine Coast rotating through them. Drop by any site on National Margarita Day, which falls on Wednesday, February 22, and there'll also be a limited-edition one-day-only 'rita: a mango and gold Grand Marnier float version made with aged Patrón Anejo tequila, gold leaf and dry ice.
When it comes to watching films in the open air when the weather is warm, Brisbane's trusty go-to is Moonlight Cinema, which screens from November through to February each year. Looking for somewhere to catch a flick under the stars this autumn instead? From Thursday, March 23–Saturday, April 27, Sunset Cinema returns to the River City as part of its national tour, making Northshore Hamilton's Maritime Green its new home. Maybe it's the twilight glow. Perhaps it's the stars twinkling above. Or, it could be the cooling breeze, the picnic blankets and beanbags as far as the eye can see, and just seeing a movie grace a giant screen with a scenic backdrop. When the weather is warm enough, as it is for much of the year in Brisbane, a trip to the cinema just seems to shine brighter when it's outdoors for all of these reasons and more — and that's what's on offer in Hamilton for just over a month. Kicking off the Northshore run is Magic Mike's Last Dance and its lusty thrills — and it pops up on the program again later in the season, too. Or, viewers can enjoy the John Wick franchise's latest outing, The Menu's savage take on the restaurant trade, 2022 blockbusters Top Gun: Maverick and Avatar: The Way of Water, and a retro double feature of Clueless and Mean Girls. It's an eclectic array of flicks, clearly. Other titles include the Tom Hanks-starring A Man Called Otto, Marvel's new Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania, Adam Driver fighting dinosaurs in 65 and the old Hollywood excess of Babylon. Or, get blast from the pasts with 10 Things I Hate About You and a sing-along session of the animated The Lion King. With a setup perfect for cosy date nights or an easy group hangs outdoors, BYO picnics are encouraged here — but the event is fully licensed, so alcohol can only be purchased onsite. Didn't pack enough snacks? There'll be hot food options, plus plenty of the requisite movie treats like chips, chocolates, lollies and popcorn. And, on Fridays and Saturdays, Eat Street Northshore is right next door.
Thirsty? If you're not now, you will be once you've read this. That's the only appropriate reaction to a festival of beer, after all. Just think of all the amber liquids and foamy goodness. Okay, enough drooling; here are the important details that every ale-lover needs. When Beer Fest On the Grass returns for its whopping tenth year from 11am on Saturday, July 29, more than 300 beers and ciders will be on offer. To line your stomach, there'll also be a range of international food trucks. Basically, if there's a beer heaven, this is it. Yes, Eatons Hill Hotel has been hosting this tipple-fuelled shindig for a decade — and will once again celebrate drinking, eating and enjoying a day in Brisbane's glorious outdoors. If you're serious about your beverages, you'll want to taste, sip, sample and chat to folks from a huge selection of breweries. And, if you're serious about fun, you'll want to gather some mates and take part in the event's other fun activities — in previous years, there's been an inflatable beer obstacle course, a keg-stacking comp and a life-sized game of foosball. Tickets are on sale now, with second-release entry starting at $23.80. Top image: Brisbane Beer Fest. Updated July 24, 2023.
Is your wardrobe overflowing with clothes that you don't wear? We've all been there, and we've all been too busy to do anything about it. Through its op shops, Australian Red Cross finds a new home for your pre-loved outfits, shoes and accessories, with proceeds going towards its charity efforts — but we all know that wanting to donate your old threads is one thing and finding the time to do it is another. That's why Australian Red Cross has once again partnered with Uber for its annual Uber x Red Cross Clothing Drive. When it launched in 2018, it collected over 43,500 kilograms of clothing in that first year alone, which saw clothing items worth an estimated $800,000 donated. And you'd best take the drive part literally, as the ride-sharing service will actually drive to your house, pick up your unwanted clothes and accessories, and deliver them to Red Cross Shops. Even better: it's not only super easy to take part, but it's free as well. Brisbanites just make sure you're ready between 10am–4pm on Saturday, November 19. Once you've bagged up all of your old bits and pieces (items you'd happily give your best friend, and no toys, books, furniture or electrical objects) into a bundle that weighs no more than 20 kilograms, it's all incredibly simple. Open the Uber app during that six-hour window, then find the 'package' option. After that, you need to click 'send a package', enter "Red Cross Clothing Drive" as the destination, and select one of the Red Cross Clothing Drive locations displayed An Uber driver will then stop outside your house, meaning that you just need to take your preloved goods out to their car. Voila, you've cleared out your closet and you've helped folks in need, all with the tap of a button.
