Brisbane's riverside Howard Smith Wharves precinct loves a party, hosting Italian festivals, throwing shindigs for Easter, celebrating margaritas and basically finding whichever reason it can to bring people together. That includes getting into the revelry every week at its long-running Weekends on the Lawn series. Taking place from 3pm on Saturdays and 2pm on Sundays, the event welcomes in Brisbanites eager to kick back by the water, have a bite to eat and knock back a few drinks. Bring along your mates to enjoy a refreshing beverage — Felons Brewing Co. is right there, after all, and isn't your only option. There's also be plenty of food to dig into, because lining your stomach is important. Mr Percival's, Greca, Yoko, Betty's Burgers, Goodtimes Gelateria and more are all right there, too with contactless ordering and payment via your phone available. Running until late, the live tunes echo until 6pm on Saturdays and 5pm on Sundays, with the lineup changing weekly. All that's left is to grab your friends and your pets, and enjoy that sultry Brissie weather by the water. And entry is free, but your wallet is needed for drinks and bites.
Introducing a must-do for dog owners who can't bear to be parted from their pooches: the Doggy Drive-In. Yatala's trusty site is welcoming all doggos for a chill night out at the movies on Saturday, June 8 and Sunday, June 9. Alright, so we can almost guarantee it won't be relaxing — no doubt the pups will run everywhere, sniff, snuffle, make friends, leave presents — and you won't have much time to sit and watch the movie. But dammit, there'll be so many pats to deliver. So for those of you who love dogs and movies and solid date ideas and watching films in your car, this could be your perfect outing. Yatala will be showing an advance screening of The Secret Life of Pets 2 for extra cute points — and there'll also be a runway pet fashion show, so dress your canine in its most adorable outfit and endeavour to win some prizes. Gates will open at 5.30pm each day — for plenty of pats and snacks — with the film commencing at 6.30pm. Tickets cost $35 per carload, which includes your pet pupper and up to six people.
Accidentally Annie Street Space is a Brisbane-based, artist-led initiative that has been operating out of the living room of its directors on Annie Street, Auchenflower, since 2008. In years past, AASS has been home (literally) to exhibitions such as Pixel/Stitch and House Party. This year, Accidentally Annie Street Space launches its new off site program with Soft Site, a one-night-only exhibition that playfully engages the notion of a cheap motel room as a site for a contemporary art exhibition. Risk, intrigue, sex, escapism, anonymity – the cheap motel room is laden with delicious possibilities. Soft Site marks a shift in Accidentally Annie Street Space’s style, being the first in a program of shows that no longer rely solely on the director’s home as a gallery. Based out of a motel room in Kangaroo Point, Soft Site will feature experimental works by Brisbane artists Chris Bennie, Tim Woodward and Victorian-based Lou Hubbard in an exhibition that aims to demonstrate the vitality of Brisbane’s artistic production outside of commercially orientated or institutional spaces. Accidentally Annie Street Space’s Offsite program is a unique and exciting addition to the burgeoning Brisbane art scene.
It’s that time of year again - you probably remember the feeling from your primary years when the last, sweltering week of school was reserved for watching movies, stacking desks, and taking home those crazy art projects that you couldn’t quite recall your inspiration for and thus have taken on a personality independent of your own. Think of that feeling, times it by one hundred, add a bachelor degree and a smattering of existential crises - now you’ll have an inkling for the vibe that is going down at QCA this month. To That Which Is is the name of this year’s exhibition of graduating Fine Art and Media and Visual Art students from the Queensland College of Art. It is one of several graduate exhibitions occurring this month at Queensland’s premier art school and will feature works across a wide range of media from Brisbane’s most talented emerging artists.
Tales of paranoia, blame, scapegoats, shouting forceful opinions and enforcing religious standards aren't hard to come by these days. Nor are stories where women bear the brunt of all of the above — and that's just in the news. But, before world affairs played out on social media, and even before The Handmaid's Tale had everyone exploring the consequences of female oppression, The Crucible waded into this very territory. In his now-classic play, Arthur Miller examined American history, as well the 1950s climate of McCarthyism, while also crafting a story of a divisive society that still rings true 65 years later. You won't hear about emails and fake news here, but you will see a fictionalised account of a community scrambling to point fingers. Sounds familiar, doesn't it? Of course, this one is set during the Salem witch trials. No stranger to the city's stages, the latest production of The Crucible plays Brisbane Arts Theatre until May 19. Performances run on Friday and Saturday nights, with extra shows on April 26, 29 and May 6.
Cross-dressing spitfire MC Mykki Blanco is in the country for Dark Mofo, heading north afterward to blow Brisbane minds at Ellement Lounge. One seriously multitalented artist, NYC-based Blanco is a rapper, performance artist and poet who grew up listening to riot grrrl music. The significantly internet-hyped New Yorker's setlist will inevitably include writhing party jam 'Wavvy' and heavier tracks like the recently released 'Initiation' — both as likely to intrigue audiences as attract them to the dance floor. Think bass heavy, post-trap anthems with a killer MC at the helm. While Blanco certainly stands out and makes her presence felt, she doesn't aim to make a 'statement' as such; rather fluidly transcending many identities. https://youtube.com/watch?v=w39Fxx10CEI
Break out the cake, candles, streamers, party hats and lolly bags, because someone's having a birthday. Well, not just someone, but somewhere. And not just anywhere, but one of Fortitude Valley's favourite hangouts. Yes, that slice of music heaven on Brunswick Street that is Black Bear Lodge has now been part of the inner city scene for ten years. If that's not cause for celebration across Friday, June 4 and Saturday, June 5, then we don't know what is. Trust the BBL crew to throw its own shindig (and cry if it wants to) to mark the occasion. And trust it to rope in a whole lot of other folks to make the two evenings something extra special, too. From the DJ lineup, A Love Supreme's Ben Chiu, The QUIVR's Hol Hibbo, Liliana Michell and Luke Brazier will all hit the decks on Friday, while Saturday will see Jimmy Ellis, Ethan Greaves, Emily Leach, Grace Green and Todd O'Rourke do their thing. They'll all be joined by a heap of bands across the two evenings — with the party running from 6pm–3am on Friday and 6pm–dawn on Saturday. Tickets for each night costs $20 on the door.
Charismatic little brother to Gerard's Bistro, Gerard's Bar is no stranger to pairing crisp, tasty brews with seasonal nosh. Hidden behind its sibling in the James Street precinct, Gerard's Bar is home to insanely talented Brisbane chef Ben Williamson, curating quite the culinary experience from the charcuterie cabinet to the magnificent kitchen. For an opportunity to experience Williamson's produce first hand, James Squire and Concrete Playground served a special Winter Banquet at Gerard's Bistro and gave a group of lucky people a seat at the table. They sat down to a five-course meal custom-made by Ben, exploring fresh winter produce with some of Australia's favourite craft beers. Each dish was paired with a specific James Squire tipple, and guests heard from Ben and James Squire brand ambassadors on the night. By Kelly Pigram, Jasmine Crittenden and Shannon Connellan. Photography: Emily Jane Davies.
Making a cup of tea can be simple. Grab a teabag, pour in some boiling water, let it steep and voila, you've got yourself one of the world's favourite hot beverages. Enjoying a cuppa can be much more creative, too — whether you're keen on pure green tea leaves, some chai or matcha, high tea, a sip of kombucha, frosty iced tea, bubble teas or a tea latte. Expect all of the above at Brisbane's first laneway tea festival, which takes over Bakery Lane on Saturday, October 5. Someone will be putting the kettle on for a day of tea tastings, tea classes and tea readings. You'll also be able to blend your own teas, and take part in tea competitions. Run by Botanical Lab, the event will kick off at 10am and finish up at 4pm. While general entry is free, you can opt for a VIP $10 ticket, which'll nab you a tote bag and a ceramic tea tasting cup. Image: Botanical Lab.
