Chef Matty Matheson is stepping out of the kitchen and onto the stage, heading Down Under for an expletive-laden speaking tour. Known for his hit TV shows Dead Set On Life and It's Suppertime — and his new New York Times best-selling book, Matty Matheson: A Cookbook — the culinary star and award-winning author will hit up The Triffid on Thursday, June 27. A colourful character famed for his larger-than-life personality, Matheson will be dishing up a his cooking (and life) tips, with an audience Q&A and a meet-and-greet session, too. He's set to serve his home truths on topics like addiction and mental health, the #MeToo movement and its impact on the food industry, and a few of his own life's ups and downs, as well as talking about his new web series, Just A Dash. Audiences will be treated to a true taste of this foodie legend, as Matheson tweaks each show to best represent himself, even down to the soundtrack plucked straight from his own playlists.
In Sydney, across Australia and around the globe, Maybe Sammy has earned quite the reputation. That's always going to be the case when the annual World's 50 Best Bars ranking shows a Harbour City watering hole plenty of love, including the venue in its list in 2019, 2020, 2021, 2022, 2023 and 2024. For Brisbanites heading to Sydney, sips at Maybe Sammy should be on your agenda. What if you didn't need to venture south to enjoy its drinks, however? Enter: W Brisbane. Getting Brisbanites tasting top-notch cocktails from award-winning venues around the world has been this hotel's game at its Living Room Bar for a few years now. In the past, acclaimed Barcelona bar Paradiso — aka the best bar on the World's 50 Best Bars list for 2022 — has whipped up a special menu featuring the Spanish spot's globally famous beverages. Enlisting bartending talents closer to home, Matt Whiley from Sydney's Re (which placed 46th on the World's 50 Best Bars list in 2021) also created a Conscious Cocktails lineup, heroing a low-waste approach. Now comes the brand-new Bar Swap Series, making a habit out of bringing acclaimed bars to Brisbane on a regular basis. It all kicks off from 6pm on Thursday, February 27, 2025 with Maybe Sammy making the jump north. The venue's mixologist and Venue Manager Giorgio Gervasoni will be behind the bar, assisted by W Brisbane's own Francesco Squillacioti, the Bar Manager of Living Room Bar. Perhaps you'd like to try the Check In, a gin-based highball that's inspired by the Americano a twist. Or, the vodka-based, sour-flavoured, shaken Sauna Room might tempt your tastebuds. On the four-drink menu, another option features agave, kalamata olives distillate, seaweed dry vermouth, and capsicum vinegar, while there's also a blend of vodka, lacto-fermented strawberries, sencha tea and mango soda. Whatever tempts your tastebuds, walk-ins are welcome at the series' first one-night affair. Can't make it on the evening? W Brisbane is also adding the Maybe Sammy sips to its in-room menu from February, which is a great excuse for a staycation in the River City's CBD. There's no word yet which other bars from beyond Brisbane will feature in the Bar Swap Series in the future, but stellar cocktails from further afield joining the menu in the Queensland capital, even if only temporarily, is worth saying cheers to.
Until the Queensland Government just coined the term, absolutely no one would've dreamed of a golden Go Card. We've all wished and hoped for golden tickets, obviously, because every kid who reads Charlie and the Chocolate Factory or watches one of its big-screen adaptations has that fantasy. But, Brisbanites, no one is giving you the keys to a lolly-making facility any time soon. Sorry, but we're sure you already know that. Catch a bus, train or ferry, though, and you might just score yourself free public transport for 12 months. That's what the just-launched golden Go Card campaign is about. Run by the Queensland Government, it's the latest attempt to encourage folks to get out and about — and into the CBD — to end the working week. Brisbanites are already being tempted into the inner city before the weekend with giveaways and cheap lunches, all as part of the Property Council of Australia's Fridays in the City initiative, but this promotion has its own way of lure you in. To go in the running, you'll need to use whatever form of public transport you like throughout Translink's southeast Queensland network, and do so on a Friday throughout June. Naturally, you'll need to pay for it by swiping on and off with your registered Go Card as well. After that, you'll also have to fill in an entry form on the Translink website. One winner will then be selected at random each Monday afterwards. That means you have four chances to win. It also means you'll need to use public transport on each Friday to qualify for that week's draw. The four winners will then be able to hop on buses, trains, ferries and — if they're down on the Gold Coast — trams as well, all without paying a cent for the year between July 1, 2021–June 30, 2022. Presumably, you'll be given an actual golden-hued Go Card to swipe on and off with, otherwise you'll be stuck explaining the situation every time you get onboard. And, unsurprisingly, the four winners won't be able to transfer their prize to anyone else. For more information about the golden Go Card initiative, or to enter to win after travelling via public transport a Friday, head to the Translink website.
In a bid to contain the most recent coronavirus outbreak, the Queensland Government mandated the wearing of masks across southeast Queensland in late June, and then extended that requirement in Brisbane and several other parts of the state until mid-July. Accordingly, wearing a mask has been part of daily Queensland life throughout this month so far — until 6am hits on Friday, July 16, that is. At the moment, if you're spending time indoors somewhere other than your house, you need to wear a mask. They must be worn in all indoor spaces other than your home, all indoor workplaces unless it is unsafe to do so, on public transport, in taxis and ride share vehicles, and outdoors when social distancing isn't possible. But, from 6am on Friday, July 16, covering your face will no longer required unless you're at an airport or you're flying. The Queensland Government still advises that folks should carry a mask with them, though, to use in crowded places when you're not able to social distance. https://twitter.com/AnnastaciaMP/status/1414376694836649987 The change was announced by Queensland Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk today, Monday, July 12, alongside a number of other easing restrictions. Queenslanders will be able to as many people as they like over to their houses, dancing is back on the cards and more people will be allowed inside hospitality businesses and entertainment venues. The usual requests regarding social distancing, hygiene and getting tested if you're feeling even the slightest possible COVID-19 symptoms still apply, though — as they have since March last year. For more information about the status of COVID-19 in Queensland, head to the QLD COVID-19 hub and the Queensland Health website.
Whether you're a sports fanatic or not, it's hard to escape chat about the cricket over summer. But among the in-depth analyses of certain plays and team strategy, comparison of players past and present, and reliving of legendary moments in the sport's history, there is one tale that has long been ignored. In 1868, a group of Aboriginal Australian cricket players became the first Australian sports team to travel and play overseas. Beyond all expectations, the team did extremely well — they won as many games as they lost — and one particular player, Johnny Mullagh (born Unaarrimin), was lauded for his performance, which included scoring 1698 runs across the tour. The tour was a pretty remarkable feat, particularly given the climate of Indigenous affairs in Australia at the time, but the history books have, for the most part, failed to recognise it as such. That's exactly what this play by screenwriter Geoffery Atherden (Mother and Son, BabaKiueria) and director Wesley Enoch aims to rectify. Taking to the stage at Brisbane Powerhouse across Friday, April 8–Saturday, April 9, Black Cockatoo begins with a group of activists sneaking into a museum to hunt down (and expose) the story of Mullagh and his team. The play then shifts its focus onto that very story — it tracks the team's journey from regional Victoria to Lord's Cricket Ground and reveals the travesties that were unfolding at home while the team were away. Top image: Jillian Mundy.
In the two years since Lambda first started catering every Thursday night for poor students with a penchant for raucous partying, the atmosphere hasn’t changed much. It’s still every week, the red cups full of cheap drinks are in high abundance, and Mitch Exton is still lurking around flirting. Although the original crowd of indie kids might have grown up and moved on, you can be damn sure there is a constant stream of 18 year olds ready to take their place armed with chinos, button up shirts, flower headbands and long socks. In celebration of reaching their terrible twos, Lambda are throwing a party that’s apparently going to include lolcats, cake and balloons. Beyond that they’re being very mysterious in terms of what’s actually going to go down, but considering a regular Thursday night there involves excessive alcohol, slutty dancing and the high potential for kissing strangers, we can only imagine the excess that will occur on their birthday.
Arming oneself against a global pandemic and helping to protect your community are already pretty strong incentives to get a COVID-19 vaccination. But thanks to a new initiative by legendary Aussie label Nobody Denim, that jab could also now score you some free threads. The fashion brand has announced the launch of its Nobody Gives A Jab campaign, which will see a free personalised pair of jeans sent out to the first 100 people who share proof of their initial COVID-19 vaccination on Instagram. As the country struggles to contain the spread of the Delta variant — with Melbourne currently in the midst of its sixth lockdown and Sydney now almost two months into its latest outbreak — the campaign is just one of many encouraging locals to roll up their sleeve and get vaccinated as soon as possible. To be in with a shot at nabbing some free denim, you'll need to get your first dose of the vaccination, then post a photo of your freshly-jabbed arm, tagging both @nobodydenim and #NobodyGivesAJab on socials. If you're one of the first 100 people to do so, Nobody will be sliding into your DM's with details on how to collect your prize. Just note that you'll also need to be able to supply proof of your jab. View this post on Instagram A post shared by Nobody Denim (@nobodydenim) As a family-owned business, Nobody says it wants to see the community come together and do their bit to help make Australia's vaccine rollout a success and limit future lockdowns. "We would like to continue to contribute to our Australian family and community far and wide in any way we can," explained the label's co-founder and chairman John Condilis. "We want to keep the fashion and retail industry alive, we want to keep our wholesalers stocked, we want to see them thrive. We want to see our neighbouring brands' doors open and trading." Last month, Melbourne's Prince Alfred Hotel put out a similar call-to-arms, offering free pints to punters who'd been vaccinated. And more recently, Sydney craft brewery Hawke's Brewing Co announced its new Jab & Slab program will offer free slabs of beer in return for proof of a jab. Follow Nobody Denim on Instagram for more details on the Nobody Gives A Jab program.
Every year since 2007, millions of people throughout the world collectively shut off the lights for one hour to support environmental sustainability. Known as Earth Hour, this 60 minutes of darkness has reached over 125 countries and major landmarks such as the Sydney Harbour Bridge, Rome's Colosseum and Toronto's CN Tower. This year, Earth Hour will take place on March 26 from 8:30 to 9:30 p.m. local time, creating an hourly wave of support as the blackout hits each time zone. But how much change can a single hour make? Although Earth Hour serves its purpose by creating a universal initiative to save the planet, for the past four years the effort never seemed go beyond that one hour. 2011 has the potential to be different. In 2011, we hope to extend environment-friendly living beyond a single hour of darkness. Beyond the Hour is a platform that encourages individuals, governments and organisations to post pledges using various social networks about how they will decrease their carbon footprint in their everyday lives. Pledges can be as simple as recycling, carpooling, using reusable bags or shutting off the water when brushing your teeth.The Beyond the Hour platform has already been released as an iPhone application called 60+, where users can click "do this" next to others' pledges that they like and agree to do the same. It's hard to believe that cutting a few showers shorter will make a big difference in sustaining a positive future for Earth. But when small changes are made by a large group of people, that little bit of effort can go a long way. https://youtube.com/watch?v=MyTe66KY7SY
Otto and Astrid Rot claim to be brother and sister, play in a band together and have a fondness for the colours red, black and white. Yes, they sound like a certain American rock duo, and their group name only makes that more apparent. In German, they're known as Die Roten Punkte, which translates to The Red Dots in English. At their latest show, KUNST ROCK, you'll discover why the Berlin export are more than just Germany's answer to The White Stripes, and why the twosome — otherwise known as Australians Clare Bartholomew and Daniel Tobias — have been hailed as irreverent and hilarious around the world. Think The Pixies and Kraftwerk meets This is Spinal Tap and Flight of the Conchords, aka rock 'n' roll meets musical comedy mayhem. And if you love their performance, you can also check out their one-off club night as well.
