After blowing Sydneysiders away with her singing, dancing and towering cosmic structures at the Sydney Opera House last year for Vivid Live, Solange is heading Down Under once more. The Grammy Award-winning singer — composer, choreographer, actress, filmmaker, fashion icon — is coming back to the Opera House for four shows in January 2020. Mark it in your calendars, friends. If you were one of the lucky ones to score tickets the sold out show last year, you'll know what to expect come January: a stunning 360-degree stage, a live band, a team of incredibly choreographed dancers. Although this time, instead of singing and dancing to A Seat at the Table under a giant moon-like sphere, Solange will be performing her new album When I Get Home in Australia for the first time. Featuring hits such as 'Way to the Show', 'Dreams' and 'Binz' — and collaborators such as Pharrell, Sampha, Gucci Mane and Tyler, the Creator — the album is an ode to Solange's hometown of Houston, Texas. It was released alongside a 33-minute art film of the same name, which you can watch on YouTube while you're waiting for her Aussie return. https://www.instagram.com/p/Bv_bpnIFr5g/?utm_source=ig_embed While the stage will look a little different to the one above, we're told to expect something similarly impressive. You can get a glimpse of what to expect from the new choreography, too, by checking out Solange's Instagram. The Sydney Opera House performances will be Solange's only Aussie shows, so, if you're interstate we suggest you start keeping an eye on cheap flights. Solange will perform four shows in the Sydney Opera House Concert Hall on January 27, 28, 30 and 31. Pre-sale tickets are available from 9am on Wednesday, August 21 with general sale starting at 9am on Friday, August 23 via the Sydney Opera House website. Images: Max Hirschberger
It can be very tough for young theatre and performance makers to get a break into the industry. Finding an opportunity to test, experiment and explore the process of making work is essential to their development – but these opportunities are hard to find. Once again the wonderful La Boite has the answer with the Scratch program. In 2011 Scratch has offered five performance artists the wonderful opportunity to scratch the surface, to test their work and to see what happens. The lucky participants are playwright David Burton; performance educator and director Emma Che Martin; contemporary performance-maker and producer Genevieve Trace; performance-maker Sarah Winter; and dancer and choreographer Liesel Zink. They have each been given two opportunities in 2011 to scratch the surface, testing their work in front of audiences in a low-tech context to get audience feedback on their work and they need you. You can be part of the next wave of performance making: viewing cutting edge, fresh work and offering your insights into how to improve and change these new performances. There are three more opportunities this year, and tickets are only $10, so get on down to La Boite and be part of the process in making great performance in Brisbane.
Father's Day is just around the corner, and — considering it's been one helluva year so far — you may be thinking about getting your dad something a little special. Melbourne travel brand July wants to help you go the extra mile this year and is throwing in a bunch of extras. July offers up premium luggage, backpacks, suitcases and overnight bags — and you'll nab a whole heap of freebies when you order your dad a gift through the online shop this year. First up, you'll be able to add custom-printed, personalised lettering to your luggage of choice — for free. Your gift will also come with a complimentary Orbitkey leather key organiser (worth $45). All shipping to Australia and New Zealand is absolutely free, too, which is especially useful if you don't live near dad. Simply shop the Father's Day gift edit to get started. On the list are the Carry All backpack and weekender bags, along with Carry On and Checked wheeled luggage. All of the travel bags are custom embroidered too. And each one comes in heaps of colours, including black, blue, green and beige. July luggage comes with a lifetime warranty (plus five-year warranties for all travel bags) to boot. While dad might not be going on any overseas jaunts just yet, we're sure he's planning a road trip, beachside escape or mountainous adventure in Australia for sometime in the near future. And a fresh set of luggage will be just the ticket when he finally gets to jet off. To shop the Father's Day gift edit, head to the July website. FYI, this story includes some affiliate links. These don't influence any of our recommendations or content, but they may make us a small commission. For more info, see Concrete Playground's editorial policy.
Kicking off a new side hustle or small biz idea can be a challenging quest, but with the right connections and resources it doesn't have to be. In partnership with Fiverr, we're spotlighting budding entrepreneurs who are getting their businesses off the ground in style. Ask most beer drinkers what they love about their favourite brew, and few would say it's the complex molecular structure that gets them craving a cold one. But Daniel Rojas, Gina Pacheco and Shivam Tandon aren't your run-of-the-mill beer enthusiasts. While the trio of chemical engineers are, like the rest of us, partial to knocking back a few brews at their local, they took things up a notch by making their own tipples. Together, they created The Zythologist, a new, science-based Aussie brewery founded at Monash University, where the three met. "We just love to learn how things work. We also love beer," Rojas told Concrete Playground. "For us, it's about understanding what's happening at a molecular level, [along with] how to bring [out] flavours and unique aromas." So, how do three chemical engineers end up making A-class brews? The three co-founders set out to understand the science of brewing and got hooked on the challenging process of making beer. It began with Rojas and Pacheco, who founded Monash Brewlab, Australia's first student-led nano-brewery, with Tandon joining shortly after. It has since become an educational lab, where students can apply the scientific principles learned in lectures and tutorials to create a product loved by uni students the world over: beer. Riding on the success of the uni-based brewery, the trio launched a commercial spin-off. Initially, they created Scholars Ink (a nod to the mates' tertiary achievements), which produced two debut brews — a mango lassi sour and a sessionable 4.2-percent dark ale. Both sold out in less than two months. Fast-forward to 2021 and they now have The Zythologist — and it's got big plans. [caption id="attachment_818393" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Melanie Desa[/caption] Not prepared to rest on their laurels, Rojas, Pacheco and Tandon brought The Zythologist back to where it all began. Their entrepreneurial idea was validated through the Monash University's central startup hub, The Generator, where they won a $5000 grant from Fiverr to help evolve their unique business proposition. For the uninitiated, Fiverr is a freelance marketplace that connects small business owners — or anyone with a burgeoning side hustle — with freelancers across a range of disciplines, including social media marketing, SEO services, illustration, and video and animation. Its easy-to-use design and global database of freelance experts makes it simple-as to get started and give your side hustle a leg up. So, what does all this have to do with The Zythologist? Well, first on the three mates' to-do list is to put some of that cash towards rebranding from Scholars Ink to the new-and-improved The Zythologist — with the help of Fiverr freelancers, naturally. "'Zythologist' comes from [the term] 'zythology', which is the study of beer and brewing, Rojas told CP. "We want to create this persona of The Zythologist [as] the connoisseur of everything related to beer." It goes without saying that their plans for The Zythologist don't stop at a new brand identity and shiny website. Rojas says he and his co-founders are keen to leverage their expertise to launch a consultancy and analytics service, while also making new brews and ensuring their product and production processes are kinder to the planet. The ultimate goal? To move the brewing industry in a more sustainable and efficient direction, with better beer across the board as a result. [caption id="attachment_818388" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Melanie Desa[/caption] If you weren't lucky enough to snap up a six-pack of the trio's maiden brews, don't worry — there are more on the boil (yes, pun intended). First up, The Zythologist is working on a big, dessert-like imperial pastry stout, brewed in collaboration with Burnley Brewing. And, not ones to do things by halves, Rojas, Pacheco and Tandon are also working on a non-alcoholic beer to tap into the growing no- and low- alcohol trend. "The science behind brewing can be quite complex, and every time you add another ingredient or treat it differently, the dimensions increase by an order of magnitude," Rojas told CP. "For non-alcoholic [beer], I think it's even more difficult, because what we want to do is emulate the [same] sensation you would have from a normal beer. Accomplishing that — and having [an ABV of] less than 0.5 percent, which is the threshold for a non-alcoholic beer — is actually quite hard." While Rojas, Pacheco and Tandon will likely dabble in more traditional brews like pale ales and IPAs eventually, it's pretty clear that these three mates are enjoying pushing the boundaries and making unconventional brews. As for the rest of us, there's really no better motivation to crack a cold one — alcoholic or otherwise — than knowing it's for science. Bottoms up. Have your own booming side hustle — or need a hand getting it off the ground? Check out the Fiverr website and connect with freelancers around the world, all just a click away. Lead image: Shivam Tandon, Gina Pacheco and Daniel Rojas. All photography by Melanie Desa.
Southeast Queensland musical fans, the iconic theatre shows just keep coming — and the next production heading the region's way wants you to take a jump to the left. After already starting its Australian comeback in 2023, which began with a Sydney premiere season, The Rocky Horror Show has locked in Gold Coast dates in spring. For half a century now, this hit musical has been astounding. And, with the Richard O'Brien-created production lasting that long, perhaps time really is fleeting. Either way, whenever this sci-fi/horror musical hits the stage — and wherever — a glorious kind of madness takes its toll. Come September, Queensland audiences will be able to listen closely — and watch Jerry Springer: The Opera, In the Heights and & Juliet Olivier Award-winner David Bedella as Frank N Furter put his hands on his hips, then bring his knees in tight, too — when the famed musical plays The Star on its huge 50th-anniversary tour. The Rocky Horror Show's brand-new Aussie run kicked off at Theatre Royal Sydney in February, is currently playing Adelaide, and next opens in Melbourne on Thursday, May 18. It will head to Perth before the Gold Coast, then Canberra afterwards. There's no word yet on a Brisbane season, so if you're keen to do 'The Time Warp' along with the production without leaving the Sunshine State, hitting up the Gold Coast from Sunday, September 3 is your only chance so far. On offer: the tale that theatre audiences have loved for five decades — and movie-goers as well, thanks to 1975's iconic big-screen release The Rocky Horror Picture Show. For the uninitiated, the story involves college-aged couple Brad Majors and Janet Weiss getting a flat tyre, then wandering over to an old castle to ask for help. That's where they discover an extra-terrestrial mad scientist from the galaxy of Transylvania, plus his staff and his Frankenstein-style experiments. Bedella takes over from Jason Donovan, who has been slipping on Frank N Furter's fishnets down south. So far, the Australian tour has also been starring Myf Warhurst as The Narrator; however, whether she'll take on that role on the Gold Coast hasn't been confirmed. Either way, the show also features Ellis Dolan (School of Rock) as Eddie/Dr Scott, Darcey Eagle (Cruel Intentions: The 90s Musical) as Columbia, Ethan Jones (9 to 5 The Musical) as Brad, Deirdre Khoo (Once) as Janet, Loredo Malcolm as Rocky (Hamilton) and Henry Rollo (Jagged Little Pill the Musical) as Riff Raff. Since first premiering in London in June 1973, The Rocky Horror Show has played in more than 30 countries — and over 30 million people have seen songs like 'Science Fiction/Double Feature', 'Dammit, Janet!', 'Sweet Transvestite', 'Over at the Frankenstein Place' and 'Touch-a, Touch-a, Touch-a, Touch Me'. If you haven't been before — and missed the live broadcast from Sydney back in March — this is your turn to join in. The Rocky Horror Show's 2023 Australian tour will play The Star on the Gold Coast from Sunday, September 3, with tickets on sale now via the production's website. Images: Daniel Boud.
For decades, Australians have been told that a hard-earned thirst needs a big, cold beer. In Iceland, a well-deserved soak also needs just that — and a whole tub full of brews. Helping keep the Scandinavian nation on the top of everyone's travel bucket list, it now boasts its first ever beer spa. Yes, that involves sitting in yeasty goodness while drinking it. Just opened in Árskógssandur in the country's north, Bjórböðin features nine tubs just waiting for beer lovers to take a dip in their favourite beverage. Seven two-person baths, made from Kambala wood, can be found inside, while two larger hot tubs capable of seating 8 to 10 people take the brew-soaking action outside. Each is filled with beer, water, hops and yeast, and don't worry — while you can knock back a few draughts while they're there, drinking the bathwater isn't on the agenda. Visitors steep themselves in the warm brew for 25 minutes at a time, then head for a 25-minute spell in a relaxation room. To get the most out of the soak (because bathing in beer is all about boosting your skin and hair, not just sitting in the tasty amber liquid), showering for a few hours isn't recommended. For those keen on making the trek, there's also a restaurant on site, helping everyone pair their drinking with a meal. And if you're eager to bathe in brews in more than one place, plan an Iceland-US round trip, with a beer hotel planned in Columbus, Ohio. Image: Bjórböðin.