When winter rolls around, W Brisbane's resident bar gets gooey in a big way. Now that the festive season is upon us, it's switching to an appropriately themed high tea. If you like drinking Christmas-themed cocktails while tucking into tiny bites to eat, then add Living Room to your list. On the menu: charcoal and feta arancini, mini pancakes with red pesto and chive creme fraiche and a number of other small dishes, all designed to look suitably festive. But you'll probably get most excited about the boozy side of things — including a 'Bad Santa' cocktail made with Hennessy and a 'Tipsy Angel' Belvedere vodka cocktail. Yes, it's time to chose your pals best in need of a Xmas treat, then make a date — with the Naughty or Nice Festive High Tea kicking off on Friday, November 20 and running from Friday–Sunday each week between until Sunday, January 10. You can book in for a two-hour sitting between 11am–3.30pm, and you have three price options. Pay $60 each, and you'll feast your way through the food like you're Santa on Christmas Eve. Opt for the $76 option, and you can add one of the two aforementioned cocktails. And for $85, you'll also get a glass of Veuve Clicquot champagne.
Space Betwixt, a group exhibition curated by Alexandra Winters, explores the concept of gaps in information, the places of transition and the blank spaces at the edges of existing forms. The works in the exhibition act as the visual representation of this concept — each of the four artists works in shapes and in the spaces between shapes, creating modernist-influenced geometric forms. Genevieve Felix Reynolds’ paintings are created from intersections of complex geometric shapes, with tonal colours giving the appearance of creased paper, or unfolded origami. In a similar fashion, Andy Harwood layers simple triangles and rectangles into larger forms, transforming them into tangible, almost sculptural objects. Christian Flynn’s work is inspired by a contemporary expression of modernism that references science and technology, with a bold approach that mixes organic forms and severe, hard-edged spikes of colour, while Freda Davies explores the shapes around us, recreating the simple geometry of the urban landscape. Space Betwixt exhibits in the Brisbane Powerhouse Foyer spaces from October 7 to November 1. Image: Genevieve Felix Reynolds
There’s nothing like a bit of cultural collaboration to stir some celebration, especially when drinks and dining is involved. Brisbane’s favourite Asian restaurant Kwan Brothers hasn’t let their heritage deter them from celebrating a great German tradition. Introducing Woktoberfest. Woktoberfest, derived from a similarly named festival you may have heard of, is all about food, drink and celebration for the hell of it. From October 13-19 Kwan Brothers (right next to Alfred and Constance) will be dishing up a menu that combines everything we love about Asian cuisine with sausages, sauerkraut and all things German. The Bratwurst Bao ($9.90) seems the star of the menu. It's a bao bun topped with mini bratwurst, sauerkraut and curried ketchup. You can also grab sweet and sour pork knuckles ($22.90), wok-tossed spatzle with Szechuan chicken ($22.90) and as many Kirin steins as you carry ($10 each). You’ve got less then a week to celebrate Woktoberfest at Kwan Brothers, so pull on your lederhosen, brace your chopsticks and dig in.
Once, when all else failed in matters of the heart, people turned to the radio. Callers rang in to share their troubles, seek assistance, and request songs for their beloved. If you’ve seen Sleepless in Seattle, you know what we’re talking about. Now you can experience it in person, and not just in the comfort of your home Barry and Barbara's Sweet, Sour and Saucy brings talkback advice and love song dedications to the cabaret stage for a night of singing and solving your problems. Step back to the 1950s with snappy hints and funny tips on how to keep your romantic life hot and spicy, accompanied by a soundtrack of hits by Eartha Kitt, Louis Armstrong, Ella Fitzgerald, Bessie Smith and Nat King Cole. The show isn’t just about watching, but about being part of the action. Before you head along, unburden your issues and ask for a tune to be crooned by visiting Barry and Barbara’s website.
If you've been plotting any food-and-drink-related Victorian adventures of late, you probably already have the newly revamped Continental Sorrento and its suite of new must-visit venues on your radar. But now, you've got a fresh excuse to book that visit, with the coastal precinct's luxury 108-room InterContinental Hotel opening this week. The latest Aussie offering for IHG Hotels & Resorts, the new seaside hotel occupies both a reimagined section of the existing 147-year-old limestone building and a separate newly-built wing. A collection of penthouses is also to come, to be unveiled later this year. Steered by renowned firm Woods Baggot (W Melbourne, Barlow), sophisticated interiors mirror this old-meets-new energy, with plenty of modernised nods to the art deco and Victorian elements the site's rocked in eras past. There's a refined Mediterranean edge to the aesthetic, with sweeping bay vistas and, in each of the premium options, a complimentary in-room bar heroing local craft brews, vino and spirits. Of course, facilities here lean to the fancy, including the blissful cabana-ringed guest-only pool deck, with palms, water views and a look that's plucked straight from your dream Euro beach holiday. Guests also have the Continental Sorrento's full suite of offerings on their doorstep, from the public bar, to fine diner Audrey's upstairs. Gracing the walls throughout the hotel, expect to see a standout art collection, further fusing the past and the present with a broad-ranging curation of works by Aussie artists. Keep an eye out for the reimagined snaps from vintage Mornington Peninsula beach parties, capturing those cool coastal charms through the decades. There's more luxury to come, too, with the site's Aurora Spa & Bathhouse slated to launch later this year, featuring a thermal bathhouse and wellness centre. Find the InterContinental Sorrento at 23 Constitution Hill Road, Sorrento. Rooms start from $595 per night. You can learn more and book a stay over on the website.
What happens when a beekeeper and a quantum physicist meet and fall in love? Plenty — but not just the tale that you might be expecting. Great things can occur. Terrible and unpleasant things too. Most plays only explore one option; however, there's a whole universe of possibilities at the centre of Constellations, and the Nick Payne-written play wants to show you as many as it can in one production. It's no wonder the two-hander has been attracting acclaim since first premiering in London in 2012. Payne himself even became the youngest ever winner in the best play category at Britain's Evening Standard Theatre Awards for spinning a story not only about star-crossed lovers, but also intertwined with fate, all things infinite and unknowable, and the many paths thrown up by parallel and alternate worlds. For Queensland Theatre, Kat Henry directs the romance that has been wowing audiences around the world — and, if you don't want to take our word for it, maybe knowing one of the past stars will do the trick. When Constellations made it to New York, Jake Gyllenhaal tread the boards in it for his Broadway debut. Sounds enchanting, doesn't it?
Maybe you don't get paid until next week. Perhaps you're saving all your cash for your first holiday of 2019. Or you could've broken your bank account by buying, well, just about anything. However it happened, you're still short on funds. But, as long as you've got a fiver burning a hole in your wallet, you can still have a great Saturday night out. Thank the legends at The Zoo for an evening's entertainment that everyone can afford. If you've ever wondered how the Ann Street icon has managed to keep the tunes pumping and the crowds coming since 1992, it's because of ace ideas like this one. Yes, Five Bands Five Bucks is exactly what it sounds like — and what it sounds like is 100 percent awesome. Blussh, Rich Uncle, Siick Riick, Vivvid and Guava Lava will be on the bill, waiting for you to part with a piece of pink-coloured currency to hear their latest and greatest tunes.
The year may be drawing to a close, however the same should not be assumed for the fun and frivolity. Lust for Life are throwing a celebration for the festive season the best way they know how – a massive party, and you’re invited! Head along to Crowbar on Brunswick Street, where the tunes drown loudly and the drinks are always flowing, to meet your friends at Lust for Life Tattoo. Your golden ticket is your cover charge, which will get you a night of great music, as well as great people. Appropriately named bands will be on stage, including The Gifthorse and Deer Lord, as well as Arrows and Army of Champions. Doors are at 8, not to be a minute late, for the fun will be had from early hours and in great doses. If you’ve been to a Lust for Life party before, you’ll know to prepare for mass celebrations, as we reflect upon and rejoice the year that was.
