The crew behind Marrickville's Grifter Brewing Co just unveiled new environmentally 'friendlier' four-pack holders so you can enjoy a more liberated conscience with your tins of Serpent's Kiss. Grifter has the lofty ambition of developing a packaging solution across the business that is 100% renewable. And while they're not quite there yet, according to Grifter co-founder Matt King, the switch to these first-to-market four-pack holders — made with 93.5% renewable resources — will save five tonnes of plastic waste per year. "These new holders will start to roll out across our whole range from this week," said King. "So keep an eye out, pick one up, take it home, rip into it and let us know what you think!" Since 2018, the team has been trying to improve their packaging and now that they've invested in getting to a more sustainable option (made locally in Sydney), they're hoping other local brewers jump on board. Lately, I've been fantasising about knocking back a few middies of pink lemonade sour at the bar of Grifter's Marrickville digs. In the meantime, a slab of takeaways tinnies will be that drop more satisfying. To check out Grifter Brewing Co's full range of beer and merch, head to the website.
Let the games begin: Squid Game: The Challenge, that is, and IRL rather than in a fictionalised thriller. When Squid Game became one of Netflix's biggest successes, a reality show that riffed on the concept was always going to happen. There's no death here, but there's still 456 players competing for a huge cash prize while wearing green tracksuits, being overseen by red-clad figures, and playing hopscotch, marbles, sugar honeycombs and tug of war. The reality competition TV show received the green light back in 2022, after the streaming platform had also confirmed that a second season of Squid Game itself was on its way. In June 2023, Netflix also announced that Squid Game: The Challenge would arrive in November. Then, it locked in Wednesday, November 22 as the spinoff's launch date, and dropped a teaser trailer. Now, a full sneak peek is here — and, sans murder, it looks exactly like its inspiration. If you're one of the hordes of viewers who watched Squid Game when it instantly became one of the best new TV programs of 2021, as we all are, then you'll understand the concept at the heart of Squid Game: The Challenge. As seen in the two glimpses at the show ahead of its arrival, the whole pesky compete-to-the-death angle is missing, obviously, but everything about the series is as everyone expects. The outfits, the games, the decor, the music and, yes, the notorious Red Light, Green Light doll: they're all accounted for. And the prize? $4.56 million, aka the biggest cash prize in reality-show history. How does it work? Again, you already know the details. Those 456 folks — all ordinary people, and not actors — will try to score the $4.56 million by playing a series of games inspired by the extremely fictional South Korean thriller, as well as a few new additions. Also, competitors will be eliminated as the games go on, and forming strategies and alliances will play a huge part. So, Squid Game: The Challenge is clearly designed to get as close to the OG Squid Game as possible, just without the body count. It's all being overseen by a Front Man, too, because of course it is. The results will unfurl over ten episodes, in what Netflix has dubbed "the biggest reality competition series ever". Well, it certainly has the biggest cast. Making a gripping and brutal TV show that satirises capitalism, then bringing its games into real life does sound like something that might happen in Squid Game itself if the show was getting meta. "This is a savage game," one of the contestants in the new trailer offers — but, again, viewers already know that. Check out the trailer for Squid Game: The Challenge: Squid Game: The Challenge will stream via Netflix in on Wednesday, November 22, 2023. Squid Game's first season is available to stream via Netflix . Images: Netflix.
Netflix is making a controversial docu-soap about Byron Bay influencers. Hulu's next star-studded miniseries was shot in the area. And, come June, Stan will unveil a new eight-part series that was also filmed in the coastal town and New South Wales' Northern Rivers region. It seems that streaming services and TV networks everywhere are mighty keen to beam the spot's scenic backdrops into our homes — and, in the latter case, to get everyone hooked on a local mystery-drama. Called Eden, the Stan series begins with a missing person. When 20-year-old Scout (Sophie Wilde, Bird) returns to the titular beach community after a year at Juilliard in New York, she realises that her best friend Hedwig (BeBe Bettencourt, The Dry) has changed. Following a drug-fuelled night that sees them delve into their feelings, Hedwig disappears but Scout can't remember a thing. From there, the show charts the secrets and revelations festering beneath the surface of its small-town setting, all as Scout tries to find her bestie. Also pivotal: flashes back to Hedwig's summer. If it sounds somewhat familiar, that's because plenty of TV shows — Twin Peaks and The Killing, just to name two — have begun with missing people. That type of premise doesn't seem to be disappearing from our televisions anytime soon. Still, in both its first teaser and just-dropped full trailer, Eden tries to find its own look, vibe and mood. Come Friday, June 11, you'll be able to find out how it unfolds — and watch a cast that also includes Keiynan Lonsdale (The Flash), Cody Fern (American Horror Story), Samuel Johnson (Molly), Christopher James Baker (True Detective), Rachael Blake (Cleverman), Leeanna Walsman (Penguin Bloom), Simon Lyndon (Mystery Road) and Maggie Kirkpatrick (The Letdown). Behind the camera, the show stems from head writer Vanessa Gazy (Highway) and writing team Jess Brittain (Clique), Anya Beyersdorf (Shakespeare Now), Clare Sladden (Freudian Slip) and Penelope Chai (Other People's Problems) — and directors John Curran (Chappaquiddick), Mirrah Foulkes (Judy & Punch) and Peter Andrikidis (Alex & Eve). Plus, the creator of Skins, Bryan Elsley, helped created Eden, too, with Fiona Eagger and Deb Cox (Miss Fisher's Murder Mysteries). Check out the full trailer for Eden below: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=R0LOYAPh3es Eden will be available to stream via Stan on Friday, June 11. Top image: Every Cloud Productions.
Melbourne's skyline is looking up, with the city gaining another huge tower that's not only the Victorian capital's new tallest building, but also the tallest residential building in the whole Southern Hemisphere. Named Australia 108, the Southbank building features 100 storeys soaring 319 metres high, which is more than 20 metres above the city's previous tallest building, the 88-storey, 297.3-metre-tall Eureka Tower. It comes just under Gold Coast's 332.5-metre-tall Q1, though, which still holds the title of Australia's tallest building. Designed by architects Fender Katsalidis, who also led the design of the Eureka Tower, together with World Class Global, the tower's apartments are currently three-quarters complete. The building also has a two-storey Star Club — within the protruding gold Starburst, inspired by the Commonwealth star on the Australian flag — which is home to two infinity pools, dining rooms, gyms and lounge areas. Apartments are split into the Sky Rise Residences (up to level 67) and the luxury Cloud Residences (from level 72 and above). But, they're going for a pretty penny. According to Realestate.com.au, the main penthouse sold for $25 and a two-storey apartment on level 90-91 was on the market for a bargain $10 million. The building officially took out the title as Melbourne's tallest building when it 'topped out' earlier this week, which means the roof is now complete. Australia 108 is slated for completion at 70 Southbank Boulevard, Southbank by the end of September, 2020. For more information, head to the website.
Whether you're checking into a nearby spa for the day or heading further afield for a lengthier stint of bliss, visiting a wellness retreat is supposed to be relaxing. But that doesn't seem to be the case in upcoming miniseries Nine Perfect Strangers. The star-studded show was shot in Byron Bay, so it looks the scenic part — but the nine guests who turn up in search of a new lease on life all appear set to get much more than they've bargained for. That's how the series' new trailer unfolds, at least, with the latest sneak peek offering a bigger glimpse at the show following a very brief clip back in April. Given the cast involved — including Nicole Kidman (The Undoing), Melissa McCarthy (Thunder Force), Michael Shannon (Knives Out), Luke Evans (Crisis) and Asher Keddie (Rams) — Nine Perfect Strangers is easily one of the big series of the year, and that long list of famous faces will be navigating quite the eerie and creepy situation. Also part of the show: Bobby Cannavale (Superintelligence), Regina Hall (Little), Samara Weaving (Bill & Ted Face the Music), Melvin Gregg (The United States vs Billie Holiday), Asher Keddie (Rams), Grace Van Patten (Under the Silver Lake), Tiffany Boone (The Midnight Sky) and Manny Jacinto (The Good Place), who'll all navigate a ten-day retreat overseen by Kidman's Masha throughout the drama's eight episodes. The latter oversees a resort that promises to transform nine stressed city-dwellers — but, clearly, things aren't going to turn out as planned for the show's titular figures. As with Kidman's last two miniseries — Big Little Lies, which like Nine Perfect Strangers, was also based on a book by Liane Moriarty; and The Undoing — David E Kelley (LA Law, Ally McBeal, Mr Mercedes) is leading the charge behind the scenes. He's the show's co-writer and co-showrunner, with Long Shot's Jonathan Levine directing every episode. And if you're wondering where and when you'll be able to see the results, Nine Perfect Strangers will stream Down Under via Amazon Prime Video, with the series set to debut on Friday, August 20. Check out the full trailer below: Nine Perfect Strangers will start streaming in Australia and New Zealand on Friday, August 20 via Amazon Prime Video — starting with its first three episodes, with new episodes then dropping weekly afterwards. Images: Vince Valitutti/Hulu.
Before writing anything else, we first want to promise that this article is spoiler free. So if you haven't yet had your weekly dose of Game of Thrones then you can still read on safely. Meanwhile, if you have watched Monday's harrowing episode, then you are probably in need of a pick-me-up. Whichever category you fall into, you will enjoy the following artworks from graphic designer Mike Wroebel, who this week provided us with a 20th-century reimagining of the epic HBO fantasy. "I grew up with Fresh Prince, Saved by the Bell," Wroebel says in an interview with the Hollywood Reporter. "I just thought it would be funny ... to appropriate the characters and turn them into something quirky that reflected their personalities". His contemporary appropriations are surprisingly uncanny, so if you are concerned about Joffrey suddenly becoming cool, then you need not worry. "I focused a lot on still making him look like a douchebag," says Wroebel. As you can see, he certainly succeeded. Other characters are also perfectly represented. The broody nature of Jon Snow is captured in his adoption of grunge, Jaime Lannister oozes cool in a Miami Vice suit, Brienne keeps her armour as she takes to the football field, and Sansa Stark portrays Saved by the Bell's Kelly as if she was her double. Our personal favourite, though, is Daenerys Targaryen. Of course there were no dragons in the 1990s, so obviously the Mother of Dragons becomes the Mother of Ferrets. Khaleesi? More like Cooleesi. Check out the others below. Via HuffPost Arts & Culture.
Perhaps you enjoyed Netflix's Heartbreak High revival and can't wait for its second season. Maybe you're fond of Aunty Donna's Big Ol' House of Fun instead. Or, via Stan, Bump, Black Snow, True History of the Kelly Gang and Nitram might've sat among your homegrown highlights. When you're getting cosy on the couch streaming something filled with Australian faces, accents and places, these titles likely stood out, too, because they're a rarity. Aussie content comprises a tiny portion of digital platforms' catalogues, which has been the case since Netflix officially launched in Australia back in 2015; however, that's about to change thanks to Australia's new streaming content quotas. First, some background: for Aussie commercial free-to-air television and pay TV stations, programming is subject to quotas requiring a certain contingent of each channel's content to hail from Australia. Such rules haven't applied to streaming services so far, though, even as more and more have popped up Down Under. So, for years, there's been a hefty to push to change the situation, placing the likes of Netflix, Disney+ and more under similar content rules. A green paper on the topic was published in late 2020, and a heap of well-known Aussie talents helped raise attention to the cause back in 2021. Now, the Australian Federal Government has confirmed that streaming content quotas are coming as part of its just-announced National Cultural Policy. "It's been ten years since the last National Cultural Policy. During that time, online streaming platforms have taken off, but our Australian content obligations haven't. I know we can do better," said Minister for the Arts Tony Burke on social media. Accordingly, the new $286-million National Cultural Policy locks in streaming content obligations, which it deems pivotal given there is "an increasing consumer trend away from broadcast and subscription television services to online subscription content". "In 2020–21, for the first time, Australians were more likely to have watched an online subscription service than live or recorded free‑to‑air television," the policy continues — saying what plenty of us already know from our own viewing habits. As a result, the Federal Government has committed to introducing "requirements for Australian screen content on streaming platforms to ensure continued access to local stories and content", and will do so by July 1, 2024. Beforehand, Burke will consult further with the industry, which'll be the focus for the first half of 2023, before legislation implementing the Aussie content quota for streaming platforms is put in place. What the quota might look like in terms of hours of Australian shows and movies required, or percentages of streaming services' roster of content, hasn't yet been revealed. Still, the aim is clear: more Aussie series and films on all of those platforms constantly competing for your eyeballs, and in the near future. Past proposals, including the Make It Australian campaign with backing from Blaze's Simon Baker, Hungry Ghosts' Bryan Brown and Justine Clarke, and Ellie and Abbie (and Ellie's Dead Aunt)'s Marta Dusseldorp — and more — have lobbied for all streaming services operating in Australia that have at least 500,000 subscribers to spend 20 percent of their local revenue on new Aussie dramas, documentaries and content for children. Some streamers have put more cash into developing original local stories already, doing so voluntarily, but now they'll all be required to — and to boost an overall buffet of movies and TV shows that has noticeably lacked new Aussie content from the get-go in the process. Indeed, it took more than two years for Netflix to finally announce that it was making its first Australian series, Tidelands, after it launched on our shores. For more information about Australia's new National Cultural Policy, head to the Australian Government's website. Top image: Heartbreak High, Netflix.