If one man's trash is another man's treasure, then a trunk full of junk may as well be a treasure chest. Suitcase Rummage gets that when it comes to shopping, secondhand reaps the best bang for your buck. For years, it has been hosting regular events around town — and, after a chaotic 2020, now it's still going strong in 2021. Next unpacking its bags on Sunday, September 5 and Sunday, September 18 at Brisbane Square, Suitcase Rummage will feature a crowd of open suitcases filled with the type of clothes, knick-knacks and craft you probably don't need but definitely deserve. If you can't make it now, try again on the first and third Sundays of each month. And, if you've got a pile of unwanted bits and pieces that someone else could love, you could always take your own suitcase along. Those who wanting to sell their wares must register — and it'll cost $25 for a 'stall'. You can bring up to three suitcases, so you can lug in all those shoes you've been promising to wear but certainly will not. [caption id="attachment_760661" align="aligncenter" width="1920"] Suitcase Rummage[/caption] Top image: Yan Chen via Suitcase Rummage. Updated August 27.
Francisco López is bringing his sweet Spanish sounds to Brisbane for one night at the Powerhouse. Known across the globe for pushing the limits in the areas of sound art and experimental music, Francisco is a pro at creating unique soundscapes. He invites you to embark on a journey, blindfolded, within his surprising world with his impressive tracks which leave you questioning all that you have heard. Francisco has played at hundreds of concerts and venues such as London Institute of Contemporary Arts, All Tomorrow Parties Festival and Olympia Festival. The Spanish artist has created sound installations in over sixty countries and collaborated with over 150 international artists. His incredible contributions to the music world have been recognised at the Arts Electronica Festival as the winner of the Qwartz Award 2010. Whet your appetite for Francisco López's magical world with his epic track 'Köllt'. https://youtube.com/watch?v=YDF8NzCZ-Xs
British singer/producer Ghostpoet, aka Obaro Ejimiwe, is coming Down Under to tour his latest record Some Say I So I Say Light. A record that mystifies listeners with its post-genre electronic production featuring loose and stretched out raps (in his sunken British accent). He captures a dark moodiness that brews amongst contagious hip hop beats. It's a treat to listen to, and hard to compare to anything else, really. Ejimiwe has a way of creating forward-thinking music. His distinct and uncategorised style puts him on his own pedestal. The unique artistry present in his latest record follows on from his debut Peanut Butter Blues & Melancholy Jam, which received a Mercury Music Prize nomination in 2011. He'll be bringing all these sounds and more as he takes a spin around Australia in September. https://youtube.com/watch?v=ABkQ96dh0eQ
Sofia Coppola has made her career by highlighting that being young or famous (and often both) does not protect anyone from existential crisis, no matter how blessed their life may outwardly seem. While previously Coppola has mocked this up in stylised versions of other times and places, her newest feature, The Bling Ring, picks at the designer threads of youth and celebrity in a city very close to her heart: Los Angeles. As the film opens, a circle of Hollywood teenagers are charged with breaking and entering the homes of TMZ royalty, including Lindsay Lohan and Paris Hilton, and sashaying away with millions of dollars worth of luxury goods, clothing and cash. The seeds of their downfall are found one year earlier, when Marc (Israel Broussard) arrives at his new school with adolescent awkwardness slung over his otherwise fashionable shoulders. It is here that he casually befriends Rebecca (Katie Chang) and her posse of light-fingered, self-absorbed pals (including Emma Watson and Taissa Farmiga). Though based on actual events (Coppola has changed the names), The Bling Ring does not feel like a true crime film. It is dream-like, with Rebecca and Marc skipping through empty mansions in the hills, tossing diamonds and shoes at one another in an hour-long montage. Details of the characters' lives — and of the real identities behind these characters — are lost in the glitter, and as a result the plot unspools to hit certain moral milestones before the end credits roll. There are no twists and, ultimately, if you want a good story, you should seek out details of the real teenagers (and the Vanity Fair article that inspired the film) online. The Bling Ring then is a film essay on the experience of desire and lack of privacy in the fame economy. It is hard not to want everything that appears within the 90 minutes of the film, as clothing, money, drugs, young bodies and modernist mansions are showcased beneath a heaving soundtrack of Azealia Banks, Phoenix, M.I.A and Kanye West. By the end, when the teens' spree is brought to a halt, their only unforgivable mistake is the hubris of being so boastful about their crimes in a world of security cameras and social media. Most people otherwise would happily take a punt were they to know that Paris Hilton kept her keys under the doormat. https://youtube.com/watch?v=r4c6hmrwba0