UPDATE, Friday, December 2, 2022: The West End Christmas Twilight Market has been postponed from Friday, December 2 to Friday, December 9 due to wet weather. This article has been changed to reflect the new date. Please visit the event's Facebook page for further details. Loving Christmas is easy, especially when Brisbane delivers so many ways each year to get into the festive spirit — including seasonal flicks, Xmas putt-putt and more. But here's the secret about Christmas markets: even if you're not usually a fan of the season and all the trimmings, who doesn't adore an excuse to spend an evening browsing, buying, eating and drinking, all under glittering lights? The West End Christmas Twilight Market is one such place to do all of the above in 2022, taking place from 4–10pm on Friday, December 9. Once quittin' time comes for the week, make a beeline to the West End Markets' usual spot in Davies Park and prepare to get jolly — or to make the most of another night market, no matter your feelings on the theme. A familiar festive spread will be on offer, which involves a heap of stalls to shop for artisanal gifts, Christmas decorations all over the place, live entertainment and Mariah getting a spin on the stereo. Kids can also get the obligatory snap with Santa. And, the food and drink menu will go all in on Christmas fare. Try saying "bah, humbug!" to that.
Brash and irreverent rock outfit Future of the Left have announced that they will be playing a string of shows down under in January 2014. Formed following the dissolution of the beloved post-hardcore band Mclusky, Future of the Left is a Welsh quartet that emerged in 2005. They have since gained a sturdy reputation for the sprawling energy and raw power of their live sets. With a knack for fusing together melody and groove, the band will be sweeping up the eastern seaboard, rewarding their loyal Aussie fan base with raucous performances filled with biting wit and musical mayhem. From their wry song titles to lyrics such as, "I have seen into the future/ Everyone is slightly older" and "Civilised people don't fuck bears/ Civilised people don't play fair", Future of the Left showcase an offbeat, slightly cynical sense of humour armed with heavy riffs. Prepare for a meaty slice of rock 'n' roll and a welcome dose of cheeky laughs. Future of the Left’s forthcoming album, How to Stop Your Brain in an Accident, will be released on October 25, 2013.
The footwear fantasies of sneaker heads and Back to the Future aficionados are closer to being realised with the release of Nike's limited edition 2011 Mag Shoe — an exact replica of the pair of sneakers famously worn by Michael J. Fox, aka Marty Mcfly, in the second film in the trilogy. Designed by acclaimed sneaker designer Tinker Hatfield, the Back to The Future shoes are both a playful look at the past and a serious glimpse into the future of sneaker design. And as all proceeds from the sale of the shoes go to the Michael J. Fox Foundation of Parkinson's Disease Research, there really is no excuse for fans not to get their wallets out. Nike has only released 1,500 pairs of the shoes, which are currently being auctioned at NikeMag Ebay. However, one pair has recently been sold at an auction to British rapper (and not so closeted Back to The Future fan), Tinie Tempah, for a reported US$37,000. To further entice bidders, Google co-founder Sergey Brin and his wife Anne Wojcicki have also sweetened the deal by promising to match all donations to the foundation until the end of 2012. And for the unsuccessful bidders, there is some comfort in this 'lost scene' — reworked as a Nike commercial — featuring Bill Hader, Tinker Hatfield, Kevin Durrant, Donald Fullilove and Christopher Lloyd. https://youtube.com/watch?v=3yiSdjwi_bg
Christmas movies and daytime television may suggest pulling off the perfect (or near to perfect as humanly possible) Christmas dinner is one of the seemingly simplest tasks of the season. That, friends, is bullshit. But, on the flip side, these days you don’t need a managerially trained brain, a through-the-generations-tried-and-tested menu and days upon days of free time to ensure your St. Nick celebrations are just that: a celebration. If you’re leaving your plan of attack to the last minute, here’s how to hit the mark, in style. THE MENU We’re hoping you have at least 24 hours of preparation time with this one, as you probably shouldn’t be hosting a dinner if you think Christmas day is a suitable time to go shopping. But, saying that, it’s definitely a case of earlier the better when it comes to getting the good quality meat in. Hudson Meats (available in both NSW and Vic), have a super simple online ordering form that takes a few minutes to fill in and offers a whole range of their genuinely delicious produce. Christmas cut-off will be dependant on individual butchers (the Sydney Surry Hills store, for example, tells us they’ll take orders up until Monday 22nd), but definitely call ahead as they will be totes biz. Queenslanders out there will do well to get in touch with Jack Purcell Meats: these guys have special maple-infused hams and turduckens available too. If, however, you’re opting for the supermarket frozen bird or pig, then all you need is a decent recipe. Google comes up with some brilliantly simple ones, but in the name of tradition, sometimes it pays to get a little help from our neighbours. British culinary icon, Delia Smith, or Saint Delia to many, offers a fail-safe turkey recipe that not only addresses the potential trauma of cooking with an audience but also guides you step-by-step until serve-up. Her five-ingredient chocolate torte is also mind-blowingly rich and just as simple. For veg, this recipe from another Brit, Jamie Oliver, has a built-in Woolies app so you can shop for the goods at the same time. Too easy. THE DRINKS Of course no Christmas is complete without breakfast Champers and (responsible) drinking. Anyone stockless out there needs to turn their attention to WineMarket. This national wine producer specialises in all kinds of alcohol from top-of-the-range Penfolds to pale ales and mixed cases in the single-digit price range per bottle. Plus, these guys have just launched their FastCase shipping, which on certain selections means delivery in as little as one day or less for Sydney metro and two days for Brisbane, Melbourne and Adelaide. The Christmas Stock-Up packages are unsurprisingly your best bet, as not only are there gold medal winners in there to tipple on but you can also get a free bottle of Mumm Champagne or Johnnie Walker Blue Label all for less that $100. But don’t let us take all the fun out of booze shopping; there are heaps of decent offers available as well as individually presented gift sets so any unexpected visitors or forgotten recipients (hey, it happens to us all), can get something nice, already packaged (for delivery cut-off times, see their website). THE TABLE Now all that’s really left is the table, and mark our words, this is just as important as the food and drink. But you don’t have to have a passion for interior design or flair for festive macramé to ensure your guests feel at home and happy. All it takes is a little creative thinking. If you’re entertaining in the double figures and have to push tables together, think about a T shape instead of one long table, as this allows conversation to flow better. We also suggest keeping all the food in the kitchen and serving up buffet style (leaving more room for glassware on the tables). For décor, simple is the best, especially for the time poor, so try to keep the theme easy. Avoid Christmas-themed crap at all costs, saving both money and time, opting instead for an ironed tablecloth and a beautiful bunch of flowers in the centre of the table. If you have nice napkins, pour yourself a glass of bubbly and iron them too (from damp). This speeds up the pressing process and honestly, ironed Manchester speaks volumes about your hosting skills. Personalisation also rules so write down everyone’s name on those extra gift tags lying around. Then simply tie them to something delightfully Christmassy, like a tree decoration (warning, baubles will roll), and hey presto: cute little place tags. And finally, Christmas crackers are undeniably fun, but they’re always full of something cheap and nasty. Why not do something a little more meaningful this year, and before dinner, take it in turns to say something you love about each other? It might seem a little corny, but hey, is there really a better time to share the love than old Noel? Now all that’s left is to turn the Sufjan Stevens Christmas playlist on loop, throw some tea lights around and wait for the guests to turn up. Christmas dinner done, without the fuss.
The growing obsession with games on Facebook is no secret. Whether it's Jetman, Family Feud or Bejeweled, more and more people are losing hours of time racking up points in a desperate attempt to get the highest score of the week. All of this effort just to be awarded Facebook credits, the magical online currency whose power only extends as far as allowing us to 'buy' entry to new levels of our favourite games or silly virtual prizes. But do these invisible dollars have the potential to be more? PSFK thought so, so they went to their experts to find if the possibility was realistic. Giuseppe Riva explains that for digital currency, the factors of exclusivity and exchange apply. In order for Facebook credits to become a real-world currency, we would have to be unable to use our current money to purchase features of a digital experience. The credits would also have to have an exchange value with other currencies throughout the world with a verified transfer system outside of Facebook. Expert Jason Madhosingh had doubts about using Facebook credits as real currency as well, since virtual goods do not have as much real-world value as tangible ones. He said consumers are less likely to be reeled in to use credits as cash unless the revenue share is favourable. So for now, it doesn't seem like Facebook credits are the currency of the future. I guess we will just have to continue using our precious prizes to unlock episodes of Family Feud and buy virtual cows for Farmville.
When it premiered at Brisbane Festival 2022, Fourteen gave the fest one of its regular big stage premieres with local relevance (see also: Boy Swallows Universe in 2021 and Love Stories when 2024's event rolls around). Missed it the first time? Keen to see it again? The production is also making a comeback this year from Wednesday, June 6–Saturday, July 7. Once again, Shannon Molloy's memoir heads to QPAC, bringing the journalist's time as a queer teenager at an all-boys Catholic school in regional Queensland to the theatre. The play is returning to the Cremorne Theatre, too, still exploring growing up gay in the centre of the Sunshine State in the process — and Brisbane-raised actor Conor Leach (Sequin in a Blue Room) is still starring as the onstage version of Shannon. Even if you haven't lived the same experience, you can likely imagine it. The year is 1999. Rugby is an obsession. And coming out would change Shannon's high-school years forever. Given the time that it's set, Fourteen features everything from Shania Twain and the Spice Girls to S Club 7 on its soundtrack. A 90s-era coming-of-age tale wouldn't be complete without them. Molloy's memoir comes to the stage courtesy of Shake & Stir Theatre Co, continuing an impressive run of page-to-stage adaptations alongside past versions of Frankenstein, Wuthering Heights, Dracula and Jane Eyre. Images: David Fell.