For plenty of Aussies, this long weekend will be all about collecting sleep-ins, hot cross buns and chocolate bunnies. But one Sydney artist is offering a different kind of Easter egg hunt, swapping the foil-wrapped choccy for some interactive street art and a solid dose of political satire. In the wake of the recent stoush between Senator Fraser Anning and our now famous Will 'Egg Boy' Connolly, prolific street artist and muralist Scott Marsh has devised a multi-city easter egg art hunt. Hidden at various locations across Sydney, Brisbane and Melbourne this weekend will be 12 'bunny' artworks — that is, Marsh's own design of Anning, wearing a set of rabbit ears with the word 'egg' splashed across his forehead. View this post on Instagram #Eggstravaganza - Easter Egg Hunt 🥚🐰😄 Over the course of the Easter long weekend (Friday April 19th to Sunday April 21st) I will be putting on an 'Easter Egg Hunt', hiding a dozen bunnies and eggs across 3 cities; Brisbane, Melbourne & Sydney. If you are the first person to locate a bunny and 'feed' him some eggs, you will win one of a dozen limited edition Easter Bunny fine art prints. Follow my Instagram for the location of each Bunny throughout Friday, Saturday and Sunday. How to win: - Find an Easter Bunny - Be the first to DM me a video of you feeding him one of his Easter eggs 🎁 There is a Golden Egg bonus prize. 2 eggs contain gold paint - if you 'feed' the bunny a Golden Egg, you'll be able to choose any original artwork from my web store ( www.scottmarsh.com.au ), valued up to $4000. The Easter Bunny loves his eggs! Feel free to get into the spirit of Easter and BYO eggs to feed the bunnies. 🥚🥚 1 bonus print will go to the most creative egg video. Use hashtags #eggstravaganza #scottmarsh Happy hunting! ✌🏼😁 #feedhim #easteregghunt #easterbunny #freeshit #auspol *VISIT LINK IN BIO FOR MORE DETAILS* A post shared by Scott Marsh (@scottie.marsh) on Apr 15, 2019 at 11:01pm PDT The first punter to locate each Senator Anning 'bunny' and video themselves 'feeding' it an egg from the accompanying basket will score one of Marsh's limited edition Easter Bunny fine art prints, created especially for the hunt. The artist will be dropping location clues via his Instagram on Friday, Saturday and Sunday, and keeping an eye on his DMs to catch the prize-winning videos as they come through. Get ready for a smashing weekend and a few egg-covered walls around town. Whoever finds the two special gold paint-filled eggs among the bunch will take out a Golden Egg bonus prize, winning their choice of any of Marsh's original prints, up to the value of $4000. The street artist is also encouraging BYO egg action and extra creative videos. View this post on Instagram Im giving away thousands of dollars worth of art this weekend 👌🏼🥚 #eggstravaganza Easter egg hunt. Visit link in my bio for all the details #easter #easteregg #auspol A post shared by Scott Marsh (@scottie.marsh) on Apr 16, 2019 at 2:52pm PDT Marsh's Sydney-based street art includes well-known portraits of George Michael, Mike Baird, George Pell, Bob Hawke and stacks more. He's also the mind behind the city's Egg Boy mural, painted outside the Lord Gladstone Hotel to celebrate the 17-year-old who filmed himself smashing an egg onto Anning's head at a press conference on March 16. Scott Marsh will drop hints for the 'egg hunt' this Friday, April 19, Saturday, April 20 and Sunday, April 21. Keep a close eye on his Instagram for details.
The award-winning Stomping Ground Brewing Co. is set to become the first brewpub in Collingwood to go solar, joining a growing number of Australian craft breweries on the vital sustainability bandwagon. With installation underway and completion expected by the end of the month, owners Guy Greenstone and Steve Jeffares (The Local Taphouse and GABS) are proud to increase their eco-friendly factor. "We're extremely passionate about the products we produce and know that many of our customers share our commitment to environmental sustainability," says Greenstone. "Installing a solar system is another big step towards becoming as sustainable and environmentally-friendly as possible. It also helps that this will reduce our energy costs as running a brewery is a very energy intensive operation." The brewery has been well on its way towards solar panelling for some time, having previously implemented numerous sustainability measures including a rainwater irrigation system, spent grain recycling, use of biodegradable eco-straws and serving wine from the barrel. To get technical about their new efforts, Beon Energy Solutions is installing a 96.39 kW system, which features 357 solar panels and will generate about 130,000kWh a year. Or, in other words, that's enough energy to power 20 homes. Stomping Ground have also teamed up with Yarra Energy Foundation (YEF), an independent organisation that helps guide individuals and businesses through the transition to solar energy. The number of solar-powered Australian breweries continues to expand, and includes Victoria's Bright Brewery, Sydney's Young Henrys and Brisbane's Helios Brewing, among others. Independent breweries aren't the only ones looking at sustainability, either — AB In-Bev has also announced its commitment to make the company's purchased electricity 100 percent green by 2025. The largest brewing company in the world, AB In-Bev has also been busy snapping up independent breweries lately, adding both 4 Pines and Pirate Life to its arsenal in 2017.
If you've ever been to a gig featuring an Australian band, streamed their tracks, read a book by a local author, hit your nearest theatre for a play or musical, wandered through an exhibition, or enjoyed an Aussie movie or TV show — and, of course, you've done some and probably all of the above — then you've interacted with Australia's arts industry. These aren't the only ways that the nation's creatives have an impact, and this country of ours wouldn't be the place it is without them. So, the Federal Government has unveiled a hefty package of support: a new $286-million National Cultural Policy. Announced on Monday, January 30 by Prime Minister Anthony Albanese and Minister for the Arts Tony Burke, the fresh policy has been badged "a new chapter in Australia's cultural story". The aim: to help boost the $17-billion industry that's generally been underfunded in the past, and has suffered through a particularly tough period during the pandemic — an industry that employs around 400,000 Aussies. Today we've got big news for the Australian arts and entertainment industry – and for fans of the incredible work we produce here. We're supporting the industry and the hundreds of thousands of jobs it creates, after a decade of neglect and missed opportunities. pic.twitter.com/MVV5wjFLFK — Anthony Albanese (@AlboMP) January 30, 2023 The National Cultural Policy outlines the government's plan for Australia's arts, entertainment and cultural sector over the next five years — and it's full of big inclusions, from upping support, creating new institutions and helping ensure that Aussie stories reach our screens in today's streaming-heavy times. "Our new cultural policy Revive will provide the support Australian artists need to thrive and grow," said the Prime Minister. "I am excited by the potential it will unleash, and to see our extraordinary and diverse Australian stories continue to be told with originality, wit, creativity and flair. It builds on the proud legacies of earlier Labor governments that recognised the importance of art and culture to Australia's identity, social unity and economic prosperity." [caption id="attachment_836832" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Alice Springs gallery, Tourism NT[/caption] Among the big-ticket items, a new National Aboriginal Art Gallery in Alice Springs and an Aboriginal Cultural Centre in Perth are worth getting excited about — with the former receiving $80 million in funding and the latter $50 million. The policy puts a significant and needed focus on First Nations art, including legislation to stop fakes and their impact. A creative workforce strategy specifically for Indigenous Australians will be developed as well, and $11 million will go towards establishing a First Nations Languages Policy Partnership between First Nations representatives and Aussie governments. Also on the list: creating four new bodies in the arts space, including a First Nations-led body to give Indigenous Australians autonomy over decisions and investments. It'll be part of a new organisation called Creative Australia — aka the Australia Council for the Arts, but renamed and upgraded, and given an extra $199-million in funding over four years. Creative Australia will also span Music Australia, which'l be dedicated to contemporary music industry and receive $69.4 million; Writers Australia, for writers and illustrators creating new works, nabbing $19.3 million in funding; and a new $8.1-million Centre for Arts and Entertainment Workplaces, which'll be devoted to making sure creative workers get fair wages, work in safe spaces and are protected from harassment and discrimination. [caption id="attachment_885816" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Genesis Owusu and members of the Sydney Symphony Orchestra by Alex Turley.[/caption] And, in important news for Australia's screen industry, a long-sought-after Aussie content quota for streaming platforms is also part of the National Cultural Policy, starting no later than July 1, 2024. "During that time online streaming platforms have taken off, but our Australian content obligations haven't. I know we can do better," said Burke on social media, noting that there's currently no requirements for the array of streaming services available Down Under to invest in Aussie movies and shows. View this post on Instagram A post shared by Tony Burke (@tony_burke_au) Among a hefty list of inclusions, the National Cultural Policy also covers an extra $11.8 million in funds for the National Gallery of Australia to tour its collection around the country; a $12.9-million digital lending rights scheme, which'll earn money for authors, illustrators and editors when their works are borrowed from libraries; splashing $8.5 million in more cash into the Regional Arts Fund; and continuing Festivals Australia. For more information about Australia's new National Cultural Policy, head to the Australian Government's website. Top image: Splendour in the Grass, Savannah van der Niet.
It's currently spring in the Northern Hemisphere, including in The Netherlands. And, as every tulip fan knows, that means one thing. At this time of year, bulbous flowers are blossoming across the European country — but, due to COVID-19, the usual throngs of tourists can't head along to see these gorgeous blooms in person. At Keukenhof Flower Exhibition, the country's biggest tulip garden, the powers-that-be are doing what so many other museums, landmarks and famous real-life sites have been: bringing Keukenhof's scenic sights to the masses via online means. Flower lovers can now take a 360-degree virtual tour of the huge venue and check out plenty of other videos of its colourful blooms, all via its YouTube channel. Given that the iconic garden spans 32 hectares in the town of Lisse, there's plenty to see. Around seven million tulip bulbs are planted annually, resulting in a sprawling floral sea — all at a site that dates back to 1857, and has been open to the public since 1950. The tulip garden is usually open to visitors for eight weeks between March and May, attracting more than 1.5 million visitors each year — with blooms at their peak now, in April. Check out Keukenhof's 360-degree tour below: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SNgj9agkbB0 To check out Keukenhof Flower Exhibition's videos, head to the garden's YouTube channel. Images: Keukenhof.
Quick pop quiz! 1. Who likes and uses the internet? 2. Who would call themselves creative (out loud or not)? 3. Who would like a rewarding career path that combines these two? Bonus round – who plays Fruit Ninja? If these questions piqued your interest in a ‘yes-sir-I-am-a-creative-internet-user-trying-to-launch-my-career-whilst-also-playing-addictive-iPhone-games’ manner then Portable Designs has heard about you. Bringing together three intensely creative individuals for a conversation about “making it” in a very 21st century career path, Portable has teamed up with The Edge and the Asia Pacific Design Library to present Product Design 2012. In a series that will run throughout the year, the first event features talks on developing online and international content by Leni Mayo, Shainiel Deo and Simon Goodrich. The creative-internet powerhouse of a world spans a large spectrum, so to maintain some balance Portable’s speakers have been chosen from opposite ends. Leni Mayo knows how to recognize talent from afar and has invested in many very successful sites like 99 designs, whereas Shainiel Deo has been a successful game designer for over 10 years and is no CEO of Half Brick Studios (he made Fruit Ninja! See, it was relevant). Concluding the threesome is Simon Goodrich, co-founder of Portable. With this trio’s combined talent, power and knowledge of the industry, you can be sure you’ll walk away feeling that little bit more confident in developing, designing and launching that patent-able idea you have at the back of your mind.
I guess after touring around the country in 2010 with Big Day Out, winning Triple J’s Parklife Unearthed competition, playing the Good Vibrations festival, as well as repeatedly travelling up and down the east coast doing gigs, Teleprompter wanted to do something a bit more intimate, a bit more underground, a bit more secretive to launch their EP. Or maybe they just wanted to throw a raging Warehouse party and were sick of their house getting trashed? Who would know? I certainly don’t, these boys are fond of talking cryptically and confusing people. In fact when releasing the invite for this Warehouse party the only clue they gave was that the ‘details are in the lyrics’ and a download link of a new song. And quite frankly, I spent so long listening to that song I’m fairly certain I know all the lyrics myself. However! Without further ado, I can announce that my long term sleuthing paid off (once I started thinking outside the box) and that the TELEPROMPTER WAREHOUSE EP LAUNCH will be held at 1/13 Lucinda St, Woolloongabba. Oh and their support lineup is pretty bitching too; live sets from The Medics, Buick 6 and Tape/Off, and DJ sets from Young Men Dead, Arab Israeli Crisis and Teen Girl. Finally, it’s BYO so in the immortal words of Teleprompter “get yo crunk on ma’fukas”.