A Love Supreme returns for another round of fast-paced beats and hip-hop boogie with 90s revival king, James Pants, leading the way. Born to two Presbyterian ministers in a little city called Spokane, USA, Pants went from being the teenage DJ for a black nationalist rap group to a multi-instrumentalist, with the ability to induce his listeners into fast-paced, synth-laced musical trips. Boasting fans such as Flying Lotus, Zane Lowe, Tyler the Creator and Erol Alkan, he’s conquered the US scene with his uniquely unpredictable electric sound – now it’s Brisbane’s turn to witness James Pants and the reputation that precedes him. Hosted by Apartment in the City, A Love Supreme promises an endlessly heated stage with Melbourne’s up and coming Andras Fox showcasing his unique sound, influenced by everything from Detroit House to Exotica Records. A tasty selection of Brisbane’s finest music-makers, DJs Gavin Boyd, Cryptic and Tas One, will round up the evening. Catch major US talent James Pants, and a few of our own rising stars this Sunday at A Love Supreme.
That moment when you don't know if a film franchise has become more juvenile, or whether it's you that's grown up. This was the uncomfortable experience of watching Kick-Ass 2, and after days of quiet contemplation, I've come to the conclusion: it's not me. Based on the comics by Mark Millar and brought to the screen by Matthew Vaughn (Layer Cake, Stardust), the first Kick-Ass film was a high point in the 'real superhero' wave — a funny counterpoint to the likes of Watchmen. Catching bits of it on TV recently, I thought it seemed only more razor-sharp. The new Kick-Ass 2 disappoints by pitching way too low. There is, for starters, an insane number of dick biting jokes. And it's not a running gag. It seems almost unbelievable that an objective party read the script and didn't think to say, 'hey, how about we stop at separate dick biting joke no.3'? Impotence, race and sexuality are also targets of choice. It seems new writer and director Jeff Wadlow has decided his audience is teenage boys, and no one else. Plot-wise, Kick-Ass 2 picks up about three years after its predecessor. Dave Lizewski (previously weedy, now hunky Aaron Taylor-Johnson) has hung up the Kick-Ass wetsuit, while the orphaned Mindy MacCready (Chloe Grace Moretz), aka Hit Girl, keeps her ongoing training a secret from her guardian, her dad's good friend, Sergeant Marcus Williams (Morris Chestnut). But when Dave gets restless and Mindy gets obedient, their crime-fighting status is reversed, and for camaraderie Dave instead joins the superhero team calling themselves 'Justice Forever' (led by a well prosthetised Jim Carrey as Colonel Stars and Stripes) to rid the streets of evil. The devoted amateurs are no match, however, for the coming storm from Dave's spoilt and abandoned schoolmate Chris D'Amico (Christopher Mintz-Plasse), who's graduated from being Red Mist to the moniker the Motherfucker and who has Kick-Ass obsessively in his sights. It's a unique mix of unimpressiveness at work in this film. On top of the lumpen humour, there's also extreme violence and schlock sentimentality that together are supremely weird. Kick-Ass 2's one redeemer is Hit Girl. If the whole film had been 'Hit Girl Goes to High School', it would have been great. She's always been a special character that challenges every idea we have of girlhood, and the Professional-meets-Mean Girls-like scenes of her dealing with dating, dance club, the popular crowd and bullying are smart, fresh and compelling. The film also deals well with her sexuality, now she's 15. Her costume remains fabulously unsexy and practical, so that's how we view her fights, but she's given room to explore some of her own sexual feelings. In what's possibly the film's best scene, a One Direction replica band plays, and we see that even the disciplined teen warrior is unable to resist their charms. Later, she has a quick perv at a shirtless Dave. This is a character whose impact will carry on, even if there's no Hit-Girl movie in multiplexes. https://youtube.com/watch?v=YWozxV3fsAU