This favourite Brisbane event is back for its ninth instalment on Thursday night. The popularity of this unique fiesta is ever-growing as it showcases local artists and musicians; attracting hoards of like-minded people. This time around The Zoo is hosting bands such as Terrible Truths, Major Leagues and more to be announced. View work by local artists such as Alice Rezende, Steph Hughes, Loretta Lizio and Kool Thing. This year there is a bit of a twist as only the lovely ladies of the Brisbane art scene will be showcased. Sorry boys. As always, the girls will be serving up awesome artwork on skate decks as this is the feature of the event. Whether I Used to Skate Once has been on your calendar since last June or you don't know the difference between an ollie and a shove-it, make sure you check it out before its gone for another year.
Finding a way to celebrate Christmas in Brisbane isn't hard at the moment. In fact, there's a whole program of events across the CBD and South Bank literally called Christmas in Brisbane, and running right up until Christmas Eve — so consider that your festive fun well and truly sorted. On the lineup: glowing lights at Roma Street Parkland's Enchanted Garden, a Christmas jazz lounge in the Queen Street Mall, and plenty of other performances and markets. Oh, and a Tinsel Tavern over on the Little Stanley Street Lawn. What's a Tinsel Tavern? It's a pop-up bar serving tipples nightly from 4.30–10pm — and thoroughly saying cheers to the silly season. You'll want to stop by between Saturday, December 17—Thursday, December 22, and it's a pay-as-you-go type of seasonal affair. Brisbanites can grab Christmas cocktails and pick up takeaway from the riverside precinct's eateries — yep, there's your relaxed sting of merriment sorted. Or, pack a picnic from home and tuck in while you're saying cheers. Whichever you pick, you'll also get a soundtrack thanks to live gigs by local musicians. Tinsel Tavern's dates coincide with two other big festive drawcards at South Bank: The Collective Markets Christmas Edition for 2022 and this year's South Bank Christmas Cinema. So, as well as drinking and eating, you can get shopping and movie-watching. No one will be saying "bah, humbug!" to that.
Not content with selling sweet and savoury treats from their James Street base, Brisbane's favourite bread, cake, pastries and provisions providers are spreading the love this festive season. If you're fond of the amazing array of edible items that Jocelyn's Provisions bakes up and you're in the inner city, then you'd best put on your stretchiest pants and hightail it over to their CBD pop-up. From November 29 until Christmas, expect scrumptious wares aplenty at Jocelyn's temporary digs at 480 Queen Street. Whether you're keen on a caramel, pear and pecan cake; chocolate swirl cheesecake; trusty lemon tart; or pork, apple and caraway sausage roll — to name a just a few items from their menu — it's the stuff food lover's dreams are made of. Feasting on all of the above until the big day is completely understandable — and to be expected, really. And if you're after a great gift, Jocelyn's pop-up will also be selling hampers. Yes, you can give one to yourself.
Believe it or not, Kim Buck works in charcoal, not photography. The incredible detail that is found in her work stems not from the mechanical recording of something in real life, but rather through Kim’s innate skill for producing hyper-real images in pencil and charcoal; a skill that was ‘stumbled upon’ and self-taught, rather than fostered in the traditional sense. The wonderful thing about realistic drawing is that although it mirrors the world around in its clarity and perfection, the medium of paper and charcoal bears a soft, tactile quality that lies in distinct opposition to this. It is the tension between the two that makes realist drawing so appealing. It is little wonder then that Kim was recently awarded South Australia’s top award for an arts graduate – the Bendigo and Adelaide Bank Award – and also took the cake at the 2010 Limestone Coast Art Prize and the People’s Choice Prize at the 2010 Helpmann Academy Graduate Exhibition. In an exhibition at Jan Murphy Galleries in the Valley, Kim will showcase her work in charcoal, hopefully making it her fourth sell-out solo show since 2007. Image credit: Kim Buck, 'Eternal Return', 2010
To make your summer feel like a holiday even if you aren't actually leaving the city, Friday's has given its outdoor area a getaway-inspired temporary makeover. Like a number of other Australian Venue Co spots around town, it's taking cues from far-flung destinations and flowers alike. The theme here: Greece. The aim is to whisk you off to Santorini, even if only mentally — and, five days a week the riverside spot is also serving up a bottomless snacks deal to match. If tucking into bottomless mezze doesn't make your tastebuds think they're in the Mediterranean, nothing will. On the menu: a spread of hummus, tzatziki and flatbread, as well as haloumi fries and lamb kofta skewers. It's on offer all day from Sunday–Thursday for $25 per person, or you can add a cocktail jug and pay $40 per person. You'll have two hours to dig into the food — so yes, that's your next long lunch or post-work drinks sorted. Images: Markus Ravik.
Fresh from going all in on National Pizza Day, the Regatta in Toowong is throwing some love towards another culinary occasion: International Margarita Day. This celebration works as a two-in-one situation, however, because the riverside pub is pairing the cocktail in the spotlight with margherita slices. You know the drill: if you love a certain food or drink, you don't need a specific day to show it, but these drink- and dish-focused dates are a good excuse to tuck into the item in the spotlight anyway. So, although no one requires any encouraging at all to sip 'ritas you like over pizza, consider the period around Wednesday, February 22 your time to shine. One day isn't enough for this combo, though. To make the most of margs and margs, the Regatta is spreading the love from Monday, February 20–Sunday, February 26. From 12–8pm each day across the week, you can grab one margarita and a margherita pizza for $30, or two drinks and one pizza for $45. Top image: Creative Commons.
If you're a Brisbanite who's fond of a beer, you've probably already noticed something missing from this month: Brewsvegas, Brisbane's citywide beer fest, which hasn't poured brews from taps around town since 2020. What's a Brissie beer lover to do instead when they're keen on a brew this March? Head to Brewski's In Lieu of a Beer Festival Festival. This fest's name says all that it has to, because this is the kind of event that a bar throws when there's no Brewsvegas on the calendar. On the menu is a heap of beer — obviously — from Tuesday, March 1–Wednesday, March 30. Expect special tipples and returning yeasty favourites aplenty, as well as themed events that'll get you doing more than just sinking pints. At Pastry vs Pastry on Saturday, March 12, for instance, you'll drink pastry stouts and pastry sours while eating pastries from Flour and Chocolate. Or, head back on Saturday, March 19 for the opposite kind of event — pairing gluten-free brews with gluten-free snacks. A paint and slurp session is also on the bill, and so is a celebration of all things stouty. Some events are ticketed, so check out the full lineup before making a beer date. Images: Hennessy Trill.
Get into the BIGSOUND spirit before the rest at the Free For All Party, courtesy of Mushroom, the guys who lead the charge in independent music, and Sonos, the guys who make it sound so good. You’ll be treated to live performances by Bad//Dreems, The Creases, Fraser A. Gorman, Lurch & Chief and Steve Smyth, plus a bunch of specially-selected playlists by City Calm Down, Clubfeet, The Holidays, Husky and Stonefield. Nowhere else will so many high-quality acts be coming together outside of the annual conference events, making this a rare and exciting opportunity! If that wasn't tempting enough, you can get on the guest list and enjoy complimentary drinks (and snacks!) from the dudes at Sailor Jerry and CAPI. This is pretty much the best pre-BIGSOUND deal going; with the delegates wandering around there is a high possibility of running into and partying with your favourite BIGSOUND bands and enjoying the spirit in esteemed company. Entry passes are strictly limited to this event – get in quick to avoid disappointment!