Ditch the generic candle and comfy socks this year and give your loved ones a gift they'll remember next Christmas. Show your partner that you've been paying attention to their love language with a surprise picnic, road-trip adventure or cosy date night. Take the little ones on a rural family escapade, or liven up your next group hang with a murder mystery game. For all the do-ers out there, AmazingCo has you covered with a broad range of unforgettable experiences that you can enjoy at home or across your city. We've pulled together five one-of-a-kind adventures for everyone on your nice list, so you can enjoy a hassle-free giving season. MYSTERY PICNIC Turn up the romance with a picture-perfect picnic for your partner. Or, you can choose to treat your friends and family with a group picnic instead. Explore a new pocket of your city with a morning of activities that ends with a picnic in a surprise location. Choose an area — either close by or even a day-trip drive away — and you'll receive a full itinerary of places to explore at your own pace. Follow a series of clues to pick up gourmet snacks from local producers and eateries, all pre-paid for as part of the package, while bonding with your partner over conversation starters and games. Then, you can enjoy your nibbles and drinks with a picnic at a chosen location. The Mystery Picnic starts at $150, but you can upgrade to a premium package or add extra goodies, such as dessert or a bottle of wine. It can also be adapted to suit most dietary requirements. MYSTERY REGION ADVENTURE Discover even more local gems in a half-day voyage with the Mystery Region Adventure. Enjoy an easy cruise to destinations such as the Hunter Valley, Yarra Valley or Sunshine Coast Hinterland. Once you've arrived, solve puzzles to uncover each stop along the way, where you'll be treated to wine, produce and chocolate tastings, as well as exclusive discounts and offers. This charming experience will only set you back $80–100, depending on which regional location you choose. AT-HOME DATE NIGHT If your partner prefers quality time at home, spice up your next night in with an At-Home Date Night experience. For only $30, you'll get two hours of puzzles, challenges and games designed to bring you closer together. The activity pack is delivered digitally, so you can enjoy it wherever you are. Take your pick of themes, from the tasty Foodie Date Night or action-packed Activity Date Night to the indulgent Chocolate and Games Hamper and limited-edition New Year's Eve Date Night. Who knows? After this, your relationship might even be strong enough to tackle building that IKEA dresser together. FARM TO TABLE Suited to couples, families and friends, the Farm to Table experience will take you on a food-fuelled day through regions such as the Hawkesbury, Mornington Peninsula or Scenic Rim. Work through clues and riddles to source produce from regional farms and businesses, where you'll learn about sustainable farming techniques, meet some of the animals and connect with the community over snacks and sips. Your efforts will be rewarded with a barbecue back at home, using the ingredients collected throughout the day and the digital recipe book included in the package. Level up your experience with a tasting paddle (or non-alcoholic cider for kids). Most dietary modifications can be accomodated. MURDER MYSTERY PARTY Live out your Knives Out dream and trade the usual dinner and drinks catch-up for a themed Murder Mystery Party. Take your pick from the spooky mayor's mansion, 80s high school reunion or doomed wedding. The experience includes everything you need to host the event, from character bios and invitations to decor tips and printable evidence, so all your friends have to do is show up with outrageous hairstyles in unflattering fluro. Pricing ranges from $40–55 based on the event format (virtual or in-person). It's designed for groups of 8-12, so the more the merrier! If you want more memorable gift ideas, check out the full guide or purchase a gift card on the AmazingCo website.
When the middle of August arrives, the best show on television for the past seven years — other than the one-season return of Twin Peaks — will finish up. That isn't new news, but it's still monumental, especially given that Better Call Saul is the spinoff to an also-phenomenal series. Alas, unlike when Breaking Bad wrapped, there's no future immediately in sight for this excellent franchise. Perhaps that's fitting; everything has to an end, including the canny and resourceful run of an Albuquerque-based lawyer born Jimmy McGill, nicknamed 'Slippin' Jimmy' during his early con-artist days, known as Saul Goodman when he leans into shady criminal law with well-oiled charm, and rebadged Gene Takavic when he flees for a Cinnabon-serving new Nebraskan life. Even before Better Call Saul had a final air date — the last episode streams via Stan in Australia and Neon in New Zealand on Tuesday, August 16 — viewers knew what was coming. The series is TV's great tragedy precisely because we were always well aware what its prequel segments, which comprise the bulk of the show, eventuate in. The audience knows who Saul Goodman (Bob Odenkirk, Nobody) is when he's a charismatic but shifty defence attorney aiding Walter White (Bryan Cranston, Your Honor) and Jesse Pinkman (Aaron Paul, Westworld). We know what all his choices then lead to, too. Thanks to Breaking Bad and its gripping New Mexico-set crime-drama antics, we've already seen it. Better Call Saul's sixth season reckons with that knowledge. It interrogates it, toys with it and expands upon it as well. But in the first trailer for the show's swan song, which has been broken into two parts — the first started in April, the second returned in July — fellow Breaking Bad favourite-turned-Better Call Saul key player Mike Ehrmantraut (Jonathan Banks, The Comey Rule) might've said it best. "Whatever happens next, it's not gonna go down the way you think it is," the ex-cop advised. The episode we've all been waiting for did finally arrive, bringing back Walter and Jesse as was announced back in April, and it was a treat. There's always been much more to this spectacular spinoff then waiting for its predecessor's protagonists to show up, joining the obvious dots and revelling in past glories, though. First, the overall setup: since 2015, Better Call Saul has stepped back into its namesake's pre-drug lawyer days, when legitimately embracing the law was his aim. His complex relationship with his successful older brother Chuck (Michael McKean, Breeders) guided early seasons, as did his plan to work his way through the firm, the Howard Hamlin (Patrick Fabian, Gordita Chronicles)-led HHM, that Chuck co-owns. Thanks to those early aspirations, the friendship-turned-romance with fellow legal up-and-comer Kim Wexler (Rhea Seehorn, Veep) has been the show's bedrock. Blossoming interactions with Mike, then a parking attendant at the Albuquerque courthouse, also laid the groundwork for the working arrangement already seen in Breaking Bad. So did the the ambitions of budding drug kingpin Gus Fring (Giancarlo Esposito, The Boys), as complicated by two Salamanca family figures: smart and savvy footsoldier Nacho Varga (Michael Mando, Spider-Man: Homecoming), and Hector Salamanca's (Mark Margolis, Snowpiercer) alluringly crafty nephew Lalo (Tony Dalton, Hawkeye). Now, the big return: in a Better Call Saul episode fittingly called 'Breaking Bad', aka the sixth season's 11th and antepenultimate instalment, Saul's first meeting with Walter and Jesse is revisited. Observant fans already knew that the names Nacho and Lalo were mentioned in that scene in Breaking Bad itself, in a season two episode fittingly called 'Better Call Saul', despite neither character appearing in that series. Here, in new footage shot with Cranston and Paul, it all takes on greater resonance — but this franchise has never been about mere and easy nostalgia, not for a single second. Better Call Saul brings back the Walter-and-Jesse banter, as they argue in their RV meth lab. It has Jesse call his partner a "dick", but not "bitch". Crucially, it muses on and builds upon what the entire series always has: the decisions that shape, transform and define paths, and reveal the inescapable and inevitable, no matter how much anyone and everyone might want otherwise. Of course, every single moment that's been brought to the screen in sunny colour in Better Call Saul so far — which is how its pre-Breaking Bad sequences appear — desperately makes its audience wish that everything that's destined to occur, and is already known, just won't. Saul Goodman's name has always been ironic, but getting viewers crossing their fingers that things really will prove "s'all good, man" is this show's masterstroke. That said, as the series morphs from a prequel to a sequel in its last episodes, expecting Saul and Kim to live happily ever after feels like a fool's fantasy. Breaking Bad and Better Call Saul creator Vince Gilligan has many skills, and chronicling life's bleak and heartbreaking realities via meticulous and twisty character studies has always been one of them in these two extraordinary series. Also always high on Gilligan's list: giving everyone involved with both shows the roles of their lifetimes. That's why Cranston and Paul's returns were so eagerly anticipated, and why seeing Odenkirk slip back into Saul's shoes — and Jimmy's first, and Gene's as well in Better Call Saul's black-and-white follow-up scenes — has been so magnificent to watch. Getting caught up in Nacho and Lalo's stories, hoping Mike's path might take an unexpected detour, hanging on every hint of what might come for Kim: that's all as much a stroke of brilliant casting as outstanding writing, too. This series can astonish and delight like little else, including in its tightly plotted and never-predictable narrative, its sublimely cinematic imagery and its many, many marvellous performances alike. TV won't be the same without Saul Goodman, if this is the end of his road. TV has been all the better for Better Call Saul's presence, and it has six outstanding seasons to show for it. The series has always been the perfect capper to Breaking Bad — a devotee's dream in every way, including in its surprises and departures as much as its knowing nods — and, when the still-entertaining El Camino: A Breaking Bad Movie arrived in 2019, it's little wonder that it felt somewhat slight and superfluous in comparison. However Better Call Saul ends, likely not as anyone thinks as Mike warned, the series has dived deep into the choices and costs that've pushed and plagued everyone in its frames, and simultaneously surveyed how everyday tragedies do and can play out. Gilligan has cooked that up twice now, and given television an astounding high. (Fingers crossed for a Kim Wexler spinoff, obviously.) Check out the trailer for the second half of Better Call Saul's sixth and final season below: Better Call Saul streams via Stan in Australia and Neon in New Zealand, with the final episode set to air on Tuesday, August 16. Read our review of the first half of Better Call Saul's sixth season. Images: Greg Lewis/AMC/Sony Pictures Television.
A giant gumball machine that you can climb inside. An adult-sized ballpit in bubblegum-pink hues. A dedicated fairy floss room with its own swing. Throw in ice cream, sweet and snack tastings, plus the ability to jump out of a giant birthday cake — and Brisbane's new pop-up dessert museum sounds like the kind of place that Willy Wonka might own. Called Sugar Republic and heading our way now that its Melbourne season has wrapped up, it's actually a short-term exhibition at Valley Metro on Brunswick Street. Running from September 23, the pop-up brings sugary delights to folks with a sweet tooth, boasting an array of spaces filled with all things chocolate, confectionery and dessert-oriented. When you're not making yourself a soft serve and showering it in sprinkles, you'll be spinning a wheel o' treats. Other highlights include a sherbet-filled rainbow bridge, a 'press for confetti' button, an interactive sprinkles wall, a neon art wall and other dessert-centric art. And it wouldn't be a celebration of all things sweet without a huge lolly store, of course. Basically, if you missed out on visiting New York's Museum of Ice Cream back in 2016, this is Australia's equivalent. Typically these kind of places are designed to be as photogenic as possible, so expect plenty of pics to clog your Instagram feed. If you're keen to take some of your own, tickets cost $35 for adults, which includes tastings over your 60-minute stay. Find Sugar Republic at Valley Metro, 230 Brunswick Street, Fortitude Valley from September 23. For more information, visit the museum's website.
Your winter streaming plans just got better — and brighter, bolder, fiercer and sassier, too — because RuPaul's Drag Race Down Under has locked in its return date for season two. Last year, after the debut Australian and New Zealand version of the show, Stan in Australia and TVNZ OnDemand in New Zealand confirmed that the series would sashay our way again. Now, that's set to happen from Saturday, July 30. Exactly who'll be donning eye-catching outfits, navigating dramas and vying for glory next hasn't been revealed, but a new lineup of drag queens will endeavour to follow in Kita Mean's footsteps — after Mean took RuPaul's Drag Race Down Under's first season. Whoever gets the gig, they'll be joined by RuPaul, of course — who takes on hosting duties again — as well as fellow returnees Michelle Visage and Rhys Nicholson. Also yet to be revealed: 2022's lineup of celebrity guests, after 2021 saw Kylie Minogue, Dannii Minogue and Taika Waititi all pop up. Still, fans already know the format, which features fashion challenges, workroom dramas and lip sync battles aplenty. If you're a newcomer to all things Drag Race, you'll watch the next batch of Australian and NZ competitors work through a series of contests to emerge victorious, and join the likes of Mean and US contenders Jinkx Monsoon, Sasha Velour and Sharon Needles in being crowned the series' winner. Before it made the leap Down Under last year, the US version of RuPaul's Drag Race had already been on the air for more than a decade, first premiering in 2009 — and wholeheartedly embracing its mission to unearth the next drag superstars ever since. The original US series just aired its 14th season this year, so this is a program with proven longevity. It has also spun off international iterations before, including in the UK — where it's also hosted by RuPaul — plus in Thailand, Holland, Chile and Canada. While details might still be thin regarding who's competing and guesting on RuPaul's Drag Race Down Under's second season, RuPaul has still done the honours on the show's date announcement video. It wouldn't be a big piece of Drag Race Down Under news without a RuPaul clip, of course — check it out below: RuPaul's Drag Race Down Under will return for a second season in 2022 on Stan and TVNZ from Saturday, July 30.
Brisbane's busy market scene loves an occasion. Mother's Day markets, winter markets, Christmas in July markets, spring markets, festive markets — this city has seen them all, including in 2023, and will continue to do so. Accordingly, it should come as zero surprise that Halloween markets have also joined the list. Redcliffe Markets Festival of Frights is one of them. Only this spooky event will take you trick-or-treating by the Redcliffe jetty. Fancy an eerie theme and a killer waterside location? That's on offer from 4pm on Saturday, October 28. Also on the bill: fireworks, a scavenger hunts, Halloween-appropriate decorations all over the place, and music and live entertainment to fit the mood — including roving pirate entertainers. And, a heap of food stalls serving up bites to eat, and drinks, also likely with a theme. Entry is free, but you'll want your wallet for all that browsing and buying — there'll be more than 200 stalls to peruse. And yes, dressing up is welcome for this wander along Redcliffe Parade till 9pm.