At the National Gallery of Victoria in Melbourne, the St Kilda Road venue's indoor spaces are gearing up to host an array of breathtaking garments as part of its soon-to-launch blockbuster Alexander McQueen exhibition. But its grounds have already scored a fresh injection of colour for the summer, and that's thanks to the winning NGV 2022 Architecture Commission, Temple of Boom, which has now made its home in the site's Grollo Equiset Garden. The boldly coloured replica of Greece's famed Parthenon is parking itself in the Melbourne spot until August 2023, and is set to be continually refreshed with large-scale works by various local artists during its stay. The structure itself is the work of Adam Newman and Kelvin Tsang, celebrating The Parthenon as a symbol of Western civilisation, democracy and enduring beauty — and built to reflect on the impact time has on architecture. The latter is what'll also drive Temple of Boom's ever-shifting look, the first of which features vibrant optical illusions and floral elements by contemporary artists Manda Lane, Drez and David Lee Pereira. Lane's work centres around relationships between the man-made and the natural; Pereira is known for his explorations of gender and identity fluidity; and Drez's murals challenge perspective using colour and form. While the structure will be transformed with different artworks across three phases of its stay, it'll also work as a community meeting spot and play host to an extended program of events. That includes a calendar of talks, performances and VR experiences held in collaboration with the Hellenic Museum Melbourne; and a lineup of Friday evening DJ sets as announced for the new NGV Friday Nights summer season. Catch 'Temple of Boom' in the Grollo Equiset Garden, NGV International, 180 St Kilda Road, Melbourne, until August 2023. Images: Installation view of the 2022 NGV Architecture Commission 'Temple of Boom', designed by Adam Newman and Kelvin Tsang, at NGV International from 22 November 2022–August 2023. Photo by Sean Fennessy.
In news that will enrage haters of performance art, legendary provocateur Marina Abramovic just announced her next artwork: "nothing". Yup. The woman who once cut a star into her stomach then lay naked on a block of ice and invited audience members to point a loaded gun at her head — this artist is going to be doing absolutely nothing for eight hours a day, six days a week, for 65 days. No tricks. For those more familiar with Abramovic's work, this new project at London's Serpentine Gallery sounds eerily similar to her most famous piece, The Artist Is Present. This 2010 performance work — which inspired its own documentary — involved Abramovic sitting in silence at the Museum of Modern Art staring at whoever sat opposite her. Dealing with intimacy and catharsis, the artwork became famous for its effect on audience members and spawned the fan blog Marina Abramovic Made Me Cry. From the pictures we can conclude that James Franco and Alan Rickman didn't shed a tear, but Jessa from Girls was bawling. So, if your last work consisted of silently sitting in a chair and staring at people for 736 hours, how can your next piece be "nothing"? It's like when you tell a smartarse friend you're doing 'nothing' and they point out you're breathing, standing or looking. What will she be doing? The real game changer here will be the audience. Stripped of all bags, jackets, watches, phones and cameras, each participant will enter the space where Abramovic has been completely disconnected from the outside world. The piece will be "unscripted and improvised", entirely dependent on audience behaviour and action. "There is not any work. It's just me," said the artist on BBC Radio. "The public is my live material. It is the most radical, the most pure I can do." Take a good look, people. At this point Marina Abramovic basically is art. Via Huffpost Arts & Culture.
David O. Russell clearly knows when he's onto a good thing. Over the last few years, the writer/director has found a formula that works and it seems like he's sticking with it. He casts actors Jennifer Lawrence, Bradley Cooper and Robert De Niro, tells stories of ordinary folks trying to escape dysfunction and chase better lives; and adopts a tone that shifts between harsh reality and fairytale. First Silver Linings Playbook. Then American Hustle. Now, his latest effort, Joy. This time around, Russell offers up a fictionalised account of the rise of a real-life home shopping network star. In the early 1990s, Joy Mangano (Lawrence) was a Long Island divorcee coping with caring for her two young children while living in a house with her daytime TV-loving mother (Virginia Madsen), ailing grandmother (Diane Ladd), singer ex-husband (Edgar Ramirez) and thrice-married father (De Niro). Then, while cleaning up spilled wine, she came up with the idea for the first-ever self-wringing mop. Enter an Italian investor (Isabella Rossellini), and, eventually, a television executive (Cooper). Yes, Joy is a rags-to-riches tale of a battler trying to improve herself and her situation; however it's also something more. It wrestles Russell's current patterns and preferences into a canny character study, watching on as a woman fights for agency and control, despite constantly being told that she should take care of others and reign in her go-getting ways. Weaving in surreal soap opera segments — and at its best when it's following its protagonist on the small screen or in the studio — the film becomes an astute and engaging dissection of the power of selling a fantasy. Of course, the latter works so well because that's exactly what the movie does, with Joy's success never in doubt (the film notes at the outset that it's inspired by stories of brave women, including one in particular). Indeed, Joy sells its namesake's journey from domestic unhappiness to business domination by making everything seem equally authentic and fanciful. The movie casts a dream-like sheen over crumbling interiors, proceeds at a lively pace through tough moments, and favours an upbeat soundtrack, all to create a purposefully wavering mood. In doing so, it manages to remain sincere, not satirical. That's where Lawrence proves pivotal too. When the going gets tough, she's determined rather than defeated; when everything appears to be coming together, she never patches over Joy's struggles. Her co-stars mightn't all fare as well, particularly De Niro's disapproving dad. Still, Madsen and Rossellini have their comic moments, and Ramirez and Cooper benefit from less chaotic roles. Besides, such a mix of performances feels fitting. Joy pairs a filmmaker's usual tricks and tendencies with a mostly-true tale of tenacity, serving up amusement and insight in the process.
What goes into the perfect gin and tonic? Quality gin, for one. Tonic water — ideally from a glass bottle. A fruit garnish (lime or cucumber, depending on the gin) and a tower of ice cubes. All necessary components in a balanced, four-part harmony. A plastic straw, placed triumphantly into the glass by your bartender? Or one you've fished out of a dusty pint glass on the corner of the bar? Not necessary. While the plastic straw has always seemed like the final puzzle piece, recent times have seen a move away from these often arbitrary additions to our drinks. And it's becoming ever more prevalent that this arbitrary addition is having a global impact. While there's no exact figure for Australia, it's estimated that 500 million plastic straws are used and discarded every day in the US — that's enough to fill 125 school buses. With this in mind, venues across Australia are beginning to acknowledge the impact this plastic waste is having on our oceans and ecosystems, and many have begun phasing out non-reusable straws and offering eco-friendly alternatives. Brisbane's Crowbar began phasing out single-use plastic straws in 2016, stating publicly on social media, "we are conscious of the environmental impact of plastic and are taking steps to reduce our footprint". Sydney's Dead Ringer announced late last year that it had eliminated plastic straws in favour of reusable metal straws and Pink Moon Saloon in Adelaide has a sign hanging above the bar stating, "save a turtle, don't use a plastic straw". The Last Straw, an initiative aiming to end the use of plastic straws in Australia, keeps an extensive list of venues committed to the cause. In Melbourne, many bars have followed suit, including Dr Morse in Abbotsford, which announced its intention to go plastic-straw free in the winter of 2017. Bar manager Jac Morgan says, "there was a bit of customer backlash when we decided to go completely straw free, but since we've brought in alternatives most customers don't even notice the difference". The bar replaced all plastic straws with paper straws (that are fully recyclable) and a bamboo resin alternative, which only takes three months to break down. To put this in perspective, the plastic straw you picked up on a whim winds up in a landfill site and takes up to 500 years to degrade (some scientists say it never fully degrades). If not in landfill, then the ocean — lodging itself in a turtle's nose or being ingested by an animal and steadily making its way up the food chain. It's understood that by 2050, plastic will outweigh fish in our oceans. Morgan says that the phasing out of plastic straws is a trend sweeping the hospitality industry, "there's definitely movement happening; a lot of venues have been trialling alternatives to plastics, even major venues and nightclubs". And customers are recognising and taking part in the shift, too. "We have a high turnover of clientele and we've noticed a lot of people saying no to straws altogether," says Morgan. "When we were using plastic straws, we'd easily get through 2500 a week. Nowadays, with the bamboo alternative positioned behind the bar, usage has dropped to around 2500 a month." Out of sight, out of mind. Countries around the world are acknowledging the threat of non-degradable plastics to our ecosystem. Canada and the UK have banned the use of microbeads in cosmetics and personal care products, with New Zealand and Ireland expected to follow suit. In 2016, France enacted a ban on plastic cups, plates and cutlery, which will come into effect in 2020. South Australia banned the use of single-use plastic bags back in 2009 — with ACT following suit in 2010, NT in 2011, Tasmania in 2012 and Queensland this year — establishing itself as a frontrunner in Australia's war against waste. It's clear that a small change can have a huge impact. So next time you're out and about, consider partying without the plastic. International Straw Free Day is on Saturday February 3, 2018. For more information on ways you can encourage venues to ditch the plastic, visit The Last Straw.
The biggest horror movie of 2018 kept things muted. We're talking about A Quiet Place, of course, and we mean that in a very literal sense. The blockbuster monster flick tasked a young family with staying soundless, lest they be heard and then killed by giant spider-like creatures — and their efforts to survive became a huge box office hit. A Quiet Place's hushed tones were so successful, they had a flow-on effect. When you watched the film in a cinema, you probably glared whenever someone near you crunched popcorn, crinkled a packet of chips or started talking. Your ears keenly listened out for any noise that could put Lee (John Krasinski, Tom Clancy's Jack Ryan), Evelyn (Emily Blunt, Wild Mountain Thyme), Regan (Millicent Simmonds, Wonderstruck) and Marcus (Noah Jupe, Honey Boy) Abbott in jeopardy, and you didn't want some loud person in the next row ruining that viewing experience. The frightful aliens, the hushed tones and Emily Blunt in kick-ass mode — it's all back thanks to sequel A Quiet Place Part II, which hits cinemas Down Under on May 27 more than a year later than originally planned due to pandemic delays. Also returning: hoping that your fellow cinema-goers don't make a sound while you soak in every second of expertly calibrated stillness. Like the first film, this follow-up is directed and written by Krasinski, with Blunt, Simmons and Jupe all returning on-screen. The sequel's cast also welcomes franchise newcomers Cillian Murphy (Peaky Blinders) and Djimon Hounsou (Guardians of the Galaxy). And while Krasinski is due to pop up among the actors as well, going back and watching the original movie again will remind you of the type of role he'll be playing this time around. As the initial trailer way back in January 2020 showed, and the just-dropped latest sneak peek does as well, A Quiet Place Part II picks up where its predecessor left off. Both suitably unsettling glimpses start with a flashback to the day the monsters initially made their presence known, before jumping to Evelyn, Regan and Marcus' latest attempts to avoid the fearsome creatures. Expect plenty of bumps, jumps and — naturally — silence. Check out the new trailer below: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Id00Eq1j8M4&feature=youtu.be After being delayed from its original 2020 release date, A Quiet Place Part II will open in Australian cinemas on May 27. Image: © 2019 Paramount Pictures. All Rights Reserved
Nostalgia alert: The Wiggles are coming to your streaming queue and you won't need to tune into children's programming to watch along. As announced in 2022, the famous Australian entertainers, skivvy fans, Hottest 100 winners, Big Red Car drivers, and Mardi Gras and Falls Festival performers are getting the documentary treatment. Hot Potato: The Story of The Wiggles arrives on Prime Video in October — and it now has a trailer. This behind-the-scenes look at the globally famous group will tell exactly the tale you think it will, following The Wiggles' career over more than three decades, including the new levels of fame and popularity that 2022 sent their way. Sure, Dorothy the Dinosaur mightn't need an origin story, but OG Wiggles Anthony Field, Murray Cook, Greg Page and Jeff Fatt are getting one, with Sally Aitken (Valerie Taylor: Playing with Sharks, David Stratton: A Cinematic Life) directing. How did four friends become one of the biggest names in Aussie music and TV? This is the tale that Hot Potato: The Story of The Wiggles tells. First, they met while studying early childhood teaching. Then, they turned their learnings there into a one-off album in the early 90s. After that, they made blue-, red-, yellow- and purple-wearing history, but not without getting rejections aplenty first. Also covered, including via lively to-camera chats as teased in the film's sneak peeks: the decisions and the reactions when four of the original group decided that it was time to wear clothing with looser-fitting necks and step away from being Wiggles. And, the doco covers Page's onstage cardiac arrest — with a crowd of adult fans watching — as well as The Wiggles' evolution over the decades, including now delighting both the young and the young at heart. Hot Potato: The Story of The Wiggles will arrive on Prime Video on Tuesday, October 24; however, that isn't the film's first stop. Before that, it'll enjoy its world premiere at the first-ever SXSW Sydney, showing as part of the event's Screen Festival. At the fest, The Wiggles in attendance for this trip down memory lane — their own, and everyone in Australia's as well — including for Q&As and performances. Check out the trailer for Hot Potato: The Story of The Wiggles below. Hot Potato: The Story of The Wiggles will stream via Prime Video from Tuesday, October 24.