Don't hold back: one of the biggest acts in electronic music for the past three decades is returning to Brisbane. Superstar DJs The Chemical Brothers dropped their tenth studio album For That Beautiful Feeling in September 2023, and will hit the River City in February 2024 to unleash their latest round of block rockin' beats live. Tom Rowlands and Ed Simons will play the Riverstage on Tuesday, February 27, with Anna Lunoe and James Holroyd in support. It isn't just their astonishing 2023 Coachella set that proves The Chemical Brothers are a must-see live act. Every tour — including their last stint Down Under back in 2019 — always matches a spectacle of mindbending visuals to the duo's iconic tunes. Accordingly, expect recent singles 'No Reason', 'Live Again' (featuring Halo Maud) and 'Skipping Like a Stone' (reteaming The Chemical Brothers with Beck after 2016's 'Wide Open') — and also a wealth of songs from a back catalogue that spans back to 1989. No, it wouldn't be a Chemical Brothers gig without 'Hey Boy, Hey Girl', 'Block Rockin' Beats' and 'Galvanise' getting a whirl. The pair's current setlist also includes everything from 'Go', 'Swoon' and 'Star Guitar' to 'Setting Sun', 'Chemical Beats' and 'Escape Velocity'. Holroyd joining Rowlands and Simons on the tour is always a given, as The Chemical Brothers' long-standing opening DJ. Images: Ray Baseley.
Jim Ward might be one of the coolest guys in music. Apart from being one of the founding members of At The Drive-In and Sparta, his work ethic, like his music, is amazing and inspiring. He doesn’t have an annoying rockstar persona, despite heading two of punk’s best bands of the past decade. He manages his own career, while enabling the music careers of other artists in his hometown of El Paso via Tembloroso.com, amongst a bunch of other rad things. Okay, so I sound like a little bit of a creep, but the truth is I interviewed Jim a while back (no, I’m not actually stalking him online) and was in total awe of how incredibly down-to-earth and independent he is as a solo artist. He’s not out to impress anybody; he’s just here to do what he does – if you like it, cool. If not, then that’s okay too. Catch the man in action, bringing El Paso to Brisbane this Saturday to Alhambra Lounge. If you’re in a band and you’re a little too big for your boots (I’m looking at you, every band with members under the age of 22) it’d be a good idea for you to go and learn something new about music.
Brisbane does pretty well in the craft brew stakes, but come GABS time, it's difficult not to get a little envious of our pals down south. For those who haven't heard of Melbourne and Sydney's boozy annual celebration, we're talking about the Great Australian Beer SpecTAPular. It isn't coming up north, but Bloodhound Bar is serving the next best thing. Trust the Brunswick Street bar to treat Brissie residents to a highlights package, aka the GABS 2018 Beer Showcase, from 5pm on Thursday, May 31. A selection of beverages will be on offer, and they're really not the kind of brews you'll get to sip every day. In fact, this year, more than 160 unique beers were made just for the fest. From that huge array, you'll be able to sample beverages that sound like they were whipped up in a dream. Given some of the ingredients and flavours on offer, perhaps that's where the ideas behind them came from. Mornington Peninsula Brewery's Squidroot infuses beetroot into a New England IPA, Moon Dog's Cherry Pie A La Mode is exactly what you think it is — a cherry and vanilla bean ice cream beer — and Wolf of the Willows' Tom Collins Sour is a tart concoction inspired by the eponymous cocktail, complete with gin botanicals. There'll be more brews dripping off the keg, too, with the full lineup yet to be announced.
If your mid-week routine could use a little jazzing up, Jessie's Girl has the answer with its monthly Wednesday night jazz, soul and beer sessions. Just what's on offer is right there in the name, but there's absolutely nothing wrong with being upfront — if it's a great soundtrack and some top tipples that you're after, then you'll find them here. The folks from A Love Supreme down in the CBD are in charge of curating each evening's tunes — all on vinyl, of course — so you really are in for an ace selection. Plus, Wednesday night is parmi night on Petrie Terrace, so there's your dinner sorted. Wednesday Jazz, Soul and Beer happens on the last Wednesday of each month, from 5pm. Head on by on May 30, June 27 and July 25 for what's certain to be a cruisy shindig.
It's extraordinary that with only one film to his name, Zach Braff's directorial style became instantly recognisable. Perhaps because it was so influential, his popular 2004 film Garden State quickly became the shorthand for a certain type of independent film with a checklist of insta-clichés: a manic pixie dreamgirl who rouses a sullen lead out of his ennui; droll metaphorical imagery (a shirt that looks just like the wallpaper!); profundity in the mundane (a big hole in the ground that represents in the infinite abyss!); a carefully considered collection of melodic indie songs on the soundtrack (The Shins! Coldplay! The Shins!). It's odd that with such a big success under his belt, Braff took ten years to make his follow-up. Difficult second album syndrome? Perhaps. But in doing so, Garden State has calcified in our shared cinematic memory as a sub-genre unto itself; for Braff's second film to have any chance at all, it would have to shake off all the tropes that are now synonymous with his name and do something drastically different. It does not. In fact, aside from the fact that Braff is now looking at the problems faced by rich white actors in their 30s (as opposed to rich white actors in their 20s), his new film Wish I Was Here plays like a biting parody of Zach Braff. All the hallmarks of Garden State are present, and what should, in a more just world, be considered an authorial style, now feels like a failed attempt to recapture a movement and a mood that expired years ago. Much has been made of the fact that Braff turned to crowdfunding to raise the budget that he could have so easily raised with a studio; famously, he feared interference from the suits and wanted to make his own vision. Perhaps some interference might have been a good thing. But this path is only galling in light of the journey of Wish I Was Here's characters: wealthy people who need slightly more money asking for charity. This is hardly an exaggeration. The film's story — which I'm now only getting to at the tail end of the review — follows a failed actor who is still trying to follow his dreams despite the fact that he has responsibilities to his family. His father, stricken with cancer, needs to pay for his own treatment, and so can no longer pay for his grandchildren's expensive religious education. This is the inciting incident that's meant to inspire sympathy, but the stakes are so low and so unrelatable to the average moviegoer, that the film is crippled from the outset. It's so poorly judged, few changes would be needed to turn it into an all-out pastiche; Not Another Zach Braff Movie, if you will. Both Braff's character and his on-screen brother (Josh Gad) are manchildren who essentially learn that the women in their lives will continue to support them so long as they persist in their manchildish ways. The "lessons" learned at the end feel superfluous and unaffecting, despite what the last shot tries to tell us. The brother's storyline is the most baffling, and possibly the worst idea in a film full of poor choices. I wanted to like this film. I really did. For all that it now represents, I still hold a soft spot for Garden State, and I like Braff as both an on-screen performer and a filmmaker. As a director, he has a keen eye; it just failed him horribly here. https://youtube.com/watch?v=XWZWJtHrG4U