An exploration of an exiled poet. The Australian premiere of legendary filmmaker Alejandro Jodorowsky's latest feature. An effort that's being called Peru's first bona fide horror movie. They're just three of the films in first-ever Cine Latino Film Festival lineup, as Australia's first national fest dedicated to showcasing the best in Latin American cinema tours the country in August. While the complete program features more than 30 movies from Mexico, Brazil, Paraguay, Argentina, Cuba, Uruguay, Colombia, Venezuela, Chile, Guatemala and Puerto Rico, there's a reason that the first of the flicks mentioned above, the Pablo Larraín-directed, Gael García Bernal-starring Neruda, has been plucked straight from Cannes to open the festival. The last time the filmmaker and actor worked together, the excellent No was the end result, so expect another insightful look at Chilean politics from their second collaboration. Jodorowsky's Endless Poetry should rank among the festival's just-as-eagerly-anticipated titles, especially by fans of the director's '70s cult classics El Topo and The Holy Mountain and his most recent effort The Dance of Reality — or anyone who marvelled at what could've been when they watched the entertaining documentary Jodorowsky's Dune. And while The Womb doesn't come with quite the same pedigree, it does boast a chilling storyline involving one of the horror genre's favourite topics: motherhood. Elsewhere, a chronicle of the pop star known as the 'Mexican Madonna', an insight into current state of a formerly luxurious Havana hotel, and more than a couple of soccer-themed efforts all feature among the feast of Spanish and Portuguese-language fare, as do Peruvian road movie Solos and Venezuelan beauty queen black comedy 3 Beauties. Just perusing the program is enough to make you want to jump on a plane for Latin America, however for those who can't enjoy an overseas holiday at the moment, immersing yourself in the films of the region really is the next best thing. [competition]583085[/competition]
If you were to round up three friends, hit up a chain of bars that are also mini-golf joints, play a couple of games and earn a $20,000 cash prize for your efforts, how would you react? Exclaiming "holy moly" might be the tamest response. You'll probably say those words — well, Holey Moley, to be specific — at least once just by signing up for this putting contest, however. Meet the Holey Moley Open, as hosted by the venues that first launched in Brisbane in 2016. At seven Queensland locations, nine spots in New South Wales, seven more in Victoria, four in Western Australia, and one apiece in South Australia and the Australian Capital Territory, Holey Moley welcomes in mini-golf lovers to get tap, tap, tapping their way through pop culture-themed courses — including over cocktails if that's what takes your fancy. That's been the setup for almost a decade now. With the Holey Moley Open, the same is still on the agenda, but in a tournament that'll whittle down the contenders to 25 teams in each state, and then send one from each to hit the national finals. Here's how it works: first, you need a team of four, and also you all need to be over the age of 18. Then, you're required to register online between Saturday, February 1–Wednesday, February 12, 2025. The Holey Moley crew will select the best entries for the state finals, which'll take place at the OG Holey Moley in Fortitude Valley in Brisbane, Alexandria in Sydney, Crown Casino in Melbourne, Northbridge in Perth, and at the Adelaide and Canberra venues on Tuesday, February 25. If you win on home soil by achieving the lowest combined score, you're then off to Darlinghurst, Sydney on Tuesday, March 11 to vie for the $20,000. And yes, your flights and accommodation there from outside of the Harbour City will be covered by Holey Moley. Seasoned Holey Moley patrons knows that hitting the greens here means playing your way around everything from windmills and clowns to whatever other theming that the venues have dreamed up — usually inspired by movies and TV shows. At the grand final, there'll also be a string quartet providing tunes, champagne to drink, caddies helping the players, live commentary, and a food spread featuring mud cake, sausage rolls and party pies. If you want in on the fun without entering the contest, that's also on option across February — including a nine-hole round for $10 all month with the code TEEOFF. To enter the Holey Moley Open, register a team of four between Saturday, February 1–Wednesday, February 12, 2025 — with state finals set to be held on Tuesday, February 25 and the grand final taking place in Darlinghurst, Sydney on Tuesday, March 11. Head to the event's website for more details.
To whip up a hearty, soupy bowl of ramen, you need a warm, thick broth, a handful of long, slurp-worthy noodles and a selection of toppings — ranging from thin slices of char siu pork and marinated hardboiled eggs to a smattering of bamboo pieces and a sheet of nori. That's how the folks at Taro's Ramen make it, and the recipe has been filling Brisbanites' stomachs for years. Now, the Japanese joint wants you to cook it up at home, too. Not quite sure how to boil up the ideal creamy pork stock flavoured with soy and burnt garlic? Uncertain about the right mix of soy and kombu dashi to use with your eggs? That's where Taro's new DIY home packs come in. The restaurant chain prepares all the ingredients for you and packages them up separately, all ready for you to put them all together in your own kitchen. That's a few of your isolation meals taken care of, whether you slurp your way through them immediately or freeze some for later. Taro's stores in Stones Corner and Ascot are also still open for takeaway orders and deliveries to nearby suburbs, should you want your ramen fix now; however if you'd like delicious, restaurant-quality noodle soups for days, these packs have you covered. The full pack comes with eight serves of broth and noodles ($62), split between classic tonkotsu and iekei broths. Or, you can mix and match half packs ($28.10–$34.70), picking between classic, miso, shoyu, shio, red (with mild chilli) and fire (with spicy chilli) options — with vegan classic, red and fire varieties also available. If you're opting for half packs, you will need to purchase at least two — and, either way, you'll also need to purchase your toppings separately. Ramen lovers can choose packs of pork and tofu char siu, chicken, marinated eggs, nori, bamboo, red ginger, as well as extra noodles. And, because every good ramen meal starts with a serving of takana, you can order a packet of the picked mustard leaves too. To help you make ramen that Taro's owner and namesake Taro Akimoto would be proud of, he's also put together a video that walks you through the cooking steps: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZgS_sowNCRY&fbclid=IwAR1_Ygs2Kx7ew42CNHqLiX_WVMHeyZ14XsKJiJ7KfgP_AWYgrEy2nnkpm10 You will need to order Taro's home packs a week in advance, though; however they're available for pickup and, if you live in the Brisbane City Council area, for delivery as well. For more information about Taro's home packs — or to order one — visit the chain's website. Taro's Stones Corner and Ascot are also open for takeaway orders, as well as deliveries to suburbs in the Brisbane City Council area. If you're choosing to go out and support local businesses, have a look at the latest COVID-19 advice and social-distancing guidelines from the Department of Health. Top image: Anwyn Howarth.
When you're a former child actor turned Transformers star turned performance artist and activist, it's pretty easy to make a statement. With his various performance projects around the world, Shia LaBeouf has been doing just that. Alas, his efforts to mount a four-year protest against the current President of the United States haven't gone smoothly, with #HEWILLNOTDIVIDEUS shut down for the fourth time. Liverpool's media arts centre FACT has ended the project's current run based on police advice after "dangerous, illegal trespassing," according to a statement on their website. It lastest a mere three days in its latest iteration, which involved flying a white flag emblazoned with the project name and live-streaming the results. #HEWILLNOTDIVIDEUS moved to the UK after three attempts in the US, including hoisting the flag in an undisclosed location. https://twitter.com/FACT_Liverpool/status/844939997363015682 LeBeouf actually started the four-year-long anti-Trump-focused piece in New York in January, using a different concept: a camera was mounted on a wall outside the Museum of Moving Image, below a printed version of the titular phrase. Participants were asked to stand in the requisite spot and repeat those words as many times as they liked, and for as long as they desired. The project started at 9am on January 20, 2017, timed to coincide with the day of new US President Donald Trump's inauguration, with LeBeouf intending keep a live-stream going 24 hours a day, seven days a week for the four years that followed — or the duration of Trump's time in office. While designed to act "as a show of resistance or insistence, opposition or optimism, guided by the spirit of each individual participant and the community", and garnering plenty of interest — including from the project's first participant, Jaden Smith — #HEWILLNOTDIVIDEUS quickly started to attract not just attention but opposition, leading the Museum of Moving Image to abandon the work on February 10. Eight days later, the piece was relocated to a wall outside the El Rey Theater, Albuquerque, before moving to its latest version in March. https://twitter.com/thecampaignbook/status/822443598771785732
An exploration of an exiled poet. The Australian premiere of legendary filmmaker Alejandro Jodorowsky's latest feature. An effort that's being called Peru's first bona fide horror movie. They're just three of the films showing at the first-ever Cine Latino Film Festival lineup, as Australia's first national fest dedicated to showcasing the best in Latin American cinema prepares to tour the country this month. While the complete program features more than 30 movies from Mexico, Brazil, Paraguay, Argentina, Cuba, Uruguay, Colombia, Venezuela, Chile, Guatemala and Puerto Rico, there's a reason that the first of the flicks mentioned above — the Pablo Larraín-directed, Gael García Bernal-starring Neruda — has been plucked straight from Cannes to open the festival. The last time the filmmaker and actor worked together, the excellent No was the end result, so expect another insightful look at Chilean politics from their second collaboration. Jodorowsky's Endless Poetry should rank among the festival's just-as-eagerly-anticipated titles, especially by fans of the director's '70s cult classics El Topo and The Holy Mountain and his most recent effort The Dance of Reality — or anyone who marvelled at what could've been when they watched the entertaining documentary Jodorowsky's Dune. And whileThe Womb doesn't come with quite the same pedigree, it does boast a chilling storyline involving one of the horror genre's favourite topics: motherhood. Elsewhere, a chronicle of the pop star known as the 'Mexican Madonna', an insight into current state of a formerly luxurious Havana hotel, and more than a couple of soccer-themed efforts all feature among the feast of Spanish and Portuguese-language fare, as do Peruvian road movie Solos and Venezuelan beauty queen black comedy 3 Beauties. Just perusing the program is enough to make you want to jump on a plane for Latin America, however for those who can't enjoy an overseas holiday at the moment, immersing yourself in the films of the region really is the next best thing.
Practise your Cockney accent, rehearse your favourite drunken London tale and prepare for high tea: the British Film Festival has arrived in Australia for the first time ever. There'll be a dozen contemporary features, five 20th-century classics (The Third Man and Lawrence of Arabia among them) and a chance to quiz Eric Bana during a live Q&A session, and a simply smashing opening night party. One film not to miss is Jump, a massive hit at the Toronto International Film Festival that captures the stories of three troubled individuals, who find themselves entangled by doomed romance, theft and revenge. Another much-talked-about feature is eccentric rock movie Good Vibrations, which comes to the British Film Festival following sold-out sessions at the 2013 Melbourne International Film Festival. Set against Ireland's Troubles of the 1970s, it follows the story of rebellious, maverick music lover Terri Hooley, Belfast's 'godfather of punk', and his determination to show the world the power of the seven-inch single. The star power is in Dom Hemingway, a gangster film in the style of Sexy Beast. It stars Jude Law as the outrageous, volatile Dom and Richard E. Grant as his best friend, Dickie. Following Dom's release after 12 years of imprisonment, the two travel from London to the south of France, encountering all number of misadventures along the way, from a car accident to an inevitable femme fatale. There's also the latest offering from Uberto Pasolini (producer of The Full Monty), Still Life, a drama in the British humanist tradition. The British Film Festival is on in Melbourne (November 20 to December 1), Sydney (November 21 to December 1), Brisbane (November 27 to December 8) as well as other cities around Australia. Thanks to the festival, we have 15 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
Foggy skies are causing plenty of drama in Melbourne — and around the country — today, especially for those travelling to or from the airport. As The Age reports, the heavy haze has disrupted flights going in and out of Melbourne Airport and has caused delays of up to two hours. Virgin has already cancelled one flight from Sydney to Melbourne this morning, with more Tiger and Jetstar flights on the same route also set to experience delays. Two of Jetstar's return flights to the Gold Coast have also been cancelled, along with eight Qantas flights scheduled to fly out of Brisbane, Sydney and Melbourne. But a spokesman from the airport told Fairfax that skies were set to clear by later this morning, saying "we are also hearing predictions that the fog will lift earlier than expected". Even if you're not travelling to the airport, it goes without saying that you should take caution on and near the road this morning as visibility is low. The Bureau of Meteorology has tweeted about the 'pea soup', suggesting northerly winds will help push it away in the next few hours, giving Melbourne clear, sunny skies for the rest of the day. For the 4th day in a row #Melbourne has woken up to a thick blanket of fog, will clear later this morning - unlikely to see another pea souper around the city tomorrow, as northerly winds pick uphttps://t.co/POnouPMIRA pic.twitter.com/c0SECqDebB — Bureau of Meteorology, Victoria (@BOM_Vic) April 22, 2018 Via The Age. Image: Bureau of Meteorology via Twitter.