When a hit show comes to an end, the network behind it often tries to fill the gap with something similar. It's the situation that HBO found itself in last year when Game of Thrones wrapped up, with the US cable channel quickly launching new fantasy series His Dark Materials and committing to making a GoT spinoff called House of the Dragon. And, with Big Little Lies looking like it's also all done and dusted, the station seems to be in the same predicament in the star-studded murder mystery genre as well. Enter The Undoing. Starring Nicole Kidman, and written and produced by Big Little Lies' David E. Kelley, it's a case of HBO sticking with what they know. Kidman plays a successful therapist who appears to have the perfect life, with a loving husband (Hugh Grant), a son (A Quiet Place's Noah Jupe) attending an elite school and her first book about to be published. Then a violent death sparks a chain of revelations that shatters her life as she knows it. Also part of the plot, as seen in the show's first teaser: a missing spouse, plenty of public attention, a heap of interrogations and a plethora of tough choices for Kidman's Grace Fraser. It'll all play out as a once-off limited series — although that was originally the case with Big Little Lies before it came back for a second season. Based on the novel You Should Have Known by Jean Hanff Korelitz, The Undoing also features Donald Sutherland and American Crime Story: The Assassination of Gianni Versace's Edgar Ramirez — with Bird Box director Susanne Bier behind the camera on every episode, just as she was on excellent Emmy-winning mini-series The Night Manager. The Undoing is set to screen on HBO sometime in May, with an air date Down Under yet to be revealed. Check out the trailer below: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zG1ZQERAlGQ The Undoing is set to screen on HBO in the US from May, with air dates Down Under yet to be announced. We'll update you when further details come to hand.
Clear your weekend, because local art guru Luke Jaaniste is bringing to the Judith Wright Centre a festival like no other. Mesmerism Summer Festival is a unique art- and ideas-based, Diplo-free festival that focuses more on ambience than beat drops. Part hypnotic, part-meditative and totally relaxing for all, Mesmerism is a collection of sonic immersions, aimed at mesmerising the body, mind and soul. Promising the comfiest cushions in the universe, it welcomes you to lie down, sit or simply pace about while letting your body listen and float through gorgeous clouds of undulating sound. Friday night will features Involuntary Strings by Sydney sound artist Michaela Davies, and Luke himself will be performing Trance Piano on an amplified, thunderous grand piano. Prepare to tremble. Saturday is set to deliver a full spectrum of audible throbbing, featuring a Tam Tam Solo by renowned percussionist Vanessa Tomlinson and electric guitars and basses from local rock and experimental musicians Chris Perren (Nonsemble, Software of Seagulls, Mr Maps), Seamus Kirkpatrick (King Colossus), Adrian Mauro (Machine Age) and James Scott (Tesla Coils).
Two Australian music legends, one must-attend 2022 tour: now there's some news to come sail your ships around. In November and December this year, Nick Cave and Warren Ellis will bring their Carnage tour home — although if you subscribe to Cave's perfectly named The Red Hand Files emails, you should already know that. An official announcement is bound to arrive sooner rather than later with crucial details such as cities, exact dates and venues, but for now, Cave has shared the tour news himself. "I can see, glowing lovely, glowing redly, a Nick and Warren Australian Carnage tour that has been recently added. This has not yet been announced — and I will no doubt be reprimanded for doing so here on The Red Hand Files — but I can see it there, that bright, red block, beginning mid-November and ending mid-December. This new addition makes me very happy. In fact, quite literally, it brings tears of joy," Cave wrote in the fan email's 184th issue. [caption id="attachment_716220" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Matthew Thorne[/caption] The upcoming Australian Carnage run earned a mention amid musings on Cave's other tour dates this year — first overseas on the American Carnage tour with Ellis, and then with the Bad Seeds in Europe. "I am sitting here looking at this year's calendar. My assistant, Rachel, has helpfully laid it out in various child-friendly, primary-coloured blocks. A red block means touring, a blue block means other extracurricular creative stuff, and a yellow block means time off. The year is largely big, red blocks, with some sudden moments of blue, and a little lonely threadbare patch of yellow," Cave explained. Bandmates across several projects since the 90s — including Nick Cave and the Bad Seeds, and Grinderman — Cave and Ellis are Aussie icons, with careers spanning back decades. Together, they also boast more than a few phenomenal film scores to their names, including for The Proposition, The Assassination of Jesse James by the Coward Robert Ford, The Road, West of Memphis, Far From Men, Hell or High Water and Wind River. When Carnage released back in early 2021, it actually marked Cave and Ellis' first studio album as a duo — and picked them up an ARIA nomination, naturally. Nick Cave and Warren Ellis' Australian Carnage tour will run throughout November and December 2022, with cities, exact dates and venues still to be announced — we'll update you when more details are revealed. Top image: Kerry Brown.
The Powerhouse are doing their part to keep appreciation going for innovative live music experiences. The Long Player Sessions are a series of shows that place two Brisbane bands on the same bill, both playing a different landmark album in music history. This week see’s Silver Sircus take on the task of performing The Velvet Underground & Nico while Rattlehand (Pictured) will be performing You Am I’s Hourly Daily. Both bands will also be throwing a few of their own songs in for good measure. The Long Player Sessions celebrate the music ‘album’; an icon of emotions and thoughts from a different time and a signpost of a different cultural era. In an age there instantaneous satisfaction reigns supreme, The Long Player Sessions continue to celebrate the classics and deliver them from start to finish. Lovers of classic, ground-breaking albums will enjoy this event.
Back in mid-2019, the revamped section of Fortitude Valley around the Alfred Street and Brunswick Street area welcomed a couple of newcomers, with Foresters Restaurant and Bar and Altitude Rooftop Bar opening in the slick FV by Peppers precinct. Plenty can change in 18 months, however, with both venues saying goodbye — and a new Italian-themed duo launching in their place. The space at 209 Brunswick Street is actually set to feature four new places to have a bite and get a drink; however, two have already opened their doors so far. If you're keen on a tipple with a view, you can head up to Cielo Rooftop. For those eager for a cocktail or other beverage on the ground level, that's where La Costa comes in. Both venues have their own personalities, but they share a couple of things other than an address. Firstly, they're the latest ventures from the team behind Salt Meats Cheese and Roman-style eatery Eterna. Secondly, they all take inspiration from Italy's coastline and riviera (so you can feel like you're on holidays without leaving the city). And thirdly, they're pouring drinks menus from the folks at Sydney's Maybe Sammy — which was not only named one of the world's best bars late in 2020, but ranked 11th on the World's 50 Best Bars list. [caption id="attachment_796304" align="aligncenter" width="1920"] Kitti Gould[/caption] Upstairs at Cielo — which is accessed via an internal lift — that means cocktails like the Portofino (with vodka, mango, passionfruit, maraschino, orange curaçao, lemon and a tropical bubble), the Venice Beach (which combines a strawberry daiquiri and piña colada) and the Santorini (with tequila, mezcal, Aperol, mango and lemon). Three types of spritzes are also on offer, plus champagne, wine and spirits. And seafood features heavily among the bites to eat, including oysters, octopus carpaccio with fried capers, kingfish ceviche, and blue swimmer crab and mango salad. Patrons can tuck into the above beverages and food under a pastel-hued canopy and fairy lights, while perched on stools sat around round tables. Downstairs on the ground floor, behind the building's eye-catching facade — in a building that was first erected in 1889, was originally known as Foresters' Hall, initially housed a community meeting place and then became Fortitude Valley's first cinema in 1910 — more cocktails await, as does antipasti, and live tunes and DJs. Drinks-wise, La Costa Bar serves up mango coffee margaritas (with tequila, Mr Black coffee liqueur, mango and lime) and Olive and Tonics (made with olive leaf gin, madeira, tonic, rosemary and olives) from a nine-option cocktail list — and has three spritzes on offer, too, plus sparkling, wine and beer. On the food menu, the tapas range spans four cheeses and two types of fish, among other choices, and there's both a small plate and a brunch lineup. While exact dates haven't been revealed, Cielo Rooftop and La Costa will be joined by the La Costa Restaurant and an all-day wine bar. They're due to open by the end of January 2021. Find Cielo Rooftop and La Costa at 209 Brunswick Street, Fortitude Valley. Cielo Rooftop is open from 11am–12am Thursday, 11am–2am Friday–Saturday, and 11am–8pm on Sunday — and La Costa Bar is open from 6am–2pm and 5pm–late Wednesday–Friday, and 7am–2pm and 5pm–late Saturday–Sunday.
Brisbanites are gifted brag-worthy sunshine and clear skies almost all year around, which makes for perfect outdoor gig and picnic weather. So, as the site did back in 2018 and 2019, the Brisbane City Botanic Gardens is letting everyone make the most of Brissie's ace climate with a Gigs & Picnics series. Taking place on the fourth Saturday of each month from August–November — running from 12–4pm on August 29, September 26, October 24 and November 28, in fact — the event will rustle up some of the city's best food trucks, put on some free tunes and invite folks to get cosy on their own blanket all afternoon. Entering through the main gateway at the intersection of Alice and Albert Streets, attendees can expect everything from jazz and modern reggae to dub and gypsy, all in gorgeous greenery-filled surroundings. You can also order a picnic basket in advance, which'll be there for you on the day. Or, if you're bringing your own feast, just remember that the gardens aren't BYO. Gigs & Picnics takes place from 12–4pm on August 29, September 26, October 24 and November 28 in the Brisbane City Botanic Gardens. Image: Gigs & Picnics.
We all know that solid dose of 'the good feels' you get after you've done something nice for yourself/your body (like exercise). And from the end of September through until late November, you can expect those feelings to increase two-fold. Thanks to the return of Brisbane's Feel Good Program, the city will welcome a series of outdoor fitness classes — and, unlike that fancy new yoga studio in your neighbourhood that smells like acai berries and only serves charcoal tea, these classes are all entirely free. Ranging from sessions to get your blood pumping (Zumba) to classes to get your zen flowing freely (yoga, tai chi), plus aqua classes held at the Boat Pool, the Feel Good Program is an initiative designed to suit any and all fitness levels. Classes are held at both South Bank Parklands and in the city at Queens Park. BYO water bottle, towel and, where required, a yoga mat — the ones provided are subject to availability. Adapting to the times, you'll also need to register for each session in advance. Classes happen every day except Fridays and Sundays, and they all run for between 30–45 minutes. Get started early and face the day with a 7am bootcamp session, or finish it with pilates from 5.30pm — or ballroom or Bollywood dancing from 6.30pm. Whichever you choose, it'll have you embracing the warm outdoors and feeling good — check out the timetable online. The Feel Good Program returns for 2020 from Monday, September 28–Saturday, November 28.
Not that long ago, the narrow spaces around Fortitude Valley were just that — spaces, not vibrant laneways. These days, however, the area boasts not one, not two, but now three jam-packed alleys. Yes, that's a development that's worth celebrating. In fact, it's a change worthy of a day-long festival, which is exactly what the returning Hidden Lanes Festival is all about. On Saturday, October 26 from 10am until late, Bakery Lane, Winn Lane and California Lane will turn into a flourishing — and free — party, complete with markets, beverages, art installations, food, fashion, a heritage trail, masterclasses and more than 50 live musical acts. Tunes-wise, the lineup includes The Vanns, Tyne-James Organ, Boatkeeper, Bonsai, Concrete Surfers, Greta Stanley, The Jensens, Cry Club, Dream Coast, James Rigby, Greaves and more, all across ten stages. If you're eager to pick up a new skill, everything from decorating cookies, to making dumplings and kimchi, to the secrets of being a silversmith are all on the bill. And, of course, the event will definitely involve the 80 businesses who call the three laneways home. Here, you'll eat, drink, dance, shop, chat, learn something, marvel at art and restock your wardrobe — across one huge day and a trio of busy alleys, the list goes on. Images: Markus Ravik / Alvaro Mayorga. Updated September 17.