Pint-sized Maisie (Onata Aprile) has a skewed view of adult life, with slammed doors and whispered rows as much a part of her world as playmates and puzzles. Her parents are Beale (Steve Coogan), a globe-trotting, supercilious art dealer and Susanna (Julianne Moore), a rock star who fails to notice how heavily she is flirting with cliche as a rock star with panda eyes, messy hair and ever-present cigarettes. Their marriage has dissolved into open hostility as Susanna locks Beale out of their luxurious Manhattan apartment. They next meet at divorce court, where both seek full custody of Maisie. The court instead orders joint custody in allotments of ten days for each parent, starting a heart-sinking cycle where both parents fail to keep up with their responsibility to pass the child onto the other, meaning the wide-eyed Maisie is left at school, in a bar, in the lobby of the apartments. Beale quickly ups the stakes, marrying Maisie's somewhat timid but well-meaning nanny Margo (Joanna Vanderham) and setting up house with her. Fuelled by spite, Susanna retaliates with a marriage of convenience of her own, quickly wedding Lincoln (Alexander Skarsgard), a naive bartender who soon develops a bond with Maisie. Both parents continue to throw emotional barbs at each other through their daughter, but as they both start spending more time out of the city for work, Maisie ends up increasingly left in the care of either Margo or Lincoln, or sometimes both. Told entirely from the point of view of the neglected Maisie, this is a fragmented story made up of overheard snippets of conversation, claim and counterclaim. Completely convincing and beautifully nuanced, it becomes an involving affair, all the more effective for taking an unconventional route to your heartstrings and generally eschewing the kind of histrionics or easy sentimentality that could have come with this territory. Based on Henry James' 1897 novel of the same name, the story has been seamlessly moved from the 19th century to the present and from London to New York, suggesting there is something essentially timeless at the heart of this story. Despite the presence of a quartet of first rate actors who nail all the details of their respective roles, the narrative's exclusive focus on the child's perspective of events means What Maisie Knew has to live or die on the performance of Aprile, who was aged just six at the time of filming. Thankfully her performance never hits a false note. Acting as the tale's unlikely moral centre, she is remarkable as a child who maintains her essential goodness in the face of deplorable neglect and selfishness. https://youtube.com/watch?v=GHHt5eYl95c
In his live performances, Kirin J Callinan does not hold back. This guitarist and singer-songwriter is a confronting and charismatic frontman who always delivers a stellar performance and captivates his audience. Callinan will play at The Zoo to celebrate the release of his latest single, 'Embracism'. The film clip was directed by Cara Stricker and has already received rave reviews from across the world. During 'Embracism', the cameras follow Callinan in his daily morning routine, but when these visuals are paired with provocative lyrics and driving guitar riffs, the final product is a little intense, to say the very least. Callinan is a true showman and his onstage presence and musical abilities have earned him positions alongside bands such as The Pixies, The Pet Shop Boys, Midnight Juggernaughts, The Strokes, Jarvis Cocker and Ariel Pink. Callinan is taking 'Embracism' on the road over June and July. https://youtube.com/watch?v=Q_gtwhDklaQ
This is the End might just be the biggest in-joke in Hollywood. Its writer, director and star, Seth Rogen, plays 'Seth Rogen', whilst Jonah Hill plays 'Jonah Hill', James Franco plays 'James Franco' and Emma Watson plays, well…you get the picture. Thankfully, though, you'll also get the jokes, and no matter how 'in' or self-referential they might be, the movie invites the audience to share in the laughter. Set in the Hollywood hills, Rogen and his friend Jay Baruchel (played by Jay Baruchel) head along to a party at James Franco's mansion, where — just a short while later — the biblical Rapture commences and, quite literally, all Hell breaks loose. As their friends and fans perish around them (the cameos are too numerous to count, though highlights include Michael Cera, Channing Tatum and Rihanna), the young celebrities hole themselves up inside and try to outlast the End of Days, rationing everything from a Milky Way bar to various types of weed. To their credit, no egos are too precious and everyone plays up to their reputations: Rogen's an amiable stoner, Hill is impossibly nice and Franco holds nothing back in portraying himself as a pretentious, egocentric wanker. They're joined in the house by Baruchel, Craig Robinson and Danny McBride, with the latter contributing to about half of the movie's funniest moments. Inevitably, as a Rogen film, This is the End features a significant amount of stoner humour, dick jokes and one inconceivably long scene involving Franco and McBride hurling imaginary semen at each other and everything else around them. It's the kind of comedy you feel guilty laughing at while it's happening, and then later can't remember why it made you laugh so much. But laugh you do all the same.