Melburnians love to proudly — and loudly — lament the city's ever-changing weather conditions. It's the ultimate water cooler talking point and the 'four seasons in a day' gimmick is thrown around at least once a day. We love to talk about the weather so much we now have a building dedicated to the topic. Melbourne's newest high-rise 888 Collins isn't your standard apartment block — the 15-storey exterior is fitted with 58,000 lights which, from dusk until midnight, perform an hourly light show for the masses. The show isn't just for spectacle, though. The colours indicate the real-time weather conditions outside and so are, like the weather, constantly changing. This feat was accomplished by artist Bruce Ramus, whose experience as a lighting designer includes work for the likes of R.E.M, U2 and David Bowie. It was easy for Ramus to notice the city's obsession with the weather and he felt creating an artwork that "interprets how the weather feels" was the best homage to locals, he told The Age. The building is located on the corner of Collins and Bourke Streets, down the Docklands end of the CBD. In order to predict the weather accurately, the roof is fitted with a weather station and fed data from the Bureau of Meteorology. The building is also solar powered, which provides power both for the lights and the building itself. While the idea of an eco-friendly building that depicts our love/hate relationship with the weather is right up our alley, we're not sure how keen we'd be to live in it. But Ramus has ensured residents that he has considered them in the design; the light output is far below the city's guidelines and the show "is very gentle". If you want to head down to Docklands and check it out for your self, Ramus has put together a handy guide for how to 'read' the building. Though the show ends at midnight, the building's lights will remain on throughout the night, depicting images of the moon straight on to morning. Now isn't that just dreamy. Via The Age. Image: LendLease.
UPDATE, January 13, 2022: Yotam Ottolenghi's Australian tour has been postponed again due to the pandemic. New dates have not yet been announced — we'll update you when they are. If you're a vegetarian, worshipper of eggplant or just a keen home cook, chances are Yotam Ottolenghi has had some impact on your life. In fact, we bet you've got at least one of his bestselling cookbooks in your cupboard. Next year, you'll be able to learn a few more tips and tricks from the renowned Israeli chef as he heads to Australia for a speaking tour. The trailblazing chef, author, TV personality and restaurateur whose name has become its own cooking style is touring the country in 2022 off the back of his recent book Ottolenghi Flavour, which builds on his love for innovative vegetable-based recipes. And yes, this'll sound familiar, as he was planning to head Down Under in 2021 — but we all know how this year turned out. Yotam Ottolenghi — Flavour of Life will hit Sydney, Canberra, Adelaide, Brisbane, Hobart, Melbourne and the Gold Coast in January — and, as well as dishing up a few spicy secrets behind mouthwatering hits like miso butter onions and spicy mushroom lasagne, the show will provide an opportunity to hear directly from the man himself about his influences and experiences. It also promises to delve into Ottolenghi's experience as the owner of famed London restaurants Nopi and Rovi, how he approached home cooking during the COVID-19 pandemic and how you can dial up the flavour in your own kitchen. [caption id="attachment_768174" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Flickr/Stijn Nieuwendijk[/caption] YOTAM OTTOLENGHI 2022 AUSTRALIAN TOUR: Sunday, January 16 — Darling Harbour Theatre, ICC, Sydney Monday, January 17 + Wednesday, January 19 — Canberra Theatre Centre Tuesday, January 18 + Tuesday, January 25 — Adelaide Convention Centre Thursday, January 20 + Monday, January 24 — QPAC Concert Hall, Brisbane Friday, January 21 — Wrest Point Entertainment Centre, Hobart Saturday, January 22 — Hamer Hall, Arts Centre Melbourne Sunday, January 23 — The Star, The Gold Coast The Yotam Ottolenghi — Flavour of Life will tour Australia in January 2022. For further details or to buy tickets, head to the tour website.
In great news for online streaming fans who feel as though their options are limited now that Netflix has cracked down on that whole VPN thing, there's now another streaming service to add to your rotating repertoire. After quietly and somewhat inexplicably making their Prime Video streaming service available to Aussie customers in mid-November, Amazon has gone and made it all official, with the online shopping behemoth last night launching their film and television streaming platform in 200 countries including Australia and New Zealand. So if you signed up for a Prime Video account last month, it now has the offical stamp of approval from Amazon — but don't expect the number of titles that you can watch to change dramatically just yet. Amazon's first round of titles represent their efforts to dip a toe in the waters of online streaming, but the company still has to navigate around existing local rights deals for some of their original content. Basically, if it's already available on another platform — such as the most recent seasons of Mozart in the Jungle and Transparent, which are linked to Stan in Australia and Lightbox in NZ — then you won't find it on Prime. What you will find is an introductory deal of USD$2.99 per month for the first sixth months, with the cost rising to USD$5.99 monthly after that. And yes, Amazon is keeping their prices in US currency. So, go forth and stream, film and television fiends, whether car-focused banter on the highly anticipated The Grand Tour, catching up with the first seasons of Amazon Original Series such as Red Oaks and The Man in the High Castle, or diving through a host of movies takes your fancy. Next year, additional efforts such as Woody Allen's Crisis in Six Scenes, David E. Kelley's Goliath featuring Billy Bob Thornton, and Sneaky Pete, which is produced by Bryan Cranston and stars Giovanni Ribisi, will join the global lineup. Amazon Prime Video also boasts offline downloads, which Netflix only recently introduced. Alas, as for how you can watch it, you'd best get used to viewing on it on a phone or tablet (sorry, anyone who likes watching television actually on their television). At the time of writing, the service is supported by Android and iOS phones and tablets, plus Amazon's own Fire Tablets, but only on LG and Samsung smart TVs. For more information about Amazon Prime Video, visit PrimeVideo.com.
If dropping by your local car wash makes you want to unleash your inner kidult, then you'd better get yourself to the National Gallery of Victoria's Grollo Equiset Garden from October 14. That's when M@ STUDIO Architects will be setting up a pretend car wash, which you'll be welcome to treat as one giant playground. Their brilliant idea is called Haven't you always wanted...?, it's the winner of the 2016 NGV Architecture Commission — and it's free to check out. You'll be able to find your fun easily — just look out for the old-school, glittering sign. Head inside to discover a true-to-size car wash replica, based on an actual existing one in Blackburn. But you can forget your run-of-the-mill cement and nasty fluoro lights. Instead, you'll be surrounded by walls of cricket netting, looking up at a pretty translucent ceiling, frolicking in bright pink AstroTurf and kicking back on rubber speed bumps. There'll be five 'bays' altogether, two hung with red plastic curtains and one equipped with a mist diffuser. So, though you probably won't be able to go for an all-out water fight, you won't escape totally dry (should that be your car wash wish). Plus, at night, the whole scene will light up, letting you have nocturnal adventures galore. To celebrate this epic creation, the NGV is organising a slew of events. In what seems similar to the Queen Victoria Gardens' MPavilion, this outdoor structure will host talks, live music and performances over both spring and summer. But, if you're not in the mood for shows, you can head along to hang out with friends anytime. "We are thrilled to be selected as the winner of the 2016 NGV Architecture Commission," said M@ STUDIO Architects. "Open competitions such as this provide a vital platform for architects to experiment and facilitate public discourse around the broader ideas that motivate the specific design explorations." The annual NGV Architecture Commission invites architects to come up with clever, clever installation ideas for the Grollo Equiset Garden. Entries are judged for their originality, their new ideas concerning architecture and design, and their innovation in material use, fabrication, sustainability and recyclability. Find Haven't you always wanted...? in the NGV Garden at NGV International from 14 October 2016 to April 2017. For more information, visit the NGV website.
Make a trip to the Sunshine Coast for Yundina's annual Ginger Flower and Food Festival, taking place from Friday, January 17, to Sunday, January 19, 2020. The festival is three days of food, garden walks, floral displays, cooking demonstrations, talks, entertainment, market stalls and more, held each year among the sub-tropical gardens of the Ginger Factory. Rides, honey tastings, a boutique shopping village, a Buderim Ginger shop, play areas — and that's just the Ginger Factory on a normal day. Things are kicked up a gear for the festival, where you can learn about garden design, making honey, regrowing food from kitchen scraps, and how to keep that balcony garden of yours alive. It goes without saying that you'll also get to try a variety of sweet and savoury ginger-based creations, including a gingerbread parfait from the ice creamery.
Keen to see Oasis onstage Down Under when Liam and Noel Gallagher reunite for the reformed band's 2025 tour? Don't look back in anger at paying more than you should for a ticket to their Melbourne shows. As it did with Taylor Swift's Eras tour — and with the 2024 Meredith Music Festival, too — the Victorian Government has declared the British group's upcoming trip to the state a major event, meaning that the gigs now fall under anti-scalping laws. Under Victoria's major-event ticketing declarations, tickets to the two concerts must legally be available for a fair price, not the hefty costs that they can be flogged off for on the resale market. There's a specific figure specified under the law, in fact, with tickets to a declared major event unable to be resold for more than ten percent more than their original value. [caption id="attachment_975202" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Simon Emmett[/caption] Other requirements include ticket package sellers needing authorisation from the event organiser, plus individual ads for tickets including both ticket and seating details. If a ticket seller flouts the rules, the penalties are steep, ranging up to more than half-a-million dollars. [caption id="attachment_975640" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Batiste Safont via Wikimedia Commons[/caption] While the major-event declaration clearly benefits Melbourne Oasis devotees eager to get a ticket to see the band play at Marvel Stadium, it's also great news for fans elsewhere that are hoping to head to the Victorian capital for the Friday, October 31–Saturday, November 1 shows. Oasis are only making two stops on their visit Down Under, two doing gigs in Melbourne and two in Sydney. So, also like the Eras tour, there'll be plenty of concertgoers flying and driving in from interstate. 2025 marks 20 years since Oasis last toured Australia, but that's where the lengthy gap between the band's Down Under shows is ending. There's comeback tours and then there's Britain's most-famous feuding siblings reuniting to bring one of the country's iconic groups back together live — aka the biggest story in music touring of 2024 since Liam and Noel announced in August that they were reforming the band, and also burying the hatchet. Initially, Oasis locked in a run of shows in the UK and Ireland. Since then, they've been expanding their tour dates, also confirming visits to Canada and the US. From London, Manchester and Dublin to Toronto, Los Angeles and Mexico City, the entire tour so far is sold out. Oasis broke up in 2009, four years after their last Australian tour, and following seven albums from 1994's Definitely Maybe through to 2008's Dig Your Soul — and after drawing massive crowds to their live gigs along the way (see: documentary Oasis Knebworth 1996). If you're feeling supersonic about the group's reunion, you can likely expect to hear that track, plus everything from 'Live Forever', 'Cigarettes & Alcohol', 'Morning Glory' and 'Some Might Say' through to 'Wonderwall', 'Don't Look Back in Anger' and 'Champagne Supernova' when they hit Australia. Oasis Live '25 Australian Dates Friday, October 31–Saturday, November 1 — Marvel Stadium, Melbourne Friday, November 7–Saturday, November 8 — Accor Stadium, Sydney Oasis are touring Australia in October and November 2025, with Melbourne tickets on sale from 10am AEDT and Sydney tickets from 12pm AEDT on Tuesday, October 15. Head to the tour website for more details. Top image: Raph_PH via Flickr.
Which film can boast besting a Yorgos Lanthimos and Emma Stone collaboration, a Silver Bear-winner at Berlinale, and the 2023-defining duo of Barbie and Oppenheimer? Only one: Italy's There's Still Tomorrow. First, the melodrama defied the Barbenheimer phenomenon to top the box office in its homeland last year. Now, the hit flick has beaten Kinds of Kindness — aka Lanthimos and Stone getting weird again after The Favourite and Poor Things — and ten other movies for 2024's coveted Sydney Film Festival Prize. Actor Paola Cortellesi (Petra, Don't Stop Me Now) both stars and makes her directorial debut with SFF's cream of the crop for 2024, earning the event's $60,000 cash prize for her efforts. Set in post-Second World War Rome, There's Still Tomorrow follows a wife and mother who dreams of a different future, with the feature no stranger to accolades. At the David di Donatello Awards, Italy's equivalent of the Oscars, it took home six gongs in May. (And if you missed it during's SFF official dates, it's among the fest's encore screenings between Monday, June 17–Thursday, June 20.) Tasked with rewarding "audacious, cutting-edge and courageous" filmmaking, the 2024 jury comprised of Bosnian writer and director Danis Tanović (The Hollow), Indonesian director Kamila Andini (Before, Now and Then), US producer Jay Van Hoy (The Lighthouse), Australian producer Sheila Jayadev (Here Out West) and Aussie director Tony Krawitz (Significant Others) picked There's Still Tomorrow for welcoming "audiences into one of the historic cradles of cinema". "Set in post-war Italy, Paola Cortellesi's debut feature C'è ancora domani (There's Still Tomorrow) feels intensely relevant today. We relive every woman's struggle for equality through Cortellesi's Delia, we face the brutal cycles of domestic violence with an immense empathy that ultimately proclaims and affirms the virtues of democracy," they continued in a statement. "C'è ancora domani deftly weaves humour, style and pop music into a dazzling black-and-white cinematic event, then it delivers an ending that will take your breath away." There's Still Tomorrow joins an impressive list of past SFF Prize-winners, including Moroccan documentary The Mother of All Lies in 2023, Lukas Dhont's Close in 2022, Mohammad Rasoulof's There Is No Evil in 2021 and Bong Joon-ho's Parasite in 2019. Before that, The Heiresses (2018), On Body and Soul (2017), Aquarius (2016), Arabian Nights (2015), Two Days, One Night (2014), Only God Forgives (2013), Alps (2012), A Separation (2011), Heartbeats (2010), Bronson (2009) and Hunger (2008) have all taken out the accolade since its inception. 2024's recipient was announced at this year's closing event, where body-horror The Substance made its Australian premiere and the rest of the film festival's annual prizes were handed out. Another big winner: 11-minute short film First Horse. Hailing from New Zealand filmmaker Awanui Simich-Pene, it received SFF's first-ever $35,0000 First Nations Award. "Members of the jury were thrilled with the quality and variety of the works programmed for the inaugural First Nations Competition, noting the power and beauty in the collection of these storytellers' films which represent all types of cinematic art. The jurors also celebrate the launch of this meaningful prize and congratulate the Festival for making it a reality," said producer and programmer Jason Ryle (Amplify), Australian First Nations producer Erica Glynn (True Colours) and Aussie producer Kath Shelper (The New Boy). "In awarding the winning work, the jury recognises its originality, elegance, and cinematic achievement in story and form. In a few short minutes, the talented creative team has crafted a deeply impactful film with a resonant emotional punch." The fest's annual shower of love also covers films focused on sustainability, Australian documentaries and shorts. SFF's fourth-ever Sustainable Future Award, which now hands out $40,000, went to documentary Black Snow about the Siberian eco-activist who has earned the nickname the "Erin Brockovich of Russia". The Feast and Wilding received high commendations. Welcome to Babel, which puts Chinese Australian artist Jiawei Shen at its centre, took out the $20,000 Documentary Australia Foundation Award for Australian Documentary. In the Dendy Short Film Awards, Die Bully Die won Best Australian Live Action, while the Yoram Gross Animation Award for Best Australian Animation went to Darwin Story. Say picked up two prizes, the AFTRS Craft Award for Best Practitioner for screenwriter Chloe Kemp and the Event Cinemas Rising Talent Award for lead actor Bridget Morrison. And the Rouben Mamoulian Award for Best Director went to Pernell Marsden for The Meaningless Daydreams of Augie & Celeste. The 2024 Sydney Film Festival ran from Wednesday, June 5–Sunday, June 16, with the festival screening four days of encores until Thursday, June 20.