It has been five months since Queensland's Containers for Change refund scheme launched, hot on the heels of the state's single-use plastic bag ban. And, like the move away from disposable shopping containers, it's already having an impact. In the initial two months of the CRS, it received more than 102 million empty drink containers — and across its first five months, that number has now rocketed up to over 400 million. That's 400 million water bottles, beer cans, juice containers and more that aren't sitting in landfill or headed to our waterways, all since the scheme was rolled out on November 1, 2019. As well as recycling a hefty amount of aluminium, glass, plastic and steel items, the regime has also paid out a sizeable sum to eco-conscious Queenslanders. Money is a great motivator, obviously, with ten cents per eligible vessel refunded. So far, the scheme has paid more than $40 million to participants. The figures exceed initial expectations, with "container redemption volumes about a third higher than forecast," according to Minister for Environment and the Great Barrier Reef Leeanne Enoch. In the first ten months of 2018, nearly three billion beverage containers were used by Queenslanders — so while returning 400 million bottles and cans since November still represents a mere fraction of the recyclable containers in use across the period, it's definitely a promising start. More collection and refund points continue to be added to the scheme, with 270 now set up — an increase from the 230-plus available when the CRS launched. For more information, visit the Containers for Change website — or check out our how-to guide.
Part dance movie, part dystopian comedy, The FP is a rare beast of a movie — an instant cult classic that feels both alluring familiar and completely its own creation, and that instantly sears every frame into your brain. Given the premise, none of the above should come as a surprise. This low-budget 2011 flick is set in at a time when gangs fight over control of their home turf, Frazier Park, by dance-fighting it out while playing a Dance Dance Revolution-style game called Beat-Beat Revelation. Basically, if Footloose was set in a post-apocalyptic future, it would look something like this. As you're no doubt thinking, it would look rather amazing. That's The FP from start to finish, and it's getting only its second-ever public Brisbane screening on Monday, February 25, after first showing here all the way back at the 2011 Brisbane International Film Festival. Even better — The FP now has a follow-up called FP2: Beats of Rage, and it's hitting Brissie as well. Both are written and directed by Jason Trost, who also stars, and they're bound to make for one unique night of staring at the silver screen. Fitting, this double feature is coming to Netherworld as part of its regular Two Bit Movie Club, with tickets costing $10 — which includes both flicks plus popcorn and a drink. Here's a taste of the sequel https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tgdVv6MK1PA
When a major arts festival drops its latest program, as Sydney Festival just has for its massive 2023 event, it's easy to start playing the numbers game. The figures are impressive, with the event's second year under Artistic Director Olivia Ansell boasting 748 performances across 54 venues. The lineup also spans more than 100 unique events, 26 of which won't cost attendees a thing. And, there'll be 18 world premieres and 14 Australian exclusives — aka shows that you'll need to travel to Sydney to see if you don't live there, because they won't pop up elsewhere. All of these stats do indeed tell a story, conveying how widely the festival crew has scoured for top-notch shows; how jam-packed the resulting calendar of performances, gigs and exhibitions is; and how busy the 25 days from Thursday, January 5–Sunday, January 29 are going to prove. And, they help express the most important message there is for audiences: if you're looking for not just a culture fix but to bathe in art, theatre, music and all-round exciting festivities for weeks on end all around Sydney at the start of 2023, then you'd best block out your diary now. There's no shortage of highlights in the program, no matter what kind of cultural experience take your fancy. Here's perhaps the most surprising one: turning Sydney Town Hall into a beach courtesy of 26 tonnes of sand. No, you won't be able to swim there — but you can watch Lithuanian opera Sun & Sea, which won the Venice Biennale's Golden Lion in 2019, stage its sandy work in the round. The end result explores the climate emergency, is certain to make for a memorable show, and is one of Sydney Festival's Australian exclusives. Also unlikely to be forgotten quickly: the Australian premiere of Frida Kahlo: Life of an Icon, a multi-sensory art experience dedicated to the iconic Mexican painter. Think: the immersive Vincent van Gogh showcase that's being doing the rounds, or the new Monet one headed to Melbourne, but all about the one and only Kahlo. Hailing from Spanish digital arts company Layers of Reality, alongside the Frida Kahlo Corporation, it'll take over the Cutaway with holography, 360-degree projections and live performances of traditional Mexican music, as well as a virtual-reality system that'll let you step inside the artist's iconic pieces. [caption id="attachment_874188" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Jacquie Manning[/caption] Other standouts include Bonobo hitting the decks at the Masonic Centre, and turning its banquet hall into a unique dance party; performance piece In Chamber, which literally takes place in a safe in the basement of the Margot Kimpton Hotel; ROOM, the latest surreal theatre piece by James Thiérrée; and Tracker, which sees choreographer-director Daniel Riley combine dance, ceremony and text. Or, there's also 16 days of live music inside the 70s-era underground bar beneath Martin Place's Harry Seidler-designed Commercial Travellers' Association building (yes, the mushroom building). That subterranean space remains unrenovated, so expect The Weary Traveller, as the fest-within-the-fest is called, to serve up a huge blast from the past (plus tunes by Alice Skye, Astral People, Automatic, June Jones, Kaitlyn Aurelia Smith, Lil Silva, Party Dozen, Tom Snowdon, Moktar, Two Birds with Bayand, Coloured Stone, HTRK and Potion). In the same structure, the 28-room hotel itself is being taken over by American artist Kelsey Lu. You'll want to check in for this one, and stay the evening — because In The Lucid: A Dream Portal to Awakening is an eight-hour audio journey. [caption id="attachment_874185" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Peter Wallis[/caption] Heartbreak High fans will want to catch Blue, and fans of homegrown theatre as well — it stars and has been written by Thomas Weatherall, and will enjoy its world premiere at Sydney Festival. Or, for something completely different, a Shinjuku-inspired magic bar will pop up at Darling Harbour, transporting you to Tokyo if you haven't already made Japan holiday plans now that the country has reopened its borders. The list goes on, including Bloodlines, an exhibition paying tribute to artists lost to HIV/AIDS; The Party, which'll celebrate Sydney's LGBTQIA+ nightlife and party culture between 1973–2002; and Retrosweat hosting a big 80s pool party that, yes, will involve aqua aerobics. Or, there's flamenco dancer Sara Bara in Alma at the Sydney Opera House; Dead Puppet Society and Legs On The Wall's take on the Trojan war in Holding Achilles; drag brunch show Smashed: The Brunch Party hosted by Victoria Falcone; and Prinnie Stevens singing tunes by superstars like Aretha Franklin, Ella Fitzgerald, Billie Holiday, Whitney Houston and Beyoncé. Plus, Sydney Symphony Orchestra will celebrate Lunar New Year outdoors at Parramatta Park; Polar Force at Carriageworks explores the extremes of ice and wind by pairing Antarctic field recordings with live industrial percussion; and Restless Dance Theatre's dance piece Guttered is set in a real-life bowling alley. And, Lego lovers can check out a new Brickwrecks exhibition, which recreates shipwrecks with the plastic bricks. Also, ENESS, who was behind the 2022 fest's Airship Orchestra, is back with Cupid's Koi Garden — which'll give Tumbalong Park a six-metre-tall immersive water-play park right in the middle of summer. [caption id="attachment_874184" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Sam Roberts Photography[/caption] Sydney Festival 2023 runs from Thursday, January 5–Sunday, January 29 at venues across the city. For further details and to buy tickets, visit the Sydney Festival website. Tickets go on sale at 9am on Wednesday, October 19. Top image: Andrej Vasilenko.
Eons ago Alhambra Lounge was infamous mainly for indiscretions made on the premises by footballers, and a regular saxophone performer who graced the stage. Thankfully it has long since evolved into a budget friendly party haven with red cups, attractive people and stellar performers in high quantity. And although they frequently bring in musicians of an international calibre, they love to showcase up and coming Australian acts, especially of the Unearthed Variety. Headlining this Saturday’s Anything Goes is Sydney four-piece Nantes. This band have been getting some serious air time on Triple J which should be an indication of the indie rock tunes they have in store. What should be an even larger indication is that their influences are Radiohead and Joy Division. Also playing on the night will be Trip Kick DJs, a group of guys from Byron with a serious penchant for mixing great music and ensuring a great night out.
It is 1988, and 15 years since president Salvador Allende committed suicide as Pinochet's military jets bore down upon the Chilean presidential palace. Under international pressure, Pinochet has agreed to determine his future by referendum. A 'yes' vote will see the continuation of the torture and 'disappearances' that have characterised his reign (today, over 1000 Chileans remain missing). A 'no' vote will mean the restoration of democracy. For four weeks, each side of the campaign has a daily 15-minute television segment with which to win over voters. Enter advertising creative Rene Saavedra (Gabriel Garcia Bernal). A composite character pieced together by director Pablo Larrain and scriptwriter Pedro Peirano, he has been raised outside of Chile by his exiled father and is expert at conjuring up slick commercials designed to sell Western-style products. It takes some convincing for socialist politician Urrutia (Luis Gnecco) to shake Rene out of his apolitical apathy and get him on board the no campaign, but once he does so, the action begins in earnest. No derives its dramatic tension from two sources: the intersection of advertising propaganda and political rhetoric, and the difficulty of reconciliating the private life with the public. The no campaigners believe that their aim is best achieved through graphic reminders of Pinochet’s brutalities, so Rene must convince them of his strategy: to present post-dictatorship freedom as one would a shiny commodity — symbolised by a rainbow logo, communicated by the slogan 'Happiness Is Coming', and accompanied by a jubilant jingle. Simultaneously, he must navigate his emotions over the departure of his wife, a hardcore activist who sees her husband as lacking courage and conviction. Bernal approaches Rene's character with an enigmatic composure, conveying his conflicting traits through subtleties — standing stock still amidst an erupting crowd upon announcement of the referendum results, or tearing up in silence as he walks away from his wife's door. Larrain's exploration of the power of advertising is not without its ironies. On one hand, we celebrate Rene's backing of justice; on the other, the success of his commercial-style simplification of a complex political situation is disturbing. Larrain touches on this uneasy contradiction through staccato stabs of humour, masterfully interwoven with darker moments. It is worth noting that a recent New York Times article revealed that the film has attracted criticism in Chile for downplaying the significance of the grassroots movement to the no campaign. Seeking an aesthetic reflective of the period, Larrain recorded No with a 1983 U-matic video camera. Flares and flashes are included deliberately. Archival material blends seamlessly with contemporary footage. Some may find this approach a little self-conscious, and it's certainly not pretty, but the intention is to transport viewers back in time. The third feature in Larrain's filmic study of Chile, No is a triumph, historically and dramatically. Sure, its verisimilitude may be questionable, but its study of at least one aspect of the referendum that toppled Pinochet is compelling.