If you like sipping Four Pillars' bloody gin, the distillery doubled your drinking options when winter 2023 rolled around. Last year, it didn't just make its bloody excellent Bloody Shiraz Gin, as it has annually since 2015. In addition, it also debuted a brand-new Bloody Pinot Noir Gin. Yes, the drop gives another grape variety the bloody treatment. Yes, it was popular. When winter 2024 started approaching, Four Pillars announced the return of its shiraz option; however, there was no sign of its other bloody tasty limited-edition wine-infused concoction for another vintage. Until now, that is, with the brand waiting until the thick of the cold weather to reveal that this too is a Bloody Pinot Noir Gin year. How much of a hit was the first vintage? It sold out in less than a week. So, if you're keen to add 2024's to your gin shrine, you'd best mark a few dates in your diary. It goes on sale around the country on Tuesday, August 13 — via the Four Pillars website, plus Four Pillars Distillery at Healesville in Victoria and the Four Pillars Lab in Surry Hills in Sydney — but you can get your hands on some from Wednesday, August 7 if you're a Four Pillars subscriber. 2024's tipple wasn't always a certainty. "When we had some early rain in the season, we weren't quite sure we'd be able to pull it off," explains Four Pillars Co-founder and Head Distiller Cameron Mackenzie. "But lo and behold, 2024 is pretty bloody good pinot. It also helps we don't just get grapes from one place. We source from a couple of vineyards and use multiple clones to get a more complex gin at the end. The only downside is we can only get so much of it." Like its shiraz sibling, the Bloody Pinot Noir Gin sources its fruit from Yarra Valley again, from Yarra Station and Upper Ngumby. The end result is lighter, brighter in colour, and with rhubarb, strawberry and rose petal notes. This vintage underwent a new process, soaking entire pinot bunches in Four Pillars' high-proof Rare Dry Gin for seven weeks, then pressing them and blending in more Rare Dry Gin. The best way to drink it? Four Pillars recommends using it in gin and soda, with just a squeeze of lemon and a lemon slice as a garnish. Head to the distillery's website for a few other cocktail ideas, too, including the Pinot Colada and the Pinot Blush. The 2024 Four Pillars Bloody Pinot Noir Gin will go on sale around the country on Tuesday, August 13, or on Wednesday, August 7 if you're a Four Pillars subscriber. Head to the Four Pillars website to make a purchase — or hit up the Four Pillars Distillery at Healesville, Victoria and the Four Pillars Lab in Surry Hills, Sydney.
Clouds are already pretty magical. They float around the sky above us, giving us shade (the good kind) and provide perfect material to gaze at while lying in the grass. Spotting shapes in clouds is a familiar childhood pastime for most of us — you see a monster, then your mum's face, then a flower. It's like an inkblot test for primary schoolers. Now the grownups have had their turn, and the results are kind of amazing. Argentinian artist Martin Feijoo bases his work on these moving blobs of cotton wool (or gas? — we're not great at science). From staring up and the sky and using his imagination, Feijoo has produced a gorgeous body of work from what he terms 'Shaping Clouds'. After taking a photo of the sky, the artist pencils in the full image he sees in his mind. This of course leads to some outlandish images. Giant sea turtles dive down to the earth below and a platypus with a giant neck attempts to walk on its hind legs. "When I was a child I was told that clouds’ shapes were created by expert balloon twister clowns who live in the sky," says the artist. "I imagine someone made [these clouds] for me." Now that the dreary skies of winter are gone, we can't wait to do some sky-gazing of our own. Check out the artist's Tumblr to see the full drawing process. Via Lost at E Minor and Daily Mail.
A good night's sleep is one of life's pure joys — and what better way is there to enhance your year than with a new set of bed sheets or a new mattress. Melbourne-designed Eva Mattress is here to help up your comfort level with its Easter sale. It's doing $50 off sheets and more than $100 off mattresses — and that's just the start. Up until 10am on Tuesday, April 6, the local Aussie retailer is offering big discounts so you can ensure you're nice and cosy each night before winter rolls around. Expect $125 off its Eva mattress, $50 off the Eva pillow, $50 off Eva hemp linen and $50 off timber bed frames. The brand's award-winning mattress-in-a-box has been engineered as a hybrid, which means it combines the comfort of memory foam with the support of pocket springs. The memory foam pillow uses activated charcoal to keep you cool and dry throughout the night. The timber bed frame, winner of a 2020 Good Design Award, has been certified by the Forrest Stewardship Council, meaning it's made from sustainably sourced timber. If you do spring for the mattress, sheets, pillow or bed frame, they come with a 120-night free trial, so you can be sure they'll help you get a good night sleep before you commit. Also, all mattress orders come with a 12-year warranty, ensuring you'll be sleeping pretty for years to come. Browse the store and pick up a discount. FYI, this story includes some affiliate links. These don't influence any of our recommendations or content, but they may make us a small commission. For more info, see Concrete Playground's editorial policy.
Australia's most sinister festival, Dark Mofo, is back for its seventh year and is set to be as boundary-pushing as ever, with its initial lineup announced today. As always, the festival will take place in the lead up to the winter solstice, exploring connections between old and contemporary mythology through art installations, performance, talks and music — all taking place in the darkness of Tasmanian winter. Hosted by the Museum of Old and New Art (MONA), Dark Mofo will takeover most of Hobart between June 3–23, showcasing a melting pot of artists, creatives and thinkers who dwell in the shadows of mainstream culture. Kicking things off is the festival's ideas symposium Dark + Dangerous Thoughts, running from June 6 to 9, which will present varied perspectives on issues of identity and politics from writers, commentators and thinkers such as homegrown talent Stan Grant, Yumi Stynes, Nakkiah Lui and Ginger Gorman alongside international guests Jennifer Boylan, Frederic Martel, and Coleman Hughes, among many others. Talks will navigate controversial topics such as Australia Day, average sex and priests in the closet. On site at MONA, installations by Ai Weiwei, Alfredo Jaar, Oliver Beer and Chris Townsend will be exhibited as well as MONA's own Kirsha Kaechele, who'll bring her book Eat the Problem to life with a series of immersive feasts (expect cane toads, starfish and camel), and an exhibition featuring one of the world's largest glockenspiels. Sharon Van Etten – the American musician and composer, who's appeared in David Lynch's Twin Peaks: The Return and Netflix's OA – is set to perform a night of disjointed, wistful and at times menacing folk-rock-pop with her new album Remind Me Tomorrow at the Odean on Sunday, June 9. [caption id="attachment_619495" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Dark Mofo's Winter Feast, shot by Rémi Chauvin.[/caption] And back again for another extravagant performance is Mike Parr with Towards a Black Square – a lengthy blindfolded performance in an undisclosed location, shown through live video feed – while over at DarkLab's deconsecrated church, controversial Australian artist Paul Yore will transform the space into a technicolour shrine for Dolly Parton, Justin Bieber and other icons of sex, love and the excessive with It's All Wrong But It's Alright. The full lineup is yet to be announced, but we're expecting all the regular winter feasts, nude swims and warehouse parties will return, too. We'll update you when it drops on Friday, April 12. Dark Mofo returns to Hobart from June 6 and 23. The full lineup will be announced Friday April 12. Pre-sale tickets are available from 6pm on Monday, April 15 with general tickets on sale from 11pm on Tuesday, April 16. For more information, visit the festival website.
Over his 17-year tenure as the host of The Daily Show, Jon Stewart has become known as one of America’s shrewdest political commentators. From behind his fake news desk, armed with a mix of satire and editorial scorn, the comedian and his team of writers have exposed hypocrisy and corruption, ridiculing dictators, presidents and CEOs alike. You’d imagine, then, that his first foray into filmmaking would be a similarly tongue-in-cheek affair — full of all the snark and cynicism that his viewers have come to expect. Instead, Stewart plays it straight, and in doing so reveals a side of himself that audiences rarely get to see. A powerful true tale told with grace and endless compassion, Rosewater is an outstanding directorial debut. Gael Garcia Bernal plays Maziar Bahari, a Canadian-Iranian journalist detained by Iran’s security forces amid the widespread civil unrest following the country’s 2009 elections. Held for more than four months, Bahari was accused of being an American spy, in part because of a satirical interview he gave on Stewart’s program just a week before his arrest. “Why would a spy have a TV show?” the baffled journalist asks, a question that perfectly encapsulates the absurdity of his situation. For weeks on end, Bahari is beaten and berated, unable to provide the answers that his captors wish to hear. In his moments alone, his memories turn to the plights of his father and sister, both of whom were imprisoned under previous Iranian regimes. Garcia Bernal gives a first-rate performance as Bahari, a man out of his element who discovers a remarkable inner strength. But the standout of the film is Danish actor Kim Bodnia, who plays Bahari’s nameless interrogator. While the man’s actions are often appalling, he’s never depicted as anything less than human. Like Bahari, he’s a person trapped by circumstances; a working stiff with a boss to answer to and a wife who wishes he was home. In humanising Bahari’s captors, Stewart helps us to understand them. The cruelty and stubbornness of those who propagate oppression is not born out of inherent evil, but rather out of fear. Fear of weakness. Fear of change. As the movie progresses, we increasingly come to pity these men, whose desperate attempts to cling to an old way of life seem all but destined to fail.
If you're a wannabe wizard or witch looking for more Harry Potter magic in your life, the last few years have provided plenty of ways to accio up some enchanting fun. Harry Potter-themed potions bars have popped up across Australia and New Zealand, Harry Potter and the Cursed Child hit the stage in Melbourne, and screenings, parties, escape rooms, scavenger hunts and other HP-centric events have been common everywhere, really. You can also play Pokemon Go-style game Wizards Unite or browse your way through the online Harry Potter at Home portal whenever you like, too. Soon, all of above will pale in comparison to the kind of space HP fans can really lose themselves in — and one that, hopefully, visitors will need a Marauder's Map to get around. That'd be a dedicated Harry Potter theme park, which is set to open in Japan in the first half of 2023. Fingers (or wands) crossed that international travel is back to normal by then. As first reported earlier this year, the new park will take over part of the existing Toshimaen amusement park in Tokyo's Nerima ward. That site has been up and running for 94 years, but will close at the end of August 2020 — so Warner Bros Studio Tours, Warner Bros Japan, Seibu Railway Co Ltd, ITOCHU Corporation and Fuyo General Lease Co Ltd are teaming up, waving a few magic wands about and turning a section of it into a Harry Potter-theme park. [caption id="attachment_761496" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Toshimaen. Image: Rsa via Wikimedia Commons[/caption] Called Warner Bros Studio Tour Tokyo — The Making of Harry Potter, the new venture will take more than a few cues from the existing Harry Potter attraction in London, which spans costumes, props, exhibitions and special events. That means there'll be a focus on sets that fans can tour, rather than rides. If you were hoping to play quidditch, travel by portkey or ride the floo network, that doesn't seem to be on the agenda, sorry. Instead, visitors will be taken "on a fascinating behind the scenes tour of the Wizarding World series," according to the statement officially announcing the Tokyo park. Over a space of about 30,000 square metres that'll include a soundstage and backlot area, there'll be movie sets that were designed and built by the creators of the Harry Potter series, as well as original outfits and items from the films. Overall, it's expected to take patrons about half a day to wander through it all. [caption id="attachment_761499" align="aligncenter" width="1920"] Warner Bros Studio Tour London[/caption] Warner Bros Studio Tour Tokyo — The Making of Harry Potter will be ticketed, unsurprisingly, but outside the entrance it'll also feature a landscaped area filled with sculptures of Harry Potter figures — and that'll be accessible to both park visitors and local residents. The Tokyo Metropolitan Government will be turning the rest of Toshimaen Amusement Park's grounds into a public park, with the Harry Potter tour and the rest of site coordinating their development plans. Japan is already home to a Harry Potter theme park zone at Universal Studios Japan in Osaka — so diehard devotees just might have to visit two of the country's cities. When it comes to fruition, add the dedicated Harry Potter theme park to Japan's hefty range of pop culture-themed attractions. A Super Nintendo amusement park zone is due to open at the aforementioned Universal Studios Japan in Osaka this year, a forthcoming Godzilla attraction will let you zipline into the monster's mouth, and a Studio Ghibli theme park is in the works — and Tokyo already boasts huge Godzilla and Gundam statues, as well as the Studio Ghibli Museum just outside the city. Top image: Warner Bros Studio Tour London.