At skate parks around the world — and on consoles in lounge rooms, too — many an hour has been spent kickflipping and ollieing because of Tony Hawk. He's the professional skateboarder who became a household name, and the man whose licensed video game series had everyone sliding and grinding just by furiously mashing buttons. And, come 2024, he's coming to Australia to chat about his career. The skater icon is taking part in a talkfest aptly called An Evening with Tony Hawk. If you've ever wondered how he landed his famous '900', becoming the first skateboarder to complete two-and-a-half mid-air revolutions — or if you just want to know why Tony Hawk's Pro Skater, its sequels and spinoffs are so damn addictive — head along to the Enmore Theatre in Sydney on Friday, January 19, or The Athenaeum in Melbourne on Monday, January 22 and The Triffid in Brisbane on Thursday, January 25 to find out. Hawk's Brissie trip comes with a caveat, however: his discussion has already sold out, but he's also going to turn the Fortitude Music Hall into an immersive Tony Hawk's Pro Skater experience for one day only on Saturday, January 27. [caption id="attachment_924147" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Joshua Cutillo[/caption] In the chats, as well as discussing life, turning skating into a job, career highlights, his pop culture prominence and more — and maybe even his on-screen appearances in everything from the first xXx movie to Sharknado 5: Global Swarming — Hawk will be joined by Birdman: Or the Unexpected Virtue of a Tony Hawk Pro Skater Cover Band. Setting the vibe through tunes from the games, their setlist includes Rage Against the Machine, Millencolin, Goldfinger and more. In Brisbane only, Hawk's THPS25 event will drop in to celebrate a quarter century of the games series, with Fortitude Music Hall turned into a replica of one of the levels from the game. Yes, Hawke will hop on a board on an 11-foot-plus vertical ramp that'll sit in the centre of the venue. Joining him from the Birdhouse skate crew, including Lizzie Armanto, Elliot Sloan Felipe Nunes and Reese Nelson. The THPS25 event will be split into two sessions, with the daytime slot an all-ages affair and the evening session only for over 18s. Birdman: Or the Unexpected Virtue of a Tony Hawk Pro Skater Cover Band will pick up their instruments at both, too, as joined by DZ Deathrays doing a DJ set at each. Yours Truly and Teenage Joans will also take to the stage during the day, and Bodyjar and Alex Lahey at night. If you're keen to play Tony Hawk's Pro Skater while you're there, that's understandable and will also be an option. Show off your moves on a five-metre video wall, plus console stations set up around the venue. [caption id="attachment_924146" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Vans[/caption] [caption id="attachment_576145" align="alignnone" width="1280"] Tony Hawk's Pro Skater[/caption] TONY HAWK AUSTRALIAN TOUR 2024: Friday, January 19 — An Evening with Tony Hawk, Enmore Theatre, Sydney Monday, January 22 — An Evening with Tony Hawk, The Athenaeum, Melbourne Thursday, January 25 — An Evening with Tony Hawk, The Triffid, Brisbane — SOLD OUT Saturday, January 27 — THPS25, Fortitude Music Hall, Brisbane Tony Hawk is touring Australia in 2024. Head to the tour website for further details and tickets for An Evening with Tony Hawk. For the THPS25, join the waitlist at the event website, with tickets presales from 9am AEST on Wednesday, November 1. Top image: Victor Solanoy via Flickr.
In a year already filled with huge tour news Down Under, Abel 'The Weeknd' Tesfaye dropping plans to hit both Australia and New Zealand before 2023 is out is up there with the biggest — and concertgoers clearly agree. The Canadian singer-songwriter and The Idol star only announced his Aussie and Aotearoa dates on Tuesday, August 22, and general tickets aren't due to go on sale until Friday, September 1, but he's already doubled the number of shows that he'll be playing in Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane and Auckland. This arena spectacular will now play two nights apiece in each of the four cities across November and December, with the second dates immediately after the first in every spot. The extra gigs will join a tour that's been notching up soldout shows far and wide. In the UK, The Weekend saw 160,000 folks head to London Stadium across two nights, smashing the venue's attendance record. And in Milan, he became the first artist to sell out the Ippodromo La Maura for two nights. Those feats are just the beginning. In Paris, he scored Stade de France's biggest sales this year — and in Nice, the 70,000 tickets sold across his two shows are the most in the city's history. Will his Down Under dates add to his record-breaking run? Australia in particular has been loving the return of huge international tours. See: the Taylor Swift frenzy. And, if more shows are already being added to the 'Starboy', 'I Feel It Coming', 'Can't Feel My Face', 'The Hills' and 'Blinding Lights' artist's visit before the general on-sale date, fans are obviously mighty excited. The reason for the extra Aussie and Aotearoa gigs is the massive demand during the Vodafone pre-sale. And the reason for the whole tour, other than just because, is to celebrate The Weeknd's 2020 record After Hours and its 2022 followup Dawn FM. Obviously, he'll be playing tracks from 2013's Kiss Land, 2015's Beauty Behind the Madness and 2016's Starboy as well. In support across The Weeknd's four Down Under shows: Mike Dean and Chxrry22. The tour will help a good cause, too, other than your need to see The Weeknd live. The artist has been contributing funds for his shows to the United Nations World Food Programme's XO Humanitarian Fund, as one of the organisation's Goodwill Ambassador, raising over $1 million from his Europe run alone. THE WEEKND'S 'AFTER HOURS TIL DAWN TOUR' 2023: Monday, November 20–Tuesday, November 21 — Suncorp Stadium, Brisbane Friday, November 24–Saturday, November 25 — Accor Stadium, Sydney Friday, December 1–Saturday, December 2 — Marvel Stadium, Melbourne Thursday, December 7–Friday, December 8 — Eden Park, Auckland The Weeknd is touring Australia and New Zealand in November and December 2023. For more information, and for pre-sale tickets for the second shows on Thursday, August 31, then general tickets from Friday, September 1 — all at staggered times depending on the city — head to the tour website.
There’s something special about going out in the evening during summer - the longer hours of daylight, the steamy weather and the bountiful excess of people – all of these elements seem to nights you’ll remember fondly in the dreaded middle of winter. However, finding appropriately interesting activities to do during this time can be a chore. You need to be able to accentuate the positives of the humid weather without overdoing it and burning out early. Luckily, someone in the event department of GoMA got the memo and went to work. Matisse Up Late is the next in their series of night time entertainment, and it has been designed perfectly. The evenings begin at 6.30pm, when doors open and you are ushered in to have a drink and meal (or two drinks plus more and a meal), whilst listening to classic jazz tunes as the sun goes down. GoMA’s amazing air conditioning will then accompany you around the building as you are free to admire Matisse’s work at your leisure, listen to contemporary artists talk about their craft, with the night culminating with a performance by the likes of Sam Amidon, Eleanor Friedburger (of Fiery Furnaces fame), or Bonnie ‘Prince’ Billy. Matisse Up Late runs every Friday between 20 January and 2 March, with varying speakers and artists per week. Don’t get lazy just because current temperatures are in the high 30s - this exhibition has everything you need; air con, food, drink, art, music and Matisse.
In 2020, Netflix's Enola Holmes asked a question: what if Sherlock Holmes had a teenage sister who was just as good at sleuthing as he is? Now, in 2021, the streaming platform has another query for fans of the famed detective: what if there was actually a team of teens who were tasked with solving his mysteries, all while Sherlock gets the credit? That latter train of thought provides the premise for The Irregulars, Netflix's next dalliance with the character created by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle. Set in Victorian London, the eight-part series meets its motley crew of adolescents as they're asked by Doctor Watson (Royce Pierreson, The Witcher) to work for Holmes (Henry Lloyd-Hughes, Killing Eve). As the just-dropped trailer shows, they're also enlisted for their new gig as the city and the world comes under threat from insidious supernatural forces — which only they can stop. Yes, it sounds like something that an algorithm would concoct (and probably has) after seeing how many people stream both Stranger Things and the multiple other iterations of Sherlock Holmes that have reached screens over the years. But at least part of the concept does tie back into Conan Doyle's work, with the Baker Street Irregulars even popping up in 1887's A Study in Scarlet, the first novel to feature Holmes and Watson. When the series hits Netflix on Friday, March 26, you'll be watching Thaddea Graham (The Letter for the King), Darci Shaw (Judy), Jojo Macari (Sex Education), Mckell David (The Gentlemen) and Harrison Osterfield (Catch 22) as Irregulars members Bea, Jessie, Billie, Spike and Leopold — and Clarke Peters (His Dark Materials) as The Linen Man. Check out the trailer below: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lTE5MAGpflw The Irregulars starts streaming via Netflix from Friday, March 26.
If you're familiar with sunglasses brand Colab, then you know they put out some pretty amazing designs. As suggested by its name, the company collaborates with independent artists, musicians, filmmakers and designers to create limited edition lines. In the past they've created killer shades with the likes of Toro Y Moi, Elke Kramer, and Kill Pixie. Their latest project with Sydney-based artist, Beastman is no exception. Beastman, personally known as Brad Eastman, is best known for his amazing street art murals in Australia and around the world. Eastman has since expanded to include gallery work, apparel design and skateboard graphics. His partnership with Colab was not his first artistic merger, but certainly proved to be new challenge. When Eastman was approached by Colab to do the collection two years back, he admits that he "didn't know anything about making sunglasses". But with a background in graphic design and a fully capable team of Colab engineers, Beastman set about bringing his vision from paper to plastic. "I drew everything," said Eastman. "I redesigned [the shape] and Colab helped with the whole process." Working closely with the Colab's (now ex) creative director, Carl Tindall, Eastman went through an 18-month process of forwards and backwards steps. He described the process as, "do something, send it to Carl, and then hear nothing for three months. Then he'd ring me, show me some sample and I'd say 'no that's shit, let's try this' and then another six months would go by." Seems like an exorbitant amount of time, but making the perfect frames proved to be quite challenging. "I gave him an idea and said 'I want get these three different colour waves of patterns,'" said Eastman. Carl would travel to factories in China, Italy and Japan searching for acetate colours that hadn't been used before. Then came the endless amounts of tweaking, shaving and adjusting to create the ideal shape. If you're familiar with Beastman's art, then you know it's pretty loud. Intricate patterns, swirling lines, and bright colours make up his dreamlike designs of mythical gods and creatures. Now you're wondering 'how that could possibly translate onto a pair of plastic frames?' Beastman's trio of wayfarer-shaped sunnies are comfortably subdued. "I wanted to make something that was unisex and subtle," said Eastman- and he succeeded in accomplishing just that. Made in brown, blue, and green, the swirly-printed acetate frames show an organic side to Beastman's art. He explained, "all my work is about patterns in nature; and how different natural elements combine and work together." The symbols of these elements, which vary by frame colour, are slyly marked on the arms. Notice a tiny leaf on a green pair or dainty orange triangles on the brown. Beastman's iconic prints weren't all lost in this project. His famous bright, geometric patterns were incorporated onto the sleeve and poster that come with every pair. Maintaining his signature style, Eastman said, "I wanted to include something for people to see the relation between the sunglasses and my work." Only 1000 people will be able to get their hands on this sweet deal. "I like doing limited edition things," said Eastman, "I don't like doing super mass-produced products." Functional products seem to be the direction Beastman's art is moving towards. Prior to his project with Colab, he's done apparel design and skate deck graphics for labels like Element. Now, he and his wife are working on a limited-edition line of furniture and homewares. Designing for everyday products is important to Eastman because, "It's not something you hang on your wall and look at; It's something you can use and wear ... that's (the theme) of all of the stuff I'm doing." We can agree with that, because who wouldn't want a coffee table or a pair of sunnies designed by a baller artist? The new Colab + Beastman sunglasses will be launched at the exhibition and end-of-year bash on Wednesday, December 11, from 6-8pm at Somedays store/gallery, 72B Fitzroy Street, Surry Hills, NSW. It will feature a limited edition print release. Join the party by RSVPing to media@somedays.com.au. Thanks to Colab + Beastman, we have one pair of their new sunglasses 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
Prepare yourself for a night of whimsy, wonder and a weird, scaly, hermaphroditic fish man named Old Gregg. Noel Fielding, the androgynous co-lead of the surreal British comedy series The Mighty Boosh, is bringing his live show, An Evening with Noel Fielding, to a capital city near you. Combining stand-up comedy with animation and original music, as well as special appearances from some of Fielding's most beloved and baffling characters, including Fantasy Man and The Moon, the April 2015 show marks Fielding's first time in Australia since his sold-out tour in 2012. This time he'll also be joined by his younger brother Michael, best known for his recurring role on The Mighty Boosh as Naboo the Enigma, an alien shaman from the planet Xooberon. Fielding previously played the part of Richmond in The IT Crowd, appeared as a team captain on the music comedy panel show Never Mind the Buzzcocks, and helped create the comedy sketch program Noel Fielding's Luxury Comedy. He is also a member of the band Loose Tapestries along with Kasabian guitarist Sergio Pizzorno, whose music will be featured in the tour. Tickets to An Evening with Noel Fielding go on sale at 9am on Wednesday, December 17. The show begins in Auckland on Monday, April 6, following by Wellington on Friday, April 10, and Christchurch on Sunday April 12. Fielding then crosses the ditch, first to Melbourne on Wednesday April 15, then Adelaide on Friday April 17 and Canberra on Monday April 20. He'll be at the State Theatre in Sydney on Wednesday April 22, before finishing up with Perth on Friday April 24 and Brisbane on Monday April 27. For more information, head to the promoter website.