2020 has been a devastating year to cap off a tough decade for arts and entertainment in Australia. The global pandemic that has decimated the industry comes after years of overbearing lockout laws and strict licensing regimes for festivals in NSW. Now, as the industry begins to emerge from the rubble, it's getting some much-needed support from the Federal Government. The Restart Investment to Sustain and Expand (RISE) Fund is a government initiative that will invest $75 million into supporting the arts and entertainment sector across the next 12 months. One recipient of the funding is Splendour in the Grass and Falls Festival organiser Secret Sounds, who has received funding to put towards launching a new festival in 2021. Secret Sounds Group Co-CEO Jessica Ducrou didn't give much away about the new venture, telling Concrete Playground, "Secret Sounds is thrilled to receive financial support and recognition for an exciting innovative project we look forward to launching in 2021." The new festival will sit alongside the 2021 edition of Splendour in the Grass, which is currently planned for July with headliners Gorillaz, The Strokes and Tyler, the Creator pending mass gathering and border restrictions. The festival was postponed to 2021 in June due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Federal Minister for the Arts Paul Fletcher announced the Victorian recipients of RISE grants on Monday, November 23. Among the Victorian recipients are the Melbourne Theatre Company, which received just over a million for three new Australian works, as well as the Melbourne International Arts Festival, Melbourne Fringe and Grande Experiences who recently worked on Sydney's Van Gogh Alive. [caption id="attachment_636254" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Bec Taylor[/caption] The full list of recipients is expected next month, but according to a report by the Sydney Morning Herald, 28 NSW organisations will receive funding. Some of those include Byron Bay's Bluesfest, which is forging ahead with its Easter long weekend event for 2021, the Darlinghurst Theatre Company and the Australian Theatre for Young People. A new Secret Sounds-run festival will be a welcome addition to 2021 after a year void of major events and music festivals. Summer festival announcements have begun to roll, however, following the easing of gathering restrictions across the country in recent months. So far This That, Untitled Day Party, the newly funded Byron Bay Bluesfest and Yours & Owls have all announced 2021 dates with all-Australian lineups. A full list of recipients of the RISE grant will be announced mid-December. You can stay up to date at arts.gov.au. Top image: Justin Ma
A year after Queensland finally introduced a container refund scheme, and 16 months after scrapping disposable plastic bags, the Sunshine State is set to ramp up its war on waste once again. As part of the just-released Plastic Pollution Reduction Plan, the government is proposing a ban on single-use plastics — and while it's just an idea at this stage, legislation could be introduced as early as next year. In the crosshairs are plastic straws, cutlery, plates and stirrers, with the Qld Government also committing to investigate banning coffee cups, plastic cups and heavy-weight plastic shopping bags as well. Crucial to the plan is the existence of already-available alternatives — whether they're reusable, in the case of cutlery and plates, or 100-percent compostable, as seen with paper straws and stirrers. Before anything official is put in place, the state will undertake consultation with the community and various stakeholders, including people with disability. For the latter group, some alternative products to plastic — such as bamboo, paper and metal straws — aren't always a viable option. From 2020, the Qld Government will start by banning the products from their own events; however an exact timeline from there hasn't been revealed. Also on the state's agenda: developing facilities to process and repurpose plastic, mandating the use of recycled plastics, and expanding the Plastic Free Places program, which works with retailers, events and markets at the community level to wipe out single-use water bottles, straws, coffee cups and lids, takeaway containers, food ware (such as cutlery, plates and cups) and bags. In Noosa, more than 200 businesses have signed up to the scheme. While Qld's powers-that-be are calling their proposal an Australian first, they're not the only authority figures looking to tackle the growing waste problem. Similar laws are being drafted in South Australia, Hobart is progressing down the same track and, as a nation, Australia is working towards banning all non-recyclable packaging by 2025. That's on top of plenty of smaller-scale initiatives, not only including bag bans and container schemes, but the phasing out of single-use plastics in various guises at the company level, with McDonald's, IKEA, Coca-Cola Amatil and Qantas among those making steps in the plastic-free direction. You can read more about the Queensland Government's Plastic Reduction Plan over here.
After nearly a decade of Westerosi power struggles, obsessed fans and soaring ratings, HBO now finds itself with a Game of Thrones-sized gap to fill. The network isn't completely saying goodbye to the world created by George RR Martin, with at least two spinoffs in the works, and possibly more to come. But it's also looking for its next big hit. Bleak superhero saga Watchmen is one of the network's options, thanks to a television adaptation of the acclaimed graphic novel that's headed to screens this month. His Dark Materials is another, as based on Philip Pullman's award-winning young adult trilogy of books of the same name. And if the latter sounds familiar, that's because — like Watchmen — one of the tomes has already been turned into a movie. Twelve years after the incredibly family-oriented The Golden Compass made its way to cinemas, it's now heading to TV alongside sequels The Subtle Knife and The Amber Spyglass. HBO is keeping things simple by sticking with the franchise name, other than individual book monikers. Also, they're betting on star power. As the first teaser demonstrated a few months back, the series boasts a hefty cast, spanning James McAvoy, Ruth Wilson, Lin-Manuel Miranda, The Wire's Clarke Peters and Logan's Dafne Keen. Still on the big-name front, Academy Award-winning The King's Speech director Tom Hooper also helms the first two episodes (which, unlike his next big movie Cats, probably won't feature big-name actors and singers shrunk down to feline size). Amidst all of the above well-known folks, Keen leads the charge, playing an orphan by the name of Lyra Belacqua. She seems just like everyone else, but hails from an alternate universe — one where a person's soul manifests as a shape-shifting animal called a daemon. As she looks for a kidnapped friend in the Arctic, Lyra discovers a church-run stolen children ring, learns about mysterious particles known as Dust and ventures through different worlds, including the one we all know. McAvoy pops up as a powerful aristocrat, Wilson is his ex, and Miranda plays a balloonist and adventurer. If you're already eager, the eight-episode first season will drop in November — and there's more to come. Instigated by and co-produced with the BBC, the show has already been renewed for a second season before it even airs. Check out the full trailer below: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=APduGe1eLVI His Dark Materials launches on November 5, Australian and New Zealand time — with the series airing weekly from that date on Foxtel in Australia. Images: HBO.
Visitors to the Sydney Opera House might soon be able to stay the night, under a bold new plan being considered by NSW state authorities. According to The Guardian, the New South Wales Department of Planning and Environment is currently mulling over a proposal that would see certain sections of the Opera House — including the Utzon Room, the Board Room, the Joan Sutherland Theatre and the Concert Hall — temporarily transformed into luxury accommodation on a small number of nights throughout the year. Under the proposal put forward by the Sydney Opera House Trust last year, the Opera House could be utilised for "two types of experiential events". The first would offer "up to two nights' accommodation for a maximum of five guests, offered five times per year". The second would offer "up to two nights' accommodation for a maximum of 100 guests, offered on a single occasion per year". According to the proposal, the activation would "provide a unique opportunity for the community to experience the iconic Sydney Opera House in new and innovative ways", while allowing corporate partners to "promote their support of the Sydney Opera House". The idea sounds cool in theory, but has caused some controversy, particularly in relation to the Opera House's corporate partnership with Airbnb. In a submission to NSW Planning, a former Opera House employee called the plan "bold and brazen marketing" and described the partnership with Airbnb "evil genius". Speaking to The Guardian, a spokesperson for the Opera House said that they did not intend to charge visitors for an overnight stay, but would instead utilise the accommodation for "ballots, visitor experiences, competition prizes or promotional activities". It doesn't sound too dissimilar to the types of competitions that accommodation sites Airbnb and HomeAway have run overseas, which have included overnight stays. It doesn't sound too dissimilar to the types of competitions that accommodation sites Airbnb and HomeAway have run overseas, which have included overnight stays in the Eiffel Tower, the catacombs in Paris and Dracula's Castle. And while it could prove a handy option if the Opera House decides to run its all-night Bingefest this year, we'll wait and see if the proposal gets the final sign-off. Via The Guardian. Image: Frances Gunn.
That day of the year is coming up… you know the one. The one day of the year when the world is split into two categories: those who are loved up feel even more so, and those lonely hearts are made to feel even more lonely. Love it or hate it, St. Valentine’s Day is almost here. For those in the former category of people it can be hard to think of an original and special gift for your partner. Roses are a bit cliché, chocolates the same, and it is always nice if you can do something together to celebrate your loving state. Ta da! Enter Shri Yoga’s Valentine’s Day Partner Yoga Playshop. This is an afternoon of exploring and strengthening your trust, love and connection with your partner, while gently stretching together and learning ways to be yogic as a pair. Not just for lovers, the workshop could be done with a good friend - essentially it is a chance to build on your relationship through yoga. Following the yoga session things just get better with each participant receiving a Thai massage to have you floating out of the workshop on a relaxed, loving high! This special session will fill up so surprise your love and book in quickly.