In 1977, Robyn Davidson decided she would walk west from Alice Springs until she hit the Indian Ocean, taking with her only her beloved dog and four camels. She was determined to do this alone, but, finding herself in need of money, was forced to allow National Geographic photographer Rick Smolan to document her journey. Davidson was told the trek would be suicide, but, undeterred, she set out anyway on her perilous, eventful journey. Filmmakers have been trying to adapt Tracks since the early 1980s, with even Julia Roberts attached in 1993. This is the sixth (and, clearly, the only successful) attempt to bring Davidson's story to the screen, and one has to wonder: what's with all the fuss? Davidson's story is certainly remarkable in terms of human achievement, but given our cinema is notoriously awash with characters undertaking dangerous walks across the unforgiving Australian landscape, do we really need one more? 'Need' is probably too strong a word. It's made. It's here. And all told, it's pretty good. Mia Wasikowska is especially impressive as Davidson, imbuing her with a determination required to sell the character. She delivers lines with a certain brand of confidence so rare in Australian acting. Lines of dialogue that would clearly clang noisily to the ground when delivered by others float effortlessly from Wasikowska's mouth. It's pretty clear why she's enjoyed such international success. Adam Driver, best known from Lena Dunham's Girls, is equally superb as Smolan. Driver is a compelling presence, and though his character is an irritant to Davidson, he is a welcome presence to us whenever he appears. The film's biggest problem is the lack of motivation. Davidson may have felt a compulsion apropos of nothing, but the rules of film are different. If we're to invest in this journey, feel sympathy for our heroine, we need to feel some portion of what she feels. We need to care. And "I felt like it" doesn't quite get us there. This, naturally, almost undermines the entire movie. It's difficult to relate to someone doing something seemingly pointless the hard way, for the sake of doing it the hard way. I suspect Davidson's memoir does a better job selling us on this, but the audience should not be expected to read the book first. That said, it's a testament to the film that it can survive this misstep so well. John Curran's direction is effective and tangible, and Marion Nelson's screenplay depicts Davidson's isolation particularly well. Mandy Walker's superb cinematography makes the landscape seem terrifying and seductive all at once. Title cards at the end inform us what happened next, and give the proceedings an annoying retroactive feeling of unearned worthiness, souring this reviewer at the worst possible moment. Despite this, Tracks is an engaging, beautiful film that overcomes its flaws impressively. https://youtube.com/watch?v=RyDCfuYTX_U
Although the use of asbestos was banned in 1967, its side-effects have reared their ugly head within Australian families for years. Dust is a play that sheds light on the heartache and repercussions that surround asbestos in all of their forms. Written by Donna Jackson, this captivating roving theatre performance will take the audience on a rollercoaster as it explores the ripple effect caused by this material. Dust was inspired by those who have battled James Hardie Industries and won compensation. It puts on stage the treasured Aussie value of giving the underdog a fair go. The performance exists within an average Australian household and portrays just how close this dangerous substance was to the day-to-day lives of typical Australians. The story flitters between the home, legal context and the media to present a well-rounded representation of the issue. Featuring a rock n’ roll soundtrack and a choir of 50, Dust is a fascinating production that will ring true with many viewers and is not to be missed.
Head along to the brand new EDM night, Melody Beat, the evening of electronic tunes and artists who will open your mind (and ears) to new realms of sound. The line up is intriguing, the sounds reverberating, and the Melody Beat name is sure to be impressive on its first showcase evening. Andrew Tuttle, Hether, White Palms, Pale Earth and Cedie Janson will be putting together a night of evolving sound, with masterful tunes each adding their own flavour to the grand scope of electronic music. Andrew Tuttle (formerly going by the moniker, Anonymeye) is best known for interplaying acoustics with a largely electro set – computers to banjos are fair game. Duo act Hether will envelop you with ambiance and spectral sound. Matthew Cook, aka White Palms, creates smooth beats with seamless ease. Pale Earth is as stimulating with visuals as with sound, layers of fuzz and reverb creating unmissable atmospheres. Plus the ominous delicacies from Cedie Janson will leave you amorous. Don’t forget – this is a BYO evening, with a $10 entry fee, so be sure to plan ahead.