As every horror fan knows, some things just won't die. In countless scary movie sagas, that statement applies to determined heroes and heroines facing off against insidious killers and creepy forces, to those fear-inducing evil-doers, and to plenty of ominous entities lingering around and wreaking havoc well after their time has expired. As many a long-running series has also shown (think: Halloween, Saw, The Grudge, The Ring and Child's Play, just to name a few), it also proves accurate when it comes to the franchises themselves. Add Scream to the pile of horror series that just keep kicking on — including, come January 2022, with a fifth film. An instant classic ever since the first movie smartly blended slasher scares and self-aware laughs back in 1996, the franchise has served up three sequels so far, as well as a TV spinoff. Now, it's returning with a flick that's being badged a 'relaunch', but will also include a heap of familiar faces. As 2018's excellent Halloween demonstrated, bringing back original cast members can turn out rather nicely for horror sagas — so the new Scream has enlisted Courteney Cox, David Arquette and none other than Neve Campbell. They'll all reprise their roles as reporter Gale Weathers, deputy-turned-sheriff Dewey Riley, and initial Ghostface target Sidney Prescott, respectively. Yes, this series has always had a thing for Sid, and it still does. Cox, Arquette and Campbell will co-star alongside The Boys' Jack Quaid, In the Heights' Melissa Barrera and You's Jenna Ortea. Behind the lens, with filmmaker Wes Craven — who directed all four original Scream films — passing away in 2015, Ready or Not's Matt Bettinelli-Olpin and Tyler Gillett will take the helm. And, story-wise, expect everyone to head back to the original setting of Woodsboro, California — where more scream-inducing incidents are clearly going to take place. If you're keen to rewatch your way through the franchise to-date, Scream, 1997's Scream 2 and 2000's Scream 3 are all available to stream in Australia on Stan (with 1 and 3 on Amazon Prime Video, too), with Scream 4 on Google Play and YouTube Movies, and Scream: The TV Series on Netflix. In New Zealand, Scream and Scream 3 are available on Amazon Prime Video, Scream 2 is on Google Play and YouTube Movies, Scream 4 is on Neon and Scream: The TV Series is on Netflix. Or, you can revisit the original Scream's trailer below: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AWm_mkbdpCA The new Scream movie will hit cinemas Down Under on January 13, 2020.
Since 2018, television has had an Atlanta-shaped hole where one of the best shows of the past decade should've sat. The Donald Glover-created, -starring, -co-written and -sometimes-directed series made a huge splash when it first arrived in 2016, then followed up its stellar first season with a phenomenal second batch of episodes — but, as fans have seen happen for Earnest 'Earn' Marks on-screen, too, life got in the way of the program's third season. Glover has been busy over the past four years, of course. Since we've last seen him play Earn, he's cancelled and rescheduled Australian tours, played Coachella, voiced Simba in the photorealistic remake of The Lion King, dropped albums and made Guava Island with Rihanna, and that was all before the pandemic. Thankfully, making more Atlanta also found its way onto his to-do list — and Australians will be able to start watching the results via SBS and SBS On Demand from Friday, March 25. To tide you over until then, the full trailer for Atlanta's third season has just dropped — and Earn and his pals are busy here, too. His cousin Alfred (Brian Tyree Henry, Godzilla vs Kong), aka Paper Boi, is touring Europe, with Earn along for the ride alongside Alfred's righthand man Darius (Lakeith Stanfield, Judas and the Black Messiah). As this latest sneak peek shows, eerie Santas, gushing fans and strange parties are all involved, in a trailer that sports a surreal vibe from start to finish. If you're new to the show, it dropped into Earn's life after he'd quit Princeton, returned home to the titular city, then began managing his Alfred's rap career — but little has ever gone as planned for him since. The 30-something also has an on-again-off-again relationship with Van (Zazie Beetz, The Harder They Fall), with the pair sharing a daughter, which throws up complications on a regular basis. Tackling the ins and outs of Earn and co's lives — including the daily reality of being Black in America today — while examining race, money, relationships, parenthood, art, music and simply trying to get by: that's Atlanta on paper, and it hits all of those marks devastatingly well. But, as the marvel that was season two's Teddy Perkins episode demonstrated, this series always bobs and weaves in its own unexpected directions. And yes, as well as being one of the best things on TV, it boasts one of the best casts on television, too. Atlanta will end after its fourth season, which is set to also air in 2022, arriving sometime during spring Down Under — but for now, season three's March 25 premiere date can't come soon enough. Check out the full trailer for Atlanta's third season below: Atlanta season three will start screening via SBS and streaming via SBS On Demand from Friday, March 25.
Since 2011, DJ Tom Loud's travelling dance party Hot Dub Time Machine has ripped up stages the world over, offering a rolling crossfade of the last six decades of pop-music. But seeing as you can't go out and party at a club or even a vineyard at the moment due to the Government's ban on mass gatherings, Hot Dub is bringing the good times to your living room instead. Expect everything from 50s rock 'n' roll tunes to disco hits like ABBA's 'Gimme Gimme Gimme' and Donna Summer's sultry 'I Feel Love'; ballads and some glam rock from the 80s; Alex Dyson cutting aerobics-style moves to 90s hit 'Steal My Sunshine'; Darude's epic 'Sandstorm'; and Britney's 'Toxic' — you get the idea. Sure enough, this online dance party will have you pushing your furniture aside and heating up a makeshift at-home dance floor in no time. To add to the vibe, there'll be disco lights and a live chat going so you can socialise with other partygoers, plus Loud's family dancing in the background, keeping things wholesome. Hot Dub at Home occurs every second Saturday, kicking off a 6pm, and can be viewed on Twitch. Hot Dub has also launched podcast Decades by Hot Dub Time Machine which will keep you grooving till the next online boogie fest rolls around. Top image: Pat Stevenson
There's plenty to look at in Yves Saint Laurent, a new biopic of the legendary fashion designer. As well as giving the world the iconic Le Smoking women's tuxedo, he is credited with making ready-to-wear reputable in world of haute couture. His fashion journey — and personal one — is brought to life by director Jalil Lespert and gangly actor Pierre Niney in this French-language biopic. This film opens in 1953, as the 18-year-old Laurent wins a major fashion prize, which leads him to take over the Christian Dior legacy. Here he meets Pierre Berge, patron of the arts, future business partner and the love of his life. Three years later, they create the Yves Saint Laurent company and revolutionise the world of fashion. The film was made with the support of the Foundation of Yves Saint Laurent. The upshot of this is that the filmmakers were able to use all the original YSL designs. Get ready to feast your eyes. Read our full review here. Yves Saint Laurent is in cinemas on June 26, and thanks to Entertainment One, we have ten double in-season passes to give away. To be in the running, subscribe to the Concrete Playground newsletter (if you haven't already), then email us with your name and address. Sydney: win.sydney@concreteplayground.com.au Melbourne: win.melbourne@concreteplayground.com.au Brisbane: win.brisbane@concreteplayground.com.au https://youtube.com/watch?v=-ec-DQ_7EUM
What happens when two cousins played by Kieran Culkin (Succession) and Jesse Eisenberg (Fleishman Is in Trouble) honour their grandmother and explore their family's past by heading to Poland? Eisenberg himself asked that question, then turned the answer into the Sundance-premiering and now Jewish International Film Festival-bound A Real Pain. The actor not only co-stars but writes and directs the dramedy, his second feature behind the lens — and Australian audiences can see the results when JIFF returns for 2024. This year's festival is back to finish out the year, screening in seven cities — Melbourne, Sydney, Brisbane, Adelaide, Perth, Hobart and Canberra — across various dates between Sunday, October 27–Sunday, December 22. Just like its fellow major cultural film fests, such as its French, Spanish, Italian, Scandinavian and Japanese counterparts, JIFF's 2024 slate is jam-packed. Movie lovers can choose between 41 features, two TV shows and a showcase of short films, with the festival's titles hailing from 17 countries. Eisenberg and Culkin aren't the only big names on the lineup. Closing night's Berlin-set The Performance, which is adapted from an Arthur Miller short story and tells of a Jewish American tap dancer, stars Jeremy Piven (Sweetwater). The fest's centrepiece pick Between the Temples features Jason Schwartzman (Megalopolis) as a cantor and Carol Kane (Dinner with Parents) as his former elementary school music teacher. And in White Bird, which hails from a book by the author of fellow page-to-screen effort Wonder, Helen Mirren (Barbie) and Gillian Anderson (Scoop) pop up. In Sydney and Melbourne only — it's playing the Brisbane International Film Festival in the Queensland capital instead — The Brutalist is on the JIFF bill as well. It shows Down Under after winning Venice's Silver Lion-winner for Best Director for actor-turned-filmmaker Brady Corbet (The Childhood of a Leader, Vox Lux). Starring on-screen: Adrien Brody (Asteroid City), Felicity Jones (Dead Shot) and Guy Pearce (Inside), in a flick that follows architect László Toth and his wife Erzsébet to America from Europe after the Second World War. Well-known folks are also in the spotlight in documentaries Janis Ian: Breaking Silence, Diane Warren: Relentless and How to Come Alive with Norman Mailer — and acclaimed director Michael Winterbottom (24 Hour Party People, The Trip movies) is on the lineup via British Mandatory Palestine-set historical thriller Shoshana. Then, there's TV series Kafka, arriving a century after the death of its namesake. Highlights across the rest of the program include documentary The Commandant's Shadow, about The Zone of Interest-featured Auschwitz commandant Rudolf Höss' son Hans Jürgen Höss meeting with survivor Anita Lasker-Wallfisch; Tatami, following a female Iranian judo athlete played by Arienne Mandi (The L Word: Generation Q), with Guy Nattiv (Golda) and Zar Amir Ebrahimi (last seen on-screen in Shayda, and also co-starring here) co-directing; television's Auckland-set Kid Sister; and Aussie doco Pita with Vegemite: An Israeli Australian Story. "Our 2024 program showcases stars and change makers, offering audiences a rich tapestry of stories that explore the depth and diversity of Jewish life," explains JIFF Artistic Director Eddie Tamir. "We are excited to present films that span thousands of years of history and culture, reflecting on both the ancient traditions that have shaped our world and the contemporary challenges we face today." Jewish International Film Festival 2024 Dates and Locations Sunday, October 27–Wednesday, December 4 — Classic Cinemas (full dates), Lido Cinemas (Monday, October 28–Tuesday, December 3) and Cameo Cinemas (Saturday, November 9–Wednesday, November 13), Melbourne Monday, October 28–Thursday, December 5 — Ritz Cinemas (full dates) and Roseville Cinemas (Thursday, November 7–Wednesday, November 20), Sydney Thursday, November 7–Sunday, November 17 — New Farm Cinemas, Brisbane Thursday, November 7–Sunday, November 17 — The Piccadilly, Adelaide Thursday, November 7–Sunday, November 17 — State Cinema, Hobart Saturday, December 7–Sunday, December 8 — Dendy Cinemas, Canberra Saturday, December 14–Sunday, December 22 — Luna Leederville, Perth The 2024 Jewish International Film Festival runs from October–December. For more information, or to buy tickets, head to the festival's website.
It’s a hard slog for the Brisbane band. Yes, there are the Powderfingers, the Grates and the Regurgitators of the world, but then there are the others, who play every week at a different bar, slowly finding their way in. New wave Brisbane band The Cairos have certainly done the slog, but it seems now that it all paying off, and this awesome foursome looks on their way to joining that shining list of top-notch Brisbane bands. In recent times The Cairos have had support slots for the likes of The Temper Trap, You Am I, Powderfinger, The Mess Hall, and Birds of Tokyo, and were on the bill for the 2010 Parklife festival. Not bad chaps! Thus with the band gadding about like mad things, Brisbane fans should get their skates on and organise tickets to The Cairos gig at The Zoo before they sell out, and this band is too big for old Brisbane town’s boots. This is band’s last tour on the back of their EP Summer Catalogue, following these gigs the band will be heading back to the studio to make some more beautiful music together.