'Based on real events'. It's been an incredibly popular theme of late, with an almost unceasing run of biopics and historical dramas coming our way every year for the past decade or so. Those four simple words imbue a movie with an immediate sheen of credibility, commanding the audience's attention and respect in equal measure. The thing is, it's also particularly sneaky. 'Based on real events' doesn't mean 'happened'. Instead, it provides filmmakers with a sizeable caveat upon which almost almost any fact can be supplanted by something far more exciting, or more moving or…whatever the movie needs, really. Hacksaw Ridge, Mel Gibson's first directorial offering in over a decade, stands apart on this front for two distinct reasons. Firstly, it opts for the far more concrete 'A True Story' at its opening. Secondly, it takes the almost unprecedented step of underselling the feats of its protagonist, American war hero Desmond Doss (Andrew Garfield). In real life, as in the film, the famous WWII conscientious objector refused to carry a weapon because of his religious beliefs as a Seventh Day Adventist, yet still earned himself the Congressional Medal of Honour when he single-handedly carried 75 wounded men on his back during the battle for Hacksaw Ridge, lowering them one-by-one down a cliff face to safety while under constant fire from the enemy. Doss' real world battlefield valour, however, extended far beyond this feat, with his citation referencing numerous other instances of extraordinary heroism that fail to even rate a mention in the film. Perhaps it was cut for time, or perhaps Gibson and his team concluded that Doss' actions were already so unbelievable, to detail all of them would challenge even the most faithful historian. Either way, it's refreshing to see an already humble hero presented without the need to over-emphasise, over-sell and over-indulge. Filmed in Australia with a predominantly local supporting cast, Hacksaw Ridge offers a surprisingly conventional first half for a director of Gibson's talent. The flashbacks to Doss' childhood and his troubled parents (Rachel Griffiths and Hugo Weaving), the romance with his sweetheart (Teresa Palmer) and his initiation into the military (under the supervision of Vince Vaughn and Sam Worthington) all play dangerously close to melodrama, saved only by the quality of the actors' performances. The sole purpose of this first phase is to establish with none too subtle a touch Doss' fervent religious conviction, cataloguing each and every instance of persecution, bullying and even the court martial that threatened to see him imprisoned for the duration of the war. But Gibson has made a career out of terrifyingly visceral combat scenes (see also: Braveheart and Apocalypto), and from the moment the first bullet tears through the air and into the flesh of the soldier it finds, Hacksaw Ridge sheds its corniness and transforms into a brutal, confronting and violent recreation of one of WWII's bloodiest battles. Neither as involved as Saving Private Ryan, nor as haunting as The Thin Red Line, Hacksaw Ridge nonetheless delivers a truly frenetic sense of warfare, at times seeming closer to the clashing armies of the middle ages than the modern combat of the last century. The film is unashamedly unilateral in purpose, and the closing shot of Doss essentially ascending to Heaven is rather on the nose. Still, as a tribute to a genuinely extraordinary man and a return to form by Gibson, both are as welcome as they are overdue. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=s2-1hz1juBI
He's an accountant. But he's also a hitman. But he's also a high-functioning autistic. But he's also a martial arts expert. And a marksman. Oh, and he's an art lover. He has a Renoir, but he prefers the Pollack. Man, it would've been a fun room to be in when they pitched The Accountant. And yet, the pitch worked, with the film they ended up making turning out like the lovechild of A Beautiful Mind and Jason Bourne. If that sounds somewhat genre bending, it is. There's even a bunch of quirky comedy in there to really mix things up. Ultimately, the premise of The Accountant, by director Gavin O'Connor (Warrior), is as out there as it sounds: Christian Wolff (Ben Affleck) is a genius mathematician whose autism saw his mother abandon the family during his childhood, and his military father apply psy-ops (psychological operations) training to inure both Christian and his brother to the world of hardship that awaited them as adults. 20 years later and all grown up, Christian now operates as an accountant to the international worst of the worst: mafia, drug cartels and gun runners, oh my! The Treasury wants to know who he is, while a cutting-edge robotics company wants his services to track down missing millions from its accounts. Wild as they sound, the opening stages of this movie actually hold up pretty well. Affleck plays Wolff very much like his recent portrayal of Bruce Wayne: hulking, detached and extremely socially awkward. There are the clichéd maths montages featuring blinking-eyed number crunching and frenzied writing on walls, but on the whole his depiction of a misunderstood neurological conditions is impressively understated. But the film takes a sudden turn for the worse about an hour in. Its determination to throw in plot twist after plot twist results in some excruciating exposition-heavy scenes. The violence, meanwhile, is extreme and comic-booky (think John Wick with a tick), and the characters' lives all end up being far more intertwined than necessary. The supporting cast is strong, featuring the likes of Anna Kendrick, J.K. Simmons, Jeffrey Tambor and Jon Bernthal. Sadly, none are given the kind of material needed to properly showcase their talents. The result is a film adrift, floating from one genre to the next without ever properly settling. It has some touching (and much needed) language about 'different, not worse' when it comes to non-neurotypicals, but the constant limb-cracking and blood-smattering that surround it means the message is fast muddled and forgotten. One suspects the film itself may suffer a similar and disappointing fate. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DBfsgcswlYQ
It's that time of year, somehow. Christmas is fast approaching, winter has well and truly fallen by the wayside, and you're probably thinking about your summer shenanigans. While jetting overseas still isn't an option for Australians at the moment, you can make plans to roam around much of this country we all come home now that borders are reopening — and, if you'd like to head up to the Northern Territory, its government wants to give you an extra incentive. As part of the NT Summer Sale campaign — which launched at the beginning of October — the NT Government and its tourism body are offering discounts on trips to Australia's red centre and top end. To all of the Northern Territory, actually. For each $1000 you spend up to $5000, you'll receive a $200 discount. It maxes out at $1000 off, but that's still 20-percent off the price. The discounts are available for a number of things too — covering plenty of essential elements of every holiday. You can use them on flights, accommodation, tours and attractions, and vehicle hire. You will need to both book and travel between now and March 31, 2020, however. The other big stipulation: you'll need to book through one of Tourism NT's campaign partners to score the discount. They include retailers such as Holidays of Australia, Helloworld Travel & Viva Holidays, and Flight Centre. [caption id="attachment_785574" align="aligncenter" width="1920"] Tourism Australia[/caption] If you've always been meaning to make the trip — and you've had both Uluru and its incredible Field of Light installation on your must-see list for ages — here's a mighty fine excuse to put those dreams into action. Border-wise, the NT currently doesn't require interstate visitors to quarantine unless you've been in a declared hotspot in the 14 days prior to your arrival — which, at the time of writing, only covers a number of Local Government Areas in Victoria. It's best to keep an eye on the NT Government's coronavirus hub, though, for any future changes, For further details about the NT Summer Sale campaign — which is available for travel between now and March 31, 2020 — head to the Tourism NT website. Top image: Field of Light: Bruce Munro. Photo by Mark Pickthall
Usually, Australia's various film festivals only pop up once every 12 months; however, there's little that's been usual about the past few years. So in these chaotic times, the fact that the Jewish International Film Festival is returning for a second stint in 2022 doesn't seem all that out of the ordinary. Already enjoyed the fest during its March and April run? Get ready to do so all over again. JIFF will screen 50 features and documentaries across Australia this iteration, alongside episodes from two TV shows and three short films — covering titles from 21 countries as it tours between October–December. The whole program isn't coming to Brisbane, but consider the bill that is coming our way a best-of sample. Leading the highlights, filling JIFF's biggest-ever lineup from Thursday, November 10–Sunday, November 20 at New Farm Cinemas: a pre-fest session of Armageddon Time, which arrives after premiering at this year's Cannes Film Festival and will have its Aussie debut at the fest. Starring Anthony Hopkins (The Father), Anne Hathaway (Locked Down) and Jeremy Strong (Succession), and written and directed by Ad Astra and The Lost City of Z's James Gray, it tells a coming-of-age story in 80s-era Queens. Also among the standouts, Jeff Goldblum (Jurassic World Dominion) narrates Fiddler's Journey to the Big Screen, about bringing Fiddler on the Roof to the big screen — and Israel's Karaoke arrives after being nominated for 13 Ophir Awards. Or, there's doco The Art of Silence about mime Marcel Marceau, plus 60s-set comedy My Neighbour Adolf, featuring Udo Kier (Swan Song) as a Holocaust survivor in Colombia who thinks the German man who just moved in next door is Hitler. The full lineup includes closing night's As They Made Us, the directorial debut of directorial The Big Bang Theory's Mayim Bialik — and Reckonings, about the negotiations between Jewish and German leaders that led to the 1952 Luxembourg Agreement.
Winter might be all about staying in doors, rugging up and avoiding the frosty weather, but if you want to see a pair of meteor showers at their peak this week, you'll want to head outdoors. Not one but two celestial events will be visible in Australia's skies to end July 2024: the Southern Delta Aquariids and the Alpha Capricornids. Arriving in the thick of winter, the Southern Delta Aquariids may not be quite as famous or frenetic as other meteor showers, but it's still considered a strong one, with around 15–25 meteors hurtling across the heavens per hour during its peak. In good news for those Down Under, it's also typically best seen in the Southern Hemisphere. [caption id="attachment_727210" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Mike Lewinski via Flickr.[/caption] Caused by the breakup of the Machholz comet, the Southern Delta Aquariids is visible each year from around July 12–August 23 — so now. But the ideal time to catch it is between July 28–July 30, aka until Tuesday this week. And, like many astronomical shows, catching an eyeful around midnight is recommended — when the moon has set and its light will not interfere. Also soaring through the skies at the moment: the Alpha Capricornids, which tends to run from around July 7–August 15. Yes, that means that you can peer up at night and catch a glimpse now, too, but it tends to peak around July 30–31 — so Tuesday and Wednesday this week. This one comes from the comet 169P/NEAT, and was discovered in 1871. It's known for its bright meteors and even fireballs, although they're infrequent, at around two-to-nine per hour. For your best chances of getting a glimpse at both, the usual advice applies. Get as far away from bright lights as possible — this could be a good excuse to head out of the city to a clear-skied camping spot — and pray for no clouds. The Delta Aquariids' name comes from Aquarius, the constellation from which they appear to come. Accordingly, that's what you'll be looking for in the sky. For the Alpha Capricornids, you're looking for the Capricornus constellation. To locate them all, we recommend downloading the Sky Map app — it's the easiest way to navigate the night sky, and is also a lot of fun to use even on a non-meteor shower night. The Southern Delta Aquariids and Alpha Capricornids meteor showers will peak between Tuesday, July 30–Sunday, July 31, 2024. Top image: Mike Lewinski via Flickr.
Now in its third year, Frankly! It’s A Pop Festival is back again, providing Brisbane with its annual festival of left-leaning music and avant-pop. Having closed last year’s festival with the likes of Xiu Xiu, High Places and Crayon Fields, Frankly! has stepped up their game yet up again with this year’s line up, bringing LA’s LA Vampires and Wet Hair and Japan’s Miko, Ytamo and Oorataichi down to the Brisbane Powerhouse, alongside a medley of Australian acts. If you need something to tide you over before the festival in September, Frankly! have released a pop sampler with tracks from all acts on the bill. Best of all, it’s free! Click here to download. Frankly! It’s A Pop Festival is on Saturday 10 September at the Powerhouse, and tickets are on sale now. Lineup: LA Vampires (US) Wet Hair (US) Blank Realm Angel Eyes Miko (JAP) Ytamo (JAP) Oorataichi (JAP) Pikelet The Twerps
It's time to get festive beneath one of Newstead's most striking features: the Gasometer. For one night in December, The Market Folk is taking over the eye-catching Gasworks space, bring a heap of stalls with it and helping you finish your Christmas shopping — because, let's face it, no one ever gets 100-percent of their gift buying done too far in advance. From 4–8pm on Saturday, December 10, the Gasworks Plaza precinct will be home to plenty of market stalls as the sun goes down, all brimming with items that'd make perfect presents (for your loved ones, and for yourself). [caption id="attachment_758933" align="aligncenter" width="1920"] The Market Folk[/caption] If you're wondering just what kinds of things you can expect to pick up, think fashion, art, homewares, ceramics and vintage goods — and plants as well — from 40-plus businesses. There'll be a particular focus on Brisbane creatives, too. So, you'll also be gifting them some Christmas cheer by supporting their hard work. These markets include live music on the lawn, plus bites and drinks from surrounding eateries and bars. And, they're also doggo-friendly. [caption id="attachment_814294" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Kgbo via Wikimedia Commons[/caption] Top image: Andrew S via Flickr.