Since 2016's Suicide Squad, the DC Extended Universe has tasked Viola Davis with corralling super-powered folks, including villains forced to do the state's bidding (as also seen in The Suicide Squad and Peacemaker) and regular world-saving superheroes (the just-released Black Adam). In The Woman King, however, she's more formidable, powerful and magnificent than any spandex-wearing character she's ever shared a frame with — or ever will in that comic-to-screen realm. Here, she plays the dedicated and determined General Nanisca, leader of the Agojie circa 1823. This is an "inspired by true events" tale, and the all-female warrior troupe was very much real, protecting the now-defunct west African kingdom of Dahomey during its existence in what's now modern-day Benin. Suddenly thinking about a different superhero domain and its own redoubtable women-only army, aka the Marvel Cinematic Universe's Dora Milaje in Wakanda? Yes, Black Panther took inspiration from the Agojie. If you're thinking about Wonder Woman's Amazons, too, the Agojie obviously pre-dates them as well. Links to two huge franchises in various fashions aren't anywhere near The Woman King's main attraction, of course. Davis and her fellow exceptional cast members, such as Lashana Lynch (No Time to Die), Thuso Mbedu and Sheila Atim (both co-stars in The Underground Railroad); The Old Guard filmmaker Gina Prince-Bythewood and her grand and kinetic direction, especially in fight scenes; stunningly detailed costumes and production design that's both vibrant and textured; a story that still boasts humour and heart: they all rank far higher among this feature's drawcards. So does the fact that this is a lavish historical epic in the Braveheart and Gladiator mould, but about ass-kicking Black women badged "the bloodiest bitches in Africa". Also, while serving up an empowering vision, The Woman King also openly grapples with many difficulties inherent in Dahomey's IRL history (albeit in a mass consumption-friendly, picking-and-choosing manner). It's under the cover of night that Nanisca and the stealthy, feline-quick Agojie first show The Woman King's audience exactly what they're capable of, as camped-out male slavers from the rival Oyo Empire are swiftly and brutally dispensed with during a mission to free abducted Dahomean women. From that vivid opening, the female-led The Woman King on- and off-screen lets viewers know what it, Davis, Prince-Bythewood and their collaborators are capable of, too. Potent, ferocious, mighty: they all fit. When it comes to the film's protagonist, she's fierceness personified, yet also always nuanced. In a role that'll likely garner her award nominations at the very least, to go along with past Oscar nods for Doubt, The Help and Ma Rainey's Black Bottom — and her win for Fences — Davis is tremendous in the part, in battle and otherwise, exuding world-weariness, raw strength, and the kind of resilience that's only forged by navigating deep horrors. After the film's initial rescue gambit, the Agojie are down in number. Abandoned to Dahomey's King Ghezo (John Boyega, Small Axe) because she won't marry men who beat her, headstrong Nawi (Mbedu) becomes a new recruit. As the teen trains to become permanently accepted among them, including by the resolute and mischievous Izogie (Lynch) and Amenza (Atim), Nanisca endeavours to bend the ruler's ear about future battles and policies. The Oyo will keep attacking, and keep trying to trade Dahomey's populace into slavery. A Portuguese-Brazilian aristocrat (Hero Fiennes Tiffin, After Ever Happy) knows that he can profit off the Dahomey-Oyo tensions, and gain slaves to hawk along the way. Also, Dahomey itself isn't above selling Africans into subservience themselves. Nanisca has other concerns, too: getting revenge over a heartbreaking chapter of her past, the pain and sacrifice she still bears as a result, and instilling the Agojie's brand of sisterhood in Nawi. The Woman King's title isn't just another way to say 'queen'. Rather, it's a label given by Dahomey's male leader to the woman he sees as his equal in their lands. His preferred wife Shante (Jayme Lawson, The Batman) wants the designation in a firmly regal sense, but the conventions of storytelling and filmmaking mean there's zero doubt that Nanisca deserves the status. Bestowing the moniker is hardly the chief concern to her, Prince-Bythewood or screenwriter Dana Stevens (Fatherhood) — who also shares a story credit with actress Maria Bello (NCIS) — though. Nanisca is still the force to be reckoned with either way, and a compelling figure worthy of the movie's appreciation. So, in a feature about striving for freedom, fairness, parity, progress and justice, as well as countering misogyny, colonialism and greed, and also surviving trauma, consider that title a reminder about the fight for equality, and how female power is perceived and treated — two centuries ago and also now. Slavishly devoted to every single fact, Prince-Bythewood, Stevens and their film aren't. First and foremost, they're committed to their aims, themes and ideas — to being a rousing action flick about the Agojie, primarily; to delving into all that represents; to celebrating strong and skilled women; and to making a movie that truly doesn't otherwise exist — so thinking of its take on the truth as akin to Once Upon a Time in Hollywood's is wise. The Woman King doesn't hide this, given that it finds time for long-lost family connections that could've sprung straight from a soap opera, and for a romance between Nawi and the often-shirtless half-Dahomey slaver associate Malik (Jordan Bolger, Tom & Jerry). When everything else in the movie is so stirring, getting loose with reality and throwing in pure emotion-swelling Hollywood inclusions never drags The Woman King down. Indeed, not that they have to here, but the phenomenal quartet that is Davis, Lynch, Mbedu and Atim could lift any material. For all the mastery that ripples from Davis, she's in astonishing company, with all three of her key co-stars turning in weighty, resonant and career-cementing portrayals — Lynch with perceptiveness, Mbedu with volatility, and Atim with both wisdom and comfort. Not that they have to either, but Prince-Bythewood, cinematographer Polly Morgan (Where the Crawdads Sing) and the former's regular editor Terilyn A Shropshire (dating right back to 2000's Love & Basketball) could improve any fray-filled picture as well. When it's in full fight mode, with radiant lighting that adores its cast, plus sharp, visceral, muscular and balletic action choreography, The Woman King is not just electrifying but spectacular. That won't be a surprise to fans of The Old Guard, another riveting feature that saw Prince-Bythewood take on a familiar template, give it a female focus and reinvigorate it. That's a warrior's skill, too, and she's terrific at it.
Combining three staples of everyday life - science fiction, freeform music and Detroit techno, Laurel Halo is the definition of musical fusion. Described by Pitchfork as, “oddly stacked and constantly shifting harmonies, portamento pitch-bending, narcotic melodies, [and] a prevailing sense of technological dread", Laurel boasts a style of music surreal enough to be deemed super-art, yet real enough to be enjoyable. Halo’s work, while originally being classical and piano-based in nature, has stemmed to a wall of bass and percussion that attacks the body in soothing, parabolic way - it’s that rare combination of art-house and spiritualisation. And rarer still, bass and vocal making for a truly defining genre that is coming to Australia for the first time. This musical innovation can be yours for just $29 dollars per 2.5hrs starting at 8:30pm. So, if you feel like having your mind rocked on Thursday 19 September, why not see the future of music at Powerhouse. If not because it sounds good, then for the hipster bragging rights. Check out Laura Halo's 'Thaw'
As the temperatures begin to soar, birds are dropping off their perch, snakes are slithering into bath tubs and the humans of Brisbane are starting to seriously sweat. To keep you cool and calm throughout the humid Brisbane summer, there are a few tactics to get you through: 1. Air conditioning - ignorance is bliss; 2. Hydrate - counteract the fact that you're dripping with sweat by drinking as many liquids as you can; 3. Embrace it - soak in the sun (after you've applied your 30+SPF), enjoy the heat and the fun that summer brings. Because we like to help you guys out, we have narrowed down our five best places in Brisbane to cool down - in whichever way that you prefer. Bacchus Located at Rydges in South Bank, Bacchus is one of Brisbane's newest hotspots and in turn one of Brisbane's coolest spots too. To embrace the summer heat, you can head to the Bacchus pool bar where you can lounge by the pool looking fabulous, or bomb dive* into the pool splashing said fabulous people. The pool bar is stocked with with top shelf booze sourced locally and from our Euro friends in Spain, France, Italy and Portugal. Pool side snacks include a selection of tasty tapas such as the tomato, basil and bocconcini empanada; and for something more substantial you have a delicious choice of hearty steak and club sandwiches or some fresh Greek salad, accompanied, of course, by shoestring fries. *Bomb diving is likely to be frowned upon. Cnr Grey & Glenelg Streets, South Bank; 07 3364 0843; www.bacchussouthbank.com.au Birdees In the heart of the Valley is Birdees, best known for backpacking, student partying debauchery. This bright and colourful place is the perfect spot for embracing summer, with Mexican food on the menu, reasonably priced drinks and pumping music. It's basically the scene out of a Cancun documentary. With a recently completed rooftop beer garden, and a 12 metre swimming pool, you'll be able to make the most of summer celebrating here with a big group of friends. 608 Ann Street, Fortitude Valley; 07 3257 3644; www.katarzyna.com.au/venues/birdees White Lightning Tiki Bar (Alfred and Constance) For a truly tropical experience, you must head to the White Lightning Tiki Bar, located upstairs at everybody's new favourite, Alfred and Constance. Be prepared to be lei'd upon arrival and keeping in the Hawaiian spirit, you should probably try the piña colada - served in a hollowed out pineapple. Icy-cold and delicious, this is one of the many incredible creations that the skilled bartenders can prepare for you. Everybody is happy including especially the bar staff who sing and dance behind the bar making it an unforgettable and awesome party vibe. Cnr Alfred and Constance Streets, Fortitude Valley; 07 3251 6500; www.alfredandconstance.com.au