Christmas lunch is arguably the most important meal of the year. Get it right, with a beautiful ham as the centrepiece, and it is almost guaranteed that the day will run smoothly, ending with everyone in food comas whilst watching Miracle on 34th Street. Get it wrong, though, and it is likely that you will have a host of cranky family members ready to divulge some vindictive secrets and burn down the Christmas tree. Ensure that this year's festivities populate the family albums for all the right reasons by purchasing a Christmas ham of the highest quality from Victor Churchill and marinading it in the ham glaze you'll get as a gift when paying with your MasterCard® card. Victor Churchill's Christmas ham legs range from $95 for a half leg to $185 for a full leg. The delicious deal with complimentary glaze is all thanks to MasterCard's Priceless Sydney program and should be taken advantage of given the cut the butcher is using this season. Their Kurobuta Christmas hams are some of the most delicious and succulent cuts ever tasted, combining the very best European haute cuisine and Aussie character. So if you want to be the toast of the family and make this Christmas one to remember, head down to 132 Queen Street, Woollahra and order your Victor Churchill ham as soon as possible. This offer is strictly subject to availability while stocks last, so pay now and save Christmas Eve for that last-minute gift shopping instead. Visit the Priceless Sydney website to see more locally famous offers.
DesignEx is Australia's leading design exhibition, and this year the Office for Good Design has curated a unique seminar series called 7 Kinds of Happiness to open an otherwise industry-focused event to the general, design-loving public. Seven seminars with major industry heavyweights explore how happiness impacts the practice of leading local and international designers. Each seminar is held within the 'Happy Place', an area created specifically for this seminar series constructed entirely of doonas. Sounds like our sort of lecture. Concrete Playground has a double pass to giveaway to each of the seven seminars. To win, just make sure you're subscribed to Concrete Playground then email us at hello@concreteplayground.com.au with your preference of seminar from the list below. Happiness 1: Alice Rawsthorn, Monday 14th 12.30pm Happiness 2: Ilse Crawford (UK), Monday 14th 5pm (digital) Happiness 3: Stefan Sagmeister (USA), Tuesday 15th 10am (digital) Happiness 4: Broached Commissions, Tuesday 15th 12.30pm Happiness 5: Rotor (Brussels), Tuesday 15th May 5pm (digital) Happiness 6: Work AC (USA), Wed 16th 10am (digital) Happiness 7: Australian Creative Directors of the Venice Architecture Biennale Anthony Burke and Gerard Reinmuth with TOKO (Panel Discussion) Wed 16th 12.30pm
Fleabag fans, rejoice — because Phoebe Waller-Bridge is back on our screens, and back working with playwright and screenwriter Vicky Jones, too. The latter is the driving force behind comedy-thriller Run, and Waller-Bridge only plays a supporting part, but that's more than enough reason to binge your way through its seven instantly moreish episodes. The setup: college sweethearts Ruby (Merritt Wever) and Billy (Domhnall Gleeson) always promised each other that, if one of them texted the word 'run' to the other and received the same back in reply, they'd drop everything, hightail it to New York's Grand Central Station and catch a train across America together. And, that's exactly what happens. As for why, and what this means to the two central characters, that's all part of the fun of watching. So is enjoying the rapport between the always-great Wever and Gleeson.
Cover your iPhone in the artistic works of Australia's own. iArt phone covers feature the designs of Australian contemporary artists David Larwill, Tommy Watson and Adam Cullen, winner of the 2000 Archibald Prize and a contesting 2012 finalist. By combining the practical with the aesthetically inclined, iArt hopes that these hard phone covers will allow the beautiful pieces they spotlight to reach a broader audience. With an iArt phone cover you may hold a tiny masterpiece in the palm of your hand, all the while vitally increasing contemporary art appreciation. To win 1 of 4 Adam Cullen iArt iPhone covers (just in time for the March 30 announcement of the 2012 Archibald Prize winner), make sure you are subscribed to Concrete Playground then email your name and postal address through to hello@concreteplayground.com.au. And if you use the code VSzHOS when purchasing a bundle featuring Adam Cullen's work, you will receive 25% off plus free shipping until April 2.
The National Gallery of Victoria has been displaying a plethora of Chinese masterpieces lately, and the opening of its new dual exhibitions — Terracotta Warriors: Guardians of Immortality and Cai Guo-Qiang: The Transient Landscape — are two more unmissable additions. The most monumental part of the exhibition is undoubtedly the Terracotta Army: a collection of sculptures that were created for the first Emperor of China Qin Shi Huang's gigantic tomb back around 221–206 BCE but were only discovered in Shaanxi province in 1974. It's one of the 20th century's most significant archaeological finds. The NGV had displayed some of them before back in the 80s, but has managed to score eight (of the estimated 8000) terracotta warriors for its 2019 Winter Masterpieces exhibition. They're supported by a cast of two breathtaking life-size Imperial Army horses and two smaller replica bronze chariots, and complemented by a remarkable selection of gold, jade and bronze artefacts that date back a thousand years. Finding parallels with the terracotta warriors, Cai Guo-Qiang's exhibition provides a contemporary perspective on China's culture and ancient philosophies. Across installation, exhibition design and paintings forged with gunpowder, Cai's work illuminates his sincere commitment to the idea that history and ritual can inform great contemporary art. Below, we've picked out six artworks that highlight why this exhibition is one you have to catch — whether you live in Melbourne or interstate. It will be showing right up until October 13. CAI GUO-QIANG [caption id="attachment_722861" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Sean Fennessy[/caption] TRANSIENCE (PEONY) From good fortune to compassion and romance, peonies have held an important significance within Chinese culture for centuries. This artwork is made up of two works, with Transience I (Peony) being a huge mound of porcelain, which has been singed with gunpowder. The second part, Transience II (Peony), is an immersive 360-degree painting where Cai Guo-Qiang showcases the peony throughout its four stages of life — from its emergence to its bloom, wilting and eventually its decay. Each colourful petal displayed across the work was created using colourful gunpowder (in a Williamstown warehouse) to scorch the silk underneath forming unique characteristics and shapes. Together, the two works explore the fragility of life and hint at the downfall of the Qin empire — it was the first dynasty of Imperial China and lasted only 14 years as advisors fought for control. [caption id="attachment_722859" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Tobias Titz[/caption] MURMURATION (LANDSCAPE) Featuring 10,000 porcelain starlings, this mind-bending installation seeks to recreate the bewildering phenomenon of 'murmuration', where large flocks of birds move effortlessly in harmony — something that scientists still haven't landed on a conclusive answer for. Simultaneously, Cai's intricate work also resembles the undulating slopes of Mount Li, a culturally and spiritually significant place that was chosen by Emperor Qin Shihuang to house his giant terracotta army. Meanwhile, each of the birds in the artwork were produced in Cai's hometown of Quanzhou, which has strong traditions of crafting high-quality white porcelain. However, Cai used gunpowder to ignite his flock into a dramatic shade of black. [caption id="attachment_723262" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Tobias Titz[/caption] FLOW (CYPRESS) Like peonies, cypress trees have long been an important emblem in ancient Chinese history. Symbolising resilience and integrity in art and literature, this large-scale creation saw Cai draw with gunpowder and mimic what's known in Chinese as dimai, or 'veins of the earth'. According to feng shui, the Chinese study of energy forces, locations that feature distinct valleys and rivers represent the earth's most abundant settings and have been chosen throughout ancient history as the sites for tombs and other places of supreme importance. This work depicts China's Central Plains, which is considered to be the birthplace of the concepts of yin and yang, Taoism, and the starting point for 400 years of the Han Dynasty. TERRACOTTA WARRIORS [caption id="attachment_723265" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Sean Fennessy[/caption] ARMOURED MILITARY OFFICER With an estimated 8000 terracotta warriors buried at the Xi'an excavation site, so far only about 2000 have managed to be successfully removed. However, what has astounded experts is that every figure they've managed to unearth has its own unique attributes, whether that be the uniforms they're wearing, the weapons they carry or the hairstyles of the people. This fact has led many to believe that each of the warriors could actually represent a real-life person from Emperor Qin's army of the time. [caption id="attachment_723264" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Sean Fennessy[/caption] KNEELING ARCHER Discovered in one of the excavation site's enormous pits, the kneeling archers are some of the Terracotta Army's best-preserved items that have been discovered to date. Highly realistic with their armour and facial expressions crafted in stunning detail, on average, the kneeling archers stand at about 1.2-metres-tall and are considered absolute masterpieces of ancient Chinese sculpture. It's said that the craftspeople responsible for the Terracotta Warriors paid extra careful attention to the kneeling arches, which can be seen in the stitching on their shoes and the immaculately produced armour plating. [caption id="attachment_723263" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Sean Fennessy[/caption] MYTHICAL CREATURE The huge cache of ancient marvels didn't just include thousands of soldiers. For his journey into the afterlife, Emperor Qin decided that he'd need a host of other possessions, people and creatures to help him on his way. So far, archaeologists who remain hard at work digging through the earth have found a wealth of civilian figurines, carriages and even animals, including this remarkably preserved pair of mythical creatures. From singers and acrobats to strongmen, other findings include bronze cranes, horses and suits of armour, plus a host of buildings from his own imperial palace such as halls, stables and offices. Terracotta Warriors: Guardians of Immortality and Cai Guo-Qiang: The Transient Landscape will both be on display at the National Gallery of Victoria, Melbourne until Sunday, October 13. Admission is $30 for adults and includes entry to both exhibitions. You can buy tickets at the gallery or in advance here. Images: courtesy NGV International.
Pixar certainly has a formula, but much like Coca-Cola, they won't share what it is. Nevertheless, whatever creative ingredients they are putting into their delicious movie soda is working — with their 13 major features to date averaging 89 percent approval on Rotten Tomatoes. The company continues to make creative, moving and visually stunning family-friendly films that allow us to unashamedly enjoy a children's movie. The animation entrepreneurs have recently come under scrutiny, though, from critics who argue that the tried and tested formula is beginning to tire. They point to Pixar's production of sequels such as the Toy Story franchise, Cars 2 and the announcement of Finding Dory to contend that the company is no longer reaching for infinity and beyond. What they are neglecting, though, is that the magic of Pixar derives from their great storytelling that children and adults across the globe can relate to. And the newest addition to this Pixarpedia is Monsters University, the company's first foray into the prequel world, and this brilliant film will silence whoever wants to argue that this is an example of filmmaking fatigue. It tells the tale of how Monsters Inc. stars Mike (Billy Crystal) and Sully (John Goodman) became friends and went on to be employed together at Monsters Incorporated. Whilst audiences who saw the original may know the final outcome, the getting there certainly serves up some unexpected and enjoyable twists right up until film's end. The focus is on some typically university-centred life lessons, such as defining oneself and sustaining friendships in the face of unforeseen roadblocks. They've sidestepped the other, more adult content of college life; this is a clever, G-rated version. Then again, who needs alcohol when you have friendship, right? Of course, being a Pixar movie, it is largely about the aesthetics and Monsters University expertly showcases the company's stellar attention to detail. From the monstrous architecture of the campus buildings to the fang zips on students' backpacks, no stone is left unturned. There is also an incredible variety of monsters — with the visual standout being Art — and this vast populous ensures that the film never stagnates as new monsters appear throughout as well as some excellent cameos from the original. As the old saying goes, if it ain't broke don't fix it, and there is certainly nothing broken at Pixar. If they continue making visually beautiful, surprising and compelling stories like Monsters University then I will happily see robot Billy Crystal voicing Monsters Retirement Home in 100 years time. Also, stick around until the cinema lights come on for the most entertaining post-credits scene in Pixar history.
UPDATE: MAY 28, 2020 — Since publication of the below article, the Japan Tourism Agency has clarified in a Tweet that the subsidy scheme, called the Go To Travel Campaign, is to "stimulate domestic travel demand within Japan after the COVID-19 pandemic and only cover a portion of domestic travel expenses". The scheme is still under consideration by the Japanese Government. Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, global tourism as we once knew it virtually disappeared overnight, with borders closing, flights grounded and overseas holidays off the cards for months now. But with Australia, New Zealand and other nations around the world gradually beginning to loosen their coronavirus restrictions, that might eventually change — and if you're wondering where to venture to first, the Japanese government wants to help fund your next getaway. As reported by The Japan Times, the Japan Tourism Agency has announced a tourism subsidy scheme that'll pay a portion of travel expenses for visitors coming into the country. If the idea sounds familiar, that's because the Mediterranean island of Sicily is doing the same thing, as it revealed a few weeks back. JTA's chief Hiroshi Tabata told a press conference that the program would come into effect when Japan's COVID-19 case numbers subside and the country subsequently reopens its borders — which he said could be as early as July. Few other details have been revealed as yet, including exactly what costs the scheme will reimburse (such as flights, accommodation and venue tickets). Still, if strolling across Shibuya's scramble crossing, visiting the Studio Ghibli museum, wandering through a kaleidoscopic maze of digital art, singing karaoke in a ferris wheel and eating Godzilla-themed desserts next to a building-sized Godzilla statue are all on your must-do travel list (and they all definitely should be), this is welcome news. The Japanese agency expects to spend a massive ¥1.35 trillion — approximately AU$19 billion — on the tourism initiative, a move designed to help revive the struggling sector. As The Japan Times also notes, Japan's visitor numbers for January–April 2020 are down 64.1 percent compared to the same period in 2019. And, with the Tokyo Olympics rescheduled from 2020 to 2021 due to COVID-19, there's no longer a guaranteed influx of travellers expected this year. Japan has been under a state of emergency since early April, but it was lifted on Monday, May 25 by Prime Minister Shinzō Abe, with infection numbers — especially in Tokyo — continuing to fall. While lockdowns have been loosening in some regions around the country in recent weeks, the latest move also includes Tokyo, where restrictions on restaurants, bars, libraries and museums are also starting to ease. For further details about the Japan Tourism Agency tourism scheme, keep an eye on the agency's website. Via The Japan Times.