The uncanny is defined as something familiar being made unfamiliar. Cast your mind back to the star of the '80s horror film series Child's Play, as Chucky is a perfect example of the uncanny at work. The uncanny doesn't have to always be frightening (or hilarious), but it is definitely always intriguing! If you're fascinated by this state of unsettlement, step into an eerily familiar world where nothing is as it seems at the the Judith Wright Centre's latest artistic offering, Uncanny. Presented by the centre and Flying Arts, this interesting exhibition is designed to highlight and celebrate the weird and wacky in our everyday lives. The exhibition was created by seven emerging curators and seven Queensland artists who represent the uncanny in their artwork. Various mediums such as video, sculpture and photography will be exhibited. The featured artists include Rachael Bartram, Kate Bernauer, Gerwyn Davies, Dan Elborne, Pirrin Francis, Jason Haggerty and Sarah Oxenham.
Practise your Cockney accent, rehearse your favourite drunken London tale and prepare for high tea: the British Film Festival has arrived in Australia for the first time ever. There'll be a dozen contemporary features, five 20th-century classics (The Third Man and Lawrence of Arabia among them) and a chance to quiz Eric Bana during a live Q&A session, and a simply smashing opening night party. Here are five of our must-sees: Jump A massive hit at the Toronto International Film Festival and winner of the Palm Springs Festival's Bridging the Borders Award, Jump is a comic thriller set on New Year's Eve in Derry, Northern Ireland. A witty, fast-paced script captures the stories of three troubled individuals, who find themselves entangled by doomed romance, theft and revenge. Good Vibrations This eccentric, unstoppable rock movie comes to the British Film Festival following sold-out sessions at the 2013 Melbourne International Film Festival. Set against Ireland's Troubles of the 1970s, it follows the story of rebellious, maverick music lover Terri Hooley, Belfast's 'godfather of punk', and his determination to show the world the power of the seven-inch single. Dom Hemingway A gangster film in the style of Sexy Beast, Dom Hemingway stars Jude Law as the outrageous, volatile Dom, and Richard E. Grant as his best friend, Dickie. Following Dom's release after twelve years of imprisonment, the two travel from London to the south of France, encountering all number of misadventures along the way, from a car accident to an inevitable femme fatale. Mission to Lars How far would you go to meet your favourite rockstar? In this quirky documentary, siblings Kate and Will Spicer find out when they take their autistic brother, Tom, to Los Angeles to pursue Metallica's Lars Ulrich. Still Life The latest offering from Uberto Pasolini (producer of The Full Monty), Still Life is a drama in the British humanist tradition. A calm, meticulous ex-councillor, John May (Eddie Marsan) enters the lives of a mischievous adventurer, Billy Stoke, and his abandoned daughter, Kelly (Joanne Froggatt).
The third and final instalment of Rinse & Repeat brings together elements of the past two, to clincher and question, provoke and conclude. The first focused on boredom of the younger generations; the second looked at ways to fill the void, with a preoccupation with things outside ourselves. This exhibition is riskier and risqué – the fetish of materials and obsessions, the idea that perhaps the darker sides of life reside no deeper than on the surface. For one night only, see the works of artists Clark Beaumont, Athena Thebus, Louise Bennett, Courtney Coombs, Hannah Bronte and Alice Lang. See your questions answered or, as is the true nature of art, be inspired to question further.