If you've ever wanted to turn your childhood into a movie, Theater Camp is the latest film that understands. It's also happy to laugh. Unlike Minari, Belfast, The Fabelmans, Aftersun and Past Lives, this isn't a drama, with Molly Gordon, Ben Platt, Noah Galvin and Nick Lieberman making a sidesplittingly funny mockumentary about a place that's near and dear to them. What happens when four friends reflect upon their formative years, when they all fell in love with putting on a show? Theater Camp is the pitch-perfect answer. Looking backwards can be earnest and nostalgic, as Gordon and company know and embrace. Going for Wet Hot American Summer meets Waiting for Guffman and A Mighty Wind, they're just as aware that it can be utterly hilarious. Watching Theater Camp means stepping into Gordon, Platt, Galvin and Lieberman's reality. None are currently camp counsellors, but the realm that they parody genuinely is personal. The film's core quartet initially came into each other's lives via youth theatre. With Gordon and Platt, the picture even boasts the receipts — aka IRL footage of the pair performing as kids — from a time when they were appearing together in Fiddler on the Roof at age four and in How to Succeed in Business at five. This team was first driven to bring their shared experiences to the screen in an improvised 2020 short also called Theater Camp. Now, they flesh out that bite-sized flick to full length as enthusiastically as any wannabe actor has ever monologued. All four co-write, while Booksmart and The Bear star Gordon directs with fellow first-time feature helmer Lieberman. Gordon, Dear Evan Hansen stage and screen lead Platt, plus Galvin — who similarly portrayed that Broadway hit's title role — act as well, playing three of the adults at AdirondACTS. Gordon and Platt cast themselves as Rebecca-Diane and Amos, Theater Camp's co-dependent life-long best friends forever. The film's central vacation spot was the joined-at-the-hip characters' ultimate escape, and still is. That said, their move into teaching at the same venue is a clear sign that their aspirations as performers haven't come to fruition. Every year now, Rebecca-Diane and Amos guide teen campers through all things theatre — and towards putting on the season's big show, an original that the duo also write and direct. But Theater Camp's summer in focus isn't any old summer. Before the thespians of tomorrow arrive, while the financially struggling AdirondACTS is in fundraising mode, founder Joan (Amy Sedaris, Somebody I Used to Know) falls into a coma due to "the first Bye Bye Birdie–related injury in the history of Passaic County". While she's incapacitated, that leaves her finfluencer son Troy (Jimmy Tatro, a YouTuber and now The Afterparty and Strays talent) in charge. Also in upstate New York while the sun shines, the histrionics ramp up and everything becomes a performance: the camp's put-upon backstage go-to Glenn (Galvin, The Good Doctor), who is largely ignored and underappreciated by his peers; costume guru Gigi (Owen Thiele, Hacks) and dance instructor Clive (Nathan Lee Graham, Katy Keene), who couldn't be more passionate about their respective disciplines; and staff newcomer Janet (Ayo Edebiri, Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Mutant Mayhem), who knows less than the students. Representing a neighbouring private-school camp that's been flashing its cash for years trying to buy AdirondACTS' land from Joan, lawyer Caroline (Patti Harrison, She-Hulk: Attorney at Law) struts around in an effort to convince Troy to sell. And there are kids, of course, of varying skills and with an array of theatre-related hopes (Minari's Alan Kim, Young Rock's Bailee Bonick, Chapelwaite's Donovan Colan and The Mighty Ducks: Game Changers' Luke Islam are among them). Gordon, Platt, Galvin and Lieberman focus their script on the production of Joan, Still, Rebecca-Diane and Amos' centrepiece musical for the year and a tribute to their absent mentor — and, as finances keep proving an issue, Troy's cluelessness constantly has an impact and Caroline is adamant about snapping up the facility, on saving the entire site. Chaos ensues, which is predictable in the film's broad strokes but, crucially, never in its minutiae. While foreseeing that arguments, tantrums, rivalries, broken dreams, battling egos, budget woes and behind-the-scenes mishaps will all flow is easy, the particulars, and the whys and hows of what's going on, rarely take the expected route. Indeed, because they've been there, lived that and are now eagerly and warmheartedly satirising it, the Theater Camp crew perfects the art of going specific to get universal. Accordingly, if you were once a budding drama geek as well, prepare to be seen and spoofed but also celebrated. Prepare to be showered in lines, references, costumes, sets and moments that couldn't be more authentic, in fact. If you don't know your Damn Yankees from your Hamilton, though, prepare to plunge into a madcap world that's the epitome of youthful fervour and adult malaise swishing together. Theater Camp mightn't dazzle if it didn't feel so bona fide — and if it didn't so gleefully and visibly love playing around in its very own microcosm, just like children discovering their own place to belong at a theatre camp and actors finding themselves in role after role. Gordon, Platt, Galvin and Lieberman couldn't have better riffed on their favourite time as kids and what might've been if they hadn't found success, or enlisted a more-willing cast. In the crowded mockumentary field, they're also spot-on at cannily deploying the genre's tropes. Watching Theater Camp also means wanting to sit down to see Blackmail and Botox, A Hanukkah Divorce and The Briefcase, The Door & the Salad next. No one can, because they're each purely creations of this very amusing flick; what fun the film's key foursome must've had coming up with those titles alone. Theater Camp is a stage-adoring screen gem that's a lively labour of love and a clear work of fun, too: to lampoon treading the boards, summer camps and the exact place where both meet, and to do so this entertainingly, requires knowing the theatre scene and its training grounds intimately. Wanting to catch The Crucible Jr and even an immersive stage version of Cats (that surely couldn't be worse than 2019's cinema take) — yes, that equally springs from laughing heartily through this ode to performing as a dream, a job, a future, an obsession and a way of life.
Catch Queensland Theatre's latest production and you'll catch a slice history in more ways than one. The Sunshine Club sets its feel-good story in 1946, and follows a First Nations serviceman coming home to Brisbane from World War II — and, if it sounds familiar, that's because it was first staged in 1999. In fact, back when the play made its debut 23 years ago, a heap of now-huge theatre names were involved, including Wesley Enoch, David Page, Roxanne McDonald, Stephen Page, Ursula Yovich, Wayne Blair, Elaine Crombie, Tessa Rose and Christen O'Leary. This time, during The Sunshine Club's QPAC Playhouse run from Saturday, July 9–Saturday, July 30, former Queensland Theatre Artistic Director Enoch directs. He knows the material; he was commissioned to create the original, after all. Alongside Enoch, composer John Rodgers, musical director Wayne Freer and costume designer Richard Roberts all return, too. In the new staging, Marcus Corowa (Bran Nue Dae) plays Frank Doyle, who heads back from the battlefields eager to restart his life with girl next door Rose (Irena Lysiuk, The Marriage of Figaro). This couldn't be a look back at the era — even a fictional one — without exploring Australia's history of race relations, of course, but Frank endeavours to overcome society's prejudices by starting his own ballroom where everyone is welcome. Images: Brett Boardman.