There is something about taking a venue and making it new again that we really respond to. Renovations, redesigns, makeovers: They are inviting, and anyone who has visited The Bridge Hotel or The Richmond Club pre- and post-renovations would have experienced this. The gents behind these incredible makeovers, Sand Hill Road, are at it again with the redesign of The Prahran Hotel. They have taken the much-loved Melbourne venue and added stunning architecture to its already long list of characteristics. With a complete wall of concrete pipes that you can sit in and enjoy your parma, this redesign is incredibly well played. We chat to Matt Mullins from Sand Hill Road about redesigning spaces, the perfect pub and where he goes to enjoy a beer. Tell us about Sand Hill Road and how it came about. Sand Hill Road is a group of four guys. The same four guys [Doug Maskiell, Andy Mullins, Matt Mullins and Tom Birch] that were here when it started. We were all twenty five years old, working different jobs and, at the same time, starting to think maybe this work life wasn't what we wanted. The only thing we knew about was pubs. We knew what we knew from spending our misspent years in pubs. We started with one venue. We renovated it, all ourselves. It was before designers and architects were really briefed to redo Melbourne pubs. After the first one we thought, that's fun, and did it again and again. Since then we've done eight or nine pubs, and we're having a really good time! We use the same architects, Techne Architects and Justin Northrop. We also work with the same builders, Visual Builders. You can't build a place like the new Prahran Hotel without good relationships with architects and builders. What would you say the key elements of a 'great pub' are? We've always said that design is one of the areas where we can push the boundaries. Our market seems happy and excited by this, they love coming and being in an exciting building. But, no doubt about it, we talk about what our market is going to want in terms of the actual product. We talk about the food offering being accessible and good value, and high-quality pub food. We talk about that first. People need to be able to eat in small groups and large groups in the entire venue. We talk about them having a public bar, where anyone can come in and not be judged. People want the barman to know them and know what they drink. In the end, the product offering is a good, simple, honest pub offering. Do you think these elements that make your venues work are specific to a Melbourne audience? We spend a lot of time thinking about it, about if these things we're tapping into are Melbourne things or inner Melbourne things, or if it would have all worked in other areas. The answer is we don't know, but it feels like there is something very Melbourne about our market. It's something about the Melbourne market that really responds to a good, honest pub — to a public bar, to a chicken parma and a pot of Carlton. Being able to watch the footy in the background. We built our pubs around that specific market. What do you think it is that keep people coming back? People come to our pubs once or twice for the design. They come back for things like karma kegs, and the public bar that has become part of their life. They come to know us and they can feel at home there. In many ways the design comes second or third or fifth even. Tell us a little about Karma Kegs? The guys and I have been donating money to different causes over the years. About a year or two ago we thought we might be able to involve our patrons more in this aspect of our lives. They are the business and therefore it made sense that they could be part of the charity process too. Doug came up with the idea of the karma keg, on a Friday, at every venue. We donate a keg of Carlton, and punters decide what they pay for it and the whole lot goes towards a local charity. They always choose to pay more than what's it worth. It's incredibly cool. It tells you a lot about our patrons and how they feel about the community. How did you go about redesigning The Prahran Hotel? We start with asking 'who is the market for us and what do they want?'. We start with the general offering and then we talk about how we can design the building around offering that. The architects always ask, 'who is this pub for boys?' The pipes at The Prahran Hotel are pretty wild, they look really cool, but more importantly you get to sit in one of these pipes with the street on the one side and the venue to the other. The design came out of the need for that community beer garden. The beer garden was stuck out the back and was hard to see and get to. It wasn't doing what it was meant to be doing. We needed to bring it right up to the front. Access it from the public bar, and bring light into the heart of it. The pipes now wrap it around the courtyard, an extension of it so to speak. Do you look to the history of the pub when redesigning? Was that an element of the Prahran Hotel redesigning? We absolutely look to the history of the pub. Design can be a great way to incorporate or evoke the history of a venue. The Prahran was rebuilt in the 1940s in the streamline style, the architectural style that came after art deco. They really added the cruise-ship style in the remodel. Everything was done in big long horizontal lines, with portholes and curved brickwork. With the part of the hotel that we left, we borrowed from that era, specifically the circular motif. They were one of the things that inspired the circular pipes. Essentially, they are porthole windows. Iconic of the era. We took that idea and built them on top of each other, creating the wall of concrete pipes. Aside from your own venues, where do you enjoy spending time in Melbourne? I tend to go to venues for one of two reasons. Firstly, it's for us to learn something architecturally, and a good example would be The Boat Builders Yard. What they did there in terms of inside and outside and making things waterproof inside was fascinating and really interesting. The other reason I go to certain venues is to visit places my friends own. I like to know the publican — The Great Northern for me is the number one beer pub in Melbourne and one of the best in the country. What they know and advise with beer and food is out of this world.
It started back in 1956 as a singing contest between a mere seven nations. Now, more than six decades later, Eurovision is a glitter and spandex-fuelled global musical phenomenon. Forty-one countries not only in Europe but from elsewhere compete — hello Australia — and viewers tune in en masse each May to watch, sing along and add new pop tunes to their playlists. But with COVID-19 continuing to spread, the show won't go on in 2020. Due to take place in Rotterdam, this year's Eurovision Song Contest won't be delayed or rescheduled — it has completely been cancelled. In a statement, the European Broadcasting Union explained that it had explored other alternatives, such as postponing, staging it remotely and running it without an audience, but there was no other viable option. "The uncertainty created by the spread of COVID-19 throughout Europe — and the restrictions put in place by the governments of the participating broadcasters and the Dutch authorities — means the EBU has taken the difficult decision to not continue with the live event as planned," it announced. With big event cancellations and postponements coming through with frequency at the moment — including SXSW, Coachella, Dark Mofo, Melbourne International Comedy Festival, Vivid Sydney and Glastonbury, to name a few — scrapping Eurovision 2020 is hardly surprising. It'll still come as a disappointment to fans, however, especially given the contest would've been perfect self-isolating viewing material. And, it's obviously disappointing for the artists already selected by their countries to try to sing their way to glory, such as Aussie talent Montaigne. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gr-wWxu4974&feature=emb_logo While the EBU is still working through the ramifications of cancelling this year's Eurovision, it is in discussions with the City of Rotterdam about hosting the event next year. The Netherlands earned the right to stage Eurovision 2020 when Dutch singer-songwriter Duncan Laurence won the 2019 contest with the song 'Arcade' — as is Eurovision tradition, each year's winning country hosts the next year's event. Also under discussion is whether this year's selected artists can perform when the contest returns in 2021 and, if so, whether they can sing their 2020 songs. The 2020 Eurovision Song Contest will no longer be held in May 2020, or at all in 2020. To find out more about the status of COVID-19 in Australia and how to protect yourself, head to the Australian Government Department of Health's website.
Think Capri, and you likely think of the island off Italy's coastline. Southeast Queensland also boasts the Isle of Capri, however, in the Nerang River on the Gold Coast. And it's there that you'll find your next spot for Southern California-meets-Mexican eats while peering at the water, with newcomer Isla Cantina opening its doors. Back in mid-2022, the Capri on Via Roma shopping centre was snapped up by Mulpha Hospitality Group, who is behind this new restaurant and bar as well. Isla Cantina is nestled next to Edgewater Dining & Lounge Bar, can welcome in 100 people, and sports a coastal-appropriate earthy and airy fitout by Brisbane-based architect and interior designer Simone Barr from DAARC — and, amid greenery and neutral hues, those views. Mark Marshall, Mulpha's Area Executive Chef for Queensland, has overseen Isla Cantina's culinary lineup, which unsurprisingly goes heavy on seafood given the venue's location. Fried red snapper tacos are a particular highlight, sitting alongside spanner crab tostadas, snapper ceviche, cachaca- and lime-cured ocean trout, and yellowfin tuna tiradito. If you're keen to venture beyond the ocean's finest, eight-hour slow-roasted lamb barbacoa, adobe barbecue chicken, and flank steak paired with bone-marrow butter, fire-roasted onions and tomatillo salsa are also on the menu, plus jackfruit carnitas. For dessert, options include barbecue pineapple, as well as the sweet-and-spicy blend that comes with chocolate and chipotle mousse. And, you'll also lean into a melange of flavours in the cocktail range, which is filled with drinks ready to be sipped on Isla Cantina's breezy deck. Authentic Mexican cocktails lead the show, margaritas obviously included, and also the paloma, and the beer-based chelada and michelada. "This is a restaurant for everyone who likes a bit of spice in their life, locals and visitors alike. We want to show how tasty and interesting this food is and provide an atmosphere that reflects our easy-going coastal lifestyle and sunshine state of mind," says Isla Cantina manager Pablo Uribe. "We are thrilled to bring a whole new taste offering to the Gold Coast that is fresh, fast and fun, with authentic flavours and fabulous ingredients. You don't need a lot of ingredients to make great food. You just need to combine great flavours, prepared the right way," adds Marshall. Find Isla Cantina at Capri on Via Roma, Shop 4, G7 Via Roma, Surfers Paradise — open Wednesday–Saturday from 11am–late, and Sunday from 11am–3pm.
Port Macquarie's Festival of the Sun has been running for 15 years, and the boutique summer music festival is still bringing the goods. The lineup for this December has just been released and it looks like it'll be a doozy of a 15th birthday celebration. Vera Blue and Pond will headline the three-day fest, with Winston Surfshirt, Skegss, Tkay Maidza, Angie McMahon, Emily Wurramara and Remi lending their voices too. Didirri, Slowly Slowly and West Thebarton — among others — round out what looks like it'll be a big couple of days of music, with more acts still to be announced in September. The camping festival is also — excitingly — BYO, so you don't need to spend your hard-earned cash on overpriced UDLs. Alongside the lineup of live music, there will also be a heap of food trucks (serving everything from burgers to vegan fare), silent discos and silent comedy. On Thursday, dubbed 'Wabi Sabi Thursday', you'll also encounter a heap of crafty workshops, artist stalls and a glitter bar — to help you kick off the colourful weekend in style. The festival is themed each year, and this year it's the "Roll On Up" edition — looks like it's time to whip out your circus costumes and maybe start practising your stilt walking. Tickets go on sale at 10am on Thursday, August 9. FESTIVAL OF THE SUN 2018 LINEUP Vera Blue Pond Winston Surfshirt Skegss Tkay Maidza Remi Angie McMahon West Thebarton Didirri Slowly Slowly Kwame Emily Wurramara Clowns Boat Show Pist Idiots Good Doogs Clews Jess Locke Body Type Triple One Clypso Halcyon Drive Grace Turner Unearthed
New Year's Eve is a night that calls for celebration. And, if you want to dance, eat and drink your way into 2019, while also enjoying one of Brisbane's best views, Jade Buddha's Shadow Lounge is throwing a sparkling party that fits the brief. To make sure your tummy and tastebuds are well catered to, grab a standard ticket ($95) and for three hours, you'll be served sliders and skewers along with bottomless tap beer, wine and Thai bucket cocktails. Or, you could up the stakes with a VIP ticket ($135), which will add spirits to the mix. Both these packages offer the goods between 6–9pm. Packages aside, the doors will be open for all to join the bash (free before 9pm) and take advantage of the waterfront views for prime firework watching. Just make sure to rest your feet in the days prior because DJs will be playing all night long and tearing up the dance floor is a non-negotiable. For more information and to grab your tickets, visit the website.