The Butler tells the story of Cecil Gaines (Forest Whitaker), an African American man who grew up on the cotton fields of the South only to then serve for decades as a butler in the White House. His tenure lasted from the administrations of Eisenhower all the way through to Reagan, and through his eyes director Lee Daniels shows us the intimate, unseen moments behind some of America's most turbulent periods. From Jackie Kennedy sitting alone, blood-soaked and weeping, to Richard Nixon foraging for snacks in the kitchen, Gaines dutifully tended to their needs — at once indispensable and yet imperceptible so as to not even seem present in the room. While presidents came and went, however, the issue of race relations remained ever-present and increasingly divisive in the United States, and it is that which forms the focus of Daniels' film. This subject is explored not just through Gaines' story as butler to those most possessed of the power to effect change but through his son, Louis (David Oyelowo), who became a passionate black rights activist, travelling on the Freedom Bus, working alongside Martin Luther King and even becoming a Black Panther. This use of concurrent plot lines occasionally hits home, most notably when a lavish state dinner at the White House is intercut with the infamous Woolworth's diner sit in, during which black customers were bashed and abused for ignoring segregated seating. More often, though, the White House scenes feel like they're from an entirely different movie; a cavalcade of celebrity impersonations ranging from the impressive (Alan Rickman as Reagan) to the outright bizarre (John Cusack as Nixon). Given the poignancy (if also Forrest Gump-esque convenience) of the son's civil rights vignette, it's tough not to feel The Butler would've been better served by excluding the presidents entirely, perhaps save for the occasional use of archival footage. Gaines is based on the former White House butler Eugene Allen, and in bringing him to life, Whitaker turns in arguably the performance of his career. He masterfully demonstrates the 'two faces' worn by African Americans during the decades of racial tension: one that's real, vulnerable and angry, the other that's designed to calm white people and keep them from feeling threatened. Oprah Winfrey also puts in a powerful performance as Gaines' wife — her first film role in 15 years since Beloved. Theirs is a marriage no less turbulent than the world around it, but its foundation is sound and their tenderness is genuinely moving through both the highs and the lows. Around them, the supporting cast is enormous, including Robin Williams, James Marsden, Cuba Gooding Jr, Lenny Kravitz, Liev Schreiber, Jane Fonda, Vanessa Redgrave and Terrence Howard. The Butler may at times stray into sanctimonious territory, even veering towards parody, but its honest depiction of some of America's darkest days and the performances by its leads make it more than worthwhile, delivering an ambitious, powerful and emotional two hours of cinema. https://youtube.com/watch?v=DUA7rr0bOcc
Romeo, Romeo, wherefore art thou, Romeo? Oh, right here, it seems. While this is no Leonardo DiCaprio or Baz Luhrmann helmed reworking of the classic Shakespearean tale Romeo and Juliet going on here, there is a exuberant and exciting production at the La Boite Theatre that might just match the epic tale of love and loss. Let’s set the scene: ten young adults meet in a room to put a new spin on Romeo and Juliet, with youthful abandon they adapt the work to something a bit more contemporary, but also something a lot darker. While transforming classical tales into something akin to film noir is something of a trend du jour, >< R&J might be something quite enthralling, and something that might ignite a passion for Shakespeare in younger audiences. Featuring Helpmann Award nominee Lucas Stibbard and a whole bunch of other Brisbane artists, >< R&J sounds like a love story unlike one ever told, even by old Billy Shakespeare himself.
Come down to Fish Lane Studios to experience the temporary artist residencies, exhibitions, workshops and launches, with an array of talents and notable figures sharing their works and knowledge. The program runs until the end of October. The outstanding events include a drawing workshop with Ghostpatrol and Sean Morris on October 29, and the ‘Short Stay’ exhibition opening and after party on October 31. Each event is individually priced, and requires an RSVP to be sent to rsvp@iamprojects.net. Recent events held as part of Short Stay include a poster and risograph workshop with Charlie Hillhouse of Small House Books, as well as the official Short Stay launch party, which saw the publication launch of ‘Sex Waves’, presented by Small House Books. This program was brought about by the Mild Manners exhibition space organisers, and supported by iAM Projects.
Meet Shep and his two best mates, Dirty Gordo and Dirty Pat. They’re known as The Dirty Brothers. Stunts meet modern comedic theatre in an entirely original production known as The Dark Party. These macabre lads spin their own talents into what they call “Sideshow Noir”: art-house cinema with punk rock intentions, swords, staple guns, singing saws, power tools and car batteries share the spotlight on a stage of the deranged. The Dark Party first kicked off five years ago in Melbourne, and have since spiralled out of control. From Australia and New Zealand, to Edinburgh, Holland, Belgium and beyond, packed houses have greeted the trio every step of the way. Come along and see what the fuss is about. These “kamikaze clown princes of sideshow” will leave you breathless, be it by shock or side-splitting laughter. Be warned: they will do their worst.
Charles Robb is an artist with a healthy interest in himself and his surroundings. Most of us take selfies for the masses to like on Instagram, Charles does something with a bit more artistic integrity. While dabbling with self-portraiture, Charles investigates figure and form to reveal new observations of his immediate vicinity and the items within it. Loss Control II is a self-referential exhibition that utilises objects in his studio space, where the works help to redefine his environment and inject new meaning into what may be seen as the mundane. This series exhibits Charles’ modelling and casting work, with unique sculptures showcasing the materials that have been transformed and the ideas and subjectivities that form in the studio. This exhibition will be running until early-May so if you have an afternoon to spare, spend it at SGAR and witness everyday objects change form in front of your eyes.