Bingo. Rave. Two ends of the spectrum of fine holiday fun finally came together in Australia last year. If you didn't make it along, Bongo's Bingo is a games night like you've never seen before. Part club, part rave, and, of course, part bingo night, this unlikely fusion event has been wildly popular in the UK since 2015. It's hardly surprising that taking the show on the road — that is, launching Bongo's Bingo Down Under — went well. And now, it's hardly surprising that is's coming back for yet another round either. What you mightn't expect is the event's new special guests: British boy band royalty, aka Westlife's Brian McFadden and Boyzone's Keith Duffy. Under the name Boyzlife, they'll perform their respective groups' biggest hits while all of the debauchery of the original British version of Bongo's Bingo gets underway. That includes rave intervals, dancing on tables and a loose kind of bingo that you definitely never played with your nan (well, maybe you have). The victorious players can win everything from big cash prizes to some absolutely ridiculous surprises, which is all part of the fun. Bongo's Bingo heads back to The Tivoli on March 24.
A fixture of the city for decades, King George Square has seen many things over the years, from markets to live tunes to ice-skating rinks. But for two days this week, it'll welcome something different — a mini tennis court. It's not a throwback to a period, not all that long ago, when the CBD spot had its own patches of grass. Rather, it's a bit of fun timed to coincide with the Australian Open in Melbourne. Called Ace the Open, the pop-up court is open to anyone who thinks they can channel their inner Williams sister and serve up an ace. All you need to do is head on down across the weekend of Saturday, January 26 and Sunday, January 27, and racquets await. There's another good reason for this excuse to get active, other than letting Brisbanites do something they never thought they would in ol' KGS. For every ace someone scores, ANZ is making a donation to The Smith Family, Brotherhood of St Laurence, Berry Street and The Benevolent Society.
The most applause-worthy branch of Big Folk Theatre combines the cheap, raw and rowdy in a night of comedy improv. Cool Story Bro brings together some of the most talented, local guest storytellers, whose real life stories and experiences are turned into laugh-out-loud scenes, characters and situations, all in attempt to get a chuckle out of you. Think Chicago's The Second City, but performed by those who probably catch the same bus as you. Cool Story Bro features a talented cast of Brisbane's best improvisors and takes place at Boundary Street Markets. It's a bit of a trek to get to the actual comedy showcase, so follow these instructions carefully: enter the markets via the Boundary Street entrance, look for a black door to your left when you come to the clothing bazaar, then enter and and go up two levels of stairs for the laughs. Cool Story Bro kicks of this Friday, November 6 at 7pm. Grab a bite to eat, a drink and head on up!
When Gnocchi Gnocchi Brothers first announced that they were launching Australia's first gnocchi bar, no one gnocch'd their idea. Our stomachs were too busy rumbling for pillowy dumplings of pasta. So, when they opened their doors in Paddington, people came a-running. In fact, Brisbanites' gnocchi appetites have been so feverish, the local specialists are expanding to a second location not even six months later. Opening at 76 James Street, New Farm on April 10, and trading every afternoon and evening of the week, Gnocchi Gnocchi Brothers James Street is all about keeping as many people in a pasta-fuelled state of bliss as possible. To feed the ravenous masses clamouring for potato-based parcels, forget dining in; their new digs is takeaway only — and delivery via UberEATS, but hey, you get the picture. Thankfully, a lack of eating area for folks to lounge around while chowing down is the only difference on the menu. All those gnocchis you've been feasting on — or eyeing off, if you haven't yet made it in to sample their wares for yourself — remain on offer. Wild mushroom and truffle sauce, slow-cooked bolognese, duck ragu, spicy tomato and black olive, Genovese pesto, and prawns with cherry tomatoes are certain to hit the spot. Trying a different flavour every night of the week is completely acceptable. Find Gnocchi Gnocchi Brothers James Street at 76 James Street, New Farm. For more information, head to their website or Facebook page. Image: Cyclone Bill.
The Hideaway and luxury groovers 100% Silk will be hosting a night of music as smooth as any Pantene commercial, this Thursday. In just two years, 100% Silk has fast become one of Los Angeles' finest providers of on-the-money, A-grade music, and now it's Brisbane's chance to witness some of their finest auditory exports. Brooklyn-based house music producer, Octo Octa is a sugar-free act – his melodies are topped with rave-tinged basslines providing for a unique R&B, house fusion. His refreshing sounds have recieved widespread critical acclaim in both traditional electronic music and indie-minded musical circles. Magic Touch, on the other hand, mix the psychedelic ethos of San Francisco with the house movements of Chicago, before smattering their sound with a healthy dose of UK rave underground – it's the club sandwich of music mashing. Think sleek, chic, late night San Francisco Latin soul music, and you have for yourself Bobby Browser. He works the synths, laid-back-grooves, soul melodies, and even has a moustache to match. Don’t miss this rare opportunity to catch three of 100% Silk’s finest, straight from the States.
If jungle vibes inside a Coorparoo warehouse sounds like your perfect outing, head along to the Jungle Collective's indoor plant sale on Saturday, October 16 and Sunday, October 17. It's the latest greenery-filled Brissie market from The Jungle Collective, a Melbourne nursery that stocks all kinds of weird and wonderful species. Yes, it is trucking its way up north again for another Queensland venture — and, after hosting plenty of online-only events over the past year, this sale is a 100-percent in-person affair. Whether you're after a hanging pot plant, some palms for the garden or a giant Bird of Paradise, chances are you'll find it here. Have a reputation for killing your cacti? Overwatering your ferns? Don't worry — there'll be horticulturalists on site on the night to give you advice and chat through any questions you might have. This sale has been dubbed a 'rare plant party', so prepare to shop for green babies you won't just find anywhere. You'll get inspired by plants in general, too, and learn to incorporate them into your home and living spaces — all while browsing and soaking up some tunes. Best get in quick though — these markets are always popular, with more than 170 different species usually on offer. Due to expected demand, the sale will be held in 30-minute sessions across both days, and attendees will need to register for free tickets in advance. Plus, if you come decked out with something unicorn-related (think: pastel colours, glitter, rainbows and clouds) and spend at least $10, you'll also get $5 off your purchase.
The subject at hand of the latest Nine Lives exhibition may sound a little mundane, but artists Pedro Ramos and Angus Mcdiarmid will have you surprisingly mesmerised by their unique images of rocks and water. Joining collective forces, the Australian artists explore the captivating textures, vivid colours and kaleidoscopic patterns found when the land meets the sea. From sea scapes and rock formations to documenting the people around them engaging in the water that inspires them, Rocks & Water respectfully highlights the unexpected beauty found within nature. Originally from Madeira Island off the coast of Portugal, Pedro Ramos works in Sydney as a freelance photographer and tutor. A talented artists, Pedro has exhibited his works internationally and has been featured in major publications such as Vice and Monster Children. He now returns to Nine Lives after exhibiting in last year’s sold out Semipermanent show. Rocks & Water's other artist Angus Mcdiarmid is a little more local – living and working between Brisbane and the Gold Coast. He is however about to embark on a South American hiatus which I'm sure will make for some great imagery. In the mean time be sure to take in Rocks & Water, it's an exhibition you won't want to miss.
When kids at school are busy updating their Iphone apps and Facebook-ing their beloved, you have to wonder if Shakespeare is still relevant? It's this timely question that a class of grade 12 students are required to answer as part of an assignment. Statespeare focuses on four clashing students in particular, who are made against their will to work together (remember how fun group work was at school?) and address Shakespeare's 400 year old works. It's a veritable Shakespearean Breakfast Club. Much like the cult teen angst movie, the play sees the fairly standard assignment develop into a bonding exercise between the students - drama nerds Lachlan and Nerys and popular trouble makers Jay and Rob, allowing them to discus, debate and rehearse some of Shakespeare's most famous and compelling scenes. Statespeare is a Shakespeare mix-tape of sorts, including scenes from A Midsummer Night's Dream, Hamlet, Macbeth, Much Ado About Nothing, Othello, Romeo & Juliet, The Taming of the Shrew, Titus Andronicus amongst others. All in all the students get swept up in the language and power of Shakespeare, and the audience gets to go along for the ride. Statespeare cleverly brings Shakespeare into the digital era and modern day school ground via a humorous and fast paced performance. Catch the show in Brisbane until the May 29 before commences a four-month national tour.