The popular 4ZZZ radio show, A Guilt, prides itself on bringing some of the best weird-punk and experimental music to our ears. By taking it upon themselves to raise some of their beloved tunes from obscurity, the team have made it their mission to touch on everything that might be considered abrasive, confronting and impactful. A Guilt also put on the odd showcase of music from around Australia; these shows are called the Guilt Retreat. Guilt Retreat is a haven for the weird, the odd and the sonically diverse; it’s a place where you can experience the visceral elements of the music that you hear on the Guilt slot on 4ZZZ, live. This month, Guilt Retreat is on at The Hideaway, and will feature Big Yawn, #459, Michael Donnelly and the Fun Police DJs. All it will cost is 5 big ones, that is a fair price for some of Australia’s best underground noise makers.
The tradition of O-Week is an annual phenomena involving the welcoming of new students to the tedious traditions of uni' life. Often celebrated with drinking, sporting and themed events, it is always a great excuse for a party and a great goodbye to the amazing four month holiday you just endured. QUT are doing things a bit classier in their Creative Precinct. Instead of drunken mixed volley ball, wet t-shirt comps' and the standard intoxicated campus parties they are hosting an exhibition to showcase the critical connections across diverse disciplines to uncover future trends for their new generation of practitioners. Translation - a showcase of art and creative works by students and designers. It's a chance to enjoy some amazing student work, welcome the fresh meat and catch up with the friends that have been M.I.A since last November. If your uni (like mine) doesn't have a flashy O-Week celebration to kick start the semester, there is definitely no harm in attending this event. Let's get all multi-institutional and bask in each others greatness. Image Credit: Emma Jane Gray
As live music venues in Brisbane seem to disappear left, right and centre it is heartening news to discover that a new hot spot for live music, fresh songs and song writing has appeared on the Brisbane scene. The Round is a new ‘venue’ which pops up each Wednesday night at the Dowse Bar in Paddington and brings together three to four songwriters to share the stage. Rather than doing their own set one at a time, the musicians take turns performing songs, allowing them to share the energy on stage and support each other. With musicians booked in until the start of August, there are new voices on the scene, as well as some old favourites with a new venue to play!
Each year, the folks at Sydney-based film festival organisers Queer Screen ask an excellent question, and answer it in the best way possible. That query: what's better than one queer-focused film festival popping up every 12 months? The response: two, of course. Here's another train of thought that the crew have been posing, too: what's better than two celebrations of LGBTQIA+ cinema in Harbour City picture palaces? The solution here: sharing the love by taking the movie-worshipping online nationally. Queer Screen runs the Mardi Gras Film Festival during the first half of every year, so that's been and gone for 2023. It also gives cinephiles the Queer Screen Film Fest later each year — and that's next on the agenda. This isn't any old QSFF, either. It's the event's tenth anniversary, and the fest is marking that milestone with more than 30 films, plus that online component for audiences across Australia. For those playing along in-person, the physical fest runs from Wednesday, August 23–Sunday, August 27 at Event Cinemas George Street. For people on the couch, you'll have until Sunday, September 3 to get streaming. And that 30-plus films includes ten narrative features, three documentary features, four retrospective flicks getting encores, two TV shows and 19 shorts from 11 different countries. There's more range if you hit up a cinema rather than your television, but it's a mighty impressive lineup all the same. Opening the Sydney sessions is Blue Jean, a four-time British Independent Film Award-winner about a lesbian teacher in Thatcher's England — and, at the other end of the fest, Theatre Camp will close out QSFF 2023 with a crowd-pleasing comedy about loving the stage, as starring and co-written and co-directed by Booksmart and The Bear's Molly Gordon. Elsewhere, the lineup includes Cannes Palm d'Or-winning Shoplifters filmmaker Hirokazu Kore-eda's Monster, which picked up this year's Queer Palm; Marinette, about soccer legend Marinette Pichon (and, yes, arriving just after the Women's World Cup); Busan International Film Festival hit Peafowl, about a Korean trans woman's homecoming; and Medusa Deluxe, which jumps into a hairstyle competition. There's also the Berlin-set Drifter, page-to-screen drama Lie with Me and Indigo Girls doco It's Only Life After All, plus the AIDS in Hollywood-focused Commitment to Life. Or, heading back into sports, Equal the Contest follows regional women's Australian rules football team Mount Alexander Falcons in an exploration of the barriers still faced for women and gender-diverse people on the field. And those retro titles? They span Anchor & Hope, about a trio's complicated relationship; German coming-of-age romance Centre of My World; rom-com Nina's Heavenly Delights, focusing on a woman reuniting with her Indian family in Scotland; and the southern Chile-set The Strong Ones. "Queer Screen is celebrating not only its 30th year of existence, but also the tenth edition of our mini festival. It's an incredibly exciting year and I'm thrilled to be bringing such an outstanding selection of films to Sydney to continue the celebrations," said Festival Director Lisa Rose. "Ten years ago, when the first Queer Screen Film Fest began, we only screened seven films and the whole thing was run by volunteers. This world-class program is a very fitting tribute to how much we have grown and to how LGBTIQ+ stories have found their place, front and centre, on the international stage." Queer Screen Film Fest 2023 runs from Wednesday, August 23–Sunday, August 27 at Event Cinemas George Street in Sydney — and online nationally until Sunday, September 3. For more information, visit the festival's website.
Every September and October, Germany erupts with brews, food and lederhosen-wearing revellers for its annual Oktoberfest celebrations. When that time rolls around Down Under, Australia follows suit. One such festivity is Oktoberfest in the Gardens, which has been throwing big Bavarian-themed celebrations around the country for 13 years — but will only bring the fun to Brisbane for the first time in 2023. The River City lost its own Oktoberfest Brisbane this year, with the long-running local event announcing that it was saying auf wiedersehen after 15 years of steins, schnitties and German shindigs. Enter Oktoberfest in the Gardens, which will hop into Brisbane Showgrounds for its Brissie debut on Saturday, October 14. The RNA site will serve up the same kind of beer- and bratwurst-fuelled shenanigans that Germany has become so famous for. So, if you're a Brisbanite with a hankering for doppelbock and dancing to polka, it's the next best thing to heading to Europe. Oktoberfest in the Gardens boasts a crucial attraction, too — as well as serving a variety of pilsners, ciders, wine and non-alcoholic beverages, it constructs huge beer halls to house the boozy merriment. When you're not raising a stein — or several — at the day-long event, you can tuck into pretzels and other traditional snacks at food stalls, or check out the hefty array of entertainment. Live music, roving performers, a silent disco, rides and a sideshow alley are all on the agenda. Oktoberfest in the Gardens will also hit the Gold Coast on Saturday, September 30. And, with another new stop in Newcastle and return visits to Sydney, Melbourne, Adelaide and Perth similarly on its itinerary, it expects to welcome in over 70,000 people across its seven stops. "Australia loves Oktoberfest. COVID was a tough time in the events industry and saw the demise of other events such as Oktoberfest St Kilda and Oktoberfest Brisbane. Our team was very fortunate to be able to run successful events in some parts of the country when others were in lockdown and this allowed us to make it through," said Ross Drennan, co-founder of Nokturnl Events, which runs Oktoberfest in the Gardens. "We're now going all in to really ramp up Oktoberfest in the Gardens and take it to the next level with events all around the country." OKTOBERFEST IN THE GARDENS 2023 DATES — QUEENSLAND: Saturday, September 30 — Broadwater Parklands, Gold Coast Saturday, October 14 — Brisbane Showgrounds Oktoberfest in the Gardens hits the Gold Coast in September and Brisbane in October — head to the event's website for tickets and further details.
Who doesn't like a trip to Tassie? The riesling is crisp, the oysters are fresh and the landscapes are stunning. It's a popular destination, with eager travellers regularly making the trip across the Bass Strait in search of rolling vineyards, empty beaches and contemporary art. This weekend, an adventure down to the island state will be a lot more affordable thanks to Spirit of Tasmania's first ever Black Friday sale, with 30 percent off passenger fares. Over the Black Friday weekend sale, starting Friday, November 29, and ending at midnight on Monday, December 2, you can secure tickets for the ship from just $62 per adult, or $21 for kids, each way. All you have to do is select travel dates between February 3 and June 30, 2020 (with exceptions over the Easter period). Those of you planning on going to Dark Mofo 2020 will notice those dates cover the 12-day winter festival. So, round up the crew to bag a Mofo bargain — well, at least on the travel. Perks of travelling with Spirit of Tasmania include the ability to drive your car onto the ship, so you can embark on a dream Tassie road trip without the hassle of hire car fees and luggage restrictions on planes. Plus, your holiday starts as soon as your feet hit the deck. If you're looking to save on accommodation costs, book a night voyage and make the most of the three bars, restaurant, two cinemas and live music on board, too. If you don't want to let this offer sail you by, jump online between Friday, November 29 and Monday, December 2 to snap up tickets.
It doesn't snow in Brisbane. It doesn't really get all that cold in winter, either. And, it obviously doesn't even resemble cooler weather at Christmas, given that summer is always in full swing. But, as all things festive take over the city for this year, Brisbanites can still walk through snow, build a snowman and make snowballs. Your destination: a pop-up Snow Village at Toombul. No, the weather won't be unseasonably frosty just in the northside suburb. No, we're not living in a Hollywood disaster movie. Rather, Snow4Kids is back with a new setup. The idea is simple: this merry wonderland will bring a heap of real snow to the Toombul Shopping Centre, then let anyone with a $22 ticket frolic through it — with the space first welcoming in patrons on Saturday, November 27, but open daily from 10am–5pm between Saturday, December 4–Sunday, January 9. This is a family-friendly event. In fact, it's a family-focused activity, so if you have littlies to bring along, that'll be welcome news. If you're an adult without any kids in tow, you're still able to head along — but the organisers ask that you be mindful of the fact that you'll have plenty of pint-sized company. Also: no snowball fights, although this pop-up does boast its own snowball arcade, complete with at targets, for you to throw them (you just can't hurl them at other people). Kids — not adults — can also take indoor snowboarding lessons for $30 each.
Prepare to stare at the moon in all of its glory — up close, without a telescope and without zooming into space. Measuring seven metres in diameter and featuring renderings of the celestial body's surface based on NASA imagery, the Museum of the Moon is a detailed installation by UK-based artist Luke Jerram. The giant sculpture has been touring the world since 2016, displaying in New York, Hong Kong, Mumbai and plenty of spots around Europe. Between December 1, 2018 and April 28, 2019, it'll add Melbourne to its orbit. Inspired by Jerram's time living in Bristol and "noticing the huge tidal variation as he cycled over the Avon Cut each day" according to the Museum of the Moon's website, the artwork recreates the moon at a scale of approximately 1:500,000, with each centimetre equating to five kilometres of the lunar surface. And if you're wondering just how intricate the 120dpi imagery is, the high-resolution NASA photograph that it uses is 21 metres wide, and was taken by by a satellite carrying the Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter Camera. The spherical sculpture is lit from within, so it'll add a glow when it comes to Scienceworks for five months. It also combines its imagery and light with a surround sound piece created by composer and sound designer Dan Jones, and just how each venue displays it is up to them. Basically, it's never the exact same installation twice. Jerram has multiple moons, with several touring simultaneously — so the Museum of Moon will also be on display in Newcastle in the UK across some of the same period. Its stint at Scienceworks will mark the Museum of the Moon's second visit Australia, following 12-day showing on the Gold Coast during the city's Commonwealth Games-adjacent arts festival earlier this year. Museum of the Moon comes to Melbourne's Scienceworks from December 1, 2018 to April 28, 2019. Keep an eye on the sculpture's website for further details.