An old man, who strangely resembles the gramps in Up wanders through a forest on the run from a mysterious tracker hell bent on hunting him down. Swept into a surreal world, lost yet learning, he wanders, possibly in search of Xanax, but probably in hope of light. From the team behind multi-award winning production The Adventures of Alvin Sputnik: Deep Sea Explorer comes another heartfelt adventure that explores the emotions, burdens and brilliance that come with age, It’s Dark Outside. Through puppetry, animation, masks, and beautiful live performance, this grand stage exploration delivers an epic western-style tale about dementia and redemption, through sincere theatrical tones. Whether you’re curious of the capability’s of this generation of theatre, or have a soft spot for pure ingenuity and human compassion, It’s Dark Outside shouldn’t be missed. It’s a gentle reminder that while it might be nice to run away from the life you once had, it’s not so easy to hide from it.
Each year Ryan Renshaw handpicks the best up and coming Queensland artists to be involved in a group show at his gallery located in Spring Hill. This year, the new artists involved in this exciting exhibition include Zoe Knight, Kate McKay and Jarrod Van der Ryken. Each artist has their own style and they combine to create a spectacular showcase which, this year, is entitled Test Pattern. Zoe Knight studied a Bachelor of Fine Arts at the Queensland University of Technology. Her artwork is focused on three-dimensional sculptures often featuring self-involved knots and is described as a “productive form of fidgeting”. Kate McKay is concerned greatly with the fluid concept of self and identity. Whereas Jarrod Van Der Ryken's main theme is the materialisation of the emotional reality. Make the trek to the Ryan Renshaw Gallery to view this trio's art pieces. The opening night will be held on Friday 7 February from 6-8pm.
Short film festival Flickerfest is coming to Brisbane's Judith Wright Centre in late February. Across three glorious evenings, film fans can see the best shorts plucked from over 2200 entries sent in by international and local filmmakers. From German drama to Finnish comedy to English animation, there are a huge variety of stories to soak up each night. Thursday's opening night party will feature the Best of Australian Shorts, including Nick Waterman's Vote Yes starring Miranda Tapsell (The Sapphires), a film exploring the 1967 referendum on Aboriginal rights via its impact on the lives of two women. Anyone who's backpacked through South America will probably appreciate Tango Underpants (pictured), a short following an Australian woman (Emma Booth) journeying through Buenos Aires and falling in love with tango. Friday and Saturday nights will be a round-up of the best international shorts, including The Phone Call starring Sally Hawkins (Blue Jasmine, Happy Go Lucky) and Shubhashish Bhutiani's Kush, set in 1984 during a period of anti-Sikh riots following the assassination of Indian Prime Minister Indira Gandhi. Danny DeVito fans will definitely want to see him star in Today's the Day, directed by Daniel 'Cloud' Campos. If there's one Australian short film festival that has aspiring filmmakers waiting by the letterbox, biting their nails in anticipation of a 'YES!', it's this one. Having started life as a small-time shindig at Balmain High 23 years ago, the annual event is now an audiovisual extravaganza with tons of prestige, a home on Bondi Beach and a pathway to the Academy Awards for its winners. The annual tour gives people in towns across Australia a chance to see some of the best shorts around. You can buy tickets for individual nights or buy a season ticket, which gets you into all three nights plus the afterparty. https://youtube.com/watch?v=oDZF2VzX12M
13 albums is an achievement that most bands never reach. It is a testament to their musical ability and endless creativity that they reach such a milestone. Wire have 13 albums under their belt and the fact that they’ve had 40 years to reach it is irrelevant except for the fact that 40 years of activity is also a hell of an achievement to reach. Influential is probably one of the better terms to describe Wire, yet it still doesn’t do them justice. They are influential mostly because of the way they have managed to keep re-inventing themselves and their music to avoid stagnation; something that many bands of the modern era seem to fail at. Blending hard and soft elements into their brand of post-punk has kept their music interesting since their breakthrough album, Pink Flag, released in 1977. Wire will be playing at The Zoo with two of Brisbane’s best in support. Per Purpose with their blend of abrasive Australiana and Multiple Man, whose sonic sound-scapes are earning them quite a name in the ‘biz’. This will be a great night of great music. I can guarantee it.