Crispy, sweet, stuffed with a creamy filling and made in a variety of flavours, there's only one thing wrong with cannoli. No matter how many that you happen to devour in a single sitting (admit it — no one just eats one), it never feels like you've ever had enough. If you know that sensation all too well, then you might want to tempt your tastebuds down to Locale on Saturday, April 11. For one day, the Newstead cafe is bringing back its cannoli pop-up bar. Adjusting to the current situation, it's strictly a pre-order-only affair — so head online, fill out an order form, send it through and then wait for your allocated collection time (which'll be between 8am–12pm). Feeling hungry? There'll be six kinds of the Sicilian pastries on the menu, with vanilla creme and traditional chocolate ($4 each) flavours waiting, plus ricotta and chocolate chip, and tiramisu ($5 each), too. If you're eager for something extra special, you can also opt for a limoncello cannoli ($5 each) — or go all out with a cannoli dip Easter egg ($9.50 each). If you're choosing to go out and support local businesses, have a look at the latest COVID-19 advice and social-distancing guidelines from the Department of Health. Images: Locale.
If you’ve never heard the name Kaitlyn Plyley, then you’ve probably at least heard her voice. Or seen her face. Or read her words. She’s a master story teller, broadcaster, poet and writer on the Brisbane arts scene, and best of all, has the real gift of the gab. And her latest project Not Much To Tell You exercises this talent liberally – Kaitlyn’s got words to say, and she gets them out in a unique fusion of poetry and story telling. Not Much to Tell You explores how Kaitlyn, a nerdy, foreign-sounding Aussie, found her voice. She paves a journey out of her own stories and experiences, all to a backdrop of Australian culture. She finds common space in footy fields, dance floors, restaurants and bedrooms, and presents a picture of what it’s like to be silenced when the whole world has something to say. Tickets for this equal part comedy, personal revelation and cultural critique start at $16, and the show will grace Metro Arts from August 27. Do yourself a favour, and open your ears and eyes to a story that examines the quiet prejudices, small cultural discrepancies and the unspoken power plays that occur daily in Australia. Check out the trailer for Not Much to Tell You here.
What's more terrifying than standing out at high school? It Lives Inside scares up an answer. Here, fitting in with the popular kids has haunting costs — literally — as Indian American teen Samidha (Megan Suri, Never Have I Ever) discovers. Her story starts as all memorable movies should: with a sight that's rarely seen on-screen. While beauty routines are familiar-enough film fodder, watching Sam shave her arms, then use skin tone-lightening filters on her photos, instantly demonstrates the lengths that she's going to for schoolyard approval. Among the white girls that she now calls friends, she also prefers to go by Sam. At home, she's increasingly hesitant to speak Hindi with her parents Inesh (Vik Sahay, Lodge 49) and Poorna (Neeru Bajwa, Criminal). And when it comes to preparing for and celebrating the Hindu ritual of puja, Sam would rather be elsewhere with Russ (Gage Marsh, Big Sky), the boy that she's keen on. It Lives Inside's frights don't spring from razors and social media, or from shortened names and superficial classmates; however, each one underscores how far that Sam is moving away from her heritage. Worse: they indicate how eagerly she's willing to leave her culture behind, too, a decision that's affected her childhood bond with Tamira (Mohana Krishnan, The Summer I Turned Pretty). As their school's only students with Indian backgrounds, they were once happily inseparable. Now Sam considers Tamira a walking reminder of everything that she's trying to scrub from her American identity. Keeping to herself — skulking around clutching a jar filled with a strange black substance, and virtually hiding behind her unbrushed hair — the latter has become the class outcast. So, when she asks Sam for help, of course no is the answer. Making his feature debut after a sizeable list of shorts —and winning SXSW Austin's 2023 Audience Award in its Midnighters section with the unsettling results — writer/director Bishal Dutta loads It Lives Inside's early moments with gnawing unease. Everything that Sam is putting herself through doesn't sit cosily, nor is it meant to. Distress has been eating away at Tamira as well, as her horrified stare everywhere that Sam looks constantly makes plain. Wild and wide eyes shaped by fear and uncertainty may be one of this genre's staples, but Krishnan sports a perfectly petrified pair of peepers as she pleas for assistance. After Sam smashes the ever-grasped canister in anger, annoyance and disbelief, letting out the flesh-eating demonic entity inside, Suri joins in with her own frequently aghast eyeballs. Casting Get Out's Betty Gabriel as a concerned teacher at Sam and Tamira's school savvily reinforces what audiences can quickly spot with In Lives Inside: this is a social thriller just like Jordan Peele's Oscar-winner (and also Us and Nope), plus everything from Sorry to Bother You and Parasite. Here, with a moniker and a central stalking force that also brings It Follows to mind, cues similarly taken from The Babadook, plus high-school humiliation that'd do Carrie proud, it's the pressure to eschew one's roots to blend in that scores the horror treatment. The supernatural presence doing the spooking is a Pishacha, which hail from Hindu and Buddhist folklore — and, as it feeds on negative vibes, its targets aren't random. Indeed, in painting a portrait of the pains that accompany being caught between the traditions of your parents' homeland and the daily reality of the only place you've ever known and its homogenous demands, Dutta gets his movie sinking its teeth in. There's no doubting that It Lives Inside's feature filmmaking first-timer is a student of scary movies: conventions from English-language frightfests spanning decades keep peeking through. Accordingly, the plot co-penned by Dutta with Ashish Mehta (Hush Hush) does inescapably feel like plenty of other flicks, complete with being set in a Spielbergian-esque town. This film loves splashing around red hues to get nightmarish as well, and peering intently at everyone quivering in Pishacha's presence. Using alarmed and startled people on-screen to evoke the same sensations in viewers might be one of the simplest tricks in the book, but it works: empathy is one helluva horror-movie tool. Dutta understands that, and also how powerful it is to witness Sam being so visibly shaken by being trapped between her background and the Americanised ideal that she's decided is her future. Also working swimmingly: Suri and Krishnan, who both make expressive horror stars (as, given Dutta's affection for close-ups, they need to). When Tamira disappears, forcing Sam to take her otherworldly mythology tale and its life-and-death manifestation seriously, Suri keeps adding weight to It Lives Inside's layered emotional journey. Trying to erase your heritage because you think that's the only option and then grappling with what that truly means aren't easy things to deal with, with or without confronting a monster. While many of the movie's most potent moments don't involve the Pishacha in the frame, Suri sells it all — the angst, the facade, coping with her supposed pals thinking that speaking another language is cute, the frustration over her mum's disapproval and choices since moving stateside, the realisations, and the terror and panic all included. It Lives Inside isn't without its own chilling visual touches, though; proving that hinting works better than showing, one early altercation with the picture's boogeyman gives Dutta an instant resume highlight. And, that it's the situation and its significance rather than the actual murderous beast that lingers is 100-percent by design. Musing about immigration, displacement and conformity, and joining the ranks of culturally specific horror such as Under the Shadow and The Vigil, this is a tense and thoughtful film — even if it too, like Sam, is torn between two realms. Thankfully, the meaning that lives inside It Lives Inside gives freshness to a movie that knows it's working with a formula; filtering US teen horror through the Indian American experience is also one of Dutta's clear quests.