Every autumn, a the Eta Aquarid meteor shower sets the sky ablaze. It might not be as famous as Halley's Comet, but the Eta Aquarids are actually a distant relation — the bits and pieces you see flying around were on Halley's path a really, really long time ago. And, rather than only being visible every 75 years (the next Halley's Comet sighting is in 2061), you can catch the Eta Aquarids annually. This year, the shower will be at its most spectacular this weekend — here's how to catch a glimpse. WHEN TO SEE IT The shower will reach a peak in the early morning of Saturday, May 6, but will still be able to be seen for the another day or two. The best time to catch an eyeful is just before dawn after the moon has set, so around 4am. At that time, you'll be in the running to see as many as 30 meteors every 60 minutes. Each will be moving at about 225,000 kilometres per hour, shining extraordinarily brightly and leaving a long wake. The shower's cause is, essentially, the Earth getting in the comet's way, causing stardust to fry up in the atmosphere. WHERE TO SEE IT Being in the southern hemisphere, we get some of the best views in the world. So, if you're living in the city, it could be time for a last minute trip to a clear-skied camping spot. The trick is to get as far away from light pollution as possible. For Sydneysiders who don't mind a long drive, this could mean a trip to the Far South Coast. We reckon Picnic Point campsite in Mimosa Rocks National Park might be a winner. Or, if that sounds too far away, Booderee National Park in Jervis Bay is pretty light-free. Alternatively, head west — after all, you'd be hard pressed to find better views than at The Dish, just outside of Parkes. Melburnians might consider a journey to Wilsons Promontory or along the Great Ocean Road, as far as Killarney Beach. For somewhere closer, there's Heathcote, which is just an hour from the city, but is an excellent vantage point. For a real escape, head to Snake Valley in the Central West, where there's hardly a light in sight. For a quick trip out of Brisbane, try Lake Moogerah, Lake Wivenhoe or Lake Somerset, which are all rather dark, considering their proximity to the city. If you have a bit more time, head two-and-a-half hours west to Leyburn, which has come of the busiest skies in Queensland, or eight hours west to the tiny town of Charleville in the outback. HOW TO SEE IT The shower's name comes from the star from which they appear to come, Eta Aquarii, which is part of the Aquarius constellation. So that's what you'll be looking for in the sky. To locate Eta Aquarii, we recommend downloading the Sky Map app — it's the easiest way to navigate the night sky (and is a lot of fun to use even on a non-meteor shower night). If you're more into specifics, Time and Date also have a table that shows the direction and altitude of the Eta Aquarids. They've been updating this daily. Apart from that, wear warm clothes, take snacks and be patient. Happy stargazing.
Next time you peer at the Sydney Harbour Bridge — whether you're a local who passes it daily, or just an occasional visitor to the city — you'll spot the Australian Aboriginal flag flying atop the iconic structure. The New South Wales Government has today, Monday, July 11, announced that the flag is now in place permanently on the landmark. The flag was already waving above the structure for NAIDOC Week which, historically, has been among the rare occasions that it has graced the Sydney Harbour Bridge. Indeed, before now, tje Aboriginal flag was only on display above the harbour for 19 days annually, including on Australia Day, Sorry Day and during Reconciliation Week. "From today, one of Australia's most recognisable landmarks will celebrate our Indigenous people and provide an everyday reminder of our nation's rich history," said NSW Premier Dominic Perrottet, announcing the news. "Our nation's story is rich and enduring, and flying the Aboriginal flag permanently above the Sydney Harbour Bridge is a celebration and acknowledgment of that. Honouring this commitment is part of our ongoing commitment to recognise the history, culture, excellence and achievements of Aboriginal people, and is a fitting end to NAIDOC Week 2022." [caption id="attachment_858129" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Boyd159 via Wikimedia Commons[/caption] To fly atop the bridge permanently, the Aboriginal flag replaces the NSW State flag, which'll be relocated "to a place of prominence as part of the revitalisation of the Macquarie St East precinct redevelopment," the NSW Government advised. The move comes after an eventful few months involving the Aboriginal flag, after the NSW Premier originally pledged to give it a permanent berth atop the country's most famous man-made structure back in February, then announced in June that it'd become a reality by the end of 2022. Last month, when that last promise was made, it was also revealed that a third flagpole would be added to the bridge, allowing the Australian flag, NSW State flag and Aboriginal flags all to top the structure side by side. But, that was set to come with a hefty price tag, with $25 million committed in the 2022–23 NSW budget. Instead, those funds will now be allocated towards Indigenous initiatives. "This builds on the NSW Government's commitment to improve outcomes for Aboriginal people across NSW, following a $716 million investment in this year's budget to prioritise Closing the Gap initiatives," said NSW Minister for Aboriginal Affairs Ben Franklin. "I am proud to be part of the government that will permanently fly the Aboriginal flag above the Sydney Harbour Bridge and I am happy that a further investment will be made to deliver real outcomes for Aboriginal people across NSW." VICTORY!!! A proud moment & a powerful ending. I want to extend appreciation for everyone fighting injustice. Don't stop until you're proud & stay persistent 👊🏽@MayorDarcy @IWCouncil @david4wyong @AIA_SydneyCBD Aboriginal flag to replace NSW flag https://t.co/A1q26dx3lR — Cheree Toka (@Chereetoka) July 10, 2022 The move to fly the Aboriginal flag permanently follows a five-year-long campaign by Kamilaroi woman Cheree Toka, who also launched a Change.org campaign in 2020 to continue to call on the NSW government to make this exact move. "The Aboriginal flag is a reminder that the country has a history before European arrival," Toka said two years ago. "I think it's really important to have a symbolic gesture on the bridge that identifies the true history of Australia, which is a starting point for conversation around greater issues affecting the Indigenous population." After the first three years of Toka's campaign, she had amassed more than 157,000 digital signatures and the required 10,000 paper-based signatures to bring the issue to NSW parliament. However, when it was debated in the final NSW parliamentary session of 2019, the result then was that it would cost too much to construct a third flagpole to see the Aboriginal flag flying daily — which was what sparked her crowdfunding campaign to raise the $300,000 quoted by the government to 'fund the flag'. Also in Aboriginal flag news this year, the Australian Government unveiled a copyright deal at the end of January with Luritja artist Harold Thomas, who designed the symbol, to make it freely available for public use. The Aboriginal flag is now flying permanently on the Sydney Harbour Bridge, effective Monday, July 11. Top image: Mary and Andrew via Flickr.
Following Brisbane’s recent flood disaster it’s important to remember to value of community. The Ideas Festival is focused on uniting community involvement through inspiring people to delve a little deeper into their thinking. With a huge line up of guest speakers hosting conferences and events, The Ideas Festival invites Brisbane to come along and dissect ideas new and old. Tackling many global and local issues such as sustainability, sexuality, gender, education, youth homelessness, global warming and politics, Ideas Fest’ have really gone the extra mile to cover almost anything you may be concerned about. But it’s not only the hard-hitting issues that will be discussed! Why not converse about your interests too? There will be events on gaming, television, blogging, cooking, design, and fashion. If you do decide to attend ideas festival there is one event that must not be missed. For the first time in seven years the presenters of Cheez TV, Jade and Ryan will be reunited. If you’re a member of the Gen Y cohort, you may have just pee’d your pants. Calm down; change your shorts and mark in down in your diary.
Buzzing at the heart of Blue Beetle are two contrasting notions: fitting in and standing out. Jaime Reyes (Xolo Maridueña, Cobra Kai) wants to feel at home not just in his own slice of El Paso-esque Texan spot Palmera City, but beyond his neighbourhood. When he assists his sister Milagro (Belissa Escobedo, Hocus Pocus 2) working at the well-to-do's houses, he searches for opportunities, especially given that he's in need of a steady job to help his family save their home as gentrification swoops in. Thanks to a run-in with Kord Industries, its warmongering CEO Victoria Kord (Susan Sarandon, Maybe I Do) and an ancient artefact known as the scarab, however, the recent Gotham Law University graduate will soon be his hometown's most distinctive resident. Getting covered in blue armour, being able to fly — wings and other bug appendages come with the suit — and hearing a robotic voice (Becky G, Power Rangers) chatting in your head will do that, as will having a multinational company try to swat you down because it wants to deploy the technology RoboCop-style. So scampers the latest entry in the DC Extended Universe — a movie that grapples with the same concepts as the ever-earnest Jaime beyond its storyline. It slots into its franchise while providing something new 14 entries in, before the DCEU comes to an end with the upcoming Aquaman and the Lost Kingdom (under fresh DC leadership, a different silver-screen saga is coming, which might still link in with Blue Beetle). Directed by Ángel Manuel Soto (Charm City Kings), this is the superhero genre's first live-action flick with a Latino lead, be it from DC or Marvel. It's a family drama as much a caped-crusader affair. It's a story about immigrants striving to thrive and retain their own culture. And, it revels in an 80s sheen and sound. Blue Beetle battles enthusiastically to claim its own space, then, as almost constantly seen and felt. Alas, that doesn't stop it from getting generic as well, as much save-the-world fare is. When it soars in its own direction, Blue Beetle does indeed make an impression. When it marches dutifully in the standard superhero line, it can play like another by-the-numbers movie about great powers and great responsibilities in an ever-sprawling on-screen realm. Mostly, the former outweighs the latter — and Blue Beetle's charms go a long way. Accordingly, this initially made-for-streaming picture serves up a case of taking the struggles with the highlights, which is another of its messages. And there are highlights, particularly whenever Soto's feature feels like it's in a world away from Shazam! Fury of the Gods, The Flash (just to name 2023's other DC movies so far) and the like. That approach worked for Joker and The Batman, two DC films that aren't in the DCEU or new DC Universe, and are each scoring sequels. Jaime's journey to becoming Blue Beetle is instantly familiar: Marvel's also insect-focused Spider-Man and Ant-Man flicks have spun similar origin stories. Here, alien biotech-slash-treasure sparks his big change, as given to him for safekeeping by Victoria's niece Jenny (Bruna Marquezine, God Save the King) because she disagrees with her aunt's combat-for-profit ways. Thanks to Blue Beetle's dedicated, warmhearted embrace of cultural specificity, Jaime's family are always along for the ride, adding a Spy Kids vibe to Soto's film. His mother Rocio (Elpidia Carrillo, Guillermo del Toro's Cabinet of Curiosities), father Alberto (Damián Alcázar, Acapulco), Nana (Adriana Barraza, Penny Dreadful: City of Angels) and uncle Rudy (George Lopez, Lopez vs Lopez), an inventor with a firm individualist streak, are swiftly immersed in the chaos — and Milagro, too — as Victoria keeps valuing the scarab, suit and cash she thinks they'll inspire over any human fallout. Although Blue Beetle has an 84-year history on the page, the eponymous figure's solo live-action cinema debut is as much for newcomers as devotees. Soto's love letter to inclusion isn't only about shining a spotlight on Latinx characters and their experiences, or putting the full Reyes crew at its core — or delivering a clash between the one percent and everyone else, blending the eat-the-rich trend with caped crusaders. It's about accessibility as well; at a time where big film franchises have become so serialised that they're akin to ongoing TV shows on the big screen (and with bigger budgets), and so laden with fan service that the off-screen cheers are virtually choreographed, Blue Beetle doesn't require hours and hours of viewing homework or years and years of devotion to jump in. Again and again, it's plain to see how Soto and screenwriter Gareth Dunnet-Alcocer (Miss Bala) clearly want their feature to stand apart, even when it leans into the superhero template. Also easy to spot: how Blue Beetle would've stuck much closer to the usual mould without such warmth showered upon its characters and its committed performances. Affection goes two ways here, raining down from Soto and Dunnet-Alcocer, then beaming back up from Maridueña and his co-stars. Jaime and his relatives could've stepped into Blue Beetle from a heartfelt TV series that charts the ins and outs of their lives as a loving and hardworking migrant family in a place brimming with prejudice and corruption. They could take the opposite route now instead and it'd feel just as fitting. It's hardly surprising that Sarandon is cartoonish by their side — but, other than giving the plot a threat while personifying corporate and American evil, plus the lust for power and wealth at any cost, she's not being asked to do much else. The respect, detail and authenticity that's evident in Blue Beetle's cultural homage, family focus and casting help give Blue Beetle its gleam. It still becomes a sea of smashed-together pixels late in the piece, though, just with well-portrayed characters that the audience cares about, and also ample splashes of neon and synth like this is Tron with superheroes. What does a twentysomething who's undergone a Peter Parker/Miles Morales-esque life shift with a Venom-meets-Iron Man technology end up physically fighting? Something comparable and visually bland, even if said nemesis gets a backstory rife with suffering at Victoria's hands. Blue Beetle isn't without aesthetic flair beyond its nostalgic riffs, with one scene that's shot to resemble an immigration department raid both grabbing attention and making a statement. It also doesn't lack heart anywhere. And, it's fun with something meaningful to say, neither of which are givens in this genre. That said, finding the balance between being oneself and having another force and its influence flittering around isn't only an issue for Blue Beetle's likeable protagonist.