Brisbane's thriving music scene is taking over an unexpected venue, and it's turning the volume up loud. For almost eight months between Friday, August 30 and Sunday, April 19, the Museum of Brisbane will play host to High Rotation. The in-depth exhibition showcases the city's songs, singers, stars and all-round sonic wonders from the past 30 years; celebrates the wide range of folks helping make Brissie's music magic happen; and explores the local industry's national and international impact. Across a range of film clips and photos, instruments and souvenirs, plus other bits and pieces, more than 80 artists will be in the spotlight. Whether you like pop, rock or indie, adore today's up-and-comers or obsess over big names that have shaped the last three decades, you'll find someone to tap your toes to. That includes Regurgitator, Custard, Powderfinger, Savage Garden, Kev Carmody, The Veronicas, Sheppard, George, Kate Miller-Heidke and Keith Urban, as well as The Grates, Violent Soho, WAAX and Thelma Plum. The lineup goes on, and it'd make quite a playlist — or festival bill. Fancy creating your own all-Brisbane playlist while you're perusing the CBD site's walls? Playing along with some of the city's standout hits? Hearing the tales behind the tunes from folks who've spent their lives reporting on them? Listening to those who've been living the rock 'n' roll life, such as music labels, managers, artists, producers and venue managers, all recount their experiences? They're all on the program too, as are other talks, panels and workshops. Tickets cost $12, with MoB open daily from 10am — closing at 5pm every day except on Fridays, when you can revel in Brissie music history until 7pm. Image: Stephen Booth / Lachlan Douglas.
The Gold Coast, with its enviable combination of good weather and beaches, already gives off festival vibes all year round. But the real kicker happens when you add beer to all of that goodness. Add vitamins B (beer) and C (cider) to the vitamin D you cop on the coast with the Crafted Beer Festival, which returns for 2023 across two huge days — after first doubling its run in 2022 and clearing loving it. Held at Kurrawa Park in Broadbeach each year, the beer festival will unite more than 50 of Australia's top craft breweries, over 400 different brews, and some good food and live music to line your stomachs and ears. The dates to pop in your diary: Saturday, September 9–Sunday, September 10. Locals like Balter Brewing Company, Black Hops Brewing, Currumbin Valley Brewing, Burleigh Barrels, Madocke Beer and Two Mates Brewing will be joining up with visitors from elsewhere in Queensland and interstate, such as Ballistic, Slipstream and Revel — and that's but a few of the many beer houses to be represented on the day. More of a cider person? Expect a range of cideries making the pilgrimage to the coast, too. Although the focus on beer and cider is right there in the name, Crafted will also welcome Granddad Jack's Craft Distillery for cocktails and craft spirits served out of a vintage two-storey bar. And, if that still doesn't cover everything that you want to drink, Carafe Wine will be on vino duty, while seltzers, ginger beers and non-alcoholic beers will be on offer as well. Food-wise, there'll be food trucks and other street food eats, including Bigoli Italian Street Food bringing its truffle gnocchi. German sausages from Brat House, Samba Catering Co's paella and Brazilian barbecue, Flamin Grillas' low-and-slow meat plates and brisket burgers, 2 Serial Grillers' Mexican bites and I Heart Calamari's seafood dishes help round out the menu. As for music lineup, Polish Club and Fat Picnic top Saturday's bill, while Tijuana Cartel and Kurilpa Reach are among the bands doing the honours on the Sunday. Also on the fest's agenda is beer yoga, where you can perform a few downward dogs before you down your beer — it's all about balance, after all. Or, enjoy some comedy, play tipsy Twister and enter a hot wing-eating contest instead. CRAFTED 2023 LINEUP: SATURDAY Polish Club Fat Picnic Sputnik Sweetheart Being Jane Lane Lucid Safari Fragile Animals The Dandys Beatniks DJs SUNDAY Tijuana Cartel Kurilpa Reach Nana Klumpp Ruby Gilbert The Colliflowers James Street Preachers Beatniks DJs Crafted Beer Festival runs from Saturday, September 9–Sunday, September 10 at Kurrawa Park, Broadbeach. Head to the festival website for tickets and further details.
The impression I had of The Spectacular Now before seeing it was that it was another teen movie about a cool guy falling in love with a dorky girl — but this time genuine and refreshing. 'Not possible!', thought I, as I anticipated counting off all the ways that the film failed. Cool guys and dorky girls don't mix, and if they do, Hollywood filmmakers cannot be counted on to explain it. Now I'm forced to eat my words. The Spectacular Now definitely is that genuine and refreshing take on the cool-guy-falls-in-love-with-the-dorky-girl story. It succeeds by focusing secondarily on the romance, and primarily on the shambolic and troubled life of its protagonist, Sutter Keeley (Miles Teller). Sutter is cool not because he's a jock, a leader, a looker or a bully — he's just the most fun. He and his girlfriend, Cassidy (Brie Larsen), are the life of every party. And that's in good part because Sutter has no self-worth, no ambition and knows how to drink without cessation. The Spectacular Now is unique in its portrait of what alcoholism can look like in adolescence, beyond the usual hysteria over binge drinking. Cassidy leaves Sutter when she realises that, even though their chemistry is the stuff of legend, she wants more out of life. Sutter then meets Aimee Finecky (Shailene Woodley, last seen in The Descendants) — a quiet, swotty girl whose interests include manga and French club (the type who's going to own the college campus soon enough) — when she finds him passed out on a neighbour's lawn in the wee hours. Remember, Sutter is good and fun; he has no ulterior motive for hanging out with Aimee afterwards, besides that he likes her company. But, aided by his inebriation and her infatuation, that friendship quickly escalates. The Spectacular Now has ten times the nuance and complexity of the previous film from the writing duo of Scott Neustadter and Michael H. Weber, (500) Days of Summer. It might be that they had strong source material in the book by Tim Tharp, or that they've simply matured as writers. The Spectacular Now is a standout achievement that makes you care for its characters and leaves you with plenty to think about afterwards. It's true the character of Aimee is sidelined, but she's not just a cipher; she's a multidimensional character who is only known to us through Sutter's eyes, because he's who the film is really about. The relationship between the two characters is strong, interesting and believable, with their complicated mothers being a particular source of commonality. Woodley and Teller really help to sell the roles with their incredible performances. "When you look at her, you really see her," Sutter tells his buddy at the halfway point of the movie, and much the same can be said of the two actors. They add so much depth with their mere presence. The Spectacular Now is a beautiful surprise package. High school has never looked so worth revisiting. https://youtube.com/watch?v=wceaLzbtuDY
When social distancing became our new way of life, the good folk at Audible released a stack of audiobooks for free, all to help keep everyone entertained while we were spending more time (read: all our time) at home and indoors. Now that things are slowly starting to return to normal, summer is on the horizon and prime road trip season is upon us, the online retailer is doing the same — so you have something ace to listen to while you're heading away for a getaway. The free audiobooks are on offer in collaboration with the tourism-focused initiative Empty Esky, which aims to support small businesses, including those affected by the Australian bushfires. So, the idea is that you'll hop behind the wheel, mosey out beyond the city limits, see the country, and patronise local retailers and hospitality venues — and that you'll listen to Alice's Adventures in Wonderland by Lewis Carroll, The Great Gatsby by F Scott Fitzgerald and Growing Up Aboriginal in Australia by Anita Hess along the way. Almost 60 hours of audiobooks are available for free, and they all tie into seven set itineraries, covering Victoria, Queensland, Western Australia, the Northern Territory, Tasmania, and both New South Wales' south coast and northern regions. Follow your chosen route, keep an eye out for Audible posters at participating small businesses, and download a free audiobook at each stop. You'll need to follow the whole process, because you'll have to scan the QR code on the poster at each place to get access to the relevant text. If you knew you wanted to hit the road this summer, but you weren't sure where to venture to, Audible and Empty Esky have basically taken care of that decision for you. The itineraries also include Audible podcasts, if you're in the mood for something other than literature. Among both the books and podcasts, you'll also find JM Barrie's Peter Pan, the Beatrix Potter Collection and Jojo Moyes' Me Before You — as well as Heist with Michael Caine, Australia's Funniest Stand-Up, and Nakkiah Lui and Miranda Tapsell's Debutante: Race, Resistance and Girl Power. They'll all stream on your phone, tablet or laptop, although you will need to either sign into your existing Audible account or create a new one to start listening. To check out the Empty Esky itineraries — and the Audible books available — head to the Empty Esky website.
Brisbanites, prepare to start feeling a big dose of deja vu. Folks in the rest of southeast Queensland, and in Townsville, Palm Island and Magnetic Island, get ready to spend the next three days at home as well. In these areas of the Sunshine State, a new lockdown will come into effect from 6pm today, Tuesday, June 29 — running for three days until 6pm on Friday, July 2. Queensland Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk announced the news in her daily press conference, with the stay-at-home conditions coming into effect due to the state's latest COVID-19 cases — including in Brisbane and on the Sunshine Coast. One case has also recently travelled to Magnetic Island and Townsville while infectious, which is why those areas will also go into lockdown. "This is absolutely essential and we want to make sure that we stop the virus in its tracks," said the Premier. "This is really important that everyone does the right thing. I know Queenslanders will. These are tough decisions. We have had two extensive meetings this morning about this. We have to take the advice of Dr Young. I have accepted that advice." If you're wondering what counts as southeast Queensland, it covers the 11 Local Government Areas that were put under new restrictions yesterday, Monday, June 28: Brisbane, Moreton Bay, Logan, Redlands, Ipswich, Noosa, Sunshine Coast, Gold Coast, the Scenic Rim, the Lockyer Valley and Somerset. Folks in these LGAs, as well as residents of Townsville, Palm Island and Magnetic Island, will return to the rules that've been in place during previous Queensland lockdowns — as happened in Greater Brisbane in both January and March 2021, and statewide in March 2020. So, that means you're only allowed to leave the house for four reasons — to head out for essential work or education if you can't do that at home, for essential shopping, for exercise in your local area, and for health care or to provide support for a vulnerable person. Otherwise, you must stay at home during the three-day lockdown period. https://twitter.com/AnnastaciaMP/status/1409689394798157827 As part of the lockdown, there is a limit of two visitors in homes. Masks are already compulsory in southeast Queensland, and will be required to be worn everywhere in the lockdown areas — other than if you're at your own home. Cinemas, entertainment venues, recreational venues, beauty and personal care services, and gyms will all close, as will places of worship, while cafes, pubs and restaurants are only allowed to open for takeaway service. Also, folks who decide to come to any of the areas going into lockdown during the stay-at-home period will be bound by the same restrictions, although travel is discouraged — and no one should leave their locked-down area during this period. And, if you decide to leave southeast Queensland, Townsville, Palm Island and Magnetic Island before 6pm tonight, you must still go into lockdown and follow the conditions no matter wherever you are. As it has been during the pandemic so far, Queensland Health is maintaining an active register of locations that have been visited by positive COVID-19 cases, which you can check out on its website. In terms of symptoms, you should be looking out for coughs, fever, sore or scratchy throat, shortness of breath, or loss of smell or taste — and getting tested at a clinic if you have any. The Greater Brisbane area will go into lockdown from 6pm on Tuesday, June 29 6pm on Friday, July 2. For more information about the status of COVID-19 in Queensland, head to the QLD COVID-19 hub and the Queensland Health website. More details about the lockdown and associated restrictions can also be found on the Queensland Health website.