Turns out the Rumours were true — Fleetwood Mac are touring Australia and New Zealand in 2013. Founded in the late-'60s as a blues band, they became superstars in the 1970s (with the addition of Lindsay Buckingham and one Stevie Nicks to the lineup), when songs like 'Rhiannon', 'Go Your Own Way' and 'Dreams' became multimillion sellers and went on to dominate all the best karaoke nights for decades. The lineup from that golden period broke up in 1987 following years of divorce, drug abuse and an almost-complete breakdown of every relationship in the band, but they reunited this year for a North American (and now, Australian) tour. Reviews from the shows so far have been largely positive, so they might just keep it together through the rest of the year. If you don't know them, (a) seriously? and (b) just check your parents' record collection — they'll be there. Announced on the weekend, the tour currently stands at eight dates throughout November and December — but big gaps between shows have already led to speculation that more dates will be added if the shows sell out quickly. Tickets for the Australian concerts go on sale Thursday, June 13. Sunday, November 10 – Sydney Entertainment Centre, Sydney Saturday, November 16 – Hope Estate, Hunter Valley Tuesday, November 19 – Adelaide Entertainment Centre, Adelaide Friday, November 22 – Perth Arena, Perth Tuesday, November 26 – Rod Laver Arena, Melbourne Saturday, November 30 – A Day On The Green, The Hill Winery, Geelong Monday, December 2 – Brisbane Entertainment Centre, Brisbane Friday, December 6 – Vector Arena, Auckland
Halloween is here for 2023 — and if you'd like to celebrate with music trivia, Not On Your Rider has the night for you. The event runs most months of the year, but it themes up its October session. The date: Thursday, October 26 from 6.30pm at The Triffid. If you like music and you like trivia, then TV shows such as Spicks and Specks and Never Mind the Buzzcocks likely sit high on your favourites list, with both combining tunes, musicians and questions about them. But in Brisbane, you don't have to confine your music trivia fix to staring at a screen. One of the city's most reliably entertaining evenings out comes in the form of this IRL quiz show that's also filled with well-known faces — but staged live in the River City, with Brisbanites invited not only to watch but to also play along. This pop-culture delight has been doing the rounds for a few years now, and testing its contestants via rounds of questions. If you're not already acquainted with Not On Your Rider, it takes something that everyone loves — showing off their music trivia knowledge — and dials it up a few notches. Here's how it works: the event is hosted by The Creases' Aimon Clark, and features Velociraptor's Jeremy Neale and The Grates' Patience Hodgson as team captains. Also, while the two on-stage teams are always filled with musos, comedians, drag queens and other guests, anyone can buy a ticket, sit at a table and answer questions along with them. Previous events have boasted folks from Powderfinger, Ball Park Music, The Jungle Giants, The GoBetweens, Dune Rats, DZ Deathrays, The Kite String Tangle, Butterfingers, Last Dinosaurs, The Chats and more, because you never know which music figures might be involved on the night. Guests change each show, but the past lineup has also spanned Robert Irwin, Kate Miller-Heidke, Ben Lee and Steven Bradbury, as well as Trent Dalton, Ranger Stacey, Mel Buttle and Ian 'Dicko' Dickson. And as for the quiz itself, it's accompanied by chats about the music industry, plus other mini games involving attendees — and, at the October event, Halloween touches, of course.
If there's a festive trend that everyone can get on board with, it's the emergence of luxury, adult-oriented advent calendars. The start of December now means ripping open the doors, day by day, on something other than cardboard and cheap chocolate. Booze, beauty products, candles, ties, toys, tea, fancier foods: they're all there for the taking in daily doses — and now, so is cheese. The cheese advent calendar is being called a world-first, and it started out as a home-made affair. London-based food blogger Annem Hobson set herself a challenge to come up with the dairy-lover's delight back in 2015, and had such fun making and eating it that she's now preparing to start selling them. Alas, you won't be able to get your cheese fix until 2017; however you can register your interest on the calendar's website. At the time of writing, more than 9,000 people had done just that — and that tally keeps climbing. Everyone's dreaming of a cheddar, brie or gouda filled Christmas, it seems. "But I want cheese now!" your stomach is probably screaming. Don't worry, there's a solution. Hobson has also shared a step-by-step guide to making your own. 'Tis the season for some cheese-inspired arts and crafts, perhaps? Image: So Wrong It's Nom.
"Are you making a documentary as well?" Louis Theroux asks the mysterious cameraman who has just appeared outside of his Los Angeles base and started recording his every move. It's a simple question, but it really couldn't sum up My Scientology Movie any better. The British broadcaster isn't all that surprised that he's being followed and filmed —in fact, when he put out an open call on Twitter seeking information for his latest movie, he was warned that it might happen. The organisation established by sci-fi writer L. Ron Hubbard and long-associated with Tom Cruise isn't known for being fond of scrutiny, after all. Theroux himself adopts a different approach: if you can't film 'em, pretend to join 'em. That could be why the Church of Scientology isn't too pleased about his movie. After Theroux's requests to interview head honchos are either ignored or rejected, and his attempts to gain access to their LA headquarters rebuffed, the filmmaker teams up with disgruntled former church bigwig Mark "Marty" Rathbun and decides to get a little creative. Keen to understand what it's really like to believe in thetans, Xenu, auditing and dianetics, he turns to actors to play current leader David Miscavige and even the couch-jumping Cruise in a series of recreations. What follows is a somewhat humorous, somewhat disturbing chronicle of a journalist pursuing a story while he himself is being pursued, interspersed with approximated scenes featuring the kind of unsettling behaviour that helped inspire Theroux's investigation in the first place. In light of the former, the outlandish nature of the latter won't shock anyone — particularly those who have seen Alex Gibney's recent Scientology expose Going Clear: Scientology and the Prison of Belief, or even Paul Thomas Anderson's thinly-veiled fictional effort The Master. Not knowing whether to laugh or just stare at the screen with your jaw agape is an understandable reaction — helming docos about everything from evangelist Christians and Indian gurus to neo-Nazis and sex offenders has clearly prepared Theroux well. Here, the veteran filmmaker brings his own unique twist to the re-staging techniques that proved so effective in Joshua Oppenheimer's brutal Indonesian genocide documentary The Act of Killing. But My Scientology Movie is more than just a curio fuelled by curiosity. As strange as they sometimes are, every scene helps build a probing portrait of the psychology behind Scientology. Recollections offered by Rathbun and other Church defectors help, but there's nothing quite like seeing the reality, or at least a recreation of it. Showing rather than telling suits both Theroux and his chosen subject well, and makes for a bizarre, funny and downright fascinating final product.
Christmas day and backyard cricket might go hand in hand, but Victoria Park's mini-golf course keeps adding its own sporty suggestion to festive season. Fancy tap, tap, tapping around a putt-putt course to compete against your date, mates and/or family for supremacy — on Christmas-themed greens at that? That's where the Herston site's annual bit of merriment comes in. Victoria Park's Halloween course is gone for the year, with festive cheer, decorations and sculptures set to take its place from Friday, November 10, 2023–Wednesday, January 3, 2024. The seasonal makeover will deck the greens with jolliness all round. Usually, that means baubles, lights, mistletoe, trees both green and white, and more. Also gracing the kidulting favourite: bells, bows and twinkling lights. In past years, the course has also sported holly, giant candy canes, gingerbread houses, elves, toy soldiers, polar bears and everything else festive that it can think of. Reindeers and Santa are usually involved, too, and different sections of the 18-hole site tend to be designed around ideas like Chrissy Down Under, Santa's mailroom and Christmas morning — plus there's even been a festive feast fairway, The North Pole and a 'deck the halls' hole. Find out whether you're naughty or nice while swinging a club from 6am–10pm Sunday–Thursday and 6am–11pm Friday–Saturday — which means that you can stop by on your way to work, during your lunch break or after quittin' time as well. If you drop by post-6pm, you'll take to the green beneath Christmas lights, naturally. If vying for mini-golf glory while getting merry also feels like an occasion for a beverage, boozy tequila slushies will be on offer. Also, the course lets you order drinks and snacks as you play. Images: Stephanie Adams Photography.
We all love a good pictorial menu to help make those dish selections easier, but how about a menu that that lets you have a sneaky taste of everything before you order — including drinks? That's what the innovative minds at renowned Singaporean bar and restaurant, The Tippling Club, have created for their latest cocktail program, 'Dreams and Desires'. No, you won't sip each beverage before you make your pick. Rather, you'll eat them. The world's first edible cocktail menu, it's the brainchild of head bartender Joe Schofield and chef-owner Ryan Clift, realised with help from American company International Flavors and Fragrances Inc. Instead of a regular old written cocktail list to peruse, guests get one of those classic striped candy bags, filled with 12 different flavoured gummy bears. Each of these speaks to a specific dream or desire, flavoured to represent one of the bar's new signature cocktails. You might find yourself seduced by Lust's heady blend of Champagne, peach, tonka bean and vanilla; or loading up on good vibes with the honey, citrus and tequila creation called Happiness. There's a concoction dubbed Revenge, featuring a moody mix of vodka and umami bitters, and even one called Baby, which is served in a kid's bottle. Choose a favourite based on which flavours take your fancy, and you should end up with your ideal cocktail. The Tippling Club, which recently took out 31st position at the World's 50 Best Bars awards, is no stranger to thinking outside the box when it comes to drinks lists. Launched late last year, its experimental Sensorium cocktail menu used various scents to trigger memories of yesteryear. And, while enjoying their new tipples — and the tasty selection process — will usually require a trip to Singapore, Brisbanites are in for a special sneak peek on December 1 and 2. That's when The Tippling Club bartender Jonathan Lee will be stopping by Gerard's Bar for a two-day Tippling Club takeover in celebration of the new menu. Fancy an overseas cocktail adventure? Find The Tippling Club at 38 Tanjong Pagar Road, Singapore.
In a bid to contain the latest coronavirus outbreak, the Queensland Government is mandating the wearing of masks across Greater Brisbane for at least the next three days. That spans the Brisbane, Logan, Ipswich, Moreton and Redlands local government areas, running from 5pm on Monday, March 29 until 5pm on Thursday, April 1. The move is being implemented in tandem with a three-day lockdown in the same areas, with Brisbanites required to don a mask everywhere in those areas for the three days other than if you're inside your own home. And yes, this is exactly what happened in the same area back in January — including both the stay-at-home period and the mask mandate. https://twitter.com/AnnastaciaMP/status/1376311897624956929 After discussing the new lockdown at a press conference today, Monday, March 29, Queensland Chief Health Officer Dr Jeannette Young said "then the other requirement is could everyone please wear masks." She continued: "so in greater Brisbane, that's for everywhere that you're indoors unless you're in a single room by yourself. Of course, not in your own home, but if you're elsewhere.... It is again important to wear a mask when you go to the shopping centre, when you are on public transport, when you are in a ride share car — please wear a mask." People affected by a medical condition are exempt from the mask rule, as are children under 12 — and you're also allowed to temporarily remove your mask for eating and drinking, and if it's necessary for your job. https://twitter.com/qldhealthnews/status/1376405364736815104 With a lockdown in effect during the same period, and the Greater Brisbane region returning to the rules in place for three days back in January, that means you're only allowed to leave the house — wearing a mask, of course — for four reasons. So, you can only head out for work or education if you can't do that at home, for essential shopping, for exercise in your local area, and for health care or to provide support for a vulnerable person. Face masks will be mandatory in the Greater Brisbane area from 5pm on Monday, March 29. For more information about the status of COVID-19 in Queensland, head to the QLD COVID-19 hub and the Queensland Health website. More details about the lockdown, masks and associated restrictions can also be found on the Queensland Health website.
Founded in 1998, the National Young Writers' Festival is this year celebrating its sweet sixteenth. Of course this doesn't mean they'll be spending the whole festival talking about blogs and feelings while chugging cheap champagne. Although, come to think of it, there is this panel on blogging and this thing all about feelings. And okay, sure, this fake formal is bound to have some Passion Pop on hand. But contrary to the testimony of anyone who's actually met a 16-year-old, being around for that long does give you a bit of wisdom. NYWF consistently delivers an appealing free program and offers amazing insight, advice and assistance to young creatives from all over the country. Like migration, hundreds of wide-eyed literary types descend on Newcastle for it each year — Moleskines in hand. From October 3-6, this year's festival will host 75 free events featuring over 100 young artists including the likes of Tom Ballard, Lorelei Vashti, Benjamin Law and Anna Krien. Over just three days, this can all be a bit overwhelming. NYWF offers frank and honest discussions with the best and most relatable voices in Australian writing, but how can we take it in with everybody talking at once? With the program just released and our fingers poised over Jetstar's 'confirm' button, here's a little of what you can expect from the blossoming festival — Passion Pop and all. Workshops and Panels First and foremost, NYWF is a time for the country's up-and-comers to get together and hone their craft. Ever feel like the lit nerd or the outsider? Don't worry. Everyone sitting next to you at this festival fawned over Vonnegut in high school; for these three days no one's going to give you shit for doing an arts degree. Writing can often be an arduous process so the best events are the ones that force you to put pen to paper. Get each morning started with the Everyday Flash Fiction workshop — breeze down from the seaside, pick up a coffee, and let Scum, The Lifted Brow, and Seizure put a (metaphorical) gun to your head to get you writing. You'll feel productive for the rest of the day, I promise. Plus, if you pen a really touching love poem you can head along to the Speed Writing event and share it. That's right, it's a mix between speed dating and writing — it should be fun because writers are really outgoing and not awkward at all. For the shier amongst us, there will also be a series of more introspective workshops: why do we write, why do we want awards — hell, why do we even go to these festivals? If those are a bit too Inception for you, there's also a handy session called How to not be a douche. Once that's covered, there's not too much else you'll need to know. Parties All work and no play makes Jack a dull boy, and the same goes for writers. Just look at Jack Kerouac. That's not a great example, but you get the idea. As much as NYWF is a great place to learn, it's also an excellent place to get loose. This isn't class. The panellists won't care if you slur a question over your pint of beer. Actually, I wouldn't take the chance of that at the douche workshop — you'd really be asking for it. But hey, it's spring, you're by the sea, and most events are held in licensed venues — you should take advantage of it. At last year's launch, The Lifted Brow put a naked man on the stage to welcome in their new edition; there was a big party at the Great Northern themed 'Hip Hop Safari'; and it was very much encouraged to bring longnecks and bottles of tequila to the Late Night Read. This year will offer similar opportunities with another mixed bag launch, a session of oddly specific '90s literary trivia, and the most excellent idea of all, a Paranormal Formal. Even with all the civilised panels and writing workshops, I promise the best chances you have of wooing your favourite writer or editor will be as they're dressed as a magician drinking goon punch out of a plastic cup. Readings What would a writers festival be without hearing some of these much-praised words spoken aloud? My highlight of last year's festival was the Late Night Read — an intimate event where writers came together to share their work with midnight beers and mayhem. Lawrence Leung read a story about touching his housemate's underwear, Ben Law talked about old penises, and Tom Walker told an animated story about time travel — it was pretty great. This year, the event is back, with each night having a designated theme: Closer Each Day, Home and Away, Hi, Heartbreak, and Everybody Needs Good Neighbours. I can't say for sure that all the works will be about primetime Australian drama, but I also can't say they won't be. Sydney group Penguin Plays Rough will also be bringing their readings event to the festival, taking a select audience into the tunnels of Fort Scratchley. Underground, you can hear seven writers tell stories of Australia's military history. If you like your entertainment a bit lighter, there will also be readings about first times, trolls and a three-part exploration of memory. The Great Unknown Most things at writers festivals are pretty straight forward. The panels usually oscillate somewhere between 'Who Even Are We?' and 'Where Are We Going?', and the parties often turn into cringe-worthy soirees designed for 'networking' — the single worst word in the world, perhaps only with the exception of 'moist'. NYWF is different. Maybe it's just the sea-air, but things are a little more weird and a lot more fun. The element of the unknown or unexpected is what makes the festival so great. There's the Paranormal Formal and the Speed Writing — there's the 90s literary trivia. But there's a whole host of odd things to look out for over your three-day stay. To start with, there's a real-life sleepover. Yep, you actually have the opportunity to don a onesie and play truth or dare with your favourite writers. You can even sleep alongside them if they're cool with it — seriously, please get their consent. If that's not weird enough, Freya Wright Brough is going to be making you feel guilty about your lack of productivity by writing for 24 hours straight, and there's a workshop dedicated to scribbling all over Gina Rinehart's biography. After all this, you'll find the best events by meeting some new friends and stumbling into something unexpected. NYWF is only one element of the This is Not Art Festival after all, so hold tight, you haven't even heard the half of it. Photographs: Lucien Alperstein and Lucy Parakhina
Thinking of downsizing? Are you aware that you could be part of a movement? The tiny house movement, to be exact. Unenthused by mortgages, mopping and mountains of stuff, more and more people are shifting into Snugglepot-sized spaces. We're about to take a journey through some of the teeniest-tiniest houses in the whole world. Not only do they make you wish you could climb into a J.R.R. Tolkien novel, they're also the environment's new best friend. OTIS (Optimal Travelling Independent Space) Move over, Winnebago. This pod-on-wheels is the creation of a bunch of American REED (Renewable Energy and Ecological Design) students from Green Mountain College, Vermont. Not only is it mobile and ridiculously cute, it's also self-sufficient. A 300-watt solar powered system delivers electricity, a rain collection facility supplies water and the toilet is of the composting variety. Nearly all the construction materials are recycled. At just 2.4 x 3.6m, the OTIS can be easily towed via trailer. The Tiny Project American web designer Alek Lisefski and his partner Anjali were tired of paying through-the-roof rent. At the same time, though, they wanted a place to call home. So Lisefski took matters into his own hands by designing and building a portable miniature house. It's known as The Tiny Project and its motto is "Less House. More Life". Built-in, foldable furniture maximises the 2.4 x 6m of interior floor space. An elevated loft serves as a bedroom and there's even a 2.2 square metre outdoor verandah. "While living in such a small house, my space, and in turn each area of my life, will be simpler, less chaotic, and free from all but what is essential," Lisefski told Gizmag. APH80 Rome might not have been built in a day, but the APH80 can be. Created by Spanish design studio ABATON, it's an impeccably designed, portable micro-home. A double bedroom, lounge-kitchen and bedroom make up its 27 square metres, with a 3.5m gabled roof providing an airy, spacious feel. Sustainably sourced timber is used throughout. If there's no water between your place and Spain, have your very own APH80 delivered for US$42,000. Chico Tiny House A husband and wife team based in Chico, California, designed this 11.1 square metre home. On their Facebook page, Palm to Palm, they describe themselves as "dreamers ... who are holding the vision of bringing a community based sustainable into existence, one alternative dwelling at a time". They built the Chico Tiny House on a tight budget without any construction experience. Now, aspiring micro-dwelling owners are begging for a copy of the plans, soon to be made open source. The sustainable design includes south-facing windows, polyiso insulation, solar-powered hot water and a green house, where grey water can be recycled. The Hobbit Hutch No tiny house list would be complete without the mention of at least one gypsy caravan. This Texas-based, 5.2 square metre Hobbit Hutch features all the mod cons, including a faux wood stove, air-conditioning, coffee machine, chandelier, foldable dining table and bed. There's also a 1.8 square metre verandah. The owners — writers and artists by the names of James and Sidney Mangum — have plans to build an outdoor toilet and shower, to be stored inside a plywood cube and surrounded with curtains for privacy.
With its fantastic puppetry, tight choreography and more than a few damp-eye moments, the National Theatre of Great Britain's production of War Horse is taking another canter across Australia's stages. After first touring Down Under in 2012–13, the Tony Award-winning play will return in 2020, with seasons currently planned for Melbourne, Sydney and Perth. Based on Michael Morpurgo's 1982 novel of the same name, the boy-meets-horse tale was originally adapted for the stage by British playwright Nick Stafford, and directed by Marianne Elliott and Tom Morris, way back in 2007. Opening shortly before the start of the First World War, War Horse is the love story of a Devonshire lad, Albert, and a young foal, Joey — who, once it has come of age, is sold into service for the British Army. Seeing the injustice in this, the play's boy hero fights against age restrictions and cartwheels to Calais to save Joey, at which point his youthful bravado is tear-gassed into the harsh reality of early modern warfare. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zMVKWxZyIZU After its first NT run, the play proved to be such a tremendous success that it relocated to the West End and Broadway, and has galloped across everywhere from Canada, Germany and the Netherlands to South Africa and China. Along the way, it has picked up two Olivier Awards and five Tonys, including for Best Play — and been seen by thousands of audiences. You might also remember the 2011 film adaptation of Morpurgo's novel, which was directed by Steven Spielberg, starred a long list of British talent including Jeremy Irvine, Peter Mullan, Emily Watson, Tom Hiddleston and Benedict Cumberbatch, and was nominated for six Oscars. On the stage, War Horse owes its longevity to South Africa's Handspring Puppet Company, which has created a stable of horses, some soon-to-die cavalry, crows, swallows and a very animated goose. Though surrounded by puppeteers and, in parts, constructed out of obviously mechanical pieces, these puppets realistically breathe and quickly pop out as the most genuine players in the show. War Horse plays Melbourne's Regent Theatre from January 10, 2020, then heads to the Sydney Lyric from February 15, before moving to Perth's Crown Theatre from March 24. For further details, and to join the ticket waitlist, head to warhorseonstage.com.au.
They're sticky, cinnamon scrolls, drenched in glaze and famous all across the USA. And now, at last, they'll be available Down Under. Yep, Seattle-born bakery chain Cinnabon will land in Australia imminently, with a Brisbane outpost ready to open before the year is out. The launch was first announced in January this year, when family-run Queensland company Bansal Foods scored the Aussie rights to Cinnabon. But, now, we finally have some details. Set to open on Saturday, December 14, the store will be located inside Toombul Shopping Centre in Brisbane's north. Cinnabon has been going strong in America since 1985 so it's already picked up plenty of Aussie fans along the way. But this will be the first time we're able to get our hands on those sticky, cinnamon-infused baked goods on home soil. The new Brisbane store be slinging a trio of Cinnabon cult classics, including the classic cream cheese cinnamon roll, the popular chocolate-drizzled Chocobon, and very extra Caramel Pecanbon. They'll be available in both mini and large sizes, along with packs featuring either four or nine 'minibons'. There will be coffee and lots of sugary drinks to pair with your snacks, too, including a cinnamon bun frappe. And, if you're yet to get acquainted with the decadent dessert creations, just know to expect aromatic, cinnamon-spiked dough made to a long-held recipe, decked out with stacks of signature cream cheese frosting and loaded with extras. They're notoriously tough to replicate. Toombul Shopping Centre recently opened a new neon-lit upstairs dining precinct, Cinnabon won't be a part of that. Instead, it'll be located on the ground floor near the Coles. And if you're not in Brisbane, it probably won't be too long until Cinnabon makes its way down south. The Toombul store is set to be the first of many. A second Brisbane store in Mt Gravatt is set to open in January 2020 and, going off plans announced earlier in the year, Cinnabon is looking to launch in Sydney and beyond in 2021. Cinnabon is slated to open its first Australian store on Saturday, December 14 on the ground level of Toombul Shopping Centre, 1015 Sandgate Road, Toombul. We'll keep you updated on an exact opening date.
No doubt by now you've heard something about the Kony 2012 campaign. I know that I got at least three Facebook invitations to Kony-related events last night alone, and in the past few days the link has been shared on Facebook over 750,000 times, making it one of the fastest trending topics of conversation alongside this crazy weather. For those not quite on top of it yet, Kony 2012 is a viral campaign spearheaded by the humanitarian group Invisible Children, an ambitious attempt of a group of Americans who have been trying for nigh on a decade to get Western governments to pay attention to the injustices occuring in Uganda. Joseph Kony is the leader of the Lord's Resistance Army in Uganda, a terrorist rebel group active for 26 years, and wanted by the International Criminal Court for crimes against humanity, including the abduction of over 30,000 African young people to be used as child soldiers or sex slaves. He is the world's most wanted war lord. Unfortunately, while some of the most atrocious crimes against humanity occur in Africa, little is done by Western governments to intervene unless they have a direct foreign policy or financial interest in the country. As a consequence people in the Western world have been largely ignorant of the problems in Uganda until about 48 hours ago. The Kony 2012 video, made by US director Jason Russell utilising an appealing soundtrack and the emotional heartstring pull of an adorable blonde child, has been viewed more than ten million times in two days. While the group's motives and plan of attack have been criticised because a high proportion of the donations they receive are spent on travel costs and postage expenses, their attempts at raising public awareness in the navel-gazing West is certainly proving effective. A Facebook event has been planned for April 20, where Sydneysiders are set to cover the city in Kony 2012 posters to help raise awareness of the campaign. Hopefully all the awareness will lead to real action in Uganda itself.