A man struts into a diner and asks "who've I gotta kill to get a coffee?". When a woman hears the doorbell ring, she instantly grabs her gun, baseball bat and taser. The series that'll include both? Fargo, the anthology TV show inspired by the big-screen Coen brothers masterpiece, which is returning for its fifth season in November. 2023 marks almost a decade since writer, director and producer Noah Hawley leapt from Bones, The Unusuals and My Generation to diving back into crime in often-frosty American places — and always with a strong streak of black comedy pumping through its veins. The first two seasons arrived back to back in 2014 and 2015, with season three then following in 2017 and season four in 2020. Now, after another three-year gap, the show returns with a whole new story and cast, but still set in the same world as the Fargo movie. Oh you betcha there's accents, crime capers, dedicated cops, and people doing dark deeds for selfish reasons and then getting karmic comeuppance. When it arrives in Australia via SBS On Demand on Wednesday, November 22, Fargo's fifth season will do so with a stacked lineup of talent, too: Juno Temple (Ted Lasso), Jon Hamm (Good Omens), Jennifer Jason Leigh (Hunters) and Joe Keery (Stranger Things) all included, plus David Rysdahl (Oppenheimer), Lamorne Morris (Woke), Richa Moorjani (Never Have I Ever), Sam Spruell (The Gold) and Dave Foley (The Kids in the Hall) as well. Like season one, two and the movie, this season spends its time in Minnesota and North Dakota. The year: 2019. Dorothy 'Dot' Lyon (Temple) is the otherwise-ordinary person falling afoul of the law — so, when she grabs those weapons in one of the show's sneak peeks, she's clearly not an average Midwestern housewife — while Roy Tillman (Hamm) is the North Dakota Sheriff (and preacher) on her trail. In a case of spectacular casting, Keery will put his famous hair to good use as Tillman's son Gator, in a franchise that also loves unpacking the ties of blood that bind and cause chaos. Spruell plays a drifter who is enlisted to help on the search for Dot, while Rysdahl is her husband Wayne. Leigh hops on board as his mother, aka the 'Queen of Debt' thanks to being a debt collection company CEO, and Foley plays her in-house counsel. Among the cops, there's Moorjani as a deputy from Minnesota and Morris as a North Dakota counterpart. Everyone on-screen joins a saga that's seen Billy Bob Thornton (The Gray Man), Allison Tolman (Gaslit), Martin Freeman (Breeders), Kirsten Dunst (The Power of the Dog), Patrick Wilson (Insidious: The Red Door), Jesse Plemons (Love and Death), Jean Smart (Hacks), Ewan McGregor (Raymond & Ray), Carrie Coon (Boston Strangler), Mary Elizabeth Winstead (Ahsoka), Chris Rock (Amsterdam), Jessie Buckley (Women Talking) and Jason Schwartzman (Asteroid City) all feature in past seasons. Off-screen, Hawley is back as showrunner, writer and director, guiding a series that started with the hard task of living up to the masterpiece of a movie and hasn't struggled so far. Check out the teaser trailers for Fargo season five below: Fargo season five will start streaming via SBS On Demand on Wednesday, November 22. Images: Michelle Faye/FX.
A cast-out-of-time vibe tumbles and rustles through Fallen Leaves. In Aki Kaurismäki's 20th feature, his first since 2017's The Other Side of Hope, a calendar advises that it is 2024 and the radio reports on the war in Ukraine, but the look and mood could've been taken from decades and decades back. An account of two lonely souls in an uncaring world grasping a bond amid the grind that is just endeavouring to get by never dates, after all. Neither do the Finnish filmmaker's movies, with their love of droll humour, understatement and melancholy. Indeed, with tragicomedy Fallen Leaves, Kaurismäki links to the 80s and 90s, and to his Proletariat trilogy. Trust him to add a fourth title to the trio, which previously spanned 1986's Shadows in Paradise, 1988's Ariel and 1990's The Match Factory Girl; his love of absurdity doesn't age, either. Ensuring that Helsinki resembles a relic of the past — even more so at California Bar, which throws back to America in the 60s — keeps a state of arrested development lingering in Fallen Leaves. What makes a place and its people feel as if moving forward is something that only happens elsewhere? In Kaurismäki's hands in a movie that's quintessentially a Kaurismäki movie from start to finish, the answer is as simple as being caught in a monotonous routine, the very reality that the writer/director's features also give audiences a reprieve from. He knows this. On-screen here, he has Holappa (Jussi Vatanen, Koskinen) and Ansa (Alma Pöysti, A Day and a Half) find solace in a cinema themselves. They don't see a Kaurismäki picture. Instead, they catch The Dead Don't Die by Jim Jarmusch, the closest person that he has to an American equivalent. That's Holappa and Ansa's first official date, but not the start of Fallen Leaves' story. Before that, it gets to know him as a metalworker and her as a supermarket employee, methods of receiving a paycheque that neither is overly fussed about. Holappa is also an alcoholic, which eventually costs him his job. Ansa gets fired for trying to take home out-of-date food. The pair cross paths at a karaoke bar, and awkwardly, yet the audience can almost see the string tying them together as soon as they're both sharing a frame. For someone who so regularly processes the world's sadness through deadpan laughs, Kaurismäki isn't averse to kindred spirits — again, see his shoutout to Jarmusch, and also the fact that Fallen Leaves, as many of Kaurismäki's movies do, features a key canine connection. Dialogue doesn't come easily or abundantly in a film by the creative force who clearly didn't retire after The Other Side of Hope, as he said he was going to — and who won the 2023 Cannes Film Festival Jury Prize with Fallen Leaves, the proof that he's still behind the camera. Understanding his characters by being in their presence has always been his approach. Valuing silence and pauses plays like a throwback, too, increasingly so when words being flung about incessantly at literal presses of buttons is life circa 2024. His casting, and also the cinematography that splashes Kaurismäki's movies across the screen, are always pivotal as a result. With Vatanen and Pöysti, the latter collecting a Golden Globe nomination, Fallen Leaves boasts actors who reside fully in Holappa and Ansa's skins and sorrows. With Timo Salminen doing the lensing, as he has since the director's first film four decades ago, Fallen Leaves also knows how to deeply observe everything that its stars bring to their on-screen figures. The plot might be slight — Holappa and Ansa meet, gravitate towards each other, then attempt to clutch what respite they can from the winter that is existence — but that isn't the same as lacking detail. Seeing Ansa need to shop before she can host Holappa at her flat for dinner screams with minutiae about how accustomed she is to being alone, and for how long; she only has one place setting otherwise. While she's still stacking shelves for a gig, watching her employer demand that expired food be thrown out instead of going to those who need it says everything about the cruel corporate attitude that oppresses not just the working class, but 21st-century society at large. It isn't just that Kaurismäki wants his viewers to see Holappa and Ansa's lives, rather than hear them chat about it; to explain who they are, and why, plus the emotions simmering inside each, he also knows exactly what's crucial for audiences to peer at. There's a sensation that springs from Kaurismäki's films: a feeling of stepping into a world so distinctively crafted by the filmmaker while also still spying a poignant reflection of reality. That's why his script for the graceful and gorgeous Fallen Leaves can chart such a familiar scenario — template-like, almost — and yet is anything but a by-the-numbers effort. He lets his characters be who they are, ups, downs, strengths, flaws and all. He perceives them and their plights with such evident empathy, and also with hope. Anyone watching can spot how they could be or have been Holappa and Ansa, including when Kaurismäki frequently finds the hilarity in this cycle that we all call life. Naturalistic, humane, wry, sincere, tender, taking the bad with the good when it comes to each and every day and person: that's his remit, winningly, warmly and meaningfully so. In another of Fallen Leaves' touches that might seem at odds with setting it in 2024, pushing its protagonists together is complicated by the fact that they initially can't contact each other. Their names are hard-earned. Phone numbers are lost. This romance isn't easy to come by, then; for Holappa and Ansa both, and for viewers as well, it's worth striving for. Kaurismäki is a master at mirroring in his style, narrative and themes, such as showing how something that appears standard so rarely is via his plot and imagery, or telling a tale that takes away the always-on nature of modern life to stress what's truly important. He's a filmmaking great in general — and if the sexagenarian is encroaching upon the autumn of his career 41 years after his feature debut, his talents remain as verdant as ever.
The big friendly giant of the streaming world has found itself a golden ticket, with Netflix bringing the work of beloved author Roald Dahl to its platform. Viewers can expect to feel like Charlie Bucket walking into Willy Wonka's chocolate factory, with a whopping 16 of Dahl's classic books set to get the Netflix treatment. Teaming up with The Roald Dahl Story Company, the outfit is turning everything from Charlie and the Chocolate Factory and its sequel Charlie and the Great Glass Elevator to Matilda and The Twits into new animated television shows. Oompa Loompas, everlasting gobstoppers and everyone's favourite book-loving schoolgirl with telekinetic abilities will be joined by basically every Dahl novel you read and adored as a kid — including The BFG, Esio Trot, George's Marvellous Medicine, The Enormous Crocodile, The Giraffe and the Pelly and Me, Henry Sugar, Billy and the Minpins, The Magic Finger, Dirty Beasts and Rhyme Stew. His autobiographical efforts Boy – Tales of Childhood and Going Solo will also hit the service, with one detailing Dahl's youth and the other delving into his journeys to Africa as well as his service in World War II. For many, including the tales about the author himself, it'll be the first time that they've been adapted for the screen. Netflix plans to turn Dahl's stories into event series and specials — so limited-run shows across a number of episodes, plus one-offs. Announcing the news, the company said in a statement that it "intends to remain faithful to the quintessential spirit and tone of Dahl while also building out an imaginative story universe that expands far beyond the pages of the books themselves". In other words, expect the tales you know and love, as well as tales that expand upon those tales. Work will start on the first Dahl animated series in 2019, although just which one it'll be is yet to be revealed. Netflix also hasn't said when the shows will hit the platform, but expect them soon — it's usually pretty speedy when it comes to turning content around. And if you just can't wait, Wes Anderson's delightful stop-motion animation version of Dahl's Fantastic Mr Fox is currently streaming on the service.
Sometimes, your tastebuds crave something special. They hanker for the kind of dish you're not going to eat every day, aka a treat yo'self type of culinary experience. Here are three things that they'd likely demand in that situation: lobster, truffles and champagne. If that sounds like your idea of an indulgent meal, Lobster & Co has you sorted until Friday, January 27 at the Gasometer at Gasworks in Newstead. During another season of decadence, you'll only find those three aforementioned items on the menu; the Lobster & Co van is solely serving lobster rolls with truffle fries and flutes of Pommery champagne. Prices start at $50 for the food combo, which features a whole confit lobster tail sourced from Western Australia, served warm on a caramelised brioche bun with buttermilk fennel slaw, plus a side of parmesan truffle fries. A chilled glass of the champers will cost you $20 extra. Generally, Lobster & Co operates Wednesday–Sunday, but dates and times vary over the holidays — so keep an eye on the pop-up's website. Updated: January 5, 2023. Images: Karon Photography.
